SEATTLE IRISH NEWS FEBRUARY 2009 By JOHN KEANE
CONDOLENCES
· To the family of Sister Ann Patrick Deegan, O.P. from Co. Laois, a Dominican Sister for 65 years who died in Seattle.
· To the family of Violet Knox from Co. Louth who died in Eatonville.
· To Pat Cummins of Seattle on the death of his sister, Patsy Clinton, in Drogheda, Co. Louth.
· To the family of Dr. Tony O'Keefe, 78, a native of Cork who died recently in Gig Harbor.
· To the wife and family of "Vic" Wortley, a native of Portadown, Co. Down, and a former UW Professor, who died in November aged 79.
· To husband Henry and the family of Margaret Daly, 82, who died recently in Longview. The Dalys emigrated from Limerick in 1958.
· To the family of Michael J. O'Callaghan, a native of Cork who died in Richland in November.
· To the family of Nancy Louise Regan who died in Bellevue. Her parents were from Mayo and Galway.
· To Finian Rowland of Seattle and John Rowland of Marysville on the recent death of their brother Martin, 88, in Co. Mayo.
· To Mary Shriane of Seattle on the recent death of her mother, Katie Keating, in Ballinabranna, Co. Carlow. Katie made many friends on her frequent visits to Seattle over the years.
· To Nanci Spieker of Seattle on the recent death of her uncle, George McGuire, in North Carolina.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha dílis - May their faithful souls be at God's right hand
 IN PORTLAND on December 13, just before they met Irish President Mary McAleese, Seattleites, (L-R) Donny Foy, Maureen Keane, Aidan Maher and Finian Rowland. |
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At the Nollaig na mBan (Irish Mothers' Christmas) Dinner on January 11: (L-R) Kathy Brennan, Dean Arnold, Jane Sepede and Leo Brennan. |
AT THE NOLLAIG NA MBAN (Irish Mothers' Christmas) Dinner on January 11: (L-R) the Jacobsen family, Diana, David, Gabby and Daisy with Gabby's mother Betty Butkowski. |
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TARA CONNOR and Liam Boyle who will be the Honorary Grand Marshals of Seattle's 2009 St. Patrick's Day parade. |
SEATTLE'S IRISH WEEK 2009
Saturday, March 7
IRISH SODA BREAD CONTEST - 2 PM at T.S. McHugh's, First and Mercer, Seattle. Call (206) 284-3802.
Sunday, March 8
IRISH GENEALOGY CONFERENCE - 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM at Sand Point Education Center, 6208 60th Avenue NE, Seattle, with speakers from the Ulster Historical Foundation. For details, costs, registration, etc., e-mail Genealogy@irishclub.org or call (425) 290-7839.
Friday, March 13
IRISH WEEK PROCLAMATION LUNCHEON - Noon at F.X. McRory's. Advance reservations are required. For tickets, call (206) 361-1713.
GREEN STRIPE LAYING - 7 PM on Fourth Avenue from Jefferson to Westlake Park. For details, call (425) 548-9859.
Saturday, March 14
IRISH FLAG-RAISING and NATIONAL ANTHEMS - 12:20 PM at King County Administration Building.
ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE - 12:30 PM. Starting from Fourth Avenue and Jefferson. All marching groups must pre-register, but anybody with an Irish connection is invited to walk without pre-registration. Seniors and others who can't walk the distance are welcome to ride in the "Seniors Shamrock Shuttle." For details, call (206) 242-5140.
FRIENDS OF ST. PATRICK BANQUET - 6 PM at Washington Athletic Club, Seattle. For details, call (425) 290-7839.
Sunday, March 15
ST PATRICK'S DAY DASH - 8:30 AM from First and Mercer near the Seattle Center. Note the NEW start time. Call (206) 522-7711 for details, or go to www.stpatsdash.com.
MATT TALBOT DINNER - 6 PM at F. X. McRory's. For details, call (425) 290-7839.
Tuesday, March 17
St. Patrick's Day MASS FOR PEACE IN IRELAND - 12 Noon at Plymouth Congregational Church. For details, call (425) 745-1034.
St. Patrick's Day IRISH SENIORS' LUNCHEON - 2 PM at F. X. McRory's. For details, call (425) 290-7839.
Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, March 14-15, 17
IRISH FESTIVAL www.irishclub.org/center.htm, Seattle Center's Center House, Saturday and Sunday 11 AM to 6 PM; Tuesday 11:30 AM to 3 PM. NOTE new starting times!
The Festival features booths selling Irish and Celtic products, Irish music, singing, dancing, an Irish Film Festival, workshops, lectures, cultural displays, children's contests and activities, etc. For details, email IrishWeek@irishclub.org or call 206-427-3027. For all the details visit www.irishweek.org.
HONORARY GRAND MARSHALS - Seattle's Irish Heritage Club is proud and honored to announce that Liam Boyle and Tara Connor will be the Honorary Grand Marshals of Seattle's 2009 St. Patrick's Day Parade.
Liam Boyle was born in Belfast in 1948, one of 11 children. The entire Boyle family participated in Irish sports, and Gaelic football and hurling have been Liam's passion since he was old enough to walk.
In 1969, he captained the Antrim U-21 Gaelic Football team which won the All-Ireland Championship, and he has participated as a player, coach and manager of Gaelic football and hurling teams in Belfast and later in Seattle.
He first played football with the Seattle Gaels in 1984 when he spent the summer visiting Seattle. In Belfast, he was also a community activist and graduated from Queen's University with a degree in Celtic Studies and Politics.
In 1984, Liam met his future wife, Tara Connor, when she was in Ireland visiting relatives. Tara's maternal grandparents were from Roscommon while her paternal ancestors were from Cavan.
Tara grew up in New York deeply involved in Irish dance, music and literature. She moved to Belfast in 1985 to pursue further education and graduated with a Doctorate in Psychology from the University of Ulster while also working in the mental health system in County Down.
Liam and Tara married in 1991 and within a few years had two children, Sorcha and Declan, both of whom have grown up deeply immersed in Irish culture.
In 1997, the family moved to the Seattle area where both Tara and Liam have siblings. In the 12 years since then, both Liam and Tara have been very involved in organizing and promoting Irish activities in the Seattle area, especially Gaelic football and hurling, and the Irish language.
Liam is currently youth development officer for the Seattle Gaels and also teaches classes in the Irish language. Tara has been working with Plymouth Housing Group for 12 years, a group dedicated to ending the homeless crisis in the Seattle area.
Because of their immense contributions to the promotion of Irish culture in the Seattle area over the past 12 years, Liam and Tara are being honored as Honorary Grand Marshals of Seattle's 2009 St. Patrick's Day Parade.
GENEALOGY CONFERENCE - An all-day Irish Genealogy Conference is being held March 8, 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM, at the Sand Point Education Center, 6208 60th Avenue (near Magnuson Park), Seattle.
Presenters are Fintan Mullen, Director of the Ulster Historical Foundation in Belfast, and Dr. Brian Trainor, the former Director of the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland.
Price is $40 including lunch ($30 for Irish Heritage Club Members or if paid by February 21). For details, visit www.irishclub.org, e-mail Genealogy@irishclub.org, or call (425) 290-7839.
IRISH AUTHOR - Irish author Frank Delaney reads and signs copies of his new book, Shannon, the third and most recent of his big Irish novels, on February 25 at 7 PM at Third Place Books, 17171 Bethell Way NE, Lake Forest Park.
PENSION INFORMATION - In a previous column, incorrect contact information was given for those seniors who had worked for a period of 5-10 years in Ireland or the UK before emigrating abroad and who now wanted to claim an Irish or British Pension.
If you qualify for an Irish Pension, you must submit an application through the U.S. Office of International Operations, P.O. Box 17049, Baltimore, MD 21235-7715 or call (410) 965-0160. For UK Pensions, visit the UK Department for Work and Pensions website at www.dwp.gov.uk./eservice or call the Pension Trust at +44-191-218-7777.
IRISH DANCING - The 2009 Emerald City Feis (Irish Dancing Competitions) is February 14 and 15 at the Northwest Rooms of the Seattle Center. Admission is free on both days and more information is available at www.emeraldcityfeis.com.
CONGRATULATIONS - Best wishes to Seattle's Colleen Raney (www.colleenraney.com) who has just released her first solo CD, Linnet. Colleen is now performing independently from Rapparee, the group headed up by her brother Mark.
UILLEANN PIPES - Direct from Ireland on May 8, Piperlink will provide a chance to understand the Irish uilleann pipes and why they have such a profound influence on traditional Irish music.
Piperlink in Seattle is sponsored by Na Piobairi Uilleann (www.pipers.ie) in Dublin and will include performances by some of Ireland's leading pipers, providing a chance to interact with the players and the instrument. The location is yet to be determined, but watch the Seattle Irish Pipers Club (www.irishpipersclub.org) website for details.
GAELS ELECTIONS - The Seattle Gaels annual general meeting was held recently at Mulleady's in Magnolia. Among the officers elected for 2009 were: Chairman- Terry Creighton; Vice-Chairman- Paul McGarry; Secretary- Scott Herman; Assistant Secretary- Aidan O'Callaghan; Treasurer- Ron Lorensen; Registrar- Casey Russell; and PRO- Nate Dooley.
Hurling manager is Matt Everett, and women's football manager is Kathleen Doolan while youth coordinator is Liam Boyle. For more information on Gaelic football or hurling for men or women in the Seattle area, visit www.seattlegaels.com.
IRISH/CELTIC CONCERTS - Upcoming highlights on the Irish and Celtic music calendar in the Seattle area include The Chieftains at Benaroya Hall on February 17; a Céili in Des Moines February 28; and Celtic Woman at the Paramount Theatre, May 15-17. For the latest information on all the Irish or Celtic events in the Seattle area, visit www.hoilands.com.
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