http://irishnyhistory.org/announ.htm

Saturday, December 4, 2010, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
McNally Amphitheatre at Fordham Law School, 140 West 62nd Street, Manhattan

The New York Irish and the Gaelic Revival in America and in Ireland

with special guest speakers Dr. Seamus Blake
and the Roundtable’s own John T. Ridge


Dr. Seamus Blake and John T. Ridge will discuss the major historical role that the New York Irish community took in stimulating the Gaelic Revival here in the United States and also back in Ireland.

From the WFUV website:

Seamus Blake sees a direct link between the efforts of the local Irish community and the fate of the language in Ireland. "Since so many Irish live in New York, attitudes here affect the attitudes in Ireland. New York has a major role, and the program Míle Fáilte has a major role." The growing number of course offerings in the Gaelic language at American universities and colleges reflects, as Blake puts it, "the roots phenomenon -- Irish people trying to learn their language."

Dr. Seamus Blake is the host of Míle Fáilte, the only bilingual radio program in North America devoted to fostering the Irish language. The show has recently celebrated its nineteenth anniversary of broadcasting over the airwaves of WFUV, the radio station of Fordham University, at 90.7 mHz. FM.

John T. Ridge is the Roundtable’s Vice-President of Local History, and like Dr. Blake, is New York born of Irish Immigrant parents who taught him to speak the language of their ancestors. John is a founding member of the New York Irish History Roundtable, and he has written many books and articles on the Irish in New York and in Brooklyn.

Attendance to this program is free, and all are welcome to come. There is a suggested donation of $3.00 to cover the cost of refreshments, which will be served during intermission.