Irish American Home Society Inc. JULY/AUGUST NEWSLETTER President’s Message Dear Fellow Members, It’s hard to believe it’s July and that the Greater Hartford Irish Music Festival is just around the corner! If you haven’t stepped up to volunteer yet, please call Kathleen Blake as soon as possible. This is our club’s largest fundraising event. It’s what helps keep the membership dues and the price of a pint down! So do your share! Can’t help out over the weekend? No worries…we have plenty of volunteer opportunities available the week before and the week after. In fact, we’re still looking for someone to coordinate set-up and clean-up. So don’t delay…call Kathleen today! If you’ve been down to the club lately, you may have noticed how wonderful the grounds are looking. This is due to the efforts of your fellow members. You may not be aware, but as a volunteer driven organization, many tasks are taken on by our member volunteers. It’s a great way to get involved and meet your fellow members. If you’re lucky like me, your volunteer work may lead you to new friendships and more fun than you ever imagined! Call me if you would like to get more involved. Hats off to Chair Liz Saunders and the Hartford Feis Committee for another successful Feis! With 630 registered dancers, record attendance and the most perfect weather possible, it was the most amazing day! The field was packed with dancers, their families and spectators who came to enjoy the largest cultural event held by our club. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped make the day run smoothly and for the welcoming atmosphere you provided to our guests! Wishing you and your families a safe and happy summer! All the best, Maureen A. Kennedy President GAELIC FOOTBALL AND HURLING LIVE FROM CROKE PARK! We are pleased to announce that we will be showing the live broadcasts of all the games LIVE from Ireland! The club purchased the 2014 season package to show all 45 games from Premium Sports. As in the past, there is a charge to view the games; however, we are now offering a MEMBERS ONLY SEASON PASS for the spectacular price of $250! That’s right…only $250 to view every game! That’s a bargain price of $5.55 per game! If you don’t wish to opt for the season pass, the games will be priced as follows: $15 per game for members; $20 per game for non-members; $5 for ages 13 – 20 years; 1 year and under no charge. Passes can be purchased from your bartender. Season Passes make great gifts! Father’s Day is around the corner…a great gift for that parent who has everything (including the great- est and most generous kids in the world who always know the perfect gift). A VERY SPECIAL EVENING WITH LEO & ANTO Tickets are still available for the shows on July 22, 23 and 24, 2014, in the Upstairs Hall at 7:30 p.m. Leo and Anto (of The Saw Doctors) will present their acoustic show that includes some well-known Saw Doctors songs, story-telling and more! Visit www.leoandanto.com for a taste of what’s in store. Tickets are $35 each. If tickets are still available after July 5th, we will open this up to the general public. If you have already purchased tickets but would be interested in purchasing more, contact Maureen Kennedy (860)550-3126. This is an event you won’t want to miss…promise! 132 Commerce St PO Box 620 Glastonbury, CT 06033 Ph. (860) 633-9691 IAHS GIANT TAG HARTFORD GAA This and that… SALE & FLEA MARKET The Hartford GAA would like to thank As I mentioned in my letter, we have Saturday, September 13, 2014 everyone who supported our golf tour- had a lot of help from our members in Clean out your attics, garages, and nament in May. We raised a lot of mon- keeping up the grounds around the basements, and come have some ey to help our youth and senior football club. Both Hartford GAA and fun selling your unwanted treasures and hurling programs. You can now buy Glastonbury Celtic Football Club in a bustling flea market/tag sale Hartford GAA apparel at oneils.com. have made commitments to keep up venue! We will be holding a giant The GAA summer schedule with the mowing of the pitch and open air tag sale and flea market on 2014: lawns. Mike Sweeney has been seen Saturday, September 13th from 8:00 YOUTH: mowing the pitch each week while a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on the grounds 6/21: Dorchester, MA, 10 a.m.-5 Stephen Miskell, Dan Ustach and of the Irish American Home. Seller p.m./Football, hurling and camogie Dick Edmonds have been running space may be rented for $25.00. 7/12: IAHS, 10 a.m.-5 p.m./Football, behind with the weed wacker, Vendors and crafters are also wel- hurling and camogie trimming everything in their path! A come. Seller space may be re- 7/13: Canton, MA, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m./ few weeks ago, a group of us served after July 1st. For further U14/16 Football gathered to clean-up the area around information or to reserve a space, 7/19: Portland, ME, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m./ the sheds, where piles of old wooden please contact Theresa Doyle at Football, hurling and camogie pallets and all kinds of old stuff were [email protected] or 860-568- 7/23:Through 7/27, Randall’s Island, thrown. The area was overgrown 7685. NY, CYC Tournament ages 6 – 18 with weeds and massive amounts of 8/09: Springfield, MA, 10 a.m. – 5 poison ivy. Stephen Miskell and SAVE THE DATE! p.m./Football, hurling and camogie Myles McGee nearly filled the PIG ROAST LUAU! 8/16: Canton, MA/Northeast Champi- enormous dumpster we hired for the On Saturday, September 6, 2014, onships job…a tremendous amount of hauling we will hold a PIG ROAST LUAU ADULT: and lifting. Colleen Kissane, Dan on the back patio and field from 7/19: ICC, Canton, MA @ 1:45 p.m./ O’Connell and I cleaned out the 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Dine on succu- Shannon Blue v Hartford shed and disposed of all sorts of stuff lent roasted pig along with an as- 8/02: ICC, Canton, MA @ 5:15 p.m/ not worth saving. Bruce Motowidlak sortment of sides. Hot dogs and Shannon Blues v Hartford sprayed the entire area for poison ivy hamburgers will be available for (at his own expense…he owns a those not inclined to partake of the 32nd Annual landscaping company) and Myles pig! Drink specials and a live band IRISH GOLF CLASSIC McGee, God love him, went along (to be announced) along with some To Benefit the the fence and sheds, trimming back fun contests such as “Ugliest Ha- IAHS Scholarship Fund all kinds of flora and fauna…including waiian Shirt” and “Best Decorated the dreaded poison ivy…which got Table”. Tickets are $20 for adults Friday, September 12, 2014 ahold of him despite our best efforts and $8 for kids 12 and under. So Registration: 10 a.m. at eradication! And if you’ve noticed round up your flamingos and start Shotgun Start: 11 a.m. the beautiful flowers around the counting the days! The luau will be Cost: $135.00 per person club…that is the handiwork of Karen here before you know it!! Watch Blackledge Golf Club/ Anderson’s Glen and Rick Breen. Not only did they the September newsletter, our web- create all those gorgeous planters, site and Facebook for more infor- Course but they also come to the club every mation. THREE FLIGHTS—Open, Champion, other day to water and care for the and Women plants. When you see your fellow Longest Drive, Closest to the Line and members, give them a pat on the back for all their hard work keeping The Ancient Order of Hibernians Closest to the pin contests our club beautiful for all to enjoy! Division #2 and Ladies AOH PRIZES ON ALL PAR 3 HOLES FOR A A few weeks ago, Stephen Miskell, meets on the first Friday of each owner of Galway Tiling, tiled the area month at 7:30 p.m. in the Down- HOLE IN ONE!! surrounding the showers in the stairs Lounge. The AOH is an Irish Sponsor a Hole – only $100 garage/locker room. Stephen Catholic organization that promotes Lunch at the course followed by Dinner provided the tile, other materials, and and encourages participation in our at the Irish American Home his labor, at no cost to the club. It religion, charity and Irish culture, looks lovely and now provides a clean following the motto, “In Friendship, Great Raffle Prizes!! and easy to care for floor. Thank Unity and Christian Charity”. For Checks should be made out to: you, Stephen! more information contact Jamie IRISH AMERICAN GOLF Thanks to Mike Sweeney for Forzono at (860)604-3021. Contact: Tom Pilch at (860) 659-4463 rebuilding the benches along the or [email protected] or mail to: 185 field. Most were missing the tops and Great Swamp Road, Glastonbury, CT Mike was able to get some wood donated for the repairs, which he did 2 06033 himself! Thank you, Mike! 2012 - 2013 IAHS Officers & Board of Directors HONOR GUARD President IRISH NORTHERN AID It is this Society’s tradition to hon- Maureen Kennedy The Hartford Unit of Irish Northern Aid 860-550-3126 rd or our deceased members by the [email protected] meets the 3 Friday of every month at Vice President presence of an Honor Guard at Sheila Dupuis Green 8:00 p.m.