Seattle-Irish News Update
By JOHN KEANE
IHC AGM
At the Irish Heritage Club's annual general meeting and election of officers, outgoing president Reverend Barry Keating was re-elected to the board of directors but declined to run again for the top position. The new president is David Jacobsen and he is joined by Melissa Estelle as vice-president, Ruth Gurgel as secretary, Frank Gill in charge of membership and John Keane as treasurer. Newly elected board members also include Jane Sepede and Ralph Kosche. For more information on the Irish Heritage Club and its activities, visit: www.irishclub.org.
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SEATTLE’S WILD GEESE PLAYERS (www.wildgeeseseattle.org) celebrated James Joyce’s Bloomsday on June 16 and 18 with staged readings from Joyce’s Ulysses. Taking the role of Bloom at one of the celebrations was U.S. Congressman Jim McDermott. At rehearsal above are: (rear) Joe Martin, Bill Barnes, Joseph Ryan, Ciaran O’Mahony; (front) Niall McDonnell, Congressman Jim McDermott, Scott McKinstry.
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Joyce Exhibition
The International Joyce exhibition at the downtown Seattle Library was very popular and attracted a great deal of interest from the public. The exhibit was accompanied by Irish book displays that also proved to be very popular, requiring restocking several times.
The exhibit now moves to the University of Washington's Suzzallo Library where it will be on display during the months of August and September. The UW Libraries also plan to showcase their Joyce holdings at the same time. The exhibit location is the exhibit room in the Suzzallo Library's west end near Kane Hall.
The Joyce exhibition was prepared by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs to mark the centenary of Bloomsday, June 16, 1904, and is organized in Seattle by the Irish Heritage Club and the Seattle-Galway Sister City Association.
Pipers Concer
Seattle's Irish Pipers Club has a concert at Conor Byrne's Pub, 5140 Ballard Ave NW, in Ballard on July 9, at 8 PM. The $5 cover will help organize the West Coast Pipers' Tionól in Seattle next February. For more information, visit www.irishpipersclub.org.
Seattle Gaels
The local Gaelic footballers and hurlers practice Tuesday evenings at Franklin High School, corner of MLK Way Jr and Rainier, Seattle. Their City League Finals are scheduled for July 10. For information, call Rebecca Fox at (206) 498-2762, Rob Mullin at (206) 353-8460, e-mail: SeattleGaels@irishclub.org, or visit: www.seattlegaels.org.
Irish Picnic
The Irish Community Picnic is July 31, from noon to 6 PM, at St. Edward State Park in Kenmore (see www.parks.wa.gov for directions, etc.). All members of Seattle's Irish community are welcome, especially families, and admission is free. Barbeques, hot dogs and hamburgers are provided, but you're welcome to bring your favorite food and drink. The hurling and football games start around 12 noon and everyone is welcome to participate. There are tug-a-war contests, kids races, three-legged races, sack-races, water balloon toss, straw search for the kids, etc. For information, call Rob Mullin at (206) 353-8460.
Law Fellow
James Mulcahy from Dublin is the Irish winner of the 2005 Thomas Addis Emmet Law Fellowship. He is now in Seattle working on public service law projects until he returns to Ireland on August 22. In common with most major law schools in the U.S., the University of Washington runs a legal aid clinic on campus, providing a variety of free services to members of the local disadvantaged community.
This Law Fellowship program brings one Irish law student to Seattle for two months each summer to get first-hand experience of human rights and public interest law cases. The successful candidate spends two months working in the campus clinic or an associated clinic providing public legal services. The UW Law School, the Irish Heritage Club, the Friends of St. Patrick and the Seattle Galway Association help sponsor the Fellowship program. For more information, visit: www.flac.ie.
Irish Window
The windows at the downtown Seattle Macy's store (formerly the Bon Marche) are dedicated through July 20 to displays celebrating the various ethnic festivals held annually at the Seattle Center, with one of the windows dedicated to the Irish Festival. The designs are done by a group of kids called Coyote Central whose art teams used recycled materials to create signature pieces filling all 28 display-windows.
Irish Language
Basic and Intermediate classes in the Irish language will start in September at 12600 NE 85th Street, Kirkland. Each class consists of 10 sessions, with beginner classes on Monday evenings and Intermediate level classes on Saturday mornings. For details, call Aidan Maher at (425) 823-1553 or e-mail: thepaycock@juno.com.
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THIS PHOTO of Irish Revolutionary leader Eamon de Valera typing on a Seattle Times newspaper typesetting machinewas taken on April 7, 1930. Karl Torkelson, composing room foreman, is looking on. In 1926, “Dev” had founded a new political party, Fianna Fail, and in order to spread his ideas, wanted to found a new Irish daily newspaper. He came to the United States to raise funds for the new paper and on his tour visited Seattle and the Seattle Times. His new Irish newspaper, the Irish Press, was started in September 1931, but ceased publication in September 1995. A copy of this photo was presented to Irish President Mary McAleese during her visit to Seattle in May when she met with the Editorial Board of the Seattle Times.
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Trade Mission
The Irish Presidential Trade Mission to Seattle in May was the largest such ever to the U.S., involving 30 Irish-based companies, and was also very successful. While here, Limerick-based Galty Technologies reached agreement with cell phone provider, Cingular, to use Galty software on Blackberry devices.
Dublin's Sigmar Aviation will provide Alteon Training, a Boeing subsidiary, with support services for airlines in start-up, training, expansion and fleet transition. Dublin's Changingworlds, whose applications modify mobile phone web browsers, will open a San Francisco office following the Seattle trip. The Seattle Times editorialized, “the underlying message of this top-level delegation .... Ireland plays at the championship level.
Comhaltas
Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann (CCE) Columbia Branch, serving the Vancouver WA/Portland OR area, meets monthly on first Fridays for summertime ceilis, at Michael Servetus Unitarian Fellowship 4505 East 18th Street, Vancouver WA. Instruction at 7:30 PM; Dancing 8 PM to 10 PM Cost: $5 per adult, $15 per family. Ceili musicians are admitted free. For information, contact (360) 737-0656 or e-mail: alygal@yahoo.com.
Harp Congress
The Ninth World Harp Congress will be in Dublin from July 17 to 24, with eight festive days of celebration of the harp, including performances by many of the world's leading concert harpists in recital and with orchestra. The evening venues include St. Patrick's Cathedral and Ireland's National Concert Hall for orchestra and chamber concerts. The 2005 Chair of the World Harp Congress is Pat Wooster from Sumner, just south of Seattle.
Ongoing Activities & Events
The Irish Heritage BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP continues meeting during the summer. Call (206) 525-5310 or email hudit@comcast.net.......The weekly GAA TELECASTS from Ireland continue at the Irish Emigrant. For game times, visit: www.setanta.com.......THE CHIEFTAINS are at The Paramount on July 14.......The ALL NATIONS SOCCER CUP, involving 33 Seattle teams including one representing Ireland, starts July 15 at Fort Dent Park, Tukwila. For information, visit: www.allnationscup.org.......The annual TÍR NA NÓG DAY CAMP at the Seattle Center, July 18 to 22, 9 AM to 12:30 PM daily, for youths aged 4-8. Call (206) 856-5535 or e-mail: celticroots_seattle@hotmail.com.......KARAN CASEY performs at the Tractor, July 20. Visit: www.karancasey.com.......AN RÍ RÁ MONTANA Irish Festival is August 13-14 in Butte, Montana. Visit: www.mgcsonline.org.
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AT THE MARRIAGE of Marisa Colarusso and Stephen Quinn.
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Congratulations
Congratulations to Stephen Quinn and Marisa Colarusso who were married at St. James Cathedral on June 25.......to Maeve and John O'Malley on the birth of Mary Grace O'Malley on June 28.......and to Michael and Bhavesha O'Byrne (and grandparents Myles and Joan) on the birth of baby Myles O'Byrne.
Condolences
To the Rowland family on the sudden death of 44-year-old Martin Rowland. Sincere sympathy is extended to his mother, Bridget Rowland; his father, Finian Rowland; sisters, Ann, Kathleen and Teresa; brothers, Patrick and Kevin, and his many other relatives and friends.
To Seattle's John Fleming on the recent death of his father, Raymond Fleming, in Ardee, County Louth. John was able to visit his father during his illness and then returned to Seattle to celebrate the birth of his son Ruairí Seán, on May 19! Ruairí is John and Kathleen's third child.
Condolences also to the Lynch family on the death of Larry Lynch, father of Lori Lynch and father-in-law of Chris Boyle, who passed away on June 30 in Seattle.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha – May their souls rest at God's right hand.
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