Excellent letter in the Irish Times reminding us that Irish builders did not build the White House as indicated by the Taoiseach this week. It was build by slaves including those owned by the Irish architect James Hoban.
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This is the sort of un-problematised Irish-American history that I worry might become a feature of a proposed new Irish-American museum in Washington. Museum to honour Irish people’s contributions to the United States is proposed for Washington
Such narrow views of Irish history of Paddys doing great need to be understood within context of Irish contributions to settler-colonialism in America and of Irish participation in as well as opposition to slavery in America. This is a complex story and it needs to be presented as such
It would be good if our political and cultural leadership could avoid cliche and partial histories when selling Ireland. Better history makes better more inclusive stories about ourselves and allows us to better reflect on our contemporary society and where it comes from
A man from Co Down did burn the White House down tho on behalf of the British army. Ross would have been Irish @ the time. Big monument to him in my home village. As you say, complex & not captured in “Irish built America” sound bites. Same for australia https://www.newulsterbiography.co.uk/index.php/home/viewPerson/1902
An architect to whom there are two monuments in Callan. One in the town, seemingly not popular with everyone, and another rather baffling one on a rural roadside, built by architecture students from the Catholic University of America in Washington.
These are fascinating especially the Catholic Uninversity one. A intrigued by how this has become part of the Irish-American narrative of success through adversity and national character. The graffiti is also interesting - no everyone agrees with above narrative obv!
There is a hotel called after him in Kilkenny too. He is mostly looked on as a proud son of the county here, though tbf I'm not sure too many are aware of the full story.
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https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025/03/12/museum-to-honour-irish-peoples-contributions-to-the-united-states-is-proposed-for-washington/
You would reach more people, when you add a good description into the Alt-text field.
That is pretty easy, especially, when your image just contain text.
This way, you support visually impaired people and everyone else, who rely on a good filled Alt-text.
#accessibility