Category: Latest News

A gem of a quote from “Angela’s Ashes” author Frank McCourt, speaking at the Yakima Hall Town Hall lecture series in the US state of Washington this month. Referring to his status as a Limerick native living in New York, he said: “I have this hyphen: Irish-American. The Atlantic Ocean is my hyphen.â€? Read the… Continue reading Frank McCourt on his oceanic ties

About 250 Irish people live in the Cayman Islands, according to a report on Cayman Net News. The news service interviews several Irish natives, who report that the sun, the beaches and the relaxed lifestyle of the Carribean nation were major draws. While several noted they miss familiar Irish favourites such as Tayto and a… Continue reading Cayman Irish love sun, beaches – and GAA

The United States has opened the application period for diversity visas. The Diversity Visa lottery attracts over 5 million applicants every year for a total of 50,000 permanent visas to the US. Last year, Irish people won around 130 of these visas. To apply, interested people should visit www.dvlottery.state.gov. This is the only official way… Continue reading US opens Diversity Visa application period

The organisers of a festival celebrating the links between southeast Ireland and Newfoundland will begin marketing their festival to the whole world as a way of celebrating the Irish diaspora. The Festival of the Sea has been running since 2005, and is a joint project between organisers in Waterford, Wexford and Kilkenny and in Newfoundland… Continue reading Ireland-Newfoundland festival to go global

Emigration will increase as the unemployment rate hits 8% next year, according to predictions by the Economic and Social Research Institute. The ESRI says there will be 180,000 people out of work in 2009, as the economy continues to shrink. The organisation says that net emigration will reach 30,000 in 2009, as the number of… Continue reading Unemployment forecast to reach 11-year high

The Irish Times provides yet another example of how the Irish experience as an emigrant nation is being replicated among our community of immigrants. Magda Jelonkiewicz writes today of how, after six years of living in Ireland, she is joining the thousands of Poles who are returning home. As she pondered her decision, she found… Continue reading Polish woman’s return echoes Irish experience