November 2007 VOL. 18 #11 $1.50 Boston’s hometown journal of Irish culture. Worldwide at bostonirish.com All contents copyright © 2007 Boston Neighborhood News, Inc. Hanging Out With The Dropkick Murphys The Dropkick Murphys at rest: From left, Al Barr (vocals); Matt Kelly (drums, backing vocals); Marc Orrell (guitar, accordion, piano, backing vocals); Ken Casey (vocals, bass guitar); Scruffy Wallace (bagpipes); Tim Brennan (mandolin, accordion, banjo, bouzouki, tin whistle, acoustic guitar); James Lynch (gui- tar, backing vocals). Photo by Bob Perachio, BDP Photography BY SUSAN GEDUTIS LINDSAY ‘One school of thought would think that what we do kind of SPECIAL TO THE BIR Sunday, Sept. 30, outside bastardizes Irish music. But we are also very respectful of Avalon on Landsdowne Street, the roots and wear our influences on our sleeves.’ beside a thick line of 20-some- things waiting for doors to open -- Ken Casey, headman, the Dropkick Murphys to see the Dropkick Murphys— the hottest band in a line of Irish rock bands whose appeal has “Excuse me, but what are the Meanest of Times. Then I talked crossed over to a wider audi- Dropkick Murphys?” “Irish to Ken Casey, the band’s lead ence. The Red Sox were in the punk?” I shrugged. Truth was, singer and founder. And I get process of losing to the Twins I didn’t really know and that’s it now. If you run into that guy over the big green wall behind why I was here. The live show in the anorak, tell him I have us. A man in a tourist-yellow was my introduction—but then the scoop. anorak stopped me and asked, I listened to the new album, The (Continued on page 14) INSIDE Ronan Noone IIC Stalwart on ‘Brendan,’ Gobnait Conneely His New Play Profile, Page 4 ‘No matter what, America is still a refuge and a place of Gearing Up opportunity for people all over the world. It still represents for ‘Christmas hope, something better. In Celtic Sojourn’ Brendan, one of the characters talks about what it is to be an Page 15 American, and it is something Ken Casey Exults of a emotional discourse on genuine American virtues Things to Be With Jon and Mike – tempered by reality. Those Thankful For Ken Casey celebrates on the Fenway Park grass with Mike values are still real.’ Timlin and Jonathan Papelbon after the Red Sox clinched the Ceol, Page 14 American League pennant in Game 7 against Cleveland. An Interview, Page 14 interview with Casey is on Page 14. Photo by Bill Brett. Page November 007 BOSTON IRISH REPORTER Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com DAVID GREANEY, PRESIDENT We Congratulate the 2007 SOLAS Recipients 2007 SOLAS RECIPIENTS Rev. Msgr. Thomas J. McDonnell Gerard and Marilyn Doherty APPRECIATION AWARD WINNERS RICHARD IANDOLINI, PRESIDENT ALAN PAMPANIN REBECCA C. MINAHAN Iandolini & Associates Pampanin Law Offices Law Office of Rebecca C. Minahan JANE CHIANG, PARTNER JOHN QUILL, ASSOCIATE JOSHUA PAULIN Sedna Law Seyfarth Shaw Law Office of Joshua Daley Paulin CHRIS LAVERY, PARTNER DENIS FLEMING, ASSOCIATE EOIN REILLY, ASSOCIATE Sedna Law Cammarano & Associates Iandolini & Associates SYNERGY 115 Broad Street, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02110 Tel: 617-204-9506 Fax: 617-204-9508 GLOBAL COMMUNITY: SOLAS OUR AWARDS DINNER COMMUNITY 7:00 pm Friday, November 9 Westin Copley Hotel, Boston a night of inspiration & entertainment to benefit IIC honoring Gerard & Marilyn Doherty, the Rev. Msgr. Thomas J. McDonnell, and IIC’s pro bono attorneys for their service to the immigrant community All are invited! Tickets are $150 each and support IIC. Call (617) 542-7654 x 26 or visit www.iicenter.org for more info or to book tickets or make a donation online. Solas’07 Irish Immigration Center Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com November 007 BOSTON IRISH REPORTER Page ON THE TOWN WITH THE BIR reviews from Boston ranked it as one of the most unique and enthralling performances to happen at Symphony Hall. They returned this past February to much the same response. Boston City Councilor Michael Flaherty so enjoyed the concert he has become an ambassador for the group and this sum- mer he made his debut playing the violin in front of a fundraising reception for the orchestra. To date CBOI has performed in five countries, and has tours scheduled through 2011, including a concert that year in Australia. When they arrive in Boston the orchestra will be joined by nearly 500 Boston-area youths who have formed the Cross Border Choir Boston. Ten schools from the area have pitched in with children and assistance to prepare for this unique event. They will be joined by a variety of talents from here and across the pond, including world-class tenor and one of Ireland’s best known voices, Emmanuel Lawler. The IBEW 103rd Pipe Band, and Tatum Harvey, the recently crowned Boston’s 2007 Shamrock Idol, will also make appearances on stage. The performance at Symphony Hall is the last stop on the CBOI tour, which also included sessions in Dublin, Milwaukee, and Chicago, and participation by more than 3,000 choir students in total. Jean McKenna O’Donnell, (above), whose jazz The Holy Ghost Fathers will be holding their 23rd vocals have entertained several generations of enthu- annual Benefit Dance at the Irish Social Club in siasts, especially at venues from Boston to Providence West Roxbury, on November 2. Hosted by Father and her hometown of Woonsocket, has finally assured Peter Nolan, the organizer of the original event in that her work will have staying power; she is issu- 1985, the event will feature the Andy Healey Band ing an album – her first – this month. “Full Circle,” for live entertainment and dance. Father Nolan is a selection of songs she chose, features her smooth the pastor of Most Precious Blood in Hyde Park and vocals backed on piano by Mike Renzi, on clarinet has been raising money for the Holy Ghost Fathers to continue their extensive work in Africa, South Marianne Bolger, Ireland Vice Consul in Boston, and sax by Dick Johnson, on bass by Marshall greets Lorraine Christian, Press and Information Wood, and on guitar by Jon Wheatley. Jean will host America, and other impoverished regions of the world. The dance has raised half a million dollars in its 23 Officer, Consulate General of Ireland in New an album release party with the quartet at Chan’s York. Restaurant Jazz Room, 267 Main St., Woonsocket years, and this year will look to add to the impres- on Thurs., Nov. 8, from 8 to 11 p.m. Admission for sive total. Father Nolan himself served for 17 years of Ulster, O’Loan has come under fire in the past the fete and the performance is $15. There is a nice in West Africa – Nigeria and Ghana – after leaving from the likes of Ian Paisley, but she has also been symmetry to Jean’s choice of venue for her album’s his hometown of Dublin. Since then he has been at praised for her work, particularly for the way her debut: It was 30 years ago, in 1977, that she stepped St. Theresa in West Roxbury, Most Precious Blood, office reported this past January on collusion between to the microphone at Chan’s, the first jazz singer in and as an administrator to St. Pius X in Milton as police and loyalist paramilitary organizations. the three-decade-long concert series John Chan has Milton consolidated parishes. Lorraine Christian, an official in Ireland’s De- presented at his restaurant. Music, as they says, runs Last month saw the appearance in Boston of Nuala partment of Foreign Affairs, has been named Press in her family. Jean’s brother, Dave McKenna, is a O’Loan, the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ire- and Information Officer at the Consulate General legendary jazz pianist (“I play saloon piano,” he says) land, who spoke at an Irish American Partnership of Ireland’s office in New York City. It is the first whose impressive resume stretches back into the big luncheon. Her role is to deal with complaints about assignment in the United States for Ms. Christian, band era when he played with the likes of Woody policing as an independent voice for the people of who was recently married and spent part of her Herman and Bobby Hackett. And for years, he was Northern Ireland. A lecturer on law at the University honeymoon on a trip to the western United States the pianist in residence at the Copley Plaza Hotel before taking up her new role. The new press spokes- in Boston. Jean salutes her older brother, now 77 person made a trip to Boston in September, where and retired from playing, on “Full Circle” with her The new American Am- she was greeted by Irish Vice Consul Marianne rendition of his composition “Shadowland.” bassador from Ireland Bolger. The two visited with local Irish community On Sat., Nov. 3, six score and more children from to the United States, Mi- leaders and media representatives during her brief chael Collins, will make Ireland will take the stage at Boston Symphony his first visit to Boston visit to Boston. Hall to spread the message of the Cross Borders this month, appearing The British Irish Graduates in America organi- Orchestra Ireland. Some 130 young Irish, ages at the American Ireland zation will be hosting its third annual Ball on Nov. 9 12-14, from the border counties of the North and Fund Dinner Gala on at the Seaport Hotel. The event is an opportunity for South make up the Orchestra. They come from all November 15 as well as those alumni of any university of England or Ireland walks of life and religions.