SERVICES

Tuesday January 14, 2009

Ronnie McGinn's Poetry Page

If you have a poem you'd like to see published in The Irish Examiner then send it to:

The Poetry Corner
The Irish Examiner USA
1040 Jackson Avenue, Third Floor
Long Island City
NY 11101

or, preferably, you can email it direct to
ronniemcginn@eircom.net.

If possible keep your poem to 20 lines. You may choose any subject you like, in any form you like as long as it's original. We look forward to hearing from you.

Politician poet Limerick County Councilor John Gallahue whose new book features a previously unpublished poem on John F Kennedy has written a tribute to the new U.S. President Barack Obama focusing on his Irish roots.

President Obama follows in the tradition of having an Irish ancestral link and that is featured in the tribute to him.

The poem to President Obama is published as the new U.S. President is formally invited to Ireland.

In a unique linking of city and county, the Mayor of Limerick Cllr. John Gilligan is joining as the Chairman of Limerick County Council to formally invite the U.S. President to Limerick.

It is fitting that we focus on Presidents Kennedy and Obama as there are many links between the Gallahue's of the Galtees and the history of America.

Dan Gallahue left the port of Youghal in 1676 on board the ship for the United States and Charles Gallahue who raised the Virginia Militia was killed at the battle of Sag Harbor fighting in the American Revolutionary War.

Their descendents along with the Fenians took part in the invasion of Canada and fought the Redcoats.

A kinsman, Col. John O'Mahony from Kilbehenny founded the Fenians.

Today there are over three thousand Gallahues in America and we view it as our second home.