Mediterranean Mission: the Irish Navy Pitches In
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July 2015 Boston’s hometown VOL. 26 #7 journal of Irish culture. $1.50 Worldwide at All contents copyright © 2015 Boston Neighborhood News, Inc. bostonirish.com Brockton’s Sen. Kennedy, voice of passion, is dead at 63 StatE HouSE NEwS SErvicE Sen. Thomas Kennedy, a Brockton Democrat and fixture at the Massachusetts State House for more than three decades, passed away on Sun., June 28, accord- ing to his family. He was 63 and, an acquaintance of the family said, had been undergoing treatment for cancer and died of complications related to the disease. Sen. Kennedy, who was selected for the Irish Honors Award for Public Service by the Boston Irish Reporter in 2011, was a member of the Brockton City Council before joining the House in 1983. He won election to the Senate in 2008 where he most recently served as co-chair of committees on Election Laws, Consumer Protection, and Profes- sional Licensure. In a Facebook post after her brother had died, Mary Kennedy Bardsley wrote: “Our hearts are broken... May you be raised up on eagle’s wings, dear brother Tommy...oh how we loved you so...! Rest in peace.” Mediterranean mission: In the Legislature, aides remember him as having a passionate voice and prominent role in helping the Irish Navy pitches in to preserve gay marriage in Massachusetts, and The ceaseless turmoil in the Mideast is wreak- Sen. Thomas Kennedy noted that he lived just ing havoc, human and governmental, across the long enough to see it be- Mediterranean Sea as migrants, most of them come legalized across the country. in overcrowded boats, are streaming away from “On behalf of the members of the Senate, we are North Africa in search of asylum in European deeply saddened by the passing of Sen. Tom Kennedy,” countries. Senate President Stanley Rosenberg said in a state- A number of countries have heeded a call from ment. “He was a great friend, colleague, and public the European Union to patrol the waters where servant. He devoted his life to serving the people of his the migrant craft are crossing. As of late June, community and was proud of his working class roots. officials estimate that some 60,000 refugees have His voice will be missed in the Senate. Our hearts and put to sea this year, with some 2,000 dying en prayers go out to his friends and family.” route, according to the United Nations, as coun- The youngest of four children of Robert and Mary tries like Italy and France, facing domestic unrest (Cruise) Kennedy, Sen. Kennedy was a proud resident over migration, keep trying to figure out what to of Brockton’s historic Ward 2 in the center of the city do with the unexpected inflow. who lived in the Cruise family homestead in the house The Irish Navy has been a key player in the his Irish immigrant grandparents purchased before ongoing patrol-and-rescue operation. The accom- World War I. panying photos, provided to the Associated Press He was educated by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth by Irish Defence Forces, show Irish sailors in action at St. Patrick’s School and the Sisters of St. Joseph at on June 6, offloading migrants and tending to a Cardinal Spellman High School, graduating in 1969. baby in arms aboard the Irish Navy’s Le Eithne. He then entered the Missionary Congregation of the For more on Le Eithne’s mission, see Ed Forry’s (Continued on page 18) Publisher’s Notebook on Page 4. Denis O’Brien’s latest move: Haiti’s first Marriott By Bill Forry tallest office building, the cor- sum in fortune and time to man- ing of former US President Bill Editor porate headquarters of Digicel. age their first Haitian hotel. Clinton, made the leap of faith to The Marriott Port-au-Prince, The telecommunications giant The Marriott is already mak- commit the dollars and manpower which officially opened its doors now boasts the lion’s share of ing a major impression in this for the project two years ago. And last week after a “soft” opening the Caribbean’s mobile phone still-developing country, which it is O’Brien who sought to build period of three months, is far more market. And it’s founder, Denis has slowly been pulling itself up the hotel in Turgeau, a section of than just a symbol of Haiti’s post- O’Brien — the Irish-born busi- from the rubble and trauma of the capital that is not currently earthquake recovery. It’s a living, ness mogul who has been in the the January 2010 earthquake known as a magnet for tourists. breathing, job-creating economic headlines in Ireland lately— is that killed more than 230,000 On a recent visit to Haiti, engine in a neighborhood of also a well known and popular people— many of them right in O’Brien explained to the Reporter Port-au-Prince that sorely needs figure in Haiti. the capital city. The hotel is host- that the idea of siting the Marriott exactly that: jobs, vitality and the O’Brien is the individual who ing regular conferences, including here was no accident. promise of further development agreed to pump $48 million into trade shows aimed at attracting “There’s no point building to come. the hotel’s creation. Marriott, of new investment and builders into where everyone else is building,” It’s no accident that the hotel course, is the other key partner, the country. explained O’Brien. “Why would was built right next to Haiti’s having invested a considerable It was O’Brien who, at the urg- (Continued on page 14) Our experienced residential team is hard at work making sure you get the very best rate on the loan that’s just right for you. If you are looking to purchase or refinance your home, trust EBSB to put you in the mortgage program that fits you best. From ARM’s to Fixed rates including MassHousing programs, let us do the hard work so you can enjoy your home. WE KNOW Call one of our Mortgage Specialists today at 978.977.7100 or visit ebsb.com. MORTGAGES NMLS # 457291 Member FDIC. Member DIF. Page 2 July 2015 BOSTON IRISH RePORTeR bostonirish.com The Irish students killed in the balcony collapse: eoghan Culligan, Nick Schuster, Lorcan Miller, eimar Walsh, and Olivia Burke, all 21 years old and friends from South Dublin. The sixth fatality was Irish-American Ashley Donohue, 22, of California. ‘Rotted’ balcony beams seen as cause of student deaths in Calif. aSSociatEd PrESS Bates said. as the nation mourned BERKELEY, Calif. – The crowded fifth-floor the dead: Ashley Donohoe, The balcony collapse that balcony broke off an apart- 22, of Rohnert Park, Cali- killed six college students ment building during fornia, and Olivia Burke, here on Tues., June 16, a 21st-birthday party Eoghan Culligan, Niccolai appears to have been held by visiting Irish col- Schuster, Lorcan Miller caused by rotted wooden lege students, spilling 13 and Eimear Walsh, all 21 beams, Berkeley’s mayor people some 50 feet onto and all from Ireland. announced shortly after the pavement below. In ``They were in the prime the tragic mishap as addition to the six killed, of their lives,’’ said Berna- the victims’ heartbroken seven were seriously hurt. dette Prendiville, princi- loved ones began arriving Berkeley building inspec- pal of the high school from in California from Ireland. tors also determined that which Burke and Walsh Mayor Tom Bates said another balcony at the graduated. ``They had a investigators believe the apartment building was successful time in school, wood was not sealed ``structurally unsafe and went about their work qui- properly at the time of presented a collapse haz- etly and had everything construction and was ard,’’ and ordered it de- going for them, everything damaged by moisture molished. Two other bal- ahead of them.’’ conies were red-tagged, or Cardinal O’Malley leads as a result. He said that Boston’s Cardinal Sean O’Malley memorialized the students with a Mass of appears to be the prime declared off-limits. mourning in Boston Remembrance at Holy Cross Cathedral on June 22. Irish Pastoral Centre photo cause of the tragedy. Across the Atlantic, The archdiocese of Bos- ``More than likely, it was flags flew at half staff ton held a vigil and Cardi- Berkeley a week earlier. a reception where social Mass, but those who were caused by rain and water around Ireland and the nal Sean O’Malley said a The service was held June workers were available. unable to attend can sign damage that was caused country’s parliament sus- Mass of Remembrance for 22 at the Cathedral of the A book of condolence was it at the Irish Consulate to the support beams,’’ pended normal business the Irish students killed in Holy Cross, followed by available to sign before the in Boston. IIIC offers condolences to families of J1 students Youth and death – two we learned of the ter- The last of the funeral ment there. For several, are visiting the US for the lenge is to find affordable words when paired to- rible news that occurred services have now taken the road to recovery will first time, and all of them accommodation in Boston. gether call to mind the overnight in Berkeley, place in Ireland and most be long and hard. All of are of similar ages and Many of them came to most unimaginable heart- California - the death of of the injured students those directly involved backgrounds to those in our Memorial Mass for ache.