Each of us have a certain pride in the nationalities we represent. Our pride rests mostly in our Irish descent (Erin has more than I, but I keep looking for those key ancestors to prove my heritage). Irish Americans have had a huge impact on many facets of our society. They were pioneers of early America, contributers to our arts and participants in our politics. What they have given to America in the past can now be seen in their own country. In recent years, the once woebegone Irish have pulled their country from a land ruined by religious and political oppression and pushed themelves into the 21st century, ahead of their European neighbors. Ireland is now a world leader in cultural expression, culinary development and economic force.
Many well-known people are of Irish descent. I've listed a few of the more well-known and notable Irish and a link to where you can find additional information if you are interrested. Additionally, I've listed a few (some were a surprise to Erin and I) Irish Americans that you may remember from your American History classes.
Famous Irish Folk:
Samuel Beckett - 1906-1989 Playwright, Author and Nobel Laureate
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/beckett.htm
Oscar Wilde - 1854-1900 Author
http://www.cmgworldwide.com/historic/wilde/
James Joyce - 1882-1941 Author
http://www.themodernword.com/joyce/
Arthur Guinness - 1725-1803 Brewer
http://www.gallot.co.nz/Guinness/Arthur_Guinness.htm
Daniel O'Connell - 1775-1847 Politician
http://www.victorianweb.org/history/oconnell.html
Michael Collins - 1890-1922 Revolutionary
http://www2.cruzio.com/~sbarrett/mcollins.htm
George Bernard Shaw - 1856-1950 Author
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Jshaw.htm
Thomas Moore - 1779-1852 Author and Balladeer
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/tmoore.htm
Henry Ferguson - 1884-1960 Inventor
http://www.ulsterhistory.co.uk/harryferguson.htm
Saint Oliver Plunkett - 1625-1681 Archbishop
http://www.hoganstand.com/general/identity/extras/famousgaels/stories/plunkett.htm
Irish Americans:
President John F. Kennedy
Presdent Ronald Reagan
Presidents: Jackson, Polk, Buchanan, McKinley, Wilson, Nixon (and several others)
Daniel Boone - who started Kentucky settlement
Davy Crockett - served in Congress
Henry Ford - son of an Irish immigrant who started the Ford Motor Company
Marrion Morrison - (aka: John Wayne) a legend of American Western Films
Maureen O'Hara - dual citizenship in both the US and Ireland; American citizen in 1946
Judy Garland - "Dorothy" in Wizard of Oz; The Irish American St Patrick's Day anthem "Its A Great Day for the Irish" was written especially for her and was one of her biggest hits.
And let us not forget: Colin Farrell, Rosie O'Donnell, Mia Farrow, Grace Kelley, Mickey Rourke, Art Carney, Carroll O'Connor, Audie Murphy, James Cagney, Shirley Maclaine, Jackie Gleason, Mary Tyler Moore, Warren Beatty, Angelica Huston, Bing Crosby, Spencer Tracy, Jack Lemmon, Burt Lancaster, Gregory Peck, Patricia Neal, Robert Redford and Walter Brennan.
Did you know these people were of Irish descent too?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Irish-Americans
Irish Genealogy Resourses:
http://www.youririshroots.com/
http://www.tiara.ie/
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Wee Irish Folk
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Speaking of Judy Garland, There is an exciting and popular new group on Yahoo called THE JUDY GARLAND EXPERIENCE. The group features hours of ultra rare and unreleased downloadable audio files by Judy, great photo's, lively discussion, and more! The membership is the most ecletic gathering of Garland fans anywhere and includes Judy's family members, friends, people who worked with her and saw her perform, directors and producers of Garland related projects, authors of Judy biographies, historians, and more! The only thing missing is you. Please stop by our little Judyville, and check it out, you may never want to leave!
http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/thejudygarlandexperience/
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