IA.ReadersForum.rev3.qxd
5/11/12
11:25 PM
Page 8
{readers forum} The Irish on the Titanic My great grandmother Minnie Driscoll Finn was the first cousin of Titanic survivor Bridget O’Driscoll (Driscoll) and was listed as the person to whom Bridget was going in the manifest of the Carpathia. If you or your readers have any information on Bridget, I would appreciate it. She was from Ballydehob in Cork, and had gone back home from the US to care for her dying mother. Her mother died before she got there, so she came back to the States on the Titanic. Tom Finn Posted online
The James Farrell mentioned in your article was from Clonee, Killoe, County Longford. On the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, a memorial garden in the village of Ennybegs in his native Killoe [was] dedicated to his memory. Eugene Devaney Posted online
About 20 Farrells from the U.S. traveled to County Longford for this memorial’s dedication, including James Farrell, 90, the nephew of the James Farrell who perished on the Titanic. We are extremely grateful to the Devaneys and the people of Longford County for all the time, effort and money they’ve invested in preserving James Farrell’s legacy. Jodi Mailander Farrell Posted online
Editor’s Note: Irish America was thrilled to play a part in connecting Titanic hero and victim James Farrell’s U.S. relatives with the Devaney family
from his home parish in Ireland. As Jodi Mailander Farrell explained in an article in the Miami Herald, “The Farrells’ link to Titanic was part of a 2009 feature in Irish America magazine when my husband Patrick won the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news photography that year for his Miami Herald coverage of another humanitarian disaster: the deadly aftermath of Hurricane Ike and other serious storms in Haiti. The story described the horrific, gripping images while weaving in the Farrells’ Irish history and its ties to the much earlier tragedy. Two years later in Ireland, John Devaney stumbled across that story during a Google search. He tracked down Patrick’s phone number and called him in Miami.”
Painting the Burren In reading through the April/May 2012 issue of Irish America, I was intrigued by the story entitled “Painting The Burren.” I read the titles of the paintings then turned the page to see more. I immediately recognized one of the paintings in particular and was so excited until I saw that it was listed as “Untitled.” I KNOW THAT MOUNTAIN! It is the view from Maam, Co. Galway, essentially from my ancestors’ land, looking across the River Corrib. The mountain is called Lackavrea (La-KAH-vrah) and has a unique shape. I have a photograph of it that serves as my screensaver. It is not part of the Burren at all but is very near the Maamturks in Maam Valley. I don’t know if the painting can be renamed, but I wanted everyone to know what and where it is.
My Spellman ancestors would be pleased to know that this painting exists! Barbara Spellman Shuta Via e-mail
That’s a really lovely article about the country I call home! The paintings by Andy Weeks do it justice. Well done. Brian Leddin Posted online
What America Can Learn From Ireland I read each issue from cover to cover and enjoy it very much. I was, however, dismayed by your decision to have Mr. Jon O’Brien’s article, “What America Can Learn from Ireland,” as your final statement in the magazine. Even though readers may agree or disagree with him, there should have been a companion article for the other side of the argument to even things out, especially in a magazine with your reputation and such a wide circulation. [O’Brien’s article appears to be] the magazine’s take on a very important topic. If this is your stand and you do not allow a rebuttal, then you need to relook at the process. I am a retired educator. I believe that topics to be discussed should have both sides of the argument presented to be fair to the reader or observer. The topic of Mr. O’Brien’s article, contraception, is a moral issue to many of us. Moral issues are not decided by a majority “vote.” Thank you for bringing much delight to many, especially those of Irish descent with your a magazine. I just believe fair coverage of controversial topics needs to be presented. Richard E. Kelly, PhD. La Jolla, California
Relatives of James Farrell who traveled to Ireland for the dedication of the memorial in his honor.
8 IRISH AMERICA JUNE / JULY 2012
Editor’s Note: As your editor I stand corrected. However, as a woman, I believe that denying any woman contraception is immoral.