Americans with Irish ancestry have always balanced patriotism with an appreciation of their roots. And their identity should include solidarity with today’s immigrants.

Victim-blaming and a worship of the free-market system made the Irish Famine much worse. The death toll from Covid-19 shows we have not fully learned from the past.

From 1846 to 1848, in the worst years of the potato famine in Ireland and during mass emigration to the United States, one of the toughest units of the Mexican armed forces battling the invaders from "El Norte" was the Saint Patrick Battalion, known in Mexico as the 'San Patricios.'

In this season of discontent in American society, however, Heaney’s words have become emblematic of President Biden’s greatest political challenge: to act as healer-in-chief.

There will be no parades in Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day, and the government has warned that people who try to organize parties to celebrate the day will face fines and criminal prosecution.

Rev. Enda McDonagh served the Irish church as a compassionate priest and renowned theologian. He died on Feb. 24.