100 Stories, to Start

Al O’Leary is 100 years young—and if you know Al, you know he has never been one to let a little thing like a century slow him down.

He graces our cover, just as he has graced the lives of his family, friends and generations of the Irish community. Through Irish music, language, sport, the Pioneers and countless causes close to his heart, Al has shown up—with a smile, an instrument, a lesson, a helping hand and, more often than not, giving an extraordinary number of hours nobody ever bothered to count.

Al has never been much for simply talking about what matters. He leads by doing, by giving, by teaching and, most importantly, by showing up. Again, and again. For Al, commitment isn’t a speech—it’s a way of life. And after 100 years, we know he’s pretty good at it.

His legacy is measured not only in the tunes he has played, the traditions he has preserved, the language he has championed or the organizations he has strengthened, but in the people he has inspired along the way. He has helped keep cultural cornerstones standing strong, while adding his own unmistakable mark—and a few ripples that will continue long after the music stops.

So, Al, congratulations on 100 remarkable years. Thank you for every tune and song, every lesson, every laugh, every mile traveled and every time you simply showed up when you were needed.

A century is quite an achievement. But knowing Al, he probably figures he’s just getting warmed up. Here’s to you, Al—100 years of music, mischief, service and grace. Thank you for the legacy you continue to create.

Family

When THE Man Speaks

ICE CREAM!

iIrish Film Series

For a long time, I’ve had a dream: to create an Irish film hub right here in Greater Cleveland—one that brings Irish stories, filmmakers and audiences together, and gives our community another way to celebrate where we come from.

Cleveland International Film Festival often gives us a taste of Ireland with one or three Irish films each year. The West Side Irish American Club has also brought Irish films to town when the opportunity arises—and when filmmakers are willing to make the trip to Cleveland, perhaps with a few less millions to work with than Chicago or L.A.!

But here’s the thing: Irish audiences show up. The more than 31 million Americans who claim Irish ancestry have demonstrated time and again that we want to see, hear and support stories that connect us to Ireland and to each other.

So, we’re taking the first step.

iIrish is delighted to launch the iIrish Film Series with All Our Yesterdays, a remarkable new film by Breege Rowley.

“Through the voices of one Mayo town, 250 years of Irish history reveals the story of a nation, where memory, resilience and belonging echo across generations.”

All Our Yesterdays tells the story of Swinford, a small town in County Mayo—but it is really a story much bigger than one town. It is a story about the millions of us around the world who carry a piece of Ireland with us: in a surname, a half-remembered address, a photograph tucked away in a drawer, or a grandmother’s accent that never quite disappeared.

I hope you’ll enjoy my interview with Breege, beginning on page 3, and then do more than read about the film—come see it.

SAVE THE DATE — OCTOBER 9

Join us at the Capitol Theatre on West 65th Street for the first film in the iIrish Film Series.

Bring a friend. Bring your family. Bring someone who loves Ireland—or someone who simply wants to understand why we do. Come support Irish filmmaking, support our community and help us turn this first step into a true Irish film hub for Greater Cleveland.

Your ticket is more than a seat in a theater. It’s a vote for Irish stories.

More content, photographs, trailers and more of my interview with Breege are available at iIrish.us.

And, of course, there is plenty more craic inside this issue: What’s the Craic?, our Akron, Cleveland and Columbus Irish columns, Taking the Fields of Glory, and much more. There’s always something happening in our Irish community—and we’re here to help you find it.

iIrish is made in America. We have always been green. And we are proudly Irish, all year long.

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The Year that Was:

2026: