James “Jim” Coyne: The Father of the Irish Memorial

[photo above] James Coyne is central to the massive bronze sculpture in memory of The Great Hunger. By Marita Krivda Poxon   A splendid afternoon and evening occurred on Saturday, October 26th, 2013 when the Board of Directors of the… Continue Reading

Memorial Ceremony Honors Irish Patriots Buried in St. Anne Cemetery

An Honor Ceremony was held on December 7, 2013 at St. Anne Church and Cemetery recognizing the Civil War heritage of the parish featuring the 150th Anniversary of the death of Lt. Col. Peter McAloon. McAloon was born in Kinawley,… Continue Reading

Dan O’Reilly and JFK

Photo Courtesy of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum By John Rossi Elections, especially Presidential ones, were major events in my politically active family. My first election memory was the 1948 Presidential campaign. My family were all Republicans… Continue Reading

Called to Serve: A History of Nuns in America

By Margaret M. McGuinness New York University Press. 2013 2013, 277 pages, hardcover, $35 Available in eBook   Book Jacket (above): Sisters Ann Marguerite (left), Saint Albert (middle), and Francis Agnes (right) at Cecilian Academy, Philadelphia. Courtesy of Archives, Sisters… Continue Reading

Sisters of Saint Joseph of Philadelphia Who Were Nurses in the Civil War

(Editor’s Note: The following is an excerpt from “One With”— Magazine of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Philadelphia, Spring 2013) By Sister Roberta Archibald SSJ Their ministry of healing had its roots in a centuries-old tradition of caring for… Continue Reading

Col. O’Kane and His Men—Irish Heroism at Gettysburg

Irish patriots—Valiant at Gettysburg Compiled by Katharine Gilbert Devoted father Dennis O’Kane was only a lieutenant colonel at Harpers Ferry, when he reacted to the crude comments of Col. Joshua Owen towards his daughter Mary Ann. He pulled Owen from his… Continue Reading

The Gallant 69th PA Volunteers at Gettysburg and Beyond

Caption: (above) Officers and staff of the 69th PA Volunteers. – Library of Congress  Irish patriots—Valiant at Gettysburg By Kerry L Bryan  This year we mark the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, that critical clash between the Army of Northern… Continue Reading

Patriot Action—My Great-Grandfather Color Sergeant David Kiniry, Company C of the 69th Pennsylvania Volunteers

Irish patriots—Valiant at Gettysburg By Karen Kiniry Hneleski with William F. Kiniry Jr. My father, who would have been 106 years old this December, told how he shared a bed in the family home with his grandfather, David Kiniry, and… Continue Reading

Are Ghost Writers the Only Ghosts at Port Richmond Bookstore?

(Above: From left: Greg Gillespie, Irish Edition writer Frank Dougherty, book dealer Dave Miller, and paranormal investigator John Levy discuss the weird occurrences taking place at Port Richmond Books. — Photo  |  Jim Talone) By Frank Dougherty Gregory Gillespie these days… Continue Reading