News from the 32: Antrim, Armagh, Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Derry, Donegal, Down, Dublin, Fermanagh, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Tyrone, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow

A blistering attack has been launched by the manager of Knock Shrine against thousands of pilgrims who stampeded and left the place “in a terrible state” on Sunday in the hopes of seeing an apparition of the Virgin Mary.

The Irish have made their mark on Manhattan for centuries, building the skyscrapers, policing the streets and eventually running city hall. That’s why when you visit the Big Apple you won’t be short of fascinating historical sites of enduring importance to the Irish.

The Irish Catholic shrine where 10,000 people showed up on Saturday in hopes of seeing a vision of the Virgin Mary also happens to be the spiritual home of singing sensation Susan Boyle.

An Irish journalist has suggested that the original vision in 1879 of the Virgin Mary at Knock was a fake, on the weekend that 10,000 thronged the County Mayo basilica in search of another vision.

Thousands of Irish people claim to have witnessed apparitions of the Virgin Mary in the skies over Knock shrine in Co Mayo. About 5,000 people gathered at the holy Catholic shrine earlier this month amid a local clairvoyant's predictions that an apparition would appear on October 11. They reported that they could see images of the Virgin Mary shimmering in the sky as the sun danced nearby.

The draw for the 2010 All Ireland Football Championships was made Thursday night, and New York will entertain Galway, while champions Kerry start their defense against Tipperary.

The family of Michael O'Dwyer, the Irishman shot dead by police in Bolivia in April, are calling for an International investigation into the death of their loved one.

Ireland’s gorgeous landscape and mild year-round temperatures make it the perfect location for a hike or stroll. The quiet country roads of Ireland are perfect for casual walkers, while the mountains and forests provide great trails for extreme hikers.

When one thinks of Stone Age archaeological sites, Stonehenge, Altamira and Newgrange may come to mind. Most likely The Céide Fields will not. But they should.

News from the 32: Antrim, Armagh, Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Derry, Donegal, Down, Dublin, Fermanagh, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Tyrone, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow

April Drew: You'd think that emigrating to the U.S., Canada or Australia from Ireland would be easy. We speak the same language. Right? Think again! The Irish seem to speak a foreign language no matter where they are. Take a read and see what you think.

Although the surname Joyce may automatically be associated with author James Joyce, the name has an ancient past, with both Irish and Norman antecedents. Derived from the Brehon personal name Iodoc, which is a diminutive of iudh meaning lord, the name was adopted by the Normans in the form Josse.

Irish man Vince Keane from Ballyhaunis County Mayo is helping U.S. President Barack Obama to try and overhaul the health care system in the

The ancient O'Maille or O'Malley name is said to be derived from the Gaelic words "maille" meaning gentle or smooth, and "maglios" meaning chieftain, which is fitting as the O'Malleys were once the chieftains of the baronies of Murrisk and Burrishoole in County Mayo.

The name Haughey is another Gaelic name, in this case deriving from the Irish O'hEachaidh. The clan were prominent in both Donegal and Armagh. The name has been anglicized in several forms in different areas and is now found as Haughey, Haffey, Hoy and Hoey.

New York local politics will get a major Irish boost on Tuesday when Deirdre Feerick, a second-generation Irish American, squares off against two other Irish-American candidates in the September 15 Democratic primary election in Queens to succeed well known Council Member Eric Gioia who has endorsed her.

“Britain’s Got Talent” singing sensation Susan Boyle, 48, is the definition of an overnight star. But to her voice coach, the Irish born Fred O’Neil, 41, the formerly unemployed, unmarried singer deserves all the success that has finally come her way.

The Irish aren’t the only ones who love Susan Boyle. Japanese filmmakers plan on traveling to Boyle’s Scottish hometown and filming a documentary charting the singing sensation’s fairytale rise to fame.

The surname Curran is common in all four provinces in Ireland, but especially in County Donegal and throughout Ulster. The name is also prevalent in the south of Ireland, appearing many times in the County Tipperary Hearth Money Rolls of 1665-7. Currans showed up frequently as Waterford residents in the census of 1659.

WITH VIDEO: In an exclusive NBC interview, overnight singing sensation Susan Boyle opens her heart for the first time since her amazing transformation. “It’s just been unbelievable; it’s indescribable,” Boyle says. “Being plucked from obscurity is a bit like going on a long journey, really; you don’t know how it’s going to end. I don't want it to end."

On any given day a young County Mayo man can be found chauffeuring tourists around Central Park on the back of his rented Pedi-cab, winning them over with his charm and wowing them with his in-depth knowledge of the city.

With videos: Susan Boyle paid a sensational tribute to her late mother Bridget in Ireland last night with a stunning performance at the 02 Arena in Dublin. It was an emotional event for the singing sensation whose parents, Patrick and Bridget, both came from County Donegal. Boyle attributed her success in "Britain's Got Talent" to her mother Bridget, saying she had urged her to enter the reality TV show.

O'Hara is an anglicized phonetic rendering of the Irish translation O hEaghra, and is one of the few Irish families to have consistently kept the 'O' before the name. The clan, of a distinguished origin, is descended from Eaghra (pronounced Ara), chief of Luighne (modern Leyny) in County Sligo.

Patricia Harty was honored at the St. Patrick’s Day festivities in Holyoke, Massachusetts, and decided that if there is a place called Irish America, this could be it.

The Doherty or O'Doherty name has many variations, including (O) Dougherty, Daugherty, Docherty, and Doharty. The name, derived from the Gaelic O'Dochartaigh, means (descended) from Dochartach. Dochartach was a descendant of the infamous "Niall of the Nine Hostages," who was king of Ireland in the fourth century.

Update AND video: Standing ovation as Susan wins final spot  with 'Memory" Talent show sensation Susan Boyle has been voted through to the semi-finals of "Britain's Got Talent," the show that rocketed her to global fame last

This Sunday, the Irish around the world will remember the country's greatest ever catastrophe - The Great Irish Famine, “An Gorta Mor.”

A group of New Jersey students have come up with some solutions to Ireland's economic problems.

An Irish restaurant in New York is to get a remake courtesy of foul-mouth chef, Gordon Ramsey, for his show, "Kitchen Nightmares."

"The optimist fell ten storys, and at each window bar, he shouted to his comrades, 'All right so far!'"

With first Holy Communion season upon us, recession-hit Irish Catholic parents are struggling to cover costs for Communion outfits and celebrations.

Close friends of overnight singing sensation Susan Boyle have revealed the tragedy behind her TV success and pleaded with the British media to stop making her new life a nightmare.

    Comment: Why Susan's still a winner Story: Susan checks in to clinic 

East San Fran girl Aine Niland wants to be a champion just like her mom.

The Catholic shrine in Knock, County Mayo, is the spiritual home for Scottish singing sensation Susan Boyle. Boyle – who wowed 15 million viewers on YouTube this week – rocketed to fame after her stunning performance on the British talent show, “Britain’s Got Talent.”

The Irish man who healed “Riverdance” star, Michael Flatley, from a mystery virus is in New York this week treating less-famous patients!

Tonight is a special night for an Irish couple from New Jersey. Ed and Kathy Hansbury, who are not Irish dancers nor Irish dance teachers, are this years Gradam Award Winners of the World Irish Dance Championships.

“Mom, can you send my soft shoes over? We're doing a ceili for the troops.” These were the words of First Lieutenant Kaitlin Kenny to her mom a few weeks before

Light middleweight Henry Coyle ended a four month layoff with a second round stoppage win over Dave Saunders on Friday night.

The 248th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade drew hundreds of thousands of people along Fifth Avenue, and the festive mood was heightened by great weather and the popularity of the man who led it. Michael J. Gibbons, son of an immigrant father from County Mayo and a mother from Nova Scotia of Scots Irish descent.

Bill Flynn formed part of a group of Irish Americans who played a vital role in the Northern Ireland peace process. Flynn, the leading Irish-American businessman and former chairman of Mutual of America, together with Bruce Morrison, Niall O’Dowd and Chuck Feeney, successfully persuaded the State Department in 1994 to grant Gerry Adams a U.S. visa.

Buenos Aires held the biggest St. Patrick’s Day parade in Latin America yesterday – or, as Argentineans call it, “Dia de la

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama share more than just the task of governing America! Both men's ancestors were shoemakers who fled Ireland for America in the 19th century.

Dear MTN, I really need help and I am very embarrassed that I have to write to you. My name is Bob, and I was planning on getting married with the loveliest gal in the world. She was from the same County in Ireland that I am from, as well as where your family is from - as you've mentioned before.

The first surfer on record in Ireland was Joe Roddy, an industrious 14-year-old in County Louth who hit the waves on a paddle board he made from a work book manual. Today there are 50,000 surfers in Ireland, which has become a popular destination for the world’s surfing community.

From Jimmy Cagney in "Yankee Doodle Dandy" to Sean Penn in "Milk," a look at the roles that carried Irish-American actors to the top of their profession.

Excellent bike adventures (though perhaps not of the “Bill & Ted” variety) are all over Ireland waiting to be explored by cyclists or anybody looking to hop on a bike and see some great sites.

When people think surfing, they think Hawaii; they think hot sunny weather, clear oceans and tropical surroundings. Believe it or not, surfers who know their stuff have discovered some of the best surf in none other than the Emerald Isle. Ireland’s not just green fields – it’s also home to some epic waves.

The Guggenheim Grotto is a band from Ireland that has just released its second album, "Happy the Man." Up to November they were a trio until percussionist and pianist Shane Power left to concentrate on his career as a music producer and sound engineer. Now, the Dublin-based duo (Kevin May and Mick Lynch) are playing in three venues in three cities during January to promote "Happy the Man" (World CafZ in Philadelphia, The Living Room in New York and Lizard Lounge in Cambridge), before heading on a nationwide tour in February.