Emotional Michael Flatley opens Irish America Hall of Fame

cillowen: Agreed. I will never understand this Irish obsession with the royal family. Such a yawn.

@bogsidebunny -- Anything that brings tourism back into this country is worthwhile in the first instance, and secondly, if it weren't for Irish Americans keeping the culture and interest in Ireland alive we would be sunk with the mad scramble to become 'europeans'.

Yet another Blarney spin machine to capture American's money. Don't buy into the cute hoor tails Yanks. It's all about greed and collecting moola!

Patricia, Going on Friday to check out new place and to take kids ...

nice going with something of importance that serves the homebody irish and their diaspora scattered. the royalty craven subjects must be torn having to serve the ould oppressor who still excites the majority of them. How do i know? by observing their giddiness (women in particular) at queen's visit and honor said entity bestows on her never-lost subjects.

I was delighted at the opening of Irish America Hall of Fame and the emigrant heritage center. Michael Flatley was a huge hit with everyone. He couldn't have been nicer and I think everyone in the place must have had their photo taken with him. The Dunbrody is an exact replica of an ship that sailed from New Ross to Gross Ile in Canada and also made trips to New York. You really get a sense of what it must have been like to spend 5 to 6 weeks in cramped conditions (no toilets, just buckets) whole families sharing one bunk and very little by way of rations. It's amazing that anyone survived at all. It really says a lot about the tenacity of the Irish that they were able to overcome such hardship, and you come away with a new appreciation for what our ancestors went through. Altogether, a very moving experience. I urge you all to put it on your list of places that you have to visit. I promise you you won't be disappointed.

"The heritage museum and emigrant heritage center is located near New Ross ... The newly built center is on the quayside beside the replica famine ship 'The Dunbrody.’ " 'Near' New Ross? It is less than 300 yards from the official center of New Ross town! For anyone who wants to visit it, it's off the N25, on the river side, just south of the bridge over the River Barrow (that takes you to/from Waterford).