February 2014 ’s hometown VOL. 25 #2 journal of Irish culture. $1.50 Worldwide at All contents copyright © 2014 Boston Neighborhood News, Inc. bostonirish.com Running for Martin Walsh plans BAA Marathon team is raising funds to trip to honor memory of Dorchester boy in the spring By Bill Forry Editor By Gintautas Dumcius A tight-knit group of neighbors and family News Editor friends will form the nucleus of the inaugural Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, Team MR8, a squad of 100-plus runners who who boasts roots in Co. , will run in April’s in memory always keeps an eye on the of Martin Richard, the eight-year-old Dorchester ould sod, but this spring, as he boy who lost his life in last year’s terror bomb- rounds out his first few months ing attack. in office, he plans to check things Each member of the team will raise thousands out personally. of dollars for the newly formed Martin W. Rich- “I haven’t even focused on it ard Charitable Foundation, whose mission is yet,” Walsh told the Reporter “to honor Martin’s message of ‘No more hurting as he continues to people – peace’ by investing in education, athlet- settle into his new job. “I do want ics, and community.” to go, though, probably in May.” Among those hand-picked by the Richard fam- He added that he wouldn’t be ily and their foundation are close friends and making any other stops while neighbors, including Lisa Hourihan Jackson, Jose over there. Calderon, Mike McCarthy, and Harry Benzan, The mayoral trip across the Atlantic was first floated as a -ru of Rosmuc, and her son has a who coached both Martin and his younger sister sign in his new office with the Jane, who lost a limb in the attack. mor in Irish America magazine, which celebrates the rise of the words “Rosmuc” on it, a nod to “When this awful thing happened, Bill and his family’s heritage. Denise [Richard] said that they really wanted Dorchester native with a cover story in its February/March Walsh’s campaign and elec- some privacy. And we honored what they wanted,” tion were closely tracked in explained Benzan. “So now this opportunity came edition. Walsh, who served as a state representative from Ireland, often making the and this is what they’ve asked for. It’s a wonderful front page of newspapers, and way to show that we’re there for them.” Dorchester for 16 years before running for mayor, has made the inauguration in January The other Dorchester and OFD runners named attracted elected officials and to the squad this week include Colin Butler, Bob Harry Benzan, who coached Martin Richard many previous trips to Ireland. on the soccer fields of Dorchester, will be a Irish America noted that residents of Galway, including Cleary Dave Gilmartin, Michelle Griffin, John County Mayor Liam Carroll and Hanlon, Michelle Hobin, Edmund Kelly, Katy member of the newly-formed team that will after his victory, the mayor run this year’s Boston Marathon in Martin’s spoke to the Irish broadcast City Mayor Padraig Conneely. Kelly, James Keefe, Suzanne (Morrison) McDe- After he was elected, Walsh vitt, Rachel Moo, Patrick Ryan, and Steve Wilkins. memory. Photo courtesy Harry Benzan medium Raidio na Gaeltachta and pledged a visit this year. talked to a Boston Globe cor- The full team, which was expected to be fi- approximately $7,500 [each], said 47-year-old respondent in Ireland about his nalized and announced last week, will include Mike McCarthy, a father of four from Dorchester “When he returns, Walsh will be assured a royal welcome acquaintance with the Conne- as many as 108 runners, among them a mix of with close ties to the Richard family. “I’m pretty mara region on the fringes of charity runners, who will receive bibs through determined and set my mind to things. After what befitting a native son who has done proud,” the Galway. “Oh, I’ve been over the foundation. The team will also include quali- happened last year it inspired me. I just wanted there at least a dozen times,” fied runners who already have a bib through the to do it more. It motivated me even more to run magazine wrote. The mayor’s mother Mary and he said. “Every summer I’d go Boston Athletic Association (BAA). the marathon.” over as a kid to my grandpar- In a statement announcing plans for the team Mike and his wife Sheila are planning an Irish- his late father John are natives of Connemara, a legendary re- ents’ house in Rosmuc, where earlier this month, Bill and Denise Richard themed fundraiser event to help him raise the my mother is from. I loved explained, “This foundation will be a legacy for requisite donation for the MR8 team. The party gion of Galway, although they didn’t meet until both were liv- it there: planting cabbage or Martin, allowing us to ‘pay it forward’ and make will be held at Florian Hall on Thurs., Feb. 27. sowing potatoes in the fields, a difference in ways that would make him proud The event will include a 50-50 raffle, a silent ing in Boston and ran into each other at a local dance hall. Mary feeding the chickens or fishing but also be a source of healing and purpose for us.” auction, step-dancing performances, and “tons on the pier.” “As a team member we’re supposed to raise of Irish music,” according to McCarthy. Walsh was born in the village

Lenahan O’Connell of Ja- justice, humor, hard work, and a Rita, devoted considerable time the Commonwealth’s most maica Plain, who died on Jan. commitment to people, whether and resources to a wide range powerful political leaders of Irishmen 5, celebrated his 100th birthday his law clients or those in society of Irish cultural and historic his generation. Mr. Quinn, 85, last June. While a handful of who needed the most help. organizations, giving special was a state representative from people achieve the centenarian Dr. William T. O’Connell of emphasis, much time, and Ward 13 who became speaker at the core, milestone, not many do so hav- Duxbury, a podiatrist who was frequent lectures to educate, en- of the House ing lived a life so large as Mr. known to many as Dr. Bill, led tertain and raise funds for the and, later, state attorney gen- O’Connell. From family and an active life well into his 80s. Deer Island Famine Memorial. eral. He was a pivotal figure 3 stalwarts the law to the very history and He traveled extensively, tour- Robert H. Quinn, a Savin in bringing the University of politics of Boston from the 20th ing Russia and South America, Hill, Dorchester, native, re- Massachusetts to its present to the 21st centuries, this rock- among other places while mak- covered from a life and death home on Dorchester’s Columbia pass away ribbed Boston Irish Democrat, ing 21 trips to Ireland. He skied bout with tuberculosis as a Point in the 1970s. did it all, with a keen sense of into his 70s, and, with his wife young man to became one of Stories, Page 2.

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Member FDIC www.mtwashingtonbank.com Member DIF Page 2 February 2014 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com ‘Dr. Bill’ took on many causes William T. O’Connell, shared a zest for life and dolph Ski Club of North University College of Po- or Dr. Bill as he was known a dedication to all things Conway, NH, the Holy diatric Medicine in Ohio. to many, led an active life. Irish. Bill became an ex- Family Choir in Duxbury Later he rose through the He traveled extensively, pert historian and gave and founding member of ranks at the MBTA where touring Russia and South frequent lectures to edu- the Irish Cultural Centre he met Rita. Over the America, among other cate, entertain and raise where he and Rita enjoyed course of many summers, places while making 21 funds for the Deer Island many an evening listening they also served as a host trips to Ireland. He skied Famine Memorial. Some to Irish music and playing family for the Cape Cod into his 70s, and devoted of the multiple organiza- along on the bones. Irish Children’s Program considerable time and re- tions he belonged to in- Born in Boston and which brought children sources to a wide range of cluded the Ancient Order raised in Dorchester of from both Catholic and Irish cultural and historic of Hibernians, Plymouth Irish- born parents from Protestant traditions to- organizations. Chapter, the Corkmen , Bill cher- gether for an extended Always at his side was and Lady’s Association, ished his heritage as a visit to the . his beloved late wife Rita, the Knights and Ladies Bostonian and Irish Amer- Dr. Bill’s funeral Mass who was the light of his life of St. Finbarr, voting ican. He served in the U.S. was said on Wed., Jan. and the true companion of Member of the Boston Navy during World War 15, at the Holy Fam- his days. Athletic Association (Bos- II where he first became ily Church, 601 Tremont From the ski slopes ton Marathon), Co-Chair interested in medicine as Street, Duxbury, followed of New England to the of the Deer Island Irish a corpsmen. He followed by interment at Saint Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny and Dr. Bill fields of the annual Irish Memorial Fund-Boston that with the study of Joseph’s Cemetery, West O’Connell during Kenny’s recent visit to Boston. Cultural Festival, they Harbor Project, the Ran- podiatry at the Kent State Roxbury. Photo courtesy Connell Gallagher, Irish Emigrant A rock-ribbed Irish True public servant, Democrat from Boston UMass Boston booster Lenahan O’Connell subway system was only Robert H. Quinn, a Sav- election. He left public of Jamaica Plain, who sixteen years old, and men in Hill native who recov- life after an unsuccessful passed away on Jan. 5, named Curley, Fitzger- ered from a life and death bid for governor in 1974. celebrated his 100th birth- ald, and Lomasney (“The bout with tuberculosis as a After living in Milton for day last June. While a Mahatma”) were exert- young man to became one many years, Mr. Quinn handful of people achieve ing the growing political of the Commonwealth’s and his wife Claudina the centenarian mile- clout of the Boston Irish, most powerful political moved recently back into stone, it is safe to bet that John Thomas Lenahan leaders of his generation, his childhood home on few do so having lived a life O’Connell was one of Jo- Lenahan O’Connell died on Sunday morning Auckland Street in Savin Robert H. Quinn so large as Mr. O’Connell. seph Francis O’Connell’s 1913-2014 after being stricken at his Hill, where he was often 1928-2014 From family and the law and Marietta (Lenahan) 79th and 86th Divisions home in Falmouth. seen at the local MBTA to the very history and O’Connell’s twelve chil- Democrats. Quinn left and then went on to serve Mr. Quinn, 85, was a stop during his commute politics of Boston from the dren. His mother was the House in 1969 to with the Judge Advocate state representative from into and out of the city. 20th to the 21st centuries, the daughter of John T. become attorney general General Division in New Ward 13 who became After his retirement Lenahan, a rock-ribbed Lenahan IV, a brilliant after Elliot Richardson Guinea, the Philippines, speaker of the Massachu- from politics, Mr. Quinn Boston Irish Democrat, attorney and congress- resigned to take a post in and Occupied Japan. setts House and, later, became a leading Boston did it all, with a keen sense man from Pennsylvania. President Richard Nixon’s Throughout his long state attorney general. attorney and a partner at of justice, humor, hard His father was raised in administration. legal career in Boston, he He was a pivotal figure in the firm Quinn & Morris work, and a commitment Dorchester, graduated Mayor Martin J. Walsh, was also a prominent fig- bringing the Unive rsity of and a frequent presence to people, whether his law from Harvard Law in who represented the same ure in public and commu- Massachusetts to its pres- at UMass Boston, where clients or those in society 1897, founded the family section of Dorchester nity service. From 1948 to ent home on Dorchester’s one of the administra- who need the most help. law firm on Milk Street a that Quinn did decades 1952 he was an assistant Columbia Point in the tive buildings is named earlier, saluted him in a In 2009, Lenahan, scion year later, and served two prosecutor; in 1962, he 1970s. for him. The university’s of one of the state’s most terms in Congress. statement after hearing of was named by Boston Jim Keefe, president of most prestigious award, his death: “Robert Quinn prominent political and le- Lenahan took enor- Mayor John F. Collins as the Boston development for community service, is gal families – his extended mous pride in his Irish dedicated his life in the a trustee of the Boston firm Trinity Financial, also named for Quinn, who service of the Common- clan boasts attorneys, heritage, his father’s Public Library. He served recalled that Quinn spent has been an outspoken judges, three Congress- ancestors hardscrabble wealth, and his legacy as as a trustee for the Boston several years in his youth booster of the university’s a statesman and advocate men, business luminaries, farmers from Co. Cork, his Museum of Fine Arts and recovering from tubercu- growth. and physicians – told the mother’s family hailing for justice will be felt for a member of the American losis at the now-defunct In a statement issued, generations to come. He BIR’s Greg O’Brien, “Life from Co. Mayo. He was Ireland Fund, the Eire Boston Specialty Rehabil- UMass Boston Chancellor is not altogether chance, educated at Boston Latin, championed his name- Society of Boston, the itation Hospital on River J. Keith Motley said that sake bill and, through this and the best training English High, and then American Irish Historical Street. Trinity converted the university had “lost a attainable is none too Following work, was able to open the Society, the Ancient Order the main hospital build- true friend.” doors for young men and good...I don’t believe in his graduation from BC, of Hibernians, and the ing into an assisted living On hearing of Mr. chance. A man largely in 1934, he followed his women to pursue success- Charitable Irish Society. housing complex in 2003, Quinn’s death, former ful and fruitful careers in makes his own chances. father’s footsteps to the Mr.O’Connell, whose and Keefe dedicated one of Massachusetts Gov. The opportunities are al- practice of law and soon law enforcement. wife predeceased him, the rooms in the building Michael Dukakis, his Mr. Quinn leaves his ways there. The thing to after married Patricia leaves his three sons, to Quinn in a ceremony opponent in the 1974 do is grasp them.” Those Halloran, with whom he wife Claudina and his Lenahan Louis O’Connell several years ago. Democratic gubernatorial children Andrea and her words reflect not only had three sons. In addition of Lexington, KY, Donn Mr. Quinn was a Har- primary, said he respected Lenahan’s personal credo, to his law degree, Lenahan husband Ralph Bernardo O’Connell and his wife vard Law School graduate him, calling him “thought- of Rockville, Maryland; but also that of his Irish had graduated from the Eileen Regan O’Connell who was first elected to the ful, intelligent,” and a forebears who are testi- Massachusetts Military Michael J. Quinn of Nor- of Jamaica Plain, and Dorchester House seat in “pretty good speaker.” In wood; Elaina M. Quinn mony to the quintessential Academy with a lieuten- Brendan H. O’Connell 1957. He quickly moved terms of politics, the two Irish American success ant’s commission. During and her husband Alan of Jamaica Plain; four up the leadership ranks men legislated from op- Aikens of Dorchester; story of paving the way World War II, he was grandchildren and three and was elected speaker posite corners at the State for the next generation called to active duty and and Stephanie M. and her great-grandchildren; and in 1967. He was later ap- House. As Quinn moved husband Robert Fallon of and the generations to assigned to the Army’s his brother Diarmuid of pointed to fill a vacancy up through the ranks to follow. Born a century Judge Advocate School. Milton; a sister, Catherine Cohasset. as attorney general be- the speakership, Duka- M. Keating of Hyde Park; ago, when Fenway Park He later served as an fore winning the office on kis grouped himself with was barely a year old, the artillery officer with the and seven grandchildren. his own in the following young, reform-minded – BILL FORRY Irish Social Club of Boston, Inc. 119 Park Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132 617-327-7306 Incorporated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, June 27, 1945 Co. Roscommon Assoc. of Boston FRIDAY (and sometimes) SATURDAY NIGHT CHEER PUB NIGHTS Doors open at 5:30 pm – Free Admission – Live music 8-11 pm Feb. 1 Sat. Irish Whisps March 22 Sat. Erin’s Guild Annual St. Patrick’s Dinner/Dance Feb. 21 Fri. Colm O’Brien March 29 Sat. Colm O’Brien Socials every Saturday, March 15, 2014 Sunday Evening SCHEDULE OF EVENTS at 8:00 pm All held on SUNDAYS at 8 pm except where otherwise noted at 5 pm FEBRUARY 16th The Traditions 2nd Wild Rovers 23rd Erin’s Melody with Margaret Dalton 7th Fundraiser for the Wiener Family. Light buffet and MARCH music from DJ Kevin O’Connell. 2nd Silver Spears 7pm -12am. $20 admission. 9th Andy Healy For more info contact Tim DiAngelis 13th (Thursday) Direct from Ireland – at 617-592-9185 The Druids! Doors open at 7 pm. $10 Boston Irish Social Club 8th Dedham Rotary Comedy Night with Lenny Clarke, Steve Sweeney, & A Delicious Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner Pete Costello. For more information, please call Brian Davis at 781-389-5342. Music by Erin’s Melody with Margaret Dalton Tickets $40 Tickets $35 includes buffet dinner and DJ. 9th Mossie Coughlin and the Boston Irish Follow us on Twitter @irishsocialbos Call Richie Gormley, President Follow us on Facebook: Irish Social Club of Boston 617-327-7777 Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com February 2014 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 3 This is the Marty Walsh we know By Bill Forry Danny Ryan, his mentor ate for the US Congress. BIR Editor Commentary and earliest political con- The contours of the First On Jan. 6, the city and Neponset’s Ward 16, to eat science. “He’s addicted to Suffolk Senate seat had the region got its first into his rivals’ base, and helping people.” recently been re-drawn extended glimpse of the to project the strength of Under Tom Finneran, to include almost all of political leader whom a candidate who had man- who was midway through Dorchester along with we’ve come to know, sim- aged to maneuver himself his tenure as House South Boston and Mat- ply, as Marty. It was a into an enviable spot. Two Speaker when Walsh ar- tapan— a dynamic that good first impression and weeks before, his principal rived, he was able to de- eventually helped my a reminder of why he won rival from — liver big ticket items to his wife —Linda Dorcena district, including long- The cover of the March 13, 1997 Reporter carried last fall: People want to Rosemary Powers— had Forry — win the seat news of the election victory of Martin J. Walsh, like him. dropped out of the contest delayed funding to build in March 2013. But in who was shown with campaign manager Michael They also want him to and thrown her support to out the 72-acre Pope John November 2001, rather McDevitt, also a Savin Hill native. get better— to achieve him, giving Walsh a clear Paul II Park in Neponset. than entertain the idea of more than even they strategic advantage in the Walsh played a support- a Dorchester candidacy, other, less public instanc- right to marry. thought he could. They upcoming March special ing, but important, role Walsh immediately threw es – Marty Walsh never “If you want to label still do. Like every one of election. in compelling the MBTA his full support to South shut off the lines of com- me a liberal because I’m us, he’s a work in progress. There were other very to pay for major upgrades Boston’s Jack Hart — a munication or sought supportive of people who And that has been the case good candidates in the to Dorchester’s four Red move that cemented a po- to exact revenge on this are trying to get sober with him since Day One race: Charles Tevnan, a Line stations. And he put litical alliance with Lynch newspaper. He can get and trying to recover, and of his move into politics. lawyer from the Ashmont- the heat — and a heaping and Hart that was already angry— and he’ll let you trying to stop infectious For folks from Dorches- Adams area; Jim Hunt III, dose of Irish guilt— on the strong and one that would know he is. But he has diseases, they can label ter, he is now the vessel then a law student and old MDC to get Morrissey later kick in to help Walsh always come back to earth me as a liberal all day if of their own aspirations: State House aide from a Boulevard’s crumbling dominate the votes in last and acted professionally. they want,” Walsh told the kid from the three- respected Neponset fam- Beades drawbridge re- year’s mayoral election. He seemed grudgingly to former Reporter editor decker on Taft Street ily; and a thoughtful, but placed, dramatically tell- At the time, this re- accept— and expect— our Jim O’Sullivan, now a po- who has beaten cancer, a unknown assistant DA ing the Reporter in 1999: porter and others were scrutiny, and the criticism litical editor for the Globe, drive-by bullet blast, and named . “I don’t want my parents sharply critical of Walsh’s that would follow. He in a 2004 profile. “Because “the disease” to grasp his All of them— and two oth- driving over the bridge endorsement of Hart. It knew he would get a fair I’m a white Irish Catholic, city’s ultimate brass ring. er candidates— lived in when it collapses.” seemed like a rash and shot at getting his side out. people will assume that Marty has become living, the same Ward 16 neigh- As disciplined as he was selfish decision— one It’s safe to assume that I’m gonna be a conserva- breathing proof that we borhood. Hunt emerged as in his personal life, Rep. that seemed to dismiss as he takes on his newest tive, and I think that’s can tame our own demons Walsh’s chief rival, but the Walsh sometimes seemed the notion of a Dorches- challenge, minor tussles unfair because people and even harness them for Ward 16 folks chewed each to flail about politically. ter candidacy by either with watchdog reporters don’t get an opportunity to the purposes of a greater other up on election day In Finneran’s wake, he Walsh, Maureen Feeney, will no doubt be counted talk to me and ask me my good— like ministering to — and Marty took home backed the wrong horse or a crossover candidate as an important part of his positions on the issues, or an emerging generation of 32 percent to Hunt’s 29. in two House leadership of color, including former political education. talk about issues. I think Bostonians whose futures His Savin Hill dominance, fights. In January 2002, Rep. Charlotte Richie or More often than not, it’s kind of an unfair label.” are similarly imperiled by union support, and fund- he went public with his her successor, Marie St. the Reporter tracked Walsh’s best quality— bullets and booze. raising prowess — all or- interest in becoming Suf- Fleur. Walsh’s career with rou- the one that makes him The confident, poised, chestrated by a top-notch folk County Registrar But Walsh was un- tine reports about bills so likeable — could be his and at times eloquent campaign manager, Mike of Deeds — hardly a job moved by the critique. filed and campaigns won. greatest potential weak- Marty Walsh who breezed McDevitt (shown on the coveted by a politician In a letter to the editor, He showed guts on many ness in the mayor’s job: through his Conte Forum victory cover of the March with higher aspirations. he defended his decision occasions and defied ex- He’s a pleaser. He wants address on Monday morn- 13, 1997, Reporter), con- A week later, he pulled and criticized the Re- pectations. He defied an to leave everyone smil- ing is a far cry from the sultant Ray Mariano, and back from the brink— and porter (me) for “incorrectly unhappy civic association ing. He seeks to defuse hesitant, harried candi- Savin Hill political king- despite being offered the inform[ing] readers that crowd that wanted to confrontation and focus date I first encountered on maker Danny Ryan. job by Secretary of State my support of Repre- block the Pine Street on the things people have a King Street sidewalk in The 29 year-old Walsh William Galvin— opted sentative Jack Hart in Inn from converting a in common. This instinct the winter of 1997. He had was eager to make friends to stay on course in the the voting to elect a new dilapidated six-family makes him eminently come to Pope’s Hill—then outside of his comfort House. senator from the First house on Pleasant Street electable, but it harbors foreign turf for the Savin zone. Unshackled from the “I’ve sat in the House Suffolk District would into transitional housing the risk that candidate Hill upstart – to give his tension of a hard-fought, chamber looking around come at the expense of for the homeless. In the Connolly sought to define: first press conference in six-way race, his natural, and this job is the best Dorchester residents…. fight over building dorms That Walsh won’t be tough the special election to good-natured style began job I’ve ever had and for Its editors were reckless on the UMass Boston enough to say no when it succeed Jim Brett in the to show itself more. He as long as the people of to lay the foundation for campus, he defied his fel- counts, if it means losing 13th Suffolk rep’s seat. threw himself into the Dorchester will have me, a wedge driven between low union chieftains and a friend. Walsh was nervous and work of being a lawmaker, or until I decide to move the two communities who stood alongside his Savin It says here that Walsh edgy. His remarks were but more importantly, as on, this will be the best will occupy the new Sen- Hill neighbors in oppos- has it in him. unremarkable – read from a go-to person for people job for me,” he told the ate district.” Hart cruised ing dorms. And he would a 12-page “public safety” with problems. Reporter. to victory unopposed in tell anyone who cared to Bill Forry is the edi- platform pamphlet — but “Marty chose people Perhaps Walsh’s most the special election that listen— well before the tor and publisher of the they weren’t what was over power and by em- notable local dust-up came followed. Goodridge decision— that Dorchester Reporter. important then. He was powering other people he in 2001 when Stephen Despite our disagree- he’d happily vote to give there to fly the flag in empowered himself,” says Lynch left the State Sen- ments— and there were gay men and women the ‘Oh, Yo-Yo Ma, the pipes, the pipes are calling…’ One of the more memo- wisecracks of the “Yeah, Frederick Weatherly, a different song, “Morning recognizable. That in itself rable moments of Mayor Marty’s a huge Yo-Yo Ma lawyer who dabbled in in Beara,” a reference to makes it the right choice Martin J. Walsh’s inau- fan” variety. But, when literature and songs. It the peninsula of the same and a touching tribute,” guration ceremony at Ma eased into his inter- wasn’t exactly a Top 40 name which is the ances- says O’Donovan. Boston College’s Conte pretation of the mournful hit in Ireland— at least tral home for many Irish Kate Norton said that Forum on Jan. 6 occurred ballad “Danny Boy” — the not in its current incar- Bostonians. Yo-Yo Ma was recruited to during a musical inter- smart talk ceased and the nation. But the melody But it’s “Danny Boy” perform by “friends of the lude featuring Yo-Yo Ma, deep breaths began. that the words are set to that has been adopted by mayor” who were involved the 59-year-old Chinese On stage, Walsh and are quite clearly Irish in millions of Irish-Amer- in the inaugural planning American cellist who lives his family— especially origin, according to Brian icans, some of whom no and had worked with Ma in Cambridge. Many in the his Galway-born mom O’Donovan, host of WGBH doubt interpreted it as a at other special events audience anticipated that Mary— beamed. “I never radio’s Celtic Sojourn “rebel” song — or one that in the past. “[They] had Ma might seek to tickle expected him to play the program. spoke to the ever-distant connections to Yo Yo Ma the mayor-elect’s Irish song,” Mary Walsh admit- “It became known as gulf between ancestral through that history, they Yo Yo Ma at the inaugural heartstrings, given that ted later. “I got very emo- Londonderry Aire, but homeland and the far- invited him to perform, the official program book tional, I really did. And I it likely predates that flung diaspora. In that and he said yes.” played the second selec- promised a “traditional thought he did a beautiful even. It’s likely an old, vein, Ma’s selection was When asked about the tion, he said, ‘This is the Irish melody” as part of job with it.” old Irish aire that was just right for this Boston song choice this week, campaign, during the his medley, which also Neither Mrs. Walsh nor collected by various peo- audience and occasion. Mayor Walsh said Yo-Yo election.’ And then when included George Crumb’s her late husband John ple, like harpers who “It has become such an Ma made the call. “I think he got toward the end of Toccata and Bach’s Cello would have heard the travelled around to the iconic representation, so he picked it himself, the it…when it was nice and Suite No. 3. song much in their child- old houses in Ireland,” whoever chose it [for the song,” Walsh said, refer- relaxing, he was like, ‘this As he took the stage, hood on the rocky roads of explains O’Donovan. In inaugural performance] ring to Ma. “He was whis- is the victory.’ ” more than a few boyos Connemara. “Danny Boy” County Cork, where he chose it well. It repre- pering back to the family, – Bill Forry in the forum were el- was — after all— penned grew up, the exact same sents an Irish-American he was saying, ‘This is bowing each other with in 1910 by an Englishman, melody was used for a aire and it’s immediately for you guys.’ When he

From left, Irish Ambassador Anne Anderson, Partnership Director Kathy O’Toole, Partnership Chairman Emeritus Gen. P.X. Kelley USMC (Ret.), and Partnership President Joe Leary at the Nol- laig na mBan (Women’s Christmas) Breakfast at the University Club in Washington DC last month. See Joe Leary column, Page 4. Photo courtesy Irish American Partnership Page 4 February 2014 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com Publisher’s Notebook For Irish American Partnership, Let’s make their 2013 was truly a year to remember

By Joe Leary they have read.” dream come true Special to the BIR – Benedicta McEvoy, Principal Holy Family National School, Newport, Co. By Ed Forry Public documents to be filed with the IRS and many Dr. Bill and Rita O’Connell, longtime stalwarts of state agencies throughout the United States reveal that Mayo: “I wanted to thank you most sincerely for the Boston’s Irish community, spent much of their life The Irish American Partnership headquartered here wonderful grant of $675 which we received from you learning about “The Great Hunger,” the famine that in Boston raised nearly $900,000 in the year 2013, a yesterday. This grant will mean that our students from ravaged Ireland in the middle of the 19th century. 25 percent increase over 2012. Sixth (Senior) Class will be able to travel from Newport Many died from starvation, and many others sought Expenses were less than 20 percent, allowing for more to the RDS Primary Science fair in to extend their lives by cramming into sailing ships than $700,000 to be sent to education and community this coming weekend.” to escape to America. groups in Ireland. The Partnership concentrates its sup- – Brid Chamber, Principal In Boston, some 25,000 Irish souls port on smaller schools in rural Ireland, with a focus on St. Brendan’s National School, Kilmeena West- arrived in our harbor on the “coffin school library building and science teaching materials. port, Co. Mayo: “We are in a designated disadvan- ships” between 1847 and 1849, and Says Mary Sugrue McAleer, executive director of taged area by the Department of Education. It is an the city’s health officials steered the Partnership: “Many , especially unemployment black spot and unfortunately we have the vessels to Deer Island, where Partrnership members, want to remain connected to lost some families to emigration over the recent years. the passengers were quarantined to their Irish heritage. They select the , village, It is heart breaking to see them go but we realize they prevent any communicable diseases and town or county from which they or their ancestors are making a better life for themselves. It is with great from coming ashore. emigrated to receive funds. Some even choose specific delight that I received your generous donation and There, within sight of our city, schools.” letter in the post.” hundreds perished – from typhoid Partnership donations were received from throughout – Michael Carney, Principal and teacher fever, pneumonia, dysentery, and consumption. One the United States, with California, New York, Illinois, Midleton National School, Midleton, Co. Cork: four-month-old baby died from whooping cough, a Virginia, and Massachusetts the leaders. Events were “The pupils are busy putting together their last details five-month-old from cholera infantum. More than held in Chicago, Washington D.C., and Boston, with on their Science project that will be on show at the one baby perished from “marasmus.” a severe form of golf tournaments in Albany, Chicago, and Newport, RI. RDS Primary Science Fair 2014. The pupils are very malnutrition that leaves the child emaciated and with In addition to having a successful fund-raising year, excited about showcasing their enjoyment and passion almost no energy. Although many Irish did survive, the Partnership established a new Endowment Fund in Science.” hundreds succumbed, and were buried in an unmarked that is dedicated in perpetuity to Irish education, mak- – Rhodi Mears, Principal paupers mass grave on the island. ing a $300,000 initial deposit resulting from special Scoil Cholmcille Christian Brothers School, More than twenty years ago, the O’Connells began donations and savings over the years. The Endowment Cork City: “What a lovely beginning to the new year, to research the history of those who died at Deer Fund will be built with an appeal to donors to add We know exactly what to do with the money, we have Island, and they helped to establish the “Deer Island Irish Education or specific community groups to their a plan to set up book clubs for the boys in the senior Irish Memorial- Boston Harbor.” They learned that bequests. Donors will be able to specify which schools classes and this will allow us to purchase books that the a primitive cemetery there contained the graves of or areas will receive the earnings from the fund. students will be interested in. If it is acceptable with hundreds of Irish, with no proper marking or memo- Though the economy is somewhat improving in you we would call the project the KELLEY BOOKCLUB rial to honor those who lost their lives. The mission Ireland, funds received from the in the in memory of Josephine.” of the small committee “is to acknowledge, honor, and United States can be extremely helpful. The Partner- – Billy Lynch, Principal remember the 850 Irish men, women, and children who ship receives many letters expressing gratitude and The last letter was received after five schools in Cork died and were buried on Deer Island between 1847 appreciation from some very small primary schools in City each received a $2,000 grant in memory of Josephine and 1850 during the time of “An Gorta Mor” – “The Western Ireland. Kelley, the mother of the Partnership’s former chairman, Great Hunger.” Clonmoney National School, Newmarket-on- General P.X. Kelley USMC (Ret.). Bill and Rita O’Connell sought to establish a public Fergus, Co. Clare: “Firstly, thanks to the help of your The grants were presented in Washington DC at the awareness of that tragic history, and to raise funds generous grant received in May, we have set up the Women’s Christmas (Nollaig na mBan) Partnership for a lasting memorial. But their plans were too “Accelerated Reader” programme here at Clonmomey. breakfast. There are many more such sentiments on ambitious: The initial design was estimated to cost This is a programme which encourages children to the record, all of which are testament to the value of more than a half million dollars, and over the two read more books and in having the books, they must Partnership grants to small schools, and one of the decades they were able to secure only about $11,000 answer questions on the computer relating to what reasons for its growth over the years. in donations, with an additional pledge of $50,000 to help with construction costs. And with two successful efforts to build Irish Famine memorials in Cambridge and downtown Boston, any impetus for a third costly ‘Expendables’ and the 21st century memorial on an island now known as a sewage treat- ment plant was lost. By James W. Dolan ments that perform at a high level. In some cases On the last day of 2012, Rita O’Connell lost her long Special to the Reporter nonperformance is rewarded as more resources are battle with cancer, and Bill, then 86, moved into as- At one time, I decried the size of government, its costs directed to inefficient agencies. sisted living quarters in Duxbury. He was heartened and inefficiencies. On further reflection, I have come Conservatives argue that we should limit aid to the when a group spearheaded by then-Consul General to the conclusion the “common good” may require the unemployed or underemployed, thereby creating a Michael Lonergan wanted to pick up the pieces of his acceptance of large numbers of public sector workers greater incentive for them to work while at the same dream project and find a way to make it happen. Last who, in the private sector, would be expendable. time the need for workers is shrinking. Where are the spring, when Taoiseach Enda Kenny visited Boston, the The purposes and functions of government and busi- jobs? They say that if we reduce corporate taxes and Irish political leader greeted O’Connell at a Kennedy ness are different. Given these differences, it is wrong taxes on high income earners, these “job creators” will Library event. It was a proud moment for Dr. Bill, who to expect government to apply the same standards as pick up the slack. But is it likely private employers took the occasion to tell Kenny about his dream plans. the private sector. Each has its strengths and weak- will hire more workers than they need? Last month, on Jan. 6, Bill O’Connell passed away. nesses which can only be evaluated within the context The US Postal Service is an example of an institution Neither he nor Rita would live to see their dream come of the tasks each is designed to perform. that arguably has outlived its usefulness and could true. At his funeral mass at Holy Name Church in Government must con- be easily replaced by the private sector. With tens of Duxbury, both the Mass celebrant, Msgr. Billy Glynn, sider the social consequenc- thousands of employees and facilities throughout the and Rita’s brother, Joe Layden, recalled the O’Connells’ es of increased efficiency in country, it operates at substantial annual deficits. unfinished work. But that dream need not die. a high-tech world. Should More importantly, with the explosion of communica- There’s a consensus that the Deer Island Irish it be the employer of last tion technology, there is no need for daily delivery. Memorial should be in two places – something on the resort even in those areas Is there any doubt that Fed Ex, UPS and/or Amazon island itself, and a larger memorial tablet on the city’s where obvious efficiencies can provide essential mail service at a profit for much mainland – perhaps at Castle Island, or at Columbia could eliminate millions less than the Postal Service? To do so would mean that Point, site of the Kennedy Library. of public sector jobs? What tens of thousands of workers would lose their jobs. The Deer island site could be finished in weeks – with would be the consequences Or, is it better for the self esteem of the workers, the a marker and a simple bench near the burial site. But to workers and their fami- financial security of their families, and the purchas- imagine looking out across the harbor from Castle lies? Are they expendable? ing power they generate to retain an inflated system? Island, or the JFK? It’s easy to see those huge MWRA Or is it better to keep them The same could be said about fire departments in water processing tanks, easy to imagine the tragedy James W. Dolan employed even though the an age where fire resistant building materials and of just how near to safe harbor had come those 850 need for the service has technology have substantially reduced the number Irish souls who perished within sight of a new home! diminished? of fires. One reason both fire departments and EMS Let’s resolve as a community of friends to work to- Capitalism is the force that drives the economy. It personnel respond to non-fire emergencies is to justify gether to ensure that the dream of Dr. Bill and Rita is fueled by greed or, if you prefer, money, profit, and their continued staffing levels. Could police and fire- O’Connell is realized, at last. If you can help, please growth. It performs the essential functions of provid- fighters be cross-trained as public safety officers, able let me know at [email protected] ing jobs, goods, and services. It needs people with to switch roles as circumstances require? purchasing power to buy what it sells. There is enormous waste and inefficiency within the It also can be ruthlessly efficient in its attention to Department of Defense. A large and robust military the bottom line by discarding employees who no longer generates billions in private sector contracts. Maintain- Boston Irish contribute to growth and profit. Doing more with less ing an expensive military also creates the temptation has become increasingly evident in an age of technol- to justify its existence by using it unwisely. REPORTER ogy and robotics where human labor is less and less Because of the military-industrial complex and the The Boston Irish Reporter is published monthly by: necessary for production. The jobs of yesterday are not absence of similar commercial links to social welfare Boston Neighborhood News, Inc., the jobs of today or tomorrow; one person at a computer programs, Congress is much more reluctant to cut 150 Mt. Vernon St., Suite 120, Dorchester, MA 02125 can perform the work of two hundred on an assembly “waste” in the former than in the latter. Without in- flated budgets, defense contractors would suffer, and [email protected] www.bostonirish.com line. Automation will only increase. Mary C. Forry, President (1983-2004) That problem will become worse as the need for one consequence would be worker layoffs. Government is engaged in a delicate balance: It must Edward W. Forry, Publisher labor decreases while the population expands. With Thomas F. Mulvoy Jr., Managing Editor fewer people working, purchasing power declines and continue to promote a robust private sector while at the William P. Forry, Editor profit margins shrink. Although it needs fewer work- same time filling in the gaps where industry fails to Peter F. Stevens, Contributing Editor ers, capitalism needs more buyers for its own survival. deliver jobs. To fund those caught in the gaps, it must News Room: (617) 436-1222 Government obviously is far less efficient than the tax corporate profits and the unconscionable income Ads : (617) 436-1222 private sector. Without the financial incentives that that unfettered capitalism generates. Fax: (617) 825-5516 [email protected] exist in business, there is not the motivation to im- If capitalism is the brains of the system, govern- On The Web at www.bostonirish.com prove performance, reduce expenses, or identify ways ment is the heart. It keeps blood flowing throughout Date of Next Issue: March, 2014 of doing more with less. In fact, the pressure to create the entire body while the brain calculates. They are Deadline for Next Issue: Friday, February 21 at 2 p.m. more jobs, regardless of the need, is ingrained within mutually dependent organs that can function well our political system. when properly balanced. Published monthly in the first week of each month. The Boston Irish Reporter is not liable for errors appearing in advertisements beyond There are pockets of performance where highly the cost of the space occupied by the error. The right is reserved by The Boston Irish motivated government workers do outstanding work. James W. Dolan is a retired Dorchester District Court Reporter to edit, reject, or cut any copy without notice. However, budget increases are rarely given to depart- judge who now practices law. Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com February 2014 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 5 Point of View Blurring history with hagiography A look at a controversial politician and a remarkable cleric reveals the difference between real history and hazy history

By Peter F. Stevens cess, only the most supported the IRA – would likely agree. BIR Staff ardent Thatcherites *** The Microsoft ad is both slick and moving – but believe that she had With February being Black History Month, few would there’s one note in it that likely rankles a great many any sympathy for the disagree that the saga of Bishop James Healy stands Irish Americans, not to mention the Irish in both the Catholics of Northern as a landmark chapter in both African-American and Republic and the North. The ad, in conjunction with Ireland. The hard fact Irish- American annals. Healy, who became both the company’s search engine, Bing, touts remarkable is that the Iron Lady the first ordained African-American Catholic priest women, with the presentation set to a musical backdrop callously dismissed and first African-American Catholic bishop, was born of the hit ballad “Brave,” by Sara Bareilles. No one can the ten Irish prison- on a plantation near Macon, Georgia, in 1839, to Co. dispute that the valiant Afghan teen Malala Yousafzai ers who died in the Roscommon immigrant Morris Healy and “Mary Eliza, and the former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords – 1981 hunger strike a mixed-race domestic slave.” James was the couple’s survivors both of an assassins’ bullets – deserve every as no more than the tenth child. Because Georgia law prohibited interracial bit of acclaim in the ad, or anywhere else. To see both equivalent of common marriage, Morris, who was deeply in love with Mary of them juxtaposed with Margaret Thatcher, however, murderers, rapists, Eliza and flouted convention by treating her as his lies somewhere between incongruous and jarring. The and drug dealers. In wife, sent his children north to be educated. In 1844, “Iron Lady” – really? her view, no one who James Healy was sent to Worcester, Massachusetts, Yes, Thatcher was indeed the first female prime wanted a Northern to begin his education. minister of the UK, no mean feat and one that is by Ireland free of British He went on to fledgling Holy Cross College there and any measure remarkable. Unlike Malala and Giffords, rule merited anything graduated in 18949 as valedictorian for the school’s who work for unity, Thatcher goes down in history as other than criminal first graduating class. He earned a master’s degree status. She derided Margaret Thatcher there and decided to enter the priesthood. With the one of the most polarizing figures of the last 40 years. Misplaced by Microsoft As Eamonn Mallie wrote for Reuters after her death the hunger strikers sponsorship of Boston Bishop Bernard Fitzpatrick, in April 2013: “Thatcher has long been a figure of hate with the following Healy was ordained on June 10, 1854, at Notre Dame for nationalists in for her uncompro- words: “Crime is crime is crime.” Cathedral in Paris to serve in Boston. According to the mising policies during her 11 years in office between Historical hagiography is always offensive, and plac- Catholic Dictionary, Healy was “was identified as and 1979 and 1990, which saw the death of 10 prisoners ing Thatcher in the same pantheon as the other women was accepted as white Irish Catholic.” Pope Pius IX in a hunger strike. ... The Republican prisoners won in the Microsoft ad is myopic and shows ignorance of named him Bishop of Portland, Maine, in 1875. widespread sympathy among the province’s Roman the past. Still, if anyone questions just how effective Healy died in 1900, and throughout his life, this son Catholic minority by fasting to support demands to and polished the ad is, one need look no further than of the Irish plantation be treated as political prisoners, and refusing to wear Maria Shriver’s fawning tweet. Yes, that Maria Shriver, owner and the slave prison clothing or do prison work.” who apparently forgot the Margaret Thatcher that her he loved revered Holy Thatcher apologists will counter that she had a right Uncle Ted saw for who and what she was – a smart, Cross as the place to loathe the IRA and any nationalists after her friend tough, hardline politician whose name remains a sore where his entire career and ally, Airey Neave, was assassinated in a 1979 car spot for countless Irish and Irish Americans. Shriver took shape. Instead of bombing by the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) may have been so caught up in her Shriver Report, burial in the vault of and after she herself barely eluded a similar fate from her laudable pro-women, nonprofit media initiative, the Portland, Maine, an IRA bomb at the Conservative Party conference in that she forgot her own family’s history. How else to Cathedral, Healy spec- Brighton in 1984. Her supporters will also point out that explain her tweet about the ad: “Can we talk about the ified that he be buried backdoor negotiations by her government helped open @Microsoft @bing “Be Brave” commercial for a second? in a simple graveyard the way for the peace talks of the 1990s. In 1985, she AMAZING. Bravery: #WhatWomenNeed!” at Holy Cross College. signed the Anglo-Irish agreement, enraging unionists Tommy McKearney, a surving hunger striker and At the school he so in the province. The pact did aid the process leading former member of the IRA who is now a community loved, a building fit- to the IRA’s first ceasefire in 1994, and the 1998 Good worker, told Reuters that “Mrs. Thatcher’s legacy, in tingly bears his name Friday peace accord. Britain or Ireland, is not something to celebrate.” A today. Bishop James Healey While it is true that she played a role in the pro- great many Irish Americans – even those who never Landmark saga

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. Serving breakfast, lunch & dinner every day of the week Washing Machines and Dryers in building. Kitchen open nightly until 10:45 p.m. Call Michael at 617-364-4000 Geraghty Associates, Inc. GERARD’S ADAMS CORNER Property Managers 772 - 776 Adams Street Dorchester, MA 02124 P.O. Box 52, Readville, MA 02137-0052 617-282-6370 Tel: 617-364-4000 Fax: 617-364-3157 Page 6 February 2014 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com BRETT’S BOSTON By Margaret Brett Hastings Exclusive photos of Boston & events

The Parkway Girls Softball league sponsored a Comedy Show featuring Steve Sweeney on Friday night, Jan. 24, at the Irish Social Club in West Roxbury. Club member John Costello, who posts regularly on the ISC’s Facebook page, said he was “so proud of the sheer volume of people that flooded into our ‘home away from home’,” including the Parkway group on Friday night and the Parkway In Motion group on Saturday night. “I’m exhausted as we turned out fantastic numbers all the while keeping every patron happy,” Costello posted. “Ku- 1. dos to Michelle Costello Watson and Treasurer Jack Watson. We have an incredible staff!”

1.) Susan O’Shea, Carol Dolan, Ross and Jen Birch, West Roxbury; 2.) Dennis Riley, An- drea Fleming, John and Rosa Riley, West Roxbury; 3.) Mark Batte, West Roxbury; Gay- le and Chris Lang, Roslindale; 4.) Noreen and Dennis Glynn, Jamaica Plain; Patty Ardine, Walpole; 5.) Billy Smith, Hyde Park; Sheila Delamere, West Roxbury; 6.) Tommy Golden, West Roxbury; Fionna Mullen, Roslindale; 7.) Lori Higgins,, Susan O’Shea, West Roxbury; 8.) Gretchen Carney, Leslie Magee, Lynn Ro- mano, West Roxbury; 9.) Stu Gordon, New York; Lisa Simons, Roslindale, Ronald Pi- geon, Roslindale; 10.) Will Noonan, Milton; John Tobin, West Roxbury; 11.) Steve Swee- ney, Comedian; 12.) Carol and Steve Prone, Stoughton. 2.

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10. 11. 12. Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com February 2014 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 7 Boston Irish Reporter’s Here & There

Haass NI Proposals Down For The Count – Union standards. With regard to population, Ireland three-way development and commerce. When asked, Despite seven good-faith drafts proposing remedies has one of the highest percentage increases in the EU he always said yes when it could help Ireland. He was for the three fundamental areas of discontent – flags, in the last decade, just behind Cyprus and Luxembourg. a special friend to me and a man who cared deeply to parades, and the legacy of – the five In 2002, Ireland’s population was 3,899,702; by 2012, his core about the Irish in the community he loved. Northern Ireland parties were unable in the end to the population had grown to 4,582,769, an increase Along with his legion of friends saddened by his pass- come to an agreement. There was a short leash on of almost 700,000. ing, I will miss him as I remember a good man and Dr. Richard Haass’s negotiations, a window so Last year, through November, Ireland recorded the his good works. relatively short that it helped preclude the Northern highest growth in industrial production of any country • William O’Connell of Duxbury, known to most in Ireland political parties from in the EU. In comparison, Malta and Greece had the the Irish village called Boston as “Dr. Bill,” was the working through to a solution. largest declines. From November 2012 to November quintessential volunteer for countless Irish causes. He In brief, Sinn Fein and the SDLP 2013, Irish industrial production increased a robust championed the Deer Island Famine Memorial, where were open to accepting many of 13.2 percent. many Irish emigrants are buried in unmarked graves. the individual proposals, but Life expectancy in Ireland for people born today is 83 He was an ever-reliable early volunteer for fund- rais- the unionist political parties in years for females (above the EU average), and 78.6 for ing festivals benefitting the Irish Cultural Centre and the Executive were hesitant to males, nearly two years above the EU average. Ireland its annual festival. Dr. Bill and his wife Rita hosted agree, seemingly waiting for a has the largest proportion of young people (0-14) in the Irish children from the North in their home, and as vote of confidence from their con- EU and the second lowest proportion of old people (65 a expert historian on Ireland, he helped educate and stituents that never came. Once and over). Ireland has the highest fertility rate in the entertain the greater Boston Irish community. Dr. Haass and his co-chair, Pro- EU at 2.4 children. A strong indicator of an improving His interests and devotion to helping the Irish here fessor Meghan O’Sullivan, financial climate is the fact that Ireland was the only and abroad are legendary. Dr. Bill, with Rita at his took their leave after a series of EU country between 2008 and 2012 to have a decrease side (she predeceased him), remains in my experience Bill O’Donnell marathon sessions that failed to in inflation. Ireland’s prices remain 15 percent higher a singular example of a genuinely unselfish, purpose- find common ground, it became than the EU average, but have decreased over a four- driven life well-lived. widely acknowledged that the physical departure of year span from a high of 30 percent. Vote of Confidence for IrishE conomy – The good the US negotiator team was the de facto end of the In Death, He Keeps On Giving –Tom Flatley, news, of course, is that the Irish have exited from the talks in the North. a Mayo man who came to the United States from EU/IMF support program. Much of the stabilization Martin McGuinness, deputy first minister and Ireland as a plumber’s helper in the 1950s, enjoyed has been accomplished, predictably, on the backs of former IRA commander, urged unionist leaders to one of the most spectacular business success stories of the Irish working class but kudos, too, for the govern- confront loyalists and stop allowing “extreme ele- the 20th Century. He owned hotels, nursing homes, ment’s iron discipline on domestic finances. ments within their community” to set the agenda apartment buildings, retail and business malls, office And there is more good news. Moody’s Investors on the Haass proposals. The SDLP leader, Alasdair buildings, and as a private corporation sole, he had no Service has upgraded Ireland from its former junk McDonnell, following the breakdown of the talks, bosses, no stockholders, and no one to answer to when bond rating to a respectable investment grade rating. predicted that the Stormont Assembly might soon he invested in companies and enterprises he believed No small victory for the Irish economy. move to implement and legislate some of the Haass in. And he did a lot of that wise investing and lived A second, less dramatic, turn in Irish fortunes is the proposals. A month after the collapse of the talks, that a life without frills or fanfare – and without trips to announcement that the world’s richest man, Bill Gates, prediction is more a hope than a plan, but it deserves Las Vegas or the world’s hot spots. He was tough but is once again buying Irish bonds. Gates is recognized serious consideration. fair in his business dealings and, above all, he did it on as a canny investor; his wealth increased by over 25 The US and British governments exerted increasing his own. Financial gurus who knew how to maximize percent in the past year. The Bill and Melinda Gates pressure on the NI parties to compromise on a way revenue in a thriving company like Flatley’s urged Foundation owns some $20 million of Irish bonds and forward. Prime Minister David Cameron said there him, the sole owner of the privately held company, the signal that sends investors is that investing in was “a lot of merit” in the Haass proposals, and US to go public by opting for an IPO to create and issue Ireland is a smart idea. Vice President phoned first MinisterPeter stock that would have meant enormous personal gain. RANDOM CLIPPINGS Robinson on his birthday urging him to help reach Tom Flatley said “no.” He chose to run his business Be assured that the hiring of John Allen of the an agreement. When all was said and done, however, affairs far from the artifice of galloping stock prices National Catholic Reporter by is inertia and timidity held the day. and end-of-the-rainbow mergers and, God forbid, other a certified Big Deal. The best-sourced and respected Philomena Campaigns to Open Adoption Files people’s ideas of how to run his business empire. He senior correspondent for the NCR is a legend at the – Philomena Lee, whose life inspired the Oscar-nom- kept his own counsel, set his own azimuth, and it was Vatican and he could lead a new Globe launch of a inated movie “Philomena,” is heading up a campaign right for him. free-standing publication devoted to Catholicism. … aimed at shaming the Irish state into publicly releas- And the same can be said about his giving, the wide- Robert Gates, former Defense Secretary and author ing the secret records of some 60,000 forced adoptions. ranging but personal charities that he cared about and of a new book on his years in Washington, is a good Sixty years after thousands of unwed mothers were cherished and nurtured during his life and on after man, but finding fault with President Obama for forced by the Irish government and its institutions to his death in 2008. He sought no plaudits or honors not buying into every idea and plan advanced by the give up their babies and never be allowed to see them for his generosity to the myriad causes he considered US military badly misses the mark. … Margaret again, the Irish files remain stubbornly closed. socially and morally deserving. Many a self-exiled Brennan, the 30-something correspondent covering The real Philomena nurtured her son for over three Irish emigrant ended his days back home, under an the State Department for CBS News is a rising star. years before they were forcibly separated. After flee- Irish sky when there was no money for a funeral and She has a great education, is a tenacious interviewer, ing Ireland, she became a psychiatric nurse in Britain that final flight home, thanks to Tom Flatley. He a term member of the Foreign Affairs Council, and has and worked there for 30 years before she began her never mentioned those somber slivers of help. Nor strong connections with University College Dublin. … search for her adult son. The film is mostly an account other initiatives such as the Irish Famine Memorial, The unprecedented poll of Catholics worldwide on some of that search. which, I believe, may never have seen the light of day controversial social issues announced last October by The Irish government refuses to open the adop- in Boston but for Tom Flatley. And there were many the Catholic Synod sounds like a great idea but when tion files, citing the Constitution and a court ruling other missions of mercy that were neither recorded is the questionnaire going to be circulated to American that there is no automatic right to information on an nor publicized, in keeping with the giver’s wishes. parishes? … He’s Back! Chris Lydon, who had a bumpy adoptee’s birth parents. But as the headline above notes, Tom keeps on giv- ride with PBS in Boston, has joined WBUR radio with Life Imitating Art: The Vito Corleone and Gerry ing. His Flatley Foundation is a prominent, big-time a weekly program (Thursday nights at 9) that he calls Adams Shows – In 1972 the movie “The Godfather,” Massachusetts charity. Almost six years after his “a Boston conversation with global attitude.” with Marlon Brando as the Don, Vito Corleone, and passing, it is thriving, with assets of half-a-billion Isn’t it long past time for the two parts of Ireland’s Al Pacino as his son Michael, was released and since dollars and growing. The causes it aids and supports police, the PSNI and the Garda, to get their act tight- that much-heralded launch it has won praise as one of to the tune of multiple millions a year make it a major ened & together and show a strong, unified front to the best films ever in world cinema. One of the most player and a direct, living link to Flatley’s concerns the so-called dissident republicans engaged in a terror taut and telling moments in the Oscar-winning film and compassion. campaign? … New poll numbers (Jan. 10) show Enda is when the Don is gunned down on the street by rival Among those causes are Catholic agencies and Kenny and his Fine Gael holding their own at 28 gang gunmen and severely wounded. He is rushed to a churches, civil liberties and right to life, elementary percent, Fianna Fail at a resurgent 22 percent, Sinn New York hospital where his eldest son, Sonny, takes and secondary and higher education, human services, Fein with a gain to 18 percent, and Labour, the weak command and throws a cordon around the hospital and international affairs. An extraordinary legacy by coalition partner, at 10 percengt. … Time marches on. to protect his father from additional assassins and any measure. The 80 men who made up the Doolittle Raiders (look crooked cops. One of the cops, a commander, orders PASSAGES it up) in their 1942 bombing mission to Japan were Corleone family guards out of the hospital, leaving the The Boston Irish community lost three distinguished sadly down to four airmen at their last reunion. … Don unprotected. But Michael arrives on the scene, and hugely respected personalities in a one week It’s early but to date there are few contenders beyond moves his father to another room, then thwarts the period following the New Year. On Jan. 5, Lenahan Hillary Clinton for the 2016 Democratic nomination. would-be assassins by standing guard on the hospital O’Connell, Esq., died at 100 years of age. The next One possible is Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, steps beside a man who owes the Don a favor. Help day, Dr. Bill O’Connell, a mainstay of the Boston Irish a favorite of many Irish voters. … The mystery of this arrives soon after and the family guards are restored, community’s volunteer brigade passed away. And on still young New Year is who is stealing expensive beer but not before Michael has his nose broken by the cor- Jan. 12, Robert Quinn, one-time Massachusetts House kegs in Ireland? Some 400,000 kegs worth over $50 rupt commander. The Don recovers and returns home. speaker and state attorney general, suddenly left us. million are missing. Whereabouts unknown. … Knock Shift to March 1984, and to the Royal Victoria • Lenahan O’Connell was a longtime associate from Airport, the brainchild of the late Monsignor Horgan, Hospital in central Belfast. Gerry Adams, an IRA my years in Boston’s Eire Society. We served together is predicting that this year will be its busiest ever. And member and Sinn Fein leader, is shot and seriously on the society’s board of directors and he was a valued Shannon Airport (whose demise was predicted but is wounded. He arrives at the hospital surrounded by friend, an honored member of the bar, and a true gentle- fairly healthy) recorded an increase in passenger num- Sinn Fein/IRA volunteers and placed in a secure ward man. He practiced law at the 108-year-old Milk Street bers in 2013. … Real estate experts across Europe have that is protected by Royal Ulster Constabulary police. family firm, O’Connell & O’Connell, and was descended tapped Dublin as the top property investment for this Meanwhile, his Sinn Fein comrades take control of from a long line of prominent attorneys, members of new year. … On Sun., Feb 16 at 2 p.m. at the Milton security, patrolling the halls and perimeters outside Congress, and public servants. His Irish roots were Public Library, the author Mary C. Kelly will talk Adams’s room. The security detail is wary not only deep and he served for many years in behalf of such about and sign her new book, “Ireland’s of another assassination attempt but also of the NI causes as the American Ireland Fund, the Charitable in Irish-American History.” Helping Professor Kelly police, who are widely distrusted by the republicans. Irish, the Eire Society, as a trustee for several venerable launch her book is Catherine Shannon. Several complaints were filed by unionist politicians Boston cultural institutions, and as an active member Everyone’s Irish. Meryl Streep, America’s most ac- about the protection of Adams at the hospital, but the in numerous Irish organizations. claimed actor, has had her roots traced to Co. Donegal. Northern Ireland Office dismissed the claims, saying • Robert H. Quinn, public servant, proud son of … For golfers who might look to travel, The Irish Open that it was a silly matter with which to bother the Dorchester and one of the beloved veterans of the Bay will be held at the Fota Park Resort in Cork June 9-12. Secretary of State. State’s political wars, was a man I admired enormously. … Bill Clinton will travel to Belfast and likely also to We will never know, but I can’t help wondering if He had a generous heart, had never succumbed to Dublin in early March in conjunction with an event at the “Godfather” movie’s hospital scene a dozen years the cynicism of the campaign trail, and led a life that Clinton’s institution at Queens. … It’s still being sorted before inspired Gerry’s allies to go that extra mile for was a testament to his ideals and integrity. And he out but the harsh turf-cutting ban has been partially their leader ? never, ever forgot where he came from! Bob’s spirit lifted, but the issue remains to be resolved. … If you’re Scrolling through the Statistics – Most of the of generosity, on behalf of many causes, extended to interested, Whitey Bulger’s gold and diamond clad- indicators for Ireland that are tracked by those think helping – by donating his Milton home for annual dagh ring will be the most valuable item ($48,000) for tanks and economists who measure shifts in fortune fund-raisers – Boston Ireland Ventures, a nonprofit sale at an upcoming auction of his belongings. The and social activity are fairly healthy by European that linked Boston, Derry, and Galway in promoting sale is to benefit his victims. Page 8 February 2014 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com Immigration Q & A Irish International Immigrant Center Have you ever An agency accredited by US Department of Justice 100 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110 been inspected? Telephone (617) 542-7654 Fax (617) 542-7655 Q. I was filling out an application form for US Website:iiicenter.org Email: [email protected] Citizenship and Immigration Services, and there was a question asking whether I had been “inspected” by an immigration officer when I last entered the US. Like every other time, I just got off the plane, stood in line, showed my passport and had it stamped, had my fingerprints and a digital photo taken, answered a few questions, and was on my way. Doesn’t “inspection” mean something more elaborate than that? A. You were in fact inspected by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The process you described is what some 98 percent of visitors to the US experience. It is officially known as “primary inspection” and is the routine treatment that visitors receive. The remaining roughly 2 percent are subjected to what is known as “secondary inspection.” This is what happens when the CBP officer at the primary inspection point thinks there may be a problem with the admissibility of the visitor, based on incomplete travel documents, a name match with a government law enforcement database, Food and fun for all at the Taste of Ireland or the like. In addition, a small number of visitors are selected randomly for secondary inspection. Join Us for IIIC’s An- clinic prior to the event offers a six-week Citizen- exam and interview and With secondary inspection, the visitor is taken to nual “Taste of Ireland” (10:30-12:30), and during ship Class in which our he is now looking forward an area separate from the primary inspection area, at the Cape Cod Irish the event Harbor Com- experienced instructors to the oath ceremony that sometimes a private room, and questioned and pos- Village – On Sun., Feb. 9, munity Health Center prepare students for the will officially make him a sibly searched. (This is probably what most people at 1 p.m., the Irish Inter- will be on hand to answer exam and the application US citizen. He couldn’t be think of when they hear the word “inspection.”) After national Immigrant Cen- guests’ questions regard- interview. Just as im- more enthusiastic about the secondary inspection, some 90 percent of those ter and the Cape Cod Irish ing affordable health portantly, students learn the experience. Asked if involved are, in fact, admitted to the United States. Village will once again insurance. about civic engagement he would recommend the So remember: Any travelers coming through US present their “Taste of The entry fee for Taste and how they can take an class to his friends, Ki- ports of entry in the normal way, with no problems, have Ireland,” a celebration of of Ireland is $15. For active role in their com- eran responds, “I already in fact been “inspected” by immigration authorities. Irish food and culture. An more information, please munities. have!” CBP has a fact sheet on the inspection process and abundance of traditional contact Ann Marie at Is the class helpful? Just Offered seasonally, the the reasons for it. It points out that travelers who Irish dishes and desserts 617-542-7654, Ext. 50, or ask Kieran Harrington, center’s Winter session believe that they have been mistreated by CBP, or will be on hand for guests via e-mail at amcugno@ who took the course this begins on Thurs., Feb. 6, delayed or denied entry for an inappropriate reason, to enjoy, from specialty iiicenter.org. past fall. Originally from and runs through Thurs., may file a report online at dhs.gov/trip. We suggest breads, to seafood dishes, Cape Cod Irish Village County Cork, Kieran had March 13. Classes are held that anyone contemplating filing such a report contact to comfort food classics will be offering special been living in the United on Thursday afternoons us first to determine whether doing so makes sense and more – all donated by package rates to Taste States for 25 years when from 1p.m. to 3 p.m. and in a particular case. a wide range of Cape Cod of Ireland guests. For he decided it was time to Thursday evenings from More information on the inspection process and the area restaurants. bookings and informa- become a US citizen. For 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. To learn functions of CBP can be found on their website, CBP. Featuring music by tion about accommoda- him, voting and becoming more about the class or to gov. For a free, confidential consultation about this or Erin’s Melody, dancing, tion, please contact the more involved in his com- register, please come to any other aspect of immigration law, visit one of the raffle of items donated Cape Cod Irish Village munity was important. the Center during regular Center’s legal clinics. by local businesses, and at 508- 771-0100 or visit “The class was awesome. business hours(9 to 5), or Disclaimer: These articles are published to inform games and activities for their website at capecod- The teacher went over ev- call Sarah Chapple-Sokol, generally, not to advise in individual cases. Areas of kids, Taste of Ireland irishvillage.com. erything. I really enjoyed Education Coordinator, law are rapidly changing. US Citizenship and Im- promises fun for the whole Preparing for citi- it; I learned a lot about at 617-542-7654, Ext. 36. migration Services and the US Department of State family. This afternoon of zenship – a student tells American history that For help with the citi- frequently amend regulations and alter processing and food, music, and crafts is his story – This month I didn’t know. She had zenship application, con- filing procedures. For legal advice seek the assistance once again being hosted and next, prospective US prepared us very well.” tact Beatriz Zarur in of IIIC immigration legal staff. by the Cape Cod Irish Vil- citizens will gather at the In addition to the class, the center’s Citizenship lage in South Yarmouth, Irish International Im- Kieran received help from Services at 617-542-7654, and all proceeds will migrant Center to learn our Citizenship staff ex- Ext. 41 or at bzarur@ IRISH INTERNATIONAL IMMIGRANT CENTER benefit the Irish Interna- about US history, geog- perts, who guided him iiicenter.org, or stop by IMMIGRATION LEGAL ASSISTANCE tional Immigrant Center. raphy and civics – topics throughout the entire our free drop-in citizen- The IIIC will hold a they will need to know in process of applying for ship clinics on Thursday The Irish International Immigrant Center provides free legal free immigration and order to pass the natural- citizenship. This past De- afternoons between 2 support and representation to the Irish immigrant community. Weekly citizenship legal advice ization exam. The center cember, Kieran passed the and 5. legal clinics are held throughout the Greater Boston area where you can receive a free and confidential consultation with our staff and volunteer attorneys. For more information, call us at (617) 542-7654. Matters Of Substance

Upcoming Clinic Schedule Ending stigma needs your voice Tuesday, February 4th IIIC, 100 Franklin St. Downtown Boston Entrance is at 201 Devonshire Street By Danielle Owen media in general, tend to these media depictions, IIIC Staff focus on how drugs and telling the story of some Monday, February 10th alcohol cost our society. Green Briar Pub, 304 Washington Street, Brighton Everyone knows some- of these 23 million Ameri- one. Maybe it’s someone This is very helpful in- cans (celebrities, public Tuesday, February 25th in the family, a friend, formation, of course, but and corporate leaders, South Boston Laboure Center there is another side to health professionals, and 275 West Broadway, South Boston or a neighbor –someone who has experienced a the story of addressing ordinary citizens), who Phone: 617.542.7654 | Fax: 617.542.7655 | www.iiicenter.org problem with substances this issue effectively. In are in long-term recovery (drugs, alcohol). “Faces my work both in Ireland from alcohol and drug and Voices of Recovery” and in Massachusetts, addiction. Among those estimates that over 23 I know the power of the in the film are Rhode million Americans are in community of people in Island’s former congress- recovery from addiction to recovery. Once people man, Patrick J. Kennedy, alcohol and other drugs. connect with the fellow- and Tom Coderre, the The National Drug Treat- ship, they rarely look state Senate president’s the IIIC attended “The FOLEY LAW OFFICES, P.C. ment Reporting System back, and they discover a chief of staff. Anonymous People” (NDTRS) in Ireland re- life they never imagined: Williams asks: “Why screening, with a full Attorney John Philip Foley ported in 2011 that 42 “We are going to know a don’t we treat addic- house, in Quincy. The percent of all those receiv- new freedom and a new tion in this country like IIIC is proud of our advo- Permanent Residency & Citizenship • Family & Business ing treatment that year happiness.” (AA Promises any other health issue?” Immigration • Labor Certification & Temporary Visas cacy for immigrant rights were new to recovery. of Recovery) The answer of course is in our 25 year history ALL Nationalities & AILA Members There are no statistics However, the “Faces shame; of being labeled, and see our advocacy for available indicating how and Voices of Recovery” discriminated against, people in recovery equally many Irish people are in state, via their campaign and ostracized. Think as important as our other recovery, but when you website, “manyvoices1re- about the breast cancer advocacy work. consider that there are covery.org: ‘Historically, awareness campaigns; do Would you like to at- over more than 750 AA intense social stigma and we respond differently to tend a screening of this meetings and nearly 200 discrimination have kept a friend who has breast documentary? Would you NA meetings across the recovery voices silent. cancer than to a friend like to share your story? island of Ireland, it is Mass media depictions who has a drink or drug Call Danielle at 617-542- clear that recovery fellow- of people with addiction problem? Manyvoices1re- 7654, Ext..14 or send an ships have a strong pres- have filled this vacuum, covery.org reminds us, e-mail to dowen@iiicen- Large Format Printing ence there, representing a reinforcing stereotypes “...changing the public’s ter.org to find out ways large untapped voice for about people with a pre- perception of addiction you can add your voice or Billboards • Banners recovery. ventable and treatable and recovery is no easy see this documentary in It is interesting that health condition.” task. The more visible we 1022 Morrissey Boulevard, Dorchester full. Check out the trailer there is so little data “The Anonymous Peo- become, and the louder we here: manyfaces1voice. 617-282-2100 about people are in re- ple,” produced and direct- get – the more lives will org/#the-film. covery in Ireland. The ed by Greg D. Williams, be saved.” carrolladvertising.com public health model, and attempts to challenge Last month, staff from Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com February 2014 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 9 Boston irish Boston Irish Arts, Entertainment, Travel & More BCMR Festeporter thrills 1,100 The 11th annual BC- MFest (January 10 and 11) drew more than 1,100 people to Harvard Square to see some of the Boston area’s best Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton musicians, dancers and singers. The festival, a program of Passim, began the night of January 10 with the “Roots & Branches” Con- cert in Club Passim and the Boston Urban Ceilidh down the street at The Atrium; both events were sold out. Children’s and family Young Niamh Mc Gillicuddy displayed her sean- entertainment in Club nos singing skills during BCMFest’s “Raising the Passim kicked off the A jam session in The Attic of First Parish Church during Dayfest. Rafters” workshop. Sean Smith photos January 11 “Dayfest” activities, and music and Realta Gaela, a group dance performances as of students and faculty well as jam sessions at from the local Comhaltas Club Passim and nearby Ceoltóirí Éireann School First Parish Church took of Music, overflowed the up the rest of the day. stage at Club Passim. In the evening came the BCMFest Nightcap in First Parish Church; the concert, produced by Jac- lyn O’Riley and Jennifer Schoonover, celebrated Celtic dance traditions and the music linked to them.

The Association, Boston St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Dance Saturday, March 1, 2014 7:00 p.m. Florian Hall 55 Hallet St., Dorchester Hot & Cold Buffet Entertainment by Erin’s Melody Harney Academy of Irish Stepdance

Tickets $40.00 per person Hope to see you all there!

For tickets and info: President Colm McDaid 617-698-7112

T Michael McCarron 617-696-1702 Page 10 February 2014 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com Leigh Barrett up for challenge in Sondheim’s ‘Company’

By R. J. Donovan production team is ex- Moonbox, and a lot of the Of “Company’s” rhyth- Special To The BIR cited to be staging its first people in the cast have mically driven opening With wit and neurotic musical. Included in the worked with everybody choral number, she said, comedy, Stephen Sond- ensemble cast is one of before. So they were all “It’s like, chew gum, pat heim’s “Company” stirred Boston’s favorite leading kind of sitting together. your head, rub your tum- things up when it pre- ladies, Leigh Barrett. And I came in and the only my, tap dance, jump rope, miered on Broadway in In “Company,” Bobby, chair left was sort of on the and flip pancakes all at 1970 following an out-of- the lead character, is a outside of everything. And the same time. You can’t town tryout right here at young, single New Yorker I sat there and I thought, listen to anybody next to Boston’s Shubert Theatre. who happily drifts in and this is very appropriate for you. You can’t count on Lacking a linear sto- out of casual relationships. Joanne.” that, because they have ryline, it was one of the He’s about to celebrate When the show origi- their own struggle with first “concept” musicals. his 35th birthday, which nated in the 70s, marriage whatever’s going on musi- Written as a series of triggers reflection. He has and relationships were cally and rhythmically.” vignettes focusing on the yet to make a commitment viewed in the light of a As Joanne, Barrett gets reality of adult relation- in life, and his colorful, different generation. Yet to sing the solo, “The La- ships, the show appears complicated circle of mar- the show continues to find dies Who Lunch,” one of to have no chronological ried, no-longer-married, new audiences today. Sondheim’s most biting order. And unlike many and soon-to-be-married “It’s this little puzzle,” anthems, a condemna- traditional musicals, it friends would like him to she explained. “I’m envi- tion of vapid, rich women steers clear of delivering find someone, anyone – for ‘Sondheim is the master,” says Leigh Barrett. sioning a Rubik’s Cube . . . who squander their time better or for worse. every time you turn it, you on mindless trivialities. up a tidy “happily-ever- epiphany. The show really acter’s lack of boundaries, after” ending. The show originally discover something else. The song was delivered in grew from a series of short takes place in one second. brutally saying exactly You turn it another way the original production by Despite that, the origi- His friends are there but what she thinks? “It’s nal production was nomi- one-act plays written by and it leads you to a dif- Elaine Stritch. George Furth. It was they’re not there, and they definitely the first time ferent place. I think that “No pressure?” I asked. nated for a record-setting don’t know each other, but I’ve played a character 14 Tony Awards. Over the legendary producer- might be why [the show “No,” she said. “We talked director Hal Prince who they do know each other. who, I think, purposefully endures]. There’s always about that. I’ve played time, it has become one They’re all fragments of makes people uncomfort- of Sondheim’s most popu- suggested they be molded something to discover. It a couple of roles that into a musical. his consciousness.” able. And she likes it . . . has a sort of a Brechtian are iconically attached to lar titles, most recently Among the friends sur- it’s a survival mechanism revived by the New York Sondheim, in conversa- feel so that the audience someone else, I‘m me, so tion with James Lipton rounding Bobby is the acer- for her.” or the actor or the director all I can do is be me. I won’t Philharmonic and star- bic and always outspoken Of Joanne’s edgy, take- ring Neil Patrick Harris for “Inside The Actors can put their own thing on imitate somebody else. [In Studio,” remembered, “In Joanne, played by Barrett. no-prisoners, vodka sting- it. I venture to say that’s casting], they saw what for PBS’s “Great Perfor- Boozy, cynical, and older er personality, she said, mances” series. each playlet there were two probably part of the in- they wanted and what people in a relationship than the rest of Bobby’s “She just goes there. She’s trigue in rediscovering it their director was going As the critic Michael contemporaries, Joanne is not afraid of it. Me, I White has pointed out, and a third person who each time. Plus each new for. And I can only go with often acted as a catalyst. on her third husband. Bar- don’t ever want to hurt generation has their idea what’s in my brain and my “Company” “demands to be rett, who has done several somebody’s feelings. I’m done – because the text is We realized that what of what Bobby is and what heart. So that’s what I’m the show should be about Sondheim shows in Bos- very careful with the edit Bobby wants.” looking to bring to it.” so sharp and the songs so ton, including “Follies,” button, with what I choose engaging.” is the third person. So we Barrett acknowledged R. J. Donovan is Edi- invented the character of “Passion” and “Gypsy,” is to say. She isn’t at all. that Sondheim is also tor and Publisher of on- Among those who agree up for the challenge. Alcohol kind of drives her are the folks at Moonbox Bobby, the outsider in five known for his musical com- stageboston.com. different marriages. We “Sondheim is the mas- bus and gives her some plexity. “I said on my Face- *** Productions, which will ter,” she said recently be- liquid guts. And I think present “Company” in realized that there could be book post that Sondheim “ C o m p a n y , ” F e b . no plot in the conventional fore a rehearsal. “He’s the she thinks she’s kind of is the musical equivalent 7-March 1, from Moonbox the Calderwood Pavilion Shakespeare of musical doing people a favor. ‘It’s at The Boston Center for sense. A man comes home of Sudoku. I don’t know Productions at the Calde- on his 35th birthday and theater. I’ve done a lot of something you already Sondheim’s take on math, rwood Pavilion, Boston the Arts, from Feb. 7 to Sondheim but I’m always know. I’m just saying it March 1. The production realizes that all his friends but I assume he must be Center for the Arts, 527 are married; he’s an out- discovering new and inter- out loud.’ ” a mathematical genius to Tremont St, Boston. Tick- itself marks a milestone esting things. He writes for Barrett laughed as she for Moonbox. After four sider. And he has a com- make certain things work ets: 617-933-8600 or bos- bination breakdown and the thinking actor.” described the first day of the way they do.” tontheatrescene.com. acclaimed seasons, the And what of her char- rehearsal. “I’m new to

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© 2013 Ard Ri Entertainments Ltd. under exclusive license to Sony Classical, a division of Sony Music Entertainment Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com February 2014 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 11 L.A.’s has found a new home in a place where ‘things are going on’ By Sean Smith leann pipes solo of Davey Special to the BIR Piper a fixture in Spillane to start taking Coming to Boston repre- up Irish music. He taught sented both a commitment himself the instrument, and a leap of faith for Joey local music scene also added to Abarta. his luggage, and by 18 was By his early 20s, the Los wise and professional- the source, one of numer- playing in a band. Then, Angeles native was already wise, one of them being ous eminent names from at a pub in Santa Monica an accomplished uilleann the recording and release the piping tradition – oth- – right near the beach, of piper, having toured with of his first full-fledged CD, ers include Patsy Tuohey, course – Abarta once again the likes of Mick Moloney “Swimming Against the Tommy Reck and Willie encountered the pipes, in and Athena Tergis. But Falls.” Unlike his other, Clancy – appearing in the the person of Dublin native if he was going to make limited-run recordings, CD’s sleeve notes. Patrick D’Arcy. Irish music his full-time this one is Abarta and Abarta’s much-admired “I was amazed at what vocation – and all man- Abarta only, solo pipes dexterity on fast tunes, he was doing, and I was ner of signposts and tea through and through. his sensitive touch on the hooked from then on,” “I kept coming across slower ones, is in evidence, Abarta recalls. leaves seemed to indicate Joey Abarta performing at BCMFest last month. this was what he should tunes that I really enjoy along with his singular use Abarta is quick to note playing, and it prompted of the pipes’ regulators – his gratitude for the many “The music may have been what helped bring me do – he knew that, as his here,” says Abarta, a Los Angeles native, “but the friends told him, “I needed me to think about their keys that play chords or favors and kindnesses origin and history, and that harmony or add rhythm people have shown him community is what’s made me stay.” to be where things were Sean Smith photo going on.” maybe I should get them to the melody. And there’s over the years, and that New York City was on a CD,” he explains. “As no aural airbrushing of the especially includes D’Arcy, Not that Abarta is brag- pipes – for once – are work- one such place, but an a young person playing pipes here, as the instru- who not only gave Abarta ging. In the end, what ing, and everyone is on opportunity to go to Mas- music, you’re constantly ment’s sometimes cranky lessons – “He never men- matters most to him is the the same pulse, switching sachusetts, and Boston, touring, moving around, nature asserts itself with tioned anything about music, and the enjoyment tunes without having to presented itself, and off Ab- and you don’t always think an occasional, but by no money,” Abarta adds – but and sense of responsibility say a word or even look- arta went. Although he’d about a serious recording means debilitating, squeak got him involved in the that comes with it. ing at one another. That’s visited Boston before, and project. I talked with a lot or groan. It gives the CD Southern California Pipers “I love playing, but I also when you know it’s worth had some contacts in the of different people about the dynamic of a field re- Club, one of the largest in feel my job is to pass on the it all.” area, there was certainly it, and they would ask cording, honest, authentic the US. The club members, music to those who haven’t Abarta is helping co- every chance that things me, ‘What do you want to and powerful. in fact, put together a set heard it, and perhaps who organize, and appearing wouldn’t work out, and he’d do this for? Do you want “Joey has a ‘retro’ out- of pipes for Abarta to use. might want to play it. at, an ongoing series of have to drag himself back to be famous? Make some look – and I don’t mean in (Abarta’s appreciation, Sometimes that not easy, ceilis at Doyle’s Pub, 3484 to California. money? Put forth some sort terms of his clothes,” says by the way, also extends because the pipes are a real Washington St. in Jamaica Four-and-a-half years of project?’ Dan Neely, whom Abarta to his father, who would pain to keep in working Plain. The next one will later, the move east looks “My feeling was, if I could recruited to produce the drive for an hour to take order, and they have quite be held Feb. 8 at 7 p.m.; to be one of the best deci- do a little of everything, I’d album. “He knows a lot Abarta to piping lessons, the personality. a donation of $10 at the sions Abarta has ever be happy. I just really felt of the nuances; I don’t and sleep in the car until “But there are certain door is asked. For more made – along with, say, strongly about this being a know that many other they were over.) situations where I feel the information, send e-mail opting to immerse himself solo pipes recording, which young pipers who are so Which is why when, most alive:General when Ad - 3.25x5 you’re - Reporterto orileyirishdance@gmail. - 2014.pdf 1 1/2/14 11:44 AM in the great Irish piping is not very commonplace. I committed to that aspect years later, Abarta was in a big session, and your com. tradition. He’s the very did wonder, ‘Am I shooting of the music. He has his mulling the logistics for definition of a “fixture” in myself in the foot by not own sound, and while you recording “Swimming the local Irish music scene, having an accompanist?’ can tell he’s drawing on the Against the Falls,” he helping organize or playing But I look at it this way: older pipers, there’s not one initially resisted the idea Prospect Hill Company at sessions, ceilis, concerts, I’m young enough so I’ll style or influence he favors of using a Kickstarter cam- and festivals, and teaching still be able to make an- over another. paign to fund the project. at the local Comhaltas other recording some day, “He reminds me of Ted “Before moving to Bos- Spectacular Weekend Sale Ceóltoirí Éireann School with other musicians. This Williams who, in addition ton, I was very much of Music. And it’s not only time, I wanted to make a to being a great player, was ‘in-between,’ practically on First Communion Dresses his musical ability that statement, about my love a great student of baseball; homeless,” he explains. has made an impression, of piping and respect for Joey is a great piper, and “I stayed on a lot of floors 3 DAYS ONLY but also his old-school the pipers who laid all a great student of Irish and couches, got fed and the groundwork for Irish music.” housed, and the hospital- Saturday, January 18th wardrobe, which often in- 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. cludes suit, waistcoat, tie traditional music, as well If California would seem ity was just amazing. I and fedora, even at events as piping.” to be an unlikely launch didn’t feel like I could ask Sunday, January 19th Twelve tracks in all, point for an Irish musi- or gatherings where jeans, all these people to help me 12 Noon – 4:00 p.m. khakis, t-shirts, and other “Swimming Against the cian, then at first glance again – I don’t want to be informal wear are in the Falls” mixes some pretty someone with the last ‘that person’ who’s always Monday, January 20th majority. And then there’s familiar tunes – like name of “Abarta” would needing something. But 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. his amiability, and his “The Pipe on the Hob” seem an unlikely can- as I talked with friends and “The Battering Ram,” didate for Irish music. and acquaintances, they genuine, palpable enthu- Up to on siasm for having found a the hop jigs “Rocky Road Abarta’s family history is convinced me that crowd- 60% OFF place where things are to Dublin” and “Dusty rich and colorful, however: sourcing was how to get it DISCONTINUED going on. Miller” (Abarta says the it includes French and done, and that it would be “It’s wonderful to have a latter is “a piping standard Basque ancestry on one worth it.” COMMUNION that I think can’t ever be side and, on the other, a The results speak for family away from home,” DRESSES says the 28-year-old Ab- overplayed”), the song air great-grandmother from themselves: 24 hours after 8 k arta. “The music may have “Dear Irish Boy” and reels Wicklow, whose father launching his Kickstarter, 0 oc Also showing our like “The Morning Star” played concertina and 0 D St been what helped bring me Abarta had achieved his resses in 2014 Designer Dress Collection here, but the community is and “The Morning Dew” whose brother worked his goal of $3,500, and he what’s made me stay. I’ve – with fascinating, uncom- way from the Midwest to wound up raising twice Great Selection of Large and Half Sizes been helped and supported mon material, such as a Los Angeles as a theatrical that amount. Abarta was • Veils • Girls’ Shoes • Nylons • Gloves • Purses • Capes march from the repertoire set carpenter, and eventu- able to make 1,000 copies of by so many people and or- BOYS’ WHITE SUIT SALE – February 17th-22nd ganizations in and around of blind Sliabh Luachra ally wound up in the film the CD, and he has needed Boston, and I’ll always be fiddler Tom Billy Mur- industry, constructing sets every one of them to meet ALL SUITS 20% OFF grateful for that. Before, I phy that is paired with a for “The Wizard of Oz,” the demand; at the begin- 12 Field Street, Brockton • near Brockton/Avon Line would travel around a lot tune composed by William among others. ning of last month, he had Minutes off Route 24 • 1-800-586-1951 and always thought of my Reeve for an 18th-century Perhaps most impor- a little over 100 left. home as being in Califor- pantomime, “Oscar and tantly, though, it was Ab- nia. Well, I still do quite a Malvina.” The venerable arta’s great-grandmother bit of traveling, but now Napoleonic song “The who bought the then- my home is here.” Bonny Bunch of Roses” teenaged Abarta his first His time in Boston has appears here as an air, bodhran, sometime after coincided with several Abarta bringing out its full he had seen a broadcast of formative experiences, life- emotional range; he cites a “Riverdance,” and was in- Seamus Ennis recording as trigued enough by the uil- EIRE Phillips Candy House fine chocolates since 1925 pub

795 Adams St. • Dorchester “President’s Choice” Serving Lunch & Dinner Every day, 7 days a week Page 12 February 2014 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com

By Sean Smith ment – it would have been here has a tenderness and delicacy worthy of a minuet, Téada, “Ainneoin na stoirme/In Spite of the great to hear a few duets and Charlie Lennon’s brisker-paced “All About Weaving.” Storm”• Okay, kill me for the sports metaphor, but the with Finn – but it’s hard (Besides Derrane, incidentally, another Boston reference addition of Seamus Begley to Téada brings to mind the to argue with the overall on the album is their rendition of Brendan Tonra’s “Car- 1985-86 Boston Celtics: Already an excellent team to begin result. From the very raigin Ruadh.”) with, they traded for seasoned veteran beginning of the album, But back to Begley for a moment. Interspersed between CD Reviews Bill Walton, and went on to have one which opens with Mac those two tracks is his rendition of a country-and-western of the best seasons in NBA history. Diarmada, McElwain, classic, Marty Robbins’ “Saddle Tramp,” which is presented Téada, in its 12 years of existence, and Tristenstock roar- with obvious affection and nary a smidgen of irony or snark. has thoroughly established itself among the premier tra- ing through the Paddy Its inclusion here suggests the capacity to find comfort and ditional Irish bands to debut this century, built around O’Brien tune “Dinny joy in music, no matter the source or setting, which is in the extraordinary melodic capabilities of fiddler Oisin Mac O’Brien’s,” to the closing keeping with a sentiment expressed in the album’s liner Diarmada, flutist Damien Stenson, and accordionist Paul set of reels – Stenson and Tristenstock tee up “James notes: “Our music, songs, language and culture have deep Finn, and ably supported by the bouzouki/guitar work Murray” and then the other fellows filter in as they shift roots; they will withstand any storm.” of Sean McElwain and the bodhran playing of Tristan into Bobby Casey’s magnificent “Porthole of the Kelp” Éamonn Coyne & Kris Drever, “Storymap”• “Ea- Rosenstock. (highlighted by a superb Mac Diarmada-McElwain duet) gerly awaited” is an all-too-familiar cliché when discussing Comes now Begley, the TG4 Traditional Singer of the and “The Watchmaker” before turning up the power on someone’s second CD, but no question that a lot of folks Year for 2013, a well-respected accordionist steeped in “The Spinning Wheel” – Téada displays most everything were hankering to hear more from this duo after their the music of West Kerry, and a brilliant raconteur. He you would want from a traditionally-rooted band: clarity 2007 debut “Honk Toot Suite” – and they won’t be disap- frequently toured and collaborated with the band (and and precision in their playing, a masterful touch on ar- pointed. The collaboration between tenor banjoist/tenor as a duo with Mac Diarmada) before becoming an official rangements, and above all, an obvious grasp of and respect guitarist Coyne – who has played with Siobhan and Tommy member in 2012; this album, Téada’s fifth overall, is his for the material. Peoples, The Treacherous Orchestra and Salsa Celtica, first with the group. Begley’s contributions are probably They are at the top of their game on the sixth track, among others – and sing- best fully appreciated in live settings: His stage patter, which begins with an intriguing slip , “The Jig of the er/songwriter/guitarist/ including infamous onslaughts of limericks, is justifiably Dead” – a tune used at funerals to give the corpse one last mandolinist Drever – his legendary. No question, however, that he adds a whole dance – and slides into Junior Crehan’s jig “I Have a House credits include Lau and other dimension to the band – one they haven’t had in a of My Own with a Chimney Built on the Top of It” (Mac Kate Rusby – brought while – with his glorious singing, all but one of four tracks Diarmada adds some low harmonies to enrich the melody); together two highly cre- in Gaelic: “An Spailpín Fánach” (the melody sounds very Finn and Mac Diarmada take up “Paddy Breen’s” before ative, adroit talents who much like “The Girl I Left Behind Me”), “Pé in Éirinn” and the set climaxes with “The Bird’s Call,” a James Kelly jig take inspiration from “Ar a mBóithrín Buí,” which segues into “Tell Me Now,” with a particularly enchanting little modulation in the B numerous influences in a waltz by Damien Connolly. part. On another set, they slow down the reel “Gone for the traditional and contemporary spheres. Where “Honk With the exception of a set of slides, Begley sits out the His Tea” to exquisite effect, then head into a contrasting Toot Suite” brought out their quirky side, “Storymap” is instrumental tracks, which is somewhat of a disappoint- pair of barndances: “Joe Derrane’s” (also by Kelly), which rather more straightforward, although hardly methodi- cal or lacking in inspiration. Coyne’s superb banjo and Drever’s melodic and rhythmic prowess on guitar give their music an infectious drive – the word “groove” could’ve been invented with them in mind. One of the best aspects of the Drever-Coyne partnership is that it so seamlessly blends elements of Scottish and Irish traditions (and one or two others), such as the opening track, which combines “Ceapaval” – also known as “The Harris Dance,” popularized by Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser, among others – with Irish-American fiddler Liz Carroll’s reel “The Leading Role.” The ambitious “Marches and Reels” set gathers a Scottish and Irish march, a reel from English banjo player Joe Molloy and a Donegal reel, while compositions by distinguished worthies Ed Reavy and Paddy Fahey show up in “Teddy Bears’ Picnic Jigs.” “Kitty O’Neil’s Champion Jig,” meanwhile, represents one of those personalized tidbits of musical history – the tune used as party piece by a famed Irish-American dancer – and Coyne and Drever lovingly render its seven parts with tasteful flair. And their talent for well-crafted arrangements is particularly in evidence on “Pot Luck,” a medley of the Southwestern-sounding “La Bestia,” the Scottish “Lass o’ Gowrie” and Cahalen Morrison’s “Pot Luck Dinner.” The three vocal tracks display Drever’s clear, under- stated singing in top form, with “Farewell to Stromness” (joined by Eliza Carthy), “Isle of France,” and the highlight, the haunting “May Morning Dew.” In addition to Carthy, Coyne and Drever are joined at various junctures by a fine supporting cast that includes fiddlers Megan Henderson and Simon Bradley (on “Marches and Reels”), accordionist Alan Kelly (“Ceapaval” and “Kitty O’Neil’s”) and percus- sionist Calum MacIntyre, who helps enliven “Pot Luck.” Given their busy schedules, who knows how long it will be until Coyne and Drever carve out time for another album. Fortunately, with “Storymap” now added to their catalogue, there is that much more to savor in the meantime.

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By Thomas O’Grady (1916 and 1918), the Third me still. Special to the BIR Battle of Ypres (Passchen- The hills of home are in For the past few weeks, daele) in 1917, and the my mind, I have been thumbing Final Advance in Picardy And there I wander as back and forth through a in 1918. Each of these is I will. massive hot-off-the-press represented in The Great coffee table book, The War: a Photographic Nar- Clearly, the memory of Great War: a Photograph- rative. those hills around Slane ic Narrative. A project of But of all the photos in afforded Ledwidge con- Great Britain’s Imperial the book, one in particular solation in the midst of War Museums, the book caught my eye immediate- the alien landscape and offers a starkly candid ly—and continues to hold the lethal environment photographic record of my focus—as an indelible of the Western Front. In the horrific reality of life “emblem” not just of my fact, in “Spring,” a poem in the various “theatres” grandfather’s experience dated March 8, 1917, he that constituted World but more broadly of “the allows a flight of imagi- War I: the trenches and Irish experience” on the nation to transport him the battlefields of the Western Front. The back to Meath—to a rural Western Front, of course, photo, taken in Flanders, landscape noisy with larks but also the beaches and appears on page 373 of and magpies and wood- the slopes of Gallipoli, the the book. Snapped by doves and kingfishers and Zeppelin-bombed streets Lieutenant John Warwick bursting with primroses of England, the deserts of Brooke, an official British and daffodils and water- the Middle East, and the Army photographer, it lilies and daises—until high seas. For the most is captioned matter-of- the final two lines bring part, this gathering of factly: “Stretcher-bearers him back to the here and images is not for the faint of the Field Ambulance the now of the War: “And of heart. Corps carry a wounded peace wraps all those hills Obviously, the publica- man through deep mud, of mine / Safe in dearest tion of this book antici- near Boesinghe, Ypres Stretcher-bearers of the Field Ambulance Corps carry a wounded man through memory.” pates the centenary of The Salient, Belgium, 1 Au- deep mud, near Boesinghe, Ypres Salient, Belgium, 1 August 1917. But the poem of Led- Great War—1914-1918. It gust 1917.” The day that Photo by Lieutenant John Warwick Brooke, a British Army photographer, and widge’s that speaks most thus holds intrinsic inter- photo was taken, my taken from “The Great War: a Photographic Narrative,” published by great poignantly to me as I Britain‘s Imperial War Museums. est for anyone invested in grandfather’s battalion picture my grandfather Irish matters: More than was in the immediate passing through Boesing- the contrast: “There is vanished.” In the summer 200,000 Irishmen enlisted vicinity, on march from cottage is now a museum he in early August of one of the dreariest land- of 1917, nature, too, con- in the British forces and a training camp about 10 honoring his memory.) 1917 is titled simply scapes in Western Europe, spired to make the area more than 30,000 died in miles away in Proven to In 1914, he enlisted in “Home.” Like “Spring,” a sodden plain of wide, even more inhospitable, combat. No doubt the next bivouacs in Elverdinghe, the 5th Battalion of the it catalogues pastoral life unfenced fields, pasture as weeks of rain combined four years will see this about a mile short of Royal Inniskilling Fusil- in Ireland, but in this case and plough intermixed, with the high water table under-written chapter of Boesinghe, en route to iers and saw action as a the memories of home are overlying a water table to create the absolute Irish history given its long what would be known as Lance Corporal first at awakened by the singing that floods on excavation quagmire captured in the overdue attention—and the Battle of Langemarck the Dardanelles in 1915 of a bird in war-ravaged more than a few spadefuls photograph—some of the appropriate commemora- in mid-August. and then in Serbia (where Belgium: deep. There are patches stretcher-bearers are up tion—by scholars, by the I visited Boesinghe (now he injured his back). In of woodland scattered to their knees in mud. Ac- Irish government, and by spelled Boezinge) and en- December of 1916, he re- This is a song a robin between the villages and cording to some accounts, the general public. virons last year and was turned to active duty, this sang isolated farmsteads and a thousands of soldiers actu- I must admit that I have immediately struck by time in the border area of This morning on a bro- few points of high ground ally drowned in the mud of a personal investment the distinctive character France and Belgium with ken tree, that loom in the distance Flanders, which in places in all of this: my Irish- of the landscape there: the 1st Battalion of the It was about the little behind the ancient walled was ten feet deep. For born paternal grandfather Just as the photo records, Royal Inniskillings. fields city of Ypres. The pervad- my grandfather and his enlisted in the King’s it is unrelentingly flat, A prolific poet since his That call across the ing impression, however, fellow displaced Irishmen (Liverpool) Regiment in stretching out as far as the mid-teens, the 29-year- world to me. is of long unimpeded fields serving on the Western September of 1914 and eye can see, punctuated old soldier continued to of view, too mournful to be Front, trudging toward served in France and only occasionally by small send verses home to his Written in July of 1917, called vistas, interrupted battle through those un- Belgium from July of 1915 clusters of farm buildings. literary patron, Lord Dun- “Home” was one of Francis only by the occasional speakably miserable fields until the end of the war in Standing in the midst of sany, who oversaw their Ledwidge’s last poems. He church steeple and lead- of Flanders would have November of 1918. After that vast expanse almost publication in book form was killed at Carrefour ing in all directions to given very literal meaning he was demobbed in 1919, a century after my grand- both during Ledwidge’s Rose, a crossroads in distant, hazy horizons to that popular marching he relocated to New York father, I tried to imagine lifetime and after his Boesinghe, in a German which promise nothing song of the day, “It’s a long, City where he married how he “experienced” it. death. Written on Febru- shrapnel attack on July but the region’s copious long way to Tipperary . . .” his Irish sweetheart, who Born in Borrisokane, Co. ary 3, 1917, shortly after 31, 1917, the day before and frequent rainfall.” But there is no need to had emigrated before the Tipperary, he grew up in he arrived at the Western Lieutenant Brooke took Obviously, the emptiness take just my word on that. War. An Irishman to the Clara, Co. Offaly: Thus, Front, “In France” typifies that memorable photo- my grandfather saw all While my grandfather left core, for the rest of his life like the large majority how Ledwidge’s poems graph of the stretcher- around him in Flanders behind no written account he remained proud of his of Irishmen of rural, vil- emphasize the bucolic and bearers in that same would have felt truly of his time on the Western British military service lage, or small-town stock the romantic, keeping at forbidding countryside. foreign and utterly dis- Front and while the sto- and of the decorations he who served in the British literary arm’s length the A memorial to Ledwidge orienting. ries he told my father and earned—a Victory Medal Army, he would have been horrific realities of battle- stands at the very spot It would have felt ut- his siblings have become and a British War Medal, accustomed to a much fields and trench warfare: where he was killed. He terly hostile as well. As blurry over time, the sen- each recognizing general more textured and con- is buried a quarter mile Mark Holborn observes sation of alienation—and service during the Great toured landscape—white- The silence of maternal away in Artillery Wood in his Editorial Note to of homesickness—that I War, and a 1914/1915 washed thatch-roofed hills Cemetery. I visited both The Great War: a Photo- imagined for him as I stood Star recognizing specifi- cottages in rolling fields Is round me in my eve- of those sites last year and graphic Narrative, the there in Boezinge last year cally his service in France enclosed by tumble-down ning dreams; paid my respects to the heavy bombardment of has been registered by oth- in 1915. stone walls, twisty roads And round me music- poet. I remembered my the countryside by both ers, including celebrated As a private in the 12th and lanes overarched by making bills grandfather too. German and Allied ar- poet Francis Ledwidge. (Service) Battalion of the rich leafage, meandering And mingling waves of tillery, a distinguishing Born in 1887, Ledwidge King’s (Liverpool) Regi- rivers and brooks, perhaps pastoral streams. Thomas O’Grady is feature of the War itself, grew up and was educated ment, my grandfather furzy mountains rising in Director of Irish Studies altered the already spare in Janesville, an area on was involved in many of the distance. The descrip- Whatever way I turn at the University of Mas- landscape: “Landmarks the outskirts of Slane, the major engagements tion of Flanders proffered I find sachusetts Boston. were eradicated and trees Co. Meath. (His boyhood on the Western Front: by historian John Keegan The path is old unto both Battles of the Somme in his book The First World War underscores LEGAL NOTICE Burials in Looking to buy THE HIGH COURT Massachusetts Record No: 2013/515S in the Between/ EBS LIMITED, Plaintiff or Ireland and AMANDA DUNNE, Defendant Boston Area? TAKE NOTICE THAT proceedings have been issued against the above-named defendant in the High Court of the Republic of Or perhaps your looking for Ireland seeking judgment in the sum of £311,295.91. Gormley Within thirty-five (35) days of this notice, an Appearance to that getaway out in the Berkshires. answer this claim must be entered with the Central Office of the High Court, Four Courts, Inns Quay, Dublin 7 in the Republic of Funeral Home Ireland. Failure to do so will mean that judgment may be given Jack Conboy against the Defendants in their absence without further notice. 617-323-8600 This Notice is published pursuant to Order of the Court dated Exclusive Buyers Agent the 10th day of June 2013. Further details can be acquired by contacting the solicitors on 781-799-7706 record for the plaintiff: Patrick J. 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Last month we looked at the Irish preposition do and its combination with the personal pro- Cross nouns to form what in Irish are called “preposi- tional pronouns”. Here Irish condenses about a dozen and a half common pronouns with Words prepositions to form separate words. Examples are ag “at” plus mé “I” becomes agam while do The Irish and “you” become duit or dhuit and do and “she” become di or dhi. crosswords are

The slight difference between di /jee/ and dhi / a service of an yee/ is dialectal. Try to say “jee” followed by “yee” and you will see that your tongue moves only Ireland-based a little bit between the two. We will stick with dhi as this is the most common pronunciation. website which

The Prepositional Pronouns derived from provides Irish do, “toword” or “for” in the sense of “on behalf of” Family Coats of are, dhom, dhuit, dhó and dhí in the singular and dhúinn, dhaoibh, and dhóibh in the plu- Arms by email. ral. Notice that there is a trace of the original pronoun in each of these forms except dhó where You are invited the original word do is kept for “he” and do plus muid is dhúinn where the now obsolete word to visit for “we” is sinn. Dhóibh “for” or toward them”, dhíobh “for them”, and leo “with them” are www. exceptions to the rule that a preposition plus siad “they” usually end in –u as in acu “at them”. bigwood.com/ The preposition do can have three forms – do, heraldry d’ before a noun beginning with a vowel and don, combining with the word for “the”, do + an. Do will lenite (aspirate) a following noun. New words for you are “gift”, bronntanas /BROWN- tuhn-uhs/ and the verbal noun tabhairt /TAH- ©-bigwood.com vurt/ from tabhair / TAH-ver/ , “give”. IRELAND IN CROSSWORDS ACROSS 3. Compete, that is, after victory. (3) Tá mé ag tabhairt bronntanas do 1. Lou, go above. (anag.) Wexford village famed in 4. Once in place, a time to start the fairy story. (4) Mháire. song, where Father Murphy led a revolt in 1798. (10) 6. Bernie ceded that his brother’s girl be included. (5) “I am giving (a) gift to Mary.” 5. Chin up! Come to Kerry resort with a 4 mile beach 7. She ate holy mixture in Thurles establishment where An bhfuil tú ag tabhairt bronntanas d’Úna. on the Dingle peninsula. (4) on 1st November 1884 the G.A.A. was founded. (5,5) “Are you giving (a) gift to Una?” 9. Act before the French to get the unemployment 8. Shorn raven in flutter over longest Irish water. (5,7) Tá sé ag tabhairt bronntanas don ghar- benefit. (4) 10. Rod’s own plate gets broken in da. 11. “Anarchism is a game at which the ——— can beat racecourse. (12) “He is giving a gift to the policeman.” you.” Shaw. (6) 11. Chop stew, nun. (anag.) Kildare steeplechasing 12. Dogged reversal for the 11 across in Antrim, Ar- course. (11) Do is not to be confused with its homonyms magh, Derry, Down, Fermanagh and Tyrone. (1.1.1.) 16. Holy dabble up in West Cork resort near Schull – words that look and/or sound the same. In 13. Jolly time spent in Glengarriff, undisturbed. (3) under Mount Gabriel. (10) Irish there are three of these, all easily seen in 14. Fuss at a party function? (3) 20. Label many in disguise in large Antrim linen town the context: 15. Cuts off always when there’s a ship around. (6) in the River Braid valley.(9) 17. Throw the tar on the playing surface. (5) 26. “It is impossible for an Englishman to open his Do as the number “two”. Dó dhéag, “twelve”; 18. Is it suitable for Pat to come around? (3) —— without making some other Englishman hate or Do as the possessive pronoun “your”; do 19. Vehicle returns under prefix. (3) despise him.” Shaw (5) mháthair, “your mother” 21. Leg hair disposed of by Queen Bess’s favourite 28. Building feature evident in popular Charleville Do, sometimes written with a hyphen, do-, is tobacconist, involved in massacre at Smerwick Bay. (7) hotel. (4) the equivalent of the English prefix in-, im-, or 22. “Now there’s ane — of ane old song.” -James Ogilvy 30. Sots are in the horrors and throw up! (4) un-, making something difficult or impossible – on signing the Act of Union of 1706. (3) 32. Primate involved in Ballina Pentecostal service. (3) briste, “broken” but dobhriste, “unbreakable”; 23. “I must — down where all the ladders start in the do-earráide “infallible”. foul rag and bone shop of the heart.” Yeats. (3) (Solution on page 15) 24. At the rear of the boat in finest Erne traditions. (5) Do has a number of uses. Here are some 25. Tom goes back in the miller’s river, that will take examples: him down a peg or two! (6) 27. “No, —, never no more, will I play the Wild Rover, Is aintín dhó. Irish Sayings “She is his aunt.” ...” Irish ballad. (3) In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. Note the word “antee” from English. 28. Shoe mender’s tool found in Portlaw leather works. Many an irish property was increased by the lace of a Is fiór duit. (3) daughter’s petticoat. “You are correct/right.” 29. Put the Scottish headgear back on the floor. (3) The best way to keep loyalty in a man’s heart is to Tá mé ag filleadh abhaile dhom. 31. Run, and won in a brand new way. (6) keep money in his purse. “I am going/returning home.” 32. Amount speculated in Buttevant equitation. (4) A narrow neck keeps the bottle from being emptied ‘S eol dhom sin. 33. Hobo put out in Fermanagh underground cave in one swig. “I am aware of that.” system west of Enniskillen. (4) Show the fatted calf but not the thing that fattened him. Bhí muid ar dhul amach ar tráthnóna 34. Fine, as then disturbed by the Irish Republican Marry a woman from the mountain, and you’ll marry dhuinn. Brotherhood of old. (3,7) the mountain. “We went out in the evening.” DOWN It’s better to solve the problem than to improve the law. And a whole series of doing something for 1. Old Celtic porcine totem seen in Drumshanbo ar- “A friend’s eye is a good mirror.” somebody … rangement. (4) “It is the good horse that draws its own cart.” Tá mé ag tabhairt (“giving”), fall (“getting”), 2. Late scold about small Meath town, an angling “A lock is better than suspicion.” cheannach (“buying”), dhéanamh (“doing centre for Lough Sheelin. (9) “Two thirds of the work is the semblance.” for”) do … Lastly, Thánaig sí don Fhrainc. ADVERTISEMENT “She went to France.”

Now, why is it don Fhrainc? We say “the” in front of several nations – “The United States, The Soviet Union, The ”. Irish Photography by uses “The” for many more nations, even smaller countries like Norway and Denmark. The excep- tions are Ireland, Éire, Albain, and England, Sasana. is “The Little Britain”, An Bhreatain Bheag. We will learn the more Image Photo Service common nations in the next lesson. • Meantime, see if you can put these into Irish; Weddings • Anniversaries 1.) “He is right.” 2.) “I am doing this for Nora.” 3.) “We are going to France.” 4.) “She is my aunt.” • Banquets • Portraits 5.) “They were aware of that.” 6.) “This plate is unbreakable.” 7.) “We will go to Ireland.”8.) • Reunions “She is buying this for her mother.” 9.) “Didn’t you give a gift to Bridget?” 10.) “James!, Where • Groups • Families is my cap?” 11.) “They went home.” Answers: 1.) Is fiór dhó. 2.) Tá mé a dhé- • Special Occasions anamh sin do Nora. 3.) Tá muid ag dul don Fhrainc. 4.) ‘S aintín dhom. 5.) Ba eol dhóibh. 6.) Tá an pláta sin dobhriste. 7.) Rachaimid do Éirinn. 8.) Tá sí a cheannach sin do a (617) 291-6609 mathair. 9.) Nach raibh tú bronntanas do Bhríd? 10.) A Shéamais! Cá atá mo chapín? 11.) Chuaigh siad abhaile dóibh. The official photographers of the Boston Irish Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com February 2014 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 15 Irish offer cyclists, equestrians, and walkers options aplenty across the emerald landscape

By Judy Enright stallions. The property is Special to the BIR also home to Japanese Going green doesn’t nec- Gardens, created between essarily mean going to the 1906 and 1910, where rare Emerald Isle but it could. plants flourish, and there There is much focus in are acres of woodland and Ireland today on visitors lakeside walks through a enjoying their stay with- garden dedicated to Saint out adding to the carbon Fiachra, patron saint of footprint. Where bus tours gardeners. There’s a café and car travel were once and craft shop as well and the only way to see the there are guided tours countryside, many tour- daily of the stud farm. The ists today property is open from Feb- Traveling c h o o s e ruary to November. For walking, more information, visit: People c y c l i n g , irish-national-stud.ie. a n d MUSIC FESTIVALS equestrian vacations. If you are anywhere There are, of course, near Doolin, Co. Clare, on many who still prefer the last full weekend of having a car because, February (21-24 this year), after all, it’s difficult to fit do take in the Russell Me- all those wonderful Irish morial Weekend events. craft shop purchases into See michorussellweekend. a bicycle saddlebag or your ie for more details. backpack if you’re walk- The festival began in ing. And, there are some Cyclists ride the Great Western Greenway in Co. Mayo. The immensely popular, mostly off-road walk- 1995 to remember Micho travelers who need to get ing/cycling route stretches from Westport to Achill Island. Judy Enright photo Russell, the world-famous where they’re going faster traditional musician, who than they could on foot or in Co. Mayo, along a for- Tourism Ireland’s web- site, Kilvahan has 16 the area. The museum is died in 1994. In 2006, by by bike or they, like me, mer railroad route. site, Ireland.com. When “authentic caravans,” each in the original (1895) but request of his family, the might be toting cameras Another – the Great I visited the website, I fitted to luxury standards restored Engine Shed at festival was renamed the with multiple lenses that Southern Trail (GST) – is was stunned to see that with sleeping accommoda- the Railway Sta- Memorial Weekend in are better accommodated an 85km stretch through it lists 146 equestrian, tion for four adults and tion complex. The museum memory of Micho as well in a car. West Limerick/North Ker- 960 walking/hiking, and one child and each comes is open from May 1-Oct. 31, as his brothers Packie FREEWHEELING ry that also follows the 348 cycling events and equipped with sheets, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on week- and Gussie. It’s a great One company (and there route of a former railroad routes. That’s plenty of stove, sink/basin, kitchen days and from noon to 6 on time and attracts trad are many) that specializes – the Limerick-Tralee food for thought and Tour- equipment and enough Sundays. See connemara. music lovers from all over in walking and cycling railway that closed in the ism Ireland updates the seating so meals can be net/the-station-house-mu- the world. Doolin really vacations is Freewheeling 1970s. Isn’t this a perfect website constantly as new served on board. seum for more. comes to life in the midst Adventures out of Nova way to recycle those aban- information is received. Horses are purchased Dartfield Horse Mu- of what might otherwise Scotia. The company offers doned tracks? Don’t forget your favor- from Dublin coal yards, seum, between be a dreary winter month. varied tours all over the Bike and walking routes ite travel agents when where each has been ex- and in Co. Gal- And, in Killarney, Co. world and has two cycling have also been developed planning your trip as they posed to years of city traf- way, is another interesting Kerry, from Feb. 19-23, tours through Ireland – in many other areas of often have had experience fic so they are not easily place to visit. Set on 350 there will be ceilis, con- Connemara/Clare (eight the country. For instance, with Irish companies rattled out in the country acres, Dartfield claims certs, sessions, and work- days) and Kerry/Dingle there’s the 100km route and can give you great and are therefore ideal to be the only museum shops at the 15th Gather- (seven days), both utterly from Dungarvan to Tra- suggestions, ideas, and for pulling caravans. The in the world dedicated to ing Traditional Festival in magnificent areas to see more, Co. Waterford. And, information. caravans are available Irish horses, Connemara the Gleneagle Hotel there. slowly from the seat of if you visit the website UNIQUE VACATION from April to October. ponies, and Irish dogs. See thegathering.ie for a bicycle. There are also newryandmourne.com, If you’re not into walk- For information, visit The museum also has an more information. seven-day walking tours you can learn about some ing, cycling, or horseback horsedrawncaravans.com, exhibit on Irish country TRAVEL of Kerry/Dingle as well as wonderful walks and cy- riding, but enjoy horses or email kilvahan@eircom. life from 1800 to 1900 Enjoy your visit to Ire- the Antrim Glens and the cling routes and many and want a different kind net. and there’s a café and land whenever you go. Northern Ireland coast, other activities in the of vacation, how about a PONIES AND HORS- craft shop on site. Visit There are often air/land also magnificent areas. Newry and Mourne area seven-day tour in a horse- ES dartfield.com for more deals available from the The tours are offered a in the southeast corner of drawn caravan? Sounds If you enjoy horses and information. various carriers that ser- number of times during Northern Ireland in Coun- like a lot of fun and it’s ponies but don’t want to For even more horses, vice Shannon and Dublin the year. ties Down and Armagh. certainly a unique way to hire a caravan or take part visit the beautiful thor- airports. By the way, We met a Freewheel- There are many more, too. see the Irish countryside. in a riding adventure, the oughbreds at the Irish Dublin airport welcomed ing tour cycling through And, if you are quite fit, Kilvahan Horsedrawn Station House Museum National Stud in Tully, its 20 millionth passenger Connemara several years there’s a five-day guided Caravans, off the N7 in in Clifden, Co. Galway, is Co. Kildare, about 30 in December, marking the ago and the participants tour you might enjoy called Coolrain, Co. Laois, is an a great place to learn all miles from Dublin. Set on first time since 2009 that couldn’t say enough about the airport reached the “The Heritage Cycling award winner and offers about Connemara ponies 958 acres, there are 288 . the route, quality of the Tour” that visits seven participants the freedom as well as the history of stalls for mares, foals, and 20-million mark bikes, the leaders or places heritage towns in five to explore the countryside they stopped for meals, counties. Accommoda- at a slow, relaxed pace and, picnics, and overnights. tion is in approved hotels according to the owners, no They loved it all. with dinner and breakfast previous experience with HELP WANTED The company is flexible, included. For details, visit horses is necessary. according to its brochure, cyclingholidays.ie. Kilvahan has full fa- and happy to work with As I said earlier, there cilities at the base where those interested in arrang- are many, many compa- renters spend the first and ing special trips, itinerary nies that offer walking and last nights. At the base, modifications, and more. cycling tours and others in addition to toilets and For more information, that offer golf, adventure, showers, there are picnic visit freewheeling.ca, equestrian, garden, and gardens and barbecue, e-mail adventure@free- other types of travel. You playground, a petting zoo, Domino's Pizza is hiring wheeling.ca, or call 800- can find lots of informa- and more. 672-0775. tion online especially at According to the web- Another company that offers guided, self-guided, Delivery Drivers and customized tours is PUZZLE SOLUTION FROM PAGE 14 Connemara Adventure Tours, which has orga- Domino's Pizza, the world's leading pizza delivery company is hiring. We are busier than nized cycling/walking, ever and have immediate openings for delivery drivers who have the hustle to work in some equestrian, guided, and of the area's busiest pizza delivery stores. Flexible hours, full and part time shifts available, self-guided adventure plenty of deliveries, and the ability to earn $10.00 to $15.00 or more per hour. tours for about 20 years. In addition, you can sign up for a history, island hopping, or gourmet- Apply & Interview TODAY and start TOMORROW Connemara tour or choose from many other options. Apply online @ pleaseapplyonline.com/bostondominos or in person at a store below See connemaraadventure- tours.com for details. 187 Great Road - Bedford ABANDONED RAILROADS 274 Main Street - Reading Old railroad beds have 1400 Tremont Street - Boston been recycled in recent 1260 Boylston Street - Boston years and utilized for off- 450 Cambridge Street - Allston road cycling and walking 880 Walnut Street - Newton paths in various parts 4640 Washington Street - West Roxbury of the country. One such 4000 Washington Street - Roslindale path is the Great Western 464 Washington Street - Brighton Greenway that runs from 64 Staniford Street - Boston Westport to Achill Island 277 Main Street - Charlestown

Page 16 February 2014 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com

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