scéala - Gaelic American Club

SCÉALA
Newsletter for the Gaelic-American Club
74 Beach Road, Fairfield CT 06824
www.gaconline.org
CÉAD MÍLE FÁILTE One Hundred Thousand Welcomes
2
6
MÁRTA March 2013
Irish Folk Legends
St. Patrick’s Dinner Dance &
Members of the Year Awards
The Wolfe Tones
50 Year Celebration
Honoring
Peter Bellew  Peg O’Leary
Pat & Eileen Boland
Saturday, March 2
7 pm - 11 pm
Music by Tommy Mulvihill
Join Us In Thanking Peter, Peg, Pat & Eileen for
Dedicating Their Time and Talents to Our Club
Tickets $50  Includes Dinner, Two Drinks &
a Fun Night Filled with Music and Dancing
Sunday, March 3 at 7 pm
Tickets $20 Buy on-line at
http://thewolfetones.ticketleap.com/fairfield/
For more ticket information:
e-mail [email protected]* or
call Fran at (203) 260-4180 *service fee applies
RSVP to Annie Wellington: [email protected]
or 203-274-7854. Checks made payable to GAC
can be mailed to Social Committee or
dropped off in Social mailbox, Attn: Annie.
Payment is required to confirm reservations.
Children’s St. Patrick’s Party
Saturday, March 16  11 am -1 pm
For more info: Kelly Takacs
[email protected]  (203) 913-6242
JOIN US IN THE PUB 9PM-1AM
Friday
Mar 1
Saturday Mar 2
Peter McKiernan
The Irish Band
Friday
Mar 8
Saturday Mar 9
Camac
Once Removed
Friday
Mar 15 The Jolly Beggars + See Schedule Above
Saturday Mar 16 The Ale Hounds (8:30 pm) + See Above
Sunday Mar 17 Once Removed (7:45 pm) + See Above
Friday
Saturday
Friday
Saturday
Mar 22 Kurt & Helen Band
Mar 23 Karaoke with Bill Richards
Mar 29 Good Friday ~ No Music
Mar 30 The Crickstones
Friday
Apr 5
Saturday Apr 6
The Irish Band
Outside Chance
GAA All Ireland Football and Hurling Finals: Live from Croke Park
Catch the excitement on Sunday, March 17th starting at 9 am
Events
TRIVIA NIGHT: Friday, March 1, 8 pm
ST. PATRICK’S DINNER DANCE &
MEMBERS OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Saturday, March 2, 7 pm, page 1
STORYTELLING: BORN UNDER THE SIGN IRISH
Sunday, March 3 , 4 pm - 5:30 pm, page 2
IRISH FOLK LEGENDS: THE WOLFE TONES
Sunday, March 3, 7 pm, page 1
CULTURAL NIGHT
Wednesday, March 13, 6:30 pm, page 2
ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION
Friday March 15 - Sunday March 17, page 4
CHILDREN’S ST. PATRICK’S PARTY
Saturday, March 16, 11 am - 1 pm, page 1
CÉILÍ WITH CEOL AGUS CRAIC
Saturday, March 16, 7 pm, page 2
GAA FINALS: Sunday, March 17, 9 am
FLAG RAISING: Sunday, March 17, 10 am
FAMILY FUN NIGHT: Friday, March 22, 6 pm
HAIR OF THE DOG EXTRAVAGANZA
Saturday March 23, 3 pm & 8 pm, page 6
CLAN NA GAEL PLAYERS PRESENT THE CHASTITUTE
Thursday April 4 - Sunday April 7, page 6
Page 2
Storytelling
Cultural Night
Wednesday, March 13
6:30 pm
Born Under the Sign Irish
Sunday, March 3
4 pm - 5:30 pm
“Blood Is Thicker Than Water”
is the theme. See February
Newsletter for additional info or
contact Breda O’Sullivan
at [email protected]. Sponsored by Feile. Pay at Door ~
Cash or check payable to Feile.
Noel McGovern, Emcee
The Shamrogues
Lenihan School of Irish Dance
Fairfield Gaelic Pipe Band
St. Patrick’s Gaelic Football Club
Clan na Gael  Set Dancers
Irish Language Club
COME TO THE CÉILÍ
Saturday, March 16
7 pm - 11 pm
Enjoy Set Dancing,
Waltzes, Music & More!
Music by our own
Ceol agus Craic
CLUB ACTIVITIES
25 CARD GAME
Card players meet Thursdays,
7:30 pm
FÁILTE COMMITTEE
Volunteers are needed for our
St. Patrick Day celebratory
weekend; see p 3 for more info.
Welcome and assist people entering the Club. See Sue Allen.
FAIRFIELD GAELIC PIPE BAND
We meet Mondays, 6:45 pm at
First Church Congregational.
Tricia Westfield (203) 537-9784
FAMILY FUN NIGHT
Join Bette Leary and DJ Charlie
for fun, games and music on
Friday, March 22: 6 pm to 9 pm.
Our
FRÉAMH ÉIREANN
GENEALOGY GROUP
monthly
meeting
is
Saturday, March 9, 10:30 am.
Susan Callahan: (203) 255-3905
or [email protected].
GAC BOWLING LEAGUE
Join us on Sundays, 6:30 pm at
Nutmeg Bowl in Fairfield.
Donna Lillis (203) 373-9129
Hilary Koreeda (203) 335-6861
GAC BUSINESS DIRECTORY/
TRADES LIST
If you have a listing, please
check it for accuracy. Many
e-mail addresses have changed
and have not been updated.
Please send information to Scrip will be credited to the
[email protected].
green Scrip cards for use beginning April 1. Note that March is
GOOD & WELFARE
the only month that Scrip is not
Get well wishes to Frank
used. [email protected]
O’Driscoll, who is recoveror (203) 254-8502.
ing from surgery.
We extend condolences to
MEMBERSHIP MEETING
former Recording Secretary
This month’s meeting will be
Hilary Koreeda and family
held Friday, March 8 at 8 pm.
on the passing of her
mother Madeleine Dee and to Meetings are open to all
Rose Mary Cordaro and family Members. Minutes from the
on the passing of her mother in February meeting will be
posted on the Bulletin Board
California.
prior to the March meeting.
Thank you to Hilary Koreeda for
having served as chairperson.
SCÉALA
Patty Lucas is her successor:
The
April
issue deadline is
[email protected].
March 8. Please submit news to
IRISH INSTRUMENT SESSIONS
[email protected]
Join us every Monday, 8 pm
or to the Newsletter mailbox.
IRISH LANGUAGE
Labhairt
Gaeilge!
SENIORS
Speak Join us for lunch on March
Irish! We meet Thursdays at 7 28 at 12 noon. Please call for
pm in the Irish American Room. reservations:
Ann Hague
203-374-5198
IRISH LITERATURE GROUP
Shirley McMenamy 203-268-5083
Marggie Laurie (203) 536-2183
Sally Savage
203-366-4826
or [email protected]
Sue Barrett
203-366-1206
KITCHEN COMMITTEE
Please contact Mark Darcy: Please contribute to our Easter
Food Collection. Please see
[email protected]
page 6 for more info - Mary Ann
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
SET DANCING
2013 labels for door cards
should arrive in the mail early We dance on Thursdays at
7:30 pm. All are welcome!
April. (203) 256-0380 or
Brian Reynolds 203-214-2921
[email protected]
Page 3
CLUB AND MEMBER NEWS
A GREAT WEEKEND FOR THE IRISH!
MARCH 15TH, 16TH, 17TH
DINING: During our St. Patrick’s celebratory
weekend, we will have a special menu (in place
of regular menu) starting at 3 pm each day which
includes: corned beef sandwiches, fish & chips,
chicken fingers, fries and tuna sandwiches. Irish
potato chips and Irish chocolate will be available.
VOLUNTEERS: Volunteering is a great way to give
back to our Club and have fun along the way!
FOR THE DOOR
Friday, March 15 - starting at 1 pm
Saturday, March 16 - starting at 3 pm
Sunday, March 17 - from 12 noon to 9 pm
Please sign-up at the front desk, see Sue Allen or
call the Manager at (203) 254-0673.
FOR FOOD SERVICE
We need help making sandwiches and serving
food throughout the weekend, especially on
March 17th. Please sign-up at the front desk or
call Mary O’Driscoll at (203) 314-9442.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE
Friday, March 15  Downtown Bridgeport
Ed & Peggy O’Connor, Grand Marshals
Dedicated to the memory of
26 Angels from Newtown, Connecticut
8:00am Mass at St. Augustine Cathedral
Lauralton Hall Choir
9:15am Flag Raising at City Hall
10:00am Grand Marshals’ Breakfast*
Sheeaun Academy of Irish Dance
12 noon Parade Kick-off
1:30 pm Grand Marshals’ Luncheon & Awards*
Fairfield Gaelic Pipe Band
Lenihan School of Irish Dance
Mummer’s Uptown String Band
*$20 Breakfast & $25 Lunch
at Bridgeport Holiday Inn
Reserved Seating for tickets purchased prior
to March 11  Call Nancy (203) 268-9657
A Message From Our President
La Fheile Padraig Sona Daoibh
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all
our members: Happy St. Patrick’s Day. I am
looking forward to seeing you all at the club
over the 3 day weekend starting Friday, March
15th to celebrate our Irish heritage. It is one of
the busiest times of the year for our club so
patience and understanding over the weekend
will also contribute to a great successful weekend. Slan is beannacht.
~ Jude Fitzgerald
GAC President Jude Fitzgerald (left)
thanks Fairfield Rotary Club
President Deborah Clancy (right)
for the Rotary’s Club donation of an
automated external defibrillator
(AED), which is stationed in the
club’s front alcove. The Fairfield
Fire Department will be providing
training to the bar and wait staff.
63rd Annual Communion Breakfast
Sunday, March 10
The AOH John F. Kennedy Div 1, Bridgeport/Fairfield will hold its 63rd annual Communion Mass and Breakfast on Sunday, March 10.
Mass will be at 8 am at St. Ann’s Church, 201
Naugutuck Ave, Milford. Our chaplain Father
Brian Shaw will be the celebrant. Breakfast will
be immediately after the Mass at the Gaelic
American Club. Guest speaker will be John B.
Roney, Ph.D. Professor of History, Director of
European Studies, Sacred Heart University.
Tickets for the breakfast are $25 each, which
includes a full Irish breakfast. For tickets and
information: contact Tom Keane at 203-2568044 or [email protected] or Pat O’Connell at
203-644-9073 or poc6575@att.
The “Olympics" of Irish Dance
Congratulations and best of luck to Lenihan
School of Irish Dance who will be sending fifty
team members and seven soloist world qualifiers
to the World Irish Dance Championships in
Boston at the end of March. Many of these
dancers are club members and we wish them all
great success!
Page 4
H A P P Y S T . P AT R I C K ’ S D AY !
EVE
OF ST.
PATRICK’S EVE
Friday, March 15
ST. PATRICK’S EVE
Pub Opens
11:00 - 1:00
12 noon
Children’s Party
Pub Opens
~ THE PUB ~
2:00 - 5:00 Colleen and the Boys
5:30 - 8:30 Keltic Kick
9:00 - 12:00 The Jolly Beggars
4:00 - 8:00
8:30 - 12:30
~ THE PUB ~
Bobby Morrill
The Ale Hounds
12 noon
~ THE CAROLAN ROOM
1:00 - 4:00 Across the Pond
4:00 - 5:00 Lenihan School
~
of Irish Dance &
Fairfield Gaelic Pipe Band
5:00 - 8:00
8:15 - 12:15
Mostly Green
County Cavan Band
ST. PATRICK’S DAY
Saturday, March 16
~ THE CAROLAN ROOM
6:00 - 7:00 Lenihan Shool
7:00 - 11:00
9 am
10 am
~
of Irish Dance
Céilí - CEOL AGUS CRAIC
Sunday, March 17
GAA Finals
Flag Raising Ceremony
Light fare follows
12 noon
Pub Opens
1:00 - 3:00
3:15 - 5:15
5:30 - 7:30
7:45 - 9:45
~ THE PUB ~
Liz McNicholl
Camac
Across the Pond
Once Removed
~ THE CAROLAN ROOM ~
1:00 - 3:00 Quinn & Company
3:00 - 4:00 Lenihan School
of Irish Dance
4:00 - 6:00 The Shamrogues
6:00 - 6:30 Fairfield Gaelic Pipe Band
6:30 - 9:30 Mighty Ploughboys
A Great Weekend for The Irish: $5 Guest Fee  Special Menu ~ 3 pm  Volunteers Needed  See page 3 for more info
Happy Easter
Happy
St. Patrick’s
Day
Address Service Requested
Gaelic-American Club
74 Beach Road
Fairfield, CT 06824
www.gaconline.org
Presorted First Class Mail
U.S. Postage Paid
Fairfield, CT 06824
Permit # 288
Schedule Pub Hours Dinner
MARCH
Mon & Tues
Wed & Thrs
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
MÁRTA
2013
7 pm - 12 mid
5 pm - 12 mid
4 pm - 2 am
12noon - 2 am
12noon -12 mid
5 pm - 9 pm
5 pm - 10 pm
5 pm - 10 pm
5 pm - 9 pm
Lunch & Brunch HOW TO REACH US
Office
(203) 254-0673
Fax
(203) 254-3012
Pub emergencies (203) 254-2723
Membership (203) 256-0380
12 noon - 3 pm
Scrip
(203) 254-8502
11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Website www.gaconline.org
CÉAD MÍLE
FÁILTE
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Domhnach
Luan
Máirt
Céadaoin
Déardaoin
Aoine
Satharn
St. Patrick used the shamrock to teach the Irish about Christian-
ity’s doctrine of the Holy Trinity. March 17th is the anniversary of his
death in the 5th century. More than 100 St. Patrick’s Day parades are
held across the US. A green line is painted on 5th Avenue in New
York City and the Chicago River flows green to celebrate the day.
3 Pub Dining Only
4
5
6
1
Reminder
Please Sign-In Guests
(maximum of 4)
Please Return Your
Glasses to the Bar
7
Lenten Specials
8 pm Trivia Night
♫ Peter McKiernan
9 pm In the Pub
8 Scéala deadline
2 Pub Dining Only
7 pm St. Patrick’s
Dinner Dance & Members
of the Year Awards
♫ The Irish Band
9 pm In the Pub
9
4pm Storytelling by Feile
6:30 GAC Bowling league
at Nutmeg Bowl 50
6:45 Gaelic Pipe Band
7pm The Wolfe Tones
at the church
Irish Folk Concert
7pm Playwriting Workshop
7:30 Exec Comm Mtg
Open to all Members
Lenihan Dance Lessons
4pm Children 8pm Adult 7pm ♫ Informal Music
Lenten Specials
7:00pm Irish Language 8 pm Membership Mtg
7:30pm 25 Card Game ♫ Camac
7:30pm Set Dancing
9 pm In the Pub
10:30 Genealogy Group
10 Daylight Saving Time
12
13
14
15
16 12noon Pub Opens
6:45 Gaelic Pipe Band
at the church
6:30 GAC Bowling League 8pm Irish Instrument
Session
at Nutmeg Bowl
Lenihan Dance Lessons
4pm Children 8pm Adult
7pm ♫ Informal Music
11am-1pm Children’s
St. Patrick’s Party
7:00pm Irish Language
7pm Céilí-Ceol agus Craic
♫ The Ale Hounds
7:30pm 25 Card Game ♫ The Jolly Beggars
8:30 pm In the Pub
9 pm In the Pub
7:30pm Set Dancing
See Newsletter for Agenda See Newsletter for Agenda
17 St. Patrick’s Day
19
20
21
22
23
7pm ♫ Informal Music
Pub Dining Only
3 pm & 8 pm shows:
Hair of the Dog
Lenten Specials
7:00pm Irish Language
Extravaganza
7:30pm 25 Card Game 6-9pm Family Fun Night
♫ Karaoke:Bill Richards
♫ Kurt & Helen Band
7:30pm Set Dancing
9 pm In the Pub
9 pm In the Pub
27
28
29
7pm ♫ Informal Music
12noon
7:00pm
7:30pm
7:30pm
Begins ~ Spring Forward
11
18
9am GAA Finals
10am Flag Raising
6:45 Gaelic Pipe Band
12noon Pub Opens
♫ Once Removed
at the church
7:45 pm In the Pub
8pm
Irish Instrument
See Newsletter for Agenda
Session
6:30 GAC Bowling League
24
Palm Sunday
6:30 GAC Bowling League
31
Easter
Kitchen Closed
6 pm Pub Opens
25
6:45 Gaelic Pipe Band
at the church
8pm Irish Instrument
Session
6:30pm Cultural Night
First Day of Spring
7pm Playwriting Workshop
Lenihan Dance Lessons
4pm Children 8pm Adult
26
Lenihan Dance Lessons
4pm Children 8pm Adult
Easter Collection Begins
12noon Pub Opens
Good Friday 
Seniors Lunch
Lenten Specials
Irish Language
25 Card Game No Music In the Pub
Set Dancing
♫ Once Removed
9 pm In the Pub
30
♫ The Crickstones
9 pm In the Pub
Page 6
THE CHASTITUTE
The 4th Annual
Hair
of the
Dog
Extravaganza!
Saturday, March 23
3 pm & 8 pm Shows
Featuring
The Alternate Routes
The Cridders  Once Removed
Sheeaun Academy of Irish Dance
This event is celebrating its fourth year, and
combines Irish Step Dancing, traditional and
non-traditional Irish Music and American
Sign Language in ways you've never seen
before. For more info, please visit website
or call 860-816-9843.
Tickets $22 available online
www.hairofthedogextravaganza.com
49th Annual
Monday, March 11
6 pm Cocktails  7 pm Dinner
Bridgeport Holiday Inn
Irish entertainment following brief speakers
program. 501(c)3 charitable organization with
mission to provide $24,000/4-year scholarship
to a high school senior attending college in
the fall regardless of race, color, or religion.
Contributions graciously accepted.
Tickets $125 per person ~ Formal Attire
For Tickets: Dave Howe (203)767-6519
EASTER FOOD COLLECTION
We are collecting non-perishable food
items, such as small canned hams, soup,
vegetables, tuna and peanut butter from March
14 through March 26. A collection basket will be
set-up in the lobby. Please consider helping our
community in need. For more info, contact Mary
Ann (203) 377-4586 or Phyllis (203) 254-0606.
The Irish Government is sponsoring a series of events in
Ireland hoping to attract large
numbers of families to join The
Gathering in 2013. For more information,
please visit www.thegatheringireland.com.
The Wolfe Tones
Tracy James directs an outstanding cast of
more than twenty actors and Marie Stehle sets
the stage for the hilarious performances.
Tickets $15 For Reservations: Rose Leahy
[email protected] or 203-333-4736
Playwriting Workshops
ST. PATRICK’S SCHOLARSHIP DINNER
Irish Folk Legends
APRIL 4, 5 & 6 AT 8 PM
APRIL 7 AT 2:30 PM & 7:30 PM
Clan na Gael performs John B. Keane’s
comedy The Chastitute. John Bosco MClaine is
a middle-aged bachelor who has been unlucky
in love. This is the story of his romantic
pursuits and bumbling failures. A combination
of flashbacks, imaginings, and actual happenings illustrate his endeavors with the opposite
sex. His run of failure continues throughout
the play in spite of the ministrations of a
matchmaker, a smooth-talking lothario, and
even the local priest, all of whom offer
parochial advice on the subject.
Clan na Gael invites you to playwriting workshops held on March 5, March 19 and April 2 in
the O’Keefe Room from 7 pm to 9 pm. Eleanor
Craig Green, herself a published author, will be
available to work with anyone who has an idea
for a play. For more info: contact Jude at
[email protected] or 203-374-8213.
25th Anniversary
Fairfield County Irish Festival
Our celebration will be held Father’s Day weekend, June 14 - 16 at Fairfield University. We
welcome volunteers to sign-up online. For access
code, please visit the Festival website
www.irishfestival.org or Festival Facebook page.
We are looking for sponsors. Sponsorship levels
start at $25 for a benefactor and increase to
$100, $200 and beyond. Please check the website
or contact Maura O’Donnell: 203-767-6491 or
[email protected] for further information.
APPLICATIONS: The GAC accepts applications for
kitchen, waitstaff, bartenders, and custodial positions. Should a vacancy occur, applications on file
will be considered. Applications may be found in
the GAC Manager’s mailbox in the lobby stairwell.
50 Year Celebration: Sunday March 3 at 7 pm see page 1