The Blarney Issue 30 Volume 4 Official Newsletter of the Irish Sports & Social Society July - August 2017

a Day Canad 150 Years Saturday

July 1, 2017 Snow Cones Club opens at 1:00 pm

Family BBQ starts at 5:00 pm

Face painting for the kids - 5:00 - 7:00 pm Country singer “Ryan Snow” will be here at the Irish Centre for the first time to entertain us with his fabulous music for the remainder of the evening!

Come celebrate Canada Day here at the Irish Centre! EXECUTIVE Club Facilities for Rent Are you looking for a location to hold a party - birthday, Contact Numbers anniversary, wedding or any other special celebration? Facility bookings President Why not have it here? Melanie - 780-233-7558 We are available to both members (discounted price) and Martin Doyle non-members and can accommodate up to 150 people. Catering 780-419-2951 Janet Wilde - 780-476-0215 [email protected] Need catering? No problem, our kitchen caters parties Vice President large and small at very reasonable costs. Blarney (Submissions, advertising, pictures) Janet Wilde Your function can also be booked on evenings Siobhan MacQueen - [email protected] 780-476-0215 when entertainment has been scheduled. [email protected] Secretary For availability contact Melanie at 780-233-7558 Kimberly Budd 780-919-7689 [email protected] Treasurer Rory Brady 780-720-3010 [email protected] Cultural Director Vacant

Social Director Melanie Regan 780-233-7558 [email protected] Sports Director Paul Hawthorn 780-757-3554 [email protected] Member-at-Large The Dark Hedges is a unique stretch of the Bregagh Road near Armoy, in Ireland. Over the past 300 years or so, the Beech trees guarding either side of the lane have reached up and across to each other, becoming heavily Anita Nixon 780-457-1605 intertwined to create a natural arched tunnel where shadow and light plays through entwined branches. [email protected] This beautiful avenue of beech trees was planted by the Stuart family in the eighteenth century. It was intended Trustees as a compelling landscape feature to impress visitors as they approached the entrance to their Georgian mansion, Gracehill House, which is now a golf club. Two centuries later, the trees remain a magnificent sight and have Seamus Donaghy become one of the most photographed natural phenomena in Northern Ireland. 780-489-7402 [email protected] Legend tells that a supernatural ‘Grey Lady’ haunts the thin ribbon of road that winds beneath the ancient Bill McGuire beech trees. She silently glides along the roadside and vanishes as she passes the last beech tree. Some say the 780-451-1721 spectre is the ghost of a maid from the nearby house who died in mysterious circumstances centuries ago. [email protected] Others believe that she is a lost spirit from an abandoned graveyard that is thought to lie hidden in the fields nearby. On Halloween night, the forgotten graves are said to open and the Grey Lady is joined on her walk by Ted Nesdole the tormented souls of those who were buried beside her. 780-232-7645 [email protected] Past President Stephen McElhatton 780-919-8241 2017 MEMBERSHIPS [email protected] TASTE 2017 Membership applications are now available. OF HOME Our membership year is from Jan. 1st - Dec. 31st Boxes of frozen pork available Irish Club Hours Don’t forget to renew … fill in your form and Each box 40-50 lbs @ $6/lb Kitchen Hours return it, along with payment to the Irish Centre. Includes ham, chops, boiling bacon, Wed. 4 pm - 11 pm Wed. 4 pm - 9 pm (Please do not send cash in the mail) Irish rashers, pork sausage and Thurs. 4 pm - 11 pm Thurs. 4 pm - 11 pm ham sausage Fri. 4 pm - 1 am Fri. 4 pm - 11 pm If you have any questions or concerns Sat. 12 pm - 2 am Delivery to the Irish club for pick-up Sat. 4 pm - 11 pm please contact Kimberly Budd Sun. 1 pm - 9 pm Sun. 3 pm - 7 pm Contact Mick & Erin O’Toole Closed on Holidays 780-919-7689 or [email protected] [email protected] Closed on Holidays

Irish Centre 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 Entertainment Social Director: Melanie Regan Phone: 780-233-7558 Email: [email protected]

JULY Ryan Snow Sat. 1 Ryan Snow Saturday Sat. 8 Semi-private function July 1st 7:00 pm Sat. 15 Semi-private function First time at the Irish Centre! Sat. 22 Open Dust off those cowboy boots and drop in to listen and dance to this young AUGUST country singer. (No Cover) Sat. 5 Heritage Days weekend

Sat. 12 Four Men & A Dog in Concert (ticket holders only} Four Men & A Dog in Concert Sat. 19 Open Saturday Sat. 26 Open August 12th Doors: 6:00 pm SEPTEMBER Concert: 8:00 pm Sat. 2 Labour Day weekend Tickets: $30.00

Semi-private function : The Irish Centre is "If you can imagine Elvis Presley’s early rock and roll years set to bodhrán & fiddle, then booked for a special event but we are still open you have a pretty good idea of 4 Men & A Dog" Hot Press Magazine, Ireland's biggest to our members. music magazine. Gino Lupari - one of the best (bodhrán) players in the world. Sponsored in part by Cathal Hayden (fiddle and banjo) "as fast as greased lightning" Irish Music Magazine Kevin Doherty (guitar, vocals) "just keeps getting better and better" Irish Times Donal Murphy - multiple (accordion) All-Ireland Champion. Stephen Hayden (fiddle) comes from a family steeped in traditional fiddle music in Co. Tyrone.

Junior Ambassador Needed ISSS Family BBQ & Sports Day The Irish Centre is looking for young people (male & female) between the ages of 14 - 17 to represent the Irish Pavilion at Sunday the 2017 Heritage Days Festival. August 27 The primary responsibilities include: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm - must wear cultural clothing (dance costumes/kilts); Coronation Park, Site #2 - must be available during the festival (Aug. 3 - 7); 11425-142 Street - Thurs. Aug. 3 - President's Reception parade; Summer always flies by too quickly. So, to take advantage of - Sat. Aug. 5 - Opening singing of O Canada (you will not the green grass and warm sun we are organizing our annual be required to actually sing); and members’ summer family fun day! - other items over the course of the weekend (Heritage Join us for burgers/hot dogs (with all the fixings), chips and a Days committee will send out further information). drink. There will be games for all ages - or just come and watch and enjoy a day out with good food, family and friends. If you know of anyone who would be interested and are able to meet the primary responsibilities, please have them sign up using the link below... For more info contact Melanie Regan @ 780-233-7558 https://marcatoapp.com/forms/ehfa/juniorambassador/new Thanking you in advance Anita Nixon (On behalf of the ISSS Executive)

Issue 30 Volume 4 Official Newsletter of the Irish Sports & Social Society July -August 2017 Announcements, Events & Notices

BEREAVEMENTS Edmonton Irish Sports & Social Society Our deepest sympathy to the family, friends and loved ones of our members who have Mike McDonnell recently passed away. Scholarship Fund

The Mike McDonnell Scholarship Fund was established in memory of May the road rise up to meet you, Michael McDonnell and the significant contribution he made, in his may the wind always be at your , ck. short life, to the Irish Sports and Social Society. May the sun shine warm upon your face and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, The fund was established to provide financial assistance to members may God hold you in the palm of His hand. or the dependents of members in good standing of the Society who We would also like to extend our well-wishes and have been accepted to a post secondary educational facility (i.e. prayers to any member who is feeling under the weather. University, College, or Technology Institute). Get well soon ... you are in our thoughts. A scholarship may also be awarded to those who are making an extraordinary contribution in the field of Irish Culture or in the field of sports. Steve Conneely Memorial The 2017 Scholarship will be awarded to the successful Golf Tournament candidate/candidates on Saturday November 18th, 2017. Applications are now available at the Bar. We will be accepting applications until July 16, 2017 the deadline of October 7, 2017. Hunter’s Green Golf Course The McDonnell Scholarship Committee for 2017 are as follows: Isobel Texas Scramble - shotgun start at 10:00 am Nesdole, representing the McDonnell family; Anita Nixon, Four (4) players/team. Sign up at the bar with team representing the Executive of the Irish Sports & Social Society and members names and fees (cash). No pay, no play! Bonnie McGuire, representing the membership of the Irish Sports & Deadline July 9th Social Society. Cost: $80.00/player (includes steak dinner at the Irish For further information please contact Isobel Nesdole Centre) $22.00 Steak Dinner only. 780-916-9691. If you have anything you would like to donate as prizes or to raffle with proceeds going to the Heart & Stroke Foundation in Steve’s name please contact: Scholarship criteria on following page. Paul Hawthorn @ [email protected] or Denise Howie @ [email protected]

Summer Events

JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER Jun 20 - Freewill Shakespeare Festival Aug 4-6 Blueberry Bluegrass Festival Aug 31 - Symphony under (Stony Plain, AB) July 16 (Hawrelak Park) Sept 3 the Sky (Hawrelak Park) Aug 5-7 Heritage Days July 1 Canada Day 150 (Hawrelak Park) Sept 15-17 Kaleido Family Arts July 7-16 Street Performers Festival Aug 8-12 Rock'n August Festival (Churchill Square) (St. Albert) (Alberta Avenue) July 13-17 Alberta Indigenous Games Aug 10-13 Edmonton Folk Festival () (Gallagher Park) July 20-29 A Taste of Edmonton Aug 11-13 Cariwest (Churchill Square) (Downtown) July 21 K-Days Parade Aug 17-27 Edmonton Fringe Festival (Downtown @ 10:00 am) () July 21-30 K-Days Aug 18-19 Edmonton Rock Music (Northlands) Festival July 21-23 Interstellar Rodeo Aug 19-20 Edmonton Air Show (Hawrelak Park) Aug 25-27 Edmonton Blues Festival (Hawrelak Park)

Issue 30 Volume 4 Official Newsletter of the Irish Sports & Social Society July - August 2017 Edmonton Irish Sports and Social Society Western Canada Rose Mike McDonnell Scholarship Fund Application Criteria: · The applicant must be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident; · The applicant must be between 18-25 years of age; · The applicant must be a full-time student; · Recipients will be limited to those accepted to a university, college or technical institution; Congratulations to Sinead McGahern on being chosen as our 2017 · The applicant must be a member, in good standings, of Western Canada Rose representative for the Rose of Tralee! the Irish Sports & Social Society for the year in which the Scholarship Application applies; (2017). The Western Canada Rose Selection night was a very successful evening hosted by the Irish Club with applicants coming in from · The applicant must have held, in good standing, a Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. All Rose membership to the Irish Sports & Social Society for at applicants were successful, high achieving, young Irish ladies who least one year immediately prior to the year in which have made our centre proud. Good Luck to Sinead heading off to the scholarship application applies (2016). Tralee for the Rose festival in August! Application Requirements; Please note an application can be denied if the following requirements are not provided Ø Rose entrants posing with All sections of the application pertaining to your request Molly Fogarty, our 2016 must be completed; Western Canada Rose. Ø The application must be dated and signed by the (L-R) Alyssa Caughy, Blair MacDonald, Gretzie Parth, Kira Charanduk, Sinead applicant; McGahern, and Vanessa Sullivan. Ø Responses must be clear and easy to read. If you wish to provide additional information, please feel free to attach a separate page; Ø Completed Applications will be accepted through the postal mail or they can be dropped off in a sealed envelope marked ‘confidential’ and addressed to ‘The Since the passing of Moira Quirke, her daughter Katherine Quirke Mike McDonnell Scholarship’ to the following (2009 Western Canada Rose) and address: Katie Doolie have stepped in to Irish Sports and Social Society continue her passion - the Western 12546 – 126 ST NW Canada Rose. Edmonton AB T5L 0X3 (L-R) Katherine, Sinead and Katie

Ø All applications must be submitted by the application deadline date (Oct. 7 2017) set by the McDonnell Scholarship committee; Ø All applicants must submit the following with their application: o In the event of ‘sports’ or ‘culture’ a letter of invitation Sinead proudly stands between (from the sports team or cultural event) addressed our RCMP escorts. directly to the applicant, personally inviting them to attend; o A letter/notice of acceptance to a post-secondary educational facility; o An essay of approximately 500 words on your choice of Sinead gets quick photo with a topic related to: Susan McKenna, an avid supporter and volunteer for the § Irish Immigration to Canada, or the impact on your life Western Canada Rose and the as a result of the immigration. Irish Centre. § Describing a difficulty that you have had to overcome; § What famous person, dead or alive, would you like to talk to and explain why; or § A topic of your choice. Martin Doyle, ISSS President, takes a moment for a picture Get an Application with the 2017 Western Canada Rose, Sinead McGahern. Pick up at the Irish Centre, 12546-126 Street (ask at bar) Irish Centre 12546-126 Street 780-453-2249

July 2017 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 1 Canada Day 2 Ryan Snow

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August 2017 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 Heritage Days Heritage Days

7 Civic Day 8 9 10 11 12 13 Heritage Days Four Men & A Dog in Concert 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Family BBQ & Sports Day 28 29 30 31

September 2017 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3

4 Labour Day 5 6 7 8 9 10

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