Portland to Dublin, Direct … are we chasing rainbows here?
Volume One. Number Twenty-Four. April 4, 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.
NEXT MEETING OF THE PORTLAND HIBERNIAN SOCIETY – THURSDAY – APRIL 18 – SIX P.M. KELLS RESTAURANT 212 SW SECOND AVE.
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS. For the first time since we went our own way and became the Portland Hibernian Society, we’ll do some of the things that organizations like this one are supposed to do at meetings. That should take about ten minutes. Max. The rest of the meeting's program is in development. You’ll receive an email update on April 15.
PORTLAND TO DUBLIN DIRECT? There’s a rumor going around that Aer Lingus may be considering starting direct flights between DUB and PDX three times a week. No more driving to SEA TAC or SFO! The HI checked with the airline on March 14 and is still waiting for a reply. The Port of Portland’s Allison Ferre squelched said rumor, “Following up: no new announcements to report about direct service from PDX to Dublin. I’ll keep you posted if/when that changes!” Aer Lingus did just announce that it would be starting direct flights between Minneapolis and Dublin this year In case you’ve ever wondered what Aer Lingus means in English, check out this interesting history of Ireland’s National Airline.
WHY THE GAA MATTERS. You are invited to find out all about the unique Irish sports of hurling, Gaelic football and camogie on Saturday, April 13th at 9:45 a.m.at Westmoreland Park in Portland. Whether you want to watch or get in there and play, the men and women of Columbia Red Branch would love to have you stop by. You don’t need any GAA experience, but this introduction isn’t for those under 18. The GAA was founded in Ireland in 1884 and on the occasion of its centenary released this explainer. It’s a fun watch. But when Irish stand-up comedian Tommy Tiernan explains the GAA, it’s hilarious.
Repping Red Branch at Kells Festival on March 16, 2024. L to R - Scott McBearty, DJ Weeks, Tyler Sexton, Tony Valley. Standing Brian Ó hAirt of MOD CCE.
THE IRISH LANGUAGE LIVES. As you’ll see in that video about the GAA, Ireland’s independent sports league has been essential in keeping the Irish language alive. You don’t have to tell anyone who has travelled in the Gaeltacht in the west of Ireland that the native language lives. But Belfast? Due to the rise in the political clout of Nationalists, a capitol city in the UK may soon show very public signs of Irish. “So, I have asked officials to develop proposals for a project that would see the use of multi-lingual traffic signs piloted in the Gaeltacht Quarter in Belfast, which is a growing and thriving Irish language community.”
DID YOU EVER GET YOUR MOUTH WASHED OUT WITH SOAP BY A NUN FOR SWEARING? Just once and it was with that abrasive powdered soap that comes out of those white dispensers in school bathrooms. I swore never to swear again. For what that’s worth. But I couldn’t resist Irish Curses You Won't Have Learned In School. And if you want to put an Irish spell on someone, try this: Mallacht mo chait ort: My cat’s curse upon you. (The same nun warned us never to start a sentence with but or and.)
LIAM NEESON CHANNELS CLINT EASTWOOD. Unlike Eastwood’s Man With No Name in those “spaghetti westerns,” Liam has a name in his latest film, In the Land of Saints and Sinners. It’s Finbar Murphy. He’s a hit man who’s had it with the killing. Problem is, the IRA bad guys can’t get enough of it. Of course they clash. Violently. Judging from there being just four of us at the Clackamas Cinema theater showing it on Easter Sunday, it may be headed for Netflix sooner rather than later. The director Robert Lorenz is an acolyte of Eastwood’s, which accounts for the gunplay and body count. Neeson’s presence is a commanding one. The surprise is Kerry Condon, the sister from The Banshees of Inisherin, who plays a ruthless IRA squad leader. Fine cast all around. It should show up on Netflix in May. (Did you watch Game of Thrones? Remember Joffrey Baratheon, the terrible twit? Jack Gleeson, the actor who played him, plays Finbar's sidekick but you'd never recognize him. No relation to Brendan by the way. Though Jack is from Cork.)
SIMON HARRIS IN THREE SOUND BITES. Meet the man who, at 37, will be the youngest Taoiseach ever. Simon Harris will lead Fine Gael following the shocking resignation of Leo Varadkar, now the second youngest Taoiseach in history. “Let me say this: under my leadership, Fine Gael stands for supporting businesses, especially small businesses. Fine Gael stands for making work pay.” “Fine Gael stands for law and order, on the side of An Garda Síochána, where our streets are safe and crime is never allowed go unchecked.” “Sinn Féin can’t bear to look back over what Fine Gael has achieved since pulling our economy back from the brink. Always seeking to denigrate our service in government by denying reality. They can’t handle the truth. We will not stand for that.” Next development to watch: Whether Harris wins enough votes to be Taoiseach until the General Election next March or whether he and Fine Gael will have to face the voters right away.
DUP – DYSFUNTIONAL UNIONIST PARTY. The hardline Loyalist political party that shares power in NI with Sinn Fein got some really bad news the other day. Jeffrey Donaldson has stepped down as DUP leader after being charged with historical sexual offences. The Lagan Valley MP was arrested on Thursday and taken to Antrim police station for questioning.
THE FINAL WORD ON SWEAR WORDS IN IRELAND -In Ireland, the word “feck” is so commonly used it is generally considered acceptable even in the most rarefied company. “Arse” is another one that you would get away with. Irish Times
COMING IN THE HIBERNIAN INDEPENDENT ON APRIL 18 - Behind the scenes with the Irish Echo Band. Hibernian Jim Keegan is a founding member. This Eugene-based ensemble got together for the craic more than 40 years ago and has since raised thousands of dollars for Lane County Catholic Charities. Daniel Curran reports.
