Farewell to a fine Portland Hibernian
PDX HIBERNIAN INDEPENDENT 5 March 2026
More than an email. Less than a newspaper. Weekly newsletter of the Portland Hibernian Society. Delivered every Thursday. St. Patrick’s Day Banquet March 7 at Kells Restaurant. (That’s right, THIS Saturday. See below.)
May 1, 2007 Donegal Town, Ireland - Hibernian Peter Cullen from Portland OR at the unveiling of the Cross of the Scriptures.
It's a wonderful Irish American life
Peter Cullen passed away last week. Born in Fermoy, County Cork, Peter lived a very full life. He grew up in Ireland, a gifted athlete. His career spanned the War on Poverty to the world of finance. Peter was eight years a priest and 59 years a husband, father and grandfather. We will always be grateful to Peter for helping make the Oregon Potato Famine Memorial a reality. We're also grateful for his laughter and stories and for being a friend. Peter Cullen was 96. There will be a funeral service Saturday March 7 at Eleven A.M. at St. Clare Church. (8535 SW 19th Ave, Portland) CLICK HERE for a remembrance of Peter the Portland Hibernian. CLICK HERE for the “official” obituary. Ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís. (His like will not be seen again.)
Save The Date – A Celebration of Life at the Hibernian High Cross
The annual Portland Hibernian Society gathering at the Oregon Potato Famine Memorial Cross of the Scriptures will take place this year on March 17 at Ten A.M. at Mount Calvary Cemetery. We’ll be paying tribute to Peter Cullen at this year’s ceremonies. His tireless organization of the finances for the Memorial was essential. As was his positive approach to completion of the project and dedication in December 2008. See you at Mt. Calvary on Saint Patrick’s Day.
Annual Hibernian Saint Patrick's Day Banquet is Saturday!
We've got a fun night planned. Live music. Irish dancers. Delicious Irish buffet. And some raffle prizes you won't find anywhere else. If you'd like to join us but haven't RSVPed, you’ve got to let me know. Here's what you need to know about the Banquet.
If it's March it must be Irish Month in America
Part of the annual observance of Saint Patrick’s Day in March, besides the shamrock ceremony at the White House (see above), is the issuing of the Irish-America Heritage Month Proclamation. What’s with that? (As of March 5, this year’s proclamation has yet to be issued.) For the back story and a list of every Irish American ever named in the Proclamation CLICK HERE.
Celebrating Saint Patrick in PDX since World War Two
On March 15, 1941, nine months before Dec. 7, the All Ireland Social Club held its first ever Saint Patrick’s Day event at Norse Hall on NE Eleventh Street in Portland, which it rented for $35. On March 17, 2026, the All Ireland Cultural Society will do it again, for the 85th time. Join the party at Aquinas Hall on NE Clackamas Street. Featured performers will be Mikey Beglan and the Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue Pipes and Drums Band. This is Greater Portland’s longest-running Saint Patrick’s Day celebration. More details here.
Party on St.Patrick’s Day like it’s 1976
Oh, to be 22 again. There’s always been an irreverent side to the celebrations of the feast day of one of Ireland’s three patron saints (St. Patrick, St. Brigid and St. Colmcille). March 17 means madness to a certain sector of Irish-American society. So, next Thursday the PDX HI will walk on the wild side with coverage of some of the parades and parties scheduled for Saint Patrick’s Day (3.17) and the weekend leading up to it (3.13 - 3.15). If you can’t wait that long, here’s a decent guide from brewpublic.com.
Celtic Canada sends its best to Portland for St. Patrick's Day
This truly is a family affair. Fiddlers Natlie McMaster and Donnell Leahy, leaders of a Celtic all star band, are married with seven children. Their oldest daughter, Mary Frances, is part of the show. Their brand of Celtic music is traditional and fiddle driven. Add dancers and you’ve got a killer Celtic stage show. Here's a sample from Ireland's Woodstock of traditional music and dancing, the Fleadh in 2023. The family that plays together stays together.
SPORT - Ireland still has title shot. Pugilist Katie Taylor says one more bout.
LIVE from Dublin tomorrow Fri. March 6 at Noon – Ireland faces Wales in the Six Nations Tournament. Woeful is Wales, without a win in Six Nations play in three years. Ireland has only ever lost to France at home. T.C. O'Leary's on NE Alberta should be packed for the action so get there early. Or head to Kells Brewery on NW 21st.
Katie Taylor, one of Ireland's greatest boxers ever, will fight her last fight this summer in Dublin. At Croke Park, she hopes. The 39 year old Super Lightweight Champ from Bray says it's time to move on from the ring. "It has been an amazing journey, the whole lot of it, over these last 20 years. I have had the highs and lows. It has been an incredible, remarkable career and I always wanted to end it here in Ireland." At this point there's no opponent named for Taylor's summer farewell.
Know your Irish History Month
On March 5, 1867, Ireland’s 19th century warriors known as Fenians staged a series of armed rebellions across the country. Some would call them skirmishes. Twelve Irishmen died that day. This was the sixth rising referred to in the Proclamation of 1916. "In every generation the Irish people have asserted their right to national freedom and sovereignty; six times during the past three hundred years they have asserted it in arms." Among the Fenians who fought British rule that sixth time in 1867 were 500 veterans of the Civil War. Supporters of Ireland consider it another noble failure. British historians? To them it’s another dismal failure. This is a pretty balanced article.
Quote of the day
1939 - "It is the intent and purpose of this Club to unite the Irish of Portland in order that they may take their part in the social functions of this city." All Ireland Social Club which became All Ireland Cultural Society
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