September 2009 VOL. 20 #9 $1.50 Boston’s hometown journal of Irish culture.

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bostonirish.com All contents copyright © 2009 Boston Neighborhood News, Inc. FAREWELL TO A MAN, AND TO AN ERA

Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston, walked around the casket with incense before it left the church after the funeral Mass for Sen. Edward M. Kennedy at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica in Boston on Sat., Aug. 29. (AP Photo/Brian Snyder, Pool)

By Carol Beggy the United States Senate” that family was celebrated for its bors on Caped Cod to world to come to Boston,” Cowen told Special to the BIR stretched from his corner of deep Irish roots. As the Boston leaders including Irish Prime the Boston Irish Reporter’s Joe From the moment the first Hyannis Port to Boston, Wash- Globe’s Kevin Cullen wrote, Minister . Leary at the Back Bay Hotel, news bulletins started crackling ington, , the home of his the senator himself was slow “We’re very grateful for the formerly the Jurys Hotel. on radios and popping up on ancestors, the British Isles, and in embracing his Irish heritage, great dedication of Senator Ken- Michael Lonergan had barely BlackBerries late on the night beyond. but once he did, he made it his nedy to Ireland and its people,” sat in his seat as the new Consul of Tuesday, Aug. 25, the death This youngest brother of the mission to help broker peace in Cowen said at an impromptu General of Ireland in Boston of Senator Edward M. Ken- Kennedy family was hailed for . press conference held after the before he found himself busily nedy brought an outpouring of his work as one of the country’s Those coming to pay respects August 29 funeral. “And it was arranging for the arrival of the remembrances for this “Lion of greatest legislators and his ranged from Kennedy’s neigh- out of respect, I felt the need (Continued on page 3) ICCNE All Set for Its Festival: Fishing Advice, Sept. 12, 13 on Canton Campus Christian-style Says Bridget Shaheen, By Sean Smith a of acts with local and and her new historical novel, at left, Director of Lazarus national followings, including “Galway Bay” performances Special to the BIR — House in Lawrence: “Our Widely acclaimed Irish-Amer- the Noel Henry Irish Showband, by storytellers and showcases ican singer Andy Cooney, whose Curragh’s Fancy, the Fenian of area Irish dance schools will goal is to teach people repertoire ranges from classic Sons, Tradition, the Gobshites, add to the entertainment, along to fish,” in reference to Irish ballads to more contem- and Andy Healy. In addition, with a carnival area for families the ministry’s mission of porary sounds, and Girsa, the Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eire- with young children. Further an all-female ensemble from ann Hanafin-Cooley branch of samplings of Irish culture are teaching self-sufficiency the area that Boston will provide its ever- represented by the ICC’s au- and yet total spiritual de- has rapidly become a force in popular marathon of music and thentic Irish cottage – modeled pendence on Christ. “But traditional Irish music circles, set-dancing over the course of after the one featured in the headline the Irish Cultural the weekend. movie “The Quiet Man” – and when people are hungry, Centre of New England’s 19th Talks by authors such as other exhibits. they cannot hear anyone’s annual festival, set to take place Mary Pat Kelly — whose works The 2009 edition of the fes- teaching. So first we must Sept. 12 and 13 at the ICCNE include “Home Away from tival represents a significant feed them.” campus in Canton. Home: The Yanks in Ireland,” departure from the last sev- The festival also will feature “Martin Scorsese: ” (Continued on page 17) Profile, Page 6 Page  September 2009 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com

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IFEDIEH;:8O0 Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com September 2009 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page  Senator to Pope … Pope to Senator Following are excerpts from a letter exchange between Edward M. Kennedy and Pope Benedict XVI in the weeks before Kennedy’s death: SENATOR KENNEDY “Most Holy Father, I asked President Obama to personally hand deliver this letter to you. As a man of deep faith himself, he understands how important my Roman Catholic faith is to me, and I am deeply grateful to him. I hope this letter finds you in good health. I pray that you have all of God’s blessings as you lead our Church and inspire our world during these challenging times. “I am writing with deep humility to ask that you pray for me as my own health declines. I was diag- nosed with brain cancer more than a year ago, and, although I continue treatment, the disease is taking its toll on me. I am 77 years old and preparing for the next passage of life. “I have been blessed to be a part of a wonderful family, and both of my parents, particularly my mother, kept our Catholic faith at the center of our lives. That gift of faith has sustained, nurtured and provided solace to me in the darkest hours. I know that I have been an imperfect human being, but with the help of my faith, I have tried to right my path. Edward Kennedy III mourned at the coffin of his grandfather Sen. Edward Kennedy, at Arlington Na- “I want you to know, Your Holiness, that in my tional Cemetery in Arlington, Va. Saturday Aug. 29. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) nearly of elective office, I have done my best to champion the rights of the poor and open doors of economic opportunity. I’ve worked to welcome the immigrant, fight discrimination and expand access to Farewell To A Man, An Era health care and education. I have opposed the death penalty and fought to end war. Those are the issues (Continued from page 1) representatives Stephen Massachusetts president lative record, and doting that have motivated me and been the focus of my work prime minister. Lynch, William Delahunt, Jack Wilson, former US surrogate father to the as a United States Senator. Cowen’s decision to and Edward Markey; Representative Martin Kennedy clan on road “I also want you to know that even though I am ill, I attend the funeral had former governor Michael Meehan, now chancellor trips, sailing expeditions, am committed to do everything I can to achieve access sparked a political debate Dukakis; Boston May- of the University of Mas- and at family dinners. to health care for everyone in my country. This has in Ireland about whether or Thomas M. Menino; sachusetts Lowell; Suffolk Several of Kennedy’s been the political cause of my life. the should at- New York Mayor Michael County District Attorney grandchildren and young- “I believe in a conscience protection for Catholics in tend the senator’s funeral. Bloomberg; Chicago May- Daniel F. Conley; and est nieces and nephews the health care field and will continue to advocate for In setting up a remem- or Richard M. Daley; and state Senate President offered the intercessions, it as my colleagues in the Senate and I work to develop brance book for Irish citi- more than 40 U.S. Sena- Therese Murray. invoking some of his most an overall national health policy that guarantees health zens to offer condolences tors, including Senators Standing by the Sen- famous lines or favored care for everyone. to the Kennedy family, John Kerry, Chris Dodd, ator’s widow Victoria causes, including quality “I have always tried to be a faithful Catholic, Your he shrugged off ques- and Patrick Leahy, who throughout was the last of health care and a stop Holiness, and though I have fallen short through hu- tions by the Irish media, were among the honor- the nine Kennedy siblings, to war. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma man failings, I have never failed to believe and respect saying that Kennedy was ary pallbearers lined up former U.S. Ambassador played a Bach cello suite the fundamental teachings. an “important friend to outside the church to meet to Ireland Jean Kennedy and accompanied tenor “I continue to pray for God’s blessings on you and Ireland.” the hearse. Smith. Placido Domingo, who our Church and would be most thankful for your Another Irishman, John Prime Minister Cowen Four years his senior, sang “Panis Angelicus.” prayers for me.’’ Hume, a Nobel Peace was seated with Sar- Smith, the 25th US Am- Mezzo-soprano Susan Prize winner, was in ah Brown, the wife of bassador to Ireland, al- Graham sang “Ave Ma- Boston for the final ser- Britain’s Prime Minister ways looked out for her ria” after Communion. VATICAN RESPONSE vices for Kennedy. “I was Gordon Brown, who made baby brother. She had All three artists brought very saddened by Ted “The Holy Father has read the letter which you a surprise visit to British rented a house on Cape on tears in the standing- Kennedy’s death. He was entrusted to President Barack Obama, who kindly troops on Saturday. Also Cod to be near her brother room-only church. a great friend to me and presented it to him during their recent meeting. He was attending the funeral in his last days, staying Ted Kennedy Jr., whose to the people of Northern saddened to know of your illness, and has asked me to were Shaun Woodward, by his side rather than voice and face resemble Ireland,” Hume said at the assure you of his concern and his spiritual closeness. Britain’s secretary of attending the funeral of those of his father, re- Back Bay Hotel shortly He is particularly grateful for your promise of prayers state for Northern Ire- their sister, Eunice Ken- called the late senator as after the funeral Mass at for him and for the needs of the universal Church. land; Martin McGuinness, nedy Shriver, on Aug. a rodeo rider, dinner table the Basilica of Our Lady of “His Holiness prays that in the days ahead you may deputy first minister for 11. debater, conductor of va- Perpetual Help in Mission be sustained in faith and hope, and granted the pre- the Northern Ireland As- A 2007 recipient of the cations that left younger Hill. “Northern Ireland cious grace of joyful surrender to the will of God our sembly; , Gold Medal Award from family members “injured had two great friends in merciful Father. He invokes upon you the consolation leader of Sinn Fein; and the Eire Society of Boston and exhausted,” Civil War its efforts for peace, Tip and peace promised by the Risen Savior to all who Mark Durkan, a member for her peace efforts in history enthusiast, Green O’Neill and Ted Kennedy. share in His sufferings and trust in His promise of of Northern Ireland’s Northern Ireland and for Bay Packers recruit, “pro- I came here also as a eternal life. House of Commons. her humanitarian work tector of the people,” an friend. I will miss him.” “Commending you and the members of your family “I have very personal with disabled children, apostle of the doctrine Thousands of Massa- to the loving intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, memories of Senator Ken- Smith was the one Ken- that hard work and deter- chusetts residents lined the Holy Father cordially imparts his Apostolic Bless- nedy,” Durkan told the nedy scion to follow their mination paid dividends, the highways as the cor- ing as a pledge of wisdom, comfort, and strength in Boston Irish Reporter father’s path of foreign and “a lover of everything tege of limousines brought the Lord.’’ after the funeral Mass. service. French -- cheese, wine, the senator’s body to the “I worked in his office for *** and women.” John F. Kennedy Library several months and what President Barack “He was not perfect - far and Museum in Dorches- he taught me and how he Obama praised the lon- from it,” said the younger ter, where his body lay supported me sustains me gest-serving member of Kennedy in an emotional in repose for two days, today. … Ted Kennedy the family dynasty as a remembrance. “But my drawing tens of thousands did more for the Irish “happy warrior” during father believed in redemp- of visitors to walk by the than most people know. a stirring funeral Mass tion. And he never sur- closed casket. He wasn’t just of Irish Saturday. “The greatest rendered, never stopped Before the hearse left heritage.” expectations were placed trying to right wrongs, be the Mission Hill church The local friends and on Ted Kennedy’s shoul- they the results of his own to take the senator’s body colleagues of Senator Ken- ders because of who he failings, or of ours.” Arlington National Cem- nedy were represented as was, but he surpassed As the organ boomed etery, scores of people well -- several were among them all because of who the recessional “God Bless – VIPs and common folk those chosen by the Ken- he became,” Obama said America,” Kennedy’s cas- -- came to Boston to pay nedy family to help keep during his eulogy. ket made its way toward tribute, including Presi- vigil with the Senator’s Said the principal cel- the back of the church, ac- dent Barack Obama and body at the JFK Library. ebrant of the funeral companied by 11 pallbear- his wife, Michelle; Vice Those included longtime Mass, the Rev. J. Donald ers, all family. Kennedy’s President Joe Biden and Kennedy family adviser Monan, former president serene-looking widow, his wife Jill; former presi- Gerry Doherty; Peter of Boston College where he Vicki, walked at the head dent Bill Clinton and his Meade, president and now serves as chancellor: of a long line of family wife, US Secretary of State CEO of the Edward M. “A few scant miles from members as the entourage Hillary Rodham Clinton; Kennedy Institute for the here, the city on a hill left the church in the pour- former president George US Senate; former lieu- stands less tall against the ing rain to make ready for W. Bush and his wife, tenant governor Thomas morning sky. And the sea a flight to Washington, a Laura; former president P. O’Neill III; Dr. Michael out toward Nantucket is a visit to the Capitol, and Jimmy Carter and his Collins, chancellor of the bit more forlorn at the loss a trip to Maryland and wife, Rosalynn; former University of Massachu- of one of its most ardent the cemetery where the vice presidents Al Gore, setts Medical School; lovers.” senator’s body was laid Edward Kennedy Jr., Vicki Kennedy, President Walter Mondale, and state Democratic Party The senator was re- to rest alongside those Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, from Dan Quayle; US Supreme Chairman John Walsh; called as a prayerful of his brothers Jack and left, praying at the funeral of Sen. Edward Kennedy Court Justice Stephen state Attorney General Catholic, restless out- Bobby. at Our Lady of Perpetual Hope Basilica in Boston Breyer, who had served Martha Coakley; Univer- doorsman, history buff, State House News on Sat., Aug., 29. Kennedy died on Aug. 25 after a on Kennedy’s staff; most sity of Massachusetts Bos- champion of Democratic Service reporter Jim battle with cancer. He was 77. of the state Congressio- ton Chancellor J. Keith causes, force behind a O’Sullivan contributed to (AP Photo/Brian Snyder, Pool) nal delegation including Motley; University of nearly unmatched legis- this article. Page  September 2009 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com Publisher’s Notebook Commentary End of Summer A First: Some Are Starting to Mull Doesn’t Mean Sinn Fein Without Gerry Adams By Robert P. Connolly ris, suggesting that Sinn Fein “is suffering an identity Nothing’s Going On Special to the BIR crisis,” and asking: “What are we trying to achieve in For more than a quarter of a century, the Irish repub- the 26 (the ) and what do we stand By Ed Forry lican party, Sinn Fein, has had a clear and undisputed for besides a ?” As this prolonged summer comes near its end, there leader, Gerry Adams. Voters in the Republic of Ireland, Ferris said, “unfor- remain several events to attract folks outdoors before the To be sure, Adams has had a leadership partner, tunately see us as a Northern-based party, irrelevant snows of winter arrive. With Labor Day late this year, Martin McGuinness, but fundamentally, it has been to the everyday concerns of people in the 26 counties. the traditional Waterfront Irish Festival in Newport understood that Adams re- Voters are unclear about what we stand for, which is will take place on the holiday weekend, September 5, 6 ceived top billing – he was the not surprising as I’m sure many of us are starting to and 7. There will be five stages of entertainment, with party president, the thinker, wonder about this also. We have been trying to appeal performances from the likes of Eileen Ivers, Black 47, the charismatic speaker, the to too broad a spectrum of people and as a result have The Makem Brothers & Spain Brothers, Calley McGrane international media star. lost touch with our base.” and The Exiles and many more. To think Sinn Fein was to Ferris, 29, a Kerry county councilor and the former As noted in this month’s BIR arts and entertainment think Gerry Adams. mayor of Kerry, made her comments after waging an pages, the Irish Cultural Centre of New England will But now, for the first time unsuccessful bid for a seat in the European Parlia- produce its own Irish Festival on the weekend of Sept. since Sinn Fein emerged on the ment. 12 and 13 at the ICCNE campus in Canton. Performers world stage, there is a ques- While never mentioning Adams by name, Ferris, include singer Andy Cooney, trad all-women ensemble tion as to whether Adams, 60, in a column written for the republican newspaper An Girsa, the Noel Henry Irish Showband, Curragh’s will continue to lead the party Phoblacht, did not mince words, asserting: “our na- Fancy, the Fenian Sons, Tradition, the Gobshites and he has guided since he was tional spokespeople show the party to be out of touch Andy Healy. elected president in 1983 and with its base.” Next month, a fledgling one-day Irish festival is set the movement he has molded Adams, if he was stung by the criticism leveled by for the Adams Corner section of Dorchester on Sun., Robert P. for four decades. Ferris and by others and increasingly applauded in Oct. 11, during the Columbus Day holiday weekend. Connolly In retrospect, it probably the South, failed to show it. The outdoor venue will be along Adams Street at Gal- shouldn’t come as such a sur- In fact, in an interview published in , livan Blvd., the location of the Eire Pub and Gerard’s prise to hear the “unthinkable” whispered in republican Adams said he was “energized” by the post-EU election Restaurant. Out west on Columbus Day weekend, the circles. upheaval, noting: “There is work to be done and I intend Irish center at Elms College in Chicopee celebrates its Twenty-five years is a long time for any political leader to do it … I have no intention of standing down.” 10th anniversary with a weekend to remain in power, and Adams’s time at the helm has How long Adams continues to serve as the leader of events, including an art exhibit not been easy, as he first served as the political face of Sinn Fein is hard to predict. Adams has become an of the work of County ’s Vin- of a paramilitary organization while at the same time international figure capable of generating attention cent , Saturday workshops, working behind the scenes to steer his movement away and raising money around the world, and more par- concert and films, and a Sunday from a reliance on political violence. ticularly, the party has no obvious successor waiting brunch with author Peter Quinn. That change would be in the wind becomes all the in the wings. Information at irish-cairde.org. more understandable when one looks at Sinn Fein’s In recent months, Adams has launched an Irish ***** inability to expand out of Northern Ireland, where it unification campaign, which on one level appeals to the A Sept. 11 Concert at Boston’s wields real power, and become a major political force hardliners in his party and also represents the natural Historic Wilbur Theater is being in the Republic of Ireland. instinct of a wounded politician turning to the issues planned to mark the anniversary A decade of political frustration in the South came that he knows best. A high-comfort-level refuge. of terror attacks. “A Celtic Cross- to a head earlier this summer when Sinn Fein lost the But seen another way, Adams’s decision to focus on ing” will present a musical 9/11 single seat it held in the delegation that Ireland sends unification may be making Ferris’s point: spotlighting concert , with proceeds going to benefit Cops for Kids to the European Parliament. For party vice president an issue that has emotional appeal in Northern Ireland with Cancer. Headlining and hosting this event will be Mary Lou McDonald to lose her seat was noth- but less resonance in the South, where voters are con- Pauline Wells of Milton. A Sergeant Detective in the ing less than a political disaster for Sinn Fein and cerned about the crumbling economy and about real-life Cambridge Police Department, she began singing in Adams’ leadership. issues like education, health care, and crime. Ireland in 2000 while on a trip with the Boston Police Once the ink was dry on the story of McDonald’s Whether Gerry Adams can ever be the face of a politi- Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums, and has performed defeat, sniping became inevitable and the first major cal party that makes major inroads in the South is very numerous benefit concerts over the years. She will be assault came from a surprising quarter, with Toireasa much an open question, but for now, he is the president joined by 40 members of the legendary NYPD Em- Ferris, one of the party’s rising stars in the South and and leader of Sinn Fein and it will take someone very erald Society Pipes and Drums. More information at the daughter of longtime republican leader Martin Fer- smart and very tough to wrest that title away. thewilburtheater.com, paulinewells.com or by phone at 617-696-7172. ***** Commentary Boston’s Consul General of Ireland, David Barry left for a new assignment last month. “After four years at the Consulate General of Ireland in Boston the time Print vs. Online: has come for me to leave,” Barry said in an e-mail to friends. “After a short break, I will be taking up my new assignment in the Anglo-Irish Division of the De- Different Strokes for Different Folks partment of Foreign Affairs in Dublin. I want to thank You really think you are oh sooooo much smarter than you all for your friendship and support during my stay By Tom Mulvoy BIR Staff all of us fans. You prove time and time again that you in Boston.” He has been succeeded in the Boston post need to find a new career.” by Michael Lonergan. “I have no doubt that you will These are parlous times in the news profession, print division. No one is sure where things are headed Then comes “tennesseemoonshiner”: welcome him to Boston with the same openness and “Shaughnessy: ‘You will believe what you want to kindness that I experienced over the last four years,” as newspaper proprietors work at fashioning a 21st century business model that will link news gathering believe.’ I can’t write what I believe Shaughnessy is he said. because the webmaster keeps censoring it. But it has ***** and advocacy, advertising, circulation/readership, and the marvels of the World Wide Web to remake the to do with the bodily orifice from which excrement Big changes being announced this month with the flows.” reorganization of ICCUSA/New England. “Effective profitable entrepreneurial approach that sustained the golden era of ink-on-paper journalism for most Finally, this from “codyrules” immediately, The Ireland Chamber of Commerce USA “Shaughnessy: ‘You will believe what you want to New England is now the Boston Irish Business Associa- publishers over the last 100 years. That is big-picture, large-bore stuff, and good luck believe.’ You make it sound as if anyone who is inter- tion (BIBA),” Paul Dwyer, president, and Jim O’Brien, ested in getting facts before passing judgment is a low chairman, said in a joint announcement. to us all as we take things a step at a time. The coming of electronic delivery of information IQ fan with an irrational need to believe. You are in “Tip O’Neill once said that ‘All politics is local.’ His fact a hack “journalist,” who doesn’t see the need, the point was simple: Focus on your own backyard first and generated by human beings who are on scene covering news events has made a muddle of many long-held as- responsibility, to check such incidentals as facts or lack everything else will fall into place. It is in this spirit that of them before launching into a self-serving tirade. Talk we have decided to change the focus of our organization, sumptions about what a newspaper is all about. Let’s take the category of letters to the editor. News- about mailing it in. You are a disgrace to an already concentrating our efforts at home in the Commonwealth disgraced profession. You have zero credibility.” of Massachusetts,” they wrote. papers still print them, and most publishers insist that letters offering rebuttal opinion or controversial It’s a shame that the Globe lets misanthropes “As BIBA, we will work hard to maintain and expand like “ilikebaseball” and “tennessemoonshiner’ and the fantastic network we have built, especially within positions come with names that are printed with the letter. “codyrules’ savage the name of a bylined employee the environs of the Massachusetts business, political while hiding behind anonymity. and academic communities. We will use these contacts Curiously, these same publishers have no problem with online readers – who get the newspaper’s journal- The print Globe publishes 4-6 letters to the editor and affiliations to further build our strong ties with on average in each edition, and writers are asked for Ireland and with other national organizations with a ism at no charge – making snarly, snarky, anonymous ad hominem attacks on their newsroom employees. verification of their names (and their positions in life similar affinity. if that is seen to be relevant); online, there have been “The launch of BIBA will incorporate our re-brand- I have known Globe sports columnist Dan Shaugh- nessy and his work for more than 30 years. He is a days when a Shaughnessy column has evoked 100 or ing and the establishment of an improved meeting more comments by 7 o’clock the morning of publica- calendar, which will include more events, tailored to wealth of sports information, a veteran observer of things on and off the playing fields, and he is opinion- tion. To be fair, not every letter is a rant against the specific industry verticals. We will revamp our morning writer, and a few are deleted for crossing some sort of and evening speaker series and establish a new young ated, as a columnist should be. He can also be flip with his words and approach to a story in the news. imaginary line. And, mirabile dictu, some readers take professional’s organization. We will also be reaching on the topic, not the man. Still, it would be impractical out to other like-minded business organizations in the But no readers are confused about authorship when they click to his column on boston.com. His name and to insist that every file of comments under every story state and we will work to cement the fine relationships in every edition come to the computer screen with true we have built at both the Massachusetts State House a cartoonish caricature (a curious rendering, in my opinion) run right with his articles. names attached for verification and that Globe edi- and Boston City Hall.” tors working the wee hours of the day do the checking ***** Not so those who offer opinions in the “Comments’ section that his paper makes room for underneath his before publication. TIARA, The Irish Ancestral Research Association, Bottom line is that there are two Globes: One honors begins the fall season with its first monthly meeting columns. Here is a reader who signs his name as “ilikebaseball” civility by holding its critics accountable by name; the on Fri., Sept. 13, 7:30 p.m. at Boston College, Room other is digital and free, holding its venom-spewing, 511, Fulton Hall. Featured speaker will be Melinde writing about a Shaughnessy column: “How come you had the comments deleted after your saloon-level critics to no account. Until it can find a Sanborn on “The Irish of Ward One, Boston; Clues & way to balance the ledger between the two on reader Misdirection from the Census.” … On Oct. 1, at 7 p.m. last bashing of Ortiz, Dan? Because the truth hurts? REALLY HOPE YOU DO NOT CONSIDER YOUR- access to its properties, the Globe should do the honor- comedian Jimmy Tingle will perform in concert at able thing by its own family of journalists and close Dorchester’s Florian Hall to benefit the Brady Academy SELF A JOURNALIST. TIRED OF THE SUBJEC- TIVE, EMOTION DRIVEN GARBAGE AND HATE down the online comments sections under all opinion of Irish Dance. This event runs from 7 to 11 p.m. For pieces. more information, call 617-481-0642. YOU SPEW. Nice swipe at Sox fans in this piece too. Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com September 2009 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page  Commentary Off the Bench Make No Mistake: U.S. Investors A Meditation Are Bulwarks of Irish Economy on the Lonely By James W. Dolan By Joe Leary of them shipping products all over the world – even I am at an age where a few of my friends have lost Special to the BIR back to the United States. Years ago, the clever Irish their wives. The period of adjustment appears deeper It is a tricky balancing act. With approximately 40 designed their tax policies specifically to attract Ameri- and longer than for wives who lose their husbands. But percent of all Irish corporate taxes and 300,000 Irish cans. Even with a low current tax rate of 12 percent, then I’ve always believed that women alone are more jobs depending upon American businesses, and a new the revenue for Ireland in American-generated euros independent and self-sufficient than men. modern road system largely paid for by European Union is 40 percent of the entire corporate tax base. And Women play a much larger and important role in ex- members (most notably France Irish suppliers to these American companies provide tended relationships than men are inclined to publicly and Germany), Ireland needs even more tax revenue. acknowledge. Most men also believe it is in the natural the good will of many different The United States has accounted for 60-70 percent of order of things that they will be the first to die, so they countries to stay economically Ireland’s inward investment over the past few years, don’t prepare for the loss of a spouse. viable. the chamber reports. Over the course of the past twenty Coming home to an empty house in the weeks fol- It should also be recognized years, Intel, for instance, has invested more than six lowing a loss is depressing. Even worse is not having that the divided island of billion euros in its Leixlip, Co. Kildare, campus. The something to do and someplace to go; the important Ireland would be far stron- company employs some 4,500 people at the site. distraction that work can provide for a few hours. ger economically if it were a With daily headlines screaming economic disaster, Work provides a comforting routine and the oppor- single country, with the same Ireland must be well-toughened to bad news: tunity to focus on things other than that all- pervasive currency, tax laws, and the Dublin Office Costs Among Most Expensivein sense of loss. Without the defenses that work, family, and same business representation the world -- Irish Times. activity provide, one can sink from loneliness through throughout the world. Ireland’s Irish Prices Second Highest in EU -- this in addi- depression to despair. IDA and Northern Ireland’s De- tion to an 18 percent increase in population, and a cor- Women are more resilient. They are more comfortable Joe Leary velopment agency now compete responding exploding school census. -- Irish Times talking about their feelings and sharing their experi- aggressively against each other Tourist Numbers Fall Sharply – hotels, restau- ences. Male blustering notwithstanding, we need them for new investment (sometimes with a third country rants, golf courses all dropping their prices. -- Irish more then they need us. the final winner). Dr. Alan Gillespie, chairman of the Times Daughters sense this more than sons and normally Ulster Bank Group, has already called for the merger Irish Hotels Industry in Crisis -- Claiming 20 take the initiative in circling the family wagons around of these two important agencies. percent unused capacity. -- RTE News their father after the loss of their mother. That coming Regardless how beneficial a United Ireland would Two years ago the International Monetary Fund together, rallying to support one another in time of loss, be, such an eventuality is far into the future. (IMF) predicted that if the United States were to fall is one of the more compelling expressions of love. Today, the reality is there are two rival jurisdictions into recession, Ireland would be hurt severely. This For older men, the loss of companionship is subtle. operating in a very small geographic area, naturally unfortunately has come to pass. At approximately the Just knowing that the one you have shared so much joined as a single island, that would be far better served, same time, in December 2007, Ireland’s Economic and with in life is there can be an enormous comfort. That economically at least, by a unified government. Social Research Institute (ESRI) was forecasting that familiarity does not require much conversation or at- Without American business investment, Ireland Ireland’s growth rate in 2008 would be the worst since tention. Call it history or routine; it is an important would be far less successful. According to the Ameri- 1992. Unfortunately, this was also correct. component of mature love. can Chamber of Commerce in Dublin, United States Were it not for American investment, Ireland would I feel better when my wife is home. Given that we have companies have invested $73 billion in Irish-based be in a different state today, and as the American shared so much of our lives for so long, just knowing operations – over double the investment in the People’s economy picks up, let us hope that Ireland will be the she is there is enough. It would be more of a struggle Republic of China, for instance. There are more than place for us to invest once again. for me to fill that void. She is more resourceful. 600 American companies active in Ireland, with most I have observed a close friend who lost his wife a year-and-a-half ago go through this process. He is now at the difficult stage of trying to partly fill the void by identifying a companion with whom he could enjoy When It Comes to Casinos some of life’s simple pleasures: going out to dinner, taking a trip. It isn’t easy. His wife set the bar very high and he is on the Hill, the Dealer Stays not inclined to lower his standards. Having made those By Jim O’Sullivan a signature health care win by press time had flickered, inevitable adjustments over decades that make for a successful and happy relationship, the idea of beginning Special to the BIR although insiders from both parties in Washington say Of all the superficial and insight-lite parallels drawn some form of a meek blessing-on-both-their-houses again must be daunting. between the president and the governor, here is the bill could pass by late fall: My father lost my mother 14 years before he died. I only one that matters on Beacon Hill this fall: Deval He lost last time. wish he had found someone to fill the many lonely hours Patrick already has learned and will continue to do so Patrick has the luxury of appearing, at least to the he experienced in the years following her death. from Barack Obama’s lessons on health care. public, aloof from the circus that is guaranteed this The blending of two histories can be awkward; a lot of Witness the governor’s marked stride back from fall when casinos – and slot machines and sanctioned baggage is accumulated over the years. It is not the same the gambling debate this year. Patrick has pub- sports gambling – crash the Beacon Hill agenda. “I as starting early and sharing the same experiences. licly shrugged off questions about casinos and slot took my shot,” the governor can say, “and I did it when Marriage is a habit developed over a long period and machines, having been smacked down by the Sal this economy had some life in it.” If bold enough, he deeply ingrained. A happy marriage may be the hard- DiMasi-led Legislature last year with a degree of can even look down his nose at proposals he doesn’t est habit to break. The death of a spouse does not end humiliation imposed. like by saying that if lawmakers had picked up on his the dependence. There is no patch to ease the pain or Obama, for different tactical reasons, rang the ideas in time, the state’s registers would have swelled the craving. opening bell on health care. Informed in turn by the much more healthfully. The lonely are out there trying to cope with the loss. setback Clinton suffered with his setback a decade and The governor has already done just this, appearing The fortunate will find respite in the comfort of a new a half ago, he started the fight, laid out some basic above the donnybrook just starting to unfold, while relationship. Some will persevere through withdrawal rules – no gouging! – and then, like a seasoned ring doing very little to dissuade those who believe that and eventually be able to control the yearning. official, stepped back and let the sides go at it. institutionalized casino or gambling-hall betting Others will eventually die of a broken heart. Some in Washington, far above BIR columnist pay here is one way to ameliorate the state’s recession, James W. Dolan is a retired Dorchester District Court grade, deemed the mildly ambivalent approach to the the unemployment rate recently creeping up to 8.8 judge who now practices law. His e-mail is jdolan@ universalization of health care a mistake, accusing percent. dolanconnly.com. the president of not capitalizing on the bully pulpit Of course, the administration can’t afford to, and and the momentum with which he swept into the won’t, check out of the debate. Instead, it will offer Oval Office. Others, perhaps for symmetry’s sake, parameters and likely offer preemptive political cover -Boston champions knocked him for trying to strong-arm down the public when needed. Barring some early-autumn unknow- maw a contentious and undeniably expensive shift in able, the votes are probably there for gaming in the To Gather in October public policy. Legislature, which gives the governor some room to Political, business and community leaders from Mas- Some, it should be noted, did both. mold the shape of the gambling package as it moves sachusetts and northwest Ireland will join forces in a Here’s what Patrick has going for him here in the forward. new drive to promote mutually beneficial transatlantic Bay State with gambling that Obama, whose hopes for “I’ve never been a fan,” Assistant House Majority links at a conference scheduled for the Boston World Whip Patricia Haddad said last month of sanctioning Trade Center on October 7 and 8. gambling beyond the Lottery. “But I don’t think we The unique conference, being billed as the most im- have the luxury anymore.” portant initiative to forge partnerships between the two At the same time, the governor has a rather crowded regions since the Boston-Derry Ventures alliance of the Boston Irish wish list for the final few months of 2009, his most ‘80s, will spotlight the investment potential of Ireland’s unpleasant year in office to date, given the nuclear northwest and hear an upbeat message from transport REPORTER nature of the fiscal crisis. While the Legislature ministers from both sides of the Irish border. weighs a long-postponed measure dealing with pos- Heading the Massachusetts contingent will be Mas- The Boston Irish Reporter is published monthly by: sible pandemic flu outbreaks, rendered timely by sachusetts State Treasurer Tim Cahill, Rep. Gene Boston Neighborhood News, Inc., the onset of swine flu as a legitimate public health O’Flaherty and State Senate President Therese Murray 150 Mt. Vernon St., Suite 120, Dorchester, MA 02125 concern, Patrick has teed up charter school expansion while the local business community will be represented [email protected] www.bostonirish.com and loosened access to the state’s criminal offender by legendary entrepreneur John Cullinane of MainMes- Mary C. Forry, President (1983-2004) registry, the latter aimed at promoting rehabilitation sage.org, Joe Leary, President of the Irish American and invigorated employment opportunities for former Edward W. Forry, Publisher Partnership, and Paul Dwyer, President of the newly- offenders. branded Boston Irish Business Association. These two controversial reforms will go into the Thomas F. Mulvoy Jr., Managing Editor Hosted by the Irish Echo newspaper, the conference mix with lawmakers hoping for state tax collections is being strongly backed by the main agencies and or- William P. Forry, Contributing Editor that bounce back enough to allow restoration of some ganizations in Derry City and northwest Ireland. News Room: (617) 436-1222 Ads : (617) 436-1222 of the line items that felt the sharpness of Patrick’s On the second day of the parley, there will be a veto knife amid plunging revenues that began their luncheon break for the annual Golden Bridges awards Fax: (617) 825-5516 [email protected] decline a year ago and prompted both spending cuts On The Web at www.bostonirish.com being jointly hosted by the Boston Irish Reporter and Date of Next Issue: October, 2009 and higher taxes. the Echo. Deadline for Next Issue: Wednesday, September 16, at 2 p.m. There’s also pandemic flu preparedness that is a “Without the experience, network and generosity of Published monthly in the first week of each month. hair-trigger headline waiting to happen if the swine the Reporter, this conference could never have been flu should pop as a major public health scare. considered,” adds Ó Muilleoir. “However, I’m confident The Boston Irish Reporter is not liable for errors appearing in ad- All of which is to say that after a busy, financially vertisements beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. The that with our stellar line-up and strong support of right is reserved by The Boston Irish Reporter to edit, reject, or cut anxious first half of the year that slowed in the middle Boston’s Irish, this groundbreaking event will kickstart any copy without notice. as it often does on the Hill, the fall docket is crowded a new era of enhanced co-operation between Boston and mottled. and northwest Ireland.” Page  September 2009 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com BIR Profile Says Bridget Shaheen, of Lazarus House in Lawrence; ‘I Am Fully Satisfied in Doing What the Lord Wants Me to Do’

By Greg O’Brien in Calcutta, brought home a defining Special to the BIR message. “Thank you for being here,” An old Irish proverb graces Bridget Mother Teresa told departing volunteers Shaheen’s modest office in Lawrence: “It from around the world, “but you really is in the shelter of each other that the need to go home to your countries and people live.” In the shelter of Lazarus take care of the poor.” She then looked House Ministries on humble Holly Street, squarely at Petitte and said, “Especially executive director Shaheen, who walks in America, where the poor are not only the Christian talk on how to love, over- physically but spiritually poor.” Petitte, sees the provision of immediate support, the only American in the group, returned food, training, shelter, and medical and to Lawrence with a resolve to put Mother dental care to those who have none in Teresa’s words into selfless action. He this working class city of immigrants that immediately engaged a willing Shaheen ranks the poorest in New England. Some in the cause. 84 percent of its public schoolchildren The daughter of a former state rep- live below the poverty line, 53 percent resentative who had served on Beacon of its high school students are classified Hill with Tip O’Neill, Shaheen had just as dropouts, and half the adults in the the right political instincts and self-sac- community have no secondary school rificing perseverance for implementing diploma, perpetuating the distressing Brother Petitte’s vision. Her sparsely cycle. furnished office is testimony to this Today, Shaheen, her devoted staff of 58 fact. On the wall are citations from the and scores of Lazarus House volunteers Boston Celtics Heroes Among Us Award, and contributors carry out the call of St. the Lawrence Bar Association, and the John Chrysostom, a third-century Arch- Paul Tsongas Public Service Award. She bishop of Constantinople, who once coun- minimizes the significance. seled, “It is more noble to feed the hungry “There is no importance to what I than raise the dead.” And feed they do. do,” insists Shaheen, a mother of three, who lives in Windham, N.H., about 12 Lazarus House Ministries, a Catholic, Bridget Shaheen, at left with two youngsters being helped by Lazarus House gospel-based outreach, was established miles from Lawrence where she grew up. “Absolutely none! It’s not about me, in Lawrence, will be the first recipient of the David Burke Award for Commu- in 1983 as a five-bed emergency shelter nity Service, to be presented at the Golden Bridge Award ceremonies October for the homeless. It has since expanded or anyone else. I love what I do; it’s no effort for me. I’m one of many. All I do is 8 at the Seaport Hotel. The award is named in honor of the late Dave Burke, to 41 beds and six cribs in the emergency Lawrence Hibernian and community leader who passed away in May. shelter, a soup kitchen that feeds up to try to pass along people’s goodness, and follow the call of Jesus.” 200 a day, an emergency food pantry were lined up in the back of the church was born the following Christmas; hence that supplies food to about 400 families Shaheen has been following that call since childhood. Evidence that Jesus is and given to families who would take the spelling of her name. Shaheen and weekly, thrift stores, housing for those them.” her husband have three grandchildren, affected with HIV/AIDS, a free medical real can be found each day in the heart of Bridget Shaheen and those like her. “My mom,” she adds, “was wholly and one on the way in January. and dental clinic, a job training center, committed; she was quiet, gentle, and By the world’s standards, the Sha- child care, and educational programs. “I wanted to work with people who were poor since I was in the fourth grade,” compassionate, and always supported heens had settled into a routine middle Reliant mostly on private contributions, my dad. My father was a hard-working, class life. By God’s standards, there the Lazarus House Ministries, with less she says. “It was the reinforcement and influence of my parents.” fun loving, and helpful man.” As head of would be a higher calling. than one percent government funding, public safety, he oversaw the Lawrence In 1975, they became involved in what touches the lives of 8,000 individuals Deeply religious and dedicated to public and community service, Shaheen’s police and fire departments. “When the is known in Catholic circles as the Cur- each month. fire alarm rang in the middle of the sillo Movement—a worldwide renewal “The goal of the Lazarus House is to parents were “incredibly caring people,” she says. Her late father, Louis James night, my mother would get up and brew ministry, founded in Majorca, Spain, teach people to fish,” says Shaheen, 62, a pot of coffee for the firemen and those that deepens the faith and commitment in reference to the ministry’s mission of Scanlon, born in Lawrence, was a res- taurant owner and a longtime Director of displaced by the fire. She sometimes to Christ. “The Cursillo Movement brings teaching self-sufficiency and yet total woke us up to get mittens and hats for faith to life and creates a stronger de- spiritual dependence on Christ. “But Public Safety for the City of Lawrence in addition to his service in the Legislature. people who couldn’t grab clothing as sire to follow Jesus and minister to the when people are hungry, they cannot they fled their homes. My parents early needy,” Shaheen says. “It’s not about hear anyone’s teaching. So first we His father, John Scanlan (later changed to Scanlon when a Lawrence City Hall on wanted us to know how fortunate we dogma or rules; it’s about Christ’s abid- must feed them.” were and that we had a responsibility ing love for us.” Involved with the ministry from its clerk misspelled it) emigrated from Cloyne in County Cork where he had to help others.” Shaheen heard of the movement inception, Shaheen, a second-genera- “My dad also was always looking to through friends at her church, St. Jo- tion Irish American with ties to County been a laborer; his wife Bridget O’Brien (Shaheen’s namesake) came from County help the underdog,” she says. “He was seph Melkite Church in Lawrence, and Cork and County Monaghan, has closely the first in Lawrence to hire a physi- attended a Cursillo retreat at nearby followed the example of founder Tom Monaghan. Shaheen’s mother, Helen Sullivan, an cally challenged person in the public St. Basil’s Melkite Seminary and at Petitte, a Marist brother and teacher at safety department, and when a local Salvatorian Center in Methuen. Central Catholic High School in Law- orphan, was born in South Boston. Not much is known of her family history. school burned and students had no way “I was fortunate to have been born into rence. Petitte, after three summers in the of getting to reassigned classrooms, my family of faith,” she says. “We grow in early ‘80s working under Mother Teresa “She was a ward of the state,” says Sha- heen. “In those days, orphaned children dad personally drove them to and from faith at God’s pace if we are fixed on His school in his car every day.” word. I believe that for a fuller life, more Shaheen was raised in a prayerful is required of us, and as long as we are family. “My parents always encouraged true to what God has called us, His love sacrifice and responsibility. We were is big enough to carry the rest. There is taught to be accountable for our actions not a person whom Jesus did not accept and to keep our word. If you do it, or if where they were, and then invited them Simon of Cyrene you say it, then you must own it. My to become more. I am surrounded by brother and I always took this to heart.” reminders of how good God is.” Shaheen’s brother Louis ultimately fol- The “becoming more” part in Shaheen’s Breakfast lowed in her father’s footsteps, becoming life led to her involvement at the Lazarus a police officer; he is now police chief on House Ministries. Some might say this “Every time I think of you I thank God... God is the one who began this good work in you...” the island of Coronado off San Diego. is a more difficult life; Shaheen would - St. Paul. Letter to the Phillipians Shaheen was educated in the Law- argue that it is a far richer life, one rence Catholic School system, attend- that often leads to 60-hour weeks that The annual Simon of Cyrene Breakfast will be dedicated in memory of Rev. Msgr. ing her parish elementary school, St. require the high-wire juggling skills of Thomas J. McDonnell, co-founder with Sister Peggy Youngclaus. Father Tom passed Laurence O’Toole, and St. Mary’s High an acrobat. School where she was taught by the She says she often reflects on Christ’s away on June 14, 2009. Notre Dame nuns. Her school years were challenge in John 13: 12-15: “I, your Lord The Breakfast will be served mostly uneventful for interscholastic and teacher, have just washed your feet. athletics and extracurricular activities, You, then, should wash one another’s Sunday Sept 13, 2009 with the exception of a short stint on her feet. I have set an example for you so Anthony’s Pier 4 high school newspaper staff and the Glee that you will do just what I have done 9 a.m- 12 noon Club. She says she was timid, although for you.” she played sports in the neighborhood. So what’s next as she approaches her At 15, she started working part-time mid sixties and rounds another corner The committee will continue the mission that Fr. Tom initiated, in a local hardware store. After high on life? “Making the Goodness of God alive by sharing, instructing, advis- school, Shaheen attended Merrimack “I’ve never looked at accomplishing ing, consoling, feeling and praying with the community of people College in North Andover, majoring in anything,” she says with character- who are disabled and their families.” the social sciences. istic humility. “I am fully satisfied in The Society continues the monthly Days of Prayer in Somerville Upon graduation, she taught English doing what the Lord wants me to do. at the Little Sisters of the Poor, and the Family Masses in South to immigrants in Lawrence schools, And when my work is done at Lazarus Boston. This summer, some 125 persons from 25 families were married, and had a family. She and her House, I’m open to what’s next. I have able to enjoy the Cape Cod vacation houses in Brewster. husband Paul, who has served on the no agenda.” We do realize that there are many demands on your goodness and generosity in this Lazarus House Board of Directors and is No agenda, that is, other than living difficult year, and we appreciate the faithful support in the past and hope that it can general manager at a family-owned food her faith. As others ponder the mysteries continue, Please join us at Pier 4 on September 13. wholesaler and distributor in Amesbury, of life, Shaheen is faithfully content in Breakfast tickets are $35, Donations may be made to the Simon of Cyrene Society, Shaheen Brothers, have three children: what she knows. P.O. Box 54, South Boston, MA 02127. Karen, 36, senior project manager at a Greg O’Brien is editor and president Boston marketing company; Michael, of Stony Brook Group, a publishing and 34, warehouse manager at Shaheen political/communications company SIMON OF CYRENE SOCIETY Brothers; and Christen, 33, a teacher in a based in Brewster. He is the author/ Lawrence elementary school. The family editor of several books and a contribu- has had a multitude of blessings: Michael tor to numerous regional and national was born on Thanksgiving, and Christen publications. Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com September 2009 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page  Boston Irish Reporter’s Here & There

By Bill O’Donnell ist for a quarter-century. job and did it very well.” And, of course, grace and nostalgia at those servants The Boys Of St. Columb’s – The The caliber of former President Rob- Hillary has a job already. of God college was founded 130 years ago and inson’s critics is typified by New York Then O’Dowd, under cover of unsigned Which brings me, painfully, to the fact over the years has nurtured young male Congressman Peter King, who charges editorials in the name of his Irish Voice that the Vatican is investigating the students, many of whom have made their her with views “well out of the American ,blasts an Irish writer, Niall Stanage nuns in America. They are decimated mark in Ireland and beyond. In 1947 a foreign policy mainstream,” accusing (who wrote an excellent book on Obama’s in number, down from 180,000 to a third new and revolutionary education law was her of “coming down on the side against campaign), for what O’Dowd calls a “ma- of that and too liberal in some congrega- introduced that allowed for the first time vibrant democracies such as Israel and jor attack” on Irish America —is that us tions, I’m sure, and not as easy to control students from working class families to the United States.” More poppycock from or his magazine? Stanage, in an Irish as they work out in the neighborhoods in attend grammar schools in Northern the House member whom the Spectator Times article last month, downplayed mufti. Oh, I know someone in the Curia Ireland. Magazine calls “America’s worst Con- the importance today of Irish America’s behind those ornate doors patrolled by A new docu- gressman.” And that’s more than enough so-called “leaders.” That, of course, would, the Swiss Guard call the investigation mentary that of Mr. King in this space. rest assured, be O’Dowd and the New process “Apostolic Visitations,” but I still will be aired on Rickshaws, cattle rustling and York claque who assumed ownership recognize a euphemism when I see it. September 21 bike riders – County isn’t without papers of the peace process and I know that most if not all of those tells the story even in the far West of Ireland, let alone have been patting themselves on the back bishops who were top aides to Cardinal of eight of those the old west, but that hasn’t kept one ever since for having invented peace in Bernard Law and enabled or helped the former St. Co- enterprising Irishman from getting up Ireland. Boston archdiocese to earn a reputation lumb’s college before dawn and spiriting off with some Back to the unsigned O’Dowd edito- as a major offender in the Black Book of boys who took of his neighbor’s cattle. The rustled rial: In it he does not even try to rebut clerical abuse were never investigated, advantage of Holsteins are worth around $750 a head Stanage’s dismissal of many of the self- nor have they ever received an Apostolic the 1947 law and that can be tempting. The early styled Irish American hack leaders, but Visitation, I would guess. and went on to morning cattle raids, ranging back to no, rather he goes after Stanage for being Bishops Murphy, McCormack, and distinguished 2006, were finally brought to a halt by from the “Unionist tradition and [horrors] Daly, among others, all close aides to the careers. a Gardai posse. educated at Oxford.” An ever-so-subtle cardinal went up and out to places like Bill O’Donnell T h e e i g h t I recall seeing rickshaws decades ago appeal to quasi-racism, it seems to me. Brooklyn, New Hampshire, and other profiled in the in Taiwan but never in Galway city. In O’Dowd also suggests that this writer prized dioceses. If there was any vetting film are: Nobel Prize winners Sea- any event the Galway City Council is from a unionist tradition might be in of their actions, recommendations and mus Heaney (Literature), John concerned with the growing numbers cahoots with the British government, letters of transfer written for abusive Hume (Peace), singer & songwriter of rickshaws there and have called for alluding to a “script that the British priests during their tenure with Cardinal Phil Coulter, writer Seamus Deane, an action plan. Whether the outcome is government might be happy to write.” Law, I am not aware of it. singer & songwriter , licensing (of course, with a fee) or re- When in doubt or under attack, accuse A quick note to the Vatican if anyone civil rights campaigner and writer stricting the use of the non-mechanized the opposition of being a “West Brit.” But cares or is listening: Be gentle with the Eamonn McCann, Irish ambassador “Asian taxicab”, the three-seat carriages folks are wise to that by now. sisters. They did all the heavy lifting. James Sharkey, and retired Bishop on wheels pulled by people, that fate is Then, in another unsigned editorial, All of it! of Derry, Dr. Edward Daly. in the hands of the council. O’Dowd attacks Trina Vargo, a former RANDOM JOTTINGS Not included in the documentary is Sir The Irish government is trying to get Ted Kennedy aide who runs the US-Ire- The North’s First Minister Peter Declan Morgan, recently named the its civil servants out of their cars and onto land Alliance. However, O’Dowd doesn’t Robinson’s government department North’s new Lord Chief Justice. This is, bikes. To that end they are offering each attack her policies but instead refers to handed out grants of $125,000 to gay by any measurement, an extraordinary of the 29,000 government employees a her in a throw-away description as a groups in Northern Ireland this year. roster of accomplished graduates of a $1,400 tax break if they will commute to “Portuguese American who compares His wife Iris, also an elected government single school and a testimonial to the work by bike. To date a mere 191 have Irish to pigs.” (taken grossly out of context official, has been a savage opponent of belated but amply justified legislation eschewed their cars and opted for a bike & totally distorted.) Vargo’s mistake is the gay culture, insisting they can be that opened up the educational track to commute. This is not unlike the unreal- that she also wrote an op-ed piece for “turned” with psychiatric help. … Parents worthy students regardless of wealth or ized bureaucratic delusion of relocating the Irish Times that didn’t genuflect in in the US spend anywhere from $6,000 social position. thousands of civil servants voluntarily O’Dowd’s direction and charged O’Dowd to $10,000 annually on childcare. Many Trouble In Paradise – It wasn’t from the comfy confines of Dublin, Cork, and some of his puffed-up Empire State Irish parents are spending $20,000 a intended to be this way when the tony and other urban centers to rural outposts crowd as radically unhinged when it year on the same type of care. … Lloyd’s Ritz Carlton Hotel in Powerscourt, Co. in Connemara, the midlands, and similar came to strategy regarding the undocu- of London has written off $1.7 billion in Wicklow, opened two years ago, but out-of-the-way enclaves. mented Irish. Irish debt due to bad loans. Ireland will along came the global economic crunch. A Look Back – Thirty years ago this So there you have it. Publisher O’Dowd trail the rest of the EU in a recovery. … As it stands today the Wicklow County month, Sept. 29, 1979, Pope John Paul is fighting for Truth, Justice, and the US sports network ESPN has finalized Council is looking for payment of its II arrived via Aer Lingus in Dublin for (Irish) American way, while he fends a deal to launch a new $840,000 annual tax bill, while the Ritz his eagerly anticipated three-day visit to off Portuguese Americans and writers sports channel, mainly to air non-US owners have cited losses of $14 million overwhelmingly Catholic Ireland. He be- fatally tainted by the unionist tradition. football. … Aftermath of the Celtic Tiger: since the beginning of 2008. The elegant gan his pilgrimage with an open-air Mass Can’t have them types elbowing the likes More than 1,000 unwanted horses will hotel, which more than matches its lush in Dublin’s Phoenix Park before a crowd of O’Dowd and company off their hard- likely starve to death this year because surroundings, gets $330 for its cheapest of more than a million. He later visited won precious center stage. Hey, they’re of slacking demand and over-population rooms and the presidential suite rents Maynooth and the hallowed remains of the Irish American peacemakers. Pay during the prosperous Tiger days. … for $7,000 a night. Built at a cost of $280 Clonmacnois, and celebrated Mass in attention out there. Can someone tell me why our Veterans million, the hotel (which was completed Galway, Knock, and Limerick. Foynes, Flying Boats Mark Travel Administration is doling out $24 mil- after I last visited Powerscourt in 2001) Not All Tourists Love US – A dis- Milestone – Seventy years ago, July 9, lion in bonuses with the mess at Walter is the latest in a series of upscale Irish gruntled woman named Sarah Mulvi- 1939, Pan Am’s luxury flying boat, the Reed Hospital and vet housing and a hotels to report significant losses over the hill has a letter in the recent Irish World, “Yankee Clipper,” landed at Foynes, large budget deficit. … Paddy Power past two years. Dublin’s Merrion Hotel the Irish paper of record in Britain, that County Limerick -- the first commercial bookmakers have installed Kerry Rose lost nearly $4 million in a 22-month excoriates the US customs and passport passenger flight on a direct route from Karen McGillicuddy as a 3-1 favorite period in 2007-8, and the queen of his- control people here. She has been to the the USA to Europe. The Foynes site was to win this year’s Rose of Tralee contest. toric Irish hotels, The Shelbourne, (my US twice and finds the officials at United first surveyed as a suitable European … Senator John Ensign, Republican personal favorite) took a hit of $425,000 States gateways to be “gruff and rude terminal for transatlantic air services in of Nevada who cheated on his family in the year following its $160 million ...acting like they are God almighty.” 1933 by Colonel Charles Lindbergh, with his top aide’s wife and won’t resign, renovation. Ms. Mulvihill, in her letter to the news- who, with his wife Ann, flew into Ireland’s says his and Bill Clinton’s affairs are Controversy Fails To Dampen papers, goes on to say she is “appalled Galway Bay. different. When he was a congressman Presidential Medal – On August 12 at the treatment of arriving visitors by The era of the flying boats (pontoons) Ensign’s voice was loud in urging Clinton at the White House a distinguished custom officials.” and Foynes’s seminal role in flight over to resign. … The Haughey family hangs gathering of 16 internationally known She also complains that one is “treated the Atlantic lasted a brief six years. In in there. Maureen and the family showed super achievers gathered to receive from as nothing more than a common criminal” 1945 Captain Charlie Blair, later to be- up to formally open the Dingle Regatta, a President Obama the US Presidential and adds that she has traveled around come the husband of Maureen O’Hara, favorite duty of Charlie for many years. Medal of Freedom, our highest civilian the world and “the Americans are the piloted the last American Export flying … Sinn Fein is still out there working honor. Among the honorees was Mary only nation who treat holidaymakers boat out of Foynes to New York. Upon against passage of the Lisbon Treaty, Robinson, former Irish President and like fugitives on arrival.” arrival, Blair turned around and piloted due for a Irish vote in early October. It UN High Commissioner for Human Has she got a point? When I come into the first landplane, a DC 4, back to open should pass this second time around, Rights. Pro- Israeli lobbying groups in Logan from Ireland or other countries the new airport Rineanna, later to become stress on “should.” … It is now being said the US have attacked Mrs. Robinson for (especially now with pre-clearance at Shannon International Airport. in newly released documents that Lord her harsh criticism of Israeli force against Shannon, etc, on our Irish trips) it’s a I visited the Foynes Museum several Louis Mountbatten, who was blown the Palestinians. Of course, that was her madhouse at the customs area but I have years ago but new displays and histori- up by the IRA thirty years ago, was a job. She also has come under attack for never felt abused or been treated like a cal artifacts and an aircraft from that staunch supporter of a united Ireland. her stewardship of the controversial 2001 criminal. Have I missed something? Do intriguing chapter in flight have now Mountbatten wrote to the Irish ambas- Durban conference in which she served they know I am a home-towner? What- made the museum even more of a “must sador to Britain that “reunification is the as Secretary General. ever, I hope it goes better for her if there’s see” tourist attraction. only eventual solution.” In a nutshell, and in terms that we can a next time. We need the money. Apostolic Visitations By Any Other Local control of policing and justice in all understand, the problem is that ele- Niall And His Voice’s Narrow Per- Name – I spent most of my critical forma- the North, delayed by Peter Robinson for ments in the US and Israel governments spective – I used to see Niall O’Dowd, tive years, or at least most of the days months, is now scheduled to be trans- and the major pro-Israel lobbying group the publisher of the Irish Voice news- during the school year, surrounded by ferred to Stormont in by the end here, AIPAC, are increasingly uncom- paper and Irish America magazine, in teachers from the Sisters of St. Joseph. of the year. … Adam Reilly, a Boston fortable when Mrs. Robinson, who had airports or at various Irish events and It was a somewhat bruising relationship Phoenix reporter who also appears on the UN Human rights brief, speaks her he always looked like the type of guy but even as memories of many of my early WGBH’s “Beat the Press,” is gaining a mind. She has criticized human rights who was trying to convince himself -- days have disappeared from the screen, reputation as one of the sharpest and abuses wherever she has seen them, with and you -- that if he only had more time I recall, like a Mt. Everest summit visi- most-wired reporters in Boston. He gets little thought to the political fallout or the he would chat you up at much greater tor, many of the names and faces of the the story and gets it right. … At this time reaction to what she has characterized length. Thanks anyway. teachers and heave a sigh of relief that next year, both Ireland and Britain could as offending and unacceptable govern- Publisher O’Dowd, who fancies himself while it was exhilarating and good for me, have new governments with Gordon ment policies. a green guru, an amalgam of Hearst and I’m glad to have gotten through it —and Brown and Irish Taoiseach Brian I first met then Senator Robinson and Murdoch, got it terribly wrong recently grateful for the good nuns’ patience with Cowen in deep political do-do. … A major husband Nick for a brief Boston inter- when he poked through his tea leaves this errant lad. conference on Intolerance organized by view in the 1980s and later helped host a and divined that Hillary Clinton had Likewise my wife, Jean. From gram- the is set for Sept. 9 luncheon for her when she was president said she would assume the special Irish mar school through college in New York at Waterfront Hall. … Delighted by the at the World Trade Center during an envoy post. In the first place she never she had the good nuns: Sisters of Mercy, news that potential buyers of the Globe Irish trade festival, and have, without said it. What she did say was a” fulltime” the Sisters of Charity, and Sisters of the are looking over the shop. May their apology or preamble, admired this gutsy, envoy isn’t needed because “This is not Presentation. A full regimen, if you will. tribe increase. dedicated international lawyer and activ- the 1990s. George Mitchell did his And she, too, looks back with a sense of Page  September 2009 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com Immigration Q & A Notes from the Irish Immigration Center An agency accredited by US Department of Justice Marriage Fraud: 59 Temple Place, Suite 1010, Boston, MA 02111 Telephone (617) 542-7654 Fax (617) 542-7655 It’s a Big Mistake Website:iicenter.org Email: [email protected] Q. I have heard that some people who are undocu- mented receive legal permanent residence by entering Congratulations to team. We want to thank and family. Also, for a are now in the process of into a marriage with a U.S. citizen that isn’t really the Home Health Aid him for all his hard work. free photo gallery of the returning home and oth- genuine, and that there is a good chance that the im- Class graduates! -- Last We will miss “Robert the 20th Anniversary event, ers are traveling, there migration authorities will not catch on. Is this true? month, 19 men and wom- Mitt” especially for his send us an e-mail to are many local Irish still A. If you are thinking of trying to get a green card by en successfully completed softball skills. happybirthday@iicenter. in the process of seeking the marriage fraud route, think again. This is a serious the Irish Immigration Need to Talk to Some- org with ‘I went to Solas employment. We are al- federal offense, and it is vigorously prosecuted by U.S. Center’s Home Health one from Home? -- Are 2009’ in the subject line. ways eager to hear from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Aid education class and you or a loved one feeling Clock is Winding employers with positions U.S. Attorney’s office. will soon take the test to depressed, anxious, wor- Down for Summer J-1 available. Just last week, for example, ICE announced, as part be certified in services for ried, alone, or isolated? Students -- With only If you still need job of its “Operation Honeymoon’s Over,” indictments of home care. Experienced Our Irish Community a few weeks left in the or employment vacan- 50 people for committing marriage fraud and related nurses dedicated their Services are here to help states, now is the time to cies filled this summer, offenses in Cincinnati. This allegedly was a scheme time and knowledge once you. Call Danielle at 617- stop by the Cyber Café and or would like to have whereby the chief conspirators collected a fee to arrange a week to teach these folks 542-7654, Ext. 14, to book use our free internet ac- seasonal or long-term sham marriages between U.S. citizens and undocu- the necessary informa- an appointment to chat at cess and meet our friendly housing and employment mented immigrants. These offenses carry stiff penalties: tion needed to pursue a our downtown office or our staff. Our Cyber Café has ads placed free of charge, up to five years imprisonment for each charge, plus a career in the health care off-site clinic in Quincy . computers and resources please e-mail us at j1sum- fine of up to $250,000. In addition, the undocumented field. “There are people Be Our Electronic to help you connect with [email protected] or call immigrants involve face deportation. in the program who took Friend -- Join the Irish potential employers and 617-542-1900, Ext. 41. When an immigrant applies to adjust status to that the course for insight into Immigration Center on housing opportunities if Free Legal Clinics of permanent resident based on marriage to a U.S. whether or not they want Facebook. Yes that’s right. you are still looking for in September --Are you citizen, the couple is interviewed by an experienced to go into nursing as well IIC is now officially hip. If jobs or new apartments. turning to friends or fami- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as people who want to you are on Facebook (and And if you’re heading back ly for legal advice? Are you officer before a decision is made. At these interviews, strengthen their already who isn’t these days?) to Boston next summer, be looking up immigration the officer asks questions designed to elicit information established health care ca- join the new IIC group by sure to make the IIC your laws and policies online? about whether the marriage is genuine. The couple reer,” Gobnait Conneely, logging on and searching first stop! Stop right there because also must present documentation of the marriage IIC Community Outreach for ‘IrishImmigrationCen- If you would like to use all the answers are just relationship – joint financial information, photos, and coordinator said. ter.’ We will keep you up our Cyber Café, the hours around the corner! Drop the like. The average applicant does not stand a good This new seven-week to date with Irish events are as follows: by one of our free legal chance of surviving this level of scrutiny if the mar- course will now be offered and with Irish and im- Monday and Wednes- clinics and have all your riage is a sham. regularly. The next round migration related news. day: Noon to 5 p.m. immigration and citizen- Applicants with a genuine marriage, on the other of classes started last Furthermore our page will Tuesday and Thursday ship questions answered hand, have nothing to fear from USCIS in the inter- week; however, due to provide a way for friends (open late!): Noon to 7 by an experienced immi- view. In fact, we at IIC meet with couples prior to strong demand, it is al- of IIC to meet and network p.m. gration attorney. the interview to prepare them and ensure that their ready full. But don’t wor- with each other as well as Friday: Noon to 4 p.m. Allston/Brighton— documentation is adequate. ry, another session will catch up with old friends. The Cyber Café is lo- Tues., Sept. 8 at 6:30 For a free, confidential consultation about marriage- start in October. Please And we promise to be cated on the 5th floor of p.m. at The Kells Bar and based adjustment of status or any other aspect of im- contact Gobnait Conneely witty and have interesting our building at 59 Temple Restaurant, 161 Brighton migration law, visit one of our legal clinics as presented if you are interested in the pictures, as always. Place. Ave., Allston. in the Boston Irish Reporter. next round of classes. Call Share President IIC Thanks J-1 Em- Dorchester—Tues., Disclaimer: These articles are published to inform 617-542-7654, Ext. 34, or McAleese’s Solas speech ployers and Landlords Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. at St. generally, not to advise in specific cases. Areas of law send an e-mail to gcon- -- Loved the president’s --Many thanks to all of Mark’s Parish (School are rapidly changing. US Citizenship and Immigration [email protected]. speech as much as us? you who helped and are Hall), 1725 Dorchester Services and the US Department of State regularly Farewell to Robert Or did you miss the So- still helping our Irish J-1 Ave., Dorchester. amend regulations and alter processing and filing pro- Sadlier -- All of us here las Awards this year and students. With the sup- Downtown – Stay cedures. For legal advice seek the assistance of an IIC are sad to see Robert go want to know what all port of the employers and tuned, the fall schedule immigration specialist or an immigration lawyer back home to Co. Limerick the talk was about? With landlords who graciously will be announced in the after working at the IIC a $25 donation to the IIC, housed and hired J-1 upcoming weeks. for the past six months. we’ll send you a limited students over the course Immigration attorneys Robert was heavily in- edition DVD of President of the last few months, will be present at all clin- volved in the organizing McAleese’s speech at the we were able to connect ics. For more information, of and marketing for the Solas Awards. You’ll have dozens of Irish students call 617-542-7654. 2009 Solas Awards Dinner the chance to share the with jobs and contacts and he is a vital part of the president’s wonderful throughout Boston. Even international programs words with your friends though some students Matters Of Substance September 12th and 13th Adults: $15 ‘Happy Ever After’ in Recovery? ICCNE 2009 Paid Members: $10 Children 12 & under free Call 1 888-GO-IRISH to Pre-purchase tix Everything in Good Time By Danielle Owen about how I had hurt them your physical recovery just as you have learned Special to the BIR and I have apologized to is a testament to your to get through a day with- “I have been sober from them all. I am beginning efforts. Congratulations! out drugs, to find friends alcohol & drugs for over 4 to feel that they want me It sounds like you have and acceptance without months now. I feel, physi- to apologize forever! My 3 really embraced the sup- beer, your family needs to cally, much better & go kids still don’t come and port available to you. learn how to live without to meetings every day. I tell me about their days Addiction problems constantly worrying about never believed I would in school/camp etc and have a huge impact on their husband and dad! have friends without beer I feel like, when I come us individually and also They have their own or going to the pub but home from a meeting, no on those we are closest to. recovery path, just as you am delighted to discover, one is happy to see me. I Being in recovery does not do, and there is plenty in these meetings, that I thought things would get mean saying sorry to your of support in Al-Anon/ Foursome: $600 - Individual: $150 am able to talk & enjoy better once I was sober but family forever; however, Nar-Anon and Al-Ateen other people’s company, I feel like my family is still the hurt, pain and upset Groups as well as indi- Sponsorships are still available. For without drugs. However, trying to punish me. What that addiction can cause vidual, couple, family and more info call 781 821 8291! I feel very disheartened can I do?” does not disappear once group counseling. Ask by my relationships with It’s a huge achieve- the person becomes sober. your friends in meetings my wife and my family. ment to be able to stay Think about how long you how they cope with build- 200 New Boston Drive, Canton, MA, 02021 When I was in treatment, away from alcohol and have had a problem with ing new relationships at they were all very honest drugs day after day and alcohol/drugs. 3 years? 5 home. Recovery for all years? 10 years? Longer? your family is possible! It That length of time is takes time and patience, also how long your family but trust will grow again has been living with the for you all! Breads ’n Bits of Ireland addiction. They didn’t go Call us for suggestions, into a treatment center referrals or to make an and have not had a chance appointment. Call Dani- • Home Bakery • Irish Kitchen yet to let go of the hurt elle, in confidence and and anger they may still without judgment, at the Featuring... Scones, Irish Soda Bread, Brown Bread, feel even though the alco- Irish Immigration Center. hol/drugs are out of your Phone: 617-542-7654 Ext: Homemade Soup, Sandwiches life. For your children, 14 or send an e-mail it can feel like having to [email protected]. Telephone 781-662-5800 • Fax 781-662-0859 a stranger in the house Check out: http://www. and they may need time al-anon.alateen.org/ or e-mail: [email protected] to get to know you again. http://nar-anon.org/ Everyone has to re-learn Nar-Anon/Nar-Anon_ how to live together! It Home.html 530 Main Street, Melrose, MA 02176 • 781-662-5800 may sound dramatic, but Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com September 2009 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page  Page 10 September 2009 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com BRETT’S BOSTON By Harry Brett Exclusive photos of Boston & events Prepping for GAA Football Finals at ICCNE Campus Sept. 5-7 1.) Footballers; 2.) Under 8 team members Kieran O’Driscoll, Squantum and John O’Doherty, Westwood; 3.) David O’Grady, Hyde Park; Barry O’Malley, Hyde Park; 4.) James Foley, Dorchester; 5.) Playing for the Wolfetones, Shane O’Brien, Kerry; 6.) El- len Fleming, Exeter, N.H.; 7.) Sheila Moran, Brighton; Claire Hehir, Brighton, Meadhbh Maloney, Brighton; 8.) William Lombard with 1. daughter Isabella, W. Roxbury; 9.) Referee Eamonn Morris; John Joe Feeney, Braintree; Larry Kevin, Quincy; 10.) Bernie Connaugh- ton, Quincy; Eddie Costello, Lakeville; 11.) Standing: Siobahn and Fiona Moylan, W. Rox- bury; (l-r): Mary Heneghan, Needham; Gavin and Milissa Heneghan, Norwood; 12.) Coley Lydon, Walpole; Bernie O’Reilly, Newton; Pat Kenneally, Brighton (standing); 13.) BGAA board secretary Sharon O’Brien; 14.) Teresa Hobbs, Dorchester; Ryan O’Dwyer, Brighton; 15.) Elma Teahan, Brookline, Claire Conroy, Braintree; Nikki Kenneally, Braintree; Jose- phine McCormack, Quincy.

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14. 15. Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com September 2009 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 11 Carty on Sports Title Time: GAA Champions to be Crowned vision battle for promotion September a busy period has edged Shelbourne’s way, the Reds now leading a trio of contenders by six on both sides of Atlantic points. Shels have posted a 17-3-2 mark, only allow- By Ken Carty range goal just before the left back Danny Fox from ing 13 goals. Special to the BIR final whistle to consolidate Coventry City. The Notebook: WBA Similar to baseball in the Socceroos’ win. Rovers Go Home - super bantamweight the United States, Gael- Off and Running - - Congratulations to the champion Bernard Dunne ic Athletic Association - The European soccer Shamrock Rovers, who will make the first defense season has finally kicked recently moved into their (GAA) sports heat up in of his World title at The The Shamrock Rovers recently moved into their September as champions off. Last year, 26 Irish new Tallaght Stadium. O2 Arena in Dublin on players participated in the The Rovers were tenants new 6,000-seat home, Tallaght Stadium in South are crowned. Sept. 26 when he faces Dublin. In Ireland, Cork has English at many Dublin-area No. 1 rated contender advanced to the All-Ire- and the numbers will grounds over the past 20 Poonsawat Kratingdaeng- Despite poor weather on the final day, which was land Gaelic football finals again be strong again this years but they now have a gym (38 wins in 39 flights conditions, Englishman good enough to capture the following the Rebels hard- year. The usual suspects superior 6,000-seat venue including 27 knockouts). Russell Downing of Candi overall title. More than fought 1-13 to 0-11 victory will be fighting for the top in South Dublin to call Dunne will return to the TV captured the 2009 50 riders took part in the over a game Tyrone side spot – defending champi- home. The Rovers, who scene of his sensational Tour of Ireland cycling 35th annual event, which on Aug. 23. Cork will play ons Manchester United, hosted Newcastle and world title win in March event. The three-stage is rated event on the UCI either Kerry or Meath in Chelsea, Liverpool, and Real Madrid in a pair of when he took the title event was held Aug. 21-23, Europe Tour. Australian the finals at Croke Park Arsenal. This quarter pre-season friendlies to from Ricardo Cordoba running from first from Matt Wilson retained his on Sun., Sept. 20 (10:30 could be challenged by help promote the launch after a six-knockdown Powerscourt to , title in the Mountains a.m. Boston time). Manchester City, which of the venue, are averag- victory. The 29-year-old then Clonmel to Killar- competition and Dane In hurling, Kilkenny spent freely during the ing more than 5,000 over Dunne will be challenged ney before closing with Matti Breschel of Team and Tipperary will meet transfer window to up- their last few home games. by Kratingdaenggym, who a Bantry-to-Cork route. Saxo Bank won the Young in the final at Croke grade its squad. New If they can continue with is referred to as Thailand’s Downing won the first Rider award. Park on Sun., Sept. 6 arrivals for City include that type of support, per- Manny Pacquiao. stage and placed second (10:30 a.m. Boston time). Irish keeper Shay Given, haps the League of Ire- Kilkenny will be looking previously of Newcastle, land (LOI) has something for its fourth straight All- and striker Emmanuel to look forward to. Ireland title. In the semi- Adebayor from Arsenal The Rovers find them- finals, Kilkenny handled as well as former Aston selves in second place Waterford 2-23 to 3-15 and Villa midfielder Gareth in the LoI, sitting seven Tipp roughed up Limerick Barry. points behind crosstown Chocolate Gifts to Share 6-19 to 2-07. Up north in the Scottish rivals Bohemians. While Both championship Premier League, Celtic the Rovers have enjoyed matches will be shown are looking to reclaim a revival with a 13-3-9 live in the Boston area so their title, which they record, the Bohs have • Handmade Chocolates • Hand Roasted surrendered to Rangers raced from the gate with check your favorite pubs • Beautiful Baskets Premium Nuts for more information down the stretch last a stellar 17-4-4 mark. or visit setantasports. year. While the Rangers Down the bottom of the chocolate• Holiday Cookie Tins • Dazzling Gift Towers squad has pretty much table, Sligo and Bray, com/us. • Party Favors • Old Fashioned Fudge Here in the States, GAA stayed the same, Celtic along with , find events are also heating has spent about $14 mil- themselves in a relegation • Corporate Gifts up. The Boston Northeast lion to upgrade its roster battle with 10 weeks to go Board recently concluded – landing, among others, in the season. The first-di- another successful sea- Phillips Candy House son, culminating in the fine chocolates since 1925 league’s title matches, which were scheduled 818 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston to be held the weekend South Shore Plaza, Braintree of August 29-30. In the men’s senior football fi- Order Online at nal,836-1929 (215) FAX: the Shannon Blues were scheduled to take on phillipschocolate.com Christopher’s, while in the or call 800.722.0905 senior hurling final, it was

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11AM-9PM 2009 11AM-9PM SEPT. 12TH &13TH At the Irish Cultural Centre, 200 New Boston Drive, Canton MA Featured Artists Include: Andy Cooney • Girsa Andy Healey Band • Curraghs Fancy Erins Melody • Feanian Sons Bill Gobshites • Noel Henry Bailey Old Brigade • Tradition Ceili also featuring... many local Irish Artists and Bands, Irish Step Dancers from all over Mass, Carnival Rides, Genealogy, Radio Storytellers, Irish Authors, Children’s Area, Irish Tea House, ICC Drama Group, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann . Food, Faire, Cra ers, Children’s Amusements and More!! For additional information call the Irish Cultural Centre at 1-888-GO-IRISH Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com September 2009 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 13 Page 14 September 2009 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com Boston irish Boston Irish Arts, Entertainment, Reporter Travel & More Ceol Agus Craic Susan Gedutis Lindsay Wonderful Things Can Happen if You Play Irish music Yesterday, I traveled 200 years in a half hour. Driving home from Plato’s Harvest, my local organic farm in Middleborough, MA, I experimented with backroads and cruised through the most delightful and bucolic hot summer New England country scene I could ever have imagined. Just 20 minutes from home, yet worlds away. August in Middleborough: Expansive fields and semi-tended hay meadows, crumbling stone walls, clapboard farmhouses in vary- ing states of order and disorder, stable upon stable, trucks upon blocks, and old cracked asphalt roads bearing long, burnt rubber S-skids, telling stories of a town with nothing to do at night. That drive, coupled with the hour I spent on the farm with Mini Me, chatting with Mr. and Mrs. Farmer Dave and Sasha, Shannon and Matt Heaton selecting veggies, picking tomatoes, and filling a white plastic bucket with dahlia, zinnia, sunflowers, gladiolas, and some tall fluffy pink thing I can’t identify, brought me into a euphoria that I haven’t quite shaken, even the morning after. Shannon Heaton’s Passion: And that’s why it’s worth it to play Irish music. Because it can be a door to worlds of people and experiences that you might ‘To Get to Put My Sass On’ never otherwise consider. Play Irish music, and you could meet the most extraordinary people and have the most extraordinary By R. J. Donovan the when we were, fit for us. experiences. Special to the BIR strangely enough, living in Ni- BIR: What prompted you to Backtrack: About two months ago, my husband Steve (a Dublin Are you one someone who geria. We had a neighbor who get into teaching? native) and I played at the Plymouth Farmer’s Market. It wasn’t sings at the drop of a downbeat? played recorder and tin whistle, SH: Kind of the shtick with supposed to be us. It was supposed to be my “other” group: the Aside from the social aspects of and my Grandpa played tin Irish music is that you pass it Henhouse Ceili Band, which is an informal flock of women who sharing a tune, would you like whistle, and so I just kind of on from one person to the next . like to play Irish music together. Not a real band, per se. We to explore the skills involved in took to it. Then when we came . . It starts informally. Someone just play, take our veggies home, make a feast, and celebrate traditional Irish singing? Then back to the states, my folks had says, ‘Hey, can you show me life together. the Irish Song Circle Workshop a bunch of people living with us that tune,’ and then somebody Well, that morning it had rained. Horribly. Our pianist, the at Springstep in Medford may here, one of whom, John Tun- else says ‘Hey, can you show fabulous Helen Kisiel, called me from Watertown, 50 miles north, be for you. ney, is the son of the great Irish me that tune,’ and then pretty and said her car was up the creek and she’d misplaced the paddle. Jointly taught by Shannon singer, Paddy Tunney. John soon, ‘Hey, my daughter might Nor did she wish to drive to Plymouth in blinding thunderstorms. Heaton and Liz Simmons, the had a bunch of friends in the want to take lessons,’ and then Denya Levine, our fiddler 70 miles away the other direction, in Song Circle is a six-week course Irish music world who’d come you’re doing teaching camps Orleans, felt the same way. touching on the techniques and and visit us. And he’d take us and workshops. Especially with So, mid-day, I walked to the Farmer’s Market to tell Barbara, emotional connections involved to concerts. I happened to have traditional Irish music, it sort its manager, we couldn’t make it. Before I even opened my mouth, in the art of Irish singing. Irish in my family, but it was of naturally happens, kind of she said, “You’ll be back to play at 4:00, right?” I gulped, did Specializing in the Irish really being exposed to the tin informally, until you really get my best Meryl Streep smile, and said, “But of course.” Turned wooden , Heaton is -a re whistle in Nigeria, and being your teaching chops together. and ran to the car. Got on the phone. Dialed Steve, working in nowned musician, singer, and exposed to the Irish singers and Then it’s a more formal thing. Boston, and asked him if it were possible to get his Irish heiney composer who also performs players who happened to come BIR: The show you and Matt back to Plymouth in time. He was game. He did make it home on regularly with her husband, through our house. . . . The music are doing at Club Passim on time, and despite the flurry that led up to the downbeat, we had musician Matt Heaton. Their is great, but what I loved most Sept. 23 is called Back to School. a wonderful gig together. (Made me glad to be married to him, next local date is at Club Passim about it at the beginning was What’s that all about? too.) The weather by now was just clammy. The Farmer’s Market on Sept. 23. the social aspect. SH: Lots of a traditional Irish parking lot was muddy. Our stuff got really dirty. But Kim and I had the chance to chat BIR: You also studied in music, songs and instrumentals. Steph from Soule Farm were nearby, egging us on. Consider us recently with Shannon, who Chicago. But we’re also going to have egged. We had a blast. also co-founded Boston’s Celtic SH: When I was 16, I was quizzes, simple writing exer- That’s when we met Dave and Sasha, just one more stand Music Fest. An edited portion of in Thailand for a year, and cises, getting people in the flow away. They enjoyed the music and invited us to play for their an- our conversation follows. (then) I ended up in Chicago at of ‘back to school.’ It’s definitely nual farm potluck at Plato’s Harvest, a party they have for farm BIR: Fill me in a little about Northwestern University. They tongue in cheek. We’re going to shareholders at the end of the summer. Through this request, we the upcoming workshop. What have a great music program have music games. I’m going to discovered the whole concept of farm shares: Pay in advance, and will people experience? and I was able to do a sort of ad share some of my composition you can show up at the farm for your 55 cucumbers, 90 bunches SH: It’s really about intro- hoc ethnomusicology program exercises from the second grade. of kale, 87 zucchini, or ten billion non-squishy squash, every ducing people to traditional because Chicago has such a (Laughs) It’s all in good fun . . . week, all summer. Irish songs, working out a few great Irish music scene. There There’s still this weird promise We joined. Now Mini Me and I spend one amazing afternoon additional techniques and, were Irish music sessions on the when Fall comes around. You a week with the vegetables, goats, turkeys, chickens, rooster, above all, empowering people north side of Chicago, and Thai want to sharpen your pencils and cows. We go home with three bags of fresh picked veggies, -- giving them license to come traditional music sessions on and get organized and get your a dozen farm fresh eggs, a loaf of fresh baked bread, and all the to this music and make it their the south side of Chicago. And [act] together … We’re going to flowers you can fit in the coffee cup you salvaged from the trash own . . . (Liz and I are) going I was able to stitch together my give people a tangible outlet for in the back seat of your car. (Other farm visitors plan ahead and to team teach a few classes . . own ethno-degree specializing celebrating that ‘back to school,’ (Continued on page 17) . and then we’re going to each in and ‘crisp new resolve’ feeling. teach some separately, with Thai traditional music. BIR: So how do teaching and the hopes that by having two BIR: When did you met performing compare. different approaches, two dif- Matt? SH: When I teach, I’m inter- ferent people expanding this SH: He was a senior, I was a ested in carefully presenting education, we might be able to sophomore, and I met him be- traditional Irish music and empower singers. cause I needed a player giving people tools for that . . BIR: I understand you had for a (wedding) gig. . I completely love traditional a very interesting childhood BIR: How did the two of you music and spend a lot of time traveling the world with your wind up here in Boston? carefully crafting parents. SH: In 1998, Matt and I said, with my husband. But man, SH: We lived all over the ‘Let’s get out of Chicago.’ It’s the performance is where it’s place. My folks were, I guess a big city, and we were doing a all about being silly and really you’d call it now, ethno-journal- lot of teaching, and playing all having fun. Not that we don’t ists. So we were in Nigeria and around . . . We just really wanted have fun at the workshops, but all around American Indian to get away. We actually went to performing is my real outlet to reservations while they were Boulder, Colorado, for two and a get to put my sass on. working on a book on American half years. We had a great time Springstep’s six-week Irish Indian journalism. (Let My mountain biking around. Song Circle Workshop begins People Know by James E. & And then we said to each Sept. 8 and October 27; all levels Sharon Murphy.) other, ‘Okay, it’s time to be back of experience are welcome. See BIR: How did you develop in a city. Time to be back in a springstep.org. your love of Irish music? huge Irish music center.’ It was Matt & Shannon Heaton per- SH: My mom started me out either Chicago, or maybe we’d form Sept. 23 at Club Passim in on the piano when I was three. try Boston, because Boston is Cambridge; 617-492-7679. mat- Photo by Sasha Willoughby, Veggie Man (or Is It Woman?) by But the first instrument that also a very vibrant Irish music tandshannonheaton.com. Stephanie Kelliher, both of Plato’s Harvest. I really connected with was town. And boy, it’s been a great Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com September 2009 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 15 tish music. A former US styles; Anne Hooper, a sound to her singing, with this up-and-down, vertical National Scottish two-time National Scot- some jazz and pop influ- quality, where Irish music Champion, Cassel has tish Fiddle Champion and ences, as well as folk and is more lilting, swirling. performed and taught a mainstay of the Royal traditional. Katie and I “With Irish music, I across the US, , Scottish Country Dance play what might be called picture the musicians kind Sweden, China, New Zea- Society Boston branch, the the ‘American’ style of of huddling in a corner of land, France, England, first RSCDS branch to be Scottish music – it’s not the room; with Scottish and Austria, working as established outside Scot- Appalachian or Texas, but music, they’re up on the a soloist and also play- land; and Katie McNally, definitely American.” tables,” she quips, adding, A column of news and outstanding female musi- ing with the Cathie Ryan an emerging talent among One question Cassel “Not that we’re planning updates of the Boston Celt- cians in the Scottish tradi- Band, Childsplay, and Ha- the Boston area’s next- often hears is, “What’s to stand on tables when ic Music Fest (BCMFest), tion. “Babes in Scotland,” lali. She has made guest generation fiddlers who the difference between we play at which celebrates the Bos- which takes place Sept. appearances with such has studied and played Scottish and Irish music?” Monday, of course. But ton area’s rich heritage 14 at 8 p.m. in Harvard luminaries as Cherish the with Cassel. There’s ample explana- there’s sure to be some of Irish, Scottish, Cape Square’s Club Passim, Ladies, Alasdair Fraser, The concert will be tion to be found in music excitement.” Breton music and dance will explore the new and Aine Minogue, and Joey an “in-the-round” affair, theory, according to Cas- with a grassroots, musi- the old in Scottish music McIntyre (from New Kids Cassel says, with the sel, but she also likes to Tickets for Celtic Music cian-run winter music and song, and how centu- on the Block). performers playing as an express the answer in Monday are $12, $6 for festival and other events ries-old traditions have Among others joining ensemble, and in smaller metaphorical, even geo- members of Club Pas- during the year. joined with contemporary Cassel on stage will be combinations or solos. graphical terms. sim, WGBH and WUMB. -- Sean Smith influences to create excit- fiddler-vocalist Hannah “We think this format “I think of Scottish mu- For reservations, go to Bonny “Babes” -- ing sounds. Read, an na- will give a really good sic as related to the land- clubpassim.org or call There’ll be a distinctive Presiding over the eve- tive and Berklee College idea of different aspects of scape; the rugged, severe, 617-492-7679.For more Caledonian feel to this ning’s festivities will be of Music student who is a Scottish music,” she says. square features of the information on BCMFest, month’s BCMFest Celtic Hanneke Cassel, whose member of the inventive “With Anne, you hear the Highlands, for instance. see bcmfest.com; you can Music Monday concert, innovative fiddling ex- Folk Arts Quartet – which ‘classic’ country-dance The grace notes in Scots also sign up for the BC- which features some of emplifies the ancient- plays “chambergrass,” a side of Scotland. Hannah music are more percussive MFest e-mail list via the Greater Boston’s most modern dynamic in Scot- mix of folk and classical has a very contemporary and flamboyant, so it has website. Coming: Concerts On Tap Locally Irish vocalists Len Gra- series; tickets are $15 in ham and Brían Ó hAirt, advance, $18 at the door, local favorites Matt and and reservations are re- Shannon Heaton, and quired. Call 781-862-7837 Scottish supergroup Ma- or e-mail bhockett@music- linky are among the nota- for-robin.org. ble Celtic music perform- Husband-and-wife duo ers who will be appearing Matt and Shannon Hea- in the Greater Boston area ton, Boston-area residents over the next month. noted for their instru- Graham, an Antrim mental mastery (on flute, native with numerous , guitar and recordings to his credit, ), warm, intimate has drawn plaudits for his singing, and personable interpretations of songs stage presence, will pres- and stories, as well as his ent a “Back to School knowledge of the Irish folk Show” at Club Passim in music tradition. A member Harvard Square on Sept. of the popular band Bua 23 at 8 p.m. The concert, from the Midwest, Ó hAirt according to the Hea- has impressed audiences tons, is intended to offer with his sean-nos (“old “a silly, uplifting night style”) singing and in 2002 of embracing the crisp became the youngest, and ‘sharpen your pencils’ feel- first-ever American, to ing of autumn,” with fun win the coveted Sgiath writing, math and trivia The Scottish folk group will perform in Somerville on Oct. 3 Uí Dhálaigh shield at the quizzes, as well as new Fleadh Cheoil na hÉire- songs. Opening for the mation and reservations, Celtic music scene, known , “Flower and Iron,” with reservation at least ann – previous winners Heatons will be Mayfly, a see clubpassim.org or call for the passion, drive, and will perform as part of the 24 hours in advance to include Joe Heaney and Vermont-based duo whose 617-492-7679. inventiveness they bring Notlob Folk Concerts se- notlobreservations@com- Frank Harte. The two will repertoire draws on south- Just completing its first to their arrangements of ries on Oct. 3 at the Unity cast.net. For information, perform at a house concert ern Appalachian old-time, decade, Malinky has culti- songs and tunes, mostly in Church of God, 6 William see http://notlobmusic. in Lexington on Sept. 15 and New England blues, vated a reputation as one the Scottish tradition. The Street, in Somerville. googlepages.com. at 7:30 p.m., sponsored ballads and soul music. of the most popular and quintet, which earlier this There is a suggested dona- by the Music-For-Robin Tickets are $15. For infor- accomplished bands in the year released its fourth tion $17 at the door, $15 – SEAN SMITH Page 16 September 2009 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com Madden demonstrates her flair for airs, with “Slan Le – comprising compositions by Carroll and Shetland’s BIR Music Maigh (Farewell to the Maigue),” the melody for an Tom Anderson, and that A-major barn-burner “Dinky’s” 18th-century poem written as a lament of departure – shows equal parts power and grace. (albeit under somewhat scandalous circumstances, Among the featured performances, Knowles’ “Rumble according to the liner notes); Conway contributes a Thy Bellyful” – a “violent tune,” as she calls it, inspired CD Roundup by “King Lear” – is perhaps the most adventurous, with sprightly set of hornpipes associated with Michael its excursion into something approximating Balkan By Sean Smith Coleman, James Kelly, Jack and Charlie Coen, and Lad O’Beirne; and McComiskey offers up three slip gypsy jazz. The exotic, sometimes otherworldly beauty in Scandinavian music also is on display, notably in Joanie Madden, Brian Conway, Billy McComis- , including a version of “The Humours of Whiskey” that came from Donegal native, and later Brooklyn Hardelin’s powerful rendition of a Swedish traditional key and Brendan Dolan, “Pride of New York” song, “The Hussar,” and Lien’s compositions – the Bostonians ordinarily might not feel much like resident, Tom Doherty (the first inductee into the Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann North American Hall primal-sounding “Luseblus” and her sassy tribute to praising New York, given the results of Super Bowl 42 the group, “G-strings.” aficionados need not and the perennial Sox-Yankees contretemps, but all of Fame), whose daughter Maureen Doherty Macken played with Madden in the band Cherish the Ladies. worry, either: She’s spotlighted via a medley of her tunes is forgiven in the “The Champaign Goes Columbia/Pat & Al’s Jig,” musical arena – or Dolan doesn’t get a solo per se, but his talents are much in evidence: He takes a turn at leading “Slan Le and the stately, easy-going “The Fly and the Dodger” it certainly should (an ode to her husband, an avid fisher). be, given this su- Maigh,” and his introduction to McComiskey’s slip jig medley is a thing of beauty. perb new CD that An Lar, “Yarn” is a tribute to New All four get the chance to bid a musical farewell on the final track, which includes enduring session favor- Are the Celts reconquering Europe? A fair question, York City’s tradi- perhaps, given the incidence of Irish/Scots/other Celtic- tional Irish music ites “Trip to Durrow” and “Bere Island,” by which time you’re sure to be in a New York state of mind. related music popping up on the Continent in recent legacy. years: Spain’s , drawing on the Galician tradi- The four individ- tion; techno-driven Fiamma Fumana of Italy; Germany’s uals on the album, String Sisters, “Live” Talk about delayed gratification. At the 2001 Celtic Cara, a highlight of the 2007 ICONS Festival; and, from among the finest Switzerland, An Lar (Irish for “the center”). Irish-American Connections festival, six premier female fiddlers repre- senting the Irish (Liz Carroll, Liz Knowles, and Mairead “Yarn” is An Lar’s fourth album, showcasing a rep- musicians around ertoire of , Scotland, Brittany, and today, here em- Ni Mhaonaigh), Scandinavian (Annbjorg Lien and Emma Hardelin) and Shetland (Catriona Macdonald) Asturia, as well as their own material. The band has phasize their iden- a local-regional connection of sorts via fiddle player tity, and their heritage, as New York Irish-American music traditions first joined forces Stefanie Aeschlimann, who some years back stayed musicians – the descendants and protégés of Martin briefly in the area during a visit to North America and Mulvihill, “Lad” O’Beirne, Joe Madden, Joe Burke, to great acclaim. It was four more made the acquaintance of Maine native and former Andy McGann, Paddy Reynolds, Felix Dolan, and oth- Bostonian Lissa Schneckenburger (here the band cov- ers who emigrated to New York or were born of Irish years before they were able to re- ers her tune “Melissa Without the ‘Me’”). parents. Most all the tunes on “Pride of New York” are There’s a lot to in some way associated with their mentors or the New unite for another performance – and like here: An Lar York Irish-American music community. clearly has some Madden, McComiskey, Conway, and Dolan describe now, four years later, the record- familiar influences the “New York sound” in Irish music as an unusual from the Irish and blend of Galway’s relaxed style and Sligo’s more pul- ing of that concert is finally available Scots folk revival sating fashion, mixed with influences from the likes but at the same of Clare, Donegal, and Mayo “in the steel and concrete in the US (it was released two years time don’t try to be of New York City,” as McComiskey puts it. Whether a “Swiss version” or not one is attuned to such subtleties, this recording ago in the UK, Norway, France, of, say, finds the quartet at the top of their form: McComiskey’s or Silly Wizard. accordion providing the melodic punch, abetted by and Germany). The Sisters play in full formation as well as in Lead vocalist and Madden’s airy but solid flute and whistle and Conway’s bodhran player Da- lilting fiddle, and Dolan’s piano supplying graceful and smaller combinations and solos, supported by a first- class rhythm section of pianist David Milligan, bassist vid Brühlmann has sensitive rhythm. a voice redolent of There are several exuberant full ensemble pieces, Conrad Ivitsky, guitarist Tore Bruvoll, and drum- mer/percussionist James Mackintosh. It makes for a a good Glasgow including the first four tracks, which are, respectively, pub singer: a little sets of reels, hornpipes, jigs — beginning with the ir- pretty good sampler of traditional and contemporary influences in fiddling, although Scottish music fans rough around the edges but more than capable of car- repressible Larry Redican composition “Happy Days” rying a tune. Multi-instrumentalists Jurg Frey and – and a “French” waltz named for Sean McGlynn, a are bound to feel slighted. Highlights include the jig/ set at the outset, Matteo Hofer muster guitar, , mandolin, flute, Galway native who emigrated to Long Island and later whistle and concertina, and along with Aeschlimann became a mentor and major influence for McComiskey beginning with “Shetland Fiddle Diva” (written for Macdonald by Scots accordion player Ian Lowthian) and display fine musicianship. (who displays some delightful flourishes). The songs range from originals by Brühlmann and The three melody players also each get a solo track: seguing into 6/8 and 4/4 versions of a composition by Knowles, climaxing with a Frey, “Launching the Boat” and “The Three Mermaids” tune in the New York Irish (unlikely nautical songs for a band from a landlocked al- tradition [see above] by the pine country), to Bobby Nicholson’s “The Silent March,” legendary “Lad” O’Beirne.” the traditional “John Barleycorn,” Ewan MacColl’s Macdonald’s appropri- nearly forgotten “Tunnel Tigers” and that epic Irish ately titled “The Joy of It!” tragedy “The Night Before Larry Was Stretched,” the sounds even more ebullient latter three particularly well-suited for Brühlmann. in the String Sisters set- Most of the tunes on “Yarn” are band compositions, with ting, and the high-energy Frey’s “Handtrucking” set and “Funny Weather” as well EIRE reel set at the end of the CD as Hofer’s “Tea Tom’s Kajak” among the stand-outs. pub GERARD’S RESTAURANT 795 Adams St. • Dorchester Where the people of Dorchester dine when they dine at home “President’s Choice” We bring summer time to you. 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776 Adams Street, Adams Village southillchildrensfund.com Dorchester • 617-282-6370 Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com September 2009 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 17 jor figures in the New York Bermuda, the Caribbean, popularized by the Pogues, Irish music scene, such as the Mexican Riviera, Aus- Black 47, and Flogging ICCNE Festival All Set Rose (Conway) Flanagan, tralia, and the Greek Isles. Molly, but with a twist Patty (Conway) Furlong, Over the years, its ranks – often taking songs from (Continued from page 1) nity for this festival.” Cahal Dunne, Joannie Margie Mulvihill, Annmarie have included such promi- Black Flag, the Ramones, eral years, during which Mulligan and his fel- Madden, The Irish So- Acosta, Eileen Goodman, nent musicians as fiddler and other punk rockers the event took on a more low organizers believe the pranos, Annette Grif- Mary Coogan, and Frankie Brendan Bulger and ac- and giving them an Irish international and musi- enthusiasm will be conta- fin, Kate Purcell, and McCormick, among others. cordionist Larry Reynolds flavor. cally diverse character, gious when festival-goers Deirdre Reilly. Girsa musicians have also Jr. Although Noel died in Nearly 35 years old, as the Irish Connections turn out to see this year’s His recording credits developed their individual 1995, his legacy lives on Boston’s Hanafin-Cooley Festival and, in 2007 and line-up, especially the two include the 2009 album talents in the competitive in the person of his older branch is one of the largest 2008, the ICONS Festival. headlining acts – both of “It’ll Be Me,” featuring realm, regularly taking part daughter Caroline Henry and most active of the some With a run of less-than- which draw upon family duets with Crystal in the New York Fleadh as Brennan, who in 2004 400 world-wide branches ideal weather conditions roots in the Irish American Gayle, Larry Gatlin, well as the Fleadh Cheoil na joined the band, now led of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri in recent years, and faced music tradition. and Ronan Tynan, hEireann. by her uncle Tommie. Eireann. Through its with decreasing corporate Andy Cooney and “Home Away from Earlier this year, the band Since they began play- traditional music and support – all in the context Cooney has been sing- Home,” with legend- released its debut CD, con- ing together in a Roslin- dance classes, monthly of the global financial ing professionally for a ary composer-arranger taining a mix of tune sets and dale kitchen 15 years ago, session and other events crisis – the management quarter-century, begin- Phil Coulter. In 2004, traditional and contemporary the five-member Fenian and activities, as well as team that had produced ning with a stint in Paddy Cooney recorded a TV songs, including “Mary and Sons have been deliver- the efforts of its many the festival elected not to Noonan’s renowned band special for PBS, “An the Soldier,” “I Live Not ing traditional Irish music members and supporters, continue this year. The that took him around Evening of Irish Clas- Where I Love,” “The Home with a modern edge to the CCE Hanafin-Cooley is ICCNE, however, decided the United States. Since sics,” that was later I Left Behind Me” as well as New England area, bring- widely recognized for its in July to put on the festi- launching his solo career released on DVD. “Immigrant Eyes,” for which ing a rock-n-roll energy to dedication to preserving val, on a smaller scale and in 1994, the Long Island In 1995, Cooney or- they also produced a video. a repertoire that includes traditional Irish music with a local and regional native has performed at ganized the first an- The Girsa roster includes songs made famous by and culture. Their tent is focus. venues large and small nual “Cruise of Irish Maeve Flanagan (fiddle, such well-loved perform- one of the most popular “We probably could have across the country, as well Stars,” a week-long whistle), currently a student ers as The Wolfe Tones, destinations for festival- just folded up the tent and as internationally, offering Caribbean jaunt featur- at Stonehill College, along Clancy Brothers, and goers, who can enjoy said ‘Forget it, it’s just not renditions of familiar Irish ing Cooney and other with Emily McShane (lead vo- Paddy Reilly. literally hours of set and a good year,’” says Festival favorites like “Danny Boy” major Irish perform- cals, piano, bodhran, guitar), The Andy Healy Band social dancing, as well as Director Seamus Mulli- and “Galway Boy,” and ers that has grown in Kristen McShane ( fiddle), has been a Boston insti- performances by Com- gan. “But the festival has his hit records “The Irish popularity. Cooney’s Deirdre Brennan (fiddle, tution for three decades, haltas musicians. been such a major part of Wedding Song”, “Boston musical guests this vocals, mandolin), Margaret providing music for all Admission is $15, $10 the center, and we felt we Rose,” and “Daughter of year included the Irish Dudasik (fiddle, low whistle, occasions, from concert for ICCNE members, and could do something that Mine.” He has worked with Sopranos, the Paddy vocals, dancing), Bernadette halls to dance halls to free for children under 12 people would enjoy, and prominent entertainers Noonan Band, Ronan Flanagan (piano, bodhran , benefits to St. Patrick’s accompanied by a parent. that would be affordable. from the Irish and country Tynan, and Noel V. dancing), Pamela Geraghty Day celebrations. Information on the festival When we put out the call music scenes, including Ginnity. (accordion, guitar, vocals) The Gobshites draw is available via the ICC for performers and musi- Ronan Tynan, Crystal Girsa and Blaithin Loughran (ac- on the blend of hard rock/ Web site, irishculture. cians, we got a terrific Gayle, Seamus Egan, The eight young cordion). punk and Irish music org. response; there’s a lot of George Casey, Charlie women who constitute A look some of the local enthusiasm out there in Daniels, Noel V. Gin- Girsa (Gaelic for “young musical acts at this year’s the Irish music commu- nity, the Oak Ridge Boys, girls”) grew up together festival: CELEbRATINg 20 YEARS: 1989-2009 in Pearl River, NY, a The Noel Henry Irish community known for Showband was founded in Free Legal family-based, Why Play Irish Music? its strong family and 1974 as “Noel Henry and employment-based, immigration, teaching traditions in and citizenship advice. step back in time, there’s the Celtic Blues,” headed by (Continued from page 15) Irish music. Some of brothers Noel, Mattie, and nothing old fashioned Girsa’s members, in bring a bucket. But I’m a about organic farming. Tommie. Since then, the group fact, have blood ties to – with its mix of Irish, folk, musician, remember?) In fact, to prove just how the pioneering all-fe- Irish Immigration CeNter About that coffee cup: progressive we are, Sasha country and big band sounds male Irish band Cher- – has built a loyal fan follow- Dave the Farmer was and I have already begun ish the Ladies, and all kind. He gave me a five- planning discussions for ing and toured through the Free LegaL CLiniCs have been nurtured US and Ireland, as well as gallon bucket, and Mini the apocalypse. and mentored by ma- Me and I returned to more exotic climes such as When it all goes down TUESDAY CLINICS: south Boston the “Flower Aisles” to and you people lose your Laboure Center fill’er up. We got home office jobs, we’ll be work- 275 West Broadway and made an absolutely Allston-Brighton South Boston, MA 02127 ing on our ark to sail into The Kells Bar and Restaurant 6:00 pm cockamamie arrange- the future. We’ve got the 161 Brighton Ave, Allston, MA 02134 February 24th, April 27th, June 30th, ment of zinnias, then a 6:30 pm August 25th, October 27th food and music covered. January 13th, February 9th, stunning display of glads All we need is the beer. March 10th, April 14th in an Asian china vase Now accepting applica- FOLEY LAW OFFICES, P.C. THURSDAY CLINICS: (Christmas Tree Shop, tions for a brewer and thank you), and I said to Dorchester DoWntoWn Boston vintner. Attorney John Philip Foley Saint Mark’s Parish (School Hall) Irish Immigration Center Mini Me, “We are so lucky 1725 Dorchester Ave. Looking forward to the 59 Temple Place Permanent Residency & Citizenship • Family & Business Dorchester, MA 02124 to have a life like this.” first on-deck Ceili at the 10th Floor 6:00 pm Immigration • Labor Certification & Temporary Visas Boston, MA 02111 File that under IRISH Ark. Specifically for that January 27th, March 31st MUSIC. It is not all about gig, I shall keep practic- ALL Nationalities & AILA Members 4:00pm money. More times it’s ing. visit WWW.iicenter.org or cAll 617-542-7654 to confirm scheDule about love. Just like or- (Thank you to Steph ganic farming: more love from Soule Farm for the than money, more dirt Veggie Man, and thank than dough. I think Sasha you to Sasha for the at Plato’s Harvest agrees. pic!!!) Though it feels like a G eraghty Associates Studio and 1-Bedroom Apartments Available in the desirable Cedar Grove section of Dorchester. Studios reasonably priced at $750.00; 1-bedroom units at $925.00; heat and hot water included. Short walk to the Red Line. Free off-street Parking. Washing Machines and Dryers in building. Call Michael at 617.364.4000

Geraghty Associates, Inc. Property managers P.O. Box 52, Readville, MA 02137-0052 Tel: 617-364-4000 Fax: 617-364-3157 Page 18 September 2009 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com Traveling People A Change of Scene: Exploring the Irish Hinterlands By Judy Enright and turned off onto “The Special to the BIR Old Bog Road” in Co. Aren’t most of us crea- Kildare. I had heard much tures of habit? We get into about Kildare over the a rut so easily because it’s years (mostly in connec- familiar and it’s where tion with horses) but had we’re most comfortable. no particular knowledge That’s certainly true of that county. And, of about traveling – at least course, I had heard about it always has been for me. “The Old Bog Road” but I find places I like and sel- never knew the poem was dom wander too far afield. about a road there. There is no question that “The Old Bog Road” was the West of Ireland is my written by Teresa Bray- favorite spot and it’s dif- ton, a native of the area. A ficult to break away from large sign has been erected the magic of that rugged to mark the road and her coastline to venture south, contributions. east, or inland. Born Teresa Boylan in Someone said Ireland is 1868 in Kilbrook, Kilcock, like a doughnut because Co. Kildare, she, like many many tourists only travel of her countrymen and the edges so the interior women, left Ireland in the becomes the hole that’s late 1800s. She initially never seen. And, that’s came to Boston but only probably pretty true for stayed for a short time most travelers who stick to before moving to New better-known beauty spots York. It was there that she like the Ring of Kerry and met and married Richard other well-worn routes. Brayton, a French Cana- Horses corralled along the old bog road road in Co. Kildare. (Judy Enright photos) dian, and spent 30 years This spring, we bravely There was an interest- sector shows no sign of left the West to travel there before moving back to Ireland when she was ing story in The Irish easing with data for June down to the Waterford Times recently saying that showing further sharp de- area and then up toward 64. She lived in the Dub- lin area for several years the “Wild West” is coming clines in visitor numbers. Dublin. And, we also ex- to The Ulster American “The latest travel figures, plored some uncharted and then moved back to Kilbrook ,where she died Folk Park in Northern published by the Central hinterlands, taking back Ireland. The writer did Statistics Office (CSO) roads and generally seeing in 1943 in the same room where she had been born not mean the wild west of today, showed overseas parts of Ireland not often Mayo or Donegal but the visits to Ireland fell by visited. 75 years earlier. She had been prominent in Irish story said, “Landscapes 113,300 (15.1 percent) in One small road took from America’s wild west” June compared with the us deep into American circles in New York, was familiar with which will be recreated in same month last year. just north of Doolin. We Northern Ireland as part “Trips to Ireland from turned off onto a side road most of the leaders of the 1916 Rebellion, and many of a 2.4-million pound Britain and mainland Eu- that climbed up over hills museum expansion. (Note rope, Ireland’s two main that looked out over the of her patriotic poems reflect her support of “the that the pound sterling visitor markets, saw sharp ocean. It was great fun monetary system is used declines. The figures show to photograph new and cause.” Tim Durham from Killucan, Co. Westmeath, reads While here, she pub- in Northern Ireland and the total number of over- the sign erected at the old bog road in Co. Kildare different vistas and to not the euro.) seas visits to Ireland has see the coastline north lished extensively in news- to honor poet Teresa Brayton. papers and magazines and The story went on to now dropped 10.7 percent of Doolin from high on a say, “The frontier scenes to 3,304,100 in the first six Burren hillside. published her first book in Newmarket-on-Fergus. tival (galwayoysterfest. of poetry. Her primary will be built on 30 acres of months of the year.” You do occasionally get unused land at the Ulster But, oddly, in another We often stay there when com) Sept. 24-27; an odd look from residents themes focused on the we land (and sleep after • If you’re single, don’t nostalgic loss of home- American Folk Park near story, reporter Charlie as your unfamiliar vehicle Omagh. Homes, barns, Taylor wrote, “The dete- the all-night flight) and miss the fun at the Lis- passes their door. But, I’ve land, , and also stay the night before doonvarna Matchmaking religion. and other settler build- riorating economic situ- found that the minute we ings erected by early Irish ation may be poison for flying back. Cahergal is Festival in the Co. Clare stop and they hear my We drove down “The Old very close to the airport spa town on Sept. 4 and 5 Bog Road” just to see what immigrants will be built most local industries but American accent, they on the site in an effort it is helping B&Bs stage and Michael and Noreen (see matchmakerireland. know I’m a visitor. More it looks like today. The McInerney could not be a com for more) area is apparently close to reproduce what life a remarkable comeback, often than not, the prob- would have been like for according to new figures better host and hostess. • There are multiple lem then becomes that enough to Dublin so that Take a look at cahergal. food festivals too such as: it’s a residential suburb. those who went in search released today. B&B book- they want to chat, find of a new life in the new ings are up by 20 percent com if you want a great Waterford Harvest Food out where we’re from, and Homes are large with place to stay. Festival (slowfoodireland. manicured lawns – totally world. during the first three ask if we know relatives The expansion has been months of the year despite Travel com), Sept. 11 and 12; Mid- there. We find it difficult unlike what we expected: Summer may be over leton, Co. Cork, Food and a more rustic, rural, and primarily funded by the a fall in the number of to focus on the scenery Department of Culture, people visiting Ireland. but there’s still a lot to do Drink Festival (midleton- because we’re too busy primitive area. True, there in Ireland. foodfestival.ie), Sept. 12; were corrals of horses, a Arts and Leisure. Mean- “New data from the chatting. But it’s a small while, the Northern Ire- Town and Country Homes • The National Plough- Taste of West Cork Food problem really and it’s field with sheep, and wild- ing Championships will be Festival (atasteofwest- flowers growing along the land Tourist Board (NITB) Association (TCHA), which always fun to talk about has matched a private represents over 1,100 held Sept. 22-24 in Athy, cork.com) in Skibbereen, home and traveling and edges of the road, but this Co. Kildare (see npa.ie for Sept. 14-20. is a high-end area of big donation to invest 75,000 B&Bs across the country, our cameras. pounds to restore and re- shows that consumer details.) For more information on After leaving the West, homes and probably not • The Dublin Theatre happenings in September, much like Teresa Brayton build an original frontier bookings were up 13 per we visited the Dungarvan log house, first built by cent in March compared Festival is Sept. 24-Oct. see Tourism Ireland’s and Ardmore area down would have known in her 11. See dublintheatrefesti- excellent website: discov- day. Ulster immigrant Rich- to the same month a year in Co. Waterford and, in ard McCallister in Cabell earlier. val.com for information. erireland.com a never-ending quest for Ulster American • The Electric Picnic Getting There Folk Park County, West Virginia, “According to the TCHA, adventure, headed north in 1827. the rise in bookings can Music Festival will rock For more information The project, which is the be attributed in part to a Stradbally, Co. Laois, Sept. about Ireland, visit your first phase of a 10-year greater number of people 4-6. See electricpicnic.ie. favorite travel agent or development program, is from both Ireland and And, in Dunfanaghy, Co. the Aer Lingus website due to be open to the pub- overseas seeking better Donegal, there’s the annu- (aerlingus.com) for direct lic in 2011. The museum, value for money when al Jazz and Blues Festival flights and ground deals. which attracts 160,000 looking for accommoda- (arnoldshotel.com) Flights and deals are also visitors annually, will not tion.” • Oyster Festivals are offered by US Airways be affected while construc- We’ve stayed in many the order of the day in (usairways.com) and other tion takes place, officials B&Bs across Ireland and Carlingford, Co. Louth, airlines, but usually in- said. they do, without a doubt, Sept. 4-6 (see carling- volve layovers in various Tourism and B&Bs offer great value and some ford.ie) and Clarinbridge, cities that can add several A story by Eoin Burke- of the friendliest people Co. Galway, Sept. 10-13 hours to your trip but also Kennedy in The Irish anywhere. We have many (clarinbridge.com); and reduce the cost. Times said, “The continu- favorite B&Bs, among the world-famous Galway Enjoy your trip to Ire- ing slump in the tourism which is Cahergal Farm International Oyster Fes- land whenever you go.

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Antrim: Belfast Buildings the public park to celebrate for commercial traffic for more Preservation Trust has warned the founding of the city, and than sixty years. The reopening that one of the city’s landmark one feature is a collection of was due to the efforts of the buildings is in urgent need bars. Martin came up with the Royal Canal Amenity Group, of restoration work. Carlisle idea of an Irish bar at which according to Paddy Egan, who Memorial Methodist Church, the better-off citizens will be said they had spent thirty located at the junction of the charged slightly inflated prices years campaigning. More than Antrim and Crumlin Roads, and will unwittingly be helping thirty boats were expected in has been unused for the past to finance a women’s project, the harbor from Dublin, owned twenty years and would require the Women’s Co-operative of by canal enthusiasts from all funding of 700,000 pounds Nampula. along the route, and they were simply to maintain it while a Derry: Father Roland Col- to be joined by boat owners from feasibility study is carried out. houn of St. Columba’s Church, Ballymahon to Kenagh. Work The building was last used as a Long Tower in Derry city, has is to be carried out on a further church in 1982 and the BBPT issued a plea to new parents to ten-mile stretch of the canal has said that a further 300,000 choose the name Columba for between Kenagh and Clondra pounds would allow it to be their babies in order to comem- over the next six months. used in another capacity until morate the city’s patron saint. Louth: Ian Mulroy will be a decision is made on whether Father Colhoun, who says many joining a group of people tak- full restoration can be carried boys choose the name at Con- ing part in a sky dive in Co. out, at a projected cost of more firmation or are given Columba Offaly this month, but he will than 11-million pounds. as a second name, is happy for be taking his courage one step : Jay Beatty who, variations of the name, such as further than his fellow skydiv- with his older sister Olivia Colmcille or Colm to be used. He ers. For Ian will be undertaking became the face of the Down is also planning to hold a novena the venture naked, all in order Syndrome Society in New York’s of Masses in Latin towards the to raise funds for Drogheda Times Square two years ago, is end of the year for all babies bap- Homeless Aid. There are almost about to start school at Tan- tized Columba during the year, fifty people taking part in the naghmore primary school just since 2009 marks the centenary event, which has been organized down the road from his Lurgan of the Long Tower church. by Darren Monks, Anthony home. In addition to the Times Donegal: Arranmore Island and PJ of Unit 5, Shop Street Square photograph, Jay, Olivia, has taken possession of its very in Drogheda. With each par- and their parents Martin and first ambulance, which will ticipant having to raise money, Áine also appeared on a flyer be staffed by volunteers from Aoife McCullough and Amanda promoting a charity walk in among the community. And in Marron have also organized a Central Park. The five-year-old order to make the service vi- charity waxing in The Morning has had to overcome a six-hour able, the roll-on roll-off island Star in Tullyallen. heart operation and MRSA, ferry will be available on a Mayo: Minister for Transport which saw him in hospital for twenty-four-hour basis to take Noel Dempsey has announced five months, but now he’s ready the ambulance to the mainland nessman Niall McNelis was new public park at the back of funding of 1.6-million euro for a to join his friends in the main- when required. The ambulance sweeping up outside his jewelry Connolly Street, while art, film seventeen and a half kilometre stream school. has been provided by the Health shop on Quay Street in Galway and photo exhibitions will be off-road cycling and walking Carlow: Having already Service Executive but without he found tucked behind a rub- held at the Centre. route between Newport and taken part in one event which personnel so two islanders, Jane bish bin a diamond bracelet Laois: Nicole Turner took Mulrany. Agreement has been gained an entry into the Guin- Murphy and Nora Flanagan, at- which he himself had sold three part in the recent World Dwarf procured from local landowners ness Book of Records, the Fen- tended a course at the National years ago. He recognized it as Games in Belfast and arrived along the route, which largely nelly family from Burton Hall Ambulance Training College in it had had a special clasp fitted home to Garryhinch with a total follows the old Midland Great in Carlow last month were part Ballinasloe, Co. Galway. A fur- at the request of the purchaser. of eight medals. The seven-year- Western Railway line and will of a second such achievement. ther twenty-two islanders have Later that day a couple came to old won five gold, one silver, and be part of a forty-two kilometre Two years ago, Tommy drove trained as first responders. the shop looking for a valuation two bronze medals for swim- route between Westport and one of the tractors that broke the Down: Mickey Linden from certificate to claim the -insur ming, athletics, football and Achill. The route, which will be record for the greatest number of Mayobridge, who was on the ance on the “lost” bracelet, and hockey. Nicole is the daughter managed and maintained by the tractors gathered together. This Down team which won the Niall was able to surprise them of Jason and Bernie Turner who county council, is expected to year he and his wife Madeline Ulster and All-Ireland finals by producing it. Although it was moved from Lancashire to Gar- be completed by the end of this and their twin sons Nikita and in 1991 and 1994, has claimed a bit scratched, the 7,500-euro ryhinch nine years ago with her year. In addition to being a tour- Kirill travelled to Cooley in Co. another medal, but this time for bracelet had been a present to two brothers Daniel and Ciarán. ist attraction, the new cycling Louth to become part of a group athletics. A member of Dunleer the woman from her husband She is a member of Portarling- route is expected to encourage of combine harvesters that Athletics Club, he took part in and they were delighted to have ton Piranha Swimming Club, more local people to us bicycles broke the record by harvesting the Over-45 Championships it returned. where she was coached by Emer rather than cars. four hundred tons of grain in a in Co. Offaly last month and Kerry: A life-sized sculpture Martin, and the swimming Meath: Eighty-nine-year-old one-hundred acre field over a at the age of 46 took two gold depicting the origins of the story pool committee has arranged Clarence Corrigan from Trim fifteen-minute period. medals, one in the 100m and the of the Rose of Tralee is to be sponsorship to enable Nicole is almost certainly the oldest Cavan: There were just 143 other in the long jump. Mickey, unveiled to mark the fiftieth to compete in the Paralympic person ever to have reached the students in Ireland who gained who retired from inter-county anniversary of the Rose of Games in 2016. summit of Croagh Patrick, and the maximum 600 points in football six years ago, was also Tralee festival. The figures of Leitrim: In a recent survey he made the climb under his own their Leaving Certificate this runner-up in the 200m. He William Mulchinocks and Mary carried out for the Irish Inde- steam accompanied by a group year and one of them is a stu- still plays for Mayobridge but O’Connor have been cast in pendent Weekend magazine a of friends and family members. dent at The Royal School in hadn’t undertaken any type of bronze by Cork sculptor Jeanne camping site in Leitrim village The retired mechanical engineer Cavan. Lorraine Spotten from athletics since he was fourteen Rynhart and are shown stroll- has been awarded a place in the and farmer had a special reason Ballyconnell achieved six A1s years of age. ing towards the “pure crystal “10 best Irish camping sites.” for undertaking the climb -- he which, she said, assured her Dublin: Dave Grennan from fountain” of the song penned Battlebridge Caravan & Camp- wanted to raise money for St of her preferred place on the Raheny, an amateur astonomer, by William Mulchinocks. The ing Park, less than a mile from Joseph’s Hospital in Trim where pharmacy course at the Royal discovered a new asteroid last sculpture is located in the town’s the village, comprises thirty his wife Kathleen, who suffers College of Surgeons in Dublin. October which was provisionally rose garden. The festival com- pitches and has a playground, from Alzheimer’s, has been liv- Lorraine, who also scored ten given the designation 2008US3 memorates the love between a games room, a giant chess set, ing for the past two years. It is A1s in her Junior Certificate by the Harvard-based Minor the son of the Big House and and a slipway for boating. It is, not the first time Clarence has and received a third place in the Planet Centre. Now he has been the shoemaker’s daughter who of course, on the bank of the climbed the Mayo mountain, Young Scientists’ competition, cleared to name the asteroid died of tuberculosis. River Shannon. The site is run more familiarly known as the was congratulated by the new after his mother, Catherine Kildare: An oak barrel found by Joe and Eilish Beirne and Reek, and he said this made the headmaster of The Royal School, Grennan, who died five years in Gilltown bog, between Tima- Joe reports that the recession, climb easier. Edward Lindsay. ago, though he had to use her hoe and Staplestown, by John which has caused such prob- Monaghan: B&C Contracts Clare: A protest was held in maiden name since protocol Fitzharris and Martin Lane was lems for many tourist-related of Carrickmacross have applied Shannon last month by people does not allow him to use any found to contain butter which businesses, has actually led to to the county council for plan- accustomed to exercising their part of his own name. And so has been estimated to be some an increase in visitor numbers ning permission for an enter- dogs on the river walks. Three the asteroid, which is the first 3,000 years old. The two Bord na for them. tainment centre and a filling notices were put up in the Cluain to be discovered in Ireland and Móna workers were harrowing Limerick: Of the five Limer- station at Cloughvalley Lower Airne area by local resident named after an Irish person for the bog when they came across ick men who were in contention on the Castleblayney road. The John Hamilton asking people to 160 years, is officially known as the barrel, which weighs almost for the title of Mr. Ireland, the entertainment centre will in- join him in protesting at plans to (215016)Catherinegriffin. 35 kilos. They put it in a black finals of which were held in clude a cinema and bowling alley construct an affordable housing Fermanagh: Dr. Rosie Bren- plastic sack and brought it out of the city early last month, the and the company is in talks with scheme. He was prompted into nan, an eye surgeon at the Erne the bog in the cabin of their trac- winner was Kamal Ibrahim. cinema operators in relation to action by handwritten notices Hospital, will be joined by ward tor. It was collected by Pádraig From Thomondgate, Kamal the former. There will also be a stating that access to the river manager Patrick McGirr from Clancy from Monasterevin, one will now go forward to the Mr. number of retail outlets and a walks would be closed from this Drumquin and Chris Devlin of the keepers at the National World finals in South Korea this primary health care unit which, week. Some fifty people turned from site management at Alt- Museum in Dublin, and is now month, with the winner being it is hoped, will be suitable for up for the protest including nagelvin Hospital on a cycle undergoing a preservation announced during the televised the unit which is currently be- Margaret Mulqueen, who ques- from Mizen Head to Malin Head process. final at the beginning of October. ing considered by the Health tioned why the council could to raise funds for an African Kilkenny: With the seven- The twenty-three-year-old, the Service Executive. Phase One of not use the 100-acre site by the hospital. The three aim to cover tieth anniversary of the build- son of Roma and Abdul Ibra- the project comprises the filling new southern ring road for the eighty miles a day and for the ing of the Connolly Street and him, is a second cousin of actor station, a shop and cafe. affordable housing scheme. final twenty miles to Malin Head Pearse Street Corporation hous- Danny de Vito whom he has met Offaly: The country’s first Cork: An Irish bar aiming to they will be accompanied by a ing scheme in Kilkenny city, it a couple of times. Kamal, who climate camp was held last raise money for a local project number of other cyclists. Accord- has been decided to revive the works in Trinity Rooms night month, culminating in a parade opened for three days in the ing to Dr. Brennan the funds Butts Family Festival. Meetings club in the city centre, has been through the town.. Between two Mozambique town of Nam- raised will enable the Western have been held at the Father signed to Compton Modelling and three hundred eco-activ- pula last month. The bar is the Trust pediatric eye department McGrath Centre to organize the Agency. ists were expected to attend brainchild of Corkman Martin to develop a teaching link with event. Some of the activities, Longford: The Foigha Har- the event, where electricity O’Donoghue, who worked in the the ECWA Eye Hospital in including a Miss Congenial- bour boat rally took place last was tobe generated by wind city as a volunteer last year. Kano, Nigeria. ity contest for children under month at the newly re-opened turbines and solar panels, and Each year a festival is held in Galway: When Galway busi- twelve, will take place in the harbor which hasn’t been used (Continued on page 20) Page 20 September 2009 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com News Direct From Ireland Argos accused of over- at some of the marchers. A huge wearing, the guest list was also charging Irish customers police contingent kept the sides of interest to many. The mar- -- Some people had already been Ireland Today: apart and had to remain in the riage ceremony took place in aware of the huge difference town for some time after the St Joseph’s Church in Miltown in the prices being charged by bands had passed through. Malbay, Co. Clare, and that is the Argos catalogue stores in Ireland in 2008 Sectarian graffiti and the let- where the photographers had Ireland and in Britain but now ters IRA, CIRA, and Real IRA gathered as the reception was a figure has been put on it. UCD The Central Statistics Office published its annual assessment were painted on the road and on being held at the Doonbeg golf academic Professor Barry Smyth of the country under the title “Measuring Ireland’s Progress cars parked on Glebe Road in club which was closed for the has used computer technology 2008”. Among the items reported was that 42.3% of the popula- Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim in day, even to members. Among to compare all the prices being tion aged 25-34 had completed third level education. This was the early hours of thr 14th. Resi- the guests were golfer Pádraig charged by the British-owned the second highest rate across the EU and well above the EU dents of the mixed community Harrington and his wife Caro- retail chain. He found that 27 average of 30.3%. say this is just part of ongoing line, ’s and his wife Ali goods being sold in the group’s Other interesting statistics show that: fighting between Catholic and Hewson, and two former Celtic Irish stores were on average 24 • In 2007, Ireland had the second highest price levels in the Protestant youths who regularly managers, Martin O’Neill and percent dearer than in Britain. EU. clash near their homes. Gordon Strachan. Reports sug- Of more than 12,000 items listed • The number of dwelling units built reached a peak of almost House price fall halted gest that Bono didn’t sing at on the group’s website, only 138 90,000 in 2006 before dropping to just under 52,000 in 2008. -- A survey conducted by the the reception as he was looking were cheaper in Ireland. While • The number of murders recorded in Ireland increased from University of Ulster appears to after his voice for a concert the some items were up to 200 per- 37 in 2003 to 77 in 2007. suggest that the collapse in the following night. cent more expensive in Ireland, •Life expectancy at birth was estimated at 81.6 years for Irish price of housing in the North UPS to close Tallaght call the biggest savings could be women and 76.8 years for Irish men in the period 2005-2007. has ended. Average prices, centre -- UPS, considered the made by paying 2,203 euro for In comparison with 2001-2003, men’s life expectancy increased which fell by around 35 percent world’s largest package and a 52” Sony flat screen televi- by 1.7 years and women’s by 1.3 years. since the third quarter of 2007, document delivery company, an- sion in Derry, rather than for • The population in Ireland increased by 18.2% to 4.42 million increased by 0.5 percent in the nounced on Aug. 16 that it was 3,340 euro some 20 miles away persons in the period 1999-2008, the highest rate of increase second quarter of this year. closing its call centre in Tallaght in Letterkenny. Argos issued a in the EU 27. Prices peaked at an average of in west Dublin with the loss of statement in which it ineffec- • Productivity in Ireland, measured as GDP per person em- 250,000 pounds and now stand 200 jobs. A company spokesman tually attempted to defend its ployed, was the second highest in the EU 27 in 2008. at 159,000. The 120 estate explained that it had become pricing policy. agents who took part in the increasing difficult to recruit Significant drop in resi- •Ireland had the eighth lowest unemployment rate in the survey reported a total of 950 local staff with the necessary dential rents -- A report from EU in 2008 at less than three-quarters of the EU 27 average houses sold during the quarter, language skills. Staff had been a property website indicates of 7.0%. an increase of 258 on the first brought in from Europe but they that national average rents The full report is online at http://tinyurl.com/qdxjt6 quarter. In normal times 950 tended to return home after a for residential property have would be considered very low. short stay and this increased the dropped by a sixth in the past Dublin City Council facing costs of the Tallaght facility. The 12 months, standing at just tionalist families. In the same were again a feature of the week. major budgetary challenge call centre opened in 1996. over 800 euro per month. Over vein the Irish News led with Early on Sun., Aug 16, windows -- Although it is seen as the ac- Lawyers accused of milk- the past three months there has a story of the shooting death were smashed in at least three tion of last resort, Dublin City ing refugee appeals system been a national drop of 5 percent of 30-year-old John Gallagher Catholic-owned businesses in Council is considering putting -- The refugee appeals system with the decrease in Dublin in Armagh on Aug. 14, 1969. the Co. Derry village of Garvagh, around 500 of its staff on a three- has, according to TD being 7 percent. The greatest The then recently ordained while on the ssame day graffiti day week in order to achieve , become a “cash annual fall was in south County Father Damien McKenna has was daubed on the walls of the some of the savings necessary to cow” for the legal profession. The Dublin, at 23 percent, with just now recalled publicly that he Orange hall in Bellaghy, also bridge a 20-million euro funding party’s spokesman for immigra- a 10 percent decrease in Kerry witnessed members of the B in Co. Derry, and on AOH hall shortfall. Already all temporary tion and integration criticized and Donegal. Specials, from the village of in Ballymoney. Earlier in the staff have been let go, overtime the Government for failing to Looking back at the start Tynan, opening fire into a crowd weekend an attempt was made has virtually been eliminated, reform the system so as to reduce of -- For the past of nationalists and hitting Mr. to set fire to the Orange hall in and under-utilized staff have the number of court challenges. two weeks most sections of the Gallagher in the back, after he Rasharkin, Co. Antrim. The hall been redeployed. The council is Last year, he said, solicitors and media have been looking back had got caught up in a riot while in the mainly Catholic village looking to reduce payroll costs barristers representing failed , to events in the North walking home. Rev. McKenna of Rasharkin was probably tar- next year by 6 percent by not asylum seekers collected a total that many view as the start of the left a signed statement with a geted as a result of the decision replacing those who retire. of 2.6-million euro while lawyers Troubles. One of the most reused solicitor before leaving to spend of the Parades Commission to 400 guests attend Des- working for the appeals tribunal film clips showed, in black and the next 40 years in the Philip- allow a parade comprising 40 mond-Corr wedding -- News- were paid 1.2 million. Naughten white footage, Catholic families pines. A parade to commemorate loyalist bands through the vil- papers carried many photo- claimed that the State is still fleeing their homes in Belfast’s the events of 40 years ago took lage. On Fri., Aug. 14, the bands graphs taken at the recent paying a total of 300 million euro Bombay Street as loyalist mobs place on Aug. 16 starting in marched through the village on wedding of singer Andrea Corr to a year on the asylum process. set fire to the terraced houses. the Falls Road and ending in both their outward and home- Brett Desmond, son of financier In addition to legal costs, this Film also showed the arrival of Bombay Street. ward journeys. A few hundred Dermot Desmond. While much covers accommodation, support British troops and the welcome Sectarian attacks continue protesters made their presence attention was paid to what the payments to immigrants, depor- given to them by besieged na- -- Sectarian attacks on property known and missiles were thrown bride and bridesmaids were tation, and other costs.

Thirty-Two Counties From Roscommon to Wicklow

(Continued from page 19) people in the area away from the was seven years ago, when they lation entitled Liquid Mountain from Greystones, have had an sanitation services provided by danger before beginning to hose were rated at Grade Four. Their is to be installed on the fly tower early introduction to the world dry composting. The site for the down the car, which belonged to next outing was to the North of the new Opera House of film after being chosen for a climate camp was deliberately another surfer. As he hosed it West Chammpionships to be and it will be launched to mark role in the popular television chosen beside the power station, the tires began exploding and held in Portrush. the closing of the first Wexford series “The Tudors.” Leon Smith, the world’s largest peat-burn- the windows were shattering, Waterford: This month’s Culture Night, to be held on aged four weeks, from O’Byrne ing power station, as a protest but before long the fire brigade Waterford Harvest Festival will September 25. The work, by Road in Bray and five-week-old against the carbon intensity of arrived and managed to quench see the launch of a nationwide Limerick artist Andrew Kear- Mia Fitzatrick from Blacklion the fuel. A communal kitchen the flames. group to encourage people to ney, will be controlled through in Greystones were accompa- was stocked with locally pro- Tipperary: The Rose of grow their own food. Many a web browser that can produce nied by their mothers, Jessica duced fruit and vegetables, and Tralee selected last August, people are already involved in different sequences of light for and Annie respectively, to the dogs, drugs and alcohol were Aoife Kelly, carried out one Grow It Yourself groups and the different occasions. It will be Ardmore studios for the filming. banned for the duration of the of her final engagements last Waterford City branch has more powered by sixteen low energy The infants will share the role nine-day camp. month when she performed than one hundred members who consumption LED lights and of the baby of Anne Stanhope, Roscommon: Last month, the official opening of the 11th meet every month to exchange will be used on such occasions as a part played by actress Emma a ceremony of rededication Annual Terryglass Arts Festi- ideas. They also visit garden the opening of the annual opera Hamilton. Jessica and Annie was carried out at St. Patrick’s val. She was accompanied by centers and swap seeds and festival. Work will begin on the were delighted with their time Holy Well, situated adjacent to Denis Ryan, Mayor of North plants as well as giving each installation of the 65,000-euro on the set but disappointed that the old cemetery at Kiltoom. Tipperary, for the launch of the other tips on the best way to system the first of this month. Jonathan Rhys Meyers wasn’t The ceremony was led by Very five-day festival of which the grow their own food. As part Wicklow: Two very young ba- there on the day. Rev. John Cullen, the parish theme, “piggy bank,” reflects of the festival a Harvest Feast bies, one from Bray and the other priest of Kiltoom and Cam, who the current economic climate. will take place on the Saturday celebrated Mass at the site. St. Festival chairwoman Valerie evening while the following day Patrick’s Well has been restored Carter emphasized the low cost will feature a farmers’ market by the Kiltoom Heritage Group of entry to many of the events, in the city centre. and follows the re-opening of which include comedian PJ Gal- Westmeath: In August 1959 Ireland’s Weather the Church of The Risen Christ lagher and singer Brian Ken- CIE decided to end the use of in Kiltoom two years ago. This nedy. Prices at the more than the canals for transporting Reported Monday, August 31, 2009 seventy workshops were as low goods and, to mark the occa- celebration was marked by by Liam Ferrie the publication of a booklet by as just 2 euro for children. sion, two specially selected Father Cullen which gave a Tyrone: Last month, the Kil- casks of Locke’s whiskey will short history of the church and len Pipe Band was in Glasgow be transported along the Grand While we saw the sun from time to time, rain was detailed the events that took for the World Championships Canal from Kilbeggan to Dub- again a more common feature of the past week. Some of the place to mark its blessing and and came away with the Neil lin. Bottles of the whiskey, sunny spells lasted for a reasonable period but it was much re-opening. Maclachlan Memorial Chal- labelled Locke’s Grand Crew, more an autumn sun that that of summer. Sligo: Paul Buchanan, who lenge Trophy in their category. are to be presented to the forty runs the Surf School in Strand- Some twenty members of the former canal workers still liv- The coming week looks even less promising. It might be dry hill, had to turn his mind away band took part in the competi- ing in Ireland. The shipment long enough to mow the lawn this afternoon but I suspect if I from water and concentrate on tion, led by pipe major Kenny will be taken along the bank of miss out the grass will continue to grow for another week. The fire when he found that a car Ferguson and drum sergeant the dry canal from Kilbeggan outlook for Thursday is particularly depressing as northerly had burst into flames outside his Trevor McGavigan, and their to Ballycommon in Co. Offaly, gales will bring showers and make it feel very cold. award means that they will now where it will be loaded on to the premises beside the Strand Bar. Latest Temps: Day 18C (65F) Paul, who was leading a group move from Grade Three up to 1930s canal boat 107B for the of 30 children to the school, Grade Two. The last time the remainder of the journey. Night 16C (61F) managed to get them and other band won a world championship Wexford: A new light instal- Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com September 2009 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 21 The by Philip Mac AnGhabhann Celtic

Have we had enough of Seán, Nóra, Liam, Pádraig and Máiri? Let’s find a few more names that we can Cross use in our examples. You have already had Éamann /EY-mon/ and Bríd /breej/, “Bridget”, from time to time. St. Bridget or Bride comes secnd in the list the Words most revered Irish saints – Patrick, Bridget, and Colm Cille, Calum, “Dove”, of the church who is credited with The Irish bringing Christianity to northern Scotland. The story goes that when Colm Cille, born a prince, was exiled, crosswords are he had to go far enough away so that he could not see Ireland. He had to travel all the way to Iona, a small a service of an island off the tip of Mull in the Inner Hebrides where he founded a religious community. He and his sucecessors Ireland-based are credited with converting the native Picts. The name “Calum” and “Malcolm” are common in Scotland. website which Here are a few more common Irish first names – Christian or fore names in Ireland. provides Irish Female Genitive Form Áine /AH-nuh/ “Anne, Ann” iníon Áine Family Coats of Aisling /AHSH-leenk/ “Ashley” obair Aisling Cáit /keyt/ “Kate” peann Cháit Arms by email. Eibhlín /EH-vleen/ “Eileen” teach Eibhlín Eilis /EH-luhs/ “Elizabeth” baile Eilís You are invited Laoiseach /LEE-shuhk/ “Lucy/Lisa” cat Laoisí Róis /rohsh/ “Rose” mac Róise to visit Siobhán /SHEE-vahn/ “Susan” athair Shiobhán Sorcha /SOHR-uh-kuh/ “Sarah” máthair Shorcha Sinéad /SHEEN-ehd/ “Janet” madra Shinéad www. Male Genitive Form Barra /BAR-uh/ “Barry” iníon Bharra bigwood.com/ Brian /BRY-uhn/ “Brian” obair Bhriain Caoimhin /KEE-vin/ “Kevin” peann Chaoimhin heraldry Colm /KOHL-um/ “Calum” teach Choilm Déaglan /DEK-kluhn/ “Declan” baile Dhéaglain Diarmaid /JEHR-muhj/ “Dermot” cat Dhiarmada Séamas /SHEY-muhs/ “James” mac Shéamais ©-bigwood.com Tomás /TOH-muhs/ “Thomas” athair Thomáis IRELAND IN CROSSWORDS The sounds /zuh/ and /joh/ are not in the Irish language. Therefore, Irish speakers are forced to substitute an ACROSS (8) /sh/ sound on words imported from French and English 1. Circa Ruskin or thereabouts in busy Waterford/Tip- 7. Piety no jabber. (anag.) famous Thomastown, Co, such as “Jean” Sine, “James” Séamas, and “Johnny” perary town, once the seat of the Ormondes. (7-2-4) Kilkenny, monastic ruin founded in 1158 by Donagh Sionnaigh. 9. See Da about things having got less difficult. (5) MacGillpatrick, King of Ossory. (8,5) Do you see that Colm is pronounced as two syllables; 10. Vote received with zero latitude apparently. (4) 8. E.g. sorry cat leg is broken in Kerry village near to and Sorcha as three? 12. “Yes, of course, we all know —— Livia. Tell me all. Magharee isles between Brandon and Tralee Bays. This reminds us that there needs to be an extra vowel Tell me now. “ Joyce (4) (13) sound /uh/ between the consonant combinations –lb, -lf, 13. Port Laoise xylophone with hidden erotic mean- 11. No man out, six put up in rolling heights between -lm, -nb, -nm, -rb, -rc, -rf, -rg, and –rm. ing. (4) Mayo and Sligo, south of Enniscrone. (2,9) Don’t forget that b, f, m, c, and g can be lenited 14. Cap in bits so lose one’s cool in the manner of a 16. Comes to earth, in Shannon, maybe? (5) (“aspirated”) so watch for the combinations –lbh, -lfh, Greek god. (5) lmh, -nbh, -rbh, -rch, -rfh, -rgh, -rmh and so on. 17. This came up about note, what a vision. (5) For grammarians, this vowel insertion is called an 15. A Caledonian racecourse? No, it’s English, and 18. Given a start, this cat would be very tiny and epenthetic vowel ; for laymen, just remember that it Royal in June! (5) elemental. (3) is always there even though not spelled. It is always 16. A soil erosion in Irish county whose chief town was 19. Ring north east for the number. (3) pronounced /uh/ and accounts for the Irish and rural once called Maryborough. (5) 20. Antacid confused as in game. (8) American pronunciation of words like “film” and “elm” 19. It happened on a single occasion in the past in 23. Unmarried, like 19 down. (6) as /FIL-uhm/ and /EL-uhm/. Irish speakers will tell you Dungannon certainly. (4) 26. Prophet is in Fairyhouse erroneously. (4) that they are just repeating the vowel sound in the first 20. Nutmeg to nun sent astray in Cavan village near 27. Is including small back number; they are charged syllable. The fact that it is always a “schwa” sound as Lough Sheelin and the O’Reilly’s Ross Castle. (5,6) in Delphi on Sunday. (4) in English “the” /thuh/ seems not to matter. 21. They work together and mince meat (in the Aer 30. I am in ancient Rome as a result of addition. (3) Try to pronounce these Irish words: Albain “Scotland”, Lingus company?) (4) tarbh “bull”, leanbh “child”, dorcha “dark”, airgead 22. Southern cattle fair is well turned out. (5) CROSSWORD SOLUTION ON PAGE 23 “money/silver”, dorn “fist”, seinm “playing music”, 24. Get together and have cake before church, shortly. gorm “blue”, dearg “red”, dearc “to look”.. (5) How did you do? Here are the approximate pronun- 25. Hold on tightly to a hundred fish. (5) ciations. Note that all phonetic pronunciations are 26. Pins up the tailor’s cut. (4) “approximate”. Since you are not familiar with the Irish Sayings 28. Cardinal seen in Castlerea street. (4) Theres no need to fear the wind if your haystacks are International Phonetic Alphabet, all pronunciations in 29. Different pose taken over the counter in Mexico. this column must reflect English sounds. tied down. (4) A trout in the pot is better than a salmon in the sea. Albain /AHL-uh-buhn/ tarbh /TAR-uhv/ 30. Rag us about getting a sweetener. (5) leanbh /LEN-uhv/ dorcha /DOR-uh-kuh/ It’s better to bend than to break. airgead /AHR-uh-gut/ dorn /DOR-uhn/ 31. Tall members in wrangle to see Pretender who was A ship often sank beside the harbour seinm /SHY-num/ gorm /GOR-uhm/ crowned Edward VI in Dublin in 1487. (7,6) Food is the “horse” of work. dearg /JEER-uhg/ dearc /JEER-uhk/ Character is better than wealth. Tarbh, “a bull” reminds us of “Taurus” and airgead DOWN If you have a ship and a cargo, you’ll get the right of “argent” the Latin word for “silver.” These show that 2. Give permission to appear in Tyrrellspass enter- wind. Irish is indeed an Indo-European language. tainment. (6) “There is no luck except where there is discipline.” Since we have had gorm “blue” and dearg “red”, 3. Made free of right before 499 in Cahir, ideally. (3) There are no strangers: Only friends we have yet to here are the names of some of the colors, dathan. 4. Headland to pace around. (4) meet. When anthropologists want to study a culture, they 5. “There is —— one thing in the world worse than be- When you are right no one remembers; when you are often begin with the color spectrum since it represents ing talked about, and that is not being talked about.” wrong no one forgets. the “world view” of a people. The word gorm is usually Oscar Wilde (4) A good start is half the work. translated “blue” but in some speakers it is also the color 6. “The ———— and the beautiful have no enemy but God’s help is nearer than the door. of “grass close up”. But a “grassy place” is described as time.” Yeats (of Eva Gore Booth and Con Markiewicz.) colored faiche. A closed hand only gets a clenched fist. The Irish color spectrum differs from English in that it reflects an agrarian culture, mstly based on the colors ADVERTISEMENT of cows and associated features. Note that Irish also usu- ally requires only one word for a color whereas English speakers qualify the color with an adjective. Dearg is the color of blood so we have to say “Blood Red” where the Irish speaker use only the one word. Photography by Bearla Gaelge Red, bright or blood dearg /JER-uhg/ Red, the color of hair rua /ROO-uh/ Pink, light red bándearg /bahn-JEER-uhg/ Green, vivid, plants /WEN-yuh/ Image Photo Service uaine Green, softer glas /glahs/ White bán /bahn/ White person Duine geal /DOON-yuh gyahl/ • Weddings • Anniversaries Black dubh, gorm /doo, GOR-uhm/ Black person Gormach duine • Banquets • Portraits /GOR-uh-mahk DOON-yuh/ Blue gorm /GOR-uhm/ • Reunions Yellow buí /BOO-ee/ Brown donn /down/ Light brown crón /kroon/ • Groups • Families Grey liath /LEE-uh/ Grey horse, sheep glas /glahs/ • Special Occasions Orange oráiste /oh-RAHSH-tuh/ Purple corcra /KORK-uh-ruh/ As you can see, words like gorm, and glas can have several meanings depending on what object(s) the color (617) 291-6609 describes. You are best advised to use the basic word – others will correct you if you choose the wrong one. “black coffee” caifé dubh “white coffee” The official photographers of the Boston Irish Reporter (coffee with cream) caifé bán Page 22 September 2009 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com Boston Irish Reporter Author Interview Irish Novelist Colum McCann’s Boundless Talent Blazes in Let the Great World Spin By Peter F. Stevens work of surpassing skill, his work has run in such way to the same status, her teenage daughter to BIR Staff plot, character, emotion, prominent publications as begins on a late-summer take care of her family. Colum McCann’s tal- and depth. The New Yorker, The At- morning in August 1974. Despite her profession, she ent has opened readers’ Born in Dublin in 1965, lantic Monthly, GQ, Paris A throng of onlookers have believes in her own worth and reviewers’ collective McCann started out as Review, The Irish Times, gathered in lower Man- and aims to prove it. eyes wide with such lu- a reporter in The Irish Paris Match, The New hattan and stare silently With the daredevil’s feat minous, layered novels as Press. Fiction, however, York Times, the Guard- up at the Twin Towers serving as allegory for all This Side of Brightness, has proven his true calling ian, and the Independent. with equal measures of of the novel’s riveting char- Dancer, and Zoli. His – if, in fact, his resonant He is the winner of nu- disbelief and anxiety. A acters, McCann weaves virtuoso mastery of the knowledge of people and merous literary awards, quarter of a mile above a riveting, unforgettable short story has similarly emotions can truly be clas- and three of his novels the crowd, a mysterious look at an America and stunned readers. Now, sified as fictional rather have been international tightrope walker runs, a New York in the last than true. Selected in bestsellers. dances, and leaps along throes of Vietnam and the with his fifth novel, Let McCann: It’s both 2003 as Esquire Maga- Let the Great World a wire stretched between painful transition to the the Great World Spin, strange and a bit unnerv- zine’s “Writer of the Year,” Spin, which is well on its the towers. What follows, postwar era. McCann has crafted a ing. I’m quite uneasy in McCann’s inimitable In this reader’s view, Let with comparisons to Joyce narrative style, leads the the Great World Spin is a himself. Maybe it fits in readers into the lives of masterpiece of scene, set- the sense that the book several memorable men ting, and story, a love let- mostly takes place on one and women in the crowd. ter to anyone who values day and that it embraces Although the real-life finely wrought prose and the intricacy of the ordi- daredevil who has drawn memorable characters. nary, but…there’s only them to watch is McCann’s McCann, who lives in one Ulysses. conduit into his charac- New York City, recently BIR: How would you ters’ worlds, the novelist discussed his latest novel describe the mesh of char- never once mentions the with the BIR. acter and setting in Let the acrobat’s actual name Set against such BIR: Great World Spin? – Philippe Petit – except a memorable and turbu- McCann: Because in the “Author’s Notes” lent place and time and the novel takes one from at the book’s end. Petit’s with so many characters, August of 1974 to 2006 tightrope walk between how would you describe – briefly – there’s a point the World Trade Center the major themes of the where the present meets towers earned worldwide novel? the past. I suppose it’s a acclaim or notoriety as “While one McCann: novel that tries to uncover “the artistic crime of the can look at it as a relatively joy and hope and a small 20th century.” Instead of simple tale of lives en- glimmer of grace. I’d argue Petit, those “faces in the twined in the early 1970s, that sort of sentiment crowd” draw McCann’s most of the narrative takes is necessary these days. scrutiny. In his hands, place on one August 1974 I also set out to write a they engage the reader in day in New York. They rollicking good story that compelling and extraordi- accidentally dovetail in would break hearts. I want nary ways. and out of each other’s readers to finish the book He writes of a radical lives on this one day – an and immediately want to young Irish monk named Irish monk living in the begin it again. Corrigan, who battles his housing projects, a Park BIR: What is it about own carnal wants as he Avenue mother of a Viet- New York itself that you lives among the prosti- nam vet/computer expert, want to convey in the tutes of the Bronx. And a 38-year-old hooker in the novel, that you want the there’s a band of mothers Bronx, an errant artist reader to take away from who gather in a Park Av- who has lost her way, a it? enue apartment to mourn subway tagger, and so on. McCann: I’d say that their sons who died in The lives braid in and out maybe it’s just a novel Vietnam; they learn that of each other. It’s a colli- about the polyphonic city. despite their shared loss, sion, really, a web in this It’s my love letter to much else divides them. big sprawling complex web old New York in all her Readers meet a talented that we call New York. clothes, shabby and digni- young artist whose life The novel is even BIR: fied both. changes drastically in the drawing comparisons from Let the Great World wake of a hit-and-run. reviewers to James Joyce’s Spin, by Colum McCann, There’s 38-year-old Tillie, Ulysses as a “New York Random House, hard- already a grandmother, Ulysses. How do you feel cover, 349 pages, $25. who turns tricks alongside about such lofty praise? IS YOUR CAR INSURANCE BILL

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© 2009 Agency Ideas® / Shulman Consulting Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com September 2009 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 23 Boston Irish Reporter Book Briefs Reviews of books recently published in Ireland, courtesy of readireland.com

The Wild & Garden Dublin and retired as Chief over Northern Ireland? Psychiatrist of the then Eastern This book argues that, rather Plants of Ireland Health Board in 1994. This book than indicating a pragmatic re- By Charles Nelson charts the growth of one man’s treat, such decisions (and their with Paintings journey in relation to psychiatry justification on the public stage) by Wendy F. Walsh and human development. Ivor reveal the unique power and en- Browne has been a central and during relevance of nationalism controversial figure in Irish life to Irish and European politics up until the mid-’90s when he today. As the most detailed retired. study to date of official discourse This book charts the career in 20th-century Ireland -- in- of a man who has always been deed of any EU member-state respected for his compassion, -- this book traces the ways quirky way of thinking, and in which nationalism can be fearless opposition to orthodox simultaneously redefined and psychiatry. More importantly, revitalized through European he tells of how he came to each integration. The text moves one of his conclusions. Ivor from an overview of the origins Browne has had a positive input and development of Irish official into Irish life on both sides of the nationalism to analyze the con- handsome GI as a rescuer border. As a young man he was nections between its response to from the gray skies of Ireland given a fellowship to Harvard profound internal and external to the Hollywood-tinted USA. University where he studied tional initiatives; internment; challenges to Irish nation-state- ; the introduction She flew happily away to the Public and Community Mental hood. The genius of the Irish States in 1957—a bit scared, Health. He returned to Ireland of Direct Rule; the last days of approach to such challenges the old Stormont; and Edward but blessing her luck. But she The jewel-like watercolors determined to put what he had has been to employ innovative quickly learned that America of renowned Irish botanical learned into practice and it was Heath’s decision to prorogue the EU-inspired concepts in find- Northern Ireland Parliament. was not Ireland. The cheerful artist Wendy Walsh portray a his initiative that took the care ing agreement with and within family life she had known in personal selection of about 100 of mental patients away from In giving an often personal Northern Ireland, whilst simul- account of events as they un- Dublin’s Irishtown was a world plants that grow wild in Ireland large institutions into the com- taneously legitimizing further away from her husband’s sober or are cultivated in Irish gar- munity. He conceived and was folded, the author also paints European integration on the pen portraits of the principal Maine Protestant upbringing. dens. Presented in 33 thematic director of the Irish Foundation grounds that it fulfils traditional Adapting to Cold War America, sections,Walsh’s subjects range for Human Development. This personalities involved, their nationalist ideals. actions and motivations. The appearing to be the perfect wife, from well-loved and distinctive set up the first Community Thus, Irish political leaders the happy shopper, the all-giv- native plants to exotic species Association in Ireland in Bal- personalities described are have been successful in not not only those in the political ing mom, became an endurance introduced from the New World lyfermot, one of the early large only accommodating potent test. Then a childhood trauma and Asia, unusual plants that housing estates in Dublin. limelight, but also senior offi- nationalist and pro-European cials, whose behind-the-scenes came back to haunt her. Work- grow in some of the most ex- Ballyfermot was merely a discourses but in making them ing her way out of her depression treme environments in Ireland, housing estate without any influence has frequently made appear complementary. The a significant impact on govern- she went back to school and and striking hybrids created facilities, and he went in with book concludes with an assess- then to university (an opportu- by plant breeders. Lively and a professional team and helped ment policies and decisions. The ment of likely changes in this author also gives an informed nity, as she bitterly notes, not accessible horticultural descrip- the residents to turn it into a symbiotic relationship in the offered in de Valera’s Ireland) tions by distinguished botanist thriving working class com- commentary on the develop- post-EU enlargement, post- ment of the overall situation, and began exploring a whole E. Charles Nelson accompany munity. This project was so Celtic Tiger era. This book new life, personal and political. the paintings, celebrating successful that an offshoot was drawing on sources within the will appeal to anyone with an administrative machine and the She, who used to be Irish, had the story of each plant along established in Derry, called the interest in 20th-century his- become American. Over two with its natural beauty. The Inner City Trust which not only security forces. tory, modern nationalism, and The second half of Ramsay’s million Irish women have gone great gardens, famous plants- rebuilt, but transformed the city contemporary political dynam- to the US in search of liberty men, fascinating journeys, and of Derry during the years it was career took him to the top of the ics in Ireland and the European administrative tree in Brussels and happiness. In this sharply natural phenomena that have being torn down by both sides in Union. observed memoir Angeline shaped the flora of Ireland the conflict. The work of rebuild- and his account of that period Large Paperback; 20 Euro / 28 traces the tortuous path from Kearns Blain movingly evokes spring to life in Dr. Nelson’s ing was done by young people of USD / 16 UK; 280 pages. the culture shock, trauma, and engaging text. This elegant Derry, who were trained by the Common Market towards inte- gration, via the stages of the con- re-invention experienced by and unconventional guide will Trust and inspired away from every immigrant. kindle the imagination of any taking part in the destruction stitutional treaties. Uniquely, the author’s role brings together “With earthy candour, An- plant lover or admirer of the of their home town. Derry was geline Kearns Blain fearlessly Irish landscape. made a model for The Prince of the macro political world of the EU and the micro situation in explores the challenges of a new Hardback; 32 Euro / 40 USD Wales’ urban village develop- land. Her journey in search of / 25 UK; 280 pages ment project and other urban Northern Ireland, in the prepa- ration of the European Peace the mythical American dream renewal developments around is told with humor and honesty, the world. and Reconciliation Programmes Music and Madness of the 1990s. as she discovers both America Large Paperback; 15 Euro / 18 and herself,” writes Dr Lisa By Ivor Browne USD / 11 UK; 360 pages. Large Paperback; 25 Euro / Ivor Browne is Professor 32 USD / 19 UK; 332 pages, McClain, Associate Profes- Emeritus, University College, with an 8-page black-and-white sor of History and Director of Ringside Seats: photo insert. Gender Studies, Boise State University. An Insider’s View Angeline Kearns Blain was of the Crisis in Irish Nationalism born in Dublin in 1938. She Northern Ireland and European emigrated to the United States in the late 1950s, married and By Robert Ramsay Integration: The This title provides an insider’s had three sons. After raising first-hand account of many of Official her family she enrolled in basic the most turbulent moments Redefinition of the education classes, continuing in Northern Ireland’s recent to university where she earned history. The author rose to Island of Ireland I Used to Be Irish: an MA degree. She has been the rank of Deputy Secretary By Katy Hayward Adjunct Professor of Sociology in the Northern Ireland Civil How has it been possible for Leaving Ireland and Women’s Studies for twenty Service, having been Principal Irish political leaders to not Becoming American years at Boise State University, Private Secretary to the Prime just accept but actively promote By Angeline Kearns Blain Boise, Idaho. Minister and experienced and two of the largest challenges Like so many Irish girls, 18- Large Paperback; 15 Euro / 20 recorded such events as the to Irish nation-statehood - the year-old USD / 11 UK; 270 pages. Civil Rights campaign; the rise concession of sovereignty to the Angeline of the provisional IRA; the fall European Union and the retrac- K e a r n s PUZZLE SOLUTION FROM PAGE 21 of O’Neill; the Faulkner institu- tion of the constitutional claim saw her SAVE $$$ ON YOUR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE! YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR UP TO A 33% DISCOUNT JUDITH M. FLYNN Insurance Agency, Inc. Call me for a quote today! Judie Flynn • 617-296-0350 1152 Washington Street, Dorchester Lower Mills Page 24 September 2009 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com

The The IrishEchoThe IrishEcho Presents and the Gateways to Tomorrow Conference Boston-Northwest Ireland Seaport Hotel and World Trade Centre Boston, Massachusetts Present The Second Annual Wednesday, October 7 and Thursday, October 8, 2009 Speakers include: • SENATOR THERESE MURRAY(President of Senate) • TIMOTHY CAHILL, Treasurer, State of Massachusetts • TIM MURRAY, Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts • CONOR MURPHY, Minister of Regional Development North Ireland • DAVID GAVAGHAN, CEO Strategic Investment Board of Northern Ireland • GENERAL JAMES CULLEN • PÁDRAIG Ó HAOLÁIN, CEO Údarás na Gaeltachta • JOHN CULLINANE, MainMessage.org 22009009 • GARVAN O’DOHERTY, entrepreneur • PAUL DWYER, President, ICCUSA New England Thursday, October 8, 2009 • JOSEPH LEARY, President, Irish American Partnership • TOM DINAPOLI, Comptroller New York State (invited), 12:00-2:00 p.m. • JAMES BARNES, Community Development Director, City of Lawrence. Seaport Plaza Hotel and To register or for more information: www.irishecho.com/conference World Trade Centre Boston, Massachusetts “The most important initiative linking Boston and Derry in a generation.” Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, Publisher, Irish Echo Honoring Irish American This unique conference will be followed by the Leaders of Massachusetts Golden Bridges Luncheon For information or Honoring Irish American leaders of Massachusetts sponsorship opportunities: in association with the email [email protected] or [email protected] www.irishecho.com

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