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Home , Anu (Irish goddess), Badb, Banshee, Macha, Nemain, Ness (Irish mythology)

Volume XLIV, No. 8 • October (Deireadh Fómhair), 2018 The Irish – The Morrigan

...... As we meet the tenth month, we think be one of three sisters known as 'the three birth would be called Emain , or of things autumnal: the smell of fallen Morrígna'. Like other sovereignty god- "Macha's twins". leaves, the early arrival of the darkening desses, Macha is associated with the land, This Macha is particularly associated sky, harvest bounties. And of course, fertility, kingship, war and horses. The with horses—it is perhaps significant that Halloween. name is presumably derived from Proto- twin colts were born on the same day as Celtic word denoting "a plain." Halloween, or , the most Irish of Cuchulainn, and that one of his chariot- ancient holidays, was the new year in the Macha was the wife of Cruinniuc, an horses was called Liath Macha or ancient Celtic calendar. The end of harvest farmer. Sometime after the death of "Macha's Grey." and the beginning of winter brought the Cruinniuc's first wife, Macha appears at Macha’s sister, Clíodhna, (pronounced darkest time of the year, and it was also his house. Without speaking, she begins Cleena), is a Queen of the of the when the veil between the two worlds, of keeping the house and acting as his wife. Tuatha Dé Danann. Clíodna of Carrig- the living and the dead, was the thinnest. It Soon she becomes pregnant by him. As cleena is the potent that rules as was when things that went bump in the long as they were together, Cruinniuc's queen over the sidheog ( women of night might have been your long-dead wealth grew. When he leaves to attend a the hills) of South Munster, or Desmond. relatives. festival organized by the king of Ulster, Clíodhna is a of love and beauty, she warns him that she will only stay with And is the home of many of the and the patron of County Cork. She is said him so long as he does not speak of her to spooky and eerie creatures that have oc- to have three brightly colored birds who anyone, and he promises to say nothing. cupied as well. The Far eat apples from an otherworldly tree and However, during a chariot race, he boasts Liath, the Gray Man; the bean sidhe, or whose sweet song heals the sick. She that his wife can run faster than the king's banshee, the harbinger of impending death leaves the otherworldly island of Tir Tairn- horses. for those of the Gaelic Order. (Sorry, for gire ("the land of promise") to be with her you of Norman blood. She doesn’t visit The king orders Cruinniuc be held on mortal lover, Ciabhán, but is taken by a your families.) The shape-changing puca. pain of death unless he can make good on wave as she sleeps due to the music played Then there are those goddesses of ancient his claim. Although she is heavily preg- by a minstrel of Manannan mac in Ireland. Many had multiple personalities. nant, Macha is brought to the gathering Glandore harbour in County Cork: the tide They covered the gamut from fertility to and the king forces her to race the horses. there is known as Tonn Chlíodhna, love to war. They could be the source of She wins the race, but then cries out in "Clíodhna's Wave". Whether she drowns kindness and famine and unspeakable acts. pain as she gives birth to twins on the fin- or not depends on the version being told, Three sisters, the Morrigan, are famed for ish line; a boy named Fír ("True") and a along with many other details of the story. their passions. They were Macha, girl named Fial ("Modest"). For disre- She had her palace in the heart of a pile of Clíodhna, and Babd. Or they were , specting and humiliating her, she curses rocks, five miles from Mallow, which is Macha and , while elsewhere it is the men of Ulster to be overcome with still commonly known by the name of given as Badb, Macha and Anand. Or weakness, as weak "as a woman in child- Carrig-Cleena, and numerous legends maybe it was Badb, Macha and Aine, or birth," at the time of their greatest need. about her are told among the Munster . It seemed to have been a sorority of This weakness would last for five days and peasantry. complex women, and women you did not the curse would last for nine generations. continued on page 3 wish to anger. Thereafter, the place where Macha gave The first, Macha, is, from ancient Irish times, associated with the province of Ul- OCTOBER 4, 2018 • 7:00 PM ster, particularly with the sites of Navan MILWAUKEE MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP MEETING Fort (Eamhain Mhacha) and (Ard Irish Cultural and Heritage Center (2133 W. Wisconsin Avenue) Mhacha), which are named after her. Sev- eral figures called Macha appear in Irish T T T mythology and folklore, all believed to de- Sub Sandwich Night. Please bring side dishes or desserts to share! rive from the same goddess. She is said to T Milwaukee Calendar of Events T Publisher Needed The Club is in need of For More Information visit http://shamrockclubwis.com a volunteer to take over the publication of our monthly OCTOBER newsletter, the 4 Shamrock Club Monthly Meeting; ICHC; 7 pm; Dinner at 6:30 Emerald Reflections. 4 Chvrches; Riverside Theater; 8:00 pm 9 Celtic Women International Book Club; Rape of the Fair Country, by Alex Please contact Pam Canon for Cordell. Hostess: Barbara Fishbauer. more information. 11 Celtic Women International Book Club; Outside Mullingar, performance at [email protected] Next Act Theater; 1:30 pm. 13 Celtic Thunder; Riverside Theatre; 7:30 pm Jameson’s 20 Friends of St. Patrick Centre; “Ireland and the Potato” Event; Trinity Corner Cupboard Episcopal Church, 1717 Church St., Wauwatosa; 6:00-9 pm. 26-November 4 In Tandem Theatre Presents Bram Stoker's Drakula the Rock Opera; 628 N 10 Street; 414-271-1371 ...... In preparation for all things fall and 27 Set Dance Milwaukee October Dance; ICHC; music by athas; 7 pm fun we will be doing a submarine sand- wich theme for our menu. The club will NOVEMBER provide the buns and meat. There were cards for people to select from for desig- 1 Shamrock Club Monthly Meeting; ICHC; 7 pm; Dinner at 6:30 pm nated items to bring. If you took one 13 Celtic Women International Book Club; Doll Face, by Dylan H. Jones. please be sure to bring that item, if you Hostess: Maureen Garry. didn’t, a dish or dessert to pass is always 16 Jimmy Keane and Dennis Cahill; Reelin in the Years; Irish Cultural and welcome. Looking forward to seeing you Heritage Center; 7:30 pm at the October general meeting. 16-18 International Holiday Folk Fair; State Fair Park 16 Celtic Boutique; Celtic MKE Center, 1532 N Wauwatosa; 9 am-3 pm - Jameson Fraters Sergeant-at-Arms

DECEMBER 6 Shamrock Club Monthly Meeting & Christmas Party; ICHC; 7 pm; Dinner at 6:30 pm 11 Celtic Women International Book Club; Christmas Lunch, location TBD. ON GOING … Set dancing at the following: Set dancing Wednesdays, 7 PM at O’Donoghue’s T Craobh Curtin Conradh na Gaeilge meeting at O'Donoghue's Pub, 7 PM, last Tuesday each month T Irish Emigration Library in ICHC open every Wednesday 12–6 PM T Irish Sing-a-long, Irish Fest Center, First Sundays, (through May) 7 PM T Irish Fest Sing-a-long: O'Donoghue's Pub, second and fourth Sundays, 7-9 PM T Irish Music Sessions at the following: Session - O’Donoghue’s, Sundays 7 PM; Thursdays @ Paddy’s 7 PM; and The Pub in Oconomowoc, 7:30 PM Rent the ICHC for your next T Thursdays: Barry Dodd; County Clare Inn; 10 PM T Fridays: áthas and Myserk; County Clare Inn; 6 PM T Party Meeting

Recital Wedding Spaces available for large or small events Email: [email protected] or call (414) 345-8800

2 Milwaukee and keeping a public presence were a Emerald Reflections President’s Message common theme. Copy Deadline I was honored, along with Irish Rose Jackie Konkol, to be a part of the Mass on ...... Since my last message, Irish Fest has Sunday morning. We presented the gifts ...... Content for Emerald Reflections is due come and gone. The weather was perfect at the altar to Archbishop Jerome Listecki, on the 15th of the month (next deadline: for the festival. I remember fests in the Oct. 15th to appear in the November issue.) and he spoke very briefly with each of us. past where rain was a factor every day. I Copy received after that date will not That was quite an experience. bought a couple of shirts, one a hockey appear due to deadlines. While we try to jersey, with “Guinness” prominently dis- The next important event facing us is include every submission possible, due to space limitations, we cannot guarantee that played, front and rear, with the bright col- the International Holiday Folk Fair, com- every submission will be included imme- ors of a toucan. I bought another T-shirt ing in the middle of November. If the diately. E-mail submissions preferred, that is silly, but the price was right! I love Shamrock Club is to have a Café at the send to: the music, dancing, food, and the connec- HFF, we need a volunteer to take charge tion to my Irish heritage. But most of all, of that area. So far we have had no one Witt, Editor [email protected] I enjoy the meeting of old friends, and stepping forward. Mary Koehler will making new ones. I spotted a lady carry- again chair the Merchandise booth, and I Pam Canon, Publisher ing a t-shirt with an image in the colors of have been told that we have co-chairs for Mary Moze, Proofreader the Irish flag. The image was just three the Cultural exhibit, one of them being, vertical splashes of color, but you could Brian Witt. More will be said at the Oc- see the Cliffs of Moher in the design. I tober General Membership meeting. Membership Chairs asked where she got the T-shirt, and she Mary Koehler, Josh Walton, and I at- told me that the source was out of the tended the first Holiday Folk Fair’s meet- DANE COUNTY ...... Pat McCarthy shirts, but they were a promotion from the ings on September 12th. This will be the P.O. Box 70765, Madison 53707-0765 Galway tourism tent. A short time later, I [email protected]; (608) 277-0394 75th annual folk fair, with the theme being went to that tent, and found that same lady, “Diversity”. A second meeting is planned FOX CITIES . . . . .P.O. Box 1632, Appleton 54912 Maura Fay, working there. I asked if there for October 20th. The Shamrock Club is was a way I could buy the shirt anywhere. LA CROSSE ...... Linda O. Pfaff, committed to purchasing fifty tickets to She saw that I was wearing the “Irish Man 1702 Jackson St., LaCrosse 54601 the HFF to sell. Volunteers working our of the Year” sash, and told me that she booths will get participant passes, but if you LAFAYETTE CO...... Beverly Mulcahy, would send me one, if I would furnish my know of non-volunteers who want to at- 504 E. Mary, Apt. A, Darlington 54530 name and address, handing me an index tend, sell them a ticket…The price is $10, card for that purpose. She said that the MILWAUKEE . . . . Member. Chair Molly Modlinski, but the price of a ticket at the door is $12. 2133 West Wisconsin Avenue, Man of the Year should have that T-shirt. Milwaukee, WI 53233 Finally, The Emerald Reflections is in [email protected] Yesterday, September 12, I got a pack- age from Ireland, containing 2 T-shirts, need of a new publisher. Pam Canon is re- NEW DUBLIN ...... Suzi Snyder, one of the colorful ones that I saw, and an- tiring from her role as publisher. Final 313 W. Beacon Ave.., New London 54961 other, solid colored Tee with a small confirmation of a replacement is still NORTHEAST WISC...... Judy Brehm, graphic depiction of the cliffs, with the pending. In addition to a new publisher, 2577 Oakwood Ave., Green Bay 54301 words “Cliffs of Moher Ireland”. There the format of the Emerald Reflections may change. A change will make it easier to SOUTH CENTRAL ...... Dana Horkan-Gant, was also a note from Maura Fay, telling 610 Vine St., Reedsburg 53959 me how much she enjoys coming to Irish publish and cheaper to mail the hard email: [email protected]; (608) 524-6821 Fest and meeting new people. She appar- copies that we must make for those who choose not to get the electronic version. E-mail: ...... [email protected] ently works for the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience. That package not only made Promote the Shamrock Club. We all Web site: ...... http://shamrockclubwis.com my day, but probably the entire month! meet people, so mention the SC when it is She did respond to my “thank you” email, To become a member of the Shamrock Club of appropriate. Invite them to a meeting and Wisconsin contact the membership chair of the but declined to answer as to how I could mention that we will feed them if they chapter you would like to join. MILWAUKEE ONLY: repay the favor….I am trying to come up come early! The person you offer a meal Family membership (includes both parents and with an appropriate gift to send to Ireland. to may be our next valuable volunteer! all children under eighteen) - $36.00. Single Any suggestions? We can’t have too many of them. membership - $24.00. Membership is renewable annually on the anniversary month of the original I attended the Shamrock Club of Wis- Irish every day! membership. Please send all new and renewal consin State Advisory Board meeting on Ron Danielson, President Milwaukee club membership dues to Membership IF Saturday morning, with Joe Hughes, Chair, 2133 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53233. Be sure to send change of address and Taffy Anderson. Each of the chapters notification to Membership Chair, also. The post gave a short report on their activities. office will NOT forward copies of Reflections. Fundraising, new member recruitment, T T T 3 Membership Report

...... Now that Irish Fest is over, I will be Sunshine Report working on sending out notices for mem- bership dues. New membership forms are ...... Happy forty-fourth wedding anniver- being created to reflect the change in fees sary to Pete and Dawn Fleming on Sep- and will be distributed soon. As we pre- tember 14th. pare for the Holiday Folk Fair in two Warm, pleasant, fun birthday wishes to months, please keep in mind that we will the following members: Glenn Nowak – need volunteers for the event. Watch for Sept. 19th, Sue Suit – Sept. 24th, Declan an online sign up and a sign up sheet at the Blaha – 30th. next meetings. Gratitude for improved good health to Please contact Molly Modlinski with Chuck McLaughlin. any questions at: Please contact Maggie Blaha, Sunshine [email protected] chair, with information concerning our - Molly Modlinski, members who can use a bit of cheer or Membership Chair contact with their Irish friends. Maggie can be contacted at mailto:slainte4142- [email protected]. Ireland & the Potato - Maggie Blaha, Sunshine Chair Saturday, October 20th 6:00-9pm Facebook & Social Media ...... The Friends of Saint Patrick Centre, ...... If you haven’t seen us on Facebook, Milwaukee Chapter will be holding a like us! 2230 people have already. fundraising benefit to support their Young Celtic Women https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sham- Ambassador Program on Saturday, October International rock-Club-of-Wisconsin/102023943184 20th from 6:00-9 pm at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1717 Church St., Wauwatosa. The evening will feature music by Evan & Tom ...... The CWI Book Club meetings begin Leahy, Irish dancers and the Wisconsin at 1:00 pm at the ICHC and include Potato Growers Spudmobile. discussion, tea, and treats. New members You can also find us on Twitter at and guests are always welcome to join us! http://twitter.com/shamrockclubwis or Tickets are $15, and include a supersized on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/com- potato buffet, soup, salad and dessert. For Barbara Fishbauer will be our hostess pany/shamrock-club-of-wisconsin. on October 9th. We will discuss Rape of more information, contact Judie at 262-641- the Fair Country, by Alex Cordell. 9192 or email [email protected]. On October 10th, we will attend Out- side Mullingar, at Next Act Theater. The performance begins at 1:30 pm. Doll Face, by Dylan H Jones, will be our topic on November 13th, and our host- ess will be Maureen Garry. On December 11th we will celebrate the holiday season with our Christmas Lunch, Location tbd. - Rosemary Walsh Shamrock Club Retail

...... Retail will be looking for another good group of volunteers to sign up for the Hol- iday Folk Fair. We will be setting up on Thurs, Nov 15, selling Nov 16-18, and tearing down on Sunday evening, Nov 18. More details to come. - Mary Koehler Retail Chair 4 continued from page 1 similar role in the Táin Bó Cúailnge, (the Cliodhna is also associated with the Cattle Raid of Cooley), terrorizing and Blarney Stone, as she told Cormac Laidir disorienting the forces of Queen MacCarthy, to kiss the first stone he found and causing many to fall on their own in the morning on his way to court, and he weapons. She would often take the form did so, with the result that he pleaded his of a screaming raven or crow, striking fear Jimmy Keane and case with great eloquence and won. Thus into those who heard her, and could also the Blarney Stone is said to impart "the be heard as a voice among the corpses on Dennis Cahill ability to deceive without offending". He a battlefield. Friday, November 13 at 7:30 pm then incorporated it into the parapet of Maybe one needs to look at the scary the castle. creatures associated with Samhain, or ...... Two of Irish music’s most inventive Halloween. The crow or the raven may be The third, the Badb (bəiv]), meaning and highly regarded musicians, Jimmy the greater threat, more than a black cat, of "crow," is a war goddess who takes the Keane and special guest Dennis Cahill, impending doom. And if you see one, and form of a crow, and is thus sometimes will bring their show Reelin’ in the Years hear a banshee, recall that they are a sign to the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center, known as Badb Catha ("battle crow"). She of the three sisters. is known to cause fear and confusion 2133 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee on among soldiers to move the tide of battle Happy Halloween. Saturday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. to her favoured side. Badb may also ap- - Brian Witt Accordionist Keane and guitarist/vo- pear prior to a battle to foreshadow the ex- calist Cahill perform music ranging from tent of the carnage to come, or to predict Thank You ancient airs to newly composed tunes. The the death of a notable person. She would two have been friends and musical com- sometimes do this through wailing cries, Dear...... Shamrock Club Members, panions since first meeting in Chicago in the early 1980s. leading to comparisons with the bean- I want to thank you all for giving me sídhe (banshee). the opportunity over the past 6+ years to Born in London to Irish speaking par- Badb, part of a trio of war goddesses serve you as the publisher of the Emerald ents from Counties Connemara and Kerry, known as the Moadb, is associated with Reflections. Keane’s accomplishments are far-reaching war and death, appearing either to fore- and include winning five consecutive All- While I have very much enjoyed work- shadow imminent bloodshed or to partic- Ireland titles on the piano accordion. He is ing on the project every month, I find that ipate in battles, where she creates an avid collector and arranger of old tunes confusion among the soldiers. As a har- I now have other commitments in my life and is increasingly known for original binger of doom, she appears in a number that I must devote my time to. compositions, many of which have be- come part of mainstream traditional of different guises. In Togail Bruidne Dá I very much appreciate the trust that music. He has produced and recorded a Derga, she takes the form of an ugly you all put in me to get the publication number of albums and is associated with who prophesies Conaire Mór's downfall. done each month. I would like to thank all numerous groups including behola and She appears in a similar guise in Togail those who assisted me, especially Brian Green Fields of America. Online music Bruidne Dá Choca to foretell the slaying Witt, for writing so many of the articles source DMusic described him as “one of of Cormac Condloinges, as well as taking and handling much of the content, Mary the true giants of of the form of a "washer at the ford"—a Moze and Julie Smith, for their proof- the past fifty years” and singer-songwriter woman washing Cormac's chariot and har- reading time and talents, and all those Christy Moore called his playing “wild in a ford in what was considered an who submitted articles over the years. I and beautiful.” omen of death. The cries of Badb may also couldn’t have done it without you! be an ill omen: Cormac's impending death Cahill is considered one of the world’s - Pam Canon is foreshadowed with the words "The red- finest guitarists in traditional Irish music. mouthed badbs will cry around the house, His unique playing, accompaniment and / For bodies they will be solicitous" and arranging are acknowledged as a major "Pale badbs shall shriek". breakthrough for guitar. Cahill is perhaps best known for his long musical partner- She was also regularly depicted as an ship with fiddler Martin Hayes and is a active participant in warfare; indeed, the founding member of new superior group battlefield was sometimes referred to as Word of the Month The Gloaming. "the garden of the Badb". During the First Concert tickets are $25 in advance, $29 Battle of Mag Tuired, Badb—along with Cat...... Dubh - (chat doov) on concert day, $10 for students with ID her sisters, Macha and Morrígan—fights and free for ages 12 and younger. For more on the side of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Ná cuir isteach an cat dubh. Féadfaidh sé glaoch ar an fiach dubh. information and to order tickets online, go Using their magic, the three sisters incite to www.ichc.net or call (414) 345-8800. fear and confusion among the (Na cure is-tack an chat doov. army, conjuring "compact clouds of mist Fade-daih shay glay-ok are ICHC programs are supported in part by and a furious rain of fire" and allowing an fee-ock doov.) a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board their enemies "neither rest nor stay for with funds from the State of Wisconsin Do not bother the black cat. three days and nights". Badb plays a and the National Endowment for the Arts. He may call the raven. 5 - Kathy Schultz SHAMROCK CLUB OF WISCONSIN 2133 W. Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53233

For Information: http://shamrockclubwis.com or: www.saintpatricksparade.org

An Old Gaelic Prayer

May the Road Rise to meet you May the wind be always at your back May the sun shine warm upon your face, till the rains fall soft upon your fields. And, until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hands.

EMERALD REFLECTIONS PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Blarney Castle in Autumn