Muhammad Ali - A Freeman of Ennis!

Freedom of the City is a medieval military honor bestowed upon the heroic. In Ireland, it is an honorary distinction outside of the City of Dublin where the Freeman may sell his goods without license, graze his sheep in the parks and keep armour for the return of the Vikings or the Brits.

In the town of Ennis, County Clare, in the most beautiful of Ireland's four provinces -Munster -Muhammad Ali was named a Freeman of Ennis today.

Mike Joyce, Leo Boxing Coach and St. Cajetan neighbor is with Muhammad Ali along with Emerald Plumbing CEO and Boxing Impresario Terry Cox of County Mayo.

Meallan muilte Dé go mall ach meallan siad go mion.

Boxing Great Muhammad Ali Returns to County Clare, Ireland

Fifty thousand people will crowd into Ennis, County Clare, Ireland to welcome Muhammad Ali - Home.

The Greatest is a Son of Erin and the great grandson of a Clare Man who married an African American woman here in the States.

“Ennis has had rain for three months, June, July and August, it hasn’t stopped, we’ve been hit by the recession, but for the last three weeks, since the offer for him to come was taken up, it is all the townsfolk have spoken about,” Ennis Town Mayor Frankie Neylon said.

“Old and young are united in this. The older people are educating the young children about the great man, and the town is abuzz with activity. There are musical bands preparing, memorabilia is coming out, it is thrilling for everyone.”

Ali’s great-grandfather Abe Grady was born and raised in Ennis before he emigrated to America in 1860, where he married an African-American woman. Ali’s mother, Odessa Lee Grady, was his granddaughter. Abe Grady’s father, John, rented a house and garden in Ennis for 15 shillings a year in 1855.

Nár laga Dia do lámh

Joel Weisman - A Tuba Joins a String Quartet of Chicago Talent

Joel Weisman on the Friday Edition of WTTW -Wilmette Talking to Winnetka -Chicago Tonight seems to be channeling MSNBC's Chris 'Milkey' Matthews. White noise.

I was stunned to see four great guest panelists on Chicago Tonight. While my daughter Clare was doing St. Rita Cheerleading stuff with the like-minded and spirited young ladies from the neighborhood, I chanced to see four -not just good -panelists on Chicago Tonight, but four great panelists.

News Legend Bob Crawford - a WBBM radio reporter who always gets it right

Nesita Kwan - A solid and clever NBC correspondent

Kate Grossman - a Chicago Education journalist for the Sun Times who speaks as well as she writes.

Dan McGrath - Chicago Tribune senior sports writer and the absolute best prose craftsman in journalism.


This line-up of genuine Chicago talent is like having the greatest Haydn String Quartet be joined by Joel and his Golden Tuba! Hey! Let's Polka to Haydn! Go for Baroque!

Jesus Christ! Everytime Bob Crawford presented a cogent analysis on Illinois politics, Kate Grossman cut through the nonsense surrounding the Clouting of CPS, Nesita Kwan silked the substance of dangers to our health , or the witty Dan McGrath hit for fences on Milton Bradley or the chances of 2009 Sox, Joel Weisman blows loudly to implode the music of great thoughts and sucks the intelligence and oxygen out of the room. Well, it is public TV.

Chris Matthews the braying jackass of MSNBC must have offered his playbooks to Jolly Joel.

Let's hear the panelists! Shut the Duck Up, Joel - your inner Duck! Keep him there.

Click my post title and watch a souffle drop because of Joel's Tuba playing to no one in particular.

Racists Turn Backs on Portrait of President Digging for Nose Gold

In the ever expanding Universe of Americans turning their backs on Obama Health Reform and other costly treats, White House Spokesfolks ginned up the heat on Racists and Terrorists (the folks photoed above).

MSNBC will do a two-hour loop tape to run around the clock over the next six months to point out Racism on Main Street U.S.A. There's no getting away from it - from Martha's Vineyard to Bum Hump, Arkansas- this "Nation of Cowards" does not cotton to Government Health Care or State Sponsored Abortion. ( click my post title)

Whitey Bulger Tosses Some Guy's Hat in The Ring for Kennedy Senate Seat - The Snappy Spoof Saga!

From the fine folks at Spoof!



























Boston, MA/ Political News - In a bold political move, Winter Hill Criminal Gang Leader, Whitey Bulger, emerged from "hiding" and moved into the limelight after the Massachusetts Senate voted unanimously to grant him amnesty from a career of Murder and Mayhem.

Political pundits of the one party state, said Bulger gives the DEMS their best chance to sweep the mandated Senatorial election required under Massachusetts Law with the death or retirement of an elected representative.

Kennedy family members denied rumours that Bulger was the last known visitor to the Kennedy bedside in a late night visitation, and that he gave absolution to the criminally neglient Senator.

Governor "Cadillac" Deval Patrick, put his official signature to the amnesty bill this morning while sitting pool side at his $1.7 million mansion, brushing aside nagging questions from the media concerning his edict to shut down all community pools citing the state was "broke, and couldn't afford anymore Chlorine, or pool maintenance!"

Meanwhile, insiders claimed the Bulger move was an act of genius, putting the 80 year old Bolger in his accustomed place as a ruthless leader of thieves, scam artists, hit men, and anti-social politicians.

Bulger's life was chronicled in the popular movie "The Departed", with Bulger's role played to perfection by Hollywood Icon, Jack Nicholson.

The Bulger story became one of myth and legend after it was discovered that he was in bed with the FBI in the Bay State, who proffered him favours, and overlooked hits, in turn for information that resulted in the arrest and successful prosecution of his rivals. A lot of Money also exchanged hands.

Bulger appeared on the FBI's most wanted list in 1999, and it appeared to many that the agency had no real intention of pursuing him as it could lead to more embarrassing revelations within the agency.

Whitey's brother, Bill, was the former head of the Mass State Senate, and went on to a brief appointment as the President of the University of Massachusetts, where his public service has led to a tax free $400k a year retirement package.

Bill often said he had no idea where his brother could be hiding out, but came out of retirement to become his campaign manager yesterday.

At least two FBI agents are serving time in jail for an assortment of crimes, not the least of which is fingering an informant that led to his eradication by Bulger and his henchman simply know as "The Rifleman."

Stories continued to surface concerning Bulger's where a abouts and he was interviewed by a Spoof Reporter in his mansion on Cape Cod where on a clear day "he could see Martha's Vineyard", in a toll booth on the Mass Turnpike where he worked for awhile as a $90,000 tolltaker, also in Patriots' stadium where he was seen hawking peanuts and beer, and even as late as last month where he was seen at a Barney Frank Town Hall meeting working a security detail.

Details leaking out from the Mass legislature seem to indicate Bulger had a small, but secure and homey office in the State Court House, where his official title was "Head of Janitorial Services and Pest Control", a position created by Patrick, who has denied it, and paying $175,000 a year and guaranteeing a pension "to die for".

FBI and Justice officials are said to be glad their long embarrassment is over and announced they no longer had Bulger on the Most Wanted List, the same day they announced they were abandoning the corruption investigation of New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson since all witnesses had "gone missing" as well as 3 GOP Federal Attorneys who took "early retirement."

Spoof Investigative Reporter Hal A. Peno, was said to be "really Hot", as he had worked tirelessly on the investigation and "had the fucker dead to rights!"

Fourteen possible challengers for the Senate Seat, announced today they were dropping out of the Senate Race, "for personal reasons."

The story above is a satire or parody. It is entirely fictitious.

With the Last Kennedy Asleep in God's Peace, Perhaps the Democratic Party Will Snap Out of It!

When it came to the white ethnic working class from which his father came, Kennedy just plain didn’t get it. Whether it was court-ordered busing in Boston in the 1970s, or the affirmative action policies that stymied the careers of so many of his family’s traditional voters, Kennedy never grasped the depth of the blue-collar frustration as he veered left. And what infuriated them even more was that so many of them had grown up in homes where on one side of the mantel was a faded photo of the martyred JFK, and on the other the pope, with a dried-up palm frond given out at Mass on Palm Sunday between them.

Howie Carr Boston Herald

The last Kennedy of the Camelot Myth has gone to meet God. The goofballs are doing a Michael Jackson on Ted Kennedy.

As a Democrat, as Catholic, as an Irish Catholic Ted Kennedy was far from my cup of tea. He was huge, he was powerful and he was a presence in American politics, but more so he seemed to command the tiller of Democratic National Party and all the worst elements within it - Planned Parenthood, Identity Politics, Third World Apologists and Cultural Elitists. Those forces allowed Ted Kennedy to amass power and retain it and it was okay with Ted Kennedy. Now he is gone.

The Democratic Party might just snap out of it and return to the principles that JFK and RFK adhered to, but their rudderless younger brother sailed away from.

Real Labor and real working class Americans need leaders in the Democratic Party. Locally, I know many such women and men, but Nationally (Judicial/Executive/Legislative Branches) they do not exist.

PACS -ACORN/SEIU/ACLU and Planned Parenthood control who gets to step on the National stage as a Democrat.

The Media takes its orders from the PACs and Corporations in bed with them. However, now that the last Plantagenet/Kennedy has returned to the mythopoeic fogs and the Democratic Party is spiralling out of control due to the amateurism of the falconers ( Obama/Pelosi/Reed/Dodd/Gore and their masters) in this debate on Health Care Reform, perhaps a leader with genuine principles - A Catholic, a Protestant, a Jew, or a Muslim, might rank an offering from Planned Parenthood, SEIU, ACLU,ACORN or GE as beneath her dignity and refuse to parse their lies as truths.

Perhaps, I will get a starting nod from Lovie Smith at the QB spot for the Bears Opener against Green Bay on September 13th. Perhaps.

Jazz Singer Terry Sullivan Swings with Strings at Gallery Cabaret -Monday August 31st 8 P.M.

Ms. Terry Sullivan is a writer ( Cultural & Arts Editor for Chicago Daily Observer, choral director of St. Cecelia Chorus of St. John Cantius Catholic Church, and a seasoned Jazz singer, who Chicago nightlife pioneer and jazz enthusiast Mr. Nick Novich ( Nick's Place & etc.) likened to ' the sweet voice of Blossom Dearie.'

Terry Sullivan Quartet will grace the stage of Gallery Cabaret in Bucktown on June 29th from 8-10:30PM. Get a start on your Summer with the vocal stylings of Ms. Terry Sullivan and Great American Song Book!

Terry will break out the Jazz accompanied by guitar, bass and drum. The Show begins at 8 p.m. at Gallery Cabaret!

Gallery Cabaret
2020 N Oakley Ave
Chicago, IL 60647-4153
(773) 489-5471


The Gallery Cabaret has been operating in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood since 1990. According to owner, Ken Strandberg, the Gallery Cabaret harkens back to a time when "you could walk into a joint, buy a drink, and enjoy live entertainment like comedy or music just for being there and being a patron." The Gallery has offered free entertainment 7 nites per week since it opened. Over time, many up and comers have graced the stage, like The Smashing Pumpkins, Urge Overkill, Material Issue and Liz Phair (while they were still up and comers!). The Gallery has also hosted numerous comedy acts and poetry readings and slams. Every month, local artists have their work on display at the Gallery. Currently, we also offer cable TV including your favorite sports, until prior to showtime, and early bird drink specials from 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm. We also have Darts and Golden Tee Golf. Can't wait for music to start? We have TouchTunes internet jukebox with access to 1000's of songs.

Hoffman Gets Self -MichaelAxelroded! "BeHold! The Immortal Dave!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Who talked this kid into it? This is rich. David Hoffman* enters the race for the Burris ( formerly Obama) U.S. Senate Seat after resigning as Chicago Inspector General and coming off as the new Jane Byrne in a handful of earnest Chicago Reader pieces. Props My Bruthah!

He'll get the Do-Gooder Lakefronters and the Chicago Cops to hold hands together in mutual detestation of Mayor Daley. Hoffman already has the media peeing themselves like no tomorrow - Abdon Pallasch ( click post title) is going like a cow on a flat rock for Hoffman! Marble Chiselled Dave'll take votes from Giannoulias and strengthen Cheryl Jackson's grip on the Chicago black vote. This had to make Alexi's sphincter snap shut and cause a beam of delight on Cheryl's kisser.

Dave Axelrod? That has got to cost you a lung! $ 10,000 a month minimum and 15% Media share at $5M? Lawd Have Mercy! Picture it! Slick ads with Bob Dylan singing 'Don't Follow Leaders and Watch the Parking Meters!' over photos of Daley/Blago & Alexi and Parking Meters. Dave will be like a marble sculpture of David with the Fleece of the Voters over his shoulders! Then, you will get the trade mark Axelrod Race Card! Cheryl Jackson will come off as a 19th Ward Irish Hooligan and Dave will be an Obama-like ascetic being assaulted by Alexi the Simon LeGreeK with a bull whip! Costs much.

I like Alexi Giannoulias and think he has done a good job as Treasurer. I hope he wins the primary and buries the smarmy jerk Rep. Kirk of the GOP in the race. The GOP of Illinois is yet saddled with candidates like Rep. Kirk and will, therefore, blow their political toes to atoms yet again. Had me a Yet Squared in that there sentence.

Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias had a one on one with a strong black woman - head of the Urban League and Blagojevich insider - as if that were not tough enough; now, a media darling with a thick wallet and a concrete busting metaphorical hard-on for Mayor Daley and All Old Timey Big City Politics jumps into the race.

The President will get about as close to this race as he will to Cindy Sheahan's Camp Casey II on Martha's Vineyard.

David Hoffman must have soooooooommmmee money machine out back, or some (sum)heavy-weight political playboys backing his play.

Comb-over Dave Axelrod's mutuels are out of this world! Praise Jesus!

For his campaign, Hoffman has hired a political consulting firm founded by Democratic media guru David Axelrod, a longtime strategist for Daley. Axelrod left the firm to become political director for President Barack Obama, who gave up the Senate seat in winning the White House.

Hoffman said he did not speak to Axelrod about his plans, and Axelrod said neither he nor anyone at the White House had anything to do with recruiting Hoffman to run.

Hoffman said he did not think using Axelrod's former firm, now known as AKPD Message and Media, would undermine his anti-establishment message that he is running against "insiders and special interests."

"I am someone who cares passionately about the importance of independence," said Hoffman, who also was a member of the ethics reform commission formed by Gov. Pat Quinn in the wake of the Blagojevich scandal. "I would not have signed on [with the firm] if I thought it would compromise that."

Hoffman would not say how he planned to raise funds or name any of his backers. But he acknowledged he likely would be outspent in the campaign. "I haven't been a political person, but I don't think I'm naive about the realities of politics," he said. "I don't think having the biggest war chest necessarily translates into winning."

Uh,huh. . .Dave, Please!

* Statement from the Inspector General's Office

August 26, 2009 - David Hoffman today announced his resignation as Inspector General for the City of Chicago. The day-to-day operations of the Inspector General's Office (IGO), however, will remain unchanged. Under the direction of First Deputy Inspector General Mary Hodge, the IGO will continue its work as an independent body, dedicated to ensuring honesty and integrity in City government by investigating corruption, fraud, misconduct, and waste.

Abortion Had a Friend in Ted - Planned Parenthood Says Goodbye to Camelot Catholics

Ted Kennedy Loved the Ladies and the Gals of Planned Parenthood loved him back!

Kennedys did not cower before the Catholic Church. Old Joe Kennedy sneered at Commandments and Cardinals with a bootlegger's glee and movie mogul's appetite for combat with convention. He defty lobotomized a daughter, like any one else would peel an apple. Joe wanted it done and it By God got done. Kennedy's don't cry; they create myths and foundations. Politics was Rome. When it spoke it was always ex cathedra.

Abortion has been a growth industry in America since Great Depression and Planned Parenthood is the corporate headquarters that doles out millions of dollars to politicians in need.

Ted Kennedy could go to Mass, receive the Eucharist and celebrate the culture of Catholicism.

Like many politicians, the need to win elections and garner support usurps the conscience that makes cowards of the rest of us. Ted Kennedy, according to MSNBC Soupy-Salesman Chris Matthews, is not the last Kennedy Brother. President Obama is the Last Kennedy, which may come as a surprise to the other Camelot Survivors - hither and yon.The Gals of Planned Parenthood offer this great send-off to the top of their ticket, but they still have the President. Abortion continues to be the growth industry that makes dowagers feel like real women and kills innocent children. Hey, what would Old Joe do?

"Senator Kennedy was a pioneer champion of health care reform. He understood that in order to live the American dream every American first needs to be healthy, and that access to affordable, quality health care is critical to that goal. He was also a true champion of women's health and rights, believing strongly that women should have equal access to opportunities including education, jobs, and health care.

"Senator Kennedy's absence at this time in our nation's struggle to ensure all Americans have access to the health care they deserve is profound. We will miss his heartfelt commitment to reform, his leadership in our effort, and most of all his friendship."

Ted and Me - It was the Summer of 1980 and . . .I was not teaching school . . .and Drinking and Fishing in the Kankakee!

Aug. 12, 1980: In an emotional speech to the Democratic National Convention, withdraws his bid for the presidency.

I was not moved. It was politics. God, I am such a mean cynical bastard about our elected officials.

Senator Ted Kennedy died of a brain tumor, actually the brain tumor does not kill but complications to all the other organs ( renal failure e.g.) due to the tumor put out the lights. This I know.

Everyone with a thigh is moved. . .moved I say . . . to recount their tales of the Old Lion of the Senate and to somehow insinuate themselves into Ted's Tale. I have a brace of them -thighs -not tales - nicely fleshed but masculine. I got one tale of Ted.

Here goes. In 1980, I was in my fifth year of teaching English at Bishop Martin D. McNamara High School in Kankakee, my third year of dating the lovely and witty Mary Elizabeth Cleary whom I would be blessed with in marriage, partnership in parenthood in 1983 and forced to send back to God in 1998, and in my sixth year as 5-string banjo ( C tuning)/Guitarist ( Gibson J240) with Sons of Reilly's Daughter with Terry McEldowney ( singer) and Willie Winters ( Vocals Guitar). On special occasions we'd be joined by the great Whitey O'Day!

We were practiced and for the most part profesional.

Sometime that summer we were asked to play in the Auditorium of Mother McAuley High School to warm up the house for Senator Ted Kennedy who was running for President against the aimless Jimmy Carter. I was a Jimmy Boy until about two weeks into the Carter White House when the Man from Plains revealed himself to be the Bunny Phobe Bored Round the World.

Anyway, we were excited to play a freebie for a Kennedy. We had played at the Old Beverly House on the triangle at 103rd/Ashland/Vincennes for Sarge Shriver who could not pack a phone booth a couple of years earlier, but this was the Bloodline Himself.

We played Irish songs, Italian songs, Polish songs, Jewish songs, and C/W hits much to the thigh-tingling excitement of the crowd - Teddy was late. Congressman Marty Russo got there ahead of Teddy and pumped up the crowd some more . . .still no Teddy.

Terry McEldowney asked the crowd if Marty Russo were not the "Tallest Trunk-Stuffer they had ever seen?" Much to the amusement of the best Congressman the 3rd District ever had. Still no Teddy.

We were asked by impressario Boz O'Brien to do one more set. We did. I broke two strings on the 5-string Willie did guitar work for Ballads Danny Boy & Kevin Barry. I was bent over getting out strings and got knocked over by security Teddy was on!

He said "Hhhhhhhheerrrrreeeee innnnn SHA-Caw-wah-Gow!!!!!! . .. .yadda yadda" Five minutes and gone all the while I was monkeying with two strings I'd not need that day. I never saw his mug, shook his mitt or said Howdy. I was on the floor stringing my banjo. Show Over. Ah, Teddy, I hardly knew ye! God speed.

Senator Edward 'Ted' Kennedy - Show Over.

JFK Confronted Nikita Khrushchev in 1963 -BHO "The Last Kennedy" -Confronts Mulligan White House 2009

Jeez, all JFK had to contend with was Old Warts and Baldy, The Beard and a Bunch of Missiles. President Obama has a thick cavalcade of much creepier former acolytes, now turning on him like mad dogs. One of the creepiest is Nobel Economics Winner Paul Krugman. They must dole out Eco-Nobels like cheap candy on Halloween. At least, Saul Bellow and Seamus Heaney actually produced something lasting and community forming with their efforts. Today Maynard G. Krebs of the New York Times writes:

It's hard to avoid the sense that Obama has wasted months trying to appease people who can't be appeased, and who take every concession as a sign that he can be rolled.

Indeed, no sooner were there reports that the administration might accept co-ops as an alternative to the public option than GOP leaders announced that co-ops, too, were unacceptable.

So progressives are now in revolt. Obama took their trust for granted, and in the process lost it. And now he needs to win it back.

No Mulligans with Progressives I guess. Well, look what happened to old Leon Trotsky when he vacationed in Mexico. That had to hurt.

St. Monica - August 27th is Her Feast Day!

St. Augustine - 'Jesus, Ma! That Hurt! You hit me in the Throat!

St. Monica - 'Watch your language, Austin! Now, say you're sorry.'

St. Augustine - 'Sorry.'

St. Monica - 'You want a fresh one, boy? Like you mean it! Now!'

Tomorrow is the Feast of St. Monica!

St. Monica was a girl from Roman Tagaste, North Africa. She was a Christian, but her parents married her off to a Pagan by the name of Patricius ( Paddy Boy) and from all accounts was a gold plated jerk in many ways - he teased his wife about her charity works and her piety. Paddy Boy had a lousy temper to go with his dissolute life style - " I'll be home in an hour -What? Two Beers for Crissakes -What . . .I can't hear you. It's about work. Kiss the kids."

Monica bore this mope three children and one of them was Honors student and Dad wannabe Augustine (Austey).

The old man took a dirt nap for keeps when Austey was 17 and Monica did all she knew how to drag the kids up right and in the Faith. The Old Man had not been a great help and now Austey was off to school in Milan and found himself - he became a Manichean -kind of like the Scientologists of 6th Century Rome in Decline.
Austey was like many of our contemporary soul-patched Arabica youths who believe -nay know - that they are absolutely correct on all matters -not unlike President 'It's Distraction' Obama:

I still thought that it is not we who sin but some other nature that sins within us. It flattered my pride to think that I incurred no guilt and, when I did wrong, not to confess it... I preferred to excuse myself and blame this unknown thing which was in me but was not part of me. The truth, of course, was that it was all my own self, and my own impiety had divided me against myself. My sin was all the more incurable because I did not think myself a sinner. (Confessions, Book V, Section 10)

Monica was no harpy, but prayed for the wee lad to snap out of it.

He did. Along with his teacher of rhetoric and mentor Ambrose, Monica brought the smart-ass around to where he began - in faith. His sins are his own and life is obligated to others. When Austey woke up, he went to work with a will.

St. Monica endured a crumb of a husband and know-it-all- jerk of a son. She did so out of love for both men and in communion with her Faith in God. We have several Monicas in the ever expansive Hickey Family and they all tend to be gems.

We have more than a few Pats/Paddys/Patricks/Padgrigs and some of us (including yours truly) seem not unlike the guy St. Monica got saddled with - no Augustines - yet.

Perhaps, St. Monica might interceded and send us an Austin/Augustine/Gus; but if not, more Monicas will do very nicely.

Kevin Myers on Irish Genes and the Splitting of Adam -

Some weeks ago, I introduced both of my readers to Mr. Kevin Myers of the Irish Independent. His latest offering examines the wiring of the Irish Race ( "120, 220 what's the difference" - Irish american Actor Michael Keaton) in the broadest of contexts.

Recent DNA studies on Schizophrenia and Alcoholism rank Ireland at the Tops. 'Roses are Red/Violets are Blue/I'm Scizophrenic and so am I' might be the key to the study of qualities that conflict Irish Americans: Catholics who hate abortion ( Personally) and promote the cause of the American Eugenic Champs in America's Holocaust - Planned Parenthood - for political cover and support.

Take look at Kevin Meyers' article - the two of me was enchanted.

By Kevin Myers

Wednesday August 19 2009

'When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, is the truth", is one of the most insightful observations that Arthur Conan Doyle put into the mouth of Sherlock Holmes.

The 'science' of eugenics was born in Doyle's lifetime, and he died even as it was being turned by the Nazis into an evil parody of intellectual inquiry.

Thanks to that bunch, the western liberal world has largely disallowed the opening aphorism of this column to stand, if the 'truth' in questions concerns the cousin of eugenics, namely genetics, as an explanation for group conduct.

Now we know that both schizophrenia and alcoholism are inherited traits. We also know that Ireland has higher rates of both illnesses than any other country in Europe. So what if there are other genetically transmitted mental traits which are beyond the normally accepted confines of 'mental illness'? What if they caused behavioural characteristics that were specific to Irish people?

What if the prevalence of these genetic characteristics then helped shape the culture of the Irish so that they became societal norms, thus affecting the behaviour of people who were themselves not inheritors of the genes? It is not then a question of nature and nurture: the two are intertwined. The result is that academically-despised phenomenon: national character.

The DNA evidence for the origins of the Irish, curiously enough, conforms pretty closely with Irish mythology: the first Irish apparently arrived by boat from Spain. According to DNA analysis, so too did Irish hares and Irish pine martens and even, God help us, Irish badgers (no, please don't ask). The new Irish would presumably have been small in number and, if interrelated, might well have possessed a number of distinctive genes in unusual concentrations. Some of these genes could presumably have inclined their owners towards mental illness and alcoholism.

Possibly other genes caused a predisposition to disregard the future tense. Impetuosity, a refusal to plan, a contempt for consequence: for whatever reason, these would become common characteristics of the Irish people. ( emphasis my own -mots justes )

We know about other characteristics, which we are allowed to celebrate: a gregariousness, a volubility, an affable charm, a clannishness, an amiable distinctiveness, especially compared to the English. Despite the fact that the vast majority of immigrants to the US before the Famine were English, that English common law and English political libertarian culture are the basis for American freedoms, and that the founding fathers and the vast majority of subsequent US presidents are of English extraction, there is no such thing as "English-American." The same cannot be said about the Irish-American: too often, alas.

There are the good Irish-Americans, than whom there is nothing better: the US Marine Corps is full of them, and no ethnic group has provided the corps with more splendid leaders.

And there is the bad Irish-American, the Tammany Hall spiv, the blathering Noraid sociopath, reaching its dismal apogee with Richard Daly, mayor of Chicago, criminally fixing the presidential election for John F Kennedy in 1960. Stealing or packing ballot boxes, personating, corrupting the democratic will: familiar, anyone?

Yet even to consider that the characteristics of Irishness might have some genetic basis is to violate an all-powerful political taboo. And one such characteristic is both very close to a psychiatric condition and also a commonplace political phenomenon within Irish life: a perpetual sense of victimhood. Though admittedly, career victimhood is not uniquely Irish. In the US, it has formed a tactical alliance with political correctness, to prevent a reasoned, all-reaching analysis of why African-American society has been so very dysfunctional. The idea that 'race' -- or rather a specific genetic-inheritance within an ethnic group -- might be a determinant in that group's behaviour is, a priori, ideologically unacceptable. Scientific inquiry is either not allowed to consider the role of genetics on the conduct of an ethnic group, or if it is -- as in the Bell Curve theories -- its findings are ridiculed on almost entirely political grounds.

This is wilful ignorance, for an abiding, genetically acquired psychiatric condition could well explain much of Irish history. The golden thread of Irish republicanism, which can turn an affray in a farmyard into a 'Rising', takes much of its moral authenticity through a much-cherished sense of oppression. But the Famine aside, though rural conditions in Ireland were truly appalling, the people were physically superior to the working-classes of British industrial cities.

The British army that stood fast at Waterloo and at Inkerman was composed of Irish peasants: the broken, malnourished wretches of Manchester's factories would have perished of exhaustion long before they glimpsed an enemy musket.

But let's go back a bit. Why were the English -- until the Famine barely superior in number to the Irish -- able to impose their will (to a greater or lesser degree) on Ireland over the centuries before?

Why did Ireland never achieve any kind central kingship either before Henry II's arrival, or in the years that followed? Why did Ireland, almost uniquely among all the peoples of the Atlantic seaboard, not produce masted fishing and mercantile fleets, creations which -- not coincidentally - need the maximum of foresight and planning? Why did Irish earls repeatedly rebel against the crown to which they had personally sworn allegiance, yet always without proper preparation?

And is such a pathological tradition of treachery (or its companion vice, cute hoorism) the reason why division and betrayal are always presumed to be the likely outcome of any Irish co-operative endeavour? More tomorrow.

Hey, Myers, you asking me? Or Me -the other guy? Anyway -"An Irishman walks into a bar and they both get rip-roaring drunk . . ."