SEATTLE IRISH NEWS
By JOHN KEANE
A SPECIAL visit to a young Colleen from Daidi na Nollag (Father Christmas) was arranged by Seattle’s David McCourt for the Children’s Christmas Party on December 5. |
DON AND SUZANNE Dorres at Seattle’s Nollaig na mBan (Mother’s Christmas) Dinner. |
DAVID JACOBSEN and Kaileen Shriane at Seattle’s Nollaig na mBan (Mother’s Christmas) Dinner at Mick Kelly’s. |
AGNES GAWNE, Maura Barnes, Aine McDonald and Bill Barnes at Seattle’s Nollaig na mBan (Mother’s Christmas) Dinner. |
JOE MURPHY, Bill Barnes and Mary Charles at Seattle’s Nollaig na mBan (Mother’s Christmas) Dinner at Mick Kelly’s. |
MAUREEN BARRETT and Fiona Travis at Seattle’s Nollaig na mBan (Mother’s Christmas) Dinner. |
IRISH DANCING teachers Meg and Kevin Doohan at Seattle’s Nollaig na mBan (Mother’s Christmas) Dinner at Mick Kelly’s on January 12. |
RECENT PASSINGS
• Fr. Joseph O'Shea, 74, a native of Kilkenny, died February 10 in Vancouver, WA. He had served in the Seattle archdiocese since ordination in 1961.
• Fred Cloonan, 86, who died suddenly in Seattle, was an uncle of Irish Heritage Club vice-president Charles Hadrann.
• Martin J. Greene, 79, a native of Dublin, died in Snohomish on January 6.
• Allen Badger Smith, 69, believed to be a native of Ireland, died in Seattle just before Christmas.
• Sister Geraldine Collins, CSJP, a St. Joseph of Peace Sister, died December 27 in Seattle. A native of Cork, she ministered for 71 years in schools in Washington, California and British Columbia, Canada.
• Sr. Teresa McMahon, a Sister of St. Louis, died December 4 in Los Angeles. A native of Co. Leitrim, she was a sister of Camilla Barrett and Marie Bradshaw of Edmonds..
• Irene Wishart, 84, died December 7 in Sammamish. A native of Belfast, she is survived by her husband Jack.
• Father Peter Duggan, a native of Carlow, served as a priest in Seattle since 1955. He died suddenly on December 3 while on a trip to China.
• Isabelle Zastrow, 85, a native of Belfast, died on November 25 in Tacoma.
• Christine Bernard, 92, a native of Westmeath, died November 17 in Gig Harbor.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha dílse – May their faithful souls be at God's right hand.
SEATTLE’S IRISH WEEK 2011
• Irish soda bread cooking class – February 19, 1-5 PM, St. Patrick’s Church Hall. contact Candace at (425) 745-1263.
• Irish genealogy conference – February 26, 10 AM-5 PM, St. Patrick’s Church Hall. Contact Jean at (206) 782-2629.
• Irish soda bread contest – March 5, 2 PM, T.S. McHugh’s Restaurant. Contact Suzanne at (425) 582-8026.
• Irish night at Seattle U Redhawks basketball – March 10, 7:10 PM, Key Arena. Reduced price tickets at $10 at (425) 290-7839.
• Irish week proclamation luncheon – March 11, Noon, F.X. McRory’s. Contact Jane at (206) 361-1713.
• Green stripe laying – March 11, 7 PM, on 4th Avenue from Jefferson. Contact Heather at (206) 548-9859.
• Irish Festival – March 12 & 13 – Seattle Center’s Center House, Saturday Noon – 6 PM, Sunday 10 AM–6 PM, non-stop Irish music, singing and dancing, vendors, workshops, lectures, cultural displays, children's contests and activities, Irish language, genealogy and history workshops, art exhibits and more. Admission to all activities is FREE. Contact Nanci at (206) 427-3027.
• Irish flag-raising and national anthems – March 12, 12:20 PM, King County Administration Building.
• St. Patrick’s Day parade starts at 12:30 PM from 4th Avenue and Jefferson. Contact David Jacobson at (206) 412-2960 for more information.
• Irish Reels Film Festival – March 12, visit www.irishreels.org
• St. Patrick’s Day Dash – March 13, 8:30 AM at the Seattle Center, contact (206) 522-7711 or visit www.stpatsdash.com.
• Matt Talbot Dinner – March 13, 6 PM, F.X. McRory’s, Contact (425) 290-7839.
• St. Patrick’s Day Mass for Peace – March 17, 12 Noon, Plymouth Congregational Church, Contact (425) 745-0137.
• St. Patrick’s Day Irish seniors’ luncheon – March 17, 2 PM F.X. McRory’s, Contact (425) 290-7839.
• Friends of St. Patrick Banquet – March 17, 6 PM, Harbour Club. Contact (425) 290-7839.
For more details on any Irish Week event, contact (206) 223-3608, or visit: www.irishweek.org.
Soda break baking workshop – The Irish Heritage Club sponsors an Irish Soda Bread Baking Workshop February 19, 1–5 PM, at St. Patrick’s Church Hall, 2702 Broadway Avenue East, Seattle (just off 1-5 at Roanoke).
Master soda bread baker Mary Shriane will demonstrate how to bake great soda bread, and nutritionist and author Maureen Keane will speak to the nutritional value of Irish food, and especially soda bread.
Cost is $10 per person. For details, visit www.irishclub.org or contact Candace at (425) 745-1263.
Genealogy workshop – The Irish Heritage Club sponsors an Irish Genealogy Workshop February 26, 9 AM–5 PM, at St. Patrick’s Church Hall, 2702 Broadway Avenue East, Seattle (just off 1-5 at Roanoke).
The cost is $25 which includes a box lunch. Designed for both the novice and advanced researcher, the workshops will feature sessions on discovering rare ancient Irish genealogies, using various modern sources for Irish genealogical research including using Irish records; live sessions on popular Irish genealogy websites, and more.
For details, visit www.irishclub.org or contact Jean at (206) 782-2629.
MISCELLANEOUS
• The Chieftains with the Seattle Symphony, February 22, 2011 (visit www.seattlesymphony.org), and at the Washington Center for Performing Arts in Olympia on February 23 (http://wcpa.squarespace.com).
• The University of Montana Irish Studies Program brings the finest exponents of the Irish tradition to Butte and Missoula, Montana this spring. Through April 22 in both cities, a series of concerts featuring James Kelly (Irish fiddle), Eoin Ó Riabhaigh (uilleann pipes), Séamus Begley (accordion and traditional song), and Seán Tyrrell (folk music and ballads). All the details at www.friendsofirishstudies.org.
• The second annual Great West Coast Craic Celtic rock experience will be held at Aberdeen's D&R Theater on March 12, featuring the Raybone Experience & Ockham's Razor from Seattle, Amadan from Portland and the Whiskey Dicks from Vancouver, B.C.
CONGRATULATIONS
• to longtime Seattleite and Cork native Gaye Walsh who just published a novel called That’s That. Set in Ireland, the story spans several generations of three families in Macroom and Galway. The book has received very good reviews and is available at most major bookstores, Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, and even via e-book
• to Cathy Lee Ryan who last month was first runner-up in the Ms. Wheelchair Washington Pageant. Cathy Lee is the daughter of Dubliner Mike Ryan.
• to Randal Bays who just announced the release of his first solo guitar album, Oyster Light, available from iTunes, CDBaby and other outlets. For information, visit www.baysguitar.com.
• to Celtic singer Colleen Raney (www.colleenraney.com) who recently released her second album, Lark. Colleen grew up around traditional Irish culture in Seattle, singing and dancing with both her family and the respected ensemble Magical Strings. Now based in Portland, Oregon, she fronts a powerhouse ensemble of Northwest Irish musicians.
• to Gladys Keating, the 86-year-old mother of Rev. Barry Keating in Edmonds, who recently underwent successful surgery for a quadruple bypass and to replace a heart valve.
IRISH SPORTS – Play Irish sports for 2011! If you're tired of playing the mainstream sports and would like to try a sport that is both exciting and different, why not try the Gaelic sports of football, camogie and hurling?
All are welcome for the Seattle Gaels' 2011 season, from beginners, to experienced women and men. Bring your cleats and look forward to meeting a great bunch of people, learning a new sport and most importantly having fun! For more information visit: www.seattlegaels.com.
BOOK READING – Irish novelist Joseph O’Connor (and brother of Sinead O’Connor) will do a reading on February 15 at 7 PM at Seattle’s Elliott Bay Book Company and on February 16 at 7:30 PM at Portland’s Powell's Bookstore.
His latest novel, Ghost Light, is a poignantly beautiful love story moving from London in the 1950s to Ireland in the Edwardian era and theatrical New York in the 1900s.
SEPHIRA CONCERTS & CLASSES – Sephira are Joyce O'Leary (vocals and violin) and Ruth O'Leary (violin and vocals) – two young classically trained Irish musicians who have appeared with Celtic Thunder and for Tourism Ireland.
Live in Concert, March 12, 7:30 PM, Shorecrest Performing Arts Center, 15343 25th Avenue NE, Shoreline, (206) 417-4645. Local Irish step dancing/violin playing sister-act, The Gothard Sisters, will open this high energy show. Visit www.shorelinearts.net for details.
Young Seattle-area musicians are invited to develop confidence and performance savvy in fun and educational workshops being conducted by Sephira at Dusty String, 3406 Fremont Avenue North, Seattle.
On March 11 they conduct a workshop for ages 12-18, and on March 12 a workshop for ages 7-11 – visit www.dustystrings.com for details.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION – Kelleher Motor Company, a Ford dealership established in 1911 by Cork-native Jack Kelleher, is still owned and operated by the Kelleher family in Ellensburg.
One of the oldest family owned Ford dealerships in the U.S., their centennial celebration will be marked on February 26 with a dinner and other events involving Irish Consul General Gerry Staunton and executives from Ford Motor Co. in Detroit.
For the occasion, the Ellensburg Distillery is also releasing an Irish-style cream liqueur dubbed Kelleher’s Cream Cordial!
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