Kentucky Irish American (microfilm)

The Kentucky Irish American, published to serve Louisville's Irish-American community. Early issues of the paper were ethnic in character, dealing with such issues as the situation in Ireland, Hibernian pride, and Irish nationalism. Following World War I and particularly the formation of the Irish Free State in 1922, the interest of the paper turned to local news items and its ethnic flavor began to fade. Under John Barry's editorship the paper began a pro-Democratic editorial policy. When Mike Barry became editor the newspaper became more liberal in outlook, frequently taking jibes at the right-wing extremist groups of the times. History: The paper was established and edited by William M. Higgins in 1898. It was a four-page weekly published as a vehicle of communication among the Irish-American population of Louisville. In the 1930s the paper had picked up a new editor, John Barry, and a new image, that of a pro-Democratic editorial sheet. In 1934 John Barry's son Mike began a back-page sports column, later replaced by a weekly satire column on military life during World War II. The sports column was resumed after the war. At the death of his father in 1950, Mike Barry became editor. The paper's last issue was dated November 30, 1968.