Intelligencer

Are Roberts’ Kids Irish?

Are the two adopted kids of John Roberts, the Supreme Court judge nominee, originally from Ireland?

Several Irish media outlets are investigating whether the kids are from Ireland originally and where they were adopted from.

It is unusual for an American couple to adopt Irish kids given that there is a huge pent-up demand in Ireland for the adoption of Irish citizens, and very few kids are available.

Roberts has close connections to Ireland however. He and his wife Jane Sullivan Roberts retain a home in Co. Limerick and are frequent visitors there.

It will be interesting to see where this story leads, if anywhere. Most adoption records are sealed and not available.

Remembering The Rising

We have just received a remarkable set of CDs and a book called Recollections of 1916 and Its Aftermath, published by Maurice and Jane O’Keefe from Co. Kerry (www.irishlifeandlore.com).

The CDs and the book are a wonderful compilation of eyewitness accounts of events such as the Easter Rising and its aftermath. The interviews are extraordinary, none more so than one with Dan Keating, a survivor of the War of Independence who was 104 at the time of the interview.

The recordings begin with the recollections of Billy Mullins of Good Friday 1916 when Roger Casement was captured on Banna Strand in Kerry.

Mullins was the youth entrusted with delivery of the news of his capture to the military council in Dublin, then preparing for the Rising. While there he met James Connolly and Sean MacDermott, two of the leaders of the Rising.

The interview was done in 1989 and has fascinating insights, from an ordinary soldier’s point of view, of the 1916 event and the subsequent War of Independence.

The early years of the Irish state are all encapsulated on the CDs which make for fascinating listening, and give unique insights into daily Irish life at the time. It’s the equivalent, for Americans, of talking to soldiers in George Washington’s army.

Dan Keating was interviewed just a few months ago and is probably the last survivor of the War of Independence. On Easter 1916 he remembers volunteers gathering in Tralee town, but then dispersing when the bogus word came down that the Rising had been cancelled.

In 1921 he joined the IRA and fought many engagements in the Civil War. He speaks so lucidly that it is hard to believe he is older than the Irish state itself and came close to living in three separate centuries.

There are many such wonderful stories in the book and on the CD. Well worth a listen to and a read, especially for Irish history buffs.

Voice of the Irish In Argentina

What is the second oldest continuously published Irish newspaper in the world? If you answered The Irish Times or some of the better-known publications you would be wrong.

As I write this I am sitting reading that newspaper — well, that is not accurate, as it is almost 100% in Spanish, a language I don’t read or write.

Extraordinary, isn’t it, that the newspaper is from Argentina and first began publishing in 1875? (The Irish Times began publishing in 1859). The Southern Cross, or La Cruz Del Sur has the distinction of publishing uninterrupted since 1875, and is celebrating its 130th year this month.

For those unaware of the Irish legacy in Argentina the existence of this newspaper will be somewhat of a surprise — albeit a very pleasant one.

There is comprehensive coverage of Irish affairs, as well as local happenings, opinion pieces and some beautiful photography. The editor is Santiago O’Durnin, and Teresa Deane Reddy and Florencia Sulta Kiernan are his associates.

It is the advertisements, however, that always take my fancy. You can order Dooley’s Plum Pudding, call Roberto Walsh the lawyer, attend St. Brigid’s Catholic school, drink in the Kilkenny Pub, go on a special tour to the Irish religious shrine at Knock or join the hurling club (where they actually play rugby these days).

All the Irish activity, of course, is the outworking of a brave decision made in the mid 19th century by several far seeing priests in counties Westmeath and Longford and surrounding regions to bring their flock with them across the world to Argentina to escape the dreadful consequences of the famine. The community has flourished since.

The Southern Cross can be viewed at www.thesoutherncross.com.ar.

Irish Who Support Sheehan

A peace vigil in support of Cindy Sheehan was held in Dublin on Monday night and it was very well attended.

Sheehan is just winding up her demonstration outside President Bush’s ranch in Crawford, Texas, where she was joined by the “acting president” Martin Sheen from The West Wing last weekend. Sheen, who has close Tipperary roots, made clear his admiration for Sheehan during his remarks.

Interesting that Sheehan’s name in Gaelic is “Siochan,” which literally means “peace.” We shall see if her protest has the effect of speeding up that day when Americans can come home and Iraqis live in peace.