Letters

Seeking Judge Stories

FOR the past two years I have working as co-producer with director Glenn Holsten and Equality Forum of Philadelphia on a documentary on the life of Father Mychal Judge, the Franciscan priest and FDNY chaplain who died in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

The film, Saint of 9/11, is now in its final editing stage for the April 27 premiere screening at the Tribeca Film Festival. We are seeking photographs and video footage of Mychal at liturgies (funerals, weddings, baptisms), community socials, St. Patrick’s parades and family celebrations

I am preparing to publish some of the stories, prayers, letters and photographs as a collection. I am interested in hearing from friends of Mychal in the Irish community, New York friends and those from the New Jersey communities he served as priest — Sacred Heart Rochelle Park, and St. Joseph’s of East Rutherford and West Milford.

Mychal was a prolific letter writer, and I welcome any note or letter that readers would like to add. Others may have traveled with him to on pilgrimage to Belfast, Lourdes, Leitrim or Jerusalem.

Perhaps you lived in a community with him. Some might recall or have taped his remarks. Others may have a story of a shared meal, a wedding, a baptism, a wake, a visit.

If you would like to share a story, recollection or any of these materials (which of course will be returned to you) please get in touch at brendan@stpatsforall.com.

Brendan Fay
Astoria, New York

All Kinds of Irish

I AM a great fan of the Irish Voice. I found New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade Chairman John Dunleavy’s remarks, as reported in the issue of March 15-21, rather offensive and backwards.

He asked if it would be okay for neo-Nazis to be able to march in an Israeli parade, or if it would be okay for the KKK to march in an African American parade. From what I know, anyone in the KKK is not African American, so that would not be the parade for them to be involved in.

This has everything to do with being Irish 365 days of the year. Please let Mr. Dunleavy know that there are a wide variety of Irish.

A plethora of Irish with or without morals. A huge amount of Irish American men and women who have every right to show their pride in a St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Such as — there are Irish Catholics and Irish Christians. Irish alcoholics and Irish non-alcoholics. Irish heteros and Irish gays.

Irish men who wear ladies underwear, and Irish women who wear boxers. Irish Republicans and Irish Democrats.

Whoever we are, or whatever we do, we remain Irish first. To exclude anyone with so-called “faults” or attributes is just shameful.

Jackass comes to mind when I think of Mr. Dunleavy’s views. Respectfully, however, I am sure there were Irish jackasses as well as evolved Irish walking up Fifth Avenue in this year’s parade.

Carolyn Reilly
West Hempstead,
New York

Keep on Fighting!

AS an American and more proudly an Irish American, I am extremely happy and moved by the effort the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform (ILIR) is making.

Over the last 10 years I have lost dozens of friendships due to the issue of illegal immigration and the Celtic tiger economy back home in Ireland. It is heartwarming to know that so many Irish immigrants want to live in America and consider this country their home.

For many years it was perceived that the Irish only came here to make a few dollars and to have some craic, but this push by ILIR proves what I have known for years — that this country and especially my city of New York are one of the most special places in the world.

America is a country of immigrants, and those close minded bigots who are so anti-immigrant need to know that this is what makes America the greatest country in the world.

The Irish contributions to this country are unmatched by any other ethnic group, and that is not just my opinion. Read American history and the facts speak clearly and loudly for the Irish. The Irish have never been a burden to this country and deserve to be treated appropriately and with appreciation.

In closing I have one personal request as an Irish American professional firefighter, and that is that you consider making the Fire Department a career and continue what the Irish started when we took the greatest job in the world job that no one else except the Irish wanted over 100 years ago. Let’s keep the fight going until we reach victory!

Sean McGee
Bronxville, New York

Seeking Roches

I AM seeking Roches with a family connection to my great grandparents James and Margaret Joy Roche of Knocknagoshel, Co. Kerry. My grandparents were James and Nora Wolfe Roche.

His siblings were John, Margaret, Annie, Katie, Robert, Garrett, Patrick and Thomas. All came to the U.S., except Margaret (Australia) and Patrick (Ireland).

My father Lawrence was only 14 when Nora died in November 1927. James died in February 1928. I have no family mementos or photos of grandparents or great grandparents. My address is 17 Narragansett Avenue, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, 01201-1021.

Kathleen Roche Zaks
Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Irish Do Care

IT is not my intention by commenting on John Spain’s article “No Sympathy for U.S. Illegals” in the March 8-14 issue to reward such poor journalism by giving the attention of this response.

I quite honestly don’t understand why Spain chose to write this article. The fact that he implied that people at home do not care about the status of undocumented Irish in America is simply untrue.

There are 50, 000 undocumented Irish here. If, for example, each person has extended family of 20 (which is a conservative number allowing for family, neighbors and friends), that is a million people, and these people will surely care. Also, not to mention the relatives of the many Irish who are legal and citizens in America.

It is very poor journalism to present a picture based on so little facts, and inappropriate in a week where more than 3,000 Irish people went to Washington and walked the corridors of Capitol Hill and were made welcome by many of the most important politicians in the U.S.

If Spain has problems with emigration in Ireland he should voice his views (condescending and possibly racial) in a more appropriate media.

Finally, Mr. Spain, please stop telling us with your annoyingly repetitive “over here” about a country we know all about and are still a part of.

Paddy Dalton
Bronx, New York

Don’t Forget Upstate

WITH summer fast approaching, it is nearly time for the wonderful Irish festival season. I add a festival or two every year, and am now up to eight.

You would never guess it from the coverage in the Irish Voice, but there are events that occur outside the New York City area. I live far upstate, and there are incredible events here. Cities like Syracuse, Buffalo, and Herkimer host festivals that rival anywhere else.

I realize that the Irish Voice has a large customer base in downstate New York. However, there are people that subscribe who live elsewhere. Some coverage of our events would be appreciated.

The paper’s name is Irish Voice, and there are many voices outside of the New York City area that should be heard.

Bryan McMahon
Syracuse, New York