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THE CELTIC CONNECTION ♦ MARCH 1994
ST. DAVID'S DAY
Celtic Spring
Two evenings with internationally-acclaimed harpists
Kim Robertson
World-renowned
Celtic Harpist
in concert with
Harps International
Celtic, jazz & Latin American
Wed. & Fri. Apr. 6 & 8 at 8 p.m.
Vancouver Unitarian Church
49th Avenue at Oak Street
Reserved Tickets: 521-7194
In Abbotsford only At Abbey Arts Centre
For Valley Concert Society
Kim Robertson
Sat. Apr. 9 at 8 p.m
Reserved Tickets: 855-5093
Rogue Folk Club WjrkM^M        The home of Celtic music in Vancouver ^Smi^  at The VV.I.S.E. Hall (1882 Adanac St.)j	
Tuesday March 1st (8:00) Ireland's finest traditional band ALT AN Centennial Theatre, N.Van	Saturday March 12th (830) Anglo-Irish folk duo Steve Tilston & Maggie Boyle
r Winter Roots Music Festival ^ Friday March 4th (8:00) Oscar Lovez. Ancient Cultures	Sunday March 13th (8:00) Triple Threat acousHcbims
Saturday March 5th (2:00-730) Gypsalero, Oscar Lopez, Waskesu, Tammy Fassaert, John Reischman etc.	Saturday March 26th (830) Scotland s Bobby Watt
Saturday March 5th (830) Country Dance	Monday April 4th (8:00) John Renbourn & Robin Williamson (Van. East Cultural Ctr.)
Sunday March 6th (2:00) Rick Scott Family Concert Day Stages (3:00-6:00) Finale Concert (8:00) lAnzanga Marimba, Asza >	
	Saturday April 23rd (830) Battlefield Band Centennial Theatre, N.Van
^tickets at Black Swan, Highlife, Rufus' Guitars ^ ^ For info. & reservations, call 736-3022 j	
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A Welsh Orator Becomes the Patron Saint
By LYDIA LANGSTAFF
Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, led an austere life, but like most Celtic saints, the legends that grew up around him are fascinating. He accomplished a great deal by founding a diocese on an old Roman site named Menevia, on the west coast of Wales.
Much of what he did is obscured by time, even the dates of his birth and death are uncertain, ranging from 446-549 to 520-589 AD. However, there is no doubt of the Welsh devotion to him when they remember his death every March 1st by wearing a leek.
David or Dewi was a son of Sant, a princely family of Ceredigion and Saint Non. Legend has it that when his mother bore him a spring of water appeared beneath her. It is known as St. Non's Well and still flows today. Although not likely, the faithful also believe that Saint David was related to the Virgin Mary, 18 generations removed, and an uncle of King Arthur.
In one legend, Saint David led his people into battle against the Saxons, and told them to wear leeks to enable them to distinguish between friend and foe.
It was his public speaking that impressed his peers most; he
demonstrated this talent at the synod at Llandewi-Brevi in Cardigan.
He spoke such stirring words that his opponents were silenced. While he preached, a mound grew instantaneously beneath his feet, raising him higher, so that the crowd could hear him better. Saint Dubricius resigned so that David could be primate of the Cambrian church.
His own merit as an orator, organizer and disciplinarian earned him the titles Archbishop of Caerleon and Primate of Wales. He fought vehemently against the second rise of Pelagians (followers of the monk Pelagius, who denied Original Sin).
Transferring the ecclesiastical seat of government from Caerleon-on-Usk to Mynyw (Menevia) for safety and tranquillity, he founded an abbey based on manual labour. Strict
with his disciples, and himself, cattle were not used to till the rockyground.Hisdisciples never spoke unless necessary, and they never ceased praying mentally. They ate bread, vegetables and salt, but they drank only water, occasionally adding a little milk to it, which garnered Saint David the surname 'The Waterman'.
Mynyw has become Ty-Dewi (St. David's) and is the site of a cathedral in his honour. Saint David humbly confessed to a monk named Jestin, who had arrived in a coracle from an island off of Brittany. He regularly sought Jestin's counsel. On the mainland, two miles west of St. David's Cathedral, a chapel stands dedicated to Jestin.
When David died, Saint Kentigern saw angels carrying him to Heaven. Saint David was buried near Mynyw, but his body was moved to Glastonbury in 964. Unfortunately, Henry VIII destroyed the site when he dismantled the abbey. The empty shrine still stands in St. David s Cathedral. Monks at the Abbey of Llancarfan in Glamorganshire recorded his life.
Pope Calixtus canonized David in 1120, and said that travelling to St. David's twice was as good for the soul's salvation as one pilgrimage to Rome.
Coronation Street Stars Greet Toronto
By BRENDAN LANDERS
February was Coronation Street month in Toronto. Bryan Mosley, who plays the stingy shop-keeper Alf Roberts in the long running English soap opera, was guest of honour at the annual British fair in Exhibition Place.
Another "Street" visitor was Bill Tarmey, who plays Jack Duckworth, the henpecked, luckless cellarman at the Rover's Return.
In real life, Bill Tarmey is a longtime crooner, with a voice as smokily soft as the Black Velvets drunk in the clubs he used to sing in 20 years ago, before he found fame on the Street.
Tarmey was in Toronto to participate in the Variety Club's annual telethon on Global TV, held in the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. He took advantage of the trip to promote his new CD, A Gift of Love.
There's a story attached to the album. A few years ago, Tarmey underwent heart surgery. Half expecting not to come out alive, he recorded one of the songs and told his manager he wanted to dedicate it to his wife. Thankfully, he survived to record the whole album.
Tarmey's stay in Toronto was brief. "I'm only here for four days. That was all I could take off. Then it's straight back to the day job", he said.
BILL TARMEY
The Rankins — Among the Best
TORONTO — The Rankin Family, is a front runner in this year's Juno Awards stakes, having been nominated in four categories.
The categories in which they have been nominated are: Group of the Year, Country Group of the Year, Single of the Year (Fare Thee Well Love) and Canadian Entertainer of the Year.        — Brendan Landers
Niamh Parsons on BBC Special
DUBLIN — Niamh Parsons, one of Ireland's finest traditional singers has returned to her home city of Dublin to work on a new album which will be released along with her first album on the Green Linnet label.
Her first album Loosely Connected was critically acclaimed around the world, reaching Top-30 in the British Folk Roots chart and Top Five on a Canadian folk chart. It will be released shortly in America under the Green Linnet licence.
Niamh also performs with the Irish traditional supergroup Arcady, taking over the vocal duties of Frances Black.
Niamh Parsons' backing band, the Loose Connections, features the songwriting talents and bass playing of Dee Moore and all-Ireland uileann piping champion John McSherry.
The band, backed byNiamh, performed on a recent BBC Television special with a stunning blend of original and traditional material.
Niamh will be available in 1994 for gigs, TV and radio appearances and anything which may help establish this great singer and give her the recognition she deserves.
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For more information contact: Demo Productions, 117 Grange Abbey Crescent, Donaghmede, Dublin 13, Ireland Tel. (011) 353-1-8473673.