Obama at Notre Dame

Erin Go Broke

Thanks to our good brother Chris Cahillane once again for alerting us to this alarming, fascinating and informative Op-Ed article, "Erin Go Broke" by Columnist Paul Krugman of The New York Times.

Cool New Web Site IrishCentral.Com

The Founder/Publisher of Irish America Magazine and Irish Voice newspaper launched a new Web site IrishCentral.com on St.Patrick’s Day and is now the largest and fastest growing Irish community portal on the web. They had well over 250,000 readers on our first day. Among those who picked up IrishCentral stories were The New York Times, Washington Post, People, Huffington Post, ABC News and Yahoo News.

They're attempting to link the Irish family from sea to shining sea and they would love you to be part of it. Suggestions, submissions and Irish videos are all welcome.

A luxury trip to Ireland, valued at $10,000, is also on offer for one of our lucky first viewers. You can click here to enter their Irish Getaway contest.

Irish Business Lacks Trust

Trust in business is at a 10 year low throughout the world and Ireland unfortunately tops the list!

March for Life - January 22

March for Life this year will be January 22, 2009. Please email Pat Clark or call 412.761.3897 if you would like to participate.

We leave St. Simon & Jude at 6:30 AM and return around 10:30 PM. Currently we do not have very many people signed up, so please consider coming out to support the Right to Life.

Taking the Irish to the Woodshed?

A columnist in The New York Times criticizes the Irish for their recent rejection of the Treaty of Lisbon and single-handedly halting the further integration of the European Union:

"I can’t think of a country that’s benefited from European Union membership more than Ireland. It has catapulted itself in a few decades from beer-soaked backwater to the Celtic Tiger whose growth rates, foreign investment and rags-to-riches story were the envy of every languishing small nation with a thirst for a makeover.

Enormous E.U. farm subsidies, access for foreign investors to the E.U. market, and the liberation from a Britain complex afforded by new European horizons all contributed to the rebranding of Ireland. Dublin was suddenly hip; the peat bogs were passé. No wonder the Irish adopted the euro with élan while the British shrunk from “the Continent” and stuck with sterling.

Yet here we have the Irish, in a fit of Euro-bashing pique worthy of the worst of little-Englandism, rejecting the renegotiated Lisbon treaty essential for the functioning of an expanded 27-member E.U. Biting the hand that feeds you does not begin to describe this act of bloody-mindedness."

Fair? You be the judge. I should note that this guy - Roger Cohen - is English.

Priest's Deportation

Good Afternoon All –

I was going to summarize the article below and then thought I would do it an injustice.

Please take 5 minutes out of your day and read this article that was posted in the Catholic News last night. While time is short, I believe that our efforts could still turn things around.

Once more, please contact your elected representatives and ask them to get in touch with Senator John Thune, R-S.D. and ask him what we can do to help Father Gallagher.

As always – please feel free to forward this e-mail onto family and friends.

All the best.
Carmel Reilly
Treasury/Budget Manager
Common Ground Community
505 8th Avenue
15th Floor
New York, NY 10018
(212) 389-9377 (Telephone)
(212) 389-9310 (Fax)
creilly@commonground.org

Posted June 03, 2008 7:27 PM
Deportation of Priest
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0802933.htm

WASHINGTON LETTER May-30-2008 (920 words) -- Patricia Zapor, Catholic News ServiceWASHINGTON (CNS) --

Father Cathal Gallagher is bringing hisparishioners in rural South Dakota an unwelcome lesson in the fine details of U.S. immigration law as they try to help him fight his pending deportation. Father Gallagher, 58, a Columban missionary, went to the state a decade ago at the invitation of Bishop Robert J. Carlson, then-head of the Diocese of Sioux Falls, S.D.

TheIrish priest currently is pastor of parishes in three prairie towns, the largest of which is St. Thomas Aquinasin DeSmet, population just over 1,000. After spending 22 years working in Japan, Father Gallagher was surprised by how taken he was with South Dakota, he told Catholic News Service in a May 29 phone interview.

"I liked this place, the prairies, the people," he said, and as soon as he was eligible, he applied for permanent U.S. residency.

He came as close as being told five years ago that his "green card" was approved and would arrive within two weeks, only to learn much later that his application was actually denied. Now, unless the Department of Homeland Security office of Citizenship and Immigration Services, or CIS, can be persuaded to reverse its denial of his application, FatherGallagher will have to head back to Ireland by July 1.

After spending most of his priesthood in Japanese missions, the native of Donegal, Ireland, came to the United States in 1996 to participate in an alcohol treatment program at Guest House in Rochester, Minn., he explained.

He stayed onfor a year afterward, during which he became acquainted with Bishop Carlson, who was undergoing cancer treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. (Bishop Carlson is now head of the Diocese of Saginaw, Mich.)

At the bishop's urging, he decided to give ministry in rural South Dakota a try. At first, Father Gallagher held a religious worker's visa. But in 2001 he submitted the paperwork for permanent U.S. residency.

"I kind of had my heart set, " he said. "Yes, this is where I'd like to spend the rest of my career." What followed has become a seven-year adventure in the U.S. immigration system, with help throughout the process from the Sioux Falls Diocese and a Washington-based attorney with the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, known as CLINIC.

Despite that expertise, Father Gallagher said he only recently learned that his application had been denied because CIS concluded he had fallen "out of status" for a matter of weeks. Anne Marie Gibbons, director of CLINIC's program for religious worker visas, did not work on Father Gallagher's case.

However, explaining some of the general problems she and her staff encounter, she said it's common for someone's visa that authorizes him to live and work in the U.S. to expire while he's waiting to hear the results of anapplication for another visa or for permanent residency.

Gibbons said religious workers are especially prone to out-of-status problems because, unlike other categories of workers or family-visa holders, they are not permitted to submit simultaneous applications that might protect them from a lapse in coverage. It can take years for some kinds of visa applications to be processed.

Recently, backlogged fingerprint checks alone have bogged down cases for as long as four or five years. The problem is one of a variety of issues with religious worker visas that CLINIC has been trying to get the federal government to address as it reworks regulations for the visas.

They were outlined in a May 15 letter to U.S. bishops from the chairman of their migration committee, Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City, and Coadjutor Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento, Calif., who is chairman of the CLINIC board of directors. Father Gallagher recognizes that as a missionary priest he perhaps is being called to minister somewhere else in theworld.

But at the same time he hopes he will get to stay --he hasn't started packing yet -- and is pursuing whatever threads of possibilities he's given.

Patti Ward, a St. Thomas Aquinas parishioner, hosted a meeting at her house May 29 with Father Gallagher and staff members of Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., who are trying to persuade CIS to reopen the case. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., also phoned Father Gallagher, offering to ask the White House to intervene.

"We're keeping hopeful that something can be done," Ward said. "But we can see the writing on the wall."

The same day, a prayer service at St. Thomas Aquinas drew hundreds of people, she said, packing the church with Catholics from the four parishes Father Gallagher has served, as well as ministers from local churches and others from the area.

Both Ward and Father Gallagher said his immigration problems have been eye-opening for the community."None of us has ever been involved in immigration problems," Ward said. "Some people don't want tounderstand. They're just mad."

Not only are they angry that their beloved pastor may haveto leave, but some see the Latino immigrant workers at nearby dairy farms and factories and make comparisons, saidWard.

"They don't understand how (the Latinos) can be in the U.S. and Father can't," she said. Father Gallagher, however, said that "here in the Dakotas 'people's eyes have been opened that No. 1, you don't have to have a Hispanic face or speak Spanish to have immigration problems, and No. 2, the government system isn't working as it should."

OxFam Ireland

Over the years, I've been involved and blessed to help in the marketing special non profits such as the Ronald McDonald House, American Cancer Society and several more and have always been impressed with the people who make a career of it and volunteers alike. I have also seen a wide variety of creative ways to raise funds, but here's a tactic that takes the cake - or rather toast!

Plus, what a terrific Irish charity!

Your Name on Toast benefits Oxfam Ireland which works with people around the world to end the injustice of poverty. Oxfam Ireland is a member of Oxfam International, a confederation of thirteen independent members. The members work together to achieve greater impact by their collective efforts.

Slainte! Brilliant!

Guinness Plant in Dublin to Remain Open

Begorra! Guinness to be brewed outside of Dublin? The closure of St. James Gate where the creamy ambrosia has been brewed since 1759? Not so fast, says the New York Times. The corporate owners of Guinness, London-based Diageo plc, have reconsidered plans to shut down the venerable plant in the heart of Dublin (although several other Irish breweries will fall victim to corporate cost cutting. Read about it here.

Update/Crazy fun fact from article: "Ireland is the third-largest consumer of Guinness, after Nigeria, its No. 1 market, which has the world’s largest Guinness brewery, in Lagos, and Britain." Freakin' Nigeria??? What's up with that?

AOH PA State Newsletter

Here is the May Newsletter from PA State AOH.

Bertie Ahern Speaks to Congress (The Video!)

Those of you at last Sunday's meeting heard Congressman Tim Murphy and Denny Donnelly discuss their attendance at Bertie Ahern's address to a joint session of Congress. And our good brother Ed Blank posted the complete text of the Taoiseach's remarks below. Now, through the magic of YouTube, RTE News from Ireland brings you the highlights...

Update: Note our brother Tim Murphy's appearance in about the first 10 seconds of the video

Irish Calendar May 4

Brothers, there are several new entries on Diane Byrnes' updated calendar of events for the Pittsburgh Irish community. Here is her Echoes of Erin Dateline Irish for 5.4.08.

Echoes of Erin Calendar

ECHOES OF ERIN, WEDO 810 am
Sunday’s, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Irish / Celtic Radio Programming

www.pittsburghirish.org/echoesoferin
diane.byrnes@verizon.net
http://echoesoferin.blogspot.com
ONLINE: http://www.wedo810.com

20th Anniversary

Diane V. Byrnes DATELINE IRISH
778 GRANT AVE. April 27, 2008
PITTSBURGH, PA. 15223 PROGRAM # 1049
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, April 27

• 200th Anniversary Mass was to be held at St. Patrick’s Church in The Strip, 11:00AM; however due to the larger crowd anticipated it has been moved to St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, 21st Street in The Strip, still at 11:00 AM.
• Echoes of Erin, The Ireland Report Mairtin O’Muilleoir, Belfast, Managing Editor, Belfast Media Group, www.apublishersblog.blogspot.com. Filling in is Ciara McGuigan.The Pittsburgh Celtics practice today at 1:00 PM Anderson Field, Shaler. The Men will practice every Tuesday and Sunday. The ladies Pittsburgh Banshees have training at 1pm at Carrick High School. You can get directions to the field on their website at www.pittsburghbanshees.com and the field address is 125 PARKFIELD STREET, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA 15210.The Irish Centre of Pittsburgh has raffle tickets for the month of May, $5.00. Contact Lois Longo 412.271.9229. Proceeds will benefit the renovation of the restrooms at The Irish Centre.
• The Claddagh Irish Pub & Restaurant, 304 Cinema Drive, South Side Works features an Irish Session, call for details 412.381.4800.
  

Monday, April 28

• ·Paddy’s Pour House, 215 East Main Street, Carnegie, 412.279.0770 features an Acoustic Jam at 7:00 PM.

Tuesday, April 29

• ·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.
  

Wednesday, April 30

• Paddy’s Pour House, 215 East Main Street, Carnegie, 412.279.0770 features Potters Reel, 7 to 10 PM.
• Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle 24th St. & Penn Ave., 412.642.6622, features Acoustic Night with Marty, Paul & Mary, 8 to 11 PM.
  

Friday, May 2

• The Annual Candlelight Memorial Service sponsored by The County of Allegheny Law Enforcement Memorial Association, the Fraternal Order of Police Fort Pitt Lodge #1, Police Lodge #91 and the Auxiliary of Fort Pitt Lodge #1 will participate in the Annual Candlelight Memorial Service, 8:00 at the Memorial Site, North Shore Drive and Art Rooney Way. A Memorial Mass takes place on May 18, see below.
• Pittsburgh Ceili Club is sponsoring their May Ceili at the Morningside VFW, 1820 Chislett Street in Morningside. Workshop with Liz Shovlin Grinko at 6:30PM, Ceili at 8:00PM with The Pittsburgh Session Musicians. Information 412.63.8686.
• Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle 24th St. & Penn Ave., 412.642.6622, features Gerry Timlin, vocals & guitar, from Philadelphia. It has been 3 years since Gerry has performed at the Harp. 9:00 PM.
• Paddy’s Pour House, 215 East Main Street, Carnegie, 412.279.0770 features Mark Guiser on vocals & guitar, 9:00 PM.
  

Saturday, May 3

• Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle 24th St. & Penn Ave., 412.642.6622, features Gerry Timlin on vocals & guitar, from Philadelphia.
• Paddy’s Pour House, 215 East Main Street, Carnegie, 412.279.0770 features Ballad Singer, Mike Gallagher 9:00 PM.
  

Sunday, May 4

• The Youth Gaelic Football Team has practice 11:30AM at Anderson Field in Shaler. Information: Johnny Connolly Email: jconnolly71@comcast.net.
• Echoes of Erin, The Ireland Report with Patricia Sharkey, Editor of the Donegal Newsletter. ‘An Inspirational Moment’ sponsored by Terry Callahan and the AOH Allegheny County Hunger Project.
• Irish Session at Murphy’s Tap Room, So. Braddock Ave. in Regent Square at 8:00PM. All are welcome.
  

Monday, May 5

• 1st Annual April Shovlin Memorial Golf Outing at Churchill Valley Country Club, proceeds benefit the General Scholarship Funds of Central Catholic and Oakland Catholic High Schools. Shotgun Start 12:30 PM, Lunch served at 11:00 AM. Information Eddie Friel, 724.772.4626.

Wednesday, May 7

• Paddy’s Pour House, 215 East Main Street, Carnegie, 412.279.0770 features Potters Reel 7-9PM.
• The Youth Gaelic Football Team has practice at Trafford Middle School at 6:00 PM. Information Email: jconnolly71@comcast.net.
  

Thursday, May 8

• University of Pittsburgh, Osher Institute Program Summer Session 1 – 10:00 AM to 11:50 AM, Irish Country (Ceili) Dancing. (2 hours / day, one day / week, for 5 weeks). No class May 15. Class Registration Required – Patricia at 412-624-7912 or Jack Webber at 412-758-5446. Classes conducted by Liz Shovlin Grinko, TMRF, and Susan Kozak.
• Trivia Fundraiser at Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle 24th St. & Penn Ave. in The Strip, 7:30PM. Proceeds benefit The Youth Gaelic Football Club; conducted by Johnny Connolly. Entertainment to follow.
  

Friday, May 9

• Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle 24th St. & Penn Ave., 412.642.6622, features The Michael O’Brien Band from Johnstown, PA. at 9:00 PM
• Paddy’s Pour House, 215 East Main Street, Carnegie, 412.279.0770 features Sean McClorey, 9:00 PM.
• The Claddagh Irish Pub & Restaurant, 304 Cinema Drive, South Side Works, features Mark Guiser on vocals & guitar at 9:00 PM.
  

Saturday, May 10

• Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle 24th St. & Penn Ave., 412.642.6622, features The Michael O’Brien Band from Johnstown, PA. at 9:00 PM.
• Paddy’s Pour House, 215 East Main Street, Carnegie, 412.279.0770 features Jack Puskar on vocals & guitar, 9:00 PM.
• The Claddagh Irish Pub & Restaurant, 304 Cinema Drive, South Side Works, features Christopher Laughrey at 9:00 PM.
  

Sunday, May 11 – Mother’s Day

• The Irish football teams in Pittsburgh have taken part in the Race For the Cure for the past few years and this year is no different. You can register online and join us in the run under the team name Pittsburgh Banshees LFC or just type in the Banshees. http://www.pittsburghraceforthecure.org/index.html . While the title of the event is “race for the cure”, some people jog but most people walk the course.

Monday, May 12

• Paddy’s Pour House, 215 East Main Street, Carnegie, 412.279.0770 features Acoustic Jam 7-10PM.

Wednesday, May 14

• Paddy’s Pour House, 215 East Main Street, Carnegie, 412.279.0770 features Potters Reel, 7-9PM.

Friday, May 16

• Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle 24th St. & Penn Ave., 412.642.6622, features the ‘one and only’ Seamus Kennedy, singer, musician, storyteller, originally from Belfast, 9:00 PM.
• Paddy’s Pour House, 215 East Main Street, Carnegie, 412.279.0770 features Tony Egan on vocals & guitar, 9:00 PM.
  

Saturday, May 17

• All Ireland Athletic Club presents ‘The Matt Cunningham Ceili Band’ direct from Galway at The Irish Centre of Pittsburgh, 6886 Forward Ave., Squirrel Hill. Tickets – $12 Advance, $15 at Door, Nellie Mannion 412.362.1963.
• Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle 24th St. & Penn Ave., 412.642.6622, features Seamus Kennedy at 9:00 PM.
• Paddy’s Pour House, 215 East Main Street, Carnegie, 412.279.0770 features Ballad Singer, Mike Gallagher, 9:00 PM.
  

Sunday, May 18

• 27th Annual Blue Mass at 10:00AM at St. Paul Cathedral with Bishop David Zubik. A Procession will form at Cardinal Dearden Center, 4721 Fifth Ave., across from Central Catholic HS at 9:15AM.
• The Youth Gaelic Football Club will have a ‘mini-camp’ for young folk’s ages 6 to 11 at Anderson Field. Details TBA.
• Echoes of Erin, WEDO 810AM at 1:00PM, The Ireland Report from Dublin with Ann Bray.
• The Gaelic Arts Society of Pittsburgh presents and “Educational Mini-Concert” by The Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Harp Society, 2:30 PM, Synod Hall, North Craig Street, Oakland. Free-will donation accepted at door. Information: 412.758.5446.
• Irish Session at Murphy’s Tap Room, So. Braddock Ave. in Regent Square at 8:00PM. All are welcome.
  

Wednesday, May 21

• Paddy’s Pour House, 215 East Main Street, Carnegie, 412.279.0770 features Potters Reel, 7-9PM.

Thursday, May 22

• Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle 24th St. & Penn Ave., 412.642.6622, features Christopher Laughrey 8:00 PM.
  

Friday, May 23

• Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle 24th St. & Penn Ave., 412.642.6622, features Irish Music, 9:00 PM.
• Paddy’s Pour House, 215 East Main Street, Carnegie, 412.279.0770 features Sean McClorey at 9:00 PM.
  

Saturday, May 24

• Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle 24th St. & Penn Ave., 412.642.6622, features ‘8th Street Rox’, non-Irish night, 9:00 PM.
• Paddy’s Pour House, 215 East Main Street, Carnegie, 412.279.0770 features Mark Guiser on vocals & guitar, 9:00 PM.
  

Monday, May 26

• Paddy’s Pour House, 215 East Main Street, Carnegie, 412.279.0770 features Acoustic Jam, 7:00 PM

Wednesday, May 28

• Paddy’s Pour House, 215 East Main Street, Carnegie, 412.279.0770 features Potters Reel, 7-9 PM.

Friday, May 30

• Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle 24th St. & Penn Ave., 412.642.6622, features Corned Beef & Curry at 9:00 PM.
• Paddy’s Pour House, 215 East Main Street, Carnegie, 412.279.0770 features Jack Puskar on vocals & guitar, 9:00 PM.
  

Saturday, May 31

• Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle 24th St. & Penn Ave., 412.642.6622, features Irish Music, 9:00 PM.
• Paddy’s Pour House, 215 East Main Street, Carnegie, 412.279.0770 features Tony Egan on vocals & guitar, 9:00 PM.
  

Sunday, June 1

• The Grand Opening / Dedication for the Welsh Nationality Room at the University of Pittsburgh, 3:00 PM in Heinz Chapel. Reception in the Commons Room of the Cathedral of Learning and tours of the newly-finished room. Information: Dave Williams, peggie@nauticom.net.
• Gaelic Storm in Concert in Pittsburgh. Details TBA.
  

Saturday, June 7

• The Pittsburgh Celtics and Banshees Football Clubs are sponsoring an ‘Annual local Seven-a-Side Tournament’ at Founder’s Field off Route 910, Indianola. It is a grand day for everyone! Website: http://thepittsburghcelticsgfc.com.

Sunday, June 8

• The Gaelic Arts Society of Pittsburgh presents an ‘Irish High Tea’, 1:30 PM, Epiphany Church McDowell Hall. Reservations required. Information: Earl McCabe 412.761.1844 by June 2; Donation $12.00 pp.

Friday, June 13

• Round the House Band at Swisshelm Park Community Center, 1050 Windermere Drive, Swisshelm Park. Tickets at Door $8.00. Information: Dance Hotline 412.731.8661 or www.pittsburghcontra.org.

Saturday, June 14

• Claddagh Irish Pub, South Side Works, 407 Cinema Drive, 412.381.4800, features Round the House Band at 8:30PM.

Sunday, June 15

• Echoes of Erin, WEDO 810AM at 1:00 PM, The Ireland Report with Davy Kettyles, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh.
• 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.
  

Saturday, June 28

• AOH Division 4, North Hills presents “A Day of Irish Entertainment” at Schitizen Park / The Croatian Center, Millvale, 12:00 Noon.

Wednesday, July 23 – Saturday, July 26

• AOH National Convention in New Orleans.

Friday, July 25 through Sunday, July 27

• Football News – CYC National Championships will be held in Philadelphia. Details TBA.

Friday, August 8

• AOH Division 32 Golf Outing at Cherry Hills Golf Club.

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.

LOCAL IRISH ENTERTAINERS WEBSITES
Check Performance Schedules, Etc.
Aran from Johnstown PA - http://www.people.iup.edu/rahkonen/Bands/Aran.htm
George Balderose - http://www.pittsburghpiper.com/
Carnival of Souls - http://www.carnivalofsouls.com
Ceann - http://www.ceannmusic.com/
Cue Ball Music - http://www.cueballmusic.com/index.asp
Cahal Dunne - http://www.cahaldunne.com/
Tony Egan - http://www.tonyegan.info
Michael Gallagher - http://www.mike-gallagher.com/
Terry Griffith - http://www.pittsburghirish.org/griffith
Guaranteed Irish - http://www.guaranteedirish.info/
Hiraeth - http://lugh.as.cmu.edu/Hiraeth.htm
Hooley - http://www.hooley.info
Laughrey Connolly- http://www.laughreyconnolly.com/
John McCann - http://www.johnmccannlive.com/
Michael Murphy & TSRB http://www.michaelmurphy.us/
Na Gaels - http://www.pittsburghirish.org/nagaels
Red Hand Paddy - http://www.redhandpaddy.com/
Rolling Scones - http://www.rollingscones.com

Pittsburgh Irish Dance Schools
Bell School of Irish Dance http://bellschool.com/about.htm
Burke Irish Dancers http://www.burkeirishdance.com/
Pittsburgh Irish Reelers http://www.pghirishreelers.com/
Shovlin Academy of Dance http://www.shovlinacademy.com/
Pittsburgh Ceili Club www.pittsburghceiliclub.org/

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 @ Founders Field
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:

• April Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Maude Gonne Division 32, Carnegie; ‘The Brick’, ‘Ain’t That The Truth’, ‘The Easter Uprising’, ‘The Elderly Carpenter’
  
• May Terry Callahan & AOH Allegheny County Hunger Project

Future Guests:

• May 4 Tommy Butler, General Manager, The Claddagh Irish Pub & Restaurant
• Jun 1 Sarah McAuliffe Bellin, National IAUC Fundraiser

SPONSORS OF THE IRELAND REPORT:
April AOH Division 1, South Hills
May Knights of Equity
June AOH Division 4, North Hills
July Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh
August AOH Division 21, Garfield-Bloomfield
September AOH County Board
October AOH Division 32, Carnegie
November Irish American Unity Conference
December Daughters of Erin

Irish PM Bertie Ahern to Resign May 6 Over Scandal

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, who helped broker peace in Northern Ireland but couldn't survive a scandal over his collection of cash from businessmen, announced Wednesday he will resign. Click here to read all about it in the New York Times.

Irish Leader Ahern Meets President Bush

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern made his traditional St. Patrick's Day visit to Washington, D.C and said, "I believe the United States and Ireland will always enjoy an indelible bond." President Bush stressed Ireland's success in the Northern Ireland peace process and pointed out this would be his last St. Patrick's Day as president. Read the entire story here.

AOH License Plates

Here is an AOH License Plate form:

For more information contact:
Jim Williams, Coordinator, AOH License Plate Project, Dauphin County, Division I
and, Director, District III, Ancient Order of Hibernians
717-533-3879 (home); 717-503-8931 (cell); 717-534-2764 (fax)

A Note From Fr. Tom - Big Easy Bound

Brothers,

I will be going to the National Convention in July and will be taking my car, a leased 2006 Chrysler 300. (By the way it rides great). I would probably be leaving on Tuesday, July 22 and would be getting into “The Big Easy” on Wednesday in time for all of the activities on Wednesday evening. I was wondering if two or three of the brothers would like to drive down with me. Perhaps someone does not like to fly or perhaps you would like to drive for some other reason. The reason that I want to take my car is the fact that I need someone to drive my car back to the Burgh after the convention is over.

Here we go again – I am the Chaplain on a Cruise Ship to Norway and will be leaving for Amsterdam on Sunday afternoon, the day after the close of the convention. (I know being a Chaplain on a cruise is a hard job, but someone has to do it). I am driving to New Orleans because I always take my mobility scooter on the cruises and I will be bringing it with my car lift to New Orleans. Then I will be able to take it on the plane with me to New Orleans. (I already checked with United and they said that it was okay).

We would be stopping on Tuesday night somewhere around the half way point. So please let me know. I would be happy to have the Unity and Fraternity of some of my brothers with me on the trip to New Orleans and the Charity of someone driving my car back to the Burgh.

I assure you we won’t get lost. I just bought a Tom-Tom GPS which was on sale at Target. It works great! So the brothers would be traveling with Father Tom and Tom-Tom.

Thanks to all – Please let me know if any of you are interested. With every blessing and best wish – Father Tom O'Donnell

Note from Dan Devinney

For many years now individuals outside the Irish community have been holding so called St. Patrick's Day Celebrations functions in and around our parade then have given those who wish to slander the Irish an opportunity to do so. As you know the St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee and the City of Pittsburgh have made an effort this year to control this situation and return the family friendly atmosphere along the parade route. Some members in the news media have even tried to use this effort against us by creating the appearance that the City has had enough and is trying to rein in the Irish. Apparently while it is politically incorrect and in some cases illegal to attack certain groups it is still OK to slander the Irish.

I hesitated to send out a communication concerning this issue until recently when I heard a rumor that certain news media groups were sending out crews along the parade route in an effort to capture photographs that could once again be used to attacked the Irish. Apparently they plan to belittle our efforts to eliminate the anything goes atmosphere that others have tried to inject into our parade. It is impossible for me to determine whether or not this rumor is true.

However, I would hate to see them use a member of our order who was harmlessly sipping on a beer watching the parade as their poster child to say "See it was all just a smokescreen they really didn't mean it". Anyone who knows me knows I love to have a good time and I do not mean to take the fun out of the day I only ask that we honor the requests of the Parade Chairman and our own Brother, Jim Green.

Have a safe and happy St. Patrick's Day.

Daniel P. Devinney
President, AOH Allegheny County Board

2700 Smallman Street, Suite 200
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-4720
Telephone: (412) 338-2711
Telefax: (412) 338-9965
www.kcdlawfirm.com

Brother John Graf and Family on NBC's TODAY Show

In addition, here's a wonderful related story in today's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Finally, please check out the March 17th issue of People Magazine with another story about John Graf's family. It's the issue with Drew Barrymore on the cover! If you can't find one, ask Chris Cahillane to lend you his copy!

Click here for more information about the Little People of America.

Click here too - this wonderful organization was created from an informal gathering led by famous actor and little person Billy Barty.

Miss Smiling Irish Eyes on KDKA - March 11

Miss Smiling Irish Eyes Jocilyn Delaney (Brother Bill Delany's niece)will appear on KDKA-TV's Pittsburgh TODAY Live Show on Tuesday, March 11 at 9:00 a.m.

In addition, our late good Brother Bob Carr's daughter Kirsten was selected to the court of Miss Smiling Irish Eyes. Kirsten has marched with Division 32, carrying the flag of County Clare (purchased in the name of her father Bob) since his death. Bob would be thrilled beyond description at the news, but we know he's smiling down on Kirsten and his fellow AOH Brothers who permitted her to march with us for these past years.

This show will broadcast live from the Home Show at the Convention Center. KDKA has asked that we provide as many folks as possible for the live audience. Anybody who would like to attend must be at the Convention Center by 8:40 a.m. Enter through the main tunnel in the center of the building. Let the guards know that you are there for the show and they will direct you where to go.

We hope to see you there!