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- Written by: Lauren Alex O' Hagan, Cardiff University
Traditionally, March 17 was a day to remember St Patrick, who ministered Christianity in Ireland during the 5th century. But over time, the day has evolved to represent a celebration of Irish culture more generally. Today, as with Halloween and Christmas, the true meaning of the celebration has been watered down even further. Now, it is just as likely to be marked by non-Irish people who use it as an excuse to consume large quantities of alcohol and dress as leprechauns.
Amid the dyed-green rivers and pints of Guinness, it can be easy to forget the symbolic importance of St Patrick’s Day to Irish people in the early 20th century. This was a turbulent period, when Ireland was seeking political autonomy from British rule. At a time when the British considered any form of Irish public gathering to be “a front for Fenian [nationalist] activities, a license for drunkenness and a catalyst to violent disorder” it became of national concern to make St Patrick’s Day a respectable holiday. This was achieved thanks to the efforts of the Gaelic League.
The Gaelic League, or Conradh na Gaeilge, was established in 1893 by Eoin MacNeill to encourage the use of Irish in everyday life and counter the ongoing anglicisation of the country. It was formed as part of the Gaelic revival, or Athbheochan na Gaeilge, which promoted a national revival of interest in Irish language and culture. The League aimed to “leave politics outside the door” and work together to further the cause of the revival and preservation of Irish language and culture.
The League played an important role in making Irishness something of which people were proud. It organised weekly gatherings to discuss Irish culture, established its own newspaper (An Claidheamh Soluis), provided Irish alternatives to imported pastimes and entertainment, encouraged Irish people to buy Irish goods only and successfully campaigned to have Irish included in the school curriculum.
At this time, Irish people could still be imprisoned by order of British law for using their native language on official documents. So the League protested by encouraging citizens to address all letters and record all census returns in Irish. Edmund Kent became Éamonn Ceannt, for example, and Oscar Traynor became Osgar Ua Tréinfhir.
Making a national holiday
Although Saint Patrick’s feast day had been celebrated in Ireland since the 9th century it was still not a national holiday. Campaigning to make St Patrick’s Day a bank holiday became one of the League’s top concerns. March 17 represented a symbolic occasion for Irish people to reflect on their sense of self and look back with nostalgia at ancient Ireland.
The figure of St Patrick driving snakes out of Ireland became a metaphor for the struggle against British rule. As an advert in The Gael journal stated, one of the aims of celebrating St Patrick’s Day was “to meet the encroachment of vile anglicisation and hurl it back into the sea, as Patrick hurled the snakes from our land”. In 1903, the Bank Holiday (Ireland) Act 1903 was finally passed in Parliament. The national holiday of St Patrick’s Day was officially enshrined into law.
The Bank Holiday Act had immediately noticeable effects. Before, people marked March 17 by attending church services and wearing shamrocks. Now, parades and processions took place all over the land. In 1903, the Gaelic League arranged the first St Patrick’s Parade in Waterford. They also declared the entire week “Irish Language Week” – organising “language processions”, feiseanna (traditional dances) and concerts to promote the Irish language.
Fundraising was also an integral part of St Patrick’s Day, with money raised from concerts and processions going to the Irish Language Fund. As the League stated:
the Irish language is the one remaining link which connects the Ireland of to-day with the Ireland of the past.
So, it was essential to use St Patrick’s Day to promote it. The Gaelic League was also credited with restoring order and sobriety to St Patrick’s Day. It encouraged the closure of public houses which they believed diminished the purity of the holiday – perhaps ironic given the celebrations that now surround the day.
Grand Irish nights
The Gaelic League also promoted the “correct” celebration of St Patrick’s Day amongst Irish communities in England, particularly in Liverpool and London. They argued that organising language processions and Gaelic masses was necessary in countering the “sham patriotism” of “Grand Irish Nights” that tended more to “denationalise and demoralise our people than provide healthy amusement”. These concerns show that, even in the early 20th century, some of the arguments we hear today about St Patrick’s Day were already being raised.
In 1915, the Gaelic League became infiltrated by the Irish Republican Brotherhood and by 1918 it had been declared an illegal operation by the British government. It saw the League as a “grave menace designed to terrorise the peaceful and law-abiding subjects of His Majesty in Ireland”.
Despite these claims, it is undeniable that the Gaelic League played an integral role in the promotion of Irish language and culture across the world and, as the writer and nationalist Pádraic Pearse claimed, was one of the “the most revolutionary influences that has ever come into Ireland”.
Commercialism or nostalgia? Celebration or farce? Cultural appropriation or cultural appreciation? Whatever your view, we have the Gaelic League to thank for the fact that St Patrick’s Day remains a much-loved national holiday which keeps Irish culture at the forefront around the world.
Lauren Alex O' Hagan, Research Associate in the Centre for Language and Communication Research, Cardiff University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and Homeland Security earlier this month sent a letter to all California sheriffs, police chiefs and law enforcement executives asking for the donation of ballistic helmets and vests, goggles and gloves, which the Ukrainian government requested.
Cal OES and the California National Guard are coordinating the collection of those items.
Last week, at the request of Sheriff Brian Martin, the Board of Supervisors voted to approve donating surplus equipment to the effort.
The sheriff’s office subsequently sent 20 pairs of ballistic helmets and vests for use in Ukraine, said public information officer Lauren Berlinn.
Berlinn said the equipment was scheduled to be picked up on Monday.
During the Tuesday evening Lakeport City Council meeting, Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said this week his department donated its surplus gear to help Ukraine.
He said they had a “fair amount” of the equipment available to donate.
“Hopefully it will help save lives there,” he said.
Clearlake Police Chief Andrew White said his agency has not donated any gear to the effort.
On Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom visited the state's disaster logistics warehouse in Solano County to help pack emergency relief supplies for Ukraine.
Newsom’s office said the needed medical aid is being prepared for an upcoming shipment by Direct Relief, a California-based humanitarian aid organization that has been coordinating with the government of Ukraine and on-the-ground partners to provide support during the current crisis.
“California is united in our support for Ukraine,” said Gov. Newsom. “Throughout this crisis, the state and nonprofits, businesses, the faith community and individuals across California have stepped up in solidarity with the Ukrainian community, a heartening reminder of our common humanity. We’ll continue to support the brave people of Ukraine and reaffirm our commitment to fundamental rights and freedoms around the world.”
The supplies packaged on Tuesday include a California Medical Station that includes beds, wound and IV kits, a defibrillator, wheelchairs and other necessary supplies; 100 oxygen concentrators; and personal protective equipment to supply refugee camps.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
There are eight county offices and one school district that will have seats on the June primary ballot. All but two had filing deadlines on Friday.
Several incumbents seeking reelection are running unopposed.
They include Sheriff-Coroner Brian Martin, District 2 Supervisor Bruno Sabatier, District 3 Supervisor Eddie “E.J.” Crandell and Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg.
Several races will be contested this year.
Assessor-Recorder Rich Ford is being challenged by Hannah Faith Lee and District Attorney Susan Krones will run against Anthony Farrington.
The filings for county clerk/auditor-controller and treasurer-tax collector are not yet closed, as the incumbents have not filed to reelection.
Both Cathy Saderlund, county clerk/auditor-controller, and Barbara Ringen, treasurer-tax collector, are retiring and did not file by the deadline last week, leading to a filing extension that runs until 5 p.m. Wednesday.
However, the elections office confirmed that Jenavive Herrington, who has worked for Saderlund’s office since May, has filed to run for county clerk/auditor-controller, and Paul Flores and Patrick Sullivan are running for the treasurer-tax collector’s job.
In the special election for a vacant seat on the Middletown Unified School District Board, Bryan Pullman and Charise Reynolds are running.
Cobb resident Gene Yoon also has filed to run for the Second District seat in the state Senate.
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
On Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced $181 million in funding for 13 new Homekey projects across the state.
When fully operational, the projects will provide 605 housing units for people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness.
“Every Californian deserves a safe place to call home,” Gov. Newsom said Tuesday. “Since the start of the pandemic, we’ve housed thousands of individuals, and nearly every week we’re approving more Homekey projects — including today’s projects, which will bring hundreds more people off the streets and into a supportive environment with the critical resources they need.”
The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians will receive $1.9 million to acquire and rehabilitate a scattered site project, including two sites in Lakeport.
The project will provide 11 units total of permanent supportive housing, serving a mixture of the target population, including chronically homeless, homeless, homeless youth and at-risk of homelessness.
Off-site amenities, located within two miles of the project, include a grocery store, health facility, pharmacy, library and public transportation.
The governor’s Tuesday announcement, when added to recent Homekey Round 2 awards, means the state has funded 39 projects statewide so far this year, for a total allocation of more than $695 million.
Since announcing the $2.75 billion extension of Homekey back in September, the state has already approved projects that — when completed — will create over 2,400 units of housing for Californians most in need of a home.
“People experiencing homelessness need a safe place to call home as soon as possible,” said Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Lourdes Castro Ramírez. “Homekey continues to show that we can rapidly create these homes by converting hotels, offices and even empty lots into permanent housing. Thanks to this program and partnership with local communities, this week an additional 605 families and individuals will have a roof over their heads and access to the services they need.”
“It’s exciting to see so many good Homekey projects moving forward — projects that will ultimately create more than 600 units of quality housing to positively impact the lives of people across California,” said Department of Housing and Community Development Director Gustavo Velasquez. “These 13 projects showcase innovation, a variety of housing types and most importantly, our determination to solve our state’s housing crisis.”
The other projects receiving awards in this latest round of funding include the following:
• The county of Tulare will receive $14.5 million to acquire and rehabilitate a 57-unit hotel currently operating as a Project Roomkey site for permanent supportive housing. The project will serve chronically homeless and homeless households.
• The city of Merced will receive $4.2 million to construct a 21-unit modular, shipping container housing project, providing permanent supportive housing to homeless veterans.
• The county of Orange has been awarded more than $6 million to acquire a motel and convert it into a 21-unit, permanent supportive housing project. This motel shares a courtyard with a Homekey Round 1 motel, The Tahiti, which is a 60-unit project. The grantees are building a community structure funded by the Tahiti project that will serve residents in both projects.
• The city of Redlands has been awarded $30 million to purchase a project that proposes the rehabilitation of a 99-room hotel into a 98-room residence to provide supportive housing and serve individuals experiencing homelessness, chronically homeless or at-risk of homelessness with incomes equal to or less than 30% of area median Income.
• The county of Riverside has been awarded almost $12 million to purchase a project that proposes the conversion of a 53-room hotel into a 52-room residence to provide permanent housing for chronically homeless and homeless individuals. All units will be subsidized by project-based Section 8 vouchers and will receive on-site, specific, targeted supportive services designed to help residents stabilize and thrive.
• The county of Los Angeles will receive $7.3 million to acquire and rehabilitate a 21-unit former hotel in Redondo Beach, providing permanent supportive housing to chronically homeless households.
• The county of Los Angeles will also receive $25.2 million to acquire and rehabilitate a 76-unit hotel for permanent supportive housing, serving entirely chronically homeless households.
• The county of Los Angeles will also receive $14.7 million for a 44-unit hotel conversion project in Westlake. The Lyfe Inn will provide interim housing serving medium to large homeless and chronically homeless families. Seven units will be accessible for those with mobility disabilities and five units will be accessible for those with audiovisual disabilities. Comprehensive on-site services will include a commissary that provides three meals a day, case management, housing navigation, crisis intervention and conflict resolution. The site is within easy walking distance to MacArthur Park, the metro rail station, a large grocery store, a pharmacy and two large medical centers.
• The county of Los Angeles has also been awarded $13.8 million to purchase a project that proposes the conversion of a 40-room housing facility located in the heart of the Boyle Heights neighborhood to provide interim housing for youth at-risk of homelessness. This is a historic property that formerly served as a boardinghouse for repatriated Japanese Americans, who had been forced to leave Los Angeles and move into internment camps during WW2, to get back on their feet and to rebuild their lives. The grantees intend to continue the legacy of providing hope and opportunity through the program. As such, they have named this new property, “Dunamis House.” The ancient Greek translation of Dunamis is power and potential.
• The Housing Authority of the city of Los Angeles will receive $12 million to acquire a newly constructed 41-unit multifamily housing project for permanent supportive housing. The 6521 Brynhurst project is centrally located to amenities and will be serving homeless and at-risk of homeless households.
• The city of Culver City will receive $26.6 million to acquire and rehabilitate two adjacent motels into 76-units of permanent and interim supportive housing, including two manager units. By co-locating the interim units with permanent supportive housing, the project provides an innovative approach to streamlining service delivery and responding to requests from stakeholders for more coordinated responses to homelessness.
• The city of King City will receive $12.4 million to acquire and rehabilitate a hotel with 45-units to provide permanent supportive housing for people experiencing at-risk of homelessness or chronic homelessness. The project includes on-site wraparound supportive services and ample space for indoor and outdoor community services.
Additional Homekey awards will be announced in the coming weeks. Completed applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted or May 2, 2022, whichever comes first.
The Department of Housing and Community Development has created the Homekey Awards Dashboard where Californians can track Homekey project awards by dollar totals, project type, progress and region. The dashboard is updated in real time as additional projects are approved.