| Letters Fathers
& Sons
I was moved by the Fathers & Sons article in your last issue on the men
who lost their sons from the New York Fire Department. I can relate to the
heartache and hopelessness of searching day and night that the fathers in
your story experienced.
My brother Paul Keating from Ladder 5, Engine 24 was killed on September
11. The next day, my brother Neil and I went searching for Paul hoping to
find him in a hospital or anywhere but at Ground Zero.
Deep down in our hearts we knew there was little chance we would ever
see our brother again. And as it turned out, though off-duty at the time
he had reported to Firehouse 110 across the street from the Towers and he
was never seen alive again.
I gave this issue of Irish America to my father to read. I hope that
he will relate to the other fathers whose sons acted so selflessly and gave
the ultimate sacrifice when called to duty, and that it will bring him some
comfort.
Jeff Keating Sea Girt, New Jersey
On behalf of my family thank you for bringing our story [Joe and John
Vigiano, a fireman and a police officer, were brothers killed in the attacks]
to your readers.
You were certainly correct when you described the boys as handsome and
full of character. Fortunately, we are blessed with their children who have
similar qualities. One grandson looks exactly like his father, Joe, and
his brother has my son’s personality.The same is true with John’s daughters,
one looks like him and the other has his personality.
Our thanks also to Lynn Tierney, a long time friend and a wonderful person,
who certainly has a gift when it comes to writing.
John T. Vigiano Deer Park, New York
Sept. 11 Coverage
I wanted to write a while back when I read your special issue on September
11 (April/May issue). The coverage was great, especially the story of the
Ironworkers local 580, who assisted in the recovery effort. Joe Mooney and
the rest are real good guys. I was born in the South Bronx like a lot of
them.
In your latest issue on the anniversary of Sept. 11, you continue the
good work.
Frank McGrath Sarasota, Florida
Irish or American?
Your publication is split down the middle between fighting terrorism
and supporting terrorism.
Your current issue reflects this dichotomy: You have a picture of a FDNY
fireman on the cover and stories about September 11 on thirteen pages of
your issue and five pages on the IRA/Northern Ireland Troubles.
Are you Irish or are you American? You can be both by supporting the
good in both, but not the evil.
Joseph Kennedy Elede, Hawaii
Editor’s Note: The extensive coverage of events in Northern Ireland in
this magazine is prompted by our interest in and wholehearted support for
the peace process.
Missed Opportunity
As a fourth generation Irish-American, I was embarrassed by what was
missing in the photograph in last issue entitled “St. Patrick’s Day Parade,
2000: Rookie firefighters carry American flags for each of the 343 firemen
who died on September 11, 2001.” There were no persons of color in that
photograph.
I think the FDNY missed a great opportunity in not hiring more minorities,
when they sought to replace those tragically lost on Sept. 11. What better
way would there have been to honor those brave lads who died trying to save
others.
Robert Own Boyd, Ph.D. Oakland, California
Frontier House
In your article on the Clunes in the last issue, Kelly Candaele wrote
about how well the Clunes adapted and enjoyed living in the year 1883. I
thought Adrienne Clune came across as a spoiled 20th century Californian
who missed all her conveniences especially shopping. Except for the lilt
in her voice (brogue) I would never have guessed that she knew what housework
was. The Clunes’ niece Tracy brought some reality into their home as she
truly was filled with spirit and didn’t seem to mind the hardship. The Glenns
had their problems but rose above them and lived the pioneer life.
M.Gallagher, Received by E-mail
Editor’s Note: Not every Irish woman with a brogue can cook, although
Adrienne Clune certainly did a credible job of looking out after her family,
and was generous enough to use the last of her eggs to make a wedding cake
for her neighbors.
Loss of Trust
The British government has suspended the devolved government in Northern
Ireland for the fourth time since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.
The supposed reason for this current suspension is a “loss of trust” between
the unionists and Sinn Féin, resulting from alleged intelligence gathering
by Sinn Féin.
Welcome to Alice in Wonderland Part II.
Loss of trust presumes that trust existed in the first place. Unionists
have never trusted nationalists and probably never will. And what does trust
have to do with the issue anyway? Where is it written in the Laws of Politics
that opposing parties have to trust each other in order to function in government?
So, the so called “loss of trust” is just a smokescreen for suspending
government. What we are actually witnessing is the most recent chapter in
the “Save Dave” campaign, First Minister David Trimble had once again maneuvered
himself into an untenable position and the suspension attempts to rescue
him.
Let us assume for the sake of argument, that the charges against Sinn
Féin of intelligence gathering are true. So what? It was former Secretary
of State for Northern Ireland, Mo Mowlam that authorized the bugging of
the car used by Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams during peace negotiations.
Anyone who follows the situation in Northern Ireland knows that the major
parties that support the Good Friday Agreement are Sinn Féin and the SDLP,
the nationalist parties. The major parties that are working to destroy it
are Mr. Trimble’s UUP and Ian Paisley’s DUP, unionist parties.
If the Good Friday Agreement is not going to work because of unionist
intransigence, lets move on to the next stage without them.
Jerry Lally Chair, Political Action Committee Irish American Unity
Conference
Carlyle Was a Racist
In the August-September issue of Irish America magazine, Editor Patricia
Harty leads off her First Word column with a quote from Thomas Carlyle:
“This world, after all our sciences, is a miracle; wonderful, inscrutable,
magical and more.” Rather touching, at least until you consider that in
1849, British historian Thomas Carlyle published his Occasional Discourse
on the Nigger Question. Mr. Eric Williams, former Prime Minister of Trinidad,
and a historian, called it “The most offensive document in the entire world
literature on slavery and the West Indies.” Carlyle argued that the recently
emancipated slaves should be forced to work for the whites:
“Decidedly you will have to be servants to those who are born wiser than
you, that are born lords of you; servants to the Whites, if they are (as
what mortal can doubt they are?) born wiser than you.”
Carlyle visited Ireland soon after the famine and filled his journal
with tirades against what he called “this brawling unreasonable people.”
Ireland, he wrote, was a “human swinery,” “an abomination of desolation”
and “a black howling Babel of superstitious savages.”
I’m sure Patricia Harty would not have used the quotation had she known
of Carlyle’s bigotry. Racists are so uninspiring, even if they do knock
off something poetic once in a while. Some people say Adolf Hitler was not
a bad painter either, but his other qualities overshadowed that particular
talent.
James V. Mullin Moorestown, New Jersey
Editor’s Note: Mea culpa.
Tracing Ancestors
Glennon & Linn
I can trace my family back to about 1800 in Ireland. The family names
are Glennon and Linn. James Glennon from County West Meath, born in 1825,
married Catherine Linn from County Tyrone, born 1833. They were married
in Sterling, Scotland October 31, 1849. I can follow this line forward right
up to today and not miss a beat, but I would like to know if I have any
family living in Ireland now. Is there any one who can help me?
Mary Bridget Jump 879 Orrin St. Akron, Ohio 44320
Tel: 330-762-6855
E-mail:snbbaker@aol.com
Harney & Durkin Joseph Harney, my grandfather, I believe was born in
County Kilkenny on 5/12/1853. He came to the U.S. around about May, 1870.
According to his naturalization papers a Thomas Keeley was on the ship with
him. I need to know about Joseph Harney’s parents and siblings, and the
town in Kilkenny where he was born and lived.
My grandmother, Winifred Durkin, was from County Mayo, I believe. I have
no idea when she arrived in the U.S. She could have had a brother named
Leo and a cousin Thomas who was born on 5/24/1884. Her first husband was
John Tolan, they were married before 11/1873. I’m not sure if they were
married in Ireland or Ohio. John and Winifred had 2 children Mary “Mamie”
and James.
After John’s death Winifred married my grandfather Joseph, about 1887
in Ohio. They had 4 children: Joseph, born 02/08/1888; Elizabeth “Bessie,”
born 01/19/1890; Lawrence Joseph, my grandfather, born, 06/03/1891; and
Winifred “Florence” born, 07/02/1893. All four were born in Ohio. Any information
on my grandmother – her hometown, parents and siblings – and John Tolan
would be greatly appreciated.
We are planning a trip to Ireland soon and we would like to have this
information before we go.
Sharon Harney Elder 4540 Weymouth Rd. Medina, OH 44256
E-mail: ssesharon@netscape.net
McBride, Wile & Tinnen
My McBride relatives came to America and were in Illinois by 1846, about
the time of the Big Hunger. They were Hugh and Sarah, and I would like to
know from where in Ireland they came.
My other ancestor, Henry Wile was in in Pennsylvania by 1790. He, by
that time had married Kathleen McAdams who was from Scotland. I also had
a relative from Ireland called Robert Tinnen. He was in North Carolina in
time for the American Revolution. I do not know his wife’s name but he had
four sons and a daughter, and they were called Robert, Thomás, David and
Hannah.
Any help in finding out birthplaces and or about other relatives would
be much appreciated.
E. Marie Johnson 1005 First Street, Windom, Kansas 67491
Research
I am currently researching the history of Cheeverstown, a voluntary body
providing services to the mentally handicapped in Templeogue, Dublin, Ireland,
as this organization will be celebrating its centenary in 2004.
Between 1904 and 1972, Cheeverstown provided a totally different service
as a “Convalescent Home, for the Poor Sick Children of Dublin.”
I would be very grateful if any of your readers who have memories of
the home during these years would contact me with a view to including their
stories, or reminiscences, in my publication.
Dr. Frances Carruthers 12, Brookmount Avenue Tallaght Dublin 24 Ireland
E-mail: francescarruthers@hotmail.com
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