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www.celtic-connection.com
DECEMBER 1999/JANUARY 2000
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER
Mu*ic A New Millennium Dawns
Music Reviews.........................................................................8, 9, 10 ,
^^™E..&.™ e,25 With Momentous Chanqes
Father Vincent: Author of Dancing with Life...................................21 : *^
Dear Readers:
Stage Eireann: A Utile Like Parad,se.............................................26 i As we approach press time with
Pierce Brosnan Profile.....................................................................29 j this combined December/January
NEWS' I *ssue> I would like to take a mo-
c ... " .. I ment to thank each and every one
bcottish News............................................................................18, 19 ofyou fory0ur continued support
British News...............................................................................11, 28 during this past year.
Irish News.........................................................19,20,21,22,23,24 T , T .. M .
' ._ . ' _„ In particular, 1 would like to ac-Northern Ireland News.............................................3, 10, 19, 23, 28 Pledge all our volunteers, con-
SPORTS" tributors and distributors in the
Glasgow Celtics Club................................................................30, 31 ma%Celtic communities, includ-
_ J* | "' ing Vancouver, Victoria, Prince
Sports Results ...........................................................................32, 33 George, Seattle, Bellingham,
CULTURAL" Calgary and Edmonton.
Edmonton Irish Club Celebrates 40 Years..............................12, 13 For the past eight years, since we
Sons of Scotland..............................................................................16 nave been publishing The Celtic
Interview with Jim Bain - President of Scottish Cultural Centre ..17 Connection, we have witnessed the
rnmm.,r.it.. m„h„__„„j , , . _ cj!t_, ~A oc most amazing Celtic renaissance
Community Notices and Letter to the Editor...........................34, 35 Jn all aspectsfof the cuiture.
From a growing awareness of native languages to everything ranging from music, arts and dance — there seems to be a global quest to connect with our traditional origins.
THE CELTIC CONNECTION
ISSUE NUMBER 82
#741 - 916 W. Broadway, Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 1K7 Tel: (604) 434-3747 Fax: (604) 434-3749 Website: www.celtic-connection.com Maura McCay - Publisher E-Mail Address: celtic@istar.ca Catholine Butler - Advertising E-Mail Address: cbutler@istar.ca Jack Wallace - Consulting Editor - Andrea Law - Copy Editor Tara Graphics - Graphics and Ad Production Ann Marie Finnerty - Word Processing Colleen Carpenter, Kate Walch & Ron Johnstone - Paste-up Distribution: Robert Evans in Vancouver • Art Marshall • Kevin Boggan • Mike Paul • Kathy Griffin in Surrey • James Corbin in Mission "Jim Rochfortin Delta • Bill Carracher in White Rock • Finian Rowland in Seattle • Oliver Grealish in Edmonton.
Published 10 times per year. Unsolicited submissions welcome but will not be returned. Please retain a copy for your files. Contents copyright 1999 The Celtic Connection. Opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of the publisher but rather a reflection of voices within the community. All correspondence must include a name, address and telephone number.
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Our nomadic ancestors would be amazed at how such an ancient culture has evolved and how far their descendants have travelled.
Now, with our global technologies, Celts are speaking a unique language through their arts and music which resonates with so many who have no direct lineage and only the most fleeting of Celtic connections.
From an economic and political perspective, the possibililties have never looked better for our people. In recent days, the news emerging from Northern Ireland is most uplifting and full of promise.
To see so much dedicated work on so many fronts finally rewarded must be enormously satisfying. After 30 years of turmoil, pain and suffering, — a power-sharing Northern Ireland Assembly is now sitting in Parliament.
On July 1, amid pomp and ceremony, euphoria ruled the day when thousands of people lined the streets of Edinburgh to watch the official opening of the new Scottish parliament.
On this historic day, the people of Scotland once again assumed direct responsibility over Scottish affairs with a devolved parliament — the first in nearly 300 years.
The people of Wales also voted to
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MAURA McCAY
set up their own elected assembly, the first such assembly since the parliament of Owain Glyndwr in the early 1400s. The first elections for the National Assembly for Wales took place on May 6, giving the people of Wales control over education, health and other vital public services.
In the Republic of Ireland, the Celtic Tiger continues to roar as the government prepares to undertake an unprecedented investment program into the national infrastructure to the tune of a staggering £40 billion — all completely generated by the State's bulging cash surplus.
In a country where her main export was once her people, there is a call now being heard for workers to come to Ireland.
There is such a massive demand for employees, work visas are being issued and advertisements are being placed as far away as Central and Eastern Europe, India, Africa and Asia, calling for immigrants to take up jobs that employers are now finding impossible to fill.
Here at The Celtic Connection, as we bring 1999 to a close, we can reflect on another successful year where our publication has grown and evolved into a major force on the West Coast. We continue to provide an important voice for the
Celtic people of Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest of the United States.
I can only envision continued growth in widening our connections and providing a means of communication for Celts in the year 2000, not only through this newspaper but also through our website which welcomes over 50,000 visitors each month.
One has to believe that as we step into a new millennium, we're also crossing the threshold of something very significant, leaving behind the old divisions and resentments which divided our forefathers and entering a whole new age full of hope and possibility.
I would like to wish each and every one of you and your families, a peaceful and joyous holiday season.
Until next year.
BENEFIT TO FEED HUNGRY
VANCOUVER — Vancouver's Celtic and jazz musicians are getting together for the fifth annual Feed the Hungry Benefit.
Danny Burns and the Irish Ballad Band will welcome many friends such as the well-loved local performer Hughie Rudd, along with the Celtic sounds of Blackthorn, the Striels, jazz recording artists Denny Clary and Karen Helm, and well-known Scottish fiddler Angus McKinnon.
Also featured will be step dancer Alan Mullen and Irish dancers from the Stewart School, along with other special guest artists.
This all star line-up will perform on December IS at Culpepper's at 3135 West Broadway on December 12 from 5 PM to 10 PM.
Tickets are glO at the door (donations of canned food also welcome.) All proceeds will go the Union Gospel Mission in Gastown. For more information, call (604) 731-6565.
ABOUT THE COVER ARTIST
Deirdre Keohane resides in Castletownbere, County Cork with her two children Conor and Caoimhe. She returned to Ireland in 1998 after living in Vancouver for the past five years. She established a solid reputation for herself locally as an artist of note, having contributed a number of significant murals to various projects in the Downtown Eastside. Shows exhibiting her artwork have been held in British Columbia, Quebec and Ireland.
Deirdre has been illustrating covers for The Celtic Connection for the past five years and is now working on a number of projects in Castletownbere, including a major mural project and a possible exchange program with children from the North of Ireland. She is also working to ensure the participation of children in various upcoming area festivals.
j >1
DEIRDRE KEOHANE