For the first time in nearly 60 years, the Irish Open golf tournament will be held in Northern Ireland this year. The decision was made by the European Tour in January that the Open will take place at Royal Portrush on the rugged north coast of County Antrim from Thursday 28th June to Sunday July 1st.

It didn’t take long for Ireland’s greatest golfing stars to start chiming in on the wisdom of the Tour’s decision to stage the Open at Portrush.

Current British Open champion Darren Clarke was present at the announcement at Portrush on January 6th and said that it would be “an awesome venue for the event … it’s going to be an unbelievable week.”

Reigning US Open champion Rory McIlroy immediately pledged to play at the tournament: “I’m delighted that I was able to work on my schedule that I can play in the Irish Open,” said McIlroy.

Clarke, along with 2010 US Open champ Graeme McDowell has strong connections with Portrush, and both will be acting as ambassadors for the course which celebrates its 125th anniversary next year.

McDowell tweeted his fans: “Fantastic news on the Irish Open 2012 coming to Royal Portrush. Always been a dream of mine to play a top event in my home town.”

Padraig Harrington called the decision as an “inspired move,” and said that Portrush was his favorite golf course in the world.”

Harrington is not alone in his praise. Golf Magazine has listed Royal Portrush as the 12th best course in the world. It is the links masterpiece of architect Harry Colt and Mother Nature. The Club was founded in 1888 and boasts two Championship courses, the Dunluce Course and the more intimate Valley Course. Both are noted for their stunning views of the north Atlantic. On a clear day you can see Scotland if you look one way and Donegal if you look the other.

Charles McGrath of The New York Times describes his experience of playing Portrush as follows: “The course winds its way back inland, twisting and undulating, until it comes to a heart stopping pause at Calamity Corner. This hole, the hardest par 3 I’ve ever seen, plays 210 yards, uphill and into the wind to a green on the side of a cliff. I retired to the upstairs bar … and began the slow process of returning to our accustomed selves—the ones who play the ordinary, earthbound kind of golf.”

This year’s Open has a prize fund of at least €2 million and with that at stake it is sure to attract the best players the tour has to offer.

Golf is a major sport in Northern Ireland and has been for some time. As well as the stellar courses of Royal Portrush and Royal County Down—also mentioned regularly in lists of the world’s best courses—there are are over 90 excellent parkland, heathland and links courses, each one with its own distinct personality. The unique scenery and challenging weather conditions (think four seasons in one day) make a golfing experience in Northern Ireland unlike any other.

On An Irish Island

By Robert Kanigel

Alfred A.Knopf, 2012

$26.95

photo | Katharine Gilbert

The inspiration for this book was serendipitous and happened by chance in 20005 when the author, on his honeymoon in western Ireland, visited the town of Dun Chaoin and became intrigued with the history of the Great Blasket, An Blascaod Mor, the largest of a group of seven small islands off the west coast of County Kerry.

For centuries, fisherman and their families lived on this   remote island in stone houses carved into the slope of the hill, supporting themselves by fishing, hunting rabbits, and harvesting oats and potatoes from the almost barren soil.

They had no plumbing, no electricity, no school, no taverns, no shops, no post office, no doctor, no priest, no nurse—in essence, they had little connection to the outside world.

Their vibrant culture was totally self-invented– filled with folk stories, music, storytelling and dance.  And, though few could read or write, these Irish speaking people found abundant joy in everyday life.

Kanigel captures the wild bleak beauty of the island while weaving an intricate tangle of relationships that developed between the islanders and the visitors they befriended.  And from his absorbing tale, we learn that many of these simple peasant islanders were quite gifted and destined to leave behind a rich and lasting legacy in words.

The Norwegian linguist Carl Marstrander laid the ground for the fertile literary phenomenon that would blossom on the Blasket by convincing the people of the island that they were special. His tutor in Irish, islander Tomas O’Criomhthain, eventually became an author himself with the publication in 1986 of Island Crosstalk.  O’Criomhthain said, “I have done my best to set down the character of the people about me so that some record of us might live after us; for the like of us will never be again.”

Brian Kelly, a graduate university student at Trinity College in Dublin was a mentor to O’Criomhthain, urging him to write about his life; after which Tomas wrote The Voice in the Afternoon. An Guth ar Neoin.  A less accomplished scholar than the others, Brian Kelly was said to have ‘the gift of friendship.’ In a letter to British Museum curator Robin Flower, Tomas said that many come to the island but “no one of them looked after Tomas but one”. He was referring to Brian Kelly. Tomas always wrote with the cherished Waterman pen that Kelly gave him.

George Thomson, the British classicist and university student who was 20 when he came to the island and “close to tears when he left six weeks later”, encouraged islander Maurice O’Sullivan to write his book Twenty Years A—Growing, which became a literary sensation. His friendship with O’Sullivan was the most important of his life. When O’Sullivan died, Thomson was devastated. Thomson’s daughter talked to Robert Kanigel about her father’s grief saying that he never got over O’Sullivan’s death.

Others deeply affected and forever changed by the Blasket were the Irish playwright John Millington Synge, the British Museum curator Robin Flower, beloved by the islanders and affectionately called ‘Blaithin’ or  Little Flower, and the French scholar Marie-Louise Sjoestedt, who committed suicide by jumping out a window when the  Germans  invaded  Paris  in 1940.

Initially, they all came to hear spoken Irish but went away with much more. It was because of their interest, that the oral history of the Blasket was preserved and an important literary tradition burgeoned.

By November 1953, the Blasket was abandoned as the remaining twenty-one islanders were repatriated to the mainland. Their exodus was ordered by the Irish government.  Reluctantly, they left the only home they ever knew to succumb to the pace of a different world.

In a letter to former island visitor and her close friend George Chambers, about her life on the Blasket, native islander Lis Ni Shuilleabhain wrote, “I have one gifted thing to tell you about it. I was always happy there. I was happy among sorrows on this island.”

Beyond being a fascinating slice of history, Kanigel’s riveting narrative prompts one to question what we may be missing that the islanders, in all their simplicity, found.

Recently, I met with the author to discuss his latest book.

What impact has this story had on you personally and has your perspective changed as a result of writing this story? It has made me question the way we live today and the way I live. It forced me to think about what is lacking from my own life and what we are all looking for; what moments we may be missing. Traditional villages like that are disappearing. Maybe there is something we can learn from that world.

What was your objective in writing this book? I wanted to deposit my readers on this island and let them see through the eyes of the visitors and feel what it is like to leave all the trappings of academic life behind.

You do a masterful job of creating and bringing to life characters that have been long dead. How do you do that? I immersed myself in their lives. I read everything that they wrote. I read Marie-Louise Sjoestedt in French; I went to George Thomson’s house and Robin Flower’s house. I went to the cemetery   where Mary Kearney is buried and the cemetery where Maurice O’Sullivan is buried. I try to immerse myself in the world of my characters as much as I can.

Of all the characters in this book, who is your favorite? The British classicist George Thomson. I appreciate him on so many levels. He was a generous person, a loving person and a brilliant person.

About the Author: Robert Kanigel is the author of seven books and a biographer and science writer of more than 400 articles, essays and reviews. He was professor of science writing at MIT and helped launch its Graduate Program in Science Writing which he directed for seven years. Recently, he retired from MIT to devote himself to writing full-time and is currently working on a biography of Jane Jacobs.

The late second half collapse against the Xavier Musketeers was a bitter pill for Irish fans to swallow however, and does raise some questions about whether or not Notre Dame teams can be mentally tough enough to advance in future NCAA tournament games.

The Fighting Irish had an 8 point lead that evaporated late in the second half of their first round game against the scrappy Musketeers, who took advantage of a crucial lane violation committed by Irish guard Jerian Grant in the final seconds of a heartbreaking 67-63 defeat. This was a game Notre Dame should have won against a Xavier team that hasn’t been as strong as they usually have been in recent years.

The Fighting Irish certainly have been more than respectable in the season over the 5-6 years, with last season’s win loss record of 27-7 being the high-water mark for Coach Mike Brey since his coaching career began in 2000 with the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame hasn’t been able to make significant noise in the Tournament since 2003 when they advanced to the Sweet 16 round.

When Notre Dame lost veteran forward Tim Abromaitis for the season,  they seemed destined to miss the NCAA tournament, given their relative inexperience and youth, particularly in their backcourt with sophomores Jerian Grant and Eric Atkins, who appear to be poised  to be the cornerstones of a strong Irish team next season.

Coach Brey, in what might be his best coaching job, since his arrival  in South Bend 12 years ago, allowed his team to play within their limitations , which were numerous, and reel off impressive victories against top 15 teams, including an exhilarating victory at home against then #1 ranked Syracuse Orangemen at home.  The Irish, not as athletically gifted as some of the other Big East teams, used solid defense and timely three point shooting to lead them to victory. They surpassed many expectations of even the most critical Irish fans this year with their play on the basketball court.

The question that many Irish fans have is this: should this year’s team have done more in the tournament? Yes it’s nice that they got there given the obstacles they faced with the loss of their veteran leader Tim Abromaitis.  However, this writer believes that  the Irish mentally broke down and gave a very winnable game away because they lacked the focus and maybe even fire to win in the last two or three minutes of the game. This is troubling considering that they were able to use a few big home victories to galvanize their team and clinch victories against more talented teams on their schedule.

Does Mike Brey, who has been very successful in winning with inferior players, particularly when compared to the rest of the league, need to tweak his style and perhaps ratchet up the intensity level?  I am not calling for him to yell and scream like a raving maniac on the court like some of his other counterparts, but rather instill a little apprehension in his team when they make a mistake, especially a costly mistake committed by Jerrian Grant in the final minute of a game that all but sealed the deal for the ND loss.

Maybe the Notre Dame players feeling a little uncomfortable heading back to the bench after committing a mistake might not be a bad thing for this team to develop a tougher attitude in times that demand mental toughness. I think back to John Cheney coached teams and remember vividly how a player would not want to go back to the bench after committing a foolish turnover. The look on Cheney’s face could cut through stone when such a mistake occurred. Of course, who could forget one of the greatest coaches of all time in Bobby Knight.  No one is asking for Brey to reinvent himself, he has done a very good job with rigorous academic standards and a smaller pool of athletes to work with when comparing him to other teams like Syracuse and Georgetown, who are not burdened with the academic restrictions of Notre Dame.

However, there does not seem to be the fear of any repercussions from the Head Coach when a mistake is committed. Brey does rant or show consternation when one of his players makes a mistake. He is one who chooses to use positive reinforcement, which probably endears many of his players to him.  It would be nice to see him exert a little more force on the sidelines when things are going wrong for the Irish.

But don’t look for Brey to become that coach at this point in his career.

However, Notre Dame has made significant upgrades to its basketball facilities and raised their profile to a higher and very respectable level in the Big East. They have shown that they can play with and beat the giants in the conference. They have won 93 out of the last 100 games at home, making them one of the best home teams in basketball over the last 4-5 years. They have a hostile crowd that makes things very difficult for opposing teams.

Coach Brey is a class act and seems to do his best coaching when his team’s backs are against the wall.  A few years ago when they lost forward Luke Harongody to injury, Brey utilized a burn offense, that was designed to maximize his teams strengths of shooting the three point shot while exhausting most of the shot clock, a technique that absolutely frustrated many opponents and drove opposing coaches crazy.

Brey has restored respectability to a program and genuinely seems to want to finish his career at Notre Dame. Despite a disappointing showing in this year’s NCAA Tournament, there is still cause for optimism for Irish fans for the next season. They return virtually everybody from this year’s NCAA tournament team, including the possibility of guard Scott Martin, who may petition the NCAA for a 5^th year, along with Tim Abromaitis, already a  grad student, possibly petitioning for a 6^th year of eligibility as well.

Yes, this season was both exciting and disappointing for Irish fans, depending on your expectations for the program. It remains to be seen whether or not they will take the next step in the NCAA tournament and give Irish fans the thrill ride that they are looking for.

On a picture-perfect day for a parade, Michelle O’Neill, Sinn Fein’s Minister for Agriculture in the North and a passionate advocate of social issues and rural regeneration, was the honored guest.

O’Neill, who was elected to the Joint Assembly at Stormont and is Deputy Chair of the Health Committee and member of the Education Committee, describes   herself as “a strong Irish Republican” whose recently deceased father was a republican ex-prisoner and a   big influence in her life.  Her uncle Paul Doris was for years, the National President of Irish Northern Aid, NORAID and very active in the republican movement as well as being a close friend and confidante of Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams.

As minister of Agriculture, what are some issues facing you?
“We are part of the European system, so, I constantly travel back and forth in Europe. Agriculture is the backbone of our society. We are still involved in agriculture even though in the past, it was not profitable. But now, there is a growing demand for food across the world and Ireland is in a good position to deliver and help lead Ireland to economic recovery.   I am also the Minister of Rural Development. Quite often, people living in these areas are   isolated and hard to reach. So, we tackle issues of poverty, health and other social issues to make sure they can access these services.

Why is Sinn Fein so strongly opposed to voting yes on the treaty with the European Union?
“Historically, Sinn Fein has been opposed to handing away our sovereignty. We have always taken a strong stand   against the big bailouts, the big banks. The people of Ireland are struggling to get jobs. The people of Ireland are leaving Ireland to get jobs elsewhere. So when it comes to the issue of Europe and the big bail-out, we take a very strong position against it. Enda Kenny, the Taoiseach, shouldn’t be taking the line that he is. Now, the referendum is coming up. We actually pushed very hard to have the referendum so the people of Ireland can have their say.

Gerry Adams said it was a bad deal from the start.
“It is a bad deal for the people of Ireland .It is not good for the ordinary people of Ireland; so we are campaigning hard against it.”

How did you feel about Martin McGuinness’ showing in the Presidential race?
“It was phenomenal. I attended many events with Martin during the campaign.  We went to a big Agriculture show in Ireland and he could not walk two yards without being completely swamped by people.

How do you feel about Adams continuing his fight for a united Ireland after being elected to the Irish Parliament?
“It was a brave move for him to give up his West Belfast seat where he spent most his life and continue the fight for a united Ireland. It shows that for him, it is not about position; it is about uniting Ireland. That is what we are all in the party for. We are actually getting closer. We have a border poll and it is the topic of conversation this minute. Our goal is to reach out to the unionists and let them know that nothing will interfere with a united Ireland.

What is happening with Sinn Fein’s planned Center for Peace and Reconciliation in Belfast at the site of Long Kesh prison?
“It is still a topic of conversation and an ongoing process.”

How do you see the changes in Northern Ireland in the past 25 years?
“If you look at the transformation in the North from the ceasefire to the Good Friday Agreement up until now, it is amazing.  We probably have one of the best relationships with the Unionists, now more than ever-and particularly with the Democratic Ulster Party, DUP because we are in power with them in the North.”

How many more conditions   still have to be met regarding the Good Friday Agreement?
“We have the framework from the Good Friday Agreement but there still is so much work to be done; not every element has been implemented.  We also have to let unionism   know that they cannot interfere with a united Ireland.

How do you feel about being here in Philadelphia today on this great festive occasion for the Irish?
“Philadelphia has always been important to us in our struggle. We have always depended on the city’s support including the various freedom proclamations in Philadelphia’s City Council.”

When did you start working for the party?
“I started working with Martin McGuinness in 1998 when the Good Friday Agreement .was signed. From that time on, I worked for the party full-time until 2005. Then I ran for Council elections and in 2006, was elected Deputy Mayor. Then in 2007, I was elected the first female Mayor of   Dungannon in County Tyrone. Sinn Fein encourages women and young people to get involved and elected to public office. So, I have tremendous support from the party. I love doing what I do. It is not a job; it’s a way of life.”

Carrie Twomey — photo | Katharine Gilbert

Carrie Twomey doesn’t mince words. She is furious at Boston College for failing to protect their archives. Carrie is the American-born Orange County, Southern California wife of Belfast-born author, journalist, ex Irish Republican Army volunteer and former prisoner Dr.  Anthony McIntyre. And, she is on a mission for her husband who cannot enter the U.S. because of his IRA past.

McIntyre and journalist and author Ed Moloney are in the eye of the storm in Boston College’s oral history debacle. They have now parted ways with the university and are filing a joint lawsuit against the release of the Delores Price archive to the British Government’s Police Service of Northern Ireland, PSNI.

The oral history project covers the time span of the Troubles in Northern Ireland from the late 1960’s up to the present and was originally suggested by Professor Paul Bew, a visiting professor from Queens University in Belfast, who felt this could be accomplished since it was “such a short period of time in the overall conflict.” Then Boston University   agreed and reached out to journalist Ed Moloney in New York to facilitate the project and Moloney reached out to Anthony McIntyre in Ireland.

The interviews with former Irish republicans were conducted in Ireland by Anthony McIntyre, an academic from the republican community and interviews with former unionists were conducted by Wilson McArthur, an academic from the loyalist community from Queens University in Belfast.

All participants were guaranteed confidentiality until the Historical Enquiries Team, HET, at the bidding of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, PSNI, requested archives relating to a reopened criminal investigation into the murder of IRA informant Jean McConville dating back to 1972.  The murder investigation that had been botched from the start and lain dormant for years was suddenly urgent.

The following interview with Twomey answered some questions and corroborated some things I already suspected.

SC  What do you think about this sudden urgency and renewed interest in the McConville case?
“First of all, I do not think this is a bonafide criminal investigation. This crime has not been properly investigated for more than 30 years. In 2006, the police ombudsman was very critical of the way the case was handled and the Chief Constable admitted there was no chance of a prosecution in this case. We believe they are trying to use this as criminal evidence and then turn around and use it in a civil case. In terms of a criminal case, this is unsworn testimony and is not going to be corroborated by anybody in court. Delores Price, Adams’ accuser, is not going to give sworn testimony.”

SC  It seems apparent that the purpose for all of this is to get Gerry Adams and to try to embarrass or discredit him, since these allegations have been unproven.
“Yes, both my husband and I believe that Adams is at the root of all this. They want to embarrass him; they want to expose him. There is that element of the unionists who are not happy with the peace and are not happy with the republicans being in power.”

SC  Both you and your husband are vigorously opposing the release of the tapes to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. Would you say your efforts are in sharp contrast to Boston College?
“Definitely. We are very disappointed in Boston College’s position on this. They were dragged into the fight unwillingly. They were shamed into filing a lawsuit when Ed Moloney went public that the subpoena was served. They were not inclined to fight the original subpoena to begin with. Then when the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU, came onboard and when we came onboard, they had to do something. I think it is despicable what Boston College is doing, frankly. I don’t have the words to describe the anger and disappointment that I have. They are a university and a university is built on its research. They should be protecting their research and they are not. They are the Penn State of research. They are protecting their institution at the expense of doing the right thing.”

SC  How is your appeal going?
“We are fighting to keep the Delores Price materials from being handed over to the British. The rest of the archive that the judge had ruled be handed over are with the U.S. Court; but the Delores Price material is with the U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. It has not been turned over to the Brits because we won a motion to stay pending our appeal which has frozen everything in place. Our hearing is April 4^th and we are really hoping that we prevail in that and that none of the material will be handed over. Boston College has not joined us in this particular appeal regarding the Delores Price material. They did not appeal the first ruling which turned over Delores Price’s interview. This did not help us in our appeal to prevent the handover of the Price archive to the British. In fact, the government’s response to our appeal cites the fact that Boston College did not appeal the first ruling which turned over the Delores Price archive as justification for why our appeal should not be heard. And it is only because my husband and Ed Moloney have sought to fight this without Boston College that the material has not yet been handed over to the British.”

SC  What is happening with the Boston College lawsuit?
“Because of the public pressure surrounding this case and the criticism of how they have handled the case, they have filed their own appeal which will be heard in June or July.  But, it is only for part of the material that the judge ruled to be handed over. It is not for the whole of the archive.”

SC  How many subpoenas were served?
“There were two subpoenas; the first subpoena sought Brendan Hughes’ (deceased ex IRA prisoner) material and Delores Price’s material. The second set of subpoenas sought everything in the archive that related to the McConville case. So, the judge issued two rulings. He ruled that all of Delores Price material be handed over to the U.S. Attorney and five complete archives should be handed over and selections from two other archives should be handed over. Those two archives are with the U.S. Court because our motion for stay applied at that point.”

SC  What is the public sentiment in Dublin over this?
“I’ve had several meetings in Dublin, They are very unhappy about this because the decommissioning papers are at the same library under a 40-year embargo because it is politically sensitive information. The U.S. Attorney Eric Holder is arguing that there is no such thing as academic protection and that the first amendment does not apply.”

SC  What is your purpose in coming to the U.S.?
“I am coming here to ‘go public’. This is our only protection. I also hope to get support from U.S. politicians and the U.S. news media. I am finding a very receptive audience here. This is my second trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with members of Congress. I have also met with the staff of Congressman Richard Neal; Senator Barbara Boxer; Senator John Kerry; Senator Robert Menendez; and Senator Richard Luger.  Senator John Kerry has been very vocal against the release of the tapes as have been Senator Menendez and Senator Luger. I am hoping to meet with Senator Scott Brown when I go to Boston and I will be traveling to New York to meet with politicians and Irish American organizations like the Ancient Order of Hibernians, AOH.”

SC  Your husband was a former Gerry Adams supporter, why did he break with Adams?
“He saw the Good Friday Agreement as a republican defeat and not the victory it was presented as. He has never been against the peace but against the process of it and the lies and the betrayal. The war was fought for British withdrawal; it wasn’t fought to take place in Stormont. It wasn’t fought to decommission all weapons.”

SC  Ed Moloney whose book Voices from the Grave is  based on interviews with senior IRA figure Brendan Hughes and Ulster Volunteer Force, UVF leader and Progressive Party politician David Ervine, both now deceased—profited from his  book.  Other than this, do you think he had a hidden agenda regarding Gerry Adams since he has always been an Adams critic?
“Ed Moloney is an historian; not a propagandist. He acknowledges that the Peace Process would not have happened without Gerry Adams.”

SC  Was your husband part of the Hunger Strike?
“Anthony was in Long Kesh Prison for 18 years. He was not on the Hunger Strike but was “on the blanket” and the “no wash” protest for 4 years. He finished his first degree in prison and completed his PhD degree in Irish republicanism, which is basically the history of the Provisional IRA, upon his release.”

SC  How do you feel about your husband’s involvement in this project?
“Part of what makes his participation in the oral history project so valuable is that he is the foremost expert on the Provisional IRA and Irish Republicanism. Also, he was an IRA volunteer and his prison experience is very important. He is also an academically trained historian.”

SC  Do you think your husband is in danger now?
“I feel that my entire family is in danger. You don’t know if a petrol bomb will be thrown through the window.”

SC  Do you think Ed Moloney is at risk in New York?
“I believe he is at risk but not facing the type of danger that we are facing.”

For the little known backstory, not reported in the mainstream U.S. news media, Twomey referred me to an online article by Derry activist and journalist Eamonn McCann titled Getting Gerry Adams that gives the history of the sudden renewed interest in the 40 year-old McConville murder.

McCann traces it to a former RUC and PSNI Detective Chief Superintendent Norman Baxter who had a “particular animus towards Gerry Adams.”

Baxter, it turns out, is one of many senior Northern Ireland police officers who left the force disgruntled and unhappy with the changes brought about in the police force after the Good Friday Agreement.

Now in Afghanistan, Baxter is with a private security firm with a contract from the Pentagon training the Afghan Police Force.

Within twenty-four hours of reading Ed Moloney’s book “Voices from the Grave”, Baxter contacted and urged British authorities to initiate legal action to recover the Boston College archives relating to the McConville murder which implicated   Gerry Adams.

The unsworn testimony given by Brendan Hughes prior to his death is inadmissible. Yet, the other accuser Delores Price, who also participated in the oral history project, is alive. She has yet to give sworn testimony in court.

Both accusers were former comrades of Adams who had a falling out with him over the Good Friday Agreement.

This stunning and beautifully illustrated book with photographs of original paintings by first generation London-Irish artist Brian Whelan is a fascinating exchange of ideas between Irish Catholic Brian Whelan and Jeff Frohner, a Lutheran pastor from Orange County, California who proves to be an enthusiastic and knowledgeable Connoisseur of fine art. How they met, separated by six thousand miles, is almost   miraculous, serendipitous and completely by chance— as if their meeting were somehow preordained. Frohner was searching the internet for images of the Nativity for inspiration for his Christmas sermon when he encountered  an image of Brian Whelan’s painting Nativity- a powerful, richly textured work with a black skinned Madonna and child and some playful  modern  touches.  From that moment on, Frohner was hooked and moved to do something he had never done before—contact the artist.

What struck Frohner was “how these paintings begged for conversation, those kinds of conversations that usually happen late at night when after a pint or two one is able to discuss the real matters of life without fear of judgment or of being dismissed.” Yet, he was   still sobered by the immutable fact of the distance that separated him both “literally and metaphorically” from the painter who lived outside of London in rural Norfolk.

Still, he mused on what fun it would be to sit down with Whelan, as an old friend, and discuss his paintings with him and tell him   about the feelings his   paintings evoked in him. After the initial email, further correspondence was   arranged by Whelan’s wife and business manager Wendy.

Soon, Frohner began exchanging regular emails with Whelan. Their conversations, inspired by Whelan’s paintings, many of which are like parables from the Bible, replete with symbolism and imagery and liturgical influences,  encompassed faith, art, salvation, damnation, God, the Devil, culture, science and religion.

And gradually, as they got to know each other, their sometimes late night conversations were fueled by a pint or two both literally and figuratively—which may have helped to open new realms.

What was essential for this idea to succeed was an artist open to talking about his work and an art patron with the interest and sophistication to appreciate the depth, intelligence and subtlety of the artist. Whelan, obviously, does not sit loftily on his artist’s perch but is keenly interested in the Pastor’s response to his work while humbly admitting, at times, to being enlightened by some of the Pastor’s observations and interpretations-some of which, may be different from what he originally intended when he set out to create the work.

Gauging from this lively, stimulating ongoing dialogue, Brian Whelan is an open, thoughtful and deeply contemplative artist, eager to engage with his audience, share ideas and consider other  points of view.

This book goes beyond capturing a high level conversation between two men from different, disparate backgrounds who  share similar sensibilities; the two may have unwittingly stumbled upon a whole new genre between artist and patron. Regardless, their conversation is enlightening.

[To order this book go to the website: www.brianwhelan.co.uk. The price depends on the exchange rate when ordered online but is usually around $19.]

With a final score of Notre Dame 74 and Villanova 70 in a nail-biter of a game before a crowd of more than 15,000 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, the Irish managed to pick up a win in  overtime and maintain their 8 straight game winning streak.

After a lackluster performance in the first half, an Irish victory seemed improbable until late in the game. They were outplayed by the Wildcats   and looked nothing like the resurgent basketball team that had won 7 straight games before heading into Philadelphia.

Since Notre Dame outmanned Villanova, who were missing their outstanding point guard and Big East player of the year candidate Maalik Wayns and guard James Bell, an Irish victory was anticipated. However, there are no guaranteed wins in Big East basketball, especially on the road in front of hostile fans.

After Notre Dame jumped out to a modest lead early on in the contest, the Wildcats turned up the defensive pressure and intensity and rattled the usually composed Irish to the core. They were quicker and dominated the boards, shooting nearly 50 percent from the field and overwhelmed the Irish who were lethargic and seemed to be running in cement shoes against the hungry Wildcats.

Irish coach Mike Brey was his usual composed self, exhorting his troops from the sideline with words of encouragement, despite his team’s abysmal shooting performance in the first half.

The Wildcats continued to pour it on the 23rd nationally ranked Irish who wilted under the pressure of the Wildcats tenacious defense and the relentless hometown crowd.  Finally, the Fighting Irish were able to chip away at the Wildcats lead in the second half and claw their way back to single digits.  Yet, every time they inched closer, Villanova answered with a basket until they started making mistakes with missed shots and turnovers.

The Irish tightened up defensively and switched to a 2-3 zone defense in the second half, forcing Villanova to fewer baskets, and into overtime. Notre Dame Guard Eric Atkins nailed a clutch 3 point basket giving the Irish a 57-56 lead near the end of the game lifting them in an uphill battle in which they were playing from behind most of the game. Then, freshman guard Pat Connaught on connected on seven 3 point shots, helping the Irish outlast the Wildcats.

In the post-game press conference, Villanova Head Coach Jay Wright, obviously dejected, admitted “this was a tough loss.” Always a class act, he was very complimentary about Irish basketball Coach Mike Brey calling him a “great coach who has shown great leadership.”

Irish Head Coach Mike Brey appearing both exhausted and elated, began his remarks with, “What a night!” and commended his team on their resolve and  reminded  them of  their comeback win in Morgantown against West Virginia –telling them “ We have nothing to lose, let’s play fearlessly like we did in Morgantown.”

Brey called his team as the “Jeremy Lin of basketball” drawing laughs from other reporters in the room. I had the opportunity to ask Coach Brey about reports that this might be his best coaching job since he has been in South Bend. He laughed and deflected attention to his team and their chemistry and their belief in each other. It was a typical Mike Brey response which speaks volumes about why his teams play so hard for him and never give up.

Compared to some of the other top 25 teams in the country, Notre Dame is not as talented, yet they are playing their best basketball at a time when the NCAA tournament is rapidly approaching in what is becoming a compelling Cinderella story with an ending that has not yet been written.

Acclaimed journalist and documentary filmmaker Karen F. McCarthy’s non-fiction debut The Other Irish: The Scots-Irish Rascals Who Made America (Sterling Publishing, 2011) chronicles the strong, yet under-noted Scots-Irish influence on the shaping of the American character. Her cinematic background shines through as she shares the influence of the distinct culture that produced Americans icons from Davy Crocket to the first man on the moon.

Q: As an Irish Catholic from Dublin, what inspired you to travel the backcountry of the American South collecting the story of Irish Protestants from Northern Ireland?

KFM: Irish in America, for many persons, is synonymous with Irish Catholic. The irony is, when you actually look at it, the Protestants from the North of Ireland were in America 100 years before the mass of Irish Catholics from the Great Starvation times. They are more responsible for what is the fundamental to the American character than Irish Catholics, yet not everyone knows anything about them. I just thought that was bizarre.

Q: Why do you think that occurred?

KFM: Two reasons, one being The Troubles. If you’re in a war, almost all focus is on the war, not so much on art or literature, so people are not as aware of the richness of their history. Because The Troubles were so consuming, a lot of other history and culture was shuffled into the background.

The second reason is because  many of the Scots-Irish landed in America 75 years or so before the Declaration of Independence. By 1776 second and third generation Scots Irish considered themselves American because they were there for the formation of the country. People say they were absorbed into American culture, but when you look at the book, when you look at the quintessential America character, it was largely formed on the American frontier. That’s where the Scots-Irish flourished.

Q: How have people responded? 

KFM: I had quite a difficult time researching the book. I really had to go out and dig to get it first hand. The first place I went to research this book was up to Belfast and Larne. I think in the North people started realizing the history was not all that accessible. They also realized I wasn’t out to make political statements about Northern Ireland, I was just genuinely curious.

When I went back to America to travel around the South, a couple of people in Belfast and Larne were researching in the little archives around town to help me find bits of information to try to piece together the ancient history. I’ve actually gotten quite a lot of emails from people in Northern Ireland, strangers who found my website, thanking me for writing the book.

Q: How did your experience serving as an embedded reporter in Iraq, influence your strategy for researching this book?

KFM: The thing about Iraq is, unless you’ve really experienced it on the ground, you cannot really understand it. All of the preconceived notions I had about Iraq and about the Iraqis changed rapidly. Some for the better, some for the worst, but nonetheless, very different than what I thought it would be.

When I went into the backcountry of the American South, I tried to put aside any preconceived idea and arrive with an open mind. I think that’s why people were so receptive.

Q. What was the most surprising information you found in your research?

KFM: You can’t understand the South unless you get down into the South. When I got down to the South, I had these preconceptions of what it was like in the backcountry because you get derogatory impressions from television that they’re all right wing, gun-loving, uneducated hillbillies, but I discovered that this wasn’t true (although one Virginian did threaten to shoot me for accidentally wandering onto his property). I came out of the South thinking, this must be one of the most misunderstood places on the planet. The American South!

For more information about Karen F. McCarthy and The Other Irish, visit her website: www.karenmccarthy.eu

It seems like just yesterday that I was standing on Irish Center stage as Vince Gallagher serenaded me with the Mary from Dungloe song.  Exactly one year later, I was just as excited for the annual Philadelphia Mary from Dungloe contest and Donegal Ball.

Philadelphia Mary from Dungloe chairperson, Coleen McCrea Katz, dubbed as our “Fairy Mary Mother,” and former Philadelphia Mary, Brittany Lough, kicked off the 2012 Philadelphia contest by organizing the 2012 participants for a meet and greet rehearsal at the Irish Center the Friday before the contest.  This rehearsal was more of a chatter-filled pizza party as the contestants got to know each other.  After a few hours of conversation, the girls parted ways, with a schedule of events in tow, to get a few winks of sleep before the big day.

The Irish Center witnessed the arrival of the seven beautiful and talented young Irish women as the contestants arrived at 5 p.m. as per strict instructions by Brittany Lough, our “Mary timekeeper.”  The seven contestants, Melissa Bowers, Meghan Davis, Noreen Fanning, Kelly Haggerty, Brittany Killion, Maryellen McCarry, and Megan Sykes looked stunning in their ball gowns as they prepared for their private interview with the judges.  Each contestant was truly unique yet all were equally qualified for the role as the 2012 Mary.

Mary Frances Fogg, Bob Hurst, and Cass Tinney had the most difficult task as they were the official judges of the event.  They are actively involved in the Philadelphia Irish community and have dedicated many years to promoting Irish traditions and culture.  Mary Frances Fogg is secretary for the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Observance Association, a member of the Irish Society of Philadelphia, and a volunteer for the Hibernian Hunger Project.

Bob Hurst has been the president of the Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame, the Danny Browne A.O.H. Division 80, and the Irish Memorial of Philadelphia.  He has also served as director of the Commodore John Barry Club (Irish Center).

Cass Tinney is chairperson of the Delaware Valley branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann and is a member of the Donegal Association, South Jersey Irish Society, the Ceili Group, the Timoney Irish Dancers and Irish Center.

After the private interviews with these qualified judges, the girls were introduced to the crowd for their onstage question. Following the onstage interview, the girls were able to relax and enjoy delicious food, courtesy of Micky Kavanaugh, good music, courtesy of the Willie Lynch Band, and a good time with family and friends.  The time passed quite quickly as the craic was brilliant.

The culmination began after the grand march shortly before midnight.  Bernadette Browne, the evening’s emcee, opened the envelope containing the names of the runners up. Excitement ensued as she announced 2nd runner up, Meagan Sykes, 1st runner up, Brittany Killion, and after a long pause, the 2012 Philadelphia Mary from Dungloe, Meghan Davis.  Meghan, a vocalist and harpist with a Master of Music from Temple University, was crowned as the 2012 Mary.  Her family hails from Counties Mayo and Cork.

After what seemed like hours and hours of pictures, Meghan and I had some tea and cakes, which gave us the opportunity to talk about her win.  She explained she was “in shock,” to which I explained that that feeling will last a long time.  I don’t think that feeling of excitement totally ever disappeared for me and I still get a thrill every time I talk about my experience as the 2011 Philadelphia Mary from Dungloe.

Patrick Eiding — photo | Tom Keenan

By Sabina Clarke

Patrick J. Eiding, a leader in the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania labor movement and a voice for workers across the country will receive the Dennis Clark Solas Award from the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians on December 7^th.

Some past recipients of the award, named in honor of the late Dennis Clark, a renowned historian and beloved figure in the Philadelphia Irish community are: Mary McAleese, former President of Ireland,   Father Daniel Berrigan, actor Martin Sheen, President Vincente Fox of Mexico, Patrick Gillespie, Business Manager of the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council and Wendell Young III, President of UFCW Local 1776.

A longtime resident of Northeast Philadelphia and ardent Phillies fan, Eiding rose through the ranks of the Union as a young tradesman and climbed to the top as president of the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO representing more than 100 local unions.

Patrick Eiding being interviewed by Sabina Clarke — photo | Tom Keenan

Prior to being elected president in 2002, he served for 25 years as Business Manager and Financial Secretary of the Insulators and Asbestos Workers Local 14 where he had been a member since 1963.

In addition to his duties  as AFL-CIO Chief,   Eliding represents organized labor on a number of civic boards such as:  Philadelphia Area Labor Management Committee (PALM), the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Temple University’s Board of Trustees, the former Comey Labor Institute of St. Joseph’s University, United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania; the Philadelphia  Workforce Investment Fund; the Philadelphia Housing Authority;  the Philadelphia Planning Commission,  the Executive Council of the Pennsylvania  AFL-CIO; the Philadelphia Building Trades Council; and the National AFL-CIO General Board,  while being  involved in numerous charitable organizations.

We met in the stately Conference Room of his headquarters at 22^nd Street in Philadelphia.  As always, Eiding is impeccably groomed and well-prepared.

Wearing a black suit, crisp white shirt and dark green tie, he had a We Are One button on his lapel, the AFL-CIO slogan that has been adopted by workers and non-union workers all over the country.

How do you feel about getting this award?
“I am thrilled to death but it is not something that I expected. I actually did not know about Dennis Clark until I met Anne O’Callaghan and of course when you are acquainted with Anne O’Callaghan, you start to learn a lot of things.”

When did this slogan start?
“It started last February in Wisconsin when Governor Walker took away collective bargaining rights.  This brought working people together. We braved the cold to show solidarity for all workers-both union and non-union .We are the last bastion to fight for working people; who else is going to fight for working people. Almost everything we have been involved with such as getting laws passed regarding workman’s compensation, the five day forty hour work week—all that was for all people. When we get laws passed, it is not just for unions it is for everyone. We are fighting to protect unemployment compensation. We are fighting to protect workman’s compensation; this is in the Senate right now”

What are some other battles you have fought?
“We are going after the Governor of Wisconsin for a recall and fighting the guy in Ohio who is sponsoring a bill to take away collective bargaining rights for public workers.  Whether we win or not, this sends a tremendous message to the people that these people are not going to be able to do what they want to do.”

How do you feel about the Occupy Philadelphia movement now?
“I still think that it is a worthwhile effort if they get back on message. Our message is clear. We need our members to go to work now. If we put Americans to work, the debt would soon start to decrease. I think the President has not done enough to put people to work. So, Labor and the Occupy movement have a lot in common as far as our message. Here in Philadelphia, the administration has been very friendly with the occupiers. I think labor needs to work with them to get their message back on track. When City Hall closes down, there will be a $50 million dollar project that will put a lot of people to work. So, the occupiers have to think clearly and move to where the City is letting them move. We can’t let this country go on with some folks getting huge bonuses and making millions of dollars and others barely getting by. The American dream is being taken away from us.

Would you say the Occupy movement’s message plays into the Union’s message?
“It certainly gives us an opportunity to have support. We have been categorized as getting smaller and less important. It bothers me that people are taking these jobs to China and selling what they manufacture back here. This is ridiculous. There should be a law that says what is made in America should be sold in America.  And some of our trade agreements with other countries should be renegotiated. ”

Is there any other legislation in Pennsylvania you are fighting for now?
“Do you realize that they are pushing a bill through for voter identification that requires a government ID. That would take away students voting rights and some older people. It has already passed the House. The Senate is the only place we have to stop it and no one even realizes that it is going on. It hurts the folks that are going to vote against the Tea Party. So they know what they are doing. We put out a resolution to get the Senate to stop it. We are lobbying right now to stop this. I am lobbying right now with our labor leaders.”

Last summer, Mayor Nutter vetoed a paid sick leave bill passed by City Council; how do feel about his reelection?
“We have a new City Council and that is always good to have new blood.  We need to massage the wording in the bill to address the different collective bargaining agreements of different unions.  I think there will be enough votes to avoid any veto by the Mayor. Unfortunately, the Mayor disagrees with it but there will be other things that we agree or disagree with. This Mayor has always opened his door to me even though he does not always agree with what I bring through the door.  There has never been a public venue where he has not recognized me or the AFL-CIO labor representative.  I see with this administration, some bright spots with labor and a consensus for us to come together on some real positive agreements. That will come out before January but I am not at liberty to talk about this now. I think the atmosphere will change and I look forward to some great things in the next four years in the relationship between Labor and the Mayor. Here is a man who came to our Labor Day celebration knowing that he would get booed. I wrote a letter to him thanking him. A lesser man might not come; other politicians might not come. It is easier to come where they clap for you.”

How do you feel about all the money spent on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the impact of this on our domestic economy?
“We were one of the first labor organizations to come out with a resolution against the Iraq war. It was totally unjustified; there was no reason to be there. Now, Obama is being criticized for bringing the troops back home as he had promised.  The troops were there when he got there and the deficit was there when Bush left.  We have put together a national program called ‘Helmets to Hardhats’ offering jobs in the construction industry to returning veterans. This is a real progressive program that all the unions bought into.”

How do you feel about the Phillies missing out on the World Series?
“Three years ago we had the greatest hitters. I’m sad but I am anxious to see them start again. They all contributed in some way.”

How do you feel about Joe Frazier and do you think the City should do something for him?
“I certainly do.  He was the epitome of the working man’s person. My Dad was a boxing fan so I became one. My older brother boxed and I did a little when I was in the service. Joe Frazier and I sat next to each other at a Martin Luther King Day luncheon and I felt like I knew him in just that short time. The luncheon went on for about two hours and we joked about how long it was. What I admired most about him was that he that he never got away from being just a basic guy. You should never forget where you come from and who you are.”