THE CELTIC CONNECTION! • MAY 1994
Page 11
SONIA O'CONNOR — POPULAR CELTIC HARPIST
"... We're just a casual, networking group of people"
(Continued from page 9)
can help with direction and connections. We had a successful small dinner last year in the Arbutus Club. Our dinners have averaged around 40 or 50 people.
"When we started, we were just UCG graduates but then we decided to expand because it wasn't viable with just one university group.
We now have about 40 or 50 graduates from Queens University in Belfast, as well. Regional Technical colleges, colleges of technology and various third level education graduates are also represented.
"The cost of joining is the cost of your dinner. We have a pot luck barbeque in June whicn brings together families so that the children have an opportunity to meet each other as well. Culpeppers on West 10th is our unofficial meeting place in Vancouver. If people want more information they can call (604) 263-1325.
Montreal Irish Meeting at Hurley's
So we set up the Native Irish Community Network.
The first of our weekly "Come all ye's" went well. It was on a Saturday afternoon at Hurley's, which has become a kind of Irish community centre. The newspaper rack there was full of Irish
newspapers and magazines. Gay msnnavepiayeaamaj-1^ fi £ e(J Qur television
the building of the city of s£een &ith h.g Ute ^ sw j
met a few new people, some recent arrivals and others who have been here for a while.
By KATHLEEN O'HARA Montreal proudly boasts that it holds the second largest St. Patrick's Day parade in North America. The turnout this year of floats and spectators was fabulous. Yes, everyone in Montreal is Irish on St. Patrick's Day. As in many North American cities, the Irish have played a major role in the building of the city of Montreal. But I wonder how many Irish from Ireland live here now.
Since my arrival here almost a year ago, I haven't had much time to get homesick. There are about 26 Irish societies in Montreal, quite a few of which I have been involved with. There are Irish language classes that I enjoy teaching. There are ceili& every now and then. There are ttiose of us who are concerned about promoting awareness of l'Jle des Irlandais et Irlandaises (trie Irish Island), Grosse-Ile.
There is plenty of good traditional music. You can get a 'dacent' pint of Guinness Sown at the 'local' pub, Hurley's. Despite all of these activities I have participated in this las* year, there was something Hissing, something not quite right. But this has now changed.
A few weeks ago, Radio Centre-Ville's "Irish Show" hosted a St. Patrick's Day party. We had great 'craic' that Saturday afternoon downing Irish coffees. It was comforting to hear so many Irish accents. We agreed tben and there that there was a need for us Irish to meet informally on a regular basis to chat and share stories, news and gossip from Ireland.
We admitted to missing the Late Late Show and the gossip oi who's doing what here and witft whom!
There was a buzz about what's happening in Ireland and what Irish events are happening in Canada. I spoke with an Irish person who is interested in helping me set up my family history and stories video company. All in all, it was a most encouraging event. It is comforting to know that the Native Irish Community Network is there for us all. It is a non-sectarian, a-political and has no agenda. All it is, is a kind of Bewley's and your "local" in one.
If you're coming to Montreal, drop in, say hello, everyone is welcome. Every Saturday from 4 PM we are in Hurley's, 1225 Crescent (south of St. Catherine Street) reading Irish newspapers, watching Irish TV, sharing news, giving advice and support, drinking a dacent' cup of tea and eating fresh soda bread. It will be a home away from home and for me, something to look forward to at the end of every week.
For a registration form and further information on the Native Irish Community Network call (514) 487-3611 or write Native Irish Community Network c/o Eirean Associates Inc., PO Box 428, Victoria Station, Montreal, Quebec, H3Z 2V8.
THE DOGS ARE COMING!
June 1994 West Coast Tour
DIRECT FROM SCOTLAND
KLUB RECORDING ARTISTS
oldlblind dogs
MORE INFO ? CALL: (604) 530-8052 or (604) 335-2522
( POETRY)
But i Felt Like a Celt!
For years I felt a kindredship to Celtic melodies.
They wound themselves around my heart, from way across the seas.
And then one day I faced the truth, it was not to my liking.
My ancestors wore hats with horns - that means I am a Viking!
Now that I look back on it, I see where I went wrong.
There were no uncles in my clan, named Paddy, Tom or Sean.
With names like Hans, Olav and Lars, I had to face the truth,
It seems I had some relatives - that lacked a bit of couth!
I apologize on their behalf, I know it wasn't right,
They should have learned some jigs and reels, to play on Friday nite,
Instead I guess they all got bored, and with nothing else to do,
They hopped into their Viking ships, to cross the ocean blue.
Family ties being what they are, my kin I must defend,
The reason for these jaunts of theirs, was just to make new friends,
But the rotten apples in their midst, made that ancient blunder,
Of thinking their vacation - was for pillaging and plunder.
And now I'd like to mend the fence, and share those Irish songs,
There's lots that we can offer you, to right what once went wrong.
We'll stand beside you from now on, or stock is hale and hearty,
There's one more thing I'd like to add - We Norse know how to party!
— Vivian Ruskin
Saturday MAY 14th (9:00) Celtodelic rock'n'reel with
BOILED IN LEAD
Ashley Maclsaac Band & more STARFISH Rm (1055 Homer St.)
Rogue Folk Club
Tin- home of Celtic musk in \ tincouver
at The W.I.S.E. Hall (18S2 Adanac St.j
Friday MAY 13th (8:30) Ancient Cultures, B.C. Salsa
Saturday MAY 21st (830) Ireland's mostpopular songwriter, singer, storyteller and performer
TOMMY SANDS
Friday JUNE 3rd (830) Popular Juno Award winning songwriter & hot Chilean guitarist
James KEELAGHAN
with OSCAR LOPEZ
Tickets at Black Swan, Highlife, Rufus" Guitars For info. & reservations, call 736-3022_j
Friday JUNE 10th (830) A thistle up the kilt of Scottish music; hot Celtic folk I rock!
WOLFSTONE
Maritime Labour Centre (1880 Triumph Street)
Sunday JUNE 12th (8:00) Hot New Orleans jazz combo
DIRTY DOZEN Brass Band
Maritime Labour Centre Saturday JUNE 18ft (830) Powerful Scottish acoustic band's first Vancouver concert
OLD BLIND DOGS
members' discounts and more
in
Moray Nairn and Banff Association
Presents: The Gaberlunzie
A Popular Scottish Folk Singing Duo With the Maritime Band — Sons of Terra Nova Tickets $12 • Students $6 SATURDAY, MAY 14
Rob Stuart
with songs of Scotland and Ireland and Ian Menzies, a five-piece band Tazz with a Scottish flavour by Double Standards SATURDAY, MAY 28
Bothy Night — A Mixed Bag FRIDAY, JUNE 17
For Information and Tickets call:
The Scottish Cultural Centre 8886 Hudson Street, Vancouver
980-0950
(604)