Mid May of 2025

This Weekend Scottish Fest Comes to Costa Mesa See page 3 M ID-M ONTH UPDATE EDITION

Vo l . X X X I V # 5

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20 25

Memorial Day Weekend!!

The Scottish Fest Takes Center Stage!!

Coverage Starts on Page 3

O'Br ien's Ir ish Pu b & Rest au r an t Celebr at es An n iver sar y Th is Week !

Feat u r ed on Page 9

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Scot t ish Fest Coming t o t he Orange Count y Faigrounds & Event Cent er Starts on 3 Irish Unit y!

Is Ireland In Decline?! See page 12 Ken O'Malley's Halloween Tour to Ireland RESET!

Starts on Page 21

The Latest on KNEECAP Starts on Page 17

Bealt aine, Upcoming Celt ic Fest ival Explained!

See page 27

EXPANDING CALENDAR! Starts on Page 28

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Irish Arts & Entertainment Th e opin ion s expr essed by ou r w r it er s ar e t h eir ow n an d do n ot n ecessar ily con vey t h ose of t h is m agazin e, ou r pu blish er or st af f .

Publisher & Managing Editor

Jam es M M cDon ou gh Marketing & Outreach

Th om M acM am ar a Jam es M cM ah on

Writers M au r ice Fit zpat r ick Joh n M cNally Gr eg Pat r ick Pau l Wat t er s Lor r ain e Ch am ber s Bar bar a Sin ger Pat r ick Weld

Press Relations Open ; Sen d let t er or em ail t o Jim

Graphics/ Ad Design Jim , & Fr eelan cer s

Sales Reps Jim & Also OPEN

Layout & Typos Jim Con t act Us Via Em ail: ir ish m issive@gm ail.com Jim 's Cell: 951 216-1493

All Copyr igh t s 2025

by M cDon ou gh M edia

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Let t er f r om t h e Pu blish er Dear Friends and Readers, Spr in g is in f u ll sw in g an d so ar e all t h e gr eat Celt ic Even t s t h at br in g ou t t h e best in all of u s!

Th is w eeken d w e h ave t h e Scot t ish Fest USA at t h e f abu lou s ven u e, t h e Or an ge Cou n t y Fair gr ou n ds an d Even t s Cen t er in Cost a M esa. Ju st a cou ple m iles f r om ou r equ ally f abu lou s lon g t im e adver t iser an d su ppor t er , Th e Har p In n ! So in t h e spir it of plu ggin g bot h ou r Season al an d Ever y issu e f or 30 plu s year s adver t iser s; by all m ean s dr op by bot h t h e Scot t ish Fair an d THE HARP INN w h en you ar e in Cost a M esa on M em or ial Day Weeken d! You w ill cer t ain ly n ot be disappoin t ed!

On to the the other news: As m en t ion ed above in t h is issu e, w e f ocu s on t h e Scot t ish Fest USA! How ever , on page 8, t h er e is a f eat u r e on an ot h er on e of ou r w on der f u l adver t iser s an d f r ien ds, w ell w or t h ou r at t en t ion !

O'Br ien's Ir ish Pu b an d Willy O'Su llivan ar e celebr at ion t h eir 31st . An n iver sar y!

J ames M cDonough, Publisher

Su bscr ipt ion Of f er Th e Scot t ish Fest USA h ave an am azin g w ebsit e, so you r best bet is t o go t h er e f or a det ailed over look of all t h e en du r in g en t er t ain m en t , even t s, m assed bagpipes, Scot t ish t h em ed at h let ics an d var iou s dan cer s t h at ar e sch edu led. An d of cou r se, Sh eep Dogs!! A cr ow d pleaser of t h e f ir st or der !

Fin ally, an essay on Belt ain e, (Ir ish f or Spr in g on e of t h e an cien t Qu ar t er ly Season s in Ir elan d) w h ich w e gen er at ed in par t u sin g ou r Ch at GP Pr o plat f or m .

On e Fu ll Year f or On ly $25.

Lif et im e, On ly $50.

Em ail u s f or det ails.

We bill you an d w e st ar t you r su b r igh t aw ay.

Ou r r egu lar f eat u r es an d expan din g West Coast Celt ic an d Ir ish Calen dar lin k s an d list in gs as w ell.

Click Her e

We h ave sever al ot h er t opics t h at ar e qu it e t im ely an d w ell w or t h explor in g as w ell. Ir ish Un it y, com in g t o t h e f or ef r on t as t h e Ir ish as w ell as m an y ot h er Eu r opean s ar e sh if t in g t h eir ou t look t ow ar d u n ch eck ed an d r elen t less illegal im m igr at ion .

KNEECAP is back in t h e n ew s f or t h eir su ppor t of Palest in e over Isr ael. An u n f oldin g st or y.

En joy! Please, su ppor t ou r w or k by su bscr ibin g!

M ore INSIDE THIS ISSUE! Our regular feat ures: M aurice Fit zpat rick's View from Ireland and John M cNally's Comment ary Guest Columnist : Troy Korjuslommi on TARIFF LOGIC

Travel Feat ure on Ireland's Hidden Gems

has been post poned t ill our June issue.

You might have not iced t hat our Calendar is growing!

Submissions for Calendar, Celt ic Camera and Travel Feat ures are want ed: Send ideas and St ory Submissions wit h jpegs and capt ions t o:

irishmissive@gmail.com

!

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Scot t ish Fest Set For OC Fair gr ounds & Event s Cent er Over Memor ial Day Weekend. May 24 & 25 Get ready for one of t he absolut e best Celt ic Event s of t he year! The annual Scot t ish Ext ravaganza will soon be here.

Once again, t he Irish Art s & Ent ert ainment will be part of t he Irish Cont ingent . As always, t he organizers remind us t hat one of t he very best element s of Scot t ish Fest : "There is no need to be

Scottish to join the excitement! Scottish Fest is the perfect way to celebrate, explore, and make lasting memories!"

This is a Family Friendly event , held at a W orld Class venue t hat i easy t o get around. There is leant y of convenient parking and t he locat ion is an easy drive from anyplace in SoCal. Visit t he websit e dor a comprehensive t our of everyt hing t hat is in st orefor you, your family and friends,

Entertainment Confirmed as of April 15th: Scot t ish Fest USA offers a wide variet y of ent ert ainment t hat embodies Scot t ish and Celt ic cult ure, as well as some American element s. Confirmed act s for t he 2025 event include W orld-class Celt ic music wit h a variet y of bands and performers. Bands will include folk, rock, bluegrass, All wit h a Celt ic t wist . You can expect fiddles, pipes, and harps. Confirmed act s include Craic in t he St one and W icked Tinkers.

Highland Dancing Compet it ions: W it ness t he skill and t radit ion of Highland dancing, including reels, flings, jigs, and sword dances.

Also, t icket s are a great ent ert ainment value.

Discount s online are available now on t he websit e at : www.scot t ishfest .com

Scot ti sh Fest H ead l i n er s I n cl u d e th e W i cked T i n ker s an d Cr ai c i n th e Ston e

Wick ed Tin k er s ar e: Aar on Sh aw , gr eat High lan d bagpipes, Th e Rever en d Dr . Tik i Kin g, Big Dr u m , r h yt h m pole, Uk u lele, an d CJ Hen der son , didger idoo, Br on ze Age Ir ish Hor n , bodh r an

Cr aic in t h e St on e m em ber s ar e: M at t Br islaw n , Jan elle Vion e, Ch r is Capu t o, Jay Rof sk y, Scot t Well & Bill St r on gin

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SCOTTISH FEST USA BANDS! Celt ish & Their Presence in t he Tradit ional Celt ic M usic Scene

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band" t ypically evokes images of lively, engaging performances, oft en in social set t ings, where t he music encourages int eract ion and a sense of communit y. This aligns wit h t heir st at ed primary goal of ent ert aining t heir audiences and fost ering part icipat ion.The deliberat e inclusion of "musical t wist " in t heir self-descript ion indicat es a willingness t o explore beyond st rict adherence t o t radit ion, pot ent ially set t ing t hem apart wit hin t he Celt ic music scene.

Enjoy, amazing deliveries of some of t he finest Trad M usic including "The Scot t ish Soldier," "Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore," and "Fields of At henry". These t it les are recognized wit hin t he canon of Irish and Scot t ish folk music, confirming t he band's commit ment t o t he genre. Celt ish has performed at a variet y of event s, including benefit s, fundraisers, fest ivals, concert s, privat e gat herings, and in more informal set t ings such as breweries.

This diverse range of performance venues illust rat es t heir adapt abilit y and pot ent ial appeal t o a broad spect rum of audiences wit hin t he local music scene.

The band Celt ish emerges from t he vibrant and diverse music landscape of Sout hern California, wit h a not ed presence in bot h Los Angeles or Orange Count ies. Their musical focus lies wit hin t he rich t radit ions of Irish and Scot t ish folk music, a genre t hat has found a dedicat ed following t hroughout SoCal! Shared ent husiasm serves as t he driving force behind t heir commit ment t o performing and sharing t his cult ural music form.

Dan Thomas Guit ar, penny whist le, vocals Kelly Lauer ?Irish? ukulele, Bodhrain, vocals Les Eisel Guit ar, mandolin, penny whist le, vocals

Sweet wat er Creek

The current lineup of Celt ish comprises t hree members, each cont ribut ing specific inst rument al skills and vocal t alent s. Dan Thomas plays guit ar and penny whist le, and also provides vocals. Kelly Lauer is skilled in t he "Irish" ukulele and Bodhrain, in addit ion t o lending her voice t o t he ensemble. Les Eisel complet es t he t rio wit h his expert ise on t he guit ar, mandolin, and penny whist le, while also cont ribut ing vocals. This combinat ion of inst rument s, feat uring t radit ional sounds alongside t he more cont emporary ukulele and mandolin, hint s at t he pot ent ial for a dist inct ive sonic blend t hat charact erizes t heir self-described "unique celt ic sound/ flair/musical signat ure".

Furt hermore, t he fact t hat all t hree members are vocalist s suggest s t he possibilit y of int ricat e vocal harmonies, a common and cherished element wit hin folk and t radit ional music.

Celt ish charact erizes t heir musical st yle as t hat of a t radit ional Celt ic pub band, yet one t hat incorporat es occasional musical t wist s, a nuance reflect ed in t he "ish" of t heir name.This descript ion suggest s t hat while t heir foundat ion lies in t he est ablished forms of Irish and Scot t ish t radit ional music, t hey are also open t o incorporat ing t heir own creat ive int erpret at ions and perhaps even vent uring int o non-t radit ional musical t errit ories.The t erm "Celt ic pub

Band M embers: Dan Elliot t :Fiddle, Irish bouzouki, mandolin, recorders. Susan Lachner:Fiddle, mandolin, guit ar, accordion and Kevin Cox:Guit ar, banjo, vocals.

PLAYING BOTH DAYS! This Orange Count y bluegrass/Celt ic/ folk t rio, is gaining in populrit y and will be a very welcome addit ion t o t he Highlnd Games and Celt ic M usic fest ival.

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PIPES & DRUM S As good as it get s Th er e is a lot of m agic in t h e old bar bar ic m u sic!

The pipe band consist s of four separat e inst rument s. The pipes, t he bass drum, t he snare drum and t he t enor drum. The pipes provide t he melody and harmonies of t he music, while t he bass drum provides t he beat , and t he snare drums provide t he dynamics t o t he music. The t enors add not only musical qualit y t o t he drum scores but t he t enor drummers also add a visual aspect by flourishing wit h t he mallet s. ?

SOLOS As t he word "Solo" indicat es, a piper will play by himself in front of one piping judge, and a drummer will play wit h 1-2 pipers in front of one drumming judge. The judge will list en for t one, musicalit y and mist akes. W hen t enor drummers compet e solo, t hey will play wit h 1-2 pipers and a snare drummer and will be judged on how t heir music fit s bot h t he pipe and snare scores in t erms of musicalit y as well as t he art ist ic flourishment .

www.scot t ishfest .con

25

Years!

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Scottish Highland Games Highlights Experience t he Thrill of Scot t ish Heavy At hlet ics in Sunny Cost a M esa

provides ample space for t he various act ivit ies and compet it ions t hat t ake place.

Imagine a weekend filled wit h t he st irring sounds of bagpipes, t he vibrant colors of t art an, and t he awe-inspiring display of st rengt h as at hlet es compet e in t radit ional Scot t ish Heavy At hlet ics.

This excit ing cult ural event t akes place annually in Cost a M esa, during t he M emorial Day weekend, offering a unique opport unit y t o wit ness a piece of Scot land right here in Sout hern California!

The Caber Toss

The Scot t ish Fest USA , is a grand celebrat ion t hat brings t oget her Scot t ish, Celt ic, and American t radit ions, making it a diverse and engaging experience for all who at t end. Among t he many at t ract ions, t he Scot t ish Heavy At hlet ics st and out as a breat ht aking display of human power and t ime-honored cust oms. The annual Scot t ish Fest is held at t he Orange Count y Fair & Event Cent er in freeway close Orange Count y. This W orld Famous locat ion

Confirmed and await ing at hlet es t o sign up, GO TO:

which t hey have t o walk for dist ance, which is a huge feet of st rengt h. The woman?s st ones are roughly around 320 pounds.

www.scot t ishfest .com/ent ry-forms

The Farmers Walk Throwing t he W eight Put t ing t he St one The Sheaf Toss

The Hammer Throw

NEW, this year!!

The Dinnie St ones Compet it ion Originat ion is from a pair of large, granit e boulders locat ed in Pot arch, Aberdeenshire, Scot land, hist orically known for t heir use in a famous st rongman challenge. These st ones, one weighing 144.47kg (318.5lbs) and t he ot her 188.02kg (414.5lbs), are renowned for t he incredible st rengt h required t o lift and carry t hem. The

st ones t hat will be in use at Cost a M esa roughly weigh 560 pounds

www.t hedinniest ones.com

w w w.au lddu blin er .com

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O'Brien's Irish Pub & Rest aurant : Over Three Decades of Irish Heart in Sant a M onica For 31 years, t he doors of O'Brien's Irish Pub and

Rest aurant in Sant a M onica have swung open every day welcoming a diverse t apest ry of pat rons int o it s warm embrace. M ore t han just a place t o grab a pint , O'Brien's has become a cherished inst it ut ion, a cornerst one of t he local communit y and all of LA's west side where st ories are shared, friendships are forged, and t he spirit of Ireland t hrives.

St ep inside, and you're immediat ely enveloped in an at mosphere t hat feels bot h familiar and fest ive, a

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comfort ing blend of dark wood, lively conversat ion, and t he clinking of glasses.

At t he heart of t his enduring est ablishment is W illy O'Sullivan, t he man whose vision and dedicat ion have shaped O'Brien's int o t he beloved landmark it is t oday.

W illy O'Sullivan, t he driving force behind O'Brien's, hails from Cork Cit y, Ireland. His journey t o Sant a M onica began in 1987, a move spurred by a lack of opport unit ies in his homeland. Like many Irish immigrant s, he found a welcoming at mosphere in t he coast al cit y, which already housed a significant Irish ex-pat communit y. Before realizing his dream of owning his own pub, O'Sullivan gained valuable experience working in ot her Irish est ablishment s in t he area, including t he Irish Rover in Sant a M onica and M olly M alone's on Fairfax in LA. W illy's dream of owning his own pub came t o pass a few years lat er.

Continued next page....

Daily Lu n ch Specials

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O'Br ien's An n iver sar y t h is w eek !! M ay 22n d. m ar k s 31 year s!

W illy O'Sullivan, a nat ive of Cork Cit y, Ireland, opened O'Brien's on M ay 22nd, 1994. The now W orld famous pub quickly became a favorit e gat hering spot for t he large Irish expat riat e communit y in Sant a M onica at t he t ime. W illy himself could oft en be found working behind t he bar.

W hile t he local Irish populat ion has shift ed over t he years, O'Brien's has successfully adapt ed t o appeal t o a broader local client ele while ret aining it s aut hent ic Irish pub at mosphere.

Film Locat ion: O'Brien's was feat ured in t he1996 romant ic comedy "The Trut h About Cat s & Dogs"st arring Uma Thurman and Janeane Garofalo. The act ual name and locat ion of t he pub were used in t he film.

TRIVIA NIGHTS!!

O'Brien's is is well known for it s t rivia night s, held on M onday, Tuesday, and W ednesday evenings at 8 PM

Cash prizes, and t here's no ent ry fee.

The W ednesday night t rivia is part icularly not ewort hy, having been feat ured in t he Wall Street Journal, NPR, and Los Angeles Magazine. It has even been dubbed "LA's hardest t rivia" by t he LA Times. Adding t o t he allure, t heir W ednesday t rivia night oft en at t ract s former cont est ant s from t he game show Jeopardy!, suggest ing a very high level of compet it ion.

Anot her out st anding part of O'Brien's Irish Pub is t he food. It is way above average and t he fish and chips are superb; also t he price range is quit e good.

Today, sport s are a big at t ract ion and t he pub is home t o several nat ional t eams fans. Not by accident , as t he pub is a fant ast ic spot t o wat ch sport ing event s, wit h numerous TVs and affiliat ions wit h fan clubs like t he LA Red Army (M anchest er Unit ed) and New York Giant s fans. O'Brien's has become "t he Sport s Pub wit h t he Irish Heart "!

Drop by soon, you will be welcomed and t reat ed well.

M ore informt ion at :

www.obriensla.com

Pu b Ow n er WILLY O'SULLIVAN celebr at es 31 year s at O'Br ien's

M ay , 2025

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Kneecap ? W hen M usic Speaks Trut h t o Power

By John McNally The Irish rap t rio Kneecap has never been subt le.

M o Chara, M óglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí didn?t form t heir group in Belfast t o ent ert ain t he comfort able? t hey came t o confront . To provoke. To resist . And now, as accusat ions swirl and venues shut t heir doors, it ?s wort h asking: are we wit nessing a legit imat e concern, or a chilling at t empt t o silence polit ical speech?

Since t heir 2018 breakout wit h ?C.E.A.R.T.A.? (Irish for "right s"), Kneecap has been root ed in Irish Republicanism and ant i-colonial crit ique. Their lyrics blend Irish and English wit h scat hing wit and a punk sensibilit y t hat skewers Brit ish rule, st at e violence, and global imperialism.

Their most recent album, Fine Art, released in 2024, has only st rengt hened t heir reput at ion as one of t he most polit ically charged act s in Europe. But now, t hey face t he kind of backlash t hat makes headlines.

A firest orm of cont roversy has erupt ed around ant i-Israeli st at ement s made from t he st age at t heir April 11t h. concert at Coachella. Jewish advocacy groups and public figures such as Sharon Osbourne have called for t heir U.S. visas t o be revoked. Scot land Yard has begun invest igat ing hist orical Kneecap concert foot age showing t he groups solidarit y for Hamas and Hezbollah. Conservat ive polit icians in Brit ain are calling for prosecut ion. Some venues in Germany and t he UK have canceled shows.

Kneecap has cat egorically denied support ing any t errorist organizat ions, st at ing clearly: ?W e do not , and have never,

support ed Hamas or Hezbollah.? The group says t heir crit iques are aimed at t he Israeli government and it s milit ary policies? not at Jewish people or Judaism it self.

Yet in t oday?s climat e, t hat dist inct ion is oft en lost . Dissent is t oo easily recast as ext remism.

M eanwhile, more t han 40 art ist s have signed a public let t er t o defend art ist ic freedom of expression as Kneecaps fanbase is growing. Their music is climbing t he chart s.

M any see t his campaign against t hem not as a mat t er of public safet y, but a calculat ed at t empt t o st ifle ant i-colonial and pro-Palest inian voices in t he art s.

Let ?s be honest : Kneecap is cont roversial. Their language is raw. Their imagery is oft en confront at ional. But since when has prot est art ever been polit e? From The Clash t o Public Enemy, from Sinead O'Connor t o St ormzy, t he great est art ist s have always held uncomfort able t rut hs t o t he microphone.

In a world of rising aut horit arianism, milit arism, and censorship, should t he great er t hreat really be t hree Irish rappers calling out genocide and injust ice? Or is t he t rue danger our silence about at rocit ies commit t ed in our name?

The choice isn?t whet her we agree wit h everyt hing Kneecap says. The choice is whet her we believe art ist s should be allowed t o speak at all. In t hat regard, we?d do well t o list en? before t he mic is t aken away for good.

Joh n M cNally Ou r f r equ en t Con t r ibu t in g Wr it er is In sigh t f u l an d w ell t r aveled. He is also an Ir ish Com m u n it y act ivist an d or gan izer .

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Book Review:

Rot : An Imperial Hist ory of t he Irish Famine

by Padraic X. Scanlan Review by Jim McDonough There are surprisingly few books writ t en about t he Great Irish Famine. An Gorta Mor of t he 1840's THE GREAT HUNGER in Irish. In recent years, t here has been a shift in t his lack of st udy. Odds are t hat fut ure hist orians will st udy why Ireland and t he world choose t o ignore t he t rut h about and beyond t he pot at o blight t hat t riggered t he epic wave of immigrat ion and st arvat ion for millions of most ly Cat holic Irish. The realit y is t hat t he horrific hist ory was not st udied much for at least 100 years and t hat most of t he informat ion

writ t en about it was inaccurat e. I am not cert ain about t he lack of deep concern for t his monument al event in t he hist ory of Ireland and t he many ot her nat ions who t ook in t he displaced millions but my gut feeling was always along t he lines of, "hist ory is writ t en by t he vict ors".

Bot t om line; Scanlan's opus is bet t er and different in many ways. First off, t he Canadian writ er is a scholar, a Universit y professor and t he aut hor of t wo ot her highly acclaimed hist ory books so he has a great t rack record as an hist orian W e highly recomment t his work. Available in all format s,

www.amazon.com/ Rot -Imperial-Hist ory-Irish-Famine

Excellent Reviews Rot : An Imperial Hist ory of t he Irish Famine by Padraic X. Scanlan was released in M arch of t his year and immediat ely was well received in bot h academic and pubic spaces. The book has also received overwhelmingly posit ive reviews from a wide range of reput able publicat ions, praising it s insight ful analysis of t he Brit ish Empire's role in t he Irish Famine.

A lot of t he at t ent ion init ially was because Scanlan is a well-est ablished hist orian and Associat e Professor at t he Universit y of Toront o, wit h a st rong background in Brit ish imperial and labor hist ory. He is also a Research Associat e at t he Cent re for Hist ory and Economics at t he Universit y of Cambridge and Harvard Universit y . But t hat is only part of t he st ory, for a hist ory book, it is selling well. Scanlan is a good writ er.

You can find t he book on Amazon, also at Walmart , & chains such as Barnes & Noble. There are copies on sale at Books A M illion near my home so it should be easy t o find.

Fr om t h e r eview by Dian e Her n an dez on Goodr eads....

"Rot discusses t he physical and polit ical reasons for t he Irish pot at o famine of t he 1840s and 50s. W hat caused so many t o have t o choose bet ween emigrat ion and st arvat ion? W here were t he rich Brit ish landlords when t heir workers were st arving? However, it shines a harsh light on our current American syst em of worrying more about profit s t han people t oo. Aft er all, t he oligarchs? playbook hasn?t really changed in 200 years."

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The View from Ireland

The Polit ics of Deport at ion

By Maurice Fitzpatrick

A searing song, ?Europa?,by German rock band Die Tot en Hosen, evokes t he fat e of t housands of people from African count ries who depart for Europe on boat s or even dinghies. ?Europa?capt ures t he t win risks involved: t hat t he boat s capsize, and t he passengers drown; t hat pat rol boat s head t hem off before t hey reach t he Spanish, Greek or It alian coast s and, as t he song goes, ?um sie in unserem Auft rag zu deport ieren/ deport t hem on our behalf.

People lucky enough t o be European Union cit izens enjoy incomparably great er prot ect ion from deport at ion. Yet t hat may now be changing, and t wo Irish cit izens are at t he cent re of a pot ent ially landmark case t hat will det ermine whet her realpolit ik t rumps law on t he mat t er of deport at ion. The t wo, resident s in Berlin, are Bert M urray and Shane O?Brien. They have been issued wit h deport at ion orders along wit h t wo ot hers (a Pole and an American).

Init ially, t hey were t old t o leave t he count ry by Berlin?s st at e migrat ion aut horit y before April 21 st or face deport at ion.

Their crime? Prot est ing about Germany?s support for Gaza.

They dug in, engaged a lawyer and now t heir case has been adjourned. European Union ct izens have t he right t o live and work where t hey choose in t he European Union. It is highly unusual for a member st at e t o suspend t hose right s, somet hing t hat normally arises only aft er a grave crime is commit t ed and a person poses a reasonable concern for public safet y. Yet we do not live normal t imes. Since t he invasion of Gaza in 2023, rigid cont rol over prot est s about t he war crimes perpet rat ed t here have been rut hlessly shut down by t he German government . Academic and public media discourse has been similarly censored.

Germany is far from t he only European count ry t o implement excessive (and oft en illegal) measures on dissent and on t hose who prot est Israel?s invasion and shelling of Gaza. St ill, it is t he most ext reme example in Europe of a nat ion so inst inct ively pro-Israeli as t o preclude public acknowledgement of t he horrors in t he Gaza st rip. Ireland, in polar cont rast , is probably t he European count ry where such prot est against Israel is most freely expressed. So, Irish cit izens who prot est against t he unspeakable violence visit ed upon t he Palest inians can find Germany t o be culpably ignorant on t he mat t er ? or worse.

Are t here grounds for Germany t o exercise absolut e caut ion and rest raint regarding any mat t er relat ed t o Israeli securit y? There surely are, and yet t hat let s t oo many people, bot h in cont emporary Germany and in Germany?s immediat e post -W W II dispensat ion, off t he hook.

In a recent essay by Joe Cleary in The Dublin Review of Books, ?The Night mare of Gaza?, Cleary lambast ed t he st ance of Germany on Gaza. He argued t hat German ?willingness t o have t he Palest inians cont inue t o at one forever it seems for Germany?s orchest rat ion of t he Holocaust shows t hat t he

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real lesson t hey have learned from hist ory is how t o subst it ut e one weak and polit ically compromised populat ion for anot her on t he alt ar of t heir nat ional int erest and put at ive good conscience?. That put at ive good conscience did not prevent Germany from selling hundreds of millions of euros wort h of weapons t o Israel since it s invasion of Gaza began, giving rise t o a case against Germany in t he Unit ed Nat ions on t he charge of breaching t he UN genocide convent ion.

In t he cross-hairs of t hese geopolit ical cont roversies are t he t wo young Irish cit izens in Berlin. The excuses provided for t heir deport at ion are unfounded charges of t heir being part of a front for Hamas in Germany and of t heir being ant i-semit ic. It says a lot about t he German aut horit ies?fait h in t hese charges t hat t hey are not even being t ried in court .

So, if t he legal basis for t hese deport at ions is so feeble, what is t he source of t his nonsense? M ainst ream German polit ical part ies have since Oct ober 7t h , 2023, allowed t hemselves t o espouse increasingly aut horit arian measures at t he expense of t he much-respect ed Grundgeset z (Basic Law), a foundat ion st one of t he new Germany aft er W W II, result ing in t he polit icisat ion of human right s.

The Irish Times has seen correspondence showing t hat an official at Berlin?s st at e migrat ion aut horit y quest ioned t he validit y of t he deport at ions wit h t he M inist ry for t he Int erior, cit ing insufficient evidence t hat t he people involved were a public danger. The official at t he M inist ry for t he Int erior was all ears, replying: ?It is unusual t o cont radict a supervisory direct ive from t he management in t his way. I consider t he email a remonst rat ion, which I nevert heless reject ?.

German officials and polit icians would do t heir count ry a service t o deeply consider t he way in which aut horit y is being exercised in t he name of democracy and public safet y.

And t hen drop t he shameful charges against t he t arget s of t hese polit ically mot ivat ed deport at ions and offer an official apology. In t he absence of any prospect of t hat happening, Bert M urray and Shane O?Brien have recourse t o appealing t his in a European court . Even if t he first lit igat ion of t his case occurs in a German court , t his is ? legally, morally and polit ically ? fundament ally a European issue. To quot e once more from Joe Cleary?s essay: ?t he disposit ion of most of t he leading EU st at es during t he recent annihilat ion of Gaza has severely t arnished t hat image?[of t he EU as democrat ic and progressive]. The case of M urray and O?Brien has t he pot ent ial t o be not a t hreat t o German democracy but for a st ep back t owards it .

Ou r r egu lar con t r ibu t or , M au r ice Fit zpat r ick is an Ir ish w r it er an d f ilm m ak er w h o w as edu cat ed at Tr in it y College Du blin . Fit zpat r ick au t h or ed t h e book , John Hume in America: From Derry to DC an d w r ot e, dir ect ed, an d pr odu ced t h e docu m en t ar y f ilm , John Hume in America.

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M ay , 2025

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Page 15

Nash ville, Cin cin n at i, & Ch icago t o h ost ?Ir ish Un it y People?s Assem blies: Diaspor a?

Th e ?Ir ish Un it y People's Assem bly: Diaspor a? is on t h e m ove an d com in g t o you !

Nashville, TN Cincinnat i, OH Chicago, IL in lat e M ay.

Pat Cullen M P will be t he guest speaker.

Support ers and t hose who at t end are invit ed t o enngage, and t o be a part of t he conversat ion about creat ing a new & unit ed Ireland!

April 10, 2025 marked t he 27t h. Anniversary of t he signing of t he Good Friday Accords which changed Ireland for t he bet t er. Now is t he t ime

t o get serious about a Unit ed Ireland.

There is movement t owards t his realit y. Now is t he t ime t o speak out and support Irish Unit y. ...

Your voice will be heard.

M eanwhile, t here is more at :

f r ien dsof sin n f ein .com w w w.f acebook .com / M acDar aM u sic/ videos/ 728061756227672

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I r i sh Ar t s & En t er t ai n m en t

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"

BE SURE TO DROP BY OUR BAK ERY & GI FT SHOPPE WHEN YOU VI SI T THE PUB

See t h e Calen dar an d Tr ivia Pages f or m or e u pdat es w w w.YeOldeKin gsHead.com

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I r i sh M usi c: News & Reviews KNEECAP's Visa Con t r over sy Follow in g Coach ella Per f or m an ce

very much but we have always been against t he "Cancel Cult ure" ant ics of any group or person and of unfounded and rash condemnat ions from right wingers as well. W e are firmly implant ed on t he free speech is our right side of

By Jim McDonough

discussions.

Nort hern Ireland's Irish hip-hop group KNEECAP ignit ed a significant cont roversy following t heir performances at t he Coachella music fest ival in mid-April! During t heir set s at t he 2025 Coachella pop music shindig, t he Irish band displayed st rong crit icism of Israel's act ions in Gaza, W ell received at t he t ime but creat ing a wave of backlash following t he concert . In response, KNEECAP has assert ed t hat t hey are t he t arget of a "...smear campaign" originat ing most ly in t he Unit ed St at es.

In response t o t he escalat ing and well publicized cont roversy, KNEECAP issued a st at ement vehement ly denying t he accusat ions and condemning what t hey are cont inuing t o describe as a "coordinat ed smear campaign."

KNEECAP has consist ent ly said t hat it is t heir right t o speak out against t he "genocide against t he Palest inian people."

W e have reprint ed t he band;s st at ement on page The unfolding event s highlight t he int ricat e int ersect ion of art ist ic expression, polit ical act ivism, and t he legal frameworks governing int ernat ional work permit s. The direct sequence of event s, from t he band's on-st age st at ement s t o t he subsequent backlash and visa complicat ions, suggest s a st rong correlat ion. The act ive involvement of prominent individuals in calling for visa revocat ion furt her int ensifies t he scrut iny on KNEECAP's abilit y t o perform in t he Unit ed St at es.

The band issued a statement which we have reprinted on page 18.

As a result of swift act ion by t heir booker, KNEECAP's US work visas are report edly no longer valid. This development follows t he decision of t heir booking agent , Independent Art ist Group (IAG), t o cease represent ing t he band. Despit e t his set back, KNEECAP is report edly in t he process of seeking a new sponsor t o facilit at e t he renewal of t heir US visas. KNEECAP'S Nort h American t our, scheduled t o st art in Oct ober of t his year, was already a most ly a sold-out series.

The Irish band's most not able public det ract or is Sharon Osbourne, who has publicly called for t he revocat ion of KNEECAP's work visas. Osbourne cit ed t he band's "aggressive polit ical st at ement s" and allegat ions of t heir support for t errorist organizat ions as reasons for her st ance.

This publicat ion has not really delved int o polit ical t rends

M o Chara, M óglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí So, having said t hat , we are also happy t o report t hat KNEECAP seems t o be handling t he raucous quit e well.

According t o Belfast M edia Online, a t rust ed resource t hat we read frequent ly, t he Irish Hip Hop group is soaring in popularit y! Brlfast M edia.com report s t hat , (The) "number of people list ening t o Kneecap has soared in t he past week and t he band have ent ered t he chart s for t he first t ime in several count ries. Following t en days of host ile st ories about t he rappers, t heir popularit y cont inues t o grow across t he world as t hey win over legions of new fans.

Last Tuesday t he band's manager, Daniel Lambert , said t he t rio are being t arget ed by a "concert ed campaign" designed t o silence art ist s who speak out about t he sit uat ion in Gaza.

Just at deadline t ime, we just saw t hat a group of W elsh Conservt ives re clling for t he band t o be cncelled a scheduled appearance at t he Green Dy Fest ival in Wales in early August .

It appears as if t his ant i-free speech and art ist ic expression nonesense is not going t o go away quiet ly. W e will do our best t o keep our readers informed of development s.

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For all ot h er lin k s/ list in gs & ad in f o:

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Con t act Jim at Jim @pu bgu ide.com

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I r i sh Ar t s & En t er t ai n m en t

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Kneecap Statement:

BIG Ir ish Fair Weeken d

They want you t o believe words are more harmful t han genocide. Est ablishment figures, desperat e t o silence us, have combed t hrough hundreds of hours of foot age and int erviews, ext ract ing a handful of words from mont hs or years ago t o manufact ure moral hyst eria.

Let us be unequivocal: we do not , and have never, support ed Hamas or Hezbollah. W e condemn all at t acks on civilians, always. It is never okay. W e know t his more t han anyone, given our nat ion's hist ory.

W e also reject any suggest ion t hat we would seek t o incit e violence against any M P or individual. Ever.

An ext ract of foot age, deliberat ely t aken out of all cont ext , is now being exploit ed and weaponised, as if it were a call t o act ion.

June 14 & 15

This dist ort ion is not only absurd - it is a t ransparent effort t o derail t he real conversat ion. All t wo million Palest inian people in Gaza are current ly being st arved t o deat h by Israel. At least 20,000 children in Gaza have been killed. The Brit ish government cont inues t o supply arms t o Israel, even aft er scores of NHS doct ors warned Keir St armer in August t hat children were being syst emat ically execut ed wit h sniper shot s t o t he head.

Inst ead of defending innocent people or t he principles of int ernat ional law, t he powerful in Brit ain have abet t ed slaught er and famine. This is where real anger and out rage should be direct ed t owards.

To t he Amess and Cox families, we send our heart felt apologies, we never int ended t o cause you hurt .

Kneecap?s message has always been ? and remains ? one of love, inclusion, and hope.

This is why our music resonat es across generat ions, count ries, classes and cult ures and has brought hundreds of t housands of people t o our gigs.

No smear campaign will change t hat . Suddenly, days aft er calling out t he US administ rat ion at Coachella t o applause and solidarit y, t here is an avalanche of out rage and condemnat ion by t he polit ical classes of Brit ain.

The real crimes are not in our performances; t he real crimes are t he silence and complicit y of t hose in power.

Shame on t hem.

Great news for Irish Dancers and their fans!

Th e Feis At Th e Fair is r et u r n in g f or t h e 50t h An n iver sar y of t h e @ir ish f air socal on Fat h er ?s Day Weeken d in Tor r an ce, CA! Gr eat ban ds, f ood, an d a h u ge playgr ou n d w it h plen t y of act ivit ies f or k ids ! 3 St ages w it h beau t if u l n ew M ar ley f loor in g!

Join u s at Wilson Par k in Tor r an ce

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WELCOM E TO OUR NEW ADVERTISER! St ar t in g t h is m on t h , w e ar e deligh t ed t o be pr om ot in g t h e FREE APP an d ot h er su bscr ipt ion plan s f r om Th e Ir ish Ech o w w w.ir ish ech o.com / su bscr ibe

You can also dow n load it on t h e Google Play St or e

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I r i sh Ar t s & En t er t ai n m en t

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Mother's Day On The Emerald Isle The lilt of laughter, soft and low, W here gentle breezes freely flow, An Irish blessing, pure and bright, For Mother's Day, and love's own light.

Happy Mother's Day To each and every Mom, we wish you all the best and much love always and forever!

Through fields of shamrock, kissed with dew, A mother's heart, forever true.

Her guiding hand, a treasure grand, The fairest bloom in all the land.

The tales we've shared, the paths we've trod, A gift from heaven, sent by God. Her love's embrace, a sacred space, A smile that lights up every place.

So on this day, we sing her praise, In Irish melodies and so many ways.

A mother's love, a timeless art, Forever cherished in our hearts.

AI Anon May, 2025

M ay, 2025

I r i sh Ar t s & En t er t ai n m en t

TARIFF LOGIC

By Troy Korjuslommi From t he perspect ive of economics, as conjured by t hinkers such as Adam Smit h and M ilt on Friedman, we should st rive for a free flow of goods and services bet ween regions, as it will result in t he lowest cost s t hrough t he efficient allocat ion of labor. W it h free market s, labor flows like wat er, away from inefficiencies and t oward efficiencies. This creat es an incent ive for count ries, regions, companies and individuals t o specialize and become more efficient , and t hus compet it ive, in specific t ypes of work. As count ries at t ain higher living st andards, workers become more product ive as t heir daily lives require less effort . The local infrast ruct ure support ing indust ry similarly advances and helps companies achieve great er efficiencies. Salaries rise and work must generat e more revenues per person. Higher living st andards on t he ot her hand at t ract workers whose skills are needed.

Tariffs, S&H cost s (t ime and money), requirement s for unionizat ion and st andards such as environment al regulat ions, as well as ot her rest rict ions and added expenses in moving goods add t o t he cost s of import ing product s, and give local companies an advant age.

M ult inat ional corporat ions are t axed on t heir profit s, and a major agreement was reached bet ween all major count ries t o t ax t hem at least 15%. These companies have expert s helping t hem reduce t heir t axes wit h met hods such as t ransfer pricing, licensing schemes, and domiciling t heir companies in count ries wit h favorable t ax regimes. Since a large part of int ernat ional t rade consist s of goods shipped for and by t hese large mult inat ionals, t ariffs are an expense on t heir sales across borders. Tariffs will incent ivize t hem t o lower t he price of goods t hey import , by shift ing payment s t o ot her forms, such as licensing payment s. They will have a much harder t ime reducing t ariffs t han t hey have wit h profit s.

Transfer pricing happens when a company wit h offices in t wo count ries t rades wit h it self. It can minimize t he t axes it pays by adjust ing t he price it charges it self when shipping from one count ry t o anot her. Sell high t o count ries wit h high t axes on profit s, reducing profit s. Sell low t o count ries wit h high t ariffs, reducing t ariffs. As an example, it has been advant ageous for companies t o list high prices for goods t o t he Unit ed St at es because of low t ariffs and high t axes on profit s. The new t ariffs are now making t hem lower t hose import prices in order t o reduce t ariffs. They will have t o deal wit h t axes on profit s in ot her ways. For example by paying licensing fees t o t heir foreign affiliat es.

In cases where no physical product is t ransferred, such as online services, t ariffs cannot be easily used t o t ax companies. Profit s can also be easily t ransferred t o low t ax count ries wit h licensing fees. Consequent ly, t axes such as

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VAT are commonly t he most significant t ax t hese companies pay.

One can say t hat t axes on profit s punish success. The more profit able and efficient you are, t he more t axes you pay.

On t he ot her hand, more t axes get paid by t hose who can afford t hem, and if t he t axes are flat and not progressive, and wit hin reason, invest ors st ill want t o place t heir money at risk wit h profit able companies.

Tariffs, sales t axes and VAT are all flat t axes, since t hey apply equally t o all buyers and sellers. Progressive income t axes on t he ot her hand favor t hose individuals wit h smaller incomes.

Tariffs are t hus similar t o sales t ax and VAT, but different in t he sense t hat t hey addit ionally favor local work. Tariffs are charged for import s at port of ent ry, whereas sales t ax and VAT are charged at point of sale. This means t hat domest ic product ion avoids t ariffs. All t hese t axes reduce spending.

Since t hey are flat t axes, t hey impact all consumpt ion, and t hus have a relat ively bigger impact on lower income earners. The higher t hese t axes are, t he less people spend.

They generat e vast sums of t ax revenue and it is much harder t o avoid paying t hem t han many ot her t axes. No wonder t hey are government favorit es. VAT in Europe is in t he 20-25% range, which is a huge brake on domest ic consumpt ion.

However, it generat es t he bulk of government revenues.

VAT t racks t he ent ire value chain from product ion t o end user, so it is especially suit ed t o count ries where all businesses, big and small, must provide frequent report s on all t heir t ransact ions t o t he government .

W hen count ry A has a t rade surplus wit h count ry B, count ry A receives more payment s from count ry B t han it pays out .

W hat happens when you t rade and receive more t han you paid? You make a profit . In our example t hat means t hat count ry A makes a profit and count ry B incurs a loss.

Discount ing t he effect s of growt h in t he economy and t rade wit h ot her count ries, count ry A will grow richer and count ry B poorer. However, if count ry A keeps growing, t he growt h can offset some of t he relat ive losses vis-a-vis count ry B. The above scenario is akin t o a wealt hy person buying more goods from a less well off person. As long as t he wealt hier person keeps growing t heir income fast er t han t hey spend, t hey will remain bet t er off. Even t hough t he Unit ed St at es is t he wealt hiest count ry in t he world, it doesn?t have more wealt h t han t he rest of t he world combined. This is analogous t o a wealt hy person X t rading wit h a village of less wealt hy people. The village should be able t o buy more from X, even if each individual is only able t o t rade a small amount .

If t he village keeps selling t o X, but doesn?t buy an equivalent amount from him, he will event ually run out of money.

Once he runs out , he must borrow t o keep buying, just like t he Unit ed St at es has t o borrow t o pay for excess import s.

From t his calculat ion we can deduce t hat it is not inevit able t hat t he US has a t rade deficit because it is t he wealt hiest count ry in t he world.

If t he rest of t he world st art s consuming more American goods and services, balanced t rade is possible.

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I r i sh Ar t s & En t er t ai n m en t

Gold mining and sales are anot her great example. If t he gold was mined, refined, and processed domest ically, t he added value is t he full value of t he gold bullion, whereas if it was import ed and export ed wit hout changes, t he added value will be less. For services such as online services and consult ing, added value t ends t o be on t he high side.

Tariffs and ot her t rade impediment s can also have a significant impact on t he t ype of domest ic goods and services which are profit able t o produce.

Ship building is anot her example, where most ship building has moved away from t he Unit ed St at es, since ot her count ries have specialized in ship building and t hus gained an advant age, making it unprofit able t o build ships in t he Unit ed St at es. If t ariffs and port fees on foreign ships get implement ed, it will make it profit able t o manufact ure ships in t he Unit ed St at es again. This requires large invest ment s and t rust in fut ure profit s for bot h t he ship builders and t hose building t he infrast ruct ure required t o support t hem.

A worry in invest ors?minds will be whet her t he next Administ rat ion or Congress will repeal t ariffs and port fees which provide such an advant age. Invest ors must place t heir t rust in American vot ers, who will be likely t o support keeping t he fees in place if t he ship building indust ry and it s jobs mat erialize.

Of course, count ries don?t sell goods, companies do. Since much t rade is conduct ed by mult inat ional corporat ions, t rade imbalances t ake form as corporat e revenues. M onies going t o an American company in t he Cayman Islands leave t he Unit ed St at es but are received by t he American company. To furt her complicat e calculat ions, publicly t raded companies?shares are owned by people from around t he globe. The Unit ed St at es st ock market has at t ract ed more capit al t han any ot her in t he world.

This is due t o many fact ors, including efficiency and safet y. As t he most efficient and popular financial market , free flow of capit al has proven t o be very beneficial t o t he Unit ed St at es.

Since t he Unit ed St at es uses USD and most of it s t rading part ners use different currencies, t he loss Unit ed St at es incurs from t rade deficit s means t hat USD flows out of t he Unit ed St at es and int o ot her count ries. Since t hese count ries do not use USD, t hey can eit her hold cash (essent ially debt wit h zero int erest ) or buy US Treasuries.

BANDS ANNOUNCED

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This means t he Unit ed St at es must issue new debt , cash or Treasuries, t o cover it s t rade imbalance each year.

This also means t hat t here is more and more USD in t he market , result ing in inflat ion. If we ignore t he effect s of growt h, cont inuing t rade imbalances will keep lowering t he value of t he USD t oward an equilibrium wit h ot her currencies. This wealt h t ransfer could gradually reduce t he wealt h imbalance bet ween t he Unit ed St at es and t he rest of t he world.

The USD is t he reserve currency of t he world. This means t hat USD is used for t ransact ions bet ween t hird count ries as well. There is t hus more USD in t he world t han is t he wealt h of t he American people. Increase in USD volumes causes inflat ion, but t he inflat ion is spread t hroughout t he world economy, not just t he economy of t he Unit ed St at es. It is like having a dam on a river. M ore rain doesn?t increase t he flow downst ream unless t he dam overflows. W hen t here is more growt h in supply of USD t han t he world economy can absorb, t he inflat ion will reflect as inflat ion in t he US economy.

In order t o mend a t rade imbalance in goods, a count ry must increase it s export s of goods. The goods must be manufact ured, so domest ic manufact uring must be increased. Count ries do t his by support ing t heir manufact urers t hrough lending, subsidies, and ot her assist ance, including t ariffs on import s. If some count ries do more of t his t han ot hers, t here will be an imbalance in t heir favor, and vice versa.

Different t ypes of t rade should be calculat ed different ly when planning responses t o imbalances. E.g. t rade in gold bullion creat es large export values, yet has lit t le impact on manufact uring in t he source count ry. The concept of added value could be a more useful measure of t rade imbalances.

I.e., t he gain bet ween

Tariffs and ot her t rade impediment s can also have a significant impact on t he t ype of domest ic goods and services which are profit able t o produce.

Part 2 and Summary mid-month

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M ay , 2025

I r i sh Ar t s & En t er t ai n m en t

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IRISH CHEF PAUL WATTERS Chicken tikka masala balls on a mixed leaf salad with a corriander yogurt dressing Serves x 2

Ch ef Pau l Wat t er s

The Curry past e

h as been n am ed Spok es-Ch ef f or M r Fr an k s Spices. Th e popu lar Ir ish ch ef is w ell k n ow t o ou r r eader s f or h is r ecipes an d Facebook Page...

2 cloves of garlic 1/ 2 knob of ginger (peeled) 1 t easpoon of dried coriander 1 t easpoon of cumin 1 t easpoon of t urmeric 1 t easpoon of paprika

You will need

1 t easpoon of garam masala 1 t ablespoon of M adras curry powder

The Chicken balls

1/ 2 cup of breadcrumbs Salt and pepper

1 Handful of chopped coriander

A lit t le wat er

1 red pepper (de-seeded and chopped fine)

1/ 2 cup of wat er

1 green pepper (de-seeded and chopped fine)

Blend t oget her in a food processor unt il t he spices are combined t oget her, and add t he oil and wat er unt il a past e has formed.

1 onion (peeled and chopped fine) 1 egg beat en

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I r i sh Ar t s & En t er t ai n m en t

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Chicken M eat ball/Croquet t es Prepare t he chicken balls an hour or t wo in advance and refrigerat e. This will help firm t hem and keep t heir shape.

Gat her a large bowl, add t he chicken, mince t he past e, coriander and t he peppers and mix well.

Shape accordingly t o t he size you require and refrigerat e.

The Dressing 4 Tablespoons of nat ural yogurt A pinch of salt and black pepper The Method

1/ 2 bunch of coriander (chopped)

The Salad 4 Handful of mixed leaves 8 cherry t omat oes (halved) 1 red onion (finely sliced) 1/ 4 cucumber (sliced at an angle) 2 t ablespoons of olive oil

(mix together in a large bowl) Once you are ready t o cook, bring a large saucepan t o medium t o high heat .

M assage a lit t le oil ont o your desired amount of balls and fry for approximat ely seven minut es, depending on t he size.

W hile cooking, Gat her a large bowl or plat e and place t he Salad in t he middle of t he dish.

Once t he chicken balls are cooked, place on t op.

Remove t he dressing from t he fridge, drizzle a lit t le over t he t op, and garnish wit h a lit t le sliced green/red Chilli on t op and a lit t le chopped coriander if required,

Serve & Enjoy

What's Coming in June?

Par t Twos for sure!

Our Ex pan si on con t i n ues w i t h m or e cal en dar an d n ew s f r om t h e West Coast & Ar oun d t h e St at es

M ay , 2025

I r i sh Ar t s & En t er t ai n m en t

The Irish Arts & Entertainment's

CELTIC CAMERA

A bit of a r ecap: Th e last Fr iday of M ar ch f ou n d t h is ou t st an din g gr ou p in Van Nu ys celebr at in g t h e 2025 Ir ish Civic Day Cer em on ies!

Ou r gr eat f r ien d at Cit y Hall.

Cou n cilm an Tim M cOk er an d

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Belt aine: The Gaelic M ay Day Fest ival Explained

By Jim McDonough Belt aine, also known by it s Irish name Bealt aine, it s Scot t ish Gaelic name Beallt ainn, and it s M anx Gaelic names Laa Boalt inn or Boaldyn, st ands as one of t he four principal seasonal fest ivals in t he Gaelic t radit ion.

This fest ival marks t he st art of summer in t he Gaelic calendar, t radit ionally observed around t he 1st of M ay.

Sit uat ed at t he midpoint bet ween t he spring equinox and t he summer solst ice, Belt aine is recognized as a significant 'cross-quart er day', dividing t he year int o dist inct seasonal periods.1 The anglicized t erm, Belt ane, is also commonly used t o refer t o t his ancient celebrat ion. The consist ent appearance of Belt aine alongside Samhain, Imbolc, and Lughnasadh in hist orical and cont emporary cont ext s underscores it s fundament al role in t he Gaelic underst anding of t he annual cycle.

This ancient syst em of seasonal observance suggest s a profound connect ion t o t he rhyt hms of nat ure, part icularly t he agricult ural and past oral aspect s t hat were cent ral t o t radit ional Gaelic life. The slight variat ions in t he fest ival's name across t he Gaelic languages of Ireland, Scot land, and t he Isle of M an indicat e a shared cult ural herit age and a shared ancest ry for t his import ant seasonal marker.

Earliest Hist ory The name Belt aine comes down t o us from t he Prot o-Celt ic t erm *belo-t e(p)niâ, which t ranslat es t o 'bright fire'.

This is apropos as t he Celt s of t hen and now, love bonfires.

The et ymology st rongly aligns wit h t he prominent role of fire in t he fest ival's t radit ions. Anot her int erpret at ion suggest s t hat Bealt aine signifies t he 'fires of Bel', pot ent ially linking t he fest ival t o a Celt ic deit y.

W hile hist orian Pet er Berresford Ellis support s t his view, modern academic circles oft en quest ion t he exist ence of a specific sun god named Bel. The earliest writ t en ment ion of Belt aine appears in Cormac's Glossary, a 10t h-cent ury t ext at t ribut ed t o Comac mac Cuilennáin, t he Bishop-King of M unst er. This glossary describes t he pract ice of druids light ing t wo auspicious fires wit h great incant at ions and driving cat t le bet ween t hem as a safeguard against disease.

The medieval Irish t ale Tochmarc Emire (The W ooing of Emer), believed t o have been compiled around 1050 A.D. Possibly based on earlier (6t h cent ury) writ ings, says t hat Belt aine marks t he beginning of summer, est ablishing it as a key division point in t he year alongside Samhain.

These early references highlight t he fest ival's ancient root s and it s init ial associat ions wit h fire, livest ock, and t he t ransit ion t o t he summer season.

Irish M yt hology and Key Hist orical Event s Belt aine holds a significant place in early Irish lit erat ure

and is linked t o several import ant event s in Irish myt hology.

All of t hese t ails were oral t radit ions and were only writ t en down in t he middle ages aft er Irish monks and nuns spread lit eracy.

Lat er, writ ers like, Geoffrey Keat ing, a 17t h-cent ury hist orian, ment ions in his Foras Feas a ar Éirinn (The Hist ory of Ireland) a great gat hering at t he Hill of Uisneach held at Beallt aine. According t o Keat ing, t he men of Ireland would convene t o exchange goods and valuables and offer sacrifices t o a chief god named Beil, wit h t he light ing of t wo fires in every dist rict in Ireland in Beil's honor. One of t he most enduring legends associat ed wit h Uisneach is t hat it was t he locat ion for t he first great fire t o be lit in Ireland by a druid named M ide, which report edly burned for seven years. The Hill of Uisneach is considered t he spirit ual and myst ical cent er of Ireland, a sacred sit e wit h myt hological figures like t he Irish god Lugh and t he Dagda of t he Tuat ha Dé Danann said t o be buried t here. The first of M ay was also a not ewort hy dat e in Irish myt hology, marking event s such as t he day Part holan, The ancient works offer a rich t apest ry of Irish myt hology and underscore it s import ance beyond a mere seasonal marker, embedding it in t he cult ural and spirit ual ident it y of ancient Ireland.

Sat ur day & Sunday May 24 & 25

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The Significance of Belt aine in t he Agricult ural and Past oral Year The practical side Belt aine t radit ionally marked t he beginning of t he past oral summer season, a crucial t ime when livest ock were driven from wint er lowlands t o summer past ures in search of more fert ile grazing land. This seasonal movement , known as t ranshumance, was vit al for t he sust enance of t he communit y.6 To ensure t he well-being of t heir animals, t he ancient Gaels performed various rit uals, primarily involving t he symbolic use of fire, t o prot ect t hem from bot h nat ural and supernat ural harm. These pract ices were int ended t o purify t he livest ock and bless t hem wit h fert ilit y and good healt h for t he year ahead The fest ival's import ance was deeply root ed in ensuring t he prosperit y and well-being of t he communit y's most vit al resource.

Rit uals Associat ed wit h Belt aine in Ireland The Central Role of Fire: Fire held a paramount posit ion in t he t radit ional Belt aine celebrat ions across Ireland. On t he eve of Belt aine, April 30t h, communit ies would ignit e large bonfires, oft en on prominent hillsides, symbolizing t he increasing power of t he sun and t he arrival of summer. A significant cust om involved ext inguishing all fires in t he heart hs of homes t hroughout t he communit y. These fires would t hen be rit ually relit using embers t aken from t he cent ral Belt aine bonfire, oft en kindled on a sacred sit e such as t he Hill of Uisneach. This t radit ion symbolized t he communal spirit and unit y, as well as t he renewal of life. Fire was viewed as a pot ent purifier and healer, and people would oft en walk around, dance around, or even leap over t he flames for good luck and cleansing. In some t radit ions, a sacred fire, known as a 'neid fire', was kindled using frict ion, symbolizing purit y and renewal.

The Tradit ion of t he M ay Bush and M ay Flowers Anot her not able Belt aine cust om in Ireland was t he decorat ion of a 'M ay Bush'. Typically a branch or small t ree, oft en a whit et horn or rowan, it would be adorned wit h bright ribbons, flowers, and somet imes paint ed shells or eggshells. This decorat ed bush would be placed out side homes, oft en at a focal point in t he communit y, t o ward off evil spirit s and invit e good luck for t he coming year. Addit ionally, t he gat hering and scat t ering of yellow 'M ay Flowers', such as primroses and marigolds, was common for similar prot ect ive purposes.1 Beliefs and Pract ices Relat ed t o t he 'aos sí' (Fairies): Belt aine was considered, much like Samhain, a liminal t ime when t he boundary bet ween t he mort al world and t he realm of t he 'aos sí', or fairies, was part icularly t hin.1 People t ook various precaut ions t o prot ect t hemselves, t heir homes, and t heir livest ock from fairy mischief, including placing green branches and yellow flowers on doorways and windows.1 It was also considered unlucky t o sit on t he grass on M ay Eve and M ay Day,

as it was believed t hat fairies would come and carry people away.4 Offerings of milk, honey, and food were oft en left out for t he fairies t o appease t hem and ensure good fort une.1

Ancient Cust oms Visit ing holy wells was a significant pract ice during Belt aine,

Beal t ai n e

wit h t he first wat er drawn from a well on M ay morning believed t o possess pot ent healing and luck-bringing propert ies.

Similarly, collect ing t he dew on t he morning of M ay Day was believed t o bring beaut y and maint ain yout hfulness. Tradit ional foods like bannocks, dairy product s, honey, and seasonal fruit s were also an int egral part of Belt aine feast s. The dew collect ed on M ay morning was believed t o bring beaut y and maint ain yout hfulness, and holy wells were visit ed for t heir healing propert ies.

The Evolut ion of Belt aine: From Ancient Times t o t he Present Day in Ireland W hile some ancient Belt aine cust oms, such as driving cat t le bet ween fires, persist ed in part s of Ireland and Scot land unt il t he 19t h cent ury 1, public celebrat ions of Belt aine had largely faded in popularit y by t he 20t h cent ury. The lat e 20t h and early 21st cent uries have wit nessed a significant revival of Belt aine, bot h as a cult ural event and as a religious holiday for Celt ic Neopagans and W iccans. The revival of t he Bealt aine Fire Fest ival on t he Hill of Uisneach in 2009 marks a significant moment in reconnect ing wit h t hese ancient t radit ions.

M odern-Day Celebrat ions of Belt aine Revivals and Observances In Ireland t oday, Belt aine is making a comeback! The ancient feast is now being celebrat ed t hrough a variet y of event s t hat blend ancient cust oms wit h cont emporary expressions. The annual Bealt aine Fire Fest ival on t he Hill of Uisneach, revived in 2009, is a prominent event , drawing people from all over t he world t o wit ness a t orchlit procession culminat ing in t he light ing of a large bonfire at dusk. This fest ival aims t o recreat e t he spirit of ancient gat herings at t his sacred sit e. Ot her not able celebrat ions include Féile na Bealt aine in Dingl e, a communit y music and art s fest ival t hat

t akes place annually on t he M ay Bank Holiday, feat uring art , comedy, film, music, poet ry, and spoken word.

Addit ionally, t he Bealt aine Fest ival, a mont h-long nat ional celebrat ion of art s and creat ivit y as we age, encompasses hundreds of event s across Ireland t hroughout M ay, offering a diverse range of act ivit ies for older people. Beyond t hese organized event s, some older t radit ions persist in rural areas, such as decorat ing M ay Bushes wit h ribbons and flowers and scat t ering yellow M ay Flowers t o prot ect against ill fort une. All are st ill quit e common!

Pagan and W iccan Celebrat ions of Belt ane Belt ane as a significant spirit ual holiday, t ypically celebrat ed on t he evening of April 30t h t hrough M ay 1st in t he Nort hern Hemisphere. These celebrat ions oft en cent er on t hemes of fert ilit y, t he sacred union of t he God and Goddess, and t he vibrant energy of life and sexualit y. Common rit uals include light ing bonfires or candles, dancing around a M aypole, craft ing flower crowns, and performing spells or medit at ions focused on growt h and new beginnings Mid-month Conclusion, with modern Festival in Edinburgh taking place on Calton Hill on the evening of April 30th into May 1st.

Inspired by ancient Gaelic traditions.

M ay , 2025

I r i sh Ar t s & En t er t ai n m en t

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I RI SH ART S & ENT ERT AI NM ENT CALENDAR

By Date OnGoing Trivia & Around The States Em m y-n om in at ed Ir ish sin ger

M ich ael Lon dr a h as r et u r n in g t o PBS w it h a n ew season of h is sh ow , " Ir elan d Wit h M ich ael." Th e f if t h season pr em ier ed on Jan u ar y 9,, an d w ill f eat u r e eigh t h alf -h ou r episodes t h at explor e t h e beau t y an d cu lt u r e of Ir elan d! M or e in f or m at ion abou t t h e sh ow , in clu din g episode descr ipt ion s an d clips

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AROUND THE STATES CAL ENDAR retur ns in force with our June issue We are looking for a Calendar Editor. I f interested, please contact us via Email to star t; ir ishmissive@gmail.com

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Sundays in M ay Shows are 4/ 11/ 18/ 25 St art ing at 4:00pm

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SOUTHERN I NDI ANA RENAI SSANCE FESTI VAL Sat ur day & Sunday May 3 and 4

KEN O'M ALLEY I rish balladeer, enjoy an aft ernoon/evening of st ory and song from one of t he mast ers...

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West Coast 's Celt ic & Ir ish Calen dar Sacrament o, CA Sean Finnegan's Pub: Locat ed in Old Sacrament o Wat erfront , t his pub is housed in a hist oric building dat ing back t o t he 1800s. It offers Guinness, Harp Lager, Irish whiskey, and an aut hent ic Irish pub at mosphere wit h a W ild W est t wist 15.

O'M alley's Irish Pub: Family-owned and locat ed at 1109 2nd St reet , known for Irish fare like Irish t acos and a solid select ion of Irish drinks including Guinness345.

M alt & M ash: Locat ed at 715 K St reet , boast s 150 t ypes of whiskey and 15 beers on t ap, wit h a lively at mosphere5.

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Pit ch and Fiddle: An Irish rest aurant and pub wit h many TVs for sport s and Irish-inspired food like corned beef t acos5.

De Vere's Irish Pub: Praised for it s at mosphere, Irish st ew, and range of beers and whiskeys. Offers American and Irish comfort food like shepherd's pie and bangers & mash

T.C. O?Leary?s

San Francisco, CA

Combines Irish hospit alit y wit h local ingredient s, offers live Irish music several days a week, and a good select ion of Irish drinks.

The Irish Bank at 10 M ark Lane is a popular spot .

Geary St reet host s many Irish bars including : Pig n' W hist le

W helan?s Irish Pub:

Abbey Tavern, Ireland's 32, and Buckshot (formerly Pat O'Shea's) Plough and St ars in t he Richmond

M oon and Sixpence: An English

dist rict is not ed for live music and a friendly at mosphere.

pub wit h one of t he best Irish music sessions, On M ondays in Port land.

Kell's (a chain) and recommended for live Irish music.

Seat t le, WA

Sorry t o say, no luck in our search so far, Check back..

O'Neill's on Third St reet offers Harp and Guinness on t ap, cat ering t o ballpark crowds and locals

Reno, NV

Port land, OR Kells Irish Pub: A Nort hwest inst it ut ion wit h heart y Irish fare, live music, and a large St . Pat rick?s Day celebrat ion.

They also have a brew pub in Nort hwest Port land

Paddy?s Bar and Grill: Port land?s oldest Irish bar, known for a huge liquor select ion, t radit ional Irish dishes, and live Irish music and dance event s

M EETS ON WEDNESDAYS

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Family-friendly wit h live Irish music, classic Irish food, and a good whiskey select ion

Ceol Irish Pub: Est ablished in 2007 on California Avenue, it is a cozy neighborhood pub wit h a full bar, ext ensive whiskey select ion, and t he "best Guinness pour" in Nort hern Nevada. It host s t radit ional Irish music and communit y event s

These venues offer a variet y of aut hent ic Irish drinks, food, and live Irish music, making t hem all great spot s t o recommend and visit . irishmissive@gmail.com

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M ay 2025

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SCOTTISH FEST USA Cost a M esa's OC Fair gr ou n ds & Even t s Cen t er featuring

THE PLOUGHBOYS M em or ial Day Week en d For over t wo decades, t he Ploughboys have regaled t he Los Angeles Celt ic communit y wit h modern and t radit ional music from t he Brit ish Isles, wit h dash of bluegrass, count ry, and American folk t hrown in.

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M ay 24 - 26, M ay 31 - Ju n e 1, Ju n e 7 - 8, 14 - 15, 21 - 22 10am - 7pm Sat u r days 10am - 6pm Su n days & M em or ial Day Since our founding in 1998, we have been here having fun

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I r i sh Ar t s & En t er t ai n m en t

For More on Owen Dara and his films may we suggest the following links and digital resources:

w w w.ow en dar a.com Owen Dara on...

A Lesser Gift on

Streaming Now

Just CLICK Graphic

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M ay , 2025

I r i sh Ar t s & En t er t ai n m en t

Page 35

I r i sh Fi l m : News & Reviews

By Jim M cDonough There are a few Irish Films and ot her films as well t hat may well be of int erest t o our readers scheduled t o be released very soon. There are also some int erest ing choices on Net flix and ot her online plat forms which we are working on for June, so st ay t uned.

Eddin gt on Th is f ilm is n ot Ir ish bu t it does h ave a w ell k n ow Ir ish Am er ican act r ess in t h e cast .

How ever , it cau gh t m y at t en t ion becau se it w as f ilm ed in par t n ear San t e Fe, NM w h en I h appen ed t o be t h er e.

Der dr O'Con n ell h as an im por t an t r ole in Eddin gt on . Feat u r e con t in u es in ou r Ju n e issu e,

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Check back every few days for

Th e SoCal Ir ish Fair an d M u sic Fest ival t h at w as plan n ed in Tor r an ce f or t h is past Ju ly h as been r esch edu led t o Fat h er 's Day Week en d 2025.

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Beal t ai n e

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We invite you to Advertise With Us Ou r n ew M edia Kit is available if you ar e in t er est ed in adver t isin g or pr om ot in g you r bu sin ess or even t w it h u s. Ou r pr oven 30 plu s year t r ack r ecor d speak s f or it self w h en it com es t o gr eat valu e w it h ou r n ich e m ar k et pu blicat ion !

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In f act , w or k in g on t h e f olio (t h e t op of each page) r ecen t ly, I f or got t h e w or d f or Oct ober in Ir ish an d h ad t o look it u p. I f ou n d t h is r eally in t er est in g You Tu be video an d sh ar e t h e lin k below.

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m ast er ed Digit al M ar k et in g an d w e can en h an ce you r ou t r each f or a ver y cost ef f ect ive r at e.

Th e digit al age h as been good t o u s an d w e h ave been able t o pr osper an d gr ow ou r su bscr iber base. We w ill h ave det ails soon on ou r expan sion plan s an d ou r Af f iliat e Pr ogr am s. We ar e also goin g t o en h an ce ou r Ver y Ir ish Per k s an d st ar t a n ew ser ies of ver y excit in g Dr aw in gs an d Con t est s!

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Also, if you ar e in t h e LA ar ea,t h e Celt ic Ar t s Cen t er h as on goin g Ir ish lesson s. As w e expan d ar ou n d t h e US, w e w ill add m or e su ch lin k s. M or e on t h is pr oject in com in g issu es.

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I r i sh Ar t s & En t er t ai n m en t

Beal t ai n e

PUB QUIZES & TRIVIA M ondays Th e Au ld Du blin er Ever y M on day w e h ost Tr ivia Nigh t , gat h er you r f r ien ds an d com e in t o com pet e an d en joy a pin t .

71 Pin e St . Lon g Beach , CA

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O'Br ien's Ir ish Pu b Tr ivia Nigh t s ar e M on days an d Wedn esdays M on day st ar t s at 8PM t ill 10:30PM WED: 8PM t o 10PM For m a t eam or t r y t o f or m on e at t h e pu b.

Play f or cash pr izes of $150. No en t r y f ee 2226 Wilsh ir e San t a M on ica, CA

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Wedn esdays Ye Olde Kin g's Head Br it ish Pu b & Rest au r an t Tr ivia in t h e pu b at 7:30pm 116 San t a M on ica Bl San t a M on ica, CA

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A lot going on, most of the time!

PHOENIX, AZ HARP INN IRISH PUB Cost a M esa, CA

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Ru n 4Wat er is M ay 3, at M ile Squ ar e Region al Par k in Or an ge Cou n t y You can en t er or or gan ize a t eam . Th e goal is t o r aise $160,000 t o r est or e 40 w ells.

Det ails:

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