mayo messenger 2012

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M E S S E N G E R

IlluminatingTHE PAST

Also Inside:Handing down History page 16 sounds Like Home page 20 HaiL to tHe Queen page 60 From tHe outside Looking in page 68

the mayo association bridges the gap between two countries and two eras.

2012

2012 | MAYO MESSENGER2

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Thank you to our Ambassador Club Sponsors

The Irish American Business Chamber & Network, Inc. (IABCN) is a nonpartisanbusiness organization promoting the interests of its members and the development of

economic and educational relationships between the United States and the Isle of Ireland.

We provide growth opportunities through a series of networking forums for businessexecutives, helping them to exchange information and ideas on doing business with one

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April, 2012Conference with the Shannon

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June, 2012IABCN’s Anniversary Reception

Thursday, the 1st of MarchAnnual Ambassador’s Awards LuncheonThe Hyatt at the Bellevue, Philadelphia

2012 | MAYO MESSENGER 3

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484.363.1078 [email protected] www.jenagatone.com

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Dear Readers,

Almost anyone I know can tell you at least two things about me—I love my heritage and I love storytelling. Creating this magazine gave me a unique opportunity to celebrate both. My parents emigrated from Ireland in the early 1960s but their home played a large part in our home growing up. They instilled in us an appreciation and a love for the food, the music, the stories, and the traditions of their homeland.

In 2008, I had the honor of winning the Miss Mayo pageant, a heritage competition that the Mayo Association of Philadelphia has held annually since 1963. Over the course of the year, I began to discover a whole new side to the Irish community in Philadelphia. As I added more Irish events to my calendar, friends and coworkers started asking what I did at all these “Irish things.” As I talked about the singing and dancing, the camaraderie and charity, the traditions and tales of people who left their homes in Ireland and made new ones here, I realized just how many untold stories there were to tell. And so the idea for this magazine was born.

I wanted to create an avenue for new people to explore a fascinating commu-nity they may have never known existed and a map for those who belong to this community to rediscover the trails they have blazed over the years. In the cover story, you’ll take a walk down memory lane, looking back at the early days of the Mayo Association and following its twists and turns over the past century. You’ll share in the singing and dancing of the Mayo Ball, the traditions that pave the route of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and the faith and devotion that bring the Irish together. In these pages, I hope you will get to know some of the people in this tight-knit community and to get a glimpse of the courage and strength and awe that they inspire in those around them.

Sincerely,

Colleen B. Mullarkey, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

After five years of writing and editing for trade magazines, I knew creating a magazine was no small task—but it was surely an adventure. And it wouldn’t have been possible without a number of very special people. My very first readers, Tenaya Darlington and Danielle Bullen, offered their guidance and suggestions. My extraordinary staff gave freely of their time and talents—Jen Agatone shared her creative vision and stunning graphic design, Joe Boyle contributed his wonderful photography, and a handful of promising writers helped weave these beautiful stories. My friends and family offered support, encouragement, and patient listening throughout the process. Most importantly, the members of the Mayo Association and the Irish community provided inspiration, along with their time, their photos, and their stories.

EDITORIAL

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Colleen B. Mullarkey

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Amanda Koehler

Iesha Lewis Lauren Lobano

Lauren Brianna Schwartz

EDITORIAL ADVISOR Tenaya Darlington

ART & PRODUCTION

ART DIRECTOR/GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Jennifer Agatone

PHOTOGRAPHER Joseph Boyle

The Making of a Magazine

Editor’s Letter

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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A very special night for my family at the 2008 Mayo Ball (from left): my brother, Pat Mullarkey; my niece, Kelsey Moran; my sister, Ann Marie Mullarkey Moran (Miss Mayo 1988); myself; my mother, Eileen McNally Mullarkey (from Ballinamuck, Co. Longford); and my father, Martin Oliver Mullarkey (from Bangor Erris, Co. Mayo).

www.facebook.com/MayoMessengerLIKE US ON FACEBOOK!


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MAYO MESSENGER Contents

The Mayo Association bridges the gap between two countries and two eras.

Illuminating the Past32

32

44

54

60

COvER STORY

fEATuRES

Out to Have a Ballfor more than a century, the Philadelphia Mayo Ball has brought the Irish together for a night of camaraderie, culture, and good craic.

The Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade still honors the values and traditions of the Irish who walked the city’s streets more than 200 years ago.

Marching with Honor

The Mayo people have always had a special place in their hearts for Our Lady of Knock, but now she has a special place in the Irish Center as well.

Hail to the Queen


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MAYO MESSENGER Contents

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DEpARtMENtS

From the Editorthe Making of a Magazine

take Me Home to Mayo, Old Becomes New Again, Mayo Members Honored

News

An Interview with Sean McMenamin

A Few Words with Attracta O’Malley

Sounds Like Home

A Shoe In for Success

For Love of the Game

the Real Deal

Off the Beaten path

Let them Eat Cake

Crossword puzzle

From the Outside Looking In

Handing Down History

Dare to Ask Why Not

In Session

A Step Ahead

On the Pitch

On the Fry

Home for a Holiday

Recipe Corner

Trivia/Games

Page Turner

Ad Index


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“Connecting the Global Irish Community”

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The Rose of Tralee International Festival celebrated 50 years in 2009, and is one of Ireland's longest

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All eyes are on the Roses, who travel from the UK, America, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Europe, the

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wonderful tradition.

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Long ago when emigrants left the shores of Co. Mayo, they didn’t know if they would ever see their homeland again. With today’s technology and a new web initiative launched by the Mayo County Council and the Western Development Commission, Mayo expats can now connect with others from their village or town-land with just the click of a button. Mayo.ie aims to reach the three million people worldwide who origi-nate from Mayo, along with those who currently live there, work there, or simply have a love for the county.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re living in Ballina, Bangor, Boston, Brisbane, or Birmingham—this website is a place for you to share what’s going on in your community and to keep in touch with the extended Mayo family all over the globe,” said An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, TD, who hails from Islandeady, a small village outside of Castlebar. He formally launched Mayo.ie at the National Museum of Country Life, Turlough, in June 2011, highlighting the importance of such efforts in helping Ireland to connect with its global diaspora and to re-establish links with friends and family members.

The site covers a wide range of aspects in Mayo from busi-ness and social interaction to genealogy and local history. Users can register for free on Mayo.ie and create their own personal profiles, outlining where they are in the world and what their interests are. They can then share and access information about their localities, using maps, pictures, videos, and more. While many social networking sites are available, this is the first website that has been designed specifically for the people of Mayo across the globe.

“In addition to the local communities, we are also working with our international communities, recruiting ‘International Champions’ who will work with us to keep us up to date on what’s happening in the major cities around the world,” said Peter Hynes, Mayo County Manager. Cur-rently, eight global communities have already been estab-lished on the site—Auckland, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, London, Manchester, New York, and Philadelphia. They have been sharing details about local Irish events, places to connect with others in the Irish community, and even where to get a good pint.

“No matter where they are now based, people with links to County Mayo can play a key role in positioning the county and the wider Western Region for economic recovery,” said Gillian Buckley, acting chief executive of the Western De-velopment Commission. “Partnering with the Mayo County Council strengthens our work in attracting business, invest-ment, and people to the West and we believe that this new initiative will reap great rewards for the county.”

take me home to mayoA new web initiative aims to virtually connect the millions of people across the globe who have Mayo heritage.

News

Peter Hynes, Mayo County Manager; Michael Ring, Minister for Tourism; An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny; Michael Burke Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council; and Martina Hughes, Mayo.ie Project.

For more inFormation, visit mayo.ie or emaiL [email protected]. MAY

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“The site is designed to provide a central hub for information on

all things Mayo.”


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Sixty children ageS 5 to 14 filled a handful of tables in a one-room “schoolhouse,” echoing a chorus of Irish numbers with a bit more confidence than they had a few days before… a haon, a dó, a trí, a ceathair. A familiar scene for many who left Ireland’s shores decades ago, this was a new experience for the Irish-American children who signed up for the first-ever Club Cultúr in Haver-town, Pa., last August.

The idea came to Tina McDaid, Ciaran Porter, and Una McDaid while they reminisced about their schooldays in Ireland. When Una emigrated to this country from Ra-phoe, Co. Donegal, more than a decade ago, she was surprised to talk with Irish Americans who didn’t know much about their heritage. However, after settling here and having children of her own, she realized that if she didn’t teach her kids about their Irish roots, they’d never know. “It’s our responsibility to talk to them about these things or the culture will be lost,” she said. “Our whole idea was to give the kids the type of natural exposure you have in the primary schools in Ireland. You don’t appreciate that until you’re away from it.”

A few months later, they transformed Sacred Heart Catholic Church’s Everett Hall into their schoolroom for a week-long primer in Irish language, geography, music, mythology, sports, and games. They worked hard to create a curricu-lum that would engage the children. “It’s not going to work unless the kids enjoy it,” Tina said. “The response from the parents and the kids has been phenomenal.”

Back to BaSicSA fluent Gaelic speaker, Tina introduced the kids to the Irish language—the basics of conversation, counting numbers, the parts of the body, and everyday objects. Her sister-in-

law, Una, used her skills as a preschool teacher to bring Irish history, stories, and geography to life. All of the chil-dren received a notebook where they wrote their names in Gaelic and stored all of their “lessons” from the week. The hope is that they will pick the book back up long after the camp ends.

But the kids certainly didn’t spend the whole week with their noses in a book. Ciaran, the games development of-ficer for the Philadelphia Gaelic Athletic Association, gave them a feel for Gaelic football, hurling, and camogie; while

Una’s niece, Fiona Bradley, a cham-pion Irish dancer, got the kids on the floor for a few ceili dances.

On the last day of camp, the children were allowed to wear their county jerseys for the small graduation ceremony. Quite a few Donegal and Tyrone GAA jerseys stood out, and a handful of camp-ers wearing local Delaware County Gaels gear. They all received a hearty “Comhghaírdeas” and a certificate to recognize their participation in Club Cultúr.

The four teachers would love to see the camp continue, but they need to explore their options to see if that’s a possibility. All in all, they were blown away by the experi-ence. “We really had nothing to lose. Even if we had five kids show up and they learned a few words and a few songs, it would have been an accomplishment,” Tina said. “They know a wee bit more than they did last week so I’d consider that a success.”

old BecomeSnew againClub Cultúr introduces American kids to a traditional Irish curriculum.

News

now you’re Speaking my language the gaelic language is one of the oldest living languages in europe, dat-ing back to about 300 Bc. though it’s not widely used in ireland today, about 1 percent of the population speaks native gaelic, and there’s been a renewed interest in the language, evidenced by a number of gaelic tV and radio stations, newspapers, and magazines that have cropped up.

the gaeltachts are native irish-speaking regions sprinkled throughout ireland, with major concentrations on the west coast. co. mayo has the third largest gaeltacht in the country, boasting nearly 11,000 inhabit-ants. over on this side of the atlantic, gaelic is alive and well with many classes and camps throughout the country. To find a Gaelic teacher in the area, visit www.daltai.com/classes/pennsylvania.

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Instructor Fiona Bradley, wearing her Donegal GAA jersey, helps campers to write their names in Gaelic.


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active member of the Irish Immigrating Club, and a volunteer for St. Patrick Fathers and the Holy Rosary Sisters. “Our mom is and has always been a woman on the go—with a schedule jam packed with events, meetings, parties, and outings. She loves to be a part of the action,” her children said. “And yet over the years she still has found time to volunteer and serve her community.”

She participates daily with St. Berna-dette’s Catholic Church, assisting with church services and helping senior citizens within the parish. “She always encourages prayer and strong faith, in the good times and bad, when you will usually hear her say ‘this too shall pass,’” her children said. “Her faith is momentous and her love of the Lord is apparent in her values, her commit-ment, and her daily lifestyle.”

bound to brighten someone’s day,” said Megonegal, as she presented Saxon with the award at the 2011 Mayo Ball.

Growing up in a traditional Irish family in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Saxon was the youngest member of the Brett clan, with four sisters and two brothers. She and her husband, Bernie, have two sons (Brian and Bernie), a daughter (Tara), and 10 precious grandchildren.

Even those who aren’t related by blood find themselves welcomed into Saxon’s home and heart as if they were. “When-ever you visit Maureen, she always serves you a hot cup of tea from one of her many beautiful teapots and a few slices of fresh Irish soda bread,” Me-gonegal said. “I’ve always felt Maureen’s home is a reflection of her personality—warm, comfortable, and cozy.”

More than 400 people gathered for the 11th Annual Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame on Nov. 13, 2011 at the Irish Center. Along with Tom Farrelly from the Cavan Society and John Donovan from the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, Mayo member Kathleen Gavin Murtaugh was inducted into the Hall of Fame. “Kathleen has been a member of the Mayo Association since 1985 and those who know her will agree she is so deserving of this great honor,” said Rosaleen Megonegal, president of Mayo Association.

Born in the village of Carracastle, Co. Mayo, Murtaugh emigrated to Phila-delphia with her parents in 1949. She met Jack Murtaugh at a Sunday dance, married him in 1955, but tragically lost him in 1971. She carried on, raising their six children—Jack, Brian,

Kevin, Maureen, Helene, and Kathleen, who have blessed her with 18 grand-children and nine great-grandchildren.

Besides Murtaugh’s long-time partici-pation in the Mayo Association, she is president of St. Bernadette’s Senior Citizens Club in Drexel Hill, Pa., an

Murtaugh Inducted Into hall of faMe News

Along with Tom Farrelly (left) and John Donovan (right), Kathleen Murtaugh was inducted into the Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame this year.

President Rosaleen Megonegal presented Maureen Brett Saxon with the 2011 President’s Award, as well as Mayo crystal and a piece of Newbridge silver jewelry.

Maureen Brett Saxon’S enthu-siasm, love of her Irish ancestry, and team player approach were just a few of the reasons Rosaleen Megonegal chose her as the recipient of the 2011 President’s Award. Honoring the mem-ory of Mary Henry Brady and Bridie Henry Cawley, the award is presented each year to a member who has given outstanding service to the Mayo As-sociation of Philadelphia.

Saxon was president of the Mayo As-sociation from 2007 to 2010 and now serves on the Board of Directors. She is a realtor with RE/MAX Services in Blue Bell, Pa., a member of the elite RE/MAX Hall of Fame, serves on the Board of Directors at the Irish Center, and is vice president of the Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame.

Despite her busy schedule, she always finds time to be thoughtful of others through her kind words and deeds. “In her spare time, she sits down each day and writes a note to someone who’s feeling down because amidst the bills and the junk mail, a personal note is

Saxon receIveS 2011 preSIdent’S award

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In 1972, Sean McMenaMIn and his friend, Billy Brennan, gathered a pile of Irish history books in a cardboard box and decided that simply sharing them among friends wasn’t enough. Instead of a book exchange limited to a select few, the men envisioned a library for the entire Irish-American community.

McMenamin, a member of the Mayo Association for more than 40 years, is a passionate historian who advocates teaching the next generation about the lessons of the past. “If you don’t understand history,” he said, “you’re doomed to repeat it.”

Born in 1941, McMenamin spent his early years working on the family farm and helping his father build roads throughout Co. Mayo. He also at-tended a one-room schoolhouse in the village of Killadangan on the outskirts of Westport. “There were about 18 or 20 kids in the whole school,” he said. Although students were allowed to drop out at age 14, McMenamin chose to continue with his education, spend-ing four years at the Westport Christian Brothers School and two years at a technical school, studying carpentry.

When he turned 18, McMenamin knew he needed to look for

opportunities abroad. His decision to leave Ireland didn’t shock his family. “Parents were resigned that it was go-ing to happen to a lot of Irish people,” he said. “There were six of us kids, and at one time, none of us were in Ireland. You were conditioned that that’s what you were going to do. There was very limited opportunity in Ireland.”

McMenamin initially settled in England to complete a carpentry apprenticeship, but six years later, he took advantage of one of the last op-portunities for unlimited Irish immigra-tion to the United States and, in 1966, bought a ticket bound for New York City. He ended up taking a permanent

detour to the Philadelphia area after he visited his cousin there and met Johanna, his future wife, on the way home from a dance.

The pair married in 1968 and raised four children in the Philadelphia area. Eventually, he made the difficult deci-sion to go back to school for a degree in engineering. During what he calls “one of the most challenging times of my life,” McMenamin worked full time and went to school at night while his wife cared for their children. “We figured we’d reap the rewards later,” he said. “We lived in an apartment for six years or so with three kids. Today, people would say that’s crazy.”

In addition to family, the Mayo Asso-ciation and Irish-American community as a whole have had a constant pres-ence in McMenamin’s life. He joined the association in 1966, on the first day that they admitted women mem-bers, and he began contributing to its frequent charity work, including spon-soring nights out for local children at the orphanage and helping Western Care, an organization that focuses on special needs children in Ireland. “In Ireland at the time, people with disabilities were shunned,” McMenamin said. “Western Care was

Handing Down History

An Interview with Sean McMenamin By Lauren LeBano

“ I always did change

by evolution because it lasts

longer than revolution.”

Profile

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one of the first organizations [in the country] related to special needs.”

He also worked to promote the Mayo Ball, the association’s yearly charity fundraiser, and he was president of the Mayo Association in 1972, secretary of the Gaelic Athletic Association in Philadelphia, and the recipient of the Mayo Association’s award for outstand-ing service. In 2009, both McMenamin and his wife were inducted into the Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame. Al-though Johanna passed away recently, McMenamin carries on her legacy and remains an active historian and mem-ber of the Mayo Association, while continuing to contribute to the library he started back in 1972.

Today, that single box of books has grown into the Commodore John Barry Memorial Library at the Irish Center, a full collection of volumes showcasing Irish history and literature. And while McMenamin values the past, he’s also a firm believer in the necessity of change.

After completing his hard-earned college degree, he switched careers and became an engineer and, eventu-ally, a manager at DuPont, a chemical company in Delaware. “I always did change by evolution,” he said, “be-cause it lasts longer than revolution.”

Today, years after his retirement, former employees still call

McMenamin for advice, and he tells them to continually adapt and lay groundwork for the future. That’s also his wish for both the Mayo Association and the Irish Center—to evolve by en-gaging the next generation and passing on the valuable history.

“With Ireland, we sometimes aren’t proud of our past,” he said. “Yes, we had tough times. We had famines and adversity, and we came to America and had tough times, here, too. But it’s an achievement to get to where you are. And rather than hide it, I think we should be proud that we came through and flourished.”

Profile

• Irish news from around the world• Irish event listings from around the world • Genealogy resources • Discussion boards • Global business listings • Social networking so you can link to others on the site • Formal and ad hoc group listings • Sporting results from Mayo and abroad • Wiki guide to Mayo and Mayo communities worldwide • And More

Log on to www.mayo.ie today. For further information about this site contact [email protected]

www.mayo.ie

YOUR HOME OF ALL THINGS MAYO


MAYO MESSENGER

When AttrActA Moffitt o’MAlley boarded a plane for New York on a cool day in April 1961, she began her journey from the small Irish village where she grew up to a new world and a different era. America saw a revolution stirring in the early 1960s, but just across the pond in Ireland, little had changed since the beginning of the century.

O’Malley was raised in Lowpark, Charlestown in Co. Mayo and lived a “typical farm life,” she said, with her parents, two sisters and two brothers in a thatched cottage that had a kitchen, back kitchen, and two bedrooms. “We had no bathroom, no electricity, and no running water,” she said. “But we never missed any of it—we were as happy as Larry.”

But despite the old-fashioned way of life in Ireland, O’Malley remembers her mother as a “very modern woman for her era.” She encouraged her children to speak their minds, stand their ground, and never let anyone push them around. “I wasn’t afraid to speak up—I would always ask questions,” O’Malley recalled. “In school, when teachers would tell us we couldn’t do something, I would always ask, ‘Why can’t we?’” That inquisitive spirit is the spark that led her to blaze many paths in Philadelphia’s Irish commu-nity, where she has become an innovator, a visionary, and an inspiration for many.

AMericAn DreAMSLike many Irish who grew up in the 1950s, O’Malley always had dreams of coming to America. When she was eight years old, her oldest sister Mary, 16, emigrated to live with an aunt in Philadelphia. “We hated to see her go, but we were delighted at the same time because we knew that she would send us packages,” O’Malley said. She especially looked forward to the Chiclets gum, a hot commodity in the schoolyard.

“We would wait for the postman’s bicycle at the top of the lane—that was one of my fondest memories, getting parcels from America,” she recalled. She loved to take in as much of American pop culture and style as she could. When John F. Kennedy became president, she watched the

Dare to Ask Why Not

A Few Words with Attracta O’Malley

Profile

Attracta Moffitt O’Malley (front right) with her mother and siblings in Charlestown, Co. Mayo, in 1947.

q rBy colleen B. Mullarkey and Amanda Koehler


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meetings and we used to think it’d be great fun if we could get up there.”

The women submitted official applications to join, but they were never put on the record. There also wasn’t any mention of them wanting to apply in the Mayo minutes. (O’Malley later found out that a certain “young fella,” the recording secretary [her future hus-band], Tom O’Malley was told to put his pen down whenever the women came up.)

Finally, in 1966, the group officially changed its name and amended its bylaws to admit women on a trial basis. At first, the newly coined Mayo Association of Philadelphia only al-lowed three or four ladies to join at a time at each meeting. But soon that all changed. “The women had plenty to say, they started being vocal and get-ting things done,” she said. “We just loved getting involved with fundrais-ing, the fun and the camaraderie of it. We were always in recruiting mode, looking for new members.”

Taking The LeadOver the years, O’Malley has taken on many roles in the Irish community, but they all boil down to service—whether she’s running a meeting, selling raffle tickets, or visiting the sick in hospitals. She was elected as the Mayo Associa-tion’s first woman president in 1981, a position she held again in 1998.

Because of her tireless efforts and selfless attitude, O’Malley has been honored with many awards, including the 2002 President’s Award (with hus-band, Tom), in memory of Mary Henry Brady; a spot in the Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame in 2007; and the 2010 Mary O’Connor Spirit Award.

But it’s not the accolades that motivat-ed O’Malley, she really loved getting involved on committees, “especially when there was a challenge,” she said. One committee was trying to raise money for a one-year-old Dublin girl who needed a bone marrow transplant in 1987. “At the time, no one had even heard of that, and everyone thought we were crazy. They thought she was going to die anyhow,” O’Malley said. But the committee raised $30,000; the little girl got her transplant and has been healthy ever since.

“I was always happy to be involved in good, worthy causes. I found it very, very rewarding when you would see the results of your labor,” she said. “I can honestly say that nearly every benefit or cause that I worked on was a success, and I never, ever regretted working on any of them.”

inauguration on television through a neighbor’s window, with eyes pealed to see what Jackie was wearing.

One by one, her siblings all left Mayo and so in 1961, at the age of 17, she took the journey to Philadelphia to join her brother Tommy and sisters Kathleen and Mary. She took a hack-ney car from Charlestown to Shannon, where she got the plane to New York and then another plane to Philadel-phia. She met her family at the air-port, and then they took the subway, another bus, and the 23 trolley home to Germantown.

no Women need appLyO’Malley’s brother Tommy belonged to the Mayo Association, and soon after she arrived, she said she’d join him for the monthly meeting. He told her no women were allowed. “I was only 17, but I just couldn’t understand so I kept asking, ‘But why?’” O’Malley said. “He kept saying that’s just the way it is, and I told him, ‘It’s our county, too!’”

She talked to a few other Mayo wom-en who all agreed it wasn’t fair they couldn’t attend the meetings. Soon a group of them began sitting in the club area at the Irish Center while the men gathered upstairs for their monthly meeting. Each time they asked to join, they were rejected. And each time they asked for the reason, the men simply said it was against the bylaws.

“We were sick and tired of hearing about the bylaws. We didn’t even know what the bylaws were no more than the man in the moon,” she laughed. “They’d brush us off but we’d keep annoying them. There was a good group of young fellas going up to the

Profile

Sisters Kathleen Boyle, Mary Moffitt, and Attracta O’Malley at the 2011 Mayo Ball.


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For many in PhiladelPhia’s irish community, Irish radio shows are one part of the weekend that can’t be missed. Some go to Mass early on Saturday evening to clear their Sunday morning schedule. Others demand silence from the whole family when the radio crackles to life. Mike Concannon, host of “Irish Hours,” has heard from listeners who sing along while they do their housework, keeping one radio playing upstairs and a second one blasting downstairs. “That way,” he explained, “no matter what floor they’re on, they can hear the music.”

The authentic Irish songs filling local homes on weekends cater to a variety of tastes. Concannon plays ballads and rebel songs, including artists like the Furies and the Wolfe Tones, as well as tunes from new, local bands. “Vince Gallagher’s Irish Hour” highlights Irish country music, while Marianne MacDonald favors traditional Irish dance, instrumental pieces, and ballads on her show, “Come West Along the Road,” which she named after her favorite reel.

community liFeline

Concannon, Gallagher, and MacDonald all inherited their shows from previous hosts, so the programs have been on the air for nearly half a century. Gallagher believes nostalgia for a lost home country spurred demand for local Irish radio. “Fifty years ago, you didn’t jump on a plane and go back from America,” he said. “Back then, 90 percent of the time, people never went home again.”

Gallagher feels the music reflects universal experiences. “A lot of Irish songs are very sad; they’re about people dying and wars; and they’re about people going

away and never returning,” he said. “Most of the stuff is basically true to life.” Concannon believes “songs are good stories” that carry on the centu-ries-old tradition of Irish storytelling. He often plays rebel tunes, spanning the hunger strikes to religious conflicts, to keep the history alive. “People want to know the stories from the past, and those songs tell them,” he said.

In addition to helping people connect to the cultural experience of music, the shows serve as a lifeline for the Irish community, especially for older, long-time listeners. Each week, MacDonald announces concerts, fundraisers, and other community events—some of which aren’t listed in the newspaper. “The older community really counts on the shows to hear announcements,” she said noting that people who don’t leave the house anymore are especially reliant on Irish radio to stay connected to the community.

Gallagher, whose show airs live, has forged a similar connection with listeners, sharing news from Ireland as well as births, deaths, weddings, and events. “All listeners have to do is call

A long-time tradition in Philadelphia,Irish radio shows carry music

from Ireland’s shores over America’s airwaves every weekend.

By lauren leBano

In Session

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A musician himself, radio host Vince Gallagher often sits in on local sessions as well as playing with his band at Irish affairs.

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she said, so donations and fundraising often make the dif-ference. “We have a very dedicated base of people who donate to the show.”

Gallagher agrees that listener support has been vital. “The community was unbelievably good to us, and that’s not something you can forget,” he said. All three hosts admit that Irish radio is a labor of love. They don’t get compen-sated at all, as any funds go right back into the show.

When money allows, Concannon hopes his show will eventually be available through podcasts and the Internet, allowing him to reach a wider audience. MacDonald’s show is currently accessible on the Internet and has listen-ers throughout the United States and Ireland. Both she and Gallagher maintain active Facebook pages to connect with the community.

Gallagher is honored to be a part of his listeners’ weekend routines, and MacDonald frequently hears from grateful listeners. “People write beautiful letters when they send their donations,” she said. “They tell me to keep up the good work and that they love the show and don’t ever want to see it go off the air.”

Concannon believes spreading the word is the best way to ensure traditional Irish music continues to fill local living rooms and cars. “Every week on the show, I say tell a neigh-bor, tell a friend there’s Irish music on,” he said. “Spread the word so it’s around for our kids and grandkids.”

me or send me an email, and I’ll put the announcement on next time I’m on the show,” he said.

MacDonald’s show is also live, and she monitors Facebook, email, and her cell phone for incoming messages while on the air. “It’s important to reach out to the audience and make sure you’re playing the music they want to hear,” she says. “I’m trying to bring in a lot of new musicians. John Byrne is one example. I play a lot of younger traditional groups as well.”

A LAbor of LoveStill, the three hosts acknowledged that younger listeners are currently the minority, making it questionable whether the shows will continue as the older population dwindles. However, Concannon believes younger people will eventu-ally reconnect with their Irish culture and tune in. “I think at age 15 you’re not listening to Irish music, you’re listen-ing to whatever the hot songs are right now,” he said. “But eventually, when you grow up and want to know more about your heritage, you come back to it.” Concannon prerecords his show and takes requests via phone at his travel agency, Westminster Travel, which people often use to arrange visits back home.

Funding the programs presents another challenge. MacDonald must pay for her air time, which she accom-plishes through advertising and donations. “Advertising has gotten really hard with the downturn in the economy,”

In Session

Marianne MacDonald (left) often invites guests like Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame President Kathy McGee Burns to help her host “Come West Along the Road.”

TUN

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vINce GALLAGher’s IrIsh hoUr HOST: VINCE GAllAGHER

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SUNDAY 12 PM WTMR 800 AM

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InspIred by her lIfelong devotIon to Irish step dancing, Olivia Hilpl decided to start her very own school eight years ago in Southampton, Pa., a small suburb of Philadelphia. Since she opened the doors to the Rince Rí School of Irish Dance, she’s seen students of all ages cultivate self-esteem, friendships, and a sense of accomplishment while learning hornpipes, slip jigs, and reels. It’s an experience the Sligo-born director knows firsthand—she laced up her dancing shoes for the first time at age 4 with the Gillespie School of Irish Dance in her native Ireland. Today, Hilpl’s award-winning school allows her to pass that experience along through authentic instruction and to nurture her love for dance.

As a teacher, Hilpl says Irish dancing is not only her livelihood, but also her passion. She considers her students extended family, a connection that fuels her desire to provide them with the best instruction possible. She will go to any length to enhance their educational experience—including flying 3,000 miles to obtain qualification through Cumann Rince Naisiunta (CRN), one of Ireland’s global professional dance organizations. “It was really important to me that I was qualified in order to teach the children who come to me,” she said. After studying, training, and sitting for an intensive five-part examination on Irish dance technique, Hilpl received her O.D.C.R.N. credentials in 2010.

Along with just a handful of other Irish dancing schools in the United States, Rince Rí is CRN qualified, which gives students the opportunity to compete in CRN-sanctioned open platform feis (fesh) and feile (fay-luh). A feis is a dance competition that includes events and contests in other Gaelic arts, such as bak-ing, art, language, and poetry, while a feile technically only includes Irish dance and music. However, these terms are often used interchangeably in America. Be-cause CRN has only been in the States for eight years, judges travel from Ireland for the competitions to ensure authenticity and adherence to Irish standards.

Up to standard While the Rince Rí School currently provides lessons to more than 100 students, ages 5 through adult, Hilpl maintains small class sizes and a personal atmosphere. She believes one-on-one teaching provides a more effective learning experience and en-sures a better quality of instruction.

As main elements of step dancing, car-riage and poise become innate for Irish dancers as they progress. In addition to better posture, Hilpl said parents can also expect their children to gain a new confidence, more discipline, and a sense of accomplishment as they participate in group performances. “While some beginners are intimi-dated at first, you see a glint in their eye that shows they really want to be there,” Hilpl said. “It’s my job to draw out that shy child.”

Outside of the classroom, regular competition reinforces technique and enables students to build expertise and showcase their talents. “Some of my best memories as a kid, were the years I spent dancing, traveling, and entertaining,” Hilpl said. Her stu-dents enjoy the same opportunity to entertain—performing dance routines

Rince Rí teaches students skills and principles that benefit them

long after the dancing shoes come off.

by Iesha lewis

A Step Ahead

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The Rince Rí School, directed by Olivia Hilpl (left) won the top award for children’s Irish dance schools. Local weatherman Doug Kam-merer poses with Olivia and two of her dancers, Katie McGlynn and Marielle Baird.

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because of the thrill of it. You practice for months and months, and for the 50 seconds you get on stage, every sec-ond has to count,” Freas said. “No matter who your com-petition is, if you even want a shot at the prize, you have to give it everything you have.”

Rince Rí dancers recently entertained attendees at the106th Mayo Ball at the Irish Center in Philadelphia and made an impressive showing at the CRN USA Regional Champion-ships in Harrisburg in January, where additional dancers qualified for the Irish Open in May 2012, an all-Ireland event historically held in Dublin. “To know that someone is recognizing all of your hard work, in my opinion, is the best part of it,” Freas said. “Knowing that you have a chance to go up against the best dancers in the world opens up a door of opportunities.”

at parades, fairs, festivals and weddings, as well as a host of other private and charity events. All students are invited to join the school’s performance group as their skill levels and knowledge of Irish dance fundamentals improve.

Out and abOutThe performance group participates in eight to 10 regional and national Irish dance competitions per year. While these events are wonderful opportunities for students to engage in professional competition with peers, they are also excellent bonding experiences for dancers and their families. Competition trips turn into family vacations—when the shoes come off, many Irish and American families get time to bond and forge lifelong friendships. On these travels, students broaden their horizons and sometimes their dance cards as well.

Fifteen-year-old Kerry Freas, who has been a Rince Rí dancer for nearly five years, recently competed in the North American National Championships in Chicago with a routine choreographed by Hilpl and qualified for the 2012 World Championship freestyle competition to be held in Co. Wexford in June 2012. “I love competing so much

A Step Ahead

With a flash of their feet and a bounce of their curls, Rince Rí dancers mesmerized the audience at the 2011 Mayo Ball with an impressive performance.

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MAYO MESSENGER

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As plAyers wield their wooden hurleys and swiftly maneuver the sliotar ball through the opposing goalposts, enthusiastic crowds try to keep up with the “fastest game on grass” from the sidelines. This isn’t an unusual sight in Ireland, where hurling has been a beloved pastime for centuries, but it is a new experi-ence for many. “Without a doubt, here in Philadelphia, the interest has really skyrocketed,” said Ciaran Porter, the games development officer for the city’s Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). “We’re getting more people approaching us every week hoping to set up GAA clubs, and we’re finding new av-enues to make it happen.”

Something of a Gaelic la-crosse, hurling is the national game of the Republic of Ireland. It holds a special place, along with Gaelic football, at the heart of Irish athletic pride. The two sports are as popular and well-known in Ireland as base-ball is in the United States; however, they’ve had a largely niche following on this side of the Atlantic. But the tide is beginning to turn, with a growing number of enthusiastic Gaelic players emerging in the Philadelphia area.

GettinG the word outWhen waves of Irish immigrants arrived decades ago, many players brought the sport with them—but as immigration waned over the years, so did the number of Gaelic clubs in the area. With the guidance of the GAA over the past five years, more and more youth leagues for Gaelic football have sprung up locally. In this fast and furious rugby/soccer hybrid, players guide a mid-sized ball across the field with kicks and punched hand passes toward the opposing team’s goalposts.

“Once the kids kick a ball, they want to sign up,” said Anna Bonner, chairperson of the GAA’s North American board. “The sport sells itself.” Teams for hurling and its female equivalent, camogie, have started to gained attention as well. The long Gaelic history and uniqueness of these games have piqued the interest of

many Irish-American youths and their parents. They’ve even started taking up a place alongside Philadelphia’s tradi-tional mainstays like soccer and Little League teams.

Gaelic football, in particular, has gained a foothold in the region be-cause of its close resemblance to soc-cer. Porter recalled a local under-14 Gaelic football team whose successes took them to Ireland, albeit with a few positions unfilled. “They went to a soc-cer game and picked up a goalkeeper who became one of their best players,” he said. “Another soccer player just took to the game like he was playing it all his life. I think the skills are there.”

explorinG new pAthsThis past year, Porter began introduc-ing a new audience to Gaelic games through the education system, particu-larly Catholic schools because they showed enthusiasm from the get-go. “We started in the one school and it almost created a domino effect,” he recalled. “We had schools coming to us looking for us to come.” Between January and May 2011, they went to eight schools and attracted a few new players. Many of those kids got into the game through friends. “There might be someone with an Irish mother or father or grandparent, and they would talk to their friends about it in the classroom,” Porter said. “Some of them have no Irish background at all but they just love the sport and the community spirit within the club.”

Fortunately, the GAA is aware that many Americans are unfamiliar with Gaelic sports, and so it offers introduc-tory courses to students who have no experience with Gaelic football or hurling to teach them the basic rules and skills.

Gaelic sports find a renewed fan base in Philadelphia, asthe GAA games development program ramps up its efforts.

By lauren Briana schwartz

On the Pitch

For Love of the Gameq

Young members of the Delaware County Gaels fiercely run after the ball.

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MAYO MESSENGER

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programs are primarily student-led and in their infancy, but with the students’ enthusiasm, they’re likely to hit the ground running. The club at Saint Joseph’s University, the first in the city, is poised to become an official intramural university team in the spring of 2012.

More than anything, the GAA stresses that Gaelic games are about fostering community, both among those with Irish heritage and those without. Rather than nurturing fierce competition and rivalries, Gaelic games emphasize team-work and a sense of unity. Whether at the youth level or in university clubs, these sports embody an Irish warmth, pride, and inclusiveness that has been handed down through the centuries.

Porter believes Gaelic games could be a great success if given the chance to develop and take hold. “It’s fantastic seeing some of the kids that had never even seen the sport before, just picking up a Gaelic football, soloing it, being so proud of how they did it,” he said. “We’re not necessarily looking for the superstars—anyone that plays it does it for the love of the game.”

Parents also often play an instrumental role in introducing their children to Gaelic games. “Everybody gets to know everybody—it’s a real family sport,” Bonner said. She has been amazed by the dedication of several parents who have pitched in with coaching duties and familiarized them-selves with the logistics of the game.

Getting this type of buy-in from parents and keeping up with a regular practice and game schedule is crucial to the development of Gaelic clubs. “If you want to legitimize the sport, it has to be treated like any other American sport,” she said.

GraduatinG to the next LeveLIt seems that all of this groundwork is paying off because it’s sparked an interest across age levels. Recently, university students have added their own fuel to the fire, particularly where Gaelic football is concerned. The game has started to gain a spirited following among local university students, with intramural clubs developing at Drexel University as well as two of Philadelphia’s Big 5 Schools, Saint Joseph’s University and Villanova University. Right now, these

On the Pitch


MAYO MESSENGER

While i’ve alWays prided myself on having a diverse palate, Irish cuisine is something I’d never thought to explore. I’ve enjoyed a nice, warm stew on a chilly night, but until recently, I wasn’t aware that there was more to Irish fare than your typical meat and potatoes. So when a friend and I took a trip to Cawley’s Restaurant and Pub in Upper Darby, Pa., for a Sunday breakfast, I opened the door to a new cultural and culinary experience.

Crossmolina-native Sean Cawley and his wife, Ann (who hails from Donegal), who hails from Donegal, opened “the original pub on the Pike” in 1974 and they’ve been offering guests a hearty meal and a hearty welcome ever since.

The family-run restaurant and bar sits on West Chester Pike in the heart of Upper Darby, amid a large community of Irish immigrants and Irish Americans. Some stop in for a pint and a taste of home, and others, like myself, are there to sample something new.

The knotty pine walls and green upholstered booths added to the warm and cozy atmosphere. A friendly young server greeted us with a smile and gave us our choice of seating in the casual dining room.

Once we had been seated, I noticed the dining area extend-ed into an adjacent room with an expansive bar surrounded by flat screen TVs. A number of patrons crowded around, watching a heated football match and enjoying friendly conversation, a few good laughs, and the jukebox playing in the background.

The breakfast menu included a nice mix of American and Irish fare at reasonable prices, but I bypassed the standard American staples and set my sights on the authentic Irish breakfast I came to sample. It included two eggs, bangers (Irish sausage), rashers (Irish bacon), black and white

pudding, fried tomatoes, home-fried potatoes, Heinz baked beans, and toast. I was glad I brought my appetite for such a spread.

Our waitress set down a pot of tea and shortly after, arrived with piping hot plates heaped with generous portions. The colorful dish before me was a far cry from the bland meat-and-potato meal I had expected. My friend

decided to let me sample the black and white pudding before revealing the ingredients, which was prob-ably for the best.

Turns out, black pudding is a mix-ture of pig’s blood, bread, oatmeal and beef suet, while white pud-ding substitutes liver instead of blood. Suffice it to say, though the ingredients later gave me pause, I enjoyed both breakfast puddings. Any scrapple-loving Philadelphian will understand these sentiments I’m sure. The pudding’s flavor can

be compared to the spiciness of sausage, though the texture is more smooth than meaty.

Next, I tried the Irish bacon, which was quite similar to standard American fried ham steak, thick and meaty with very minimal fat. Then I moved on to the plump, brown sausages, which had nice seasoning and flavor with no gristle. I finished with the most familiar—scrambled eggs with a dash of Tabasco.

The breakfast was a nice way to start my day and my foray into Irish food. My next adventure might include a pint and one of Cawley’s traditional dinners, like bangers and mash with peas, fish and chips, sausage rolls, or Shepherd’s pie.

Call (610) 449-1149 for hours and more information, or visit www.cawleysirishpub.com. Or take a trip down to 7915 West Chester Pike in Upper Darby and taste the difference for yourself.

The Real Deal Cawley’s Pub serves up a mean Irish breakfast

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On the Fry

By iesha lewis

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A traditional Irish breakfast with black and white pudding, rashers, bangers, eggs, beans, and a fried tomato.

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Beaten Path

1 2Céide Fields Ballycastle Preserved beneath a blanket of peat and spanning several square miles, the remains of stone field walls, prehistoric dwellings, and megalithic tombs make up Céide Fields. More than 5,500 years old, this site is one of the most extensive Stone Age monuments and contains the oldest known field systems in the world. Guided tours provide a unique window into the everyday lives of the Neolithic farmers who inhabited this land, their organized society, their spiritual beliefs, and their struggle against a changing environment. The multi-award winning Visitor Centre has exhibitions, an audiovisual show, and tearoom where visitors can enjoy a snack. It is located beside some of Ire-land’s most spectacular cliffs and rock formations, with a viewing platform perched on the edge of a cliff more than 350 feet high. Céide Fields is open for touring from Easter to early November, with group bookings available by reser-vation in the winter months. Visit www.heritageireland.ie or email [email protected].

Great Western GreenWay Achill to Westport The longest off-road walking and biking trail in Ireland, the Great Western Greenway follows the route of the former Achill to Westport railway line, which closed in 1937. Along with the Mulranny Park Hotel, Loop Walk, and the Mulranny Causeway, it was awarded a European Destina-tion of Excellence Award for sustainable tourism from the European Commission in 2011. The trail links Mulranny and Newport to the Westport and Achill cycle hubs, which gives visitors access to a network of spectacular biking trails. It covers more than 26 miles and some of most idyllic scenery in the west of Ireland, offering views of Furnace Lough and Lough Feeagh, Bengorm and the Nephin Beg Range, and the seascapes of Clew Bay. The Great Western Greenway passes through a number of picturesque villages and towns, where plenty of accommodations and bike rentals are available. For more information, visit www.greenway.ie or email [email protected].

It’s worth taking a detour to visit these five fabulous spots along the breathtaking coastline of Northern Mayo.

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Hennigan’s Heritage Cottage Killasser, Swinford Hennigan’s Heritage Centre sits on the unspoilt countryside overlooking Creagaballa Lake. Until 1970, Tom Hennigan’s family lived in this two-room, thatched cottage, which was built in the 1870s. He talks about how his family survived on this land, tells comical stories about local characters and their customs, and encourages visitors to share stories of their own. He maintains the farm and com-plex as a way of preserving and showcasing the rich heritage of Mayo that it embodies. The authentic cottage and its contents offer the perfect backdrop to hear stories about life during the Irish Diaspora, and offers guests a richer view of life as it was in times past. The Centre is open daily from March to end of September; visit www.hennigansheritage.com or email [email protected] to schedule special tours and activities.

aCHill seCret garden Atlantic Drive, Achill Island This seaside garden lies beside a small bay on Achill Island, offering a magnificent view of the Curraun Pennisula and the waters of Achill Sound. The three acres of gardens belong to Bleanáskill Lodge, which was estab-lished around 1870. The most westerly public garden in Ireland, its mixture of mature trees, colorful borders, art, and vibrant wildlife creates a haven of tranquillity and peace. Willem van Goor, a fine artist and expert gardener, emigrated from the Netherlands in 1997 and transformed the land into a beautiful, romantic shrub garden. For a small admission fee, visitors can meander through the garden’s 13 chambers, each with its own atmosphere. After the tour ends, coffee, tea, biscuits, and cake are served in the boathouse on the grounds. Achill Secret Garden is open from March through August. To schedule a garden tour with an expert, visit http://achillsecretgarden.com or email [email protected].

Mulranny Outskirts of Achill Island Nestled on the rugged Atlantic coast, Mulranny offers stunning views of Clew Bay, its archipelago of drowned drumlin islands, the vast Nephin mountain range, and Bel-lacragher Bay. This seaside village is located just 25 minutes from Westport and 15 minutes from Achill Island and has restored many of its historic landmarks in recent years. The Mulranny Park Hotel unveiled massive renovations that still retain the charm and character of the original design from 1897. The Mulranny Loop Walk revamped the old hotel walks on Look Out Hill and the unique Mulranny Cause-way, which was built in 1899. Visitors will find a wide range of activities to enjoy, such as walking, golf, sea kayaking, surfing and swimming on the blue flag beaches, and shore and sea angling. To plan your stay, visit www.mulranny.ie or visit [email protected].

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ILLUMINATING

ThE MAYO ASSOciATiON bRidGES ThE GAp

bETwEEN TwO cOuNTRiES ANd TwO ERAS.

s

by colleen b. Mullarkey

Cover Story


MAYO MESSENGER

ILLUMINATING


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t the turn of the 20th century, thousands of Irish immigrants endured the grueling journey across the Atlantic to Philadelphia, with the hope that life in this unfamiliar country would be better than the poverty that had become all too familiar in their homeland. It has been recorded that as early as 1901, Mayo men in the City of Brotherly Love began working together to help each other as they adjusted to life in America. At the docks on Washington and Front Streets, they greeted fellow countrymen who had no friends or family here and offered them a warm wel-come, a warm meal, and a warm bed.

In 1905, three men banded together to create an of-ficial organization—the Mayo Men’s Association of Philadelphia. John O’Neill of Foxford, Martin Clarke of Castlebar, and John Green of Newport wrote the con-stitution and got the fledgling society off the ground with the help of members from the Mayo Society of New York. They vowed to help each other find employment, to en-courage each other in busi-ness, and to preserve a spirit of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism among all Irish men and women. By 1914, their membership grew to more than 500. “The common ancestry gave them a sense of family and comfort here,” said Sean McMenamin, archi-vist for the Mayo Association of Philadelphia. “The societies became their villages, the center of their social lives.”

With the vast changes in technology over the past century, people in America can connect with Ireland in a matter of

seconds whether it’s via email, webcam, cell phone, or so-cial media. Today, the association’s membership looks very different than it did in the early days, with a large number of women and Irish Americans involved. Their work now is less about helping the Irish transition to life in America and more about helping those in America maintain a con-nection with the old country. Yet, some things still remain

the same. “The association opened up to a wider range of membership, but their goals and desire to help the Irish community in Phila-delphia has never changed,” said Tom Staunton, who joined his father and uncles as a member in his teenage years. “They continue to follow in the footsteps of the men who started this society so many years ago.”

taking care of our own

Keeping that history alive is important to the members of the Mayo Association. Over the years, they have amassed meeting minutes, ledgers, photographs, and event souvenirs that date back as far as 1917, painting a very clear picture of who the early members were and what challenges they faced. “Those records were handed

down through the generations, and it’s a credit to the peo-ple before us,” McMenamin said. “We consider ourselves lucky to have an archive for the Mayo Society.”

Early ledgers meticulously document each member’s con-tribution of 50 cents a month, which entitled them to $5 a week in sick benefits for up to six weeks a year and $100 in death benefits for the family if a member passed away.

Tom O’Malley, Jr., age 4, with his mother and father at the 1949 Mayo Ball at the Broadwood Hotel at Broad and Vine Streets.


MAYO MESSENGER

Complete this form and fax or mail it to:

Mayo Association of Philadelphia Commodore Barry Club 6815 Emlen St. Philadelphia, Pa. 19119 Fax (215) 355-7802

If you or your spouse have roots in County Mayo, Ireland or a county that does not have representation in the Philadelphia area, you’re welcome to join us. Please fill out the form below and we will review your application at our next monthly meeting. Email [email protected] with any questions.

Please select one:

Full membership Entitles you to attend meetings, vote for the election of officers, and on motions that come up during the meeting, plus all social privileges. Dues: $24.00 per year.

Associate membership Same privileges as Full Membership except for voting rights, holding an elected office, and social privileges. Dues: One-time $100.00 fee

Basic InformationFirst name: Last name:

Address:

City: State: Zip:

Phone: Email:

Background InformationCountry of Birth:

County or State: Town:

Occupation: Employer:

Please give brief explanation of your Co. Mayo heritage:

Signature: Date:

We’ll take you back to Mayo... without leaving Philadelphia.


MAYO MESSENGER

To ensure financial survival, the original bylaws limited membership to males between ages 18 and 45. “It was the only form of insurance these people had—there was no unemployment or Social Security,” McMenamin said. “It’s forgotten in today’s world but that was the purpose of many societies of the time: to take care of ourselves.”

For more than 40 years, Tom O’Malley, Sr., served as the as-sociation’s steward, which meant it was his responsibility to visit the sick members and pay them their benefits. “Many a Sunday afternoon, we took a trolley, subway, or the El to

visit the members,” Tom O’Malley, Jr., recalled. “When it was too far or not ready accessible by public transportation, our neighbor would drive us to visit them. That was always considered a real treat since nobody had a car, and we got to see parts of the city and suburbs that seemed far away.”

Being a part of the Mayo Association shaped young Tom’s early life and left him with many fond memories. He re-members going to monthly meetings with his father at the old Irish American Club on Broad Street, a large, three-story Victorian building with stone steps leading up to the door.

John O’Neill, Martin Clarke, and John Green write the constitution of the Mayo Men’s Association in Philadelphia

1905

1917 11th Annual Ball of the Mayo Men’s Beneficial, Social, Patriotic, and Literary Association of Philadelphia is held at Mercantile Hall on January 22.

Mayo wins the All-Ireland football championships and travels to America for a visit.

1932

1950s Philadelphia’s Mayo football team boasts an impressive membership.


MAYO MESSENGER

Members who arrived late for the 3 p.m. Sunday meeting had to walk up to a table in the middle of the floor and give the password before they could take a seat. The meetings were always on the second floor, with live Irish music and dancing downstairs where they also held quarterly socials.

Time for a ChangeAs immigration surged through the 1940s to the early 60s, the Irish community in Philadelphia grew larger and it became clear they needed a central meeting place. A large

property at Emlen St. and Carpenter Lane in Germantown was for sale, and Mickey Cavanaugh, a Mayo man, convinced the community of the need to buy the place and worked with individuals, businesses, and organizations to gather the funding. The Mayo Society was a major investor at the time, contributing $7,000. The purchase went through in 1958, and the Commodore Barry Club (fondly known as the Irish Center) was born.

Staunton remembers walking in the Grand March at the first ball held at the new center, the 1958 Mayo Ball, which

Miss Bridie Henry is crowned as the first-ever Philadelphia Miss Mayo.

1964

1966 The society’s name is changed to the Mayo Association of Philadelphia and women are admitted as full members.

Attracta O’Malley becomes the first woman president.

1981

1986 Knock International Airport officially opens on May 30, 1986, after the great efforts of Monsignor James Horan.

Mayo Association World Convention is held in Philadelphia at the Adam’s Mark Hotel.

1995

Mayo commissions statue of Our Lady of Knock and installs it in the Commodore Barry Club.

2011

2005 Mayo Association celebrates Centennial Anniversary.

Mayo Association takes Centennial Tour to Ireland.

Mayo Association of Philadelphia wins International Mayo People of the Year Award.


MAYO MESSENGER

drew about 1,400 attendees. “The Irish needed a home here, and the Irish Center provided a place you could bring people to and be proud of,” he said. “It facilitates everything that we need to have—it offers us a place to get together for our meetings, social gatherings, and masses.” It was also a central meeting place where young Irish could make connections and take a look at posted job openings.

As revolution stirred in early 60s America, changes started cropping in the Mayo Association as well. “The member-ship was getting younger, and we had new ideas,” said O’Malley, who officially joined the association in 1961 at age 16, and held his first office as recording secretary just three years later. “The older members, while hesitant with change, were willing to go along with our ideas.” One of the first big changes had to do with the bands playing at the ball. “The younger crowd was used to Irish country music and rock n’ roll. They would go up to New York and hear all these Irish show bands, and they decided it was time for a change,” O’Malley said. “They brought in Paddy Noonan and that changed the whole atmosphere of the ball.” They

Back (left to right): Kathleen Henry Ryan, Attracta Moffitt O’Malley, Mary Henry Brady, (front) Maureen Hunt Horan, and Kathleen Moffitt Boyle. Taken at the Charlestown Reunion in 1995, this photo includes five of the original ladies that applied for membership in the early 60s. Horan resides in Galway, Brady passed away in 1998, and the other three women are still active members in the Mayo Association.


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The Mayo Men’s Society was organized Sunday at a meeting held in Dougherty’s Hall, 1630 South St. Eighty-nine members were enrolled and temporary

officers elected. Meetings will be held on the second Sunday of each month. At the next meeting, Sunday, October 8, permanent officers will be chosen, and at

the November meeting, they will be installed by officers of the Mayo Society of New York.

from the September 5, 1905 edition of the Catholic Standard and Times:

AN ExcERpt

began booking bands like Noel Henry, who continued to play some of the traditional Irish waltzes to keep the older crowd happy, but also played more current music to keep up with the times.

Soon tommy Horan suggested having a pageant to attract more young people to the ball. “the thinking was if you bring a lot of young girls, a lot of young guys are bound to follow,” O’Malley chuckled. Horan and cavanaugh got the Miss Mayo contest up and running, with about 20 to 25 girls in the competition. At that time, every ball attendee received a ballot and submitted their vote for the Miss Mayo (that later changed to the judging system used today because it took so long to tally all the votes). the crowd cheered with excitement when Bridie Henry from charles-town was crowned the first Miss Mayo for 1964.

Look To THE FuTurE

While this was an exciting time for Mayo women, they still weren’t allowed membership in the all-male society—despite their numerous requests to join. “At the time, the older men said you can’t,” O’Malley said. “through the strong leadership of Bob Gillard, we were able to change the minds of enough members to get a vote of approval to

bring women into the association.” It began in 1964 with the creation of a women’s auxiliary, and then as president, Horan appointed a committee to review the bylaws in 1965, recommend changes, and propose a new name for the association. “The changes took effect in 1966;

s

At the Mayo centennial celebration Dinner, past presidents with Eddie Staunton, chairman of the Mayo county council, Austin Baughan, head librarian of the Mayo County Council, and Vera Tuffy McNicholas, Miss Mayo 1967.


MAYO MESSENGER

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The Mayo Association changed gears with the new generation of Irish who came in the 1960s, arriving on airplanes and securing jobs with benefits and pensions. With the members’ needs taken care of, they began sponsoring more charities and organizations stateside and abroad. “The Mayo men and women generously dedicate themselves to ease the burden of those who experience difficult times,” said Sister James Anne, chaplain of the Mayo As-sociation. “This has been evident from the early days of welcom-ing immigrants to adjust to a new life in America to the present-day tasks of assisting others with different problems—whether it’s illness, hunger, poverty, homelessness, or the loss of a loved one.”

The Mayo Association has helped many people and causes over the years, including St. John of God’s School in New Jersey, Aras Attracta in Swinford, Western Care in Castlebar, the Knock Shrine, and the Irish Memorial at Penn’s Landing. “We got very involved with benefits—any family that had a tragedy or anyone that was in need, we always got together and raised money for them,” Attracta O’Malley said. She remembers them bringing kids from local orphanages to the Irish Center in the 60s for Christmas parties with Santa and trips to the Ice Capades.

Many were also involved with fundraising for religious organiza-tions at the time, including the Columban Fathers, the Sisters of the Holy Rosary, and the St. Patrick Fathers. “We were all brought up in Ireland to help the poor. We were poor ourselves, but at the same time, my mother and father would give to the missions,” said Margie McGee Howley, who came from a family of 13 in Co. Donegal. “When we came to this country, we were always trying to help, especially when it had to do with foreign missions. We were happy to raise money for it—it was a part of our upbringing.” And they had a lot of fun doing it too. The St. Patrick Fathers held a 32-County Ball in April 1961, and she and

her future husband, Tommy Howley, attended various fundraising events like dances, card games, and parties. “It was a lot of fun—a lot of wholesome fun,” she said. “We went there to dance and meet people, and we didn’t need any alcohol or any-thing to have fun.”

That may come as a surprise to many who associate the Irish with drinking. “A lot of Americans couldn’t figure out an Irish person being a non-drinker; many of them still can’t today,” said Pat Ryan, from Waterford, who has proudly worn a pioneer pin on his lapel since 1958. It indicates membership in the Pioneer Total Abstinence Associa-tion of the Sacred Heart, an organiza-tion Father James Cullen founded in Dublin in 1898. The association promotes spiri-tual growth through complete absti-nence from alcohol, and gained a large following in Ireland and other parts of the world, claiming 500,000 members in 1960.

Ryan, met his future wife, Kathleen Henry, when she sold him two tickets to a Pioneer Communion breakfast at Good Shepherd Parish. It was just one of many social events the Philadelphia Pio-neer Total Abstinence Association had, and there were plenty of people attending. “When I came to this country, a lot of people my age were pioneers. I guess we took it for granted,” said Car-mel Farragher King, who has been a pioneer for nearly 60 years. “When Americans looked at the Irish as drunks, I remember feel-ing insulted because most of my friends and family didn’t drink at all, and those who did, didn’t drink much.”

In fact, the Immaculate Conception Shrine in Germantown, where they had the Miraculous Medal Novena on Monday nights at 7 p.m., was just as much of a social hotspot as the Irish dances in the VFW and the Crystal Ballroom on Saturdays or at Con-nolly’s on Sundays. And most weekends, there was some sort of social event or fundraiser to benefit a charitable cause. “When you got involved with these different organizations, it made you feel good that you were helping others,” Howley said. “For a lot of us, it wasn’t so much about religion, it was more about helping the poor and helping the hungry—that was our goal.”

sThroughout the years, Philadelphia’s Irish have given to hundreds of causes

here and abroad—and they’ve always had a good time doing it.

ChARITY BEGINS AT hOME

Many Irish were members of the St. Patrick Fathers Group, shown here in 1967.

Many young Irish women got involved with fundraising, selling tickets to benefits and social events that raised money for charitable causes.


MAYO MESSENGER

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nonetheless, 1964 was the year that changed the Mayo Association of Philadelphia forever due to the leadership of its officers and willing-ness of the older and younger mem-bers to work together,” O’Malley said. “Mayo was the first county organiza-tion to do that.”

After immigration laws tightened up in the late 1960s, more Irish Americans began taking part in the society—a trend that continues today. “The im-migration of the 50s and 60s is not going to happen again, so the future of our societies is based on how we transition and attract the second, third, and fourth generations,” McMenamin said. Considering that four of the five most recent presidents elected have been Irish American, it’s safe to say the Mayo Association has been do-ing a pretty good job. One of those presidents, Pat Sweeney, is a perfect example of the way the association connects people from two different countries and two different eras.

In the late 90s, Sweeney began re-searching her heritage because she didn’t know much about her grand-parents who came from Ireland. She uncovered her grandfather’s death notice from 1927, which mentioned his membership in the Mayo Men’s Association. After some more hunting, she got the name of a contact: Attracta O’Malley. “I told her I was looking for information about my grandfather, John O’Neill,” Sweeney said. “When I told her his name, she near dropped the phone.”

That’s because he was the very same John O’Neill who served as the as-sociation’s first president as well as a founding member. O’Malley invited her to a meeting that Sunday night, and the members welcomed her with excitement. “I was floored when I found out about my grandfather,”

she said. “It was like I became a celebrity overnight.” After four years as a member, Sweeney was elected president in 2002.

“It wasn’t something that I ever thought I could do, but I thought my grandfather would have wanted it,” she said. “The last 13 years have been

a wonderful journey—I’ve met many treasured friends and I realized I came from a group of people that were faith-ful and caring, who didn’t just think of themselves but always reached out to help others. It’s given me something I never dreamed of: a sense of owner-ship and belonging to Ireland.”


MAYO MESSENGER

BallFOR MORE thAN A cENtuRY,

thE PhilAdElPhiA MAYO BAll

hAS BROuGht thE iRiSh tOGEthER

FOR A NiGht OF cAMARAdERiE,

cultuRE, ANd GOOd cRAic.

e

HaveaOut to

SOciEtYFeature


MAYO MESSENGER hether the venue was a church hall, a com-munity center, or a neighbor’s kitchen, local dances played a central role in the social scene of every town and village in Ireland well into the 20th century. When thousands emi-grated to America, they brought the dances with them as a means of celebrating their culture and establishing a tight-knit community in a country that was new and unfamiliar.

In Philadelphia’s early Irish community, the Mayo Ball emerged as one of the social events of the year. For more than a century, it has continued to bring together friends—both old and new. While the number in attendance has dwindled with changes in the economy, the age demo-graphic, and immigration laws, hundreds in the Irish com-munity still enjoy making a night of the Mayo Ball.

“I think it’s still very important for socializing—you’ll see people at a ball that you won’t see year round,” said John Tuffy, who served as the ball’s master of ceremonies for a number of years. “The Irish love to hang onto tradition, and this is one we’ll certainly hang onto for years to come because it’s a celebration of who and what we are.”

a cultural celebration While most of the early attendees had come from poverty in Ireland, the photos from the balls in those days paint a picture of pure sophistication. “There’s a great story behind why they spent the money to rent tuxedos and ball gowns for the night, even though it must have been hard for them financially,” said Sean McMenamin, the Mayo Association’s achivist. “It wasn’t just about fashion—they were making a statement that they were just as good as the society people of the time. These events played a great part in promoting self esteem and establishing their identity.”

The Mayo Ball has seen many changes since it was first held in 1905, but it continues to be a celebration of culture through lively music, dancing, and camaraderie. The 106th ball, held at the Irish Center on November 5, 2011, was no different. “We’ve engaged some of the finest local talent this side of Mayo, and we’re proud to say that the bandleader is a Mayo member,” said President Rosaleen Megonegal when introducing the entertainment for the night.

W

Have


MAYO MESSENGER

eThe Theresa Flanagan Band drew a good crowd to the dance floor with a set that included newer favorites as well as some old-time ballads and waltzes. Traditional ceili dances like the Haymaker’s Jig and the Siege of Ennis had many kicking a leg up, including Philadelphia’s reigning “Irish princesses” of 2011—Rose of Tralee, Beth Keeley; Miss Mayo, Kathleen Paulson; and Mary from Dungloe, Stephanie Lennon.

Later in the night, everyone took their seats as a bagpiper dressed in full regalia led the award-winning Rince Rí danc-ers down the floor. The troupe, directed by Mayo member Olivia Hilpl, lit up the room with their stunning orange costumes, bobbing curls, and a flash of their nimble feet. Their hard-toed shoes echoed in unison with the beat of the music and mesmerized the audience with two numbers that blended contemporary choreography with traditional step dancing. “I loved the dancers, they were fantastic—as good as any I’ve seen in Boston or New York,” said Tom Gallagh-er, who originally hails from Bellacorick, Co. Mayo, a small village outside of Belmullet.

Making ConneCtionsIt was the fourth Mayo Ball that Gallagher and his wife, Margaret, have attended since they moved to Philadelphia in 2007, after living in Boston for decades.

“We quickly felt at home here—the ball was very familiar for us because we always attended dances and céilís in John Hancock Hall,” he said. “The ball is a nice way to meet new people and get to know different people from Mayo.” One year, Gallagher even ran into someone who was visiting from Belmullet and the two had a long chat about things that were going on at home.

For Irish Americans whose roots to Ireland may stretch back a few generations, the ball offers a unique opportu-nity for them to discover their cultural identity. “It’s a way for people whose parents and grandparents may have no connection to the associations, to make a bond with their heritage and their ancestors,” said Helen Henry DeGrand, chairperson of the 2011 Mayo Ball.

The annual Miss Mayo pageant encourages young women in the Philadelphia area to foster and celebrate that connec-tion in a very special way. (See “Brains Before Beauty,” p 50.) Each with an impressive resume and charming per-sonality, eight lovely lasses vied for the crown and title of Miss Mayo 2012. The judges certainly had a tough decision to make this year, but at the end of the night, they gave first place to Stephanie Miller and recognized Megan Richardson and Erin McGluckin as runners up.

It was a busy night as the Mayo Association also presented Maureen Brett Saxon with the coveted President’s Award (read more on p 14) and granted educational scholarships from the Robert and William Gillard Scholarship Fund to four young people with Mayo heritage—Drew Merschel, Mikayla Jackson, Patrick Diehl, and Nora Elizabeth Hill.

Coming up on its 107th year, the Mayo Ball remains the association’s top social event as well as the biggest fund-raiser for its charitable works. “Because of the community’s continued presence at the ball, we are able to carry on with the great work we’ve done to help the homeless, the hungry, and special needs children and adults,” Megonegal said. “It’s not only a great time, but a great cause.”

Philadelphia’s reigning “Irish princesses” of 2011, Mary from Dungloe Stephanie Lennon, Rose of Tralee Beth Keeley, and Miss Mayo Kathleen Paulson, were proud to represent on the dance floor.

Since moving from Boston four years ago, Tom Gallagher, and his wife, Margaret, have enjoyed going to the Mayo Ball to meet other people in Philadelphia’s Irish community.


MAYO MESSENGER

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8:00 pm to MidnightDoors open at 7:00 pm$20.00 in advance$25.00 at the door

www.mayoassoc.com

107th AnnualMAYO BALL

Saturday, November 3, 2012The Irish Center

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MAYO MESSENGER

To my friends in the Mayo Association of Philadelphia,

I would like to thank each one of you for including me in your family. I enjoyed so much wearing my sash and representing your association throughout the year at all the Irish events in Philadelphia, especially the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Being with all of you will be a memory that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

I will also never forget seeing the Our Lady of Knock statue go up in the Irish Center in all of her glory and how proud all of you were to be a part of it. You all are so generous and so hospitable to everyone around you, and you all are examples to me of the person I hope to become. I would like to especially thank Rosaleen for always keeping me in the loop on what I needed to know. Your smile lights up a room almost as much as your voice does. You are one truly amazing woman.

I would also like to thank Miss Mayo 2010 Caitlin Lotty for leading by example and encouraging me to enter the Miss Mayo pageant. Everyone should have a best friend like you. To the King family, thank you for introducing me to the Irish community of Philadelphia. You all know how to have a great time, and I love being around each and every one of you.

Finally to my parents and my brother, thank you all for being my biggest fans. Words cannot express how much it means to me for all of you to be here with me through this journey.

And to the Miss Mayo of 2012, get ready to meet some incredible people and to have the time of your life!

Gratefully, Kathleen Paulson Miss Mayo 2011

While she was visiting Ireland over the summer with her family, Miss Mayo 2011, Kathleen Paulson got to see plenty of the green and red of Mayo.

KAThLEEN PAuLSON e

HandingOver the

“i have had a year to remember, filled with

moments that I will never forget, because of each

and every one of you.”

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MAYO MESSENGER

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Don’t let the crown anD sash fool you, the annual Miss Mayo pageant is not about fashion or who has the most impressive tap-dancing skills—it’s about values, tradi-tion, and heritage. While the competition does draw a bevy of beautiful, talented Irish Americans from the Philadelphia area, the judges focus on how these young women carry themselves rather than who has the most glamorous gown.

With the crowning of the first-ever Philadelphia Miss Mayo, Bridie Henry, in 1963, a tradition was born—and ever since, the Mayo Association has sponsored the annual pageant at its Mayo Ball. The aim of the competition is to encourage cultural and charitable development in young women in Philadelphia’s Irish-American community. Miss Mayo is a young woman of Irish descent or birth who re-flects the spirit and purpose of the Mayo Association.

You won’t see a talent showcase or any swimsuit modeling, the actual judging takes place behind closed doors before

BeautyTHE EIGHT lOvElY lAdIES WHO vIEd TO BEcOME

THIS YEAR’S MISS MAYO lOOkEd juST AS GOOd

ON PAPER AS THEY dId IN PERSON.

e

before

any of the ball attendees arrive. Each contestant interviews with a panel of three carefully selected judges, who consid-er their character, integrity, poise, community involvement, appearance, and awareness of their cultural identity.

This year’s panel included Marybeth Phillips, Miss Mayo 1972, who teaches Irish step dancing and just recently pur-chased a home in Mayo; Brian Grady, the assistant district attorney of special projects in Philadelphia, who has strong Mayo roots; and Meghan Sweeney Gillespie, Miss Mayo 2005 and the great-granddaughter of john O’Neill, one of the association’s founders.

The winner is awarded a $1,000 cash prize and is respon-sible for representing the Mayo Association throughout the year, particularly at the St. Patrick’s day Parade, the Mayo christmas Party, the Mayo Social, the Our lady of knock Mass, and other events sponsored by the association.

Brains


MAYO MESSENGER

Stephanie Miller, 20 West Chester, Pa. Nursing student at the University of Pittsburgh heritage: Co. Cork

Molly Fee, 20 Havertown, Pa. Nursing student at La Salle University heritage: Co. Mayo, Co. Galway

Fiona Farrelly, 21 Drexel Hill, Pa. Civil engineering major at Temple University heritage: Co. Cavan

erin Carroll, 21 Oreland, Pa. Political science major at La Salle University heritage: Co. Mayo

Current MiSS Mayo Kathleen Paulson

Megan riChardSon, 26 Philadelphia, Pa. Graduate of University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University heritage: Co. Tyrone

laura Clinton, 25 Havertown, Pa. Graduate of Muhlenberg College and graduate student at St. Joseph’s University heritage: Co. Mayo

Mary Catherine o’reilly gindhart, 21 Villanova, Pa. Graduate student in theology and reli-gious studies at Villanova University heritage: Co. Tyrone, Co. Mayo

erin MCgluCkin, 22 Northeast Philadelphia Graduate of Holy Family University heritage: Co. Wexford, Co. Donegal, Co. Tipperary, Co. Mayo

EET THE CONTESTANTS (from left to right):M459 2386

7

Even for those who don’t consider themselves the “pageant” type,

the Miss Mayo competition offers participants an opportunity to connect with their Irish roots

and meet others in the young Irish community. For many, it’s more

about the experience than winning the crown. For more details on how to enter the pageant, visit

www.mayoassoc.com.

IF THE CROWN FITSe

Beauty


MAYO MESSENGER

As A nursing student at the University of Pittsburgh, I have been blessed with the wonderful opportunity to go to school where I can learn how to save people’s lives and help them on the road to recovery. I have discovered that nursing is my passion, and I have definitely chosen the right profes-sional path. Throughout my life, I have witnessed the importance of helping other people. Although I am only one person, I am one person who can—and will—make a difference. I have had the opportunity to participate in service projects throughout the Philadelphia area during my grade school and high school years.

I have to thank my parents because it was through their wisdom and guidance that I learned to look beyond myself at the bigger picture. They have demonstrated the values of hard work and sacrifice. As I grew up, they stressed the importance of family. I have two younger sisters—two best friends. Throughout my life, my family has celebrated our Irish heritage. When I was 5 years old, my mom took me to my first Irish dance class at Helene Campbell’s basement in Havertown, and I was hooked. Not only did I love the girls in my class, the traveling throughout the country, and the thrill of winning a competition—but I loved the excitement and the happiness it brought to the community.

I have had the privilege of dancing throughout the Phila-delphia area at many events, and these opportunities have introduced me to the Irish community and many influential people. Some of the events that I readily recall include

Meet tHe Newly CrowNed MIss MAyo 2012,

stepHANIe MIller, IN Her owN words.

e

dancing for the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, participating in the St. Patrick’s day parade every year, and performing with a number of Irish bands and singers, including Blackthorn, dervish, and our family friend, tommy Moffit.

Not only has my dancing career introduced me to many people and places, it has helped shape me into the woman that I have become. These years have been filled with wonderful memo-ries; however, with every good memory, there are reminders of the hard work, dedication, struggle, and disappointment. Whether it is the calluses or blisters that have permanent residence on my feet or those hard Saturday morning practices, this journey has left its mark on my soul. Irish dancing has taught me that I have

to work for what I want; things will not be handed to me. It stresses the importance of dedication, commitment, and perseverance, especially during hard times.

Irish dancing also introduced me to Kathleen Paulson (Miss Mayo 2011), who can brighten up a room and is an absolute joy to be around. She can always bring a smile to my face, and it will definitely be a challenge to fill her shoes. thank you so much for selecting me to represent the Mayo Association of Philadelphia as Miss Mayo 2012. It is an honor and a privilege and I cannot wait for all the fun to start!

Sincerely, Stephanie Miller Miss Mayo 2012

the is…WinnerAnd

University of Pittsburgh student, Stephanie Miller, from west Chester, pa., was thrilled to be crowned Miss Mayo 2012.


MAYO MESSENGER

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ThE PhilAdElPhiA

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STill hONORS ThE vAluES

ANd TRAdiTiONS Of ThE iRiSh

whO wAlkEd ThE ciTY’S STREETS

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culTuREFeature

q

honormarching

with


MAYO MESSENGERW hile marchers suit up with their sashes and pins for the St. Patrick’s Day parade, director Michael Bradley and a few other volunteers will already be on the Benja-min Franklin Parkway hard at work. Each year, one of their first tasks is to set up a flat wooden stage so that viewers at home will be able to hear the drumming of the Irish danc-ers’ hard shoes through their television sets. “That part has to go right because the dance groups are such an important piece of the celebration,” he said. “Viewers love the

traditional dresses, the dancing, and the music—they want to hear the noise and see the colors.”

But many aren’t content just watching from the couch. Thousands of spectators from every race and creed of Philadelphia’s melting pot brave the elements to experience the festivities firsthand. “People love to come out regard-less of whether the weather is beautiful or terrible because they admire this kind of display of culture—they get a real kick out of it,” said John Tuffy, who has been marching with the Mayo Association since the early 1960s. “When you’re walking in the parade, the enthusiasm in the streets makes you feel there are people out there that support you and


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enjoy the tradition of what you’re doing whether they’re Irish or not.”

Each year, that tradition seems to grow stronger. The cos-tumes have become more intricate, the floats have grown in size and level of detail, and the sheer volume of groups has increased from about 60 to more than 200 in just a few years. “It just seems to be getting bigger and better every year,” Bradley said. “But at the end of the day, it’s about being with your family—these are the memories that people will carry with them all their lives.”

Follow the leaderThat’s certainly been the case for Sister James Anne Feerick, whose parents fostered a love for Irish heritage and tradi-tion in their children that included going to the parade each year. “As a family, we would go downtown to cheer on the bands, dancers, and floats, and we had a great time with all the people there celebrating with us,” she said. In the early 1950s, she began performing in the parade with the Sean Lavery School of Irish Dance, and she has been involved with it in some form or another ever since. She has helped pick award-winners as a judge for the parade for 25 years and marched proudly as the chaplain of the Mayo Associa-tion with fellow members.

2011 Grand Marshal Sister James Anne was proud to lead the parade, a celebration of Irish heritage that she has treasured since early childhood.


MAYO MESSENGERLast year, she added Grand Marshal to her resume. The Parade Association asked Sister James Anne to assume this role because they felt she embodied the spirit of the 2011 parade theme—St. Patrick, bless our religious Sisters who serve, inspire, and educate. “This was definitely a high point in my life, as I was proud to represent the religious Sisters and their contributions to our society,” she said. “It was definitely a spirit-filled day for me, as I recalled many happy memories from my child-hood, and then realized I was leading thou-sands of people marching up the Ben Franklin Parkway.”

She also led another genera-tion of her family to embrace the tradition, fol-lowing in the footsteps of her parents. “I was walking directly behind Sister James Anne, and she was holding my granddaugh-ter’s hand all the way up the Benjamin Franklin Parkway,” said her cousin, Cathy Rhoades. “We are all so very proud of her—it was a great day for our family.”

Pass the torchThe parade is also a family affair for Tuffy and his wife, Eileen, who have brought their son and grandchildren to march with them for many years. “I don’t think enough people bring their children around. I bring the kids to as many events as possible, including the parade, because I believe it’s important for them to participate in things like this,” Tuffy said. “I want them to know about this stuff because it’s who I am, it’s who my wife is—we’re Irish. This is one of the most important things you can pass onto the generations after you.”

His 12-year-old grandson, Declan, is often asked to speak about his Irish heritage at school on St. Patrick’s Day each year, and he’s proud to tell his teachers and classmates

about his grandparents who emigrated to this country. “This summer, we’ll be taking them to Ireland for the first time to show them the bog where we came from,” Tuffy chuckled. “They’ve become interested in who they are, and I’ve tried to give them as much about my background and the culture and the history as I can.”

The parade is an integral part of passing on those lessons. The line-up of groups that participate are truly an embodi-

ment of the values and traditions the Irish have held dear since the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick insti-tuted the parade more than 200 years ago.

Fraternal groups stress the impor-tance of camara-derie; faith-based organizations underscore the celebration’s reli-gious roots; bands and dancing schools highlight the prominent role of music and

dance; and unions and labor organizations exemplify the strong work ethic that the Irish used to help build this city.

UnsUng heroes recognized Those labor unions will play an especially significant role in this year’s parade, given that the theme is St. Patrick, Bless the American Worker. “With the way that the economy is right now, we felt it was particularly important to recognize the American worker at this time in our country,” Brad-ley said. “Not only are people unemployed but many are underemployed, and most of those who still have their jobs are doing more for less money. It just seemed like the right time to recognize them.”

He nominated John J. Dougherty to lead the way this year—and the 26 board members who unanimously voted Dougherty as Grand Marshal agreed. One of the most pow-erful unelected officials in the city, the business manager of IBEW Local 98, will lead thousands of marchers up the

Sean McMenamin, Rosaleen Megonegal, and Attracta O’Malley welcome the arrival of officials from the Mayo County Council who flew in to join the festivities.


MAYO MESSENGER

qparkway on Sunday, March 11. Running one of the largest labor unions in the state definitely makes him more than qualified for the job, but his constant service work and selflessness really won the board members over.

Dougherty is known for helping others, whether it’s through charitable organizations or his active role in his South Philadelphia community. “Every time I’ve ever asked him to help somebody, he always says yes but he asks me not to say anything,” Bradley said. “It’s always a pleasure to see someone like that being honored. He’s just that type of guy; he never looks for the limelight.”

The Parade Association’s choice isn’t surprising, considering it’s made up of those of type of people. Bradley and the

legion of volunteers who work behind the scenes to make the parade a success each year are unsung heroes themselves. “The parade is such a great tribute to the Irish community,” Sister James Anne said. “And it’s all made possible through the efforts of the Parade Association, who have sacrificed many hours over many years to keep our heritage alive.”

There are a lot of downsides to running a parade—there’s a ton of pressure, a lot of grief, and an unbelievable time investment required. “Nobody would do it unless they loved the parade,” Bradley said. “But when you see the enthusiasm of the little kids running down the street, get-ting excited about the day, it’s worth every hour invested because they are our future.”

By the time America’s founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, the Irish had already established a growing community in the City of Brotherly Love. In 1771, they held the first documented St.

A HISTory of TrAdITIoNPatrick’s Day Celebration Parade in Philadelphia, and they continue that tradition today nearly two and a half centuries later.

Considering that the city has one of the largest Irish populations in the United States, it’s no surprise that the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is its largest parade—with an average of 20,000 participants representing 200-plus groups. As the second oldest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in America, it’s not only a significant part of the city’s history but the nation’s as well.

Through the efforts of the St. Patrick’s Day Observance Committee, estab-lished in 1952 as a non-profit organi-zation, it has developed into one of the most outstanding parades in the

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country, featuring musical groups, floats, dancers, Irish organizations, and even a few bands and groups who fly in from Ireland just for the event.

Source: www.philadelphiastpatsparade.com

St. Patrick’s Day Parade 1959: (left to right) Mary Gavin, John durkan, Paddy Morley, Bridie Jordan, and Carmel farragher.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade 1966: (left to right) Kathleen Henry, Sean McMenamin, Johanna McMenamin, Pat ryan, Attracta Moffitt, Mary Moffitt, and Mary Henry.


MAYO MESSENGER


MAYO MESSENGER

A FAMILY AFFAIRq

Members of the Cassidy family at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 1994.

The kids in the Cassidy clan all lined up and ready to go.

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Around 1960, four brothers, the sons of Irish immigrants from Co. Mayo, started to march in the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Even before they officially started marching in the annual parade, the brothers had

always met for breakfast at a Philadelphia restaurant or tavern on the Sunday before March 17. One year, they decided to head to Philadelphia’s Center City, and find the start of the St. Patrick’s Parade.

Veterans of World War II and the fathers of their own growing Irish-American broods, the Cassidy brothers passionately believed in the American dream. Nevertheless, they regarded their parents’ native land with affection and warmth. And they appreciated the many sacrifices their parents had made when, as mere teenagers, they bravely left all they had known in Ireland, and crossed the Atlantic to begin new lives in the New World.

For John (fondly known as Chick), Phil, Vince, and Joe Cassidy, marching in the St. Patrick’s Day would become not just a way of honoring Ireland, but a tradition honoring their beloved parents.

On that momentous day, when they first marched in the parade, they es-tablished a family tradition that would last for more than 50 years and still continues today. Over the years, they were joined by sons and nephews and grandsons from the Cassidy and Winning branches of the family, and eventu-ally, in the 1980s, their daughters and nieces and granddaughters began to march, too.

The Cassidy brothers are no longer living, but their descendants march on in their memory—no fewer than two dozen Cassidys and Winnings march every year, as scores of additional family members cheer them on from the side-lines, ensuring they keep a straight line.

The family now meets for the St. Patrick’s Day Mass in Philadelphia and boards a bus to the parade route. The Cassidys say the Mayo Association doesn’t merely provide the green satin sashes they wear in the parade, but the organization is essential to making the day so special for them, from start to finish. With the help of people such as Kathy Magee Burns, the family now has two to three pews reserved at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, so they can honor and remem-ber the parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and brothers and sisters who no longer are with them.

These men started a tradition. Their sons and daughters have cultivated it. And they hope that their children will ensure that it lives on for years to come. They believe the four brothers are smiling down from heaven as the Cassidy clan grows each year, marveling at what they began all those years ago when they first made their way to Chestnut St. and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Submitted by the Cassidy Family

The four Cassidy brothers who started it all (from left): Joe, John (Chick), Vince, and Phil.


MAYO MESSENGER

ThE MAYO pEOplE hAvE AlwAYS

hAd A SpEciAl plAcE iN ThEiR hEARTS

fOR OuR lAdY Of KNOcK,

buT NOw ShE hAS A SpEciAl plAcE

iN ThE iRiSh cENTER AS wEll.

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MAYO MESSENGER hunder rumbled and rain poured down from the skies as a group of devoted Irish men, women, and children gathered around a likeness of Our Lady of Knock on February 5, 2011. The weather that Sunday evening and the wonder of those present were not unlike the day in 1879 when a small crowd witnessed an apparition of the Virgin Mary in Knock, Co. Mayo. “Here we are 3,000 miles away from that little farming village, paying homage to Our Lady of Knock in Philadelphia,” said Mayo Association President Rosaleen Megonegal, as she opened the liturgy to dedicate a new statue of Our Lady of Knock in the Commodore Barry Club. “We welcome her as the ‘ultimate member’ of the Mayo Association.”

Despite the rain, ice, and snow that befell the city that day, more than 60 people from the Irish community crowded into the dining room to see Our Lady welcomed into her new home. Together they prayed the rosary and placed a red rose at the statue’s feet after each Hail Mary. One year prior, the statue arrived in the port of Philadelphia, after mak-ing a long and arduous journey from the shores of Ireland where it was sculpted. The Mayo Association of Philadelphia commissioned the sculpture as a special tribute to Our Lady, who has been the society’s recognized Patroness and Protector since 2002.

“We are so grateful for the many gifts of our members who have sacrificed so many hours to keep the presence of Mary

alive in our minds and hearts, especially here in the Irish community,” Megonegal said. “The whole thing was an act of love and working as a community, and it just goes to show you what you can achieve when you work together.”

Vision becomes reality

The statue began as a vision of John and Eileen Durkan, long-time Mayo members who shared their idea with the association at a monthly meeting. The members quickly expressed their interest and managed to commis-sion famed Irish artist Rick Lewis, who has painted and sculpted many dif-ferent works for Knock Shrine including the new processional statue of Our Lady.

Durkan volunteered to oversee the sculpture of the statue in Ireland, while he was on a visit home to Swinford. He has had a particularly strong connection to Our Lady since childhood—as a young boy, he often made the 14-mile journey on a bike from his home to the Knock Shrine. He volunteered there as a steward, which meant he would help to direct visitors and pilgrimages around the shrine one Sunday a month from March through September.

“There’s a sense of pride for the county because Our Lady chose to come to Mayo,” Durkan said.

He stills visits the Shrine several times a year, when he goes home on holidays, and was instrumental in explaining their vision to the artist. “I was particularly pleased with the

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MAYO MESSENGER

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features because our statue has a much younger face than the orig-inal at the Knock Shrine,” Durkan said. “The one we have is much prettier—there’s almost a smile on Our Lady’s lips.” The sculpture is made from rosin covered in granite, while the gold crown that sits atop her head was made by a silversmith in Frenchpark, Co. Roscommon.

Painting the Picture Once the statue was secured, the next step was to create a background. Gathering inspiration from the members of the Mayo Association, artist Cathy Rhoades painted a landscape of Knock and incorporated her own thoughts on the apparition as well. “I knew it was supposed to be a rainy day but I felt that the present day onlookers would rather be uplifted and see a brighter scene with sunshine,” she said.

The prepping of the wood paneling took quite some time because Rhoades needed to add quite a few layers of Gesso to the wood to even out the ridges and separations in the panels and ensure that the painting adhered properly. She knew the story of Our Lady of Knock well, having visited the

Shrine a few times in the past. “When I walked into the Irish Center and saw the statue of Our Lady standing in front of my painting, I felt very happy that I was able to be a part of this endeavor,” she said. “The fact that the members of the Mayo Association were so positive with the painting and the whole display made me feel that I had done a good job.”

Rhoades kept the painting in her sunroom, where many friends, family, and neighbors would visit to check on its progress. It opened up a dialogue with many people who had never heard of this apparition before. “I was honored

On august 21, 1879, a group of 15 local villagers wit-nessed an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, and St. John the evangelist at the southern gable of Knock Parish church, co. Mayo. they ranged in age from 6 to 75 years and also claimed to see a cross and a lamb with adoring angels upon a plain altar behind the visage.

the witnesses described Mary as wearing white robes with a brilliant crown on her head that bore a full-bloom gold-en rose. She appeared to be in the midst of prayer, with her eyes and hands raised toward the sky. they reported that St. Joseph, also wearing white robes, stood on her right side and St. John stood on her left, holding an open book in his left hand and wearing white vestments with a small mitre atop his head. they watched the apparition in the pouring rain for two hours, reciting the rosary, until it disappeared, claiming not a drop of rain fell on the gable or the vision. they reported the vision to the diocesan Bishop of tuam, and were interviewed by a commission of the Church. The first pilgrimages to Knock began in 1880, and over the years, thousands have trekked to the small village to commemorate the vision and ask for healing. in 1971, the church approved the apparition as being quite probable, although a formal statement has never been made.

to accommodate the growing crowds, a new church—Our Lady Queen of ireland—was built in 1976. it holds more than 2,000 people, which is just a small portion of the more than half a million visitors who travel to the shrine each year. the Shrine at Knock is open year-round and fea-tures three life-sized statues of Our Lady, St. Joseph, and St. John, which were erected in 1994.

Source: www.knockshrine.ie

A SIGhT TO bE SEEN bill Megonegal stands proudly beside the beautiful white, lighted cabinet that he, Sean McMenamin, and Mark hilpl built to house the statue.

Mayo members (from back left) butch harley, Jim Feerick, John Durkan, and Mark hilpl lead the procession at the annual mass for Our Lady of Knock.


MAYO MESSENGER

Cormac J. Brady, Organist

To book for your special event, wedding, church function, or private party, call (267) 439-0599 or email [email protected].

Cormac J. Brady, Organist

to be the one to present people with an understanding of what happened that day many years ago when Our Lady appeared to the town of Knock,” she said. “I began to feel a very close kinship with the people of Knock and Our Lady.”

A New Home for our LAdy Finally, Mayo members Bill Megonegal, Sean McMenamin, and Mark Hilpl fashioned a beautiful white, lighted cabi-net to house the statue and the painting. “As I was making this cabinet, I was remembering all the hundreds of people that I’ve met in this building—and all of the people they’ve helped,” said Megonegal, who has been coming to the Irish Center since he was 19 years old.

Our Lady was placed on a bed of river rock and surrounded by flowers that John’s daughter, Trish Pierce, brought home from a trip to Thailand. “I fashioned it after the statue in Knock because that statue is covered with flowers all around almost knee high,” he said. He also used these flow-ers to adorn a cart for the statue to sit on so that it could be easily transported for celebration such as the Mayo Asso-ciation’s annual mass celebrating her feast day and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

“This beautiful statue and inspirational painting of the Knock Shrine expresses our faith in various ways,” said Sis-ter James Anne, chaplain of the Mayo Association. “It serves to bring to mind the Lord’s great love for the Irish people, and to increase our confidence in the power of Mary.”

The new statue of Our Lady and the picturesque painting of the Knock gable now brightens the dining room in the Irish Center.


MAYO MESSENGER Recipe Corner

Let Them Eat Cake

ENjOY thESE tRAditiONAl tREAtS

with A hOt cup Of tEA

ANd A fEw GOOd fRiENdS.

Irish Soda Bread

From the kitchen of:

Eileen Mullarkey

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• 3 cups flour • 2 tsp. baking powder • 1 egg • 4 tbsp. butter (½ stick) • ½ tsp. salt • ½ cup sugar • 1 cup raisins • About 1¼ cups milk

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Mix all of the dry ingredients in large bowl, and then add the raisins to the mixture. Beat the eggs and milk in a separate, medium-sized bowl. Add melted butter.

Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients until you can handle the dough. Knead the dough a little bit, and place in a greased and flour cast-iron skillet. Make a cross on top.

Bake at 350°F for 55 minutes. Let cool, then cut into slices and serve with butter and jam.

Ingredients Preparation B

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MAYO MESSENGERRecipe Corner

Vesey’s Boiled

Fruit CakeFrom the kitch

en of:

The Berman Family

• 1 lb. raisins • 2 cups sugar • ½ lb. butter • 2 cups beer or Guinness (cake will be darker with Guinness) • 4 cups flour • 1 tsp. baking soda • 1 tsp. ground cloves • ½ tsp. cinnamon • 2 beaten eggs

Bring the raisins, sugar, butter, and beer to a boil in a saucepan, and cook for 3 minutes. Cool to a warm temperature. Combine the flour, baking soda, cloves, and cinnamon; mix and add gradually to the raisin mixture.

Mix thoroughly for 5 minutes, turning in the same direction. Add the beaten eggs, folding them into the batter (the spoon should almost stand in the batter—additional flour may be needed).

Line a springform pan with wax paper (buttered). Preheat the oven to 350°F to start, and decrease to 300°F after 15 minutes. Continue to bake for 2 hours at 300°F. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before removing.

Ingredients

Preparation

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Across1 River known for its salmon fishing 4 Natural source of fuel that comes from the

bog 6 Saint who is said to have converted Ireland

to Christianity 8 Ireland’s largest island 13 Controversial gas project in Erris 14 Month during which the annual Croagh

Patrick pilgrimage is held. 15 Ireland's first female president 16 Western People is one of Mayo’s most

popular ____. 17 Irish-speaking area that makes up 9% of

Mayo 19 Town where The Quiet Man was filmed 22 "The Soldier’s Song" is Ireland’s ______. 25 Traditional Irish drum 26 A celebration that takes place on

December 26 takes its name from this bird 27 Mayo town, also the name of a card game 28 According to legend, the Children of Lir

were turned into ____. 32 Current Taoiseach of Ireland, Kenny 35 Campaign that opposes construction of

natural gas pipeline in Erris 36 One of Mayo’s county colors 38 Took place during 1845-49, also known as

"An Gorta Mor" 39 This is pictured on the Mayo crest 40 They wrote the Book of Kells 41 Ireland’s oldest university

Down2 Female star of the The Quiet Man, Maureen 3 Town where Ireland’s first female president

was born 4 Mayo is the ____ largest county in Ireland. 5 16th century pirate queen from Mayo,

O’Malley 7 Popular Irish toast 9 This French general landed in Killala in 1798 10 Number of times the Mayo GAA team has

been in the All-Ireland Finals 11 Local Mayo radio station 12 County Motto: Dia is ____ 13 Province where Mayo is located 18 Stone age monument near Ballycastle 20 Mayo town with the largest population 21 Before the Euro, it was the official paper

currency of Ireland 23 Highest point in Co. Mayo and the province

of Connacht 24 Largest lake in Mayo, Lough ____ 29 Ingredient in Irish coffee 30 Name that the Romans gave to Ireland 31 Popular tourist spot and fishing town 33 Religious shrine in Mayo 34 Neighboring county 37 “One” in Gaelic.

Trivia/Games

All About Mayoq r

for answers, see page 70.


MAYO MESSENGER

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MAYO MESSENGER

Cummins said it was her goal in writing this book that she “might depict the traveller character beyond the usual stereotypes, by illustrating some of their hardships without turning them into victims, and some of their flaws without turning them into caricatures of violence and immortality.”

From the Outside Looking In This novel follows a young boy’s search for identity, offering the reader a unique window into the Irish travelling community.

Page Turner

While the travelling community is known by many names in Ireland, their way of life is understood by few. In The Outside Boy, Jeanine Cummins offers a win-dow into the values and traditions of the Pavee culture through the eyes of 11-year-old Christy Hurley.

Cummins follows the young boy and his family as they travel the Irish countryside in their wagons. The year is 1959 and the young boy enters adolescence as the trav-elling community endures growing pains of its own. The Pavee struggle to forge a new identity as modern technology threatens to quickly make their way of life obsolete, and Christy searches for something to anchor him within a nomadic life-style that offers no permanence.

Christy carries with him a devastating guilt about his mother’s death, which he believes happens minutes after his birth. Early in the novel, he experiences another devas-tating loss when his Grandda passes away. After his cousin Martin sets fire to Grandda’s wagon and his corpse in an attempt to “free” the dead patriarch, their granny decides it’s time to park the wagons for a bit so the boys can receive their sacraments and some proper schooling.

Ironically, it’s when Christy finally settles in one place that his true journey begins—the search to find out who his mother was and who he is. It begins with a mysteri-ous picture that survived the wagon fire. He discovers the

beautiful smiling woman in the photograph was his mother and the infant she’s holding was him. As his fragile world starts to crumbles, he becomes desperate to find the miss-ing pieces of his family tree in the hopes that it will make him whole.

Cummins transports the reader to 1950s Ireland with a masterful use of common Irish dialect and an authentic portrait of life in that era that includes tiny nuances like the importance of having a piece of turf to contribute to schoolhouse fire. By revealing Christy’s vulnerability and good nature, she invites the reader to see a different side of the gypsy community and succeeds in making the unfamiliar familiar.

Raised in New York City, the author has always kept strong ties to her

Irish heritage. She once represented Washington D.C. in the Rose of Tralee pageant, lived in Ireland for many years, and eventually married a man from Swinford, Mayo. They go back to Mayo every year with their children to visit family there. In fact, the landscape and terrain near Killeencoff, a town on the outskirts of Westport, actually inspired one of the final scenes in The Outside Boy. Cummins is currently working on two more novels, one for children and one for adults, both of which are set in Mayo. For more information, visit www.theoutsideboy.com.

($15.00/320 pages/New American Library, a division of the Penguin Group)

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MAYO MESSENGER

Cavan Society of Philadelphia

Visit us at www.cavansociety.com.


MAYO MESSENGER

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All About Mayo Answer Key

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Algonquin Round Table Mysteries

Blackthorn

Cavan Society of Philadelphia

Cawley’s Irish Pub & Restaurant

CBM Creative

Cormac J. Brady

Come West Along the Road

Commodore Barry Club

Farrelly Brothers Landscape Contractors Inc.

Good Man Sealcoating

Irish American Chamber of Business

Jen Agatone

Liberty Mutual

Kane Insurance & Planning

Kavanagh’s Family Catering

Loose Leaf Concepts

Loughros Point Landscaping & Hardscaping

Re/MAX Services

Martin Insurance

Mayo Association of Philadelphia

Mayo County Council

McKenna’s Irish Shop

Murtagh Bros. Inc.

Rince Ri Irish Dance

Rose of Tralee

Theresa Flanagan Band

Volpe & Koenig P.C.

Westminster Travel

www.RoundTableMysteries.com 43

www.irishthing.com

www.cavansociety.com

[email protected]

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www.cawleysirishpub.com

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(610) 710-9643

www.iabcn.org

www.jenagatone.com

[email protected]

(610) 585-1964

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www.looseleafconcepts.com

(610) 220-4142

(610) 825-6778

(888) 410-3799

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[email protected]

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Across1 River known for its salmon fishing 4 Natural source of fuel that comes from the

bog 6 Saint who is said to have converted Ireland

to Christianity 8 Ireland’s largest island 13 Controversial gas project in Erris 14 Month during which the annual Croagh

Patrick pilgrimage is held. 15 Ireland's first female president 16 Western People is one of Mayo’s most

popular ____. 17 Irish-speaking area that makes up 9% of

Mayo 19 Town where The Quiet Man was filmed 22 "The Soldier’s Song" is Ireland’s ______. 25 Traditional Irish drum 26 A celebration that takes place on

December 26 takes its name from this bird 27 Mayo town, also the name of a card game 28 According to legend, the Children of Lir

were turned into ____. 32 Current Taoiseach of Ireland, Kenny 35 Campaign that opposes construction of

natural gas pipeline in Erris 36 One of Mayo’s county colors 38 Took place during 1845-49, also known as

"An Gorta Mor" 39 This is pictured on the Mayo crest 40 They wrote the Book of Kells 41 Ireland’s oldest university

Down2 Female star of the The Quiet Man, Maureen 3 Town where Ireland’s first female president

was born 4 Mayo is the ____ largest county in Ireland. 5 16th century pirate queen from Mayo,

O’Malley 7 Popular Irish toast 9 This French general landed in Killala in 1798 10 Number of times the Mayo GAA team has

been in the All-Ireland Finals 11 Local Mayo radio station 12 County Motto: Dia is ____ 13 Province where Mayo is located 18 Stone age monument near Ballycastle 20 Mayo town with the largest population 21 Before the Euro, it was the official paper

currency of Ireland 23 Highest point in Co. Mayo and the province

of Connacht 24 Largest lake in Mayo, Lough ____ 29 Ingredient in Irish coffee 30 Name that the Romans gave to Ireland 31 Popular tourist spot and fishing town 33 Religious shrine in Mayo 34 Neighboring county 37 “One” in Gaelic.

www.wtvacations.com 11


MAYO MESSENGER

BLACKTHORN

Thursday, March 15 6:30 pmCongressman Meehan FundraiserConcordville InnConcord Township, PA

Friday, March 16 10:00 pmR.P. McMurphy’s PubMacDade Blvd., Holmes, PA

Saturday, March 17 3:00 pmHarrah’s Casino and Race TrackOn the deck overlooking the racetrack

Saturday, March 17 10:00 pmBrownie’s 23 EastLancaster Ave., Ardmore, PA

It’s An Irish Thing!

UPCOMING SHOWS

For more information, visit our website at www.irishthing.com


MAYO MESSENGER

Upcoming Events

• March 16: Concert starring traditional Irish musician Moya Brennan at 8 pm; advance tickets $23, tickets at the door $25.• March 17: St. Patrick’s Day Mass at 1 pm, followed by the monthly seniors’ luncheon; music and food available for purchase from 3 pm to 7 pm• March 23: The Ulster Historical Foundation presents an overview devoted to tracing Irish and Scots-Irish ancestry. This is sponsored by the Geneological Society of Pennsylvania and runs from 4 pm to 7:30 pm; admission is $30 and includes light refreshments.• April 15: The Derry Society presents their annual family-oriented social, with live music, fun, and games for the children.

The Commodore Barry Club6815 Emlen St.

Philadelphia, PA 19119(215) 843-8051

www.theirishcenter.com

The Commodore Barry Club is home to a number of Irish organizations and hosts monthly music and cultural events for the Irish community. With four rooms available for rental, we can host events for anywhere from 25 to 1,500 people. Call or visit us today!

Making Memories for More Than 50 Years...

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Documents

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irish chamber

irish events

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irish community

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