the irish are more interesting. they had to put up with colonialism, just as puerto rico is a colony of the united states. i also respect the fact that they have a facility with language, which i also enjoy. consequently, i wondered why this attraction to the irish. in 2004, the university of puerto rico asked me to come there and lecture and read. i immediately called my favorite cousin, and she said, what are you doing here? i told her and i said, please come to the reading, i have a book for you. she came. she said my son is getting married tomorrow at the caribbean hilton, could you please come? and i went. i hadn't seen her in 30 years. we were kids together. and after the wedding, there was a reception and she introduced me to her daughters, very beautiful girls, then i met the last one, very beautiful, green eyes, and she said, i want you it meet my son. all this is in spanish, you know? so i said, sure. so she called these 3 boys over, about my complexion, curly hair, and this is barry, brian, and brady. you

the ticanelles. he is spanish and irish together. if we look at the history of the irish in cuba, most of the irish to went to cuba in the 18th and 19th centuries arrived from spain, some of them with the spanish royal armies; other irish influx arrived from the u.s. for the construction of railroads used to transport sugar cane to the sugar plantations. that was at the end of the 19th century. and then at the beginning of the 20th century, we're talking 1902, 1910, before odono that i mentioned before, this man who gave his name to -- he was very proud of this lighthouse. the cubans offer hospitality to general alexander alejandro o'reilly. he rose through the ranks of the spanish army. the spanish sent alexander o'reilly to cuba to form a militia. he was appointed governor of louisiana and head of the army later on. he arrived in august, 1769, and took formal possession of louisiana for spain. think of new orleans and cuba, in particular havana, governors there were also in cuba so there was all this traveling from one city to anoth

the irish didn't do that. the irish bought ireland. they wanted it turned inward. they createdhis fantasy that ireland was going to be something completely different than irela had ever been. a global financial center and a place where people would move to. voluntarily. >> rose: before all this happened there was a belief in the irish miracle. you know, they had low interest rates, low taxation, everything was like... this was a place where they had set a system up that they believe was the wave of the future. and that they understood capitalism better than anybody. >> they were very vulnerable because after centuries of povr, centuries of economic failure, breathtaking economic failure, millions of people immigrating or dying of starvation, in the early '80s they experienced this incredible turnaround and people have been trying to explain this. it's not ever been fully explained. a pair of sociologists at harvard argued it had to do with the catholic church declining, birth control becomin available and of... a lucky period where there was a disproportionate numb

the case is proving awkward for the irish government. it faces allegations that its own police officers collaborated with the ira. further north in belfast, some accuse dublin of being too eager to close the case. one of them is john mack bernie, a lawyer representing harry green's family. >> this tribunal was being curtailed in recent months by means of a motion by the minister of justice to try to put a time limit of the end of november for production of the report. that is not treatable. >> he says it is not as the irish authorities who are implicated. he claims there were agents planted within the ira. >> it has been alleged that they had an agent called steak knife who was head of the ira's internal security and passing information back to his british handlers. it is alled that steak knife may have known about this murder in advance. why did the british army not prevented? >> some speculate that the british did not want to blow steak knife's cover. what was more important? the intermission coming from a top british agent or the lives

i am the chairman for the year national immigration reform. that brings an irish voice to the immigration reform bedate. as other speakers here, the irish are in real terms a minority in this debate. there are approximately 50,000 undocumented irish throughout the united states. but we are a very vocal minority, and i thought i would share with you some of the things that has worked for us in lobbying on this issue. and to my colleagues who are here tonight on their issues, there is no substitute for direct lobbying of officials on this. do not leave it to the mayor or even this commission tonight to lobby on your behalf. take it up and go after it yourselves. one of the wolf things about american politics, whether you are legal, illegal, in status or out of status, you can walk through the doors of federal government, and knock on those doors, and find someone to talk to, and if you try hard enough, you will get to the cossak person or senate person sooner or later. we have brought on several occasion 2,000 irish undocumented to washington, d.c., held a holiday o

process and conceding just once so they're brimming with confidence but are also full of respect for the irish. team boss who we believe we can we can because. it's important to point. you know there are clues around the standard. and this is how group b. currently looks just a draw for russia who would ensure they automatically qualify for next summer's european championships and also a point for island would mean they'd finish second get into a two legged playoff. standing while fee for general secretary jerome valcke there has been on a visit to russia to check on the host nation's progress for the twenty eighteen world cup it might be just under seven years until the competition kicks off but there is just one year to go russia must name eleven cities and twelve stadiums which will host football's biggest tournament and the country sports minister is confident that russia's preparation is so far. russia was given the right your host the world cup we've had a little millings and the shoes would only do six budgeting branding and other important issues considering the world cup it's quite ba

american-irish, the defection of american-irish imgrants to the mexican side of the mexican-american war. it's an extraordinary story. it's well-known in mexico, but nowhere told here. we almost can't bear a history that gets -- that starts overlapping. you know, what has the irish been doing in the story about mexico. >> right. we have hispanic history month, and everything about off l this stuff, there's 30 days. black history month. right. so i guess the other 10 months are for europeans. [laughter] >> i wish we could, but, ncht, the other ten months of vac cue yows -- vacuous. [laughter] >> has writing this book ruined gardening for you? [laughter] can you still go out and garden, or do you see the world differently now? >> i still like to garden. it's helpful i'm not a very good gardener. i have friends who are good, and they sneer, but, you know, i'm a writer, so i'm not expected to be good at very much, but the answer is, no because, you know, the more you know about something, for me, you know, often the more you appreciate it, and, you know, when i look at these tomatoes i h

he goes to war and commands a battalion in the 60 ninth irish regiment, famous new york regiment. he was awarded the congressional medal of honor during world war i for very heroic actions. his priest in the 60 ninth regiment said that donovan was one of the few men he ever met who enjoyed combat. and he really did. he would write to his wife that going out on, that was like going to treating at night. that is where heat earned the nickname wild bill. he was a very rigorous and brutal trainer of his men because he realized there were going into a meat grinder which they were. before they went into action in france he was running over hill and under bob wire and whatever and finally they collapsed in front of him. his battalion did. he stood up and said what is the matter with you? i am 35 years old carrying the same pass as you are and you don't see me out of breath. somewhere in the back a soldier shouted out -- never figured out who it was -- we are not as wild as you are, bill. from that day on wild bill donovan stock. acclaimed in didn't like that nickname because it ran counte

is now a straight dog fight between the republic of ireland and surprise package armenia the irish being a couple of points behind russia following it to know when. the no need to point at home to armenia on choose day to reach the playoffs but the armenians have been in stunning form of late last night russian macedonia for one and then to or heading to poland and ukraine after drawing away to montenegro wayne rooney though sent off in that one turkish quest just got more difficult after defeat to already qualify germany while it's still up there are lots of big tournaments football with. the just six will be one of the most difficult problems in russia hosting the twenty eight world cup finals that's according to meinhof ship brink marketing director buyer leverkusen we caught up with the german in moscow on our first question was one close to his heart that of investment. if i would have one million of you in there you can spend three of the most important points in the fourth for this vote so to speak the legs in the water infrastructure let me see the stadium and about the brain the

process and conceding just once so they are brimming with confidence but are also full of respect for the irish i'm still in the. team but those who we believe we can win because. you see there on king. it's important for us three points but you know other case we understand that irish is a very strong team. and to help you understand what is at stake this is how the group looks at the moment to draw from russia then would ensure they finish top and qualify automatically for next summer's european championships and a point for ireland would mean they would finish second and go into the playoffs. in other news the first two weeks the new n.b.a. season has been called off the plays and club owners fail to agree on a new labor deal they are arguing over the structure of a salary cap slice of the n.b.a.'s revenue play should receive under the old deal it was fifty seven percent but clubs want that reduced under half the parties met on monday could not find a breakthrough prompting n.b.a. chiefs to scrap the first fortnight of the season which was due to start in november the first and conceding the

place armenia in dublin with both sides aiming to keep their european championship dreams alive the irish need a points to convert second spot and a play off place but will be that they can't say robbie keane the striker suffered a fine injury during friday's two know when iran tour west promised simon cox will take place up front while shay given will take the captain's armband and the goalkeepers are fully aware of the dangers of playing armenia insults he could have second spot with a victory at every the stadium. during the home parks was going for the belief that we can go on and beat them and i know they'll be coming think in the symbol. you know it's a chance for us to you know center on which which is all you can ask for in our city really and anybody going to run and do the business and armenia had a taste of the of the the stadium with a training session on monday the eastern european side lost one nil it's going to ireland in the opening round of last year's european qualifiers but since that defeats they've only been beat once in eight matches during this campaign that won the

placed armenia in dublin with both sides aiming to keep their european championship dreams alive the irish need a point to confirm second spot and a play off place that will be without their captain robbie keane the striker suffered a thigh injury during friday's two know when iran dora west brom simon cox will take his place up front well shay given will take the captain's armband and the goalkeeper is fully aware of the dangers of playing on media who themselves could grab second spot with a victory at the of beaver stadium. parts with the belief that we can go on and beat them and i know they'll be common thinking the same but. you know it's a chance for us to you know center on hands which which is all you can ask for in alaska a million we got to go out there and do the business i mean i had a taste of the of the best stadium with a training session on monday the eastern european side lost one millet home to ireland in the opening round of last year's european qualifiers but says that defeats they've only been beaten once in eight matches during this campaign and have won the last thr

irish, of the affection of american irish immigrants to the mexican side of the border. an extraordinary border. well known in mexico, but nowhere told in -- we almost can't bear a history that gets -- that starts overlapping. what is the irishman doing in this story about mexico? >> you see hispanic history month, and everybody below out of this stuff -- there's 30 days and learn about -- and doesn't have anything to do with the -- black history month, and i guess the other ten months are for europeans. >> i mean, i wish. i wish we could -- but in fact the other ten months are vac united vacuous. >> has writing this book ruin edgarening for you? , you still go out and garden? >> i still like to garden. it's very helpful i'm not a very good gardener. i have these friends who are really good gardeners and they sneer at my -- but i'm a writer so i'm not expected to be very good at very much. but the answer is, no, because the more you know about something for me, often the more you appreciate it, and when i look at these spindly tomatoes i have because i failed to water th

process and conceding just once so they are brimming with confidence but also for the respect for the irish. team. because. it's important. and help you understand what is at stake this is how the group is looking at the moment draw for russia would ensure they qualify automatically for the next summer's european championship by finishing top of the group and a point for ireland would mean they finish second and go into a. well the first two weeks of the new n.b.a. season have been cancelled after plays and club owners failed to agree on a new labor deal they are arguing over the structure of a salary cap on what slice of the n.b.a.'s revenue play. they should receive under the old deal it was fifty seven percent but clubs want that reduced under half the parties made on monday but could not find a breakthrough prompting n.b.a. chiefs to scrap the sports night of the season which was due to start on november first and they say there's been little progress. we spent two days here. i think it's fair to say we establish the positions of authority with complete certainty you. mean really very v

process and conceding just once so they're brimming with confidence but also full of respect for the irish fans through. team will pull through we believe we can win because. it's important for us too. in other clues the room has to move from view. and this is how the group he currently looks just to draw the rusher would ensure they automatically qualify for next summer's european championships and also a point for ireland would mean they finish second go into a two legged play off. the rugby world cup france have named an unchanged side for saturday's semifinal with wales in all clones coach mark livermore will keep the same side that beat england in the last eight with morgan again starting as flying off france have lost the semifinal stage of the last two world cups but really their experienced team will see them through this time between them the players have six hundred eighty seven caps and also a good record against the welsh having lost only once in the last seven meetings. well new zealand will face australia in the other seven final and they spent the day in the gym on tuesday a

a former public and soon-to-be the irish head of state. he comfortably beat his closest rival, a tv star from ireland's version of dragons then. was the clear favorite, he lost the final tv debate. >> if he gave me an envelope, if he gave me the check was made out to the headquarters -- >> he struggled under questioning of political funding and never recovered. he still ended up third out of seven candidates. i wish presidents do not have much power. the job is a ceremonial role. the outgoing irish president used the office to forge closer links with britain. she was much admired at home and abroad. her successor admits she will be a hard act to follow. >> it will be very strong intellectually and a very inclusive in those intellectual discussions. >> ireland is still recovering from an economic crisis. one of the tasks of the new president will be to get the country new hope. haduammar gaddafi's son has in direct contact about his possible surrender. sites if -- saif is wanted for signs against him -- for crimes against humanity. he would

. >> that is the top irish- americans in the country, not just san francisco. >> they knew they could fire chief when they saw one. we thought we would do a nice irish song for you. we will not take long, we promise. ♪ , over the hills my money-eyed irish lad come over the hills to your darling you choose the road love and i will make the balancvows and i will be your true love forever red is the rose that beyond the garden grows there is a lily of the valley here is the water that boasts from the spring but my love is [inaudible] ♪ ♪ down by killarney the moon and the stars they were shining the moon shone she was sure she would be my love forever red is the rose that beyond the garden grows there is delayed of our valley there is the water that flows from but my love is better than any ♪ [applause] >> over in the corner, and john's father. we are so thrilled that this long overdue that we hang your picture on our wall. you have supported our 1906 survivor dinners and luncheons over the years. i do not know what i always see you at 4:00 or 5:00 in the morning, but you are always ther

the irish turned in on themselves and bid up their own land prices in the most extraordinary ways. you drive the countryside in ireland and they call them "ghost estates," but there are hundreds of these little villages, basically, that are brand new and uninhabited; that were built, i suppose, with the idea that, at some point, there would be massive immigration into ireland. and the irish people stepped in and guaranteed the banks, and committed to repay sums they can't afford to repay, and essentially committed themselves to generations of suffering. >> reporter: why? >> i think there's this catholic guilt there. but i also think something else... and this is speaking as someone who's had intimate involvement with irish catholic families. there's a certain status to suffering in ireland, that the person who... if you're sitting around a table, the person with the greatest status is the person who had the most horrible thing happen to them most recently. another way of looking at it is that they've just owned up to obligations, that we're responsible for this and we're going to p