ISSUE 27 VOLUME 3 Proudly Serving Celts in North America Since 1991 MARCH/APRIL 2018 HIGHLIGHTS INSIDE THIS ISSUE MARKING 100 YEARS SINCE WOMEN WERE GRANTED RIGHT TO VOTE Pages 6 & 7 • ST. DAVID’S DAY: A GLOBAL WELSH CELEBRATION Page 10 • NORTHERN IRELAND: POWER-SHARING TALKS COLLAPSE Pages 20 & 21 SEATTLE’S 2018 IRISH FESTIVAL & PARADE EILIS COURTNEY, president of the Irish Women’s Network of BC is this year’s CelticFest Vancouver Celt of the Year. PAGES 24 & 25 She will be presented with the award on Saturday, March 17 at Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver. [More on page 3]

THE MATTIERIN SCHOOL of Irish Dance in Edmonton, Alberta made history for Irish dance in western Canada at the All Ire- land Dance Championships last month. Pictured above are Olivia, Orla, and Londyn of the Mattierin School who all com- peted at the championships and are also the current Western Canadian Oireachtas Champions. [Read more on page 18]

IRELAND’S Attorney General Séamus Woulfe will be a guest of honor in Seattle on the St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

THE STORM known as ‘The Beast from the East’ caused chaos SINCE 1879 St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue has THE MAYOR of Seattle’s sis- been at the heart of the Irish community in New York City across western Europe and left a trail of destruction across ter city in Ireland, Galway Britain and Ireland. Pictured above, hundreds of drivers were and, while the building is still admired by tourists and natives Mayor Pearce Flannery, will alike, a new generation of Irish immigrants has brought a stranded for up to 13 hours on snow-covered M80 in Scotland also be in Seattle for the St. on February 28. [Read more on pages 8 & 23] different perspective to established cultural organizations. Patrick’s Day weekend. [Read more on page 28] REFLECTIONS ON WIN FREE GIFTS ST. PATRICK You could win an Easter Basket. U.K. Easter eggs & chocolate from Black BY JOHN SCALLY Pudding Imports in Langley. Check out their weekly sales on Facebook. A THEOLOGIAN WITH (See page 7 for more info). Mark your entry Black Pudding and include your name and daytime telephone number. Entry by March 27th. Entries TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN by E-mail only. (Only one entry per person) Send to: [email protected]. PAGE 19 ALSO INSIDE: SEE OUR SPECIAL T ATRICK S

FOLLOWING the European Union’s draft legal agreement re- S . P ’ 40009398 leased on February 28, British Prime Minister Theresa May GREETINGS SECTION Publication has described it as a threat to her country’s “constitutional PAGE 12 Agreement: Mail integrity.” [Read more on page 9] PAGE 2 www.celtic-connection.com MARCH/APRIL 2018 2017 Western Canada Rose: ‘I’ve had the best year of a lifetime’ DMONTON – The Irish Sports and Social Soci- ety is very pleased to host the annual Rose of Tralee banquet in Edmonton to select a representative for e western Canada on Saturday, May 26. The winner will go on the represent “And this journey is only beginning, I western Canada at the main Rose of cannot wait to see where it takes me in Tralee Festival in Ireland which now life.” marks 59 years. While some might consider the festival Last year, Sinead McGahern was se- a bit anachronistic or old-fashioned, it lected as the Western Canada Rose and has evolved to reach out and connect she said the experience has been one with the global Irish diaspora, bringing of tremendous satisfaction. It has al- together people in celebration of their lowed her to meet others from around cultural heritage. the world who all share a connection The Rose of Tralee has a long tradition with Ireland. in Kerry and the festival is something “To say I have had a year of a lifetime that the local people are very proud of. is an understatement. My year as the It has also turned into one of the big- 2017 Western Canada Rose has been gest television events in Europe. Last filled with so much joy and pure gratifi- year, the show drew a peak audience of 743,800 and an average audience of SINEAD MCGAHERN, 2017 cation, where I have to keep reminding Western Canada Rose. myself that this isn’t all a magical dream. 618,600 viewers. Eligibility requirements include: Must be “I was honoured to represent western There are 65 ‘Rose’ centres worldwide 18 years of age by January 1, 2017 and Canada in the 2017 Rose of Tralee Fes- with three in Canada – Toronto, Ottawa will not have reached your 28th tival in August in Co. Kerry, along with and Edmonton. Having a western Ca- birthday being able to open up the Frankfurt nadian connection to the festival is a on or prior to September 1, 2018; be Christmas Markets in December of bonus for everyone, and those of us with unmarried or never married; be female, 2017. an Irish connection, should be equally born in Ireland or of Irish origin by vir- proud. tue of one of your ancestors having been “In less than a month, I will be travel- born in Ireland. ling to New York to meet a majority of Entries for the Western Canada Rose the other roses to walk in the annual St. 2018 are welcome from anywhere in For more information or to enter, e-mail: Patrick’s Day parade. western Canada. [email protected]. “But overall, I am most privileged to have met so many different people from THE CELTIC CONNECTION all over the world who have ties to Ire- land; and it has all been because of the ISSUE 27 VOLUME 3 - Established in 1991 Rose of Tralee Festival.” #452 - 4111 Hastings Street, Burnaby, B.C. V5C 6T7 The heart of the festival is the selection Tel: (604) 434-3747 • www.celtic-connection.com of the Rose of Tralee which brings Maura De Freitas - Publisher - • E-Mail: [email protected] young women of Irish descent from Catholine Butler - Advertising - • E-Mail: [email protected] around the world to Co. Kerry, Ireland Colleen Carpenter - Copy Editor • Thary Chhom - Ad Production for a global celebration of Irish culture. Distribution: Arlyn Lingat • Allison Moore • Linda Robb • Frank Dudfield in Reflecting on the experience, Sinead Surrey • Eifion Williams in Burnaby & Coquitlam • Laurie Lang in Coquitlam said, “Ireland you continue to amaze me • Joanne Long in Mission • Bill Duncan in Maple Ridge • Deirdre O’Ruaric – the people from Ireland and the peo- in White Rock • Nanci Spieker, Tina Bonfield and Heather Murphy in Seattle ple that are connected to Ireland. • Oliver Grealish in Edmonton. “All these people have been some of Published 7X per year. Unsolicited submissions welcome but will not be returned. Please retain a copy for your files. Contents copyright 2018 The Celtic Connection. the nicest, most giving, supportive, and Opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of the publisher but rather a selfless individuals I have met. reflection of voices within the community. All correspondence must include a name, “And it’s been a pleasure to get to know address and telephone number. the other 63 roses and 64 rose escorts Canada Post Canadian Publications Agreement 40009398 throughout this 2017/2018 year. My 2017 rose sisters and rose escorts are family for life! MARCH/APRIL 2018 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 3 Eilis Courtney: Vancouver’s own ‘Irish Mammy’ to new Irish arrivals By ITA O’KANE-WILSON presidents of community organizations VANCOUVER – Alan Cosgrave, in Vancouver, was authorized by the president of CelticFest Vancouver, Embassy of Ireland in Ottawa to wit- ness passport forms and photos. and the Board of Directors for CelticFest have announced the Since then she has handled over 250 2018 ‘Celt of the Year Award’. This enquiries for information regarding pass- ports, answering e-mail enquiries, pro- year’s winner is Eilis Courtney, viding forms and coordinating meetings president of the Irish Women’s to witness passport photos and forms. Network of B.C. O’Ruairc in 2010. Over the past eight years, Eilis has be- Born and bred in the northside of Dub- come affectionately known as the “Van- lin, Eilis Courtney followed her brother The IWN is celebrating its 20th anni- couver Mammy.” out to British Columbia in 1988 with versary this year and has two sister plans to stay for 12 months. networks in Ottawa and Montreal. For hundreds if not thousands of young Irish, she has been a valuable resource She joined the University of British Co- With the recession hitting Ireland full- as they settle into life here, has pro- lumbia the following year and has been force, the influx of new Irish to Van- vided much support, and from time-to- with them ever since. couver prompted a call from Eilis for time, a shoulder to cry on. more community collaboration and in Working in the office of Ceremonies 2011, various community groups came She is a huge presence in this vibrant and Events for the past 25 years, Eilis’ together to discuss ways on how to as- Irish community and deserves to be ac- long career has been focused on com- sist the new Irish. knowledged as the 2018 Celt of the munity building with its fair share of Year. logistical and diplomatic challenges, an In May 2011, the first newcomer infor- environment she thrives in. mation and networking seminar was The award will be presented at Christ held. Church Cathedral in Vancouver on Sat- She had a lead role in UBC’s United urday, March 17 and the evening will Way campaign for the past 27 years Since then, 11 seminars have been held feature entertainment by the Vancou- and coordinated many community en- for the newcomers by the Irish Wom- ver Welsh Men’s Choir. For tickets and gagement events on campus. en’s Network under the Irish in Van- more information, see: https://vwmc.ca. couver umbrella of local Irish commu- Given her career path, it was no coin- nity organizations. For full information and to purchase tick- cidence then that she would become in- ets for all events, visit: www.celticfest volved in the Irish community in Van- In 2012, she spearheaded the set-up of vancouver.com. couver and joined the Irish Women’s the Irish in Vancouver website as a por- Network of BC in 1998. tal to the Irish community in Vancou- More on the IWN’s ver. 20th anniversary She became treasurer in 2004 and took over as president from Deirdre In the fall of 2015, Eilis, as one of two Pages 26 & 27 PAGE 4 www.celtic-connection.com MARCH/APRIL 2018 What a great start to the year at The Rogue!

ANCOUVER – Sold out shows with Connie Kaldor and Jim Byrnes (twice), and Ten Strings & A Goatskin, Altan, and Tom Russell, and St. James Hall was almost full V for shows with Beppe Gambetta, Paul Pigat & Lynn Miles, Stephen Fearing, and the three nights of the inaugural B.C. Fiddle Festival – The Driven Bow. The festival featuring six B.C. By bands led by six virtuoso fiddle STEVE players in a variety of styles gave EDGE three evening concerts and six daytime workshops – all of them THE ROGUE extremely well-attended and full FOLK CLUB to the brim with exhilarating music and merriment! The festival opened with several young fiddlers from the Sunshine Coast – Bad To The Bow – led by PART of the Altan / Lúnasa / Kevin Burke finale at the Alberta Rose Theatre in Portland, Oregon ace young fiddler Gabriel last month. Dubreuil on a couple of tunes off the floor. No longer is she half of the Altan fiddle Gabe then brought out his band Early attack, she is ALL of it and she is in top Spirit – with Jay Knutson on guitar They have a really strong concert line- form throughout. and vocals, Will Ross on bass and Ben up this month, and they also show mov- Kelly on drums. ies and such. I reckon it holds around Martin Tourish, the youngest band member, and nephew of Ciaran Mercurial fiddler, composer and teacher 250 people, and they have a full bar. Tourish – who was the main fiddler Daniel Lapp came next, with Adam It’s in a mostly residential area, but there for years – is a very tasteful accordion Dobres on guitar. are a few excellent cafes within a block. player, and I think he contributes most What a stunning set they gave! The fi- Irish-American singer songwriter Tom of the arrangements. nale saw Daniel and Gabriel teaming Russell was in fine form, and the next The new material is entirely made up up for the first time. The fiddle tradi- night we witnessed superb sets by of traditional and original songs and tions are alive and well in B.C. Lúnasa and Altan, each preceded by a solo fiddle piece from legendary fid- tunes from Donegal, with relatively few On Saturday there were workshops dler Kevin Burke, who lives in Port- guests, so this is a drop of the pure with Daniel Lapp, Jocelyn Pettit, and land. Donegal – and every track is a gem! Cam Wilson (Mad Pudding) and then • Jocelyn’s band gave a fine set opening At the end of the evening all ten musi- Since their last visit in 2017 the amaz- for the Celtic funksters Mad Pudding, cians gathered on stage for a breath- ing Scottish fiddle and cello duo ALASDAIR FRASER and Natalie Haas have released a new who sounded like they had never taking finale! Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas CD, Ports of Call, which features tunes from Spain, Brittany, stopped playing together – even though • have released a new CD, Ports of Call, Quebec and lots more ports of call. they went their separate ways over a Lúnasa and Altan have both released which features tunes from Spain, Brit- decade ago. It was another breathtak- brilliant CDs this past week. tany, Quebec and lots more ports of ing night of fiddle music! Lúnasa’s eighth album is called Cas, and call. Sunday’s workshops featured Kalissa for the first time, they include some As they did last year, they will host a Landa (Locarno), Kathleen Nisbet songs amidst the incredible instrumen- participatory workshop in the afternoon (Metis Dance Hall Project), and tal medleys. of Sunday, March 11. It will take place Gabriel Dubreuil. Guest singers Natalie Merchant, downstairs at St. James, in the back Mary Chapin Carpenter, Tim room, from 3:30 PM to 5 PM. Pay at Gabe and I even managed to play a few the door. $30. tunes in the hall before the sound checks O’Brien, Daoiri Farrell, and Eric for the evening show. Great fun! Bibb each take on a song, and with a Last time there were over 50 partici- backing band as good as this, well, you pants, of all ages, and by the end they Kathleen’s set was remarkable! With know it’s going to be good! were playing a new (to them) tune in J.J. Lavallee on guitar and fiddle, The latest line-up features Kevin perfect unison, with Alasdair and Patrick Metzger on bass, and Liam Natalie as conductors and admirers! It MacDonald on drums – plus a spirited Crawford on flute and whistle, Cillian Vallely on uillean pipes, Colin Farrell was a stunning experience, I have to crew of local Metis dancers, and some say. pow wow dancers from New Mexico on fiddle, Ed Boyd on guitar, and who were in town for the Talking Stick Trevor Hutchinson on bass. Last year we also showed the movie, Festival. Cillian has been touring with Bruce The Groove Is Not Trivial, which CAM WILSON and Allen Dionne (Mad Pudding) and Jocelyn traces Alasdair’s music to its roots in The dance floor was full, and stayed Springsteen lately, and he contributes Pettit at the Saturday finale of The Driven Bow B.C. Fiddle many of the tunes on the new CD. Scotland and explores the influence of that way when Locarno hit the stage the various Celtic regions. Festival at The Rogue. for the final set of the festival. The distinctive elements of Lúnasa’s Mostly it reflects on the essential groove This fabulous eight-piece delivered a sound are still there, of course, with St. Patrick’s Day and a Ceildih with Another excellent Quebecois band, Hutchinson’s bass and Boyd’s fierce of Scottish music, driven by the cello Blackthorn, Eire Born Dancers, Bon Debarras, also has a new fiddle scintillating set of Latin music with back in the 18th Century, and revived horns and marimbas and guitars, and of rhythm guitar building the platform for B.C. Regiment Irish Pipes & player – Marie-Pierre Lecault – and the others to flourish with their superb in all its inherently funky glory by these Drums, and A Shot of Scotch, at the a new CD, En Panne De Silence. course, Kalissa’s wonderful fiddle play- two brilliant musicians! ing – not to mention the songs led by musicianship and tastefully expansive Scottish Cultural Centre (8886 Hudson Street, in Marpole). Full details on Also appearing will be Les Chauffeurs Tom Landa and co. arrangements. We will probably show the film at a Pied (PQ), Gabriel Dubreuil (BC), • around 7:15 PM in the hall, so get there www.celticfestvancouver.com. The songs are a rare treat, too, with • Blackthorn (BC), and more. Info: We took the train to Portland at the end Lúnasa demonstrating that they are not early. www.festivaldubois.ca. of February to catch two shows at the Festival du Bois runs later than usual just a brilliant session band, they are also And, of course, there will be a full con- • Alberta Rose Theatre: Tom Russell this year, March 23 - 25, in Maillardville. excellent accompanists and arrangers. cert with Alasdair and Natalie after that. You can hear music by all these per- on Tuesday, February 27, and a double- Tickets and information on all upcoming The headline band is Quebec’s superb formers and many more on The Satur- bill with Altan and Lúnasa on Wednes- Altan’s new CD, The Gap Of Dreams, Rogue concerts can be found on Le Vent Du Nord, now a quintet, with day Edge On Folk, every Saturday day 28th. sees them trimmed down to a single fid- the recent addition of fiddler Andre from 8am to noon on CiTR fm 101.9 dle for the first time. www.roguefolk.com. The Alberta Rose is an old cinema • Brunet, brother of accordion player and www.citr.ca with yours truly in the which has been lovingly restored and Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh really shines The Vancouver Celtic Festival runs Rejean Brunet. Olivier Demers (fid- chair, spinning the tunes. I hope you can very recently saved as a community on the new album – and on stage too. March 15th to 17th at various venues dle), Nicolas Boulerice (piano, vielle join me! a roue) and Simon Beaudry (guitar) treasure. (Crowd-funding is a wonder- She still has that hauntingly beautiful around the city, with highlights includ- See you at The Rogue House! ful thing! Let’s hope The Rio can fol- voice, and we now get to appreciate ing the Vancouver Welsh Men’s round out the band, who will have a new CD out very soon. Slainte, low suit.) what a great fiddler she is. Choir at Christ Church Cathedral on Steve MARCH/APRIL 2018 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 5 Festival du Bois: A bustling hive of music and fun in Coquitlam COQUITLAM, BC – Fans of Festival du Bois, held annually over the first BON DÉBARRAS is a weekend in March for many years, will trio of brilliant young want to note that this year’s festival of Montréal multi-instru- Francophone, folk and world music has mentalists. They bring been scheduled later in the spring – and together traditional will run in 2018 from March 23-25. French-Canadian mu- After experiencing a few very cold fes- sic inspired, through tival weekends in recent years, with a immigration, by Irish, big dump of snow making last year’s Scottish and English Sunday performances a chilly challenge, music with the influ- the decision to move the festival dates to later in the spring is good news. ences of modern-day, multicultural Montreal. While the big heated tents in Mackin Park like the massive Grand Chapiteau Blackthorn’s Celtic and folk, the foot The 29th annual Festival du Bois offers that seats hundreds have always meant rhythms and unique “crankie” show a friendly and affordable opportunity for a degree of warmth and comfort for from Podorythmie and local favour- families to share a great experience of audience members and performers ites, Alouest, and their traditional music, dance and Francophone culture. alike, well...you know. sounds – there’s lots more happening over the weekend. Mackin Park – 1046 Brunette Avenue It’s just more likely to be warmer over- – is conveniently located near IKEA in all if you want to wander the site in There’s a contra dance on Friday night Coquitlam, accessible by transit, bike Mackin Park to experience all that this with The Sybaritic String Band that and car. There are special ticket rates popular festival has in store. will get your juices flowing. for senior, students and families, and if you buy online in advance of the festi- And what’s in store this year, you ask? The festival also offers fascinating In addition to performances by the likes val, there’s an extra ticket discount on workshops in nearby Mackin House, offer. of stellar Quebec music groups such as special performances for children of all Le Vent du Nord, Bon Débarras and ages, roving characters around the site, Full festival information, including per- Les Chauffeurs á pieds, the dynamic thrilling activities like axe throwing (new formance schedules and artist bios, are Latin/world sounds of Mazacote, this year), fun and fascinating exhibits, online at the festival’s website: Jacky Essombe’s African dance and shopping and delicious food. Maple festivaldubois.ca. story, Gabriel Debreuil’s fiddle, taffy on snow, anyone? PAGE 6 www.celtic-connection.com MARCH/APRIL 2018 An incredible in-depth historical account of the struggle to win the right for women to vote

HANNA SHEEHY SKEFFINGTON: Suffragette and Sinn Féiner “We all, Unionists and Nationalists alike, /Her Memoirs and Political Writings By Margaret Ward live overmuch on our past in Ireland. University College Dublin Press Our great past condones our empty present, /Dufour Editions ISBN: 978-1-910820-14 8 and seems to deprecate, instead of stimulating endeavours. Living thus in our past, one is apt Reviewed by Sharon Greer to over-draw one’s bank account. This tendency SPAT in the face by a drunk in a is nowhere more aptly illustrated Limerick crowd, threatened by than with regards the position thugs to be thrown down steps for heckling politicians at a mass of Irishwomen in the Ireland of today.” demonstration by shouting – Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 1909 ‘Votes for Irishwomen!’, jailed several times, the extraordinary sade to expose what happened to her Her stamina was astounding when Hanna Sheehy Skeffington also husband and to lecture on Ireland’s faced with the fierce and bitter opposi- withstood a number of hunger claim for self-determination. tion from many sides in her efforts strikes and fearlessly battled the against a paternalistic and patriarchal Her lecture, ‘British Militarism as I society. But she never gave up, and she misogynistic boys clubs of Eng- Have Known It’ was given at Carnegie is an inspiration for women to this day. land and Ireland. Hall, New York in 1917. Margaret Ward’s work is a weighty In 1918 women in Ireland, along with This phenomenal feminist endured an tome but an incredible historical account the rest of the UK, were given the right of the struggle that Irish women along unbelievable burden of terror and re- to vote at age 30 with property qualifi- prisals which she fought courageously with British suffragists went through to cations, while men could vote at age 21 achieve the remarkable accomplish- and determinedly for the social – but in with no qualifications. particular political emancipation – of ment of winning the right to vote. women in her struggle to get the vote Hanna contributed enormously to the As Ward’s book so wonderfully di- for women in Ireland in the early part struggle for equal suffrage being part vulges, Hanna Sheehy Skeffington’s of the 20th Century. of the Irish constitution in the 1920s. writings are particularly well written, Margaret Ward’s latest book, Hanna She was an advocate and catalyst for articulate and humorous. She was a Sheehy Skeffington: Suffragette and human and civic rights. She wanted the very well-educated woman and an elo- Sinn Feiner is a colossal work on establishment of the principle of equal quent communicator. Skeffington’s memoirs and political writ- pay for equal work. Aren’t women all Bravo to these valiant women and men ings. over the world still struggling for that who supported votes for Women and issue today? Hanna was a suffragette and Irish na- women’s suffrage in an era intensely tional born in 1877 in County Cork. Hanna Sheehy Skeffington was a pro- opposed to any modern advancement gressive woman who was well ahead in the freedom of women. Along with her husband, Francis Sheehy of her time. Skeffington and two other members she founded the Irish Women’s Franchise League in 1908 with hopes of securing women’s voting rights. Women must fight It was through her initial friendship with her husband that brought her to an un- derstanding of feminism. against inequality, The first campaign they were involved in was a woman’s rights to a university education. Eventually this led them both says Irish suffragette’s into the suffrage movement. Hanna was deeply committed to her beliefs, not just in equality for women, granddaughter but for people in general. DUBLIN – The granddaughter of one of Ireland’s foremost Her father, David Sheehy, was an MP suffragettes has said it is a women’s place to take direct ac- for the Irish Parliamentary Party who were incidentally opposed to the vote tion for equality. for women like almost all political par- to prison, where she went on a hunger ties of the period. Dr. Micheline Sheehy Skeffington said her grand- strike. MICHELINE Sheehy Skeffington, the granddaughter of one of Although her father was an influence mother, Hanna Sheehy On February 6, 1918, legislation was Ireland’s foremost suffragettes, re-enacted her grandmother’s in her life it was her relationship with passed to grant women over the age of her congenial uncle, Father Eugene Skeffington, would be surprised act of protest in smashing a window at Dublin Castle against 30 the power to vote and run for gen- women not having the right to vote. Sheehy – a Fenian priest, that initially by how little has been achieved eral elections....but only women who stoked in Hanna her passion for politi- in terms of equal rights for held £5 of property, or had husbands For the re-enactment, the grill covering cal reform. women in the last 100 years. who did. a smaller window near the side entrance to Dublin Castle was removed and a His immeasurable impact on her was The re-enactment was arranged for both in the personal and political realms. The academic re-enacted her grand- mock-up window was installed with mother smashing the windows of the February 6, exactly 100 years since, in panes of glass in it. Her admiration and love for her uncle 1918, the Representation of the People was truly touching. former seat of British Government rule in Ireland to mark the 100th anniver- Act allowed women over 30, who had As Micheline smashed the pane of The most heartbreaking chapter in this sary of women getting the vote in Ire- property rights or a university educa- glass, an actor dressed as a policeman staggering narrative is Hanna’s descrip- land. tion to vote for the first time in Ireland stopped her. tion of the murder of her pacifist hus- (and Britain). Born in 1877, Hanna Sheehy band Francis by a British military man, “We haven’t got parity, we haven’t got equal pay, we’re not equal in the gov- It wasn’t until independence in 1922 that Skeffington dedicated her life to tack- Captain Bowen-Colthurst during the women gained equal voting rights with ling injustice and women’s inequality. Uprising in 1916. ernment, we’re not equal in the univer- sities,” Dr. Sheehy Skeffington said. men in Ireland – six years before they In 1908, she founded the Irish Wom- Francis had been involved in working “We do not command the respect we did in Britain. en’s Franchise League, a militant suf- for the freedom of Ireland, so was a should. I think she would be a little bit A plaque will be officially erected by frage organisation, with fellow cam- target for retaliation from the British surprised.” Dublin City Council later this year be- paigner Margaret Cousins. armed forces. In 1912, Hanna Sheehy Skeffington side the windows Hanna Sheehy In December 2014, her granddaughter As a result of his murder, Hanna de- vandalised windows in Dublin Castle in Skeffington smashed in recognition of won an equality tribunal case she took cided to campaign in the United States protest against women not having the the important contribution she made to against the university she works in, and embarked on an 18-month long cru- right to vote. She was arrested and sent Irish public life. NUI Galway. MARCH/APRIL 2018 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 7 Anne-Marie Duff recites Pankhurst’s ‘Freedom or Death’ rally cry at London march LONDON – English actress Anne-Marie Duff recited Emmeline Pankhurst’s ac- claimed Freedom or Death rally cry at a march fighting for gen- der equality. Duff, who starred as laundry worker Violet Miller in the 2015 film Suffra- gette exploring the women’s movement, read Pankhurst’s 1913 speech at the March4Women rally in Trafalgar Square on Sunday, March 4. Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro performed at the International Women’s Day rally which was hosted by presenter and comedian Sue Perkins and included a line-up of music, entertainment and ANNE-MARIE DUFF recited Emmeline Pankhurst’s acclaimed speeches. Freedom or Death rally cry at a march fighting for gender Duff said, “Emmeline Pankhurst was a equality. Pankhurst was a British political activist and leader of formidable figure, whose name means the British suffragette movement who helped women win the so much to so many people. right to vote. In 1999 Time magazine named Pankhurst as one of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century “Her fight is close to my heart, and 100 years on, her powerful words are as Jagger, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Michael inequality women and girls face world- relevant as ever. Sheen and Pankhurst’s great-grand- wide. “I’m honoured to have been asked to daughter, Helen Pankhurst, also ad- dressed the crowd. Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil said, share them, and I can’t think of a more “Of course women and men should be spectacular and special location than The march, which kicked off at equal. We are passionate about the fight the same spot in Trafalgar Square where Millbank’s Old Palace Yard at midday, for gender equality. That’s why we are Emmeline herself stood, and addressed coincided with the 100th anniversary of standing in solidarity with women this thousands of suffragettes.” the first women being given the right to Sunday – by performing at Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, Bianca vote and is shining a spotlight on the #March4Women.” Pope invited to International Women’s Day conference ROME – International Women’s Day Day conference with opening speaker “Voices of Faith warmly invite you to is a global celebration which aims to former president Mary McAleese who come and listen to young Catholic wom- inspire women in countries across the was barred by the Vatican. en’s voices on this day, Thursday March world. This year’s celebration falls on 8.” The former President of Ireland was Thursday, March 8. barred from the ‘Why Women Matter’ She pointed out that “Voices of Faith is The tradition began in the UK with the conference when it was scheduled to comprised of Catholic women from first National Women’s Day in 1909 and take place at the Vatican, as it had been around the world passionate about cre- its roots are in campaigning for better since 2014. It was then moved to the ating a prophetic Catholic Church pay and voting rights. Aula of the Jesuit Curia in Rome. where women’s voices count, partici- pate and lead on equal footing with men. This year, events will take place across In a letter to Pope Francis, director of Britain and the world to celebrate the Voices of Faith organizer, Chantal “This year, through our International achievements of women and hopefully Goetz, explained that the conference Women’s Day event we are bringing inspire others. was “an annual global day celebrating especially young Catholic leaders from the social, economic, cultural and po- across the globe to Rome to share their In Rome, Pope Francis has been invited litical achievements of women. stories, hopes and dreams for the fu- to attend the International Women’s ture of our Church,” she said A promotional video for the conference has called for gender equality in the Catholic Church. “Women are raising their voices and are being heard. The culture that endorses their silence is being eroded. Silence is no longer an option. The time for change is now,” it says. It asks whether the Catholic Church will become a relic. “Despite being made up by a great diversity of people from many walks of life the church is led by the experiences of a very narrow group. It is led by men.” Women, it says, were being “system- atically overlooked for roles in the Catholic Church that they are qualified for simply because of their gender.” Besides McAleese other speakers at the conference will include Ssenfuka Joanita Warry, a Catholic lesbian who campaigns for LGBT rights in Uganda and also barred from speaking at the Vatican; Zuzanna Radzik, an outspoken Polish theologian, and Joana Gomes, project director for Jesuit Refugee Services in Chad. PAGE 8 www.celtic-connection.com MARCH/APRIL 2018 Extreme weather across Britain and Ireland brings code red warning ‘risk to life likely’

LONDON – Unrelenting snowfall ground parts of Britain and Ireland to a standstill, trapping motorists on roads overnight on March 1 and threatening EMMA CHAMBERS air, rail and road journeys across much of the country. Actress Emma Sub-zero temperatures, gale-force icy winds and blizzard-like conditions swept Chambers in from the Atlantic on the tail of the Beast from the East’s chilly blast. has died The UK has not witnessed such a wide- spread spell of cold since around March aged 53 2013. LONDON – British actress Emma Chambers, who starred alongside Hugh The Met Office escalated a heavy Grant and Julia Roberts in the 1999 snow weather warning for south-west movie Notting Hill, has died. England and south Wales to code red – its highest level – meaning “widespread She was 53 years old. Her agent con- damage, travel and power disruption firmed the news with a statement say- and risk to life is likely.” ing, “Over the years, Emma, created a wealth of characters and an immense Scotland faced the brunt of the extreme body of work. weather, with police warning the public against travel until a red warning across “She brought laughter and joy to many, the south of the country passes. and will be greatly missed,” said her agent, John Grant. Hundreds of motorists on the M80 near PHOTO: National Police Air Service - London Glasgow reported being stuck for up to ‘THE BEAST FROM THE EAST’ as it approaches central London on Tuesday, February 27. A Grant said the Doncaster-born actress 13 hours, with some spending the night wall of snow created an apocalyptic image as popular tourist stops were engulfed by the storm. died of natural causes on Wednesday, in their cars, and others abandoning their This photo taken from a helicopter shows the enormity of the storm as it covered The Shard, February 21. She is survived by her vehicles on the motorway. almost 1,000 feet high, and completely covered Tower Bridge. husband, fellow actor Ian Dunn. Around 1,000 vehicles were at a stand- In Notting Hill, Chambers played the still, tailing back eight miles in both di- in some parts of the country – peaking Up to 50 centimetres of snow is ex- with the force’s control room tweeting younger sister of Hugh Grant’s char- rections, Police Scotland said. with 34 centimetres of snow in pected over Dartmoor in Devon. that it had received reports of some acter. Following the news of Chambers’ Wittering, Cambridgeshire. remote villages being “totally cut off passing, the actor said on Twitter that Major airports including London Hundreds of schools were forced to under two feet of snow.” The Met Office said it had likely been close, including more than 125 schools she was “a hilarious and very warm Gatwick and Heathrow told passengers person and of course a brilliant actress.” that cancellations loomed, while Glas- deeper than this in some places, but dry, in North Yorkshire, more than 330 As well as the red alerts – which has gow Airport announced it was closed. windy conditions had made it hard to across Kent and all schools and colleges never before been issued for Scotland, Chambers is well known in England for Rail services were also been mired by measure. in the Republic of Ireland. England or Northern Ireland – amber her long-standing role as Alice Tinker delays. warnings were also issued for the north- in the BBC’s popular sitcom The Vicar Temperatures dipped as low as minus In Lincolnshire, police warned that east of England and the central belt of 10.3C in Kinloss, Scotland. “most roads” had become impassable, of Dibley. The series ran for more than More than a foot of snow was dumped Scotland. a decade. The show originally ran from 1994 to 1998 but returned for numerous festive and comic relief specials with the lat- Father of murdered Welsh schoolgirl est episode airing as recently as 2015.

relives nightmare after losing his memory Thousands CARDIFF, Wales – The father of murdered five-year-old without water April Jones has had to learn in Wales in of his daughter’s death for a wake of storm second time after a virus dam- Blizzards, strong winds, drifting snow aged his memory, it has been and bitter cold have caused death and revealed. disruption as the weather system nick- named the Beast from the East com- Paul Jones (49) reportedly asked his bined with Storm Emma to create some wife why their daughter had not been of the most testing weather experienced to see him as he recovered from a se- in the UK for years. vere case of encephalitis, a potentially In Wales, the aftermath is continuing to lethal brain condition that left him un- PICTURED above Paul and Coral Jones following the murder cause problems with some roads and able to remember much of the previ- trial of pedophile Mark Bridger. Paul Jones suffered the dev- schools still affected on March 7. ous decade. astation of learning of his daughter’s death for a second time About 1,500 homes were still without Five-year-old April was snatched from after a virus damaged his memory. (L) Five-year-old April water because of problems caused by outside her home in Machynlleth, mid Jones disappeared from the housing estate where she lived in burst pipes. Wales, on October 1, 2012 before be- Machynlleth, mid Wales, on October 1, 2012. Her disappear- Welsh Water said it was still trying to ing murdered by pedophile Mark ance led to one of the biggest searches in British history. fix problems in Gwynedd, Pembroke- Bridger. “I feel so alone. Paul is the only person He fell ill from a virus infection 18 of the last decade, although Coral said shire and on Anglesey. April’s mother, Coral (46), said husband who can truly understand the pain I have months ago, with his wife adding, “I was he remembers some people closest to Some customers are also still without had recognised the youngster in family felt over losing April.” absolutely gobsmacked when I was told him. supplies in Merthyr Tydfil, Brecon, photos used to jog his memory and Paul’s illness had been caused by a cold Rhondda, Gwaelod y Garth and asked why she had not come to visit. She said her husband remembered their sore.” Bridger, who was convicted of April’s daughter Jazmin (22), and son Harley murder, child abduction and perverting Carmarthen. When told the reason for her absence, (16), but had forgotten events from the She said her husband had felt ill when the course of justice, refused to tell po- Many of those affected have com- he broke down as he had to relive the last decade, including their wedding and he woke up one night “confused and lice what he had done with the young- plained about delays in receiving bot- horrors of his daughter’s death. family holidays. hallucinating.” She called an ambulance ster’s body – although officers did re- tled water. Welsh Water has apologised. Coral Jones said, “How much more can and he was rushed to a hospital near cover fragments of her skull from his She said their marriage withstood the It said it was prioritising vulnerable peo- a family take? I’ve already lost my Aberystwyth. fireplace. The former lifeguard was immense strain of the harrowing ordeal, ple who were without water and had daughter and now I have lost my sentenced to a whole life tariff, mean- although her husband’s illness came as The infection and resulting brain swell- opened bottled water stations to help soulmate and my rock. ing he will die behind bars. a major blow. ing led to the loss of memory for most those who were cut off. MARCH/APRIL 2018 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 9 Brexit: Furious response from UK on EU’s draft legal agreement BRUSSELS – An EU pro- posal for the Northern Ireland border threatens the “consti- tutional integrity” of the United Kingdom, Theresa May has said. The EU’s draft legal agreement re- leased on February 28 proposes a “com- mon regulatory area” after Brexit on IN A HIGH-PROFILE intervention in the Brexit debate, former the island of Ireland – in effect keeping British Tory Prime Minister John Major urged a second refer- Northern Ireland in a customs union – endum saying, ‘No-one voted for higher prices and poorer pub- if no other solution is found. lic services, but that is what they may get’ if EU withdrawal Unveiling the draft agreement on what leaves the UK poorer and weaker, as forecasts suggest. has proved to be a busy day for Brexit news, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier called on the UK to come up ANTI-BREXIT campaigners protesting outside the Irish Gov- with alternatives. ernment buildings in Dublin. Two former British PMs The European Union laid out how it diplomats characterised as a clear bid December accord and “should not be a would regulate Northern Ireland’s trade by Brussels to seize the initiative and surprise to anybody.” if no better solution was found in the drive negotiations forward on its terms. Warn of ‘terrible fast-closing window before Britain’s Taoiseach (prime minister) Leo departure from the EU, prompting furi- Barnier said Britons should not be sur- Varadkar said it was up to May and the ous reactions in London and Belfast. prised by a text that merely translated DUP to come up with their own solu- backlash’ post-Brexit an interim accord with London into le- tions if they did not like it. In response to the proposal, UK nego- gal language. LONDON – In a high-profile tiator David Davis warned Britain will Barnier rammed home that “time is intervention in the Brexit de- refuse to pay its multibillion-pound And he said the border proposal was short” before Britain will be out of the “I find it not just Brexit divorce bill until Brussels backs only a “backstop” solution, which could EU in exactly 13 months. bate, two former British down on attempts to keep Northern Ire- be changed if Britain offered alterna- prime ministers warned of a disappointing land subject to European Union rules. tives along the lines of those it hinted at He called on May to “pick up the pace” during talks in December. of negotiations so that a withdrawal “terrible backlash” from the but sickening Barnier denied that the proposal, in- treaty, including terms for keeping the public if EU withdrawal tended to avoid a disruptive EU-UK In December, a last-ditch agreement status quo during a two-year transition, that people should “hard border” on the island of Ireland, over the Irish border was reached be- could be agreed this autumn and rati- leaves the UK poorer and would loosen Northern Ireland’s con- tween May and the European Union. fied by March. weaker, as forecasts suggest. really be prepared stitutional ties to the rest of the United That was greeted with widespread re- Kingdom. lief, yet it did not really settle the mat- As the rhetoric on both sides has taken John Major, the former conservative a more irritable turn, and negotiations to sacrifice peace ter, setting the stage for the most re- prime minister, warned that Theresa But British leader Theresa May told her cent action by the European Union. have stalled since the interim accords May’s Brexit ‘red lines’ made a favour- in Northern Ireland parliament that no prime minister could in December, Barnier said he was “pre- able outcome impossible. ever agree to these terms. Britain’s vote to leave the EU has un- paring for every situation” in case Brit- on the altar dermined one of the pillars of the Good ain, the continent’s second-biggest He called on the PM to stand up to the The hardline Democratic Unionist Friday Agreement – a 1998 settlement economy, lurches out of the Union with- “ultra-Brexit” minority in her party and (DUP) allies in Belfast on whom she of Brexit.” that ended decades of violence in North- out a deal after 46 years. drop her “red lines” of taking Britain relies for a slim majority denounced the ern Ireland between mostly Catholic out of the single market and customs EU draft as “constitutionally unaccept- – Tony Blair Irish nationalists and Protestant union- One EU diplomat said Barnier and his union. able” and “economically catastrophic” ists who favour continued union with team had “switched gear into attack as it would distance Northern Ireland mode” and had agreed with Dublin on Speaking in London at a business gath- Britain. suggests Brexit will hurt most those who from mainland Britain. a tactic to push Britain on from Decem- ering organized by the Creative Indus- have least. Neither parliament nor gov- Under the Northern Irish peace proc- ber’s fudge on the Irish border. tries Federation just two days before Establishing a “common regulatory ernment wish to see that,” said Major. ess, the border between Northern Ire- Theresa May set out her own vision for area” with Ireland and 26 other EU land and the Republic of Ireland has Supporters of Brexit argue that Britain a post-Brexit Britain, Major said that In Brussels, former labour leader and states, as the draft treaty proposes, melted away, with checkpoints disman- will benefit from no longer being bound the referendum result obliged the gov- British prime minister Tony Blair said would in effect keep the British prov- tled to reduce sectarian tensions. by EU rules and can do more trade with ernment to negotiate a Brexit deal, but Theresa May’s plan does not address ince in a customs union with the bloc. the rest of the world, while opponents not to pull the UK out of the EU “at the fundamental dilemma at the heart In Dublin, Irish Foreign Minister Simon say the prospect of new barriers to “Northern Ireland shall be considered any cost.” of Brexit. Coveney echoed Barnier, saying the trade in Europe is already damaging its to be part of the customs territory of draft was “absolutely faithful” to the economy. He said the Conservative Party ap- Ahead of a speech where he urged the Union,” read the draft, which some peared not to understand business con- European Union leaders to work to stop cerns over Brexit, and was only saved Brexit, he said May’s Brexit plan is “lit- from a “hemorrhage of business sup- erally not going to happen,” no matter port” because of fears of Labour’s how tough she is in negotiations with Brexit: Edinburgh preparing to pass Jeremy Corbyn taking power. the European Union. Losing trade advantages in relation to Blair told BBC Radio 4’s Today pro- legislation to protect Scotland the EU was an act of “economic self- gramme, “The problem that she harm” and loss of access to Europe (Theresa May) has is that there is no EDINBURGH – Britain’s Government nations’ capitals, after Britain leaves the to dress this up, the reality is the UK could cost as many as 125,000 jobs in way round the dilemma. said on Monday, February 26 that it ex- European Union. Government is using Brexit to try to take Japanese-owned firms alone. “What she thinks is that it’s possible to pected to reach an agreement with the control of devolved powers without the United Kingdom’s devolved nations on But he said the British Government agreement of the Scottish parliament,” He warned that the government’s cur- get the European Union to give us ac- would make exceptions if it believed cess to Europe’s markets without the how power will be shared after Brexit, he said. rent negotiating position was not realis- but its latest proposal to unlock a politi- that would damage the UK as a whole. tic and he urged the prime minister to same obligations that the rest of Europe In response to the announcement, the cal impasse fell flat in Scotland. “The government will protect that vital be prepared to “change course” and has in the single market. Scottish Government has brought for- common market of the United Kingdom seek a Norway-style solution which Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales ward its own Bill as an alternative to “That is not possible. It’s not a question by retaining UK frameworks where would involve accepting single market do not have a veto on Brexit legislation, the UK legislation, amid the ongoing of a tough negotiation or a weak nego- necessary,” Lidington said in the latest rules and paying for access to EU mar- but ignoring them risks worsening al- dispute over what devolved administra- tiation, it literally is not going to happen. of several speeches by senior ministers kets. ready strained relations, stoking nation- tions have branded a “power grab” by setting out the British Government’s “So the dilemma you have is you’re ei- alism in Scotland, and further compli- Westminster. It was “not credible” to expect to leave ther going to have to stay close to Eu- cating the already-difficult withdrawal Brexit roadmap. the single market, customs union and The British parliament must seek con- rope to minimise economic damage, in process. That would ensure simplicity of admin- European Court of Justice while at the sent from the Scottish parliament and which case you abide by Europe’s rules, istrative processes for businesses or same time seeking a la carte access to The government needs a deal before the Welsh assembly when legislating on or you’re free from Europe’s rules, in citizens of the UK as it leaves the EU, European markets, he said. which case you’re going to have eco- the summer in order to pass the Euro- policy areas that overlap with their de- pean Union (Withdrawal) Bill in Brit- he said. volved lawmaking powers in areas such He urged May to hold a free vote on nomic damage.” ain’s national parliament. The bill will Prime Minister Theresa May’s Con- as education, health, farming and fish- the final deal with the option of putting He repeated his criticism of Brexiteers formally sever the UK’s ties to the EU servative Government also argues it will ing. Both have declined to give their it to the public in a second referendum, who dismiss the impasse in negotiations and “copy and paste” EU legislation into give Britain more strength to negotiate consent to the withdrawal bill. describing his intervention as “heartfelt” over maintaining a soft Irish border. British law. trade deals. and “analytical.” May’s spokesman said the government “I find it not just disappointing but sick- Tory cabinet minister David Lidington Scotland’s Brexit minister Michael had made a “considerable” offer on the “No-one voted for higher prices and ening that people should really be pre- said most currently devolved powers Russell, whose party supports Scottish redistribution of powers, and that ac- poorer public services, but that is what pared to sacrifice peace in Northern would now automatically stay in Edin- independence from the UK, slammed cepting the deal was the best way to they may get. The emerging evidence Ireland on the altar of Brexit,” he said. burgh, Cardiff and Belfast, the devolved Lidington’s speech. “However they try ensure a smooth and orderly EU exit. PAGE 10 www.celtic-connection.com MARCH/APRIL 2018 St. David’s Day: ‘I think the Irish got a better deal’ ONDON – For many years I thought it was an Greetings from POSTCARD FROM English word because my parents LONDON would use the phrase “cwtch up a bit” the UK. Although meaning either to cuddle up, give a hug spring is just or to move up on the sofa to make room laround the cor- for someone else to sit down. The word was also used to tell the dog ner, a weather front that the to go to her basket “go to your cwtch.” media has named “The Beast It was also a cupboard under the stairs from the East” has swept in “cwtch dan star” or “Cwtch glo” the bringing heavy snow and sent By word for the coal shed in the back yard. ELFAN ACROSS Wales and around the world Welsh people proudly temperatures tumbling below When I was growing up in Ammanford celebrate their patron saint, Saint David, and everything they freezing. JONES in South Wales, the language I spoke was a glorious jumble of Welsh and love about Wales on March 1. English and when I was in my forties, We must be the only country in the of Ireland and replaced them with Guin- His followers were not allowed personal living in Twickenham, I asked a neigh- world where if snow is forecasted for ness. Although he was technically Eng- possessions, to eat meat or drink beer. bour to “cwtch up a bit” and was sur- Thursday the trains grind to a halt on lish (born in Cumbria), the Irish forgave I may have missed the point, but I think prised when she didn’t know what I the Wednesday, presumably in fear. him because he gave them a damn good the Irish got a better deal. was talking about. excuse for a party. Hundreds of thousands of commuters As usual there are stories of miracles Another Welsh word which defies an suffered disruption in yesterday’s morn- Obtaining reliable information about St. – apparently doves would perch on St. English translation is “hwyl.” ing’s rush hour because hundreds of David has proved difficult as there does David’s shoulder, and when preaching trains were cancelled. The dictionary of Welsh published by not seem to be much agreement on to a large crowd, near Kidwelly in I often wonder what the Swiss think of the University of Wales describes it like where or when he was born. Carmarthenshire, a small hill suddenly this: “A healthy physical or mental con- arose from the ground so he could stand us. They spend most of the winter up Caerfai in Pembrokeshire in 462 AD or dition, good form, temper, mood, frame on it and be seen by everyone. to their elbows in snow and yet there is Henfynwy in Cardiganshire in 501 AD of mind, fervour, ecstasy, unction and no disruption. seem popular choices, but there is gen- The story I liked best is that St. David zest.” Happily for me I no longer commute eral agreement that he travelled around led a Welsh army to victory against the and with the sub-zero temperature and I suppose that covers it, because “hwyl” Brittany and Cornwall, preaching the Anglo-Saxon invaders. is all of those things, and when sitting in gospel and founding churches and mo- a biting wind, the wisest thing to do was He gave his troops a leek each before the stadium in Cardiff listening to 70,000 nastic settlements. to cwtch up by the fire. the battle telling them that it was a gift people singing, and watching the Welsh He founded his own monastery in what from God and eating it would ensure For Christmas my sister sent me a cof- rugby team run rings around the Scots is now known as St. David’s in victory. fee mug, and on it is written: “Anybody the “hwyl” is strong. Pembrokeshire, and his monastic rule can cuddle but only the Welsh can Of course, his small army won the day Today is March 1, celebrated in Wales prescribed that the monks had to pull cwtch.” – probably the cumulative force of bad and by the Welsh around the world as the plough themselves, could only drink breath was too much for the enemy, and For non-Welsh speakers “cwtch” is one St. David’s Day – St. David being the water and eat only bread and herbs. it must be the first recording of chemi- of those words that have no exact Eng- patron saint of Wales. lish translation. To pronounce it the He practised asceticism and as a self- cal warfare in history. It intrigues me as to why it is celebrated. imposed penance he would stand up to word rhymes with “butch” and I sup- So as we say in Wales: ‘Hapus Dydd I understand celebrating St. Patrick’s his neck in a lake of cold water reciting pose the nearest word to it in English is Gwyl Dewi’ which means ‘Happy St. Day because he drove the snakes out scripture. “cuddle” but that does not do it justice. David’s Day’. BBC Wales Worldwide St. David’s Day loses rights to broadcast greetings exchanged in Vancouver rugby Pro 14 VANCOUVER – On St. in Wales, but among Welsh exiles in David’s life, most of them probably David’s Day, Thursday, many parts of the world. apocryphal. tournament March 1, Welsh residents in People all over Wales celebrate with It is said that occasionally springs of Live coverage of regional rugby will special events such as the 1,000 mem- water appeared where he preached and not be shown on BBC Two Wales the Lower Mainland joined ber male voice choir formed especially on at least one occasion the ground rose next season after the BBC failed people of Welsh heritage in for the annual concert at St. David’s when he spoke so that everyone could to reach a deal to continue broad- many parts of the world in By EIFION Hall, Cardiff. see and hear him. casting the Pro14 tournament. WILLIAMS celebrating Wales’ patron Welsh male voice choirs also travel to Many Welsh people are today familiar Competition organisers are under- all corners of the globe to entertain with St. David’s last words in a sermon stood to have awarded the UK saint. Welsh exile communities on St. David’s to his followers: “Be joyful and keep rights to a pay-TV service, but Day. your faith and your creed. Do the little BBC Wales had hoped to continue An open house was held at the things you have seen me do and heard broadcasting games in Wales. Welsh Society’s Cambrian Hall St. David’s Day is also a popular an- about. I will walk the path my fathers It means viewers will no longer be where attendees enjoyed some tra- nual celebration in schools throughout have walked before me.” ditional Welsh fare and joined in Wales. Schoolchildren participate in able to watch regional games on events such as marches through their “Do the little things” (Gwnewch y free-to-air television in English. the singing of favourite Welsh towns and villages, singing and dancing pethau bychain) is today a well-known Negotiations over Welsh language songs. to Welsh folk music, competing in phrase in Welsh. rights are ongoing. Eisteddfodau (music and literary com- The society’s annual St. David’s Day In a statement, BBC Wales said it petitions) and dressing up in traditional David was canonized in 1120 and dinner was held on Saturday evening, was disappointed. Welsh costumes. March 1, St. David’s Day, was added March 3, presided over by Lynn to the Church Calendar. “We're proud of our record of cov- Owens-Whalen, the society’s president. Not much is known about the life of St. ering live Pro14 rugby across tel- EMYR HONEYBUN partici- David (Dewi Sant in Welsh). Most of Following his canonization, many pil- Antone Minard read out greetings from evision, radio and online and we pated in St. David’s Day cel- the details of his life were written sev- grimages were made to St. David’s and kindred Welsh societies in various parts the Catholic Church decreed that two offered a significantly increased eral centuries after his death, much of of the world, followed by the traditional ebrations at the Cambrian Hall financial bid in order to safeguard it probably legend rather than fact. pilgrimages to St. David’s equaled one toasts. in Vancouver. to Rome, while three pilgrimages these rights on a free-to-air basis The toast to Canada was presented by He is said to have been born on what is equaled one to Jerusalem. for hundreds of thousands of view- Rachmaninoff and Liszt. today the Pembrokeshire coast, near the ers in Wales, and across the UK,” Kathy Thomas, the toast to Wales by St. David’s Day has evolved over the Marilyn Hames, and the toast to St. present cathedral city of St. David’s it said. Emyr is an Oxford University graduate and spent his early life in a monastery. years into a celebration of Welsh cul- David by Elizabeth Rogers-Jones. with a masters degree in music per- ture and traditions, an event that brings “We know there will be a real dis- The guest artist this year was Vancou- formance. He is currently a piano in- He later travelled throughout Wales and together Welsh people across the globe. appointment at this outcome among structor at Vancouver’s Amadeus Mu- parts of England and Brittany on mis- hundreds of thousands of rugby ver classical pianist and guitarist Emyr The Vancouver Welsh Society receives sic Academy. sionary journeys and established sev- fans who have enjoyed live free- Honeybun who wowed an appreciative many St. David’s Day greetings from audience with his selections from popu- eral churches. to-air coverage on the BBC over The celebration of St. David’s Day has Welsh societies and sends out its own many years.” lar composers such as Bach, grown over the past few years, not only There are many stories told about St. annual greeting in return. MARCH/APRIL 2018 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 11 The Beast from the East cuts off all avenues to the south

By HARRY McGRATH

EDINBURGH – The Beast from the East sounds like a pro- fessional wrestler who might once have faced off against Saskatoon-Glaswegian Rowdy Roddy Piper. Instead it’s the name given to the storm that has just passed through Scotland, leaving a pile of snow and ice in its wake. “Beast” may sound a bit hyperbolic but the storm did its best to live up to the moniker and most of the country ground LANDMARK statue of a border reiver in Galashiels, Scotland. to a halt as a result of its predations. smaller Debatable Land where they Planes, trains, buses and cars were con- were based. fined to barracks. He also strips away other misconcep- Those foolish enough to ignore the “no tions; particularly those that resulted driving” warnings found themselves from the so-called “border ballads,” stranded on motorways for up to 13 many written or adapted by Sir Walter hours and dependent on the good of- Scott, which eulogised the reivers or fices of local folk for their well-being. had them operating as Robin Hoods. From my front window in Edinburgh, I Despite the fact that the reivers caused saw intrepid types heading for snow- their share of grief along both sides of covered Arthur’s Seat dragging sleds, the Scotland/England border, Robb is a skis and, in one case, two kayaks. fan of frictionless borders. Children gambolled on the lower slopes, He constantly stresses how well Bor- released from school for the third day derers get along no matter which side in succession. of the border they live on. The food shop round the corner was This may be true, but the issue of closed and those further afield featured frictionless borders is once again in the bare shelves and hungry customers con- news and not only in Ireland. tending for whatever provisions were “Scottish voters He ends by trying to explain the differ- left. ent Brexit votes on both sides of the The last time Scotland saw anything like had been sensitized Border, rather lamely concluding that this was in early December 2010 and “Scottish voters had been sensitized to the storm cost the transport minister his to the benefits the benefits of European membership job. by the campaign for Scottish independ- of European ence.” This time the transport minister is Humza Yousaf who spoke at Simon membership by There’s much more to it, but that’s a Fraser University on Tartan Day 2014 the campaign for column for another day. when he was Minister for External Af- In the meantime, there is another way fairs and International Development. Scottish independence.” to cross the Scotland/England border. There can be no complaints about In Gala, the block of flats next door to Humza’s performance as he spent days The Debatable Land was once an in- where my family lived was reserved for and nights in a control centre furiously dependent territory between Scotland members of the local police force. tweeting warnings and updating condi- and England which was controlled for There were six flats in total, a gener- tions. three centuries by local clans like the ous allotment for a smallish town with As the days progressed, the warnings Armstrongs, Grahams, Eliots and a low crime rate. Nixons. piled up as high as the snow but one In retrospect, the routine nature of the series struck me as particularly inter- From the 14th Century, these “Border Gala beat may explain why some of our esting. reivers,” as they were known, were neighbours had interesting extra-con- From Edinburgh, there are essentially unsuccessfully policed by the wardens stabulary duties. five direct ways of travelling to Eng- of what became the Border shires of West, Middle and East March. An occupant of the “police flats,” for land – by plane, train, or via the A1, A7 instance, used his spare time to keep a or A68 roads. The Debatable Land covered both sides watching brief over the land south of With the airport closed, the trains all can- of the border and the reivers were both his home town of Newcastleton which celled, and the roads impassable, the Scots and English. is only a few miles from the English Scotland/England border was essentially They raided indiscriminately in Scotland border. unreachable. and in England, only sparing those with On one occasion, his son and I joined In the Scottish Borders itself, the storm whom they shared kinship. him on his perambulation. cut off small communities one from the As a teenager in the Border town of We eventually came to a fence tra- other and local authorities were strug- Galashiels, I was very aware of the versed by a style and he told us that if gling to visit isolated farms and make reivers. we stood on either side of it we would sure everyone was alright. A statue of a Border reiver was (and have one foot in Scotland and the other Unexpected visitors were not always is) a town landmark and the word reiver in England. so welcome in the Borders. got attached to everything from pubs It could well be that Brexit will push One of the books I read while the Beast to sports teams. Scotland and England in different direc- had me trapped in the house was The Robb, however, is keen to clear up tions but one can only hope that future Debatable Land: The Lost World Be- some myths about the reivers including generations of Borderers will still be able tween Scotland and England by his- the tendency to associate them with the to walk into England, weather permit- torian Graham Robb. Borders in general rather than the much ting of course. PAGE 12 www.celtic-connection.com MARCH/APRIL 2018 Five great days of entertainment at Ireland’s 2018 St. Patrick’s Fest DUBLIN – The annual St. Patrick’s Festival, Ireland’s na- set up the Irish Women’s Franchise tional celebration of identity, arts and culture, will showcase League (IWFL) in 1908. the very best of Irish and international talent and entertain- They were followed by Louie Bennett and Helen Chenevix who founded the ment with a whole host of fun festivities from March 15-19. Irish Women’s Suffrage Federation in St. Patrick’s Day Parade talks in landmark locations around the 1911. The IWFL was a more militant There are countless activities planned city. body with close ties to the Women’s for the 2018 festival including the spec- Social and Political Union and Sylvia tacular St. Patrick’s Day parade Herstory is a new cultural movement Pankhurst. through the centre of Dublin on Satur- in celebration of the centenary of the partial enfranchisement of Irish women. The First World War changed the whole day, March 17. political spectrum in Ireland and from The legendary parade will travel across Herstory: Suffragette Walking Tour will 1916 on, Irish independence dominated the city and will certainly astound and highlight some of the key figures and everything. But the suffragettes did not amaze with its myriad of talented per- events undertaken by very courageous go away. Many supported the independ- formers, vivid colours and awesome women in their efforts to win equality ence movement, sadly though, in the hand-crafted structures. This world-fa- for women. new Ireland that emerged, the rights of mous festival is set to be the best yet. Herstory: Ireland of Equals will tell the women were far from realised. Leading the parade as this year’s grand life stories of historical, contemporary Speakers for Herstory include Senia and mythological women. marshal will be Dublin star of the stage Paseta (professor of Modern History, and screen Liam Cunningham who was Generations of pioneering Irish women Oxford University); Dr. Micheline chosen in recognition of his outstand- played a crucial role in the development Sheehy Skeffington (women’s rights ing contribution to Irish acting both at of democracy in their own country and activist and granddaughter of Hanna home and internationally. around the world. and Francis Sheehy Skeffington); Dr. Mary McAuliffe (historian and assist- Game of Thrones star Liam The suffrage movement in Ireland has ant professor of Gender Studies, UCD) Cunningham will join the illustrious been overshadowed by the events that and more to be announced. ranks of previous grand marshals such took place in 1912-1923. The suffrage as Annalise Murphy, Joanne O’Riordan, movement came to the fore in the mid Each speaker is followed by a perform- Brendan O’Carroll, Katie Taylor, to late 19th Century. ance by young contemporary poets Packie Bonner and Johnny Giles to from the NUI Maynooth. name but a few. Initially the movement relied on consti- • tutional methods to win support for their For full festival schedule and details, Herstory: Walking Tour cause, but in the early years of the 20th visit: www.stpatricksfestival.ie. To Another highlight of this year’s festival Century, more campaigners began to learn more about Herstory and the will be the installation celebrating Irish emerge such as Hanna Sheehy biographies of the women featured, women’s stories throughout history with Skeffington and Margaret Cousins, who see: www.herstory.ie/biographies. MARCH/APRIL 2018 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 13

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IRISH SPORTING & SOCIAL CLUB The Gaelic games are alive and well in Vancouver ANCOUVER – The GAA season is back Please follow our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/isscvancouver with a bang! The frost and snow certainly for all updates. All new members wel- did not keep the Irish Sporting and Social come. Club’ (ISSC) from developing their club. We are pleased to announce that the V ISSC have launched a brand-new website, full of all the information you By AISLINN RICE would need. PRO – ISSC Vancouver Thanks to Liam Kennedy, an ISSC hurler, the website is now modern and The ISSC is the principal GAA easily accessible. Please visit our new club in Vancouver, but with other website at www.isscvancouver.com. expanding and developing clubs, Please contact isscvancouver@ gmail.com with any questions or que- such as Fraser Valley and Éire ries about any of the upcoming events. Óg, the ISSC are determined to The ISSC look forward to another great stay on top of their game. sporting year full of healthy competi- This year the ISSC took the next step tion amongst the Vancouver teams. in developing the club and introducing GAA games to the youth of Vancou- ISSC COMMITTEE 2018 ver. Chairperson: Maria Eviston With a fantastic new development of- Secretary: Sofie Gallagher ficer, Lorraine Muckian, in place, this task was made easy. Treasurer: Trevor Farrell Public Relations Office: Lorraine arranged for a young coach INTRODUCING a new genera- to travel to Vancouver from the home- tion to the GAA games in Van- Aislinn Rice land to teach Gaelic games to both el- couver. [File photo The Celtic Club Development Officer: ementary and high schools in Vancou- Connection.] Lorraine Muckian ver. Emmet Loughran from Belfast was the coach chosen to grace the ISSC with his presence. Emmet has coached over 200 students both hurling and football, as well as coaching the camogie and hurling acad- emies for new and improving players in February. The past three weeks has been a mas- sive success for the club, with schools requesting more coaching. With such great success, the club is now starting the process of updating the five- year club development plan, which will be started with an e-mailed survey to both present and past members of the ISSC. We invite everyone to be involved in this development plan process. March and April are lining up to be ex- citing months for the club with our games getting underway for some very eager players. The new executive committee has been very busy planning the new year ahead, with the aim of a lot more games for all codes within the club. Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh from ISSC: The ISSC would like to invite everyone out to Andy Livingstone Park on March 17, 2018, for an array of Gaelic games from 11 AM -1 PM. Spring League: On Friday, March 23 the six-week spring league will com- mence and promises to be very com- petitive and full of fun this year. The games will take place every Fri- day evening at 7 PM for six consecu- tive weeks. All new members welcome! Start of the Season Training: The ISSC will be back in full training mode in early April. Training times and venues for each code will be confirmed in the next month. MARCH/APRIL 2018 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 17 The Trees or the Forest? Page 5 Find the View that FitsPage 5 your own Life this Spring Season

By CYNTHIA WALLENTINE SPRING is a season of con- stant change against a constant backdrop. The blessing of the Celtic year is its timeless structure. While there remains a sun and a moon in the sky, the soul can count upon the immutable promise of dark to light, and birth to death to rebirth. When the details of life threaten to swamp, the promise comes alive, pick- ing us up, setting us back on a path, and THIS SPRING...step off the path, and really consider the offering hope in the bigger picture. Yet trees for the forest. sometimes, it is important to step off the path, and see the trees for the for- story gives us a better perspective and St. Patrick himself, a mythic doer of est. ability to make decisions of large or miracles, was a man who found mean- small importance. The big picture is “the ing by choosing to live a hardscrabble On a full moon, the neighborhood way it is.” existence in a land that had once en- streets are a river of light, broken only slaved him. by the shadows of bare branches of But is it? Just as it is easier to make trees that can feel spring coming from decisions based on what we believe to The days of spring are not a time of their roots. be the whole picture, it is also easier to fruition, they ask for the idea, the seed, pass judgment on people, places, or and the detail that formed, or will form. In the rich austerity of moonlight, at- things that we do not know details about tention is drawn to the shapes of the which we cannot even guess. As the hinge between the seasons of branches, the direction of the greater Samhain and Beltaine, spring knows the limbs, and the guessed-at strains that Spring officially arrives on March 20 past, and what could become the fu- caused each of them to grow as they this year. Just days before that, we will ture. Spring is change driving ever for- have. celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March ward, but within the bounds of the great 17. Celtic wheel. Daylight renders tree shadows as well, but perhaps they are not as stark, as We commemorate spring with abun- What is in the details of your life, what much of a character sketch of the tree, dance and smiles because the light and approached and faded back unknown as at night. In full day, we more easily milder weather is hopefully upon us. when you pressed by? view the detail of the cloak of bark or Yet to live in step with the details of What do you really feel about what you the gown of leaves when season per- these festivals is to remember this is a see, before your mind has its way? No mits. time of preparation to plant, of being other season speaks to change as well At night or day, it is tempting to take in hungry, of having an idea of what you as that begun at Imbolg. the whole street, the scene, the situa- want to grow, and doing the work to prepare the land. This spring, step off the path, and re- tion, the “bottom-line.” Knowing the full ally consider the trees for the forest. HEMOCHROMATOSIS: I’ve got Celtic blood in me By OWEN MACNEIL OWN MacNeil tested and are not affected by iron over- I’m 58 with a wife and three adult shares his story load. sons. I’ve lived in the cities of Saint of becoming Of my three sons, two have been tested John, Fredericton, Sydney and aware of the and are also not affected by it. Halifax before moving back to ‘Celtic curse’ I was absolutely lucky to have been di- New Brunswick and settling in agnosed with no prior symptoms. Moncton. This was clearly the result of the health So depending on who I’m talking to, I’m clinic running a broad spectrum of blood either a Cape Bretoner or a New tests as a preventative assessment. Brunswicker but no matter how you look at it, I’ve got Celtic blood in me – one Without that, I may very well have been of the risk factors for hereditary another patient with undiagnosed symp- hemochromatosis. toms. phlebotomy per week for a few months • I was diagnosed with hemochromatosis and then one every two weeks, and then One in 300 Canadians mainly of by a seemingly random blood test ap- one per month. northern European descent are at proximately six years ago. risk for hemochromatosis. Most are Eventually my phlebotomy frequency unaware of the condition. The Ca- I had gone to a health clinic which chose was lowered to my now permanent nadian Hemochromatosis Society’s to do a broad spectrum of blood tests. schedule of one every two months, if mission is to promote the early diag- My ferritin level came back slightly required. nosis, screening and testing of he- high. I went back to the health clinic reditary hemochromatosis through its two months later and it was much As a younger adult, I had donated blood awareness-raising programs in higher, at over 600 ng/mL. many times giving well in excess of 70 donations. medical communities and with those I was then scheduled to see a special- at risk, to see an end to suffering and ist, Dr. Rubin Cohen, an amazing on- I had cut down for no particular rea- premature death related to the dis- cologist and hematologist. He has since son but also had no symptoms related order. retired and has a new clinic at The to hemochromatosis. Please support this mission with a Moncton Hospital named after him: the I believe this may have delayed my iron donation to the Canadian Dr. Sheldon H. Rubin Oncology Clinic. loading, which was detected virtually Hemochromatosis Society, 285 – I received a quick confirmation of as soon as my ferritin began rising. 7000 Minoru Blvd., Richmond, BC hemochromatosis and then started my I have two sisters and two brothers, and V6Y 3Z5. More information can be phlebotomies. Initially I was doing one so far three out of the four have been found at www.toomuchiron.ca/celtic. PAGE 18 www.celtic-connection.com MARCH/APRIL 2018 Londyn Nachtigal: 2018 U19 All Ireland Champion An historic moment for Irish dance in Western Canada EDMONTON – The Mattierin This is a very prestigious accomplish- dancers competedPage in the North6 Ameri- School of Irish Dance was es- ment in a competitive Irish dancer’s can Feis Commission Belt. career and an historic moment for Irish tablished in Edmonton, Alberta dancing in western Canada. Dancers must have won first place in in 1993. an Open Championship in 2017 to com- Her younger sister, Olivia Nachtigal, the pete. This year marks not only the school’s current North American National Top dancers from all across North 25th anniversary, but also its most suc- Champion, won fifth place in the Girls American competed and Olivia cessful competitive year to date. 16-17 category. She was the highest North American dancer in this category. Nachtigal won the Robert Gabor Jun- Last September, Mattierin dancer Olivia ior Belt, and was the only dancer at the Nachtigal was featured in The Celtic Orla Greene, also with the Mattierin event to win with a perfect score! Connection for her incredible achieve- School, danced in the Girls U10 and Peyton Schroter also competed and was ment at the North American Irish placed 21st overall, also the top North a top six finalist in the Junior Belt and Dance Championships. American in her category. This was Orla’s first time travelling to an over- Londyn Nachtigal was a top six finalist In February 2018, the Mattierin School seas major competition. in the Gerry Campbell Senior Belt. returned triumphant from the All Ire- Along with the title, Olivia was awarded land Irish Dance Championships in Londyn, Olivia and Orla are also the a US$1,000 scholarship and both Peyton Killarney, Ireland with Londyn Nachtigal current Western Canadian Oireachtas and Londyn were awarded US$100 crowned as the 2018 Under 19 All Ire- Champions and to top it off, Londyn and scholarships. land Champion. Olivia were featured on the November 2017 front cover of the Irish Dance Dancers with the Mattierin School are The All Ireland Dancing Championships magazine along with an editorial spread. looking forward with anticipation to the is the longest running major competi- 2018 World Irish Dance Championships tion in the Irish dance calendar, having This is the largest magazine covering in Glasgow, Scotland which they will first launched in 1932. the worldwide market of Irish dancing. attend following St. Patrick’s Day. Londyn competed here against top On the weekend of February 24, the For more information about the dancers from around the world and she Mattierin School travelled again to Mattierin School, see: is the first female in western Canada Phoenix, Arizona where four of their www.mattierin.com. to win this title.

LONDYN NACHTIGAL – All Ireland Champion in the Girls 2018 Under 19 category.

IRISH CLUB OF WHITE ROCK – Vincent Crowley, Rosella Moloughney, Kathleen Pedersen, Sharon Woods, Robbie Greville, Cheryl Jorgensen, Claire O’Connor, Deirdre O’Ruairc, James Woods. The Irish Club of White Rock: Annual St. Patrick’s Dinner Dance WHITE ROCK, BC – Sunny the large white rock which weighs in at Day dinner dance, to be held at the 486-tons and is a glacial deposit from Hazelmere Golf and Tennis Club, on 8th White Rock is only a 45- the coastal range. Avenue in South Surrey on Saturday, minute drive from downtown March 17. While it may be raining in other Lower Vancouver, it is also easy to Mainland locations, the sun is usually This is a wonderful opportunity meet access by public transit on the shining in White Rock. new friends. 351 bus route from the It receives the lowest rainfall in greater An excellent buffet dinner will be Bridgeport Canada Line sta- Vancouver and average summer tem- served before live entertainment which perature is 23 celsius. includes music by Brian Nicholl and tion in Richmond. friends, DJ Robbie G., the De Danaan White Rock also boasts a great variety It is home to a big Irish community and Irish Dancers, and maybe a surprise or of restaurants, fish and chip shops, and two. a warm Irish welcome is extended to great shopping. everyone by the Irish Club of White More events are planned throughout the Rock. The White Rock Irish community has year. Follow the Irish Club of White been gathering for over 30 years. The This small seaside community is clus- Rock on Facebook or join their e-mail Irish Club of White Rock became offi- list. tered around eight kilometres of sandy cial in February 2004 and the first presi- beach and the warm shallow waters of dent was Brendan Hamill. If you’re new to White Rock, the club Semiahmoo Bay. It is flanked on the extends a warm welcome. For more south by the Canada/U.S. border, with Readers are encouraged to review The information, call president Sharon Blaine, Washington on the American Celtic Connection archives for a great Woods (Galway) at (604) 338-3553, or side. article by Brendan Hamill in the Febru- secretary Deirdre O’Ruairc (Dublin) at ary 2004 issue. White Rock is famous for its 1,500-foot (604) 803-0773. long pier, its two and a half kilometre Upcoming events for the Irish Club of Lá fhéile Pádraig sona dhaoibh from OLIVIA NACHTIGAL NAFC Junior Belt Champion is pictured long beach promenade and, of course, White Rock is the annual St. Patrick’s the Irish Club of White Rock. with Rebecca Bell TCRG. MARCH/APRIL 2018 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 19 Who was Saint Patrick?

UBLIN – My father was born on Saint After she heard about the Christian message she wanted to give her life to Patrick’s Day. He was called Paddy in follow and serve Jesus. Patrick ex- horted her to remain single so that she honour of our national saint. Since he died might dedicate herself exclusively to the D service of God. when I was five I always have had am- bivalent feelings about the nation’s day of celebra- Her family were mortified about this and did not conceal their hostility. They per- tion. secuted their daughter and physically attacked Patrick! By JOHN SCALLY Patrick had no time for people who acted sanctimoniously or who loved As a boy I rejoiced in the res- pomp and felt that humility was the bed- pite we were given from the rig- rock of the Christian Church. ours of our Lenten fast. How- In his Letter which he wrote to ever, when other people speak Coroticus, a king in southern Scotland of festivity to me the seventeenth who had taken some of Patrick’s newly confirmed Christians as captives we see of March is tinged with sadness. a different side to Ireland’s patron saint. With each passing year my sorrow has Patrick was irate because Coroticus, increased as I reflect ruefully on all the who professed to be a Christian, treated might-have-beens. become Ireland’s greatest spiritual these Christians whom he had enslaved This unhappy association of ideas has shepherd. extremely badly. been a forbidding impediment to the cul- Patrick began to feel that God was call- Patrick knew he was obliged to speak tivation of a healthy attitude to Saint out against the injustice. Innocent peo- Patrick on my part. It is time to change ing him for a special task. As he slept he had visions. ple were wronged and Patrick appears that. to have made their pain his own. In one such vision, he saw himself as As a boy growing up probably in Wales “What am I to do, Lord? Lord, I am Patrick enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle an immobile stone, stuck in the mud. Then something dramatic happened. thoroughly despised. See, your sheep and learned Latin. Then his life was are torn to pieces around me and are changed forever just before his six- In Patrick’s own words, “He that is carried off by the raiders, as ordered teenth birthday. mighty took hold of me, lifted me out of by the evil-hearted Coroticus.” A ship came over from Ireland, in the mud, and set me out of the mud, and set me up on top of the wall.” Patrick was unequivocally taking the search of plunder and slaves. Slaves side of the downtrodden, the oppressed could be sold for gold and were used Patrick was convinced that he was be- and the marginalised regardless of the as labourers on the land with farmers ing prepared for a divine commission. personal cost or threat to his physical as their masters. Patrick spoke about his ministry in im- well-being. Patrick wrote that he was one of thou- ages. He described his pastoral work Can the same be said of his followers sands captured on that day. as “hunting and fishing.” He hunted in Ireland today? We next hear of him in the west of Ire- people in need of the Good News. • land near “the woods of Focult by the He fished patiently for them, constantly John Scally is a lecturer with the De- western sea” in County Mayo. seeking a good catch. His aim was to partment of Theology and Religions in Trinity College Dublin, but in his Interestingly this is the only place in Ire- persuade them to take the road less trav- elled and embrace Christianity. spare time is a writer and broad- land that Patrick mentions by name al- caster. though he is popularly associated with In the Fifth Century Ireland was ruled Since 1992 he has written 40 books a number of places such as Tara and by approximately 100 chieftains but with cumulative sales of over Armagh. shortly after his death most of these 150,000 copies. He is the author of warrior-kings had become Christian. Although Patrick would later become the biggest selling GAA book in Ire- Ireland’s great spiritual shepherd he Yet it would be a mistake to think it was land, Raising the Banner: The Biog- started life as a more humble one. all plain sailing. In his Confession raphy of Ger Loughnane, and for a He was entrusted with the burden of Patrick writes about an aristocratic few years his biography of Tony Ward protecting his master’s sheep from sav- young woman, of royal birth and great was the biggest selling rugby book age attacks by wild animals. He would beauty. in Ireland. Make Your Own Irish Soda Bread With St. Patrick’s Day on the horizon, Combine dry ingredients and mix well. you might want to try your hand at bak- Add buttermilk, stir with a wooden ing some delicious Irish soda bread. spoon. Turn dough out on to a lightly We’ve included some prize-winning floured board and knead lightly until recipes here you might enjoy along with smooth, shape into a ball, place on a a traditional Irish stew to accompany floured cookie sheet and with the back this delicious bread. Bon appetit. of your fingers press down to flatten. Cut a cross to divide the dough. Bake IRISH BROWN BREAD 1 teaspoon baking soda at 350º F for 50 minutes. Place on a 3 cups of whole wheat flour ½ teaspoon of salt wire rack to cool. 1 cup all purpose flour 2 cups of buttermilk 1 heaped teaspoon baking powder Note: Either the brown or white bread 1 teaspoon baking soda Method: is delicious with Irish stew, cut fairly ½ teaspoon of salt Combine dry ingredients and mix well. thin and serve. 2 cups of buttermilk Add buttermilk, stir with a wooden spoon. Turn dough out on to a lightly TRADITIONAL IRISH STEW Method: floured board and knead lightly until Combine dry ingredients and mix well. 1 ½ pounds of lamb cut up and trimmed smooth, shape into a ball, place on a 2 large onions Add buttermilk, stir with a wooden floured cookie sheet and with the back spoon. Turn dough out on to a lightly 6 potatoes – peeled and cut up of your fingers press down to flatten. 2 carrots – peeled and sliced floured board and knead lightly until Cut a cross to divide the dough. Bake smooth, shape into a ball, place on a Some fresh parsley at 350º F for 50 minutes. Place on a Salt and pepper floured cookie sheet and with the back wire rack to cool. of your fingers press down to flatten. 3 cups of water Cut a cross to divide the dough. Bake IRISH SODA BREAD (WHITE) Method: at 350º F for 50 minutes. Place on a 4 cups all purpose flour Place all ingredients in a large covered wire rack to cool. 1 heaped teaspoon baking powder pot on the stove at a low heat, and cook 1 teaspoon baking soda RAISIN BREAD slowly for about one and a half to two ½ teaspoon of salt hours. If not thick enough mix a table- 4 cups of white flour 2 cups of buttermilk 1 ½ cups of raisins spoon of cornstarch and add just at the end and stir frequently. 1 heaped teaspoon baking powder Method: PAGE 20 www.celtic-connection.com MARCH/APRIL 2018 NORTHERN IRELAND: Which narrative is the truth? THE VIEW FROM IRELAND

CAMPAIGNERS made their way to the city hall on Sunday, By February 25, marching together under the banner Time for MAURICE Truth, with many carrying pictures of their loved ones. FITZPATRICK There is a theory abroad that Victims of Troubles some mean-spirited politi- ICONIC MURAL of Bernadette Devlin (McAliskey) depicts at cians within the Democratic the Battle of the Bogside in Derry in August 1969. Bernadette Unionist Party (DUP) (a tiny was a seminal figure in the Northern Ireland civil rights cam- killings march minority of course) wished to paign and a founding member of the college-based civil rights movement, People’s Democracy along with Eamonn McCann. block the re-establishment of for justice in Belfast the Northern Ireland Assem- must not simply insert themselves into bly until Gerry Adams stood the narrative of a movement that was the UK Government granted funding for “Those claiming not theirs, they must reconfigure the BELFAST – Victims of the down as president of Sinn Troubles are tired of their rights legacy inquests without an overall bragging rights from original aims of that movement to re- agreement. flect the image of Sinn Féin. being used as a “bargaining chip” Féin. 1968 might reflect with in the push to get a deal at The UK Government said all discus- The motive of this alleged plot was to Little wonder, then, that the founding sions with Northern Ireland’s parties greater humility on the members of the Civil Rights Movement Stormont, a campaigner has said. deprive Adams of the chance to gloat were in the context of how it would re- in his valedictory about the distance Sinn price paid against the abhor Sinn Féin’s forgeries upon the A number of groups representing rela- spond if there was a deal. Féin has come from 1983, when Adams annals of history. tives bereaved in different fatal inci- A spokeswoman added that the West- became president of Sinn Féin, through degree of progress Against this backdrop of the historical dents took part in a march in Belfast to minster Government has set out clear to Sinn Féin’s electoral success in made since that first narrative hewn to serve tawdry politi- call for political action in dealing with commitments to take forward the Northern Ireland combined with its rea- cal agendas, a new documentary on the past. Stormont House Agreement legacy in- sonably strong presence in Southern march and examine Gerry Adams’ political life, written and politics. Campaigners made their way to the city stitutions, and to support inquest reform. their actual presented by veteran journalist Vincent hall on Sunday, February 25, marching The theory falls down, however, now Browne, screened on TV3 on Febru- Mark Thompson, director of Relatives ary 7 and 8. together under the banner Time for for Justice, who attended the march, that Gerry Adams has been replaced contribution to Truth, with many carrying pictures of said the British Government “carries the by Mary Lou McDonald and, even so, the reality of 2018...” That there is no Unionist voice in their loved ones. responsibility” of ensuring legacy issues there is all but no prospect of talks lead- Browne’s documentary which under- ing to a breakthrough in Stormont. Sinn Féin’s Northern Ireland leader were addressed, and added, “You can’t cuts the piece because it enables the Michelle O’Neill joined other party use us as a bargaining chip for the rights Yet Gerry Adams’ legacy, the fate of party, stating recently that if Unionists film to considerably side-step Adams’ members including South Down MLA of victims.” negotiations to revive Stormont and the had acceded to equal rights in 1969 no- attitudes towards sectarian killing dur- Emma Rogan, whose father Adrian was DUP’s strategy remain linked in curi- body would have lost their lives in vio- ing the Troubles and to power-sharing. He said, “It’s disingenuous of the Sec- lence. shot dead in the UVF Loughinisland retary of State and the UK Government ous ways. The documentary does detail IRA massacre in Co. Down in 1994. to dangle a carrot in front of political The latest crescendo hit Northern Irish Yet Sinn Féin’s defence of equal rights atrocities and makes it clear that Adams The march was organised before the parties saying, ‘If you guys can get a politics on February 14 when Arlene is vitiated by its ongoing defence of its – for all his denials – was a member of breakdown of talks between the DUP deal, we will give victims their rights’. Foster announced that she had given terror campaign during the Troubles, the IRA; Adams himself is absent from and Sinn Féin. Legacy issues were up on talks to re-establish the power- including as far back as the 1973/4 pe- the film. “These rights are obligations and rights riod when a power-sharing Executive among those being discussed as politi- that are held under the European Con- sharing Assembly, despite the arrival of The most glaring absence in the docu- cians worked towards a deal to restore the taoiseach and the British prime min- between Nationalists and Unionists at- vention and the Human Rights Act.” tempted to govern Northern Ireland. mentary, however, is the constitutional power-sharing at Stormont. ister in Belfast on February 12. alternative to violence that existed He said the weekend demonstration Sinn Féin president Mary Lou The DUP’s pretext for withdrawing In a post-truth era, these howlers con- throughout the Troubles, which ulti- was about more than the sole issue of stitute the norm of political whitewash- mately Sinn Féin embraced after the McDonald, speaking the day after talks legacy inquest funding, reiterating a call from negotiations is the threat to their collapsed, said the party had secured a identity that a stand-alone Irish Lan- ing and airbrushing – an historical revi- Good Friday Agreement. for action on important elements of the sionism that poisons the contemporary commitment from the British Govern- 2014 Stormont House Agreement. guage Act apparently poses. A younger viewer of this documentary ment to have a public consultation on political environment. That language has emerged as the stick- could be forgiven for thinking that there stalled mechanisms to deal with the A Historical Investigations Unit to ex- ing point between the political factions Founding members of the Civil Rights was no middle ground during the dec- Troubles and to release funds needed amine unsolved murders is “crucially is far less incidental than it might first Movement – Bernadette Devlin ades of the Troubles, and that Adams’ to finance legacy inquests. important” to bereaved families, he McAliskey and Eamonn McCann – rap- milestone achievement was not so said. appear. Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly claimed fund- idly dismissed the canard that the Civil much leading Sinn Féin towards con- So many of Northern Irish identity prob- ing for coroner probes into disputed He said, “That would look at all the Rights Movement was steered or stitutional politics but rather creating the lems are reducible to language, and it is conflict deaths were agreed during the unsolved issues for families right across started by Sinn Féin. political space in Northern Ireland for only when those problems are addressed recent talks, but DUP leader Arlene the community and that will deal with constitutional politics to exist in the first as being bound up in language that a McAliskey was scathing of the hypoc- Foster said it would be “astonishing” if approximately 1,800 to 2,000 cases. place. profound shift can occur in the attitudes risy: “Those claiming bragging rights of people who live there. from 1968 might reflect with greater The role of John Hume cannot be rec- humility on the price paid against the ognised in such a portrayal of history Whether or not Foster realises this, it degree of progress made since that first because Hume’s entire political life, Gay couple argue for marriage suits her to characterise Sinn Féin’s march and examine their actual contri- starting as a Civil Rights leader in the demand for an Irish Language Act as bution to the reality of 2018 – a stag- 1960s, is a comprehensive repudiation recognition in Belfast court an arrogant and one-sided takeover of nant, sectarian, dysfunctional Stormont of this narrative. This is history with the power-sharing structure. making the rich richer and the poor pages ripped out. BELFAST – The Court of Appeal in ern Ireland, an alleged downgrading of What greatly enables Foster to charac- poorer; a damaged, demoralised and Belfast has been told that a gay couple their relationship. divided community; justice denied; truth This portrait of Adams – who Martin from Northern Ireland whose marriage terise Sinn Féin thus, is that they are Mansergh calls a ‘statesman’ in the They are attempting to secure a decla- distorted.” in England is only recognised as a civil indeed dab hands at arrogant takeovers. documentary – fails to liberate itself ration that their marriage remains fully partnership in Northern Ireland, are suf- It is worth remembering that the Civil from the web of political fictions spun constituted throughout the United King- For example, in early February, Sinn fering unlawful discrimination. Rights Movement’s objective in 1968 by apologists for a futile campaign of dom. Féin’s national chairman, Declan was to secure the same rights in North- violence. The court was told on the morning of Kearney, argued that the Civil Rights In August last year a High Court judge ern Ireland as obtained in Britain. February 26 that the situation amounts Movement of the 1960s was in fact led As the prospect of re-establishing the dismissed the case after identifying no to a violation of the two men’s human by Sinn Féin, stating that the movement Since Sinn Féin could never risk argu- Good Friday Agreement’s institutions breach under European law. rights. had ‘multiple parents and many children’ ing for the benefit of any form of asso- becomes ever more remote, the revi- – whereas the historical record debars ciation with Britain, their claim to an sionist narrative erodes the basis for Granted anonymity in the case, the pe- He held that it was up to government them from legitimately claiming pater- historic quest for rights carefully elides their continued survival still further. titioner ‘X’ and his husband got mar- and parliament to provide same sex mar- riage rights, not the courts. nity to it. any reference to their campaign to ex- ried in London in 2014. tricate Ireland from the political link with It is the revisionist attitude of mind, more Petitioner ‘X’ is now seeking to have Danny Morrison, former Sinn Féin pub- than anything else, that enables Arlene But, under current laws, they can only Britain. licity director, is similarly enthusiastic Foster to dominate and to sabotage be classified as civil partners in North- that verdict overturned. The hearing continues. to portray Sinn Féin as an equal rights In Sinn Féin’s revisionist project, they Northern Irish political affairs today. MARCH/APRIL 2018 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 21 Northern Ireland power-sharing talks collapse at Stormont BELFAST – There is “no cur- rent prospect” of a deal to re- store power sharing in North- ern Ireland, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader said on Wednesday, February 14. Arlene Foster said the talks failed due to disagreements with Sinn Féin about SINN FÉIN leader Michelle O’Neill reacts as the DUP says legislation for the Irish language. there is no prospect of devolution for Northern Ireland and the Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill accused Stormont talks collapse on Wednesday, February 14. the DUP of having “collapsed” the talks process. Both parties have been locked in nego- ARLENE FOSTER announced talks between the DUP and Sinn tiations in a bid to end the 13-month Féin had not resulted in a “balanced package.” Ian Paisley’s widow stalemate at Stormont. O’Neill, Sinn Féin’s leader at Stormont, said her party had “reached an accom- savages DUP leader modation with the leadership of the “No prospect of a DUP” but claimed that the DUP then “failed to close” on it. deal and no process over Stormont mess BELFAST – The widow of the late Ian She added that Sinn Féin was in con- in place that could Paisley has savaged the current DUP tact with both the UK and Irish Gov- leadership, saying that Arlene Foster ernments and would set out its “con- lead to a deal. should have stood aside as first minis- sidered position.” We are in a ter more than a year ago over the RHI In her statement, Foster called on the scandal – a botched green energy UK Government to set a budget and very precarious scheme. start making policy decisions for North- Baroness Paisley, a vice president of ern Ireland. situation at this the DUP, labelled the current political The DUP leader said that “significant point in time...” stalemate a “total mess” and called for gaps” remained in the discussions be- the parties to work in the interests of tween the region’s two biggest parties. the people. “We do not have a fair and balanced Sinn Féin came out and said there would Sinn Féin and the DUP had been in ne- package,” she added, saying that Sinn be no deal unless it included one of NORTHERN IRELAND secre- gotiations to end the 13-month deadlock Féin’s demand for legislation to give the those. tary Karen Bradley said the UK at Stormont but the talks collapsed last Government would have to month with both parties blaming each Irish language official status in North- It is understood both parties met on make decisions for Northern other for an impasses over a proposed ern Ireland was a key dividing issue. Wednesday morning and quickly real- Ireland. Irish language act. Baroness Paisley, a vice “I respect the Irish language and those ized there was going to be no middle president of the DUP, labelled who speak it but in a shared society this ground on an Irish language act. Then Paisley said that her husband and Sinn at this point in time, we are essentially the current political stalemate cannot be a one-way street,” she added. it was a matter of who was going to Féin’s Martin McGuinness “wouldn’t pull the plug first. in uncharted territory,” she added. have got into this mess in the first place.” a “total mess.” “Respect for the unionist and British Hopes of an imminent deal had been identity has not been reciprocated.” A statement from Foster soon popped The party veteran’s blunt comments When asked if she included the DUP in up on Twitter, making it very clear that “falsely raised” she said, and “now we came on February 22, in the wake of The DUP would continue to aim for a have seen them dashed yet again.” her comment about people not facing this phase of negotiations was over. allegations that the parties were on the up to the truth, she said, “That’s right. restoration of devolution, she said, but verge of a deal which would have re- SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said he Speculation of a breakthrough mounted They’re hiding from the truth. And you it would “not accept a one-sided deal.” stored the government at Stormont but was “disappointed” and “angry” at the just a week earlier as both the UK and must be absolutely honest with one an- that Foster pulled the plug after a un- After the DUP and Sinn Féin blamed failure of the talks, and claimed it had Irish leaders prepared to travel to other because there’s only one way to ionist backlash over the inclusion of Irish each other for the failure of the talks, left the Good Friday Agreement “in Stormont to help seal a deal. be honest when you’ve made a mistake the Northern Ireland secretary signalled language legislation. peril.” But British Prime Minister Theresa May and it’s to confess your sin and confess that a deal remained possible. The party denies that it had reached an your mistakes because no one is per- He said the Stormont parties must re- and the Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar agreement with Sinn Féin. fect.” “I believe the basis for an accommoda- sist a return to direct rule from West- left Belfast on Monday, February 12 tion still exists,” said Karen Bradley. minster, with “the DUP having the whip with no sign of agreement. Paisley said that the current political She said that her husband and Martin “We will continue to work with every- hand.” Former DUP minister Simon Hamilton limbo in Northern Ireland – where there McGuinness “wouldn’t have got into one to make sure we deliver this.” described their visit as “a bit of a dis- has been no government for more than this mess in the first place” because Under an agreement struck last sum- “whenever things go wrong you’ve got But Bradley added that the UK gov- traction.” a year, leaving civil servants attempt- mer, Theresa May’s Conservative gov- to put them right and you’ve got to go ernment would “need to consider prac- ing to make political decisions – was ernment relies on the DUP’s support to “I don’t think it was entirely helpful in to the basis of where they went wrong tical steps” in the “continued absence” “heartbreaking” and that “politicians stay in power at Westminster. getting us to a successful conclusion,” and put that right.” of devolution. need to face up to facts.” he told a press conference. Eastwood said the parties must “not al- Alluding to the current DUP leader’s Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo She has spoken critically about the party low this moment to be the destruction Northern Ireland has been run by civil refusal to stand aside as first minister Varadkar tweeted that he regretted the on several occasions since her husband of all that we have achieved.” servants since the power-sharing ex- over a year ago over revelations about DUP’s statement and that “power shar- resigned as party leader just a year into ecutive made up of the DUP and Sinn her role in the ‘cash for ash’ scandal – ing and working together are the only “We can’t allow this British Govern- his extraordinarily warm period in of- ment, or this DUP to think that they’re Féin collapsed in January 2017. fice with Martin McGuinness, something a decision which led to Sinn Féin col- way forward.” lapsing Stormont, she said, “If you’re going to govern Northern Ireland on The then deputy first minister Martin the Paisley family allege was the result On February 14, he tweeted, “I very the first minister.....the buck stops at their own – that cannot be allowed to McGuinness pulled Sinn Féin out of the of an internal coup by party members much regret the statement from the your desk and you have got to do what happen,” the SDLP leader said. coalition after a bitter split between the unnerved by the new dispensation. DUP. Power sharing and working to- is right and stand down from your posi- governing parties over the botched Re- gether are the only way forward for Robin Swann, the leader of the Ulster Speaking on BBC Radio Foyle, Bar- tion until the matter is sorted out. newable Heat Incentive scheme. Northern Ireland. Unionist Party (UUP), described the oness Paisley – who was elected a poli- “I think if that had been done at the talks process as a “shambles.” Derry Chamber of Commerce presi- tician before her husband – said there “The Tanaiste and the Secretary of beginning, there would be a different dent, Jennifer McKeever said the lack was a need to “confess where they’ve State are in close contact and we will He said, “What I think we need to know, situation here at the moment and we of a deal was “disappointing and frus- gone wrong – and they have gone continue to confer with the British Gov- and what Northern Ireland clearly needs wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in.” trating.” wrong” and to “cut out all ernment about the next steps.” to know, is the door to devolution now nonsense…and come back and start Baroness Paisley also made clear that firmly closed?” “The collapse of the latest round of talks At Stormont, it was clear that things anew. We all need proper government she did not support either an Irish lan- will come as another body blow for busi- were not going well behind the scenes. Swann called on the Northern Ireland at this time.” guage act or an Ulster Scots language secretary to provide clarity on whether nesses in the North West which are act – which the DUP has suggested to There was a great sense of optimism facing the greatest economic challenge She said the big issue was that “people it was the end of the talks or whether do not face up to the truth; they need to counter-balance Irish language legisla- just a week earlier, but it became pretty more negotiations were planned. of our generation,” she said. tion. clear there was a standoff developing be honest with one another.” “Thirteen months is too long to be with- by Tuesday, February 13. The leader of Alliance Party, Naomi She said she didn’t think there was a out devolved government and the lack Paisley said that if today’s politicians Long, said there was “no prospect of a “had followed the example that the late need for “a stand alone act on any lan- Arlene Foster had appeared before the deal and no process in place that could of leadership from Stormont in the guage because as far as I can see there cameras and said that a stand-alone Brexit negotiations has been particularly Martin McGuinness and my husband lead to a deal.” set for them, this would not have hap- is no barrier to the Irish language in Irish language act was not something frustrating for the business community,” Northern Ireland.” the DUP could accept. “We are in a very precarious situation she added. pened.” PAGE 22 www.celtic-connection.com MARCH/APRIL 2018 Protection for workers during severe weather announced EDINBURGH – A "Fair Work" char- ter will be devised in a bid to stop staff being forced to travel to work in se- vere weather, Nicola Sturgeon an- nounced on March 6. The First Minister said there should be legislation to protect workers in such extreme conditions, such as during the recent code red warning when people were urged to avoid travelling. SCOTTISH Health Secretary Shona Robison says a 50p mini- The charter will be developed with the mum unit price will ‘save thousands of lives’. Scottish Trades Union Congress. SCOTRAIL said that once its new electric trains enter service In a joint statement with STUC general it will return to full capacity but in the meantime, 10 rush-hour secretary Grahame Smith, Sturgeon services between Glasgow and Edinburgh will run with three or said, “We are grateful to the people of four carriages instead of the usual six. Scottish Government Scotland who have coped tremendously well with the red weather warning and confirms alcohol who heeded the advice not to travel. Fury as Scots train “However, the Scottish Government and the STUC share a real concern that minimum unit price some workers were placed at unnec- axes seats at rush hour essary risk through being compelled to GLASGOW – Passengers on one of The rail operator has introduced a re- EDINBURGH – In two months’ travel to work or placed under threat the country’s busiest commuter routes duced £13 anytime day return fare for time Scotland will become the of lost pay if they did not make it into are facing overcrowding as ScotRail travel on the Glasgow Queen Street to first country in the world to set work. cuts the number of carriages on some Edinburgh via Airdrie route, which is rush-hour trains. almost half the current price. It is not a minimum unit price, in an at- “We are committed to doing everything within our current powers to encour- known when the new trains will enter tempt to curb the nation’s alco- The peak-hour commuter crush on the service, however the fare is available age employers to be fair and flexible. express line stems from leases running hol problem. until May 19. "That is why we have agreed to col- out on older diesel trains – amid delays Scottish Health Secretary Shona laboratively develop a Fair Work char- to electric replacements. Scottish Labour’s rural economy and Robison has confirmed the level mini- ter, focusing on the treatment of work- connectivity spokesman, Colin Smyth, The rail operator is reducing the number said, “These are deeply troubling reports mum unit pricing will be set at 50p after ers affected by severe weather or other of carriages on the Glasgow to Edin- a consultation. emergencies. that once again reveal a lack of plan- burgh route as some trains on that route ning by ScotRail. Robison predicted the move would “A rise to a rate of 70p would reflect a have reached the end of their lease and “save thousands of lives” and stop fami- greater degree of ambition and might are being transferred to operators else- “Commuters on one of the country’s lies falling apart through alcohol abuse. also be supported, and would have a where in the UK. most important routes are now facing larger effect on the consumption of al- delays and disruption. It is increasingly ScotRail said that once its new electric However, opposition parties and health cohol and on inequalities of outcomes. clear that SNP transport minister scientists argue that the effect of the Hitachi Class 385 trains enter service Humza Yousaf’s warm words about “We have concerns that the 50p rate policy would be “considerably reduced” it will return to full capacity. In the improving services are simply being ig- proposed in 2011 will be introduced now because the minimum price had not meantime, 10 rush-hour services be- nored by the private rail firms who just and remain for a further five years, by been increased from the level first pro- tween the two cities will run with three do as they please while passengers suf- which time its real value and therefore posed in 2011. or four carriages instead of the usual fer. the effectiveness of MUP [minimum six. They had argued for a rate of 60p or unit pricing] will be considerably re- “Not only is the new rolling stock de- higher. duced.” Politicians called on Transport Minister layed, but trade unions are concerned Humza Yousaf to take it up with Abellio, it may not be safe to use at all. ScotRail The Scottish Parliament voted through The Wine and Spirit Trade Association which has been stung by criticism of needs to get a grip and resolve this situ- the legislation in 2012, but it was de- said setting MUP at 50p would “impact ANNE DYER the first female how it is handling the £7 billion ScotRail ation immediately.” layed by a legal challenge from the around half of all products on the shelf.” franchise. Scotch Whisky Association. bishop in Scotland has been In its analysis of the consultation re- consecrated. Scientists at the Royal Society of Edin- sponses, the Scottish Government said burgh said setting minimum pricing at a 50p minimum unit price was “propor- 70p – which could see the minimum tionate” as it struck a balance between Bishop resigns following row price for a bottle of wine rise to around public health and market intervention. First female £6.50 – would “reflect a greater de- gree of ambition.” Alcohol-related harm currently costs bishop over role at priest’s funeral Scotland around £3.6 billion a year and NEWRY, Co. Down – The from St. Patrick’s Primary School, A spokesman said, “An increase to 60p causes 24 deaths a week. Hilltown, Carrick Primary School, could be feasible, reflect the changes consecrated Bishop of Dromore has re- It is estimated that a 50p unit price could Burren and St. Patrick’s Mayobridge to the economy since 2011, and could signed following the contro- voiced their concerns, Bishop be supported by a majority in the Scot- lead to 8,200 fewer hospital admissions for Orkney within five years. versy over his officiating at a McAreavey admitted making “an error tish Parliament. and Aberdeen of judgment” by officiating at the 2002 pedophile priest’s funeral. funeral of the pedophile teacher. ABERDEEN, Scotland – The Scottish Episcopal Church said the consecration Bishop John McAreavey stepped down McAreavey described the crimes of NOVENAS of Canon Anne Dyer as Bishop of Ab- March 1 after weeks of anger when it Finnegan as “abhorrent, inexcusable and erdeen and Orkney – a supporter of emerged that he said Requiem Mass indefensible.” marriage equality – was a “significant for Father Malachy Finnegan, a Novena to the Blessed the favour received, it must be The bishop, who has also spoken to a Virgin Mary published. – PMK, MJK, CC, CB, CLF, and historic event.” pedophile and former president at St. victim of the priest, said that his deci- Novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary KLSLK, BC Colman’s College Newry. She became the Right Reverand Anne sion – made when he was a priest – to (never known to fail). O most beautiful • In a statement released by his solici- flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, Novena to St. Joseph Dyer after the service at St. Andrew’s say the mass “was the wrong one.” Cathedral in Aberdeen. She succeeds tors Arthur J. Downey, the bishop said splendour of Heaven, Blessed Mother Oh glorious St. Joseph, thou hast Allegations about the disgraced teacher the Right Reverand Dr. Robert Gillies, his resignation would take “immediate of the Son of God. Immaculate Virgin, power to render possible even things and cleric were highlighted in a recent who retired as Bishop of Aberdeen and effect.” assist me in this my necessity. There which are considered impossible, BBC Spotlight program, although the Orkney in 2016. are none that can withstand your come to our aid in our present trouble In the simple two-line statement, first allegation against him came to light power. O show me herein you are my and distress. Take this important and The Scottish Episcopal church previ- McAreavey said, “Following media re- in 1994. Mother, Mary, conceived without sin, difficult affair under thy particular pro- ously defended the selection after a ports which have disturbed and upset pray for us who have recourse to thee tection, that it may end happily. (Name Malachy Finnegan died in 2002 and has group within the diocese called on her many people in the diocese and further (three times). Sweet Mother, I place your request.) O dear St. Joseph, all afield, I have decided to resign with been accused of sexual abuse by 12 this cause in your hands (three times). our confidence is in thee, let it not be to consider standing down. immediate effect. I shall make further people. Holy Spirit, you who solve all problems, said that we would invoke thee in vain She was elected by the college of bish- comment in due course.” He served at St. Colman’s from 1967 light all roads so that I can attain my and since thou art so powerful with ops after the diocese itself twice failed to 1971 and was a teacher from 1973 goal. You gave me the Divine gift to Jesus and Mary, show that thy good- to draw up a shortlist of at least three Last month, he met parents from a Co. to 1976. forgive and forget all evil against me. ness equals thy power. Amen. St. suitable candidates. Down primary school, who, along with This prayer must be said for three days, Joseph, friend of the sacred heart, pray families from other schools, said they He was president of the college from even after the request is granted and for us. – For favour received. But 18 clergy and lay members of the did not want him to officiate at their 1976 to 1987. church who objected to the appointment children’s confirmation. Publication of each novena is $25 per issue said the process was “divisive” and “dis- Between 1994 and 2016, the 12 allega- (Canadian residents include 5% GST) respectful.” Even before the parents of children tions of abuse were made against him. MARCH/APRIL 2018 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 23 Ireland weathers worst storms in more than 30 years DUBLIN – Blizzard conditions swept across Ireland on the night of March 1 as polar air brought by the so-called Beast from the East weather system mixed with 100 kilometre gales from Storm Emma. It is expected to hit Ireland harder than anywhere else, and it is predicted to be the worst snow storm in the Republic IRELAND’S Minister for Defence, Paul Kehoe, presented the since 1982. International Operational Service Medal to some 70 members of the Permanent Defence Force at a ceremony held in Dún Snow one metre (39 inches) deep is Laoghaire Harbour in November 2016. The Irish naval person- forecast for parts of Ireland in the worst nel took part in the mission to rescue migrants in the Mediter- winter storms in more than three dec- ranean and included crew members who served on board the ades. SNOW ALERT as ‘exceptionally cold weather’ sweeps over Ire- LÉ James Joyce, the LÉ Eithne, the LÉ Niamh and the LÉ The entire country has been put under land. It is predicted to be the worst snow storm in the Republic Róisín. a red alert weather warning, the high- est level, as the most severe snow storm since 1982. in 36 years spread across the island. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar urged people to hospitals and to house-bound pa- Schools and colleges across the coun- to stay safe. “The risk to life and limb tients. Irish Navy to redeploy try will remain closed and commuters presented by severe weather conditions are also facing further disruptions. should not be underestimated by any- Met Eireann is also concerned that one,” he said. flooding could become a problem in the to the Mediterranean Dublin Bus, some Bus Eireann services, greater Dublin area when the snow DUBLIN – The Irish cabinet has The Naval Service, which has to date Irish Rail, Dart and Luas trams were Varadkar added, “It’s not safe to be thaws. cancelled and the country’s roads were outside in such conditions. No-one approved the redeployment of the saved 18,017 migrant lives, was initially In Northern Ireland, more than 300 involved in a purely humanitarian res- largely deserted as the public heeded should be on the roads.” Naval Service to the Mediterra- advice from the government not to ven- schools were closed, some health fa- cue Operation Pontus, but it changed More than 250 soldiers have been de- cilities shut to non-urgent admissions and nean. last year when the government agreed ture outside until the snow storm passed. ployed to help ensure key staff can get there was disruption and delay on the The objective will be to hunt down peo- to switch to the more aggressive EU roads. ple-smugglers and to ‘search and de- operation to counter people-smuggling stroy’ their pipelines from Libya into from war-torn Libya. southern Europe, while still saving the The Naval Service has been preparing hapless men, women, and children who for the go-ahead for the operation for Looters raid Tallaght supermarket are sent out to their near-certain deaths several months. in leaking dinghies. It’s expected that LÉ Samuel Beckett with a bulldozer during storm The minister with responsibility for de- will be the first ship to deploy to the fence, Paul Kehoe, received full sup- Mediterranean Sea in 2018. DUBLIN – Armed gardaí were pa- received reports of looting at the Lidl the scene and six people were arrested. port from his Cabinet colleagues to send trolling the Tallaght area in a six- supermarket. Sources say that it will deploy in early Another garda unit which was en route Irish navy ships to the Mediterranean wheel drive military vehicle on the Sea where tens of thousands of mainly April and be skippered by Lieutenant A uniformed patrol in a jeep was sent came across a raid using a concrete saw African and Syrian migrants have Commander Eoin Smyth. After her morning of March 3 after youths to the scene but had difficulty access- on a Centra store in Jobstown. Three drowned in recent years trying to get eight week tour of duty it will be re- used a bulldozer to smash into a ing the location because of heavy snow more people were arrested there. drifts up to five feet. to a better life in Europe. placed by LÉ James Joyce. supermarket during a looting in- More than 50 gardaí, including the cident in Tallaght. The gardai attempted to approach the armed support, the traffic and local di- supermarket on foot but immediately visional units were involved. Nine people were arrested after over came under attack from the growing 50 gardai were dispatched to the area gang of looters. Gardai are investigating reports that a to deal with the incident in west Dublin bulldozer had been used by the looters on March 2. Stones and other objects as well as to smash their way into the supermar- snowballs were hurled at the gardai, ket. Treacherous driving conditions ham- who summoned help. pered the garda response as some ap- Furthermore, they are investigating re- proach roads were virtually impassable. Civil Defence and Defence Forces ports that a safe was dragged out from trucks and snowploughs had to be uti- the supermarket and the bucket of the It began shortly before 5 PM on Friday lised to bring garda reinforcements to digger was used in an attempt to smash night when gardai at Tallaght station it open. Second man arrested over murder IRISH NAVY vessel LÉ Samuel Beckett. of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe Closure of Blarney tourist office DUNDALK, Co. Lough – A sec- He and a colleague, Detective Garda ond man has been arrested in con- Joseph Ryan, were on a cash escort from a number of credit unions on the a ‘great loss to the village’ nection with the murder of Detec- Cooley Peninsula when an armed gang BLARNEY, Co. Cork – It may be “super offices” in larger centres, and tive Garda Adrian Donohoe in Co. blocked them in to a car park outside home to one of Ireland’s most visited that the community came together to Louth five years ago. Lordship Credit Union. attractions, but the tourist office in a keep the Blarney offering going for the popular Cork village has closed – more past six years. The man in his fifties was arrested in When Donohoe got out to investigate, than six years after its demise was ac- Dundalk on February 26. He is currently two gunmen ran towards him and one tually announced. “We were allowed to continue to run it being detained at Balbriggan Garda Sta- shot him dead. under licence, and Freda Hayes at Blar- tion. While kissing the Blarney Stone prom- ney Woolen Mills let us have the unit Ryan was then held at gunpoint by two ises the gift of the gab, there will be no for a peppercorn rent, all for the good A 27-year-old man who was arrested of the raiders while the others robbed more words of advice coming from the of the community,” said Durrant. as he left Wheatfield Prison a day ear- cash and other items from the credit village’s tourism office after it shut its lier remains in custody. He was taken union employees. “It was kept going thanks to the work to Dundalk Garda Station, where he can doors for the last time. Earlier this year, gardaí said the sus- of Mary Twohig, who went in every day be questioned for up to three days. Blarney & District Chamber of Com- for six years and managed the students pects for the murder were known to merce has announced that the office, or workers we got through community Gardaí are expected to make a court them. They have described the devel- near the village square, has closed, hav- employment schemes to keep it going. application to extend his detention pe- opments as significant. ing been run for years on goodwill. riod for a further three days. “It was through using government ini- Following the arrest, 27-year-old Aaron GARDA Adrian Donohoe, a fa- Kate Durrant of Blarney Chamber of tiatives, and the involvement of people Detective Donohoe, a father-of-two, Brady from New Road, Crossmaglen, ther-of-two, was shot dead out- Commerce said the closure of the of- like P.J. Lynch and Deirdre Healy, that was shot dead outside Lordship Credit Co. Armagh has been charged with the side Lordship Credit Union in fice pointed to a wider strategy by Fáilte the office was able to stay open for so Union in Bellurgan in Co. Louth on Janu- murder of Detective Garda Adrian Bellurgan in Co. Louth on Ireland that focuses its resources on long.” ary 25, 2013. Donohoe. January 25, 2013. PAGE 24 www.celtic-connection.com MARCH/APRIL 2018 Honored Irish Guests 2018 IRISH FESTIVAL IN SEATTLE IRISH ATTORNEY GENERAL – Ireland’s Attorney General, Séamus Woulfe SC, a native of Dublin, is the legal adviser to the Irish Government and is SATURDAY, MARCH 10 therefore the chief law officer of the Irish State. IRISH SODA BREAD CONTEST – 2-3 PM at T S Educated at Belvedere College he obtained a BA (Mod) (Legal Science) from McHugh’s Restaurant, First and Mercer, Seattle. Con- Dublin’s Trinity College, Dublin and an LLM Degree from Dalhousie Univer- test admission is free and judging starts at 2 PM. sity in Nova Scotia. SUNDAY, MARCH 11 He earned a BL degree from the Honourable Society of King’s Inns in 1987 and began practicing at the Irish bar. MATT TALBOT DINNER – 6 PM, the Elysian Fields Res- By taurant, 542 1st Avenue S. (located across from the JOHN He was called to the inner bar as senior counsel in March 2005. This is the KEANE attorney general’s first-ever visit to Seattle and he is accompanied by his CenturyLink Field parking lot and down the street from wife Sheena Hickey. We wish them a warm Céad Míle Fáilte to Seattle. F X McRory’s), a fundraiser for the homeless program operated by the Matt Talbot Center. For more informa- SUNDAY, MARCH 18 MAYOR OF GALWAY – Coming from Ireland to help us celebrate St. tion, contact (206) 256-9865. Patrick’s Day in Seattle is the mayor of Seattle’s sister city in Ireland, Gal- IRISH GENEALOGY SEMINAR – As part of the Irish Festi- way Mayor Pearce Flannery. FRIDAY, MARCH 16 val, an all-day Irish genealogy seminar will be conducted on the Sunday from 10 AM-6 PM on the upper level Armory at Pearce was educated at Garbally College, NUI Galway, GMIT and the Uni- ST. PATRICK’S DAY MASS FOR PEACE – 10 AM, St. Seattle Center. versity of Limerick. He is a successful self-employed businessman and is a Patrick’s Church, 2702 Broadway E (just off Roanoke), The Irish Genealogy Seminar will be conducted by genea- former winner of the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. Seattle. Presider and Homilist is Father Seamus Laverty logical experts from Ireland, Fintan Mullan and Gillian Hunt. He is also an author of several books including Grabbing the Oyster! from with the Seattle Irish Choir leading the singing. Call (253) which he donated all profits to charity. 237-2811. A detailed workshop schedule can be found at www.IrishWeek.org. For tickets and more information, visit He was elected deputy mayor of Galway in 2016 and mayor in 2017. We MAYOR’S IRISH WEEK PROCLAMATION LUNCHEON www.IrishWeek.org, or call (253) 237-2811. welcome Mayor Flannery on his first-ever visit to Seattle. – 12 Noon, at The Ninety, 406 Occidental Avenue S. (located across the street from F X McRory’s), in Seattle’s SUNDAY, MARCH 25 Pioneer Square. SEATTLE GAELS FIELD DAY – The annual open field day Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and other dignitaries will is at Magnuson Park from Noon to 4 PM for all to try their issue city, county and state proclamations of Irish Week hand at any of the games of hurling, Gaelic football or camogie. 2018. Visit www.SeattleGaels.com. Among the special guests will be the St. Patrick’s Day WWW.IRISHWEEK.ORG parade grand marshal, the honorary grand marshal and PARADE GRAND MARSHAL – other dignitaries. This is also the annual St. Patrick’s Bob Ferguson, Washington Day Irish seniors’ luncheon. Advance reservations are State’s 18th attorney general, will required. For tickets and more information, call (253) be grand marshal of Seattle’s St. 237-2811. Patrick’s Day parade on March LANDING OF ST. PATRICK – 5:30 PM on South Lake 17. Union. St. Patrick was originally brought to Ireland by A fourth-generation Washington- Irish pirates around 400 AD. TWO expert Irish genealogy researchers will present an Irish ian, Bob is a graduate of the Uni- genealogy seminar in Seattle on March 18. Gillian Hunt (L) Over 1,600 years later, the South Lake Union Pirates versity of Washington and New York University law school. He is from Belfast and Fintan Mullan (R), who helped to pioneer the will deliver St. Patrick back to the Emerald City, drop- one quarter Irish through his rootsireland.ie genealogy website, will present the seminar. ping him off at South Lake Union (near MOHAI) at 5:30 O’Brien grandmother. PM Friday evening. No admission fee and kids are wel- come. Call (253) 237-2811. WASHINGTON However, the name Ferguson is STATE’S Attorney widespread in Ireland especially GREEN STRIPE LAYING ON 4TH AVENUE – 7 PM, a General Bob in the northern province of Ulster. mini-parade to mark the route of the St. Patrick’s Day Ferguson will be The name itself is of Old Gaelic parade down the center of 4th Avenue, starting from grand marshal of origin, a form of “Fergus” or Jefferson Street at 7 PM. All aboard the flat-bed truck at Seattle’s St. “Fearghus.” 6:30 PM outside the old McRory’s. It’s free and children Patrick’s Day pa- are welcome. Call (253) 237-2811. Harry Ferguson, a Co. Down na- rade on March 17. tive, is credited with developing SATURDAY, MARCH 17 the Ferguson tractor and was the first person in Ireland to build and fly his own airplane, but ST. PATRICK’S DAY DASH – 8:30 AM, a nearly four- Bob doesn’t know if there’s any connection. mile run from T S McHugh’s near the Space Needle and ends at the Seattle Center! There is no race-day regis- Bob and his wife, Colleen, are the parents of nine-year-old tration. To register, visit: stpatsdash.com. twins, Jack and Katie, all of whom will proudly march with him on March 17. IRISH FLAG-RAISING – 12:20 PM, the parade grand mar- shals and other dignitaries join the mayor of Seattle in PARADE HIGHLIGHTS – Two different Star Wars Costume raising the Irish tricolor in front of the King-County Ad- groups will again march in Seattle’s St. Patricks’ Day parade ministration Building, followed by the playing of the Irish as a salute to the fact that numerous scenes in the most INSTRUCTOR Fionna Shriane-Travis (center) gives directions and U.S. national anthems. recent Star Wars films were shot in Ireland. during the Irish soda bread cooking class conducted in Seattle ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE ON 4TH AVENUE – 12:30 About 60 Unicyclists from Whittier Elementary School will on February 17. also perform along with different pirate groups (including the PM, the St. Patrick’s Day parade grand marshal and the Seafair Pirates and their Moby Duck which will also be going honorary parade grand marshal lead Seattle’s 47th an- over to the Irish Festival afterwards); and the Seafair Clowns nual St. Patrick’s Day parade up 4th Avenue. along with several pipe bands including the Seattle Firefight- The parade travels north from Jefferson, and after pass- ers and the Seattle Police Pipe Bands. ing the reviewing stand at Westlake, goes via the Mono- New bands this year include the Navy Band Northwest and rail to the Seattle Center for closing ceremonies in the the Robert Eagle Staff Middle School Marching Band. Armory at 2 PM. The Ride-the-Ducks Boat Shamrock Shuttle will again carry Seniors are invited to ride the parade for free in a Duck’s seniors unable to walk the parade route. Please come down Boat. Just be at 4th Avenue and Jefferson by 12 noon and walk with your favorite group or behind your provincial to take your seat. For more information call (253) 237- Banner. Wear your colors with pride! 2811. IRISH FESTIVAL – Admission to all Irish Festival activities is IRISH FESTIVAL SEATTLE FREE on both Saturday and Sunday, March 17 and 18. SEATTLE CENTER ARMORY (formerly Center House) The festival features non-stop Irish music, singing and danc- – Saturday 10 AM-6 PM, Sunday Noon-6 PM, FREE ad- ing, booths selling Irish and Celtic products, workshops, lec- mission. tures, cultural displays, children’s contests and activities, including contests to find the kid with the Smilingest Irish The weekend festival has booths selling Irish and Celtic Eyes and the Most Irish Looking Face. Special festival fea- products, Irish food and libations, Irish music, singing, tures include a Tom Thompson Art Exhibit. dancing, workshops, lectures, cultural displays, an Irish OUTGOING Friends of St. Patrick President Kathleen Burns GENEALOGICAL SEMINAR – The highlight of the weekend Reels Film Festival, an Irish art exhibit, children’s con- passes the symbol of office, a Shilleleagh that was brought to at the Seattle Center has to be the Irish Genealogy Seminar tests and activities, etc. Seattle from Ireland in the 1850s, to the new President, Pat on Sunday, March 18, from 10 am to 6 pm conducted by Dolan at the Friends of St. Patrick Banquet on March 3. For details, visit www.IrishWeek.org, call (253) 237-2811. experts from Ireland. MARCH/APRIL 2018 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 25 2018 IRISH FESTIVAL IN SEATTLE

Fintan Mullan, executive director of the Ulster Historical Foundation in Belfast, has been with the Ulster Historical Foun- dation (ancestryireland.com) for 22 years. He helped to pioneer the online births, deaths and marriages system which led to www.rootsireland.ie, the Irish Family History Foundation’s unique database with over 20 million Irish historical records. Gillian Hunt is the foundation’s research JAMES FRECHEVILLE and Hugo Weaving star in Black 47 a officer, and has been with the founda- new film based on the Irish Famine. tion since 2001. More details at Irish Week.org. ÉIDÍN DOLAN (L) watches a performance by dancers from the Seattle Irish Dance Company at the Friends of St. Patrick Black 47: The Famine on film GIANT RAFFLE – On Sunday, March Banquet on March 3. 18, two round-trip tickets direct from – it’s only taken 170 years Seattle to Dublin are being raffled off Raffle tickets are $5 each and only 1,000 members, and may not be mailed or sold Black 47, Lance Daly’s film that ad- fighting abroad for the British Army but are being sold. The tickets can only be online. Visit any of the Irish Week 2018 during the Irish Festival. dresses one of the most traumatic pe- becomes a deserter and returns home. purchased in person from Irish Club events to get your tickets. riods in Irish history, is a story that has When he discovers what has happened barely registered on the big screen be- to his family, Feeney swears vengeance. fore. His old British Army comrade Hannah The Irish revenge story set during the (The Matrix and Lord of the Rings star Aer Lingus makes Seattle Famine received its world premiere at Hugo Weaving) is then dispatched to Berlin International Film Festival last put an end to Feeney's uprising. month. Black 47 will open in Irish cinemas later its 12th U.S. destination Actor James Frecheville stars as this year. Hopefully soon in North Feeney, an Irish Ranger who has been America as well. SEATTLE – Aer Lingus has announced a brand new route from Dublin to Seattle – Ire- land’s first ever direct serv- ice to the Emerald City. The Airbus A330 service will offer both business and economy classes, and will operate from May 18, 2018 on Mon- day, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The service will run four times a week, with flights scheduled to arrive in Seattle at 5:35 PM, and depart for Dub- lin at 7:20 PM. Seattle has strong business links to Ire- land, boasting a vibrant technology sec- TRAVELLERS will be able to fly direct to Dublin from Seattle tor. starting on May 18, 2018. It’s home to technology giants Microsoft and Amazon, both of which have sig- nificant operations in Ireland. The Irish- based aircraft leasing sector will now Game of Thrones be connected directly to the home of Boeing. This strategy delivers increased con- cast sink pints nectivity for Ireland, which supports in- ternational trade and economic devel- opment, as well as growth in tourism. in Belfast bar It also highlights the gateway connec- BELFAST – While waiting out the The show, which has become a global tions available at Dublin from North storm known as The Beast from the phenomena and put Northern Ireland America, UK and Europe, with the con- East, the cast and crew of the hit HBO on the map for those wanting to travel venience of US Customs and Border show Game of Thrones dropped into to Westeros. Production is currently Protection pre-clearance services at one of Belfast’s best-known bars for a underway across the country on the Dublin Airport. few pints. eighth and final season. The U.S. Customs and Border Protec- As the snow melted away on March 3, “As you may have noticed, Winter Is tion agency says there are currently 15 Jon Snow or Kit Harrington joined Emilia Coming. Or Coming Back. Or what- airport pre-clearance locations in six Clarke, who plays Daenerys, ‘Grey ever,” Kelly’s Cellars said in a tweet. countries, including two in Ireland (Dub- Worm’ Jacob Anderson and Peter lin and Shannon). Dinklage who plays Tyrion Lannister “But whatever it is, it was a pleasure to called into Kelly’s Cellars. welcome some of the cast of Game of The others are in Aruba; Freeport and Thrones yesterday evening. Nassau in The Bahamas; Bermuda; They were also joined by show writers Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; and and producers David Benioff and D.B. “Because that’s what they do....They Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, Halifax, Weiss. drink. And they know things.” Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, and Win- nipeg in Canada. For guests travelling from Seattle, Aer Lingus will offer 24 seamless connec- tions, via the Dublin Gateway, to UK and European cities such as London, Paris, Rome, Brussels, Amsterdam and Frankfurt. British travellers will enjoy connections via Dublin to Seattle from cities such as Birmingham, Manches- ter, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Fares range from 259 euro (approxi- mately US$350) each-way including taxes and charges, when booked as a return trip. Find more on The Game of Thrones cast enjoyed a night out at Kelly’s Cel- www.aerlingus.com lars in Belfast while waiting out The Beast from the East. PAGE 26 www.celtic-connection.com MARCH/APRIL 2018 IRISH WOMEN’S NETWORK OF B.C.: Memories from our Archives

THIS magnificent stained glass MEMBERS of the Irish Women’s Network in November 2016 window in Belfast City hall is (L-R) Leanne Ardley, Eilis Courtney, Geraldine Megannety, dedicated to the lives, suffer- ing and contribution of work- MEMBERS of the Irish Women’s Network presented a cheque and Ita Kane-Wilson with special guest Dara Culhane (cen- ing class women. The window to Sharon Brown and Marie Morris of the Irish Benevolent So- tre). Dara Culhane is a Professor of Anthropology with Simon depicting women mill workers ciety of B.C. in February 2008. Pictured above presenting the Fraser University and she presented a talk about the Sheehy was made by a firm in Derry cheque (L-R) Margaret Brown, Eilis Courtney, Geraldine sisters – Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington, Mary Sheehy Kettle, to show the struggles that Megannety, Deirdre O’Ruairc (president of the IWN), Sharon Kathleen Sheehy Cruise O’Brien and Margaret Sheehy Culhane women have faced. It was sup- Brown, Maire Morris and Pam Glass. Casey. Dara is the granddaughter of Margaret Sheehy. ported by all political parties and unveiled in March 2016. Give us Bread and Roses The poem Bread and Roses was written by James Oppenheim to celebrate the movement for wom- en’s rights and published in Ameri- can Magazine in 1911, is closely associated with the Lawrence tex- tile mill strike of 1912. During the strike, which was in protest of a reduction in pay, the women mill workers carried signs that quoted the poem, reading “We want bread, and roses, too.” WINNING TEAM at the June 2009 Irish Women’s Network golf FORMER Irish Ambassador to Canada Ray Bassett met with tournament (L-R) Ann Innis, Marie Morris, Ann Carr and members of the Irish Women’s Network in 2011 (L-R) Mary Noeleen Corr. The annual tournment was organized by Marie Monks Hatch, Ray Bassett, Geraldine Megannety, Patricia Morrie and her sister Noeleen Corr. Jarvis, and Siobhan Airey.

Bread and Roses As we go marching, marching We battle too for men For they are women’s comrades And we mother them again As we go marching, marching In the beauty of the day A million darkened kitchens SIOBHAN AIREY and Geraldine Megannety with Betty Allen A WARM welcoming committee in June 2011 for new Irish ar- A thousand mill lofts grey (2012 Irish Woman of the Year), and Ita Kane-Wilson. Betty rivals in Vancouver (L-R) Eilis Courtney (president of the Irish Are touched with all the radiance was honoured for her long term support of the IWN and her Women’s Network) along with Geraldine Megannety, Mary That a sudden sun discloses tireless work as a volunteer in her church and community. Monks Hatch, and Siobhan Airey. For the people hear us singing Bread and roses, bread and roses As we go marching, marching We battle too for men For they are women’s comrades And we mother them again Our lives shall not be sweetened From birth until life closes Hearts starve as well as bodies Give us bread, but give us roses As we go marching, marching We bring the greater days For the rising of the women Means the rising of the race MICHELINE Sheehy Skeffington – granddaughter of Hanna No more the drudge and idler Sheehy Skeffington, Ireland’s most famous suffragette – is pic- tured above (front/centre) along with (L-R) Ita Kane-Wilson Tend that toil where one reposes (IWN), Dara Culhane, Roisín Sheehy-Culhane, and Patricia MEMBERS of the Irish Women’s Network at the 2005 Annual But the sharing of life’s glories Jarvis (IWN) following her talk at Simon Fraser University in General Meeting (L-R) Mary Monks Hatch, Marie Morris, Bread and roses, bread and roses November 2017. Deirdre O’Ruairc, Geraldine Megannety, and Pam Glass. MARCH/APRIL 2018 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 27 IRISH WOMEN’S NETWORK OF B.C. Twenty Years-A-Growing – A Slice of Herstory By MARY MONKS HATCH festival in Burnaby, as well as our par- VANCOUVER – In late April or early ticipation in an event at Vancouver Pub- May (watch our Facebook page for lic Library, at which we showcased Irish information), we will celebrate the 20th literature. anniversary of the Irish Women’s Net- work of B.C. Changing times can bring surprising and unforeseen needs. Life was so very different 20-odd years ago. Newspapers and letters were 10 The big change that occurred in the days old by the time they reached us Vancouver area was, of course, the sud- from home. den influx, following the sudden death FOUNDING MEMBER of the Irish Women’s Network in Van- of the Celtic Tiger, of bright young Irish couver, Mary Monks Hatch, is pictured here with former Presi- Phone calls cost 80 cents a minute be- people, all highly educated, brimming dent of Ireland Mary Robinson in 2006. tween midnight and 8 AM, twice that with confidence, ability, and talent, ea- much during the day. No Skype, e-mail, ger to make the most of what British or internet, and no Irish voices unless Columbia had to offer. you worked to find them. All they lacked was vital information You could come out of a supermarket about the difference between getting a and find someone waiting by your car job back home and landing one in Van- because it displayed an Irish flag, a couver. someone hungry for an Irish accent, any Irish accent. And anyone Irish you IWN was then (and still is) in the capa- Famous Irish Quotes met for a second time was an old friend. ble and untiring hands of Eilis Courtney, ably supported by the ever-resourceful I was elected by the women of Ireland, Mercifully, there was The Celtic Con- Geraldine Megannety. who instead of rocking the cradle, rocked the system. nection, proving that there were actu- – Mary Robinson ally Irish people out there, and show- Together they arranged information First female President of Ireland, b.1944 ing what they were doing together. events at BCIT’s downtown campus, and funding by the Irish Government For the sporty there was the Irish Sport- so they could be offered free of charge. ing & Social Club, Stage Eireann for PRESIDENT of the IWN They presented speakers and expert the theatrically minded, the Ireland- Deirdre O’Ruairc presented Canada Chamber of Commerce guidance in the process of job search- (ICCC) for people in business, and one Irish President Mary McAleese ing. They appealed to the Irish commu- or two other small groups. with honorary membership in nity to provide knowledge on various the Irish Women’s Network of fields of employment, and the commu- A few, mostly women like me who had B.C. in May 2005. nity responded with huge generosity. nothing to do with business, joined the That work continues. ICCC purely for their social gatherings, Bernie Todd and Betty Allen. especially that stylish annual event the Speaking of huge generosity, I have to Emerald Ball. For our first, memorable, Nollaig na pay tribute to the enormous support that mBan dinner, Tania Belsito persuaded The Celtic Connection has always The hunger among Irish women to her husband, Larry, to give us a splen- given IWN. gather with their own kind was almost did, memorable evening at the Coast An organisation that doesn’t collect palpable, and a notice in The Celtic Plaza Hotel at Stanley Park, where he membership fees, unsurprisingly, Connection brought an immediate re- was manager. sponse. doesn’t have the wherewithal to fund Deirdre O’Ruairc magically produced communications, so we relied heavily Support among ICCC’s women mem- a letter of greeting to us from Uachtaráin on the goodwill of Maura and Catholine. bers was keen and constructive, and na hÉireann, and later arranged for Before the internet was established, very quickly we were having monthly President Mary McAleese and her hus- such help was vital in building our net- meetings in Burnaby library. band to join us for lunch, and for Mary work. Robinson to have breakfast with us. Two pieces of writing inspired the start- The past 20 years of IWN have brought up of IWN: Mary Robinson’s speech It was Deirdre, too, who instituted the us social gatherings bright with chatter to the Oireachtas “Cherishing the Woman of the Year award (surprising and laughter, literary events, Nollaig na Diaspora,” and Rosita Boland’s article me with that award at a dinner celebrat- mBan celebrations, sister networks in in The Irish Times on 6 January 1998, ing our first anniversary), and had a Toronto and Ottawa, friendships, and a “On the women’s day of Christmas.” group of us photographed, apparently raft of warm, shining memories: maybe naked, for our own “Calendar Girls” not so much “Twenty Years A-Grow- The enthusiasm of the women at our production. ing*”, as “Twenty Years A-Glowing.” first meeting saw the Network take off like a flame touched to gasoline. For several years, she also led IWN in * Apologies to Maurice O’Sullivan representing Ireland at the European and his classic memoir of Blasket life. In small groups, women (some in Van- couver since the 1950s) chatted eagerly about where they came from, what they had in common, what they wanted from the Network. Some guidelines were agreed: 1) No- body should be prevented by financial circumstances from participating, so there would be no membership fee and every event would have to be self-fund- ing; 2) Anyone who attended an IWN event was automatically a member; 3) The ‘structure’ of the network should be informal. From the start, members were pulling rabbits from hats through unsuspected connections and a variety of talents. I was embarking on a diploma in pro- fessional writing while working full time, so I had to take several steps back and persuade others to take the lead. And lead they did, that group of talented, enthusiastic, and resourceful women. Marie Morris ran an annual golf com- DEIRDRE O’RUAIRC (president of the Irish Women’s Network) petition with her sister Noeleen Corr. holding the Irish flag with Catholine Butler (2006 Irish Woman Their sister, Dolores Byrne, formed a of the Year) on the podium at the opening ceremonies for the book club with Margaret Browne, European Festival at the Scandinavian Community Centre. PAGE 28 www.celtic-connection.com MARCH/APRIL 2018 Irish American experience in New York continues to evolve with influx of ‘New Irish’

T WAS several years ago while on a travel The throng of onlookers was so thick – 100,000 strong, by one estimate – that stopover in New York City, my husband all the city’s streetcars were diverted north to accommodate the crowd. and I decided to visit St. Patrick’s Cathe- Downtown Manhattan was described dral – the spiritual refuge for countless as “depleted.” Ithousands of Irish who One interesting reference source I lo- cated in my library as I was research- found a new home in this ing the background of St. Patrick’s Ca- great city. thedral and the Irish in New York, is a book published by Indiana University In the past we have visited some of the By Press in 2001 by American academic most magnificent churches in Europe Linda Dowling Almeida. and abroad, but we were unprepared MAURA for the sheer size and dimension of this DE FREITAS Entitled Irish Immigrants in New York spectacular cathedral. It is truly breath- City, 1945-1995, Almeida writes about the distinct waves of Irish migrants to taking. PHOTO: Museum of the City of New York the city, particularly between those who Built in the form of a cross, St. Patrick’s immigrated in the 1950s and the group THE CONSTRUCTION of the new St. Patrick’s Cathedral 1859 occupies an entire city block and the she describes as the “New Irish” of the and 1879 was supported by the New York Catholic community. ornate structure is the largest decorated 1980s. Many Irish women who gained employment as domestics Neo-Gothic-style Catholic cathedral in chipped in some of their meager wages to help with the St. I found her descriptions most interest- North America. It can accommodate a Patrick’s Cathedral building fund. staggering 3,000 people. ing, given the huge cultural changes in Irish cultural communities across The interior features intricate marble Canada – and particularly western designs on the numerous altars, along Canada – since the collapse of the with rich stained-glass windows and ex- Celtic Tiger in Ireland. traordinary artwork throughout. New York natives and tourist of all religious A new wave of mobile, educated, and backgrounds still marvel at the build- highly motivated young Irish migrants ing’s stunning beauty. has arrived here since the 2008 global financial crisis. In the days following September 11, 2001, it is said so many people came to In her work, Almeida reveals a tense light a candle at St. Patrick’s Cathedral distance between the eighties migrants that it created a fire hazard. to the United States and the established Irish American immigrant community As we approach St. Patrick’s Day, I who settled post 1945. felt compelled to reflect on this most compelling stamp of Irish influence in With a little probing, she said it became New York City. “The gap had as obvious that the breach was much deeper than mere generational conflict. When St. Patrick’s Cathedral was com- much to do with the pleted in New York City in 1879, the According to the writer, “The gap had culture and society as much to do with the culture and so- PHOTO: J.M. Luijt / Wikipedia PHOTO: Maura De Freitas annual parade on March 17 was ex- BUILT in the form of a cross, VISITORS of all religious back- tended up Fifth Avenue in order to al- ciety from which the ‘New Irish’ came from which the as with the economic and social cir- the cathedral occupies an en- grounds still marvel at the low the archbishop and clergy to review tire city block on Fifth Avenue. building’s stunning beauty. the festivities while standing in front of ‘New Irish’ came cumstances they found in New York. the church. “Even though both migrant communi- Over more than three centuries, Irish as with the ties originated in Ireland, their cultures, immigrants have crossed the Atlantic politics, and overall world perspectives to make a new home in North Ameri- economic and social were quite different.” can and New York City has been one circumstances they She outlines the differences between of the main destinations for so many in the groups in terms of their lives in Ire- search of a brighter future. found in New York. land, their reasons for emigrating, and Migration increased dramatically in the Even though both their experiences in New York. 1840s as a consequence of Ireland’s While every generation of Irish immi- potato famine of 1845-49, which left immigrant commu- grants, large and small, carries with it more than one million people dead from the character of the Ireland they leave starvation and disease and another mil- nities originated behind, she explains the compelling fea- lion forced to leave the country. in Ireland, their ture of the “New Irish” population is Most of the Irish who arrived in the the mark made by economic and social U.S. during this period had little educa- cultures, politics, modernity. tion and few material possessions. Further, technology has changed the They encountered systematic economic and overall world landscape as well. Advanced commu- discrimination, and the longstanding perspectives were nication, telephones, and travel short- prejudice of many members of the ened the distance between Ireland and Anglo-Saxon Protestant majority to- quite different.” New York and made the trip to America ward both the Irish and Catholicism. a commute rather than a final journey. In addition to the external prejudices, That convenience and their own con- fidence made the 1980s migrants less many Irish experienced cultural clashes Hughes boldly decreed to the Ameri- and internal conflicts within their own reliant on the established Irish commu- can native-born community that the ca- nity and organizations than their pred- communities, but the one common an- thedral reflected the status, dignity, and chor of Irish identity was the Catholic ecessors because they were never very permanence of the Catholic ethnics in far from home virtually or in reality. Church and Irish nationalism. New York City. Shut out socially and economically be- Previously new Irish immigrants tended Despite the cost, the construction of the to live in closer communities, and iden- cause of their poor skills, Catholicism, new St. Patrick’s Cathedral was sup- and poverty, the Irish carved a place tified themselves by their local parish. ported by the New York Catholic com- The difference is the “New Irish” never for themselves in two arenas where munity. pedigree, birthright, and money mat- felt that New York was their ultimate tered little – politics and the Church. Many Irish women who gained employ- destination – they do not have that sense ment as domestics chipped in some of of permanence. Perhaps the most dramatic symbol of their meager wages to help with the St. Perhaps these experiences have some- Catholic and immigrant presence in Patrick’s Cathedral building fund. New York City was the construction of thing to inform local Irish organizations in western Canada. As young migrants St. Patrick’s Cathedral in the upper When the first cornerstone was laid on PHOTO: Maura De Freitas reaches of Manhattan between 1859 Sunday, August 15, 1858, on the Feast arrive, the more established community, THE INTERIOR features of St. Patrick’s Cathedral include in- often with an aging demographic, con- and 1879. of the Assumption, 200 priests and 100 tricate marble designs on the numerous altars, with rich stained- choirboys marched in the formal pro- tinues to search for ways to adapt to New York’s first Archbishop John cession. this changing dynamic. glass windows and extraordinary artwork throughout.