October • 2011 www.ianohio.com Burning River Ceili Band Competes in Cavan... Page 6 The Savior of Irish Traditional Music... Page 7 Out & About Ohio... Page 14 The Flanagan Family Festifying, Photo by John O’Brien, Jr. 2 ianOHIO www.ianohio.com irish american news • October 2011 European com- petitions such as The Winds of November to gather. Halfway to St. Patrick’s the Champions came early! Cold breezes in Day Celebrations burst forth in a League, the old Pittsburgh turned the tide this quantity and quality reminiscent UEFA Cup or the year as the non-existent Spring of the cultural celebrations that current Europa rushed to catch up to its broth- fill more than three weeks in League has been a er and Fall. This has certainly March, and the music yanked target for all clubs been the strangest, most im- me right back into the glorious due to the enor- pactful weather for a festival symphonies that are the festival League of Ireland Football mous financial season I have experienced in season; Sing, Irishmen, Sing. rewards that come thirty years of festival organiz- We offer condolences to the As a diehard fan of Derry City Football Club, with it in terms of appearance and sponsorship ing. To those brave souls who Richens family on the passing I have grown up to dislike everything about cer- money. Many teams have tried and many have ventured out anyway, Thank of Ann ~ an Irish dance ambas- tain clubs around the League of failed. In saying that, there are a you! sador and gifted teacher and Ireland circuit. A lot of the dislike few that have come close. I am already looking for- John O’Brien, Jr. motivator, Ann’s loss will be of these clubs was due to the fact In the 2004/05 season, Shel- ward to Joanie Madden’s Ses- deeply felt, but the foundation that they had money and success, bourne became the 1st Irish sion on the High Seas Cruise in January as I and legacy she has established cannot dim, it both on and off the field. club to make it to the 3rd round mentally adjust to what is coming. Rheuma- has been infused with passion and light, youth Then there are our friendly and of qualifying for the European toid induced reality leads me to hope and pray and direction. Still, for Ann’s family and loved quiet neighbors in County Done- Champions League, one game the violent summer of weather discontent gen- ones, we pray. gal, Finn Harps, who are always away from making the group tly slips into the night, and doesn’t rage, rage We head into the quiet season, before the good for a three points away from (money) stages. Shelbourne had against the dying summer, at least for a little joy of Christmas lightens the weather, the joy home and a few pints down the street from Finn initially beaten KR Reykjavik of Iceland and Had- longer. of reunions and family brightens under the star Park at McGinley’s Pub, I’m thirsty just thinking juk Split of Croatia before finally going out of the Growing up, I always heard with a small of Bethlehem, and the joy of celebrating our about it. competition to the hands of Spanish giants De- note of pride how our nationality is celebrated 5th Anniversary marks the January issue. We Over the past twenty years, the importance portivo La Coruna. Ticket sales for the game with like no other in America, especially on St. Pat- took the road less traveled, and that made all of League of Ireland teams advancing further in the Spanish side were in such demand that Shel- rick’s Day. Now, that holds true all around the the difference. world. Well this year, once is not enough, as Slán, the hard times craft events and joy in reasons John * www.ianohio.com, www.facebook.com/OhioIrishAmericanNews, www.twitter.com/jobjr, www.myspace.com/ohian, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ohioirishamericannews bourne made the smart financial decision to move this will give to other Irish teams in the future is the game to Lansdowne Road in Dublin so that the something that cannot be measured. 25,000 who wanted tickets could get them. The economic impact this will have for In 2006-07, Derry City entered the UEFA Shamrock Rovers is something that clubs in Cup preliminary rounds, where they shocked Ireland only dream about, this is effectively as everyone by beating Swedish giants IFK Gote- good as winning the Irish Lotto. Whether Rov- borg. The Candystripes would next destroy Scot- ers decide to play their home games in Tallaght tish side Gretna, to reach the first round proper, with a smaller crowd or move the games to the where it faced yet another European giant in the National Aviva Stadium where they can open it form of French side Paris Saint-Germain. Derry up to just about anyone willing to spend money, would tie the first game at home 0-0 but would the team are guaranteed to make over $1m euro, go on to lose the 2nd leg away in Paris by a very with some estimates putting it closer to $2-3m respectable score of 2-0. euro. I am sure the Irish taxman will be paying Just recently, I found myself going down the more attention to the higher estimates when all path of keeping an eye on another Irish team in is said and done. Europe. Shamrock Rovers had got the attention Even on the lower scale, this sort of an income of the entire footballing community of Ireland in will secure the future of this high flying club for August with their progress in the 2011/12 Eu- many years to come. It will attract bigger players, ropa League. In the end, they won 3-2 on aggre- which in turn makes the team even more compet- gate and are now through to the money spinning itive, which ultimately lead to more fans coming group stages of the competition, where they will through the gates and a steady stream of euro’s. play English giants Tottenham Hotspur, Ruban It doesn’t get better than this as far as Irish foot- Kuzan of Russia and PAOK Salonika of Greece. ball teams are concerned. I can only watch with The thing to realize though is that even joy knowing that this will have a direct knock on though I was checking up and getting excited affect with other clubs in Ireland, including my because of the progress of Shamrock Rovers, it beloved Derry City. Come on the City!! was more because this was a huge morale boost- Nobody ever talks about the grit and deter- ing victory for League of Ireland football in gen- mination of the players and the dedication of the eral. This was more of case of it being the day thousands of fans that week in week out follow the League of Ireland got respect. Nobody ever their teams across the country in the hope they thought a team from our small wee island could will make it to that next level. With the prog- do it, but finally someone did. The confidence Continued on Page 13… October 2011 • irish american news www.ianohio.com ianOHIO 3 fourths full and then allow the glass to well, hot. On that day, the coffee was on the narrow sidewalk for sale. rest. After a minute or so, the bartend- something I did, rather than drank. As I finished the last drop of coffee er should top the creamy head so the I sat at a solitary table penning my cooling in my cup, I thought of the last foam begins to flow down the sides. thoughts and observations in a journal rose of summer. Soon fall would be The Guinness can now be served. while around me tourists made plans here and we would again be caught up The artistic bartender may stamp a for the day. Some were heading to in the harried pace of family life. But final shamrock or his initial atop the Croagh Patrick and others were look- for now, there was no need to rush. pour. Regardless, if proper form is ing for accommodations for the night. The soccer match was over. A chorus not followed, the draught is ruined. I There was a buzz of relaxed energy in of cheers from the hotel told me that Town am told that certain pubs draw better the restaurant that day. America had won. On that day, town I am very choosy about the coffee nity. My mom’s lady friends sat at one Guinness than others. Aside from the Outside the window, the townsfolk was alive with the young and old, the I drink. For me, it is not a ritual offer- table relishing a lazy Saturday morn- ritual of Guinness, it is moreover the lacked any sense of urgency. Neighbors villagers and the visitors, all enjoying ing brewed with a self-setting timer to ing and a bit of gossip. Farmers and lively conversation and quality folk caught up with one another for a visit. the sense of community only a small help me rise from my bed with a cli- their sons arrived for hearty omelets. that draw regulars into town and their A sheep dog walked unleashed, secure town can offer. chéd smile on my face. My son once Local college students sat at tables familiar pub. against the leg of its master. Across Susan holds a Master’s Degree in advised that I should see my children pouring over course offerings, nour- For my daughter, a visit to town the street, beautiful trails of red roses English from John Carroll University off at the bus stop with a mug of cof- ished by the simple goodness of eggs with the Irish aunt means a pound in climbed up the side of an old stone and a Master’s Degree in Education fee in my hand “like the other moth- and cinnamon rolls.