What Anti-Americanism?

I HAVE just returned from my first trip to Ireland. My late parents were born there, and going to the land of my ancestors was always something I had wanted to do. 

I read the Irish Voice semi-regularly, and I’ve noticed lots of people stating that there’s a great deal of anti-Americanism in Ireland because of the war in Iraq.

I have to say that I noticed no such thing at all on my travels. I have some cousins in Co. Galway, and an uncle in Kerry. My husband and I were taken all over the place by them, and we met many of the locals from all walks of life.

The people were curious about our background, but not once did anyone give me a hard time because I’m a native (and proud) American. We had a couple of light political discussions but nothing serious, and nobody branded us as devils because of the actions of our government.

We spent two great weeks in Ireland. We made many new friends, shopped and dined, and enjoyed every minute of our stay, thanks in large part to the hospitality extended to us by the Irish.

Now that we’ve introduced ourselves to the pleasures of Ireland, it won’t be long before we are back there again. It was the trip of a lifetime for us, and I have no doubt many other Americans feel the same way.

Jean M. McCaffrey

Dix Hills, New York

Please Pay Up, GAA

FOR once in my life, I agree with sports columnist Cathal Dervan. I read in his “Digest” last week about the near physical abuse that was heaped upon the referee after the football match between Limerick and Kerry, and Dervan is definitely right — these amateurs are definitely in need of payment, or some other form of retribution, for all they put up with.

The pampered sports stars in England and the U.S. make millions, which is only right as their skills and personalities bring in even more for the owners of the teams they play with. But the GAA employees, both players and referees, make nothing, though they too generate millions in profits. Not only do they receive zilch, they are subject to unfair abuse by the so-called “fans.”

GAA players and referees are sitting on a gold mine. If they were savvy, they would refuse to play until they secure their fair share of the money. The whole notion of playing for club and country is ridiculous by now, as the GAA people who do the least — the men in suits — are profiting the most.

Barry Moran

Atlantic City, New Jersey

Kerry Wasn’t Dependent

THE Irish Voice Democratic Party bias was in full view last week with the patently pro-Senator John Kerry cover and inside story.

I have no doubt that Kerry got Irish votes in his 1982 Senate race, but to claim that the Irish guaranteed him his margin of victory was a ridiculous supposition.

Blacks, Jews and Italians could all claim the same if it came to it. I realize that Kerry’s opponent Jim Shannon made a bad mistake aligning himself with the British, but it was hardly worth 25,000 votes to Kerry, do you think?

Please hold back the hyperbole and let the facts speak for themselves. Kerry was not elected because of the Irish vote in 1982. It was maybe a small factor.

John Dennis

Spring Lake, New Jersey

Death of a Patriot 

WE have lost a great Irish American in Dr. Eoin McKiernan, who I am proud to have called a friend. Eoin was active from his youth in nearly every good cause in Irish America, including the development of genuine Irish cultural tourism programs, which he pioneered in the 1950s. 

He then founded the Irish American Cultural Institute, which throughout the 1960s availed of the advantages of new technology and rising affluence to promote a knowledge of the Irish language and Irish culture and history throughout the U.S. 

He organized tours to Ireland which emphasized the bilingual legacy of this country, and the lack of recognition for the millions of Irish speaking emigrants from post-Famine Ireland in America where German, Hungarian, Polish, Italian, etc. community legacies were honored. 

He also developed lecture tours for Irish scholars throughout the U.S., and though this and the publication of the upmarket Éire/Ireland quarterly journal he forced academics and institutions at home and abroad to recognize the crucial legacy of Gaelic Ireland in the Irish identity. This had been played down or misrepresented or even ignored in too many cases. 

Dr. McKiernan, who was professor of English at the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, also scripted and produced a pioneering television series on Irish culture for television in the early 1960s when the Kennedy era forced many of all backgrounds to re-evaluate the role of the Irish, their language and their culture in America and as part of the wider European legacy. 

Forever the practical patriot, Dr. McKiernan also raised funds through the institute which were used to present substantial awards to Irish writers before any major awards were forthcoming from Irish sources, and before former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Charles Haughey’s tax concessions for writers and artists got off the ground. 

His Institute also provided substantial funding towards the cost of printing and publishing the first ever Catholic Bible in the 1970s, several centuries after the Irish Protestant community had translated the Bible into Irish. 

Ar Dheis De Go Raibh a anam Dilis.

Nollaig O Gadhra -  President, Conradh Na Gaeilge 

Dublin, Ireland

Boston Battle

AS a resident of Boston during the 1982 Senate campaign I want to congratulate the Irish Voice on its excellent coverage in last week’s issue of the Senate race that year. John Kerry became our hero when he came forward with an Irish platform that was far better than what our nominal “Irishman” Jim Shannon was putting forward.

It was obvious to all of us that Shannon was a tool of the British in the election, and that he was far too close to the embassies, both Irish and English, at a time when the name of the game was keeping Irish America down.

Thank God he did not succeed and John Kerry did. It was great to read about that battle again.

Tom Costello

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

In Praise of Bush

WHEN will the Irish Voice publish an insight into President George W. Bush and how well he has handled the Irish question?

I remember when the paper was first talking about Bush, and how Irish expectations were very low. Then he appointed a special envoy, Richard Haass, who did a magnificent job in Ireland. After him Mitchell Reiss has done a fine job following in his footsteps.

Yet that never seems to be acknowledged the Irish Voice. I wish you could inform us more on the good work that the president has done — including on his recent visit to Ireland.

Kelly Monaghan

Rapid City, South Dakota

Bush Is a Fraud

I BELIEVE the Irish have it right about President George W. Bush, and that he is not deserving of any Irish American votes because of his wasted war in Iraq.

Irish people don’t hate America, they hate Bush. If Bill Clinton were to go back there now he would get a hero’s reception, as indeed he did when he went to London recently. The Irish know a fraud when they see one.

Thomas O’Donnell

Saratoga Springs, New York