By Tom DeignanThe year was 1997 and I was fresh out of college, with a head full of words and dreams, an ambition to tell stories that were not being told, and to dive into the hurly-burly of big ideas about America and the world. In other words, I really needed a job. By then I had already been corresponding (which is to say, pestering) great wordsmiths and storytellers like … [Read more...] about Hamill’s Best Piece of Writing
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Saint Pete of Brooklyn
By Terry GeorgeI’ve met a few true geniuses in my life: the actor Daniel Day Lewis, the orator Bernadette Devlin McAliskey, the musician Van Morrison. I’ve been lucky to meet a few living saints; Bishop Desmond Tutu, the priest Desie Wilson, but I’ve met only one genius/saint; a person who combined almost unquantifiable talent in a particular field combined with a level of … [Read more...] about Saint Pete of Brooklyn
John Hume: Hero in Irish Peace Process
In July 1998, the Northern Ireland power-sharing government sat for the first time. It was an incredible historic breakthrough and John Hume could take full credit, even though he was in fading health. Senator Edward Kennedy among others came to witness his incredible achievement. It was an honor to be there on the day. STORMONT, JULY 1998: He shuffled rather than walked from … [Read more...] about John Hume: Hero in Irish Peace Process
A Leader who Championed Peace
By Deaglán de BréadúnThe recent passing of John Hume evoked comparisons with other Irish leaders who sought in their time to advance the cause of Irish self-government and independence by peaceful means. The greatest achievement of Daniel O’Connell (1775-1847) was Catholic Emancipation: he played a leading role in ending the ban on Catholics from sitting in parliament and … [Read more...] about A Leader who Championed Peace
A Guide for the Goyim
By Ted SmythThree years ago, I read Pete Hamill’s essay, “Notes for the New Irish: A Guide for the Goyim,” in New York magazine’s special Irish Edition in March 1972. What a revelation that turned out to be. Lurking behind the cover of a vivid, burning green Irish harp, between ads for Benson and Hedges and Sony stereos, Pete wrote one of the best descriptions ever of the … [Read more...] about A Guide for the Goyim