Story Archive

Erin Go Away

The four Culhane sisters, originally from County Limerick, Ireland, have owned an Irish pub in Atlantic Beach, Fla., for eight years — and that’s how long they’ve flown Irish and American flags outside. But less than a month before St. Patrick’s Day, a code enforcement officer turned up and told them they had 24 hours to take the Irish one down: a local ordinance banned the commercial use of foreign flags. “We were just shocked and kind of sad that we couldn’t hang the flag,” said Aine Culhane; Michelle Culhane said it was an insult. Acting Mayor Maria Mark originally told a reporter the law probably could not be changed before St. Patrick’s Day, but after the case made international headlines, the city commission suspended enforcement of the rule pending its revision. (AC/Reuters, New York Daily News) ...They came to this country and proved / officialdom still can be moved. / It just takes a scandal / that’s too big to handle / to get the response time improved.