MOHAWK VALLEY IRISH CULTURAL

Volume 13, Issue 9 EVENTS NEWSLETTER Sept 2016

Celebrating the Feast Month of Septibáeth

As we all know, the month of September is named after the Celtic deity, Septibáeth, the god of good music, ice- cold beer and hair-removing wristbands, and… Okay, that is a total lie. But September in Central New York is historically known for all that, and this year is no different. In this month alone, there are no less than six Irish or Scottish festivals or cultural events, a burgeoning local music scene, and rare area appearances by some of the most talented performance artists around. So without further ado, let’s jump right into the events of the month.

Capital District Scottish Games (Sept 3-4) The Altamont Fairgrounds will be alive with the sounds of bagpipes, the excitement of Celtic food and the smell of Scottish competition. Wait, it’s the other way around. Entertainment will be provided by The Brigadoons, Get Up Jack, Daimh (winner of “Folk Band of the Year” at the Scottish Traditional Music ), McKrell and more. Inaugurated in 1978, this fun event runs from 8 AM – 9 PM on Sat and from 9 AM – 7 PM Sun. Tickets to the games are $22 for Sat, $12 for Sun, and kids under 12 are free. The Altamont Fairgrounds is… are?... located at 129 Grand, in Altamont, NY.

Syracuse Irish Festival (Sept 9-10) On September 9-10, the Syracuse Irish Festival once again takes to the streets. In total, performances will take place on two separate stages in Clinton Square by such Celtic and Irish bands as The Elders, The TownPants, Searson, Moxie Strings, the Blarney Rebel Band, the Led Farmers and others. Irish cultural activities and presentations will take place all weekend. The festival, which runs from 5 to 11 on Friday and 11 AM to 11 PM on Saturday, is free. For more info, check their web site.

Rochester Celtic Festival (Sept 12-13) Started in 1994, the Rochester Irish Festival is committed to the ideal of staging an event in an atmosphere conducive to and children, with entertainment that is dynamic, vibrant and energetic. This year’s lineup includes Glengarry Bhoys, 1916, Linda Rutherford and Celtic Fire, Barry’s Crossing, Sisters of Murphy and others. For more information, check here. Tickets are $6 each day and children under 12 are free.

Elmira Irish Festival (Sept 10) The Elmira Hibernian-sponsored 16th Annual Halfway to St Patrick’s Day Irish Festival will be held this year from 2 to 11 PM on September 10th, at the Hibernian Center grounds at 701 Kinyon St on Elmira’s Southside. Admission is $2. This year’s festival features Pat Kane and West O’Clare, BAT 21, The Stoutmen, The Porters, pipers and more.

Irish 2000 Music and Arts Festival (Sept 16-17) The 20th annual Irish 2000 Music and Arts Festival will take place at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds in Ballston Spa, N.Y., on Sept. 16-17, 2016. Gates open at 4 PM on Friday and 11 AM on Saturday. Performers include Gaelic Storm, The Screaming Orphans, Kilmaine Saints, The Peelers, Shilelagh Law, Hair of the Dog, The Blarney Rebel Band and many more. Tickets for the festival are: Friday, $20 at the gate ($16 in advance), Saturday, $25 at the gate ($18 in advance), with a special 2-Day Pass available for $29; advance only. Kids 12 and under are free. For more information, visit their web site.

8th Hudson Valley Irish Fest (Sept 24) The Hudson Valley Irish Festival will feature performances by Kitty Kelly, the Narrowbacks, pipers, dancers and more. The festival, held on the majestic banks of the Hudson River at Peekskill’s Riverfront Green Park, runs from 11 AM to 7 PM. Admission is $10.

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Who is the Greatest Irish Woman? by Sue Romero

In September 2014 the Irish Independent polled its 100,000+ readers, asking who they thought was the “Greatest Irish Woman” from a list of 100 notable candidates living in the present day back to ancient times. Of all those Irish women, Sr. Stanislaus Kennedy came in number one. So, for this month’s series installment I thought I would explore a little about this woman who is so popular among today’s Irish people.

The Seeds of Mystery and Mission

Treasa Kennedy grew up with her four siblings in a traditionally Catholic family on a farm in Lispole on the Dingle Peninsula. On her website she describes those early days pretty much as we imagine an idyllic Irish peasant life to be. “In my early childhood, there was story-telling and card-playing in place of radio, cinema and television. It was a life of mystery, beauty and simplicity...whether saving the hay, telling the time from the sun and the tide, catching trout and salmon, going to stations, wakes, funerals, marriages, walking under hedges dripping with fuchsia, cutting and footing the turf or bringing tea to the fields or the bog.”

But growing up during the Depression and World War II, she also saw poverty that drove many of her neighbors from their homes and land. She felt drawn to help people like them.

Taking Action Toward Solutions

In 1958, when she was 18, she joined the congregation of Religious Sisters of Charity and took the Stanislaus with her vows. Now affectionately known as Sr. Stan, she is well-known and well-loved for her vigorous work for more than five decades of helping Irish people who have fallen on hard times, especially those who are homeless.

Beginning in Kilkenny, she worked with Bishop Peter Birch to develop Kilkenny Social Services in the 1960s. It was an innovative model of community care, which became a blueprint for other programs like it throughout Ireland. She also served with Irish and European government commissions on poverty.

But she is probably most respected for founding Focus Ireland in 1985. As the largest not-for-profit in Ireland addressing homelessness, Focus works to prevent families from losing their homes in the first place and helps to get people already homeless back on their feet. They also advocate for changes in Irish laws to solve the root problems that cause homelessness.

Branching out still further, Sr. Stan established the Immigrant Council of Ireland, an independent national organization working to promote the rights of immigrants through information, advocacy and legal aid, and Young Social Innovators, an organization which offers opportunities for students to become involved in social issues.

Inspired Activism

With all of her organizations, Sr. Stan has touched many lives, which I think explains the number of votes that won her first place in the polling. Her energy to accomplish all this comes from a deep spirituality. In a 2013 newspaper interview, Sr. Stan described a typical morning for her, “I rise at 5:45 AM, meditate for an hour, go to Mass and walk the dog — that’s all done by 8:30 AM. I make space for prayer and meditation again in the middle of the day and again at night.”

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In 1998 Sr. Stan founded The Sanctuary in Dublin. Described on its website as “a place where people can find a quiet space and time for themselves to explore and develop their inner world and wisdom and find stillness,” the center offers classes in meditation, yoga and mindfulness, among other things.

“I believe in the power of meditation and in its capacity to help us to become aware, to become present in the world and with nature. And to be present with suffering without being overwhelmed by it,” she said.

Still Speaking Out

And now in her 70s she’s still speaking out on behalf of the poor. Sadly, despite decades of work on the problem by Focus and other organizations, homelessness has risen sharply in Ireland recently. A lingering economic recession and a trend of rising rents has put many more families out of their homes.

In September 2015, after Focus recorded a 71% increase in homeless children in Dublin in just a few months, Sr. Stan called for an increase in rent supplements to prevent families becoming homeless.

“I am making a direct appeal to Taoiseach Enda Kenny to knock heads together including Nama, developers, local authorities, etc., as well as his ministers and top civil servants, to set up an emergency task force to replace rhetoric with real actions. By showing leadership now we can offer some hope to those facing desperation,” she told the Irish Times.

Though it’s pleasant for us in America to imagine Ireland as the idyllic place of tourist dreams, like all countries it has its social problems. I think it’s good to know there are people like this feisty Irish sister who have a heart for the poor and are not afraid to work hard to help. And that is probably why she’s admired enough by the Irish people to be voted the Greatest Irish Woman.

The Irish Independent’s list also had many more interesting candidates, so stay tuned for more stories in this series.

Calan: Celtic Music from Wales

On Sept 30th, the Old Songs Concert Series welcomes back Calan, an exciting young band from Wales. Calan – “the ambassadors of Welsh Cool” -- bring together the remarkable talents of five young musicians who give a fresh and vibrant sound to traditional Welsh music. With a contemporary and lively approach, they breathe new life into the old traditions through their sparkling melodies, foot tapping tunes and spirited and energetic performances of Welsh step dancing. Fiddles, guitar, accordion, bagpipes and step dancing give way to beautiful and haunting songs, mixing traditional Welsh melodies and brand new original material.

Despite the ancient roots of their music, the band sees themselves as a new generation of ambassadors, striving to take their new sound to new audiences, while raising the profile of Welsh traditional music on an international level. With their unique instrumental blend of accordion, fiddle, guitar, Welsh pipes, Welsh harp and the percussive sound of the Welsh clogs, Calan have certainly found their musical niche, and their plan is to continue to delight audiences far and wide. But don’t take it from me; check out for yourself the band that BBC Wales describes as “…energy, attitude, freshness, a sense of fun, and above all real talent.”

Tickets for the 7:30 PM show are $23. Old Songs is located at 37 South Main St. in Voorheesville, NY.

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Good For You, Arthur Guinness!

We at MVICE would like wish a happy birthday to one of the greatest and most important figures in all of Irish history, who would have celebrated his 291st birthday on September 24. Or September 28. Or maybe the 23rd? Whichever date it was, once this man made his mark (and al and beth), nothing was ever the same again.

We’re referring, of course, to Sir Arthur Guinness, who was born on one of those dates in 1725. Maybe.

Arthur Guinness was born near Celbridge, county Kildare where his father, Richard Guinness, was Land Steward to Dr. Arthur Price, Archbishop of Cashel. Part of Richard’s duties was to supervise the brewing of beer for the workers on the estate and young Arthur first learned the art of brewing from his father. In 1759, using £100 that had been left him in the Archbishop’s will, Arthur opened a small brewery in nearby Leixlip. In 1759, he left the brewery to his younger brother and set out to try his luck in the capital city of Dublin.

Once he found a brewery he thought suitable – just four acres in size, disused, and with little brewing equipment – Arthur signed one of the most famous leases in history, a 9000-year lease for the St. James’s Gate Brewery, Dublin, at an annual rent of £45. By the 1830s, St. James’s Gate Brewery was the largest brewery in Ireland and by 1914 was the largest in the world, covering 64 acres. Guinness is still brewed at St. James’s Gate, and the company still pays £45 in rent each year. Presumably, though, rent will go up in the year 10,759.

Incidentally, the famous slogan “Guinness Is Good For You” may not be hyperbole. At just 4.2%, it contains less alcohol by volume than an average draft, which contains 5% ABV. Furthermore, at 125 calories per 12 oz. serving, Guinness is among the least fattening of all major beers, including Budweiser, Coors, Heineken, Michelob, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Sam Adams Boston Lager, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, and, yes, even Utica Club. Most important, it also may improve performance in other areas: Arthur and his wife Olivia had 21 children.

So anyway, back to the birthday boy. Social issues were paramount to Arthur, who donated to charities, worked to ensure health care for the poor, promoted Gaelic culture, and advocated for religious tolerance. In addition, he implemented unheard of improvements in working conditions for his employees, including health insurance, subsidized meals, pensions, higher wages, and more. So it appears that Sir Arthur not only made a darn good beer, but was a darn good guy.

In 2009, the company created a special Arthur’s Day, not to mark his birthday as is sometimes claimed, but to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the lease on St. James’s Gate. Although decried by many as a marketing ploy, thousands of fans across every continent celebrated with a simultaneous toast to Arthur. While the celebration was suspended after the 2013 festivities, that doesn’t mean we have to abstain from raising a pint in Sir Arthur’s honor.

The only problem, of course, is that if there is no consensus as to the actual birthday, how do we know which day to toast Sir Arthur Guinness? The solution: do it every day. Of course, we don’t know whether he was born in the morning, afternoon or evening, so just to be safe… Superbly poured pints from the incredible Owen from McGrath’s Irish Pub in Killington, VT.

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Barrule: Celtic Music from the Isle of Man

On September 22nd, the Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library welcomes an exciting new traditional trio, Barrule, wrapping up first North American tour. Barrule -- front-man and accordion wizard Jamie Smith, gifted young fiddle-player Tomas Callister and versatile accompanist Adam Rhodes on bouzouki – only recently stepped out as an official trio, having honed their chops as session players of traditional Manx music from the Isle of Man. Steeped in the history and mythology of its Celtic and Viking ancestry, the Isle of Man sits quietly in the Irish Sea. Continuously self-governed since its parliament was created by Viking invaders over a thousand years ago, few people outside the Isle of Man know of this singular culture: a language and music so nearly lost, born through recent generations on the tongues of a mere handful of families, it now grows strong again.

Named after the famous Manx summit where legend says the ancient Celtic God Manannan MacLir (we didn’t make that one up) stalked his mighty fortress, Barrule fuses three distinct musical forces to create a powerful and wholly distinctive sound. The result is a fresh approach to traditional Manx music that evokes an atmosphere that reflects the diverse natural beauty of the island; from rousing marches, jigs and reels to sorrowful slow airs and beautiful songs sung in both English and the Manx Gaelic language. Stories are told of ancient Celtic Gods, of unrequited love, of the toils of island life. And always the sea is close by.

The performance, part of the Folklife Concert Series, is produced and hosted by the Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library in the community room downstairs off the Library’s Glen Street entrance, and is free to the public (made possible with funds from the Friends of Crandall Public Library, and the New York State Council on the Arts’ Folk Arts Program with the support of Governor Cuomo and the NYS Legislature). The Crandall Public Library is located at 251 Glen Street in Glens Falls. Don’t miss this great opportunity to see the trio that people are calling “the Celtic World’s best kept secret.”

Irish Singer and Storyteller to Perform in Clinton

On Wednesday September 21, the Kirkland Art Center plays host to one of Ireland’s most celebrated entertainers, singer/storyteller Helena Byrne. Combining her love of Irish folklore and passion for Irish music, Helena regularly performs as a seanchaí (storyteller) and singer in Dublin and further afield. Her storytelling interweaves tales of the Other World and the mysterious Fairy Folk with traditional Irish songs and wonderful insights into the Irish life of days gone by. Hailing from Kilkenny, Ireland, Helena has performed with well-known artists such as James Taylor and Moya Brennan. She is the voice of An Evening of Food, Folklore and Fairies, an event that is ranked #1 of Trip Advisor's 72 concerts and shows in Dublin.

Tickets for the 6:30 PM show are $10, and are available at Eventbrite, or by contacting Chris Hoke at (315) 827- 4291 or [email protected], or Colleen Martin at (315) 525-6618; email: [email protected]. Seating is limited in this intimate setting, and tickets are expected to go quickly. Call now and let talented singer, songwriter, and storyteller Helena Byrne transport you to a magical Celtic world.

This event is sponsored by the Utica chapter of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Craobh Dugan, whose goal is to preserve and promote Irish culture in the Mohawk Valley.

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Remsen Arts Center Presents Craobh Dugan in Concert

The Remsen Performing and Visual Arts Center (9627 Main Street, Remsen) continues its tradition of supporting local artists/musicians as they welcome the Irish traditional instrumental group, Craobh Dugan, for a very special performance, on Friday September 16, 2016. Attendees can expect an assortment of reels, jigs, slides, slip jigs, hornpipes, mazurkas, and polkas, performed by highly skilled musicians on fiddle, bouzouki, flute, bodhran, guitar, harp, mandolin, tin whistle, and banjo. In addition, their Ceili dancers put on a nice show of traditional Irish folk dancing. Admission to the 7 PM concert is $8.

Craobh Dugan (pronounced “crave dugan”) is the “Dugan Branch” of the international organization Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, having been established in 1978 by the late Frank and Pat Dugan of Clinton to promote traditional Irish music, song, dance and language. The group has performed at various venues such as the Rome Capital Theater Celtic Festival, the Great American Irish Festival, St. Patrick’s Day parade, Clinton Art & Music Festival, St. Johns Annual Irish party, the Lock 20 Irish day celebration, and the Town of Westernville Annual Heritage Days. They also host two monthly open sessions at local pubs, weekly Irish dance workshops, and instruction classes. For more info on Craobh Dugan, visit their website at www.uticairish.org.

From the Irish Kitchen (recipes suitable for clipping)

This month’s recipe – “Apple Scone Cake” - This one is good all year long, but better in the fall, wherever you can find Granny Smith apples.

INGREDIENTS:

Cake 1/2 cup milk, divided 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1/2 cup granulated sugar Filling 1 teaspoon baking powder 3/4 lb granny smith apple, peeled, cored, and 1/4 teaspoon salt cut into 1 inch chunks 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cut into pieces 2 -3 tablespoons white sugar 2 large eggs, divided 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

METHOD

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place rack in center of oven; that’s hot! I mean place rack in center of oven that’s hot. Prepare a 9 inch glass pie plate with cooking spray. In a small bowl whisk together one egg and 1 tablespoon from the 1/2 cup milk. Set this aside as it will be used as a glaze for the top of the cake. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut the butter into small pieces and blend into the flour mixture with a pastry blender or two knives. You should have a coarse crumbly texture. In a separate small bowl whisk together the remaining egg, remaining milk, and vanilla extract and add to the flour mixture, stirring just until the dough comes together. Do not overmix the dough as it will make the final product tough and dry. Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead dough gently four or five times and then divide the dough in half (aka “The Divorce Settlement”). Pat one half of the dough onto the bottom and up the sides of the pie plate. In a separate bowl toss together the cut apples, sugar and cinnamon. Spread the apples evenly over the bottom of the dough in the pie plate. Roll the remaining dough into a 9 inch circle, on a lightly floured surface, and gently place the dough over the apples. With your fingers seal the edges of the top and bottom crusts. Brush the top of the dough with the egg and milk glaze, and sprinkle with white sugar. Cut a slit in the center of the dough to allow the steam to escape. Bake in the preheated oven for about 40 - 45 minutes or until the pastry is nicely browned and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Serve warm with a dollop of frozen vanilla yogurt.

If you try this recipe, feel free to share your experience with all of us. As always, if you have a recipe you’d like to share, please contact Beth Loftis at [email protected].

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“Bog Child” -- Book Review by Mark Sisti

The time is the 1980s; the place is the border separating Northern Ireland from the republic. 16-year-old Fergus McCann and his uncle are poaching turf near the border when they make a gruesome discovery, the body of a small girl.

And thus the stage is set for all that follows in “Bog Child,” a mesmerizing and insightful coming-of-age story by the late Dowd.

At first the natural assumption is that the girl was a victim of The Troubles, but subsequent research reveals that the corpse actually dates back to around AD 80, still intact due to the preservative nature of the bog. As a result of having discovered – and saved – the body, Fergus becomes part of the archeological team studying the girl.

Fergus has all the typical problems facing children on the verge of adulthood – studying for his final exams, frustration with his dead-end hometown, questions about his future – but his problems run deeper than most. His older brother is incarcerated because of his involvement with the Irish Republican Army and has joined in a hunger strike that has already killed Bobby Sands. Joe’s participation in the hunger strike is causing strife in his family, and Fergus and his mother visit Joe and argue (unsuccessfully) with him to change his course. News reports of shootings and bombings, and the guarded outpost he passes every morning during his runs are constant reminders of the dangerous world he inhabits.

Fergus is approached by a friend with an offer: if Fergus will transport mysterious packets during his long morning runs, this friend promises to speak to the IRA leadership about convincing Joe to end his hunger strike. Despite his belief that he may be helping to kill innocent people, Fergus reluctantly agrees. During these runs he gradually strikes up a wary friendship with the border guard, Owain, when he discovers, not surprisingly, that the two have more things in common than they do differences.

Meanwhile, the examination into the “Bog Child” is illuminating, both to the scientists and to Fergus, who is developing a romantic attachment to the daughter of the woman heading the archeological team. A rope discovered around the girl’s neck may have been a noose, suggesting a ritual sacrifice, and that possibility becomes more likely when it turns out the girl was not a child, as originally believed.

Fergus has discovered a form of psychic/empathetic connection with the girl, who becomes “Mel” to him and to the research team, and we see much of her story develop through flashbacks and dreams. But the connection between Mel and Fergus goes beyond a mere plot device. The intertwined stories both deal with protagonists feeling the need to sacrifice themselves for the greater good, and with the societal need for scapegoats. Despite the dark sadness underlying both tales, the overriding feeling is optimistic, as both characters find that the only hope may lie in the redemptive power of love.

It may sound cheesy, but in Dowd's masterful hands, it works. It is passionate and emotionally gripping without any hint of sentimentality. There’s romance, there’s adventure, there’s depth and maturity, and there are even some unexpected twists, one humorous and another quite serious.

This is classified under the Young Adult section, but don’t be misled. There is nothing juvenile about this book, not the themes, not the character treatment, and certainly not the quality of writing. One of my more common gripes about even the best youth fiction is a tendency of the authors to write down to what they perceive their audience to be. This is not the case with this unapologetically intelligent novel. These are serious issues dealt with in a mature and thoughtful manner. The young characters do not come off as some adult’s idea of how young people think; the writing reveals a true understanding of the turmoil and confusion faced at that age. There is realistic treatment of topics not generally broached in youth fiction: people die; teenagers smoke and drink and swear and even – gasp – think about sex. Above all that, the writing is superb, beautifully lyrical with never a wasted or superfluous word. In some ways, this reminded me of Roddy Doyle’s brilliant, “Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha,” which regular readers of these reviews will recognize as the highest praise.

Tragically, Siobhan Dowd passed away at the age of 47 before this book was published. Based on this and two - winning books published previously, it’s safe to say the literary world is considerably lessened by her passing. There is too much to say about this book to fit into a one-page review, but I would strongly suggest you discover it yourself; this book deserves to be read.

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Craobh Dugan “Tune of the Month” – The Atholl Highlanders by Skip Mansur

Feeling a bit Highlanderish this month… “Highlander” is referred to by at least two Hollywood films, one of the same name and of course Braveheart. The highlands these films refer to is an area that roughly encompasses the northwest half of Scotland, with the southeastern part referred to as “the lowlands.” The name of A' Ghàidhealtachd literally means “the place of the ” and traditionally, from a Gaelic-speaking point of view, includes both the Western Isles and the Highlands. The area is very sparsely populated, with many mountain ranges dominating the region, and includes the highest mountain in the British Isles, Ben Nevis (4,400 ft). As noted in Wikipedia, Atholl is a Dukedom in the southern part of the highlands, near Perth, and it also gives its name to the Atholl Highlanders, a regiment which dates to the formation of the 77th Regiment of Foot by the 4th Duke of Atholl in 1777. The regiment was formed as a relief for other regiments serving in , and spent most of its existence in Ireland. The terms upon which the regiment was raised stated that the men were to be employed for either three years or the duration of the war in America. The regiment wears the tartan of the Clan Murray of Atholl. At least two towns in America (in Massachusetts and Idaho) take their from Atholl. Atholl Highlanders

According to the Fiddler’s Companion, “The name Athole (or Atholl) derives from the Gaelic ath Fodla, generally translated as New Ireland, and stems from the first invasion of the northern land by the Irish tribe the Scots in the 7th century (Matthews, 1972). The tune, described sometimes as a Scottish warpipes melody, is dedicated to the private army of the Duke of Atholl, the last private army still legally existing {albeit on a token level} in the British Isles. Musically, the tune contains a characteristic melodic cliché in Scottish music in which a figure is followed by the same or a related figure on the triad one tone below or above (Emmerson, 1971).” “The tune was later taken up as a march past by the 2nd Battalion of the Cameronians, the 90th Light Infantry, who over the years had shed their Scottish origins. However, when pipers were introduced in 1881 they recollected their Perthshire origins and chose to play “The Atholl Highlanders”.” Atholl Highlanders is typically played as an Irish Jig or Scottish Pipe March in 6/8 time in the key of Scottish Highlands – Ben Nevis A; often it is followed by Jig of Slurs.

Here is Kelly performing Atholl Highlanders.

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RANDOM RAMBLINGS

“Nuacht as Craobh Dugan”---news from the Dugan Branch In addition to the Helena Byrne performance and the Craobh Dugan concert in Remsen (see above), Chris Hoke writes: “Comhaltas in Dublin is again offering all branches the opportunity to sell raffle tickets for a big money prize....5000euros, as well as other prizes. The drawing is in early December in Ireland, so we have until end of October to buy/sell tickets. And they only cost $5 each!! The best part is that our branch gets to keep 75% of all our ticket sales!! If you want to buy some tickets, I will try to keep some with me at all our events… Performances this month include: Sep 2 - Ceili Dance Class, Seton Center, 7 PM; Sep 6 - Nail Creek Session, Varick St. Utica, 7:30 PM; Sep 9 - Ceili Dance Class, Seton Center, 7 PM; Sep 16 - Performance at Remsen Arts Center, 7 PM; Sep 20 – Stockdale’s Session, River Street, Oriskany, 7:30 PM; Sep 23 - Ceili Dance Class, Seton Center, 7 PM; Sep 30 - Ceili Dance Class, Seton Center, 7 PM.”

Talking the Talk MVICE reporter Tom Malley is teaching two Irish language classes this fall. “Irish Language for Beginners” will be taught at MVCC’s Utica Campus at 7-8:30 on Wednesdays, from Sept 28 through Dec 7th; cost is $99. He is also teaching an Irish Language Class at Herkimer County Community College on Thursdays starting on Sept 29th. As we have no further specifics on that course offering, you are advised to call 866-0300 x 8251 for further info.

Celtic Club Calendar Finally, here’s the Irish Musical and Cultural calendar for September:

Altamont 8 AM – 9 PM Sat; 9 $22 Sat, $12 Sun, Sep 3-4 Capital District Scottish Games Altamont Fairgrounds AM – 7 PM Sun under 12 free Sep 4 Syracuse Irish Session J. Ryan’s Pub Syracuse 4-7 PM Free Sep 6 Nail Creek Sessions Nail Creek Pub Utica 7:30 PM Free Sep 9 Blarney Rebel Band Piggy Pat’s Washington Mills 6-9 PM Free Sep 9 Pat Kane Kitty Hoynes Pub Syracuse 9 PM Free Sep 9-10 Syracuse Irish Festival Clinton Square Syracuse 5-11 Fri, 11–11 PM Sat Free Sep 10 Traditional Irish Session Kitty Hoynes Pub Syracuse 2-5 PM Free Sep 10 Elmira Irish Festival Hibernian Center Elmira 2 PM - 11 PM $2 MLK Park at 5-10 Fri, Noon-10 $6 per day, 12 and Sep 12-13 Rochester Irish Festival Rochester Manhattan Square Sat under free Sep 16 Craobh Dugan Remsen Art Center Remsen 7 PM $8 Saratoga County Fri 5-11 PM, Sat 10 Fri - $20 ($16 adv); Sep 16-17 Irish 2000 Ballston Spa, NY Sat - $25 ($18 adv); 2- Fairgrounds AM-11 PM Day Pass $29 (adv) Sep 16-17 Lewington-Downie Kitty Hoynes Pub Syracuse 9 PM Free Sep 18 Blarney Rebel Band Coleman’s Irish Pub Syracuse 4-7 PM Free Sep 18 Traditional Irish Session Irish Amer Ass'n Albany 2:30-6 PM Free Sep 18 Syracuse Irish Session J. Ryan’s Pub Syracuse 4-7 PM Free Sep 20 Traditional Irish Session Stockdale’s Oriskany 7:30 PM Free Sep 21 Helena Byrne Kirkland Art Center Clinton 6:30 PM $10 Sep 22 Barrule Crandall Pub Library Glens Falls 7:30 PM Free Peekskill Riverfront Sep 24 Hudson Valley Irish Fest Peekskill, NY 11 AM – 7 PM $10 Green Sep 24 Traditional Irish Session Kitty Hoynes Pub Syracuse 2-5 PM Free Sep 25 Flyin’ Column Coleman’s Irish Pub Syracuse 4-7 PM Free Sep 30 Calan Old Songs, Inc. Voorheesville 7:30 PM $23

If you have anything you want to share with us, feel free to send it to us ([email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]), and we’ll be happy to include it. As always, we strive for correctocity, but sometimes we make up words. It always makes sense to call ahead to confirm some of these further-out trips. All hail Septibáeth!

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