tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211610772024-03-07T02:23:16.741-05:00Hell's KitchenTheWildGeese.com: The History of the Irish... WorldwideGerry Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597915860564953502noreply@blogger.comBlogger222125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21161077.post-47870553302871331842013-02-21T08:09:00.001-05:002013-08-27T18:59:15.204-04:00'Irish Philadelphia' Roots Run Deep, Says Author Poxon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7TUqrS7JE8fSL-GXHzPGiirGFPFQvMz9Uo5bFye978H4Dc1FZHIE2VtSIGgvPQu7W9_CiaHShifxyXo-vfpk6iQuniZSaQJGpl-LVeH7MkmfBczdgKe4NibgRBHL-N2QdMKFGng/s1600/phbookcv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7TUqrS7JE8fSL-GXHzPGiirGFPFQvMz9Uo5bFye978H4Dc1FZHIE2VtSIGgvPQu7W9_CiaHShifxyXo-vfpk6iQuniZSaQJGpl-LVeH7MkmfBczdgKe4NibgRBHL-N2QdMKFGng/s1600/phbookcv.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>Marita Krivda Poxon</b>, author of "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738597708/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=thewildgeeset-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=0738597708&adid=0T0ANT2SY1G9E724ETEV" target="_blank"><b>Irish Philadelphia</b></a>" (Arcadia Publishing,
2012), simply put, was born to write this book. Her skills as a research
librarian certainly played a part, as well as having managed archives
at several libraries, but not nearly as much as her obvious dedication to
preserving Irish history and the almost palpable feeling of pride and love
that serves as the overarching theme of this book about her hometown. Recently she answered some questions for <b><span style="color: #38761d;">The Wild Geese</span>'s Maryann Tracy.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>What is the book about?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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The book is a pictorial history of the Irish who arrived in
Philadelphia in the 17th century and traces their achievements through three
centuries. It includes more than 200 historic images, which include engravings, historic photographs, and other
printed material including programs, letters and charters. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeFjUONCKtZb1U3e1ssu8SMT87N97EfCD3kbuhy856A3em3KLlNDOzdp4EiDONUFpyG6I-IRDLZgYunXIbIEGb50znjOVHaCfcwIQLyZYKsAgssK1IwDybLkkB_8lr6lGDLag1w/s1600/IreLandWelcomesHeadshot+Nov+2012+Keenan+At+Donegal+Ball.tif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeFjUONCKtZb1U3e1ssu8SMT87N97EfCD3kbuhy856A3em3KLlNDOzdp4EiDONUFpyG6I-IRDLZgYunXIbIEGb50znjOVHaCfcwIQLyZYKsAgssK1IwDybLkkB_8lr6lGDLag1w/s1600/IreLandWelcomesHeadshot+Nov+2012+Keenan+At+Donegal+Ball.tif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><b>Marita Krivda Poxon</b></span></td></tr>
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These images come principally from the
Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center, the papers of the Dr.
Dennis Clark and of the Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick housed at
the Pennsylvania Historical Society, the Commodore John Barry Club – the Irish
Center, the MacSwinney Club, the Joseph McGarrity Papers at Villanova
University, and the Irish Edition newspaper. </div>
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The book begins with the
Colonial Irish and covers the development of the first Catholic churches, the Nativists Riots of 1844,
the arrival of the Famine generation by the thousands to Philadelphia, and the place that Philadelphia played
in the establishment of the Irish Free State. 20th century photographs attest to the appearances by
notable Irish politicians, including Eamon de Valera to Sean MacBride to Gerry
Adams. The book also reviews the plethora of Irish
organizations in Philadelphia, including the Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, begun
in 1771, the various Ancient Order of the Hibernian chapters, the Donegal
Society as well as other county societies, the Philadelphia Ceílí Group and
others. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1I3FqKFXzpFzLuuxeRwWBzYIQtutkoLN5kuFn1qQTIvL_xmbaPebgwaxttFJP4Hq0NI9_A0h3uWCnM_vyfx2Wahx1_u3RkOPEglg8cEXGLFHn8wtGRdXWamYJ7Vo8NBKJeQrow/s1600/mcgarrity_1_00000.tif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1I3FqKFXzpFzLuuxeRwWBzYIQtutkoLN5kuFn1qQTIvL_xmbaPebgwaxttFJP4Hq0NI9_A0h3uWCnM_vyfx2Wahx1_u3RkOPEglg8cEXGLFHn8wtGRdXWamYJ7Vo8NBKJeQrow/s1600/mcgarrity_1_00000.tif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Joseph McGarrity, left.</span></b></td></tr>
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Another chapter features prominent
“lace curtain” Irish families from the area who amassed large fortunes including Jack
Kelly, Grace Kelly, John McShain, Joseph Trainer, Henry McIlhenny, Patrick
Stanton, and others. The Irish
Edition newspaper's Tom Keenan has contributed many of the recent photographs
scattered throughout the book. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Did your Irish roots and your studies at Trinity College
Dublin influence your decision to write this book?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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I always preferred the Irish side of my family. My mother’s maiden name was Finnegan and her
own father, Peter Finnegan, hailed from County Sligo although born in
Liverpool, England. My mother, Margaret
Mary, spoke lovingly of her father, who made sure she took Irish step-dancing
lessons and encouraged singing of the old Irish ballads. Her brother, my Uncle Tom Finnegan, was
deeply involved with The Donegal Society at The Irish Center (in Philadelphia), serving numerous
years as its president or grand marshal of their annual ball or of the annual
St. Patrick’s Day parade. I studied at
Temple University, majoring in English. I
spent a summer studying in Scotland and Ireland, which convinced me that I
wanted to do post-graduate work in Ireland.
I was accepted at Trinity College Dublin in 1968, where I studied for
over two years. I later got a degree at
Drexel University and became a research librarian working in universities and
colleges. </div>
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When I retired a few years
ago, I began writing regional history starting with researching my own historic
home and neighborhood in Philadelphia, called Oak Lane. But I have always loved Irish topics, and a
few years ago discovered the writings of Dr. Dennis Clark, a professor at
Temple University, who has written at least 10 studies of the Irish in
Philadelphia. However, he did not provide
any photographic or pictorial content. I
felt that I could enhance some of his research findings and make a contribution
to the scholarship on this subject in a book format that is very popular and
readable by many -- not just scholars.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Tell us about your interest in preserving Irish history.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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I had been in charge of the archives in a number of
libraries where I worked and started to do short historical presentations with
old photographs, learning how to scan and digitize them. I feel that photographs can tell history in
powerful ways that are rich and deep, giving an emotional directness and reality-based picture of the past. I became
fascinated when I read Dennis Clark’s "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0877222274/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=thewildgeeset-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=0877222274&adid=1TJCAS26YSZVHKX25EN5">The Irish in Philadelphia: 10 Generations of Urban Experience</a>," wondering if I could find historic photographs of the
people he mentioned. As a research
librarian familiar with Philadelphia’s historical societies, museums, and
university collections, I felt it was a perfect fit for me to combine my
skills. I could locate and bring to life photographs that would highlight the
contributions that the Irish have made in the development of Philadelphia, my
home town.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Is there a large population of Irish descendants in
Philadelphia?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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If you go back to 1850 or so, Philadelphia’s population was
over 220,000 when Boston’s was 113,000.
Philadelphia had 72,000 Irish, while Boston had a
population of 35,000 Irish.
After the arrival of the Famine immigrants, Philadelphia had an
industrial growth rate of 54% to 65% over the course of 30 years or so. There are hundreds of thousands of
descendants of this 19th century influx of immigrants who continue to populate
the city and its extensive suburban counties including Montgomery, Delaware,
and Bucks counties, which participate in Philadelphia-based Irish societies as
well as developing their own offshoots of groups like the Ancient Order of the
Hibernians.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFvj9rTBV_KBPgOpIqupLqQeJYULobOvHL7JMtBXwIwm7KEBMd_j1y-e8-OHmVLJL5qqdzFUriPRzTCrb3ENXrt0m56Bjde7BRAxgsolrW2gb_jbVpsT_SCzGj3OQnTvA0vsEQw/s1600/StPat-Hiberians2.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFvj9rTBV_KBPgOpIqupLqQeJYULobOvHL7JMtBXwIwm7KEBMd_j1y-e8-OHmVLJL5qqdzFUriPRzTCrb3ENXrt0m56Bjde7BRAxgsolrW2gb_jbVpsT_SCzGj3OQnTvA0vsEQw/s400/StPat-Hiberians2.tif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">St. Patrick's Day banquet of the Ancient Order of Hibernians at</span></b></div>
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<b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> the Irish Center in Philadelphia, March 17, 1959.</span></b></div>
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<b>What makes them unique?</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwxz4pC0SB25mRxxqcmpBCGYUgmZFKCPQ2G4k7LBYrl-kCKmBU7-Ygev3PHISSkNfXHgrSfTe6FNmWg_wowMGErfKWAAzlNf5-P5wW-6aLKdxZxP4CY3m9qUUtFd48XNfSkNC_Q/s1600/Clan+Na+Gael_1990091.tif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwxz4pC0SB25mRxxqcmpBCGYUgmZFKCPQ2G4k7LBYrl-kCKmBU7-Ygev3PHISSkNfXHgrSfTe6FNmWg_wowMGErfKWAAzlNf5-P5wW-6aLKdxZxP4CY3m9qUUtFd48XNfSkNC_Q/s400/Clan+Na+Gael_1990091.tif" width="275" /></a>If you take the Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick
as an example, I think what makes Philadelphia’s groups so unique is that our
societies are among the oldest in America.
The Friendly Sons predated the establishment of the U.S. by five years, being
founded in 1771. The neighborhoods in
Philadelphia still maintain many of the historic churches, such as St.
Malachy’s; Old St. Mary’s, where Commodore John Barry is buried; and Old St.
Joseph’s, the city's first Roman Catholic church and where the first Catholic mass in Philadelphia was celebrated. This sense of history makes this a sacred
place for Irish Americans since immigrants [here] have found religious freedom as well
as economic, political and intellectual advancement for centuries. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>What was the most surprising thing you learned in the course
of your research and writing of the book?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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I discovered a private club called the MacSwiney Club, located in nearby Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, which houses the original minute-books of the
Clan Na Gael, an offshoot of the Ireland’s Fenian Brotherhood. Joseph McGarrity, a Carrickmore-born man. The Tyrone native made a fortune distilling whiskey in Philadelphia and funded the Easter 1916
Uprising. The extent of the involvement
of McGarrity and other local groups in this revolution was truly astonishing
for me to discover. The Friends of Irish
Freedom, started by McGarrity, raised millions of dollars for this cause. [Future Irish Taoiseach] Eamon de Valera and McGarrity were close
friends, as were many other founders of the Irish Free State.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Is there anything you found particularly challenging in your
writing?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnO-qQuU4Ax-efdr22s7A33QyYua3hAPGBmMDbZI_U0Q6GdWzGnAX_QFWa4hyvgMN2tVDD7zpCPRQTE1XFTpxk2vSy0K5JEoUgch6sUQXP_l8Z4geVmdhric4djEXhfQLBOwX-Q/s1600/fam-mem.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnO-qQuU4Ax-efdr22s7A33QyYua3hAPGBmMDbZI_U0Q6GdWzGnAX_QFWa4hyvgMN2tVDD7zpCPRQTE1XFTpxk2vSy0K5JEoUgch6sUQXP_l8Z4geVmdhric4djEXhfQLBOwX-Q/s400/fam-mem.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>(Philadelphia Famine Memorial, photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/tom.keenan.182">Tom Keenan</a>)</b><br />
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It was hard to limit the historic information in Chapter 1, where I discovered dozens of Irish-born heroes of the American Revolution, as it
was to tell the story of the connection of Philadelphia’s Irish in the 19th and
20th centuries with the establishment of the Irish Free State. In the late 19th century, when I would read
the accounts in old newspapers and pamphlets and lectures, it was hard to keep
all the political movements straight since the complexity of Irish history was
mirrored in the complex reactions of factions in Philadelphia. I tried to show photographs that could mirror
how history unfolded. But it was messy
and complex at times. I tried to keep
issues such as Sinn Fein and Noraid and the Troubles as simple as I could.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>What’s your next project?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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I hope to continue to find photographs to tell the story of
the Irish in Philadelphia. This time I
want to find more photos from the 19th century neighborhoods where the Irish
settled, including Kensington, Port Richmond, Moyamensing, and East Falls. I hope to also write feature stories on some
of the prominent Irish persons, like Grace Kelly and her Irish Library in
Monaco, Henry McIlhenny’s Donegal Castle and other such topics. <b><span style="color: #38761d;">WG</span></b></div>
Gerry Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597915860564953502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21161077.post-61462321457344996542013-02-18T12:11:00.000-05:002013-02-18T20:24:42.700-05:00St. Patrick's Day Art Competition for Children<div class="SubHomeHeading">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRRxHfQnV6mm28r9UYV34UUjyktZ6WFDVf0NKmeh4p0IQqUkbpKInrf4CAPokhDsJZ_pG7gkDjtET_UzMGDe2kAVaUaRaUNHVNixsdQt_JUiYek6euz95t1k1-9LRsAoSGIz-8A/s1600/banner_1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="71" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRRxHfQnV6mm28r9UYV34UUjyktZ6WFDVf0NKmeh4p0IQqUkbpKInrf4CAPokhDsJZ_pG7gkDjtET_UzMGDe2kAVaUaRaUNHVNixsdQt_JUiYek6euz95t1k1-9LRsAoSGIz-8A/s400/banner_1.gif" width="400" /></a><span id="goog_1582507028"></span><span id="goog_1582507029"></span><strong>New York - </strong>The Consulate General of Ireland in New York has
launched a St. Patrick's Day/Lá Fhéile Pádraig Art Competition, which is open to
children from 6 to 16 years. Enter through participating schools and organiations or independently, through the Irish Arts Center in New York.<br />
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The competition has been designed to further the knowldge of St. Patrick, his cultural signficance to Ireland, and why St. Patrick's Day is celebrated around the world. <br />
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Information on how to prepare for the compeitition, materials needed, and procedures can be found on the <a href="http://www.consulateofirelandnewyork.org/uploads/documents/embassy/New%20York%20CG/St.%20Patrick's%20Day%20Art%20Competition/st%20patricks%20day%20art%20competition%20family%20pack.pdf" target="_blank">Consulate General's website</a>. </div>
Gerry Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597915860564953502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21161077.post-82558974623757354372013-02-13T22:45:00.000-05:002013-02-14T20:39:01.933-05:00‘Airswimming’: Forsaken Women Find Love in Margins<b>By Megan Finnegan Bungeroth / Special to<span style="color: #38761d;"> The Wild Geese</span></b><br />
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<b>New York</b> -- The Irish Rep might seem an odd choice of a
venue to stage the United States premiere of a play by a British playwright
chronicling the tragic stories of two British women in Britain. But this
production of “Airswimming,” Charlotte Jones’ first play, is a feat in its
ability to show the particular plight of two individuals while illuminating a
much larger, shadowy world that engulfed thousands of women, in Ireland as well
as other European countries, in the 1920s. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This week, the world is still buzzing anew about the
atrocious conditions under which thousands of Irish women were kept in
servitude in the Magdalene Laundries from 1922 to 1996. In a report released by
Irish Sen. Martin McAleese, the Irish government finally admitted that there had
been "significant state involvement" in placing women in what
amounted to labor camps against their will, after insisting for years that the
responsibility fell solely to the orders of Catholic nuns who ran the
Laundries. Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny has stopped short of issuing an official
apology to those women and their families, however, which has enraged many
activists and reignited interest in the sordid world in which the residents
were trapped for so long. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Dp0Frrxu8-JpCOnnoLTYTW0Vw1rZblSjotS92Uzlo-I_MPjOiGPJ3ZOyGRb3E4AGQrcqPg8R5I-pvEs9W_mmirFzYfd7vCKcYC4g2k_MlOowHqXxZChu8nkUnxqM9_OGqFq7Aw/s1600/airswim1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Dp0Frrxu8-JpCOnnoLTYTW0Vw1rZblSjotS92Uzlo-I_MPjOiGPJ3ZOyGRb3E4AGQrcqPg8R5I-pvEs9W_mmirFzYfd7vCKcYC4g2k_MlOowHqXxZChu8nkUnxqM9_OGqFq7Aw/s320/airswim1.JPG" width="219" /></a>The global outrage only makes “Airswimming,“ first produced
in 1997 at London's Battersea Arts Centre, shine brighter in its moment, making us
remember that the thousands of faceless women who suffered were actually real
people with real personalities who found myriad ways to see themselves through
abominable situations.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Airswimming” is a tightly written, two-woman play that
imagines the interior lives of Miss Annie Kitson and Miss Lucy Baker, real
women who were locked up in an insane asylum in England for the crime of having
children out of wedlock. Their true story shocked the country when they were
finally released in 1972, having spent collectively more than nine decades shut
away from their families (who abandoned them and had them committed as “moral
imbeciles”) and society. At the time, the British government’s National
Association of Mental Health estimated that nearly half of the 52,000 inmates
of the country’s mental hospitals did not, in fact, belong there at all; like
Kitson and Baker, they had no diagnosable mental problems and were no less capable
and functional than the average British woman on the street. And yet . . .<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The most interesting question raised by “Airswimming,” one
that hangs in the small, claustrophobic room that constitutes the entire stage
in Irish Rep’s W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre, is how sane individuals can
possibly survive for 50 years surrounded by others insisting they are unwell.
Dora and Persephone, the first names that Jones bestowed on the Kitson and
Baker characters, may finally get released at the end of the play and returned
their lives, but they certainly don’t escape unscathed.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Through 50 years of incarceration</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNz1IcbUkM8cg-ldooiND_dTIT85OVwk4Cc69QjShvDydZz0ZMSPxMs2uF4vRSeanQsBMHGcL8S3RYaoMW6anIpLgRLNlGWXeZ08lqIRrMVzx7KlOQITBr3nMt4_i2SysQbfMcxg/s1600/airswim3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNz1IcbUkM8cg-ldooiND_dTIT85OVwk4Cc69QjShvDydZz0ZMSPxMs2uF4vRSeanQsBMHGcL8S3RYaoMW6anIpLgRLNlGWXeZ08lqIRrMVzx7KlOQITBr3nMt4_i2SysQbfMcxg/s1600/airswim3.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/110340646250873040538/AirswimmingCarolRosegg?authkey=Gv1sRgCMmq5u3bmNKc2QE#" target="_blank">Photo by Carol Rosegg</a>: Aedín Moloney left, </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">and Rachel Pickup</span></b></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The audience meets Persephone (Rachel Pickup) for the first
time as Dora (Aedín Moloney), who has been locked up for several years, is
introduced to her new companion. Dora has already started to disappear into the
persona she’s created out of obvious self-preservation -- that of a soldier.
She barks orders at a terrified and deluded Persephone, who initially insists
that her family will come back to fetch her and that the whole misunderstanding
will be cleared up.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Within the first two minutes, Dora establishes the world
into which Persephone has been thrust, although the newcomer refuses to accept
it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Here we need strong elbows,” Dora tells her. “We have no
need of a nicely turned ankle, an elegant wrist, a swan-like neck. No, here you
need damn good elbows.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Persephone fantasizes about being rescued by Reggie, the
married, older man who fathered her child, and becomes increasingly agitated as
she realizes that her fantasy will never come true. It’s not until Persephone
relinquishes her grasp on her former world that she is able to survive.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The play flashes between earlier and later scenes, bringing
the audience through over 50 years of incarceration with these women. The
device of time-switching allows the viewer to understand the tedium without
having to experience it firsthand, and it also shows the profound effects that
Dora and Persephone -- who are affectionately dubbed “Dorph” and “Porph” in their
own private world -- have on each other. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While Dora enacts her military escapism, Persephone swans
around in a Doris Day wig, singing the actress’ songs and lauding her
all-American, apple pie-perfect persona; she uses Doris Day’s own mask of cheery
wholesomeness to get her through the darkest times in her life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCY6yEXOWELxAyS23W5ZcnvNOCzCxrk11_qdOePM5sZ73HjFRLAcEJXQUpgob6isNJgDlCHLO2fZqyJ6M8oZsfUlgN4wkWlPu0FZtl0-QEIcy5WZaF33G2cr2WpvlV_qqfOOiww/s1600/airswim2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCY6yEXOWELxAyS23W5ZcnvNOCzCxrk11_qdOePM5sZ73HjFRLAcEJXQUpgob6isNJgDlCHLO2fZqyJ6M8oZsfUlgN4wkWlPu0FZtl0-QEIcy5WZaF33G2cr2WpvlV_qqfOOiww/s1600/airswim2.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/110340646250873040538/AirswimmingCarolRosegg?authkey=Gv1sRgCMmq5u3bmNKc2QE#" target="_blank">Photo by Carol Rosegg</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Porph</b>: I have never been one for artifice. It is a
characteristic I despise. I am always exactly what I am. I always show exactly
how I feel. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Dorph</b>: What are you talking about? </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Porph</b>: Doris said that. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Dorph</b>: I might have known.</blockquote>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The excellently acted and directed play lets us swirl around
and dream and go “airswimming” with Dorph and Porph, while feeling the depths
of Dora and Persephone’s shared despair when they inevitably confront the
bleakness of their lives. Director John Keating has staged the play to
highlight both the dreariness and sparkling moments, accentuating the humor
without sacrificing the gravity. But the beauty, the reason why the airswimming
and the dancing and the playing work to draw us in without even touching the
realm of cheesiness, is because of the profound love that Dora and Persephone
develop for each other. In the end, this production of “Airswimming” is not
actually about the plights of the wrongfully imprisoned women of England and
Ireland and all the other countries where that still happens. It’s about two
women, slowly coming to the realization that they will never be rescued, and so
they rescue each other. <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>WG</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>“Airswimming,” produced in association with Fallen Angel
Theatre Company, is playing at The Irish Repertory Theatre, 132 W. 22nd, St.,
New York, NY, through Sunday. For more
information, visit Irish Rep’s website at <a href="http://www.irishrep.org/">http://www.irishrep.org</a> </b></div>
Gerry Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597915860564953502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21161077.post-13739601144668241932013-02-11T23:00:00.000-05:002013-02-12T11:44:12.375-05:00Welcome to ‘The Wild Geese Kitchen’<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCM3roRp8gL_BUEQzD7fezWYMdrUPvvy8zEWyQzkaTPEZWvNU8NQrXyN0VzQMCUeMLgJ_kwEMTHaz6BiGWE-imf-4pL2n4N9Uo3xr73XaKTrAR8LEULLVdmDmq4mb7lP2ZSdEqOA/s1600/irshpub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCM3roRp8gL_BUEQzD7fezWYMdrUPvvy8zEWyQzkaTPEZWvNU8NQrXyN0VzQMCUeMLgJ_kwEMTHaz6BiGWE-imf-4pL2n4N9Uo3xr73XaKTrAR8LEULLVdmDmq4mb7lP2ZSdEqOA/s1600/irshpub.jpg" /></a></div>
(<b>Right: The dining room at <a href="http://www.lynhamsoflaragh.ie/" target="_blank">Lynham's Hotel</a>, Laragh, County Wicklow, Ireland.</b>)<br />
<br />
We at The Wild Geese are as committed as ever to exploring — and celebrating — the heritage of the Irish worldwide, and never has that mission been more flavorful as now. This week we are launching a new section to our coverage, titled simply “The Wild Geese Kitchen.” Everyone sits up and takes notice when the subject is food. Why? Because everyone loves food! For a long time, in many parts of the world, Mother Ireland was not praised for her prowess in the kitchen. We’ve all heard the slanderous joke about the seven-course Irish meal. But that's all changing: Increasingly, dramatically, foodies are looking to the Emerald Isle as a real player in the world of modern cuisine.<br />
<br />
Surrounded by water, Ireland possesses bountiful natural resources in the form of quality, fresh seafood; salmon, lobster, mussels, scallops, prawns and oysters; an abundance of fresh vegetables, including the versatile potato; organic and free-range meats, smokehouse delicacies and Artisanal cheeses and breads.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53zM5mYwxsL4SvKs5fMv-w9klMYF-d1qeM_gNm65TokcndrvZEW2pCy4nEx9e5gWqziuabBqxFHDACTu0a6K1XAhpeVW9rTJW8pdz9Pc1GipNcg0FCdh0oVZufrPAH9OapEaQew/s1600/pubfood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53zM5mYwxsL4SvKs5fMv-w9klMYF-d1qeM_gNm65TokcndrvZEW2pCy4nEx9e5gWqziuabBqxFHDACTu0a6K1XAhpeVW9rTJW8pdz9Pc1GipNcg0FCdh0oVZufrPAH9OapEaQew/s1600/pubfood.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
(<b>Left: Shepherd's Pie, one of the recipes from blogger <a href="http://www.irishamericanmom.com/cooking/" target="_blank">Irish American Mom</a></b>.)<br />
<br />
In the coming weeks and months, we will highlight some of the outstanding Irish food and spirits and the hundreds of upscale Irish restaurants popping up all over the Emerald Isle and throughout the Irish diaspora, along with the Irish "fusion" dishes they are serving. And remember, we want your input. Contact us with story ideas, and please share your favorite dishes and your favorite restaurants with us!<br />
<b>-- <a href="mailto:kitchen@thewildgeese.com" target="_blank">Maryann Tracy</a>, Producer of ‘<span style="color: #38761d;">The Wild Geese</span> Kitchen’</b>Gerry Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597915860564953502noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21161077.post-32826139337369434262013-02-11T02:28:00.000-05:002013-02-12T11:43:15.082-05:00Shrove Tuesday -- Last Call for Irish Pancakes: 'Kitchen'<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b class="Latn" lang="ga" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" xml:lang="ga"><span style="background-color: white;"><span class="Latn" lang="ga" xml:lang="ga">Céad</span> <span class="Latn" lang="ga" xml:lang="ga">míle</span> </span><span class="Latn" lang="ga" xml:lang="ga"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/f%C3%A1ilte#Irish" style="background-image: none; text-decoration: none;" title="fáilte"><span style="color: black;">fáilte</span></a> to </span></span></b><b>the inaugural column from 'The Wild Geese Kitchen,' produced by Maryann Tracy. Please send your story ideas, recommendations, recipes and feedback for us to <a href="mailto:kitchen@TheWildGeese.com">kitchen@TheWildGeese.com</a>. Go raibh maith agat!</b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></b>efore we find the recipe for the perfect Irish pancake, we must first learn why there is a 'Pancake Tuesday' in the Irish calendar.
Pancake Tuesday, transpiring this week, is another name given to Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent begins
in the Catholic calendar. This falls on a different day each year depending on
when Easter lands. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
The name Shrove comes from the old English word "shrive," meaning to
confess, as on this day Catholics would confess their sins and ask God for
absolution in their parish church before returning home, where they would
announce to family members what they intended to give up for Lent.</div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Lent, of course, symbolizes the 40 days and nights that Jesus spent
fasting in the desert<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">. </span>In
remembrance of this, rich foods, candy and other treats are given up for
40 days. Throughout the world, great feasts are held on the eve of Lent. In Ireland, this feast happens to feature pancakes. Pancakes were chosen as pancake recipes helped exhaust stocks of milk, butter and eggs, which were
forbidden during the Lenten period. It is also common for people to give up alcohol or smoking, with the money saved being placed in a collection box for the poor.</div>
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</div>
</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Once upon a time it was forbidden to marry during
Lent, so the weeks preceding it were busy
for the matchmakers, working feverishly to find suitable candidates for marriages
before Ash Wednesday arrived. Households left with unmarried daughters by Shrove Tuesday tried to earn them better luck for the coming year by
allowing them to toss the first pancake. Their pancake-making skill was seen
as an indication of their romantic chances the next year. If the young woman could toss the pancake and receive it back into the pan,
she would marry within the year. If it didn't turn or was dropped, she
would remain single. </div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Often the mother of the young spinsters placed her own
wedding ring into the batter for the first pancake. If the first toss was a
success, then the cake would be divided among the unmarried guests. The individual who
received the piece containing the ring was considered doubly fortunate -- they
would marry within the year, and it would be a perfect match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">-- Sharon Slater and Maryann Tracy</b></div>
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.irishamericanmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/DSCF7896-1022x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.irishamericanmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/DSCF7896-1022x1024.jpg" width="319" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pancakes from the kitchen of <a href="http://www.irishamericanmom.com/" target="_blank">Irish American Mom</a></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4 align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A Traditional Irish Pancake Recipe</b></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
The following recipe for a traditional Irish Pancake is brought to you courtesy of blogger <a href="http://www.irishamericanmom.com/" target="_blank">Irish American Mom</a>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
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<b>Ingredients:</b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">1 cup all-purpose
flour</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">1/2 teaspoon salt</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">4 large eggs</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">1 1/2 cups milk</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">1/4 stick butter (2
oz melted)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">1/4 stick melted
butter (for frying)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">freshly squeezed
lemon juice (2 lemons)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar
(for serving) </li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.irishamericanmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/DSCF7866-1024x732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://www.irishamericanmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/DSCF7866-1024x732.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ingredients awaiting the call of <span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration: underline;">Irish American Mom</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><u>Directions
</u></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Step 1: Make a batter by whisking together the flour, salt, eggs and milk.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Step 2: Add the melted butter and continue to whisk to form a smooth, thin batter.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Step 3: Heat an 8-inch skillet over medium-high heat, and brush with melted butter.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Step 4: Pour about 1/4 cup of batter into the pan and tilt the pan from side to side to cover it in a thin layer of batter.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Step 5: Reduce to medium heat. When the top is beginning to look dry after 1-2 minutes, flip the pancake and continue to cook for an additional 30-60 seconds on the second side.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Step 6: Transfer the cooked pancake or crêpe to a plate, and cover with foil to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining batter. This recipe yields between 12-15, 8-inch wide pancakes, depending on how thickly they are poured.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Step 7: When the pancakes are cooked, pour 1-2 teaspoons of lemon juice on the inside of each pancake, then sprinkle with sugar. Roll each pancake to form a cylindrical shape. Serve immediately.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Step 8: Alternative pancake fillings include jam, chocolate spread, maple syrup or golden syrup.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Servings: Approximately 15</b></div>
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<br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Tell us your traditional dish for the beginning of Lent. </b></span></span></div>
Gerry Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597915860564953502noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21161077.post-13801576657959116882013-02-02T17:35:00.001-05:002013-02-04T12:11:47.288-05:00In Love, Again, with an Irish Historic Home: Sonja Bergin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQHNEi3Ag1nOADTho1v3jH2xqV1Cz8ikuLwTOQhWsTyFbBhGHoAB3YPeDHJpOCJQ7e1yokYDDqVddIYhVDGlxCc33htr3_b3BTOoT5IlVUZ2udXrXyu09ggmGrjYoEhOlOqUAuQ/s1600/tull1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQHNEi3Ag1nOADTho1v3jH2xqV1Cz8ikuLwTOQhWsTyFbBhGHoAB3YPeDHJpOCJQ7e1yokYDDqVddIYhVDGlxCc33htr3_b3BTOoT5IlVUZ2udXrXyu09ggmGrjYoEhOlOqUAuQ/s320/tull1.JPG" width="256" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">P</span>reservationist and Aussie native <b>Sonja Bergin</b> is a senior medical scientist at a Dublin-based laboratory, originally from East St. Kilda, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. She and her
husband, Kevin, live in Monasterboice, near Drogheda, County Louth, in an 18th century thatched farmhouse that they restored. She met Kevin, a Dublin native, on a scuba-diving holiday in Queensland, Australia.
Period Living Magazine designated the restoration as its <a href="http://www.periodliving.co.uk/readers-homes/readers-homes/restoring-thatched-cottage">‘Best Period Renovation’</a> in 2011. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This experience fueled their interest in the inherently native architecture of Ireland and more recently the tower houses of the 15th and 16th centuries. Since 2003, their increased interest in these houses led them on
countless journeys in search of these ancient ruins, with a view to finding the
ideal tower house ruin to restore. Last fall <b><span style="color: #38761d;">The
Wild Geese </span>Preservation Editor Belinda Evangelista</b> corresponded with Bergin through e-mail, discussing the couple's journey of ownership and restoration of Tullaun
Castle, located in Lisquillibeen, Coolbaun, County Tipperary <b>(Above right, all photos here courtesy of Sonja Bergin).</b><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The Wild Geese</b>: What
was the catalyst for embarkation on this journey of conservation?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Sonja Bergin (left)</b>: Love for old buildings. We live in a
vernacular, thatched farmhouse, which we had restored, but wanted to move to a
more rural location. We didn't think we'd ever find another property as
interesting until we saw another castle for sale, which we made an unsuccessful
bid on, and that set us on our search. After about three years of searching, we
found Tullaun Castle, which was not for sale, and it took about another 9
months or so to firstly convince the owners to sell it to us and then to do all
the things that were needed to agree on, what land came with it, price and then
the securing of a mortgage.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The Wild Geese</b>:
Tullaun Castle is one of the few remaining tower houses of the O’Kennedy
Clan. Can you tell us a little about the
history of the Clan?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Bergin</b>: The O'Kennedy
clan was descended from Cinneide (Kennedy), the nephew of Brian Boru. The O'Kennedy sept consisted of three
branches -- Dunn (brown), Fionn (fair) and Ruadh (red). Tullaun Castle was owned
by members of O'Kennedy Fionn. The three branches of the O'Kennedys are shown
as three helmets on the coat of arms. It is thought that the name is derived
from "helmet-headed," "rough-headed" or
"ugly-headed." When President
John F. Kennedy was presented with a specially commissioned coat of arms on his
visit to Ireland in 1963, the "helmet-headed" interpretation was
chosen.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The Wild Geese</b>: There
is something very romantic in the notion of owning a castle. What are the reactions when you tell people
of your ownership?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Bergin</b>: Some people
think we're mad, and others think it's brilliant. When people visit [Tullaun] for the
first time, they're usually impressed. Its exterior is quite simple, but when
they see the interior (right and below), especially the top two floors, they usually realize what
an amazing building it is.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The Wild Geese</b>:
Tullaun Castle has a murder hole.
Can you explain this feature and perhaps a few more of the attributes of
the castle?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Bergin</b>: The murder
hole is a defense. It is said that
burning oil, boiling water, large rocks, et cetera, would be rained down through the
murder hole. Our murder hole is in perfect condition. Other attributes -- above
the murder hole there is recessed stonework square where the timber cover must
have rested. The castle also has most of the cut stone around the windows and
doors intact. It has numerous "hanging eyes" (medieval stone hinges
for the doors and windows).<br />
<br />
On the top floor there are stone sconces for
candles or rush lights in the window embrasures. It has three slop-stones for
ejecting food and slops from the castle (probably to pigs waiting below). You
can still see some of the wickerwork that was used to construct the arches in
the window embrasures.<br />
<br />
The top two floors are very bright and have lovely views.
There is a lovely vaulted hall on the third floor, where the ceiling rises to
about 18 feet. The castle has two garderobes, and, in the top one, it still has part
of the stone slab that made up part of the original toilet seat. There are
recesses next to the seats for the "toilet paper" to be stored.<br />
<br />
One
of the things I love about Tullaun is that it's a little bit wonky, and not
because of structural faults. Some of the windows are not centered as you would
expect, and there are other little idiosyncrasies that don't really make any
sense. Stonemasons' marks are still
visible on some of the cut stonework. The beautifully crafted spiral staircase
is still intact and in great condition. Another attribute is its wonderful
location -- surrounded by woods, forestry and rolling green fields and a pretty
crystal clear stream. On a clear night the stars are amazing, and I’ve seen some
fantastic sun and moonrises.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b>The Wild Geese</b>: Tell
me about your work to date on Tullaun Castle (above and below) and some of your future plans for this
monumental task.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Bergin</b>: Our work to
date has been very limited due to lack of funds. We have repaired the existing
lane to the castle, but there is no road at all to the castle for about the last
300 meters [328 yards] so this still needs to be done. We have been granted planning
permission to restore the castle. In November 2009, we put in temporary floors
which meant we could finally access all the rooms instead of just looking at
them from the spiral staircase. The other thing we have done is put plastic
sheeting on the top floor to help reduce the amount of rainwater that enters
the castle through the vault.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The Wild Geese</b>: What
have you found most frustrating and rewarding in the task to date?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Bergin</b>: The most
frustrating -- the current economic situation in Ireland means we cannot do very
much at the moment. As it is a recorded monument, the planning process is slow
and expensive. Although the castle is a recorded monument, which means stringent
planning rules with added expense, it has not been designated 'protected
structure' status. The castle is therefore essentially not eligible for any
grants toward its maintenance or restoration. The most rewarding parts have
included meeting a lot of interesting, like-minded people who have restored or
are restoring a castle. Tullaun Castle is in the most wonderful location. It is
essentially land-locked, with no passing traffic, and it feels like you really
are in your own little world. Its close location to Lough Derg means we have
lots of wildlife activity. It is a lovely place to spend time just relaxing and
getting back to nature, and no day is ever the same.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The Wild Geese</b>: Is
there anything you would like to add?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Bergin</b>: Our plan is
to do the restoration as simply as possible. If something doesn't need to be
repaired or tidied up we won't. We want it to still feel as if the building is
nearly 500 years old. The exterior will have an external white-lime render like that in Grantstown Castle [in Kilfeacle, County Tipperary], which should prevent moisture from entering the
structure. We feel honored to be the keepers of such a special building, and I
hope one day we can restore it back to its former glory. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>To learn more about Tullaun Castle, visit <a href="http://www.tullauncastle.com/index.html">http://www.tullauncastle.com/index.html</a>. <span style="color: #38761d;">WG</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
Gerry Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597915860564953502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21161077.post-86935053497453662962013-02-02T12:33:00.001-05:002013-02-02T12:51:28.971-05:00Irish America Well on Way to 'American Dream': Census<br />
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Census Bureau News -- Profile America Facts for Features: </b></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Irish-American Heritage Month (March) and St. Patrick's Day </b></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>(March 17): 2013</b></span></h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHHeO2FZdcVJgoOpAlsVuiZeBQoyjYQZj4ky9b6pfFPt1fxRbAO2gTn5TC_FUQJvfIfGW2V1fT-wf7T1cgwWr3P-yt5WRfC8xUM6YXPWJa0V-YEwWUaKx7oODOQp65ZaZXfrDig/s1600/St+Patricks+Day+1762.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHHeO2FZdcVJgoOpAlsVuiZeBQoyjYQZj4ky9b6pfFPt1fxRbAO2gTn5TC_FUQJvfIfGW2V1fT-wf7T1cgwWr3P-yt5WRfC8xUM6YXPWJa0V-YEwWUaKx7oODOQp65ZaZXfrDig/s320/St+Patricks+Day+1762.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td><i><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Museum of the City of New York</i><br />
<b>An illustration of the parade in 1874, looking south into Union Square.</b></td></tr>
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Originally a religious holiday to honor St. Patrick, who introduced Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century, St. Patrick's Day has evolved into a celebration for all things Irish. The world's first St. Patrick's Day parade occurred on March 17, 1762, in New York City, featuring Irish soldiers serving in the English military. This parade became an annual event, with President Truman attending in 1948. Congress proclaimed March as Irish-American Heritage Month in 1995, and the president issues a proclamation commemorating the occasion each year.</div>
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<b>Population Distribution</b></div>
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<b>34.5 million</b> <br />
Number of U.S. residents who claimed Irish ancestry in 2011. This number was more than seven times the population of Ireland itself (4.68 million). Irish was the nation's second most frequently reported ancestry, trailing only German.<br />
Sources: 2011 American Community Survey<br />
<a href="http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/S0201//popgroup~541" style="color: #3daa0e;" target="_blank">http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/S0201//popgroup~541</a><br />
Ireland Central Statistics Office<br />
<a href="http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/releasespublications/documents/latestheadlinefigures/popmig_2012.pdf" style="color: #3daa0e;" target="_blank">http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/releasespublications/documents/latestheadlinefigures/popmig_2012.pdf</a> </div>
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<b>150,990</b>Number of Irish-born naturalized U.S. residents in 2011.<br />
Source: 2011 American Community Survey<br />
<a href="http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/S0201//popgroup~541" style="color: #3daa0e;" target="_blank">http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/S0201//popgroup~541</a></div>
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<b>39.3 years old</b>Median age of U.S. residents who claim Irish ancestry is higher than the U.S. residents median age as a whole (37.3 years).<br />
Source: 2011 American Community Survey<br />
<a href="http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/S0201//popgroup~541" style="color: #3daa0e;" target="_blank">http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/S0201//popgroup~541</a></div>
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<b>12.9%</b>Percent of New York state residents who were of Irish ancestry in 2011. This compares with a rate of 11.1 percent for the nation as a whole.<br />
Source: 2011 American Community Survey<br />
<a href="http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/DP02/0400000US36" style="color: #3daa0e;" target="_blank">http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/DP02/0400000US36</a><br />
<a href="http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/DP02/0100000US" style="color: #3daa0e;" target="_blank">http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/DP02/0100000US</a></div>
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<b>Irish-Americans Today</b></div>
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<b>33.3%</b>Percentage of people of Irish ancestry, 25 or older, who had a bachelor's degree or higher. In addition, 92.9 percent of Irish-Americans in this age group had at least a high school diploma. For the nation as a whole, the corresponding rates were 28.5 percent and 85.9 percent, respectively.<br />
Source: 2011 American Community Survey<br />
<a href="http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/S0201//popgroup~541" style="color: #3daa0e;" target="_blank">http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/S0201//popgroup~541</a><br />
<a href="http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/DP02/0100000US" style="color: #3daa0e;" target="_blank">http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/DP02/0100000US</a></div>
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<b>$57,319</b>Median income for households headed by an Irish-American, higher than the $50,502 for all households. In addition, 7.3 percent of families of Irish ancestry were in poverty, lower than the rate of 11.7 percent for all Americans families.<br />
Source: 2011 American Community Survey<br />
<a href="http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/S0201//popgroup~541" style="color: #3daa0e;" target="_blank">http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/S0201//popgroup~541</a><br />
<a href="http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/DP03/0100000US" style="color: #3daa0e;" target="_blank">http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/DP03/0100000US</a></div>
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<b>41%</b>Percentage of employed civilian Irish-Americans 16 or older who worked in management, professional and related occupations. Additionally, 25.9 percent worked in sales and office occupations; 16.0 percent in service occupations; 9.3 percent in production, transportation and material moving occupations; and 7.8 percent in construction, extraction, maintenance and repair occupations.<br />
Source: 2011 American Community Survey<br />
<a href="http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/S0201//popgroup~541" style="color: #3daa0e;" target="_blank">http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/S0201//popgroup~541</a></div>
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<b>69.3%</b>Percentage of householders of Irish ancestry who owned the home in which they live, with the remainder renting. For the nation as a whole, the homeownership rate was 64.6 percent.<br />
Source: 2011 American Community Survey<br />
<a href="http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/S0201//popgroup~541" style="color: #3daa0e;" target="_blank">http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/S0201//popgroup~541</a><br />
<a href="http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/DP04/0100000US" style="color: #3daa0e;" target="_blank">http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/DP04/0100000US</a></div>
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<b>Places to Spend the Day</b></div>
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<b>7 </b>Number of places in the United States named Shamrock, the floral emblem of Ireland. Mount Gay-Shamrock, W.Va., and Shamrock, Texas, were the most populous, with 1,585 and 1,929 residents, respectively. Shamrock Lakes, Ind., had 228 residents and Shamrock, Okla., 101. Three Shamrock Townships in Minnesota, Nebraska and Missouri had populations of 1,273, 301 and 40, respectively.<br />
Source: 2010 Demographic Profile<a href="http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_DP05&prodType=table" style="color: #3daa0e;" target="_blank">http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_DP05&prodType=table</a></div>
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<b>13</b>Number of places in the United States that share the name of Ireland's capital, Dublin. The most populous of these places is Dublin, Calif., with a population of 43,572.<br />
Source: 2011 American Community Survey</div>
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If you're still not into the spirit of St. Paddy's Day, then you might consider paying a visit to Emerald Isle, N.C., with 3,702 residents.<br />
Source: 2010 Demographic Profile<br />
<a href="http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_DP02&prodType=table" style="color: #3daa0e;" target="_blank">http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_DP02&prodType=table</a></div>
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Other appropriate places in which to spend the day: the township of Irishtown, Ill., several places or townships named Clover (in South Carolina, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin) and the township of Cloverleaf, Minn.</div>
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<b>Irish Imports and Celebrations!</b></div>
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In the month of St. Patrick's Day, the value of U.S. imports of beer made from malt increased, going from $288,073,597 in February 2012 to $374,076,005 in March 2012; in April of that same year the value of beer imports went back down to $334,769,134.<br />
Source: U.S. Census Bureau: Foreign Trade Division USA Trade ® Online U.S. Import and Export Merchandise trade<br />
<a href="https://www.usatradeonline.gov/" style="color: #3daa0e;" target="_blank">https://www.usatradeonline.gov/</a><br />
<a href="http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/" style="color: #3daa0e;" target="_blank">http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/</a></div>
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The pattern was the same for nonalcoholic beer. The value of its U.S. imports increased, going from $1,114,450 in February 2012 to $1,234,910 in March 2012; in April of that same year the value of nonalcoholic beer imports went back down to $1,173,111.<br />
Source: U.S. Census Bureau: Foreign Trade Division USA Trade ® Online U.S. Import and Export Merchandise trade<br />
<a href="https://www.usatradeonline.gov/" style="color: #3daa0e;" target="_blank">https://www.usatradeonline.gov/</a></div>
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<b>$39.4 billion </b>The total value of imports from Ireland in 2011 to the U.S.<br />
Source: Foreign Trade Division<br />
<a href="http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/product/enduse/imports/c4190.html" style="color: #3daa0e;" target="_blank">http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/product/enduse/imports/c4190.html</a></div>
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<b>$532.1 million </b>The total value of alcoholic beverages except wine and related products imported from Ireland in 2011 to the United States. The total amount of wine and related products imported from Ireland in 2011 to the U.S. was $6.0 million.<br />
Source: Foreign Trade Division<br />
<a href="https://www.usatradeonline.gov/" style="color: #3daa0e;" target="_blank">https://www.usatradeonline.gov/</a></div>
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<b>$2.8 billion and $28.6 million</b><br />
Value of beef and cabbage imported to the U.S. in 2011. Corned beef and cabbage is a traditional St. Patrick's Day dish.<br />
Sources: Foreign Trade Division<br />
<a href="https://www.usatradeonline.gov/" style="color: #3daa0e;" target="_blank">https://www.usatradeonline.gov/</a></div>
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Following is a list of observances typically covered by the Census Bureau's Facts for Features series:</div>
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<span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">African-American History Month (February)</span></div>
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<span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">Labor Day</span></div>
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<tr><td style="border: 1pt; padding-left: 6pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><div class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;">
<span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">Super Bowl</span></div>
</td><td style="border: 1pt; padding-left: 6pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><div class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;">
<span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">Grandparents Day</span></div>
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<span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">Valentine's Day (Feb. 14)</span></div>
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<span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15)</span></div>
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<span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">Women's History Month (March)</span></div>
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<span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">Unmarried and Single Americans Week</span></div>
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<span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">Irish-American Heritage Month (March)/ </span></div>
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<span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">Halloween (Oct. 31)</span></div>
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<span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">St. Patrick's Day (March 17)</span></div>
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<span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month</span></div>
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<span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (May)</span></div>
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<span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;"> (November) </span></div>
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<span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">Older Americans Month (May) </span></div>
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<span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">Veterans Day (Nov. 11) </span></div>
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<span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">Cinco de Mayo (May 5)</span></div>
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<span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">Thanksgiving Day</span></div>
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<span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">Mother's Day</span></div>
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<span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">The Holiday Season (December) </span></div>
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<tr><td style="border: 1pt; padding-left: 6pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><div class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;">
<span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">Hurricane Season Begins (June 1) </span></div>
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<span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">Father's Day</span></div>
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<span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">The Fourth of July (July 4)</span></div>
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<span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act (July 26)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="border: 1pt; padding-left: 6pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><div class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;">
<span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">Back to School (August)</span></div>
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</tbody></table>
</div>
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<b>Editor's note</b>: The preceding data were collected from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. Facts for Features are customarily released about two months before an observance in order to accommodate magazine production timelines. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau's Public Information Office: telephone: 301-763-3030; fax: 301-763-3762; or e-mail: <a href="mailto:pio@census.gov" style="color: #3daa0e;" target="_blank">pio@census.gov</a>.</div>
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Contact: Public Information Office<br />
301-763-3030<br />
<a href="mailto:pio@census.gov" style="color: #3daa0e;" target="_blank">pio@census.gov</a> </div>
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SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau </div>
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This article, <a class="title" href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/census-bureau-news----profile-america-facts-for-features-irish-american-heritage-month-march-and-st-patricks-day-march-17-2013-188866971.html" style="color: #3daa0e; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Census Bureau News -- Profile America Facts for Features: Irish-American Heritage Month (March) and St. Patrick's Day (March 17): 2013</a>, is syndicated from <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/census-bureau-news----profile-america-facts-for-features-irish-american-heritage-month-march-and-st-patricks-day-march-17-2013-188866971.html" style="color: #3daa0e; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">PR Newswire</a> and is posted here with permission.</div>
<br />Gerry Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597915860564953502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21161077.post-35811327822601821922013-01-04T12:24:00.001-05:002013-01-04T16:47:47.779-05:00Chatting with ‘Max O’Rover’ on Italish-Irish Relations<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Italian writer
and editor <b>Massimiliano Roveri</b> is
driven, and, in a sense, adrift, a storyteller who has found himself 1,300
miles from Ireland, the country that inspires him most. Roveri, 43, based in the
central Italian province of Tuscany, has written two novels set in Ireland, and
is working on a third. He uses the nom de plume <b>“Max O’Rover,”</b> and is the editor-in-chief of the three-year-old Irish-Italian
cultural webzine, <b>Italish</b>, at </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.italish.eu/">www.italish.eu</a>. He works with a team of five, abetted by perhaps not-so-silent
partners, he says </span><span style="font-family: Symbol;">-</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> “Irish people in Italy … pub friends.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Italish, written largely in
Italian, offers some content in English. In an interview last week, ‘O’Rover’
highlighted several past offerings, including the “Irish geography” of Irish
singer <a href="http://italish.eu/news/christy-moore-songs-geography/"><b>Christy Moore</b>’s oeuvre</a>, a review of <a href="http://italish.eu/news/le-recensioni-irlandofile-di-maxmag87-paula-spencer-di-roddy-doyle/"><b>Roddy Doyle</b>’s novel “Paula Spencer”</a> and an interview with <a href="http://italish.eu/news/an-irish-eye-on-irish-lanscapes-enda-cavanagh/">Irish landscape photographer Enda Cavanagh</a>.<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">His site’s focus, according
to Roveri, includes “the Aran (Islands) experience,” Cinema Irlandese – Irish
Movies; Cucina Irlandese – Irish Cooking; ItalishMagazineMap, with
Google-based, data-filled maps about Irish books, music, tourism, and movies;
Musica Irlandese – Irish Music; Notizie Irlandesi – Irish News; Teatro –
Theatre; Turismo & Eventi – Tourism & Events; and Sports. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In a Skype chat last week, the
playful Roveri, who makes his living as a logistics manager for a local company,
brought <b><span style="color: green;">The
Wild Geese</span></b>’s <b>Gerry Regan</b>
up to date on Italish’s and his own exploration of Irish culture. It quickly
became clear that ‘O’Rover,’ despite speaking English as a second language, finds
among his muses Joycean word-play and the literary sensibilities of writers Martin
McDonagh and Roddy Doyle. <b><span style="color: green;">WG</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Wild Geese:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Max, where are you located, and how did you come to be so smitten with
Irish culture?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9HvwlNlCjm8QTMJK6PsFGMP4NT4mBIlMFg6VD-ZQg0RvTNVbgcjiq2f3uufa2aPqQBuqcXpdCrbRua8e6DemMhiOd4AeGyl-cXVgVF9r-MP1wtEnIXKUiz8fmN-qXhyUmXp1Zw/s1600/MaxMaG+Flaminio+6Nations+2007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9HvwlNlCjm8QTMJK6PsFGMP4NT4mBIlMFg6VD-ZQg0RvTNVbgcjiq2f3uufa2aPqQBuqcXpdCrbRua8e6DemMhiOd4AeGyl-cXVgVF9r-MP1wtEnIXKUiz8fmN-qXhyUmXp1Zw/s200/MaxMaG+Flaminio+6Nations+2007.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary Grace and Max showing their<br />
true colors in 2007 at Stadio Flaminio,<br />
Rome at Six Nations rugby tourney.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Max O’Rover:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">
I'm located in Italy, and Ireland has been a thunderbolt. I was there first in
1999 (honeymoon) and I felt myself at home there. So I started to, quoting Ray
Bradbury, "study" the Irish people, their culture, their music. Year
by year we have been many times to Ireland. I wrote two books about Ireland and
... well, tons of posts on <b>Italish</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Wild Geese:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> What drew you to Ireland for that fateful honeymoon, and, by the way,
does your wife share your fascination with Ireland?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">O’Rover:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">
Books did, for sure, the mythology of the Celts. We wanted to see where the
adventures of Cu Chulainn, Fionn Mc Cool, Queen Medbh were set. And, yes, I'm
lucky that my wife, Mary Grace, shares with me this huge passion, though a bit
less when we are on the Irish hills on bikes. (When they tell you Ireland is
flat, well: they lie!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Wild Geese:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Is Mary Grace Italian? And where in Italy are you writing from, where
are you and <b>Italish</b> based?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">O’Rover:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">
Yes, Mary Grace is Italian, just like me. We are based in Livorno, Tuscany.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Wild Geese:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> When did you decide to establish <b>Italish</b>,
and how did you come on the name?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNw6GKXlAPxXSdF5QeW5uGesr7Cz8m8LbjPO-ZI0kAuhsWS71Fg9IUdGWgVr1IDPVyxaYO0Y8JSZC_TkIt7agvQwQ8iZo3XgNfTqAef5wYewekH1NJhr5qtNfJqoUqwY_RvbgSWQ/s1600/MaxMaG+with+Glen+Hansard+2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNw6GKXlAPxXSdF5QeW5uGesr7Cz8m8LbjPO-ZI0kAuhsWS71Fg9IUdGWgVr1IDPVyxaYO0Y8JSZC_TkIt7agvQwQ8iZo3XgNfTqAef5wYewekH1NJhr5qtNfJqoUqwY_RvbgSWQ/s200/MaxMaG+with+Glen+Hansard+2009.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'MaG,' singer-songwriter<br />
Glen Hansard, and Max in Dublin's<br />
National Concert Hall in 2009</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">O’Rover:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">
After I wrote my two books, we set a nonprofit company trying to self-publish.
But there are so many competitors and, in the end, it was bringing me far from
my personal objective: To tell Irish stories. So, from Querci & Roberson (my
nonprofit company name, inspired by surnames of alter egos in the books)
italish.eu started out. <b>Italish</b> is a
melting pot of "things" from Ireland and Italy, so it is Italian and
Irish: Italish! Our site has been online since 2010, and it's growing up.
Slowly, but we are very proud of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Wild Geese:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> You've mentioned your books a few times, Max. Tell us about them --
what are their titles, what are they about, are they available in English, and
how and where can be acquired?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">O’Rover:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> I
use an aka. Ok, don't laugh </span><span style="font-family: Symbol;">-</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Max O'Rover. The novels are set in Dublin, right now they are only in Italian,
and soon they will be sold as e-books. Max O'Rover writes also a bit in
English: You can find a full synopsis of my first book "The Day We Met
Roddy Doyle" on italish.eu, with a couple of short stories in English, at <a href="http://italish.eu/news/how-the-irish-rediscovered-the-solstice/">http://italish.eu/news/how-the-irish-rediscovered-the-solstice/</a>
, <a href="http://italish.eu/news/when-the-devil-comes-to-inis-mor-2/">http://italish.eu/news/when-the-devil-comes-to-inis-mor-2/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The synopsis is here: <a href="http://italish.eu/news/the-day-we-met-roddy-doyle-by-max-orover-with-many-many-spoilers/">http://italish.eu/news/the-day-we-met-roddy-doyle-by-max-orover-with-many-many-spoilers/</a>
.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Wild Geese:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> These are fiction, I gather. How does your background, your childhood
and education, color the Irish settings of your fiction?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">O’Rover:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> A
hint about the second book </span><span style="font-family: Symbol;">-</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> it’s
set during the Christmas holidays: Carabiniere Cesare Petralìa is in Dublin
with his wife Serena, invited by his friend and colleague Brian Browne, Garda
inspector. But just a few hours after
landing, Cesare gets involved in a murder case. In a cold and dazzling Dublin,
stories of ordinary men and women clash in a struggle that seems without hope,
against an untouchable power elite and the Dublin mob. The books have also Italian
characters. The big challenge is to give strength to the Irish characters, and
I'm very proud when Irish people living in Italy told me that [these
characters] are ... Irish enough. ;-) I'm very interested in Ireland’s changes:
I arrived there with the ‘Celtic Tiger’ at its start, I've seen it die. ...
What I tried to understand, while writing, was what was happening to Irish
people in this strange period of their history and try to understand how they
feel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1r6xBfhs4qMAenYBlmO-KLuCl-TCRWewDK4rYJGBbAfdEQvJ3SvqAZxVaYwCPBcu0wqrk0w1DgfVd0dtCa2uIOp0Mb9Ogkygo-GMm2ltG40chm4s_IMBOtkoMfbsCiMNTc7UKA/s1600/ItalishMagazine_ITManager_Francesco'Palla'Pallanti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1r6xBfhs4qMAenYBlmO-KLuCl-TCRWewDK4rYJGBbAfdEQvJ3SvqAZxVaYwCPBcu0wqrk0w1DgfVd0dtCa2uIOp0Mb9Ogkygo-GMm2ltG40chm4s_IMBOtkoMfbsCiMNTc7UKA/s200/ItalishMagazine_ITManager_Francesco'Palla'Pallanti.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frencesco "Palla" Pallanti --<br />
Italish's IT, web, and social<br />
marketing expert</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Wild Geese:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> I gather Italish reflects your passion for all things Irish. What do
you most admire about the Irish? Are there any aspects of Irish culture that
you find undesirable or unflattering?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">O’Rover:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> I
love the "conversationalism" of Irish people. Their empathy. And, of
course, I, we, absolutely love their literary culture. Something undesirable?
Of course, it can't be that everything is OK. But the problems are the same
everywhere. … I hope they are not so racist as Garda Sergeant Gerry Boyle </span><span style="font-family: Symbol;">-</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Brendan Gleeson’s character in <span style="color: #1a1a1a;">John Michael McDonagh's black comedy </span>"The
Guard." ;-)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Wild Geese:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Who helps you with Italish, what's the names of the Italish team? And
does the team include any Irish individuals, presumably Italian-speaking?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">O’Rover:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">
Max and MaG [Mary Grace] for posts. Francesco "Palla" Pallanti is in
command of IT: He is a great friend and an awesome partner, with expertise in
web and social marketing. We have a couple of new colleagues: Camilla Foglieri
as editor in Italy and Liam O'Broin in Dublin. And, of course, Irish people in
Italy. Pub friends ... ;-)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKtytmQFHah5zJ2q3oCsi1K4odlIBSWL_jElHNGKyF6xRxtNm6rMEP51CiMWEUUW0pvIdH0hVmhyOjdbFq7xQP7XB70OQpwWZiTm_m4KsGqmg3V3_KRxwkqtdEEXtwrTBEHQ17A/s1600/ItalishMagazine_Editor_CamillaFoglieri.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKtytmQFHah5zJ2q3oCsi1K4odlIBSWL_jElHNGKyF6xRxtNm6rMEP51CiMWEUUW0pvIdH0hVmhyOjdbFq7xQP7XB70OQpwWZiTm_m4KsGqmg3V3_KRxwkqtdEEXtwrTBEHQ17A/s200/ItalishMagazine_Editor_CamillaFoglieri.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Editor Camilla Foglieri,<br />
at Claddagh Park, Galway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Wild Geese:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">
What Irish culture can be accessed live in Italy? Have you set out to identify
and ultimately highlight Italian ties to Ireland?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">O’Rover:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> It's
very easy to do with music, and tourism. Everybody knows U2, and Italians …
like Ireland. What we are doing for readers is helping … give their Irish experiences
depth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Wild Geese:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">
Have you explored the experiences of the Irish in Italy within Italish's pages?
Hugh O'Neill in Rome, for example, and James Joyce. There must be many more examples, I'd imagine. [Wikipedia article on<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Irish_expatriates_in_Italy"> Irish expatriates in Italy</a>.]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">O’Rover:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> We'd
love to do that, but in this we are just starting. And help from Irish people
living in Italy would be very appreciated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEsH2VrMV-poWqmKiy4bnaz1W_Og8ykyUrv_SYmC663yId381iOKnic1C1Duw2zv6Rg32-1Vl1NTfyGvjKplUUcHwRkPjrXNb3ups6wiiHLd-OxL1BnqHAemTjyUpuZ3ZEL7VCg/s1600/LiamO'Broin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEsH2VrMV-poWqmKiy4bnaz1W_Og8ykyUrv_SYmC663yId381iOKnic1C1Duw2zv6Rg32-1Vl1NTfyGvjKplUUcHwRkPjrXNb3ups6wiiHLd-OxL1BnqHAemTjyUpuZ3ZEL7VCg/s200/LiamO'Broin.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Italish's Dublin-based editor<br />
Liam O'Broin in Wicklow Mountains</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Wild Geese:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> And finally, then, when Ireland plays Italy in football, whom do you
guys root for?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">O’Rover:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Interesting
question. ... MaG shouts for Italy, me for Ireland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Wild Geese:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> We like to ask the hard questions!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">O’Rover:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> But
for me "the" sport is rugby.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Wild Geese:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Very diplomatic response!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">O’Rover:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> But true! In 2007, we were at Stadio Flaminio
for Ireland versus Italy, and I was quite . . . green, I can assure you. <b><span style="color: green;">WG</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Gerry Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597915860564953502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21161077.post-16659618220339382042012-12-24T11:06:00.000-05:002012-12-27T20:03:19.183-05:00Letters Spur Look at 7 Executions: Q&A With Rob Doyle<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">K</span></b>ildare-based writer and <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>WG</b></span> Contributing Editor <b>Robert Doyle</b>
is a keen student of the Irish experience during America’s Civil War and in the
19th century American West. He has written several multi-part series for <span style="color: #38761d;"><b><a href="http://www.thewildgeese.com/">TheWild Geese</a></b></span> over the past two years, including “<a href="http://www.thewildgeese.com/pages/popeirb.html">The Pope’s Irish Battalion</a>” and
“<a href="http://www.thewildgeese.com/pages/7thcav.html">Custer's Last Irishmen</a>.” With “<a href="http://thewildgeesegenealogy.blogspot.com/2012/12/we-are-to-be-shot-in-morning.html">We Are To Be Shot in the Morning</a>,” our current
highlighted feature, Doyle focuses on a different civil war, one that his
ancestors, and particularly his wife’s grandfather, experienced intimately,
that is, the Irish Civil War, which ranged from June 1922 to May 1923. In that
time, anywhere between 1,000 and 4,000 died, on all sides, including civilians, with precise figures still be calculated.
Included in this number are the 77 ‘irregulars’ executed by the Free State
during the civil war, startling when compared to the 24 official executions of
IRA soldiers by the British during the 30 months of the Irish War of
Independence. <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>WG</b></span> Executive Producer <b>Gerry Regan</b> IM’d some questions to Doyle
about this new focus and the Irish experience during its own Civil War.<br />
<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The Wild Geese</b>: Rob, what have you been doing since the last
time we spoke with you, about the Irish in the American Civil War?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://irishacwtrail.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArNuKRQ8_wSfQU8KH1uOx7rf62A4_rVTbnWnYrt_wsJiwcS1KI9Z-ndEFdwfpd0xd8X2snAcBXN8km8UeNvLnKelH_e8grHAJi_SNOzfK4yXr3t0oQhfBPs_COYpa3LRT5zUgQQ/s320/iramcw.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Logo of the Irish American Civil War
Trail</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Robert Doyle</b>: Well, Ger, we are still working with
established organizations, including the Irish government, to seek recognition
of the Irish participation in the American Civil War in the form of some
commemoration. There have been a few published articles in local newspapers and
a snippet on the history show broadcast on national radio but we are keeping up
the pressure. A commissioned series on national radio is likely in 2013 along
with some further, more prominent events to highlight the role of the 180,000
Irish in that iconic conflict. I’m also glad to say that the Civil War Trust,
one of America’s most prominent preservation organizations, has recognized the
historical trail that we have put together. All details can be found on
<a href="http://irishacwtrail.com/">irishacwtrail.com</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The Wild Geese</b>: This local focus on the Irish Civil War
seems a bit of a departure for you. How did you happen on this story? What's
your connection to it?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Doyle</b>: My wife's grandfather, Eamonn O’Modhráin, was
a commander in the Irish Republican Army in Kildare during the War of
Independence with Britain. I recently stumbled across his 'treasure trove' of
documents and among the pile were a number of copies of the executed men’s
final letters to friends and family. Realizing their significance and
poignancy, I decided to write an article on the background to the executions
and relay some of the men’s final thoughts and wishes on the eve of their
deaths.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The Wild Geese</b>: Kildare for some reason, and Leinster in
general, is not thought of as a hotbed of republicanism. In fact, it was part
of the so-called Pale, which the English had largely pacified beginning in the
Middle Ages.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005LGTE78/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=thewildgeeset-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B005LGTE78&adid=1SEJKFAXYD2VQ9F37P52" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_KtBJaM-6soouaGiIrjM00q2KpClY91ssFOiMTGnf2wkKZ4I9IgUjGi7q5gDsG_ywvRG7izaC7sWj_6INTK_I4lQBHiMd7Nz4RAJYM2q21JCWOyQBcYXMbzMgrX6xOxk6b8yQg/s320/kildcw.jpg" width="196" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Click on image to buy this </b><b>book</b></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Doyle</b>: True, but there was nationalistic activity in
all corners of the island and, while Kildare may not have a prominent position
in the history books detailing that troubled time, it did have its fair share of
rebel activity. Attempting to operate covertly while living in close proximity
to the largest military compound outside of Dublin and Cork, at The Curragh, is
also a reason why these small units of Irish nationalists in Kildare should be
recognized for their dedication and organization.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The Wild Geese</b>: So were these so-called 'Irregulars'
outliers for this part of Ireland?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Doyle</b>: Men and women who had fought side by side
against British rule turned their vitriol and their weapons on each other in a
bitter conflict that began with the occupation of the Four Courts in the summer
of 1922 by forces opposed the signing and ratification of an Anglo-Irish
Treaty. The outbreak of the Civil War forced pro- and anti-Treaty supporters to
choose sides. Supporters of the treaty came to be known as pro-treaty or Free
State Army, legally the National Army. The objectors called themselves
Republicans, but were more commonly known by the Free State government as
“Irregulars.” In the same way that every county had republican activists during
the struggle with Britain, each part of Ireland had, in turn, men and women
opposed to the Treaty.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The Wild Geese</b>: I'm struck by their ages, with three of the
executed men being teenagers. Did not the Free State tend to attract the
youngest men in Ireland, with the IRA drawing the veterans of the preceding few
years' military struggle?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Doyle</b>: I’m not sure if anything can be read into the
ages of the men. Younger men, by their nature, are drawn to excitement and are
more vociferous with regard to something they believe in. The veterans that
fought against the Free State obviously felt that business was unfinished from
the War of Independence. As to the large numbers of young men joining the new
Free State Army, the “irregulars” did not provide a salary and a possible
pension. Frugal times, you have to remember. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNlFkdzQf5HWMufVTspq6mCJveq19QXZdCXLlPVCZyMt9zEsRaWKRbCq_cQNB08iY__skn0jFWKhS1CnOcLgRM1maBpcZ2zEsgmzzXUIXX9NiIaC3_VYvaFNhqrbd8_XZvZOI_g/s1600/currcam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNlFkdzQf5HWMufVTspq6mCJveq19QXZdCXLlPVCZyMt9zEsRaWKRbCq_cQNB08iY__skn0jFWKhS1CnOcLgRM1maBpcZ2zEsgmzzXUIXX9NiIaC3_VYvaFNhqrbd8_XZvZOI_g/s400/currcam.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A postcard of the Curragh Camp, where the 7 were executed.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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<b>The Wild Geese</b>: These men were quickly honored by the
neighbors, their corpses taken from the prison, and re-interred outside within
several years. That suggests that these guerrillas’ family, friends and
neighbors either made peace with the IRA's objectives and armed struggle, or
else strong Kildare support for the 'anti-Treaty' side. Which do you feel is
the case?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Doyle</b>: I think that wounds healed to a certain
extent, but probably the main reason for their reburials was that the men were
initially buried within the grounds of a military compound, so their final
resting places were not easily accessible to their families. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The Wild Geese</b>: Did you get to know your wife's grandfather,
the man who provided the documentation that underpins your narrative?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Doyle</b>: No. He was many years dead before I started
“courting” my future wife. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The Wild Geese</b>: He served in the Free State army, is that
correct?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Doyle</b>: God, no! He remained opposed to the Treaty
until his dying day and, interestingly, he was also opposed to Ireland joining
the European Union in 1977. He felt that, as a nation, Ireland would become too
reliant on funds from other nations. The analogy he used to support this
opinion on Ireland losing its self-sufficiency was that a man knows how to
defend himself if he is approached by an enemy carrying a gun, but will
struggle to defend himself if his enemy is carrying a cheque book. Given
Ireland’s current dire economic situation, how prophetic he was!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The Wild Geese</b>: How did he come by these letters? And how did
he come to regard them through the decades that followed?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Doyle</b>: They were found in a metal box along with
other documentation. I’ve no idea, but thank God he kept them safe. I will
endeavor to pass them on to future generations as a reminder of Ireland’s
turbulent journey from a British colony into a sovereign nation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The Wild Geese</b>: Final question. What projects will be you
focusing on in the New Year?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Doyle</b>: Regarding the documents I mentioned above, I
hope to catalogue any more items of interest and will share my findings with
the readers of <a href="http://thewildgeese.com/">TheWildGeese.com</a> in time. There are also a number of other
projects that I am involved in which, hopefully, may come to fruition within
the next 12 months. Chief among these is the commemoration of the Irish who
fought in the American Civil War and the further development of the historical
trail in Ireland.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The Wild Geese</b>: Go raibh maith agat!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Doyle</b>: Slán agus Nollaig Shona duit. <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>WG</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><b><div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://thewildgeesegenealogy.blogspot.com/2012/12/we-are-to-be-shot-in-morning.html">'We Are To Be Shot in the Morning': 3 teens among 7 IRA'irregulars' executed 80 years ago in Kildare</a><span style="color: #38761d;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</b></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
Gerry Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597915860564953502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21161077.post-17206243588263121482012-12-19T11:44:00.000-05:002012-12-21T19:56:54.135-05:00Storyteller With Roots in 2 Lands: Seanchaí Jim Hawkins<h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSkwm_6Ksi1SjVUcQbqWNMeaKZkPfMX9Hx8pyO7tG_11xVRK1CMA4dLvRAnjy9bZx69O64bsEV7Ml5g4DCBhAh1ysb33pkG-8JlLIaFgiyp7ZDL43mpjZv9e1AVZhs_73riAW0cQ/s1600/jhawkstt.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSkwm_6Ksi1SjVUcQbqWNMeaKZkPfMX9Hx8pyO7tG_11xVRK1CMA4dLvRAnjy9bZx69O64bsEV7Ml5g4DCBhAh1ysb33pkG-8JlLIaFgiyp7ZDL43mpjZv9e1AVZhs_73riAW0cQ/s1600/jhawkstt.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Jim Hawkins</b></td></tr>
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Jim Hawkins<span style="font-weight: normal;">, 66, has spent decades telling stories, with a
sly, folksy understated humor, just like the seanchaís of old, whom Hawkins emulates. The Baldwin, N.Y. resident,
with a gentle, easy-going manner and warmth, tells the
stories of nearly vanished Irish folkways to audiences far and wide, in public
libraries, pubs, churches, universities, in Ireland and here in the United
States. Hawkins’ website is aptly, </span><a href="http://www.jimhawkinsirishstory.com/">JimHawkinsIrishStory.com</a><span style="font-weight: normal;">, where, he
notes, “Today, I wish to be a vehicle that carries the history, culture and
traditions of the Irish people, and to share the stories, songs and poetry of
this great culture with the world. It will be my contribution to keeping this
wonderful art-form alive and well.” The former teacher spoke over the phone to
</span><span style="color: #38761d;">The Wild Geese</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">’s </span>Gerry Regan <span style="font-weight: normal;">last week. The topic: Jim’s
‘Irish Story.’</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span><br />
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The Wild Geese: <span style="font-weight: normal;">When did you first feel the tug toward immersion in Irish
culture, which so clearly defines your life these days?</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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Jim Hawkins:<span style="font-weight: normal;"> I grew up in Ireland from the age of 1 1/2 to 10 1/2, though
I was born in Astoria, in New York City. My parents were both native Irish, my
mom from Westmeath and my Dad was from Galway. They met here, and were married
in 1944. I was born in 1946.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Economics forced my Dad to emigrate. He’s the third son, and
his mother wanted him to have the farm. His oldest brother got the farm,
instead. When my Dad saw the farm out of reach, he came to America, in 1939.
... He was drafted into the US Army, and hated it, for the war’s final six
months. When he arrived in the States, debarking in Manhattan, a cousin
arranged, but failed, to meet him. So he took the American dollars his mother
had given him and found an Irish bar off the docks. Four guys called up from
the end of the bar, one guy from Galway, like himself. The fellows got him a
room in a boarding house, and eventually a job working in the buildings trade,
as a handyman, doorman, elevator man, et cetera.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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The Wild Geese: <span style="font-weight: normal;">Do you have any memories of America before your family moved
you to Ireland? </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Hawkins: <span style="font-weight: normal;">No, and interestingly, I didn’t start walking until I was in
Ireland, at age 3. We lived with my Uncle Jack, Jack Fallon, who owned a dairy
farm at Rathnugent, Castletown Geoghegan, County Westmeath, about 20 miles from
Athlone, 50 from Dublin. My cousins
still live on the farm. The farm and the farmhouse have been in the Fallon
family from the 1840s or 1850s. Jack’s daughter and son live in it today. It
was a dairy farm, 30-40 cows, when we were living nearby. Now the family has
the land leased to different neighbors, and have about 60 acres in the farm
now, up from 30 acres decades ago. … Growing up, I was like a Tom Sawyer, a
Huck Finn, in the sense that I was on a farm, and there were no restrictions. I
spent more time in my Uncle Jack’s house than I spent in my own down the way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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The Wild Geese: <span style="font-weight: normal;">Did you consider yourself Irish or American growing up
there?</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Hawkins: <span style="font-weight: normal;">Actually both. ... Ultimately, it was very hard to
leave Ireland. I didn’t understand what was going on, why I had to leave. It
was basic economics. My Dad worked on the farm with my Uncle Jack for a while,
then worked for the County Council, repairing roads, but that job gave out. In
the early 1950s, he got a job with the ESB, the Electric Supply Board, digging
holes for utility poles in our part of Ireland. I guess that job gave out,
also. We returned here Easter Saturday, in 1956. I had just turned 10. We came
back to Astoria, to my Aunt Annie, who lived in a house in Astoria with her
husband, Jimmy Madden. .... When I came back here I was angry for quite a
while. My years in Westmeath were the life that I knew. As well, I was teased
because of my accent. I got into quite a lot of fights on account of my big
Midlands accent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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The Wild Geese: <span style="font-weight: normal;">When did you fall into Irish culture?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<a href="hhttp://www.amazon.com/dp/B000002YC9/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=thewildgeeset-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B000002YC9&adid=1T2JT4KNR3YEK77T1KEQ" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8b9-AWI1GCQTvf1nuYqpy3fyFe0L84wvemOWGpqwJPDfCA2hG7WUmJ6mp793M-fYRcJzVIlX7kNLgj9daYGvB1MgBGGQXhpiQ5C7aeAOwt2e7UgYDiUXLa8JabSXT_45UQnB8NA/s1600/clanbro.jpg" /></a>Hawkins:<span style="font-weight: normal;"> I came to like the life in Astoria. One of the first things my parents did was
enroll me in an Irish step-dancing school, run by Cyril McNiff, in Astoria. I
studied with him for two or three years, and had pretty good natural talent. My
parents went to many Irish gatherings in Astoria, often fundraisers, often for
people in the North of Ireland, struggling under British rule. We used to go to
all these parties. I liked singing. My mother used to sing herself. She
encouraged me. At these parties, she would encourage me to sing songs like “The
Hills of Glenswilley” and “The Boys From the County Armagh,” which spoke of the
beauty of the Irish countryside. I did sing “Kevin Barry,” as well. I got away
from the Irish interests altogether in high school, at Power Memorial, and got into
sports then too. Attending Iona College, I did, informally, perform some songs
that the </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000002YC9/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=thewildgeeset-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B000002YC9&adid=1T2JT4KNR3YEK77T1KEQ" style="font-weight: normal;" target="_blank">Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem</a><span style="font-weight: normal;"> had made popular. </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
In the early 1970s, I walked into The Irish Arts Center [housed in Manhattan's once- gritty
Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, in a once-shabby tenement provided by New York
City]. I couldn't believe what I was seeing: There were people singing,
dancing, all these young people, doing the steps, and I was mesmerized, drawn
into it, sensing this is what I really was meant to do. I became totally
immersed in the center, through the 1970s. There were 30-40 of us at the heart
of it then, mostly single, everyone into the culture -- whether you played an
instrument, taught the music or the dancing. </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
The best thing I fell into there was the Siamsa [‘gathering’ in English] --
storytelling, music, dance. It was a performance that literally told the
history of Ireland from pre-Christian times to the years before The Hunger
Strikes, and later the hunger strikers themselves were incorporated. </span><br />
<br />
The Wild Geese: <span style="font-weight: normal;">When did you focus on the art of Irish
storytelling?</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis-Id9kqy2RsZPY8b9GI7sJmCdo6oUqIiN7Jy2L5GSNwktXvKptAWLzC9ND7blRBhAcunU2tqJLpsOuqd_hwdRu1H_UaVgnrNoEIX29i_VHAUz3xMPmSlm3FcaeD9VQIRxc1ryrg/s1600/jhawk3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis-Id9kqy2RsZPY8b9GI7sJmCdo6oUqIiN7Jy2L5GSNwktXvKptAWLzC9ND7blRBhAcunU2tqJLpsOuqd_hwdRu1H_UaVgnrNoEIX29i_VHAUz3xMPmSlm3FcaeD9VQIRxc1ryrg/s1600/jhawk3.jpg" /></a>Hawkins: <span style="font-weight: normal;">There’s a book called “<span style="color: #323232; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; text-decoration: initial;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1564780910/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=thewildgeeset-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=1564780910&adid=0EK26VT3K7DS7SE6CZPR" target="_blank">An Béal Bocht</a></span>” -- it literally means “The Poor Mouth,” written by a great satirist, one of the greats of the 20th century, named <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1286451469/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=thewildgeeset-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=1286451469&adid=07WXRYFEDH4J9HJKB1MJ" target="_blank">Brian O’Nolan [aka Flann O’Brien]</a>, writing in Irish. He wrote under the pen name in The Irish Times, “Myles na
gCopaleen.” There was a story in the book, one of the things that the Brits did;
they tried to destroy the Irish language. For example, a child giving his name
in Irish would be renamed with an English name by his [British-sponsored]
teachers. </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
I ended up telling
the story in some of my performances. I had grown tired of acting, which I did for a while, and I started looking for other stories to tell. “Wait a minute,” I thought. “I’ve got all these anecdotes myself, from growing up in Westmeath, and I’ve got my Uncle Jack. … I would be down at his house at night, sitting on his lap, and he would
start to tell about the local events of the day.“ </span><br />
<br />
<h3>
The Wild Geese: <span style="font-weight: normal;">What can someone expect to experience at
one of your performances?</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">I take different themes from Irish history, Irish culture, Irish traditions --
what I try to do is take a story and a song that have a common theme and
relationship and put them together and perform them. I try to educate my
audience on different aspects of Irish culture, and then learn about their
connections to Ireland. I try to educate, answer questions in terms of history,
about the oppression the Irish faced. Many of my performances are humorous but
I also do serious pieces. I do a piece that involves the works of [playwright]
Sean O’Casey and include the song “The Foggy Dew” [which is set against the
Easter Rising]. I can recite parts of [Irish revolutionary] Robert Emmet’s
speech from the dock. It’s very rarely asked, for but I believe it one of the
great speeches in the history of the world, and should be heard more. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1564780910/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=thewildgeeset-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=1564780910&adid=0EK26VT3K7DS7SE6CZPR" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNN76kLsXOXjUYBBGB75lc4hl3-hhBI-IDIT0iQtysEWurWyAaiPvx48ebTzYweNdphzGLLs4CBGglcsOCReXPZzNLObUYrVpCxoldDSlyswPbmiQrOF3VxzdZxd19GyJ3cGyhg/s1600/kelleam.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
I’m working on a performance with a wonderful performer named </span>Kate Danaher<span style="font-weight: normal;">,
“The Life and Stories of “<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1860230806/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=thewildgeeset-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=1860230806&adid=116GX3MPJV1TE3H9DYC2" target="_blank">Eamon Kelly</a>.” He was from Rathmore, County Kerry. I
believe he was Ireland’s greatest storyteller and collector of stories. I was
very fortunate to see him perform here in New York. We are in the process of
marketing the performance, gauging interest from academia and the like in
wanting to hear his stories performed. Kelly’s accounts shine a light into an
Ireland that is almost gone, except perhaps in Gaeltachts, in Donegal, the Aran
Islands, Limerick, Mayo, little villages out here and there</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">. </span><b><span style="color: #38761d;">WG</span></b>
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</h3>
Gerry Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597915860564953502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21161077.post-15272344069912563042012-12-10T17:16:00.001-05:002012-12-11T17:40:03.448-05:00Irish History Goes Graphic: 'Mick' Chats Up Colleen<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJgdd16skpji6x9PtrFEBGUoFswOl31YD9pu76A20wbUcl2GV_uJJN47y9TNmZUdgUnHSIuHUKuMm3wVrXKTaJYJiUT8AxdZVKhZyWwDYB3fDqJtqxN6gUdUYYiaJOt-0DKdGOw/s1600/johnawalsh.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJgdd16skpji6x9PtrFEBGUoFswOl31YD9pu76A20wbUcl2GV_uJJN47y9TNmZUdgUnHSIuHUKuMm3wVrXKTaJYJiUT8AxdZVKhZyWwDYB3fDqJtqxN6gUdUYYiaJOt-0DKdGOw/s200/johnawalsh.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><a href="http://johnawalsh.net/" target="_blank">John A. Walsh</a>,</b> aka “Thick Mick,” (right) is a Boston-based graphic
novelist and illustrator who came to our attention during his crowdfunding
campaign to fund his opus <b>“Go Home Paddy.”</b> His graphic novel portrays Paddy
Brennan, an Irish immigrant in the mid-1800’s, in a dark, serio-comic format,
underscoring how far the Irish have come in the United States. John, by the way, is gracing <b><span style="color: #38761d;">The (New) Wild
Geese</span></b> with a sketch of its ‘<a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/newwildgeese/" target="_blank">Founding Funders</a>,’ a perk for up to six donors, at press time, still
available.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBQcH4pCwvhsRfxy_3sIAKaijKR0oY32RjXvV8yxJ6-sAtDRJxIRUolWigNNa6jxzSLZnUY7ytqaZUEhxlmTFZ2CcMqYGpL5LVH8gPeAd_OOJHkSWnrcoolTx_qbbtkcOeePOZg/s1600/File:Colleen_Doran2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBQcH4pCwvhsRfxy_3sIAKaijKR0oY32RjXvV8yxJ6-sAtDRJxIRUolWigNNa6jxzSLZnUY7ytqaZUEhxlmTFZ2CcMqYGpL5LVH8gPeAd_OOJHkSWnrcoolTx_qbbtkcOeePOZg/s200/File:Colleen_Doran2.jpeg" width="195" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Recently, via IM, John exchanged insights with fellow
illustrator, cartoonist and writer <b><a href="http://www.colleendoran.com/" target="_blank">Colleen Doran</a> </b>(left), creator of countless books
and comics, most recently, having illustrated <b>“<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gone-Amerikay-Derek-McCulloch/dp/1401223516" target="_blank">Gone to Amerikay</a>,”</b> released in April
by </span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint</span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">. The extensively researched mystery is set against the experience of
Irish immigrants in New York City over the course of 100 or more years. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Doran’s work has been produced or published by The Walt Disney Co.,
Lucasfilm, Scholastic, Parker Brothers, Sony, Time/Warner, Harper Collins,
Readers Digest, Marvel Entertainment, DC Comics, Image Comics, The Cahners
Group, Dark Horse Comics, The Irish Echo, and many others.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Thick Mick: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">So how far back does your connection to Ireland go? Have your people
been here a long time? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Colleen Doran: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">My Irish family was born during The Famine, so they are pretty tough to
have survived and made it here. They came as children, both my great
grandfather and great grandmother, which must have been brutal. They married as
teenagers in the U.S.A. My great granddad was actually younger than my grandma. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Thick Mick: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">[An older wife] was uncommon in those days! Do you know where in Ireland
they came from? And where did they settle in the U.S.? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Colleen Doran: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">We believe they came from the County Wexford area, and then settled in
the Kentucky/Ohio area, where much of my family remains. ... My grandma was
only a year or so older than my granddad, but yes, it was unusual.<b> </b>And what about your family? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Thick Mick: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">My
Father's parents came over during the First World War. My grandmother and her
siblings were from Sligo, in the West of Ireland. They were TOUGH people and
passed on that trait to my father as well! My mother's people came over in the
late 1800s. Both sides settled in Bridgeport, Connecticut, when the city was
still had plenty of work for everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Colleen Doran: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Yeah, very tough people on this side, too. It's funny, we found some of
their old documents, and their place of origin reads "Hibernia."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrL19cb8qP2KwBd26gLLG4IECNweNsKg-7vUgdkfA4jtr9QRhCozLdlyM3PcoMS1heYwZjQ7wQDM-IcAXJ3kW_cdodWCBNEtB4_LhrNl5Eqydv04Kx1N8NPGtQjt3pXMfqO4F8w/s1600/OB-SJ558_amerik_KV_20120327134144.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrL19cb8qP2KwBd26gLLG4IECNweNsKg-7vUgdkfA4jtr9QRhCozLdlyM3PcoMS1heYwZjQ7wQDM-IcAXJ3kW_cdodWCBNEtB4_LhrNl5Eqydv04Kx1N8NPGtQjt3pXMfqO4F8w/s320/OB-SJ558_amerik_KV_20120327134144.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Thick Mick: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Ha!
We saw my great-uncle's naturalization papers, and it listed him as
"Ruddy" and originating from Great Britain (still in control of
Ireland at the time). That had to have frosted him! ... “Gone to Amerikay” is a BEAUTIFUL book. Truthfully, my wife and I both thought
the style was reminiscent of the Golden Age of Illustration: Pyle, et cetera. How did
you get involved with [it]? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Left, a panel from the graphic novel, "Gone to Amerikay," illustrated by Colleen Doran.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Colleen Doran: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Thanks for the kind words. ... The classic
illustration look was what I was going for. Well, Derek McCulloch (the author)
and I had worked together on Tori Amos’ “Comic Book Tattoo.” The story we did
together went over very, very well, and I'd started developing a new digital
style I wanted to explore some more. Naturally, Derek and I wanted to work
together again, and for years I'd wanted to do something with an Irish theme.
I'd been kicking around the idea of the idea of a graphic novel about Red Hugh
[O’Donnell]. But Derek came up with this idea about Irish immigrants,
completely independent of knowing that I'd wanted to do a project set in
Ireland. So, when he told me what he had in mind, I jumped at it, and suggested
he present it to my editor at Vertigo, Joan Hilty. She absolutely loved it.
Ironically, very little of “Gone to Amerikay” takes place in Ireland. And, haha,
the art style I used for “Comic Book Tattoo” -- we went with the classic style
on “Gone to Amerikay” instead. Left turns on every project, that's how it goes!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Thick Mick: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Did
you have a hard time getting “Gone to Amerikay” approved? And once it was, how
long did you work on it for? Was it a labor of love, 'cause it looks that way!
Did you really appreciate the research? I've loved it myself! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Colleen Doran: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Approval went pretty quickly, but the work took years. Research alone
took months. And since I didn't have a script yet, I spent all this time
researching Ireland. When I got the script, it was almost all set in New York
during three time periods! That was pretty funny, but I learned a lot anyway!
Yes, I enjoyed [the research]. I'm one of those people who can get lost in
it, though, and need to be reined in. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sometimes it's hard knowing when to quit
and get on with it. For example, I recall spending over four hours trying to
research a chair that appears on only three pages. Over two weeks trying to get
the right color on a uniform that appears in two panels. You forget that old
etchings you may use for reference are almost always going to be black and white.
Most pages required research for each shot, which is grinding after awhile,
because you just want to be able to draw. And so often it was stop and start,
even when I thought I'd pinned down a scene weeks before starting the scene.
Something always came up. And I hate making mistakes, so I kept out-thinking
myself. It's great having a job where you get to read wonderful books, though! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">You obviously
did a huge amount of research for your book. What were your sources and how much
time did you spend on the Internet? For my part, way too much time, because
once I get websurfing, I surf all over the place. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Thick Mick: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Well,
your research comes through clearly. I tend to not focus as much on clothing,
et cetera, since my goal is to make EVERYTHING in "Go Home Paddy" as rough, almost ugly, as possible. The story is very dark. I spent weeks on the Net, but as always, books were the greatest source of knowledge and information.
Living in Boston, I've had access to wonderful resources at the library. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Colleen Doran: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">I am curious why you decided to do a story about The Great Famine as
opposed to one more closely related to your own family story. And I ask this as
someone who didn't do a story about The Famine, even though my family were
famine immigrants. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Thick Mick:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">
I think I choose to start “Go Home Paddy” off with The Famine because it's
really the starting point for the Irish in America. It was the motivating
factor for not only the Irish coming here, but also for what they did once
here. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Right, a panel from "Go Home Paddy," the story of Famine emigrant Paddy Brennan, by John A. Walsh.</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Colleen Doran: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">It's great in cartooning to use a style that suggests things. You get
your point across with a kind of visual shorthand. I tend to go the other way,
very illustrative. It's cost- and labor-intensive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Thick Mick: “</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Yes, "visual shorthand" is the perfect way to describe it! ... Did you have much influence on the script for “Gone
To Amerikay”? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Colleen Doran: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">I had almost no influence on the script. The editor helped shape it.
When I had a problem, I spoke up, but there were few problems. But it's one
thing for the writer to write "cast of thousands" and another thing
for me to draw it. "Arrives on the dock in 1870". OK, now I have to
go out and research all of that. And that can take days just to research one
scene. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I only recall
asking to add one thing, though, and that was the Irish Hunger Memorial. I'd
been visiting New York with my brother, and we stumbled across it. I thought it
would be perfect to add to the book, so we slipped it in. But Derek is such a
terrific writer, so careful and everything he does is highly crafted and
constructed. I'd hate to get in and fiddle with anything he writes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I don't do that
sort of thing anyway. I almost always get to work with terrific authors. If I
don't like the writing, I just quietly get away from that writer as soon as
possible. Life is too short to draw bad books. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">[After the
Hunger Memorial] we moved on to the Police Memorial down the street. There are
many policemen in my family: my father, grandfather and brother. Then we moved
on to the 9-11 disaster site. It was some day. After we decided to go down to
South Street Seaport and get lunch. We had lunch at the Harbour Lights
restaurant. Four years later, the owner of that restaurant, prominent Irish-American
J.P. Delaney, held the book launch of "Gone to Amerikay" in that same
restaurant! His family owns Rosie O'Grady's. And if that's not a small-world
moment, I don't know what is! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Thick Mick: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Cool
anecdote! How has the reception been for “Gone to Amerikay”? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Colleen Doran: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">We've gotten an outstanding critical reception. We were written up in
The Wall Street Journal, and a number of other major newspapers. It's been
wonderful. And we were just listed as one of the “Best Adult Books for Teens” for
2012 by <a href="http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/adult4teen/2012/11/30/best-adult-books-4-teens-2012/">The
School Library Journal</a>. When you think of how many books get published,
getting on any year-end best-of list is kind of a miracle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Thick Mick: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Do
you plan on creating more work with Irish themes? Writing and illustrating
something about Ireland yourself? Also,
as you worked on “Gone to Amerikay,” did you feel any the need to portray the
Irish in any certain way? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Colleen Doran: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Well, I'd like to get back to taking a shot at the story of Red Hugh
someday. But that has to be off a good bit in future since I'm pretty booked
right now. My hope on “Gone To Amerikay” was to portray the Irish as accurately
as possible. The Irish people I know who read it liked it. We were especially
happy to hear from Philip Chevron of The Pogues who had wonderful things to say
about it. The story was originally inspired by a Pogues song, but for legal
reasons we had to scoot off that idea. So getting his approval on the finished
work was gratifying. <b><span style="color: green;">WG</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Gerry Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597915860564953502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21161077.post-21378911419303236092012-12-08T13:20:00.000-05:002012-12-09T12:18:42.261-05:00March with the Irish Brigade in New York's 252nd St. Patrick's Day Parade!<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;">UPDATE: With Only <span style="font-size: large;">4 Days Left</span> in our <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/newwildgeese?c=home" target="_blank">Indiegogo Crowd Funding Campaign</a> we have New Additions from our Irish Heritage Partners for this amazing<i> New York Irish Experience</i> Reward Perk!</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;">For the past 15 years, The Wild Geese has been exploring and celebrating the history of the </span><span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="http://www.thewildgeese.com/pages/archives.html#acw" rel="nofollow" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">Irish during the Civil War</span></a>,</span><span style="color: #222222;"> and throughout the world, with the help of writers such as </span><a href="http://www.google.com/custom?domains=www.thewildgeese.com&q=pohanka&sa=Search&sitesearch=www.thewildgeese.com&client=pub-9049745539954389&forid=1&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&cof=GALT%3A%230066CC%3BGL%3A1%3BDIV%3A%23999999%3BVLC%3A336633%3BAH%3Acenter%3BBGC%3AFFFFFF%3BLBGC%3AFF9900%3BALC%3A0066CC%3BLC%3A0066CC%3BT%3A000000%3BGFNT%3A666666%3BGIMP%3A666666%3BFORID%3A1%3B&hl=en" rel="nofollow" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Brian Pohanka</span></a><span style="color: #222222;"> and </span><a href="http://www.google.com/custom?hl=en&client=pub-9049745539954389&cof=FORID%3A1%3BGL%3A1%3BLBGC%3AFF9900%3BLC%3A%230066cc%3BVLC%3A%23336633%3BGALT%3A%230066CC%3BGFNT%3A%23666666%3BGIMP%3A%23666666%3BDIV%3A%23999999%3B&domains=www.thewildgeese.com&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&q=%22By+David+Kincaid%22&btnG=Search&sitesearch=www.thewildgeese.com" rel="nofollow" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">David Kincaid</span></a><span style="color: #222222;">. The venture has launched a push to build a world-class online community. On offer to two donors is an opportunity to get </span><b style="color: #222222;">your own new ‘blue suit’, army-issue shoes, borrowed rifle and accoutrements</b><span style="color: #222222;">, so you can “March With the Irish Brigade” in New York City’s legendary St. Patrick’s Day Parade, with reenactors from </span><span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="http://www.69thnysv.org/" rel="nofollow" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">Co. A, 69th New York State Volunteer Infantry</span></a>.</span><span style="color: #222222;"> So make that big donation (The Trust and Co. A get a portion), fall in, and enjoy the roar of over a million spectators as the brigade heads up 5th Avenue. The offer comes with</span><b><span style="color: #222222;"> one-night’s lodging in </span><a href="http://www.fitzpatrickhotels.com/grand-central/" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">The Fitzpatrick Grand Central</span></a><a href="http://www.fitzpatrickhotels.com/grand-central/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #1eb9c1; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">,</a><span style="color: #222222;"> another night bivouacking with the troops in the historic 69th Regiment armory, and brunch for two at</span><span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://www.mollysshebeen.com/" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Molly’s Shebeen</a></span><span style="color: #222222;">, one of New York’s most traditional Irish pubs, and now the complete Wild Geese Irish Heroes Whiskey Collection </span></b><em style="color: #222222;">Faugh A Ballagh!</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><u><span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/newwildgeese?c=activity" target="_blank">THE WILD GEESE IRISH HEROES WHISKEY COLLECTION</a></span><span style="color: #274e13;"> </span></u></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;"> <span style="font-weight: normal;">the complete set of all four varieties, to our biggest perk <a href="http://bit.ly/Tvns3x" target="_blank">'</a></span><a href="http://bit.ly/Tvns3x" target="_blank">MARCH WITH THE IRISH BRIGADE'</a> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.981481552124023px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">reenactors from Co. A, 69th New York State Volunteer Infantry</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"> in the 2013 St PATRICK'S PARADE in NEW YORK. Four bottles of one of the finest Irish whiskies in the world — </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;"><u>Rare Irish, Single Malt, Limited Edition and Classic Blend.</u></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.981481552124023px;">We are delighted then to welcome <i>The Wild Geese Irish Soldiers and Heroes Whiskey Collection</i> as our 33rd Irish Heritage Partner, supporting our ongoing push to build a new home, and a new era, for Irish heritage online. Failte TWGISAH! Learn more about the brand at </span><a href="http://twgisah.com/whiskey-collection/" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17.981481552124023px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">http://twgisah.com/whiskey-collection/</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.981481552124023px;">. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;">The brand promises: “When you drink ‘The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey Collection’, you are not just drinking superb whiskey, you are celebrating the achievements of extraordinary men and women — heroes who made and continue to make a difference.”</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1dkADx9p9yk63TfxS8MKfb9X6S_9qPBOOXUQGzr3KTObMtkos2e__uq4tIVVJ8JWv_OOQjy5t3992PSiNjgVIKaqqSIvq0iGFOiWFv_dsRQKsLLRWX2QR-pS7WGctZvveHZQig/s1600/fitzpatrick-grand-central.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1dkADx9p9yk63TfxS8MKfb9X6S_9qPBOOXUQGzr3KTObMtkos2e__uq4tIVVJ8JWv_OOQjy5t3992PSiNjgVIKaqqSIvq0iGFOiWFv_dsRQKsLLRWX2QR-pS7WGctZvveHZQig/s400/fitzpatrick-grand-central.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grand Central Fitzpatrick Hotel<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Enjoy American-Irish hospitality with a<b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="color: #38761d;">ONE NIGHT STAY FOR TWO</span></span></u></b> at the famous <a href="http://www.fitzpatrickhotels.com/grand-central/" target="_blank">Grand Central Fitzpatrick Hotel</a> this hotel features a classic Irish Pub and is less then a block from Grand Central Station! </span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xGz_TYXznBEEoxi3Pz91De9Y6YerO1dWXDYjlxFJeCgagiVjnihh9hAlstMpz0KKe2TJNdSC3padmqMWg2WjNqP4vahu3ssLV2LOJz7dXhW0bk7kRe_xAu2R23FD-4khtOPpDg/s1600/Mollys_shebeen_new-york.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xGz_TYXznBEEoxi3Pz91De9Y6YerO1dWXDYjlxFJeCgagiVjnihh9hAlstMpz0KKe2TJNdSC3padmqMWg2WjNqP4vahu3ssLV2LOJz7dXhW0bk7kRe_xAu2R23FD-4khtOPpDg/s320/Mollys_shebeen_new-york.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="bodycopyBold_green" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.mollysshebeen.com/welcome.html" target="_blank">Molly’s Pub and Restaurant</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><u>Brunch for Two at MOLLY's SHEBEEN</u></b>,</span> one of New York's finest Irish Pubs, is now included with our <a href="http://bit.ly/Tvns3x" target="_blank">'March with the Irish Brigade'</a> perk! Molly's was first established as a bar in 1895, was a grocery store during prohibition. Purchased in 1964 by the Purfield family of Dublin and Galway who called it Molly Malone's</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> it turned over again in the '90s and is now owned </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">by Peter O’Connell from</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Co Meath and </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">John Ronaghan from Co Monaghan who</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">renamed it</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="bodycopyitalic" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 24px;">Molly’s Shebeen</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">(a shebeen</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">is an illegal drinking establishment).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">These new Irish New York Reward Perks have been added to the already amazing "March with the Irish Brigade" perk. Please go to our <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/newwildgeese?c=home" target="_blank">Indiegogo Campaign Page</a> for all levels of Reward Perks from our Irish Heritage Partners as no contribution is too small!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #595959;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><u>NOVEMBER 23, 2012</u></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #595959;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">March with the<b><u> CIVIL WAR IRISH BRIGADE in New York's 252nd Annual ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE</u></b> to the cheers of more than a million </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">spectators</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> along the 35-block route, in the ranks, in your own new uniform and under arms! </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #595959;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">This IRISH REWARD PERK from our <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/newwildgeese" target="_blank">Indiegogo crowd funding campaign</a> is part of a REWARD BUNDLE at the $3000 contribution level and there are only 2 positions available with only 19 days left in the campaign so act fast!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>New York’s 252nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade</b> next year will be held Saturday, March 16. We will provide you with your own new uniform and brogans, and loan of period rifle, bayonet and other authentic accoutrements. Bending the elbow and rough lodging (via sleeping bag) is available on Friday evening, March 15, with co-sponsoring <a href="http://www.69thnysv.org/" target="_blank"><b>The 69th NYSV Historical Association</b></a> in the historic <b>69th Regiment Armory.</b> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWaJ4rBP6Ih6hy4WYR3Xeuq2kXG9FIExNvbF__Wms5PPrt55vNh01PYmko5ImZRXkD3qMavo2wByKNFfsB0IhmZ7FFg1hvm3ZwTtgGfBwOasTE1FOZ6ElH7MWiahItIg1CjP32kw/s1600/69th+Civil+War+Irish+Brigade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWaJ4rBP6Ih6hy4WYR3Xeuq2kXG9FIExNvbF__Wms5PPrt55vNh01PYmko5ImZRXkD3qMavo2wByKNFfsB0IhmZ7FFg1hvm3ZwTtgGfBwOasTE1FOZ6ElH7MWiahItIg1CjP32kw/s400/69th+Civil+War+Irish+Brigade.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Company D, Colorado Infantry</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Participation is at your own risk! Donor is responsible for own travel, meals, and lodging to and from New York City. To maintain historical verisimilitude, the association's reenacting arm, <b>Company A, 69th New York State Volunteers (re-enacted)</b>, limits this perk to men only. 10% of the donation goes to Company A, in support of their work preserving the history of the Irish soldier in America's Civil War, and 10% to<b> <a href="http://www.civilwar.org/" target="_blank">Civil War Preservation Trust</a>,</b> in support of preservation of Civil War battlefields in America. We can happily make recommendations for convenient, more comfortable accommodations and authentic Irish dining experiences. With any luck, you might decide to fight on to <a href="http://www.gettysburgcivilwar150.com/" target="_blank">Gettysburg 150</a>! Faugh a ballagh! ("Clear the Way" -- the brigade's battle cry).</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #595959;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">This IRISH REWARD PERK from our Indiegogo Campaign is part of a contribution REWARD BUNDLE that also includes: </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tJ_jQsxWZYSSeJUkQKeLwYy3M-KqQG38bb8P_rJAj2X6T6vW4VPwL8LlPSnnq1oMv-_1JLLqK8aeBqFdXESucEciOdXtUoGR8-I0VW8kzxlw6n6or9TkKOMh-ZThyLe8tYh_CQ/s1600/EDMUND+SULLIVAN+Next-Parish-America-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tJ_jQsxWZYSSeJUkQKeLwYy3M-KqQG38bb8P_rJAj2X6T6vW4VPwL8LlPSnnq1oMv-_1JLLqK8aeBqFdXESucEciOdXtUoGR8-I0VW8kzxlw6n6or9TkKOMh-ZThyLe8tYh_CQ/s320/EDMUND+SULLIVAN+Next-Parish-America-web.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edmund Sullivan's "Next Parish, America" print</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.edmundsullivan.com/index.html" target="_blank">NEW YORK ARTIST EDMUND SULLIVAN's</a> PRINT </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"</span>Next Parish, America". Sullivan inherited a great passion for Ireland from his parents, natives of Derry City and Bonane, Co. Kerry. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">"Next Parish America" is a 24" x 33" Giclee MasterWork. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Rooted in his parents' reminiscences, Edmund Sul</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">livan's Ireland is brilliantly portrayed in his limited-edition prints. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQMLAfSrX1vbbPrjR5C_sOYUzg4TOCcR77A4OSSi6mqRAPYGT8Gu7RqWNhtYvYBvCBw52UZJ8pgwMLEF8PLWCUOBYNowG3tXW2tATYUgLmGrLQ187Cr0ssq1BcO7OAR4gInNZNw/s1600/the_wild_geese_golf_shirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQMLAfSrX1vbbPrjR5C_sOYUzg4TOCcR77A4OSSi6mqRAPYGT8Gu7RqWNhtYvYBvCBw52UZJ8pgwMLEF8PLWCUOBYNowG3tXW2tATYUgLmGrLQ187Cr0ssq1BcO7OAR4gInNZNw/s200/the_wild_geese_golf_shirt.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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Our latest The Wild Geese golf shirt from <a href="http://www.cafepress.com/wglogo" target="_blank">our store on cafepress </a>with our new logo.<br />
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<li>Pre-shrunk extra heavyweight 5.4 oz 100% ring spun cotton pique</li>
<li>Knit collar and welt cuffs</li>
<li>Side seamed with even finish vents</li>
<li>Three high gloss wood tone buttons on a clean finished Allen Solley placket with 1/4" reinforced box pocket</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaadzXeYX7ecscMtnz_gLOkl-wuWkE8OoMrarmvHnnnketjCc0FRbkDybFmMRf1FOUEW3P687vkDw9Pyiw58biKBFvfMnJj4_mpzTyh1jwtHz9q0NMUr5kyv4lItjBhmlP9FY3-w/s1600/Easter+Proclamation+Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaadzXeYX7ecscMtnz_gLOkl-wuWkE8OoMrarmvHnnnketjCc0FRbkDybFmMRf1FOUEW3P687vkDw9Pyiw58biKBFvfMnJj4_mpzTyh1jwtHz9q0NMUr5kyv4lItjBhmlP9FY3-w/s320/Easter+Proclamation+Poster.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
This level of contribution also puts you in the <strong style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Founding Funder category!</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> A ‘founding funder’ must submit a photograph for the artist to sketch for inclusion into the ‘Founding Funders’ sketch. </span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFdfap3h_G8OPQeujVA3hpULt92_F6sn1nhea5zCRomxT908DeU82r3eWcD6vMaRGHMuzS50Y0gF4SJTpZdKCkdrCEHvm4Ewpr-zNDsLoDT9UipFCmwT6crxQqcuFJCfmi4U2fA/s1600/IrishShamrockSeeds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFdfap3h_G8OPQeujVA3hpULt92_F6sn1nhea5zCRomxT908DeU82r3eWcD6vMaRGHMuzS50Y0gF4SJTpZdKCkdrCEHvm4Ewpr-zNDsLoDT9UipFCmwT6crxQqcuFJCfmi4U2fA/s200/IrishShamrockSeeds.jpg" width="111" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 19px;">Also included is a poster of the original Easter Proclamation plus a Wild Geese Brooch or Tie Tack, a pack of Shamrock Seeds from </span><a href="http://wegotirish.com/" style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">WeGotIrish.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 19px;"> plus 3 nods for The Wild Geese Hall of Fame and your photo as well as your beloved Irish Ancestor's in the Mosaic on our new Wild Geese website. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Go to our <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/newwildgeese" target="_blank">Indiegogo Crowd Funding </a>page and check out all the Contribution Rewards from our many wonderful <a href="http://www.thewildgeese.com/wgsponsors.html" target="_blank">Irish Heritage Partners </a> no contribution is too small we appreciate your support of The Wild Geese as we forge ahead as well as the support of our fabulous Irish Heritage Partners. </span></span></div>
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Gerry Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597915860564953502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21161077.post-55789470657697614572012-11-29T14:38:00.000-05:002012-11-29T22:02:57.993-05:00New Irish Reward Perks & Donation Levels Reduced!With only 13 days left The Wild Geese have lowered the donation levels for some of our Irish Reward Perk Bundles so that more supporters can participate in our <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/newwildgeese?c=home" target="_blank">Indiegogo Crowd Funding Campaign.</a> If you love Irish History, Heritage and Culture you will love all our Irish Reward Perks!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTN-r6V01v7EMJcMSHt6vVvBpNi_U3mZp-k8LQpTr4T6KEXLJvDSzWlmQO_CsoDLK6BTYShfUbJ8E5_os5ZERWJZ3mZ-qtbwyQMRgnya7RqlUcbzVPVyFZ5b3O4QIc6m9CbjkAgw/s1600/IrishShamrockSeeds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTN-r6V01v7EMJcMSHt6vVvBpNi_U3mZp-k8LQpTr4T6KEXLJvDSzWlmQO_CsoDLK6BTYShfUbJ8E5_os5ZERWJZ3mZ-qtbwyQMRgnya7RqlUcbzVPVyFZ5b3O4QIc6m9CbjkAgw/s200/IrishShamrockSeeds.jpg" width="111" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;">TO CONTRIBUTE & CLAIM YOUR IRISH REWARD PERKS or get updates as to the Campaign and cheer us on please go to our </span><a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/newwildgeese?c=home" target="_blank">Indiegogo Crowd Funding Campaign</a><span style="background-color: white;"> home page. Please let us know if your Reward Perk will be a gift (especially if for Christmas) or for your business or organization. Most Rewards include a pack of Shamrock Seeds from <a href="http://www.wegotirish.com/" target="_blank">WeGotIrish.com</a></span><br />
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Your contributions to our campaign not only support the expansion of TheWildGeese.com but also help to promote our amazing <a href="http://www.thewildgeese.com/wgsponsors.html" target="_blank">Irish Heritage Partners</a> and their Reward Perks Include:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7zDA008suSpkYT3MP8SCqLSTIuBd8CNN7hmh8Kn4fGXUuTS_ks9_uVdDDe88ig5CJdRR2_YTB6GXM8Ry__Wdr_ObwNf3XLrZ1sqNpWd4Kf9YAuInwnGTtlQUS3rHruepWs5cbg/s1600/wildgeesecladdagh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7zDA008suSpkYT3MP8SCqLSTIuBd8CNN7hmh8Kn4fGXUuTS_ks9_uVdDDe88ig5CJdRR2_YTB6GXM8Ry__Wdr_ObwNf3XLrZ1sqNpWd4Kf9YAuInwnGTtlQUS3rHruepWs5cbg/s1600/wildgeesecladdagh.jpg" /></a><b></b><br />
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<b>$ 10 Contribution Level: BE HISTORIC </b>and b<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">ecome part of TheWildGeese nominating process and put forward three historic Irish figures you feel worthy for the inaugural class of The Wild Geese Hall of Fame, coming in The (New) WildGeese. Plus, your photo along with that of an Irish ancestor in the WG Mosaic gracing the new site.</span></span></div>
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<b>$ 25 Contribution Level: </b> Choose your own Wild Geese Gold Plated Brooch or Tie Tack<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: white;">$ 50 Contribution Level: </b> <b>IRISH MUSIC & MORE</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLuN1nWXEueut0dsMyvWXI4eERv1_9jTNWidWmeb3ABVkxKbJP_9pUYu857rcTUpmmBzP6kfMEl6FoCNyAMIbZ0ny6n7jekJGW6qiknIQOCa434RQIcI2pjFBupH0FISdbBY9TXg/s1600/Washington's+Irish+Derek+Warfield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLuN1nWXEueut0dsMyvWXI4eERv1_9jTNWidWmeb3ABVkxKbJP_9pUYu857rcTUpmmBzP6kfMEl6FoCNyAMIbZ0ny6n7jekJGW6qiknIQOCa434RQIcI2pjFBupH0FISdbBY9TXg/s200/Washington's+Irish+Derek+Warfield.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkmF8sX635idgiwIzh2MLVAm2ik3B3IaLFEXRx4pRjBOYSU6YkTqOoLmmcKZCREclEPaG1hIbPiJG7NUqrCgKdaoZbZ_9mNqWW2kSDkEzfWXHJ54FxakaRce6LrjGMYywqEyr1g/s1600/Ashley+Davis.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkmF8sX635idgiwIzh2MLVAm2ik3B3IaLFEXRx4pRjBOYSU6YkTqOoLmmcKZCREclEPaG1hIbPiJG7NUqrCgKdaoZbZ_9mNqWW2kSDkEzfWXHJ54FxakaRce6LrjGMYywqEyr1g/s200/Ashley+Davis.jpeg" width="200" /></a><b style="background-color: white;"></b></div>
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Your choice of 3 CDs of Irish Music from <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Derek Warfield and The Young Wolfe Tones, </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Fiddler Marie Reilly, Black 47, Cherish the Ladies, Ashley Davis,</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirBqNfobr5yEB4A74oUGx0eT3eRN015Cn6xEqh35jtjbxCjTbBj_B2bV4DHZ2ei-QEDBcbuxyW8X-YZ5OQiTxdUnKFwwSBQf7CRJsW2-Ozs5QdydE5MgpMpGeJTHxLMW2PRo4Zg/s1600/Jed+Marum.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirBqNfobr5yEB4A74oUGx0eT3eRN015Cn6xEqh35jtjbxCjTbBj_B2bV4DHZ2ei-QEDBcbuxyW8X-YZ5OQiTxdUnKFwwSBQf7CRJsW2-Ozs5QdydE5MgpMpGeJTHxLMW2PRo4Zg/s200/Jed+Marum.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">Belfast-based Gaelic singer </span><a href="http://thewildgeeseblog.blogspot.ca/2012/11/grainne-holland-seanduine-doite-gaelic.html" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;" target="_blank">Grainne Holland,</a><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"> </span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGaUwYf7c5BYv_MXczIQyuufP1y3qwgiLMvR7G8NcnckYFXKnLBWk_0sh60wF5H7Rq83RxVt7gRN4CQYHpcqSF0lNWjPYTkmTfHq7ZaWFqoMMvfTg1FfRkIqiktFiNzFGlu6sZQ/s1600/Black+47.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGaUwYf7c5BYv_MXczIQyuufP1y3qwgiLMvR7G8NcnckYFXKnLBWk_0sh60wF5H7Rq83RxVt7gRN4CQYHpcqSF0lNWjPYTkmTfHq7ZaWFqoMMvfTg1FfRkIqiktFiNzFGlu6sZQ/s200/Black+47.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A “Roses From the Heart” compilation, and recording artist Jed Marum.</span></span></span></span></div>
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AND JUST ADDED: </div>
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"STARLIGHT" </div>
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THE LOST TRIBE OF DONEGAL"</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Fx3kBeFE8w5wvwEr-NKkJNmpp8e1iuqsY0V9sWXsRoOHPWCN_MjLfHES0WnTrfatmleSvV8bFZvTPOU-1fqDNN5Tc8frg5YEPWu5lKUv8HDVIhZcB3YU8gCsWCSx1wtQjoxSUw/s1600/the+lost+tribe+of+donegal.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Fx3kBeFE8w5wvwEr-NKkJNmpp8e1iuqsY0V9sWXsRoOHPWCN_MjLfHES0WnTrfatmleSvV8bFZvTPOU-1fqDNN5Tc8frg5YEPWu5lKUv8HDVIhZcB3YU8gCsWCSx1wtQjoxSUw/s200/the+lost+tribe+of+donegal.jpeg" width="166" /></a></td></tr>
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Black 47-co-founder Chris Byrne's grandfather, left the village of Dunkineely in southwest Donegal and settled in South Brooklyn, a decidedly multi-ethnic enclave in New York City. Harry Harkin, Andrew's father, left the town of Killybegs three miles up the road from Dunkineely, and a generation later he too settled in South Brooklyn. Andrew and Chris have been playing music three or four nights a week for the last few years, mostly in Rocky Sullivan's of Red Hook in, you guessed it, South Brooklyn. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qnKHc4xUd9eEhHPmRtduYm_qD6fCElIxQGRFqNmb0L2Y6yk7s2uyvMdhOG9KhvBbgFOYNbVMEQ4Lc5jy_ne72h20iO1UmGU6OXAHd80h0j-_TFxcSpHSSB3sH4f9a40uvrOEfA/s1600/sephira+starlight+christmas.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qnKHc4xUd9eEhHPmRtduYm_qD6fCElIxQGRFqNmb0L2Y6yk7s2uyvMdhOG9KhvBbgFOYNbVMEQ4Lc5jy_ne72h20iO1UmGU6OXAHd80h0j-_TFxcSpHSSB3sH4f9a40uvrOEfA/s200/sephira+starlight+christmas.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: #e9edef;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sephira are Irish sisters <strong>Joyce </strong>and <strong>Ruth O'Leary</strong>, who have joined forces to create a stunningly original sound. “When you experience Sephira, you are instantly reminded that these girls are not delicate dainty creatures, they are two very talented and powerful women with fire in their souls”. Their story has ultimately molded what they have become. "Starlight" features nine all-time Christmas favorites sprinkled with the imagination of Sephira and also one self-penned track, "Beneath a Thousand Stars".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Claim your IRISH MUSIC HERITAGE PARTNER 3 CD choices at the $50 level. </span><a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/newwildgeese?c=home" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Go go Indiegogo Crowd Funding Campaign</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVhEPzkZZeogNf5-PCsvYh1-xu8OupGzhNaTTtCwCnsmr_cbyxUQtTmU5gHv8pwaLKp3YuCLGOFARI0_xwK-XG2Eu9a3nJIPELcDpQZwEP8meNVGnyi67fima6GylyxhpqDwVZw/s1600/Irish+America+.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVhEPzkZZeogNf5-PCsvYh1-xu8OupGzhNaTTtCwCnsmr_cbyxUQtTmU5gHv8pwaLKp3YuCLGOFARI0_xwK-XG2Eu9a3nJIPELcDpQZwEP8meNVGnyi67fima6GylyxhpqDwVZw/s200/Irish+America+.jpeg" width="147" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOgtrfy-8wp8hnc9CKehgAQLvmKOnoxr9TCV9k4qWyiHZxECbxNH9OVC_abIu3lZ06oKTqw2ktXIsMYIC9ngJGdyPnK6SDcv8bNw8WmGBqCHfm-O8KxgqPU9uIxbqzlXtPv0MsQ/s1600/VanishingIreland.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOgtrfy-8wp8hnc9CKehgAQLvmKOnoxr9TCV9k4qWyiHZxECbxNH9OVC_abIu3lZ06oKTqw2ktXIsMYIC9ngJGdyPnK6SDcv8bNw8WmGBqCHfm-O8KxgqPU9uIxbqzlXtPv0MsQ/s1600/VanishingIreland.jpeg" /></a><b><span style="font-size: large;">$ 60 Contribution Level:</span></b> <b>IRISH IN AMERICA</b> A year's subscription to the popular Irish in America Magazine and the new 58-page catalog from the just launched <a href="http://thewildgeeseblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-great-hunger-q-with-grace-brady.html" target="_blank">Ireland's Great Hunger Museum.</a><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">$ 75 Contribution Level:</span></b> <b>RECALLING THE IRISH FOLKWAYS</b> A copy of Turtle Bunbury's "Vanishing Ireland" and Joe McGowan's "Bitter Wind" </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">$ 125 Contribution Level:</span> </b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <b>BECOME OFFICIAL</b> <span style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.heritagecertificate.com/" target="_blank">The Certificate of Irish Heritage,</a> from the Government of Ireland, provides official recognition to people of Irish ancestry across the world + Tie Tack or Brooch + Your photo in the WG Mosaic on new site</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNHcj4F9HHVZvMWdm1zXhIQeeEfEgu_QWb9b_P8oTGDjMhGJcAtTLDoBA4MOQ1eyFApxC9M9hkptUPV_2e9yufJOIl4WchWIUZZ2zLCBsN3HenIi9Ry6Ib3h9Rcc2r4g0gR49uA/s1600/St.+Pat's+NY+parade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNHcj4F9HHVZvMWdm1zXhIQeeEfEgu_QWb9b_P8oTGDjMhGJcAtTLDoBA4MOQ1eyFApxC9M9hkptUPV_2e9yufJOIl4WchWIUZZ2zLCBsN3HenIi9Ry6Ib3h9Rcc2r4g0gR49uA/s200/St.+Pat's+NY+parade.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPkpXZjyDPymMMYJNEgsmWI1j3zP1q-jiMxnrjvzWO1WybKs4G4jCyI-1AAcu40oiENpgJt_POAzlkQDXcO4V6U6UYeEUOXnBtQwUa2YIN7IT7SQK7ex3GuxhGeo10jzAcJlwCQ/s1600/GAAARMAGHJERSEY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPkpXZjyDPymMMYJNEgsmWI1j3zP1q-jiMxnrjvzWO1WybKs4G4jCyI-1AAcu40oiENpgJt_POAzlkQDXcO4V6U6UYeEUOXnBtQwUa2YIN7IT7SQK7ex3GuxhGeo10jzAcJlwCQ/s200/GAAARMAGHJERSEY.jpg" width="167" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">$ 200 Contribution Level:</span></b> <span style="font-family: inherit;"> <b>THE LONGEST MARCH AND GAA JERSEY</b> </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Quinnipiac University Press' epic “Celebrating 250 Years of the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade” and Father Sean McManus book, "My American Struggle for Justice in Northern Ireland” </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">+ The GAA Store football jersey (any county) + Your photo in the WG Mosaic on new site</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oWI3MINQCtk5noVK8-iMV9ITuuxeS2mZ9dg_OFUIWjH3lypviTYL3IkWtLr8UssVxTLIJblloMGVREnqSu32Nnxv7o952hJJJMRDdM_-GzQq0bZDbd98jG8qqD35h-HwALOLPQ/s1600/helen-kelly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oWI3MINQCtk5noVK8-iMV9ITuuxeS2mZ9dg_OFUIWjH3lypviTYL3IkWtLr8UssVxTLIJblloMGVREnqSu32Nnxv7o952hJJJMRDdM_-GzQq0bZDbd98jG8qqD35h-HwALOLPQ/s1600/helen-kelly.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>$ 300 Contribution Level:</b> </span> <b>UNCOVERING YOUR IRISH ANCESTRY</b> <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A genealogy assessment from Irish-based genealogy consultants Helen Kelly or Nicola Morris + <a href="http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=11&cad=rja&ved=0CGUQFjAK&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.abumedia.com%2Fnews%2F1916-seachtar-na-casca-screen-in-new-york&ei=7ZG3UKCpFuqEygGqiIHICg&usg=AFQjCNHw9gQNA4x2YAmiqxCXzN8ciyqs6w" target="_blank">"1916 Seachtar Na Casca,"</a> a 7-episode, 4-DVD set about the 7 signatories of Ireland's Declaration of Independence, from Abu Media + a historical DVD from <a href="http://www.irishmusicmail.com/" target="_blank">Irish Music Mail </a>+ your photo, and your Irish ancestors', in the WG mosaic. For more information please go to <a href="http://thewildgeesegenealogy.blogspot.ca/2012/11/top-ireland-genealogists-offer.html" target="_blank"> Irish Family History Genealogy Assessment </a> and read our <a href="http://thewildgeesegenealogy.blogspot.ca/2012/11/a-day-in-life-of-irish-genealogists-q.html" target="_blank">interview with Helen and Nicola</a>. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFG1gKq8T82pOeuYziGEdQjYr4xiR2mSsR1MlTZ0YcmO6GytWhyphenhyphenydyWhqYqZV5l9ipLClFPyDfZ35sjnG7TmR107BZ6q5s-BQZeGnDT9TVLU3UTOJ4L5lsEraftVUk5PFkysgYaw/s1600/catskills+irish+week.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFG1gKq8T82pOeuYziGEdQjYr4xiR2mSsR1MlTZ0YcmO6GytWhyphenhyphenydyWhqYqZV5l9ipLClFPyDfZ35sjnG7TmR107BZ6q5s-BQZeGnDT9TVLU3UTOJ4L5lsEraftVUk5PFkysgYaw/s320/catskills+irish+week.jpeg" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">$ 500 Contribution Level:</span></b> <span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">RINCE CEOL & YOUR OWN SEANCHAI</span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> A full Scholarship to <a href="http://www.catskillsirishartsweek.org/" target="_blank">Catskills Irish Arts Week</a> in July 2013. Learn the basics or enhance dance and music skills with an Irish village vibe. Includes admission to lectures, ‘superstar’ concerts and daily ceilithe* PLUS a Command performance at YOUR venue by Jim Hawkins, Irish Storyteller extraordinaire* + A pair of WG drinking glasses + A pack of shamrock seeds from WeGotIrish.com + 3 nods for The Wild Geese Hall of Fame + Your pic and that of a particularly beloved Irish ancestor in our mosaic. ONLY 2 AVAILABLE for more information please go to <a href="http://thewildgeeseblog.blogspot.ca/2012/11/catskills-irish-arts-week-2013.html" target="_blank">Rince Ceol + Your Own Seanchaí</a>.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Pb-KNDlphGZi9x2Gvy0l3CnHpBlZ7k8wLRywI7vsDAPN8YaRbx0BZC0pp9e4-CqZcK93ee4jhVO68G4kQTVrUX7uy-3QVFouXwhPpyHvmDw4bgSsACp8TkH3hx8wX7UgLnCEtg/s1600/irish+ancestor+homeland+map.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Pb-KNDlphGZi9x2Gvy0l3CnHpBlZ7k8wLRywI7vsDAPN8YaRbx0BZC0pp9e4-CqZcK93ee4jhVO68G4kQTVrUX7uy-3QVFouXwhPpyHvmDw4bgSsACp8TkH3hx8wX7UgLnCEtg/s1600/irish+ancestor+homeland+map.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">$ 750 Contribution Level:</span></b> <b>KNOW THY ANCESTOR'S PLACE </b></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Get the lowdown on your ancestor’s townland with a </span></span><a href="http://www.knowthyplace.com/map.asp" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;" target="_blank">CUSTOM PRESTIGE CHART MAP</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> from the crew at Cork-based </span></span><a href="http://www.knowthyplace.com/" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;" target="_blank">KNOW THY PLACE</a><span style="color: #6d5a44; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">.</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"> PLUS A sketch of your ancestor by artist (our own version of Jack Yeats) Maryann Tracy</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJFWg_4NcCzH2RrPn64Qrot8dn28U8FME7-23xJnKlZHQ_GwAB6MjrUjE3kUBz0FJ2Iaie7vVA2suiXmmpGGNlYjvc-7dm3eTlZIR4wGZfj4QbZ6jbJ8_jG7r3N-hFuPz9kezpg/s1600/EDMUND+SULLIVAN+Next-Parish-America-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJFWg_4NcCzH2RrPn64Qrot8dn28U8FME7-23xJnKlZHQ_GwAB6MjrUjE3kUBz0FJ2Iaie7vVA2suiXmmpGGNlYjvc-7dm3eTlZIR4wGZfj4QbZ6jbJ8_jG7r3N-hFuPz9kezpg/s320/EDMUND+SULLIVAN+Next-Parish-America-web.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Next Parish, America"</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">and a print (24”x33”) of legendary landscape artist Edmund Sullivan’s “Next Parish, America” + WG women’s or men’s hoodie + A pack of shamrock seeds from WeGotIrish.com + 3 nods for The Wild Geese Hall of Fame + Your pic and that of a particularly beloved Irish ancestor in our mosaic. ONLY 2 AVAILABLE for more information please go to <a href="http://thewildgeesegenealogy.blogspot.ca/2012/11/irish-ancestors-archaeology-chart-and.html" target="_blank">Custom Archaeologist Chart of your Irish Ancestor's Homeland</a>.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaadzXeYX7ecscMtnz_gLOkl-wuWkE8OoMrarmvHnnnketjCc0FRbkDybFmMRf1FOUEW3P687vkDw9Pyiw58biKBFvfMnJj4_mpzTyh1jwtHz9q0NMUr5kyv4lItjBhmlP9FY3-w/s1600/Easter+Proclamation+Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaadzXeYX7ecscMtnz_gLOkl-wuWkE8OoMrarmvHnnnketjCc0FRbkDybFmMRf1FOUEW3P687vkDw9Pyiw58biKBFvfMnJj4_mpzTyh1jwtHz9q0NMUr5kyv4lItjBhmlP9FY3-w/s200/Easter+Proclamation+Poster.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmUfvKgcaFweWRPu-76-Wn__2kzB4AIErTCmx0t-O29ti6oDsIL7tBzzyMq-OG3Kwcz1-N57y6eYDnp7FPQousnXz3m46IPzRJ-S5VlhNuYWT_ie07Mb3-3xppBfOQeYrPS4yFA/s1600/GO-HOME-PADDY-John-Walsh-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmUfvKgcaFweWRPu-76-Wn__2kzB4AIErTCmx0t-O29ti6oDsIL7tBzzyMq-OG3Kwcz1-N57y6eYDnp7FPQousnXz3m46IPzRJ-S5VlhNuYWT_ie07Mb3-3xppBfOQeYrPS4yFA/s200/GO-HOME-PADDY-John-Walsh-1.jpg" width="134" /></a><br />
<b style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;">$1000 Contribution Level:</span> BECOME A FOUNDING FUNDER! </b> <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Inclusion in Founding Funders sketch. Be part of the Wild Geese forever. (Receive a framed print. One lucky funder will receive the original!) by graphic artist John A. Walsh </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">For more information please go to </span><a href="http://thewildgeeseblog.blogspot.ca/2012/11/graphic-artist-creating-sketch-of-wild.html" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;" target="_blank">Irish-American Graphic Artist</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Plus a </span>“Next Parish, America” print (24”x33”) by artist Edmund Sullivan and a<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 1916 Easter Proclamation print, courtesy of <a href="http://anlar.tv/" target="_blank">An Lar TV </a></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">Irish Community TV a link to home for many Irish people living all over the world. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">An Lár TV is an internet TV channel for the Irish Diaspora as well as local communities in Ireland, and it’s a great way for everyone to keep in touch with what’s going on in every </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">part of the country.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38YPlTS7KWKgl9T95MHpXPVMweanbHp6B7BiRnBXoIrSKl4vyefEujgE0Ln8iDnwMFe-xg-3JXP2aGhdcJz4EvIRQ_jxO_bjtBnXKNbkA3u1E-CkwDFVF9Denr7CXctd0ITvdqA/s1600/water-and-ice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38YPlTS7KWKgl9T95MHpXPVMweanbHp6B7BiRnBXoIrSKl4vyefEujgE0Ln8iDnwMFe-xg-3JXP2aGhdcJz4EvIRQ_jxO_bjtBnXKNbkA3u1E-CkwDFVF9Denr7CXctd0ITvdqA/s1600/water-and-ice.jpg" /></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"></span><br />
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Plus Arthur S. Mattson’s illustrated hardcover<a href="http://indieebookreview.wordpress.com/2012/11/27/water-and-ice-by-arthur-s-mattson/" target="_blank"> "Water and Ice"</a> + WG baseball cap + WG brooch/tie tack + Pack of shamrock seeds + 3 nods for The Wild Geese Hall of Fame + Your pic and a beloved Irish ancestor in our mosaic on the NEW WILD GEESE WEBSITE. <br />
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<b style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;">$2000 Contribution Level:</span> <span style="font-size: large;">MARCH WITH THE IRISH BRIGADE! </span></b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">(ONLY 2 POSITIONS AVAILABLE) </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">March With The Civil War Irish Brigade in New York’s 252nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, to the cheers of more than a million spectators along the 35-block route, in the ranks, in your own new uniform, under arms. For more information on this fantastic Irish Reward Perk (just reduced from $3000) Please go to </span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">For more information please go to </span><a href="http://thewildgeeseblog.blogspot.ca/2012/11/march-with-irish-brigade-in-new-yorks.html" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;" target="_blank">March with the Irish Brigade in NY in St. Pat's Parade</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">TO CONTRIBUTE AND CLAIM THIS REWARD: Please go to our </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/newwildgeese?c=home" style="line-height: 18px;" target="_blank">INDIEGOGO CROWD FUNDING CAMPAIGN</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"> page!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWaJ4rBP6Ih6hy4WYR3Xeuq2kXG9FIExNvbF__Wms5PPrt55vNh01PYmko5ImZRXkD3qMavo2wByKNFfsB0IhmZ7FFg1hvm3ZwTtgGfBwOasTE1FOZ6ElH7MWiahItIg1CjP32kw/s1600/69th+Civil+War+Irish+Brigade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWaJ4rBP6Ih6hy4WYR3Xeuq2kXG9FIExNvbF__Wms5PPrt55vNh01PYmko5ImZRXkD3qMavo2wByKNFfsB0IhmZ7FFg1hvm3ZwTtgGfBwOasTE1FOZ6ElH7MWiahItIg1CjP32kw/s400/69th+Civil+War+Irish+Brigade.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Company A, Colorado Division</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQMLAfSrX1vbbPrjR5C_sOYUzg4TOCcR77A4OSSi6mqRAPYGT8Gu7RqWNhtYvYBvCBw52UZJ8pgwMLEF8PLWCUOBYNowG3tXW2tATYUgLmGrLQ187Cr0ssq1BcO7OAR4gInNZNw/s1600/the_wild_geese_golf_shirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQMLAfSrX1vbbPrjR5C_sOYUzg4TOCcR77A4OSSi6mqRAPYGT8Gu7RqWNhtYvYBvCBw52UZJ8pgwMLEF8PLWCUOBYNowG3tXW2tATYUgLmGrLQ187Cr0ssq1BcO7OAR4gInNZNw/s200/the_wild_geese_golf_shirt.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Plus inclusion in Funding Fathers sketch a Wild Geese golf shirt, a "Next Parish, America" limited edition print, a print of the Easter Proclamation, a WG brooch / tie tack, a pack of shamrock seeds from WeGotIrish.com, 3 nods for The Wild Geese Hall of Fame and your pic and that of a beloved Irish ancestor in our mosaic. </span></span><br />
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Support TheWildGeese.com and our Irish Heritage Partners by Contributing, Commenting and Sharing and for everyone who has contributed so farwe say <span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Go raibh mile maith agaibh!</span></span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"> </span><br />
<br />Gerry Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597915860564953502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21161077.post-56914771200870645922012-11-24T16:28:00.001-05:002012-11-29T10:43:30.966-05:00Graphic Artist Creating Sketch of The Wild Geese Founding Funders!<h2 class="title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(168, 168, 168); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhv2O3woDc4rL8V64LtB7hOPhWYiT0NktpeX17-bor0cun0YL5SEVC7QeDaI32_RnDbtmvI42ZugNbhtwcy8_m03HlvEKEy1o7JAnTut9SMPGFcFnOC17PWQ4MauQngfB0mHuRA/s1600/GO-HOME-PADDY-John-Walsh-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhv2O3woDc4rL8V64LtB7hOPhWYiT0NktpeX17-bor0cun0YL5SEVC7QeDaI32_RnDbtmvI42ZugNbhtwcy8_m03HlvEKEy1o7JAnTut9SMPGFcFnOC17PWQ4MauQngfB0mHuRA/s320/GO-HOME-PADDY-John-Walsh-1.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">THIS IRISH REWARD PERK BUNDLE has beecan be found on our </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: small; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/newwildgeese" target="_blank">INDIEGOGO CROWD FUNDING</a> site along with many more rewards from our <a href="http://www.thewildgeese.com/wgsponsors.html" target="_blank">Irish Heritage Partners</a> with only 17 days left in the campaign.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;">This bundle features a sketch that includes a drawing of the contributor in a print called The Wild Geese Founding Funders by graphic novelist and artist John A. Walsh. One lucky contributor will receive the original sketch. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.johnawalsh.net/" style="color: #0a2d51; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">John A. Walsh</a></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 18px;"> was born and raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut and is currently creating the Great Irish-American Graphic Novel "GO HOME PADDY". While continuing to be the Editorial Cartoonist at The South End News in Boston, John is also writing a screenplay with Boston filmmaker Daniel Small. John’s clients include Harvard University, Boston University, Brigham & Woman’s Hospital (Partners Organization), the Hannaford Supermarket chain and many others. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Included in this Irish Reward Perk Bundle is a limited edition 24" x 33" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">print of Irish-American artist <a href="http://www.edmundsullivan.com/index.html" target="_blank">Edmund Sullivan's </a></span></div>
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Also included</i> is a hardcover edition of Arthur S. Mattson's illustrated<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0615294391?tag=thewildgeeset-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=0615294391&adid=1JQ9TVHK7BH3D8YKA5EJ" target="_blank"> "Water and Ice"</a>. </span><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;">The immigrant voyage of millions of Irish to America was legendary for its trials. But perhaps none who ventured out into the Atlantic had as perilous and tragic a journey as the 100 or so Irish men, women and children who set forth in October 1836 on the barque Mexico and the ship Bristol.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Little remembered today, the wrecks of these two vessels, with the loss of 215 lives off Long Island’s South Shore, shocked all who heard or read of them, and made for spectacular headlines for months to come. Taken together, the wrecks were among the deadliest maritime accidents in</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> U.S. history to that time. </span>Mattson talks in particular, about five young women from County Cavan aboard the Mexico “who died taking such a gamble to get to America.” The five women from Cavan, Margaret Barrett, 25; Bridget Devine, 20; Catharine Galligan, 25; Mary Smith, 25; and Eleanor Tierney, 18, were among 10 from the county on the ship, along with seven passengers from Cork and seven from Dublin. Thirty other passengers described their homelands simply as Ireland when arranging for their passages.<span style="line-height: 18px;"> Read More: </span><a href="http://thewildgeeseblog.blogspot.ca/2010/11/immigrant-dreams-founder-on-shoals-off.html" style="line-height: 18px;" target="_blank">Immigrant dreams founder off Long Island</a><span style="line-height: 18px;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLFutScYjfxmGFmUsWyaYFOwKTPToWP1tNxn8yUgZgGCd7FJjD7p9OsLGs1L87VKDAH4OhwbukXDExn6RWRGDhGa_pK-BUAuPaj-O5xcqgVY7DcN5lKcYqNV0iMeQNMX5v5tgcQ/s1600/Easter+Proclamation+Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLFutScYjfxmGFmUsWyaYFOwKTPToWP1tNxn8yUgZgGCd7FJjD7p9OsLGs1L87VKDAH4OhwbukXDExn6RWRGDhGa_pK-BUAuPaj-O5xcqgVY7DcN5lKcYqNV0iMeQNMX5v5tgcQ/s200/Easter+Proclamation+Poster.jpg" width="128" /></span></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTN-r6V01v7EMJcMSHt6vVvBpNi_U3mZp-k8LQpTr4T6KEXLJvDSzWlmQO_CsoDLK6BTYShfUbJ8E5_os5ZERWJZ3mZ-qtbwyQMRgnya7RqlUcbzVPVyFZ5b3O4QIc6m9CbjkAgw/s1600/IrishShamrockSeeds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTN-r6V01v7EMJcMSHt6vVvBpNi_U3mZp-k8LQpTr4T6KEXLJvDSzWlmQO_CsoDLK6BTYShfUbJ8E5_os5ZERWJZ3mZ-qtbwyQMRgnya7RqlUcbzVPVyFZ5b3O4QIc6m9CbjkAgw/s200/IrishShamrockSeeds.jpg" width="111" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">A reproduction of the 1916 Easter Proclamation print courtesy of An Lar TV, a </span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wild Geese baseball cap, a Wild Geese brooch/tie tack and a pack of shamrock seeds from WegotIrish.com. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Plus 3 nods for The Wild Geese Hall of Fame and your photo and your beloved Irish ancestor's in our mosaic on the new Wild Geese website. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">With only 17 days left in our campaign hop over to our <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/newwildgeese" target="_blank">Indiegogo Crowd Funding site</a> and choose from a large number of Irish Reward Perks from our amazing Irish Heritage Partners, no contribution is too small!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;">Go raibh mile maith agaibh!</span></div>
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Gerry Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597915860564953502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21161077.post-65065553383143348082012-11-24T12:15:00.001-05:002012-11-24T12:17:14.578-05:00The Wild Geese Twitter QR Indiegogo Campaign Code<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Visit <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/newwildgeese">http://www.indiegogo.com/newwildgeese</a> for more details or launch our campaign page by lining up your smartphone’s camera with the QR code below. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> Go raibh mile maith agaibh!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRCIv3XM086dBe1RSy861aPq5bJ12YI0K7rxkL4AjbPkVIsUAspQBX5e2gYtLEcIoeN5kamrYvV7PGmjDAUNks8UIDsr-CqfLqiDBmjvfR2U_WuorYwUaO4y2LdxiSKc4eFmI9g/s1600/a+qr+for+twitter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRCIv3XM086dBe1RSy861aPq5bJ12YI0K7rxkL4AjbPkVIsUAspQBX5e2gYtLEcIoeN5kamrYvV7PGmjDAUNks8UIDsr-CqfLqiDBmjvfR2U_WuorYwUaO4y2LdxiSKc4eFmI9g/s400/a+qr+for+twitter.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Gerry Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597915860564953502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21161077.post-29732292479545568652012-11-21T17:10:00.000-05:002012-11-22T09:59:09.807-05:00Catskills Irish Arts Week 2013 Scholarship!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxKfztUmkWgqwOfKqVOMbSU2-9VU_OxcdQzbam9IS9IKmawoF2PRBdkntML7AHzf-mun7xgvrX4EjLkHABqlEL9_fvnnCe9nm6Tdirm07u6He8TEsOjzZP4VxIHg-oC9iS4GaXw/s1600/IrishShamrockSeeds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxKfztUmkWgqwOfKqVOMbSU2-9VU_OxcdQzbam9IS9IKmawoF2PRBdkntML7AHzf-mun7xgvrX4EjLkHABqlEL9_fvnnCe9nm6Tdirm07u6He8TEsOjzZP4VxIHg-oC9iS4GaXw/s1600/IrishShamrockSeeds.jpg" width="111" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #d2d2d2; color: #595959; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;">Spend a Week in<span style="font-size: small;"> the</span> <a href="http://www.catskillsirishartsweek.org/" target="_blank">Catskills for their Irish Arts Week</a> in July 2013 as part of an </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">IRISH </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small; line-height: 18px;">REWARD PERK BUNDLE from our <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/newwildgeese?c=home" target="_blank">I</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/newwildgeese?c=home" target="_blank">ndiegogo Crowd Funding Campaign</a>. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"> L</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">earn the basics or enhance your dance and music skills with an Irish village vibe. This </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Includes admission to lectures, ‘superstar’ concerts and daily ceilithe* Remember no contribution is too small!</span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #d2d2d2; color: #595959; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNdlFWZERfSfSb0JE2nwAg3rQuwFW2OgpIfl6wqWwaTOIeihyah_5AFtPD5WCxWn-ohGb_usAr6UBUZ_HNEvnY8l5mekQsOiHzti5xoksyM5Z006AhGC1E4f93oJgFk6wT4lKQg/s1600/jimhawkinsirishstoryteller.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNdlFWZERfSfSb0JE2nwAg3rQuwFW2OgpIfl6wqWwaTOIeihyah_5AFtPD5WCxWn-ohGb_usAr6UBUZ_HNEvnY8l5mekQsOiHzti5xoksyM5Z006AhGC1E4f93oJgFk6wT4lKQg/s1600/jimhawkinsirishstoryteller.png" width="200" /></a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #d2d2d2; color: #595959; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">INCLUDED in the Reward Perk is a 'Command' performance at YOUR venue (of choice) by <a href="http://www.jimhawkinsirishstory.com/" target="_blank">Jim Hawkins, Irish Storyteller</a> extraordinaire! </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="display: inline !important; float: none; line-height: 18px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Plus a pair of Wild Geese drinking glasses and a pack of shamrock seeds from </span><a href="http://wegotirish.com/">WeGotIrish.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #595959;">. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="display: inline !important; float: none; line-height: 18px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Also included are </span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">3 nods for The Wild Geese Hall of Fame plus your photo and that of a particularly beloved Irish ancestor in our mosaic on the new Wild Geese Website.</span></span><br />
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Here is a great video from the 5AM All Star Jam during the 2011 Catskills Irish Arts Week enjoy!</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="415" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WrYMJwltDWM" width="520"></iframe><br />Gerry Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597915860564953502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21161077.post-36211451898950386552012-11-21T15:30:00.000-05:002012-11-21T20:32:28.013-05:00Gráinne Holland - An Seanduine Dóite - Gaelic Song We are so pleased to welcome <a href="http://grainneholland.com/#/baile-home/4550412068" target="_blank">Gaelic Singer Gráinne Holland</a> to our growing list of amazing Irish Heritage Partners in our <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/newwildgeese?c=home" target="_blank">Indiegogo Crowd Funding Campaign.</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Gráinne Holland<span style="color: black;">, an Irish speaker from West Belfast, is a fresh talent
in the Irish traditional music circuit with impressive vocal strength
and beauty. A pioneer in forging new territory for Gaelic song,
Grainne's exquisite lyrical charms refresh and revitalize the irish
verses of old. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Her debut album <i>'Teanga na nGael'</i> is part of our <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/newwildgeese?c=home" target="_blank">IRISH MUSIC REWARD PERK </a>and is a wonderful collection of traditional songs in Irish and Scottish Gaelic. The album features a brilliant line up of guest musicians including Dónal O'Connor, John Mc Sherry, Tony Byrne, Neil Martin, Rohan Young, Gary Duffy and more.</span></span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="415" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2Vc2A4Jiq5M" width="520"></iframe><br />Gerry Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597915860564953502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21161077.post-61517887437126716352012-11-21T14:36:00.002-05:002012-11-21T15:27:52.637-05:00Irish Rebel Song "The Boys of the Old Brigade"One of our most cherished Irish Heritage Partners and <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/newwildgeese" target="_blank">Indiegogo Campaign Contributors</a> is Derek Warfield and The Young Wolfe Tones and they are part of our 3 CD Irish Music Reward Perks Bundle along with <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #d2d2d2; color: #595959; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fiddler Marie Reilly, Black 47, Cherish the Ladies, Ashley Davis, Belfast-based singer Grainne Holland, “Roses From the Heart” compilation, and recording artist Jed Marum. Check out our Campaign and consider contributing and get a fantastic reward from <span style="font-size: small;">our <span style="font-size: small;">Irish Heritage Partners<span style="font-size: small;">, no contribution is too small and we appreciate every share or tweet!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #d2d2d2; color: #595959; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #d2d2d2; color: #595959; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Here is an old video from Brisbane where Derek introduces "The Boys of the Old Brigade" with his defiant statement that the Irish could not honor their heroes with Stone Monuments so they did it with their 'Rebel Songs'!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zUuCzgh8ok4" width="520"></iframe><br />Gerry Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597915860564953502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21161077.post-58369278260611523422012-11-21T12:06:00.004-05:002012-11-21T12:50:03.326-05:00Irish History and Heritage Partners offer Rewards to Indiegogo Crowd Funding Campaign<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you love all things Irish our list of Wild Geese Irish Heritage Partners grows steadily everyday and now through our Indiegogo Crowd Funding Campaign they are offering their products as Reward Perks for campaign contributions starting as low as $10. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Check out these newly posted perks, highlighting the full range of our editorial focus the past 15 years and in the years to come:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">They include:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Music of the Irish + And More, (30 available), 3 CDs from our Irish musical partners: Derek Warfield and The Young Wolfe Tones, Fiddler Marie Reilly, Black 47, Cherish the Ladies, Ashley Davis, Belfast-based singer Grainne Holland, “Roses From the Heart” compilation, and recording artist Jed Marum + shamrock seeds from WeGotIrish.com + more. $50</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rince Ceol + Your Own Seanchai (2 available) full tuition provided by Catskills Irish Arts Week and a performance in your venue by Irish storyteller Jim Hawkins. $750</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Know Thy Place+Ancestor’s Face, (2 available), the history of your ancestor’s Irish townland, courtesy of Cork-based Know Thy Place and artist Maryann Tracy. $950</span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Become a Founding Funder! (2 available) join our cadre of huge Irish heritage fans and take your place in our slightly subversive portrait of ‘founding funders,’ and receive a framed copy. Drawn by graphic artist John A. Walsh (“Paddy Go Home.”) See John’s work at <a href="http://www.johnawalsh.net/" style="color: #33b6c4; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">www.johnawalsh.net</a>. $1,000</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">March with the Brigade! (2 available) — ever wondered what it’s like marching up 5th Avenue, with the Civil War’s famed Irish Brigade, to the huzzahs of more than a million spectators during New York’s joyous St. Patrick’s Day Parade. All this, under arms, in your own uniform, as part of a brigade honor company, drums pounding, fifes playing. Here’s your chance! Sign up now. Experience is courtesy of The 69th N.Y.S.V. Historical Association (<a href="http://www.69thnysv.org/" style="color: #33b6c4; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">http://www.69thnysv.org</a>). 20% of your donation goes to support preservation of Civil War history and battlefields. $3,000.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Get the details on our <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/newwildgeese?c=home" target="_blank">Indiegogo campaign page!</a> And plea<span style="font-family: inherit;">se donate, at any level, to help insure our future, support Irish Culture and to build a new era for Irish heritage online.</span></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/E_fNrbS0VDc" width="560"></iframe>Gerry Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597915860564953502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21161077.post-12727425481614000102012-11-15T19:53:00.005-05:002012-11-16T10:11:31.783-05:00A View From the 'Sandy'-Shattered 'Irish Riviera'<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we </span><a href="http://thewildgeeseblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-york-childhood-more-irish-than.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">interviewed Kevin Gleeson</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in January, he described his upbringing in New York City's Borough of Queens as distinctly more Irish than American. Last Saturday, Kevin joined a small army of volunteers, striving to help the borough's Rockaway residents restore some sense of normalcy to their existences, shattered, as were their homes, by </span><a href="http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Report-from-the-Rockaways---desperate-days-for-residents-there-after-Sandy-177838411.html#axzz2CJSyWG2F" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Hurricane Sandy</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. The experience brought back memories of his childhood there, along the so-called "Irish Riviera." In an account shared with Hell's Kitchen, Kevin recalls that long, exhausting day, working and watching Americans come together to help rebuild the neighborhood.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>By Kevin Gleeson</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Rockaway Beach -- </b>I always knew the Rockaways were an Irish haven. As a kid, we would take the bus down from Woodside with plastic pales and shovels and wildly make plans for the castles and tunnels we were going to build together. We ate many a sand-filled sandwich on its shores. Many a visit to change suits in the relief station at Beach 116 and many hours standing on line, sun-burned, waiting for the bus ride home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday I answered a request for help in the Rockaways. Not someone I know very well at all. Just someone who lives with his wife and four children in Rockaway and suffered terrible storm damage to his home from Sandy. I drove south on Woodhaven Boulevard.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At Howard Beach / Ozone Park, electricity goes out and flags and signs go up. “FEMA help us.” Large dumpsters are everywhere. Gas stations are taped closed. Police at traffic lights. At Broad Channel a row of dump trucks a mile long and piles of cars that floated away. Emergency vehicles of every kind. Backhoes, front end loaders, bobcats loading out building materials. Wood, glass, wallboard, sheeting. But also kids' toys, like dolls and little red TYCO cars. Garbage stuck neck-high in chainlink fences showed how high the water had risen. The library with a hundred bags of wet books out front. Pet stores without power or pumps. Pharmacies with damaged roofs. I shudder to think what happened the night of the flood.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cross Bay Bridge brings you onto the peninsula that was Rockaway. Utter devastation. No electric. No gas. No food. No stores. Tens of thousands of homes that sat underwater for a day with water over their first floor windows. The Atlantic waves rolled down the streets four blocks to the bay wall. A day later the waters receded leaving sand, silt and mud in the streets, yards and basements.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo by Adelaide Spence</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Generators with cables running into windows hummed on every block and provided access to the darkened homes. Hundreds of people like myself dressed in demo(lition) clothes, masks, steel boots, thick work gloves, descended into the basements on mud- covered stairs. I had to conceptualize that the water had risen above my head, above the ceiling and halfway up the first floor. Flooring, tiles, bricks, door saddles needed to be chopped out of the mud and placed into large cans and carted out to the street one-by-one by dozens of volunteers. It smelled like the ocean downstairs. Sump pumps, flat pumps and wet-vacs worked constantly. Within minutes, I was soaked in wet mud, head to toe. I would be for the whole day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We came at first light and worked till sundown. Professional demo crews, plumbers and electricians worked with volunteers to cap off gas, water and power lines so the homes were safe when services were restored. With tools and experience in demo and construction, I disconnected and took out toilets, sinks, showers, gas dryers, washing machines, air vent units, counters, cabinets, walls, floors, ceilings, electrical fixtures, insulation, everything basically except framing and studding. I used crowbars and sledge hammers all day. The trips up the stairs all day, with hundreds of pounds of stuff, left me dizzy as I went from dark to light outside and plunged back down into the dark, wet basement. As I removed plumbing, sewage water flooded back in, vacating the house pipes. We worked in that all day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Outside, people had prepared meals of fine sandwiches, apples and pretzels with hummus. There was beer, wine, soda, coffee. We ate, we laughed, we worked. Bobcats and front- end loaders in the street worked all day removing the mountains of refuse we kept piling in the streets. This operation would be completed by every house, on every block, on the peninsula. A friend who lives there told me that, for awhile, under the tide, Rockaway did not exist. Just roofs sticking out of the water from the ocean to the city.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We made our way demoing the staircase walls to the first floor. Crews had been up there all day, removing flooring, water heaters, plumbing, kitchen cabinets, bookcases. The homes, most built in the 1920s, have walls made with horizontal wood strips called lathing, which act as a base for the plaster applied on top and between them. Behind that is a metal mesh screen hung ceiling to floor, nailed to studs, and into which concrete has been imbedded. A pencil mark (above waist-high) indicated the water line. Everything below that line came out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saws cut the steel and concrete and then hammer, sledge and crowbar, by force, removed the walls. The dust and smoke and smell were intense. The weight of the buckets were intense. Dozens of trips out the front hall and down the stairs to the street provide a workout gyms can only imagine. I was flattered when the demo crews asked me if I did construction as I “had talent.” As a young man, I had worked years of construction and demolition.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Someone called a “break” and $180 worth of pizzas were out back with beer and sodas. Again we laughed and ate and talked. Black. White. Asian. Hispanic. Gay. Straight. Male. Female. Conservative. Liberal. Block after block. Mile after mile. Day after day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Americans. Working together. <b><span style="color: #38761d;">WG</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Looking for specific ways to aid in the Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts? </b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The <a href="http://www.newyorkirishcenter.org/" target="_blank">New York Irish Center</a> is accepting donations, and has created a list of relevant needs. </b></div>
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Gerry Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597915860564953502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21161077.post-34206544192417575182012-11-14T17:45:00.000-05:002012-11-16T12:28:35.332-05:00Ireland's Great Hunger Museum: Q&A with Grace Brady<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I saw the dying, the living and the dead, lying indiscriminately upon the same floor, without anything between them and the cold earth, save a few miserable rags upon them," wrote James Mahoney, a journalist for the Illustrated London News, in 1847, the worst year of Ireland's Great Hunger. </span><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.thegreathunger.org/Museum/" target="_blank">Ireland's Great Hunger Museum</a></b>, <i><b>Gaeilge</b></i><i><b> </b></i><i><b>Músaem an Ghorta Mhóir</b></i>, opened this fall to bring to life the disturbing realities of that time and place to generations of descendants of Famine victims, those lucky enough to emigrate to North America. The facility, operated by Quinnipiac University and located in Hamden, Conn., is devoted to telling the story of the Great Hunger. To that end, it holds the world's largest collection of paintings, sculptures and other visual media relating The Great Famine. </span><br />
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This month the museum has become a newly christened Wild Geese Irish Heritage Partners, and is supporting our ongoing<b> <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/newwildgeese" target="_blank">crowdfunding campaign</a></b>, to help us gather the resources we need to reimagine our outdated site and add a dynamic worldwide digital community. This week, via e-mail, the museum's <b>Executive Director Grace Brady</b> fielded questions from <a href="http://www.thewildgeese.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>The Wild Geese</b></span></a> <b>Associate Producer Tiffany Silverberg</b> about the museum's mission and first few months of operation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Wild Geese: </b>What does Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum’s holdings include?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Grace Brady:</b> Paintings, sculptures and other visual media relating to the Great Hunger. Also, the collection is supported by a collection of extant British papers on Ireland from 1780-1923, which is housed in the Arnold Bernhard Library at QU [Quinnipiac University].</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><b>The Wild Geese: </b>In addition to educating people about the Great Hunger, what are you hoping to accomplish?</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Brady:</b> To also display first-rate Irish art, which doesn’t get the credit it deserves. Irish music, literature and theatre are widely known and we want to show that the visual art in Ireland is also as exceptional.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Wild Geese: </b><span class="s1">Why focus on this famine, this tragedy?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Brady:</b> To set the record straight. The most common perception of the Famine is that it was the sole result of a failed potato crop. Many other political and economic factors played a key role in this avoidable tragedy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Wild Geese: </b><span class="s1">Your website mentions that the collection has been building since 1997. Why is now the right time to open the museum?</span> <b> </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Brady: </b>The collection has grown so much in terms of value and volume that a museum space was needed to properly display and highlight the wonderful collection.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Wild Geese: </b>What are your future plans? Do you covet adding anything in particular to further assist you in telling this story?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Brady: </b>Future possibilities are great. Docent programs, lectures, concerts, educational programs and outreach, and more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Brady: </b>Students, senior citizens, faculty … a variety of people from across the tri-state area, as well as nationally, and we have had a few international visitors as well.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Wild Geese: </b>What’s a typical day at the museum like for you?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Brady: </b>Right now nothing is typical! I am less than two months in the post so am still getting the new building completely up to speed, scheduling visits, and starting to think about planning. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><b>The Wild Geese: </b>What are the biggest challenges that you as an Irish cultural institution face?</span> <b> </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Brady: </b>Like those facing any small specialized institution, the main challenge will be to continue to attract visitors and to offer varied programming – educational and artistic.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Wild Geese: </b>What is your favorite “stolen” moment while working with the museum’s holdings, a moment with visiting children perhaps or encountering, even holding, a particular artifact?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Brady:</b> Thus far it has been the different stories of visitors, many of whom are of Irish heritage, who speak about their families who emigrated here. Also, the great positive response and gratitude for the museum is very satisfying.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.quinnipiac.edu/Images/NewsStories/2012/UnivNews_Bradyappoint_360x250_BradyGrace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://www.quinnipiac.edu/Images/NewsStories/2012/UnivNews_Bradyappoint_360x250_BradyGrace.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grace Brady, Executive Director</td></tr>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Wild Geese: </b>What is your own Irish story? Any ancestors that you know of emerge from the Famine? Any Famine-related stories in your family?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Brady: </b>My maternal grandparents and many of their relatives emigrated to America through Ellis Island. They came later than the Famine period. I remember them always telling me that America is the greatest country. They were simple people who worked extremely hard once they got to New York. <b><span style="color: #38761d;">WG</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>How to Get There</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">275 Mount Carmel Ave. Hamden, CT 06518</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Phone Number: 203-582-3469</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hours: M-F 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thegreathunger.org/AboutCollection/RoomPolicy.asp" target="_blank">Room Policy</a></span></div>
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Gerry Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597915860564953502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21161077.post-90065545202753041592012-11-10T15:28:00.002-05:002012-11-14T13:49:35.308-05:00Soaring With The Wild Geese: Q&A With Gerry Regan<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiDcKhxNsBjkwpybAN5iBaiCZT8MiHKQ-KDoArG3JFsrlFPAwQrlzyBnrdDeBTs8sag8uHl3k3EZpH0RXDzNR1H7yqnuKE2w71-e_QpoYjrk5SOrI6uUPC7_cIYOEFP10LFGAXA/s1600/ger-head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiDcKhxNsBjkwpybAN5iBaiCZT8MiHKQ-KDoArG3JFsrlFPAwQrlzyBnrdDeBTs8sag8uHl3k3EZpH0RXDzNR1H7yqnuKE2w71-e_QpoYjrk5SOrI6uUPC7_cIYOEFP10LFGAXA/s200/ger-head.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Gerry Regan</b></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">O</span>n our 15<sup>th</sup> anniversary</b>
as a leading destination for those passionate about the history and heritage of
the Irish <i>everywhere</i>, <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>The Wild Geese
</b></span>is at a crossroads. Our team has recommitted itself to our mission, “to
explore, promote, preserve and celebrate the heritage of the Irish …
worldwide.” But to accomplish this, we realize we need more resources, and we
need to increasingly incorporate the voices of the Diaspora with ours. So, on
the verge of a brave new world for <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>The Wild Geese</b></span>, our Associate Producer, <b>Tiffany Silverberg</b>, posed to co-founder <b>Gerry Regan</b> questions about the venture's past,
present and future, and how we are dramatically turning to those Irish
worldwide who, with us, want to insure Irish heritage remains '<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>green,'</b></span> in the
words of William Butler Yeats, <span style="color: #38761d;">“wherever green is worn.”</span></div>
<b>How did The Wild Geese come about?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b>Gerry Regan (right) and Joe <br />Gannon (left) at the 1992 St.<br />Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The
Wild Geese started 15 years ago this month, in fact, when Joe Gannon,
Micah Chandler and I, three huge history buffs and fellow Civil War 'living historians,' searched for “Irish History” online and found very little. A few months earlier, we
had formed GAR<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span>Media with the goal of “Forging
New Frontiers for the Past.” This largely unexplored Irish focus seemed a good fit,
so we launched <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>The Wild Geese</b></span>, then known as <b>The Wild Geese Today</b>. This
big anniversary seems like auspicious time to revamp the site. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
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Micah,
our graphic designer, left in 1998, but Joe and I pressed on. We remain passionate
about the drama of history, the stories of history, and military history, where
the stakes were immense. We found that Ireland’s centuries-long struggle to
gain sovereignty from one of the world’s foremost powers was among the most
dramatic we’d encountered. And with millions of emigrants worldwide, we came to
see the outsized impact the Irish had on the world. With these insights, we set
about “Chronicling the Epic History of the Irish Worldwide.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Keeping
it simple, we were about sharing this history, not revenue. Fifteen years, 700-plus articles, drawing 1,100 visits and more than 2,000 page
views daily – not bad considering we spent a pittance on marketing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b>So why change tracks now, 15 years
in, with a new business strategy?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
We came to realize our limitations in fully exploring Irish history. Think about
it – hundreds, perhaps thousands, of traditional and folk tunes recorded and
packaged each year by consummate, passionate artists, on several continents.
The same with books about the Irish experience around the world. Irish studies
programs springing up in universities. A huge literary and artistic milieu,
spoken word, theatre, filmmaking, dance, visual arts, sculpture, all
interpreting and exploring the Irish experience through centuries, millennia in
many cases. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thewildgeese.com/pages/images/grtcd74s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.thewildgeese.com/pages/images/grtcd74s.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"> <b> Gerry Regan, far right, with Trinity College <br /> classmates in TCD's Buttery Bar in <br /> November 1973.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This
is a big Irish world. Much of it is not readily accessible to most of us, who
find some info on one site, some on Facebook, and some offline.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
We
thought: Why not create a community of people and organizations devoted to
exploring and celebrating the heritage of the Irish worldwide -- a place where
each of us can bring our own Irish stories and connect with those from around
the world with particular expertise to share, as we share what we know best,
our own stories. It will be a dynamic place where we are all, together, pushing
the boundaries of what we’ve come to know about the Irish experience worldwide.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
We
also want The Wild Geese, going forward, to play a vital role in preserving Irish
heritage “wherever green is worn,” wherever it faces becoming irrelevant. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
We
can’t accomplish that without a profit <span style="font-family: Symbol;">--</span> to allow us to keep our focus, day in and day out; to pay
writers, artists, photographers and producers; to underwrite research; to
create new online platforms to take advantage of technological advances; to
gain new audiences for this culture and ultimately to create a worldwide
community of those committed to our mission, whether they be individuals or our
Heritage Partners, marketers who like us remain passionate about the Irish
brand worldwide.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b>So what is The Wild Geese
crowdfunding campaign?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
The
crowdfunding campaign is how we will raise the funds we need to better serve
our constituency and our focus -- the heritage of the Irish worldwide. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
We
still use the same hand-coded HTML on our site as we did 15 years ago. Our
navigation is not intuitive, nor user-friendly. Our site taxonomy, intended to
help one find one’s way through 700 features, is confusing, even to us. To carry out our mission, we need a newly designed site, one that
allows speedy updating, that allows visitors ready access to precisely the
information they want or need, and that helps us connect our Heritage Partners with
our readers and members.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx59mgGT5gbyxBsOiSDCPZ_i7wuwwh5J8dRH95hj-PM4YZs0rDycCckuc3H2ZHBolaUG6MvKjItnLcMkXAIGi6QuvanOrYTrWpDWjHsmNA_X2TT_yR1IbHvuuGhbZJ3jsaAAOyuA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-11-08+at+4.23.57+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx59mgGT5gbyxBsOiSDCPZ_i7wuwwh5J8dRH95hj-PM4YZs0rDycCckuc3H2ZHBolaUG6MvKjItnLcMkXAIGi6QuvanOrYTrWpDWjHsmNA_X2TT_yR1IbHvuuGhbZJ3jsaAAOyuA/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-11-08+at+4.23.57+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
We
need page design and functionality that allow readers to share articles and
information quickly, via social media, pages that carry our partners’ marketing
messages and professionally written and edited content that speaks powerfully
of the Irish and their exploits around the world. We need a smarter taxonomy,
using channels and search engines, to explore in a more thorough, user-friendly
manner the arts, folklore, genealogy, living history, military history, freedom
struggle, foreign climes, travel, Gaeilge, accomplishments in labor, law,
government, technology, science, poetry, on and on.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Most
of all though, we need a full-featured online community alongside the newly
designed web site - a place where our members, the Irish diaspora around
the globe, can share their stories, connect with their heritage, and explore
their history. And a place, as well, where marketers who share our passion and
our mission can connect with us naturally.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
These require money, and further, support, both from
our many fans and from Heritage Partners who believe in what we are trying to
accomplish. Our upcoming crowdfunding campaign allows members to show their
support for what we’ve done, what we’re doing and what we will all accomplish
together with the new features. Heritage Partners have stepped up to offer the
best of their products and services as perks to those who support us in this
campaign with donations at any and all levels.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b>Why should devotees of Irish
culture worldwide get involved now?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uK3a-JiLtUABVISAnH8g1IWhwq3xVFYQFM3jY6UISl9dXPEduX5Rs-HwCei0nEZ3J9nE7Xz6OyHZVIL_mSFwp7eVKeYjXS_2MhVIuw24WScp0Lbz38HVpw3dklO7w23qCafI8g/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-11-08+at+4.29.45+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uK3a-JiLtUABVISAnH8g1IWhwq3xVFYQFM3jY6UISl9dXPEduX5Rs-HwCei0nEZ3J9nE7Xz6OyHZVIL_mSFwp7eVKeYjXS_2MhVIuw24WScp0Lbz38HVpw3dklO7w23qCafI8g/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-11-08+at+4.29.45+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
For
many years we’ve presented stories of the Irish, worldwide, with looks at the
culture fostered by the Diaspora, as our time and resources allowed. We’ve had a
largely one-way conversation, though. We spoke to you. To explore and celebrate
our heritage worldwide, we need more. Simply put, we need you. In this
campaign, we need your support, and with our new platforms your dollars will
help fund your voice and your unique, poignant, humorous Irish stories and
perspectives.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>How will the energy of the campaign
continue into The New Wild Geese?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are
humbled and gratified, but frankly not surprised, to find such enthusiasm for
our mission from Heritage Partners. With the help of your donation, in early
January, we will launch our newly designed public site, along with The New Wild
Geese community. We are already planning new content, such as editorial
cartoons, op-ed pages, expanded travel coverage, and launch of nine channels
and dozens of sub-channels, along with The Wild Geese Directory of Irish
Heritage and Hospitality Network. I direct you to the full list of benefits we envision from their
support, listed after this interview.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>So many individuals, even many
Irish Americans, don’t look back. What draws you and your colleagues to focus
on Irish heritage?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For us, <b><span style="color: green;">The
Wild Geese</span></b> continues to be about two things: exploring and presenting the dramatic and often transformative stories of our ancestors, and
finally, the drive to find, and reconnect, to our roots. These will continue to
inspire and inform us as we move forward.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of
the most satisfying aspects of my work producing <b><span style="color: green;">The Wild Geese</span></b> all these years has
been the thanks we’ve received from individuals who credit us with helping them
reconnect to their roots, to their kith and kin, to Mother Ireland herself. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMW0MJ6SvIjHnAOmChJ-_3wgkHrRSY-yLxT7SzeVPHVr27aKle-I7Bxth7ox9t0uve5w9UC0eq8IOq963VlB2mdi2ap0E8VYqBX1RqISXW5jyZaVcjxSTo_sG7alU4WcSMoWQYDw/s1600/wgire2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMW0MJ6SvIjHnAOmChJ-_3wgkHrRSY-yLxT7SzeVPHVr27aKle-I7Bxth7ox9t0uve5w9UC0eq8IOq963VlB2mdi2ap0E8VYqBX1RqISXW5jyZaVcjxSTo_sG7alU4WcSMoWQYDw/s320/wgire2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Joe Gannon in Co. Donegal in June 2011.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My Irish-American mother relinquished me for adoption within a week of my birth, and I find myself particularly moved by such comments as this from <b>Michael
Patrick Fleming</b>, writing us a decade ago: “Hello, was surfing the web and found
your site. I am an Irish American / Catholic / and living in exile. My mother
was born in Dublin, and died while giving birth to me. I would be honored to be associated with an Irish
group online like yours.” Or this comment from <b>Runnel Riley</b>: “I am an
Irish-American, who thoroughly enjoyed your web page. Thank you for helping us
remember who we are.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Michael,
Runnell, and everyone else out there finding themselves overcome with sadness when contemplating the emigrant’s trail of tears, or thrilled by narratives of the
Irish struggle for nationhood, this campaign is, above all, for you. We need your support and ask for it now. Go raibh maith agat.
(Thank you.) <b><span style="color: green;">WG</span></b><o:p></o:p><br />
<b><span style="color: green;"><br /></span></b>
<b>To make a donation, and to learn more about our work -- past and present -- and our vision for the future, visit our campaign at <span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/newwildgeese">http://www.indiegogo.com/newwildgeese</a></span>. And</b><b style="font-size: 16px;"> keep in touch with highlights of the perks offered by our Heritage Partners, via our Facebook and Twitter accounts, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/thewildgeese">@thewildgeese</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/IrishHistory">www.facebook.com/IrishHistory</a>. Thanks, too, for helping us share this link far and wide! Come soar with The Wild Geese.</b><br />
<div style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 13px; min-height: 15px;">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: green;"><br /></span></b>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>What We Aim To Bring You With Your Help:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In return
for your support, we aim to help you to:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
* Explore, foster, preserve and celebrate the heritage of the Irish worldwide, sharing your stories, your
passions, and direct you to worthy preservation projects worldwide, “wherever
green is worn.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
* Immerse
yourself in the Irish experience worldwide, with community tools simple to use
yet powerful enough to allow you to find your Irish voice and share your Irish
story while learning from others around the world passionate about Irish heritage.
These include chat, discussion boards, and virtual meet-and-greets, facilitated by mutual interests, and our Heritage Concierge.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
* Join a premier
venture that not only celebrates the Irish experience but with its devoted
member corps, works to explore it, 24/7, with hundreds, eventually thousands of
members based around the globe.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
* Create your own
special-interest groups within the larger Wild Geese community, which you can
direct. Or join one of the dozens of similar groups that will already exist, led
by expert and passionate volunteer moderators. Join with others researching
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<!--EndFragment-->Gerry Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597915860564953502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21161077.post-61019635403442071342012-11-06T15:16:00.000-05:002012-11-06T15:17:53.047-05:00Spooky Stories for the Season: Q&A with author Gary William Crawford about Dubliner J. Sheridan Le Fanu<strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Spooky Stories for the Season: Dubliner J. Sheridan Le Fanu</span></strong><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;"><strong> </strong></span><br />
<img align="right" alt="File:LeFanu.jpg" height="200" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/LeFanu.jpg" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #505050; display: inline; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; height: 200px; line-height: 14px; outline: none; width: 175px;" width="175" /><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">
By Belinda Evangelista</div>
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<strong><br /></strong></div>
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<strong>J. Sheridan Le Fanu</strong>, the leading ghost writer of his time, was born in Dublin in 1814. During his early teens, his father (a Church of Ireland clergyman) took a rectorship of which his income derived from the tithes, but the family was subject to constant financial difficulty. Le Fanu studied law at Trinity College Dublin, but became a journalist and went on to own several newspapers. He was sympathetic to John Mitchel and Thomas Francis Meagher’s campaign against the British government’s indifference to The Great Famine. He was married to Susanna Bennett and together they had four children. He became best known for his horror and mystery stories. He died in Dublin in 1873 at the age of 58.</div>
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<img align="left" height="244" src="http://gallery.mailchimp.com/c2de7d833977ba0b4852d9b81/images/gwcphoto.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 244px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 15px; outline: none; width: 175px;" width="175" /><strong>Gary William Crawford</strong> is a poet, short-story writer and scholar of Gothic literature and has studied and written extensively about Le Fanu. Our <strong><span style="color: green;">Wild Geese </span>Preservation Editor Belinda Evangelista </strong>emailed some questions to Crawford about Le Fanu and some of his work.</div>
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<strong>The Wild Geese</strong>: J. Sheridan Le Fanu was the leading ghost-story writer of the 19th century. How did he contribute to the genre in that era?</div>
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<strong>Gary William Crawford</strong>: Without a doubt, Le Fanu may be called the father of the English ghost story. Shortly after the heyday of the Gothic novel (1764-1820), Le Fanu took the Gothic and expressed it in</div>
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realistic terms and emphasized the psychology of his characters. In an early work such as “Schalken the Painter” in 1838, Le Fanu domesticated the Gothic with descriptions of haunted interiors—literally the Gothic’s new castle of the mind.</div>
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<strong>The Wild Geese</strong>: Le Fanu perpetuated the vampire character 25 years before Bram Stoker. Did Bram Stoker consider Le Fanu’s work when writing his famed Dracula?</div>
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<strong>Crawford</strong>: Stoker most assuredly was influenced by Le Fanu. Stoker’s tale “Dracula’s Guest,” which was an abandoned first chapter of Dracula, clearly shows the influence of Le Fanu. The main thing that Stoker used was the idea of sexuality in relation to vampirism.</div>
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<img align="left" alt="File:Carmilla.jpg" height="131" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Carmilla.jpg/800px-Carmilla.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 131px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 15px; outline: none; width: 191px;" width="191" /><strong>The Wild Geese</strong>: I am intrigued by "Carmilla," the tale of a transgender vampire. Was Le Fanu a man before his time in bringing her into the public eye, especially in the Victorian climate?</div>
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<strong>Crawford</strong>: Le Fanu’s “Carmilla” is a lesbian vampire tale, very likely the first of its kind. It is highly unusual to have appeared in the repressive Victorian era.</div>
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<strong>The Wild Geese</strong>: Did his Irish background emerge in any of his works?</div>
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<strong>Crawford</strong>: The Anglo-Irish background was a very important part of Le Fanu’s works. "The Purcell Papers," composed of early Irish tales, has been studied in depth by Le Fanu’s critics. The novel Uncle Silas has been called by famous Irish writer Elizabeth Bowen as an Irish work transposed to an English setting. Le Fanu felt acutely the insular Anglo-Irish guilt that his people felt in Ireland. This insular guilt is a major aspect of Le Fanu’s ghost stories.</div>
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<strong>The Wild Geese</strong>: Can you recommend to our readership some of Le Fanu’s works for their Halloween pleasure?</div>
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<strong>Crawford</strong>: I would recommend The Best Ghost Stories of J.S. Le Fanu, edited by E.F. Bleiler, which is widely available from Dover Publications.</div>
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</div>
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<strong>The Wild Geese</strong>: What else would you like to share with us about Le Fanu in this, the spookiest season of the year?</div>
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</div>
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<strong>Crawford</strong>: Le Fanu wrote some of the best ghost stories in the English language. You will join the many who venerate his works.</div>
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Gary William Crawford’s webpage is an ongoing bibliography of works about Le Fanu which supplements his book on Le Fanu. http://www.lefanustudies.com/database.html</div>
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</div>
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<strong>‘Carmilla’ on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpBuw4widK0" style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal;" target="_blank">YouTube</a></strong></div>
<br />Gerry Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597915860564953502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21161077.post-29417095657286065822012-06-27T16:18:00.000-04:002012-06-28T10:49:21.304-04:00Ireland's Women 'Dissidents': Q&A With Ann Matthews<a _cke_saved_href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1856359956/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=thewildgeeset-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=1856359956&adid=1CZ73ACBDP90STVX0KMD" href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1856359956/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=thewildgeeset-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=1856359956&adid=1CZ73ACBDP90STVX0KMD" style="font-size: 12px;" value="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1856359956/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=thewildgeeset-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=1856359956&adid=1CZ73ACBDP90STVX0KMD"><img _cke_saved_src="https://d2q0qd5iz04n9u.cloudfront.net/_ssl/proxy.php/http/gallery.mailchimp.com/c2de7d833977ba0b4852d9b81/images/dissbook.jpg" align="left" height="299" src="https://d2q0qd5iz04n9u.cloudfront.net/_ssl/proxy.php/http/gallery.mailchimp.com/c2de7d833977ba0b4852d9b81/images/dissbook.jpg" style="height: 299px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; width: 186px;" width="186" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Buy</span></b><a _cke_saved_href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1856359956/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=thewildgeeset-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=1856359956&adid=1CZ73ACBDP90STVX0KMD" href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1856359956/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=thewildgeeset-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=1856359956&adid=1CZ73ACBDP90STVX0KMD">"Dissidents: Irish Republican Women 1923-1941</a>"<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">H</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">istorian<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Ann Matthews</b>, author of “Renegades: Irish
Republican Women 1900-1922,”<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>understands
intimately the kind of working-class background that helped fuel the republican
movement a century ago. Born in 1948, she grew up in Dublin’s North Strand, and
left school at 14, something not unusual in working-class families in Ireland before 1970. She went back to school decades later to earn several
degrees, including a Ph.D. in history. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Matthew’s
mother, Jane Byrne, was raised in a tenement in Marlborough Street, a few
blocks from the GPO, and married fisherman John Matthews, from Annagassan,
County Louth. It was her mother’s experience as a child that inspired Matthews
to look more closely at women in the seminal republican movement, and the
turmoil of that era. “She was 7 and had very vivid memories of [the Easter
Rising] because she thought she was going to die,” says Matthews. “I grew up
listening to my mother’s childhood memories of war from 1916 to 1923.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Matthews,
a Kildare resident, teaches at NUI Maynooth. She spoke to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green;">The Wild Geese</span></b>’s <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gerry Regan</b> about her new book,
“Dissidents: Irish Republican Women 1923-1941,“ and the experience of women
republicans in the first half of the 20<sup>th</sup> century. In these
companion titles, she says, she explores why women effectively disappeared from
Irish politics from 1941 till the 1970s.</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: bold;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Wild Geese: </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I’m intrigued by what seems to be the women’s roles in the
Irish enterprise. You have the lofty ideals of gender equality in the
Proclamation during the Easter Rising, followed by the War of Independence and
the tragedy of the Civil War and then it seems women were thrust back into the
more repressed, traditional, stereotypical roles that the Church came to define
for women. What happened to the bold, assertive women who seemed to be sharing
the pinnacle of political power in 1916 to 1921, they seem to have receded back
into domesticity after this? Would that be a fair observation?</span></div>
<br />
<b><img _cke_saved_src="https://d2q0qd5iz04n9u.cloudfront.net/_ssl/proxy.php/http/gallery.mailchimp.com/c2de7d833977ba0b4852d9b81/images/mattann.jpg" align="left" height="200" src="https://d2q0qd5iz04n9u.cloudfront.net/_ssl/proxy.php/http/gallery.mailchimp.com/c2de7d833977ba0b4852d9b81/images/mattann.jpg" style="height: 200px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; width: 150px;" width="150" /></b>
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<b style="font-weight: bold;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ann Matthews (left):</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> No, what happened was that these
women were socially conservative, they believed in the home, they believed in
domesticity for women, they had servants, they could go out and do the work.
The Catholic Church is sometimes blamed for things they didn’t do, just as de
Valera is sometimes blamed for pushing women out of politics, something he
didn’t do either. From 1916 the movement turned toward a spirituality that was
Catholic, this Catholic spirituality had been growing intensely from the late
1800s. These women came from a society where they absorbed Catholic social
teaching, mixed with the mores of the Victorian ethos of respectability, with
their mother’s milk. This is who these women were. They became involved with
the first Sinn F</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">é</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">in party, founded by
Arthur Griffith in 1905. This party was open to women, something very unusual
in its day, possibly the first party in these islands that allowed female
participation at an equal level. So from 1905 you have women becoming involved
in Sinn F</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">é</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">in as a political party,
then they become involved with the Volunteer movement by becoming involved with
Cumann na mBán, they become involved with the Irish Citizen Army, too. But they
still hold on to the essence of their Catholic culture that they have with them
from birth. It’s a complex picture, sometimes it’s represented as a black-and-white
picture, but it’s not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Wild Geese:</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I gather that Constance Markievicz was not very religious, but then perhaps she was not typical?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Matthews:</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> No, Countess de Markievicz <i>(below right)</i>, I always
call her de Markievicz, as that’s how she signed her name, her family were
Church of Ireland. She was exposed to Catholic spirituality in the College of
Surgeons because during 1916 -- one of the coping mechanisms used by the
insurgents to deal with their fear was to pray. They said the Rosary every day,
sometimes twice a day, or more. She was exposed to this in the College of
Surgeons, later she wrote a poem about it and converted to Catholicism, her
experience in the College of Surgeons was the basis of her conversion. But I
also think she did this to make herself appear more of an Irish nationalist.
There was no spiritual philosophy behind what she did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<img _cke_saved_src="https://d2q0qd5iz04n9u.cloudfront.net/_ssl/proxy.php/http/gallery.mailchimp.com/c2de7d833977ba0b4852d9b81/images/markcont.png" align="right" height="300" src="https://d2q0qd5iz04n9u.cloudfront.net/_ssl/proxy.php/http/gallery.mailchimp.com/c2de7d833977ba0b4852d9b81/images/markcont.png" style="height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-top: 10px; width: 200px;" width="200" /><br />
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<b style="font-weight: bold;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Wild Geese: </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> During the Civil War, dividing comrade from comrade, many who
had fought together for the Irish Republic, did this kind of wrenching division
seize the women’s movement, too?<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: bold;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Matthews:</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Yes, the women’s movement was
splintered. What happened with the men’s movements is mirrored in the women’s.
The best way to explain it is to look at how [historian and IRA intelligence officer] <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Florence O’Donoghue</span> </span>described the IRA at the time
of the Civil War. There was a three-way split in the Irish Volunteers; there
were those who were for the Treaty, those who were against the Treaty, and
those who remained neutral. The biggest group of the three were the men who
remained neutral. Cumann na mBán split in exactly the same way. There were
those who were anti-Treaty; they were the rump. There were those who were
pro-Treaty; they formed another organization. And then there were the women who
were neutral, and they just walked away. So it went from thousands of women
being involved up to the truce of 1921, and then within eight months they were
down to a few hundred members.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: bold;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Wild
Geese:</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Tell
us about the new book – what can the reader expect to find in it?<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: bold;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Matthews:</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Well, the new book starts at the
Civil War. The first one [“Renegades”] ends just as they make decisions on
acceptance or non-acceptance of the Treaty, the last chapter of it discusses
the split in the IRA and Cumann na mBán. Book Two [“Dissidents”] picks up on
that and discusses it briefly in the first chapter to put in context for anyone
who has not read the first book. I don’t explain the Civil War in detail
because other historians have done that to great effect and that is not what my
work was about, but I do discuss the role of women in the Civil War and the
kind of activities they were involved in. There are three chapters on women in
internment -- the reason for this is that there were 645 women in internment,
to put that in context, over 16,000 men were interned. The 645 women who were
interned were not all held together, nor all interned at the same time. Some
were held for a day or two, some for a month or two, a handful were held for a
full year. As the numbers of women internees increased, the government was hard
pressed to find places to hold them, so they ended up using Mountjoy Prison very briefly; Kilmainham Gaol, which is now a museum; and they used a
place called the North Dublin Union. It had been an old workhouse, and in 1918
it was taken over by compulsory order by the British army because their Linen
Hall barracks had been lost to fire during 1916. They closed down the workhouse
and reopened it as a barracks. When the British left Ireland, they handed the
North Dublin Union buildings over to the Irish Department of Defence, so part
of this North Dublin Union building was then used as an internment camp to hold
about half of the 645 women. So, because it would otherwise be very confusing,
I have devoted three chapters to the women in internment by the prisons in
which they were interned. So, one chapter deals with the women in Mountjoy,
another on those in Kilmainham and the third on those in the North Dublin
Union.</span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Wild
Geese:</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
After these chapters, where does the narrative go?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Matthews:</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> After these chapters, the narrative
deals with the regrouping after the Civil War, how they tried to find their
feet to see where they could go from there. It also discusses something I call
the Republican Triad. There is a general idea that Sinn F</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">é</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">in were involved with the Civil War
-- the Sinn F</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">é</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">in party was not involved
in the Civil War. After the split due to the Treaty, Seán T. O’Kelly founded a
political party called Cumann na Poblachta. It became the political arm of the
anti-Treaty group. The IRA and Cumann na mBán were the military arm of that
anti-Treaty group. I call them the Republican Triad because it makes it easier
to discuss what they were doing. They were the people who were fighting against
the Free State.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Wild Geese</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">: After the Civil War, did
this ‘Republican Triad’ remain a viable presence on the political scene?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Matthews: </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Only for a short time. After the Civil War, it collapsed
because de Valera decided to take the Sinn F</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">é</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">in name and form a new party because
the Sinn F</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">é</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">in party had lapsed and
the pro-Treaty party had decided not to use the Sinn F</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">é</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">in name, so it was available for de
Valera to take it up. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;"><b> </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="font-weight: bold;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="font-weight: bold;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Wild Geese: </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>Why did you stop the book at 1941? Was this a watershed date?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: bold;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Matthews:</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Okay, I’ll leapfrog to that. What
happened was that after the Civil War, the republican movement constantly
fragmented. After Fianna Fáil was founded, it fragmented; there were multiples
of organizations, all claiming to be republican. So, by the time we come to the
1930s, Cumann na mBán is involved constantly in all these splits. By 1934, de
Valera is now in power and there is a division created in the IRA by those who
believed Ireland should become socialist and those who believed it shouldn’t.
Cumann na mBán was sucked into that argument. By 1937, when de Valera brought
in his Constitution, the women’s’ voice had dissipated to such a degree that
they had no united voice with which to stand up to de Valera and say ‘This is
what we don’t like about your Constitution’; the female voice was completely
lost. The whole thing fizzled out to an end by 1941. In 1941, the president of
Cumann na mBán, Eithne Coyle, who had been president since de Markievicz had
resigned in 1925, resigned. The numbers in the organization had become so small
that they even stopped holding executive meetings. My book also discusses the
development of the Easter lily as a republican symbol, and it discusses the
Flanders poppy and the whole process of conflict and commemoration in which the
republican women were deeply involved.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: bold;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Wild Geese: </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>Would you think then, that the term ‘dissidents’ could be
rightfully applied to Cumann na mBán, because they were always outsiders in the
new Ireland?<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: bold;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Matthews:</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Yes, they put themselves on the
outside all the time, after the split with de Valera, Sinn F</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">é</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">in put themselves on the outside, so
the women of Sinn F</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">é</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">in put themselves on the
outside, too.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Wild Geese: </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Do you follow a handful of women throughout the narrative?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Matthews:</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> No, I look at a lot of women’s
stories and I weave them into the narrative at different points but there is no
one woman’s story I follow from beginning to end because there are so many
splits and divisions that to follow just one story line would have made the
narrative chaotic. My work will provide a foundation from which other historians
will be able to concentrate on the stories of individual women in the future, using
my work as the context. When I started my work this context was not available.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://d2q0qd5iz04n9u.cloudfront.net/_ssl/proxy.php/http/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/Maudgonne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img _cke_saved_src="https://d2q0qd5iz04n9u.cloudfront.net/_ssl/proxy.php/http/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/Maudgonne.jpg" align="left" border="0" height="193" src="https://d2q0qd5iz04n9u.cloudfront.net/_ssl/proxy.php/http/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/Maudgonne.jpg" style="height: 193px; margin-top: 10px; width: 230px;" width="230" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Wild Geese: </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> From all your research for your dissertation in these two
books, which woman did you find most admirable?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Matthews:</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Jennie Wyse Power. She started out
in 1881 [at age 23], she built up a business, she had leadership qualities. She
disappeared from history because she took the pro-Treaty side. She was
dismissed by women historians because a lot of Irish feminist history is
republican, as well. So, Jennie Wyse Power is not discussed after about 1922.
She went on to become a senator in Dáil Eireann, she was a manager of Dublin
City Corporation at one stage. She had been a guardian of the Poor Law Unions
before 1916. She was very active in Sinn F</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">é</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">in. She was the first president of
Cumann na mBán. She was on the executive of the first Sinn F</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">é</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">in party, the one founded by Arthur
Griffith. She was a co-founder of [Maud Gonne’s revolutionary party] <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Inghinidhe na hÉireann</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><i>[Gonne is seen above right.]</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> </span>A
member of the Gaelic League. She was totally immersed in all that and even
earlier in her career, she had been secretary of the Irish Land League. Her
life from 1881 to 1941 was dedicated to doing what she could for Ireland and
all the while keeping her family alive and educating them by running her own
business. She was something else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Wild Geese: </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Whom would you consider the most tragic figure of the women
you write about in your new book?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Matthews:</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I think the tragedy, is the
collective tragedy, of all the hope that was lost because of the splits after
the Civil War. It’s collective, there is no one woman who is tragic in this
whole story, but there is the tragedy of the loss of the female voice in Irish
politics. That is the tragedy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Wild Geese: </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Do you feel that the dissidents that you write about, did
they ultimately disappear?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Matthews:</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Yes, they disappeared in a welter of
rows, and they left the generations who came after them without a foothold
because women did not get a foothold in Irish politics until the ‘70s, and we
still suffer a deficit of women in politics in Ireland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Wild Geese: </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Do you think that when these women looked back on their lives
they would have seen them as nobly lived or did any of them go on record to
express regret for chances lost?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Matthews:</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Many of them went on to marry, many
did not marry. Many were disillusioned as the years went by, in the sense that
they would have looked back and asked ‘What was it all for’ because their lives
did not change at all, nothing changed for them. But then again, for most of
the population nothing changed. The only thing that changed in Ireland after
the years of revolution was a change in the elite. The rest of society didn’t
change. We had a new elite.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Wild Geese: </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Elite in terms of wealth?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Matthews:</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> A new political elite that,
incidentally, became wealthy as time went by but I’m not talking about wealth,
I’m not talking about a societal change, I mean a change in the political
elite, those who were in government. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green;">WG</span></b></span></div>Gerry Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597915860564953502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21161077.post-26686309658717817142012-06-23T19:08:00.002-04:002012-06-23T19:08:58.837-04:00Britain in the Dock: An Irish Famine Tribunal Set<b>By Liam Murphy / WG Heritage Editor</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thewildgeese.com/pages/images/pblight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" rca="true" src="http://www.thewildgeese.com/pages/images/pblight.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strong>Department of Irish Folklore, University </strong></span></div>
<div align="left">
<strong><span style="font-size: xx-small;">College Dublin</span> </strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>"The Discovery of the </strong></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Potato Blight in Ireland," by Daniel </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>McDonald. A stunned family looks </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>over their ruined potato crop. </strong></span></div>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<b>New York</b> -- An Gorta Mór -- the Great Hunger of mid-19th century Ireland -- is probably the most contentious issue among nationalist, revisionist and post-revisionist historians. The population of Ireland was reduced by a half, with those missing who did not die surviving through emigration, mostly to America. </div>
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Historian Christine Kinealy, in “A Death-Dealing Famine: The Great Hunger in Ireland” (London: Pluto Press, 1997) points out that, among European nations, only Ireland today has a population smaller than its 1840 population. This suggests an impact more devastating than the effect of the Thirty Years War upon Germany. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUf_UemuvP4JtUNjgWMtG8fj83HD_E0qz0mPzKlrDdy2wqIuz7sbBVhAriQH5htnc4BOQXWgJIjZINBH74ZItIJYv2YX4YWM-Xw4KODSMuTmtH0qJ4jbVZL9gwtanyDMMzJB4Sw/s1600/kinealyc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUf_UemuvP4JtUNjgWMtG8fj83HD_E0qz0mPzKlrDdy2wqIuz7sbBVhAriQH5htnc4BOQXWgJIjZINBH74ZItIJYv2YX4YWM-Xw4KODSMuTmtH0qJ4jbVZL9gwtanyDMMzJB4Sw/s320/kinealyc.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Historian Christine Kinealy delivers the </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>key-note remarks at Friday evening's </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><b> 'Famine Soup Night,'</b></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Singer, songwriter, and musical historian Derek Warfield, former front man for The Wolfe Tones, hypothesizes that the population of Ireland on the eve of the Great Hunger was actually some 10 million souls, approximately 20 percent greater than the census records indicate, due to the reluctance of a significant number of the people, including many Irish speakers, to be enumerated by an occupation government. </div>
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What this has to do with anything is to suggest that the quantitative magnitude of the tragedy may have been some 20 percent greater than historical research has thus far confirmed. The immediate impact upon the United States was a dramatic increase in the numbers of immigrants arriving from Ireland, as well as in the proportion of poor, unskilled or destitute among those “Famine” immigrants.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIC9h-EyC-PjSHPZjXrDTT7dv9TavwBDezmHxE3yQCnKG6iA_pFe7gFYMtIe1WDScUOI44Xvps67zdD68xuzGmrVb5NrNI1ALI4DBhuF4e0fpOvHlBdfjm6nFww_1HqNg8yqO3A/s1600/soyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIC9h-EyC-PjSHPZjXrDTT7dv9TavwBDezmHxE3yQCnKG6iA_pFe7gFYMtIe1WDScUOI44Xvps67zdD68xuzGmrVb5NrNI1ALI4DBhuF4e0fpOvHlBdfjm6nFww_1HqNg8yqO3A/s200/soyer.jpg" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Alexis de Soyer</strong><br />
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<div align="left">
<strong>Recipe for Famine Soup</strong></div>
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<strong></strong></div>
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<strong><br /></strong></div>
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<strong>To make 100 Gallons of Soup:</strong></div>
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<strong>12 lbs of solid meat (16lb with bones)</strong></div>
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<strong>3 lbs 2 oz of dripping</strong></div>
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<strong>12 lbs onions, sliced thin</strong></div>
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<strong>6 lbs leeks</strong></div>
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<strong>6 lbs celery</strong></div>
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<strong>8 lbs turnips</strong></div>
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<strong>37 and a half pounds of flour (2nd class)</strong></div>
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<strong>25 lbs of pearl barley</strong></div>
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<strong>9 lbs of salt</strong></div>
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<strong>1 lb 7 ozs of sugar</strong></div>
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New York attorney Owen Rodgers has organized a committee (still in formation), The Irish Famine Tribunal, comprising experts in law, history, sociology, and other disciplines, to undertake a fresh scholarly and legal analysis of The Great Hunger. The Tribunal will assess the Impact of the Irish Famine on the Irish population, assessing its political, economic, and cultural legacies, within a legal framework. The Tribunal will bring together expert witnesses and lawyers from Ireland, Britain and the United States to explore this tragedy from this unique perspective. </div>
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The Tribunal will sit, formally (including arguments pro, con and otherwise), at Fordham Law School, in Manhattan, on the 19th and 20th of October, with the trial being held on Day 1, and the consequences of the “Famine” discussed, in light of the findings, on Day 2. We will present more details, as they become available.</div>
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To launch this important and groundbreaking event, a “Famine Soup Night” -- a genuine attempt to ameliorate, not to be confused with “Taking the Soup” anti-Catholic proselytizing -- was held June 15th at O’Lunney’s Times Square Pub, in bustling midtown Manhattan. The recipe for the soup was developed by Alexis de Soyer, an upscale London chef, in 1847 to be a nutritious food for the poor and destitute, but, despite his good intentions, the plan often failed in execution because, as Kinealy pointed out, “soup for the poor, when watered-down, becomes poor soup.”</div>
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<b>More than 3 million on the bread line</b> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uOIw3b5-S9Ee8uhocyHVeSXNkG1aUtfAVmsXDVYC2Box4rLaOPdX7EW_Dhb2sNQfIyXAKpspyaE-85nG1pOhc4Fn5XKEvaFmhObvVjdaVHozYMf3TldYujoixM8h1HHPQZsn7A/s1600/naillmac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uOIw3b5-S9Ee8uhocyHVeSXNkG1aUtfAVmsXDVYC2Box4rLaOPdX7EW_Dhb2sNQfIyXAKpspyaE-85nG1pOhc4Fn5XKEvaFmhObvVjdaVHozYMf3TldYujoixM8h1HHPQZsn7A/s320/naillmac.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b>Attorney Niall MacGiollabhul discusses the <br />Irish Famine Tribunal he and his colleagues <br />have planned for Oct. 19-20.</b></td></tr>
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The evening recalled the period in 1847, the worst year of The Great Hunger, which had begun with the failure, due to blight, of the 1845 potato harvest. Then, more than 3 million starving Irish received daily rations of soup. It also honored the memory of the hundreds of thousands of people who died or emigrated in the year that is simply, and tragically, remembered as “Black ’47.”</div>
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Speakers at this first public meeting included: Robert Ballagh, Ireland’s ‘Citizen Artist,’ as well as Kinealy, lawyer Niall MacGiollabhui and celebrated Dublin-born actress Fionnúla Flanagan. </div>
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It quickly became obvious to those in attendance that a lot of work has already been put into this project. Among the other committee participants, already committed, are playwright Brian Friel; Rúan O’Donnell of the University of Limerick; Frank McManus, former Irish Independence Party MP for Fermanagh-South Tyrone; writer Pete Hamill; Liam Kennedy, Queens University, Belfast; Charlie Rice, formerly of Fordham and of Notre Dame Law Schools; and Dr. Garrett O’Connor, of the Betty Ford Clinic in California.</div>
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The Tribunal will analyze John Mitchel’s charge that the English government encouraged and aggravated the effects of the “Famine” in Ireland for the purpose of thinning the population will be analyzed, along with the “Nuremberg” defense, which questioned how men can be guilty of the violation of laws not yet codified. The question of culpability will be raised. The panel will discuss the subject of the Natural Law among nations, as well as the role “Famine” played in the formation of Irish America. The event will explore the Famine’s psychological and cultural consequences. Conor Cruise O’Brien, writing as historian, hypothesized that The Great Famine shattered the Irish nation, half of us learning to speak English, and the other half, American. </div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white;">Dub-born actress Fionnula Flanagan with The </span><span style="background-color: white;">Wild </span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Geese's Heritage Editor Liam Murphy.</b></span></div>
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Flanagan delivered an impassioned plea for understanding the magnitude of the difficulties facing most of the “Famine” emigrants, who were mostly Irish-speaking, and arriving overseas already stigmatized in cartoons by the press, both in London and in New York. A picture, she reminded her audience, is worth a thousand words. Theirs was a struggle, just to survive. (Flanagan was also in town for her performance, the following night, at Symphony Space in Manhattan, of “Molly Bloom’s Soliloquy” from James Joyce’s Ulysses.)</div>
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The committee is compiling a bibliography to allow interested parties to become better prepared to study the issues, supervised by Kinealy, plus other materials, posted on the website, at <a href="http://www.theirishfaminetribunal.com/">http://www.theirishfaminetribunal.com/</a>.</div>
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Friday’s event concluded with music appropriate to the subject, and to the period, with a rendition of the traditional tune “The Praties They Were Small,” by John McManus of the County Tyrone Piper Band. <b><span style="color: #38761d;">WG</span></b></div>
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</div>Gerry Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597915860564953502noreply@blogger.com4