MOHAWK VALLEY IRISH CULTURAL Volume 13, Issue 9 EVENTS NEWSLETTER Sept 2016 Celebrating the Feast Month of Septibáeth As we all know, the month of September is named after the Celtic deity, Septibáeth, the god of good music, ice- cold beer and hair-removing wristbands, and… Okay, that is a total lie. But September in Central New York is historically known for all that, and this year is no different. In this month alone, there are no less than six Irish or Scottish festivals or cultural events, a burgeoning local music scene, and rare area appearances by some of the most talented performance artists around. So without further ado, let’s jump right into the events of the month. Capital District Scottish Games (Sept 3-4) The Altamont Fairgrounds will be alive with the sounds of bagpipes, the excitement of Celtic food and the smell of Scottish competition. Wait, it’s the other way around. Entertainment will be provided by The Brigadoons, Get Up Jack, Daimh (winner of “Folk Band of the Year” at the Scottish Traditional Music Awards), Kevin McKrell and more. Inaugurated in 1978, this fun family event runs from 8 AM – 9 PM on Sat and from 9 AM – 7 PM Sun. Tickets to the games are $22 for Sat, $12 for Sun, and kids under 12 are free. The Altamont Fairgrounds is… are?... located at 129 Grand, in Altamont, NY. Syracuse Irish Festival (Sept 9-10) On September 9-10, the Syracuse Irish Festival once again takes to the streets. In total, performances will take place on two separate stages in Clinton Square by such Celtic and Irish bands as The Elders, The TownPants, Searson, Moxie Strings, the Blarney Rebel Band, the Led Farmers and others. Irish cultural activities and presentations will take place all weekend. The festival, which runs from 5 to 11 on Friday and 11 AM to 11 PM on Saturday, is free. For more info, check their web site. Rochester Celtic Festival (Sept 12-13) Started in 1994, the Rochester Irish Festival is committed to the ideal of staging an event in an atmosphere conducive to families and children, with entertainment that is dynamic, vibrant and energetic. This year’s lineup includes Glengarry Bhoys, 1916, Linda Rutherford and Celtic Fire, Barry’s Crossing, Sisters of Murphy and others. For more information, check here. Tickets are $6 each day and children under 12 are free. Elmira Irish Festival (Sept 10) The Elmira Hibernian-sponsored 16th Annual Halfway to St Patrick’s Day Irish Festival will be held this year from 2 to 11 PM on September 10th, at the Hibernian Center grounds at 701 Kinyon St on Elmira’s Southside. Admission is $2. This year’s festival features Pat Kane and West O’Clare, BAT 21, The Stoutmen, The Porters, pipers and more. Irish 2000 Music and Arts Festival (Sept 16-17) The 20th annual Irish 2000 Music and Arts Festival will take place at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds in Ballston Spa, N.Y., on Sept. 16-17, 2016. Gates open at 4 PM on Friday and 11 AM on Saturday. Performers include Gaelic Storm, The Screaming Orphans, Kilmaine Saints, The Peelers, Shilelagh Law, Hair of the Dog, The Blarney Rebel Band and many more. Tickets for the festival are: Friday, $20 at the gate ($16 in advance), Saturday, $25 at the gate ($18 in advance), with a special 2-Day Pass available for $29; advance only. Kids 12 and under are free. For more information, visit their web site. 8th Hudson Valley Irish Fest (Sept 24) The Hudson Valley Irish Festival will feature performances by Kitty Kelly, the Narrowbacks, pipers, dancers and more. The festival, held on the majestic banks of the Hudson River at Peekskill’s Riverfront Green Park, runs from 11 AM to 7 PM. Admission is $10. Mohawk Valley Irish Cultural Events - 1 Who is the Greatest Irish Woman? by Sue Romero In September 2014 the Irish Independent polled its 100,000+ readers, asking who they thought was the “Greatest Irish Woman” from a list of 100 notable candidates living in the present day back to ancient times. Of all those Irish women, Sr. Stanislaus Kennedy came in number one. So, for this month’s series installment I thought I would explore a little about this woman who is so popular among today’s Irish people. The Seeds of Mystery and Mission Treasa Kennedy grew up with her four siblings in a traditionally Catholic family on a farm in Lispole on the Dingle Peninsula. On her website she describes those early days pretty much as we imagine an idyllic Irish peasant life to be. “In my early childhood, there was story-telling and card-playing in place of radio, cinema and television. It was a life of mystery, beauty and simplicity...whether saving the hay, telling the time from the sun and the tide, catching trout and salmon, going to stations, wakes, funerals, marriages, walking under hedges dripping with fuchsia, cutting and footing the turf or bringing tea to the fields or the bog.” But growing up during the Depression and World War II, she also saw poverty that drove many of her neighbors from their homes and land. She felt drawn to help people like them. Taking Action Toward Solutions In 1958, when she was 18, she joined the congregation of Religious Sisters of Charity and took the name Stanislaus with her vows. Now affectionately known as Sr. Stan, she is well-known and well-loved for her vigorous work for more than five decades of helping Irish people who have fallen on hard times, especially those who are homeless. Beginning in Kilkenny, she worked with Bishop Peter Birch to develop Kilkenny Social Services in the 1960s. It was an innovative model of community care, which became a blueprint for other programs like it throughout Ireland. She also served with Irish and European government commissions on poverty. But she is probably most respected for founding Focus Ireland in 1985. As the largest not-for-profit in Ireland addressing homelessness, Focus works to prevent families from losing their homes in the first place and helps to get people already homeless back on their feet. They also advocate for changes in Irish laws to solve the root problems that cause homelessness. Branching out still further, Sr. Stan established the Immigrant Council of Ireland, an independent national organization working to promote the rights of immigrants through information, advocacy and legal aid, and Young Social Innovators, an organization which offers opportunities for students to become involved in social issues. Inspired Activism With all of her organizations, Sr. Stan has touched many lives, which I think explains the number of votes that won her first place in the polling. Her energy to accomplish all this comes from a deep spirituality. In a 2013 newspaper interview, Sr. Stan described a typical morning for her, “I rise at 5:45 AM, meditate for an hour, go to Mass and walk the dog — that’s all done by 8:30 AM. I make space for prayer and meditation again in the middle of the day and again at night.” Mohawk Valley Irish Cultural Events - 2 In 1998 Sr. Stan founded The Sanctuary in Dublin. Described on its website as “a place where people can find a quiet space and time for themselves to explore and develop their inner world and wisdom and find stillness,” the center offers classes in meditation, yoga and mindfulness, among other things. “I believe in the power of meditation and in its capacity to help us to become aware, to become present in the world and with nature. And to be present with suffering without being overwhelmed by it,” she said. Still Speaking Out And now in her 70s she’s still speaking out on behalf of the poor. Sadly, despite decades of work on the problem by Focus and other organizations, homelessness has risen sharply in Ireland recently. A lingering economic recession and a trend of rising rents has put many more families out of their homes. In September 2015, after Focus recorded a 71% increase in homeless children in Dublin in just a few months, Sr. Stan called for an increase in rent supplements to prevent families becoming homeless. “I am making a direct appeal to Taoiseach Enda Kenny to knock heads together including Nama, developers, local authorities, etc., as well as his ministers and top civil servants, to set up an emergency task force to replace rhetoric with real actions. By showing leadership now we can offer some hope to those facing desperation,” she told the Irish Times. Though it’s pleasant for us in America to imagine Ireland as the idyllic place of tourist dreams, like all countries it has its social problems. I think it’s good to know there are people like this feisty Irish sister who have a heart for the poor and are not afraid to work hard to help. And that is probably why she’s admired enough by the Irish people to be voted the Greatest Irish Woman. The Irish Independent’s list also had many more interesting candidates, so stay tuned for more stories in this series. Calan: Celtic Music from Wales On Sept 30th, the Old Songs Concert Series welcomes back Calan, an exciting young band from Wales. Calan – “the ambassadors of Welsh Cool” -- bring together the remarkable talents of five young musicians who give a fresh and vibrant sound to traditional Welsh music. With a contemporary and lively approach, they breathe new life into the old traditions through their sparkling melodies, foot tapping tunes and spirited and energetic performances of Welsh step dancing.