FEBRUARY 2009
www.celtic-connection.com
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From Solstice to Spring - Brigit Renews the Heart Once Again
"Live your questions now, and perhaps even without knowing it, you will live along some distant day into your answers."
- Rainer Maria Rilke
By CYNTHIA AUSTIN
Though winter lays still heavy on the land and in the heart, there are signs, there are signs. Imbolg, the fire festival of Brigit returns on February 2, the quarter-day that marks the advent of the Celtic spring.
Solstice has passed us now, the light
was seen, irrevocably noted, and so there is not to do but go forth from darkness into light. The hand outstretched into the unknown, the hand let go. Seasons change.
Brigit, the muse of all who create, is goddess of emergence, of inspiration. It is she who crafts and uncovers the tools, the events that teach and nurture humanity. Brigit, that captures and works the spark that it may be used by those who accept with hope and without condition.
Laid beside the hearth, Brigit's archaic corn dollies were intended to attract the goddess and her consort to ensure the fertility of the
household.
To us, her dollies and the intersecting arms of Brigit's woven cross represent the creative act - the timing, the meeting - that to us seems miraculous in coincidence but when seen from the vantage point of eternity, was never in question. How much more fervently we pray when we are in need.
Even as the snow falls, the sun shies low in the sky. Brigit holds the bitter, the dulled and the grieving heart. It is time to grow young again, let go, reach out your hand and find your faith in the firelight, in the warmth that is growing back to you, as it always will, in spring.
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Edgewater
Casino
Kinship! Come together for a celebration of Celtic culture
CemcFesT
MARCH 11 -15 2009
VANCOUVER
Over 60 Live Celtic Performance* over 5 day* In Downtown Vancouver
FESTIVAL PICKS
O Opening Gala Concert
Featuring Grammy Award Nominee and JUNO Award-winner, the Duhks with special guest fiddler and musical adventurer Daniel Lapp Mar. 11 @ 8 pm, Stadium Club at Edgewater Casino Advance Tickets $25/ S32 at the door
O The BIG St. Pat's Night Out!
Featuring Canada's best-known fiddling innovator Ashley Maclsaac with special guest the internationally-acclaimed band from Ireland, Lunasa and Irish-American comedian Maureen Langan
Mar. 14 @ 8 pm, The Vogue Theatre, Advance Tickets $25 / $32 at the door
O CeltlcSalsa Dance Concert - Celts and Cubans United!
CelticFest launches a one-of-a-kind brilliant musical collaboration bringing two authentic musical traditions together- Featuring Cuban band Puro Son performing with JUNO Award-winners, Celtic band The Paperboys Mar. 13 @ 9 pm, Stadium Club at Edgewater Casino Advance Tickets $20 / $26 at the door
O A Whisky Kiss-Annual Scotch Tasting
Mar. 12 @ 5:30 pm, Morrissey I rish House. Advance Tickets $30 / $36 at the door | (Price includes 5 Scotch Whisky PLUS 2 Irish Whiskey samples with appetizers)/
o Battle of The Bards - A Literary Pub Crawl culminating In a Grand Finale. Mar. 14 from 2 pm - 6 pm, various pubs on Granville Street. Pub Crawl FREE; Tickets for Open Mic & Finale $5 at the door
O King o' Men - A Robbie Bums 250'" Birthday Stage Play & Tribute Come celebrate the life and work of Scotland Poet Robbie Burns Mar. 14 @ 2 pm & 4 pm, Tom Lee Music, Music Hall - Tickets: $12 at the door
O The Great Big Session - Celtic Music Session hosted by Paul O'Brien March 15 @ 2 pm, Tom Lee Music, Music Hall, Tickets $5 at the door
O Music Workshops - Discover the tricks and techniques of master musicians, s in six fascinating FREE music workshops on March 14 & 15 at Tom Lee Music's City Stage
& 6th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade *new Parade Route*
The festival's most popular free event and guaranteed fun for the whole family! Mar. 15 @ 11:30 am with pre and post entertainment in the Celtic Village Parade marches along Georgia Street, from Broughton to Howe
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The Outdoor Music Stages - FREE Live Performances
March 11 —13 @ Noon at Granville Square Plaza & throughout the weekend
at the Celtic Village outside the Vancouver Art Gallery on March 14 &15
For Event Information and Tickets Please Visit:
www.celticfestvancouver.com rh^t^]
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£1 0DT Straight
Appreciation Night for
The Celtic Connection
Sweethearts Ball
Saturday, February 14, 2009 From 6:30 p.m. to midnight St. Patrick's Hall 12th Avenue and Main Street, Vancouver
Rogues & Tinkers The Pat Chessell Irish Band Mark Downey Violet Moore School of Irish Dance
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Dinner will be served at 7:00 p.m.
Bring your sweetheart (^) and dance the night away!
This event is presented by the Celtic community with all proceeds to benefit The Celtic Connection
For tickets call:
Deirdre O'Ruairc of The Irish Women's Network: 604-538-6765 George McDonnell of The Irish Heritage Society: 604-270-2881 Steve McVittie of The Celtic Treasure Chest: 604-538-2277 Helen Ritchie of Celtic Creations: 604-903-8704 John Pye of The Irish Club White Rock: 604-542-0734
IRISH HERITAGE
SOCIETY OF CANADA ST. PATRICK'S DAY
DINNER and DANCE
Saturday, March 14th, 2009 St. Mary's Ukrainian Hall, 16th and Ash Street, Vancouver
DeDanaan
Irish
Dancers
Tickets: $40 Call George McDonnell - 604-270-2881 Ivan Douglas 604-875-1018, Tom 0'Flynn - 604-879-3485 or Helen Ritchie - 604-903-8704