Greater Portland Irish Summit - Aug. 15 @ Kells
PDX HIBERNIAN INDEPENDENT Volume Two. Number Thirty-Two. 1 August 2024
More than an email. Less than a newspaper. In your email box the first and third Thursday morning of every month. Published by The Portland Hibernian Society.
Meeting Announcement – 15 August – Greater Portland Irish Summit
The cailleach – Celtic goddess of lousy weather – sent freezing rain to Greater Portland back on January 18 and we had to cancel that night’s PHS meeting at Kells Restaurant. “Sure, the weather is desperate.” “You wouldn’t put the dog out in it.”
(FREEZING) RAIN CHECK - The representatives of the All Ireland Cultural Society, Irish Network Portland , the Oregon Branch of Comhatas Ceoltoiri Eireann and Corrib Theater who were to speak on January 18 will be joining us on August 15 at Kells. Along with your Portland Hibernian Society, these four organizations are keeping Ireland alive in our part of the world. Learn more about the history and purpose of these local Irish affinity organizations and get the latest on what events they’re planning for the Fall of 2024.
Irish Summit – Thursday, August 15 – Six P.M. Kells Restaurant (No host dinner) – Meeting at Seven.
(Downtown Portland has seen better days, so there will be Hibernian Guards available after the meeting to escort attendees to their cars.)
EIGHTY FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF AICS PICNIC
On August 27, 1939, the All Ireland Social Club (now known as the All Ireland Cultural Society) held its first picnic. The AISC was a young organization; it’s very first meeting was held just weeks before on June 18. Originally the picnic was to be held at Blue Lake Park. But, in an economic move, the picnic was held at Crystal Lake Park in Clackamas County on August 27. The picnic actually turned a profit of $32.40 for the AISC. Yes, it made money, even after hiring an “orchestra” for $41.50. On Saturday August 18, from Noon to 3 p.m., the All Ireland Cultural Society will hold this year’s picnic at The Grove at Saint Brigitta’s - 11820 NW St. Helens Road. You can check the AICS website for updates. (The PDX HI searched the archives of the Oregon Historical Society for that history. But all you have to do is check out the history page of the AICS website.)
WORLD CLASS CONCERTINA CONCERT - NOEL HILL
In the first season of Only Murders In The Building, the show’s creator and star Steve Martin deftly demonstrates his skills as a musician by playing a concertina. Not a major plot point, but it's interesting that Martin would choose a concertina. The concertina is a smaller, very portable version of the accordion. Its compactness made it popular with men on the move in the 19th century, especially sailors. Noel Hill, a world class concertina player from the West of Ireland will perform in Portland on August 10 in Southeast Portland. Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann - The Micheal O’Domhnaill Branch of Oregon presents Noel Hill at Waverly UCC. His biography includes tragedy and triumph.
FROM BELFAST TO PORTLAND VIA CORRIB THEATER
Lawrence McKeown can relate to one of the two characters in his play Blue and Green, which is being presented by Corrib Theater on August 28 and 29. That would be the one who’s an officer in the Royal Ulster Constabulary. McKeown joined the Provisional IRA at 16 and was sentenced to life in the Maze Prison for the attempted murder of an RUC man in 1977. He was released in 1992 after earning multiple degrees from Queens University and surviving 70 days on a hunger strike. Blue and Green is described as, “An Irish play about a developing friendship between a Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officer from Northern Ireland, and An Garda Síochána officer from the Republic of Ireland, both working on the Irish border at the height of The Troubles.” If any of this sounds interesting, you may want to book your seats sooner rather than later. And, talk about a fascinating biography, Lawrence McKeown has one.
NOT YOUR GRANDMA’S IRISH FILM
Now showing at a number of movie theaters in Greater Portland is a movie from Ireland that is unlike any other movie from Ireland you’ve seen. Kneecap is about a trio of rappers who happen to rap in Irish. The olde bible of show business, Variety, ran a pretty thorough review. It had me at, “When not throwing darts at a picture of Margaret Thatcher,” in describing the character Liam’s stoned amusement. Check out the trailer here. Thanks for the News Tip Mike Phillips.
EDNA O’BRIEN - REVERED AND REVILED IN IRELAND
When a twentieth century Irish writer wrote about her culture as it is, rather than as traditionalists wish it were, warts and all if you will, she ran the risk of official disapproval. Edna O’Brien knew that. Her embrace of James Joyce, her literary forerunner who ran afoul of “official” Ireland, was such that she wrote her own biography of him. Along with 20 novels including her first and most famous, Country Girls. Edna O’Brien died Sunday, June 28 at the age of 93. The President of Ireland Michael Higgins wrote, “Edna was a fearless teller of truths, a superb writer possessed of the moral courage to confront Irish society with realities long ignored and suppressed.” Hibernian Ed Curtin contributed this look at her career and the controversy it caused.
IS KAMALA HARRIS IRISH? IT’S COMPLICATED.
It’s probably safe to say that if Vice President Harris wins a promotion in November to the Oval Office, she won’t be planning any Presidential trips to Northern Ireland to visit the village her people came from. (See: Biden, Obama, Regan, Kennedy.) The Irish Times is just one of many news outlets reporting that her great great great great grandfather on her dad’s side was a Protestant born in County Antrim in 1776. Hamilton Brown was also a major slaveowner in Jamaica. The Vice President’s father, Donald Harris, wrote about the connection, “The Harris name comes from my paternal grandfather Joseph Alexander Harris, landowner and agricultural ‘produce’ exporter (mostly pimento or allspice), who died in 1939 one year after I was born and is buried in the church yard of the magnificent Anglican Church which Hamilton Brown built in Brown’s Town (and where, as a child, I learned the catechism, was baptised and confirmed, and served as an acolyte).”
IRELAND GETS SOME GOLD IN PARIS
No male Irish swimmer has ever done what Daniel Wiffen just did. The 23-year-old from County Armagh is the first Irishman to ever win an Olympic medal for swimming. And it’s a Gold Medal. Wiffen won with a world record time of 7:38:19 in the 800-meter freestyle competition. Wiffen, who trains with and relies on his twin brother Nathan, could win another medal Saturday when he competes in the men’s 1500-meter finals. Check local listings. Before Wiffen’s win, Mona McSharry brought home the first medal of these Olympics for the Republic. A bronze in the 100 meter breaststroke competition.
SPEAKING OF PARIS - SIOBHAN HAUGHEY IS HONG KONG IRISH
At the Olympics in Paris this past week, there was a Siobhan and a Mollie on the podium receiving medals following the Women’s 200 meter freestyle swimming event. Neither is from the Republic of Ireland. Siobhan Haughey is one of the best women swimmers in Asia. She’s also very Irish. (Her middle name is Bernadette.) Does her surname sound familiar? It should. Her grandfather's brother was Taoiseach Charles Haughey. Mollie O’Callaghan from Australia won Gold in the event. Thanks for the News Tip Joan Gallagher.
SEAGULL STEALS SHOW AT THE ALL IRELANDS
In the end it was Clare (3-29) defeating Cork (1-34) for the All Ireland Hurling title at Croke Park, but it was during the All Ireland Irish Football championship game between Galway and Armagh that a star was born. After it was captured. Seems an errant seagull couldn't resist the lure of the pitch. (Armagh won.) Thanks for the News Tip Tim Birr.
WHY BECOME A DUES-PAYING HIBERNIAN?
The Portland Hibernian Society is so non-profit, we’re not even a 501C-3. We collect dues to support our events, activities, website and the biweekly PDX Hibernian Independent that you are reading and, we hope, enjoying. If you care to contribute by becoming a member, just send a check made out to PHS for $35 for an individual membership and $50 for a family membership to Tim Hennessy – 11616 SE John Thomas Court – Happy Valley OR – 97086. Go raibh maith agat.
THE SOCIALS
You won’t find the Portland Hibernian Society on Tik Tok, Instagram, Messenger or Twitter er X. But we can be found on Linked In and Facebook.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
From the minutes of the first meeting of the All Ireland Social Club on June 14, 1939.
“The speaker (Mr. J. O’Neill) further explained that this Club, to be successful, must carry on its own business, hence annual dues were necessary. That the object of the club is not to sign up as many members as possible, but to get the Irish of Portland and the near-by towns together; to get acquainted with one another; to hold our own dances, meetings, socials, card parties, picnics and outings, and to support one another in business.”
