Saratoga Irish

Tuesday, August 29, 2006


It's a rainy Tuesday night so let's look forward to some good times.
Friday Night September 1, 2006
Saratoga race track will hold it's first ever twilight card of racing.
Members of the division along with friends and family can meet up at the track for a evening of fun and good times. The first race post time is 3 pm. Start your Labor Day weekend off with a little extra pocket cash.
Thursday Night September 7, 2006
Monthly meeting. 7 pm at the K of C hall. We have two new members being sworn in, one, young Michael, is nervously awaiting the night. This is a semi formal night so please if you will coats and ties and kilts are in order. Let Dave know if you are going to attend so we may arrange some food for the evening.


Saturday Night September 9, 2006
Commodore John Barry Dinner Dance.
6 pm at the VFW hall on excelsior Ave.
A pot luck dinner with a cash bar, so bring something good to share with everyone. this is open to all members and wives, girlfriends, life partners and what ever else.




Saturday September 16, 2006
Irish 2000 music and arts festival
www.irish2000fest.com for more information.
Music line up includes Black 47, Seven Nations, Glengarry Bhoys, Enter the Haggis, Hair of the Dog and of course, The McKrells.

Don't Forget
Saratoga Ancient Order of Hibernians golf outing, Sept. 24, 2006
$80 per person. Sign up by September 15, 2006

To see what Sean is up to, check out www.curranstat.googlepages.com

Immigration reform check www.irishvoices.bolgspot.com

Yankee information from Sam Borden check www.blogs.nydailynews.com/Yankees

Saturday, August 26, 2006




Ok in an other attempt to make this blog a sounding board for more voices than my own. I read a column by Earle Hitchner in this weeks Irish Echo about authentic Irish music. Mr Hitchner makes some nice points but I was wondering what type of Irish music do you like.
My taste are all over the place. A big U2 fan for a long time, back to the days of J.B.Scott's in Albany( Bono wears a t-shirt from the Albany club in the Gloria video). I tend not to think of this as Irish music. On my ipod you can hear The Wolfe Tones, Altan, Christy Moore, The Dropkick Murphy's, Flogging Molly and the live album of Seven Nations from the Palace in Albany. So how about you, the readers, telling everyone what are your three favorite Irish songs and your three favorite bands/singers.
Here are mine.
songs:
Fields of Athenry
Fairy tale of New York
Nancy Spain


Christy Moore

Mary Black.

I guess my third choice, Flogging Molly.

My favorite all time album of Irish music is with out a doubt, Irish Heartbeat by Van Morrison and the Chieftains.

Thursday, August 24, 2006


Commodore John Barry Division #1
Saratoga Springs NY 12866
Day at the Races. Friday September 1, 2006
First race post time is 3 pm. Join your brothers for an evening of fun at the track.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

John Sweeney is opposed to amnesty in any form and believe secure borders are critical to support the rule of law and if needed we can refine the rule of law so that we can finally reestablish and all agree upon what the sanctity of citizenship means.
I got this off the Sweeney for Congress webpage. Am I a little slow or can some one explain this to me. Secure borders are critical to support the rule of law, so far I got it, and if needed we can refine the rule of law. That's the part that gets me, who or what is the we that can change the rules when ever we feel it is necessary? Not the executive branch they seem to disregard all the rules of law that exist. Since I have the unmitigated gaul to say that I guess I must be a terror supporter. Sweeney is all for secure borders but against a second check point on the northway, I guess if you can't stop them at the border then what's the use of trying again a few miles south. As you can tell I am not a supporter of Congressman Sweeney. I got his mailing the other day with the picture of someone running through a hole in a chain link fence and a bold yellow headline. They enter our country illegally...
The photo looks to be set in the south west, I guess he means that Mexicans are running through the fence into our country. What Congressman Sweeney forgets is that the immigration reforms in the House and Senate are for all immigrants, including the 50,000 undocumented Irish living and working in this country. Looking back at Congressman Sweeney's response to the Malachy McAllister deportation ( he did not sign on to the letter proposed by Congressmen Rothman and King) he won't lose a wink of sleep if all the Irish are deported along with the Mexicans. This is one Irishman who will not this year or any other year, vote for John Sweeney.
Update on the sports challenge. Chris Bergman has submitted his all time Yankee and Red Sox rosters. Here's how Chris sees it.
Yankees
rhp Mel Stottlemyre
Lhp Ron Guidry
Closer Mariano Rivera
1B Lou Gehrig
2B Joe Gordon
3B Graig Nettles
SS Derek Jeter
C Yogi Berra
RF Roger Maris
CF Joe Dimaggio
LF Mickey Mantle

Red Sox
rhp Roger Clemens
Lhp Babe Ruth
closer Bob Stanley
1B Mo Vaughn
2B Bobby Doerr
3B Wade Boggs
SS Nomar Garciaparra
C Carlton Fisk
RF Dwight Evans
CF Fred Lynn
LF Ted Williams

Sorry Chris I have to disqualify Mantle as your Left fielder, I don't recall him ever playing that position. Also on my roster I was taken to task for putting Dave Winfield in Left but that's where he was when he waved to me in the stadium, so he did play some left field but I will cross him off if that's what everyone thinks.

Monday, August 21, 2006

Swept away! Thank God it's over. What was billed as a great series between the two best teams turned into a train wreck. It was painful to watch knowing just how bad the outcome would be. Someone should stop by Murph's house to take away all the sharp objects. Friday started with a day night double bill. The Sox pitching staff is so decimated that the starting pitcher was sent back to the minors after the game. The Yankee staff wasn't much better on paper, Andy Phillips was placed on the dl before the game and an other pitcher was called up from Columbus leaving the Yankees with just three position players on the bench and 13 pitchers, but the Yankee arms came through. In six plus innings Chien-Ming Wang gave up only three runs on seven hits. The Yankee bats came alive (17 hits) and stunned the Red Sox faithful with a 12-4 win. They emptied the stadium only to fill it again with more of the Red Sox nation, what they saw turned out to be the longest nine inning game in baseball history and a second Yankee victory, 14-11. This is when Murphy stepped up. Forgoing a party at my house Murph went to Fenway to lead the Sox to victory over the evil empire. Saturday result, Yankee's 13, Sox 5. If Murphy couldn't help what or who could. Taking the mound trying to stop the bleeding Curt Schilling, the hero of 2004 sans bloody sock, kept the Bombers in check and turned the game over to the pen with the lead. The Yankees tied the game in the ninth against the star of the Sox bullpen, Jonathan Papelbon ( pronounced Papelblown), then scored three times against Craig Hansen in the 10th on home runs by Jason Giambi -- his second of the game -- and Jorge Posada.
This brings us to Monday and the chance for the sweep. Joe Torre didn't care, or at least his line up seemed that way, Posada( HR, a triple and a stolen base) resting, Giambi( two HR's on Sunday night)resting, Damon (nine hits, eight rbi's) resting, Jeter DH, Mariano unavailable. David Wells veris Cory Lidle. Which pitcher would come out on top? Wells gave up one run when he left, but left a runner on base. After a sac bunt moved the runner to third, relief pitcher Keith Foulke uncorked a wild pitch which scored Green giving the Yanks a two run lead. A Willy Mo Pena homer in the bottom of the eighth made the score 2-1 but that is as close as the Sox could get and the sweep was complete. Friday Yankees lead a tight 1.5 games Monday night the lead has ballooned to 6.5 games. Both teams head to the left coast for the rest of the week.

Division notes: Friday September 1, 2006 the afternoon at the track. The first race at Saratoga is 3pm, meet with your brothers for an evening of fun at the track.

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Well it's sunny in Saratoga. After three weeks of beautiful summer weather yesterday it rained. Of course yesterday was my party. Sean and Sara came up from Baltimore for the weekend and we had a bit of a graduation party for Sean and a sweet 16 for Mike. The rain wasn't real heavy just annoying. We moved the food indoors but I stood in the drizzle cooking. I shared the grill with my professional cook son Mike. The BBQ'd pork tenderloin with tropical fruit chutney went over big. I do have enough burgers, dogs and sausage to last a while. Guess what's for dinner. All in all everyone had a good time. Rob and I discussed movies and we picked out Harold &Kumar go to White Castle for Rob to borrow but he left it here so I have to drop it off to him. So what are some great movies to see? Help me add to my Net-Flix list. I've noticed that besides old TV shows being made into new movies, the shows themselves are top rentals. A great way to catch up on a show when you miss the first few seasons. Entourage and Rescue Me are two you should not miss.
So today is Michaels 16th birthday. He wants a car, like every other sixteen year old. I don't need any more gray hair but I guess he will get his permit and learn to drive. Getting his own car though is still a long way off.



Mike in the High School production of Our Town





Doing standup at a party at Colgate






clearing the bar at a track meet.







Still a kid at heart.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL!

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Did you hear about the Irish boomerang?
It doesn't come back but sings a lot of sad songs about comming back.
OK let's have some fun. What is the all time Yankee and Red Sox teams?
Enter your roster for both teams in the comments section. Here are the rules.
One player for each position.
Pitchers, one righty, one lefty and one reliever.
Out fielders must be best known for that position. You can't pick three centerfielders as your outfield.
These rules are hard, for example I had to leave Roger Clemens and Yaz off the Red Sox and Mantle off the Yankees.
Here are my picks let's hear from you.

Yankees

Mel Stottlemyre rhp
Whitey Ford Lhp
Mariano Rivera
1B Lou Gehrig
2B Tony Lazzeri
3B Graig Nettles
SS Phil Rizzuto
C Thurman Munson
RF Babe Ruth
CF Joe Dimaggio
LF Dave Winfield

Red Sox
Cy Young rhp
George Herman Ruth lhp
Sparky Lyle
1B Bill Buckner
2B Jerry Remy
3B Wade Boggs
SS Rico Petrocelli
C Carlton Fisk
RF Dwight Evens
CF Dom Dimaggio
LF Ted Williams

I know you guys won't like Buckner but except for one play in one game, he was a damm good first baseman.
On the Yankee side when it's all said and done Derek Jeter will be the best short stop in Yankee history but as of now I still have to go with the scooter.

Monday, August 14, 2006


Well that got your attention right away, didn't it. What a way to start a Monday. This is a photo of Miss Ireland, Sarah Morrissey(Left) with top Irish models Roberta Rowat, Glenda Gilson and Gail Kaneswaran for a photo op on Grafton Street. Sarah will be representing Ireland in the Miss Universe Contest later this year.
I don't understand the physics of it but how does that ice cream not melt. Rob?

























Saratoga Ancient Order of Hibernians golf outing, Sept. 24, 2006

$80 per person. Sign up by September 15, 2006

To see what Sean is up to, check out www.curranstat.googlepages.com

Immigration reform check www.irishvoices.bolgspot.com

Yankee information from Sam Borden check www.blogs.nydailynews.com/Yankees

Sunday, August 13, 2006

Sunday morning and not much going on.
We're getting ready for Sean's graduation party this coming weekend. It takes a few weeks to get the house ready. I should have a party more often. As most of you know, the Colgate boys will be going to the track on Saturday for a day of racing with a cookout after at the Curran estate. If you are so inclined, stop by after 4 and bring something to share.
All is well in the sports world. The Yankee's are in first and holding strong, Boston fell to second after, as Mr. Murphy pointed out, 45 days in first place. I don't want to dwell too much on this because there is still a lot of baseball to be played.


You got to love the way a team comes together. Have the Red Sox gone from "Cowboy Up" in their championship season to Brokeback mountain cowboys this year? Did they learn this kind of special friendship when they did the guest spot on Queer Eye? This picture is like a car accident, you don't want to look but you can't help yourself.
alright, I know, a little too far this time and all you Sox fans are pissed. Here let this be your reaction to this blog.








They teach them young in Boston, don't they.


Other Sports news. It was reported this week that the New York Hurlers will get their shot at the Ulster Hurling championship after all. The New Yorkers opted not to travel because of some visa problems might accrue with players leaving the states
and trying to return. Now the game will be played this fall in
Boston when Atrim comes over for the match. A date and venue should be announced by weeks end. How about Fenway, they won't be using it after September.






Just a reminder, the Division Golf Outing is September 24,2006
$80 per player
price includes: Golf, Food, Dinner and prizes
First tee time 10:00am scramble format
Call Paul Maguire or Dave Cummings @ 695-6374 for more information
registrations by September 15th

Check out this blog for some thoughts on immigration reform. www.irishvoices.blogspot.com

Monday, August 07, 2006

Another weekend over and a work week ahead. This was a busy weekend for many. Sean spent Sunday afternoon at Camden Yards watching the Yankees extend their Eastern Division lead to two games over the Red Sox by beating the Orioles 6-1. Jeter, Damon, Cabrera and Jason Giambi hit solo home runs. More on the game and a wrap up of his weekend, you can tune into Sean's blog at www.curranstat.blogspot.com .
A few of us took in the beautiful Sunday weather by marching in the Turning Point Parade in Schyulerville. Chieftain Dave Cummimgs led the group of marchers that included, Jeff Carney, Gene Cook, Ray Lagace, Rich Moran, Brian Murphy, Dick Nelson and yours truly. We were followed by Dave's truck sporting the Division banner and past
Grand Marshall of the parade, BillCarey. Thanks to Gene's wife,
Julie, for driving the truck with her grandson riding shotgun. All
along the parade route we were encountered by two very hot women, a blonde and a brunette, They were cheering and wishing a happy birthday to Dick Nelson. I would also like to echo that sentiment, Happy Birthday Dick.
This parade seems to get bigger and bigger. We should really try to get more guys to march. It's part of a weekend celebration in the town and is run very efficiently. Let's plan for next year.

After being roomies for a week in Boston
Brian and Dick are always together.
Is there more to the story than we heard.














Ray and Rich








Past Grand Marshall of the parade,
Bill Carey








DATES TO REMEMBER:
Day at the Track; September 1, 2006
Division Meeting; September 7, 2006
Commodore John Barry Dinner; September 9, 2006
Irish 2000; September 16, 2006 www.irish2000fest.com
Golf Outing; September 24, 2006

Saturday, August 05, 2006


Happy Birthday Jack. Today is Jack's 13th birthday.

Does that make me old when my youngest is a teenager? Jack has always been the actor in the family, I guess the youngest always has to be. One time when he was about 4 we were at his grandparents and he wanted to sing. Everyone expected to hear some song from Barney or sesame St. But that wasn't Jack's style. He sang out some Smashing Pumkins tune for all to hear.

Enjoy your day buddy.

Division Notes:

Day at the track is Sept.1, Start your Labor day weekend at the track.

Division Meeting Sept. 7, formal meeting, coats and ties please.

Commodore John Barry Dinner. Sept. 9 VFW hall pot luck with a cash bar


Golf Outing At Airway Meadow's Golf Course Sunday September 24, 2006

$80 per player

price includes Golf, Food, Dinner and prizes

First tee time 10:00am scramble format

Call Paul Maguire or Dave Cummings for more information

registrations by September 15th

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Today class we have a special guest blogger. this is an e-mail that I received fro Mr. Murphy. Take it away Brian.

That DAMN BIG PAPI did it again ! To think the Twins paid those first place (+1) Sox to take him off their hands four years ago. Wouldn't you know those bastards signed him to a long term deal and we'll never be able to steal him ! Wait, we only steal washed up guys from other teams that are at least 40 ! Phew! We're safe for now.

Love,
FIRST PLACE (45 consecutive days)

P.S.
Sam found another hat because frankly...who wants a second place hat? Oh, can I hold your silver medal?
PPPPPPPPPLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEEEE


Sorry Brian, no silver medals just 26 rings.
Oh yeah as of last night the Yankees are atop the American League East.

MEETING THURSDAY NIGHT...............PARADE SUNDAY AFTERNOON