Editor’s Corner: Don’t Wait to Say Thank You
- iIrish Admin
- November 2, 2024
- Edited 2 months ago
Table of Contents
By John O’Brien, Jr.
Stella O'Leary
There were no gales of November in October, in fact, it was a month of great celebrations and events across our readership. The mighty Stella O’Leary has been announced as a recipient of the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad (2024) (U.S.A.). She is the leader of Irish Dems and a HUGE supporter of our work at iIrish.
Although she lives in New York, I have had the pleasure of meeting her in person a few times over the years at different events. I will never forget her opening words to me when we met the first time. She is such an inspiration to me, and to many others. Congrats and Thank You Stella, so well-deserved.
John O’Brien, Sr. Honored in Detroit
I was delighted to drive my dad (John Sr.) to the Great Lakes Youth Gaelic Football and Hurling Tournament in N. Canton, Michigan. I had planned on going to the Nuns of the Battlefield Monument in D.C., but when Vincent Beach of Cleveland St. Pat’s St. Jarlath’s GAA contacted me and said they wanted to honor dad and John Treaner for all that they have done for the GAA and USGAA Youth for more than 80 years, I knew I had to change direction.
More than 160 young boys and girls played in the 3rd annual tournament, one of four held throughout the U.S. each summer to foster the growth of the sports in the U.S., from ages Under6 to ages Under16. Dad began play soon after he could walk. Kids came up to him to thank him for his dedication and making these opportunities available for them, which impressed us both. Thank you to the GAA.
The recognition was for a long and accomplished career playing, volunteering, coaching, featuring the GAA, in Ireland, Canada and here in the U.S. He was surprised by the recognition and liked that he was there to see John Treaner also recognized. John played John in their early years in the U.S.
Of course, it was not all roses, we lost Dan Coughlin and Tommy Weir – each a legend, in different circles. Dan was a sportscasting legend throughout Greater Cleveland, for more than six decades, and wrote for iIrish a few times over the years when he had something he wanted to say.
Dan Coughlin
We did a few book signings together too. He was so supportive of my books, iIrish and our work. I was honored to print his wisdom whenever he was willing to share it. A too late Thank You, Dan.
Tommy Weir
Tommy Weir’s legendary status came on and around the Gaelic football pitch and community in Cleveland. After retiring from the Fire Department, he moved back to his family roots, in Mayo.
It might be impossible to convey all the stories introduced, and reintroduced, about Tommy. He lives on here, for sure. A too late Thank You, Tommy.
Read more about both Tommy and Dan on Safe Home, Page 9.
Tony Ahern, the man behind Ahern Catering, enters retirement at the end of this month. Tony, Lucy and the gang at Ahern have catered so many events, weddings, funerals and more for our community, always with care and class. We wish you a great, and well-deserved retirement. Thank You, Tony.
The new iIrish Merch Store has finally launched! Our “New” website is now old, by the time the web company got it up and running. There are a few things we are still working on, but miles of improvement have bene made to the four-month project, that is now in its 10th month. I hope you will like and visit often; the site is updated all month, not just when the new issue comes out. Visit the shop: https://iirish.us/shop-iirish-merch/
With all the Irish Unity events going on under the Ireland’s Future umbrella, (read more about the past and future of the Irish unification effort on iirish.us), we are so fortunate to have the Cleveland divisions and members of other divisions volunteering at and supporting the first one here in America – the United States Launch of the People’s Assembly for the Unification of Ireland, in great and oh so appreciated numbers. These Brothers and Sisters are never afraid of hard work and do it with welcoming arms and big smiles.
But they like the work to be impactful, at least most of the time. This was one of those times. This is real, this is happening. Imagine if we are the generation to bring about One Ireland, united and free? Thank you to all who attended and those who volunteered.
Afterwards, a few of the questions I received from the approximately 270 attendees, centered on what is a Hibernian? I did a long column on that a while back, but if you are interested, here is the link: https://iirish.us/hibernian-whats-a-hibernian/.
I borrow the words of Ancient Order of Hibernians newly elected National President, Sean Pender:
The Hibernians were founded in 1836, approaching 200 years ago,” to protect the church from those who were attacking and destroying our churches.”
Today, immigration restrictions that have stifled Irish immigration into the U.S. [We must] “… support the work of the cross-community group, Ireland’s Future … working together and listening to each other because no one ever listened themselves into trouble.”
“We have become a country that is unable to civilly disagree, we have gone from a country that valued the phrase, “I may disapprove of what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it,” … We need to do better before it gets worse, we need to get better because our children and grandchildren are watching. They deserve better, we deserve better. Let us be the example.”
Thank you, Sean.
See the What’s the Craic? Taking the Fields of Glory, and many other themes and pages within for all craic, and the details too. Every issue since 2017 is interactive, and lodged online on our Past Issues pages: https://iirish.us/archives/
Please VOTE! Common Sense over Nonsense
Read more of John’s Editor’s Corner, Click HERE
Merry Christmas From the Ancient Order of Hibernians
December 25, 2024
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“The Labour Party made a manifesto commitment to ‘repeal and replace’ the Legacy Act ‘by returning to the principles of the Stormont House Agreement’, this announcement falls far short of that.
American Irish State Legislators Caucus US Ambassador to Ireland
December 23, 2024
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US Names Ambassador to US. 250th anniversary of the beginning of the American War of Independence will be celebrated throughout 2025. Draft wording for Resolutions for the American Irish State Legislators Caucus have been sent to each State Chair which outlines the actions of some of those who were born in Ireland or who have Irish heritage who participated in the siege of Boston, Bunker Hill and the 1st defeat of the British Navy by the new US Navy.
iIrish is made in America. We have always been green and are proudly Irish, all year long.
Nuair a stadann an ceol, an damhsa déanann an amhlaidh
(When the music stops, so does the dance)
John
To read more of John’s columns, click HERE
John O'Brien, Jr.
*John is a Founder and the Publisher and Editor of iIrish; a Founder and Deputy Director of Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival for more than 35 years; an archivist, spokesman, emcee, Spoken Word presenter and author of five books, so far.
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