Is Trina Vargo, head of the US–Ireland Alliance, a friend of Ireland?

Continuing on the Federal Form 990, it is required of all non-profits but small organizations of under 100,000 generally do not have to file. I could not find one listed for this organization. Perhaps they have a different operating name.

If this group (American Ireland Alliance) is a non-profit organization, by law, their financial reports must be available to the public. The Voice/Central could request their financials and publish them. Don't hold out too much hope that they will be specific. My guess is that most of the money used for lavish parties and excursions is buried quite deep on the Income Statement. I would be interested in finding out why Trina does not have to file a 990. She is definitely hiding something.

GeorgeDillon your sanctity is exceeded only by your crass invincible ignorance. Dick Cahill, Ballymote, Sligo.

Ajreaper: Maybe you have no self-respect, and would prefer to leech off welfare, but I will always take a job, even while I look for something better. It's called PRIDE and SELF-RESPECT, aj, The Irish don't have it. I saw a case of it last year when I visited. The Irish were lining up to collect their welfare checks, while next door there was a very busy 7-11 store, staffed entirely by a group of happy and efficient Pakistani/Indians (couldn't tell which). The funny thing is that when the Irish emigrate, they will take exactly the jobs they turned down in Ireland! I say they need a good kick in the ass--cut welfare entitlements by at least 50% so that staying in bed and making babies is no longer a viable career option for the lazy--and large--Irish underclass.

So George those Irish can take advantage of the free college education then upon graduation move on to those fine jobs such as hotel Receptionist, Check-In counter at an airport, Security Guard, or bus Drivers? Excellent carrear path for any college grad. A dozen scholarships a year and Ireland alone needs to contribute 20 million Euro? Clearly this program has huge adminstrative cost far beyond whats needed to provide scholarhips to 12 students a year- and someone explain why they'd need to throw a lavish party before the academy awards? How is that at all related to providing 12 scholarships? This program is nothing more then a huge cash cow for one Trina Vargo.

Correct me if I'm wrong but Trina isn't even Irish. Maybe Trina should "help" her own country of Portugal and leave Ireland alone.

Illegal immigrants, whether of Irish or Hispanic origin, are lawbreakers and the only special treatment they deserve is expedited expulsion back to their country of origin. I would go further and say that repeat offenders should be imprisoned and then expelled.

hyattsvile: Your point about self-entitlement is quite right. Turns out there are lots of jobs in Ireland, decent, clean jobs, I'm not talking about slaughterhouse or meat plant. Yet the Irish won't touch these jobs, they prefer to let foreigners do them. I have ZERO sympathy for the lazy Irish who think a job such as Hotel Receptionist, Check-In counter at an airport, Security Guard, bus Driver etc. is beneath them. Lazy Loafers!

I know little about Ms Vargo, but what she is quoted as saying is quite right. No one votes on the basis of what a candidate says about Ireland, that's obvious. And as regards the fund for Ireland, it should be wound up. How can it be justified to spend so much money on a country that has lots of resources? College education is free in Ireland, even for students who are not Irish (doesn't apply to Americans. more discrimination). Where is it free in the US?

The irish are not looking for special treatment over and above any others. Alot of them are here working hard, paying their taxes and mortgages and haven't been home in years for fear that they won't get back, and lose all that they have worked so hard for. No one is looking for special treatment! I think each case should be evaluated and if the immigrant (no matter what nationality) is here to work and pay his/her way and not be a burden on the state then they should have a fair chance at becoming legal. If you have a US citizen married to an Irish citizen, the Irish citizen cannot get legal status in the US and the US citizen cannot get legal status in Ireland then where is this couple supposed to live? I also carry Irish & US citizenship, and for that I am very thankful, but that doesn't mean that I don't think there should be immigration reform. If an individual can make a better life for themselves in another country then who are we to say they can't live there. "A sense of self entitlement" would not be a description that I would give the Irish. Most of them are just hard working people who want to live in peace and harmony and be able to go home and see their families.

Although I am an Irish born naturalized citizen I have to agree with her sentiment that it is absolutely wrong for Irish-Americans to constantly lobby and expect special treatment for Irish illegals over and above any others. I also feel that an enormous sense of self entitlement has become part of the Irish psyche, an attitude which has more than a little to do with the current depressed state of the Irish nation. Trina Vargo has done plenty for Ireland, the Irish need to begin throwing some weight also and regain some celtic pride.

With friends like her, who needs enemies?

Wonder what Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith and Senator Mitchell think of Trina Vargo using their names to put this stuff out for Glenn Beck.