When Americans think of the naval heroes of the American Revolution, the name usually comes to mind is John Paul Jones. Yet there was another officer—an Irish immigrant from County Wexford—whose service was longer, whose seniority was higher, and whose influence extended beyond the war itself to the very creation of the United States Navy. His name was Commodore John Barry. As we mark Irish American Heritage Month and approach the 250th anniversary of American independence, Barry deserves to be better remembered. He was not a colorful footnote in the founding of the Republic. He was one … [Read more...] about Commodore John Barry: The Irish Father of the American Navy
Neil IAHM
Dr. J.B. Murphy: The Irish American Surgeon Who Revolutionized Medicine
Dr. J.B. Murphy Dr. John B. Murphy, known throughout his life as "J.B.," was a renowned American surgeon and medical pioneer who made significant contributions to the field of medicine during his lifetime. He was born in a log cabin in Appleton, Wisconsin, on December 21, 1857. Murphy was the son of impoverished Irish immigrants Michael Murphy and Ann (née Grimes) Murphy, who had emigrated from Ireland during the Great Hunger. Murphy grew up in a large family with six siblings. His parents strongly emphasized education and encouraged their children to pursue academic and professional … [Read more...] about Dr. J.B. Murphy: The Irish American Surgeon Who Revolutionized Medicine
Band of Patriot Brothers: The Fighting Butlers
Across the Revolutionary War, five Butler brothers—sons of an Irish immigrant gunsmith—served as officers in the Continental Army. They fought in some of the most important campaigns of the war and continued their service into the early years of the American republic. Their story reminds us that the struggle for American liberty was strengthened by immigrants who carried with them a deep tradition of resistance to tyranny. General Richard Butler, one of the five Butler Brothers who served America's cause during the Revolution and after From Ireland to the Pennsylvania Frontier The … [Read more...] about Band of Patriot Brothers: The Fighting Butlers
Irish American Heritage Month: Col. Joseph Jeremiah McCarthy
The HBO Mini-Series The Pacific has brought a long overdue recognition to the sacrifices and hardships endured by the U.S. Marines in the Second World War. These battles were fought on isolated islands that one would struggle to locate on a map: Guadalcanal, Roi-Namur, Saipan, Tinian, Peleliu, Okinawa. Combat was often at point blank range; not only did the men involved battle the enemy, but poisonous snakes, insects, disease and the climate. Nowhere was the fighting harder than the Battle of Iwo Jima, a battle where Admiral Nimitz later observed “Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue.” No one … [Read more...] about Irish American Heritage Month: Col. Joseph Jeremiah McCarthy
Marie Connolly Owens: America’s Forgotten First Female Cop Who Fought for Justice Beyond the Badge
As the first female police officer in the United States, Marie Connolly Owens should be remembered and celebrated as a pioneer. Yet, her legacy has been largely forgotten—her achievements erased from history until modern researchers unearthed her remarkable story. She worked tirelessly to enforce child labor laws, tracked down absent fathers who abandoned their families, and often reached into her own meager pockets to help struggling mothers and children. Despite all of this, when she passed away in 1927, her obituary made no mention of her groundbreaking career, a stark reminder of how even … [Read more...] about Marie Connolly Owens: America’s Forgotten First Female Cop Who Fought for Justice Beyond the Badge