Editor’s Corner: Our Waterford Crystal Anniversary

Editor’s Corner: A Waterford Crystal Anniversary
by John O’Brien, Jr. @Jobjr

iIrish’s very first issue was published in January 2007, fifteen years ago this issue.

We started as the Ohio Irish American News, then evolved into iIrish as we expanded beyond Ohio, and across print, social media, web, Podcast and eBulletin. Now we are in six states, and are adding another eight, when time and obstacles clear the way.

I suppose I am a little stunned.  Fifteen years? I know I am extremely grateful. I know I am extremely blessed. iIrish is the only Irish paper in the U.S. that covers more than a city, yet alone a state, and now, multiple states. Expansion was always in our plan, though dormant during the circa 2008 economic hardships, and then when Covid arrived, but this I could not have foretold.

Thank you for all of your support – in reading and most importantly, sharing, across all of our platforms; in advertising – which is our only source of revenue; and in referring others to advertise with us. I always get a thrill when we pay out a referral bonus to someone – for surely it is a ringing endorsement of our work, our mission, our results, to send another or three advertisers to us with your recommendation(s) each month. 

We crossed $300,000 in donations to local and national charities since our 2006 inception.  That too is your doings. I don’t have enough hugs to thank you sufficiently, even though I love giving hugs.  Paying it forward is a lesson my folks taught me, and still live every day. How blessed am I to have my immigrant parents foster such a deep love of country – the U.S. AND Ireland.

On January 11^th, we begin our 8^th year sponsoring Speak Irish Cleveland with P.J. McIntyre’s Irish Pub: Pat, Doug, Kara, Patty and more have all been so supportive of our efforts to keep the Irish language alive. PJs opened a mere four months after we did, and have walked this path with us with relentless support. Prepare ye for their 15^th Anniversary in May!

See the ad within if you wish to join the next Speak Irish class, which starts January 11^th, but accepts new, novice and more advanced students through the January 25^th class.

We’re Hiring
We continue to seek new staff, with remote positions available in sales and in paid internships.  If you know a mover and shaker that would be interested, please send them our way, no matter from which house, pub or parcel you call home across our beautiful Diaspora.

Happy New Year. May the blessings be more than you ever thought possible.

…

Nuair a stapann an ceol, an damhsa déanann an amhlaidh

(When the music stops, so does the dance)

John