Celebrating Ethnic Voices_Appreciating Irish Heritage USA

The Irish Brigade was an infantry brigade, consisting predominantly of Irish Americans, that served in the Union Army in the American Civil War. The designation of the first regiment in the brigade, the 69th New York Infantry, or the "Fighting 69th", continued in later wars. The Brigade saw action in Virginia 1864 Campaign from Northern Virginia to Petersburg, and Richmond, Virginia. Many remain buried along with Confederate brothers today along the Civil War national parks from Northern Virginia battlefields at Manassass, Fredricksburg, and down to Petersburg, VA near Richmond. My Memoryland Virginia 1864 ( A CTV show pending)

In World War I, the 69th Regiment was organized with mostly Irish Americans, under the 10th Infantry Division .

In sports, the Irish brought their native games of handball, hurling and Gaelic football to America. Along with camogie, these sports are part of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The North American GAA organization is still very strong.

Literary figures of Irish in America are significant, includes two Nobel Prize winners who have produced important classics are playwright Eugene O'Neill, novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald, social realist. 19th Century author Henry James, a part Irish, is still important in American literary heritage.

Spiritual heritage of Irish American is remembered by the St. Patrick's Day annually in many communities across America where parades and pagents keeps the Irish American heritage and ethnic voice alive in America.

Who was St. Patrick ? A fascinating story to help answer this question is a recent classic book, "How The Irish Saved Civiliaztion" by a scholar, Thomas Cahill (Anchor Book, 1995).

Here is my favorite quote from this book's Introduction :

" Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in our lifetime, therefore we must be saved by hope. Nothing that is true or beautiful or good in immediate context of history; therefore we must be saved by faith. Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone, therefore we must be saved by love. Reinhold Niebhur