3AGE 2
www.celtic-connection.com
THE CELTIC CONNECTION
SEPTEMBER 1999
ISSUE NUMBER 79
#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 & Des Law - Copy Editors Colleen Carpenter & Ron Johnstone - Paste-up Ann Marie Finnerty - Input Distribution: Art Marshall • Kevin Boggan • Mike Paul • Kathy Griffin in Surrey
• James Corbin in Mission • Jim Rochfort in Delta • Bill Carracher in Surrey
• Fmian 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.
Canada Post Canadian Publications Agreement 477842
CLASSIFIED
SEEKING IRISH NANNY. From the Emerald Isle to Shaughnessy (Vancouver) seeking Irish nanny to care for two boys three and a half years and one year old. Must be mature, have a driver's license and create order. Long term position with live-in negotiable. Phone after 6 PM to (604) 739-4594.
•
CELTIC HARP FOR SALE. Handcrafted by Thormahlen in 1992. 22-strings. Hardly used. Includes carrying case. Cdn$1,600. Call Gareth at (604) 609-0679.
Valuable Guitar Stolen
Cameron Calder of Calder Music in North Vancouver reports that unfortunately they had a daytime robbery on September 4, when someone walked out the door with a very valuable guitar. It is Morgan Concert Cutaway with a flame Maple back and sides. The serial number is 97394.
This guitar is valued at 63,500 and they would very much like it back! If anyone has any information regarding this item or happens to hear of any great deals on one that fits this description, please call them immediately.
Call him directly on his cellular phone at (604) 220-2881 or at the store at (604) 988-9974.
Champagne corks were popping in Toronto when Celtic Connection writer Brendan Landers was offered a three-book contract with Poolbeg Press in Dublin. Way to go Brendan...congratulations and very best of luck!
•
Belated happy 70th birthday wishes to Mike Paul of Island Music. Mike is also the Public Relations Representative for the Scottish Cultural Center in Vancouver and a volunteer distributor for The Celtic Connection in North Vancouver. Mike and his wife Eleanor are tireless community volunteers and dedicated to all aspects of Celtic culture. •
Get well wishes are extended to Cliff Trepani the Public Relations Officer with the Vancouver Ireland-Canada Chamber of Commerce.
•
Best wishes for continued good progress on a full recovery to Ray Carter of the British Home Store in Steveston. Ray is recovering from a heart attack suffered in June.
?on<rCu»K Cells Froi
& Communis fwa*
i_ * —* .
Culture - Musics Mnhotop
10 <*et Connected Todav ^ (604) 434-3747
J*'' 'naiJ: celticOfisur-ca
SPECIAL OFFER
Subscribe and receive a complimentary Celtic Connection coffee mug
10 ISSUES DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR Annual Subscription Rales:
Canada.................$ 30/y ear
US......................$45/year
International.........$75/year
Name:__
Address._
City: . ■ y-ix-ivA?-"
Prov/state:___ Postal/Zip:_
Country:_____
please return COMPLETED FORM with your cheque or money order lo: The Celtic Connection, 741 - 916 West Broadway, Vancouver, B.C. vsz ik7 Canada
Get well wishes to Kevin Boggan of Vancouver who injured his leg while on holiday in Newfoundland. Kevin is also a volunteer distributor of The Celtic Connection in East Vancouver and both he and his wife Stephanie are well-known and very involved in Irish events in the community. Kevin has high praise for the people he met while on his trip, who came to his assistance when he was incapacitated. The bed and breakfast where has was staying offered to refund their booking and helped get their rental car to the hospital in St. John's where he was taken by ambulance. Thankfully Kevin is now back home and on the mend. Kevin and Stephanie have every intention of returning to the Maritimes and Newfoundland to continue their very enjoyable holiday.
•
Our thoughts and prayers are with Faye McCambley of Chelsea, Quebec who is undergoing chemotherapy treatment. We hope that soon she will be back in step-dancing and singing form and out to house parties.
kevin and caroline Mclaughlin
Congratulation to Kevin McLaughlin and Caroline Chinn who were married on August 21 in Vancouver. Kevin is the Regional Sales Manager for Western Canada with Guinness Canada.
WILLIAM COUGHLAN
A LIFE WELL LIVED
By JAMES CARBIN and GEORGE DAVID BIRCH
ISSION, B.C. — September marks the first anniversary of the passing of the oldest Irishman in this province. William Coughlan died last year at the age of 106. He was a past resident of Maple Ridge.
Coughlan was born on December 24,1891 to William and Sarah Coughlan in Schulle, a small town on the coastline of County Cork, Ireland, not far from Skibbereen.
His forefathers were survivors of the Irish famine, which ravaged that area of Ireland. His grandfa-
ther lived until he was 91 years old.
In conversations over many cups of tea with George David Birch, Coughlan liked to recall his youth in Ireland. He shared the story about his friend John and how they used to go bicycle riding together for miles along the seacoast of County Cork.
He recalled one Thursday in April 1912, when he was working in the potato patch behind his house, overlooking the ocean, he saw a huge ocean liner. This ship was larger than any he had ever seen and he discovered the name of it the following Monday. That day, the story of the ill-fated Titanic appeared in the newspaper. He was 20 years old at the time.
William Coughlan came to Canada with his younger sister in 1920. He settled in Manitoba and started work for what is now known as the Canadian National Railway. He worked there for 37 years, retiring in 1957. It was during the Twenties that he bought his first new automobile.
He met his wife Flora in Manitoba and they were married in 1930. They were parents to two daughters and one son. At the time of his death, he had five grandchildren and eight great-grand-chil-dren.
Coughlan was always a simple, humble man, a most remarkable Christian gentleman. He was a kind-hearted person and always deeply grateful for what others did for him. And, he is still deeply missed by his friends.
WILLIAM COUGHLAN (centre) stands proudly in front of his first new car with two friends