Preface: Connections and Separations Introduction: Irish Types, American Patterns What Americans Know and How They Know It: Song What Americans Know and How They Know It: Story 'Picture Postcard Ireland': Thomas Moran's The World I Made For Her Naming the Past: Lisa Carey's The Mermaids Singing The Pain of Not Knowing: Katherine Weber's The Music Lesson Bringing Paddies Over: Alice McDermott's Charming Billy The Rage of the Dying Animal: Mary Gordon's The Other Side Conclusion: The Journey Bibliography.