Established 1966
Harp Strings
The Official Newsletter of the Harp & Shamrock Society of Texas May 2012 Volume 46
Issue 3
A Great Saint Patrick’s Day
Over 1000 people came to Beethoven March 17 to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The weather was beautiful and it was a great day with an authentic Irish celebration. The annual wreath laying at the Alamo was MC’d, for his first time, by Tyler Tully. It was filmed as part of an amazing video that was produced by our friends at Wild Geese Irish Whiskey, highlightPresident Terry Peak and Irishman of the ing the Irish in San Antonio. Please Red McCombs Toyota sponsored the digYear Darryl Britten carried the wreath to check out Harpandshamrock.org to nitaries barge carring Irishman of the Year the doors of the Alamo while Eileen Faught view the video. The St. Patrick’s day Darryl Britten, Cusack award winners Brenread the names of the Irish who sacrificed river parade followed. The river walk da Tobey and Terry McDonald, along with their lives there. and the Arneson theatre were packed President Terry Peak and family members. with folks celebrating the day. Each of our barges had sponsors, including Red McCombs Toyota, The Friendly Spot, Bike City, Wild Geese Irish Whiskey and Lion and Rose. This sponsorship helped to support the entertainment the Harp and Shamrock provided on the Arneson stage throughout the afternoon, including, Fire on the Mountain Cloggers, Rod Campbell and Tom Board Elections McKenna, Jim and Maggie Fox. The Hooley kicked off at 5 pm, but folks Time Again started to show up at 3 pm to begin the party. We were entertained by San Antonio Pipes and Drums, You should be getting a ballot in Boru, Inishfree Irish Dancyour mailbox very soon, if you’ve ers, and Campbell and Wilpaid your dues. Please give some son. The food was provided thought to picking the best folks to represent you on the board. You can by Tommy Moloney’s from New York, that included corn even run for the board yourself. We beef and Irish sausage(www. are always looking for fresh ideas tommymoloneys.com). Well and help is always needed for the worth the long wait in line. tasks we have throughout the year. Folks even struck up new The entire slate this year is filled friendships while waiting Greg Lewis, our stage manager, was featured on the with great choices for your society. SA Express News website, mysa.com If you don’t get a ballot and feel that for their supper. Thanks to all the volunteers! A BIG thanks to Tim Campion at Guinness for making the you were paid up before March 17, 2012 please contact a board member. Hooley possible with a generous donation to the Harp and Shamrock Society. www.harpandshamrock.org
Off The Boards...
This is a summary of the Board of Directors May meeting. We received a percentage of the food served at Joe’s Crab shack on March 14. Over $600 was donated for the Scholarship Fund. HARP AND SHAMROCK SOCIETY OF TEXAS, INC P.O.Box 15306 San Antonio, TX 78212
PRESIDENT Terence Peak 210-829-3920 VICE PRESIDENT Kevin P. Dowd 210-845-4424 2nd VICE PRESIDENT Bob Meade 210-946-7220 TREASURER J.T. Norris 210-621-3407 SECRETARY Dana Goodman 210-219-7356 CHAPLAIN Fr. McNamara 210-635-8539 BOARD of DIRECTORS Melissa Schulz 210-445-2777 Melinda Britten 210-699-8632 Carolyn Dowd 210-896-1598 Darryl Britten 210-215-9952 Elissa O’Brien 210-348-6877 Steve Mattick 210-212-7800 Joan Moody 210-656-2666 Erin O’Brien 210-348-6877 John Smith 210-240-7736 Brenda Tobey 210-523-0761 Bill Merriman 210-259-3482 Tyler Tully 210-688-0079 Ryan Stone 210-849-1215 IRISHMAN OF THE YEAR Darryl Britten - 2012 Editor in Chief Kevin Patrick Dowd 210-845-4424 The Staff: Carolyn Dowd Terry Peak John McCarthy Pat Peak Melissa Schulz Mariee Pilkington Joan Moody
Nominations were announced for upcoming elections: President: Kevin Dowd 1st Vice president: Bob Meade 2nd Vice president: Steve Mattick Secretary : Dana Goodman Treasurer: JT Norris Board members: Rob Holden, Clem Dooley, Elisa O’Brien, Tina Grau, Bobby Jordan, Tyler Tully, Bill Merriman, Allison Hicks, Joan Moody An Election committee was selected and includes: John Smith, Barbara Patrick, Diana Jordan, Brenda Tobey Election/General Membership meeting Saturday, June 30 at the Beethoven Maennerchor. A Wild Geese Irish Whiskey tasting and auction will be held to benefit the Scholarship Fund. Potluck information: Brisket and bread will be provided. Members please bring an item for the potluck. To keep it simple use this guide, last names ending: A thru I- bring salad/fruit dish J thru Q- bring veggie/potato dish R thru Z- bring dessert Our Quarterly Bingo contribution was presented for $900. The Board voted to earmark 50% of quarterly income from Bingo to the Scholarship Fund. Scholarship winners were announced and will be presented checks at the Election meeting. A preliminary meeting was held to discuss an Irish Cultural Center in San Antonio. Groups in attendance were San Antonio Gaelic Athletic Club, Irish Cultural Society the AOH and the Harp and Shamrock Society. Preliminary meetings are scheduled to address fund raising and city support for the St. Patrick’ Day street parade.
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The main headquarters for Saint Patrick’s Day planning has been Waxy O’Connor’s. Owners Tim Rooney and Phil Bentley (pictured here with the Editor) were hard at work preparing for the busy day, and their anniversary, at the only true Irish pub on the Riverwalk. www.waxyoconnors.com
St. Patrick’s Day 2012 Alamo Ceremony Irish Hooley Left: The Irish National Anthem was sung by the Kelly Singers lead by Tom Ewing, accompanied by Shirley Donohue, with the Joint Service Color Guard. John Donohue sang the USA’s.
RiverParade
Inishfree School of Irish Dance entertain the crowd. Below from left: Our London friends Arron Maughan and Steve Wilson join Carolyn Dowd, Kevin O’Connell, and Terry McDonald for our first Hooley.
Above: The Wild Geese Irish Soldiers and Heroes Irish Whiskey Collection sponsored our Kelly Irish Singers barge. Website: twgisah.com The Friendly Spot sponsored the Shriners color guard and band which lead the parade(right).
Lion and Rose was a proud sponsor of the San Antonio Gaelic Athletics Club barge. You can read an article on the thier upcoming season at: http://irishecho.com/?p=71131. The latest news is at: http://www.facebook.com/sanantoniogac.
www.harpandshamrock.org
Left: Tyler Tully being interviewed for the Wild Geese Irish Whiskey in La Vallita. Right: Kevin Dowd’s interview. The impressive video from Arron and Steve can be seen on our website.
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The Harp & Shamrock Society of Texas Newsletter Editor P.O. Box 15306 San Antonio, TX 78212
Our newest Irishman of the Year Darryl Britten and immediate past Irishman of the Year Bill Merriman bookend Melissa Shultz at the Awards Dinner and Whiskey tasting at the Stone Oak Lion and Rose on Sontera.
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Thank Our Sponsors
June
16 Saturday 1 p.m. The Gaelic Games Texas Cup More info: www.sanantoniogac.org Or @: www.facebook.com/sanantoniogac 30 Saturday 6:30 p.m.
Elections / General Membership Meeting Irish Whiskey Tasting & Auction The Wild Geese Irish Soldiers & Heroes Irish Whiskey Collection will be featured. More information on our website or: www.1691.ie Brisket and bread will be provided. Members please bring an item for the potluck. Beethoven Maennerchor 422 S. Pereida www.harpandshamrock.org
Thank you to our sponsors:
Lion & Rose Restaurant and Bar, Red McCombs Toyota, Waxy O’Connor’s Irish Pub, Tommy Moloney’s, The Friendly Spot, Bike City Shamrockeditor@gmail.com
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©2012 Dowd Ranch Publishing