43_3 by Harp and Shamrock Society of Texas

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Harp Strings Happy Saint Patrick’s Day

The Official Newsletter of the Harp & Shamrock Society of Texas Volume 43

February - March 2009

Issue 3

The Last Hurrah! Maybe.

This may well be the last parade. In December of 2002 the headline in our newsletter

shouted: “Parade Cancelled!” Patrick Dowd was stepping down from the Chairmanship that he had held from the beginning. The commission reported to the board three points that needed to be addressed. There was no one stepping up to be chairman, the price of the parade was too expensive and there was a lack of member support. We have been blessed the past few years with the folks who have stepped up. Wayne Faught has taken the society’s stone-age bookkeeping and brought it into the modern era. At every board meeting he has given us a financial report that anyone can follow and understand. This has uncovered the holes that have been leaking for years. (Does anyone remember the building fund?) Carolyn Dowd has taken the reigns as chairman and started bringing in the money for the parade. In both corporate sponsors and donations the increase has been phenominal. The board also started its involvement in bingo to help pay for the parade. But it seems that we may be in a ‘too little too late’ situation here.

Where are all the Irish?

continued on page 7

On March 14 at 11 a.m. they will be marching in front of the Alamo. Lunch is on us at Pat O’Brien’s

for any member that volunteers and comes out to march. All we ask is that you join us for our 41st Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. All members who come out and march will be entered into a raffle to win door prizes. No purchase necessary. We just ask you to be there. For members who march, or volunteer at our golf scramble or the fun run, you all are invited to Pat O’Brien’s for a post parade lunch reception. All we ask is that you suport the Irish in San Antonio and march with us in our 41st Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. We don’t have that far to go as the parade is just a mile long. We just ask that you don’t make a detour straight to Pat O’s. The festivities begin after the parade. So put on comfortable shoes and lots of green and help us demonstrate to all of San Antonio the pride in being Irish or Irish for the day. Where else Róisín Mulligan is the can you see horses, long horn cattle, a double decker bus, motorcycles, the famous Shri- 2009 St. Patrick’s Day ners and bicycles all in one parade? Only right here in the Alamo City. And only in the San parade Grand Marshal. Antonio St Patrick’s Day Parade. And only brought to you for the 41st year by the Harp and Shamrock Society of Texas. Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! (Line of march is on page 6)

www.harpandshamrock.org

HARP & SHAMROCK

This is the month we’ve all been waiting for:

March

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HARP AND SHAMROCK SOCIETY OF TEXAS, INC P.O.Box 15306 San Antonio, TX 78212

PRESIDENT Joan Moody 210-656-2666 VICE PRESIDENT Terence Peak 210-829-3920 2nd VICE PRESIDENT Kevin P. Dowd 210-845-4424 TREASURER Wayne C. Faught 210-699-1362 SECRETARY Eileen Faught 210-699-1362 CHAPLAIN Fr. McNamara 210-635-8539 BOARD of DIRECTORS Mary Jo Quinn 210-496-1778 Tish Villegas 830-885-2096 George Tracy 210-493-0818 Victor Villegas 830-885-2096 Bill Merriman 210-259-3482 Shirley Donohue 210-344-9057 Melissa Schulz 210-445-2777 Melinda Britten 210-699-8632 Carolyn Dowd 210-896-1598 Patrick Clarke 210-257-0462 Darryl Britten 210-215-9952 Diana Jordan 210-872-7092 Bob Burke 210-534-6648 Steve Mattick 210-212-7800 Anton Hajek 210-648-3634 IRISHMAN OF THE YEAR George Tracy- 2009 Editor in Chief Kevin Patrick Dowd 210-845-4424 Staff: Terry Peak Joan Moody Pat Peak Eileen Faught Carolyn Dowd John McCarthy Taz Stanfill Mariee Pilkington You can accomplish more with a kind word and a shillelagh than you can with just a kind word. ©2009 Dowd Ranch Publishing

Irish Heritage Month 01 Sunday - Heritage Day San Antonio College 05 Tursday - Board Meeting @ Casbeers 06 Friday -29th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Golf Scramble 14 Saturday, 41st St. Patrick’s Day Parade, 11 a.m. 15 Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day River Parade, 1 p.m. 17 Tuesday, St. Patrick’s Day The Alamo Wreath Laying, Noon 21 Saturday, 26th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Fun Run, Brackenridge Park, 8:30a.m. 21 Saturday, Noel Henry Dance Band @ St. Gregory the Great Church Hall, 7:30 PM

April

4 Saturday & 5 Sunday, Highland Games in Helotes Your Gaelic lessons:

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Shona! Happy Saint Patrick’s Day

Is fearr bothán biamhar ná caisleán gortach. A cabin with plenty of food is better than a hungry castle.

Frank J. Dowd and your editor in front of the Irish Hunger Memorial NYC. The remains of the famine era cottage can be seen on the right. Story page 7.

From the Laptop  of Your Editor

It is with some sadness that we say slán a fhágáil ag duine to Judge Marcia Wiener. That is an Irish goodbye wish. Due to personal reasons Marcia has resigned her seat on the board. I feel particularly close to Judge Wiener since I was first sworn in to the board with her three years ago. She is just leaving the board but plans to still be involved in all our society functions. If you are ready to take your membership to the next level why not think of running for the board. Come to the next meeting. Thanks for being part of the fastest growing Irish group in south Texas. Kevin Patrick Dowd shamrockeditor@aol.com www.harpandshamrock.org

Hello All,

From your President

Here’s wishing you all:

A Very Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

There are some changes this year in the way we have done things over the past many years. There is no Festival or River Parade but our Street Parade and Alamo Ceremony will go on. It would be appreciated if the membership would show up for the Street Parade and for the Alamo Ceremonies. Following the Street Parade there will be a reception at Pat O’Brien’s and I am trying to make arrangements at the Menger for lunch following the Alamo. For those who wish to attend this lunch, you pay for your own. This harkens back to when the Society was first started and the founders walked from the Menger, after lunch, to lay a wreath at the Alamo. March 1 is Irish Heritage Day and we need people to volunteer at the Society’s booth from Noon until 5:00 PM. This event will be held at the Loftin Student Center at SAC located at 1300 San Pedro. www.irishculturalsociety.com. March 6 is the annual golf scramble at Olympia Hills Golf Club. For information see the web site or call Wayne at 699-1362. www.harpandshamrock.org. March 14 the St. Patrick’s Day Street Parade at 11:00 AM in Downtown San Antonio. Please invite your friends, veterans groups, KC marching units, Masonic lodges, etc to join us to make this the biggest parade ever. March 17 Mass at St. Patrick’s Church at 10:00 AM. Church located off the access road of 35 and North New Braunfels. March 17 High Noon the wreath laying Alamo Ceremony March 21 5K Run at Brackenridge Park 8:30 AM. See web site at www.harpandshamrock.org and contact Terry Peak. March 21 the annual Noel Henry Dance Band will be at St. Gregory the Great Church Hall at 7:30 PM. Check www.irishculturalsociety.com for more details.

The first weekend in April is the San Antonio Highland Games and Celtic Music Festival. We will have a booth and perhaps sell Irish stew that is yet to be determined. We will need members to volunteer for this. Please e-mail the society at harpandshamrocks@ aol.com if you are interested. Or if you would like to phone me the number is 656-2666. Speaking of April, the April Board meeting will be the first Thursday of the month because the regular meeting day is Holy Thursday. There you have it. There is something for everyone. We hope to see you all. Joan Moody

Our Irish President I thought Americans were excited with our new president. If you have seen the Irish papers or magazines or spoken to a relative from home you know the Irish are ga ga over Barack Obama. There is even a song called “There’s No One As Irish As Barack O’Bama” by three Limerick brothers, Gerry, Brian and Donny Corrigan, known as Hardy Drew and the Nancy Boys. The tech-savy among you can find it on YouTube. Our President Obama’s people are from Moneygall, Co. Offaly. Fulmoth Kearney left Moneygall in 1850 in what was then King’s County. This admits him to the exclusive club of twenty Presidents with Irish ancestry. Not a bad start.

Irish News

If you’ve got some Waterford crystal you might want to get it in the safe. As of this writting it looks like the factory has been shuttered. All deals to try and sell it have fallen through. Lets hope this exquisitly crafted symbol of Ireland finds a bailout soon. A tradition has been that on Saint Patrick’s Day our president is presented with a Waterford bowl filled with shamrocks. I wonder if that will continue? Maybe the Irish representative will ask for the bowl back! Stay tuned. “There are only two kinds of people in the world. The Irish – and those who wish they were Irish!”

www.harpandshamrock.org

Feast of Sharing

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day

Mary Jo was willing to pitch in whatever was needed to be done.

A strong showing of the Irish! Carolyn Dowd, Bobby Jordan, Sean Faught, Diana Jordan, Terry Peak, Tina Grau, Pat Peak, Mary Jo Quinn, Wayne Faught and Bob Burke gave their all along with other members not pictured.

Christmas Ceili @ the Radius Cafe

Fun was had by all as music filled the air and dancers filled the floor. Thanks to the Foxes and guests for the music and Tom and Kathy Macken for the dancing fun.

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The calm before the storm! Carolyn Dowd takes a chill before the doors open. Members gave up a Saturday to help those in need. HEB has been doing the Feast of Sharing for many years. This was the second year that the Harp and Shamrock Society volunteered as a group. Any one who was there will tell you it was well worth the time.

The Little Red Barn Mixer

Elizabeth Hajek, Taz Stanfil and Dana Goodman enjoy a little blarney with their beef. Joan Moody is hiding behind Elizabeth.

Bob Burke and Jason Phillips raise a toast to Beef and Blarney!

www.harpandshamrock.org

Awards Dinner

Cusack Award winners Barbara Warnock and Bobby Jordan are presented plaques and much deserved thanks from President Joan Moody and Secretary Eileen Faught.

Irishman of the year George Tracy is presented with the traditional statue of CĂşchulainn by President Joan Moody and his sash by Chairman Carolyn Dowd.

Smiling Irish faces enjoyed themselves at Ann Marieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Catering!

www.harpandshamrock.org

11 a. m. Start

2009 Line of March

Bexar County Constable dept pct. 1 SAPD Motorcycle Escort City Councilwoman Diane Cibrian Bexar County Sheriff’s Office Color Guard Harp and Shamrock Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Queen LULAC Council #2 Hermann Sons Polkateers Central Catholic HS Button Band Official Band of the Harp and Shamrock St. James the Apostle school Military Order of World Wars Society Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Connections Living History Association Cub Scout pack 249/ Boy Scout troop 63 Grand Marshal: Róisin Mulligan Harp and Shamrock Society of Texas Members H&S President : Joan Moody H&S Irishman of the Year: George Tracy H&S Cusack Awardees: Barbara Warnock Bobby Jordan SA Pipes and Drums Bexar County Mounted Posse Oak Valley Stables 4H Club Ancient Order of Hibernians Columcille Div. Irish Cultural Society of San Antonio Inishfree School of Irish Dance Mud King and Queen San Antonio Highland Games & Celtic festival Pct. 2, Bexar County Constable Office Mayor pro tem

Review

By Kevin Patrick Dowd Book

At The Edge Of Ireland

Seasons on the Beara Peninsula By David Yeadon

St. Patrick’s Battalion/ Battalion San Patricio San Antonio Marching Band Alamo Camp 1325 Ft. Sam Houston Memorial Services Detachment 37 Training Wing, Lackland AFB Army Ambassadors Air Force ISR agency St. Philip of Jesus Antique fire truck Blue Knights ch. 2,12, 25 Excel All-star Cheerleading Research Riders Ballet Folklorico Land of Virtuosity Germania Chor San Antonio Firefighters Pipe and Drums

T Fords of Texas Texas Lady Bugs San Antonio Marching band Holy Name Cheerleading squad Alzafar Shrine center Texas Wolverine All-stars Baby Boomer Troop Solar San Antonio Boys & Girls Clubs of San Antonio Texas Transportation Diversified Youth Services Jubilee Academy Cheer team Miss US America 2009 Blue Star Brewing co. Home School Highlanders Blue Knights Chapter IV Lion and Rose double decker bus Texas Community Health Network St. Benedict Catholic School pep squad Miss Bexar County Mrs. San Antonio United America 2009 Alamo City Comm. Marching band Kazamba Drum and Dance group •Line of march subject to changes•

His books all seem to be about secret places, remote places wild places and even ‘nooks and crannies.’ Just call up his name on Amazon.com and I think you’ll be impressed. This man lives to find the road less traveled. For most of us who won’t be taking that road this book may well be our only chance to ride along with a pro. David seems to be at his best when he is describing the characters that inhabit the Beara Peninsula. And what a cast of characters. New age mystics, artists, poets, musicians, writers and more artists. Some say the crystals in the earth around that region draws them there. Ah the magic of the Emerald Isle. With the world economy looking bleak, this book may be our one chance to travel to Ireland this year. Even if it is only in our dreams. Like the seasons on the Beara, spring is just around the corner. I’ll leave you with a lovely blessing from the book:

For many of us hit by the economic perfect storm a trip to Ireland is now drifting out of reach. Well don’t let depression set in just yet. This is better than a Washington bail-out! Here is your chance to travel to a remote corner of the Emerald Isle. You’ll be traveling with one of the best travel writers in the field today. David Yeadon maybe an Englishman but he can spin a yarn as good as any of the characters he comes across in this book. I must admit I had to look at a map of Ireland to find the Beara Peninsula, chances are that “May the trees of the forest take root in your heart that you many of you will also. Being an armchair adventurer may grow in wisdom, joy and love for all who live in the and an actual wanderer this book really hit a cord with earths embrace.” me. In one word it was great. The author spent a year living and exploring around this West coast gem with Available March 10, 2009 his wife Anne. Yeadon writes for National Geographwww.harperperennials.com ic Traveler and did a series on “Hidden America.” 6 www.harpandshamrock.org

Last Hurrah continued from page 1

The biggest crux is that this Alamo city doesn’t seem to care about the Irish. They are spending millions on the Luminaria. The same day as our parade! They just want us out of the way as soon as we can finish! This will be the second time the city has done this to us. Well we can take a hint. So let us make this one bigger and better than ever. I just think that if this city is so ready to sell Market Square and La Villita obviously our little parade doesn’t amount to a hill of beans. Come out and march with us on our day. On your day! We’re paying good money to own the streets of San Antonio for a few hours so we might as well enjoy it. See ya there. Erin Go Braugh!

The Nation , February 9, 2009 FREE THE ALAMO: San Antonio may become the first major US city in which only those who can afford to pay for the right to march can exercise it. Members of the San Antonio Free Speech Coalition (SAFSC), a broad-based and fast-growing alliance of local groups, are organizing against a parade ordinance passed by the mayor and city council in November 2007 that would require permitted protesters to pay for traffic control, barricading and cleanup. It seems as if the Irish parade is the only one that pays in this town. Am I the only one that has a problem with that?A new judge has been assigned this case and there should be a decision soon. Maybe the Irish should lawyer up and see if we can get our day in court. Any one know a good lawyer out there? KPD

Irish Hunger Memorial NYC

It is a spot of green in a sea of cement and steel; a quiet place among the traffic and horns; a peaceful place so close to the scene of our nations greatest tragedy. You take the Vessy Street pedestrian overpass above the World Trade Center site. Still a hole in the ground but the steel beams for the new tower are finally heading skyward. You head toward the Hudson river passing the World Financial Center on your left and there it appears. As if magically a piece of Ireland was beamed to this spot on Manhattan Island. On a recent trip to New York City I made a visit to the Irish Hunger Memorial in Battery Park City. I was able to get a personal tour from Lisa Miller who works at Battery Park City and was on the steering committee for this memorial. Lisa is a close friend of my brother Frank Dowd a member of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey PD. You enter the site through a Famine-era cottage of the Slacks family of Attymass, County Mayo, Ireland. It has been painstakingly reconstructed as the centerpiece of this amazing place designed by Brian Tolle. Every rock and plant was brought over from the Emerald Isle. Each of the counties is represented by a stone from that county. Sligo of course is front and center. The entire site sits on fossilized Irish limestone with glass etched with sayings about famine and world hunger. If you ever find yourself in New York you must find this little piece of heaven from old Erin’s shores. www.batteryparkcityparks.org

In Memoriam

Patrick Joseph McGoohan March 19, 1928 to January13, 2009 I was a big fan of The Prisoner and even liked his role as King Edward “Longshanks” from the 1995 Oscarwinning Braveheart or as the warden in Escape from Alcatraz. It was his role as The Prisoner that he was quoted as saying: “Mel Gibson will always be Mad Max, and me, I will always be a Number.” This great Irish actor will be missed. McGoohan was born in Astoria, Queens, NYC, to Thomas McGoohan and Rose Fitzpatrick of Mullaghmore, County Leitrim, Ireland. They moved to England while he was still young and it was there that he made his acting mark. You might remeber Danger Man, or as it was known in America Secret Agent, when it was in reruns. He passed away in California.

The Lake Isle of Innisfree I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made; Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee, And live alone in the bee-loud glade. And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow, Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings; There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow, And evening full of the linnet’s wings. I will arise and go now, for always night and day I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore; While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray, I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

www.harpandshamrock.org

William Butler Yeats

The Harp & Shamrock Society of Texas Newsletter Editor P.O. Box 15306 San Antonio, TX 78212 www.harpandshamrock.org Email: Shamrockeditor@aol.com

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Mark Your Calendar

March Events

Thanks To Our Sponsors

01 Sunday - Heritage Day San Antonio College 06 Friday -29th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Golf Scramble 14 Saturday, 41st St. Patrick’s Day Parade, 11 a.m. 15 Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day River Parade, 1 p.m. 17 Tuesday, St. Patrick’s Day The Alamo Wreath Laying, Noon 21 Saturday, 26th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Fun Run, Brackenridge Park, 8:30 a. m. www.harpandshamrock.org

Would you like to advertise? Contact the editor: Shamrockeditor@aol.com

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