Celtic Canada Summer 2018 by Celtic Canada

Summer 2018 $4.99

Irelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cities are all about

personality!

INTRODUCING

A new whisky from a bygone era. Many moons ago, distilleries cooled their spirit in worm tub condensers. Sitting stubbornly atop a rough rock in Speyside, Craigellachie has stuck by this rare method, which imparts unusually strong sulphury flavors. Try a bottle and taste for yourself. Visit Craigellachie.com.

visit craigellachie.com to learn more ENJOY RESPONSIBLY. ©2017. CRAIGELLACHIE AND ITS TRADE DRESS ARE TRADEMARKS. IMPORTED BY THE CRAIGELLACHIE COMPANY, CORAL GABLES, FL. SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY – 46% ALC. BY VOL.

To the Pitch The Rise of Hurling in Canada

Guinness ~ Taste Three Tales From the History of this Legendary Brew

Irish Style

WIDA International and Worlds Championships 2018 in Maastricht, Netherlands

Photo Source: Tourism Ireland - Howth Head

CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

Summertime

and the living is easy!!

Eleanor Reynolds Publisher/Editor ECG www.ellie-corp.com Sales, Marketing & Creative Direction Graphic Design Prism Studios Advertising & Design Inc. Contributors Rory O’donovan Colin Barry Shauna Dickson Desmond Devoy Jodi Tanguay James Burt Sinead Canavan Desiree Anstey Alan Kavanagh Michael Tabor Advertise Now Visit: www.celticcanada.com Email: info@celticcanada.com Call: 416-845-9900 Articles for submission Visit: www.celticcanada.com Email: info@celticcanada.com Subscribe Now Online: www.celticcanada.com Facebook www.facebook.com/celticcanada1 Twitter @CelticCanada Disclaimer: Opinions or viewpoints expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Celtic Canada and/or ECG. Where materials and content were prepared by persons or entities other than CC/ECG, the said other persons and /or entities are solely responsible for their content. We reserve the right to edit all submitted articles prior to publication. Cover Photo Credit: Tourism Ireland – Temple Bar Dublin Ireland

lanning a vacation? we are delighted to feature Ireland’s Cities - Buzzing streets, easy-going locals and culture around every corner – Ireland’s cities are all about personality. When it comes to cities, you’ll find that small is mighty in Ireland. From the busy streets of Dublin, Ireland’s capital city, to the colourful character of Galway city, there’s a blend of modern living and time-old tradition everywhere. In Northern Ireland, the bustling capital of Belfast beckons with Titanic tales, delicious food at St George’s Market and charming pubs around every corner. Trace the footsteps of Vikings in Waterford city, a medieval metropolis home to the Viking Triangle and its trio of Waterford Treasures museums. In the southwest, Cork city is a kaleidoscope of cosmopolitan style and maritime heritage. Meanwhile, the former UK City of Culture, Derry~Londonderry, celebrates the 400th anniversary of its ancient city walls, with everything from crafts, traditional music and dance, to one of the best Halloween festivals in the world tucked in between. There is one thing that binds the 11 cities together, though - you know there’ll always be a warm welcome waiting for you wherever you’re heading! You may already know that Scotland is rightly famed for producing the world’s finest whiskies, but did you know that each year there are more and more whisky distilleries popping up around the country? Get into the Scottish Spirit we have listed some of the newest distilleries in Scotland! We were thrilled to chat with one of Irelands’ best-selling authors Joseph Éamon Cummins full interview inside.. Irish Style is showcased with what’s hot for summer, Chef Laura joins us this issue with some fantastic recipes bringing her Celtic roots (Welsh & Irish), mixing it with her Canadian Spirit, and sprinkling it with Italian sensibilities creating a lovely summer evening menu. Hope you enjoy this issue as much as we have bringing it together!

Come join us!! Are you a member of a Celtic club or institution? Why not drop us a line. Are you in charge of a special Celtic event? Let us know. Do you own a Celtic business or provide a service that you would like to share with the 9 million Canadians claiming Celtic Heritage? Advertise with us. If it’s Irish, Welsh, Scottish, Breton or Cornish, we want to know about it. If you have a Celtic related story, interview, review or production, we want to see it. Together we can build the most comprehensive multi-media platform for all things Celtic in Canada. Please join us on the journey.

Celebrating Canadian Celtic Heritage

The Celtic Maple Leaf Collection A wonderful gift for a host of occasions for that special person in your life! Each hand crafted piece symbolizes your heritage. The Maple Leaf, Canada’s National Symbol surrounds the Celtic Knot a symbol of Celtic ancient culture. Each piece is individually handcrafted by an Irish Silversmith deeply rooted with Canadian presence forged in Canada. Crafted from sterling silver, Hallmarked 925. With 3 keepsakes to collect (Earrings, Pendant & Cuff Links) with a retail price range at $49.99 to $99.00 plus shipping... reserve yours today!

celticcanada.com/celtic-maple-leaf-collection/ 4

CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

YOUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME

• Traditional Irish Meals • Live Sporting Events Via Satellite (Home to all the Live Rugby Six Nations and the summers G.A.A. Action)

Keep an eye on our website for upcoming events. Celebrating 30 years on The Queensway.

A Better Pint From Start to Finish!

365 Days a Year

The Galway Arms Lounge Bar & Restaurant 840 The Queensway (Between Royal York & Islington) • (416) 251-0096 www.thegalwayarms.ca The Galway Arms Irish Pub CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

ALONE:

The First 40 Years

New book by Valerie Cox tells history of charity that supports older people to age at home.

uthor and journalist Valerie Cox has written a new book, ALONE: The First 40 Years, telling the inspiring story of ALONE, the charity that supports older people to age at home. From Willie Bermingham’s selfless dedication in the early years to the new challenges and issues faced by the charity today, ALONE: The First 40 Years is a memory of the poverty, isolation and housing conditions endured by many Dubliners throughout the last forty years. The book records the founding of the charity in 1977 by young fireman Willie Bermingham after he discovered the bodies of three older people in their homes. It also chronicles the charity’s achievements including the housing complexes it built and the thousands of people who have been befriended by the charity’s inspiring volunteers. Sean Moynihan, CEO of ALONE, commented, “ALONE was founded in 1977 as a response to the desperate issues faced by older people in the city. Today, ALONE continues to provide a very valuable service to older people throughout Ireland who find themselves isolated and alone. Valerie’s book records both the challenges and achievements of our organisation. It is also a story of the joy and laughter between people, which friendship and support brings.” Valerie Cox said, “Working on this book gave me a firsthand account of the issues faced by older people in Ireland - whether it is loneliness, a lack of support, or housing. A lot has changed since 1977, but ALONE is still needed today more than ever. This book is dedicated to the unsung heroes of ALONE, those who continue to volunteer, donate and work to support the older members of our communities.” 6

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ALONE: The First 40 Years is available to purchase from all Veritas bookshops and their website www.veritasbooksonline. com and selected Easons stores nationwide and their website www.easons.com. Priced at €15.00, all proceeds will go directly to ALONE’s services.

About ALONE Established in 1977, ALONE supports older people to age at home. ALONE works with those who have issues with loneliness and social isolation, lack of services, poor health, poverty, homelessness or housing. ALONE provides Support Coordination, Housing with Support, Befriending and Campaigning services to over 1,000 older people nationwide every week. ALONE’s services are quality approved and are delivered 365 days a year.

About Valerie Cox Giving a voice to the voiceless and telling the stories of ordinary people in both urban and rural Ireland has been at the core of Valerie Cox’s many years working as a reporter and broadcaster. She spent over twenty years working on RTÉ radio programmes Morning Ireland, Drivetime and the Today Programme, bringing listeners stories of joy and sorrow, of happiness and loneliness, of crime and its effect on an older community. The issues she’s tackled have been many — the problems of accessing the Fair Deal scheme, the closure of rural Garda Stations and Post Offices, the lack of end -of-

life facilities and caring for older people in the community— and she has taken up the cudgel on behalf of those in danger of losing their homes. Valerie has worked with ALONE on a number of occasions, meeting some of the people who are at the heart of this book: the older people they support and their volunteers. She is the author of three previous books, Searching, which tells the story of Ireland’s missing people, The Family Courts and A Ploughing People. She is also a Patron of Wicklow Hospice. Valerie lives in rural Wicklow with her husband Brian, and the couple have five children and four grandchildren.

Local and International Artist Finds Her

‘Point of Connection’ By Heather Collins

osaleen Crowley, a local and international artist, poet, educator and entrepreneur, celebrates the point of connection between her life in Ireland and her life in Carmel. “At this stage, I have built two lives. One in Ireland and one here,” Crowley said. Crowley has built her artistic career through connecting people on common ground and converging the arts of painting and poetry. Crowley recently released her own book of poetry and paintings, “Point of Connection.” The book explores the cultures and landscapes of Carmel and Ireland and how they converge. “It’s natural to want to belong,” Crowley said. “I think wherever you live, you seek out those things that are meaningful to you.” Crowley said she sought the energetic, artistic community that blooms in Ireland when she landed in Carmel. Crowley was born in Ireland and lived in England before moving to Carmel in 1990. She frequently travels between Ireland and Carmel. “Point of Connection” explores Crowley’s Irish heritage and the parallels between life in Ireland and Carmel. Crowley’s art imitates her work. In 1996, she founded Relocation and Cultural Training Services, LLC, to assist employees of international corporations with transitioning to the cultural environment of the Indianapolis area. “It really is in connecting with people that I get my most joy,” Crowley said. “I really enjoy people telling me that I helped them settle.” During her travels, Crowley has gained many prominent fans, including Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard.

“(Crowley) is a wonderful artist who has the ability to touch people’s hearts and souls through her unique combination of art and poetry inspired by her Irish heritage,” Brainard said. Crowley’s painting, “Tranquility,” hangs in Carmel City Hall. She continues to connect artists in the community as co-founder of Carmel Creative Writers, Inc., a nonprofit community writing group. The club meets at the Hoosier Salon in the Carmel Arts & Design District every second Wednesday of each month. She also founded the Indiana Dramatic Arts and Communication Society, an annual festival and competition hosted by WFYI Public Media. The goal of the society, which was active for three years from 20092012, was to allow children, youth and adults to share their passion for poetry, drama and communication in a nurturing environment. “(Crowley’s) willingness to inspire others to produce great works is what truly warms my heart,” Brainard said. Crowley was recently appointed president elect of the Association of International Women in Indiana. The group’s mission is to facilitate social interaction, cultural understanding and offer support between women from the U.S. and other nations. Crowley will host a private event, “Sharing Gratitude Making the World a Kinder Place – One Poem at a Time,” an enrichment program for retirement home residents, at Woodland Terrace of Carmel this month. Crowley’s book “Point of Connection” is available for purchase at All Things Carmel, Barnes & Nobles in Carmel and Peace Water Winery. Source: http://youarecurrent.com

Rosaleen Crowley displays her book “Point of Connection.” (Photo by Paola Williams)

An Exile’s Song It’s been a while since e’er I saw you It’s been a while since I was home But don’t you fear because I love you When I lay my head down I know I’ll be home again some day It’s been all of seven years It’s taken all my innocent ways But I can still see your colors When I lay my head down I know I’ll be home again some day It’s been all of seventeen years It’s taken all my blonde hair But I can still hear your music When I lay my head down I know I’ll be home again some day It’s been all of twenty seven years It’s taken all my breath away But I can still smell your flowers When I lay my head down I know I’m home today Rosaleen Crowley First published in Point of Connection-a paintings and poetry book, Bradshaw Books Cork Ireland, now distributed by Roscro and Co, LLC, Carmel IN 46032

CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

Ireland Votes to Repeal Eighth Amendment, Allowing for Widened

Abortion Laws By Desmond Devoy

reland has voted overwhelmingly to repeal the eighth amendment, allowing for more liberalized abortion laws. The referendum was held on Friday, May 25, but the count began the next morning, and by late afternoon it was clear that more than two thirds of voters had voted to jettison the constitutional ban on abortion.

The final tally, with all 40 constituencies reporting, was 66.4 per cent for the Yes side, 33.6 per cent for the No side, or 1,429,981 Yes votes to 723,632 No votes. Turnout was higher even than the same-sex marriage referendum in 2015 (62.07 per cent in 2015 to 64.1 per cent in 2018.) County Donegal was the only county to vote No, 51.9 per cent to 48.1 per cent for the Yes side.

A large crowd gathers in front of the iconic Toronto sign at Nathan Phillips Square, with City Hall in the background, on May 24, to show their support for the Yes side in the next day’s referendum. Photo courtesy Irish in Toronto for Yes Facebook page

CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

County Roscommon (voting under the Roscommon-Galway constituency) was under a lot of scrutiny in this vote, as they had voted No to gay marriage in 2015, but, voters there voted Yes this time, 57.2 per cent to 42.8 per cent No. The ‘narrowest’ Yes victory was in Cavan-Monaghan with 55.5 per cent Yes, 44.5 per cent No. Irish people from all over the world, including here in Canada, returned home to vote. There was even a Yes rally held in Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square on May 24.

amendment, which recognized the equal right to life of the “This is a country in which mother and the unborn. we trust women and respect According to The Irish Times, their choices,” said Taoiseach in 1986, the High Court ruled Leo Varadkar on the Saturday that even providing Irish women afternoon after the final votes with information on abortion had been counted. Using a services outside of the state was phrase that would be familiar to in breach of the constitution Canadians, Varadkar wrote on (this decision was upheld by the Twitter that “a quiet revolution Supreme Court in 1988). has taken place,” and that In 1992, the so-called X case the vote was “a great act of saw the High Court effectively democracy.” prevent a 14-year-old rape (The Quiet Revolution also victim from travelling abroad describes a period of great social for an abortion, essentially and economic change in Quebec confining her to Ireland until in the 1960s under Premier Jean she gave birth. However, the Lesage.) attorney general’s injunction The No side has called the on the teenager’s freedom of result “heartbreaking” and has movement was overturned by conceded defeat. The Catholic the Supreme Court on appeal, Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid as the girls’ life was determined Martin, told mass goers on to be at risk though the threat the Sunday morning after the of suicide. Later that year, a vote that the church in Ireland referendum is held, and passes, is now widely regarded with allowing pregnant Irish women indifference and as having a to travel abroad for abortions marginal role in the formation and to receive information on #Hometovote: Emma-Jayne Geraghty of Irish in Toronto for Yes, unfurls her of culture here, according to such services abroad. group’s banner of solidarity at Dublin Airport on May 23. Photo courtesy Irish in Toronto for Yes Facebook page RTE News. Earlier, Martin One of the biggest game said that the church cannot changers in the country’s compromise its position on abortion debate occurred in abortion. October of 2012, when Savita Halappanavar died of sepsis at a threat to a woman’s life or of serious Proposed legislation University Hospital Galway, a physical or mental harm, abortions would Now that voters have expressed their week after she was admitted while pregnant, be permitted until the 24th week of a desire to remove that section of the according to The Irish Times. Her husband pregnancy. The proposed law would also constitution, Health Minister Simon Harris said she repeatedly asked for an abortion, allow for a 72-hour period between the says he would like to see the legislation but this was refused because a fetal heartbeat initial assessment and a termination being passed by the end of the year, with a bill was still detected. carried out, and would also allow for a introduced into the Irish parliament, Dail The laws were again changed from a termination in a case where a fetal condition Eireann, likely in the fall. The ruling Fine total ban in 2013 to allow for terminations is likely to to lead to death before, or shortly Gael, and the main opposition party, Fianna when the mother’s life was considered to after, birth. Fail, have allowed their TDs a free vote, and be threatened, under the Protection of Life The bill does also allow for conscientious Sinn Fein will decide its position on the During Pregnancy Act, but in cases of rape objections by medical professionals. matter at a special Ard Fheis to be held in and incest, abortion was still illegal. By July June. of 2016, terms of reference were drawn Ireland’s Abortion History The government’s proposed legislation up for a citizens’ assembly to examine the Abortion was first criminalized in Ireland will allow for abortion up to 12 weeks into eighth amendment, which led to the May in 1861 according to Channel 4 News. a pregnancy “without specific indication.” 2018 vote. In 1983, Irish voters approved the eighth Further to this, in cases where there is

Reaction

CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

Solving Your Financial Puzzle By Colin Barry

Life is like a Rubik’s Cube I recently learned that life is like a Rubik’s Cube. As a child I tried to solve the Cube many times. It seemed simple enough. But it never worked out that way. The most I could do was to get one side complete. Only to scramble it as I tried to solve another side. Once, out of pure frustration, I removed the colour stickers to rearrange them. At least it looked like I had solved it. For a while. In time the stickers fell off and my failure was complete. Beaten by a plastic cube. I didn’t think about a Rubik’s Cube again for a long time. Lauren, my ten-year-old daughter recently received a gift of a Cube. It was new, and all the pieces were where they belong. For a couple of days, she took small steps to arrange the pieces into a checkerboard pattern. Then Lauren would cautiously reverse the steps to bring it back. That is, until something went horribly wrong. The Cube didn’t go back. The more she tried to solve it the more scrambled the Cube became. After frustration turned into tears she asked for help. I wanted to help. I recalled the frustration that I experienced as a child too. And I’m glad that I did because we learned a few things along the way. And it gave me insights into what I do for my clients as a Financial Planner.

Chaos is easier than order Lauren watched in horror as the Cube became more scrambled as she anxiously tried to fix it. We learned that chaos is easier to create than order. The same is true of our lives. It’s much easier to mismanage our financial life and end up in chaos than it is to bring some order to it. With maturity on my side (this time) we sought out instructions on how to solve the Cube. We found that there is a process to follow. Awesome. All we have to do is follow those instructions. We can do that.

Sometimes you have to create more chaos to get to order “Dad, I don’t think this is working”, Lauren said as we tried again. It appeared that the Cube was becoming more scrambled as we followed the plan. We learned that sometimes you have to create more chaos to get to order. I see that concerned look in the faces of my clients too. There are a lot of moving pieces as we work to restructure their debt and assets to get them to work for them. The paperwork alone can be intimidating.

Don’t get cocky The process appeared to be working. One, then two, then three faces were solved. We got excited. We skimmed the instructions faster. Spun the Cube faster. But then, one sudden mistake, meant our early success was gone. In life, like in a Rubik’s Cube, there is no “undo button”. I see that clients can over-estimate their investment abilities only to fail and have to start over.

(905) 829-0094 www.colinbarry.ca 10

CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

Lauren and I started over. With more care this time. The scars of failure were still fresh. But we endured. In time we solved the Rubik’s Cube.

Patience pays It took longer than we thought it would take. Even with instructions, we still had to stop and go backward sometimes to get to our goal. Again, life makes the best plans tough to implement. With patience and a clear road map I have seen my clients get to their goals. The Cube taught Lauren and me a lot about life. But, in life the pieces aren’t laid out perfectly, and there are more moving parts. Those parts are linked together like the pieces of a Rubik’s Cube. We balance time, careers, relationships, health and finances. Changes in one of those areas will certainly impact the others.

It’s not magic, but it looks like magic It can look like magic when you see someone solve a Rubik’s Cube. Similarly, it can feel like it is magic to bring order and purpose to your financial life. With help from someone with knowledge of the process and how the pieces fit together anyone can do it. About Colin Barry – Canfin Financial Group Colin Barry is a Certified Financial Planner who works with families and small businesses to plan their finances and make the most of what they have. Visit www.colinbarry.ca for more information. Fee for service financial planning and investments provided through Canfin Magellan Investments Inc. Insurance provided through Canfin Capital Inc.

Dream Big! T

o dance in a big show is the dream of Irish dancers everywhere. To perform before those appreciative crowds every night and to tour the world is stuff of legend; it all started with Riverdance, and then Lord of the Dance. Rochelle Hoffmann, who dances with the Blakey O’Brien and Blakey Okanagan Schools in Western Canada, is off to Fusion Fest 2018 from August 9th to 16th in Limerick. Fusion Fest is eight days of festival workshops and fitness classes and guest speakers, culminating in the “Fusion Dance Fest” Show at the Millennium Theatre. The group will then move to Drogheda to do more performances at the Fleadh Cheoil, the world’s largest Irish festival! Her hope is to gain valuable performance knowledge and experience and do more networking towards her ultimate goal of performing with a big show after she graduates from University (going into her second year of Interior Design at Mount Royal University in Calgary). Rochelle has posted a video of her own choreography to try to win a scholarship for part of her tuition for Fusion Fest – you can see it at https:// www.facebook.com/projectfusionfighters/ videos/1678633818840842/. Rochelle started to think about show dancing when she attended Studio2Stage in 2015 and 2016. The experience was transformative – the world of show dancing opened up for her. The week of learning about show life, routines, perfecting them, and then performing two shows in front of a live audience gave a feeling of freedom that competitive Irish dancing did not necessarily offer. “Michelle Lee and Jim Murrihy and all the choreographers, musicians and other

support crew were amazing to work with.” In the summer of 2017 Rochelle was offered the opportunity to dance under her first performance contract at the Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show. This show is a $23 million extravaganza of dance and song performed before a live audience of about 25,000 people every night for almost two weeks. “Dancing on a drum and under fountains was challenging, for sure, but exhilarating!” “I was offered the opportunities to do foley work for the show, as well as to be one of the featured dancers, which was a great privilege that I am extremely grateful for. I appreciate that Barb [Blakey] trusted me to perform well.” Rochelle is no stranger to competition stages either. She has recently come away from CLRG Worlds in 16th place in March at her 10th World Championships. She has also placed

top 10 at North Americans and All Irelands and has won her Oireachtas 6 times. She so appreciates all the guidance she has received from her teachers, Janice and Barb Blakey, as well as all the other Blakey teachers from three different provinces! Follow Rochelle on Instagram @rochellehoffmann.

Graham McTavish

Dougal MacKenzie in the series Outlander • Friday Night Concert Featuring Red Hot Chilli Pipers • Sunday Features the CSAF Women’s Heavies Championship

CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

What are closing costs and how much should I budget for them? By Rory O’Donovan

f you are thinking about buying a house, townhouse or condo in Toronto, be prepared and know what to expect when it comes to the closing costs. In addition to the percent down payment, closing costs also have to be payed. When budgeting and saving for the purchase of a property buyers may not be aware to factor in these costs or may not realize how expensive they can actually be. Closing costs will vary depending on the purchase price of the property. Once all the conditions have been waived or fulﬁlled and a ﬁrm contract is in place, the next big step is the closing day. Typically you will have anywhere between 30 to 90 days before the closing day and during this time your lawyer will carry out a title search on the property.

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Here’s a list of the most common and important closing costs to be aware of when purchasing a property!

Before Closing Costs • Deposit Cheque - usually around 5% of the purchase price • Home Inspection - $350 - $600 (paid on completion of inspection) • Property Appraisal - $400 - $500 (normally paid by the lender)

Closing Costs • The balance of the Purchase Price - This will come from your lender, it will form your mortgage and it is the purchase price less the initial deposit. • CMHC insurance premium - This is charged if you have less that 20% downpayment. This cost is rolled in with the monthly mortgage payment. • Legal Fees approximately $1,800 • Adjustments for Tax reimbursement to seller for prepaid tax beyond closing. This amount varies. • Adjustments for utilities, condo fees etc reimbursement to seller for prepaid utilities and condo fees beyond closing. This amount varies.

• Title insurance - $250 - $400 • Property Survey - approximately $1,500 (if needed) • Insurance - Home insurance is required before closing on the property. This insurance varies depending on the size, age and condition of the property, (approximately $1,000 annually) • Land transfer tax (LLT) - varies depending on the purchase price. A second LLT applies if the property is purchased in the city of Toronto. Depending on the purchase price ﬁrst time home buyers have access to a rebate of up to a maximum of $8,425.00

After Closing Costs • Moving Expenses - $1,000 upwards • Immediate Repairs & Maintenance, costs vary • Renovations, costs vary • Utility Connection Charges, costs vary Download my FREE mortgage app detailing all costs involved. This app covers all calculations including land transfer tax, stress test etc allowing you to make adjustments, providing a clear picture of what to expect and budget for. https://canadianmortgageapp.com/app/ roryodonovan About Rory O’ Donovan Rory O’ Donovan is a licensed Real estate professional who works with first time buyers, repeat buyers, sellers and investors. Visit www.roryodonovan.com or www.emeraldproperty.ca for more information or contact directly +1 (647) 202 3748 rodonovan@bosleyrealestate.com.

CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

To the Pitch The Rise of Hurling in Canada By James Burt

Not the Same Game When asked to explain what exactly the age-old Irish sport of hurling is, Toronto’s Gaelic Athletic Association [GAA] secretary Ciarán O’Sullivan thought carefully before answering. “I guess it’s a bit like lacrosse,” He then paused and added his last comment with a chuckle. “We get a few hockey players coming out for hurling, or even people just curious about it. But they struggle with the ball. It physically winds up in your hand, unlike a puck, and you have to run hard with it to score.” It’s true that most Canadians immediately associate any sport with sticks and on a large playing area with either ice/field hockey or lacrosse. Yet as close as hurling is to those sports, it’s in fact its own game that has certain physical demands not seen in other athletics, North American in origin or otherwise. “It’s all inclusive—we welcome anyone to play,” said Montreal Shamrocks’ club registrar and hurling representative Martin Burke. “But it’s not a slow sport and there are a lot of knocks players can and will take.”

“I’m from Galway, right near the Irish west coast,” said Burke. “There is a lot of hurling in Galway. It’s big inn the east of the county where the clubs battle it out in a hotly contested county championship each year. Galway is also the current All-Ireland hurling champions. It won the 2017 hurling final played each year in September in front of 80,000 spectators in the spiritual home of GAA, Croke Park.” Played on a green pitch, hurling is played with fifteen players per side. Each wears a helmet, carries there own hurling stick, the “hurley”, and works to get the game ball, or “sliotar”, into the opponent’s net to score a goal or between the posts to score a point. Sharing more rules akin to Gaelic football, hurling allows for seventy minutes of play where tackling and player contact is common. Burke also detailed the practice activity: “We do a lot of drills for new players. Striking the ball, blocking and catching the ball in the air, rolling or jab lifting the ball to get it into one’s hand while advancing down the field…these need to be run in practice so players, especially newer ones, learn the key skills

‘‘It was a good game. The sticks were being brandished like swords. Hurling is a war-like game…you could hear the sticks striking the ball from one end of the Green to the other…” ~ Amhlaoibh Ó Súilleabháin [1780 – 1838], Cín Lae Amhlaoibh Diaries The Fastest Game in the West and East Burke’s mention of hurling’s hard game to play is part of its history. While no exact dates of the beginning of it are certain, hurling appears to originate in Ireland’s seventh century and later featured in Irish epics such as Táin Bó Cúalnge. Since then, hurling has become established in sports leagues all across Ireland and become am emblem of Irish heritage. 14

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“It’s a quick game that not everyone gets right off the bat unless they’ve played it before,” said O’Sullivan. “It’s still a niche game Canada and the States. But that’s changing: we played a tournament in Indianapolis and most of the players there were Americans.”

Global Exodus Breeds Local Interest Players in Ireland play hurling in their local communities. Each town and parish

Photo credit: Martin of the Montreal Shamrocks

having its own GAA club. “The Irish themselves have kept hurling popular for so long in their own native areas,” said O’Sullivan. “Interest in passed on through years. Your uncle played so you get involved, and some clubs even go into gym classes there to do hurling sessions and even recruit new players.” Both O’Sullivan and Burke noted how the mass movement of the Irish across the world has been the fundamental to the spreading of hurling to various Earth corners, including Canada, Argentina, New Zealand, and even South Korea. “There were older hurling teams in the 1970s and 1980s in Toronto when more Irish were coming to the city,” said O’Sullivan. “But they disbanded. However, once many Irish came again en masse after the late 2000s recession, hurling’s sparked up here again. Since many Irish have opted to immigrate, it’ll likely stay for some time.” “The overall profile of hurling is increasing,” added Burke. “We’ve had enough people to start three sub clubs that are under the Shamrocks team umbrella that both keeps links with the local Irish community and operate year round. We also have the opportunity to play in tournaments with other clubs in the provinces of Eastern Canada, competitions in Syracuse, New York or Hartford, Connecticut, as well as the odd exhibition game at Celtic festivals around Quebec. At any rate, the ethos of exposing as many non-Irish to hurling is there. Whether we attract ice hockey, rugby or Australian Rules players out to try another hardedged sport or do outreach games here at Concordia University, we are seeing positive growth in the game’s exposure in the public’s eye.”

5555 Eglington Avenue West, Etobicoke, Ontario M9C 5M1 T: 416-695-9178 F: 416-695-9620 info@irishshebeen.com

www.irishshebeen.com

CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

Scotland’s Newest

Whisky Distilleries Y

ou may already know that Scotland is rightly famed for producing the world’s finest whiskies, but did you know that each year there are more and more whisky distilleries popping up around the country? In 2017, seven new distilleries – Torabhaig, Isle of Raasay, Dornoch, Lindores Abbey, Clydeside, Bladnoch and Ncn’ean – started production. This year another five are due to open and you can find details about these, and other exciting distillery updates, below. This year The Macallan in Speyside will fully re-open in early June, following an impressive £130 million refurbishment of the distillery and visitor experience.

An artist’s impression of the proposed Diageo Johnnie Walker Experience © Diageo

New Distilleries For 2018 1. Glenwyvis Distillery, Dingwall

Founded by Heather Nelson, Toulvaddie Distillery is the first Scotch whisky distillery to be established solely by a woman in over 200 years. Originally planned to open in 2017, it is now on track to open in 2018. Construction of this brand new microdistillery, not far from the long-established Glenmorangie Distillery, is well underway and whisky production will begin as soon as the distillery is completed.

3. Lonewolf Distillery, Ellon GlenWyvis Distillery, Highlands © GlenWyvis Distillery GlenWyvis Distillery was completed in 2017, and whisky production began on the 25 January 2018, just in time to commemorate Robert Burns’ birth in 1759. Expect excellent unpeated single malt whiskies that will be ready to drink in 2021. The whiskies will be created using only local barley and matured in bourbon, refill bourbon and sherry casks. The distillery also plans to produce gin from summer 2018. This state-of-the-art distillery, set on a hillside overlooking Dingwall and the Cromarty Firth, is run on solar, hydro, wind and biomass renewables. Call 01349 862005 or email michael.fraser@glenwyvis.com for information about distillery tours. It’s also still possible to invest and become a partowner in the distillery.

2. Toulvaddie Distillery, By Tain

LoneWolf Distillery’s stills © LoneWolf Distillery Located in rural Aberdeenshire, LoneWolf is a distillation subsidiary of BrewDog. This distillery is already producing gin and vodka from grain all the way through to glass. Having launched in early 2017, LoneWolf whisky production began this year using the only triple bubble still in the world – just one way that LoneWolf runs against the pack and strives to challenge the traditions of the industry.

4. Ardnahoe Distillery, Islay

Diageo also has big plans to invest £150 million over the next three years across their Discovering Distilleries sites (which will grow from 12 to 14 with the re-opening of the ‘lost distilleries’ of Port Ellen on Islay and Brora in Sutherland) and a new state-ofthe-art immersive Johnnie Walker visitor experience in Edinburgh. Heather Nelson of Toulvaddie Distillery © Toulvaddie Distillery 16

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Stunning views to the Paps of Jura from Ardnahoe Distillery © Hunter Laing & Company

Summer 2018 is the perfect time for a trip to Islay, with the opening of Ardnahoe Distilleryscheduled to take place. The island’s eagerly anticipated ninth whisky production site is located in the north-east of Scotland’s whisky isle, and will distill classic peated Islay malts using water from Loch Ardnahoe itself. With spectacular views over the Sound of Islay to the Paps of Jura, a visit to this new distillery will undoubtedly become a must.

December 2016 and laid its first cask in January 2017. Based on the whisky styles of the 1960s and before, directors Phil and Simon Thompson are aiming to create an ‘elixir of yummy old style fruitiness’.

2. Isle Of Raasay Distillery

5. Borders Distillery®, Hawick

Ncn’ean Distillery, Drimnin Estate, Morvern © Ncn’ean Distillery

Artists impression of Isle of Raasay Distillery © R & B Distillers

The Borders Distillery © Keith Hunter The Borders Distillery® is the first Scotch whisky distillery to open in the Scottish Borders since 1837. The new distillery can be found in the town of Hawick and occupies a B-listed historic industrial site in the town centre. The former Hawick Urban Electric Company building has been completely restored and given a new lease of life. The distillery will produce single malt Scotch whisky and a premium gin. Visitors are welcome and bookings for distillery tours and tastings are being accepted from the 1 May.

4. Ncn’ean Distillery, Morvern

Skye’s neighbouring island, Raasay, welcomed the Isle of Raasay Distillery which began production in September 2017. Lying beneath the island’s highest point Dùn Caan, the distillery is producing ‘handcrafted whiskies of uncommon provenance’ using the peak’s volcanic water supply at every stage of distillation. Tours are now available and you can also stay in one of the distillery’s five luxury bedrooms, three of which have dramatic views to the Cuillin mountains – the ideal option for whisky lovers!

Taking it’s abbreviated name from Neachneohain, the Gaelic Queen of Spirits, this distillery embodies the spirit of this legendary character – strong, independent and never afraid to walk her own path – a quiet rebel and a fierce protector of nature. Perched above the Sound of Mull in secluded Morvern, Ncn’ean Organic Whisky Distillery started producing single malt whisky in March 2017 using the best ingredients and pioneering sustainable production methods. Pre-booked distillery tours are available.

5. Lindores Abbey Distillery, Newburgh

3. Torabhaig Distillery, Isle Of Skye

Distilleries That Opened In 2017 1. Dornoch Distillery, Sutherland

Lindores Abbey Distillery, Kingdom of Fife © Lindores Distillery

Torabhaig Distillery, Teangue, Sleat © Torabhaig Distillery

Simon and Phil Thompson, Dornoch Distillery © Dornoch Distillery Company Housed in the quirky old ‘Fire House’ in the grounds of Dornoch Castle Hotel, Dornoch Distillery is located in the pretty Sutherland town of Dornoch. This micro distillery has been producing whisky since

Torabhaig is Skye’s second distillery, complementing long-established Talisker Distillery at Carbost. It overlooks the Sound of Sleat and the dramatic wilderness of the Knoydart peninsula and is housed in a converted 200-year-old farmstead. Production got underway in January 2017 and the distillery also now offers visitor tours and there’s a shop and a café serving refreshments and light bites on site.

Records indicate that whisky was first produced as far back as 1494 by Tironensian Monks at Lindores Abbey, on the northern edge of the Kingdom of Fife. Spirit started flowing from the stills again at Lindores Abbey Distillery in 2017 and they are currently producing an Aqua Vitae spirit drink with herbs and spices for sale. Housed in the old Abbey farm steading, whisky here is being produced using barley from local farms, providing a real taste of the area. Tours are also now available.

Continued on page 18 CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

Continued from page 17 – SCOTLAND’S

NEWEST WHISKY DISTILLERIES IN 2018

6. Clydeside Distillery, Glasgow

7. Bladnoch® Distillery, Near Wigtown

Whisky Distilleries – 2019 and Beyond! That’s just 2018! In 2019 plans are afoot for a Douglas Laing distillery in Glasgow, as well as the new Burnbrae Distillery in East Kilbride. Further west, the new Ardgowan Distillery on Ardgowan Estate near Inverkip is due to open by 2020, while Isle of Arran Distillers continue to develop their second distillery at Lagg on the island.

Clydeside Distillery, Glasgow © Clydeside Distillery

Installing a new washback at Bladnoch Distillery © Bladnoch Distillery

Sitting proudly between the SEC and the striking Riverside Museum in the centre of Glasgow, the Clydeside Distillery opened in November 2017, following a £10.5 million refurbishment of the iconic Pump House on the riverside. The distillery offers dramatic views over the River Clyde and visitors can enjoy a fine tour of the distillery, can relax in the café and browse the wide variety of whiskies and gifts in the specialist whisky shop. The distillery can also be booked as an exclusive-use events venue.

Although not strictly a ‘new’ distillery, Bladnoch® Distillery has been completely renovated under new ownership and began production again in 2017 under the watchful eye of Master Distiller Ian MacMillan. Located near Wigtown in Dumfries & Galloway, the distillery was originally founded in 1817, making it both Scotland’s most southerly distillery and the oldest working distillery in the Lowlands whisky region. A world-class visitor centre is currently being built and should open at the end of 2018. Holyrood Distillery, Edinburgh © Holyrood Distillery

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Over on the east coast, Edinburgh residents and visitors can expect a further three distilleries. Construction of the new Holyrood Distillery will begin shortly and it should open in summer 2019. A John Crabbie & Co gin and whisky microdistillery at Granton Harbour is planned, as well as an innovatively designed Port of Leith vertical distillery which will sit alongside Ocean Terminal and the Royal Yacht Britannia. Further south, the Borders will see continued growth in whisky production in the shape of R & B’s second distillery (complementing their site on Raasay) coming to Peebles and Mossburn Distillers Ltd, continue to develop their Reivers Distillery in Jedburgh. Source: Visit Scotland

Go beyond the Gates of

Guinness

Taste Three Tales From the History of this Legendary Brew

hhhh, the Black Stuff! Guinness is a fabled drink around the globe, sipped from Dublin to New York, Tokyo to Rio de Janeiro. But it was born in Ireland’s Ancient East...

Estate, before ending in Oughterard, at the final resting place of Arthur Guinness himself. 2. Inspiring an institution In the 1950s Sir Hugh Beaver, managing director of the Guinness Brewery, went to a shooting party by the River Slaney in County Wexford. Over a lavish dinner in Castlebridge House, the party couldn’t decide what the fastest game bird in Europe was. The argument persisted for a long time – everyone had different opinions, and nobody could

1. Where it all began You would be forgiven for thinking that the story of Guinness begins with the legendary Dublin brewery at St James’ Gate. But the tale really starts in Celbridge,

a pretty village in County Kildare. In the cellar of Arthur Price, the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Cashel, Arthur Guinness began to brew his tasty tipple back in the 18th century. Take the Arthur’s Way Heritage Trail to discover this location, and many others that have played their part in the legacy of Guinness. The trail passes through Leixlip, Celbridge, Hazelhatch and the Lyons ICC Ad_DSlowey Broker CMYK.pdf

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provide a definitive answer. Years later, Hugh would reflect on this argument and wonder why all of this information wasn’t kept safe in one easy-to-access location – and thus, the idea for the Guinness Book of World Records was born! Since 1954, the book has been settling disputes and arguments in pubs, at dinner and around the world. 3. Don’t cry me a river – pour me a lake! High in the Wicklow Mountains is a very unusual lake. Venture into the hills, make your way up the trails and through the mists, and you’ll discover a body of water seemingly poured directly from the taps of your favourite pub. Lough Tay, otherwise known as the Guinness Lake, has the curious feature of looking exactly like a pint of the black stuff. Dark waters and a sandy beach combine to make this look like a perfect pint that’s good enough to drink. Source: Tourism Ireland

3:35 PM

Working with the Irish Communitiy, both new and established, to find value and security in their new Toronto home. C

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CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

The seven 2018 Roses pictured from Left to Right: Inez Hargaden, Roya Hakimi, Kylie Paliani, Kierstin Lee, Melanie Blundell Carly McGrath, and Niamh Gyulay,

Getting to know the

Toronto Rose of Tralee Selection Process

By Sinead Canavan, Toronto Rose of Tralee Selection Ball Chair

n Saturday, June 2, 2018, Toronto’s Irish Community will gather to meet in-person the seven entrants in this, Toronto’s 54th Annual, Rose of Tralee Selection event. We will also pay tribute and thank our outgoing 2017 Toronto Rose, Colombe Nadeau-O’Shea. The Toronto Irish Cultural Society coordinates the Toronto Rose Centre and Toronto Rose of Tralee events; the Society’s long-standing leadership of the Toronto Rose of Tralee events has enabled Toronto to be among the oldest centres that participate in Tralee each year. The Rose Selection Committee has worked diligently to make the Toronto Rose Selection about more than one night and one event; it has been for many young women, an introduction into Toronto’s Irish Community and several have carried on their commitments by becoming more involved with the community, its groups and events. 20

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For many, choosing to enter the Rose of Tralee is a journey and due to commitments and work or school, the entrants must choose a time best for them that would enable them to step up and represent in the community and be as involved as their schedules would permit. In light of this, the Rose Centre team works to create a welcoming environment focused on nurturing relationships and providing empowering and positive experiences for all participants. The Rose journey starts with a written application. The applicants attend a day with the Judges. Entrants participate in one-on-one interviews with the judging panel and then have group interviews. These scenarios allow the judges to see the different qualities and traits in the entrants to help determine who Toronto’s next rose would be. Lastly is the Selection Ball, this is where the community gets to see our Rose live,

for an on-stage interview as preparation for their big moment in Tralee. For the past two Toronto Rose classes, the entrants have participated in a Toronto tour, where they see first-hand some of Toronto’s rich Irish history and have some fun getting to know each other and some long-standing sponsors of the Toronto Rose of Tralee. Really though, it is a great opportunity to wear a sash and Sunday best while forging friendships with each other and provide a small sample of what the 2018 Toronto Rose will experience in Tralee with her class from around the world. We look forward to introducing you to our 2018 Toronto Rose and providing an update of her Tralee Experience in the next edition of Celtic Canada. To learn more visit: www.torontoirishculturalsociety.com

CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

Monastery Mystery of the

By Desiree Anstey

here is at least one spot in the world where Fairies, the Little People, the Fynooderee and the far more uglier and hairier creatures, the Bugganes, who are horrible and cruel, may still be found and that is Ellan Vannin, the Manx for the Isle of Man. This small Island, isolated in the middle of the Irish Sea, is alive with culture and traditions. In fact, the supernatural is a common theme in Manx folk tales, and giants, mythical creatures and strange beasts abound. Most of these stories have been handed down by word of mouth from generation to generation, but my new story (to add to this collection) is something I braided from treading around St. Patrick’s Isle and watching the waves paw away the contours of this ancient land, which is littered in Viking and Celtic legacies. My mythical story is based on St. Patrick’s Isle. It’s remnants of the Vikings and Celts, which once inhabited this spit of land, can still be seen to this day behind the crumbling walls of a castle. Manannan was repairing an inner circular fortress wall when he noticed dark funnel clouds had silently filled the sky. He placed his chisel down and stretched up to his full height of six foot six godliness and danger. Flexing his cramped fingers, he paused for a moment. His ice-blue eyes admiringly darted over the

ongoing construction by his men on the mistveiled Isle, surrounded by an unforgiving sea. An inner and outer bailey with stone curtain walls and bonded by a liquid mortar extended to the north-west. Stones were gathered from a local beach to build a prominent tower, chambers and two magnificent gatehouses for keeping watch and strengthening the southern wall. A carved wooden dragon hung above the entrance arch to ward off invaders and act as a symbol of the Viking’s pagan religion and to project power and prowess. The same dragon’s head was carved elegantly on the prow of each longship, as well as the handles of the oars that rested in the windswept sand safely on shore. There was one section on the Isle that included a monastery, which Manannan firmly ordered his men to leave untouched. The monastery acted as its own entity and unlike the rest of the majestic fortress it took on an air of rot, while casting its shadow over the hill. Manannan had plans to demolish the monastery for he believed in many Gods – Odin, Thor and Frey – but something prevented him, a strange aura, a prickling feeling. The monastery was constructed by monks who were considered to be the original inhabitants on the Isle, which lay off the rocky spur of the mainland. Though on the day Manannan and his men docked their long-

ships the monks were nowhere to be seen. Alcohol was intact and personal belongings were undisturbed. The local folk inhabiting the mainland, when questioned, said they were unsure of when the monks vanished, but they were never seen or heard from again. Some believed there was murder and foul play at stake, others whispered about supernatural forces, but the more logical village folk said the monks fled down secret passages that they had dug under the monastery fearing the Viking invasion. Manannan brushed aside the local gossip for he had travelled across the turbulent seas from Norway in search of land and riches. Captivated by the Isle’s isolation, central location and rich fertile soil, he made it his conquest and settlement. And he immediately ordered his men to carve their stories, legends and myths in stone. But unbeknownst to Manannan, one Viking warrior was disobeying orders and exploring the sacred ground. The quiet inside the mossy-stone monastery walls was so thick that Halvar could almost touch it and he whispered, as if in an alien land – “Bless our Isle, bless us and our boats, and bless the living and the dead in the boats.” Halvar’s emerald-green eyes then narrowed as he noticed an object mirroring the sunlight near a wooden pew. Taking a closer look, Photo Credit Desiree Anstey

CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

with his large feet slapping the stone slabs like wind-driven rain, he suddenly stopped in mid-stride. A dagger with bloody fingerprints on the handle and droplets of blood on the blade lay enshrouded in the dust. Halvar’s eyes widened and his ivory skin dampened as he followed the crimson flecks speckled on the floor to an oddly shaped wall that jutted out to one side. Feeling a presence, he yelled, “Come out from there!” The deathly silence remained intact. He then moved with caution, edging his rugged frame around the corner where he was greeted by layers of wooden planks nailed to a wall. Carefully grasping the corners of wood with his muscular hands, Halvar placed one leather-clad foot on the wall and sucking in a deep breath of air as if it were soup yanked the nailed planks with all his strength. Rusted nails bounced against the moss-covered stones and shattered into a cluster of auburn-dust on the ground. The heavy planks burst from their frame and knocked him over. Choking for air while pushing aside the planks, he attempted to rise but fell back like a heavy sack of potatoes and then passed out on the damp stone slabs. “Halvar,” the wind howled his name. “Halvar,” there it was again. “Halvar – Get up!” Startled, Halvar blinked open his eyes. He had no recollection of how long he had been out, but the smell was inescapable, a funk that clouded the air, permeating the walls and his thin woollen clothes. He tried to fan it away, but the cloying oily entity melding rot and despair tattooed his skin. Shuffling over to the passage he noticed something move deep inside. “Show yourself!” bellowed Halvar. His vision was cloudy, but there was no denying the glint of two black eyes in ill-shaped sockets peering at him from the shadows. Slowly Halvar pulled his body inside towards – For a moment there was a beat of silence. They stared at each other in the dark with an intensity that cut right through the space between them, before the maniacal laughter began. Halvar’s face went ghastly white and twisted with terror as his vision adjusted. Transparent skin hung like melted wax. Thin, cracked, curved-up lips revealed rotten teeth and blood flowed everywhere. In his delirium, Halvar tried to raise himself with one heavily-built arm pinned beneath a heaving chest, while the other shoved at the slippery floor, but his body felt too weak. “I’ve been waiting,” hissed the hooded figure from the shadows. A rosary hung

around protruding bones – a mockery. A woollen brown tunic tied with a leather belt covered a deathly-white body and thin silver hair coiled down to the waist. Halvar heard the blood rushing to his ears and his head pounded. Thrusting his arms into the air he pulled at anything that could support his weight and his escape. He knew that if he stopped moving the dark creature would catch up and the passage would become his coffin. The thought of an unceremonious death was a burden a Viking did not want to carry. Shaking the image from his thoughts and crawling out into the monastery, Halvar remembered the dagger. Using his remaining strength Halvar lunged towards the pew, but slick with blood the blade slipped twice from his grasp. Outside the wind was blowing ice-cold air from the sea reminding Manannan that winter was approaching. He watched the gulls resting on the green water as if they were asleep, until a muffled shriek awoke the silence. The noise emanated from the hill where the monastery was perched. Manannan snapped into action fearing invasion and gathered his men by his side. They marched up the hill and burst through the wooden doors of the sacred ominous building. “Who’s there?” Manannan ringed down the aisle and into the chambers. No reply. The warriors followed closely behind alerted by faint footsteps splashing down a hallway near an odd shaped wall. The Viking warriors followed pursuit before a maniacal laugh began to crescendo down the corridors and engulf them. “We’re trapped,” whistled one warrior clenching his sword and ready to fight, as something shuffled from behind. Turning on his heels and nudging the other warriors, they widened their eyes to adjust as the remaining light was engulfed by a hovering hooded figure. Its darkness went deeper than physical and the warriors courageously drew their swords, lifted their rounded shields, and prepared to fight. Meanwhile, dark clouds encapsulated the sun as the English started to line their boats on the windswept shore of an enchanted looking mist-veiled Isle. Ordered by King Alfred to conquer as much land held by the Vikings as possible while also converting these heathens to Christianity, the fortress they stumble upon appears empty. Searching the grounds, the

Photo Credit Desiree Anstey

Vikings are nowhere to be seen. Alcohol is intact, personal belongings are undisturbed, and their long-boats rest silently on the shore. Local folk inhabiting the mainland, when questioned, say they are unsure of when the Vikings vanished. Some believe murder and foul play is at stake, others whisper about supernatural forces, and the most logical village folk believe the Vikings left after finding the Isle’s soil unfit to farm. But one mysterious outcast from the village claims to have witnessed it all. In the shadows of a cave overlooking the Isle a hooded figure in a woollen brown tunic stirs the embers of a crackling fire. The flames dance around black eyes in ill-shaped sockets and highlight deep-set lines of transparent skin that hangs like melted wax. Standing his ground, a brave young English soldier steps into the ominous airy cave and points with his long chiseled arm to the spur of land across the sea while demanding the hooded figure speak-up and explain. “You there – tell me what happened to the inhabitants on this Isle?” “If I tell you,” hissed a muffled voice under a protruding hood. “Then you must promise me…” Continued the figure as it started to rise, “You will never tell a living soul.” Thin, cracked lips curve to reveal a set of rotten teeth and the flames between them grow with intensity, leaping, devouring the air. The soldier, edging further back while trying to make sense of what he sees, breathes out with a frail almost whisper– “I promise.” There’s an inexplicable sound, and the flames emitting black smoke, engulfing the cave, burning wood poof out and, the soldier never told a soul. CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

Alan

Kavanagh M

y name is Alan Kavanagh and I am a 29 year old Toronto based musician from Ireland. I recently travelled to the South Pacific to play some shows in New Zealand and I was also booked to play on a few cruises around French Polynesia and Australia. My journey began in a snowy Pearson airport where I had five flights and 45 hours travelling ahead to meet my first cruise in Darwin, Australia. My job as a cruise ship entertainer is fantastic but it is definitely not for those who do not enjoy flying

or do not like living out of a suitcase for weeks on end. I was due to play a show in Queenstown on the way but the company required me to be out a few days early to meet the cruise. So I stopped in Queenstown with just enough time for a beer with my older brother Paul before getting another two flights to Darwin, Australia. I arrived in Darwin which is a city in the North of Australia where it was 35 degrees and I settled in just in time to find somewhere to watch Ireland vs France in the first game of the Six Nations Rugby (what a game!). I 24

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performed twice on the first cruise backed by the wonderful Regent Seven Seas Orchestra. It’s a surreal feeling to hear a talented orchestra play some of your original music as well as some of the Irish classics. The ship went to Darwin, Cooktown, Cairns, Townsville, Brisbane and Sydney where I met some very Australian friends along the way (see photo) I went straight from Regent Seven Seas Ship to meet an Oceania ship in Darwin, Australia. I was so excited about this new cruise as we were heading to Komodo Island in Indonesia. The Komodo Dragon is a spectacular, rare animal which only exists on this island. I sponsor a Komodo Dragon in the Toronto Zoo so be sure to tell the Toronto Komodos I said hi if you are there. Komodo Island was spectacular and as we left the tender boat we encountered two Komodo Dragons one of which was 10 feet long. I was surprised how close we were allowed to get as the Komodo Dragon is extremely venomous and can run up to 20km an hour. This was a thrilling excursion and one I will never forget. This cruise was also in port in Bali, Indonesia for three days where I got to surf

and check out Bali’s famous beaches. After leaving the cruise I flew to New Zealand where I played three shows on the South Island. I manage myself and book my own gigs and I was delighted with how open the New Zealand venues were to having a musician from the other side of the world in to play a show. The New Zealand audiences were amazing and I was lucky enough to be joined by my brother Paul on percussion for the Queenstown show. My final cruise of the trip was cruising around French Polynesia. It’s a beautiful part of the world and this was a 12 day cruise beginning and finishing in Papeete. I celebrated St.Patrick’s Day on the cruise and I performed a special St.Patrick’s Day show for the cruise guests. It’s always such a proud moment to see how Irish culture and history has touched all corners of

the world and to hear people from countries on the other side of the world sing along to Irish songs. French Polynesia is paradise and some of the excursions were spectacular. I swam with sharks, string rays and snorkelled by the Coral reef. We visited Papeete, Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Nuka Hiva, Fakarava, Rangiroa and Huahine. Overall I think this was my favourite cruise of all.

I then travelled back to New Zealand to play a few shows and spend some time with family in Queenstown, New Zealand which is my favourite place in the world. It was the

trip of a lifetime and it’s a wonderful thing to play your original music and Irish music for people of all nationalities. Although a lot of work goes into organising a tour like this and there were fifteen flights in the month and a half, not a second of the trip felt like work. If you would like to see videos of my travels, check out my music or see my upcoming shows, check out the links below. I am now back in

Toronto where I have shows coming up in The Lucky Clover, The Overdraught, The Old Sod, Wheelman’s Gate The Joint and many more. My latest single ‘Boston Bay By Morning’ has gone to number one of iTunes in Ireland and we have new music coming soon so watch this space. Bon Voyage, Alan Kavanagh. instagram.com/alankavanaghmusic facebook.com/alankavanaghmusicpage alankavanagh.com

Vancouver Irish Film Festival Presents Award Winning Film

The Drummer And The Keeper V

IRFF is Vancouver’s newest cultural event organised by a passionate group from the Irish community to celebrate the best in Irish cinema. Vancouver’s thriving creative film industry and a strong Canadian/Irish co-production tradition with award winning films Brooklyn, Room, Maudie and The Breadwinner inspired festival founder Áine Coady to create a platform to share Irish loved films. Building on the expected success of the launch in June plans are in place to extend the festival to a three day event later in the

year. The programme will include Irish shorts and features along with some excellent IrishCanadian Co productions. VIRFF launch night takes place on Saturday June 16th at the beautiful setting of Vancity Theatre, which hosts the annual VIFF, where they will be screening ‘The Drummer and the Keeper’ followed by an after party with traditional Irish music. The Drummer and the Keeper tells the story of the unlikely friendship formed between two young men; Gabriel, a reckless young drummer who revels in rejecting society’s rules and Christopher, a 17-year-old

with Asperger’s Syndrome, who yearns to fit in. This heart-warming story, shows the strength of the human bond, in the face of adversity. Written and directed by Nick Kelly, whose short film Shoe was shortlisted for an Academy Award, The Drummer and the Keeper was produced by Kate McColgan for Calico Pictures (From the Dark), with support from the Irish Film Board. Tickets on sale Friday May 25th VIRFF is generously supported by the Irish Embassy in Canada and local Irish businesses in Vancouver. CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

Ann Shortell’s Author

Novel Celtic Knot is a Reimagining of a Key Moment in Canadian History – Through The Eyes Of An Irish Girl

uthor Ann Shortell’s historical mystery novel, CELTIC KNOT, opens with the April 1868 assassination of Irish-Canadian poetpolitician D’Arcy McGee on Sparks St. in Ottawa. And there’s a twist: the story of highstakes politics, Fenian violence, religious intolerance and ethnic strife is told through the lens of an Irish immigrant housemaid and amanuensis named Clara Swift.

In Shortell’s coming-of-age tale, Clara opens the boarding-house door to find McGee lying on the stoop, shot in the back of the head. Prime Minister John A. Macdonald soon arrives, cradling his friend McGee’s bloody scalp when the body is carried inside. Then 26

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Macdonald orders a hunt for the Fenian rebels who must be to blame. Clara’s fear of how her fellow Irish are treated during questioning by the authorities is outweighed by her need to understand McGee’s killing. So she forges an unlikely alliance with the Prime Minister’s chief investigator, Pierce Doyle. It is at Pierce’s behest that Clara befriends rebel suspect Patrick James “Jimmy” Whelan’s wife, Bridie. Clara gains work with Doyle— decoding McGee’s shorthand notes. But when Clara testifies at Jimmy’s murder trial, she voices her own doubts about the man’s guilt. As the date of Jimmy Whelan’s public hanging approaches, the boarding house is burned to the ground. The authorities suspect a Fenian bombing. Clara is then hired to care for Prime Minister and Lady Macdonald’s challenged infant daughter. It is there, in the spring of 1869—after Jimmy swings--that Clara Swift untangles the truth behind McGee’s slaying. And it’s a CELTIC KNOT. This is a tale of how an Irish female crosses the threshold to a new land—and the costs that come with that journey. Author Ann Shortell explores the divide within the Irish-Canadian immigrant community of that day—and the one between the Irish and other Canadians.

As for young Clara Swift? She loses her job, her home, and those she loves most because of McGee’s fight with the Fenians. And, in a classic immigrant story, she picks herself up and starts anew. Author Ann Shortell says that while she is twisting fact in order to fashion fiction, many of the strangest details in CELTIC KNOT are true. Even when reimagining the classic Canadian mystery of McGee’s murder, Shortell was guided by the signposts of actual events. “There are so many rich details that are true – and so much to play with, as a fiction writer.” A debut novel for non-fiction author Shortell, CELTIC KNOT was a finalist for Crime Writers of Canada’s 2017 ‘Unhanged Arthur’ Award. Shortell is also a past co-winner of the National Business Book Award and a National Magazine Award winner. CELTIC KNOT is available on Kobo, GooglePlay, iTunes, Kindle, and through your local bookseller. For more information or to contact the author, please see www.annshortell.com

Now available at the LCBO.

CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

Ireland’s Cities

Buzzing streets, easy-going locals and culture around every corner – Ireland’s cities are all about personality.

hen it comes to cities, you’ll find that small is mighty here in Ireland. From the busy streets of Dublin, Ireland’s capital city, to the colourful character of Galway city, there’s a blend of modern living and time-old tradition everywhere. In Northern Ireland, the bustling capital of Belfast beckons with Titanic tales, delicious food at St George’s Market and charming pubs around every corner. Trace the footsteps of Vikings in Waterford city, a medieval metropolis home to the Viking Triangle and its trio of Waterford Treasures museums. In the southwest, Cork city is a kaleidoscope of cosmopolitan style and maritime heritage. Meanwhile, the former UK City of Culture, Derry~Londonderry, celebrates the 400th anniversary of its ancient city walls, with everything from crafts, traditional music and dance, to one of the best Halloween festivals in the world tucked in between. There is one thing that binds our 11 cities together, though - you know there’ll always be a warm welcome waiting for you wherever you’re heading!

Belfast

Limerick

Great restaurants, traditional pubs and a phenomenal Titanic history make Belfast a city to savour.

A bubbling city with a Georgian feel and an individual edge, experience the riverside atmosphere of Limerick.

Galway

Derry~Londonderry

Looking for bohemian cool and traditional culture on the edge of the Wild Atlantic Way? Galway is the ideal getaway.

Derry~Londonderry is a thriving city enclosed by ancient stone walls and alive with creative culture.

Dublin

Cork

Armagh

Get to know Dublin through works of literary genius, liquid legacies, castles, parks and stunning national museums.

Immerse yourself in this vibrant southern city, with delicious cuisine, culture, art, pubs and a thrilling rebel past.

Where sacred significance meets modern living and cosy pubs, Armagh city is custom made for exploring.

CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

Waterford

Kilkenny

Got a question?

From seaside trips to fun-filled festivals, find out all there is to do in this intriguing medieval city.

Seek out the secrets of the Marble City, from its hidden alleyways to its labyrinthine medieval streets.

We have a whole community of folks – from experts to holidaymakers – who are happy to share their experiences of Ireland.

Lisburn

Newry

Lisburn city is laced with pretty shops, brimming with tasty food and the proud heritage of its linen industry.

Newry has firmly established itself as shopping heaven, while a mix of retro and modern gives this city a distinct edge.

Source: Tourism Ireland

Ireland Canada Chamber of Commerce Ottawa By Jackie Gilna ~ President ICCCOTT

oin us in welcoming the newly minted Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, a great asset to expanding, nurturing and developing relationships between Ireland and Canada. We wish them great success. The Ireland Canada Chamber of Commerce Ottawa includes support for the arts, culture, sports and education as they relate to business in our mandate. Our activities also include fostering opportunity for women in business and mentoring, leveraging the Chamber’s network. The tulip fest in our nation’s capital Ottawa is in full bloom and set the clock for the Chamber’s recent spring event. On May 23rd, we welcomed highly anticipated guest speaker, Irish Ambassador to Canada H.E. Jim Kelly at the prestigious Rideau Club to address some of the challenges that both Ireland and Canada face. Ambassador Kelly spoke to the health of the Irish economy and the many opportunities that await foreign direct investment. He noted at a time when Canada faces challenges with NAFTA, Ireland finds itself in a similar situation with Brexit. He addressed the unresolved boarder question, common travel, important trading relationships and, the future of Ireland in Europe. The speech

was very well received, with the audience eager for more detail. As a result, we are exploring a follow up interactive meeting with the Ambassador and business leaders before the end of the year. President Jackie Gilna in her opening remarks, commented on the importance of the Diaspora and private sector in relation to the phenomenal success of Irish economy and supportive programs saying “The successes are not only the result of the vision and work of politicians, the public sector, the diplomatic core and government agencies, but supportive and active engagement from private sector companies such as represented here this evening, Irish and Canadian voluntary organizations and the Diaspora. “ We see a growth in trade between the two countries and an increasing interest in Irish Film, sports, literature, language and education. Canada and Ireland share many values including the fundamental principles of inclusiveness, the development of clean tech and building environmental partnerships for a sustainable future. With the environment at the foreground of the discussions surrounding increased costs for corporations in Canada , ICCCOTT is awaiting

Left to right: Gabriel McCaffrey, President Jackie Gilna, Ambassador Kelly confirmation of a fall date to welcome Minister Catherine McKenna Minister McKenna is expected to address key environmental priorities, solutions and, speak to how women can influence change. With the proposed McKenna event in mind, ICCCOTT approached President Ann Alsaffar of the Irish Women’s Network (IWN)to explore a joint hosting of the event. We extend our congratulations to James Maloney MP on the announcement of his appointment as Chair of the Canada Ireland Inter-Parliamentary Group. Maloney is the vision behind the June “Irish Day” on the Hill, just in time to get a last peek before Center Block closes for renovations and upgrades. With enhancing member benefits in mind, ICCCOTT initiated talks with the Chambers and Center for Commerce in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and the newly minted Chamber in Vancouver to explore a Pan Canadian Chamber with representatives from all regions. We will have more on the initiative as the year progress. CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

Celtic Canada Interview with Bestselling Irish Writer

Joseph Éamon Cummins All photos by Joseph Éamon Cummins

our recent novel On the Edge of the Loch: A Psychological Novel set in Ireland hit various #1 spots. Why did you write it? This story kept pushing against a door inside my brain; it needed to get out. Would you like to say what the story is about? Themes include justice, intimacy, love, the inhumanity of war, resilience, identity, the innocence and vulnerability of childhood, and the core human emotions that drive people to behave dangerously and bravely. It’s a psychological tale full of twists, about four exceptional people, how they deal with the fickleness of life and each other while still going after what compels them; they crave sanity, intimacy, stability. Each is different from the others, all are misfits. Tony, the male protagonist, is free after nine years in US prisons, a conviction he sees as a travesty of justice, he’s tough, probably damaged; Lenny is a beautiful but troubled woman with a mysterious past, she lives in a world that might not be real; Cilla, looks like an ordinary local girl but proves the opposite when crises strike; Aidan is English, a relief

worker who dedicated his life to others then met tragedy in Iraq that changed everything. Relationships and conflicts develop, with surprises. Support characters add suspense and complications that keep readers reading. You mentioned America and Iraq but set the story in western Ireland? Stories belong to places, though the lessons they teach are universal. This story belongs to western Ireland. Those same lands that fascinated John Millington Synge over 100 years ago are equally fascinating today. How difficult is it to set a present-day novel in a remote landscape? It’s never an issue when the setting is inherently right, when place and story are mutually authentic. Authenticity is often what’s missing in popular fiction. This story spans thirty years and transports the reader to events in Arizona, New York, Dublin and Baghdad. It’s a psychological novel but not a psychological thriller? It’s not a police story, no mindless violence, serial murderers or computer terrorists. The main characters are in danger throughout the story, and all make bad decisions. But they are driven by their hearts, by cravings and needs we all have experienced. The question is, can any one of them, or some of them, or all four come out ahead... maybe, maybe not. How has being a psychologist influenced your writing? Psychology is the study of human

CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

behaviour. So too is good novel writing. Understanding psychology helps me create characters that readers feel are alive and breathing, characters that ‘cast a shadow’. Only then can readers relate emotionally to dilemmas and crises and intuitively understand and worry about what’s going on inside characters’ heads. Is the story true? No story comes out of the ether. A writer decodes and expresses life events; these originate in two places: within the mind and within actuality. These ‘events’ are the seeds of art, even when the artist doesn’t recognise this. Most of the events in On the Edge of the Loch are not factual. But true and factual are not the same. A well-told story is always ‘true’, as the old Irish storytellers would insist, and as did Ernest Hemingway. I read that one real event started the story? Yes. One day in a tiny train station I noticed an elegant young woman; she seemed to be waiting for someone to arrive. Over the following week I revisited the station five or six times to photograph it in different light. Each time, the woman was there, still waiting. She didn’t invite conversation. On the day I was to leave I found myself close to her. She smiled at me. I smiled back. Our eyes held in a sort of silent exchange. She leaned closer to me, like she was about to reveal something. Then her head dropped, her face turned away. My first sense was that she was waiting for a dream that would never show up. What if I could change her world, I thought. That’s where it started.

Is this woman the lead character? Lenny is too mysterious to lead the story, at first. She shares the stage with equally compelling characters. Most readers see 27-year-old Tony MacNeill as the main protagonist. He’s a driven man with, he believes, one last chance, which sparks most of the action. Although opposites, the characters share an intimacy that leads to unimaginable complications, and Lenny’s influence grows.

You invented Aranroe, the village where most of the action happens? I needed to, in detail, with its own topography and landmarks. The map is in the book. All surrounding places are real.

Amusingly, a Canadian reader emailed me to say he wanted to book a B&B near Aranroe and that his travel agent wasn’t helping. Women feature strongly in your story. Was this intentional? These characters reflect female nature as I believe it to be. In life, women are typically more intuitive and insightful than their male counterparts, qualities greatly undervalued. The women in On the Edge of the Loch are made of flesh and blood and guts and grace. They’re neither models nor stereotypes, they’re decisive, they shape outcomes, as so often women do in life. That’s intentional. Have other cultures influenced your writing style? I’ve lived on three continents. But I’m a Dubliner; Ireland will always be my mother lode. We Irish are wild geese but Irish writing seems to stay pure regardless of where we go. James Joyce and Edna O’Brien are examples. Storytelling is embedded in our genes. Other cultures won’t influence my style.

Finally, are there lessons to be taken from this novel? I hope people will feel enriched by both the humanness and excitement of the story. I want readers to better understand mental breakdown, how easily it can happen, the futility of war, the sacredness and vulnerability of childhood . . . and the power in resilience. Dubliner Joseph Éamon Cummins is an organisational psychologist who teaches human achievement workshops internationally. His bestselling novel On the Edge of the Loch and his #1 non-fiction classic Not One Dollar More: How to Save $3,000 to $30,000 Buying Your Next Home are available on Amazon.

Darkness into Light becomes

Solace Sunrise Walk A

fter 3 successful years of bringing Darkness into Light to Toronto, 2018 saw the inaugural Solace Sunrise Walk take place on the 19th of May along Toronto’s waterfront. This 5-kilometre walk begins while it is still dark and is the start of a symbolic journey that reflects the path that many people travel on a personal level – leaving the darkness behind, moving into the brightness of day with the help of Solace House. At 5am over 200 people gathered at Jack Layton Ferry terminal in the dark, walked to Ireland park and returned to cross the finish line as the sun rose over Toronto.

After a successful decade in Ireland, Joan Freeman, founder of Pieta House expanded to New York City in 2015 which now operates under the new name of Solace House. Solace House provides a free, therapeutic approach to people who are in suicidal distress and those who engage in self-harm. The vision is to have the same service provided in Toronto in the very near future. Photo Credit Gavin O’Neill CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

Irish Style By Shauna Dickson

ay the sun shine warm upon your face- an excerpt from and old Irish Blessing we all know and love, so fitting for the season that is now here: Summer! Whether your summer consists of crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches, city living or weekends at the lake house, the impending warmer months put everyone in a good mood. To feel the heat on our skin and the cheerful sun brighten up our homes is of course a wonderful feeling. Clear away all your heavy knits and bring out the linen, cotton and lightweight merino wool for a summer wardrobe you can live in endlessly. Or at least until the end of the season! We all know summer in Canada tends to be hot, sticky and humid. However when evening falls, we can all breathe again as a light breeze washes away all the mugginess from the day. For a night out on the town, try pairing an Ireland’s Eye Knitwear superfine merino wool cardigan over a shift dress or jeans, and see how your outfit transforms

CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

effortlessly from day to night. For an even dressier look, try a silk and linen poncho or cape. Scottish designer Bill Baber has mastered these effortless styles. The best way to describe these pieces is pure luxury. Available in several bright colours and adorned with Celtic

knotwork, there’s no better way to express your style whilst nurturing your heritage. They truly are the perfect addition to any outfit during spring and summer. If you plan on taking a family vacation this summer, there are three things you should never leave home without: sunscreen, water, and your favourite sweater. There will always be a campfire, boat ride or nature walk to tackle and you wouldn’t want to be caught in a fun adventure with no way to knock that slight chill out of the way! Throw on a sweater, wrap or even a nice wool blanket to share with friends, and stay cozy in the midsummer evenings. Can’t get away? Don’t fret- just bring summer to the workplace. Throw on a lightweight bright merino wool sweater and pair it with a pashmina and silk Celtic scarf along with your favourite comfy flats for

a look that feels effortless yet put together. As wool is a natural fibre that works hard to regulate your body temperature, it’s easy to stay cool in any setting. Who doesn’t love a multipurpose material that keeps you warm enough to dip your toes in that chilly ocean water and cool enough to wear on your evening walks? Many styles take inspiration from Ireland’s beautiful countryside, with its lakes, forests, mountains and beaches galore. Every time you wear a garment of Celtic decent, you are connecting yourself with hundreds of years of tradition and pride. Keeping in touch with your Celtic heritage is not difficult. With so many inspired designers coming out of the auld sod these days, Ireland and the rest of the world are more connected than ever. The woolen and weaving mills all over the country are so lucky to have such constant inspiration surrounding them. The perfect muse is Ireland. Rugged, raw, wild and historic, Ireland has a lot to offer. There are centuries of ancient tradition in its history, and with Aran knotwork and Celtic designs in the garments we choose, we can easily be woven back into our own heritage and culture, even if we are thousands of miles away.

IRISH DESIGN 75 QUEEN STREET, NOTL

Specializing in fine Irish products for over 30 years. Find an array of beautiful Irish garments and gifts for men, women and children straight from the Emerald Isle. Visit us in Niagara-On-The-Lake and on the web!

www.irishdesign.com 1-800-268-9064 CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

Chef Laura C

ombining food and mood is my specialty. As we look forward to the lazy days of summer, long weekends and holidays, that we as Canadians languish over, it is impossible to negate the fact that spring cleaning is in order. Spring is the time of hope and promise. As we dust off our bicycles and barbeques, tidy up our garages and lockers, and locate our weather beaten balcony pots, I am excited to get a garden ready and see the cycle of growth that the seasons ahead provide. I love the fact that the spring flowers and cherry blossoms lure us out of hibernation to command their attention. As the process of cleaning is cathartic, it is easy to let that president take hold and influence our menus and diets as we shed our layers. The flavors of spring and the promise of summer’s vibrancy have always influenced my palate choices. Food reflects mood, and the mood has gotten a whole lot lighter. People prepare for gatherings; family picnics, corporate barbeques, festivals, reunions and weddings. I am inspired by the impact that food has on living on loving and on life. I have always loved to entertain and be entertained. I think this alone is the major contributing fact to the evolution of my career as a chef. Becoming a chef was not a turnkey process for me. I fell into it quite literally more than once. I knew how to cook and people around me needed to be cooked for. It was that simple. I cooked instinctively, never using recipes (only for baking). I figured it out, learned from mistakes, made improvements, refined my techniques and constantly sourced new ideas. That is still my modus operandi. 34

CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

Being a chef, is sometimes an identity on to it’s own. There is an unprecedented work ethic; early mornings, late nights, mental strain, manual labor, sore feet and a satisfied sole. Let’s not forget that those who play with fire and sharp objects get burnt and cut. The call of duty is often not reflected by a handsome remuneration. It is the pride of a job well done, the commitment to craft, and the instant gratification of pleasure smeared over the face of recipient who adores something as simple as what touches his tongue makes it worth most of what we endure. I have been lucky. I have had an amazing, interesting career with challenges and rewards. Every day is different. My journey as a cook/chef began in a tree planting camp 1981 Fort St. John where I worked tree planting and our cook had to go, leaving 25 workers without prepared food. I was nominated. I did my best, did what I could, given the circumstances, which satisfied the needs of most. I moved on. At that time, my passion was theatre, acting & costume design/ fashion. Prior to that, I had worked as a breakfast cook at a busy, trendy restaurant called the Mongomery Café, so breakfasts were a natural. I never thought FOOD, would take precedence. But, it was food that provided my subsistence…through work, life and play (which all melds together.)

My son was born in 1985 in Vancouver, which is home. He has been my life force and motivation. He has been my favorite person and precious resource instrumental in my passion for life. (He is now chef in his own right after a stage in France at the prestigious Guy Savoy bistro although he is pursued another vocation.) At every juncture I was lured back to food. I started working in film catering and soon became a chef who was busy all the time. I was the chef feeding the cast & crew of X-Files for 3 seasons. For the most part, I was an independent with my job, and home every night with occasional out of town stints. I toured with Duran Duran and the Red Hot Chili Peppers feeding them across the nation. My career evolved when I became a chef at a very high-end fishing/ ecotourism resort for a few years. In 2010 I started ChefLaura.ca All of a sudden I have been a chef for 30 years! I want to pour a little of my Celtic roots (Welsh & Irish), mix it with my Canadian Spirit, and sprinkle it with my Italian sensibilities to create the following summer evening menu for your sensory experience. **(Follow me on FB, Instagram & Twitter) Soon I will be launching my own brand of seasonings! Food is the bonding element of people…. I am simply the alchemist!

RACK OF VENISON Rack of Venison with a Blackberry Demi- Glaze. To be served with Seasonal Grilled Vegetables Make sure the rack is butchered Frenched! Remove any remaining silver skin. If you do not know what this means, have your butcher do this for you. Using your hands, rub grainy or Dijon mustard. Season with salt & pepper and a blend of herb de Provence. (Leave out at room temp for a couple hours while you prepare the rest)

Method

Ingredients

Preheat oven to 360 degrees

• 1 - 1/2 lbs. Rack venison (available at a specialty butcher)

Sear both sides of the rack in a hot pan until browned.

• 2 Tbsp. Dijon or grainy mustard

Finish in oven for approximately 25 minutes (for med rare) or until desired temp.

• ½ Tbsp. sea salt

Let rest for 10 minutes. Carve and serve with black berry demi. Use a meat thermometer and guidelines for accuracy. Heat the butter over medium heat in a saucepan and add the onions, celery and carrots. Sauté them until they are translucent. Sprinkle in the flour and stir to form a paste. Cook for three or four minutes until the flower is lightly browned. Be careful not to burn it. Whisk in 3 cups of the beef stock. Bring to a boil over medium heat and then lowered to a simmer add the sachet of herbs. Reduce until total volume is about a third. Retrieve the sachet of herbs. Set aside. Remove from heat and pour through a mesh strainer. Add remaining 2 cups of beef stock and sachet and bring back to a boil and simmer for an hour or so. The liquid should be reduced by about half.

• ¼ Tbsp. Coarse black pepper • ¼ Tbsp. Montreal spice Blackberry Demi • 1 pint black fresh berries (puréed) **save a couple for each plate for garnish. Put puree through a sieve to remove most of the blackberry seeds. Add the puree at the end • 1 bay leaf • 1 teaspoon dried thyme 6 to 8 stems fresh parsley • 1 teaspoon Montréal steak spice Place the above ingredients in cheesecloth and secure with twine.

Remove from heat discard sachet. Strain for a final time.

1 ounce butter

Season to taste. Add the blackberry puree and spoon over the venison.

• ½ cup chopped onions

** The demi-glaze will keep in the fridge for a couple of weeks and frozen for several months.

• ¼ cup chopped fennel

• ¼ cup chopped carrots • ¼ cup gluten free flour (this way all your guests can eat it) • 5 cups beef stock Continued on page 36

CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

Continued from page 35 – CHEF

LAURA

SAVORY CHEESECAKE Savory Cheesecake topped with Blistered Tomatoes and Black Figs (substitute plums when figs are too expensive). To be served on a bed of arugula, watercress & radicchio.

Ingredients

Method

Crust

Preheat the oven two 360°. Spray the bottom of the pans with nonstick spray.

Non - stick cooking spray, for individual little pans ¼ cup chopped pecans ¼ cup chopped almonds 1 cup Herbed cracker crumbs 8 tablespoons butter melted

Mix the cracker crumbs butter and pecans in a bowl until everything is coated evenly. Press and bake for about 10 minutes until golden brown. Cool.

1 tablespoon Maple syrup

Once they are completely cool spray the sides to the pans again and line with parchment paper.

Cheese cake mixture

Add the cream cheese, goat’s cheese, heavy cream into a medium bowl and beat using an electric mixer. Add the rest of the ingredients and beat until light and fluffy, about five minutes. Spoon the mixture on to the cool crusts and smooth the tops. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least four hours when ready to serve, see and peel off the parchment.

8 ounces cream cheese (at room temperature) 4 ounces goat cheese 1 tablespoon heavy cream 2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme ½ teaspoon Orange zest

For the topping, blister grape tomatoes in a hot, hot pan with a dash of oil. Slice a 2 figs & tossed into the pan with tomatoes just until they start to caramelized. Make your favorite exotic salad dress it and put the cheesecake off center.

1 tablespoon of vegetable stock

Place a teaspoon of grape fig mixture on top of the cheesecake and serve.

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

ZINFANDEL PEARS Zinfandel Poached Pears drenched in a Romanoff Sauce

Ingredients - Serves 8

Method

4 Ripe Pears Cut in half & carefully remove pit using a small spoon or melon baller.

Melt a small amount of butter, enough to coat the bottom of the pan & keep the pears from sticking. Remove from heat.

½ Bottle Zinfandel wine 1 heavy cream, whip into soft peaks Romanoff Sauce (Should be made in advance) 5 egg yolks, beat until creamy 1 cup sugar, beat in slowly ½ cup Grand Marnier or Cointreau

Place the pears cut side down in the pan and return to heat. Sear slightly, and pour wine into saucepan a bit at a time until the pears are ½ covered. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat. Keep over heat for approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Remove, blot dry with paper towel and chill. Brush a serving plate with some of the thickened wine glaze. Place pear gently on plate cut side up. Pour over Romanoff Sauce and garnish…. I love using hazelnuts. Cook all of these ingredients together over heat in a double boiler. When custard coats spoon, take it off the heat. Cool. When the custard is completely cool, fold in the whipped cream.

CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

The Lost

Heifetz S

ometimes people ask me if my short stories are based on personal experience. In a time when confessional writing seems to be in vogue, they seem disappointed when I say “No.” More precisely, the short answer to their question is “No,” and the long(er) answer is “Yes and no.” Let me explain: in many ways most writers are observers, eavesdroppers and pickpockets (and some may even be Peeping Toms) in that a snatch of overheard conversation or an observed encounter—often heard or seen out of context—catalyzes a story. Accordingly, a variety of incidents, often quite minor, led to the stories in this anthology. For example, the idea for “Secret Agent” came to me when my eye was caught by a couple who seemed very ill-suited—she looked so much more intelligent than her companion—getting out of a pickup truck outside a local Wal-Mart. The story, “Home Again,” was triggered by an innocuous email from a neighbor informing me that they were going on vacation and would be employing their usual house sitter, and I started to wonder how a person who did a lot of house sitting would respond to the spectral presence of the owners of the homes they watched over. The idea behind the story “Non Finito” started when I was at a holiday restaurant: I observed a woman and a young girl— out of the blue, or so it seemed— join a man who had been dining by himself. For all I knew they were his wife and daughter, but the dynamics seemed strange and my imagination spun into action. A number of readers have commented that my female characters—such as the ones in the stories discussed above—are

empowered, and have asked me if I have a particular approach to writing about women. Again, the short answer is “No” and the long(er) answer is “Yes and no.” In her famous essay, “A Room of One’s Own,” still pertinent ninety years after it was written, Virginia Woolf cites Samuel Butler’s statement, “Wise men never say what they think of women,” and then cuttingly follows that up with the remark, “Wise men never say anything else, apparently.” So maybe a wiser man should just keep his mouth shut and not pontificate about his narrative technique with regard to female characters. However, I make no claim to being that wise, and on thinking about the women in these three stories I cannot claim that they were designed to be particularly heroic or strongwilled, and some readers might not

particularly like the actions they took. But what they did do, as did many of my other characters, was what they felt was necessary to get by and make a life for themselves. And that is really what all of us, men and women alike, try to do. Contributed article by Michael Tabor about his recently published anthology “The Lost Heifetz and Other Stories” for Celtic Canada.

COME JOIN US TODAY! Become a member to-day!!

New members and associate members are invited to join the “craic” simply by contacting the Secretary. Benefits of joining our Club… meet new friends, have some craic, we offer weekly meetings each Tuesday for lunch, bingo on Friday’s and dances held often during the year!!!

The best part is the fun trips each year.

2454 Danforth Avenue - Toronto

Street parking is available. Close to the main subway station.

416-469-5394

www.emeraldisleseniorssociety.org CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

Worlds 2018 Follow Up

anadian Irish Dancers Taryn DeCicco, Kenna MacNamara, Covey MacNamara and Jessica Tanguay took to the stage in WIDA International and Worlds Championships 2018 in Maastricht, Netherlands April 6-8 for four days of Grades, Teams, Show and Solo Competitions. Jessica was selected to carry the Canada Flag in Opening Ceremony immediately followed by an eventful day of International Grades Feis seing Kenna, Covey and Taryn competing with dancers from 18 countries representing 95 International Irish Dance Schools in Solo and Premierships resulting in top

CELTIC CANADA | SUMMER 2018

10, top 5 and top 3 finishes by the Canadians in all dances with Covey MacNamara taking a hard earned 3rd place podium and trophy position in Premierships. Friday saw the debut of WIDA Teams Championships Day giving Kenna, Covey, Taryn and Jessica top 10 finishes in 2Hand, 3Hand, 4Hand and Ceili competitions with a respectful 5th place podium and Worlds Globe finish for Jessica and her U12 4Hand Team. Championship Solos on Saturday resulted in a 4th place Soft Shoe and 12th place Heavy Shoe for Jessica

in U12 Championships, just missing a recall in a field of 34 U12 dancers. The event closed out on Sunday with Jessica and her 2Hand partner, Ezra, carrying the WIDA Banner in the Closing Ceremony. The Netherlands will again host WIDA International and Worlds Championships in Eindhoven April 18-21, 2019. All Competition photos courtesy of FeisPhoto, official Photographer of WIDA International and Worlds 2018

All Competition photos courtesy of FeisPhoto, official Photographer of WIDA International and Worlds 2018.

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