December 2012 Boston’s hometown VOL. 23 #12 journal of Irish culture. $1.50 Worldwide at All contents copyright © 2012 Boston Neighborhood News, Inc. bostonirish.com

Beannachtaí na Nollag Christmas Blessings by Mary McSweeney Page 2 December 2012 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com

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But, even on his deathbed at age 90, he kept close track of “the game” he loved— especially the brewing showdown for US Senate between Elizabeth Warren and Scott Brown. The union that he built into one of the city’s strongest — Laborers 223, which is now led by his son Marty— endorsed the Democrat way back in October 2011. The Laborers — along with other workers mobilized by his nephew, state Rep. Martin Walsh — formed the sturdy backbone of Warren’s ground forces in Boston long before the candidate caught fire in the polls. So when the candidate herself made a final swing through the city on Election Day, it was no surprise that she stopped at the GOTV beehive at the IBEW hall on Freeport Street. And when Elizabeth Warren finished her round of handshakes and photos at the union hall, she made it a point to swing by Pat Walsh’s house to thank him in person. “I’m not sure that he really knew who she was at first,” recalled Rep. Walsh, who was there for the brief meeting. “Pat was pretty far along. But she came up The Walsh clan at Greenhills in 2000: from left Mary Walsh, John Walsh, Marty Walsh, Pat Walsh - who to his bed and grabbed his hand and said, ‘Pat, I’m passed away last week - Rep. Martin J. Walsh and his father, the late John Walsh. File photo Elizabeth Warren. And I just wanted to say thank you.’ ” Pat thanked her back and then, as she left the room, man,” read one such note. He helped men of all backgrounds, of course, but offered the candidate the first taste of a word she’d Pat came to Boston in 1949 and was followed not there was no secret – and no apology – for the sham- hear many more times that night: “Congratulations,” long after by his brother (Rep. Walsh’s dad, John, rock that adorned the Local 223 bumper stickers. It Pat said to her. “Pat knew at 2:30 that day that she’d who passed away last year). The Walshes hailed from was clearly “the Irish union.” Said Rep. Walsh: “He be the next senator,” said Rep. Walsh. Callowfeenish, a rocky and isolated village in County defended his men without hesitation. He was always Pat Walsh died last Thursday and was buried in Galway’s Connemara region— a place where people fighting to get one more job.” Cedar Grove Cemetery after a funeral Mass at St. spoke their native tongue and cut turf from nearby Pat had a tough edge and the salty tongue that you’d Margaret’s Church on Monday morning. The wake bogs to fuel their hearths. expect from a guy who had to slug it out with foremen, at Murphy’s on Dot Ave. was a two-day blockbuster, In a 2000 interview with former Reporter editor Eoin developers and, sometimes, other union chiefs. To the with long lines snaking around the block. Florists from Cannon, Pat Walsh recalled that “things were very end, Pat was a fighter for the workingman and a staunch across New England had a banner weekend. Massive hard in Ireland back then. They weren’t as good in Democrat— even when he didn’t love the candidate. arrangements adorned every nook and cranny of the this country as they are now, either. You had to find When he “retired” and passed his union baton to his stately funeral home. Most were from brother unions— your own work.” son Marty, he did daily battle over cups of coffee with the Carpenters, the Ironworkers, the Plumbers— they Once settled in Boston, Pat found work where he anyone who’d dare take the bait at his favorite haunt, were all represented. could: on the docks and railroads and in the factories of Greenhills in Adams Corner. The most poignant carried cards from individuals post-war Boston. He never forgot the struggles of those His nephew, who was on the receiving end of Pat’s who had no doubt benefited from Pat’s good deeds in lean years. And when he clawed and cajoled his way way with words more than once, laughed as he said, some distant moment when a nod from Pat brought a up the ranks to business manager, the most powerful “He didn’t like you if he wasn’t yelling at you. He was union card, a day’s pay, and maybe a lift to a job site spot in the union, he made sure that he helped his fel- a fighter to the end.” and home again. low Irish by the thousands get an even shot at work. – Bill Forry “Thanks for all that you’ve done for the working Gov. Patrick talks ‘with pride’ about his Irish blood In the days before the election last month, Massa- chusetts Gov. Deval Patrick used the occasion of his defending US Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren and her family stories about her Native-American ancestry against attacks by the incumbent US Senator, the Republican Scott Brown, to talk about his own belief in his Irish bloodline. Noting that his grand- mother told him she was the product of “an Irish Kentucky landowner and his black maid.” Patrick said, “I don’t have any documentation for that. So when I tell people that I have Irish blood I say that with pride because I trusted my grandmother was telling me the truth.” Sinn Féin politician Martin Ferris, TD, spoke at a November 14 Boston luncheon hosted by the Irish Patrick called the issue raised repeatedly by Brown American Partnership (IAP). Pictured with him (second left) are Joe Leary, IAP president, Mary McAleer, “absurd” and said most people are more concerned IAP vice president, and Ireland Consul General to Boston Michael Lonergan. For a report on his com- with other issues. ments, see the Publisher’s Notes on Page 4. Ed Forry photo – STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE Mary McSweeney’s “Beannachtaí na Nollag” To order, please make checks payable to Ideal Christmas Gift! Boston Irish Reporter and send this order form to: Boston Irish Reporter, 150 Mt. Vernon St., Ste 120, Dorchester MA 02125 The full color print is numbered and q Send ___ copies of Beannachtaí na Nollag @ $85.00 each to: signed by the artist for just $85.00, including shipping and handling. To Name______order, just fill out this coupon. Hurry Address______- New England orders must be placed City______State______Zip______by December 14 to assure delivery __Visa __MC Expire______before Christmas. Card Number______Page 4 December 2012 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com Publisher’s Notebook Commentary Regrets, hopes Caring about Ireland at Christmas By Joe Leary remedy the situation. The previous taoiseach, Brian from an IRA man Special to the BIR Cowen, and his Fianna Fail government resigned in The people of Ireland are struggling. Incomes are March of 2011 three years after assuming the govern- By Ed Forry lower, taxes and fees are higher, unemployment is 14.8 ment reins. When Martin Ferris was a young man in Tralee, Co. percent, and tens of thousands of young people are once To be fair to Cowen, there were early signs pointing Kerry, he was a member of the Kerry GAA Under 21 again leaving. After enjoying a booming economy for to a recession during 2006 that worsened through 2007 football team that won the 1973 All Ireland champion- a brief time a few years ago, Ireland is now severely until the government formally declared a recession ship for his age group. burdened with enormous debt caused by risk-taking in September 2008 at which time Cowen had been He had joined the provisional IRA speculators and greedy bankers. taoiseach for only five months. in 1970, and in 1975, he was arrested To prevent a total collapse of the Irish economy, in Putting aside for a moment the tragic accounting and jailed for nine months in Port- November 2010, the government acted with the advice of Ireland’s recent troubles, what can we do to help? laoise prison on robbery charges; a and backing of the world’s financial leadership and There are so many places to start, and a good one year later, he was imprisoned briefly guaranteed all Irish bank debt. would be: Plan a trip to Ireland next year. Tourism on charges as an IRA member. In It is this debt that hangs over brings cash and productive wages not only to Dublin 1984, he was sentenced to ten years Ireland today. and Belfast but also to the more remote areas that for his role in the infamous Valhalla Should we care? Do Irish Ameri- need it most. The Irish tourist board in New York is incident, where a Boston-based cans have a reason to help? Do we sponsoring a year-long promotion they call “The Gath- trawler was caught transferring an care about our heritage enough? ering.” Many have signed up already. This would be arms cache to the ship Maita Ann off the coast of Kerry. I respectfully suggest that yes we an excellent way to assist Ireland and enjoy yourself Gaining his freedom around the time of the Northern should care and help where we can. at the same time. Ireland peace talks, Ferris became politically active in With great courage and hope, Another means of support would be to help the local Sinn Féin, eventually winning elections in Kerry and our forebears left Ireland years Irish institutions here in Boston area that honor our Tralee in 1999. In 2002, he unseated former Tanaiste ago to come to America to build heritage all year long. The Irish Cultural Centre in Dick Spring and took his North Kerry seat in Canton is a perfect example. Most of us attend their Dáil Éireann Joe Leary new lives for themselves and their , the Irish parliament. families. Many left large pieces Irish Festival, but there are events there each month Ferris was in Boston last month, and spoke before a of their hearts and souls back in their villages. Even and the dues to belong are nominal. luncheon gathering of the Irish American Partnership today you rarely meet a recent immigrant – citizen Other organizations – The Eire Society, the Chari- where he said his party is committed to “the prospects or not – who doesn’t hold dear the memories of his or table Irish, The American Ireland Fund, The Irish of a united Ireland, a new republic that we in Sinn Féin her childhood with all the wonderful Irish traditions, American Partnership, The Irish International Immi- are trying to develop, a better place for those who live especially at Christmas time. grant Center, The Irish Pastoral Centre – all deserve on the island, irrespective of past affiliations or associa- That spirit remains with us today. With determina- support. This newspaper, the Boston Irish Reporter, tions. We can do this together and have a better country. tion and resolve, Ireland is doing its best on its own to which honors Ireland with each issue, should be con- Ireland has been a divided country.” cope with an extremely difficult economic situation, in sidered. Ferris said that since the Good Friday Agreement 15 the process earning much praise and admiration from Then there is the new Irish Network Boston started years ago, there has been much progress. “The agree- European political and financial leaders for facing its a few years ago that has events nearly every month. If ment [calls for] a border poll where the people of the problems and executing an unfortunate but necessary you would like to meet young Irish Americans and a six counties can vote as to their future. I don’t think it austerity program. The speculators are losing their few old codgers who try to go to everything, join Irish should be about majority rule because majority rule has fortunes, including their homes, and some have gone Network Boston. failed miserably in the past and created the divisions to jail. As Christmas draws closer and you make out your that are there. It should be remembered that the government under list for gifts and charitable donations, think about “Working together across the sectarian divide, we Taoiseach Enda Kenny has had just over 18 months to adding Ireland to the roster. believe firmly that in the emergence of a cordial unit, it may come down to actually small groups of people working together on both sides of the divide, reassuring Off the Bench people that were once your enemy that we are now in a different place and we want to work together, to bring about a better place for all children. “That is happening right across the spectrum of the About the importance of circumstances six counties,” Ferris said, adding, “From an economic By James W. Dolan may not be the same, I believe that life deserves the point of view, you have a situation where there are two Special to the Reporter benefit of the doubt. But I also understand how many different corporation tax systems, two different econo- As I see it, homicide is always evil; the degree, how- view abortion, particularly after rape, incest, or to mies, two police forces, two armies, two sectors of local ever, depends upon the context – circumstances and protect the health of the mother, as justifiable. government. You have a double up of everything that intent. Thus, we determine if the killing of another in Just as in homicide, the context is important. There goes to make up the governance of society. self defense or the execution of one convicted of murder are degrees of guilt. Persons who undergo an abortion “We believe that it would be far more beneficial for is justifiable. for the above reasons may be innocent, or at least less the common good if you had just the one jurisdiction. In war, the killing of an enemy is an extension of culpable than those who choose to abort because a child We have to prove that politics works, that our strategy the self-defense doctrine even when both sides believe is inconvenient or not the right sex. for Irish republicans is moving forward. We have to they are acting in self defense or to preserve freedom I also understand the dilemma of a couple faced with bring the broad republican family together with us in and protect the homeland. caring for a profoundly disabled child. Hopefully, a that direction, as we have managed to do, and we have One combatant killing an- merciful God will understand that few are capable of to show there is a way to achieve our goals through the other when neither played the self-sacrifice and heroism required in such circum- direction we are currently traveling. any role in the causes of the stances. The greater good is to shoulder the burden but “What you need to do is convince as many people within conflict, and when both are perhaps those who fail to do so are less culpable. Not the unionist community that from an economic point innocent victims, is consid- every sin is mortal; much depends on the motivation. of view it is beneficial for them to be in an all- Ireland ered justifiable. The church recognizes extenuating circumstances in economy and challenge them in a way that is respect- The wholesale slaughter homicide and in divorce (by granting annulments) but ful, that the arrangement between unionism and past of innocent non-combatants fails to acknowledge the moral gray areas evident in British governments has always been contractual – in – women and children in- abortion, contraception, and homosexuality. that economically it has been more beneficial to them, so nocent but for where they It condemns child abuse but sadly tolerated this we have to move that part around, the economy around, were born – is also justified. widespread evil, showing more concern for perpetra- and I believe we can do that.” Cities are bombed to punish tors than victims. To protect itself against scandal, it Ferris said that as a young father he spent 13 years the innocent populace and apparently found extenuating circumstances where in jail, and was not there to support his wife Maire in James W. Dolan to create such pain and suf- none existed raising their five young children. “The children suffered fering that those engaged in Its opposition to abortion is undermined by equating from the conflict. My family suffered because of my ac- making war will relent. On a smaller scale, “collateral the prevention of conception with the termination of a tions, my involvement in the armed struggle, and my damage” (the killing of innocents) is justified as an fetus. Most Catholic couples see the difference and use imprisonment for 13 years. But the one thing I see about unintended consequence in targeting an enemy artificial birth control to limit the number of children this new generation of Irish republicans is that they are While condemning killing as a grievous sin, the Catho- to those they can afford and responsibly raise. very educated unlike myself.” lic Church teaches it is tolerable in a “just war” – one I believe an understanding, compassionate and all- His said his daughter Toiréasa is a Sinn Fein council- in which an aggressor threatens the populace, freedom, knowing God will measure our behavior against the lor and former mayor of Tralee. “She has a law degree or territory of its enemy. However, the perception of context of our lives – our capacity to do good or evil. and a master’s in human rights. They see the world a which side is the aggressor differs from conflict to con- That “capacity” includes all those things that influence lot different than I did when I was her age. In so far as flict. Usually both sides believe they are in the right. judgment such as belief, intelligence, education, health, there are an awful lot of gray areas out there, they seem Not all wars are just but when was the last time the development, family circumstances. and conscience. to be looking for solutions, understanding that you’re church officially declared a war to be unjust and directed not going to get everything that you want, but you’re Catholics not to participate? Slavery was an evil act, going to get a solution that everyone can live with. That but certainly not all slave-owners were condemned to what I see in Toiréasa. hell. Catholic chaplains served in both armies. “You have all these great young people coming through In Vietnam, the United States intervened in a civil Boston Irish and it’s very, very encouraging that we are offering an war on flimsy grounds based on perceived threats that alternative to the people from the status quo, an alterna- never materialized even after we lost. Over a million REPORTER tive far more equitable and fair. I think the general public Vietnamese and 58,000 Americans died for what? The Boston Irish Reporter is published monthly by: is responding to that, especially the younger people. History will likely view us as the aggressor nation. Boston Neighborhood News, Inc., “We have come from the last election 20 months ago Those who fought and died were innocent victims of [February 2011] from 9.9 percent in the polls to … run- 150 Mt. Vernon St., Suite 120, Dorchester, MA 02125 bad decisions. [email protected] www.bostonirish.com ning anywhere between 18 and 22 percent. That’s a The law takes into consideration the context in which huge increase. But the United Ireland campaign that Mary C. Forry, President (1983-2004) an evil act such as homicide occurs. There are excep- Edward W. Forry, Publisher we are trying to build support for is not just Sinn Féin, tions and degrees of guilt. One can commit an evil act it’s way bigger than Sinn Féin. It’s about people, it’s Thomas F. Mulvoy Jr., Managing Editor and yet be found innocent or less culpable depending William P. Forry, Contributing Editor about children, it’s about families, it’s about having a on the circumstances. Peter F. Stevens, Contributing Editor structure in place that everybody can feel comfortable Many believe abortion is the taking of an innocent News Room: (617) 436-1222 Ads : (617) 436-1222 with and be part of it. life, or at the very least, that the fetus is entitled to “And it’s also about having an economy to meet the Fax: (617) 825-5516 [email protected] the benefit of any doubt as to when human life occurs. On The Web at www.bostonirish.com need and requirements to serve the community and Others argue the fetus (particularly early on) is not a people, rather than the other way around, which we’ve Date of Next Issue: January, 2013 person. Some say they don’t know. Deadline for Next Issue: Monday, December 17 at 2 p.m. been used to. If I ever do one thing in my life that in some However, all must agree that a fetus is at least a way will help people going forward from here – if I can person-in-waiting; in the course of its development, it deliver is another matter – we will give it every breath Published monthly in the first week of each month. will become a human being. Is “potential life” worth The Boston Irish Reporter is not liable for errors appearing in advertisements in our body to try and make our country a better place protecting? I say yes. beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. The right is reserved by The for all people.” I am anti-abortion and anti-homicide. Although they Boston Irish Reporter to edit, reject, or cut any copy without notice. Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com December 2012 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 5 Point of View Old Abe and Old Boston: A troubled relationship In Boston’s Irish North End during the Civil War, President Lincoln was not a popular figure for all

By Peter F. Stevens we do thee defend.” through the North End and soon sur- BIR Staff Massachusetts’s Irish regiments rounded the First Division Police Sta- In the new film Lincoln, Daniel Day served with distinction throughout the tion. Scores of Irishmen joined the siege. Lewis brings that towering figure into war, Historian Edward Harrington writes, stunning life on every level. Through- displaying the same courage and re- “They proposed to test the question out the maelstrom of the Civil War, the silience that had made Ireland’s fabled whether the Government had the right Boston Irish had a tenuous relationship “Wild Geese” the finest mercenaries in to drag them from their home to fight in when it came to President Abraham European armies. More importantly, the a cause in which they did not believe.” Lincoln. soldiers of the two regiments, through Mayor Frederic W. Lincoln answered At the outset of the conflict, in 1861, their sacrifices on the battlefields of that question by dispatching troops to the Boston Pilot had pontificated. “We the Civil War, had claimed a stake for the North End, with a light battery of [Irish] Catholics have only one course to citizenship in Boston and beyond despite artillery. The North Enders launched adopt, only one line to follow. Stand by the bigotry of various Brahmins and hit-and-run forays against the troops the Union, fight for the Union, die by the other Yankees. and the police for more than twenty-four Union.” The Boston Irish would do all The foothold proved one that Irish- hours. Throughout the tumult, Father that – and more throughout the conflict. Americans would never relinquish. A Brady and other priests from nearby In July 1863, however, Boston’s Irish proud Boston Irish veteran proclaimed, St. Mary’s Church persuaded many neighborhoods would erupt into massive “If they’d [the Confederates] known it parishioners to return to their homes, riots against Lincoln’s Conscription Act was us [the Irish], they would have the clerics’ courage winning the plaudits – America’s first draft. brought coffins with them.” of the mayor and other Boston officials. By July 1863, the 28th and the 9th Even as the 9th and the 28th battled No one knows how many Irish were Massachusetts Irish Regiments – vol- for “Father Abraham’s cause,” others killed or wounded in the Boston Draft unteers – had proven their mettle and in the Irish North End rose up in July Riot, but the local newspapers ran Daniel Day Lewis portrays President 1863 against the president’s latest call patriotism on some of the war’s bloodi- Abraham Lincoln in the critically ac- the names of scores of wounded men, est battlefields. Below the Confederate claimed film “Lincoln.” The future to arms – the Conscription Act. The women, and children of the “ould sod” cannons and sharpshooters entrenched president visited Dorchester in 1848. Boston Draft Riot was fueled by Irish treated in Boston hospitals. The true on St. Mary’s Heights, above Fredericks- immigrants’ fury at the class and ethnic tally was undeniably much higher, but burg, Virginia, on December 13, 1862, a from the fence and back toward the unfairness of the nation’s first draft, will forever remain a mystery because green banner with its gilded harp and town. In the first charge alone, 545 of which allowed “sons of wealth” to buy the rioters dragged away the bodies of the Gaelic words for “Clear the Road!” 1,315 Irishmen fell dead or wounded. their way out of the fray for $300. The slain neighbors and buried them in se- dipped in the morning gusts. Beneath The 28th Massachusetts lost 158 of 418 sum was far beyond the reach of impov- cret “without any official permit.” the flag, the 28th Massachusetts formed in the suicidal charges up the heights. erished Irish families. On July 14, 1863, the fury of the Bos- columns, wheeled into position alongside Thomas Cass, a notable figure in the Early on the steamy afternoon of July ton Irish at the draft had threatened to the three New York regiments of General Boston Irish community, had recruited 14, 1863, riots broke out when provost erupt with similar violence as the New Thomas Meagher’s Irish Brigade, and fellow Irish volunteers in the spring marshals tried to serve Union army draft York Draft Riots, but Mayor Lincoln’s charged into battle “as if it were the of 1861 into the 9th Massachusetts notes in the Irish North End, where speedy and bloody reaction convinced finest fun in the world.” Regiment, soon to win renown as the husbands, sons and brothers ad march many Irishmen “that it would be less Wearing sprigs of evergreen in their “Fighting 9th.” When the regiment’s away in Federal blue with the 9th and hazardous to fight the Southern rebels caps so “that they might still carry the Irish ranks marched through Boston’s the 28th. Many of the North End Irish than to fight Mayor Lincoln.” colors of the Emerald Isle,” shouting Brahmin streets to the State House, Gov- had had enough of “Mr. Lincoln’s War.” One local Irishman’s words about “Erin Go Bragh,” they rushed impetu- ernor John Andrew lauded the troops Many loathed Lincoln’s Emancipation the Boston Draft Riot summed up his ously forward against a storm of grape and asserted that the nation must view Proclamation, afraid that hordes of ex- neighbors’ view: “I’d rather fight here, and canister that…tore great gaps in alike “its native-born citizens and those slaves would take even menial jobs from where I can go home to dinner, than in their ranks.” born in other countries.” the Irish at lower wages. In New York the Southern swamps.” Six times the 28th and the other men Proper Bostonian maven Mrs. Har- City’s teeming slums Irishmen shouting What is undeniable is that in the Irish of the Brigade charged, each assault rison Gray Otis presented the 9th with “rich man’s war, poor man’s fight” had North End, neither President Lincoln filling the Rebels with equal parts of a flag adorned with the following words: already unleashed bloody draft riots nor Mayor Lincoln was a revered figure awe and dead. The Irish could not form “As aliens and strangers thou didst for two days. in July 1863. for a seventh charge, staggering away befriend us. As sons and true patriots By mid-afternoon, mobs stormed The story of the Irish Brigade and the Lost Drum By John Rattigan Infantry had been formed in dispatched to investigate. They Special to the BIR May 1861 and was composed found a collection of old records In the fall of 1862, the second almost entirely of men who were as well as a cylindrically shaped year of the Civil War, the Con- Irish by birth or heritage. It was package wrapped in heavy federate Army of Northern Vir- commanded by Gen. Thomas brown paper. All of the items ginia under Gen. Robert E. Lee Francis Meagher, a native of were covered with a thick layer undertook to invade Maryland. Waterford, an ardent Fenian, of black coal dust, giving some This decision culminated in the and one of the best known clue to the length of time they bloody Battle of Antietam where Irish immigrant nationalists had been in storage. Lee’s forces were pushed back. It in America. After unwrapping, it was dis- was now December of that year On the cold and foggy De- covered that the oddly shaped and the Army of the Potomac cember morning of the battle, parcel contained a military was on the offensive heading Meagher ordered his men to drum. Painted on one side was south. General Ambrose Burn- place sprigs of green boxwood in a red shamrock as well as the side had been appointed its their forage caps to distinguish The Drum of the Massachu- regimental title and motto of the commander barely five weeks them from other units. He then setts 28th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts 28th Regiment. earlier and was under pressure positioned the Massachusetts The drum was in fairly good from President Lincoln to make men in the center of the brigade Irish Brigade sent in, generally one brigade condition and subsequent re- an assault upon the Confederate line, both because they were Massachusetts 28th Regiment at a time, for a total of fourteen search determined that it was capital of Richmond, Virginia. by far the most numerous and individual charges, all of which crafted by the A.W. White because they possessed the sole kinship might interfere with failed, costing the Union force Company, a musical instrument And so, on Dec. 13, 120,000 his troops’ sense of duty and Union troops and 80,000 Con- green Irish flag in the brigade. between 6,000 and to 8,000 manufacturer established in the This distinctive bright green so he ordered reserves sent to casualties. Confederate losses mid 19th century and located at federate soldiers faced off that position. He need not have against each other near the flag was emblazoned with a at Marye’s Heights totaled only 86 Tremont Street in Boston. golden harp and the brigade’s worried. These were men at war around 1,200. During these Thanks to the help and assis- small town of Fredericksburg and the human survival instinct some 50 miles north of Rich- war cry “Faugh ah Ballagh,” futile frontal assaults, the tance of Robert Hall, Jr., Presi- Irish for “clear the way.” The of “kill or be killed” trumped Massachusetts 28th suffered dent of the Olde Colony Civil mond. This was to be the largest any brotherly bonds that day concentration of combatants in Massachusetts 28th was the the greatest losses of the five War Round Table, the drum only regiment to carry the Irish on both sides. regiments that made up the was professionally restored any Civil War battle. As the Irish Brigade stepped Burnside’s advance through Brigade colors that day because, Irish Brigade. and in 1995 was presented after the battle of Antietam, off, advancing up the slope, the After the war, Burnside went by the Society to the National Virginia lacked the element of Southerners knew full well who surprise, giving Lee sufficient the flags of the other regiments on to distinguish himself as Park Service on a permanent were sent to Tiffany’s in New was coming against them. One Governor of Rhode Island and loan basis. The drum is now time to concentrate his forces Confederate who spotted the on a series of hills known as York for repair or replacement. later as a US Senator but to the centerpiece of the battle- In the hours that followed, they green regimental flag approach- many Union veterans, he was field artifacts collection at the Marye’s Heights located just ing cried out, “Oh God, what outside of the town. The Confed- watched the first wave of Union simply known as “The Butcher Fredericksburg Visitor Center’s soldiers go up the hill ahead of a pity! Here come Meagher’s of Fredericksburg.” museum in Virginia. erate forces were dug in behind fellows.” The Brigade moved a stone wall on the hillside – a them, suffering heavy casual- We now fast forward 129 years The Massachusetts 28th ties. By coincidence, the stone toward the Confederate position to the summer of 1991 when drum and the young men it highly defensible position. Be- under a murderous fire of grape hind them, artillery commanded wall entrenchment on Marye’s the Charitable Irish Society once called to arms and even- Heights was defended by the shot, canister, and bullets, suf- was contacted by the property tual death are reunited on this the whole field below, ready to fering horrendous casualties all shell the approaching Union Irishmen of Antrim-born Col. manager of the Court Street 150 anniversary of the battle, Robert McMillan’s 24th Georgia along the way. The rifle volleys office building in Boston where a small but fitting tribute to army, which included the Irish were withering and the federal Brigade comprised of five regi- Infantry. the Society’s office was situated those fallen Irishmen whose Knowing that both McMil- troops slowed and then fell back, until the late 1970’s. During life journeys ended on a cold ments from New York, Penn- never getting closer than 50 sylvania, and Massachusetts. lan’s and Meagher’s units a recent cleaning of the sub- Virginia hillside, far from their contained members of the Irish yards from the stone wall. basement, several boxes were homes and so very far from their As part of the Brigade, the Throughout the day, Burnside Massachusetts 28th Volunteer Republican Brotherhood, Gen. found that bore the Society’s native land. Lee was concerned that such a ordered seven Union divisions name. Two board members were Page 6 December 2012 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com Boston Irish Reporter’s Here & There

By Bill O’Donnell done now, Romney was never really one of them. He information between the two and the flight was safely Opening Up Ireland’s West – There are plans afoot didn’t exhibit the character, spine, or the consistency diverted and landed.” to develop an exciting new driving route in the west of to convince them – or us. “The whole thing, said Young, “lasted about ten Ireland dubbed the Wild Atlantic Way. The proposed The reality is that Obama and his committed team minutes ...but I felt good when the plane was on the route, which would use existing coastal routes from of battle-tested volunteers and campaign pros rocked ground and all the passengers arrived safely. As far Donegal to west Cork, would cover 850 miles (1,400 the Romney effort, and routed the GOP troops deci- as I know not one of them was in any way aware of km) and be Ireland’s first long-distance driving route sively in the trenches by identifying the Obama vote the drama, or that a van driver from Castlederg was for tourists. and getting those people to the polls. Romney’s team, talking to their plane from his garden shack.” Over the past several months the Irish tourist board, absent a dry run of the much-vaunted ORCA Project (Author’s note: I wrote the above account from an the Western Development to get out their vote, floundered badly with the system article published in the Belfast Telegraph on Nov. 17. Commission, the Gael- crashing around 4 p.m. on election day. My thanks to the Telegraph.) tacht agency Udaras, and Karl Rove, Peggy Noonan, Dick Morris, Don- A Boost For the North –The rumor had been mak- regional tourist agencies ald Trump, Wall Street Journal columnists and ing the rounds for several weeks when confirmation have been meeting to study Fox TV cheerleaders were more than a skosh off, came from British Prime Minister David Cameron a range of options for the many predicting a Romney landslide. Obama took that yes, indeed, next year’s G8 Summit of world lead- Wild Atlantic Way, which eight of nine battleground states. If you discount the ers will be held in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh. The would roughly follow as still developing deep South, the president virtually venue is a plush five-star spa, the Lough Erne resort, close to the actual coast as split the white vote with Romney (a stretch but not which comes with natural security surroundings for possible and involve parts unreasonable) who predicted more of the same (I will the leaders conference. of seven counties, Done- take care of you when I’m elected!) in pandering to his I am familiar with the area, having stayed nearby gal, Sligo, Mayo, Galway’s rich, largely white, male constituency. years ago when meeting with government job training Connemara, Clare, Kerry, To wrap up, I was not surprised by the pay-to-play officials. This is one of the island of Ireland’s most scenic West Cork, and possibly the pundits who drank the laced Snapple and could not areas with boating, swimming, and a full complement Bantry Bay area. believe that the rich, handsome, well-turned-out white of tourist attractions, although I doubt that the G8 Bill O’Donnell The Irish Government guy couldn’t beat Obama and the dreaded unemploy- participants would stray too far from what is always and Failte Ireland will be ment rate so as to fulfill the hopes of that hack de jure, a highly guarded and secure venue. working with local tourism authorities to promote Sen. Mitch McConnell, in holding the president to Expected to attend the 2013 sessions are the US, capitalizing on a long-distance driving route that would one term. Britain, France, Canada, Germany, Italy, Russia, Ja- exploit the world class viewing points along the west But in a turn, I found briefly entertaining the fact pan, and leaders of the European Union. This year’s coast, erecting signage, developing itineraries, and of the candidate’s and his inner circle’s stunned, dis- G8 summit was hosted by President Obama at Camp designing a marketing strategy. believing reaction to his losing. This gang not only David, Maryland. This is a solid accomplishment in at- Residents, businesses ,and anyone else interested couldn’t shoot straight but they were also a failure at tracting to Northern Ireland one of the important, highly in the routing of the new tourist highway are invited reading their own tea leaves. The Bubble giveth and publicized international meetings. Congratulations! to register their views and comments by December 14. the Bubble taketh. RANDOM CLIPPINGS The website is failteireland.ie/wild atlantic way. Pos- Finally, a lush line from the inimitable Jackie Glea- Given the level of support President Obama received sible launch of The Wild Atlantic Way has been put son that sums it all up for this year —“How sweet it is!” from the Hispanic community it would be shocking if at sometime during 2014. NOTABLE QUOTE the administration does not make a strong push in How To Pick A Winner – In the recent presidential “In this environment, too many news organizations Congress for immigration reform. … Whitey Bulger election we were engulfed by numbers and polls on are holding back, out of fear — fear that we will be has been given a delay in his trial until next June. what most everyone assumed (from the conventional saddled with an uncomfortable political label, fear Speaking of James, the traveling man, one wonders if wisdom) would be a genuinely close election. The New that we will be accused of bias, fear his recent trip to the hospital for “chest pains” was a York Times’s Nate Silver and the on-point Obama that we will be portrayed as negative, fear that rehearsal for the “defendant’s disease” seen often in GOTV team called it right, but few were willing to we will lose customers, fear that advertisers will run federal court trials. … The Republicans whined about back their choice with hard currency and trust in from us, fear that we will be assailed as anti-this or the number of food stamp recipients. It’s the recession, their opinion like Ireland’s premier bookmaker (turf anti-that, fear that we will offend someone, anyone. stupid, and Obama didn’t create it. … Looking to own accountant) Paddy Power. Some 36 hours before Fear, in short, that our weakened financial condition the airline Michael O’Leary and his Ryanair are Americans went to their polling places Paddy Power, will be made weaker because we did something strong determined to increase their 30 percent stake in Aer which had handled the major portion of wagering on and right, because we simply told the truth and told :Linmgus. … The long-awaited Finucane Report is President Obama to win, decided that Obama would it straight.” due out on Dec. 10 and it said to contain highly secret beat Mitt Romney and began paying off the punters Martin Baron, Boston Globe editor, who will become material. … The report last month of an oil find off the who had picked Obama long before the election results the executive editor of the Washington Post Irish southwest coast has quadrupled Petrel Resources would be known. Paddy Power just decided it was a Lance Armstrong Affair Threatens Irish Cy- company value. … Gerry and Sinn Fein are campaign- “done deal.” If Romney had won, Paddy Power would cling Chief – Lance Armstrong has been stripped ing in earnest for a border poll that many are doubtful have been out of pocket to the tune of $850,000. Some of his seven Tour de France titles and Greg LeMond, will help the Unity cause. gamble, some win. the only remaining American winner of the Tour fol- The airlines are going mad as they attempt to tag a Another Try For Irish TV Nexus In US –A former lowing Armstrong’s disgrace, is seeking the immediate fee on everything from seat locations to anything that Derry native who owns radio stations in Canada and resignation of Pat McQuade, the president of cycling’s looks like its leather. Disgraceful and greed-driven. … operates out of the US is dedicating himself to launch- governing body, the UCI. A few of the lads working at a Belfast site took a quiet ing a television outlet in the states with an estimated Dubliner McQuade has been seen as a supporter of break to sneak a Tricolor onto a main police station. audience of 35 million, he says. Tony Culley-Foster Armstrong, a cycling sport leader who failed to aggres- … Say a good word about the Unionist newspaper the is looking to produce several hours of TV programming sively go after Armstrong and someone who called into Belfast News Letter, which is celebrating its 275th each week featuring Ireland and Derry, in particular. question the penalties Armstrong received. LeMond, a birthday. Founded in 1737, it is the oldest English The new effort is to be up and running, Culley-Foster longtime critic of McQuade and Armstrong ,has intensi- language newspaper in the world. … It has been 40 hopes, by March 17 in the new year. fied his call for McQuade’s resignation, saying, “I have years since the carnage on Bloody Sunday in Derry and The plan is to have programming from Derry, Bel- never seen such an abuse of power in cycling history.” not a single British Para has ever been questioned or fast, and Dublin with sponsors and advertising. One At press time, McQuade remains the president of arrested in connection with the 14 deaths. Imagine 40 aspect of the planned TV launch is that Derry will be cycling’s governing organization. years and by your leave for the lads in khaki who were the UK 2013 City of Culture with an array of events Shifting Popularity of Irish Political Scene shooting that day. A lawyer representing the families and activities highlighting Derry’s historic past and – Fine Gael, senior partner in the government coali- says he is “staggered” by the PSNI inaction. … Poppy colorful present. tion, remains the most popular party in the country Day in the North has more of the Green these days as As many in and around Boston remember there at 30 percent. Fianna Fail has crept up from political Taoiseach Kenny laid a wreath in Enniskillen remem- was an earlier, ambitious effort to create an all-Irish oblivion to second place at 22 percent. Sinn Fein has bering those who died in the bombing there 25 years TV channel in the US with offices in Boston. It looked stumbled, losing ground to Fianna Fail and is now ago. The Taniste, Eamon Gilmore, was at a similar promising for a time but eventually had trouble at- third in popular support at 14 percent while Labour Poppy Day ceremony in Belfast. tracting sufficient viewers and turned the key and is trailing at 12 percent. The Irish poet, editor and publisher Peter Fal- departed, leaving many here owed money. Micheal Martin, Fianna Fail chief, tops the party lon is the 2012-2013 visiting scholar at BC’s Burns We wish Mr. Culley-Foster good luck with his en- leaders at 42 percent favorable with Taoiseach Enda Library. … Gabriel Byrne doled out some criticism deavor and hope his vision for Irish-US TV ties is more Kenny (41 percent) and Sinn Fein’s Gerry Adams (40 of the forthcoming “Gathering” set for next year in successful than its predecessor. percent) on his heels. A statistical dead heat as they noting that Ireland is one of the few Euro countries A Backward Glance at the Election –Three mil- might describe it in stateside polling. that denies emigrants the vote in national and local lion popular votes and an electoral vote edge of 126 While many had written off Fianna Fail due to the elections. The entire Gathering idea seems harmless to was the margin of President Obama’s decisive win over failed leadership of former Taoiseach Brian Cowen, me and if it can increase tourism and revenue to ease former Bay State governor Mitt Romney. As usual, Martin’s slow and steady demeanor has impressed the the load on native Irish during the austerity years, it was a messy affair, beginning with almost a year country’s voters, leaving him the most popular politi- why not? … Phil Coulter, known worldwide for his devoted to the long-winded, empty- calorie Republican cian in Ireland in the most recent polling. Derry anthem “The Town I Loved So Well,” is writing primary that elevated Romney over what charitably A Voice From The Garden shack – Every great a new song to mark Derry’s honor as the UK City of can only be called a lackluster lineup. once in a while chance and propinquity come together Culture. … The west of Ireland is still burdened with In a series of debates that Romney called “nuts” and do grand things. One of those occasions happened hungry children and Galway county reports that people after the election (yes, indeed), Mitt spent his star recently in the air over the Atlantic not all that far from there are struggling. … A related story out of Galway time before the debate TV cameras trying to convince Boston’s Logan Airport. An Irish ham radio operator, concerns the recession- era cuts in support programs the far right wingnuts and Tea Party folks that he Benny Young, 29, was spending another evening at and the growing number of abandoned homes there was “severly conservative.” Following that bizarre his radio scanning the airwaves thousands of miles that Eamon O Cuiv, TD, has been hectoring the marathon, Romney abandoned his heavy breathing away from his Co. Tyrone garden shack. He heard two government about. He says conditions could trigger romance of the right wing base in an effort to convince Yank voices discussing the mega-storm Sandy and the a mass emigration in the next 20 years. … A group (wink, wink) independents and others that he was debris flying around outsidewhen suddenly came the of Dublin footballers were in New York recently to really a moderate. The American people didn’t buy it. call came: “Mayday, Mayday.” It was on an emergency play a match at Gaelic Park but they took a detour After Romney made the traditional phone call to frequency from the pilot of a United Airlines flight from to Breezy Point in Queens where they pitched in to the election victor, he went on stage alone to concede Dublin to Boston. help with some of the Sandy cleanup.. … The five-star and he was graceful and generous. Where was this Radio communications in the air can be unpredict- Ritz Carlton Hotel that opened a few years near the guy during the general election campaign? We soon able. What sometimes cannot be heard from one nearby stunning Powerscourt grounds in Co. Wicklow is $60 found that the Romney magnanimity was illusionary radio to another receiver a short distance away can be million in the hole and an examiner has been appointed when in remarks in a phone hookup with donors he heard many thousands of miles away. Benny Young to look into the matter. This was planned to be, and accused the president of using “gifts” to blacks, His- knew that and he also knew that the pilot was in trouble has been operated as, one of Ireland’s most luxurious panics and young voters; in essence he bought their radioing out and being heard. The plane had lost its destination resorts. The recession plays no favorites. votes. This notion was viscerally offensive to millions transponder in the storm, which meant the pilot was … Signing off with this line about Donald Trump of Democrats, independents and, as we discovered, unable to contact Logan Airport. from former Clinton advisor ansd Newsweek columnist deeply out of touch with scores of Republican office As Benny Young later explained it: “So, because Paul Begala: “Clearly Donald Trump is living proof holders and GOP campaign officials who knew they I was able to speak with the pilot and the operator that hair spray causes brain damage.” had put forth a flawed, gaffe-ridden, whining candi- of the emergency frequency individually when they date even if he was one of their own. But, all said and couldn’t speak to each other, I was able to relay the To one and all: Beannachtai Nollag Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com December 2012 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 7 Immigration Q & A Irish International Immigrant Center Steer clear of An agency accredited by US Department of Justice incompetent, 100 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110 Telephone (617) 542-7654 Fax (617) 542-7655 fraudulent advice Website:iiicenter.org Email: [email protected] The Irish Interna- our excellent legal team. unteers who can help you Pre-registration for the Q. I plan to file an application for legal permanent tional Immigrant Cen- Thank you for considering with the process is a great clinic is mandatory. For residence in the US. A friend of mine said I should go to ter wishes you Nollaig making a holiday gift to first step toward that goal! information about the somebody she knows who supposedly will help me with shona dhuit ~ a very the IIIC. On Sat., Dec. 1, beginning citizenship process and to all the paperwork for much less than an immigration happy Christmas. – Please also note that at 1 p.m., the IIIC will hold register for the clinic call lawyer would charge. Does this make sense? Happy Christmas every- there is still time to a Citizenship Workshop 617-542-7654, Ext. 26, or one! At this time of the come along to our annual at St. Mark’s Church in email [email protected]. A. No, it does not. Incompetence and fraud in the year, we invite you to make Solas Awards on Dec. 6 Dorchester. St. Mark’s Church is provision of assistance in immigration cases are a big an end-of-year charitable at the JFK Library. Come If you are a Legal Per- accessible by the neaby problem, and you need to be on your guard against them. donation, and holiday gift and hear the talented manent Resident and have Shawmut Station Red to the IIIC and supporting Christmas Revels, the been so for at least five Line T Stop. Often we at the Irish International Immigrant Cen- our legal, wellness and Boston City Singers World years, or if you are married Congratulations to ter see people at our legal clinics who have paid non- education services, by vis- Rhythm Ensemble, along to an American citizen and the IIIC’s Home Health lawyer so-called “experts” or “consultants” (including iting our website (iiicenter. with Ciarán Nagle, one of have been a Legal Perma- Aide Class – Congratu- “Notarios,” who are not allowed to provide legal advice) org/donate), or by calling the original Three Irish nent Resident for three lations to our Fall 2012 to help them with immigration applications, only to Mary Kerr at 617-542- Tenors, who will be ac- years, you meet the most HHA Graduates, Teach- receive incorrect advice. It also is common for people 7654, or by sending a check companied by his wife, basic eligibility require- ers and Musicians! We to search the Internet for assistance with their cases, to the IIIC, FAO: Mary the renowned singer and ment for citizenship. had a wonderful gradua- only to receive outdated or false information. Often Kerr, 100 Franklin Street, violinist Tara Novak. Call A workshop is a fantas- tion party on Tuesday at it is too late for us to help them, as they have missed LL-1, Boston, MA 02110. Mary Kerr at the above tic way to apply for US our new venue, Hancock crucial deadlines to file paperwork with the immigra- We recently launched number for ticket infor- citizenship, particularly Park, in Quincy Center. tion authorities or to appeal adverse decisions. an emergency appeal to mation. if you have questions, are We are so grateful to And sometimes they never were eligible to receive a help Haitian immigrants, Legal, Wellness and unsure about the process Ciarán Delargy, from the particular immigration benefit in the first place, and by and families who were im- Education Services or your eligibility, or have Irish Consulate, for joining relying on incompetent advice to the contrary they have pacted by the earthquake throughout December simply been putting it off us to meet our students, rendered themselves vulnerable to removal from the US. in Haiti in 2010. The – The Holiday season is for years. present certificates and Outright fraudulent immigration assistance is a major funds raised through this upon us and as the Irish The IIIC offers free in- stay to enjoy the music problem. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement appeal help Haitians stay International Immigrant office consultations about and great food! We are so and the US Justice Department frequently initiate and work in the United Center’s Board members, naturalization prior to grateful for all the contin- prosecutions against “consultants,” “Notarios,” and States through Temporary staff and volunteers wish clinics, at which the ap- ued support from the office even lawyers for filing immigration applications based Protected Status (TPS). you a very happy and safe plication and supporting of the Consulate General on false information. The government regularly an- The IIIC is also providing Christmas holiday, we also documentation (if needed) of Ireland in Boston as nounces felony indictments in cases involving schemes legal services, and a life- invite you to come along are explained. Individuals well as the Department of to obtain immigration benefits fraudulently. Defen- line to young immigrants to our events throughout who take advantage of the Foreign Affairs in Ireland! dants convicted in such cases could be sentenced to who were brought to the December: expert advice available at Many thanks to all of our up to five years in federal prison and large fines on United States as children, Free Immigration the IIIC will arrive at the students for your hard each count. offering temporary pro- Legal Clinics – 11/28 at clinic fully prepared for work, humor, great food Needless to say, the immigrants involved tection from deportation, 6:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s application processing. (mostly homemade!!) and are not going to receive the benefits they ap- allowing them to work, Parish, 1725 Dorchester Benefits of US citizen- generous donations! Our plied for; instead, they most likely will be sub- and enabling them to go Ave., Dorchester. … 12/4 ship include no restric- wonderful teachers Mau- ject to deportation if not criminal prosecution. to college – a dream come and 12/18 at the IIIC, tions on travel outside the reen, Bridget and Norah The solution is to make sure that you consult with true for many. 100 Franklin St., Boston. United States, the right to (helped by Joanne!), thank someone who is professionally qualified to help you. If We humbly, but ur- … 12/10 at 6:30 p.m. at vote, the chance to sponsor you all so much for your you come to one of our legal clinics, you will be able to gently, ask you to make a the Green Briar Pub, 304 family members to come hard work and dedication have a free, confidential consultation about your situ- special gift to our “Dream Washington St., Brighton. to the US, and the oppor- each and every week! A ation with a fully qualified immigration lawyer or a Fund.” Your donation IIIC encourages you tunity to run for political special thanks to Richard representative accredited by the Board of Immigration today of $50, $100 or any to take the first step to office. The naturalization and his team at Hancock Appeals in the US Department of Justice. gift you can afford will becoming a US Citizen process gives immigrants Park for being our wonder- IIIC legal staff members are able to assist with truly change lives and give – Would you like to become full rights to enact change ful hosts for the last two the filing and processing of many types of applica- hope to individuals and a US Citizen? Attending in their communities, ben- months! We love our new tions. If your case is more complex (involving court families who are in desper- a Citizenship workshop efiting fellow immigrants space and you made us feel proceedings or appeals, for example) and you need ate need of the expertise of with IIIC staff and vol- and our country as a whole. very much at home! to be represented by a lawyer in the New England area, we can refer you to a reputable person whose work is well known to us. We also can make refer- rals to lawyers specializing in other fields such as Matters Of Substance criminal, employment, and domestic relations law. If you need an immigration lawyer in another part of the country, you should make sure that he or she Silent Witness during the Holidays is a member of the professional association in this one of their parents or their children are teenag- field, the American Immigration Lawyers Association By Danielle Owen IIIC Staff caregivers. That’s almost ers not only improve their (AILA). You can find an AILA member anywhere in the four of every five clients. own health, but they also US by checking with ailalawyer.com and entering your The Irish Times noted last year how “one in Children living in homes lower their child’s risk for location. You also can contact the state bar to deter- where there is parental drug and alcohol abuse. mine whether a particular lawyer is in good standing. ten Irish teenagers say their parents’ drinking substance abuse can find Change is always pos- It is extremely important to stop incompetent or dis- life difficult, unpredict- sible. But before change honest people from preying on immigrants. In Mas- affects their own lives in a ‘hugely negative able, and confusing. The can happen, you need to sachusetts, you can file a complaint about such people holidays can make life see this “silent” problem. with the Attorney General: Office of the Attorney way’ while a quarter of teenagers admit to binge even more challenging One leading therapist, General, Consumer Complaint and Information Sec- and fearful. Sometimes Dr. Claudia Black, says tion, One Ashburton Place, Boston, MA02108-1698. drinking themselves,” ac- cording to The National children even believe the that children from alco- There is a form for such complaints; it may be alcohol or drug abuse is Danielle Owen holic homes tend to exhibit obtained at mass.gov/Cago/docs/Consumer/con- Children’s Consultation survey published in Dec their fault. Teenagers Living with a parent some distinct behaviors sumercomplaintform.pdf, or by calling 617-727- who already are dealing within the family. Does 8400. Other states will have similar procedures; 2010 by the Irish Society or caregiver who has an for the Prevention of Cru- with the ups and downs alcohol problem may mean your child exhibit any of you can learn about them by searching the Internet of adolescence who live the following behaviors? for the sites of the various state Attorneys General. elty to Children.” children and teens feel When I review the sto- with alcohol- dependent like they are walking on • Assume the role of a Disclaimer: These articles are published to inform parents might feel anger, parent, by feeding and car- generally, not to advise in individual cases. Areas of ries of the hundreds of eggshells to avoid an out- people I have been privi- sadness, embarrassment, burst because the dishes ing for younger brothers law are rapidly changing. US Citizenship and Im- loneliness, helplessness, and sisters? migration Services and the US Department of State leged to offer counseling aren’t done or the lawn to since 2004, I discovered and a lack of self-esteem. isn’t mowed. Some parents • Hide and become quiet regularly amend regulations and alter processing and “For example, many al- and withdrawn? filing procedures. For legal advice seek the assistance something equally as star- with alcohol problems tling: in a key sample of cohol dependents behave might abuse their children • Deflect attention from of an IIIC immigration specialist or an immigration unpredictably, and kids family problems by creat- attorney. clients who attended six or emotionally or physically, more sessions in the last who grow up around them while others unwittingly ing problems of their own Telephone: 617-542-7654; Fax: 617-542-7655; E-mail: may spend a lot of energy at home and school? [email protected]; Website: iiicenter.org 3 years, 74 percent of this may neglect their children group noted they had been trying to feel out a parent’s by not providing sufficient • Ignore their own un- negatively impacted by mood or guess what he or care and guidance, usually happiness to comfort oth- the alcohol use of at least she wants.” because the stress in their ers maybe becoming fam- home distracts them from ily clowns and trying to AUTO BODY REPAIRS (617) 825-1760 meeting their children’s cover problems with jokes? (617) 825-2594 vital needs. If you have answered FAX (617) 825-7937 Although each family yes to any one of these is different, children and questions, and you believe FOLEY LAW OFFICES, P.C. teens with alcohol de- there may be an alcohol pendent parents almost problem at home, call Attorney John Philip Foley always report feeling Danielle at 617-542-765, alone, unloved, depressed, Ext. 14, to learn more and Permanent Residency & Citizenship • Family & Business Free Pick-Up & Delivery Service find support Immigration • Labor Certification & Temporary Visas or burdened by the secret life they lead at home. ALL Nationalities & AILA Members Danielle Owen is the 150 Centre Street However, there is good news: alcohol-dependent IIIC’s Director of Wellness Dorchester, MA 02124 parents who quit before and Education Services Page 8 December 2012 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com Boston Irish sensibilities guide MSNBC’s O’Donnell

By Bill Forry a much more tribal way, in the good Reporter Staff sense of that word,” says O’Donnell. When the hour came to name Barack “Everybody in my neighborhood had Obama as the winner of Tuesday’s presi- had run-ins with the police and saw dis- dential election, Rachel Maddow had the honesty of some kind.” Plus, O’Donnell honor of making the announcement for adds, “In Dorchester, personal loyalty is the cable network MSNBC. But it was everything. It’s a bigger thing than any Lawrence O’Donnell— the accidental individual action.” news anchor and pundit sitting two Still, in choosing to represent Patricia chairs away— who was called on to put Bowden against the BPD, Mr. O’Donnell the finest flourish of a writer’s touch on and his family had taken a step that was the moment. irreversible. “We all knew it right away. Instead, as cameras panned the crowd It was very clear at the time. It’s not one of jubilant Obama supporters in Chicago, of those things that you look back on. All O’Donnell had a suggestion: Let’s watch the clarity was there at the time, right this crowd enjoy the moment of victory. in front of us.” As the hour grew late, with a Romney ••• concession inevitable, O’Donnell found For his part, Lawrence O’Donnell, words to put the president’s historic himself a victim of police brutality, saw achievement in perspective. Despite that there was historically important a sluggish economy and anemic jobs Lawrence O’Donnell on his MSNBC set. Photo courtesy MSNBC story to be told based on the Bowden case. growth, he had managed to fend off a He began documenting cases in which O’Donnell and his brothers, it turned vigorous challenge from Mitt Romney: Codman Academy. cops had killed mainly black men with out, needed more policing than the local “It’s about an extraordinary candidate. Meg Campbell, the school’s founder impunity in cities around the country. constabulary could muster. The Chris- A candidate the likes of which I have not and executive director, was a Harvard He first wrote about the subject in a 1979 tian Brothers of Catholic Memorial, fed seen in my adulthood.” classmate and friend— and O’Donnell New York Times op-ed piece. up with their juvenile antics, dispatched O’Donnell, who anchors the weeknight has made the innovative charter public In 1983, the case became his first book: Lawrence and his brother Bill (along, he 10 o’clock hour for MSNBC, cable’s un- school (which will dedicate its new build- “Deadly Force” — still available locally says, with about 40 of his classmates) abashedly left-wing news and punditry ing later this month) his top local cause. in the stacks at the Codman Square one year in an epic bloodletting of “wise channel, has reached a new height of ce- “It means a lot to have him have our Library, incidentally – which was sub- guys.” Furious, their parents exiled them lebrity in this election cycle. His program, back,” says Campbell. “He’s a Dorchester sequently adapted into a movie. It was to a private boarding school for a three- “The Last Word,” has become must-see guy through and through and it shaped a pivotal moment in O’Donnell’s life: he month stretch before Lawrence’s “pleas programming for the Obama genera- his sensibility. He’s very real. He has found his calling in screenwriting, even for a pardon” were answered. tion. More than any one TV personality, this sense of regular people and what’s though he would defer launching that The boys landed at St. Sebastian’s, O’Donnell synthesized the argument for right and wrong.” career for several more years. a Catholic day-hop academy then situ- a second term into a nightly bundle that That moral compass was forged in Despite his utter lack of interest in ated near Brighton’s Oak Square. At the gave aid, comfort, and informed talking the neighborhood, of course, but more politics — “I never did anything more dawn of the 1960s, St. Sebastian’s was a points to a restless base. specifically in the tight O’Donnell family than vote for the lesser of two evils,” school for hard-cases like Lawrence and “He calmed me down. He became my unit that still bore the wounds of trag- he says — O’Donnell caught on as an Bill O’Donnell, and it served them well. weathervane through all of that,” says edies endured by earlier generations. aide and a speechwriter for New York’s “It was a quirky, idiosyncratic place, Michael Patrick MacDonald, the author O’Donnell’s grandfather killed himself US Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and that was the magic of it,” says and activist who now lives in Dorchester. after a family dispute at their home in the mid-1980s. He spent eight years Lawrence. “It was inadequate in every “He’s willing to be critical of the left when near Franklin Park in the 1920s, leav- working for the liberal workhorse, even- way, but when they wanted to move it there needs to be – speaking truth to ing a young family to fend for itself. The tually topping off the experience as the to Newton years later, all of us were power. But Lawrence got a lot people like experience clearly left an indelible mark staff director for the Senate’s Finance opposed to it. I actually think a certain me back on board with the president.” on the O’Donnells, who found solidarity Committee. amount of imperfection is where you find One of the reasons that O’Donnell with families, even those from different “I thought I was ruining my writing the charm and magic of institutions.” speaks so powerfully to the ears of people races, that knew the trauma and hard- career,” O’Donnell recalls. Of course, he When O’Donnell was accepted to Har- like MacDonald is that O’Donnell is — ship that followed such a loss. was also assembling a deep institutional vard— where he flourished as a writer to steal from a certain campaign slogan ••• knowledge of the inner workings of Capi- and humorist— it was, well, “awkward,” — “one of us.” He’s a Dorchester kid The trajectory of O’Donnell’s life — tol Hill, which led to invitations to serve he says. who got kicked out of Catholic Memo- and that of his family — was changed as a pundit on the emerging cable TV “At that time, people in Dorchester did rial for being an all-around punk, who forever in 1975 when his father decided ecosystem. It also powered his writing for not say, ‘Where are you going to college?’ was pummeled in the Combat Zone by to take on a racially charged wrongful Aaron Sorkin’s landmark TV series, “The People would say, ‘What are you going rogue Boston cops, and who didn’t give death lawsuit involving the Boston Police West Wing”— for which O’Donnell served to do next year? I found it very awkward a rat’s ass about politics until he found Department. James Bowden, a husband as a writer and producer. Writing for to say ‘I’m going to Harvard.’ None of us himself working for an iconic US senator and father of two, had been gunned down television, O’Donnell told the Reporter, is knew anyone who went to the college. on Capitol Hill. on a Mission Hill side street that January “the only occupation I pursued seriously.” I’d never seen the campus. I had seen Even now— as one of the country’s by a pair of Boston cops who presumed But writing for “The Last Word” was Harvard stadium and my grandmother marquee news analysts and partisan he was a robbery suspect. He wasn’t. clearly not what he had in mind. His lived in Cambridge, so we’d take the warriors— O’Donnell isn’t quite sure And the cops’ account of how and why regular gig as an MSNBC pundit— Red Line and then the trolley to North how it all happened. He’s also not sure if they opened fire on Bowden didn’t pass weighing in as a guest on other people’s Cambridge. this nightly routine of bringing a garden the smell test — even though the BPD’s programs — gave his biting wit and “The awkwardness of it is, ‘Hey, don’t hose to the mouths of the thirsty left is perfunctory review of the incident had deep understanding of Washington think you’re so great. If you hit a home worth all the effort on his part. cleared them of any wrong-doing. When maneuverings a national platform. But run in our neighborhood in those days, “Every single thing I’ve done occupa- Bowden’s widow came to seek Lawrence it wasn’t something he sought to make when you crossed the plate, you’d hear, tionally has been by accident,” he said O’Donnell, Sr.’s, counsel, she got it, in his life’s work. ‘Why didn’t you pull it to left field?’” over the phone from a storm-ravaged and part, because of his memory of losing his O’Donnell says he “didn’t seek out” his Still, O’Donnell acknowledges, “The gridlocked New York City last month. dad in violent fashion. current 10 o’clock post on MSNBC. But burden was on me, not anyone else, for O’Donnell lives in Los Angeles, where he Shortly after his dad filed the civil when the pilots for a pair of new televi- my awkwardness.” works as a screenwriter and actor; but lawsuit, members of the now-infamous sion programs he was producing ran Like most Boston Irish clans of the since launching The Last Word in 2011, “TPF” — or Tactical Patrol Force— paid aground, his menu of options changed era, O’Donnell’s Hibernian heritage was he is in New York four days a week to young Lawrence a visit at the Combat and “I started paying attention” to the not at focal point of daily life. He attened produce the show. “I never asked to do Zone parking lot where he was work- network’s pursuit. one St. Pat’s parade in Southie as a kid a show. I’ve been cancelled more than ing nights. One of the cops clocked him Today, O’Donnell writes more words and never had an urge to return. It was anyone else on cable television. It’s just over the head and two others stuffed per day for the 10 p.m. show than he has not until the TV miniseries Roots aired that no one’s really noticed.” him— handcuffed— into the back of in his life. And yet he says: “I’ve never in 1977, O’Donnell argues, that the ••• a cruiser. The aim was pretty clear: felt less productive.” American public became more focused Lawrence O’Donnell, Jr., and his four The insular TPF crew needed a chip to Like any live news show, he says, “The on their lineage. siblings came of age in the 1950s and 60s horse trade with the elder O’Donnell at Last Word” “is never even going to be a “There wasn’t a single Sean or Liam in St. Brendan’s Parish. The O’Donnell the courthouse the next day. Instead, a re-run— it just blows away like leaves. in my class at St. Brendan’s,” O’Donnell clan bounced around from a three-decker judge tossed out their trumped-up charge “I would like to have a crawl that runs recalls. on Gallivan to a two-family on Hilltop a week later. The message— if it was throughout the show that says, ‘You are But, the civil rights movement in the before finally landing in a single-family meant to intimidate the O’Donnells— watching an unrehearsed first draft.” North of Ireland captured his attention house on Grayson Street, two blocks from had the opposite effect. Three years It offends me in so many ways that I’m to the extent that he personally trav- St. Brendan’s church and the grammar later, their firm scored a huge win and doing it – and I have to force it out of my eled there in the early 70s as a Harvard school that the kids all attended. It was a $250,000 judgment for the Roxbury head. In the world of dramatists that I student, where he also studied the Irish then, as now, an enclave of Irish-Amer- widow of Mr. Bowden. The TPF, which come from; it’s just so wrong.” language. icans whose world revolved around the continued to wrack up brutality com- And yet, more often than not in this “Things were getting really bad in parish school, church and— more often plaints in the years after Bowden’s presidential election season, it has been Northern Ireland and I wanted to under- than not— a public sector job. murder, was itself put down by the police just right— especially for MSNBC’s stand it. I began reading Irish history in O’Donnell’s own dad, Lawrence Sr., commissioner in 1979. bedrock audience of Dems desperate for high school. No one else in my family was was a patrolman before turning to an- Despite his own assault at the hands an authoritiative counter to the more interested beyond what we read about other dimension of legal life: Using the of the desperate TPF crew— which in- dominant (ratings-wise) FoxNews pro- Bernadette Devlin from the newspaper,” GI Bill, he put himself through Suffolk cluded a cop who’d once coached him on pagandists. O’Donnell’s solo segment on O’Donnell said. University and the-then unaccredited a baseball team— O’Donnell insists that the show —which he has dubbed “The ••• Suffolk Law School at night to become many inside the BPD were happy to see Re-Write”— is a nightly tour-de-force After college, O’Donnell tried his hand an attorney. Even after his father left the the “cowboy” cops who shot Bowden get that takes aim at the right’s whopper at teaching and became a substitute in BPD ranks to build his own thriving law their come-uppance. du jour. It’s often punctuated with brief the Boston public schools in the run-up practice, Lawrence was surrounded by “A lot of the guys that my dad had video clips offered as evidence, but the to the busing crisis of 1974-75. He taught role models with badges— men named gone into the department with saw it as sweep and craft of it is all O’Donnell. at a wide array of schools, including Girls Walsh and Moran— who “were real a case of young renegade cops watching “It’s a very peculiar writing exercise,” Latin Academy in Codman Square. The authority figures around us all the time. too much TV,” he says today. he explains. “I come from a filmmaking experience not only inspired his first “My neighborhood then had a bunch And many of his Dorchester neigh- world where you don’t just write it. You magazine article, published in Boston of cops in it who were the fathers of my bors— despite the prevailing racial ani- physically block out and think through Magazine in 1980, but it forged his think- friends. They were the toughest and mosities that were at an all-time high in why they will be there. Then you shoot ing on public education for life. scariest fathers in the neighborhood. I mid-to-late 70s in Boston — were largely it. To just go out there and do it raw and “It made me think in terms of the in- look back on them very fondly,” he says. rooting for the hometown team. unrehearsed, and I don’t even know what dividual faces I’m seeing in front of me “We were the kind of kids who needed “No one in Dorchester ever said, ‘What it looks like... I’m used to being in control.” and which of these kids can be saved,” to be afraid of something. The simple are you doing with that civil rights case?’ ••• says O’Donnell, who today serves as a honor of not breaking the rules was not Even if someone else were doing it, I Editor’s Note: an extended version of board member for a Dorchester school, good enough for us.” suspect people were cheering for us, in this article can be read at bostonirish.com Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com December 2012 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 9 Boston irish Boston Irish Arts, Entertainment, Reporter Travel & More ‘Sojourn’ notes a decade of delights By Sean Smith Special to the BIR It’s a bona-fide Boston holiday tradition that, 10 years along, has now captured wintertime fancies in other parts of New England. This month, “A Christmas Celtic Sojourn” celebrates its first decade of bringing to the stage an inimitable blend of Celtic music, song, dance, and storytelling, with a series of performances from December 15-22 at venues in Worcester, Providence, Rockport, and Derry, NH, as well as the Cutler Majestic Theater in Boston. True to form, this year’s show includes a combina- tion of frequent “Sojourn” participants (pioneering Irish band Solas, a cappella harmony quartet Navan, the Harney Academy of Irish Dance), more recently appearing acts (the fiddle-harp duo Chris Stout and Catriona McKay and cellist Natalie Haas) and highly anticipated debuts, with Scottish singer Alyth McCor- mack and innovative dancers Cara Butler and brothers Jon and Nathan Pilatzke. Also present will be bassist Chico Huff and percussionist Ben Wittman, long-time contributors to the show. And, as always, “Christmas Celtic Sojourn” will be lovingly hosted and guided by its creator, Brian O’Donovan, who, while hoping the show might catch on back when it premiered at Somerville Theater in 2003, honestly didn’t expect it to do so on this kind of scale. “I certainly felt, at the beginning, that we could put together a production that people would enjoy as an evo- cation of what we all love about the Christmas holiday season: shared family memories, the warmth of friends, music to lift the spirit,” says O’Donovan, the host of WGBH-FM’s “A Celtic Sojourn,” which provided a basis “Christmas Celtic Sojourn” may have become a more elaborate production over the course of its first for the show. “But I really thought it would be more of decade, says the show’s creator Brian O’Donovan, “but no matter how ambitious we might get, the show a church-sized affair, one performance with maybe a still has that very homey, folksy quality to it.” (Continued on page 13) ‘Christmas Revels’ sets sail with Irish bent on a better life

By R. J. Donovan to sing, a brass ensemble, during a break in rehears- starting in the mid 1800s. Special to the BIR a Mummers play, plus a als. BIR: And the authentic- Symbolizing the holiday champion Irish band. BIR: “Revels” cele- ity of the year? season as indelibly as the Leading the way are brates a different culture A. We’ve chosen 1907, welcoming fragrance of musician and singer Da- each year. This time which was one of the evergreen, “The Christ- vid Coffin, along with around, you’ve not only actual voyages of the Car- mas Revels” returns to soloists Mary Casey and chosen Ireland, but also pathia from Liverpool to historic Sanders Theatre Steven Barkhimer, The given it an extraordinary New York. And there were in Harvard Square from Rattling Brogues with twist by not setting the voyages which actually December 14 - 27. This world champion piper story in a village. did span the Christmas year, the participatory Paddy Keenan and fiddler A. Although we’ve never period. So it happens in theatrical solstice celebra- Sheila Falls Keohane, a done an out-and-out Irish this case that history coin- tion that is filled with joy- 40-member chorus, The show, we’ve done several cides with our story – and ful music, dance, comedy Cambridge Symphonic Celtic shows where we’ve that’s all for the good. and carols will focus on Brass combined several of the BIR: Setting “Revels” Irish immigration. Ensemble, The Pine- Celtic cultures. What on a ship has to provide For its 42nd edition, woods Morris Men, and maybe is a little unusual some interesting chal- “Revels” is set on board the the O’Shea Chaplin Acad- [this year] is that we’ve lenges. RMS Carpathia. It’s De- emy of Irish Dance. been very specific with our A. We’re constricted in cember 1907 and a group In honor of this year’s time period, which we’re some ways by staying in of Irish émigrés have left Irish-themed production, usually not. I thought one place on the deck of their homeland in search “Revels” has released a it might be interesting the ship, so my thought of a better life in America. companion holiday CD en- to . . . place it on board was that we would break The voyagers carry in titled “Strike The Harp.” the ship, which really is, out of that convention their hearts bittersweet Paddy Swanson, the I think, the emblem for imaginatively by having pieces of the land they’ve long-time artistic director this tremendous change a shanachie on board to left behind. A long trip is of “Revels” who maintains that happens when people tell a story to the kids. anticipated, and Christ- Irish and American citi- emigrate. The story is a And as we get into the mas will be celebrated en zenships, is directing the very poignant one for the story we kind of dissolve Fiddler Sheila Falls Keohane joins the cast of “The route with jigs and reels, production. We spoke Irish because there were the context and take it Christmas Revels,” December 14 - 27, at Sanders ballads, stories, rounds about the show recently so many iterations of it, (Continued on page 15) Theatre in Cambridge. A Q & A with Clannad’s Moya Brennan Forty years ago, a quintet Even on this crowded stage, ity to their recordings – what and “In a Lifetime,” which from Gweedore, Donegal – sib- Clannad made an impression became known as the “New Age featured a guest appearance lings Moya, Pol, and Ciaran with its repertoire of mainly sound.” But the band (who at by Bono and an accompany- Brennan, and their twin uncles, traditional Gaelic songs joined one point were joined by another ing video that gave the band Noel and Padraig Duggan – first to influences from rock, jazz, and Brennan sibling, Enya) kept a major exposure in the US and made its way into the Irish other genres, and imbued with connection to their old sound, elsewhere. music scene, joining a genera- exquisite vocal harmonies – and using Gaelic lyrics in many of By the end of the 1990s, tion of influential performers in particular the stunning lead their compositions, retaining Clannad had become an inter- like Christy Moore, Andy vocals and Irish harp-playing of the acoustic guitars, mandolins, national success, with record Irvine, Paddy Keenan, Triona Moya Brennan. string bass, and Brennan’s harp sales of more than 15 million, Ni Dhomhnaill, Michael O The 1980s saw a shift in that had characterized their film and TV soundtracks, and Domhnaill, Donal Lunny, Paul Clannad’s music: more original earlier incarnation – and most several awards, including a Brady, Kevin Burke, Frankie material; the use of synthesizers of all, their hauntingly beautiful Grammy. The first decade of Gavin, Dolores Keane, and and other electric instruments, vocals. Clannad made inroads the 21st century was a quieter many others who helped re- as well as percussion; and a into popular music, with songs one for the group: There were shape Irish traditional music. lush, reverb-accentuated qual- Moya Brennan at her post. like “Theme from Harry’s Game” (Continued on page 12) Page 10 December 2012 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com December 2012 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 11 Page 12 December 2012 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com A Q & A with Clannad’s Moya Brennan (Continued from page 9) had actually bought that no new recordings (other hearse before we had left than compilations), some to go do the shooting. So solo or duo projects by we all packed up the cars members, and relatively and drove off to Donegal few concert appearances. in a convoy along with the But this fall, Clannad em- hearse, which Bono was barked on its first North riding in. Now, at that American tour in almost time, you had to pass by 20 years, which included an English army barracks a performance at the to get to Donegal. Before Berklee College of Music we got in sight of the bar- in Boston, and announced racks, Bono had his friend that a new album was in who was driving stop the the works. hearse. And Bono climbs Recently, Moya Bren- in the back and lies down, nan spoke with Sean and the convoy goes on, Smith of the “Boston Irish right past the soldiers, Reporter” about Clan- and they see him in the nad’s 40-year history – in- back and start yelling, cluding their association “It’s Bono! It’s Bono!” with Bono – and some of Q. You’ve had a number her own projects. of your own projects going on these last few years. Q. How has it been, back You’ve toured with your on the road in the US? own band, and you and A. Absolutely tremen- Cormac de Barra teamed dous. We’ve been playing up to do the “Voices and to full houses, with a fair Harps” album. amount of people who saw Moya Brennan and Clannad performing during their US tour this fall. “We always had that adventure A. The album was an us 20 years ago, but also a in us,” she says of the band’s propensity to explore new directions. outgrowth of performanc- lot who never saw us be- es and workshops we’ve fore but know our music. A. Well, it’s definitely a my father ran a pub, of in. We were determined nad, you have to tell the been doing for a number Many of the audiences special community, what course – Leo’s Tavern – so to stick to our guns. When story about how you guys of years. My daughter want to hear the older with its Irish history and there was always music you’re true to something, wound up getting together Aisling has been involved material, from the first legacy. One special memo- and singing there. My you do it for years because with Bono. with that, which has made years of the group – like ry we have is of Fr. Bartley father had a show band, you believe in it, if you’re A. It was one of those it even more enjoyable. “Dulaman” or “Nil Se Ina MacPhaidin, who was as well, and they would honest. very lucky occurrences. Q. And you also re- La” – so we try to fit in as president of Stonehill Col- also play a bit of Elvis, or Of course, after a while, We were working on the corded with Triona Ni much as possible, along lege – he’s from Donegal, Nat King Cole, so there there was more accep- “Macalla” album, in Dub- Dhomhnaill [Bothy Band], with the stuff from the too, originally – because was that influence. tance about our approach lin, and we went around Maighread Ni Dhomhnaill 1980s on. we would always end up Now, my kids have had to singing in Gaelic, and to the pub nearby. And [Skara Brae] and Mairead Q. Was it difficult to get having dinner with him a great time with music it wasn’t so much of a Bono happened to be a Ni Mhaonaigh [Altan] as back into a “touring mode” when we came through because of Comhaltas problem to play in Ireland. regular there. Now, this “T with the Maggies.” after all this time? town. In fact, the Boston Ceoltóirí Éireann, but Q. Do you see a real was after “Theme from A. Oh, that was an ab- A. We had felt we need- stop on our first tour of that wasn’t available to us divide between that early Harry’s Game” had come solute pleasure, we practi- ed a break, we just didn’t the US – in 1979, I think as kids. Whatever connec- stage of Clannad and, out, which we had writ- cally did nothing but talk expect it to last this long. – coincided with Thanks- tion you had to traditional let’s say, the “Harry’s ten for a TV show about and laugh, and we don’t But we’re a family, so giving. He invited us to music was through your Game”-and-afterwards The Troubles, and it had do it nearly often enough. it’s not like we don’t get dinner, along with loads family – my dad sent me era? It seems to me that, become a big hit in both All of us come from Done- together; we stayed in of people, and we were to school to learn the harp, if you go back and listen Ireland and the UK, and gal, so it’s a very special touch, talked about what just this young Donegal for example. to those first few albums, had gotten nominated collaboration, and I have we wanted to do, and crowd who didn’t know But the other thing that you can hear some hints for a British Academy a lot of respect for them. when. We made a few ap- much of anything about went on during that time, as to the future direction Television Award. As it Being with Triona and pearances, like at Celtic Thanksgiving. It was the in the 1960s and ‘70s, of the band – even on the turned out, Bono really Maighread in particular is Connections [in 2007], first time we’d ever had was because we were on first album, like the jazzy loved Clannad, especially a treat, because they were and we did a short tour sweet potatoes! the coast we were able to stuff Ciaran and Pol play because we sang in Gaelic, in Skara Brae, who came [in 2008]. Then we gave a Q. Talking of Donegal: get all these broadcasts on “Nil Se Ina La,” for and you know, because we about around the same concert at Christ Church There’s an impression of from pirate radio stations. example; or the vocals and had done a song in Gaelic time as Clannad. We were Cathedral last year, and Donegal as this remote And we’d hear songs by the electric piano on “Ei- for a TV show about The all very close and spent a that was definitely a boost; place, kind of away from The Beach Boys and The righ Suas a Stoirin” from Troubles. So he was quite lot of time together. people hadn’t forgotten everything else, and yet Mamas and The Papas, the “Dulaman” album. interested in what we There’s a whole differ- us. And we decided that it Clannad shows up on with all these harmonies, A. We always had that were doing, and we invited ent feel to the Maggies was time to think of doing the Irish music scene in and it made a big impres- adventure in us. I mean, him to the studio. for me, because with them a new album, and getting the early 1970s with all sion on us. Kind of funny, on the first album, we used There was a song we I’m an equal part of a back to the US. these different influences when you think about it: a jazz drummer for one of had started on, and at quartet, so there’s not as We’re really enjoying as well as a strong tradi- Here we were, on the west the tracks, we had “Liza,” the time it was just really much pressure. You just this. The excitement we tional background. How coast of Ireland, listening a pop song in Gaelic we a backing track, and he have fun and make music. always used to feel about did it all come together? to the “West Coast sound” wrote, and we even did a listened to it. It’s not like We’re talking about doing performing is still there, A. Gaelic was our first of America. cover of Bonnie Robson’s either of us said, “Let’s do another album sometime, although there is a sense language, so we grew So, because of things “Morning Dew,” and of a song together.” But as we which will definitely be of maturity along with it. up with it. Our teachers like that, we’d branch out course the work with har- were listening, the idea of something I’ll look for- The reaction we’ve been would always include in our musical interests. monies was already there. some kind of duet started ward to. getting is quite amazing. Gaelic songs, dramas, Ciaran picked up the bass, Clannad never went with to form – I just remember, Q. I understand you and the like at our school. and he became interested the established flow; we after we all went home also are involved in some Q. Does Boston carry My mother would always in modern jazz, like the always felt like branching that night, there was this activities and initiatives any special associations put us in the feis, and so Mahavishnu Orchestra out. When “Theme from incredible thunderstorm, that don’t relate to music. or memories for you? we had exposure to the and Chick Corea. My re- Harry’s Game” became an all this energy in the air. Give us an example. traditional music. And cord player had a selection international hit, the fact And over the next two A. Well, there are a that was pretty unusual, it was in Gaelic made it all days, he came up with number of Franciscan too – I even had records the sweeter. this amazing vocal, and monasteries that are clos- from “Sesame Street,” But whatever we did, everything came together. ing, and they have stored because I loved the songs! whether it was with tra- Q. And then you went on up an incredible amount of However, when we first ditional music or our own to do a video of the song. literature, some of it going began playing, we were material, it all felt natural A. That was a fantastic back to the 10th century. I shunned. At that time, to us, it wasn’t a stretch. time. I mean, Bono and mean, this is the history of Gaelic songs were just We wanted to enhance the U2, they were big fry and Ireland, but many people never done with instru- music, and we did it with we were small fry. Bono are unaware of it. There ments, except the harp, respect. We felt our audi- called all the shots. He are boxes and boxes of or with harmony voices; ence would understand, said, “We’ve got to film it in materials. So, I am on a it was sacrilegious. That’s and appreciate that. Donegal.” And the record commission that will work why we headed off to Eu- Q. Okay, since “In a company wasn’t about to on creating a library so rope a lot at the beginning, Lifetime” was probably say, “No, Bono, you can’t people can access them. because they didn’t care the first introduction for do that.” So we shot the It’s very important to me, what language we sang most Americans to Clan- video in our hometown, because I’m passionate Gweedore. It was very about my history. funny, because shooting I’m also taking part in the video involved bring- causes that have to do with ing wind and rain ma- nature preservation, espe- chines – to Donegal, of all cially in Donegal – trying places! The production got to protect the land against local people involved, too. pollution or destruction And we were back in Leo’s from development. If you Large Format Printing afterwards, pulling pints, love Clannad, you have and I’d be teaching Bono to go to Donegal: It’s so Billboards • Banners Gaelic songs. He and the earthy, such a beautiful boys were just fantastic. place, and you can see 1022 Morrissey Boulevard, Dorchester But the best part was, what it’s meant to my 617-282-2100 if you remember, there’s family and how it’s helped a scene in the video with inspire us. carrolladvertising.com a hearse. Well, Bono Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com December 2012 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 13 to one of the major figures in Boston’s distinguished for decades, a co-founder of Boston’s Hanafin-Cooley Irish music history, Larry Reynolds. branch of Comhaltas, and an organizer and leader of To honor the memory of Reynolds, who died Oc- innumerable sessions and special events. BCMFest, in tober 3, faculty musicians from the local Comhaltas marking its 10th year, seeks to recognize the invaluable Ceoltóirí Éireann School of Music – which he helped contribution of persons like Larry Reynolds to Celtic establish – will perform during the final segment of music in Boston, concert organizers say. the concert, which takes place Jan. 12 at 7:30 p.m. in “The Boston Comhaltas Music School is delighted First Parish Church, Cambridge, at 3 Church Street to have the opportunity to present a tribute to Larry in Harvard Square. Reynolds at BCMFest 2013,” says Lisa Coyne, ex- The concert also will feature a program of Scottish ecutive director of the school. “Larry did so much for A column of news and updates of the Boston Celtic music and dance with Highland Dance Boston, and Irish music in Boston over the years, but one of his Music Fest (BCMFest), which celebrates the Boston Boston-area Cape Breton musicians, singers, and most important achievements was helping establish a area’s rich heritage of Irish, Scottish, and Cape Breton dancers. school to teach the great music tradition he loved and music and dance with a grassroots, musician-run winter The Comhaltas Music School contingent will in- represented. Because of Larry’s efforts, that tradition music festival and other events during the year. clude fiddlers Cara Frankowicz, George Keith, and will continue in Boston for generations to come. BC- SEAN SMITH Josie Coyne, uilleann piper Patrick Hutchinson, flute MFest, as a festival devoted to the Boston Celtic music and whistle player Lisa Coyne, bouzouki player John community, is a wonderful showcase for the Boston One for Larry – The BCMFest 2013 finale concert, Coyne and harpist Regina Delaney. They will perform Comhaltas Music School.” the climax of the festival’s 10th anniversary celebration in various combinations, as well as an ensemble, and For ticket and schedule information about BCMFest on January 11 and 12, will include a special tribute with student musicians and special guests. 2013, go to the BCMFest website at passim.org. Reynolds was a mainstay of the area Irish music scene ‘Sojourn’ celebrates a decade of delights (Continued from page 9) the “high-off-the-floor” Natalie Haas, who has we would say, ‘Well, we’ll few hundred people in the Ottawa Valley style of almost single-handedly change that next year,’ but audience. Instead, we kept stepdance, while Butler made the cello a ‘Celtic it is the cutest, most won- adding shows, and then we is an award-winning Irish instrument,’ as well as derful thing to see, and started taking the show stepdancer who appeared with Chico and Ben. the audience absolutely on tour to different cities in “Dancing on Dangerous “And when it comes to loves it. So there’s really in the region, and it hits Ground” during its 1999 great work, the same holds no inclination for us to you, ‘Something is really run in London’s West End true for Paula Plum, our take it out.” going on here.’ (she also starred in the artistic director. There’s Over the course of its “Now, we’re working Folger’s Coffee “Dancer’s no question as to how first decade, “Christmas a good deal of the year Morning” TV commercial). valuable they’ve been to Celtic Sojourn” has ben- on ‘Christmas Celtic So- The three are members this show.” efited from the infusion journ,’ and it’s gotten of The Step Crew, a new This year, O’Donovan of talents and skills from pretty elaborate in terms production that blends notes, will see more em- many people, O’Donovan of costumes, staging and the Ottawa Valley and phasis on vocal perfor- says, whether they have other aspects, and you Irish dance traditions with mances. “We’re always been out on the stage or be- wonder, ‘Is it too much modern tap. trying to utilize that char- hind the scenes. He cites, work?’” says O’Donovan, “We’re very excited acteristic of the show to for example, Kieran Jor- whose wife Lindsay will to have Jon, Nathan, a greater degree. We not dan and Kevin Doyle, who also be part of the show. and Cara here,” says only have Navan and “have done so much for “But the experience is O’Donovan. “The fact Alyth, but some great vo- the dance choreography still an uplifting one, and they’ve worked together, cal talents in Mick McAu- and performances.” Even no matter how ambitious and with Alyth, as part of ley and Eamon McElholm though the roster may we might get, the show The Chieftains’ tours, is a of Solas, as well as Lind- change somewhat from still has that very homey, big plus.” say, so that will definitely year to year, the imprint folksy quality to it. That’s Navan, known for spell- be a highlight.” of various individuals on a big reason why people binding close-harmony Running an annual the show remains. keep coming out to see it singing of material from production for a decade, “Ultimately, ‘Christmas – along with the fact that Scotland, Ireland, Wales, “Sojourn” maestro Brian O’Donovan O’Donovan says, means Celtic Sojourn’ integrates we have some remarkably Brittany, Cornwall, and outpost. continued right up until striking a balance be- a lot of people’s visions, yet talented individuals and the Isle of Man, among “We are in fact going to the 1970s. tween retaining aspects at the same time there’s groups involved in it.” other places, makes its re- be incorporating an out- “Seamus is a big part of that audiences like and a unity to the show. It’s McCormack will join turn to “Christmas Celtic growth of the ‘Shamrock the reason why ‘Christ- implementing changes to kind of like a family’s a long line of renowned Sojourn” as a quartet City’ project into this mas Celtic Sojourn’ has prevent staleness. Christmas ornaments: Celtic female vocalists instead of a trio. year’s show,” O’Donovan been so successful,” adds “It’s become a tradition They may be made of – including Cara Dillon, “They were in the very says. “In his research, O’Donovan. “Year in and for the lead female singer different materials, and Karan Casey and Kar- first show, and back then Seamus came across the year out, he does a phe- in the show to lead ‘O Holy some may be older than ine Polwart – who have they were a quartet,” says story of ‘The Joshers,’ a nomenal job arranging Night’ – given the quality others, but when you put entered the “Christmas O’Donovan. “It’s definitely Butte tradition in which, the music. Besides the of singers we’ve had, that’s them all on a tree it looks Celtic Sojourn” spotlight. very special to have them following the Christmas full ensemble numbers, a no-brainer,” he says. like Christmas.” A native of the Isle of here with us again as a Eve festivities, people there are opportunities “Another tradition is the For ticket and perfor- Lewis (off the northwest foursome.” would go around leaving for some special collabora- young Harney Academy mance information on coast of Scotland) who is O’Donovan is also abun- gifts, food or money on the tions: You might see, for kids closing out the first “Christmas Celtic So- now living in Dublin, Mc- dantly pleased to have doorsteps of those in need. example, Winifred Horan act with their high-energy journ,” see wgbh.org/celtic Cormack has appeared on Stout and McKay back. This was a tradition that from Solas pairing up with set dance. For a while, some two-dozen albums The pair electrified the au- and has two solo record- dience two years ago with ings to her credit, a body of their intricate pas-de- work that covers a variety deux of Scottish harp and of music, from Celtic and Shetland fiddle, drawn folk to jazz, classical and from tradition but incorpo- indie. Her resume also rating modern influences includes appearances with to create exciting, elegant The Chieftains, including sounds that seem drawn a particularly memo- from the very geography of rable one in Boston that Scotland and the Shetland clinched her invitation Islands. to perform in “Christmas “Chris and Catriona Celtic Sojourn.” stole the show in 2010,” “I’ve loved Alyth’s voice O’Donovan declares. “In for years; she was some- many ways, they’re one one we had in mind for of our most iconic acts, in the show a long time,” the way they combine the explains O’Donovan. “Ear- old and the new.” lier this year, Alyth and Equally iconic is So- The Chieftains, along las, of course, which has with the band The Low carved out its own unique Anthem, did a studio position in the Irish music presentation at WGBH spectrum, squarely at the and it was riveting. So intersection of tradition we made sure to put her and modern, and with on the roster for the show virtuosic musicianship to this time around.” boot. Their most recent Another asset for Mc- album project, “Shamrock Cormack is her extensive City,” further affirms acting experience, on both their reputation as one stage and screen, notes of the most eminent Irish O’Donovan. “There is an groups of the past couple element of theatricality of decades. The project is in ‘Christmas Celtic So- the creation of band leader journ,’ so Alyth fits in very Seamus Egan, who also well in that regard.” is the “Christmas Celtic This year’s other new- Sojourn” musical direc- comers, the Pilatzke tor, and was inspired by brothers and Butler, also the experiences of his have worked with The great-great uncle, who Chieftains, and thus will immigrated from Ireland likely be familiar to some at the turn of the century in the audience. The Pi- to Butte, Montana, an latzkes are steeped in unlikely but robust Irish Page 14 December 2012 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com as a whistle player of precision in tone, expressiveness, served up straight and flow. She displays her prowess on solo pieces and with absolutely CD Roundup in collaboration with several other musicians, including no other instru- Frankie and Sean (who plays some stately piano on ments in earshot “O’Dwyer’s Hornpipe” and brings his fiddle along on (not even so much By Sean Smith three other tracks), as well as the estimable Seamie as a shakey egg). Noreen O’Sullivan, “The Quiet House” • The O’Dowd on guitar. Two sons of dis- album title – also the name of the reel on the sixth track A definite highlight is the title track, a moderate- tinguished musi- – seems rather an ironic one because the house in which speed reel O’Sullivan composed (inspired by her grand- cal families, and whistle player Noreen Gavin O’Sullivan grew up was daughter, whose laughter can be heard at the very representatives of anything but quiet: Her father ran a pub where great end) – it’s a sublime piece of work, gently adorned by the South Meath musicians like Eddie Maloney and Tommy Mulhaire O’Dowd’s voicings. The two also glide their way through (O Raghallaigh) dropped by, and a trio of reels that ends with a less-familiar version of and North Ker- most of her family “Drowsy Maggie,” and a superb medley of jigs, which ry (O’Mahony) were musicians, starts off with one credited to the aforementioned styles, these guys play 14 tracks worth of tunes with i n c l u d i n g h e r Eddie Maloney. a leisurely ambiance yet equally obvious command. brothers Frankie, Her solos include an entrancing rendition of the song Those who are experts in free reeds, or who are who went on to “The Mountain Streams Where the Moorcocks Grow,” inveterate tune cataloguers, will certainly find any co-found De Dan- and double-tracks on a set of jigs, “Tom Busy’s” and number of pleasures in the listening; those who are nan, and Sean, that old favorite “The Rambling Pitchfork,” and on a neither can just let themselves caught up in, say, the an All-Ireland rousing pair of reels, “Johnny Going to the Ceili” and gorgeous bassy rhythms O’Mahony conjures up or the champion on the “Donal a Phumba” (as popularized by Denis Murphy and punchy ornamentation from O Raghallaigh. Listen, button accordion. Julia Clifford), for which she uses whistles an octave for example, to the “The Lone Bush/Humours of Tul- O’Sullivan went apart, adding a very pleasant richness to the sound. lycrine” hornpipe set or O Raghallaigh’s solo medley on her own, very The three tracks with her brothers are exciting, of jigs – played at a deliciously deliberate pace – or successful route of course, especially given that distinctive Frankie the closing trio of reels, all of them venerable session as not only a musician but also as a music teacher in flourish on fiddle, but at times a little overwhelming. tunes, and all of them mellifluous in this pair’s hands the Connemara Gaeltacht, a master class instructor It’s a pleasure hearing the whistle when it’s given its — “Wind That Shakes the Barley” in particular has at Scoil Éigse and an adjudicator at the All-Ireland space — like, say, in a quiet house. an infectious swing to it. Fleadh Ceoil. Micheal O Raghallaigh and Danny O’Mahony, Given that all but two of the tracks are duets, But she had never gotten around to recording an “As It Happened” • Squeezebox enthusiasts, rejoice. and because concertina and accordion have similar album, and now thankfully that little oversight has This album is pure accordion and concertina – noth- dynamics, it’s no cliché to say that O Raghallaigh been remedied. “The Quiet House” shows O’Sullivan ing but Paolo Soprani, Iorio, Suttner, and Jeffries and O’Mahony often sound as if they are playing one instrument together simultaneously — it’s that good. Various artists, “Together for Christmas: A Contemporary Celtic Christmas Collection” • How refresh- ing: A Christmas- themed album you might actually pay attention to, and not just use as background while you open presents, slurp down the eggnog, and try to ignore the hyperactiv- ity of overexcited children, and then stow away with all the decorations for the next 11 months or so. “Together for Christ- mas” not only gets your attention, but it also could well stay in your CD rotation or playlist until at least President’s Day. This 15-track compilation is marked by some refreshingly new, or perhaps less well-known, voices of Celtic music. And the word “contemporary” in the title definitely fits here, most of the songs in the folk-rock vein, some acknowledging the bittersweet- ness the holiday season can bring: jangly electric guitars and bright mandolins along with family angst in The Elders’ “Christmas Day”; the gritty, fatalistic barroom humor of Kyf Brewer’s “Whiskey for Christ- mas”; equinoctial synthesizer and piano orchestration behind Emma Kate Tobia’s delicate “Walking in the Air”; brass-flavored wish-you-were-here sentiments gently voiced in “What Christmas Was Meant to Be” by Garrett Wall and Track Dogs; Ashley Davis’ dusky, regretful “Nollaig Moon,” and John Munnelly’s modern carol-like “Happy Christmas.” Some more familiar names, voices and selections are here, too, like Cherish the Ladies and their trad-band treatment of Christmas-oriented tunes (a better fit might have been their cajunesque “Rise Up Shepherd”), The High Kings (“Driving Home for Christmas”), Da- mien Dempsey (“O Holy Night”) and the ever-ubiquitous Irish Tenors (“Silent Night”). Some delightful covers as well: Dave Browne and the Temple Bar doing Chrissie Hynde’s “2000 Miles,” Black 47’s Larry Kirwan dueting with Ashley Davis on the John Lennon classic “Happy Xmas (War Is Over),” and a give-’em-points-for-trying take on Shane McGowan’s magnificently, sentimentally desolate “Fairytale of New York” by George Murphy and Emma Kate Tobia – Murphy and Tobia don’t have the dissolute grandeur of McGowan and Kirsty MacColl in the original (who does?), but they do evoke some of their tragicomic point-counterpoint (He: “I could’ve been someone”/She: “Well, so could anyone”). Put a bow on this one. Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com December 2012 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 15

“The Christmas Revels,” set in December of 1907, follows a group of Irish emigres to America, De- cember 14 - 27, at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge. ‘Christmas Revels’ sets sail with Irish bent on a better life (Continued from page 9) the poem, The Shortest David Coffin and The Children’s Chorus, in “The Christmas Revels,” December 14 - 27, at Sanders The- underwater . . . One of the Day. atre in Cambridge. Yeats stories, quite well BIR: Holding tradi- known, involves a mer- tions close to the heart is of a coup this year in BIR: Is there a mo- I made the voyage [to and every resource that maid taking Jack down to especially true during the that prominent Dublin ment in this year’s show New York] on the Queen they had . . . and here it the bottom of the seas to holidays. artist P. J. Lynch did the that means a lot to you Elizabeth many years ago was. I’m hoping we can see his curiosities. That A. Yes. I think it’s inter- beautiful graphic for the personally? as a 12-year-old kid and I reconstruct a moment on allows us a lot of license. esting as you hear people show. I’m told there’s a A. [Music Director] remember actually seeing stage that captures some And of course, we’re never talk about bringing up local connection. George Erlen’s “Hymn the Statue of Liberty as we of that. stuck for music once we kids. … that there’s a very A. We had a kid in our For A New Land, which is came in, and I remember R. J. Donovan is pub- get into the Irish culture. palpable advantage to chorus who just was very in the tradition of the big the reaction. It was very lisher of OnStageBoston. BIR: No matter where having important things photogenic . . . We took orchestral choral works. somber as people stood com. “Revels” takes us each repeated, so there are some photographs (of him [In creating it], he took and looked. We weren’t *** Christmas, there are spe- parts of your life that are for Lynch’s reference). We a text, “The stone which immigrants, but I could “The Christmas Revels,” cial touchstones that are expected, not dramatic thought it would be nice to the builders refused is be- imagine the enormous December 14 - 27, Sanders always very important to (perhaps), but they are pitch this from the point come the headstone of the symbolic power of that Theater, 45 Quincy Street, the audience. there and you touch them. of view of the child. By corner,” emphasizing the moment – people had Cambridge. Tickets: 617- A. You measure the suc- Like movies and pizza on a telling the story in these place of the immigrant. gambled their entire lives 496-2222 or revels.org. cess of it by the reaction Sunday night (Laughing). terms we can experience of the audience. A key BIR: The participatory vividly some of the emo- part of why [founder] Jack element of “Revels” is tions that must have been Langstaff’s formula is suc- integral to the experience. central to the emigrant’s cessful is that there are A. My theory is that as experience. The anxiety living traditions within people get more isolated in – how are we gonna have this ephemeral piece of more parts of their lives, any kind of a Christmas on theater. Things that are where everything is cus- a boat at sea? The voyage, done in a ritual way – go- tomized to oneself -- you in a sense, is finding out EIRE ing out into the lobby, for have your own music and just how little you need to instance, dancing “Lord your own music delivery have a truly memorable of the Dance,” or singing system and your own Christmas. The boy’s hold- together at the end of the computer and gadgets and ing a model of the boat, but pub show with the Sussex so on. I think that creates we’re not sure whether it’s Mummers Carol, or sing- a little bit of a longing for his Christmas present, or ing a round for peace, and sociability. if he’s giving it to us. It’s 795 Adams St. • Dorchester the moment where we do BIR: You scored a bit a neat image. “President’s Choice” PERSONAL CARE Where in the ATTENDANT NEEDED World Can You Find News about Serving Lunch & Dinner To care for elderly woman and her special Ourselves & Our needs adult daughter. Early morning and Town? late afternoon/early evening. Neponset Every day, area. Experience and reference required. BostonIrish.Com bostonirish.com Call for more details 7 days a week 781-308-9000

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Call 617-436-1222 www.Gormleyfuneral.com Page 16 December 2012 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com Traveling People Irish treasure: Harry Clarke’s stained-glass windows By Judy Enright took four years to complete Special to the BIR and has been described as It seems appropriate Clarke’s most magnificent in this holiest of seasons accomplishment and “a to draw special attention complete revelation in to the incredibly detailed stained glass work.” The and brilliant stained glass window includes a self- windows designed and cre- portrait of an anguished ated by Irish artist Harry Clarke, said to portray his Clarke at the beginning of prolonged suffering from the 20th Century. poor health. Clarke was born on St. A dedicated artist, Patrick’s Day 1889 on Clarke continued work- North Frederick Street, ing on the Newport design Dublin, where his father, even while confined to a Joshua, had a stained glass Swiss sanatorium where and ecclesiastical decorat- doctors worked to curb ing business. The younger the tuberculosis in both of two sons (brother Walter lungs. He died in 1931 at was exactly one year old- the age of 41 en route home er), Harry left school at 14 to Ireland and a month to join the family business before his studio installed after his mother, Bridget, the final window in St. died. He took night class- Patrick’s. es in stained glass and Clarke was commis- won several scholarships, sioned during his short which ultimately led him lifetime to create more to study the art in London than 160 windows for and France. religious and commercial If you have visited Ire- entities and was also well land numerous times but known as an illustrator. have never heard of Harry Among his more famous Clarke or seen his win- illustrations were the dows, don’t worry. Many drawings in two editions are in remote churches of the works of Edgar Al- and, honestly, I only hap- lan Poe. pened upon his work a few It’s interesting that Above: Detail of a stained glass window by the late years ago after someone Clarke and his brother, artist Harry Clarke in St. Mary’s Church, Ballin- told me about a pastor Walter, were born on robe, Co. Mayo. who sold his life insurance March 17 a year apart, Top right: It’s hard to fully appreciate the amazing to pay for stained glass worked in the family colors and complex details in the late artist Harry Clarke’s magnificent stained glass windows when windows in his church. stained glass business, married sisters – Margaret they’re printed in black and white in a newspaper. Canon Michael MacDon- But if you have a chance to stop by any of the Irish ald, a seemingly colorful and Minnie Crilley from Louth – and died within churches with his windows - this one from The Im- character and pastor of St. maculate Conception window (1925) in St. Mary’s Patrick’s Church in New- six months of one another. Clarke works in the US in Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo - be sure to do so. (Judy port, Co. Mayo, sold his Enright photo) policy for the magnificent Also interesting is that Right: Detail of The Adoration of the Magi (1925) windows that he commis- Harry was commissioned stained glass window in St. Patrick’s Church, Kil- sioned in 1926. Clark ap- to do nine windows for maine, Co. Mayo, shows the brilliance of the late parently visited the church the Basilica of St. Vin- stained glass artist Harry Clarke, who did more and found the canon out in cent de Paul in Bayonne, than 160 stained glass windows for religious and his rose garden, carrying a N.J., which he insisted on commercial commissions in the course of his short basket and wearing a large designing and personally life. Judy Enright photos straw hat, and was com- supervising even though pletely charmed by him. that work was done dur- Harry Clarke,” by Lucy this beautifully illustrated As a side note, Mac- ing the last year of his life. Costigan and Michael account in their county of Donald is also credited, And, if you happen to Cullen, published in 2010. windows by an outstand- along with Dr. John Healy, visit the Wolfsonian– Mayo Co. Council offers ingly brilliant Irish artist archbishop of Tuam, with Florida International Uni- guide … and his studio. Two simi- building the oratory at the versity design museum The Mayo County Coun- larly extraordinary Mayo top of nearby 2,510-foot in Miami, FL, be sure to cil published an excellent parish priests, Canon high Croagh Patrick in look in the permanent guide to Harry Clarke win- MacDonald of Newport Murrisk where St. Patrick collection for his Geneva dows in 17 Mayo churches and Monsignor Thomas is said to have fasted for Window –13 panels each as part of the County Mayo Shannon of Ballinrobe, the Ecclesiastical Heritage Guidebook writer Geor- 40 days and nights in the recording an incident or Heritage Plan 2006-2011. I passionate supporters of Trail of County Mayo. gina Campbell also issues 5th Century. The oratory scene from Irish literature. was surprised, after visit- Harry Clarke’s unique Photos again by Michael annual awards. Restau- was dedicated on July 20, The window was origi- ing St. Mary’s Church in achievement in stained McLaughlin Studios, as rant of the Year (tastiest 1905, and re-established nally commissioned for Ballinrobe and St. Patrick glass, are among those well as by Eamonn McCar- and friendliest) for 2012 the ancient pilgrimage on the League of Nations in churches in Newport, Kil- who would be proud of this thy. It is wonderful to see went to The Greenhouse Reek Sunday, the last Sun- 1931 but was rejected by maine, and Lahardaun, laudable venture, having how much the Irish, espe- in Dublin. Chef of the day in July. Depending on the prudish Irish govern- that there’s no literature done so much to encourage cially in Mayo, appreciate year was Ian Orr from the weather, some 25,000 ment. You can also find in any of them about the and foster interest in it.” their amazing treasures Brown’s Restaurant in climb the mountain that Harry Clarke windows windows or Clarke. Visi- Lovely photos as well as and we can hardly wait to Derry, Northern Ireland, day, many barefooted, to in buildings in Australia, tors, when we were there, the design and layout for see what the Mayo county and Hotel of the Year was honor the memory of St. England, Northern Ire- clearly knew about Clarke the Mayo brochure were council produces next! The Granville Hotel in Patrick’s fast and do pen- land, Scotland and Wales. and his work and had by Michael McLaughlin Michelin stars: South Waterford. ance for their sins. Mass is Several books have been made a point to visit and Studios of Westport. Dublin and Galway city Campbell’s Pub of the celebrated on the summit written about Clarke and photograph the windows. We were able to pur- restaurants recently be- Year was Nancy’s Bar every half hour from 8 a.m. his work. Nicola Gordon Wrote Bowe in her fore- chase a copy of the Clarke came 2013 Michelin Star in Ardara, Co. Donegal, to 2 p.m. that day. Bowe wrote the compre- word to the Co. Mayo book- booklet at the Mayo Coun- recipients. Cited were: and having eaten lunch ‘Last Judgment’ in New- hensive “The Life and let: “The initiative of the ty Council offices on the Locks Brasserie in Por- there – the freshest and port Work of Harry Clarke,” Mayo County Council, un- Mall, near the Garda sta- tobello, Dublin, a French tastiest fish, well prepared The finely detailed Last first published in 1989 der the able direction of its tion in Castlebar, where restaurant and sister and served – I can vouch Judgment window over the with a paperback edition Heritage Officer, Dr. Deir- the front lobby staff could restaurant of Pearl Bras- for that one and also for high altar in the east wall in 1994, and “Strangest dre Cunningham, is to be not have been more help- serie, and Aniar, at Lower breakfasts at the Quay of St. Patrick’s in Newport Genius: Stained Glass of congratulated in realizing ful or accommodating. Dominick Street, Galway. House in Clifden, Co. They are a credit to their Aniar is owned and oper- Galway, where I stayed organization. ated by Jp McMahon and several years ago. Quay We heard that the book- Drigín Gaffey, who started House won the Guesthouse Phillips Candy House lets are also availlable at Cava Spanish Restaurant Breakfast Award from fine chocolates since 1925 Seamus Duffy’s Bookshop and Tapas Bar, and is the Campbell. in Westport and no doubt only Michelin Star restau- Holidays: We wish in bookshops in Castlebar rant in the West of Ireland. all our readers the very and elsewhere through- The Patrick Guilbaud happiest of holidays. We out Mayo. It’s well worth restaurant in Dublin is also wish them a brightly purchasing and visiting the only Irish restaurant wrapped package contain- the varied churches if you with two stars. Sebastien ing tickets to Ireland. have the chance. You will Masi owns both Dublin What better gift could quickly see which win- Brasseries. anyone want? dows are Harry Clarke’s Those who say Irish Don’t forget that Tour- and which are not. His food hasn’t changed in 30 ism Ireland is orchestrat- designs, colors ,and details years need only stop by ing and advertising “The are remarkable and easily for a meal at any of those Gathering” for 2013 so it identifiable. great restaurants or at will be a great year to go … and a desk calendar many other excellent pubs and Ireland will be ready The County Council also and restaurants all over to welcome you and all produced a beautiful 2012 the country. Irish food has visitors. So do make your desk calendar with photos definitely changed – for plans now. of churches and abbeys on the better! Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com December 2012 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 17 The Irish Language by Philip Mac AnGhabhann Celtic You remember last month’s column where Maire ross chanced to meet her friend Caít at the beach. Both C women had their daughters with them. When she retruned home Maire finds her husband, Seán. ords A Sheáin. Bhuail mé Caít ar an dtrá innu. W Cád é sin? Dáirire? Bhí. The Irish Cé bhí léi? A hinín, Nóra. crosswords are Tá sí chomh tarraingteach le a mathair. a service of an Ar a duine léi? Nach raibh. Thánnaig sé I Sasana. Ireland-based ‘S ollamh le Gaeilge. Seán. I ran into Caít on the beach today. website which What’s that? Really? Yes (It was). provides Irish Who was with her? Her daughter, Nora. Family Coats of She is as attractive as her mother. Was her husband with her? Arms by email. No. He went to England. He is a professor of Irish. You are invited This little conversation uses the Comparative to visit which we studied long ago and several other uses of the Irish le, “with”. www. Tá innu chomh breá le inné. “Today is as fine as yesterday.” bigwood.com/ On the other hand, if you want to go one step farther and say that something is “whiter”, “taller”, heraldry or “darker” than another—which may or not be in the sentence -- the formula is simply to precede an adjective with the word níos /neese/. Níos is a contraction of ní “thing” and is “is”. ©-bigwood.com Tá an seomra sin dorcha. IRELAND IN CROSSWORDS “That room is dark.” Tá an seomra seo níos dorcha. ACROSS 18. Little to wear on the Pacific atoll of big bangs. (6) “This room is darker.” 1. I ran non-art shop over in Clare’s gateway to Ireland, 21. “I shall be like that ——, I shall die at the top.” Don’t forget that little sound /uh/ that goes which has its ups and downs. (7,7) Swift. (4) between the –r and c-. Pronounce dorcha as / 7. Are set in order at this rising time of the year in DOR-uh-kuh/. Ireland. (6) 9. Hit hard when good person goes to the United Na- CROSSWORD SOLUTION ON PAGE 14 Note how she says. “Ran into” or “Met up with” tions. (4) – Bhuail mé. Buail has the general meaning to 10. “The whole worl’s in a —— o’ chassis.” Seán “hit” or “strike” and is used as a “Model Verb” in O’Casey. (5) many Irish texts as it is perfectly “regular” in all 12. “Too —— for a statesman, too proud for a wit.” Irish Sayings … tenses. Here the Past Tense is used, Bhuail. Goldsmith (of Edmund Burke) (4) 13. His run up leads to a sudden incursion (in Co. “A friend’s eye is a good mirror.” There are a number of Irish uses of le, “with”. “It is the good horse that draws its own cart.” We call many of these “idioms” since they are really Dublin, near to Lusk?). (6) not meaningful is a word-to-word translation. One 15. Huge land log chopped up in Wicklow holy site “A lock is better than suspicion.” of these you have learned already where le “with” where Saint Kevin built a hermitage. (11) “Two thirds of the work is the semblance.” is translated “by” – “Hamlet is by Shakespeare”. 17. Desert rat gets rib and leg broken. (6) “He who gets a name for early rising can stay in Is Hamlet le Shakespeare. 19. Nore in turmoil over Nevada city of speedy uns- bed until midday.” Another use of le that you have already had is plicing. (4) “A friend’s eye is a good mirror.” to say, “I like” as in “I like coffee” – Is maith liom 20. Tiler in retreat having fired again. (5) “It is the good horse that draws its own cart.” caifé. 22. Dublin ullage has invalid content. (4) “A lock is better than suspicion.” For review, here are the Prepositional Pronoun 23. We’re disturbed about six, to pass comment on “Two thirds of the work is the semblance.” combinations of le. Notice the pronunciation of leo. the book. (6) “You are not a fully fledged sailor unless you have It is not spelled with a –b on the end but is usually 24. Selling, ask Bill about Kerry Irish speaking seaside sailed under full sail,” “and you have not built a wall pronounced as if it had one. village near Waterville. (14) unless you have rounded a corner.” “There is no strength without unity.” liom /lum/ “with me” “You must live with a person to know a person. If linn /lin/ “with us” DOWN you want to know me come and live with me.” leat /lath/ “with you” 1. Lined stack risk. (anag.) In Strangford Lough, County “Praise the young and they will blossom” libh /liv/ “with you-all” Down, where there is a Norman castle ruin. (8,6) “The raggy colt often made a powerful horse.” leis /leysh/ “with him” 2. “Gladstone tried to guess the ——— to the Irish “Age is honorable and youth is noble.” leo /lohb/ “with them” Question, but whenever he got warm, the Irish secretly “Youth does not mind where it sets its foot.” léi /leh/ “with her” changed the Question.” W.C. Sellar (6) “Both your friend and your enemy think you will 3. Rowing boat propellers seen in Sligo arsenal. (4) never die.” Now here are some of the uses of le in addition 4. It was not long ago that the centre was rebuilt. (6) “The well fed does not understand the lean.” to chomh … le in the little conversation. 5. Cut back spending, but dig a hole again. (8) Necessity is the mother of invention. 6. We lack monk’s nod up in the Tipperary mountains Lack of resource has hanged many a person. Cé bhí leí? /keh vee leh/ above the Abbey of Mount Melleray. (14) Time is a great story teller. “Who was with her?” 8. Rails a plank. (anag.) Kerry estate and hotel on the Theres no need to fear the wind if your haystacks Ar an duine léi? /ahr uhn DOON-yuh leh? shore of the Kenmare River near Sneem. (11) are tied down. “Was her husband with her?” 11. Panes get smashed by quivering tree. (4) A trout in the pot is better than a salmon in the sea. ‘S ollamh le Gaeilge. /SOH-lahv leh GAEL-guh/ 14. Naturists seen in the shifting dunes? (5) It’s better to bend than to break. “He is (a) Professor of Irish.” 15. Irregular soldier could lure Gail over. (8) A ship often sank beside the harbour 16. First notes taken in Gweedore mishap. (2,2,2) Food is the “horse” of work. In addition you came across several new vocabu- Character is better than wealth. lary items: Cád é sin? /KAHT eh sheen/ “What’s that?” ADVERTISEMENT Dáirire /DAR-uh-ruh/ “Really?” Tarraingteach /TAHR-enk-chach/ “attractive” Sasana /SAHs-uh-nuh/ “England” Notice that the word for “England”, Sasana, Photography by is from the name “Saxon” whilst the word for the English language is Béarla from “Briton”. Now see if you can put these sentences into Irish: Image Photo Service 1.) “He likes coffee.” 2.) “She is very attractive.” 3.) “He is a Professor of English (language).” 4.) “Who is with them?” 5.) “She met Kate on the beach.” 6.) • Weddings • Anniversaries “The daughter is as tall as her mother.” 7.) “Nora was with me today.” 8.) Really? Was his wife with • Banquets • Portraits him?” 9.) We like coffee with milk and sugar.” 10.) “Do you like coffee or tea?” • Reunions

Answers: 1.) Is maith leis caifé. 2.) Is sí go • Groups • Families tharraingteach. 3.) ‘S ollamh le Béarla. 4.) Cé atá leo? 5.) Bhuail sí Caít ar an dtrá. 6.) Tá an inín chomh airde le a mathair. 7.) Bhí • Special Occasions Nóra liom innu. 8.) Dáirire! Bhí a bhean leis? 9.) Is maith linn caifé le bainne agus siúcra. 10.) An maith leat caifé no tae? (617) 291-6609 Nollag Shona Daoibh! “Merry Christmas to All” The official photographers of the Boston Irish Reporter Page 18 December 2012 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com BRETT’S BOSTON By Margaret Brett Hastings Exclusive photos of Boston Irish people & events

The Aisling Gallery in Hingham held a reception on Fri., Nov. 23, the opening event of the show “Irish Light”, continuing thru Christmas Eve. The gallery is displaying three artists’ interpretations of “Irish Light”, including several private collection works by the family & patrons of Eugene Conlon, watercolorist (1925-2001); new oil paintings by Irish landscape painter Vincent Crotty; and a welcome to the gallery’s newest addition, Roisin Fitzpatrick, “Artist of The Light.”

1.) Vincent Crotty, artist, Dorchester; Kieran Jor- dan, Dorchester; Maureen Connolly, gallery co- owner; Brenda Spinnazola, Marshfield; 2.) Carla Pizzi, and Marcia Ganter, Weymouth; 3.)John Con- nolly, gallery co-owner; Roisin Fitzpatrick, artist 1. of light®, Dublin; 4.) Jacquie McManus, Woburn; Janice Filteau, Medford; 5.) Niel Cannon, Concord, NH; Dolores Jordan Cannon, Philadelphia, PA; 6.)Sharon and Chuck Sullivan, Milton; 7.) John Brady and John Cafferty, Hingham; 8.) Brenda O’Connor, Squantum; 9.) Margaret Stapleton, Sci- tuate; 10.) Norma McKenzie, Weymouth; Angela Bruzzese, Hull; 11.) Julie Davenport and Neil Hur- ley, Somerville; 12.) Annette Kavanugh and Mary Kavanugh, Milton; 13.) Harold Lincoln, Hingham; Vincent Crotty; 14.) Jane and George Doyle; Paul and Kate Doyle, Hingham.

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13. 14. Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com December 2012 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 19

Book Review A penetrating portrait of an American mogul

By Peter F. Stevens He similarly takes on Kennedy’s legendary Wall BIR Staff Street dealings – many of which would have been For readers who view Joseph P. Kennedy as a boot- grossly illegal today but were not in the 1920s – his legging, womanizing, election-stealing, Nazi-loving anti-Semitism (even though a number of influential villain, “The Patriarch” is not their book. For readers Jewish jurists and businessmen were his friends), who see Kennedy as a man whose good outweighed the his isolationist views, and all the other controversial considerable bad, the book is a mixed bag. However, in aspects of his life and career. understanding what made Kennedy tick in public and Nasaw examines whether Kennedy was an appeaser private, “The Patriarch,” in this reviewer’s opinion, is “and Nazi sympathizer, a stock swindler, a bootlegger, the finest biography thus far of the ambassador and and a colleague of mobsters.” He scrutinizes whether one of the best books about the entire family. Kennedy forced his second son – JFK -- into the political One of America’s foremost historians, David Nasaw fray and then rigged election victories – including the is the Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., Professor of History presidential campaign. Nasaw bores deeply into Am- at the Graduate Center of the City University of New bassador Kennedy’s tortuous relationship with FDR, York. His biographies of Andrew Carnegie and William and his condemnation of the Truman Doctrine and Randolph Hearst deservedly earned critical praise and the Marshall Plan. He was against America getting a host of prestigious awards. “The Patriarch” is no less involved in Vietnam, one case in which many might splendid in scholarship, scope, and style. Nasaw’s view his isolationism as valid. narrative flows smoothly and skillfully for scholars While this reviewer is tempted to present Nasaw’s and general readers alike. balanced, nuanced, and candid takes on all of these and Setting “The Patriarch” light years apart from previ- more, it would be a disservice to both the author and the ous works on Joseph Kennedy is the unprecedented reader. For anyone with even a passing interest in the access to source material that Nasaw was granted Kennedys and in American history, “The Patriarch” is by the Kennedy family – on his terms. Nasaw notes: a book not to be missed. What emerges from its pages “When Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith and Senator is a word picture of a complex and towering man who Edward Kennedy…asked me to write a biography of was not the total rogue or villain that so many people their father, I agreed to do so, but only if I was granted have simplistically branded him. What emerges is a full cooperation, unfettered access to Joseph P. Ken- The most compelling picture of a man who in many ways was all too human. nedy’s papers…including those closed to researchers, (“The Patriarch: The Remarkable Life and Turbu- and unrestricted permission to cite any document I and balanced look yet lent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy,” by David Nasaw. came across. The family accepted my conditions. No Hardcover, The Penguin Press, NY, 868 pages, b&w attempts were made to withhold information or to photos, $40) censor this book in any way.” at “The Ambassador” – The proof of that is in the book. Nasaw does not shrink from either the myths that many Kennedy- Joseph P. Kennedy A Subscription to the haters accept as gospel or an unsparing examination Boston Irish Reporter of his vices and virtues. Yes, while many won’t want of them over his lifetime…” Despite that, Kennedy to acknowledge it, there were virtues in this ambitious, viewed himself as a staunch Catholic, who, according Makes an Ideal Gift for powerful, charismatic, and often ruthless man whose to his onetime paramour, the actress Gloria Swanson, life and that of his family constitute a Boston Irish, Irish thought he could “wipe the slate clean just by going Any Special Occasion. American, and American saga that is Shakespearean to confession.” in triumph, tragedy, and pathos. When it comes to Kennedy’s seething ambition in business and politics Why Not Order One Today the bromide that Kennedy was a man who made his comes to vivid, engrossing life in “The Patriarch,” but so, for Yourself, or for That fortune in bootlegging, Nasaw convincingly contends too, does his utter devotion to his children. Of course, that there is no hard shred of evidence to support the his legion of detractors will point immediately to his Special Irish Someone in Your Life? charge – other than Kennedy’s providing alcohol for decision to have his daughter Rosemary lobotomized his tenth Harvard reunion. and then seemingly cut her out of his life and thoughts. Call 617-436-1222 Nasaw does not sugarcoat his subject’s womanizing: Nasaw does not whitewash this, but simply presents “He enjoyed the company of other women, hundreds the unvarnished facts.

BOSTON - THE SATURDAY BEFORE THE WORLDS - WITHIN 500 YARDS OF THE WORLD DANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS VENUE IN BOSTON. Saturday - March 23rd, 2013 for 2 Shows 3:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M. The Berklee Performance Center 136 Mass. Ave., Boston, MA

Tickets Start at $20.00 You Can Pick Up at the Berklee Box Office Call 617-747-2261 or Visit www.Berkleebpc.com Sponsored by Tenor Tours and Shamrock Nation EVERY TICKET PURCHASED ENTERS YOU IN A DRAWING TO WIN A 7 Day TRIP FOR 2 TO IRELAND - Air/Hotel From Tenon Tours Page 20 December 2012 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com