Tom O'Reilly PhD - Irish Historian & Storyteller Ancient Order of Hibernians Smithtown NY

About Tom

I was born and raised in Ireland in the ancient Parish of Abbylara, County Longford. This enables me to bring a unique insight into stories, music, songs and comedy learned from family and friends while sitting around a turf fire. For many years I have taught Irish History and Culture, sponsored by The Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 3, Smithtown and have lectured at libraries and venues around the New York Metropolitan Area. In 2016, I received the Commodore John Barry Medal for meritorious service in promoting the history and culture of my native land. I have a Ph.D. from the University of Metaphysics, a Master’s Degree from New York University, a Bachelor’s Degree from Cornell University, a Life Coach Certificate from James Madison University and am a graduate of Toastmasters International. I went to NYU as the recipient of the New York City Mayor’s Graduate Scholarship. Contact me to book upcoming lectures or classes.Email: tomoreilly44@gmail.com.

History & Culture of Ireland

Celtic people arrived in Ireland in the 5th century B.C. In 432 A.D. Saint Patrick worked to convert them to Christianity. Monasteries formed where Irish scholars studied Latin and Greek, and developed the art of manuscript, metal working and sculpture. The isolation of the monasteries kept this knowledge alive during the dark ages until the Vikings invaded in the 9th century. The Normans invaded in the 12th century. Under the act of Union in 1800 Ireland became part of the United Kingdom. In 1845 a great famine (An Górta Mór) caused the potato crop to fail. Millions died of starvation and millions left, mainly for the United States. In the late 1800/1900s the fight for independence from the United Kingdom began. Sinn Fein ("We Ourselves") was a political movement for freedom. Ireland went to war from 1916-1923 resulting in it being divided into the Republic of Ireland (independent country) and Northern Ireland, which is still part of the United Kingdom. In the 1960s Irish Catholic Nationalists began to agitate for union with the Republic leading to violent clashes with the Unionists and hunger strikes which eventually lead to the 1998 Good Friday Peace Agreement. For more details click here
Featured Link (optional - send comments or questions in message box at bottom of page): Michael Collins, Irish revolutionary leader, politician and statesman. Minister for Finance and TeachtaDala (TD) for Cork South in the First Dail of 1919, Director of Intelligence for the IRA, and member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations. Subsequently, he was both Chairman of the Provisional Government and Commander-in-Chief of the National Army. Learn more about Michael Collins here Irish History (click below for more information) The History of Ireland condensed Early Irish History The Invasions Union with England The Great Hunger An Gorta Mor Home Rule Humor Northern Ireland Troubles The Old Woman of the Roads The Brehon Laws The Martin McGuinness Principles

Videos / Pages

TOM O'REILLY LECTURES Bridget O'Donnell 1849 A Famine Survivor Remembers 1850 The Great Hunger (Louisville, CO 11/21/21) Part I Part II SONGSIrish National Anthem (English & Gaelic) originally written in English between 1907 & 1910 and translated into Gaelic in 1926 The Clancy Brothers
Enya
Frank Patterson The Wolfe Tones
HUMORNoel V. Ginnity
THE TROUBLES 1968 - 1998History
PIPERSRobert Lynch Luke Powers IRISH LOVE STORIESTop 5 Irish Love Stories WHERE DOES THE NAME IRELAND COME FROM? COUNTY MAP OF IRELAND ANCIENT BARONIES OF IRELAND
NOTABLE IRISH PEOPLEClick here to open