Given the problems he's faced with these days – health care, Iraq and now the exodus of Democrats such as Patrick Kennedy and Evan Bayh from the House and Senate – President Obama probably looks back fondly on the days when the biggest problem in his life was a bunch of angry Irish Catholics at Notre Dame. more>

The re-election of New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn is a hugely important development for the Irish-American community. more>

Senator Dodd's (D-CT) retirement means the Irish lobby has now lost its two most prominent leaders. more>

The father of a 9/11 victim is protesting his town's decision to erect a memorial to his deceased son. What could possibly be the objection? more>

The passing of Senator Ted Kennedy leaves a gap as wide as Dunloe for Irish America and the Irish gov­ernment. Unless we seri­ously up our game, the Kennedy era will be seen as the zenith of our influence on Capitol Hill. more>

Recently writer Niall Stanage declared the demise of the Irish vote in America. Stanage, from a Unionist background, may be working with an image of an earlier time, when all Irish-American political needs were met by political dynasties like the Kennedys. If that is what he is talking about then he is correct. That era has long since passed and the nature of American politics has changed. more>

New York City's Irish community is saddened by a spate of suicides within the community in the last six weeks and is eager to put pre­ventative measures in place for the future. more>

"There will be plen­ty more Irish coming over here very soon because it's so bad. I hope ILIR is able to do something for them, and me." said Alan, 25, a native of Co. Limerick who has been working in New York for the past four months.

AUDIO :: In February, Ciaran Staunton, Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, said the Government must develop a new strategy as the numbers emigrating to the US increases. more>

The Irish economy has been dealt a serious blow with the U.S. government signaling it is to target 2.5 billion euros of Irish tax revenues in the near future. more>

Eugene Collum, a Donegal native and proprietor of Eileen’s Country Kitchen in Yonkers, told the Irish Voice that October was his quietest month in eight years. more>

“This idea is one of our best exports to the United States,” said Irish President Mary McAleese at the N.Y. launching. more>

Compared to Ireland, Mick O’Brien feels the safety regulations in the construction business in New York are a disgrace. more>

In response to Irish pro-immigrant activists claim that he abandoned the cause for undocumented Irish in the United States, former Irish Prime Minister responds: "I firmly believe that the government’s record on behalf of the undocumented and all our emigrants in the United States is second to none." more>

Life was full of contentment for the Byrne family. That was until things took an unexpected turn for the worst when at 5 a.m. on July 28, 2006, 20 U.S. federal marshals surrounded their home and arrested Byrne. more>

With Senator John McCain, leading in the Republican race, and Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, neck and neck on the Democratic side, the omens are good, says Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform Executive Director Kelly Fincham. more>

Irish immigration centers across the United States are reporting an influx of new Irish immigrants over the past few months, specifically in the month of January. A worsening Irish economy appears to be behind much of the new influx. more>

I thought of Jose from Ecuador, an undocumented immigrant I met recently. He showed his daughter’s picture. She’s 12 and he hasn’t seen her in 11 years. His Western Union money order helps her attend school and his family survives. Michael Reagan and Patrick Kennedy would have approved of this good and decent family man. I suspect their famous off-spring would have too. more>

When a union of health care workers in New York joined forces with health care organizations in Ireland, they never imagined in their wildest dreams the success and progress that would take place in a short few years. more>

The father of four, who fled Belfast in 1988 after the Red Hand Commando paramilitaries came within inches of killing his family, hopes the politicians in his home state of New Jersey will support his campaign to stay in the United States. more>

Although Michael Bloomberg has not officially declared his presidential candidacy, it is likely that if he makes a run for the presidency, he will call upon some close Irish-American pals who have helped him win in the past. more>

There was an interesting moment during an episode of The Sopranos a few weeks back. One character recalled that his immigrant ancestors came from Italy into the United States by way of Canada. He paused, then added, “They should build a wall these days, though.” This is a stark example of what you might call immigration schizophrenia: a profound confusion when it comes to one’s personal ethnic history and immigration in general. more>

On the one hand, we have a narrative about more and more Irish going home and fewer and fewer coming out. On the other, Irish activities and events have never been so vibrant in New York. more>

No matter how you cut it, the Iraq war is an utter disaster for the U.S. nation at home and abroad. The massive blunder will haunt America's image abroad for a generation. more>

Like the British during the Northern Ireland conflict, the United States thought they would send their army to Iraq for a few brief months, perhaps a year, and then get out. Instead they found themselves in an intractable mess. more>

According to the author, in the politically correct universe of The New York Times, it is not good enough for a white ethnic community to stand up and proclaim its need to help its own by achieving immigration reform. more>

An Irish American Iraq war veteran has gone public with his opposition to the war in Iraq. With the launch of his www.appealforredress.org site, Sergeant Liam Madden is showing his support for the troops, by urging the government to bring them home. more>

The author claims that Britain’s class-ridden society breeds such a sense of alienation that some of its citizens turn to terrorism to challenge the whole structure of power. more>

For the slow learners in Congress, Bloomberg spelled out that immigrants have had a huge hand in New York City’s prosperity. more>

Sister Regina Fahy, who has lived legally in New Hampshire since the 1970s, wants the same respect as U.S. citizens. more>

“The Irish come here, too, and don’t go back,” said Ronald Lewandowski, founder of the Minutemen NY chapter. “And now they own businesses in Montauk. The simple fact is, what part of illegal they don’t understand.” more>

“The Irish are the key to this issue. You have tremendous power and if anyone can do it, the Irish can do it,” said Senator McCain, while pledging his support for illegal Irish immigrants. more>

Irish law professor Ivana Bacik claims that Fordham University cancelled her lecture on October 7 because of her campaign to legalize abortion in Ireland. Bacik was the second lecturer to pull out amid accusations that Fordham is suppressing academic freedom. more>

“I’m undocumented, or illegal, whatever you want to call it. That makes me deportable every single morning I wake up, and I’m always afraid because of that,” says a young Irish mother. more>

The hard truth of the matter is that other big city fire departments have managed to diversify at a much faster pace than the FDNY. However, Justice Department investigators currently on the FDNY’s case should approach this delicate issue with caution. Apparently, it is a “family matter” for the Irish. more>

A battle is raging in Brooklyn. Yes, in 2005, dueling Irish American factions of the Brooklyn Democratic Party are still waging war with each other over accusations of fraud, intimidation, clubhouse politicking and more. more>

In the past, Irish immigrants have headed home to educate their children ¡V education is free in Ireland. Slowly, some are discovering that NYC public schools can do just fine and are singing their praises. more>

Some argue that Irish immigrants with political pasts are being used by the Bush Administration to show that the U.S. government is not looking to deport only Arabs. Even a small increase in anti-Bush sentiment among Irish Americans could have implications come November. more>

There is a strange phenomenon occurring in shipping containers across America: Irish people are essentially building their homes inside them to be carried back to Ireland. It's less expensive. more>

Since the war on terrorism began, the United States government has clamped down on foreigners entering and leaving the country, that includes Irish workers. more>

Complicated requirements and paranoia that undocumented immigrants will be giving themselves up to Homeland Security if they apply online are some of the reasons for the low interest level. more>

Summer season brings thousands of Irish students to New York on J-1 visas, with hopes to earn money and have new experiences. But with the economy in the doldrums most are jobless and depressed. For many students, spending the summer back in Ireland is beginning to look like a better option. more>

Bridget Reuter, 61, a grandmother, U.S. resident, and the wife of a veteran, traveled to Ireland to attend a wedding and was not allowed to re-enter the U.S. from Shannon. more>

Irish students arriving in Queens and the Bronx may discover flyers for apartments without broker’s fees or a credit standard, but these students are being duped. The advertised number is a scam that requires students to pay high calling charges and does not deliver the promised “no fee” apartments. more>

For many young Irish immigrants, America is a stop on the way to owning a home back in Ireland. But six-percent inflation threatens those plans, and Irish natives in the States are in denial. more>

I liked the movie…though any script exploring Famine immigration, the New York City Draft Riots and 1860s politics would have been fine by me. The script also explores an interesting point about the rise of Irish political power: Even when the majority becomes the minority, you can’t ignore or forget them (even if they seem bigoted or narrow-minded.) New minorities may not have a hatchet—like Daniel Day Lewis’ character—but they have a vote. more>

The New York St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee enjoys a cozy relationship with the New York Post, but the committee seems utterly blind to the anti-peace process agenda of the Rupert Murdoch-owned, pro-British New York Post. more>

Ten Irish citizens, unaware that the INS is now searching trains near the borders, were caught without legal documents. Because they overstayed their visas, they have since been deported. more>

Irish bar owners are hopping mad about Mayor Bloomberg’s new proposal to ban smoking in bars and restaurants. Many bar and restaurant owners believe it will have a devastating affect on their businesses and are banding together to tell the mayor to butt out. more>

There are striking similarities between the recent financial scandals in Ireland and the United States which have made such a deep impact on both sides of the Atlantic. more>

An enthusiastic group of U.S.-based Irish political junkies braved the extremely wet weather last Saturday morning and gathered at O’Neill’s in Manhattan to watch results from the Irish election. more>

The Brooklyn Diocese recently announced that two dozen Catholic schools in Brooklyn and Queens will be closed or consolidated. Irish Americans are raising money and trying to keep the schools open, but with annual tuition running near $3,000, middle class families are having trouble affording them. more>