More Blacks. More Dogs. More Irish.

Kneecap reminds England of past discrimination claims.

PDX HIBERNIAN INDEPENDENT Volume Three - Number Fifty-Four – 19 June 2025. Published by The Portland Hibernian Society.

BLOOMSDAY MEETING TONIGHT - JUNE 19

Join us at Kells Restaurant (112 SW Second Avenue in Portland) TONIGHT at Six p.m. for readings, a little revelry and Irish desserts. Free and all are welcome. ONE NIGHT ONLY (until next year).

BREAKING NEWS – KNEECAPPER RELEASED

LONDON - One of the three members of the Irish-speaking rap group Kneecap had his day in court Wednesday and walked out with no conditions other than that he be back in court in late August. Mo Chara has been charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag on stage. Kneecap is notorious for its support of Palestine. Hundreds of supporters showed up outside the courthouse in London; some carrying signs that said, "More Blacks, More Dogs, More Irish, Mo Chara". As recently as the 1950s some rooming houses in England (allegedly) advertised “No Blacks. No Dogs. No Irish.” The Brits may regret ever charging Chara. They’ve given Kneecap a whole new stage. Will a jury convict him once they’ve seen whatever video exists of him waving a Hezbollah flag? Wouldn’t be the first time the British criminal justice system overreacted. Here’s how Kneecap got to this point. An article in the Irish Post a couple of years ago questioned whether “No Blacks. No Dogs. No Irish.” ever existed.

NO HOMETOWN RALLY FOR RORY MC ILROY

BELFAST - It’s been ten weeks since Ireland’s greatest living golfer won his fourth Major and the Grand Slam but still there are no plans for a civic celebration. “Expectations of a major event to honour the Holywood-born sports star were raised in the immediate aftermath of his Masters’ win,” reported the Irish Examiner. This seems like kind of a big deal. Why no event is a mystery to his fans. After he won at Augusta top politicos were calling for “a huge party” and “a hero’s welcome.” So far though, nothing’s in the works. McIlroy, a Floridian most of the time these days, will be back home for the (British) Open third week of July. A win at Royal Portrush might get him some hometown love.

ROSE FESTIVAL QUEEN HEADED TO DUBLIN

PORTLAND OR - We’re wishing newly crowned Queen of Rosaria Ava Rathi the best of luck in Ireland this Fall. “Rathi, who just graduated from Lincoln HS, plans to attend a four-year university and study international affairs, political science and business“I am interested in a career in international relations or public policy,” she said. She plans to attend Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.” But maybe not Trinity. PDX HI checked in with the Rose Festival to congratulate Queen Avi and was told, “Queen Ava's college plans are not 100% confirmed at this time. She does plan to attend a college in Dublin but the exact college will not be known until after July 7th.” Keep an eye on University College Dublin.

SOPHIE O’SULLIVAN’S OREGON GLORY

EUGENE OR - The daughter of Sonia O’Sullivan, one of Ireland’s greatest athletes, won the NCAA Title with a time of 4:07:94 in the 1500 meter race at historic Heyward Field in Eugene last week. Sophie and Sonia O’Sullivan are two of five Irish women to win NCAA track titles. A graduate of UW this month, Sophie was born in Australia but has Irish citizenship, obviously, and will compete for Ireland in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Sonia, herself an Olympic silver medalist and Irish sporting legend, spent some time in Portland during Covid as a coach for Nike athletes. She used to train on Leif Erickson Drive in Forest Park.

NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT - A ROSE OF TRALEE ESCORT

TRALEE - Every August in the west of Ireland there’s a festival surrounding the selection of the Rose of Tralee. One of 32 women will wear the crown. RTE carries two night’s worth of coverage, which is viewed by a quarter of the Irish populations. Believe me, it’s a big deal. Alongside those 32 women re 32 men, their escorts. To qualify, a man must first fork over $2,300, make the cut and attend a “boot camp.” The first day of training included “a hike up Mount Brandon before a re-fueling pit stop at Paudie O’Sé’s legendary pub and a visit to the local Dingle Distillery followed by a boat tour around Dingle Bay, finished off with a BBQ and singalong session at Paul Geaney’s pub.” No one said it would be easy. The Rose of Tralee takes place August 15 to 19.

TO GO WHERE NO ONE FROM IRELAND HAS GONE BEFORE

CO. MAYO - Anywhere you go in the world you’ll find the Irish. Soon that will apply to space too. “Dr Norah Patten, who hails from Ballina in Co. Mayo, but now lives in Dublin, has been selected as one of three research astronauts who will fly to space on Virgin Galactic’s new Delta Class spaceship.” Launch will happen in 2026. There’s never been an astronaut born in Ireland.

ANOTHER VILLANOVA GRAD GOING PLACES

DUBLIN - Edward Walsh has been confirmed as America’s new Ambassador to Ireland and should soon be moving into the official residence in Phoenix Park in Dublin. Most of the questions he faced at his Senate confirmation hearing were about Ireland’s support of Palestine. "I look forward to working constructively to engage on the issues that are contributing to the tensions between Israel and Ireland," he said. The Senate confirmed him 57 – 38 with 8 Democrats voting aye. The fact that he’s a Villanova University grad like Pope Leo the 14th was recently added to his Wikipedia page.

SOMEONE IN MUNSTER WON A QUARTER BILLION EUROS

MUNSTER - We don’t know who yet or exactly where the winning ticket was bought, just which Province. This is the biggest EuroMillions win ever in Ireland. The “lucky punter “ has three months to come forward. Anonymity is not an option. (250 million Euros = $288 million)

QUOTE OF THE DAY

In all my years covering lottery winners, I never heard this one.

A man from Mullingar, Co Westmeath, said he would find it overwhelming, and would not want it at all. "I dread it, believe it or not, life is good, our children are healthy we're healthy and to be honest I'd rather not win it. I would fear for our health or losing the run of themselves."

Name the film.

DISCLAIMER - Though I hold a leadership position with the Portland Hibernian Society, any opinions given at Gallagher’s Celtic Corner are strictly those of the author and no one else.

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