LETTERS

Letters from Irish Voice readers

LETTERS

April 16, 2008

Taoiseach’s Betrayal

CONCERNING Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern, I would like to make the following observations and conclusions. Starting with the Irish election in May 2007, the issue of our undocumented Irish in the U.S. was raised with the campaigns of office seekers at every level of public service.

The families and friends of the undocumented attended a rally in Dublin in April of 2007 and sent a loud and clear message that the Irish government must come to the aid of our people in America.

Mr. Ahern promised that he would make this a top priority if he was re-elected as taoiseach. Ireland’s electorate took him at his word and re-elected him.

On Friday, November 16, 2007, The Irish Times published a now-infamous article by Trina Vargo, president of the Washington, D.C.-based US-Ireland Alliance. In the article she urged Ahern not to petition for a bilateral agreement with the U.S. that could help our undocumented who have been living a nightmarish way of life.

She contended that Ireland’s relations with foreign countries would suffer if Ireland dared to help its own people in this situation.

Mr. Ahern’s announced position on the undocumented on St. Patrick’s Day of this year on Capitol Hill, that a deal isn’t possible and that advocates here don’t know what we are talking about, indicates that he paid more attention to the US-Ireland Alliance position than his fellow Irishmen, women and children.

In making his St. Patrick’s announcement, Mr. Ahern made sure he wasn’t near anyone who could question him on his position. He also insulted the many Irish and Irish Americans who gave of their time and volunteered to participate in our democratic system of petitioning our government to correct injustice. This fine and noble effort was not undertaken in bars, as Mr. Ahern said.

As for the election in Ireland, why did Mr. Ahern not take his position of March 17, 2008 in his re-election campaign back in April of 2007?

Not only did Mr. Ahern achieve his re-election as taoiseach, he also became the first prevaricator of Ireland.

Peter Coyle
Yonkers, New York

U.S. Military Heroes

LETTER writer Robert O’Sullivan’s obsessive hate for America blinds him to the truth. France, Spain and Britain killed millions of Vietnamese peasants during 90 years of colonial occupation. When the last of theses oppressive occupiers left Vietnam after World War II they left a country devastated by disease and famine, with two million more having died of starvation as their rice was stolen to feed the more noble people of western Europe after the war. (Sound familiar?)

Today Vietnam is a prosperous, peaceful and free country, as is South Korea, Germany and most of western Europe.(Iraq is a work in progress).

The common denominator? American military power.

They come to liberate, not to dominate and oppress. They have for years been cleaning up “messes” left by spineless rapacious colonialists from western Europe who cut and run when only the carcass remains.

Long live our heroic and generous American military services. Thank God for them and soldiers like John McCain.

M. Dolan

Hilton Head Island,
South Carolina

Irish Language Prep

WE may readily pardon “From the Hob” columnist Paul Keating for admitting in last week’s column to not being an expert on the history of the Irish language in the U.S. Indeed, like the language itself, this history has been given rather short shrift over the years. Yet, hidden history is often the most fascinating and even delicious. For those willing to plunge into the history in question, I would suggest “An Ghaeilge i Meiriceá” by Proinsias Mac Aonghusa and “Uilliam H. Mac Giolla Íosa, Foclóirí” by Tomás de Bhaldraithe, both to be found in the 1979 book, Go Meiriceá Siar: Na Gaeil agus Meiriceá edited by Stiofán Ó hAnnrachain.

An excellent English-language treatment of this topic is presented in Kenneth E. Nilsen’s essay, “The Irish Language in New York 1850-1900” included in The New York Irish, edited by Ronald Bayor and Timothy Meagher.

Of course, Micí Mac Gabhann’s Rotha Mór an tSaoil is still in print and widely read. This autobiography chronicles the author’s travels across America in the late 19th century and highlights the use of Irish among immigrants at that time.

However, short of these and other materials in print, I would heartily recommend a visit to the website of the Philo-Celtic Society/Cumann Carad na Gaeilge at philo-celtic.com. The Irish language’s history in the U.S., especially here in New York, is closely entwined with the chronicles of this historic association.

When it comes to research and recording this history, enormous recognition is owed the late Barra Ó Donnabháin, who was mentioned in Keating’s article. Although an Irish immigrant himself, Barra had a deep fascination and passion for the history of his adopted country.

He was a good friend to many of us. His influence and encouragement continues to be keenly felt as he himself has become an integral and important part of this history. One would do well to acquire Súil Siar, a collection of his essays in both the original and in English translation.

Irish Minister Eamon Ó Cuív addressed the future of the Irish language while recognizing its history, including that in America. Those who would like to explore the language’s future in North America owe it to themselves to attend the upcoming conference, “Fís Gaeilge Mheiriceá Thuaidh“ to be held in New York’s Affinia Hotel from May 16-18. More information is available from Glór na nGael’s website at glornangael.ie.

Daithí Mac Lochlainn
Woodside, New York

Where Are the Ceilis?

WHY is ceili dancing not as popular as it once was? The early risers at the recent Comhaltas convention in Parsippany, New Jersey came in all ages, from teens to senior citizens. They were from Boston, Canada, Delaware and other areas where ceili dancing still flourishes. Almost all knew the footwork and it was obvious that, even after a late night of dancing the sets in the grand ballroom of the Hilton Hotel, they were eager to be up and out on the floor again by 9:30 a.m. for a two-hour ceili dance class.

As their teacher that morning, I was elated with the enthusiasm of this large, eager group who were obviously enjoying the opportunity to perform ceili steps. I was delighted to see that there are so many of varying ages who keep this dance form alive.

The word ceili in Irish means a social gathering where people play music, sing, talk and dance. Figure dancing, also known as ceili dancing, was once enjoyed when dances like “Three Tunes,” “Trip to the Cottage” and others were featured regularly on the dance card.

“Since the sets have taken over, we don’t get a chance to do ceili dances any more,” said John, who attended my class that morning.

Another participant asked why dances like “The Duke Reel” and “Four Hand Reel” can’t be done side by side with the sets.

I had to admit that I didn’t know. A reason I’m sometimes given is that there’s no chance to stop and take a rest after every figure as you do in set dancing.

I doubt if I’m the only ceili dance lover in the New York area. Maybe we can figure out how to bring those lovely graceful dances back to the tri-state area dance floors again?

Maura Mulligan
West New York, New Jersey

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