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Summary
Summary
Explores the social, cultural, and political history of Irish Americans through contributions by Pete Hamill, Frank McCourt, and Peggy Noonan.
Reviews (2)
Publisher's Weekly Review
It really started with the famine that wasn't. There was plenty of food for export, but the poor depended on potatoes for their daily existence. The potato blight reduced the population as an estimated two million died and two million emigratedmost of them to America. It is a heartbreaking, yet inspiring story that Coffey, managing editor of Publishers Weekly, and Golway, a columnist for the New York Observer, present in this magnificently illustrated book. Golway sets the stage by describing the misery of the famine and the "coffin" ships, and focusing on one Patrick Kennedy of County Wexford, whose great-grandson would become the first Irish Catholic president of the United States in 1960. Singer Larry Kirwan of the band Black 47named for the worst year of the famine, 1847tells how the horror of the famine was imprinted on his soul by his grandfather; bestselling writer Frank McCourt, who almost starved as a child, remembers his astonishment at the amount of wasted food he would see when he emigrated back to the U.S.; and writer Peter Quinn reminds us why the Irish kept close to the cities: "a place safe from the ravages of Prohibition, Fundamentalism, and small-town Republicanism." A former priest, writer James Carroll looks at the importance of the local parish, and Newsday columnist Dennis Duggan takes a peak inside the McManus Democratic Club in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen, which still administers to the new immigrants. Newsman-novelist Pete Hamill explains how Belfast immigrants became Americans, while filmmaker Terry George learns about baseballand Americafrom Hamill's brother, screenwriter John. Actor Jason Robards reminds us how the writings of Eugene O'Neill still haunt us. Coffey and Golway weave stories about rogues, priests, politicians, poets, gangsters, nuns, ballplayers, union organizers, writers and plain old working-stiffs into a beautiful emerald tapestry that celebrates Irish achievement and success, but remembers those who made the crossing for the want of a potato. Major ad/promo. (Oct.) FYI: The Irish in America will also serve as a companion volume to the forthcoming PBS documentary series, airing in January. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Booklist Review
Although this sumptuously illustrated book, as well as the public TV series it accompanies, may seem concocted simply to meet a market demand--namely, the Riverdance-Angela's Ashes-famine anniversary megatrend--it is a genuinely good historical and cultural exploration. The main text by Terry Golway clearly and cogently describes the conditions that led to the waves of Irish immigration west and then examines the areas in which those new Americans made their greatest contributions--politics, Catholic parishes and schools, union organizing, the stage, music, and literature. They continue to do so: the last chapter explores the phenomenon of the "new Irish," 1980s and early 1990s immigrants who have brought with them the newly European vision Ireland has gained from membership in the European Economic Community. Short personal essays by the likes of Jason Robards, Roy Disney, and Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan as well as by lesser-known authors and academics whose achievements have been substantial, help make this a must read for other Irish Americans and all those fascinated by them and their distinctive culture. --Patricia Monaghan
Table of Contents
| Foreword | p. ix |
| Preface | p. XI |
| Acknowledgments | p. XIII |
| Chapter 1 The Great Famine: Between Hunger and the White House | p. 3 |
| Scraps and Leftovers: A MeditationFrank McCourt, author | |
| Through Liverpool: "Vistas of Want and Woe"Robert Scally, Irish Scholar | |
| Black 47: How a Band Was NamedLarry Kirwan, rock musician | |
| The True Meaning of "Lace Curtain"Margo Lockwood, poet | |
| Farmers No More: From Rural Ireland to the Teeming CityPeter Quinn, author | |
| Chapter 2 The Parish: The Building of a Community | p. 45 |
| "Bricks and Mortar": Cornerstones of the Irish PresenceEllen Skerrett, historian | |
| Saving the Children: Irish-Catholic NunsMaureen Fitzgerald, historian | |
| Irish Societies: To Be United and KnownJohn T. Ridge, historian | |
| The Irish Across AmericaMichael P. Quinlin, journalist | |
| "What Parish?": An Experience of ChurchJames Carroll, author | |
| The Interrupted NarrativePete Hamill, journalist and author | |
| Chapter 3 The Precinct: Working from the Inside | p. 95 |
| The Greening of the PresidencyRobert Shrum, campaign strategist | |
| The Original Irish GangstersT. J. English, author | |
| At the Center Is McManus: A Democratic ClubhouseDennis Duggan, journalist | |
| Political Migrations: A Family StoryThomas Mallon, author | |
| Chapter 4 The Work: Where the Irish Did Apply | p. 135 |
| Bridie, We Hardly Knew Ye: The Irish DomesticsMaureen Murphy, historian | |
| United Front: The Irish and Organized LaborEd O'Donnell, historian | |
| A Soul for the Civil ServiceDennis Smith, author | |
| Aunt Mary Jane's Not-so-Commonplace BookPeggy Noonan, author | |
| Chapter 5 The Players: Irish on Stage | p. 179 |
| Old Airs and New: From Reels to "Riverdance"Mick Moloney, musicologist | |
| The Irish in John Ford's FilmsThomas Flanagan, author | |
| Playing O'NeillJason Robards, actor | |
| The Irish Voice in American FictionEamonn Wall, poet | |
| On Being Born Irish-American: A GlossaryDenis Leary, comic actor | |
| Acting Irish: To Be or Not to BeMalachy McCourt, actor | |
| And Give Me YesterdayMary Higgins Clark, author | |
| Chapter 6 The New Irish: Keeping a Culture Alive | p. 227 |
| The New Irish Chic: The Irish Arts SceneHelena Mulkerns, author | |
| Cricket It Ain't: An Irishman's Appreciation of BaseballTerry George, filmmaker | |
| The Poetry of ImmigrationGreg Delanty, poet | |
| Replanting Our Roots: Coolmain Castle, Co. CorkRoy Disney, entertainment executive and Patty Disney | |
| The Braided Cord: Family TalesTerry Golway | |
| Afterword | p. 259 |
| The View from DublinMaeve Binchy, author | |
| Bibliography and Recommended Reading | p. 263 |
