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Saturday, April 5, 2008
CONDOLENCES
 

To Tsering Yuthok of the City of Seattle's Office of Intergovernmental Relations, on the death of her husband Dondul this past week from cancer.

 

To Edie Henderson and Heidi Kinsella on the death of Kathleen Reilly, Edie's sister and Heidi's aunt, following a long bout with cancer.

 

To Margaret Dore, current President of the Friends of St. Patrick, on the recent death of her aunt, Margaret Shuham.

 

To Jim Sheehan on the recent sudden death of his father, Bob Sheehan.

 

To Nancy and the Rev. Barry Keating on the recent death of William Hale, Nancy's father and Barry's father-in-law.

 
Ar dheis D� go raibh a n-anamacha
 

May their faithful souls be at God's right hand

 St. Patrick's Day Parade Dignitaries
 
IRISH WEEK 2008
 

What a St. Patrick's Day celebration in Seattle!

It started with a record 73 entries in the Irish Soda Bread Contest; then almost $35,000 was raised at a sold-out Matt Talbot Homeless Program Fundraising Dinner; the Irish Week Proclamation Luncheon was also a sell-out; a large crowd attended the Green Stripe Laying; there was the usual full Plymouth Church for the Mass for Peace; about 2,500 participants marched and another 6-7,000 watched from the sidewalks at the St. Patrick's Day Parade; there was a big crowd and great fun at the Friends of St. Patrick Dinner; almost 16,000 runners competed in the St. Patrick's Day Dash; and there was a packed Seattle Center House for the Saturday and Sunday Irish Festival with even a good crowd on the Monday. M�le, M�le Bu�ochas, a Thousand Thanks to all the participants and especially to all the volunteers! To view literally hundreds of photos from the different events, and more will be added this weekend, visit www.irishclub.org.
 

Seattle Firefighters Pipes and Drums

 

IRISH VISITORS - Irish government Minister John McGuinness TD expressed surprise at the size of the crowd at Seattle's St. Patrick's Day Parade, saying that it'd be difficult to get that kind of crowd to attend a Parade in Ireland! Along with the Minister, Ambassador John Bruton, Galway Mayor Tom Costello, Galway City Manager Joe McGrath, Irish Vice-Consul �na Fannon, and all the Irish visitors declared themselves surprised and delighted with what they saw and experienced in Seattle, and were lavish in their praise of the organizers at the different events.

 

St. Patrick's Day Parade

 

OTHER VISITORS - We've already received notes from the Claddagh Irish Dancers from Dublin to say how much they enjoyed their visit to Seattle. Liz O'Dempsey, the dancing school teacher, said that "the people along the parade route were so friendly". Rebecca Raber, Director of the Shanley High School Choirs from Fargo, North Dakota, also wrote to say how much they enjoyed their visit to Seattle. The 103 Choir Members sang at the Mass for Peace and also marched in the Parade.

 

IMMIGRATION ISSUES - While in Seattle, Minister McGuinness met with members of Seattle's Irish Immigrant Support Group to express the Irish government's thanks for the free help the group provides to Irish Immigrants in Western Washington who need assistance of any kind for whatever reason. He also reiterated the Irish government support for efforts to promote comprehensive immigration reform legislation in the US Congress. For more information, visit www.irishseattle.com.  

 
Parading Child
 
BIG BALLOT
1,123 children between the ages of 4-17 cast ballots during the Irish Festival, voting on a list of issues of importance to young people. The most important issue, according to the young people who voted, is Play, Leisure and Recreation, while runner-up issues were Family and Care, Children's Right to be Heard, and Education. Also drawing votes was the issue of Health, Wealth, and Material Well-being.
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UPCOMING SEATTLE AREA
IRISH EVENTS / ACTIVTIES
 

IRISH-US DEBATE - Ireland's debate team champions from Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin participate in a free public debate against a Northwest University team this Monday, April 7, at 6 PM at Northwest University, 5520 108th Ave. NE, Kirkland, Heath Science Building, room 104. The Irish team will argue in favor of the motion, "America would be better off with an Irish president", while the Northwest University team will oppose. For details, visit Northwest University. 

 

SENIORS' LUNCH - Over 200 Irish-born Seniors and their spouses have been invited by the Irish Immigrant Support Group to a lunch at the Wilde Rover Restaurant in Kirkland (www.wilderover.com) at 1 PM on Saturday, April 12. This is an opportunity for older Irish to connect with others who also grew up in Ireland, especially those who, because of the passing of family members, coupled with time, distance, cost and age, may have diminished contact with Ireland. If you know of someone who would like to attend, email [email protected].

 

SEATTLE GAELS - The Seattle Gaels Gaelic Footballers and Hurlers are always looking for new players and, despite the cold and snow, held an open field day last weekend for anybody interested. But they are still looking for beginning and experienced players for all the teams - men's hurling and football and women's football. For more information, visit www.SeattleGaels.com or call 206-940-1113.

 

MONTHLY FEICE�IL  - The Tuesday April 15TH Feice�il socializing event is at 8pm at the Kabul Restaurant 2301 N. 45th St, Seattle (www.kabulrestaurant.com)  while the Thursday May 15th Feice�il is helping out 8:30 AM -4 PM at Redmond Habitat for Humanity.  For more information, contact Melissa at 206-229-8512 or [email protected].

 

L� GAEILGE - An Irish Language Day for beginners all the way to fluent enthusiasts will be held Saturday, May 31, the Saturday following Memorial Day, from 9 AM - 5 PM at Marylhurst University, 10 minutes south of Portland (www.marylhurst.edu). Bring your dance shoes and musical instruments for a seisi�n at the end. For information, contact [email protected].   

 

IRISH MARINERS' NIGHT - Enjoy Irish Heritage Night at the Seattle Mariners on Thursday, August 21. Purchase $20 tickets for $11 or $40 tickets for $25 for the evening game vs. the Oakland A's. Also receive a FREE Irish Heritage Night Mariners T-Shirt and enjoy Irish Dancers and Bagpipers. But you must purchase your tickets at www.Mariners.com/Irish.  In addition, one 2008 Irish Heritage Club member will be drawn at random to help throw out the first pitch! Email [email protected].  

 
Cry of the Dreamer Concert
 
CRY OF THE DREAMER
This April 26 concert tells through music and song the amazing story of Irish hero John Boyle O'Reilly, 1844-1890, JFK's favorite poet. Irish musician Se�n Tyrrell
 effortlessly traces O'Reilly's journey from early childhood in Co. Meath, with the backdrop of the Famine, revolution, Fenianism, penal servitude for life in Australia, his great escape to the USA, to his speech to thousands in Seattle in 1889. Songs drawn from a wide variety of sources allow Tyrrell to connect the history of the 19th century and modern times in a seamless way. The story is cleverly tied together with jigs, reels, a march, and a few slow airs. Using an array of instruments, Tyrrell weaves effortlessly between narrative, instrumental and song. Tickets for the show at UW's Kane Hall on Saturday, April 26 are $20 - call 206-621-7777, email [email protected], or Purchase ONLINE.   

 

BLOOMSDAY READERS-The Wild Geese Players are looking for readers / actors for their annual staged reading of James Joyce's masterpiece of Irish literature, Ulysses. Rehearsals have already started for the Bloomsday performances on June 16. Contact [email protected] or [email protected] if you're interested.

 

IRISH BRIGADE - The 28th Massachusetts Infantry, an Irish Brigade Civil War reenactment unit, needs new members to continue and would welcome anyone interested in joining. Experience is not required and loaner gear and equipment is available. Contact [email protected] or visit www.wcwa.net.

 

AGING PROGRAM - IHC member Dr. Barbara Heneghan was recently presented the "Accendo Award" from Seattle University because of her distinguished record of achievement and service, and for bringing honor and recognition to SU. This Sunday, April 6, at 1 PM, she and husband Paul present a program on KCTS-Channel 9 titled Caregiving, Community and Diabetes, dealing with the challenging health problems of aging. For more info, visit www.artofaging.org.

 

KELTIC KIDS - Starting this Tuesday, April 8, parents and their children up to 4 years of age are invited to experience a unique, inspired and fun way to learn with their children with Keltic Kids. It's a toddler class (mommy-and-me) with roots in Irish music, myth, dance and humor, full of giggling and wiggling, dancing, singing, counting, bouncing, and lots of fun! It runs once a week at the Phinney Ridge Neighborhood Center. Visit Keltic Kids, contact Colleen at 206-465-3344 or [email protected].  

 

FARM MANAGER - The original home of the Dexter breed of cattle, sometimes called the poor mans cow, was in southern Ireland where they were bred by small farmers on the rugged mountains of Kerry and Cork. Elk Valley Farm in southwest Washington is looking for an organic Farm and Dexter Cattle manager. Call Linda at 360-795-3100 or email [email protected].  

 

IRISH STUDIES - The University of Montana offers an interdisciplinary 18 credit minor in Irish Studies that draws on the course offering of distinguished faculty in Modern Languages, History, Liberal Studies, Drama, Literature, Music, Film Studies, and Theatre. The program was formally launched and endorsed in May 2006 by Irish President Mary McAleese and enjoys support and funding from the Irish government. Visit Irish Studies for details.  

 

MISCELANEOUS IRISH / CELTIC EVENTS

         There is no Vashon C�il� in April, so it's a great time to check out C�il�s in Tualatin, Ridgefield, and Portland. Plus there're great concerts in Seattle including Martin Hayes & Denis Cahill (Saturday April 12 at the Tractor Tavern in Ballard); and Celtic Woman is back (Paramount Theatre, Thursday-Sunday, April 17-20); Hanz Araki is in Seattle this weekend; Dusty Strings offers some interesting workshops for musicians; there are Gaelic lessons and more listed under "Upcoming Celtic Events" at www.hoilands.com.  

         'AS GAEILGE', Seattle's Irish language conversational group, meets every second Tuesday! Contact [email protected].

         Sunday, June, 8, the annual SEATTLE GAELS GOLF CLASSIC at West Seattle Golf Club.

         IRISH DAY at the Races at Emerald Downs, Sunday, June 22.

         IRISH COMMUNITY PICNIC - Note that the date has been changed to Sunday, July 20, at St. Edward State Park in Kenmore.

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NEWS FROM IRELAND

TAOISEACH RESIGNS - Ireland's Taoiseach (PM) Bertie Ahern will resign May 6 after 11 years as Taoiseach. The youngest ever Taoiseach when elected in June 1997 (succeeding John Bruton as Taoiseach), Ahern presided over the boom years of the Irish economy and also deserves great credit for his contributions to peace in Northern Ireland. Ahern's deputy, T�naiste Brian Cowen, is expected to succeed him. On April 30, Ahern will address both Houses of the US Congress and at 56 years of age is considered a serious contender for the new position of European Union President that is proposed in the Lisbon Treaty being voted on in June.

 

PAISLEY RETIRES - The Rev Ian Paisley will also resign in May as Northern Ireland's First Minister and as DUP party leader. He served one year as head of the Northern Ireland power-sharing Executive and is expected to be succeeded by Peter Robinson as new First Minister and DUP leader.

 

STABLE & PROSPEROUS - Ireland has been ranked as the 7th most stable and prosperous country in the world. The analysis of 235 countries and territories puts Ireland joint seventh with Liechtenstein, the Netherlands and the UK with the US 22nd. The rating system takes into account each nation's political structures, social and economic trends, military and security risks and external relations

 

GENEALOGICAL RECORDS - A total of 10,974,679 Parish records from all over Ireland are now searchable online on the Irish Family History Foundation website. The Foundation is the coordinating body for a network of government approved genealogical research centers and they claim to have computerized almost 40 million Irish Ancestral records, primarily Church births (baptisms), marriages and deaths. Browsing the index is free, but access to a detailed individual record costs about $8.

 

NI UNEMPLOYMENT - In the 10 years since the Belfast Agreement, the number of unemployed Catholics in Northern Ireland has gone down from 12% to less than 6%. Although Catholics are still more likely to be unemployed than Protestants, since 1997 the number of Catholics in the workforce has risen by 3% while Protestant numbers fell by about 5%.

 

RAIDI� X - A new Irish language radio station aimed at young people is broadcasting online at www.raidiox.com. The station is being run on a voluntary basis with the backing of Conradh na Gaeilge.

 

EYE TOOTH - A Mayo man, blinded in an accident in 2005, had his sight restored using his son's tooth. The eye socket was rebuilt, part of the tooth inserted and a lens inserted in a hole drilled in the tooth. It entailed replacing a damaged cornea with a live tooth root and attaching an optical cylinder. See The Irish Independent.

 

KENNY'S BOOKS - The death took place on March 25 of Maureen Kenny, who with her husband Des opened Kenny's Bookshop in Galway in 1940. Their bookselling business began as a private lending library but over the years earned an international reputation by specializing in rare and antiquarian publications. In 1994, Kennys was the second bookseller in the world to begin selling on-line.

 

WHISKEY ANNIVERSARY - 2008 is being celebrated as the 400th anniversary of the establishment of the "world's oldest distillery" at Bushmills in Co. Antrim. The whiskey trade in Ireland has existed for over a thousand years. However, it was in 1608 that King James I granted a license for whiskey to be made "within the countie of Colrane, otherwise called O Cahane's country", making Bushmills the first "legal" distillery. At one time there were 1,228 legal distilleries in Ireland, but today only three survive: Middleton, Bushmills, and Cooley, the only Irish-owned distillery. Middleton's Jameson is the largest selling Irish whiskey in the world. Visit Irish Whiskey Distelleries.

 

KofC SAINT - Father Michael McGivney, the founder of the Knights of Columbus, has been declared venerable by Pope Benedict XVI, furthering his process toward canonization. McGivney was born in Connecticut in 1852 to Irish-born immigrant parents. Worried about the financial stability of immigrant families in his parish in New Haven, he founded the KofC in 1882 to provide financial assistance to family members left behind after the death of the breadwinner.

 

BARKING DEER - The Chinese muntjac, a species of deer about the size of a fox that barks like a dog, has been illegally introduced into in Ireland. It has now established itself in the wild and authorities fear it will cause enormous damage to habitat and crops and will be impossible to control.

 

DIAMOND DAN - Northern Ireland's Orange Order will call their new cartoon superhero "Diamond Dan, the Orangeman", rejecting suggestions like Sash Gordon and the Boyne Wonder. Losing about 1,000 members annually, the Order hopes the mascot will help attract young members and counteract the institution's reputation for bigotry. For background information on the Loyal Orders, visit the University of Ulster.

 

POLITICAL TAKES - Northern Ireland's former First Minister David Trimble has belittled Hillary Clinton's claim that she played a key role in Northern Ireland's peace process. However, several people involved on the Nationalist side, including Trimble's fellow Nobel Laureate John Hume, expressed words of support for her. This month is the tenth anniversary of the Good Friday agreement and an anniversary celebration to mark the occasion will be held in Belfast.

 

IRISH POWER - Samantha Power, the Harvard professor and Pulitzer Prizewinner who resigned last month as a foreign policy adviser to Barack Obama following controversial comments about Hillary Clinton, was born in Dublin. A graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School, she moved to the US at the age of nine.

 

FIXED EASTER - A Galway business organization wants to break a 1,683-year-old tradition and have Easter Sunday on a fixed date each year, ideally the second Sunday in April. The Amicable Society, formed in Galway in 1791, believes that a fixed Easter date would allow schools to plan holidays better and provide a boost to the tourism industry. In 1975, Pope Paul VI, in co-ordination with the World Council of Churches, proposed that Easter 1977 be celebrated on the second Sunday of April, but his proposal was opposed by the Orthodox churches and was never adopted.

 

IRISH VETERANS - The Irish Veterans Memorial Project works to remember all Irish-born men and women who served in the US military and ancillary services since 1900. If you, or someone you know is an Irish-born Veteran, email details to [email protected].  

 

IRISH ROYALTY? - A Trinity College Dublin study finds that 1 in 12 Irishmen (and many Scotsmen) share the same Y chromosome, suggesting they are all descended from a 5th-century Irish King called Niall of the Nine Hostages whose descendants ruled Ireland until the 11th century. To test your DNA link, visit Family Tree DNA or join an Irish DNA mail list.

 

BS STONE - About 400,000 tourists kiss the Blarney Stone each year, but a new book claims the present stone only came into use in 1888 because it is more accessible and safer than the true stone which is much more difficult to reach. The Blarney Stone is reputed to be a piece of the Stone of Scone or 'Stone of Destiny', on which the kings of Scotland were crowned.

 

BURREN HERITAGE - The Irish Government is actively pursuing efforts to make The Burren in Co. Clare a world heritage site. There are presently only three world heritage sites in Ireland - Newgrange in Co Meath, the Giant's Causeway in Co. Antrim, and the island monastic settlement on Skellig Michael off the coast of Kerry. It is hoped that Clonmacnoise in Co Offaly will attain world heritage status next year.

 

EUROVISION TURKEY - Dustin, the Irish puppet-turkey being wheeled around the stage on a banged-up shopping cart, has been installed as 10/1 favorite to win the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest which will take place in Belgrade on the 24th of May. To see and hear Dustin, visit Dustin on YouTube.

 

PEACE PRIZE - Assassinated Pakistani politician Benazir Bhutto has been posthumously awarded the 2007 Tipperary Peace Prize for her courageous work on democracy and reconciliation in her country. The Tipperary Peace Award was founded in 1984 to recognize people who promote peace in Ireland and abroad. Previous winners include Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev, Bob Geldof, Bill Clinton and assassinated Lebanese premier Rafic Hariri.
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TID-BITS

  •            6,038 work days were lost to strikes in Ireland last year, the lowest annual total since records began in 1923.

             60% of the ash used in making hurls is imported into Ireland, including some trees grown on the estates of Britain's Queen Elizabeth. 30% of all hurleys are now made in Poland.

             70% of more than 3,000 Irish people surveyed said they wanted the current DUI limits reduced from .08 to .02. 99% agreed the current .08 limit is too high.

             A Newsweek photographer spent more than two years photographing Catholic nuns and priests in Ireland and many of the photos can be viewed online at Newsweek Magazine.

             A survey reports that Ireland's only native reptile, the common lizard, has been spotted in all Irish counties except for Westmeath, Laois and Monaghan.

             About 40% of households in Dublin have no car.

             After this spring's cutting season, turf cutting will be banned from 32 raised bogs in counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon that have been designated as special areas of conservation. The thousands of affected bog users are being offered compensation.

             An Irish stamp celebrating cultural diversity was unveiled in Dublin last month.

             As the new Open Skies agreement takes effect, the frequency of flights between Ireland and the US has increased from 119 per week to 146 per week.

             Conflicts are developing in Irish schools over the wearing of the hijab, or headscarf, by Muslim pupils.

             Dublin has been awarded the title Fairtrade capital city following a two year campaign to attain the coveted status. It is a form of marketing that promotes the payment of a fair price for products from developing countries in a bid to fight poverty and inequality.

             In 2007, there were more than 5million cell phones used by the 4.2million people in the Irish Republic who also sent more than 7.5billion text messages.

             Ireland now has the second highest death rate from respiratory disease in Europe

             John McCain said that if the British Army hadn't been in Northern Ireland, there would never have been an environment that created a negotiating atmosphere.

             Nineteen of Ireland's wealthiest citizens, with assets of $80 million or more, are non-residents for tax purposes because they spend fewer than 183 days a year in the country. Over 3,000 Irish people are officially tax exiles.

             Scientists addressing a conference in Galway claimed that the island was once in two halves, with a fault line extending up the Shannon.

             Seventy-three people were murdered in Ireland in 2007, surpassing the 2006 record of 68 homicides. The last time so many people died violently in Ireland was during the Civil War in the 1920s.

             The cost of the weekday Irish Times newspaper is now $2.83 while the Saturday edition is $3.14.

             The Irish Government is considering the introduction of London-style congestion charges for Dublin and new "pay-as-you-drive" road pricing, in attempts to free cities from traffic congestion, move people away from cars and increase public transport usage.

             The Irish Government will soon introduce legislation to extend to same-sex couples many of the same legal benefits and obligations of marriage.

             The market price of a pub license in Ireland is about $285,000.

             The rate of unemployment in Ireland is now 5.2%, but it still beats the European unemployment average of 7.1%.

             The Lisbon Council's "European Jobs and Growth" monitor ranks the Irish Republic as Europe's second most competitive economy, while the Centre for European Reform places Ireland sixth out of 27 EU states.

             The world's shortest St Patrick's Day Parade, in Dripsey, Co Cork, which stretched just 25 yards from one pub to another and which had been validated by the Guinness Book of World Records, failed to go ahead this year because of the closure of one of the pubs.

             There is almost one private car for every two adults in Ireland.

             Two teenage brothers from Limerick became millionaires last week following the sale of their fledgling software company, Auctomatic, to a Canadian company based in Vancouver.

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IRISH PROVERB
N� thuigeann an s�ch an seang.
The well-fed does not understand the lean
.
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Sl�n
 

John Keane

[email protected]

 

� 2008 John Keane. Items may be copied if [email protected] is credited.

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The Irish Heritage Club
Please show your support for Irish activities in the Seattle area (including this newsletter, the St. Patrick's Day Parade, the Irish Festival, etc.), by becoming a member of the Irish Heritage Club. Membership is open to anyone interested in "Things Irish". Dues are $20 (single membership) or $30 (family membership), and you can pay by cash, check, or Secure Credit Card. Contact 206-526-5993, email [email protected], or visit www.irishclub.org.

2008 Members remain in good standing until March 31, 2009