The Irish Picnic is part of our history here
You may have gotten the wrong impression from a recent PDX HI. (Irish Picnic was once an ethnic slur). Years ago in the press, Irish Picnic was shorthand for a brawl. Often a drunken one. That’s how some people saw the Irish. Can you perpetuate a stereotype by writing about it? Well, here’s an alternative take on the Irish Picnic.
For 153 years the Irish have been gathering in Greater Portland for a summer picnic. This year is no exception.
For more than 150 years there’s been an Irish Picnic in PDX
“Good order and the strictest decorum were observed by the crowd. Nothing of an unpleasant nature transpired,” reported the Oregonian ion June 7, 1873. “No disreputable characters were allowed.” The Hibernian Benevolent Society chartered the steamboat Oneonta for the two-hour voyage to a picnic at Harmony Grove on the Columbia River above Vancouver. There were 800 passengers on board ready to PICNIC! The East Portland Brass Band performed. At the picnic food and drink were plentiful. A Fat Man Race was the “most attractive feature of the day.” And there was nonstop dancing. An “elegantly decorated” barge was attached to the Oneonta so picnic goers could dance on the way up the Columbia. At 9 A.M.! There was a promise made in the newspaper ads for that picnic 153 years ago: The Hibernians to a man pledge themselves to make this excel any picnic ever held in Oregon.
The Irish Picnic tradition endures in PDX (but no lettuce this year)
It’s not too late to sign up for this year’s AICS Irish Picnic, which is happening this Sunday at Noon out on St. Helem’s Road. Click here for details. This is a potluck, so bring something to share! Please RSVP. The All-Ireland Cultural Society has been bringing the Irish diaspora in Portland together since 1938. Longtime AICS organizer Mary Rose Kerg graciously provided the PDX HI with a brief history of Greater Portland’s longest-running Irish Picnic.
What to know about the New IRA
This isn’t good news. A serious online threat has been posted warning all migrants living in Ireland to leave....or else. What you need to know about the New IRA provides some intel on the people making the threat and how they differ from the other IRAs you’ve heard about. Click here for the latest.
Why are all those people wearing Papal miters?
Back to the good news. Of course it was a sellout. 38,113 fans showed up to see the Chicago White Sox play the Cincinnati Reds the other night and receive a Pope Hat. Click here for the story of how the team honored Pope Leo XIV - their best-known fan. “The Pope hats are going bonkers.” The Reds beat the White Sox 5-4.
Irish music and dance unite Nationalists and Loyalists in NI
“Thousands of Protestants and Unionists embraced the Fleadh with passion... At last, Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter have been united – in music!” That’s one Loyalists’s verdict on the massive traditional Irish music and dance festival just held in Belfast. For the first time ever Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann, the largest celebration of traditional Irish music in the world, came to the capitol city up North. But not without some fears about Nationalist and Loyalist traditions clashing. Didn’t happen, says Dr Ian Malcolm, a musician, Irish teacher for lifelong learners, and a journalist in the Irish language media. He’s from a Unionist background and passionately believes that Irish belongs to all. His report is worth reading. And ICYMI, this is an decent explainer of what is commonly called the Fleadh– pronounced flah.
Sam to the Summit of Croagh Patrick
Here’s a follow up to the story of how Mayo won the All-Ireland Men’s Football Final on July 26, the same day that thousands of pilgrims and penitents climbed the Holy Mountain in Mayo, Croagh Patrick. Guess who climbed it the other day, carrying the Sam Maguire Cup to the top.
What her Irish neighbors said when Rosie dropped fifty pounds
This isn’t about Rosie O’Donnell’s weight loss and facelift. It’s about the reaction from her Irish neighbors. She lives in Irland pretty much full time now. And loves it. “I lost so much weight that I had a lot of excess skin here [pointing to her chin], and it made me look sad. People in Ireland said, “Rosie, are you all right, love?” I’m like, “It’s my face. I actually feel happy here.” Read the rest here and see photos of Rosie post-procedure. She has applied for Irish citizenship, but it hasn’t been granted. The facelift, she says, wasn’t cheap. “So why do I look like this? $90,000.” Click here to read the story and see how she looks.
Would you care to share the PDX HI?
Do you know anyone else who has an affinity for Ireland; who might enjoy the kind of articles you find in the PDX Hibernian Independent every Thursday morning? The PDX HI is user-friendly, fun to read, and FREE. There are none of those annoying internet ads and plenty of links to relevant articles. If you’d like to share a subscription with someone, send me their email and I’ll let them know you thought they’d enjoy the PDX HI. Go raibh maith agat.