Being New York, Being Irish

New York University''s Glucksman Ireland House opened a quarter-century ago to foster the study of Ireland and Irish America, and since then has led and witnessed tremendous changes in Irish and Irish-American culture.

Alice McDermott writes about her son''s Irish awakening; Colum McCann''s Joycean essay is a brilliant call to action in defence of immigrants and social justice; Colm Tóibín''s first visit to New York coincided with the first St Patrick''s Day parade led by a woman; Dan Barry reflects on Frank McCourt''s Angela''s Ashes; and a new poem by Seamus Heaney written not long before his death.

Through deeply personal essays that reflect on their own experience, research and art, some of the best-known Irish writers on both sides of the Atlantic commemorate the House''s anniversary by examining what has changed, and what has not, in Irish and Irish-American culture, art, identity, and politics since 1993.