Molly Quinn’s Owner Sets Record Straight 

Dear Editor 

It has come to my attention that Council Member Gary Schiff has used my name in advertising, and on his campaign website in connection with "Small Business Owners for Schiff," claiming that I am a host and supporter. I am not. Gary Schiff’s policies are killing my business. If things don't turn around, I will have to file bankruptcy just to save my house. Why would I support that? 

I am angered that Gary Schiff has used my name, claiming that I am a supporter of his campaign. I demand that he stop immediately. 

Yes, I allowed Schiff, Bicking and Shegstad to place their lawn signs at Molly Quinn’s. It is a pub, which is short for public. I decided to allow all candidates to put up their signs to inform the public about who is running in our neighborhood's city council race, and let my customers make up their own minds about who to vote for. You would never see a Gary Schiff sign in my own lawn at home. 

I think it’s pretty disgusting that Gary Schiff is using my name to create the illusion that he has the support of small business owners like myself, while supporting policies that are putting us under. 

I have nothing to do with Council Member Schiff’s campaign. He does not have my support, and I ask that he stop trying to connect myself, or Molly Quinn’s Irish Pub with his campaign. 

Matthew Lamphear, 
Molly Quinn’s Irish Pub
612-722-1272
info@mollyquinnsirishpub.com
 

Housing Discrimination in North Belfast

Dear Editor:

The IRSP in North Belfast have called on the Housing Executive to
scrap its North Belfast Housing strategy as it is clearly not working.

There needs to be a fundamental change in the thinking of NIHE, their
North Belfast strategy, far from addressing decades of discrimination,
over the lifetime of this strategy which has one year left to run
housing discrimination against Catholics has got much worse.

NIHE if it is to retain any credibility needs to begin to allocate
social housing on the basis of need, not on a person's religion or
politics. Presently the NIHE is facilitating a unionist agenda of
gerrymandering, where the political status quo is maintained by direct
discrimination against those in housing need. No amount of fancy words
or spin changes the fact that social housing allocations and new
builds are geared towards trying to sustain a diminishing unionist
community at direct costs to non-unionists.

Do the NIHE honestly believe that that people who believe in equality,
human rights and fairness are going to accept a return to the
sectarian practices of 50 years of unionist misrule?

 Irish Republican Socialist Party
http://www.irsm.org/irsm.html
 

******

O’Flaherty’s Irish Channel Pub Affected by Hurricane

Dear Editor:

Hurricane Katrina has damaged "O'Flaherty's Irish Channel Pub" in the legendary French Quarter. O'Flaherty's is owned and operated by famed Irish singer and musician, Danny O'Flaherty of the "Celtic Folk." Danny and his family are safe and we are glad to report that Danny's business has suffered limited structural damage. 

However, the business will be closed for months, affecting not only his family but the families of those employed at his establishment. In addition, Danny's livelihood as a singer, musician and educator of Celtic culture in New Orleans is on hold for the foreseeable future. 

On Oct. 16, "Pat Troy's Ireland's Own" in Alexandria , Va., (hosted) a fundraiser with all proceeds being donated to help Danny, his family, and those employed by him. Musical guest will include, Seamus Kennedy, Don Cobert, Bill Danoff, John Hall, Mark Quinn, Brendan Sheridan, Justin Murphy and Danny's brother Patrick O'Flaherty. 

Donations will be accepted. Contact Patrick O'Flaherty at patrick@poflaherty.com. 

Pat Troy's Ireland's Own
111 N. Pitt St.
Alexandria, Va. 22314 
703-549-4535 

IAUC Calls for Lifting Ad Ban on Daily Herald

Dear Editor

The Irish American Unity Conference (IAUC) has called on British Secretary of State, Peter Hain, to lift the advertising ban on the West Belfast-based newspaper Daily Ireland. 

Following a campaign by prominent unionists, the British Government agreed to ban all government job advertisements in the Daily Ireland, which has created 35 jobs in one of the worst employment areas in Northern Ireland, 

Dr. Robert C. Linnon, national president of the IAUC, said, "Daily Ireland is the paper of choice of young republicans in Belfast. These young people suffer job discrimination and high levels of unemployment. 

"The review body commissioned by the British government admits that The News Letter, an anti-Good Friday Agreement daily newspaper, represents the poorest advertising value. However, it continues to place all government job advertisements in that paper while denying them to "Daily Ireland". This continues even though Daily Ireland offers, through its associated group of newspapers, a distribution of 20,000 more copies than The News Letter. 

"Eight thousand dollars from American investors has made Daily Ireland possible. If British discrimination against Daily Ireland continues it 
will send out the message to potential US investors that their dollars 
are not wanted." 

Jay Dooling, press officer
Irish American Unity Conference
iauc@iauc.org

Anti-immigrant "Minutemen" provide no solutions

Dear Editor:

Our current immigration policies have failed. Families are torn apart, hardworking undocumented immigrants live in the shadows and face exploitation, and hundreds die on the border each year. What do the Minutemen and other anti-immigrant hate groups want? More of the same failed policies. 

We have already poured ever-increasing resources into the Border Patrol, but that has not stopped immigrants from coming to the US to seek work (often in jobs that would otherwise go unfilled) and rejoin their families. Our laws are failing our humanitarian values and our economic needs. If the laws do not make sense, trying harder to enforce them makes even less sense. 

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, along with thousands of community organizations, faith institutions, elected officials, and business leaders across the country have a set of solutions that would uphold our family values, reward hard work, meet our nation's labor needs, and bolster our national security. Our country needs comprehensive immigration reform that:

1) provides a path for hardworking immigrants to earn their green cards and eventually their citizenship

2) ends the backlogs that separate families and promotes illegal immigration

3) offers a safe, orderly way for workers to come to the US to fill jobs that Americans do not take, and 

4) institutes sensible strategies for enforcing our laws and improving our security. 

Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA) have proposed the most workable and compassionate solution: The Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act of 2005 (SB1033/HR 2330). 

A nation founded, built, and defended by immigrants seeking freedom, jobs, and a better way of life can surely come up with better solutions than armed vigilantes upholding a failed status quo as a means of regulating immigration. America, and especially Illinois, can do better. 

Founded in 1986, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights is statewide alliance of more than 130 public and private organizations advocating with and on behalf of immigrants and refugees throughout Illinois. Its mission is to promote the full and equal participation of immigrants and refugees in the political, civic, and economic life of our diverse society.

Marissa Graciosa
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
mgraciosa@icirr.org 

Mitchell Scholar Home Destroyed by Hurricane Rita

Dear Editor:

Brandon Thibodeaux was a George Mitchell Scholar last year. He studied at the University of Ulster and now is on a scholarship studying in Glasgow. He is from Erath, La., and his family home was destroyed in hurricane Rita. And I’m asking everyone I know if they can help the family in any way. As you’ll see below, that could take several forms – a contact at FEMA, connection to getting a trailer, or cash.

Brandon’s parents are Rudy and Diana Thibodeaux. Brandon told me of their plight and I was able to reach Mrs. Thibodeaux today, albeit with a bad cell phone connection and some understandable tears, but here is the situation as I understand it.

Right now Mr. And Mrs. Thibodeaux are living in a loaned camper trailer,
which they only have access to for a few weeks. They’re in the town of
Abbeville, about eight miles from home.

They are on a waiting list for a proper trailer from FEMA but FEMA hasn’t
indicated when they’ll get it, and need I say more on that front…. They will
get some small amount of emergency money but they may not even come for two weeks.

Brandon has one older brother but he is also living in a small camper
trailer as his home was also damaged.

Brandon’s family had a family farm with about 60 head of cattle. 10-15 of
those are lost. When Mr. Thibodeaux became ill awhile back, he leased the property to another farmer who slaughters for them as they need the meat. His mother works for the State at the hematology lab at Lafayette’s charity hospital. She has been given an extended leave.

They cannot even rent a place in Fayetteville (the nearest city) as all the
property is gone. They are hoping (but no assurance) that as New Orleans lets people return, some of the people renting in Lafayette will return to New Orleans and that would open up more space.

They do not wish to relocate. They really just want a habitable trailer for
a while which they can park beside their home while they restore it. It’s
structurally sound but everything at the seven-feet and below level is covered in mud and destroyed. Everything has been thrown out of the house and they are waiting to have carpets ripped out so the floors don’t rot. There is no electricity and they’ve been told it won’t be turned on in any neighborhood until the houses are also lifted 4-5 feet off the ground. So in addition to cost of refurbishment, they’ll have to pay to have the house to be lifted to get power and to reinsure.

If you would like to help, please let me know if you know anyone at FEMA
(you never know with six degrees of separation) or if you know of a trailer
we can help them get their our hands on.

And cash would always be welcomed to help this family get back on its feet. Donations are accepted by Diana Thibodeaux, 18435 East LA, 330
Erath, LA 70533.

Tina Vargo, US-Ireland Alliance
vargo@us-irelandalliance.org
 

Help Wanted on Wicklow Biography

Dear Editor: 

Many people are familiar with A Dictionary of Irish Biography edited by Henry Boylan. It is a wonderful resource, briefly outlining the lives of people who have distinguished themselves in many areas of human endeavor - and not always for the right reasons. The entrants are mostly Irish-born, but many are people who came to live in Ireland and contributed to the many facets that go to make up Irish life. 

Several counties have used this model to celebrate the good and sometimes not-so-good of their own county. I am in the process of compiling such a dictionary for Co. Wicklow. To tie in with the forthcoming Wicklow 400, I hope to have 200-300 word biographies on 400 Wicklow people, to be published in 2006, possibly towards the end of the year. 

Such an undertaking is beyond the reach of one person, or even a small group of people, so I am appealing to everyone to help me compile this record. I am looking for sports people from all disciplines; clergy; writers; painters; local and national politicians; revolutionaries; explorers; scientists; inventors. The list is endless. The only criterion being the nominee must be no longer living. There are good reasons for this rule, believe me. 

At present, I have 273 names for inclusion, so there is quite a way to go. A list of these names is available should you wish to see who has been omitted. 

If you can suggest anyone you feel deserves to be included in this book, please contact: 

Jim Rees, 3 Meadows La., Arklow 
0402 39125 or e-mail: jrees@eircom.net

Mattie Lennon, Co. Wicklow