East Durham, ‘The Emerald Isle of the Catskills’ that time has, thankfully, forgotten

Go raibh maith agat to Kerry for this very interesting article. I too enjoyey my many trips to East Durham, my first one being to Mullan's for Labor Day weekent of '59, when I was a teenager. Around the mid-80s I sadly found in East Durhan an example of "No Irish need apply", issued by the Bishop of Albany, when he forbade our organization to have a mass said in the Irish language in the local church. About 4 years ago I had an chance to say The Lord's Prayer in Irish at an ecumenical sservice in a METHODIST church in the Westrn Catskills, where I ofter attend service with my wife who is of that faith agus tá cúpla focal Gaeilge aice freisin.

@TisEyerish - The store was mentioned in the story - Guaranteed Irish. It's a fine store, just as you said.

I love the article! I live just outside East Durham and couldn't be happier in our little slice of heaven. Of course there are improvements that could be made, but overall I wouldn't change a thing. I would like to make one correction to your article though. East Durham proudly hosts 2 feiseanna. The feis Kerry attended last week was hosted by the Farrell School of Irish Dance...my husband, Michael Farrell's, dance school. The feis hosted by the MJ Quill Irish Centre is held at the end of August. I'm glad your enjoyed our feis and hope to see you next year!

MacGregor: First of all who cares, second of all you are right on the tartan matter, but again who cares. Third of all only a few Tartans have any real authenticity as most were invented in the Lowlands in the 19th century. Fourth of all the pipes (with two drones) were also played in Ireland prior to them dying out in the 1700's. When Irish war piping was revived, most Irish bands choose the 3 drone pipes simply because it is a better instrument. And finally Highland Culture is Gaelic culture, my wife who speaks fluent Irish can speak quite well with people who speak Scottish Gaelic. And one more thing don't be so dour and sour.

Kerry: Thanks for the memories, have not ben up there in years. But the Catskills in the late 70's 80's was an absolute blast some summers we were up almost every weekend. Wonderful, wonderful times, better than Belmar. Yes East Durham was a bit of a dump, but it never claimed to be anything more than it was. Erin'e Melody by far had the best food. It was a great place, and is a fondly remembered part of Irish-American culture. THanks for sharing.

Definitely go for Irish Arts week. I have been going with my wife and kids for the last 10 summers. It is one of the highlights of our years.

We went to the Catskills in the 1980's (3x) and it was quite the lively place. Live Music was available every night. Lots of things for the kids to do in the day time. The O'Neil House and Fern Cliff were the anchors to East Durahm. Returned in the early 1990's and it seemed to be dying out. Prices were quite high for motels that should have been closed by the health department. It was sadly depressing and we never returned.

Fair play to you Kerry O'Shea. You brought back fond and pleasant memories for me. (Pity "MacGregor" could not appreciate what you wrote, feel the poetry in motion, sense the pure excitement in your prose,the contentment you experienced in going back there. You are not embarrassing Kerry, but a breath of fresh air. Funny but I was in The Shamrock House yesterday, Friday August 10th and I felt everything that you wrote Kerry in "my very bones" as I enjoyed a Shepherd's Pie and a pint of Kilkenny Lager. I just closed my eyes at one point during the evening and remembered pleasant memories and smiled. And Kerry this is all before I read your article today, Saturday. I came to New York from Tipperary in 1972 and my home away from home for "holidays" back then was East Durham. We had a blast back in the 70's and 80's ........ the Irish Breakfast at McGraths, John and Gerty Byrne over at Irish Center in Leeds, Pat Moroney at the Fern Cliff just to name a few. What memories Kerry, Thank you for stirring such wonderful memories. God Bless you, your Mom and of course your boyfriend for rekindling that fire in your belly. Thank you, Norbert Hennessy.

MacGregor, HUH?

The culture of Highland bagpipes and Scottish tartan kilts is SCOTTISH, not Irish - it's actually embarrassing how little you Americans know about Irish culture.

Wish I could remember the name of the place I stayed for a couple of nights in the late 1980's when I was in upstate New York doing a review of a federal food program. One member of our review team, an Irish-American of course, said we had to stay at an Irish inn that was a popular place for greater New York City Irish-Americans to stay in the summer. I remember this place was rustic, with cabins for accommodation. There was a pub in what I recall was in the basement of a building in this complex. The pub had music of course and after few 'beverages' a lot of people were dancing. I wonder if this was the place in the Catskill's in East Durham?

Over 40 years ago I went up with the kids to stay at Mullens. Supposed to be there for a week and ended up staying three because I couldn't bear to leave .Each night ,put the kids to bed and went to the bar to hear Pat Roper or Mary McGonigle . Three full meals a day family style. The hardest working person I ever saw was Mrs. Mullens. When my husband went to pay the bill she said " how long have ye all been here? Three weeks, when she gave him the price he chocked because it was so low. Outside of old Rockaway it was the best of times. I cried all the way back to the Bronx.Thanks for the memories.

Let's not forget the wonderful Irish store in East Durham! Two floors of everything Irish...more than you could ever want...from simple bracelets to woolen goods, from baby items to tea cups! It's like a little trip to paradise. I just wish I could remember the name of the store, LOL.