Hundreds hear how the Klan targeted Oregon Catholics
As the Grand Imperial Wizard of the KKK, Fred Gifford was a power broker who left his mark on Oregon politics in the 1920s. He’s featured in Steve Law’s new book: Peddlers of Hate. Steve spoke at Powell’s Books on August 27, 2026.
Oregon’s darkest hour?
At Powell’s Books on Burnside last night (Aug. 26), the HOT TOPIC was more than a hundred years old. More than 250 people, intrigued by how a domestic terrorist organization once dominated politics in Oregon, showed up to hear Steve Law, author of Peddlers of Hate: How the Ku Klux Klan Seized Power in 1920’s Oregon. It was standing room only for the reading. Law, a veteran local newspaper reporter with a long list of awards, explained how the 20th century version of the resurrected Klan came to Oregon, a state with fewer minorities than today, and targeted Catholics. Recruiting at Masonic lodges, the Klan built a force that ruled Portland and Salem.....though only briefly. Steve Law will be the featured speaker at our September 17 meeting at Kells on SW First. Here’s the Willamette Week review of Peddlers of Hate by Matt Buckingham.
Every seat was filled at Powell’s for Steve Law’s reading and question and answer session. Staff was surprised at the size of the crowd, which was estimated to be around 250. He’ll speak at the Portland Hibernian Society meeting at Kells on SW First on the evening of September 17. Dinner at Six P.M. All are welcome. Failte.
Ducks to Dublin? No way.
Did this question come to mind when you heard there’s an American college football game being played in Dublin this weekend? “Why doesn’t Dan Lanning take his team to Ireland to play in the Aer Lingus Classic in Week Zero?” A future Irish road trip was mentioned, but the inside word is that idea went nowhere with Coach Lanning. The main objection? Too disruptive to regular season preparations for a national title contender. And it’s a long flight to Dublin. No team west of the Mississippi has ever played in the 13 different versions of this game dating back to 1989. Aer Lingus took over title sponsorship in 2016. Game will be carried on ESPN at 8 A.M. Saturday Aug. 29.
Will a Super Bowl winner turn things around in Dublin Saturday?
Bill Belichik is bringing enough drama to Dublin this weekend to pack the old Abbey Theater. Whether he’ll bring enough football to pack Aviva Stadium is another question. The coach who made the most of Tom Brady at New England begins his second year coaching the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. His team plays the Horned Frogs from Texas Christian University at 5 P.M. Saturday in Ireland, that’s 8 A.M. here on the West Coast. The game is called the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. It may have seemed like a good idea to book Belichik before his disastrous first season in 2025. Whether he’ll finish his second season – which starts Saturday – is a mystery. This game should be good for some Irish scenery, mostly urban, plenty of pub shots. And vice versa. Kickoff at 8 A.M. on ESPN.
Another way Irish women were pioneers
A couple of mainstays of the local Irish American community are drumming up support for a Portland-Limerick-theatrical-athletic- collaboration.Columbia Red Branch keeps the ancient games of the Gaelic Athletic Association alive, including camogie (woman’s hurling). Corrib Theater is the only Irish repertory production company west of the Mississippi. Together they want to commission an original play based on the sport of camogie by Cait Moloney, who runs a theater company in Limerick. Click here for more information about this exciting project with a lot of potential. Keep an eye on the PDX HI for continuing coverage of Project Camogie.
“When I heard that Dolly had died, this was the first video I thought of.” A fan in Ireland.
Dolly Parton loved Ireland and Ireland loved Dolly Parton. An impromptu performance at Páidí Ó Sé's Pub in Ceann Trá near Daingean Uí Chúis, Co Kerry, (Paddy O’Shea’s Pub in Dingle) in 1985 was the consummation of that relationship. Here’s the story from RTE’s Barry Gallagher. If you’d like to see the entire performance and her interaction with the pub crowd HERE’S THE RAW VIDEO FOOTAGE. (Starts 12 second in.)
BREAKING NEWS. Irish “castle” keeper admits his company tried to addict your kids
Meta, the company started by Mark Zuckererg, won’t challenge charges that Facebook and Instagram endangered children with addictive social media. To settle lawsuits filed by 47 states, Meta will pay up to $17.1 billion. The company agreed to interrupt endless scrolling and to impose two-hour daily time limits on Instagram and Facebook, reported the New York Times. Friendly tax policies and a superior work force have made Ireland Meta’s corporate home away from home. In fact, Zuckerberg announced just last week that he’s purchased an historic estate in Co. Waterford for an estimated $30 million. Meta is valued at $1.47 trillion. The castle cost 0.002% of that. The settlement represents 1.16% of Meta’s value. Click here to read about his Irish real estate play.
Irish Anniversary - Pope Francis in Ireland in 2018
Eight years ago on August 25th Pope Francis landed in Ireland for a 36-hour visit. That was only the second time a Pope travelled to one of the most Catholic countries in Europe. Read here how it went . Pope Leo has no plans to visit Ireland that we know of. What about a Papal visit to America, where he was born? There’s nothing planned officially at this time.