Irish Benevolence
Portland-area Irish happenings. Stories of Irish benevolence.
THE HIBERNIAN INDEPENDENT
Volume One. Number Thirteen. October 19, 2023
More than an email. Less than a newspaper. In your email box the first and third Thursday of every month. Published by The Portland Hibernian Society.
TONGHT AT KELL’S -THE STORY OF THE CELTIC CROSS AT MOUNT CALVARY CEMETERY…
David O’Longaigh will take us behind the scenes for the fascinating background story of the funding, commissioning, construction and dedication of the Cross - TONGHT Thursday October 19 at 7 p.m. at Kells Restaurant. (No host dinner at 6 p.m.) There is nothing like this Famine Memorial west of the Mississippi River. You don’t want to miss David’s telling of the story of its origins.
SATURDAY IN SALEM - AN ALL-DAY SAMHAIN FESTIVAL - IT’S A CELTIC THING AND A LOT MORE THAN AN IRISH HALLOWEEN….
Ireland is just one of the Celtic Nations (full list below), but I would bet even money that most of the folks at the 2023 Samhain Celtic New Year Festival are Irish. If you’re Celtic you’re not necessarily Irish but if you’re Irish you’re definitely Celtic. Check out all the activities and exhibits Saturday at the Willamette Heritage Center. (Samhain is pronounced sow-in which rhymes with cow-in. It's also the name for November in Irish Gaelic.)
PORTLAND IRISH WRTERS - ONE NGHT ONLY - NOVEMBER 19 AT KELLS…
Ireland and the Irish diaspora are known for punching above their weight, especially when it comes to the production of writers. Very seldom is there not an Irish name on the best seller and year-end award lists. Portland has its own fine Irish writers. Hibernians Dan Holden and Daniel Curran along with Gemma Whelan and Frank Holt will read from their works at a special Night of Irish Writers being put together by Mike Phillips, who will add a musical element to the evening. NOVEMBER 16 AT KELLS RESTAURANT.
BENEVOLENCE I - The HI likes to pass along interesting stories about the accomplishments of members of the Irish Diaspora. This is the story of Chuck Feeney. He was a self-made billionaire who gave away $8 billion before he died recently. He never sought publicity for his extreme generosity. "I had one idea that never changed in my mind—that you should use your wealth to help people."Among the many institutions that benefited was Portland State University. Feeney also funded the Sinn Fein in America office. “While Mr. Feeney acknowledged that some would criticize his support for a group linked to the I.R.A, he said his gifts to Sinn Fein had been monitored to insure that they supported only nonviolent activities."
BENEVOLENCE II - Maura White is a friend of many Hibernians and the Executive Director of the Mother & Child Education Center in Portland. She is faced with a cruel dilemma, “We feel terrible we can’t provide enough diapers. It’s a really bad situation.”
GARDAI WANTS TO RAISE AGE LIMIT FOR OFFICERS TO 50 - Like Portland and most big cities in America, the Republic’s police force has a shortage of officers. One possible solution: let older men and women apply. “Those up to 50 will still qualify as a junior garda and be expected to do the same work as everyone else. This includes 12-hour night shifts and post duty in inclement weather.” No sugar coating there from Gardai brass.
IRELAND’S RUGBY WORLD CUP RUN ENDS - Done in by a squad that has long had Ireland’s number: New Zealand.
HEDERA HIBERNICA (IRISH IVY) IS MOST UNWELCOME - On Sat. Oct. 28 volunteers in Portland will set out to eradicate it. Why? “Irish Ivy (Hedera hibernica) can be found in all corners of the city and across the US. Ivy was brought over from Ireland as early as 1727. It is a hardy, fast-growing, shade tolerant plant, and requires no care, which makes these plants attractive to gardeners but difficult to manage in our natural areas.” The folks trying to get rid of it call themselves the NO IVY LEAGUE.
THE CELTIC NATIONS ARE - Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, Galicia and Isle of Man.
Next edition of the Hibernian Independent - November 2 (Published the first and third Thursday of the month.)
EVERY THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH THE PORTLAND HIBERNIAN SOCIETY MEETS AT KELLS RESTAURANT.
No fear. No envy. No meanness." Liam Clancy