Writer’s Night
THE HIBERNIAN INDEPENDENT
Volume One. Number Fourteen. November 2, 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. Powered by II not AI.
Irish Writers Night. Not to be missed. One night only.
The experience of hearing writers read the words they’ve written is underrated. Find out what you’ve been missing when four local writers - all friends or members of The Portland Hibernian Society - read from their works. Join Gemma Whelan, Dan Holden, Daniel Curran and Frank Holt at Kells on SW Second. Thursday 7 p.m. 16 November.
This event, produced by Mike Phillips of the PHS, will take place in Kells Restaurant. Dinner at Six.
Please follow The Portland Hibernian Society on Facebook. Besides a rundown on the Nov. 16 event you’ll find some truly riveting Irish Trivia questions.
The history of public safety pipe bands in one afternoon.
Portland Hibernian Society charter member Tim Birr will be the guest speaker at the November meeting of the All Ireland Cultural Society. “One of the questions I get all the time,” says Tim, “is what’s the deal with police officers, firefighters, and pipe bands?” Hear Tim’s answer on Sat. Nov. 18.
See Portland’s Irish history for yourself.
In the course of two recent presentations, we’ve discussed an event in 1914 that may have been the apex of the Irish American movement in Portland before the modern era. "Hibernianism In Portland” is the name of the program for the banquet held to celebrate the new Hibernian Hall on NE Russell Street. You can view this program by appointment at the Oregon Historical Society. It’s fascinating to read the notes and check out the advertisements for an audience of very Irish people in Portland 109 years ago.
(Am I delusional to think an afternoon spent on the fourth floor of the Oregon Historical Society looking at this sort of thing is an afternoon well spent? Not delusional. Retired.)
The News From Ireland
If you’ve never been to West Belfast, you haven’t seen how the widening chasm between Israel and Palestine plays out on Falls Road. There, where Catholics and Protestants have been on guard forever, flags on the Republican side of the peace wall are those of Palestine and the Irish Republic. On the Loyalist side, its Israel’s flag flying alongside the Union Jack.
Here are a couple of news stories that illustrate why relations between Israel and Ireland are, to use a diplomatic term, problematic.
The Irish Independent reports on how one Israeli Minister sees Ireland. Foreign Minister Eli Cohen described Ireland as "one of the more challenging arenas (for Israel) in Europe”.
Axios reports on how the CEO and co-founder of Web Summit, a massive international tech gathering in Dublin, decided to step down after a blizzard of criticism for an X post. "I’m shocked at the rhetoric and actions of so many Western leaders & governments, with the exception in particular of Ireland’s government, who for once are doing the right thing. War crimes are war crimes even when committed by allies, and should be called out for what they are," wrote Paddy Cosgrave. INTEL was one of the first participating companies to pull out. Several celebrities have decided not to perform. 70,000 tech execs et cetera had been expected to attend.
Spain Shares Ireland’s Love of a Good Funeral.
It was 420 years ago that the legendary Irish chieftain Red Hugh O’Donnell died in the Spanish town of Valladolid. A grand funeral was held there just the other day. Red Hugh was in Spain seeking serious foreign aid from King Phillip III. Aodh Ruadh II (as he was known in Irish) was the military commander of Irish troops in the Nine Year War against the British (1593-1602). Cause of death has never been determined. May have been poison. It’s a great story. Carlos Burgos with the Hispano-Irish Association would like you to visit the monument to Red Hugh. “We would love Irish people to come and experience Valladolid and see how we honour your Irish hero. It is very easy to come here, as we are just one hour from Madrid on the fast train.”
"It's not that the Irish are cynical. It's rather that they have a wonderful lack of respect for everything and everybody." Brendan Behan
REMEMBER - The Portland Hibernian Society meets Thursday, November 16 at 6 p.m. in Kells Restaurant on SW Second Ave.
Mise le meas.
CONTACT - portlandhiberniansociety@gmail.com (To unsubscribe just drop us a line saying OUT.)