Irish dig deep to support virus-hit native Americans, repaying 150-year-old debt

[G_j]

https://news.yahoo.com/irish-dig-deep-support-virus-201156553.html

Donations to native American tribes who have been badly hit by the coronavirus crisis are flooding in from Ireland as they repay a debt dating back to the 19th-century potato famine.

At least 41 people have fallen victim to Covid-19 in the Navajo nation, with the spike in cases partly attributed to a water crisis. An estimated 40 percent of the Navajo do not have running water at home, and a drought in the south-west has exacerbated the difficulties.

Already more than $1.3 million has been raised with donations flooding in from Ireland. The generosity dates back to a gesture made in March 1847 when the Choctaw Tribe, which was gradually re-establishing itself in Oklahoma having been ousted from its ancestral lands in Mississippi, heard news of the Irish Potato Famine across the Atlantic.

Meeting in a building in Skullyville, Oklahoma, the Choctaw were asked to dig deep for people thousands of miles away they had never met. They did, and donations poured in.

Now, 173 years later, the gesture has been repaid with donors from Ireland opening their wallets to help.

..more..

[Cha]

1. This is so beautiful. Thank you, Ireland & Native Americans..

[lark]

2. Much gratitutde and love to the Irish for this. n/t

[Tanuki]

3. I love this story! Thanks for posting.

[oasis]

4. Wonderful gesture. Great story to begin the week.

[FakeNoose]

5. Wow that's really heartening

It should be said that many Americans - especially Irish-Americans - have been donating to help the Irish people for at least 150 years. However it doesn't diminish the charity of the Choctaw Tribe who gave generously, despite their own troubles. Very nice!

[northoftheborder]

6. Thanks for a story I hadn't heard!

[CrispyQ]

7. Kick, kick, kick!

Thank you for sharing this wonderful story of human caring and generosity!

[FailureToCommunicate]

8. Crobhristego raibh maith agat ireland !

[niyad]

11. What a wonderful image. Did you design it?

[FailureToCommunicate]

13. I wish.

No, it's public domain clip art.

[mercuryblues]

16. It is called a Claddagh ring

https://www.claddaghdesign.com/history/origin-irish-claddagh-ring/

The Claddagh is a traditional Irish ring exchanged as a token of love. Often worn as an engagement or wedding ring due to the three beautiful symbols of love, loyalty & friendship in the heart, the crown and hands. The Claddagh Ring dates from the 17th century and originated in the little village of Claddagh in County Galway, Ireland. There are a number of stories which claim the origin of the Claddagh ring but the most plausible of these is that of the Joyce family.

It is said that Richard Joyce was a silversmith working in the 1700’s and his initials (his maker’s mark) are on the earliest known surviving Claddagh ring. The story goes that Joyce had been captured by Algerians and sold to a Moorish goldsmith.

The goldsmith needed an apprentice and noticing Joyce’s talent he taught him the trade. In 1689, he was released from slavery when William III sent an ambassador to Algeria demanding the release of all British subjects. Upon hearing this, Joyce’s captor offered him half of his wealth and his only daughter in marriage if he would remain in Algeria. Joyce declined the offer, eager to return to his native Galway. When he returned to Galway, he established his own jewelry business and set about creating his most famous design the Claddagh ring.

The other popular story of the history of the Claddagh is also linked to the Joyce name. Margaret Joyce, a Galway native, inherited her wealth from her husband Domingo de Rona. He was a wealthy Spanish merchant who traded with the city of Galway. When he died, she returned to Galway and used her fortune to build bridges in Galway and Sligo. She also went on to marry the Mayor of Galway, Oliver Og French, in 1596. It is said the first Irish Claddagh ring was dropped into her lap by an eagle in reward for all her good work and charity.

[niyad]

29. Thank you.

[niyad]

9. Thank you for posting this lovely piece. It is indeed a great way to start the week.

[democrank]

10. So many good people out there

Thank you, Ireland~

[bucolic_frolic]

12. When are the Puritans going to pay up?

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

14. Not to be nitpicky, but

the Famine was some 170 years ago.

[a la izquierda]

34. It also wasn't a famine.

But that's besides the point of the article.

[Harry Walpurgisnacht]

15. Top o' The Mornin' to 'Em!

[hurl]

17. The Choctaw were only a few years past the Trail of Tears

In Ireland, there's a beautiful statue to commemorate the gesture.

[mountain grammy]

23. Before the pandemic..

I was planning a trip there this spring.

[questionseverything]

36. i hope you get another chance

[mountain grammy]

38. Thank you. Me too.

[niyad]

30. So beautiful. Thank you.

[Karadeniz]

31. Beautiful!

[mopinko]

18. i knew this old story. what a wonderful update.

dang. the good people stepping up is getting me kinda weepy.

[EarnestPutz]

19. The Choctaw back then were no doubt poor themselves. Great story. Gives one hope...

...that this epidemic may change all us us for the better, as some have speculated.

[Aristus]

20. I needed to hear this today.

I needed to hear that there is love in this world...

God bless all of them...

[Major Nikon]

21. I'm a member of the Choctaw tribe

This is something I learned about as a child. The Choctaw are intrinsically linked to the Irish as a result of this event. All sorts of cultural sharing experiences have been ongoing ever since.

In these days with horrible stories of xenophobia a daily event, this kind of news is awesome.

[iluvtennis]

24. Aww.... love it!

[zentrum]

25. Beautiful.

[brer cat]

26. This makes my week much brighter.

Thanks for the post.

[lillypaddle]

27. Many years ago

when I was traveling and arrived at the Dublin airport, I was amazed at the murals and tributes EVERYWHERE to the Choctaw Indians. It was the first I heard of the Natives' generosity and humanity to the people of Ireland. It is a beautiful story, and now it is once again a beautiful story. Thank you, Ireland.

[malchickiwick]

28. OK, a wonderful story and all, but I have to ask: Am I the only one who finds it cringey ...

... to essentially equate the Choctaw and the Diné? Very distinct peoples, with very distinct histories, cultures, and traditions. It's rather a Eurocentric and colonial attitude to simply lump all native peoples together, I feel.

Akin to repaying a favor from the Swedes in the past by helping out the Poles today because they're both "European."

To be clear -- I love the gesture, but find the framing of this story rather ahistorical.

[Karadeniz]

32. The Irish keep getting better and better...glad they're throwing out the tyranny from the

Catholic church.

[AllaN01Bear]

33. bravo. most eggscllent.

[MFGsunny]

35. Amazing gesture by the Irish folks. Lest we forget amid MF45 sewage what runs deeper in humankind.

Deserving of soooooooooo many

[flamingdem]

37. Teary to think of something so good

in such tough times.

[Richard_GB]

39. The tribe looks like it has been spending its casino revenue well.

[link:

&list=PLPZ_FlC5CLYqMCcQ9UAspNtTagLmX1zJL|

[raging moderate]

40. Where should we go to donate to the Dine? Or the Choctaw?

Please, I don't really know how to find the organizations that will really help people suffering from COVID-19.

[dalton99a]

41. Kick

[sheshe2]

42. K&R

Than you so much.