AUGUST 2011 - Buffalo Irish Center

Transcription

www.buffaloir ishcenter.com
AUGUST 2011- SEPTEMBER 2011
Gaelic American Athletic Association
Buffaloirishtimes
The Statler Building to Host the
2011
30th Annual Buffalo Irish Festival Irish &
Celtic
Festivals
Festival to be the First Public Event in Refurbished Landmark
Buffalo Irish Festival
August 26-28
Entertainers include Burning Bridget
Cleary, Seamus Kennedy, the Tartan
Terrors & Pat Shea
www.buffaloirish.com/irishfestival.htm
Guinness Syracuse Irish
Festival
September 9-10
Entertainers include the Elders, Searson,
Emish & Rathkeltair
Burning Bridget Cleary
The Irish Festival will kick off on
Friday evening, August 26, with a parade
around Niagara Square celebrating each
of Ireland’s 32 counties, and will continue throughout the weekend with Irish
cultural offerings including food, music,
dance and theatre, in celebration of Irish
heritage and culture in Western New
York and Southern Ontario.
According to Kevin Townsell, chairman of the Irish Festival, “We are thrilled
to be able to bring the festival back to
downtown this year. The Statler provides
a central location, excellent sound quality
for the many Irish bands, and a beautiful venue that we are sure will attract
our many loyal followers and, we hope,
many new followers this year as well!”
The Irish Festival had most recently
been held at the Hamburg Fairgrounds
and had previously been held at the
former festival grounds at the Pier on
Buffalo’s Outer Harbor, and at Weimer’s
Grove in Lancaster when first introduced
in 1981.
According to Townsell, the downtown
location will better serve festival-goers
from all over Western New York and
Southern Ontario with a more convenient location. In addition, moving the
festival to an indoor location provides a
much higher sound quality for the many
Irish bands and entertainers, as well as
protection from unpredictable weather
conditions.
Festival events will be held in both
of the Statler’s main ballrooms, the main
grand lobby and rooms on three levels of
the building, all connected by elevators
and stairs that will facilitate a flow of
activity throughout the venue.
More than 30 Irish bands and entertainers will perform throughout the
weekend festival. The musical highlights of the weekend include Burning
Bridget Cleary, Pat Shea, the Tartan
Terrors, among many others. Burning
Bridget Cleary, a high-energy band with
tightly woven harmonies in both fiddle
and vocals. BBC has played hundreds of
performances along the East Coast, and
produced three CDs including Everything
is Alright, named 2009 Album of the Year
by Boston-based CelticRadio.net.
Rochester Irish Festival
Buffalo native Pat Shea offers dynamic headlining live performances and he
has shared the stage with other national
artists including Vince Gill, Alabama,
Wynona, Travis Tritt, Kenny Rogers, and
others. In 2004 Pat Shea was inducted
into the New York State Country Music
Hall of Fame.
September 9-11
The Tartan Terrors have been called
North America’s premier Celtic entertainers, featuring the best in music, comedy
and dance, and bolstered by the blistering piping of a two-time world champion bagpiper. Their musical prowess
is combined with championship caliber
Highland dancers and internationally recognized comedic performers for a truly
unique experience.
Pittsburgh Irish Festival
The festival will also include an original theatrical production, The Rainbow’s
End, written and produced by Mary Kate
O’Connell. The 30-minute play will
examine the role of Irish immigrants
in Buffalo’s historic hosting of the Pan
American Exposition in 1901, and will
be held on Friday, August 26 at 7pm,
Saturday, August 27 at 1pm, 3pm, 5pm,
and 7pm, and Sunday at 1pm, 3pm, and
5pm in the historic Georgian Room of
the Statler.
On Sunday, a bi-lingual Catholic
Mass will be held at (specific location)
at 10am. Festival admission is $10 for
adults and $8 for seniors and children
ages 4-12. Pre-sale tickets ($6) are available at Tara Gift Shoppe, Buffalo Brew
Pub, Darcy McGee’s, the Shannon Pub
and on ShopBuffalo.com. There will be
free admission on Friday between 5 –
5:30pm for the parade and on Sunday
10-11 for those attending the Mass.
Buffalo Irish Times
Gaelic-American Athletic Association
245 Abbott Road
Buffalo, NY 14220-1305
The Buffalo Irish Festival will be held
at the Statler Building in downtown Buffalo for its 30th year, bringing the annual
Irish Cultural Festival to a more central
location for the hundreds of expected
visitors. The festival will be held August
26 through August 28 and will be the
first public event to be held in the Statler
since its purchase and refurbishing by
local developer Mark Croce. www.syracuseirishfestival.com
For more information about the 2011
Buffalo Irish Festival, go to www.BuffaloIrish.com or call 716-743-9348. Entertainers include Derek Warfield &
the Young Wolfe Tones, the Wild Geese,
the Dave North Trio & the Dady Brothers
www.rochesteririshfestival.com
September 9-11
Entertainers include Gaelic Storm, the
Makem & Spain Brothers, Carbon Leaf
and Screaming Orphans
www.pghirishfest.org
South Buffalo Irish Feis &
Expo
September 10
Entertainers include the Prodigals, the
Town Pants, and Needfire
www.southbuffaloirishfestival.com
Irish 2000 Music & Arts
Festival
September 16 &18
Entertainers include Black 47, Carbon
Leaf, Leahy and the McKrells
www.irish2000fest.com
Erie Irish Festival
September 17
www.erieirishfestival.com
Niagara Celtic Festival
September 17 & 18
Entertainers include the Glengarry
Bhoys, Lochside Celtic, Stone Row and
the Penny Whiskey
www.niagaraceltic.com
BUFFALO
IRISH
TIMES
Buffalo Irish Times | 245 Abbott Road | Buffalo, NY 14220
EDITOR
Maggie Shea
A bi-monthly publication of the Gaelic
American Association, Inc.
FOUNDERS
Mary Heneghan
Michael McCafferty
Charlie McMahon
STAFF
Erin Collins, Bridget English, Jack Fecio, Josephine Hogan, Sue McCafferty, Carol McSwain,
Nellie Moran, Mary Kate O’Connell, Bonnie O’Hara, Ed Patton, Meme Riedy, Jerry Shea,
Donna Shine, James Shine, Sarah Velazquez, Lizz Schumer, Tim Flanagan, Michael Osborne,
Tom McDonnell, Scott Scheible, Patrick O’Herron, Padraic Walsh, Margaret McGrath
G.A.A.A. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mary C. Heneghan, Chairman
Brian O’Hara, V. Pres.
Carol McSwain, Sec.
Charles McSwain, Treas.
Bruce Rosenberry
Jack Hanley
John Lynch
Kathy Masterson
John Fecio
Shane Devlin
Catherine Carey
Randy McPhee
Tim Flanagan
The Buffalo Irish Times welcomes letters or articles from readers. Submissions must be typed in a Macintosh or PC compatible format, and
be no more than 500 words. Include your name, address and phone number with your submission. Material may be subject to condensation.
Opinion letters are welcomed, however all submissions must include the authors name and contact information. We reserve the right to reject
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email submissions to [email protected].
Opinions expressed in this paper reflect those of the authors and or subjects interviewed and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors and
staff of the Buffalo Irish Times or the Gaelic American Athletic Association, its Board or membership.
www.buffaloirishcenter.com | [email protected]
Celtic Woman to perform
with the BPO in A Christmas
Celebration - the Symphony Tour
For the first time ever, the Irish music
sensation Celtic Woman will be performing beloved Christmas songs in a unique
and more traditional symphonic setting,
and Buffalo’s own Buffalo Philharmonic
Orchestra is among the symphonies that
will be welcoming the women for a performance this December.
A Christmas Celebration - The
Symphony Tour will showcase the pure
angelic voices of Celtic Woman in a reverent yet dynamic live music experience
accompanied by the stirring instruments
of the BPO.
Since Celtic Woman’s March 2005
debut, this unique all-female ensemble
continues to have mainstream success
without the aid of traditional sales drivers
such as radio or video airplay. No other
group of this particular adult contemporary genre can claim over 6 million CDs/
DVDs sold worldwide, two Top 10 album
debuts on the Billboard Top 200, 3 Gold
and Platinum albums, 4 Top 5 releases on
the Billboard Top Video chart and over 1.5
million concert tickets sold.
Tickets are $65, $50 and $35, and are
available for purchase through the BPO
Box Office. Visit www.bpo.org or call
the Box Office at 716-885-5000 for more
information.
Town O’ Tonawanda
Irish American Club
2011 Officers
President: William McGee
1st Vice President: Gary Holzerland
2nd Vice President: Richard Bruning
Treasurer: Robert Varney
Secretary: Ruthie Crehan
Sargent - At - Arms: Rosmary Schoenwald
Meetings: the Fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.
at the Brounshidle Post on Delaware Avenue in Kenmore.
Celebrating 40 Years!
Annual Membership $15.00
single $25.00 family
Mary Kate O’Connell to Stage
The Rainbow’s End
at Buffalo Irish Festival
Theatre production focuses on the role of the Irish in
Buffalo’s Pan-Am Exposition
The Rainbow’s End, an original
theatrical production focused on the role
of Irish Immigrants in Buffalo’s PanAmerican Exposition in 1901, will have
an exclusive showing at the Buffalo Irish
Festival. The play is written and produced by Mary Kate O’Connell.
The Rainbow’s End will examine
the lives of laborers, rail workers, firemen, policemen and other Irish workers
who played a role in Buffalo’s Worlds’
Fair. The play is set in a neighborhood
pub where our Irish ancestors meet to
share tales of the Expo with songs, dance
and a pint or two!
This is the fourth year that Mary Kate
O’Connell and her production company
O’Connell & Company have produced
a play exclusively for the Buffalo Irish
Festival. Each production is a reflection
of the Irish in Buffalo at different historical periods, providing entertainment and
a cultural education of the contributions
of the Irish to Buffalo’s history.
The Buffalo Irish Festival works with
virtually event local Irish organization
to make it a success each year. This
year, the festival will include Irish bands
from all over the United States, Ireland
and Canada playing on three stages, and
nearly 30 vendors selling Irish goods and
crafts. As always, the festival will also
provide the best of Irish food and drink.
The annual Irish cultural festival will
be held downtown at the Buffalo Statler
Building, August 26-28 and will include
Irish music, dance, crafts, genealogy,
food and beverage, in addition to the theater production. The play will be staged
on Friday August 26 at 7pm, Saturday,
August 27 at 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, and 7pm,
and Sunday at 1pm, 3pm, and 5pm in the
Statler’s Georgian Room.
For more information and ticket
information about the 2011 Buffalo Irish
Festival, visit www.BuffaloIrish.com or
call 716-743-9348. The Town Pants,
Prodigals and
Needfire Headline
South Buffalo Feis
& Expo
Can You Dig It, Inc., partnered with
volunteers from Goin’ South will sponsor their eleventh annual Irish Feis at
the Peter J. Crotty (Cazenovia) Casino
on Saturday, September 10th beginning
at 12pm. The free event is held in conjunction with the Greater South Buffalo
Chamber of Commerce Shop in Your
Neighborhood Expo, which will take
place from 1pm until 5 pm.
The family-oriented event will
feature live entertainment throughout
the day including performances by local
and national talent. The Town Pants
with their Vancouver-brand of West
Coast Celtic and Needfire from Dallas,
Texas will be returning along with the
Prodigals from New York & Ireland.
Local talents Emish, Crikwater, SouthSide, Cosain (Billy LaRusch) and The
Blarney Bunch will also be performing.
Local schools of Irish dance participating throughout the day include Rince
Na Tiarna, O’Sullivan and Clann Na
Cara. Assorted children’s activities will
compliment the day’s events, including Madd Matt’s radio-controlled car
racing, a rock-climbing wall, face painting and caricatures. A Chinese auction,
food from a number of local restaurants
and refreshments will also be available.
The South Buffalo Rugby Football Club (SBRFC) will kick off their
14th season with a 2 pm match. There
will also be a Buffalo Fenians youth
exhibition, and the Finn McCool 4-Mile
Odyssey: a chance to discover the Irish
warrior in you. It is an obstacle-hur-
dling, mud-crawling, hill-sliding, wallclimbing, hazard-avoiding, flaming
hoop-jumping, zip-lining, hardest day
of your life-ever adventure that you will
never forget. The Finn McCool Odyssey will be held at 10am in conjunction
with the feis; you may register online at
eclipsemultisport.com.
Ray McGurn, Chairman of Goin’
South, says, “The South Buffalo Irish
Feis and Shop in Your Neighborhood
Expo is an opportunity to showcase the
best of South Buffalo including Cazenovia Park. The expo is representative of
more than 70 groups, schools, organizations and businesses. The Irish Feis
coupled with the Shop In Your Neighborhood Expo is designed to remind
people of all that is happening around
them, from community organizations to
sports leagues to businesses.”
Anyone else interested in helping to
sponsor this great event, please contact
Ray McGurn at 824-4461. We are still
in need of items for our Chinese auction.
Since we charge no admission fee,
we ask our guests to support our event
and not bring coolers but instead, please
purchase food and beverages from our
vendors at nominal prices. Due to insurance concerns, a “no dogs allowed”
policy will be enforced.
The entertainment schedule and
other feis information can be found on
our website at www.southbuffaloirishfestival.com.
Theatre Review: Drama
At Inish – A Comedy
Lennox Robinson
directed by Jackie Maxwell as part of the Shaw Festival
by
Performances run through October 1 at the Court House Theatre, located at 26
Queen St. in Niagara-On-The-Lake.
Review by Maggie Shea
One special trait that the many claim
as specifically Irish is the ability to
lighten even the dourest and tragic events
– the ability to tell a man to go to hell
so that he looks forward to making the
trip. The Shaw Festival’s production of
Drama at Inish – A Comedy takes this
claim in wide stride, and is a complete
delight. This story of a small, simple
village suddenly thrust into the throes of
human misery is handled with a light and
hilarious slant.
The Shaw Festival is committed to
producing plays by George Bernard and
his contemporaries, as well as plays set
during Shaw’s lifetime. Drama at Inish,
by little known Irish playwright Lennox
Robinson, was seen as a good fit for the
Festival’s 50th anniversary season, and
they were right—I attended a sold-out
Wednesday night performance, filled by a
very responsive and enthusiastic audience. Though he was relatively popular
during his lifetime and worked extensively with Dublin’s legendary Abbey
Theatre, Robinson’s plays are rarely
performed today; however this play did
enjoy a short run off-Broadway in 2009
under the name ‘Is Life Worth Living?’
The play is set in the comfortable sitting room of a hotel in the sedate seaside
resort town of Inish, where the summer
tourist season and a healthy trade in
gossip make up the bulk of the year’s
excitement. Rather than the lively traveling comic troupes that are the tourist
town’s usual summer entertainment, the
locals instead welcome a theater company made up of a pair of married actors
whose demeanor is as dramatic as the
plays they present. They stir emotions in
the villagers that they had either been ignorant of or happily suppressed until this
point, and soon thrills of heartbreak and
torment work their way into the minds
of the villagers, and out again in drastic
actions that shock the quaint people of
the town.
The characters’ new feelings of devastation and ennui are surprising to them,
but are cute and funny to the audience.
The quaintness and charm of the play
is never overwhelmed by the newfound
hurts within. The actors’ performances
are so constantly engaging and comical, even as they discover their life’s
mundane tragedies, that even their pain
is humorous. The faces of the actors,
particularly Mary Haney as Lizzie, the
spinster sister of the hotel’s owner, are as
telling as the script, and the two dramatic
mixers, played by Thom Marriott as
Hector de la Mare and Corrine Koslo as
Constance Constantia, are perfect caricatures of serious actors (Think Jon Lovitz
on SNL – they are ack-tors!).
vignettes that keep their story moving
while helping to change from scene to
scene.
Much of the play takes place during
a stretch of dreary, rainy weather, which
is easily believed thanks to the rich and
convincing the lighting design. It is easy
to distinguish the time of day and the
weather, which happens to often correspond with the mood of the collected
townspeople. The costuming at the Shaw Festival
never ceases to amaze; all of the details
were accurate and believable, from the
finger-curled wigs and starched traveling
clothes, to the rich fabrics of the actors’
vivid and theatrical ensembles. The costumes were all appropriate for the play’s
time and place, but more importantly, for
every characters’ role and personality.
Director Jackie Maxwell, who is
also the Shaw Festival’s Artistic Director, was born in Belfast and worked in
theatre there before bringing her talents
to Canada. She has directed several
other Irish plays in recent years, including Brian Friel’s Dancing at Lughnasa,
and Dublin Carol by Conor McPherson.
Though many of the actors’ brogues are
convincing, the cast is mainly Canadian,
as are most Shaw actors. For a play that at its core is about the
power of the theatre and the emotions it
can stir, Drama at Inish is a sweet, relentlessly charming and very funny night
at the theatre, and the Shaw Festival
ensemble serves the lovely material well.
Though the pace of the play is leisurely, it never drags, and every scene
was fully engaging. Some elements of
the play seemed unnecessary, particularly
toward the end, when the village is visited by a reporter whose interest had been
piqued by the sudden upturn in violent
and dramatic events in the sleepy town—
though even this and other detours from
the main narrative are very entertaining.
The intimate 327-seat Court House
Theatre has no bad seats, as the audience surrounds the action on three sides,
and the action is open and accessible to
all. The building’s history dates back to
the first half of the nineteenth century,
and while this adds to the charm, it also
means that it has very limited options for
handicap accessibility. There is ample
parking available in lots throughout the
neighborhood. Refreshments are available at intermission, and there are countless charming spots along Queen Street
to grab a pre-show bite or a glass of wine
from any of one the spectacular local
wineries.
The set changes are cleverly done by
the actors themselves—the play’s two
hired hands move furniture and props in
Photo by David Cooper
In Memory: Gene McCarthy
Eugene W. “Gene” McCarthy passed away on June 10, 2011. Gene owned and ran
McCarthy’s Bar and Social Club in Buffalo’s First Ward since 1963, until retiring in
2005. Gene was a South Buffalo institution in his own right—even after passing on
ownership of the pub, he presided over the barroom, with his wife Mary and a group
of devoted friends at his side. Gene will be enormously missed by his family and
friends, but will be remembered and honored by the thousands who raise a pint in McCarthy’s Pub.
Gene McCarthy. Photo by Marty Biniasz,
ForgottenBuffalo.com
In Memory: Fred Conway
Fred Conway, a pillar in the Buffalo Irish community, passed away on July 6,
2011. Fred came to Buffalo from Ballycroy County Mayo in 1949, and was a member
of Buffalo’s first Irish football team, and worked to expand the league throughout the
country.
Fred and his wife Kay, from Newport County Mayo, were married in 1953 and
have nine children and 25 grandchildren. Mr. Conway was very involved in the Gaelic American Athletic Association and held almost every office in the GAA. Fred was
part of the group that established the current Buffalo Irish Center. Fred was dedicated
to his connection with his home country, but also to spread his love or Gaelic sports in
America. He passed his devotions on to his family, his eight children and twenty-five
grandchildren.
Dead Man’s Lament
and Worry in the
Wake of his Reflection
IRELAND LAMPOONED US 22:
Athlone on the Shannon
By Donna M. Shine
For John Pierce McGrath
On my way up to heaven I take time to enjoy the ride.
For I do not know if in the celestial castle I shall be allowed inside.
Sure, my mind is pure and my heart is right.
But will I be allowed in with unfocused sight?
They say no one is allowed in who doesn’t see with both eyes the beauty of grace
that is kept within.
They say no one can find their way in without hearing the sounds of tranquility and
love
With this I know I have the most appropriate troubles to worry about as I am both
half-blind and half-deaf!
So I question the gatekeeper if such another person has come so near, as I already
feel the perfection of the highest air.
Of course there were the blind and of course there were the deaf
These are beloved beings who on the outside were not to be left.
Well I am neither the sean-fhear dall nor the sean-fhear bódhar.
I am the sean-fhear who sees more of the earth as towards heaven I move closer.
Half of my sight looks upon my children and their babes.
Half of my hearing listens to the heart beat of my love, whom I still praise.
The laughter of all their hearts, the pouring of all their love.
I still sense them so close as I soar straight above.
Indeed I’ve yearned to learn the truth of the Lord
But with these gifts bestowed upon me on Earth, I can thank him for nothing more.
I am to rest! Yes. I am to achieve the greatest point in my life that has been divinely
foreseen
Yet I do not want to give any offense to my Creator and my creations in taking my
leave of Earth.
I will be forthcoming on this voyage to the sky
That half of me smiles at beauty attained as at beauty lost my other half cries.
So here I lay, as it was there that I walked
Unable to put down in exact measure, the best between earthly and heavenly pleasure
As I have experienced the former in its extent, the latter must begin before any
more time is spent
Though I speak of woe at my departure, I embrace grace in my arrival.
To be half an angel in heaven as my wife has been to me on Earth.
How fitting. Upon our arrival in Athlone, Co. Westmeath, we briefly trailed
a truck with big lettering: SHINE. They
must have known we were coming! We
simply had to investigate that a little
further after James and I found our B&B
and could relax for a moment…or two…
or three!
Well, there it was: a three-story
building, white with black window trim,
quaintly nestled between two other
establishments, uphill at 8 High Street in
the ‘old’ section of Athlone, Co. Roscommon. And guess where our room was?
You guessed it, on the third floor! No
elevator. No baggage lift. Just an all-out
physical fitness exercise in lifting and
climbing to the purplest room I’d ever
seen! It had one wall a shade of lilac
with each of the other walls working up
to a dark purple, and James and purple
just don’t get along very well. But, on
the other hand, a room is a room, and I
actually thought it quite quaint with its
deep purple satin pillows and comforter
that matched the deep blue curtains. Ah,
but a place we could rest our bones was
priceless!
The first thing that I did was contact
Stephan McNeill, cousin to a dear friend
of ours, who we planned to meet up with
in the morning. Instead of taking a nap,
James and I decided to find something to
eat. A short walk around the block landed
us in a restaurant called Roff’s where we
thoroughly enjoyed sirloin steak with
some Bulgar’s cider. Oh my, was that delicious! Now that we were each a couple
pounds heavier than before dinner, we
decided to stroll the immediate area to
become oriented for the next couple of
days.
I noticed a phone booth near a garde
station where, hopefully, I could straighten things out with my credit card that
was rejected back at Smuggler’s Inn in
County Antrim. It still flustered me when
the thought entered my mind.
Everything was within walking
distance and our sneakers were ready
for some traveling. James made the wise
choice for us to stay within the old part
of the city, to try to experience what it
may have been like so many years ago.
There were many people bustling through
the streets. Young girls with brightly
colored hair brightened up the backdrop
of the dark and ominous stone walls of
Athlone Castle. A quick turn and we were
at the Shannon River looking across to
Athlone, Co. Westmeath. We had heard
our friend Laurence Shine speak reverently of the two sides of Athlone with the
Shannon running between them.
We continued our walk noting Shine’s
Hairdressing next door to Sean’s Bar,
the oldest pub in Ireland, according to
the Guinness Book of World Records. I
had wondered, where did those girls get
their hair done? A Heineken beer truck
was parked outside. We started noticing that Heineken seemed to be the beer
of preference of many establishments,
as Guinness is in the States. Yet, iconic
toucan was poised way above the door at
the third floor level, heralding his rightful
claim on the country for Ireland’s own
Guinness. I thought, that’s a “must do”
stop, maybe for the next night. I didn’t
believe James or I would last another
hour, let alone party at night in a loud
pub.
A slight rain began to fall as we continued to make our way back to Marie’s
Bed & Breakfast by 7:15pm, and it was
only 8:45pm when I heard the TV remote
slip from James’ hand. Men! I guess it’s a
control thing. I slyly grabbed the remote,
turned off the TV and called it a day.
Wow! Where did the night go? Up
at 7:15am. There was no choice…hot
shower or nothing! There was no way to
adjust the hot water in the shower and it
came on without mercy! Ouch! After a
brief recovery James and I delighted in
a full Irish breakfast before we set out
to meet Stephen at 10am in front of “the
church.” James had to move our rented
car to the less expensive all-day car park
that only cost 2.80 Euro.
With the car in a safe place for the
day, James and I set out to find “the
church.” On the way, we walked past the
Bank of Ulster with an ATM for our convenience. So, I tried my credit card for
the first time since being back in the Republic of Ireland. NOTHING again! This
was insane! I was furious! Why was my
credit card being rejected in the North
and now in the Republic of Ireland? This
was our fifth trip! I never had any problems like this before. What in the world
was going on? I felt violated and helpless so far from home…almost like those
stupid spam emails you get from friends
being stranded after someone stole their
wallet… “Please send money ASAP, I
can’t get home!”
Irish Classical Theatre Once Again Offering Irish Passport Series
The Irish Classical Theatre Company
celebrates its roots and encourages you to
do the same by offering its Irish Passport
again this year. The Irish Passport is a
special four-pack of tickets good for any
or all of the Irish plays that are part of
ICTC’s 2011-2012 season.
As an incentive to the Irish community to participate, the four-pack
of tickets is priced at just $100. The
purchaser receives up to $210 in value
for that price, and the package includes a
complimentary Friend’s Pass to introduce
a friend to ICTC.
ICTC’s 2011-2012 season boasts the
World Premiere of an exciting new Irish
play selected from the over 100 entries
in the Mr. & Mrs. Frank J. McGuire
International Playwriting Competition.
In addition, ICTC is bringing back, by
popular demand, its enormously successful production of a holiday favorite. The
plays included in ICTC’s Irish Passport
promotion include:
James Joyce’s The Dead, A Christmas
Play with Music
Book by Richard Nelson, Music by
Shaun Davey
in The Buffalo News as “captivating
… lyrical … flawless.” Based on James
Joyce’s “The Dubliners,” The Dead is
a memorable and touching musical in
which three generations gather in the
home of their beloved aunts in turn-ofthe century Dublin for a magical and
moving holiday celebration. This is a
limited engagement, so early booking is
recommended.
The Hostage
by Brendan Behan
January 12 – February 5, 2012
In a seedy Dublin house-of-ill-repute,
irrepressible characters sing, shout and
carouse; their “bawdville” antics a stark
contrast to the violence and brutality
taking place just outside the door. Inside,
a kidnapped enemy soldier is threatened
with death if British authorities carry
out the planned execution of 18 year old
member of the IRA. In this riotous pla
with music, the gaiety and exuberance
of the brothel patrons burst through the
growing hostilities; and, as the deadly
conflict rages, a tender, beautiful love
story unfolds between the young captive
and an innocent convent girl.
Tony Award Winning Musical!
Fish Out Of Water
December 1-18, 2011
by Gillian Grattan
Back by popular demand, ICTC remounts this season’s critically-acclaimed
production, described by Anne Neville
March 1 – March 25, 2012
World Premiere!
A first round winner in ICTC’s
McGuire International Playwriting
Competition, Fish Out Of Water is a sidesplitting comedy set in a rural Irish village. Attractive, young Lydia moves into
her late grandmother’s house next door
to Tom, a man with a hilarious secret,
and Mary, his uncouth and nosy wife.
As details of their lives are revealed,
tensions between Lydia and Mary begin
to rise. An undercurrent of dread grows
as Lydia taunts Mary by feigning interest
in Tom, and when Lydia’s four year old
son, Wolf, arrives, you’ll be on the edge
of your seat. A wild and enormously
entertaining ride!
Da
by Hugh Leonard
May 31 – June 24
Tony Award Winner!
Opening on Broadway in 1978,
Leonard’s beguiling and popular drama
became the first Irish play ever to win a
Tony Award. Da tells the story of Charlie, a successful writer, who returns to
Dublin to attend his adoptive father’s funeral. As Charlie is sorting through Da’s
belongings, memories are provoked by
his father’s ghost, forcing Charlie to confront his past and to finally realize that
coming to terms with family, death and
ourselves is an enduring struggle. This
warm, vivid and funny drama will stir the
hearts of all with its universal humanity
as it looks into the beautiful complexities
of family relationships.
Reflecting on ICTC’s upcoming
season, ICTC Artistic Director Vincent
O’Neill commented, “We are pleased to
honor ICTC’s deep Irish roots by presenting these extraordinary works by Irish
playwrights to the audiences of Western
New York and Southern Ontario, and we
are happy to offer the Irish Passport once
again this season. It is designed to be an
incentive for those of Irish heritage to explore all four of these diverse and beautifully crafted works of Irish literature
and perhaps inspire them to include their
families, especially young people, in the
enriching experience of live theatre.” He
concluded, “The Irish Passport is our
way of thanking the Irish community for
their loyal and long-standing support of
the Irish Classical Theatre Company.”
The Irish Passport may be purchased
in person at the ICTC Box Office, 625
Main Street, Buffalo or by calling the
ICTC Box Office at 716.853.ICTC
(4282).
The Dark Corner of the Bar
Recommendations & Reviews from the World of Irish Crime Fiction
By Scott Scheible
Crime really does pay -- at least when
it comes to publishing fiction. According
to Bowker, a leading publishing industry
analyst, mysteries and thrillers accounted
for nearly 30% of all U.S. fiction sales
last year and the mystery genre consistently ranks among the most profitable
in the entire industry. Helping drive this
surge in sales has been American readers’ burgeoning interest in international
crime fiction. The massive popularity of
Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy is a
prime example. The three books penned
by the late Swedish author have not only
breathed new life into the thriller genre,
they’ve also helped introduce Scandinavian crime fiction to the literary masses.
Combined, the three novels have sold
over 50 million copies worldwide -- including over 17 million in the U.S.
While its recent literary contributions
cannot be ignored, Scandinavia isn’t the
only part of Western Europe making a
name for itself in the U.S. fiction market.
A talented group of crime writers hailing from Ireland and Northern Ireland
have achieved both critical and commercial success in the U.S. over the past
few years. Novels by the likes of Tana
French, Adrian McKinty, and Stuart Neville have appeared on U.S. bestseller lists
and also garnered acclaim from some of
the biggest names in American crime fiction. My interest in crime writing borders
on obsession and I regularly recommend
the work of emerging novelists to other
readers. In an effort to reach a broader
audience, I’ll be contributing a series
of reviews to the Buffalo Irish Times
that will highlight the work of some of
today’s hottest Irish crime novelists. So,
without further ado, I welcome you to the
dark corner of the bar.
Stuart Neville hails from Armagh,
Northern Ireland and his debut novel,
The Ghosts of Belfast, was published in
2009 by New York City’s Soho Press.
Praised by critics and novelists alike, it
was awarded the prestigious Los Angeles Times Book Prize and also named a
New York Times Notable Book of 2009.
Perhaps more important, it was showered
with praise by crime fiction heavyweights
such as Ken Bruen (The Guards), John
Connolly (Every Dead Thing), and the
iconic James Ellroy (L.A. Confidential).
With that kind of hype, I was expecting nothing less than a compelling read.
To say that this book far exceeded my
expectations would be a colossal understatement. It ranks among the best crime
novels I’ve ever read. To put it plainly,
The Ghosts of Belfast is bloody brilliant.
Set in present-day Belfast, the novel’s
protagonist is Gerry Fegan, ex-hitman
for the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and
former inmate of Northern Ireland’s infamous Maze prison. Although no longer
imprisoned, Fegan is far from a free man.
A slave to the bottle as well as his own
thoughts, he’s perpetually haunted by
the ghosts of his twelve victims. Among
these twelve ghosts are a young mother
and her infant, a schoolboy, a butcher,
and several members of anti-IRA paramilitary groups. Fegan’s only chance to
permanently rid himself of the ghosts is
to slay the men who originally ordered
their killings. What follows is a grim
yet deeply affecting story of personal
redemption that also manages to weave
in the dark and complex political history
of Northern Ireland.
For me, the real brilliance of Neville’s
debut novel lies not in the prose or plotting (both of which happen to be outstanding), but in the inner workings and
moral ambiguity of the characters. Fegan
is vicious and unrelenting throughout his
selfish quest for inner peace. Yet amid
all the violence and bloodshed, Neville
still allows the character to experience
genuine doses of empathy and affection.
The primary antagonists also avoid being
predictable and one-dimensional. All
through the novel, Neville adds just the
right amount of historical context. Make
no mistake, the history of the Northern
Ireland is definitely a major plot element,
but one need not be a scholar on the subject to grasp its significance to the story.
I’m neither a professional book critic
nor a seasoned crime novelist, so the nuts
and bolts of book reviewing are somewhat unknown to me. I am, however,
an avid reader of crime novels and like
to think I can spot a real gem when I see
one. This, my friends, is a true gem of a
novel. Be warned, though. The Ghosts
of Belfast isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s
dreadfully bleak and uncompromisingly
violent. Beyond the violence, though, is
a riveting story of revenge, redemption,
and atonement for one’s sins. I highly
recommend it.
Restaurant Review: The Blackthorn Restaurant & Pub
By Patrick O’Herron
The Blackthorn Restaurant & Pub is
one of Buffalo’s best kept secrets, best
known to the South Buffalo locals who
are as familiar there as the wallpaper and
the furniture. What the restaurant lacks
in Elmwood Village trend it more than
makes up for in neighborhood comfort and mouthwatering menu options.
Knowing that this would be the Irish Festival issue of the Buffalo Irish Times, it
seemed fitting to feature one of the iconic
Irish restaurants in Buffalo, so I called
up a friend to meet me out at this Seneca
Street stronghold.
Upon entering the pub, you are immediately greeted by a sign above the bar
reading “Póg Mo Thóin,” which we all
know is Gaelic for, “I like you. You look
like an upstanding gentleman/woman and
I want to be your friend.” (That is what
it means, right?) The dark wooden bar is
well-stocked with all the necessary Irish
potables –Jameson, Bailey’s, Carolans,
Paddy’s and Tullamore Dew, just to name
a few. The draughts do not disappoint
either with Aviator Red, Harp, Bass and
others readily available. We decided
that a pre-dinner drink was in order – an
Aviator Red for myself and Smithwick’s
for my friend. Both were crisp, cool and
refreshing, and the conversation with
Danny, the bartender, was friendly and
familiar.
A mere glimpse at the tchotchkes
hanging from the dark burgundy and
green wallpapered walls of the Blackthorn will tell you just how steeped
in nostalgia this place is. One item of
particular interest which caught my eye
was a polo shirt in a display case which
hangs just inside the main entrance at the
front of the bar. My friend happened to
know the story behind it. The Blackthorn
opened in the late 1970s as Early Times,
then was sold to Kevin Lalley in 1994.
Lalley became a favorite barman of the
locals who frequented the pub, but sadly
passed away in 2002. His polo shirt is
kept on display in homage. The pub now
belongs to family members Patrick Lalley and Hugger Adymy who operate with
Kevin’s same enthusiasm for friendly,
casual dining and neighborhood comfort,
and this certainly holds true. It doesn’t
matter if you are from downtown, the
northtowns, L.A., or Mars – once you
enter the Blackthorn, you immediately
feel welcomed as part of the South Buffalo community.
Once my friend and I decided to take
a table in the main dining room, we had
no trouble transferring our check over
from the bar. Our very kind and courteous waitress informed us of the evening
specials – among which was a very
enticing Prime Rib Whileit all sounded
delicious, we decided to have a look at
the full menu.
The Blackthorn menu is full of as
many surprises as it is pub food and
Emerald Isle staples. I was informed by
my friend that I absolutely had to try the
Irish Beer Cheddar Soup, and boy was I
glad I did! If 24-karat gold had a flavor,
this very well might be it. This Blackthorn original is filled with rich, tangy
cheddar cheese, loads of potatoes and
just the right hint of fine Irish Beer. My
only complaint is that they don’t let you
order it by the gallon! (A warning: According to Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins
and Dives on which it was featured, the
Irish Beer Cheddar Soup is NOT vegetarian. It is made with a chicken stock base.
Sorry veg-heads!)
My friend and I were both craving
something hands-on, so we both chose
sandwiches for our main entrée. I went
for the Buffalo signature Beef on Weck
while she had the Blackthorn specialty
“The Pub,” also known as “Kev’s Favorite” (a nod to the aforementioned Mr.
Lalley). Both were exquisitely prepared.
The Beef on Weck is made with carefully
roasted certified Angus top round, sliced
thin and piled high, served on a fresh
kimmelwick roll with horseradish on the
side. I am always a fan of the melding
of the rock salt, caraway seed, horseradish and roast beef flavors in the Beef on
Weck, and I must say that I have yet to
taste a better one than this in the city of
Buffalo. Bravo, Blackthorn! It may only
pale in comparison to my friend’s Pub
sandwich, which was made with tender
corned beef, roast turkey, sautéed red
onion, and melted cheddar, served on
buttery rye toast with Blackthorn’s own
special pub sauce on the side. The crispy
golden toast, perfectly cooked meats and
just the right amount of cheese blended
to create an absolute tempest of flavors in
the mouth. Both sandwiches were served
with a pickle and Blackthorn’s homemade Jalapeño Cheddar Tater Tots on
the side – golf ball-sized fried nuggets of
potato hash browns filled with the perfect
amount of cheddar and jalapeño; packed
with flavor, but not too spicy, and perfect
when dipped in ranch dressing. An unexpected but certainly not unwelcomed side
dish treat!
For a mere $1.50 extra, I was able
to add on one of Blackthorn’s Stuffed
Banana Peppers with fresh herbs and
four cheese breading. My friend, who
had experienced one of these little gems
before, reveled as I took my first bite.
I believe that I must have turned into a
Looney Tunes cartoon, my eyes turning
to X’s and smoke coming out of my ears!
WARNING: These puppies are HOT and
man, do they pack a wallop! Not for the
faint of heart. But that certainly does not
deter from how absolutely delicious they
are. Had I better prepared myself by lining my insides in Teflon, I’m quite sure
I could have indulged in a baker’s dozen
of these bad boys, but on this particular
evening, one was more than enough!
I am told that the Blackthorn is wellknown for their famous Friday night fish
fry – fresh haddock filet, your choice of
beer battered, breaded, or broiled (though
I am told beer battered is the way to
go). It is so popular, in fact, that you can
expect quite a wait for a table during the
Lenten season. This gives me a reason to
return… as if those tots weren’t enough!
The Blackthorn Restaurant & Pub is
located at 2134 Seneca Street in South
Buffalo. The bar is open 11:30am-4am
every day, and the kitchen is open Sunday-Thursday 11:30am-10pm, Friday and
Saturday 11:30am-11:00pm. A second
floor is available for banquet and event
space. Call 716-825-9327 or visit their
website at www.blackthornrestaurant.
com for more info.
Congratulations to all competitors at the
2011 Irish Dance National Championships
Mary Katherine Kulp , 2nd place,
and Gannon Connors - 4th place,
both Clann na Cara
Danielle Batz from Clann na Cara,
competed U10
Gannon Connors , Clann na Cara, 4th place, with instructors
Madison Siwirski,
competed U17
Kevinah Dargan, 1st place
Emily Marino, winner of
Girls U10
and
Kevinah Dargan, winner girls U17
RnT’s Joey Marino and his Mom celebrating his 3rd place win at the Nationals
TI CKE TS ON SALE N O W !
The pure angelic voices of Celtic Woman with
your Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra!
M A K E S
A G R E AT
CHRISTMAS
PRESENT
December 14, 8 PM K LEINHANS M USIC H ALL
CALL ( 716 ) 885-5000 | bpo.org
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Page 7
11th Annual Niagara Celtic Heritage Festival &
Highland Games adds New Entertainment
The Niagara Celtic Heritage Festival & Highland
Games is not too far away, and we’re very excited
to see everyone back in Olcott! We truly thank the
local Celtic community for all your continued support
in bringing this magnificent event to life. This year
we’re expecting to draw over 10,000 people to the
Northern WNY region, and our volunteers can’t wait
to share our plans. The 11th Annual Niagara Celtic
Heritage Festival & Highland Games to be held September 17 & 18, 2011 in Krull Park, Olcott Beach.
Here is the latest news:
Enter to win a Family Pass (4) to the Festival!
Join our online mailing list (it’s free!) between
now and the end of August and be entered to win!
Members of our mailing list receive news and updates
all year long about local Celtic events happening in
and around WNY. Visit NiagaraCeltic.com to sign up.
New! Celtic College
For the first time, Niagara Celtic will be hosting
an impressive series of interactive workshops, giving
guests even more chances to explore their heritage.
Examples include learning to jig, poetry, genealogy
research, instrumental creation and more. Official
details will be announced in late summer.
2011 Concert Line Up
A wonderful variety of dancers, performers and
bands will grace the festival’s three concert venues.
For the first time ever we are welcoming Glengarry
Bhoys to Niagara Celtic! Just as exciting are the multiple chances to see The Town Pants, who are coming
both days! Other bands are Penny Whiskey, Lochside
Celtic, Roger Drawdy and the Firestarters, Stone
Row, Rush the Growler, Merry Mischief, Cairde and
more. Dance groups include McMahon School of
Irish Dance, Schiehallion Scottish Dancers, Rochez
Academy of Irish Dance and Clann Na Cara. Bagpipe Bands attending are Gates Keystone Club Police
Pipes & Drums, Celtic Spirit Pipe Band, MacKenzie
Highlanders’ Pipes and Drums, the 96th Highlanders Pipes & Drums and “D” Company Buffalo City
Guard Gordon Highlanders’ Pipe Band.
Become a Volunteer
We are in need of volunteers to help keep everything running smooth. Shifts are 4-hour blocks,
and you will receive free entrance into the festival.
Volunteers are needed Thursday through Monday, so
please contact [email protected] or call
716-778-5730.
Sponsorship/ Advertising
To advertise in our festival guidebook (free to
every guest) or to help sponsor the festival, visit our
website or contact us. For those with Celtic events
you’d like listed in our online newsletter or WNY
Events web page, email [email protected].
Town O’ Tonawanda Irish-American Club
Celebrates 40th Year
Back in 1971 a small group of devoted men and
women raised a banner for the first time at Niagara
Square that read: Town O’Tonawanda Irish-American
Club, and proceeded to march in the group’s first St.
Patrick’s Day parade. Since then the club has grown to
nearly 200 active members and is one of the Buffalo
area’s largest Irish organizations.
activities we hold,” club president Bill McGee said. It’s
important that they learn about their heritage, and have a
good family-oriented setting.”
The Town O’Tonawanda Irish Club will hold a 40th
anniversary celebration on September 10 at Classics V,
2425 Niagara Falls Blvd. from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Cost is
$30 for members, $45 for non-members. The evening
includes dinner, music, dancing, a five-hour open bar,
and memories. Reservations can be made by calling Bill
McGee at 874-0856. Reservations are limited.
The club is actively involved in the community,
participating in the Buffalo Irish Festival in August, the
Buffalo Bisons Irish Night at Coca-Cola Field, and holding special fundraisers, including the Belfast Summer
Relief Program, which has helped bring hundreds of
boys and girls to Western New York from politicallytense Northern Ireland since 1975.
The Town O’Tonawanda Irish-American Club has
provided a strong social and cultural network among
the Irish community in the Tonawandas. Its mission is
to preserve and strengthen Irish traditions, especially
among young people.
“We want to make sure the children are a part of the
McGee said the club holds various events throughout
the year including a Christmas party, a summer family
picnic, and of course the annual St. Patrick’s Day party
held at the Bronschidle Post on Delaware Avenue.
The group proudly claims to be the area’s only Irish
organization to have a Color Guard, formed in 1976, that
participates in civic ceremonies and festivals.
Their home is located in the Milton J. Bronschidle
Post, 3354 Delaware Avenue in Tonawanda.
The Irish Cultural & Folk Art Association
New Members Always Welcome
All interested in Things Irish are Welcome
Buffalo irish Center
245 Abbott Rd - South Buffalo
For Details call Charlie McSwain
677-4497
Page 8
Explore Ireland four times this
year for just $100 round trip.
Your IRISH PASSPORT, a special 4-pack
of tickets to the Irish Classical Theatre
Company, will transport you to the very
heart of the Emerald Isle. Use them all for
one show or see all four. It’s up to you!
Mar.1-Mar. 25, 2012
WORLD PREMIERE
BUFFALO IRISH
CENTER
245 Abbott Road, Buffalo, N.Y. 14220
Hall Rentals Available
• Air-Conditioned
DEC. 1-18, 2011
• With Catering Optional
TONY AWARD WINNING
• Claddagh Room—150 People Seated
MUSICAL
DANIEL
MCCAFFREY
• Emerald Ballroom—270 People Seated
Jan. 12-Feb. 5, 2012
ENTERTAINING,
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1600 Rand Building
14 Lafeyette Square
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(716) 847-2523
FAX: (716) 847-2589
825-6700
June 7-July 1, 2012
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23 Irving Terrace
Buffalo, NY 14223
Cell • 716-444-1547
Home • 716-879-6878
FAX • 716-871-1056
Contact, Paul Mance
pmance123@verizon.
net
Visiting
Ireland
Specializing in Ireland since 1973
Ladies
Ancient Order of
Made
Easy
Hibernians
Escorted Tours • Self Drive Tours • B&B
Packages • Golf Packages
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New: Claunreasc Cottage • Rent Meetings
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bdrm., 3 bath home!
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Visit our special website: www. CLAUNREASC.com
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7:30.
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Low Cost airfare departing from Toronto May Through October
BUFFALO IRISH CENTER
Visit us at www.MPBTRAVEL.com
for the
latest
travel specials
245 Abbott
Road,
Buffalo
Contact
Call (716) 826-1009 or
1-800-234-0672
CAROL L. MCSWAIN
861-1045
For Information
Mary Shea Mahiques
Premier Agent
Licensed Sales Associate
Century 21 Gold Standard
164 Quaker Road
East Aurora, NY 14052
Business: (716) 652-0232
Fax: (716) 652-8961
Cell: (716) 997-1150
[email protected]
Free Market Evaluation
Traditional Irish
Dance Classes
Proud of Being
IRISH
and
CATHOLIC?
Join The
Ancient Order of
Hibernians
Mary kay Heneghan, A.D.C.R.G.
Buffalo | Erie | Williamsville
Call
Chris
Paul LWeitz
yons
East Aurora | Kenmore | Boston/Hamburg
655-8051
824-8102
Located In The Buffalo Irish Center
Mosey
Persico
LLP
Town
O’ Tonawanda
825-6700
675-8785
email:[email protected]
www.rincenatiarna.com
Shannon
Heneghan Club
Irish American
625 D
OFFICERS
William McGee
elaware
James Horrigan
Gary Holzerland
flo
Patricia Lynch
Robert Varney
Sheila Shea
Rosemary Shoenwald
Marie Smith
B
Ave.
. NY 14202
716-882-4890
President
Vice President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Membership
Sgt.-at-Arms
Ways & Means
New Members Always Welcome
Annual Our
Lady of
Knock Mass
Sat. August 20
7PM
Meetings: the Fourth Wednesday of the Month at
7:30 p.m. at the Brounshidle Post
on Delaware Avenue in Kenmore
wednesday of every month
Buffalo Irish Center
GAAA Irish Library
Summer Hours
The GAAA Irish Library will be open by appointment only. Normal
library hours will resume for the 1st & 2nd Saturdays of the month of each
month from October through June, from 10am– 2pm and the 3rd Tuesday of
the month, from 6pm to 9pm. The library is located inside the Buffalo Irish
Center at 245 Abbott Rd, Buffalo, NY 14220.
For assistance with your Irish genealogical research or simply to read
about Irish history, come visit our resourceful Irish library. Volunteers from
BIGS (Buffalo Irish Genealogical Society) staff and maintain the library for
your enjoyment. For individual appointments please call: Mary C. Murphy
(716) 834-4965 or Donna M. Shine (716) 662-1164 or email Diane Blaser at
[email protected].
Page 10
Page 11
Calendar of Events
To submit events to the calendar please email [email protected]
Day
Tuesday
Date
16-Aug
Time
7:30pm
Organization
Innisfree Dancers
Event
Ceili
Wednesday 17-Aug
6pm
Irish Language Class
Thursday
Thursday
18-Aug
18-Aug
1pm
7:30pm
Erie County Fair
The LeftOvers
Bingo
Friday
19-Aug
7:30pm
Buffalo Fenians Gaelic Football
Fenians Pub Quiz
Saturday
20-Aug
12pm
The Irishman Pub & Eatery
Seisiun
Saturday
Saturday
20-Aug
20-Aug
4pm
7pm
Nietzsche’s
Saturday
20-Aug
Tuesday
23-Aug
7:30pm
Innisfree Dancers
Seisiun
Our Lady of Knock
Mass
The Amherst Scottish
Festival
Ceili
Wednesday 24-Aug
6pm
Thursday
25-Aug
7:30pm
Bingo
Friday
Saturday
26-Aug
27-Aug
5pm
12pm
BuffaloIrish.com
Seisiun
Saturday
Saturday
27-Aug
27-Aug
10am
6pm
BuffaloIrish.com
Buffalo Place
Sunday
Tuesday
28-Aug
30-Aug
12pm
7:30pm
BuffaloIrish.com
Innisfree Dancers
Great Big Sea in Concert
Ceili
Wednesday 31-Aug
6pm
Thursday
1-Sep
7:30pm
Bingo
Saturday
3-Sep
12pm
Seisiun
Saturday
Sunday
3-Sep
4-Sep
4pm
7pm
Nietzsche’s
Lewiston Village Pub
Seisiun
Stone Row
Tuesday
6-Sep
7:30pm
Innisfree Dancers
Ceili
Wednesday 7-Sep
6pm
Thursday
8-Sep
7:30pm
Bingo
Friday
Friday
9-Sep
9-Sep
3pm
4pm
Pittsburgh Irish Festival, Inc.
Saturday
10-Sep
12pm
Seisiun
Saturday
10-Sep
4pm
Dundee Scottish Festival
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
10-Sep
10-Sep
10-Sep
4pm
12pm
5pm
Nietzsche’s
Syracuse Irish Festival
Saturday
10-Sep
11am
Dundee Scottish Festival featuring Penny
Whiskey
Seisiun
Guinness Syracuse Irish
Festival
Saturday
10-Sep
11am
Goin’ South
Sunday
11-Sep
4pm
East End Grill & Tap Room
The Amherst Museum
Location
Buffalo Irish Center, 245 Abbott Road, Buffalo
Erie County Fairgrounds, Hamburg, NY
The Irishman Pub & Eatery, 5601 Main
Street, Williamsville
Nietzsche’s, Allen St. Buffalo
Amherst Museum, 3755 Tonawanda Creek
Road, Amherst
Statler Towers, Niagara Square, Buffalo
Erie Canal Harbor Central Wharf
Lewiston Village Pub, 840 Center St, Lewiston, NY
Camp Eastman, Irondequoit, N.Y.
1000 Sandcastle Drive West Homestead,
Pittsburgh, PA
Black Rock Speedway, Dundee, NY
Camp Eastman, Irondequoit, N.Y.
Clinton Square, Syracuse, NY
1000 Sandcastle Drive West Homestead,
Pittsburgh, PA
South Buffalo Irish Feis Cazenovia Park, South Buffalo
& Expo
The LeftOvers
The East End Grill and Tap Room, Main
Street, East Aurora
Sunday
11-Sep
11am
Syracuse Irish Festival
Sunday
Sunday
11-Sep
11-Sep
12pm
10am
Tuesday
13-Sep
7:30pm
Innisfree Dancers
Wednesday 14-Sep
6pm
Thursday
15-Sep
7:30pm
Friday
16-Sep
5pm
Saturday
17-Sep
11am
The Irish Music and Arts Festival
Inc.
Saturday
17-Sep
12pm
Saturday
Saturday
17-Sep
17-Sep
4pm
11am
Saturday
17-Sep
11:30am
Nietzsche’s
The Irish Music and Arts Festival
Inc.
Erie Irish Festival
Saturday
17-Sep
10am
Niagara Celtic Heritage Society
Sunday
18-Sep
10am
Niagara Celtic Heritage Society
Tuesday
20-Sep
7:30pm
Innisfree Dancers
Wednesday 21-Sep
6pm
Thursday
22-Sep
7:30pm
Friday
23-Sep
9pm
Saturday
24-Sep
12pm
Saturday
Saturday
Tuesday
24-Sep
27-Sep
27-Sep
4pm
4pm
7:30pm
Nietzsche’s
Nietzsche’s
Innisfree Dancers
Wednesday 28-Sep
6pm
Thursday
29-Sep
7:30pm
Friday
30-Sep
9pm
Saturday
1-Oct
12pm
Saturday
Sunday
Tuesday
1-Oct
2-Oct
4-Oct
4pm
3pm
7:30pm
Nietzsche’s
Salamanca Falling Leaves Festival
Innisfree Dancers
Wednesday 5-Oct
6pm
Thursday
6-Oct
7:30pm
Saturday
7-Oct
8:30pm
Shannon Pub
Saturday
8-Oct
12pm
Sunday
8-Oct
4pm
East End Grill & Tap Room
Saturday
Sunday
8-Oct
8-Oct
4pm
8:30pm
Nietzsche’s
Shannon Pub
Saturday
10-Oct
8:30pm
Shannon Pub
Tuesday
11-Oct
7:30pm
Innisfree Dancers
6pm
Wednesday 12-Oct
Guinness Syracuse Irish Clinton Square, Syracuse, NY
Festival
Rochester Irish Festival Camp Eastman, Irondequoit, N.Y.
Pittsburgh Irish Festival 1000 Sandcastle Drive West Homestead,
Pittsburgh, PA
Ceili
Bingo
Irish 2000 Music & Arts Saratoga County Fairgrounds, Ballston Spa,
Festival
New York.
Halfway to St. Patrick’s The Irishman Pub & Eatery, 5601 Main
Day Party
Seisiun
Seisiun
Irish 2000 Music & Arts Saratoga County Fairgrounds, Ballston Spa,
Festival
New York.
Erie Irish Festival
Rainbow Gardens at Waldameer Park, Erie,
PA
Niagara Celtic Heritage Olcott Beach, Olcott, NY
Festival & Highland vv
Niagara Celtic Heritage Olcott Beach, Olcott, NY
Festival & Highland
Games
Ceili
Bingo
Crikwater
Seisiun
Seisiun
Seisiun
Ceili
Bingo
Penny Whiskey
Seisiun
Seisiun
The LeftOvers
Salamanca, NY
Ceili
Bingo
Kevin & Samantha Ken- Shannon Pub, 2250 Niagara Falls Boulevard,
nedy
Tonawanda
Seisiun
The LeftOvers
The East End Grill and Tap Room, Main
Street, East Aurora
Seisiun
Seamus Kennedy
Shannon Pub, 2250 Niagara Falls Boulevard,
Tonawanda
Stone Row
Tonawanda
Ceili
Thursday
13-Oct
7:30pm
Bingo
Saturday
15-Oct
12pm
Seisiun
Saturday
Saturday
15-Oct
15-Oct
4pm
8:30pm
Nietzsche’s
Shannon Pub
Seisiun
Bill Craig
Saturday
15-Oct
8:30pm
The Irish Harp Pub
Saturday
Sunday
15-Oct
16-Oct
9pm
8:30pm
Shannon Pub
Ceol Cara - Traditional
Irish Music
Penny Whiskey
Bill Craig
Saturday
17-Oct
6:30pm
Stone Row
Tuesday
18-Oct
7:30pm
Innisfree Dancers
Ceili
Wednesday 19-Oct
6pm
Thursday
20-Oct
7:30pm
Bingo
Friday
21-Oct
7:30pm
Buffalo Fenians Gaelic Football
Fenians Pub Quiz
Saturday
22-Oct
12pm
Seisiun
Saturday
Saturday
22-Oct
22-Oct
4pm
9pm
Nietzsche’s
Seisiun
Crikwater
Tuesday
25-Oct
7:30pm
Innisfree Dancers
Ceili
Wednesday 26-Oct
6pm
Thursday
27-Oct
7:30pm
Bingo
Thursday
27-Oct
8:30pm
Shannon Pub
Brendan Nolan
Friday
28-Oct
8:30pm
Shannon Pub
Brendan Nolan
Saturday
29-Oct
12pm
Seisiun
Saturday
Saturday
29-Oct
29-Oct
4pm
8:30pm
Nietzsche’s
Shannon Pub
Seisiun
Brendan Nolan
Saturday
31-Oct
12pm
Seisiun
Page 14
Tonawanda
The Irish Harp Pub, 245 King St., NiagaraOn-The-Lake
Buffalo Irish Center Buffalo, NY 9 pm
Tonawanda
Tonawanda
Tonawanda
Tonawanda
Holy Cross Cemetery, Lackawanna, NY: Index of Ireland-born Burials “H-K”
Volunteers of the Buffalo Irish Genealogical Society have been working on indexing the microfilms from Holy Cross Cemetery in Lackawanna, NY. Several years have
been completed and will be listed in the BUFFALO IRISH TIMES starting with the oldest year that we have film for, 1872. Only the burials with a place of birth listed
as “IRELAND” will be printed. The possibility exists that if your ancestor is not listed, it may be due to the fact that within the day books from the cemetery, no place of
birth was listed. Transcriptions were made as entries stated. For further information on Holy Cross burials, call (716) 823-1197 or view films at the GAAA Irish Library
(see library ad).
Daughters of Erin
adies Auxiliary of the
Knights of Equity
rd Wednesday of the month at 8:00 p.m.
d contact St.
Bonnie
O’Hara
Pat’s
Irish 675-1601
American
Club
A Family Club
Meetings—1st Friday of the month at 8 p.m.
For More Information
f
825-9535
f
Scoil Cultúr na
hÉireann
(School of Irish Culture)
Wednesdays 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.
beginner——intermediate—advanced
The Buffalo Irish Center Library
Irish Famine Memorial
Adding Additional Stones
The Western New York Irish Famine Commemoration
Committee is accepting donations for additional stones
to be added to the Memorial Field which surrounds the
Irish Famine Memorial. Your donation of $200 will make
it possible to inscribe the names of ancestors, friends or
benefactors on a 12 x 8 x 4 inch, 40 pound granite stone to
be installed in the Memorial Field. For further information
call Donna M. Shine (716-662-1164) or Kathleen DeLaney
(716-632-0246).
Order forms are available online at http://www.irishfaminememorial.com/orderform.htm
To create a permanent Memorial Stone inscribed with
the names of ancestors, friends or benefactors please complete the application form and return it with your check
or money order for $200 per stone to: WNY Irish Famine
Commemoration Committee, c/o Kevin Townsell, Treasurer, 54 Heathwood Rd, Williamsville, NY 14226.
Call Margaret McGrath (716) 674-8569
Page 15
Buffalo Fenians Youth Team Competes in Boston
The Buffalo Fenians Youth Team competed in the
2011 Continental Youth Championships Tournament
was held in Boston, MA over the first weekend in August. The event featured over 100 teams, with both male
and female players from the US, Canada, England and
Ireland ranging in age from 8 through 18 competing in
Gaelic football, hurling and camogie over four days.
The Fenians played hard, and though they did not
win, they made their families and supporters back home
enormously proud. Fiona Dargan was noticed in the first
game by county coaches – Fiona is Buffalo’s first ever
county player. Quite an achievement for a kid who just
picked up the game 5 weeks ago!
Some of the younger Fenians, including Reilly Shea,
Danny Finn and Jack Shea, played with the Toronto
Chieftains, who had some well-won success in a scrimmage game.
Photos by Kelly Shea and Paul Mulcaire
Kissed by Angels
by
Donna M Shine
Now four months old, you’re growing strong,
So frail you seemed at birth;
Another of God’s angels,
Has come to us on Earth.
Blue crystal eyes are shaded,
When you dream, the angels pray;
Once dark brown hair, as soft as silk,
Gets lighter, day by day.
Your smile reacts with open mouth,
As I nibble at your nose;
And your face is “kissed by angels”
When each cheek, a dimple shows.
A truer tale, there none can be,
An angel’s gift I hold;
I’ll cherish all the time we have,
As your life starts to unfold.
To: Samantha Lynn
Love, Grandma Shine
An Irish Patriot Unearthed
New documentary explores the life of forgotten Republican soldier
A new Gaelic language documentary
(with English subtitles), entitled From
War to Peace: The Life of George Lennon for TG4 Ireland explores the extraordinary life of George Lennon.
George Lennon’s son Ivan Lennon,
from Rochester, NewYork, growing up in
knew his father George as a pacifist and
protestor of the Vietnam War. He had adopted Zen Buddhism in 1967 and became
one of the founders of the Rochester Zen
Center. In 1991 he died and was cremated, without ceremony, in accordance with
his wishes.
Little did Ivan know what he would
unearth when he delved into his father’s
earlier life. After many years and numerous research trips back to the country of
his birth, Ivan discovered, as the author
of “Rebel Heart: George Lennon Flying
Column Commander” Terence O’Reilly
states, “George Lennon was one of the
most unusual figures of Ireland’s struggle
for independence.”
At the age of 20 George was the
youngest commander of a flying column
during Ireland’s war of independence.
The activities of Lennon’s column resulted in nearly a thousand British troops
being deployed to Waterford, along
with over two hundred RIC and Royal
Marines. He fought for the anti-treaty
side during the Civil War and eventually
came to question the fundamental tenets
upon which an Irish Free State was to be
established. When it became clear that
the anti-treatyites had lost the war and
that a guerilla campaign would prove
ruinous for Ireland, causing the ordinary
people to suffer, he voluntarily laid down
arms and was left in peace by the protreaty forces. He began a path that would
take him far away from the country he
fought for, and very far from the path of
violence.
Regarding his involvement in the
I.R.A., the younger Lennon says, “It was
something that I never heard
him talk about.” Before he died,
George had become as much a proponent
for peace as he had been a fighting rebel.
The documentary film about Lennon’s
life (called Ó Cogadh go Síocháin - Saol
George Lennon in Irish), directed by
Comac Morel, premiered in a theater in
Dungarvan, Lennon’s hometown.
The Town Pants Return to their Second Home
Patrick O’Herron
If you are of Irish heritage, live in
Western New York, and have not heard of
The Town Pants, you are clearly living beneath the Blarney Stone! Though they’re
far from their home in Vancouver, this
Celtic rock band has carved a niche in the
music scene of WNY. When I heard that
the band would once again be returning to
Buffalo to play at our beloved Irish Center, I grabbed a friend and made a bee-line
toward the stage. (Well, let’s be honest…
the bee-line may have first veered toward
the bar to grab a couple pints of Smithwick’s from the fantastic Tommy Joyce.)
My friend and I arrived slightly after
the opening set, happily greeted by The
Town Pants’ tin whistle, fiddle, and some
Irish Center familiars. We were also
greeted by what appeared to be a band of
Celtic gypsy groupies, but heck, they were
having a good time and we were prepared
to have one too!
The Town Pants is comprised of brothers and Duane (guitar/lead vocals) and
Dave Keogh (banjo/guitar/vocals), Aaron
Chapman (tin whistle), Brendan Mooney
(bass), Ivanka Watkin (fiddle), and newest
member Mike Mastin (drums). The band
has produced five albums so far, with their
latest, Shore Leave, being hailed by critics
as their best album to date. Their signature
“West Coast Celtic” sound has garnered
the band international fans spanning from
west coast USA to Europe.
The band always play a good mix,
from Celtic classics to Town Pants originals, new and old, and this night was no
let down. Both the band and audience
were wild with excitement as the air was
filled with sounds reminiscent of the Emerald Isle. Highlights of the evening in-
cluded “Death Feels Like Me Today” and
“The Boys of the Old Brigade” (which the
band ensures they perform without any
political malice, but rather as an homage
to the mother country and music with
which they were raised).
The evening held only a few slight
disappointments. My friend and I made
our way to the rear of the hall, sure that
the back bar would be open for round two,
but much to our dismay, it was not. This
meant that every patron had to leave the
concert venue, crossing the path of the
audience and the band itself, for every
refill. Also, the seating arrangement in
the hall looked less like a rock concert
and more like a night at Bingo. A more
creative setup could have helped to set the
tone of the evening. Lighting was another
small let-down, as the chandeliers that don
the back room were dimly lit throughout
the hall, but shone bright as the high-noon
sun on the band and forefront of the stage.
Hitting the dimmer switch just a skoch
would have been a wiser choice. Still,
the small but mighty crowd in attendance
seemed to be having the time of their
lives, as is the standard at all Town Pants
concerts I have ever attended.
At the end of the evening, my friend
and I were able to catch up with band
members Duane, Dave and Aaron for a
casual sit-down chat. The band lacks pretention and is happy to greet any fan with
a smile and a kind word. We were able to
ask just a few questions before they had to
pack up for the evening:
Being that you are a Vancouver-based
band, what keeps bringing you back to
upstate New York? How did you carve
your niche here?
Dave: When we first formed, we were
touring Canada and eventually Europe. A
friend actually got us our first gig in the
Finger Lakes. We got a really good reaction and sold a bunch of CDs. Things just
sort of grew from there – one gig begat
another. Haha, these were the pre-Facebook days.
Duane: We played everywhere from
small pubs to big halls. We were always
committed to making every show a great
one. I think that is the key to our success.
Aaron: You always know the day is
going to end perfectly with a show.
Duane: Yeah, there were days where I
was just fuming when I went on stage, but
four songs in, you forget. It’s as infectious for us to play as it is for the audience
to hear.
Aaron: There are lots of great bands
out there, but not a lot of great shows.
What is it that makes you such a sting
force here in Western New York?
Duane: New York State, particularly
Western New York, seems to have a rich
Irish heritage. That certainly helps. We
first started by doing Irish covers. Believe
it or not, Dave used to play in a thrash
metal band – now he plays banjo! The
Town Pants is a product of their environment. Instead of being shot, we do shots!
Aaron: By enjoying the spirit of Irish
music, we try to invoke the spirit of what
we do. You probably grew up with a
parent or grandparent who liked this type
of music. It’s very grassroots. No radio
station plays this type of music. It’s the
sub-alternative! That’s our audience.
You guys are a Celtic rock band that
has managed to stay relevant for over a
decade. What inspires your new music?
Duane: A lot of contemporary Irish
bands will write about old Ireland and all
that, and that just doesn’t seem right. We
didn’t grow up with that, ya know? You
can do what everyone has done before
you, or you can be an Irish band that
writes about New York. Or Buffalo!
Aaron: The Town Pants won’t be
around forever, so why not leave our own
mark while obeying these Irish traditions? People write about Dublin or Dun
Laoghaire… why not Vancouver??
With that, the band members politely
excused themselves to, quite literally, get
their show on the road. My friend and I
had one more round at the Irish Center bar
(as was our civil duty), and called it a very
pleasant night.
If you didn’t get a chance to check out
the show at the Irish Center, The Town
Pants will be performing as part of the
South Buffalo Irish Festival on September
10th at 8:00pm, as well as a few other
fantastic festivals throughout the season.
More information on the band and performance dates can be found on their website
at www.thetownpants.com.
An Irish Celebration of 50 Years Together
By James T. Doyle
The Emerald Room of the Buffalo
Irish Center was alive with music, dancing, delicious foods and celebration on
the evening of June 18, 2011 as family, friends, and neighbors gathered for
a surprise 50th Wedding Anniversary
party for Seamus and Annie (Gillooly)
Doyle of Buffalo, NY.
Coming from Sligo, Ireland, New
Jersey, Florida, Canada, Georgia and
from nearby, family and friends gathered for an evening that took the breath
away of both Annie and Seamus - who
suspected nothing up to last few minutes
before their arrival at the Irish Center. Reluctantly entering the Emerald
Room, they were quickly surrounded
and embraced by their seven sons and
daughters, sixteen grandchildren, two
great grandchildren, members of their
original wedding party, longtime friends
and neighbors and by the person who
introduced them to each other over fifty
years ago.
Annie and Seamus immigrated to the
United States back in the early 1950s –
Seamus from Belfast, Antrim and Annie
from Treanboy, Ballymoe, Galway –
and were supported and encouraged by
members of their family who had arrived
before them. As was the custom of those
days, they gathered with their friends at
local dance halls throughout the city for
a sense of identity, comfort and camaraderie. It was at one such hall, the Irish
Center in the basement of Bishop Duffy
High School on Riley Street in Buffalo,
that Annie and Seamus were introduced
to each other by Maureen Courtney
Doran, now residing in Georgia. On
June 17 of 1961, they were married at
St. John the Baptist R.C. Church on
Hertel Avenue in Buffalo.
Members of their wedding party
present for the party on June 18th
included Annie’s Maid of Honor and
sister, Sarah Gillooly Sailors, now of
Athens, Georgia; Bridesmaid, Barbara
Jaeger Guyette of Buffalo; Flower Girl
and niece, Theresa Gillooly Speers of
Buffalo; Seamus’s Best Man, Thomas
Heneghan of Buffalo, and Groomsman
and brother Robert Doyle. Also present
was Annie’s brother Patrick Gillooly of
Buffalo who represented the Gillooly
family the day of the wedding and gave
the Bride away.
Other event highlights of the evening
included the reading of a proclamation
of the Buffalo Common Council by
Joseph Golombek, Jr., North District
Councilman, entertainment by members
of the Clan Na Cara Irish Dance School,
a Irish toast presented by Annie’s
nephew James Gillooly and his wife
Marie who came in for the event from
Carton View, Sligo and closed with an
Irish blessing by Annie’s sister Sarah.
To Annie and Seamus, who have
taught us the true meanings of devotion,
commitment, and love over these 50
years together: thank you for the example you have given to each one of us
about how to make a marriage last. We
raise our glass to you as you celebrate a
lifetime together. May your love carry
you for years to come! Slainté!
BUFFALO IRISH
CENTER
David
McMah
Hall Rentals Available
245 Abbott Road, Buffalo, N.Y. 14220
• Air-Conditioned
Since 1909
www.sugarmanlaw.com
With
Catering Optional
DANIEL
MCCAFFREY
Certified Financial
Planner
HALF-WAY TO
ST. PATRICK’S
DAY
Retirement Planning
Estate Planning
Wealth Management
www.MKWMG.wbsec.com
Wachovia
Securities
(716) 810-5017
YES
for only
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of the Irish Times
$10.00
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Genera
B ook at : www . buffaloirishcenter .Contract
com
14 Lafeyette Square
825-9535
orBuilding
825-6700
1600 Rand
Buffalo, NY 14203
(716) 847-2523
FAX: (716) 847-2589
23 Irving Terr
Buffalo, NY 14
Traditional Irish
Dance Lessons
Cell • 716-444Home • 716-879
FAX • 716-871
Set Dance and Ceili
Ladies Ancient Order of
Hibernians
Meetings 4th Monday
of the Month
7:30. p.m.
BUFFALO IRISH CENTER
245 Abbott Road, Buffalo
Contact
CAROL L. MCSWAIN
861-1045
For Information
Life is too short
not to be Irish!
Canadian Residints Please Remit $10/year in U.S. Funds
Outside North America please Remit $14/year in U.S. Funds
New Subcription
Call
[email protected]
Tuesdays, 7:30 PM
245 Abbott Road
for more information contact
Shane & Jean 627.5966
UNDER THE TENTWEEKEND
CELEBRATION!!!
Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 17-18
Irish Dancers,
Guinness Girls
Live Music all Weekend
5601 Main Street
Williamsville
626-2670
•
HANNON M.
People Seated
• CladdaghSRoom—150
• Emerald Ballroom—270
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*Checks may be made payable to the Buffalo Irish Center
Knights of Equity - C
ourt 5
“Buffalo’s Oldest Irish Club”
Worthy Sir Knight...........................Ken Sommer
Worthy Vice Sir Knight...................Gary Holzerland
Worthy Recording Secretary...........Lee Hartung
Worthy Financial Secretary ...........Ed Hughes
Outer Guard ....................................Charlie Lennon
Inner Guard.......................................James Casey
Lecturer............................................Norm Hamilton
Conductor.........................................John Bonner
Trustees....................................Rich Bruning, Charlie
McSwain, Bud Rosenberry, Jack Fecio, Brian O’Hara
For Membership information Call
James Boyle 873.1078

AUGUST 2011 - Buffalo Irish Center

Transcription

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