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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > People and Politics > Shock as New Haven Pat’s parade committee set to roast Orange man -- newspaper headline may win award for most head scratching of the year

People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Shock as New Haven Pat’s parade committee set to roast Orange man -- newspaper headline may win award for most head scratching of the year

Posted on Sunday, January 06, 2013 at 08:25 AM

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Robert Shanley

I have to tell you I did a double take with the following headline from the New Haven Register. ‘New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee to roast Orange man’.

Now I know many in the parade committee do not exactly embrace their Protestant brethren, but roasting an Orange man sounds a bit extreme!

Fortunately there is a rational explanation.

St. Patricks Day Committee Chairman Robert Shanley, who live in Orange, Connecticut will be roasted at a buffet on January 19th.

Not roasted as put on a spit and turned but rather taken to task in a gentle Irish fashion by his peers who like nothing more than some Irish humor.

Despite being from Orange, Robert Shanley is actually an outstanding Irishman.

As the New Haven Register notes he served as president of the Knights of St. Patrick; President of the Irish Immigration Reform Movement, New Haven Chapter, and served on its National Executive Committee helping more than 48,000 Irish immigrants in a three year period to legally enter this country via the Morrison Visa Program, many settling in the New Haven area, the release said.

He is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, West Haven Irish American Club, Knights of St. Patrick, American Legion Post #88 (Hamden), and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.”

Quite a resume.

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Scrivner | Jan 07, 2013, 06:12 PM EST

From the photo, I thought it referred to his skin color!

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Will Hamilton | Jan 07, 2013, 04:14 PM EST

You can't be an American and be an "outstanding Irishman". Considering the sectarian Catholic organisations he belongs to, if he to be properly described by his loyalties, he should be called a "Vatican-American".

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JimmieM | Jan 07, 2013, 08:57 AM EST

Interesting...I didn't think there was a sense of humor in the lot...I think of an orange guy as one with a handful of rocks looking for little Catholic girls on their way to school....I am willing to change my image? lets see how he can take a roasting

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gailvanb | Jan 06, 2013, 07:32 PM EST

I am from Connecticut and thought this was funny seeing as I read the newspaper that this was taken from. Who wants to read heavy news articles everyday? I actually only subscribe to this website because I visited Ireland in 2011 and have wished every day since then to go back. Something to smile at every day is important for a happy life.

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Smyrnian | Jan 06, 2013, 07:29 PM EST

An Orange man is going to be scratched?? Why scratched and who will be doing the scratching? Sounds a bit painful and extreme. Poor fellow, feel sorry for him even if he is an Orangeman. ;)

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oldboreen | Jan 06, 2013, 05:31 PM EST

Another slow news day at the IC office? These space fillers sure get more inventive by the day! Actually, I quite look forward to them.

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ceceann | Jan 06, 2013, 03:51 PM EST

If you think that was a "head scratcher" you must not read the headlines on your own articles. My head is raw from them.

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cillowen | Jan 06, 2013, 12:28 PM EST

Instead of calling those Orange Masonic craven - Irish, Ulstermen or Scot-Irish - call them Scotia-UKers as they rightly are and incline being. Such should be reflected in books worldwide to give them full measure of credit for all their good riddance work. Planted Ones don't do them justice. If this were done all would be well with most true Irishers.

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carrickcourt | Jan 06, 2013, 10:54 AM EST

I think one can be a member of the Orange Order and be Irish too. Hard to believe I know but it's true. None of my Irish ancestors were members of the Orange Order as far as I know but my Irish great grandmother's brother Alexander Orr was a member of an Orange Lodge in the Bailieborough area of Co. Cavan. This Alexander Orr's Orange Order "vest" is on display at the Co Cavan Museum which is in a former Catholic convent in Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan. By the way the Co Cavan Museum is worth a visit.

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slainte9 | Jan 06, 2013, 10:31 AM EST

Ha, ha.

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