September 2014

Mi Mean Fomhair

Emerald Society Officers

President

Donald F. Harrington Jr. 305-388-7173

1st Vice-President

Richard C Welch Jr.

2nd Vice-President

Sean M. Ferrell

Treasurer

John P. Doherty

Historian

Daniel L. Fitzgerald

Recording Secretary

Kassandra “Kassie” Doyle

Immediate Past President

Hugh A. Ryan

Directors

Blair Brogan

John P. Doherty

Kassandra “Kassie” Doyle

Ann Eustace

Sean M. Ferrell

Daniel L. Fitzgerald

Sean Glynn

Johnette Hardiman

Donald F. Harrington Jr.

Christopher P Kelley

Meghan Knol

Joseph W. McManus

William O’Brien Jr.

Hugh A. Ryan

Judi Tierney Sherry

Noel McManus Stillings

John M. “Jack” Thomson

Richard C Welch Jr.

Editors

Joe & Barbara McManus

561-338-8848

Upcoming…

Wed Sept 24 6:30pm Social at Miami Yacht Club, MacArthur Cswy Thur Oct 2 6:30pm SFES Board of Director’s Meeting, Miami Yacht Club

Fri Dec 5 Christmas in Ireland at KofC Clubhouse, Coral Gables

Member : (305) 949-8400 E-mail: emeraldsocietysfl@gmail.com

www.emeraldsocietySFL.com

“Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day”Social

at MYC on Sept. 24: Discuss Future

of South Florida Emerald Society

Our next social will be at the Miami Yacht

Club, 1001 MacArthur Causeway, (305 371

0703) Watson Island, at 6:30pm Wednesday

Sept. 24. Commodore (and Emerald director)

Sean Ferrell guarantees that you will be more

than satisfied with the Biscayne Bay view,

hors d’oeuvres, craic and cash bar. The MYC

is behind Jungle Island (Parrot Jungle) so fol-

low the Parrot Jungle Trail sign from east-

bound I-395 in a hairpin turn, around the

Jungle Island parking garage, to the entrance gates. Push the button

on the annunciator and “presto” the gate will open. Wend your way to

a parking space and enter the Yacht Club.

The SFES Board has delayed taking up the proposed merger of the

South Florida Emerald Society and The St. Patrick’s Day Committee,

Inc. until October to allow this discussion among Emeralds. As pro-

posed by John Doherty, following the merger and combination of

funds, The St. Patrick’s Day Committee Inc. would be re-named the

South Florida Emerald Society and assume IRS 501c(3) status.

The declining presence of the Irish in South Florida has meant

that SFES membership has declined to 100; removing the frater-

nal restriction of a 501c(7) would open membership to a wider au-

dience—those interested in preserving the Irish heritage, not just

the Irish.

The Emerald Society would then be responsible for promoting and

financing the St Patrick’s Day Festival and could receive tax-free

contributions.

Attend on the 24th and give the Board your opinion!

(John Doherty has circuited his June memo by email-call John for a copy)

pt

In renewing their wedding vows, Dan said:

Each time I look at you I see the lovely girl who married

me. No aching hip nor wrinkles there, but hazel eyes and

chestnut hair. Oh yes, I know my eyes grow dim, but I still

see you tall and slim. To me you're always young and sweet

- a combination hard to beat. What's more, to me you'll

never change. I only wish I could arrange to ease your

pain and lose your cane. Then we'd be like we were again-

starting out with dreams and blessings - no real plan but

lots of guessings. And as we near our journey's end, I still

love you my wife, my friend.

And Doe responded:

You are the one who came into my life-And captured my

heart on that cold winter's night 60 years ago with the kind

of love I had never known. You are the one who is the

heart and soul at the center of my world, my partner, my

soul mate, a wonderful father and my reason for living.

Thank you for your love and if it's God's will, I will love

you forever.

Following the 5pm Anni-

versary Mass on Saturday

August 2 at Church of the

Little Flower, Coral Ga-

bles, Emeralds are here

shown gathered at the Li-

brary, JohnMartins, to

toast the Happy Couple.

Other Emeralds who at-

tended the Mass were:

Sean Glynn, Richard

Welch and Ann McShane.

Joe McManus, John Kane, Dan and Dolores Fitzgerald, Carmen

and Henry Kissane, Linda and John Doherty, Judi Tierney Sherry,

Barbara McManus and Dorothy Kane. Photos by the Kanes

Dan and Dolores Fitzgerald celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary

at Church of the Little Flower and John Martins

When Irish Eyes are smiling, Sure tis like a morn in spring...

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Photos: John Kane

The St. Patrick’s Day Committee is a not-for-

profit 501 (c) 3 organization affiliated with the

South Florida Emerald Society, which is, in

turn, a 501 (c) 7 fraternal organization in the

IRS Code.

The officers of the

St.Pats Committee

are: Charlie Davis,

President; Rose-

marie Hart, Vice

President; Clodagh

Michel, Secretary

and John P. Doherty

is Treasurer. Chris

Kelley is the des-

ignated agent.

Prior Presidents

were: Janice McKay 2008-11; Joe McManus

2007; Carrol Cameron 2005; Michael

O’Connor 2003 and 2005, and Tom Dunn

2004.

St. Patrick’s Day Committee, Inc.

Charlie Davis, President

Emerald News…….

President Don Harrington Jr. has urged

“every member to get a member”.

Hugh Ryan, chair of Socials, has become

de facto chair of Christmas in Ireland, now

set for Friday Dec. 5 at the KofC clubhouse

in Coral Gables. Hugh needs prizes for the

raffle and help at the door. Hugh is working

on an Oct. 29 social at either Duffy’s or The

Hurricane.

Sean Glynn and Mark Donnelly are now

chair/co-chair of the Membership Commit-

tee, succeeding Ann Eustace. At a recent

Committee meeting, joined by Rachel Bat-

tista and Richard Welch, they pointed out

the need to attract younger members and proposed:

Halloween/Samhain event for children

Chili Cook-off for families.

Irish story-telling for children at a local

library.

“Guinness Pour” membership drive.

Great ideas!

Joe McManus , Chair of the Celtic Cultural

Series, is thinking of showing an Irish film at

JohnMartins on a Sunday afternoon in mid-

November.

Rachel Battista is Executive Assistant at

the Wolfsonian FIU Museum, Miami

Beach and lives on Miami Beach.

Rachel’s paternal side is from County

Clare. Her sponsor is Sean Glynn.

Court Edward Keeley is an attorney

who lives in the Brickell area. The Kee-

leys hail from Ballinakill, Barry Hill and

Bagenalstown in County Carlow.

His sponsor is Johnette Hardiman.

Patricia “Patti” McCarthy lives in

South Dade. Her maternal O’Gradys

come from Kinvara, County Galway. Her

sponsor is Judi Tierney Sherry.

Welcome, New Emeralds

In July and September, the Board approved

these Emeralds:

Richard Al-Imam, who is an investiga-

tor originally from Savannah, GA and

now lives in Pembroke Pines with his

spouse Carla. On Richard’s maternal side

are the Burnams from County Cork. His

sponsor is Donald F. Harrington Jr.

Tracy Harrington, an attorney, lives in

South Dade with Don and their two chil-

dren. Tracy is from Troy, Michigan. Her

sponsor is Donald F. Harrington Jr.

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Poetry Corner

Patrick Kavanagh (1904-67) was the major poet of rural Ireland dur-

ing the mid-twentieth century. Kavanagh was a shoemaker and rural family farmer until his late 30’s. His actual farm—Shancoduff—lies about a mile out of Inishkeen in County Monaghan.

Shancoduff

Shancoduff My black hills have never seen the sun rising, Eternally they look North towards Armagh. Lot’s wife would not be salt if she had been Incurious as my black hills that are happy When dawn whitens Glassdrummond chapel.

My hills hoard the bright shillings of March While the sun searches in every pocket. They are my Alps and I have climbed the Matterhorn-With a sheaf of hay for three perishing calves In the field under the Big Forth of Rocksavage.

The sleety winds fondle the the rushy beards of Shancoduff While the cattle – drovers sheltering in the Featherna Bush Look up and say: “Who owns them hungry hills That the water – hen and snip must have forsaken?A poet? Then by heavens he must be poor.” I hear and is my heart not badly shaken?

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Helen’s Quiz

Helen Lennon asked for a quiz-and here it is

1. Name the four provinces of Ireland.

2. What is Dun Aengus and where is it located?

3. Three of the seven signatories of the

Proclamation of the Republic on Easter Mon-

day,1916 were poets. Who were they?

4. What was the greatest musical event in eight-

eenth- century Ireland?

5. What memorable battle was fought in Ireland

between opposing armies, led by rival kings,

on July 12, 1690 (or July 1,1690 if you

follow the old calendar)?

(Answers on Page 6)

Charlie Davis, President

Answering a late call from the Social

Committee, 37 Emeralds and guests quick-

ly responded on Thursday July 23 and en-

joyed a boisterous evening of comestibles,

refreshments and craic at Scully’s. Among

those attending and imbibing were: Jon

Lindeman, John Doherty, Clodagh and

Jim Michel, John and Dorothy Kane,

Woody Woodside (Welcome back!),

Carol R. Miller, Dan Fitzgerald, Chuck

Daley, Johnette Hardiman, Judi Tierney

Sherry, Hugh Ryan, Ann McShane, Bill

and John Gregory, Joe and Linda Healy,

Paul Reilly, Jan Paris, Roberta Scott,

Ellie Telford, Vilma Garcia, Steffany

Stroud, Jose and Rose Raudes —from

the Sean Hayes’ family, Mike and Judy

Linehan, Bill Owens, Ann Eustace, Jim

Weber, Ken Pines, Amy Law, Noel

McManus Stillings (Recorder) and the

big winner-Reggie Barrera-who won $105

from the raffle.

Emeralds bid a fond adieu to Chuck Da-

ley, a former Director who is being

transferred to Sarasota.

Mea Culpa

Through our fault, we had omitted John

M. “Jack” Thomson from the list of Di-

rectors on the front page. Our apologies.

-The Editors

It’s Scully’s in the Summertime

Bill and John Gregory

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Ri

Emeralds March

on Key Biscayne!

Over 25 Emeralds,

their families and

guests, marched in

the 4th of July Pa-

rade. After an early

morning brunch un-

der the big tree at

St.Agnes and follow-

ing their march, Em-

eralds retired to the

Key Biscayne Yacht

Club for refresh-

ments. Among those

attending were: the

Camerons (Billy,

Carroll, and Ayme)

and Ayme’s friends

(Natalie Arana, Amanda Lee and Fiorella

Asturrizaga),the McManus clan (Joe, Barba-

ra, Catherine and Noel Stillings and Anita

Nielsen) and McManus family fr iend , How-

ard “O”Cohen, C.L. Conroy and her fr iends

(Dyanne “O”Feinberg and Mara “O”Gonzalez),

Ann McShane, Dale and Anamarie O’Bryan,

Nigel Patterson, Albert Shaheen, Albie Sha-

heen, Alex Trimino, Bill O’Brien, Bill Grego-

ry, Ann Eustace and Jim Weber. And we

missed you, Tom Flynn R.I.P. Thank you, Carroll

and Billy Cameron for all your work on the arrange-

ments.

Catherine McManus, Howard “O”Cohen, Bill O’Brien, Nigel Patterson, C.L. Conroy and Bill Gregory

Photo by Noel Stillings

Hurrah for the Red, White and Blue!

Condolences

O'DOWD, JEANNE, 80, of Coral Gables,

passed away on Monday, July 21. She is survived

by her husband, Frank O'Dowd, long-time Emerald,

and sons Frank Jr. (Rosemary), Mark (Andrea) and

Tim O'Dowd, as well as her 6 grandchildren, one

brother and two sisters. A Funeral Mass was held

July 25 at Church of the Little Flower, Coral Ga-

bles. Internment was at Woodlawn Cemetery.

R.I.P. (from the Miami Herald)

A Letter to Ballyturan—a novel

Michael Grant, retired NYPD lieutenant and

author, emailed us that he has published this,

his third novel. It is the story of Matt McCarten,

who was mustered out of the Army in 1945,

just in time to attend his father’s funeral. Re-

turning to Ballyturan, Ireland, Matt peels

away the layers of secrecy surrounding his

father’s history. Available at the following links:

https://www.createspace.com/4885759

http://amazon.co.uk/dp1500396540

Health and Welfare

On Thursday July 24, Monsignor Donnelly cel-

ebrated Mass at the Palace (Assisted Living) in

Homestead for Oliver Kerr—the 50th anniver-

sary of their ordination as priests. They were

very close friends all through their seminary

studies. Mary Ann Kerr is recovering at home.

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The South Florida Emerald Society, Inc.

PO Box 836225

Miami, FL. 33283-6225.

Board Meeting

The next Board Meeting will be 6:30pm

Thursday October 2 at the Miami Yacht Club

on Watson Island. President Donald F. Har-

rington Jr. will preside. All members are

welcome.

Agenda items will include:

The proposed merger of the South Flori-

da Emerald Society and The St.Patrick’s

Day Committee Inc.

Consideration of vacancies on the Board. 6

1. Leinster, Munster, Connacht and Ulster.

2. Dun Aengus, a ruined fort dating from 2000 BC

is located on Inishmore, one of the Aran Islands.

3. Thomas MacDonagh 1878-1916,Patrick Pearse

1879-1916 and Joseph Plunkett 1877-1916.

4. The premier of Handel’s Messiah on April

13, 1742 in Mr. Neale’s Great Musick Hall,

Fishamble Street, Dublin.

5. The Battle of the Boyne.

Answers to Helen’s Quiz on p. 3

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