The Scotch-Irish Society of the United States of America
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OCIETY S O H F S I T R H I - E H NEWSLETTER Summer 2013 U C . T S O . A C . S The Scotch-Irish Society 1889 of the United States of America Letter from the President Writing for Chattanoogan.com, a web-only daily newspaper that claims 50,000 to 80,000 hits per day, commentator Chuck Hamilton opined about the “Origin of the Term Scotch-Irish.” If you missed it: don’t worry. His rambling 2200 word screed was filled with visceral dislike, but then again, are we Scotch-Irish not thick skinned enough to take a little heat? Seamus Heaney Hamilton begins by telling us that Davy Crocket was not Scotch-Irish but 1939 – 2013 French Huguenot, while Gerry Adams’ and IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands’ Born in Castledawson, County Derry, kin are Ulster Scots. After much discourse, his main point becomes clear. Seamus Heaney is recognized as one of He places the blame for the term on Thomas Dixon’s highly popular the major poets of the 20th century. reconstruction trilogy, which was published at the beginning of 20th century. Seamus Heaney won the Nobel Prize for He writes, “It was in this time period and with this background that the Literature in 1995. Mr. Heaney was Oxford Professor of Poetry, taught at term ‘Scotch-Irish’ came into widespread use here in the South. The Knights Harvard University and at least one of the KKK soon spread throughout the South and then the rest of semester at Emory University in Atlanta. the country, and even across our northern border into Canada with the He attracted an international readership, organization of the Royal Riders of the Red Robe. ‘Scotch-Irish’ in the in part because he wrote about modern South meant white, Protestant, non-Catholic, non-Jewish, native-born, Northern Ireland. Essayist Richard prohibitionist, and Christian Dominionist, the same way the term Murphy described Heaney as “the poet who has shown the finest art in presenting ‘Anglo-Saxon’ was used in the North at the time.” So there you have it. a coherent vision of Ireland, past and We’re the villains in his palaver. present." Wonder how Mr. Hamilton would classify Sister Noel, a retired Roman Our member Jack Weaver, Emeritus Catholic nun, who shares space with many Irish born “sisters” at Maryknoll Professor of English at Winthrop in Ossinging, NY and proudly calls herself Scotch-Irish. She eagerly reads University, met Mr. Heaney in 1980. all Scotch-Irish material she can get her hands upon and was delighted when He later presented a paper on his poetry I shared the papers presented at our June symposium in York, SC. collection “Station Island.” The title refers to a famous pilgrimage site in Donegal. Or the Irish-American history scholar and recognized national expert on Jack shared his thoughts on Seamus the Irish and Scotch-Irish contributions to American wars, who was raised Heaney, “...he was a good man. He was Roman Catholic in the bandit country of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland also generous with his time and money. and was a supporter of Irish republicanism in New York. When I visited him He felt that mankind had been good to recently at a rehab facility where he was placed after falling, he greeted me him, so he wanted to give ‘something’ by telling me how proud he is of his Scotch-Irish heritage. back. He gave a lot.” About Heaney’s poem “Digging” Jack These two examples and others I could add are testament to the fact that said, “ In it, he contrasts himself and his the Scotch-Irish in America are not a narrow band of right wing American chosen career in writing with his father Protestants. Mr. Hamilton’s refusal to recognize our distinct Scotch-Irish who is skilled in using a spade to prepare identity is not warranted. We do not exist in opposition to Irish-America, potato rows and his grandfather who uses and besides many Americans claim more than one ethnic identity. We one to cut turf or peat. Both of them are are simply a group that shares a distinct and unique heritage. We have a outstanding in their work, but he grasps wonderful story to tell, one that is worthy of celebrating and cherishing. his pen between finger and thumb and says he will dig (here, write) with that.” Bill McGimpsey Read “Digging” on page 12. 1 ULSTER-AMERICAN HERITAGE SYMPOSIUM 2014 in Athens, Georgia The Twentieth Ulster-American Heritage Symposium (UAHS) will be held in Athens, Georgia on Wednesday, June 25 through Saturday, June 28 in 2014. The UAHS has met every two years since 1976, alternating between co-sponsoring universities, museums and historical agencies in Northern Ireland and the United States, to encourage and promote public awareness of the shared history and culture of Ulster and North America in a congenial and relaxing setting. The Symposium provides the premier forum for scholars presenting new research and ideas on these connections. The Athens 2014 theme, "Contacts, Contests, and Contributions: Ulster-Americans in War and Society," will have a broad-based, cross-community scope that seeks to explore the transatlantic emigration, settlement and continued experience of people from Northern Ireland and present new research that challenges habitual ways of thinking about these immigrants, their roles in American life, and their legacies. The 2014 Symposium invites new scholarship in two areas: interactions with indigenous peoples (especially the Cherokee Nation) and other groups in North America such as German Americans and African Americans over the past four centuries; and participation in the American Civil War by immigrants from Ulster and their descendants. Added emphasis will be placed on Athena Statue encouraging new scholars from graduate programs across the country and beyond to become involved in furthering our knowledge of Ulster-American heritage. Athens, Georgia is home to Athens, Georgia is a vibrant city that defines sophisticated Southern culture. Located at R.E.M. and the B-52s, the city the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this university city of just over 100,000 residents that Rolling Stone named the offers visitors a wide range of award-winning restaurants, historic districts, art exhibits, as "#1 College Music Scene well as a world-renowned music scene offering a unique blend of Southern heritage and in America" and the home of contemporary entertainment. The home of the University of Georgia, the country's first the University of Georgia. state-chartered institution of higher education and the country's number one collegiate Nestled below the Blue Ridge sports mascot, Athens is frequently rated as one of the top historic college towns in Mountains, 70 miles from America. Atlanta, Athens is a harmony Athens UAHS 2014 brings together leading and emerging scholars from differing fields of old and new: Antebellum for a program that will include papers, lectures, discussions, performances, and events. architecture, contemporary art, Traditional venues with altogether new twists are being explored. Given that the eclectic nightlife, a Victorian-era symposium is by tradition and design inter-disciplinary, original paper presentations are downtown teeming with funky being solicited in a broad range of relevant fields: history, language and literature, shops and one of the South's archaeology, art history, geography, folklore and folklife, religion, anthropology, music, most progressive culinary scenes. economics, political relations, architecture, genealogy and museum studies, among others. Athens UAHS 2014 is working to alter the traditional conference by allowing attendees the ability to experience a little of the local customs, cuisine and hospitality. Sessions and events will be planned at different venues with opportunities to take in some of the local color. Whether walking or riding, Athens in Clarke County has much to offer in history, scholarship, entertainment and Southern hospitality. City Hall Y’all come! 2 To propose a paper for the conference, Backin’ Belfast please send electronically by December 2, 2013 a 250-word abstract with cover letter indicating Titanic and Troubles Tourism your name, postal and email addresses, Nina Ray phone number, institutional affiliation (if any), equipment needs and a biographical paragraph This year, with money from Belfast City Council’s Strategic Policy and to: [email protected], or by surface Resources Committee, the Northern Ireland Executive and local businesses, mail to: Program Committee, Twentieth Ulster- the “Backin’ Belfast” campaign was launched. With a facebook page, American Heritage Symposium, c/o T.R.R. Cobb YouTube and Twitter presences, the campaign appears mainly aimed at locals House, 175 Hill Street, Athens, GA 30601, U.S.A. and nearby residents. However, never far from Belfast’s efforts is how the For more information on the conference city (and all of Northern Ireland) is portrayed to the rest of the world, contact the conference chair, Sam Thomas at especially to those of us in the diaspora. [email protected]. Address inquiries With a successful (no major logistical or violence problems) G8 summit in to the co-chairs of the program committee June, Northern Ireland got its world exposure. About the worst news that Michael Montgomery ([email protected]) appeared in the U.S. press was Michele Obama and her two daughters or Richard MacMaster ([email protected]). looking very unhappy while being swarmed by midges while in Ireland. Notice of acceptance will be made no later One Northern Ireland resident interviewed for a research grant I was than January 15, 2014, at which time presenters working on this summer commented on the portrayal in past world news will receive confirmation of acceptance and during the height of the Troubles, “at least the world is paying attention to information on hotels and local arrangements.