"An Irish-American Odyssey" by Professor Colum Kenny

Communications and culture are at the heart of Colum Kenny’s new book about the sons of an Irish emigrant from Galway. An Irish-American Odyssey: the Remarkable Rise of the O’Shaughnessy Brothers is published by the University of Missouri Press. The University of Missouri is home to the oldest journalism degree in the world.

James O’Shaughessy was described as a “star reporter” at the Chicago Tribune and later became what TIME magazine called “the best in the business” of advertising. From 1917 to 1928 he was first CEO of the American Association of Advertising Agencies (known as “the 4A’s”), at whose Manhattan HQ Colum was last year asked to give a seminar about him.

James and his brother Francis were founders and early presidents of the Irish Fellowship Club in Illinois, which is still a central platform of Irish-American identity. Another brother Thomas was an early cartoon-strip illustrator and a highly regarded Gaelic Revival artist.

The book is laced with information about American and Irish-American media in general, and examines the cultural and social processes through which generations of US citizens came to terms with their Irish background in a new world.

Book launch of 'An Irish-American Odyssey' by Prof Colum Kenny Part 1
DCU President, Professor Brian MacCraith and Professor Colum Kenny speak at the launch of Prof. Kenny's book, 'An Irish-American Odyssey' on the 4th December 2014

Book launch of 'An Irish-American Odyssey' by Prof Colum Kenny Part 2
US Ambassador Kevin O'Malley speakes at the launch of Prof. Colum Kenny's book, 'An Irish-American Odyssey' on the 4th December 2014 in DCU