Poughkeepsie Journal from Poughkeepsie, New York • Page 13

Friday, Atorch 17, 1978 Poughkeepsie Journol 13 Life Leisured Honoring St. Patrick behind the prison walls PJBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBikSBklLf Sl bbiiiiiiiiiiiiihb idBiiSHSKliSilBiiiiBBiiiiiiiiifl jAlWH lBBillllllHfiHlHiYBlllllllllllB BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBSBBBBBkBIBc mQPt ifeaaWPHlMEllH ('V 1S9 fcywteBBBBBm.fcyiBBBft JMmm! Hf CpwBL TfyMMlL pLfTs JBBBBBBBBBBBBbI JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJVH llaWB IHbV'1 BBBBBSBHhBB BlriBliliMH i TH HMQSHIHBnMHflHBRcf foBfSl rfflii fiiiMnrtiiimm iiiwBBBWWBBWWHWfaHffjwMi At tho prison fostivitios Flaherty (earns some now dance steps Photo by Geertima ByMarJIYabloo Life ft LeUure Writer Dick Ryan has sweet memories of the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Like many other Irishmen, he recalls that day of each year during his childhood and on into maturity, that he spent at the New York City event. But in "Ais Eiri," an Irish American magazine, he recommends that tradition's demise.

Most of thoSe who commute to Fifth Avenue to see the parade he says, live in the suburbs now. They have absented themselves from the problems of the city. Judging from the antl English posters many of them carry in the parade, neither do they want to strive toward an understanding of others Ryan's feelings about the parade represent a laVger emotion that is felt today by many of Irish descent They wish not only to find their roots, but through them, to understand others' roots. The Irish Arts Center, headquartered at 553 West 51st St Manhattan, is run by a group of people who feel that way. Anyone of any culture is encouraged to join the center and to attend their music or dance classes or their dramatic performances, and to participate in their ciamsas, friendly gatherings filled with singing and dancing that make use of the instruments and literature of old and new Ireland Jim Olwell of the Center says that its members are willing to travel anywhere and eventually tdiogen other branches where theysee the need.

Recently, about 15 of them traveled to Eastern New York Correctional Facility at Napanoch to hold a clamsa, at the invitation of the prison's Irish American Residents Association It was the second year they had done so In the Institution auditorium, played An Irish flag, hanging from the proscenium of the stage, was the festival's only decoration. The correction officers present seemed to be enjoying themselves In this atmosphere, it was hard to remember that all the guests has been sent through a metal detector when they had arrived at the prison The contents of their pockets had been searched and their pocketbooks kept up front The hands of men, women and all children ap proaching adult size had been stamped, to Identify them as non Inmates at the end of their stay Kerry Flaherty, an inmate at the facility and founder ofNthe prison Irish association, wa overseeing the the arts center representatives proceedings and enjoying the mingled with the inmates and entertainment BBBB. BBW bbbbbbbbbbbksbbbbbbbb I mi in 1 llliillM State correctional facility at Napanoch medium socurity prison and site of a festival Journal photo by MarJI Yablon their families and friends and entertained them all in celebration of the upcoming St Patrick's Day. These visitors performed Irish songs, one playing the bohdran (or Irish frame drum), others playing fiddles or penny whistles Still others sang the Gaelic lyrics to the songs They danced the Haymaker's Jig to the music. And they danced The Swallow's Nest, to entertain the festival guests Later, they summoned Inmates and everybody else up on stage to dance with them.

Jim Olwell gave a poetry reading. One poem was his own. In it, he offered recognition to the black struggle for identity which had helped him In the struggle for his And I look at black and thank their eyes Tor truths they gave me made me realize That Ida wholly decent hate Toventagainsta sickening state The State where I knew not myself Andwouldn thave without this help An Inmate photographer wandered the aisles. He stopped upon request to snap pictures of the men as they put an arm arpund their girls or wives and picked up their children for the pose, at this, one of the most "I had to grieve this matter for 10 months," said Flaherty He was referring to the grievance mechanism he set in motion within the prison, then up through the state's Department of Correctional Services, to obtain permission for the establishment of an Irish organization at Napanoch. Finally, the group had taken its place alongside (he Puerto Rican, black, Italian American and other ethnic organizations at the prison.

Grievances are hot new to Flaherty. Representing many inmates, he estimates that he has brought 250 complaints to the institution's grievance committee. They have ranged from such Issues as the allowing of the purchase of more than five cans of orange Juice from the commissary at one time, to the recomputation of an inmate time served The latter led to the release of inmates in several cases Now, Flaherty is frying for his own release The Irish Arts Center among other groups and individuals, is supporting Kerry bid for clemency In recent times four to 12 clemencies have been granted annually to inmates around the state. At Napanoch, Flaherty teaches a law course to Inmates and a pre release class for those about to be paroled He serves as relaxed settings available to in parliamentarian for the instltu mates all year lion's Jaycee chapter And he Children ran gleefully up and broadcasts a 15 minute news pro down the aisles while the music (Continued on page People you meet Welcome to where the green sparks fly By Teddle Burnett Journal Intern Did you know that people living in Ireland don't commemorate St. Patrick's Day? Did you also know that they would nq more consider eating corned beef without the cabbage than they would fly? According to Keith Maroney, "Chief Stewart." manager, treasurer, and bartender for the Irish American Club since 1965, thaKsthewayltls.

"Tire Irishmen at the Club who have lived in Ireland said the Irish never celebrated St. Patrick's Day." Why not? "It's strictly anlrish'American tradition," he says very matter of factly, "Plain corned beef isn't Irish either, like a lot of pcoplo think." According to this Irish American, you need cabbage to complete the traditional Irish meal. Keith Maroney sits at the bar of his club, lie's a big, six foot tall, burly, smiling Irishman with "mutton chops" and he Jokes a lot. He points to his extra long side burns and says with a chuckle, "My daughter calls these my lamb chops. I Just grow them up front here so I can keep an eye op 'em." On the club wall, to his right, hangs a sign which says, "God made the Irish Mo 1." Just over the neat and tidy Irish club bar sits a green leprechaun made of glass who grins ear to ear.

An Irish slogan also hangs over the bar, saying "Erin Go Bragh" which Maroney translates a few different ways. "A lot of people say it means 'Good Luck.1 Others say it means 'Good Still others read the Irish motto as 'Ireland Forever, a translation which is used for New York City's annual St. Patrick's Day parade, according to Maroney. "Really," says Maroney, "I never found anybody who knew exactly what that saying meant." Personally, he feels that it means "God go with you." "That's my philosophical Interpretation of it," he says, hands folded and looking serious Maroney has been a member of the Irish American Club since 1961. He became the club's third president In 1962 because "Tho club's first president, Francis Carey, talked me into Maroney proudly points Out that theirs Is the only chartered Irish American Club (since Aug.

20, 1958) in Dutchess County. "If you don't get the: charter, the club Isn't worth two cents, he says quite frankly The club's current president is Joe McMahon who Is the organization's longest standing first officer. He has been president since 1969. "He's really a good worker," says Maroney. "Put him in a kitchen and he II stay there for 24 hours he adds with a laugh.

There are 400, members and aoout 120 active members of the Irish American Club of Poughkeepsie, according to Maroney. What about the 280 members who aren't active? "A lot of them Just support the organization and pay their dues." he says, But we never see them." By the way, this club is all male I Asked If any women have tried to Join theiclub, Maroney nods and says, "Wn've had quite a few over the years They get a little mad because they can't join, that's for sure." Maroney says almost defensively, "The only way can be admitted at this point is with a change in the charter and in the by laws. And that won't happen," he says with a "until they change the Constitution of the United States! Are women allowed on the club premises? "Oh, sure says Maroney somewhat surprised by. the question. "They're here all the time.

Wives of the members are here as much as the men I' Maroney claims laughingly that J'You can look In here some nights and you may see only two men at a table of seven women, all playing cards You must be a male In order to join the Irish American Club. "The.n you've got tp be Irish on one side of the family as far back as your grandmother or grandfather." stipulates Maroney, "If you're Irish on your father's side, you can hold office. These members are called "regular members." "If you're Irish on your mother side, you can join the club, with all the voting privileges, and you can attend all the social functions and meetings, but you cannot hold office." These members, according to Maroney, are called "associate members." Do the limitations placed on types of membership cause any friction in the club? Nope!" says Maroney simply. Irish American Club members range In age from 18 to 80, with Rick Stroms, 18, being the youngest and 60 year old John 1 nHEl ibbbMp 'flflLHHHHB i abHHHHHIH bbbbbbbT fBBBBBBBBBBBBBM 'r ibbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbI LISBBm I BBBBBBBBv BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBA JBr BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBl SiiittMNaiiiiiiiii Affjr Siiiiiil Journal photo by Morna Moor You can bot your bottom dollar Maroney will bo busy tonight generation There are some very opinionated sports fans In the club, however According to Maroney, when they all get together to watch sports on TV, green sparks fly I "As far as religion goes no problem. Polltics nope.

But when it comes to football and baseball, look out Maroney says that the problem Hlckey a member of the club since 1963 and a lifetime resident of Poughkeepsie being the club's oldest current member. There are no religious conflicts or distinctions within the club Itself, says Maroney. "No one pays attention to whether you're Catholic or Protestant. Our members are mostly Irish American, either second or third I Is this "We've got a few people here who love the Mets about 10 percent, I'd say The trouble happens when the other 90 percent who love another ball team are In the tame room watching a game!" In addition to watching games and socializing, the club members are Involved with other events during the year, according to Maroney. They sponsor a Little League Team called "The Irish Club." They also publish "St.

Patrick's Journal" annually to benefit their team, Maroney says that although the Irish American Club has a limited budget. It makes as many donations as it can to several organizations, one of which Is the American Cancer Society. This year's Patrick's Day celebration marks the club's 20th anniversary, says Maroney. The party starts atjl a.mjoday and will end at 1 am. Saturday morning.

"From 11 a to 8 the club will be serving corned beef and cabbage and drmks, of course. Starting at 9 club members and their guests will be able to dance all night." "They drink whatever they want," says Maroney. "We'll have roughly 200 Irish In and out of here in the course of the day. We have tp keep the parties down to at least 50 at a time, though," Maroney says, "because of a new Board of Health ruling Maroney wants to emphasize that only members and their guests will be allowed at the club on St Patrick's Day. Maroney says, "As much as we'd like to let anyone In, It's against the (Continued on pll).