I AM writing in reaction to your recent coverage of the Congressional battle over funding for the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) and the apparent role of Trina Vargo, who was recently given a forum by The Irish Times to weigh in to oppose the valuable efforts of this fine organization.
It borders on the bizarre that Ms. Vargo has emerged as a political ally of Glenn Beck, the Tea Party and right-wing Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz in opposition to U.S. support for Ireland through the IFI.
Her attack on the valuable work done by the IFI to foster and preserve peace through constructive action is equally strange.
Why does she see putting Irish young people from both communities to work in Northern Ireland as a bad thing?
Isn't it a good thing to create jobs for hundreds of Irish young people in Ireland that enhances local tourism, ecology and employment? To help build viable peaceful communities, this is what the IFI does.
On the other hand, Ms. Vargo’s Mitchell Scholarship Program brings 12 Ivy League American students, all expenses paid, to Ireland each year.
Which program does Ireland most need now? Clearly the IFI.
That’s how the Obama administration sees it. Glenn Beck, the Tea Party and Ms. Vargo see it differently.
Go figure.
James J. Regan
Omaha, Nebraska
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Joyce and Cricket
IRELAND’S historic World Cup cricket win last month over the “Gentlemen of England” before 40,000 fans was truly astonishing since cricket is not a popular sport in Ireland.
In 1904, the GAA banned “foreign games” such as cricket, replacing them with national sports.
Nevertheless, James Joyce always liked cricket. ìThe fellows were practicing long shies and bowling lobs and slow twisters . . . the sounds of the cricket bats: pick pack, pock, puck.î (Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man).
Also in Ulysses, Leopold Bloom commented, "Cricket weather . . . they can’t play it here. Duck for six wickets . . . Donnybrook fair (hurling, rugby, Gaelic football) more in their line. And the skulls we were acracking . . ."
Joyce would have been very proud of Ireland’s cricketers.
Brother Ed Kent
Fresh Meadows, New York
In 1904, the GAA banned “foreign games” such as cricket, replacing them with national sports.
Nevertheless, James Joyce always liked cricket. ìThe fellows were practicing long shies and bowling lobs and slow twisters . . . the sounds of the cricket bats: pick pack, pock, puck.î (Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man).
Also in Ulysses, Leopold Bloom commented, "Cricket weather . . . they can’t play it here. Duck for six wickets . . . Donnybrook fair (hurling, rugby, Gaelic football) more in their line. And the skulls we were acracking . . ."
Joyce would have been very proud of Ireland’s cricketers.
Brother Ed Kent
Fresh Meadows, New York
Burn Donkey Abusers
I WAS brokenhearted when we read the Irish Voice recent ìIreland’s Eyeî story about the little donkey who was badly beaten and had to be put to sleep.
It’s a disgrace that the country yokels in Limerick let these monsters get away with this. They should all be rounded up and whipped along with the stupid farmers that throw horses and donkeys out on the roads to fend for themselves.
Most country people in Ireland are brought up in an ignorant way and are very cold. Any parents that gave birth to those monsters should give them a good whipping.
What are the police doing? They should work harder to catch these monsters.
We don’t need these drunks and druggies in society. I hope they burn in hell. I am ashamed to say I am Irish.
Eileen McNamara
West Orange, New Jersey
It’s a disgrace that the country yokels in Limerick let these monsters get away with this. They should all be rounded up and whipped along with the stupid farmers that throw horses and donkeys out on the roads to fend for themselves.
Most country people in Ireland are brought up in an ignorant way and are very cold. Any parents that gave birth to those monsters should give them a good whipping.
What are the police doing? They should work harder to catch these monsters.
We don’t need these drunks and druggies in society. I hope they burn in hell. I am ashamed to say I am Irish.
Eileen McNamara
West Orange, New Jersey
Dissident Thugs
FROM the shallow end of the gene pool comes the IRA lunatics. The bomb that killed Catholic PSNI Officer Ronan Kerr from Omagh was followed by Facebook postings gloating over his death.
Now I realize these throwbacks aren't employable, but if they are, will they be fired from their menial jobs? Or is that honor just reserved for Loyalists?
These Fenian war criminals who hide behind masks and plant bombs in the middle of the night are taking a tip from their comrades in the Provies. And just how can Sinn Fein/IRA talk about “moving on” when they themselves glorify sectarian terrorism?
Comrade Martin McGuinness gave the oration recently for 24 IRA criminals in the grounds of the Ti Chulainn Center in Mullaghbawn. At this hate fest the Shinners had young children dress up in paramilitary uniforms with masks and carrying guns. Republicans of all stripes are very sick, demented animals.
The “dissidents” can now continue their drug dealing and shooting people in Dublin who won't pay them protection money, among other criminal activities. In that sense they are true “Republicans.”
So another blow was struck for “freedom” in the name of the Irish people. Republicanism is truly a mental disease.
John Gregg
Pleasantville, New York
Now I realize these throwbacks aren't employable, but if they are, will they be fired from their menial jobs? Or is that honor just reserved for Loyalists?
These Fenian war criminals who hide behind masks and plant bombs in the middle of the night are taking a tip from their comrades in the Provies. And just how can Sinn Fein/IRA talk about “moving on” when they themselves glorify sectarian terrorism?
Comrade Martin McGuinness gave the oration recently for 24 IRA criminals in the grounds of the Ti Chulainn Center in Mullaghbawn. At this hate fest the Shinners had young children dress up in paramilitary uniforms with masks and carrying guns. Republicans of all stripes are very sick, demented animals.
The “dissidents” can now continue their drug dealing and shooting people in Dublin who won't pay them protection money, among other criminal activities. In that sense they are true “Republicans.”
So another blow was struck for “freedom” in the name of the Irish people. Republicanism is truly a mental disease.
John Gregg
Pleasantville, New York
Save Shannon
I THINK it's deplorable and shameful that the Irish Tourist Board and Aer Lingus do not promote Shannon Airport and the west coast of Ireland. Everything is geared towards Dublin.
Dublin is cold-hearted, dangerous and unfriendly while the rest of Ireland, especially the west coast, is the opposite.
What right has Dublin to the vast majority of the tourists? No right, that's what.
The politicians of Clare, Limerick and the surrounding counties should rise up against this situation. So far they have been totally useless.
If something is not done Shannon Airport could close down. I kid you not.
Patrick Furey
New York, New York
Dublin is cold-hearted, dangerous and unfriendly while the rest of Ireland, especially the west coast, is the opposite.
What right has Dublin to the vast majority of the tourists? No right, that's what.
The politicians of Clare, Limerick and the surrounding counties should rise up against this situation. So far they have been totally useless.
If something is not done Shannon Airport could close down. I kid you not.
Patrick Furey
New York, New York
Communion Confusion
IN the March 16-23 issue of the Irish Voice, in a story by Cahir O'Doherty about New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, mention was made that a top-level Vatican consultant, Edward Peters of Detroit, wrote that the governor should be denied Communion because of Cuomo's "public concubinage."
When the Pope visited New York a few years ago, New York City’s ex-mayor Rudy Giuliani attended the public mass and "publicly" went up to receive Communion, although it was a well-known fact that he was presently living with his third wife.
I questioned the pastor of my local Catholic Church, and he said that it was HIS obligation to give Communion to "whoever presented himself.”
Surely this is not permitted only in Maine. It's either the rule in the Catholic Church or it isn't. Can someone enlighten me on this subject?
Catherine Glackin Welch
Caribou, Maine
When the Pope visited New York a few years ago, New York City’s ex-mayor Rudy Giuliani attended the public mass and "publicly" went up to receive Communion, although it was a well-known fact that he was presently living with his third wife.
I questioned the pastor of my local Catholic Church, and he said that it was HIS obligation to give Communion to "whoever presented himself.”
Surely this is not permitted only in Maine. It's either the rule in the Catholic Church or it isn't. Can someone enlighten me on this subject?
Catherine Glackin Welch
Caribou, Maine
Not Our Songs
THANK you to Mike Farragher, Niall O'Dowd, and everyone at the Irish Voice for the recent article on Beannacht winning the Best New Act Award at the Jersey Acoustic Music Awards in Asbury Park.
We greatly appreciate the honor of winning the award and of it being covered in the Irish Voice.
However, while we do write and perform original songs, we cannot take credit for "Into the Mystic" and "Raglan Road.”
Tom Johnston & Deirdre Forrest
Asbury Park, New Jersey
We greatly appreciate the honor of winning the award and of it being covered in the Irish Voice.
However, while we do write and perform original songs, we cannot take credit for "Into the Mystic" and "Raglan Road.”
Tom Johnston & Deirdre Forrest
Asbury Park, New Jersey
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