SEATTLE IRISH NEWS
By JOHN KEANE
RECENT PASSINGS
Mary Theresa Keenan who died in Castlerea, Co. Roscommon on April 27, was a sister of Frank Shriane of Seattle.
Molly Claire Nichols who died recently in Wyoming following a short battle with cancer, was the 24-year-old niece of former Seattle resident and Galwegian Esther Mulkerrin.
Charlotte Flanagan, 89, who died this past week in Westport, Co. Mayo, was a sister of Martin O'Malley of Edmonds and of the late Mike O'Malley.
Dave Arnold, 84, who died recently in Seattle, was the father of Irish Heritage Club member Dean Arnold.
SéanCorbett who died recently in Co. Limerick, was the oldest brother of Seattle's Michael Corbett.
Terry Kavanaugh who was killed recently in an auto accident in Arizona, was the 78-year-old brother of Dan Kavanaugh of Yelm.
Patricia Moore who died recently in Seattle, was a member of the Irish Book Club and a lover-of-all-things-Irish.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha dílse – MAy their faithful souls be at God's right hand.
 GALWAY Director of Services, P.J. McGovern and his wife Sarah were in Seattle last month after a cruise to Alaska and they met with members of the Seattle Galway Sister City Association. (L-R) Mary Jo Costello, Maureen Keane, Mary Shriane, Dónal McKevitt, Sarah McGovern, P.J. McGovern, John Costello, John Keane and Frank Shriane. |
VISIT BY IRISH AMBASSADOR – Irish Ambassador Michael Collins had a very busy schedule when he visited Seattle on June 8 and 9.
His main goal was to visit with Seattle’s Irish community as it had been 23 years since an Irish ambassador had paid an official visit to Seattle.
He also wanted to promote Ireland and its economy because, in addition to the strong cultural ties that exist between Ireland and the United States, they share an important trade relationship.
In 2008, U.S. exports to Ireland were valued at $8.65 billion, while Irish exports to the U.S. totalled $31.35 billion. Irish exports to the United States represent approximately 20 percent of all Irish exports, and have roughly the same value as Irish exports to the UK.
Washington State trade with Ireland contributes significantly to those figures. So during the two days he was in the area, the ambassador participated in a business seminar organized by Enterprise Ireland on the Microsoft Campus.
He also had a business breakfast with Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire and met with Secretary of State Sam Reed.
During his visit, he also spoke to the World Affairs Council and met with the Seattle Times editorial board.
In between those appointments, he launched the new Irish business organization, Irish Network Seattle and spoke to almost 200 students at Seattle University.
He attended an Irish seniors' luncheon, and later met with about 200 members of Seattle's Irish community at a community reception.
It was a busy and productive visit and the ambassador was delighted with the reception he received at all of the events. Photos from many of the events can be seen at www.IrishClub.org.
IHC AGM – The Irish Heritage Club's 2010 annual general meeting and election of officers will be held at Fadó Irish Pub (on 1st Avenue at Columbia Street in downtown Seattle) on July 15. Hors d'oeuvres at 6:30 PM and the meeting at 7 PM.
The three-year terms of four members of the board of directors expire this year – Charles Hadrann, Kathleen Anderson, Nanci Spieker and Suzanne Green – and new officers will also need to be elected for the next 12 months.
Please RSVP to IHC President Nanci Spieker to let her know if you plan to attend so she can make sure there are enough hors d'oeuvres for everyone.
Anyone who volunteered during Irish Week and all 2010 members are especially welcome. For more information, to reserve, or to volunteer for an office, call Nanci at (206) 427-3027.
AUGUST PICNIC – Seattle's Irish community picnic is noon to 6 PM on August 1 at Lake Sammamish State Park in Issaquah (exit # 15 off I-90). All members of Seattle's Irish community are welcome at no charge and hot dogs and hamburgers will be provided.
There's a covered picnic area and several barbeque grills if you want more – just bring charcoal. A hurling game starts at noon followed by games and fun for the entire family – tug-o-war, sack-races, etc. Parking galore.
We suggest people bring their own beverages and a potluck dessert. For details, e-mail Picnic@irishclub.org or call (425) 745-1263.
HIGHLAND GAMES – The Irish Heritage Club will have a booth at the Skagit Valley Highland Games, July 9-11, at Edgewater Park in Mount Vernon. The games start Friday evening with a FREE concert featuring Scotland's Tannahill Weavers, and continue 9 AM - 6 PM Saturday and Sunday. More information is available at www.celticarts.org.
The Scottish Highland Games in Enumclaw will be held July 30-August 1 – visit www.sshga.org for details.
GLASS ARTIST – Irish artist Róisín de Buitléar is in the Seattle area teaching at Dale Chihuly's Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood and she will also spend time as Artist in Residence at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma.
Born in Dublin, Róisín is an artist and educator who has been working in the medium of glass as a primary material since 1983. A fluent Gaelic speaker, she has completed many site-specific installations of blown and cast work, drawing her inspiration from her cultural heritage.
These can be seen in public and private buildings throughout Ireland, including the Blasket Island Center, Dunchaoin, Co. Kerry, National Botanical Gardens Dublin, W5 Belfast, and the Castle Espie Wetland Centre, Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland. For more information, visit www.roisindebuitlear.com.
EMMET FELLOW – Jeff Walsh from Clogrennane, Co. Carlow, a law student at Trinity College, Dublin, was awarded the 2010 Thomas Addis Emmet Fellowship in International Public Interest Law.
He recently arrived in Seattle to work for two months in public-interest law with the Appleseed Foundation.
There are currently six University of Washington law students in Ireland working at the Free Legal Advice Centers in Dublin, Belfast and Galway as William Sampson Fellows.
Founded in 1997, the scholarship exchange programs are named for two heroes of Ireland’s United Irishmen rebellion in 1798, Thomas Addis Emmet and William Sampson.
The program is jointly sponsored by the Free Legal Advice Centers in Dublin and the University of Washington School of Law, and is supported by Seattle’s Irish Heritage Club and the Seattle Galway Sister City Association.
IRISH AQUASOX NIGHT – Irish Heritage Night at the Everett Aquasox is August 6, 7:05 PM, preceded by a Seattle Gaels Hurling Exhibition game and featuring a special appearance by 1989 World Series MVP Dave Stewart.
$20 gets you a pre-game all-you-can-eat picnic barbeque as well as a ticket to both the hurling match and the baseball game. $9 discounted seats are also available. Visit www.aquasox.com/groups. Group Password “Irish.”
IRISH MARINERS NIGHT – Half-way to St. Patrick's Day, Irish Night at the Seattle Mariners is September 17, 7:10 PM, vs. the Texas Rangers.
Enjoy Irish music, Irish stepdancers, bagpipers, a FREE Seattle Mariners Irish Heritage Night cap and reduced price tickets ($40 tickets for $28, $20 tickets for $14) if you purchase online at Mariners.com/Irish or call Yoko McCann at (206) 346-4505.
MISCELLANEOUS
• Congratulations to Irish Heritage Club member Dean Arnold who was honored by a Mayoral Proclamation when he recently retired after spending 32 years working for the City of Seattle.
• Seattle's Irish Book Club next meets on August 10 to discuss The Bodhran Makers by John B. Keane. For more information, e-mail: hudit@comcast.net.
• Gaelic football and hurling games from Ireland are telecast live at Fadó Irish Pub, 1st and Columbia, downtown Seattle. Call Fadó at (206) 264-2700 for games, fees, etc.
For the latest information on all the Irish/Celtic music and dance events in the Seattle area, visit www.HOILANDS.com.
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