Upcoming Events
Sunday May 18, 2025 5pm
Yvonne Altman O’Connor – Vice Chairperson of the Irish Jewish Museum with A Look Into Some Aspects of Jewish History in Ireland
Join us Sunday May 18, 2025 at 5pm at the United Irish Cultural Center as the ILHS hosts Yvonne Altman O’Connor – Vice Chairperson of the Irish Jewish Museum for an in-person talk titled A Look Into Some Aspects of Jewish History in Ireland
The ILHS is very pleased to present a talk by Yvonne Altman O’Connor – Vice Chairperson of the Irish Jewish Museum for an in-person talk titled A Look Into Some Aspects of Jewish History in Ireland on Sunday May 18, 5pm at the Members Room, United Irish Cultural Center.
There have been Jews in Ireland since at least 1062 when their presence was recorded in the Annals of Innisfallen. In this talk, she will give a brief outline of Irish Jewish history and consider significant events which influenced the Jewish community in Ireland. Using images and stories from the Irish Jewish Museum collection, we will learn about the Jewish community and the points of intersection with Irish history. James Joyce created Leopold Bloom, the most well-known Irish/Jewish character but what kind of Jewish society did he encounter before he left Ireland? We will discuss some of the people from the arts and political world who emerged from this unique culture, and we will also look at how WWII affected individual experiences during and after the war.
Yvonne Altman O’Connor was born and educated in Dublin and later studied in California. She spent many years living in the Bay Area and teaching in San Francisco before returning to Ireland. She is the Vice Chairperson of the Irish Jewish Museum and has been actively involved with all aspects of its cultural and educational programs. She is passionate about Irish literature and loves the west coasts of both Ireland and the USA.
Time: Sunday May 18, 2025 5pm in-person
Location: Members Room, United Irish Cultural Center, 45th and Wawona, SF
Note:
The lecture by James P. Walsh postponed from Sunday April 27 will be rescheduled in the near future. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Upcoming on Zoom, Date TBD
Professor Emeritus James P. Walsh on a life in study of the Irish in the West.
The ILHS is very pleased to present Professor Emeritus James P. Walsh in conversation about his life in historical studies of the Irish in the West at a future date on Zoom.
James P. Walsh was born in San Francisco (1937) of Galway and Cork parents, Patrick and Nellie Murphy Walsh. They provided Jim and his older brother Leo with a secure and progressive home, plus unlimited educational support. Both boys attended St. Monica’s parish grammar school (Geary Blvd. at 24th Ave.) and Sacred Heart High School (Ellis & Franklin Sts.). They earned multiple degrees from the University of San Francisco, 1955 – 1962. Leo followed his business curriculum into a career in San Francisco Hospital administration and creation of the United Irish Cultural Center’s scholarship program. Jim continued his studies at the University of California, Berkeley, where he received the Ph.D. degree, 1970.
Jim had taught history at Marin Catholic High School, 1960-64. He and Ann McKinnon married in 1962, took up residence at the UC Berkeley Student Village in 1964, and moved to the South Bay in 1966. There Jim accepted an appointment as Assistant Professor of History at the rapidly growing San Jose State University. By then Ann and Jim had two preschool daughters who were joined later by their one brother. The family now includes eight grandchildren.
Jim’s San Jose State career (1966-1995) was a blend of teaching, publishing, and academic administration. Due to the accelerated growth of the university, the mentoring of the University’s all-time Outstanding Professor, and not smudging his own copybook, Jim successfully negotiated Professor of History, Chair of the Department, Dean of the College, and retired as Provost of the University. This year marks his 30th year of retirement.
En route, Jim published nine books (eight on the American Irish) and numerous scholarly articles that addressed the unique acculturation experienced by the Irish in California and the West. As well, he, Ann, and the children enjoyed two year-long Fulbright appointments to the National University of Ireland (Galway and Cork, his parents’ homes), plus a term as distinguished visiting professor. Through the years of repeated Irish residence their children attended Irish schools: national, secondary, and post-graduate.
Over this career and amid this mix, Walsh identified two satisfying accomplishments: 1) His 1970s terms as President of the Irish Literary and Historical Society, and 2) His co-founding and inaugural presidency (1985) of the American Conference for Irish Studies-Western Region.
San Jose State University emeritus biography: https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/erfa_bios/273/
This event will be held at a future date TBD on Zoom.