Exit Stage Right, Leo Varadkar … ?
Volume One. Number Twenty-Three. March 21, 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.
EXIT Stage Right - Just as I was preparing the copy for this issue, the news broke that Leo Varadkar had resigned as Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland. Here’s a quick take: This is a head-scratcher. Resign at the age of 43 from the most powerful political position in Ireland and leave the world stage? “For personal and political reasons,” he said publicly without offering details. “I couldn’t find anyone to stab me in the back, so I fell on my own sword.” That’s what he said in private to his comrades in the Fine Gael party. That’s a good line. But what's the real story? More coverage and speculation below.
NEXT MEETING OF THE PORTLAND HIBERNIAN SOCIETY – THURSDAY – APRIL 18 – SIX P.M. KELLS RESTAURANT 212 SW SECOND AVE – AGENDA TBA .
Greater Portland Getting Through – The Sant Patrick’s Week visit by Senator Jerry Buttimer (pictured on stage at Kells on Wed. March 13) from Dublin and Consul General Micheal Smith from San Francisco demonstrated that our local Irish community is more than a blip on the radar screen of relations with the Republic. “Huge and vibrant,” was the way Smith described it. “This is about business and jobs and enterprise and trade. The relationship between Ireland and Oregon is a two-way street,” said Buttimer, who is currently Cathaoirleach or Speaker/Chairperson of the Seanad. He's a member of Fine Gael, Varadkar's party.
From the stage at Kells, Sen. Buttimer echoed the words of dozens of Irish government representatives sent around the world prior to Saint Patrick's Day to strengthen connections with the Irish Diaspora.
Ireland Trade Commission Idea Dead (For now?) - The short session of the Oregon Legislature adjourned the other day without taking action on a bill to create a nine-member panel to “advance bilateral trade and investment between Oregon and Ireland.” Like many bills, SB 1516 didn’t make it to the finish line for a final vote. Senator James Manning (D) of Eugene sponsored SB 1516, which may be reintroduced in the long session next January in Salem. Hibernian Brian Doherty testified on behalf of Irish Network Portland in favor of the ITC, pointing out the value of Oregon computer and electronics exports to Ireland . Thomas Busse of Portland submitted testimony against it. “There is no obvious or pressing need for an Oregon Irish Trade Commission (sic) just so the Governor can make five appointments to puff up the egos of donors named O'Leary, Murphy, and O'Brien,” Busse of the Multnomah Libertarians testified. He's also listed a Cantor at the Anglican Parish of Saint Mark in Portland.
Hibernians Recommend – Mike Kehoe in Mount Angel passes along this report from CNN. For more than a century, many people of Irish descent have faced a daunting predicament when searching for details about their families’ pasts. A 1922 fire at the Public Records Office in Dublin at the outset of Ireland’s Civil War destroyed census, vital and probate records. But now Guinness has released a trove of helpful genealogical data that will be accessible through Ancestry.
Tim Hennessy and Ed Curtin of our Steering Committee both sent this NPR Report. One of the most pro-Palestinian nations in the world is not an Arab- or Muslim-majority country. It's not even in the Middle East. Polls show Ireland has some of the highest support for Palestinians. NPR's Lauren Frayer traveled to Dublin and Belfast to find out why.
Speaking of which....
Leo Varadkar Answers Critics of Ireland’s Stand – During what turned out to apparently be his final visit to Washington D.C. as Taoiseach for Saint Patrick's Day, Varadkar had a lot to say on the subject of Israel and Palestine. “When I travel the world, leaders often ask me why the Irish have such empathy for the Palestinian people, and the answer is simple: We see our history in their eyes,” Varadkar said, “a story of displacement, of dispossession and national identity questioned and denied, and now, hunger. So, we support your work and that of your administration to secure a humanitarian ceasefire and to create the space for lasting peace.
“We also see Israel’s history reflected in our eyes, a diaspora whose heart never left home no matter how many generations passed, a nation-state that was reborn and a language revived. I believe it’s possible to be for Israel and for Palestine, and I believe you do, too,” he said to President Joe Biden.
So, Why Is He Stepping Down? - It hasn’t been a cakewalk, but Leo Varadkar has had his moments as Ireland's leader. He doesn't look like any of his predecessors in the top spot. His dad’s from Mumbai and his mom’s from Dungarvan in County Waterford. They met in England. He was a doctor. She was a nurse. Leo was born in 1979 in Dublin’s historic Rotunda Hospital. He was 39 when first elected Taoiseach and is stepping down at the ripe old age of 43 with no announced plans for the future in politics. He came out as a gay man on RTE in 2015. Can you imagine any politician in America stepping aside like this? “The reasons for stepping down now are personal and political...After seven years in office I don’t feel I’m the best person for that job anymore. Politicians are human beings. We have our limitations. We give it everything until we can’t anymore, and then we have to move on,” Varadkar said. Editors Note - At least he didn't pull out the old political retirement cliche about "wanting to spend more time with the family."
But, but, but - The no-paywall Guardian reports that the resounding defeat for two referendums (ballot measures) could have been a factor. "Varadkar said his reasons for stepping down were “mainly political” but did not elaborate on what they were. Earlier this month, he was widely blamed for a crushing twin defeat at the ballot box, including the biggest ever referendum loss by an Irish government."
Is he more popular abroad than at home? - Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill is now more popular, by a wide margin, than any of the main political party leaders in Ireland – including her own leader in Sinn Féin, the party’s president Mary Lou McDonald. Varadkar is, according to this poll, the fourth most popular pol in Ireland with an approval rating of 41%. O'Neill's is 55%.
More Coverage for those inclined – If you’ve got a subscription to the Irish Times ($12 a month) you’ll be able to access all these articles. I’ve also included a few with no paywall.
Varadkar will officially step down right after Easter. His party Fine Gael will have chosen his replacement by then. Leaders of other parties are calling for a General Election now rather than next year. That’s not going to happen. Who might the next Taoiseach be?
Varadkar’s shocker may not be a total surprise says RTE. This was a seismic political announcement which caught some of Leo Varadkar's party colleagues by surprise.However, there always was something in Mr Varadkar's political personality that suggested a day like this.
IN OTHER NEWS FROM IRELAND
Varadkar’s surprise announcement pushed some bad news for the Governent off the front pages. Two referendums that fiddled with defining families and clarifying the role of women failed. Big time. Within the last decade voters in Ireland approved marriage equality and abortion. Fintan O’Toole tries to explain what happened.
More Cillian Murphy News - It was likely the first Irish ever spoken from the stage of the Oscars ceremony. "Go raibh mile maith agaibh," shouted the first actor born in Ireland to win Best Actor. Here are the back stories of the brooch Cillian wore at the Oscars and the pipe he smoked in Oppenheimer.
First Holy Communion Donuts – Readers who grew up Catholic in a certain era may recall fasting for hours before receiving your First Holy Communion. White ribbons were tied on the drinking faucets to prevent us from breaking that fast. All of which came to mind when reading about Krispy Kreme’s latest offering in Ireland: The First Holy Communion donut. “If we look at St Patrick’s Day doughnuts, for example, that’s something specific to Ireland and this year as well, we will do some communion-based doughnuts” said Declan Foley. Krispy Kreme donuts are extremely popular in Ireland these days.
The Veep and Leo - one last quote - “I don’t think that we told you but Doug and I decided after our last visit that you would become our new couples friends,” Vice President Kamala Harris after the breakfast she and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff hosted for Leo Varadkar and his partner Matt Barrett.
Hoping you can join us at the next meeting of the Portland Hibernian Society at Kells on April 18.