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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > Periscope > Irish"horrified" by Irish Americans on St.Pat's claims Trina Vargo of US-Ireland Alliance -- Irish "laugh at the Yanks" she says as she seeks funds

Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Irish"horrified" by Irish Americans on St.Pat's claims Trina Vargo of US-Ireland Alliance -- Irish "laugh at the Yanks" she says as she seeks funds

Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2012 at 08:15 AM

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Enda Kenny and Barack Obama

Irish leader Enda Kenny has been slammed for giving President Barack Obama a certificate of Irishness at the White House on Tuesday night by Trina Vargo, head of US Ireland Alliance.

The alliance is funded in large part by the Irish taxpayer, which sends 12 students a year to Ireland on Mitchell Scholarship programs.

“The shop in Shannon Airport must have been out of leprechaun dolls and chunks of the auld sod,” Vargo wrote.

Kenny serves on the honorary board of the organization.

She also stated Irish Americans "horrified" Irish people during the St.Patrick’s period and that Irish people were secretly laughing at them.

The organization is down to receive $20 million in matching funding from hard-pressed Irish taxpayers over the next few years and Vargo is currently circulating a congressional petition seeking to have the American taxpayer pay an additional $5 million in order to trigger more Irish taxpayer money.

Former senator George Mitchell is lobbying members on Capitol Hill strongly for the money.

Staffers for one leading Irish American politician on Capitol Hill has strongly criticized the manner in which Mitchell has gone about lobbying directly for the funds .

“George Mitchell is a hero of the peace process but he is damaging his reputation strong arming politicians on this” one irate staffer stated.

Kenny presented the certificate to Obama, who has Irish roots, as the center piece of his remarks at an event attended by 300 leading Irish Americans and praised the role of Irish Americans in helping Ireland over the generations.

Vargo however, stated that Irish Americans were a disgrace. “ During this week it is always people from Ireland and Northern Ireland who tell me how horrified they are by the shamrockery, and they’re right, it’s embarrassing. "
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"The Irish are just so grateful for the attention that they grit their teeth, take it, and then laugh at the Yanks at the end of the night. Ireland gives us what they think we want and clearly some still do.”

Questions have long been asked about the Mitchell Scholarship funding by Irish American groups give the director's strong antipathy to Irish American organizations..

In addition, there seems little evidence that any of the scholars contribute back to Ireland as was long the contention of the organization.

Vargo's salary funded by Irish and American taxpayers is $175,000 and she also hosts a glitzy Hollywood event her organization splashed out a total of $1.2 million on over five years.

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FloridianFlower | Mar 24, 2012, 11:45 AM EDT

Trina Vargo needs to resign from her position as head of the US-Ireland Alliance. With her mindset on cross-Atlantic relations, she cannot possibly be effective in the role. Her comments are very offensive to Irish-Americans and do not reflect my experience in interacting with Irish nationals, who are a very gracious and engaging people.

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DrTrelawney | Mar 24, 2012, 11:39 AM EDT

Citizen Why. Freud said nothing of the sort. The story is completely apocryphal. Nobody has ever been able to find any corroboration to support it.

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CitizenWhy | Mar 24, 2012, 11:17 AM EDT

Woodkern ... Your suggestion that Freud would have a field day with these posts is interesting, but I doubt that Freud would look. After all he did say, "The Irish are one race for whom psychotherapy would do no good."

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ciaradexy | Mar 24, 2012, 10:59 AM EDT

Mairen, did you not understand the gritting of the teeth statement?? This woman is not criticising Americans, she is merely commenting on what she has experienced in regards Irish people. She is reporting on what she has seen and heard. The irish sense of humour is very different to the American one. You dont get irony at all.

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kaydog1 | Mar 24, 2012, 10:01 AM EDT

When you click on Trina's name, the linked article quotes President Obama as stating that the Certificate of Irishness would find "a place of honor, next to my Birth Certificate" - the writer stating that "no one would ever see the thing." LOL.

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Mairen | Mar 24, 2012, 12:59 AM EDT

This woman should bring her nose down to earth! Those of us Americans (and there's a lot!) who have Irish heritage are proud of it! Where does she get off? Oh well, we got our good sense of humor from it; she's just exhibiting ignorance and bigotry, right? The Irish I've had the pleasure to meet, here and in Ireland, were warm, friendly and funny people and I will continue to consider them as such!

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ciaradexy | Mar 23, 2012, 03:40 PM EDT

George,''Because if you're in Ireland go take a walk around any city or town. You will see countless jobs--decent jobs, honorable jobs--being done by Africans, Asians,Eastern Europeans and Goodness knows what else. Jobs like hotel receptionist, barman, cook, waiter/waitress, long distance driver, security guard, sales assistant etc etc.'' Most irish people go to university these days so why would they want to waitress or drive trucks? So we could stay home and do those low skilled low paid jobs or we could move abroad and get experience in our chosen field? Hmmm, I should tell my brother to come home from New Zealand as Ive head Mark Wahlberg is opening a burger bar in Dublin. Brilliant! Im sure he'll jump at the chance! Ancavker- I love trad and irish dancing howver marching bands are not Irish. They are American and there is nothing Irish about them but if they want to play some trad tunes then fair play to them! On Paddys day here an American marching band played 'Billy Jean' when they were on O'Connell Bridge. Ive no idea what that was about or maybe Michael jackson was Irish too? I brought my Nashville mates to the Cobblestone for a proper session.

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MikeMcGuire79 | Mar 23, 2012, 02:24 PM EDT

Shades...no need to apologize to me. I agree with you fully. And defunding these elitists will take some of the wind out of their sails. I do not represent corporations or governments. I represent people, and not wealthy people at that, as does most of the Ad Hoc Committee, so I think they'll agree with me (and you) and get the gist pretty quickly.

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ShadesofGreen | Mar 23, 2012, 02:17 PM EDT

Can i just point out that, Ms Vargo hasn't actually named any of the Irish people who are telling her this stuff. Therefore, IMO, all she's offering is unsubstantiated rumour - i.e. unconfirmed crap. So before you Irish-Americans get hot and bothered by what Ms Vargo tells you we (in Ireland) are thinking about you all, why don't you ask us? We have a media elite in Ireland who love to trash all things traditionally viewed as Irish, and it seems to me that Ms Vargo is spending her time with these people, or with a small political / wealthy elite that can afford to attend expensive Washington dinners, where it's fashionable to curry favour with 'your betters' by confusing wit with cynicism about your own countrymen/women and the Disapora around the world. We aren't (most of us anyway) laughing at you guys - we prefer to be laughing with you. Ms Vargo needs to leave the confines of her office more and talk to some of the real Irish people in this world, not the media / political / economic stooges that feature prominently at political lobbyist (sorry MikeMaguire79) dinners in America every St Patrick's Day.

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MikeMcGuire79 | Mar 23, 2012, 01:40 PM EDT

I do not know Ms. Vargo, but as an Irish-American citizen, I find her remarks horribly divisive and quite hypocritical. There always has been, and I suspect, always will be, something of a symbiotic relationship between the United States and Ireland. For someone in her position, a position that by its title purports to embrace the American/Irish relationship, to make such comments, is a disgrace. As an Irish-American lobbyist, and one who is involved in American/Irish politics and trade, I have never heard of this woman or her organization. However, rest assured, that I will be lobbying the Congressional Ad Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs heavily to end funding for Ms. Vargo and her organization. There are quite a few worthy organizations who would, undoubtedly, put the funds to better use than denigrating the very people you are asking for funds.

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AnPiobaire | Mar 23, 2012, 01:31 PM EDT

Am I the only one who remembers that this same Trina Vargo sparked controversy @5 or so years ago for appearing to paint Irish advocates of immigration reform as unsupportive of non-Irish immigrants?

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DrTrelawney | Mar 23, 2012, 12:47 PM EDT

"Does anyone know where Ms. Vargo posted these comments? I apologise if it's obvious in the article...:" It is fairly obvious. Just click on her name.

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ancavker | Mar 23, 2012, 12:41 PM EDT

And speaking of shamrockery!!!! We will be having one final blast tomorrow on Mc Lean Ave in Yonkers there will be high school marching bands (sorry ciara), and lots of other bands, step dancers and more!!! All Irish and Irish Americans, and we will march and be proud of our culture and who we are. And have a bit of fun. And we don't care what Ms. Vargo, Ciara or the rest of the Irish in Ireland think!!! After all we are not Irish, but Irish-American,and look how well we have done for ourselves here. Oh and what has Ireland 80 odd years after independence done????......... Ummmm, never mind.

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johnymac60 | Mar 23, 2012, 11:52 AM EDT

Does anyone know where Ms. Vargo posted these comments? I apologise if it's obvious in the article but I can't see it. Secondly, has anyone started a petition to have her fired? Because if this article is true she certainly represents nothing at all Irish or Irish American.

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GeorgeDillon | Mar 23, 2012, 11:19 AM EDT

esatdigiwank (I don't know why you Irish are so obsessed with vulgarities--how come you're unable to pick a non-obscene ID?): Of course there are vast numbers of jobs in Ireland. Are you in Ireland or in Timbuctoo right now? Because if you're in Ireland go take a walk around any city or town. You will see countless jobs--decent jobs, honorable jobs--being done by Africans, Asians,Eastern Europeans and Goodness knows what else. Jobs like hotel receptionist, barman, cook, waiter/waitress, long distance driver, security guard, sales assistant etc etc. Take a trip out to Dublin Airport, and open your eyes: You'll see non-Irish check-in clerks, ground staff, workers in the cafes and restaurants, you'll even hear (probably won't understand--I couldn't) PA announcements being made by people from Poland to Pakistan. The Irish are too stupid to be able to read a notice like Flight xyz for Frankfurt will leave from Gate 123? Arrive in on Continental Airlines from the US, and your "greeter", the guy who says Welcome to Dublin, pick up your bags in such and such a place--will be African! The Irish are too stupid to be able to say over the intercom "Welcome to Dublin"? What you won't see in Dublin Airport is Irish workers! Are you blind and deaf?

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