SEATTLE IRISH NEWS FOR DECEMBER/JANUARY
By JOHN KEANE
CONDOLENCES - Sincere sympathy to Tom and Kathleen Harrigan of Mukilteo on the death of their 51-year-old son Michael after a long illness. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis - May his faithful soul be at the right of God.
SEATTLE GAELS - Seattle Gaelic footballers and hurlers celebrated a wonderful 2007 season with a party at the Wilde Rover in Kirkland. Among the club's 2007 accomplishments was the first-ever North American Championship won by a Seattle Gaels Women's team. Championship medals were distributed at the dinner to the players on the winning team and MVP Trophies were also awarded to the hurlers and footballers.
The Gaels are still out there playing hurling and football most Sundays, despite the recent snow and rain. If you would like to join them, call Rob Mullin at (206) 940-1113, or visit www.seattlegaels.org.
DINNER SOLD OUT - Nollaig na mBan (or Mother's Christmas) is annually celebrated on the twelfth day of Christmas, January 6. In Seattle, we celebrate the day by taking the women in our lives to dinner. Seattle's 2008 Mother's Christmas Dinner on January 6 at Mick Kelly's in Burien is already sold out. To get on a waiting list, or for more information, call Candace at (425) 745-1263.
IRISH TENORS - Anthony Kearns, Finbar Wright and Karl Scully, are back in Seattle for their fabulous holiday concert on December 17 at 7:30 PM at Seattle's Benaroya Hall, in a benefit for the Ballard and Shoreline senior centers. Reserved seats range from $40 to $150 (latter includes a post-concert wine, dessert and photo reception).
The Irish Tenors remain one of Ireland's most successful touring acts, second only to U2. For information and tickets, call (206) 215-4747, or www.brownpapertickets.com.
CELTIC YULETIDE - Celebrate Magical Strings' 29th Annual Celtic Yuletide Concert series with a joyous evening of music, dance, song and storytelling. The Boulding and Raney families join with the champion Scottish fiddle and piano brother/sister duo, The McKassons, and percussionist Matt Jerrell for shows in Tacoma on December 14, Seattle on December 15, and later shows in Mount Vernon, Bellevue and Winthrop. For all the details, visit www.magicalstrings.com.
MONTHLY FEICEÁIL - Feiceáil, an opportunity to get together and share with friends, is on the 15th of each month! On December 15, plan to meet at 7 PM at The Crest Theater, 16505 Fifth Avenue NE, Seattle, where movies are $3 all the time. For information, call (206) 229-8512, or e-mail: melissae@irishclub.org.
MISCELLANEOUS
To keep up with all the Celtic events in the Seattle/Portland area, including Irish and Celtic concerts, céilis, sessions, etc., check the calendars online at www.hoilands.com.
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HURLING MANAGER James Walsh hands the 2007 Hurler of the Year award to Ron Lorensten.
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"As Gaeilge," Seattle's Irish language conversational group, meets every second Tuesday. For details, call (206) 423-7297, or e-mail WendyZ@irishclub.org.
The Seattle Gaels annual general meeting and election of officers is January 13, 2008.
Best wishes to Barry Boyle whose new Irish pub, The Irishmen, opened in November at 2923 Colby Ave (at Hewitt) in downtown Everett.
Best wishes to Phil Stafford who later this month opens Finaghty's Irish Pub and Restaurant at 7726 Center Boulevard SE, Snoqualime. For more information, visit www.finaghtys.com.
Riverdance returns to Seattle's Paramount Theatre from January 29 to February 3, 2008. For tickets and information, visit www.theparamount.com.
The sixth annual Friday Harbor Irish Music Camp is March 3-9 in Friday Harbor, with classes in the fiddle, flute, concertina, button accordion, guitar, sean-nós singing, tin whistle, dance, ear training, and Irish ensemble. Visit: www.fridayharborirish.com.
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PHOTO RIGHT: JAMES WALSH (2006 Turkey Bowl winner) awards Sean Bennet the much coveted golden sliothar of the Turkey Bowl - Poc Fada golf tournament which is held the weekend after Thanksgiving. This is the second year for the event.
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BOOK NOMINATION - Michael Collins, the Irish author who lives in Bellingham, again has a book nominated for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. His book, The Secret Life of E. Robert Pendleton, is one of 137 books nominated by libraries all over the world, one of which will be awarded the $150,000 prize. The Award is open to books from any country written in any language. For information, visit: www.impacdublinaward.ie.
DANCING OIREACHTAS - Dancers from Seattle's Baile Glas, Comerford, Slieveloughane and Tara schools participated in the Western U.S. Irish Dance Championships in Los Angeles in November.
This was the primary qualifying event for the 2008 World Championships in Belfast next March and over 1,700 dancers competed.
Nine Seattle dancers garnered World qualifying medals, including Julie Gats and Camille Gix of the Tara Academy, and Emily Bliss, Greta Gothard, Solana Gothard, Willow Gothard, Connor Nagan, Kelly Nagan, and Maggie Ritnour of the Comerford School.
Owen Barrington and Kinsey Brimhall of Comerford separately qualified at the North American Championships this past summer and Luc Benoit of Comerford qualified at the Western Canada Championships in October.
The competitions are limited to dancers with teachers who are licensed by the Irish Dancing Commission (An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha) in Dublin.
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LADIES FOOTBALL MANAGER (L) Marj Freidman passes the 2007 Ladies Gaelic Footballer of the year award to Meg Seyler (accepting on behalf of this year's recipient Kate Starbird).
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CAMERATA IRELAND - Ticketmaster now has tickets on sale for the March 24, 2008, performance of Camerata Ireland at Seattle's Benaroya Hall. Barry Douglas founded Camerata Ireland in 1999 as an orchestra of young Irish musicians determined to match the best in the world.
In 1986, Douglas had become the first non-Russian since Van Cliburn to win the Gold Medal at the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow. Through its tours throughout North and South America, China and most of Europe, Camerata Ireland has developed a reputation for excellence and for creating a particularly distinctive Irish string sound.
An all-Ireland company, Ireland's President McAleese and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II are joint Patrons of Camerata Ireland, a testament to its determination to create opportunity for the very best young Irish musicians. For more information, visit .
Beannachtaí na Nollaig agus Athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh go léir! Bí áthasach agus grámhar i do cheiliúradh!
The blessings of Christmas and a happy New Year to all of you! Celebrate with love and joy!
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