Oh the Gaelic League. I’ve long driven past it and wondered about it. I had always assumed that the place was forbidden to non members and expected there to be a gentlemen named Finnegan at the door with a sock full of quarters ready to dissuade any invaders. Instead I found a warm welcoming place full of friendly people and great music that is supported by a rich history and oppenness.
Entering the Gaelic League is a bit of an experience, you open the front door and find yourself in a small entryway. Just ahead is another door that gives you access to the rest of the building but it’s locked. I walked in and wondered if the tiny room was going to fill with a poison gas and began to mentally prepare for a Batman level break out. My girlfriend pushed the buzzer by the door and the bartender let us in without even looking up. Good thing I left my batarangs at home.
Entering the bar I saw rows upon rows of upbeat, smiling people from all walks of life. Contrary to my initial suspicions I did not have to prove my Irish ancestry upon entering (thankfully, as I’m woefully ignorant of my ethnic heritage). We gradually nudged are way through the see of chipper patrons and found a seat in the back corner of the establishment. Pints of Guinness arrived promptly after us. I took a deep sip and a long glance around the bar. It was time to take it all in.
The white balls are criss-crossed with brown beams and the room is seperated into two areas by a small step. A small stage rests at the end of the room where my prof Jon Freeman’s band was playing a mix of Irish folk and Americana. The crowd was listening enthusiastically while talking to one another and nodding in rhythm with the music.
Despite being well air conditioned I couldn’t help but feel a warmth emanating from the room. It never made me sweat but rather comforted like a well warn wool sweater. Despite this being my first time I instantly felt very comfortable there. The lack of bullshit posturing and pretension was a refreshing change of pace from the various bars I frequent in Ferndale.
A few days prior to visiting the League with friends I had actually gone there with my ethnography class. Kathleen, a member of the league’s inner government, told us about the place. The Gaelic League itself is an actual club with a dedicated membership roster and is only open to confirmed Irish Americans. Outside of that is the Irish American club which welcomes anyone who agrees with the missions of the League. The league formed from a core of fifty Irish ex patriots who came together out of concern for their homeland. At the time Ireland was in political upheaval and the league worked to increase political pressure and send money home.
Kathleen beams with pride as she talks about the league. It’s clear that the place is special to her and that she is special to hit. She was its first female president, and she’s very proud of how open and inclusive the place has become.
To me that’s the real fascinating thing about the league. It’s not just for the Irish anymore, the Irish American club welcomes all kinds of people. The League itself has put on festivals with the Mexicantown community. It’s clear that they treat “Irish” not just as a heritage but also a set of ideals. Music, conversation, and pride all coalesce to form a new identity that is very American while retaining it’s Gaelic feeling.
So I raise my glass to the Gaelic League. It truly is a emerald gem for the city of Detroit.
Entering the Gaelic League is a bit of an experience, you open the front door and find yourself in a small entryway. Just ahead is another door that gives you access to the rest of the building but it’s locked. I walked in and wondered if the tiny room was going to fill with a poison gas and began to mentally prepare for a Batman level break out. My girlfriend pushed the buzzer by the door and the bartender let us in without even looking up. Good thing I left my batarangs at home.
Entering the bar I saw rows upon rows of upbeat, smiling people from all walks of life. Contrary to my initial suspicions I did not have to prove my Irish ancestry upon entering (thankfully, as I’m woefully ignorant of my ethnic heritage). We gradually nudged are way through the see of chipper patrons and found a seat in the back corner of the establishment. Pints of Guinness arrived promptly after us. I took a deep sip and a long glance around the bar. It was time to take it all in.
The white balls are criss-crossed with brown beams and the room is seperated into two areas by a small step. A small stage rests at the end of the room where my prof Jon Freeman’s band was playing a mix of Irish folk and Americana. The crowd was listening enthusiastically while talking to one another and nodding in rhythm with the music.
Despite being well air conditioned I couldn’t help but feel a warmth emanating from the room. It never made me sweat but rather comforted like a well warn wool sweater. Despite this being my first time I instantly felt very comfortable there. The lack of bullshit posturing and pretension was a refreshing change of pace from the various bars I frequent in Ferndale.
A few days prior to visiting the League with friends I had actually gone there with my ethnography class. Kathleen, a member of the league’s inner government, told us about the place. The Gaelic League itself is an actual club with a dedicated membership roster and is only open to confirmed Irish Americans. Outside of that is the Irish American club which welcomes anyone who agrees with the missions of the League. The league formed from a core of fifty Irish ex patriots who came together out of concern for their homeland. At the time Ireland was in political upheaval and the league worked to increase political pressure and send money home.
Kathleen beams with pride as she talks about the league. It’s clear that the place is special to her and that she is special to hit. She was its first female president, and she’s very proud of how open and inclusive the place has become.
To me that’s the real fascinating thing about the league. It’s not just for the Irish anymore, the Irish American club welcomes all kinds of people. The League itself has put on festivals with the Mexicantown community. It’s clear that they treat “Irish” not just as a heritage but also a set of ideals. Music, conversation, and pride all coalesce to form a new identity that is very American while retaining it’s Gaelic feeling.
So I raise my glass to the Gaelic League. It truly is a emerald gem for the city of Detroit.
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