ISSUE 24 VOLUME 6 Proudly Serving Celts in North America Since 1991 JULY/AUGUST 2015 MHAIRI BLACK, the 20-year-old Scottish Nationalist Party MP delivers an electrifying maiden speech in the British House of Commons on Tuesday, July 14. [READ MORE ON PAGE 9] LUGHNASADH by Jeni Kubicek. [READ more about the artist on page 2] Lughnasadh: The Journey A NATION IN MOURNING — Six Irish students died after a balcony collapsed in Berkeley, California. (Clockwise from top left) Eimear Walsh, Eoghan Culligan, Olivia Burke, Lorcán from Summer into Autumn Miller, Ashley Donohoe, and Niccolai Schuster. [SEE PAGE 15] UGHNASADH life aspects of gods and goddesses in Saxons from the Anglo-Saxon hlaf-mas virtually every culture and religion. or “loaf feast,” referring to the loaves (pronounced loo’- that are baked from the first grain har- na-sadh) is the Lughnasadh is the time of the barley vested. This is the first harvest festival moon. In older times, the last stalk of of the year and this celebration of the feast which marks grain was ceremonially cut and crafted L harvest of the first grain ties in nicely into a corn dolly, which could represent with Lughnasadh. the journey from summer into both the god and the goddess. autumn beginning August 1. One aspect of the god who is honoured [READ CYNTHIA WALLENTINE’S COLUMN ON PAGE 14 FOR MORE.] Now it’s time to get the crops har- by some Celtic traditions at this time of vested and brought in safely – into year is Llew Llaw Gyffes, a Welsh god of light who died and came back to life. FLOWERS on the beach near the Imperial Marhaba Hotel fol- the cool, dark storehouse of our He was the ripener of the grain, the sun. HOOP DREAMS: lowing the attack in Sousse, Tunisia. The British and Irish Gov- inner selves. ernments have warned against all but essential travel amid fears In Ireland, he was called “Lugh, the ON S OURNEY For our ancestors, the final harvest Long-Handed.” He owned a magic A S ’ J of a fresh terror attack. [SEE PAGE 11] meant wonderful fairs and markets, a spear which thirsted for blood, and TO THE SPECIAL time of sacred peace between tribes which flashed fire and roared aloud in WIN FREE TICKETS that might usually be in war. battle. Lugh was the first to use the OLYMPIC GAMES These events are connected and re- horse in warfare, and nobody could gaze Win a pair (2 tickets) to a Taste of called in one form or another in myths upon his face without being dazzled. By Ann Carr the Highlands at the Canmore surrounding life-in-death and death-in- August 1 was called Lammas by the Page 13 Highland Games in Canmore, Al- berta on September 5, plus a pair (2 • tickets) to the Canmore Highland Games (Ceilidh not included), on CONOR MCGREGOR: September 6. (See pages 3 & 6 for JOHNNIE FOX’S IRISH details). Entry by August 7. Mark your SNUG on Granville Street in IRELAND’S FIRST entry: Canmore Highland Games. Vancouver has announced CHAMPION Entries by e-mail only. Mark the name UFC of the event on your entry, including a new ‘Fly to Ireland’ com- 40009398 Publication IN AS EGAS your name and daytime telephone petition for their valued cus- Mail Agreement: Mail L V number. (Only one entry per person.) tomers. [SEE PAGE 4] Page 18 Send to: [email protected] PAGE 2 www.celtic-connection.com JULY/AUGUST 2015 In Memory of Tom Butler December 28, 1930 - June 25, 2015 ANCOUVER – Friends and family gath- He was my beloved step-father and he first came into my life about 22 years ered from far and wide on the morning of ago when he married my mother Catholine. From that time forward he Saturday, July 4, 2015 to say a final fare- took me under his wing and treated me well to a man who had a large presence in like another daughter. Vthe local Irish community for almost 60 years. I was never so proud to have him walk beside me as on my wedding day when he escorted me down the aisle to my By MAURA DE FREITAS bridegroom. We shared so many joyous and happy Tom Butler was born in Kilmaine, Co. family celebrations together and it was Mayo in Ireland on December 28, 1930 Tom’s generous spirit that will always and he passed away after a long illness leave a lasting impression. on June 25, 2015 in Vancouver at the PHOTO: Tony Butler age of 84. I am very grateful for all the support and AN honour guard of upraised hurley sticks by members of the encouragement Tom consistently Vancouver Irish Sporting and Social Club at the removal of Predeceased by his first wife Annie showed me with my work publishing The Teresa, he is lovingly remembered by Tom Butler’s casket from St. Patrick’s Parish in Vancouver. Celtic Connection. I know he was very his wife Catholine Butler, children Kevin proud each month to help distribute the Butler and Mary Ann Segarty (Grant), paper. The Boys of the County Mayo step-children Maura De Freitas (Jose) Far away from the Land And the friends of our youth, and Patrick McCay and grandchildren Over the years his presence brought us of the Shamrock and Heather may God always be with them. Angela Logan (James), Susie Segarty a great deal of stability and there were In search of a living They too are exiles from (Mike), Liam Segarty (Sandra), Teresa many moments when his very practical as exiles we roam. the County Mayo. Segarty (Chad) and his great-grandchil- common sense helped to guide us But whenever we chance dren, sisters and brothers, nieces and through some very turbulent waters. to assemble together From historic Killala, nephews and many friends in Canada, In more recent years it was because of We think of the land where from Swinford to Ballagh, the U.S.A. and Ireland. Tom that I worked to organize the Irish we once had a home. Ballyhaunis and Westport and oul’ Castlebar, It felt so appropriate to say farewell to seniors luncheons through the Irish Be- But these homes are destroyed Kiltimagh and Claremorris, Tom at St. Patrick’s Parish in Vancou- nevolent Society of B.C. and our soils cultivated. Belmullet and Erris, ver with Father James Hughes celebrat- I became aware of the great contribu- The hand of the tyrant brought Kilkelly and Knock, ing his funeral Mass. This was the par- TOM BUTLER – A proud Mayo tion so many of these earlier Irish immi- plunder and woe. that’s famed near and far. ish where so many Irish emigrants of man to the core. grants made to our community and in Our fires are long dead his era found a home and a community their golden years I wanted to help bring and our hearths desolated Balla, Ballinrobe, Ballina and Bohola, upon arrival in this city. donned their green and gold jerseys and Keel Oaks and Foxford, these lovely people together where once In our once happy homes formed a silent guard of honour with Over the years, Tom’s door was always again they could sing and dance and in the County Mayo. a few miles below, uplifted hurleys leading all the way out Newport and Cong open with a warm welcome for his fel- of the church. enjoy each other’s company. ’Tis many long years since and oul’ Straide and Manulla, low Irish exiles and many will remem- During the past few weeks I have read with hearts full of sorrow, Charlestown too, ber the legendary gatherings he and his That was an incredible tribute to a man so many of the numerous condolence The Land of the Shamrock in the County Mayo. late wife Teresa held in the Fifties and whose name graces the GAA Western messages received and the one quality we left far behind. Sixties. Canada Division men’s championship Chorus: that shines through all the grief is that The days of our youth award: The Tom Butler Cup. Their home served as the unofficial Irish Tom will be remembered as a gentle- it’s now we regret them, ‘Now Boys, pull together centre where so many wonderful gath- Thank you also to Catherine Flynn and man and a man of honour, and I think And the friends of our childhood in all kinds of weather, Ne’er show the white feather erings took place with music and songs Lee Cooke for their help putting together there can be no finer tribute. whom we still bear in mind. wherever ye go. shared. Loneliness and homesickness the wonderful slide show presentation On behalf of my mother Catholine But- Ah! The days of our youth Act each like a brother were dispelled in such fine company. at the reception afterwards. ler and all the Butler family, I would like we’ll never forget them and help one another, Tom played a key role in the formation Tom also will be remembered for all his to extend our warmest thank you to eve- They cling to our visions Like the stout-hearted men of many of the local Irish organizations, volunteer work with the Vancouver St. ryone who called or sent messages, and wherever we go. from the County Mayo. particularly the Sons of Erin and later Vincent de Paul Society where he who attended the prayers and funeral the Vancouver Irish Sporting and Social helped with meals for the Downtown Mass.