ISSUE 26 VOLUME 6 Proudly Serving Celts in North America Since 1991 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 HIGHLIGHTS INSIDE THIS ISSUE

AFTER nearly three decades, Galway are the 2017 All-Ireland hurling champions as they edged out a spirited Waterford side in a memorable final in Croke Park on Sunday, September 3. [Read more on page 23]

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE GRAND OPENING OF DONNELLAN’S IRISH PUB IN VANCOUVER.... IT WAS A NIGHT OF MORE THAN ONE BEGINNING [READ MORE ON PAGE 12]

SAMHAIN BLESSINGS – ‘Dreaming of Journeying Into Her Depth’ – by Wendy Andrew. [Read more about the artist on page 2]

THOMAS [TOM] O’FLYNN [1934-2017] who passed away in Vancouver this summer will be remembered for his legendary hospitality by friends far and wide. He set off on his final jour- ney on Wednesday, July 19. He has been described as a Fior Gael, a genuine Irishman, and he will be greatly missed. [Read more inside on pages 16 & 20] WIN FREE TICKETS

Win a pair of tickets to see The Gloaming concert at the Chan Centre at UBC on October 15. (See page 5 for more details). Mark your entry ‘Gloaming’. Entry by September 23. You could win a $100 gift certificate to Black Pudding Imports in Langley as they celebrate their 18th anniversary in business. Check out their weekly sales on Facebook. (See page 9 for more info). Mark your entry ‘Black Pudding’. Entry by September 23. Entries by E-mail only. Mark the name of the event on your entry, including your name and daytime telephone number. (Only one entry per person). Send to: [email protected].

PHOTO: Ann O’Reilly AFTER just three years in existence, the Fraser Valley Gaels won the USGAA Intermediate Football Championship at GAA Treasure Island Field in San Francisco on September 3. Founding club member Eoin McCloskey, who was once Derry’s number one goalkeeper, flew in from Ireland especially for the event. Under his guidance the team formed in 2014 has gone from

40009398 strength-to-strength, winning awards and Western Canada championships along the way. As Publication

Mail Agreement: Mail soon as McCloskey, who moved back home earlier this year, learned the team had made it to the finals weekend there wasn’t a chance he was going to miss out on it. [See page 22 inside] PAGE 2 www.celtic-connection.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 The Banshee: Ireland’s Mortal Call and Natural Disaster messenger of death Foretell the Coming of Samhain THE MYSTERIOUS banshee main for several hours or even days – or bean sidhe is a fascinating until death comes to call. In a season heated with racial intoler- s I write this, hurricanes, nuclear arma- ance and creeping levels of greenhouse creature we encounter in Irish Often, as the banshee escapes into the darkness, witnesses have described a ments, earthquakes, terrorism, species gases, what disruption could this season mythology. bird-like fluttering sound. Thus, many extinction, and moral vacuity rock this offer that could make a difference add, believe that the Banshee is a birdlike instead of distract, and move us toward Throughout history and across cultures creature. small blue planet. mythic purpose, and away from human there are stories and myths of beings uselessness? that forewarn of human death. In Ire- The banshee tradition is widespread A throughout Ireland and nearby islands. By CYNTHIA WALLENTINE A single mammoth sunflower stands si- land these frightening beings were lently in a garden that probably has a known as the banshees. The Gaelic terms used most frequently to describe the banshee are the “bean- Suffering seeps from the pages of few too many weeds. From Irish folklore we learn that when- si” (a female dweller of a sidhe, or fairy world mythology. The garden lacks not for fall flowers to ever you heard the thin scream of the mound), the “bean chaointe” (a female feed remaining bees and other visitors, banshee, you knew death was around keener, a term found in east Munster Suffering, in some philosophies, is seen even as the days grow cooler. the corner. The sound of their voice was and Connaught) and the “badhb” (re- as a path toward enlightenment or di- prophetic. ferring to a more dangerous, frighten- vinity. A volunteer, the sunflower never gained ing bogey). a lot of height about human size. It picked The Irish do not believe the banshee But such beliefs are a ruse meant to its spot months ago. causes death, but merely warns of it. Although “bean-si” implies an placate when overwhelming sorrow, Otherworld or fairy being, the banshee pain, and devastation suggest only two The prickly thick stem is solid and car- The banshees were Celtic death mes- is a solitary creature without male coun- options meaning, or meaningless suffer- ries drying green leaves tattered by wind sengers and although it is unknown pre- terpart who never partakes in commu- ing. and voracious insects. cisely when stories of the banshee first nal human or fairie social enterprise. were told, they can be traced back as One is a gift to the soul and the other is It is the way of things in an existence Its brilliant yellow head, at least a foot far as the early Eighth Century. In Christianity, the banshee was re- the consequence of donning human where nothing is guaranteed, nor is any- across, glances toward its feet, weighed garded as a devil who wails for the souls flesh. thing necessarily as it seems. fully down by dark, plump, sunflower The physical descriptions of the ban- that are lost to her as they ascend to seeds packed tightly in every ridge, shees vary somewhat. In most cases, it The tricky part comes when people try Samhain, on October 31, is fast ap- waiting harvest by the birds of winter. heaven, or that they are familial guard- to make one option, or the other, work proaching. is said the banshee is a woman with ian angels or souls of unbaptized chil- long, red hair and very pale skin. entirely. The sunflower appeared unbidden, and dren or even the souls of women who Watchwords of the season include dis- stands patiently to offer food when it is According to other accounts on the committed the sin of pride in life. Human life is the third of them, the per- integration, instability, transformation, needed most. other hand, it is an older woman with spective that all life has meaning, even and chaos. Some researchers have suggested that as it is extinguished, and that suffering When freeze kills what is left of its tis- stringy, gray hair, rotten teeth and fiery the banshee could be linked to the mys- Marking the end of a year and a sea- red eyes. without meaning is guaranteed at birth. sue, it will still provide, in every seed as tical race Tuatha De Dannan. son, Samhain usually punctuates the it passes, nutrients and a whiff of a sum- The third way brings about words like year by disruption the type that sets the She is often depicted with a comb in her The true origin of the Tuatha De Danaan mer breeze, sighing leaves, and clear hair and this has led to an Irish supersti- nobility, courage, stoicism, and especially, foot of myth or folk character to the moon-filled nights. is unknown. The name means literally grace. path. tion that finding a comb on the ground “the folk of the god whose mother is is considered bad luck. It is not words that will save us, it is Dana.” Mythology, like history, is written by the But in our season, we are already en- wonder. side that wins. veloped in life-threatening disturbance, Apparently the banshees were also These fabled Irish gods appeared one shape-shifters that could take on any from within and without. Find it somewhere, in the wild, or the day, on the first of May (Beltane) out Yet it carries the inextinguishable an- wild at heart, during the day when a form, much like the goddesses of Celtic of nowhere. guish, symbolism, and footprint of those The warning of the bean-sidhe, or folklore and the Greek gods who were sunbeam illuminates just so, or at night who lived through the times that became woman of the sidhe, the banshee, com- when the moon does the same. also shape-shifters. According to some of the earliest the tale. petes with the howling wind and is un- sources, the Tuatha de Danaan came heard. A smile, a silly moment amidst devas- Other forms of the banshee include the from the skies. The Tuatha De Danaan Darkness on the land, kingdoms under bean nighe and the washer woman, both tating conditions, wonder can be found landed in a dense cloud on the top of pestilence, marginalized women or men The bitter hammering of politics, pollu- sometimes where you least expect it. more attributed to Scotland than Ireland. Sliev-an-lerin, the Iron Mountain in the who set out on a dim path, with no hu- tion, and indecency no longer catch hu- According to legends, the bean nighe County Leitrim. man company, seeking to find, or to lose. man attention in fact many, already over- Amid the disruption, nature quietly goes whelmed, turn away. to ground at Samhain. was a ghost woman who died during Although the existence of the banshee Along the way, in mythology and folk- childbirth and would be seen wearing is based on ancient myths and legends, lore, the supernatural usually intercedes, Inured to horror, our attention and our The Celtic winter begins on November the clothes of the person about to die there are still people who report seeing help is offered, insight is provided, and times cannot really be punctuated by 1. Gather in, sink down, hang on until while the washer woman is dressed like and hearing this mysterious creature the new wisdom leads to different out- disruption, because it is already relent- the seed finds the right conditions to start a countrywoman and is cleaning bloody lurking around before she disappears comes that might otherwise have been less and ongoing. anew. rags on a river shore. into a cloud of mist. When she vanishes, had. a fluttering sound like a bird flapping its Sometimes a banshee will perch on a In life, sometimes wisdom does inter- wings is heard. ABOUT OUR COVER ARTIST windowsill like a bird, where she’ll re- cede and sometimes it does not. WENDY ANDREW LIVES, dreams and paints in the beautiful mystical countryside of Southern England. She has been a professional artist for over 20 years and her work has been published internationally. Her paintings are inspired by the ancient mysteries that are wrapped in the turning of the seasons, and the voice of The Goddess whispering through the mythical realms. To order images by Wendy and see more of her paintings please visit her website at: www.paintingdreams.co.uk. You can contact Wendy by e-mail at: [email protected].

THE CELTIC CONNECTION

ISSUE 26 VOLUME 6 - 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 • Allison Moore • Linda Robb • Frank Dudfield in Surrey • Eifion Williams in Burnaby & Coquitlam • Laurie Lang in Coquitlam • Joanne Long in Mission • Bill Duncan in Maple Ridge • Deirdre O’Ruaric in White Rock • Nanci Spieker and Heather Murphy in Seattle • Oliver Grealish in Edmonton. Published 7X per year. Unsolicited submissions welcome but will not be returned. Please retain a copy for your files. Contents copyright 2017 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/OCTOBER 2017 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 3 Shock and heartbreak as monument to Rideau Canal workers smashed “We don’t mind people touching the monument; we think they can do that. .... But recognize that this is a marker, that this is for a thousand workers and their families who lost their lives.” THE STONE BASE is all that’s left at the site of the Celtic OTTAWA – A Celtic Cross Cross dedicated to the memory of the workers that died build- erected in remembrance of ing the Rideau Canal. more than 1,000 predomi- McKenny says the number of people nantly Irish labourers who who have come forward, offering to help pay for repairs, is heartwarming, died during the building of the but he said the cross is covered by a Rideau Canal has been bro- warranty. ken into several pieces. “We do have a warranty on it,” he said. “It won’t be able to be put back to- The monument, located between the gether, but a monument company has Bytown Museum and the Château told me that, in a couple of months, it Laurier overlooking the canal in Ot- will be recast and put up again.” tawa, was knocked off its pedestal and smashed into four pieces on Monday, All of the pieces, excluding the granite August 7. base, have been collected by Parks Canada. “It just breaks my heart,” said Sean McKenny, president of the Ottawa and McKenny said that at this stage, District Labour Council (ODLC), which Campbell Monument – the company worked to raise the $18,000 cross. that erected the cross – has told him it believes the base of the cross could be He said it appears the monument was used to rebuild a new monument but damaged accidentally, as a result of that the top would need to be rebuilt. carelessness rather than vandalism. “The other three pieces can’t be put “We don’t mind people touching the THE MONUMENT was first un- back together,” said McKenny. monument; we think they can do that. We certainly want them to come down veiled in 2004 in remembrance The monument was first unveiled in and see it, that’s why it’s there,” he said. of more than 1,000 predomi- 2004. The inscription at its base reads “But recognize that this is a marker, that nantly Irish labourers who died “In Memory of the 1000 workers & this is for a thousand workers and their during the building of the their families who died building this ca- families who lost their lives.” Rideau Canal. nal 1826-1832.” New sign at Duffy’s Cut where 57 Irish railroad workers died in Pennsylvania PHILADELPHIA – History is being righted at Duffy’s Cut ...185 years later. A new sign with the true identity, cause of death, and date of the incident has now been put in place. It reads: “At this site, known as Duffy’s Cut, fifty-seven Irish immigrant railroad workers from the Counties of Donegal, Tyrone, Derry and Leitrim died of chol- era and murder in the summer of 1832.” It was the summer of 1832, when Philip Duffy, a railroad contractor, hired 57 Irish immigrants on the docks of Phila- delphia. DUFFY’S CUT is now marked with a new sign at site where 57 They were to fill in a ravine near Irish railroad workers were buried without ceremony in 1832. present-day Malvern so rails for a new track could be laid. They began their task, but only six weeks later all 57 were Railroad officials never notified the Papers reporting the deaths of the dead. workers’ relatives of their deaths, and workers were found in the 1970s, hid- History blames a cholera outbreak, but they later burned the shantytown. den in a vault. cholera generally only has a 50 percent In the 1870s, a small fence was set up The events at Duffy’s Cut were almost death rate. Local legend claims that around what people thought was the completely lost to history. The area some, if not all, were murdered. mass grave site. It turned out to be the didn’t even get a historical marker until The locals at the time had a high preju- wrong spot. 2004. dice of Catholicism and of immigrants. By 1910, it was discovered that at least A marker is at the intersection of King Whatever happened to them, they were part of the grave was now under the and Sugartown. A few blocks away is quickly buried in a shallow ditch with tracks. Some time prior, the railroad had the mass grave, which is currently be- no ceremony. the track reset. ing examined by archaeologists. PAGE 4 www.celtic-connection.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 ‘We Need Your Support More Than Ever This Year!’ ANCOUVER – Pikelny, and the rousing finale with Ferron and Roy Forbes in inspired – It’s been a long, and not just nostalgic – form. hot, and smokey We then spent two days at the Mis- V summer. We’ve sion Folk Festival’s 30th anniversary. taken in some amazing festi- By I missed Mission last year, and was a vals, and we’re now ready to STEVE bit shocked to see it so much smaller EDGE than in past years. move back indoors to the Having two stages side by side is a ever-improving confines of St. THE ROGUE novel idea, but the lack of down-time B.C.’S INCREDIBLE stringband The Bills celebrate their 20th James Hall for the Rogue FOLK CLUB between alternating acts makes it a lit- anniversary with a concert at St. James on September 15. tle hard to relax and enjoy the amazing Folk Club’s new concert se- ambience of the site and the vendors. ries! We finish September with a concert by Early Spirit, a quartet led by Spirit of It’s also a bit hard on the MCs – well, For the past two months Rob Nelson, the West founding member Jay on me, anyway – who have to extro Peter Bennett, and a few erstwhile Knutson, joined by the brilliant B.C. fid- one band and intro the next in the same volunteers have been working away on dler Gabriel Dubreuil, bassist Will breath. the interior of the hall, making improve- Ross, and drummer Ben Kelly (son ments to the stage and storage facili- of another SOTW founder, Geoffrey Highlights included T Nile, Valdy, and ties. Kelly of The Paperboys and Irish American jug band Crow Quill Night Rovers fame). This show takes place Owl. Meanwhile, City of Vancouver work- at St. James on September 29. ers have replaced the aging roof tiles – The best news is that they have pretty and added eight centimetres of insula- The following week, Canadian guitar much retired the festival debt and I look tion (we wonder why nobody thought wizard Don Ross returns to The Rogue forward to seeing a more expanded line of doing this when the hall was built!). (October 5) bringing with him the amaz- up again next year (he says, hopefully.) ing young Alberta guitarist/songwriter We also managed to take in one night They have also added three ventilation Calum Graham – who was in excel- funnels to the roof. The fans and grills at Harmony Arts in West Vancouver, lent form at last month’s Edmonton with Birds of Chicago in brilliant form. are on backorder, but we are assured Folk Festival. For Rogue concert info, that they will be installed and opera- please visit www.roguefolk.com. Nice venue at Ambleside Park, and tional before the end of September. some inspired programming. It seems Speaking of festivals, we managed to The effect of the insulation is already like a relaxed and very enjoyable festi- CALIFORNIA fiddler/singer CANADIAN folk icon Garnet catch one day at the Harrison Festi- val. Must take in some more next year! apparent! There have been a few val of the Arts back in July, with an Laurie Lewis brings her fine Rogers comes to town for what events in the hall in between work par- outdoor performance by First Nations Then we were off to Edmonton for an- band The Right Hands to The he says will be his final con- ties, and in previous years the tempera- cellist Kris Derksen and an indoor other fantastic weekend at the Rolls Rogue Folk Club on Monday, cert in the west on Saturday, ture inside would have been unbearably show by Cape Breton’s wonderful Royce of Festivals – the Edmonton September 18. September 23. hot. Celtic band, Coig, who released their Folk Festival. Even without the ventilation fans, the second CD, Rove, that same week. There was lots of Celtic music to be room is appreciably cooler on a hot day. There is some wonderful fiddling all over found there, including Ireland’s inimita- By the end of the year the hall will have this album, as you might expect, with ble Four Men & A Dog, and Cape a new dance floor, and hopefully cush- Chrissy Crowley and Rachel Davis Breton’s Finest (Ashley & Wendy ioned and secured pews on risers and in superb form. MacIsaac, young James MacMaster and co). on the balcony, new folding chairs, and Pianist Jason Roach and multi-instru- definitely new and improved lights and mentalist Darren McMullen contrib- Wexford-born PEI-based singer Irish sound equipment! ute some excellent playing and Darren Mythen delivered the most incredibly Concerts start September 7 with a sold adds a great arrangement of Peter impassioned rendition of The Auld Tri- out concert featuring Birds Of Chi- Gabriel’s Solsbury Hill to this fine CD. angle I’ve ever heard! What a voice she has! cago, and Newfoundland’s amazing trad The band were in stellar form that night. singer Matthew Byrne the following Too bad they couldn’t stick around in The new Celtic “supergroup” trio of night. B.C. for some more festivals. We’ll just Michael McGoldrick, John By the time this paper hits the streets have to bring them back for a concert McCusker, and John Doyle was even legendary American blues singer Maria then. more amazing! Muldaur will have made a long- The Vancouver Folk Music Festi- Mancunian McGoldrick has recently awaited return to Vancouver for a show val celebrated its 40th anniversary in bought a house in Galway and has added EARLY SPIRIT plays The Rogue at St. James on September at The Rio Theatre (September 13) July. a recording studio wherein he has al- and the next Rogue event at St. James ready produced two superb CDs this 29. The quartet is led by Spirit of the West founding member takes place on Friday, September 15 Far and away the best performance I year – one by this new trio, and one by Jay Knutson, who is joined by B.C. fiddler Gabriel Dubreuil, with B.C.’s incredible stringband The have EVER witnessed at the VFMF another “supergroup” – Usher’s Island bassist Will Ross, and drummer Ben Kelly (son of another Bills celebrating their 20th anniversary was given by Rhiannon Giddens and (McGoldrick, with Donal Lunny, Andy SOTW founder, Geoffrey Kelly of The Paperboys and Irish with a concert. her excellent band on the Friday night. Irvine, John Doyle, and Paddy Glackin). Rovers fame). The following Monday, California fid- She seemed to cover every possible I’m still awaiting delivery of the trio CD, Newfoundland’s Matthew Byrne lish guitarist / singer Martin Simpson, dler/singer Laurie Lewis brings her genre of Americana – and do it better but Usher’s Island is getting plenty of launched his third CD, Horizon Lines, whose new CD Trails & Tribulations fine band The Right Hands – now than any of her predecessors! airplay on The Edge On Folk. last month – as good a collection of is quite superb. featuring David Grisman’s son, Sam, Channelling the spirits of Ella Fitzgerald, songs from The Rock as you could wish on guitar. Rhiannon Giddens gave another su- The Carter Family, The Balfa Broth- to hear – and brilliantly sung, too! New songs like Maps, Ridgeway, and perb set, Welsh singer Martyn Joseph Dancing Shoes sit alongside impas- Then Canadian folk icon Garnet ers, Patsy Cline – and the much more was in great form, and former American string quartet Kronos Quar- sioned renditions of trad classics Rogers comes to town for what he alive Aretha Franklin – Rhiannon Wolfstone fiddler Duncan Chisholm tet collaborated with Mali’s Trio Da Reynardine, and Willy O’Winsbury, says will be his final concert in the west prowled the stage with banjo, fiddle, – with piper Jarlath Henderson – and Kali (who play St. James Hall on Oc- and then there’s Emily Portman’s (Saturday, September 23). guitar and that oh so amazing voice and Geordie band The Unthanks were tober 6) to record the superb CD transformative Bones & Feathers, just nailed everything! What a perform- also amazing. Garnet will not fly, and for the past 40 ance. Ladilikan and they also teamed up with ‘Uncle John’ Cohen’s Dillard Chan- years or so he has driven across this Scots singer Paul McKenna was in singers Rhiannon Giddens, Olivia dler, and even Presley’s Heartbreak continent many times to play concert Tough to follow that, but Billy Bragg great form too. And that was just the Chaney and Sam Amidon to make an Hotel! halls, coffee houses and festivals – at did a fine job. album of trad. music called Folk Songs trad. tip of the iceberg at this fabulous Scintillating stuff – just make sure you first with his late brother, Stan, and since – which is absolutely fantastic! The rest of the weekend could not pos- festival. get the deluxe version! 1983 as a solo performer. sibly live up to such high standards, for Ms. Chaney also fronts a band called Huge thanks again to Dubliner Terry You can hear some of this music on my As you can imagine, he has a few tales me, but I had a great time listening to Offa Rex (most of whom also play in Wickham and his crew for making this radio show The Saturday Edge On to tell from those road trips, and he has the likes of French blues trio Delgres, The Decembrists) and made a stun- the highlight of my summer every year Folk every Saturday from 8 AM to just published his memoir, Night Drive Swedish trio Ellika Solo Rafael (al- ning album called Queen Of Hearts – without fail! noon on CiTR fm 101.9 and - Travels With My Brother. beit, much too briefly), Scottish pipe and which pays homage to the likes of fiddle band Rura, Basque combo This summer has also seen the launch Steeleye Span in bringing Child Bal- www.citr.ca. We just received 100 copies to sell at Korrontzi (although I would have pre- of a new volume of Acoustic Classics lads right up to date here in the 21st See you at The Rogue! We need your the show – which we expect will be ferred just the accordion, mandolin and by English guitar luminary Richard century. continuing support more than ever this another sell-out, so don’t miss this last tambourine without the overbearing Thompson, and another epic body of year. chance to see the big man out west – Pride of place amongst the new re- bass and drums), Boston singer Aoife work from Irish-Norwegian-American Slainte and have him sign this book for you. leases this summer though goes to Eng- O’Donovan with banjo whiz Noam songsmith Tom Russell (Folk Hotel). Steve SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 5 Famed Irish Supergroup Returns to the Chan Centre at UBC VANCOUVER – The Gloaming made its Canadian debut in 2014 and was met with overwhelming praise. This October will see the quintet’s much-anticipated return to Vancouver as part of the 2017/18 Chan Centre Presents series at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at UBC. Formed in 2011, The Gloaming is an ex- THE GLOAMING immerses audiences in the pure beauty of traordinary collaboration of five musi- Gaelic folk tunes transformed through their own distinct, mod- cians – each a distinguished soloist in ern interpretations. The band made its Canadian debut in 2014 their own right. and was met with overwhelming praise. Leading the group is six-time All-Ire- land Fiddle champion Martin Hayes. ian as “an exquisite album from a vir- as part of the Chan Centre Connects Musical innovator Caoimhín Ó tuoso band.” It is considered a level programming. Raghallaigh plays the handanger fiddle. above even their previous release, as “hours of playing together since then This already sold-out workshop will On vocals is sean-nós singer Iarla Ó has honed the work” (Independent.ie). explore bowing techniques, melody in- Lionáird who has mastered the ‘old terpretation, variations, and improvisa- style’ singing technique, used to tell sto- When The Gloaming played at the Chan tion in traditional Irish music with inter- ries of rebellion, emigration and loss. Centre last, they astonished and capti- mediate and advanced students – a vated local audiences. memorable way to learn about the tra- Joining them are Chicago guitarist dition of Irish music-making. Dennis Cahill and New York pianist The “dreamlike and haunting” perform- • ance which The Ubyssey described sim- Thomas Bartlett (aka Doveman) who, The Gloaming perform at the Chan ply as “unlike anything you might have together with their peerless technique Centre for the Performing Arts at UBC heard before,” gathered widespread bring The Gloaming’s reels and jigs to (6265 Crescent Rd.) on Sunday, praise and won the group a brand-new new and exhilarating heights. October 15, 2017 at 7 PM. Tickets city of fans. While most of the musicians are trained start at $46 and are available at in traditional Irish music, what they cre- This October’s performance promises www.chancentre.com. There will be ate together goes far beyond the a similarly transformative display of un- a pre-show talk with group leader and reaches of tradition and into other gen- paralleled musicianship and desire to fiddle player Martin Hayes directly res including jazz and contemporary push boundaries. before the performance at 6:15 in the classical. Chan Centre’s Royal Bank Cinema. In addition to the concert itself, Martin Entrance into the pre-show talk is The Gloaming immerses audiences in Hayes will conduct a fiddle masterclass free for The Gloaming ticket holders. the pure beauty of Gaelic folk tunes transformed through their own distinct, modern interpretations. “These artists combine their consider- able talents to create some of the most haunting, lush, gorgeous music that never fails to touch me on a deep emo- tional level,” says Joyce Hinton, Co- Managing Director of the Chan Cen- tre. “What an incredible first impression they made on us back in 2014; we can’t HÒ-RÒ at this year’s Hebridean Celtic Festival. wait to welcome them back. I can say that the combination of their music and the Chan Centre’s incredible acoustics Man in court after award-winning is truly a perfect match.” Scottish band’s van set on fire Since the beginning, The Gloaming re- GLASGOW – Scots folk band Hò-rò are left shattered after a firebug torched ceived rave reviews for their interna- their tour van with their instruments inside on September 6. tional live performances as well as their 2014 debut album entitled simply The The award winning group say they are “heartbroken” after their gear was Gloaming. wrecked in the blaze on Copland Road in the Govan area of Glasgow. The group is now celebrating their lat- A man has appeared in court charged with setting the fire. Stephen Campbell est album, 2, described by The Guard- (47) is alleged to have wilfully set fire to two vehicles including the one belonging to the band. It comes just days before they were due to perform, a series of high profile gigs. In 2014, the trad-band won the Danny Kyle Award at Glasgow’s Celtic Con- nections and the One Step Further Award at the Western Isles’ Hebridean Celtic Festival. Earlier this year, Hò-rò played at the Belladrum Tartan Heart Hebridean Celtic festivals. They have vowed to play on after sup- port from other performers who have offered the loan of instruments. In a statement to fans they said, “We are absolutely heartbroken. Last night somebody broke into our van and set it on fire. We have worked very hard to get where we are at the moment. We saved up as much as we could to buy the van and good equipment so that we could get as good a sound as possible. The group’s fans were quick to lend their support as a fundraising page called ‘Helping Hò-Rò’ was quickly set up by gig promoter EPL Events. So far, it has raised over £7,300 of a £10,000 target. PAGE 6 www.celtic-connection.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 Varadkar joins Trudeau Taoiseach plans to to march in Montreal pride parade increase Irish diplomatic MONTREAL – Irish missions overseas Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TORONTO – Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is exploring ways to boost links joined Canadian Prime Min- between Canada and Ireland and he announced plans during a three- ister Justin Trudeau in Mon- day visit here in August. treal last month when the two Speaking at an Enterprise Ireland event in Toronto, Varadkar pledged leaders walked together in the to double Ireland’s diplomatic and trade forces abroad by 2025. city’s annual pride parade. He set out how the government will unveil a plan to “double Ireland’s Varadkar is Ireland’s first openly gay global footprint” , as Ireland tries to overcome challenges faced by Brexit. leader and he became the first foreign The plan, which is being put together by Foreign Affairs Minister Simon head of government to march in a pride Coveney, will see a doubling of agency strength in some diplomatic ar- parade with a Canadian prime minister. eas, he said. In a news release, the Prime Minister’s This means new and augmented diplomatic missions and as well as Office said Justin Trudeau and Leo significantly increased resources for investment, tourism, cultural and Varadkar would continue discussions food agencies overseas. from July, when the two leaders met for the first time in Dublin. CANADIAN Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, with Ireland’s Varadkar highlighted how Ireland was under-represented in major econo- mies and regions globally. This included not having a full embassy in Those talks will focus on the Canada- Prime Minister Leo Varadkar at the Montreal Pride Parade on European Union Comprehensive Eco- Sunday, August 20. New Zealand and no permanent consulates in Los Angeles or Mumbai nomic and Trade Agreement (CETA), in India. There was also no IDA office in Canada, he said. which comes into effect on September policy and advocacy officer at the pro- bers of Commerce. choice charity. Varadkar said the move to ramp up Ireland’s presence in new regions 21, and issues related to diversity and He met with a number of companies was partially a response to Brexit but also global demographic changes. inclusion. “The [Canadian] prime minister’s including small and medium-sized busi- During his speech, he told business leaders in Canada, “Enterprise Ire- While Trudeau and Varadkar share stance…could be quite persuasive with nesses supported by Enterprise Ireland the Irish Government to encourage them and CETA was a major topic of discus- land client exports reached EU21.6 billion in 2016, up more than six similar political views – they both sup- percent year on year. port international co-operation, free to be progressive, to respect women’s sion during those meetings. trade and diversity – their countries’ rights and to be seen as the modern The taoiseach spoke about the importance of CETA – the EU-Canada country that it is.” Vivian Doyle-Kelly, president of the Ire- laws take opposing positions on a con- land-Canada Chamber of Commerce in Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement – which comes into effect troversial debate currently facing the Varadkar has pledged to hold a refer- Montreal, said both governments under- this month. Irish population: abortion. endum in spring 2018 on whether to stand the importance of the trade deal. repeal the eighth amendment of the This result is that more than 98 percent of the tariff barriers to trade Abortion is legal in Canada. In Ireland, “There are tremendous opportunities for between Canada and the EU, including Ireland, will be removed. it is only allowed if a woman’s life is in Irish Constitution, which forbids abor- tion even in cases where the fetus was increased business between Ireland and danger. Action Canada for Sexual Canada. Both of the economies are This will help unlock the enormous untapped potential for greater trade conceived through incest or rape. Health and Rights called on Trudeau, dependent on international trade.” and investment between Ireland and Canada. who has publicly supported a woman’s Abortion carries a prison term of up to Canada and Ireland share strong eco- The taoiseach said, “Notwithstanding our strong competitiveness and right to choose, to raise the abortion is- 14 years in Ireland, forcing many women vigorous economic growth, Ireland today faces undoubtedly the great- sue with Varadkar, who has described nomic ties. Bilateral trade was valued to go to great lengths to access the serv- est set of political and economic challenges in a generation, as a result himself as “pro-life.” at $2.4-billion in 2016, putting Ireland ice, including travelling to countries of Brexit. Now is the time to plan ahead with ambition.” where it is legal. as Canada’s 10th-largest trading part- “With the Irish prime minister coming ner in the European Union. At the end of 2016, IDA Ireland had 28 Canadian companies employing to Canada, there is a really great op- On his visit to Canada, the taoiseach portunity to talk about women’s rights, also attended a business breakfast in More than 4.5 million Canadians over 3,100 people. Canadian investment in Ireland is estimated today reproductive rights and access to abor- Toronto hosted by Enterprise Ireland claimed Irish ancestry in 2011, making at C$14 billion while one in seven Canadians claim Irish ancestry, a tion,” said Meghan Doherty, global and the Toronto Ireland-Canada Cham- the Irish-Canadian community one of higher percentage than the United States. the largest ethnic groups in Canada. Canadian residence in Dublin is haunted, ambassador says “The ghosts of a nation sometimes ask very big things, and they must be appeased, whatever the cost.” TD Securities OTTAWA – It’s the perfect setting for a spooky story: Glanmire House, nes- tled in an old part of Dublin, and the chooses Dublin for EU former home of one of the leaders ex- ecuted after the 1916 Easter Rising. trading hub post-Brexit Now the official Canadian residence in THE CANADIAN residence in Ranelagh, Dublin, where alleg- TORONTO – Toronto-Dominion terrupted EU access post Brexit. Ireland, Ambassador Kevin Vickers edly paranormal activities are occurring. says the elegant home is haunted. Bank has picked Dublin for its ex- The city provides a low-tax English- The ambassador, whose relatives are Vickers is not easily spooked. The tated. Then days go by and all is quiet.” panded trading hub inside the Eu- speaking location and has similar laws former sergeant-at-arms of the House ropean Union in preparation for and regulations to its UK neighbour. descendants of Cork emigrants, was According to the BBC, Vicker’s maid of Commons, who spent 29 years in the Britain’s departure from the eco- Barclays Plc and Bank of America appointed to Ireland in January 2015 – Anna is sometimes nervous to go up- RCMP, was hailed as a hero in 2014 Corp. have also settled on the city for believes his official residence is being stairs. Vickers said that if anyone doubts nomic bloc. haunted by the ghost of Pádraig Pearse. when he shot dead a gunman who had their new EU hub. opened fire on Parliament Hill in Ot- “the validity of this story, you are wel- The bank’s TD Securities unit plans to Kevin Vickers, who made headlines tawa. come to come and stay a night or two establish a bond-trading business there, “This is a great win for Ireland as we when he rugby tackled a protestor to here.” subject to regulatory approval, accord- seek to deepen and expand the range When he moved into the Ranelagh of financial-services companies who the ground during a 1916 centenary Interestingly, one of Pearse’s last writ- ing to a statement on the Irish develop- home, Vickers heard rumours Pearse are investing in Ireland,” said Irish Prime commemoration service, thinks the ten works was an essay called ment agency’s website. had once lived there. After extensive Minister Leo Varadkar in Toronto, spirit of the 1916 leader lives on in the “Ghosts.” elegant setting of Glanmire House. research he discovered documents A unit of Canada’s largest lender by where he was concluding a trade mis- signed by Pearse to lease the grounds In the preface, he wrote, “Ghosts are assets already has a fully licensed op- sion in late August. The ambassador describes hearing unu- between 1908 and 1912. troublesome things in a house or in a eration in the Irish capital, where it has “As we face into the challenges of sual bangs, laboured breathing and family. There is only one way to ap- been operating for more than 20 years, “I wonder if it is he who walks the hall- Brexit, we are determined to pursue and heavy footsteps in the residence’s halls pease a ghost. You must do the thing it and has an office in London. ways,” Vickers wrote on Facebook, seize new opportunities and investment in a recent social media post. asks you. The ghosts of a nation some- where he has nearly 5,000 friends. Dublin is the second most popular des- projects from key companies world- times ask very big things, and they must “Ghosts. I never believed in ghosts. “Some evenings he or she seems agi- tination – after Frankfurt – for finan- wide.” Until I arrived here,” he said. be appeased, whatever the cost.” cial-services companies seeking unin- SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 7 Ireland submits bid to host Euro Banking Authority post Brexit DUBLIN – The Irish Govern- The banking and medicines agencies are seen as the first spoils of Brexit by the ment has made formal bids to 27 remaining members of the EU. host two agencies that will be “The fact that the United Kingdom has relocated from the UK after decided to leave the European Union Brexit. has resulted in significant disruption and uncertainty. Ireland’s Department of Health and Department of Finance are competing “For the EBA, its staff and their fami- against other EU countries to offer a lies, a move to Dublin is the least dis- new home to the European Banking ruptive option,” said D’Arcy. Authority (EBA) and the European He added, “Our transport links to Eu- Medicines Agency (EMA), currently THE EUROPEAN Banking Au- thority is now based at One rope, our culture, language and skilled based in London’s Canary Wharf. multilingual education workforce make Canada Square in Canary Dublin an attractive destination ahead The banking and medicines agencies Wharf, London. employ just over 1,000 staff between of other potential locations. them. Minister of State for Financial Services “Given the economic and strategic ben- Bids from the two departments to host and Insurance Michael D’Arcy said a efits for Ireland, we are making a strong the agencies have been submitted to the relocation to Dublin would be the least proposal which includes incentives to Secretary-General of the Council of the disruptive move for the EBA and its support the relocation of the EBA and European Union. staff. the establishment of a Relocation Group to aid the relocation of the Authority.” “Ireland’s offer to host the European Around 20 countries, including Dublin, Medicines Agency (EMA) has today Frankfurt, Luxembourg, Paris, and D’Arcy said the EBA’s relocation to been submitted to the Secretary-Gen- Prague, are among the cities that are Dublin would further raise the country’s eral of the Council of the European understood to be keen to host the agen- profile as global leaders in the financial Union,” the Department of Health con- cies. services sector. firmed. They are all competing to attract the The European Commission will assess The department said that Dublin meets agencies’ highly skilled employees, their the entries based on the quality of of- all of the criteria necessary to success- families and the business that comes fice space, job opportunities for spouses fully host the EMA and presents an at- with them. and transport links. tractive option for the staff of the This includes 40,000 hotel stays for visi- A final decision on the relocation is due agency to relocate to. tors each year. to be made in November. PAGE 8 www.celtic-connection.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 New Scottish Novel Anticipated the John A. Macdonald Debate EDINBURGH – This year’s all-too-brief sojourn to sunny Vancouver was bookended by the great naming debate. Just before I turned for Scotland and its bleak September winds en- suing, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario passed a resolution urging school boards across the province to consider The oil and gas industry still supports more than 300,000 jobs removing John A. Macdonald’s across the UK but that is 150,000 less than the peak in 2014, name from public schools. according to the Trade body Oil & Gas UK’s annual report. By the time I landed at Glasgow air- port – a few miles from where SIR JOHN ALEXANDER MACDONALD [January 11, 1815 – Macdonald was born – the issue of June 6,1891] was the first prime minister of Canada [1867– UK oil job losses un-naming or renaming had sparked a 1873, 1878–1891]. furious debate across Canada. Coincidentally, I reviewed a book just ‘worse than expected’ before I left Scotland which anticipated the Macdonald furore. ABERDEEN – The number of job The report said Brexit could cost the losses in the UK oil and gas sector was industry £1.1 billion a year if the UK The review was of a novel entitled worse than expected last year, a major was unable to negotiate new trade deals macCloud Falls by Scottish author report has said. and reverted to WTO rules. It said this Robert Alan Jamieson who lives in Ed- would be an “unhelpful” additional cost. inburgh but is originally from Shetland. Trade body Oil & Gas UK’s annual re- port said 60,000 direct and indirect jobs Oil & Gas UK chief executive Deirdre Jamieson’s protagonist Gilbert Johnson were lost across the industry in 2016, Michie said, “There are still serious is- is an antiquarian bookseller from Edin- more than the 40,000 it had predicted. sues facing our industry which has suf- burgh who, like his creator, also has The report said the sector could lose fered heavy job losses since the oil price connections to Shetland. another 13,000 jobs in 2017. slump. But we are hopeful that the tide Gil, as he is commonly known, travels is turning and expect employment lev- to British Columbia to research a mi- However, it suggests that while some els to stabilise if activity picks up.” companies are still reducing headcount grant Scot called James Lyle who he thinks he is related to. “the largest reductions may now be Michie said the sector was successfully ABOVE (L) A NOVEL entitled macCloud Falls by Scottish au- behind us.” re-positioning itself through efficiency To that end, he takes a Greyhound bus and cost improvements. thor Robert Alan Jamieson. (R) THE DUKE OF SUTHERLAND The oil and gas industry still supports from Vancouver to the B.C. interior and statue overlooking Golspie and Sutherland from top of Ben more than 300,000 jobs across the UK “Although we are getting to a much hikes into a secret valley in the hope of Bhraggie in the Scottish Highlands. but that is 150,000 less than the peak in better place, we still need further in- discovering the cabin where Lyle lived 2014, the report said. vestment to generate new activity and with his first wife, a member of the sometimes used to assuage colonial And the Scots who, as the title of at sustain hundreds of thousands of UK Nlaka’pamux nation. guilt. least one book would have it, “built According to the trade body report, jobs,” she said. Canada” might be particularly exposed “There are tentative signs that investor It’s soon clear that Lyle is a version of The argument goes is that some Scots John Teit (or Tate), a real-life migrant because as they built it they named it confidence is starting to return to the A spokesman for the Scottish Govern- settlers were more sympathetic to the too. sector.” ment said oil prices had been “recover- Scot who married a Nlaka’pamux First Nations and more prone to inter- ing from their previous low levels” and woman and became fluent in several marriage than others in the British co- There are hundreds, if not thousands, It highlights the fact that almost $6 bil- there had been “some improvement in First Nations languages. lonial project and that this somehow of towns, municipalities, buildings, lion (£4.6 billion) was invested in UK investor sentiment,” but acknowledged Teit was born on the Shetland Islands atones for Scots like Macdonald who, mountains, rivers and, as in Jamieson’s continental shelf assets and acquisitions it was a “challenging time for the in- whatever other qualities he had, was book, waterfalls across the country that in the first half of 2017. and migrated in 1884 to Spences Bridge dustry and the workforce.” in British Columbia’s Fraser Canyon. the architect of the assimilationist In- have names derived from Scotland. According to the report, the current low dian Act and the residential school sys- He added. “We are focused on creat- He initially helped manage a store on tem. Two weeks ago I was on Cortes Island level of exploration activity “remains a ing a competitive and supportive busi- which is part of the traditional territo- serious concern” as it is vital to replen- an estate owned by his uncle, John ness environment and promoting inno- Murray, an enthusiastic renamer who It is very much to Jamieson’s credit that ries of the We Wai Kai, Kwiakah, ish production with new development vation throughout the supply chain – he understood the naming issue so well Homalco, Klahoose and Sliammon First opportunities. called a local mountain after Edinburgh’s however, it is the UK Government that Arthur’s Seat (now Art’s Ass to some on the back of a handful of Creative Nations. retains control of the key taxation le- Scotland-funded research trips to B.C. Elsewhere in the report, Oil & Gas UK irreverent Canadians). A friend who was raised there showed vers affecting the sector, and that must modelled scenarios for the impact of It’s also – belatedly – to Canada’s credit me middens formed since time imme- take the action needed to incentivise Murray grew fruit and his orchard be- Brexit on tariffs for the oil and gas in- that something that has bubbled under morial. dustry. investment to protect jobs.” came famous for Grimes Golden ap- ples when it was under the care of a the surface for so long is finally being publically debated. Yet, the toponymy of the island is de- Widow Smith. fined by the Spanish conquest of Welsh Society of Vancouver Teit eventually worked with anthropolo- Some years ago I travelled across Mexico and by the first settler Michael gist Franz Boas and was an advocate Canada on a Scottish Government Manson who, by another coincidence, upcoming events Fall 2017 for First Nations’ rights in British Co- project visiting towns named for places was from Shetland. lumbia, acting as a bridge to white offi- in Scotland such as Inverness, Banff, Calgary, etc. It seems likely that Macdonald won’t VANCOUVER – The Welsh Society of Vancouver has an- cialdom. be the only individual Scot under scru- nounced a number of upcoming events at the Cambrian Hall, When Canadian Prime Minister Wilfrid It was only when I arrived in Mount tiny. Currie, B.C. that I fully realized the 215 East 17th Avenue in Vancouver. Laurier visited Kamloops in 1910, he Already, there’s talk of James McGill’s prepared the declaration that asserted other side of the story. Wednesday, September 13 – 3-5 connection to the slave trade and what land rights on behalf of the Secwepemc, Mount Currie is named for a Scot who the implications are for the university PM – Welsh classes at the Vancouver Okanagan and Nlaka’pamux nations. Welsh Society are free and all are wel- intermarried and many of the people named for him. come. His Nlaka’pamux wife was Susanna there are Wallaces because, as I was told, they were renamed by an Indian The entire debate seems to have been Lucy Antko and they lived together for ignited by the U.S one around confed- Classes are designed for all levels of 12 years until her death in 1899. agent acting for the Canadian Govern- Welsh learners, and beginners are al- ment. erate statues which has taken a more ways welcome at any point in the term. Gil is keenly aware of the naming issue complex form in Canada. Classes will be held every Wednesday and writes in his journal about the right The removal of their real names begat the loss of everything else, including their Here in Scotland, there’s many a Glas- for the term through to November 15. to name, the language of power, the gow street named after tobacco lords dominant narrative. culture and their children. Wednesday, September 20 – 10:30 CAMBRIAN HALL with a connection to the slave trade and AM – The Welsh Genealogy Group With the help of an elder and a young One of the things Jamieson’s protago- no shortage of monuments to dubious meets on the third Wednesday of each She will give a talk on the subject of Nlaka’pamux woman, he comes to un- nist discovers on his quest is that Scot- Empire figures, but the only sign of ac- month from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM in DNA. All are welcome. derstand this and learns to read First land’s connections to Canada are not tivity so far is a revived interest in pull- the Red Dragon. Nation silences rather than depend on just historical, they affect the way ing down the Duke of Sutherland’s Diane will be providing handouts, so Canada functions today. statue from the top of Ben Bhraggie. organizers need to know the number of the voluminous written testimonies that Wednesday, October 18, at 10:30 Scots tended to leave behind. AM – the Genealogy Group will host a attendees (you are invited to bring a This too has been raised in the He is the best known of the Highland special guest speaker, Diane Rogers, in laptop if you wish). It’s here that the story, at least by im- Macdonald debate. clearers and his statue is a reminder of the Red Dragon (entrance at the rear plication, intersects with the Macdonald how some Scots got to Canada in the If you plan to attend, please e-mail Now that it is out the bag the naming first place. of the building via the lane). Carole Smythe at [email protected]. kerfuffle. Teit/Lyle is the kind of Scot debate will continue, as it should. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 9 ‘Potential for chaos’: Welsh port fears post-Brexit customs delays CARDIFF – The Welsh port of Holyhead faces “chaos” if a hard border is introduced between the UK and Ireland, with the shipping industry and local politicians warning of lorries carrying perishable goods queueing for miles while they wait for customs clearance. Holyhead, on Anglesey, is the busiest roll-on-roll-off port in the UK after Dover, with 400,000 trucks a year pass- ing through on the way to and from Dublin. A report by the Welsh assembly on how AROUND 400 trucks arrive off two ferries in a space of 15 Brexit could affect ports in Wales says minutes at Holyhead ferry terminal. If there were checks, con- customs delays could have an unwel- gestion would be a daily occurrence. come impact, while the route’s two ferry operators, which have previously remained silent on Brexit, told an as- that electronic checks, often touted by Republic of Ireland could “leak” to the sembly committee of their concerns for politicians as a means of enabling swift Northern Ireland-Scotland route if the Holyhead. passage across EU borders after land border on the island of Ireland does Irish Ferries said it feared a reintroduc- Brexit, would not provide a solution. not involve customs checks. tion of customs checks could lead “UK That is a fear shared by the UK Cham- Reardon said the problems Holyhead plc” to quickly grind to a halt, while ber of Shipping (UKCS), which repre- faced post-Brexit were worse than Stena Line said any custom or border sents 140 shipping companies. those at Dover because of ferry sched- checks could disturb the whole business ules designed to get fresh produce to model for the “open port” of Holyhead. “It doesn’t matter if it is a pole across Dublin or Holyhead before dawn for the road or a cyber barrier, the point is The assembly’s external affairs and onward distribution to supermarkets that the passage of trucks out of the across Ireland and the UK. additional legislation committee called port is on someone’s say so,” said Tim for transition arrangements to protect Reardon, its director of policy. Industry leaders have already warned Welsh ports. that Brexit could choke roads around Welsh assembly members heard that It said it was extremely concerned at the Kent port, through which 2.5 mil- more than 70 percent of Irish cargo lion lorries pass each year. Holyhead’s the lack of talks between Britain and comes through Wales, including produce Ireland over the issues facing all Welsh traffic is smaller, but Brexit could over- from Northern Ireland, because it of- whelm the town. ports – including Pembroke, Fishguard fers the quickest route to the UK for and Milford Haven. exporters of perishable goods. “When the ferries arrive the problem is The committee also expressed concerns more acute than Dover because the They fear that traffic to Wales from the traffic arrives in pulses unlike Dover where it is a steady stream,” said Reardon. “When the two ferries arrive together you have 400 trucks coming off in 15 minutes: There is simply not space in the terminal for all to park and wait for someone in a yellow jacket to say whether you can either proceed or not. It is particularly acute in Holyhead.” The local Labour MP, Albert Owen, said the prospect of a hard border needed urgent government attention. “Everyone is talking, quite rightly about the hard border between [Northern Ire- land and the Republic of Ireland] and that is hugely important because of the Good Friday Agreement, but the Com- mon Travel Area between Wales and Ireland is hugely important because of the scale of business,” he said. Owen pointed out that there was al- ready gridlock in Holyhead when weather did not permit sailings or when there was a problem on the bridge to mainland Wales. “Traffic backs up very quickly. If there were checks, congestion would be a daily occurrence. “If you have two ferries in at once, the queue could be seven kilometres,” he said. “There’s potential for chaos, and there’s potential for restrictions for com- panies that need to get to the market quickly.” The UKCS believes the only way to avoid disruption is for the UK to stay in the EU customs union. “This is not a port issue, this is a state issue. The government created the prob- lem for the country, it is the state that is toying with the idea of interrupting the supply chain, it’s their problem, they have to solve it.” PAGE 10 www.celtic-connection.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 Brexit negotiations now underway ....and not going terribly well containing bars and live music, a field is referred to as the divorce payment; POSTCARD FROM of retail outlets selling food and every- which is the sum of money that Britain BOURNEMOUTH thing from arts and crafts to industrial will be expected to cough up for leav- wear. ing the club. There were numerous exhibits of shire The Europeans are suggesting a price horses, classic cars, bicycles, motor- tag of EU50 billion, which is approxi- bikes, but the highlight for me was the mately 50 billion more than the UK is collection of shiny fairground caravans offering, leaving plenty of room to hag- and the gleaming showman’s engines gle. that pulled them, especially beautiful at THE WONDERFUL Red Arrows, the Royal Airforce Flying dis- night when they were illuminated. While this is all going on, our delusional By prime minister has just announced she play kicked off the proceedings with breathtaking manoeuvres ELFAN The whole place had a slightly scruffy will lead her conservative party to vic- at the 10th annual Bournemouth Air Show with half a million JONES feel to it as many of the exhibitors were tory at the next election scheduled for spectators. working hard shovelling coal and their May 2022, although 25 members of her reetings from faces were grimy but it added to the own party have already signed up to charm. ousting her as leader. foggy Bourne- • mouth. The Mercifully the political scene has been With very little on television during the relatively quiet over the summer as the summer all this has been very enter- weather had been taining. G politicians have been on holiday enjoy- glorious up until ing the fruits of their expense accounts. • Finally, Andrew Alsop a Welsh fisher- the day all the schools closed The Brexit talks are underway and I man from Milford Haven, has landed a for the summer holidays. have been enjoying myself, as it is ex- seven-foot seven-inches long, 500- tremely interesting reading the com- pound tuna, 20 miles off the Since then it has been miserable and I ments of the diplomats and trying to Pembrokeshire coast. truly admire the determination, the decipher what they are actually saying. sheer grit, of holidaymakers. This is the biggest ever catch in Wales. My impression so far is that the nego- Before World War II the Blue Fin tuna The kids who have been on the beach, tiations are not going terribly well, be- were commonplace but stocks dwindled in swimming costumes with buckets and cause the state of play appears to be when herring and mackerel were deci- spades, while their parents sit on can- that the European commissioners think mated by over fishing. vas chairs, huddle in their Kagools, that the British Government negotiators grimly watching on. are delusional and out of their tiny minds, Recently returning stocks and warmer whereas our honourable representa- waters have seen tuna slowly return, THE GREAT DORSET Steam Fair is an annual show which has The occasional maniac has been seen so who knows one day tourists could been running for 50 years and is reputed to contain the largest running into the sea, but I think there is tives hold the considered opinion that the European Commissioners can get be flocking to Wales to hire boats and collection of steam powered vehicles and machinery in the a special home for them. catch these monsters of the sea. • stuffed. world. In 2013 the fair entered the Guinness Book of World Best wishes Records with the largest parade of steam rollers, consisting of Despite the weather all the carnivals, Currently the debate centres on what Elfan county shows, country shows, and fes- 103 working vehicles. tivals have carried on as usual, and this weekend saw the tenth annual Bourne- mouth Air Show with half a million spec- tators. The weather was kind for three of the Northern Lights linked Duke and Duchess of four days, and the wonderful Red Ar- rows, the Royal Airforce Flying display kicked off the proceedings with breath- to whales stranding Cambridge expecting taking manoeuvres. LONDON – The mystery of why there area. It is at this crucial point that the Sadly all flights on the last day had to was a spate of sperm whale beachings migrating animals may have first their third child be cancelled because of strong winds, around the North Sea last year may strayed off course, making a “fatal” heavy rain and poor visibility, but there have been solved. error, the researchers suggest. LONDON – The Duke and were still thousands of people on the The great beasts weren’t starving or They believe the first solar storm Duchess of Cambridge are beach and lining the cliff top, determined diseased, but had all died in an area caused a theoretical shift in the mag- expecting their third child, to have a good time, optimistically where they typically were not expected netic field by up to 460 kilometres north watching the clouds for some sign of to be. to south. Kensington Palace has con- improvement. The solar storms that produce the The second, which began on New firmed. I suppose having now witnessed ten Northern Lights may have been to Year’s Eve 2015, caused fluctuations The announcement came as Kate, who Bournemouth Air Festivals the thrill blame for last year’s stranding of 29 equivalent to a latitude deviation of 277 is less than 12 weeks pregnant, was wanes a little and this year the event sperm whales on beaches in the UK kilometres. forced to cancel a planned engagement that impressed me most was the Great and other countries around the North due to severe morning sickness, the Dorset Steam Fair. Sea. The 29 whales that washed up were all males, which grow up at lower latitudes same condition she had in her previous This is an annual show which has been The whales washed up on the Lincoln- with a “largely undisturbed geo-mag- pregnancies. running for 50 years and is reputed to shire and Norfolk coasts in January and netic field.” In a statement, Kensington Palace said, contain the largest collection of steam February 2016, and there were also WILLIAM AND KATE, along The research team believes this means “Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and with the couple’s two children, powered vehicles and machinery in the beachings in the Netherlands, Germany Duchess of Cambridge are very world. and France. that younger males often “have no ex- Prince George and Princess perience of random, abrupt geomagentic pleased to announce that the Duchess of Cambridge is expecting their third Charlotte toured Poland and In 2013 the fair entered the Guinness Scientists believe that whales – as well storms” and therefore are not used to Germany earlier this year. Book of World Records with the larg- as other animals such as birds – use switching to a different way of navi- child.” est parade of steam rollers, consisting the earth’s magnetic fields to help them gating. The palace issued the statement as of 103 working vehicles. navigate when they migrate. Instead of swimming north of Shetland Kate was due to visit the Hornsey Road Their main home is now their Kensing- As we approached the venue which is But – writing in the International Jour- to search for squid, the whales made a Children’s Centre in London to hear ton Palace apartment rather than their just outside Tarrant Hinton, a village nal of Astrobiology – a team of re- fatal navigation error and headed south about the mental health impact of be- Norfolk mansion Anmer Hall, and near the small picturesque town of searchers argues that disruption to into the much shallower North Sea. coming a mother. William quit his job as a pilot for the Blandford Forum, we saw a city of cara- these fields by solar storms can “lead East Anglian Air Ambulance in July to Three whales ended up stranded at Old However, she is suffering from hyper- vans and campervans and a vast show to short-term magnetic latitude emesis gravidarum, which can result in become a full-time royal. ground which covers 700 acres. changes” that confuse the mammals. Hunstanton in Norfolk on January 22 – but two managed to make it back to nausea and vomiting so acute it can re- The couple’s third child – who will be Within the grounds is a funfair where The high-energy particles released to- open water. quire hospitalisation. She is currently the Queen’s sixth great-grandchild – several of the traditional rides were wards the earth during a solar storm being cared for at the palace. will be fifth in line to the throne, behind On January 24, three beached near steam powered, and the fair contained “deform the earth’s magnetic field.” Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Skegness. A day later, another whale The announcement comes as William the largest collection of fairground or- and Kate are preparing to send their George and Princess Charlotte. gans in the UK. These particles also produce the famous became stranded at Wainfleet, Lincoln- Northern Lights – and can interfere shire. eldest child to school. If a boy, it will be the first time new Displays included steam rollers and trac- with communications systems, satellites rules to remove male primogeniture will The final UK beaching was on Febru- Four-year-old George started at fee- tion engines, old ploughing machines, and cause power blackouts. paying independent school Thomas’s be invoked. and all types of heavy machinery per- ary 2 – again at Old Hunstanton. A few weeks before the whales washed Battersea in south London on Thurs- The change – which stops royal sons forming the work for which they were The biggest stranding, however, was in day, September, 7. designed. up, a Norwegian measuring station near taking precedence over their female sib- Shetland recorded changes in the mag- Germany, when eight whales washed lings in the line of succession – came up near Kaiser-Wilhelm-Koog. The past year has already been one of There were several large marquees netic field intensity and inclination in the big changes for the Cambridges. into force in March 2015. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 11 Mayor of London calls for social housing tsar in wake of Grenfell Tower tragedy LONDON – The mayor of London has urged the govern- ment to appoint a social hous- ing tsar to safeguard tenants’ interests in the wake of the Grenfell Tower inferno. Sadiq Khan said there is a deep sense of “frustration and anger” that residents of the council- owned block were “ignored.” In a letter to the prime minister, he proposed the introduction of a

MAYOR OF LONDON Sadiq Khan takes part in a release of doves as a show of respect for those who died in the Grenfell Tower fire, during the Notting Hill Carnival Family Day in west London. commissioner for social housing dog for social tenants, leaseholders and residents, tasked with giving ten- freeholders. ants a voice on “the national His intervention follows consternation stage.” expressed by both politicians and sur- vivors of Grenfell Tower when the is- Khan said, “All of us who have spent sue of social housing was excluded from time talking to Grenfell residents since a forthcoming public inquiry into the the fire cannot help but have felt their tragedy. frustration and anger that policy-mak- ers have ignored them before and fol- Prime Minister Theresa May said the lowing the tragedy.” government’s housing minister, Alok GRENFELL TOWER in west Sharma, would instead carry out a sepa- London where at least 80 died The June 14 disaster came against a rate review of the issue. and hundreds more were left backdrop of repeated fire safety con- homeless after an inferno at cerns flagged by the tower’s residents, At least 80 died when flames engulfed which were allegedly ignored by both the 24-storey block, while hundreds the 24-storey, 220-foot high the council and the organisation man- more were left homeless. block of public housing flats in aging the building. North Kensington, west Lon- Both the council and the Kensington and don. The fire started on June Khan said the commissioner would op- Chelsea Tenant Management Organi- 14 and burned for about 60 erate independently of government and sation are being investigated by the hold the legal powers to act as watch- Metropolitan Police on potential corpo- hours until finally extinguished. rate manslaughter charges. Former Irish president McAleese says border controls ‘inevitable’ DUBLIN – Former Irish president Mary McAleese has said she believes border con- trols and identity checks be- tween Northern Ireland and the Republic are “inevitable” after the UK leaves the EU. In an interview with RTÉ following an event at the Edinburgh Festival, she warned of the dangers of Brexit and described it as like “pulling a tooth with 10,000 roots.” TRAFFIC crosses from the Irish Republic into Northern Ire- Northern Ireland is the only part of the land near Dundalk. There are almost 300 border crossings UK that will share a land border with along the 310-mile border, which often zigzags through largely an EU state post-Brexit. rural areas, and would be impossible to police without a huge In a recent paper, the British govern- increase in resources. Trade and services between the two ment stressed there should be no physi- sides now flourishes. Between 23,000 and 30,000 people com- cal infrastructure, such as customs mute daily across the border – a figure that discounts “frontier posts, at the border, which has almost workers” such as community nurses or farmers who go back 300 crossing points. and forth across the border several times a day. McAleese said while she was reassured that the UK does not want a so-called “We need to start hearing how it will as Brexit was going to “reshape the hard border, she was concerned the be alright.” future for generations to come” and the open border cannot be maintained if people and politicians needed to be there is no customs union and strong Describing the open border as a hard- “feeding the debate.” immigration controls. fought “joy,” she said some form of identification would be needed eventu- The prospect of a united Ireland, she “So far I haven’t heard anything apart ally and that would make her “deeply, said, had been brought to the fore by from soothing words that it will be ok,” deeply unhappy.” Brexit and there was a need for “new she said. “Part of me says that has to language, new ideas and new be underpinned with something infinitely She added that the lack of a power- understandings” in order to accommo- more concrete than the desire that eve- sharing executive in Northern Ireland date unionists. rything will be alright. could be “very costly” in the long run, PAGE 12 www.celtic-connection.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 Grand Opening of Donnellan’s Irish Pub: A Joyous Night of Celebration ANCOUVER – Situated in the heart of the busy down- V town entertain- By ment district, Donnellan’s CATHOLINE Irish Pub on Granville Street BUTLER hosted a much anticipated of- ficial grand opening last PHOTOS month. by Patrick King

William and Laura Donnellan of Along one wall there are two comfort- Knockcroghery, Co. Galway – proud able snug areas which could each seat owners of the pub – also own IRL about eight people, offering a lovely in- Construction, a very busy construction timate space for groups or parties. OPENING NIGHT GUESTS – (L-R) Charlie Donnellan, Martina company in Vancouver. Donnellan, Catholine Butler [The Celtic Connection], Jimmy A floating gallery on the second floor FATHER James Hughes as- Speiran, Marie Donnellan [William’s mother], Father James Opening night on Friday, August 4 is one overlooks the main room, giving guests sisted by Rafael Salvino Hughes, John Donnellan [William’s father], Shaun Donnellan, William and Laura will never forget! It a bird’s eye view of the stage and main blessed the new business. and Rafael Salvino. was a tremendous night of beginnings. area. This was the night they had dreamed Live music is featured seven nights a of and worked so hard to accomplish – week at the pub, and on opening night the opening of their first Irish pub. Michael Viens and Elegwen Ó Maoileóin provided some excellent en- It was also the occasion their first child tertainment. decided to make his arrival into the world. It’s been awhile since I heard this duo and I was amazed at their full rich Iarla wasn’t due until October, but he sound. They are both great local en- decided to join the celebrations early tertainers. and arrived on the same night. Later in the evening Irish dancers with It was a joyous event, filled with con- the O’Connor School of Irish Dance gratulations for mother, father, and new joined the celebrations with some spec- baby boy... and the family are all doing tacular footwork. just fine. Donnellan’s is still a work in progress Luckily, William’s mother and father and they hope to have their kitchen up were visiting from Ireland and available and running early this autumn. to do the honours of cutting the red rib- bon to officially declare the pub open Donnellan’s feature live broadcasts of for business. the hurling and Gaelic football games from Ireland, attracting many of the LOVELY dancers with the Father James Hughes of St. Patrick’s newly arrived Irish who are all very in- O’Connor School of Irish Parish in Vancouver, who is present at IT WAS a busy night at the bar for the bartenders. Pictured terested in the GAA games back in their dance provided some spec- so many Irish gatherings, liberally sprin- home counties. above (R) is bar manager Jordan Flynn. kled holy water blessing the new es- tacular footwork. tablishment. The All Ireland Hurling Final on Sun- day, September 3, attracted record early Donnellan’s Irish Pub is a long wide morning crowds to Donnellan’s to room, with a cosy fireplace area near watch the live telecast of Galway de- the main door where there is also enough feat Waterford. space for the musicians to set up their equipment. It was 29 years since Galway won the All Ireland Hurling title and the right to The two main focal points include a lift high the Liam MacCarthy Cup. massive crystal chandelier in the cen- tre of the room, along with a huge gold There was great celebration at signature letter ‘D’ for Donnellan’s in Donnellan’s and days of celebrations in the shape of a harp and illuminated on Galway. a green background behind the bar. Donnellan’s will also be showing live Throughout the pub there are high ta- the All Ireland Football Final on Sun- bles and chairs along with large round day, September 17 – Dublin vs Mayo. barrels with lots of space on top for So, who will lift the Sam Maguire Cup? drinks, allowing patrons to stand around This early-morning nail biter starts at and socialize like back home in Ireland. 7:30 AM. MICHAEL VIENS and Elegwen Ó Maoileóin, two enormously It’s the kind of space Celts love, where Donnellan’s Irish Pub is located at 1081 talented local musicians provided excellent entertainment on you can either sit or stand and socialize Granville Street in Vancouver. Call the evening. while munching on Tayto crisps – (604) 564-4277 or online at: cheese and onion seem to be the fa- www.donnellansirishpub.com. THE DONNELLAN sign is fi- vourite. nally out on Granville Street. THE TWO main fo- cal points include a massive crystal chandelier in the centre of the room, along with a huge gold signature letter ‘D’ for Donnellan’s in the shape of a harp and illuminated on a green background behind the bar. THE IRL CONSTRUCTION contingent at the grand opening of Donnellan’s Irish Pub on Friday, August 4. PHOTO: Colleen Carpenter SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 13 IRISH CLUB OF WHITE ROCK Looking forward to autumn after a great annual summer BBQ By SHARON NI CHOILLE President, Irish Club of White Rock The Irish Club of White Rock, along with the Fraser Valley Gaels, held their annual sum- mer BBQ on August 13. This year it was held in the gor- geous Redwood Park in Surrey. It was a fantastic day with huge mem- ber attendance. Along with great food there was music, football, hurling and games. It was really great to see so many new KATHY KING with Mary McNulty and Bridie Eviston. and returning members of both clubs come together to enjoy a day of Irish fun. A warm welcome is extended to all our new recent members. Please see the Irish Club of White Rock Facebook page for upcoming events. The Irish Club would like to extend a huge congratulations to the Fraser Val- ley Gaels on their win, in the North American Championships. Well done lads, well deserved. • For more club information, call Sharon Ni Choille at (604) 338-3553 or Deirdre O’Ruairc at (604) 803- 0773. JAMES WOODS with Robbie Greville and Ricky.

MARK MOORE with Mairéad Colley/Nolan, Abby Moore, Christine Gannon, and Josh Nolan in front.

SHEA CREW wearing his wee peaked cap against the sun.

LISA CORRIGAN with Noel and Maureen McDermott.

GER GANNON with the Irish tricolour. MARY HARRINGTON and friends. PAGE 14 www.celtic-connection.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 Celtic Highlights of IRISH WOMEN’S NETWORK OF BC Vancouver Fringe Fest Upcoming Events this Fall Vancouver Fringe The walk follows a two kilometre route hope to see you on the 24th. Scottish spoken from Cambie and Georgia Street to • word sensation Festival Strathcona Park. This event is organ- September 30: Irish Standing Room Only Theatre presents ised by Reconciliation Canada. Newcomers Info and in Vancouver Almost a Stepmom, created and per- To be part of the walk in Vancouver formed by Keara Barnes; directed by Creative Scotland supported show Gi- please register online at http:// Networking Seminar Michael David Stewart. gantic Lying Mouth to debut at the reconciliationcanada.ca/walk-for-rec- Free networking seminar for all Irish fringe festival Based on a true story. Keara moved to onciliation-2017. newcomers; learn about job hunting, Ireland. She fell in love. Then she be- making your Irish CV into a Canadian Award winning writer and performer Once registered select a team and came a stepmom...almost. resume, information interviews and tips Kevin P. Gilday is bringing his new show choose ‘The Irish Women’s Network for finding a job. Gigantic Lying Mouth to the Vancou- A darkly comic tale about the ups and of BC’. ver fringe with support from the Scot- downs of becoming a stepmother. Five Network with established members of The Walk for Reconciliation is a posi- tish Government. the Irish community; make new friends Irish characters and a murder attempt tive movement to build better relation- round off this tumultuous and touching and pick up other useful tips about set- The show will take place at the Revue ships among Indigenous peoples and all Stage, Granville Island on September solo show. tling in Vancouver. MARK LYON Canadians. 14 at 6:45 PM, September 16 at 5:45 The show runs until September 17 at Resource people needed from differ- This bold vision calls on everyone of all PM, and September 17 at 2:45 PM. aristocrat who sells his soul to the Devil the Vancouver Fringe Festival. Tickets: ent work areas to help give guidance to and a young rogue’s harrowing journey ages, all backgrounds, all cultures and Kevin’s tour of Canada and the U.S. http://tickets.vancouverfringe.com/ newcomers, all you need to commit to seeking redemption while a talking all faiths to come together as commu- has been supported by Creative Scot- shows/almost%20a%20stepmom/ is a couple of hours and provide info corpse clutches tightly to his back. nities and as individuals. land, the country’s arts council, in or- events based on your personal experience. • The IWN team has opted not to raise der to promote Scottish art and identity Actor and playwright, Mark Lyon, who To register as a newcomer or a re- funds/set a target as they want to en- abroad. will portray 16 different roles, has en- September 24: Walk source person, go to https:// chanted audiences from Orlando, courage everyone to come and partici- Kevin P. Gilday is a writer, theatre- www.surveymonkey.com/r/ Florida to Victoria, B.C. (where he was for Reconciliation pate. It is up to each team member if maker and one of the UK’s foremost SeminarSept30. called “a master storyteller” by the Vic- Join the Irish Women’s Network of they wish to raise funds individually. spoken word artists. BC’s Team for a Walk for Reconcilia- Hope to see you at one of the upcoming toria Times Colonist) and across the All members of the Irish community are tion on Sunday, September 24. Every- events. He has performed all over the world Atlantic in Irish castles and at Ireland’s welcome to walk with the IWN – we including the BBC 6 Music Festival, most prestigious literary event of the one is welcome. Edinburgh Fringe, Toronto Fringe, year, the Listowel Writers’ Week Fes- Wickerman, Belladrum, Lingo (Dublin) tival, with his original one-man plays. and Glastonbury Festivals (on two oc- He is a member of the Screen Actors casions). Guild, holds a masters degree in Thea- A century of protest: He has supported artists such as Saul tre, studied at length in a master class Williams, Sage Francis and George the with Lynn Redgrave and was honored Poet. to have been chosen to perform with Redgrave in a presentation of great Hanna Sheehy Skeffington His writing has appeared in publications moments from Shakespeare at the VANCOUVER – A free pub- She was the only Irish representative and websites around the world while Louis B. Mayer Theatre for the benefit his controversial series of videos cre- to meet President Woodrow Wilson to of the Motion Picture and Television lic lecture by Micheline put forward Ireland’s case for independ- ated for the BBC have been viewed by Fund. over a quarter of a million people. Sheehy Skeffington – grand- ence. Although the tales dramatized in ‘Tween daughter of Hanna Sheehy A reflexive solo performance combin- During the tour the British did all they Earth and Sky are based upon tradi- Skeffington – will be pre- could to silence her, even trying to ab- ing contemporary spoken word with tional Irish folklore, while searching out monologues, multimedia and comedy – duct her. On her return, Hanna was supernatural sites in Ireland, Lyon has sented at Simon Fraser Uni- arrested and imprisoned. Gigantic Lying Mouth follows the met credible individuals who have told versity Harbour Centre Cam- story of the eponymous author. John Devoy, head of Friends of Irish him of personal experiences involving pus on Wednesday, November After perishing in a tragic yoga acci- the fairy folk and other legendary Irish Freedom in the U.S. wrote “Mrs. dent, Kevin finds himself trapped in the supernatural entities. 8. Skeffington has done more real good to afterlife and in line for a celestial judge- the cause of Ireland during her short These experiences resulted in his initi- Micheline is coming to Vancou- stay in America than all the Irish ora- ment – only to find things are a little ating a survey throughout Ireland in different on the other side. ver as part of her USA/Canada lec- tors and writers...[over] the past 25 search of present-day, first-hand en- ture tour recreating her grand- years.” Guided through the afterlife by a Machi- counters with the fairy folk in all of their mother’s lecture tour in 1917, and avellian guardian angel, the mischievous intriguing forms. Micheline is well-known in Ireland for Lady Lazarus, Kevin must analyse the which is being filmed for a docu- her own stand against authority, win- Mark Lyon will perform at the Vancou- mentary. ning a significant gender equality case decisions and lies that characterised his ver Vancouver Fringe festival, at Stu- existence if he ever hopes of justifying against her university NUI Galway in dio 16 - 1555, 7th Avenue West, V6J Hanna Sheehy Skeffington was Ire- 2009 which she won in 2014 in a land- his life on earth. 1S1 on the following dates: Thursday land’s most famous suffragette but to- • mark decision by the Irish Equality Tri- September 14, 8:30 PM; Saturday, Sep- day her contribution to the struggle for bunal. Four Irish Tales of tember 16, 8:15 PM. Irish freedom through the courage and • tenacity of her U.S. tour is largely for- Her win was the first by any female the Supernatural gotten. academic in Ireland or the UK proving HANNA Sheehy Skeffington ‘Tween Earth and Sky is a one-man A Comedic Jab at gender discrimination in academic pro- When her husband Francis was shot by with her son Owen (Micheline play, dramatizing four Irish tales of the ‘The One’ motion. Sheehy Skeffington’s father). supernatural presented by Mark Lyon. British firing squad during the 1916 Draining the Swamp: A musical Tweet Easter Rising, despite him being a paci- It resulted in extensive media cover- Following the murder of her Journey back to a time, long ago; long promises to “make theatre great again” fist, Hanna undertook an epic lecture age which was then doubled when she pacifist husband, Hanna cou- before your great-great-grandfather’s with a comedic jab at The One and the tour of the U.S., publicising what had announced she was offering her rageously undertook an epic grandfather was born, when the world 1%. happened. EU70,000 award to the five other lecture tour of the United States was filled with enchantment and bedev- This is another original musical theatri- women who were shortlisted and not in 1918. ilment brought about by supernatural Following Frank’s murder, Hanna suc- promoted in that round. cal vortex from the same creative team cessfully lobbied for an independent in- entities who dwell within the invisible as last year’s hit Waiting For Garbo, world ‘tween earth and sky. quiry into his death. This enabled them to take High Court which wowed audiences at both the Ed- actions as they were by then out of time A time when Ireland was so much a inburgh Fringe and Vancouver Fringe While it established his innocence, she to go to the Irish Equality Tribunal. place of enchantment and bedevilment Festival and features Jacques Lalonde was dissatisfied that the officer who had that a decent man could hardly poke (Trump The Musical) with music by ordered Frank’s murder was ruled in- Micheline regularly gives talks about his nose outside the door of his own Kevin Michael Cripps. (TUTS: The sane. her famous grandparents and spoke at both official state events in 2016 com- cottage without chancing upon spirits Drowsy Chaperone). Hanna refused £10,000 hush money and witches and all manner of fairy folk memorating Francis Sheehy Comic mayhem ensues when The Boss from British Prime Minister Asquith Skeffington’s death. who have the ability to bring either good fires his Apprentice, shoots his Driver, (U.S. $1 million today), and instead luck or bad luck to mere mortals such and gets arrested for murder. Refer- sailed to the U.S. with her seven-year- Her visit to Vancouver is sponsored by as you and I. ences to contemporary political figures old son Owen using false passports to the Irish Women’s Network, Vancou- ‘Tween Earth and Sky weaves a magi- are purely intentional, and most of the ensure that the full truth behind Frank’s ver; Department of Sociology and An- cal spell through the dramatization of dialogue has been mashed from the murder and the reality of the British thropology, SFU; Department of His- four traditional Irish tales of the super- twitter sphere. Empire’s actions in Ireland would tory, SFU; Academic Women, SFU. emerge. natural ranging from the tale of a clever The performances (70 minutes) are at The lecture is free and open to the pub- lad’s attempt to outwit a leprechaun, to the Havana Cafe Theatre, 1212 Com- Hanna toured the U.S. over 18 months, lic. It will be held at the SFU Harbour ACADEMIC Micheline Sheehy stones which weep tears of regret me- mercial Drive. Check it out on Sep- giving over 250 speeches and filling Centre Campus, room 7000, 515 West Skeffington is the granddaugh- morializing the tragic romance between tember 14 at 9 PM, September 16 at venues such as Carnegie Hall, and the Hastings Street, Vancouver – 7-10 PM. ter of the famous Irish the son and the daughter of two war- 1:15 PM, and September 17 at 12:15 even larger Dreamland Auditorium in sufferagette, Hanna Sheehy ring Irish clans, to a financially ruined Follow the tour on Facebook at: PM. San Francisco. www.facebook.com/hannas U.S. tour. Skeffington. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 15 Two Edmonton Irish dancers

earn a place as the topPagePage 5 two Canadian females EDMONTON – Two Edmonton sisters with the Mattierin School of Irish Dance – Olivia and Londyn Nachtigal – claimed first and sec- ond place in their respective com- petitions at the 2017 North American Irish Dance Champion- ships in New Orleans, Louisiana. Over 3,500 dancers from around the world competed at the championships and the two Mattierin dancers have earned a place as the top two Cana- dian females. Olivia Nachtigal, who won first place, claiming the title North American Na- tional Champion 2017 in the Girls U16 category out of nearly 140 dancers was also the only female Canadian to win and one of only two Canadians to win the North American Championship ti- tle. Londyn Nachtigal placed second in the Girls U18 category out of almost 120 dancers and was the top Canadian in her competition. This is an incredible achievement for (L-R) OLIVIA NACHTIGAL, Londyn Nachtigal and Peyton one dancer, let alone two dancers from Schroter with the Mattierin School of Irish Dance in Edmonton the same family and school. at the 2017 North American Dance Championships in New Or- Peyton Schroter, also of the Mattierin leans. School of Irish Dance, placed fourth in the Girls U13 out of over 110 dancers, OLIVIA being western Canada’s youngest fe- male podium placer at the 2017 North NACHTIGAL American Irish Dance Championships. wears a mask in Both Londyn and Olivia attended the New Orleans as World Irish Dance Championships in Dublin, Ireland this past April where she celebrates both girls brought home World Medals. her first place win Londyn is currently ranked seventh in the World, top Canadian and now sec- in the Girls U16 ond in North America. Olivia is currently category at the ranked 15th in the World and now first in North America. N.A. National Londyn and Olivia Nachtigal have just Championships. returned from a week in Boston at Riverdance School where they spent a week working with Riverdance profes- sionals such as Ciara Sexton and Padraic Moyles. They performed a final show on the last day in which Londyn earned herself a lead spot in part of the show. The Mattierin School is very proud of these talented, hardworking and suc- cessful Edmontonians who are inspira- tions and role models within the Irish community. Ireland’s revolutionary years captured in comprehensive new book CORK – The most comprehensive spectacular volume is the most com- in art and through public memorials. treatment of Ireland’s revolutionary prehensive treatment of Ireland’s revo- years has been published by Cork Uni- lutionary years ever produced. Over 140 separate contributions from versity Press. the leading scholars of the era deal with The Atlas presents the history of the the revolution in all its complexity, in- Edited by John Crowley, Mike Murphy, Irish Revolution in a vivid and exciting cluding a chapter by Montreal’s Donal Ó Drisceoil with associate edi- way, using many photos and archival Concordia School of Irish Studies His- tor John Borgonovo, The Atlas of the documents that have rarely been seen tory Professor Gavin Foster. Irish Revolution promises to be one of by the Irish public. As well as detailed military and politi- the Irish publishing events of the year. It covers all the key events and episodes cal accounts, the often neglected roles Following the unprecedented critical from 1912 to 1923 – the Home Rule of women and workers are given their and commercial success of the Atlas Crisis, the First World War and Easter due, as are the experiences of Ulster of the Great Irish Famine (2012), the Rising, the First Dáil and the War of Unionists, Southern Protestants and Atlas of the Irish Revolution brings Independence, the Treaty and Civil War. Irish people in British uniform. the same engaging and detailed treat- ment to the Irish revolutionary period. It also features sections on the roots of The crucial role of the Irish diaspora is the revolution in the 19th century; the also featured in this exhaustive and With just under 1,000 pages – and fea- impacts, outcomes and legacies of these stimulating volume that is a must-have turing hundreds of maps, photographs, turbulent years; and how they have for anyone with an interest in how mod- paintings and other illustrations – this been remembered in literature, on film, ern Ireland came into being. PAGE 16 www.celtic-connection.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 Death of well-known In memory of my father earthquake specialist Dr. Peter Byrne Thomas (Tom) O’Flynn By EIFION WILLIAMS VANCOUVER – Dr. Peter Byrne, By JOHN O’FLYNN Professor Emeritus of UBC Engineer- VANCOUVER – On behalf of ing, who passed away on August 17, was an earthquake specialist and a my sister Mary, brothers highly regarded geotechnical consultant. James and Thomas, I want to Dr. Byrne received numerous awards express gratitude to our im- for his many achievements. In 2014, he mediate family here in Van- was awarded the prestigious R.F. Legget Medal by the Canadian couver and to our extended Geotechnical Society. family in Ireland, England and The medal is the society’s highest USA for their many award, presented to an individual for kindnesses throughout these outstanding life-long contribution to ‘geotechnique’. last few years. His previous awards included the We are very thankful to those who sup- JOHN O’FLYNN with his dad TOM was honoured to be Geoffrey Mayerhoff Award from the PETER BYRNE ported our efforts in the care of our dad – Thomas (Tom) O’Flynn. at the 1916 Rising Commemo- awarded a life presidency of Canadian Geotechnical Society, the Peter Michael Byrne was born in 1936 ration banquet at the Hilton the Vancouver Irish Sporting Gzowski Medal from the Canadian So- in Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin, and The varied communities that sent on Hotel in Burnaby last year. Tom and Social Club in 2015 along gained his first engineering degree from ciety of Civil Engineers and the Julian notes, Mass cards and donations to the O’Flynn was a proud supporter with his good friend Jim C. Smith Medal by the Engineering In- University College, Dublin. Betty O’Flynn Memorial Bursary were stitute of Canada. The latter is pre- of countless Irish events Speiran. They are pictured dis- He completed post-graduate studies at all deeply appreciated. Special thanks sented for ‘Achievement in the Devel- throughout the Vancouver playing their green ISSC the University of British Columbia to St. Patrick’s Father James Hughes, opment of Canada’. Lower Mainland over the years. neckties sporting the club logo. where he was a Professor of Civil En- Father David Hughes and Deacon The Canadian Geotechnical Society gineering from 1967 until his retirement Michael Boreham for their ministry. noted that Dr. Byrne’s achievements in 2001. On the day of the funeral, it was really Tom joined the Pioneer Total Abstinence land Football Final in Vancouver on a were demonstrated by a wide range of Association of the Sacred Heart on big screen (1990). To the Vancouver sailing fraternity, amazing to see 13 priests in attendance projects on which he had been con- September 10, 1951 and remained a life- Peter Byrne was well known as a com- on their traditional day off (and not out Dad would see to it that the ISSC would sulted, including bridges, tunnels, dams, long member. petitive sailor, a passion he had followed on the golf course)! have a representative at the founding rapid transit projects, high-rise buildings, since his early years in Ireland. The generosity from the many visitors Dad’s older brother John, a well-known of the CGAA (1987) in Toronto. airports and a wide variety of other fa- B.C. west coast fisherman, left for cilities in seismically active areas of In 1967, he won a Bronze Medal in the and the kind honors that were presented He would attend games in Washington, to Thomas were many. Canada in 1948 and when dad turned Canada and around the world. Flying Dutchman class at the Pan 18, he came to Toronto in 1952. Oregon, California, Alberta, and even American Games and was a member attended 40th anniversaries of St. Mikes Dr. Byrne also had a reputation as a The “Cross of Honour” medal from of Canada’s Olympic sailing team at the He made his way across the country and St. Pats in Toronto. researcher, having written many papers Pope Francis for dad’s ‘half a century 1972 Munich Olympic Games. by train and worked as a faller in the in his area of expertise while pioneer- of service’ with the St. Vincent de Paul When the ISSC celebrated 30 years in Society; Honorary Presidency of the forestry industry and a variety of other ing many new procedures. In 1973, with his wife Jane as crew, he jobs, including the Arthur Murray School 2004, the first competitive hurling match won the Enterprise Class World Cham- Vancouver Irish Sporting and Social in 28 years took place between Ameri- He was also much in demand at na- of Ballroom Dancing as an instructor. pionships, held that year in Vancouver. Club; “Spirit” and “Celtic Connection” can and Canadian Irish and his “West tional and international conferences as awards for his contributions to the Van- My father and mother (Betty) saw to it Limerick Holdings Ltd.” company spon- a consultant. Peter Byrne was a popular member of couver Irish Community were all kind that Gaelic Games and the best people sored the trophy. the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club for As a teacher, he raised awareness of testaments. in the world connected to the GAA over 50 years. It gave him great pleasure to sit at Ta- earthquake damage protection among Whether at his home near 17th and would be an integral part of our upbring- ing. ble 1 “Croke Park” when the ISSC cel- students, members of the public and Family members and friends will always Main over so many years or in the last ebrated 40 years in 2014. government bodies. cherish the memories of summers sail- year with his residencies at both South The Vancouver Irish Sporting and So- ing with Peter along the coast of Brit- To conclude with a granddaughter’s He also served as Chair of the Van- Granville Park Lodge and St. John’s cial Club (ISSC) formed in 1974 and ish Columbia. Hospice, dad made friends. my proudest memory as a child, of my social media post, “As Grandpa Tom couver Geotechnical Society and served once said, ‘it takes all kinds of people on several National Building Code com- Peter Byrne is survived by his wife Jane Charming nurses and staff with his de- father, was a day of Gaelic sports at John Hendry Park. to make up a world’ and we are all so mittees. of 57 years and sons Sean and Craig. lightful personality, he was always in fortunate to have had a gracious man readiness to uplift another’s spirits and Dad was the oldest competitor in the like him in ours. to make their day better. ‘Poc Fada’ (long puck) and he won with his ancient ‘Camán’. “He was one of the most selfless and The Vancouver Welsh Society One of the most inspiring things in his generous people I ever had the pleas- character was how he held his friends I remember Dad around a simple ure to meet, and will forever stay in my Remembers Tom O’Flynn in such high esteem. speaker-phone listening intently to an memory as a funny and light hearted All Ireland Hurling Final – and then, character. Cheers to a long and happy was also expressed on a more active He didn’t want anyone to know how By EIFION WILLIAMS years later, watching his first All Ire- life, he will be missed.” VANCOUVER - Members of the level. hard it was for him to receive visitors and to be expected to participate in con- Vancouver Welsh Society join the Irish For many years he would assist the community in expressing their condo- versation when in his weakened state member in charge of Cambrian Hall of endurance plus Alzheimer’s disease. lences at the passing of Thomas rentals by occasionally opening the hall O’Flynn, whose kind and benevolent to prospective renters and checking it It was encouraging to see how he spirit was admired by all who knew after they left. stretched himself to greet every visitor IN MEMORY OF LAURIE KELLY him. with his best attention to their conver- OUR thoughts and prayers The society could also rely on Tom to sation and even an invitation for them are with Pat Kelly and his Tom lived across the street from the deal in a neighbourly way with any late- to return soon. society’s Cambrian Hall and through- night noise problems from renters at the family on the sudden pass- out the years proved to be a model hall. My father was not a complainer. Even ing of his wife Laurie Kelly neighbour. up to the end, he would not push the Tom’s charitable nature was also evi- call button for assistance no matter how (75) who died suddenly on As a strong supporter of the Celtic dent during the annual spring sale at the serious the issue, so as not to cause in- holiday in Galway, Ireland. Heritage group, Tom firmly believed that hall. convenience. the various Celtic groups should work Pat Kelly is the managing partner Whenever possible, he would person- Tom was born in the town land of together and promote each other’s ac- of Bradley Kelly Construction and tivities. ally take any unsold items following a Tulligmacthomas, Feohanagh, West sale and donate them to the St. Vincent Limerick in 1934 and shortly thereaf- a partner in the Heart & Crown Irish He also frequently attended Welsh So- de Paul Society, of which he was a valu- ter, his family moved to Pallas, Pub in Ottawa, Ontario. ciety events and encouraged his friends able and active member. Kilmeedy when he was 10 months old. to do likewise. Laurie will be sorely missed and is Tom O’Flynn was a true friend of the He left for Dublin in 1948 as a 14-year- survived by her devoted husband Stephanie, Holly, Robert, Riley and Many of the contacts between the Vancouver Welsh Society. He will be old to work in an ice cream shop. Shaun and step-grandchildren Welsh Society and other community Patrick and her children Donna, remembered by members as a model Patrick, Martin, Frankie, Jarlath, Celtic groups were largely due to Tom. neighbour and as someone who dem- Sadly, his father died in July of that year Greg (Wendy), Julie (Allan) and Dara, Sarah and Amelie and many onstrated in practical ways the Chris- due to the ravages of alcohol. Christine (Gordon) and step chil- He had a high regard for the Welsh nieces and nephews. Society, where he had many close tian values that guided his life. Dad could not afford the fare back to dren Veronica (Frank) and Padraig friends. He was especially close to the President Lynn Owens-Whalen has attend the funeral, as he made only a (Genevieve) and her loving sister Laurie remained a dear friend to late Neville Thomas, who shared Tom’s extended sincere condolences to Tom’s pound a week, so he decided to use his Doreen (Moe) and brother Brian her former husband John Sauve views on wider Celtic cooperation. family on behalf of members of the coins to put an ad in the paper announc- (Karen) along with her precious (Bernadette) who share the sad- ing his father’s death. Tom’s support for the Welsh Society Vancouver Welsh Society. grandchildren Amanda, Scott, ness in her passing. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 17 Stark contrast between U.S. and Canada viewed through lens of working holiday visas

By MARK COSTELLO

OTH America and Canada have long visa for Canada costs you only $226 CAD on the Citizenship and Immigra- been destinations for Irish emigrants. tion Canada website. However, with recent restrictions placed Such immigration policies are sugges- tive of the multicultural inclusivity that B upon U.S. visa applications coupled with Canada and its leader reveres. the current political turmoil in America there are many In January, in reaction to Trump’s travel reasons why Canada is now the obvious choice when ban, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted: “To those fleeing persecution, choosing between the two. terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity America is often the destination most in place making it necessary now to at- is our strength.” associated with Irish emigration. This tain a job in the U.S. before an Irish can be traced back to the 1840s when student is granted a 90 day J-1 visa. The contrast between the leader’s and thousands of Irish immigrants crossed their country’s policies and attitudes are the Atlantic in coffin ships in an attempt Such strict procedures and restrictions stark. to escape the potato famine that rav- add new difficulties to the whole expe- At this moment in time the J-1 and aged Ireland. rience of moving to America making Canada seem all the more attractive. Graduate programs to America remain It is estimated that by 1850 nearly one surprisingly intact. million Irish emigrated to the United In contrast, Canada’s IEC visa inclu- sively offers young people from around However, do not be surprised if there States, nearly half of all immigrants to is an increasing number of Irish students the nation.* the world the opportunity to work in Canada for up to two years in any Ca- and graduates looking to Canada in However, today, America’s image is nadian province and for any Canadian search of jobs, homes and craic. changing. Where previously America employer. At the time of the U.S. election an Irish was seen as an inclusive land of oppor- Times poll found that only six percent tunity, it is slowly becoming viewed as Young Irish people from between the of Irish voters would like to see Donald hostile rather than hospitable for poten- ages of 18 to 30 can apply and crucially Trump elected president. tial relocators. the visa does not require a job offer in order to be awarded. Despite numbers of people travelling to This is largely due to President Trump’s the States on summer J-1 visas remain- hard-line stance on immigration that Overall, it is relatively easy to acquire ing high, the statistics imply that any Irish corresponds with the “America first” as long as an applicant meets the mini- delusion that America is the dreamland theme of his administration. mum age requirement, provides proof of citizenship and residence in their of old is very much dead. This attitude led the then candidate to country of origin and has a clean crimi- Should Trump remain unimpeached and decry the popular J-1 working holiday nal record. Canada’s inclusive and unrestrictive program as a jobs program for “foreign work visa program remain in place, then youths.” Furthermore, the Canada visa is con- siderably cheaper and lasts for double it is likely that the number of Irish relo- The J-1 summer work and travel pro- the duration than its American counter- cating to the land of the maple leaf is gram is a staple in the lives of young part which only accepts graduates and only going to increase. Irish around the country therefore undergraduates as possible candidates Source: * http://www.emmigration.info/ Trump’s comments had many worried for a 12-month period. irish-immigration-to-america.htm that his election would spell the end of • the entire program. Also, the job one takes in the U.S. must be directly related to one’s field of Mark Costello recently moved to Van- Today it fortunately remains intact how- study. couver, B.C. from Dublin on a two- ever it is uncertain for how long and year work permit. He graduated from under what further constraints. Where a 12-month visa for America Trinity College Dublin with a B.A. in starts from EU2,730 (if you were to English Literature & Philosophy. Already new restrictions have been put apply with USIT), a two-year working Mother Teresa: ‘I will always have a special place in my heart for Ireland’ MOTHER TERESA who was She returned many times and was given canonized a saint on Sunday, QUOTE the Freedom of Dublin in 1993. September 2, 2016 began her OF THE MONTH At the height of the ‘Troubles’ in 1971 she sent a group of her sisters armed life as a nun in Dublin. “If you want peace in just with bedrolls and a violin to Belfast to help “in whatever little way” they Known in the Catholic Church as Saint the world....go home could. Teresa of Calcutta, she was an Alba- and love your family” nian-Indian Roman Catholic nun and Even after her death her Irish connec- missionary, born in Skopje, then part of – St. Teresa of Calcutta tions remain as her sisters continue the Kosovo Vilayet of the Ottoman [1910-1997] work in each of the four provinces: in Empire. Dublin, Blarney, Sligo and Armagh. Mother Teresa was one of those very made those who had been defeated by As a citizen of the world, Mother few people to be canonised by popular life feel the tenderness of God.” Teresa often said, “By blood and origin acclaim, even before her death. I am all Albanian. My citizenship is In- She held a her deep affinity for Ireland. dian. I am a Catholic nun. Amid the dirt and the dying in Calcut- The order she chose to join was an Irish ta’s slums, in the depths of the most ap- one, the Loreto Sisters, and she began “As to my calling, I belong to the whole palling poverty for many people she re- her time as a nun by serving two months world – and to Jesus. The people of vealed the face of God. as a novice in Rathfarnham in 1928 to the world are my people but I will al- learn English. ways have a special place in my heart Pope St. John Paul II personally fast- for Ireland.” tracked her beatification because “she Her ties with Ireland remained strong. PAGE 18 www.celtic-connection.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 Singer Daniel O’Donnell leads the fundraising charge to help devastated Donegal flood victims

DONEGAL – Donegal native would organise coaches to bring as Daniel O’Donnell joined many people to the show as possible. forces with other Irish coun- “I’m sure, like myself, you are all shocked and horrified but, thank God, try stars on September 3 to nobody lost their lives,” he said of the help raise funds for people af- flood damage. “But nevertheless, lots fected by the recent floods in of people have suffered.” the north-west of Ireland. He also said, “And I know that as well as the money raised, the very fact that Torrential weather on August 23 there’s a large number of people who affected tens of families when a are turning out and gathering together, it’ll give the people in Inishowen and month’s rain fell in just a few further afield great hope that things are hours. being done, and to make their plight People were displaced from their homes heard.” DANIEL O’DONNELL, Nathan Carter and Declan Nearney were and farms, while roads and bridges Proceeds after costs will go to the Irish were badly damaged. among the Irish country music stars who teamed up for a ben- Red Cross, with all artists donating their time free of charge. efit concert in Donegal in aid of victims of the flooding on the Despite the fact he was in the middle Inishowen peninsula. of a sold-out Irish tour, O’Donnell re- Following the flooding, Irish Defence sponded to a call from an Inishowen Forces worked to help build bridges, Peninsula woman, Deirdre Grant, for erect safety fences and clear out IRISH music superstar Dan- help. homes. iel O’Donnell was at the She wanted to put together a fundraising Donegal Fine Gael TD Joe McHugh Orpheum Theatre in Vancou- event and with the help of O’Donnell said, “All branches of government re- ver on Friday, September 8 and some of his peers, Flood Aid for sponded speedily to the crisis which on his Canada/USA Tour. He Inishowen was put together. unfolded. is pictured above with The event held at the Aura Centre in “A number of government ministers Deirdre Keohane who said Letterkenny featuring Declan Nerney, were at the scene within hours of the afterwards, “Incredible Johnny Brady, Dominic and Barry flood and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was show, Daniel O’Donnell is Kirwan, and Nathan Carter with the also in Inishowen that week along with some showman! What Dan- house band, along with Daniel five other government ministers.” iel O’Donnell gave the Irish- O’Donnell. In addition, McHugh also acknowl- Canadians tonight was a Well-known Donegal personality Noel edged the input from musicians, GAA huge gift of love, way be- Cunningham hosted the show, assisted clubs, the Red Cross, the Donegal yond any other artist that I by Phil Mack – who has family in Diaspora and the neighbours who went have ever seen. He came Inishowen – from the Keep It Coun- out of their way to help. try Music Channel. out after this amazing show PHOTO: Caroline Quinn He said, “Any time there is a crisis in and gave individual hugs and JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, owner of the Point Inn Bar and B&B at In a video message posted to social Donegal, Daniel O’Donnell is always recognition to his fans.” Quigleys Point, Carrowkeel in Co. Donegal, is among those media, O’Donnell said he hoped fans at the forefront.” devastated by the flood water and sewage damage to his busi- ness. Sinéad O’Connor gives heart-breaking interview about her troubled life to Dr. Phil NEW YORK – In an emo- tional chat with television psychologist ‘Dr. Phil’ McGrath, Sinéad O’Connor has opened up about her trou- CLEAN UP OPERATIONS underway at Cockhill Bridge in bled life. Buncrana, Co. Donegal, after heavy rain left a trail of destruc- “I’m so grateful and very happy, very tion on August 23. excited to be getting some proper help,” O’Connor tells Dr. Phil in the interview, which kicks off the daytime talk show's 16th season. Sinéad’s mother died in a car crash when she was 19, and now the 50-year- old has opened up about the continuing SINÉAD O'CONNOR will appear on Dr. Phil for the show's re- problems those terrible memories have turn on Tuesday, September 12. on her. In a preview clip of her interview, Sinéad – who has battled with her men- “For you to have the courage to can- Sinéad says, “I am fed up of being de- tal health for a number of years – re- didly and openly talk about this gives fined as the crazy person; the childhood portedly asked Dr. Phil to be interviewed others the courage to come forward and abuse survivor.” just a month after she shared a harrow- seek the help they need,” Dr. Phil tells ing video where she spoke about hav- her. Explaining what she went through as a ing suicidal thoughts. child, she adds, “She [her mother] ran On Jimmy Kimmel Live, McGraw told a torture chamber. She was a person The Grammy winner posted the tearful the late-night show host that it was who took delight in hurting you.” 12-minute footage on Facebook in early O’Connor who reached out to him for August, revealing she was all alone and help. She accused her mother of physically struggling to live every day. and sexually abusing her. “She called and she said, ‘I want to She also discusses mental health on the destigmatize mental illness’,” he said. When Dr. Phil asked what she loved show, saying, “The fact that there’s such “She said, ‘I clearly have a problem, most about her mum, the singer replied, stigma about mental illness means that too many musicians are dying. I want A VAN TEETERS on the edge of a huge hole in the road at “What I love about my mother is that the illness doesn’t get talked about.” to use my life, be a teaching tool. I’m Quigley’s Point in Co. Donegal. she’s dead.” willing to sit down and talk’.” SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 19 Have unstable politics become the new reality? With centrist politics prevailing in France and Holland, Merkel will almost certainly triumph later this year. But what do these challenges to cen- trist government have in common? And why have right-wing movements surged just now? To understand political instability today, it is necessary to understand the brand NI SECRETARY OF STATE James Brokenshire (L) may be of stability that is being sold as a re- forced to call a fresh election if no agreement is reached. Irish placement for democratic processes Foreign Minister Simon Coveney (R) is to join talks aimed at and genuinely democratic institutions. getting the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive back up and running. Adam Curtis in his epic BBC documen- tary, released late last year, Hypernormalisation, gives us a clue: “In a world where the overriding aim Stormont deadlock: AFTER 10 years of power-sharing at Stormont, Northern Ire- was now stability, politics became just land has been without a functioning government for most of the part of a wider system of managing the year.The Northern Ireland executive collapsed in January 2017, world. Irish Foreign Minister and the last round of power-sharing talks ended in stalemate in June. “The old idea of democratic politics – that it gave a voice to the weak against to meet NI parties the powerful – was eroded. And a re- HE ongoing suspension of the Stormont sentment began to quietly grow out on BELFAST – Irish Foreign Minister islate for an NI budget, he said. Simon Coveney is expected to meet the the edges of society.” The two largest parties, the unionist Assembly in Northern Ireland has hap- Stormont parties as talks to resolve an pened in the context of: ‘immovable’ Curtis is right. When real participation eight-month political impasse continue. DUP and republican Sinn Féin, blame in the democratic process is swapped each other for the lack of progress. deadlines being discreetly moved; a Brit- for the concept of management trust in On Monday, September 4, Northern Ire- land Secretary James Brokenshire Their government broke down over a T society suddenly diminishes. Managers number of issues with the final straw ish Government reluctant to formally suspend the of systems rather than leaders of peo- warned that the window of opportunity to restore devolution was rapidly clos- for Sinn Féin being the DUP’s handling Assembly and rule from London; a deeply uncertain ple have, and will continue to, run afoul of a botched green energy scheme. of popular opinion. ing. future for Britain as it negotiates terms for its exit He met all five main parties and urged If agreement cannot be reached, Consider the American election last Brokenshire is under a legal duty to call passage from the European Union; the DUP riding year. Hilary Clinton later expressed ‘re- them to act to get the Assembly and Executive back up and running. If not, a fresh election, but he is understood to high as kingmakers in Westminster Parliament while gret’ that at the hustings last Septem- be reluctant to do that. ber she said, “ You can put half of then the government would have to leg- being uncooperative as only they can be; Sinn Féin Trump supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables unfortunately, delivering nothing to its electorate either in Belfast there are people like that and he has or in London but frantically trying to pretend other- lifted them up.” U.S. to abolish special wise. Turns out that a vote from one of the deplorables went as far as a vote from Such a dismal situation cannot continue anyone else. Hilary Clinton may well envoy to N. Ireland long, not even in Northern Ireland. THE VIEW FROM have felt regret, but her remorse was BELFAST – U.S. Secretary of State role in the 1998 Good Friday Agree- Rex Tillerson has proposed abolishing ment. Unfortunately, the gratuitous dismissal IRELAND surely all the more profound on the morning of November 9, 2016. more than half of envoys. The last en- of partnership, of bi-partisan policies and voy to Northern Ireland was former Slashing some of the special envoy of mutual gain through co-operation that Brexit and the election of Trump in 2016 Democrat Senator Gary Hart. positions has been on the cards for the DUP-Sinn Féin impasse represents made clear that in the political world several years, amid criticism their exemplifies the political landscape in as it is presently constituted people can His appointment lapsed when the role and impact was reduced by the many other countries in the western be persuaded to vote against their own Obama administration left power, and sheer number of posts. the position has not been filled by Presi- world just now. interests in dramatic ways. Tillerson proposed the cuts in envoy dent Trump’s team. In Turkey, for example, the constitu- By What is required is clear enough: an posts in a letter to Senator Bob The decision comes amid a substantial Corker, chair of the U.S. Senate tional referendum held on April 16, 2017 MAURICE entirely new vision in politics and an ad- copper fastened Recep Erdogan’s ab- mission that the economic system that reduction in American involvement in Committee on Foreign Relations. solute power and ended Turkey’s de- FITZPATRICK the peace process in recent years. has dominated the western world for The Trump administration has vowed mocracy. the past two centuries is ending. The U.S. has sent a special envoy to to slash the funding of the state de- What has ensued hardly bears thinking well be brought back to vote for a sec- Northern Ireland for more than two partment, which manages U.S. rela- ond year running, in a general election Trump may criticise the flight of jobs about: Thousands of arrests of civil to Asia and Mexico but he is afraid to decades. tions with foreign countries and gov- this time, after they gave Prime Minis- ernments. servants, teachers, newspaper editors, mention that far more jobs are lost to Bill Clinton floated the idea in the early writers and students who dare to utter ter Renzi the bum’s rush last Decem- automation (circa 7:1 of losses in manu- 1990s amid growing transatlantic inter- Tillerson has suggested that the spe- critical comments about Erdogan’s ad- ber. facturing). est in Northern Ireland’s affairs. But it cial envoys for climate change and ministration. Such an election may possibly return The reason that politicians avoid say- was not until 1995 that a decision to the Iran deal, Afghanistan-Pakistan, A similar mode of government, if a less Beppe Grillo’s anti-Euro Five Star appoint a special envoy was finally disability rights, international labour Movement. ing that is because they cannot fully drastic form of it, prevails in Hungary grasp the impact of the changes in our made. affairs and for closing the and right-wing movements in other Guantanamo Bay detention centre, as But it is much less likely now that time, still less articulate a clear alter- The first envoy was former U.S. Sena- countries are strengthened by it all. France has fended off the surge to the native to the outmoded systems that well as the Northern Ireland role, will tor George Mitchell, who played a key be eliminated. Still, there are also grounds for opti- right proposing an end to Europe: Italy have hardened into our political struc- mism. does not want to do to itself what Brit- tures. ain, which slouches towards its fate to For example, shifts towards autocratic be outside the European Union, has Consequently, they try to reboot the old Gerry Adams to spell out future plans governments threatened throughout the done. system even though it is unsustainable. spring of this year in several European In short, they are not up to the job (not DUBLIN – Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said he will set out his countries; and yet they were repulsed. Finally, Europe’s last man standing as a that that will stop them from applying). “future intentions” if he is re-elected party leader at its conference in viable economy, Germany, which has November. In April, France could have swapped a been helmed by the redoubtable Angela The word leadership has been thor- visionless leader for one who has a clear Merkel since 2005, will hold elections oughly cheapened to mean something Adams was speaking in County Meath before a party meeting. He said he would vision although an awful one of pulling this autumn. between a conformist and a trimmer, detail the party’s “planned process of generational change” if he is re-elected. France out of the European Union and that when a leader actually emerges he/ probably bringing the European Union Merkel, like her counterparts elsewhere she is often misunderstood. He added that the party had a 10-year plan for “orderly leadership change” that down in its train. in Western Europe, has had cause to had been outlined by the late Martin McGuinness and he said Sinn Féin’s 10-year fear the growth of the right-wing in her People like Edward Snowden in the plan was being finalised and had “been the focus of much internal discussion.” Instead, they voted in another vision- country, Alternative für Deutschland, U.S. and Mikhail Zygar in Russia are “It is about preparing the party for the next 10 years and to ensure that we are less leader in the form of Emmanuel this year. identified solely for their stances Macron. against the U.S. and Russian Govern- better able to achieve our strategic objectives. Martin McGuinness made it clear But one of Germany’s closest economic ments. that we had a plan for orderly leadership change.” A stable France took the wind out of partners, Holland, held a general elec- He added, “It is our intention to unveil at the Ard Fheis in November the plan that the sails of reactionary movements else- tion in March which dealt with the But what is intriguing about their ac- he helped to formulate. I will be allowing my name to go forward for the position where. Dutch right-wing party, The Party for tivities is the way in which they might of Uachtarán Shinn Féin and if elected I will be setting out our priorities and in Freedom, at its ease. be lighting up a new way to do politics. This year the Italian electorate could particular our planned process of generational change.” PAGE 20 www.celtic-connection.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 SEATTLE IRISH NEWS

PASSINGS (Gaelic) language will be Friday, Oc- • JOAN MORIARTY SLY (103), a na- tober 27, at 7:30 PM, at St. Patrick’s tive of Ireland, died in Seattle July Church, 2702 Broadway Avenue E 14. (just off I-5 at Roanoke Street). • FRANKIE MCILHENNEY, the father This Mass commemorates the de- of Emmet McIlhenney of Olympia, ceased members of Seattle’s Irish died in Co. Tyrone July 20. Community, especially those who By have passed away in the past 12 • GIL MARTIN (84), a former presi- JOHN months who will be remembered by dent of the Friends of St. Patrick, KEANE name during the Mass. died in Bellevue on July 4 To submit names to be remembered BEFORE marching over to Safeco Field to perform in centerfield • PETER CONWAY, the father of past 10 years, and all have been or for more information, call (425) Seattle’s Dessie Conway, died in Co. wonderful, fun occasions. before Irish Night at the Mariners on July 25 were the Tara 582-2688 or e-mail Tyrone in June. Academy Irish Dancers, the Seattle Police Pipes and Drums, The cost for the buffet lunch is $10 [email protected]. and author Tim Egan (center, white shirt) who threw out the Ar dheis Dé‚ go raibh for seniors and $15 for non-seniors ceremonial First Pitch. a n-anamacha dílse and all are welcome, but advance ACIS CONFERENCE – The Western – May their faithful souls rest reservations are required to (425) Regional American Conference for at God’s right hand. 582-2688. Irish Studies will be hosted in Spokane from October 19 - 22. CONDOLENCES – Sincere condo- IRISH FILM FESTIVAL – The 20th lences to the family of Limerick man annual Irish reels Film Festival re- Organized by Professor Donna Potts Tom O’Flynn who died July 19 in Van- turns to the SIFF Film Center (at the from Washington State University in couver. Seattle Center) on Saturday, Sep- Pullman, the theme of the conference is ‘Ireland, Irish America, and Work’. Tom’s thoughtfulness and hospital- tember 30, and Sunday, October 1, ity over the years was legendary and both days from 12 Noon to 10 PM. The conference features an excel- members of the Seattle Gaels and The festival will kick off with a spe- lent lineup of panels, plenaries, in- numerous other Seattleites with cial 20th anniversary gala celebra- cluding the Irish poet Moya Cannon, whom he was friends were very sorry tion co-hosted by Irish Network in addition to awards to recognize to hear of his passing. Seattle at The Ruins, 570 Roy St, exceptional work by emerging schol- ars in Irish Studies. Visit https:// He was a Fior Gael, a genuine Irish- Seattle, on Friday evening, Septem- aciswest.wordpress.com/ for details. man, and will be missed. ber 29 starting at 6 PM. SHEEHY SKEFFINGTON – NEW CONSUL-GENERAL – Dubliner Join Irish Consul General Robert Micheline Sheehy Skeffington, Robert O’Driscoll assumed duty as O’Driscoll to celebrate 20 years of granddaughter of Irish suffragist (L-R) BRENDAN SHRIANE, Mícheál Keane, Melissa Ryan and Consul General of Ireland in San Irish cinema in the Northwest, and Hanna Sheehy Skeffington and paci- Gordon Jacobsen down on the field for batting practice before Francisco on July 3, and he will visit mingle with VIP guests from the world fist Francis Sheehy Skeffington, will the Seattle Mariners played the Boston Red Sox on Irish Night Seattle for the first time the week- of Irish Film. speak in Seattle on Thursday, No- on July 25. end of September 29-30. Tickets are available at http://bit.ly/ vember 2 with location and time TBA. While here he will attend the Irish 2wONdbl. For the complete film pro- Micheline is also known for her fight Seniors Luncheon, the Irish Network gram, visit irishreels.org. for gender equality and justice, and Party and the Irish Reels Film Festi- BELLINGHAM IRISH FESTIVAL – is repeating Hanna’s 1917 tour of the val. Bellingham’s Irish Festival runs Fri- U.S., all of which will be filmed for a Robert has been a diplomat with the day-Sunday, October 6-8, with mu- documentary to be shown on Irish Irish Foreign Ministry since 2007 and sical performances, workshops, ses- TV. More details at Skeffington has previously served as Private sions, and more! @irishclub.org. Secretary to the Tánaiste (Ireland’s Events take place at a variety of ven- TANNAHILL WEAVERS – The Deputy Prime Minister) and to Ire- ues and businesses in downtown Ballard Homestead, 6541 Jones Ave land’s Foreign Minister. Bellingham and all locations are NW, Seattle, presents the interna- He has also served in Brussels, in within walking distance of each other. tionally known Scottish traditional the United Arab Emirates, and in Many events and performances are band, the Tannahill Weavers, Friday, THE HIGH-FLYING men’s sack race at the Irish Community Saudi Arabia. We offer him a hearty free! For the full schedule and de- October 20, 7:30 PM. Céad Míle Fáilte to Seattle! Picnic at Lake Sammamish State Park on July 16. tails visit bellinghamirishfestival.com. The Tannahills are inductees of the WHELAN & RUSS – The Seattle BELLINGHAM IRISH FILM – As Scottish Trad Music Hall of Fame and Folklore Society presents the stellar part of the Bellingham Irish Festival, their consummate musicianship and Irish button accordion and fiddle duo an Irish Film School Life, directed by vibrant arrangements are not be John Whelan and Dale Russ in con- Neasa Ní Chianáin, will be screened missed. cert at 7:30 PM on Saturday, Sep- at the Pickford Film Center in Ticket, etc., at ballardhomestead.org. tember 23 at the Phinney Ridge Bellingham on October 8 at 12 noon. Community Hall, 6532 Phinney Av- IRISH SOUNDERS – Lamar Neagle, enue N, Seattle. School Life is an observational docu- who is back again with the Seattle mentary about a year in the lives of Sounders, is an Irish citizen through Seven-time all-Ireland champion two inspirational teachers at his Irish-born grandmother. John Whelan is one of the world’s Headfort, the only primary-age best Irish button accordion players boarding school in Ireland. He joins Sounders midfielder Aaron and has been inspiring Celtic musi- Kovar who also is an Irish citizen cians and fans since he moved to the Housed in an 18th Century estate, through his Dublin-born mother. Both USA in 1980. school life embraces tradition and players have indicated an interest in modernity. More details at https:// someday playing for Ireland. Seattleite Dale Russ has enjoyed a www.schoollifefilm.com/. long career of performing on the fid- MISCELLANEOUS (L-R) KAILEEN SHRIANE, Frank Shriane, Caron McMahon dle and in fiddle instruction, and has HARP CLASSES – The School of • Contact Seattle’s Irish Book Club and others try to catch water balloons at the Irish Community been featured as one of the finest Magical Strings’ five week Fall term at [email protected]. Picnic at Lake Sammamish State Park on July 16. Irish fiddle players living in the in beginning and intermediate Celtic • The Irish Times recently had an States. Tickets at http:// Harp starts Monday, October 16 in article about the headstone with an www.brownpapertickets.com/event/ Seattle at 8551 Greenwood Avenue Irish language inscription that was 3052094. N, Suite 4, and Tuesday, October 17 in Olalla at the Magic Hill Studio near erected on Whidbey Island in 1863. SENIORS LUNCH – The Irish Immi- the Southworth ferry dock. Read the article at http://bit.ly/ grant Support Group has scheduled 2f8udew and see more of the story another Irish Seniors’ Luncheon at Even students with no prior musical at irishclub.org. the Wilde Rover Irish Restaurant in training will find this a refreshing and Kirkland at Noon on Saturday, Sep- enjoyable experience as they learn • Best wishes to The Hot Club of Troy tember 30. captivating melodies from the Celtic (thehotcluboftroy.com) from Langley tradition. on Whidbey Island who will be par- This luncheon will have as a special ticipating at the Django Sur Lennon, guest the new Consul General of Ire- For details, contact the Gypsy Jazz Festival in Ramelton, land in San Francisco, Robert [email protected] or visit Co. Donegal from October 27-30. O’Driscoll. www.magicalstrings.com. For more details, visit django CHILDREN enjoy searching for coins in the straw at the Irish Over 500 different Irish seniors have GAELIC MASS – Seattle’s annual surlennon.com. Community Picnic at Lake Sammamish State Park on July 16. attended these luncheons over the Mass of Remembrance in the Irish SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 21

A TIME TO REMEMBER Taoiseach wants President Trump OUR DECEASED LOVED ONES All Souls’ Day, also known as the Feast of All Souls, follows All Saints’ Day (November 1). Both days mark a period for some churches, including the to appoint U.S. Ambassador ASAP Catholic Church, to remember the saints in Christian history and to pray for DUBLIN – Irish leader Leo Varadkar America to the Northern Ireland peace Waterford TD John Deasy who has people. has stated he is “very keen” for a new talks. The Trump administration’s first extensive experience in the U.S. Con- All Souls’ Day is traditionally a time for the Christian community to remember U.S. Ambassador to Ireland to be ap- choice for ambassador, philanthropist gress, including working on immigration deceased family members and friends. pointed, given there has been no diplo- Brian Burns, had to withdraw due to a reform legislation, was appointed to mat in place since Obama ambassador health issue. work with the Irish embassy in Wash- Some churches have special services on or around All Souls Day. These serv- Kevin O’Malley departed in January ington DC and the Department of For- ices feature hymns, music and prayers that center on the day’s theme. The statement by Varadkar is an indi- 2017. eign Affairs in Dublin. cation of concern that there is no move Some churches invite the congregation to write the names of deceased friends In an interview with IrishCentral yet to replace O’Malley, a process that He said people are “very concerned” or family members in a special book that would be placed on the altar at each founder Niall O’Dowd, Leo Varadkar might take as long as nine months given with the hardline immigration policies mass or service during November. said he regrets that “as it stands there the backlog of appointments. now being pursued and will look after is no envoy or ambassador to Ireland.” the interests of the undocumented Irish Prayer of remembrance: Eternal Rest grant unto them (him/her), O Lord, and Earlier this year, Varadkar appointed a and lobby for immigration reform for let perpetual light shine upon them (him/her). May they (he/she) rest in peace. He said it has a higher priority than re- special Irish envoy to the U.S. to deal Irish citizens in the United States. establishing a special envoy from with the Irish undocumented issue. U.S. police launch search for missing Irish hiker Police are searching for David O’Sullivan from Midleton, County Cork. He travelled to the United States in March and intended to hike from the Mexican border to Canada along the Pacific Crest Trail. However, his family have not heard from him since he e- mailed them in April from Idyllwild, California. He had been scheduled to meet a friend in Santa Barbara in early May but he did not show up. The 25-year-old had been hiking alone according to a missing per- son poster from Murrieta police. A Facebook page appealing for information has been set up by family members appealing for information. One post reads, “By April 5, he had arrived in Idyllwild, CA. On April 7 my parents received an e-mail from him, detailing his hike since Mt. Laguna. This was our last contact with him. We knew that weeks might pass without contact DAVID O’SULLIVAN from but no more than 2/3.” Midleton, Co. Cork travelled to the United States in March and O’Sullivan, who is described as having dark hair, blue eyes and speaking with a thick Irish accent, has been reported as missing with the Irish police, U.S. and intended to hike from the Mexi- Irish embassies, Interpol and police and search and rescue organisations in Cali- can border to Canada along fornia, according to the post. Anyone with any information is asked to call Murrieta the Pacific Crest Trail. Police at (951) 696-3615, or Detective Lawlor at (951) 545-0030.

Helping bereaved families to bring loved ones home to Ireland DUBLIN – The Kevin Bell He, and a group of his great friends, A couple of weeks after Kevin’s fu- spent a year in Australia but it was neral we heard of the death of a young Repatriation Trust aims to al- when he visited New York he fell in man in Thailand. leviate the financial hardship love with it and decided he wanted to spend his life there. We contacted his parents to say that of bereaved families repatri- we had this money and we would bring ating the body (bodies) of He had been 10 months in New York his body home. when he was tragically killed when ar- loved one(s) who have died riving home to his apartment in the early That was the beginning of the Trust. When we would hear of another death abroad in sudden or tragic cir- hours of Sunday, June 16, 2013 after a night out. abroad we would reach out to the fam- cumstances back to Ireland. ily and offer our help. Set up by Colin and Eithne Bell follow- When alighting from a taxi outside his apartment he was struck by a speeding We then applied for Charity status with ing the tragic death of their son Kevin the Northern Ireland Charity Commis- in 2013, the Kevin Bell Repatriation white van which knocked him into the middle of the road where he was struck sion and achieved this after about a Trust (KBRT) helps bereaved families year. We are in the process of getting to bring home the remains of loved ones again by a car – both vehicles drove on without stopping. He was 26. charity status with the Charity Regula- who have died in sudden or tragic cir- tors in the Republic at the moment. cumstances abroad. When news of Kevin’s death broke in We do not receive any funding from From Argentina to Vietnam, the Bell his home town of Newry (Co. Down), the place went into a frenzy of fund government, North or South, and no- family has helped repatriate 355 loved body receives a wage apart from our raising to bring his body home. ones to the island of Ireland in just four part-time office administrator. years. A table quiz in the Canal Court Hotel on the Tuesday night following Kevin’s As a result of a meeting with the then Colin Bell recently deailed the history Minister for the Diaspora Jimmy of the trust in an account published by death raised EU42,000. A fun run/walk on the Thursday night made EU20,000. Deenihan in 2015, all Irish Embassies the Crosscare Migrant Project. and Consulates throughout the world Kevin Bell was born on July 12, 1986, In the space of a week fundraisers in now have our contact details and can ten minutes before his twin Brendan. Newry, New York, Australia (where he put families in distress in touch with us. was so well remembered) amassed a They were our second set of twins, born We are now a well-established, well- 13 months after Sean and Ciara. total of over EU150,000 to bring Kevin home. known and well supported charity They were quickly followed by Eamon, working throughout the 32 counties of Conor and Maeve, making seven chil- Amazingly, thanks to Neasa Nic Ireland. dren under the age of six. Dhomhnaill (Eithne’s cousin in Manhat- tan) and the Armagh Gaelic Club in To find out more about the Kevin Bell He grew into a kind, thoughtful, caring, New York, Kevin was home on the Repatriation Trust and how we may be funny, very popular young man with a Wednesday, three days after his tragic able to help you, see online: kevinbell great love of travel and a great zest for death. repatriationtrust.com. life. PAGE 22 www.celtic-connection.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 2017 USGAA FINALS Fraser Valley Gaels: Over 100 teams gathered 2017 USGAA for an exciting weekend of Gaelic Intermediate Gaelic football, hurling and camogie Football Champions By BRIAN WHITE SAN FRANCISCO – The VANCOUVER – Congratulations to the Fraser Val- 2017 USGAA Finals took ley Gaels – USGAA Intermediate Football Champi- place over Labour Day week- ons! Well done! end on Treasure Island near San Francisco. After extra time the final score was Fraser Valley Gaels 0- 14 - Padraig Pearses Chicago 0-11 at the North American Over 100 teams and thousands Finals in San Francisco on Sunday, September 3. of athletes from across the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean com- Eoin McCloskey, who was once Derry’s number one goal- peted for championships in keeper, helped establish a new Gaelic football club in the Gaelic football, hurling and Fraser Valley in 2014, and he soon became responsible for camogie. team development. The USGAA Northwest Division THE SEATTLE GAELS men’s football team which competed at Under his guidance the team has gone from strength-to-strength, win- was represented by the Seattle the USGAA Finals in San Francisco on the Labor Day week- ning awards and championships along the way. Gaels, with men’s and ladies foot- end. Earlier this year the Derry man moved back home, but as soon as he ball teams, camogie and hurling. learned the Fraser Valley Gaels had made it to the finals weekend there The Tacoma Rangers sent men’s wasn’t a chance he was going to miss out on it. football and hurling squads, Co- McCloskey flew in from Ireland especially for the USGAA weekend lumbia Red Branch hurling and and could not have been more delighted reporting from the event. Portland Eireannach Football also had teams travel. There were scenes of pure and utter jubilation amongst the Valley players upon reaching the promised land, but nobody appeared to have enjoyed it more than The Thomas Meagher Hurling club Eoin himself. of Montana was represented by a handful of players who joined the “Fraser Valley won their first North American title today after a titanic struggle Seattle Gaels panel. against Na Piarsaigh from Chicago,” he posted on social media. Also competing were teams from “It took extra time to get over the line. These players today emptied everything British Columbia, with ISSC Van- on the field in extreme heat to get this victory on a score line of 0.14 to 0.11. THE TACOMA RANGERS HURLING team which competed at couver sending men’s and ladies the USGAA Finals in San Francisco on the Labour Day week- “I couldn’t be more proud to help this team and club and after only three years in football, hurling and camogie end. existence we have achieved a lot. teams, and the Fraser Valley Gaels “The players and management deserve the highest respect for this achievement. representing in men’s football at Well done to all and massive congratulations.” the Intermediate level. We couldn’t have said it better. Because the Gaels hurling and camogie teams won the Junior C and Junior championships at the 2016 finals in Seattle, both teams competed at higher grades this year – the hurlers at Junior B and the camogie team at the Interme- diate level. It made for a very competitive week- end, but both teams came up short in the early rounds, with Gaels hurling los- ing a tough game to a talented Twin Cities club, and camogie falling to the JP RYANS Camogie team from Vancouver, B.C. at the USGAA Cú Chulainns of San Francisco. in San Francisco. Seattle ladies football won their first game vs the OC Wild Geese from the Los Angeles area, but were knocked out in the second round by San Fran- cisco Clan na Gael. The Seattle and Portland Eireannach men’s football teams also fell in the first round, with Seattle losing to Austin and Portland dropping a tough game to Denver. After losing their hurling game to the Pittsburgh Pucas, the Tacoma Rang- ers also lost a close and hard played game, falling to the Culver City Cou- gars in the Jr. D football final. Tacoma PHOTO: Gregg Murphy has a lot to be proud of, and showed VANCOUVER Irish Sporting and Social Club (ISSC) Ladies what a solid program they are build- Football at the USGAA Championships. ing. champions. They keep the cup in the ate Football championship with an ex- Despite the losses, there were some NW Division for the second straight citing win in extra time over a tough big highlights over the weekend for year. Chicago Padraig Pearse club, 0-14 to 0-11. A strong showing for a very good Northwest teams. It was a great win and capped a ter- football club. EOIN McCLOSKEY helped establish the new Gaelic football Columbia Red Branch Hurling played rific season for the Branch. club in the Fraser Valley in 2014. In the mid-1990s Eoin was All in all, it was a great weekend for with great heart all weekend, and won The Fraser Valley Gaels also put in solid Derry’s number one goalkeeper and he was selected to repre- Gaelic football, hurling and camogie the Jr. C Hurling Final over Philadel- performances throughout the weekend, sent his home county a number of times at the All Ireland Final enthusiasts. phia, becoming the 2017 USGAA going on to take the Men’s Intermedi- in Croke Park. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 23 The West’s Awake as homecoming party kicks off in Galway GALWAY – The West’s Awake rang Liam MacCarthy Cup until the speeches out once again as the triumphant ended. Galway hurlers – minor and sen- And then it was their turn, the crowd ior – received a heroes welcome going wild as each player was named in Ballinasloe, their first stop af- out individually – with a particularly ter crossing the Shannon. massive roar for Portumna man Joe Canning who scored nine points in the Gardai estimate that some 15,000 peo- Final and captain David Burke. ple gathered at the Fairgreen in the town to catch their first glimpse of Gal- Player Paul Flaherty was called for- way’s new superstars following their ward and launched into The West’s stunning win at Croke Park on Sunday, Awake – famously sung by Joe September 3. McDonagh after Galway won the hurl- ing final in 1980. The excitement was enormous. People started to arrive at about 1:30 PM Manager Micheal Donoghue urged the ahead of the scheduled arrival at 3 PM. crowd to focus on the development of They were late – the senior panel tak- hurling in clubs saying “we can’t wait ing the stage shortly after 4:30 PM. another 29 years and hopefully we will have the Liam MacCarthy back here They patiently waited for the Minor again soon.” team to have their moment in the sun, HUGE crowds gathered to welcome home the conquering heroes to Galway. standing on the steps as they signed After that, it was back on the bus as hurls and posing for pictures with the the team headed for Pearse Stadium in Joyous Scenes as Galway Salthill. Win First All-Ireland Hurling Hemochromatosis after nearly 30 years aka The Celtic Curse: DUBLIN – After nearly three decades, Galway are All-Ire- of the second half, Pauric Mahony got More awareness needed a fine point after a great run from Jamie By JEANIE LAMB Now, at this point in time, I still go for land hurling champions as they edged out a spirited Water- Barron to level matters again. ford side in a memorable final in Croke Park on Sunday, I used to be really active. I participated phlebotomies but less frequently. I get Mahony got his sixth point, this time in lots of sports, things like tennis, ski- my blood checked every three months. September 3. ing, running, going to the gym. I loved from a free, to give the men from the Looking back at our family history, my south-east their first lead of the final. swimming. It was tense, it was nervy and, at times, Waterford didn’t fall too far behind. mother and father and an older brother not the prettiest game, but take nothing Waterford were gaining in confidence When I was 55, my joints were hurting are all deceased so I don’t know if they away from the Tribesmen – who will In fact, when Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh but with just over 20 minutes to play, quite badly and I went to my GP. had the disorder, but I’m fairly certain be bringing Liam MacCarthy west of scored a super point from under the Niall Burke brought the sides level again my mother did. Cusack Stand, the deficit was just two She sent me to a rheumatologist, a very the Shannon for the first time since – 0-18 to 2-12. good one, who sat me down and talked Before I was diagnosed, I had body 1988. points – despite Galway playing all the hurling. Seconds later Burke popped up again to me about my family and looked at aches and pains for some time. I had After Galway flew out of the blocks to give the men from the west the lead my body. numerous blood tests taken over the with the first four points, Waterford’s The Déise soon leveled the game, when – before a Joe Canning free doubled years, and not once did any of my doc- Kieran Bennett’s long clearance went He looked at my hands and my skin, Kevin Moran got the final’s first goal. their lead. tors check my ferritin levels. all the way into the net after a mix-up and asked me about both of my par- After a super run into the danger zone, between the Galway goalkeeper and the Just as looked like Micheal Donoghue’s ents. I think there needs to be more aware- Moran supplied the cool finish to get defenders. men were getting on top, up stepped ness for doctors to test for And he said, “I think I know what this hemochromatosis. the Déise on the board. substitute Tommy Ryan to put the mini- is. I’m going to send you for a simple The Tribesmen led at the break 0-14 to mum between them once again. However, the Tribesmen responded 2-07 at the interval after Joe Canning blood test, and then you come back and As soon as they know that their patient well, hitting the next two points. scored a free with the last puck of the However, Galway then put the foot see me.” is of a Northern European bloodline, they should just test for this disorder. period to edge them in front. down, hitting the next three points – 0- Which I did – and he had nailed it. The Galway had nine points before hitting a 25 to 2-15 – with time running out for It’s a very simple remedy to something wide but, because of Moran’s goal, After the sides traded frees at the start tests showed I had hemochromatosis, that is very simple to diagnose. the Déise. and my full diagnosis included severe and prolonged osteoarthritis. Despite how hard it has been, I still feel NOVENA TO THE BLESSED herein you are my Mother, Mary, con- very fortunate that I’ve gotten through It was devastating. I had a business of and managed my condition thus far. VIRGIN MARY NOVENAS ceived without sin, pray for us who have my own. I produced photos. I managed Novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary (never recourse to thee (three times). Sweet photo shoots, usually for international I have a very strong inner strength, and known to fail). O most beautiful flower of Mother, I place this cause in your hands photographers. a lot of will, which is what it takes to Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendour of (three times). Holy Spirit, you who solve get through something like this. In the Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, forever and ever. Amen. – SVS all problems, light all roads so that I can So I was really independent and I was end, I may well qualify as a Bionic God Immaculate Virgin, assist me in • attain my goal. You gave me the Divine making a good living doing it, but all of Woman! this my necessity. There are none that NOVENA TO ST. ANTHONY gift to forgive and forget all evil against the sudden I was told that I have five • joints that needed to be replaced. can withstand your power. O show me O Holy St. Anthony, gentlest of Saints, me. This prayer must be said for three One in 300 Canadians, mainly of herein you are my Mother, Mary, con- your love for God and charity for his crea- days, even after the request is granted I couldn’t work anymore. I couldn’t northern European descent, are at ceived without sin, pray for us who have tures, made you worthy, when on earth, and the favour received, it must be pub- stand for any period of time and my risk for hemochromatosis. Most are recourse to thee (three times). Sweet to possess miraculous powers. Encour- lished. – SVS joints just got worse and worse. Mother, I place this cause in your hands aged by this thought, I implore you to • unaware of the condition. (three times). Holy Spirit, you who solve obtain for me (request). O gentle and NOVENA TO ST. JOSEPH My first surgery was a knee replace- The Canadian Hemochromatosis So- ment, then a shoulder, then a hip at all problems, light all roads so that I can loving St. Anthony, whose heart was ever Oh glorious St. Joseph, thou hast power ciety’s mission is to promote the early attain my goal. You gave me the Divine full of human sympathy, whisper my pe- to render possible even things which are which time my left pelvis crumbled. diagnosis, screening and testing of gift to forgive and forget all evil against tition into the ears of the sweet Infant considered impossible, come to our aid I had an excellent surgeon who had the me. This prayer must be said for three Jesus, who loved to be folded in your in our present trouble and distress. hereditary hemochromatosis through knowledge to rebuild my left pelvis.I its awareness-raising programs in days, even after the request is granted arms; and the gratitude of my heart will Take this important and difficult affair spent five weeks in hospital for that one. and the favour received, it must be pub- ever be yours. Amen. under thy particular protection, that it medical communities and with those lished. – PMK, MJ, ED, CB – SVS may end happily. (Name your request). Currently I am waiting for the other at risk, to see an end to suffering and • • O dear St. Joseph, all our confidence is knee to be replaced, the other shoulder premature death related to the disor- NOVENA TO ST. CLARE NOVENA TO THE BLESSED in thee, let it not be said that we would to be replaced and for a surgeon con- der. God of mercy you inspired Saint Clara VIRGIN MARY invoke thee in vain and since thou art sultation for one of my ankles. with the love of poverty. By the help of Novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary (never so powerful with Jesus and Mary, show Please support this mission with a Treatment started out with me going for her prayers may we follow Christ in pov- known to fail). O most beautiful flower of that thy goodness equals thy power. donation to the Canadian phlebotomies very regularly, about once erty of spirit and come to the joyful vi- Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendour of Amen. St. Joseph, friend of the sacred Hemochromatosis Society, 285 – a week. sion of your glory in the Kingom of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of heart, pray for us. (For favour received) 7000 Minoru Blvd., Richmond, BC Heaven. We ask this through Our Lord God Immaculate Virgin, assist me in – CB That brought my iron down, but in the V6Y 3Z5. More information can be Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and this my necessity. There are none that Publication of a novena meantime I was still waiting for my joint found at www.toomuchiron.ca/celtic. reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one can withstand your power. O show me is $25 monthly replacements. PAGE 24 www.celtic-connection.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 Dips in the road in Killarney caused by fairy forts, according to the TD bushes, could lead to them dying young or becoming seriously ill. Healy-Rae, an independent TD (Irish member of parliament) for County Kerry, said, “I have a machine stand- ing in the yard right now. And if some- one told me to go out and knock a fairy fort or touch it, I would starve first.” The issue was raised at Kerry County Council, where Healy-Rae’s daughter, THE SCOTTISH island of Iona where St. Columba established Maura, is a councillor. She told a coun- a monastic settlement in 563 remains an important place of cil meeting that her father was con- pilgrimage, with tens of thousands of people visiting its abbey vinced fairies were in the area of the every year. road problems. THE BEARA PENINSULA fairy fort in south-west Ireland. When she was asked if he’d seen the fairies, she replied, “I don’t know, but Scientists uncover UBLIN – Bad luck caused by disturbed fairy he’s convinced they’re there.” forts is causing dips in a major road be- Maura Healy-Rae took over the coun- St. Columba’s cell D tween County Kerry and County Cork, an cil seat vacated by her father when he Irish member of parliament has said. was elected to the Dáil in the last gen- eral election. GLASGOW – Archaeologists Radiocarbon dating Danny Healy-Rae told the Healy-Rae also raised the issue at say they have identified the If only they could be accurately dated. Irish Times in August that is- But in 1957 that was impossible. Kerry County Council in 2007 when he remains of the cell of St. sues with the N22 were was a councillor, asking if a dip in the Columba on the Scottish is- The technique of radiocarbon dating was caused by “numerous fairy N22 near Curraglass was caused by in its infancy then. It measures the level land of Iona. The cell, or forts in the area.” “fairies at work.” of carbon 14, a radioactive isotope, to scriptorium, is where he assess the age of a sample of organic The Irish Times reports that the coun- material. The N22 is the main road between cil’s road department replied that it was worked, prayed and spent his Killarney in County Kerry and due to a “deeper underlying subsoil/ last day. But 60 years ago the process was ex- Cork. The road had previously geotechnical problem.” pensive, required the destruction of a been repaired but problems had They have used radiocarbon dating relatively large sample, and the dates it It’s not the first time that the Kerry TD produced had a wide margin of error. reappeared. has made some claims deemed ques- to place samples of burned wood in the middle of Columba’s time So Charles Thomas did not write up his Healy-Rae said he shared local tionable by the public. Just recently he there almost 1,500 years ago. findings in an academic paper. Instead, belief that “there was something claimed that eating a big meal before driving is as dangerous as drink driv- he carefully preserved the samples in these places you shouldn’t The charred remains of a hut were ex- from the dig along with his notes. ing. cavated in 1957, but it has taken until touch.” He took the remains with him from uni- DANNY Healy-Rae is an Irish “Can I just say to you, and many peo- now for science to accurately date versity to university. After he retired he He added that the road passed Independent politician and a ple will agree with me, if you actually them. through an area that was rich in stored them in his garage in Truro. Teachta Dála (TD) for the eat too much and get in behind the Who was St.Columba? fairy folklore and magic. “There Kerry constituency, upon be- wheel of a car, you are a danger on the Which is where they sat until five years St. Columba arrived on Iona from Ire- are numerous fairy forts in that ing elected at the 2016 gen- road because you are liable to fall ago when a project led by University land in the year 563. His Gaelic name of Glasgow archaeologists Dr. Ewan area,” Healy-Rae said. “I know that eral election. asleep after eating a big meal,” Healy- is Colum Cille – “the dove of the they are linked. Anyone that tam- Rae said in a Oireachtas Transport Campbell and Dr. Adrián Maldonado Church.” heard of them. pered with them back over the These areas include fairy forts, also Committee debate. known as raths or lios, which are the He is widely credited as one of the key years paid a high price and had bad He previously said in an interview with Professor Thomas was happy to hand remains of hillforts or ancient circular figures who brought Christianity to luck.” Hot Press magazine, that Noah’s Ark them over for testing using radiocarbon dwellings, and fairy trees or thorn Scotland. From his vision sprang Iona techniques of an accuracy unimagina- is proof that climate change does not In Irish folklore, it is believed that dis- bushes. Abbey, which became a centre of lit- ble six decades ago. exist and reiterated his belief that God turbing areas, said to have strong con- eracy, learning and worship. Some people believe that destroying or is in charge of the weather and we The project, funded by Historic Envi- nections to fairies, could bring bad luck tampering with these forts, trees or can’t change that. After his death Iona became a place of ronment Scotland and supported by the or a curse. pilgrimage for both kings and common- National Trust for Scotland, had the ers. Now, 60,000 of the latter still visit samples tested by the Scottish Univer- the rebuilt abbey every year. sities Environmental Research Centre. But did Columba leave any physical The result? The remains of the hazel A-maze-ing Castlewellan picture trace? stakes date the hut between the years His successor Adomnán, writing 100 540 and 650. Columba died in 597. years after the saint’s death, described Adrián Maldonado says it is “within a creates Instagram buzz him working in his cell on a rocky hill- standard deviation of the lifetime of St. BELFAST – Northern Ireland pho- ock. That knoll is called Tòrr an Aba – Columba,” which he says is “about the tographer Gavin McKay is bask- “the mound of the abbot.” closest you can get to being certain that ing in the glow of worldwide ex- it is something that was standing when Centre of worship Columba was on Iona.” posure after one of his photo- Sixty years ago the site was excavated graphs was chosen to form part of by a team led by the Cornish historian Historic Environment Scotland’s Sen- a worldwide showcase on world and archaeologist Charles Thomas. ior Archaeologist Richard Strachan is similarly enthusiastic. social media channel Instagram. Early in his career, Thomas became the The superb picture taken at leading archaeologist of early Christi- He said, “It’s fantastic, it absolutely nails Castlewellan maze has already been anity in Britain and Ireland, with posts it. There’s no debate. We can actually seen over 600,000 times, with thousands at Edinburgh and Leicester universities. prove this scientifically. This is real. This actually happened here.” of positive comments posted online He eventually became the first profes- about the image. sor of Cornish studies at Exeter Uni- Historic Environment Scotland is fund- Freelance photographer Gavin (45) – versity and a Bard of the Cornish ing the project as part of Scotland’s Year who has 53,000 followers on Instagram, Gorseth. of History, Heritage and Archaeology 2017. said it was the first time a Northern Ire- His dig in 1957 made an intriguing dis- land image had appeared on Instagram’s CASTLEWELLAN FOREST park's 'Peace Maze' was commis- covery. On Tòrr an Aba the diggers Sadly Charles Thomas did not live to main image showcase. sioned in 1998 and in 2000 and 2001 over 4,000 school chil- found hazel charcoal, apparently the see his work vindicated. He died last “I’ve had lots of comments from peo- dren and 1,000 people attended community planting days to remains of a wattle hut. year before the definitive date of his samples could be established. ple asking where the picture was taken plant the maze's 6,000 yew trees. The design for the maze was The site had been deliberately covered – so it’s great exposure,” said McKay. conceived by Beverley Lear of Lear Associates who used the with beach pebbles and there was a hole But Dr. Maldonado is in no doubt about “It’s as big as it gets. It’s what every- best idea's from thousands of children's designs that were sub- where a post – possibly a cross – had the significance of his legacy, “What one aims for.” mitted at the time. The maze is one of Northern Ireland’s fast- been placed. Charles Thomas and his team found – The Castlewellan Forest Park and and couldn’t prove until now – was that est growing tourist attractions, with over 240,000 visits between Were these the remains of Columba’s we’ve been walking on the early mon- Peace Maze is located in Castlewellan the opening date in September 2001 and June 2004. cell? Charles Thomas thought so. in County Down, Northern Ireland. astery this whole time.”