Lá na Saoirse 🇺🇸🇮🇪

So, What’s the Craic?

The Craic is back on this fine Friday, bringing you tales of the Irish at home and abroad. We’ve a bit of an Independence Day special this week, too. If you like this newsletter, ask friends and family to sign up here.

News from Home

7 Up. The all-island population of Ireland has now surpassed seven million people for the first time in 170 years. There are 5.1 million in the Republic and 1.91 million in the North. It’s both amazing and sobering to think that our population numbers are still recovering from the Famine, with the 1841 census saying that over 8 million people lived here at the time.

Dublin Pride. With Pride Month just behind us, it’s heartening to see Dublin recognized as one of the most welcoming cities in the world for LGBTQ folk. It placed second overall behind Lisbon, Portugal. We will try and snatch top spot from you next year, Lisbon Lad.

Stay Delicious, Garron. One of our heroes, the comedian, rocker and YouTuber Garron Noone, has come off social media and cancelled upcoming gigs (including in the US). Garron had spoken candidly about mental health issues to his loyal audience, warning of the pressures of social media. He may reschedule the gigs in 2026. Take all the time you need, Garron.

Dearg Doom. The BBC has uncovered a treasure trove of material of one of Ireland’s most beloved - and hugely underrated - rock bands of the 1970s, Horslips. The band, who fused celtic rock with a touch of Bowie-esque glam, were said to inspire a certain Mr Bono and Mr Edge. The material is being packaged together in a five-disc special release. The word is that there is some cracking stuff on it.

The Irish Influence

Who better to cite as the Irish Influence on this all-American holiday than the person tasked to keep up good relations with the (Transatlantic) neighbors? Irish Ambassador to the United States Geraldine Byrne Nason got the gig in 2022 (she’s been dealing with two VERY different Presidents, then) and is seen as a steady hand at what can be a difficult role. What we like most about Ambassador Nason is that she’s been relentless in championing one cause (apart from Ireland) in her 40-year career as a diplomat – women’s rights around the globe. Great work, Your Excellency.

Cúpla Focal

Lá na Saoirse - {LA Na Sore-Sha} - Independence Day. "Lá" means "day" and "Saoirse" means “independence” or "freedom," as well as a girl’s name non-Irish universally struggle to pronounce.

Blast from the Past

There were more than a few of us Irish cutting about on July 4th, 1776. Indeed, it’s estimated that one-third to one-half of Big George Washington’s army was either Irish-born or first-generation, including 26 of George’s generals. Yet, our favorite titbit about Ireland’s role in Independence Day came a few weeks later. It was the Belfast Newsletter (still in business today) that managed to get the European scoop of the Declaration of Independence, racing home by ship and publishing the news in mid-August. Such a scoop it was that King George III hadn’t been informed about it by the time the good folk of Belfast picked up their morning papers to read all about General Washington and the lads setting up a brand new country.

And One Last Thing….

As we have repeatedly bleated about in recent months, Shift’s mission is to connect the Irish globally. Our starting point is the Good Ol’ USA, though, and pretty soon you’ll be able to use our networks and directories to find Irish events, people, places to meet, eat and drink across the US. Yet, on this most American of holidays, we wanted to recognize the meeting places that will be at the heart of Irish networks for centuries - pubs. As such, here’s a shout-out to some of our favorite Irish bars across the US: The Auld Sheeben, Fairfax (Shift HQ 🍺), Ireland's Four Courts, Arlington, McNamara's Pub, Arlington, Samuel Beckett's, Arlington, The Celtic House, Arlington, The Dubliner in DC, The Dead Rabbit in NYC, Fadó Irish Pub in Chicago, Wexford Pub in Savannah, GA, O'Sullivan’s Irish Pub in Decatur, GA, and Tom Bergin’s in Los Angeles, CA. They are great spots to grab a pint, meet other Irish and non-Irish, and generally have the craic. And sure, isn’t that why we’re all here on this earth after all?

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The Craic is brought to you by the lads from Shift. Shift is the directory of all things Irish, and the first-of-its-kind IRL social, dating, and everything else network - the Shift App is arriving late Summer!