Beannachtaí Na Nollag Christmas Blessings by Mary Mcsweeney

Beannachtaí na Nollag Christmas Blessings by Mary McSweeney

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NMLS # 457291 Member FDIC. Member DIF. Page 2 December 2015 BOSTON IRISH Reporter bostonirish.com

The Jesuit, Catholic College Preparatory School for boys grades 7 - 12

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Thursday, December 3, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. Serving breakfast, lunch Speak with faculty and staff along with current parents and students to learn more about & dinner every day of the week BC High’s distinctive approach to forming young men who will embrace the world and create Kitchen open nightly positive changes to better society. until 10:45 p.m. If you wish to attend RSVP to Theresa Flaherty at [email protected] GERARD’S ADAMS CORNER 617-474-5056 772 - 776 Adams Street Dorchester, MA 02124 150 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA www.bchigh.edu/admissions 617-282-6370

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. Free off-street Parking. “Ballybunnion Golf Course” Washing Machines STUDIO & GALLERY and Dryers in building. RT. 6A, CUMMAQUID (BARNSTABLE) Call Michael at 617-364-4000 CAPE COD Geraghty Associates, Inc. 508 362 6187 www.marymcsweeney.com Property Managers P.O. Box 52, Readville, MA 02137-0052 Tel: 617-364-4000 Fax: 617-364-3157 bostonirish.com December 2015 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 3 academic disciplines will need to change as well.” Catholic Memorial students talk politics Organizers for the nine students’ trip to the Seaport were Catholic Memo- rial President Peter Folan and history with presidential candidate Martin O’Malley teacher Thomas Jordan ‘92, with Jordan serving as the group’s chaperone. He told both parties often sit low on the polls at By Peter F. Stevens musician whose repertoire leans Trad, Griffin that the event offered “a unique this juncture of the race. Mitt Romney BIR Staff can point to unquestionable Gaelic roots. opportunity for our students to not only is a case in point. O’Malley’s backers A few weeks ago, nine Catholic Memo- The focus of O’Malley’s appearance at see the political process in action, but assert that his success in dealing both rial students in their junior year had the Seaport, according to Catholic Me- also to witness how technological inno- with gun control and immigration as gov- the opportunity to meet a presidential morial’s Susan Griffin in her article “A vation and entrepreneurship are just as ernor of Maryland provide him hands-on candidate and talk with him face to face Lesson in Government and Innovation,” important in government as they are in experience, and that since 1976, four of at the District Hall in Boston’s Seaport was all about ways of “improving govern- the private sector.” the nation’s last six presidents – Jimmy district. The presidential hopeful, who ment performance through the use of in- Boston City Councilor Matt O’Malley Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, sat down privately with the students at novative technologies. Local technology first met with the Catholic Memorial and George W. Bush – first served as the third Civic Innovation Pitch Compe- start-ups applied to make their ‘pitch’ students and then introduced them to governors. All four defeated so-called tition, was Democrat Martin O’Malley, before a panel of tech professionals. The Gov. O’Malley. The students, all of the Washington insiders for the top job. the former governor of Maryland and winners will receive mentoring from each them from the Class of 2017, were Matt In one way, O’Malley already has a pro- mayor of Baltimore. of the judges.” Moriarty, Cody Ciesielski, Matt Mar- verbial leg up on his fellow competitors. The students spoke with a politician O’Malley’s background fit seamlessly cantano, Trevor Grinsell, Mike Caron, A musician himself, O’Malley has been for whom there has been a recent uptick into the event’s theme. Throughout his Matt Demmler, Aidan Gallegos, John “endorsed” in song by the Corrigan Bros, in the polls. O’Malley, battling to deliver career as the governor of a large state McLaughlin, and Preston Zhang. an Irish rock band. Their song is simply his message against frontrunners Hill- and the mayor of a major city, he has It’s not every day that high-school entitled “Martin O’Malley for President.” ary Rodham Clinton and US Sen. Bernie been at the forefront of melding politics students have the opportunity to meet Back when Barack “O’Bama” mounted Sanders in the 2016 Democrat presi- with technical innovation. in private with a presidential candidate. his first campaign for the Oval Office, dential campaign, has been lauded by Griffin writes, “Science, technology, All seven juniors add the sit-down to the Corrigan Bros recorded “Nobody’s many in the media and by various party engineering, arts and math…and in- their scholastic resumes, and someday More Irish than Barack O’Bama.” The leaders for a far more specific message terdisciplinary learning…are integral – whether in 2016 or another election song not only went viral – viewed by than Clinton and Sanders on such vital parts of CM’s curriculum. The chance to cycle – they might be able to say they more than 1.3 million people – but it also issues as gun control and immigration. see the connection between government met personally with “President Martin introduced Obama in a sense to the Irish O’Malley remains a longshot in the and innovation at the O’Malley event O’Malley.” race. Still, as his supporters point out, American community, some 40 million demonstrated that as new professions eventual presidential candidates from strong. O’Malley, a guitar-strumming emerge, traditional boundaries between

Hurling match draws Smiling faces and rugged play dominated the scene at Fenway Park on Nov. 22 as Galway beat Dublin in an exhibition hurling match under drizzly skies. 30,000 to Fenway Park Photos courtesy of Fenway Sports Group The event was billed as “the world’s quarter, the Dublin goalie was felled fastest field sport” in a return to Boston’s by an injury, and a bit of a brawl broke Fenway Park as a team from Galway met out between the two squads. After that, the lads from Dublin in a “friendly” hurl- the largely American crowd got into it, ing match Nov. 22 on the field at Boston’s and loud cheers and dramatic “oohs own cathedral for sports. And the game and “aahs” could be heard as the action more than lived up to expectations. went up and down the field, as the lead Our city’s revered baseball field was changed hands several times. transformed into a football gridiron for an Finally, the Galway team mounted a American college football game between 19-point fourth quarter surge, and hung Boston College and a nationally ranked on for the win. Notre Dame on Nov. 21. That Saturday The game was played in a chilly drizzle night, a sold-out crowd of almost 40,000 – “The Irish brought their weather with filled Fenway for a game that ended in them,” one wag said – and after it was an unexceptedly close 19-16 win for the over, a stage was rolled out onto the squad from South Bend. right field grass and the local rockers The next day saw the Irish hurlers The Dropkick Murphys gave a boisterous take the field for a highly competitive 45-minute concert. match in which 2015 All-Ireland final- Later that week the Red Sox opened the ist Galway squeezed out a 50-47 victory field again for four traditional Thanks- over the Dubliners. giving high school football rivalries, fea- The 30,000 in attendance were mostly turing Xaverian - St Johns Prep and BC quiet throughout the first 15 minutes of High - Catholic Memorial on the holiday the match, as the sport was unfamiliar eve, and Needham-Wellesley, followed for many who were seeing their first by Latin-English on Thanksgiving day. hurling match. But early in the second ABOUT PAGE 1 The full color print by Mary McSweeney is numbered and signed by the artist for just $85.00, including shipping and handling. Hurry - New England orders must be placed by December 16 to assure delivery before Christmas. To order, please make checks payable Beannachtaí na Nollag More than 400 business leaders gathered at St. Anselm College on Oct. 28 for a “Politics and Eggs” event featuring former US senator and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, a candidate for the to: Boston Irish Re- 150 Mt. Vernon St., Democratic nomination for president next year. Clinton took up discussed a variety of issues on the porter and send this Suite 120, Dorchester national campaign agenda, including healthcare, education, and the economy. At the event, from left, order form to: Boston MA 02125 were Lucille Brett of Braintree; James T. Brett, president and CEO of The New England Council; Hill- Irish Reporter, ary Clinton; Pattie Brett; and Peg McCobb of Weymouth. Page 4 December 2015 BOSTON IRISH Reporter bostonirish.com Publisher’s Notebook We have much to be thankful for, so think ‘Irish’ with your gift lists

By Joe Leary culture. Special to the BIR There are so many local Irish activities that it is diffi- December is the month of giving. Whether it is to our cult to choose which to support. There are organizations families under the tree, a few coins in the Salvation that teach the Irish language, Irish dance, and Irish Army basket, or the local homeless shelter, most of us music. Irish sporting events led by the Gaelic Athletic are already planning our Christmas gift list. Association are contested most every weekend. Local This column is an attempt universities have dedicated Irish studies programs, to persuade all of its readers Harvard, Boston College, Northeastern and Boston to consider placing Ireland on University among them. their lists this year. The oldest Irish organization in the United States, Irish Americans sending gifts The Charitable Irish, was organized here in 1737. The to Ireland has been a tradition Erie Society was born in 1937. The Irish Pastoral Centre for over 200 years. I am told and the Irish International Immigration Center focus that for a time giving back on helping young Irish immigrants. to Ireland was so financially The Ireland Fund and The Irish American Partner- significant that American gifts ship fund programs in Ireland. The Irish Cultural were counted as part of Ire- Centre in Canton is an active center for Irish activities land’s gross national product. year round. Cian Smith with his uilleann pipes at the Irish Down on Cape Cod in Yarmouth is the 1,600-member Pastoral Centre last month. It makes sense. The United Joe Leary States is a massive country, Sons of Erin organization. And a new arrival focused with enormous natural re- on both Boston and national networking is the Irish Meet Cousin Cian, sources and an amazingly diverse people, while Ireland “In Boston” organization. is very small, with hardly any natural resources that This is only a portion of the many local Irish orga- has been occupied by Britain for most of the last 500 nizations that celebrate our Irishness in our area. We musical prodigy years. Ireland struggles mightily whenever the world even have two newspapers serving the Irish community here, The Boston Irish Reporter and the Irish Emigrant. By Ed Forry suffers a recession. In fact, today, the population of Ireland both North As Irish Americans living in the Boston area, we have When the American Ireland Fund hosted its much to be thankful for. We are no longer simply the annual November Boston Dinner last month, the and South is smaller than the 6.8 million who live in Massachusetts. There was a time in the 1800s when latest class of immigrants. Americans of Irish ancestry AIF’s Steve Greeley arranged to present a perfor- Ireland’s population was close to nine million. have risen to the top of corporations, universities, and mance by a young uilleann piper they brought in The census offers a most-telling comparison of a single government, becoming leaders in every field of human as a featured guest. It was a champion piper from surname in the two countries: There are approximately activity. Co Waterford, a young fellow named Cian Smith, 30,000 Murphys living in Ireland and more than ten I’m sure most of us are proud of our ancestry and and he’s just 10 years old. times that number of people – 350,000 – with the name want Ireland to do well in the years ahead. Support- Turns out, young Cian is a cousin of the Forry Murphy living in the United States. ing the Irish language, Irish dance, Irish music, Irish clan – we each trace our Irish roots back to the fam- For some reason, our Irish ancestors did not travel organizations – and Ireland itself – will greatly help that cause. ily of my grandmother, Hannah Crotty Forry, who west after they arrived in Boston. We are fortunate came to Boston in 1890, where he met and married to find ourselves living in a center of Irish-American my father’s father, Patrick Forry. It was Cian’s first-ever visit to our country, and he traveled here with his parents, Cillian and Nollaig ‘Spotlight’: In sync with reality Smith, who live near the land of my grandmother’s home in Ballymacarbry, near the Tipperary border By Tom Mulvoy and in several instances, individuals whom I know well town of Clonmel. are presented unfavorably – and unfairly, in my view. Some of my family here in Boston have visited Managing Editor The recently released movie Spotlight, which will For all that, the movie as a whole speaks successfully with our Waterford cousins over the years, but re- open nationally tomorrow, dramatically and effectively to the high value of the journalism it portrays, so much grettably I failed to connect with them during my relays the story of how in 2001 and 2002 a determined more excellent than flawed. Everyone who worked on trip to Waterford last August. Greeley arranged for team of Boston Globe journalists, working under the the story, including those who were left out of the script, us to meet the Smiths in Dorchester on Veterans banner of the newspaper’s celebrated Spotlight Team, committed themselves to affirming that value as the Day, when Cian made a two-hour visit to the Irish uncovered and published details from long-secret docu- horror stories played out day after day in the pages of Pastoral Centre. ments that laid out, among other things, the Catholic the Globe, eventually forcing the presiding archbishop That night, Cian performed before an audience Church of Boston’s betrayal of its little ones, children of Boston, Cardinal Bernard F. Law, to resign and of 1,100 in the ballroom of the Westin Waterfront, who had been taught to see God in the faces of their decamp to Rome. priests. ••• exchanging some light-hearted banter with Gree- On May 23, 1992, Cardinal Law, in an appearance at ley. And when he performed, it’s reported that he The newspaper’s long-running account brought into the sunlight evidence showing that over decades St. Patrick Church in Roxbury, took up ongoing media “brought the house down,” receiving a standing cardinals and bishops and their lawyers had privately coverage of the criminal cases against James R. Porter, ovation from the large gathering. acknowledged sexual abuse of minors by priests under who had been accused of molesting between 50 and Last summer, Cian attended the Fleadh Cheoil their supervision with payoffs to the families – the 100 children while serving as a priest in the Fall River in Sligo, where he won first prize in competitions details of which were placed under judicial seal. After diocese from 1960 to 1967. on the tin whistle and uilleann pipes. The young buying the victims’ silence, the church hierarchy es- Law seemed to view the Porter story as being about musician is considered a musical prodigy, and has sentially enabled the abusers by quietly moving them a single priest who had gone astray, an aberration that studied for just two years with the gifted uilleann from parish to parish in the full knowledge that these was putting the Roman Catholic priesthood itself in a pipe player David Power. were very troubled men. bad light. “The papers like to focus on the faults of a few. The Spotlight Team effort brooks few comparisons . . . We deplore that,” he said, according to the Boston After the fleadh, teacher Power uploaded a video Globe story the next day, and he quoted the apostle Paul of Cian playing the pipes. “Ireland could have as the most important story the Globe has told in its 142 years of publishing, an effort the film captures in offering an admonition against that focus. just found its latest music star, the Irish website realistically in its telling. The series sent the Roman “St. Paul spoke of the immeasurable power at work ireland-calling.com said. “The video has now been Catholic Archdiocese of Boston into a state of shock. in those who believe,” the prelate said. “We call down viewed more than half a million times and shared It had a horrific impact in discrete areas like neighbor- God’s power on our business leaders, and political lead- by thousands of impressed traditional music lovers. hood parishes and homes and schools in and around ers and community leaders. By all means we call down “Cian performs a fantastic rendition of “The Boy Boston. And it engendered widespread soul-searching God’s power on the media, particularly the Globe. … to in the Gap” was the note his teacher posted online among Catholics and their ministers nationally and tell the good story about the Catholic parishes in the along with the video stating how proud he is of internationally as the scandal took on a worldwide face. inner city.” Cian, and crediting the boy’s hard work and com- The revelations also placed under a cloud of suspicion The cardinals words echoed the prevailing sentiment the respectability of all the clerics of the church. Decried in some precincts that the Globe was out to get the mitment. He also points out the amazing fact that church and never had anything positive to say about Cian has only been playing for two years. by priests, their families, and their congregations as unwarranted and unfair, that cloud remains in place what it was doing. From the 1960s on, the newspaper “There have been concerns that traditional Irish for many to this day. had begun to take strong affirmative stands on issues of instruments like the uilleann pipes, tin whistle, There had been continuing news coverage throughout the day, some of which hinged on religious values – for and the bodhrán have fallen out of favor in recent the 1990s about several celebrated priest abuse cases birth control, for abortion rights, and, later, for same- decades,” the teacher wrote. “Seeing talented young locally before the Spotlight revelations – in the Globe sex marriage – stands squarely against the church’s musicians like Cian excel is great for the preserva- itself, in other local media, particularly in the now- teachings. Ergo, for many, the Globe was anti-Catholic. tion of these iconic Irish instruments.” defunct Boston Phoenix, and in other communities The record will show that from the time of Cardinal across the country. But the Spotlight Team’s series of William O’Connell, the bishop of Boston from 1911 to stories, gleaned via a persistent, don’t-take-no-for-an- 1944 who knew what a bully pulpit was for, the Globe answer investigative style and driven by a rich trove and other media in Boston rarely missed the opportunity Boston Irish of judicially released data that showed how the church to tell what Law called “good” stories about the church dealt with the crisis in-house, served up a brutal nar- and its priests and nuns. Like the trains to South Sta- REPORTER rative that conveyed to the public the stark evidence of tion, they showed up day after day on a steady schedule. The Boston Irish Reporter is published monthly by: But the Porter story, and later ones about Boston Boston Neighborhood News, Inc., reckless criminal behavior by a large number of priests that had been covered up by their prominent religious priest-abusers named John Hanlon and John Geoghan, 150 Mt. Vernon St., Suite 120, Dorchester, MA 02125 in particular, directed media attention to a dark space [email protected] www.bostonirish.com supervisors. Mary C. Forry, President (1983-2004) There is much in the movie that is familiar to me, a where a desperate secrecy had long been part and par- Edward W. Forry, Publisher managing editor at the Globe through the 1980s and cel of the church’s dealings with clerical abusers, their Thomas F. Mulvoy Jr., Managing Editor 1990s, as the script brings viewers along while report- victims and their families, and a succession of lawyers William P. Forry, Editor ers and editors work the story inside and outside the representing all sides. Peter F. Stevens, Contributing Editor Journalists are trained to follow the trail, not to News Room: (617) 436-1222 building – Who at the paper needs to know about what’s Ads : (617) 436-1222 going on? How will the team distribute the work when concern themselves with the consequences, the good Fax: (617) 825-5516 [email protected] thousands of documents are dropped on their desks? How or the bad, that might flow from what they discover, to deal with confidences demanded by reliable sources? then tell the story. On The Web at www.bostonirish.com In the face of a bitter reaction to the series by certain Date of Next Issue: January, 2016 How to determine reliability? How to deal with those in the know on the church side who won’t hesitate to entrenched Catholic interests and by many in the laity, Deadline for Next Issue: Tuesday, December 23 at 2 p.m. insert themselves into the investigative process? How to that is what the Spotlight Team did under Globe editor Published monthly in the first week of each month. present the information in the most compelling manner? Marty Baron and the team’s captain on the ground, The Boston Irish Reporter is not liable for errors appearing in advertisements beyond Walter Robinson, across the days, weeks, and months the cost of the space occupied by the error. The right is reserved by The Boston Irish Across the fetch of the story on screen there is the oc- Reporter to edit, reject, or cut any copy without notice. casional over-dramatization of personalities and events, of 2002. bostonirish.com December 2015 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 5 Point of View ‘TIS THE SEASON OF TAKING AND GIVING Of corporate and Christmas battles

By Peter F. Stevens of racking up merely massive profits as where a company chooses to leave the until their political clout swelled in the BIR Staff an American-based company. That’s US on paper to game the tax system, late 1800s. In Ireland, Christmas had The issue of corporate inversion has got to be welcome news to Americans and believes we should reform our tax largely revolved around Mass and fam- erupted again, and again Ireland stands who will lose their jobs as the company code to encourage investment in the US, ily. The early Irish of Boston marked center stage in the controversy. The prepares to go “green.” rather than shipping earnings and jobs December 25th simply, many families long-expected news that Pfizer Inc. will Predictably, presidential candidate overseas.” keeping children home from schools later swallow Allergan Plc. in a $160-billion Bernie Sanders immediately decried the In and around Boston and throughout in the century. “merger” has drawn sharp criticism from impending birth of the “Irish” company Irish America, the 40 million or so people Christmas Masses were held in the both the political right and left – for en- in a statement to the media: “The Pfizer- who have blood ties to the “old sod” opening decades of the 19th century tirely different reasons. The one point Allergan merger would be a disaster likely want both the US and Ireland to at St. Augustine’s, in South Boston, that presidential candidates can all agree for American consumers who already prosper. Still, there has to be a better and, later, at the Cathedral of the Holy upon is that the deal is blatantly struc- pay the highest prices in the world for way than one-sided corporate inversions, Cross, always under suspicion by anti- tured to slash the company’s US tax bill prescription drugs.” one that is grand for both American and Irish, anti-Catholic locals. As German by shifting its corporate headquarters to Pfizer is bracing for a brass-knuckle Irish bottom lines. Stay tuned – the Catholic immigrants arrived and began Ireland. The Wall Street Journal reports, brawl with the Obama administration Pfizer-Allergan inversion promises to be attending the local “Irish churches,” the “The proposed Pfizer combination, with and the US Treasury over the deal. a flashpoint on both sides of the Atlantic. newcomers introduced Christmas trees Dublin-based Allergan PLC, would be Interestingly,, and perhaps ominously, The Puritans, the Irish, and Christmas and greeting cards, introducing a thaw in the largest ever to move a US company for the merger, Pfizer’s Irish gambit has Turning from the season of greed to the region’s traditional, Puritan-steeped to a lower-tax jurisdiction.” already evoked similar criticism from two the season of giving, the latter season Christmas notions. On paper, Allergan is buying Pfizer, disparate contenders for the Oval Office. did not arrive easily for Boston’s first Boston’s Irish could celebrate Christ- but that is simply corporate sleight of Both Hillary Clinton and The Donald Irish immigrants. From 1800 to 1850, mas as openly as they wanted by the end hand. The deal is classic inversion: oppose inversion and favor restructuring the Irish could scarcely have picked a of the 19th century, and they turned the Pfizer, the larger entity, will actually corporate tax rates in the US. Of course, worse place than Boston to celebrate Yuletide season into a genuine holiday. keep control of the company, but by main- the ways in which either would attempt Christmas. The Puritans had loathed During the period of Advent in late No- taining Allergan’s legal Irish corporate to do that are a chasm apart. “Popish” Yuletide rituals so much that, vember and early December, persons of office, the merger will allow Pfizer to flee In a press release, Trump stated, in 1659, the Massachusetts General all ages prepared for the coming of the the US corporate tax rate of 35 percent “These corporate inversions take capital Court had enacted laws against honor- Christmas season by attending daily and revel in Ireland’s 12.5 percent. As and, more importantly, jobs offshore. ing the day. Anyone caught toasting the Mass. They then enjoyed the celebra- with all inversion deals, it blends smart We need leadership in Washington to occasion suffered a five-shilling fine. So tion of midnight Mass on Christmas business and bald-faced corporate greed. get the tax code changed so companies entrenched did Bostonians’ antipathy Eve, often followed by festive and early Pfizer – excuse me, Pfizer Plc, a “new” will be coming to America, not looking toward Catholicism become that that morning breakfasts with friends and Dublin company and the world’s larg- for ways to leave.” the city’s public schools were open on relatives. Through religion, reflection, est drug-maker -- now stands to make Clinton, through spokesman Ian Sams, Christmas Day until 1870. and, finally, revelry, Boston’s Irish could obscene profits by turning “Irish” instead expressed that she “is committed to In such a climate, Boston’s Irish cel- finally celebrate Christmas in “grand cracking down on so-called ‘inversions,’ ebrated the holiday in muted fashion fashion.” Survivors of Bloody Sunday victims push for justice By Caleb Nelson the crown and found the roads “Did the forces of the crown act Special to the BIR barricaded by British Paratroop- in a lawful and legal manner?” Nearly 44 years after the Bloody ers. Three days before the protest Percival said. “These are critical Sunday Massacre in Derry John the Provisional IRA murdered two human rights issues, and they’re Kelley still hopes he might one police officers in their patrol car in important if we think about day get to see his brother’s killer Derry, and many believe that the what’s happening in the world locked behind bars. shootings at the Sunday morning today. The problem of terrorism “He showed absolutely no protest were planned as retribu- is going to be won by increasingly remorse,” said Kelley. “I would tion. One soldier involved in the looking at how we deal with these love to see him walking through incident said that a lieutenant issues.” the gates of a jail.” asked for kills during a briefing In the same way the bloodshed Professors and students gath- the night before. in Syria started when a police ered in a small conference room off “They were sent in, not as force shot protesters in March of the cathedral-like lobby of UMass policemen, because paratroop- 2011, Bloody Sunday exacerbated Boston’s new Integrated Sciences ers cannot and do not act as violence in Ireland, he said. Complex on Nov. 17 for a round policemen. It’s impossible,” said “The question of whether or not table discussion hosted by the Kelley. “They came in with their a state acts in a lawful manner in university’s Conflict Resolution rifles loaded, and knew exactly its attempts to defend the state, what they were going to do, and John Kelley points out the location of victims shown in a institutions within the state, and Department. photograph taken in Derry on Bloody Sunday, 1972. Kelley’s Kelley described how the 1972 they intentionally murdered in- the civilians, must be of interest nocent people on the day of Bloody brother Michael was killed in the massacre by British para- to anybody who wants peace, who protest march in his hometown troopers. Harry Brett photo turned bloody. Sunday.” wants justice and who wants to “I spoke to my young brother At 17, Michael Kelley was the who were conducting riots on a our people were shot in the back or live in a civilized society,” said Michael prior to the march,” youngest of the 14 protesters who daily basis.” shot in the side trying to get away Percival. Kelley said. “He was never on a died that day. Fourteen more were Former British Prime Minis- from these soldiers, and even at Kelley and Percival are touring march before, and he went to the injured. The first inquiry after ter Tony Blair began a second times trying to help others.” America to provoke discussion march that day simply because his the incident became a whitewash inquiry in 1998, which identified Kelley traveled from Ireland about how brutal civil rights friends were going. But I advised attempt to shift blame on the the seven surviving soldiers who with Robin Percival, chair of the abuses might end with grace and him, ‘If anything should happen, victims, associating the people shot people that day. Known as Bloody Sunday Trust, to celebrate justice, and to offer a case study go home.’ So I left him. He went who were shot with other violent an alphabet soldier because of rekindled hopes for justice fol- for keeping the government and with his friends and I went with incidents committed by paramili- court granted anonymity, Lance lowing last month’s arrest of a law enforcement accountable. my friends.” tary groups and gangs. Corporal F killed Kelley’s brother 66 year-old former paratrooper— “If we can’t resolve this, it’s An estimated 15,000 people “They were called the Derry and three others. identified as Lance Corporal going to create a legacy that will showed up that January day in Young Hooligans,” Kelley said. “They came into Derry to teach J— and the announcement of a continue for many years to come,” an expression of grievance against “Most of them were teenagers, us a lesson,” Kelley said. “Mostly judicial review in the case. said Percival. 17, 18, 19, and these are guys COPING WITH THE LOSS By James W. Dolan shared. Each individual faces it in his or her own way. whatever name) know best. Special to the Reporter Those who prepare for it are probably better equipped An odd thing happened the other evening. I had And so it ends: On Halloween, the cancer train that to endure the inevitable. Knowing there is no escape, taken something up to the loft, a guest bedroom we carried my wife for over two years moved on as we sadly fear eventually gives way to resignation and acceptance. rarely used over the garage. As I was leaving, a picture disembarked. Standing on the platform, there was a While the divide will be crossed by all, no one is certain fell off the wall. I picked it up and saw that it was an sense of relief that her tortuous journey had ended. as to what, if anything, lies beyond. Faith is a choice. aerial photograph of the campground in Marshfield Now we prepared for the wake and funeral we had It is hope affirmed, offering comfort in the belief of a where we had a trailer on the water for 43 years. My hoped would not happen. Family and friends gathered joyous reunion. Oblivion is embraced as a satisfactory wife loved it there. to offer support. The house was constantly full with and more realistic alternative by non-believers. Both the wire on the picture and the hook were fine, people coming and going and making sure I was all I heard Joan’s cell phone ring a few days after her and as I hung it back on the wall, I said aloud: “Are right. Although operating in a daze and with much death. It was a text from one of our granddaughters you trying to tell me you’re okay and at the beach?” help, I was able to make sure all her last wishes were that read simply: “Nana please come back,” Nothing Fortunately, there was no reply or I would have had a realized. Her “send-off” was exactly as she would have in the entire experience moved me more than that heart attack then and there. Was this a “Joan wink,” as wished. plea from one who loved her dearly. I could only try one of my daughters suggested, or just a coincidence? The activity soon ends and one is left alone to absorb to assure her that her nana still loved her and would Why would this particular picture fall off the wall for the loss. Most painful is the knowledge that she will remain a presence in her life. no apparent reason while I was in the room? I prefer not be coming home. Her comforting presence I took Both of my grandmothers and one of my grandfathers to believe it was a comforting message of reassurance. for granted. That loss will slowly heal, but the pain died before I was born, so grandparents were not a part Whatever it was, it made me feel better. Life is a will linger. It is embedded in my memory. of my growing up. We were fortunate enough to be able mystery, but now and then we may get a clue, a hint I begin the journey of the rest of my life alone. De- to participate in the lives of our nine grandchildren. of what lies beyond. After six weeks of watching my spite the support and love of family, for which I am so Joan, in particular, was close to them all, planning wife struggle to live, I needed a sign. A picture falling grateful and upon which I depend, there remains that family events, never forgetting a birthday, and her off a wall will do. hole only Joan could fill. For over 53 years, she was specialty: “Nana never says no dinners and shopping James W. Dolan is a retired Dorchester District Court always there, even when we were apart. sprees.” Poppas are okay, but I think most would judge who now practices law. Death, the most common of all experiences, is not agree that when it comes to grandparents, nanas (by Page 6 December 2015 BOSTON IRISH Reporter bostonirish.com American Ireland Fund’s gala raises $2.6m for worldwide aid More than 1,100 guests port nonprofit organiza- In attendance were Gov. gathered on Thurs., Nov. tions across the island of Charlie Baker, Boston 12, for The American Ire- Ireland and around the Mayor Martin Walsh, and land Fund’s 34th Annual world. US Sen.Senator Edward Boston Dinner Gala at The 2015 event was Markey, among other the Westin Boston Wa- chaired by Mike Mahoney, leading Boston civic, phil- terfront. President and CEO of anthropic and business A record-breaking $2.6 Boston Scientific. Vice leaders. million – the largest Chairmen were Andrew The Gala honored Anne amount ever achieved Arnott, President and Finucane, Vice Chair at the Boston Gala -was CEO of John Hancock of Bank of America and raised for The Worldwide Investments, and Jack National Director of The Ireland Funds “Promising Sebastian, Managing Di- American Ireland Fund. Ireland” Campaign to sup- rector, Goldman Sachs.

Bob Reynolds, President and CEO of Putnam Investments and chairman of The American Ireland Fund Regional Advisory Board; Mike Mahoney, dinner chairman and chief executive officer of Boston Scientific; Anne Finucane, Din- ner honoree and vice chair of Bank of America; Steve Greeley, vice President of major gifts and New England Director of The American Ireland Fund. © Michael Casey photo

Cian Smith, a young musician from Ireland who performed at the dinner. Mayor Marty Walsh; Anne Finucane, Dinner Honoree and Vice Chair of Bank © Michael Casey photo of America; Governor Charlie Baker; US Senator Ed Markey. Bill Brett photo

Happy holidays!

Warm wishes for the season, from our house to yours.

@MassConvention /MassConvention massconvention.com bostonirish.com December 2015 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 7 Page 8 December 2015 BOSTON IRISH Reporter bostonirish.com BRETT’S BOSTON By Harry Brett Exclusive photos of Boston Irish people & events Dorchester artist Vincent Crotty celebrated 25 years living and working in Boston last month at a November 20 reception at the Aisling Gallery in Hingham. A native of Kanturk, County Cork, Crotty and his wife Kieran Jordan were recipients of the Eire Society’s Silver Key honors earlier this fall. The exhibition of Crotty’s recent work continues through the holiday season at the Aisling Gallery, where proprietors Maureen and John Connolly have been a regular supporters of the artist’s work over his quarter century in the Boston area. 1. Pictured are: 1.) Vincent Crotty, artist, 2. Dorchester; 2.) Krystal Marble, Hull; Kimber Edwards, Quincy; Marquita Mosley, Quincy; 3.) Pat and Larry Velie, Hull; 4.) Michael Carroll and Marnie Edwards, Martha’s Vineyard; 5.) Ginger Batts, Weymouth; Karyl Adams, Whit- man; 6.) Shelly Kelly Sullivan, Scituate; Breda O’Connor, Squantum; 7.) Gregory and Mary Jane O’Meara, Hingham; 8.) Cathy Darche and Janice Grant, Whitman; 9.) Ellen Delaney, Hingham; Maureen Connolly, Aisling Gallery; LeilaWalden, Hull; 10.) Dan Roy, So. End; 11.) Carol and Dr. Martin Dunn, Milton; Joan Line- han, Scituate; 12.) Janine Susan, Jason Smith and Virginia Cummings, all of Randolph.

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11. 12. bostonirish.com December 2015 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 9 Irish International Immigrant Center Immigration Q&A Keeping of poet Emma Lazarus Happy ending Know your rights inscribed on the Statue for the Deadys the Lamp Lit of Liberty, a welcoming sight to generations of Our legal services team about employment By Ronnie Millar, immigrants arriving from was delighted to meet IIIC Executive Director abroad. I urge us all to re- Amanda Deady, a young Q. I recently became a naturalized US citizen. I’ve The Irish International flect on how we would want woman from Co. Kerry been looking for a new job, and it seems to me that Immigrant Center is a our families to have been who enjoyed dual citizen- some prospective employers have been hassling me not-for-profit organization treated when they first ar- ship in the US and Ireland unfairly about my immigration status. This may be founded in Boston by Irish rived here. This ought to through her US citizen because of my accent or the country I originally came immigrants in 1989. We be our moral compass as to parents. from. Is there anything that I can do? are Boston’s Port na Fáilte how we treat the refugees Amanda moved to the A. In the Civil Rights Division of the US Depart- (a Port of Welcomes), deep- of today and how we can US two years ago to be ment of Justice, there is an Office of Special Counsel ly rooted in the Irish spirit keep that lamp lit. closer to her parents in (OSC) for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment of hospitality, human J1 Summer Work Quincy, arriving with The happy Deadys Practices. This office investigates situations like yours, rights, and care for others. & Travel Program her husband Alan and as well as those involving Among our staff are those changes for 2016 their children, Sarah, 2, cases. Working with the other people authorized Legal Clinics – whose great-grandparents The US sponsoring and Jack, then only five Consulate, she restarted under federal law to work Dec. 1, 7, 15 left Ireland during the agencies that maintain months old. Alan came on the process and pushed in the US, such as legal Tues., Dec. 1 and potato famine, and some oversight of the J-1 Sum- a holiday visa and had to through the barriers permanent residents or Tues., Dec. 15 – IIIC whose grandparents fled mer Work & Travel pro- return to Ireland upon its Amanda had in Alan’s case employment visa holders. offices, 100 Franklin the Holocaust. Several of gram have announced expiration. For Amanda, and worked to get little In appropriate cases, OSC St. Lower Level, Down- our staff members are im- a programmatic change the prospect of having to Jack a green card. Just will sue employers who town Boston. Entrance migrants themselves who requiring pre-placed em- care for two young children months later, Alan was discriminate against people is at 201 Devonshire moved to the US seeking ployment for all applicants by herself while Alan was reunited with Amanda based on their immigration Street. a better future. (Visa Waiver countries away was overwhelming. and the kids in Boston. status or national origin. Mon., Dec. 7 – Green Most Americans can included) beginning in the Amanda came to the Amanda was thrilled, “I OSC has published the Briar Pub, 304 Wash- recall their own family’s 2016 season. IIIC for help. Having be- thought this day would following guidance on this ington Street, Brighton. immigration story and are Ronnie Millar, IIIC Ex- gun the process to obtain never come!” topic: For further legal thankful that they found ecutive Director, stated Permanent Resident sta- Alan quickly got a job Citizenship/immigra- clinic information, call the safety of a new life in “It is important to note tus for Alan, Amanda had and plans to start his own tion status – Generally, an 617-542-7654. the US after experiencing that these new regulations run into roadblocks and business. The kids are in employer may not treat you the horrors of war, poverty, are restricted to the J1 the process had stalled. school and not only does differently because you are, or are not, a US citizen. or persecution. The refu- Summer Work & Travel Meanwhile, baby Jack also Jack have a green card, [Note: one exception would be certain jobs with the gees of today are no differ- program, and do not affect was lacking permanent he is now a US citizen. government or a government contractor requiring US ent from our grandparents the 12 month J-1 Intern immigration status. Having set down roots, citizenship for a security clearance.] and those who came before Work & Travel program.” Managing attorney the Deadys are glad to be National origin -- An employer may not treat you us. They are simply seek- The IIIC is committed Jeannie Kain took both together as a family. differently because of your place of birth, native lan- ing a safe place to live with to continuing to support guage, accent, or appearance. their families after fleeing the Irish J-1 students who sponsoring agencies. It is a significant personal Document abuse -– An employer may not, on the impossible circumstances. come to the US in sum- critical that the students development experience basis of your citizenship status or national origin, To question how the US mer 2016. We encourage plan early next year, for Irish college students demand more or different documents than necessary refugee policy is imple- prospective J-1 students contact their sponsors and an integral part of for completing the I-9 Form, reject reasonably genuine- mented is perfectly rea- and their parents to be with questions about the their college education, looking documents, or treat you differently when using sonable. To shun or reject diligent in reviewing and new regulations, and the and we at the IIIC want E-Verify. these innocent victims understanding the new program process. Histori- to ensure that it remains Retaliation -- An employer may not retaliate against outright, as some state program requirements cally, participation in the so for future generations. anyone who files a complaint with OSC or cooperates governors propose, is not. as outlined by the US J-1 program has been with an OSC investigation, or who asserts his or her The truth of the matter is rights under the anti-discrimination provision of the that security checks for Immigration and Nationality Act. refugees seeking entry A person who believes he or she has been subjected into the US are far more to discrimination for any of these reasons can call rigorous than for any other OSC at 1-800-255-7688 or visit the agency’s web site immigrant class. A refugee at usdoj.gov/crt/osc. applicant cannot be ap- Of course, there are other avenues to relief from proved until all required various types of employment discrimination, including security checks have been filing a complaint with the federal Equal Employment completed and cleared. Opportunity Commission or the relevant state agency. The full vetting procedure Choosing the right course in a particular case gener- has to be finished before ally will require the advice of a lawyer specializing in any refugee would be al- employment discrimination issues, particularly as they lowed to cross the Atlantic. relate to immigration status or national origin. IIIC can Refugees need to be make a referral to such a lawyer in appropriate cases. welcomed, protected, and Visit one of IIIC’s weekly legal clinics for a free, healed, and in doing so, confidential consultation on any immigration law- we reject their persecutors related issue. and their horrific violence. Disclaimer: These articles are published to inform “I lift my lamp beside the generally, not to advise in individual cases. Immigration golden door” - the words law is always subject to change. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services and US Department of State frequently amend regulations and alter processing and filing procedures. For legal advice, seek the assistance Matters of Substance of IIIC immigration legal staff. Telephone counseling: Does it really help?

By Gina Kelleher ent weather need no lon- may wonder if it is possible Director of Wellness ger hold you back from to develop this bond and Telephone counseling is talking to a supportive trust with someone over not much different from person. It’s a lot easier to the phone. I’ve worked face-to-face counseling schedule appointments for many years doing and studies show that it which fit in with your telephone counseling and can be as or even more schedule and life-style I can tell you from experi- effective for people expe- Comfort: Opening up ence that the rapport with riencing challenges such and sharing our inner- my telephone was just as as depression, anxiety, most thoughts and feel- engaging and powerful weight-loss management, ings can be hard with as my face-to-face clients, or smoking cessation. It someone sitting in front of even though I had never has been around for quite us. Many people are a lot met any of them in person! a while; it was initially less self-conscious sharing So if you want guidance used for crisis situations personal information on and support for relation- such as suicide hotlines. the phone, in the safety ship, drinking or addic- Gina Kelleher and familiarity of their tion problems, anxiety, However, you do not have the phone and calling Gina to be in crisis to benefit home depressionBoston Irish Reporter or help to quit Anonymity: Walking smoking,Foley Law Officeswhy notAd try it? at 617-542-7654, Ext. 14. 2016 Irish Landscape Calendars from telephone counsel- Hope to hear from you! ing. It’s easy, convenient, into an office to speak ItApril is as 2, 2015easy as picking up and often fits in well with with a counselor can from our busy lives. Some of the feel daunting. Using the benefits are as follows: phone, you’re in control Convenience: You do by revealing only as much The Sean Folan TV Show not have to worry about identifying information transportation, traffic, about yourself as you are comfortable with Would Make The Perfect Christmas or expensive parking. You don’t have to dress It is important in all  counseling relationships (617) 973-6448 8 Faneuil Hall Marketplace Boston, MA 02109 And Birthday Gift or worry about how you that a rapport or bond de- look. You can talk to your Claim your Heritage. Apply for Irish Citizenship today! counselor in your pajamas velop between counselor and client. Without this, If your parent or grandparent was born in Ireland, you are eligible Contact Sean Folan and slippers and no one to become an Irish citizen. Our attorneys will help locate your will be any the wiser! trust can be a challenge, documents and file your application. Contact Foley Law Offices at 857-719-6979 Flexibility: Child-care, which in turn can interfere to begin your citizenship application at (617) 973-6448. Or [email protected] work schedule, or inclem- with treatment goals. You

Page 10 December 2015 BOSTON IRISH Reporter bostonirish.com Parties in North reach deal to sustain the power-sharing By Shawn Pogatchnik ness, whose Irish na- includes commitments Associated Press tionalist Sinn Fein party from Britain to provide DUBLIN – Britain represents the Catholic more than 500 million published a long-sought minority. ``Today repre- pounds ($760 million) in agreement with North- sents another milestone funds to soften the blow of ern Ireland’s parties along the way as we welfare cuts long opposed last month that all sides normalize and build our by Sinn Fein. agreed would sustain society,’’ said Robinson, And, significantly, Mc- the Catholic-Protestant whose Democratic Union- Guinness said Sinn Fein government in the British ist Party represents the would accept a new oath territory. Protestant majority. of office committing all Issued on Tues., Nov. McGuinness said the Northern Ireland law- 17, the 67-page agree- agreement failed to de- makers to reject illegal ment, titled ``A Fresh liver Sinn Fein’s key paramilitary groups and demand for a new inves- seek their disbandment. Start,” took more than Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson, right, and Deputy First Min- a year of negotiations tigative panel empowered ``There can be no place to unearth the truth ister Martin McGuinness speak to the media at Stormont, Belfast, Northern to achieve. The Brit- whatsoever for armed Ireland, on Tues., Nov. 17. AP Photo/Peter Morrison ish Protestant and Irish about the most bitterly groups in our society. Catholic leaders of the disputed killings from There can be no hiding blocked efforts to impose in government, was ac- unless Sinn Fein offered coalition, Peter Robinson Northern Ireland’s four- place for criminality,’’ said budget cuts on welfare cused of killing a former new peace commitments. and Martin McGuinness, decade conflict. He blamed McGuinness, a former payments that already member in a revenge Robinson said the new stood side by side as they Britain for refusing to lift commander of the out- had been enacted through- attack. It was the first pledge of office, plus plans praised the agreement as the veil of state secrecy lawed Irish Republican out the rest of the United killing pinned to the IRA to form a new all-Ire- a landmark compromise on files documenting the Army, which killed nearly Kingdom. since the 2007 rise of land organized crime task that would deliver tan- role of British soldiers and 1,800 people before calling Tensions rose further power-sharing. force, would put ``those gible economic benefits spies in killings. a cease-fire in 1997. in August when the IRA, Protestant leaders still involved in terror and subsidized by Britain. But McGuinness said Northern Ireland’s which officially renounced started to withdraw from criminality out of business ``We have pledged our- the deal secured enough eight-year-old coalition violence and disarmed in cooperation with Sinn once and for all.’’ selves today to stand common ground to keep has threatened to unravel 2005 as a condition for Fein and threatened to together,’’ said McGuin- the coalition running. This since 2014 when Sinn Fein Sinn Fein’s involvement collapse the coalition, At Stonehill, a Holocaust lesson from an Irish citizen who was there By Liam Dacko documentary called “Close believed that no Holocaust related to the SS in the Visitors came in droves To Evil,” which details survivor had ever met woman’s house. Michnia Stonehill College in late Reichental’s attempt to with an SS officer outside apparently had told her October for a teaching find and meet with former of a courtroom since the friend to get rid of the event that explored a SS officer Hilde Michnia, end of World War II. materials, as she did not concept that is simple in who served as a guard at “He was asking me to want her children to find theory, but complex in the Bergen-Belsen con- make history,” Gregg said. them. practice: forgiveness. centration camp where “It was an offer I couldn’t Later, Michnia’s friend Tomi Reichental, a Reichental was impris- refuse.” heard Reichental speak- Holocaust survivor and oned as a boy. Reichental told of how ing on the Irish radio Dublin resident, and the Gregg told his audience the opportunity to try to about his experiences Tomi Reichental addresses the students. filmmaker Gerry Gregg that he jumped at the meet Michnia arose. He at Bergen-Belsen. Real- talked about their ex- chance to make the film said a friend of Michnia’s izing that Michnia was periences in making a with Reichental, as it was had come across materials an officer at the same event. Each confronted “He sets out to build camp where Reichental different ghosts – for a bridge, and he builds had been imprisoned, Sennft, it was the stark a bridge, but it’s not the the woman reached out legacy of her grandfather’s bridge he sets out to to him, hoping to help set hand in mass murder; for build,” Gregg said. up a time that the survivor Reichental, it was a test: Reichental is keen on could come and speak to Could he narrow the psy- sharing his experiences the former SS officer. chological and emotional and stories with people. Michnia ultimately distance between him and He regularly visits sec- refused to meet with one of Ludin’s relatives. ondary schools in Ireland Reichental while denying Gregg called the clip to talk about his time at that she ever played a role “inspirational. It makes Bergen-Belsen. in the Holocaust. Tomi’s journey all the However, it took him “In my naiveté, I worthwhile,” he said. a long time to be able to thought she was brain- Reichental said that share his story. Although washed and a victim of her going into the production Reichental’s wife, who upbringing,” Reichental of “Close To Evil,” he had died 13 years ago, knew he said. no intention of forgiving was a Holocaust survivor, Although Reichental Michnia.“The people who he never told her about his never talked to Michnia, can forgive are gone,” he time at Bergen-Belsen. he did meet with Alexan- said. “She never knew what I dra Sennft, granddaugh- Reichental has no re- went through,” he said. ter of Hans Ludin, the grets about not meeting Now, his story is well Nazi official responsible Michnia. He said he prob- known. He said he has for the destruction of the ably would have embraced spoken to more than Jewish community in his her in the heat of the 80,000 students about homeland of Slovakia, moment, even though his imprisonment and his including the deaths of 35 she would not admit to schedule is booked solid members of the Reichen- the role she played in the with engagements until tal family. Holocaust. 2017. A clip from the docu- Gregg said although “I thought I owe it to the mentary of Reichental’s Reichental’s journey did victims so their memory meeting with Sennft, in not turn out as he origi- is not forgotten,” he said. which the pair pay an nally planned, he gained emotional visit to Ludin’s a lot from the experience. grave, was shown at the

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818 Morrissey Boulevard • Boston South Shore Plaza • Braintree bostonirish.com December 2015 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 11 Christmas Celtic Sojourn is a family party; new faces, old faces revel in music-making

By Sean Smith Special to the BIR “A Christmas Celtic Sojourn,” which opens for its 13th year on Dec. 11 at Boston’s Cutler Majestic The- ater, has become as much a family-style tradition for its performers as for the crowds that flock to see the show every year. For example, those little kids from the Harney Academy of Irish Dance who, year in and year out, invariably win hearts and earn respect among audience members with their spirited, youthful display? Well, some of them will be returning to the stage this year as high school and even college students. “The whole thing’s really taken on a life of its own, something people seem to look forward to,” says the show’s creator and host, WGBH’s Brian O’Donovan. “It’s quite amazing to contemplate that some of those dancers from the Harney Academy who joined us during the early years of the show are now practically grown up. To have them, along with the younger Harney dancers, in the line-up indicates how well-rooted ‘Christmas Celtic Sojourn’ is.” True to form, this year’s show – which also will be staged in Worcester and New Bedford, as well as Rockport (where it is already sold out) – will include other returnees, notably “Sojourn” music director Seamus Egan and his band Solas (fiddler Winifred Horan, multi-instrumentalists Mick McAuley and Eamon McElholm, and guest bassist Chico Huff), harpist Maeve Gilchrist, cellist Natalie Haas and Eamon Murray on bodhran and percussion (“Eamon has an excellent touch on the drum, of course, but he’s also quite the character on stage – always glad to have him The band Solas, including “A Christmas Celtic Sojourn” music director Seamus Egan, will be on hand in the mix,” says O’Donovan). again this year. Niko Alexandrou photo Cara Butler, who appeared in the 2012 and 2014 productions, will be back not only as a featured solo dancer but also as dance director for the show. Joining the various combinations and how they might sound: her, and the Harney Academy students and alumni, harp with cello; cello with a Scandinavian hardanger will be English step-dancer Declan McHale. fiddle and viola; accordion and harp; and all of them Making her debut with the show will be vocalist together with the rest of the ensemble – the list just Cathy Jordan, known for her work with the band Der- goes on and on.” vish, and among a vanguard of pioneering female Irish O’Donovan says the ascension of Butler – whose singers – along with the likes of Mary Black, Maura resume includes appearances with The Chieftains, O’Connell, Dolores Keane and Moya Brennan – that Solas, and Cherish the Ladies, and lead dancer credit came to the fore during the 1970s and ’80s. in the “Dancer’s Morning” Folger’s commercial – to “Cathy is a powerful presence, and someone we’ve dance director for “Christmas Celtic Sojourn” was wanted for the longest time to be in the show,” says practically destined to happen. “When she was in the O’Donovan. “She has a broad resume and repertoire show on earlier occasions, she practically took on the that is perfect for ‘Christmas Celtic Sojourn.’ More to director’s job ad hoc and showed some real leadership; the point, when you look at the female singers we’ve then when I hired her for the ‘Celtic Sojourn’/Boston had in the show, they’ve all had the chops to perform Pops show back in the spring, she demonstrated a in this kind of production, certainly, but they’ve also strong work ethic in delivering custom, high-quality had the personality to match. Cathy does, too.” choreography. Also new to “Christmas Celtic Sojourn” this year is “Those were important considerations in having her the Nordic Fiddlers Bloc: Shetlander Kevin Henderson, assume the dance director’s job. Obviously, as direc- Olav Luksengård Mjelva from Norway and Anders Hall tor you not only have to work with the other dancers, from Sweden are fine exponents of their respective including the Harney kids, but also with the musicians, fiddle traditions, with which they create a fascinating the production crew, and so on. Cara will do all that, synthesis of styles and sounds while upholding the and the result will be top-notch.” distinctive flavor of each element. Butler, he adds, already made a significant contribu- “We’ve often explored in the show a crossover/kinship tion to this year’s show by bringing in McHale, who dynamic between traditions – like Appalachian or old- has four World Championship and three All-Ireland timey for instance,” says O’Donovan. “This Northern titles to his credit, has toured with “Riverdance,” and music of Scandinavia and the Shetlands seems remote, performed with Dervish and Cherish the Ladies. even exotic, but there’s an unmistakable connection to “Declan is quite accomplished, and he has a tremen- Celtic traditions that makes for compelling listening.” dous sense of roguery, even comedy, to his style – he’ll The presence of these “Christmas Celtic Sojourn” definitely make an impression,” notes O’Donovan. newcomers will, in turn, make for striking collabora- Paula Plum’s 13th consecutive stint as the show’s tions with the show’s returnees, he adds. “Solas is a artistic director underscores the sense of continuity in powerhouse, of course, and part of what makes them “Christmas Celtic Sojourn,” O’Donovan says, even as great is how well they work – as a group or individu- new personalities and wrinkles are added. “If you go back to the idea of the show and its perform- ally – with other performers. Cara Butler returns to “Christmas Celtic Sojourn” “Maeve plays that ancient instrument, the harp – ers and crew as a ‘family’ in and of itself, well, families undergo changes over time: There come new faces, who as the show’s dance director as well as one of the she’s also a talented pianist and singer – but she has a featured dancers. Niko Alexandrou photo very innovative, contemporary approach that utilizes bring a fresh perspective and energy with them, and a lot of improvisation. Natalie, meanwhile, has helped there are still the ‘old’ faces, who represent the fam- bring the cello into the domain of Celtic music, through ily history and memories; you get them together for a Hanover Theater in Worcester on December 14; and her partnership with fiddler Alasdair Fraser but also party every year, and with all the familiarity there’ll the Zeiterion Theater in New Bedford on December 17 through numerous stage and recording appearances always be something a little different, too. That’s what (the December 15 show at the Shalin Liu Performance with an array of different performers. it’s all about.” Center in Rockport is sold out). For show times, tickets “You can only imagine how exciting it is, as we’re “A Christmas Celtic Sojourn” will take place at the and other information, see wgbh.org/celtic. drawing up the plans for the show, to think about Cutler Majestic Theater Dec. 11-13 and 18-20; the A look at Boston/Eastern Massachusetts Irish-Celtic music events for December: In addition to “A Christmas Celtic Alexander, George Arata, Greg Bacon, Sojourn,” holiday-related happenings in Maarten Goji Tom Lubelczyk, Myra the area include a performance by “The MacLeod and Eli Matteo. Celtic Kates” – Kate Chadbourne, For ticket information and other Katie Mahoney, Katie O’Neill and details, see https://www.facebook.com/ Cait Sargent Lubelczyk – on December events/413870565476266, or call 508- 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the Hibernian Cultural 344-4932. Centre in Worcester. This will be the The annual Gaelic Roots Christ- debut for this quartet, all with local ties mas Concert at Boston College will and diverse backgrounds, and an affin- take place on December 8, with guitar/ ity for Celtic music. Chadbourne is a bouzouki-and-flute duoMatt and Shan- musician, poet, storyteller and part-time non Heaton as well as fiddler Hanneke college professor whose background is Cassel and guitarist-vocalist Keith in Irish language singing; Mahoney is Murphy. The four, mainstays of the an accomplished jazz singer; and both Boston/New England music scene, will O’Neill and Sargent Lubelczyk learned to play traditional and original music of the sing in the musical theater environment. season. The concert, which is free, begins Matt and Shannon Heaton will play at The concert will feature holiday-related at 6:30 p.m. in the Cadigan Alumni Cen- the Gaelic Roots Christmas Concert and other music – traditional, folk, and ter on BC’s Brighton Campus. See www. Áine Minogue’s show at Club Passim on Boston College’s Brighton Campus. contemporary – from Ireland, Scotland bc.edu/gaelicroots for more information. will celebrate Christmas and the Kelly Lorenz photo and North America. Local musicians Liz (Continued on page 13) winter solstice. Page 12 December 2015 BOSTON IRISH Reporter bostonirish.com A conversation with Maeve Gilchrist Scottish-born Maeve Gilchrist, among the featured friends of all ages would stay up together to welcome in performers at this year’s “Christmas Celtic Sojourn,” has all the fresh hope of the new year. Good times!” been awfully busy of late, but she paused in her recent Q. You have a history with Boston, going back to when travels to discuss the show, her past times in Boston, and you were a student at Berklee College of Music, and an- her childhood memories of the holiday season. other period when you lived in town for few years. How Q. This is your second go-round with “Christmas Celtic did your experiences here influence you as a musician, Sojourn.” What was it about your first experience with and as a person? the show that made you want to return? “I moved back to Boston in 2009 after a couple of years “I had a fantastic time on every level during my time away. I was drawn back by the rich “new acoustic” music with the “Christmas Sojourn” two years ago. It was a scene that seemed to be exploding around that time. So chance to collaborate with some of my favorite musicians I remember lots and lots of tunes. It was a time that I on some beautiful stages, but just as importantly, I made think really informed my playing. Just the sheer amount some really wonderful new friends. There was a memora- of jamming and creating – it felt like I was part of a scene bly great vibe in the cast of that show – supportive and and everyone around me wanted to make music just for fun in equal measures. I think that Brian [O’Donovan] the love of it. It’s hard to tell whether the music was good knows the importance of hiring musicians who get on both or bad - but it was certainly a lot of fun. personally and musically and the show was so rewarding My roommate at the time was Matt Smith, the manager on both those levels. Additionally, who doesn’t love a bit of Club Passim. That place really became like a second of Christmas indulgence?” home while I was living in Boston. Either playing or Q. Give us an insight into the preparations for the show: taking in a concert, it was a great hang in a historic club You probably trade ideas and thoughts via e-mail, Skype, that still seems very much at the heart of the music in etc., beforehand but what is it like when you finally all get scene in Boston.” together? Is it hours and hours of jamming and directed Q. You’ve explored other genres in your music other practices, and then exhausted sleep? than trad and folk, of course. What are some of your cur- “Yes - all of that! We’re lucky to have Seamus Egan as our rent/ongoing projects and activities? patient and insightful music director. Ideas get swapped “I’m currently sitting in Orlando airport having finished around before the show, but if I remember correctly, it’s a residency at a college here with one of my collaborators, really the rehearsal week where the magic happens. The Nic Gareiss. He’s a wonderful percussive dancer and we musical arc of the show seemed to shape around every- have a duo project I’m very proud of. It’s raw and challeng- one’s strengths, giving each artist the space to do their ing and (hopefully) evocative. We aim to take elements of own thing while contributing to the supporting musical traditional music and use it to come up with a language tapestry the rest of the time. During the rehearsal process, between the footwork and the harp, trying to move away ideas are constantly being thrown out and shaped to the from what is commonly expected of our respective instru- line-up available. Someone will hop on the piano, create ments and create a duet that intertwines the two. a backing vocal or harmony line on their instrument. As “I have two recording projects coming up in January and someone who loves the challenge of creating both as a solo February. I’ll be flying to Nashville to make a record with artist and as a side person, it’s a perfect gig.” the great bassist Viktor Krauss. I met him at the Berklee Q. Do you have any special memories of Christmas/New American Roots festival last summer and we both enjoyed Year’s as a kid? Do you find these inspire you as you get that collaboration so much we decided to make a record ready for “Christmas Celtic”? that will be released on Adventure Music. “Certainly! Christmas was a magical time in my house- “I’m also making a record with the fantastic local har- hold and I still get a kick out of the lights, the trees, and danger fiddle player Mariel Vandersteel, with whom I the child-like anticipation leading up to the day. We worked with in the “Christmas Celtic Sojourn” a couple had our own Christmas traditions including pillowcases of years back. We’re working with the electronics artist (instead of stockings), our verbose great aunt Betty, and Charlie Van Kirk and New York City-based electric gui- whiskey for Santa (milk didn’t cut it in Scotland). tarist Kenji Herbert to create a recording in January. I And the biggest celebration of all came at New Year’s, or can’t wait for both of these. “Hogmanay” as we call it in Scotland. The kitchen would “And I’ve been commissioned to write a lever-harp be crammed with family and friends. We’d count down concerto for the Western Piedmont Symphony Orchestra the bells as my father played the small pipes and when “As someone who loves the challenge of creating in North Carolina to be debuted in March 2017, and I’ve the clock struck midnight we’d all join hands and sing the both as a solo artist and as a side person, it’s a been spending a lot of the past few months coming up original version of “Auld Lang Syne.” It was a party that perfect gig,” says Maeve Gilchrist of “A Christmas with the raw material for that. always went long into the night and our neighbors and Celtic Sojourn.” “It’s a busy, busy time. But I love every minute of it!” – SEAN SMITH EATING AND EMOTION Dr. Bernadette Rock Determined to lose weight this month? Do it for yourself, not for Christmas! What do you hear when an advert space to understand tells you that you have “four weeks to our weight, instead of fit into your LBD,” or to “tone your tum constantly piling pres- for Christmas, drop a dress size before sure on ourselves to Christmas,” or advising “how not to ruin lose it, it would bring your diet during Xmas?” Many of us hear us closer to a “normal” fear, failure, and the reinforced message relationship with food. that you cannot be trusted around food, You cannot lose it until that you need the rules of a diet to tell you first own it. you what and how to eat, or you’ll eat How we eat often re- everything that’s not nailed down. flects what’s happen- Several women have mentioned to ing with and around me that they hide in photos, with their us. So suggestions children as little props in front of them. such as “Move away Bernadette Rock and her Or hiding in black clothes with black from the table” or ques- daughter Keela. trousers being a staple in their wardrobe tions like “How does and constantly tugging down their top someone allow themselves get so fat?” so it covers their bum. (which my clients are often asked) im- Alma is a typical client – intelligent, plicitly lack understanding and convey well-educated and fun-loving – but a very narrow belief that fatness and ‘feels fat’. She is acutely conscious of the being overweight are all about gluttony, reactions of others towards her weight and lack of will power. But that makes and her eating. She recalls wishing the no sense given that you have discipline ground would open up and swallow her to do so much else in your life, such as when she overheard a family member raise a family or go out to work, and say ,“She’s eating AGAIN” or when a given that willpower is only a short- complete stranger looked in abject hor- term burst of energy, that usually ends ror at the plate of food in front of her quite abruptly. and then at her face. It seems that the That diet mentality implies “Be good acceptable reaction of people around until Christmas, then have a blow-out overweight people is to be disgusted, for two weeks,” then “Lose weight as and the dutiful place of an overweight you’re a New Year’s resolution”. The person is to feel ashamed and small, best you can do right now is to push out very small (oh, the irony!). your goals and decide where you would Alma was obsessed with counting calo- like to be 6 months or 12 months from ries and points, of trying to be in control, now. Start to give yourself the chance but then losing control as she shoveled to understand what your extra eating food into her mouth. She felt utterly and weight is all about. After 15 years helpless. Yes, it was indeed her choice of experience, I realize that you are far to eat. But weight loss or the struggle more than what the bathroom scales tell to lose weight is not what it is all about. you, or what the looks or comments of Alma revealed that part of the reason others say about you. she has remained fat is because the Send your comments or questions to extra weight means she can blend into [email protected] and check out the background, without being the focus heydayworld.com for further details. of attention, and doesn’t feel that she’s Wishing you good health, “on show.” If we allowed ourselves the Dr. Bernadette Rock, PhD bostonirish.com December 2015 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 13

Evan Harrington and Erica Spyres take center stage in the Tony Award-winning musical “Once,” playing The Shubert Theatre from December 8 - 27.

choice for “Once.” How did they find you? A. It was here in Boston, almost two years ago. A Bringing “Once” few of my friends went to see “Once” and they each came back and said why aren’t you in this show? And I was like, ‘I don’t know the New York scene.’ One of home to Boston my friends on Facebook said, ‘You need to be in this!’ . . . Another friend (on Facebook) sent me the notice By R. J. Donovan that they were holding auditions in Boston within then Special to the BIR next couple of weeks. So I went in. Erica Spyres – actress, singer and classical violinist Q. And what was the process like? – has spent her life surrounded by music. Her parents A. You’re supposed to play something on your chosen are both music teachers. Her brothers are both singers. instrument and accompany yourself. So I went in and And her family was honored as “The Most Musical sang a Damien Rice song and I played the violin and I Family in Missouri.” The Ozarks native relocated to got a callback for the next day. . . . They said, “Hey we Boston when her composer-husband was accepted to really like you, but we don’t have a place for you right study at Boston Conservatory. now. But these [auditions] are for all future produc- Spyres has carved out a busy career here in Boston. tions, so we’ll let you know.” About six months later She dazzled audiences as Clara in “A Light In The they contacted me and said we’re holding auditions Piazza” at SpeakEasy Stage. And she has continued the next week, callbacks. I did those callbacks and a to win praise for her work in “Camelot” at New Rep, week later I found out I got the job. “Into The Woods” at Reagle and “Tribes,” also at Q. And now you’re bringing “Once” home to Boston SpeakEasy, for which she received The Elliot Norton to close the tour. I expect the audience will be packed Award for Best Actress. with family and friends? Most recently, she has been on tour playing the Ex- A. I’m so excited . . . I have a feeling I’m going to know Girlfriend in the international company of the Tony people at every performance. My first time performing Award-winning musical “Once.” (at the Shubert) was for the Elliot Nortons this year. After a lengthy journey that has taken the cast I think it’s a perfect space for “Once.” It’s small and around the globe, “Once” finishes its tour this month intimate but it’s got that old feel. here in Boston, playing The Shubert Theatre Dec. 8 Q. “Once” is a very moving, very intimate experience. through the 27th. What makes the show work so effectively? Boston’s Erica Spyres returns home to play the Ex- Based on John Carney’s 2007 film of the same A. I think it works for many reasons. I know the Girlfriend in the international touring company of name, “Once” tells the captivating tale of a Dublin people who started it, who developed it. They said that the Tony Award-winning musical “Once,” at The street musician – Guy – who’s about to give up on they never imagined it would actually be on Broadway. Shubert Theater December 8 - 27. his dreams. Things change when a beautiful young It was just a labor of love . . . I think that the heart Joan Marcus photo woman – Girl – takes a sudden interest in his haunting was in the right place because they weren’t trying to love songs. Over the course of one fateful week, their make it a big success on Broadway. They spoke to That’s what leads into the show, and that’s when the unlikely connection and collaboration evolves into a people in a very real way. audience starts sitting down. complicated romance. Q. You’re a part of the pre-show session every night. Q. Is there a favorite moment for you in “Once.” The show features an impressive ensemble of actor- Normally audience members aren’t allowed anywhere A. It’s kind of changed for me over the course of the musicians who play their own instruments on stage. near the playing area, but with the pub actually on year, but one place that’s always special is “Gold” (at Music and lyrics are by Glen Hansard and Markéta stage in “Once,” it’s encouraged. Any mishaps? the end of Act One.) They did (that number) at The Irglová with a book by Enda Walsh. The film version A. Well I got beer spilled on me last night, so it’s Tonys for a reason. It’s the first time you see every- won an Oscar for the song “Falling Slowly.” funny that you ask today. They always make people body on stage together. Our associate director said it’s “Once” is also renowned for operating a pub on stage, put lids on their cups – people aren’t used to drinking kind of like choral music. It all flows . . . All of us are both before the show and during intermission. Pre- wine and beer out of cups with lids – so this lady took moving with our instruments at the same time. We’re show, the actors gather to present a lively Irish session. her lid off and then she spilled her entire beer right all dancing and playing at once. The first time that Erica Spyres is a summa cum laude graduate of behind me. And some of it got on me . . . Sometimes all comes together, it’s really, really special. In the Drury University where she studied vocal performance. they try to sit on the chairs and they have to be told not course of the show, that’s when Guy realizes he has Her first time on stage was in a church play. And she to. And they’ll try to talk to us while we’re playing, so feelings for Girl and she has feelings for him. That is began studying the violin at the age of three, initiating it can be kind of interesting. It keeps you on your toes. always a special moment. her lessons on a mock instrument fashioned from a Q. Does the pre-show session vary by performance? R. J. Donovan is Editor and Publisher of onstagebos- crackerjack box. “Once” marks her first national tour. A. We have about 30 pre-shows songs, I think. So we ton.com. We spoke by phone about the show and her career change every night . . . I have a couple of feature songs ••• when “Once” was playing in western Canada: where I’ll have a solo . . . We usually do two Irish songs “Once,” Dec. 8 - 27, Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont Q. As an actress with a 20-plus year history as a and one Czech song each night. There are always three Street, Boston. Tickets: 800-982-2787 or citicenter.org. classical violinist, you appear to be a perfect casting that change, and the final three are always the same. December events (Continued from page 11) Boston’s own Gobshites. The Narrow- Club Passim will host a winter solstice/ backs describe their sound thus: “ If Joe Christmas show by harpist-vocalist Áine Strummer, Shane MacGowan and Bruce Minogue on December 23 at 7:30 p.m. Springsteen survived a drinking session Minogue’s music expresses the poetry, through the five boroughs, the hangover mythology and rituals associated with would be called The Narrowbacks.” The Irish tradition and culture; her CD/DVD Gobshites pride themselves for not only releases include “To Warm the Winter’s turning traditional Irish standards into Night” and “Winter: A Meditation.” For hard rock rave-ups, but by putting an ticket reservations and other details, Irish slant on punk-rock classics. The see passim.org. concert starts at 7 p.m. The Burren Pub in Somerville holds Tickets may be all but gone by the time its unfailingly entertaining New Year’s you read this, but the Burren’s Back- Eve Party, with Galway fiddlerHelena room Series will present an all-too- Delaney and an impressive coterie of rare pairing of widely acclaimed singer traditional musicians holding an Irish Karan Casey with one of Ireland’s most HOLIDAY TURMOIL – What would happen if Jesus had been born in Ballygoura session in the pub’s front room. celebrated bands of the past decade or so, instead of Bethlehem? That’s the premise of “Return of the Winemaker,” a Not strictly holiday-related but no Lunasa, with shows at 7:30 and 9 p.m. dark Irish Christmas comedy written by Bernard McMullan and scheduled less festive events at the Burren this Go to burren.com for details on all forTir Na Theatre at Davis Square Theatre in Somerville from December month include a December 12 show with these events. 2d though the 20th. Carmel O’Reilly directs the production featuring Colin two bands in the Celtic rock vein: The –SEAN SMITH Hamell and Derry Woodhouse (above, left and right) with Nancy E. Carroll Narrowbacks from New York City and and Stephen Russell. For tickets, visit tirnatheatre.org. Page 14 December 2015 BOSTON IRISH Reporter bostonirish.com BIR News Update

Many hail first gay marriages by popular vote. Twenty-two other countries have legalized gay marriage after May approval referendum through legislation or court judgments. By Shawn Pogatchnik Broadway will dim lights In the Lion’s Den: Associated Press DUBLIN – Ireland celebrated its first to memorialize Brian Friel gay marriages last month, six months Associated Press Daniel Macdonald, Ireland and Empire after voters overwhelmingly chose to NEW YORK – Broadway theaters legalize the practice in the traditionally plan to dim their marquee lights next January 20 to April 17, 2016 conservative Catholic nation. month in memory of Brian Friel, the Dozens of couples nationwide con- Tony Award-winning Irish playwright verted their existing civil partnerships who created “Dancing at Lughnasa’’ into full marriages in brief ceremonies and more than 30 other plays. in often less-than-romantic settings, The Broadway League says the lights such as antiseptic hospital offices will be dimmed Dec. 8 for one minute at where births and deaths also are re- 6:45 p.m. Friel died on Oct. 2 at age 86. corded. He received his greatest acclaim for Gay marriage became officially legal his 1990 play, “Dancing at Lughnasa,’’ on Nov. 16 but the legislation required which won three Tonys in 1992. It was a minimum 24-hour notice to upgrade turned into a 1998 film starring Meryl civil partnerships, while those seeking Streep. a legal union for the first time must In 1980, Friel collaborated with wait a further three months to schedule actor Stephen Rea to found Ireland’s their services. Field Day Theatre Company, which is Ireland’s first couple to sign on the committed to bringing productions to dotted line were the lawyer Cormac small towns across the island. Gollogly and bank official Richard He leaves his wife, Anne Morrison, Dowling, both 35. four daughters and a son. The senior registrar for South Tip- perary, Mary Claire Heffernan, offici- Ex-Anglo Irish Bank chief ated at the ceremony before 9 a.m. in a spartan waiting room inside a seeks bail on fraud charge registration center for births, deaths Associated Press and marriages inside the hospital in The former chief executive of An- Clonmel, southwest Ireland. She also glo Irish Bank who is facing fraud and oversaw their much grander civil other charges in Ireland has asked a US partnership in September, when the judge in Boston to release him on bail couple donned top hats and tails and while he awaits an extradition hearing. spent two weeks honeymooning in the According to the Boston Globe’s Maldives. report, David Drumm told a federal This time, Gollogly and Dowling judge in Boston on Fri., Nov. 13, that Daniel Macdonald, The Fighter, 1844, oil on canvas. Image courtesy of Sir Michael Smurfit. sat in office chairs as they took turns he is not a flight risk and would not presenting rings and exchanging vows abandon his family. He asked for home “to love and comfort him in sickness confinement with electronic monitor- Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum Daniel Macdonald (1821-53) and in health,’’ followed by a kiss and ing so he can continue working. 3011 Whitney Avenue • Hamden, CT The 19th-century Cork artist was embrace. They used a stainless steel Federal prosecutors argued that www.ighm.org • 203-582-6500 the only painter audacious enough hospital trolley as a desk to sign their Drumm is a flight risk who can mar- wedding certificate. shal “significant resources’’ and has to paint the Great Famine as it was “It was great to get it done so early not cooperated with Irish authorities. This exhibition was funded in part happening. by grants from Connecticut Humanities ... to be the first in Ireland,’’ said Gol- The judge didn’t immediately rule. logly, who has been with Dowling for Drumm left Ireland and moved to the and The George Link Jr. Charitable Trust. 12 years. Boston suburb of Wellesley in 2009. More than 62 percent of voters ap- Irish criminal investigators accuse him proved gay marriage in a May referen- of conspiring to conceal massive losses dum, making Ireland the first nation at Anglo Irish Bank from shareholders. worldwide to approve the measure

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Beannachtaí na Nollag Mail to: Boston Irish Reporter, 150 Mt. Vernon Street, Dorchester, MA 02125 Christmas Blessings by Mary McSweeney More than one? Use the back of this form for additional subscriptions. bostonirish.com December 2015 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 15 Traveling People A holiday tip: Check out Harry Clarke’s wondrous works

By Judy Enright Poacher’s Pocket in Comber, Special to the BIR Parson’s Nose and Plough Inn, Christmas seems like a per- both in Hillsborough, Pier 36 in fect time to remind future Donaghadee, and Balloo House visitors to Ireland about the in Killinchy. wondrous works of the stained Also, Co. Dublin, Old Spot glass artist Harry Clarke. and Chop House, both in Balls- His magnificent windows can bridge; be found in numerous places Co. Galway, Moran’s Oys- around the country, and you ter Cottage in Kilcolgan and won’t be sorry if you spend time O’Dowd’s in Roundstone (we looking for them. heartily agree with this recom- Born on March 17, 1889, mendation!); he left school at 14 to join his Co. Kerry. O’Neill’s Sea- father’s stained glass and eccle- food Bar in Caherciveen; Co. siastical decorating business. Kildare, Harte’s in Kildare, He won several scholarships Ballymore Inn in Ballymore and studied stained glass in Eustace and Fallon’s in Kil- London and France. cullen; Co. Leitrim, Oarsman During his life, Clarke was in Carrick-on-Shannon; Co. commissioned to create more Louth, than 160 windows. There are Fitzpatricks in Jenkinstown; 17 churches in Co. Mayo with Co. Mayo, The Tavern in Mur- Harry Clarke windows, so the risk and Sheebeen in Westport; Mayo County Council pub- Co. Sligo, Hargadons in Sligo lished a guide (available in the Town; Co. Tipperary, Larkins Castlebar office) as part of the in Garrykennedy; Co. Wexford, Heritage Plan 2006-2011. St. Lobster Pot in Carne and Co. Mary’s Church in Ballinrobe Wicklow, Byrne & Woods in also published a book about Roundwood. its collection, which is reputed It’s great to see Ireland’s to be one of the largest in the many pubs recognized for their country. Stained glass window by the Harry Clarke Detail from the three-light stained glass win- food, which is often of good WINDOWS SOLD Studios in St. Patrick’s Church, Lahardaun, dow in St. Patrick’s Church, Kilmaine, by quality and of very good value. We were reminded about Co. Mayo. Harry Clarke, brilliant Irish artist. Pollak quoted Rebecca Burr, Harry Clarke’s enduring editor of the guide, as saying the stained glass skills after read- tion was a window depicting more in the Wolf- potato and vegetable. Two demand for good quality food in ing that an unnamed Jesuit Adam and Eve designed for a sonian–Florida International other Mayo pubs are listed and the relaxed setting of a local pub priest was the top bidder in a New Zealand church but never University design museum in I totally agree with one, The is still increasing. “More and fiercely contested auction last sent. It sold for 9,500 euros. A Miami, FL. You can also find his Tavern in Murrisk, and have more pubs are serving flexible summer of church windows single panel for a window, titled windows in Australia, England, enjoyed meals there a number all-day menus – incorporating made by the Harry Clarke “St. Bernadette and Our Lady Northern Ireland, Scotland, of times. However, I was not breakfast, brunch and after- Studios. The Dublin-based of Lourdes, which originally and Wales. impressed by the food at the noon tea. The pub industry priest paid 31,000 euros – 10 had two panels sold for 6,500 PUB MEALS other, Cronin’s Sheebeen in should be congratulated for times the estimate – for a euros. The pre-auction estimate It’s always interesting to Westport. Maybe I need to give moving with the times.” single panel depicting “Saint was 500 euros. The window read reviews of various sorts the latter another try. TIDY TOWNS Francis Xavier preaching in had been commissioned for a in various publications. Prob- Co. Down led the Michelin Hooray for Letterkenny, Co. the Orient.” He also paid 21,000 church in Wales but the priest ably the most important thing listings with six recommended Donegal, winner of the 2015 euros for a large, three-panel there declined to pay packaging to remember when you read a pubs, followed by Co. Cork with Tidy Town title. Letterkenny window of St. Francis Xavier. and shipping costs of 33 pounds review is that the reviewer may five, Co. Clare with four, and Co. topped 860 villages and towns Both windows were made by sterling. have picked a bad or good day Kildare with three. Counties to become the eighth Donegal commission in the 1930s for NEWPORT WINDOWS at a particular establishment Dublin, Galway and Mayo each town to win the designation a church in Co. Kilkenny, but The first Harry Clarke win- and his or her analysis may not had two, while Antrim, Kerry, since the competition began were never collected from the dows I ever saw sit over the necessarily be a true picture. Leitrim, Louth, Sligo, Tipper- in 1958. Letterkenny was also studios. Although the pieces high altar in St. Patrick’s in I recently read a story by ary, Wexford and Wicklow had named Ireland’s tidiest large were made after Clarke died, Newport, Co. Mayo. “The Last Sorcha Pollak in the Oct. 30 edi- one each. urban center. some of the artists worked Judgment” there took four tion of The Irish Times detailing Wild Honey Inn in Lisdoon- Other winners in this year’s directly under him. years to complete and has been recommendations in the 2016 varna, Co. Clare, and Toddies Tidy Town competition include: The stained glass auction lots described as Clarke’s most Michelin Eating Out in Pubs at The Bulman in Kinsale, Co. Clonegal in Co. Carlow, tidiest sold for a total of 88,500 euros, magnificent work. The window Guide. Michelin recommends Cork, both received an “Inspec- village; Listowel in Co. Kerry, well ahead of the pre-auction includes his self-portrait, said the food at 32 pubs in 15 Irish tors’ Favourites” commenda- tidiest small town and West- estimate of 25,000. to portray his prolonged suf- counties as well as in a total tion and were described in the port, Co. Mayo, tidiest large The windows, owned by fering from poor health – he of 590 pubs in the Republic, guide, according to Pollak’s town. Harry’s late son David, were was 41 when he died en route Northern Ireland, England, story, as “establishments found The competition was origi- made for churches in Ireland, home to Ireland and a month Scotland, and Wales. to be particularly charming and nally designed to encourage Wales, and New Zealand in before his studio installed the It’s interesting to read the which offer something extra residents to pick up litter but the mid-20th century but, for final window at St. Patrick’s in reviews when you’ve visited an special.” now awards marks in a range various reasons, were never Newport. establishment yourself. I agree The Irish listings included: of categories including use/ collected or installed and have I went to see the work in the with some of the recommenda- Co. Antrim, Billy Andy’s at development of natural ame- been in storage for years. Auc- hilltop Newport church after tions – some of the pubs were Mounthill, near Larne; Co. nities and landscaping. Every tioneers said the trustees of being told that former pastor chosen, in my opinion, because Clare, Morrissey’s in Doon- year, towns across Ireland vie David’s estate approached the – Canon Michael MacDonald – they have name recognition beg, Vaughan’s Anchor Inn in for the title. National Museum of Ireland to sold his life insurance policy to rather than quality. Liscannor, Wild Honey Inn in TRAVEL buy them, but terms could not pay for the windows he commis- My favorite pub – the Grainne Lisdoonvarna and Linnane’s There are lots of deals avail- be reached. sioned in 1926. What a treasure Uaile in Newport, Co. Mayo – Lobster Bar in New Quay; Co. able online and from your fa- Although Harry died in 1931, he left for Newport and the escaped notice. I have eaten Cork, Mary Ann’s in Castle- vorite travel agent at this time The Harry Clarke Studios many visitors to St. Patrick’s. there many times and have townshend, Poacher’s Inn of year and it’s a great time of in Dublin continued to make If you can’t make it to Ireland, found the food consistently in Bandon, Deasy’s in Clon- year to make plans. stained glass windows until the you can see Clarke windows excellent. I’m not talking about akilty, Cronin’s in Crosshaven Enjoy Ireland whenever and business closed in 1973. in the Basilica of St. Vincent soup and sandwich meals, but and Toddies in Kinsale; Co. wherever you go and happy Among other lots in the auc- de Paul in Bayonne, N.J., and full meals – an entree with Down, Pheasant in Annahilt, holidays to all.

Detail from “Adoration of the Magi,” a Harry Clarke stained glass window in Detail of one of Harry Clarke’s stained glass windows in St. Mary’s Church, Kilmaine, Co. Mayo. Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo. Judy Enright photos Page 16 December 2015 BOSTON IRISH Reporter bostonirish.com Listen to Haley Richardson play the fiddle, and you can almost hear the future resound

By Sean Smith who’s probably going to be doing a lot of interviews. Special to the BIR Q. You began playing classical violin at age 3 and Here’s a little sampler of what New Jersey fiddler then started on Irish fiddle just a few years later. How Haley Richardson has done over the past six years or did that transition take place? so: Won Junior Fiddler of Dooney honors, plus seven “When I was almost 5, I went to a Kevin Burke Mid-Atlantic Fleadh and two All-Ireland Fleadh titles; concert, and I really loved what I heard. So I started performed on the worldwide FleadhTV webcast; was teaching myself tunes by watching his DVD and listen- featured in Fiddler Magazine; and appeared on stage ing to his CD. After that I began to study with Kathy with, among others, The Chieftains, Mick Moloney, DeAngelo, and then when I was six I played at the the John Whelan Band, and Paddy Keenan. Mid-Atlantic Fleadh, and that’s where I met Brian Not a bad six years, especially when you consider Conway; a few months later, he became my teacher. that the period constitutes about half of her lifespan Playing classical music was fine, but everything felt – she turned 13 this past summer. kind of cookie-cutter. With Irish, you can add your Haley, who has studied under the renowned Sligo own variations and bowings, so it’s really a kind of a fiddler Brian Conway, also has an album to her credit, personal style. I still do play classical, because it’s a “Heart on a String,” on which she is accompanied good way to learn technique.” mainly by her older brother Dylan on guitar and Q. How did the CD project come about? bouzouki. When a recording showcases a 12-year-old “I’d wanted to do a CD for a while, and John Whelan musician, it might be easy to regard the album more approached us with the idea. But at the time I had as a benchmark toward future development, instead a kind of a “small sound,” because I was playing a of appreciating the work on its own terms. And that three-quarter size fiddle. So I had to wait until I found would be a mistake, because while Haley shows every something bigger and deeper, and then when I did, intention of continuing to refine her craft, on “Heart on John brought up the idea of doing the CD again. We a String” she already displays a command of the fiddle, did some of the recording at John’s studio but also in and a focus and lift to her playing, that belies her age. our basement.” The arrangements on the album are straightforward, Q. What was it like to hear the final result? Did you mostly just her and Dylan – Conway joins her on one feel good about it? track, Whelan on another; Flynn Cohen guest-stars “Well, nothing is ever really perfect – you just have on guitar for the slow air “Dear Irish Boy” – and thus to accept that. But you may be the only one who notices put her firmly in the spotlight. And Haley doesn’t take anything wrong. Anyway, John was very helpful, and the easy route when it comes to repertoire; sure, there gave us a lot of advice, so that was definitely a plus.” are plenty of jigs and reels, but also slow airs, barn- Q. What are some other helpful learning-type experi- dances and hornpipes – including J. Scott Skinner’s Haley Richardson with her brother Dylan, right, ences you’ve had? outrageously intricate “The Mathematician,” a high- and their friend and bandmate Keegan Loesel prior “I went to a nine-day camp called “studio2stage” in to their concert at The Burren Backroom series. 2014, in which dancers and musicians work on a show wire act in and of itself – all of which exert their own Sean Smith photo particular demands and idiosyncrasies on the fiddler. together and then perform it. The whole thing really Yet while it’s important to assess “Heart on a String” opened up my eyes to what kind of different experi- on merits alone, rather than as a harbinger of things leann piper Keegan Loesel – with whom they’ve begun ences you can have with Irish music, because I wasn’t to come, it’s difficult nonetheless not to speculate on playing as the trio Méara Meara (“Lively Fingers”) – playing something that I had arranged; I had to be part the progress of Haley’s music over the next few years. traveled to Somerville, where they were the opening of a bigger production, so it was a lot more deliberate If a stray note or a phrase here and there might not act for the Maírtin O’Connor Trio in The Burren’s and involved than I had been used to.” sound quite so strong or smooth, well, these are the Backroom series. With a combined age of only 44 – Q. How do you work fiddle-playing into the rest of sorts of things that are typically resolved with time Dylan and Keegan at the time were, respectively, 17 your life? and practice. Perhaps she’ll make her arrangements and 15 – the three served notice that, as host Brian “ I’m home-schooled, so I have a certain amount of more varied and adventurous, and perhaps there are O’Donovan declared in his introduction, “There’s no freedom to my schedule, although of course I have to collaborations down the road that will expand her danger of this music going away anytime soon.” make time to do assignments and other things. Some perspective and creativity. The possibilities do seem Before the concert, Haley took some time to talk days I might busk for an hour, then rehearse for a few endless, and that’s an undeniable part of her appeal. about her music and life, and made an impression as hours, and then go play sessions. But I don’t look on Earlier this year, Haley and Dylan, along with uil- a poised, polite, and altogether affable young woman, it as “work”; it’s just tunes.” TIARA is going to Ireland; Sean-nós Dance! Set Dancing! and you all can come along Traditional Step Have you completed day in the repositories. County Tyrone. Dancing! research on your ances- TIARA is offering two For complete details of tors in the US? Are you weeks of research in Ire- the research trips, please ready to visit Ireland to land next spring. The visit the TIARA website, fill in the details of your April Dublin genealogy tiara.ie. Questions may be Classes in: family’s past? Do you trip includes seven nights directed to [email protected]. want to expand your un- in the city centre, close to ••• • Cambridge derstanding of the life of the National Library and Back home, TIARA • Watertown your immigrant ancestor a short walk from promotes the study and and the family they left Grafton Street. Re- exchange of ideas among • Medford behind? search assistance will people interested in Irish Join members of TI- be provided before and genealogical and historical ARA (The Irish Ancestral during the trip. Trip research. The group meets Non-competitive Irish Dance for Kids Research Association) members will also expe- monthly at Brandeis Uni- to search for family re- rience a full-day guided versity in Waltham. The Award-winning program now in it’s 6th year, with a focus on cords. Look through estate tour to Castletown House Dec. 11 meeting will fea- records, newspapers, val- in Kildare and nearby ture photodetective Mau- community, tradition, and musicality. uation books, local histo- Maynooth. reen Taylor. See tiara.ie ries and other documents For those with roots in for details. In addition to New semester Jan 2016 For more info: that record the daily lives Northern Ireland, seven research trips to Ireland, www.jackieoriley.com, or of your ancestors. Then nights are offered in cen- TIARA 2016 events in- All are welcome! [email protected] share your finds with tral Belfast and five days clude monthly speakers, other TIARA researchers of research opportunities occasional workshops, and as you relax after a busy are planned for reposito- the August 2016 Celtic ries. Participants will also Connections Conference spend a day at the Ulster in Minnesota. American Folk Park in Photography by Father Kelly issues Christmas album Almost a year to the Image Photo Service day his debut album was released, Father Ray Kelly, right, will release • Weddings • Anniversaries • Banquets a wonderful collection of Christmas songs – “An • Portraits • Reunions • Groups Irish Christmas Blessing” on Dec. 11. Ray moved to Dublin Since the video of him and worked in the Civil • Families • Special Occasions singing ‘Hallelujah’ at Service. He was ordained a wedding went viral in in 1989. He joined the St April 2014, the past 20 Patrick’s Missionary Soci- months have been some- ety (Kiltegan Fathers) and (617) 291-6609 what of a blur for Father worked as a Missionary Ray who has traveled the in pre-Apartheid South world promoting his debut Africa from 1991-1992 and Harry Brett • Margaret Brett Hastings album, “Where I Belong,” did Mission Appeal work and telling people his in the US. He returned story. to Ireland and was ap- The official photographers of the Boston Irish Reporter Born in Tyrrellspass, pointed as parish priest Co Meath, in April 1953, in Oldcastle in 2006. bostonirish.com December 2015 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 17

CD Reviews was able to bring it to a wider audience. where margin- A hallmark of MacColl’s writing was playing against alized popu- By Sean Smith sentimental themes and turning them on the head, and lations like We Banjo 3, “Live in Galway” • What, in general, “Joy of Living” illustrates this: the arrival of adulthood immigrants, do we want from a live album? People have their tastes, is hardly a cause for celebration in “Schooldays Over,” refugees, and obviously, but it seems reasonable to hope the recording even with Damien Dempsey emphasizing more sweet the homeless at least affirms the distinctive qualities one admires than the bitter; the tenderness of Chaim Tannenbaum’s are more than in artists, yet also shows them willing to go beyond voice on the parental tribute “My Old Man” doesn’t ever regarded their milieu. Well, We Banjo 3 more than fulfills both mask hard feelings about industry’s betrayal of its with suspi- criteria on this, their third overall release. working men; and Martin Simpson sounds appropri- cion, anxiety The quartet ately world-weary on the lullaby-cum-cautionary-tale and downright (two pairs of “The Father’s Song.” hostility. Nor- brothers, Enda But MacColl was not all about unrelenting grimness. ma Waterson and Fergal Sca- In “Sweet Thames Flow Softly,” sung here with absolute – who along hill and David exquisiteness by Rufus and Martha Wainwright, love with her sib- and Martin transcends, and transforms, the geography of London lings had some Howley) has (at least for a while). “Champion at Keeping Them Travellers an- quite rightly Rolling,” as voiced by Martin Carthy, is full of defiance cestry – gives “Moving On Song” (with its chilling “Go, attracted loads and pride; along similar lines is Steve Earle’s take on move, shift” chorus) a special gravitas; Waterson’s of attention in “Dirty Old Town.” And then there’s “The First Time daughter, Eliza Carthy, on “Thirty-foot Trailers,” and its exploration Ever I Saw Your Face” – its success, thanks to Roberta Paul Brady, on “Freeborn Man,” convey the Travellers’ of the links Flack, was said to mortify MacColl – his very personal underappreciated sense of pride and identity, while between Irish/ love note to Peggy Seeger (who went on to become his Karine Polwart’s rendition of “The Terror Time” of- C e l t i c a n d third wife), sung with simplicity and straightforward- fers a counter-balance to the romanticism with which American tra- ness by Paul Buchanan. The title track, written by others might view such a lifestyle. ditional/roots MacColl three years before his death and presented It’s common practice to imagine how a legendary music, with the here by David Gray, is as triumphant a coda for life artist of the past might regard the world of today. Mac- Irish tenor banjo – played mainly by Enda Scahill but and love as they come. Coll, witness to the impact of global war, class conflict, in occasional duets with Martin Howley – serving as One of the more compelling aspects of this album and economic and social dislocation, would have no the fulcrum. Their insanely high levels of precision and are the selections from MacColl’s radio ballad program shortage of material from which to draw inspiration, energy sound even better in a live setting (as those who about the Travellers, itinerant people who for genera- and based on his body of work – including that on this caught their performance at Johnny D’s in Somerville tions have resisted efforts by authorities to “settle” recording – he would have surely given us yet more back in March can attest), and the audience’s enthusi- them. These songs have a fresh relevance in an age memorable songs to sing. asm here is palpable as WB3 runs through some of its signature sets from their earlier albums, such as “Bill Cheatum/Kitchen Girl/The Donegal Lass,” “Shove the Pig’s Foot a Little Further in the Fire/Fine Times at Our House” and Liz Carroll’s “Air Tune.” (They also play “Because It’s There,” a reel composed by Boston- area musician Mark Simos.) A previously unrecorded medley shows why this band is drawing such raves, as fiddler Fergal Scahill leads a less familiar version of the slide “Padraig O’Keefe” and then the Enda-Martin banjo combo drives into “The Foxhunter’s Slip Jig”; somewhere along the way, guitarist David Howley starts playing a competing rhythm against the fiddle and banjos, the four gradu- ally break down the slip jig into a series of riffs that accelerates like a locomotive – and suddenly they’re playing a reel, “Roddy MacDonald’s,” that achieves a whole other velocity. Yes, WB3 certainly fulfills the affirm-distinctive- qualities criteria, so what else can they do? How about bring in a brass section for five tracks, including “The Bunch of Green Rushes/Salt Creek” medley and two songs that feature David Howley’s stirring vocals, Eric Bibb’s bluesy-gospel “Get Onboard” and Guy Davis’ inspirational “We All Need More Kindness in This World,” on which the audience gets a cameo. If that’s not enough, the band pulls in Offaly trio JigJam to cover a song by South African singer Johnny Flynn, “Tickle Me Pink,” and a few other guests elsewhere, notably vocalists Norianna Kennedy and Nicola Joyce, who make for a gorgeous collaboration with David Howley on “The Long Black Veil” – which somehow surpasses the sublime version on their last album (“Gather the Good”). Perhaps the only complaint one can have about “Live in Galway” is that there’s no companion DVD of the performance, so you can actually see, and believe, what your ears are hearing. That’s probably the ultimate benchmark for a live album. Various artists, “Joy of Living: A Tribute to Ewan MacColl” • Maybe the folk music revival of the mid-20th century would have happened without Ewan MacColl, but it sure would’ve sounded a lot different. Try to imagine pub singing sessions or Celtic festivals without “Dirty Old Town,” “Shoals of Her- ring,” “Schooldays Over,” “Thirty-Foot Trailer,” “Sweet Thames Flow Softly” or “Freeborn Man,” all of them MacColl compositions. This being the centennial of MacColl’s birth (he died in 1989), Cooking Vinyl Records has released this double CD of some of MacColl’s best-known songs – including those cited in the above paragraph – covered by a very impressive cast of performers representing some five decades of the UK/Irish/American folk revival, among them Paul Brady, Christy Moore, Martin Carthy, Damien Dempsey, Steve Earle, Billy Bragg, Dick Gaughan, Norma Waterson and Eliza Carthy. MacColl’s sons Calum and Neill served as co-producers and contribute backing on several tracks. Of course, MacColl was far more than a singer- songwriter. He was a collector and singer of traditional folk songs, an actor, a playwright and poet, a folk club organizer, a radio show creator and producer, and a decidedly left-of-center sociopolitical activist. MacColl also was a controversial figure, in both his personal and political life, and was doctrinaire when it came to music – he made it a rule in his folk club that you could only perform material from your own culture. But MacColl perceived that, during the first part of the 20th century, folk music was increasingly viewed as some quaint, nostalgic ideal of bygone days rather than an expression of the common people, so he sought to locate it in the modern, urban world. MacColl’s songs were not about ploughboys, milkmaids, verdant braes and rolling hills, but about coal miners, factory laborers, road workers and others looking for hope and fulfillment in gritty industrial settings – dirty old towns, if you will. He wasn’t the first or the only one to champion this neo-realistic strain of folk music – guys like Guthrie and Seeger did a pretty good job, too – but, through various performance and broadcast media he Page 18 December 2015 BOSTON IRISH Reporter bostonirish.com Oprah Phillips’s Turtles

Oprah Winfrey has dis- turtles made the media mag- the giant version for certain covered one of Dorchester’s nate’s list of “Favorite Things” friends, but smaller appetites delicacies list— published last week on can get the signature size.” and she’s the website, Oprah. Mary Ann Nagle, who man- s h a r i n g Winfrey wrote: “Sitting ages the Morrissey Boulevard Each basket is carefully their top-of-the-line chocolate them with down? You’ll need to be to store, said that the family- handmade in batches of eight. baskets to be auctioned off at … the world. handle 15 pounds of choco- owned business is stockpiling Orders for the baskets have the Dorchester Boys and Girls A $ 5 0 0 late turtles (hand-roasted gift baskets to handle the in- already poured in from online. Club Annual Grand Drawing c h o c o l a t e nuts and caramel coated with crease in demand for their now “This is early,” said Nagle. Silent Auction, set for Nov. gift basket milk, dark, or white chocolate) even-more famous specialties. “As you get into December, 21 at the Fairmount Copley loaded with presented in a 5-pound edible “We make everything, so we more people will be ordering Plaza. the Phillips basket. That’s 20 pounds of have control over the supply,” for the holidays.” – Maddie Kilgannon Candy House’s signature chocolate, people! I’ve ordered said Nagle. Phillip’s has donated one of

Comedian, Commentator and Founder of Humor for Humanity Jimmy Tingle as emcee.

Poetry by Harlym 125 (Jamele Adams)

Honorees include: Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh; The Hon. Linda Dorcena Forry, Massachusetts Senate; James E. Rooney, President of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce; Robert K. Coughlin, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council bostonirish.com December 2015 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 19 The Irish Language by Philip Mac AnGhabhann

Nollaig Shona Dhaoibh! “Merry Christmas (to) you-all!”. “And (a) EIRE Happy New Year”, Agus Bliain Mhaith Úr. Spoken Irish tends to have short, declarative, sentences joined, if necessary, by agus,”and”, instead of the “run-on” sentences typical of pub English such as the one that you are now reading. As the daughter of a native speaker once told me, “Every time my Dad got together with his friends, all I heard was ‘agus, agus, agus’.” “She went into the shop.” Chuaigh sí na siopa. 795 Adams St. • Dorchester “She bought a new dress.” Cheannaigh sí gúna úr. “She went into the shop and she bought a new dress.” Chuaigh sí na siopa agus cheannaigh sí gúna úr. “President’s Choice” However, there are other coordinating conjunctions that have the same weight as agus. These are ach “but”, nó “or” and ó “since”. Ach “but” implies a negative or contradictory response and nó and ó “or” and “since” Serving Lunch & Dinner may or may not. “Do you like coffee or tea?” Ar mhaith leat caife nó tae? “I called him but he didn’t answer.” Ghlaoidh mé air ach níor fhreagair Every day, sé. An aside, did you notice that gúna “dress” is related to “gunny” as in “gunny sack”. If you pronounce fhreagair /RICK-uhr/ (remember that fh- 7 days a week is “silent”) it is related to “ricochet” as in “bounce back”. Irish has very few irregular verbs as well as a couple that we can call “defective” because they lack one or more tenses. Is, for example, has no Irish Social Club of Boston, Inc. future tense, depending on the present as above in Ar (or An) mhaith 119 Park Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132 617-327-7306 or 617-549-9812 leat …?, “Do you like …?” Incorporated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, June 27, 1945 Here is a list of the irregular verbs. Notice that these are the most SUNDAYS 8-11 pm with $10 admission except where otherwise noted. common verbs in many languages, such as English where we have “speak” Socials every Doors open at 6:30 pm; live music from 8-11 pm. Free Admission and “spoke” and depend on many auxiliaries such as “will”, “may”, “have” Sunday Evening Email us at [email protected] and “be” among others. at 8:00 pm Irish English Pronounced Verbal Noun SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Abair “speak” or “talk” /AH-pehr/ rá DECEMBER 2015 11 Friday Complimentary Members-only 3 Thursday Members Meeting at 7:30 pm. Please Christmas Party. Hot and cold Beir “born” /bayr/ breith bring your membership card. buffet and cash bar. Don’t forget Bi “be” /bee/ none 4 Friday An Irish Family Christmas with the your $10 grab gift to receive a gift Cluinn* “hear” /kloon/ cluistin Willoughby Brothers 70th Anniversary from Santa: men bring a man’s gift; Celebrations. Direct from Ireland, women bring a woman’s gift. Déan “do” or “make” /jen/ déanamh these extraordinary brothers will Music by Boston’s Erin Og. Faigh “get” /fay/** fáil surely put you in the holiday spirit! 13 Sunday John Connors Feic “see” /fek/ feiceáil Admission for Irish Social Club 18 Friday second Annual “A Merry Special Pub members is $20 and $25 Night, A Toast to Our Troops.” Music Ith “eat” /ee/ ithe for non-members. Call Mary by Inchicore. Free Admission. Call Tabhair “give” /toar/ tabhairt Maloney for table reservations Johnny Costello at 617-678-7949 for Tar “come” /tahr/ teacht or ticket sales at 617-549-9812 information on items to donate to 6 Sunday silver Spears the troops. Téigh “go” tey/ dul 10 Thursday Emmett O’Hanlon from Celtic 20 Sunday Margaret Dalton *There is an alternative verb “hear”, clois /klosh/, in some dialects. Thunder’s Holiday Tour. Tickets are 27 Sunday Andy Healy Band **A reminder that /ay/ is as in “Aye, aye” or “eye” so /fay/ rhymes with “pie”. $40 for the meet and greet at 6 pm, 31 Thursday New Year’s Eve with the Andy Healy and $25 for just the show, which Band. Admission only $20 and Actually, most of these eleven verbs are only irregular in one or two begins at 7 pm. To purchase tickets, includes party favors, cash tenses, the most commonly the present and past tenses. You cannot say, visit https://emmettohanlon.ticketleap. bar, tea, coffee, and Irish bread. “I will be born” unless it is understood as figurative language. Also, a few com/holidaytouratthebostonirishsocial Complimentary champagne toast club/dates/Dec-10-2015_at_0700PM at midnight. have separate “independent” and “dependent” or “after particle forms” and

verbal nouns (“-ing” in English) as seen above. Follow us on Twitter @irishsocialbos Follow us on Facebook: Irish Social Club of Boston Let’s look at the irregular verb abair, “speak”. The tenses we have learned so far are the present, future, and definite past. Note the term Subscribe Today to Boston’s Own Hometown Newspaper “definite past” because there is also a tense calledhabitual the“ past” where English uses the auxiliary “used to” as in, “I used to smoke”. This suggests that whatever was done was over a longer period of time whereas Boston Irish REPORTER a “definite past” refers to a one-time event, “I smoked a cigarette.” We will A Subscription to the Boston Irish Reporter Makes an Ideal Gift for Any Special Occasion. learn the “habitual past” tense later. Why Not Order One Today for Yourself, or for That Special Irish Someone in Your Life? Abair is irregular in all of the tenses you learned so far and the “irregularities” all begin with a d-. All are irregular in the first person Order today, and we will send a gift card in your name. plural (“we”) and the present is irregular in the first person (“I”). Enclose $35.00 for each gift subscription. Present: Deirim, Deir tú, sé, sí, Deirimid, Déir sibh, siad. Name______/JER-uhm/, /jer/, /JER-uh-mij/ Address______Past: Dúirt mé, tú, sé, sí, Dúramar, Dúirt sibh, siad. City______State______Zip______/durt/, /DUR-uh-mahr/ Future: Déarfaidh mé, tú, sé,sí, Déarfaimid, Déarfaidh sibh, siad Gift from______/JER-fee/, /JER-fee-mij/ Charge to Visa______Mastercard______These are the “official standard” forms. In the younger generation of Card #______Exp______native speakers there is a tendency to simplify the “I” and “we” form to comply with the others; i. e. Deirim and Deirimid become Deir mé and This year, give a gift that comes in the mail each month! Deir muid. The verbal noun, “saying”, is rá, implying something was in progress at Mail to: Boston Irish Reporter, 150 Mt. Vernon Street, Dorchester, MA 02125 We accept phone orders with your Visa or Mastercard. the time. Recall that it follows the format: Bi + Subject ag + verbal noun. Call 617-436-1222 Or Fax this order form to 617-825-5516 We will practice these next month and in the months to follow.

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