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www.celtic-connection.com
OCTOBER 2002
SEATTLE NEWS UPDATE
NEW IRISH PUB - Peter Johnson, owner of O'Shea's Easy Street Pub on 45th Street, is opening his second Irish pub in Seattle. The name of his new pub is Finn mac Cools and it is located at 4217 University Way NE, right at the heart of Seattle's University District.
Exit 1-5 at 45th Street, head east eight blocks and south two blocks. The pub's grand opening is October 11, and everyone is invited. Every Wednesday is a special Irish music night while lunch and dinner are served every day. Call Peter at (206) 675-0885 for more information.
BLOODY SUNDAY MOVIE -
The film Bloody Sunday, a winner of best picture at the Sundance Film Festival, opens in Seattle on October 25, at the Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave North (one block south of Mercer Street).
The film tells the storv of January 30, 1972 when British soldiers killed 13 unarmed civil rights marchers in Derry and wounded another 14, one of whom later died from his injuries. The event was a major turning point in Northern Ireland, and helped fuel a 25-year cycle of violence.
The executive producer of Bloody Sunday is Jim Sheridan whose films have garnered thirteen Academy Award nominations and have won two Academy Awards as well as numerous prestigious international awards.
O'MALLEY BOXING - Local Irishman Martin O'Malley of Edmonds (19-1, 14 KOs) fights Yoni Vargas (23-3, 12 KOs) on TV on ESPN2 on October 13 - check local listings for time, etc. Vargas currently holds the North American Super-Featherweight title.
US VISA SEMINAR - Seattle's Irish Immigration Support Group (SIISG) has arranged a free US Visa seminar for Saturday morning, November 2, at 10 AM at the Irish Emigrant, 5260 Universitv Way NE, in Seattle's Universitv District. Members of the SIISG along with Immigration Attornev Michael Cullen will be present to answer questions about the DV-' 2004 Visa Program as well as to show how the DV-2004 application should be completed.
Any general questions related to visa issues or problems will be addressed and no questions will be asked of those attending. If vou would like to attend on behalf of yourself or a friend, please feel free to do so.
If there are questions in the meantime, please call members of the SIISG, Roger O'Sullivan at (206) 784-4590, Mary Kelly at (206) 528-1988, Mary Charles at (425) 745-0137 or John Keane at (425) 290-7839.
MASS IN GAELIC - On October 25 at 8 PM, the Irish community in Seattle will celebrate a Memorial Mass in Gaelic for the deceased members of Seattle's Irish community.
The Mass in the Gaelic language will be at Sacred Heart Church, 205 Second Avenue North (beside the Seattle Center). Members of the Irish community are encouraged to attend and participate, and to submit the names of people to be remembered by name during the Mass.
Mass Booklets in Gaelic and English will be provided. To volunteer
as a musician, singer, etc., please call (206) 361-1713 or contact Jane@irishclub.org for more information.
WILD GEESE PLAYERS - The
Wild Geese Players present "Music and Poetry for an Autumn Evening" on October 19, in the Brechemin Auditorium (School of Music) on the UW campus at 7 PM.
The Wilde Geese Players is the group that reads and performs the annual Bloomsday Celebration on June 16 and the purpose of this event is to help raise some funds to cover the costs associated with organizing Bloomsday. Tickets (85 per person) and more information are available by calling Ellen Coyle at (206) 362 4428.
IRISH AUTHOR - Irish author and former Seattle resident Michael Collins, has received a 2002 Washington State Book Award for his novel Keepers of Truth, which was also short-listed in 2001 for the Booker Prize.
The award is given annually for the best books published by Washington writers. Collins, who now lives in Bellingham, will be reading from his newest novel, The Resurrectionists, on November 2 at Elliot Bay Books, 101 South Main Street, Seattle (www.elliottbaybook.com).
SEATTLE-GALWAY - Supporters of the Seattle Galway Sister City Association are invited to join Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and members of the Seattle City Council at the seventh Annual Seattle Sister Cities Awards Reception honoring Seattle's 21 sister city associations.
The reception is on November 20 from 5:50 to 7:30 PM in the Arctic Building Dome Room, 700 Third Avenue, Seattle. International hors d'oeuvres, entertainment, raffle, no-host bar, etc. Tickets are 815 per person - call (206) 325-6500.
CELTIC YULETIDE GALA -The Northwest's internationally acclaimed Magical Strings invites one and all to a grand Yuletide on winter's longest night, December 21 at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church of Seattle, Seventh and Spring, downtown Seattle.
With their Celtic harps, hammered dulcimers, whistles, concertina, strings, and harp-like instruments from around the world, Philip and Pam Boulding reunite with their family's three generations and many special guests.
The Bouldings are joined by daughter Brittany on violin and Irish fiddle, sons Geoffrey and Brenin on fiddle and cello, twins Morgan and Marshall on concert whistle, harmonium, and wire-strung harp, and granddaughters Rowan and Kailey dancing in Celtic costume.
Also joining the Bouldings will be the Raney Irish Dancers, juggler Thomas Arthur, William Pint and Felicia Dale singing songs of the season, Tom Creegan on the Irish uilleann pipes, percussionist Jarrod Kaplan, and a children's choir.
Dancer Colleen Raney will also sing a beautiful Irish carol in Gaelic. Tickets (Reserved 825; General 818 adults and 812 children; 820 and 815 at the door) are available at
www.magicalstrings.com or at TicketMaster, but early purchase is advised. For more information,
For the first time in 20 years, eight Keane brothers were all gathered together in Ireland recently. They are shown here L-R (Rear): Joe (Rosemount, County Westmeath), Tony (Manchester, England), Hughie (Roscrea, County Tip-perary), Pat (Kells, County Meath). (Middle): Bill (Orlando, Florida), John (Seattle, Washington), George (Dublin). (Front): Jimmy (Rosemount, County Westmeath)
email info@magicalstrings.com or call 888-413-HARP.
A CELTIC CHRISTMAS -
Seattle Pro Musica is a leader in the choral arts in Seattle, performing inspirational and innovative concert programs throughout the year. Starting on December 7 in Bellevue at Sacred Heart Church, they perform "A Celtic Christmas," Celtic music for the holiday season from Wales, Ireland & Scotland. Enjoy the joyous sounds of traditional Celtic choral music for the Christmas season, as well as new music by composers from Wales, Ireland and Scotland.
Also on the program is Benjamin Britten's beloved A Ceremony of Carols for treble choir and harp, with harpist Naomi Kato, and C.V. Standford's rarely-performed Magnificat for Double Choir. Seattle Pro Musica's Women's Schola performs chant in a candlelight processional.
The evening concludes with an audience sing-along of traditional carols. Other performances on December 8 at 7:30 PM, Seattle Town Hall and Saturday, December 14, 3 PM and 8 PM, at Bastyr University in Kenmore. Ticket Prices are 818 in advance or 821 at the door, Seniors 813 in advance or 816 at the door, Students tickets 810. Call (206) 781-2766 or order online at www.seattlepromusica.org.
KEITH HIGHLANDERS CONCERT - The Keith Highlanders Pipe Band is involved in three concerts being held October 24, 25 and 26, at the Kirkland Performance Center. The band brings to the stage traditional Scottish piping, drumming and Highland dancing. For more information, call (206) 612-3669, email
khpb@khpb.org, or visit www.khpb.org.
IRISH TENOR - Kim Cooney is a lyric tenor from Bellevue who set Spangled Banner to the air of Danny Boy to honor the Irish who came from Ireland on the Famine Ships. Kim specializes in sacred and inspirational music for worship services, funerals/wakes/memorial services, non-profit fundraisers, and also has a large repertoire of Irish ballads. He typically performs for no charge (although modest honorariums may be appropriate for significant travel, etc.). For more information, contact Kim at: kcooney@nwlink.com.
SLAN ABHAILE - Bon voyage to the Seattle Gaels Owenses who have headed home. Conor Owens and his intended Joann Cambell have moved home to Belfast, while Jimmy Owens (no relation) and wife Denise and family have moved home to Nova Scotia, at least until Jimmy heads for DC to study. We wish them all the very best and hope they keep in touch!
SINCERE CONDOLENCES - To
the large extended family of the late PatTomkins, a longtime member of Seattle's Irish community who passed away last month in Lynnwood. Members of the Tomkins clan have been involved in "things Irish" in the Seattle area since the 1920s when Pat's father (also named Pat) was President of the American Association for Recognition of the Irish Republic.
To the family of the late Roberta Barry (Mar) who died several weeks ago. Roberta was Secretary of Seattle's Irish-American Club in the 1970s.
To Irish Heritage Club member Ita Bray on the death of her brother Donal Kelly who passed away in Scotland after a very brief illness.
To Seattle Gaels player Chris Knoll on the death of his father here in the Seattle area.
To the family of long time Irish Heritage Club member and great Irishman Daniel J Mitchell Jr. who passed away several months ago.
Ar dheis De go raibh a n-anamacha - may their souls rest at God's right hand.
DV-2004 DIVERSITY VISA -
The US Diversity Visa Lottery is an annual event whereby prospective immigrants to the US can receive a Green Card via lottery. While a limited number of visas is involved, most Irish-born people are eligible to apply and anyone interested is advised to send in the application, especially since it costs nothing.
The Diversity Visa Lottery is a completely random mechanism. Entries must be received at one of the Kentucky Consular Center mailing addresses between noon on October 7, and noon on November 6, and there are stringent rules for what information must be included, the format required, etc.
Entries received after November 6 will be disqualified regardless of when they are postmarked and duplicate entries will result in all that person's entries being discarded. For more detailed information, go to http:// travel.state.gov/DV2004.html or attend the US Visa Seminar on October 19.
IMMIGRATION GRANT - The
Irish Government, on the recommendation of the Irish Consulate in San Francisco, has awarded a 82,000 grant to Seattle's Irish Immigration Support Group to support its goal of helping Irish Immigrants in need in the Seattle area. The group tries to offer advice and encouragement to those who need assistance of any kind, whether it's because of trouble with the INS, the police, spousal abuse, drug or alcohol abuse, visa problems, etc. There is free assistance available by e-mailing SIISG@irishclub.org or by calling toll-free 877-517-3559.
INVOLUNTARY DEPARTURES
- Ten Irish people were deported for 10 years from the U.S. in early September for overstaying their visitor visas. The eight women and two men were Gaelic football and camogie players, some of whom played with the Boston team that defeated Seattle at the North American GAA Playoffs in Chicago.
They were on a train traveling back to Boston following the GAA finals when INS agents who were conducting a random check of passengers apprehended them. The INS may legally board any transportation within 100 miles of a US border.
GAA WORLD CUP - The GAA's International Gaelic Football Competition, dubbed the GAA World Cup, was played in Dublin the week before the All-Ireland Football Final, and involved men's and women's teams from the U.S., Canada, Scotland, London, Rest of Britain, Europe and Australasia. North American Board (NAB) teams represented the U.S. with players picked from Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Jose and San Diego.
Following a narrow two-point victory over London in the final, the NAB men retained the Men's World Cup trophy which they also won in 2000, the last year the competition was held. In the Women's GAA World Cup, Australasia, a team comprised of players all but two of whom were born in Australia, defeated the London women in the final.
In the men's first round game with London, the NAB team lost by two points in a low scoring encounter, but when the two teams met again in the final, the game exceeded all expectations. From the start, the pace was hectic and the standard of play was of a high caliber.
London, by far the better and more determined team in the opening half, controlled center field and they opened up a four-point lead after converting a penalty in the 18th minute. They added three more points before half-time to make the score, London 1-6 NAB 0-3.
London continued to dominate on the turnover and raced to an eight-point lead by the end of the third quarter. With defeat staring them in the face, the NAB team made a remarkable recovery. After goaling in the 48th minute to reduce the gap to five points, the NAB outscored London eight points to one in the final 10 minutes to retain the World Cup trophy on a final score of 1-13 to 2-8.
Earlier in the competition, the NAB Men's team played Canada twice, and their first game was a
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