Why Canada matters to the Irish

Written By Bill Gallagher

PDX Hibernian Independent - 8 October 2026

More than an email. Less than a newspaper. Weekly newsletter of the Portland Hibernian Society. Delivered every Thursday morning. 

10.15.26 Meeting: O Canada

Join us on October 15 for the stories of the Irish who stayed in Canada and those whose families came to America. Like Dan Holden’s ancestors. He’s put together a compelling presentation EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE PHS.. Kells Restaurant on SW Second – Thursday Oct. 15. Six PM - No host dinner. Seven PM - Dan's presentation. Failte. All are welcome. No cover charge. 

A Celtic Cross and Round Tower in the center of the village of Arghagower in County Mayo. St. Patrick and his followers walked to nearby Croagh Patrick from this spot, legend has it. (Photo by Bill Gallagher)

From Co. Mayo to Canada

Mark Carney, the Prime Minster of Canada, is never far from his roots: a village a few kilometers from Westport. “ In his office, he displayed a parish map of the small village of Arghagower in Co Mayo...His paternal grandparents, Robert Carney and Nora Moran, who were from near the small village.... left for Canada in 1925 and married a year later.” 100 years later their son is the most powerful man in Canada and is riding a surge of popularity for standing up to the President next door. His diaspora story runs from from the paths of illiterate post-Famine ancestors to the corridors of world power. Click here to read about Mark Carney’s trail to the top.

BREAKING NEWS – Canadian wins Nobel Prize for Literature 

STOCKHOLM, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Canadian poet and writer Anne Carson won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature "for her ​bold and inventive oeuvre that, in playful dialogue with the classical tradition, has created new forms ‌for contemporary literature," the award-giving body said on Thursday. Read more here.

The last time an Irish writer won the Nobel

As you can read here on the PHS website, the last time an Irish writer won the Nobel for Literature was in 1995 when Seamus Heaney was honored. Tomorrow, the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize will be announced. The last time someone form Ireland won was in 1998 when John Hume of Ireland and David Trimble of the UK shared it for their efforts to find “ a peaceful solution to the conflict in Northern Ireland." Aka The Good Friday Agreement. 

UPDATED NEWS – Meet Ireland's new West Coast diplomat in person 

Brian Doherty, Hibernian and Chair of the Oregon-Ireland Sister State Committee, confirms that Ireland’s new Consul General in San Francisco, Marianne Bolger, will be at TC O’Leary’s on NE Alberta in Portland at 7P.M. on October 20. This will be her first public appearance in Portland. Failte. All are welcome. PDX HI had the news when her appointment was announced last October. Read here about how her last post was in Iraq.

Road sign in County Donegal.. The top sign directs you to Falcarragh and Gortahork. The bottom sign to Dungloe and Gweedore. Sadly, there is no Irish Rail service to Donegal.

Rather not drive in Ireland? Here’s a Plan B 

Ever driven in Ireland? Translating the road signs is just one of the joys of getting behind the wheel when you’re on holiday. Can you tour Ireland without renting a car? One woman says yes. We’re not so sure. Is it realistic to ride trains and buses rather than renting a car in Ireland?Click here.

Back in PDX by popular demand: Tom O’Leary as The Smuggler 



TC O’Leary’s proprietor Tom O’Leary transforms his pub into a stage on November 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. 

Irish dance perchance?

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 Theatre are a good reason to do so. You can save twenty percent off the already affordable tickets by using the code: PDXHibernian20.  Click here for tickets. Presented by White Bird. 

Spirit of the Irish Book Talk at Kells Restaurant returns on November 19   

Hibernian Ed Curtin is recruiting readers for the evening of November 19 to share their favorite examples of Irish and Irish-inspired writing at Kells Restaurant Downtown. Open mick night, if you will.. Would your reading be from one of these four writers? Send Ed an email and sign up. Curtine@peak.org. 

Go raibh maith agat.

Bill Gallagher

Bill Gallagher
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