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Straight out of a Tree Grows In Brooklyn!
A favorite of mine, although it doesn't help the Irish/alcohol image very much.

The early Labor Movement is quite fascinating. Nothing like today’s goons and thugs.
There truly was a need for unions at one time in this country ... no child labor laws, 12-18 hour days, sweatshop conditions, etc. Today it's all about greed and power.

Did you know that Betty Smith - the author of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn was completely of German descent? No Irish blood at all but she loved to write about them. I’ve written fan letters to her daughter - and she’s always responded very kindly.

You simply can’t compare the creepy Wisconsin agitators with some of the Labor activists of the past. They have more in common with the thugs of “On the Waterfront.” It truly was a terrible world for the poor immigrants of early 20th century NY. Some of my family suffered under those awful conditions.