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The Irish Times site for Irish readers overseas

Maureen O’Carroll playing with her sisters Cathleen and Patricia. Photograph courtesy of Leora O’Carroll

The patriotic cellist who refused to play Rule, Britannia!

J Patrick Greene
August 11, 2020

Maureen O’Carroll, daughter of 1916 Rising activists, went on to play with Frank Sinatra

Nancy Cunard, the interwar poet and rebel descended from Robert Emmet’s family

Nancy Cunard, the interwar poet and rebel descended from Robert Emmet’s family

Maurice J Casey
August 4, 2020

The writer worked with Beckett and Joyce, and fought against racism

The bard from Ballymena who got too homesick in Canada

The bard from Ballymena who got too homesick in Canada

Nathan Mannion
July 28, 2020

David Herbison survived shipwreck en route to North America, but only lasted weeks before he decided to return

The Dublin-born journalist who became a foreign correspondent in Imperial Russia

The Dublin-born journalist who became a foreign correspondent in Imperial Russia

Maurice J Casey
July 22, 2020

EJ Dillon counted Tolstoy and Dostoevsky among his personal aquaintances

‘Mother Mooney’, the Mayo woman who campaigned for justice for her wronged son

‘Mother Mooney’, the Mayo woman who campaigned for justice for her wronged son

Maurice Casey
July 14, 2020

Mary Mooney became an icon in a campaign for US political prisoners in the early 1930s

The Irish-American who led the last invasion of Britain

The Irish-American who led the last invasion of Britain

Nathan Mannion
July 8, 2020

Colonel William Tate commanded the French military force ‘La Legion Noire’, that led to the Battle of Fishguard in 1797

The Dublin inventor who was an early pioneer of high speed photography

The Dublin inventor who was an early pioneer of high speed photography

Nathan Mannion
June 29, 2020

Lucien Bull went to Belvedere College before emigrating to Paris to study zoology, botany and geology

The Irishman who was one of Britain’s most prominent spies

The Irishman who was one of Britain’s most prominent spies

Nathan Mannion
June 22, 2020

James Talbot, from Malahide, coordinated a spy network that stretched from St Petersburg to Lisbon

The Tipperary man who fell in love while fighting in the Spanish Civil War

The Tipperary man who fell in love while fighting in the Spanish Civil War

Maurice Casey
June 16, 2020

Irish soldier John O’Reilly married African American nurse Salaria Kea in 1937

The Irishwoman who became known as ‘the White Woman of the Genesee’

The Irishwoman who became known as ‘the White Woman of the Genesee’

Nathan Mannion
June 12, 2020

The story of an Irish migrant who was part of both Native American and European society

The Irishman known as the ‘Prince of Pickpockets’ who became a policeman

The Irishman known as the ‘Prince of Pickpockets’ who became a policeman

Nathan Mannion
June 1, 2020

George Barrington, from Co Kildare, gained a reputation for his colourful escapades as a thief

The Irishwoman who quit teaching to become one of Ireland’s first blues singers

The Irishwoman who quit teaching to become one of Ireland’s first blues singers

Nathan Mannion
May 26, 2020

The performer sang alongside some of the great American jazz musicians

The Irish-American who became the first millionaire west of the Mississippi

The Irish-American who became the first millionaire west of the Mississippi

Nathan Mannion
May 15, 2020

At the height of the gold rush, Samuel Brannan was earning $150,000 a month

The man who left life as a barrister to become British envoy to Afghanistan

The man who left life as a barrister to become British envoy to Afghanistan

Nathan Mannion
April 20, 2020

William Macnaghten could have been a renowned in the legal profession in his native Ulster

The Irish soldier and police officer who became an Australian explorer

The Irish soldier and police officer who became an Australian explorer

Patrick Greene
April 7, 2020

Extraordinary Emigrants: The Galway man was known as ‘quick tempered and tender-hearted’

Typhoid Mary: The Irishwoman blamed for bringing a deadly disease to New York

Typhoid Mary: The Irishwoman blamed for bringing a deadly disease to New York

Nathan Mannion
March 24, 2020

Mary Mallon, a cook, was vilified and suffered extreme punishment for something she had no control over

The Waterford woman who put Ireland on the international fashion map

The Waterford woman who put Ireland on the international fashion map

Nathan Mannion
March 18, 2020

Extraordinary Emigrant: Sybil Connolly dressed some of the world’s most glamorous women from Jackie Kennedy to Elizabeth Taylor

The forgotten Irishwoman who once ruled the New York fashion industry

The forgotten Irishwoman who once ruled the New York fashion industry

Nathan Mannion
February 18, 2020

Dubliner Carmel Snow gave Truman Capote his first major platform, and launched Dior and Balenciaga in the US market

The Waterford man who married Napoleon Bonaparte’s niece

The Waterford man who married Napoleon Bonaparte’s niece

Nathan Mannion
February 11, 2020

Politician Thomas Wyse was one of only five Catholics to win a seat in the House of Commons in 1829

The mysterious Irishman who was the first westerner ordained a Buddhist monk

The mysterious Irishman who was the first westerner ordained a Buddhist monk

Nathan Mannion
January 3, 2020

The outspoken Dubliner, who won the respect and admiration of the Burmese people, was found guilty of sedition

The grandson of an Irish nationalist who became ‘Boy Mayor of New York’

The grandson of an Irish nationalist who became ‘Boy Mayor of New York’

Nathan Mannion
September 3, 2019

John Purroy Mitchel was elected age 34 with the highest share of the vote ever recorded

What brought so many Irish people to live in Zimbabwe?

What brought so many Irish people to live in Zimbabwe?

Joseph Woods
June 21, 2019

First St Patrick’s day celebrated on 1891 in a roofless mud-hut building with whiskey, gin and ham

The trailblazing Galway nun who helped eradicate TB from Southeast Asia

The trailblazing Galway nun who helped eradicate TB from Southeast Asia

June 5, 2019

Cathleen Monahan became a medic and trained generations of Hong Kong doctors

The Scotch-Irish author of America’s best-selling reading primer

The Scotch-Irish author of America’s best-selling reading primer

May 27, 2019

William Holmes McGuffey's books sold more than 120 million copies

The Irish nun who opened schools for the deaf in Australia

The Irish nun who opened schools for the deaf in Australia

May 22, 2019

Sr Gabriel Hogan provided education for children whose needs would otherwise have been neglected

Elizabeth Bowen, the Big House heiress with the ‘constricted mind’

Elizabeth Bowen, the Big House heiress with the ‘constricted mind’

Jessica Traynor
May 17, 2019

Extraordinary Emigrants: Writer was a chronicler of her class in its dying days

Johnny Patterson, the Irish singing clown who met a tragic end

Johnny Patterson, the Irish singing clown who met a tragic end

Jessica Traynor
April 2, 2019

Clever songsmith’s irreverent wit was informed by his fluent Irish

The Waterford naval officer who became first governor of New Zealand

The Waterford naval officer who became first governor of New Zealand

Angela Byrne
March 26, 2019

William Hobson was implicated in the transfer of land from Maori to profit settlers

The Irish naval officers in imperial Russia

The Irish naval officers in imperial Russia

Angela Byrne
March 19, 2019

Irish military migrants sought opportunities in the expanding Russian Empire

Dubliner Frances Stewart, one of the first women pioneers in Canada

Dubliner Frances Stewart, one of the first women pioneers in Canada

Angela Byrne
March 12, 2019

Letters offer valuable account of loneliness of settler life in the 19th-century

Beatrice Grimshaw, the Belfast explorer treated as a ‘male chief’ on Samoa

Beatrice Grimshaw, the Belfast explorer treated as a ‘male chief’ on Samoa

Angela Byrne
March 5, 2019

She was also a sports journalist, travel writer, novelist, and plantation owner

Harry Ferguson, the ‘Mad Mechanic’ who invented the modern tractor

Harry Ferguson, the ‘Mad Mechanic’ who invented the modern tractor

Jessica Traynor
February 26, 2019

Before tractors, Ferguson was first in Ireland or Britain to build and fly his own plane

‘Bad Bridgets’: The criminal and deviant Irish women convicted in America

‘Bad Bridgets’: The criminal and deviant Irish women convicted in America

February 20, 2019

Lizzie Halliday, serial killer from Co Antrim, was dubbed ‘the worst woman on earth’

The Carlow man who became a US founding father (and one of the biggest slave owners)

The Carlow man who became a US founding father (and one of the biggest slave owners)

Nathan Mannion
February 12, 2019

Pierce Butler was one of three Irish immigrants to sign the US Constitution in 1787

The Westmeath emigrant who found himself at the heart of the Napoleonic wars

The Westmeath emigrant who found himself at the heart of the Napoleonic wars

Nathan Mannion
February 5, 2019

General Laval Nugent led 8,000 soldiers into Italy to depose ‘First Horseman of Europe’

Thomas Heazle Parke, the first Irishman to cross Africa

Thomas Heazle Parke, the first Irishman to cross Africa

Angela Byrne
January 29, 2019

Surgeon to the British army became a celebrity after bloody expedition to rescue governor

Tyrone Power, the actor who humanised the ‘stage Irishman’ stereotype

Tyrone Power, the actor who humanised the ‘stage Irishman’ stereotype

Jessica Traynor
January 22, 2019

Character was a comic staple on stage: sentimental, buffoonish, cowardly but popular

The ‘Irish Tinker Lady’ whose songs captivated London

The ‘Irish Tinker Lady’ whose songs captivated London

Angela Byrne
January 16, 2019

Margaret Barry shared a billing at the 1965 Newport Festival with Joan Baez and Bob Dylan

Mary Swanzy, one of Ireland’s leading modernist painters

Mary Swanzy, one of Ireland’s leading modernist painters

Jessica Traynor
January 9, 2019

Artist achieved success in her lifetime only to be relatively forgotten in death

Mary Lee, the Irishwoman who campaigned for women’s rights in Australia

Mary Lee, the Irishwoman who campaigned for women’s rights in Australia

Angela Byrne
January 2, 2019

Monaghan-born Lee became prominent suffragist and advocate for asylum residents

Juan O’Gorman, architect behind Mexico City’s most intriguing buildings

Juan O’Gorman, architect behind Mexico City’s most intriguing buildings

Jessica Traynor
December 26, 2018

Architect designed two houses for Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, linked by a bridge

Mabel Cahill, Irish tennis champion who won five US Opens

Mabel Cahill, Irish tennis champion who won five US Opens

Nathan Mannion
December 19, 2018

Forgotten Kilkenny player was the first non-American to win the title

How treasured objects help us create a home away from home

How treasured objects help us create a home away from home

Nathan Mannion
December 11, 2018

Irish nurse still has cardboard Christmas crib she brought to England in 1954

‘Cinderella Man’ James Braddock, the Irish-American boxer who became world champion

‘Cinderella Man’ James Braddock, the Irish-American boxer who became world champion

Jessica Traynor
December 5, 2018

Son of Irish immigrants with ‘more brawn than brains’ won 51 victories in 82 fights

Annie Besant, the first woman to endorse birth control

Annie Besant, the first woman to endorse birth control

Angela Byrne
November 27, 2018

London-Irishwoman was a trade unionist, socialist, and later an Indian nationalist

Josephine Hart, writer and ‘heroine’ who inspired Herstory

Josephine Hart, writer and ‘heroine’ who inspired Herstory

Angela Byrne
November 20, 2018

Hart harnessed early tragedy to become a publisher, writer, poetry promoter and television producer

Fanny Durack, the Irish-Australian who won the first women’s Olympic swimming medal

Fanny Durack, the Irish-Australian who won the first women’s Olympic swimming medal

Angela Byrne
November 13, 2018

Durack caused scandal by rejecting the modest woollen swimsuit for a close-fitting one

Flora Sandes, the only British female soldier to fight for the allies in WW1

Flora Sandes, the only British female soldier to fight for the allies in WW1

Angela Byrne
November 7, 2018

Daughter of Irish couple became Belgrade’s first taxi driver after Armistice

Daisy Bates, the Edwardian Irishwoman in the Australian outback

Daisy Bates, the Edwardian Irishwoman in the Australian outback

Jessica Traynor
October 23, 2018

Journalist spent four decades living among Aborigines, writing hundreds of articles

The Irish-American who invented the modern tattoo machine

The Irish-American who invented the modern tattoo machine

Emily Glynn-Farrell
October 18, 2018

Samuel O’Reilly’s invention made him famous and revolutionised the tattoo industry

Tracing the family tree A step-by-step guide to researching your Irish family ancestry

Picturing the Irish Diaspora Interactive gallery featuring your stories and pics from around the world

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