In June 1997, Peck, who rarely gave interviews in his last years, sat down with Irish America Editor Patricia Harty. An edited version of that interview follows. "Will you pour?" The gentleman sitting across from me cracked a smile as I nodded and lifted the teapot, wondering if I would be able to complete the task without making a fool of myself. I felt as if I was in a … [Read more...] about Gregory Peck: A Class Act
Feature
Puddle Jumping
By Frank McCourt
The English Catholic martyr, St. Edmund Campion, lived in Dublin for a while in 1569 and here is what he wrote about the Irish: "The people are thus inclined: religious, franke, amorous, irefull, sufferable of paines infinite, very glorious, many sorcerers, excellent horsemen, delighted with warres, great almes-givers, passing in hospitalitie: the lewder sort both clarkes and … [Read more...] about Puddle Jumping
The Acting President
Martin Sheen, the star of The West Wing, is a complicated, ebullient tangle of philosophy, Catholicism, politics, altruism, and homespun wisdom.It's a disconcerting sight: The leader of the free world is, uh, combing his eyelashes with a small mascara applicator... Okay, so it's the make-believe leader of the free world. And it's not such a far-fetched notion that Martin Sheen … [Read more...] about The Acting President
Two Grandfathers
William Kennedy on his unsung origins.My grandfathers, George Kennedy and Peter McDonald, died before I was born. I came to know something of them through talks with my parents and other relatives, a few artifacts, death certificates and obituaries, and two photographs that defined them for me forever. Both photos are working-class portraits.The portrait of George Kennedy is … [Read more...] about Two Grandfathers
The Player
Mark O'Meara, golf's mister nice guy, is interviewed by John Kernaghan.Some men are defined by how they win, some by their bearing in defeat. For Mark O'Meara, golf's great grandson of Ireland, his composure on a day of personal loss but team triumph fleshes out a portrait of classical sportsman.The scene at the 17th green on the last day of the Ryder Cup competition at … [Read more...] about The Player