On this day in 1998, President Bill Clinton followed in the footsteps of fellow Irish American President John F. Kennedy and became a Freeman of Limerick. This day also marked the last day of President Clinton's visit to Ireland. During this visit, both Bill and Hillary visited the town of Omagh, which was still suffering the effects of the car bombing a month prior. … [Read more...] about September 5, 1998
Archives for September 1998
Footsteps of the Past
By Margaret M. Johnson
September/October 1998
The Queenstown Story Their names were Peter, Jack, Nora, Maggie, Minnie and Kate, and one by one, the Sullivan children left Bounard, County Kerry, for Boston. They eventually made their way to Newburyport, where my grandmother, Minnie, married a Cork lad named James Barry. In my eyes, the most fascinating souvenir of the journey was my grandmother's trunk, mostly black, but … [Read more...] about Footsteps of the Past
Gerry Adams Up Close & Personal
By Anne Cadwallader
September/October 1998
History will be the ultimate jury, but Sinn Féin leader, Gerry Adams, one of the architects of the lrish peace process, is likely to emerge as one of the key Irish politicians of the 20th century. Unionists see him as a machiavellian schemer, with no commitment to peace and reconciliation with their tradition. The SDLP -- and one suspects the British government -- are also … [Read more...] about Gerry Adams Up Close & Personal
United in Grief
At 3:10 p.m. on Saturday, August 22nd, the dream of a united Ireland was finally realized. Protestant, Catholic and Church of Ireland bells rang in all parts of the island signifying a striking moment of unity. Was this a dream realized or a nightmare lived? The bells tolled out not in celebration, but in mourning, and all over the island of Ireland, people stopped whatever … [Read more...] about United in Grief