Here’s what happened when US Army troops deserted to join the enemy
Like many Irish immigrants, John Riley fled Ireland in the middle of the Great Famine, looking for a way to survive in a place where he could thrive. Having served…
5 reasons Route Irish was the most nerve-racking road in Iraq
Once dubbed “the world’s most dangerous road,” the 7.5-mile stretch from Baghdad’s Green Zone to the airport was called “Route Irish” during the American-led occupation of Iraq.
It was a fitting introduction to the country during th…
Margaret Corbin was the first woman to receive a pension for her military service
John Corbin was part of the gun crews manning two cannons as Hessian mercenaries fought to take Northern Manhattan from the patriot army fortified there. As the battle wore on,…
How an Irishwoman from Hong Kong ended up fighting the Spanish in the Philippines
On October 3, 1876, Marie Josephine Leopoldine Bracken was born at Victoria Barracks in Hong Kong. Her father was an Irishman serving in the British Army. That explains an Irishwoman…
The original ‘Iron Mike’ was an Irish firefighter who would not die
The Great Depression was a tough time in America. Today we can see the effects of 10-11 percent unemployment due to the economic slowdown caused by COVID-19. Imagine what life in the United States would be like if unemployment was around 50 percent.…
This Irish woman shot and almost killed Mussolini in 1926
Benito Mussolini was a bad person. I don’t think there’s any argument against that. The Italian dictator is one of the biggest mass murderer in history. Moreover, his fascist totalitarian…
Meet the Irish American battalion that en masse defected to Mexico
A bit of far off Irish-American-Mexican history brings to light a lesser-known chapter of Irish military service – the time that 265 Irish service members defected.
Some called them heroes; others called them traitors. The Irish immigrants w…
The best Single Malt Irish Whiskey to drink this St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day is nearly upon us and so is the flavorless onslaught of cheap, green beer dully visible through red solo cups. Midwestern brewed pilsner paired with a few drops of food coloring seems a poor way to celebrate the Irish. We prefer t…