Intelligencer

Crowley on the Up and Up

Now that Congressman Robert Menendez has been nominated to fill the final year term of New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine in the U.S. Senate, his successor as number four man in the Democratic House leadership is up for grabs.

Sources say that Queens’ own Congressman Joe Crowley, who has been quietly moving up the ladder in the House, may well be the person who succeeds him.

If so Crowley, in his mid forties, would be a likely leadership contender in the next few years, as he is quite a bit younger than most of those in leadership positions.

Crowley has worked very hard since being elected after the controversy about how he was handpicked by his predecessor Tom Manton died down.

Now he appears ready to take another step up the ladder, which would be a popular development because he is well liked within the party. Perhaps he can become the next Tip O’Neill.

Puzzling Vote On Immigration

Another Democratic representative with Irish roots, however, has caused exasperation in Irish circles.

Congressman Brian Higgins, who was elected from Buffalo to fill the seat formerly filled by Jack Quinn, a moderate Republican, voted for the draconian immigration law passed by the House last week. In so doing he was the only Democrat in New York State to do so.

All of which begs the question why? After all Higgins has close Irish roots, is a very good friend of organized labor which supported opposition to the bill, and proudly boasts of his immigrant roots on his website which reads:

“Brian is the son of immigrant and first-generation American parents, and remains a proud lifelong resident of South Buffalo, New York. Brian’s father Dan worked as a skilled tradesman, labor leader, and later as an elected and statewide appointed officer with the state’s Workers Compensation Board.

“His mother Mary worked as a schoolteacher at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Buffalo’s Old First Ward. Brian’s grandparents came to America from counties Mayo and Kerry in Ireland, and his paternal grandfather was the first in a long line of Higgins family bricklayers.”

Maybe you can call Brian’s office and ask why he voted for HR 4437 at 202 -225 3306. Tell him the newly-formed Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform sent you. For a copy of how your representative voted go to www.irishlobbyusa.org for more information.

Death of Irish Legend

Terry O’Neill was a burly Corkman whose gruff demeanor hid a heart of gold. Terry died recently at age 68, and so passed one of the legends of the New York Irish bar scene.

O’Neill owned many bars and restaurants in the city, but none more famous than the Green Derby on Second Avenue in Manhattan, beside the equally famous Eamon Doran’s.

During the 1980s and early ‘90s Terry and his charming wife Barbara were the perfect hosts for so many of the Irish activities that occurred at the time. Many a match was made, an organization started and a singsong begun at Terry’s place.

Terry also did remarkable work helping young immigrants in need of a start in the new country, and many of his deeds were done very quietly with little fanfare. Right from the start Terry was very supportive of this newspaper in our earliest days.

He and Barbara were also very close to Charles Haughey and often entertained the then Irish Prime Minister during his visits to America.

Terry was one of the first of the new breed of Irish innkeeper who moved far beyond the dowdy Blarney Stone, sawdust on the floor-type establishments and created a new modern look that had the customers flocking. He was a decent soul and will be greatly missed.

May he rest in peace, and to Barbara and their son Kane, the very best from all at the Irish Voice.

Sinn Fein’s 100th

Sinn Fein is 100 years old this year, and to commemorate the occasion the party has published a centenary annual called Sinn Fein: A Century of Struggle which is well worth a look at.

Very few political movements in history have had the influence that Sinn Fein had on Irish politics, as well as acting as a beacon to many other political parties far from Ireland. Their story is the story of Ireland and it is magnificently told in the new volume.

Party leader Gerry Adams states that the book “is a key element of the party’s celebration of its hundredth anniversary,” and notes that the party will be “defining and redefining our Republicanism for today’s world. In this century we are determined to fulfill the promise of the Easter 1916 Proclamation and create a free independent sovereign Ireland.”

A perfect stocking stuffer for that Republican minded relative. Available from Sales@sinnfeinbookshop.com.

Merry Christmas

Wishing all of our readers a great Christmas and New Year, and we look forward to joining you again in 2006. Thanks as always for your helpful comments and suggestions over the year.