ATasteof Ireland; US Tour Starts This Month tours the US
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Dear Readers,
A new era for the Irish Arts&Entertainment beginswith this issue We have relocated to a fairly small town in the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia Thispaln has been in the works for a few weeksand it had a few glitches The biggest problem was the fact that we had no internet for almost one week which delayed thisissue As we have mentioned in our past two issuesin this feature, we are now expanding throughout the entire USWest Coast and not just California, Oregon and Washington, we have also expanded into Arizona and Neveda
By the end of 2025, we are on track to expand again to coverage throughout the United States We have already engaged affiliates, representatives and writersaround the US and we are going to start our National Issue by December
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"A Taste of Ireland" Em barks on a Spirit ed Journey Across t he Unit ed St at es This Fall
The internationally acclaimed Irish music and dance sensation, "A Taste of Ireland," is set to bring its vibrant and energetic production to audiences acrossthe United Stateswith an extensive tour scheduled for 2025 and extending into 2026. Thisdazzling showcase of traditional Irish culture, featuring world-classperformers, isan Australian production that has captivated viewers globally
An Australian Production with a Passion for Ireland
"A Taste of Ireland" isthe brainchild of Australian producers and performersBrent Pace and Ceili Moore. Both accomplished dancersin their own right, they have channeled their passion for Irish culture into a show that has garnered international recognition. The production company behind the show isPace Live
A Captivating Journey Through Irish History
"A Taste of Ireland" ismore than just a dance performance; it is a theatrical experience that tellsthe story of Ireland through music and movement. The show navigates the country'srich and often tumultuous history, from ancient times to the modern day. Audiencesare taken on a journey through talesof Vikings, rebellions, and the enduring spirit of the Irish people, all conveyed through energetic choreography and traditional Irish music.
The producers have also introduced a new, reimagined version of the show titled "Éireann by A Taste of Ireland " Thisis not a separate touring company but rather an evolution of their original concept, promising a fresh and innovative take on the story of Ireland
Upcoming USTour Datesand Locations
"A Taste of Ireland" will be making numerous stops across the United States in 2025 The tour isextensive, with performances scheduled in a wide array of cities and states.
(A partial list of tour stops includes locationsin California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin, with dates extending into early 2026 )
For specific dates and venue information, it isrecommended that ourreaders check the official "A Taste of Ireland" website or local theater listings
The Talented Dancers
While a definitive and complete cast list for the entire 2025 UStour issubject to change, the show consistently features a troupe of highly accomplished dancers, many of whom are former Irish dancing world champions.
Recent announcementsfor the UStour have highlighted several prominent performers, including: Gavin Shevlin, Callum O'Neill and Cian Walsh
It isimportant to note that casting can vary by performance. The show's official website and social media channelsare the best sourcesfor the most up-to-date information on the performers for a specific show. The production prides itself on showcasing a rotating cast of incredible talent, ensuring a dynamic and thrilling experience for every audience www.atastefireland.com
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Key Irish-Am erican Labor Leaders at a Glance
The follow ing is Part II of our series on t he Irish cont ribut ion t o t he Am erican Labor Movem ent . Part I w as post ed on our w ebsit e on Labor Day, Sept em ber 1st . In case you m issed it here is a link:
w w w.irishart sandent ert ainm ent .com
The st ory of Irish leadership in t he Am erican labor m ovem ent is best t old t hrough t he lives of t he ext raordinary individuals w ho guided it From t he idealist ic visionaries of t he 19t h cent ury t o t he pragm at ic pow er brokers of t he 20t h, t hese leaders em bodied t he st ruggles and aspirat ions of t heir com m unit y. The follow ing profiles highlight five sem inal figures w hose careers not only shaped t he course of Am erican labor but also illust rat e t he dynam ic evolut ion of Irish-Am erican influence over a cent ury.
The Miner 's Angel: The incredible Life of Mot her Jones
Perhaps no single figure bet t er personifies t he fiery spirit of t he Irish-Am erican labor st ruggle t han Mary Harris "Mot her " Jones. A t iny, seem ingly gent eel w om an in a black dress and spect acles, she w as a force of nat ure? a brilliant orat or, a fearless organizer, and a relent less agit at or w ho dedicat ed her life t o t he cause of t he w orking class, especially t he m iners she affect ionat ely called "her boys"
From Cork t o Calam it y
Mary Harris w as born in Cork, Ireland, and bapt ized on August 1, 1837 Like count less ot hers, her fam ily fled t he devast at ion of t he Great Fam ine, im m igrat ing t o Canada in t he early 1850s.. In Nort h Am erica, t he fam ily encount ered t he fam iliar st ing of discrim inat ion due t o t heir Irish Cat holic herit age. Aft er t raining as a t eacher
Cork Born, Mary Harris
A Mot her t o t he Movem ent
and dressm aker, Mary's life t ook a t urn t ow ard convent ionalit y w hen she m oved t o Mem phis, Tennessee, and m arried George Jones, an iron m older and a dedicat ed union m em ber
This Am erican Dream life w as shat t ered by a series of unim aginable t ragedies In 1867, a yellow fever epidem ic sw ept t hrough Mem phis, claim ing t he lives of her husband and all four of t heir young children Left ut t erly alone, she relocat ed t o Chicago t o st art a new dressm aking business, only t o lose everyt hing she ow ned in t he Great Chicago Fire of 1871 These profound losses did not break her; t hey liberat ed her. St ripped of fam ily and possessions, she w as free t o dedicat e herself ent irely t o a new , larger fam ily: t he labor m ovem ent As she lat er w rot e, "I becam e m ore and m ore engrossed in t he labor st ruggle and I decided t o t ake an act ive part in t he effort s of t he w orking people t o bet t er t he condit ions under w hich t hey w orked and lived"
Brilliant Labor Organizer and PR Maven
Jones becam e involved w it h t he Knight s of Labor and t he Unit ed Mine Workers (UMW) she w as oft en sent t o coal cam ps around Am erica and in t hem , she found her t rue calling The m iners dubbed her "Mot her " Jones, a nam e t hat perfect ly capt ured her role as a fierce prot ect or and t ireless advocat e.
Continued on page 8
Brilliant Organizer and PR Maven
Her bosses at t he UMW saw her passion and t hey harnessed it . She w as sent t o t he m ost volat ile and violent coalfields in t he count ry, from t he ant hracit e region of Pennsylvania t o t he com pany t ow ns of West Virginia and Colorado. She w alked for m iles along railroad t racks, scaled cliffs, and w aded across st ream s t o reach m iners and hold secret organizing m eet ings
Her m et hods w ere as creat ive as t hey w ere courageous She organized m iners' w ives int o "m op and broom brigades" t o guard t he m ines and chase aw ay st rikebreakers, recognizing t he crucial role of w om en in t he st ruggle. She w elcom ed African Am erican w orkers int o t he union and st aged parades feat uring children carrying signs t hat read, " We Want t o Go t o School and Not t o t he Mines". Her fiery speeches could rally t housands, inspiring m en half her age t o act ion
Mot her Jones w as a really effect ive organizer and she gained fam e beyond her union w ork as a speaker She w as frequent ly charged under bogus local ant i-union law s She w as so good at her job t hat at one such t rial in 1902 in West Virginia, Dist rict At t orney Reese Blizzard point ed at her and declared, "There sits the most dangerous woman in America".
She w as arrest ed num erous t im es and faced dow n arm ed m ine guards and m ilit ias. In 1913, she w as arrest ed during t he bloody Paint Creek-Cabin Creek st rike in West Virginia, t ried by a m ilit ary court , and sent enced t o 20 years in prison. She w as held for 85 days before a nat ional out cry, am plified by her sm uggled m essages being read on t he floor of t he U S Senat e, forced t he governor t o pardon her
The Children's Crusade
Mot her Jones's m ost fam ous and rem em bered prot est s w as t he "March of t he Mill Children" in 1903. The m arch and prot est w as born out of a m assive t ext ile st rike in t he Kensingt on sect ion of Philadelphia, w hich involved som e 46,000 w orkers, including an est im at ed 10,000 children. Appalled by t he sight of young children w it h st unt ed grow t h and m aim ed hands, Jones sought t o publicize t heir plight When she found t hat local new spapers w ere ignoring t he issue because m ill ow ners held st ock in t he papers, she fam ously ret ort ed, "Well, I've got stock in these little children, and I'll arrange a little publicity".
On July 7, 1903, she led an "indust rial arm y" of several hundred child st rikers and t heir parent s on a t rek of nearly 125 m iles from Philadelphia t o t he sum m er hom e of President Theodore Roosevelt in Oyst er Bay, New York The m arch w as a piece of polit ical t heat er designed for m axim um public im pact The children carried signs dem anding " We Want Tim e To Play" and " We Want To Go To School" . As t he ragt ag procession m ade it s w ay t hrough New Jersey, Jones held rallies in t ow ns along t he rout e, displaying t he children's injuries and delivering pow erful speeches She declared t hat "Philadelphia's mansions were built on the broken bones, the quivering ears and drooping heads of these children" and com pared t he exploit at ion of child labor t o slavery
Sadly, President Roosevelt refused t o m eet w it h Jones and her sm all delegat ion Despit e t his set back, overall, t he m arch w as a resounding success in it s prim ary goal It generat ed enorm ous nat ional m edia coverage, forcing t he Am erican public t o confront t he brut al realit y of child labor. The publicit y w as a cat alyst for reform . In 1904, t he Nat ional Child Labor Com m it t ee w as form ed t o advocat e for new law s. A year lat er, Pennsylvania st rengt hened it s child labor regulat ions. While a federal ban w ould not com e for anot her t hree decades, Mot her Jones's Children's Crusade had placed t he issue firm ly on t he nat ional agenda, dem onst rat ing her m ast ery of dram at ic prot est as a t ool for social change
Her legacy lives on!
Mary Harris has a m agazine nam ed aft er her and t here is even a sm all m useum dedicat ed t o her life and w ork in t he Midw est , US
The Mot her Jones Museum dedicat ed t o Mary Harris (aka Mot her Jones) is locat ed in Mount Olive, Illinois. It s w ebsit e is:
w w w.m ot herjonesm useum m t olive.org
The m useum is m anaged by t he Friends of t he Mot her Jones Museum .
The publicat ion is t ot ally separat e and is called Mot her Jones, and run by a new s organizat ion based in San Francisco, CA The w ebsit e is:
w w w.m ot herjones.com .
The Fat her of Labor Day:
Pet er J. McGuire
A cont em porary of Mot her Jones, Pet er J. McGuire w as a foundat ional archit ect of t he m odern Am erican labor m ovem ent . Born in 1852 on New York's Low er East Side t o poor Irish im m igrant s, his life w as shaped by t he w orking-class st ruggle from an early age When his fat her w ent t o fight for t he Union Arm y, McGuire quit school at just 11 years old t o becom e t he fam ily's prim ary breadw inner 9
Despit e his t runcat ed form al educat ion, he at t ended night classes at t he Cooper Union, w here he w as exposed t o socialist ideas and becam e a dedicat ed act ivist .22 A carpent er by t rade, McGuire channeled his energies int o organizing. In 1881, he issued a call for a nat ional m eet ing of carpent ers' unions, w hich result ed in t he form at ion of t he Unit ed Brot herhood of Carpent ers (UBC), a pow erful organizat ion he helped build from t he ground up 22
McGuire's vision ext ended beyond his ow n t rade He w as a key figure in t he creat ion of a nat ional federat ion of unions He w rot e t he convent ion call for t he 1881 m eet ing t hat est ablished t he Federat ion of Organized Trades and Labor Unions (FOTLU), t he direct forerunner of t he Am erican Federat ion of Labor (AFL). When t he AFL w as officially form ed in 1886, McGuire w as elect ed it s first secret ary. His m ost enduring public legacy, how ever, cam e from a sim ple but pow erful idea
At a m eet ing of t he New York Cent ral Labor Union on May 18, 1882, he int roduced a resolut ion calling for a day t o be set aside t o honor t he nat ion's w orkers? a "fest ive parade t hrough t he st reet s of t he cit y" t o be held on t he first Monday of Sept em ber Aft er McGuire recom m ended t he first Monday in Sept em ber for t he observance, as it fell roughly halfw ay bet w een t he Fourt h of July and Thanksgiving, t he proposal w as brought t o life He w as present at t he first Labor Day parade t hat t ook place in New York Cit y on Sept em ber 5, 1882.
The idea caught on, and McGuire is w idely but not exclusively rem em bered as t he Fat her of Labor Day
Mat t hew Maguire:
The Machinist and a Different Polit ical Pat h
Matthew Maguire is also the other contender for the Founder' of Labor Day title!
Maguire w as anot her prom inent figure in t he Am erican labor m ovem ent of t he 1870s He w as born in Sept em ber 1848 His life began under unique circum st ances, as he w as report edly born on t he At lant ic Ocean w hile his parent s w ere im m igrat ing t o t he Unit ed St at es He w as raised in Pat erson, New Jersey, a cit y t hat w ould becom e t he backdrop for his early foray int o labor act ivism A m achinist by t rade, Maguire's com m it m ent t o t he cause of t he w orking m an appears t o have begun in t he 1870s.
During t his decade, he em erged as a leader, passionat ely advocat ing for im proved w orking condit ions He w as at t he forefront of st rikes aim ed at securing a short er w orkday for laborers His dedicat ion and leadership skills led him t o hold key posit ions w it hin t he burgeoning union landscape. Maguire served as t he secret ary of t he Machinist s and Blacksm it hs Union's Pat erson Local 344. His influence ext ended beyond his local chapt er as he also t ook on t he role of secret ary for t he Cent ral Labor Union of New York, a pivot al organizat ion in t he region's labor act ivit ies Through t hese roles, Maguire played a significant part in shaping t he labor discourse and organizing w orkers during a crit ical period of indust rial grow t h and labor unrest in t he Unit ed St at es
Continued on page 10
Maguire continued
Follow ing t he federal recognit ion of Labor Day in 1894, an opinion piece in t he Pat erson, New Jersey, "Morning Call" new spaper cham pioned Maguire as t he "undisput ed aut hor of Labor Day as a holiday " How ever, Maguire's m ore radical polit ical leanings m ay have cont ribut ed t o his being overshadow ed in t he hist orical narrat ive In 1896, he w as t he vice-president ial nom inee for t he Socialist Labor Part y It is believed t hat t he m ore conservat ive elem ent s of t he labor m ovem ent , including AFL president Sam uel Gom pers, preferred t o credit t he m ore m oderat e Pet er J McGuire w it h t he holiday's founding t o avoid associat ing Labor Day w it h socialist ideals
A Cont inuing Debat e
While t he U S Depart m ent of Labor has hist orically credit ed Pet er J McGuire, it also acknow ledges t he significant role and com pelling claim of Mat t hew Maguire The rem arkable coincidence of t w o Irish-Am erican labor leaders w it h such sim ilar nam es being at t he forefront of t he m ovem ent at t he sam e t im e has led t o a fascinat ing and enduring hist orical debat e Regardless of w ho first conceived t he idea, bot h m en w ere inst rum ent al in t he fight for w orkers' right s and t he est ablishm ent of a nat ional holiday t hat
The Grand Mast er Workm an: Terence V. Pow derly
Pow derly w as born in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, in 1849 t o Irish im m igrant parent s. He led t he first great nat ional labor organizat ion in t he Unit ed St at es: t he Noble and Holy Order of t he Knight s of Labor.
A m achinist by t rade, Pow derly w as elect ed m ayor of Scrant on before becom ing t he Knight s' leader, or "Grand Mast er Workm an," in 1879
Under his leadership, t he Knight s t ransform ed from a secret societ y int o a m assive federat ion t hat , at it s peak in 1886, claim ed over 700,000 m em bers Pow derly's vision w as rem arkably progressive and inclusive for it s t im e While m ost unions w ere exclusive craft -based organizat ions for skilled w hit e m en, t he Knight s aim ed t o organize all "producers" int o "one big brotherhood". Under Pow derly, t he Noble and Holy Order of t he Knight s of Labor w elcom ed unskilled w orkers, w om en, and African Am ericans This act alone w as, a radical depart ure
celebrat es t he cont ribut ions of t he Am erican w orkforce
One com pelling point on Maguire's behalf is t hat as t he secret ary of t he CLU, he w as t he one w ho act ually proposed t he first Labor Day Parade in New York.
Mat t hew Maguire,
a t
rue Irish Am erican Labor Leader and Socialist
t hat sought t o build t rue w orking-class solidarit y
The Knight s' plat form w as am bit ious, calling for an eight -hour w orkday, t he abolit ion of child and convict labor, equal pay for m en and w om en, and t he est ablishm ent of w orker-ow ned cooperat ives t o event ually replace t he w age syst em . These ideas have st ill not com e o pass in Am erica
An Irish Am erican visionary, Terence V. Pow derly w as generat ions ahead of his t im e
The View From Ireland
The Irish Presidency
By Maurice Fit zpat rick
Now , just a few m ont hs before t he Irish elect orat e cast s t heir vot es for t he next President of Ireland, is as good a t im e as any t o consider t he significance of t he office, t he perils of running for it , t he president ?s role and t he percept ion t hat has accrued t o t he role over t im e
Every successful president ial candidat e in Irish hist ory has had t he nom inat ion of a st rong part y, as w ell as t hat part y?s financial support , behind t hem While t he office is allegedly ?above polit ics? , John Healy, an Irish journalist of yore, used t o w rit e t hat ?Above Polit ics? Part y polit ics oft en does m ore t o det erm ine t he out com e of a president ial elect ion t han anot her ot her fact or. Moreover, t he loyalt ies of a candidat e are carefully considered t o ensure t hat a nom inat ion poses no t hreat t o a part y?s int erest .
Due t o it s elect oral st rengt h for m ost of t he 20t h cent ury, Fianna Fáil m onopolised t he office for t he first five decades of t he presidency
The part y anoint ed figures such as Seán T O?Kelly, Éam on de Valera and Paddy Hillery for double t erm s of 14 years t o quiet ly m aint ain t he role and st ay out of governm ent ?s w ay
Even so, at key m om ent s t he Irish president did exercise decisive cont rol on an overreaching governm ent or a rogue senior polit ician
Our regular cont ribut or, Maurice Fit zpat rick is an Irish w rit er and film m aker w ho w as educat ed at Trinit y College Dublin. Fit zpat rick aut hored t he book, John Hume in America: From Derry to DC and w rot e, direct ed, and produced t he docum ent ary film , John Hume in America. CLICK t o buy or m ore INFO
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VIEW & MAURICEcontinued...
1990 heralded a sea-change at Áras an Uachtaráin. That year, the Labour Party candidate Mary Robinson?s win saw not only Ireland?sfirst female Head of State, but it also inaugurated arguably the best decade in Irish history. It was a decade of transformation for young Irish people who had, up to then, been forced to emigrate en masse An advanced economy formed by a newly educated population revealed a new confidence in the people From the mid-1990s, a long, hard peace waswrought in the North That Mary Robinson wassucceeded by another woman, Mary McAleese, in 1997 wasnot so much symbolic of change, but of a New Ireland, one that encouraged personal fulfilment and attempted to confront itstroubled past; the presidency managed to emblematise that A flinty Belfast woman with sound political antennae, McAleese?stiming was impeccable: she waselected the year before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and played a key role asa liaison throughout the peace negotiations, and after it to bed in the agreement?s provisions.
Michael D Higginssucceeded Mary McAleese in 2011, becoming the second Labour Party candidate to break the tradition of Fianna Fáil nominationsholding the office. That occurred against the backdrop of an implosion of the Fianna Fáil party machine after the banking crisisand the property crash ? for which the electorate roundly punished Fianna Fáil (the party declined to even field a candidate)
Higgins?victory in 2011, and his landslide re-election in 2018 (after an election wasforced by Sinn Féin, whose candidate polled 6%) wasthe strongest mandate an Irish president has ever had. Higginsmanaged, over 14 years, to excite the population and speak for large swathes of it, and to rise to the underestimated challengesof the office That he consistently waded into controversial areaspleased the body politic a good deal more than successive governments; he has been the people?spresident So, since 1990, we have had presidentswho have considerably matched the mood of the country. Maybe there isa lesson there for those eyeing a run for ?the park?(asthe office isknown, for itslocation in Phoenix Park)?
The front-runner in this year?s election until August 14th wasMairead McGuinness Did she answer how and why she could speak for today?sIreland?She and her team were surely aware that, although the duties of the president are largely symbolic, if a candidate seems too wedded to one aspect of Irish identity that can paint them as too niche. In McGuinness?case, that was her significant successin European politics It wasnot clear that that experience, with its perception of elitism, could inspire a generation who have been deprived of a fair accessto housing It may be unfair to expect a president, who iswithout governing powers, to succour such an extensive national crisis, but perceptionsfundamentally matter for Ireland?ssymbolic presidential role
During his presidency Michael D. Higgins publicly referred to the housing disaster as our ?great, great failure? , and that ?housing and the basic needs of society should never have been left to the marketplace. It isthe mad speculative money that isdestroying our country, which we are welcoming, which we shouldn? t be? . That speech may have achieved nothing tangible, including for a generation locked out of home ownership Still, many of them would have applauded Michael D. for making it, and many would have difficulty imagining European Commissioner Mairead McGuinnesssaying anything like it
Asit happens, on August 14th, McGuinness withdrew her candidacy, citing health issues Fine Gael, mostly the second biggest party in the country since the foundation of the state, hasnever won the presidency. With McGuinness? departure, many in the party consider that their best hope to buck that trend isdashed Fine Gael may well now nominate Monaghan woman Heather Humphreys? and may find her a strong candidate
For now, though, the field isnow wide open, and polling day, 11 November 2025, isapproaching. Many people have been mooted but, at time of writing, none of the major parties except Labour hasnominated a candidate What is the hesitation?
The story of Adi Roche?scandidacy can shed some light on this Roche was an unsuccessful candidate in the 1997 presidential election where she saw her support plummet after spuriousallegationsabout her brother, a soldier in the Irish army He later received a government apology, but the damage wasdone to his sister. The controversy knocked her out of the running for the presidency, and she has spoken about the traumatic effect the attacks on her integrity had on her.
The Irish presidential election isamong the nastiest political contestsin the country, in which the political ispersonalised SeamusHeaney, a hugely popular figure in Ireland throughout hislifetime, when asked if he would run for president, replied that he would consider it as a cross-party nomination ? in other wordsif there wasall but no contest. Apparently fewer and fewer want to enter the bear-pit of a presidential campaign The forensic examination of one?s personal and professional life, the spinning to manufacture scandals, are too off-putting Have we made candidacy for the office too perilous to entice the best person to be Head of State?
Irish ImmigrantsLiving in Fear asICEExpands Operations
The three following immigration features, distinct but interconncected were compiled by
John McNally
Irish immigrantswho have lived and worked in the United States for decadesare now facing sudden arrest, detention, and deportation at the hands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Many of these men and women are businessowners, employers, parents, and grandparents? people who believed they were protected under deferred action agreements that recognized their visa overstaysbut allowed them to remain for humanitarian reasons.
Deferred action came with conditions: immigrantswere required to report to ICEevery six months, a system many likened to parole. In good faith, they complied. For years, they were told that if they followed the rules, they could continue their liveswithout fear
But now, those same check-ins have become traps. People who walk through the door to meet their obligationsare handcuffed, locked in detention centersfor weeks, and quietly deported. Families are often left blindsided. Sometimes they receive a hurried phone call; other times they hear nothing. Children are left without parents, spouses
ICE Error In California
In April, of t his year, Cliona Ward, a Green Card holder w ho has lived legally in t he U.S. for 30 years, w as det ained in San Francisco by ICE for 17 days and faced possible deport at ion aft er ret urning from a t rip t o Ireland t o visit her Fat her w ho w as sick Follow ing her det ent ion in San Francisco, Ward w as t ransferred t o a facilit y in Tacom a, Washingt on The det ent ion w as based on decades old drug charges t hat had been expunged and had never previously caused issues, even as she regularly t raveled t o visit her parent s in Cork Ward w as released only aft er her sist er provided proof t hat t he charges had been vacat ed
Com m unit y m em bers and advocacy groups rallied behind Ward,
without partners, and communitieswithout leaders.
Thiscrackdown isnot limited to Latinos? it isreaching into Irish, Italian, and other immigrant communitiesthat once felt insulated. Fear now shadows Irish cultural life: attendance at dances, Gaelic sporting events, and social gatheringshas fallen as people worry that ICEraidscould follow them even into those safe spaces.
The storiesare heartbreaking One Irish grandfather in New York, here for more than 30 years, hasalready lost the Social Security and Medicare benefitshe spent a lifetime earning. Another man chose to self-deport, terrified of being shipped to a remote detention facility he compared to a concentration camp. In some cases, both parentshave been taken, leaving familiesscrambling for lawyersand guardianship arrangements
Adding to the alarm, the administration hasrevived denaturalization efforts? a program that can strip naturalized Americans of their citizenship. Once reserved for extreme cases, advocateswarn that even a clerical mistake on an immigration form filled out decades ago could now be used to take away what was once considered permanent and secure: U.S. citizenship itself.
Thisis not just a policy debate? it isa moral one Families who built their lives here, who trusted the government?s word, are now being torn apart. A system once grounded in fairnessand humanitarian discretion has become a machine of fear and uncertainty.
Asone advocate put it: ?These people kept their end of the bargain Now the government hasbroken itspromise?
organizing prot est s and raising aw areness about her case. Her sit uat ion underscored t he challenges faced by long-t erm legal resident s w it h old and resolved legal issues w hen re-ent ering t he count ry
John McNally
Our frequent Cont ribut ing Writ er is Insight ful and w ell t raveled. He is also an Irish Com m unit y act ivist and organizer
Cliona Ward,
Irish Im m igrat ion Resources
Com piled by John McNally
Where t o get help In
general, Irish Consulat es and Depart m ent of Foreign Affairs and Trade provides consular assist ance.
New York Super Law yer
Brian O?Dw yer , A long-t im e advocat e for im m igrant s?right s and founder t he Em erald Isle
Im m igrat ion Cent er, w hich is t he largest Irish im m igrant cent er in t he Unit ed St at es In it s 25 years of exist ence, t he cent er has helpedt housands of Irish m en and w om en as t hey im m igrat ed
t o New York Cit y The cent er also serves as a focal point for t he advocacy of Irish im m igrant causes. ht t ps:/ / brianodw yer.com
Fiona
McEnt ee
McEnt ee cam e t o t he US from Dublin as a st udent in 2002 and in 2009 st art ed t he McEnt ee Law Group is an im m igrant -founded law firm focusing exclusively on im m igrat ion law Wit h offices in Chicago and Mem phis, t he firm serves client s across all 50 st at es and int ernat ionally It s services include em ploym ent -based and
Here are t w o m ore exam ples of Irish-born im m igrant s w ho have been im pact ed by U.S. im m igrat ion enforcem ent
The first case individual w as det ained and deport ed aft er an ICE raid and anot her w ho self-deport ed due t o his precarious legal st at us
Det ained and Deport ed: The Case of Hughie Ant ony Odonoghue
Hughie Ant ony Odonoghue, a 25-year-old Irish nat ional, w as deport ed t o Ireland on January 17, 2025, by U S Im m igrat ion and Cust om s Enforcem ent (ICE). Odonoghue had originally ent ered t he Unit ed St at es in August 2021 under t he Visa Waiver Program but overst ayed his aut horized period of adm ission
His case cam e t o t he at t ent ion of im m igrat ion aut horit ies follow ing his arrest by local law enforcem ent in Braint ree, Massachuset t s, in Oct ober 2023, for larceny from an elderly disabled person. Subsequent ly, in Decem ber 2023, he w as convict ed of larceny, conspiracy, and hom e im provem ent fraud in Concord Dist rict Court He received a one-year suspended sent ence, t hree years of probat ion, and w as ordered t o pay $30,000 in rest it ut ion
Upon his release from local cust ody, Odonoghue w as t ransferred t o ICE's Enforcem ent and Rem oval Operat ions (ERO) During his det ent ion, it w as discovered t hat he had an ext ensive crim inal hist ory in Ireland, including four
Fiona McEnt ee
Dublin Nat ive, US At t orney
fam ily-based im m igrat ion, invest or and ent repreneur visas, DACA support , deport at ion defense, and visas and green cards. w w w.m cent eelaw.com
act ive arrest w arrant s for assault causing harm , failure t o appear, careless driving, and a sum m ary offense ICE officials st at ed t hat Odonoghue represent ed a t hreat t o public safet y, leading t o his rem oval from t he Unit ed St at es
Self-Deport ed:
The Case of Mat t hew Morrison
Mat t hew Morrison, a 69-year-old form er m em ber of t he Irish Republican Arm y (IRA), self-deport ed t o Ireland in July 2025 aft er living in t he Unit ed St at es for four decades Morrison, w ho had been residing in Missouri and w orking as a psychiat ric nurse, m ade t he decision t o leave due t o fears of being det ained by ICE under t he Trum p adm inist rat ion
Originally from Derry, Morrison had a polit ically charged im m igrat ion hist ory. He had been grant ed a reprieve from deport at ion during t he Clint on adm inist rat ion along w it h ot her form er IRA prisoners as a gest ure t o support t he Nort hern Ireland peace process How ever, t his did not provide a pat hw ay t o U S cit izenship, leaving him w it h an uncert ain legal st at us t hat required regular check-ins w it h im m igrat ion aut horit ies and renew al of his w ork perm it s.
Wit h his w ork aut horizat ion set t o expire in Oct ober 2025 and height ened concerns about im m igrat ion enforcem ent , Morrison feared he could be det ained during one of his rout ine check-ins and ult im at ely deport ed Cit ing his age and healt h issues, he expressed a desire t o avoid dying in an ICE det ent ion cent er His decision t o "self-deport " highlight s t he anxiet ies faced by im m igrant s w it h precarious legal st at uses in t he Unit ed St at es. He left behind his adult children and grandchildren in t he U.S.
ED NOTE: We used AI t o find t hese final t w o cont rast ing exam ples. The first seem s just ified and t he second qquit e sad. Let 's hope a bet t er less draconian balance ret urns t o ICE soon
San Francisco to Host Discussion on the Future of Ireland with MP John Finucane
A public event focusing on the future of Ireland, featuring Member of Parliament John Finucane, isscheduled to take place in San Francisco later this month The "Irish Unity People's Assembly: Diaspora - San Francisco" will be held on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at the United Irish Cultural Center.
This event ispart of a broader initiative called the Commission on the Future of Ireland, which wasestablished by the Irish political party Sinn Féin. The commission aimsto engage in a wide-ranging, grassrootsconsultation with people in Ireland and internationally about the potential for a united Ireland.
The core mission of the Commission on the Future of Ireland is to foster a public dialogue on various aspectsof a potential new constitutional arrangement on the island of Ireland. This includes discussionsaround the economy, healthcare, social policies, and the rightsof all communities. The commission has been holding a seriesof "People's Assemblies" across Ireland and in other countriesto gather diverse perspectives
on this topic.
The commission'swork isaccessible to the public through the official Sinn Féin website, which serves asits primary online platform. This site provides reportsfrom past assembliesand outlines the commission'sobjectives Event-specific information, such asfor the upcoming San Francisco assembly, is being promoted through platforms like Eventbrite by "Friends of Sinn Féin," an international support network for the party.
It isworth noting that other political partiesand civic groups in Ireland have also initiated conversations about the nation'sfuture. The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) hasestablished a "New Ireland Commission" to engage citizens, including those from unionist communities, in a dialogue about the future. Additionally, a civic organization named "Ireland's Future" has been actively campaigning for new constitutional arrangementsand has held its own events to this end
The upcoming event in San Francisco with John Finucane MP isa direct extension of the Sinn Féin-led Commission on the Future of Ireland, offering the Irish diaspora in the Bay Area an opportunity to participate in this ongoing conversation
Literary Showcase
Ir ish M usic: News& Reviews
CRAICiin the Stone
Coming to FULLERTON? and we?re bringing the full concert experience to one of the most beautiful venues in Southern California!
The Muckenthaler Cultural Center (a.k.a. TheMuck), this isyour perfect excuse. Thisstunning 100-year-old mansion and its lush groundsare home to a 250-seat outdoor amphitheater, where over two dozen world-class concertsare held each year Trust us? once you?ve been, you?ll wonder why you didn? t come sooner. It?struly one of the best placesto enjoy live music of all kinds, right here in the heart of Fullerton. We?re thrilled to return to a proper theater stage next Thursday, September 18, for a special night of Celtic music, culture, and celebration! Joining us will be the McNulty Irish Dancersand special guest bagpiper Jeff Cullen, bringing even more energy to what promisesto be an unforgettable evening
Whether you?ve been with us since our early days at The Chance Theater in Anaheim, or you?ve only seen uson the big festival stagesacross California? or at the Fremont Street Experieince in Vegas? thisis your chance to see CRAICin the STONEin an intimate, magical setting. We?re celebrating ?Halfway to St Paddy?s Day?, so
expect a night of fiery Celtic tunes, dance, and tradition? infused with the rocking twist we?re known for Thursday, September 18
The Muckenthaler Cultural Center, Fullerton, Outdoor amphitheater with seating for 250
Tickets: Open seating ? [GET THEM HERE] or call 714-738-6595. $35/$20 for members
Come Early to Picnic
Beer & wine available for purchase (but hey, bring your Guinnessjust in case).
The mansion?s art gallery will be open before the show and during intermission.
Plenty of free parking on the grounds. Don? t miss thisspecial night of Irish & Scottish spirit, music, and dance in one of the most enchanting venues around, www.craicinthestone
Ireland's Hidden Gems
St . St ephen's Green In Dublin
ED NOTE:
The Hidden Gem s feat ure t his m ont h is a bit odd. St . St ephen's Green in Dublin is very visible and m ost of our readers have heard of it . The Green as Dubliner 's call it , is Locat ed in t he heart of Dublin and fam ous t hroughout t he w orld How ever, alm ost all Am ericans visit ors t o Ireland skip it . Also, t he hist ory of t his beaut iful urban park and it s m onum ent s are know n t o very few people We love it so w e decided t o present our readers w it h t his seem ingly cont radict ory feat ure
An Int roduct ion t o Hhe Green ?
Dublin's Enduring Oasis
To st ep int o St . St ephen's Green is t o cross a t hreshold bet w een t w o w orlds At it s m ain ent rance, t he grand Fusiliers' Arch st ands as a sent inel at t he head of Graft on St reet , one of Dublin's m ost vibrant and clam orous com m ercial t horoughfares. Beyond it , t he cit y's energet ic pulse gives w ay t o a profound and w ell m aint ained t ranquilit y. The 22-acre park is an oasis of "green calm " It is a m et iculously designed sanct uary t hat serves as t he cit y's enduring heart and lungs. It is not m erely a park but a cent ral charact er in Dublin's long and com plex st ory, a public st age w here t he nat ion's hist ory, cult ure, and daily life have been played out for cent uries
For t he visit or, t he experience is one of im m ediat e sensory cont rast The park's perim et er is heavily fort ified w it h over 750 t rees, a deliberat e arboreal buffer designed t o shelt er t he int erior from t he noise and pollut ion of t he surrounding cit y. The effect is a space defined as m uch by w hat it excludes as by w hat it cont ains. It is Dublin's shared living room , a place w here office w orkers picnic on sunny aft ernoons, st udent s lounge on t he grass, and t ourist s (m ost ly Europeans and Asians) m eander along 3 5 kilom et ers of accessible pat hw ays.
This role as a prem ier public space is int ernat ionally recognized; in 2024, St . St ephen's Green received a Green Flag aw ard, a prest igious benchm ark for t he highest st andards in park m anagem ent and
The m ain ent rance, Fusiliers' Arch st ands as a sent inel at t he head of Graft on St reet
environm ent al sust ainabilit y To w alk it s pat hs is t o t race t he cit y's evolut ion? from a m edieval m arsh t o a revolut ionary bat t leground, and finally, t o t he Vict orian m ast erpiece t hat endures t oday.
The Medieval Marsh
The st ory of St . St ephen's Green begins not w it h m anicured law ns, but w it h a w ild, m arshy com m on on t he fringes of m edieval Dublin It s nam e originat es from a 13t h-cent ury church and an associat ed leper hospit al dedicat ed t o Saint St ephen, locat ed nearby. For cent uries, t his unt am ed land, st ret ching t ow ards t he River Dodder, served t he pract ical needs of t he cit y's inhabit ant s as a grazing ground for livest ock It also possessed a m uch darker charact er, serving as a sit e for public punishm ent s, including w it ch burnings and public hangings, a grim form of civic t heat re far rem oved from t he park's present -day serenit y.
The 17t h Cent ury Enclosure
In 1663, t he Dublin Cit y Assem bly, seeking t o generat e m uch-needed revenue, m ade a decision t hat w ould forever alt er t he landscape. They enclosed a cent ral area of 27 acres t o be preserved as a park and sold t he surrounding 90-plus plot s t o developers. This act m arked t he beginning of t he Green's t ransform at ion from a nat ural com m on t o a planned urban square. A fascinat ing det ail of t his early developm ent w as t he requirem ent t hat each t enant plant six sycam ore t rees along t he new park w all
The Georgian Prom enade
The 18t h cent ury saw t he area around t he Green blossom int o Dublin's m ost fashionable dist rict . The opening of Graft on St reet in 1708 and Daw son St reet in 1723, coupled w it h t he const ruct ion of m agnificent Georgian t ow nhouses, cem ent ed it s st at us as t he cit y's social epicent re The park it self becam e an exclusive out door salon The t ree-lined w alk along t he nort hern perim et er w as fam ously dubbed t he "Beaux Walk," a verit able cat w alk w here Dublin's high societ y paraded in t heir finery Ot her pat hs acquired t heir ow n dist inct charact ers: t he French Walk t o t he w est , Monk's Walk t o t he east , and Leeson's Walk t o t he sout h.
The Privat e Park
This t raject ory of increasing exclusivit y culm inat ed in a cont roversial act of privat izat ion in t he 19t h cent ury By t he early 1800s, t he park had fallen int o a st at e of neglect , it s w alls broken and it s t rees in poor condit ion. In 1814, cont rol w as handed over t o a com m ission represent ing t he local householders. They undert ook significant im provem ent s, replacing t he dilapidat ed w all w it h t he ornat e Vict orian railings t hat st ill st and t oday and plant ing new t rees and shrubs How ever, t hese im provem ent s cam e at a cost t o t he public The com m issioners declared t he Green a privat e park, accessible only t o t he w ealt hy resident s w ho could afford t o rent a key This m ove w as "w idely resent ed" by t he general populace, as it direct ly cont ravened t he spirit , if not t he let t er, of t he 1635 law t hat had prom ised t he Green for t he use of all cit izens. For over 60 years, t he m ajorit y of Dubliners w ere locked out of t heir ow n cent ral park, a civic grievance t hat set t he st age for one of t he cit y's great est act s of public philant hropy
The Guinness Gift ? Lord Ardilaun's Vision for a Public Park
Who was Lord Ardilaun?
The m an w ho w ould resolve t his long-st anding civic grievance w as Sir Art hur Edw ard Guinness, lat er 1st Baron Ardilaun It is crucial t o dist inguish him from his fam ous great -grandfat her, t he original Art hur Guinness w ho founded t he St . Jam es's Gat e Brew ery in 1759. Lord Ardilaun w as a prom inent businessm an, philant hropist , and Conservat ive Unionist polit ician. His connect ion t o St . St ephen's Green w as deeply personal; he had grow n up in Iveagh House, his
fam ily's st at ely hom e locat ed on t he park's sout hern edge, and had w it nessed first hand it s decline and privat izat ion He hailed from a fam ily w hose nam e w as already synonym ous w it h ext raordinary generosit y t ow ards Dublin, a t radit ion he w ant ed t o cont inue in spect acular fashion
The Act of Philant hropy
In 1877, Sir Art hur m ade a t ransform at ive offer t o t he cit y He proposed t o purchase t he Green from t he householders' com m ission, pay off all it s out st anding debt s, and ret urn it t o t he public, free for all, forever His init iat ive led t o t he passing of a special Act of Parliam ent , t he Saint St ephen's Green (Dublin) Act 1877, w hich form ally t ransferred t he ow nership and m anagem ent of t he park t o t he Com m issioners of Public Works (t he forerunner of t oday's Office of Public Works, or OPW), ensuring it w ould be m aint ained as a public resource in perpet uit y.
The Grand Vict orian Redesign
Lord Ardilaun's vision ext ended far beyond sim ply unlocking t he gat es. He personally financed a com plet e and m agnificent redesign of t he park, a project cost ing an est im at ed £20,000? a colossal sum at t he t im e He t ook an act ive role in t he planning, w orking w it h principal designer William Sheppard t o creat e t he quint essent ial Vict orian park landscape t hat visit ors enjoy t oday
The Reopening
Aft er t hree years of ext ensive w ork, St . St ephen's Green w as reopened t o t he public on July 27, 1880. In a gest ure of hum ilit y, Lord Ardilaun insist ed t here be no form al cerem ony. The delight of Dublin's cit izens w as palpable. The Daily Express new spaper capt ured t he m ood t he follow ing day, declaring t he new ly t ransform ed park "a truly delightful one and cannot fail to impress every visitor to the Green with the incalculable benefits which such an oasis must bestow on the city and its people".
Lord Ardilaun's gift w as a defining act of civic philant hropy from a leading m em ber of t he Anglo-Irish est ablishm ent It creat ed a beaut iful, dem ocrat ic space for all Dubliners
Mid-September, we will conclude this feature with more history and a look at the statues, monuments and more
THE IRISH ECHO
The Cent re w ill be fully open from 15t h March unt il 3rd Novem ber
Opening hours: 10am t o 6pm in June t o Sept em ber 10am t o 5pm in Oct ober and Novem ber
Last adm ission is 45 m inut es before closing
The last guided t our at 1 hour before closing Wint er m ont hs ? available for group books
Adult : ?5.00
Group/ Senior: ?4.00
Child/ St udent : ?3 00
Fam ily: ?13.00
Count y Mayo. Ireland Telephone: (00353) 046-9407250: ht t ps:/ / herit ageireland.ie/ ceide-fields w w w.irishst ew podcast .com
Buttermilk Fried Chicken with red cabbage, rocket, tender stem broccoli, pomegranate peas and a harrissa curry yoghurt dressing Serves 2
You will need
The Meat
6 Chicken t highs (off or on t he bone)
1 cup of but t erm ilk
1 t ablespoon of harissa
1/ 2 t easpoon of salt
1/ 2 t easpoon of Whit e pepper
1/ 2 t easpoon of curry pow der
Whisk t oget her t he harissa, salt , pepper, and curry pow der along w it h
t he but t erm ilk unt il it dissolves, t hen place t he chicken int o t he m ix and refrigerat e overnight or at least a few hours before cooking.
The Coat ing
2 Cups of all-purpose flour
1 t ablespoon of onion pow der
1 t ablespoon of garlic pow der
1 t ablespoon of dried m ixed herbs
The Salad
1/ 4 red cabbage ( finely shredded)
4 handfuls of rocket
IRISH CHEF PAUL WATTERS
"With this Recipe, I wanted to try something different with New ideas and flavours. So I decided to recreate another takeaway classic. I hope you enjoy!"
8 t ender-st em broccoli
8 cherry t om at oes (halved)red or yellow
2 Handfuls of peas
2 Handfuls of pom egranat e seeds
The Dressing
8 t ablespoons of nat ural yoghurt
1 t ablespoon of curry pow der
1 t easpoon of t urm eric
Salt and pepper t o season
Irish Chef
Paul Wat t ers
has been nam ed Spokes-Chef for Mr Franks Spices. The popular Irish chef is w ell know t o our readers for his recipes and com m ent ary, .
The Method
To make this I recommend also making the dressing in advance this way it stayscold and keepsin the fridge until you are ready for it
First off, preheat the oven to 180 degrees, 350°F. Remove the chicken from the fridge and gather the coating mix. Gently remove the chicken thighsone by one and place them into the flour mix and coat them in the flour well, then shake off any excess flour (my tip: put into a sieve and shake).
Then bring a frying pan to a medium to high heat, add a drizzle of oil, carefully place the chicken in the pan and cook for five minutes on each side. Transfer to an oven-proof dish and cook for a further ten minutes.
Whilst the Chicken iscooking in the oven, bring a medium-sized pot of salted water to the boil and add the broccoli. Cook for three minutes, add the peas, and cook for two more minutes. Turn off the heat and strain through a colander.
Check your chicken; it should be cooked, and remove it from the oven.
You are now ready to present the dish, so gather two large platesand with the red cabbage and rocket, if you want, you can lightly dress with a little oil, then place onto the centre of the plate, sprinkle the peas around the plate, followed by the pomegranate seeds, then the broccoli.
Place the chicken on top of the Salad. Remove the dressing from the fridge and spoon the desired amount on top of the chicken. Sprinkle a little harrissa on the dressing and around the plate for an added touch. Sprinkle a little curry powder and more harrissa around the plate, and garnish with a few picked coriander leaves.
The Irish Literary Showcase
Last Light of The Midnight Sun
By Greg Pat rick
?One should say before sleeping:
I have lived many lives. I have been a slave and a prince. Many a beloved has sat upon my knee and I have sat upon the knees of many a beloved. Everything that has been shall be again.?
? W.B. Yeat s
PART III
?My Lord. Hold!? t he bard falt ered.
?St and aside bard! Make Way!? t he king?s cham pion arrogant ly pushed past .
But t he horses shied as t hey beheld a row of dist ant w arriors hundreds st rong draw int o bat t le array.
?Hold back!", t he bard cried out .
?No! Forw ard!? t he king?s cham pion bellow ed.
The bard cried out aft er t hem unheeded ?
His w as not t he st rings of a m arionet t e but t hat of a bard. He could not draw t hem back?
His heart sw elled w it h pride at t heir valour yet broke at t heir inevit able sacrifice. Now he t oo w as set .
The ash t rees seem ed t o hold vigil like ret ainers w at ching over t heir fallen lord. Like a circle of list eners aw ait ing his song glow ering under t im e and t he w eight of w orld and sky. Words are as im m ort al as t he gods. They endure t hough m en fall t o t he sw ords and dream s t o t he flam e. One can kill a m an but not his w ords for t hey bear haunt ing echo and choir in m any heart s before t he end. Like a sigh of w ind t hat ripples over a green canopy of t rees t ill it reaches t he lim it and passes beyond w here t he land ends.
The song is ever t he sam e only so m any st ories really, but t he w ords expressed as t he heart sees fit . Welcom ing t he disenchant ed like a prodigal heir back t hough his faces have changed
Cold soulless logic:
The invader knew t hat t o slay a king or t ake a banner is t o t ake t he head from an arm y but t o dest roy a bard is t o t ake
The Third of Three Parts
t he heart from a people and t heir w arriors As t he invader underst ood w hen t hey cut t he revered oaks: not hing can st and or grow w it hout deep and st rong root s Separat e a new generat ion from t heir elders and pride in ancest ral cult ure and t he people are easy t o subjugat e and dispirit by an occupying pow er and t heir new w ays Disenchant t hem and you w ill subjugat e t hem . They w ill forget t hat t hey w ere once a free and proud people and only ?know ? t hat t he overseer on t he horse w as ?alw ays t here? t o rule and t ake
?Behold a t rait or t o t he people ? The king?s m an announced ?Those are your w ords not m ine? t he bard answ ered His head w as pulled roughly by t he hair ont o a block and t he duke nodded in direct ion of t he execut ioner and faced t he people gloat ingly as a collect ive m ournful sigh w as heard Then he looked back for t here seem ed som e hesit at ion
The m asked ogre of a m an lay fallen w here a longbow arrow felled him .
A dism ount ed archer st ood and salut ed in passing t he m yst erious shapes of m en and dark horses m at erialising from t he m ist - enshrouded m oor Arrayed against t he dusk fire w as a band of horsem an advancing a m ere t w elve abreast draw ing blades in unison?
?Now bard w e sing for t hee We have a king t o avenge and a bard t o free.? a rebel chieft ain declared.
Their bat t le cries arose sonorously and w it h brandished sw ords upraised t hey advanced like hunt sm en in t he t w ilight !
?In t he nam e of t he right ful king! Make w ay! We ransom him in st eel!?, t he chieft ain cried.
Bow m en st ood behind t he dark horsem an and exchanged arrow s w it h archers on t he bat t lem ent s The duke unsheat hed his ow n sw ord t o slay t he bard personally and blades gleam ed in reply as if w it h silver fire ignit ed by t he pale sun. His sw ord slashed at air blinded by t he glim m er of varnished blades as t he reviled duke w ent dow n in a flight of arrow s and fury of sw ord st rokes His last sight in t his w orld t he bard?s chill expressionless eyes
The garrison soldiers ran t o int ercept t he knight s, but sw ords w ielded w it h vengeful pride by w arriors w ho w ere honour-bound t o avenge king and land clove t hem dow n dism issively
The crow d dispersed and som e w ho had hazarded t o t hw art t he usurper ?s m en disengaged as t he knight s closed in and again t he pat h over t he hills lay open and t he song begins again as if it never ended
By t he last light of t he m idnight sun, he em braced his m use again like a duet and found again his song.
Newport Beach Film Festival & Irish Spotlight
Join t he New port Beach Film Fest ival for World Prem ieres, t he Irish Spot light and m uch m ore. Full coverage w it h dat es and det ails in our Oct ober issue :
The 2025 New port Beach Film Fest ival runs from Oct ober 16-23, 2025, including t he Irish Spot light
Specific dat es and t im es for individual Irish Spot light screenings w ill likely be released closer t o t he fest ival dat e, so you should check t he official New port Beach Film Fest ival w ebsit e for t he m ost up-t o-dat e schedule and t icket inform at ion
Com poser Spot light - Honoring Finneas
Monday, Oct ober 21, 2024 7:00 PM PDT
Lido Theat er New port Beach, CA
World-renow ned singer-songw rit er, record
An Irish Christmas
Ret urns
Aft er t heir 2024 season hiat us, t he Kerry Irish Product ions
Holiday spect acular Irish Dance and Music st ages-show s are com ing back t o SoCAL
NEW LOCATION FOR 2025 TOUR
An Irish Christ m as Decem ber 14, 2025
Doors: 1:00 pm / Show : 2:00 pm
Ticket Prices:$43, - $80
Full feat ure next com ing soon!.
producer, and act or Finneas O'Connell w ill be honored at t he exclusive New port Beach Film Fest ival's, "Com poser Spot light - Honoring Finneas."
This excit ing evening celebrat es Finneas? except ional cont ribut ions t o m usic, film , and t elevision The event w ill feat ure an int im at e discussion w here Finneas shares insight s int o his creat ive process, follow ed by a special screening of clips from t he highly ant icipat ed t elevision show , ?Disclaim er,? show casing his w ork as a com poser The evening culm inat es w it h an aw ard cerem ony honoring Finneas's out st anding achievem ent s Do not m iss t his unique opport unit y t o sit dow n w it h one of t oday?s m ost influent ial art ist s
IRISH ARTS & ENTERTAINM ENT CALENDAR By Date OnGoing Trivia & West Coast Celtic
Sundays in September
Shows are on the 7, 14, 21 & 28
Starting at 4:00pm
KEN O'MALLEY
Irish balladeer, enjoy an afternoon/evening of story and song from one of the masters...
Appearing in Redlands, CA @The Three Stags Irish Pub www.thethreestagspub.com
PUBLIC SERVICE & IRISH COMMUNITY LINKS and LISTINGS are FREE!
Business and Pub Calendar list ings are FREE for Advert isers! Send us your list ings: Must include, Day & Dat e Nam e of t he Event or Group
Where & Cont act
Only $90. for t hree m ont hs for Non Advert isers! For m ore info on t his offer and our Media Kit
Em ail: irishm issive@gm ail.com
Authentic Irish charm and hospitality, offering a fusion of traditional Irish and American favorites.They have live music seven days a week, including Celtic bands.They were named the Number One Irish Pub in California in 2020 by IrishCentral.com and in 2016 by BuzzFeed. www.The ShamrockIrishPubandEatery.com 39252 Winchester Rd Ste 145, Murrieta, CA
IRISH ARTS & ENTERTAINM ENT
Usually, we have been updating the Irish Artsaround the middle of/or 15th or 16th of each month so look for another issue in 10 days. We will also update the Calendar again and do a BLAST to all subscribersusully on Wednesday afternoons Then again on Sunday evening (or possibly Monday by Noon) There isa lot going on for one issue and thisweek will be an off week for us.
Thanks, Jim McDonough
West Coast 's Celt ic & Irish Links
Sacramento, CA
Sean Finnegan'sPub: Located in Old Sacramento Waterfront, this pub is housed in a historic building dating back to the 1800s It offersGuinness, Harp Lager, Irish whiskey, and an authentic Irish pub atmosphere with a Wild West twist15
O'Malley's Irish Pub: Family-owned and located at 1109 2nd Street, known for Irish fare like Irish tacos and a solid selection of Irish drinksincluding Guinness345
Malt & Mash: Located at 715 K Street, boasts 150 typesof whiskey and 15 beerson tap, with a lively atmosphere5
Blarney Stone: Known for itslarge selection of draftsand live bands, located at 8906 Greenback Lane5
Pitch and Fiddle: An Irish restaurant and pub with many TVs for sportsand Irish-inspired food like corned beef tacos5.
De Vere'sIrish Pub: Praised for its atmosphere, Irish stew, and range of beersand whiskeys. Offers American and Irish comfort food like shepherd's pie and bangers& mash
San Francisco, CA
The Irish Bank at 10 Mark Lane isa popular spot
Geary Street hostsmany Irish barsincluding : Pig n' Whistle Abbey Tavern, Ireland's32, and Buckshot (formerly Pat O'Shea's)
Plough and Stars in the Richmond district isnoted for live music and a friendly atmosphere Kell's (a chain) and recommended for live Irish music.
O'Neill's on Third Street offersHarp and Guinness on tap, catering to ballpark crowdsand locals
Portland, OR
KellsIrish Pub: A Northwest institution with hearty Irish fare, live music, and a large St Patrick?s Day celebration They also have a brew pub in Northwest Portland
Paddy?sBar and Grill:
Portland?soldest Irish bar, known for a huge liquor selection, traditional Irish dishes, and live Irish music and dance events
T.C. O?Leary?s
Combines Irish hospitality with local ingredients, offerslive Irish music several daysa week, and a good selection of Irish drinks.
Whelan?s Irish Pub:
Family-friendly with live Irish music, classic Irish food, and a good whiskey selection
Moon and Sixpence: An English pub with one of the best Irish music sessions, On Mondays in Portland.
Seattle, WA Sorry to say, no luck in our search so far, Check back
Reno, NV
Ceol Irish Pub: Established in 2007 on California Avenue, it isa cozy neighborhood pub with a full bar, extensive whiskey selection, and the "best Guinnesspour" in Northern Nevada It hoststraditional Irish music and community events
These venuesoffer a variety of authentic Irish drinks, food, and live Irish music, making them all great spots to recommend and visit. irishmissive@gmail.com
Ir ish Film : News&
Update On Peaky Blinders Film Sequel...
TheImmortal
Man?
Good thingstake time; that has certainy been the theme of the upcoming Peaky Blinders film . The film hasbeen delayed a few timesfrom the original speculation of release for Christmasof 2024.
The eagerly anticipated "Peaky Blinders" film, which has been operating under the working title, "The Immortal Man," is set to bring the iconic Shelby family saga to the big screen While an official, definitive title has yet to be publicly confirmed, "The Immortal Man" hasbeen widely used in production reportsand is strongly rumored to be the final name
Cillian Murphy will reprise his acclaimed role asThomasShelby .Joining him are several familiar faces from the series, including Sophie Rundle asAda Thorne (née Shelby), Ned Dennehy as Charlie Strong ,Packy Leeas, Johnny Dogs, Stephen Graham as Hayden Stagg, and Ian Peck as Curly.
The film will also introduce new talents to the "Peaky Blinders" universe, with confirmed additions such as Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Roth, Jay Lycurgo, and Barry Keoghan in new roles
Asof early June 2025, there isno official theatrical or Netflix streaming release date for the "Peaky Blinders" movie. However, speculation points to a potential late 2025 release on Netflix.
Filming for the movie began in July of 2024 and wrapped up in December 2024,, All of these clues align with a 2025 release window.
While Netflix isdistributing the film, it'salso being made in association with BBCFilm, suggesting a potential initial theatrical run before its streaming debut.
Irish Actors Barry Keoghan and Cillian Murphy
The basic plot of "The Immortal Man" isconfirmed to be set during World War II, which makes for an explosive new chapter for the Shelby family. Creator Steven Knight has stated that the film will be a "full-on Peaky Blindersat war," with both the country and the family facing immense conflict It'sexpected to delve into the effectsof the global war on the underground crime scene and explore the end of the British Empire, a significant historical context that will undoubtedly impact Tommy Shelby'sjourney Knight has also teased that the film aimsto "shock, delight, and horrify" audiences, and that it "won't be the end" of the Peaky Blindersstory.
Filming for "The Immortal Man" primarily took place in the West Midlands of the UK, including Digbeth Loc Studios in Birmingham and locations aroundSt Helens, Merseyside. The original series also extensively filmed in Leeds and Liverpool, so it'slikely the film continued to utilize the gritty, period-appropriate backdropsof these industrial cities
The film waswritten by the creator of the original series, Steven Knight. Knight isalso a producer on the film, alongside Cillian Murphy, Patrick Holland, and Guy Heeley Other executive producersinclude Tom Harper (who also directsthe film), David Kosse, Jamie Glazebrook, Caryn Mandabach, and Andrew Warren.
LATEST NEWSON KNEECAP:
By Jim McDonough
USTOUR CANCELED!
The Irish Rap Trio Kneecap CancelsU S Tour Amid Legal Troublesand Political Maelstrom
The Belfast-based Irish rap and hip-hop group Kneecap hascanceled their scheduled tour of the United States, a decision that comesamidst a confluence of legal challengesin the United Kingdom and escalating condemnation from conservative circleson both sidesof the Atlantic While initial speculation pointed towards visa complications, the band hasclarified that the primary reason for the cancellation is an impending court hearing in London involving one of itsmembers
The tour, which was set to kick off in October, was called off due to the proximity of a court date for band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara He isfacing allegationsof displaying a flag in support of a proscribed organization, Hezbollah, during a concert.
Compounding their legal woes, the band did encounter significant issueswith their U.S. work visas. Following a controversial performance at the Coachella Valley Music and ArtsFestival in April, where they projected messagescritical of Israel, including "F**k Israel, Free Palestine," their booking sponsor, Independent Artist Group, withdrew itssupport. The loss of a sponsor invalidated their previouswork visas, and while they were reportedly in the process of securing a new one, the pressing legal mattersin the UK have now halted their American tour plans
Kneecap has become a lightning rod for criticism from conservative figuresand organizationsfor a number of reasons:
Alleged Support for Militant Groups: One member was reportedly filmed shouting "Up Hamas, up Hezbollah" at a concert, leading to widespread condemnation The band has since denied supporting either organization and stated they condemn all attacks on civilians.
Inflammatory Rhetoric: The trio has also faced backlash for inflammatory statementsabout British politicians. One member allegedly said, "The only good Tory isa dead Tory Kill your local MP," during a performance The band hasissued an apology to the familiesof two murdered British MPsin relation to these comments
Band Name and Republican Sympathies: The group'sname, "Kneecap," isa direct reference to a form of paramilitary
Kneecap consist s of t hree m em bers: Mo Chara (Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh), Móglaí Bap (Naoise Ó Cairealláin) and DJPróvaí (J. J. Ó Dochart aigh) w ho oft en w ears t he Tri-Colour balaclava. He init ially w ore it t o disguise him self from his st udent s w hen t he band st art ed out , as he w as a t eacher.
punishment used in Northern Ireland during The Troubles, and their lyricsoften expressIrish republican sentiments.
Government Scrutiny:
The UK government previously blocked a music export grant that had been approved for the band, citing their political statements.
The convergence of these controversies hascreated a turbulent period for the rising Irish musical act, forcing the cancellation of their highly anticipated U S tour and placing them at the center of a heated debate over freedom of expression, political activism in music, and the boundaries of provocative art
Finally and probably the item giving them the most trouble; Kneecap's consistent, Pro-Palestinian Advocacy: Their vocal support for the Palestinian cause and sharp criticism of Israeli government policies have drawn accusationsof antisemitism
Sources
The official website for the film about the band is: www kneecapfilm com
- Instagram accounts: kneecap32, móglaí, and provaí
Let t er From t he
Publisher
Conclusion from page 2
St art ing next m ont h, w e w ill be bringing our readers a lot of new advert isers, changes and feat ures. We w ill be offering a CELTIC CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Mont hly Cont est Prizes and our Win Ticket s t o Ireland!
Det ails w ill be announced soon!
Our subscribers are im port ant t o us so you all w ill be receiving a series of quest ion over t he next couple m ont hs The result s w ill help us shape t he cont ent and scope of fut ure issues..
That ;sit for now , hope you enjoyed t his issue
HAPPY BELATED LABOR DAY!!!
Jim McDonough, Publisher
SUBSCRIBE& WIN!!
Did you know that in the past four years the Irish Arts& Entertainment hasgiven away THREEPAIRSof R/T Ticketsto Ireland on Aer Lingus? We have also given away well over 200 pairs of ticketsto Irish Concerts, Fairs, Theatre Perfomances aswell as Celtic Gift Packs, Flagsand Tote Bags and more just during the past 10 years!
PUB QUIZES & TRIVIA
Mondays
The Auld Dubliner
Every Monday w e host Trivia Night , gat her your friends and com e in t o com pet e and enjoy a pint 71 Pine St . Long Beach, CA w w w.aulddubliner.com
O'Brien's Irish Pub
Trivia Night s are Mondays and Wednesdays
Monday st art s at 8PM t ill 10:30PM
WED: 8PM t o 10PM Form a t eam or t ry t o form one at t he pub Play for cash prizes of $150. No ent ry fee 2226 Wilshire Sant a Monica, CA w w w.obriensla.com
Wednesdays
Ye Olde King's Head Brit ish Pub & Rest aurant Trivia in t he pub at 7:30pm 116 Sant a Monica Bl Sant a Monica, CA w w w.yeoldekingshead.com
Harp Irish Pub
Tw o Trivia Night s w w w.harpinn.com
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IRISH LANGUAGE An Ghaeilge
The View From Ireland Feat ure last year about t he Irish Language by our great friend and Irish Art s and Ent ert ainm ent colum nist Maurice Fit zpat rick really resonat ed w it h us. We use t he m ont hs of t he year in each issue but our collect ive Irish is very lim it ed.
In fact , w orking on t he folio (t he t op of each page) recent ly, I forgot t he w ord for Oct ober in Irish and had t o look it up. I found t his really int erest ing YouTube video and share t he link below.
m ast ered Digit al Market ing and w e can enhance your out reach for a very cost effect ive rat e.
The digit al age has been good t o us and w e have been able t o prosper and grow our subscriber base. We w ill have final det ails soon on our expansion plans and our Affiliat e Program s. We are also going t o enhance our Very Irish Perks and st art a new series of very excit ing Draw ings and Cont est s!
This m ont h, t hree event s are on t ap, t hen
t he Holidays are alm ost here and w e w ill be doing Special issues for Hallow een and for Christ m as!
Cont act us for a Special Offer: 951 216-1493
I w ould like t o change m y lack of Irish t oo so st art ing now and in fut ure issues, w e w ill be offering our readers a few w ords or phrases in our Mot her Language
Also, if you are in t he LA area,t he Celt ic Art s Cent er has ongoing Irish lessons As w e expand around t he US, w e w ill add m ore such links. More on t his project in com ing issues.
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