Seattle-Irish News Update
By John Keane
Seattle Gaels
The Seattle Gaels footballers and hurlers continue their practices and are in the process of organizing a City League. New players are invited to join and participate in any of the games. For more information, call Rebecca Fox at (206) 498-2762, Rob Mullin at (206) 353-8460, e-mail SeattleGaels@irishclub.org, or visit www.seattlegaels.org.
Telecasts
The annual telecasts of GAA games from Ireland have started at the Irish Emigrant in Seattle's U-District. Championship season-passes are available at $100 – call (206) 525-2955 for details. For game schedules and times, visit www.setanta.com.
Matt Talbot Breakfast
University of Washington (and former Notre Dame) football coach Tyrone Willingham is the keynote speaker at the annual business breakfast at 7 AM on May 13, at the Matt Talbot Center, 2313 Third Avenue, Seattle. Admission is FREE but reservations are required. Call (206) 256-9865 or e-mail: breakfast@matttalbotcenter.org.
Gaels Golf
The Seattle Gaels Golf Tournament is May 22 at the West Seattle Golf Course, with tee times starting at 10 AM. The tournament is a 4-person scramble at $60 per person, which includes green fees, t-shirt, lunch, hole-in-one and other prizes, etc. Tee-times and sponsorship slots are available by calling (206) 953-8460, or e-mail Gaels@irishclub.org.
Irish Races
Irish Day at the Races at Emerald Downs in Auburn is June 12, with the first race at 12:30 PM. All the races will have Irish community representatives as honorary stewards, including the main race of the day, the Irish Day handicap. For free admission tickets, send your name, address (including zip), and the number of tickets needed to Races@irishclub.org, or call (206) 223-3608. For Turf Club reservations, directions, etc., call the racetrack at (253) 288-7000 or visit www.emeralddowns.com.
Bloomsday
Plan for Seattle's Bloomsday celebration on June 16, at the UW's Brechemin Auditorium. More readers are needed and volunteers should contact Kieran O'Malley at (206) 351-8607 or kieranom@u.washington.edu.
Irish Professionals Network
Enterprise Ireland is developing an Irish Professionals Network in Washington State, a database of Irish business and professional people to take advantage of Irish networking opportunities being organized in the Seattle area. Enterprise Ireland is the Irish government agency with responsibility for the development of Irish industry.
The U.S. imported $27 billion worth of goods and services from Irish firms in 2003, making Ireland the ninth biggest exporter of goods and services to the U.S. Enterprise Ireland is due to formalize some $20 million in new transatlantic business during a trade mission to the U.S. All those interested in being members of the Seattle area Irish Professionals Network, and especially all Irish graduates, are invited to submit their names and email addresses to Diane Roberts at diane.roberts@enterprise-ireland.com.
Volunteers?
The Celtic Connection newspaper, which serves the Irish and Celtic communities in the Pacific Northwest, needs people to assist in the delivery of the paper to 6-8 locations monthly in the Seattle area. If you can help, contact Catholine Butler at (604) 434-3747 or e-mail: cbutler@telus.net.
Irish Picnic
Mark your calendar for the Irish Community Picnic on July 31, at St. Edward State Park in Kenmore. For information, call Suzanne Green at (206) 284-3802.
Irish Music
Galway band THE SAW DOCTORS will be at Seattle's Crocodile Cafe on May 21, and at Portland's Aladdin Theatre on May 20. For more information, visit www.sawdoctors.com.
Singer DANIEL O'DONNELL at Seattle's Paramount Theater, June 6. Tickets at the Paramount Box Office or Ticketmaster.
THE CHIEFTAINS at The Paramount Theatre on July 14 (changed from July 17). Tickets are available at the Paramount Box Office or Ticketmaster.
AN RÍ RÁ MONTANA Irish Festival is August 13-14 in Butte, Montana. Headliner acts include Solas, Searson and An Dóchas, plus many outstanding regional bands. More information is available at www.mgcsonline.org.
Irish Camp
The 3rd Annual Tír na nÓg Day Camp is at the Seattle Center July 18 - July 22, 9 AM - 12:30 PM daily. Divided by age groups, youths aged 4-8 will be introduced to Irish culture through céili dancing, language, folklore and crafts. For information, call (206) 856-5535 or email celticroots_seattle@hotmail.com.
Cork-Montana
A Cork-Montana exchange program and two-day conference was held in Missoula April 26-27, aimed at creating new opportunities for academic and business collaboration between the Treasure State and the Emerald Isle, and specifically between The University of Montana and University College Cork. For more information, contact Traolach O'Riordain at toriordain@hotmail.com.
Congratulations
To San Francisco's Irish Consul General, Dónal Denham, who has just been appointed Irish Ambassador to Lithuania. A good friend of the Irish in Seattle, Dónal will not assume his new posting until the fall.
U.S. Visas
Senators John McCain and Edward Kennedy are introducing an immigration bill this week that would subject illegal immigrants to fines, but allow them to remain in the United States and earn a chance to apply for permanent residency. Under their proposal, illegal immigrants would get three-year visas that could be renewed once. After completing six years of work, the immigrants would be eligible to “get in the back of the line” to apply for permanent legal residency. Their proposal is an alternative to President Bush's guest worker proposal sought by employers but opposed by many conservatives.
Study Mission
Seventy-two business leaders representing over 40 Seattle area businesses leave on a business mission to Ireland on May 12, returning on May 21. The mission will spend four days in Northern Ireland, with meetings scheduled in Belfast, Lisburn and Derry. Then they head to Dublin for another four days of meetings. This trip is a result of the much smaller business mission that travelled to Ireland in September 2003 and is organized by the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle. For more information, contact Bill Stafford at (206) 389-7307 or bills@seattlechamber.com.
U2 In Seattle
When U2 was in Seattle, the group’s lead singer Bono stayed with his buddy Bill Gates at Gates' residence in Medina. U2 two sold-out shows at Seattle's Key Arena.
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