The Irish Ties That Bind, Excerpt by Michael J.Hopkins

From the green hills of southern Ireland to the heartland of America, four families are united by faith, perseverance, and an enduring legacy that spans generations.

As famine and hardship drive Irish immigrants across the Atlantic in the mid-nineteenth century, the Power and Coughlin families plant new roots in the American Midwest. Their daughters answer a higher calling, joining the fledgling Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa. Through the remarkable leadership of Sister Emily and Sister Samuel, these women help shape a religious community that will educate thousands and leave an indelible mark on the nation.

Their story intertwines with those of the Cullen and Hynes families, whose lives are transformed by the sisters’ influence. Seeking refuge from the unrest of postwar Chicago, they settle in Dixon, Illinois, where friendship, faith, and family bind them to another rising family—the Reagans. As Ronald Reagan grows from a small-town boy into a radio broadcaster, actor, and emerging public figure, the lives of ordinary and extraordinary Americans intersect in unexpected ways.

Set against the backdrop of immigration, the Great Depression, two world wars, and the dawn of the Cold War, The Irish Ties That Bind is a sweeping historical saga of courage, devotion, and the families whose quiet strength shaped generations. It is a powerful testament to the bonds of family, faith, and heritage that endure long after history’s tides have turned.

Transformative Decades: The 1930s and Beyond

“During the Great Depression, residents of Dixon, Illinois, faced the same widespread hardship of high unemployment and poverty seen throughout the state of Illinois, as well as much of the United States. By 1933, the unemployment rate in Illinois, including Dixon, neared twenty-five percent. Some businesses had to lay off workers and close their doors. . . .

Jack and Nelle Reagan left Dixon for California shortly after Ronald Reagan accepted a position with Warner Brothers in 1937. Dixon was the longest they had lived in one place, from 1920 to 1937 . . . In 1938, Ronald purchased a brick house for his parents near his home in Hollywood, providing them with a much-appreciated stable residence. That was the first and only home his parents actually owned. . . .

The sense of unity among the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa developed through their commitment to the four pillars of Dominican life: community, prayer, study, and ministry. . . . The congregation’s history of social justice work began with its founder, Father Samuel Mazzuchelli . . . This dedication to justice continued during the forty-two years of leadership by Mother Emily Power and the forty years under Mother Samuel Coughlin, from 1867 to 1949. . . .

By 1935, David and Fiona Hynes remained true to their commitment to giving their children a voice in where to attend high school and in deciding to pursue higher education beyond the secondary level. There was no choice before high school, since all their children were expected to attend Saint Mary’s Grade School in Dixon to be taught by the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa. . . . Similarly, the four adult children of David and Fiona Hynes—Patrick, Erin, Darby, and James—each ended up fighting for social justice, equal rights, and civil rights in various ways, mirroring the advocacy of the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa.”

Universal Buy Link: mybook.to/rKwaAM

Meet Michael J.Hopkins

A lifelong resident of Wisconsin, Michael J. Hopkins earned his undergraduate degree in economics from Beloit College, subsequently obtaining a degree in history from Arizona State University and the University of Wisconsin–Platteville. He furthered his academic pursuits by completing a Master of Arts in the Humanities at California State University, Dominguez Hills. Mr. Hopkins concluded a distinguished forty-year tenure in secondary education, having served as a social studies instructor at Darlington High School for thirty-nine years.

In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he dedicated many years to coaching basketball, baseball, and football at the same high school. His contributions to athletics were formally recognized in 2021 with his induction into the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Following his retirement from education, he has transitioned into a career as an author. In 2025, he published his autobiographical memoir, Embracing A Competitive Life: Trials, Triumphs, and 150 Life Lessons in Six Decades of Competition, which chronicles his experiences as both an athlete and a coach.