SEATTLE IRISH NEWS October 2009
By JOHN KEANE
CONDOLENCES:
To the family of Barbara Zimmer of Puyallup who died on September 4, aged 89. Born and raised in Ireland, she married in England during the Second World War and they moved to the U.S. shortly afterwards.
To Seattle's Ann Coyne on the recent death of her brother, Martin Sullivan, in London.
To the family of Elizabeth Harris who died in Kennewick on September 17. Born and raised in Ireland, she came to the U.S. in 1954.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha - May their faithful souls rest at the right hand of God.
MASS IN GAELIC - Seattle's Irish community Mass of Remembrance in the Irish language is November 6, 7:30 PM, at Seattle's St. Patrick's Church, 2702 Broadway Avenue E. (just off I-5 at Roanoke St).
Mass booklets in English and Gaelic will be provided, and a Gaelic choir will lead the singing. This Mass commemorates all deceased members of Seattle's Irish community, and the names of those in the Irish community who passed away in these past 12 months will be read out during the service.
To submit names, or for more information, call (425) 745-1263 or e-mail Mass@irishclub.org.
CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS - Seattle's Irish Community Children's Christmas Party with Daidí na Nollag (Father Christmas), is 1-4 PM on December 6 at Maplewood Church Hall, 19523 - 84th Avenue West (on 196th Street) in Edmonds.
Everyone is invited to meet Daidí na Nollag when he arrives in his green robes at 2 PM. To make sure there's a present for every child, we need to know your child's name and age. Please register by contacting Nanci Spieker at NanciS@IrishClub.org, or (206) 427-3027.
MOTHER'S CHRISTMAS - The 2009 Nollaig na mBan (or Mother's Christmas) dinner will be held on January 10 at 6 PM at Mick Kelly's Irish Pub and Restaurant, 435 SW 152nd Street, Burien. Tickets are $30 per person.
For details and reservations, contact CandaceD@irishclub.org or (425) 745-1263. Early reservations are advised as this popular dinner has sold out every year since 2000!
 LEO AND JOHN Costello with Brother Hugh Greenan, an Irish Christian Brother from O'Dea High School, at Seattle's Irish Seniors' Luncheon. |
 JIM COMMONS (standing), with from left Doris Commons and Sr. Margaret O'Reilly, at Seattle's Irish Seniors' Luncheon. |
 JIM CUMMINS, Mary Charles, Mary and Mal Monaghan, and Eddie McLoughlin, at Seattle's Irish Seniors' Luncheon. |
 MIKE RYAN, Evelyn Sabatino, Karen Waddell and Bill Van Horn at Seattle's Irish Seniors' Luncheon. |
 PAT MAGORRIAN (seated left), Betty Baird (seated right) and standing from left, Fr. Tom Marti, Pat Wallace, Tom Kelly and Finian Rowland, at Seattle's Irish Seniors' Luncheon. |
IRISH SENIORS - The 145 people who attended the Irish seniors luncheon on September 19 had a great time meeting old friends and making many new ones.
There were 95 guests born in Ireland which made for some great conversations. Irish Consul General Gerry Staunton and his wife Mary also attended and were impressed at the size and enthusiasm of the crowd that attended.
Organized by the Irish Immigrant Support Group, more photos of the luncheon can be seen online at www.irishseattle.com.
FREE SENIORS' LUNCHEON - Billy Whelan, proprietor of the Wilde Rover Irish Pub and Restaurant in Kirkland, is hosting at no charge the next Irish seniors' luncheon on November 7 at 12 noon. This extremely generous offer applies to any senior of Irish-birth or extraction and the only requirement is to make a reservation in advance by contacting the Irish Immigrant Support Group at (425) 290-7839 or SIISG@IrishClub.org. Maith thú, a Liam - Good for you, Billy!
IRISH NIGHT - An Irish Night At The Glen, a dinner dance to support St. Mary's Food Bank, will be held on November 21 at Glen Acres Country Club (www.glenacresgolf.com), 1000 South 112th Street, just east of Highway 509 and a mile west of Boeing Field.
It's an occasion for Seattle's Irish community to gather for a night of ceol agus craic - good music and great fun - with all proceeds going to St. Mary's Food Bank. Tickets are $50 per person - call John O'Malley at (206) 547-1612.
SAMHAIN HARPS - This annual free harp concert, featuring six or more local harpists performing solo and ensemble, will be held on November 1 from 2-4 PM at Galway Traders, 7518 15th Avenue NW in Ballard, to mark Samhain, the Celtic winter festival.
Co-sponsored by Galway Traders and the Puget Sound Folk Harp Society, the public is invited to attend for Free.
DIVERSITY VISAS - The U.S. Diversity Visa Lottery is now accepting online applications through November 30. Applications are free and can only be made online at the official DV Lottery website, www.dvlottery.state.gov. If you have any questions or need assistance, call the Irish Immigrant Support Group toll-free at 1-877-517-3559.
HARP SCHOOL - Magical Strings offers beginning and intermediate classes in Celtic Harp this fall in Seattle, Bellevue and other locations beginning this month. For all the details, visit www.magicalstrings.com.
OCEAN SHORES - The sixth annual Irish Music Festival in Ocean Shores on Washington's coast will be held from October 23 to November 1, at the Galway Bay Irish Pub. Vist www.galwaybayirishpub.com for all the details.
IRISH/CELTIC EVENTS
The Seattle area's weekly Sunday evening (7 to 9 PM) set dancing sessions are held at Mick Kelly's Irish Pub, 435 SW 152nd Street, Burien, near the intersection of Highway 509 and Highway 518, west of the Airport. For more information, call Jim Belcher at (425) 402- 8363.
Master Irish fiddler Kevin Burke joins old-time harmonica wizard Mark Graham for an evening of kindred acoustic music on October 24 at 7:30 PM at the Empty Sea Studios, 6300 Phinney Avenue North, Seattle.
This December, Magical Strings celebrates 31 years of magical Celtic Yuletide concerts! For all the details, visit www.magicalstrings.com.
Sean-nós is a fun, easy form of old-style Irish step dancing and the third annual Sean-nós Northwest Festival is January 15-16, at the Evergreen State College, Olympia. For information, visit www.myspace.com/seannosseattle.
Gaelic Storm performs January 22 at Tacoma's Pantages Theater.
The ninth Friday Harbor Irish Music Camp will be held March 8-13, 2010, in beautiful Roche Harbor. Hosted by Randal Bays and Dan Paulson, visit www.fridayharborirish.com for all the details.
For the latest information on these or other Irish or Celtic events in the Seattle area, visit www.hoilands.com.
GAELIC GAMES - The Seattle Gaels wrapped up their 2009 season at the NACB championship playoffs held at the Irish Cultural Center outside Boston on the Labor Day weekend.
Two Ladies Gaelic Football teams traveled to compete in the Junior A and B divisions for the second year in a row. The Seattle Ladies played some really tough competitive games against San Francisco, San Diego and Detroit though no championship trophy was won this year.
The Seattle Men took a Junior B Hurling team to Boston which qualified for the North American Final but had a heartbreaking loss to Washington DC in the final, losing by five points, 2-13 to 2-8.
The Gaels also brought a Junior C Hurling team to Boston which lost to Denver 1-10 to 0-4 in their first game.
However, all the Gaels teams made great strides and growth in 2009 and Seattle continues to grow as a GAA stronghold. The whole year was also a success off the field with all the fundraising and other events that the Gaels organized.
While the playing season may be over, the Seattle Gaels plan to hold social events through the fall and winter and all are invited to attend and participate.
On October 23, the Seattle Gaels will hold their second annual Rock Paper Scissor Tournament at the Spectator in Lower Queen Anne! The Gaels will also be holding their annual End of the Year Banquet later on in the year. Be sure to check out www.seattlegaels.com to find all the information on that event as it becomes available or e-mail: chair@seattlegaels.com.
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