Baltimore Irish Arts Center Irish Trad Fest
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The Baltimore Irish Arts Center will host it's Third Annual Irish Trad Fest. The event will take place May 2nd-4th at various locations throughout Baltimore. It will feature workshops and performances by Irish musicians and dancers. There will be some incredible musicians from around the U.S. and Ireland, to teach workshops, perform and lead sessions. There will be a Ceili on Sunday with music by the Old Bay Ceili Band and this year's faculty concert will take place at the Creative Alliance.
For more information, click here.
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Sebastian Barry at Politics and Prose
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On May 3rd, at 3:30 p.m. leading Irish author Sebastian Barry reads from his new novel The Temporary Gentleman at the Politics and Prose Bookstore in Washington DC. Taking his title from the term for an Irishman serving with the British army in World War II whose commission wasn't permanent, Barry, the Irish playwright and novelist, resumes the saga of the McNulty clan. It's 1957 and Jack McNulty, now in Africa, looks back over a life that has included war, UN peace-keeping work, engineering-and a haunting lost love.
For more information about the book and the reading, please click here.
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National Famine Commemoration
Saturday 11 May
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The 2014 National Famine Commemoration is taking place on Sunday, 11th May in Strokestown Park House, County Roscommon, with an overseas commemoration also planned for New Orleans between 7th and 9th November of this year.
Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan has invited all people of Irish heritage around the globe to join with the people of Ireland and observe a minute of silent reflection on Sunday, 11th May, as a gesture of respect for our ancestors who perished, suffered and emigrated during the Great Irish Famine. This minute of silent reflection will inspire people of all ages to reflect on this tragic period in our nation's history. For more information on the National Famine Commemoration, click here.
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IN-DC Presents an Evening with Dr. Donal Donovan
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IN-DC will host an evening with Dr. Donal Donovan, formally of the IMF, in conversation with Simon Carswell, US correspondent for the Irish Times. Dr Donovan will give his unique perspective on the Irish Economy post bailout and discuss his new book - The Fall of the Celtic Tiger Ireland and the Euro Debt Crisis. The event will take place on Monday, May 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Fairfax Hotel at Embassy Row, 2100 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC.
Donal Donovan received a BA from Trinity College Dublin and a PhD in monetary economics from the University of British Columbia. He worked in the IMF from 1977- 2005, before retiring as a Deputy Director. Adjunct Professor at the University of Limerick and a Visiting Lecturer at Trinity College, he was a member of the two official enquiries into the causes of the Irish financial crises. Appointed to the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council in mid -2011, he is the joint author of the recently published ( by Oxford University Press) book entitled " The Fall of the Celtic Tiger: Ireland and the Euro Debt Crisis".
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For more information, click here. |
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A new Irish language Meetup begins in Arlington on Monday, May 5th at 6:30pm. Marty McNutt is looking forward to welcoming all levels, from total beginners to fluent speakers. This twice-monthly meetup will convene at Bayou Bakery 1515 N Courthouse Rd, Arlington, VA. The location is easily accessible from the Courthouse metro station (Orange Line). The group will be informal and will give Irish speakers a chance to practice their spoken Irish with other language enthusiasts. Relevant vocabulary will be posted on the group's social media websites one week in advance. The first week's topic is self introductions! For more information, click here.
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Frederick Celtic Festival
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Come enjoy awesome bands, Scottish dancing, pipe bands, demonstrations, Highland games with professional and amateur athletes competing, and much more at the 2014 Frederick Celtic Festival! This cultural heritage event provides our community with the unique opportunity to explore the rich culture and tradition that resulted from the movement of many Irish and Scottish immigrants to the United States. The festival is dedicated to honor and benefit our Wounded Warriors. The festival will take place on Saturday, May 10, from 9 to 6 p.m in Mt. Airy, Maryland. At 7 p.m. will begin a Celtic Evening Concert.
For more information, click here.
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Last CCE Ceili till Fall! 
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Join the Malcom-O'Neill CCE branch for their last ceili till fall on Saturday 10 May at
Frying Pan Park Visitor’s Center, 2739 West Ox Road Herndon, VA 20171
Music by the Bog Wanderers Ceili Band & Friends. CCE Members $12, Non-members $15 Special prices for students & families. For more information see: http://www.ccepotomac.org/
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Comhaltas Irish Dance Festival (Feis)
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The Comhaltas Irish Dance Festival is sponsored by the O'Neill-Malcom Branch and is supported by several of the local dance schools, who provide most of the expertise and volunteers. The feis, in one form or another, has been around for 30 years. Every year, the Feis is attended by hundreds of dancers and musicians from across the US. A significant portion of the revenue used to support various branch activities is provided by the Feis. This year's festival will take place on May 18th at Mount St Mary's University Athletic Center, Emmitsburg, MD.
CCE would like to have more membership involvement to help out with the planning and/or running of the feis. Please email Larry Frank at lfrank2@earthlink.net for more information.
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Capital Irish Film Festival
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The Capital Irish Film Festival (CIFF), a Washington D.C. production of Solas Nua, will run again in January 2015, from Thursday Jan. 22 through Sunday, Jan. 25. It will showcase new Irish features, documentaries, shorts and animation, Irish language films, with a special emphasis on emerging talent in the Irish film industry. Now in its ninth year, CIFF has now become the largest Irish film festival in the The festival is currently accepting submissions from Irish film makers. Deadline June 30th. Submission is free. For more information, click here.
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We want your feedback!
We hope you enjoy our newsletter. We aim to highlight Irish cultural and community events taking place in the DC, Virginia and Maryland area. If you would like us to advertise your event, or if have any comments on the newsletter, please contact us at washingtonembassy@dfa.ie.
For information about Irish cultural and community events elsewhere in the country, please contact our consulates in New York, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta and San Francisco.
Finally, follow us on twitter @IrelandEmbUSA for all the latest news from Ireland.
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Are you a violinist, a fiddler, a guitarist or a flutist wanting to explore and learn more about traditional Irish music? Are you an accomplished step dancer who wants a break from competition and are ready for the fun of sean nós (old-style) dancing or set dancing? Want to learn traditional Irish button accordion, uilleann pipes, banjo, or whistle from one of the best traditional Irish instrumentalists and teachers?! Now in its eighth year, CCE MAD Week will again feature an exceptional faculty in all areas of study.
Early registration ends April 30th! The event will be held on July 7-11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cedar Lane Unitarian Church in Bethesda, MD.
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For more information, click here. |
Atlas Presents I Draw Slow
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Dublin band I Draw Slow has been setting records in their native Ireland. The sound of the five-piece band has been compared to Alison Krauss and with a sound rooted in the old style of the Appalachian Mountains, drawing on Irish traditional music and modern Americana. They will be performing at Atlas on May 3rd, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $28.50 in advance and $33.50 at the door.
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For more information, click here. |
7th Annual Belfast-Beltway Boxing Classic
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We are pleased to invite you to the Seventh Annual Belfast-Beltway Boxing Classic on Saturday, May 17th. The format will consist of young, aspiring boxers traveling from the gyms of Northern Ireland to take on the local clubs of the National Capitol Region. Fight night begins with cocktails at 7:00p.m. followed by dinner at 8:00p.m. The first of ten amateur bouts will begin at 8:30p.m.
All proceeds from this one-of-a-kind event fund our annual international cultural and athletic exchange program for at-risk youth in Belfast and the D.C. metropolitan area.
For more information, click here.
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| EU Open House 2014 | |
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On May 10 the European Union Embassies, including the Embassy of Ireland, and the EU Delegation to the United States will open their doors to the public for the annual EU Embassies' Open House: a day of family fun, food, culture and more. The event offers visitors a rare look inside the embassies and provides a unique opportunity for them to experience the cultural heritage and national traditions of the 28 member countries. Open house hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
There will also be a #EUselfie competition! Take a photo of yourself in front of an iconic background at any of the participating EU Embassies and/or the EU Delegation. Friends and family are welcome! Upload your selfie to Twitter, Insta- gram, or Facebook, and tag it with #EUselfie and the name of the relevant country - or the EU Delegation - represented in the photo. There will be two winners: The person who snapped selfies at the largest number of Embassies and the most creative selfie. Winners will be notified via social media in the week following the EU Embassies' Open House.
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| Solas Nua Book Club | |
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Solas Nua will host its monthly book club on Monday, May 12 from 7 to 9 p.m. The book in discussion will be
This Is How It Ends by Kathleen McMahon. The meeting will take place at Teaism Penn Quarter, at 400 8th Street NW, Washington, DC.
For more information, click here.
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IN-DC May Social
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Come join IN-DC at their May social on Thursday May 15th, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., at James Hoban's Bar and Restaurant,
1 Dupont Circle NW, Washington DC.
As always, all are welcome. This is a great opportunity to bring any friends who may be interested in joining IN-DC as they can meet other members and get a feel for what IN-DC is all about.
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Frederick Irish Festival
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Join us Sunday, May 25, rain or shine, for the Frederick Irish Festival! The festival will feature musical performances by Seamus Kennedy, Brendan's Voyage, Pat Garvey, and Craggy Island Band, and dance performances by the Duffy School of Irish Dance and Hurley School of Irish Dance. It will be held from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Frederick Fairgrounds EventPlex, 797 East Patrick Street, Frederick, MD. All proceeds will go to benefit those individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
For more information, please visit
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May Music
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Murphy's Pub, Old Town Alexandria, VA
April 29-May3: Pat Garvey
May 1-5: Glasgow/Strutton
May 6-10: Ronan Kavanagh
May 8-11: Rocky Gutman
May 12-17: Pat Carroll
May 15- 19: Glasgow/Strutton
May 20-24: Rocky Gutman
May 22-26: Brian Halloran
May 27-31: Sanford Markley
For more information, click here.
Irish Channel, Crofton MD
May 13: Aine
May 6: Brendan Pelan/Thunderball
May 24: Stout 7
May 30-31: Brian Gaffney
For more information, click here.
Flanagan's Harp & Fiddle, Bethesda, MD
May 17: Sean Fleming Band
For more information, click here.
The Limerick Pub, Wheaton, MD
May 9-10: Fergus Kennedy and Steve Morris
May 17: Brendan Pelan
May 23-24: Dennis Vaughn and Mark Walbridge
May 30-31: Conor Malone
For more information, click here.
The Dubliner, Washington, DC
May 4-10: Conor Malone
May 11-17: Pat Garvey
May 18-24: Morris Minor
May 25-31: Pat Garvey
For more information, click here.
For more events and shows, visit IrishUSA.com.
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Visit Ireland with the Washington DC
St. Patrick's Day Committee!
Join the Washington DC St. Patrick's Day Committee on their trip to Ireland from 18 to 28 September. The trip includes flights, accommodation,1916 Easter Rising and Kinsale Walking Tours and visits and admission fees to Glasnevin Museum, the Guinness Storehouse, the National Museum, Kilmainham Gaol, Glendalough, Smithwick's Brewery, Dunbrody Famine Ship, Ferns Castle, Irish National Heritage Park, Old Midleton Distillery, Drombeg Stone Circle, Dursey Island Cable Car, Bantry House & Gardens, King John's Castle. The cost of participation is $2,995. For more information please contact Monica at celtictraveler@gmail.com. |
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Nothing is more Irish than an informal music "session" in the local pub. For details of the sessions taking place in the DMV area, please click here. |
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