In Ireland, the dead are not dead
PDX HIBERNIAN INDEPENDENT 30 October 2025
More than an email. Less than a newspaper. Now delivered every Thursday. Published by The Portland Hibernian Society
Oregon Potato Famine Memorial Cross of the Scriptures. Photo by Hibernian Dan Holden 10.25.25
Oíche Shamhna
From the Museum of Country Life - Castlebar, Co Mayo. “Hallowe’en (Oíche Shamhna) was known as ghost night or spirit night. On this evening people expected the souls of the dead to return to the family home. Many families left food and drink for their deceased relatives on the the table before they went to bed. But evil spirits were also active on Hallowe’en, and people avoided traveling alone on this night. Some families made special crosses to place above the door to protect the home from bad luck in the coming year.”
Hibernian Headquarters Haunted?
Kells Irish Pub in Downtown Portland (112 SW 2nd Ave), home of the Portland Hibernian Society since 1998, is haunted. In a good way. Willamette Week recently ran a sidebar on how spirits of Portland’s past still hang out in buildings around Ankeny Alley, including the Glisan Building, built in 1889 and home of Kells since 1989. It's not just any old Portland businessman or barfly wh haunts Kells. It's Chief David Campbell, the former Portland Fire Bureau boss who died heroically in 1911 and has his own memorial just off W. Burnside at SW 18th., He reportedly liked Kells on SW First then and likes it now.. “Supposedly, the floodlight under the P in Kells Irish Pub turns on and off when Chief Campbell is trying to communicate with the living.” You can see for yourself this weekend. Skeptics welcome.
The Making of a President 2025
In a low turnout election last week Irish voters elected Catherine Connolly (Ind.) as their tenth President (Uachtarán). Even though her duties will be mostly ceremonial, Connolly’s landslide victory represents a setback for the political establishment, i.e. political parties Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. It’s significant in other ways as well. Check out the PDX HI coverage.
The House of Guinness and the price of a pint in Ireland
Anyone watching The House of Guinness on Netflix knows there will be a second season. In fact, series creator Steven Knight wants to follow the family’s fortunes and foibles right up to the tawdry tales of the stout set during the 1960s. Read more here.
Inaugural Portland Hibernian Book Night set for November 20
You are invited to tell us about your favorite Irish book at our November get together. What constitutes an Irish book? It could be by an Irish author, be about Ireland, or by an Irish American author and be about being Irish in America. There’s a rundown on some likely volumes here. If you would like to be part of the proceedings, hit Reply and let us know
For the Hallowe'en Weekend - Theater - Sport - Costumes
Gemma Whelan directs.
Can Ireland beat New Zealand (All Blacks) again like in 2016?
(The Gallager Cup is named for an international insurance brokerage and risk management firm. No relation.)
Costume suggestion. Dressing as Chief David Campbell.
Chief David Campbell - Rest In Peace
"The Irish are a very special people. They love the dead. They will sit with you in silence, mourning your loss, and then they will tell you the funniest stories about the deceased." James Joyce