Annie Moore: The First Immigrant through Ellis Island
The Irish woman Annie Moore was the first person processed at the famous Ellis Island immigration station after it opened in 1892. Over the following 62 years nearly 12 million emigrants were processed there but Annie embodied this immigrant experience but who was this Irish woman?In this episode, Fin and Damian interview Megan Smolenyak, a genealogist who has written a book titled The Quest for Annie Moore of Ellis Island: Uncovering the True Story of the First Immigrant to Arrive at America's Isle of Hope. The podcast explores Annie's life in Ireland, how she rose to fame as the first emigrant to pass through Ellis Island, and how she later faded into obscurity and was misidentified until Megan began to research her story.Megan Smolenyak is one of the best known genealogists of Irish America. She is the former Chief Family Historian and spokesperson for Ancestry.com and has appeared on programmes such Good Morning America, the Today Show, the Early Show, CNN, NPR and BBC and has consulted on shows like Who Do You Think You Are? She is the author of six books,including Hey, America, Your Roots Are Showing and Who Do You Think You Are?: The Essential Guide to Tracing Your Family History. Check out Megan's website https://megansmolenyak.com/For more info on Ellis Island. Ellis Island National Park Service Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Irish Emigrant Nuns: What was convent life like?
Irish nuns are one of the enduring stereotypes of Irish emigrant communities. Thousands of Irish women joined these religious communities often erving as educators and nurses. In these roles they embedded themselves deeply in the communities they served leaving a lasting memory. In this episode, Damian and Fin interview Dr. Sophie Cooper of Queen’s University Belfast, an expert on the subject. We look at who these women were, why they joined and what life was like inside the convents where they livedThe discussion focuses on the fascinating case of Molly Dwyer, Fin’s grandaunt, who served as a nun in Dakota in the early 20th century. Molly left a vivid account of her life through a series of letters written to her brother, offering a unique window into the experiences of Irish nuns abroad.Our guest, Dr Sophie Cooper, Queen's University Belfast has published extensively on this topic. You can find her work here—including her book Forging Identities in the Irish World: Melbourne and Chicago, c. 1830–1922 here. If you have any correspondence or stories relating to the female religious diaspora in your family, Dr. Cooper would love to hear from you!Check out Fin’s podcast episode on his grandaunt Molly’s life as a nun here https://shows.acast.com/irishhistory/episodes/letters-from-dakotaSound Kate Dunlea Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The Titanic: Irish Connections
The Titanic is unquestionably one of the most famous ships in history. Since it sank in 1912, it has been the focus of an endless stream of books, movies, and documentaries. In this episode, recorded in Titanic's final port of call—Cobh—Fin and Damian explore the Irish connections. It was not only built by Irish workers in an Irish shipyard, but many of the crew and passengers were also Irish.SourcesSenan Molony, The irish Aboard Titanicvisitcobh.comKnow Thy Place Titanic Irish MapEncyclopedia Titanica Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Who Did the Irish Support in the American Revolution?
America won its independence from the British in the 1770s. Although not widely known, the Irish played a significant role in the conflict. They fought in several key battles, and numerous signatories of the Declaration of Independence were Irish – it was even printed by an Irishman. However, that’s not the full story, as many Irish also fought in the British Army.Join Damian and Fin as they pick apart the history.SourcesJohn Barry Dictionary of Irish Biography Pierce Butler Dictionary of Irish Biography John Dunlap and the U.S. Declaration of Independence Don N Hagist, Roger Lamb's American Revolution: A British Soldier's Story Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The Irish in Pennsylvania Coal Country
Pennsylvania has a long history of coal mining. In the late 19th century, the conditions in the coalfields were atrocious leading to major conflict between the miners and the mine owners. The most notorious incident involved the execution of twenty Irish immigrants for their role in what was dubbed the Molly Maguires, a secret society of miners. While the convictions were based on dubious testimonies, they have become synonymous with the hard lives in these mining communities.In this episode, Damian and Fin are joined by Jake Wynn. Jake is a historian and expert in the mining history of Pennsylvania. In this podcast, we explore the fascinating history of the Irish in Pennsylvania's Coal Country.Check out Jake Website Wynning HistoryListen to Jake's podcast Public History with Jake and Justin Podcast is excellent!------------------------------------Other resources on the topic Book: Kevin Kenny. Making Sense of the Molly MaguiresBook: Mark Bulik. The Sons of Molly Maguire: THe Irish Roots of America's First Labor WarEckley Miner's Village MuseumSound by Kate Dunlea Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
About Transatlantic: An Irish American History Podcast
3,000 miles of ocean separate Ireland from the USA, but both countries share a deep and intertwined history. Links between North America and Ireland predate Columbus, stretching back over 1,000 years. Since then, Irish people have shaped the history of the United States. From Ann 'Goody' Glover, who was hanged as a witch in Boston in the 17th century, to JFK, the story of the Irish in the US is fascinating. Join historians Damian Sheils and Fin Dwyer as they join forces to explore the good, the bad, and the ugly of Irish American history.In Season 1 Fin and Damian explore fascinating topics includingWho was the first Irish person to cross the Atlantic?The Story of Goody Glover who was hanged as a witch in Boston.What was it like to emigrate during the Great Famine of the 1840s?How Irish people shaped the US Civil War?And much more...Subscribe and join Fin and Damian on this fascinating journey through our history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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