All Posts By

Jeff Meade

News, People

After Eight Years, Still Talkin’ Turkey

Annie Washart, Barbara MacReady and Ellen McCue get into the festive spirit.

Barbara MacReady has deep roots in Philadelphia, but she now lives in Florida. But when she makes her annual trip to the city for the Christmas holidays, one of the reasons she comes back is this: the Hibernian Hunger Project’s annual turkey giveaway.

MacReady is no stranger to Hibernian activities. When she lived in Philly, she used to take part in the annual rolling of Irish potato candies run by Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernian Divisions 87 and 1.

“I was the potato Nazi,” MacReady says of her role as one of the bosses of the annual LAOH fund-raising enterprise. As for the annual project to distribute turkey dinners to the needy, which she took part in from early on, she says, “even though I live in Florida, this is one of the things I have to do.”

MacReady’s not alone. A crowd of volunteers descended upon Shamrock Food Distributors in the Frankford section of Philadelphia early Saturday morning to load of cars, vans, and trucks—anything with wheels—to deliver 160 complete turkey dinners to needy families throughout Philadelphia. Many, if not most of the volunteers have taken part in this Christmas season ritual eight years.

Overseeing it all was Bob Gessler, founder of the Hibernian Hunger Project, working hand in glove with Jim Tanghe, president of Shamrock Food Distributors. Tanghe helps gather and store all of the foods, turkeys and all, in his warehouse off Fraley Street.

“He (Bob) started out doing 25 baskets,” Tanghe said. “I said, ‘Can we double it next year? He said, ‘You’re crazy.’ We doubled it. The next year, I said, ‘Can we double it again?’ He said, ‘You really are nuts.’”

Tanghe said it would be asking a bit much at this point to double 160—but with this crowd, you never know. They’re not very good with the word “impossible.”

The heavy cardboard boxes containing all the fixing for a Christmas dinner—turkey, stuffing, vegetables, butter cookies and more—also include pasta, tomato sauce, mac and cheese, peanut butter and jelly, and other fixings for a few more meals beyond the Christmas feast.

Gessler gives Tanghe a lot of credit for helping to pull this otherwise complicated venture together. “He sets up a place in his freezer for any donations of turkeys we get,” Gessler said. He orders all the stuff for the food baskets, and he has his staff filling the baskets. He’ll order everything for us at wholesale.”

Why do they do it? Why do all of these volunteers turn out on an early Saturday morning—often pretty cold at this time of year—to heft boxes into truck beds, and head off to so many sections of the city, to families living in cramped apartments and row homes, to a women’s shelter, church parishes, a couple of Baptist churches, and more?

Certainly, the need is there, and everyone who joins in the effort acknowledges it. “This is the AOH (Ancient Order of Hibernians) helping anyone who need it. We’re just helping.”

But there’s another reason, and it’s a good one, too, Gessler said with a smile. “It’s a totally selfish reason. It makes us feel good.”

[flickr_set id=”72157649935388411″]

December 26, 2014 by Jeff Meade

History

Early Irish History in Stories, Song and Poetry

Gerry and Lois Timlin

Gerry Timlin is one of the busiest men in the Irish music business.

So why is he fitting time into his crowded schedule to run a seminar series on Irish history?

“My wife Lois was the catalyst,” Timlin explains over a midday breakfast at the Red Lion Diner in Horsham. “She said, ‘You have such a keen interest. You have to find a place to do it.’”

In at least one respect, Timlin’s “keen interest” is completely understandable. Although he’s been living in the United States for more than 40 years, he’s from the small town of Coalisland, County Tyrone, in Northern Ireland. But more than that, Gerry Timlin has been singing songs of his homeland since forever, and so many of those songs are tied to Irish history.

Timlin also has an extensive collection of books on Irish history, and many volumes of poetry, “like you wouldn’t believe.”

Ultimately, the history of Ireland is inextricably bound up into who Gerry Timlin is. The map of Ireland may be written all over his face, but it’s also written, in indelible ink, all over his heart and soul.

“I have always wanted to do something like this, but I never felt like I had the time to put in the hours, all the work, and the research.”

Enter the Celtic Cultural Alliance, which runs the Celtic Classic in Bethlehem every September. Timlin, together with his long-time music partner Tom Kane, is no stranger to the Classic. He and Kane are frequent performers.

The Alliance liked Timlin’s idea, and saw it as just an extension of their year-round mission to “promote and preserve Celtic culture.” The first series, about modern Irish history, ran last year.

This year the Alliance looked around for a space to host the six-week series, and settled on McCarthy’s Red Stag Pub, 534 Main Street in Bethlehem. This year’s series focuses on Irish history from ancient Celtic times to Oliver Cromwell’s bloody conquest of Ireland in the 17th century. The series begins January 14 and wraps up on February 18. The cost for the entire series is $50.

You get a lot for your money. Each night’s seminar is two hours long, and Timlin shares what he knows about Ireland’s history in stories—Gerry Timlin is nothing if not a master storyteller—song, and poetry.

Timlin intends his series to be more of a primer than a complete course.

“I break it down into segments each night,” Timlin says. “I just want to whet their appetite. I know I can’t spend any more than 15 to 20 minutes on each segment. You could do two nights alone on Cromwell—you could have an entire course right there.”

Timlin helps bring those brief segments to life with songs like “Ramblin’ Irishman” Or “Dobbin’s Flowery Vale”—whatever seems appropriate to the particular moment in time. Timlin has a deep love for the poetry of Ireland, so you might hear the lines rich with meaning, emotion—and history—from Seamus Heaney’s “Requiem for the Croppies”:

Terraced thousands died, shaking scythes at cannon.
The hillside blushed, soaked in our broken wave.
They buried us without shroud or coffin
And in August… the barley grew up out of our grave.

Timlin’s series can only go so far, he realizes, but he always brings in “books galore” from his collection to help his “students” learn where to look if they want to know more.

And though, as Timlin admits, “it’s hard work,” running this series is incredibly gratifying. He hopes it catches on. The time seems to be right.

“Over the past 20 to 25 years, there’s such an interest in people of Irish stock. So many people feel they need to know who I am. People are so many generations removed, but they have such a strong interest in their history, the invasions—the Danes, the Saxons, the Normans, the Brits. Last year, stories of the Great Hunger. They hear these horror stories about how people were affected by it. Then it becomes very personal to them.”

More info, and tickets, here.

December 19, 2014 by Jeff Meade

News, Photo Essays

The Top Photos of 2014

We started out thinking … how about choosing the top 25 photos of the year—our absolute favorites?

So much for that plan. We found too many favorites.

Also, we didn’t think you’d mind.

We covered parades until our camera batteries ran out of energy. Us, too.

We spent hours at our fair share of Irish and Celtic festivals, even at the beginning of the summer, when the Penn’s Landing Irish Festival drew hordes of pale-skinned Hibernians, desperately seeking music, dance, beer, shade and sun block.

Benefits like “Dancing With the Stars” and Irish boxing night are always great attractions. No one with a camera can resist.

We witnessed the crowning of several young women chosen to represent the absolute best of Philadelphia’s Irish culture—including Maria Walsh, the city’s first International Rose of Tralee.

One weekend last July pretty much sums up why this beat never gets boring. On Saturday down at the Irish Memorial on Front Street, we covered an Indian dance troupe doing their take on Irish dance. On Sunday, in the same place, we covered a protest by local Irish and Palestinians against the Israeli incursion into Gaza. This beat never gets boring.

Music and dance is always big for us. The Philadelphia Ceili Group Festival in particular is a photographic feast. It was a big year for several of our local under-18 musicians, who went on to kick butt at the Fleadh Cheoil in Ireland last summer, and they had their share of photo ops.

Wherever there’s somebody beatin’ a bodhran, we’ll be there.

The Philadelphia Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) marked a huge milestone, unveiling their new field in Limerick.

We have a lot of friends, and we’re always making new ones, and you’ll see a lot of them here.

Anyway, forget 25. It just doesn’t do you justice.

Here’s the direct link. And if you want, you can scan the slide show, below.

[flickr_set id=”72157649722983485″]

December 11, 2014 by Jeff Meade

People

Farewell to Philadelphia’s “Irish Gentleman”

Joseph E. Montgomery

When Steve Burns first met Joseph Montgomery, he remembers, “I thought he was a retired lawyer or executive. He was a very polished gentleman, in his demeanor and his dress, he always wore a suit and a tie. He was very articulate.”

It wasn’t until a couple of years later that Burns, then a relatively new member of Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 65, found out the truth about the division’s nattily dressed president.

“It was in a conversation with another member,” Burns recalled. “I learned he was a truck driver for 20 years, a proud Teamster.”

Like so many, Burns, now vice president of what came to be known as the Joseph E. Montgomery Division, is grieving the loss of his old friend. Joe Montgomery died this week at age 95.

There was a lot to know about Joe Montgomery:

A graduate of Roman Catholic High School, Montgomery served in the Army Air Corps during World War II.
He was a member of Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Observance Association for six decades, and was a past president. In 1993, he was the parade’s grand marshal. With his neatly combed-back white hair and perfectly trimmed mustache, it’s hard to think of anyone who ever looked more dapper in a top hat and morning coat.
He served on the advisory committee of the Treasures of Irish Art.
He was secretary of the Irish Participation Committee of the 41^st International Eucharistic Congress.

Most people would say, though, that Joe Montgomery’s first love—after his late wife Mary—was the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Montgomery was one of a handful of guys who kept Division 65 going through lean times, Burns said, when meetings would typically draw only six to eight members. He served four terms as president of the Philadelphia County Board, as well as Pennsylvania State Board president. He was accorded the honor of Gold Card Life Member, the AOH’s highest honor.

It’s safe to say Montgomery was a fixture within the AOH, incredibly well known and loved. Burns was one of several younger members of Division 65 who would accompany Montgomery to conventions. Former national AOH President Seamus Boyle christened Montgomery’s entourage “Joe’s altar boys.”

Everybody in those gatherings knew Joe Montgomery, Burns said. When Montgomery would enter a hospitality room, everyone greeted him warmly. “They just had sincere respect for what he’d done.” In recent years, Montgomery wasn’t well enough to attend conventions, but, still, “all the national people would ask, ‘How’s my buddy Joe?’”

All of those years of dedication to the AOH were recognized in what, for the AOH, was a unique way.

“I got this idea in the late ‘90s, around our 100^th anniversary,” Burns said. “I saw that all the other divisions had names. I said, “How come we don’t have a name? Why don’t we name the division for Joe?”

Typically, AOH divisions are named after deceased persons and religious figures. “They said, ‘Oh, God, we can’t do that, he’s still alive.’ And I said, ‘That’s my point. Let’s honor Joe while he’s still with us.’”

Thus, the division became the only one named after a living person.

News of Montgomery’s passing hit Burns hard, as it did so many of his friends and acquaintances.

Still, he’s grateful for his memories—one in particular.

Burns has a house at the shore, and last August there was a fund-raiser for the Hibernian Hunger Project down near his home. Travel was hard for Montgomery, but Burns arranged to pick him up at his home, and take him down to South Jersey for a weekend.

“All the Philadelphia guys were down there, all the guys he’s known for years. He really enjoyed it. That was my last trip with Joe. I’m so glad to have had that weekend with him.”

Many more of Joe Montgomery’s friends have agreed to share their thoughts and remembrances. Here they are:

Patrick Mulhern, president, AOH 65, Joseph Montgomery Division

I can’t express in words the admiration I had for Joe. He taught me so much about the AOH, and he was the impetus behind me running for a division office and ultimately division president.

I was constantly amazed to see the respect he garnered at not only State but also National Conventions over the years. I always said the only thing missing was a ring to be kissed.

He had more sayings, and one-liners that permeated his great sense of humor.

Joe’s mind was so sharp, and I couldn’t believe how he remembered everyone’s name, even those whom he met very infrequently. He always had a smile and treated all with respect.

I will remember Joe as the epitome of an Irish Gentleman, consider myself better for having known him, and will sadly miss his friendship and countenance.

Chris Phillips, president, St. Patrick’s Day Observance Association (SPDOA)

Over the last few years Joe has reached out to me about Malvern Retreat House, and making a retreat over the last few years.

The group I had gone with my DAD over the last 35 years had an AOH group. So, long story short, Joe would call me personally and ask me for MY help to get my dad to the retreat. I found great pride that he would reach out to me, and it did my heart good when he was there to make his last retreat last February. And why? Because he thanked me personally, and told me how much he appreciated my help.

Again, he was a pure gentleman, a real man who did more for others than he ever did for himself.

Joe Montgomery’s influence on the Delaware Valley American Irish community is timeless, and a true example for all of us on how to be a TRUE American Irish Gentleman.

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

The rains fall soft upon your fields

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand

May God bless his family, and may all of us keep them in our thoughts and prayers in the days to come.

Judge Jimmy Lynn

I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of the great Irish Patriot, Joseph Montgomery. It’s difficult to conjure that I will not see my friend, Joe, at a SPDOA meeting or at the parade, or anywhere else our clan comes together. I have known Joe since I was a little boy of 5 or 6, or maybe even earlier—my whole life. He is directly connected with, and is a part of the very core of my love of the celebration of being Irish. He is the parade to me.

I am even sadder for Joe’s wonderful family for they know him better than anyone, and their hearts are seared by his departing beyond what any of us can know.

I will miss hearing his wise counsel; his wonderful and powerful singing voice (although he has been unable to sing for a good while); his humor; talking about staying in shape—doing 100 push-ups every day and lifting weights. Me: “Joe, you still lifting weights?” Joe: “No, Jim. The doctor told me that at 92, I better put the weights down. But I’m still doing the push-ups!”—and his way of sizing up a man that may have gotten on his nerves. (“That guy could give an aspirin a headache!).

This loss is a big loss for us. He may be 95, but it is still a big punch in the gut. As Chris Phillips said, his influence on the Delaware Valley Irish community is “timeless.” I would only add to that the entire Irish community in the United States, because if you ever had the opportunity to attend a National AOH convention you would have seen people from everywhere in the country hanging around Joe like bees to honey.

Joe, I miss you already. Now, you are with your sweet and kind and lovely Mary. Say hello to Uncle Bud for me.

God bless you and keep you, Joe.

I’ll see you when I see you.

Sister James Anne Feerick

Joe was a great friend for many years. We met at Transfiguration Parish in the choir ( 1957). He was always a great gentleman. I will miss him. Rest with Mary, Joe.

Austin McGreal, SPDOA Executive Committee

I had the privilege of serving on SPDOA with Joe since he joined our organization many years ago.

He always adhered to and promoted the dignity of the parade, and contributed significantly to keeping it close to its original purpose. This attitude was merely a reflection of the dignity Joe personified—a truly wonderful human being.

‘Til we meet again, Joe.

Kathy McGee Burns, SPDOA Executive Committee

Joe Montgomery was a gentleman. He was a lovely, thoughtful, dignified man who respected everybody. He thought of women as equals. In an article I wrote about him, I said he was a man’s man, but he was also a ladies’ man. He was debonair, charming and handsome, and he treated women as his equal.

I am thrilled to say that I was given the Joseph Montgomery AOH Division 65th 3rd annual award, and the first woman to receive this great award.

I loved Joe Montgomery, and the day I was named grand marshal, he was the first person I called…and he was thrilled for me.

What a loss!

Michael Bradley, Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade Director and Division 65 Board Member

I was asked to give my personal thoughts on Joe Montgomery, he has been around my life for so long, it will be hard not to see him again.

Joseph E. Montgomery, 95 years young, ( Joe was never an old man) was an absolute gentleman in every sense of the word. He was passionate about Irish issues and as well known a figure at the National AOH Level as anyone in the United States of America.

I had the proud pleasure of being the co-chairperson and MC the night of our 100^th Anniversary of AOH Division 65 in 1998 when we unveiled the banner proclaiming the division to be forever known as the AOH Joseph E. Montgomery Division 65. It was the only division in the world ever named after a living person. When I looked over, I saw the banner had incorrectly placed a “J.” for his middle initial instead of an “E.” I waved my hand in front of the banner like Vanna White waving at the letters on TV, and kept it there so the photographs could not show the mistake. Hardly anyone noticed and when the photos stopped, Joe leaned over to me and said, “I don’t know what you are doing, but I know you are up to something or you would have moved out of the way.” He was 80 years young at that time, and no Philly detective had anything on Joe Montgomery.

After the ceremony, in true Joe fashion, he came up to me at the microphone and said that, while he was thrilled beyond belief at the honor, he was heartbroken his beloved Mary was not with him there to share the moment. She had recently passed away, and he often said about her that she was in the AOH, not the LAOH, because she was so involved with him in his AOH and parade activities.

Joe never cared for anyone who promoted themselves, he kept to himself and never bragged, and the honors came to him rightfully so, non-stop every year. You could fill the Irish Center with the awards that Joe has received, but none greater than naming our AOH Division 65 after him.

Joe was president for 40 years and a member for over 70 years! Joe was very proud of our division, and I was just as proud not only to be in his division, but to consider him a friend and mentor.

I was fortunate enough that, when he was elected into the Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame in 2009, he asked me to give his presenting speech. I started it off with “ Joe’s first job was as a waiter at the Last Supper!” He leaned over, and I expected him to clobber me and but said “That was a good one,” and leaned back in his chair and laughed!

He was our Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade Secretary for over 40 years, and the last five had me take work with him doing our minutes as his hearing was starting to slip. I was secretary for our AOH for a number of years and knew how particular he was for details. He would be furious when someone would send minutes out that were not done professionally. So he asked me to help him with parade minutes. I would type them in great detail as he always requested, and send them to him for him to add or correct. There were always adds or corrections!!! He showed me his notes from meetings 30 years ago, and they were in longhand and in perfect Palmer method penmanship. Not a detail missed. I can honestly say that I learned to be detail-oriented by my parents, and then taken to a higher level of detail by Joe Montgomery.

Joe absolutely beamed when he brought up his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and telling us stories. Joe was very proud of his Roman Catholic High School graduation and representing our country in the Army Air Corps in WWII.

Joe was also a proud member of the Teamsters Local 500. He was married to Mary for over 50 years, on our parade board for 60 years, and if you see a recurring theme here, stability was his mantra. Everything he did was to the very best of his ability. He was a proud Catholic and honestly, I never heard anyone say a bad word about the man.

When he knelt at church at our parade Mass in March, I noted to myself that he was kneeling straight as anyone in St. Patrick’s Church, and people one-third his age were leaning back on the pew. He was giving honor to Jesus, who was tortured and died on the cross for us, and kneeling for a few minutes out of respect to our Lord. I thought if Joe Montgomery at 95 can kneel straight up in Mass, then so can I. Minor detail, I think not, but another important lesson learned just from watching him.

Joe had many, many funny sayings. Among them:

“ He or she could give an aspirin a headache”.

“ You can’t shove a crooked stick up a straight man’s arse (I never heard him curse, that was the closest!) meaning someone was lying to him or full of it.

“You’ve got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was.”

Memories:

He was at home with the ambassador to Ireland or common everyday workers.
He was equally adept at drinking DRY gin martinis and or Budweiser.
He was still driving at 93 but complained he couldn’t see so well at night!
At 86, he told me that he had to cut down on playing basketball because his legs were slowing down.
I told him he never passed the ball anyway, and I’m sure the guys wouldn’t mind. He just laughed that legendary laugh of his.
He used to sing Irish songs at the end of the night, and you could hear a pin drop as the respect this man had was unbelievable.
He was in a tux at the parade and I told him he looked like the guy on the Monopoly game board, and he said he wished he had the money from the game.
He was always dressed to the nines with his color coordinated handkerchief in his suit coat pocket.

In closing I have two goodbyes to Joseph E Montgomery, who made me a better son, brother, father & husband by his wisdom, compassion, street smarts and professionalism:

1.)

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.

2.)

A death as occurred and everything is changed.
We are painfully aware that life can never be the same again,
That yesterday is over,
That relationships once rich have ended.

But there is another way to look upon this truth.
If life now went on the same,
Without the presence of Joe Montgomery,
we could only conclude that the life we remember
made no contribution,
filled no space,
meant nothing.

The fact that Joe left behind a place
that cannot be filled is a high tribute to this individual.

Life can be the same after a trinket has been lost,
but never after the loss of a treasure.

Rest in peace, Brother!

Funeral details are here.

If you’d like to share your remembrances, feel free to add them in the comments section, below.

December 5, 2014 by Jeff Meade

Music

Merry Christmas from Karan Casey and Lúnasa

Christmas is more than two weeks away, but from now through December 20, it’s going to be Christmas nearly every day for Irish music superstars Karan Casey and the members of one of Ireland’s top bands Lúnasa.

“Christmas with Lúnasa and Karan Casey” is touring the U.S. for the second year in a row, stopping for a concert this Sunday night at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. The show starts at 7. (Info and tickets here.)

To hear Casey tell it, performing with Lúnasa is a nice little gift all by itself.

“Musically, they are incredibly tight, well-practiced, and supportive. It’s lovely having the bass, with Trevor (Hutchinson). That adds a lot. To me, the Lúnasa tour is a kind of luxury. I don’t have to do much of the organizing. Cillian (Vallely, uilleann pipes and whistles) is very good at it. I just have to swan in, and sing my songs. And with Kevin (Crawford, flutes and whistles), sure, I laugh most of the tour. I can’t repeat a lot of what he says. It’s good fun more than anything.”

Casey travels a lot during the year, performing with the cream of Irish musicians, so the Christmas tour is certainly no hardship. For one thing, as any musician will tell you, it’s great to have work, and some of the stops along the way offer the prospect of warmer temperatures. “There could be no gigs … and from an Irish person’s perspective, you get to go to California. How good is that?”

It also helps that Casey really likes Christmas. Not the kind of Christmas that begins in the United States in October, with glittery snowflake decorations and cheesy carols piped over the P.A. systems in the department stores—Casey means the kind of Christmas that actually begins sometime around, oh, let’s say, Christmas.

“I love the way everybody sings together,” she says. “I like that everybody talks about peace, and sings the music of peace. It’s acceptable to say that in December.”

Casey, who tours with Lúnasa a few times a year, likes Christmas songs, if for no other reason than that they’re tunes she normally wouldn’t sing.

“We do a mixture. I’ll do a few songs from my own catalog, like ‘Lady Mary Anne’ and ‘Sixteen Come Next Sunday.’ But we’ll also do ‘Silent Night,’ and even a few well known jazz Christmas songs. I really love doing ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ and ‘The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire).’ And Kevin sings as well. I can’t get him to stop. We’re just doing ones we like.”

After the Lúnasa tour, Casey returns to Cork for a brief break, followed by a tour of Ireland with Maura O’Connell, Ed Boyd and Martin Tourish, and a stop in Glasgow for the annual winter music festival Celtic Connections.

Then it’s back to the United States for a brief tour (February 12 through March) with her second band (after Atlantic Bridge), the Philly-based supergroup Solas. Noriana Kennedy, who had been singing with Solas following the departure of Niamh Varian-Barry, took maternity leave. Last spring, with a Japan engagement coming up, Solas front man Seamus Egan asked Casey if she would step in.

“Seamus texted me, and said, Karan, this is a long shot, but can you go to Japan next week? I texted back and said, yes, I can, actually,” Casey says. “For Japan, I had to learn all the songs from the ‘Shamrock City’ album. That was a bit of a shock. I had to learn 10 songs in a week. It was a great week, though, really great. Then, he said, ‘Can you do a few more gigs this year? Noriana’s not fully back.’ So for 2015, we’ll be doing some of ‘Shamrock City,’ and some other ones.”

The last time she sang with Solas, Casey says, was in 2006, for the band’s 10^th anniversary album. Soon, we’ll be looking at the 20^th, so the tour represents an opportunity kick ideas around for the next big anniversary recording. With a smile in her voice, Casey says, “We can discuss, if not argue, over the songs we’re going to do.”

December 4, 2014 by Jeff Meade

News

Getting Ready for the New Immigration Policy

It doesn’t take too many people to fill the meeting room of the Immigration Center of Philadelphia. It’s probably a sign of the intense interest in President Obama’s executive action on immigration that that’s exactly what happened Monday night when three immigration lawyers took part in a meeting to answer as many questions as they could about the new policy. About 40 local Irish immigrants sat in rapt interest, posing questions, and occasionally raising fears.

The No. 1 question on most people’s minds, said attorney Shelley Grant is, “do I qualify?”

President Obama’s overall guidelines are clear, but the details are murky. “What they did was give a broad overview until they come out with specifics,” Grant said. “That’s when I’ll be able to sit down with people and see if they qualify.”

Depending on how that question is answered, deportation will—or will not—be deferred for Irish immigrants who remain undocumented. Precisely how many of those there in the United States are isn’t precisely known. The number 50,000 has been batted around, with New York City and Boston likely accounting for the lion’s share, but it isn’t a recent estimate—and many Irish returned home when the nation’s economy took off during the heady Celtic Tiger days, so it could be less.

Some things are clear.

For example, Grant explained, to be eligible, “you can’t be a law enforcement priority.” That category generally includes obvious threats to the nation’s peace and security, such as terrorists, and immigrants who are in street gangs or who take part in organized crime. (According to a White House fact sheet, “recent border crossers” are also considered candidates for immediate deportation.)

If you have a criminal problem, the lawyers suggested, consult an attorney soon.

And while the details remain to be worked out, the president’s overall guidelines also are clear. To be eligible to be allowed to remain in the United States, free from hassle by the Immigration enforcement authorities, adults must have been in the United States at least five years, and have children who are U.S. Citizens or legal residents.

“Start going through everything you are going to need to prove you have been here since before 2010,” said attorney Audrey Allen. That could include such documents as bank statements, phone bills, rent receipts, and pay stubs.

Additionally, start rounding up documentation to prove citizenship of your children, such as birth certificates and school records.

Children who might be eligible for the expansion of the DACA program (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) must prove they arrived in the United States before they turned 16. They too must have been in the U.S. for at least five years, Most important, they need to be in school, have graduated high school, or have completed a GED. Alternately, they need to have completed a tour of military service. Records of high school graduation of a GED are going to be important. If a child who entered the U.S. illegally before the age of 16 hasn’t got a high school diploma, better look into a GED.

One big question on many minds was this: Will I be able to travel back home?

The answer so far seems to be yes, but only under strictly defined circumstances.

“If anybody thinks you can travel, you can’t just travel,” said Grant. Travel will only be permitted for specific approved reasons, such as education, work, or humanitarian circumstances, such as a family funeral, added attorney Tom Griffin. Those who qualify will be provided documentation which they must present upon their return to be readmitted into the United States. “It’s not a vacation,” Griffin said. “”It’s like permission to come back.”

One other worrying concern: Will I place myself in jeopardy in the long term if I identify myself to the authorities in order to qualify for this program? After all, under the terms of this executive action, deportation is only deferred for three years at a time. And if the next president nullifies the action, it’ll wind up being less. And in the meantime … the authorities know who you are, and where to find you.

Attorney and Irish immigrant Tom Ivory admitted it’s a risk to apply, but what he called “a reasonable risk.”

Why? Because, in likelihood, if you are a hard-working, law-abiding immigrant—albeit undocumented—the government has bigger fish to fry.

“They have your name and address,” Grant explained. “But based on past experience, you’re not a priority. They’re after criminals.” However, she added, that does not mean there is no risk.

It’s also important to remember that this program is not a path to citizenship, but there’s always hope. “The next step is usually to have something more expansive,” said Allen. “The hope is that this will spur some real political action.”

The Irish Immigration Center will continue to host informational gatherings as the president’s wishes are translated into action.

Keep tabs on the center’s website: http://www.icphila.org

Also follow the center on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/icphila

November 28, 2014 by Jeff Meade

News

Welcome News on Immigration, But Still Many Questions

President Obama preparing his address with speechwriters

What does it all mean?

On the one hand, President Obama’s decision to use his executive authority to address the long-simmering issue of immigration should bring some measure of relief to more than 5 million of the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States.

Under the plan as it is so far understood, roughly 4 million undocumented immigrants would have deportation deferred for three years if they:

Are parents of American citizens or Green Card holders (legal permanent residents).
Have lived in the U.S. for at least five years.
Register.
Pass a criminal background check.
Pay taxes.

Many also would receive work permits, and a Social Security number. Most important to many, they might be able to travel to their home countries and return.

Details on the Immigration and Nationalization website.

Additionally, the Deferred Action for Children (DACA) program would be expanded. DACA defers deportation of undocumented children and young adults, and provides access to two-year renewable work permits and Social Security numbers. Just over 1 million young people are eligible for DACA. Under the president’s plan, 300,000 more would be eligible.

On the other hand, the devil’s in the details—and a lot of the details of implementation aren’t clear yet. What’s more, there are at least two wild cards in the mix. We don’t know whether the next president will keep the new policies in place, and Republicans in Congress opposed to the president’s actions are likely to take action to prevent implementation.

Additionally, it’s a temporary measure, and does not provide a path to full U.S. citizenship. As Obama put it: “All we’re saying is, we’re not going to deport you.”

For now, though, says Siobhan Lyons, director of the Irish Immigration Center of Greater Philadelphia, it’s a noteworthy advance. “Overall, it’s good news, and a step in the right direction. In the next few months, we’ll find out how they’re going to implement what President Obama said. I hope it presses our representatives in Congress to do the right thing. It’s time we had a proper discussion.”

Exactly how it will all play out is still a matter of concern, especially since actual implementation won’t happen until the spring.

One of the most pressing concerns, Lyons added, is the ability “to travel back and forth, both for joyous occasions, and for sad occasions like family funerals.” There are questions, too, about how that provision that might be implemented, It has always been a critical concern of the Irish government.

To make a start on answering those questions, the Immigration Center is hosting an informational meeting Monday night at 6:30. Three immigration lawyers will be on hand: Shelley Grant, Audrey Allen, and Tom Griffin. If you’re interested, there’s no need to call. Just show up. You should also keep an eye on the Immigration Center’s Facebook page for updates: https://www.facebook.com/icphila This is going to be the first of several steps to bring clarity to the situation as it progresses.

For now, it’s important tor undocumented Irish—of which there are close to 50,000 in the U.S.—to pay close attention to this issue, and where it’s going, and not to take actions prematurely, Lyons says. “There are going to be specific requirements and forms,” she says, but exactly what they’re going to be, no one knows yet. “Don’t just rush off. Try to get information from the Irish Immigration Center or immigration lawyers. We all need to be on the same page.”

The president’s invitation to “come out of the shadows and get right with the law” is welcome and long awaited, but Lyons counsels patience. “It’s great news, but right now, everybody needs to stay calm and carry on.”

The Immigration Center is at 7 South Cedar Lane, Upper Darby, PA 19082.

November 21, 2014 by Jeff Meade

News

How Irish Are You?

We always knew Philly was an Irish town, but even we were surprised at how Irish. And not just the city, but the surrounding counties. We’re all over the place. It’s almost an infestation. In a good way.

No big surprise to those of us who cover Irish doings in the area, but Delaware County is the area’s Irish capital. The other counties have a pretty fair representation, too.

But what’s it all look like in one quick snapshot view? We’ve banged together a neat infographic that should provide you with the highlights. If there’s a pop quiz later, you’ll pass.

If you have a blog of website of your own, feel free to ~~steal~~ embed it. It’s easy to add to Facebook, twitter, and Pinterest, too, so feel free. Just click on the easel.ly link at lower left below the infographic.
IrishinPhiladelphia
easel.ly

November 14, 2014 by Jeff Meade

Older Posts

Newer Posts