Company that brought medical relief to Ireland, Mushatt's to serve the rest of the world

Mushatt's isn’t yet a household name in America, but Michael Foley is determined to change that. Foley has been the president of Mushatts LLC, since 2010 and since then has worked hard to introduce his company to other parts of the world.  

Mushatt's has a rich history in Ireland where it helped thousands of poor families overcome ailments that beset them during the tenement days of poverty.

Harry Mushatt set up his “chemist” shop in Dublin’s poorest tenement district, known as the Liberties in the 1920’s. An excerpt from “Dublin Tenement Life” helps explain what the times were like back then:

“You never saw doctors.  You could go to a chemist and even if your throat was cut, he’d give you a cure for it.  He’d put a dressing on it.  Mr. Mushatt was in Francis Street-he was the masterpiece, for a bad chest, bad back…..from north, south, east and west, people’d  come for them.  People trusted him as he concocted his own old fashioned medicines in the rear compounding room.  His lotions, potions, and tablets were thought to be the purest medicines.  People really believed in them, swore by them.”

No one was more famous than Harry Mushatt and his brother who served the people of the “Liberties” for nearly half a century from their tiny shop on Francis Street.

Harry Mushatt tells it like it is back then in “Dublin Tenement Life:”

“We made our own medicines in the shop. My brother and I made up forty-four different preparations, from skin ointments, psoriasis ointments, foot pastes, stomach bottles, skin crèmes, tablets for kidneys, headaches, neuralgia….all different things. Oh, there was a bond of trust and they’d come into the shop and it would be packed out.  Tenement people, if one wasn’t feeling well, or met with an accident, Go to Mushatts!, they’d say....They came from all over Dublin”

The chemists and apothecaries of that by-gone era have now been replaced by impersonal chain store pharmacies, it is hard to find that personal touch and relationship that Harry Mushatt gave to his community.

Yet after all of these years, Mushatt's is still carrying on the family tradition of helping folks with their unique brand of remedies. 

Although Harry Mushatt and his brother are long gone, their carefully guarded secret notebook with the formula for every one of their potions and compounds has been handed down to a new generation of pharmacist.  Sean Foley  has made available Mushatt's medicines at his Foley Pharmacy on Thomas Street in Dublin and far beyond.

Mushatt's No. 9 skin therapy products have been making inroads throughout the US and Europe under the careful guidance of Michael Foley, an Irishman, with an extensive background in running successful international business operations.

Foley was longtime CEO of Heineken USA and later served as CEO of Aer Lingus, besides other roles in his extensive background in business.

The successful use of the Mushatt's secret notebook, with relief from so many of mankind’s maladies, has translated into comfort  for the millions of people who purchase Mushatt's products in Ireland, the US and Europe.

Listen to their therapeutic uses here

Mushatt’s No. 9 range of medicated ointments and creams are made to the original 1922 formulation and contain unique ingredients to treat psoriasis, eczema and other skin conditions and are body specific to treat the scalp, skin or face. Clinical tests have shown Mushatt’s No. 9 products to be hypoallergenic and a non-irritant.

Mushatts is available from most major on line pharmacies, including Drugstore.com, Walgreens.com, CVS .com, Amazon.com, as well as a growing number of good retail pharmacy stores throughout the USA.

Snakes in a Church: National Geographic brings you inside a bizarre American cult

Serpents have gotten a bad rap throughout history. In Genesis, the serpent beguiled Eve to lure Adam into taking the fateful bite of the apple.

In the New Testament, the Book of Revelation makes use of the serpent several times to identify Satan the dragon, as an ancient serpent.


The absence of snakes in Ireland gave rise to the legend that in the 5th century patron St. Patrick, had chased them all into the sea.

Lets face it, many people are very afraid of snakes because they slither, hiss and can strike you with sharp fangs that deliver lethal poison.  To bolster that reputation and fear, snake bites kill at least one hundred thousand people per year and injure perhaps another million.

The Bible has many archaic passages, if you search you can take one and create a religion with it…some would be called cults:

“They will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

This is the basis of the 100 year old Christian Pentecostal sect known as the “Holiness.”

National Geographic takes us inside this bizarre world of cult religion to reveal the strange practices that most people would recoil from. “Snake Salvation” Premieres Tuesday, September 10, at 9:00 and 9:30 PM ET/PT

These true believers feel their only salvation and way to heaven is to handle and dance with deadly snakes while speaking in strange tongues, even quaffing down a chaser of strychnine to add a bit more excitement…..But they also believe, not participating in their religious practice will destine them to hell.

To understand this obscure religion practiced mainly in the back country of Appalachia, executive producer Matthew Testa follows the exploits of 2 pastors and their adherents as they pursue their beliefs and maintain their churches.

Testa said: "They firmly believe they are commanded by the Bible to take up serpents as a sign to non-believers, and feel strongly they are exercising their religious freedom as guaranteed by the Constitution. They often say, 'God's law trumps the law of man. "

One of the Pastors is 9 fingered Jamie Coots, (lost his other finger to a rattlesnake bite).  Coots has lead the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name for nearly 20 years, which was founded by his snake handling grandfather in Middlesboro Kentucky. See family tradition here

The other Pastor is 22 year old Andrew Hamblin, who used to be a member of Pastor Jamies congregation.  Hamblin is struggling to provide for his wife and 5 children and must rely on food stamps as he tries to maintain his church.

Episodes of  Snake Salvation will follow these two Pastors as they find and sustain their collection of venomous snakes to use in their services.  They head out on snake roundups, racing to find dens of their coveted cold-blooded reptiles before winter starts and the snakes go into hiding.

With both pastors too financially strapped to purchase their supply, they are often forced to get creative to keep their stock thriving,( See the snake room) be it snake trading at “Repticon,” the reptile convention, or illegally transporting venomous reptiles from warmer climates across state lines. Even if they can keep their snake population thriving, and stay out of jail, they’re also challenged to find and retain followers to their unorthodox faith.

Many community members scoff at their bizarre practices, members of their own families teeter on faithfulness and reformed criminals use it as their best defense against backsliding into sin. Viewers will even see occasions when church members were bitten by the venomous serpents as National Geographic cameras were rolling. But the pastors’ own faith never falters that they’ll be able to inspire their masses to seek their personal  Snake Salvation. See a trailer here

FYI to Pastor Jamie and Pastor Andrew: There is also a passage in the Bible that says“Do Not Tempt God”

The Irish should be remembered by America this Memorial Day for their great military service

When the Romans first visited Ireland, they called it Hibernia, the sleeping land…See Hibernia.  But soon, to their dismay, they found the people were not at all a sleeping group. 

In the early 1st century, Roman and Greek knowledge of Ireland was thin, but the geographers Strabo and Pomponius Mela describe “a cold land populated by extremely fierce inhabitants.” In lore of combat between Romans and native Irish, the Romans feared the Irish and their woman warriors most for the fierceness of their attacks and utter lack of fear.

Invasions by warlike foreigners left their mark on Ireland and mixed their blood with the Irish.  In the late 700’s the Vikings attacked and tried to establish permanent settlements  See history of Vikings invading Ireland.  The Vikings were eventually defeated, but many of them stayed and intermarried with the native population. Later the Normans came and went and then the British appeared.

The unique blend of the Irish and their invaders created a hybrid of warrior that has filled the ranks of many armies around the world.

Many Irish immigrated to the “new lands” of the American continent to find the opportunity and freedom that they couldn’t find in their native land. They took up arms to defend their adopted countries and to fight for what they believed to be battles for freedom and justice. 

The influence Irish had in Latin America over the past 200 + years is historic. The Irish fought alongside their brothers and sisters in their new homelands.  They shed their blood in many wars to help free millions from the tyranny of colonialism. See Irish in Latin America

But when the Irish found their way to North America, their presence was felt immediately in the armed forces battling for freedom in every step of the way.

The Irish played an integral part in the Revolutionary war, when a fledgling country had to win its freedom by force from British rule.  Names like John Barry, the founder of our navy, Jeremiah O’Brien, Timothy Murphy, Molly Pitcher, John Sullivan and thousands of other Irish, who fought and died to form the new country of the United States.

The Irish stepped forward again, when the English returned and tried to re-conquer our young country in the war of 1812 and threw them back at the Battle of New Orleans.

Tragically when our country was torn apart by its civil war, Irish Americans fought on both sides to play key roles in the major battles that finally saw a divided country, unite again. One of the most famous units in all of American military history was a brigade known during the American Civil War as simply “The Irish Brigade.” See Irish Brigade; Heroes of the CivilWar   

When the United States stepped into the 1^st World War, the Irish Americans distinguished themselves in many memorable battles and astonished the Germans with their fierceness and valor.  Especially noteworthy when they fought and brawled hand to hand with German crack troops as members of the famed “LostBatallion.”

World War II saw another generation of Irish Americans push their way forward to defend their country against one of the greatest axis of evils the world had seen.  Irish Americans were over represented in the awarding of Medals of Honor in the field of battle, with Audie Murphy becoming one of the most decorated soldiers in American history.

Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq, Afghanistan…Wherever and whenever the country needs to be defended and fought for, Irish Americans have a long history of being right there at the tip of the spear, where the greatest fighting occurs.   

In war as well as peace, our country has benefited from the valor of its warriors of Irish descent.  It is good to remember our “fighting” Irish American warriors on this Memorial Day weekend.

Sandy aid shows, Irish sit in the back of the Democrat party bus

Rockaways

President Obama cobbled together a new coalition of special interests that he was able to win a 2^nd term with.  Minorities, single women, gays, union members, government employees, etc., helped put him over the top. 

The Irish American coalition used to have great sway in the Democrat party.  But some high profile Irish Americans weren’t even invited to a traditional St Patricks special event dinner in Obamas 1^st term.

If Irish Americans had clout in the Democrat Party, the Sandy devastation in the Rockaway’s would have been dealt with swiftly and surely.

Democrat luminaries were falling all over themselves for photo ops right after the storm. Wearing hard hats and making promises to the cameras, they scored big in the PR dept.

But today, months after the storm, many residents still have no homes to move into and no power for their homes, if they still have one standing.

These neighborhoods are slowly being relegated to back page status in the media and when that happens,  it is as if the problem isn’t there anymore. But it is there.

Federal aid has been slow.  Democrats blame the Republicans for holding up an appropriations bill. But Republicans say the reason for the delay is that the bill put forth by Harry Reid and the Democrats, was loaded with billions in pork that had nothing to do with Sandy relief

Bill Clinton photo op

If Democrats were serious about protecting and aiding their constituency, they wouldn’t have played political games. Evidently they felt, after the media storm died down, they could relegate Sandy to politics and special interests without fear of media or political blowback.

Read Townhalls excellent exposure of the Democrat pork laden Sandy relief bill by Katy Pavlich. It itemizes the billions that have nothing to do with Sandy relief. Article

When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, the din from the media was ear splitting.  News teams were on the ground at all times.  The damaged city was kept front and center throughout the entire Bush term, as billions upon billions were poured on the city and its residents.

But this disaster in New York is different. The leader in the White house is a Democrat and so are most of those officeholders in this damaged area.

President Bush was blamed incessantly for acting slowly to respond to the disaster that hurricane Katrina caused. But the truth was ineptness by Mayor Nagin and Governor Blanco, both Democrats that caused the lack of preparedness and response to Katrina. 

Mayor Nagins “chocolate city” as he referred to it, was showered with billions in federal tax dollars to show the media and the rest of America we cared. 

Indicted mayor of New Orleans

The media microscope was kept focused on New Orleans recovery efforts and any delay in aid was headline news. Charges of racism were raised by civil rights leaders for any perceived lack of aid, real or imagined.

As a side note Mayor Nagin is facing criminal corruption charges for misappropriating federal funds destined for the repair of his city. Did you read that in the headline news?

But President Obama & Democrat leaders are held to a different standard. New York’s Rockaway’s are still a disaster area and federal feet are dragging. The quiet desperation of American citizens needing aid from their government is being ignored in the media.

Democrat Irish Americans should take note of the shabby treatment they are getting from the very politicians they help put in office.  Notice what it is like to be relegated to old news by the lap dog media.

Why Ireland should want a Romney Presidency

A recent “poll” saying 96% of the Irish population would vote for Obama if given the chance, is mystifying to many Irish Americans. 

America, more than any other country in the world, has been a shining beacon of light on the hill for millions of Irish emigrants.  They left by the boatload and later plane load, for a country of opportunities to those who wanted to work hard to better themselves.

But the secret fuel for that beacon of light on the hill was capitalism.  America has been a land of opportunity for anyone who wanted to succeed, in spite of their birth circumstances.  America was not saddled with a caste system, or royal class that pre determined ones future. 

But over the years, there has been a creeping “entitlement attitude” rising in America.  Many special interests with an axe to grind for past  unfairness, real or perceived, have spawned a government industry, that doles out “fairness” with pre-selected winners and losers in society.

This attitude coalesced into a political coalition of special interests, helping to elect our last President. The result: More Americans are on public assistance than ever before, the country is spending money it doesn’t have and government is consuming a portion of our GDP at record levels.

A mentality that encourages government “service” by the forgiveness of student loans if you choose a lifetime of working for the government, rather than working in the private sector, sends the message as to where we are headed.

In short, America is pointed towards a socialist European model.  The same failed model where government bureaucrats determine what’s best for its citizens.

I was on Irish radio last week and the host asked me: “Would a President Romney be good for Ireland?”

My answer was, an unhesitating yes.  The raw truth in President Kennedy’s words many years ago: “A rising tide will lift all boats,” is very evident today.

An economically healthy America will raise the economies of the world, including and especially Ireland.  Mitt Romney is not a product of government largesse or government programs, he knows how to ignite America’s moribund economy by encouraging the private sector. See: America is poised for a post Obama comeback.

He has spelled this out in his 5 point economic plan to make America the world’s economic powerhouse.

He will unlock America’s energy resources & make us energy independent.

He will encourage and support school choice for parents and children to break the chains of a failed public education system. America will soon have an educated electorate.

He will encourage fair trade around the world and establish economic zones.

Immediately cut our insane budget deficit, by measuring the value of government programs with the question: Is it worth borrowing money from China to pay for it?

As a member of the private sector for many years Romney sees the many shackles put on America’s small businesses. He will change this and reverse the anti business climate in Washington, with one of encouragement.

There is a clear cut choice for Americans this November and the choice they make will determine the economic climate, not just for Americans, but for the rest of the world. 

With a vibrant, bustling, American economic juggernaut, everyone in the free world will enjoy its success.  Not only will America remain a place for Irish to emigrate to if they want to try their luck, many Irish may want to stay in Ireland as more economic opportunities arise in the homeland. This is the promise of a Romney presidency.

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US Coal industry under attack -do they need the Molly Maguires?

The American coal industry, which fostered the beginnings of Irish American muscle in the the labor movement, is under assault. In the 1860-70's early Irish Americans shed blood in the battle for workers rights, workers safety, unionization and collective bargaining in those coal fields. Today some people in the industry think there needs to be a modern day version of the secret society known as the Molly Maguires, to defend their livelihood and the nations main source of energy.

But this time the threat to their livelihoods, way of life and standard of living, is not at the hands of a cold-hearted industrialist, but at the hands of government regulation designed to crush their industry.

Back in the 1860-70's Irish Catholic immigrants, fresh off the boat, flocked to the coal fields of Pennsylvania where they toiled in hard scrabble unsafe existences to eke out a living. Exploited by unscrupulous mine owners, the Molly Maguires rose up amongst the Irish ranks and battled back, which finally lead to organizing and unionization http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molly_Maguires

Today's conditions in our nations coal fields and mines are infinitely safer and wages have risen to make it an honorable occupation. Many say these positive changes in the coal industry stem from the battles of the Irish Molly Maguires.
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President Obama said, as candidate Obama, he was going to necessarily make energy prices skyrocket. Maybe most Americans were not aware of that statement, or the main stream media didn't widely report it, but the President was serious when he said this. The President said one of the ways he was going to make energy prices skyrocket, was to attack the very core of Americas power source: Coal

President Obama said that he wouldn't outlaw coal but he would make it so prohibitively expensive to burn coal as a power source, it would "necessarily bankrupt them to build a coal fired power plant. New EPA regulations will force a significant number of coal-fired power plants to close, resulting in a major reduction in electricity supply.

Interestingly enough it is estimated America has a 500 year supply of coal. Over the last 30 years, contrary to popular belief, the air in North America has gotten cleaner. Advances in scrubbing technology in power plants and new efficiencies have made the environment cleaner, not more polluted.

The Presidents attack on the coal industry is meaning a loss of jobs for hardworking Americans in an industry that supplies the fuel for almost 50% of the nations power. This attack is also making Americans utility prices rise at a time when many are out of work or under employed.

Americans are subsidizing alternative energy experiments(Solyndra) to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars, which are put in your taxes and heaped on top of your already expensive utility bills.

Is it time for a modern day version of the Molly Maguires to say enough?

For the most unique gifts, time capsules in American and world history: lifemagforsale.com

For other points of view visit Carroll Standard: www.carrollstandard.com

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Why was an Irish businessman and father-to-be arrested in his NYC home?


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