32 <strong>Irish</strong> <strong>American</strong> <strong>News</strong> “We’ve Always Been Green!” <strong>September</strong> <strong>2011</strong>A Foot In Either CampSince I began living in the United Statesless than a decade ago, I have been intriguedwith the process of feeling at home, and yetnot quite. Moving to Chicago was a great decision.I love the city, the people are friendly,and it has great theatre. The drawback in livingin such an urban centre, however, (apart fromthe cold winters) is the difficulty of getting beyondthe borders of the concrete sprawl andinto the countryside.Since I don’t have ready access to a car,I look forward to the opportunities to visitfriends, or travel back to Ireland. I hanker afterthe isolation of Donegal when the interminablehigh-pitched sounds of emergency vehicles remindme that I’m in the third largest city ofthe U.S. And yet, at other times, I find thesediscordant sounds comforting.As I have slowly assimilated to the <strong>American</strong>way of life, my views of belonging seem tobe in a state of flux. There are times when bothfeet are firmly grounded on North <strong>American</strong>soil, while at other times, the complexities anddifferences of both Ireland and the U.S strugglefor dominancy. None of us like to live with innerturmoil, and we all seek to silence the innervoices that trouble us, since the ideal is to be atpeace with oneself. I say ‘ideal,’ but in reality,I’m inclined tothink that this isa myth.For when Iwas living inIreland, I was athome, but notquite. I movedfrom Derry, a population of just over 100,000,to Buncrana, a small seaside town in Donegal.The idea presented itself to me that it was timeto retreat from the city and into the comfortingarms of the environs of Lough Swilly.I had had enough of city life and now itwas time to become one with the harmonioustones of nature. Before I moved, I had plannedto walk every day along the beautiful banksof the Lake of Shadows. This was the holidayspot for my family. It held precious memoriesof playing on the beach and eating a stick ofrock (candy). And, if I needed the impressionsof the city, Derry was only fourteen miles away.I could have the best of both worlds.My first few days in Buncrana were busywith unpacking, getting acquainted with livingin the Republic of Ireland, as opposed to aBritish Northern Ireland. It was quite exciting,and I was enthusiastic about this new phase inmy life.Getting a broadband connection installed inthe house would give me access to email etc.The first week passed by quickly. There wasa lot to do, and even though I hadn’t walkedalong the banks of the Swilly, I would, oncemy life settled down. One of the disadvantagesof moving from a more populous area is thelack of conveniences. But I was convinced theBlake-LambFuneral Homes4727 W. 103rd StreetOak Lawn IL 60453All phones: 708-636-1193Owned by SCI Illinois Services, Inc.trade-off was worth it.Becoming starved of Internet connectivitywas beginning to show. By the second week asmy trips into the city became more frequent.When finally the man came to set me up withmy lifeline link to the greater cyber community,he greeted me with these words. ‘Whaton under God brought you to this hell hole!’ Iwondered if he could see the disappointmentin my face.Inside, I was trying desperately to stick myfinger in the hole in the dam, hoping to stallthe inevitable deluge. It was no use, I couldsee the cracks in my quest for utopia beginningto show. This local began to tell me about howmean spirited my neighbours were, warnedme about trusting any of them, and offer hissagely wisdom as to how to survive living ina hell hole.Faced with such cynicism, I tried re-constructingmy nostalgic, somewhat romanticreminiscences of this childhood haven, but itwas no good. There was something in his rubbingmy nose in his grubby reality that was reallygetting up my nostrils. The people in thetown did appear quite cliquish. There was nodoubt that I would be always the outsider, ‘theDerry wan.’Before coming to Chicago, I lived in Buncranafor two years and during that time Ifound myself with a foot in either camp. Thebeauty of the Inishshowen peninsula, the incrediblebeauty of south Donegal, and comfortingsense of isolation was all mine, but itwas not enough. I was at home, but not quite.Half my time was spent visiting friends andfamily in Derry, returning in the evening alongthe shores of the Swilly. As time when on, Iknew that what I was experiencing was simplythe longing for the grass on the other side.In some ways the experience has helped meunderstand my life here. I seek out what I thinkI’m missing on the internet, trawling through<strong>Irish</strong> newspaper sites to get a sense of home.And while I enjoy the occasional encounterwith a fellow countryman/woman, or the moreelaborate <strong>Irish</strong> fest, I am aware of the dangersof becoming an ex-pat with a thirst for sentimentalism.But still it offers me a sense of being athome. And there are times when the whole celebrationof being <strong>Irish</strong> diminishes my sense ofconnection since it seems exaggerated. What Ihave discovered is that the feeling of being athome, but not quite is with us wherever we are.It’s a part of our human condition.Good Morning IrelandRadio’s ”An <strong>Irish</strong> Party”The Good Morning Ireland Radio Show willhost an “<strong>Irish</strong> Party” in the Erin Ballroom at the<strong>Irish</strong> <strong>American</strong> Heritage Center, 4626 N. KnoxAve. in Chicago, from 7pm-midnight on Saturday,<strong>September</strong> 24th, <strong>2011</strong>. Proceeds from this event gotowards off-setting the costs of producing the GoodMorning Ireland Radio Show with a portion also goingtowards the St. Patrick’s Missionary Fathers.The Good MorningIreland Radio Show isbroadcast LIVE on Saturdaysfrom 1:05-3pmon 1450 AM WCEV. Itfeatures weekly LIVEnews reports with RTE’sEileen MagnierTommy MarrenEileen Magnier—thenorthwestern correspondentfor Ireland’s State Broadcaster. The weeklysports report is presented by Tommy Marren fromMid West Radio in Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo—one ofIreland’s Top Independent Radio Stations.The “<strong>Irish</strong> Party”fundraising event willfeature special guestsand musical acts fromIreland including EileenMagnier, Tommy Marrenand one of Connemara’stop musical groups “Cillian.”Local entertainerswill also include Country& <strong>Irish</strong> singing star John Staunton, originally fromWestport in County Mayo, Ireland, and he’ll bejoined by that great Sligo man John Kivlehan,collectively known as the “Two Johnnies.” There’llalso be other special guests. Newly crowned worldtitle holder professional boxer Henry Coyle willlend his support, as will highly accomplished SeanNós Dancer Brian Cunningham, who will enthrallguests with a “not to be missed” Sean Nós danceperformance! The ticket price is $35.While the event may be a fundraiser, it’s alsoa party! A party that will hopefully bring peopletogether from right across the <strong>Irish</strong> communityin Chicago for a great time, and at the same timeprovide a unique opportunity to support <strong>Irish</strong> radioprogramming in Chicago. There are various costsassociated with the production and airing of theshow, and the added costs of providing news andsports reports live from Ireland from such highlyregarded professionals as Eileen Magnier & TommyMarren. If you enjoy the program, if you appreciatethe content and the effort that goes into the program;this is your opportunity to support it. Part of whatthe program does is to help various charitable, cultural,social and sporting organizations to publicizetheir various events. It’s a community service that isand should be FREE to all the great organizationsout there that do so much for and on behalf of the<strong>Irish</strong> community. With help and support they cancontinue to provide this public service at NO cost.Of course, if you just want to come alongbecause it’s going to be the biggest and best <strong>Irish</strong>party ever… that’s fine too!Tickets are available at the box office at the<strong>Irish</strong> <strong>American</strong> Heritage Center, 773-282-7035.For more information contact Sean Ginnelly224-715-8292. To sponsor a raffle prize contactBernie Heveran at 773-501-9457.
<strong>September</strong> <strong>2011</strong> <strong>Irish</strong> <strong>American</strong> <strong>News</strong> “We’ve Always Been Green!” 33Celtic Thunder’s DVD/CD Storm & Fall TourCeltic Thunder’s vibrant and enthralling newrelease Storm delves into a different aspect ofthe past, the struggle for land and security andacceptance. The magnitude of the show’s set combinedwith the creative musical arrangements andengaging choreography makefor a compelling experienceall around. Both the new CDand DVD will be availableeverywhere <strong>September</strong> 20thon Decca.In support of their previousrelease Heritage and PublicTelevision Special of thesame name, this acclaimedshow will crisscross the U.S.in 45 cities this Fall. Stormis a turbulent, raucous battlebetween the darkness of gypsiesand the resolution of thesettlers, both fighting for thesame piece of land. The gypsieshave inhabited the landfor generations and the settlers are looking to putdown roots and build their community. <strong>Irish</strong> cultureand tradition permeate throughout the stage.Since the airing of their first Public Televi-sion special in 2008, Celtic Thunder consistentlyremains one of the most popular musical acts forthe network. Storm was filmed alongside It’s Entertainmentat the Toronto International Centre Hall5 in Toronto, Ontario. Their 60-minute DVD wasshot in high definition with a15-camera multi directionalshoot and exceptionally highproduction values, and willinclude exciting special featuresand additional bonusmaterial.Midwest Tour Dates: 10/6,Cincinnati, OH, Taft Theatre;10/18, Kansas City, KS, MidlandTheater; 10/20, <strong>2011</strong> St. Louis,MO, Fox Theatre; 10/22, Denver,CO, The Paramount; 12/6,Cleveland, OH, Palace Theatre; 12/7, Detroit, MI, Fox Theatre;12/9, Kalamazoo, MI, MillerAuditorium; 12/10, Minneapolis,MN, State Theatre; 12/11,Chicago, IL, Rosemont (Matinee Show Only); Dec 13,<strong>2011</strong> Duluth, MN, Event Centre; 12/15, Bloomington,IL, Bloomington PAC.celticthunder.com. www.deccarecords-us.com.
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