Ireland Feels ‘The Force’ with the Dawning of 1916, a Boston Couple Had Already Risked All for an Irish ‘Rising’ by Peter F
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January 2016 Boston’s hometown VOL. 27 #1 journal of Irish culture. $2.00 Worldwide at All contents copyright © 2016 Boston Neighborhood News, Inc. bostonirish.com In a galaxy not so far away REBELLION ON THE HORIZON … Ireland feels ‘The Force’ With the dawning of 1916, a Boston couple had already risked all for an Irish ‘rising’ By peteR F. StevenS BiR StaFF First in a series com- memorating the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland. A century ago, a defining moment – the defining mo- ment for many historians – helped set the stage for the future for Ireland. As January 1916 dawned, the inevitable collision Erskinie Childers and between Irish nationalists Molly Osgood Childers had crafted a daring and the British govern- gun-running scheme to ment was unfolding en aid the rebels in Ireland. route to the Easter Rising in April. The impact of the coming rebellion would resound not only up and down the island of Ireland but also in the Irish wards of Boston and all of Irish America. Fittingly, perhaps, a blow for the forces of the Rising had already been struck in Boston, but not from its Irish neighbor- hoods. An ex-British Army officer named Erskine The climatic scenes in the new blockbuster movie “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” were filmed in the Skellig Islands, eight miles off the coast of Portmagee in South West Kerry. Rising majestically from the Childers and his Brahmin socialite wife, Molly Osgood sea, Skellig Michael towers 714 feet (218 metres) above sea level. On the summit is a remarkably well- Childers, had crafted a daring gun-running scheme to preserved sixth century monastic settlement. On the spectacular Small Skelligs, some 23,000 pairs of aid the rebels. gannet nest on every available ledge, making it the second largest gannet colony in the world. The years of the late 19th and early 20th centuries had given rise to Irish nationalists who loathed the failed Irish Home Rule bills that had died in Parlia- BiR StaFF ment. Idealistic Irish men and women embraced the An island off Ireland’s southwest coast is wowing Relive epic moments age-old dream of an Ireland free from Westminster’s audiences at screenings of “Star Wars: The Force grip. Imbued with Ireland’s Gaelic culture, they formed Awakens.” Unveiled in the film’s closing minutes, in the home of ‘Thrones’ such organizations as the Gaelic Athletic Association, this closely guarded secret ending to Episode 7 was With the Season 4 DVD set for release in February the Gaelic League, as well as a cultural movement filmed in September 2014 on Skellig Michael Island, and the much awaited Season 5 ready to air this guided in large part by William Butler Yeats and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. April, “Game Of Thrones” fever is running high Lady Augusta Gregory. In the newspaper Sinn Féin, Since 1977, the record-breaking movie franchise has not just around the world but back in its Northern Arthur Griffith exhorted his fellow Irish to link their travelled through many galaxies, and this time direc- Ireland homeland. As all five seasons have been homeland’s identity to a future Gaelic nation and cul- tor JJ Abrams, along with cast and crew, jetted into a primarily filmed there, the North looms large in ture – independent of British rule. little village called Portmagee in Co. Kerry on Ireland’s every episode of the smash-hit HBO series. When yet another Home Rule Bill, the third, was Wild Atlantic Way. From there, they travelled eight Production is centered at HBO’s Titanic Studios proposed by British Prime Minister Herbert H. Asquith miles by sea to a dream film location, Skellig Michael. headquarters in Belfast, and some of the most in 1912, Northern Irish Unionists, led by Sir Edward Locals were told a documentary was being filmed, spectacular indoor sets in the history of television Carson, branded the bill a move toward a Roman but were amazed when they realized that “Star Wars” have been constructed for the show in this studio Catholic-dominated Dublin government. Carson and was being filmed in their community. Said Gerard space, which is now the largest in the world. Known his supporters organized the Ulster Volunteer Force Kennedy of The Bridge Bar and Moorings G uesthouse locally as the Paint Hall, it is situated in the former on Jan. 13, 1913; it was the first armed paramilitary in Portmagee: “It’s been so hard to keep this secret! shipyard where the Titanic was built and sits next group of the Home Rule crisis; it would not be the last. It was such a weird and wonderful experience for our to the world’s biggest Titanic exhibition. The Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) followed small village to be part of the “Star Wars” story. We Outdoors, well-known and undiscovered locations suit on Nov. 25, 1913, with the formation of the Irish enjoyed evenings of music and dance in our bar with around Northern Ireland’s Jurassic coastlines, Volunteers, whose self-stated mission was “to secure the cast and crew. Mark Hamill even learned how to crumbling castles, stately homes, mountains, and to maintain the rights and liberties common to all pull a pint with our barman, Ciaran Kelly!” forests and lush landscapes have also proven the the people of Ireland.” Eoin MacNeill was appointed Added Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland: “Star perfect setting for the epic story and crucial to the commander, and the Volunteers attracted a wide ar- Wars” filming in Ireland will bring the magnificent runaway success of the series. ray of members from disparate political, social, and scenery of Skellig Michael to the attention of millions religious backgrounds.” Adding to the rise of armed of people around the world. It’s a really effective way to groups was the creation later of the Irish Citizen Army, reach audiences, helping to significantly boost aware- it’s inhabited solely by birds, but monks settled here composed of trade unionists who had been victimized by ness of the Skelligs, the South West, and Ireland in over a millennium ago and the beehive huts that they the so-called Dublin Lock-out of 1913, a months-long, general, whetting peoples’ appetites to come and visit. lived in are restored and can be visited from May to jobs-costing conflict between employers and workers Skellig Michael is accessible only by boat. Today September each year, but advance booking is essential. (Continued on page 5) Master fiddler, engaging teacher, Seamus Connolly signs off at BC By Sean Smith ment of his plans came at the Dec. 8 “I wasn’t an academic, but work- flute and tin whistle, as well as Special to the BiR Christmas concert in the Cadigan ing here I was very fortunate to Irish dance. Musician, teacher, organizer, Alumni Center, held as part of the be around the finest academics Through his efforts, Boston Col- scholar: Fulfilling these roles for Gaelic Roots Music, Song, Dance, in the world, who were always lege also became a public venue the better part of a quarter-cen- Workshop and Lecture Series – so supportive and helpful to me.” and resource for Irish and other tury, Seamus Connolly has helped widely acclaimed as one of his Arriving at BC in 1990, Connolly traditional music. As director of make Boston College a go-to place signal achievements. – a native of Killaloe in County the Gaelic Roots Summer School for traditional music from Ireland, “There comes a moment in ev- Clare who moved to the US in and Festival (forerunner to the Scotland, Cape Breton, and other eryone’s life when you look back 1976 – burnished his reputation as current academic-year series, Gaelic cultures. and then say, ‘It’s time,’” said one of the finest Irish fiddlers of his which will continue after his de- But the final notes of his tenure Connolly in an interview. “I felt generation by establishing Irish parture – See separate story), he at BC have sounded. that over 25 years, with the help music, song, and dance programs brought outstanding performers Connolly, who has been BC’s of many good people, we were able at the University, expanding the from around the world to campus Sullivan Family Artist-in-Resi- to accomplish so much in giving scope of BC’s groundbreaking each year from 1993-2003 for a dence since 2004, retired from the the Irish and other Gaelic music Seamus Connolly played “one Irish Studies Program. He made weeklong series of classes, work- University effective at the end of traditions a home at BC. So mov- last tune” during his retire- it possible for BC undergraduates shops, and concerts that drew the fall semester. Appropriately ing on at this point just seems the ment party last month. to take for-credit classes – some of hundreds of aficionados. Connolly enough, a formal public announce- right thing to do. Sean Smith photo which he taught – in Irish fiddle, (Continued on page 13) Page 2 January 2016 BOSTON IRISH REPORTER bostonirish.com PAINTINGS OF IRELAND BY MARY MC SWEENEY Geraghty ASSOCIATES PROPERTY MANAGERS Studio and 1-Bedroom Apartments Available in the desirable Cedar Grove section of Dorchester. Studios reasonably priced; 1-bedroom units; heat and hot water included. Short walk to the Red Line. “Ballybunnion Golf Course” Free off-street Parking. STUDIO & GALLERY Washing Machines RT. 6A, CUMMAQUID (BARNSTABLE) and Dryers in building. 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