APRIL 2017 ianohio.com Ohio Riverdancer Brandon Asazawa Takes on China 2 IAN Ohio “We’ve Always Been Green!” www.ianohio.com APRIL 2017 Editor’s Corner aren’t the way someone has fantasy, which was no way they so eloquently express in motherload. I am so delighted decided to interpret them. If intended to be a category that word. to share them with you. they are interpretable, they included alternate facts, it was Most of all, I love the creativ- Go dtí an mhí seo chugainn, are not facts; they are opinion. just fantasy. ity and soulfulness of our col- slán a fhágáil Numbers can be manipulated Despite this, we don’t lose umnists. As you get to know (Until next month, goodbye) to tell the story someone wants any of the emotion great writ- them and perhaps some of John to hear, interpreted to shine ing can evoke, which is really their struggles and successes, a positive light, which today the goal of most writers, to you are touched more often. I “Follow me where I go, seems to be aimed at distract- educate, to evoke emotion in love being at events with them, what I do and who I know; ing noise designed to drown those reading. For all of that volunteering with them, and O’Bent out the darkness less flattering and more, I Love this issue. completely proud they are part Enterprises includes: John O’Brien, Jr. to the speakers effectiveness. I get excited when I read of our team. www.twitter.com/jobjr We as a newsmagazine strive great columns as I’m editing. Life is fast and gaining speed, www.facebook.com/ Reporting the facts is not to leave out the alternate facts. I don’t recall every having this friends have passed, have OhioIrishAmericanNews hard, despite what President Of course we also have Op/ many columns that I not only moved on to other pursuits, www.linkedin.com/in/ Trump may say. Facts really Ed; we have humor; we have like, but love, in one issue. I and their presence is missed. jobjr/ http://songsand- find them to be great when I Good columnists are hard to stories.net/myblog/feed/ learn, I laugh, I smh (shake my come by. Good friends are hard head) at some of the sadness to come by, but I have hit the Gaelic Imports New Owners Celebrate 1st Anniversary It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since Bar- bara Kelly Benkowski and daughter Lauren Gaelic Imports took over as the owners of Gaelic Imports in 5633 Pearl Rd. Parma, Ohio. To celebrate and to thank all Parma, OH 44129 of their customers, they are having an Open 440-845-0100 fax 440-845-0102 House on Saturday April 1st. from 10am to 800-450-2725 5pm. Stop by for a complimentary meat pie and shortbread between 12 and 3, while supplies Irish Sausage, Irish Bacon, Soda Bread, last. You can also enter the drawing for a $50 Black Pudding, Sausage Rolls, Pork Gift Certificate. Bangers, Potato Scones, Imported Congratulations and best of luck to Barbara Groceries, Flags, Buttons, Jewelry, Music and much more! and Lauren from all of us at Ohio Irish American News! www.gaelicimports.com River Terrace Building 19111 Detroit Rd, Ste 200 Rocky River, OH 44115 440-333-8960 [email protected] APRIL 2017 “We’ve Always Been Green!” www.ianohio.com 3 Columnist Katherine Boyd, (below)who has been hired by SiriusXM to host weekends on its Classic Vinyl channel. You’ll now be able to tune-in nationwide to hear Katherine In the May 2016 issue of the Unfortunately, she is back. The spinning your favorite Classic OhioIANews, we reported the Harp is now fighting an appeal. Rock songs on SiriusXM Chan- great news that The Harp Restau- We have spoken before the board nel 26. She’ll be broadcasting Last Days is all finished with trouble, but rant, a Cleveland Irish and live before, and we will continue to LIVE from the Rock and Roll Of Summer in the Texas prairie town that local musician fixture, had won a be there in support at each and Hall of Fame. For Katherine, By Vanessa Ronan knows no forgiveness, it does not variance on having live music at every hearing. “It’s a dream come true. To Penguin Ireland 15 BW: 978-1- take long for trouble to arrive at The Harp, located at 4408 Detroit quote 1994 Rock Hall inductees 844-88566-0 2016 371 pp. their home. Road in Cleveland, after a four Congratulations to former The Grateful Dead, ‘What a long The Last Days of Summer is year battle, with 1 resident. Discovering My Irish Roots strange trip it’s been.’ “ Over the last several years, a tremendously readable book. Ireland has produced a plethora It takes only a few pages for the Congratulations to of remarkable new first novels reader to be mesmerized by the Dick and Mary Ann Goonin, fear and uncertainty arising from celebrating their the prose. The book progresses 60th Wedding Anniversary! as he tries to live out a normal life. However, something is always lurking in the shadows, be it his past or his dark nature or inappropriate thoughts and feelings. The reader cannot argue against the climactic nature of the ending, which may make some angry and emotional. This writer rates Rowan’s first book a dynamite read and a TOP SHELF selection. *Terrence J Kenneally is an attorney and owner of Terrence J. Kenneally & Associates in Rocky River, Ohio. He defends and Irish short stories by Irish or insureds and insurance com- Ireland-based authors. Included panies in insurance defense in this group are several authors litigation throughout the state whose books were reviewed in of Ohio. Terrence received his this column. Master’s Degree in Irish Studies Some of these books were The from John Carroll University Glorious Heresies, by Lisa McIn- and teaches Irish history and eney, Academy Street, by Mary literature at Holy Name High Costello, Dinosaurs on Other School. Mr. Kenneally is also Planets, by Danielle McLaugh- the President of Holy Name High lin, and All We Shall Know, by School for 2016-17. Donal Ryan. He can be reached at Add to this list the name of Va- [email protected]. nessa Ronan and her first novel, The Last Days of Summer. The Last Days of Summer follows About Our a family dealing with upheaval when an uncle who has been in Cover prison for ten years is released and comes back into the family Cleveland Leneghan home. It is the story of their Academy of Irish struggle and plight in forgive- ness of their uncle, of not only Dance’s Riverdancer the family, but of the entire town, Brandon Asazawa who seemingly can’t forget the Takes on China! crime he committed. He says he 4 IAN Ohio “We’ve Always Been Green!” www.ianohio.com APRIL 2017 a Sunday morning, Day We Celebrate: 175 Years of the St. been in Cleveland during the 19th, 20th, there was a gather- Patrick’s Day Parade in Cleveland, and now the 21st Centuries. No other ing of Grand Mar- presented some of the history of the Organization has such a long and proud shals, Irish Mothers, Parade and Organizations that will be history. This year is very special to the Directors and Dep- featured. Hibernians. uty Directors. Many Anyone with an interest in Cleveland One of the oldest consecutive cele- of the Honorees and the Irish Community will want to brations in Ohio, the 150th Annual St. were interviewed have this book in their library. More Patrick’s Day Banquet, will be held St. Celebrating Our History on the Gerry Quinn information on the release date is to be Patrick’s Day night. The Hibernians are Irish Radio Program. What a day to announced at the end of April. honored that this year, the Irish Govern- A special event took place last month, share our memories and preserve our in preparation for the upcoming book proud history. Margaret Lynch, author about Cleveland St. Patrick’s Day. On of the soon to be published book, The The current, and former Parade Executive Directors As I write this article, the Feast of St. ment will be represented at the banquet Patrick will be celebrated in a week. The by Sean Kyne, Irish Minister of State for highlights of the day for me include at- Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources, tending Mass at either my home Parish along with Brian O’ Brien, Irish Consul of St. Patrick’s or joining the West Side General Chicago, who serves our area of Irish American Club at St. Colman’s. Both the country. of these Parishes are very special to me. What an honor to have these dignitaries My immigrant grandparents John and with us in this historic year for both the Margaret Madigan raised their family of Parade and Banquet. The Banquet is the seven sons in St. Colman’s Parish. time to honor those individuals who are I was blessed to have my faith nurtured dedicated to promoting our Irish Heritage. by my parents, Jack and Catherine, and I am honored this year to be presenting the my St. Pat’s W.P. Parish family. To me the Hibernian of the Year Award to my friend most important reason for March 17 is to and Hibernian Sister, Maire Kilbane Leffel. remember that it is first and foremost, the Congratulations to all of our Honorees: Feast Day of the Patron Saint of Ireland, Roger Weist, Grand Marshal; Angela Mur- St.