ALL THINGS IRISH

SCOTS LOVE CALIFORNIA’S CENTRAL COAST

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 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.

The Highlander Warriors of an earlier and romantic age where edged weapons were king

—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).

 More Online:  www.seaside-games.com

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 

or pbeireanua@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.

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. 

HERMOSA BEACH, CA 90254
more information contact:
Caroline Roper-Deyo at:

cariadcaroline@yahoo.com

 

Wednesday, November 4

Dropkick Murphy

 

at THE GROVE in Anaheim  2200 E. Katella Ave.

Tel: 714-712-2700

www.grove-of-anaheim.com 

Irish News

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.  

...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.crs.org

www.concern.net

www.wellsoflifeafrica.org



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,

Jim


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEKX5PHuz-k 

ALL THINGS IRISH

What's your Celtic Zodiac sign? 

Click here to take the quiz.

What's Your Celtic Zodiac Sign Cool Quiz
on FACEBOOK!


A Letter from the Publisher

Well Folks, the die is cast. We will be printing another issue of the
Irish News and Entertainment after a three month hiatus. It will actually be our 17th. Anniversary Issue.

Special thanks to The Los Angeles County Fair, The Seaside Highland Games and Terry McCartan at Metro Acura and Honda for committing in front to advertise with us online and in print.

We are confident that the interest and readership is still out there for a quality niche market publication.
As mentioned before, a lot if factors contributed to our suspension of publication; my health issues, the economy in general and a loss of long time advertisers and readers in Southern California owing primarily to a demographic shift there over the past ten years.
Let me briefly discuss the reasons why I think things have changed. On a personal note, I am healthy again. I have made a full recovery. On the business side, we will expand the paper beyond Southern California.
There are millions of people throughout the States that are interested in an Irish paper and we will fill the void both in print and online.

We will need a lot of support to bring the Irish News and Entertainment to its full potential.
I think this blog will help achieve our goals. There will be changes in content and in distribution.
We are going to add several new and expanded features. Our Calendars were always popular and we will expand them. New features such as a CELTIC CROSSWORD PUZZLE are being developed.
As we go national, we expect to garner more advertising. We have already negotiated a barter advertising deal with a music distributor so we will start our successful free Irish Music CD with a subscription offer again.
To the many people who have called and written me and expressed an interest in this project, we send a sincere thanks to you. To all our readers, your thoughts and feedback are appreciated and needed.

Jim McDonough

CURRENT IRISH EVENTS


September 1st - October 4th 2009.

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

Los Angeles Area


The Sixth Annual Celtic Concert Series 
at The Ford Amphithetre
The concert will feature the McKasson's from Seattle as headliners.  


For the last five years The Celtic Arts Center has hosted the best Celtic concert event in the Southland at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre and this year's show on September 20th at 7PM, promises to continue the tradition.    The line up includes The McKassons, from Seattle, headlining with their special guest, LA's own Ken O'Malley, joining them onstage.   The Los Angeles Police Emerald Society Pipes and Drums will kick off the evening an hour earlier this year. Then "Highland Way" from San Diego, with their Scottish traditional tunes will be up first followed by the crowd pleasing "Slugger O'Toole" and their high energy songs.  The world class Scottish fiddling band The McKassons will end the show with the Margaret Cleary Dancers with their beautiful traditional dresses, featured throughout the evening.  

"We have a nice mix of Irish and Scottish music this year."  said Thom MacNamara veteran producer of the show. "It will be a great night of traditional Celtic music and dance for the whole family".   

The event is a fund raiser for The Celtic Arts Center and has become a tradition in Los Angeles.  "The outdoor setting of the Ford makes it a special night for us each year.  It brings out the Celtic community and it has an intimate feel, like a big family reunion picnic."  Said Adrein Burke, president of the The Celtic Arts Center.  

The concert is scheduled for Sunday September 20th, 2009 at 7PM at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood.  Tickets are $20 and $22 before Sept 13 and $25 and $27 after Sept 13th.  Student/child price $12 and group rates available.  For tickets, log on to www.fordtheatres.org or call the Ford Box Office at  323 461-3673

Fiddles that pulse with electric energy; violas that hum like the plaintive croon of cicadas; banjos that sing like springtime incarnate: Seattle-based McKassons aren’t your average fiddle band. One of the genres fastest rising talents, the McKassons create evocative soundtracks for adventures in distant lands and stories yet untold. The McKassons bring a distinctly American sensibility to traditional Scottish folk, composing songs that have the feel of Celtic music blended with the spirit of folk rock and bluegrass.

Ken O'Malley belts out a feisty blend of traditional and new Irish folk music, both lyrical and instrumental. He sings about every-thing from the subtleties of true love, to the struggle of the working class, to the joy of a pint of beer at the end of a long, hard ,journey. Everything is played with style and flair. Ken is equally talented with a guitar or mandolin and his singing is strong and passionate.

Slugger O'Toole is an LA-based Celtic trad/rock quintet who share a passion for the drinking, fighting & work songs of Ireland. They hail from the four corners, and were thrown together by their mutual love of the music and culture. Slugger concocts a lethal brew of foot-stomping classics, deft instrumentals and five-part a cappella killers. Everybody sweats, everybody sings!

From his native homeland, Scotland, Brian Caldwell of Glasgow leads Highland Way on a musical journey through traditional and modern Celtic melodies. Joining Brian are Heloise Love (on vocals, guitar and percussion),  Paul Graham Castellanos (on fiddle, mandolin, guitar, banjo and varied strings), and Richard Gordon Heinz, (on vocals, bass and keyboard). Rousing songs and haunting ballads blend with original instrumental medleys and touches of whimsy in performances featuring traditional Celtic music from Scotland and Ireland, with some added original and contemporary Celtic melodies. 

The Ford Amphitheatre is located at 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood, CA 90068, just off the 101 Hollywood Freeway across from the Hollywood Bowl and south of Universal Studios.  The grounds open two hours before showtime for picnicking. The Ford offers a number of dining options: a variety of food and beverages is available on site and box dinners for evening events may be ordered in advance. Patrons are welcome to bring their own food and drink. The Ford is disabled accessible. Portable wireless listening devices are available upon request.  On-site, stacked parking costs $5 per vehicle for evening shows and $1 per vehicle for morning family shows. For evening shows only, FREE non-stacked parking serviced by a FREE shuttle to the Ford, for evening amphitheatre performances only, is available at the Universal City
Metro Station lot at Lankershim Blvd. and Campo de Cahuenga. The shuttle, which cycles every15-20 minutes, stops in the "kiss and ride" area.
This event is part of the Ford Amphitheatre 2009 Season, a multi-disciplinary arts series produced by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission in cooperation with Los Angeles Countybased arts organizations. For a complete season schedule, directions to the theater and parking information, log on to www.FordTheatres.org.

More information: www.celticartscenter.com

Irish News and Commentary: Tempus Fugit

From Seattle to Cork, Special memorials and Masses have been held or are being planned in honor of the late Senator Ted Kennedy. It is fitting that we pause and remember this man and the time in which he lived. For me, it is the span of my entire adult life. His reach was broad and long in time and effort. He will be remembered not just for his legislative achievements, especially in education and children's health care but for being a staunch, proud liberal.
As an Irish-American, I always appreciated his love of Ireland and the Irish. Kennedy was one of the first American politicians to see and voice his thoughts that
"The Troubles" in the north of Ireland were civil rights issues. In the Senate in 1971 Kennedy pointed out that "Ulster is becoming Britain's Vietnam" and called for a united Ireland. After Bloody Sunday 1972, when British soldiers killed 13 civil rights marchers in Derry, Kennedy called for a British withdrawal from Northern Ireland. All through the 1970s and 1980s, he kept the Irish Civil Rights agenda alive and led a group that was to become known as the "Four Horsemen".
The four were Ted Kennedy, Tip O'Neill, Hugh Carey and Sen. Patrick Moynihan.
U.S. ambassador to Ireland, Jean Kennedy Smith and Senator Kennedy were very influential in allowing Gerry Adams into the US against the wishes of the British government in 1994. That bold change in policy was the catalyst, that with the guidance of Senator George Mitchell, finally led to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. So we owe the peace in Ireland today thanks in large part to the late senator.

Yesterday, Ireland's Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Brian Cowen, said: "In good days and bad, Ted Kennedy worked valiantly for the cause of peace on this island."

Micheál Martin, Ireland's Foreign Minister, said that the former senator "knew and loved Ireland - its people, its music and its culture", adding that "his special dedication to the peace process was unrivalled and deeply held".


Our colleague Trina Vargo sent us the following to share with our readers. Vargo served as Foreign Policy Adviser to Senator Kennedy from 1987-1998 and was heavily involved in the Northern Ireland peace process. She subsequently founded, and is president of, the US-Ireland Alliance.


"Senator Kennedy s commitment to Ireland and Northern Ireland spanned forty years and no one has contributed more to the strengthening of the relationship between the US and the island of Ireland. He encouraged me to create the US-Ireland Alliance and everyone at the Alliance is grateful for the continuous support he gave to the organization and the Mitchell Scholarship program. Personally, he gave me, at a very young age, an incredible opportunity to be a part of making a difference in a way that few people get. I told him when I left his employ that, no matter what I did with the rest of my life, the way that I see things would, to a very great extent, be shaped by the way that I learned to see things by working with him. And for that I feel honored and privileged -- but most of all I feel incredibly lucky -- that he allowed me to be a part of his work."
August 26, 2009

OnGoing Irish Calendar...
The Friends of Ireland in Orange County California will gather for their Monthly Breakfast Meeting on
Tuesday, September 1st at 10:00am. We will meet, as usual, at 10 A.M. on September 1st at the Starting Gate Restaurant, 5052 Katella Ave., Los Alamitos (across from the race course).
The move to a new location is NOW set for the October 6 meeting.

If you plan to attend, please respond to by e-mail to pbeireanua@att.net, by Monday, August 31. Anyone living in Southern California is invited to join these great folks for the Breakfast Meeting. Speakers and Entertainment vary but the craic is always great!!
*************************************************************************************

My great source for many things Irish is Adrien Rain Burke, the current chairperson of the Celtic Arts Center in Los Angeles. Adrien just gave me a new look for my blog. Both her talent and good work are very much appreciated. She also just let us know that there is a grand Youtube segment of the All Ireland Uilleann Pipes Championships.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKiY2bsxWN8&feature=channel_page

Special Offer, thanks to Sean Gunning for sending this to us.
In a first for WWMPC, we would like to offer you a truly unique gift! With each online DVD purchase, we will include several authentic film frames that our editors have cut directly from an official 35mm release print of Red Roses and Petrol. You can literally ‘Own a Piece of the Film’ that was projected in cinemas during the US theatrical engagement!

This very special DVD 'Collector's Offer' is available for order now through Monday, September 14, 2009, while supplies last.  Orders can be placed online at http://www.wwmpc.com/special-dvd-offer.

The soundtrack CD is also available for pre-order from Warrior Records at the following site:  http://www.warriorrecords.com/redrosesandpetrol/
.
A brief synopsis of the film:

Amid a haze of cigarette smoke and uneaten food, the family of Enda Doyle (Malcolm McDowell -- A Clockwork Orange, NBC’s ”Heroes”) gathers in Dublin for his wake. A university librarian, poet, and rascal, Doyle has left behind a trail of unresolved issues, a dysfunctional family, and a disturbing mystery. A cache of self-recorded video diaries sheds light on who he really was and the secrets he was never able to share. Based on the acclaimed play by Joseph O’Connor, Red Roses and Petrol explores the complex dynamics of family relationships with sharp humor and surprising turns, taking us on an intense emotional journey into the depths of what is truth and what is love. Also starring Max Beesley (BBC’s “Hotel Babylon”), Susan Lynch (Waking Ned Devine), and former Miss Ireland Olivia Tracey, with songs by Flogging Molly and Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles.

Keep Yer Irish Up 24/7

I have been asked a lot about the fate of the Irish News & Entertainment newspaper.
There is no definitive answer to the question yet; the best that I can say is to please be patient. I published the paper for 16 years. I would like to see it continue but in a down market, changing demographics in Southern California and some health issues; I had to suspend publication.
In the meantime; please start reading this blog and our E-mails through Constant Contact. The Celtic Arts Center in Los Angeles is planning their SIXTH ANNUAL CONCERT in September. We will be doing an E-mail with details of that and other Irish/Celtic events soon. To be added to our list for Irish/Celtic information and to receive updates on the Irish News; please send your E-mail address to IrishNewsUSA@aol.com.
For tips and news that you want to share through this blog; please E-mail me at jmcdonough44@gmail.com.

Also you are always invited to visit our: www.pubguide.com site.

Adrien Burke was kind enough to send us the information and link below.

LISTEN to Radio ACS - music of The Celtic Arts Center:
http://www.rawsound.com/RadioACS/ 24/7

CD: "Ceiltis - 20 years on" a compilation of Celtic music for every mood on the occasion of An Claidheamh Soluis/The Celtic Arts Center's 20th year.

All profits benefit The Celtic Arts Center, a small non-profit,
501[c]3 corporation dedicated to promoting Celtic Arts & Language, award-winning theater, fabulous concerts, and home of the longest-running traditional music session in Southern California.

Hear it at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/ceiltis
For more about An Claidheamh Soluis:
http://www.celticartscenter.com
_,.+*^*+.,__,.+*^*+.,__,.+*^*+.,__,.+*^*+.,__,.+*^*+.
Tara. ancient seat of the Kings of Ireland, is in danger of being
surrounded by a freeway, while many other ancient sites in the vicinity are under threat, or have already been destroyed.

Supporters of Tara
have released a compilation CD to raise funds for their effort. You can help by purchasing their record:

Tara:http://www.myspace.com/Taracompilationcd