One Irish story from election night in America
“I was raised by a bunch of badass women. My great-grandmother came over from Ireland when she was 15. Her parents had died—they had been undertakers and cared for the sick. She and her siblings got on a boat and came to Minnesota.” US Senator elect Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota. More of her story below.
PDX Hibernian Independent - 5 November 2026
More than an email. Less than a newspaper. Weekly newsletter of the Portland Hibernian Society. Delivered every Thursday morning. Always available on your browser with back issues and blog posts.
What our cousins in Ireland are reading….
Here’s a sample of the midterm election results coverage in some Irish newspapers.
Irish Times – “Donald Trump and his Maga Republican movement took an unholy caning in the 2026 midterms. Texas. Iowa. Kansas. South Carolina. Ohio. All returned Democrat senators as the opposition party reclaimed both House and Senate. Just like that, the Trump era looked enfeebled...”
Independent. Daily Digest Email - “JD Vance blames Iran war as Democrats take Congress in humiliating defeat for Trump” (The Independent ran a photo of one of the Senate winners with this headline: ‘Next Barack Obama’ becomes new frontrunner for 2028 presidential race” Which successful US Senate candidate was pictured? Answer below.
The Journal - In the end, Republicans have paid a steep electoral price for many of Donald Trump’s policies, chiefly the war in Iran which has so damaged the US and global economy. However, a slate of poorly chosen candidates running on a raft of unpopular messages has ensured that the ridicule will not stop at the President.
Irish Examiner - “In electing the first black speaker of the house, first Muslim senator, first Native American woman governor and the first openly gay senator, these US midterms have broken the mould...voters have not only turned their backs on Trump's abrasive and divisive style but have shown an acceptance of minorities and support for those who prioritise compassion, inclusivity and decency.”
Irish Mirror - Donald Trump Jr has backed JD Vance's claim that the war in Iran was to blame for the Republicans' midterm defeat.
Madam Senator-elect Peggy Flanagan’s Irish roots
Minnesota’s next junior Senator, Peggy Flanagan, will be the first Native American Irish Catholic woman to serve in the US Senate. Her personal story is a political story. She told it to Minnesota Monthly in January of this year. Those Irish women who inspired her gave everything they had to get Senator Hubert Humphrey elected President in 1968. "I was raised Ojibwe, Irish, Catholic, and a DFLer, none of which is more important than the other," Flanagan said when she was 25 and a foot soldier in Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. Her term as Senator begins on January 3, 2027, a Sunday.
There’s an IRISH READ-IN at Kells on Nov. 19. We want you.
Scheduled to read: Gemma Whelan, Colleen Schultz, Daniel Curran, Pat Casey, Brian Kelly, Erin Walsh, Katie Hennessy, Tim Hennessy, Bill Gallagher and Ed Curtin. We can always use more readers! Colleen will be providing her Guinness Fudge Brownies for dessert. Books as door prizes.
Feelin’ Irish?
THIS WEEKEND - Féile Portland, a festival of Irish language, dance and culture sponsored by the Irish Cultural Society of the Pacific Northwest (ICSPNW) at PCC Sylvania Campus. Includes special events at TC O’Leary’s and Kells. If your engagement with Celtic culture is anything but casual; if you’re interested in keeping the old ways alive - ESPECIALLY THE IRISH LANGUAGE - this is for you. Click here for the full rundown and ticket info.
Back in PDX by popular demand: Tom O’Leary as The Smuggler
Portland Irish pub proprietor Tom O’Leary transforms his public house (TC O’Leary’s - 2926 NE Alberta PDX) into a stage tonight (Nov. 5) for the month-log return engagement of The Smuggler. Irish immigrant Tim Finnegan has aspirations of being a writer but struggles to earn a living and provide for his baby son. Spurred on by family pressure and his own loss of dignity, he discovers the price he’s willing to pay to get ahead. Directed by Gemma Whelan at TC O’Leary’s - Nov 5–29, Thu–Sat @ 1pm and Sun @ 8pm. Click here for background and ticket info.
Thanks for reading the PDX HI. Here’s an Irish dance discount.
Special offer for PDX HI readers. The Trinity Irish Dance Company is coming back to Portland next month. This performing troupe from Chicago puts its uniqueness forward as much as its Irishness. Before there was Riverdance there was the Trinity Irish Dance Company. Have you made any plans yet to come to Downtown Portland in the Fall? Their shows Nov. 19, 20 and 21 at the Newmarket Theater are a good reason to do so. You can save 20% off the already affordable tickets by using the code: PDXHibernian20. Click here for tickets. Presented by White Bird.
Cupla focal (A few words)
One of the reasons we created the PDX HI in May 2023 was to fill the void of domestic and foreign news from and about Ireland. You ever notice that the mainstream media only pays attention when it's getting close to St.Patrick's Day? If you support year-round coverage of Irish and Irish-American news please consider joining the Portland Hibernian Society. Just click here. Go raibh maith agat.
Go raibh maith agat.
Bill Gallagher