26 <strong>Irish</strong> <strong>American</strong> <strong>News</strong> “We’ve Always Been Green!” <strong>September</strong> <strong>2011</strong>A Modern FarmetteSome time back, I came acrossthe name ‘A Modern Farmette’on Twitter, and knewI needed to look furtherto see what thislady’s definition ofa Modern Farmettewas. I was curious,to say the least. Wasit simply the fact thatthis lady was a farmerin <strong>2011</strong>? Was she indeeda farmer? Theuse of the diminutiveprompted me towonder if the farmwas tiny.One of my favoritebooks as a child wasThe Secret Garden by FrancesHodgson Burnett. When Maryentered this world it held manypromises, much potential andeven healing powers. This childlikewonder is a special thingand although I am older in years,it has never waned. So when Ipeered into this new world or inthis case, someone else’s newImen McDonnell and Rachel Gaffneyworld, my childlike wonder wasre-awakened.This Modern Farmette, is ImenMcDonnell, who grew up in Minneapolis,Minnesota, worked inTV and film production in NewYork City, Los Angeles and Minneapolis,traveled extensively,and is now living in an eighteenthcentury farmhouse, miles awayfrom her nearest neighbors inrural Ireland.My most recent trip home toIreland was last June. My travelstook me to the beautiful regionof County Clare. By now Imenand I had been in contact witheach other for several weeks, soit seemed only natural for usmodern day pen pals tomeet in person.Imen lives in ruralLimerick and I wasstaying at The Lodgeat Doonbeg, Co. Clare,perched at the edge ofthe Atlantic Ocean. Itwas a Sunday and wewere meeting for lunch.Imen was taking the ferryaround the coast anddriving the remainder ofthe way. Cell phone servicecan be sparse at best,but somehow, we wereable to stay connectedvia social media sites.Imen McDonnell exuded energyand charm. We were seatedby the window in Darby’s Barat The Lodge of Doonbeg, withpanoramic views of the AtlanticOcean. This was going to be a funand interesting lunch.I wondered what was differentabout her modern day farmerhusband, so I asked.“Today, most farmers are collegeeducated and into diversification.[My husband] has a B.Ain philosophy and is planning togo back for an MBA. Educationis absolutely necessary to besuccessful in farming these days.No longer are the profitable daysof dairy, poultry, vegetables andcattle alone; farming is a businessand diversification is key. Ourfarm also specializes in alternativeenergies, i.e wind power andbiogas” (a biogas is an anaerobicdigester that treats farm waste).Their five year old son is growingup in a world that is combiningthe comforts of past traditionsin early farming Ireland andmodern technology. They innatelyunderstand the importanceof preserving and cherishing thepast. In fact they have embarkedon a period restoration of a centuriesold thatched farmhouseand there is a possibility that itmay even be used for farm staysand traditional cookery classes. Ifthey do, then I plan on being theirfirst guest… anyone else want tojoin me?http://marriedanirishfarmer.com/Follow Rachel on Twitter: @Rachelgaffney, Facebook: RachelGaffney. www.Rachelgaffneys.com.Remember The TenContinued from Page 22…way. Thirty years ago the British andtheir Unionists counterparts in Irelandrefused to even acknowledge that SinnFéin existed. There only words to uswere ”NO,” “No Pope,” “No surrender,”“Not an inch,” “No, No, No.” All weasked was that they sit before us, acknowledgeour right to exist and discussour demands. It took 30 years to get tothe Good Friday Agreement, another 10years passed before they gave in to givingus devolved policing powers. Backin 1969 we had no alternative but to beararms, defend our neighbourhoods andfight for recognition. Today, 42 yearslater, the British are sitting before usat the negotiating table. Slowly, we areinching towards an inevitable UnitedIreland.In the Northern occupied countiesof Ireland and, indeed, here in Chicago,there are dissidents that continue to supportthe old traditionalist <strong>Irish</strong> Republicanview that as long as the British continueto occupy part of Ireland they shouldcontinue to use force of arms. It seemslogical to me and apparently to the vastmajority of the <strong>Irish</strong> people who haverepeatedly rejected the dissidents at theballot box, that if the <strong>Irish</strong> Republicanagenda can be moved forward peacefullyand without the use of arms, then thatis the path we should take. As an <strong>Irish</strong>Republican who supports the main bodyof <strong>Irish</strong> Republicanism, Sinn Féin, I callon the Chicago <strong>Irish</strong> community to rejectthe dissenters by coming out to the <strong>Irish</strong><strong>American</strong> Heritage Ctr. on Oct. 2nd tocommemorate the 30th anniversary of thedeath of the H Block Hunger Strikers.Ed McElroy, host of “The Ed McElroy Show” recently interviewed OrlandPark Mayor, Dan McLaughlin, Orland Park Village Manager, Paul G. Grimesand Village Senior Planner, Kimberly Flom. The show will air on Tues.,Sept. 6, <strong>2011</strong> and again on Tues. Sept. 13, <strong>2011</strong>. Both shows air at 8pmon Comcast Channel 19. Pictured (L-R) are Mayor Dan McLaughlin, EdMcElroy and Paul G. Grimes, Village Manager.If you have an iPhone andthe Kaywa Quick ResponseCode Reader App, just scanthe code to the right and betaken directly to the <strong>Irish</strong><strong>American</strong> <strong>News</strong> website!
<strong>September</strong> <strong>2011</strong> <strong>Irish</strong> <strong>American</strong> <strong>News</strong> “We’ve Always Been Green!” 27The Big Picture… And The SmallA silly season story to make youweep. Retiring employees of FAS, thealready discredited <strong>Irish</strong> state trainingagency, receive up to seven weeks extrapaid holidays during each of theirfinal two years, to help them preparefor retirement (!) No wonder Ireland’seconomic situation is sometimes characterisedas critical but not serious.The Big Picture is now with us. Inthe context of the tremors coursingthrough the world economy, Ireland’seconomic problems, real or otherwise,represent small beer indeed. Who cantell what will be the outcome of the currentworld wide economic upheaval?Will the international economy stutteron? Will the euro survive? Politically,what will happen in the Middle East?Will democracy prevail—eventually—in Libya and Syria? What then? Willthe Arab Spring spread to the Gulf,to Saudi Arabia? Will the pundit whoforecast that in a year or two the southernrim of the Mediterranean would beone Islamic state be proved correct?And what about the price of oil?Thus far the big picture has helped.The need for Europe’s big states tofocus on protecting the Euro hassubsumed Ireland’s problems into thebigger euro whole (“w” optional!). Theimmediate interim solutions, a secondbailout for Greece and moves towardsnew fiscal mechanisms, have, as a byproduct,lowered the interest rate payableby Ireland on monies borrowed.The government has been handed, on aplate, one of it’s chief election commitments.The net effect will be a savingof $1 billion plus annually on interestpayable, giving slightly more wiggleroom on the financial bind. (The savingdoes not mean more money; merelythat the cost of our ongoing borrowingsimply to run the country will beslightly less.)It must be comforting for the Government,just six months in, to have thisinternational economic background asa fallback. There is still mileage out ofblaming Fianna Fail for the domesticsituation and the harsh measures pending,but there is now the added comfortof external economic factors. Shouldthe <strong>Irish</strong> economy continue to stagnate,and unemployment persist at currentlevels, the international economicuncertainty can be cited as hinderingrecovery. Moreover, the praise andplaudits we are receiving internationallyfor policies pursued are encouraging.If we could only factor out the costof the bank bailout, we would be wellon the way to recovery. If only!The saving on interest will not goamiss. For even if so far Enda Kennyseems blessed with Napoleon’s sine quanon for a general—Luck—the thirdhundred days of the coalition promisesto be interesting. At the very least thegovernment has to find $4.5 billion inextra savings in the December budgetand who knows what else may be lyingin the economic long grass out there(last year $5 billion morphed to $7billion after <strong>September</strong>, which provedthe tipping point necessitating IMF intervention).A formidable enough targetin itself but made more complicated bya mystifying commitment, celebrating100 days in office, by Kenny and hisdeputy and Labour leader Gilmore, notto raise income tax or cut welfare levelsto achieve the target.Given this commitment, just howthe target—an IMF one—will be metis unclear. Perhaps the Governmentbelieves its luck (and public support)will hold. This is a dangerousstrategy. The money has got to comefrom somewhere. Presumably someform of semantics will be employed,changing tax bands, changing age orincome levels for benefits, a slew ofstealth taxes, but the net effect will beto damage seriously the government’sreputation for transparency. This hasalready taken one blow over RoscommonHospital, where a needless preelectioncommitment was given. Thestrategy should surely have been totake the harsh measures every oneknew were necessary early on in thegovernment’s term and blame it all onFianna Fail.The fallback strategy, to blame theIMF, already used to excuse the newproperty levy, cuts less ice and is lesseffective politically. There is everydanger that the brief opportunity forthe new government to dent decisivelythe public sense of entitlement andregenerate the political system andculture will be lost. Already voices canbe heard complaining that they “votedfor change” and asking where is it, as ifthe economic mess could be banishedby simply casting a vote. While mostpeople recognise the seriousness ofthe situation and the need for firm andpainful action, the danger in delayis that impetus will be lost. As timepasses, and as further harsh measuresare introduced piecemeal, the ficklefinger of blame could quickly redirectat the government.There is no doubt that Fine Gaelfeels it has to tread with care lest itfrighten the Labour horses. Labour forits part has its own frightened horsesto worry about. The unprecedentednumber of new Labour backbenchersis both a blessing and a curse; greatto have the numbers but a slight lossof support could lose those seats nexttime round. The new backbenchers arevery much aware of this, and of theradical left snapping at Labour’s heels.The recent election showed the punishmentthat an angry and disillusionedelectorate can hand out.While all this is true (and also applies,mutatis mutandis, to the FineGael backbenchers), there is surely astronger case to be made in the currentsituation for the tactics of Machiavellirather than Fabian the Delayer, i.e. getthe harsh measures over quickly.Whatever the outcome on the worldmacro- stage, the problem of thebudget deficit on the <strong>Irish</strong> micro-stagewill remain and this cannot be solvedwithout pain.The first strains on inter-coalitionrelations should come later this monthwhen the comprehensive review of governmentexpenditure is due. Grantedthat the Minister in charge is a LabourMinister, nevertheless any proposedcutbacks in spending, to help meet theIMF target, are likely to impact more onLabour supporters and support and leadto some soul-searching in the ranks. Atoe to toe battle between the two partiesin the October Presidential electionwould also not improve matters, thoughas I write it is not clear what the finalline-up of candidates will be.The mood of the electorate shouldalso be watched. While there has beena healthy dose of realism up to now,as evidenced by the muted reactionto the medicine the public has had toswallow (unlike Greece, there has beenno rioting in the streets), this was accompaniedby a grim resolve to punishthose deemed responsible, as FiannaFail found out. However, into Year Four,with more screw-tightening in prospect,the cumulative effect is mounting, withmany hitherto unscathed (includingsections of the middle class) nowbeing hit.The potential for grievance developingis rising. Revelations suchas the FAS one do not help, nor thefact, underscored daily, that everyonewill hang on doggedly to what theyhave. Ultimately so much depends oninternational developments that theGovernment should be careful lestwhat it does, or doesn’t do, makesmatters worse.Chicago Kilt Run to Try for Guinness RecordOnly a short year ago, a few ChicagoPolice Detectives formed theCommittee for the Chicago Kilt Run. Itwas a tremendous success in fundraisingand as a social event, organized tobenefit Police Charities.This is the only Kilt Run where allparticipants are encouraged to wear akilt to start the race. Kilts are madeavailable by event organizers. CharitableRun/Walk. All are welcome…Even your pets may participate!Afterward… Hang out at our rollickingpost-run celebration with alldayentertainment at the main stagestarring Joe McShane, Fast EddieMcAteer, and Barry Fagan.The current Guinness record is heldby the City of Perth, Ontario, Canada,Seanachai’sThe ShadowOf A GunmanSeanachaí Theatre Companyopens its <strong>2011</strong>/12 season ClassicVoices: The Revolutionaries withSean O’Casey’s The Shadow of aGunman in the 3rd Floor Theatre atthe <strong>Irish</strong> <strong>American</strong> Heritage Center,4626 N. Knox Ave. in Chicago, from<strong>September</strong> 17th to October 23rd.In a Dublin tenement four yearsafter the Easter Rising, poet DonalDavoren finds himself the victimof mistaken identity as an IRAgunman. The notoriety of beingwith 1,089 participants—join in helpbreak this record!When: Sunday, <strong>September</strong> 18, <strong>2011</strong>at 10amWhere: Start and Finish at TrinityPub Festival Grounds located at 5943N. Northwest Hwy., Chicago, ILWhat: A 3K (1.87 mile) run, walk,jog, etc not a strictly competitive race.It will be a C.A.R.A. (Chicago AreaRunners Association) emerging race. Aportion of the proceeds will be donatedto select local schools, and The ChicagoPolice Memorial Foundation. Everyyear this charity/fund changes and willbe community-based. A Celtic Fest followsthe event featuring a concert stagewith The House of Blues; house band,step dancing demonstrations, and moreCeltic entertainers and activities.Registration: via www.chicagokiltrun.com;Pricing is $25 if registeredby Monday, <strong>September</strong> 12th, <strong>2011</strong>,12:00 am; $35 if registered by Saturday,<strong>September</strong> 17th, <strong>2011</strong>, Midnight. Adiscount of $10 will be automaticallyapplied for participants of age 13 andyounger.Also visit the website at chicagokiltrun.comand view the video and photogallery from last year’s event.a “gunmanon the run”becomesan amusingand attractivealter ego, especially given thenewfound affection of the lovelypatriot Minnie Powell. But at whatcost?The Shadow of a Gunman (1923)is part of O’Casey’s well-knownDublin Trilogy, which includesJuno and the Paycock (1924) andThe Plough and the Stars (1926),the latter of which inspired <strong>Irish</strong>patriots to riot.www.seanachai.org.RESTAURANT/pubOWNERS:FERDYNAND & ANNA HEBALInvite you to enjoyThe RedApple Buffet!Czerwone JabtuszkoRESTAURANT & DELI’S3121-23 N. MILWAUKEE AVE.PH 773-588-5781FAX 773-588-39756474 N. MILWAUKEE AVE.PH 773-763-3407 FAX 773-763-3406
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