Show Notes
Sport became one of the most important ways Irish immigrants connected with one another, maintained ties to home and found their place in American society. In this episode, historian Mike Cronin (Academic Director of Boston College in Ireland) explores the Irish sporting experience in America: from the arrival of Gaelic games in the nineteenth century to the Irish presence in baseball, boxing, basketball and beyond.
From a GAA tour that saw Irish athletes travel across the United States to the rise of Irish-American baseball players, managers and owners, this conversation examines how sport could preserve Irish identity while also becoming a powerful vehicle for assimilation, social mobility and belonging.
More from Ireland and the Making of America
In this special bonus episode, co-hosts Liam Kennedy, Scott Lucas and producer Michelle May look back on Ireland and the Making of America, reflecting on the moments that surprised them most, the themes that connected every conversation, and why these stories matter in the era of America 250. From the Scots-Irish on the frontier to Hollywood, politics, literature, sport and identity, they revisit the insights that challenged familiar narratives and ask what the Irish-American story still has to teach us about belonging, migration and the future.
For more than a century, Irish actors, directors and filmmakers have helped shape Hollywood, both on screen and behind the camera. In this episode, film historian Ruth Barton (Professor in Film Studies at Trinity College Dublin) traces the Irish influence on American cinema - from silent-film pioneer Rex Ingram and John Ford's iconic westerns to today's Oscar-winning generation of Irish actors.
The story of Irish America is often told through the experiences of men, but Irish women played a central role in building immigrant communities across the United States. In this episode, historian Elizabeth Stack (Education Director for the Celtic Junction Arts Center) explores the lives of the largely forgotten women who crossed the Atlantic, often alone, to work, support their families and create networks that helped generations of Irish immigrants settle and thrive.
How did race shape the Irish experience in America? In this episode, historian Miriam Nyhan (Assistant Professor at Mary Immaculate College) explores how Irish immigrants navigated questions of race, identity and belonging in the United States, challenging many of the assumptions that surround the Irish-American story.
The story of Irish America is also a story of political influence. In this episode, historian and author Terry Golway explores how Irish immigrants integrated into and transformed American politics: from local political machines to the highest levels of public office.