September • 2011 www.ianohio.com Ireland and the Union Jack... Page 9 Home to Mayo... Page 16 Good Bye Summer Out & About Ohio Events... Pages 18-19 Photo “Conor & Rua” by Brian Blarney 2 ianOHIO www.ianohio.com irish american news • September 2011 Fields of Glory… the nation, and the diaspora —author unknown abroad. Your chance to see it I was born in a country live from Ireland is Sunday, where people admire September 18th ~ PJ McIn- Their great sporting heroes tyre’s in Cleveland carries it and how they aspire live, and I am sure many oth- To stand upon mountains ers do as well. DO NOT miss and always be winners this spectacular day of song And never give less and sport. The speed, grace than their all and power of Gaelic Football and Hurling will take your I once met an old man breath away. who told me great stories There are a few other cel- Of legends of old John O’Brien, Jr. ebrations this month as well. who played hard for the The Pittsburgh, Muskegon glory and Indy Fests are all in September. Ak- Of lifting the cup ron has a new Irish festival as well. Pitts- in that moment of triumph burgh has been especially supportive of His memory’s kept me enthralled the OhIAN and of my writing and I will On the fields, the fields of glory be premiering a new cultural presenta- On the fields where boys become men tion at Pittsburgh Irish Fest. What Color On the fields, the fields of glory is your Irish – The Poets Know will be at May the best team win, win in the end 2:00 each day during the Festival ~ a mix of Irish, folk and world verse and poetry. I Supporting our team hope you can stop by for a great fest and a with a true sense of place little cultural presentation as well. Are the handfuls of people, Cleveland fun spot The Treehouse cel- the pride on their faces ebrates its 15th Anniversary this month. They come from the townlands, BIG Congrats to the Leneghan’s, Paul the parish, the village, Jones and the staff at the Treehouse. West Their banners they proudly unfurl Park Station celebrates its 5th Anniversary An anthem of hope is the song and PJ McIntyre’s celebrates its 4th Anni- they’re singing, versary as well – all three locations have There’s a whistle it sounds been fantastic supporters of the Irish and and the game it begins we are delighted to celebrate with them. And the roar of the crowd In Ireland, the Annual Oyster Festival echoes up to the heavens is a huge celebration each year. Our own It sends out a clarion call Cathal Liam has written about the mad fun and fantastic fresh food the Oyster Fest On the fields, the fields of glory brings in Ireland each year. Bringing even On the fields where boys become men more of Ireland home to Cleveland, Stone On the fields, the fields of glory Mad just announced their 1st Annual Oys- May the best team win, win in the end ter Festival on September 18th. So look- I’m dreamin’ of Ireland ing forward to Stone Mad’s own Operation in fine summer weather Oyster. See the ad elsewhere in this issue. A crowd of young lads Hope your summer has been grande play’n football together and your winter will be short and sweet. All hoping that someday We have a few exciting new events com- the call they will answer ing up, so keep your eyes on the OhIAN To play for the place they were born for all the details. If you lose us, you can always check our webpage, all issues are On the fields, the fields of glory archived – www.ianohio.com. Don’t for- On the fields where boys become men get to pick up your Greater Cleveland On the fields, the fields of glory Irish Directory as well – my website May the best team win, win in the end www.songsandstories.net carries it, as The High Kings version of the song is does Casey’s Irish Imports. amazing – I will always see people shoul- Thanks for your support of the OhIAN, der to shoulder, Irish County flags waving, the fest and all the other projects we waves of people, flag and song sweeping launched this year. across Croke Park as the GAA ALL- Now, on to those Fields of Glory… Ireland Football and Hurling Finals grip John * www.ianohio.com, www.facebook.com/OhioIrishAmericanNews, www.twitter.com/jobjr, www.myspace.com/ohian, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ohioirishamericannews September 2011 • irish american news www.ianohio.com ianOHIO 3 is the lack of conveniences. But I doubt that I would be always the helped me understand my life here. was convinced the trade-off was outsider, ‘the Derry wan.’ I seek out what I think I’m missing worth it. Before coming to Chicago, I on the internet, trawling through Becoming starved of Internet lived in Buncrana for two years and Irish newspaper sites to get a sense connectivity was beginning to show. during that time I found myself with of home. And while I enjoy the oc- By the second week as my trips into a foot in either camp. The beauty of casional encounter with a fellow the city became more frequent. the Inishshowen peninsula, the in- countryman/woman, or the more When finally the man came to set credible beauty of south Donegal, elaborate Irish fest, I am aware of me up with my lifeline link to the and comforting sense of isolation the dangers of becoming an ex-pat A Foot In Either Camp greater cyber community, he greet- was all mine, but it was not enough. with a thirst for sentimentalism. Since I began living in the of Shadows. This was the holiday ed me with these words. ‘What on I was at home, but not quite. But still it offers me a sense of United States less than a decade spot for my family. It held precious under God brought you to this hell Half my time was spent visiting being at home. And there are times ago, I have been intrigued with memories of playing on the beach hole!’ I wondered if he could see the friends and family in Derry, return- when the whole celebration of be- the process of feeling at home, and eating a stick of rock (candy). disappointment in my face. ing in the evening along the shores ing Irish diminishes my sense of and yet not quite. Moving to Chi- And, if I needed the impressions of Inside, I was trying desperately of the Swilly. As time when on, I connection since it seems exagger- cago was a great decision. I love the city, Derry was only fourteen to stick my finger in the hole in the knew that what I was experiencing ated. What I have discovered is that the city, the people are friendly, miles away. I could have the best of dam, hoping to stall the inevitable was simply the longing for the grass the feeling of being at home, but not and it has great theatre. The draw- both worlds. deluge. It was no use, I could see on the other side. quite is with us wherever we are. It’s back in living in such an urban My first few days in Buncrana the cracks in my quest for utopia be- In some ways the experience has a part of our human condition. centre, however, (apart from the were busy with unpacking, get- ginning to show. This local began to cold winters) is the difficulty of ting acquainted with living in the tell me about how mean spirited my getting beyond the borders of Republic of Ireland, as opposed to neighbours were, warned me about the concrete sprawl and into the a British Northern Ireland. It was trusting any of them, and offer his countryside. quite exciting, and I was enthusias- sagely wisdom as to how to survive Since I don’t have ready access tic about this new phase in my life. living in a hell hole. to a car, I look forward to the op- Getting a broadband connection Faced with such cynicism, I portunities to visit friends, or trav- installed in the house would give tried re-constructing my nostalgic, el back to Ireland. I hanker after me access to email etc. The first somewhat romantic reminiscences the isolation of Donegal when the week passed by quickly. There was of this childhood haven, but it was interminable high-pitched sounds a lot to do, and even though I hadn’t no good. There was something in of emergency vehicles remind me walked along the banks of the his rubbing my nose in his grubby that I’m in the third largest city of Swilly, I would, once my life settled reality that was really getting up my the U.S. And yet, at other times, I down. One of the disadvantages of nostrils. The people in the town did find these discordant sounds com- moving from a more populous area appear quite cliquish. There was no forting. As I have slowly assimilated to the American way of life, my Michael Londra: Beyond Celtic – On PBS views of belonging seem to be This month your local PBS sta- in a state of flux. There are times tion is featuring a wonderful new when both feet are firmly ground- show from one of Ireland’s most ed on North American soil, while beloved performers, Michael Lon- at other times, the complexities dra.