SPD2, or as I called it all day, Happy Make Up Day. Yesterday was the make up St. Patty's Day. In case you don't remember last week we had the second snowfall of the year. Valentine's Day had two feet off snow, St. Patrick's Day had a foot and a half of snow. Don't make plans for Easter. So with all the cancellations last weekend this week we had to do everything on one day.
The Family Feis The Saratoga AOH held their third annual Family Feis Saturday evening from 5 to 11.
The Albany St. Patrick's Day Parade Last week for only the second time in it's over 50 years the Albany parade was postponed due to snow. That didn't stop the Albany Irish from holding the biggest party of the year yesterday. The streets were lined with the usual crowds cheering and drinking as we marched down Central Ave. The Saratoga AOH, a staple of the parade for the past six years, were missing. That group of crazy kilt wearing, women photographing, lovable oafs, ( OK, that's just me) were not in the parade. Due to the need for a heard of volunteers for the Feis ( see above) and work schedules, the division did not march. This was not enough to stop the Curran's from marching. Jack, Mike and myself, stopped at the Albany Irish American Center aka Hibernian Hall, before the Parade. Albany AOH President Steve Downs was more than happy to allow us to march with his division. In the spirit of Friendship and Unity, Mike took up the job as flag bearer. {side bar, Chris Kelly marched with the Watervliet AOH} At the end of the parade route when in the past the Saratoga lads invade the Bayou Cafe, we just passed the bar, bowed our heads in silent prayer, and headed to the buses to bring us back to the hall. A few years ago, the hall was the place to go after the parade, everyone went there, it was nuts, wall to wall drunks, only Irish for the day, plastic Patty's if you will. The Albany division put a stop to it and now it is for the members and guests. The hall was crowded and in the pub the band was hot, ( Frank Jaklitsch, Steve Gray, Steve Butler and our own John Cromie) so were the women. I fell in and out of love over and over. The big room had a band and food available, that room was rocking also. It was great to see all the family that made it to the big day and to spend time swapping old stories. Mike and Jack had a great time and it was fun for me to see them doing what I did when I was their ages. I hope you all had a great make up day and if you didn't it's nobody's fault but your own. If you would like to see some of the pics from the day click here. http://picasaweb.google.com/saratogairish/Parade2007

Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day make up. All those who are marching please e-mail me or Dave so we can have some kind of head count. If you want to carpool meet at the VFW at 11 am to choose up drivers. If you just want to meet at the parade route give a phone number in your e-mail and we will tell you where to line up.
Speaking of the VFW, The annual Family Feis make up will be held tomorrow night from 5-11 at the VFW. Kevin McKrell is the first act of the night so if you like Kevin, and I'm sure most of you do, plan to get to the Feis early. Corned Beef sandwich's and other foods available as well as all your favorite beverages. See you at the make up events.
Kevin McKrell, the living legend, songwriter, artist, sculptor, bard, starts the show off at 5pm. You won't believe what he can do with a glass and a bodhran beater.

If a picture is worth 1000 words, here are about 10,000 worth.

This is what we awoke to on St. Patrick's Day

Sean digging out the Parade route to the car

First stop of the day, Skidmore College gym for a volleyball tournament. My brother's daughter Gina is an outstanding player and her team was hosting the event.

Off to Rob's for the twins birthday

The kids playing

"Don't spill my beer"

The big kids won't let the little ones play

Next stop Mike and Katie's play

No this isn't the Grinch in 1980, it's the Parting Glass with Donnybrook Fare. Seems like old times.

the place was crawling with Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, I think this is one of them. It was hard to tell, he was passed out the whole time we were there.

Next Saturday, the Albany Parade steps off at 2pm. The Saratoga AOH Family feis starts at 5 at the Saratoga VFW. The cost is only $5 and food and drink will be available.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!! enjoy the snow!! The day has to get better.

The snow hit last night, actually it started around 2 in the afternoon. The first to go was the Family Feis, that was postponed Thursday night. Mike's play opened Thursday and is very good. I took Friday off from work, Sean and Sara arrived around 11 to hear the news that the Feis was cancelled. We watched the U Albany game and had a few Smithwicks, OK more than a few, at 3:15 I checked the Albany Parade website, the news had been updated at 3, Mayor Jennings postpones Parade till next Saturday. The Mayor is citing "public safety" as the reason. I wonder if it had anything to do with a smaller crowd than expected at Jillian's? Hey Jerry, can I have a note so I can get next Saturday off? We Irish are a resilient bunch. Although our plans were smashed we can still have a full day of activities. Photos to come tomorrow. Till then, Beannachtai na Feile Padraig oraibh!

"Oay, will ye look at all this blasted snow"

The results from the Irish movie poll were less than enthusiastic so I will just give you some favorites of the people that wrote in. Millis pointed out something that I like to see in films. When a movie is not really about the Irish but we put ourselves into it. Braveheart is the best example, would this movie been as good without David O'Hara as Stephen the Irishman, no, it would have just been Rob Roy. How can you forget those famous lines from the movie,

Hamish: "Is your father a ghost, or do you converse with the Almighty? "

Stephen: "In order to find his equal, an Irishman is forced to talk to God."

or the disgusted line from Longshanks "Irish"

In the john Ford western Rio Grande, as the children are rescued from the indians Sgt. Quincannon and little Margaret Mary genuflect as they leave the Church under attack. The post singers serinade the Cornels wife ( Maureen O'Hara) with I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen and The Bold Finnian Men.

Of course Ford used the same cast for this film as he did for The Quiet Man.

So, just what are some good movies about the Irish, here's my list.

The Quiet Man Sean Thornton has returned from America to reclaim his homestead and escape his past. Sean's eye is caught by Mary Kate Danaher, a beautiful but poor maiden, and younger sister of ill-tempered "Red" Will Danaher. The riotous relationship that forms between Sean and Mary Kate, punctuated by Will's pugnacious attempts to keep them apart, form the main plot, with Sean's past as the dark undercurrent.





Waking Ned Devine When word reaches two elderly best friends that someone in their tiny Irish village has won the national lottery, they go to great lengths to find the winner so they can share the wealth. When they discover the "lucky" winner, Ned Devine, they find he has died of shock upon discovering his win. Not wanting the money to go to waste, the village enters a pact to pretend Ned is still alive by having another man pose as him, and then to divide the money between them.


The Commitments Jimmy Rabbitte, just a tick out of school, gets a brilliant idea: to put a soul band together in Barrytown, his slum home in north Dublin. First he needs musicians and singers: things slowly start to click when he finds three fine-voiced females virtually in his back yard, a lead singer (Deco) at a wedding, and, responding to his ad, an aging trumpet player, Joey "The Lips" Fagan. Song by song, gig by gig, the Commitments start their climb to the top: Dublin gets soul. But internal strife also builds: Deco is insufferable, Joey's a Casanova, and Jimmy may lack the seasoning to hold things together. Will the Commitments slip away?



The Crying Game An unlikely kind of friendship develops between Fergus, an Irish Republican Army volunteer, and Jody, a kidnapped British soldier lured into an IRA trap by Jude, another IRA member. When the hostage-taking ends up going horribly wrong, Fergus escapes and heads to London, where he seeks out Jody's lover, a hairdresser named Dil. Fergus adopts the name "Jimmy" and gets a job as a day laborer. He also starts seeing Dil, who knows nothing about Fergus' IRA background. But there are some things about Dil that Fergus doesn't know, either.



Michael Collins Neil Jordan's depiction of the controversial life and death of Michael Collins, the 'Lion of Ireland', who led the IRA against British rule and founded the Irish Free State (Eire) in 1921. It would have been a much better film without Julia Roberts.





In America An aspiring Irish actor and his family illegally immigrate in the United States with the dreams of the father breaking into the New York City theatrical scene. Once they arrive in the big city, they move into a flop house and try to make it truly their home. While they struggle to fit in their new country, the family finds new friends like the reclusive neighbor, Mateo, who provide help in the most unexpected ways in America.

Now there you have six films to start with. The Field garnered an Academy Award nomination for Richard Harris, and Victor McLaughlin won the Best Actor Oscar for The Informer. If you watch these two films back to back have someone put you on suicide watch they are so depressing. If you like Colin Farrell, check out Intermission, have an interpreter available so you will know what Farrell is saying. I like The Matchmaker, I know it's cheesy and hokey but I laugh. The Devils Own is an interesting look at Irish Americans and their support of the IRA.

Enjoy the films and get ready for Saturday.

Family Feis Friday from 5-11 at the VFW in Saratoga cost $5

Saturday is Parade Day in Albany

Suppose you threw an Irish festival and no one showed up? This is what it seemed like to me last night in Glens Falls. The Third Annual Red Cross Celtic festival at the Glens falls Civic Center, featuring Kevin McKrell and Friends, Black 47 and more. This was how it was billed. I thought that Black 47, being the headliner would play last so I went to work till 2 pm. I picked up Mike and we headed to the civic center. We both were dressed in our kilts, we bought the tickets, walked into the center and there was nobody there. If you have never been to The civic center in Glens Falls, it's built into the side of a hill so when you enter at street level you are at the top of the seats looking down onto the arena floor. Now this is a hockey rink covered with what ever they use to cover it but you can realize the size. there were about 60 seats set up at one end in front of the stage. Vender's were set up on the rest of the floor. we walked down the stairs and walked around. The two of us were getting some pretty odd looks. Like they had never seen a kilt before. It's a CELTIC festival for God's sake. I opened the program and saw that we missed McKrell but Black 47 didn't start till 6:30 and it was only 4:45. On the next page it listed a second stage. Shawn Kelly was playing from 4-4:45, I haven't seen Shawn for a while and I was hoping he was running a bit late, or as we say, on Irish time. We found Heritage Hall and went in, about eight long tables set up across the room with a small stage in the corner. Thank goodness there was a bar in the room. Shawn was done but very happy to see us, the next act, Blarney, were getting ready. Blarney, features Scotty West on fiddle and keyboards, and Steve Gray on guitar and vocals. the room had about 20 people sitting around at different tables and Scotty says, " Since Steve Curran just came in we're going to start off with Steve Curran's jig." Now Mike and I are getting even more stares. I finish off my beer and head back to the bar for another, too late, they closed the bar at 5. Now I have to travel for beer. Down the hall, up a flight of stairs, a second flight, out into the lobby, back into the arena around the bend to the far corner of the place. I bought four. Now I have to travel the same route to get back to the Heritage Hall. I finally make it back and share my beer with the band. The sound guy makes the band stop around 5:45. I guess they wanted everyone on the ice for Black 47. Mike and I walk around and look at some of the vender's. I bought a white fur covered sporran for $40. Mike wasn't wearing one so we fit it for him and I didn't have to carry around his cell phone anymore. We then went over to the table for Celtic Attitudes t-shirts. this guy has some great shirts. I got a black shirt with a celtic knot on the front. On the back is a drawing of a celtic warrior, under it in large letters it says, Got Celtic. the drawings are by Kevin McKrell. some of the other shirts feature his art work. Mike got a black shirt with a pint glass on the front, it says "I prefer to drink my pint in peace", on the back it says, " But I can tell you are in need of a good beating, I am always willing to help a poor bastard out". Look for Celtic Attitudes t-shirts at the next festival you go to or you can find them at Celtic Treasures in Saratoga.

Now it's time for the band, or is it. they have been selling raffle tickets all day and now they want to give out cd's to the people that didn't win. they start calling numbers but most of the people have left. I look at the young lady standing next to me and ask, " Is it me or does this not look like a Black 47 crowd?" She laughs and says that half the people will probably leave. She was right. Finally the last cd is given out and the band takes the stage to a tremendous ovation, or as loud as 75 people in a arena that seats 5000 can get. you can't blame the band they played great, about 20 of us stood and danced in front of the stage, it felt like it was a private show which was kind of cool. they played the usual songs, everyone sang along with "Rockin the Bronx". They played a new song called " Downtown Baghdad Blues", the lyrics come from e-mails the band has received from fans fighting in Iraq. The hour long set ended with a great version of "Funky Ceili". Since it was an early night for the band they came out for one more and did " James Connolly" before inviting everyone to Davidson's after the show. Mike and I talked with Joe Mulvanerty, the piper and the base player. That's what I love about Irish bands, you can always talk or better yet have a few pints with the guys after the show.

So this is St. Patty's week, Don't forget Thursday night, if you are not going to hear Donnybrook Fair at the Egg or Tommy Sands in Schenectady, Michael will be on stage at Saratoga High in the Drama Club's production of " How to Succeed in Business", the curtain rises at 7. On Friday night the Saratoga AOH is holding their annual Family Feis at the VFW on Excelsior Ave from 5-11, a $5 donation to the division is all it will cost you for a night of Irish fun. Food and drink is available. Saturday is the big day, The Parade steps off in Albany somewhere around 2. his is as close to Mardi Gras the city of Albany ever gets. Bring the family and have a great day.

"Whiskey your the devil, your leading me astray"

Whiskey, from the Irish for Water of life, is the drink you will be offered on St. Patrick's Day. When someone says "shots?" their not talking about the candy tasting things strippers like, they are referring to whiskey. It's brown and it comes out of one bottle. So what brand will you have? The most common brands are, Jameson's, Tullamore Dew, or Bushmills. so here's a little primer so you can sound like an expert.

Bushmills Protestant whiskey but better than no whiskey at all, only to be drunk if no other choices. If you are forced to drink Bushmills try the Black Bush or the 12 year old.

Tullamore Dew The smoothest of all the Irish whiskeys. They also have a 12 year old but don't waste your money, the regular is just fine.

Jameson The most common Irish whiskey found in bars, every bar has a bottle. This is what you will probably be drinking. They also have a 12 year old, very very good, and an 18 year old ( about $75 a bottle)

If you find yourself in a good bar with a lot of extra money in your pocket, try Middleton's. Middleton's comes in a wooden case with each bottle numbered. It is so smooth that it is called women's whiskey in Ireland. At about $125 a bottle, most places charge $25 a shot.

Red Breast is an other fine whiskey, you won't find it in many bars but if someone has it in their flask and offers it to you, enjoy ( Paul, are you reading this?).

Bailey's is not whiskey, it's candy. Irish Mist is training whiskey, you drink this before you are old enough to move on to real whiskey. If the name on the bottle is something like Paddy's or Michaels or if the bottle has shamrocks on it, DON'T DRINK IT, it will kill you. Or at least the next day you will wish it had.

The best part about drinking whiskey is that you can do what ever you want. The next day people will say, "do you know what you did last night!"

"Ahh, I was drinking whiskey"

"Oh, OK then, just don't do it again"

If you did the same stupid stuff drunk on beer then they would still be pissed at you. One last item, don't drink too much, it doesn't taste half as good coming back up as it did going down.

What is the future of the Internet? I don't mean what, I'm asking how long. Will my grandchildren be able to read my blog? How wonderful it would be to be able to read and see photos of your ancestors, or in my case, how sad. I take pride in my job as a father to embarrass my children as often as possible. With the Internet I may be able to embarrass generation after generations of Curran's. What made me ponder this point was an e-mail from Chris Millis, as most of you know Chris and Lisa became parents a few weeks back and Chris has started a web page for the twins. When they are older they will be able to show their children what they looked like as new borns, what their great grandparents looked like and what Grandpa Chris wrote about them. If you would like to see the mini Millis' just check this site. http://web.mac.com/chrismillis/iWeb/The%20Boys/The%20Mini%20Mills.html and that's the short cut. A very long address for two very little boys.
So yesterday was a good day for e-mail, besides the Millis' letter and strewn in among the many many e-mails for Viagra and penis enlargement ( someones telling tales out of school ) I received the following e-mail from Michael Cummings. Mike is an old friend of the family and a very active Hibernian. I though his e-mail needed a larger audience, so here it is.

WHY WAS IRELAND DIFFERENT;SHOULD AMERICANS CARE?
In the last century the Irish people have struggled to rid themselves of British colonial rule, end the cancer of partition and restore democracy. U. S government support for that struggle was virtually non-existent and rarely aroused public protest. How could that be so when so many of Irish descent are here? How could America's Presidents ---symbols of democracy to the world ---be indifferent to garrison rule in Ulster? First, without a language barrier British apologists have made Anglophiles of many in the American media and Congress. British media managers are omnipresent to explain how Ireland's conflict is old news, how the 'solution' is in place and to push more interesting stories, for example, of Prince Harry in Iraq.Then there is the 'special relationship', a concept created by Prime Minister Churchill that allows our Department of State to do favors for the BBC, British Airways and defense contractors and give the U. K status. Such a deal was denying Gerry Adams a visa to speak here though he was an elected Member of Parliament, an author and without a criminal conviction. Then Secretary of State Baker, who denied Adams' visa requests, recently stated in the Iraqi report that " in diplomatic matters you don't restrict your conversations to your friends." Why then was this Irishman different?Finally, there is the 1998 Belfast pact and its related Weston Park and St Andrew's agreements. These are but the latest documents in a legacy of British paperwork to obscure their role in Ireland. For example, the Saville Commission has now taken more time to explain Bloody Sunday than was taken for the reports of the assassination of President Kennedy, the Kent State killings, and the My Lai massacre combined!!Perhaps those explain indifference to Ireland. But can Americans be comfortable with the hypocrisy of the U. S. standing up for democracy, justice and the rule of law everywhere in this world except in the six counties of Ireland? How can Americans speak up if they don't know the price of their indifference and ignorance? Consider these recent selections from two newspapers with major foreign policy reporting. The New York Times claimed Syria would experience "..scorn, isolation and sanctions " for the death of former Lebanese Prime Minister Gemayel. A Wall Street Journal article claimed that Russian leader "Putin is unworthy of the trust of civilized men and women" for its hand in killing of a former spy in London. Americans have never seen either paper so harshly describe Britain despite documented evidence of its involvement in the killings of lawyers, elected officials and mass murder in neighboring Ireland. Why is Ireland second-class?How many Americans knew that voting rights for most Catholics were not granted by law until 1975? Sinn Fein election successes then prompted the forces of law and order to arm loyalist thugs and use double agents to kill 5 elected Councillors. Who knew that this part of Ireland would be the only modern democracy to suffer such a calamity?American President's never spoke against British lawlessness. The annual Department of State Human Rights report is known more for its omissions about British Army and RUC collusion in the killing of innocent Catholics in N. I. Britain has refused to cooperate for 30 years in the investigation of the British Army role in the Dublin/Monaghan bombings; Ireland's equivalent of "9/11." Thirty-three victims, mostly women and children, died. Even though the Department of State regularly issues public rebukes of human rights violations around the world why has Britain had a free pass for this atrocity to date? Why is Ireland different?Why should Americans care. especially now? They should care as a simple matter of justice and for the verdict of history. British Army collusion with loyalists began as far back as February, 1973 in the killing of six Catholics in the New Lodge area of Belfast. A picture emerges of a 30 year criminal conspiracy by a government against its own people. American must re-think this struggle and its causes. Who were the criminals and terrorists? Was their a right of self-defense? If, as the Wall Street Journal indicated, "..the U. S. and Britain are committed to the .protection of human rights.." then lets record the failures in Ireland. Americans should demand Britain explain and compensate for their carnage. What lessons were learned by the U. S.? Did America's failure to speak out against Britain's misconduct and extra-legal assassinations encourage lawlessness there and elsewhere? We must insure that not another generation remains ignorant of this history nor permits British spin in textbooks. We now know, much to British dismay, there was no shortage of food in Ireland in 1845. Let us make sure future generations know just what Britain really did to destroy democracy in Ireland.
Michael J. Cummings,
Member, National Board,
Ancient Order of Hibernians
Member, National Board,
Irish American Unity Conference

As we prepare to celebrate St. Patrick's Day let's not forget that Ireland is still a divided country.
On a lighter note, and keeping with the messages I receive, the anonymous commenter, in his cryptic manner, didn't mean hoops when he wrote hoops. As best I can decipher he meant
CELTIC
Like the Ancient Celtic Warriors, Celtic FC [ Ed. note: FC stands for Football Club or as we call it soccer] has Fought Long and Hard to Attain Great Success. Charitable Beginning and Rapid Success Celtic FC was founded in 1888 by Marist Brother Walfrid as a way to raise money for deprived Irish immigrants living in the east end of Glasgow. Under their first manager, Willie Maley, the club won 30 major trophies in 43 years. In 1939, Celtic also defeated Everton of England 1–0 at Ibrox Stadium to claim the Empire Exhibition Trophy, which, along with the Coronation Cup (won in 1953), is amongst the most highly-regarded by the club's supporters, due to its unique status as a one-off competition. Scottish GlorySince their formation in 1887, the Glasgow club has won 39 League Championships, 33 Scottish Cups and 12 Scottish League Cups!1966 - 1974Without a doubt it was the era from 1966-74 under the watchful eye of manager Jock Stein that the Celtic Park club had its grandest moments. They won an unprecedented nine consecutive League Titles (only recently matched by cross town rivals Rangers) during the stretch. If one year had to be selected as better than the others, however, it would be 1967. The Bhoys won the Treble that year (League Title, Scottish Cup Title and European Cup Title).European CupThe victory in the European Cup over Helenio Herrera ‘s Inter Milan that year is still considered by many the greatest upset in Euro Cup history. The Italian club had won the event in both 1964 and 1965, only narrowly losing out in the semis in 1966. Inter was a defensive juggernaut having worked to perfection Herrera’s defensive Catenaccio System - sure to create a contrast of styles between the clubs. Before the match Stein proclaimed to the Observer “We want to win it playing good football, to make neutrals glad we’ve done it, glad to remember how we did it.” And to that end they succeed, with Jimmy “Jinky” Johnstone and William “Caesar” McNeill, defeated Inter 2-1 to become known across the continent as the ‘Lisbon Lions’ for putting a kink in the defensive mindset of the favorites. Celtic was the first British and Northern European team to win the European Cup!A New EraThe resignation of Stein in 1977 brought with it inconsistent results, but that seems to have been corrected with the hiring of former Northern Ireland captain and Leicester City boss Martin O’Neill, winning the League Titles in 2000, 2001 and 2004! And with a sensational list of players that have worn the colors including Kenny Daglish, Lou Macari, Charlie Nicholas, Brian McClair, Maurice Johnston, and more recently Henrik Larsson, Stilian Petrov, Bobby Petta and John Hartson is there any reason you should not?CLUB FACTS
Full name: The Celtic Football and Athletic Club
Nickname: The Bhoys "pronounced b-hoys"
Founded: 1888
Ground: Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland
Capacity: 60,830
Chairman: Brian Quinn
Manager: Gordon Strachan
League: Scottish Premier League
2004-05: Scottish Premier League, 2ndCLUB RECORDS
The Scottish Cup final win against Aberdeen FC in 1938 was attended by a crowd of 146,433 at Hampden Park in Glasgow, which remains a record for a club match in European football.
Celtic currently hold the UK record for an unbeaten run in professional football: 62 games (49 won, 13 drawn), from November 13, 1915 until April 21, 1917- a total of 17 months and four days in all (they lost at home to Kilmarnock on the last day of the season).
Celtic also hold the SPL record for an unbeaten run of 77 home matches, spanning from 2001 to 2004.
Record Victory: 11-0, against Dundee in 1895.
Record defeat: 0-8 against Motherwell in 1937.
Record points earned in a season: 72 (Premier Division, 1987/88, 2 points for a Win); 103 (Scottish Premier League, 2001/02, 3 points for a win), which is also the SPL points tally record.
Record home attendance: 92,000 against Rangers in 1938.
Most Capped Player: 80, Pat Bonner: Republic of Ireland
Most Scotland Caps: 76, Paul McStay.
Record Appearances: Billy McNeill, 486 from 1957-75.
Most goals in a season: Jimmy McGrory, 50.
Record scorer: Jimmy McGrory, 550.
First British club to reach the final of the European Cup.
First British and northern European club to win the European Cup.
Only club to have won the European Cup with a team comprised entirely of home-grown talent.HONORS
European Champions Cup (1):
1967 Inter Milan 2-1
Scottish League Champions (39): - 1893, 1894, 1896, 1898, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1919, 1922, 1926, 1936, 1938, 1954, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004.
Scottish Cup (33): - 1892, 1899, 1900, 1904, 1907, 1908, 1911, 1912, 1914, 1923, 1925, 1927, 1931, 1933, 1937, 1951, 1954, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1995, 2001, 2004, 2005.
Scottish League Cup (12): - 1957, 1958, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1975, 1983, 1998, 2000, 2001.
Drybrough Cup: - 1974.
Tennents' Sixes: - 1992.
Coronation Cup:
1953 Hibernian 2-0
Scottish league commemorative sheild: - 1904/05 1909/10
Empire Exhibition Trophy:
1938 Everton 1-0
Victory In Europe Cup: - 1945
Saint Mungo Cup: - 1951

So Mr. Anonymous, how did I do?

If you read the comment section of this blog you are aware that an anonymous commenter wants to hear about the Celtics. So who am I to disappoint my readers. The Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association have won more championships than any other team. From their first in 1957 to number 16 in 1986, the Celtics tradition of winning championships has stood the test of time. Yes 16 Championships in 29 years or better than one every other year. The names of the players that won those Championships are spoken with the same reverence you would think it was the litany of the Saints. From Cousy, Russell, Heinsohn, and Havlicek in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s to Bird, Parish and McHale in the 1980’s the Celtics ruled the hardwood. The man that had his finger in all of this was the cigar smoking Arnold "Red" Auerbach. Red was hired to coach the Celtics in 1950, in 1966 Auerbach moved into the front office and built the empire that the Celtics became. When the NBA celebrated its 50th anniversary by unveiling the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history, in 1996-97, 13 were former members of the Boston Celtics. The 13 combined, 10 MVP awards, three Finals MVP awards and three Rookie of the Year awards, proving the Boston Celtics to be one of the most legendary franchises in all of sports. Every legendary sports team play upon hallowed ground with something that sets it apart from all the rest. The Yankee Stadium facade, the ivy covered walls of Wrigley, Fenway’s green monster. The Boston Garden had the parquet. The New Jersey Nets tried to copy it, it’s not the same. Even in the new home of the Celtics, (insert name of bank here) Center, the floor doesn’t look the same, maybe that has something to do with winning number 17?








We will be getting ready for St. Patrick’s Day this evening. Mike’s girlfriend has never seen “The Quiet Man”. So tonight we are viewing this classic movie for the first time this holiday season, I’m sure it won’t be the last time. So what are the best movies about or involving the Irish. If you say "Darby O’Gill and the Little People", leave right now and don’t ever come back!
If the Quiet Man is number one on everyone's list( as it should be), what are the rest of the top ten? Add your comments and let’s see what kind of list everyone can come up with. Remember to tell why each was chosen and defend your choices. I will post the results next Sunday.
Some to think about:
The Departed
Finnian's Rainbow
The Informer
The Field
Michael Collins
The Crying Game
Intermission
The Matchmaker
Waking Ned Devine
The Brylcreem Boys
Into the West
Ryan's Daughter
The Brothers McMullen
The Devil's Own
Bloody Sunday
This is just a short list. Take your time, there are a lot to choose from.

Welcome to Irish Heritage Month. The month of March, by an act of congress is now set aside to acknowledge the achievements of the Irish in the making of America. I will try to update as often as possible during March to add to this fine idea. It it was not for the Irish in America we would not have the paddy wagon or the cops to put the criminals in it. No Irish means no George Carlin or Denis Leary. The roads would have been less traveled by Bob Hope without Bing Crosby and what would John Wayne have been with out Maureen O'Hara; Don't get me started about Tarzan with out Jane ( Maureen O'Sullivan the only real Jane to the only real Tarzan Johnny Weissmuller). In our politically correct world where Native American groups want sports team and Universities to change names from what they feel are derogatory names such as Braves, Warriors and Redskins, the Irish embrace and defend the Celtics and the greatest University in the world, The University of Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish. The only way they could have made Notre Dame derogatory would be if they were the Drunken Fighting Irish, and we would still have loved them.

The greatest moment in Irish American history was the election of John F. Kennedy to the office of President of The United States. the highest office in the land, the most powerful man in the world. I wish I had the concession on selling photos of JFK because every Irish home in America and Ireland has a photo of Jack hanging up somewhere. usually it's next to the picture of the Scared Heart, that's how much esteem the Irish have for Kennedy. You may ask why I would start off the month with the best but it is only because it is also the darkest day for the Irish. No one will ever forget November 22, 1963. Kennedy was not the first Irish American President, Andrew Jackson was, and there were many more up to and including Ronald Regan but Kennedy was the first and only Irish Catholic President. He led us from the 1950's into the '60's telling the people, " Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country". He sent us to the moon, a great accomplishment and to Vietnam, not so great. He is the role modal for every President since. No one has been able to measure up. Clinton had Monica, a chubby White House intern. Jack had Marlyn, a curvaceous movie star. It will be a long time before we have another Irish Catholic President but by God it will be worth the wait.