Pbs Series Chronicles Irish Journey

“The Irish in America: Long Journey Home,” an absolutely grand PBS documentary, pulses with so many choice images and characters that it’s difficult to single out a favorite.

But here’s a leading candidate from this six-hour, three-night exploration of one facet of the American immigrant experience: Frank McCourt, author of the acclaimed Irish memoir “Angela’s Ashes,” and his brother, Malachy, are captured on film warbling a ribald ditty from the Irish-dominated Tammany Hall days of New York politics.

That’s the kind of film “The Irish in America” is - a beguiling mix of history and personality, of the big picture and the telling detail. It doesn’t hesitate to stop for a cozy moment with McCourt and others who know how to bring a story, and a people, to life.

“God bless him. He’s the rock star of Irish America right now,” said producer Thomas Lennon, reveling in McCourt’s participation in the documentary.

But it wasn’t just the literary lion who was eager to take part. The film and companion book (“The Irish in America,” Hyperion, $40) include contributions from the likes of writers Maeve Binchy and Pete Hamill and actor Jason Robards. The program’s narrator is actor Michael Murphy.

The music was handled by Paddy Moloney of The Chieftains, who recruited Elvis Costello, Vince Gill, Van Morrison and Sinead O’Connor for the program.

The documentary begins with the early Irish roots in America and the mass exodus caused by Ireland’s potato famine of the mid-19th century. We follow the immigrants as they move into politics, business and culture and, finally, through the doorway of assimilation and acceptance.

“The film we were trying to make is the story of this group of people transforming themselves from Irish to Americans,” Lennon said. “They did that, and it was hard. It was costly and bloody, and yet a story full of joy.”

We encounter the familiar - such as boxer John L. Sullivan and politicos Al Smith and the Kennedy clan.

And we discover lesser-known aspects of the Irish-American experience, such as the Western mining empires they built.

“The Monarch Notes version of Irish-American history is all an East Coast story,” Lennon said.

“I don’t believe even well-read Irish-Americans know the story of the Irish in New Orleans or Virginia City, Nev., or Butte, Mont.”

There’s a lively, eloquent stream of talk throughout, as befits a culture known for its wordsmiths.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: “The Irish in America: Long Journey Home” airs at 9 p.m. Monday on KSPS-TV, Channel 7, at 8 p.m. on KCDT-TV, Channel 26, and KUID-TV, Channel 12; and at 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday on all three PBS stations.