Thank you so much to Stephen Long, Ryan and all the crew at The New York Irish Centre for your kind invitation to speak about my novel, Hungry Trails, at your Wednesday lunch gathering. My husband and I enjoyed a delicious meal and met some wonderful people many who have Irish ancestry ..read more

DOMHNAIGH -- On May 5, 1981, Bobby Sands (right) died on hunger strike at Long Kesh prison. He had begun the strike on March 1, in protest over the removal of political status for IRA prisoners. Hunger strikes were an old republican strategy going back to Terence MacSwiney's famous hunger strike in 1920, which had helped turn the tide of world opinion against England during the War of Independence. Other prisoners at Long Kesh soon followed Sand's example. On April 9, the republican community in the six counties showed its support of Sands by electing him to the British Parliament for Fer ..read more

(Clockwise, from top): RUSH, Co. Fingal, Margaret M. Johnson; MINI POTATO CAKES, Sribaz/Dreamstime; TEMPLE BAR MARKET, Dublin, Margaret M. Johnson; MIDLETON FARMERS MARKET, Co. Cork, Margaret M. Johnson; GALWAY FARMERS MARKET, Galway, Margaret M. Johnson. From Delicious Ireland, “Mash & More”              I assume I speak for anyone reading this page that potatoes are your favorite side! I grew up loving potatoes, but when I first visited Ireland in 1984 I was surprised to find not one but possibly two or three types of potatoes ..read more

DOMHNAIGH -- On April 28, 1916, as the rebels in Dublin were being squeezed harder and harder by the British and nearing the end of their resistance, outside the city the rebels were achieving a small victory. Led by Thomas Ashe, a group of Irish Volunteers ambushed a 40-man unit of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) in Ashbourne, Co. Meath. The two sides battled each other for several hours, until finally the police began to run short of ammunition and surrendered to Ashe's men. Eight policemen had died and fifteen were wounded. Ashe would eventually spend time in jail for his role ..read more

MÁIRT -- On April 23, 1014, the Battle of Clontarf, one of the most famous and important battles in Irish history, was fought just north of Dublin. It was a bloody stand-up battle, fought mainly with ax and sword, with Brian Boru's men prevailing. This battle would later enter Irish legend as the place where Brian, High King of Ireland, drove the Vikings from Ireland. This is not completely false, but neither is it completely true. (Right): Battle of Clontarf, oil on canvas painting by Hugh Frazer, 1826) Some Irish fought with the Vikings, and some Vikings fought ..read more

LUAIN -- On April 15, 1848, in Dublin, Thomas Francis Meagher presented the tricolor national flag of Ireland to the public for the first time at a meeting of the Young Ireland Party. Meagher had recently gone to Paris with an Irish delegation sent to congratulate the French republicans on their successful revolution. Inspired by the tricolor French flag, he came up with a similar design for the Irish flag, with orange, white, and green stripes. The colors symbolized the uniting of the two traditions in one new nation. Few realize though, that Meagher's original flag had the orange s ..read more

DOMHNAIGH -- On April 7, 1865, Brig. Gen. Tom Smyth was mortally wounded at the battle of Farmville, Virginia. Born in County Cork, Smyth came to the United States in 1854. When the rebels fired on Fort Sumter in 1861, launching the American Civil War Smyth raised a company that joined the Irish 24th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. The regiment saw little action and mustered out after 3-months. He then got an appointment as a major in the newly formed 1st Delaware Volunteer Infantry. Smyth fought in all the major battles of the Eastern war and rose through the ranks ..read more

LUAIN -- On April 1, 1776, Irish-born Edward Hand (right) was appointed a brigadier general in the Continental Army. Hand first came to the colonies as a surgeon's mate and later an ensign in the 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment of the British army. In 1774, he resigned from the army and settled in Philadelphia, practicing medicine there. When the revolution began, he was made a lieutenant colonel in William Thompson's Pennsylvania Rifle Battalion and served with them during the siege of Boston. In January '77, he was promoted to colonel and put in command of Thompson's battalion, renamed the ..read more

To bear His heir, perfection No stain or fault, detection This House of David's promised place Her conception full of grace Original sin, suspended Eden's triumph, upended I AM's ark of flesh and blood.  Whose prophecy withstood Herod's jealous sword Flesh of your flesh, bone of your bone, blood of your blood He who is LORD Tabernacle to the great I AM Tabernacle to I AM's only begotten Son Where flesh, bone, blood and Spirit are perfect, one. And man, unbelieving, believing, unbelieving, true Oh, woman, thy Son is sun, thy sky is you What Gabriel's Hail can tell? Thy Son rose and set ..read more

      It’s a safe bet that you’ll find slices of this cake offered in tea rooms, coffee shops, home kitchens, and take-aways throughout the Emerald Isle. It’s a “standard” to which bakers often add a personal touch — think extra lemon (or orange) zest in the cake or fresh herbs in the drizzle — and it would be a delightful addition to your Easter menu. Nicholas Mosse (Bennettsbridge, County Kilkenny), one of Ireland’s most well-known pottery brands, favors the cake so much that they suggest you add fresh rosemary to the topping and serve it, appropriately, on one of the pieces i ..read more