News
Obama Irish? So Says the Song...
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| | (Photo: from left to right:
Henry Healy(Obamas distant Cousin, Moneygall Ireland, Donncha Corrigan , Ger
Corrigan , Brian Corrigan , Ger Hogan And Canon Stephen Neill(local rector
and validator of the Obama Connection)
Irish Band Hardy Drew and the Nancy Boys have an internet hit on “YouTube” in the works with their song celebrating Barack Obama's Irish ancestry, "There's No One as Irish As Barack O'Bama". The band from Limerick, Ireland, made up of brothers Ger, Brian, and Donnacha Corrigan wrote the song after learning about a study last year that revealed Barack Obama roots to Moneygall, a small town in County Offaly. “We have been messing around for the last year or two as a band” said Ger Corrigan who described the band as “specializing in parody songs.” “We wrote the song about Obama because we heard he was from Moneygall, and we were really just doing it for a bit of fun.”
The bands initial offering of the “Obama song” went without fanfare.
“We put the song on Youtube in March and by the end of
April it had only 25 hits” said Ger Corrigan. But that has all changed since the worldwide media have picked up on the “bit of fun” of the song and story. Now newspapers, TV, websites and bloggers from all over the world are covering the story.
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New Irish-American Partnership for Biggest Building Blitz in South Africa Global Partnership Brings Over 2000 Irish and American Volunteers Together to Replace Shacks with New Homes in South African Township
| | Irish developer Niall Mellon recently launched a campaign to recruit volunteers from the U.S. to participate in a housing building program in Cape Town, South Africa from November 28 to December 6, 2008.
“We’re thrilled to partner with our American friends to recruit U.S. volunteers to join the Irish in our biggest Building Blitz yet,” says Niall Mellon, founder of the Irish-based Niall Mellon Township Trust (NMTT). “This is the largest volunteer effort in our history and it stands as a major milestone in providing low-cost houses in South Africa.”
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What’s In a Name? Ken Hannon Larson Will Show You At the 2008 Colorado Irish Festival’s Irish Surnames (Sloinnte Gael) Exhibit
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What’s in a surname? If you’re Irish it is a great connection to ancestors. Through a name you can learn something about them – and perhaps yourself.
Ken Hannon Larson has always had an interest in the people who have come before him – where they lived, how they lived – and their surnames.
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Update to Rosemary Nelson Murder Inquiry
| | Denver attorney Tom Burke has testified in Belfast at Rosemary Nelson murder inquiry.
In the May 2008 Celtic Connection (see article below) Denver Attorney Thomas (Tom) J. Burke said that he had been summoned to testify in Belfast, in the murder case of Rosemary Nelson.
Nelson was a Solicitor (lawyer) in the small town of Lurgan (20 miles southwest of Belfast). She received death threats from the Royal Ulster Constabulary (The RUC was the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2001, it was renamed the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in 2001) and others because, as a part of her practice, she represented a few high profile Catholic Republican figures, including Colin Duffy.
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Denver Attorney Tom Burke Summoned to Testify in Rosemary Nelson Murder Inquiry in Belfast
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| by Pat McCullough
Rosemary Nelson, mother of 3 young children, drove from her home in LurgenLurgan, a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, on March 15, 1999. A hundred yards from her home and down the street from her children’s school, a bomb that had been placed under her car detonated. Friends and family rushed to the wreckage to find her dying of mortal wounds which included loss of both legs and severe abdominal injuries. They tried to aid and comfort her but little else could have been done. Nelson died a few hours later after unsuccessful surgery to save her life at the age of 40.
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The Irish and Irish Studies in Montana
| by Traolach Ó Ríordáin
It is not known with any degree of certainty who were the first Europeans of the westward migration to settle in Montana, but it seems reasonable to state that the Irish, if not the first, were the group who came in the largest numbers and had the greatest impact on the history and culture of the state.
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Events & Entertainment
Great Big Sea Returns to Denver
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| | Thursday, October 9th,
8 pm show 7 pm doors
Paramount Theatre, 16th & Glenarm Place, Denver
ALL AGES SHOW. ALL SEATS RESERVED
Online Tickets
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Beth Patterson Encore at Lannie's
| | The irrepressible Beth Patterson will return to Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret
(underground at the Clocktower Building at 16th Street Mall & Arapahoe, Denver)
for an All Ages show Sept. 19th ( 8:00 show/Doors 7:00). Beth is one of the most unique persons (on or off the stage) - a tremendously talented, player, singer and songwriter- with relentless wit and humor. If you have never been to Lannie’s now is a great time to check out one of the best venues in the Rocky Mountains. See why Beth’s stage presence has been described as "a cross between a cobra and a puppy" and "innocent savagery!"
Tickets and information available at www.lannies.com or call box office: 303-293-0075
For more on Beth check-out www.littlebluemen.com
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Beijing Bound - Denver’s Matt Updike Earns Spot on 2008 US Paralympic Cycling Team!
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| Denver resident Matt Updike recently qualified to compete in the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, September 6-17, as a member of the US Paralympic Cycling Team. While he’s been on the US Team for several years it’s his first time qualifying for a Paralympic Games. Although making the team was a tremendous accomplishment in itself, Matt can use your help and support down the home stretch toward his goal in China.
“In order to help Matt perform his best in China we’ve decided to have a fundraiser so he can have the proper equipment and training needed to bring home a medal… hopefully one that’s gold.” said Andrew Toole, owner of Scruffy Murphy’s – “Having the best when it comes to things such as wheels, tires, components, etc. and being able to afford to have sufficient time to train can make a huge difference in results and we want to give Matt his best shot at that gold.”
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A Conversation with Phil Coulter
| | by Cindy Reich
Phil Coulter is no slouch. He wrote songs for Elvis, wrote the mega-hit “Saturday Night” for the Bay City Rollers and produced three albums for “Planxty” (for the traditional music lovers in the audience). It’s impossible to pin him down and put him in a box. Pop songs that he’s written have gone to number one many times and sold tens of
millions of albums. Some of his most powerful songs are ballads such as “The Town I Loved So Well”. “Scorn Not His Simplicity”. “The Old Man”. “Steal Away”. Just to name a few.
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