Orla McKiernan: Communications Director for the Irish Cultural Society of Calgary
 ORLAITH McKIERNAN
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By CATHOLINE BUTLER
On a recent visit to Calgary I met Orla McKiernan, the new Membership and Communications Director for the Irish Cultural Society Calgary.
Her job is to take care of the membership list, recruit new members and send out e-mails to members about upcoming events.
Some upcoming events planned for the Irish Cultural Centre include a Stampede breakfast on July 4 which they host each year during the Calgary Stampede. Members hand out traditional white stetson hats to all the visitors and feature a country and western band for the event.
The monthly pub nights end in June and resume again in September. Throughout the year some of the Irish dance schools use the facilities at the club to teach their students. There is also a daycare at the centre that is privately run.
Orla said, “We also have a fundraising golf tournament in the summer that is run by club member John Doyle. It’s always a fun time with great prizes and then there’s a night in the Irish centre in the evening with the presentation of the awards.
“The Calgary Chieftains Gaelic Football Club also hold their fundraising Trivia Nights at the Irish Centre and this is always great fun.”
Throughout the year, Sean Hayes and Eamon Groome present concerts at the centre with well-known artists from Ireland. These concerts are extremely popular and always sellout well in advance of the event.
“Linda Haugh, our social director, who is also a singer in the band Third Reel, has just produced a show called Celtic Echoes. She just recently put the show on here in Calgary, and it was a great success. It’s really a beautiful light show with music and dancers.
“Linda is hoping to take the show on the road, so you may well be seeing the show in the not too distant future in Vancouver.”
For many years, long-time club member Pat Hickey, ran the bar in the downstairs area of the centre. After he passed away last year, the bar was renamed the Pat Hickey bar. Extensive renovations are planned this summer in the bar area and will be ready in time for the busy fall season.
For more information about club activities or to become a member of the vibrant and busy Irish Cultural Society, contact: Orla McKiernan at: orlamckiernan1@hotmail.com or www.calgaryics.org.
The Irish Cultural Centre is located in the Bowness area at: 6452 - 35th Avenue, NW, Calgary, Alberta.
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