Presbyterians from the Irish province of Ulster were among the first to push the wild frontier west and found the city of Pittsburgh. By the 1840s; the flow of Irish Catholic immigrants had become a flood. Fleeing the great hunger and facing resentment in the city; they established themselves as key members of the community; building railroads and canals and establishing schools; hospitals and fraternal orders. During the Civil War; 156 women; many of them Irish; made the ultimate sacrifice for their new country when the Allegheny Arsenal exploded. The Fenians fought Southern Rebels under a green flag and made a little-known invasion of Canada in 1866. In the twentieth century; the sons and daughters of Erin took on roles as political leaders; labor agitators and entrepreneurs. Exploring tales of saints; sinners and visionaries; author Gerard F. O�Neil offers a beguiling and fascinating history of the Pittsburgh Irish.
#1431364 in eBooks 2015-10-20 2015-10-20File Name: B0144DGK9I
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. and enjoyed reading how it all got startedBy Jeane PowlesI purchased this for a friend who is into Polka music. It was a big hit. Couldnt wait to read it. I also read it. and enjoyed reading how it all got started. and recognized several musicians named in the book.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Its polka time for my paBy Clark SchultzMy dad loves polka and hes the guy that it is hard to buy for as he has everything. this book just takes the cake and is the perfect christmas gift.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Informative and entertainingBy EasyTigerWhat this book does so well is explain how polka music came about. flourished. and how it exists today in its various styles. A lot of history is covered. yet the book is not too wordy or lengthy. The book concentrates on the more influential bands over the decades. and discusses a few of the other bands that have come after and them and still play to this day. It probably would have been easy to overload the book with band and musician data. but in my opinion. Rick March did a perfect job of condensing all of his research into a superb read.The average person on the street doesnt know polka music comes in very specific. different styles. They think its all tubas and accordions. and its either Polish or German depending on who you talk to. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Therefore. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to broaden their knowledge of polka music.Dick Blaus professional photography is second to none. His photos dont just compliment the reading; they invoke emotion.The main reading of the book is interspersed with interludes that focus on specific people. places. and things that are uniquely relevant to Midwest polka music.Whether they were Iowa farmers or Chicago foundry workers. your parents. grandparents. and great-grandparents kicked up their heels to polka music. Though the polkas heyday is long gone. the music is likely still in your blood. waiting to be tapped and enjoyed. Reading this book will take you all around the heartland of America and teach you about the music of your ancestors. and share with you the joy it brought to them and still brings to so many people today.
