McGinn, Brian 1946-2005.

Brian McGinn (1946-2005), was an Irish American scholar and writer who studied the Irish Diaspora in such diverse places as Latin America, the West Indies, early colonial America and Canada. McGinn was born in New York City to Irish immigrant parents from Monaghan and Sligo. His parents were active members of Irish American organizations such as the Ladies Auxiliary of the United Irish Counties Association and Gaelic Football Clubs. After his mother died in 1951, McGinn and his sister returned ...

Brian McGinn (1946-2005), was an Irish American scholar and writer who studied the Irish Diaspora in such diverse places as Latin America, the West Indies, early colonial America and Canada. McGinn was born in New York City to Irish immigrant parents from Monaghan and Sligo. His parents were active members of Irish American organizations such as the Ladies Auxiliary of the United Irish Counties Association and Gaelic Football Clubs. After his mother died in 1951, McGinn and his sister returned to Ireland where they were raised and educated. In 1964, after completing hight school, McGinn returned to New York and worked for the News Bureau of LIFE Magazine while attending evening classes at Hunter College of the City University of New York (CUNY).

McGinn was drafted in 1968 and served as an intelligence specialist at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. From 1969 to 1970 he served in Vietnam on assignment with the 519th Military Intelligence Battalion and was awarded the Join Services Commendation Medal. After being discharged, he completed his BA under the GI Bill and returned to Time-Life in 1972. He moved to Virginia with Time-Life Books in 1976, working as a staff writer and editor. He later became a freelance contributor to various publications, such as Irish Roots and Irish America magazine. In 1979 he married Mary Moran, of Co. Mayo. The couple had a son, Michael.

Later in his career McGinn began to study the Irish in the Korean and Vietnam wars. As a Vietnam veteran himself, this topic had personal meaning for him. He was also involved on a collaborative website about the Irish in Korea with Marilyn Knapp Litt (http://www.illyria.com/irishkor.html) as well as another site "Irish on the Wall" (http://www.illyria.com/vn_irish_names.html) referring to the Vietnam Veterals Memorial in Washington D.C.

McGinn held an MA in Latin American Studies from Georgetown University and published extensively on the history of the Irish in Latin America. He wrote for newspapers and magazines such as the Irish Times, Irish Roots, Irish America and the Irish Echo’s IE. McGinn died on July 20, 2005, after a three-year fight with brain cancer.