May 2011 - Irish American News

www.iannews.comMay • 2011Chicago’sFirst Family of Irish RadioJack, Denise and Ed Hagerty... 36Ireland Network... 44Hall of Fame Gala... 16 - 17Daniel O’Donnell... 33

May 2011 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” 33rd Annual Fore Art Golf OutingThe 3rd Annual Fore Art GolfOuting will be held on Monday,June 27th, starting at 11am withLunch, and a 12:30pm shotgunstart at the Ridge Country Club,10522 S. California, in Chicago.Fees include lunch, dinner, cocktails,cart, contests and golf. Theevent funds fine arts programsat the not-for-profit Beverly ArtsCollins Engineers, IncTen Years in IrelandAs 2010 drew to a close, economicconditions in Ireland were certainlynot the best. Undeterred, ChicagobasedCollins Engineers, Inc., showingits confidence in a recovery,moved forward with its plans to opena second office in Belfast.Collins opened its first Irelandoffice in Dublin in 2001. Since thattime, by hiring locally, Collins hasdeveloped an Irish staff with expertisein transportation structures andunderwater engineering, mirroringthe capabilities of Collins’ servicesoffered in the United States.Collins, a thirty-year-old civil/structural consulting engineeringfirm with twelve offices throughoutthe United States, specializes in thedesign and construction inspectionof bridges and waterfront structures,and the inspection and evaluation ofexisting structures. One of the uniqueservices offered by Collins is underwaterinspections using engineer-divers.Collins has over fifty engineersin the U.S. and Ireland who are alsodivers. www.collinsengr.com.Curtin ClanGathers in ChicagoThe Curtin Clan Inc. will hold itsseventh Clan Gathering in Chicago, June24th-26th, 2011, at the Irish AmericanHeritage Center, 2626 N. Knox Ave.Come and enjoy Curtin genealogy,Irish heritage, local speakers and meetMargaret Curtain of Australia, world’sforemost authority on the Curtins of Ireland.(More details at http://curtin.org.)Among the many highlights is Saturday’sBi-annual Banquet for all Curtinswho have come far and wide with musicby the Chancey Brothers. Sunday eventsinclude socializing at the Crowne Plazafor breakfast and for those who wish,Mass at the historic Old St. Patrick’sChurch, listed on the National Registerof Historic Places.Attend the entire program or just thebanquet—registration applications andaccommodation information can befound at http://curtin.org.For more info contact Dan Curtin, atcurtinclan@berk.com.Center. Registration deadline isJune 4. Information/registration,Kate Coughlin, 773-445-3838ext. 206 or kicoughlin@comcast.net.Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W.111th St. (111th Street south onWestern), Chicago. 773-445-3838, www.beverlyartcenter.org.UW-Milwaukee Center for Celtic StudiesThe Center for Celtic Studiesat the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has announced theirFall 2001 Courses. The Centeroffers a wide range of courseand research topics relating tocultures—both historical andmodern—that share Celtic influence:the early Continental Celtsand the Breton, Cornish, Galician,Irish, Manx, Scots, and Welshpeoples.Students can concentrate theirstudies on the Celtic languages,both spoken and written, or theymay choose to investigate thebroader themes of the Celticworld, such as art, archaeology,literature, history, folklore, musicand myth.Students who wish to earntheir Certificate in Celtic Studiesshould note that Fall is the onlysemester that Celtic 133: CelticCrossings, which is required toreceive the certificate, is offered.Visit http://www4.uwm.edu/celtic/ for a full listing of courseofferings.Email John Gleeson atgleeson@uwm.edu for moreinfo.

4 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” May 2011(ISSN #1085-4053) USPS #013454May 2011 Vol. XXxV 05PERIODICALCover Photo by Cathy CurryFounderBob BurnsPublisherCliff CarlsonEditorial Assistant/Art DirectorJoyce EdwardsAdvertising SalesNancy MoorePhotographerCathy Curry - Senior PhotographerPatricia Brach -Staff PhotographerStacy McReynolds - Staff PhotographerEditorial InternKatey MitchellColumns and ReviewsBooks & Theatre - Frank WestTheatre - Terrence BoyleSenior Trad Music Editor -Bill MargesonHealy Law - Martin HealyMick - Mike MorleySafe Home - Heather BegleyChicago Gaelic News - Pat HennessyA Word With Monsignor Boland -Msgr. Michael BolandIrish Musings - Fr. Michael LeonardHooliganism - Mike HoulihanIrish Diaspora - Charles BradyFor The Republic - Chris FogartyFrom the Motherland - Sean FarrellSwimming Upstream - Charles BradyCareers - James Fitzgerald, CPARaised on Songs & Stories - Shay ClarkeReel Jiggy - Deirdre KozickiBoyle The Kettle - Tom BoyleHoroscopes - Theresa CastroIrish Rover - Jim McClurePiping it In - Jack BakerReal Ireland - Rachel GaffneySpoirts - Mary Margaret O’LearyDaly Investor - John Daly CFPCeltic Traveller - Maureen CallahanCrowley on Kells - Frank CrowleyMeehall Recalls - Michael CarrollWebsite - Cathy CurryIrish News, Inc. is publishedmonthly on the 1st of monthSubscriptionFirst class deliveryFastest! Delivered in envelope1 year $ 35 2 year $ 65 3 year $ 90Regular delivery1 year $ 30 2 year $ 55 3 year $ 75Canada 1year $ 35 2 year $ 60International: 1 year $ 85(Periodicals Postage Paid atPalatine, IL.) Postmaster:Send address changes toIrish News, Inc.7115 W North Ave #327Oak Park, il 60302708-445-0700e-mail to:editor@irishamericannews.comPUBLISHERS STATEMENTThe opinions and statementsexpressed in this newspaper areentirely those of the authors, and donot reflect in any way the opinionsof Irish American News.Distribution20,013Greek Drama and Irish TheatreGreek drama has influenced theatreof the Western World for over2,500 years! And, it directly influenced32 modern Irish plays.That influence is the focus of thisbook, Irish Appropriation of GreekTragedy, by Brian Arkins.Greek plays (really Athenian plays)were written to honor the God, Dionysus.Greeks believed he was one ofthe twelve Gods on Mount Olympus.He was the God of the energy of life,or the life force, and he encouragedagricultural and human fertility. Hewas the God who protected theatre.He was also the God of masks used inGreek theatres to project a character’spersonality, or persona.For many hundreds of years Greekscelebrated the death and resurrectionof Dionysus. They believed that eachSpring the God died, triumphed overdeath. Forty-one plays written tohonor Dionysus survive. They werewritten by playwrights who competedfor prize money, and for the greathonor of having their play chosen.Those plays still have a powerfulinfluence on today’s Irish theatre.The book has an excellent anduseful introduction, index and bibliography.Everything has been carefullyfootnoted. The footnotes are neatlytucked behind each chapter.Brian Atkins, the author, is Professorof Classics at National Universityof Ireland, Galway. He earned a PhDin Latin, and authored ten books withGreek and Roman themes.These are other things that caughtmy attention.Webster says: a tragedy is “a seriousplay with an unhappy ending.”Dionysus represents “everythingthat escapes human reason and canonly be attributed to the unforeseeableaction of the Gods.”The life force, or energy of Dionysusrepresented freedom to theancients.The function of the chorus inGreek plays was to ask questions ofthe wealthy and powerful in the play.If there was a great king, or wealthyperson on the stage, the chorus mightask, “What about ordinary people?”or “Do you care only about wealthand power?”Irish Appropriation of GreekTragedy by Frian Arkins. CaryfortPress and DuFour Editions, ChesterSprings, PA 2010. 149 pages, $33.95.info@dufoureditions.com,There is aPlace for FantasyThis book is the result of a lifetime’sdevotion and work. The author,Patricia Lynch, devoted her life tocollecting Irish stories and legends.She also wrote the pamphlet,Rebel Ireland. This was her famouseye-witness account of the Easter,1916 events in Dublin.Lynch was born in 1898, andpassed away in 1972. She was thevery prolific author of fifty novels,and 200 short stories. Lynch’s writingwas rich with the enchantment andmagic of Irish history and culture.She describes the robust heroictale of Cuchulain (soundslike Cuhullin) to the humorousstory of the Kingdom of theDwarves.Tales of Irish Enchantment is alarge 8.5 by 11.5 inch book filledwith Irish stories and legends. It isAndrea Beaton & Nuala Kennedy in MilwaukeeWith their furiousfiddling, enchantingflute, gorgeous singingand high-energystep dancing, AndreaBeaton and Nuala Kennedywill bring seriousgirl power to the IrishCultural and HeritageCenter, 2133 W. WisconsinAve., in Milwaukee,on Saturday, May21, at 7:30pm. BackingBeaton and Kennedyon guitar is Louis-Charles Vigneaufrom Canada’s Prince Edward Islandband Vishtèn.Pre-concert music in Quinlan’s Pubfrom 6:30-7:15pm will be performedby Atlantic Wave. One of SoutheastWisconsin’s most popular Celtic bands,their style is built around the harmonizingfiddles of Kaitlin Hahn and EdPaloucek with lead vocals and guitarAndrea Beatonby Barry Houlehenand additional vocalsand percussion by JohnKarr.Originally from Irelandand now livingin Scotland, Kennedycombines traditionaland original materialfrom both countries ina musically dynamicway and is recognizedfor her eclectic crossgenrework.Coming from Cape Breton’s extraordinarymusical tradition as wellas generations of musical Beatonsand MacMasters (well-known fiddlerNatalie MacMaster is a cousin), Beatonis making a name for herself with thepower of her bow, the drive and swingof her timing, and the crispness of herattack.Beaton, Kennedy and Vigneau willaccompanied with bold, colorfulillustrations.Her children’s fiction rangesover various genres, fantasy,realism and historical fiction. Itportrays Ireland as a place ofstrange happenings and enchantments.Robert Dunbar, of Children’sBooks Ireland, says about this bookfirst published in 1952, that “Irelandmay have changed almost beyondrecognition, and development ofchildren’s literature over the past fewdecades may have taken its youngreaders into the unexpected domains,but the human need for magic, formiracle, for enchantment, remainsperhaps more than ever—and PatriciaLynch’s stories provide all threein abundance.”Tales of Irish Enchantment byPatricia Lynch. Mercier Press andDuFour Editions. Chester Springs,PA, 2011. 208 pages; $29.95. info@dufoureditions.com.present workshops in fiddle, flute/whistle, guitar and Cape Breton songand step dance during two sessionsfrom 1-3:45pm on May 21 at the ICHC.Nuala KennedyThe fee is $25 for each workshop or$40 for two with discounts for groupsof five or more. For information and toregister, call (262) 370-3686 or e-mailkaitlinhahn@earthlink.net.Tickets for the show are $19 in advanceand $23 the day of concert withdiscounts for students and groups. Toorder visit www.ichc.net or call 414-345-8800.

May 2011 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” 5Liz Carroll Wins TG4 Trad Composer of the Year 2011Born in Chicago to Irishparents, Liz Carroll hasbeen composing sincechildhood.Her tunes can now beheard worldwide in traditionalIrish music performanceand have been recordedby countless artistsand groups.As well as being nominatedfor a Grammy award forher album, she publishedher compositions in a bookthat is already a classic.An esteemed championfiddler as well as a prolificand versatile composer, the2011 TG4 Cumadóir na Bliana is LizCarroll.The 2011 awards were presented andrecorded at a gala concert in WexfordOpera House on April 2nd and broadcaston Irish TV on Easter Sunday.World Premiere ofThe Outgoing TideNorthlight Theatre, located at theNorth Shore Center for the PerformingArts, 9501 Skokie Blvd. in Skokie,will present the World Premiere of TheOutgoing Tide, by Bruce Graham, fromMay 12-June 19, 2011.In a summer cottage on ChesapeakeBay, Gunner has hatched an unorthodoxplan to secure his family’s futurebut meets with resistance from his wifeand son, who have plans of their own.As winter approaches, the three mustquickly find common ground and cometo an understanding-before the tidegoes out. This new drama, featuringNorthlight favorite Tony, Emmy andGolden Globe nominee John Mahoney,perhaps best known for his role onFrasier, hums with dark humor andpowerful emotion.847-673-6300; northlight.org.May 8th isMother’sDay!Sunday,May 8thSpecial Mother’s Day Dinner MenuAll Includea Free Mimosa for Moms!

6 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” May 2011SnippetsObama’s VisitAs you read this offering, presidentObama is making final plansfor his well publicized trip to Irelandthis month. So, what can we expectfrom this trip? The trip is certainlymeant to maintain the good relationsbetween our two countries. It is alsonot lost on our political commentators,that Irish born or more accurately,people of Irish ancestry makeup approximately 40 million of theUS population. That is a significantnumber given that Irish-Americanshave always played an importantrole in political life in this country.Therefore, as Obama pursues his pathto seek a second term as President, itis seen by many pundits as an effortto seek the lion’s share of the Irish-American vote.From Ireland’s perspective, thevisit of President Obama is anotheropportunity to, in the words of EndaKenny: “Send a clear message tothe world, that Ireland is open forMARY ELLEN CONSIDINEREALTOR GOLD MEDALLION ASSOCIATEOffice 773/769-2500Voice Mail 773/564-4250Fax 773/769-2841KELLER WILLIAMSLincoln SquareR E A L T Y2156 W. Montrose, Chicago, IL 60618Each Office Is Independently Owned And OperatedHeather A. BegleyProudly servingthe Irish communitybusiness.” That business is aboveall a huge effort by the coalitiongovernment, to create employment.With the insistence of the Kennyadministration on keeping the rateof corporate tax at 12.5%, it is hopedthat Ireland will continue to be an attractiveplace for US business to setup shop. Ireland is an ideal “gateway”to the EU and has much to offer interms of infrastructure to companieswishing to invest particularly in theareas of research and development.Ireland also has a very well educatedworkforce, especially in the fields ofscience and technology.E-3 Visa AgreementReading the Irish papers in recentmonths, one can’t fail to notice thecontinuing impact of the new waveof emigration. This is particularlytrue in towns and villages west of theShannon. Communities struggle asthe best and brightest leave in numbersnot seen since the 1980’s.From a US-Ireland relationshipMULTIMILLIONDOLLARCLUBThe Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Krollrepresents individuals and families in personal injuryand wrongful death matters including, motorvehicle collisions, construction negligence,work related injuries and medicalmalpractice.10 S. LaSalle St., Suite 3702, Chicago, Illinois 60603phone: (312)676-7222 fax: (312)849-2030heather@kroll-lawfirm.comWebsite: www.kroll-lawfirm.com Blog: www.chicagoaccidentinjurylawyer.compoint of view, efforts are beingdiscussed to find a new program todeal with this reality. Even when theeconomy in Ireland was doing well,there remained the demand for workvisas to the US. That demand is nowmore urgent once again. Young Irishcitizens continue to come in searchof employment. In the pre-9/11 world,it was easy for the Irish to blendin and build a future here, even asundocumented workers. That is nolonger the case, and in order that wecan have an orderly and legal meansof dealing with the current reality, itis necessary to find a framework forthis to happen. I would hope thatthe Irish government would use theObama trip as the perfect opportunityto sign such an agreement while thePresident is in Ireland.The timing is right, the need isurgent and we urge the Irish governmentto do everything in its power tomake this happen.Hearingson Capitol HillThe House Judiciary Committeeheld a hearing last month on the H1BVisa program. The hearing was not ofgreat value in that it amounted to a“talking shop” style exercise. As oneof my friends would put it, “there wasmuch hot air, but no real substance.”These hearings are useful in thatthey can highlight the inadequaciesin the present system. My difficultywith hearings on immigration topicsis this, why waste taxpayer’s time onhighlighting the obvious? Anywaywho has taken the time to study theissue knows what’s wrong with oursystem. The time for talking is longpast. What we need is to have ourelected officials grasp the nettle andoffer real solutions.In the past couple of months weagain see states trying to fix the problemsof our broken system on a localbasis. I applaud the legislators fortheir efforts, but again this is a wasteof taxpayer dollars. Immigration is afederal issue and the only way to fixit is on a national basis.The approval rates for politiciansare at an historic low and this includesthe ratings for Congress as awhole. It is easy to understand whypeople are frustrated at the inabilityof our elected leaders to actuallywork for the common good. As Iprepare to submit this offering, theleadership of the House and Senateare locked in discussions to avert agovernment closedown. And the sadthing is this; both parties are lookingat and putting an enormous effort intohow to explain their failure to reachan agreement on the budget to thegeneral public. The next part is soobvious that it is pathetic; each sideis going to put all their efforts intohow they can place the blame on theother. One man’s suggestion to merecently was comical, but maybe it iscrazy enough to work. He proposedlocking the doors on Congress, feedthe elected officials bread and water,give them ten days to solve their differencesand come out with a workablecompromise.GolfI’m happy to announce that ourAnnual Golf Outing will be hosted atSt. Andrew’s Golf & Country Club inWest Chicago. The cost is the sameas last year $100 per person. Thisincludes, Green Fees, Golf Cart withGPS and dinner. The prizes will beup to our usual high standard. Shouldyou wish to sponsor the event, take anad in our book or play, please contactthe C.I.I.S. office at 773-282-8445,or Paul Treacy at 312-907-4440, ormyself in whatever way you please.On the topic of sponsorship, weare most grateful to all those whocame out in such big numbers for ourAnnual Dinner Dance on April 2nd.All had a great night as we honoredthe great Pat Noonan.Words ofGreat WisdomThe Native American Code ofEthics1. Rise with the sun to pray. Prayalone. Pray often. The Great Spiritwill listen, if you only speak.2. Be tolerant of those who arelost on their path. Ignorance, conceit,anger, jealousy and greed stem froma lost soul. Pray that they will findguidance.3. Search for yourself, by yourself.Do not allow others to make yourpath for you. It is your road, andyours alone. Others may walk it withyou, but no one can walk it for you.4. Treat the guests in your homewith much consideration. Servethem the best food, give them thebest bed and treat them with respectand honor.5. Do not take what is not yourswhether from a person, a community,the wilderness or from a culture. Ifit was not earned or given, it is notyours.6. Respect all things that areplaced upon this earth—whether itbe people or plant.7. Honor other people’s thoughts,wishes and words. Never interruptanother or mock or rudely mimicthem. Allow each person the right topersonal expression.8. Never speak of others in a badway. The negative energy that you putout into the universe will multiplywhen it returns to you.9. All persons make mistakes. Andall mistakes can be forgiven.10. Bad thoughts cause illness ofthe mind, body and spirit. Practiceoptimism.11. Nature is not FOR us, it is aPART of us. They are part of yourworldly family.12. Children are the seeds of ourfuture. Plant love in their hearts andwater them with wisdom and life’slessons. When they are grown, givethem space to grow.13. Avoid hurting the hearts ofothers. The poison of your pain willreturn to you.14. Be truthful at all times. Honestyis the test of ones will withinthis universe.15. Keep yourself balanced. YourMental self, Spiritual self, Emotionalself, and Physical self—all need tobe strong, pure and healthy. Workout the body to strengthen the mind.Grow rich in spirit to cure emotionalails.16. Make conscious decisions asto who you will be and how you willreact. Be responsible for your ownactions.17. Respect the privacy and personalspace of others. Do not touchthe personal property of others—especiallysacred and religious objects.This is forbidden.18. Be true to yourself first. Youcannot nurture and help others ifyou cannot nurture and help yourselffirst.19. Respect others religious beliefs.Do not force your belief onothers.20. Share your good fortune withothers. Participate in charity.Should you have any comments,suggestions or questions please feefree to contact me at 773 282 8445or sliabhanoir@yahoo.com.

A Chairde:Irish Fest on Memorial weekend is always welcomedby the Irish-American community in the Midwest as thefirst sign that Summer fun is here. 2011 is the 25th GaelicPark Irish Fest and Festival Chairman Frank Bradley andhis committee have put together a remarkable programover 4 days that has something for everybody.Irish Fest at Gaelic Park is a family affair; it is a joy to seea second generation of young families come to “ThePark” to share and create memories with their youngand not so young children. The child in all of us is stirredby the sights and sounds of a carnival, a feature thatis unique to our Fest. The initial entry fee covers unlimitedcarnival rides, so parents never have to say “no”when little Johnny requests just one more ride on thebumper cars. A tent dedicated to shows and entertainmentfor the wee folk gives Mom and Dad a chance torecharge their batteries. Gaelic Park over 25 years hasintroduced many entertainers to Chicago and this yearRonan Tynan makes his debut at Irish Fest. The full lineupis available elsewhere on these pages and many Festfavorites are back again. At Gaelic Park we recognizethat bringing in top class entertainment on a variety ofstages and making it affordable is a priority. I recommendyou visit www.Chicagogaelicpark.org where youwill find a link to purchase one day tickets for $10 or a4-day weekend pass for $25, and as always parking isfree. Irish Fest at Gaelic Park would not be possible withoutthe commitment of our directors, past and present,our volunteers and our staff, and we are very proud tooffer this wonderful weekend of celebrating all that isIrish to everybody in the Midwest.John Devitt, PresidentPerforming Arts Stage Irish Festhas a full schedule planned for yourenjoyment on each day of the Fest, presentedby many different theatre groups.Friday evening the performances runfrom 6pm to 9pm; Saturday/Sunday12:30pm to 8pm; Monday 1pm to 5:30pm.Check the exact times for each theatregroup when you arrive at the Fest—youwon’t want to miss one of these fabulousperformances!NEW FOR FEST 2011Special 25th ANNIVERSARYOnline Admission Prices!Four exciting days of thetop Irish entertainment onsix lively stages all for onelow admission price—rainor shine! Admission ticketsinclude unlimited amusementrides by SpectacularMidways!$25 for 4 DAY Weekend Pass$10 Daily Admission13-65 years of age$ 8 Daily Admissionunder 12/over 65No refunds-Non transferable.Photo ID required at admissionwill call.See web site for details www.chicagogaelicpark.org.Chicago Feis will takeplace at Gaelic Park onMonday, May 30th from 9amto 3pm. The competitions willcommence in the Emeraldand Tara rooms with over 400competitors. No stages willbe outside. The entry Fee is$10 for each adult from 7amuntil noon, which includesthe Festival and all carnivalrides.

Memorial DayWeekend 2011Celebrating 25 Years of Irish Fest on Six StagesGaelic Storm will be performingon the main stage Sunday and Mondaynights, with their compelling originalsand fresh arrangements steeped inCeltic traditional melody combined withtheir unique blend of world rhythms. Theband takes a distinct pride in the factthat its music and performances are acelebration of Irish culture as well as amedium ofconnection for many of the 36 millionIrish-Americans. Yet, while Gaelic Stormplays Celtic music that hearkens backto the traditional music of Ireland, theyare hardly traditionalists, adding modernsounds and drawing influencesfrom American rock and pop as wellas music styles from around the world.At the center of the band are PatrickMurphy (Cork, Ireland) and Steve Twigger(Coventry, England). As the mainsinger, accordion player and residentIrishman, Murphy is generally the recognizableface of the band and his knackfor storytelling is the inspiration for manyof the band’s songs. Guitarist and vocalist,Twigger is the primary songwriter inthe band and produced Cabbage, withco-production by percussionist RyanLacey (Pasadena, CA), who has beena member of the band since 2003. Pipesand whistle player Peter Purvis (Ottawa,Canada) joined Gaelic Storm in2004 and violinist Jessie Burns (Suffolk,England) came onboard in 2007. Theband talks of good times for both theband and its fans at the concerts andafter, but the truefoundation of whatkeeps Gaelic Stormgoing is the ongoingcomradeshipamongst the group.Gaelic Storm has hadseven Billboard Charttopping albums,song placementon two EA SportsGames, andcountless televisionand radioappearances.Gaelic Storm hassold out hundredsof theatresand performingarts centers andhas played to audiences totalingin the millions and there are officialvideos and heaps of fan-posted liveYouTube clips (often with the crowdsinging as loud as the band). Cabbageis the band’s seventh studioalbum and the fourth on their ownlabel Lost Again Records. Followingthe path of the band’s 2008 release,What’s The Rumpus?, Cabbagedebuted at #1 on the BillboardWorld Chart, additionally peakingat #14 on the iTunes overall AlbumChart and #11 on the Billboard IndependentAlbum Chart. www.facebook.com/GaelicStormhttp://www.gaelicstorm.com.Ronan Tynan, truly a modernday “Renaissance Man”, will beappearing at Gaelic Park on Sundayevening. Faced with numerouschallenges throughout his well documentedlife, he has perseveredwith enormous passion and determination.Introduced to internationalaudiences as a member ofthe Irish Tenors, Tynan quickly becameknown for his unique voiceand irresistible appeal. Followinghis mother’s advice to always followyour dreams, Tynan decidedto launch a solo career, and hasachieved the fame and adorationthat could have existed only in thefarthest reaches of his dreams.gaelic storm ronan tynan leahy de danann tartan terrors declan nerney feniansamerican english infinity girsa sean wilson liz carroll sandcarvers 7th heaven four courtscrossroads chicago reel red rebel county kathleen keane tommy goodwin&sharon larkin moranbernie glim country roads joe cullen baal tinne irish musicians gerard haughey sean o’donnellshannon rovers emerald society joe mcshane ray gavin solid-aire character fleadho’learys lantern week back celtic sounds patrick guinee pat daly mulligan stew sean&charlieirish music club pat finnegan billy o’donaghue murphy roche

Memorial DayWeekend 2011Celebrating 25 Years of Irish Fest on Six StagesThe hotlist of contemporaryIrish musicians will be in OakForest over the MemorialWeekend for the 25th Anniversaryof Chicago GaelicPark’s Irish Fest.This emeraldextravaganza brings thebest of contemporary (andtraditional) Irish headlinersto six exciting stages, May27-30.To celebrate the Fest’s25th anniversary a specialfour-day discount pass for$25 is available at Chicago-GaelicPark.org through May26.This Chicago tradition alsofeatures full carnival rides,on-site parking, specialevents for children, Gaelicfootball and hurling, Ceilingdancing, ponies anddraught horses, dog exhibits,shopping and Irish culturalexhibits all surrounded byfood, refreshments andgreat fun.But, its the collectionof contemporary musicheadliners that fills the airand makes this one of America’spremier Irish festivals.Tartan TerrorsTaking the Celtic scene bystorm, the Tartan Terrorscombine music and comedywith championship dancing,world class bagpipingand driving drums to deliveran energetic and all-aroundunforgettable performance.Members of the TartanTerrors have performed atprestigious Festivals in fourdifferent continents, at HighlandGames and Theatres ofNorth America, for PresidentClinton, Queen Elizabeth IIand Good Morning America.If ever there was a bandwhose members make upa potent body of music, it isThe Fenians.The Fenians arean electrifying Irish musicalquintet from Orange County,CA offering a mix of theiroriginal creations, and contemporaryand traditionalsongs.Their foundation isdecidedly Celtic, but thereis no mistaking the influenceof Rock, Folk, Bluegrass, Jazzand World influences.TheFenians have garnered animpressive list of accomplishmentsand honors and wereinducted into the GuinnessWall of Fame.Infinity proudly returns toIrish Fest.Infinity continues tobreak attendance recordsat Clubs and Festivals acrossthe Midwest.Their high energyperformance, powerfulvocals and song list makefor a memorable concert.But more importantly, theymaintain the unique abilityto engage crowds andmake audiences feel part ofthe show.American English takes thatstage again this year.Thisperennial favorite is hailedas the best Beatles tributeband having been featuredon WGN, CBS, FOX, 190North, The Travel Channel,BBC, ABC and NBC.TheBeatles concert experienceis recreated to the finest detail,including the signaturemop-top hair, accents andcostumes.Making their debut at IrishFest this year, Red RebelCounty is a ten person tourde force paying tribute totheir Irish heritage and rockroots.What these Chicagosouth-siders originally intendedas musical fun quicklybanded into a solid musicalunit performing all acrossthe city in clubs and specialevents.With their classic‘Chicago Blue Collar’ sound,they bring energy, enthusiasmand hard-working musicianshipto their live shows.Like Irish Fest, Chicago’s own7th Heaven also celebrateda 25th Anniversary.They’vehad a great year on theBillboard Charts with tworeleases in 2010; performedat Soldier Field with Bon Jovi;received coverage on TV’sABC, NBC, FOX and WGNand charted the hit “BetterThis Way” at #2 amongChicago radio stations.Milwaukees own, TheSandcarvers, deliver someof the best Celtic rock onthe planet.Their originalsongs tell stories from reallife by combining strong solovoices and vocal harmonieswith blistering instrumentalskills.They also put a wickedspin on Irish traditionals, thatwill make you laugh, cry,think or forget—dependingon your mood.In addition to scorchinghot contemporary performancesthe Fest will alsohighlight traditional Irishheadliners including, RonanTynan, well-known as oneof the Irish Tenors, Leahy, DeDanann, Declan Nerney &His Band, Chicago Reel, TheFour Courts, Kathleen Keane,Girsa, Sean Wilson, Larkin& Moran Brothers, TommyGoodwin & Sharon and LizCarroll.There are plenty of otheroutstanding performers atChicago Gaelic Parks IrishFest, including, CrossroadsCeili Band, Bernie Glim &Country Roads, Joe Cullen& Kathleen Keane, BaalTinne. Irish Musicians, GerardHaughey & Sean O’Donnell,Shannon Rovers Pipe Band,Pipes & Drums of The EmeraldSociety, Joe McShane,Ray Gavin Band, Solid-Aire,Gaelic StormDe DanannCharacter Fleadh, O’Leary’sLantern, Cira Walton &Friends, Week Back, CelticSounds, Patrick Guinee,Pat Daly & The Sounds ofGreen, Mulligan Stew, Sean& Charlie, Irish Music Clubof Chicago, Pat Finnegan &Billy O’Donoghue, MurphyRoche Irish Music Club, Girlsof Murphy Roche, and manymore!The special four-day $25anniversary discount pass,performance schedulesand other online ticket specialsare available onlineat www.chicagogaelicpark.org.Standarddailygate admission to all sixmusical stages, full carnivalmidway and on-siteparking is $15.Adults over65 years and kids under 12are only $12, and youngstersunder 3 years are free.There is an early admissiondiscount during the firsthour of each day.

GAA Collegiate Championships On Memorial Day Weekendwill see the first National Collegiate GAAChampionship at Gaelic Park. Universitystudents from all over thecountry will converge atGaelic Park for a weekendof matches. Two competitionswill be held. One willbe comprised of full teamsfrom the University of Californiaat Berkeley, IndianaUniversity and PurdueUniversity. These teams willplay a round robin formaton Saturday with the toptwo teams playing in theNational Collegiate Final on Sunday.Berkeley has won the California CollegiateGAA championship for the pasttwo years while Indiana and Purduewill face off on April 30th in the MidwestFinal. The second competition will bea best of three between an East Selectteam and a West Select. Two matcheswill be played on Saturday with the thirdand final match being played on Sunday.A collegiate select team will alsotake the pitch against the 2010 NorthAmerican Junior C Hurling Champions,the Michael Cusack Hurling Club. Alsoon the schedule is a demonstration byMother’s Day Celtic Supperwill be a celebration of Mother’sDay on Sunday May 8th. Aspecial hot buffet dinner isplanned that includes prime riband boneless breast of chicken,with a separate buffet for thechildren. Dinner will be servedfrom 4pm to 7pm, and dancingto the music of John Dillon until9pm. Complimentary flowers willbe presented to all of the ladies.Reservations can be made bycalling 708.687.9323. The admissionprice is $21 for adults and$11 for children 12 and under.This will be the last Celtic Supperfor the season, resuming againin November. (The May 1 CelticSupper will have music by RayGavigan at the regular price ofthe Chicago Youth Board. Universityhurling clubs have taken off over thepast few years. So much sothat separate organizationswere formed in Californiaand the Midwestern UnitedStates. A meeting was heldin October 2009, bringingtogether university club representativesand membersof the larger GAA communityin the United States toform the National CollegiateGAA. This is a very excitingmoment in the historyof the sport in the United States. Therehave only been a handful of universityhurling clubs to exist since the foundingof the GAA in 1884. This competition illustratesnot only the growth of the sportbut also the dedication of administratorsand players alike in continuing Ireland’spastime. The schedule:SAT Afternoon12pm Berkeley v. IndianaSUN Afternoon12pm Cusacks v. CollegeSelect1:30 East v. West 1:00 Chicago Youth3:00 Purdue v. Berkeley 3:00 National CollegiateFinal4:30 East v. West 4:30 East v. West6:00 Indiana v. Purdue$16 for adults and $8 for childrenunder 12).Monthly Mass and Breakfastwill be held on Sunday, May 8that 10am with a delicious Irishbreakfast served following Mass.This will be the last Mass of theseason, and it will resume againon the second Sunday in October.Sunday Live Broadcasts (andover the internet) from 7-9pmfrom Gaelic Park by Harry Costelloe,Mary Hackett, and Mary Riordanon WCEV 1450 AM. Hear allthe week’s Irish news and sportsdirect from Ireland, and all thelatest events and goings on atGaelic Park. Call (708) 687-9330to request a song or dedication.Gaelic Park Hosts Ireland’s Top CoachesSaturday May 14th Gaelic Park will enjoy North America’s first ever coachingconference for GAA teams. From 9:30am to 4:30pm, the day will consist of fourguest speakers and practical sessions covering all aspects of coaching for all agegroups. Chicago’s Central Division Board has put an immense focus on youth developmentthis year with its new North American Youth Board. Along with manyadult teams, Chicago boasts three long standing youth teams throughout thecity. St. Jarlath’s, on the Southside, hosts practices on the Gaelic Park fields, whilethe North side contingent, run by Chicago Celtic Youth, play at Maryville Academyin Des Plaines. And the Windy City Gaels enjoy great participation fromchildren both in the City of Chicago and the Western suburbs. The Youth clubs allover Chicago land are starting practices, and are welcoming new players (boysand girls) from ages 6 to 18 to come out and play Gaelic Football and Hurling.The playing season will start in June and run till early August. Please contact TomSheehy with any inquiries at (773) 329-6263 or e-mail him at tom.sheehy.gda.central.usa@gaa.ie. The Patriots Gaelic Football Golf Outing is planned for May21st at Silver Lake Country club. The 18 holes of golf, with cart, lunch, dinner andprizes is just $100 per golfer. Contact John Barrett at (708) 525-6329 or chicagopatriotgmail.com.Greg Miller NAGAA Central Board PROEnjoy the Music & Spirit of the Irish in ourAuthentic Pub Imported Directly From Ireland.Open to the Public 7 Days Live Entertainment Every WeekendTraditional Irish Music Session on Thursdays – 7:30pmfeaturing students from the Irish Music School of ChicagoPub food available Monday - Saturday.Check out our menu items.Daily drink and food specials.MEMBERSHIPNEW ❏ RENEWAL ❏ ❏ Family Membership $50 ❏ Individual Member $30NAME ________________________________________________________last first initialSPOUSE (if joining) ______________________________________________last first initialADDRESS _____________________________________________________street city state zipPHONE: home _____________________ work ________________________E-Mail: _____________________________Donation Enclosed _____________Checks made payable to:Chicago Gaelic ParkMail to: Chicago Gaelic Park Membership Chairperson,6119 W. 147th St, Oak Forest IL 60452“Pub Trivia” EveryTuesday Night @ 7:30pmLive Music in the Pub5/06 Ploughboys Band5/07 John Dillon5/14 Ray Gavigan5/20 John Dillon5/21 Bernie Glim & Country RoadsThe Pub will not be open over theIrish Fest Memorial Day Weekend.Friday night entertainment begins at 7:30pmand Saturday night at 9:30pm.Check Website for Full Schedule6119 W. 147th Street • Oak Forest, IL708.687.9323www.chicagogaelicpark .org

12 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” May 2011Looking Up Old Relatives Is Easy In IrelandLiam Cassin On The Joys Of Genealogy And The Thrill Of Discovering Your Irish RootsWhen President Barack Obama travels hometo his ancestral village of Moneygall in CountyOffaly later this month he will be following inthe footsteps of millions of Irish Americansbefore him, tracing his lineage back to the oldsod. President Obama is not the first AmericanPresident with Irish roots. All in all 16 out ofthe 44 leaders of this country have had someIrish blood in their veins. In recent times wehave had Ronald Reagan and John F Kennedy,both of whom made historic trips to visit thehomes of their ancestors—in JFK’s case it wasto Wexford and in Reagan’s to the small villageof Ballyporeen in County Tipperary. But it wasperhaps our seventh President, Andrew Jackson,who was the most Irish of the all. Jackson’s parentsand their two eldest sons emigrated fromCarrickfergus in County Antrim in 1765. Twoyears later young Andrew was born and wouldgo on to become, among other things, the heroof the Battle of New Orleans.We Irish have been an integral part ofAmerica since long before the time of GeorgeWashington and now people of Irish ancestrymake up over one eighth of the entire population.That’s 40 million people. If you are readingthis you are probably one of them!It wasn’t always so easy to visit the land ofour forefathers. In fact, until relatively recentlyit was very difficult and before the advent ofmass air transit in the 1960s it was virtuallyimpossible for most. That’s why, when someoneleft Ireland for the New World, the people theywere leaving behind held a special gatheringof friends and family to see them off. Theycalled it the “American Wake,” because theyknew they would never see their friend or lovedone again.So for over three hundred years the Irish thatcame here seeking a new and a better life knewwell that one consequence of their emigrationwould be an almost total loss of connectionwith family. Over 200,000 Scots Irish camein the eighteenth century, including Mr andMrs Jackson. Over a million came during andimmediately after the Famine of the 1840s andClockwise from top left: Children in Moneygall, County Offaly, celebrate President BarackObama’s Inauguration; President Ronald Reagan addresses well-wishers in Ballyporeen,County Tipperary; President Kennedy being welcomed in Wexford.hundreds of thousands more in the early partof the twentieth century. They came to escapereligious persecution, starvation or economicdestitution, but they all came and when theydid they set down new roots. But what of theold roots? Until the last several years, findinginformation on your Irish history and familytree was both immensely time-consuming andexpensive, and often impossible. Nowadays,just like getting to Ireland, things are a greatdeal easier.Technology has helped a lot. Irish recordshave been digitized and organized in a highlysearchable way. The entire Irish census for theyears 1901 and 1911, for example, have alreadybeen computerized. But if you really want totrace your roots and take a walk in your forbears’footsteps, see the land they came from and meetwith long lost cousins, there is absolutely nosubstitute for going to Ireland.Churches are a good place to start if you havesome idea of a geographical location. All keeprecords of baptisms, marriages and deaths andmost are old enough to have records at leasta couple of hundred years old. A word to thewise, a courteous phone call or email to theparish administrator before you get there willnormally work wonders.The National Library of Ireland is on KildareStreet in Dublin, a stone’s throw from GraftonStreet, the Capital city’s world famous shoppingdistrict. There is a free Genealogical AdvisoryService at the Library making it the perfectplace to start your research. The genealogiston duty will provide you with an overview ofIrish genealogical records and explain how tofind and access them. The National Archives ofIreland, another invaluable resource, are a 15minute walk from the National Library takingyou through the glorious St Stephen’s Green.The National Archives also has an advisoryservice staffed by a genealogist who will assistyou in locating records such as Census 1901 and1911, wills, Griffiths Primary Valuation, TitheAppointment Books and the other holdings atthe Archives.The Public Records Office of Northern Ireland,located in Belfast, is key to researchingancestors who were born or lived in NorthernIreland. It holds the Griffiths Valuation andTithe Appointment books, as well as valuationsbooks, will calendars and wills, estate papersand church records for most denominations.The General Register Office in Dublin holdsall civil birth, marriage and death records from1864 to 1921 for the whole island of Ireland. Afterthat date all records concerning Northern Irelandare held in the General Register Office Belfast.These and over 50 other genealogy resourcecenters all over Ireland are featured at www.discoverireland.com along with some goodadvice about how to begin your search.Of course once you know where your ancestorshailed from the next logical step is to pay avisit. Often, especially in rural areas, it is likelythat you can meet some of those distant relatives.This is not as fanciful as it might soundbecause, just like anywhere else, members ofthe same family can stay in the same village ortownland for generations. There is nothing tobeat a walk around your own place, imaginingthe lives of your ancestors. They are a part ofyou as Ireland is a part of you.Finding out who your relatives were andwhere you came from is a huge thrill and youwould be amazed at how accessible this informationcan be. The miracles of modern technologyand travel have give us all this wonderfulopportunity to reach across the centuries andmake connections that long ago seemed brokenforever. Who knew, including the man himself,that our current President’s great great greatgrandfather, Falmouth Kearney, had lived inMoneygall until he emigrated to New York Cityaboard the SS Marmion in 1850 at the tenderage of 19? And now President Obama willbe able to experience for himself the specialwarmth the Irish reserve for a homecoming.For great vacation deals and ideas for planning your trip to Ireland, visit DiscoverIreland.com

14 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” May 2011McNally’s PubTour of IrelandThe Liverdance TourO’Hare, Terminal 5, 2nd of April, 3:30pmThe McNally’s Pub Tour of Ireland was gatheringat the Aer Lingus check-in line. Thirty-twoof us and my anxiety is in fullgallop. Will they all be here intime? Mary Pat Flanagan fromCIE Tours is there and in control.We are a motley crew of travelersfrom Illinois, Michigan, NewMexico, Arizona, Georgia andthe Chicago suburbs with Mc-Nally’s Irish Pub in St. Charlesas a common denominator. Ihave met or spoken to most ofthem as I promised them amemorable jaunt around Irelandwith pubs and music and somegreat sightseeing—and now Imust deliver.We have a comfortable overnightflight courtesy of Aer Lingus and arrive safein Dublin airport at the newly opened TerminalTwo, where we meet Harry Crofton, our CIEdriver and guide for the week. The sun was shiningon this beautiful spring morning as the smokersamong us burstout of the terminalon to the sidewalkfor our first smokesince checkingin at O’Hare. Wegathered our luggage,found thefour members of our group who had flown toDublin ahead of us and got on the bus, tired buthappy to be there at last, and heading to the Manof War Pub for our first Irish Breakfast and indeed,our first pint on the Holy Ground.Breakfast was brilliant, so were the pints andI was delighted when my daughter Sharon, alongwith her husband Damien and my two preciousgrandchildren, Josh & Alex, arrived to welcometheir grandad home. But it was back on the buswith Harry and on the road to Galway throughthe Midlands, with a stop at Lockes Distilleryin the Westmeath town of Kilbeggan, to sampletheir whiskey. Harry was a GEM. He entertainedand educated and I knew that we were in goodhands for our tour.Galway was bustling with people as we arrived;they were enjoying the sunshine and walking thepromenade. The Salthill Hotel was full of familiescelebrating Mother’s Day and watching GaelicFootball and we first heard Harry issue the command,“Dinner at 6-turty and bags outside yourrooms at 8am,“ which became his catch phrasefor the week.We hit the music pubs of Galway that night andwere joined by some Blarney on the Air listeners fromthe States and even John Cullinane came up fromWaterford to visit and party with us. There was musiccoming out of every pub and we visited quite a few.The Quay’s was packed wish revellers, and we usedit for our headquarters. I wimped out about 10:30 onthat first night, but I’m proud of those who carriedon into the wee hours.That was day one and asthe week went on, the scenerychanged as did the hotelsand pubs. We walked theCliffs of Moher, we kissedthe Blarney Stone, we ate thechowder in Dingle, shoppedthe Blarney Woolen Mills andthe English Market in CorkCity. We toured the cities ofCork, Dublin and Galway andthe towns of Kinsale, Casheland Killarney. We had tea,scones and the most amazinghomemade blackcurrant jamat a farmhouse in Tipperarywhere we saw newborn lambs.We did the Rock of Cashel,the Guinness Storehouse, St.Patrick’s Cathedral and by theend of the week we had coalescedinto a group of hardyCeltic Road Warriors enrichedby the shared experience andenlightened by Harry on thehistory and culture of my DearOld Ireland.And yes, there was musicand plenty of it, everywherewe went. Tim O’Riordan entertainedus royally in Killarneyand in Kinsale with his music.He sang haunting versions ofKilkelly and Beeswing alongwith some really great songs of his own. Irishsoprano, Emma Kate Tobia, came to see us at theTrident Hotel in Kinsale and shared her talent too.What a treat to hear her sing for us in her owntown. The Merry Ploughboys in Rathfarnham,Co. Dublin, put on a great dinner and show andI’m looking forward to seeing them all here inChicago this summer. There were other musiciansof course, whose names I never got and again, mycrew knew the words of most of the popular Irishballads by the end of the week.The Guinness, Harp, Smithwicks, and Bulmersflowed and shots of Baby Guinness became oursignature late night drink as we partied the weekaway. I’m proud of my group and eternally gratefulthat they put their trust inme for what I believed was awell put together tour.Everywhere we went thefood was exceptional. HeartyIrish breakfast with brownbread and Irish butter to startthe day, pub lunches of freshvegetable soup or seafoodchowder and perhaps a sandwichfor lunch and dinnersof prime Irish beef, salmon,lamb, trout, mussels, all inseason, were on our menusmost nights. The selectionof cheese was unbelievableas were the desserts, profiterolesand meringues and strawberry soufflé wereenjoyed by all of us, before going on the towneach night.Thank you all—Paul & Kathleen, Leon, Shawn,Kevin & Terry, Maureen, Jamie & Marianne, Matt,Dena, Katie & Kimberley, Jean & Kathryn, ToniJo & Danielle, Mary Alice & Peg, Nancy K &Maureen, Chip & Charles, Ed & Kim, and theArizona gang, Paul, Lynn, Robert, Mary Ellen,Michael & Patricia. You were a great group and apleasure to travel with.Thanks to CIE Tours International, Mary PatFlanagan and Jim Myers. Thanks to all at Mc-Nally’s Traditional Irish Pub in St. Charles for allowingme to put the tour together and supportingme all the way. Thanks to family and friends forshowing up along the way, it was great to see youall. But most of all, it was Harry Crofton, our CIEdriver and guide, who truly made this trip memorablewith his wit, wisdom and guidance. For thefirst few days Harry walked around with a largebrown envelope under his arm and eventually hetold me that they were the nametags for our group.We agreed that they were totally unnecessaryand dumped them somewhere on the West coast.Harry my friend; you are a national treasure anda credit to your profession, your company and toIreland. We will travel together again next year,Please God.Like most holidays it was over all too quicklyand it’s only in retrospect that we enjoyed all ofthe experiences that we had shared together inthat wild week but in the shared photographs onFacebook I can see that we had the “craic.”I’m already planning next year’s adventure…the Liverdance Tour 2012 will feature a weekin Ireland and a week in Italy. We can call itthe “Gaelic and Garlic Tour” or the “Pasta andPotato Tour.”Any takers?

May 2011 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” 15The New Moovers and Shakers of the Art WorldWhile Ireland has had its fair share of sacredcows in recent times, the spiritual nature of cattleand their aesthetic beauty is now captured oncanvas in a unique solo show by young Dingleartist Kelly Hood. The exhibition, which openedin The Mill Theatre in Dublin last month andrunning through May 27, features a strikingcollection of cow portraits that perfectly embodythe inquisitive nature of cows, in bold blackand white.A skilled painter and artist, who specialises inuniquely Irish images and animal scenes, KellyHood has seen huge interest in her cow paintingsfrom collectors and galleries. Hersuper-realist black and white style haswon her fans worldwide, with originalpaintings by the Dingle artist ownedby The Cranberries, Perth Racecoursein Scotland, and by Terry Wogan.“I eat them, I wear them, and I paintthem… I owe them something, don’tI?” says Kelly Hood, who has becomeknown as the ‘Cow Painter,’ thanks tothe pop-art look she brings to the localKerry cows, in her uniquely realisticmonochrome paintings.Kelly Hood grew up in Ardamore,Ballydavid, in Dingle, and spent everysummer on her grandmother’s farm,helping to milk Daisy the cow. HerWest Kerry background has provided Kellywith much of her subject matter since she beganpainting. As well as her beloved cows, Kerryhas painted a variety of human images includingmen saving the hay, fishermen with theirlobster pots, men bringing home the turf, fiddleplaying, drinking, and old men engrossed instory-telling.Despite the single subject and her chosenmedium, there is astonishing variety in KellyHood’s cow collection, with her strength oftechnique ensuring that each new work is freshand distinct. She consistently draws out the individualcharacteristics of her bovine subjects tohumorous, affectionate and dramatic effect.Having graduated from Limerick School ofArt and Design in 1999, Kelly Hood also worksGorgeous George by Kelly Hoodas a freelance graphic artist. Hood’s work can beviewed online at www.kellyhood.com, Originalpaintings can be commissioned directly, reflectingindividual themes and design preferences.The Big Dig -Hats Off to IAHC VolunteersBy Tom BoyleThe old plumbing shop deep in the catacombsof the Irish American Heritage Centerhas been transformed into much needed storagespace. Their “Volunteers”have done it again! Patsy‘Donnell and his son John,who owns Thatch ConstructionCompany, along with menlike Oliver O’Niell, Mike Geraghtyand the ‘Heavy Gang’pulled out 75 tons of earth tocreate the space.Tommy Taylor from TaylorExcavating hauled thedirt away. Paul Tracey fromMcHugh Construction donatedthe concrete for the newfloor. Most people will neversee this room, but rest assuredall will benefit from it.MAID SERVICE FOR SALEOutstanding Chicago turnkey operation, continuityof maids & high-end clients. Paymentat time of service, steady immediate income.Potential for expansion or franchising. Ownermust retire, will be accepting best offer.Serious inquiries only. Call (312) 643-5119KIVLEHANINSURANCE AGENCYHome/Auto/Business/Life/Health708-671-9010Condo and Apartment BuildingsOne of our Specialties Since 1990Health Insurance CompaniesInclude Blue Cross Blue ShieldIndividual & Small Groups11519 S. Harlem Ave.Worth, IL 60482John’s Cell 708-369-6639

Color Page 16The heriTage Linewww.irish-american.orgIAHC Celebrates End of 25/35 Anniversary Year with Open House4626 N. Knox Ave., Chicago, IL 60630 • 773-282-7035Hunger Spotlights Bobby SandsThis spring, the Center spotlightsBobby Sands and the 1981 hunger strikerswith an evening of film, and a paneldiscussion remembering the events of1981. This year marks the 30th anniversaryof their deaths.Bobby Sands was the imprisoned Irishnationalist who died in 1981, 66 days intoa hunger strike. He was a member of theIrish Republican Army (IRA) and was heldin the Maze Prison just outside of Belfast.Sands was the first of 10 hunger strikerswho died that year.The evening begins with a screeningof the film Hunger. The film wonthe Camera d’Or, the prize for best firstfeature film at the Cannes Film Festival in2008. It recounts the final weeks of Sandsand is an unflinching depiction of prisonbrutality, complete with ritual beatings andhumiliations. Hunger was written by Irishplaywright, Enda Walsh, and directed bySteve McQueen, who was awarded theCBE (Commander of the Order of theBritish Empire) in the 2011 Queen’s NewYears Honours List for his services toVisual Arts.After the film, there will be a receptionand a viewing of photos of the hungerstrikers, curated by Frank Crowley.At 9:15pm, join us for a panel discussionwith Mike Morley, John Conroy, Dr.Hugh McElwain and Jen Sullivan.The four panelists will add perspectiveon the making of the film, life in NorthernIreland in 1981, and the deeper contextbehind the Troubles and hunger-strikingas a means of demonstration.Morley is the host of Irish TV Journalon the Chicago Access Network.Conroy is an award-winning journalistand author of Belfast Diary: War as a Wayof Life. A Chicago journalist, Conroy wasa writer for the Chicago Tribune when hetraveled to West Belfast, Northern Irelandto live amongst the Catholic Clonardworking-class community.His 1987 book captured the day-todayactivities of the Belfast residentsand how the violence affected their lives.His street-level view of the crushingpoverty, harassment by British soldiersand the fight to earn a living in a morethan-25%unemployment rate made thecritically-acclaimed account a must-readfor those interested in Irish history.McElwain is a Professor of Theologyat Dominican University. The 2010Diversity Leadership Award winner atDominican, he served as the Dean ofthe University’s Rosary College of Artsand Sciences from 1994 to 2002. Priorto Dominican, he served as professorof systematic theology and academicdean of the Catholic Theological Unionin Chicago.Sullivan is Young Ambassador, St.Patrick’s Centre, Downpatrick, Co.Down, Northern Ireland. She will profilethe Centre’s programs that celebratethe shared cultural heritage of NorthernIreland.Hunger is Saturday, May 21 from7pm to 11pm. Tickets are $5 and can bepurchased at the door.Since last summer, the Center has beencelebrating the dual anniversary of 25 yearsin our building (1985-2010) and 35 years asan organization (1976-2011). The anniversaryyear officially ends with Irish Fest in July,but a special Open House is Sunday, June5 to commemorate these milestones and tocelebrate our accomplishments as a community.The day starts with mass in the Auditoriumat 1pm, followed by an Open House Celebrationthroughout the building featuring music,food, dance and refreshments. To mark theoccasion, the Center will be decorated withold photos and mementos from our past.The past year has been one of tremendousgrowth for us and one where we celebratedour anniversary by introducing new programs,concerts and events. As we build our membershipand plan for the future, we will alwayslook back on 2010-11 as the year that laid thefoundation for the next 25 years.

The heriTage LinePresident’s MessageRealizing a DreamThe Irish American Heritage Center rolls out the red carpet onSaturday, May 14 for the Inaugural Irish American Hall of FameAwards Gala. Some of the greatest names and accomplishments inIrish American history will be celebrated and honored at our Centerthis month.The inductees are: Maureen O’Hara, Eugene O’Neill, ChiefFrancis O’Neill, John F. Kennedy, Mayor Richard J. Daley, SenatorGeorge Mitchell, Robert Fulton, Sr. Rosemary Connelly, Rev.Patrick Francis Healy and Jack Dempsey.This is rarified air. It is humbling to think that our beautiful Centerwhich was formed by the working men and women of ChicagoBrendan Voyage Returns to the CenterThe film Brendan Voyage that was screened in 2010returns to the IAHC for an encore performance this May.St. Brendan the Navigator is known as patron ofsailors, He was probably born near Tralee, Co. Kerry, andeducated by St. Ita. He founded numerous monasteriesin Ireland, the most famous was the large monastery atClonfert, Co. Galway. Some three thousand monks lived,prayed and studied there.www.irish-american.orgwill now be the place that honorsgreatness. Yet to me, greatness hasalways been personified at our Center.It took greatness to conceptualize theidea 35 years ago. While our countrycelebrated its bicentennial, leaders ofthe Irish community in Chicago weremeeting in basements, pubs and otherlocales and dared to dream abouta building a place for the Irish. 25years ago, these same visionaries bought the old Mayfair Collegeand turned it into out Center. They dreamed of libraries, museumsand art galleries. They envisioned music and dance, laughter andBrendan also made missionary journeys to England andScotland and became famed for his voyages, particularlya seven-year journey around the year 538, to the “Land ofPromise,” which he described in his epic saga NavigatioSancti Brendani Abbatis. Some modern scholars now believethe “Land of Promise” could have been North America.In 1976, Tim Severin, an expert on exploration andauthor of The Brendan Voyage built a hide-covered leatherchildren. They envisioned all this and dared to be great.Now the Irish American Hall of Fame will take its place withinour Center. Some of the greatest names in the story of the Irishin America will be honored. In reality, though, we will be honoringall of those who dared to dream so many years ago. We honortheir dream by taking our Center to new heights. It’ll be a night tobe proud to be Irish, to be American, and extremely proud to be amember of the Irish American Heritage Center.Tickets are $200 and can be purchased by visiting www.irish-american.org or calling 773-282-7035. The gala is ablack-tie affair and begins at 7pm.Bob McNamara, PresidentIrish American Heritage Centercurrach (boat) and sailed it from Ireland to North America,demonstrating the accuracy and descriptions of theplaces mentioned in the Navigatio. Several centuries afterSt .Brendan’s time, the Norsemen used the same route intheir voyages across the North Atlantic.There will be a screening of the Tim Severin’s new remasteredversion of The Brendan Voyage documentary filmon Sunday, May 15 at 2pm. Admission is $10 at the door.Mother/Daughter TeaCeltic Women International’sChicago Branchhosts its 2nd AnnualMother/Daughter Tea thisJune.Bring your grandmother,aunt, sister orany special woman inyour life for an afternoonof tea, sandwiches andlive Irish music.Each table will have its own extraordinary Irish womanas a theme, including St. Brigid, Maud Gonne, ConstanceMarkieviecz, Queen Maeve, Lady Lavery and GraceO’Malley.The Mother/Daughter Tea is Sunday, June 12 at 1pm.Tickets are $30 for ticket buyers and a guest and includestea, tea sandwiches, punch and desserts.To purchase tickets, contact Theresa Choske at 773-545-8057 or tchoske1942@sbcglobal.net.Heritage CampCalling all Kids!If you have children or grandchildren aged 7 to15, they can attend Heritage Camp.Camp includes two sessions; Irish HeritageCamp for five days and World Heritage Camp forfive days.Irish Heritage Camp is July 18-22 and servesas full immersion into all aspects of the Irish culture;music, dance, language, sport, art, literature,theater and food. The cost is $150.World Heritage Camp is July 25-29 and buildsawareness for other cultures and ethnicities inChicago, as well as sites of cultural and historicalimportance. The cost is $150.Both camps meet each day from 9am-4pm andlunch is included. Teens aged 16 to 18 can join usas counselors-in-training.IAHC Members will receive more informationon this exciting summer program in the mail inlate May.Save the Date!Emma-Kate Tobia in ConcertDirect from Kinsale, Co. CorkAppearing withCormac McCarthyon pianoKevin Carey onfiddleFriday, June 38pm$15Singers Plan Spring SeasonThe Irish Heritage Singers provided beautiful musicfor the Palm Sunday Mass on April 17 and are planningfor a busy season.The Singers are looking for a few good men—andwomen! They are recruiting new members for all foursections; Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass. If you loveto sing and love a great social atmosphere, considerbecoming an Irish Heritage Singer.While they welcome all musicians with all levels of talent,you do not have to have previous choral experience,nor do you have to be able to read music.The Singers rehearse every Thursday at 7:30pm inRoom 304 at Center. For more information, visit thewebsite at www.irish-american.org or call 773-285-7035,extension 34.4626 N. Knox Ave., Chicago, IL 60630 • 773-282-7035

The heriTage Linewww.irish-american.orgExecutive Director’s MessageIreland Will Be Alive in AugustIn what ended up being one of my favorite weekend events in mytime at the Center, we had the good fortune of hosting the MidwestFleadh Cheoil in April. With the Center’s focus of preserving the bestof Irish and Irish American traditions and bringing people togetherwho care about where they come from, this event fit very neatly intoour mission as an organization and created amazing scenes hereall weekend long. From the star-studded concert and hopping ceilion Friday night to the Riley School of Cincinnati playing a sessionon our front steps on Saturday afternoon to John O’Grady flexing infront of the fleadh banner to the to the Broken Pledge Chicagoceili band taking home the trophy and bringing down the house inthe Erin Room to legends Jimmy Keane and Mick Moloney leadinga session on couches in the first floor hallway, while four other sessionswent on around the rest of the first floor, to the piper from theTempleglantine Ceili Band of Limerick, dazzling alongside their banjoplayer and Chicago’s own Pauline Conneely in the pub on Saturdaynight—to the thousand rich moments in between—what an experiencefor anyone who attended.A huge congratulations goes out to the Francis O’Neill Cluband the Irish Music School of Chicago for producing such an event,particularly the committee of Sean Cleland, Eileen Gallagher, LindaGreen, Kathy Medic, John O’Grady, Karen Schachtschneider andJessica Zeigler. Well done all. It was a privilege for us to play host,and I would love to see this event return to the Center sometime soon.My experience at the Fleadh has me thinking about heading toCavan Town in August for the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. With theRose of Tralee international competitionon at the same time, a trip to Ireland couldbe well placed, particularly since it turnsout that my cousin, Johnny O’Meara, willbe serving as this year’s Galway escortat the competition. Raised a gentlemanin a good family, Johnny also has somesmooth, surfer-style looks and will dothe O’Mearas and McDonnells proud inTralee, and I would expect that they willall be descending upon Kerry from Portumna, Westport, and Dublin. Ialso know that the City of Big Shoulders will be well represented inthe competition by this year’s Chicago Rose, Siobhan Carroll. She willcertainly be tough for the judges to overlook.Heritage CampIf you have Irish American children or grandchildren, boy, do we havea treat planned for you for this summer. For our children’s program, weare launching “Heritage Camp” in July, which includes two separate segments;Irish Heritage Camp for five days and World HeritageCamp for five days. Irish Heritage Camp is July 18 through July 22and serves as full immersion into all aspects of the Irish culture; music,dance, language, sport, art, literature, theater and food. World HeritageCamp is July 25-29 and builds awareness for other cultures and ethnicitiesaround the city of Chicago, as well as sites of cultural and historicalimport. Keep your eyes peeled for more details in the coming weeks, butmark your calendars now. I would expect that spots will fill up quickly.4626 N. Knox Ave., Chicago, IL 60630 • 773-282-7035The Western WarriorCongratulations to boxer Henry Coyle for his recent windown at the Horseshoe Casino in Indiana. Improving to 14-2overall, the man from Bellmullet, Co. Mayo, knocked out WilliamPrieto in the 6th Round. Addaboy Henry—do work. “Buthark, a voice like thunder spake… The West’s Awake! TheWest’s Awake!”Eternal RestWe lost a great volunteer and friend on April 13 with the passingof Kevin Moran. He fought like hell for the last year but ended upfalling to cancer at the age of 81. His warmth, charm, sense of humor,craftsmanship, huge Mayo handshake and great enthusiasm for theCenter made Kevin universally loved and admired around here. He isalready sorely missed, but something tells me that Kevin will alwaysbe watching over the well-being of the Center. In Kevin’s honor, thefirst 12x12 brick laid in the Walk of Names outside the Center willread “To One of the Center’s Greatest Volunteers: Kevin Moran, WeLove You.” We would like to welcome all volunteers and friends whowould like to sign the brick to stop by the office in the coming weeks.Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetuallight shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed,through the mercy of God, rest in peace. God’s blessings onthe Morans.Onwards,Tim McDonnell, Executive DirectorIrish American Heritage CenterTickets Now on Sale for 26th Annual Irish Fest!The 26th annualIrish American HeritageFestival is July8, 9 and 10, 2011.It showcasesthe finest in localand internationalIrish and Americanmusic, dance andfamily activities. Thefestival directly supportsand is held onthe grounds of theCenter. It is our biggest fundraiser of the year.The festival features three days of music on 5 stages, featuringconfirmed performers Gaelic Storm, the Tossers, Scythian,McPeake, the Makem and Spain Brothers, bluegrass legend, TonyRice and his band, the Tony Rice Unit, Switchback, the Mickey Finns,the Boils, the Great Whiskey Project, All Kinds, the City of ChicagoPipe Band, Chicago Celtic Pipe Band, Kennedy’s Kitchen, KevinFlynn and the Avondale Ramblers, the Chancey Brothers, PaddyHoman and Jimmy Keane.The Folk Tent returns with hands-on activity with demonstrationsof Irish instruments, dances and sing-alongs. Irish and Americanfood is available throughout the weekend, and dozens of vendorsand artisans will be selling Irish clothing, music and jewelry. Culturalofferings include poetry readings, language lessons, one act playsand salon concerts. Our Tea Room returns as a respite for folks lookingto cool off with live harp and piano music, a proper cup of tea andsandwiches in our air conditioned Shamrock American Room.Activities and contests include The Hooley Hook-Up, a matchmakingevent with live music, matchmaking and dancing, theMashed Potato Eating Contest and the Sham-ROCK Stars SingingContest.To purchase advancesale tickets, call 773-282-7035, ext. 10 or purchaseonline at www.irishfestchicago.com.Tickets: $14 perday; $8 in advanceuntil the end of day onJuly 7; seniors $7, andchildren 12 and underare free when accompaniedby a paid adult.Hours: Fri., 6pmmidnight;Sat., noonmidnight;Sun., noon-11 p.m.

The heriTage Linewww.irish-american.orgAn Evening with Susan McCannThe Center is Paving the Front CourtyardIreland’s First Lady of Countryand Irish Musicappearing withDennis HeaneySaturday, June 11, 20117pm$25Susan McCannBuy an engraved brick for your family, business, friends or yourself.Each brick is guaranteed for 100 years!4 x 8 brick$1008 x 8 brick$250(IAHC Mbrs$200)12 x 12 brick$500(IAHC Mbrs$400)Help Us Grow...Interested in becoming moreinvolved at the IAHC, but don’t knowwhere to start? We’re looking forenthusiastic members to join ourMembership Committee.It’s a great way to meet new people,help the Center grow and bring morepeople into our community. Our nextmeeting is Saturday, May 21 at 10am.We seek volunteers who can help toexpand ourmembershipprograms,base andbenefits. Formore information,contactLeslie Singelat lsingel@irishahc.org or (773) 282-7035 ext 10.4626 N. Knox Ave., Chicago, IL 60630 • 773-282-7035

The heriTage Linewww.irish-american.orgMay 2011May 4 TIR NA NOG Seniors meeting Fifth Province 11amGreat Irish Books Club Library 1pmMay 5 Irish Immigrant Support Meeting Room 304 10amMay 6 Francis O’Neill Ceili Dance Fifth Province 8pmMay 14 Irish American Hall of Fame Dinner Erin Room 7pmMay 15 Irish Immigrant Support Meeting Room 304 10amBrendan Voyage Film Room 306/7 2pmMay 17 Celtic Women Monthly Meeting Fifth Province 7:30pmMay 20 Quiz Night Room 109 8pmMay 21 Hunger Auditorium/Art 7pmGalleryMay 22 Shamrock American Club May Crowning Fifth Province 10amMay 27 In Love With The Dance Auditorium 7:30pmMay 29 Genealogy Meeting Library 1pmMay 30 Memorial Day ClosedRegularly Scheduled EventsTues.-Sat. Golden Diners Lunch Program Kitchen 12:30pm-2pmTues. Quilting and Needlework Room 208 9:30amTraditional Celtic Art Class Room 304 7-9pmMemoir Writing Class Sham Am Rm 6:30-8:30pmWed. Quilting and Needlework Room 208 7:30pmOpen Music Session Room 302 7:30pmSean-nós Dancing Room 310 7pmThurs. Irish Heritage Singers Rehearsal Room 304 7:30pmBook of Kells:Its History and Art Room 304 7pmIrish Social Dancing Room 111 7:30pmFri. Francis O’Neill Ceili Prac.& Dance Room 111 8pmSat. Sean-nós Dancing Room 111 4:15pmChicago boasts one of the finestIrish Centers in the world. Becomea part of it.Running, maintaining, and upgradingthe Center is a big job thattakes big commitment.Your membership helps make theCenter happen.Name __________________________________________Address ________________________________________City ______________________ State __ Zip __________Phone _______________________Credit Card # ___________________________ Exp ____Individual MembershipAnnual dues❏ $30/year or $50/2 yearsFamily Membership❏ $40/year or $60/2 years$250 - Harper❏ 3-year membershipno annual dues$500 - Bard❏ 5-year membershipno annual duesBecome A memBerTo join call 773-282-7035 x10, visitwww.irish-american.org, or fill outthe form below. Send payment to:The Irish AmericanHeritage CenterMembership4626 N. Knox AveChicago IL 606303 Digit code on card’s back: ______❏ $1,000 - Chieftain10-year membership withoutannual dues❏ $2,500 - High King25-year membership withoutannual dues❏ $5,000 - SaintLifetime membership withoutannual duesMAY 2011Fri, 5/6Sat, 5/7Ceili MorJoe Cullen andKathleen BremerFri, 5/13 John DevlinSat, 5/14 Barry Fagan’s BandFri, 5/20 Seamus O'Kaneand Jimmy MooreSat, 5/21 The Dooley BrothersFri, 5/27 In Spite ofOurselvesSat, 5/28 Joe McShaneFriday nights from 6pm-8pm live music with Ciara WaltonDrop by for the very best in traditional and modern Irish music.Pub food is served from 6pm-10pm.Question about Membership?Change of address? Email us at membership@irishahc.orgwith your membership questions.Follow us on Facebook and TwitterFor updates on upcoming events and ticketgiveaways, follow the IAHC onFacebook and TwitterThe Heritage Line StaffContributors: Kathleen O’Neill, EditorMichael Boyle Theresa Choske Mary GriffinPam Marshall Tim McDonnell Bob McNamaraMary Morris Sheila Murphy Leslie Singel4626 N. Knox Ave., Chicago, IL 60630 • 773-282-7035

May 2011 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” 21Life is full of ups and downs, and the pastmonth has been no different. We were all saddenedto lose Kay Dietz on March 26th, when she losther battle with lung cancer. Kay was always thelife of the party, a friendly happy lady who madesure everyone was pulled into the festivities. Shewas also mother of one of my closest friends, MikeDietz. She will be missed, but she will always beremembered.A wonderful bright spot was the debut at theMidwest Fleadh Cheoil of Chris and Mary AnnBain’s new twins, Ronan & Deirdre. Beautiful andtiny, they were brought round to meet everyoneand everyone immediately fell in love with them.Jackie Moran pointed out that little Deirdre wasnodding her head in time to the music, so it seemsthat the family musical genius has been passed onto another generation. What a blessing!This has been a great month for traditionalmusic as I sit here looking at six new releasesthat you will want to hear. First off, a CD thatI’ve been anxiously awaiting since Paddy O’Briensent me a rough cut promo a couple of monthsback. I hinted at it in previous columns, but it’shere now and well worth the wait. The Sailor’sCravat features Paddy O’Brien’s incomparablebutton accordion, Tom Schaefer on fiddle, PaulWehling on bouzouki, and the lovely vocals ofErin Hart. This CD contains some of the beststuff Paddy’s ever done, and we’re talking aboutan already pretty impressive body of work. Therecording comes to us from New Folk Records, alabel that is really making its mark in traditionalmusic circles. While playing it in the store, I’vehad nothing but positive comments from customers,most of whom bought it. That’s always a goodsign for me. I expected to hear great music fromPaddy, and wasn’t disappointed, but the delightfulsongs sung by Erin Hart were a wonderfulsurprise. Sorry to say I wasn’t familiar with herwork before but now—I’ll certainly keep her onmy radar. This girl can sing. Together the groupfunctions like a well oiled machine to deliver thebest kind of traditional music, the kind that picksyou up, physically and emotionally, and carriesyou along with it.Another recordingI havebeen anxiouslyawaiting is KathleenKeane’sWhere the WindMeets the Waterand I finally gotit! What a joy!Anyone who hashad the pleasure to sit and listen to Kathleenperform knows what an accomplished musicianshe is. Her CD captures all the intensity ofher performance and all the feeling that shehas for her music. She is the music and themusic is her. Okay, words are failing me herea bit. There are musicians to whom the musicisn’t just something they play, but instead themusic is a part of them. It’s what they are, notjust what they do. Kathleen Keane’s one ofthose. Her fiddle, tinwhistle and vocals aresimply outstanding. Added to this, she is surroundedby some of the finest trad musiciansin the industry, Dennis Cahill, guitar, JamesConway, harmonica, William Coulter, guitar,Jimmy Moore, bass, bouzouki and guitar andJackie Moran, the king of the bodhran. Thetunes are a mix of traditional and original,that’s right, she also writes lovely music! Shealso takes one of the iconic cheesy songs,“When Irish Eyes are Smiling,” and, with heroriginal arrangement, turns it into a lovely ballad.I love it! The CD finishes with a recording of herGranddad playing his accordion, sweet, lovely,fun… Kathleen. She is what she is and that’s oneof the best.Need to get the Scottish oar in the water hereand there’s no one better to do the job than JimMalcolm. Accomplished Scottish solo singerJim Malcolm has nine CDs to his credit withthe release of Sparkling Flash, his latest, not tomention all the CDs he did with Old Blind Dogswhen he was the band’s vocalist. I have rhapsodizedon Jim’s honey-velvet voice in the past andthat quality is still there. Nice to see more of hisoriginal song writing skills being highlighted inthis CD. Jim has a way with words, using his witand intellect to weave some heartfelt lyrics in thetitle song and a soon to be classic bit of humor inhis piece called “American Accent.” Did I mentionthat his guitar work and harmonica are beyondreproach? Well, they are. Jim loves to do houseconcerts and is in his glory with a small intimatesetting. If you get a chance to see him, don’t passit up, you will love this man and his great voice.On the new CD we also get to hear the vocaltalents of his wife, Susie and his daughter, Beth.One talented family, for sure.Speaking of great voices, one dropped by thestore the other day to bring his newest CD in forme to listen to. It was Andrew Calhoun, one of themost original voices I’ve ever heard, and one ofthe most original wits it’s ever been my pleasureto converse with. He has made a living crankingout the most outstanding collections of songs youcan imagine. If you haven’t heard his voice, don’twait for me to try and describe it, I don’t havethe words. Is it deep and rich? You betcha. Is itsmooth and harmonious? Yeah that too. Does thisguy know his way around a folk song? Yeah, likedamn few others. His new CD, Grapevine windsits way thru the folk tradition tying together songsfrom a lot of different places and doing them in away that will cause them to become your favoriteversions in future. You’ve got to hear this one; it’stoo good to pass up.Andrew also brought the newest release fromKate MacLeod and Kat Eggleston, called Lost andFound. Their second release together, it gives thesetwo fantastic musicians, Kat on guitar and Kateon fiddle, a chance to blend their vocal talents,creating a truly lovely experience. I’ve often saidthat I’d pay good money to hear Kat read the phonebook, well she’s one-upped herself by teamingwith Kate MacLeod. Another new release fromWaterbug Records, this CD shows us that newand innovative folk music is still being performed.The folk tradition is far from dead!Lastly a quick mention of a really good dealfrom New Folk Records, their new SamplerII. Twenty tracks to give you a taste of twentyartists, a total running time of 74:16 minutesof fine music for a fair price. Here’s a chanceto expand you horizons and hear some of theartists that this innovative label has found. Areal deal!Finally, at the Fleadh the other day whereI was selling CDs, four ladies came up to thebooth and bought a CD that was an independentproduction by a traditional artist. Theythen stood there discussing how they weregoing to burn copies for each other and theirfriends! Come on people! Traditional artistssure as hell don’t get rich on the sales of theirCDs, and this crap just makes it harder forthem to keep recording their music. Supporttraditional music and traditional artists. Burningis stealing. At the Fleadh for crying outloud, they should know better. Now I will put mysoapbox away till next month.Thanks to all of you who read my stuff andgive me your feedback. I probably won’t get anybetter at writing but it’s nice to know you’re reading.Thanks also to my wife Gayle who proofreads,retypes and generally keeps me in line. Contactme at pipingitin@comcast.net or call the store at630-834-8108. Slainté.

22 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” May 2011AppearancesCutsFoil HighlightsColorWaxingPermsGifts/JewelryCall Mary 847-825-7615229 N Northwest Hwy, Park RidgeHarvesting the Faith in IrelandI’m not sure if I’ll ever get to Ireland. TheSpirit is willing but the purse is weak.But just as unexpected, a vital part of Irelandcame to me just a few Sundays ago.While attending services at CrosspointChurch just outside Fox Lake, IL, I learnedour regular pastor was yielding the podiumto the chief administrator of the IrishBible Institute. It turns out our churchpartners with IBI in its mission tospread the Christian faith throughoutIreland.Seeing as St. Patrick still needs tohave his work converting Ireland completed,it makes sense that IBI is one ofthe “missionary organizations” that mychurch currently supports.If that term conjures up thoughts ofdusty huts or jungle journeys, it wasclear this guest speaker would offerup something substantially differentfrom the standard fare of adventuresdodging cannibals in the Pacific Rim, orthe infamous annual visit of a missionaryfamily to my old western suburb’sCatholic church, where they spoke ofthe handiness of tropical leaves in aculture without toilet paper.Stepping up to the podium was an Irishman who looked uncannily like the famousBritish actor Sir Anthony Hopkins and withsomething of his on-screen manner, too. Oneshould note that would be from roles playingsoft-spoken academics and theologians likeC.S. Lewis rather than say, Hannibal Lecter,speaking of cannibals.Dressed in a wool sport coat and pulloversweater, Irish Bible Institute President (orPrincipal) Jacob Reynolds is a witty andurbane man with a kind heart whose unusualjourney took him from the farm fields outsideDublin to higher education in Canada, then tothe pulpit and back to Ireland to spread a faiththat transformed his life.“I got the faith30 years agowhen I just 18,”said Reynolds.He was on hisway to a blinddate at the moviesand got stoodup. Facing thisultimate rejection,at least fora teenage boy, he realized that heading hometo a big family to lick his wounds wouldnot do. “There’d be all kinds of questions tobe answered,” he said with a wry smile asthe family-rich church audience nodded inagreement.His sanctuary was to spend the evening inReynolds congratulates an IBI grad in Dublin.a Dublin coffee shop, but there he encountereda group of Christians that led him toconsider a new type of family, and also whatthere is in life that truly gives lasting meaningoutside of surface acceptance or success. Heknew he needed a personal relationship withGod, and the growing realization of Jesus asa personal savior brought Reynolds to say asimple prayer: “I don’t believe you the way Ishould. Help me to believe!”The help came, and Reynolds moved toCanada to attend a Bible college. There he methis future wife and also began a journey backhome. “The normal way for many who leaveIreland for North America is to stay there. I feltI had to spread what I learned back home.”His vision became one of training leadersfor Ireland, where civilization may not beremote but the missionary need for encouraging,sharing and spreading a vital and personalfaith is near at hand.Students at IBI receive more than Bachelorsor Masters degrees from Reynolds, theyreceive a focus on making a practical differencein individual church communities andacross Ireland. “It is a misnomer to think thatwe don’t have much to offer God or His kingdom.If our desire is to serve the living God,then everything we bring to the work of thekingdom is of God Himself,” said Reynolds.He draws back to his boyhood farm daysin the turnip fields outside Dublin for a practicalexample of how one puts faith in action.Typically he and his bigger brothers, Paddyand Damien, would be on hands and knees inmuddy, rainy or hot weather strivingto “end up the drill,” get to the end ofa long row of turnips to be harvested.“It was a horrible job!” he said withheartfelt conviction.One day, as he was nearing the endof the row, he noticed his basket ofturnips growing as miraculously as abasket of limitless loaves and fishesgrew on the shore of a far away seatwo thousand years ago. It turns outtwo brothers who could just as soonstart a fight or lord over a little brotherhad each been silently adding a turnipor two to Jacob’s all-fours struggle upthe muddy row.His load was lightened and easierto bear, knowing he wasn’t alone. JacobReynolds, who now has his owngrown family and wife, along withhis college community family, preaches thatlesson as a challenge for individual believersto make a difference in the smallest, andlargest of ways.At a time when resources are extremely limitedin Ireland and elsewhere, Reynolds offersa perspective of encouragement that givingwhat little we have is often more than enough.After all in the Gospel, one little boy’s loavesand fishes, not unlike another little boy’s farmharvest, ultimately fed thousands.“It reminds us that Christ is sufficient andthat he can accomplish extraordinary thingsfrom meager resources,” Reynolds pointedout. “He is teaching His disciples that He iscapable of meeting their needs.”IrishRoverJim@aol.com.Beautiful OceanfrontCottage in Dingle for rentRemodeled and furnished. 4 bedroom,4 bath with a fabulous viewof the ocean at the mouth of Dingleharbor. Short walk to beach and onlytwo miles from Dingle town. Sleeps8-10. Call Colleen 312-399-8793

May 2011 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” 23The complexity of the Irish psyche is intriguing,especially if you are Irish. Some of us grate againstthe stereotype of the Irish drunken piss artist,whose sole redeeming virtue is being good craic,the jovialness of Irish wit. Some of us, includingmyself, lapse into this persona simply becausethe need to define the complexity of being Irish iseither beyond the other drunk we’re talking to, orit requires too much effort to try and define whatappears to be indefinable.I remember having some friends from Derryvisit me in Chicago. It was their first time in theU.S, and the accent was thick as hard cheese.Being from the north, neither of them had whatmost Americans perceive as the traditional Irishaccent. This became apparent whenever we wouldgo to the pubs. When quizzed as to their origins,Scotland? Maybe Australia? Even England got amention. They would make their retreat to whatis popularly known as Irish. With a smile on theirfaces, and pint in their hand they would in unison,with their best lilt, sing out ‘lucky charms!’ Suddenly,it would become apparent to the listener,they were indeed from the green isle, as illustratedon the box.While stereotypes are often used to reduceus to being two dimensional, and, sometimes,used to justify racism and bigotry, they oftenfall short of what makes us a human being. Eachnationality has characteristics that are part of thenational psyche. When Irish people get together ina foreign land they search for a common language,maybe not as sinister as Freemasons giving eachother the secret handshake, but we each need away to communicate a sense of common heritage,and this is good. We, like other immigrants, wantto feel a connection to what we feel is a deep partof ourselves. Sometimes what drives us towardsthis search for identity is a desire to understandwhat makes us who we are.At one point I thought this was a peculiarlyIrish American trait, but on reflection, I realizedthat even in Ireland, especially in the north,there always was a need to try and discover agreater sense of identity. As a part of the UnitedKingdom, Northern Ireland has a foot in both theAnglo, and Irish world. Our Irish sensibility istempered with affection for English football teams,the benefits of theNational HealthService, and othercolonial attachments.Some ofus relate to ourfellow Irishmenacross the borderas almost half brothers.As part of my own journey, I’m beginning torealize how intangible our sense of identity reallyis. It becomes even more complicated when oneadopts another country as a place of residence.In the six years I’ve lived in the United StatesI’ve enjoyed the diversity of other ethnicities. Ienjoy the daily negotiations as to whether I call ittoma-to, or tomato, whether I spell certain wordswith their redundant ‘u’ vowel, or take the easyway out and go with the flow. Will it be chipsor fries? When I fill up, will it be gas or petrol?Fuel, by any other name would still be as pricey,and in demand.Depending on our life experiences, we are thesum of what happens to us. It is inevitable thatif we’ve never left one place, its stamp on us isalmost indelible. However, the more we movearound, become exposed to others on our cybertravels, the more we lose and gain what makesus, us. Coming from Northern Ireland, whereone’s identity is usually defined in opposition tothe other, it’s nice to see that the other’s cultureis simply a different way of seeing things. Livingin a multi-cultural environment has taught me alot of valuable lessons. Cultural identity is a largepart of who we are. It’s no better or worse thansomeone else’s culture, simply different. Havingan assortment of cultures on your doorstep is aninvitation to learn, share and grow.I was excited to attend a showing of Scotland’sNational Theatre Black Watch. The play has hadstunning reviews, having debuted at Edinburgh’sprestigious Fringe Festival. The play centers ona Scottish regiment of the British during its warin Afghanistan, and Iraq. The theatricality of thepiece is glorious with choreography, and singing.Visually the drama embraces the sights and soundsof war. When the play ended the audience gave astanding ovation. But as people around me got totheir feet, I felt grounded to the floor.Despite the playwright wanting to win unqualifiedsympathy for the young men of this Scottishregiment, I could not stop my mind from thinkingit was much too easy. The author exploited everycliché possible when it comes to war, class differencesbetween officers and privates, criticism ofthe futility of such wars, while glossing over theJoe MonahanSinger/GuitaristIrish/American FolkCountry & Westernmonahanmusic.comlink between the men of Scotland and the English.The after effect of the drama was less satisfyingonce you began to deconstruct the caricaturesdepicted onstage.When I went to share some of my thinkingwith my neighbour, she quickly silenced me with“Don’t tell me. Don’t break the illusion.” Herresponse left me wondering if we simply choosesome stereotypes as a means of legitimizing ourpolitical viewpoints. In some ways this is whereone’s identity as an immigrant can be romanticized,and idealized. Once away from home, we beginto create images of the home country that willalways fail to meet the reality test. We need art toremind us of how complex and contradictory ournatures really are. We are all more than the sumof our national parodies.Profiles Theater 2011-12Profiles, one of Chicago’s longest-runningstorefront theatres, presents its 23rd seasonof new and challenging works, includingthe Midwest premiere of the Broadway hit ABehanding in Spokane by Martin McDonagh;the Midwest premiere of Neil LaBute’s controversial2010 play The Break of Noon revisedexclusively for Profiles Theatre; the Midwestpremiere of the scathing Off-Broadway hitBachelorette by Leslye Headland; and theworld premiere of Deirdre O’Connor’s latestplay, Assisted Living.The 2011-2012 Profiles season includes:A Behanding In SpokaneMidwest PremiereBy Martin McDonaghPreviews: August 26 - 31, 2011Run: September 1 - October 16, 2011Assisted LivingWorld PremiereBy Deirdre O’ConnorPreviews: November 4 - 9, 2011Run: November 10 - December 18, 2011BacheloretteBy Leslye HeadlandMidwest PremierePreviews: January 13 - 18, 2012Run: January 19 - March 4, 2012The Break Of NoonMidwest PremiereBy Neil LaButePreviews March 30 – April 4, 2012Runs April 5 – May 20, 2012For more information about ProfilesTheatre and its 23rd Season, visit www.profilestheatre.org.FINANCIAL PLANNINGCorrigan Financial Services, Inc.Money Concepts Financial Planning CentreEstablished 1980Retirement Planning SpecialistforIndividuals - Families - BusinessInvestment - Tax - Estate PlanningCallMike & Chuck Corrigan(708)482-3800Member International Association for Financial PlanningOnline Only This MonthDue to the large quantity of articlesthis month and the lack of extra space,the Horoscopes column will beonline only.It will be back next month foryour reading pleasure!The BEST inCAREGIVERSHOUSEKEEPERSBABY SITTERSOver 20 years in BusinessWe have solutionsto your specific needsOur pricing and qualityare outstandingCall ElizabethFriendly Domestic Agency773-545-7776Serving the 6 county areareferences on requestO L DORL ANDINSU R A N C EA GEN C Y, INC .Since 1946“We sell Peace Of Mind.”HOME • LIFE • AUTO • HEALTH • BUSINESSALL TYPES OF CONTRACTORS14308 Union Orland Park, IL 604627 0 8 -349- 2 000You’ll LoveOur FloralDispaysgarlandflowers@yahoo.com

24 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” May 2011TWO NEWS ITEMS revealthe continuing plight of the British-Occupied Irish: 1) Ex-IRA-manGerry McGeough was sentenced to20 years to serve two consecutiveyears for combat against a Britishsoldier 30 years ago in which bothsuffered gunshot wounds. The Britwasn’t charged. 2) The British gov’tVERBALLY APOLOGIZED formurdering, 35 years ago, 12-year-oldMajella O’Hare walking home fromConfession. The British soldier whoshot her (in the back) was alwaysknown, but he hasn’t been prosecutedand won’t be. As in nearly all casesof British murders, and especiallymassacres of Irish non-combatants,only apologies ensue, and only afterdecades of “spin” and slandering ofthe victims. The uniformed murderersprove immune and are awardedmedals and CBEs if their murder tollis adequate. Meanwhile, IRA-men arestill tortured in Maghaberry.THE JUDICIAL TRAVESTIESinflicted upon McGeough/O’Hare illustratesthe GFA’s evil consequencesof selling-out the Six-Counties toBritain. McGeough’s honorabledefense of his country is criminalizedwhile the daylight murder ofa 12-year-old girl is immunized forthirty-five years and then “resolved”with a verbal “apology.” Did Soviet orNazi courts ever produce worse thanthe O’Hare/McGeough travesties?The Crown gov’t just cannot helpbeing its criminal self. All humans,except the utterly cowed, will risk allto be rid of it.THE SELL-OUT of the SixCounties was a criminal operationlong before the British gov’t (throughMI5 and Fr. Alex Reid of Belfast’sClonard monastery) subverted GerryAdams. The decades of British gov’tmurders of Catholic men, women andchildren, mostly through army- andspook-led Ulster Volunteer Force(UVF) psychopaths, have proven victorious.(Honorable Britons like Capt.Fred Holroyd and Chief ConstableJohn Stalker paid horrible prices forrefusing to participate in mass murders.)The terrorism was greater thanmany could tolerate. An honorableDerry woman of my acquaintancenow accepts British rule, havingfinally been cowed by the murderthreats of British soldiers who toreher house apart on a regular basis foryears with complete impunity.DAVID ERVINE, the UVF leaderwith the policy of randomly murderingCatholics to terrorize survivorsinto accepting British rule suggested,on record, that his policy was decisive.But during his triumphant visitto Washington in 1994, he learnedit wasn’t quite that decisive. He recordedhis chagrin when the head ofWashington’s Britain desk informedhim that the US had won “Ulster” (theuninformed refer to the Six Countiesas “Ulster”) for Britain only to FREEUP THE BRITISH ARMY FORTHE WARS BEING PLANNEDAGAINST ISLAM. Thus, the Adams/McGuinness/Reid sell-out that ledto the O’Hare/McGeough travesties,was part of EVEN GREATER EVILSPLANNED BY MONSTERS INTHE U.S./U.K. GOV’TS.THE OMAGH ATROCITY’Spart in Neo-Con plans is now clear.Though a key murderer of Catholicshad been brought triumphantly toWashington in 1994, the sell-out stillneeded a major push, thus, “Omagh;The Bomb to End All Bombs” wasplanned (and later “spun”). That iswhy MI5, having subverted ChicagoFBI agent Patrick “Ed” Buckleyyears earlier, brought him to Ireland.And Islam is why Buckley’s USbosses and his bosses’ bosses OK’dhis MI5/Omagh mission. It provedeasier for MI5/FBI to perpetrateOmagh than to blame it on the IRA.Consider their follow-up crimes:“Disappear” Paddy Dixon who hadsupplied the bomb car for MI5; “disappear”the satellite tracking recordof that car; “disappear” the phoned-inbomb warnings and the log book intowhich they were transcribed; get thenews media to cover up the absenceof RUC injuries and divert attentionfrom the disappeared evidence whiledemonizing the IRA enough to winthe impending GFA referendum.One conjectures: Did the Crownaward George Crosses to all OmaghRUC officers FOR “disappearing”the warning tape and log book orDESPITE that criminal concealment.The stench of that award forced theCrown to later give George Crossesto all RUC.FBI AGENT BUCKLEY wasdeployed to Ireland by MI5 after perpetratingcrimes for them in Chicago.Those crimes were repeated in Omagh.The day that the Langert family weremurdered, the local police namedDavid Biro as their sole suspect (hismurder weapon was later identifiedas FBI agent Lewis’ 357 Magnum).The following day Buckley arrived,usurped control of the investigation,and prohibited the police from pursuingthe actual murderer and sent themon nationwide wild goose chases. Hegot supine “reporter” (Carol Marin)to announce on network TV “IRAinvolvement,” thus demonizing it.His subordinates soon framed me socunningly for that atrocity that I wasdoomed, but Biro blabbed through hisFBI cover into Life Without Parole.He remains in Pontiac prison. Priorto news of that atrocity I’d never evenheard of anyone involved. Only afterBuckley framed and incarceratedMary (my wife), Frank O’Neill, TonyMcCormick, and me on new falsecharges did someone (the Winnetkapolice?) contact our lawyers. At theWinnetka police HQ, they photocopiedsigned murder investigationreports that had framed me. Were wepoor, we’d have gone straight fromjail to trial to prison, but we barelybonded out, and by hiring expensive,connected attorneys we managed toget Discovery Documents, includingthe evidentiary audiotape that weproved in federal court was a criminalfabrication. We four walked free, butso did the MI5/FBI criminals, to theirnext mission, in Ireland. That missionwas Omagh, and once accomplishedthe FBI departed Ireland. Withinhours of that blast, MI5 eMailed MI5/FBI agent and life-long criminal (accordingto a NY State police affidavit)David Rupert. It summoned him toMI5’s HQ immediately via Belfastairport where plane tickets awaitedhim and his wife; it ordered him tospeak to nobody, especially to gardai.Rupert/MI5 eMail correspondenceis crucial.THE PATTERN EMERGES.The immunized crimes were all preludeto larger US/UK crimes. The immunizedatrocities in Ireland were alleither acts of mass terrorism that ledto the GFA sell-out to Britain, or wereObstructions of Justice regardingthose crimes. Immunized atrocitiesinclude Dublin/Monaghan bombing(33 dead, 300 maimed), BloodySunday (14 dead, 16 wounded),McGurk’s Pub bombing (15 dead,17 maimed), Omagh (29 dead,, etc.)The most effective terrorism wasthe decades-long UVF murders ofCatholics (1000?). All perpetratorsare identified.THE PATTERN that exposes theGFA’s US/UK criminal basis is theimpunity: U.S. impunity to Buckleyfor his covering for murderer Birowhile disinforming America of “IRAinvolvement;” his false imprisonments,perjuries, and fabricationsof evidence, his involvement withRupert in Omagh, etc., are matchedby the RUC’s “disappearance” ofOmagh’s perpetrators and crucialevidence, and the Crown’s “highest”awards to the perpetrators of theworst atrocities. To think; the WhiteHouse’s “Britain desk” indicatesthat all of these crimes, includingthe GFA, served to free up Britishforces for use against Islam. TheMcGeough/O’Hare travesties, theGFA and Omagh and other atrocitiesand all consequent obstructions ofjustice are part of US/UK State terrorismon a global scale. If the U.S. everabandons its plans of world conquestand restores the Republic and its Ruleof Law, it will prosecute criminalsinstead of immunizing them as above.A law-abiding USA. May we live tosee the day! The key: discover thepattern of immunized atrocities andcorollary crimes.

May 2011 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” 25Memorial DayMajor Donald J. Reilly USMCTwo years ago, I published aletter from my life-long friend,Jim Mulroy, while he was in VietNam. It was dated December 10,1965. He wrote… “Yesterdaywe started operation “HarvestMoon,” and its a big one. Threebattalions of Marines and aregiment of South Vietnamesetroops right into the knownstronghold of the hardcore (N.Vietnamese) Viet Cong. Thelocation is the Phauc Valley betweenDa Nang and Chu-Lai. Iflew ten hours straight yesterdayalong with 40 helicopter crewsgetting those people in there…They (the VC) have the best automaticweapons… Two USMChelicopters were shot out of thesky December 9th.”After Operation HarvestMoon, Jim wrote me anotherletter about his best friend MajorDon Reilly. I recall that he said,“He was blown out of the skyright along side of me.” After Ihad given Jim all of the lettershe had written to me from VietNam to read, there was one letterhe never returned, and it wasabout the day Major Reilly gotkilled. I checked it out on theinternet, and the story is there.Operation Harvest MoonThis is a list of the Marinesand Corpsman who died that dayor as a result of that action. Keepthem in your prayers.D-Day+1 (09 dec 65), ThursdayL/Cpl Larry Dean Borsch, Iowa Falls,IAL/Cpl Jose L. Callballero, Harlington,TXS/Sgt John B. Cordova, Houston, TXHM1 Richard L. Croxen, Westminster,CACaptain George C. Drake, Kirkland,WAPvt.ILRobert E Emery, Granite City,Chapter OneMEEHALL: Memories of a South Side LadNana’s BellThey say everybody has a story totell. Anyone of Irish descent can tellyou that we Irish and Irish-Americans,from the heights of James Joyce allthe way down to the lowliest Dublinclerk scribbling in his journal lateat night, sometimes feel the urge todo “a bit of the writing,” and I’mno exception. Part (or most) of thereason all writers write, is to preservethe fleeting moments of our lives:what we saw, how we felt, who wewere. In particular, we feel the needto document our earliest childhoodmemories. In this and in the followingshort stories, I have attempted todo just that.One particular memory of minealways surfaces at the sight of Nana’sBell, which rests proudly in ourdisplay cabinet at home: an ordinarybrass handbell with a simple cross ontop serving as a handle. Made in Indiain the 1930s or1940s, it was purchasedthere duringthe war by my UncleGeorge, a NavyAir Force crewman.He brought the bellback home for hismother, my greatgrandmotherEllenK. Letourneau,whom everyonecalled “Nana.” Afteremigrating inthe 1890s Nanafound herself aresident of the villageof Mount Greenwood, before itjoined with Chicago. She even servedas the first female postmaster of thePFC Michael S. Harris, Kansas City,MOPFC Ronald L. Koehler, Vernon Center,MNPFC Larry D. Scarberry, Barboursville,WAL/Cpl Richie H. Schmitt, Tampa, FLPFC Dennis L. Weber, Mechanicsville,IAThe helicopter pilot killedwhile assisting Lima:Major Donald J. Reilly, St. Louis,MO“By the time the USMC AirWing had entered the fight andthere were also the sounds ofnearby 250 lb. bombs cappingoff.”“The Corpsman worked masterfullyeven though they had lostone of their own to the battle.”“HM1 Richard ‘Doc’ Croxen,along with PFC John Miller,had been wounded by the samemortar round that got me. JohnMiller made it, Doc Croxendidn’t.”“Our Senior Corpsman in anattempt to calm me down, askedme to look after a Lance Corporalwho was badly wounded.The Doc told me that this guyprobably wouldn’t make it, butto do what I could to make himcomfortable.”“In the meantime, the rescuechoppers were on their way,town… quite a feat for a woman ofthat era. But then, she needed thework. She’d married a French Canadiannamed Desire Letourneau, butthe blackguard ran off and left heralone to raise five children. A strong,proud woman, Ellen kept her marriedname for the kids’ sake and vowed toherself that never, even through leantimes, would her children go hungry.Through selfless decades of hard workand loving devotion to her family,Nana brought back dignity and nobilityto the Letourneau name, and herchildren and grandchildrenwould wearit proudly forevermore.By the time Icame along Nanawas in her late eighties,and all her childrenhad marriedand moved awayexcept for my UncleGeorge, whomeveryone called“Buddy,” and his sister,my Aunt Marge,or “Mudgie” as shewas affectionatelyknown. Mudge and Bud and NanaContinued on Page 30but the VC had an ace up theirsleeve for them as well. As thefirst Med-Evac chopper camein to rescue the more serious ofour wounded, the pilot was shotat close range while attemptingto land.”“CPL Joe Hennebery a redheaded Irishman from Bostonand a Scout Sgt attached to theFO team, were both badly burnedfrom the chopper fuel, as theyrescued the downed choppercrew. They were both awardedSilver Stars for their actions.”“The pilot, Major Donald J.Reilly died from bullet woundsand was awarded the Navy Crossfor his actions.”“After Major Reilly’s chopperwas shot down they decided towait til well into the night beforetrying to evacuate the wounded,this unfortunate delay mostlikely contributed to the lossof some of our more seriouswounded.”To the best of my memoryabout that letter, my friend, CaptainJames Patrick Mulroy, wasflying right next to Major DonaldReilly’s chopper when he washit.Memorial DayThe bugle echoes shrill and sweetBut not of war it sings to-day.The road is rhythmic with the feetOf men-at-arms who come to pray.The roses blossom white and redOn tombs where weary soldiers lie;Flags wave above the honored deadAnd martial music cleaves the sky.Above their wreath-strewn graveswe kneel,They kept the faith and fought the fight.Through flying lead and crimson steelThey plunged for Freedom and the Right.May we, their grateful children, learnTheir strength, who lie beneath this sod,Who went through fire and death to earnAt last the accolade of God.In shining rank on rank arrayedThey march, the legions of theLord;He is their Captain unafraid,The Prince of Peace…Who brought a sword.— Joyce Kilmer“The Marine Corps core values—Honor, Courage, and Commitment—arethe defining qualitiesof a Marine. They are mutuallyreinforcing and dependent, if onequality is strong, it supports theothers; if one is weak, the otherssuffer. Honor is a well-developedsense of right and wrong. We boil itdown to the simple expression that‘Marines do not lie, cheat, or steal.Marines treat all people with dignityand respect.’”“Courage, particularly moralcourage, is the willingness to do theright thing, no matter the personalcost or sacrifice. It is the foundationand source of physical courage,which is more often associated withmilitary heroism. Finally, Commitmentis selfless devotion to ourfaith, the Marine Corps, our fellowMarines, and our family and friends.Easy to remember, more challengingto live by, these are the standardsto which all Marines are held.”Semper Fidelis

26 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” May 2011The bad breath of Santa Claushas been known to trigger cynicismin youth.Most folks look back at thatencounter as the dawn of disillusionment.Others may not reach thatstage of enlightenment until muchlater in life. And some poor saps stillthink everything is on the square.But most will agree with the oldadage: “There are only two thingsthat are on the up and up, Mother’sDay and mountain climbing, andwe’re not too sure about Mother’sDay.”When my kids were four yearsold and asked me to take them to see“He-Man” live at a New York City toystore I couldn’t bring myself to tellthem, “He-Man is not real boys. It’sjust a cartoon.”And it wasn’t even a very goodcartoon. It was no Heckle and Jeckle,and certainly couldn’t touch anythingby the inimitable Bugs Bunny.But the boys were glued to the tubeevery Saturday morning followingthe adventures of He-Man and theMasters of The Universe.He-Man was a world onto itselfwith villains and strange animalsand lots of evil to conquer in theirboring universe. But the Houli brothersthought it was awesome. Theybegged Santa Claus to bring them thenew toy “Castle Grayskull,” a replicaof He-Man’s domicile.Toy stores wanted ninety bucksfor the stupid plastic castle, and itwould probably be smashed to piecesbefore I finished assembling it.Santa got them wooden buildingblocks instead and left a note onChristmas Eve that said, “Build yourown castle, boys!”And then one morning my sonBilly grabbed me and said, “Dad, He-Man is coming to New York!”Sure enough the TV announcerwas shouting, “Kids, get mom anddad to take you to meet He-Man andShe-Ra next Saturday morning onthe Upper East Side!”I muttered at the TV, “You bastards!”So there I was, early one Saturdaymorning in Manhattan after takingtwo busses to get there, and standingin line with about six hundredother thrilled parents as we waitedoutside for the toy store to open,and every kid would get a chance tomeet He-Man.Sophisticated Manhattan coupleswalking by were perplexed at thethrongs and asked us what all thecommotion was all about.“It’s He-Man, he’s supposed tomake a personal appearance at KidWorld this morning.”The anorexic woman furrowed herplucked brow, “What’s He-Man?”Not your boyfriend.They didn’t get it and probablynever would as they continued ontheir way, late for their brunch at thePlanned Parenthood fundraiser.Cop cars showed up becauseof the crowds and a guy came outof the store and assured us thateveryone would get a chance to seeHe-Man. Numbers were issued andonly fifty people at a time could enterthe store.Of course we were at the end ofthe line and my boys were gettingantsy. I wanted to make sure wewouldn’t be required to buy anythingin order to shake He-Man’s paw, butdidn’t know who to ask. And then wesaw some of the first group of kidscoming back down the block aftertheir audience with He-Man.Uh oh, one kid was crying.His parents looked peeved and myson Paddy grabbed the kid, “Didjasee him? Didja see He-Man?”The kid shrieked through his tears,“It’s just a guy in a costume!”My boys looked stunned. Theline was moving faster now andafter waiting this, long we weren’tabout to bail. I sensed a “teachablemoment” in the offing and chuckledinwardly.We finally reached the front ofthe store and we could see in thewindow and yes, there was He-Man,a guy in a crumby costume, with ablonde wig. I thought maybe theywould have hired a guy who was abody builder or a Hulk Hogan clone,but this was just some nerd wearinga body suit with flesh colored fakemuscles. He looked ridiculous andmost of the kids weren’t buying it.Oh sure, there was the usualcrowd of butt-kissing wimps whogamely shouted out He-Man’s chant,“By the power of Grayskull!” …butmy guys just stared dumbly at thisabomination.Billy and Paddy were pissed,and refused to even go in the store.They’d seen enough and said, “Let’sgo home.”But I opened the door of the storeand shouted at the top of my lungs,“Rip-Off! Rip-Off! Rip-Off!”“What’s a rip-off, dad?”Now they know.Twenty-six years later manyAmericans are experiencing thatsame feeling with our government.They believed in something thatturned out to be just an empty suit.Since they’re adults, they’re reticentto admit they’ve been snookered.Like those squishy kids who keptchanting “By the Power of Grayskull!”that day in Manhattan, theirpride won’t let them admit their naïveté.But they shouldn’t feel bad.After all, it’s just part of growingup.

May 2011 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” 27Honoring Mothers, RecognizingChrist in Our Neighbors in NeedHappy Easter! And Happy Mother’sDay to all mothers and yourfamilies!It is very appropriate that duringthis Easter Season we honor our belovedmothers who gave us life, loveand faith—while continuing with theChurch our 50-day celebration of theresurrection of Jesus Christ from thedead, and his gift to us of eternal life!The Gospel on this Mother’s Daytells us that shortly after he rose fromthe dead, Jesus appears to some of hisgrief-stricken, bewildered discipleson the road to Emmaus. They do notrecognize him. He walks with them,explains to them what refers to Him inall the Scriptures—and they invite himto sit down to supper with them.During the meal, Jesus, still astranger to them, took the bread, saidthe blessing, broke the bread, and gaveit to them. And Scripture says: “Withthat, their eyes were opened and theyrecognized him.” (Luke 24:13-35) JesusChrist, the Servant and Savior of all,gives Himself to us as the Bread of Lifein the Sacrament of the Eucharist. He isnew life, and hope for the hopeless.Today, as for the last 93 years,Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese ofChicago responds to Jesus’ tremendousgifts of life, faith and hope by caring forthe poor in Cook and Lake counties.The traditional Catholic CharitiesCollection on Mother’s Day enables usto recognize Christ—as the disciplesdid in today’s Gospel—in our neighborsin need.We see Christ in the face of eachsenior, Mom, Dad, child, teen, hungryor homeless man or woman who comesto us—of all races and religions; andwe welcome them! Last year, CatholicCharities assisted more than 1 millionpeople who sought our help!When we break the bread of ourlives with our neighbors sufferingfrom poverty, job loss, or the fear ofhomelessness, our lives change forthe better. When we donate food orserve at our six weekly suppers for thehungry and homeless in Cook County;provide clothing, shoes and socks forour clothing rooms in our Regionaloffices; become job coaches or supportCatholic Charities fundraising events,we are fed by the gift of charity.Through 159 programs at 156 sites,Catholic Charities daily providesprofessional social services such ascounseling, as well as the basic necessitiesof life, for those in need—inbody or soul.We welcome seniors daily at luncheonprograms at social centers andsenior residences in Cook and LakeCounties. We feed hundreds of hungryand homeless people at daily, dignifiedsit-down dinners; and provide food forlow-income mothers and children.Catholic Charities houses hundredsTrinity Irish Dancers Take the Schaumburg StageThe Trinity Academy of IrishDance steps on to the SchaumburgHigh School Auditorium stage fortheir 2011 spring performance, Inspire,on Saturday, May 7, at 1pmand 5pm. Schaumburg High Schoolis located at 1100 West SchaumburgRoad, Schaumburg, IL 60194.Tickets are $17 for adults, $5 forchildren ages 3-18, children under3 are FREE if sitting on an adult’slap. Advance tickets are availableby emailing info@trinitydance.com.Remaining tickets will be availableat the door.In a heart-pounding display ofstrength and agility, Trinity dancersages 4-18 take the stage withnew choreography as well as oldfavorites including “The Dawn,”“Celtic Tiger” and “Johnny.” Specialperformances include Trinity II, thejunior touring company, Men ofTrinity and dancers fresh from theWorld Championships in Dublin,Ireland.of formerly homeless or recoveringveterans. We welcome refugees, comfortthe sorrowful through counseling,provide shelter for homeless families,and help to restore hope and theirchildren to mothers recovering theirsobriety. We care for low-income seniorsby providing dignified apartmentliving—or assisted living—in CatholicCharities’ beautiful residences in thecity and suburbs.Primarily, we restore hope, becauseHOPE is what matters most to a homelessfamily, or a family with a parentout of work; or to a senior on a limitedincome who lives alone and needsassistance.Only once a year do we ask yourhelp in transforming the lives ofthousands of low-income and homelessmothers and children in need ofsupport. And we are good stewards ofyour gifts, because 92 percent of eachdonation to Catholic Charities helpssomeone in need.Needless to say, Catholic Charitiescannot serve a million people inneed each year without a great deal ofvolunteer help! So, I invite each of ourreaders and parishioners to participatein our Mission of Charity. Yes, we needyour financial support, but we also welcomevolunteers, and greatly rely on thesupport of parishioners who offer theirgifts and talents, language skills, andhands-on support.I ask that you pray for the work ofCatholic Charities, that we may continueto bring new life, help and hopeto our neighbors in need! God bless youand your families!For more information or to make a donationto the Catholic Charities Collection onMother’s Day, please contact Margaret Hughesat (312) 655-7012, or visit: www.catholiccharities.net;or www.caridadescatolicas.net.For more information, visittrinityirishdancers.comor facebook.com/trinityirishdancers.Featuring thelargest selectionof Irish madecladdagh rings,Tweed caps andhats in theChicagoland areaTHEIRISHBOUTIQUEcrystal lake plaza6600 northwest highwaycrystal lake815-459-1800228 robert parker coffin roadlong grove847-634-0339THEIRISHBOUTIQUE434 robert parker coffin roadlong grove847-634-3540Young musicians come together to play Irish Music...and have a great time too!The Academy of Irish Music students meet once a week at the Irish-AmericanHeritage Center in Chicago. Students are divided into beginner, intermediate, andsenior groups based on ability and experience. The children come from all overthe the Metropolitan area. Most of them participate in school bands andorchestras; many are Suzuki trained. These kids enjoy playing Irish music andmaking new friends.GROUP LESSONS & PRIVATE CLASSESFlute | Whistle | Bodhran |Fiddle | Viola |CelloFor more information contact: Noel Rice, Director(847) 564-1338 • nrice@interaccess.comwww.academyofirishmusic.orgat the Irish American Heritage Center |4626 North Knox Ave., Chicago,IL

28 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” May 2011Heat CheckDaly InvestorBy John P. DalyWe’ve come a long way from the marketlow we saw a little over 2 years ago.One consistent trend I see with investorsis that they are still very cautious aboutinvesting in the stock market, and rightfullyso. The past decade for stocks hasTVL CONSTRUCTIONWILL BEAT ALL ESTIMATESfor Any Kind of WorkAround Your HomeCALL 800-240-0361PLASTERINGWilliam McNulty & SonsPlastering Co.InsuredAll Work GuaranteedPLASTERINGSTUCCO • DRYVIT708-386-2951been nothing tobrag about. Theeconomy suffered2 recessionsand thestock marketactually had anegative returnfrom 2000-2010. So, whereare we now? Is the stock market a goodplace to put your money? Are things reallyimproving? If you ask the averageinvestor, I believe the common responsewould be NO. A recent study showedstock mutual funds had a negative outflowover the past 12 months and bond mutualfunds had a positive inflow of almost$200 billion. Obviously this shows littleconfidence in the stock market movingforward, especially since interest ratesare at all time lows. For this month’sarticle, I’d like to take a quick gauge ofthe economy and stock market, a HEATCHECK, to see where we are and wherewe might be headed.As I mentioned, the economy and stockmarket have come a long way over thepast 2 years. As it looks right now, we’verecovered from the GREAT RECES-SION. We’ve had 7 quarters of positiveGDP growth. Considering the nasty hitconsumers took during the recent financialmeltdown and given that consumerspending accounts for 67% of GDP; thatis a pretty impressive trend. Two of thebiggest lagging sectors of the economy,housing and auto sales, have also improved.In July of 2010, existing homessales hit a low of 3.8 million homes sold(annual). Since that time we’ve reboundedto an annual rate of almost 5 million;even though that is still far off of the highwe saw in Sept 05 of 7.25 million, it lookslike we are headed in the right direction.Another way to gauge the housing marketis to look at foreclosure filings. In Februaryof this year, foreclosure filings wereat 225,000. That is still a high numberthat everyone would like to see go down,but it was the lowest number recordedin 3 years, and it is down 38% from thehigh of 367,000 filings, which occurredin March of 2010.Auto sales are another way to judgethe economy and consumer spending.At the start of the great recession, autosales started their freefall. The averageannual sales number going back to 1985has averaged around 15 million units. InFebruary of 2009, that number hit a 20year low of 9.3 million units. Six monthslater “cash for clunkers” helped U.S. autosales rebound to just fewer than 15 millionunits, but that number was too high tomaintain in a sluggish economy with highunemployment and without governmentsupport. Auto sales tumbled back below10 million units the next month. Sincethen we have seen a steady increase insales. The recent number for February2011 was 13.8 million units. Again, thatnumber is below the past decades average,but it does show potential for growth ifwe can get back to the mean.Now let’s look at the stock market. Therecent bear market ended up lasting 17months and the S&P 500 lost 56% of itsvalue during that time. The current stockmarket recovery began in March of 2009and through March 2011, the market hasrisen 95%. This is a very impressive numberand in my opinion, it is the reason somany people are nervous about the stockmarket. They believe that the market hasincreased too far too fast and they are an-Shamrock PaintingCommercialResidentialExterior - InteriorSatisfying Customersfor Over 15 YearsPaul McGee815-729-9310ticipating a major pull back or correction.That has to be why we have recently hitan all time high of almost $6 trillion inliquid assets—the fear of buying at thetop and getting burned. Should investorsbe cautious—always—but being cautiousand taking too much risk by NOT investingare two different issues.This current bull market has lasted alittle over 24 months and currently returnedalmost 100% (from market lowsin 2009). When you look back at the past12 bull markets, we’ve experienced since1928, our current run is below historicaverages. The average length of a bullmarket since 1928 has been 57 monthsand the average return has been 164%.So historically speaking the current bullmarket could still have a long way to goand it may not be too late to participatein this market rally.John P. Daly is a Certified FinancialPlanner and President of Daly InvestmentManagement, LLC a fee onlyRegistered Investment Advisor specializingin financial planning and wealthmanagement for individuals and families.Phone: 312-239-1317 Email: john@dalyinvestment.com. Call or email withquestions re: Investments or financialplanning. www.dalyinvestment.com.Ed McElroy, host of “Community in Focus” TV show, recently interviewed Sister M. Paul McCaughey,O.P., Superintendent of Catholic Schools and Commissioner Mary Dempsey, Chicago Public Library.Pictured from the left is Sister McCaughey, Ed McElroy, and Mary Dempsey.Visit us atGIFT SHOPShamrock ImportsMaureen O’Looney3150 N. Laramie, Chicago773-286-6866

May 2011 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” 29Plus Ça ChangeThe new government needs some luck,and, frankly, much of what is on the horizonappears bad. I have just returned from thesouth of Spain, where one could almost hearthe shouts of outrage from Ireland over its announcementon recapitalising the banks. Afterreflection, best judgement was that, ratherthan “burn the bondholders,” another $30billion would be thrown at the banks. A LabourMinister promised that the governmentwould act in the best interests of the country,echoing words of the former government.Déjà vu, anyone?The howls came loudest from those whohad switched to vote Labour, now swearingnever again. In truth the government hadlittle choice, just as it faces the fiscal futurewith very little room for manoeuvre. Thehoneymoon period, such as it was, is nowover. The sniping from the left is likely tointensify, to the growing discomfiture of Labour.Fianna Fail remains, defeated but stilldangerous; however, it is unlikely to recoveruntil there is either a major government fauxpasor a further significant worsening in theeconomy brought about by some externalforce-majeure.The public’s anger has now focussed on“Europe,” a term encompassing Germany,France, the ECB and the European Commission.All are deemed culpable in varyingdegrees, by: a) not controlling Ireland’sfinancial regulator and institutions, b) allowingtheir national banks to invest in the CelticTiger bonanza, c) refusing to countenancemaking the bondholders pay lest their bankssuffer losses, d) refusing to cut a deal on ourrepayment terms, lest their electorates objectto paying for us, and e) a general refusal toaccept Ireland’s special case.We have not yet reached the stage of callsthat our involvement with Europe should beseen as some form of Faustian pact, i.e., wegot all the goodies early on, but now Europeis costing us, is harming us and is inhibitingour manifest destiny (whatever that maybe). Yet there arealready disturbingsuggestionsfrom the oppositionand thepublic that weuse our veto orthreat of defaultto get our way(1% of the population of the European Unionto determine what the other 99% does).The phrase “eaten bread is soon forgotten”comes to mind. Ireland has benefittedenormously from Europe in terms of marketaccess, huge financial transfers (the CAP,Regional and Structural Funds), a benignapproach to our corporate tax regime, andmuch else. European social, environmentaland human rights legislation has had a definingrole in shaping contemporary Irishsociety. Furthermore, rightly or wrongly,Ireland chose a particular path in abandoningsterling 30 years ago and, later, in choosingto join the Euro, which we did with our eyesopen, though much of our trade was outsidethe Eurozone.There is some, but not much, justificationfor blaming “Europe” for not overseeing sufficientlyclosely Irish banks’ reckless lending(and borrowing!). The EU is not, after all, afully integrated entity like the USA, and thecentre relies on national governments to micromanagepolicy. If there is a criticism to belevelled it is that, in instituting something asmajor as a new currency, there should havebeen greater care and attention to detail inadvance as well as a stronger and more intrusiveregulatory regime. Yet this is not the waythe EU has worked to date. And had Europeintervened, during the Years of the Tiger, therewould have been a chorus of “hands off ” andshouts about attacks on our sovereignty.The two major quantum leaps taken by theEU this century, Enlargement and the Euro,were, above all, political, and were taken aftersome but not necessarily sufficient preparation.EU practice has been that institutionsare tasked or shaped to give effect to politicaldecisions made. If tweaking is needed thereis tweaking. If heavy lifting is required therewill be heavy lifting; but this takes time. Upto now the system has worked and Europe hasmuddled through various difficulties.It is evident that the Eurozone is currentlyin a deep crisis and that Ireland is a componentin that crisis. The scale and depth of theTop Source Industries, Inc.503 Westgate RoadAddison, IL 60101Fine CabinetryCustom Designed and Crafted Cabinetry,Entertainment Centers and more...Call Us Today(FREE initial consultation and sketch)1-800-362-9625www.quickdisplay.netcrisis were not anticipated, with some commentatorssuggesting there is more and worseto come. Right now Europe is struggling tofind a solution, for both the short and the longterm. This is a process and could last for sometime. Irish politicians, commentators and thepublic have been less than enthused aboutprogress to date. But there is still some wayto go. In the meantime the European CentralBank is keeping our economy afloat. Wewould do well to keep this in mind.Domestically there are some indicationsthat economic growth is back, with exportsrising and surveys among business showingmore optimism than pessimism. Indeed thereis a functioning economy out there, withhundreds of thousands more employed thanten or fifteen years ago. Anyone who doubtsthis should compare the traffic flows now withthe late 90s, and, despite all the doomsayers,consumer spending is around 2003 levels—which were far from bad.However, little impact has been made onunemployment levels, the banking system ismoribund (apart from bullying small and mediumdebtors), interest rates and energy pricesare rising—inhibiting the rate of economicgrowth—and the sands of reckoning forpersonal and mortgage debt are fast runningout. Throw in the rising cost of servicing ourdebts just to keep the country running and itis clear that the target of cutting the budgetdeficit to 3% in any reasonable timeframe isachievable only by drastic cuts in spending orincreases in taxation or some combination ofboth. The dynamics of a left/right coalitionsuggest that anything too radical will fail.And that is not the worst of it. The mortgagecrisis is moving inexorably towardscentre stage and seems set to concentrate thegovernment’s mind later in the year, particularlygiven that those affected are middle class,and thus more likely to create a fuss. Thesituation has worsened since I wrote severalmonths ago about the prospect of 25,000plus mortgage defaults and repossessions(i.e., evictions), with scheduled interest risesover the next year set to compound matters.Up to 10% of mortgages are reportedly eitherin arrears or the subject of temporary specialarrangements. The last government soughtto postpone the issue by kicking it down theroad through palliatives (a moratorium onrepossessions) or a sticking plaster solution(a code of conduct, etc.). The problem cannotbe ducked for much longer, with voicesalready querying how the banks, which “we”own, can be allowed to pursue mortgageholders.May promises some relief, with visits bythe Queen and Barrack Obama, both offeringpotential spin-off in terms of publicity andtourism. The government is also scheduledto launch its job creation programme, thoughhow exactly this is to be financed is not clear.That, plus some confidence building measures,is about all the government has in itslocker. A move from Europe, however small,would be very welcome and would underlinewho our friends really are.VacationGalena RentalsExperience the scenic beautyof Ireland in Galena, ILfor a vacation in Resort Homeswithout Resort Prices773-631-5253Toll free 866-GalenaRentalse-mailGalenaRentals@ameritech.netVisit www.GalenaRentals.comIrish owned & operated

30 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” May 2011This is the next of a series of columns on how the law can impact your life. Eachmonth we will focus on various aspects of the law relating to personal injuries,those that happen both on-the-job and otherwise, including mishaps which occurin driving vehicles, using products and receiving medical care. The column willalso respond to legal questions relating to personal injury that are sent to us.The Healy Law Firm is comprised of eight trial attorneys, two of whom arefrom Ireland. We are located downtown at 111 West Washington Street, Suite 1425,Chicago, Illinois 60602 (800-922-4500 or 312-977-0100). www.HealyLawFirm.com. The firm concentrates in the representation of injured victims of all typesof accidents.Readers are encouraged to call or write with questions concerning personalinjury law.Implanted Artificial Knees & HipsCausing Significant ProblemsAs the baby-boomer generationadvances in age, they are more likelyto become artificial joint replacementcandidates. Knee and hip replacementsare the most common and havebeen the subject of recent controversyand litigation. Now, not only do jointreplacement patients need to be concernedwith working towards a healthyrecovery after the implant surgery, theymay now need to be concerned withfaulty implants in their bodies.The Story of a Surgeon vs.Implant ManufacturerA prominent Chicago orthopaedicMeehall RecallsContinued from Page 25had sold the old house in Mt. Greenwoodlong ago and now they all livedtogether in an ancient stucco-walledapartment in Beverly on 95th St. Itseemed like every other weekend myparents would pay them a visit andbring us kids along.I loved the mysterious old building…like the lobby of a classic movietheatre of the 1920s, it transportedyou to the entrance of an Old Spanishcastle. The huge dungeon doorwould swing shut behind us with aresounding boom and then we’d climbthe endless flights of steps, the highceilings echoing our every footfall,as if we had entered the grand galleryinside the Great Pyramid. Finally we’dknock on my Aunt Marge and UncleBud’s little black door, and withinwas all sweetness and light. The scentof little old lady perfume and dinnerrolls baking in the kitchen, while outin the dining room my Uncle Budwould be asking my father if he’d likea Manhattan, and Dad saying “yes butit’s only noon,” and then Buddy wouldalways quip “Well, the sun’s up oversurgeon installed a certain manufacturer’sartificial knees into patients formore than a decade. He helped themanufacturer design joint implantsand the surgical tools used to installthem. He also trained surgeons acrossthe country to use this particularmanufacturer’s implants. The manufacturerpromoted and praised thissurgeon. The surgeon talked up themanufacturer’s products. The twohad a thriving relationship. But whenthe surgeon started noticing defectsin the manufacturer’s knee implants,he alerted the manufacturer of hisfindings; in turn, the manufacturerthe yardarm somewhere in the world,”and laugh and pour them both a snort.In Mudgie’s little kitchen with thearoma of her famous graham crackercheesecake in the air, she’d be fixingus kiddie cocktails with ginger ale anda real cherry with a little colored plasticstraw through it. Very posh. AuntMarge was the sweetheart of the family,with her sparkling blue eyes andwonderful, infectious laugh. We allloved Mudgie and she loved us back,doubly. Whenever family was visiting,Nana’s favorite perch was next to thedinner table, where she could hear theconversations in all three rooms. Whenin need of a hug I could usually findher rocking chair parked there at thewindow next to the radiator.But as we all must, eventually Nanagrew frail and feeble. The little brasssouvenir that her son George hadbrought back from India now servedas a summoning bell in her last years,when it became difficult for her towalk. Since Nana’s room was backat the end of the hallway, she’d justring the bell if she needed anythingand my aunt or uncle would get upand go help her. She kept the bell onblamed any failure of the implantson the surgeon’s technique.Because the manufacturer wouldnot heed the surgeon’s concerns, thesurgeon conducted and publisheda study demonstrating the defectin the knee replacement. The studyshowed that over 8% of the kneeimplants were failing. Again, themanufacturer responded by questioningthe surgeon’s techniques, not itsown product. The manufacturer thenconducted its own studies on thisknee implant and concluded, arguablyself-servingly, that it was indeeda safe product.The once prosperous associationbetween this Chicago surgeon andthe implant manufacturer culminatedinto a not-so-amicable separation.A Manufacturer’sConduct in a RecentHip Implant RecallHip replacement surgery is fairlycommon in the U.S. Studies have shownthat 90% of hip replacements are consideredsuccessful. However, a certainmanufacturer, DePuy Companies,recently recalled its ASR hip implantsystem due to defects.In 2003 DePuy released its ASR hipimplant system, marketing it as uniquein that it was a metal-on-metal design.The design was intended to last longerand provide more natural movement inthe hip socket. However, the ASR hipimplant did not live up to its intendeddesign. The prosthetic “cup” was tooshallow, making it susceptible to “edgeher bedside table, and as a toddler itfascinated me.Every time we’d come to visit, Iwould take off running all the way backto Nana’s room where, taking a flyingleap, I’d climb and claw my way atopthe big white bed. Then I’d look up,smile back at my Nana and rush to geta hug, whereupon she’d lean me overto the side table and let me ring her bigbrass bell. Often my Uncle George orAunt Marge would suddenly appear inthe doorway, only to find me in theirmother’s arms with the bell in my hand.And Nana would throw her head back,crinkle those crystalline blue Waterfordeyes, laugh merrily at Mudge andBud, and then finally, always, flash thatbeautiful smile of hers.One day in 1964 when I was three,Mom bundled us all up and Dad droveus to the old apartment. As usual, Irelished the ancient pillars and stainedglass and the great big oak door andthe buzzer and the long climb upthe dark wooden stairs. And then weknocked at the little door and it openedand inside was all sweetness and lightand as always, I ran immediately to theback bedroom to see Nana.“Nana…?” I entered the room andthere stood her Mount Everest bed, asbig as ever and snowcapped-white, butit was all made up and no one in it. Ichecked the side table, but found nothingon it but a lamp. Maybe she was inthe kitchen, or sitting in her chair bythe tall window near the radiator. I ranas fast as I could back down the hallway,calling her name, but she was nowhereto be found and I was quickly pickedloading,” a process where the joint’sball rubs up against the cups edge,chiseling off metallic debris.The wearing away of the metalon-metalcondition creates a situationwhere metal debris is released into thebody, causing a dangerous conditionknown as metallosis. Metallosis candestroy surrounding bone and tissue aswell as increase the difficulty of a subsequentsurgery to revise the implant.All the residual effects of metallosisare still yet unknown.In March 2010, DuPuy issued anotice to surgeons in the United Statesthat the ASR hip implant had a higherthan expected failure rate. However,even more concerning, these noticesto U.S. surgeons came months afterDuPuy voluntarily withdrew the sameASR hip implant from the Australianmarket. DuPuy continued to marketand sell the ASR hip implant in theUnited States for approximately sixmonths after the Australian withdrawalfinally recalling the ASR device in theU.S. in August 2010.Estimates indicate that over 90,000worldwide were implanted with thisASR hip system. DuPuy has sinceconceded that at least 13% of thesepatients will experience an implantfailure and will require revision surgery.Studies conducted by others indicatethat as many as 30% of the patients mayexperience this product failure.Unfortunately, these revision procedureswill be performed most predominantlyon the elderly population, whoare more susceptible to surgical complicationssuch as infections, deep veinthrombosis, femur fractures, continuedpain and suffering, and, of course, theincurring of significant future medicalexpenses.GovernmentOversight, or Lack Thereof?Of concern is that the DuPuy’sASR hip received Food and Drug Administration(FDA) approval. Thereis a loop hole in the FDA approvalprocess whereby when a manufacturersubmits a new medical devicethat is “substantially equivalent” to amedical device already on the market,no clinical trials are required and thenew medical device is automaticallyapproved.It is disturbing to know that manyartificial joints, including the onessubject to recent controversy, werecleared by the FDA without comprehensivetesting.Manufacturers can initiate theirown recalls. However, when medicaldevice manufacturers fail to actresponsibly and regulators fail tohold them accountable, it falls onthe patient and the public to filecomplaints to ensure these defectiveproducts don’t harm more people inthe future.If you have anyquestions regardingmedical implants,feel free to contactour offices.By Matthew J.Healyup and comforted by my mother, nodoubt with tears in her eyes.Later on as a child, I would alwaysgo into Mudgie’s room as soon aswe arrived, give the little bell a lightring, and gaze at the wonderful blackand white photo of my smiling greatgrandmotherbeside it on the dresser.After Uncle Buddy passed on, my auntgave me their mother’s brass bell asa keepsake. And every so often on anight like tonight, when I stop in frontof the glass case in our living room, I’llopen the door and gaze for a minute atthe beautiful lines and graceful curvesof the old bell. Then with a sigh anda wistful smile, I’ll give it three littlerings: one for kind, gentle Aunt Mudgie,one for good old Uncle Bud, andone for my dear, sweet Nana.Chicago native Michael Carrollis an internationally known Celticartist, working in the style of theBook of Kells, and more recently hasauthored three books. These storiesare excerpted from his memoirsMeehall: Memories of a South SideLad and its sequel The Trouble WithMeehall. Both books are available atwww.lulu.com.

May 2011 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” 31MickMike MorleyThe World Did Gaze in Deep AmazePower rests on force of will andcontrol of resources including finances,food, allies and information.Each is a need and also a weapon.The advantage of wealth is obvious. Isyour enemy in a fortress you cannotbreach? Starve him out. Is his messagecompelling? Drown it out. Doeshe have allies? Divide them.But, information? What is thepower of a word? Consider pro- vs.anti-abortion. That debate quicklymorphed into Pro-choice vs. Pro-life.Both sides wish to wield Solomon’ssword positively, while judging thefate of a human fetus/child. The ideais as old as advertising: link yourcause to a concept everyone favors,like liberty; and paint your opponentwith the tar of slavery. Selling actualtar (and nicotine) works the same: justdisplay your smokes on a billboardnext to a girl in a bikini—that’s it.They will come. Association is simpleand powerful.Of 44 million Americans claimingIrish ancestry in 1981, Time estimatedonly 200,000 were active in Irish affairs.Of those, half lived in five cities:New York (where half the Americansborn in Ireland lived), Boston, Chicago,San Francisco, and Washington,D.C. These are the same cities wherethe shepherds of American publicopinion man their long range guns:The New York Times, Washington Post,Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, andSan Francisco Chronicle.When Bobby Sands announcedin February 1981 that a new hungerstrike was imminent, the battle lineswere readied.On Feb. 21 ‘The Irish People’ reporteda surprise early volley fromJane Byrne’s Chicago: “Be it resolvedthat the Chicago City Council supportsthe demand of the politicalprisoners and strongly urges theBritish government to take the necessaryaction to prevent the tragic anddisastrous results of a hunger strike. Inthe name of basic human justice, weurge the British government to grantthe political prisoners demands.”March 1, the first day of Sands’hunger strike, was day 41 of RonaldReagan’s presidency. Three daysearlier he had welcomed MaggieThatcher to the White House saying,“Together we will work to continue toconfront the scourge of internationalterrorism.”Bobby Sands wrote a poem “TheRhythm Of Time” in Long Keshprison camp. The first and last stanzasread:There’s an inner thing in everyman, Do you know this thing myfriend? It has withstood the blowsof a million years, And will do so tothe end.It lights the dark of this prisoncell, It thunders forth its might, It is‘the undauntable thought’, my friend,The thought that says ‘I’m right!’A timeless human confrontation:might vs. right. Ancient Hindus calledit “dbarna,” the Druids, “Troscad.” Itwas a means of compelling justiceand securing one’s rights. Accordingto Druid law: ‘He who disregards thefaster shall not be dealt with by Godnor man… he forfeits his legal rightsto anything according to the decisionof the Brehon.’ St. Ruadán of Lorrha,one of the Twelve Apostles of Irelandcursed Tara and fasted against theHigh King, Diarmait. St. Patrick reportedlyfasted against several personsto compel them to Justice.But we live in a progressive society,and the powerful now have less fearof God’s wrath and shame beforemankind.A stroke of fate: Frank Maguire, IndependentMP for Fermanagh / SouthTyrone, dies March 5th. Three weekslater Sinn Féin nominates Sands forthe office. Francis Hughes, RaymondMcCreesh and Patsy O’Hara havemeanwhile joined the strike.Sands is hospitalized March 28th.Two days later, a less auspicious strokeof fate: assassin John Hinckley shootsPresident Reagan.Bobby Sands wins the electionApril 11th. But in eight days he willreceive last rites. This appears to bethe point where the power hittersof politics and media separate frommore grass roots colleagues in bothestates.April 20th: Three Irish TDs visitedMaze Prison, then called for urgenttalks with the British government.Thatcher replies that the Britishgovernment will not meet with IrishTDs to discuss the hunger strike, famouslyadding: “We are not preparedto consider special category statusfor certain groups of people servingsentences for crime. Crime is crime iscrime, it is not political.”(Note: The strong-principled Baronessdid not see fit to apply her crimedogma at home when her offspring,Sir Mark Thatcher, who is nowpersona-non-grata even in the US,became involved in a Cromwellianscheme to allegedly seize by force asmall, oil-rich African country; andwhen things went south, bailed outleaving his SAS “buddy” to rot in anAfrican prison.)On the 25th the Irish Echo reports:“Irish Deputies Ask Reagan to MediateHunger Strike.”April 28th: Pope John Paul II’sprivate secretary visited Sands butcould not convince him to end his fast.Ronald Reagan says America wouldnot intervene in Northern Ireland affairs,but he was “deeply concerned”.The Chicago Tribune: “Bobby Sands’deliberate slow suicide is intended toprecipitate civil war.”April 30th: George F. Will in TheWashington Post: “…it is well to rememberthat Sands is a terrorist.”May 2: The Irish Echo reports atelegram sent to President Reagan:“As members of the Ad Hoc CongressionalCommittee for Irish Affairs, weare making an urgent appeal… thatyou immediately communicate withPrime Minister Margaret Thatcherto urge a humanitarian resolutionin the matter of Mr. Robert Sands.We make our appeal to you in thespirit of peace and humanity.” It wassigned by 20 congressmen including9 republicans. Here was one senator,Alfonse D’Amato (R-NY). Amongthe representatives, four had “Irishsounding”names: John Conyers(D-Mich), William Carney (R-NY),Cardiss Collins (D-Ill), and JamesNelligan (R-Pa). Another Illinois supporter:Frank Annuzio.The Massachusetts Legislaturepassed a unanimous resolution askingthe President to urge the Governmentof Great Britain to recognize BobbySands as a political prisoner. Theycited “British injustice in occupiedIreland which violates the fundamentalprinciples of common lawand human decency that persons areinterned without being charged witha crime; are unable to attain a trial bya jury of their peers; coerced confessionsare admissible into evidence;and political dissidents are presumedguilty until they have proven themselvesinnocent.”Terence Cardinal Cooke, andother churchmen and labor leaderscontacted Thatcher. But PresidentReagan and “The Four Horsemen” ofIrish-American politics (O’Neill Kennedy,Moynihan and Carey) utteredfew public statements up to that time.Meanwhile the media shepherds werepiling on the coal.Washington Post, May 3rd: “Theprimary aim of the fast is not simplypolitical status, but the internationalpublicity.” The Globe: “the slow suicideattempt of Bobby Sands has casthis land and his cause into anotherdownward spiral of death and despair.There are no heroes in the saga ofBobby Sands.”“All this international attentiongives the Provos a big lift. People geton bandwagons.” John Hume, SDLPWashington Post, May 4.In Washington, Father Sean Mc-Manus of the Irish National Caucus,fasted outside the British consulate.In New York, a nun, Sister RosaleenHalloran, fasted outside the UnitedNations. Protest marches were heldin many U.S. cities.Rep. Geraldine A. Ferraro (D-Queens) telegrammed Thatcher: “Iam asking you not to let Bobby Sandsdie… It’s within your power to bringthis situation to a peaceful end. Forthe good of England, and the good ofIreland, please set forth this importantpeace initiative.”Both The NY Times and the Echoreport on the May 2nd New York demonstrations:“300 to 400 demonstratingin front of a British Airways office,moving to St. Patrick’s Cathedral for aprayer vigil… praying in silence andlistening to the Rev. Daniel Berrigan,SJ, who tried unsuccessfully to visitMr. Sands.”NORAID sponsored a demonstrationin front of the British Consulate.Thatcher was burned in effigy.Tuesday, 5 May 1981, BobbySands, MP, died after 66 days onhunger strike. There were riotsacross Northern Ireland and in theRepublic. The IRA increased attackson security forces. The Britishgovernment received internationalcondemnation for its handlingof the issue. It seems that many,including Thatcher, were caughtby surprise, expecting MP Sandsto break his fast before the end.Gerry Adams apparently sharedthat analysis.More to come.E-mail: IrishTV@ameritech.netWatch: IRISH JOURNAL TELE-VISIONChicago cable- CAN-TV, Channel19: Monday 7pm, Tuesday 2pm;Comcast- (Skokie system) 24 Northsuburbs – Ch. 19 (or 35): Tuesday,6PM Comcast- (Elmhurst system) 41West suburbs– Channel 19: Tuesday7:30pm© Mike Morley 2011

32 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” May 2011Be forewarned. At the end of this, nothingmay be clearer. Hopefully, we’ll both be betterinformed, but this is murky stuff.It all began years ago. Fado, fado. While havinglunch with legendary Sligo fiddler, ManusMcGuire, the topic of regionalization in Irishtraditional music reared its head. Manus residesin East Clare. He agreed with music partner, PaulBrock (sitting across the table—the incomparableBrock-McGuire Band was in town), that the daysof regional styles within the music are rapidlyfading. More on why this is happening in just abit. The point is that it used to be very obviouswhen you were listening to a Clare fiddler, and onefrom Wicklow. Roscommon flute players did notplay like Dublin flute players, and Sligo fiddlersdidn’t play like anybody. Back in the day, anyonecould hear the difference and enjoy it. Tougher,now. Why this is, and what is the current state ofregionalization, climbed on top of the memorywagon from that lunch with Manus years ago andled to this article. This is deep and tricky. So, wedecided to go to three of the most knowledgeablepeople regarding these styles. Manus McGuire isalready in the story, and is regarded by many as thebest Irish fiddler in the world. Brendan Hendry isa magnificent fiddler from Derry, and is recentlyout with his second album, Stringtones. Hendryis widely respected as one of the great exponentsof the “northernstyle.” AlanO’Leary lives inLondon and isDublin-born. Inaddition to runningthe iconicCopperplate Distribution,featuringthe best in traditional artists, it can be arguedthat traditional flute player, Alan, and Harry Bradshaw,formerly of the RTE arethe two most knowledgeablemen living when it comes tothe real music. It is unnecessary,but let us quickly add here, thatof course, we are talking aboutreal Irish music played by real,traditional musicians. Talkto Brendan Hendry. Brendanagrees that the differences instyle are disappearing. Why?In the old days of traditionalmusic—whenever that was—it was quite conceivable thata terrific musician may neverhave gone further than 20 or 30miles from his or her home inthe course of a lifetime. Slowlyover time, this resulted in naturalstyles gathering aroundareas. (Here, we step off thecurb into heavy traffic. It is critical to rememberthat all of this refers to an incredibly subjectiveexperience. Music. What the ear hears. How ithears it. With that in mind, we continue.) Thenorthern traits include a strong bowing technique,use of triplets, a lesser use of finger rolls, and alively pace. To the general punter, northern musicis identifiable as being highly rhythmic and precisewith deep emotion coming from the bowingtechnique. Brendan states, “From the northernperspective, I would include the nine counties withthe distinct individual style to the west, includingthe northwest Donegal style. These styles have avery strong and rhythmically aggressive style, asopposed to the rest of the region which has a softerbowing style.” Names of great fiddlers like JimmyComac, Sean McGuire and Jim McKillop, comeHaley Richardson from Pittsgrove, New Jersey, has been playing the fiddle sinceshe was three years old and now sounds like a veteran at seven years of age.up frequently while talking with Brendan. Thisis where the waters start to part. Alan O’Learyagrees with Brendan and Manus McGuire’s feelingsabout the music, but adds a further dimensionbeyond simple geography. “I’ve never thought somuch of geography, as of families. Within all thesegeographic areas, and the entire Island, you havethese famous musical families. I don’t want tostart naming them, because you inevitably leaveout some of the greats. The point is that thesestyles are more reflective of family than a region.I don’t discount the geography, at all. But thesefamily members went and taught others aroundtheir area. For me, the alpha and omega is thefamily in Irish music.”Manus McGuire seconds that. Brendan Hendrywould speak of “controlled aggression” meaning adirect aggressively open style in attacking the melody.Little ornamentation. Clear transitions noteto note. That sort of thing. Manus, on the otherhand, tells you that the secret to the southern styleis the interpretation of ornamentation. The strongbowing technique is the hallmark in the south.“There is more of a bounce to the southern style,more of the lengthening of a transitional note.[Instead of bounce, your correspondent likes theterm, “swing,” but Brendan Hendry disagrees—and who am I to disagree with him?] The northernstyle shows great lift and direct rhythm, while thesouthern style bounces a bit more.”Again, Alan O’Leary checks in with anotherinterpretation. “A lot of the music is losing itsregionalization and its identifiable character becauseof fleadhs, or musical competitions. Overthe years, and I don’t think anybody would disagreewith this, certain styles have become morefavored by the adjudicators. This has resulted inevery medal hunter naturally gravitating towardsthat style.”Let’s take a breath. Where are we? Well, weseem to have a general agreement among thesethree experts that regionalization is lessening andthat the northern style is more direct, aggressive,and rhythmically precise to the exact measure. Thesouthern style is all about ornamentation, bounce,and bowing technique. Brendan and Manus aregoing to disagree with even that statement. Thatis the fun of the music. There can be an endlessdissection of it. Experts such as Brendan evenattribute styles to the way that people speak indifferent regions. “These styles can all be influencedby the way people speak. Some people havea voice that is soft and roundedand others are very direct. Thespeed at which they talk and theirinflection, does their voice goup and down, or is it direct andfairly monotone? It all matters inthe music.”It is right about here thatI stopped, leaned back in theoffice chair, and dreamed of ashot of Jameson’s. Bravely onward.NOW where are we? Wait.There’s more. The punch line tothis whole complicated story isthat when talking to great musicianslike these three, they willtell you at the end of it all—braceyourself—that regionalization isactually not disappearing! This iscounterintuitive. Vastly improvedtransportation in Ireland andAmerica, mass communications, fleadhs, computers,records tapes, CDs. All of these and morehave combined over the decades and centuries toprovide a more unified approach. Seems natural,unavoidable.But, wrong. Why? Because, the really greatones, like Hendry, McGuire, and O’Leary will tellyou without hesitation that they can instantly stillhear the differences in players and tell you wherethey are from. The first reaction at this point in thearticle should be to say, “Well, then, why have youwritten this in the first place?” Here’s the reason.All of the regional flavor is, in fact, lessening. But,it has not disappeared. All three of our panel ofexperts agree that the day is coming when thesedifferences may be virtually non-existent. Butnot, thank God, for a while. “There is a nine yearold girl residing in New Jersey who I heard playrecently, Haley Richardson. She is a prodigy. Sheis already a brilliant fiddle player, and a studentof Brian Conway in New York. Maybe this makesAlan O’Leary’s point. Brian Conway is a wonderfulfiddler, greatly influenced by Andy McGann,whose parents were from Tyrone and Sligo. Youcan hear it in his Haley’s playing. It has alwaysbeen like that, and still is.”On it goes. As you investigate these matters intraditional music, you almost always find that whatis assumed to be true is nonsense. “The great seannós singers all sang without vibrato.” Nonsense.“Regionalization is disappearing and television iskilling style.” Nonsense. However, Alan O’Learymay sum it all up best. “Because of mass communications,traditional musicians’ individualstyles are in decline. But, there have never beenmore people playing Irish music.”This much is true. The future does not hold thesame amount of highly idiosyncratic styles thatwere a part of the past. Yet, the future is still verybright indeed. Just ask Haley Richardson!

May 2011 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” 33Daniel O’DonnellHere in MayIrish singing sensation DanielO’Donnell brings his trademark combinationof country music, inspirationalballads, ‘60s pop and Irish standardsto Chicagoland. He will appear atWaukegan’s Genesee Theater, Saturday,May 21 at 7pm and Peoria’sCivic Center Theater, Sunday, May 22at 3pm. Tickets are now on sale at thebox offices: Waukegan Genesee Theater-847-263-6300OR 1-800-982-2787,Peoria’s Civic Center-1-800-745-3000or online at www.ticketmaster.com.O’Donnell’s easy-going, entertainingon-stage personality make each liveshow an exciting event! O’Donnell willbe joined in concert by his long-timemusical companion, Irish vocalist MaryDuff, and The Daniel O’Donnell Band.The multi-talented, Irish-born performerhas starred in 10 national PBStelevision specials and has sold over 12million CDs and DVDs worldwide. Heis currently in production with his 11thPBS TV special taped at Nashville’sRyman Auditorium. The country-musicthemed special will premiere on PBSin August, 2011.O’Donnell’s worldwide successis a far cry from the day Daniel usedhis own savings to record and releasehis first song, over 25 years ago. Thesinger’s life is a fascinating tale ofhumble beginnings and a journey tomusical success.IAN talked to Daniel recently abouthis career.IAN: We hear you are embarking ona tour of America.D: Yes, in about a month.IAN: How many places are youvisiting?D: I would imagine about 14 or15, I think. We start out in Edmonton,Calgary, and we visit Chicago, Minneapolis,Des Moines, Iowa, Waukeganand Peoria in Illinois, and Toledo, Ohiofor two nights.IAN: Well, I tell you, we had a greattime in Nashville and we love seeingyou live.D: Thank you!IAN: It’s nice to see musicians whohave respect for people.D: Well that’s good, that you enjoyedit.IAN: I see you are releasing yourfortieth CD?D: Yes. We hope our fans enjoy it.IAN: What’s next on your plans?D: Well, as far as recording, Ihaven’t made a decision when I am goingto release another album. We mightget one done by October. You knowwith recording. The record companywants to put another one out, but a goodalbum takes time!IAN: I hear that you used your ownsavings to record your first song.D: Thats right, yeah, back in 1983.IAN: You had to step out on your ownto make things happen for you?D: Yes, I suppose. It is a very difficultbusiness to get into. I had spenta couple of years touring and I reallyenjoyed it. I just wanted to see how Iwould do on my own. So, you know Idon’t expect people to actually dispatchtheir own private savings, but I used myIMF backup money and I borrowedsome money. It produced about athousand records or something aroundthere. The money was being dispersedin many different ways. I got to recordfour songs, and the first single and allthat. I used two of the songs, one was“Scottish Piping” and the other was “MyDonegal Shores”—that was the songthat got people’s attention.IAN: Now was that Ritz Records?D: Actually that was on my ownlabel. That first one was all me. EventuallyI got with Ritz Records. Theywanted me to do a two-sider, one thingin Cockney and one thing in Irish.IAN: So those first thousand records,how did you distribute them?D: Oh, just on my own. I would givethem to shops in our local town. I soldthem myself, I went around to places. Iended up ordering another five hundredrecords.“My Donegal Shores” is really whatmade me a hit with the people and onpirate radio. Local radio was reallypopular then, but they would only wantIrish stations to record them.IAN: Pirate radio stations?D: Yes. There was loads and loadsof pirate radio stations then. So yourrecords got played at those stations.They played the music that Irish peopleliked. You know that national radiowasn’t playing the Irish music at thatpoint, you know it was maybe a bitof an upgrade. The Irish radio was reallythe greatest media source here. Ibelieve that starting out in local radiowas for the best.IAN: Sounds like you were in theright place at the right time. And youwere making it happen, you didn’t waitaround for it to happen.D: It could have been the time youknow. I made the record in 1983, then Irecorded after I got signed and did “MyDonegal Shores” again. But it wasn’tuntil 1986 that things began to takeshape. I wasn’t overnight.IAN: No, it took about three years.D: How about that! It was over threeyears, and it was like someone switchedon a light, and it was amazing!IAN: If you haven’t been a singer,what would you have been?D: I think I would have been ateacher.IAN: What do you think you wouldhave taught?D: I don’t know. I practiced economicsand math. I like the currency stuff.IAN: Well thats quite a backgroundfor a guy in his own business. That musthelp you a lot.D: Well, I don’t know if it has ornot cause I don’t… I sort of left it allbehind me.IAN: Not really, I noticed your verywell organized. Your people are on topof things.D: Well I have a lot of good peoplearound me and that helps. I thinkthe secret is you can’t do everythingyourself.IAN: You have to delegate. So whatwas your first gig?D: Well first, when I was advertisingmy own name, it was in Glasgow inScotland. At the Irish Chapter in Glasgow.That was 1983. I went there for aweekend and I played at three differentplaces, The Irish Chapter, behind thereis a bar called the Squirrel Bar, it’s asmall place with a sitting room, it wasnice. In July that year I started my ownband in 1983.IAN: And that was after you’ve beenout on the road with your sister?D: Yes, I was out with Margaret, Icall her Margaret, but its Margo in themusic business. That was in 81.IAN: And your both still goingstrong. So what was it like growing upin a musical family?D: I suppose you don’t think aboutit really except that music was alwaysthere because Margaret was alwayssinging. We were very aware of ourmusic and our Irish background andballads as well as American countryrecords. Thats were the love of countrymusic came from. We were alwaysaware of music, and as a child I wouldgo up and sing with her. As a 10, or 11year old I would get up and sing a songwith her in her shows. So I was alwayssinging, you know.IAN: What part of Ireland do youlive in?D: I live in a little village outside ofDonegal—Kincasslagh, Co Donegal,Ireland. Right on the West coast. Kincasslngh.It’s a very small place. It’s justgot a shop and a pub. When we weregrowing up it had two shops a pub and apost office. But one of the shops closeddown. Its very small, but lovely.IAN: So you’re really not too farfrom the border are you?D: Well from Derry we would beabout 60 miles.IAN: What are your favorite thingsto do when you’re not working?D: Well, I do like it when we go out,and I do like dancing as well. I loveto play cards. I just love card games. Igrew up in an area where playing cardswere always around. I’d get home andthere is this place for forty years we’vebeen going every Tuesday night andevery time I go home we go there. Ijust love playing cards. We were actuallyon holiday in Tennessee and theywere playing gin rummy and I got toplay it for the first time in that show. Ijust love playing cards. You know mylife is very structured. Its nice to justsit back and not have anything doingand just let it roll.IAN: So, when your in Ireland, whereare your favorite places to visit?D: I love when I’m at home, forme there is no other place, it’s the bestplace of all. But there is so many dif-Continued on Page 35

Color Page 3434 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” May 2011

May 2011 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” 35Some of you might have been confusedlast month. I accidently sent mycolumn from last year. Sorry about that.Here is what really happened this year.Enjoy! (I was bound to make one mistakein the 2 years I’ve been doing this.)Well my St. Patrick’s Day (paradeweekend) was amazing as usual. On Saturday,I got up bright and early, stoppedat the Hilton to meet up with the rest ofmy family. We all headed to the parade.As, I turned the corner and saw the lineof floats, a wave of excitement rushedover me. I ran to the Irish Fellowshipfloat so I could get a good seat. After alittle while I decided to check out someof the other floats. I ran into some of myfriends who were riding on a differentfloat. I had to take a few pictures for myschool newspaper. I realized the paradewas getting ready to start, so I rushedback to take my place. I yelled “HappySt. Patrick’s Day” and waved until myarm hurt. It wasn’t too cold. A lot betterthan last year, but my feet were freezing.Then it was the long walk back to theHilton for the Mercy party. I ate whenwe got there before my sister and I had toget ready to dance. We had to practice tofigure out which dances we were goingto do. After we danced, I ran around andplayed with my cousins, brother, and sister.We had a great time. After the party,we all headed to Aurelio’s in the southloop. It was delicious as always.On Sunday, I was off to ArlingtonHts. to meet some Mullane dancers. Wedanced at a party at Our Lady of theWayside. Our performance was great. Itwas great to dance just for fun. I love thetwo hand reel. I also liked tipping reel,which is a dance with no music and onlythe beat of the hard shoe is heard. Thenwe were off to Peggy Kinnanne’s to helpthem celebrate their 10th anniversary.I’d like to thank Derek for taking goodcare of us. We ate some delicious foodand danced another wonderful performance.Everyone did a great job. It wasa fabulous St. Patrick’s weekend filledwith dancing and family.I also wanted to congratulate thisyear’s St. Patrick’s Day queen, SarahGorecki. I saw her a few years ago whenshe was a just a princess. She playedBelle in a community theater versionof Beauty and the Beast. I don’t think Iwill ever have a voice as beautiful as hers,but I hope I can follow in her footstepsand be queen!Oh, I almost forgot, I went to St.Louis for 2 feises and I got a first, finally!I actually got firsts both days, but theywere both in my slip jig. Now I only needto get firsts in 3 more dances to get intoPC level. I went to Milwaukee for a feisand got another first, but it was in my slipjig, again. I did qualify for oireachtas.Now I can start practicing early.I also went to my first White Soxgame of the season. It was so much fun!It wasn’t too cold and I had a deliciousItalian ice. The Sox won, too. It was icingon the cake. It was good to be back,but I wish it was warmer. I have somesad news. You may remember that I’vementioned Bev’s hot dogs in a few ofmy columns. Her hot dogs are amazingand spring isn’t spring without having ahot dog from her cart. She died recently.I just wanted to take a moment to rememberher. So please keep her familyin your prayers.Happy anniversary to my grandmaand grandpa. They have been married50 years this month. Happy Mother’sDay to my mom and all the other momsout there!Daniel O’DonnellContinued from Page 33ferent parts of Ireland. Donegal hastremendous scenery you know. I loveCork, and actually the whole coast.Since it’s such a small country you canget around it very easily. It just takesforever to go around. The whole coastis beautiful. Been all around it. It’s sohard to pick places to say that one isbetter than the other.IAN: Where haven’t you been in Irelandthat you would still like to see?D: Well, I haven’t been to the giantcauseway, I have been meaning to goand see it but haven’t had a chance.IAN: So in the United States, is thereplaces you like here?D: You know when your on the road,you don’t get a lot of time to see a lot ofplaces. As far as holidays or vacation, Ihaven’t been on many holidays since Iwas 4. Mostly we toured on them. I dohave to say, I like to eat. I love to eat Isuppose. I’ve been to San Francisco andenjoyed it. Went to Las Vegas and justthought it was super. And we spent a lotof time in Missouri. I guess thats what Iknow better cause we spent a lot of time.I suppose we like the small town feeland the people are very nice. The localpeople were just very welcoming.I know I said we don’t see a lot, butI love the variation there is by travelingacross the country. The Midwest isvery flat and you get into Pennsylvania,and it’s so very beautiful. My its justlovely to see all the different terrains.And coming through Iowa, so manydifferent farms, the ones with the bigbarns with you know the… it might notmean anything to you but we see themin the pictures.IAN: So what would be your adviceto someone who is trying to break intothe music industry?D: Well, if I was gonna tell anybodywhat to do, it would be whatever challengeyou have yourself, whatevervoice you have yourself, you shouldput caution to it all. Don’t try to belike somebody else. I think the maturityof self and your sound should be thebest thing.IAN: Is there anything you wouldlike to say to the audience here?D: We are very grateful for the supportyou folks have given us over theyears since we got ours shows here onPBS and the people who have cometo see us. Since PBS has given us ahuge platform and wider audience. Sovery grateful to people to coming toour shows and supporting my career.We are looking forward to singing foryou soon!www.danielodonnell.com.

36 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” May 2011Chicago’s First Family of Irish RadioYou would have to look hard aroundthe globe to find a radio show that hasrun for 60 consecutive years. We haveone right in our backyard.The Hagerty family has been onair since 1951! Almost every benefit,dance, wake, death, party, and announcementsince 1951 was broughtto you by the Hagerty’s. Local politicalcandidates, politicians from Ireland,musical acts, dancing, and interviewswith all sorts of interesting Irish peopleand characters doing the show live.IAN talked to the Hagerty siblingswho make this program possible. Jack,Denise, and Ed Hagerty have all beenappearing on and announcing the showfor over 30 years.IAN: I want to go back to yourmom and dad, Jack and Arlene. Tell usa little about how your mom and dadfirst came here.Denise: Well, Dad was born in thiscountry. His mom and dad were bothfrom County Clare. First generation. Hewas very active in the Irish community,mainly dancing and entertaining. Dadtook step dancing from his cousin, MaeKennedy Kane, at a very young age. Hedanced at the Century of Progress in1933. He was there with Pat Roach andDonald O’Connor the actor. O’Connorand my dad danced together in that.Jack: He was the MC at the Centuryof Progress at thirteen. They calledhim Sonny.Denise: Then he started his owndance school in his late teens.IAN: What did he tell you aboutthe Irish Village at the Century ofProgress, because it seems to bekind of a watermark with the Irishin Chicago?Denise: I think it was a big eventfor all the ethnic communities. MaeKennedy Kane was there, Pat Roachwas there. Have you read the book,Steps in Time? She documents thewhole history of Irish dancing inProgress. But I think it was the firsttime the Irish had their own stage inChicago. I gathered from the storiesabout it that it was a huge success forthe Irish. Being the MC and dancingthere, that was my dad. Even at age13. He loved being in front of people,being with people.Jack: He was US Mens Championin mens step dancing at the age of 13.I’m telling you, I’ve seen MichaelFlatley dance, and to be aroundthat and to see how my dad coulddance...Denise: He was like liquid, he wasso smooth.IAN: When did he meet yourmom?Denise: They met right after hestarted the Irish Show in 1951. Shewas working in Senator Dirksen’soffice in Chicago. She was one oftwo on his staff. My father wasvery active in Republican stuff on anational level, but active locally on theDemocratic side. He was working inDirksen’s campaign and that’s how theymet. Jack and Arlene got married inNovember 1953. And he had his show,Irish Melody Time which started in1951. Irish Melody Time started about4 o’clock on Sundays. And there were avariety of people on the show with him.He ran that for about a yearand a half. The station cameto him and asked him to DJan all Irish hour starting onSaturday mornings. In theletter my dad sent out in1953 to potential listeners,he said, ‘This show is foryou. It is for all of you, andit is to keep our communityalive.’ That was the startof our Saturday morningIrish hour from 9 to 11 amon 1490 AM WPNA at thesame studio we have now.IAN: I’m sure your momand dad danced and wentout to Jim O’Neill’s place?Denise: Yes! Jim andKay owned the Holiday Ballroom,and they would come to our house onSundays. We thought they were reallyawesome because every time theywould come they would bring a littlebox of chocolates for the children. Andnobody we knew had enough money tobuy a box of chocolates for every kid! Idanced at the Holiday Ballroom as anIrish dancer.Jack at Century of Progress 1934Jack: Jim O’Neill kept a picture ofme from when I was 6 in his wallet andwould show it to me when I got olderto people. It was not the best picture.Let’s just say it was far from good andgood from far. But we loved Jim andKay, they were good people.My dad went to work at WGN televisionon the same day as Jack Taylor,Tara and Caitlynanother well known name in Chicago.He spent 3 or 4 years doing on-airannouncing. He started a show whichwas a precursor to Family Classics.The show was sponsored by the JackMcLennon Pen Company. I rememberflipping the channels forward when I’m8 years old, and I remember the firstcommercial Dad had me do on air forthe McLennon Pen Company.Here’s the story of how Dad metJack for the first time when he wason the elevator at the Oak Park Arms.Dad got on and had a McLennon penin his pocket. A guy on the elevatorhad a pen, so my dad said to the guy“I want to show you this McLennonpen, its one of the best pens I’ve everseen.” My dad was pitching the pento the guy who owned that business!He didn’t know who he was!Denise: Well, McLennon was along time sponsor after that. Momused to write up the cue cards fordad when they did the TV show. Theywould bring out cue cards made forteleprompters and with magic markerwrite out all the script for him. Itwas unbelievable, but he did like thespotlight.IAN: How did you all start gettinginvolved with the show?Denise: That was the Saturdaymorning treat. You’d go the Saturdaymorning show with dad.IAN: When was the earliest youwere on the show?Jack: Well I began to go with himwhen I was four or five. When he wassick he needed a lot of help. I don’tremember exactly, but I believe hedid the show up until really close tothe day he died. Probably a month.We went as little kids and then aswe got older we didn’t go. It probablystopped at the age of 11 or 12.Denise: See, Donna and I wentlonger. I can still remember going toElmhurst in 1964, so I was 10. We girlswent every Saturday. We’d bring ournew friends to the show. Then after theshow you’d go to Maguires, then maybea few more places after that. If you hada really good Saturday, thenyou would go to this placecalled Bucket of Blood! Itwas a progression, it was aparty. I can still rememberbringing my new friends,and we’d walk into Maguiresand they would belike, ‘Wow its a bar’ andI’m thinking ‘Wow theyare ten and they’ve neverbeen in a bar! How is thatpossible?’There were 5 seminariansfrom Lemont seminarythat were a big influence tous as kids. Harrity, Flaherty,O’Donnell, O’Grady andDoyle came out to the Irishhour to advertise a spaghetti dinnerfundraising event. My dad had themall back to the house and, until theywere ordained as priests, we had theseminarians at our house every Sundayfor dinner! They brought their guitars,we had a blast!

May 2011 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” 37Ed: And the pop tarts. They broughtus pop tarts and stayed for roast beefand mashed potatoes.IAN: Did you have any particularlyIrish customs or traditions growingup?Denise: Just the step dancing. Me,Donna and Jack. But Jack droppedout after he figured out he had to weara kilt.Jack: Well, there were only two guysout of sixty girls. I was kind of a minority,though looking back at those days,I should have stuck with it.IAN: Any instruments?Denise: No, not really. We all kindadabbled in stuff as kids but nothing reallystuck. Ed, though, is a really goodballroom dancer.Jack: Let me tell this story! Wewere all in our early 20s and prettysocial animals. Out of all the brothers,myself, Tommy and Jimmy were moreprone to be seen on the dance floor,and Eddie would not be that guy. Timecomes, Tommy’s getting married inBoston. We are at the reception afterthe wedding and all of a sudden I lookout at the dance floor and I see Eddieout there dancing a fox trot. I’m like,where the hell did you learn that? Now,Ed doesn’t do anything half-way, sohe decided for Tom’s wedding that hewas going to surprise everyone. For ayear and a half, five days a week, twoto three hours a day, he takes ballroomdancing classes. So many he...Denise: Becomes Fred Astaire!Jack: At least borderline professional.We were all stunned. It was agreat surprise.Denise: Well, you still do it?Ed: Oh, I dance once a week at least.Well, you know what happens whenyou do something five days a week fora year? You either love it or you hate it.There is no choice. I liked it.Denise: The radio show was a bigpart of our parents life, but it was also25th Anniversary Party Irish Hour 1976(Ed, Denise, Jack, Donna, Tom, Jim, Arlene & Jack Sr.)a big part of our life too. The sociallife, the concerts, the Clancy Brothers,and others when Jim O’Neill broughtthem to town. For his job, dad livedin DC and in New York at some pointin the 70s. We stayed here in Chicago,and he would come back every Fridaynight and do the Irish hour on Saturdaymornings every weekend. He was trulydedicated. If you think about it he didthe show every Saturday for 29 years.Nobody helped him out.Jack: It’s the difference between avocation and avocation, this was hisavocation. This was his love. It waswhat drove him, it was him on stage, atthe center, and him opening up doorsfor the community as well. I mean hewas an entertainer.IAN: What did your dad do for aliving?Denise: At that time he was in reinsurance.In the early 60s he started hisown company. He was in WWII, andhe served in Germany. He had threebronze stars. He never really talkedabout it. He didn’t speak about it untilhe was dying. When he was dying hetalked about how hard it was.He and my mother were both, technically,in the first St. Patrick’s DayParade on the West Side. Tom Gibbonsand Tom Ryan, founder of the ShannonRovers, created a mini West Side paradeand they used hearses for the floatsand filled them up with flowers. Mymother rode in it, and that parade wasultimately brought downtown.Ed: How the story goes—what Iwas told by Bobby Ryan—was that he[my father] went down with TommyRyan, and Stephen Bailey, the headof the plumbers union around 1952.But, it was three of them who went tosee the mayor, saying if they had thisparade the plumbers would serve as thesponsors. The people who have writtenthe parade history have overlookedthat little meeting of how the paradecame to be.Denise: Well, Mayor Daley deservessome credit.Jack: Yes he does. He made ithappen. But the idea came to him ina wrapped package. Plumbers weregoing to sponsor it. And I believefrom 1952...Denise: Until the year my dad died,in 1980, he announced that parade. Wethought it was great as kids. We’d godowntown and climb on the grand standwith the mayor. He did it every year,he never missed it. The Ryans and theHagertys were in there from the start.Jack: He started to get really sick in‘79. I was in college and I was cominghome pretty much every other weekendto help. But I was never on the show asa kid. I was in sports, so my Saturdayswere spent doing that. But when I cameback from college I got to go on.IAN: You all seem to be very successful.Your parents must have had alot to do with that.Jack: I thought, I didn’t need to goto college. I was a little stubborn, early.I had an opportunity to get a managementposition and make a fair amountof money. I didn’t want to go to college.My mom said, “you’re going to go” anddragged me by the ear. After much debate,I eventually saw her way of thinkingand I did eight or nine more yearsof school out of my own volition. Myparents were very strong on education.We had a very competitive householdamong the children as well. Everybodywas on a peg board and there werecomparisons drawn. I don’t know if thatwas good, bad or indifferent, but it didcreate a pretty competitive environment.I remember going to school and theteachers were like, Oh, you’re Deniseand Donna’s brother, you must be verysmart, and I thought, Oh no, I’m in bigtrouble now!IAN: Did you all go to the samecollege?Denise: No, but we all went to thesame grammar and high school. It wasa parish school. And, yes, Jack is right,they pushed education and they pushedgrades, which is probably a good thing.But everybody went off on their own.Ed got an athletic scholarship to theUniversity of Oregon and played ballthere for four years. He got over 70scholarships to play football. And themost impressive thing about it is that heactually played linebacker for 4 years,got his degree in 3.5 years, and spentthe rest of the time going to graduateschool. That goes back to, I think, theeducation.Jack: We have six college grads, fouradvanced degrees. All very financiallysuccessful. I can tell you how my momuse to tell the story: Denise, she’s theCFO of a medical organization. Donnawent to University of Illinois and is agraphic artist. Eddy went to Universityof Oregon, got an advanced degreeand played football. Tommy went toThe Hagerty’s today with the future radio generationHarvard. Jimmy went to U of I, andJack is doing fine.The competition never stopped.They were very, very focused educationwise. We are a very Irish family!Denise: Yes, it was Family, Religion,Education.IAN: I think fun came first.Denise: Well, nobody had more funthen my dad! He was 59 when he died,but he lived it like 118 years. I thinkthe biggest testament to our parentsis that we are all very much in contactwith each other, all the time. We spendour holidays together. We get togetherevery summer.Jack: Everybody’s had a connectionto the program at one point oranother. Donna’s not here. She did acouple of shows and is a great supporter.Tommy did the show a numberof times. Jimmy’s been a producer formany, many years.Denise: And he’s read a couplepublic service announcements.Jack: All of us have been on the air.My girls, Tara, Caitlyn and Kelly haveall been on the air, and cousins, Ryanand Devin. The two girls in Boston,Keira and Jamie, will do it on one oftheir trips to Chicago. The next generationhas made its way to the airwaves.I’m grooming my replacements!IAN: How has your programmingchanged from the early days untilnow?Denise: Well, there was a lot of CeiliContinued on Page 38

38 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” May 2011Chicago’sFirst Family of Irish RadioContinued from Page 37band days when my dad did the show. A lot ofJackie Barrett and the accordion music. I thinkwe go a little bit more 1980s.IAN: Did you three bring in theinterviews?Denise: Jack and Ed were the onesthat really got that going.Jack: I don’t know how that happened,honestly, but I think it was a function ofa couple of things. We had befriendedmany of the Irish counsel generals herein town. I think they knew we were reasonablywell educated, and that we wouldtreat visitors with respect. So, we beganto get calls from the Irish government,and the English government as well,whenever they would come to town. Theythought we had a fairly wide and diverseaudience. They wanted to get out a message.We got some interesting interviewsover the years. One of the most disturbinginterviews I ever heard was the interviewEd did with David Trimble.He was the Ulster Unionist Partyleader, and he was the first minister ofNorthern Ireland. We got a call from the Englishgovernment here and they said that David Trimblewas going to be in town and did we want to interviewhim? Well they didn’t tell us that there wasspecific guidelines that needed to be followed. Wehad to lockdown the studio. Nobody could comein. They had security so myself and Trimble werein the studio, and I’m telling you, you could justsee the intensity. It just oozed out of him.IAN: Who else have you interviewed?Ed: Mary Robinson, John Hume, Brid Rogers,Bairbre de Brún, Mitchell McLaughlin, BenBriscoe who was the Lord Mayor of Dublin. PeterMandelson, who was the UK Secretary of State forNorthern Ireland. That’s actually one of the greatstories. Mandelson was downtown staying at theRitz, and I gave him times I could meet him, butif it was any other time he would have to comeTHEGALWAYARMS2442 NORTHNCLARKSTREETSelected as one ofChicago's Top 100 Bars by Chicago MagazineOfficial Chicago Fire BarChicago's Premier Manchester United BarMON Any Draft & Shepherds Pie $11.95, $3 Miller Lites BottlesTUES 1/2 Slab Ribs $9.95, Stone Brewery $4.50WED Trivia @ 8pm with CASH PRZE! Lamb Stew $9.95,3 Floyds Bottles $4.50, 1/2 Priced Bottles of House WinesTHU 1/2 lb. Burger & Fries or Home Made Veggie Burger & Fries $5.00,Great Lakes Bottles $4.50FRI All You Can Eat Beer Battered Fish N' Chips $9.95, or Tilapia with MixedVegetables & Wild Rice in a Lemon Butter Sauce $10.95, Hot Drinks $5SAT Catch the EPL, Seria A and La Liga Games Live or Tape Delay,Brunch Till 2pm with $6 Zing Zang Bloody Marys & $6 Mimosas,Guinness Beef Stew - $11.95, Lagunitas Bottles $4.50SUN Catch the EPL, Seria A and La Liga Games Live or Tape DelayBrunch Till 2pm w/$6 Zing Zang Bloody Marys & $6 Mimosas, SundayRoast, Prime Roast Beef w/Roast Potatoes, Mashed Carrots & Parsnipsw/Homemade Yorkshire Pudding w/Gravy $13.95, Two Brothers Bottles $4.50Live Irish Music w/Paddy Homan & Jimmy Keane & Friends at 8pmFind Galway Arms on FacebookVoted Best Irish Bar 2007 & 2008 By AOL City-SearchDiscounted parking is available from the Children's Memorial outpatient facility at 2515 N. Clark Street.SOULOF IRELAND, , HEARTOF CHICAGO, H773-472-5555 - galwayarms@gmail.comto my office. A week before the interview theysent the secret service to the Jefferies office tocheck it out and meet everyone. I had no idea thiswas a big wig. Then they sealed off the street onMonroe and Dearborn on all corners. He walks inwith 11 or 12 handlers and I have Chris, our oldengineer at WPNA, with a $12.99 tape recorder,Senator Dirksen and Jack Sr.and I wrecked the guys’ whole day.One of the great ones was Marjorie Mowlam,who died 6 or 7 years ago. She had the job beforeMandelson. She died of brain cancer. She wasmagnificent. Senator George Mitchell was great.We just talked for two hours. And MichaelMcDowell, the former Attorney Generalof Ireland.IAN: Who’s your favorite interviews?Ed: Mine, no question, was Ben Briscoe.When he came into the studio hewas very well dressed and Dublin wasjust done celebrating its Millennium. Hewas the representative picked to come toChicago to talk about tourism. I did notread his bio before the interview. Briscoewalks in with the Lord Mayors pendanton, dressed to the nines. And he walksup to the microphoneand says, ‘There oncewas an Irishman and aJew…’ and here I am,I had no idea there wasa Jewish population inDublin and he’s Jewish.I can’t do the interview,but he is so well spoken he carriedit through for 20 minutes.That was the most fun interviewI ever did.IAN: What was the worstradio moment?Jack: The worst? There werelots of them on Saturday morningswhen I was in college. AnySaturday morning that followeda Friday evening was perilousfor years! I think there weremoments early on where we hadno idea what we were doing. Welearned as quickly as we could.But there were problems. For along time, there was someonewho had problems pronouncing the word Fucke’s.For Fucke’s Wheels. That might have been mispronouncedby one of my siblings! The nice thing wasthe people who came out to the show, particularlythose people who supported us during this transition.They were so kind to us.Denise: Some who helped us were Mike Kenny,Brendan O’Leary, Liam O’Brien. Theywere so good and really took us undertheir wing. I know why they did it, theyloved my father. They were awesome inthe way they stepped forward and helpedus. Our cousins, Maureen and DennisWade, came to the show every week earlyon to help us out and encourage us to keepthe show going. Otherwise there wasn’ta prayer in hell, excuse my language,that we were going to last more than sixmonths. When we first started, I couldn’tget my hand to stop shaking when tryingto put the needle on the record. It took meabout five minutes, and I had to hold downthe other hand trying to steady it. I wasscared to death, but you know what, it wasprobably the one thing my dad wanted.Keep it going. It was really important tohim that we do that. And my mother wasdetermined to make that happen too.IAN: What about the next 65 years?Denise: You got to be kidding me! Well, Jack’soldest girl is four years away from a drivers license,so we’ll have to ask her.Jack: I gotta tell ya for some of us... well forme it was pretty easy stepping into that chair. IA Toast to the Hosts60 Years of Irish Moons720 Months of Irish Tunes3120 Weeks of Irish NewsThe Hagerty’s Have Shared With You!Now we Hope for Sixty More!The Kids & Grandkids we ImploreBring Us the Music and the NewsYou Can Fill Your Family Shoes!Cliff Carlsonwasn’t very good at it at first and I’m probably notvery good today. But it was relatively easy for meto do. I’m not big on huge amounts of pre-showprep. Denise probably does more pre-show prepthan I do show. She is a perfectionist and shespends the most on pre-show time, Eddy spendsa fair amount of time, and I flip the switch whenmy butt hits the seat and we are off. Denise prefersorder, I prefer chaos!IAN: have you all been to Ireland?Jack: Yes, Many trips.IAN: Where have you been?Denise: Well, Ed’s been the most now. He’san Irish citizen.Ed: I go to Ballybunion. I’m a member of thegolf course there. And it’s just an area I love. SoI spend my time mostly in Kerry. Alternatingbetween Ballybunion, Waterville, and Tralee golfcourses. Its easy.Jack: I’ve been there for a few golf trips. Mywife’s family is from Mayo, and our family isfrom outside County Clare. The Dysart area, youknow Dysart Castle? Our great grandmother andher children were the last inhabitants of that castle.They were squatters. Her husband was killed. Hewas an Irish police officer. But in terms of what tosee, I say see it all if you can. My favorite course isLahinch. When I walk the course at Lahinch I feela connection to the earth I cannot explain.Here is a story about the Hagerty brothers atLahinch. Ed use to organize this outing at leastonce a year and all 24 of us would go out on thistrip for nine days. Lets just say it was exhausting,you were tired when the trip was over. I’mwalking down the 3rd fairway and my caddie ismaybe 5’3” tall. Not real talkative, but a very niceman. He looks at me and says, ‘ Hagerty is thelast name, huh?’ I said yes. ‘These your brothers?’Yes. ‘Do you know what they say of the Hagertysof Clare?’ I said what? He said ‘Don’t *blank*with the Hagertys.’IAN: Some of you have overcame a bit ofadversity too in terms of cancer.Jack: Yes. I had cancer in 1991. I’m a survivor.Denise: We have a few cancer survivors. Fourout of six siblings. Both parents died of cancer.But hey, a lot of people have it a lot worse.Jack: Make sure you appreciate what you have,don’t sweat the small stuff. All I have to do islook at my back wall and see the most importantthing in the world to me, my family andmy kids.Denise: You know it was really toughwhen my dad died in 1980. I was in my20s and these guys were still in school.IAN: He never got to see any of youget married.Denise: Right, and at the time youthink, this is so horrible, this is so bad.But the reality is, he gave us this, hegave us each other. He really did. Evenif we cross ways, we are still really close.Jack has three girls, Tom has two girls,Donna has two sons. They are great kids,all doing well.Ed: You know the radio show hassurvived two generations. It keeps momand dad alive.Jack: I made a promise to myself andto my mother before she passed away thatwe would make it to fifty years. And theonly reason we made it to 60 is by virtue that thereare three of us. It’s too much for one person. Ourbusy careers and lives. We all have our own tastesand passions. A friend of mine when he listens cantell by the selection played who ran the show. It’sa lot more fun when it’s live. You get the energy ofthe people with you. When I’m by myself it’s notso fun, but with people it is much more fun.May your airwaves continue another 60years.WPNA 1490 AM from 9am to 11am live onSaturdays. To listen live on your computer gohere: http://www.wpna1490am.com/live.htm.To email a request: requests@irishhour.com.708-524-9762.To see more Hagerty family photos, go to www.irishamericannews.com.

May 2011 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” 39On the morning of March 17th, I was preparedbright and early for my eight radio interviews withFOX talk radio. I’m not quite sure how much youcan in fact prepare for a four minute interview withdifferent hosts in different states, only knowingthat they were going to ask you questions aboutIreland!out for me. “Besides the usual knownplaces in Ireland, what or where wouldyou suggest people do that they ordinarilywouldn’t associate with Ireland? Myimmediate response was a ‘Foodie Tour’to which, there was a resounding gasp.“How many ways are there to preparepotatoes?” People think this is indeedvery funny, but believe you me, to us, theIrish, it isn’t!Agriculture is a year round activity in Ireland, itstemperate climate and the Gulf Stream all contributeto a fertile soil and lush grass. Growing up, freshingredients were the norm and not the now ‘trendy’that it seems to be everywhere. A ‘Foodie Tour’ maybe the last thing you ever think of, but believe youme it is nothing short of a treat for the senses. Irelandis divided up into four provinces. Ulster, Leinster,Munster and Connaught. You can tour each regionand literally spend days in one place and be pleasantlysurprised at how much you can do.Local food heroes include the famous Burns familyfrom County Cork. They founded the Ardrahanherd of pedigree Fresian cattle and use their milkto make the world famous ‘Ardrahan FarmhouseCheese.’ Cooking Schools abound in Ireland. Most,if not all of these locations are idyllic. Belle IsleSchool of Cookery is located in the heart of Co.Fermanagh lakelands, Ballyknocken House andCooking School is nestled in the hills of CountyWicklow, also known as the Garden of Ireland.The most famous of all is Ballymaloe CookerySchool in my hometown of Cork, to be preciseShanagarry, East Cork.If you are interested in visiting Ireland and experiencingthis food revolution firsthand, there area number of very helpful sites. There are two inparticular that I think are extremely good at guidingyou through this process:www.Discoverireland.com and www.goodfoodireland.ie.So, if you like to cook, care where you food comesfrom, or just like to eat, a trip to Ireland, the realIreland, is a must to satisfy all.www.Rachelgaffney.blogspot.com; Twitter: @Rachelgaffney; Facebook: Rachel Gaffney.Hours later, with the interviews completed, I wasdriving to the ABC studios in Dallas to appear onmorning television and thought to myself that thoseinterviews absolutely reaffirmed for me, why I dowhat I do. Why? People who start their own businesses,generally speaking, tend to start a businesswhere there is a niche. Where there is somethingmissing, a need. One question in particular stoodRESTAURANT/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

40 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” May 2011The Book of Kells’Five Most Distinctive Illuminated LeavesIn 1185, the monk Gerald ofWales visited Ireland and wrotean account called TopographiaHibernica. He included a descriptionof a book he saw at the Abbyof Kildare.He begins, “Among the wondersof Kildare, nothing seems to memore miraculous than that wonderfulbook which, they say, waswritten in the time of the Virgin [St.Brigit] on the directionsof an angel. The bookcontains the harmony ofthe four Evangelists accordingto Jerome wherefor almost every pagethere are different designs,distinguished by variedcolours. Here you maysee the face of Majesty,divinely drawn, there themystic symbols of theEvangelists, each withwings, now six, now four,now two; here the eagle,there the calf, here theman, and there the lion,and other forms almost infinite.Look at them superficially, withthe ordinary casual glance, andyou would think it an erasure andnot tracery. Fine craftsmanship isall about you, but you might notnotice it. Look more keenly at it,and you will penetrate to the veryshrine of art. You will make out intricacies,so delicate and subtle, soexact and compact, so full of knotsand links, with colours so fresh andvivid, that you might say that all thiswas the work of an angel, and notof a man…”Gerald continues, “On the nightbefore the day on which the scribewas to begin the book, an angelstood beside him in his sleep andshowed him a drawing made on atablet which he carried in his hand,and said ‘Do you think that you canmake this drawing on the first pageof the book that you are about to begin”?The scribe, not feeling that hewas capable of an art so subtle, andtrusting little to his knowledge ofsomething almost unknown and veryunusual, replied ‘No.’ The angel saidto him, ‘Tomorrow, tell your lady, sothat she may pour forth prayers foryou to the Lord, that He may openboth your bodily and mental eyesfor as to see the more keenly andunderstand the more subtly, andmay direct you in the guiding ofyour hand.’ All this was done, and onthe following night the angel cameagain and held before him the sameand many other drawing. By thehelp of the divine grace, the scribe,Matthew 29rOutline of “Lib” Monogramlikedesign and other sectionsof designtaking particular notice of them all,and faithfully committing them tohis memory, was able to reproducethem exactly in the suitable placesin the book. And so with the angelindicating the designs, St. Brigitpraying, and the scribe imitating, thebook was composed.”This description of the book isoften attributed to the Book of Kellsbut is now generally accepted asactually a book at Kildare that hassince been lost.I quote Gerald’s account from the12th century to show that miraculousinvolvement was part of the originationstory of the Book of Kells andthe Book of Kildare. Also, there isevidence that both the Book of Kildareand the Book of Kells were atleast started at the Abby at Iona.References to the Book of Kellsoften add, “…the most magnificentof medieval manuscripts that stillexist.”In this series of columns, thefocus is the five full-page Initial illuminations,which include the firstphrase of each Evangelist’s Gospel.(Two pages for Matthew)From earliest times, scribes copiedfrom earlier examples in modelGospel books. There were canonrestrictions on textual content butroom for artistic expression. In fact,Initial pages, which were an originalcontribution to the Insular style, thetext was subordinated to design.Comparing Initial pages fromthe Gospel Books of Durrow, Echternach,Lichfield, Armagh andDetails of spirals androundels of knotworkLindisfarne, the illuminations showa progression of the size of lettersand a clear development in detail,design and historical sequence.Kells, however, brought the InsularGospel books to their fullest andmost intricate level. (Most likelyalso Kildare.)I would like to propose that thereis a distinct difference between theInitial Gospel pages and the otherillustrated pages of the Book.There is a range of technicalability and artistic vision shared inthe pages suggesting that they allcould have been done by the sameartist/scribe. I think the Eight CircleCross page was also done by thesame artist/scribe, but I will discussit separately.It is art that seems miraculous. Itpulls the viewer in for close examination.It has the quality of mysteryin the intricacy of its design. Theartist/scribe, although drawing onearlier models, surpassed them, producingan astounding effect on viewers.He (presumably a man) created apattern using color, spirals and diskswhich appeared to be spinning andcircling around, all within the frameof the holy words of God!I think it was the intention of theartist/scribe, who I will name Artist/ScribeA, to create designs andpatterns to provoke in the reader aframe of mind to receive a vision ofdivinity, rapture, a spiritual epiphany.A sudden spiritual manifestation ofdivinity—an ecstatic rapture.The first Abbot of Iona, St.Columba, explained to his disciple,Lugbe, that divine favor bestows oncertain deserving persons a miraculouslyenlarged mind. Such personshave, “in one moment” clearly anddistinctly contemplated the “wholeearth… ocean and sky…”Adomnan, an Abbot of Ionafrom 679 to 704 AD, describes St.Columba as referring to ecstaticvision as being necessary to understandthe “dark and difficult” sacredscriptures.It is important to note that recentresearch has discovered thatthese large Gospel bookswere shown to the publiconly during processions duringfeast days and other celebrations.Otherwise, theywere restricted to an innercircle of monks for contemplationand meditation.In James Joyce’s Portraitof the Artist as a Young Man,Stephen Dedalus discusseshow great art results in“aesthetic arrest.” He paraphrasesThomas Aquinas:“The instant wherein thatsupreme quality of beauty,the clear radiance of the aestheticimage, is apprehended luminouslyby the mind which has been arrestedby its wholeness and fascinated byits harmony is the luminous silentstasis of aesthetic pleasure, a spiritualstate…”This month I would like to beginan examination of these Initialpages in the order they appear inthe Book.St. Matthew’s Gospel, beginswith “Liber generationis,” 29r.The lower part of the “L” swingsacross the “I,” which extends downto bottom of the page, and connectsto the “b” and the letters “ER” whichcompletes “Liber.” In the outlinepicture, you can see three rectanglescontaining the letters “G (looks likea “T”) ENE, RATI, and ONIS.An angel at the top holds a bookand an angel at upper left has noface. A large figure at lower left alsoholds a book. A book is an importantand constant motif appearing morethan 30 times.I don’t think Artist/Scribe A drewthe two angels.It’s a speculation, but there is adistinct difference in style. Artistscan use different styles to draw andpaint, but in this case, why wouldhe? The angels lack the fine detailsthat Artist/Scribe A uses. The robesdo not have the supreme confidenceof line work, design or use of color.In the upper portion the spiralsand roundels of knotwork reflectthe mastery of line and color that ishis specialty.Next month: the greatest of all theilluminations-the Chi-Rho page.

May 2011 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” 41

42 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” May 2011Learn a Bite of Irish Gaelic with Bitesize Irish GaelicStart practising every day: Labels,Labels, Labels. For this you will need:1. A package of sticky notes (such asPost-it® notes); and 2. A pen.Pick one room in your home, andusing the sticky notes, label everythingyou see with its Irish name (if you don’tknow the Irish word for something, lookit up on http://www.englishirishdictionary.com).For example, in your bedroom youmight label: your leaba (bed); yourdrisiúr (dresser); your almóir (closet);your piliúr (pillow)… In any givenroom, you’ll surely have at least oneballa (wall), a fuinneog (window), anurlár (floor).Final tip: Don’t write the English versionof the word on the label, as you’reaiming for language immersion!Our fellow American Irish MediaGroup publication Celtic Connectionis extending a Readers’ Offer. BitesizeIrish Gaelic gives you online IrishGaelic lessons. If you want to startlearning the language, start here. Fromtheir home in Limerick, Ireland, Eoin& Sasa of Bitesize Irish Gaelic bringyou 60+ bitesize lessons. All lessonsare online, so log in from any computer.Don’t get frustrated with starting anew language—they’ve broken downthe lessons into manageable bitesizechunks.Get 50% off your first month. Visit:http://www.bitesizeirishgaelic.com/celticconnection/Lt. Cpl. KylieWatson AwardedMilitary CrossA British army medic whoput herself in “mortal danger” totreat a wounded Afghan soldierunder heavy Taliban fire has beenawarded the Military Cross.Lt. Cpl. Kylie Watson, fromBallymena, Co Antrim, gave medicalcare in exposed open groundfor 20 minutes. Her citation spokeof her “immense courage” and“inspiration” to her platoon inHelmand province last year.Lt. Cpl. Watson is believed tobe only the fourth woman to receivethe Military Cross, the thirdhighest award for gallantry.8 N. Vail AvenueArlington Heights, IL 60004Tel. 847-577-7733 Fax. 847-577-3886Good food. Good friends.Just a great time. See you at Peggy’s!HoursM-Th 11am-1amFri & Sat: 11am-2amSun: 10am-1amwww.peggykinnanes.com

May 2011 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” 43BIRMINGHAM risks being branded a city of party poopers afteronly a dozen applications were made to hold street parties for the RoyalWedding.The council has received only 12 applicationsasking for permission to close roadsso they could hold a street bash after thedeadline ran out last week.In contrast, neighbouring Solihull MetropolitanBorough Council are in full partymode after announcing they had received awhopping 24 applications to hold parties.How Will I Celebrate the Royal Wedding?Like the Last One. Can it be that I have notshed a scintilla of cynicism? On 29 July 1981,I ignored the wedding of Charles, Prince ofWales and Lady Dianna Spencer, like Republicansignore good candidates in Illinois. I believethat I watched Roller Derby and dined onKing Oscar Sardines, Crown Prince SmokedOysters, Ritz Crackers and Colby washeddown with 24-48 oz. of chilled Huber Beer.An epic epithalamion evening in Kankakee,Illinois, topped off with visit to St. ViatorCouncil Knights of Columbus and a rack ofeight ball with Charlie Olson, Mike DeBettaand John McKenna. That’s entertainment!Five years later, Sunday, May 25, 1986,Charlie Olson and I drank iced bottles of EauClaire All Malt beer from the third floor balconyof the Hickey apartment at 218 MohawkDrive, Bourbonnais, IL as our wives and mytwo year old daughter Nora, joined hands withAmerica on Rt. 45 to end hunger and povertyforever thanks to Michael Jackson, QuincyJones, Ed Begley,Jr., ScottBaio, SusanAnton and thecorporate sponsors—thegreatfolks at Coke.Charlie Olsonand I taughtat Bishop Mc-Namara HighSchool wheregushing religion teachers mandated a ‘getserious’ curriculum and inspired our kids toend poverty and hunger forever.Charlie taught Business and PE and Itaught English and American literature. Charliecan count and I can read. That made us twodangerously cynical grumps. “Come on, don’tyou care about starving people?’Name two.“You are always so mean! Every time wewant to have class outside out in nature youmake fun of us and Thoreau.”Guilty. Now, about your essay on transcendentalism,Caprice, it seems that you did notcite the passages you lifted from…“Mr. Hickey! Seriously!”As a heart-attack. Shrill is not an accurateindicator of sincerity, Caprice.“You really don’t care about Hands AcrossAmerica?”Even less, Caprice.“Mr. Olson, come on! All of your tennisteam is doing it!”Sorry, Caprice, and I don’t wear mascaraand all my team does.“You two are so mean!”But, consistent. Have fun on Sunday.“Your wives are so nice.”Yet, they married us!Some things just can not be taken seriously.History and experience have told us that GlenBlake-LambFuneral Homes4727 W. 103rd StreetOak Lawn IL 60453All phones: 708-636-1193Owned by SCI Illinois Services, Inc.Beck’s Restoring Honor Rally, Louis Farrakhan’sMillion Man March, Bono and Oprah’sRED Shopping Spree and weddings Royal areevents and not the Transfiguration. Charlieand I did not hold hands, nor did we pitch tentsfor Elijah, Moses and Dianna Ross.Our wives, the late Mary Cleary Hickeyand Kate McKenna Olson, had a ball weepingwith genuine tears at the beauty of everysound thinking and good hearted Americanlinked sweaty palms on that very warmSunday on Route 45, while two cynicaltestosterone charged and estrogen deficientbeer swilling swains ignored the human heart.Damn our eyes. Eau Claire All Malt was adandy beer—(Hibernia Brewing circa 1985-1990—Ubi Sunt!)When my wife Mary died, I took the kidsto visit a former teaching colleague and nowan expatriate stock broker, Pat Mulligan andhis wife in London. Nora, who was two whenshe toddled out with Mom to Hands AcrossAmerica, became a confirmed Monarchist inone week. She saw Prince Charles! The Princeexited a limo at Buckingham Palace on theday that new ministers were being sworn intogovernment, two months before the OmaghBombings in 1998.After our London idyll, we Ryan Air’dit over the Irish Sea to Shannon, KilkeeCounty Clare and then through the SlieveMish Mountains Kerry to Crinna Hill-CastleIsland. Following evening tea, Nora took mycousin Larry’s two grand kids on her lap andshowed them her recently purchased colorphotobook of the Royal Family and pointedto Sarah Duchess of York, ‘Do you know thislady, Rosin?’The three year old Cumann na mBan cherubdeclaimed, “She’s a fat poxy bitch, so!”Pearse and McDermott! Nora got an earful.Ah, to the Royals. Well, I ignored theFriends we will missKevin Moran PassesKevin Moran, beloved husband of Anne, nee O’Malley, passed awayApril 13, 2011. Resident of Skokie for 42 years. Kevin was born inTirnauer, Newport Co. Mayo, Ireland to Thomas and Anne Moran. Heimmigrated to the United States in 1956 from London, England. He waswedding of Chuck and Di. Lady Di was easyon the eyes, but Bonnie Prince Ears alwaysstruck me as a bounder, cad and blackguard.Di’s kids seem to have turned out OK—faras I know. The kid getting married in fewweeks has a keen eye for talent it seems. Hisbride-to-be is some good-looking baggage.In the sober words of the philosopher-rooferEddie Carroll of the south side, ‘I’d take ahard run at her.’I was educated at a time when Americanhistory and civics were taught by seriousstudents of both disciplines. Not only that,my lessons were peppered with Catholiccontributions to our way of life—Royal Freeby the way. John Carroll, John Barry, James J.Shields, General Rosecrans, Kit Carson, JimBowie, Roger Taney, Al Smith, Bishop Sheil,and Wild Bill Donovan, Catholics all, helpedform and preserve our American Republic.Political correctness has strangled education—K-20—inthe cradle. Celebrity news, PCicons, and Books for Dummies have replacedprimary texts and solid secondary sources inthe classroom. The Evanston School Districtmade the teaching of the classics available incomic book form—Huck Finn is redacted andbowdlerized, while Tupac is in the canon ofAmerican poets. Neighbor, Please!Worrying about the Royals replaces a studiedapplication of knowledge about our formof government, its operations and its history.Aside from my nodding interest in theyoung lady about to marry the future King, Inumber myself among the stout yeomanry ofBirmingham, England—“Whose Wedding?”Read More http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2011/04/05/only-adozen-applications-received-to-hold-royalwedding-parties-in-birmingham-97319-28458678/#ixzz1IeTKHHTWhttp://www.falstaffbrewing.com/walter’s.htman extremely devotedhusband, father, uncleand grandfather. He issurvived by Anne, hiswife of 50 years; children,Monica (Rick)Hirschhaut, Sheila(Rob) Reimer, Daniel(Lubby) Moran andthe late son, Kevin;grandchildren Cameron and Hayden Hirschhaut,Sydney and Quinlen Reimer and Ashleigh CappsMoran; siblings Geoffrey (Colette) Moran, Delia(Milo) Regettle and Lelia and many nieces andnephews. He is preceded in death by his parents;brothers, Thomas, Edward James and Patrick;sisters, Mary (Patrick) Burke, Kathleen (Jack)Fitzgerald, Theresa Kelly and Cecila. Cooney FuneralHome, Park Ridge, Funeral Mass, Our Ladyof Perpetual Help Church, Glenview. Intermentat All Saints Cemetery. Proud member of IrishAmerican Heritage Center, Shamrock AmericanClub., and Mayo Men’s Association. Devotedone year volunteering for Habitat for Humanity.Words cannot express how deep this loss is andall who knew him would say the same. In lieu offlowers, donations to the St. Patrick Fathers, 1347W. Granville Ave., Chicago, IL 60660.

Color Page 4444 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” May 2011Ireland Network — ChicagoBy Imelda Gallagher, IN Committee MemberI have been an Ireland Network(IN) member since moving toChicago in 2005 and became aCommittee member last year. Igrew up in Galway and lived inDublin for several years, qualifyingas a Barrister before comingto Chicago where I work in thecellular phone wireless industry. Iknew few people when I arrived. Iheard about the IN and attendedthe annual ‘Ball.’ The IN provideda welcoming environment for me tomeet new people in Chicago. Thefriendships and business contactsthat I have forged through the INhave enhanced my life. IN eventsare diverse and interesting, rangingfrom informal social drinks,to political discussions on currentevents.IN Chicago was establishedin 2003 as a business and socialnetwork of Irish people livingand working in the area. The INCharter describes members havinga “common frame of referencewhich enables the networkto act as a readily accessible andrelevant forum for the sharing ofindividual resources, expertise,industry knowledge, business opportunities,contacts, connections;to share individual experiences,successes and challenges for thebenefit of the membership at large;and to support newly-arrived Irishin their efforts to connect with thegreater Chicago business and socialcommunity”. Most importantly, theIN enables these Irish people tobecome increasing integrated intothe Chicago community which theyhave chosen to call “home” and tocreate friendships.IN Chicago events include themonthly ‘First Friday’ informaldrinks, launched last summer, withan open invitation to everyone to joinus for drinks in a designated locationdowntown. Venues change monthlyto allow people to become familiarwith the numerous wonderfulIrish-owned or Irish-managed bars,restaurants and hotels in Chicagothat have been so gracious in hostingthese events. Next First Friday: May6th from 6pm in the Coq d’Or in TheDrake which was recently renovated.All are welcome.In 2010, IN participated in thelaunch of IN USA with the Networksin New York, San Francisco,San Diego and Washington DC andwith new IN groups now in Philadelphia,Seattle, Denver and Boston,with over 2,000 members nationwide.IN Chicago hosted a DaleCarnegie business skills trainingsession for members, co-sponsoreda boat cruise with the AmericanIreland Fund and supported theChicago Council on Global Affairsin a number of events. Theinteractive website was launched inOctober enabling members to connect,register for events and keeptrack of the IN calendar of eventsand those hosted by complementarygroups in Chicago.IN Chicago held its Eighth AnnualBall in The Drake Hotel inFebruary 2011, and held its secondAGM in March. The monthly ‘FirstFriday’ evenings will continue andthere are speaker events scheduled,including an evening with acclaimedIrish author Colm Toibin inJune. Summertime will see some ofthe events ‘out of doors.’ Check ourwebsite (www.theirelandnetwork.com) or follow us on Facebook tokeep connected.IN Chicago are delighted to collaboratewith other Irish groups inthe city, including the Irish Consulate,American Ireland Fund, IrishAmerican Heritage Center, IrishFellowship Club and Gaelic Park.IN also participates in fundraisingfor the Chicago Irish ImmigrantSupport and Concern.Seamus ByrneSeamus Byrne, current IN-Chicago President, an architectIreland Network Committee Members 2011Imelda Gallagheroriginally from Waterford, believesthat the key to the IN’s success hasbeen the forward looking attitudeamong members. Having moved toChicago from London in 1991, hejoined the IN upon its launch. Attractedby the businesslike mindsetput forward by the founding group,he wanted to get involved and hasserved on the Committee since2009. He says that this attitude isstill prevalent among IN members.“Most of us have a strong sense ofhaving one foot on each side of theAtlantic, regardless of how long wehave been in the Chicago area, andin these days of global connectivity,the dual identities of Irish andChicagoan are easily compatible.Chicago has certainly been a welcomingplace for Irish, and we liketo think we contribute positively tothe city’s rich tapestry.”Helen Garrahy, Past President ofIN Chicago, a Portfolio Managerwith Heitman Investment Managers,moved to Chicago in 2003 and hasbeen an active member. “I appreciatethe familiarity of the group butwith an ever expanding membershipfrom right across the Chicagobusiness community the Networkconstantly offers opportunities tomeet new contacts and friends. INhas a strong foundation and continuesto strengthen as a result ofconsistent member support, enthusiasticvolunteers and partnershipwith the Irish Consulate and wellestablished organizations that helpexpand the reach of the Networkand facilitate greater access andexposure for IN members.”Fiona McEntee, an ImmigrationLaw attorney, who recently openedher own law firm, became an INCommittee member last year. “Ihad been living in Chicago for a fewyears before I discovered the IN. Thefirst event I attended was the BlackTie Ball. My husband and I met somany wonderful people at the balland as a result, we were keen to stayinvolved in the organization. It isreally nice to feel so connected tocurrent events back home. The INfacilitates this connection directlyby hosting speaker events (politicians/authors/journalists,etc.) andindirectly through our conversationswith members at the many socialgatherings it organizes.”Ronan Keary a newcomer toChicago and works with CB RichardEllis. “I moved here Octoberlast and joined the group shortlyHelen Garrahyafterwards. I have always been veryproud of my Irish heritage and feltvery strongly about retaining thisidentity in the US. The IN gives methe perfect avenue for doing this. Itsmany social and networking eventshave been terrific for building contactsand, more importantly, friends!Coming from the rural West ofIreland to such a huge city withoutbasically knowing anyone can bea tremendously intimidating (andfrankly, terrifying) thing. Meetingwith so many Irish people with similarstories is hugely refreshing. Itreally gives you a sense of a ‘homeaway from home.’ I would highlyrecommend The Ireland Networkto any and all. If nothing else, it isnice to hear people speak and usethe same words/phrases I do…”Niamh King, Executive Director,Public and Leadership Programs:“The IN has been a terrific partnerto The Chicago Council on GlobalAffairs. IN members have beenactively interested in a broad rangeof Council programs but of course,also those specifically focused onIreland. The Council was delightedto work with the IN when journalistFintan O’Toole came to talk abouthis book Ship of Fools. We alsopartnered with the IN when thehead of Concern, Tom Arnold, wasin Chicago to discuss internationaldevelopment and the remarkablework his organization is doing. TheCouncil recently worked with theIN and the Irish American HeritageCenter to promote a terrificprogram on the Irish economy thatwas moderated by the Council’sown Executive Director of Studies,Dublin-born Thomas Wright. TheCouncil’s mission has been oneof public education for 89 years,and the IN has been an excellentpartner for reaching out to thecommunity.”Martin Rouine, Irish Consul, hadthe following comments about theIN: “The Irish Consulate has beenprivileged to work with IN-Chicagosince the Network’s foundation. Iam pleased to say that the Networkhas gone from strength to strengthand has become an integral part ofthe fabric of Irish life in this city,providing a place for all people whohave a connection with Ireland tomeet and develop both social andbusiness links.”I hope that you now have anunderstanding of IN Chicago. Wewelcome your participation in INevents and to join as a member. Itis $50 per annum which will giveyou access to the IN Chicago websiteand also the IN-USA websiteto connect with our membersnationwide. For more information,please visit our website: www.theirelandnetwork.com.

Open for Mother’s Day and Memorial Day Weekend!For Reservations, Call:McNally’s Traditional Irish PubSt. Charles(630) 513-6300McGonigal’s PubBarrington847-277-7400

46 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” May 2011Non-Verbal Elements of an InterviewWhen we think of the interview process, I believe that many ofus are thinking about the point where you and the interviewer aresitting across a desk from each other. Obviously, your effectiveverbal interchange is vital to the success of your job search. But,in addition to those things that you display in the interview, thereare several steps to be taken before the meeting itself.• You need to have prepared, practiced and perfected yourpresentation. Rehearse your answers to the obvious questions.Do your homework on the industry, the company and ideally, theinterviewer.• Remember the interviewer is not likely to spend much timediscussing issues outside of his concern. Should you be considereda vital candidate for the position s/he is trying to fill is their firstconcern.• Be on time. Give yourself much more time to get to the interviewsite than you deem really necessary. If you get rattled by trafficjams or construction delays, you probably won’tpresent yourself as effectively as you could.• “Clothes make the man or woman.” Corny expressionI agree, but there is more than a germ of truth toit. When we are going to a social event, don’t many ofus tend to “dress up”? Normally, it is a sign of respect.You want to impress the interviewer positively.• Just before the interview, find a restroom. Lookin the mirror and correct any recent flaws in your“package.” Your personal appearance gives evidence of your respectand interest in the company.• Finally, get yourself cranked up. Most performers get themselves“wired up” before they give a performance. And you areabout to give a performance. Be sure to have your agenda for theinterview: what are the three things that you want the interviewerto remember about you. Have you told the interviewer why youshould be hired? Did you “ask for the job”?Even before the interview begins, you should decide how youare going to present yourself. You want to be sure that showingyour energy and enthusiasm is at the top of your list. Why wouldanyone hire a ”dead fish?” As an experienced interviewer, I canassure you that interviewers don’t value people who just respond totheir questions. They want to learn something about the potentialemployee. What are your most significant achievements and howcan you relate them to requirements of the job being discussed?Here are a few specific suggestions.• Be serious about the interview, but not aboutyourself. Be your best self. Smile, we all likefriendly people. Smiling will offset some of yournervousness.• Recognize that the initial impression of you isvital—many interviewers will tell you that they are50% to a decision within the first 30 second of afirst interview. Be sure that you have highlightedyour best characteristics or features and obscuredyour least attractive ones.• People hire other people with whom they arecomfortable. If you can find some common experiencesto facilitate some of the casual, introductoryconversation, so much the better. Scan the interviewspace, do the trappings of the office tell youanything about his/her interests?• Without being a parrot, try to mimic the fundamentalinterpersonal traits used by the interviewer.If he is a slow talker, perhaps you should slowdown your hurried speech. If she seems to be verydetailed oriented, don’t throw all kinds of generalitiesinto the conversation.• Your attitude tells it all—play your tune, not oneset by the interviewer. If s/he is having a bad day,don’t let them rain on your parade. And perhapsabove all else, think of the interview as a meeting of equals. Don’tthink it suits you to make yourself seem small.• Even as we have become more culturally aware, we sometimesforget that customs can differ from one company to another. Besure you are sensitive to the company’s dress code. Look theinterviewer in the eye, but don’t try to stare him/her down. Samewith your handshake, firm but not oppressive. There is a privacyzone between two individuals facing each other, don’t violate this40 inches of neutral air.• Be alert to the time. Once the interview goes beyond the expectedtime, feel free to extend an excuse to the interviewer whichwill allow for the conclusion of the interview. If the interviewerinsists that you stay that’s probably means that you are being wellperceived.There are a few things to do after the interview is over. It’sconsidered good manners to thank the interviewer for the interview.It has become quite acceptable to do this by email rather than aformal letter or hand written note.• Absolutely follow up after the interview. It tells the interviewerthat you are really interested in the job and are a well-manneredperson; both favorable conclusions. Use your good judgmentregarding how often you follow up with the interviewer: everyday—too much; every week—could be too much; every twoweeks—could be just right.• If you have a mutual friend with the interviewer, perhaps youcould use that relationship to put you over the top.• Rather than simply making calls to the company inquiringabout the status of the decision making process, consider anotherapproach. Could you find some significant information about theirbusiness, perhaps in lesser read publications? Could you givethem a pertinent idea or two about a problem or an obstacle thatwas mentioned in the interviewing process? You are trying to findways to distinguish yourself from the several other candidates theymight be considering.• If the potential employer says no, try to elicit the reason(s) fortheir decision. You should also do a thorough analysis of your ownperformance. Consider this process a learning vehicle that couldenhance your next interview.In summary, you need to realize that the interview process isthe accepted way of hiring people at this point in time. So learnhow to play the game well. Read a few books on the process;one recommendation comes to mind: From Interview Disaster toInterview Master by a buddy of mine, Bob Ward.Best of luck in your job search; but it strikes me that the abovesuggestions could be applied in your everyday workplace, too.Hope you agree. Carpe Diem.James F. Fitzgerald is the president of James F. Fitzgerald &Associates, Inc., an Oak Brook, IL based senior executive coachingand career transition firm.Phone #: 630-684-2204. Email: jamesffitz37@hotmail.comNEW website: www.jamesffitzgerald.com.For Booking: www.celticratpack.com

May 2011 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” 47Printers Row Lit Fest Returns June 4-5, 2011Go Green with MWRD Rain BarrelThe Chicago TribunePrinters RowLit Fest, consideredthe largest FREEoutdoor literar yevent in the Midwest, returns to thefive-city-block stretch of Dearborn Street,from Congress to Polk, Saturday andSunday, June 4-5, 2011, from 10am–6pmboth days; the popular Lit After Dark programtakes place Saturday, June 4, from6–10pm. Various venues will featuremore than 100 literary programs, includingappearances by national best-sellingauthors: Meredith Baxter, Edwidge Danticat,Richard Ford, Oscar Hijuelos ,TerryMcMillan, and Colm Toibin, along withadditional headliners to be announced.For more information and specificprogramming, call 312-222-9317 or visitwww.printersrowlitfest.org.In its effort to promote storm water BestManagement Practices (BMPS), the MWRDis encouraging residents to be proactive environmentalstewards by purchasing a rainbarrel available on line at www.mwrd.org. Theeconomy has been hard on the wallet, butmaintaining your landscaping can be donerelatively inexpensively with a little help fromMWRD rain barrels.Commissioner Terrence J. O’Brien, Presidentof the Metropolitan Water ReclamationDistrict of Greater Chicago (MWRD) statedthat “Your garden will love you for being green,and so will your wallet. Selling at a fraction ofthe cost of most suppliers, rain barrels are availableto the general public from the MWRD.”Available just in time for spring gardening,the environmentally and economically valuablerain barrels have stood the test of time aswater conservation and storm water managementtools.To buy a rain barrel, go to www.mwrd.organd pay for the rain barrel with a credit ordebit card. If you have any questions or needinformation, please contact the Office of PublicAffairs at 312-751-6633.PADDY HOMANAppearing with The Four CourtsatChicago Gaelic Park Irish FestSaturday,May 28th5:15-6:45pmEmerald Stage&Sunday,May 29th2:45-4:15pmEmerald StageCongratulations toChicago Gaelic Parkon their 25th Anniversary!Paddy from Cork!