MAY 2016 ianohio.com 2 IAN Ohio “We’ve Always Been Green!” www.ianohio.com MAY 2016 a story about a per- son, place or event West Side Irish American in Irish history; illu- minating them and explaining why it is Club by Bob Carney so important for us Upcoming Events: to know our history. OhIAN: Your re- search and writing Live Music & Food in The Pub every Friday Columnist isn’t limited to Irish history, what else J. Michael Finn, are you doing? “Illuminations” JMF: History, you might say, has 1 “25” Card Tournament by Bob Carney taken over my life. In addition to writ- 8 Mother’s Day Mass & Breakfast ing for OhIAN, I began contributing OhIAN: Mike, your history column articles to the monthly history bul- 22 1916 Commemorative Ceili Illuminations is always interesting, letin of the Catholic Record Society how did you become so passionate of the Diocese of Columbus. That led 27 Steve Mulloy Annual Reverse Raffle. about Irish history? to me being elected as Chairman of JMF: It all started with the Irish language, my wife Marion saw an ad in our parish bulletin in 1980 that said, “Learn Irish by St. Patrick’s Day.” As it was just before, she decided to enroll General Meeting 3rd Thursday of every month. me in the course as a Christmas gift. OhIAN: Did you learn Irish? Since 1931 JMF: Well I did learn a little Irish, but I was hardly speaking Irish by St. Patrick’s Day. Through that class, 8559 Jennings Road Olmsted, Twp, Ohio 44138 however, I became involved in the 440.235.5868 www.wsia-club.org Irish community; I joined the Ancient Order of Hibernians and eventually made two trips to Ireland. When my wife complains about all my books and history research, I remind her that she was the one who started it all! It was through the Hibernians that the Catholic Record Society. I am on I became really interested in Irish my third two year term as Chairman. history. I was appointed the histo- OhIAN: That must require a great rian for the Patrick Pearse Division deal of your time, is there space for here in Columbus. I must have been anything else in your life? successful at that because in 1996, I JMF: When I’m not working on was appointed AOH State Historian. something historical, I work for the Thanks to the support of succeeding State of Ohio as a Financial Planning AOH State Presidents, I have contin- Analyst for the Department of Com- ued to be reappointed to that position. merce. One of these days I’m going to OhIAN: You’re the longest, con- retire, which will give me more time tinually running columnist for the to pursue some Irish and Catholic Ohio Irish American News since its history research projects that have beginning, how did that come about? been calling to me from my file cabi- JMF: In 2007, some of the Irish net. A big part of my retirement plan history articles I wrote were float- includes hitting the lottery! I live in ing around the internet and Ohio Columbus with my wife Marion. We Irish American News Publisher John have one daughter, Kathleen, who O’Brien, Jr. asked me if I would write lives in Cincinnati. a few articles for an Irish paper he had started. He apparently liked what I wrote, because he soon asked me to write on a regular basis. I think my first monthly article appeared under the column Illuminations in May of 2007. I’ve been with John and his ex- cellent publication ever since. I hope my history articles have edu- cated the readers about the variety and complexity of Irish history. Most importantly, I try each month to tell MAY 2016 “We’ve Always Been Green!” www.ianohio.com 3 Editor’s Corner What is Social Media, and Why is it so Important to the Ohio Irish American News, and to You? March and December, it is more which makes sure they see than 50,000, above and beyond ALL your posts. This is how those who read and share our Facebook convinces you to buy print edition at home John O’Brien, Jr. and work. Too many people Social Media can no longer listen to reply. Listen be called new. It is vital, but not to understand. We new. Twitter just celebrated can spray and pray, their 10th Anniversary on that someone will March 21st. Facebook preceded see our posts, react to them, on February 4th, 2004. them, and then heed Small companies like ours the call to action by have to find other ways to liking, sharing and share our stories. There is the most importantly, at- financial reason of course, but tending. But we’d rather have ads on their site – more people far deeper, is reach – reach is you as part of our army. will see your posts when you everything in publishing, and Think of Facebook, Twitter, advertise than when you don’t. in advertising. Instagram and Snapchat as As people react to your posts Social Media has been a God- ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox – We or tweets, the percent of your send for us, to meet our mis- know each has followers and followers who see it rises, dra- sion of seeding and promoting fans. Who is the audience on matically. If you include an im- people, events, causes and each platform? They overlap, concerns, all on a shoe-string but don’t they have very dis- budget, dedicated to being the tinctive audiences? What is their need? And how do you fulfill it? It is different for each network; it is differ- The Irish in Action ent for each platform. Are you running for an elective office? Did you know There are over 1.4 million people of Irish descent in Ohio; when you share 475,000 in Greater Cleveland; 175,00 in Cuyahoga someone’s post, the County: Want to reach them? Advertise in the number of eyes that age, the eyes on you multiplies Ohio Irish American News Cleveland, and through- see it is 10x what by 3-4 times. it reaches with no Put feet to your faith, wheth- out [email protected] 216.647.1144 shares, and that er it be support for your busi- number increases at ness, your passion, your spiri- even greater propor- tual beliefs, your charity or gardner. Preserving, present- tions, as the number of shares your music. Be verbal, but be ing and promoting our rich and likes, activates another lev- physical too – Get up; Lift up; Irish heritage is our passion el in sheer numbers of people and Show up. And then live it and our fulfillment. Through who see your post? What does all over again, on Facebook. If our many platforms of print, that mean? you want to give a hand to a webpage, Facebook, Twitter, The number of people who friend, share. Instagram and Snapchat ac- see your post is determined Go dtí an mhí seo chugainn, counts, we reach and share by rules written by Facebook, slán a fhágáil with an additional 20,000 peo- often called algorithms. More (Until next month, goodbye) ple each and every month. In of your audience sees your post John every time a reader shares it to their own followers, so a About Our good post gets a double bonus. “Follow me where I go, Cover Facebook is set up for popular what I do and who I know; Pipe Instructor Andrew posts to be shown to more O’Bent Enterprises includes: Fowler of the West Side people; unpopular ones die a www.twitter.com/jobjr quick death. www.facebook.com/ Irish American Club Only 13% of your “follow- OhioIrishAmericanNews Pipe Band; ers”, people who have liked www.linkedin.com/in/ Photo by your page, actually see your jobjr/ http://songsandsto- John O’Brien, Jr. posts, unless they have clicked ries.net/myblog/feed/ a button, called ‘subscribe”, 4 IAN Ohio “We’ve Always Been Green!” www.ianohio.com MAY 2016 all come to love! Congratulations to the Ohio Irish American News’ sponsored film, “Mom and Me”, which won Best Documentary All our thoughts and prayers are with at the 40th Annual Cleveland Interna- the family of Jim Brennan, who passed tional Film Festival! away April 13th, and Helen Luskin, who Congratulations to the 34th Annual passed away April 4th. May you watch Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival, MAY 2016 Vol. 10 Issue 5 over us, Guardian Angels; Safe Home celebrating their 25th year at the dear friends. Berea Fairgrounds. Publishers John O’Brien Jr. / Cliff Carlson Congratulations to Jim and Sue Hen- On This Day in Irish History Editor John O’Brien Jr. derson on their retirement and the sale Website- of Gaelic Imports, and the best of luck to Cathy Curry Carlson new owners Barbara Kelly Benkowski by Terrence J. Kenneally and Dan Benkowski. They will provide 1 May 1171 - Dermot MacMur- Columnists the same great food and service we’ve Behind the Hedge- John O’Brien, Jr. rough, king of Leinster, who pro- Blowin’ In- Susan Mangan Gaelic Imports voked the Norman invasion, dies Cleveland Irish- Francis McGarry 5633 Pearl Rd. Ahern Ca tering in Ferns, Co. Wexford. Crossword Puzzle- Linda Fulton Burke Parma, OH 44129 Don’t Forget Us-Lisa O’Rourke 440-845-0100 Banquets, 3 May 1916 - Patrick Growing up Irish- Maureen Ginley fax 440-845-0102 We ddings, Henry Pearse, aged 34, poet, Illuminations- J. Michael Finn 800-450-2725 Clamba kes or Inner View- John O’Brien Jr writer, founder of St.