by Ed Wilkinson
WINDSOR TERRACE – Traditions can be broken, even at the Great Irish Fair.
Each year at the fair, the master of ceremonies ends the official awards ceremony with the singing of his original Ballad of the Great Irish Fair. But as the formalities at the 44th annual fair were coming to an end on Sept. 13 on the grounds of Holy Name Parish, Park Slope, Jim O’Dea instead broke into a rendition of “A Nation Once Again,” which looks forward to a united Ireland.
The change of direction was made to honor Great Irish Fair Chief Brehon Niall Murphy, a Belfast lawyer and civil rights activist who has been working for years to protect the victims of political strife and to reimagine a union of the Irish Republic with British-controlled Northern Ireland.
Murphy, who said that a game plan calling for one Ireland where the Irish people will determine what will be the future of Ireland is underway, added that he accepted the honor of being chief brehon on behalf of all victims of government-induced violence in his homeland.
He said he was impressed by the comments of the honorees at this year’s Great Irish Fair, and the sentiments expressed “will live with me for the rest of my life.”
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Fourteen people received awards for their contributions to the Irish-American community.
Genna Cottingham, a junior at Villanova University and a life-long parishioner of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Windsor Terrace, reigned over the fair as the Colleen Queen. She expressed her thanks to her parents, Kathleen and Martin Cottingham, Jr., who recently stepped down as director of the fair after 17 years at the helm.
A member of the Buckley School of Irish Dance, Genna has performed many times at the Great Irish Fair.
A new tradition began when an award in memory of Martin Cottingham, Sr., was announced and presented to Martin, Jr. The elder Cottingham, who died a little more than a year ago, was heralded as one of the biggest cheerleaders of the Great Irish Fair, to which he dedicated many hours of volunteer time.
The day began with a 9 a.m. Mass at Holy Name celebrated by Bishop Robert Brennan. Among the concelebrants were three diocesan priests who were among the honorees: Msgr. James Keely, Father James Cunningham, and Father Christopher Heanue, who is the director of the diocesan Irish Apostolate. Also honored was Sister Helen Kearney, CSJ, former president of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Brentwood.
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Bishop Brennan noted the celebration was taking place one day before the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. Bishop Brennan said, “The reality of the cross is all around us. But the Lord reassured us that the cross is not the final answer.”
Instead, he said the Church takes consolation in the Resurrection of Jesus and “we take courage from his victory which will be ours.”
He added that the Irish celebrate “cultural roots and pass them on so that they can bear good fruits.”
Bishop Brennan also thanked the Irish-American Builders Society organizing committee for earmarking the proceeds of the fair to Catholic Schools in Brooklyn and Queens.
Following the liturgy and presentation of awards, Irish music and dancing rounded out the day-long schedule.
Two different stages hosted the sounds of The Brooklyn Bards, The Prodicals, the Canny Brothers Band, Slainte, the Susan and Gerard Band, and Trad Seisiun.
There were also performances by the Buckley School of Irish Dance and the O’Malley Irish Dance Academy.