The National Library of Ireland online catalogue is a brilliant creation!
The area I really like is the digitised glass plate images from their early photographic collections.
Once you’re on the site the first thing you’re likely to do is search against place names. We live in Ballydehob and my father comes from Glandore, my mother Graiguenamanagh, and it’s great to be able to see what these places looked like 100 years ago or so.
No need to write too much about it, better just go there and check it out for yourselves.
According to the Irish Central Statistics Office the net influx of Irish Nationals coming back to Ireland between 2006 and 2009 was just over 13,000…
Immigration and Emigration : Irish Nationals : 2006 – 2009
2006
2007
2008
2009
TOTAL
Immigration
18,900
20,000
16,200
18,400
73,500
Emigration
15,300
13,100
13,400
18,400
60,200
Looking to the future, the ESRI (Economic and Social Research Institute) predicts that 120,000 Irish Nationals will leave during 2010 and 2011, and possibly upwards of 200,000 by 2015.
“The Third Wave”
Albeit smaller than in previous eras many of the reasons are similar. A contracted economy, limited job prospects, and government suggestions (see video, 6 minutes in) that emigration and exporting our talent isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Some however would have a different perspective, e.g, Martina Devlin, The Independent.
Whatever your views about emigration the effect on ordinary families is largely the same, and the direction that peoples lives take is still open to the same influences as in the past.
THE NATURAL COURSE OF THINGS
For most the plan will be to spend a year or so away from home, gain some experience, and consider their options when things start to pick up. That’s the intention to start with, but things change. A different career path offers itself, opportunities arise, or a new girlfriend or boyfriend appears on the scene, and gradually those original plans drift to the background.
The same cycle that existed for previous generations will repeat itself – newly dispersed families. Many that leave will settle and bring their culture and heritage with them, they will pass those values on, and their new families will become part of the melting pot of diverse accents that is the Irish diaspora.
AND THE POINT?
As Gabriel Byrne recently put it…
“Ireland forgets about the seeds that have gone away, but the seeds that have gone away have never forgotten about Ireland”
So what can we do to change that, how can we change the way of thinking so that Ireland doesn’t forget?
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin, has announced he will be introducing a Certificate of Irish Heritage; available to those of Irish descent who do not qualify for Irish citizenship.
- Any discussion of harnessing the Irish Diaspora for the 21st Century must commence with a recognition of how some 70 million people around the world can today trace their ancestors to this island.
- The Irish Diaspora is not limited to Irish citizens living abroad or to those who have activated citizenship. Instead, it encompasses all those who believe they are of Irish descent and feel a sense of affinity with this country.
Also drawn to attention was the Irish Constitution amendment introduced during the Good Friday agreement: “the Irish nation cherishes its special affinity with people of Irish ancestry living abroad who share its cultural identity and heritage”.
THOUGHTS
It’s not yet clear what the holder might be entitled to, how it will be implemented, or whether there’s a cost. Hopefully it reflects some new perspectives on Irelands relationship with its diaspora, and is being introduced on the basis that its existence will signify and, just as importantly, invite respect for one’s Irish heritage.
To achieve the latter a broader strategy is required, one that encourages Ireland to re-engage with it’s diaspora as well as inviting the diaspora to re-engage with Ireland. More on that later…
In July 1838, three soldiers filed claims for land in what is now Saint Paul, Minnesota. Edward Phelan, John Hays and William Evans were all natives of Ireland and were some of the earliest settlers to the area. The first St Patricks Day parade took place in 1851, and by 1857 the Irish were the second largest foreign-born group in the region.
In the 2000 US Census 600,000 Minnesotans claimed Irish ancestry.
The Minnesota Irish Cultural Center was started in 2009 by a group of volunteers who, over a number of years, have nurtured the vision of creating a broad-based nonprofit Center dedicated to the study, preservation and celebration of Irish culture in all its many forms.
The center will provide services and facilities, and a degree of centralization, for the many clubs and organisations that promote and celebrate all things Irish in Minnesota. One of the aims is to become the local primary gateway to Ireland for all those of Irish ancestry living in the state.
Having established the center the priority now is to acquire a suitable property, in the right location, that will serve as a year-round base of operations. MICC has recently found a building along the St. Paul / Minneapolis border, near the intersection of Como Avenue and Highway 280, that meets the criteria.
Looking at the photos on the MICC website it certainly looks ideal. A variety of spaces that would cater for anything from small meetings, to dance and music classes, to conferences, and larger community events such as plays and dance evenings etc in the 3300 square foot ballroom area.
The Challenge
Local government budget cuts have created a hurdle as previously anticipated funding is no longer available. This means that the Minnesota Irish will have to ‘do it off their own backs’ and the center is calling for volunteers, donations, and corporate sponsors to help. If you live in Minnesota (or elsewhere) and can offer time or financial support this is a fantastic project to get involved in.
Here’s the link to the MICC website, and it would be great to do a follow up post in the future marking the next stage in the center’s evolution.
Extracts from a letter by Alan Hennessy (Co.Cork) and Terrance O’Dwyer (New York) to Minister O’Cuiv:
National Famine Memorial Day : 16th May 2010.
Dear Madame Secretary,
We are an Irishman (Mr. Hennessey) and an Irish-American (O’Dwyer) who are concerned over the seeming lack of awareness of the upcoming National Famine Memorial Day.
Mr. O’Dwyer did not know of the 2009 Commemoration, but learned off through Mr. Hennessey, and together we have discovered that many–if not most people of Irish descent are simply unaware that May 16th is a day of remembrance in Ireland.
In an attempt to increase awareness among the Irish Internet community, we have started a National Famine Memorial Day page on the website Facebook. That said, our expectations are not high – we would consider our efforts to be extraordinarily successful were we to attract 1000 people to our group.
We recognize this period is busy for you and the Committee. Nevertheless, we respectfully ask that the committee issue a statement asking all Irish people outside of Ireland to pause for just 60 seconds at noontime [local time] on May 16 as a gesture of remembrance of the victims of An Gorta Mór.
Our common objective is simple: to increase awareness of National Famine Memorial Day.
Yours faithfully ,
Alan Hennessy,
Member of the Irish Academy of Public Relations and Communications
Cork.
THE IRISH DIASPORA – REVITALISING OUR RELATIONSHIP.
This proposal consists of two stages:
1 : Revisiting our history and reflecting on its relevance in a modern context. 2 : Strengthening the global relationship in a recognisable and meaningful way.
THE GLOBAL IRISH – Our History
Production of a series of documentaries from around the world that:
Explore the early stories of Irish emigration to those regions
Highlight the impact and achievements of Irish emigrants in those regions
Portray the contemporary relationship between Ireland and the Irish and Irish descent abroad, their personal links to Ireland, their sense of Ireland from afar, their life in their country of residence, and what it means to have an Irish heritage
In essence each documentary having three distinct segments that reflect on what it means to be part of the Global Irish community; a step-by-step account that focusses on the story of the Irish from the moment of arrival on a foreign shore to life in the contemporary world.
Media:
Broadcast monthly on Irish television, and available online to a global audience.
Released on DVD for national and international distribution.
THE EMERALD CARD – A Sign Of Recognition
Introduction of a global ‘Emerald Card’ that anyone can apply for on proof of an Irish heritage.
Introduction of tourist, travel, leisure and hospitality sector initiatives in Ireland where presentation of the Emerald Card entitles the holder to various forms of acknowledgement.
That’s the proposal. It isn’t meant to distract from areas such as citizenship rights etc, more to put some focus back on the history of the Global Irish, and to bring that story home.
If you like the idea you can give it a ‘thumbs up’ at the your country your call website (if you’ve registered), and if you have any comments you can leave them below.
UPDATE: 15th June 2010.
The competition closed on April 30th and the two winning proposals will be announced on 17th September 2010. Doesn’t look like the idea for an Emerald / Discount Card is in the running, but at least the government seems to think it’s a good idea – as reported in the Irish times.
(Not sure why they’d put a 5 year limit on it though, after all an Irish heritage is for life, right?)
The Chicago South Side Irish Parade has a great history, and as of last year was one of the largest neighbourhood parades outside of Ireland. Started in 1979 by George Hendry and Pat Coakley, it grew from 17 children marching around the block to an event hosting over 15,000 marchers and 250,000 spectators each year.
In fact it got so big it moved away from having that local feel, and in 2009 the numbers made it difficult to control. This year it’s re-inventing itself and the organising committee have decided to steer it back towards it’s original community roots.
The celebrations are being renamed as the South Side Irish Parade Family Fest, and will take place on Saturday, March 13. The parade itself won’t be on the schedule, but there are a whole range of family activities planned, topped off with a live performance by the Hothouse Flowers in the evening.
South Side Irish
On the Sunday (March 14) St. Cajetan Catholic Church will hold its annual Irish Mass, and residents are invited to the Beverly Arts Center afterwards for a blessing and reception. As is the tradition everyone is encouraged to continue the celebrations in their homes that afternoon with family and friends.
Many Chicago Irish will miss the parade and the large occasion that grew around it, but it’s also understandable why the committee had to have a rethink. Whether this will lead to a new parallel event waits to be seen.
George Kelleher from Evergreen Park has started a Facebook page inviting everyone to come along on Sunday 14th. The suggestion is to have a pub crawl which will either be a farewell party for the parade or, if problem free, could be the start of something new?
Whichever way you look at it, Irish spirit is definitely alive and kicking in Chicago!
If you’re from the South Side what do you think, and what would you like to see in future years?
The 23rd United States census takes place on April 1st 2010.
The census has many objectives, such as deciding the number of congressional seats allotted and the amount of federal money allocated to each region, but our main interest is obviously the Irish aspect.
America’s ethnic make-up is changing, and there’s some debate about whether the sense of one’s Irish heritage is weakening or in fact getting stronger.
The next US census may help clarify the picture.
Previously recorded numbers of Irish race were as follows, and whilst there’s an overall dip it will be interesting to see if 2010 produces results nearer to the 2000 census or (as maybe more likely?) the numbers recorded in 2008.
US Census 1990 – 38,735,539
US Census 2000 – 30,524,799
American Community Survey 2006 – 36,495,800
American Community Survey 2008 – 36,278,332
The latter two surveys do not include Scots-Irish ancestry, who are counted separately, and who account for at least five million additional Americans. (I’m not sure if the Censuses follow the same rules but will update this post if I find out, or if someone can let me know.)
There’s various factors involved here:
- The changing political scene in Northern Ireland over the last decade,
- The current initiatives from a range of Irish political parties to engage with the diaspora,
- The stronger online presence of Irish-American communities (e.g, IrishCentral.com),
- The possibility of a Global Irish Network and increasing business links,
- The discussion about the ‘undocumented Irish’,
- and more recent emigration being some obvious examples.
How these impact on the ‘ebb and flow’ is hard to quantify but maybe trends will give some indications.
In one way it would also be interesting if generational levels were recorded as it would be good to see how many 3rd 4th and 5th generation Irish see themselves as such. On the other hand it’s positive that this isn’t differentiated and that one’s right to a sense of heritage isn’t challenged.
If you’re Irish-American what do you think. Do you feel your heritage is still as important today as it was in the past?
The national flag of Ireland is a vertical tricolour of green, white, and orange, and it’s proper proportions are 1:2 (the width is twice the height). It has no formal meaning in the Irish Constitution however is generally perceived as the green representing Catholicism, the orange Protestantism, and the white an enduring truce between the two.
It was presented as a gift to Thomas Francis Meagher in 1848 by a group of French women sympathetic to the Irish cause, however it was not until the 1916 Easter Rising when it was raised above the GPO in Dublin that it came to be regarded as the national flag.
It was adopted in 1919 by the Irish Republic during the war of independence, and subsequently by the Irish Free State (1922–1937), and gained official status under the 1937 Constitution of Ireland.
The Department of the Taoiseach takes responsibility for the flag in an advisory role and specifies the guidelines for it’s use. They also specify the exact colours however you occasionally see different variations of the green and the orange!
The Irish Flag as it should be…
For those of you who use image editors the hex codes for the colours are as follows:
Green – #009B48 (Pantone: 347)
White – #FFFFFF
Orange – #FF7900 (Pantone: 151)
Feel free to copy and use wherever you like.
The Green Flag and the Irish harp.
The Irish harp first appeared on a green flag in 1642 when Eoghan Rua O’Neill, leading the armies of Ulster, was waging a rebellion against English rule. The Society of United Irishmen proclaimed the harp as Ireland’s national symbol through its use in the Irish Rebellion of 1798, and with the passage of time the green flag and the golden harp became a symbol of the Irish nation.
By the lonely prison wall I heard a young girl calling
Michael they have taken you away
For you stole Trevelyan’s corn
So the young might see the morn
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay.
CHORUS: Low lie the fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
Our love was on the wing
We had dreams and songs to sing
It’s so lonely round the fields of Athenry.
By a lonely prison wall I heard a young man calling
Nothing matters Mary when you’re free
Against the famine and the crown
I rebelled they cut me down
Now you must raise our child with dignity.
REPEAT CHORUS
By a lonely harbour wall
She watched the last star falling
As that prison ship sailed out against the sky
Sure she’ll wait and hope and pray
For her love in Botany Bay
It’s so lonely round the fields of Athenry.
REPEAT CHORUS
History
Written by Pete St. John in the 1970s and set during the Great Irish Famine of 1845-1850, the Fields of Athenry is about a fictional man named Michael from Athenry, County Galway, who was sentenced to transportation to Botany Bay in Australia for stealing food for his starving family.
It’s a great song, popular with Irish rugby and football fans, and well known around the world.
If you have a story to tell, launched a new business, got an initiative off the ground, landed on a foreign shore and getting your foot on the first rung, or just have some good news with an inspirational nature let us know and we'll pass it on.
