Our esteemed (and coiffure-challenged) former President John Graf and his F.A.C.T. posse give their two-cents to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazetteon the Allegheny County poured drink tax.
"We are not against [Mr. Onorato's plan to create dedicated transit funding], we just happen to think that government should be as unobtrusive as possible, especially in this economic climate," said Mr. Graf, 43, a Pittsburgh native who owns and operates The Priory Hotel and Hospitality Group.
Next round is on John! Read about The Priory here and F.A.C.T. here.
Editorial note: This blogger takes no position on the merits of the Allegheny County Drink Tax. He continues to like to drink cheap alcohol while riding public transportation. Quite a quandary.
June 29 1771 - Birth of Edward Newell, United Irishman and informer, in Downpatrick, Co. Down 1820 - The Dublin Society becomes the Royal Dublin Society 1820 - Robert Jocelyn, 2nd Earl Roden, former MP for Dundalk and a leader of the Orange Order, is alleged to have led an attack on Catholic homes in Dundalk. He is struck off the Commission of the Peace and ordered to be brought to trial, but flees to Edinburgh, where he dies suddenly on this date 1848 - A gunfight takes place between Young Ireland Rebels and police at Widow McCormack's house in Ballingarry, Tipperary 1915 - Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossna, Fenian leader, dies in the U.S. 1916 - Roger Casement is convicted of treason and sentenced to death 1920 - In response to Anglo-Irish anxiety concerning their role in a future Ireland, the Dáil Éireann issues a resolution endeavoring to stem land-grabbing and to shift focus to clearing out the foreign invader 1924 - Joss Lynam, mountaineer, is born in London 1944 - Seán Doherty, Fianna Fáil politician, is born in Co. Roscommon 1985 - Máire Ni Scolai, Irish language singer, dies 1969 - Ireland enacts exemption from income tax for creators of works of 'cultural or artistic merit' 1998 - Northern Ireland braces braced violent conflict after irate Orangemen vow not to recognise a Parades Commission order banning them from marching along the nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown 1999 - The political parties in the North inch their way towards a deadlock-breaking peace deal to rescue the Good Friday Agreement based on Sinn Féin’s acceptance of a timetable for arms decommissioning 2000 - The Western Health Board launches a campaign to reduce smoking in pubs In the liturgical calendar, today is the feast day of St. Peter & Paul.
June 30 1691 - The fall of Athlone. Despite the bravery of legendary Sergeant Custume and others, severely outnumbered, the Connacht side of the town fell. The remainder of the Irish garrison retreats to Limerick 1790 - Birth in Knockfin, Co. Laois of Arthur Jacob - noted oculist and Professor of Anatomy in the Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin 1798 - Rebels break camp, Needham sends Cavalry to pursue them. The rebels ambush cavalry at Ballyellis and inflict heavy defeat on them. By evening rebels are camped at Kilcavan 1835 - Sir Samuel McCaughey, who is destined to become a sheep tycoon in Australia, is born near Ballymena, Co. Antrim 1922 - The Four Courts, Dublin, are abandoned by Anti-Treaty forces after a two-day bombardment 1932 - De Valera abolishes the oath of allegiance and withholds land annuities from the British Government 1941 - Stephen Hayes, a former IRA chief of staff, is kidnapped; he later claims to have been 'court martialled' and tortured by the IRA; Seán McCaughey is later convicted of his kidnapping 1981 - Garret Fitzgerald replaces Charles Haughey as Taoiseach 2000 - Breakaway republicans are held responsible for an explosion which halts all cross border rail services 2001 - David Trimble resigns as Northern Ireland First Minister.
July 1 1681 - Despite witnesses against him being discredited, Oliver Plunkett is hanged, drawn and quartered in London 1690 - Battle of the Boyne; the Jacobite forces (Irish, French, Germans and Walloons) are defeated by the Williamites (Irish, English, Dutch, Germans and Danes). The Williamite victory, being seen as a defeat for Louis XIV, is welcomed by Pope Alexander VIII 1701 - A public holiday is proclaimed for the inauguration of a statue of William III at College Green, Dublin 1798 - Rebels remain in camp at Kilcavan 1867 - Thomas Francis Meagher, Young Ireland leader, dies 1899 - Birth of singer Cavan O’Connor 1916 - The Somme offensive begins. The 36th (Ulster) Division suffers heavy casualties 1924 - The Irish Free State Aer Corps is established 1979 - The Boomtown Rats featuring Bob Geldof enter the British charts at no. 13 with I Don't Like Mondays, and eventually reach #1 1990 - The Republic of Ireland plays in the World Cup Finals for the first time. They are defeated 0-1 by Italy in the quarter-finals; an estimated half a million people take to the streets of Dublin to welcome the team home 1998 - Northern Ireland's new Assembly meets for the first time amid the growing crisis over the Drumcree Orange Order parade in Portadown. A new era in power-sharing between unionists and nationalists in Northern Ireland begins with David Trimble and Seamus Mallon elected First Minister and Deputy First Minister respectively to the new Assembly. Sinn Féin delegates abstain from the first-ever vote in the Assembly, while anti-Agreement unionists vote solidly against the two appointments 2000 - More than 1,000 Westlife fans besiege Sligo City Hall when their heroes are awarded the freedom of the city 2001 - Ireland's national minimum wage increases from £4.40 an hour to £4.70 an hour.
July 2 1790 - In an election for Speaker of the Irish parliament, John Foster defeats William Brabazon Ponsonby by 145 votes to 105 1798 - Rebels defeat small force of Yeomanry at Ballraheen Hill; they move to camp at Croghan 1800 - The British Act of Union is passed 1819 - Edward Vaughan Kenealy, barrister and writer, is born in Cork 1869 - Birth of one of Ireland’s greatest ever tennis players, Joshua Prine, who won the Wimbledon singles in 1893 and 1894 1874 - Isaac Butt's Home Rule motion defeated in House of Commons 458-6 1903 - One of the greatest motoring events is held in Ireland - the Gordon Bennett Race, sponsored by James Gordon Bennett, owner of the New York Herald 1957 - Bridie Gallagher reaches no. 1 in the Irish charts with "The Boys From The County Armagh" 1958 - The Industrial Development Act is passed to encourage an influx of foreign capital 1970 - Irish Catholic bishops announce that it is no longer obligatory to abstain from eating meat on Friday 1970 - Following his arrest on May 28 for allegedly importing arms for the IRA, Neil Blaney is discharged 2000 - Joey Dunlop, motorcycle racer and humanitarian worker, dies in an accident during a race in Estonia 2000 - The 25th anniversary of St. Oliver Plunkett's canonization is celebrated in Drogheda, Co. Armagh 2000 - Navan-born jockey, Johnny Murtagh, rides Sinndar to an easy victory at the Budweiser Irish Derby 2001 - Ireland bids bon voyage to the relics of St Therese of Lisieux at the end of an 11-week tour which organisers claim drew three million onlookers.
July 3 1746 - Henry Grattan, Irish statesman, is born in Dublin 1798 - Remnants of Southern column reach Croghan. Fr. John Murphy dies at the hands of his captors 1952 - Bord Fáilte - The Irish Tourist Board, is founded 1976 - Former Boyzone band-member, Shane Lynch, is born in Dublin 1998 - Boyzone heart-throbs, Ronan Keating and Keith Duffy, throw a belated wedding bash for dozens of showbiz friends in Co. Wicklow; Hello! magazine picks up the expenses in exchange for exclusive photo coverage rights 2000 - The Taoiseach's brother, Maurice Ahern, is elected Lord Mayor of Dublin; Fine Gael's P. J. Hourican, a native of Co. Longford, is elected Lord Mayor of Cork; Sinn Féin's Sean McManus is elected Mayor of Sligo 2001 - The National Museum of Ireland launches a new range of craft and souvenir items which range in price from just £1 for a biro (pen) with the museum logo to £10,000 for a unique, hand crafted piece of jewellery.
July 4 1653 - Ireland and Scotland are represented by six and five members respectively in the 'Barebones' parliament 1690 - James II flees to France for assistance after his defeat by William of Orange 1921 - Awaiting truce with the English, Eamon De Valera orders the American flag flown in Dublin to "emphasize the principle for which we are fighting" 1798 - Rebels remain in camp at Croghan; General Needham prepares attack on Croghan camp 1878 - Birth of George M. Cohan in Providence, Rhode Island 1998 - It is announced that outgoing US Ambassador Jean Kennedy-Smith is to be made an honorary Irish citizen in recognition of her contribution to the peace process 1999 - Posh Spice Victoria Adams and England and Manchester United soccer star David Beckham are married at Dublin castle 2000 - Major international survey reveals that Irish workers pay the lowest tax rates in the European Union - even though pay rates are just barely below the EU average 2001 - The Orange order puts new proposals to the Parades Commission in an attempt to reverse the decision to divert next Sunday’s Orange Order march from the Garvaghy Road.
July 5 1790 - The Irish mail coach makes its first run from Dublin to Waterford 1798 - Rebels break camp and march north. They collide with a government force led by General Duff. They retreat south and turn to fight Duff at Ballygullen, near Craanford. The battle is indecisive but with three other Government columns converging on them, the rebels divide into two columns and retreat south. The smaller column moves west and into the hills near Carnew. It eventually makes its way to Glenmalure where it joins up with a group of Wicklow rebels. The main column retreats south to Carrigrew; that evening it marches north and camps in the Wicklow Mountains 1812 - Frederick Maning, judge and writer among the Maori, is born in Johnville, Co. Dublin 1828 - Daniel O’Connell wins the Clare election 1838 - The Board of Trinity College decrees the establishment of a Chair of Irish 1936 - Brendan Halligan, economist, Labour politician and Europhile, is born in Dublin 1950 - Veronica Guerin, crime journalist, is born in Dublin 1993 - U2 releases "Zooropa" worldwide, except in North America which will get the album a day later 1998 - All bus services in Belfast are suspended as riots spread across the city 2000 - Storms cause tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage and leave thousands of homes without power 2001 - A two-year project to transcribe the official records of Dáil debates since 1919 is completed; the entire archive is available at Ireland Gov. 2002 - A new EU survey shows that electricity costs for the Irish consumer are among the cheapest in Europe, but gas users are paying some of the highest rates 2002 - Over €2 billion is wiped off the value of companies on the Irish stock exchange as markets around the world continue to see sharp falls amid concerns about improper accounting standards.
The Irish Rovers are set to appear at Mt. Lebanon High School auditorium on December 6, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. courtesy of "Music for Mt. Lebanon." Ticket details can be found here.
Editorial note: Although The Irish Rovers have not made the Official AOH Division 32 Top 10 Irish Bands list, I am sure they only missed inclusion on the list by just a hair. Here's a little taste of what you'll hear from these lads...
You say you're a little tired of our little piece of paradise we call Pittsburgh? Looking for a new pad to spread out? Check out this crib for sale in County Cork overlooking Kinsale Harbour. According to The New York Times, it can be yours for a cool $6.9 million. Follow the link to take the tour.
I was just booked at a new place downtown on Friday, June 27th. It’s called the Courthouse Tavern. It’s almost on the corner of Forbes and Wood and parking on the streets is free after 6 p.m. I’ll be there Friday from 7 to 11 p.m.
As with all new gigs, the first time I’m there it’s important to bring a crowd so I’ll be booked again. They know it takes a while to build a regular crowd but the first night is really important.
Continuing with our list of top 10 Irish bands of all time....
7. Thin Lizzy: Perhaps one of the most under-the-radar of the Irish bands on this list. I never really knew they were an Irish band. In fairness to myself, Thin Lizzy's heyday was a wee bit before my time. In fact, I bet if you polled most Americans, they would tell you that Thin Lizzy was home-grown American rock-n-roll. Not so. With staples of American classic rock radio like "Jailbreak" and "The Boys are Back in Town" in their catalog, Thin Lizzy is Dublin born and bred.
6. Clannad: Known to most Yanks for the song in a now forgotten Volkswagen commercial ("The Theme From Harry's Game"), Clannad has been a staple of the Irish traditional/folk/folk rock/rock scene since the late 70's. Hailing from the comically-named, Lord of the Rings-esque town of Gweedore, County Donegal, Clannad spawned the career of the Enya who is surely known to those of you who follow the musical stylings of Yanni and John Tesh (You know who you are!):
5. Westlife: Signed by Simon Cowell in 1998 (Yes, that Simon Cowell), these four lads from Ireland were the Old Sod's entry into the late-90's "boy band" mania that spawned N'Sync, Backstreet Boys, and any number of other faceless, pre-packaged, syrupy-sweet bands geared toward teenage girls. Yeah, their music pretty much sucks, and they never really gained a toehold here in the US, but they have sold more than 40 million records worldwide and had 14 number one singles in the UK. Not bad.
Little known fun fact: This is John Graf's favorite Irish band.
June 22 1770 - James Smyth, MP for Dundalk, is killed in a riding accident 1798 - Rebel southern column marches through Sculloge Gap, into Co. Carlow. Rebel northern column marches to camp at Croghan 1798 - Execution of John Kelly, also known as 'Kelly of Killane' 1866 - Archbishop Cullen becomes the first Irishman elevated to Cardinal 1921 - First Ulster parliament, led by Sir James Craig, is formally opened by King George V, who appeals for peace 1922 - Longford-born Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson is shot and killed by the IRA on the steps of his home in London (link to Wild Geese) 1930 - Sir Hugh Annesley - RUC Chief Constable - is born in Dublin 1932 - Eucharistic Congress in Dublin begins. The high point is when over a million people gather for Mass in Phoenix Park 1940 - The last tram to Donnybrook, Dublin leaves 1959 - Birth of Michael Kinane - jockey - in Killenaule, Co. Tipperary 1973 - Hilton Edwards and Dr. Micheál Mac Liammóir are given the Freedom of the city of Dublin 1997 - Orange parades pass off quietly amid growing fears of a further stand-off at Drumcree 1998 - An urgent appeal is made to Ireland's drivers to slow down after eight young people lose their lives in a black weekend on the country's roads 2002 - U2's Edge marries longtime girlfriend Morleigh Steinberg in a Jewish ceremony at the Garden of Eze in the south of France. Bono is the best man.
June 23 1704 - The Registration Act comes into force requiring all Catholic priests in Ireland to register in court, to furnish two £50 bonds for good behaviour, and not to leave the county in which they are registered 1777 - William Brown, founder of the Argentine navy, is born in Foxford, Co. Mayo 1798 - Rebel southern column captures Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny and camps at Bunreagh; Rebel northern column moves into Wicklow Mountains and camps at Ballymanus 1802 - Daniel O'Connell secretly marries his cousin, Mary O'Connell 1825 - Annie French Hector, novelist who wrote under the pseudonym Mrs. Alexander, is born in Dublin. Highly successful novelist with 40 books including the Wooing of O’t (1873), and Blind Fate (1891); A Choice of Evils (1895), and Kitty Costello, semi-autobiographical (1902) 1838 - Sir James Gildea, philanthropist and co-founder of St. John Ambulance Association, is born in Kilmaine, Co. Mayo 1939 - Dáil Éireann introduces internment 1945 - Sean O'Ceallaigh is inaugurated as President of Ireland 1959 - Seán Lemass becomes Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil 1985 - An Air India Boeing 747 from Toronto crashes off the Irish coast, killing all 329 people aboard in the world's worst commercial air disaster at sea 1986 - Northern Ireland Assembly is dissolved. Police baton-charge 200 loyalist protesters outside Stormont 1998 - President Mary McAleese meets President Bill Clinton for the first time in the Oval Office; he promises that the US will remain engaged in the North peace process Today is the eve of St. John's Feastday; it is also Mid Summer's Eve - an ancient solar feast celebrated with bonfires throughout the Celtic lands.
June 24 1754 - Death of Robin Downes. Thomas Waite writes: ‘Yesterday morning Robin Downes, member for Kildare, was found in his parlour in his house in Dawson Street with a sword run through his body. There are hopes of his recovery. He himself says ... that he received the wound in a fair duel ... but the general opinion seems to be that he transfixed himself, though no one pretends to assign the reason. My Lord Kildare is come to town in vast agitation at this accident’ 1798 - Rebel southern column captures Castlecomber, Co Kilkenny and camp at Slatt, in Co Laois 1850 - Horatio Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum; soldier and statesman, is born in Ballylongford, Co. Kerry 1874 - Birth of Úna Ní Fhaircheallaigh, Irish author, feminist and language activist 1876 - Birth of Forrest Reid in Belfast. He was a novelist, critic, and autobiographer. He became a distinguished book and print collector, eventually writing a definitive work on the book of illustrators of the 1860s 1987: U2 plays Belfast for the first time since 1982 In the Liturgical Calendar, today is the feast of St. John.
June 25 1731 - The Dublin Society for Improving Husbandry, (later to become the Royal Dublin Society on June 19, 1820), is founded on this date 1783 - The Bank of Ireland is established in Dublin, by Royal charter. It issues its first notes, and opens to the public on this date; the Irish pound is worth £12/13 sterling 1798 - Northern column fails to take Hacketstown, Co. Carlow and returns to camp at Croghan. Southern column marches from Slatt, to camp at Kilcumney Hill, Co. Carlow 1870 - Erskine Childers, novelist, member of the Royal Navy, and later an Irish nationalist, is born in London. He is famous for the classic spy yarn "The Riddle Of The Sands." For more on his life, please click The Wild Geese 1891 - Charles Stewart Parnell married Katherine O'Shea in England 1938 - Dr. Douglas Hyde inaugurated as first President of Ireland; Seán T O'Ceallaigh, Eamon de Valera and Erskine Childers were all installed on the same day in 1945, 1959 and 1973 respectively 1939 - Garech A Brún, founder of Claddagh Records, music publisher and world-traveller, is born in Glenmaroon, Chapelizod, Co. Dublin. Samuel Beckett, Robert Graves, Patrick Kavanagh and the Chieftains, which he founded, feature among Claddagh's diverse recordings 1950 - Muiris Ó Súilleabháin, writer, drowns while swimming off Co. Galway. He was born on the Great Blasket Island off Co, Kerry in 1904. The English scholar George Thomson, who visited the island for the first time in 1923, encouraged Muiris to write. His book "Fiche Bliain ag Fás" describes his early life on the Great Blasket. In 1933-1934(?), it was translated into English as "Twenty Years A-Growing" the same year it was published in Irish. It was later published into many other languages and has been acclaimed by international critics as a jewel of Irish culture 1970 - Restrictions on Catholics attending Trinity College removed 1992 - Joan Denise Moriarty, ballet composer, choreographer and founder of the Irish National Ballet, dies. During her career, she choreographed over 100 original works, drawing on themes from Irish mythology and legend, fusing traditional dance forms with ballet. Her aim was to create an original Irish form of this European art In the liturgical calendar, today is the feastday of St. Moluag of Lismore.
June 26 1657 - 'Act for Convicting, Discovering and Repressing of Popish Recusants' is passed 1782 - The Relief Act gives Catholics rights concerning their education 1798 - Southern column is surprised by Government forces on Kilcumney Hill. They are defeated and decide to disperse. Many men return home but some decide to try and rejoin northern column at Croghan. Northern column remains in camp at Croghan. 1824 - Physicist and mathematician, Sir William Thomson, first Baron Kelvin of Largs, is born in College Square East, Belfast 1846 - England repeals the Corn Laws. The Corn Law Act had been passed in 1815 as a measure to protect the interests of landowners who looked as if they were about to lose out when highly inflated prices for corn ceased with the ending of the Napoleonic Wars. This kept the price of not only corn but also bread artificially high. Although an Anti-Corn Law League formed to oppose the legislation, it was not until the potato famine in Ireland that repeal was enacted in a belated attempt to alleviate some of the suffering 1887 - 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33 Celsius), the highest temperature in Ireland since records began, was recorded at Kilkenny Castle 1891 - Wedding of Charles Stewart Parnell to Kitty O’Shea 1963 - President John F. Kennedy begins his state visit to Ireland 1981 - Garret FitzGerald succeeds Haughey as Taoiseach 1986 - After a bitter campaign, the referendum to legalize divorce is defeated, 63.1 percent to 36.3 per cent 1991 - The convictions of the Maguire Seven are quashed 1996 - Journalist Veronica Guerin is murdered in Dublin 2000 - The IRA makes a major symbolic break with the past by disclosing that for the first time, it has opened up its arsenal of guns and bombs to outside inspection 2001 - Paintings valued at more than £3,000,000 are stolen from Russborough House in Co. Wicklow.
June 27 1488 - Sir Richard Edgecombe is sent to Ireland with power to grant pardons; he lands at Kinsale on this date 1782 - The Relief Act gives Catholics rights concerning their education 1798 - Northern column remains in camp at Croghan 1846 - Irish statesman, Charles Stewart Parnell, is born 1864 - Charles Joly, astronomer, is born in Tullamore, Co. Offaly 1870 - Eibhlín Bean Uí Choisdeailbh, Irish language folk-song collector is born 1922 - Marie Kean, actress, is born in Rush, Co. Dublin 1987 - U2 returns to Dublin's Croke Park for the first time in two years; U2's set-list appropriately includes "A Sort of Homecoming" 2001 - The golden eagle lands in Ireland for the first time in nearly a century. Six chicks of the bird-of-prey arrive in Co. Donegal from the Scottish Highlands at the start of a programme to re-introduce a species that became extinct in 1912 2000 - More than 2,000 troops are flown into Northern Ireland to reinforce security ahead of the marching season 2001 - Passing of former Labour deputy Michael Moynihan. The 84-year-old was a TD for Kerry South during the 1980s and early 1990s. He also served as a Minister of State at the Department of Trade, Commerce and Tourism. 2007 - Ireland elects its first black mayor A Nigerian man who came to Ireland in 2000 to seek asylum in Ireland makes history by becoming Ireland's first black mayor. 43-year-old Councillor Rotimi Adebari is elected the Mayor of Portlaoise Town Council by a vote of six to three and with the support of Fine Gael, Sinn Féin and Independent members of the council. At a meeting attended by officials from the Nigerian, South African and the United States embassies, the new mayor is quoted as saying his election was proof that “Ireland is not just a country of a thousand welcomes but it is a country of equal opportunity.”
June 28 1798 - General Hunter, who replaced Lake as Commander in Wexford, becomes aware rebellion is not over and begins to re-deploy his troops. He orders General Duff to Bunclody and General Needham to Gorey 1853 - The introduction of income tax in Ireland is proposed for the first time 1861 - Explorer Robert Burke, from Co. Galway, dies in Australia 1920 - On hearing of British atrocities in Ireland, soldiers of the Connaught Rangers mutiny in protest; three are shot dead; a fourth - Private James Daly - is court-martialled and executed by firing squad. He is the last member of the British army to be executed for mutiny 1922 - The Provisional Government of the Irish Free State bombards the Four Courts in Dublin, and the Civil War begins 1939 - Pan American's Yankee Clipper lands at Foynes Flying Boat Base and inaugurates first scheduled airmail service 1985 - While rehearsing for their homecoming show the following day, U2 is forced to stop when they learn their volume is so loud at Croke Park, they have disturbed students taking exams at a school a half-mile away 1999 - It is announced by Bord Gais that the freeze on gas prices put into effect in 1984 will remain until at least 2003 2000 - Over budget and deeply in debt, the departure of millennium ship, Jeanie Johnston, is further postponed 2001 - Following the collapse of the British-based Independent Insurance company, it is predicted that thousands of Irish companies will lose upwards of £160m 2002 - Bronze Age burial pit is unearthed by students in Longford.
Brothers ... I have purchased a new Prince Charlie jacket and vest to wear with my kilt for formal events ... I am looking to sell my current jacket and vest which are in very good condition ... I simply have outgrown them ... unfortunately ...
If you are or you know of someone who would be interested in purchasing it ... please let me know ... they'll be able to get it for a good price ...
It is very important that we continue our support for the Irish Nationalist positions in the Belfast Assembly and ask the U.S. Government and our representatives to continue putting pressure on the London and Dublin governments to be sure that the promises of the St. Andrews Agreement are met by the DUP. President Bush's administration with his representative Ambassador Paula Dobriansky have been good but we must continue to push.
The power-sharing government, which we supported as a peaceful solution to the Troubles, must not become a roadblock to advancing important efforts with the Irish Language, Policing, Justice, and Collusion.
The government in Belfast needs to respond to the needs of the people. All other languages of the people throughout the United Kingdom are protected and supported with the exception of Irish in the six counties. No government is a true government unless it is has the power to control how it's citizens are protected and control the courts. The accusations of government collusion must be addressed before there will be complete reconciliation between the communities.
Tom McGurk sends a warning to all of us on the importance of these issues.
Ned McGinley Past National President A.O.H. in America
Old tensions resurfacing in ‘dire’ Stormont atmosphere 15 June 2008 By Tom McGurk With the Chuckle Brothers act off the political stage, the truth about the fractures and paralysis in the North’s Assembly is all too plain.Last month, in preparation for the US investment conference in Belfast, the Stormont power-sharing Executive planned to publish a booklet to be distributed to every home in the North and to be given to every delegate at the conference. The high-quality colour booklet was intended to detail the progress that had been made since the ending of the Troubles and to extol the success of power-sharing.In the end, the publication of the brochure had to be abandoned, with large costs to the taxpayer, because the DUP and Sinn Féin could not agree about the editorial - in particular the use of the Irish language in the publication – and whether to refer to Derry or Londonderry. At the end of a week in which the DUP is claiming to hold the balance of power at Westminster - after its nine votes saved Gordon Brown’s 42-day terrorist detention bill – the North’s power-sharing Executive could hardly be described as the happiest of families. There’s no denying that the tension between the DUP and Sinn Féin is growing and, to many, the DUP performance in saving Brown may be bad news, given its likely effect on the balance of power at Stormont.The Paisley era has ended, the Chuckle Brothers are now history, and the atmosphere within the power-sharing Executive led by Peter Robinson has been described by one insider as ‘‘dour and dire’’.It began from the outset, when there were dark mutterings from an increasingly frustrated Sinn Féin last week about not supporting the nomination of Robinson as first minister until some progress had been made on what they called ‘‘the outstanding issues’’.They were referring in particular to the Irish Language Bill (still in limbo), a replacement for the 11+ exam and the whole question of the transfer of policing powers from London.In fact, an emergency meeting had to be called by Gordon Brown in London to head off a potential DUP/Sinn Féin falling-out. Such was the atmosphere at that meeting that Robinson launched a blistering attack on foreign affairs minister Micheál Martin - who had rushed over from Dublin - questioning his right to be there in the first place.The outstanding issues, of course, effectively amount to almost every major political decision the power-sharing Assembly has been asked to agree on since it came into power last year. The political reality is that - for all the external miraculous nature of the DUP/Sinn Féin relationship - on the inside, fundamental disagreements have frozen the executive into a state of political paralysis.For all of Paisley and McGuinness’s fine words, the Executive over which they presided could agree on almost nothing. Given the political ambitions for power-sharing and the task of restructuring the North, major decisions have to be made.And while the day-to-day business of the Executive has been carried on reasonably effectively, long-term planning or major symbolic decisions are not happening.The fact that four major policy decisions await unobtainable Executive approval reveals the unbridgeable political and cultural divisions that remain between the DUP and Sinn Féin. The agreement on the devolution of security and policing powers from London to the Executive is bitterly opposed by the DUP, dreading as it does that someday there could be a Sinn Féin minister in charge of the police at Stormont.The row about whether to site the new national sports stadium at Long Kesh or in Belfast reveals DUP worries that it could become some sort of shrine to dead hunger strikers. The row about the replacement for the 11+ and the role of grammar schools cuts across the class issue between the two sides.And perhaps most revealing of all is the DUP opposition to the Irish Language Bill. It is a measure of the DUP’s 17th century mentality that they should continue to oppose the growing Gaelscoil movement in the North. For some sad reason, the Irish language has always been anathema to them.Until recently, the Paisley/McGuinness political roadshow dominated the headlines. The fact that power-sharing was increasingly looking like it had no clothes was obscured. Now Robinson is in charge and DUP politicians are looking over their shoulders at their former MEP Jim Allister, who is taking the familiar political road rightwards in opposition to power-sharing with Sinn Féin.With the DUP now boosted by the remarkable result in the Commons vote last week, London and Dublin may be thinking that the summer holidays at Stormont can’t come quickly enough.Nor will Allister go away. After an ugly loyalist mob ambushed a visit by President McAleese to a school in Co Derry last week, Allister’s comments left little doubt about where he stands. He said:‘‘Considering the flagrant way she troops all over Northern Ireland, treating it as if it were her own, it will do no harm that today President McAleese met a grassroots protest in Coleraine.”Some see Robinson’s recent suggestion that the DUP and the UUP might begin to look at ending the 40 year schism in unionism and create one unified, larger party in the future as evidence of DUP concern at the potential electoral threat of Allister’s Traditional Unionist Voice party two years down the road, at the next Assembly elections.Meanwhile, frustration is building in Sinn Féin with the perception that the DUP is stymying real power-sharing within the Executive. It has left them in a difficult political place. The Sinn Féin experiment south of the border has stalled and, with their continued abstention from Westminster, Stormont has become their critical showcase.There isn’t an immediate threat to power-sharing; one imagines that Robinson and the rest of the DUP ministers enjoy their status. But who can be really optimistic in the long term? The problem is that power-sharing requires levels of mutual cultural and political respect that are not in the DNA of the DUP. How do you simultaneously contain loyalist extremism while retaining mutual respect for your political partners?After Paisley, the DUP is more liable to fragment: the potshots taken at Sinn Féin when it huffed and puffed before Robinson’s election may be an indication of what is to come. And with Blair and Ahern gone, there may no longer be any political ambulance service available if a Stormont crisis develops.The summer holidays can’t come quickly enough for politicians north of the border.
Diane V. Byrnes DATELINE IRISH 78 GRANT AVE. June 15, 2008 PITTSBURGH, PA. 15223 PROGRAM # 1056 412.781.6368
Dateline Irish sponsored by BrandMill, LLC - marketing experts who will transform your business through fact-based processes and innovative marketing systems designed to achieve dramatic, measurable and profitable results.
Sunday, June 15 · The Claddagh Irish Pub & Restaurant, 304 Cinema Drive, South Side Works, SFC S/F Games Connacht – Galway vs. Leitrim 9:00 AM, Leinster SHC S/F Offaly vs. Kilkenny 11:00 AM. Information: 412.381.4800. · Echoes of Erin, WEDO 810AM at 1:00 PM, The Ireland Report with Davy Kettyles, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh. Guest in studio is Dr. Sean Nolan ‘On Being Irish’. · Round the House Band conducting Music Workshops from 1:00 to 4:00PM; Details TBA. · House Concert with Round the House Band, information 412.343.0498. · The Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh is seeking Host Families for young adults, 18-26, from Ireland and Northern Ireland. Two programs available – July 21 to September 15; July 24 to September 18. Call 412.394.3900, Website: www.iiofpitt.org.
Now through June 28 · Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre presents ‘Salome’ by Oscar Wilde, starring Jim Mezon as ‘Herod’, Nicole Underhay as ‘Salome’, David Whalen, Kate Young. Composer and pianist Roger Doyle will perform his acclaimed original improvised musical score. Directed by Alan Stanford, (both from Dublin). At the Charity Randall Theatre in the Stephen Foster Memorial, Oakland. Tickets 412.394.3353 or visit www.picttheatre.org.
Monday, June 16 · ‘Bloomsday in Pittsburgh’ – celebrate the 20th Anniversary of James Joyce’s book Ulysses and read along at 9:00 am – Crazy Mocha Café, 4525 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield; 10:30am – Homewood Cemetery, So. Dallas & Aylesboro Ave. Point Breeze; 12:00 Noon – Murphy’s Tap Room, 1106 So. Braddock Ave., Regent Square; 2:30 pm – Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland; 4:00 pm – Washington’s Landing – Eastern Tip of Island off 31st Street Bridge; 5:30 pm – Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle, 2329 Penn Ave., The Strip; 7:30 pm – City Books, 1111 East Carson Street, So. Side.
Tuesday, June 17 · Continuing for 5 weeks, the Irish Centre will conduct Irish Language Classes. Contact Jim Graven for details kayaks201@verizon.net. · Paddy’s Pour House, 215 East Main Street, Carnegie, features Irish Night with Dennis Murphy at the bar. Harp & Guinness Specials from 8:00 PM. · Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle, 2329 Penn Ave., in The Strip, Ceili Dancing, 7:00 PM. · ‘Whiskey Rebellion II’ Kick-Off Party to Axe the Drink Tax. Event will kick off the petition drive to gather 50,000 signatures for a Referendum to Repeal the Drink Tax, which FACT is seeking to place on the November '08 ballot. The Priory, 614 Pressley Street, North Side. 7:00PM to 11:00PM. $20.00. Keep posted on activities at stopdrinktax.com.
Wednesday, June 18 · Paddy’s Pour House, 215 East Main Street, Carnegie, 412.279.0770 features Potters Reel, 7 PM.
Saturday, June 21 · Bridgewater Bookfest from 9:00AM to 5:00 PM; a celebration of books and writing with 40 talented authors. There will be a day-long schedule of speakers and presenters; for the children there will be fun activities, crafts and mini-stage with entertainment. Bridgewater, PA. www.bridgewaterbookfest.com. · The Claddagh Irish Pub & Restaurant, 304 Cinema Drive, South Side Works, Ulster SFC S/F Fermanagh / Monaghan vs. Donegal / Derry, 1:00 PM. Evening entertainment features Sean McClorey, 8:30PM. · Paddy’s Pour House, 215 East Main Street, Carnegie, 412.279.0770 features Jack Puskar, 9:00 PM. · Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle 24th St. & Penn Ave., 412.642.6622, features Ballad Singer, Mike Gallagher at 9:00 PM.
Sunday, June 22 · The Claddagh Irish Pub & Restaurant, 304 Cinema Drive, South Side Works, Games Leinster SFC S/F Wicklow / Laois vs. Meath / Wexford 9:00 AM; Munster SHC S/F Limerick vs. Clare / Waterford 11:00 AM. Information: 412.381.4800. · Echoes of Erin, WEDO 810AM at 1:00 PM; The Ireland Report with Mairtin O’Muilleoir, Managing Director Belfast Media Group. www.belfastmediagroup.com. Interview with Matt Morrison, talking about the new national Irish organization, Thar Saile (pronounced Harr Sall Yeh). · Gaelic Football -- Pittsburgh Celtics host Detroit Wolfe Tones at Anderson Field in Shaler. Micheal MacDonncha Email: mmac_@hotmail.com.
Monday, June 23 · Paddy’s Pour House, 215 East Main Street, Carnegie, 412.279.0770 features an Acoustic Jam, 7:00 PM.
Wednesday, June 25 · Paddy’s Pour House, 215 East Main Street, Carnegie, 412.279.0770 features Potters Reel, 7 PM.
Thursday, June 26 · The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is presenting the Community Partners Concert with Issac Hayes, 8:00 PM at Heinz Hall. The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is one of 50 non-profit group to benefit. The Food Bank’s number is 6656, which must be used when purchasing tickets. www.pittsburghsymphone.org or call 412.392.4900.
Saturday, June 28 · AOH Division 4, North Hills presents “A Day of Irish Entertainment” with Aran a Traditional group out of Johnstown PA., bring your dancing shoes and Jack Puskar singing favorite ballads and other songs, Irish Dancing and ‘Joe the Juggler’ at The Croatian Center on Schitzen Park Road, off Babcock Boulevard, Ross Township in Millvale. Beginning at 12:00 Noon, Admission $10.00 per person; children under 16, accompanied by and Adult, admitted FREE. Food and Beverages available for purchase. Information: Stephen Kurpiewski 412.734.9648. · MS Society Benefit Concert in Memory of James Rayburg at Your Inner Vagabond Coffeehouse and World Lounge, 4130 Butler St., Lawrenceville. Entertainment by Sean McClorey, Nidrita Mitra-Sinha – Classical Indian Vocal, accompanied by Asish Sinha on tabta. Traditional Irish music with Michael Hurley & Dr. Michael Nicholsen on fiddles; Amy Cale on flute; Bruce Molyneaux on tenor banjo; Kathy Fallon on guitar; Richard Rayburg on percussion; and stepdancers from the Burke Conroy School of Irish Dance. Time – 7:00 PM. · The Claddagh Irish Pub & Restaurant, 304 Cinema Drive, South Side Works, features Mike Gallagher, 8:30PM. · Paddy’s Pour House, 215 East Main Street, Carnegie, 412.279.0770 features Mark Guiser, 9:00 PM. · Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle 24th St. & Penn Ave., 412.642.6622, features Cue Ball at 9:00 PM.
Sunday, June 29 · The Claddagh Irish Pub & Restaurant, 304 Cinema Drive, South Side Works, Leinster Football Westmeath / Offaly vs. Dublin / Louth 9:00 AM, Ulster SFC S/F Tyrone / Down vs. Armagh / Cavan 11:00 AM. Information: 412.381.4800. · Echoes of Erin, WEDO 810 AM, The Ireland Report with Diane Byrnes, County Allegheny. · The Claddagh Irish Pub & Restaurant, 304 Cinema Drive, South Side Works, features an Irish Music Session, 4:00PM.
Sunday, July 6 · The Claddagh Irish Pub & Restaurant, 304 Cinema Drive, South Side Works, Munster Football Final Teams TBC 9:00AM; Leinster Hurling Final Teams TBC 11:00AM. Information: 412.381.4800. · Echoes of Erin, WEDO 810AM at 1:00 PM; The Ireland Report with Patricia Sharkey, Editor, Donegal Newsletter – www.dun-na-ngall.com.
Saturday, July 12 · The Green City Music Festival at Mellon Park, sponsored by Calliope with Hooley, Rolling Scones and many other acts. Information 412.361.1915.
Sunday, July 13 · Gaelic Football – Pittsburgh Celtics travel to Cleveland to play St. Pat’s.
Thursday, July 17 through August 16 · Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre presents The Synge Cycle – authored by John Millington Synge, beginning with ‘Playboy of the Western World’, then ‘Riders to the Sea’, then Well of the Saints’, then ‘When the Moon Has Set’, then ‘Deidre of the Sorrows’, then ‘Tinker’s Wedding’ and finally ‘The Shadow of the Glen’. Directed by Andrew Paul. At the Charity Randall Theatre in the Stephen Foster Memorial, Oakland. Tickets 412.394.3353 or visit www.picttheatre.org.
Friday, July 18 – Sunday, July 20 · Cleveland Cultural Festival at the Berea Fairgrounds Opening Friday at 4:00 PM. Entertainment with John McDermott, Liz Carroll & John Doyle, Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul, The Elders, Tommy Fleming, Johnny McEvoy, Dermot Henry, Cherish The Ladies, Sean Wilson Band, Maura O’Connell, Seamus Kennedy, The New Barleycorn and many more. Pittsburgh’s two-time World Champion, Garrett Coleman will be dancing along with Champion Dancer Pat Campbell. Check out the Website at http://www.clevelandirish.org/dancing_new.shtml. Admission $10 per adult, FREE parking. 1-800-485-8013. · Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle 24th St. & Penn Ave., 412.642.6622, features a CD Release Party with Ceann at 9:00 PM.
Wednesday, July 23 – Saturday, July 26 · AOH National Convention in New Orleans.
Thursday, July 24 · Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle 24th St. & Penn Ave., 412.642.6622, features Danny Burns with his eclectic style of music at 8:30 PM.
Friday, July 25 · Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle 24th St. & Penn Ave., 412.642.6622, features Danny Burns with his eclectic style of music at 9:00 PM.
Friday, July 25 through Sunday, July 27 · Football News – CYC National Championships will be held in Philadelphia. Details TBA.
Saturday, July 26 · Pittsburgh Irish Rowing Club will host the Annual St. Brendan’s Cup Regatta at the All-States Marina in Glenfield (under the I-79 bridge over the Ohio River) starting at 12:00 Noon. Information Patrick J. Clark at Patrick.j.clark@att.net, visit website: www.geocities.com/nacarowing -- 412.761.3897. · Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle 24th St. & Penn Ave., 412.642.6622, features Corned Beef & Curry at 9:00 PM.
Sunday, July 27 · Gaelic Football – Pittsburgh Celtics host St. Jarlath’s at Founder’s Field.
Friday & Saturday, August 1 & 2 · Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle 24th St. & Penn Ave., 412.642.6622, features Seamus Kennedy at 9:00 PM.
Friday, August 8 · 14th Annual AOH Division 32 Golf Outing at Cherry Hills Golf Club in McDonald, PA. Information Denny Donnelly 412.276.9312.
Sunday, August 24 · Irish American Unity Conference will sponsor a Mass at St. Patrick’s Church in The Strip at Noon. Celebrant – Fr. Thomas O’Donnell. The Mass will commemorate the Hunger Strikers, the 10th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, Reconciliation.
Sunday, October 12 · Samhain, The Celtic New Year Celebration, a fundraiser for Echoes of Erin on WEDO 810AM at Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle, (Mullaney’s Castle) 24th St. & Penn Ave. in The Strip. Doors open at 4:00PM, Local Talent with Terry Griffith and more, Costume Contest. Donation $15.00 at Door. Information Diane Byrnes 412-781-6368, Email diane.byrnes@verizon.net.
July 2009 – The AOH Pennsylvania State Convention will take place at the Radisson Hotel in Monroeville. Information: Denny Donnelly, 412-276-9312, Email: ddon633@comcast.net and Patti Flaus, Email: pyecat54@comcast.net.
Pittsburgh Irish Sports Pittsburgh Irish Rowing Club http://www.pittsburghirishrowingclub.com/ Pittsburgh Banshees www.pittsburghbanshees@yahoo.com Pittsburgh Celtics www.pittsburghcelticsgfc.com/ 2008 Schedule June 1 St. Pat’s @ Founders Field June 7 Seven-Aside Competition @ Founders Field June 22 Wolf Tones @ Anderson Field, Shaler June 29 Pgh Celtics @ St. Jarlath’s in Cleveland July 13 Pgh Celtics @ St. Pat’s in Cleveland July 27 St. Jarlath’s @ Founders Field Aug 3 Pgh Celtics @ Wolf Tones in Detroit Aug 17 Midwest Final
Inspirational Moments Sponsored by
January Dorothy Flaherty Weldon, National President, LAOH and Martin J. Flaherty, Plumbing & Heating 412.531.3948 February The Irish Society for Education and Charity March GDC Fine Jewelry, 724.864.5000 April Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Maude Gonne Division 32, Carnegie May Terry Callahan & AOH Allegheny County Hunger Project
June Echoes of Erin – ‘A Run in the Rain’, ‘What Do Others Think of You?’
GUESTS and INTERVIEWS 2008
Jun 1 Sarah McAuliffe Bellin, National IAUC Fundraiser Jun 8 AOH Division 4 on Irish Day of Entertainment at Croatian Center / Schitizen Park Jun 15 Dr. Sean Nolan on ‘being Irish’ Jun 22 Matt Morrison on new National Irish Group ‘Thar Saile’ pronounced Har Salya
June 15 1555 - After Henry VIII suppresses the Chapter of St Patrick's Cathedral it is restored on this date 1698 - Count George de Browne, governor of Livonia, Latvia, and field marshal in the Russian army, is born in Camas, Co. Limerick 1798 - The Rebel's main division marches to Mountpleasant 1828 - Birth of Sir Thomas Newenhan Deane, architect, in Dundanion, Co. Cork 1919 - Pioneer Atlantic airmen Alcock and Brown land at Clifden, Co. Galway and complete the first non-stop trans-Atlantic flight 1967 - Black Velvet Band by Johnny Kelly and the Capitol showband reaches no. 1 in the Irish charts 1979 - The memorial to James Larkin (Jan 21, 1876 - Jan 30, 1947) on O’Connell Street, Dublin is unveiled. Larkin, a revolutionary socialist, dominated the Irish Trade Union movement. G. B. Shaw once described him as ‘the greatest Irishman since Parnell’ 1982 - Actor Neil Fitzgerald dies at 90, in Princeton NJ 1989 - Ray McAlly, actor, dies in Dublin at 63 1996 - A massive bomb believed to have been planted by the IRA rips through a Manchester city centre and injures more than 200 people 1998 - Taoiseach Bertie Ahern dines at Cardiff Castle as European Union heads of government celebrate the launch of "the people's Europe". Mr. Ahern is given a place of honor on the left of Queen Elizabeth II 1999 - Boyzone singer Stephen Gately confirms that he is gay 2003 - The total ban on smoking in pubs will definitely not go ahead on January 1 next, the country’s leading publicans’ representative confidently predict 2003 - According to a new international survey, Irish women are far more likely to be better educated than their male counterparts. The study based on joint UNESCO, OECD and EU data shows over 93% of 18-year-old females in Ireland are in continuing education, while only 66% of males are still in school or college.
June 16 1721 - The following incident is reported in the state papers: during a trial in the court of King's Bench, Dublin, on this date, 'a neighbouring chimney took fire, blew the smoke into the court and gave a panick to all the people who crowded to get out. Many were actually killed on the spot, and many desperately wounded. Among the first Mr John Ormsby, Member of Parliament and a wealthy man of above £1,800 p.ann., was killed. Judge Caulfeild got half in and half out of a window, but could not pass through, lost his wig and at last was forced back. Lord Chief Justice Whitshed kept his place and temper till at last the truth was known' 1798 - British regulars arrive in Dublin; Rebels march to Tinahely. Co. Wicklow 1871 - The 'Westmeath Act' allows detention without trial for agrarian offences 1904 - Today was when James Joyce had his first date with Nora Barnacle; ultimately, it became the date on which everything takes place in his masterpiece, Ulysses 1924 - Friends send Joyce, who is in the hospital, a bouquet of white and blue hydrangeas. He writes in his notebook: "Today 16 of June 1924 twenty years after. Will anybody remember this date?" 1924 - The first Irish soccer international. A team drawn from the newly formed Football Association of Ireland meets the United States in Dublin 1929 - According to David Norris, a Dublin senator and a leading Joyce scholar, the first official celebration of Bloomsday is held on its twenty-fifth anniversary. That night, Joyce is the guest of honor at a dinner party held at Les Vaux de Cernay, a village near Versailles. After dinner, Joyce and his protege, the Nobel Prize-winning writer, Samuel Beckett, "get pretty tight," Norris says. On the way home, frustrated by the frequency of requests, Joyce and Beckett are making for pit stops, the carriage driver decides not to wait for Joyce's drinking buddy to return from the pissoir, and leaves Beckett "ingloriously abandoned on the outskirts of Paris" 1954 - On the 50th anniversary of the first Bloomsday, Flann O'Brien has a hand in producing a major celebration in Dublin 1945 - Birth of Dr. Ken Egan, former president of the IMO (Irish Medical Organisation) In the liturgical calendar, today is the feast day of St. Colman McRoi, a sixth century abbot in Dublin. 2006 - The State funeral of the former Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, takes place in Dublin.
June 17 1798 - Rebels capture Tinahely, Co. Wicklow and burn the town 1800 - Birth of William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse; astronomer and telescope constructor, in York 1845 - Author and poet, Emily Lawless, is born in Lyons Castle, Co. Kildare 1867 - Birth of John Gregg, publisher and inventor of the Gregg shorthand system, in Rockcorry, Co. Monaghan 1903 - An elephant named Sita kills her keeper tending her sore foot in Dublin Zoo. She was later put down by members of the Royal Irish Constabulary 1959 - Eamon de Valera becomes President of Ireland.
June 18 1329 - The Bishop of Ossory is charged with fomenting feuds among the magnates; he flees to England and then, when summoned before the king, he flees to Rome. The king (Edward III, aged seventeen) warns the pope against him. 1769 - Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh, 2nd Marquess of Londonderry, politician and administrator, is born in Dublin 1798 - In Leinster, the Rebels are defeated at Ovidstown, near Kilcock; in Wexford, Rebels move back to Kilcavan hill. Government offensive begins; Rebels at Kilcavan are in a strong position. Government advance is stalled; Rebels withdraw from Kilcavan. Moore and Johnston move out of New Ross. General Needham moves out of Arklow; Loftus moves out of Carnew. By evening, Moore is in Foulkesmill, Needham is in Gorey and Loftus is in Craanford. Rebels southern division retreats to Wexford. Rebels northern division camps in Camolin 1815 - Battle of Waterloo, when British forces, under the command of the Duke of Wellington, a Dubliner, defeat Napoleon’s forces. The Iron Duke wasn’t the only Irish presence on the day — Napoleon’s horse Marengo was reared in Co. Wexford, and the Duke of Wellington’s mount was from Co. Cork 1831 - In the 'tithe war', yeomen kill up to 14 people at Newtownbarry, Co. Wexford 1859 - Birth of artist, Walter Osborne in Dublin. His superb images of young girls at play are still cherished by the National Gallery of Ireland: The Dolls School, The House Builders, and other examples of his work are also housed there. From the evidence of the few canvases from his last years, Osborne may be the only Irish artist who could justifiably be called 'an Irish Impressionist' 1864 - Death of William Smith O’Brien, leading member of the literary-political Young Ireland movement 1901 - Playwright, Denis Johnston is born in Dublin. His plays include The Old Lady Says 'No'; The Moon in the Yellow River; The Bride for the Unicorn and Strange Occurrence on Ireland's Eye. He also published a biography, In Search of Swift, and two autobiographical volumes, Nine Rivers from Jordan and The Brazen Horn 1936 - Fianna Fáil maintains links with the IRA until 1934 and then, on this date, declares them to be an illegal organisation 1945 - Sean T. O’Kelly becomes the first elected President of Ireland 1946 - Ray Treacy, former Irish International, is born 1970 - Ian Paisley is elected to Westminster in by-elections 1971 - Birth of Jason McAteer, International midfielder 1972 - Twelve of Ireland's most prominent businessmen are killed in a BA crash at Staines 1972 - Myles Dillon, Irish scholar of Celtic studies, dies.
June 19 1647 - James, Duke of Ormond, agrees to surrender Dublin to English Parliament 1820 - The Dublin Society for Improving Husbandry, which was originally founded on June 25 in 1731, becomes the Royal Dublin Society on this date 1841 - Birth in Roscommon of Sir George Arthur French (a relation of Percy French, the songwriter) who organised the Royal Canadian Mounted Police 1936 - Birth in Dingle, Co. Kerry of Sister Stanislaus Kennedy, née Treasa Kennedy; campaigner against poverty and homelessness 1936 - Mary Holland, noted journalist of the 1970s and 1980s in Northern Ireland and Scoop of the year award winner in 1994 (British Press Awards), is born in London 1972 - In 1971, a contract is signed with Verlome Cork Dockyard (VCD) to build an offshore patrol vessel for the Naval Service. LE Déirdre is launched on the 21st January 1972, and commissioned by LT Cdr Brett on 19th June 1972. The building of L.E. Déirdre marks a milestone in the development of the N.S., being the first ship purpose-built in Ireland to patrol in Irish waters.
June 20 1210 - King John lands at Waterford. He campaigns in Leinster - many of the de Lacys' followers go over to his side; he then captures Carrickfergus, where the de Lacys have made a stand, after a short siege. On 28 July, he captures William de Braose and confiscates his lands 1715 - There is a general election. The first session of the Irish parliament of George I commences on 12 November, and will continue till 20 June 1716. There will be six sessions of this parliament 1764 - Birth of Theobald Wolfe Tone, for more on Wolfe Tone click The Wild Geese 1798 - In Wexford, the Rebels retreat to Vinegar Hill. General's Loftus, Needham and Johnston close in on Vinegar Hill. General Moore defeats Rebels at Goffs Bridge 1810 - Parliament passes Unlawful Acts Bill, extending powers against secret societies 1849 - James Clarence Mangan, poet, dies 1867 - Clan Na Gael, Irish revolutionary organization and the counterpart of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, is formed by John Devoy, Daniel Cohalan and Joseph McGarrity in the USA. The objectives of the organization are to secure an independent Ireland 1891 - Birth of John Aloysius Costello, Ireland’s third Taoiseach 1955 - Aonghus McAnally, RTÉ presenter and broadcaster, is born 1992 - U2 takes part in a Greenpeace protest at the Sellafield nuclear power plant in northwest England. Wearing radiation suits, the band travels in rubber dingys with Irish dirt allegedly contaminated by the power plant, depositing the drums back on Sellafield grounds. Today is midsummer's eve; at one time, young women in Ireland gathered yarrow with the rhyme: Good morrow, good yarrow, good morrow to thee Send me this night my true love to see The clothes he'll wear, the color of his hair And if he to me, we will marry. The yarrow was placed under the pillow to induce dreams of the future beloved.
June 21 Today is the summer solstice. At around 3.00 am Irish time the sun reaches the most northerly point of its oscillation and the longest day in Ireland results — just over 17 hours. The sun rises over Dublin at 4.57am, and sets at 9.57 pm 1650 - Cromwell's New Model Army is victorious at Scarrifhollis, Co. Donegal 1691 - Godert de Ginkel, the commanding general of the William of Orange army, begins a ten-day siege of Athlone 1782 - The Declaratory Act, which had given Britain the right to legislate for Ireland and had denied the appellate jurisdiction of the Irish House of Lords, is repealed 1798 - The Rebels are defeated at Vinegar Hill; however, two Rebel columns escape; the Southern column camps at Sleedagh Demense; the Northern column camps at Peppards Castle. Government forces re-take Wexford town 1826 - Frederick Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava, diplomat and holder of estates at Clandeboye, Co. Down, is born in Florence 1854 - Charles Davis Lucas from Drumagole, Co Armagh, age 20 and a mate in the Royal Navy, hurls a Russian shell (its fuse still burning) from the deck of his ship during the Crimean War. For this action, he will become the first recipient of the Victoria Cross in 1857. Lucas later achieved the rank of rear admiral 1877 - On a day that will long be remembered as Black Thursday, four members of the Molly Maguires - Alexander Campbell, John Donohue, Michael Doyle and Edward Kelly, shackled with chains, walk to the gallows specially constructed to accommodate four people; their lives are ended at the same split second 1897 - James Connolly is arrested during a demonstration commemorating 1798; Maud Gonne pays the fine for his release 1995 - A mass rally of the entire Irish Press Newspaper workforce and their families and friends takes place through the centre of Dublin in a demonstration of unified protest against the planned closure of the newspaper group. The march, organised by the Dublin Printing Group of Unions, draws more than 1,000 Irish Press workers and their supporters. Led by a samba band, they march through the streets of Dublin, setting off from Parnell Square toward a rally outside the Dail 1997 - At the county prison, which was closed as a jail in 1995 and reopened as The Old Jail Museum, the four Molly Maguires executed on this date in 1877, were remembered in a Memorial Mass attended by 100 of their descendants and members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Dirty Old Town was written in 1946 by Ewan MacColl for a Theatre workshop production, 'Landscape With Chimneys', a documentary play about Salford, Lancs.
I saw a list recently on the web that someone put together of the top 10 Irish bands of all time. Not the traditional-type bands, but pop bands. I'm not sure I totally agree with it, and it's obviously open to debate, but here are the first three on the list (starting from 10):
10. SNOW PATROL: Although you could argue that they should be excluded from the list on a technicality (they were formed in Glasgow, Scotland), the members of the band are Irish. Perhaps they are a bit of a Coldplay ripoff, but the single below catapulted Snow Patrol into international stardom:
9. The Pogues: Mixing traditional Irish music with Clash-influenced punk, The Pogues were Ireland's main musical export in the 1980's. The short interview below says a lot about how the band's personality:
8. Boomtown Rats: Never really hitting it big in the US, this Bob Geldof-fronted band (from Dún Laoghaire near Dublin) was enormously popular in the UK. Geldof eventually became more famous in the US for being the organizer of Live Aid in 1985 than for his work with the Boomtown Rats. Below is their highest charting single in the US from 1979:
Ireland continues to hold the rest of the EU in suspense as its citizens go to the polls today for a national referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon which calls for greater integration between EU member countries. Read about it below:
My friends at The Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh asked that I forward this information regarding their Host Family Program.
The Host Families play a very important role in the success of The Ireland Institute Programs.
As a Host Family, you will experience a very valuable cultural exchange that will benefit your family and the young Irish person you host.
If you are available and willing to participate in this program, I urge you to contact Jim Lamb or Rob Tierney at The Ireland Institute – 412.394-3900.
Also, you are welcome to pass this information to your network of those you feel may be interested in this program.
"Hello, Pan American Airlines?" said Big Mick Lonergan. "Could ye be tellin' me how long it takes to fly from Boston to Dublin?" The voice on the telephone said "I'll see sir, just a minute." "Ahh, 'tis fast. Thank ye," Mick said as he hung up.
June 8 1561 - Shane O'Neill rebels and is proclaimed a traitor 1739 - Earl of Clonmell and Chief Justice John Scott, aka 'Copper-Faced Jack', is born in Co. Tipperary 1798 - In Co. Wicklow, the Arklow garrison is reinforced. In Co. Wexford, The rebel southern division moves camp from Carrickbyrne to Slievecoilte. In Ulster, General Nugent offers amnesty to rank and file rebels. Rebel forces in Antrim begin to disintegrate 1847 - Acts setting up soup-kitchens and rate-aided outdoor Famine relief come to an end 1886 - Gladstone's Home Rule Bill is defeated 1905 - Brian Coffey, poet and scientist, is born in Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin 1929 - Birth of Peter Rafferty, diplomat 1985 - Barry McGuigan beats Eusebia Pedrosa to become the World Featherweight Champion 1998 - The IDA and Apple Computer management continue emergency talks over the expected loss of at least 500 jobs at the American giant's Cork plant 1998 - After being nominated in six categories, Galway's Druid Theatre wins four Tony awards for its production of Martin McDonagh's The Beauty Queen of Leenane. Director Garry Hynes wins best director, the first woman in the history of the Tonys to receive this honour; Marie Mullen wins best actress, Anna Manahan best supporting actress, and Tom Murphy best supporting actor 2001 - The Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland comes under fierce new pressure after big General Election victories by the Rev. Ian Paisley's hardline Democratic Unionists 2003 - An RTÉ spokesperson confirms that the popular Who Wants to be a Millionaire quiz show is to be axed due to lack of funding. 2004 - Catholic Primate Archbishop Sean Brady makes history by being the first Roman Catholic leader to attend the opening of the Presbyterian General Assembly in Belfast.
June 9 597 - Death of St. Colomcille 1641 - Patrick Darcy, a prominent constitutional lawyer, argues that the Irish parliament possesses independent authority 1657 - The Settlement Act "for the Assuming, Confirming and Settling of Lands and Estates in Ireland" is passed 1798 - Rebels attack Arklow. They are defeated with heavy losses; in Co. Down, Rebels take Saintfield and repulse a Government attack. Garrison abandons Newtownards, which is occupied by the rebels; unsuccessful attack on Portaferry 1888 - Basil Stanley Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough; unionist politician and Northern Ireland prime minister from 1943-63, is born in Colebrook, Co. Fermanagh 1953 - Cinema owners in Dublin unanimously decide not to show the film of Queen Elizabeth's coronation in London. There are real fears that any such screening would lead to widespread damage to the cinemas 1998 - Plans by supermarket chains to build shopping centres on the outskirts of towns are thrown into doubt, following the decision of Environment Minister Noel Dempsey to impose strict size restrictions 2001 - Cetacean experts head for Cork harbour after the arrival of three stocky killer whales in the estuary. The black Orcas with distinctive white markings create a huge stir in the Cobh area where the promenade is lined with people from early afternoon until near darkness as the whales circled the waters 2001 - Bord Fáilte director Maurice O'Donoghue, a pioneering figure in Irish tourism, dies after collapsing at Macroom Golf Club 2003 - Readers of the best-selling international guide to romantic hotels, Room for Romance, give their number one vote to the Stephen’s Green luxury hideaway, Brownes Townhouse 2003 - A huge amount of equipment needed for the visiting special Olympians starts rolling out of the state’s prisons as the final countdown to the tournament begins. Inmates and officers in four prisons have been working for nearly two years to produce a range of equipment, from 75,000 opening ceremony flags to power-lifting platforms 2004 - The replica famine ship Jeanie Johnston begins a four-month voyage around Ireland.
In the liturgical calendar, today is the feast day of St Columcille, one of the spiritual giants of the early Christian church, and one of Ireland’s three patron saints. Born in Donegal, he founded the city of Derry — it was originally called Doiré Colmcille — and went on to establish many monasteries including Iona, the centre from which Scotland was converted to Christianity.
June 10 1642 - The first regularly constituted presbytery in Ireland constituted by Scottish army chaplains meets at Carrickfergus 1688 - Birth of royal heir, James Stuart 1798 - Rebels capture Maynooth in Leinster and Bangor in Ulster 1834 - Alfred Webb, writer and traveller, is born in Dublin 1842 - The first number of James MacKnight's “Banner of Ulster”, the newspaper of the Presbyterian Church, is published in Ulster 1904 - James Joyce meets the love of his life, Nora Barnacle 1944 - Death of Limerick man, Frank Ryan. He was the organiser and leader of the 200 Irishmen who went to Spain to fight against Franco and fascism in 1936 1953 - Garry Hynes, theatre director, is born in Roscommon 1955 - Designer Bob Crowley is born in Cork 1968 - Belfast-born Patrick Joseph Magee, is found guilty of planting the Brighton bomb which killed five people and nearly wiped out most of Margaret Thatcher's cabinet two years ago 1986 - Bob Geldof and John Paul Getty II, are made honorary knights by Queen Elizabeth II 1997 - Jimmy Kennedy, composer of many popular songs including "The Teddy Bear's Picnic" and "Did Your Mother Come from Ireland", is inducted posthumously into the Songwriters Hall of Fame 1998 - To mark the acquisition of the Leonard L. Milberg '53 Collection of Irish Poetry, which comprises more than 1,100 printed works by 50 poets from the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland, an exhibit of materials from the collection goes on display in the Firestone Library at Princeton University 1998 - Shannon Regional Fisheries Board investigate the mystery cause of a major fish kill on Loch Gara, one of the best-known coarse angling lakes on the Sligo and Roscommon border. 2000 - World-famous Irish tenor, Frank Patterson, dies suddenly at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York. Mr Patterson makes his first public appearance as a boy soprano in his hometown of Clonmel and attracts the attention of critics when he wins all the major Feis Ceoil vocal awards. In his lifetime, Mr. Patterson records more than 35 albums which feature a broad range of songs 2003 - More than 1,000 taxi drivers protest in Dublin City Centre over the Government's failure to appoint a permanent regulator for the industry.
June 11 1534 - Thomas Garrett (Lord Offaly and grandson of Garret Mór Fitzgerald, Earl of Kildare), rides through Dublin with a large band of followers. Known as "Silken Thomas" because of the silk worn on his followers' helmets, he has heard the false rumor spread by Henry VIII that his father, Garrett Óg has been executed in the Tower of London. He enters the Chapter House of St. Mary's Abbey where the King's Council is awaiting him and flings down his Sword of State. This is a dramatic act of defiance, by which he hopes to force his claim to power. Henry VIII treats it as an act of open revolt and confines his father, Garret Óg, to the Tower where he dies two months later 1690 - William of Orange departs for Ireland 1798 - In Co. Wexford, the Rebel southern division moves camp from Slievecoilte to Lacken Hill. In Co. Down, the Main rebel army moves from Saintfield to Ballynahinch 1862 - Violet Martin (pen-name Martin Ross; writer, sometimes in partnership with her cousin Edith Somerville) is born in Ross House, Co. Galway 1903 - Thomas Sloan and others found the Independent Orange Order in Belfast 1912 - Mary Lavin, generally acknowledged as one of Ireland's greatest short story writers, is born in Massachusetts, the only child of Irish parents 1919 - Birth of actor Richard Todd in Dublin. In 1950, he wins a Golden Globe Award (“Most Promising Newcomer”) for his performance in the film “The Hasty Heart” (1949). The film also earns him an Academy Award Nomination for “Best Actor” 1966 - John Scullion, a Catholic civilian, dies from his injuries two weeks after being shot by the UVF in the Clonard area of west Belfast 1981 - General election in the Republic leads to a Fine Gael-Labour coalition government 1990 - The Republic of Ireland plays their first ever match in the finals of the World Cup, drawing 1-1 with England in Cagliari, Sardinia 2000 - Thousands of Irish Christians march for Jesus. The giant Praise and Prayer Rally takes place outside government buildings in Dublin 2000 - Bord Glas reports that nearly 100% of all households eat potatoes at least once a week or more, putting them in the number one spot when it comes to favourite vegetables 2001 - Writer Keith Ridgway is awarded the Rooney Prize; there is no shortlist, no entry form and no categorisation for the award, now in its 26th year. The only requirement is for the writer to be Irish, under 40 and published.
June 12 1731 - The Revenue Commissioners report the robbery of the Golden Lyon’s cargo at Ballyheige. One of the robbers is caught and turns king’s evidence; the Danish Asiatic Company offers a reward of 10 per cent of the value of the cargo for its recovery. (See June 4, when the robbery allegedly took place) 1741 - At the Athy by-election following the death of Sir Walter Dixon Borrowes on 12 June, Lord Ophaly (later 1st Duke of Leinster) is returned. In the course of the election there has been a duel between William Paul Warren and Jack Hardy, which leads to Hardy's right hand and arm being shattered; it is thought that it would have to be amputated 1798 - In Wexford, Rebel northern division moves camp to Limerick Hill; Rebels launch attack on Borris, Co Carlow. In Ulster, General Nugent takes Comber and Saintfield. He moves close to main rebel camp at Ballynahinch 1916 - The Ulster Unionist Council agrees to the immediate implementation of Home Rule if six Ulster counties are temporarily excluded 1924 - Kevin O'Kelly, journalist and broadcaster, is born 1945 - Birth in Newry, Co. Down of Pat Jennings, goalkeeper with Newry Town, Watford, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Northern Ireland 1954 - The IRA makes an audacious raid on Gough military barracks in Armagh; it marks the re-awakening of IRA activity in Northern Ireland and a re-arming that leads eventually to the 1956-62 campaign 1960 - Because of graphic sexual content and frank treatment of women's attitudes toward sexuality, Edna O’Brien’s first novel, The Country Girls is banned in Ireland; six of her subsequent works meet the same fate 1988 - At the European Cup in Stuttgart, Ireland beats England in its first ever international football final 1998 - Thousands of people from all over the country take over the celebrated 'Fields of Athenry' in Co. Galway for one of the country's premier rural events, Tomorrow's Farm and Rural Enterprise, organised by Teagasc and sponsored by FBD; it is the biggest event ever held in the west and is geared to help farmers and rural dwellers confront the challenges of the next decade 1999 - Tuam, Co. Galway celebrates its first triple ordination since the early 1980s at the Cathedral of the Assumption 2000 - Deputy First Minister Séamus Mallon welcomes the Prince of Wales to Armagh; Prince Charles is in the north to officially open the Armagh Theatre and Arts Centre in Market Square 2003 - Senator Enda Kenny is chosen as Fine Gael's first spokesman on Dublin; the appointment comes on foot of an internal party report which highlights the lack of any government figure tasked with looking after Dublin’s interests 2003 - Legendary Oscar-winning actor, Gregory Peck, passes away at his home in Los Angeles 2003 - Taiwanese athletes are cleared to take part in the Special Olympics despite the country’s ongoing SARS-infected status.
In the liturgical calendar, today is the feast day of St. Christian O’Morgair, brother of St. Malachy, and Bishop of Clogher.
June 13 1713 - Jonathan Swift becomes Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin 1748 - Sir Robert King, MP for Boyle, Co. Roscommon, is created Baron Kingsborough 1798 - In Wexford, both sides of the conflict are inactive. In Ulster, the Battle of Ballynahinch takes place 1865 - Birth of W.B. Yeats in Dublin 1884 - Birth of Mary Colum (née Maguire) in Collooney, Co. Sligo, wife of Padraic Colum, Irish literary critic and founder of The Irish Review 1886 - Molly Malone reputedly "dies of the fever". The famous song, "Sweet Molly Malone" is a tribute to the memory of a real person who was a fishwife selling cockles and mussels in the streets of Dublin. A statue of her can be seen at the foot of Grafton Street in Dublin. In popular Dublin parlance, she's referred to as "The Tart with the Cart and "The Dish with the Fish" 1951 - Eamon de Valera becomes Taoiseach 1971 - Death of Máiréad Ni Ghráda, the first major woman playwright in the Irish language. She was also a radio broadcaster, and the author of school textbooks and children's books in Irish 1999 - Tuam, Co. Galway celebrates its first triple ordination since the early 1980s at the Cathedral of the Assumption 2000 - The original manuscript of James Joyce’s Ulysses arrives in its ‘‘spiritual home’’ for the first time when it goes on display at the Chester Beatty library in Dublin Castle 2000 - The world’s first virtual university for surgeons goes on line from the Royal College of Surgeons. Called BeST, or electronic Basic Surgical Training, it is launched by the Minister for Health and Children, Micheál Martin from the Dublin city centre college. 2006 - Following a lengthy battle with prostate cancer and a heart condition, former Taoiseach Charles Haughey dies at his home in the Kinsealy area of Dublin at the age of 80. The former Fianna Fail leader was a highly controversial figure who was rarely out of the headlines. He was first elected to the Dail in 1957, but was sacked from his ministerial position in 1970
June 14 1645 - The royalists, loyal to Charles I, suffer a key defeat by the English Parliamentarians at Naseby 1690 - William of Orange lands at Carrickfergus 1699 - The second session of the second Irish parliament of William III is dissolved on this date 1798 - Government reinforcements begin to march from Cork and the midlands; Rebels send small detachment to Mountpleasant, in Co Wicklow. In Ulster, the Rebels disperse 1866 - Charles Wood, composer, is born in Armagh. For most of his adult life, he lives in England, but preserves a lively interest in Ireland; in 1904 he co-founds the Irish Folk Song Society in London. Several of his chamber works and songs use Irish material. However, he is mainly remembered as a fine composer for the church and together with Charles V. Stanford is the most often played composer in the Church of England. This is reflected in his discography, which mainly concentrates on his liturgical music and does not quite represent his real work list, in which his eight string quartets stand out 1883- Death of Edward FitzGerald, poet and translator of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam 1884 - Birth in Athlone of John McCormack, tenor and papal count 1919 - Capt John Alcock and Lt Arthur Whitten-Brown take off from Newfoundland on the first non-stop transatlantic flight to Galway, in a Vickers Vimy 1974 - The first Soviet Ambassador to Ireland, Anatoli Kaplan, presents his credentials 1995 - Untimely death of Donegal-born blues guitarist and singer/songwriter Rory Gallagher. He dies at age 47 following complications after receiving a liver transplant 2000 - The Orange Order’s policy making body votes overwhelmingly not to enter into dialogue with the Parades Commission 2000 - Taoiseach Bertie Ahern presents Irish troops with their official pennant just hours before their departure for United Nations duty in troubled East Timor 2001 - The controversial pro-abortion Dutch ship, the Aurora, docks in Dublin. Although the trawler is equipped to carry out abortions, the purpose of its visit to Ireland is to fuel debate on the need for Irish legislation to provide women with choice 2001 - The midland village of Castletown, Co Laois, is named as Ireland's Best Kept Town in a select cross-Border competition. The village eclipses last year's national tidy towns winner Kenmare, Co Kerry, and the north's top tidiest large town, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh to take the title 2003 - Living up to its costly reputation, Dublin is named in the worldwide cost of living survey for 2003 as the third most expensive capital city in the EU. Only London and Copenhagen are more expensive.
