Belated Bloomsday 2025
PDX HIBERNIAN INDEPENDENT Volume Three - Number Fifty-Four – 19 June 2025
More than an email. Less than a newspaper. Delivered early on the first and third Thursday morning of every month. Published by The Portland Hibernian Society.
BLOOMSDAY MEETING TONIGHT - JUNE 19
James Joyce still shows up as one of the most popular Irish persons in America. Not bad for a writer born in Dublin in 1882. For writing a novel considered by many the best book ever written in the English language, he has his day. Ulysses is set on June 16, 1904 - Bloomsday. Hibernian David O’Longaigh is responsible for our annual local celebration of the novel (difficult) and the man who wrote it (also difficult). Join us at Kells Restaurant (112 SW Second Avenue in Portland) TONIGHT at Six p.m. for readings, a little revelry and Irish desserts. Free and all are welcome. ONE NIGHT ONLY (until next year).
PDX HI NOW ON SUBSTACK
To take our Irish awareness crusade to a larger community, I’ve set up a site – Gallagher's Celtic Corner – on Substack, a new platform for writers and others with something to say. Want to see more Irish stories, check it out. I’m now posting six days a week (Sun. - Fri.).
IF YOU’RE INTERESTED
Substack isn’t part of Mark Zuckerberg’s or Elon Musk’s social media empire. That’s the good news. But it’s still a business and to subscribe strictly to Gallagher’s Celtic Corner for FREE will take some maneuvering. Because who wants more emails, right?
Go to Gallagherpdx.substack.com. Hit SUBSCRIBE. Then get ready to play hopscotch. Hit Continue without Paying. Skip. Skip. Skip. Maybe Later. That should get you to GCC and prevent unwanted emails from people you’ve never heard of. Ask me tonight if you’re interested. This is a fun raiser not a fund raiser, as Tim Hennessy would say. Go raibh maith agat.
ROSE FESTIVAL QUEEN HEADED TO DUBLIN
We’re wishing newly crowned Queen of Rosaria Ava Rathi the best of luck in Ireland this Fall. “Rathi, who just graduated from Lincoln HS, plans to attend a four-year university and study international affairs, political science and business“I am interested in a career in international relations or public policy,” she said. She plans to attend Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.” But maybe not Trinity. PDX HI checked in with the Rose Festival to congratulate Queen Avi and was told, “Queen Ava's college plans are not 100% confirmed at this time. She does plan to attend a college in Dublin but the exact college will not be known until after July 7th.” Keep an eye on University College Dublin.
SOPHIE O’SULLIVAN’S OREGON GLORY
The daughter of Sonia O’Sullivan, one of Ireland’s greatest athletes, won the NCAA Title with a time of 4:07:94 in the 1500 meter race at historic Heyward Field in Eugene last week. Sophie and Sonia O’Sullivan are two of five Irish women to win NCAA track titles. A graduate of UW this month, Sophie was born in Australia but has Irish citizenship, obviously, and will compete for Ireland in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Sonia, herself an Olympic silver medalist and Irish sporting legend, spent some time in Portland during Covid as a coach for Nike athletes. She used to train on Leif Erickson Drive in Forest Park.
NO HOMETOWN RALLY FOR RORY MC ILROY
It’s been ten weeks since Ireland’s greatest living golfer won his fourth Major and the Grand Slam but still there are no plans for a civic celebration. “Expectations of a major event to honour the Holywood-born sports star were raised in the immediate aftermath of his Masters’ win,” reported the Irish Examiner. This seems like kind of a big deal. Why no event is a mystery to his fans. After he won at Augusta top politicos were calling for “a huge party” and “a hero’s welcome.” So far though, nothing’s in the works. McIlroy, a Floridian most of the time these days, will be back home for the (British) Open third week of July. A win at Royal Portrush might get him some hometown love.
SOMEONE IN MUNSTER WON A QUARTER BILLION EUROS
We don’t know who yet or exactly where the winning ticket was bought, just which Province. This is the biggest EuroMillions win ever in Ireland. The “lucky punter “ has three months to come forward. Anonymity is not an option. (250 million Euros = $288 million)
BREAKING NEWS – KNEECAPPER RELEASED
One of the three members of the Irish-speaking rap group Kneecap had his day in court Wednesday and walked out with no conditions other than that he be back in court in late August. Mo Chara has been charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag on stage. Kneecap is notorious for its support of Palestine. Hundreds of supporters showed up outside the courthouse in London; some carrying signs that said, "More Blacks, More Dogs, More Irish, Mo Chara". As recently as the 1950s some rooming houses in England advertised “No Blacks. No Dogs. No Irish.”
NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT - A ROSE OF TRALEE ESCORT
Every August in the west of Ireland there’s a festival surrounding the selection of the Rose of Tralee. One of 32 women will wear the crown. RTE carries two night’s worth of coverage, which is viewed by a quarter of the Irish populations. Believe me, it’s a big deal. Alongside those 32 women re 32 men, their escorts. To qualify, a man must first fork over $2,300, make the cut and attend a “boot camp.” The first day of training included “a hike up Mount Brandon before a re-fueling pit stop at Paudie O’Sé’s legendary pub and a visit to the local Dingle Distillery followed by a boat tour around Dingle Bay, finished off with a BBQ and singalong session at Paul Geaney’s pub.” No one said it would be easy. The Rose of Tralee takes place August 15 to 19.
TO GO WHERE NO ONE FROM IRELAND HAS GONE BEFORE
Anywhere you go in the world you’ll find the Irish. Soon that will apply to space too. “Dr Norah Patten, who hails from Ballina in Co. Mayo, but now lives in Dublin, has been selected as one of three research astronauts who will fly to space on Virgin Galactic’s new Delta Class spaceship.” Launch will happen in 2026. There’s never been an astronaut born in Ireland.
ANOTHER VILLANOVA GRAD GOING PLACES
Edward Walsh has been confirmed as America’s new Ambassador to Ireland and should soon be moving into the official residence in Phoenix Park in Dublin. Most of the questions he faced at his Senate confirmation hearing were about Ireland’s support of Palestine. "I look forward to working constructively to engage on the issues that are contributing to the tensions between Israel and Ireland," he said. The Senate confirmed him 57 – 38 with 8 Democrats voting aye. The fact that he’s a Villanova University grad like Pope Leo the 14th was recently added to his Wikipedia page.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
In all my years covering lottery winners, I never heard this one.
A man from Mullingar, Co Westmeath, said he would find it overwhelming, and would not want it at all. "I dread it, believe it or not, life is good, our children are healthy we're healthy and to be honest I'd rather not win it. I would fear for our health or losing the run of themselves."
See you tonight.
Bill Gallagher