WEST Donegal author John Joe McGinley has launched his second book examining the Irish and the global political influence they have wielded over the decades.

‘The Irish in Power’ tells the story of some of the USA’s most flamboyant and influential Irish American politicians. It relates the tales of the men and women whose ancestors left Ireland in poverty and hunger before climbing the greasy pole of political power.

The book is a follow-up to the Glassagh author, blogger and podcaster’s first work ‘Irish Wise Guys’ which told the stories of 17 of the most notorious Irish American gangsters. Released in 2021, Irish Wise Guys has received critical claim on both sides of the Atlantic.

In his latest book he looks at how Irish people have been instrumental in the creation of the United States of America. Three signatories of the Declaration of Independence were born in Ireland while half of all US presidents have been of Irish descent. Many of those who ruled the major cities of the eastern seaboard in the 1920s and 30s were proud Irishmen and women.

“With an Irish American back in the White House I believe there is an appetite for a look at some of the interesting Irish American politicians, many of whom who have been overlooked for years but have an intriguing and interesting life,” said the author.

“Readers will see that these are men and women who have contributed to many of the most pivotal events in American and world history.”

The Irish in Power pulls no punches. It is not a romanticised story of Irish people making good in America, rather it is an honest look at the virtues and flaws of the Irish Americans elected to power in their new home.

There is a Donegal element to the work as one of the chapters looks at the life of President James Buchanan whose father left Ramelton in 1783.

John Joe McGinley is a writer of historical non-fiction specialising in unearthing the stories of interesting but overlooked figures and events that have impacted on the world.

John Joe with his new book, a follow up to his well-received first offering ‘Irish Wise Guys’.

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He is a regular contributor to the Irish Voice Newspaper, the Irishcentral.com and the Irishstory.com websites. His take on the Wiggins Patch Massacre involving the murder of emigrants from Gweedore in Pennsylvania was the second most read article of 2021 on Irish Story, one of Ireland’s premier historical websites.

He also has a monthly article in Ireland’s Own and has just finished a series on the Irish who fought in the American Civil War. He has a new collection which started in February on the Irish men and women who helped build Canada.

“Irish Americans have been an integral part of every aspect of American life and politics has been no different, where many have risen to prominence,” he said.

“This is highlighted by a famous quote from a few months before the Easter Rising when Cecil Spring Rice, British ambassador to the US, wrote to the Foreign Office in London saying, ‘The best politicians in the country are Irish and the professional Irish politician is against us’.

“The stories of figures like JFK and Joe Biden are well documented. I want to explore the lives of the lesser-known politicians who still had a massive impact on America and in many cases the world.

“The Irish in Power will tell of the men and women who rose to political prominence becoming mayors, governors, congressmen, senators and even presidents.”

You can buy The Irish in Power from http://www.glassaghpublishing.ie and http://buythebook.ie. A kindle version is available from Amazon and stocks will be in local shops. Anyone wishing to stock The Irish in Power can contact John Joe at info@glassaghpublishing.ie