Alen MacWeeney, Photographer, Author, “Irish Travelers, Tinkers No More” (New England College Press, 2007)
Alen MacWeeney was born in Dublin in 1939 and came to the U.S. at age 21 to become assistant to the renowned photographer Richard Avedon. He soon established himself as a contributor to such publications as The New Yorker, Life, Esquire, and The New York Times Magazine. His photographs are in the permanent collections of
Scott Molloy, Ph.D., “Irish Titan, Irish Toilers: Joseph Banigan and Nineteenth-Century New England Labor” (University Press of New England, July 2008)
In his book Molloy explores the life of Joseph Banigan (1839-1898), one of America's most successful 19th Century industrialists, who became New England’s first Catholic millionaire. Banigan was an Irish Potato Famine refugee from County Monaghan, in Ulster, who established himself in Rhode Island and became a titan of the rubber industry; Banigan become president
. Charles Artaud Byrne, MS, Lt.-Col. U.S. AF (retired), “Ranelagh: The Irish Warlord” (Tate Publishing Company, 2008)
Byrne brings one of Ireland’s ancient and respected families to vivid life. His epic of the O’Byrne family begins in 16th Century County Wicklow, as they struggle to counter English aggression and maintain their landholdings. The story continues through their emigration to America in 1818, settling in Catholic Baltimore, with insights into what is to
William J. Matthews, Ph.D., “The Irish Famine (An Gorta Mor) 1845-1849”
The great Irish famine was a horrific period in Irish history of incredible calamity, suffering, and death. The proximal cause of this disaster was the Irish dependence on the potato crop and, of course, the subsequent blight. However, the ensuing disaster caused by the loss of the potato crop was exacerbated by political, economic, and
Denny Lynch, Photographer, MS, BS, “The Battle of Baltimore, September 1814”
Photographer and Baltimore native, Denny Lynch will share his fascinating slide illustrated talk about the Battle of Baltimore. It was in September of 1814 that American soldiers stood up once more to one of Europe's great military powers. Many of these soldiers were Irish. With his photographic images, Denny will highlight the main events and
John F. Quinn, Ph.D., “The Rise of Catholicism in Newport, 1880-1950” (an “encore” presentation hosted by Cluny School, 75 Brenton Road, Newport)
In 1800 there were scarcely any Catholics in Newport, but by the mid-19th Century their numbers had risen dramatically, driven by immigration from Ireland. By 1880, the city’s one Catholic parish had grown so large that it had to be divided. Over the next seven decades, the Catholic Church continued to expand its presence in
Edward T. McCarron, Ph.D., “From the Nore Valley to North America: Migrations from the Parish of Inistioge, County Kilkenny”
Professor McCarron received his B.A. from Drew University, his M.A. from Florida State University, and his Ph.D. from the University of New Hampshire. His courses at Stonehill include "Irish-American Experience”; “The Immigrant Experience in American History” and "Ireland: From Colony to Nation State”. Dr. McCarron has written numerous articles including "Altered States: Turone Migration to
Edward T. O’Donnell, Ph.D., “Compassion & Corruption: The Political Machine and the Irish American Experience”
Historian Edward T. O'Donnell’s talk will explore the origins and workings of the “political machine” and why the Irish were uniquely suited to take advantage of it. He will also discuss the Irish political machine as an agent of charity and social welfare in an era when the poor had few places to turn for
Joyce M. Botelho, M.A. – “Nora Mulloy’s Newport”
American writer Thornton Wilder once described Newport as a community made up of nine cities, each with its separate identity. Like Theophilus North’s fictional Newport of 1926, each city has its own story to tell and Nora Mulloy’s is one of them. Born in County Roscommon Ireland, Nora Mulloy immigrated to Newport and like many