The Irish Connection The Irish American Society of Tidewater News November 2013

FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON: President's Corner PLEASE BRING CANNED GOODS The Irish American TO THE MEETINGS IN NOVEMBER Dear Fellow Irish American Society Members, Society of AND DECEMBER TO CONTRIBUTE TO CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION'S Tidewater, Virginia, October was a very fun and festive month, starting was established in with the awesome IAS Harvest Hooley (both FOOD PANTRY. 1980 to promote kiddie and adult versions!) at our meeting and and preserve Irish following that up at the Central Virginia Celtic culture, and all things Festival & Highland Games where we shared a so this is a good decision for him. It, however, is a distinctly Irish. tent with the Hampton Roads Hurling Club and crushing loss to the IAS in general and to me in Membership is open the Scottish Society of Tidewater! See inside this particular, because I really rely on JJ for support, to persons of Irish issue for more information about and pictures from help, positive attitude, great ideas, etc. He’s been a wonderful friend to the IAS and all of its members birth or ancestry, as both events. November will be a busy month as well with our and has been an excellent ambassador for our well as those November meeting on Thursday, November 7th; a society and our shared Irish heritage everywhere persons who have farewell party on Saturday, November 9th for our he goes. Both the IAS and the SST, in which he has an interest in Irish Junior VP John “JJ” Johnson; and an IAS & also been active, want to give JJ a fun and festive history and culture. Friends Full Irish Breakfast at Murphy’s on send off to show him how much we care about him Sunday, November 17th. Let me work my way and will miss him. We don't have all the details backwards through these events to give you a bit worked out yet, but we are pretty sure it will take more information. place on Saturday, November 9th, so SAVE THE DATE! More details will be added as they are : Sunday, November 17, 10am – 1 pm – IAS & confirmed to the IAS Facebook page and the IAS Our next meeting Friends Full Irish Breakfast Buffet website... , 2013 You requested an IAS Full Irish Breakfast at If you can't make it on the 9th, the November 7th November 7 Murphy's before Thanksgiving, so here we go! We IAS meeting is the last one JJ will be able to attend. hope lots of you can make it out there for the Make sure to come see him then! delicious Irish breakfast buffet at Murphy's Grand Irish Pub at the VB oceanfront. I confirmed the Thursday, November 7th, 7 pm – November IAS details with lovely Lindsay at Murphy's, and we meeting Meetings are held are all set for $13 per person, which DOES include The program will be a "HOLIDAY TWOFER: the first Thursday one (1) glass of champagne/mimosa, coffee, tea, HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS & the ANCIENT CELTIC of every month at the sodas – but does NOT include tax or gratuity. On ROOTS of SOME MODERN HOLIDAYS" Church of the the buffet will be Scrambled Eggs, Breakfast presented by Joseph Brady & Lynnette Fitch Brash, respectively. Ascension Potatoes, Bangers, Rashers, a Fresh Fruit Tray, Baked Beans, Grilled Tomatoes, Biscuits, Butter/ There will also be a PUMPKIN RECIPE COOK Community Center Jelly, and Breakfast Pudding (white/black). I think OFF for members at this meeting! To be in the 4853 Princess Edward and I have to be out of town that weekend, cooking contest, the dish you bring MUST feature Anne Rd so somebody else PLEASE get some pictures at the pumpkin, it must be homemade by you, and you Virginia Beach, VA. breakfast! And BY THE WAY, Lydia at Murphy's must bring the recipe with you. Entries will be Doors open at mentioned to me earlier this month that she misses judged and a prize will be awarded during the 6:30 p.m., all the yummy desserts that IAS members USED to meeting! the meeting usually contribute to the buffet... hint, hint! Irish soda And please take note of the gorgeous SPECIAL gets underway at bread and other baked goods are ALWAYS RAFFLE prize (see picture)!!! 7:00 p.m., welcome at our gatherings! :) Several of you were eager to buy it at the October ending at 9:00 p.m. Saturday, November 9th, Time TBD, location at meeting, where I had it O'Connor's Brewery in Norfolk – Farewell Party displayed. In honor of for John “JJ” Johnson, our IAS Junior Vice our fall holiday President programs, it is a Celtic I am deeply saddened to report that our Jr Veep Wheel of the Year! It is John “JJ” Johnson is leaving us to move back an 11.75-inch-diameter home to Wisconsin by the end of this year. His plaque showing the holiday extended family and his eldest daughter live there, Continued on page -2 Page -2 November 2013

both for $25! Check out these great trad tunes on The Irish American President's Corner - cont’d. from page 1 Society of the CD! Tidewater seasons the ancient (and not so ancient!) Irish 1. The Mountain Road/Cooley's /The Sally celebrate(d)! Made of resin finished to look like Gardens wood, this plaque would cost over $60 plus 2. The Lakes of Ponchartrain P.O. Box 9614 3. Father Kelly's Reel/The Silver Spear Virginia Beach, VA shipping online. It comes with one hook on the 23450 back for hanging purposes, but additional hooks 4. Leaving of Liverpool easily could be added, allowing you to turn the 5. The Rambling Pitchfork/Out on the Ocean/ wheel on your wall as the seasons change each Tobin's Favorite year. 6. The Banshee Reel/The Star of Munster/The Let's try to brighten the holiday season for others Dawn/The Earl's Chair and bring canned goods to the November and 7. Whiskey in the Jar December meetings. And, by the way, in 8. The Spanish Lady/Ryan's Polka/The 42 December, the IAS will “adopt” a unit deployed Pound Float to Afghanistan and try to brighten their holiday 9. O'Keefe's /The Dingle Regatta (The Hair season as well. More information will be coming Fell off Me Coconut) about that soon. 10. Hard Times (by Stephen Foster) OFFICERS FYI: GET SOME IRISH STOCKING STUFFERS 11. Speed the Plough/The Temperance Reel/The WHILE YOU CAN!!! Only 10 copies of the Wise Maid President Beautiful People Irish traditional seisiun Samhain maith! Slán go fóill! Lynnette Fitch Brash documentary remain; PICK A FEW UP FOR (Happy Halloween! ‘Bye for now!) Sr. Vice President FANTASTIC GIFTS! We need to get these sold so Joseph Brady we can reimburse the producer for them. Don't forget that the DVD comes with a separate CD Jr. Vice President with the sound track, recorded live at Dempsey's, Lynnette Fitch Brash m John 'JJ' Johnson on it! Great value to get the DVD and the CD Treasurer Mike Bromley Recording Secretary MaryAnn Bromley Financial Secretary Meeting Minutes - October 2013 ♣Mary Ann Bromley gave Sunshine report: Edward Brash • Very happy to see: Margaret Buckley, Linda Batten & Rich Berger at meeting, after illness Membership ♣ Before business meeting, there was fun time & surgery. for wee ones with: Betsy Kennedy • Please keep: Noah Musicant (having surgery ♣ Pumpkin decorating contest, apple bobbing & on spine) & Eileen Collins (recuperating SUNSHINE piñata fun! from kidney stone surgery) in your prayers. COMMITTEE ♣ Business meeting called to order by Lynnette ♣ Ray Marian thanked IAS members for their Maureen Honore Brash 7pm. kindness with the passing of Mollie Carr & 757-721-2863 ♣ Floor was open for birthdays, anniversaries, Ray Grinnell. Mary Ann Bromley new members. ♣ Erin Morrissey running a contest..... looking ♣ 757-471-2007 10/19 – 10/20...”Richmond Games”.....IAS for new name for rescue dog, named Opie, renting a van $35.00 per person, (give check to with “O.P.” in name. Will donate $25.00 to Edward Brash), leaving Ascension 8am, animal charity. HOSPITALITY returning 8pm. Must have 13 people. J.J. George & Eileen Collins ♣ Program tonight: “Irish Drink Night” Johnson driving. Lynnette explained about: ciders, wines, ♣ Glasgow Kiss performing 10/19. Hurling NEWSLETTER Mead, ales Match 10/20. IAS members enjoyed tasting: Lori Shea, editor ♣ Irish breakfast mid-Nov., Murphy’s Irish Pub. [email protected] Pumpkin ale, Mead, apple wines, & hard More info at Nov. meeting. cider. ♣ Joe Brady working on fall fishing trip. J.J. Johnson demonstrated “half & INTERNET NEWS ♣ Mike Bromley gave Treasurer’s report: half” (Snakebite) with Guinness/hard cider. Vera Dotson ♣ Savings: $245.92 ♣ Edward Brash mentioned there are many ♣ Checking: $1,121.33 wineries & cider mills in the Blue Ridge Mts. WEBMASTER ♣ October password available for Ancestry.com Thomas Jefferson had crab apple trees, which Michael Lawler $10.00 were great for making cider. ♣ Mike reminded us to drop off dues anytime, ♣ Thank you to all who brought WEB SITE needed to keep IAS going! desserts...... much appreciated. IRLUSA.org ♣ Edward Brash mentioned “Oyster look for us on Facebook! Hooley”....Murphy’s Irish Pub 10/12. Submitted by: Mary Ann Bromley Glasgow Kiss, Fighting Jamison’s & Blue Grass band. THE IRISH CONNECTION Page -3

IRISH DANCE UPDATE IAS member Eileen King’s adorable granddaughter Caelin, November 2013 whom we see with her mom Heather and grandma Eileen at IAS events all the time, also competed at the ROI , which Submitted by Lynnette Fitch Brash was held in Portsmouth at the Renaissance Hotel this year. Caelin is an adorable beginner dancer in the Cumascaigh school.

The Cumascaigh School of Congratulations to dancers have Cumascaigh adult had an exciting October! dancer Amy Breidenbach Congratulations as well to Robinson who Cumascaigh adult dancer married her beau Kim Forbes Goehl who Mark Haviland this retired from the US Air October! Amy was a Force, in which she was a gorgeous bride, as you federal investigator. Kim is can see in these now looking forward to pictures from their some relaxing “country living” out in Isle of wedding day. Amy Wight County with her two sons, her and Mark and Amy’s boyfriend Mike, and his two sons. Thank daughter Anna will you, Kim, for your 18 years of service, and continue to reside in enjoy civilian life! Yorktown. Best wishes to the happy couple! Well done to Cumascaigh adult dancer Donna Looney who competed in her very See elsewhere in this issue for a feature article on EMERALD first dance competition in October at the DREAM, the new dance troupe of World Champion/ Rhythm of Feis! Donna competed professional Irish step dancers! in the adult beginner reel and adult beginner categories and won a first and a second place medal respectively. WHOO HOO!!! Way to go, Donna!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. CELTIC KITCHEN Add a small amount of water to the egg white to make an egg wash. Brush egg wash on one of the pie crusts. Pour one can of pie filling into the crust. Congratulations to Place 3 pats of butter on top of the filling and sprinkle with Patti Graeff, winner of the IAS Apple cinnamon sugar. Repeat each step with remaining pie filling, Dessert Cook Off at the July IAS meeting! pats of butter and cinnamon sugar. Judge John "JJ" Johnson chose Patti's Top the pie with the remaining crust and crimp the sides with delicious apple pie as the winner, and her a fork to seal. Poke the top crust with a fork several times or prize was the cute apple apron she is score it using a knife. wearing in this picture. This recipe is a Arrange remaining 3 pats of butter on top of pie and sprinkle keeper - enjoy! with more cinnamon sugar. Place the pie on an aluminum lined cookie sheet to catch any drippings. Mom’s Apple Pie Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour and until top is golden brown and bubbly. If the edges of the pie cook too quickly cover them (9” Pie) with torn pieces of aluminum foil. Mom raised 9 children, drove the car pool for the neighborhood, Note: For diabetics I use No Sugar Added Apple Pie Filling was the secretary to my dad’s medical practice in an era of house and a mix of Splenda with ground cinnamon. calls, and was the answering service when his patience called the A pint of vanilla ice cream takes this pie over the top. house, not his office, for medical advice. In spite of her busy schedule she always provided a home cooked meal and welcomed a recipe with ease as long as it didn’t lack on flavor. This apple Please note that we will be having another cook off for the pie, as simple as it is, was a favorite of us all. Thanks mom! November IAS meeting - this time, it is a PUMPKIN DESSERT 2 Deep Dish pie crusts CONTEST! RULES: All entries must be homemade, all entries 1 egg white must be submitted with a copy of the recipe used, and all entries 3 cans Apple Pie Filling MUST include pumpkin in the ingredients! 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, each Tbsp cut into 4 pats Cinnamon sugar Page -4 November 2013 Central Virginia Celtic Festival Save the date! We are having a Fairwell Party for our good friend & Highland Games JJ Johnson, who is leaving us for Wisconsin! We'll be getting together on Richmond October 19th 20th Saturday, Nov. 9th , - Brewery in Norfolk. Glasgow Kiss will be playing, at O'Connor's too. Please "save the date" and plan to join us!.

had the brilliant idea to get JJ Johnson Our Jr. Veep hockey pucks to use as paperweights to hold the newsletters down at the IAS Failte Table! Thanks, JJ! We decorated them with the IAS logo from some old bumper stickers. JJ also donated the Flogging Molly flag - which , he had band members sign for the IAS - toJason the permanent Wilson IAS display collection! How awesome is that?! And our banner, designed by IAS/HRHC member looks awesome, too!

Clan Norman showing the Irish pride and HRHC team spirit! THE IRISH CONNECTION Page -5

IAS OCTOBER MEETING HARVEST HOOLEY Page -6 November 2013

IAS OCTOBER MEETING HARVEST HOOLEY

Betsy Kennedy with the 1st place pumpkin (Liam's) and 2nd place pumpkin (Ellie's) and 3rd place Caelin.

The Four lads from HURLEY HAPPENINGS the Raleigh Cu Chulainn Submitted by Lynnette Fitch Brash Hurling Club plus one from the Richmond Hurling Club pose after the Hampton Roads Hurling Club was happy to share tent space hurling exhibition on Clan Row with our friends in the Irish American Society of match with the Tidewater and the Scottish Society of Tidewater at the recent HRHC. Shane, Central Virginia Celtic Festival & Highland Games. Many of second from left, the HRHC players, families, friends, and fans made the trip up played for Co. to the Richmond Raceway for a very fun weekend. There was Tipperary and good traffic by the HRHC tent/table of people interested in John, center, learning more about the sport, and many visited the HRHC played for Co. Antrim. All are super nice guys, and we were hitting cage interested in giving it a try! We were delighted to delighted they made the effort to be there! We look forward to be included on the festival web page this year http:// seeing them around at other tournaments in the Southeastern vacelticfestival.com/?page_id=153 , and hurling was mentioned Region. in two places on the festival diagram: the hurling demo area and the Newcastle Hurling & Rugby Field! http://vacelticfestival.com/?page_id=2

For the second year in a row, the Hampton Roads Hurling Club hosted an exhibition match at the Central Virginia Celtic Festival & Highland Games. This year, players from the HRHC, the Raleigh Cu Chulainn Hurling Club, and the fledgling Richmond Hurling Club took part. The participants played a fun match on a short pitch then adjourned for pints at the Guinness truck afterward. Many thanks to Rebecca Norman for officiating and to Erin Kerrick for keeping score and time. THE IRISH CONNECTION Page -7

The Princess Diaries,

Best wishes to IAS Teen Princess 2011 continued . . . November 2013 Nina Coletti, her family, and – especially – her mother, Mariellen Dowd. Mariellen – and to finally get to meet Finn, who was born in Italy, in had two successful brain surgeries this person! October on the melanoma tumors Happy birthday to IAS Adult Princess 2002 Lisa Hunt followed by radiation treatments and immuno-therapy. In Burgess, her husband Earl, and their son Fynn, all of whom addition, the tumor in her lung and one of the masses on her share October birthdays within the same week! Fynn is now a adrenal glands have been determined to be benign. Mariellen very active and adorable FOUR – perhaps you had a chat with has been working out, going on bike rides, and taking daily this bhuachail bawn at our Celtic Cousins Cook Out in walks despite all of this – Strong indeed! Prayers are September or at our October Harvest Hooley! Happy October requested. If you’d like to send a card, the Dowd address is: wedding anniversary to Lisa and Earl as well; they were John and Mariellen Dowd, 2141 Bierce Dr, Virginia Beach, VA married on the beach with a fabulous reception at the Old 23454. Cavalier Hotel 5 years ago. Newlywed IAS Adult Princess 2008 Katie Morse McCrory Very Happy Birthday wishes to our two other October-born returned from her honeymoon in Ireland only to experience a IAS Princesses, Tamara Cervi (IAS Adult Princess 2003) and terrifying day at work at the Navy Yard the following Monday. Emily Ahern (IAS Teen Princess 2002), as well! Her building was evacuated because of the homicidal maniac on Best wishes to IAS Adult Princess 2004 Lynette Gilmour a rampage. Thank goodness she is safe, and our thoughts and Crouch who fought a losing battle this October with an upper prayers go out to her colleagues who were not so lucky. respiratory infection which turned into pneumonia! UGH! Best of luck to Noah Musicant, brother of IAS Junior Princess 2012 Aubree Musicant. Noah underwent a nine-hour surgery on October 21st for scoliosis of the spine. They inserted steel rods down his back to straighten it out. Through the long surgery, extreme pain, and recurring fevers, Noah has been hanging tough. After a week or so in hospital at Portsmouth Naval Medical Center, he will be out of school at home for eight weeks recovering. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and all of Clan McKewl. We hope to see you back on your feet by your 14th birthday in November, Noah! WELCOME BACK to IAS Adult Princess 2010 Kate Collins O’Neill, hubby Tim, daughter Moira (our IAS Little Miss Princess 2010), and son Finn (see photo) who are returning to our area after being stationed in Naples for the past few years!!! This branch of Clan O’Neill will be living in Virginia Beach as of early December 2013! We are SO EXCITED to have you all back

Humane Society, where I got Opie. Poor Opie needs to fit in with the rest of his Irish-named pack! Kenna, Breccan, and CU CORNER Brody Morrissey are Hibernian hounds! [To keep the selection completely objective, e-mail Lynnette Fitch Brash your O & P Irish name suggestions, your own name, and your choice of pet charity. She will forward only the O & P Irish name suggestions to Erin. Make your submissions prior to the IAS DOG NAMING CONTEST!!! Christmas Ceili; Erin will announce the selection and winners then. Submitted by Erin Morrissey If more than one person submits the same winning O and/or P name, then the first submission wins. [email protected] ] I have an idea for an IAS contest. I adopted Opie, another beagle, and I don't like his name. He needs an Irish name(s). Let’s have a contest to come up with 2 names (that start with "O" Hear all the latest about our Hibernian hounds! and "P"). I would choose one winner for the first name (starting Feel free to submit news and/or pictures relating to Irish breed with O) and one for the middle name (starting with P). or Irish-owned dogs! I will donate $25.00 to each winner's choice of a pet charity. There could be 2 winners - 2 charities - or if there is one winner I would donate $50 to the pet charity of his/her choice. If the (Note: Cu is Gaelic for dog!) winners do not have a preference, I'll donate to the Isle of Wight Page -8 November 2013

Irish dancers worldwide will have the desire, ability, EMERALD DREAM: commitment, work ethic, and talent to be selected to dance in professional Irish dance troupes. The Emerald Dream dance A New Professional Irish Dance Troupe troupe is proud to have on their team former cast members from Featuring World Championship Level Dancers the world caliber shows , Gael Force, and Lord of the Dance. Having met on the stage at the Busch Gardens theme park Combining their years of competitive Irish dancing and Irish show, Celtic Fyre, this group has thrilled audiences for over creative performance talents, Emerald Dream was launched this four seasons and 2,000 performances. Emerald Dream has year by six professional show dancers. They are available for fused all their passions together to keep the rhythms and events in the Tidewater region, so if you have a wedding, sounds of Irish dancing alive. retirement, birthday, or other event where you want to add [President’s Note: We are especially proud to have two some memorable Irish dancers who got their start at local Irish dance schools flair, consider hiring represented in EMERALD DREAM. TIAS Teen Princess 2005 Emerald Dream to Sara Rhodes started her Irish dance career as a dancer with perform to make it Heather Mailey-Esposito in An Cor Rud/The Reel Thing extra special! Call School of Irish Dance, and Kelly Witherspoon began her Irish 757-254-6677 for dance career as a dancer with Debbie Souza in the Rhythm of booking information. Ireland. Nice to see little girls who started their Irish dance When the Irish dreams locally in Virginia Beach make it to the World show Riverdance Championships and professional Irish dance careers as very debuted in 1994, some talented young women! LFB] of the Emerald Dream cast members were just beginner dancers trying to learn the rhythms and intricacies of Irish dancing.

L-R, Sara Rhodes, Mairead Stillson, Rachael Harris (from Co. Derry), and Ryan McCarthy. Emerald Dream dancers Scott (who injured right before) and Kelly (who Irish American was out of town) did not dance at the Sandler Center performance where this picture was taken backstage Society ofTidewater These students of dance, however, excelled well beyond the classroom, eventually making it to the World Championship competitive stages in cities like Dublin, Kilkenny, Belfast, Glasgow, Boston, and Philadelphia, and producing Grand Irish Breakfast three World Medal holders. Four of the members were top 10 winners in the North Sunday November 17th 2013 American Irish Dance Championships, and all have at been on the podium at their 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Regional , with four as Champions of their region. Taking their dancing The price will be skills further, two have $13.00 per person. earned the coveted Irish Tax and gratuity are not included. Dance Teaching License, TCRG (Teagascoir Chimisiuin le Murphy's Grand Irish Pub Rinci Gaelacha). corner of 30th & Pacific Avenues, Only a small percentage of all Virginia Beach

IAS Teen Princess 2005 Sara Rhodes, one of the EMERALD DREAM dancers, competing at the World Championships of Irish Dance in Boston, March 2013. Photo by Shamrock Photos.