Latest news with #IrishCatholic
The National
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Orange Order 'not divisive', says Tory Hamilton by-election candidate
Richard Nelson, who is running for the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse seat, insisted that he could represent all constituents despite his affiliations, also confirming he was a member of the Apprentice Boys of Derry. Both groups have long been accused of sectarianism. In an interview with BBC Radio Scotland, Nelson confirmed his membership of both organisations and was asked whether they were compatible with holding elected office. He said: 'We are law-abiding organisations. We pledge allegiance to His Majesty the King. And, you know, we are not divisive at all, and people have their right to their own religion.' Pressed on whether he would be able to represent everyone in the community, Nelson said: 'I always do. I always have. Last week, I met with the parish priest in Larkhall – not just the parish priest, but also another priest. READ MORE: Nigel Farage accuses Anas Sarwar of 'sectarianism' as he doubles down on 'racist' ad "We sat for an hour and spoke about the local community and the things that have been happening in the community. Everybody that comes to my surgery or contacts me – I do not ask what religion they are.' He added: 'People always try and target organisations with a bad brush, but we are not. The things that we do for the local charities, the local communities… that is the part that is missing with all of this.' Nelson's entry on South Lanarkshire Council's register of interests shows that he has been a member of the Netherton Covenanters Loyal Orange Lodge 233 since 2019 and is currently listed as secretary of the Scottish Amalgamated Committee of the Apprentice Boys of Derry. He is also a member of the Sir William Johnston Memorial Royal Black Preceptory 634. Between 2012 and 2023, he was a member of the Carluke No Surrender Apprentice Boys of Derry. READ MORE: Anas Sarwar ad is not racist, says Reform by-election candidate The Orange Order claims that it is 'the protection of the principles of the Protestant Reformation', which historically included the persecution of Catholics, and its modern-day critics point to its frequent marches through Irish Catholic areas and allege it promotes bigoted attitudes towards that community. Nelson also has a side-line as a comedy hypnotist and was revealed to have sworn at audience members under his spell at an event in Penicuik. Footage obtained by the Daily Record showed him shouting at participants: 'What are yous daeing, you d**k? I'm in the middle of a show here. A****holes. You and all.'
Montreal Gazette
26-05-2025
- General
- Montreal Gazette
‘Our voices will not be silenced': Montreal Irish community remembers 6,000 who died in 1847
By Dozens of members of the Irish community and community leaders walked 2.1 kilometres on Sunday to remember and honour the 6,000 Irish immigrants who died of typhus during the summer of 1847 and are buried in a mass grave in an industrial area on Bridge St., southeast of Montreal's downtown core. The location of the largest mass grave in Canada is marked by a 30-tonne, three-metre-high boulder known officially as the Irish Commemorative Stone but more commonly known as the Black Rock. It was placed there in 1859 by labourers building the Victoria Bridge who uncovered bones of those who had perished of typhus. The workers, many of them Irish, planted a boulder dredged from the St. Lawrence River over the burial site. They inscribed it in part: 'To preserve from desecration the remains of 6,000 immigrants who died of ship fever.' (Typhus was known then as ship fever.) Pollution from the nearby railroad and vehicle traffic has coloured the monument black. The 157th edition of the Annual Walk to the Stone, as Sunday's event is known, was organized by the Ancient Order of Hibernians to honour the dead, those who tried to save them and their descendants. Some participants were regulars: Eighty-three-year-old Montrealer Brian McBrien, for instance, said he did the walk for the first time at the age of three. The Ancient Order of Hibernians is an Irish Catholic fraternal organization with roots in Ireland and a significant presence in the Canada and the United States. Sunday's walk, which began following a memorial mass Sunday morning at St. Charles Catholic Church, featured a Montreal police escort and, at the front of the line of walkers, piper Alan Jones. The 75 or so participants, a number wearing green, included Canadian and American representatives of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, representatives of the St. Gabriel's Elementary School community and MNA Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, whose riding includes the monument. Victor Boyle, national president of the Ancient Order of Hibernians Canada, presided over brief presentations at the Black Rock. Among those who placed wreaths at the rock were Lori Morrison, president of the United Irish Societies; Danny Doyle, president of the Erin Sports Association; Carol Clifton, a longtime educator and lunch monitor at St. Gabriel Elementary School in Pointe-St-Charles; Kevin Callahan of the Friends of Sinn Féin Canada and Bryan Essiambré, representing the Little Angels charity. 'It is so important that we are here to honour our ancestors,' said Morrison. 'It is a testament to our resilience as a people — and our voices will not be silenced.' A fungal infection in Ireland in 1845 caused half the potato crop to rot in the earth; in 1846 it wiped out almost the entire crop. Potatoes were the main source of sustenance for much of the population and estimates place the death toll in Ireland of the Great Hunger or the Great Famine, as it was also known, at about one million. A million or more chose emigration and about 100,000 headed for Canada, then a colony of British North America. British traders shipping lumber from Quebec City and St. John's were happy to have impoverished emigrants to pay low fares and serve as ballast on the return trip to Canada. Typhus, meanwhile, was raging though Ireland. The disease, which causes severe headaches, high fever, rashes, delirium and death, is passed to humans through lice. It was rampant also on the ships that carried the emigrants, crammed in the holds below deck. Some of those who died en route are buried around St. Andrews, N.B. Overwhelmed Canadian officials intercepted thousands of ill travellers at Quebec's Grosse-Île, known then as Quarantine Island and now a national historic site with more than 5,000 graves. Men, women and children 'deemed in good health' were allowed to continue their journey to Montreal — and many brought typhus with them. The local population showed great compassion. John Mills, Montreal's mayor at the time, commissioned the construction of more than 20 large 'fever sheds' for ill newcomers in the neighbourhood that is today Pointe-St-Charles and, with the Grey Nuns, led efforts to care for them. Many, including Mills, lost their lives to typhus. The Mohawk community also came to the assistance of the sick. Many priests fell ill after leaning in to hear the last confessions of the dying. More than 1,000 orphans were adopted by Quebecers. In 2023 the Black Rock Montreal Irish Monument Park Foundation became the new owner of the Black Rock. The site, which had previously been the property of the Anglican Diocese of Montreal, is a small patch of greenery in the median of a heavily travelled street near the base of the Victoria Bridge linking Montreal and the South Shore, not far from the Bridge St. Costco. With support from the City of Montreal, the space is to be transformed into a park.
RTÉ News
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Does The Great Gatsby reflect F. Scott Fitzgerald's Irish heritage?
Analysis: The author with Irish Catholic roots may have had a complex connection to Ireland yet echoes of Irish influence run through his works This year marks the 100th anniversary of The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald's dazzling Jazz Age novel that has captivated readers for a century. While celebrated for its portrayal of glamour, illusion, and disillusionment in 1920s America, the centenary of the novel also invites reflection on a lesser-known dimension: Fitzgerald's complex connection to Ireland. From his Irish Catholic roots to his fascination with romantic tragedy and lyrical melancholy, echoes of Irish influence run through his works. Born in 1896 in St. Paul, Minnesota, Fitzgerald inherited a rich Irish heritage, yet he was often ambivalent about it. So how much green blood really coursed through his veins? From RTÉ Radio 1's Arena, F. Scott Fitzgerald scholar Jim West reviews a new centenary edition of The Great Gatsby In a 1922 letter to Edmund Wilson, Fitzgerald claimed "I'm not Irish on father's side – that's where Francis Scott Key comes in." A decade later, Fitzgerald again downplayed his Irishness in a 1933 letter to fellow Irish-American writer John O'Hara, calling himself "half black Irish and half old American stock with the usual exaggerated ancestral pretensions." He described the letter as "a confession of being a Gael" but admitted to being "afflicted" by "intense self-consciousness" about his heritage. Once more, he falsely insisted his Fitzgerald side "wasn't Irish." Fitzgerald's insecurity stemmed from the social tensions of a WASP-dominated America where Irish Catholics faced deep prejudice. Though he moved in elite circles and courted heiresses, "hyphenated Americans" like him were often unwelcome. When he denied the Fitzgeralds were Irish, he meant they weren't of "Famine Irish stock", namely the poor refugees of the 1840s who faced much discrimination. Unlike today's embrace of shamrocks and St. Patrick's Day, Fitzgerald's America was a cold house for Irish Catholics: Al Smith's presidential bid collapsed in 1928 under a wave of anti-Irish, anti-Catholic hysteria. When Fitzgerald suggested the Fitzgeralds weren't Irish, he emphasised his paternal roots in early Maryland, claiming his great-grandmother visited Dolley Madison and that the national anthem was written by his "great-grandfather's brother." In fact, the anthem's composer Francis Scott Key was a more obscure relative, a second cousin three times removed. Despite the Fitzgeralds' long history in America, their Irish roots are undeniable. Excellent recent genealogical research by Prof Mary M. Burke suggests that Scott's grandfather, Michael T. Fitzgerald, was born in Maryland in 1805, but that his father, Scott's great-grandfather was born in Ireland circa 1770. The name Fitzgerald belongs to one of Ireland's most prominent clans. Scott's father, Edward, was likely named after Lord Edward Fitzgerald, a hero of the 1798 Irish uprising. Another notable ancestor, Thomas Fitzgerald, the 10th Earl of Kildare (Silken Thomas), led a dramatic but failed uprising in 1534. Scott was well aware of his colourful Irish Fitzgerald ancestors. In a self-mocking family tree sent to Edmund Wilson in 1920, he traced his lineage to "Duke Fitzgerald (Earl of Leinster)," a title created in 1766 for the descendants of Silken Thomas. Lord Edward Fitzgerald's family seat was Leinster House, now home to the Irish parliament. Although Scott's chart was a humorous sketch with muddled titles, his knowledge of Irish history and its connection to his own heritage was impressive, even if he wasn't willing to publicly acknowledge it. From BBC Culture Show, Sincerely, Fitzgerald sees novelist Jay McInerney exploring the life and writing of F Scott Fitzgerald He vehemently sought to maintain his image of the Fitzgeralds as long-established Americans. When his wife, Zelda, mocked his father as an "Irish policeman" – a stereotype linked to Irish immigrant roles – Scott cruelly retaliated by slapping her. On his maternal side, Fitzgerald's Irish roots were undeniable. His grandfather, Philip Francis McQuillan, was born in Co. Fermanagh in 1834 and emigrated to America as a young boy. Fitzgerald later described his roots as "straight 1850 potato famine Irish," though McQuillan actually left in 1843, two years before the Famine. Regardless, Ireland at the time was struggling under absentee landlords, food shortages and a lack of economic support, making it far from a utopia. Like many others, the McQuillans sought a better life in America. Philip McQuillan, settling first in Illinois before moving to St. Paul in 1857, achieved a semblance of the American Dream. He became a successful grocer and amassed a fortune worth millions today. However, he died young at 43, a fate common among Irish immigrants, ultimately succumbing to the harsh realities of hard work and hard living. Trailer for Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role Scott Fitzgerald never visited Ireland, despite living in Europe for over five years, mostly in France. As a young author, he briefly embraced his Irish heritage. At Princeton, he formed close ties with Shane Leslie and Monsignor Sigourney Fay, two Catholic intellectuals. Leslie, a first cousin of Winston Churchill, was an Anglo-Irish diplomat born in Glaslough, Co. Monaghan. Under the influence of Leslie and Fay, Fitzgerald went through a period where "from mid-May 1917 until early 1918, [he] was everywhere proclaiming himself Irish." He also began signing off personal correspondence with phrases like "Celtically yours" or "Gaelically yours." In his 1920 debut novel This Side of Paradise, the protagonist Amory Blaine reflects Fitzgerald's dilemma: "being Irish was somewhat common." Another character, Monsignor Darcy, reassures him, calling Ireland "a romantic lost cause" and its people "quite charming," urging it to be "one of his principal biases." From Irish Stew Podcast, Patrick O'Sullivan Greene discusses his book Gatsby: Death of An Irishman The novel critiques Ireland's War of Independence, suggesting the quest for an Irish republic "lacks dignity." It mocks exuberant Irish-American support for Éamon de Valera with Monsignor Darcy shocked that Boston supporters would "put their arms around the [Irish] President." The text also criticises Irish Unionist Edward Carson and Irish-American leader Judge Daniel Cohalan. Charles Stewart Parnell is the only Irish political figure portrayed as a statesman in Fitzgerald's debut novel, though his early death in 1891 suggests Ireland's glory days were past. Amory Blaine perhaps voiced Fitzgerald's own fatigue when he said he was "completely tired of the Irish question; yet there had been a time when his own Celtic traits were pillars of his personal philosophy." As we mark the centenary of The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald's Irish roots still quietly shape the author's themes Perhaps Fitzgerald, basking in the sun on the exotic French Riviera, saw that idyll as preferable to the rain-soaked, frugal Ireland that emerged post-independence in 1922? Remember the Celtic Tiger boom and the cosmopolitan Cool Hibernia were still decades away. Few visited Ireland in the 1920s or 1930s unless tracing their roots, and Fitzgerald – after a brief flirtation – seemed always to be fleeing his own. Yet as we mark the centenary of The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald's Irish roots still quietly shape the author's themes. The green light, the enduring symbol of Gatsby's dream, also reflects Fitzgerald's own journey of aspiration and identity. A century later, the light flickers still, not just as a beacon of desire, but as a symbol of the immigrant experience and the enduring Irish spirit that underpins all of Fitzgerald's works.
Wales Online
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds's amazing journey and huge wealth
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds is the toast of Wrexham once again after the club secured an unprecedented third consecutive promotion to the Championship. Reynolds and fellow Hollywood owner Rob McElhenney are now just one more promotion from achieving their Premier League dream. It has been a costly mission for them to pursue, with both men ploughing millions into the team over the past few years since the stunning 2021 takeover, reports WalesOnline. It seems fair to say that Reynolds has fallen in love with Wales. He sees it as one the finest achievements of a life that has seen him become a Hollywood A-lister and successful businessman worth hundreds of millions of pounds. Sign up now for the latest news on the North Wales Live Whatsapp community So here's a rundown of his remarkable life from his journey to Hollywood stardom, past relationships and his eye-watering net worth From humble beginnings to Hollywood icon Ryan Reynolds was born in October 1976 in Vancouver, British Columbia, as the youngest of four brothers in an Irish Catholic family. At just 13, he caught the acting bug and began landing roles in various television shows, including the Canadian series The Odyssey and Nickelodeon's Hillside. He got minor roles in multiple series but Reynolds' breakthrough moment arrived with the 2002 National Lampoon film Van Wilder, marking the beginning of his ascent to fame. Despite a few early film roles that didn't quite hit the mark, he found his stride in Hollywood through successful romcoms such as Just Friends, Definitely, Maybe and The Proposal. However, his lead role in the DC superhero film Green Lantern was widely criticised, with the movie becoming one of the biggest box-office flops in cinema history. However, he made a triumphant return with the blockbuster hit Deadpool, which raked in an astonishing $782.6million on a budget of just $58million, making it one of the highest-grossing R-rated films ever. The sequel was equally well-received, and further franchises have followed. Net worth Reports suggest the 46-year-old actor currently boasts a net worth of more than $400 million, supplementing his Hollywood career with savvy entrepreneurial and investment moves. Aswell as his box office successes, Reynolds has been busy in the boardroom over the past five years or so, acquiring up to a 20 per cent stake in Portland-based Aviation Gin and transforming it into a recognised brand on both sides of the Atlantic. Drinks giant Diageo snapped up the company in 2020 in a deal worth just over $600million. Two years ago, he pocketed even more cash when he sold his substantial stake in telecoms firm Mint Mobile to T-Mobile. The deal, valued at $1.35billion, earned him a cool $300million plus. Reynolds is believed to have pocketed a cool £79m from acting alone in 2024, with much of his success coming from the Marvel smash hit Deadpool & Wolverine, while family film IF and documentary Welcome to Wrexham are also believed to be big contributors. Reynolds and McElhenney have ploughed more than £20m into Wrexham but have seen a massive increase in the club's turnover. They are also set to enjoy an extra £8m in television revenue thanks to promotion. High-profile relationships and Hollywood divorce Reynolds has had a string of high-profile romances, including engagements and marriages to some of the most famous women in the world. In 2004, he became engaged to fellow Canadian Alanis Morissette, whom he met at Drew Barrymore's birthday party two years prior. Although they parted ways in 2007, with Morissette citing the pressures of fame as a contributing factor, they have remained close friends. After his split from Morissette, Reynolds began dating actress Scarlett Johansson, and the couple tied the knot in a private ceremony in Vancouver the following year. Their A-list status and hectic schedules, however, led to a short-lived marriage, and they parted ways in 2010. Johansson, who was 23 at the time of their marriage, echoed Reynolds' sentiment that the relationship faltered due to lack of quality time together, telling Time Out: "We work and then go home - I'd just stare at the wall for a few hours before I got to sleep." Reynolds has also been linked to actresses Sandra Bullock, Melissa Joan Hart, and Charlize Theron. Finding Love with Blake Lively But Reynolds' fortunes changed when he met Gossip Girl star Blake Lively on the set of Green Lantern, and they began dating. The couple tied the knot in 2012 and have since become one of Hollywood's most beloved power couples, with four children together. Reynolds and Lively exchanged vows in a private ceremony in South Carolina, but have since expressed regret over their choice of venue, Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant, which has a history of slavery. The couple faced criticism for romanticizing the site and issued a heartfelt apology, stating they were "deeply and unreservedly" sorry for their decision. The couple later had a second, secret wedding ceremony at their home, although the exact date remains unknown. The pair are known for their humorous exchanges with Wrexham fans, with Lively once advising a fan at the Racecourse Ground to ditch her boyfriend, while Reynolds humorously warned player Ollie Palmer to "put a shirt on" when his wife was around. The couple were both at Saturday's match against Charlton when promotion was secured.
Edinburgh Live
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Ryan Reynolds' net worth now after divorce from Hollywood ex and new start
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Ryan Reynolds is once again the talk of Wrexham after the club clinched an extraordinary third consecutive promotion to the Championship. This achievement propels the Welsh club into a new league, with Reynolds and fellow Hollywood owner Rob McElhenney now just one more promotion away from realising their Premier League dream. It's been an expensive endeavour, with both men investing millions into the team over the past few years since their surprising 2021 takeover. Reynolds has developed a deep affection for Wales and views it as one of the greatest accomplishments in a life that has seen him rise to Hollywood fame and become a successful businessman worth hundreds of millions of pounds. READ MORE - UK tourists warned 'stay away' as holiday hotspot rocked by 'mysterious cracks' READ MORE - ITV viewers 'hooked' on new 'must-watch masterpiece' thriller based on true story Here's a look at his incredible life, covering everything from his journey to Hollywood stardom, past relationships and his staggering net worth. From humble beginnings to Hollywood icon, reports Wales Online. Ryan Reynolds was born in October 1976 in Vancouver, British Columbia, as the youngest of four brothers in an Irish Catholic family. At just 13, he caught the acting bug and began landing roles in various television shows, including the Canadian series The Odyssey and Nickelodeon's Hillside. After landing minor roles in several series, Reynolds' big break came with the 2002 National Lampoon film Van Wilder, which marked the start of his rise to stardom. Despite a few early film roles that didn't quite hit the mark, he found his footing in Hollywood through successful romcoms such as Just Friends, Definitely, Maybe and The Proposal. His lead role in the DC superhero film Green Lantern was widely panned, with the movie becoming one of the biggest box-office flops in cinema history. However, he made a triumphant return with the blockbuster hit Deadpool, which raked in an astonishing $782.6million on a budget of just $58million, making it one of the highest-grossing R-rated films ever. The sequel was equally well-received, and further franchises have followed. Net worth. Reports suggest that the 46 year old actor currently has a net worth of more than $400 million, supplementing his Hollywood career with savvy entrepreneurial and investment moves. In addition to his box office successes, Reynolds has been busy in the boardroom over the past five years or so, acquiring up to a 20 per cent stake in Portland-based Aviation Gin and transforming it into a recognised brand on both sides of the Atlantic. Drinks giant Diageo snapped up the company in 2020 in a deal worth just over $600million. Two years ago, he made a significant profit when he sold his substantial stake in telecoms firm Mint Mobile to T-Mobile. The deal, valued at $1.35billion, earned him a cool $300million plus. Reynolds is believed to have pocketed a whopping £79m from acting alone in 2024, with much of his success coming from the Marvel blockbuster Deadpool and Wolverine, while family film IF and documentary Welcome to Wrexham are also believed to be big contributors. Reynolds and McElhenney have invested more than £20m into Wrexham but have seen a massive increase in the club's turnover. They are also set to enjoy an extra £8m in television revenue thanks to promotion. High-profile relationships and Hollywood divorce. Reynolds has had a series of high-profile romances, including engagements and marriages to some of the world's most famous women. In 2004, he became engaged to fellow Canadian Alanis Morissette, whom he met at Drew Barrymore's birthday party two years prior. Although they parted ways in 2007, with Morissette citing the pressures of fame as a contributing factor, they have remained close friends. Following his split from Morissette, Reynolds began dating actress Scarlett Johansson, and the couple tied the knot in a private ceremony in Vancouver the following year. Their A-list status and hectic schedules, however, led to a short-lived marriage, and they parted ways in 2010. Johansson, then 23, shared with Time Out her perspective on what went wrong in her marriage to Reynolds: "We work and then go home – I'd just stare at the wall for a few hours before I got to sleep." Reynolds has been mentioned in the media in connection with several actresses over the years, including Sandra Bullock, Melissa Joan Hart, and Charlize Theron. His romantic journey took a turn for the better after meeting Blake Lively on the set of Green Lantern, leading to their marriage in 2012 and them becoming one of Tinseltown's darling couples, with a growing family of four kids. They initially wed in a secret ceremony at Boone Hall Plantation in South Carolina but later regretted their choice of venue due to its historical association with slavery. They publicly apologised, expressing they were "deeply and unreservedly" sorry for not being more thoughtful with their decision. Subsequently, the two had another more private ceremony at their home, keeping the date under wraps. Known for light-hearted banter, Lively and Reynolds never miss an opportunity to engage with Wrexham supporters; once Lively playfully urged a fan to break up with her significant other, while Reynolds jested with player Ollie Palmer concerning his wife's presence, advising him to "put a shirt on". Both were seen celebrating as Wrexham secured promotion in Saturday's thrilling match against Charlton.
