October has become a favorite month for people of many Celtic persuasions to “gather beside the seaside” at Seaside Park in Ventura. The Seaside Highland Games will return for a seventh year to the Ventura County Fairgrounds this October 10th and 11th 2009 for another rousing Festival of all things Scottish. Many favorite Celtic/Irish/Scottish entertainers including Eric Rigler & Bad Haggis, Alex Beaton, the Wicked Tinkers, Highland Way and America’s favorite, Celtic Spring, will be there! Ventura’s own Claddagh Dance Company will take the stage periodically over the weekend.
The pageantry will be non-stop from Saturday noon’s Grand Parade and Opening Ceremonies to a final Massed Band Farewell at Games Closing on Sunday night. Your youngsters will want to spend all day in the very entertaining Children’s Glen and you will find plenty of shopping bargains among the forty-plus Celtic Vendors! Eighty clans with several new ones this year.
If there is dance, there must be music and, in addition to the three stages for our star-quality entertainers will be bagpipers and bagpipe bands, the Ventura British Brass (as fine a brass band as you will find anywhere), the Scottish Fiddlers of Los Angeles and the Celtic Arts Center Gaelic Choir. Gaelic Language classes, Genealogy seminars with Arlene Eakle and a study of the art of Scotch Malt Whisky—with samples! Saturday will end in a blaze of glory with a FREE CELTIC ROCK CONCERT featuring Bad Haggis, the Tinkers and Highland Way from five until about eight pm. BE THERE!!
The pageantry will be non-stop from Saturday noon’s Grand Parade and Opening Ceremonies to a final Massed Band Farewell at Games Closing on Sunday night. Your youngsters will want to spend all day in the very entertaining Children’s Glen and you will find plenty of shopping bargains among the forty-plus Celtic Vendors! Eighty clans with several new ones this year.
If there is dance, there must be music and, in addition to the three stages for our star-quality entertainers will be bagpipers and bagpipe bands, the Ventura British Brass (as fine a brass band as you will find anywhere), the Scottish Fiddlers of Los Angeles and the Celtic Arts Center Gaelic Choir. Gaelic Language classes, Genealogy seminars with Arlene Eakle and a study of the art of Scotch Malt Whisky—with samples! Saturday will end in a blaze of glory with a FREE CELTIC ROCK CONCERT featuring Bad Haggis, the Tinkers and Highland Way from five until about eight pm. BE THERE!!
The giants—the SAAA Highland Heavies—will amaze you with their physical feats of strength and agility and the always popular sheep-herding dog demonstrations.
Scottish military re-creators Bydand Forever who will march to black powder
precision military maneuvers from a storied past.
—and expertly demonstrate their use.
In addition...a huge Darts Tournament staged by the Ventura County Dart Association.
The SHG Food Court stands ready to satisfy with great Scottish/Celtic food and drink. Whether it’s bangers and mash or hot dogs and beer—all is there for your enjoyment.
Rounding out your day, don’t forget to view the beautiful British car collection and please help our Yellow Ribbon America & The America’s Heroes Foundation by contributing in any way you can. We are dedicated to supporting our country through this worthy organization even as peace is being sought on many fronts. Come to the Seaside Games for some happy hours at a bargain fare ($12 to $18 adults, $10 to $17 senior & military, $3 children).
Rounding out your day, don’t forget to view the beautiful British car collection and please help our Yellow Ribbon America & The America’s Heroes Foundation by contributing in any way you can. We are dedicated to supporting our country through this worthy organization even as peace is being sought on many fronts. Come to the Seaside Games for some happy hours at a bargain fare ($12 to $18 adults, $10 to $17 senior & military, $3 children).
Events Calendar:
Tuesday, October 6
10:00am
Friends Of Ireland of Southern California,
Breakfast Meeting. Great group of folks with one thing in common; "Their Love of Ireland"
Good Friends and Great Craic. Sometimes a special guest or entertainment is provided.
1st Tuesday of every month. The October meeting is at a new location.
Katella Deli & Bakery
4470 Katella Ave, Los Alamitos, Ca 90720
Katella near Lexington across from race track
More information:
Call Loretta at (714) 557-8983
E-mail: lorettamullen@att.net
Restaurant # for directions or details: (562)594-5754
Through October 4
1st Irish 2009, New York's Annual Festival of Irish Theatre powered by Origin Theatre Company.
21 Irish playwrights at 12 venues across New York
More information: www.1stIrish.org
Saturday and Sunday, October 10 & 11
9:00am to 5:00pm
Seaside Highland Games
Ventura Fairgrounds
Ventura California
www.seaside-games.com
Thursday, October 22 from 9:00am to 5:00pm
Ride for Life to San Manuel Casino
Bus will leave from the Knights of Columbus Hall in Van Nuys,
(corner of Valerio and Van Nuys Blvd.)
Cost is $20 dollars.
Ride for Life to San Manuel Casino
Bus will leave from the Knights of Columbus Hall in Van Nuys,
(corner of Valerio and Van Nuys Blvd.)
Cost is $20 dollars.
Website: www.lamarchforlife.org
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 3:00pm
WELSH CHOIR OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
CONCERT WITH WELSH SOPRANO JULIA BENTHAM
SAINT CROSS EPISCOPAL CHURCH
1818 MONTEREY BLVD.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 3:00pm
WELSH CHOIR OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
CONCERT WITH WELSH SOPRANO JULIA BENTHAM
SAINT CROSS EPISCOPAL CHURCH
1818 MONTEREY BLVD.
HERMOSA BEACH, CA 90254
more information contact:
Caroline Roper-Deyo at:
more information contact:
Caroline Roper-Deyo at:
Wednesday, November 4
Dropkick Murphy
at THE GROVE in Anaheim 2200 E. Katella Ave.
Tel: 714-712-2700
TRAGIC NEWS FOR IRISH BOXING FANS
Irish Olympic Champion Darren Sutherland
Irish papers have reported that Darren Sutherland, who won an Olympic bronze medal at the Beijing Games in 2008 was found dead at his home according to his manager Frank Maloney. Sutherland was only 27.
Sutherland was unbeaten in his first four pro fights, and was scheduled to fight on October 16. He was due to appear with Maloney at a news conference to talk about his next fight and when he did not respond to a call, the manager went to look for him. Sutherland's death was called a suicide.
Olympic middleweight champion James DeGale, who beat Sutherland in Beijing, paid tribute to his former rival.
"He had an Olympic bronze medal and his whole life to look forward to," the Englishman said. "He had a great future and my heart goes out to everyone who knew him."
Former Featherweight Champion Barry McGuiggan said Sutherland had the ability to win a world title."It is an absolute tragedy, I would describe Darren as a phenomenal talent. He represented his country with pride as an amateur and I believe he would have become a world champion in the professional ranks one day."
Darren John Sutherland was born in Dublin on April 18, 1982. He was raised in County Meath and died in London on September 14, 2009.
Sutherland was unbeaten in his first four pro fights, and was scheduled to fight on October 16. He was due to appear with Maloney at a news conference to talk about his next fight and when he did not respond to a call, the manager went to look for him. Sutherland's death was called a suicide.
Olympic middleweight champion James DeGale, who beat Sutherland in Beijing, paid tribute to his former rival.
"He had an Olympic bronze medal and his whole life to look forward to," the Englishman said. "He had a great future and my heart goes out to everyone who knew him."
Former Featherweight Champion Barry McGuiggan said Sutherland had the ability to win a world title."It is an absolute tragedy, I would describe Darren as a phenomenal talent. He represented his country with pride as an amateur and I believe he would have become a world champion in the professional ranks one day."
Darren John Sutherland was born in Dublin on April 18, 1982. He was raised in County Meath and died in London on September 14, 2009.
...Some Personal Thoughts;
please indulge me...
On a more somber note, I'd like to share some insights that I've had over the past few weeks. As most of you know in the past year, I was seriously ill. Thanks to God, the prayers, love and concern of my family and friends, Great American Health Care and a bit of my own Irish Luck; I am now healthy. I've had a lot of time to think and be inspired. The sources for some of these inspirational thoughts were family members who went to Africa earlier this year with a church group to do some volunteer work at an orphanage for aids victims and my good friend, Nick Jordan, who has been working on African relief projects for several years. I really think that we can make a difference and here is my request.
Help feed the hungry.
Thousands of our fellow humans starve to death every year. Yet, in the United States, obesity is one of our major health problems. We could, and in fact, we do grow enough food to feed the world.
Here is how you can get involved and help.
Raise you own consciousness on the issue. When writing this blog I took an evening and researched the subject and learned a lot. Do the same. There are links at the end of this piece to give you a head start. Then spread the word; help raise the awareness of your family and friends on the facts.
Get involved...Skip a meal...
This writer is sorry to admit it but I am overweight...I have been overeating for at least 30 years.
That easily adds up to at least 1500 meals that I could have and should have skipped in the past thirty years!
Had I skipped those meals and sent only an average of $3. per meal to a worthy relief organization; that would have been $4500. $4500!!
My life would be dramatically improved; had I acted and not procrastinated all these years.
One thing for sure, I would not be quite as heavy as I am now. Some of the other facts are even more compelling; science has now proven that losing weight and being thiner extends life and makes you healthier!! And the other more grim reality about this fanciful might have been scenario is that even a small donation could easily have saved a life.
Take the pledge with me; start skipping a meal a week. The reward will be immediate.
If you are in a position to donate $3 or $4 or so for that skipped meal to a worthy group that is fighting hunger; all the better.
Resources:
www.wellsoflifeafrica.org
Youtube Link to Ken O'Malley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEKX5PHuz-k
Youtube Link to Ken O'Malley
Below is a link to a montage of two concerts with my good friend and Irish baladeer, Ken O'Malley.
Ken performs at the recent Celtic Arts Center concert/fundraiser at the Ford Amphitheater in LA with his band and solo at St. Thomas University in Houston.
I'll share another tidbit, I've always hoped that O'Malley will be there to sing Carricfergus at my far distant Irish Wake.
Dublin-born O'Malley is a great talent. I hope all you ALL THINGS IRISH readers enjoy the tunes.Thats it for this blog. I'll keep you posted.
Slante,
Jimhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEKX5PHuz-k
