The Blarney

Issue 53 Volume 4 Official Newsletter of the Irish Sports & Social Society July/August 2015

40th Anniversary August 1 - August 3, 2015 Park

Saturday, Aug. 1 - Noon - 9:00 pm Sunday,Monday, Aug. Aug. 2 3 - - 10:00 10:00 am am - - 9:00 7:00 pmpm

Servus Heritage Festival 2015 is pleased to feature 60 pavilions representing over 85 cultures from all over the world. Sample culinary delicacies, see creative performances, shop for crafts, artwork, and clothing, or chat with people eager to tell you a little about their cultural roots and their present-day Wednesday communities in Canada. Various pavilions will also be showcasing cultural displays with July 1st, 2015 photos, paraphernalia, and stories about their culture or ethnic 1:00 pm background in Edmonton. Admission is FREE, but a donation for Edmonton’s Food Bank Canada Day BBQ at the Irish Centre would be appreciated. Enjoy a free hotdog or hamburger Bring your family and celebrate Canada Day with us! Volunteer at one of the best festivals in Canada - and at the best pavillion “ The Irish Centre needs volunteers for the following Ireland jobs before, during and after the fesitval:” Food preparation, pavillion setup/teardown, kitchen helpers, front end helpers, drivers, and entertainers (music and dancers). Schedules and sign-up sheets are available at the Irish Centre.

No experience necessary This is a great opportunity to meet some new friends and check out the many other cultures in Edmonton!

CONTACT Sean MacQueen 780-993-4444 [email protected]

Irish Sports & Social Society 12546-126 Street NW, Edmonton, T5L 0X3 Tel: (780) 453-2249 Fax: (780) 451-5969 Email: [email protected] www.edmontonirishclub.ca www.twitter.com/EdmontonISSS EXECUTIVE

President JAM SESSIONS Martin Doyle Grab your fiddle, guitar, flute, 780-419-2951 accordion, tin whistle, drum, etc. [email protected] and drop into the Irish Centre Vice President for a good ole Irish jam session. Most Thursdays Murray Connors TASTE OF HOME 780-913-2282 Phone 780-489-7402 to confirm [email protected] Boxes of frozen pork available Secretary Includes ham, chops, boiling bacon, Irish Bonnie McGuire rashers, pork sausage and ham sausage 780-451-1721 [email protected] Each box 40-50 lbs @ $6/lb Delivered to the Irish club for pick-up Treasurer Contact Mick & Erin O’Toole Rory Brady [email protected] 780-720-3010 [email protected] Cultural Director Sean MacQueen 780-993-4444 [email protected] MENU Social Director Soda Bread with Jam $3.00 Seamus Donaghy 780-489-7402 Fries $3.00 [email protected] Onion Rings $4.00 Sports Director Poutine $7.00 Kimberly Budd Hamburger $5.00 780-919-7689 [email protected] Cheeseburger $6.00 Member-at-Large Chicken Burger $7.00 Carole Fitzgerald …Any burger with Fries add $2.00 780-340-9271 …Any burger with Onion Rings add $3.00 [email protected] Fish & Chips (1 piece) $7.00 Trustees Fish & Chips (2 piece) $10.00 Jim Danielson 780-999-7250 Chicken Wings with Veggies $8.00 [email protected] (Honey Garlic, Hot, Lemon Pepper, Salt & Pepper)

Isobel Nesdole Chicken Strips & Fries $8.00 780-488-8233 Dry Ribs & Fries $8.00 [email protected] Steak Sandwich $12.00 Ted Nesdole 780-488-8233 Thursday Night Wing Special $7.00 [email protected] Past President Weekly Dinner Specials will be posted Stephen McElhatton 780-919-8241 [email protected] Club Facilities for Rent Club Hours Wednesday 4 pm - 11 pm Thursday 4 pm - 11 pm Are you looking for a location to hold a party - birthday, anniversary, wedding or another special celebration? Friday 3 pm - 1 am Saturday 1 pm - 2 am Why not have it here, at the Irish Centre? We are available to our members and can Sunday 1 pm - 8 pm accommodate up to 150 people. Arrangements can also be made to have your function catered by our kitchen at very Kitchen Hours reasonable costs. Thursday 4 pm - 11 pm Friday 4 pm - 11 pm Your function (semi-private) can also be booked on evenings when entertainment is scheduled. Saturday 4 pm - 11 pm For availability contact Seamus at 780-489-7402 Sunday 3 pm - 7 pm Culture Director: Sean MacQueen 780-993-4444 [email protected]

To all the hard working volunteers that helped peel 500 lbs of potatoes, and make/cook the potatoe pancakes for the Heritage Days festival.

We are one step closer 2015 Regional Roses to being ready! The Rose of Tralee Regional Festival is held every year before the Rose of Tralee International Festival to determine which Roses will represent their region (territory).

The 2015 Regional Festival took place in Portlaoise May 28th - 31st. Sign up

The event was originally established in 2004 in recognition of Volunteers are needed to help the fact that now every county in Ireland selects a Rose, and that bake the soda bread, scones Mark there are now nearly 70 Rose Centres around the world. and Barn Braic throughout July. Your Just like the International Festival, the Regional Festival is And IrishHeritage Stew the Days. week before Calendar hosted by Dáithí Ó Sé who interviews each Rose on stage at the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel over three nights, and the Roses also visit local tourist attractions and take part in parades. Sign up sheets are posted at the Irishemail Centre Sean or MacQueen you can call or We are proud to congratulate Cassandra, our 2015 Western Canada Rose, on being chosen to move on to the Rose of Tralee International Festival August 14th - 18th. Good luck Cassandra!

Summer Events

JULY AUGUST 6/23 - 7/19 Freewill Shakespeare Festival Aug 1-3 Heritage Days (Hawrelak Park) (Hawrelak Park) July 1 Canada Day Aug 4-8 Rock'n August (St. Albert) July 3-12 Street Performers Festival (Churchill Square) Aug 6-9 Edmonton Folk Festival (Gallagher Park) July 12-16 Alberta Indigenous Games () Aug 7-9 Cariwest (Downtown) July 16-25 (Churchill Square) Aug 13-23 Edmonton Fringe Festival () July 17 K-Days Parade (Downtown) Aug 21-23 Edmonton Blues Festival (Hawrelak Park) July 17-26 K-Days (Northlands) Aug 28-30 Symphony under the Sky (Hawrelak Park) July 24-26 Interstellar Rodeo (Hawrelak Park) Sept 5-6 Sonic Boom (Borden Park) July 24-26 Blueberry Bluegrass Festival (Stony Plain, AB) Sept 13 Kaleido Festival (Alberta Avenue) ENTERTAINMENT Social Director: Seamus Donaghy 780-489-7402 [email protected] Steve &Terri Saturday JULY July 18, 2015 Mark McGarrigle 8:00 pm Sat. 4 Mark McGarrigle Saturday (No Cover) Sat. 11 Grace O’Malley July 4, 2015 First time at the club. Sat.. 18 Steve & Terry 8:00 pm Hearing great thing about these guys! Music & song - Irish , East (No Cover) Coast, Country, and light rock. AUGUST Always a favourite. Grace O`Malley Drop in for a pint! Saturday Sat. 1 Grace O’Malley Drop in for some good music, food and a pint. July 11, 2015 8:00 pm SEPTEMBER (No Cover) Grace O’Malley play a mixture of Irish, Sat. 26 Jack Bell Cup Scottish, and East Coast folk tunes as well as some Gaelic songs and cover artists such as: Mary Black; Christy Moore; The Pogues; Eleanor McEvoy; The Wolfe Tones; The Dubliners; and many, many others. Sponsored in part by A fresh and exciting feel to Irish music!

SPORTS Sports Director: Kimberly Budd 780-919-7689 [email protected] JACK BELL CUP WESTERN CANADIAN GAELIC FOOTBALL Saturday CHAMPIONSHIPS September 26th Airways Park Saturday, August 1st 113 Street & 113 Avenue & Edmonton Wolfe Tones Edmonton Sunday, August 2nd 40th Anniversary Gala Saturday Norwesters Rugby Club September 26, 2015 711 - 50 Street NW Coast Edmonton Plaza Hotel Edmonton, AB 10155 105 St, Edmonton

Do you have any Tickets: $100 each stories or pictures Saturday Night Contact from the past After party Caolan Quinn 40 years. will be held at 780-680-1601 We would love to [email protected] the PINT hear & see them. downtown Contact Caolan Quinn Edmontongaasecretary@ gmail.com Announcements

Stef's Funeral on Inis Oirr, May 2015

On Monday, May 18, we laid Stef Conneely to rest on Inis Oirr, maybe a quarter mile from where he was born and raised. Father Conway was the Our deepest sympathy to the family, celebrant and all was conducted 'as Gaeilge,’ as friends and loved ones of our members befits the Aran Islands. who have recently passed away: Stiofan Conneely I arrived on the 6.30 pm ferry out of Ros a’ Mhil Liam McClellan (Rossaveel, Co. Galway) on Sunday May 18. The casket was transported to the little church, where a Micheál, Noírín, Treasa and Declan had travelled to May the road rise up to meet you, short service was held. Chief mourners were Stef’s Edmonton on hearing the sad news of Stiofan’s may the wind always be at your back. brothers and sisters – Micheál, Pádraig, Ruairí, Bríd, death and wanted me to convey their thanks to the May the sun shine warm upon your face Máire, Treasa, Noírín, Áine and Rita; in-laws, Irish community for the tremendous reception they and rains fall soft upon your fields. received. Declan may have put it best when he said: And until we meet again, nephews and nieces, some from as far away as may God hold you in the palm of His hand. America, Central Europe and the UK. Several 'I have felt warmth and comfort from individuals receptions were held in 'Tigh Ruairí' over the course before but this was a whole community comforting us. Truly wonderful' The family were very comforted We would also like to extend our well- of the next two days. Tigh Ruairí (named for Stef's brother Ruairí) was built on the original family land to find that Stef was so highly thought of by wishes and prayers to any member that is Edmonton’s Irish community. feeling under the weather or unable and is a beautiful guest house with some 23 rooms, restaurant and huge bar. The hospitality was second to get out and about. to none. Mass was celebrated at 12.30 pm on Monday on Inis Get well soon ... you are in our thoughts. Oirr and the funeral cortege wound its way up the My thanks to all the family, especially Eoin (Ruairí’s little hill to the graveyard overlooking the Atlantic, son) and his family. I was made most welcome by where Stef was interred beside his brother Seán and all the family and friends – the fact that I had known close to his Mom and Dad. Steve Conneely and befriended Stef in Edmonton was a major topic for discussion and comforting to the family. I spent Beannacht Dé lena anam dílis. A native of Galway or someplace near most of the evening with Micheál, Pádraig and A proud islander of Inisheer (Inis Oirr) Declan Murphy (Treasa's husband). Freddy Duffy Steve Conneely known to us all as Stiofan From the barony of Aaran he rowed on

Greeted at the shores of Galway Bay Arrived this Gaelic speaker with fluent words to say

Onto Dublin he headed to learn his trade Fixing engines of all vehicles ever made

Did we cross paths on Grafton Street, I may never know But it was here when we finally met in the snow

Stiofan came to Edmonton in 75’ Bringing his tools to keep his skills alive

Here is where he made home Every few years back to Aaran he’d roam

He played a major part in culture, sports and song He could tell all kinds of stories all night long

Stiofan was a father figure to many around Ring of Kerry An uncle, a cousin and a special friend, he was sound

He took up golf in his later years Enjoying many rounds with his peers

Safe home to Aaran our friend so dear Your beautiful resting place of Inisheer

So raise your glass in honour to our dear friend Stiofan Although he is gone our memories with him will forever live on

Christy Whelehan Banratty Bay Irish Sports & Social Society 12546-126 Street 780-453-2249 July 2015

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

1 Canada Day 2 3 4 Kids Cul Camp 5 Kids Cul Camp BBQ Mark McGarrigle

6 7 8 9 10 11 Alberta Cup 12 CLOSED CLOSED Grace O`Malley

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 CLOSED CLOSED Steve & Terry

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 CLOSED CLOSED

27 28 29 30 31 CLOSED CLOSED

August 2015

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

1 Heritage Days 2 Heritage Days Western Canadian Western Canadian Championships Championships Grace O`Malley

3 Heritage Days 4 5 6 7 8 9 CLOSED

10 11 12 13 14 Rose International 15 Rose International 16 Rose International CLOSED CLOSED

17 Rose International 18 Rose International 19 20 21 22 23 CLOSED CLOSED

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 CLOSED CLOSED 31 September 2015

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6

7 Labour Day 8 9 10 11 12 13