In My Opinion

Did you read the short article in The Irish Echo (www.irishecho.com, page 11) this week where US presidential candidate Michele Bachmann said she wants the 600 American companies in Ireland to bring those jobs back to America? I wonder if she is going to make a similar statement about all of the other countries that have American companies and jobs.

I think she is a bit off her rocker to make such a statement. Granted America needs jobs here, but go after other countries as well, like China, India, Vietnam, Mexico, and so many others who have American companies and jobs that belong here.

None of those countries contributed to the growth & prosperity of America like Ireland did with all of the Irish brain power & physical labor, heart ache & heart break of the Irish who had to emigrate here over the past, almost 300 years.

Apparently she is another politician who does not know history!! I'll stay posted on this story!

On a brighter note -- this coming weekend, September 9 to 11, is the Pittsburgh Irish Festival held at The Riverplex at Sandcastle. This is a beautiful venue with lovely green space on the banks of the Monongahela River. The festival opens Friday at 4:00pm with entertainment over the weekend by Gaelic Storm, the Makem & Spain Brothers, Colin Grant Band, Screaming Orphans, Tom Sweeney, David Kincaid, Goitse, Searson, Carbon Leaf, Cahal Dunne, Dennis Doyle, and so many of Pittsburgh's Irish talent. It promises to be a really good time! I hope to see you there.

Then on Monday, September 12 at Total Trib Media Amphitheatre at Station Square, will be Dropkick Murphys 'Shamrock 'n Roll Festival. Opening bands include: Street Dogs, Chuck Ragan, The Mahones, Parkington Sisters and more. Dropkick Murphys is out of Boston; a friend introduced me to their music about ten years ago, they are considered a 'punk rock band'. Now I'm not quite sure what that means, but I find their music quite exciting!!

OK that's it for now, and until the next time...