PDX HIBERNIAN INDEPENDENT 7 August 2025
In today’s edition.....No Hard News just some August events for you to consider, a survey showing seven out of ten Irish people agree on one thing, a story of success at 73 for one of Ireland's finest actors and the anniversary of the execution of a British Knight who fought for Ireland's independence.
Summer Break
See you in September. There will be no meeting of the Portland Hibernian Society on the Third Thursday of August. Our next meeting will be September 18 at Kells Restaurant in Downtown Portland. There will be Live Music in August at Kells along with fine dining and drinks.
Summer Celebration
August 2025 is a month of milestones for the longtime Portland Hibernian Fr. Jim Galluzzo. He was born 80 years ago on August 21 and ordained a priest 35 years ago in late August. He’ll say a celebratory Mass at 11:00 Saturday, August 9th at St. Clare Church in SW Portland. In 1996, Oregonian reporter Bethanye McNichol wrote, “...the Rev. James Galluzzo is an unusual priest. Khaki jacket over a black shirt. Art degree from Reed College. Teacher and principal who was ordained at age 39. An abundantly spirited humanitarian whose ministry adjusts to fit a gay teen, a grief-stricken community, a dinner-table grace.” More on Fr. Jim’s six decades of service to Greater Portland.
Fr. Jim Galluzzo runs Diversity As Gift/Urban Spirituality Center from a NW Portland loft which serves as headquarters, offices, art gallery, gathering place, library, warehouse and home.
Summer Picnic
As long ago as the 1860s, the adventurous Irish in Greater Portland used to devote one summer day to that great American institution THE PICNIC. It was like the fairs they went to in the old country. Except without the cattle and with hot dogs. It’s that time of year. The All-Ireland Cultural Society of Oregon invites you to their annual summer gathering and potluck picnic.
When: Sunday, August 17, 2025 12-3pm Where: St. Birgitta Parish Grove 11820 NW St. Helens Rd, 97231
What: Gathering at 12 noon, grilled hotdogs 12:30-2:30, games – spud race, cornhole toss, body telephone game.
Summer survey in Ireland
The same day a survey was released showing that 70% of the Irish people don’t want President Trump to visit Ireland, it was announced that a special reception for a former President would take place in September. Former President Obama and his wife Michelle, have now been invited by Dublin’s current Lord Mayor, Ray McAdam, to formally accept the Freedom of the City next month. Here are the details on the reason for Obama’s return trip to Ireland.
Hanging in a place of honor at the nerve center of Diversity As Gift is this photo of Fr. Jim’s older brother Greg (l) with some of his students in Chicago. You may recognize the other gentleman pictured. Greg trained Barack Obama for community work at the Saul Alinsky Center.
Summer Fleadh (pron. flah)
No one seems to be having as much fun as Ed Sheeran. The ginger superstar showed up unannounced in Wexford this week for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann - the All-Ireland Fleadh. Which is a weeklong music festival unlike anything we have in the States. Cheoil na hÉireann is to U.S. music festivals as the GAA is to the NFL. In other words, it's different, it's Irish. This was Sheeran’s first appearance in Wexford since he announced that he “identifies as Irish.” It’s a grand Irish story.
Summer Cinema
In an unlikely but not unwelcome development, Ballymena-born Liam Neeson’s film career has taken another profitable turn. The new Naked Gun is doing pretty well at the box office for a slightly raunchy PG 13 release. More on the Irishman behind the hit.
Summer Suspense (Who will be the next 007?)
The man who created the series Peaky Blinders starring Cillian Murphy, just signed on to write the next James Bond movie. Steven Knight will write the script for the 26th installment in the series, which began in 1962. Are you thinking the same thing as me? Cillian as 007? The actor who will take over from Daniel Craig as 007 hasn’t been announced yet. Pierce Brosnan of Drogheda, County Louth, played Bond in four films between 1995 and 2002. Ironic. Sean Connery, who created the Bond character, won his only Oscar for playing the Irish cop Jimmy Malone in The Untouchables. His brogue had a burr to it.
Be careful calling an Irish accent a brogue
From the New York Times of March 17, 2008, in a story about the declining number of native Irish serving in the NYPD and FDNY: "The term “brogue,” which refers to a dialectal accent of English, can provoke resentment among the Irish. Rooted in the Gaelic term “brog,” or shoe, its origins are unclear, but some believe the term was coined derisively by an Englishman to describe someone talking with a shoe in his mouth."
Anniversary of a hanging in 1916
The only 1916 Irish rebel with a Sir in front of his name was executed on August 3 at Pentonville Prison in North London. Sir Roger Casement was Knighted in 1911 for exposing human rights violations in Congo. He was executed by the British government five years later on charges of high treason, sabotage and espionage against the Crown for his role in The Rising of 1916. Here's an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time. Casement was a Protestant. A Catholic priest wouldn't allow a memorial Mass to be said in Tralee on the first anniversary of his hanging. So one was said in Cork City.
Cartoon featured in an Austrian newspaper in the wake of Roger Casement's execution.
Self government is our right, a thing
born to us at birth a thing no more
to be doled out to us by another
people then the right to life itself
Roger Casement
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Go raibh maith aguish go lair, agus bar lagaidh dia blur lumbago deo!