Ireland for the Irish

Last month it was Black History Month. This month is womens History Month, and, for the first time in my memory, Irish American History Month. So I figgered I'd go with it. I like Irish culture a lot, but I'm not one of those people who are "all Ireland/all the time", but I do like it. If I was born Cuban, Russian, Chinese, etc.... I'm sure I'd be into those cultures a tonne, but since its in my genes

Yes, Joyce, Wilde, Adams, but the big excitement was to put up the Beatles and claim them for the Irish. Yes, they're English in the same way I'm American, and I'm irish from a shorter time back then them, but who cares. I'm on such a Beatles kick lately, it's fun to put them up.

Beatles, Irish?
Look @ the names. To gringo's they mean squat, but to me it's pretty funny.

Lennon (to quote Gallo on another Lennon Good Northern Ireland name )
McCartney
Starkey (Starr)
Harrison's family was the most Catholic of all, but that name ain't irish, is it??

I think the Beatles people came over on that biggest wave of irish immigration ever, the Famine time (late 1940's). So, my guess is that their great garndpaernts were Irish, but I may be off an generation either side. Looking for even more irish groups? Undertones, Stiff Little Fingers, Thin Lizzy, Oasis, etc........But how about that greatest of 80's groups, The Smiths?

Now here's a group that is as Irish as me. I'm sure that all of their parents are just over, but I'm not sure.

Johnny Maher
Joyce
O'Rourke
Stephen Patrick Morrissey

Yes, that's the Smiths.

Last group.
Think Chicago, late 70's early 80's. Think punk rock, noise rock ...
Now, the names....

Berry
Kevin
Flaherty
Mick Guiness
Kiem

Correct !! The New Association Alhough I don't think they were all of Irish desent (((In Arnhold voice, Vat De Hell ist a Kiemapple aneevay!?!?!))) I remember that 3/5ths were first generation.

With such obscure 70's music we don't have anything on the New Association. Fact is, the Irish section as a whole is pretty porous. I've found that H.S. libs in Chicago/in general are much strong when it comes to African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, womans history, Holocaust, etc... Individual white ethnic foreign groups tend not to be as represented as other groups. It was hard last year yo come up with enough Polish books during Polish heritage month.

So, along with the Beatles, Joyce and Wilde, I was able to put up Daniel O'Connel and.....................um...............Bill Clinton and Tony Blair. Pretty shitty, but the Beats, Joyce and Wilde beat all.