Verdant Chagrin Falls, Ohio will be hosting the annual Chagrin Documentary Film Festival October 1-6, 2024. At least two films will be of strong interest to the Irish community.

From program notes of he Job of Songs: “On the rugged west coast of Ireland, a community of musicians seek connection through traditional Irish music. Tourists flock to take in the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher, but the real treasure lies in the soulful, acoustic sounds wafting out of pubs and living rooms of Doolin, County Clare. The denizens of this unspoiled coastal village of tightknit neighbors revel in the passion and history of traditional folk songs, using music as a thread connecting generations.” Show time is Sunday, October 6th at Chagrin Valley Little Theatre, 5:30 P.M.

Also showing is Face Down,the Disappearance of Thomas Niedermayer. In 1973, Prominent German businessman Thomas Niedermayer was kidnapped by the IRA. Heended up being one of the several thousand who lost their life during the British war on the Irish Civil Rights movement. Now, five decades later, Niedermayer’s grandchildren tell the story from their point of view as they attempt to “unravel the complex web of personal tragedy and political turmoil that defined Northern Ireland in the 1970s.”

Show date: Saturday, October 5th, 2024, at The Federated Church, 6:45 PM. One can buy tickets online: chagrinfilmfest.org. If you miss the festival, they will likely be available streaming soon.

Irish Sea Reset

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer travelled across the Irish Sea to pledge a “reset” of the relationship between Ireland and the United Kingdom. This was the second in- person meeting between the two Prime Ministers in just two months’ time.

It had been five years since the last visit by a Brit Prime Minister to Dublin. At the time a Prime. Minister, Boris Johnson was looking for Irish support for a breakthrough in deadlocked EU/UK Brexit negotiations. United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer avowed a start of a “new era of co-operation and friendship” between the two island nations.

Taoiseach Simon Harris (no immediate relation to U.S. V. P. Kamala Harris) welcomed The P.M. to Farmleigh House in Phoenix Park, the former 18th Century Georgian mansion that was home to several generations of the Guiness family. The Irish Government bought the home and 78 acres in 1999 to serve as the official guest house of the Dublin Government.

Starmer stated: “Our relationship has never reached its full potential, but I want to change that. We have a clear opportunity to go further and faster to make sure our partnership is fully delivering on behalf of the British and Irish people – driving growth and prosperity in both our countries.” Both leaders declared a strong commitment to the Good Friday Accord.

It is hoped that all elements of the GFA will be implemented. While wishful thinking, it is long overdue to bring to life all four corners of the GFA, both North South provisions as well as East-West provisions. Time will tell.

DUP Threats

Sammy Wilson, the Democratic Unionist (DUP) for East County Antrim whimpered to the new U.K. Labour Party that the DUP would not take kindly to Labour working closely with Dublin on matters related to the Six Counties. The Unionist Wilson stated: “The British government is storing up for another round of political instability in Northern Ireland by continuing the policy of Irish nationalist prioritization and appeasement.”

Wilson was not so subtly threatening that the DUP would collapse the Northern Ireland Government if their privileged position under Tory governments is not continued. Having a historic victory this past summer, the Labour Government, unlike recent Tory Governments, has a huge majority in Westminster and does not need the few votes of the DUP to govern.

Hilary Benn, The Labour Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, not so subtly made it clear that Keir Starmer’s government might have to work with the Republic of Ireland’s Coalition to find a “new way forward” for governance of the North if Stormont falls. Unionists are fearful that their position of privilege could be sacrificed at the altar of the Starmer’s priorities to improve trade and security relationship with the European Union and the United States. Very refreshing to have a London Government not cow towing to Unionist toddler foot stomping.

More Than Words

Starmer seems to be moving beyond the mere platitudes that often accompany formal diplomatic visits. As part of his governments “Kings Speech,” which outlines legislative initiatives for this coming year, included was a repeal of the Legacy Bill, which the Tories passed into law in an attempt to whitewash British government violations of human and civil rights during The Troubles.

The newly minted P.M. had the official oil portrait of Lady Margaret Thatcher removed from his personal study. The portraiture has hung there for several years  through successive P.M.’s. Former DUP leader Arlene Foster attacked the P.M., labeling Starmer’s move as “vindictive.. For his part, Starmer simply said he prefers landscape paintings in his study., Me too.

Unification of Ireland U.S. Launch

Cleveland’s West Side Irish American Club was chosen to be the site of the North American Launch of The People’s Assembly for the Unification of Ireland, hosted by iIrish Publisher John O’Brien, Jr. Join the conversation in person on with the diaspora, the descendants of Ireland, and all those who support Irish Unity.

You must get your FREE ticket ahead of the meeting, at http://www. eventbrite.com/e/989722786497. This is your chance to be a part of Irish American history.

Double Harris V. Sourkraut

While there is no known relation between Taoiseach Simon Harris and V.P. Kamala Harris, if sanity prevails, we will have leaders of the two most important countries in the world with the same family name. While being of Irish ancestry is not enough of a reason in and of itself to support one for the high office of President, it is nice to know that the candidates of sanity and rule of law, Kamala Harris (Ballymoney) and V.P. nominee Tim Walz (Wexford) both have Irish ancestry.

The Donald is the grandson of Fredrich Trump, who was evicted from Germany for being a draft dodger. He came to America, where he made a fortune out west during the gold rush era operating bars and brothels (Irish and Irish Americans know a conman when they see one). GrandPa Trump eventually returned to NYC, where he invested his B&B profits in real estate. Regardless, if one has any interest in the fate of Ireland, the health of democracy and a love of our America, the choice is clear, Vote Irish, Vote Harris-Walz.