“Towards an Irish Diaspora Policy”: authors seek feedback

Two Maynooth academics have published “Towards an Irish Diaspora Strategy: A Position Paper”. Mark Boyle, a Geography professor, and Rob Kitchim, the Director of the National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis and Chair of the Irish Social Services Platform, are welcoming feedback on the working paper, which is published by the NIRSA. The paper… Continue reading “Towards an Irish Diaspora Policy”: authors seek feedback

US agency warns of tighter ID requirements

The Emerald Isle Immigration Center in the US and the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers are alerting us to heightened security measures in the US that will tighten requirements on documents needed to pass through  checkpoints.  Anyone travelling through the US must have proper ID when crossing the border and even when travelling internally. The… Continue reading US agency warns of tighter ID requirements

Martin McDonagh’s Irish roots explored

Martin McDonagh, the acclaimed second-generation Irish playwright, is featured in a Guardian profile that highlights the impact of his Irish background. The article picks up on criticisms that the award-winning writer of the Leenane Trilogy is prone to “paddywhackery”. His critics, the article says, argue that the use and overuse of Irish characters who are,… Continue reading Martin McDonagh’s Irish roots explored

World Bank publishes latest Migration and Remittances Factbook

The World Bank has published the “Migration and Remittances Factbook 2008”. It gives a host of statistics on international migration and remittances for 194 countries. In 2007, recorded remittance flows worldwide were estimated at $318 million, of which $240 million went to developing countries; including informal remittances would significantly enlarge the volume. The Factbook reports… Continue reading World Bank publishes latest Migration and Remittances Factbook

Paul Muldoon on Irish immigration to the US

A website called Bigthink.com has an interesting video feature in which it has asked poet Paul Muldoon the question, “How do you relate to the Irish Diaspora?” The Irish-born poet, who lives in Princeton, discusses his feelings toward Famine emigrants, the Scots-Irish, and Presbyterian legacy in his adopted town, as well as the welcome the… Continue reading Paul Muldoon on Irish immigration to the US