Oregon & Ireland - Ties that bind
PDX HIBERNIAN INDEPENDENT 29 January 2026
More than an email. Less than a newspaper. Delivered every Thursday. Available at our website.
A chara.
OR-IRE - Cooperation between State and Nation
With the dawn of 2026, Oregon became the latest state to formalize relations with Ireland by creatng a vehicle for commercial, cultural, educational and extra curricular exchanges. Passed overhwelmingly by the Oregon Legislature, SB 961 creates the Oregon-Ireland Sister State Committee and establishes a set up for two-way cooperation and engagement. Here's how and why we've entered a new era of Oregon-Ireland relations.
Governor Tina Kotek’s office announced these appointments to the first Oregon-Ireland Sister State Committee:
Brian Doherty – One of the key movers behind SB 96. Brian, a retired attorney, was also instrumental in bringing the Hibernian High Cross to Mt. Calvary.
Marco Oswald – US Army. Ret. Resident of Sweet Home.
Mark Weiner – Portland political consultant.
Gay Maher – President Irish Network Portland. Realtor.
John Seymour – Representing Rural / Agricultural interests
David Stone – Associate Dean of International Programs at Oregon State University
According to a spokeswoman, “the Governor has one more appointment to make, we are still seeking applicants for the business / trade representative. I’m hoping we can have someone appointed to that seat by early March.”
It’s expected that the Committee will elect a Chair and Vice Chair when it meets.
Intel's 4,800-mile bridge from Oregon to Ireland
Founded in Menlo Park, CA before there was a Silicon Valley, Intel's connection with Oregon's Silicon Forest has been long and strong. It's hard to imagine the growth of the Oregon economy in the 1990s without Intel. Direct dealings bewtween its Washington County operations and Intel's Fab 34 facility in Leixlip, Co. Kildare are a big part of the origin story of the new Sister-State Committee.
But 2025 was a rough year for Intel. More than 3,000 employes were laid off in Oregon. The Trump Administration arranged to purchse 10% of its stock. And whie the stock pirce was up at the end of the year, it tumbled on Jan. 16 by 17% on forecasts of lower-than-expected growth. Hanging over all these developments is uncerainty about the effect of the Trump Tarrifs.
As a result of these developments, Intel is no longer the largest non-government employer in Oregon. That may sound like another dry economic statistic, but Intel has held that position since 1989. Tektronix was number one in the decade before that and Weyerhaeuser was primary employer of Oregonians for a large part of the twentieth century. This is what economic evolution in Oregon looks like as the state's largest private employer transitions from Timber to Tech to Health Care.
Know Nothings Never Go Away*
When I asked at our January genealogy meeting how many Hibernians have dual citizenship with Ireland, more than half raised their hands. That tells me you will want to know more about the Exclusive Citizenship Act. A Republican Senator from Ohio believes you should have to choose between your American and Irish citizenship One or the other. You can’t be both.This bill is full of unpleasant surprises. Attorney Virginia La Torre Jeker writes about this legislation in Forbes. Here’s what she wrote to the PDX HI about this, “Quite frankly, I do not believe that it will be enacted into law. However, in my 40+ years of practice, I have seen proposals come and go… And quite often they eventually do become law. So, it is definitely something people should be aware of and keep their eye on.” The PDX HI will do just that with Continuing Coverage of the Exclusive Citizenship Act.
Next Meeting Feb. 19 – Ireland's Craft Industry & Legacy
Have you heard the expression “Lace curtain Irish”? To be called that wasn’t a compliment. It was applied to those Irish in America in the early Twentieth Century who wanted the neighbors to know they were a cut above “Shanty Irish.” No one ever talks about the women in Ireland who made that lace. But we will. At our meeting on Thursday February 19th, Katie Hennessy will be sharing the story of Irish lace as part of Ireland’s Craft Industry & Legacy. Tim Hennessy will cover Irish Crystal, David O’Longaigh - Irish Pottery and Ed Curtin - Belleek China. Engaging with Irish crafts provides a deeper understanding of Ireland’s rich cultural traditions.
Hail Glorious Saint Brigid
You could call it a modern day miracle. Celebrations of Saint Brigid keep multiplying as word spreads of her works, inspiring wonder among those of all faiths and no faith. Sunday Feb. 1, T.C O'Leary's is hosting a festive feast day from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM at 2926 NE Alberta. All ages. BONUS - Irish Network Portland will welcome Naoise Kenny to its celebration. He's the son of former Taoiseach Enda Kenny. Naoise is currently serving in the Ireland Consulate in San Francisco.
From the PHS website: Why Eric Tump loves Ireland so much
While Donald Trump Jr. is on the surrogate circuit for the old man, Eric Trump is taking care of business. That's why he was in Ireland last week. The Trump resort in Doonbeg, Co. Clare is getting ready to host the Irish Open in September. Young Trump says he's been to Ireland - particularly County Cavan - hundreds of times.
You can still book an Irish Theater Tour for this summer
Gemma Whelan sends word that there are a few openings left on this summer's Shangana Irish Theater Tour. Dates, arrangements, and rates can be found here.Last summer the tour included an evening with Peter Sheridan, playwright and brother of one of Ireland's top directors, Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot, In the Name of the Father, The Field). If driving in Ireland is not your cup of tea, try a tour like Gemma's.
Church of England shatters glass ceiling
Anglicans in the Church of Ireland ruled Ireland before Independence and are still a presence there. Their spiritual head is the Archbishop of Armagh. Across the Irish Sea, for the first time in history, the new Archbishop of Canterbury, who will lead the Church of England, is a woman, reports the BBC. Dame Sarah Mullally has been officially confirmed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury. Her predecessor, Justin Welby, resigned following accusations he did not do enough with information he had about a prolific abuser. The C of I has the third most adherents in Ireland according to the 2022 census: Roman Catholic – 69% No Religion – 14.5% Church of Ireland – 2.5%. (Mullally is an Irish surname but the new Archbishop has never claimed Irish ancestry.)
* "Know Nothings never go away." Archbishop Alexander Christie of Portland.
