Focal scoir...the last word

Passing on the baton.

This is the last posting in my Publisher’s Blog as this week I give up my position of pubisher of the Belfast Media Group titles to concentrate on the job of group managing director. 

With a business park to run, newspapers on both sides of the  Atlantic, a thriving conference and events division and a new TV production company up and running, the Belfast Media Group has many challenges ahead. As Group managing director, I plan to meet them all head-on — with the help of our many friends. I’m handing on the baton to the great editorial team we’ve built up in our newspapers over the past decade. 

As we gear up for the 14^th annual Aisling Awards this Thursday night in the Europa, this is a perfect time to say ‘thank you’ to all those who visited the blog on the internet, posted comments and kept the faith. Go raibh maith agaibh.

John Ging on the way

The Aisling Awards has had a series of high-profile guests of honour but none involved in as perilous a role as the head of the United Nations relief agency in Gaza, John Ging. The Guardian reported earlier this month that his life is believed to be under threat from extremists in Gaza. The same report also describes him as "charasmatic".

I look forward to his contribution to this Thursday's Aisling Gala — the fourteenth — when we will salute the heroes of the new Belfast.

This interview with the BBC detailing the "horrific" situation in Gaza during the Israeli invasion of early 2009 underlines the enormity of the task he faces. "There is no military solution to this problem. In fact, this conflict is the result of political failure. That lies on the shoulders of all politicians and it's on their shoulders now to actually stop the fighting and get back to a political solution."

Treasures on the Falls and on our shelves

I picked up a beautiful bilingual brochure for the Bog Meadows — Cluain an Bhogaigh — in the Cultúrlann today, a joint publication of the Friends of the Bog Meadows and the Ulster Wildlife Trust (at the risk of being shouted at, someone should send one to the National Trust heroes on the Black Mountain so they can emulate).

The Bog Meadows also came up in my chat with young students here from London Metropolitan College, under the tutelage of Michael Corr from Ballymena, who have been undertaking a project focused on the Gaeltacht Quarter.

In just nine days, they've done a fabulous amount of work and have come up with some great ideas of how we can enhance and celebrate the road from the former Andersonstown Barracks (I note there's a design competition reannounced for this site but how can you have a design competition without knowing how the site is to be used — even the basic outline of use?) to Dunville Park.

The students had a great word for the many wonderful assets which they identified — most known to me and you — and put up on a map covering the entire wall of the offices of Fáilte Feirste Thiar, the Falls tourism group, on the falls: "Treasures". That sounds nice in Irish too: "Taiscí".

Bog Meadows is one such treasure but we discussed again the idea of having a festival which would kick off the day each spring with the sedge warbler completes its 4,000 mile journey from Senegal to the Bog Meadows; a marathon journey which the warbler has completed without fail for 5,000 years, touching down in the same west Belfast spot each year. A miracle and a treasure.

I have a video of Michael Corr (with genuine Falls barking dog in background) on the web and commend Forbairt Feirste for hosting this visit.

John Foley emails from Boston to say that Boston is the world's greatest marathon. It's the oldest (excluding the Greek early entry), I'll give him that, and also one of the hilliest. But to run in Boston you have to post a finishing time way beyond my abilities so I suspect I'll never get to test the truth of John's claim that it's Number Uno. But it has featured several times in this blog and also in a new book I've just read about long-distance runners, 'Going Long, Legends, Oddballs, Comebacks and Adventures. The Best Stories from Runner's World.' A wonderful read which does Boston full justice. (I buy these books on Amazon and would love to pass them on to our local libraries — the ones not being closed by the authorities — rather than have them gather dust on a shelf, or indeed to a reader on the Balcony. Shouldn't our libraries be asking amazon buyers to donate their read books?)

Ar ais arís

Tardy postings as the political goings-on in Ireland, most definitely including West Belfast and Louth head into the stratosphere, are unforgivable but so it goes.

In the meantime, with my first internet connection in several days I see the Irish Government is hanging tough and saying it won't negotiate on its 12.5 per cent corporation tax rate.

Everything the government has said to date has been balderdash. Every line in the sand they vowed not to cross has been crossed. So take it From the Balcony that they won't negotiate on the corporation tax rate only because no-one is negotiating with them. The EU and IMF are going to tell them what to do and they're going to take their medicine because they haven't a leg to stand on. Sovereignty, how are ye?

Marathon man

On the way out to the Staten Island starting point for the New York Marathon last Sunday, the firefighters called for a minute’s silence as our convoy trundled past the building site which is Ground Zero. Getting to the start of the marathon is as much an ordeal for the 45,000 participants as getting to the finish line itself, but it’s a bit of an advantage travelling with the police and fire department running clubs as they get to park closer to the starting line than anyone else.
Marathon day was also the first Sunday in yonks on which I’d gone to Mass — celebrated by Fr Brian Jordan, chaplain to the labour unions of New York. With the help of readers, I raised $2,100 for a Franciscan church in New York where Fr Jordan works with hard-pressed immigrant communities.
Fr Jordan has run 60 marathons in his time — and Belfast next May will make it 61.
He gathered the nervous marathoners round him in sub-zero temperatures for a Mass which was two-parts old-style kingdom hall and one-part new-age evangelism. In short, it was uplifting and inspirational — especially his promise that the Holy Spirit would intervene and ensure we didn’t stop even when we reached our lowest ebb.

Enthusiasm
And then we were off, over the two-mile bridge to the mainland and into a reception from the first wave of two million spectators.
In Brooklyn, my heart soared when I saw a man hold up a poster: ‘Beir bua. Maith Sibh go Léir.’ And with a Tricolour on my front, I was getting extra cheers from the Irish American onlookers. The extraordinary generosity of New Yorkers, their enthusiasm for this great race (contrast with Belfast where runners are consigned to the more barren stretches of the docks) makes it the world’s greatest marathon.
I had planned on a slow marathon pace but lost the run of myself (literally) when a four-hour pacemaker, holding aloft a stick with orange balloons so we could follow him, coasted past. I stayed on his tail for a full 23 miles before I blew up just short of Central Park and the finish line. The Holy Spirit and the dead were all called into commission to ensure I didn’t stop, however, and when I crossed the finish line after four hours and eight minutes, I whooped like a madman.
There is something special about completing a marathon — and anyone can do it as long as they train hard and remember that it’s a race of two halves: the first 20 and the last 6.2.

'When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced...'

Finally, got the evocative sermon of Fr Brian Jordan at our pre-marathon mass in New York online. Could we repeat a service like this — ecumenical? — at the Belfast race?

Certainly, I'm sure Fr Jordan would love to celebrate mass in the open air for the people of West Belfast. Put May in your ecclesiastical diary.

Shaking things up

Sinn Féin certainly has a knack for the dramatic. Just when morale was sinking inexorably lower in the South of Ireland, Gerry Adams announces he's going to make an entry into the Dáil  — if the constituents of Louth can be convinced that's a good idea.

When Sinn Féin first contested elections back in the eighties, there was much fearful chatter in the southern media of Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams standing south of the Border — and cleaning up. That never happened on the basis that Sinn Féin decided the new leadership in the Dáil would have to come from the South.

That never happened either, of course. And now, as the state stands on the precipice, the West Belfast MP is to cast the die again. There has been much talk of late of 'strategic interventions'. Alex Maskey pulling out of South Belfast to give Michelle Gildernew victory in Fermanagh-South Tyrone was one.

This is another. Time to fasten the seatbelts. Not for us Nordies; we are always prepared for a bumpy ride but for those in the South who have the Garda British Embassy mentality. And what exactly is that, I hear you ask. "Get back to the fucking North," the boys in blue guldered as they cracked the heads of protesters trying to reach the British Embassy in Dublin during the hunger strike of 1981. (There was never an apology for the brutality of that black day from the Dublin authorities. For the innocent protesters they pummeled, I mean, though an apology to the many democrats and republicans from the South also battered would certainly be in order too.)

The curse of Confucius indeed.

Seven Sorrowful mysteries

Just when you thought you'd seen it all, Easyjet at Gatwick pulled seven checked in passengers off the flight to Marrakech because the pilot reckoned he had too much weight on board to battle strong headwinds on the way down over Europe.

No volunteers came forward when Easyjet tried to entice them with the offer of £100 and a free hotel room so they called out the last seven who'd checked in, told them they weren't flying and that their bags would be removed from the hold. Now there's the first reason in a long time that I've seen as to why it's a good idea to check in online...and in plenty of time.

The rest of us stayed shamefully silent at this public execution, relieved that our delay was no longer than one hour.

And Marrakech, it is of course fascinating. Though our visit has coincided with another flare-up in the Western Sahara where Moroccan troops have laid into protesters ahead of this week's UN talk in New York between the sides. Morocco claims jurisdiction over the Western Sahara where a fight for independence has given way to a ceasefire, painfully slow negotiations and 'security' walls. Remind you of anywhere.

Joy of travelling

At Aldergrove Airport last night we were corraled into a bleak corner for a flight running 45 minutes late and addressed over a tannoy system last used in the jungles of Vietnam to call on the Yankee soldiers to surrender.

Either that or she was speaking in Russian for certainly not one word of her monologue could be understood.

This morning I am in an airport hotel at Gatwick where internet access is £4 for 30 minutes. That's the equivalent of £192 a day. About what you would expect to pay for basic broadband access to your home for a year.

Ah, the joys of travelling.

Aisling on stage

The night before this year's Aisling Awards, Aisling Ghéar will launch its newly-written play, An Aisling. (That's a lot of Aislings.)

Belfast Media Group multimedia photojournalist William Boyd has been talking to the lead actors Tony Devlin and Nuala Ní Néill about this contemporary work.

Reflecting a proud community

Recently, I met a senior civil servant who told me, without embarrassment, that potential investors can't be brought to West Belfast or Derry because on seeing those locations they wouldn't invest.

I was, as you'd expect horrified to find those views in currency in 2010 (if not surprised).

However, the Andersonstown News also has a role to play in reflecting the reality of life in West Belfast in a fair and balanced way, not glossing over real problems like inadequate policing and anti-social behaviour while making clear those who would destroy rather than build or a tiny, tiny minority.

It's not always easy to get the balance right and for us to serve our dual masters of the truth and news reporting.

There are things we could do better and we'll try to do so in partnership with some of those we met today: report from the start on one of the multi-faceted initiatives to combat crime which are led by the community; encourage more voices through op-ed articles on fraught issues such as suicide; report more comprehensively on the 'refusers', young people who have opted out of school in West Belfast; constantly monitor text messages (we get 700 a week and print 100) for gratuitous and provocative comment; report more thoroughly on the Integrated Services Initiative across West Belfast; and editorialise on the onslaught being suffered by our frontline community and youth services.

I'm pictured above outside Teach Basil with some of the warriors of our community sector — which has been the saving grace of West Belfast over the past 40 years — Angela Mervyn, Louise Brennan, Mairead McCafferty, Lianne Carlisle, Niall Enright, Aine McCabe and Jim Girvan.

It is not those who inflict the most...

CORK 1920 – “ENDURING THE MOST”


A Programme of Civic Events to Commemorate the 90TH Anniversary of the Deaths of Former Lord Mayors MacCurtain and McSwiney and of the Burning of Cork



This year marks the 90th Anniversary of the deaths of former Lord Mayors Tomás MacCurtain and Terence McSwiney. It is also the 90th Anniversary of the Burning of Cork. The events of 1920 are important in a national context, but carry even greater significance in terms of the civic and political history of Cork.

To commemorate this Anniversary, a Programme of Events has been scheduled to run next week –“CORK 1920: ENDURING THE MOST”. Details of the programme are given hereunder.

All the individual elements of the Programme are open to the public.



PROGRAMME OF EVENTS



8th November:

5.30 p.m. To formally launch the Programme, at the Ordinary Meeting of Council the Lord Mayor will read minutes from Corporation Meetings of the Time at which Lord Mayors McSwiney and MacCurtain officiated.



9th November:

11.00 a.m. Lord Mayor to formally launch a Public Exhibition by the City Archives and Cork Museum in Millennium Hall.



11.00 – 3.00 City Archives and Cork Museum Exhibition open to the public & Continuous Screening of films by Scoil Oilibhéir in Millennium Hall Foyer.



10th November:

11.00 – 3.00 City Archives and Cork Museum Exhibition open to the public & Continuous Screening of films by Scoil Oilibhéir in Millennium Hall Foyer.



11th November:

11.00 – 15.00 City Archives and Cork Museum Exhibition open to the public & Continuous Screening of films by Scoil Oilibhéir in Millennium Hall Foyer.



12.30 – 13.30 Talk by Gerry White, Historian: “McCurtain and McSwiney and The Formation of the Cork Brigade of the Irish Volunteers.”



12th November:

11.00 – 15.00 City Archives and Cork Museum Exhibition open to the public & Continuous Screening of films by Scoil Oilibhéir in Millennium Hall Foyer.



12.00 – 13.00 Talk By John Borgonovo, Historian: “Tans, Terror and the Burning of Cork”



13.00 – 14.00 Talk By Pat Poland, Historian: “The Fire Services and the Burning of Cork”



14th November:

10.30 a.m. Bishop Buckley to celebrate Mass in North Cathedral, from where Lord Mayors McSwiney and MacCurtain were buried.



17th November:

7.00 p.m. The Lord Mayor is to launch an exhibition “Rising from the Ashes: the burning of Cork’s Carnegie Library and the rebuilding of its Collections”, in the Central Library and is to launch a book of the same name by Thomas McCarthy.







Footnote regarding Programme Title: The programme title derives from a now infamous line from a Terence McSwiney speech “Triumph is not to those who can inflict most, but to those who can endure most.”

Boston-Northwest links bolstered

The construction workers of Boston did their best to drown out Rep. Eugene O'Flaherty as he spoke about the importance of Mayor Cora Harvey's visit to Boston last week but he makes himself heard.

I put my New York marathon thoughts down in Irish in the last posting; suffice to say that I'm glad it's over. On arrival back in broken Ireland this morning, I was met at the airport with the perfect metaphor for a country bankrupt politically and financially: the elevator immediately after passport control was bust. Welcome to Ireland.

Tá mo rás rite

Ag rud is mó a thóg croí dom ná fear agus a chuid páistí ag na thaobh i mBrooklyn agus clár in airde aige leis na foclaí 'Beir Bua' agus 'Maith Sibh go Léir'.

Don chéad 20 míle de mharatón Nua Eabharc, chaith mé t-léine bhán agus le bratach na hÉireann air os cionn an mhana, 'Irish Echo'. Fuair mé go leor tacaíochta ón lucht féachána: "Come on the Irish", "Go Ireland" agus gárthaí eile molta.

Bhí sé fíochmhar fuar ar maidin agus muid ag toiseacht ach bhí an t-aifreann a chéiliúraigh an tAth Brian Jordan mar bheadh Superser faoi do sheacáid reatha ann. Dúírt sé go mbeadh an Spiorad Naofa ár gcoimhéad agus nuair a thiocfadh lagmhisneach orainn go n-iompródh sé thar an líne muid. Beidh físeán anseo ar ball ach sin an t-aifreann réamhchatha thuas.

Ag toiseacht amach, ba é an rún a bhí agam ná críochnú ag 4 uair a chloig 20 bomaite nó mar sin (10 mbomaite per uair) mar bhí gortaithe mó chrá le tamall agus níor éirigh liom ach rith fhada 18 míle a dhéanamh agus moltar duit agus tú ag ullmhú don rás 26.2 míle dhá rith 20 míle a dhéanamh. Ach nuair a chonaic mé ag sodar thart liom séadaire (pacemaker) Síneach ag díriú ar 4 uair a chloig mar am críochnaithe, dar liom go leanfainn é. Agus b'fhear cineálta, spreagúil é. Mhol sé muid nuair a chuir muid an 13 mhíle dínn, ag moladh ár luais is ar misneach. D'iompraigh sé trí bhalún ar maide ina láimh agus dar leat go raibh sé amuigh ar siúlóid Domhnaigh. Fán 20ú míle, bhí sé beagáinín dearg san aghaidh agus míle ina dhiaidh sin bhain sé de a sheacáid trom reatha ach choinnigh sé air ar fad bríste traenála.

Labhair mé leis ó am go céile, ag impí air mé a thabhairt leis thar an líne faoin 4 uair a chloig, rud nach dteárn mé ariamh (Chríochnaigh mé Baile Átha Cliath i 2005 go díreach ar 4 uair). Ba mhó m'aird airsean ná ar na milliúntaí de lucht féachána a thiontaigh amach le hócáid speisialta a dhéanamh de mharatón Nua Eabharc ach fán 23ú míle ní fhéadfainn cionneáilt leis ní b'fhaide. D'imigh mé ó luas 9:10 san uair go dtí 12 bhomaite san uair; cúlú tubáisteach. Shíl mé go gcaoinfinn nuair a chonaic mé an trí bhalún buí sin ag imeacht uaim.

Pianpháis a bhí sna mílte deireannacha ach scairt mé chugam na mairbh nuair a shíl mé cinnte go raibh mé ag dul a fháil bháis — nó, níos measa, go dtosóinn a shiúil — agus sa 100 slat deireannacha, d'éirigh liom na cosa luaidhe a thógáil agus scuaird ardaigeantach a thabhairt thar an líne deiridh.

Sin mó mharatón agat. 4 uair a chloig agus 8 mbomaite; 9 mbomaite 30 soicind san uair.

Celtic fans spell it out for the management

The good news: I went to mass for the first time in yunks today, a sort of service before going over the top celebration by Fr Brian Jordan for the NYPD and New York Fire Department runners (in whose company I ran). It was marvellous.

The race itself was a challenge, of which more later, but I finished in respectable time and before the off presented Fr Jordan with $2,100 dollars donated by readers on the Balcony for the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus on the upper west side of Manhattan. A late contribution from Mark Guilfoyle and Casey Guilfoyle of Kentucky, fierce friends of Ireland, tipped us over the $2,000 target.

There'll be more later but for now, I was taken by this riveting picture from Celtic Park commenting on Celtic's use of the poppy on their rigs. The Celts went on to win 9-0 so I'm assuming the sentiment served to spur them on.

iphone folly and the intervention of the Holy Spirit

Not that anyone cares but this iphone caper is madness. Yesterday, it dropped phone connection entirely. Bad enough the internet reception is a mess: it refused to link with the UMass Lowell wifi system and all around me on the train down from Boston, business junkies were hammering away on their Blackberries as I gazed down forlornly at my stubbornly silent iphone. For the record, I've already invested in a steel casing for the iphone which is supposed to solve its woeful reception problem.

Please God, they'll give me my Blackberry back. Last straw has been the inability to link by bluetooth my iphone and Mac laptop (made by the same people) so that I can transport over the photos of Mayor Harvey, Hugh Commiskey et al.

I also tried to download an app — the one area where this gizmo is supposed to trump Blackberry — but gave up after an hour when it continued to refuse my credit card details (and this for a free app, by the way).

Anyhow, I'm signed up, have got my NYPD singlet which ensures me a ride out with the cops in the morning and access to their post-race shelter in Central Park and I'm also going to go to mass in the morning (for the first time in yunks), said by no less than Fr Brian Jordan at the starting point on Staten Island.

After that, it'll be me and the Holy Spirit for 26.2 lonely miles.

I wonder is there a patron saint of iphones. St Jude perhaps.

Lowell-Lawrence Fáilte

I hitchhiked a lift with the Mayor of Donegal and her party today to the city of Lawrence, where she was received by (pictured) Mayor Willie Lantigua (he joked with Micheál O hEanaigh, "you think I didn't get that pronounciation right, I'd like to see you try Lantigua!")

Mayor Lantigua is the first Latino mayor of Lawrence (and the first Latino Mayor in Massachusetts), once a powerhouse of Irish America, and is very proud of the city's links with the Dominican Republic. He has a great welcoming line: "Welcome to the great city of Lawrence."

After our visit to Lawrence, we dashed across to the University of Massachusetts Lowell where they have a nuclear reactor on campus of the usual sci-fi movie size and shape — I thought that was a joke but apparently not, nuclear physics is a speciality at UMass Lowell.

My iphone is out of power but I took a picture of a sculpture downtown of Hugh Commiskey who led the Irish navvies on a 30-mile trek to Lowell to build the canals which powered the mills (which led in turn to the Bread and Roses strike of 1912 in Lawrence). We also visited "The Acre", an acre of land donated to the Bishop by millowners to build St Patrick's Church. In its shadow arose an Irish shantytown which students from the archaeology departments at Queen's and UMass have been excavating. They recovered hundreds of items including rosary beads and children's marbles. The area of Fermanagh from whence they came has also been subject of a dig in a great example of inter-university collaboration which has caught the imagination of the public.

Behind the series of activities by the Irish Parnterships Center at UMass Lowell is Professor Frank Talty and his team and behind them is Chancellor Marty Meehan who gave a warm welcome to Mayor Harvey today. An exceptional and dynamic leader, former Congressman Meehan has shown what one focused, driven individual can do to boost a city's fortunes. In fact the building in which our reception was hosted had been abandoned by the previous heads of the university and left to wreck and ruin — until Chancellor Meehan insisted it be lovingly restored to its former glory with unbelievable views over the powerful Merrimack River.

Mayor Harvey addresses the Donegal Association tomorrow but for me it's the train to New York and my date with destiny! (Pictures and video from Lowell to follow.)

Flag going up

Lawrence, Massachusetts, is an exceptional American town. A former mill town built by the Irish, it is now rebuilding itself to meet the economic challenges of the 21st Century.

Its now a majority Latino town though the Mayor Willie Lantigua has a great grá for Ireland and sponsored a reception in the State House (when he was a State representative) for the Shankill-Falls economic mission which visited Massachusetts in 2007.

If my memory serves me, Lawrence was the first US city to recognise the Republic declared by the First Dáil.

Tomorrow, when Mayor Córa Harvey and the Donegal delegation visits Lawrence, they will be receive a warm welcome from Mayor Lantigua who has ordered that the flag of Ireland be raised outside City Hall in her honour.

Meanwhile, here's the Mayor presenting to Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Charles Murphy and I'm pictured with Rep Charles Murphy and Marc Lawrence of Heartsine, who has responsibility for marketing the company's portable defibrillators across the US.

Let's pick up the Aussies' cast-offs

Congressman Bill Delahunt

gave a rousing speech in support of Irish immigrants to the US last night at the launch in Boston of the Irish Network.

He said the E-3 Viss programme should be extended immediately to take in the Irish, noting that his own constituency in Massachusetts is "the most Irish" in the entire United States.

Ireland has a J Visa arrangement with the US which is all but meaningless. It's been extended to allow graduates to spend year in US but they must then return home, exactly about the time when they picked up some knowledge about the place and are ready to make a contribution.

An E-3 Visa on the other hand is a work visa which guarantees a Green Card which in turn can be a path to citizenship for those who want it.

I caught Congressman Delahunt's speech on video iphone and chatted with him after the event. He is convinced the established Irish need to do more for the undocumented and to achieve this E-Visa programme.

If push comes to shove, of course, we could always to to the Australians and ask them to let Ireland pull up their slack. Australia has about 10,000 E-Visas for its citizens each year and only uses about 2,500. Seems like a good opening and after all, they owe the Irish too.

Mayor Harvey at Golden Bridges, Boston

Mayor Cora Harvey, the first Sinn Féin Mayor of County Donegal in 80 years, the first woman mayor of the county since the reorganisation of local government in 2000, and the first woman speaker at a Golden Bridges lucheon went down a treat when she addressed our annual event in the marvellous Marriott Copley Place Hotel earlier today.

Interestingly, among the statistics from her native county was that almost one third of the county's population is under 25 — quite a selling point to investors.

She was joined by Cllr Dessie Larkin of Fianna Fáil and County Manager Seamus Neely as well as Henry McGarvey, ceo of Pramerica Ireland who was joined by his manager John Fox who came up from the New Jersey headquarters of parent company Prudential to applaud Henry for being among our honorees today.

The memory stays strong

If you want to understand where Irish America is coming from, read the home page of attorney John Foley, the Boston immigration expert, who recalls the moving story of his grandmother's journey to America...and how she never forgot.

John, of course, continues in that tradition...he was an observer at Drumcree, gave evidence to the Rosemary Nelson tribunal about his work with the assassinated human rights lawyer and has pioneered some of the most innovative ideas ever in Irish America including Irish TV.

You can see his grandmother Delia O'Toole's story here.

Democracy catching on

I see the democracy bug is catching, the High Court in Dublin today scolded the Irish Government for failing to call the Donegal by-election after a challenge by Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty.

And bad news for First Minister Peter Robinson whose call for the abolition of Catholic schools won't cut much ice with the incoming Speaker of the US Congress, who it turns out is not only a Republican (but not the type of republican you think, Peter) but also a fervent supporter of Catholic schools.

Fr Sean McManus sends me this excerpt about Congressman John Boehner


"Now that he may be on the verge of becoming speaker, Boehner finds he has many more friends who can't wait to meet him. Every October, he holds a charity dinner in Washington to raise money for Catholic schools. (He used to co-host the event with Kennedy.) Last year, it drew a modest crowd, and Boehner pleaded with those in attendance to recruit more donors. This year, he had no such trouble. When Boehner arrived for the dinner, the ballroom was packed"

Over the line

A good news story from the US election is that Tom DiNapoli, Comptroller of New York State, beat off a stiff challenge from republican contender Henry Wilson (who he had dubbed "a wizard of Wall Street").

DiNapoli, who has veteran civil rights advocate Pat Doherty at his side, has made repeated commitments to investing state pension funds in the Irish peace process and this victory gives him a four-year term to get his plans over the line.

In Massachusetts, where we host our Golden Bridges luncheon later today, the Democrats saw off the republican challenge — a clear sign that they took on board the Tea Party surge earlier this year which gave Scott Brown the Senate Seat of the late Ted Kennedy. Interestingly, in many constituencies, Democrats in Massachusetts don't have challengers. One exception to that rule is State Senate President Therese Murray

(who will join us later today), a staunch ally of the Irish peace process who is especially committed to working with organisations in the Derry-Donegal region. She also saw off the Republican challenge. (Picture courtesy of Cape Cod Times.)

Ag rith an ráis

Tá an ceann scribe sa Pháirc Lárnach romham anois Dé Domhnaigh agus seo bhur seans deiridh le cupla pingin a chaitheamh sa sparán don Athair Brian Ó Siúrdáin agus a phobal in Eaglais an Ainm Naofa.

Tá mé céasta ag cléithíní loirg (amharc suas é ar focal.ie, rud a rinné mé féin) ach críochnóidh mé an 26.2 míle le cuidiú Dé.

Deis iontach mar sin leis an phíosa iontach a scríobh an tAth Brian ar an reathaíocht a chló arís ó tharla gurb é an reathaíochta an rud is cóngaraí don chreideamh dá bhfuil agam.

RUNNING FOR MY RELIGIOUS LIFE by Father Brian Jordan, OFM, Labor Priest and Immigration Counselor at Holy Name Church, Upper Westside, Manhattan.

On April 19, 2010, I will be running in the Boston Marathon. This will be my 60th overall marathon. It will also be my 20th Boston Marathon. Many people have asked me why do I run? As a Franciscan priest for 27 years, I tell people that I am ‘running for my religious life.” It is not that I am running away from something rather I have a distinct goal to run toward something meaningful. What is meaningful is completing a goal that I set out for with support from my fellow runners, the spectators and Almighty God. There are many aspects to a marathon. Here are some aspects of a marathon with anecdotal experiences from my previous 59 marathons.
SPIRITUAL I ran my first marathon in Boston on Easter Monday in April, 1979. I ran as a “bandit”—an unofficial runner. The most I have ran before that was 10 miles and lots of spiritual reading. I should have done the reverse. I finished the course in 3 hours and 34 minutes. During my first marathon at age 24, I began to reflect on the numerous Biblical verses associated with running. For instance from the Old Testament, Isaiah 40:31, “They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary.” In the New Testament with 1Corinthians 9:24 “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.” I have not and will never win the Boston Marathon or any other marathon. For me, each person wins when they finish a marathon. As a Franciscan priest, I take comfort in the words of Philippians 3:14 “I run toward the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” I don’t just run for myself but a marathon is a paradigm of life of beginning something then finishing that goal together with other people not just yourself. Personally, running a marathon is a prayer of praise to God for the gift of life.
PHYSICAL Running a marathon is indeed an incredible feat. You cannot just run on blind faith. You have to train with many, many miles in preparation for a marathon. I was lucky in my first marathon but even then I realized that to run another marathon would require more training. I recall meeting the nine-time Olympic champion Carl Lewis at the beginning of the New York City 2000 Marathon and he wished us well but admitted that even as a Olympian, he could not run a full marathon. WOW! Incredible honesty from this great champion. In 2006, I was near the world famous Cyclist Lance Armstrong right before the NYC Marathon. He had admitted that running a marathon was tougher than competing in Tour de France. He emphasized the importance of substantive training. Marathon training is a year round effort. Likewise, the marathon season is also year round which includes all types of weather. The coldest marathon I ran in was the 1995 NYC Marathon which occurred on the second Sunday of November rather than the customary first Sunday. Even before the race started, it was 18 degrees wind chill factor. At least 300 runners opted out of the race due to the frigid temperatures and gusty winds. I finished the marathon in about 4 and a half hours and was truly grateful when it was over. The hottest marathon I ever ran in was the 2004 Boston Marathon in which the temperature hovered over 88 degrees and the humidity was quite high. I finished the race in a little more than five hours and saw many running casualties along the way. I prayed for each and every one of them and thanked God I was not one of them. Running a marathon requires one to drink plenty of fluids before and during the marathon. And for you Irish runners—that does not include shots of Jameson and pints of Guinness! For most people, running a marathon will be the most physically challenging feat that you will ever do. You will lose weight and feel better about yourself. Learn to persevere in a marathon! Recall the words of Hebrews 12:1 “Let us run with perseverance, the race marked out for us.”

EMOTIONAL-PSYCHOLOGICAL Running reduces stress and anxiety. At the same time, a novice marathoner should have reasonable expectations of oneself. Otherwise they can increase stress and anxiety along the marathon course. I have seen way too many first time marathoners trying to exceed personal goals by running faster than planned which eventually causes them to drop out of the race due to sheer exhaustion. I always tell people “to keep pace with God’s grace.” Keep your emotions and psychological framework in check. I urge runners to practice meditation before and during a race. Your emotional well-being is essential to run a satisfactory marathon. Current events can also affect the emotional-psychological make-up of runners. I vividly recall the atmosphere of both the 1980 and 1990 Marine Corps Marathons in Washington D.C. both in the late fall. In 1980, the Iranian hostage crisis was still ensuing and tragic fatalities were occurring in Central and South America. There was a sense of anger among many members of the armed forces who were running that day. I asked them to channel their anger to psychic energy to run a good marathon. Many listened to me, others ignored my pleas. In 1990, there was nervous tension among the armed forces in anticipation of the First Gulf War which commenced in January, 1991. Many were supporting their fellow troops already stationed in Kuwait. Others were awaiting their orders to be assigned to Kuwait after the marathon. I prayed for peace in their hearts, minds and souls. I especially prayed that they return home safe and sound with their loved ones. A little reassurance is always welcomed in a marathon.

Two of the most emotionally draining marathons was the October 2001 Chicago Marathon and the November 2001 New York Marathon. Both took place after the terrible attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the downed plane in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Security was at an all-time high for both marathons due to the uncertainty of whether there would be a terrorist attack at each respective marathon which numbered in the 30 thousand range. In Grant Park, Chicago, we prayed for the victims of the attacks and for the safety of all runners.

In New York, where I served as a chaplain at Ground Zero, I gave a fiery sermon at a prayer service for the runners from the New York City Police Department , the Fire Department of New York, the Port Authority Police, the FBI and other uniformed services. I yelled out “that recall on the day of September 11, 2001, many people fled from both the World Trade Center and lower Manhattan and I say today, Nov.4, 2001 let us run toward Manhattan and take it back for America.”

Of all the 27 years I have preached as a Franciscan priest, I never heard such an enthusiastic and raucous response to any homily I gave that day to over 200 uniformed service personnel and their friends. We all ran with great inspiration that day and we received tremendous support from the overflowing crowds along the streets of the five boroughs that comprise New York City. Not all marathons can match the same drama but can still be emotionally satisfying. For example, the Boston Marathon is my favorite marathon for its tradition, its tough, rugged course and for their great fans along the way. While I was running my 50th marathon before I turned 50 in 2005, I personally chose the Boston Marathon due to its charm and also being the site of the first marathon I ever ran.

INTELLECTUAL It has been said that marathon running is 90 percent thinking and 10 percent physical. After certain marathons, I thought it was the reverse. Nevertheless, positive thinking is essential in running a satisfying marathon. We need to stimulate intellectual growth in a positive way when we run in a marathon. Contrary to this belief, in the Toronto Marathon in 1995, I ran my worst marathon in 5 hours and 43 minutes. I walked about 5 miles. My training was quite good but I was immersed in negative thinking. I complained about the water stops in that particular marathon. I complained about Toronto police officers letting certain cars get in front of the runners and how we cursed not only the drivers but also the police. Initially, due to my negative thinking, I was blaming external factors beyond my control. The only one to blame for this horrid performance was myself. I misled myself with useless, negative thinking.

We need other people to influence us towards positive thinking. One prime example was in October, 2009 when I ran my tenth Chicago Marathon step for step with a Chicago-based psychologist. He emphasized the importance of positive thinking as crucially important not only in marathon running but in all intellectual developments of life.

Being intellectual in a marathon also means learning how to improvise. When I ran the October 31, 2005 Dublin Marathon, I was mortified to find out that there were only 8 water stations along the Dublin course. In most marathons, like New York, Chicago, Boston and others, there were at least 20 water stops. Despite my pleading with the race director at the marathon exhibit two days before the race, my fellow Franciscans from St. Anthony’s Church in Merchant Quay advised me to improvise during the race. While looking over the map of the city which included the course, the Irish Franciscans implored me to knock on the doors of four Irish families in four different neighborhoods of Dublin. One Irish friar said “ When they open the door, tell them who you are and that you need a glass of water. The Irish are famous for their hospitality and will gladly give you the water.” I took their advice and randomly selected four homes in four different neighborhoods. Much to my surprise not only did I receive the water but in each Irish household they asked me, “Father, before you go, can you first bless my house?” And I did as requested. Nothing for nothing for the Dubliners! So much for the price of hospitality and intellectual improvisation.!

COMMUNAL
It is my firm belief that no one really runs alone in a marathon. Besides your fellow runners, there are many people along the way who are rooting for you as you try your best to finish the marathon. I do not call them spectators but that they are active participants! I truly appreciate them because they are active and vocal with their participation. Many a time when I feel like slowing down or giving up during a marathon, a friendly voice gives me encouragement to finish the race. I am truly grateful for that person and I always wish after the marathon that I could embrace that person and say thank you. Marathon running is not merely an individual effort rather it is a communal celebration of humanity from all walks of life. Besides my fellow runners and the active participants, I am especially grateful to the volunteers who give out water, gels, fruit, ice and other helpful items. I am grateful to the police and fire departments to protect us. For the medical personnel and the musicians who soothe the body as well as the soul.

For most of my marathons, I run for a special cause: a fund for AIDS victims; operations for disabled children; funds for a food pantry; funds for the unemployed; funds for a retirement fund for elderly religious, etc. This year, for my 60th Marathon before I turn 55, I will run for St. Anthony’s Shrine near the Downtown Crossing in Boston, MA. I served there for three years and I have stayed there every time I ran in the Boston Marathon. It is a great spirit-filled place that serves well the People of God. A marathon is like life. It includes many people from the day we are born until the day we die. I liken the starting line of a marathon to our birth on earth and the finishing line as the end of our life on earth to the beginning of eternity with God in Heaven. The words of the Second Letter of Timothy 4:7 sums it up best: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” That is why I am running for my religious life!

This article is dedicated to my running partners throughout the 31 years of running marathons—stretching into 4 decades!
Vincent McCarthy Oliver Boyle Terry Prince James Smyth The Active Particpants

Wailing walls

I hadn't seen this probing Robert Fisk piece from earlier this year until now, thanks to Niall Meehan for forwarding.

Ón Luaith go dtí an Aisling

Ní bheidh mé i mBéal Feirste ón Mháirt agus mar sin caillfidh mé dhá ócáid tábhachtacha: seoladh cóip crua den leabhar dátheangach Sráid Bombay, agus lainseáil Gaeltique.

I Sráid Bombay, cíortar ról pobal Gaeilge Bhéal Feirste in atógáil Sráid Bombay i ndiaidh gur loisceadh na tithe ann i Lúnasa 1969. "Is é atógáil Sráid Bombay ceann de na samplaí is luaithe, is ionspioráidí agus is fearr de dhearadh agus de nuálaíocht den scoth atá againn," arsa Cathaoirleach Fhorbairt Feirste Seán Mistéil. "Tá Sráid Bombay atógtha, ach tá fíoroidhreacht agus tionchar ioconach an imeachta seo le fíorú go fóill."

Seolfaidh Clive Dutton, an saineolaí athghiniúint cathracha an leabhar ar 4 Samhain ar 7in i gColáiste Feirste.

Roimhe sin ar an lá céanna, seolfar Gaeltique in Ollscoil Choláiste Naomh Mhuire ar Bhóthar na bhFál. "Déanfaidh Líonra Gaeltique straitéisí comónta margaíochta a aithint do na mionteangacha agus dá gcultúir éagsúla chun iad a chur chun cinn agus a fhorbairt mar stórais de thráidisiúin agus chun béim a chur fosta ar a n-eisiachas agus a stádas sa domhan nua-aoiseach," arsa Seán.

Tá an dá ócáid á n-eagrú mar chuid de Sheachtain Dearaithe 2010

The real election hots up

Only the Irish Echo would dare make a last-minute intervention into this Tuesday's crunch election across the US.

We've prolonged Tuesday's poll by one day to allow our readers to vote for the Massachusetts Irish American Association of the Year ahead of Wednesday's Golden Bridges Awards in Boston. At the time of writing, the young professionals of the Boston Irish Business Association are getting hammered by the AOH, the Irish Immigration Center and by the Irish Pastoral Center.

You can vote through our site now (but you can only vote once which will be a surprise to some of our less scrupulous visitors!) and then you can say that you voted in this week's American elections!

Click here to cast your vote.

The dreaded iphone switchover and those Peter Quinn remarks

I have moved from Blackberry to iphone and it's a disaster though I'm prepared to be patient in the expectation that the poor phone reception, the dropped calls and emails which don't load are all teething problems.

However, my pal Robin Livingstone tells me the iphone is a piece of junk for use solely by teenagers to impress one another. He brings his son's £10 Nokia to work along with his iphone so that he can take and make calls.

Have they sold a hundred million of these iphones yet? Could everyone but me be wrong. Hopefully not.

Meanwhile, here's how Peter Quinn (the New York author) introduced the Irish American Writers and Artists celebration evening:

"Anyone who's here at Rosie O'Grady's to try out for a part in The Vagina Monologues is in the wrong place. Those tryouts are being held on 23rd Street at a shebeen called Rosy Scenarios. Later tonight, however, several of us so-called Golden Years will be gathering at the bar downstairs to work on a new play titled The Angina Dialogues.

"You'll notice from its title that our organisation — Irish American Writers and Artists — is a condundrum inside an oxymoron. The conundrum is perennial: How do you bring together writers and artists — people who are inherently independent, individualistic, rebellious and often downright anarchistic — into an organisation. The oxymoron is self-evident: come on now, an Irish organisation of writers and artists? Has there ever been a people with a more well-earned reputation for arguments, fights and splits?

"That truth has been driven home to me in my role as president of the official branch of Irish American Writers and Artists...as opposed to the recently-formed provisional branch. So far I've survived, three assassination attempts, two coup d'états, and an impeachment proceeding. That was last week, let's see what this week brings.

"We are a growing organisation and growing pains are part of being young. The important thing is that, thanks to all of you here tonight, we are growing. What we need now is not just your continued support but your active involvement in helping us to develop and carry out a schedule of events that bring together artists to mingle, share their ideas, their work, their plans, and build a true community."

What's in a name?

After a full day at the NI Water hq in North Belfast, looking out at Cavehill and the Cliftonville golf course, I've resolved to do one of two things: climb Ben Madigan or take up golf. Or both.

In the meantime, I will polish up on my ice hockey terms so that I can welcome the Boston Bruins to the Golden Bridges celebration in Boston next Tuesday when they'll be picking up a special award in recognition of their historic visit to Belfast at the start of this month.

A highlight of the Bruins' visit was the presentation of a team jersey to Minister Arlene Foster with the name FOSTER on the back. I decided we should reciprocate by presenting our chief honoree Rep. Charles Murphy with a Belfast Giants jersey which carries his name. Turns out getting a special name printed on a jersey is more difficult on this side of the Atlantic. However, I struck lucky in the fact that the Giants' goalkeeper (who kept the Bruins at bay for 37 minutes or so) is a Murphy. Problem solved.

The one that got away!

Frank Reynolds, of Leitrim stock, was with the Boston Irish Business Association delegation which we hosted to dinner at the Whitefort at the start of last year.

At the time, myself and others pitched Belfast hard as the site for the development of Frank's revolutionary spine-tear healing drugs. Frank, of course, is an exceptional man, having himself spent many years confined to bed due to a back injury. At the Whitefort dinner, Gerry Adams presented Frank with a special gift to welcome him to Belfast.

As it turned out, Frank decided to stay close to base and continue to ramp up his research and development work at MIT in Boston, meriting a major article in our favourite magazine Inc earlier this year.

Today, his company InVivo floated, raising several million dollars in the process and hopefully giving Frank a few dollars to fund the next stage of this lifesaving drug development. For my money, I never thought Frank's idea had been lost to Ireland. This drug is going to be huge — and some day, no doubt, it will be manufactured in Ireland, perhaps in Leitrim (from where Frank's people hail) or bordering Fermanagh.

I first met Frank at an Irish Echo 40 under 40 celebration in 2008 — if, as Brian O'Dwyer joked last week, we introduce a 70 under 70, I've no doubt that 30 years from now, Frank will be joining us as a Nobel Laureate.

Anyhow, we can get to discuss all that and much more when Frank joins us at the fourth annual Golden Bridges luncheon in Boston on 3 November. Until then, congrats Frank.

Liatroim Abú.

Poppies in the wind

Straws in the wind set to disturb efforts to build support for a new era in policing come from the most unexpected sources.

The sporting of poppies is a political statement in Britain but in the North of Ireland it is also, sadly, often used as a sectarian symbol. Wise counsel would suggest that an impartial police force avoid wearing poppies in republican areas — not least because they evoke memories of the despised RUC officer, machine gun in one hand, baton in the other, poppy on the helmet.

Apparently, those who support the wearing of poppy on the PSNI uniform won that argument. Last week in West Belfast, before the official poppy season kicked in, officers were patrolling the streets  — where their welcome remains tentative — with the poppy on show, two weeks before the official appeal kicks off.

Similarly, the vindictive efforts to railroad dissident republican Gerry McGeough into jail for an IRA attack carried out a lifetime ago smacks of the worst actions of securocrats. How strange that anyone who raises the slaughter of civilians by the British Army is dismissed as living in the past while enormous resources are deployed to put Gerry McGeough behind bars in connection with an incident from those same dark days. When Mr McGeough's trial starts on 1 November, don't be surprised if it collapses swiftly. All the evidence is that while paper-thin cases were sufficient to imprison republicans in the seventies along the conveyor belt of Castlereagh and courts, things have tightened up considerably since then. Let's see

Yellow Bittern on Second Avenue

Comptroller John Liu, who addressed our Irish Law and Order 50 celebration last week also got the best picture of the evening — with the Paramus, NJ, police department in the background.

Meanwhile, I've been catching up with some of the people who attended the Irish Business Organisation business breakfast I addressed last week in Fitzpatrick's Hotel on New York's Lexington Avenue.

Among then was Maralyn Dolan who has established her own printing and graphics company in New York, Integrated. There was also the energetic young Niall O'Kelly who has his own design business, O'Kelly Design. And we had the pleasure of the company of Sean McNeill of McNeill Real Estate who knows the property market in the Big Apple as well as anyone.

But pride of place must go to Maribel Aviles of Country Bank, a New York bank set up by Irish American Joseph Murphy. Country Bank has strong, enduring ties to Ireland but that's not the only reason I bank there: it also emerged unscathed from the banking crisis, reflecting  its founder's prudence and foresight. More than that, Joseph Murphy is a longstanding patron of the Irish arts and in Mirabel's office on Second Avenue I snapped this photo of a tapestry, made in Gleann Colm Cille, Southwest Donegal, of the story of An Bonnán Buí/The Yellow Bittern, an old favourite of mine.

Ach a Bhuinnéain Bhuí, sé mo léan do luí
Is na cnámha sínte ar leacaibh lom
Is nach dteárn dí nó dolaidh sa tír

Is nárbh fhearr fíon nó uisce poill

Bearhug Brian

Born of Irish immigrants, Fr Brian Carty runs one of the most successful schools for children of little financial means in New York. You can see his fascinating story in today's New York Times.

Treading the boards

I have been tardy in my blog postings this week, a sign that I haven't caught up with myself since my arrival in New York. Perhaps on the flight home tonight, I can decompress and pick out some highlights.
My main focus this coming week will be the fourth annual Golden Bridges luncheon in Boston on 3 November where we will honour Rep. Charles Murphy, Chair of the Ways and Means Committee in the Massachusetts State House, and several others of equal merit. You can buy tickets online at the link above.

Last night, I made it up to Irvington, a little town on the banks of the Hudson River about 30 miles outside New York City. Having seen it, I'm baffled as to why anyone would want to live in the city. Des Lyons, who took me out for a run along the path of an old aqueduct bringing water to New York, tells me the city is great but no place for raising children and as the father of five, including triplets, he knows that of which he speaks. We had a great run-out and this morning I completed a half-marathon which puts me sort of on course for the marathon which I am running for Fr Brian Jordan's Church of the Holy Name in the upper west side of Manhattan. I saw Fr Brian, the flying friar, at the Law and Order event and he's rallying the troops to make sure I pass the finishing line in good shape. If I were the Kenyans, I'd be getting nervous about this Belfast challenge. All donations gratefully accepted at the link on this blog but we're just above our $2,000 target.

Now I'm off downtown to a symposium on the Famine organised by Owen Rodgers and Deanna Turner. I will chair a session at which two of the greatest authorities on the Famine will speak. Christine Kinealy, Professor of Irish Studies at Drew University outside New York and Sinead McColle, Curator of the Jackie Clarke collection of over 100,000 items which you can see on your next visit to Ballina, Co Mayo, and author of the great book, No Ordinary Women.

No doubt you caught the review of Christine's new book, War and Peace by Jude Collins on this blog a few days ago. Delighted to be asked to be involved in this important initiative. Even on a Saturday, the Irish don't stop.

Finally, a picture from Stone Street in Lower Manhattan to cheer you up: Emily Donohue, Michael O'Keefe and (centre) Conor Allen from the NYSE Euronext. We were eating our pulled pork (not sure what that is but there was a lot of it) when Conor spotted us. Michael and Emily tread the boards for a living; them and everyone else in this city, apparently. They really should be at next year's August Féile in West Belfast, if there's a God in heaven at all. I'm on it.

Death of John Harrison

Tá brón orm cluinstin fá bhás John Harrison, duine de na daoine is deise agus is cineálta dár oibir le preas-chorps an Tuaiscirt. Go raibh leaba i measc na ngriangrafadóir clúiteach aige.

An tseachtain seo bhí sé ag cur pictiúirí chugainn as an chomhdháil eacnamaíochta chugainn.

'Read this book'

Our reviewer Jude Collins says you should read the new book by Christine Kinealy, War and Peace, which will be launched in New York this Friday night as part of the Famine symposium.

You can see the full, adulatory review online at the Belfast Media site.

Who are we to disagree.

Is there a detective in the house?

We had a smashing celebration at the Irish Consulate tonight to raise a glass to the Irish Law and Order 50 where chief honoree was Dub Chief John Timoney, who has held the No. 1 position in law enforcement in Philadelphia and Miami and was Number 2 in New York. Also addressing our audience were New York City Commissioner of Small Business Rob Walsh and Comptroller John Liu ("my mother's from Co Taiwan," he cracked).

On the way out with the Philly contingent, we stopped to pick up the crystal plaque for Tom Byrne, Chief of the Police Department in Ridley, Pennsylvania. Turns out it was gone. We had been joking earlier that it was unlikely that any coats would be stolen, or pockets picked with 50 cops in the room but turns out we were overly optimistic...someone made off with Tom's award. Of course, it could be an honest mistake rather than the work of a sneakthief but we that would't be as good a story.

Pictured at the celebration are Belfast's Geraldine Hughes, Department of Street and Sanitation from Chicago Thomas G Byrne (a different Tom Byrne) who served in the Chicago Police Department for 35 years and his wife Ellen.

UPDATE New York 2pm: Mystery solved: Chicago Tom Byrne  called to said we gave him the wrong bag and he has the plaque for Philadelphia Tom Byrne. And good for him, he's going to call the Chief of Police at Ridley to set matters straight and the plaque is already on its way to Pennsylvania. As you would expect in a room of detectives, case closed within 24 hours.

Macallaí na Gorta Móire

The Famine Echoes Conference in New York this weekend is now on Facebook and among the speakers will be acclaimed writers Christine Kinealy of Drew University (whose new book War and Peace got a five-star review from Jude Collins) and Mary Pat Kelly from Chicago.

The entire conference will take place at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, which gave sanctuary to many Irish fleeing An Ghorta Mhór, in Lower Manhattan.

The full agenda is below:
Famine Echoes; Ireland and the United States


Friday, 22 October 2010

Launch of War and Peace, Ireland since the 1960s by Professor Christine Kinealy, Drew University, at O'Lunney's Times Square Pub, 145 W45th Street, 6.30-8.30. Phone 212 840 6688


Saturday, 23 October 2010

Venue: Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 7 State Street, Manhattan. 212 269-6865. Website- www.setonshrine.com. 

Session One: 11.00-1.00 Denying The Famine: Starvation and Survival

  Chair: Patricia Harty (Irish America magazine)

Gerard McAtasney, “Hidden history; Protestants and An Gorta Mor in Ulster, “Sean Cahill, 'Hunger, feasting and revenge in the songs of Eoghan Ruadh O Suilleabhain and Maire Bhui Ni Laoire , Mary Pat Kelly, 'A Galway Famine migration to America'

Session Two: 2.30-4.30 Famine memories

  Chair: Martin O'Muilleoir (The Irish Echo)

Christine Kinealy, “Living with the legacy of the Great Hunger,” Sinead McCoole, 'Ireland's memory-Famine in Mayo'


Sunday, 24 October 2010

Ecumenical Service for the Famine Dead at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 7 State Street, 10.00 a.m. Concelebrated by Fr. Peter Meehan and Rev. Dr. Ronnie Stout-Kopp (Anglican/ Episcopal). Music by Mary Courtney

Session Three: 11.00-1.00 Experiencing Famine

  Chair: Jim Cullen (Brehon Law Society)

Running total

The medics have ordered me off the roads due to infected 'shin splints' but now heavily dosed with anti-inflammatories and penicillin, I'm keen to start building for one more long run before the New York marathon on 7 November.

The 'Flying Friar' Fr Jordan gave me the once over last night at the Artists and Writers gig and will be calling for the intercession of the Holy Spirit to get me over the 20 mile mark (marathons famously being made up of two halves, the first 20 and the final six). He's clearly enjoying his decision not to run this entire marathon, as he was downing a pint of the black stuff at Rosie's. Sláinte mhór.

I put a small item in the Irish Echo last week about Des Lyons of New York who is also running the marathon — in his case for the fight against lung cancer — and I'm planning to meet up with Des for a run on Friday. Following the article, I got generous cheques sent into the Echo offices by Rep Charles Murphy of Boston and Larry Ginsberg of Brooklyn. Go raibh míle maith agaibh. We are certainly going to hit our $2,000 target for the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus in New York — a church associated with Fr Jordan — and we may exceed that amount if I can get my sponsorship forms out at the Irish Echo Law and Order celebration in New York tomorrow. On Friday afternoon, I'm going to head out of New York to meet Des for a light run and I'll get to see Westchester for the first time (though I first heard it referenced in a Loudon Wainwright song 30 years ago, "I was born here in Westchester County".)

I don't expect to see the Bard of New York Pete Hamill during this trip to New York though I hope to take him up on his offer of putting 'the laughter of Belfast' centrestage in our 2011 conference, but I did manage to email him a series of photos of his mother Annie which were provided to me by Jackie Rice, a veteran West Belfast raconteur and musician — and quite a lensman too. As well as pictures Jackie took of Mrs Hamill in New York in 1976 (she emigrated to New York in 1929), he sent this photo of Annie Devlin, as she was then, and her classmates at Lagan Village school on the Ravenhill Road about 1916.

Jackie's mother-in-law is in the school photo and when he met Annie Hamill, she was able to tell him that she had gone to school with his mother-in-law. "The school photo shows my mother-in-law  Annie Murphy nee Johnston," says Jackie. "She is 4th from the right second row front. It will be wonderful if Pete can spot his mother if she is in this group."

Over to the Bard.

The kitchen sink and all

They were holding out on me with this photo of Haskell Wexler, the youngest 88-year-old in California and multiple Oscar winner who was presented with a lifetime achievement award by the Belfast Film Festival back in April. At the time, the organisers didn't have a spare jawbox available but it was sent out to California by and by and I got to present in in August, unshaven and sunburnt on return from the Channel Islands.

This morning, it was a thrill to address the Irish Business Organisation of New York and meet with its energetic, wired-in members including John Lee (who also did PR for the writers and artists last night) and film-maker Maura Kelly as well as Maralyn Dolan of Integrated Printing and Graphics and Jack Fogarty of O'Dwyer PR.

Photo by Kevin McKiernan, lighting courtesy of three or four house lights being held by willing trainees.

Finally, I'm told that 45 of the 50 Irish Law and Order honorees are planning to attend our celebration at the Irish Consulate tomorrow evening; the highest number ever of honorees who have attended a Top 50 event. We're onto something.

'Longest O'Neill production ever'

At the Irish American Writers and Artists annual reception in New York last night, they honoured veteran screen and stage actor Brian Dennehy as the aristocracy of the Irish arts scene applauded: TJ English, Peter Quinn (not our Peter Quinn), William Kennedy of Roscoe fame, Mary Pat Kelly, Larry Kirwan and Malachy McCourt among others.

It took a while to get Dennehy up on stage to accept his Tiffany award, courtesy of the company's Irish American CEO Jim Quinn ("The last time the Irish were in Tiffany's before Jim was during the Draft Riots," cracked Peter Quinn), there was a lot of prologue. But then he's had a long career, playing more detectives than we'll have at Wednesday night's Consulate tribute to the Irish American law enforcement officers of the US.

Dennehy is also something of a Eugene O'Neill scholar and perhaps our greatest actor at bringing O'Neill's troubling tales to the stage. Therefore when he said as he finally rose to accept his award from William Kennedy: "I've been in a lot of long O'Neill plays but, believe me, this is the longest I've ever been in", you had to take his word for it.

The great man also cited Belfast as having "the best bars in Ireland" and I presume he knows of which he speaks.

A great occasion, courtesy of the greatest organisation in Irish America the Irish American Writers and Artists Association.

The writers and artists won't be in DC today for the crunch economic conference, from which you should expect good news. But that's okay because they corporate fundraising and job investment drives which target Irish America — both vitally important — actually only touch two per cent of Irish America. The other 98 per cent are more likely to be found, if not in the Irish American Writers and Artists Association, then reading and watching their work.

Off to breakfast with the only organisation which has a dancing architect for its President: The Irish Business Organisation of New York.

I hope to bring you more of Peter Quinn's introduction later today but for now that's me with Peter Quinn and in the other picture with Brian Dennehy and former NYPD detective Brian McCabe, who I first met when I accompanied Gerry Adams to the US in January 1996 and Brian, who was in charge of his security for the NYPD, met the famous visitor at the door of our Aer Lingus plane and escorted him off....for a haircut.

Mayor Cora Harvey for Boston luncheon

The Mayor of County Donegal Cora Harvey will be the guest of honour at the fourth annual Golden Bridges celebration in Boston on 3 November. She's a very capable, young politician and part of the formidable Sinn Féin team in the county (which, surprisingly, still has no republican TD).

A graduate of both Queen's University and University of Ulster, she works with the social services in Donegal and has a young family so we're delighted she's been able to squeeze in this visit to Boston which will also involve a range of activities to promote the county and the Letterkenny-Derry gateway.

For further details about the Boston event, which will also honour Sr Lena Deevy, who does extraordinary work for the undocumented, Rep Charles Murphy and Pramerica Ireland CEO Henry McGarvey, see our website.

An saol ina cheart arís

Shleamhnaigh siad isteach ag an bhun mé ach ní miste sin mar chiallaíonn sé gurb é Ceap Cuddles an chéad leabhar a roghnaigh an duine atá ag iompar na leabhar!

Agus os comhair na Cultúrlainne tchím go maireann Daily Ireland beo i dtólamh. Maith iad.

Poll power

The Irish Echo poll for Irish American Law Enforcement Officer of the Year is proving very popular. I'm particularly taken by this map of America which shows where votes have come from — home states have done well for each of our 'candidates'.

But my particular interest is in the phenomenal free software (adapted for our use by our internet wizard John Ferris) which enables us to put up these polls online and enjoy this type of analysis.

Polls Powered By MicroPoll

Speaking up for Donegal

Donegal boasts the most stunning scenery in Ireland — and the worst unemployment rates. It's a pity then that it doesn't have a strong advocate at next week's Economic Conference in DC.

That's the view of Reps Eugene O'Flaherty, Charles Murphy and Marty Walsh from Masschusetts, who visited Belfast, Donegal and Derry at the start of the month.

They have now written to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asking that she invite a representative from Donegal to the event next week. That seems like an eminently sensible idea and may move us closer to the stage where we have one entity abroad promoting investment in Ireland, rather than two competing agencies: Invest NI and the IDA.

I'm pleased that Donegal County Council will be involved in the Golden Bridges luncheon in Boston on 3 November and have no doubt the county will put its best foot forward, stressing the synergy between Derry and Donegal.

You can read the full letter here and the Boston group is pictured above visiting Coláiste Feirste.

Unsung hero of the peace process

Tom DiNapoli, comptroller (effectively chief financial officer) of New York State, is in the electoral fight of his life against a Republican (their republican, not our republican) rival he has branded a "wizard of Wall Street".

If the Republican wins, it will undoubtedly mean a downgrading of interest in using pension funds ethically to effect change in corporate or country behaviours. And that would be bad at a time when the State Comptroller's Office has received a huge boost by the moving of Pat Doherty from the City Comptroller to the State Comptroller office.

Pat, whose people hail from Derry, is effectively the guy who wrote the MacBride Principles, and with others made them an unstoppable force for good.

Tom DiNapoli (left) and Pat are pictured with Gerry Adams during his recent visit to New York.