ISSUE 24 VOLUME 7 Proudly Serving Celts in North America Since 1991 SEPTEMBER 2015

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of migrants and refugees have traveled to Europe this year, but the EU is struggling to form a cohesive strategy for handling the influx. The crisis has rapidly developed into a humanitarian emergency with thousands of people stranded at vari- ous transit points and borders from Greece to Hungary. On September 9, European Com- mission President Jean-Claude Juncker used his first State of the Union address to the EU Parliament in Strasbourg, France, to urge leaders to undertake a comprehensive response to the crisis by increasing aid and imposing quotas for the bloc’s 28 members. Juncker said the bloc immediately needs to distribute 160,000 refugees across the EU, and participation by member nations should be mandatory. [Read more on pages 2, 9, 15, and 20] [COVER ARTWORK: by John Emanuel Shannon] FROM LIGHT INTO DARKNESS – On Wednesday, September INSIDE THIS ISSUE 23 at 1:22 AM, PDT, the autumnal equinox momentarily pauses the sway of Time in our world. The great wheel of the Celtic year is bound – is created – in human time. For those who President Higgins perceive the world through a Celtic lens, life begins in the dark. to visit Seattle [Read more by Cynthia Wallentine on page 19]

• NORTH A MERICAN GAA CHAMPIONSHIPS IN CHICAGO SEE PAGES 17 - 18 - 19 • WESTERN CANADA GAA CHAMPIONSHIPS IN EDMONTON ELEVEN people were killed and 16 others injured in the worst SEE PAGE 19 MICHAEL D. HIGGINS, the President of Ireland, with his air show disaster in the UK since 1952. Victims of the Shoreham • ALL-IRELAND wife Sabina on his election in air disaster on August 22 – (L-R) [Top]: Matt Jones (24), Mat- thew Grimstone (23), Jacob Schilt (23), Daniele Polito (23), HURLING FINAL November 2011. President Mark Trussler (49), James Mallinson (72). [Bottom] Maurice SEE PAGES 10 & 11 Higgins is expected to make his Abrahams (76), Mark Reeves (53), Richard Smith (26), Dylan first visit to Seattle next month. Archer (42), Tony Brightwell (52). [See page 7] [Read more on page 17] • WIN A FREE CD CRISIS AT STORMONT: Win Blackthorn’s new CD, Open Skies, (See page 5 for more CD in- Northern Ireland coalition formation). Entry by September 25. Mark your entry: Blackthorn. Entries

on brink of collapse by e-mail only. Mark the name of the event on your entry, including your 40009398 Publication name and daytime telephone number. (Only one entry per person.) Send

Mail Agreement: Mail over IRA claims to: [email protected]. [See page 15] PAGE 2 www.celtic-connection.com SEPTEMBER 2015 New book by LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER Irish-Canadian author The Refugee Crisis in Europe: VANCOUVER – Anakana Noble Discover Great New Writers Echoes of our own not-so-distant past Schofield, author of the award- Pick. winning Malarky, will launch her HILE the situation scene of one of the most horrific events The Globe & Mail has listed Martin By MAURA DE FREITAS of human suffering on Canadian soil. new book in Vancouver at Book John as one of the 20 Most Anticipated has been develop- Warehouse on October 6. Books you’ll be reading and talking ing for some time, Up to 5,000 men, women and children about for the rest of the year. – mostly enfeebled Irish – are buried Her new novel Martin John (A foot- in recent days it has on the island, many in mass graves. note to Malarky) is published in North Schofield is an Irish-Canadian writer Wbecome increas- America by Biblioasis. who was born in England. She lived in We must never forget our past. Rather London and in Dublin, Ireland until mov- ingly impossible to deny the we must forget about what this coun- In 2013, Malarky won the Amazon.ca ing to Vancouver, British Columbia in refugee crisis unfolding in try or that country, or this neighbour or First Novel Award and the Debut-Litzer 1999. that neighbour is doing today....we must Prize for Fiction in the United States and Europe and beyond. ask ourselves “what are we doing?” was a finalist for the Ethel Wilson Fic- Everyone is invited to attend the launch tion Prize. of Martin John at 7 PM at Book Ware- For many it took a photograph To turn our head away is to be complicit house located at 4118 Main Street in in the problem....sometimes it is as sim- It was named on 16 Best Books of 2012 of one small boy lying dead on a Vancouver. beach to bring the scale of the PRESSURE to take political ple as a cup of tea and a warm blanket lists and was selected as a Barnes & action over the crisis rose as many civilians across Europe have tragedy into focus. sharply after pictures flashed taken it upon themselves to offer. This is just one child in a sea of human- around the world of a drowned Whatever human kindness we can of- ity on the move – many seeking asylum three-year-old Syrian-Kurdish fer matters – financial or otherwise – MP for West Tyrone in Europe and beyond – with countless boy, Alan Kurdi, washed up on because this crisis is not going away others dying in the process. the beach of a Turkish resort. any time soon. speaker at Vancouver The world is facing the worst humani- His death personalized the col- According to figures from the United tarian crisis since the Second World War lective tragedy of the refugees Nations High Commissioner for Refu- and it didn’t start yesterday....on a glo- fleeing war and persecution. gees, about 49 percent of the 320,000 1916 Centenary prelude bal scale the number of displaced peo- or so migrants who have reached Eu- ture on the shores of America. VANCOUVER – The Vancouver He served as Sinn Féin vice-president ple just continues to escalate. rope this year are from Syria and only three percent from Iraq. About 12 per- from 1988 to 2009 and headed the Sinn The strength and determination of these Upon arrival, they travelled far and wide Easter Rising committee will cent are from Afghanistan and eight present a prelude to Vancouver’s Féin delegation to the Forum for Peace people to find a place of refuge – to across this continent, they raised fami- and Reconciliation, organized by the percent from Eritrea. 1916 Centenary event on Saturday, escape the chaos in their own country, lies and built new communities. Dublin government following the IRA and find a better life for themselves and It was a very powerful and moving ex- But Europe is not alone in taking them September 26 at 7 PM at Cedar cessation of August 1994. their children – just takes my breath perience to view the treasured posses- all in. There are two million in Turkey, Cottage Neighbourhood Pub lo- away. He is a leading member of the Sinn Féin sions they carried with them and to learn a million in Lebanon, a million in Jor- cated at 3728 Clark Drive in Van- dan, 250,000 in Iraq. That means that negotiations team and has been cen- The Irish are no strangers to these how so many went on to become suc- one in four people in Lebanon is a refu- couver. trally involved in the party’s dialogue scenes....it wasn’t that long ago they cess stories in their new homeland. gee. with the Dublin government and British faced hatred, fear, and discrimination The guest speaker Pat Doherty is the Engraved on a bronze plaque and government. with signs in the new world reading “no MP for West Tyrone and his address mounted inside the lower level of the Chancellor Angela Merkel has an- dogs or Irish.” will be followed with live music. Pat has travelled extensively for the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty is a nounced that Germany is willing to take up to 800,000 this year and has opened party in relation to conflict resolution and Hundreds of thousands died of hunger sonnet by American poet Emma Lazarus Pat Doherty was born in Glasgow of its borders to accept hundreds of thou- has met with senior politicians in both and undertook perilous journeys across (1849–1887), written in 1883. Irish emigrant parents, both originally sands of those fleeing conflict and de- Washington DC and Brussels, seeking oceans to survive. from Donegal. support for the Irish peace process. A quote from The New Colossus reads: struction. Here in North America – Canada and “Give me your tired, your poor, your He moved back to live in Donegal in On Sunday, September 6, Pope Francis Pat has two offices in the West Tyrone the United States – the very fabric of huddled masses yearning to breathe April 1968 and is married to Mary. They announced that he will give temporary constituency, one in Strabane and one our society is built on immigration. free, the wretched refuse of your teem- have five children. in Omagh, and travels throughout the ing shore. Send these, the homeless, housing in the Vatican to at least two In the past we have been global leaders refugee families and asked that every Pat was elected as Assembly member constituency on a daily basis. tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp be- reaching out to those in need of refuge. European parish, monastery, and shrine for West Tyrone in the 1998 elections side the golden door!” He also travels to London on a weekly It is hard to understand how closed we do the same. and served as an MLA until 2012. basis lobbying for constituents and also have become and how hardened to the Many of us owe our very existence to “Faced with the tragedy of tens of thou- He was elected MP for West Tyrone in to set out Sinn Féin’s opposition to Tory suffering of others. the strength and courage of these sur- sands of refugees fleeing war, death, the 2001 Westminster election and suc- austerity policies in the north, the case vivors. Most readers of this newspaper are ei- and hunger, who are on their way to- cessfully defended this seat in subse- for Irish unity and the need for a hands- ther immigrants themselves or the chil- Here in Canada, Grosse Île and the Irish ward life’s hope, the Gospel calls us to quent elections. on approach to the political process. dren, grandchildren or descendants of Memorial National Historic Site of be near to the smallest and abandoned,” Pat has played a major role in promot- Admission is by donation with a sug- people who came here to find a new Canada commemorates the tragic the pontiff said. ing and supporting the strategy of the gested donation $10. All proceeds to the beginning. events experienced by the Irish immi- How can we respond to this human peace process. Centenary event. For more information, grants in this country, primarily during call Bernard at (604) 929-7607. A number of years ago I made a visit to the typhoid epidemic of 1847. tragedy that extends far beyond the Ellis Island in New York City where I borders of the Middle East and Europe? heard the stories of the destitute and dis- Thousands of Irish fleeing starvation The answer must lie in each of our own ABOUT OUR COVER ARTIST possessed who found hope for the fu- during the Great Hunger arrived to a hearts. Our cover artist this month is John Emanuel Shannon who was born in Sheffield, England. Ten years ago he moved to the beautiful islands of Malta where he lives with his son Julian. Although John says he is a latecomer to the world of art, he has always had an interest in fantasy, especially the works of Tolkien and it is from there that he gets most of his inspiration. For more about his work, visit: www.jeshannon.com.

THE CELTIC CONNECTION

ISSUE 24 VOLUME 7 - Established in 1991 #452 - 4111 Hastings Street, Burnaby, B.C. V5C 6T7 Tel: (604) 434-3747 • www.celtic-connection.com Maura De Freitas - Publisher - • E-Mail: [email protected] Catholine Butler - Advertising - • E-Mail: [email protected] Colleen Carpenter - Copy Editor • Ainsley Baldwin - Ad Production Distribution: Arlyn Lingat • Alison Moore • Linda Robb • Kathy Griffin and Frank Dudfield in Surrey • Neville Thomas in Burnaby & Coquitlam • Eifion Williams in Burnaby & Coquitlam • Gabriel Clark in Coquitlam & Port Moody • Joanne Long in Mission • Bill Duncan in Maple Ridge • Nanci Spieker and Heather Murphy in Seattle • Oliver Grealish in Edmonton. Published 10 times per year. Unsolicited submissions welcome but will not be returned. Please retain a copy for your files. Contents copyright 2015 The Celtic Connection. Opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of the publisher but rather a reflection of voices within the community. All correspondence must include a name, address and telephone number. Canada Post Canadian Publications Agreement 40009398 SEPTEMBER 2015 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 3 QUOTE OF THE MONTH Simple headstone unveiled The Stolen Child [WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS (13 June Where dips the rocky highland 1865 – 28 January 1939) was an Irish poet and one of the foremost figures of on anniversary of poet’s death Of Sleuth Wood in the lake, 20th Century literature. The former professor of poetry at Ox- There lies a leafy island DERRY – A headstone for ford University said The Gravel Walks Where flapping herons wake A pillar of both the Irish and British liter- focused on heavy work as well as the ary establishments, he was a driving Seamus Heaney’s grave, The drowsy water rats; “paradoxical sense of lightness” when force behind the Irish Literary Revival. inscribed with a quotation There we’ve hid our faery vats, Along with Lady Gregory, Edward lifting heavy things. It also alludes to a Full of berries Martyn, and others, founded the Abbey from one of his poems, popular traditional Irish reel of the same and of reddest stolen cherries. Theatre in Dublin, where he served as has been unveiled just name. its chief during its early years. Come away, O human child! “I like the in-betweenness of up and ahead of the second an- down, of being on the earth and of the To the waters and the wild In 1923, he was awarded the Nobel Prize niversary of his death. heavens,” he added. With a faery, hand in hand, in Literature as the first Irishman so hon- oured for what the Nobel Committee For the world’s more full of weeping The inscription is a line from “I think that’s where poetry should described as “inspired poetry, which in dwell, between the dream world and the than you can understand. a highly artistic form gives expression Heaney’s poem The Gravel given world, because you don’t just – By William Butler Yeats to the spirit of a whole nation.”] Walks, which he used in his 1995 want photography, and you don’t want Nobel prize acceptance speech. fantasy either.” NOBEL laureate Irish poet Seamus Heaney died two It reads: “Walk on air against Professor Fran Brearton, director of the Irish Famine museum puts records years ago at the age of 74. your better judgement.” Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's He was awarded the Nobel Prize University Belfast (QUB), said it was of the Great Hunger online a line that referenced his early work HAMDEN, CT – The Ire- The database officially launched with for Literature “for works of lyri- about digging in his native home. a December 16, 1848 sketch from The cal beauty and ethical depth, which land’s Great Hunger Museum Illustrated London News depicting a exalt everyday miracles and the She explained: "It is about being able to at Quinnipiac University in starving family that had been dragged living past.” see beyond your moment, he says it is Hamden, Conneticut has from its cottage and forced to spend a reminder to himself about what po- Christmas in a hole, burrowed in the Heaney previously explained why he etry can do.” launched a digital database of ground “like otters and snipes.” chose the quotation to include in his materials relating to Ireland Nobel acceptance lecture, as the Irish Heaney passed away in August of 2013 The museum acquired the volumes of News reports. at the age of 74, and is buried in and its devastating famine of the pictorial newspapers from Kennys Bellaghy, Co. Derry which was his birth- 1845 to 1852. Bookshop and Art Gallery in Galway. “A person from Northern Ireland is place and the inspiration for much of naturally cautious,” he said. his early work. The new database offers students, Four scholars from the museum worked scholars, historians, and interested for over a year to ready the scans for “You grew up vigilant because it’s a di- He was laid to rest in St. Mary’s Par- members of the Irish diaspora free ac- public viewing. vided society. My poetry on the whole ish churchyard in a quiet corner beneath cess to over 1,500 articles and illustra- Learn more about the Ireland’s Great was earth hugging, but then I began to a sycamore tree. look up rather than keep down. tions. Hunger Museum, the world’s largest His grave has attracted hundreds of visi- THE INSCRIPTION on the They include excerpts from illustrated collection of visual art, artifacts and “I think it had to do with a sense that tors – many travelling from overseas newspapers and publications such as printed materials relating to the Irish headstone is a line from the marvellous was as permissible as to pay their respects. The Illustrated London News, Punch, Famine, by clicking online at: http:// Seamus Heaney’s poem The the matter-of-fact in poetry.” The Pictorial Times and The Graphic. ighm.nfshost.com. Gravel Walks. PAGE 4 www.celtic-connection.com SEPTEMBER 2015 Great Celtic music line-up for the Rogue fall season

also the birthplace of our next guest ANCOUVER – performer, Connie Kaldor, whose new Where did Au- CD Love Sask. gust go? Seems Connie returns to The Rogue after a six year absence from these climes. Vlike months By STEVE She was one of the pioneering Cana- since I was at the Ed- EDGE dian songwriting women who followed on from Joni Mitchell and revitalized monton Folk Music the music scene in the Seventies and Festival – but was less THE ROGUE Eighties and beyond. than six weeks. Yet Au- FOLK CLUB She is also one of the most entertaining and downright funny performers you will gust seems to have gone ever see! long conversations with all and sundry. by in a blur – or at least a I first saw her at Expo 86 – when she The event was a beautiful, loving trib- added Spirit of the West to her back- heat haze! ute to a wheelchair-bound woman – one ing band when they couldn’t get a gig of whose last wishes was to share a at the Folklife Pavilion for love or This year’s Edmonton affair featured Finbar Furey concert with her family but two Irish bands (last year there money, due to some very short-sighted and friends – and the music lovers of programming – and I’ve been a fan of were dozens!) Dublin band Lynched Vancouver. made their Canadian debut and they hers ever since! were mightily impressive. Finbar spent a long time hunched over She’s played 12 times at The Rogue her after the show, deep in conversa- down the days, and we can’t wait to The first song I heard them sing was tion and further enhancing the experi- The Tri-Coloured House – from their hear her new songs – and those great ence and underlying the emotion of the tales of prairie life. album Cold Old Fire. occasion. Two guitar masters – Ontario’s Don Instantly recognizable for its common The Rogue launches the fall season with Child ballad roots with Simon and Ross and England’s Jon Gomm – a rare concert featuring Scots guitarist, come to The Rogue on September 27. Garfunkel’s Parsley Sage Rosemary songwriter and activist Dick Gaughan. & Time this version ran for over nine His last show here was in 2009. Don often describes his music as “heavy minutes and was utterly compelling. wood” and both these players use per- LEGENDARY fiddler Kevin Burke will make a return to the Sadly, his visit to B.C. was cut short cussive fretwork to great effect. I picked up a copy of the album in the due to immigration problems at Edin- Rogue with his `Naked Fiddle`concert on October 4. CD tent at the first opportunity! burgh and he had to cancel his two Don grew up in Montreal, and his Scots Lynched features Dublin brothers shows on Vancouver Island. father was an opera singer and bag- Daragh and Ian Lynch on guitar and piper! fiddle, with uilleann piper Cormac Luckily for us he will be playing at St. MacDiarmada and singer Radie James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue) Luckily for us, his sister introduced him Peat. on Saturday, September 12. to the guitar and he has become one of the most celebrated guitarists on the It is hard to imagine a band so distinc- Dick is best known as a solo performer, planet, with a succession of brilliant tively Dublin as this! The songs are al- indeed his 1980 album Handful Of CDs and mind-blowing live perform- ternately amusing and rivettingly trad, Earth was voted “Album of the Mil- ances to his credit. but with a refreshing approach and the lennium” by the readers of British maga- thickest Dublin accents this side of, well, zine fRoots, but he also starred in such Like Don, Blackpool’s Jon Gomm The Dubliners! Or perhaps Damien hugely influential bands as Boys of the adapted rock anthems to the acoustic Dempsey. Lough, 5 Hand Reel, and Clan Alba. guitar and has just released his third CD, Live In The Acoustic Asylum. The other Irish band was I Draw Slow, Since then he has recorded many fine albums, featuring an increasing number We are delighted to present his first a sort of Irish Americana combo, led th by siblings Louise and Dave Holden. of original songs which reflect his view Vancouver concert – and Don’s 25 of these troubled times and champion Rogue show! I’d seen them at Folk Alliance in Kan- the cause of the downtrodden and dis- VAN MORRISON was welcomed home to his native Belfast in sas City in February but this was a more Another treat for fans of Irish music is advantaged (that’s most of us, I guess. the return of Bothy Band and Patrick August where he performed for 3,000 fans on Cyprus Avenue. prolonged exposure and they were ex- With 1% owning 99% of everything). cellent. Street fiddler Kevin Burke, who now So his songs resonate with passion and lives in Portland. They have three CDs to their name, rail against injustice. Underpinned with the latest being White Wave Chapel. He was raised in London, but his fam- Van Morrison’s his stunning voice and incredible guitar ily travelled to Ireland for summer holi- Theirs are mostly original songs, with work, a Dick Gaughan concert is a re- the occasional trad or old time song days and he was fortunate to have a markable occasion and could change wonderfully open-minded violin teacher added for good measure. Their sound your life! 70th birthday gigs is appealing and catchy, a lovely blend as a child. of Americana and Irish roots. The following Saturday, September Jessie Christopherson encouraged 19, Vancouver Celtic quartet Oysterband and Finbar Furey played him to play all sorts of music, but real- entertains thousands Blackthorn launch a fine new CD, ised that his first love was Irish fiddle at The Rogue the following week. Two Open Skies, at the same venue. BELFAST – Van Morrison gave the six-time Grammy award win- sold-out shows in rather extreme heat! music, especially that played by ner a standing ovation. The album showcases the powerful fid- Michael Coleman (“that man finds has celebrated his 70th birth- The Oysters were in fine form, and dle of Rosie Carver and the sparkling the soul of his instrument,” she said, day with once-in-a-lifetime Opening songs included classics rated it their favourite gig on their Ca- voice and flute of Michelle Carlisle, introducing young Master Burke to the concerts on the east Belfast Moondance, Brown Eyed Girl and nadian tour – which was very gratify- with Tim Renaud and Michael Viens notion of instruments with soul). Baby Please Don’t Go. ing to hear. street he immortalised in his adding their voices and multiple instru- Kevin certainly has found the soul of Politicians, playwrights, screen actors As was the audience sing-along at the mental skills to the infectious mix. his violin, too! masterpiece Astral Weeks. and fellow musicians were among those end, when the band moved in front of who braved the weather for the special My favourite tracks are Andy M His concert – The Naked Fiddle of Three thousand fans squeezed into Cy- their mics to play Put Out The Lights Stewart’s Queen Of Argyll, Jolly prus Avenue – the “avenue of trees” birthday concerts. on acoustic instruments. Kevin Burke – is at The Rogue at St. Rovin’ Tar, and the instrumental med- James Hall on Sunday, October 4. as he called it in the seminal album – The recently-knighted genre-defying Dublin piper and songwriter Finbar leys that follow them and those that for two intimate shows in the epicen- singer and multi-instrumentalist was Furey was in irrepressible form two stand alone as testament to the variety “With the great popularity of various tre of his homeland. born close to Cyprus Avenue, in a small nights later. and quality of their collective musician- groups over the last 25 years or so, two-up two-down on Hyndford Street, ship. many people have forgotten that this Hundreds travelled from dozens of coun- on August 31, 1945. It was not easy to cut through his strong kind of music used to be played mainly tries for what had become a pilgrim- accent at times, and he rarely played There’s also a moving slow air – and a solo. age, since the gigs were first announced A brass plaque marks the house he the pipes or whistle, but it was ex- faster tune – dedicated to one of their last year. shared with his mother Violet and his tremely moving to see all those Irish late band members, Dianne Foster. “The bands, groups and accompanists father George, who worked as an elec- are a relatively recent development… Tickets which quickly sold out with a trician at the nearby Harland and Wolff faces enraptured to be witnessing the Tunes and songs from Quebec add to face value between £50 and £80 traded great man in their adopted home so far so I thought it would be interesting to shipyard. the mix, and there’s even a Portuguese let people hear the ‘naked’ fiddle once on online auction sites for up to £400. away from Ireland, playing the music ceilidh tune! He once described the much more af- they had grown up with. more,” he says. Despite the heavens opening for a del- The title track was written by Carlisle See you down the Rogue! fluent, 85-tree lined Cyprus Avenue up uge of rain at the start of his first show the road as “a very mystical place” and After the show he was more than as a tribute to her home province of Steve at 3 PM, poncho-covered devotees happy to pose for photos and engage in Saskatchewan, which coincidentally is somewhere “where I could think.” SEPTEMBER 2015 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 5

BLACKTHORN members are Rosie Carver on fiddle and vocals; Tim Renaud on vocals, bass, bodhran and octave-mandolin; Michael Viens on vocals, guitars, bodhran and harmonica; and Michelle Carlisle on vocals, flutes, piccolo, whistles and fife. Popular Celtic folk group Blackthorn release a new album By CATHOLINE BUTLER Michael grew up in the historic settle- Fans of the popular Celtic folk ment of Maillardville in Coquitlam, B.C., where French is still spoken. He con- group Blackthorn will be de- tinues to perform there regularly as a lighted to learn about the re- Voyageur canoe guide. lease of their new album Finally, Michelle and Rosie each com- Open Skies. posed a tribute to their band mate Dianne Foster, who sadly passed away The band has four albums to their in 2008. These instrumentals are Song credit, with the last one released for Dianne and Mad Dog. in 2008, and now the wait is over. Blackthorn are like fine wine....they get The new CD offers 12 tracks of better every year. traditional and original music. Everyone is invited to hear Blackthorn Blackthorn has been entertaining audi- live and enjoy the exciting music from ences of all ages for 26 years. this new album at their CD release party on Saturday, September 19. It will be Formed in Vancouver in 1989, the French Canadian flavour mixed with a held at 8 PM at St. James Hall, 3214 band’s extensive repertoire is rooted in bit of Scottish spice. West 10th Avenue in Vancouver. the music traditions of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England and French Canada. As well as being a bass player, Tim sings Tickets $20 ($16 members) and avail- Andy M. Stewart’s Queen of Argyle able at The Rogue Folk Club, (604) 736- Lively jigs and reels, with toe-tapping and is the singer/guitarist on the Irish 3022. Other locations include Highlife and hand-clapping choruses, feature classic P Stands for Paddy. Records, Prussin Music, Red Cat alongside soulful ballads and some of Records and Rufus Guitar Shop and their own creative original compositions. Michael’s heritage is represented by two songs where he is featured, Rattlin’ www.roguefolk.bc.ca. Blackthorn consists of four talented Roarin’ Willie, a Robbie Burns song, Space is limited, so get your tickets early musicians, three of whom share lead and in French, V’la l’bon vent. to avoid disappointment. vocals with all expertly proficient in a variety of instruments. Members are Rosie Carver on fiddle and vocals; Tim Renaud on vocals, bass, bodhran and octave-mandolin; Michael Viens on vocals, guitars, bodhran and harmonica; and Michelle Carlisle on vocals, flutes, piccolo, whistles and fife. In true Blackthorn tradition all four musicians contributed their own unique talents to producing this CD. The title track, Open Skies, was writ- ten by Michelle, who was inspired by a Blackthorn tour of her home province of Saskatchewan whose motto is “Land of the Living Skies.” Along with her own composition, Michelle lends her voice to Country Life, an old English favourite; Jolly Rovin Tar, a rollicking sailor song; and the beautiful and timeless, Loch Lo- mond, accompanied by their good friend Jim McWilliams on bagpipes. In an impressive arrangement, McWilliams also plays a pipe set called Bonnets Aflame. Rosie provided the beautiful and col- ourful cover artwork. She also does some fancy fiddling on the Mouth of the Tobique set, which contains some PAGE 6 www.celtic-connection.com SEPTEMBER 2015 A grand tour around the country despite the soggy weather

POSTCARD FROM BOURNEMOUTH

CILLA BLACK died on August 1, 2015 after a fall in her Span- ish villa. In 2013 she celebrated 50 years in show business and British television network ITV honoured this milestone with By an entertainment special called The One & Only Cilla Black. ELFAN JONES BOURNEMOUTH – CAFÉ BRITANNIA located in the former Britannia Barracks with spectacular views over Norwich is a social enterprise of- Singer Cilla Black Greetings from soggy fering training, rehabilitation and employment to current and Bournemouth, where ex sex offenders. sales of umbrellas are was ‘Liverpool’s The Railway Children (1906) and I am The House of Lords has again been in reaching their seasonal sure that on two occasions the engine the news beginning with a juicy scan- driver saw me bending over a putt be- dal, starring Baron John Sewel. daughter’ average and bewildered fore tooting the whistle, making me miss a three footer. Lord Sewel of Gilcomstoun who was families are wondering responsible for “overseeing standards” IVERPOOL, UK why on earth they didn’t I stayed the night in Norwich, an an- in the House of Lords had previously cient and vibrant small city, and in the written that British peers taking a seat – Hundreds of “We...have been go to Spain. morning went to Norwich jail for break- in the House of Lords obeyed “the fans lined the deeply touched by fast seven principles of public life” – these In the last four weeks I have vis- being integrity, honesty, openness, ac- Lcortege route as all the kind mes- ited Wales, Norfolk, Kent, Bir- The restaurant, which is called The countability, selflessness, objectivity and ‘Liverpool’s daughter’ Britannia opened this January. It is run leadership. sages of support mingham and London. Every- as a social enterprise and gives the pris- was brought home to her where I went it was raining, but oners the chance to work within the Ten days after this was published, the from her friends, I was assured that there had kitchen and front of house. married 69-year-old was caught in a sex final resting place. been sunny weather until I ar- sting by journalists from the Sun news- fans, the public The employment helps them gain skills paper. Championed by her friends the Beatles, rived. It has obviously been an and work experience which they need Cilla began her career as a singer in and media.” average British summer. to be more employable, giving them an A video shows the life peer wearing a 1963, and her singles Anyone Who alternative to returning to crime on re- red bra and snorting cocaine through a Had a Heart and You’re My World My few days in the north coast of Nor- lease from prison. five pound note, off the breasts of two both reached number one in the UK in pressed the Beatles and others. folk were very enjoyable despite the £200 a night prostitutes. Cardiff prison started the scheme in 1964. She was encouraged to begin singing weather. 2012, with a quaintly named restaurant You really couldn’t make it up could by a Liverpool promoter, Sam Leach, Black had 11 Top Ten hits on the Brit- who booked her first gig at the Casa- I stayed two nights with friends in called The Clink and several other pris- you? ish charts between then and 1971. In Blakeney, a coastal village which is a ons have taken up the idea in the last nova Club, on London Road, where she This has got the media hopping and popular destination for sailors and bird three years. May 2010, new research published by appeared as “Swinging Cilla.” there are many reports that £360,000 watchers. BBC Radio 2 showed that her version It was the first I had heard of the was claimed over the past five years of Anyone Who Had a Heart was the She became a guest singer with the The area is part of a National Nature scheme and on approaching the formi- by members of the Upper House sim- UK’s biggest selling single by a female Merseybeat bands Rory Storm and the reserve and presumably, when it stops dable building confess to being a trifle ply for turning up to claim their £300 a artist in the Sixties. Hurricanes, Kingsize Taylor and the raining, is stunningly beautiful. It was nervous, not helped by my Irish friend day without participating in any vote or Dominoes and, later, with the Big Three. Along with a successful recording ca- pleasantly dry inside The Kings Arms, Kieran’s comment “I hope the poisoner debate. Meanwhile, she worked as a waitress which is a damn good, traditional 18th isn’t working in the kitchen this morn- reer in the Sixties and early Seventies, There is a catalogue of abuse by the at the Zodiac coffee lounge, where she Century pub in the middle of the vil- ing.” Black hosted her own variety show, peers Lord Hanning, Lord Taylor, Lord later met her future husband Bobby lage. Cilla, for the BBC between 1968 and I need not have worried, the full Eng- Paul, Baroness Uddin, Lord Truscott, 1976. Willis. My pleasure was enhanced when the lish breakfast of bacon and eggs, local Lord Mackenzie, all caught fiddling in After a brief time as a comedy actress She was featured in an article in the landlord greeted me in Welsh and sev- sausages, mushrooms, baked beans etc. one way or another. first edition of the local music newspa- eral happy hours were spent propping etc, was a classic cardiac arrest spe- in the mid-Seventies, she became a The government’s response is today per Mersey Beat by the paper’s pub- up the bar calculating how Wales will cial. So, if you are in Norwich, go to prominent television presenter in the they have appointed an additional 45 lisher, Bill Harry, who mistakenly re- win the forthcoming rugby World Cup. jail. Eighties and Nineties, hosting hit enter- new members to the House of Lords. ferred to her as Cilla Black, rather than I do believe in miracles. tainment shows such as Blind Date Whilst on the subject of people who are her real surname, White. She then took That should fix it! (1985-2003) and Surprise Surprise Near Blakeney is Burnham Market, and in jail, this brings me to a group of peo- the name Black as part of her stage Happy Days (1984-2001). if you are ever in this area then go there ple who are not in jail, but some of them name. Elfan because it is a little gem of a town. certainly deserve to be. In 2013, Black celebrated her 50 years in show business. British television net- Cilla died accidentally at 72-years of age Visit the various galleries and enjoy the work ITV honoured this milestone with on August 1, 2015 after a fall in her villa individuality of the small shops dotted a one-off entertainment special which in Estepona, Spain. around the main street, and afterwards aired on October 16, 2013. Her three sons, Robert, Ben and Jack, rest a while at the Hoste Spa Hotel, The show, called The One & Only Cilla brought her body back to her native Liv- which in days gone by was a regular erpool for burial. watering hole of Norfolk’s favourite son Black, featured Black herself and was Lord Nelson. hosted by Paul O’Grady. In a statement, they said, “We are dev- Cilla was born Priscilla Maria Veronica astated by the sad loss of our mother, Today this elegant Georgian building is but have been deeply touched by all the the favourite haunt of the well-heeled White in Liverpool and her parents were John Patrick White and Priscilla kind messages of support from her “London Set” that own weekend friends, fans, the public and media. homes in the area. Blythen. “We would like to thank everyone, es- The next morning it was onwards to She had a Welsh grandfather, Joseph Henry Blythen, who was born in pecially the people of Liverpool. The Sheringham Golf Club, to be treated to tributes and condolences have really a birthday game of golf by another pal. Wrexham, and Irish great-grandparents on both her father’s and mother’s sides helped us through these difficult times.” The sun appeared as if by magic and of the family. Cilla was laid to rest in a private cer- as the course follows the coast, the emony at Allerton Cemetery alongside scenery was majestic. Determined to become an entertainer, Cilla White gained a part-time job as a her parents following a funeral mass at On one side the North Sea and on the cloakroom attendant at Liverpool’s Cav- St. Mary’s Church in Woolton. LORD SEWEL of Gilcomstoun who was responsible for “over- other the North Norfolk steam railway ern Club, best known for its connection The following day, the compilation al- which chuffed its way the 16 miles be- seeing standards” in the British House of Lords has resigned with the Beatles. bum The Very Best of Cilla Black went tween Sheringham and Holt. after a tabloid exposé showing him snorting cocaine and ca- Her impromptu performances im- to number one on the UK Albums Chart; It is straight out of Edith Nesbit’s book vorting with prostitutes. it was her first number one album. SEPTEMBER 2015 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 7 Shoreham Air Show plane crash: Pilot was too low says official report LONDON – On August 22 thousands were gathered at the Shoreham Airshow in Shoreham-by-Sea to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. At 1:20 PM the scene turned to horror as a vintage 1950s Hawker Hunter plane crashed into a busy A27 bypass, hitting at least four cars – including a wedding limousine. Eleven people were killed and 16 oth- ers injured in the worst air show disas- ter in the UK since the 1952 Farnbor- ough air show crash, which killed 31 people. THE crash which killed 11 people and injured 16 is the worst The aircraft, a Hawker Hunter T7, air show disaster in the UK since 1952. failed to complete a loop maneuvre and crashed onto vehicles on the A27 trunk road. Air Accidents Investigation Branch has ing the display line at an angle of about now published interim report into the 45 degrees. The 51-year-old former RAF pilot Andy crash showing the pilot began his fatal Hill survived the crash, and was placed loop-the-loop hundreds of feet lower “The aircraft then pitched up into a in a medically-induced coma and is now than his licence allowed. maneuver with both a vertical compo- in stable condition. nent and roll to the left. During the de- Hill began the maneuver at 200 feet scent the aircraft accelerated and the As a result of the accident, all Hawker when he was licensed by the Civil Avia- nose was raised but the aircraft did not Hunter aircraft in the UK were tion Authority to perform such achieve level flight before it struck the grounded, and restrictions were put in maneuvers at 500 feet and above. westbound carriageway of the A27.” place on civilian vintage jet aircraft dis- plays over land, limiting them to flypasts The AAIB report said, “The aircraft … An inquest into the deaths was opened and banning high energy aerobatic commenced a descending left turn to and adjourned at a hearing in Horsham maneuvers. 200 feet above mean sea level approach- on September 2. PAGE 8 www.celtic-connection.com SEPTEMBER 2015 The Year of the Canadians

DINBURGH – A Hill and its ‘Edinburgh’s Folly’, the un- wise man once finished National Monument of Scot- land modelled on the Parthenon in told me that he Greece. E didn’t realize how And it was soon obvious that the ‘Ath- many cyclists ens of the North’ was playing host to there were until he started cy- By an incredible array of talent from the cling. HARRY Great White North. The reception fea- McGRATH tured acrobats from Quebec City, In other words, you often only notice clowns from Red Deer and a brass en- VIEW of Calton Hill with the unfinished National Monument of things when you are consciously look- semble from Montreal, among others. Scotland modelled on the Parthenon in Greece, otherwise ing for them. joined by WestJet who have a new sum- known as ‘Edinburgh’s Folly’. mer flight from Halifax to Glasgow. Elsewhere in the city, one of the major For several years I have wandered the attractions of the entire festival was the streets of Edinburgh during the festival The new flights have been the benefi- world premiere of French-Canadian Finally, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival University and other Canadians and period keeping an eye open for Cana- ciary of some interesting Canadian ini- playwright Robert LePage’s 887 which hosted over 30 Canadian acts in com- Vancouver indie folk-rock band Dan dians, but even my state of raised con- tiatives and at least one happy coinci- explored memory and identity from 1960 edy, theatre, music, cabaret, dance and Mangan + Blacksmith played at the sciousness didn’t yield much success. dence. to the October crisis. circus. Oran Mor in the west end of the city earlier in the summer. However, that seems to be changing. The year began with the Bicentennial Another was Canadian poet Ann Back at the rooftop garden, we were Pushing my way through the crowds of Sir John A. Macdonald, a major re- Carson’s translation of Sophokles’s being plied with Canadian wine, bathed The WestJet promotion for its new flight on the Royal Mile recently, I spotted a ception in Glasgow where he was born, Antigone which starred Juliette in sunshine (to everyone’s astonish- to Glasgow used the slogan ‘Aye, let’s number of Canada hockey sweaters, and a consequent rise in media interest Binoche. ment) and entertained by a brass en- go’ and that appears to be what many various other forms of NHL regalia and around Scotland/Canada connections in semble from Montreal called Buzz. Canadians decided to do in 2015. general. Montreal’s Julie Favreau and Calgary’s a flutter of Maple Leaf flags attached Derek Michael Besant represented Their flyers said that they present ‘a A second happy coincidence should help to passing backpacks. There was a second foregathering in Canada at the Edinburgh Art Festival fabulous theatrical odyssey that travels sustain the momentum. There is al- Glasgow a few months later to cel- through space and time at a thrilling ready some anticipation in Scotland con- Apart from the long Canadian tradition with Favreau commissioned to present th of sporting maple leafs to distinguish ebrate the launch of the new WestJet a new film installation at the Scottish tempo to explore the music of the West- cerning Canada’s 150 anniversary (or themselves from you know who, the flight which also got some media atten- National Gallery of Modern Art. ern world from pre-historic times to the sesquicentennial) in 2017. tion. present day.’ most obvious reason for this visible Ca- There were concerts by Angela Hewitt, While the main focus of the celebra- nadian presence is the recent increase And just last month the Canadian High Chilly Gonzalez and the St. Lawrence And so they did. The evening ended on tions will be attracting people to Canada, in ways to get to the auld country. Commission in London and La String Quartet at the Edinburgh Inter- a surreal note with Buzz blasting the there’s an obvious opportunity for Scot- For the last few years, the tour opera- Délégation générale du Québec à national Festival. theme tune from ‘Hockey Night in land to emphasize its own connection. tor Canadian Affair has been plucking Londres hosted a reception in Edin- Canada’ across the rooftops of the an- The book festival featured Canadian cient city of Edinburgh. Canada’s first prime minister was born people from Canadian cities and depos- burgh to celebrate Canadian content in in Glasgow; the second in Logierait in the Edinburgh festivals. authors Sean Michaels, Kathleen Win- iting them in Glasgow. ter, Rachel Cusk and Moira Young, and Canadian content at the Edinburgh fes- Perthshire. The Canadian health serv- Two years ago Canada Rouge intro- The latter reception was held on the readings by three Innu poets: Joséphine tivals is, of course, only part of the story. ice can trace its origins to Falkirk where duced a seasonal flight from Toronto to rooftop garden of an Edinburgh hotel Bacon, Natasha Kanapé Fontaine and Tommy Douglas was born. Who Glasgow hosted the World Pipe Band wouldn’t want to take a Canadian Edinburgh. And this year they’ve been which stands in the shadow of Calton Naomi Fontaine. Championships including Simon Fraser sesquicentennial tour of Scotland? Delta Police Pipe Band Police Scotland Plays the Okanagan Military Tattoo Chief Constable By COLIN ABEL DELTA, BC – The Delta Po- to step down early lice Pipe Band traveled to STIRLING – Sir Stephen House Vernon on the weekend of has announced his intention to step July 25 and 26 to play in the down as chief constable of Police second annual Okanagan Scotland by the end of 2015 – a Military Tattoo. year earlier than planned. A total of 500 performers took The move follows a series of high-pro- file incidents which saw the police chief part in the festivities which con- come under growing pressure and fac- sisted of performances on Satur- ing calls to resign. POLICE Scotland Chief Con- day night and Sunday afternoon. PHOTO: Jim Provost House told a meeting of the Scottish THE Delta Police Pipe Band will perform in the Netherlands stable Sir Stephen House. Other pipe bands taking part were from Police Authority (SPA) in Stirling, “The Military Tattoo this September, celebrating the 70th anniversary the Winnipeg Police, Kamloops, dilemma is that as the leader of a na- of the liberation of Holland by Canadian forces.The band is But the force has been hit by a series Kelowna and Vernon. tional organisation that provides a vital honoured to be the only Canadian pipe band invited to this public service 24 hours a day, every day of controversies since. Military brass bands included the Van- prestigious event. of the year, there is never going to be a It came under fire following the M9 couver Navy Veterans Band, The Royal convenient time to move on. collision in July in which Lamara Bell Canadian Artillery Band, the 15th Field played in the opening and closing cer- The Delta Police Pipe Band is led by “But after nearly 35 years as a police (25), and John Yuill (28), died. The cou- Artillery Regiment and various cadet emonies and also played a 10 minute Pipe Major Craig Moffatt and Drum officer, with the last nine as a chief con- ple spent three days in their crashed car organizations. Scottish and Irish danc- solo performance which featured their Major Moe Coll. The regimental danc- stable in Scotland, I believe the time is after a call to police was not properly ers, the RCMP Ceremonial Troop and own regimental dancers. ers are led by piper Jim Wishlove. right for me to try and take up new chal- logged, prompting the chief constable to issue an apology to their families. many other acts rounded out the cast. As usual, the regimental dancers In September the band will travel to lenges and also to allow the start of a process to recruit my successor.” The Delta Police Pipe Band was the brought the house down with their per- Rotterdam, Holland to play in the Neth- The force has also faced criticism over lead pipe band during the tattoo and formance. erlands Military Tattoo. The tattoo is He told the meeting, “I’d like to take issues such as its stop and search tac- celebrating the 70th anniversary of the the opportunity also to pay proper trib- tics and an investigation by the Police liberation of Holland by Canadian ute to the men and women of Police Investigations and Review Commis- forces. Scotland who deserve all the recogni- sioner (PIRC) over the death of 31- tion and who deserve recognition from year-old Sheku Bayoh in custody. The Delta Police Pipe Band is honoured the public for all that they do. to be the only pipe band from Canada Referring to these cases, House said, to be invited to this prestigious event. “I’m immensely proud to be the first “What I want to say is that every death chief constable of Police Scotland and quite clearly is a tragedy for the fami- During the band’s individual perform- to lead the men and women in it, but lies and the friends of the victims.” ance, a video will be shown on the big for me the time has come to move on, He added, “I want to give my sincere screen of band members’ fathers, un- to take up new opportunities.” commitment that where mistakes have cles and other family members who As former chief constable of Strath- been made, we will learn from those were part of the Canadian forces in clyde Police, House oversaw the amal- mistakes, and any recommendations Holland in 1945. gamation of Scotland’s eight regional which will improve the performance of It will be a great honour for the band to police forces into the single national Police Scotland in relation to incidents represent Delta, British Columbia and force, which came into being in April like this will be taken on board without Canada at this tattoo. 2013. question.” SEPTEMBER 2015 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 9 Queen attends landmark Braemar Gathering BRAEMAR, Scotland – The Queen The Queen first attended the Braemar made her annual visit to open the Brae- Royal Highland Gathering as a seven- mar Gathering – the biggest event in year-old child in 1933. She has attended Scotland’s Highland Games calendar. virtually every year since coming to the throne in 1952. The event is held a short distance from the Royals’ summer retreat on the Bal- As she arrived the announcer reminded moral estate in Aberdeenshire and this the crowds that in a few days her reign year’s gathering marks the 200th anni- would be the longest of any British king versary of the society which runs it. or queen. The crowds in Braemar cel- ebrated the fact, just as many more About 17,000 spectators were expected elsewhere in the country will do in com- to cheer on competitors in the tossing ing days. of the caber and tug-of-war contests. The Queen was accompanied by the She may be just a few days short of Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles and claiming Queen Victoria’s record for the her eldest grandson Peter Phillips, and longest reign in British history but this his wife Autumn. Queen is not going to be diverted from QUEEN ELIZABETH II at the her regular routine. Queen Victoria first attended Braemar Braemar Gathering on Sun- in 1848 and since then it has been regu- And so on a sunny September after- day, September 6. She has larly visited by the reigning monarch and noon in the Scottish Highlands, the other members of the royal family. attended virtually every year Queen watched cabers being tossed, since coming to the throne in hammers being thrown and tug of wars Braemar Royal Highland Charity, which 1952. Her reign would be the being contested, all to the strains of the organises the event, said, “Every gath- longest of any British king or dozen pipe bands attending the Gather- ering is a memorable occasion and that queen. ing. of 2015 will be no exception.” Alberta dancer first-runner up at Highland dance championships CALGARY – A young dancer from Okotoks, Al- berta is celebrating a great showing at the World High- land Dance Championships in Scotland. Seventeen-year-old Melissa Carnegie took home the first runner-up trophy at the dance championships, finishing second among a field of 100 competitors in her age group. “It’s pretty cool,” she said. “There have been a lot of high quality dancers from Calgary and it’s nice to be part of that.” The competition comes just a few weeks after Carnegie finished in top spot at the Canadian championships in London, Ontario. It’s part of carrying on a long family tradition: her mom is a piper and Highland dancer, and her grandmother made kilts and helped run a pipe band. “It’s fantastic,” said Carnegie’s long-time dance teacher, Laureen Geib. “It’s nice to see a girl that works so hard at her craft do so well.” SEVENTEEN-year-old Melissa Carnegie starts classes in September at the University of Calgary, hoping her Carnegie took home the first kinesiology studies will lead to a career as a physiotherapist. runner-up trophy at the dance But she’s by no means hanging up her dancing shoes, she’s planning on com- championships, finishing sec- peting again next year in the adult category at the world championships in Scot- ond among a field of 100 com- land. petitors in her age group. Majority of voters back British exit from EU according to poll LONDON – A shock poll According to Survation, the margin in favour of leaving could grow if the mi- has suggested that a ma- grant crisis gripping Europe continues, with 22 percent of those who said they jority of voters in the UK would vote to stay indicating they could want Britain to leave the change their minds if the situation wors- European Union. ened. The overall findings run counter to a The Survation poll found that if a refer- string of recent polls which have con- endum was held tomorrow 51 percent sistently shown comfortable majorities would vote to quit the EU against 49 The figures are a blow for in favour of staying in. percent who would vote to remain. Prime Minister David Cameron As recently as July, a Survation poll The figures are a blow for the prime who faces a series of votes as gave the “in” camp a 54 to 46 percent minister who faces a series of votes as he tries to steer the EU Refer- advantage. he tries to steer the EU Referendum endum Bill through parliament. Bill through parliament, with Tory back- Politicians will be wary of reading too benchers already angry over his foot- much into one survey, particularly given ping the EU and threats by other heads the closeness of the margin. dragging on agreeing to a purdah pe- of government that the UK needs to riod for the UK Government during the take a quota of refugees from Italy and Nevertheless it is likely to set alarm bells short campaign in the referendum. Hungary if Cameron wants agreement ringing in Downing Street ahead of And the issue has been made more dif- on a new deal for the UK’s member- Cameron’s promised referendum, which ficult with the immigration crisis grip- ship of the EU. must take place before the end of 2017. PAGE 10 www.celtic-connection.com SEPTEMBER 2015 ALL-IRELAND SENIOR HURLING FINAL - SUNDAY, S Kilkenny 1-22 - Galway 1-18

A PROUD DAD holding his GREETING early morning patrons at the door to watch the All- baby son Sean who is wear- WATCHING the hurling final at Doolin’s (L-R) Ciaran, Eimear, Ireland Hurling (L-R) Gerard Mahony, owner/manager at ing a Galway headband. Joan and Nigel. Mahony and Sons Public House at Burrard Landing with host- esses, Emily and Stacey.

By CATHOLINE BUTLER

On Sunday, September 6 many people were just turning over in their beds with the satis- faction of knowing they could sleep a little longer. Meanwhile, another group of die-hard or crazy fans were making their way in the early morning hours to Mahony’s Irish establishment and Doolin’s Irish Pub in downtown Vancouver to watch EARLY morning All-Ireland fans at Doolin’s (L-R) Colm, Jenny, Kristian and Bryan. TWO buddies cheering for different sides (L-R) James for a 7:30 AM live broadcast of the All- Ireland Senior Hurling Final from Croke Galway and Kyle for Kilkenny. Every All-Ireland Kyle sits in the Park in Dublin. same seat at Mahony’s,wearing the same cowboy hat for luck...and it works! The Celtic Connection was also on the road to both establishments. Because the game was being televised at both locations, fans seemed evenly split be- tween both pubs. I noticed early in the game there didn’t seem to be the same intensity or hoopla among the patrons watching the game on the screen as in past hurling finals. It almost seemed a foregone conclu- sion that Kilkenny would win, although Galway supporters were hoping and praying for a better result from their team. It looked good for Galway in the first half but Kilkenny came roaring out in the second half to spoil the party. KILKENNY FANS at Doolin’s (L-R) Michael, Catriona, The Kilkenny Cats made it an incred- Bernadette, Leanne and Carmel. Carmel had her face painted ALL-IRELAND hurling fans at Mahony’s (L-R) Sean, Bernard ible 11 Liam McCarthy Cups in 17 sea- with cat whiskers for Kilkenny. and Paul. sons and the Cats were on top again. You would think that after 11 Liam McCarthy Cups the passion and inten- sity would have dimmed a bit for Kil- kenny manager Brian Cody...but not a bit. The passion and intensity is still there...he is amazing It’s been 27 long and painful years since Galway has lifted the Liam McCarthy and telling the disheartened players and disappointed fans that there’s always next year rings hollow. There is no consolation when the prize was so close. Galway players probably don’t even want to look at the replays or even think about next year. But some year a team will come along to claim the Liam McCarthy from Kilkenny...it’s like the lottery...you just ENJOYING every minute of the game at Doolin’s are Martin never know. ANXIOUS Galway fans at Mahony’s (L-R) [Back] Shane and and Susan. David. [Front] Tracey, Sharon and John. SEPTEMBER 2015 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 11 SEPTEMBER 6, 2015

KILKENNY has been crowned All Ireland Hurling Champions for the 36th time when they saw off the chal- lenge of Galway in Croke Park on Sunday, September 6. Kilkenny were three points in arrears at the break but a powerful second half display saw them retain the Mc Carthy Cup on a 1-22 to 1- GALWAY supporters at Mahony’s, (L-R) [Back] Brian, Derek 18 final scoreline. and Dara. [Front] Justine, Owen, Carol and Carmel. Man who streaked in front of 10,000 Kilkenny fans ordered to do community service KILKENNY – A man who stripped off and streaked in JUBILANT Kilkenny fans at Mahony’s (L-R) Emmet, Kenny and front of 10,000 fans and the Robbie. victorious Kilkenny hurling team has appeared in court. Stephen Clifford, Emmet Street, Kil- kenny ran out onto the pitch wearing only his socks at the Cats Homecom- ing celebrations at Nowlan Park on Monday, September 7. At Kilkenny District Court Clifford en- tered a plea to engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour. He was convicted and ordered to carry out 80 hours of community service in lieu of six weeks in prison. He was also fined EU200 for being intoxicated in a public place. Inspector Joe Carton outlined how Stephen Clifford, Emmet Street, Kil- kenny entered the pitch at Nowlan Park, where there were approximately 10,000 fans present cheering on the All-Ireland GALWAY fans at Mahony’s (L-R) Owen, Anthony and Peter. winning hurling team from the stands. Solicitor Michael Lanigan said that his client had attended the Homecoming and had “too much to drink” and “a colleague dared him to run across the field.” The defendant was quickly appre- hended by gardai and stewards and was arrested and brought to Kilkenny Garda Station. “He had too much to drink and was overcome by exuberance. He wants to apologise to everyone that was present and to the gardai and the court,” said Lanigan. Judge Colin Daly remarked that the defendant would “be better off to tog out and try for the Kilkenny team.” The judge added that he was taking into consideration that the defendant CONCENTRATING on the screen at Doolin’s (L-R) Brian, Brian pleaded guilty at the earliest opportu- and Tommy. nity. PAGE 12 www.celtic-connection.com SEPTEMBER 2015 Margaret Rogers McKay Irish Club of White June 25, 1937 - August 8, 2015 MARGARET ROGERS MCKAY, Margaret was always generous with her Rock’s annual picnic beloved wife of the late Sean time as a volunteer in the local commu- nity. By ANNE BOYLE McKay, passed away peacefully on President, Irish Club of White Rock August 8, 2015, surrounded by her She served on the executive of the Irish WHITE ROCK, BC – On August 9 many members of the Irish Club of White family. Cultural Society and was a member of Rock and the football players and families of the Fraser Valley Gaels got to- the Catholic Women’s League at Our Margaret was born in Dublin, Ireland gether to enjoy a very beautiful Sunday afternoon at Peace Arch Park in sunny Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Van- White Rock. on June 25, 1937 and her family immi- couver. grated from Ireland to Vancouver in This was the fourth annual picnic for the club, and the perfect weather, great 1965. She was also vice-president and enter- food, and wonderful attendance made this picnic our best ever. tainment chair at Royal Canadian Le- MARGARET She worked at the University of Brit- The Irish Club continues to be extremely well supported by the Fraser Valley gion Branch 30 in Kerrisdale eventu- ROGERS McKAY ish Columbia for 34 years starting in the ally becoming president of that legion Gaels football team, and their presence adds such energy to events. maintenance department, eventually until she passed away. She is sadly missed and remembered becoming supervisor. She was promoted fondly by her daughters-in-law, sons- Our average age also goes from about 70 to 40 or even less as there are so many to UBC management and eventually Margaret was a devoted mother to in-law, brother, grandchildren, great- children around. became proctor at the Student Union Peter, Mark, Caroline, Brendan, Dan- grandchildren, extended family and The youngest in attendance baby McCloskey was probably eight months old, and Building on campus. iel, Marion, Shirley and Ailish. many friends. the most senior attendee, Mary McNulty was around 94 years young. Thank you to everyone especially Robert Holland for all his work on the barbeque, and to the other club members who did the shopping or helped with set-up. Mary Ann Meegan Is mise le meas, Anne Boyle September 12, 1928 - August 16, 2015 Crown Zellerbach Pulp and Paper in Ocean Falls, with Jimmy working the dayshift in the mill, and Mary Ann work- ing at night as a custodian. While living in Ocean Falls, Mary Ann began taking insurance courses and by 1970 she was working in insurance part- time while holding down a full-time night shift job at the mill. In 1972 the Meegan family moved to Coquitlam and shortly after settling there Mary Ann founded her own in- surance agency. As a woman, she was a ground-breaker in what was then a IN MEMORY male-dominated industry. OF ED GRIFFIN Mary Ann grew her business and forged Ed Griffin, the powerhouse behind the MARY MCNULTY and baby Lauren – The youngest and the relationships with people in all walks of Surrey International Writers Confer- oldest [left photo]. Connie and Ger Cronin [right photo]. life. She was deeply involved in her ence, passed away in Surrey Memorial MARY ANN MEEGAN church, from organizing formal events Hospital on July 23, 2015. He was 78 MARY ANN MEEGAN, founder of to quietly helping to pay for the funeral years old. Mary Ann Meegan Insurance Agency of a family who couldn’t afford one. Ed had been battling cancer and suf- Ltd. in Coquitam, B.C. passed away on She was also passionate about her her- fered complications from a stroke. the evening of Sunday, August 16. itage and often travelled back to Ire- A former priest, American city coun- Mary Ann, a native of County Louth, land. She took great joy in taking part cillor and social worker, Griffin had a Ireland, was born on September 12, in St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Van- passion for writing. 1928, the youngest of nine children. She couver with many people enjoying her was orphaned at the age of nine, and Irish soda bread and the currant buns In the early 1990s, he went to a writers was subsequently raised by her older she would bake specially for the day. conference in Seattle and thought Sur- rey could easily support such an event. sister, Katie Wynne. Mary Ann left Each year Douglas College presents the school at age 12. Myrna Popove Lifetime Award to a In 1993, he started the first Surrey In- Mary Ann emigrated from Ireland with deserving candidate who is nominated ternational Writers Conference. What her husband Jimmy and their young fam- by the community. In 2014 Mary Ann started out the first year with 100 peo- ily in 1959, settling in Ocean Falls, B.C. was the highly popular choice to receive ple participating, the numbers grew ROBERT HOLLAND - Chef of the day. the award. steadily and now amount to thousands. The couple already had three children – Brigid, Michael and James – and Pe- Always willing to help the less fortu- In 2001, he completed his first book, ter was born a year after their arrival. nate, Mary Ann was described as a Beyond The Vows. The main protago- ‘guardian angel’ by many who knew her. nist, JP Lacey, is a priest conflicted by Jimmy and Mary Ann both worked for May she rest in peace. his calling and a world mired in injus- tice. That priest was based on Griffin’s NOVENAS life. For almost a decade prior to writing that Novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary man sympathy, whisper my petition into the book, Ed was going to Matsqui Prison Novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary (never ears of the sweet Infant Jesus, who loved to teach inmates the art of writing. known to fail). O most beautiful flower of to be folded in your arms; and the grati- Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendour of tude of my heart will ever be yours. Amen. He went on to write a popular hit Pris- Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of – CTKB, PMKM, MJF, CC. oners of Willowaw, about 300 prison- God. Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this • ers released onto Adak Island, in the my necessity. There are none that can with- Novena to St. Anthony stand your power. O show me herein you O Holy St. Anthony, gentlest of Saints, your Aleutians off Alaska. are my Mother, Mary, conceived without love for God and charity for his creatures, Besides a rich description and well-de- sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee made you worthy, when on earth, to pos- veloped characters, Griffin managed to (three times). Sweet Mother, I place this sess miraculous powers. Encouraged by use it as a critique of our current prison IRISH CLUB of White Rock president Anne Boyle with friends. cause in your hands (three times). Holy this thought, I implore you to obtain for me Spirit, you who solve all problems, light all (request). O gentle and loving St. Anthony, system. He once said if there’s a theme roads so that I can attain my goal. You whose heart was ever full of human sym- to his life and his books, it’s a fight for gave me the Divine gift to forgive and for- pathy, whisper my petition into the ears of social justice. get all evil against me. This prayer must be the sweet Infant Jesus, who loved to be said for three days, even after the request folded in your arms; and the gratitude of Ed Griffin is survived by his wife is granted and the favour received, it must my heart will ever be yours. Amen. – SVS Kathleen (Kathy), son Kevin, daughter be published. – KLSMC, PMKMC, MJF, • Kerry and sister Joy. DF, ADB, CSKB, CC, CKB, LC, SLMKR, Novena to St. Clare For many years the Griffin home in CTK God of mercy, you inspired Saint Clare with • the love of poverty. By the help of her Surrey, B.C. has been a distribution Novena to St. Anthony prayers, may we follow Christ in poverty of point for The Celtic Connection. Both O Holy St. Anthony, gentlest of Saints, spirit and come to the joyful vision of your Ed and his wife Kathleen volunteered your love for God and charity for his crea- glory in the Kingdom of Heaven. We ask delivering the paper in the area. tures, made you worthy, when on earth, to this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your possess miraculous powers. Encouraged Son, who lives and reigns with You and the The Celtic Connection would like to by this thought, I implore you to obtain Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. offer our deepest sympathy to Kathleen for me (request). O gentle and loving St. Amen. – SVS and the Griffin family. We will miss you Anthony, whose heart was ever full of hu- Ed – rest in peace. DEREK, Robbie and Vinnie. SEPTEMBER 2015 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 13 Mark your calendar now for 2016 CelticFest Vancouver VANCOUVER – CelticFest Vancou- Celtic nations – Brittany, Cornwall, Ire- ver is pleased to announce a new board land, Isle of Man, Galicia, Scotland and of directors for CelticFest 2016 and a Wales – to showcase culture, art and new executive festival producer. history. CelticFest Vancouver is western Cana- Every year attendance has grown to da’s largest annual Celtic Festival. draw over 250,000 people annually, ap- pealing to all cultural backgrounds. New Executive This 10-day festival includes Celtic music, dance, workshops, food and prod- With hundreds of stories about Producer uct as well as Vancouver’s annual St. CelticFest resulting in over 8.3 million Patrick’s Day parade (recently included earned impressions, media coverage of for CelticFest in www.topeventscanada.com as one the event over the past 10 years has of the top 20 festivals in Canada). increased dramatically. Vancouver The 2016 events will be held between In 2015, more than 1,000 people March 5-17 in Vancouver’s Entertain- marched in the 11th annual St. Patrick’s 2016 ment District, where organizers hope Day parade. CelticFest Vancouver is pleased to that you will join in the festivities. announce the appointment of the The festival also featured over 75 per- new executive festival producer for Founded in 2004, CelticFest has fo- formances and events, with almost all CelticFest 2016. cused on the inclusion of the seven of them free and for all ages. John Coughlan who was president of CelticFest last year and vice- president the year before, is pleased to accept his new role of executive festival producer for CelticFest. John, who has an extensive business background, is looking forward to taking on the challenges associated with his new role within the organi- zation. His responsibilities will include co- ordinating all aspects of CelticFest Vancouver Society Festival and fes- tival events. He will report to the board of CelticFest Vancouver. For all inquires, please feel free to contact John at: [email protected] or call or text: (604) 612-6708.

New periodical from Crosscare Irish Women’s Network presents Migrant Project DUBLIN – Le Chéile is a new pe- ‘Ladies Who Brunch’ riodic newsletter from Crosscare Migrant Project for people and and new social calendar organisations working for the wel- By NICOLA DUNNE nity to catch up with old friends and to fare of Irish emigrants. VANCOUVER – Would you like to make some new ones. reconnect with friends after the sum- Le Chéile has a particular focus on in- mer? Or are you new to Vancouver and To RSVP, you can join the event on novative projects and initiatives, new Facebook via the Irish Women’s Net- looking to connect with the Irish com- and emerging challenges for Irish emi- munity and meet new people? work Facebook Group, or if not on grants across the globe and different Facebook, e-mail: ways of dealing with common chal- The Irish Women’s Network of BC is [email protected]. lenges. delighted to announce an exciting new calendar of social events this fall open Other upcoming events will include the Across the world there are countless to all in the Irish community. popular Newcomer’s Seminar offering one to one connections and small and information and tips on job searches and big networks of people that are a testa- The first event to kick off the season, networking, a pub quiz and a Christmas ment to the solidarity that Irish emi- ‘Ladies Who Brunch’, will be hosted social night. grants can show to each other. Le on Saturday, September 26 at 11:30 AM Following the success of the Nollaig na Chéile will endeavour to shine light on at Mahony & Sons, Stamps Landing some of the actions that have grown (False Creek). mBan lunch last year, the IWN also plan to host this event again in January. from this solidarity. Everyone is invited for bubbles and a Details of all upcoming events will be The Crosscare Migrant Project is the social brunch in a relaxed and friendly main Irish based NGO that assists Irish setting. posted on Facebook and on the Irish in Vancouver Calendar of Events: emigrants before they leave the coun- This gathering will be a great opportu- www.irishinvancouver.com/whats-on. try and upon their return to Ireland. The organisation is funded by the Irish Abroad Unit of the Department of For- eign Affairs and has been working with Irish and Living in Vancouver? Irish emigrants since the 1940s. If you are Irish and living in Vancouver and require a new Irish pass- port you can contact several local Irish organizations for your ap- Given the recent increase in Irish peo- ple immigrating to Canada, the organi- plication form. sation is looking to keep in touch with George McDonnell with the Irish Heritage Society of Canada has forms avail- the issues Irish emigrants are facing or potentially may face in Canada. able and he can be contacted either by e-mail at: [email protected] or call (604) 948-2885. To subscribe to this newsletter or if you know of any projects or initiatives that The Irish Women’s Network can also provide assistance. You can e-mail: you think would make a good article for [email protected]. Le Chéile, e-mail migrantproject @crosscare.ie. PAGE 14 www.celtic-connection.com SEPTEMBER 2015 Lies, Damn Lies and Documentaries: Part One during the decades of the Troubles and UBLIN – In THE VIEW FROM yet the State had no qualms about mur- June this year, IRELAND dering its own subjects. RTE’s docu- David Cameron acknowledged in the D British House of Commons on 12 De- mentary series cember 2012 that “frankly shocking lev- Prime Time screened a els of State collusion” had taken place. So, one would assume, that in post-con- feature length documen- flict Northern Ireland the Historical tary film, Collusion, By Enquiries Team (HET) set up in North- MAURICE ern Ireland would be given every as- FITZPATRICK THE MIAMI Showband were one of Ireland’s most popular caba- which investigated British sistance in its task to uncover historical ret bands. Des Lee [fourth from left] is pictured in the band’s collusion in loyalist kill- crimes perpetuated by the state? line up in early 1975. The men who died were Tony Geraghty, Dream on. When the head of the HET, Fran O’Toole and Brian McCoy. Ray Millar [third from left] and ings over the span of the Dave Cox, resigned in September 2013 Stephen Travers [far right] also survived. Northern Irish Troubles. in high dudgeon, it was clear that as soon as he and other detectives strayed In several of the cases under ex- into the prickly subject of killings per- Miami Showband amination, collusion has been es- petuated by the British that his job was tablished beyond any reasonable undoable. doubt. The following year the HET was closed massacre: Survivors due to “budget cuts.” Yet, criminal convictions, a measure of justice for the families of the victims, The progress after decades of investi- remember 40 years on are as rare as hen’s teeth. Why so? gators’ hovering around the subject of British collusion is minimal. DUBLIN – Forty years after the Mi- and Tony and there was no reply. I then As Dublin’s top diplomat in Northern A SHOCKING RTE documen- tary offers concrete evidence ami Showband massacre surviving band called for Stephen and I heard groan- Ireland in the 1970s, Sean Donlon, Nuala O’Loan, Northern Ireland Police members Stephen Travers and Des ing. stated in this documentary, “we would of British Government collusion Ombudsman 1999-2007, stated in this McAlea say they still carry it with them raise it [collusion], the British would with loyalist paramilitaries. The documentary that as Police Ombuds- every day. “Then somehow I managed to get up deny it, that was it.” documentary features inter- man there was “pressure not to report” to the road and tried to stop a lorry but on certain issues and that she was not On July 31, 1975, a UVF gang stopped he wouldn’t stop probably thinking I The British emphasised to Donlon that views with most of the major players in policing and secu- “going any further” on camera. their minibus on the A1 road at Buskhill was one of those involved. they were fighting the IRA and there- near Newry in Co. Down at what ap- fore had no time to fight loyalist atroci- rity in Northern Ireland over What is the entity behind this collusion peared to be a routine military check- “Then a young couple stopped and gave me a lift to Newry police station and I ties. the last three decades. which has managed to elude investiga- point. tion at every turn, and which was not am forever grateful to them.” Donlon pointed out that such appease- Five people were killed in the atrocity, explicitly stated by Cameron in his Forty years on from the atrocity, he said, ment (or worse) was the seed of an House of Commons admission? including three band members – unsavoury culture of permissiveness frontman Fran O’Toole (29), guitarist “I remember everything from that toward state sponsored murder. It is MI5, the British secret intelligence Tony Geraghty (23), and trumpeter night, everything that was said, every- and security service. thing that happened.” Collusion hones in on several high pro- Brian McCoy (32) – who were shot file cases of collusion such as the Cameron was even so naive as to al- dead. He said the band never believed they Glenanne Gang (a group of police, ter- most admit that MI5 are pulling the pup- It became one of the most high profile would be targeted because they were rorists and British soldiers) and Super- pet strings in British Government when atrocities of the Troubles and three Ul- simply musicians who helped people grass Brian Nelson. he met the family of Pat Finucane. ster Volunteer Force (UVF) members escape the brutal reality of the Trou- bles for a couple of hours a week. Nelson pleaded guilty to his crimes and He informed them that he could not were later convicted of the murders but left copious police statements behind GERALDINE FINUCANE open a formal court trial into Finucane’s were later released under the terms of “All we were doing was entertaining, the Good Friday Agreement. which, seen by a rigorous judiciary, widow of Pat Finucane with her killing “because there are people all putting a smile on people’s faces,” Des should have been used as evidence in around this place [10 Downing Street] The victims’ families continue to cam- added. “We played at ballrooms and daughter Katherine following a halls all over the place. We helped peo- criminal processes against the collud- who won’t let it happen.” paign with justice groups for official ac- ing members of the police force. meeting with British Prime Min- ple to forget all the horrible things that ister David Cameron. On Feb- What he did not say (but he might as knowledgment of their collusion claims, which were flagged in a Historical En- were happening for just a couple of Unsurprisingly, The Ulster Defence ruary 12, 1989, Pat Finucane, well have said) is that those people who hours in a very, very bad time. quiries Team report in 2011, and to bring Force (UDF) and The Ulster Defence a human rights lawyer, was govern the government were also re- Association (UDA) were almost glee- sponsible for Finucane’s murder. the other perpetrators to justice. “We played for all colours and creeds. shot dead in front of his wife I just think it is despicable to target in- ful about the level of British assistance and three children at their What MI5 cannot countenance is ex- At the time the band, then dubbed the they received in perpetuating murder. Irish Beatles because of their popular- nocent musicians who had absolutely home in north Belfast. The mur- posure. nothing to do with terrorism.” The UDA would paste intelligence der was one of the most con- ity, had been travelling home to Dublin The most a journalist, a documentary late at night after a performance in Those charged were: Lance Corporal documents delivered to them by the troversial of the Northern Ire- filmmaker, a diplomat, a lawyer or even British, facilitating their crime rampage, Banbridge, Northern Ireland. Thomas Raymond Crozier (25); Ser- land Troubles, with allegations an ombudsman has so far succeeded in geant James Roderick Shane on Belfast walls accompanied by graf- exposing about the MI5’s actions in the After getting band members to stand at fiti stating, “we’ve plenty more.” that the state colluded with the McDowell (29); and former Ulster paramilitaries to facilitate the North over the past four decades is the the side of the road, two of the gunmen got into the bus to hide a bomb – but it Defence Regiment (UDR) soldier John Collusion illustrates that during the killing. near certainty of its involvement in fa- James Somerville (37). Troubles sentences handed down by the cilitating loyalist terrorists who carried exploded prematurely and killed them. magistrates on collusion cases did a out assassinations and bombings in UVF men Harris Boyle and Wesley On Sunday, August 2, 2015, a wreath Even in a documentary made for, and great deal to destroy any possibility of Northern Ireland. Somerville were killed in the blast. laying ceremony was held in Buskhill. screened in, the Republic, names of al- trust in the police and the law among This was the first time a ceremony has leged colluders were beeped out When the moment comes to provide The force of the bomb threw Travers the Northern minority. been held at the scene of the atrocity. throughout the film. evidence or witness testimony in a court (then aged 24) into the air where he was In their verdicts, magistrates were at trial (as in the famous, costly and struck by a dum dum bullet which trav- Wreaths were also laid a day earlier at Its narrator, John Ware, is effective: as pains to insist that the language used to lengthy Saville Tribunal into Bloody elled through his body before exploding a monument to the showband in Dublin he suggested to an interviewee in a pro- designate guilty police officers – on the Sunday, for instance) the British sys- inside him. where Travers said he will never re- vocative moment, “the non-response as rare occasion when one was convicted tem conspires at the very top to frus- lent until the truth is revealed, and all of it were by prime ministers and officials McAlea (also then aged 24 and whose – be distinguished from the language trate the process. the perpetrators of the attack are to your request for a legal framework stage name is Des Lee), was, in his used to describe the IRA, even if a more brought to justice. was ‘carry on, but don’t get caught’. Is For the British to acknowledge MI5 words, “miraculously blown clear of the objective observer may find it difficult that a fair comment?” collusion in murders would be a most minibus into a ditch where I played “There are some today who want us to to discern any difference. grave admission because this would dead.” be silent, who want us to tone down Former Special Branch head, Raymond If Margaret Thatcher truly believed that show the British Government to have and sanitise our rhetoric,” he said of the White replied, “Yes. I think that cap- Des, who is from Belfast, said, “I went “there is no such thing as political mur- been a terrorist agent in the North, re- murders, which many suspect were the tures it in a nutshell.” to the van to get my saxophone to show der, political bombing or political lentlessly murdering innocent men and the soldiers that was what I had with direct result of collusion between agents violence…there is only criminal mur- Former British Security Minister women and, even more spectacularly, me, but instead of being third in the line of the British state and loyalist der, criminal bombing and criminal vio- Michael Mates emphasises in this film doing the same outside its jurisdiction – where I then stood beside the van, the paramilitaries. lence” she might have acted decisively the eerie longevity and the legal com- the Dublin and Monaghan bombings bomb then threw me into the field. “We are obliged to openly bear witness on this travesty of the British criminal plexity of the official British collusion being a prime example. “From there all I could hear was wild to that appalling crime until those, who justice system. in Northern Irish crimes: compared to The MI5’s chokehold on every relevant to this day continue to cover up their Kenya or Cyprus. gunfire and screaming and shouting. Collusion, developed by Ed Moloney organ of the British state has proved to But I was face down in the grass and I central role in it, accept responsibility (of the Boston College tapes fame), is These were foreign territories where be powerful enough to ensure that the held my breath for as long as I could for their actions and the actions of their agents. Only then will true reconcilia- a brave and comprehensive examina- no scruple on the part of the British full truth about collusion remains tucked and prayed and that saved me. tion within the bounds of delicate legal- about breaking a law was evident, away in secret vaults. I will return to tion be possible, and our ghosts finally ity. Northern Ireland was part of the UK this subject in next month’s column. “I remember shouting for Fran, Brian laid to rest.” SEPTEMBER 2015 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 15 Irish Government expects to admit 2,000 refugees DUBLIN – Defence Min- ister Simon Coveney has lashed out at critics of plans for Ireland to take a “very generous” approach to the worst migrant cri- FUNERAL of Kevin McGuigan, father of nine, whose death has sis to hit Europe since the sparked a crisis in Northern Ireland. Second World War. Ireland is expected to accommodate in Northern Ireland excess of 2,000 refugees who are flee- ing conflict zones in North Africa as part of a European Union-wide re- sponse to the crisis. coalition on brink of RESCUE WORKERS cradle refugee babies after saving them “Some people will have a problem with from boats foundering in the Mediterranean. that – particularly people who are rely- collapse over IRA claims ing on services from the State, people “We don’t want an existing service to Kennedy in August claiming it could no struggling to find housing and people of three-year-old Alan Kurdi, who was BELFAST – Crisis talks led by washed up on a beach in Turkey. lose out because of the spending we the British and Irish Govern- longer trust republicans. who are concerned about homeless- ness,” said Coveney. are dedicating to help and assist refu- ments are due to begin at Villiers will be joined at Stormont House Howlin’s department will now draft a gees,” a senior government source said. by Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie “This is another issue we have to solve position paper ahead of crunch EU talks Stormont on September 8. Coveney said Ireland has a chance to Flanagan. and we have to take it on,” he added. on September 14 in Brussels. show “real leadership” in the face of Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa The paper will set out Ireland’s propos- Villiers is expected to convene cross- She is expected to outline the govern- In another sign of the escalating crisis, the migrant crisis and described those ment’s view of the situation at Stormont Irish naval ship LÉ Niamh was involved als to deal with the crisis and take into who are reluctant to help refugees as party negotiations to resolve the cur- consideration the funding available. rent difficulties facing the region’s badly during a speech in the House of Com- in the rescue of 100 refugees on board “inward looking.” divided political institutions. mons before travelling to Belfast. a small vessel off the coast of Libya on It will also look at ways to ensure the the morning of Saturday, September 5. “Some people say we have problems The killings have overshadowed wider additional expenditure on the migrant at home so those people can get sorted The powersharing Executive has been crisis does not affect funding needs al- under threat of collapse since police issues at Stormont, where divisions over After a two-day meeting with his EU out by someone else. the implementation of controversial counterparts in Luxembourg, Foreign ready in place. said IRA members were involved in the “I strongly reject that thinking. That welfare reforms have already plunged Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan said murder of republican Kevin McGuigan Despite very strong exchequer returns would be very inward looking and an the devolved Assembly into financial Irish ships have played a key role in in east Belfast in August. and a growing economy, the Coalition unacceptable approach and that’s why peril. saving the lives of almost 6,000 refu- is hamstrung by strict EU budgetary you will see a very generous offer from Police Service of Northern Ireland gees. rules which limit its spending. (PSNI) Chief Constable George Ham- Villiers has said the British Government Ireland. Ireland can show real leader- ilton believes that the IRA still exists would legislate on welfare if the par- The LÉ Niamh will return in October The Irish Government is expected to ship on this,” he said. ties in Northern Ireland could not reach and be relieved by the LÉ Samuel and some of its members are implicated suggest that the EU loosen these rules In Cork, hundreds supported a rally to agreement. Beckett. in McGuigan’s murder, albeit without so that any funding on the migrant cri- show solidarity to the refugees on Eu- sanction of the IRA leadership. Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Flanagan also said the EU will move to sis does not impact on current budget rope’s borders. The rally, organised by spending plans. The news has created a political Martin McGuinness has warned that if target criminals “preying on vulnerable Anti Deportation Ireland (ADI), was firestorm with First Minister Peter Stormont fell, “it would create a vacuum migrants.” Labour is especially keen that funding organised on the theme of ‘Stop the Robinson, leader of the Democratic which would be exploited by violent el- Tánaiste Joan Burton and Public Ex- available for homeless services are not Slaughter’. ements on all sides.” Unionist Party (DUP) announcing there penditure Minister Brendan Howlin met redirected into the migrant crisis at the Those attending the rally warned that would be no further routine meetings He condemned the killing of McGuigan, recently to discuss proposals to tackle expense of families seeking accommo- proposed figures of 1,100 to 2,000 refu- of the Executive until the latest crisis saying it was carried out by “low-life the crisis, which took centre stage af- dation in Ireland. gees for settlement in Ireland is simply was resolved. criminals who are attempting to destroy ter pictures emerged of the tragic death not sufficient. It is understood police believe this peace process and who are abso- McGuigan was killed by individual mem- lutely no friends of the Sinn Féin lead- bers of the Provisional IRA in revenge ership.” for the death of prominent republican McGuinness also again rejected the Gerard “Jock” Davison in May. PSNI chief constable’s assessment say- LÉ Samuel Beckett deploys to help Hamilton has insisted the IRA is not ing, “I am working on the basis that the back on a war footing but disclosure IRA have left the stage and present no that the organization still exists has problem whatsoever. Irish navy mission in Mediterranean rocked the political establishment. “They are gone and gone forever, and DUBLIN – The LÉ Samuel Becket If the latest round of crunch talks, ex- have handed over responsibility for mov- will replace the LÉ Niamh in the Medi- pected to last for four to six weeks, are ing politics forward to the politicians terranean at the end of September, the unsuccessful, Robinson has warned he here.” Irish Government has confirmed. would pull his ministers out, triggering McGuinness said it was a time for po- The Irish Naval Service will extend its an election. litical leadership. “We will contribute in presence in the Mediterranean, assist- The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) with- whatever way we can to find a resolu- ing Italian authorities in humanitarian drew its only Executive minister Danny tion of the present difficulties.” search and rescue operations. Defence minister Simon Coveney has confirmed, “The success of the opera- Murder charge dropped against tions carried out to date by LÉ Eithne and LÉ Niamh involving recovering over Irish nanny in U.S. girl’s death 6,000 migrants demonstrates clearly the value of Ireland’s participation in this BOSTON – A lawyer for an Irish dropped a first-degree murder charge important humanitarian response. nanny who was accused of killing against 37-year-old Aisling Brady McCarthy. She was accused of killing “I believe that we should continue to a one-year-old girl in her care and PHOTO: Irish Defense Forces. Rehma Sabir in Cambridge in January support Italy in a practical manner as served more than two years in far as possible and the Italian authori- SO FAR this year Irish crews have saved more than 6,000 prison only to have a murder 2013, and had been the girl’s nanny for about six months ties have indicated that ongoing support migrants adrift at sea. charge against her dropped on Au- is welcome.” gust 31 called the prosecution a She had been in prison from the time of Eithne having been initially involved to the EU Parliament in Strasbourg, “complete disgrace” and “a rush to her 2013 arrest until May 2015, when The LÉ Samuel Beckett will take over back in June. France, to urge leaders to undertake a judgment.” she was released on bail and ordered operations in the Mediterranean from comprehensive response to the crisis by to wear a GPS monitor while awaiting the end of September, replacing the LÉ It comes as the United Nations Special increasing aid and imposing quotas for Melinda Thompson said, “It was a trag- an October trial. Niamh, and will deploy until the end of Representative for International Migra- the bloc’s 28 members. edy that a child died, but, quite frankly, November – depending on operational tion, Peter Sutherland, has said Ireland the way this prosecution was handled The shock announcement by prosecu- demands. needs to take more refugees. Juncker said the bloc immediately needs was a complete disgrace.” tors came after a state medical exam- to distribute 160,000 refugees across iner reversed an earlier decision declar- This is the third vessel the Irish Gov- On September 9, European Commis- the EU, and participation by member She was speaking hours after Middle- ing the death a homicide caused by ernment has sent to partake in opera- sion President Jean-Claude Juncker nations should be mandatory. sex District Attorney Marian Ryan shaken baby syndrome. tions in the Mediterranean, with the LÉ used his first State of the Union address PAGE 16 www.celtic-connection.com SEPTEMBER 2015 SEATTLE IRISH NEWS

PASSINGS be rounding out this year’s entertain- • Mike Sexton (78), a native of Dub- ment performing on 10 stages rotat- lin, died in Seattle on August 31. ing through three separate venues. • Nora Duggan (95) whose parents Feature performances by Celtica and late husband were from Ireland, Pipes Rocks (from Vienna, Austria) died in Tacoma on July 25. and Irish fiddler Sean Keane. More information at • Mary Brigid “Mazie” McFarland (96), By www.galwaybayirishpub.com. a native of Co. Tipperary and long- JOHN time Seattle-area resident, died in KEANE IRISH PLAY – Discovery Bay Play- Yakima on July 20. ers present the pre-Samhain pre- (L-R) DÓNAL MCKEVITT, Rose Boyle, Rich Peterson, Michael miere of Winter Bird: A Gothic Fan- • Henry W. K. Hopkins (83), a native tasy in Three Acts & Eileen O’Reilly, Jim Foskin, Fr. John Madigan, Tom O’Connell, of Bray, Co. Wicklow, and the father Pete Sullivan, Maureen and John Keane at the dedication of (www.discoverybayplayers.com) by and the father-in-law of Susanna Irish-American playwright Steve the new statue of St. Patrick at St. Patrick Cemetery in Kent on Hopkins and Tom Lagan, died in Treacy. September 3 Tacoma on July 16. Irish-American actor Sean Boyle • Valerie Nishimura (67), who along match-makes a Rare Book Room li- with her husband Mike Nagan was a brarian with a blond sub-Arctic vam- longtime Irish dancing organizer in pire. Seattle, died on June 25 following a long battle with cancer. Play runs October 2-25 at the Eclec- tic Theater (www.eclectictheater • Father William Sullivan (84), former company.org), 1214 10th Ave (at Un- Seattle University president and ion), Seattle. grand marshal of Seattle’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1991, died Discount tickets at: www.brown June 16 in Milwaukee. papertickets.com/event/2055241. Discovery Bay Players produces or Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha JIM FOSKIN and Michael helps to produce full professional- dílse – May their faithful souls rest level productions of literate at the right hand of God. O’Reilly at the dedication of the new statue of St. Patrick at St. transformative plays, especially SENIORS LUNCH – The Irish Immi- Patrick Cemetery in Kent on those by Irish and Irish-American grant Support group has scheduled September 3. playwrights. another Irish Seniors’ luncheon at the SEATTLE GAELS Gaelic football team manager Jon Choitz, GAA FINALS – The Seattle Gaels Wilde Rover Irish Restaurant in choirs and dancers hailing from were well represented at the North with the North American Junior C Shield won at the GAA Fi- Kirkland at noon on Saturday, Sep- nals in Chicago on the Labor Day weekend. throughout the United States, tember 19. Canada and, of course, Ireland will [Continued on next page....] The main purpose of these lunch- eons is to provide an opportunity to meet and greet old and new friends. IN REMEMBRANCE OF MAZIE MCFARLAND Over 500 different Irish seniors have attended these luncheons over the Mazie McFarland was a 96-year-old native of Co. Tipperary who died past seven years, and all have been on July 20 and was buried in Lynnwood, north of Seattle, where she wonderful, fun occasions. had lived for over 60 years. The cost for the buffet lunch is $10 This note was sent by her family in Ireland. for seniors and $15 for non-seniors Today, July 24, Mass was offered for our dearly beloved Aunt Mazie at and all are welcome, but advance reservations are required to (206) the Church of St. Nicholas, Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary, Ireland. 915-1878. This is the church where Mazie was baptized in January 1918 and SEATTLE GAELS Gaelic football team which won the North IRISH REELS FILM FESTIVAL – The where she attended Mass hundreds of times in the intervening years. 2015 Irish Reels Film Festival is Sep- American Junior C Shield at the GAA Finals in Chicago on the We remember our lovely aunt with great affection. She wasn’t some tember 25-27 at the SIFF (Seattle Labor Day weekend. distant person away in the U.S. International Film Festival) Center at the Seattle Center (just west of the She visited Ireland several times during the late 1950s and early 60s fountain). and then every second year for a period of at least 20 years after she The festival is dedicated to bringing had retired. the best of contemporary Irish film to We remember her many attributes but especially the love she ex- U.S. audiences, providing a platform pressed towards others in her generosity of spirit and in her generos- for Irish filmmakers to showcase their independently-produced feature ity of practice. films, documentaries, short films and We remember when we were children, the big boxes which would ar- animation. rive early December without fail each year. After our Santa presents A complete program of features, had been opened Aunt Mazie’s parcel would be ripped apart. documentaries, shorts and There would be warm hats and gloves and sweaters and so on, but animations can be seen in full at SEATTLE GAELS hurling team which competed at the GAA www.IrishReels.org. what we children prized the most was the Wrigley’s chewing gum. Finals in Chicago on the Labor Day weekend. SENIOR REELS – There will be an We considered ourselves very posh as nobody else around here got Irish Reels Special senior presenta- anything like that for Christmas!!! tion of John Ford: Dreaming the There are so many other memories: The laughter and fun, the family Quiet Man on Saturday, September gatherings and the outings to various places. Then the tears on part- 26 at 2 PM at SIFF FILM Center at the Seattle Center. ing. General Admission is $10 and Sen- I could go on about how we have missed her and will continue to miss iors $5. Tickets are available at the her but let’s end on a happy note. door or will be available for free to Mazie loved and lived life to the full. Often that love of life found ex- seniors at the Irish senior lunch on pression in taking to the dance floor. She danced at Highgate up to September 19. recently. OCEAN SHORES IRISH FESTIVAL – 2015 will herald the 12th year of the So, as you recite the rosary today prior to Mazie’s funeral Mass, we Galway Bay Irish Music Festival, cel- will be doing likewise 6,000 miles away. ebrating Irish songs, ballads, play- Distance is irrelevant. We are thinking of all Mazie’s friends. We are ers and bands in Ocean Shores, WA thinking especially of Mazie’s immediate family and friends in the USA. with music and fun this October 21– THE SEATTLE GAELS Camogie team which was defeated in 25. From the Blackmore Family and all of Mazie’s nieces and nephews in the North American Junior Championship Final at the GAA Fi- Ireland. nals in Chicago on the Labor Day weekend. An eclectic mix of 30 Irish bands, SEPTEMBER 2015 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 17 Irish President Michael D. Higgins Expected to visit Seattle in October ALTHOUGH not confirmed, He has also served as Labour Party it is expected that Irish Presi- spokesperson for foreign affairs in dent Michael D. Higgins will the Irish Parliament, is a founding member of the Joint Oireachtas Com- visit Seattle on October 22 and mittee on Foreign Affairs, served as 23, 2015. mayor of Galway on two occasions, as member of the Seanad for nine One of the main reasons for his trip CEOL CASCADIA Concert in Seattle on July 25 – (L-R), Josh years, and Dáil Éireann for 25 years. to Seattle is to meet with the Irish Dukes on guitar; Angelina Carberry on tenor banjo; Josephine community and tentative plans are Prior to his career in public service, Marsh on button accordion; Tom Creegan on uilleann pipes; being made for an Irish community President Higgins previously lectured Patsy Hanly on flute. Standing (L-R) Antoin MacGabhann on reception. in political science and sociology at fiddle; Randal Bays on fiddle; Sean Gavin on flute; and Alicia the National University of Ireland, To receive more information on his Guinn, sean-nós dancing. Galway, and in the United States. visit once it is confirmed, please e- mail [email protected]. President Higgins studied at Univer- sity College Galway, the University His Excellency Michael D. Higgins is the ninth President of Manchester, and Indiana University in the United States. of Ireland. Inaugurated in November 2011, he was di- He has campaigned for human rights worldwide and in rectly elected by the people with the highest vote ever in 1992 was the first recipient of the Seán MacBride Peace a national election. Prize from the International Peace Bureau in Helsinki. He President Higgins served from 1993 to 1997 as Ireland’s is a writer and poet and has published two collections of government minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht essays and four collections of poetry. with direct responsibility for the promotion of the Irish The president is expected to be accompanied by his wife language and for the economic and social development Sabina on his first ever visit to Seattle. of Irish-speaking areas in the State.

[Continued from page 16] ance from Seattle Camogie, the odds Julia joined the cast of Riverdance American GAA Championship Finals are good it will stay here. last summer after a successful audi- tion in Dublin and has already toured in Chicago on the Labor Day week- Team captain Vanessa Peterson was the UK, Germany, Austria, and Japan end. honored by the team as player of the with the show and just returned from tournament. • The Gaels hurlers had the tough- spending the summer performing at est weekend, with a first round loss • The Gaels men’s football fell to the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin. to Portland, Maine on Friday. Western 2-4 to 4-8 on the first day, Julia started with Tara when she was but came back hard Saturday and They rallied on Saturday, and came 6 years old! up only a point short after a really took the win against St. Louis, 2-7 to great second half, losing out to Twin 1-6, to advance to the Shield Finals FRIENDLY GALWAY – Seattle’s sis- Cities 1-6 to 1-7. on Sunday. ter city of Galway is the world’s friend- liest city, and three Irish cities make They beat Denver in the semi-final, There were solid performances all the top 10, according to the readers 3-11 to 3-1 on Sunday, and then around, but midfielder, Lorcan of U.S. magazine Travel + Leisure. French was awarded player of the closed it out by beating a very good tournament for the Gaels. Cayman Islands team, 3-8 to 2-6 to Galway took the highest accolade bring home the Junior C Shield. due to its festive nature, lively popu- • The Gaels camogie team had a ter- lation and “musicality”. rific weekend. They beat the Chicago A lot of tough games in the hot sun, St. Mary’s team in the semi-final on and remarkable teamwork and de- The cover article says, “friendliness, Saturday (after getting a bye on Fri- termination all around. Tommy Burke be it instinctual hospitality, or a warm day) and advanced to the Junior was the pick for player of the tour- smile at every storefront, does a lot Championship on Sunday against nament. to make a city more accessible to travelers.” Twin Cities. • Altogether, over 100 teams from 50 The ladies played with more heart cities and more than 2,000 athletes Ireland is the only country with three and grit than you can possibly imag- competed in Chicago, with 8,000+ cities in the top 30. spectators watching the competition ine, through 90 degree weather and MISCELLANEOUS over the Labor Day weekend. high humidity. • The next Irish book club meeting is It was an incredible first half, and Next year’s finals will be in Seattle Tuesday, September 15, in north they went into the second half up 1- on the Labor Day weekend, Septem- Seattle to discuss History of the Rain 6 to 1-1. Unfortunately Twin Cities ber 2-4, 2016. by Niall Williams. Contact (206) 361- 1713 for details. came on strong and put it away with CONGRATULATIONS – Kudos to strong play and a few goals. It was Tara Academy dancer Julia Gats who • Galway Traders will host their an- an amazing game, and in true Gaels is a troupe member for the North nual Samhain harp concert around spirit, the ladies left it all on the pitch. American Riverdance tour which will Halloween – call (206) 784-9343 for The cup will travel back to Seattle be in Seattle from October 30 - No- dates and times. next year – and given the perform- vember 1 at the Paramount.

GROUP PHOTO of Seattle Gaels players and supporters who attended the GAA Finals in Chi- cago on the Labor Day weekend. PAGE 18 www.celtic-connection.com SEPTEMBER 2015 VANCOUVER LADIES OWN CHICAGO JP Ryan’s Camogie and Vancouver Harps football teams win NA Ladies Intermediate Championships By COLIN O’FLYNN VANCOUVER – If last year’s trip to Boston was a successful one for the PHOTO: Elan Park Vancouver Boys, then Chicago was SUCCESSFUL Vancouver Men’s and Ladies teams in Edmon- made for the ISSC Ladies. ton cheering after both winning the Western Canada On Thursday September 3, the Vancou- Championshps. ver ISSC sent a very strong showing to the Windy City, with five teams repre- senting. Most significantly, the first-ever Camogie team from Vancouver trav- 2015 Western Canada elled to the North American Champi- onships in Gaelic Park Chicago with hope and expectation for the weekend GAA Finals: An exciting ahead. While the club travelled in confidence, weekend of great sport what preceded to unfold over the week- PHOTO: Elan Park end will live long in the memory for the NORTH American Intermediate Camogie Championship Cup – players and management. (L-R) Martina Tallis, El Marie Cronin, Rita Burke and Grainne By SHARON CAMOGIE DEBUT Warren. WHELTON On Friday afternoon, the JP Ryan’s Camogie took the field to what would DMONTON be their first competitive game as a group versus Indianapolis Camogie – This year’s team. Western Ca- For the first 10 minutes the team were E nadian GAA nervous and Indy got on top early on, however they gradually brought them- finals were held in Ed- selves into the game with a flurry of quick scores which included an out- monton over the August standing solo goal effort from Michelle Healy, while Emma Lane and Rita long weekend, and what Burke popped up with some exceptional a scintillating weekend of scores. Gaelic games was wit- This proceeded right through until the second half with the unnerving Martina THE JP RYAN’S CAMOGIE Championship winning team in- nessed by all present. PHOTO: Elan Park Tallis sending over and exception long cluding management. JP Ryan’s Vancouver Panel: Claire THE agony and the ecstasy -- range point to keep the scoreboard Judge, Emer Kelly, El Marie Cronin, Martina Tallis, Sinead Edmonton were delighted to wel- Vancouver Harps Ladies were clicking over. Hughes, Caithlin Harper, Rita Burke, Ghirseach Ni Ionnractaigh, come teams from Calgary, Red crowned 2015 Western The JP Ryan’s Men also represented Trisha O’ Driscoll, Emma Lane, Grainne Warren, Andrea Deer, Regina, Fraser Valley and Canada GAA champs at the Brennan, Michelle Healy, Aoibheen Shields, Orla Fegan and season finals in Edmonton. the club admirably. Bringing two teams Vancouver for the weekend and all this year, the Senior Men convincingly Natalie Behan. Management: Manager Colin O’ Flynn Selec- teams brought a hugely competi- took some great scores and were just a disposed of Toronto, 2-21 to 0-12, gain- tors: Fiona Forde and Jonny Kavanagh. tive aspect to the games. ing the Canadian bragging rights. couple of points adrift at half-time. ever this Ryan’s Camogie team were Paudie Green and Andy Doohan pitched Every single member of the team The weather quite the mixed bag for However, the Vancouver ladies showed played their part, from Caithlin Harper adamant that after getting to the final the two days, but the sun shone for all their experience and were once again in with the goals, and were supported they would not leave empty handed from brilliantly by Robert Dunphy and Oisin keeping her marker scoreless from play, finals, which brought the perfect end crowned Tom Gibbons Cup champions, to Martina Tallis attacking the left wing Gaelic Park. to the weekend. Daly. making it a double win for the Vancou- and picking out passes in her sleep, to From the first minute, Vancouver got On Saturday, the Fraser Valley Gaels ver senior football teams. The Vancouver Men’s Senior Foot- Rita Burke mopping up everywhere. on top, a quick point followed by an upset the odds, beating the hot favour- History was made as Calgary and Ed- ballers fell to a strong Philadelphia Emma Lane goal settled the nerves and team, in their Quarter Final clash. Special mention to the ladies in Midfield ites, the Calgary Chieftains, in their monton met in the first ever Western – Sinead Hughes and Ghirseach Ni they began to play their own game. round robin clash to qualify for their first Canadian hurling final, and it was an- A close run match that was in the melt- Ionnractaigh. Vancouver would win in senior semi. Vancouver at half-time, 1-5 to 1-1, and other great game with some hugely im- ing pot until the final 10 minutes, with style, 4-12 to 2-4, moving onto face a it as only late in the game that the Edmonton edged Vancouver in their pressive skills shown throughout the Philadelphia haring away to in 5-11 to strong Atlanta team in the final. nerves were finally settled with a sec- course of the game. 3-7. group match, to set up two provincial The hurlers were unable to match the ond goal by Michelle Healy. tussles in the senior tournament. There was great excitement at the fi- The Harps, with Keith Reville, Tommy ladies’s result their semi, bowing out to Subs Aoibheen Shields, Orla Fegan and In the men’s senior football final, Van- nal whistle, with Calgary crowned de- Bourke, Stephen Donald, and Peter eventual Senior Champions, Harry Natalie Behan came into the game and couver (who beat Fraser Valley) and serving winners following some very Stevenson working very hard, can hold Bolands of Chicago. provided additional stability to see the strong performances throughout the their heads high at their performance. Edmonton (winning a Battle of Alberta The home side were good, but the final game through to the final whistle. Van- semi) met up in a repeat of last year’s weekend. A BUSY SATURDAY score-line does not do justice to a fine couver winning out, 2-9 to 2 -2 – cap- final. tain El Marie Cronin accepting the cup Earlier in the day, Regina were crowned The Vancouver Ladies Footballers performance by the Ryan’s and a great on behalf of the team. Edmonton were vying to become junior winners following their win over learned that they would have to wait match. Strong displays by Kevin Foley champs for the third straight year, but Vancouver, making it a double for the until Sunday for their only game of the and Eoin Ryan couldn’t prevent this Renewed energy was found and the a great game of football came down to Regina lads. weekend, a late drop-out allowing them defeat, by 0-13 to 1-23. celebrations started and went right three crucial first half goals. to advance to the final. through the night. Overall, it was a wonderful weekend LADIES SUNDAY It was Vancouver who scored those of GAA and it was fabulous to witness The Junior Hurlers played their semi- In the soaring heat with temperatures Though the Harps and Ryan’s men had goals and, fittingly just over a month some of the skills and talent displayed final, against Washington DC Gaels, and well over the mid-thirties, the ladies an unusually quiet Sunday at North after the passing of the great man him- over both days – Gaelic games really though they were on a par with their teams took the field looking to create Americans, the support they showed for self, claimed the Tom Butler Cup, much are flourishing here in Western Canada. opposition, they found the scoring diffi- their own history. the pioneering Vancouver JP Ryan’s to the delight of the Vancouver follow- cult. Alan Rosales, and the two Colins, Camogie team and the Harps Ladies A huge thanks must also be extended The Ladies Footballers had set the ing. to Edmonton and particularly Dennis O Young and O’Flynn, fought for every Footballers, was magnificent! ball. championship winning tone early in the Regina were earlier crowned junior Sullivan for doing a great job in hosting day by winning Ladies Intermediate The Seattle Camogie team joined all the football winners following a well-de- this year’s finals. The latter Colin, O’Flynn, brushed that Football Championship. Vancouver teams in roaring that amaz- served win over Calgary’s second defeat off, to attend to his Camogie ing Camogie team that came to be 2015 GAA Western Canada A true team effort, with every player team. winning teams: team, facing San Francisco in their through the tireless work of Rita Ritchie semi-final. working hard for their enigmatic cap- and El Marie Cronin. The ladies final saw Calgary and Van- Vancouver – Senior Men’s Football tain, Jillian Vieira. Vancouver scored couver battle it out in an absorbing en- and Senior Ladies Football Though San Fran were more experi- 3-13 to Clan na Gaels 1-3, to dominate A special mention also for Tyson van counter, and it was the ladies from B.C. Regina – Junior Men’s Football enced, from the first whistle Vancou- in their final. Beek, a JP Ryan’s hurler. The whole that got off to the better start. and Junior Hurling ver, with early goals from Emma Lane club is thinking about you and wishing and Michelle Healy, set the tone. With a number of overlapping players you a speedy recovery. Despite the slow start, the Calgary girls Calgary – Senior Hurling this was going to be a tough ask – how- SEPTEMBER 2015 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 19 Human hearts held within How can you seasons of the Celtic world downsize your stress? HE Sláinte household is in the process of protection, or more importantly, pres- decluttering, cleaning, packing and selling. In By CYNTHIA ence. Spiritual practices strengthen the WALLENTINE relationship between here, and there. the midst of this flurry of activity the heir ap- Beyond these meeting places, Time does parent is getting married on the opposite coast. Beginning, endings, and in not exist. T The long-term effect of all this com- between – on Wednesday, Loosed from endings, and beginnings, motion is a smaller, more ordered home September 23 at 1:22 AM, from the expectation, clutching, and cal- but the short term effect is stress. Stress PDT, the autumnal equinox culation of humanity, Time disappears is the body’s response to a perceived and nature is again as beneficent as it threat. momentarily pauses the sway human toil and divine destiny. is heartless. of Time in our world. In Sláinte’s case the threat is the fear By Within that frame we are born, we live, Fertile, churning, endless, limitless, there of missed deadlines, no buyer interest MAUREEN The great wheel of the Celtic year is and we die – walking in time with these is no comfort of a familiar threshold – in the house, and the inability to waltz KEANE bound – is created – in human time. great seasons – the aging of our bod- ever. It is a place that only is. at a wedding. ies, and the beating of our hearts. For those who perceive the world In that place, beyond even archetype, The body quickly goes into high gear through a Celtic lens, life begins in the From Time, from the delicate, deadly, human psyche cannot bear. Without preparing to fight the threat, flee from dark. and divinatory dance between human frame, no then, no as yet, no punctua- it, or freeze to hide. This is called the and heaven were these festivals cre- tion – a human caught unawares will fight, flee, or freeze response (previ- Samhain, on October 31 coils into No- ated. find only psychosis. ously called the fight or flight response). vember 1, the Celtic winter, New Year, and the darkest part of any year. The habits and harbingers of each fes- It is only Time that civilizes nature into Most stressors our ancestors ran into patterns we can recognize. Minute, were physical threats. When their The stress response’s main messenger tival may seem happenstance, but each molecule is a hormone called cortisol. Imbolg, on February 1, steps in with is deeply rooted in the need of the hu- week, month, year – lifetime. Gram- brains recognized the danger that a lion light, with hope, and gives way to the man psyche for containment, for reflec- matical rules that enforce orderly, hori- presented, a tiny gland called the It is responsible for regulating blood brilliance of the year at Beltaine, on tion – and for help. zontal Time. hypothalamus would spring into action pressure, cardiovascular function, and May Eve. and prepare the rest of the body to fight, And Time marches on. With the tilt of the body’s use of proteins, carbohy- The great fire festivals, and the impor- flee or freeze. drates and fats. Lughnasadh, just passed, on August 2, tant moments of spiritual and religious the earth, and its orbit around the sun, marks the going to ground, the harvest, movements around the world are born there is momentary equality between As our ancestor attempted to look cool When it is over produced, the stressed and the cooling year. of the shared breath of mortal and myth, night and day – equinox. Neither here, under the gaze of his prey, his person ends up with high levels of sugar, These are the fire festivals of the Celtic human and non-human. nor there…it just is. hypothalamus was barking out orders insulin, and fat in the blood. to the rest of the body. year. It is only in those shared moments, in And the moment passes, and we again This is not dangerous when it happens The celestial events of the year, the old – and new – traditions that humans move forward, toward year end at In response, his heart beat faster and short term but long term these levels equinoxes, and solstices, add to these can call into being the diffuse agents Samhain, the ending that begets all be- stronger, his core blood vessels ex- are associated with heart disease. lunar festivals, balancing dark and light, from beyond our realm that might offer ginnings. panded to increase blood flow to his muscles while more peripheral vessels There is also research that links stress constricted to prevent blood loss, more to inflammation, cancer, diabetes, im- glucose was produced to supply energy, potence, and even obesity. What can bronchi in his lung dilated to bring in you do to alleviate the effects of stress? Huge ritual arena more air and oxygen, and his blood Exercise regularly. This promotes physi- thickened so it could clot faster in case cal fitness, emotional well-being and al- of an injury. lows you to use up some of the stress Fast forward 20,000 years and the situ- hormones your body has produced. discovered near Stonehenge ation has changed. You go over and over Get plenty of sleep. Fatigue and insom- BRADFORD, UK – Archaeologists the big meeting in your head as you drive nia can cause stress and stress can have discovered the remains of a mas- to work but soon traffic is backed up. cause fatigue and insomnia. sive stone monument buried under a You use finger gestures to let the inept Have a glass of beet and berry juice thick, grassy bank only two miles from drivers know how you feel but you are with lunch and/or dinner. The beets will Stonehenge. still late. Now your hypothalamus is increase the nitric oxide in your blood The hidden arrangement of up to 90 confused; it knows you are under stress vessels and dilate your constricted ar- huge standing stones formed part of a but where is the threat? teries while the berries reduce the C-shaped Neolithic arena that bordered ARTIST’S IMPRESSION of how the Durrington Walls mono- No lions in the car. By the time you ar- chronic low grade inflammation pro- a dry valley and faced directly towards liths might have looked more than 4,500 years ago. rive at your office, your heart is pound- moted by stress. the river Avon. ing and your blood pressure is rising. Avoid junk food. Make sure you eat at Researchers used ground-penetrating British Science festival in Bradford. a two mile-long monument called the You are no sooner inside when your least 5 servings of fruits and vegeta- Cursus that lies to the north of Stone- radar to image about 30 intact stones Images of the buried stones show them manager comes charging at your desk bles every day. measuring up to 4.5 metres tall. The henge. lying down, but Gaffney believes they obviously upset over something. “Aha”, Avoid foods that increase blood sugar fragments of 60 more buried stones, or originally stood upright and were pushed The pits seem to form an astronomical says the hypothalamus, “here is a saber like those made with white sugar and the massive foundation pits in which over when the site was redeveloped by arrangement: on midsummer’s day, the tooth tiger attacking us.” white flour. Substitute whole foods in- they stood, reveal the full extent of the Neolithic builders. eastern pit’s alignment with the rising As the manager approaches, your stead. monument. sun and the western pit’s alignment with The main monument stands at the heart hypothalamus floods your body with Since you often cannot control what Referred to as a “super henge,” this the setting sun intersect where Stone- of a landscape rich with burial grounds, hormones. You want to look calm to dis- happens outside the house, make the immense ritual monument has a circum- henge was built 400 years later. pits and chapels. Last year, research- cuss the problem with your boss but inside your refuge. Reduce environmen- ference of more than 1.5 kilometers ers found the remains of 17 new chap- The wealth of new discoveries will con- your body won’t let you. tal stressors such as noise and tension- (0.93 miles) and is believed to be the els and hundreds of other archaeologi- tinue to reshape how archaeologists un- producing television shows. Indulge in largest of its type in the world. Hormonally your body is all dressed up cal features scattered across the site. derstand the landscape of Stonehenge with nowhere to go. The rest of the day hot baths and showers to relax mus- and its development over a period of Of the abundant new information, head Two huge pits have been discovered in you slowly stew in your own unused cles. of the project Professor Vince Gaffney, more than 11,000 years. hormones. Eat dark chocolate. Researchers fed an archaeologist at Bradford Univer- volunteers, who identified themselves sity said, “This radically changes our Irish Imbas Books is set to launch the world’s first global short story competi- as feeling highly stressed, one-and-one- view of Stonehenge. tion for Celtic mythology on September 10, 2015. First half ounces of dark chocolate every day “In the past we had this idea that Stone- The Celtic Mythology short story competition – which will be accepting entries for two weeks. henge was standing in splendid isola- until December 10, 2015 – is looking for the best short stories based on (or At the end of the study, researchers tion, but it wasn’t…it’s absolutely derived from) Celtic mythology from the Celtic diaspora all over the world. Global found participants had reduced levels huge.” Any kind of fiction short story will be considered (action, romance, drama, of stress hormones. The stones are thought to have been humour etc.) as long as they meet the required criteria: Keep in mind that sex is one of the best hauled into position more than 4,500 Celtic Celtic mythology or folklore forms a fundamental element of the story. Any stress relievers since it has a positive years ago to form the southern edge of Celtic folklore or mythological reference used in the story should be as authen- effect on both the body and the mind. a ritual arena centred on a natural de- tic as possible. The story should have a compelling theme with engaging char- pression. Mythology acters. Finally, have a cup of tea. It contains beneficial polyphenols. “We presume it to be a ritual arena of Brian O’Sullivan, director of Irish Imbas Books said “this competition offers a • some sort,” said Gaffney, whose team Short Story rare opportunity for contemporary writers of the Celtic diaspora to yank our Maureen Keane MS CN is the author has mapped the terrain and subsurface stories back out from the shadows of children’s literature.” of 14 books on health and diet and a features around Stonehenge with a rich member of the Academy of Nutrition suite of instruments. He will describe Full details, including rules and conditions, can be found at the Irish Imbas Books and Dietetics. Read her blog at the latest findings from the site at the Competition Website at: http://irishimbasbooks.com. keanenutrition.com PAGE 20 www.celtic-connection.com SEPTEMBER 2015 Vancouver Welsh Society prepares for annual Welsh weekend VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Welsh Society has drawn up plans for this fall’s annual Vancouver Welsh Weekend. The first event will be a ‘Vancouver Celebrates Wales’ concert on Friday, By EIFION October 30 at West Point Grey United Church. WILLIAMS On Sunday, November 1 a bilingual church service will be held in the tory opera company. HUW EVANS, from Neath, Cambrian Hall at 11 AM, followed at 2 Richard has a distinguished professional South Wales will make a re- PM by the annual Gymanfa Ganu. career. Born and raised in western turn appearance at the event. Canada, he has performed throughout A PICTURE speaks a thousand words: Daniel Etter’s picture The Point Grey concert will feature of Laith Majid landing in Kos with his children touched the some popular return guests as well as Canada and in Frankfurt, London, Ge- some exciting new performers. neva and Paris. He has also been di- hearts of millions around the world in August. European lead- rector of vocal studies at the Interna- ers are struggling to deal with rising tides of humanity seeking Accomplished folk musician Huw tional School in Geneva. refuge while many of the migrants desperately try to reach the Evans, from Neath, South Wales, will UK. make a return visit following his popu- The Lady Larks, a group led by Karen lar appearance at the 2012 Welsh Lee Morlang, will also perform at the Weekend. concert. This group has impressed au- diences throughout B.C. since coming 40 UK Councils In addition to presenting popular Welsh together in 2010. folk songs, Huw also plays the flute and viola. Karen Lee Morlang has been described ANOTHER welcome return visi- as “a pianist extraordinaire” and her tor is Nerys Jones, the popu- pledge to offer He is a lawyer by profession and has quartet, The Lady Larks, as “bringing performed at festivals and clubs around lar mezzo-soprano from virtuosity, humour and charm to their Seattle. the UK and in Ontario, Quebec and performances of vintage harmonies and refugees sanctuary Newfoundland. striking arrangements.” Born in Red Deer, Alberta, he obtained LONDON – More than 40 local coun- Another welcome return visitor is Karen Lee Morlang is currently the his first music degree at the University cils across Britain have responded to Nerys Jones, the popular mezzo-so- accompanist for the Vancouver Welsh of Manitoba, before going on to gradu- an appeal to offer sanctuary to people prano from Seattle. Men’s Choir during the temporary ab- ate from London’s Royal School of fleeing the fighting in Syria. “There is a real Church Music and the University of Born in Llanfair Caereinion, Wales, sence of regular accompanist David Buchan. Cambridge’s St. John’s College. Members of the public have also shown determination Nerys has performed with the world’s their support by donating hundreds of leading opera companies and has hosted The Cambrian Chorus, a combined Rupert Lang has an impressive list of thousands of pounds to charities work- and rising sense her own television show, Yng Nghwmni male voice group from the VWMC and achievements as a composer and con- ing to help refugees. Nerys Jones (In the Company of Nerys the Vancouver Orpheus will sing at the ductor. Among his accomplishments is of moral purpose Jones), on the Welsh station S4C. Point Grey concert. founding the Vancouver Children’s David Cameron has bowed to intensi- Choir. fying political pressure and announced She also performs regularly with the The Gymanfa Ganu, the traditional that Britain would take “thousands across Britain to Puget Sound Concert Opera and Seattle Welsh hymn-singing festival, will be The October 30 concert at West Point more” refugees from the camps in Opera. conducted this year by Rupert Lang, Grey Church, 4595 East 8th Avenue, countries around Syria. help desperate will start at 7:30 PM. To reserve tick- Another soloist at the concert will be organist and director of music at Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver. ets ($20 adults/$10 children and stu- Elsewhere in Europe hundreds of refu- Richard Williams, who for the past eight dents), contact Pat Morris at (604) 536- gees, many of whom hope to reach Ger- families. But now years has been artistic director of Op- Rupert Lang has a long list of prestig- 9556, or Heather Davies at (604) 734- many, made their way to the Hungary- era Pro Cantanti, Canada’s only reper- ious achievements in the music world. 5500. Austria border. the prime minister Buses, provided by Hungary’s Govern- needs to match it.” ment, were pictured near the border at Hegyeshalom after Austria and Ger- – Yvette Cooper Labour risks ‘annihilation’ many said they would allow them en- try. Shadow Home Secretary if Corbyn is elected leader says Blair Labour leadership contender Yvette Cooper – who called for the UK to take Cameron said the UK would act with LONDON – The Labour Party 10,000 refugees – said local authorities “our head and our heart” with a major around the country had shown a “rising expansion of the program to resettle risks “annihilation” if Jeremy sense of moral purpose.” Corbyn wins the party’s lead- vulnerable refugees from the camps The shadow home secretary said that bordering Syria. ership contest, former prime within 24 hours of her asking councils He said the scheme would avoid the minister Tony Blair has in England, Scotland and Wales if they need for the refugees to make the haz- warned. would be prepared to help in providing ardous sea crossing of the Mediterra- places for refugees, more than 40 had nean to reach sanctuary in Europe In an impassioned letter printed in the written back offering support. which has seen thousands perish over Guardian, Blair said the party was Cameron had been under intense pres- the course of the summer. walking “over the cliff’s edge.” sure to act after the publication of pic- Critics complained his statement said The Electoral Reform Society has said tures of the body of three-year-old Alan nothing about helping the tens of thou- Labour should delay sending out bal- Kurdi washed up on a Turkish beach sands who have flooded into the EU lots while checks are made on new shocked the world. and are struggling to make their way members. LABOUR LEADERSHIP candidates: Liz Kendall, Andy Cooper said it was now up to the gov- across the continent in the hope of Labour said 610,000 were signed up to Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Jeremy Corbyn. ernment to work with local authorities claiming asylum in the wealthier nations vote in the contest. It had 200,000 mem- to ensure as many people as possible of the north. bers before the general election. “The party is walking eyes shut, arms 1983 or 2015 at the next election. It will were helped. However a Populus poll of 1,689 peo- The society is not involved in running outstretched over the cliff’s edge to the mean rout, possibly annihilation.” “Already councils from across the coun- ple, reported in The Times, suggested the contest, but its deputy chief execu- jagged rocks below. try have said they want to work with the country was divided over the right tive Darren Hughes said it was obvious the government to help Britain offer response to the crisis with a narrow “This is not a moment to refrain from majority – 51 percent – saying that they there were some people who did not disturbing the serenity of the walk on Corbyn, a backbencher who was seen sanctuary to more refugees,” she said. as a rank outsider at the start of the did not believe the government needed genuinely support Labour who had the basis it causes ‘disunity’. It is a campaign, has been packing out meet- “There is a real determination and ris- to go any further. signed up to vote and should not be al- moment for a rugby tackle if that were ing sense of moral purpose across Brit- lowed to take part. possible.” ing halls across the UK, with many of International Development Secretary his supporters joining the Labour Party ain to help desperate families. But now Voting for the contest starts on Friday, the prime minister needs to match it.” Justine Greening dismissed the prospect Last month Blair, who won three elec- to vote for him. of Britain joining a proposed EU plan September 11 and the result will be de- tions and served as prime minister be- In a speech Cooper argued that if every clared on September 12. The YouGov poll for The Times of 1,400 to redistribute some 160,000 migrants tween 1997 and 2007, warned against London borough and county council took already in Europe saying it “simply fu- the party moving further to the left and eligible voters put Corbyn on 53 per- Blair said, “It doesn’t matter whether cent, 32 points ahead of Andy Burnham. 10 families and Scotland, Wales and the els the people smuggling business.” you’re on the left, right or centre of the electing Corbyn the party’s new leader. English regions all played their part, it Corbyn urged caution in response to the So far, just 216 Syrians have been ad- party, whether you used to support me But in a further intensification of his would be possible to create almost or hate me. But please understand the polls, saying while his campaign was 10,000 places within a month. mitted to the UK under the scheme to warnings, he said, “If Jeremy Corbyn help the most vulnerable people in refu- danger we are in. becomes leader it won’t be a defeat like “going very well,” ballot papers had not yet been sent out. During a visit to Portugal and Spain, gee camps.