Irish-Canadian Patrick MacPhee Wins SciFi Writing Award Storyon page18
Irish Arts & Entertainment
The opinions expressed by our w rit ers are t heir ow n and do not necessarily convey t hose of t his m agazine, our publisher or st aff.
Publisher & Managing Editor
Jam es M McDonough
Marketing & Outreach
Thom MacMam ara
Jam es McMahon
Writers
Maurice Fit zpat rick
John McNally
Greg Pat rick
Paul Wat t ers
Lorraine Cham bers
Barbara Singer
Pat rick Weld
Press Relations
Open; Send let t er or em ail t o Jim
Graphics/ Ad Design
Jim , & Freelancers
Sales Reps
Jim & Also OPEN
Layout & Typos
Jim
Cont act Us Via Em ail: irishm issive@gm ail.com
Jim 's Cell: 951 216-1493
All Copyright s 2025 by McDonough Media
Dear FriendsandReaders,
April may well be themost important month of the year on the Irish Calendar In morerecent history, theevents around Easter in 1916 which fell in late April of that fateful year shaped thedestiny of Ireland and led to theIreland that we know today That alone backs up my assertion fairly well
But beyond, the April Rebellion of 1916, there is a great reverence for the Easter Season in Ireland Our shared Christian traditions and loveof family are high on thelist Both Protestant and Catholic adherents are serious in the observance of Lent, Palm Sunday, Easter Week and Easter Sunday
Dig deeper into the climate and Spring and theAgrarian Cycle and you get an appreciation for theIrish love of Eastertide The impact of spring in Ireland is glorious After the long, often harsh, and wet Irish winter, April marks a significant turning point in the natural world It is a timeof Renewal and Growth as theland begins to awaken, with new growth appearing in fields and gardens This visual and tangible sign of renewal would have been deeply important in an historically agrarian society It signified theend of a lean period and the promise of futuresustenance
Planting Season: April is a crucial month for planting crops
The weather, while still potentially changeable, generally becomes milder and thesoil begins to warm, allowing farmers to sow seeds for theyear's harvest. This directly impacted livelihoods and thewell-being of communities. I think as weare Irish, our souls, our very being experiences this psychological boost as well. I was very fortunate and spent a few weeks in County Down last year in Spring and it was a magnificent time to bethere. Driving around just to seethe flowers and livestock becamea daily routine With the arrival of spring, grazing becomes more readily available, easing the burden of feeding livestock through winter stores Lambing season often continues into April, representing new life and prosperity for farming families I had friendly Irish hosts who werehappy to share their routines with me. Pure joy and great memories for sure. Lastly, while Irish weather is notoriously unpredictable, April typically sees a noticeableimprovement compared to the preceding winter months. Throw in thelonger daylight hours and you have Ireland at its best! HAPPY EASTER!!
Our regular features: Maurice Fit zpat rick's View from Ireland and John McNally's Com m ent ary
Travel Feat ure on Ireland's Hidden Gem s has been post poned t ill our m id-m ont h
issue You m ight have not iced t hat our Calendar is grow ing! Subm issions for Calendar, Celt ic Cam era and Travel Feat ures are w ant ed: Send ideas and St ory
Scot t ish Fest Coming t o Cost a Mesa
Scottish Fest USA, will take place over Memorial Day weekend on Saturday, May 24th, and Sunday, May 25th The event will be held at the Orange County Fair & Event Cente located at 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA
Entertainment asof April 1st:
Scottish Fest USA offersa wide variety of entertainment that embodies Scottish and Celtic culture, aswell assome American elements Confirmed actsfor the 2025 event include World-class Celtic music with a variety of bands and performers, often including folk, rock, bluegrass, all with a Celtic twist You can expect fiddles, pipes, and harps Confirmed actsinclude Craic in the Stoneand Wicked Tinkers.
Highland Dancing Competitions:
Witness the skill and tradition of Highland dancing, including reels, flings, jigs, and sword dances
Piping and Drumming Competitions:
Enjoy the stirring soundsof massed pipe bands and individual piping and drumming competitions showcasing world-classperformers
Scottish Heavy Athletics:
Experience the strength and tradition of events like the caber toss, hammer throw, shot put, and weight throw.You might even see professional athletescompeting for prize money
Sheep Herding Demonstrations:
A popular attraction where skilled handlers and their dogsdemonstrate the herding of sheep
Imperial KnightsJousters:
Adding a touch of medieval pageantry with jousting competitions
Guinnessand Scotch Whisky:
You can typically find Guinness for sale at the festival Additionally, Scottish Fest usually hosts whisky tastingswhere you can sample a variety of Scotch whiskies. For the 2025 event, specific whisky tasting sessionswith special guests from distillerieslike Wolfburn, Isle of Raasay, and Kilchoman have been arranged Separate tickets are usually required for the whisky tastings. See the website to order
Other Itemsof Interest for a Family:
Scottish Fest USA offers a wide range of activities and attractions suitable for families:
- Children'sGlen: Thisarea is specifically designed for kidsand often includes inflatable obstacle courses, bouncy castles, and other fun activities
- Clan and Genealogy Tents:Explore your Scottish heritage by visiting the variousclan tentswhere you can learn about different Scottish families and trace your ancestry
- Vendors: Numerous vendors offer a variety of Scottish and Celtic goods, including kilts, tartans, jewelry, crafts, and more. This is great place to find unique gifts.
- Scottish Food:I Indulge in traditional Scottish fare, such ashaggis, meat pies, and other savory and sweet treats.
- Cultural Demonstrations: Besidesthe main events, you might find demonstrations of traditional craftsor other aspects of Scottish culture.
- Memorial Service: On Sunday morning, there istypically a memorial service to honor veterans
- Costumesand Pageantry: The festival is full of people in traditional Scottish attire, including kiltsand formal wear, aswell as participantsin historical costumes, creating a visually interesting and immersive experience for all ages.
- British Cars: In some past events, British car displayshave been part of the festival.
Overall, Scottish Fest USA in Costa Mesa over Memorial Day weekend provides a rich cultural experience with a wide array of entertainment, activities, food, and drink, making it a potentially interesting and fun outing for the whole family.
Scottish Fest USA isorganized by the United Scottish Society, which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation
USShasbeen running annually on Memorial Day weekend and isconsidered the oldest and largest festival of itskind in Southern California. The festival was established in 1932.
SEASIDE CHIEF JOHN LOWRY RIP
Wit h a heavy heart , w e are very sorry t o report t he deat h of our great friend and fellow Celt , John Low ry.
John is survived by his beloved w ife, Nellie and his children; Pam ela Low ry Marbell and Bill Low ry. His son Pet er preceded him in deat h. John also leaves grandchildren and great grandchildren as part of his legacy
Chief John w as a Past President of t he St Andrew 's Societ y of Los Angeles and w it h t he Nellie, t he founder of t he Seaside Highland Gam es of Vent ura, CA over 20 years ago, We agree t ot ally w it h t he m essage from t he St . Andrew 's Societ y t ribut e t o Chief John w hich said; "If you w ere fort unat e t o know Chief John, t hen you inst ant ly loved him Not only w as he t he epit om e of a great and gent le Scot , but he w as also a m an's m an, a fam ily m an, a hum ble and decent m an Chief John t ook Scot t ishness t o a level of w arm t h and dignit y, and creat ed an am biance around him of cam araderie "
We m et John and Nellie Low ry at t he Brot hers of St . Pat rick in 2004. We w ere int roduced t o t hem by Jam ie Horricks w ho suggest ed w e w orkt oget her prom ot ing t he soon t o be Seaside Highland Gam es. A freindship and associat ion w it h t hem and t he Seaside Gam es began t hat day w hich has last ed t o t his day. The leadership and loyalt y from t hem w as superb and t he
Seaside Highland Games t ruly becam e a Celt ic inst it ut ion and a m em orable event each Oct ober.
To read a m ore in-dept h biography of Chief John, go t o: w w w.craw fordm ort uary.com / obit uaries/ john-low ry
In lieu of flow ers, please donat e t o t he Seaside Highland Gam es:
Seaside Highland Gam es |
East er Treat s are packed t o t he raft ers!!
Ye Olde King's Head Shoppe 2nd St & Sant a Monica Bl Sant a Monica, CA
24 April 1916, THE EASTER RISING
The Rising began on Easter Monday, 24 April 1916 and lasted for just six days: the official surrender occurred on Friday 28 and all fighting ceased on Saturday 29 April
The Irish Easter Rebellion, also known asthe Easter Rising, was an armed insurrection in Ireland during the week after Easter Sunday in April of 1916
The majority of the fighting ended with the surrender of the rebels in Dublin on Saturday, April 29, 1916. Isolated actionsdid continue until Sunday, April 30th.
Groupsand Leaders Involved:
The main groupsinvolved were the Irish Volunteerswhose leaders were Patrick Pearse and Eoin MacNeill. It isworth noting that MacNeill ultimately tried to call off the Rising because he thought more preparation wasneeded but he wasover-ruled
Another rebel group, the Irish Citizen Army wasinvolved They were a smaller socialist and trade unionist coaltion led by James Connolly.
Cumann na mBan: The women's auxiliary of the Irish Volunteers played a significant role in planning, logistiics, food , medical and first aid support
Finally but very importantly, the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) were key players This wasa secret society that heavily influenced the planning of the Rising. Key figureswithin the IRB who were central to organizing the rebellion included Tom Clarke and Seán Mac Diarmada.
The Easter Proclamation
The Easter Proclamation, which declared the establishment of the Irish Republic, wassigned by seven leaders, who formed the Provisional Government The signersare revered in Irish History just asare the signers of the American Declaration of Independence,
- Tom Clarke
- Seán Mac Diarm ada
- Pat rick Pearse
- Jam es Connolly
- Thom as MacDonagh
- Éam onn Ceannt
- Joseph Plunket t
And just as the American Revolution pressed ahead, so did the Irish fight for freedom The time framesare different but the outcomes were the same Initially, the Easter Rebellion did not have widespread public support in Ireland
Many Dublinerswere confused or even hostile to the rebels, especially due to the disruption and the fact that many Irishmen were serving in the British Army during World War I.
However, the British were still seen by many Irish asoccupiersand their brutal reaction to the rebellion significantly shifted public opinion The execution of the leaders, the large-scale arrests, and the imposition of martial law were seen as heavy-handed and unjust by a growing majority. Seepage8
Thisled to a surge of sympathy for the rebels and their aims, and a growing resentment towardsBritish rule The executed leaders became martyrs in the eyes of many Irish nationalists, galvanizing support for the cause of Irish independence.
Were the British Ruthless?
The British response to the Easter Rebellion can be described as firm and in itsaftermath, but also considered by many as ruthless While the British government viewed their actionsas necessary to quell a rebellion during wartime, the severity and handling of the aftermath were widely criticized and proved to be a
Harsh ReactionsFollowed
The imposition of martial law acrossIreland was seen asan overreaction
Prolonged fighting and heavy artillery use The British Army used significant force to dislodge the rebels, causing substantial damage to Dublin city center and resulting in civilian casualties.
Massarrestsand internment
Thousandsof people were arrested, many without clear evidence of involvement in the Rising
Executionsof the leaders
The swift execution by firing squad of fifteen leadersof the rebellion, after brief court-martialsheld in secret, shocked many in Ireland and internationally. Figures like the wounded James Connolly being executed while strapped to a chair particularly generated fierce opposition
An Am azing Online Resource; w e found t his sit e w hile researching t his st ory!
ht t ps:/ / libguides.ucc.ie/ 1916Proclam at ion
major turning point in the Irish struggle for independence, ultimately fueling the movement against British rule
Truly, only in Belfast and Dublin were pocketsof pro British sentiment, In the West and South, the vast majority of people turned against the Crown
The Irish in America became more active and moral support for Irish independence and and financial contributions increased dramatically. The Rising failed but the cause flourished
SEEBOX ON LEFTFORBRITISH RESPONSE
25 Years!
?Kneecap is more than a film. It?s a movement"
By JohnMcNally
The Irish language, or Gaeilge, has been making headlinesrecently thanksto the film KNEECAP
? a semi-biographical comedy-drama about a rowdy Irish rap trio who have become the modern face of a growing movement to revive and promote their native language In the film, the trio playsthemselves, tracing their wild, hilarious, and politically charged rise asa cultural phenomenon
Their music blendsresistance with humor, proving that wit has alwaysbeen one of Ireland?s superpowers.
The Belfast group representsa post-Good Friday Agreement generation, using music as a tool for healing and expression.
The roots of Ireland?srelationship with its indigenousCeltic language run deep. During English colonization, Irish was actively discouraged and suppressed. Policies were put in place to "anglicize" the Irish population: the language was banned in schoolsand government, and people were even fined for speaking Irish in public.
During the massemigration of the mid-19th century, many Irish people adopted English willingly? mainly for economic reasons, as it helped them secure jobsabroad in America, England, and Canada Still, the lossof language came at a cultural cost A tragic example of the consequences of this suppression occurred during the Land Warsof the 1880?s when several Irishmen who spoke only Irish were wrongfully convicted of murder in English-language trials held in Dublin without an interpreter They were hanged for crimes they did not commit
By the late 19th century, it wasclear that Ireland was on a path toward freedom The devastation of the Great Hunger? more of a holocaust than a famine? had made it evident that the English could never be trusted to humanely govern Ireland In response, a Gaelic Revival took root
TheConradhna Gaeilge(Gaelic League) wasfounded in 1893 with the mission of reviving the Irish language Writers, poets, and nationalistscame together in a cultural resurgence that helped build the foundation for an Ireland free from British rule.
The 1937 Irish Constitution declared Irish the first official language of the state. Yet in everyday life, English remained dominant, and over time, some grew to resent being forced to learn Irish in school. Thisstood in contrast to the North of Ireland, where the language continued to be suppressed under British rule? making Irish a powerful symbol of rebellion and resistance. The 1998 Good Friday Agreement gave Irish Parody of Esteem, and after being banned for hundredsof yearsIrish was accepted in the North in 2022 as one of the official languages along with Ulster Scots. But Irish is still looked on with suspicion from many unionists
who associate it with Irish Republicanism Prisonerstaught themselves Jailic,and the prisonsbecameJailtachts.Another phenomenon is so-called Hiberno-English, a blend words created by phonetics and altered by dialectswhich gave us craic, galore, and eejit
Once confined mainly to the Gaeltacht regions of Western Ireland, Irish isnow gaining popularity in urban areas Statistical evidence suggests that fluent Irish speakersin Ireland benefit from language-based networks, which can lead to better job opportunities and higher social standing
My father was a member of the Gaelic League in the 1930s, so when I heard a chapter was starting in Los Angeles, I joined right away. Today, CnaGGaelic League LA teaches Irish and much more as part of a broader global resurgence. I don? t expect to become fluent in Irish anytime soon, but I?m happy to use a little in my daily life and encourage others, especially the next generation, to keep the language alive, if only with a Cúpla Focal.
Loyola Marymount University screened KNEECAP recently as part of their Global Perspectives and with thesupport of the Irish Studies Department
The panel discussion after the film included John Houlihan, Film Music Executiveat 20th Century Studios. Jacob Martin S J Clinical Professor of Irish Film, Caitríona Weafer of the Los Angeles Gaelic League, Deirdre O'Neill Machin of The O'Neill Group Inc, Victoria Graf, Professor Emeritus, and Mary O'Neill, Director of the Irish Bar Association
KNEECAP?S director Rich Peppiatt said: ?Kneecap is more than a film. It?s a movement and it?s about how everyoneshould havetheir language, their culture and their homeland respected.?
From our cover, t he Irish hip hop group Kneecap is com posed of t hree m em bers:
- Mo Chara (real nam e Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh)
- Móglaí Bap (real nam e Naoise Ó Cairealláin)
- DJPróvaí (real nam e JJÓ Dochart aigh)
The m em ber of Kneecap w ho alw ays w ears t he balaclava isDJPróvaí. He t ypically w ears a balaclava in t he colors of t he Irish t ricolor (green, w hit e, and orange). He init ially w ore it t o keep his m usic career separat e from his job as a t eacher in a Cat holic school
Ir eland' s Econom ic Landscape
Researched and written by by John McNally
In a sw eeping m ove w it h global ram ificat ions, President Trum p's "Liberat ion Day" t ariffs and t rade rest ruct uring have cast a shadow over Ireland, a pivot al EU m em ber st at e heavily reliant on t ransat lant ic com m erce Under t hese new m easures, EU export s face a st aggering 20% t ariff w hen ent ering US m arket s, m arking a st ark depart ure from t he era of free t rade t hat shaped Ireland's econom ic prosperit y.
For decades, Ireland t hrived on it s open econom y, fueled by foreign invest m ent and robust export s Now , t he im posit ion of t ariffs t hreat ens t o disrupt t his delicat e balance A com plex challenge loom s part icularly for Ireland's cross-border dynam ics: goods from Nort hern Ireland w ill be subject t o a 10% t ariff, cont rast ing sharply w it h t he 20% levy
on goods originat ing from t he sout h.
The im pact ext ends beyond goods alone. Pharm aceut ical giant s, crucial t o Ireland's econom y, face height ened cost s shipping product s t o t he US, pot ent ially passing t hese expenses on t o consum ers and healt h insurers Moreover, changes in US t ax policies m ay prom pt com panies t o reconsider t heir int ellect ual propert y st rat egies, pot ent ially reshaping Ireland's role as a hub for int ernat ional business.
As Ireland navigat es t hese uncert ain w at ers, t here is a palpable sense t hat t he golden age of econom ic t ies w it h t he USA m ay be fading The nat ion m ust brace for profound shift s in t rade dynam ics and econom ic st rat egy, preparing t o adapt in an increasingly unpredict able global landscape.
John McNally
Our frequent Cont ribut ing Writ er is Insight ful and w ell t raveled. He is also an Irish Com m unit y act ivist and organizer
Ireland's Counsel General Marcella Symth
& Ken O'Malley Honored at LA Irish Civic Day, held in Van Nuys
Irishwoman of the Year
HONORABLEMARCELLA SMYTH
LA'sIrish Consul General, who isfrom County Cavan She will be leaving thissummer for a new post in Latvia Irishman of the Year
KEN O'MALLEY
Irish singer, songwtiter and Dublin native
Above; Liam Fount ain, Irish Fair Board CEO
Grif Healy. Marcella Sm yt h,Irish Balladeer (and Ireland's best export so far,) Ken O'Malley Pict ured w it h t hem are Marcella Sm yt h and fellow honoree
Top Right: During his community-focused visit to Nevada, Vice Consul Cono rDoherty-Greene had the privilege of meeting Irish Boxing legend Wayne McCullough
Center Right: Mem bers of t he Irish Legislat ive Caucus
Lower right: Marcella Sym t h and visit ing Irish dignit ary
TheView fromIreland All Has Changed
By MauriceFitzpatrick
For over four decadesIrish Taoiseach have been assured of a warm reception when they met the USpresident in the White House on St Patrick?sDay to present shamrock and discuss policy That diplomatic custom survived deep cleavages between broadly held Irish views on Ronald Reagan?sforeign interventions and above all, George W Bush?s invasion of Iraq Whatever about public feeling, at the level of Irish and US leadership a convivial atmosphere was expected on the national day of Ireland ? any differenceswere smoothed over with a concentration on the tiesthat bind.
Even during the Trump-Pence administration, when Ireland?s then Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, who was openly gay and represented to some a new and progressive Ireland, the encounter with the vice-president and president was reasonably positive. Yet back then there were omensof the deterioration that hasnow come to pass. When Trump hosted Varadkar in the Oval Office on March 14th, 2019, he took the chance to opine in favour of Brexit and said something that leads directly to where we are today: ?We?re going to tariff a lot of their [the EU?s] products coming in because the European Union treats usvery, very unfairly? for decades they?ve treated usvery unfairly. It will probably work out? Otherwise, we?re going to do something that is going to be good for the United States?
The watchword of Trump?sfirst few monthsback in office has been tariffs Tariffs implemented, held in reserve, threatened, withdrawn and postponed. The benefit of a policy of imposing tariffs seems never to be in question in the White House. However, aseconomist Paul Krugman recently argued, Trump ?has slapped high tariffson Canadian aluminium, which is cheap because smelting uses lotsof electricity, and Canada has abundant hydropower And aluminium isimportant for U.S. manufacturing. Yet Trump somehow thinks Canada is exploiting usby offering usa key industrial input at a good price?Economic concerns aside, there is also the incalculable loss in good relationsthat attendsa trade war, especially with one?s neighbours Soon you might start questioning the wisdom of all this. But the stock markets got there first with a $5 trillion nosedive in the value of USstock from late February to mid-March
The sudden rupture between traditional allies (the EU and the US) on trade formed part of the backdrop to the meeting between Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin and President Trump on March 12th. The other schism isdefence; and the manner in which Trump-Vance had ambushed Volodymyr Zelensky and ejected him from the White House on February 28th was in the air when Micheál Martin became the next foreign leader to visit the Oval Office
Those two matters, trade and defence, are interlinked and they point to the sea change which hasoccurred since Trump took office in January in what was formerly known as the Western Alliance After WWII, the USfunelled billionsinto rebuilding Europe through the Marshall Plan
Its objective wasto establish reliable trading partnersin Europe and to build a bulwark against the USSR during the Cold War Putin, who hasnever fully accepted the disintegration of the Soviet, has in Trump a USpresident who
ismore interested in supporting Russia than Europe That made the bowl of shamrock not so much an emblem of the ties that bind asa memory of a time when those tiesmattered to the White House
On the day Taoiseach Micheál Martin visited the White House and the USCongress, a trade war began between the USand the EU. The EU responded to UStariffs on EU steel and aluminium by putting tariffs on USproducts. That made planning for the day excruciating for the Irish delegation and the Taoiseach What transpired, while it certainly could have been a lot worse, wasa break with tradition Trump hogged the space to the point of almost excluding his guest As for the substantive matters Trump ?discussed? , he fired criticism (mild enough) at Ireland and the EU (not mild at all). Trump is convinced that the EU and, by extension, Ireland isripping the USoff through the trade imbalance; and that the way to reverse matters is to impose tariffsuntil the EU capitulates (Same story for Mexico, Canada, China etc).
The only dignified response to the imposition of tariffsis to retaliate with tariffs That leads to price risesfor consumers on both sides According to Eurostat?s figures for 2024 trading, the EU exported 531 6 billion {Euros} to the USand imported 333.4 {Euros}billion worth of goods. That 198.2 billion {Euros} trade surplus irks Trump. Nevertheless, it opensthe vista that USconsumersmay be hurt more than EU consumersby higher prices
It isalmost impossible to decipher how thingswill now unfold It isplausible that the losses and chaos arising from the tariff warsTrump hasstarted will engulf the White House?s foreign affairsand economic agenda When that happens, Ireland will hardly be a USpriority
What is undoubtedly a priority is the urgent need to protect democracy The objective behind all the bravado and bullying on display both domestically and internationally isto silence dissent and enforce submission to Trump So far, it hasbeen devastatingly effective in the US Yet without sustained, informed and determined resistance things could get much worse As Senator ChrisMurphy hasargued: ?if we continue to observe norms, if we continue to engage in business as usual, this democracy could be gone I don? t think we have a year to save American democracy? .
Taoiseach Micheál Martin visited the White House on March 12 to present President Trump with shamrock On the left, the Taoiseach'swife, Mary O'Shea. Trump did most of the talking about tariffs. The US-Ireland alliance should survive thisrough patch
Navigating theTrade Winds: Tariffs and the US-Ireland Economic Relationship
St orm Warnings are up w hen it com es t o Ireland and US t rade relat ions
Analysis by JimMcDonough
Using thismetaphor isappropriate given the long history of Sea exploration and Sea taleswith the Irish in general and with Ireland and America in particular.
Usual, we focuson culture, entertainment and music but the monumental turmoil caused by the crashing tidesof commerce between Eire and the USat the moment got our attention. Our contributing writer, John McNally is also commenting on tariffsin this issue so you can get his take on this timely topic on page 12 as well
This vibrant tapestry of Irish artsand entertainment, which we are dedicated to fostering isinterwoven with the broader economic relationship between Ireland and the United States. While cultural exchange flourishes, the flow of goods acrossthe Atlantic facespotential headwindsin the form of tariffs, raising concernsabout the future of this crucial trade partnership.
A Look at the Numbers
The US-Ireland trade relationship issubstantial, representing a significant portion of Ireland?seconomic activity. According to recent data, the total trade in goods and servicesbetween the two nations isin the tens of billions of dollarsannually When reviewing the raw goods trade numbers, there has been a significant imbalance. Ireland consistently exports far more goods to the USthan it imports In 2022, Irish goods exports to the USwere valued at approximately $22 billion, while USgoods exports to Ireland were around $10 billion. This significant surplusisa key factor in the ongoing trade discussions
Top 10 Importsfrom Ireland to the US
Ireland'sexportsto the USare concentrated in specific sectors, reflecting the nation'sstrengths in pharmaceuticals, technology, and manufacturing The top 10 sectorstypically include:
Pharmaceutical products
Organic chemicals
Medical devices
Optical and medical instruments
Computers
Electrical machinery
Beverages(especially spiritsand tea)
Essential oilsand resinoids
Dairy products
Prepared foodstuffs
Top 10 Exportsfrom the USto Ireland
Conversely, USexports to Ireland are more diversified, encompassing a range of industrial and consumer goods: Pharmaceutical products
Computers
Aircraft and spacecraft
Electrical machinery
Medical devices
Organic chemicals
Machinery
Optical and medical instruments
Plastics
Cereals
Tariffsand Trade Negotiations
The potential for tariffs to disrupt thisintricate trade network is a seriousconcern. At this point; a full-scale trade war is possible. The USunder Trump's new dictatesisnot showing any signs of patience or sentimentality toward Ireland. Public opinion does matter so we urge our readers to reach out to your Congresspeople and to the White House and remind them that you want a fair and mutually beneficial outcome from this sudden dispute.We must have and request ongoing discussions to address the existing trade imbalance and prevent future disputes. These negotiations will involve officialsfrom the USTrade Representative (USTR) and the Irish government, with input from the European Union.
Enterprise Ireland:
Known asThe Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ireland); thisis the Irish Government organization responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets. For the Irish perspective on this, you can start getting information from this Irish government source. We have found them to be very open and honest Their website www.enterprise-ireland.com has pressreleases and trade reports.
We will continue our primer on this complicated topic in our May issue with the other entity involved; the European Commission. As we release this issue, there are reports that the EU isready to talk to the Trump administration.
Ireland is t he European hom e t o m any Am erican com panies w ho w ere m ot ivat ed t o set up operat ions t here t o avoid t axes and t o find low er labor cost s w hile export ing back t o t he US
Ir ish M usic: News& Reviews
Loreena McKennitt to be inducted into Canadian Music Hall of Fame
Recognizedfor her ?astoundingcontributions?
In a live ceremony on May 15th , Loreena McKennitt will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in recognition of her ?astounding contributions to Canada?smusic history?
The Canadian Music Hall of Fame wasestablished in 1978 It recognizesCanadian artiststhat have attained commercial successwhile having an artistic impact on the Canadian music scene and/or around the world, with careersthat span at least 20 yearsfrom their first recording
This recognition means McKennitt, a two-time JUNO Award winner, will now be joining the ranks of Canada?s most esteemed talent, including AlanisMorissette, Barenaked Ladies, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Nickelback, Oscar Peterson, RUSH, The GuessWho, Sarah McLachlan and Shania Twain.
?I am extremely honoured to be acknowledged in this way It hasbeen, and continuesto be, a fascinating, enriching and at timeschallenging journey,?says Loreena. ?In this era of unregulated technology, building a career like mine all over again would be almost impossible today I am now humbled to find myself in the company of all the other artistswho?ve been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and I?m most grateful for the enjoyment and enrichment I?ve experienced through their creative work.?
The live ceremony will take place at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre in Calgary, Alberta
Abrief bio:
Loreena McKennitt, her music and work
McKennitt is a highly acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter, harpist, accordionist, and pianist She iscelebrated for her world music style with strong Celtic, Irish and Middle Eastern
influences. McKennitt's music hasbeen described as "eclectic Celtic" as she blendstraditional Celtic sounds with elementsfrom variouscultures, including Middle Eastern, Spanish, and Mediterranean traditions. Her lyricsoften draw inspiration from Irish and other poets, literature, history, and mythology
We had the priviledge of doing interviewswith Loreena McKennitt a few times over the past 30 year or so The conversationswere a rare experience because she was so genuine, humble and open. One story that was memorable washow in her early days, she would drive around in her VW mini-bus to Canadian cities and sing asa busker and sell her cassette tapes. This washer devotion and passion for creating her own brand from the onset of her musical career She turned down offersfrom big labels just to protect her artistic integrity. She isa an ethical and pure human. More recently, she closed her Facebook account with thousandsof followere because she did not want to be part of the unethical side of big tech and media.
www.quinlanroad.com
LOREENA McKENNITT
Irish Writer, Patrick MacPhee To Be Honored at
Gala on April 10th
Author Services, Inc. and Galaxy
Press Present Writers and Illustrators of the Future Gala Honoring The Best in the Genres of Science Fiction and Fantasy
ABOUT PATRICK MacPHEE
Asa young child, Patrick frequently saw his mother engrossed in a forest?sworth of fantasy and science fiction novels Wanting to join in the fun, he read his first ?big-person?novel, The Fellowship of the Ring, when he was eight Although far above his reading level, he pushed through, reading several hoursa day, taking literally longer to reach Rivendell than Sam and Frodo Thismagical experience hooked him on speculative fiction forever
In histeens, he was bit by the writing bug and later abandoned a degree in engineering to pursue a degree in English literature. He became a teacher, a vocation where he is lucky enough to spend every day helping young people become better versionsof themselves.
Over a twenty-year teaching career, Patrick hastaught
physed (i.e. dodgeball) to Fortnite-obsessed middle schoolers, the enigmatic complexity of Hamlet to university-bound high schoolers, and everything in between. He haslearned that almost every part of the curriculum has room for a little humor? sometimes a lot of humor.
He was inspired to write ?Thirty Minutes or It?sa Paradox?after meeting so many young people who are anxiousabout the future What if they had the ultimate control over that future?Who could resist making a few little changes? Hiswork resonated with the panel of judges and MacPhee of Binbrook, Ontario, Canada won Fourth Quarter, First Place for ?Thirty Minutes of It?sa Paradox?
When he?s not writing fantasy and science fiction, MacPhee enjoys playing video gamesand board games with his wife and two children You might also find him on long walks in the woodswith his goldenretrievers, Ciri and Arwen
More Information on the Event:
Author Services, Inc.and Galaxy Presswill present
The L Ron Hubbard Achievement Awards Gala on Thursday evening, April 10, 2025 at the Taglyan Complex in Hollywood, CA celebrating the 12 winners of the 41st Annual Writersof the Future and the 11 winners of the 36th Annual Illustrators of the Future Contests from around the world for their excellence aswritersand illustratorsin the genres of Science Fiction and Fantasy Winners from this year?s competitionshail from all over the United States, aswell asfrom Canada, China, Hungary and the United Kingdom.
Chef Paul Wat t ers has been nam ed spokes-Chef for Mr Franks Spices. The popular Irish chef is w ell know t o our readers for his recipes and Facebook Page You will need
Lam b St eak at least 1 pound
250g cooked m ixed grains (quinoa, barley or rice if you prefer)
2 red onions (peeled and chopped)
2 red pepper (chopped)
4 sprigs of rosem ary (picked and chopped)
2 cloves of garlic (crushed)
4 t ablespoons of olive oil
200g pom m e granit e seeds
8 t ablespoons of Greek nat ural yoghurt
1 lem on (cut in half and juiced)
Sum pt uous East ert ide Feast
With Chef Paul Watters
A
Beaut iful
LAMB
STEAK on a bed of m ixed grains roast ed red pepper, pom egranat e and a lem on yogurt dressing w it h rosem ary
First off m arinade t he Lam b St eak in t he olive oil along w it h t he garlic, rosem ary and a lit t le salt and pepper.
Allow t o m arinade at least 2 hours before cooking (chef 's t ip m arinade at room t em perat ure)
Preheat t he oven t o 180. (350 F)
Add peppers, and onions t o a roast ing t ray and add a lit t le olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix w ell and cook for 10 m inut es.
Place 2 frying pans on t he st ove, one on high heat and t he ot her on m edium heat .
In t he hot pan, add t he Lam b and allow t o cook for a few m inut es on each side, depending on how you like. In t he ot her pan add a drizzle of olive oil and add
grains. Whilst t hese are cooking, m ix t oget her t he yogurt and lem on dressing.
By t his st age, all t he ingredient s should be cooked and ready t o plat e up. Add t he grains t o t he plat e, roast ed red pepper and onions. Place Lam b cut on t op, spoon over t he pom egranat e and t he lem on and yogurt dressing, and enjoy.
Bobby Sands MP
Irish Poet & Pat riot
W EEPING W INDS
By Bobby SandsM P
O h ! Cold M ar ch w i n d s you r cr u el lam en ts
A r e h ar d on p r i son er s?h ear ts,
For you br i n g m y m oth er ?s p lead i n g cr i es
Fr om w h om I h ave to p ar t.
I h ear h er w eep i n g lon ely sobs
H er sor r ow s sw eep m e by,
A n d i n th e d ar k of p r i son cell
A tear h as w ar m ed m y eye.
O h ! W h i stli n g w i n d s w hy d o you w eep
W h en r oam i n g f r ee you ar e,
O h ! I s i t th at you r p oor h ear t?s br ok e
A n d scatter ed of f af ar ?
O r i s i t th at you bear th e cr i es
O f p eop le bor n u n f r ee,
W h o li k e you r w ay h ave n o con tr ol
O r sover ei gn d esti n y ?
O h ! L on ely w i n d s th at w alk th e n i gh t
T o h au n t th e si n n er ?s sou l
Pr ay p i ty m e a w r etch ed lad
W h o n ever w i ll gr ow old .
Pr ay p i ty th ose w h o li e i n p ai n
T h e bon d sm an an d th e slave,
A n d w h i sp er sw eet th e br eath of God
Up on m y h u m ble gr ave.
O h ! Cold M ar ch w i n d s th at p i er ce th e d ar k
You cr y i n aged ton es
For sou ls of f olk you ?ve br ou gh t to God
Bu t sti ll you bear th e m oan s.
O h ! W eep i n g w i n d th i s lon ely n i gh t
M y m oth er ?s h ear t i s sor e,
O h ! L or d of all br eath e f r eed om ?s br eath
T h at sh e m ay w eep n o m or e.
The Life and Tim es of BOBBY SANDS
Irish Republican Activist, Hunger Striker, and Member of Parliament
Bobby Sands died at t he age of 27 in 1981 for t he cause of Irish Freedom . To t his day, he rem ains a highly significant and oft en cont roversial figure in m odern Irish hist ory. His part icipat ion in and event ual deat h during t he 1981 hunger st rike at t he Maze Prison in Nort hern Ireland brought int ense int ernat ional scrut iny t o t he ongoing conflict know n as t he Troubles and t he t reat m ent of republican prisoners by t he Brit ish governm ent . The act ions of Sands and nine ot her hunger st rikers had a profound and last ing im pact on Irish nat ionalist polit ics, cont ribut ing t o a shift in t he st rat egies of t he republican m ovem ent and leaving a legacy t hat cont inues t o be debat ed and com m em orat ed.Even w hile im prisoned and engaged in a fat al prot est , Sands achieved a rem arkable feat by being elect ed as a Mem ber of t he Brit ish Parliam ent , underscoring t he com plex int erplay bet w een polit ical act ivism and arm ed st ruggle during t his t um ult uous period.
Gerard "Bobby" Sands w as born on March 9, 1954, in Dunm urry, a t ow n sit uat ed near Belfast in Nort hern Ireland He w as t he eldest of four children born t o John and Rosaleen Sands His younger siblings included sist ers Marcella and Bernadet t e, and a brot her nam ed John Sands' fam ily w as Cat holic, and t heir experiences early in his life w ere deeply m arked by t he sect arian t ensions prevalent in Nort hern Ireland. At t he age of t en, his fam ily faced int im idat ion and w ere com pelled t o relocat e from t heir hom e in a predom inant ly loyalist Robert area This early exposure t o sect arianism appears t o have significant ly influenced his developing w orldview and cont ribut ed t o his lat er radicalizat ion Furt her highlight ing t he im pact of t hese divisions, at t he age of eight een, Sands w as forced t o leave his apprent iceship as a car builder due t o ongoing int im idat ion from loyalist s.These repeat ed inst ances of displacem ent and discrim inat ion likely played a crucial role in shaping his decision t o becom e act ively involved in t he Republican m ovem ent . Sands' involvem ent w it h Irish republicanism int ensified in his lat e t eens He joined t he Republican Movem ent at t he age of 18 and becam e a m em ber of t he Provisional
Irish Republican Arm y (IRA) in 1972 He cam e t o believe t hat m ilit ancy w as t he only viable solut ion t o t he syst em ic problem s and discrim inat ion faced by t he Cat holic com m unit y in Nort hern Ireland. His com m it m ent t o t he IRA led t o his first arrest in 1972 for possession of w eapons Consequent ly, he w as im prisoned in Long Kesh Det ent ion Cent re, w here he w as grant ed "special cat egory" st at us due t o his involvem ent w it h t he IRA Follow ing his release in 1976, Sands quickly reint egrat ed int o Irish republican act ivit ies How ever, his freedom w as short -lived Lat er t hat sam e year, he w as arrest ed again on anot her w eapons charge relat ed t o a bom bing incident and subsequent ly sent enced t o 14 years of im prisonm ent in Maze Prison, w hich w as previously know n as Long Kesh. While incarcerat ed, Sands rose t o becom e a prom inent IRA act ivist and event ually a com m anding officer for t he IRA m em bers w it hin t he prison syst em This rapid ascent w it hin t he IRA st ruct ure suggest s a st rong dedicat ion t o t he cause and an abilit y t o com m and respect and aut horit y am ong his fellow prisoners
Init ially, due t o his IRA affiliat ion, Sands w as accorded "special cat egory st at us" during his first im prisonm ent . This st at us acknow ledged a degree of polit ical m ot ivat ion behind t he prisoners' act ions and grant ed t hem cert ain privileges, akin t o t hose afforded t o prisoners of w ar. These privileges included t he right t o w ear t heir ow n clot hing, t o associat e freely w it h ot her special cat egory prisoners, and t o refrain from prison w ork. How ever, in 1976, t he Brit ish governm ent init iat ed a policy of "crim inalizat ion." The aim of t his policy w as t o underm ine t he perceived legit im acy of republican param ilit ary groups by port raying t heir m em bers as com m on crim inals rat her t han polit ically m ot ivat ed act ors. This shift in policy led t o t he gradual w it hdraw al of special cat egory st at us for IRA prisoners In response t o t his change, republican prisoners, including Bobby Sands, began a series of prot est s The first of t hese w as t he Blanket Prot est , w hich st art ed in 1976
Part 1 of 2; Conclusion in Mid April issue
The Maze Prison, also known as Long Kesh was a high-security prison in Northern Ireland that housed paramilitary prisoners during THE TROUBLES Closed in 2000
ABOVE: Craic in t he St one w as livefor several show s on St . Pat rick's Day at t he Frem ont St reet Experience in Las Vegas
RIGHT: AOH Mass for St . Pat rick's Day in Vent ura!
The Irish Arts & Entertainment's CELTICCAMERA
From t he nat ive Irish in Galw ay Cit y, Count y Galw ay in t he w est of Ireland t o California's Ye Olde King's Head Tradit ional Brit ish Pub in Sant a Monica~~~t he Craic w as m ight y and t he Guinness flow ed on St . Pat rick's Day, 2025!!!
Lorraine Cham bers and fellow ext ras for t he indie m ovie ?House of Wild? at t he Moose Lodge in Dow ney. The film feat ures m any of t he Wild Records art ist s and bands of Dubliner Reb Kennedy w ho lost his fam ily hom e and recording
udio in t he Alt adena fire
Pict ures of t he devast at ion on Lake Avenue in Alt adena! A once t hriving aut o repair shop t uned t o a m olt en m ess and rust ing hulks of cars. In t he aft erm at h, our readers can. help by support ing w w w.alt adenarise.co Feat ure com ing in our March issue Photos by Thom MacNamara.
IRISH ARTS & ENTERTAINM ENT CALENDAR
CELTICARTSCENTER
Sat urday, April 12
Every Week
Sundays st art ing @ 4:pm
Irish Music Session
Tradit ional m usic live/ No Cover
Auld Dubliner Irish Pub Long Beach
w w w.aulddubliner.com
See advert this issue on page 9
Wednesdays st art ing @ 9:pm
Irish Music w it h Niall Cash
Irish Music Maker from Wexford. Follow him on
w w w inst agram com / niallcash
The Auld Dubliner Irish Pub, Long Beach
w w w aulddubliner com
EVERY MONDAY
CAC/ACS Open Session, Irish Language
Classes & Socials Full Bar CAC@The Mayflower Club 11110 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood, CA www.celticartscenter.com
Friday, April 11 @8:00pm
st art ing @ 10:00pm The t radit ion cont inues, Fun, m aybe m ayhem w it h Irish Music from originals t o st andards w it h THE BELL BOYS. Alw ays a great night !
Then on t he 19t h st art ing @ 10:00pm CRAIC HAUS is back w it h t heir oroginal genre of Sham rockabilly!!
Auld Dubliner in Long Beach w w w.aulddubliner.com
See more from Auld Dubliner this issue on pages 5
Saturday, May 3
starting @8:00pm
Saturday, April 19
starting @8:00pm
Whiskey Sunday
Acoust ic Trio
Rousing Irish Am ericana
Whiskey Sunday
Acoust ic Trio
The Three St ags Irish Pub
328 Orange St reet , Redlands, CA
info@t het hreest ags.pub (909) 792-8335
w w w t het hreest agspub com
Rousing Irish Am ericana
The Three St ags Irish Pub
328 Orange St reet , Redlands, CA
info@t het hreest ags pub (909) 792-8335
w w w.t het hreest agspub.com
IRISH ARTS & ENTERTAINM ENT
Em m y-nom inat ed Irish singer
Michael Londra
has ret urning t o PBS w it h a new season of his show , "Ireland Wit h Michael " The fift h season prem iered on January 9,, and w ill feat ure eight half-hour episodes t hat explore t he beaut y and cult ure of Ireland! More inform at ion about t he show , including episode descript ions and clips w w w irelandw it hm ichael com
Check your local PBS list ings for air t im es and det ails.
Bren Holm es and his band are com ing Sat urday, April
Mint
Sat urday, May 3
Assem blies: Diaspora?
Ir ish M usic : News& Reviews
Craic in t he St one m em bers are:
Mat t Brislaw n, Janelle Vione, Chris Caput o, Jay Rofsky, Scot t Well & Bill St rongin
GAELIC STORM!! Did you know t his am azing Irish Trad/ Rock group is part of Oscar Hist ory. Never before have t he TV audience been as high as w hen t he Tit anic w on Best Pict ure. 85 Million w at ched!
NOW on Band Cam p
O'Briens Irish Pub
2226 Wilshire Sant a Monica, CA w w
Sunday, April 13
Startsat 4:30pm for about 3 hours
Las VegasIrish Session Group
Sahara West Library & Fine Arts Museum
The Public isinvited
Irish Traditional music session All levels of players are welcome aswell asfolks who just want to learn more about the music or just want to listen!
Thisprogram is not a Library District event The views expressed and other information presented are solely those of the producing entity
Kris m ixes Count ry, Bluegrass and Am ericana st yles t o her Celt ic-st yled songs w w w.kriscolt -blackrose.com /
Breakfast
Check back every few days for
The SoCal Irish Fair and Music Fest ival t hat w as planned in Torrance for t his past July has been rescheduled t o Fat her 's Day Weekend 2025.
Please follow t he Reorganizat ion New s and Plans on t heir Facebook Page. Irish Com m unit y input is im port ant . So, please join t he page and support t his im port ant event !
We invite you to Advertise With Us
Our new Media Kit is available if you are int erest ed in advert ising or prom ot ing your business or event w it h us. Our proven 30 plus year t rack record speaks for it self w hen it com es t o great value w it h our niche m arket publicat ion!
We really have no equal.
Now in addit ion t o our effect ive and w ell respect ed publicat ion; our t eam has
IRISH LANGUAGE An Ghaeilge
The View From Ireland Feat ure last year about t he Irish Language by our great friend and Irish Art s and Ent ert ainm ent colum nist Maurice Fit zpat rick really resonat ed w it h us. We use t he m ont hs of t he year in each issue but our collect ive Irish is very lim it ed.
In fact , w orking on t he folio (t he t op of each page) recent ly, I forgot t he w ord for Oct ober in Irish and had t o look it up. I found t his really int erest ing YouTube video and share t he link below.
m ast ered Digit al Market ing and w e can enhance your out reach for a very cost effect ive rat e.
The digit al age has been good t o us and w e have been able t o prosper and grow our subscriber base. We w ill have det ails soon on our expansion plans and our Affiliat e Program s. We are also going t o enhance our Very Irish Perks and st art a new series of very excit ing Draw ings and Cont est s!
The Holidays are alm ost here and w e w ill be doing Special issues for Hallow een and for Christ m as!
I w ould like t o change m y lack of Irish t oo so st art ing now and in fut ure issues, w e w ill be offering our readers a few w ords or phrases in our Mot her Language
Also, if you are in t he LA area,t he Celt ic Art s Cent er has ongoing Irish lessons As w e expand around t he US, w e w ill add m ore such links. More on t his project in com ing issues.
CLICK ICON FOR A QUICK LESSON
PUB QUIZES & TRIVIA
Mondays
The Auld Dubliner
Every Monday w e host Trivia Night , gat her your friends and com e in t o com pet e and enjoy a pint . 71 Pine St Long Beach, CA
w w w aulddubliner com
O'Brien's Irish Pub
Trivia Night s are Mondays and Wednesdays
Monday st art s at 8PM t ill 10:30PM
WED: 8PM t o 10PM Form a t eam or t ry t o form one at t he
Play for cash prizes of $150. No ent ry fee 2226 Wilshire Sant a Monica, CA w w w obriensla com
Wednesdays
Ye Olde King's Head Brit ish Pub & Rest aurant
Trivia in t he pub at 7:30pm
116 Sant a Monica Bl Sant a Monica, CA w w w yeoldekingshead com
Check our FACEBOOK PAGES for Daily Updat es: Irish Art s & Ent ert ainm ent
E New s LA Count y Irish Event s
VERY IRISH PERKS VIP GROUP
All subscribers become members of our VIP Group. Current ly w e are offering som e really good prom ot ions and as t he Pandem ic eases w e w ill add m ore
At Present :
O'Brien's On Wilshire in Sant a Monica w ill give our subscribers a Free Appet izer w it h purchase. w w w obriensla com
Go t o t he m enu click here
An am azing offer for our ow n VIP Mem bers and Subscribers!
Buy a GIFT SUBSCRIPTION bet w een now and March 31st ,. and w e w ill give you a FREE ONE YEAR EXTENSION on your ow n subscript ion.
Irish Arts & Entertainment's VERY IRISH PERKS (VIP) PRIMER
The VIP program is a very im port ant com ponent of our subscript ion program . It has a m ult it ude of posit ive fact ors built int o t he program . It serves as a bonus/ rew ard syst em for spending hard cold cash on our publicat ion AND it is a good net w orking t ool for t he Publisher. We are able t o at t ract subscribers and advert isers t o our publicat ion and keep t hem int erest ed w hile delivering great Irish int erest cont ent and inform at ion t o our readers. The advert isers benefit by having a readership int erest ed in our excit ing niche m arket and t hey can t arget our readers w it h special offers The volum e m akes it w ort hw hile for t hem t o part icipat e.
The Pandem ic set us all back a bit in one w ay or anot her and w e are rebuilding our VIP benefit s package. We w ere count ing on discount s and deals at pubs and event s but t hat plan is now on t he back burner as t here are few event s and pubs t hat need volum e t o m ake t he discount s pract ical. In t he m eant im e, w e are w orking hard t o line up new offers for our subscribers We st ill have som e list ings on good deals and w e w ill be adding special offers t o our w ebsit e as w e find t hem . One VIP, w e have now of int erest is Buy ONE SUB and get a Gift Subscript ion!
We are expanding and w e are using new and im proved m et hods for reaching out t o our readers!
We have set up a new affiliat ed Irish Art s & Ent ert ainm ent Channel on Telegram . We also have updat ed our Websit e. w w w.irishart sandent ert ainm ent .com
