December 2019 Boston’s hometown VOL. 30 # 12 journal of Irish culture. $2.00 Worldwide at All contents copyright © 2019 bostonirish.com Boston Neighborhood News, Inc. Introducing ‘Boston Irish’ – Page 4

Beannachtaí na Nollag Christmas Blessings by Mary McSweeney

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200 New Boston Drive, Canton, MA 781-821-8291 www.irishculture.org bostonirish.com November 2019 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 3 New home for Irish Pastoral Centre HAPPENINGS DECEMBER 2019 Sun., Dec. 1 – The Donegal Association will hold its Christmas party at Florian Hall in Dorchester from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. • The Irish Social club will have John Connors and the Irish Express for its Sunday evening dance from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. • The Irish Cultural Centre will have a Mass at 11 a.m. on its campus in Canton. Mon., Dec. 2 – The County Sligo Association will have a meeting at Waterford’s in Dedham at 8 p.m. Tues., Dec. 3 – The Leitrim Society of Boston will have a meeting at the Adams Corner Butcher Shop, 762 Adams Street, Dorchester, at 7.30 p.m. Fri., Dec. 6 – The Irish Network-Boston will hold its Christmas party at Finn Mc Cool’s Public House from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is $25.00. Sat., Dec. 7 – The Irish Music Club of Greater Boston will have its annual Mass at 6.30 p.m. at the Irish Social Club, 119 Park St., West Roxbury. Father Dan Finn will be the celebrant. Following the Mass, Erin’s Melody with Margaret Dalton will play for dancing. • The ICC will have Santa for breakfast. Call 781-821-8291 for information. • The North Shore Irish Association will have Fin- tan Stanley for its dance at the Knights of Columbus, 23 West Forest St., Melrose from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sun., Dec. 8 – The County Sligo Association will have its Christmas Party at Waterford’s in Dedham from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Music, food, Cardinal Sean O’Malley blessed the Centre’s new offices at 512 Gallivan Blvd., on November 22. Pictured raffles and Santa. Members front left is former IPC Director Daniel J. Finn. Behind Cardinal O’Malley is current director Peggy Davis $20, non-members, $25. Al- Mullen. See Harry Brett photos on Page 13. ways a full house. Make your plans now. • Leitrim Society Christmas Party and dance will be at the Boston Friends of GPA draw ICC from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. For tickets and information, please call Cathy Mawn at 617-549-3230. • The ICC presents an Irish Christmas in America crowd to luncheon at Fenway at 1 p.m.with Seamus Beagley and Oisin Mac Di- A luncheon in support of armada. the Boston Friends of the • The Reynolds-Hanafin-Cooley branch of Com- Gaelic Players Association haltas Ceoltoiri Eireann has its Larry Reynolds (GPA) drew a large gath- memorial scholarship fundraiser at 202 Arlington ering to Fenway Park’s St. in Watertown. Always great traditional music State Street Pavilion on and set dancing. Fri., Nov. 8. Sam Ken- • The ISC has Erin’s Melody for its Sunday evening nedy, president & CEO dance from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. of the Boston Red Sox and Sat., Dec. 14 – The Knights and Ladies of St. Fenway Sports Manage- Finbarr - Cork club hold a benefit dance to help the ment, offered remarks at African Mission Fathers. This is the Cork Club’s the luncheon, along with Christmas Party. Santa will make an appearance, Bill Powers, founder and the installation of officers will be held, and there CEO of Cambridge Mobile will be a sing along and lots of great food. Denis Telematics. Curtin’s band will Later, Kennedy and Powers joined Boston entertain from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Get your copy of Friends of the GPA Chair- the entertainment for 2020. For more information, man Aidan Browne and call Mary at 978-664-4652 or email richarda10@ GPA CEO Paul Flynn hotmail.com. for a panel discussion on • The ICC will have its $100-a-ticket drawing. To leadership and adversity. join in, call 781-821-8291. The luncheon was the • Sun., Dec. 15 – The ICC presents its Nativity latest success for the Bos- play at 11 a.m. ton-based friends group, • The ISC has Mossie Coughlin for its Sunday which seeks to raise funds evening dance from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and awareness of the GPA CEO Paul Flynn, Sam Kennedy, president and CEO of the Boston Red Fri., Dec. 20 – The ISC will hold its Christmas GPA’s mission, which is to Sox, Bill Powers of Cambridge Mobile Telematics, and Aidan Browne, chair- Party for members at 7.30 p.m. support Ireland’s amateur man of the Boston Friends of the GPA. Kyle Klein photos Sat., Dec. 21 – The Norwood Irish Music club athletes. have its Christmas dance with the Andy Healy band at the Knights of Columbus Hall at 572 Nichols St. in Norwood. • The ICC will hold a Christmas celebration with Chloe Agnew at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 for members, $35 for non-members. Sun., Dec. 22 – The ISC has Andy Healy for its Sunday evening dance from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sun., Dec. 29 – The ISC has Fintan Stanley for its Sunday evening dance from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tues., Dec. 31 – The ISC has the Andy Healy band for its New Year’s Eve celebration. Dancing from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Champagne toast, food, and lots more. Admission is $20. ••• Our sincere thanks to the Boston Irish Reporter and stations WROL and WUNR for keeping the Irish tradition alive and well in Boston. For those who receive and read the Irish Reporter monthly, we will miss its print edition as the paper moves online to Bostonirish.com (there will still be quarterly print editions during the year). “Happenings” will continue to appear each month on the BostonIrish.com website ••• “Happenings” is a listing of the activities of various Irish associations in the Boston area prepared by the Knights and Ladies of St. Finbarr - Cork club. To the best of our knowledge, the listing is accurate, but always subject to change. As we come to another end of the year, the Knights and Ladies of St. Finbarr Cork club wish all a Happy and Blessed Christmas and wonderful health during the year ahead. The scene inside Fenway Park’s State Street Pavilion. RICHARD ARCHER Page 4 November 2019 BOSTON IRISH Reporter bostonirish.com Publisher’s Noteboook Introducing ‘Boston Irish’ By Bill Forry ter that will offer you a series of options to either keep Neal lays out Editor receiving the seasonal editions or to opt out. This is the final edition of the Boston Irish Reporter In 1990, Ed and Mary Forry— my parents— in- as a monthly publication. Beginning next month, the troduced the inaugural edition of the Boston Irish Brexit fault lines newspaper will transition to new, seasonal schedule. We Reporter with these words: “We are pleased to present will publish our first 2020 edition in the beginning of this first edition to you our reader. We are aware of By Ed Forry some of our flaws; our readers, no doubt, will notice Congressman Richie Neal, the Democrat who now March as our spring/St. Patrick’s edition. Subsequently, we intend to publish summer, fall, and winter editions. others. We welcome your comments, and we encourage chairs the powerful House Ways and Means Commit- Irish groups of all kind to contact us with their news tee, took up a number of matters when he spoke at a This change to our print timeline will be accompanied by a more robust presence at our website, BostonIrish. and information.” New England Council breakfast at the Seaport Hotel Thirty years later, we echo those sentiments with a last month. Joking that “there’s not much happening com, which has been the online home of our work since 1995. While the web has been an important vehicle for new invitation: Please let us know who and what you’d in Washington these days,” the Democratic leader like us to cover. And tell us about the issues that you of the Friends of Ireland Caucus talked about trade disseminating our news and resources for more than 23 years, it will be ramped up over the coming weeks— of- see in the Greater Boston Irish community that are issues with Canada and Mexico, health and medical on your mind. We’ve always relied on our readership care legislation, and his meetings to make “technical fering more in the way of daily news updates, breaking news and commentary that will be more timely, and to help drive our coverage. That will not change under corrections” to tax laws. this new model. After his prepared re- we expect, relevant to your day-to-day consumption of news. Our social media channels— including Ins- We are committed to keep telling the stories of the marks, Neal, who was first Boston Irish— our stories— for years to come. We hope elected to Congress in 1988 tagram, Facebook and Twitter— will also get busier and more interactive. you will continue to join us on the journey. after serving as a teacher, Reach me anytime via email: [email protected]. a city councilor, and mayor If you’re a subscriber, you will hear from us in a let- of Springfield and was a great friend of former Con- gressman Brian Donnelly, sharing an apartment with him until Donnelly left to become US ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, was asked about his views on Brexit, and its likely effect on Ireland. “You know,” he said, “Brexit has been a three-year process and now the divorce is under way. What I think it’s also fair to say is that you shouldn’t over-promise by suggesting that this was going to be easy. It was nonsense from the start. So here we are three years later, and really no closer to an agreement in terms of trying to stitch up all the loose ends. “The Good Friday Agreement worked because of the American dimension. We were a fair arbiter, and part of the agreement is the work of genius in the North, the six counties, where my grandmother was from. The idea was that if you want to be Irish, you can be Irish. If you want to be British, you can be British. If you want to be both, you can be both. That was the idea. “So, the longest standing political dispute in the his- tory of the western world in some matter and manner was resolved. But the vic- tory that we have on the nationalist side, aggres- sively supported by the Republic of Ireland, is the invisible 310-mile border, and it changed everything. So today people, com- merce, and agriculture, First edition of the Boston Irish Reporter in particular, move from Belfast to Dublin, back and forth. It has all worked. US Rep. Richie Neal Saluting 30 years of service from “I want to say this about Brexit: I think that the agreement Mr. Johnson re- cently proposed will create a border. It’s going to be the pages of Boston’s ‘Irish Soul’ difficult for some on the island, but at the same time I think that there are times in politics when you hold By Joe Leary out for a better deal than you were likely to get, and There is no doubt that the Boston Irish Reporter has you end up getting what you didn’t want. And I think been a most important force in strengthening and build- in this instance, we would all be better if the DUP – ing the Irish American community here in the Boston the hard-line unionist party – had subscribed to the area. Since Ed and Mary Forry began publishing this advice of that sage of Western thought, Mick Jagger: extraordinary newspaper 30 years ago, we have wit- You get what you need. And I think their refusal to nessed the growth of many new and revitalized Irish take that is now the cause for what is going to be a organizations and events. more contentious divorce. But Boris Johnson has said Now the organization is modernizing and going digi- that’s the price that they’re willing to pay. tal, an outlay that will be buttressed by print specials “We were clear with Theresa May at the time, and from time to time, to serve our community better. No we were clear in Dublin, Belfast, and Derry. And we longer will we have to wait till the end of the month to met the Brexiteers for lunch. It didn’t go that well. access Irish news. We wish them well and Godspeed. It was one of those events, again, where the speaker It was in1990 when, as president of The Irish Ameri- was happy to let them know how she felt. A trade deal can Partnership, I found myself frequently traveling to eventually with the UK is very desirable, but not until Ireland. On one of my trips to Belfast it was suggested we see how the issue of the border is resolved. I think that I visit an area called The Short Strand in East this can still be done, but it won’t be done amicably. Belfast, an enclave of approximately 5,000 Catholics set within 12-to-36-foot walls protecting them from the 60,000 or so Protestants who lived just outside the walls. This was during the time of violence, bombings, and killings in Northern Ireland, with riots and sectarian violence of one sort or another occurring most every day. Boston Irish It was a memorable experience that I will never forget. Though I have been back several times with groups of Partnership supporters, I had never imagined such REPORTER hostility to members of my own religion. tell him of the experience and ask if I could submit an The Boston Irish Reporter is published every month I was picked up at my hotel and brought to the Short article about the conditions at the Short Strand. Bos- Boston Neighborhood News, Inc., Strand by a number of their residents who told of ton should know about such a place, I said. Ed was as 150 Mt. Vernon St., Suite 560, Dorchester, MA 02125 the flaming bombs that frequently were thrown over generous as he always is and welcomed the submission. “If America is watching, the British and others will [email protected] www.bostonirish.com the walls, requiring many residents to put up 4-by-8 wooden panels to protect their windows. Ironically, the be far more careful” is the way I began the first of some Mary C. Forry, President (1983-2004) 225 articlse that I would write for the Boston Irish Edward W. Forry, Publisher panels were brightly painted to show spirit, humor, and resiliency. During the day, they were moved to let Reporter over the past 18 years. It was an honor to Thomas F. Mulvoy Jr., Managing Editor be associated with the newspaper and the wonderful William P. Forry, Editor in the light. As I walked along, I stepped over thick fire hoses that had been left on the ground ready for people who work there, most notably my editor, Tom Peter F. Stevens, Contributing Editor Mulvoy, who ushered my prose into print. Jack Conboy, Advertising Manager putting out the nightly fires. St. Matthew’s Catholic Church with its school for The Boston Irish Reporter printed news that other News: (617) 822-3225 Ads : (617) 436-1222 media simply did not cover. Describing Irish life, Irish Fax: (617) 825-5516 [email protected] 300 young people was set in the middle of this mess. The Protestant school, Beechfield, with approximately elections, the terrible conflict and how the Irish people On the Web: bostonirish.com Twitter @bostonirishrptr 90 students, was just over a 30-foot wall with a chain were able to cope with such conditions. Visit our Facebook page at Bostonirishreporter link fence on top. Troublemakers would sling shot Over the last decade, the newspaper has honored steel balls or golf balls over the wall to break windows selected Boston Irish individuals and families at its Next Issue: Spring, 2020 Deadline: Fri., Feb. 21 at 12 noon or hurt people. For my part, I was surprised at how annual Boston Irish Honors Awards Luncheon. This calm my guide was. To me this was a horrible way to has become a major event reinforcing our Irish heritage The Boston Irish Reporter is not liable for errors appearing in advertisements beyond the cost of the space occupied by live every day. Hats off to the Boston Irish Reporter: May its future the error. The right is reserved by The Boston Irish Reporter to edit, reject, or cut any copy without notice. As soon as I got back to Boston I called Ed Forry to be as bright as its past! bostonirish.com November 2019 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 5 Point of View A visit from the Spirit of Christmas Future Looking toward events that may or may not come to pass By Peter F. Stevens As 2020 beckons, it is high time for the entire nation the Trumpist Senate will agree on one and only one BIR Staff to acknowledge that the Republican Party has gone bipartisan bill: an edict banning inter-party marriages As the 2019 holiday season races in, Christmas the way of the Whigs. The GOP is RIP—replaced by for the greater domestic good. and New Year traditions take on special meaning for the Trumpist or Trumpian Party. Democrat legislators will publicly swear to fight families across the nation. This year, though, the very For that matter, if the Dems believe that Elizabeth any and all measures proposed by Trump, and GOP traditions that have ostensibly governed since the Warren or Bernie Sanders can beat Trump in the gen- legislators will swear a public oath of fealty and Founding Fathers crafted the American Experiment eral election, they should be required to acknowledge obeisance to him. are crumbling. For that, both major parties share that the “D” in Democrat stands for “Delusional.” When Trump’s Supreme Court strikes down the blame for stuffing political, legal, and cultural coal into Irish-American “titan” Mick Mulvaney/Malarkey’s Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”), all Trump voters the Republic’s stocking and tearing the Constitutional words for the nation to “get over it” if the Administra- who lose their protections for pre-existing conditions fabric that was fraying even before President Trump tion stoops to possible extortion or bribery of another will still vote for him as they await his mythical descended on his gilded elevator into the 2016 race. nation will absolve the president and his team for healthcare plan that he says will be “great” and With apologies to Charles Dickens’s immortal “A any accountability anytime, anywhere, any place. “unbelievable.” Christmas Carol,” Every member of Congress and the Senate who After his reelection victory via the Electoral College, The Spirit of Christmas Future might not have re- pushes the conspiracy theory that Ukraine—not Trump will invite his BFFs—Putin, Erdogan, Duterte, vealed a festive picture of the events about to unfold Russia—unleashed state-sponsored interference and Mohammad Bin Salman—to a boys’ weekend at for our country. As with the silent, terrifying wraith in the 2016 Presidential election will receive a per- Mar-a-Lago. New VP Nikki Haley won’t be invited. of Dickens’s creation, the following could happen un- sonal, handwritten letter of gratitude from Vladimir Of course, it doesn’t have to be this way. All or less America. And that involves both major political Putin—along with an invitation to attend the 2020 most of the aforementioned events will, I hope, not parties. All of these musings are the Yuletide rants Russian May Day bash. come to pass. Still, as this holiday season opens, a of this space and this space alone... Hillary Clinton will accede to all the self-professed watershed moment confronts the US—whether one When it comes to the Constitution’s Article 2, “pressure” for her to jump into the 2020 presidential is Democrat, Republican, Independent, or politically Section 4–the removal of a president for “Treason, campaign and ensure Donald Trump’s re-election. agnostic: Is the president—any president—above Bribery, or other High Crimes and Misdemeanors— At the end of 2020, the Constitution will be declared the law. For that matter, is any president even ac- the “Impeachment Clause(s)” will be renamed the “quaint and outdated” by President Trump, and, if countable? Lately, the oft-repeated words of Ben “Impotence Clause(s). the Trumpist Party wins both the House and the Franklin that we have a republic “if we can keep it” President Trump will be impeached by the Democrat Senate, Alice in Wonderland will be anointed as the resonate as Trump and his legal mouthpiece, William House. President Trump will be “acquitted” in the nation’s new guiding document—with a foreword by Barr, push an ever-expansive doctrine of executive Republican Senate. If, as is surely possible, he wins bestselling author Donald Trump, Jr. privilege and power. With the GOP marching in re-election via the Electoral College, Donald Trump In his second term—again, if the GOP recaptures lockstep with Trump in a “Fearless Leader” cult of stands above the law. Case closed. the House—Trump will attempt to present an Act personality, and with the Democrats forming their President Trump will be steamrollered in the of Succession with a choice of son Donald, Jr., or all-too-usual circular firing squad, we will learn popular vote total—but has every hope of matching daughter Ivanka to follow him in office via a special whether the Constitution still holds or whether the his winning 2016 Electoral College tally. election open only to Fox Nation viewers. Great American Experiment is failing. In the spirit of giving, if Hunter Biden and his The Democrats win the White House, but Trump Every American who does not pay attention and Dad receive an investigation from Trump consigliere declares the election results rigged by Ukrainians and does not cast a vote in 2020—no matter for which Lindsay Graham or Irish-American “stalwart” Bill urges supporters to resist until he can find out—his party— will be equally culpable for what happens Barr for alleged financial misdeeds via nepotism, words—“what the hell is going on…” next year. the president, Donald Trump, Jr., Ivanka, and Eric Senator Graham’s putative investigation of the As Ebenezer Scrooge discovered, courtesy of the merit the same consideration. Is there any possible Bidens will “prove” that the former vice president is Spirit of Christmas Future, change can alter a po- proof that any of the Trump brood could have made a Ukrainian “asset.” tentially gloomy future. On that true and heartening it without their father, placing them on the same In a reflection of the ever-widening chasm between note, here’s wishing everyone a very merry holiday “Thanks, Dad” turf as Hunter Biden. the two political parties, the Democrat House and season. Until the late 1880s, Christmas was hardly merry for Boston’s Irish By Peter F. Stevens BIR Staff From 1800 to 1850, Irish immigrants could scarcely have picked a worse place than Boston to celebrate Christmas. The Puritans loathed “Popish” Yuletide rituals so much that, in 1659, the Massachusetts General Court had enacted laws against honoring the day. Anyone caught toasting the occasion suffered a five-shilling fine. Above all, for the Mathers and other BIR History Puritan luminaries, Christmas celebra- tions symbolized “Papists” and their church. In such a climate, Boston’s Irish celebrated the holiday in muted fashion until their political clout swelled in the late 1800s. On the “old sod,” the holi- Long before the immigrant Irish Catholics swelled Boston’s population in the mid-1800s, the Puritans day had largely revolved around Mass and family, had made clear that Christmas Day was an odious happening. This artwork relates to 1659, when the not the raucous celebrations of any feverish Puritan General Court of Massachusetts Bay Colony passed a law setting a five-shilling fine from anyone caught and Yankee imaginations, so the early Irish of Boston “observing any such day as Christmas or the like, either by forbearing of labor, feasting, or any other noted the holiday simply, with many families keep- way.” The law was repealed in 1681, and it was not until 1856 that Christmas Day became a state holiday ing children home from schools later in the century. in Massachusetts. At St. Augustine’s, in South Boston, and later at Artwork courtesy of Mass Humanities and its Mass Moments series. the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Christmas Masses were held in the opening decades of the nineteenth century, always under suspicion by the local Yankees. vitriolic card, hardly a subject to foster “peace and Boston could be, their countrymen overseas still faced As German Catholic immigrants arrived and began goodwill to all men.” His “Christmas” theme featured greater obstacles, the Bloody Sunday “Christmas attending the local “Irish churches,” the newcomers not the images of St. Nick or a Nativity scene, but Card” was vivid proof. introduced locals to Christmas trees and greeting a club—a police truncheon. His idea of humor was Thankfully, as the nineteenth century drew to a cards; a thaw in the region’s traditional, Puritan- the following lines about the weapon swung against close, Boston’s Irish could celebrate Christmas as steeped Christmas notions was slowly emerging. O’Brien’s supporters: “To be used with great care.” openly as they wanted, with family parties and din- The Christmas season of 1887 brought a “holiday” For the Irish at home or abroad, the card’s ners, church socials and midnight Mass turning the card that inflamed Irish from Dublin to Boston. Issued Yuletide sentiments were appalling: Yuletide season into a genuine holiday. by Angus Thomas and entitled “Ode to the Specials As Thomas H. O’Connor writes in Boston Catho- (police),” the card belittled the largely Irish crowd Ode to the Specials lics, “Boston Catholics participated in a perpetual that had gathered at Trafalgar Square on Nov.13, In Trafalgar Bay where the French men lay, calendar of familiar religious devotions that…bound 1887, to protest the imprisonment of Irish MP William A Hero was Nelson there! them more firmly together as members of their own O’Brien. Thrown in jail for having orchestrated riots But nothing was he tho’ distinctive parishes.” against landlords, O’Brien had become a hero to his King of the Sea. During the period of Advent in late November and countrymen in both Ireland and Boston not only for To the Kings of Trafalgar Square. early December, for example, persons of all ages his stand against the rent collectors and their agents, With Jack on Watch and with battened hatch. prepared for the coming of the Christmas season by but also for his refusal to wear prison clothing and There France in the pride was quashed. attending daily Mass. They then enjoyed the celebra- his campaign to wrangle political prisoner status for Washed in the waves where they found a grave— tion of midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, often fol- fellow Irishmen in British cells. But they batton’d “The Great Unwashed!” lowed by festive and early morning breakfasts with On Sun., Nov. 13, 1887, a throng defying Commis- Then surely the fame of Nelson’s name friends and relatives. sioner of Police Sir Charles Warren’s ban on open- The Specials have right to share: Those scenes would have been virtually unthinkable air meetings assembled at Trafalgar “to demand He won the day in Trafalgar Bay for Boston’s earliest Irish immigrants. Yet by the turn the release of William O’Brien, MP.” Constables, But They in Trafalgar Square of the twentieth century, the Irish openly celebrated foot guards and life guards waded into the crowd to With Best Wishes for a Specially Jolly Christmas the Yuletide as cheerfully as they pleased in the city clear the square. No shots were fired, but fists, feet, where Puritans had once banned the holiday and and clubs killed two people. The protestors’ phrase By the time of 1887’s “Bloody Sunday,” Boston’s Irish had punished transgressors with fines or the stocks. described the tragedy, a term to chill the Irish again were a genuine community, slowly amassing clout at Through religion, reflection and revelry, Boston’s and again: “Bloody Sunday.” the ballot box and bucking Yankee strangleholds on Irish could finally celebrate Christmas in “grand Shortly after the melee, Angus Thomas released his business and the courts. If any in the Irish wards ever fashion.” needed a reminder that as hard as life in Brahmin Page 6 November 2019 BOSTON IRISH Reporter bostonirish.com Irish International Immigrant Center Immigration Q&A An agency accredited by US Department of Justice Just got my green One State Street, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02109 (617) 542-7654 Fax (617) 542-7655 Website:iiicenter.org Email: [email protected] card; so now what? Q. I have just been granted permanent resident status Discussing ‘Douglas Hyde: My American Journey’ in the US. Can you give a summary of my rights and responsibilities regarding such issues as travel abroad, The IIIC, in partner- reentering the US, losing my green card, and registering ship with Cumann na for service in the armed forces? Gaeilge, was delighted to A. With your permanent resident status (green host Cuan Ó Seireadáin card), you can live and work legally anywhere in the and Brian Ó Conchub- US. You can petition US Citizenship and Immigration hair, editors of the newly Services (USCIS) for green cards for your spouse and published ‘Douglas Hyde: unmarried children. Generally, after living here for My American Journey’ on four years and nine months (two years and nine months October 26.The IIIC was if your status is based on the fact that your spouse is the final stop on their a US citizen and you are still living in marital union US tour. It was a great with him/her), you can apply to become a US citizen. presentation by Cuan and You can travel outside the US whenever you like. Brian, with a lively and You must have your green card, along with a valid interactive discussion foreign passport, with you to present to US Customs on Douglas Hyde’s time Cuan Ó Seireadáin and Brian Ó Conchubhair along with those who came to and Border Protection (CBP) when you reenter the in the US. Thank you to the Center to hear about the book they edited “Douglas Hyde: My American US. You should keep a record of the dates each time everyone who came along. Journey.” you leave and return (backed up if possible with travel documents such as airline tickets and boarding cards), and it is important always to reenter the US legally by Sarah Benn of Meath using a CBP border checkpoint, including brief trips over the border to Canada and Mexico. When you travel abroad you must be careful not to endorses Boston “abandon” your residence in the US. If you want to When Sarah Benn left the hospital to feeling like leave for more than 12 months you must get a “reentry Meath to go all the way she had “become part of permit” from USCIS before you leave or CBP will pre- to Boston a year ago, she the furniture of the place.” sume that you have abandoned your status and may wasn’t sure what she was She was so busy that she not readmit you. A reentry permit is granted at the getting herself into. Now didn’t even have time to discretion of USCIS for specific purposes: for example, she is reaching the end of get homesick. going abroad to attend university, or going to your a cycle in her life, and she Sarah also learned a original home country to take care of an elderly or ill feels she has learned so lot about life outside of parent. Also, if you leave for more than six months but much more than she ever Ireland. She lived on her less than a year, you are not automatically presumed could have at home. own in a big city, visited to have abandoned your US permanent residence, but On the professional many different places in you can face scrutiny on this issue from CBP when you side, Sarah did not have New England, and en- return. It is important to consult with us at IIIC or a lot of experience in a dured unforeseeable (by with your immigration lawyer before taking a trip out hospital setting, and her her) low temperatures. of the US lasting more than six months. profession is relatively But she also had lots to Even if you have a green card, the immigration au- new in Ireland. Working say about the cultural thorities can prevent you from reentering the US, or at Boston Foot and Ankle differences she noticed. deport you if you are in this country if you are convicted was definitely a learning Boston is so diverse, she of certain crimes. Certain offenses that may not seem curve, she says. “I really says, that it provides ex- very serious could be viewed as grounds for deporta- just threw myself into it, periences with cultural tion, or they could keep you from being readmitted if really committed to my differences both in and out you leave the US, or from obtaining US citizenship. work, really trying my of the workplace. If you are charged with a crime, it is essential that best. Just trying to pro- Sarah says that health- you consult an immigration lawyer as well as a lawyer vide as much support as care culture is different in specializing in criminal cases, as the law involving the I could to everybody.” that people in the US are consequences of criminal convictions on a person’s im- She also found support more likely to go “under migration status is extremely complex. from her friends back in the knife,” and getting If you are a male at least 18 years old and under 26 at Ireland, who were going time off work is also done the time when you got your green card, your responsi- through the process of differently. Outside of bilities include registering with Selective Service (even acclimating to their new work, she couldn’t help Sarah Benn (right) at her job at the Boston Foot though there is no military conscription in effect in the jobs as well. With such but observe the different and Ankle. US at this time). If you do not register, you may be adaptation strategies, religions, the sports cul- subject to criminal prosecution. If convicted, you could Sarah went from not ture, and the melting pot For anyone consider- Sarah highly recommends be deported. Failing to register may also prevent or knowing her way around that Boston is. ing the J-1 Intern visa, Boston: “it’s quieter than delay you from becoming a US citizen. You can get the NY, friendly, it has four necessary form at any post office, or you can register seasons. It’s a nice city, online at sss.gov. reminds me of Dublin.” Other responsibilities of permanent residents include Her stay in Boston is filing accurate federal and state tax returns annually about to end, so this is a and paying any taxes that you owe; reporting any change bittersweet moment for of address to USCIS within 10 days; and having your her. She is glad she’ll be children who are permanent residents register with home again for Christmas USCIS within 10 days of turning 14. Your green card with her family. And she does not entitle you to vote in US elections or serve on has exciting plans for juries – you must be a US citizen for that. Doing so as the future, like working a legal permanent resident amounts to a false claim of abroad in the UK, or pos- US citizenship and can have very serious consequences. sibly even Australia. She Visit one of our weekly legal clinics advertised in the HOLIDAY IRISH CHAT NIGHT is very happy that she had Boston Irish Reporter for a free, confidential consulta- the opportunity to work tion on your specific questions about any immigration- in a reputable hospital, related issue. and she believes she has Disclaimer: These articles are published to inform IIIC WELLNESS SERVICES come a long way since she generally, not to advise in specific cases. The US started in Boston, noting, Citizenship and Immigration Services and The US Join us at the Consulate General of Ireland for a casual Irish “It was a big decision for Department of State regularly amend regulations and alter processing and filing procedures. For legal advice, conversation night to celebrate the holidays, open to the public. me to come out here with no friends or family, but it seek the assistance of IIIC immigration legal staff. Tea and Irish baked goods will be served. was one of the best deci- Thursday, December 5th at 6pm sions I have ever made.” THE NOTEBOOK 535 Boylston St, 5th Floor The IIIC’s Well- Irish Holiday Chat Night and Winter Irish Boston MA, 02116 ness Team, Cumann Classes - We continued to run our very successful Please bring a photo ID to check in na Gaeilge-Boston, and Irish language program with our partners Cumann the Irish Consulate are na Gaeilge - Boston. During the fall semester we ALL LEVELS WELCOME! excitedly waiting on their provided 20 students with 3 classes & levels of Irish, first “Holiday Irish Chat from beginner to advanced speakers. Our students All attending must RSVP to Siobhan Kelly ([email protected]) Night” on Dec. 5 and our come for a reconnection to Irish culture, the cama- winter Irish class here at raderie of learning in a new city and the craic. One State Street Boston, FEARADH NA FÁILTE ROIMH CHÁCH MA starting on January Support our work: The IIIC’s Annual Cam- 16. Please email Siobhan paign – The IIIC’s annual campaign is under way, and A VERY WARM WELCOME TO ALL Kelly skelly@iiicenter. thanks to a generous gift from Mr. Arnold Hiatt and the org at for more details. AM Fund, every dollar donated up to $25,000 will be One student noted about matched! If you would like to partner with the IIIC to our Irish classes: “I love help create a better future for immigrant and refugee the balance of grammar, families this holiday season, visit iiicenter.org #donate practical conversation, or contact Sari Foundas at 617-542-7654. Our amazing and the songs & sayings! community of supporters make it possible for families I feel like I’m learning Irish Outreach & Wellness from Ireland and around the world to build safe, stable, Services Boston - IIIC a little bit of everything @iiicwellness bright futures in the United States. Heartfelt thanks here!” and warmest wishes from all at the IIIC! bostonirish.com November 2019 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 7 TeamMR8’s final Boston Marathon run will be its largest More than 140 Run- nizations that address worked to advance the their local communities, tions to build bridges of and neighborhood con- ners gathered at the the issues of youth de- values of sportsmanship, the Foundation aims to cultural understanding nections. Seaport Hotel on Fri., velopment, adaptive and inclusion, kindness, and influence future genera- and deepen community Nov. 22, for the kick-off inclusive efforts, and/or peace by investing in of the Final MR8 Boston social equity within the community programs Marathon Team. The community. that broaden horizons evening started off with “We are excited to have for young people and a three-mile run around the largest team this year encourage them to em- Boston’s Seaport, with a and this group of runners brace civic engagement special stop at Martin’s is a dedicated group of and celebrate diversity. Park. many people who have Rooted in unity and The run next April run with us before,” said gratitude, the Founda- Come will mark the final time Bill Richard, co-founder tion puts these values the Foundation will host of the foundation. “They into action by encour- a team for this event. understand that we are aging young people to Team MR8 runners will deepening our impact learn, grow and lead on in! contribute to the Foun- through philanthropic through volunteerism dation’s Legacy Fund, work and charitable and community service. ensuring that its Giv- giving as part of our Re- By inspiring young peo- ing Program continues newed Focus” ple to choose kindness, to fund direct service, Since 2014, the Martin work for inclusion, and community-based orga- Richard Foundation has embrace diversity in

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That’s why I think the Greater Boston Stage believe? Do we? turned to school to pursue story still has its appeal, Company in Stoneham Kris Kringle is played his BFA and a masters and why a kid in 2019 can is celebrating the holiday by William Gardiner. at Boston University. still appreciate and relate season with “Miracle on Aside from performing He now teaches drama to Suzie in the 1940s. 34th Street,” based on on stages from Wheelock at Boston University Q. Tell me about Christ- the classic 1947 film of Family Theatre to Ac- Academy. mas when you were a boy. the same name, starring tor’s Shakespeare Proj- We talked about “34th A. We would get to open Maureen O’Hara and ect, he has been seen in Street” during a break one present on Christmas Natalie Wood. Directed several holiday shows between classes. Here’s Eve and had to wait for by Ilyse Robbins, the in Stoneham, including an edited look at our chat. the rest. For many years production runs through “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Q. You’ve made a cot- we decorated the tree on Dec. 22. “Christmas on the Air,” tage industry out of holi- Christmas Eve. We’d get A white-bearded gentle- and “’Twas The Night day shows in Stoneham, the tree early and maybe man named Kris Kringle Before Christmas.” haven’t you? put the lights on it, but the steps in at the last minute Originally from Mary- A. (Laughing) Cer- decorations happened on to play Santa Claus in land, Bill lived in Mil- tainly have. They’ve been Christmas Eve . . . Then the Macy’s Thanksgiving waukee before winding really, really good to me. I the next morning you’d Day Parade. Good will up in Boston during high Sydney Newcomb & William Gardiner as Susan and think this is holiday show get to open the stockings spreads but eyebrows are school. His initial dream Kris Kringle in an earlier production of “Miracle on No. 10. . . . But the gift giveaway raised when he claims to was for a career in politics 34th Street” Q. Since you’ve done didn’t happen until af- be the real Santa. and he worked on his first in Amherst. He said several, what makes ter we’d had breakfast. Kris frowns on Christ- campaign in the sixth recently, “We were a mar- “34th Street” so special? There was that building mas commercialism, says grade. Eventually the ried couple in the theater A. Magic. That sense of anticipation. You got fed his eight reindeer are his theater bug bit when he department. They didn’t magic, if you allow your- little things along the next of kin, and, in a tip was cast as Captain Von quite know what to do self to go into the story. Is way, but you didn’t get of the hat to the Irish Trapp in “The Sound of with us, God love ‘em.” Kris Kringle really Santa to the big stuff until after satirist Jonathan Swift, Music.” However, his He subsequently left Claus? And what are the you sat down and ate as claims he’s “as old as his route to the stage was a school to support his implications if he is? . . a family. tongue and little bit older less than traditional one. family, and he and his . It’s about love . . . It’s Q. Was it a challenge than his teeth.” He married directly out wife worked Renaissance about being in service to going back to college later Still, there are doubt- of high school and had Fairs. He also did chil- other people. Being kind in life? ers, including Doris, the a family by the time he dren’s theater and landed is defined in your actions, A. It was great. I loved store’s event director, was 21. He and his wife a long-term gig at Bos- not in your attitude. I going back to school in my and her young daughter, soon enrolled at UMass ton’s renowned Medieval William Gardiner think that’s part of the 40s . . . When I went to BU I had already worked pro- fessionally with probably half the department. And one of my mentors there, Jon Lipsky, said, “Make sure you come in as if you had never gone to school before or never done any- thing.” It was a wonderful piece of advice. I had a body of experience going into school, but I went in trying to be as wide-eyed and bushy-tailed as the next freshman. And I had a blast. A. Is there a moment in “34th Street” that speaks to you personally? A. Yeah, actually there is one moment that al- ways gets me choked up. Early on, Doris has fired me and then rehired me, and I tell her that I’m so glad to be back because I was worried about Christmas and what’s happening to it. And she says, “Well, Christmas is still Christmas. And I say to her “Christmas isn’t a day. It’s a frame of mind.” I love that . . . And there’s a moment at the end of the play where my final exchange is with Doris, where for the first time she says “Merry Christ- mas,” and I get to say “Merry Christmas” back to her. It seems so simple, but it’s huge because she’s acknowledging to me that she’s into Christmas now as well. She understands the Christmas spirit that I’ve been trying to save, for lack of a better term. Q. And what about your own Christmas this year? Between teaching and performing in a holiday show, you don’t have a lot of time for yourself. A. Christmas Eve, we don’t have a show, so my wife and I will probably hit a midnight candlelight service . . . Christmas morning, a little exchange of gifts. Probably more than not, just a quiet day at home. That is a Christmas gift. ••• Robert J. Donovan is editor and publisher of onstageboston.com. “Miracle on 34th Street,” through Dec. 22, Greater Boston Stage Company, 395 Main Street, Stone- ham. 781-279-2200, greaterbostonstage.org. bostonirish.com November 2019 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 9 ‘A Christmas Celtic Sojourn’ offers mix of the old, the new, and the nyckelharpa By Sean Smith friendly concert, we went titions and from this has a long track record in Sojourn,’ we often like to Special to the BIR and were totally into it. background went on to folk and traditional music, showcase a specific instru- Liz Carroll and Haley So, we began talking about cultivate a successful ca- and now her own, very ment, like the uilleann Richardson, outstanding how we could do something reer in several different impressive work.” pipes or perhaps the con- Irish fiddlers from dif- similar for ‘Christmas collaborations – including •The inclusion of Olav certina,” says O’Donovan. ferent generations, and Celtic Sojourn’ – it’s a as co-founder of the band Johansson in this year’s “The nyckelharpa has Newfoundland folk/tra- complicated process, but Salt House and in a duo cast continues the “So- what you might call ‘a gor- ditional singer Matthew we’re very excited about with fiddler Jeana Leslie, journ” fascination with geous winter sound,’ and the possibilities.” with whom she recorded Scandinavian music – and I’ve long dreamt of incor- Byrne are featured in Olov Johansson this year’s “A Christmas Here’s a look at this two well-received albums reflects the increasing porating it into the show Celtic Sojourn,” the holi- year’s line-up: – and more recently as a so- interest, held by many in and our larger ensemble. de Paris and the Kremlin day show that entertains •Grammy-nominated, loist. From her traditional the Celtic music commu- In Olav, we have one of State Palace in Moscow. and enchants thousands National Heritage Fellow- music background, Miller nity, in exploring its links the absolute masters of His choreography and every year at venues in ship-winning Liz Carroll has increasingly focused with other traditions. As the nyckelharpa.” creative work have been Boston, and elsewhere is easily one of the most on songwriting, and her a teenager, Johansson •Maureen Berry, who praised by Rolling Stone, in New England, with respected and influential 2018 album “Mercury” and his friend Mikael appeared in the 2017 Billboard, WIRED and the music, dance and storytell- Irish-American fiddlers of featured all-original ma- Marin often visited with show, will assume the role Huffington Post. ing from Irish, Scottish her generation. From her terial, some of which she older musicians, who of dance director for this Smith-Wallace, who and other Celtic – and duets with guitarist John co-wrote with established shared their knowledge year’s “Sojourn.” She has studied at the Smith-Hou- occasionally non-Celtic – Doyle to her collaboration singer-songwriter Kris and love of Swedish folk produced feature-length lihan Irish Dance Acad- traditions. with other female fiddlers Drever. She also has had music. Johansson and stage shows such as “Step- emy of Norwood, won the After kicking off on Dec. in The String Sisters, a cameo on the popular Marin would later team Dance,” “Sláinte” and World Irish Step Dancing 11 in Rockport, “A Christ- among other work, Carroll drama/fantasy TV show up with 12-string guitar- “Celtic Storm” and is di- Champion in 2004 – the mas Celtic Sojourn” will has shown herself not only “Outlander.” ist Roger Tallroth to form rector and choreographer youngest American female come to Boston’s Cutler as a foremost interpreter Miller will also perform Väsen, which for three for Maryland-based Teelin ever to win the world title Majestic Theatre Dec. 13 of traditional music but in combination with By- decades has brought a Irish Dance Company. at that time – and went through 15, then head out a top-notch composer rne, Maeve Gilchrist, and new dimension to Scandi- This year, she will work on to garner two more for shows in Worcester and of tunes from tradition. the O’Donovans. navian traditional music, with featured dancers gold world medals in 2005 Providence before closing Her most recent partner- “There’s sure to be a incorporating elements of Jason Oremus and Ashley and 2009. Moving to New its 2019 run back at the ship with guitarist-pianist feast of harmony sing- rock, jazz, and classical as Smith-Wallace. York City, Smith-Wallace Cutler Dec. 19 through 22. Jake Charron of Canadian ing,” says O’Donovan. well as the trio’s original A five-time solo national expanded her portfolio to [Ticket information and trio The East Pointers, “Matthew, of course, has compositions. Johansson Irish dance champion, include ballet, tap, jazz, other details are at wgbh. including their 2019 al- a great following here – in has received numerous Australian-born Oremus hip-hop and musical dance org/celtic.] bum, “Half Day Road,” fact, I first heard about honors for his work as a was the principal lead theater. She is currently Other prominent per- has added further luster him through the Folk musician, and particu- dancer in “Riverdance” for the female lead dancer formers in this year’s to her resumé. Song Society of Greater larly as a champion of the more than eight years. He on the national tour of production will include •Haley Richardson, Boston – and with good nyckelharpa tradition; in is the co-founder of award- “Rockin’ Road to Dublin.” singer-songwriter Siob- who turns 18 next year, reason: It takes you about 2013, he was awarded the winning dance company For more details on this han Miller, three-time has already established three seconds of hearing Zorn Medal in gold, one of Hammerstep, and has per- year’s “A Christmas Celtic winner of the Scots Trad herself as a rising force him to know he’s simply the highest achievements formed across the world on Sojourn,” including the Music Awards “Best Sing- in the generation of Irish outstanding. And I think for a Swedish traditional stages including London’s Dec. 20 sensory-friendly er” honors, and Olav musicians just starting Siobhan will build herself musician. Hammersmith Apollo, performance, go to wgbh. Johansson, a virtuoso on to come of age. The New an audience here, too. She “In ‘Christmas Celtic the Palais des Congrès org/celtic. the Swedish nyckelharpa Jersey native, who began and a member of the famed classical violin at age two trio Väsen. Cellist Natalie and Irish fiddle just a Haas returns, as do guitar- few years later, has long ist Owen Marshall and displayed an uncommon bassist Chico Huff, while command and presence percussionist Jordan Perl- in competition and per- son joins the house band formance alike. A student this year. Multi-instru- of Sligo fiddle master mentalist Seamus Egan Brian Conway, Richard- and harpist/pianist Maeve son has played with such Nollaig na mBan Gilchrist once again bring luminaries as Liz Carroll, their leadership as, re- The Chieftains, Altan, spectively, music direc- Dervish, Cherish the La- tor and assistant music dies, John Whelan, Paddy Breakfast Celebration director, as well as their Keenan, and is a member musical skills. of Green Fields of Ameri- Headlining the dance can and The John Whelan segments in “Sojourn” Band. She already has are Irish dance champi- two albums to her credit: ons Jason Oremus and “Heart on a String,” which January 7, 2020 Ashley Smith-Wallace, a she recorded with her Boston native, along with brother Dylan when she youngsters in the Harney was 12, and this year’s Academy of Irish Dance. “When the Wind Blows WGBH-FM broadcaster High and Clear,” with H O N O R I N G T H E Brian O’Donovan, the Canadian multi-instru- show’s creator, once again mentalist Quinn Bachand. 2 8 T H U N I T E D S T A T E S will serve as host, narra- Carroll and Richard- tor, and occasional per- son have both appeared A M B A S S A D O R T O T H E former, joined by his sing- in “A Christmas Celtic U N I T E D N A T I O N S er/pianist wife Lindsay. Sojourn,” although not at This year’s “Sojourn” the same time. will have an innovative “This is deliberate on new wrinkle: its first our part – we’ve never “sensory-friendly” per- really done anything like formance, from 3-4 p.m. this before, where we have Samantha Power on Dec. 20 in the Cutler. two representatives from The concert will be dedi- different generations on cated to creating a more the same instrument in welcoming and accessible the show together,” says R E G I S T E R A T W W W . I R I S H A P . O R G / E V E N T S O’Donovan. “Liz constant- space for individuals with O R C A L L C L O D A G H A T ( 6 1 7 ) 7 2 3 - 2 7 0 7 sensory input disorders, ly says that Haley is better autism spectrum dis- than she was when she order, anxiety, and for was that age. There’s a real anyone else who may ‘passing on the tradition’ J A N benefit, O’Donovan says. element here.” Modifications throughout •Matthew Byrne is re- The Wharf Room the theater space – such nowned for his rich tenor 7 Boston Harbor Hotel 8 as lowering the overall voice and sensitive and 2 0 2 0 A M sound level and keeping empathetic treatment of Boston, Massachusetts the house lights on but songs from the song tradi- at a lower illumination tion of his homeland, and – will create a friendly, his own family. Through Nollaig na mBan, or Women’s Christmas, is held each year in January throughout Ireland to non-judgmental, and sup- his critically acclaimed celebrate women’s leadership within the family and community. Join us as we commemorate portive environment that recordings and appear- this tradition with a breakfast event honoring Irish American female leaders encourage patrons to ex- ances at “A St. Patrick’s and the positive impact they have worldwide. perience the event in their Day Celtic Sojourn,” the own way. Burren Backroom and O’Donovan credits his New Bedford Folk Festi- wife for the inspiration. val, among others, he has built a solid following in 15 Broad Street, Suite 210, Boston, MA 02109 “Lindsay has long had T: (617) 723-2707 E: [email protected] an interest in adaptive New England. performances, and when •Siobhan Miller earned Follow us @irishamericanpartnership she came across an ad for awards at age 13 in tra- a Boston Pops sensory- ditional singing compe- Page 10 November 2019 BOSTON IRISH Reporter bostonirish.com Traveling People The Irish offer many ways to remember the reasons for the season

By Judy Enright the highest number of Special to the BIR accidents in the entire It sure seems as though country. I was surprised this mad world needs the because I have driven peace, quiet, and holiness that curvy but lovely of the Christmas season stretch many times and this year to offset the have never seen any ac- turmoil and turbulence cidents along that route. that’s raging everywhere. Of course, I do not drive Has there ever been a it every day of the year. time in recent memory The N59 from Leenane when people have been rolls down the coast along so rude, mean-spirited, Killary Fjord to Conne- and thoughtless of others’ mara’s hills and dales, feelings and beliefs? We passes the entrance to don’t remember if there the Inagh Valley on the ever was one. left and Kylemore Abbey Christmas is a perfect (well worth a visit) on time of year to change the right and then winds all that. It’s a time to down into Clifden. It’s a reconnect, recollect, and very scenic road. reach out to help the less The data were collected fortunate and remember by the Dublin company the reason for the season. Gamma Location Intel- There are holiday cel- ligence and were based ebrations aplenty in Ire- on collision rates, deter- land this month and you’ll mined by the number of easily find them wherever road accidents per 100 you travel. million vehicle kilometers CHRISTMAS between 2015 and 2017, MARKETS the newspaper said. Christmas markets Co. Galway had the are a tradition and there highest number of “ac- will be many set up in cident black spots” in the towns and cities across country, the report noted, the country, offering an with eight of the most interesting variety of food dangerous road segments and gifts that are fun to Detail from a stained glass window at St. Mary’s Church in Ballinrobe by Harry Clarke. located there. shop at and visit. Next on the most dan- Belfast sets up its Con- gerous list was the stretch tinental Christmas Mar- between Abbey Square ket in front of the city hall roundabout and Seamus and you can find gifts, Rafter Bridge in Ennis- food, entertainment, and corthy, Co. Wexford, while more there through the the Killashee, Ballyma- month until Dec. 22. hon, and New Streets Waterford offers Win- junction in Longford town terval Dec. 18-23. (See was the third most dan- winterval.ie for more gerous in the country. The dates and details.) Then research also listed the there’s the Milk Market most dangerous road in in Limerick (milkmar- each county and ranked ketlimerick.ie) and Glow Exit 5 on the M1 as Dub- in Cork on weekends lin’s most dangerous loca- leading up to Christmas tion for collisions. (corkchristmascelebra- In the story, Richard Garry, director of Lo- tion.ie). St. Patrick’s church in Newport, Co. Mayo, has Harry If you’re in Dublin, the Clarke’s Last Judgment window - often described cation Intelligence for stores and streets are gai- as his most magnificent work - over the high altar Gamma, said: “Overall, ly lit for the holiday and in the east wall. according to the data you can find great gifts provided by Transport In- everywhere - especially frastructure Ireland, colli- in the George’s Street Ar- sion rates are decreasing cade and, of course, along across the country. How- Grafton Street and its ever, there are specific many interesting stores. stretches of roads where This year’s Magic Pa- the frequency of collisions rade in Killarney, with is still high. Not only does Santa Claus, took place this analysis show drivers on Nov. 24. Mini parades where they need to take will take place on the Dec. extra care, but it is also 1, 8, 15 ,and 22 starting useful for insurance com- at 6 pm. Killarney On Ice panies as it identifies the returns to the Beech Road areas that are the worst Car Park and operates for road accidents and through Jan. 6. enables them to better Be sure to check with assess risk.” local tourist board offices Ireland’s Road Safety while you’re there for Authority (RSA) recorded more details on markets a seven percent year- and other holiday ac- on-year increase in road Magnificent Harry Clarke stained glass windows Detail from a Harry Clarke window in St. Mary’s deaths in the first six tivities in the areas you’re over the altar at St. Patrick’s Church in Newport, Catholic Church in Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo. visiting. Co. Mayo. Judy Enright photos months of 2019, with 89 HARRY CLARKE people killed. RSA Chief I visited Co. Mayo the deal was done. wall of St. Patrick’s, took properties and was also windows in buildings Executive Moyagh Mur- many times before I was Clarke’s much too short four years to complete well known as an illus- in Australia, England, dock said the increase introduced to the brilliant life began on St. Patrick’s and has been described trator. Among his more Northern Ireland, Scot- was “alarming” and urged work of the Irish stained- Day in 1889 in Dublin, as Clarke’s most mag- famous were drawings land, and Wales. motorists to slow down on glass artist Harry Clarke. where his father, Joshua, nificent work. The window in two editions of Edgar Several books have been Ireland’s roads. His beautiful windows had a stained glass and includes a self-portrait Allan Poe’s works. written about him and This is great advice enhance St. Patrick’s ecclesiastical decorating of Clarke that is said to Clarke and Walter not his work. Nicola Gordon from Murdock for all Church, which sits on a business. Harry was the portray his suffering from only both worked in the Bowe wrote “The Life and those planning to drive hill overlooking the town younger of two sons - his prolonged poor health. family stained glass busi- Work of Harry Clarke,” in Ireland or anywhere of Newport. brother Walter was also Clarke continued to ness but they also married first published in 1989 actually. But in Ireland, Local lore says the born on March 17 exactly work on the Newport sisters and died within six with a paperback edition it does pay to be extra pastor there in the 1920s one year earlier. Harry design even while he was months of one another. in 1994, and “Strangest careful, especially when - Canon Michael Mac- left school at 14 to join the a patient in a Swiss sana- Of course, visiting Ire- Genius: Stained Glass of driving on what we call, Donald – commissioned family business after his torium for tuberculosis land is always a treat, but Harry Clarke,” by Lucy “the wrong side of the Clarke’s stained-glass mother died. He studied in both lungs. He died in if you can’t, you can still Costigan and Michael road.” windows for the church stained-glass making and 1931 at 41 while on his see Clarke’s works. Harry Cullen, published in 2010. HOLIDAY WISHES and sold his life insurance won several scholarships, way home to Ireland and created nine windows for ACCIDENT BLACK We wish all our read- policy to pay for them. which ultimately led him a month before his studio the Basilica of St. Vincent SPOTS ers the very best holiday Clark reportedly went to study in London and installed the final window de Paul in Bayonne, N.J., It was shocking to read season and a healthy, to see the church and France. in the Newport church. and the Geneve Window a story recently in The happy New Year. And, met the canon in his rose NEWPORT Although his life was for the Wolfsonian–Flor- Irish Times reporting that we hope many of you will garden, carrying a basket WINDOWS short, Clarke was com- ida International Uni- a Dublin group’s research find tickets to Ireland in and wearing a large straw The beautiful Last missioned to create more versity design museum shows that the stretch of your stockings or under hat. The two men made Judgment window, over than 160 windows for in Miami, FL. You can the N59 running from your tree. an instant connection and the high altar in the east religious and commercial also find Harry Clarke Leenane to Clifden has bostonirish.com November 2019 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 11 The BIR’s Calendar of Celtic music and dance By Sean Smith The Irish offer many ways to remember the reasons for the season In addition to “A Christmas Celtic So- journ” (see separate story in this edition), there are – unsurprisingly – plenty of other Irish/Celtic-related holiday music events in Greater Boston and Eastern Massachusetts over the next few weeks. •The Irish Cultural Centre of New England in Canton will host “Irish Christmas in America” on Dec. 8 at 1 p.m. The show, marking its 15th year, features music, song, dance, and stories of seasonal Irish traditions, with Sligo-born producer and fiddler Oisín Mac Diarmada – a co-founder of popular band Téada, and accordionist Seamus Begley, known for his lovely Kerry-influenced singing and his witty stage banter. Performers also include vocalist and flutist Niamh Farrell, who has toured with English indie singer- songwriter David Gray, and step dancer Samantha Harvey. On Dec. 21 at 7 p.m., the ICC presents “A Christmas Celebration” with original “Celtic Woman” star Chloe Agnew. Joining “Celtic Woman” at age 14, Agnew – who had already released two recordings – stayed with the ensemble for nearly 10 years, during which time she recorded two more albums and earned Female Vocalist of the Year honors at the 2012 Irish Music Awards. In addition to her solo work, she has performed as a guest with Celtic Thunder and appeared as part of “The Voice of Ireland” and “A Celtic Christmas.” In recent years, Agnew has turned to songwriting, and Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy (and their kids) will present “A Celtic Family Christmas” at The Cabot in Beverly. last year issued a five-track EP, “The Thing About You,” which includes four Boston Harbor Scottish Fiddle School, water started out as a quartet more lie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy original songs. “The Fish” have gone on to appear at than a decade ago but in the past few come to the Cabot Theatre in Beverly For tickets and other information Club Passim, Boston Celtic Music Fest, years has doubled its ranks, with new- for “A Celtic Family Christmas” on Dec. about these events, go to irishculture.org. and WGBH-FM’s “A Celtic Sojourn,” Bos- est member, cellist Dave Cabral, join- 13 at 8 p.m. Representing the union of •In what has now become an annual ton’s EarthFest, and a number of other ing Kyle Forsthoff (percussion), Betsy two legendary family music traditions, occasion, the Berklee Celtic Vocal public and private venues. In 2017, they Ketudat (violin, Hardanger fiddle, Celtic fiddlers and step dancers MacMaster and Ensemble will present “The Holly Bears released their debut album, “Splash.” harp), Jim MacConduibh (acoustic bass Leahy have now started one of their very the Crown,” on Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Other, less holiday-centric concerts at guitar, high-strung guitar), Sarah Mac- own: Their children will be among the David Friend Recital Hall (921 Boylston Club Passim this month include a triple Conduibh (Irish flute, whistles, fife), An- array of musicians joining the pair for Street). These eight Berklee College of bill on December 11 with Rakish, the drew McIntosh (Scottish small pipes, a concert of powerful, up-tempo instru- Music vocalists perform ballads, bawdy duo of Maura Shawn Scanlin (fiddle, border pipes), Chris Myers (vocals, gui- mentals as well as intimate, heartfelt tales, sea shanties, and other songs from vocals) and Conor Hearn (guitar, vocals). tar, octave mandolin), and Diane Myers melodies. See thecabot.org for details. Ireland, the British Isles, and the Cana- With influences ranging from Irish and (vocals). In addition to Club Passim, the •The Burren hosts its yearly Benefit dian Maritimes, backed by a nine-piece Scottish to Americana and classical mu- band has played at the New Hampshire for the Somerville Homeless Coali- Celtic band. Admission is free. sic, Scanlin and Hearn – though quite Highland Games, Blackstone River The- tion on Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m., with a ton •Local husband-wife duo Matt and at home playing up-tempo and with atre, The Burren Backroom Series, and of musical guests from the Irish/Celtic/ Shannon Heaton share their holiday intensity – tend to go for a more con- Colonial Williamsburg, as well as the folk domain, among them The Revels cheer once again at Club Passim on Dec. templative, colloquial approach, giving Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Royal with David Coffin, The Ruta-Beggars, 6 at 8 p.m. with “A Fine Winter’s Night,” space to the subtleties and nuances of a Nova Scotia International Tattoo. Windborne, Tommy McCarthy and a show of traditional and original mate- tune or song. Rakish has performed at Ticket information available at pas- Louise Costello with Sean Clohessy, rial inspired by their 2007 album of the BCMFest, the Burren Backroom series, sim.org. Mary Casey, Lindsay O’Donovan, The same name. Shannon (flute, whistle, and last month’s inaugural Rockport •Irish harpist-vocalist Áine Minogue Bagboys, Siobhan Miller (who will be accordion, vocals) and Matt (guitar, Celtic Music Festival. will present her annual program of featured at this year’s “A Christmas bouzouki, vocals) make a point of forg- Also performing that night with music celebrating the winter solstice Celtic Sojourn”) and the Kieran Jordan ing connections with their audiences, Rakish are mammiferes, a quartet and Christmas, with tunes and carols Dancers. through their breezy, good-spirited that brings roots music into a new, ex- that have roots in ancient traditions of On Dec. 11, the big sound of Lúnasa stage presence along with their dynamic perimental domain, and improvisational Ireland and the British Isles, on several comes to the intimate setting of the musicianship. With a solid grounding guitarist, banjo player, singer and poet dates including: on Dec. 2 and 16, Pea- Burren Backroom for two shows, at in traditional Irish music, the Heatons Wendy Eisenberg. body Institute Library; Dec. 9, Bourne 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Innovative and also have become noteworthy as tune The following night, Dec. 12 at 8 Public Library; Dec. 14, Blackstone River compelling, the band (Kevin Crawford, composers and songwriters, as reflected p.m., will see an appearance by thye Theatre, Cumberland, RI; and Dec. 23 flute, whistle; Patrick Doocey, guitar; in “A Fine Winter’s Night.” Massachusetts-based Celtic ensemble at Club Passim. For tickets, times and Cillian Vallely, uilleann pipes, whistle; The following afternoon, Dec. 7 at 3 Fellswater. Known for its meticulously other information, see aineminogue. Trevor Hutchinson, double bass; Colin p.m., Club Passim hosts one of the more arranged sets of Scottish, Irish, Breton, com/events. Farrell, fiddle, whistle) is known for its recently launched holiday-themed Celtic and other Celtic-related music, Fells- •Cape Breton trad power couple Nata- layered, harmonically sophisticated, shows, this one by another Boston-area and quite modern treatment of Irish act, Scottish Fish. These five young traditional music, marked by tight – but women (Julia Homa, Ava Montesi, Irish music singer and scholar, Dan Milner not suffocating – precise and polished Caroline Dressler, and Maggie MacPhail, arrangements yet full of passion and fiddles; Giulia Haible, cello, keyboard) plumbs integration of New York’s ‘Unstoppable power. Their visits to the Burren often have spent a good chunk of their teen involve a special guest or two. years developing an exciting take on Irish’ Time frame: 1783-1883 For tickets and updates on Burren traditional Scottish and Cape Breton shows, see burren.com/music.html. music. Nurtured by their sojourns at the See BostonIrish.com

Kenneth Lloyd Brian W. O’Sullivan AIF, LUTCF, CLTC, Senior Partner CFP, ChFC, CLU, Senior Partner [email protected] [email protected] Over 50 Years Of Experience

234 Copeland Street, Unit 225 |Quincy, MA 02169 | Office: 617-479-0075 | Fax: 617-479-0071 Ken Lloyd & Brian O'Sullivan are registered representatives of and offers securities, investment advisory and financial planning services through MML Investors Services, LLC, Member SIPC (www.sipc.org). Supervisory Address: 101 Federal Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02110. Tel: 617.439.4389. CRN202106-249997 Page 12 November 2019 BOSTON IRISH Reporter bostonirish.com familiar to musicians and listeners alike, such as the any were needed, that this collaboration isn’t about CD Reviews title track, “Jenny’s Welcome to Charlie,” “O’Neill’s experimenting for its own sake, but about illuminat- March,” “An Rogaire Dubh,” even “The Drunken Sailor” ing Irish music from new, even unusual angles. And By Sean Smith (the hornpipe, not the sea chantey). the beauty of that music is as profound as ever. [“The Martin Hayes & Brooklyn Rider, “The Butter- In fact, as Hayes and Brooklyn Riders’ members Butterfly” is available for download at brooklynrider. fly” • Hayes is a paragon of East Clare fiddle, with have said, the familiarity of the tunes is the whole bandcamp.com. its somewhat slower, relaxed feel compared to other point of this collaboration: it’s easy for a musician or The String Sisters, “Between Wind and Water” traditions, marked by long, fluid bowing. He’s also listener to get jaded about them, especially when, as • There are some musical ventures that require a lot shown himself adept at bringing East Clare fiddle Hayes has put it, they get dragged through the kitschy of patience and forbear- into a contemporary milieu, vis-à-vis his partnership dirt. Reframing them with a string quartet holds the ance, both on the part of with guitarist Dennis Cahill, and their exploration promise of reinvigoration and reappreciation, and the the musicians involved and and “deconstruction” of Irish tunes; the two also are album achieves that goal. For one thing, there’s a very the listeners who eagerly members of the experimental quintet The Gloaming, conscious effort at forging a partnership, as opposed await the results. So it is and Hayes’ eponymous quartet. to casting Brooklyn Rider simply as Martin Hayes’ with The String Sisters, So it seems quite natural Backup Band. While sometimes the quartet may be in an occasional ensemble for him to collaborate with a supportive role, playing rhythm, held notes or chords that includes some of the the self-described “om- around Hayes’ lead, at other junctures their variations foremost female fiddlers nivorous” string quartet on the tune become the dominant sound, and Hayes is around, representing the Brooklyn Rider (Johnny more in the background. Irish (Liz Carroll, Liz Gandelsman and Colin The arrangement on “O’Neill’s March” is a master- Knowles, and Mairead Ni Jacobsen, violins; Nicholas piece of build-up and anticipation, as gradually the Mhaonaigh), Scandinavian (Annbjorg Lien and Emma Cords, viola; Michael Nico- instruments coalesce around the melody – Nicolas’s Hardelin) and Shetland (Catriona Macdonald) music las, cello), which has gone cello at one point seems to summon the solidarity – traditions. All of them have plenty on their creative well beyond the classical before the intensity softens, as if a parade was pass- plates – Ni Mhaonaigh, for example, is a member of and chamber music domin- ing. The title track begins with an aural landscape of Altan and Na Mooneys, Macdonald is part of Blazin’ ion to work with Sting, Elvis mainly atonal dashes and darts, until along comes that Fiddles, Hardelin plays with Garmarna and Triakel, Costello, Kate Bush, newgrass banjo pioneer Bela Fleck, recognizable E-minor theme in 9/8, and Gandelsman, Knowles with Open the Door for Three – so finding time and jazz saxophonist Joshua Redman, among others. Jacobsen, Cords, and Nicolas swoop and glide on all and energy to gather and perform, let alone record an Irish/Celtic/classical crossovers have been around sides of it. Another bit of enjoyment is when the guys album, is a rare and wonderful thing. for a long time: Arthur Fielder and the Boston Pops’ zero in on a phrase or other component of a particu- Which is why it took nearly a decade for the Sisters “Irish Night at the Pops”; works by Charlie Lennon; lar tune, such as the first two notes in the B part of to release this, their second album, coming 17 years Bill Whelan’s “Connemara Suite”; the chambergrass “Mulqueen’s” (to almost comic effect – at one point, after the six first joined forces at Scotland’s Celtic sound championed by Fretless; Lúnasa’s album with the it’s as if they’re imitating a locomotive blowing its Connections festival. And, yes, the anticipation was RTE Concert Orchestra. On “The Butterfly,” Hayes and horn); they do a similar two-note emphasis in “P Joe’s definitely justified. Part of the enjoyment, obviously, is Brooklyn Rider seek out and zoom in on the intersec- Reel” – associated with Hayes’s father, P.J., himself a to hear how the fiddlers are able to fit snugly into one tions between their respective musical idioms, in the celebrated musician. another’s music traditions, often transitioning between context of Irish tunes, all but two of them from tradi- Hayes and Brooklyn Rider take a different tack on them over the course of a single tune set. tion; the others are from the pens of Hayes (“Maghera “Port Na bPucal,” focusing on wringing just about ev- And because they – Carroll and Lien in particular Mountain”) and Peadar Ó Riada (“Bob and Bernie”). ery grain of emotion out of this gorgeously mournful – also are accomplished composers, and some of their Most of the tunes – there is one per track – will be air, and the result is stunning. It serves notice, as if originals are included here, you can appreciate the way traditional and contemporary influences intersect with one another. The very first track, “The Crow’s Visit,” starts with Carroll’s “As the Crow Flies,” relentless in its modal, Appalachian-like groove, and segues into Lien’s “A Visit,” which changes the vibe (and key) COME VISIT ANY while holding onto the momentum; in the liner notes, Lien says the tune is meant to evoke those occasions when musicians visit and jam with each other – “These sessions have no borders.” Can’t go this far into the review without acknowl- edging the outstanding work of the Sisters’ rhythm SOMERS PUBS section (sometimes known as “The Misters”): Pianist David Milligan, bassist Conrad Ivitsky Molleson, gui- LOCATION FOR QUALITY FOOD, tarist Tore Bruvoll and drummer/percussionist James Mackintosh are brilliant, whether in full ensemble or smaller combos; Milligan in particular is a revelation, HOSPITALITY & LIVE MUSIC contributing some masterful solo breaks as well as undergirding the rhythm. One highlight is “Open to the Elements,” open- ing with Knowles’s “Walking Intro” – a pattern of 7 NIGHTS A WEEK! plucked notes set against bowed ones – that becomes a counter-melody for the traditional Irish/Scots reel “Gravel Walks to Grannie,” then going into Milligan’s “Resistance Reel” before firing up a brisk “Glen Road to Carrick.” Lien’s hardanger fiddle is the linchpin in the “Hjaltland” medley, as she leads a traditional Norwe- gian tune “Dolkaren between Macdonald’s “Hjaltland to Flatland” and the way-cool Shetland tune “Up Da Stroods Da Sailor Goes.” Lien’s driving, churning “Late Night in Førde” somehow becomes a pensive hardanger solo, until Milligan’s piano restarts the engine. For good measure, the Sisters even have a go at a trotto, a medieval dance tune. 77 Broad St. 11 Marshall St. There’s fine singing from Ni Mhaonaigh and Hardelin, Boston, MA 02109 Boston, MA 02108 too. They combine on “Wind and Rain,” an American 25 Union St. 617.338.5656 617.367.0055 version of the old British Isles ballad “The Two/Twa Boston, MA 02108 Sisters,” a tale of fatal jealousy and magical redemption, mrdooleys.com greendragonboston.com 617.742.2121 with Knowles’s stately “Parker Street” interpolated hennessysboston.com throughout. Hardelin sings a traditional Swedish song, “Det Bor,” with spare, dramatic backing from Milligan, and Ni Mhaonaigh offers up one of her own, “Mo Níon Ó,” a lullaby in Gaelic she wrote for her daughter – Knowles’s string arrangement, the accompaniment from Milligan and Molleson, and Hardelin’s harmony vocals tie the proverbial bow. [stringsisters.net]

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SOMERSPUBS.COM bostonirish.com November 2019 BOSTON IRISH Reporter Page 13

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11. BRETT’S BOSTON By Harry Brett Exclusive photos of Boston Irish people & events

Cardinal Sean O’Malley dedicated the new 9. 10. home of the Irish Pastoral Centre in Adams Village on Fri., Nov. 22. The event drew a large gathering.

1.) Laoise Moore, Ireland’s Consul General; Shane Caffrey, Vice Counsul; 2.) Cardinal O’Malley addressing the group; 3.) Brid Coll, Vancouver; Fr. John Ronaghan, St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Dorchester; Maurin Keady, Dorchester; 4.) Fr. Dan Finn, former execu- tive director IPC; Cardinal Sean O’Malley; Peggy Davis-Mullen, IPC executive director IPC; 5.) Mary Salis, Dorchester, Susan Doody, Canton; 6.) Grace and Michael O’Donovan, Plymouth; 7.) Tish McMullin; 8.) Neil Hurley, Somerville; Maureen McNally, Rockland; 9.) Ciara O’Shea, Quincy; Johnny Joyce, Dorches- ter; 10.) Maryann Casavant, Westwood; Anne Finn, Milton; 11.) Dearbhla Moloney, Galway; Dorothy McCormack, Quincy; 12.) Margaret Brett Hastings; Fr. Brian Clary, St. Brendan/St Ann Collaborative, Dorchester; Della Costello, Dorchester; Ed Forry, Dorchester. 12. Page 14 November 2019 BOSTON IRISH Reporter bostonirish.com ‘Jack’ Conroy, accordionist, scholar, ‘gentleman’; at 87 Boston’s Irish music who enjoyed sharing his He was inducted into the at cceboston.org/jack- Bayside, NY, Sr. Cath- community is mourning Irish music experience Boston CCE Hall of Fame conroy-r-i-p. erine A. Conroy SCH of the passing of John F. and knowledge. in 2004. Mr. Conroy was the hus- Dorchester, Sr. Lillian A. “Jack” Conroy on Nov. Mr. Conroy was part of Mr. Conroy served in band of Gail M. (Agnew) Conroy SCH of Quincy, 9 at age 87. His funeral the lively Dudley Street the Korean War as a Conroy for 46 years, and Rev. Francis X. Conroy of Mass was said on Nov. 15 Irish music scene in the second lieutenant in the the brother of Sr. Mary Beaumont, TX, Frederick at St. Margaret Church 1950s and played with US Army. He earned his A. Conroy SCH (Sisters A. Conroy of NY, and the of Charity, Halifax) of late Thomas J. Conroy. of St. Teresa of Calcutta three bands, and years doctoral degree from the John F. Conroy Parish in Dorchester. later was a regular at University of Southern A native of Milton whose popular local sessions California and taught parents, John and Bridg- held at venues such as the science and math for the Skepticism aired on ‘Brexit Watch’ et, were from Connemara, Green Briar in Brighton Department of Defense Britain’s Dec. 12 vote In adition to Brexit the border-crossing setup Conroy played accordion and the Irish Cultural in Taiwan, Germany, and has been dubbed the maneuverings, citizens post-Brexit, should the and for decades was a wel- Centre in Canton. He also Korea. ``Brexit election,’’ domi- deplored the lack of infor- breakup come to pass. come presence at dances, was a long-time member For more about him, nated by the country’s mation or parties’ perspec- The latest Brexit plan ceilidhs, sessions, and of Boston’s Reynolds- including a video of him stalled exit from the Eu- tives on economic issues, leaves Northern Ireland other Irish music or social Hanafin-Cooley branch playing accordion and a ropean Union and ques- Russian interference in as part of the UK’s cus- events in the Boston area. of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí link to profile written on tions about a no-Brexit the country’ affairs, child toms territory and the Friends and acquain- Éireann, and worked in an the occasion of his Hall happening. The electorate poverty, taxes, renewable entry point into the EU’s tances recalled him as an administrative capacity of Fame induction, go remains deeply skeptical energy, Scottish indepen- single market, but certain affable, gentlemanly type for the CCE music school. to the CCE Boston blog of politicians’ promises, if dence EU rules would apply, a a televised question-and- As for Ireland, North notion deemed unaccept- answer session late last and South, it’s watch-and- able by Northern Ireland month is any indication. wait for the latest word on leaders.

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