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Boston Tea Party for
Inishowen ex-pats
05.11.08
Stars come out for
Donegal centenary celebrations
by Simon McGeady, Inishowen
Independent
SEVEN hundred and fifty people packed into the
Quincy Marriot in Boston on Saturday night for a
banquet to mark the centenary of the County Donegal
Association of Greater Boston.
Special guests included Donegal natives, An Tainaste
Mary Coughlan, as well as entertainers Conal Gallen,
Margo, Daniel O’Donnell and Illies musician Colm
McDaid, of traditional group Eireann’s Melody.
The current co-chairman of the association is
Drumfries man Michael McCarron. Speaking to the
Inishowen Independent, Mr McCarron said the event
had been a great success.
“It was a fantastic night’s craic. We had
representatives from New York, Dublin Toronto and
Philadelphia here. Highland Radio broadcast live as
well and Daniel O’Donnell made a special guest
appearance – I didn’t even know he would be here
until I saw him come in the door, singing ‘Home to
Donegal.’ |
“It really made us feel
appreciated that so many people made the effort to
come over from Donegal for the banquet.”
A commemorative book chronicling the Donegal
Association’s history from 1908 to the present day
was produced for the opening.
A large percentage of the Donegal community in
Boston have roots in Inishowen, according Mr
McCarron.
“80% of the people in the Boston Donegal Association
are from |
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Inishowen or have
Inishowen roots. People travelled over from the
Carndonagh and Isle of Doagh to be here,” said Mr
McCarron, who emigrated to the United States in
1972.
Members of the Donegal Association involved in the
Legalise the Irish Campaign met with the Tainaste to
discuss the problem of the Undocumented Irish living
in the area.
He acknowledged that the political climate in the US
over the last few years had made it difficult for
Irish without permanent residency documentation.
“You see less and less Donegal people coming over to
try and make a life here these days. The authorities
have really tightened up their restrictions. If you
are caught living here illegally you could be put
into detention,” he stressed.
Mr McCarron said that many Donegal people had made a
big contribution to community in Boston over the
years and added that the association had been a
valuable support countless Irish that came to New
England over the decades.
“The association was started out of necessity at a
time when the Irish community struggled to make
their way. These days we are not needed as much in
tat sense, but we help keep the community together.” |
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