Fighting Irish spirit emerges as the Rockaways stay strong and united after Hurricane Sandy

Rockaway's locals show strength in face of Sandy

Heartbreaking is the only word to describe a walk along Beach 130th Street.  Scores of houses are charred from wildfires, not to mention lifetimes of memories wiped away forever.

The only thing left of one home was the steps leading to the front door. A small doll in the likeness of a firefighter and a statue of the Blessed Virgin were placed at the entrance, a clear indication of just how devoted many Rockaway natives are to their religion and public service.

The Harbor Light Pub so popular with locals is gone too – but a shamrock-festooned flag from the Rockaway Irish Boys Club still flies high atop the wreckage.  “It’s been around a long time, that place,” says Nee, shaking his head.

The warmth of the Sunday sun allowed homeowners and volunteers to make inroads in the massive clean-up.  Residents in shorts and t-shirts were busy bleaching their water-logged basements; people were also busy shoveling sand, sand and more sand.  Volunteers were walking the streets asking locals where they were needed most.

“Unfortunately winter is around the corner,” said Nee.  “If we had more days like this we could do a lot more.”

Anti-looting signs – “You Loot, We Shoot” -- were posted on some streets.  New York politicians are getting mixed grades from the locals, but the one group that has flunked on every level, not surprisingly, is LIPA, the power authority that completely mismanaged restoration in the aftermath of the storm.

There were scattered LIPA trucks in the neighborhood which elicited applause from homeowners forced to freeze in the cold, dark nights.  Workers from a utility in Quebec were also walking around in bright orange suits trying to re-energize the streets, but the damage has been done and LIPA will never be respected again.

“It’s ridiculous,” says Nee. “We were forgotten about. People are suffering but LIPA, where were they?”

Though the maligned power company may have forgotten where the Rockaways were, so many others have not.  Irish groups and businesses such as Liffey Van Lines and the Aisling Irish Community Center have led the volunteer charge over the Cross Bay Bridge and into the ravaged neighborhoods to provide food, supplies, manpower and comfort.

The Gibbons Home Irish pub in Maspeth, Queens had two large food stands open on Sunday, and a boombox blaring Irish music from the Wolfe Tones.  The Gibbons family is no stranger to tragedy – George Gibbons, founder of the pub, was killed by a wrong-way driver on a Long Island Expressway service road last year.

His sister, Bernadette, was quick to give credit to the many Irish businesses that donated food and supplies to the stands.  “We just were a drop-off point,” she said.

“People have been great.  Everyone wants to donate and help and do their part. That’s the Irish.”

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Nster.com