Established 1966
Volume 49
Harp Strings
Keeping Irish history and culture alive in South Texas. October-November 2015
Issue 1
Welcome Your New Board of Directors
The weather and the crowd could not have been better for the Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day and the Installation of the new Harp and Shamrock Officers and Board of Directors. Pictured from left: Mike Dodd, Kevin Dowd, Michael O’Brien, Dana Goodman, Terence Peak, Darryl Britten, President Melissa Schulz, Elissa O’Brien, JT Norris, Melinda Britten, Erin O’Brien, Bill Merriman and Eileen Faught. Not pictured: James Gorman, Carolyn Dowd, Allison Mulvey, Joan Moody, J. Sean Habina, and Derek Cossey. There are more pictures throughout this issue. Do you want to help plan next years 50th? Contact Linda Grosse at: lmgrosse@hotmail.com.
9th Annual Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day
Past president Dana Goodman presents the Claddagh to new President Melissa Schulz. More information on the Claddagh and the President’s hello are on page 3.
Dana Goodman and Irish Consul General Adrian Farrel present Joe Burke with both the People’s Choice and Judges’ Champion stew winner.
www.harpandshamrock.org
The Harp Is Making History!
HARP AND SHAMROCK SOCIETY OF TEXAS, INC P.O. Box 15306 San Antonio, TX 78212
PRESIDENT Melissa Schulz 210-831-2072. VICE PRESIDENT Melinda Britten 210-699-8632 2nd VICE PRESIDENT Elissa O’Brien 210-348-6877 TREASURER J.T. Norris 210-621-3407 SECRETARY Dana Goodman 210-219-7356 CHAPLAIN Bill Merriman 210-259-3482 BOARD of DIRECTORS Carolyn Dowd 210-896-1598 Darryl Britten 210-215-9952 Joan Moody 210-656-2666 Erin O’Brien 210-348-6877 Derek Cossey 210-886-8640 J. Sean Habina 210-523-9267 Allison Hicks 210-822-1182 Mike Dodd 210-373-7986 Michael O’Brien 210-422-2446 Eileen Faught 210-379-8462 Kevin P. Dowd 210-845-4424 Linda Grosse 720-987-6318 Elizabeth Hajek 210-861-3813 Jerry Mulvey 210-257-6707 IRISHMAN OF THE YEAR Terence Peak 2015 Editor in Chief Kevin Patrick Dowd The Staff: Carolyn Dowd John McCarthy Mariee Pilkington Eileen Burke Faught Pat Peak Erin Binkley ©2015 Dowd Ranch Publishing
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History in the making! It is believed that for the first time in the Harp and Shamrock’s 50 years a father has sworn in his daughter. This bodes well for a society that has the next generation willing to take lead positions and keep this, the most active Irish society in South Texas, alive and vibrant. Here’s to the next 50!
From the Laptop of Your Editor
This newsletter comes at an exciting time for the Harp and Shamrock Society. We are 49 years young and planning to celebrate the big Five Oh! Like the Hawaii version only in South Texas. Of course without all the palm trees, sandy beaches and roaring surf. What we do have are the stars at night are big and bright...! If you finished the rest of that song in your head, congratulations, you are a true Texan. The Harp has had some bright stars of our own and that is the volume of volunteers who come out and support our events. This past 9th annual Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day proves that fact. The call went out and our members responded. Thank you, each and every one of you. My very first “volunteer” job was peeling potatoes in St. PJ’s kitchen. I use the word volunteer loosely since at that time I don’t think those two bachelors, Don Mach and Uncle Pat Dowd, knew what to do with a teenage boy. They couldn’t have left me down on the Dowd Ranch by myself! I earned my first President’s medal that year and kept coming back for more. Where is your story? As we approach our anniversary year we should try to gather all of those unique and special stories together. It will be fun to hear the different tales and adventures that got this society to where we are now. Something tells me we’ve had some fun on that trip. As I’ve said before this is your newsletter. Let me know what you want to see. I’d like to send a special thanks to my ace sports reporter, Chris Hayes. I look forward to more tales from the pitch as the new season begins. Kevin Patrick Dowd
From the President
One of my earliest memories of the Society was watching my dad line up floats, convertible antique cars and marching bands down Ave B for the St. Patrick’s Day parade. That line up went on for blocks!!! Beggin’ him the whole time to find me a spot in the parade. He always did. My dad, Terry McDonald, is a past president,1980-82, as well as 1984 Irishman of the Year. I’m filled with memories of stealing all my dad’s medals, making Irish Stew at St. Peter’s St. Joseph’s, building the thatched roof cottage in our back yard for the Folklife Festival and all the news worthy St. Patrick’s Day parties in King William. These plus so many other memories are deeply embedded, not only in my childhood, but also in the time I got to spend with my father growing up. I left the society to “mature” but quickly returned and served as: • Part of the 40th Anniversary Gala committee • Alamo Wreath laying Ceremony Co-Chair • Social/volunteer events chair • Parade Grand Marshal • Board Member and Officer. I now continue my service as your 2015-2016 President and I’m honored to serve during such a special time: Our 50th Anniversary. Two of my goals this year are to see more members involved and to increase the City’s awareness of Irish Heritage in San Antonio. Working with a highly motivated Board, we are focused on promoting the Society’s mission in many ways. Through: • Volunteer activities • Family friendly member social events • Increased attendance at our March events • Educational and cultural collaborations • Public relations campaign. We will also form the 50th Anniversary event committee soon. Do you want to help? To hear the latest, and there will be a lot going on this year, I invite you to our board meetings every second Thursday at the Beethoven Halle at 7:30pm. All members are welcome to attend!
Harp History
I was fascinated the first time I was at our Installation and saw this beautiful wood Claddagh pass from one president of the society to the other. I asked the three Ws, what, where, when, but no one seemed to have that information. It was passed on from one president to the next because “we always do it this way.” Just recently I found this bad copy of a newspaper article and photo from, I’m guessing, Ireland. Eleanor Beck, Harp president, was with other members on a “fact finding mission” in 1990. Mr. Richard Quinn’s Jewellers did a wonderful job. I think 2016 would be a good time to do another “fact finding mission” to Galway. Any travel folks out there want to go? Below is our new Prez, Melissa Schulz, with the Claddagh and below a close up of the plaque with the date.
May joy and peace surround you, contentment latch your door, and happiness be with you now and bless you evermore! Melissa Schulz www.harpandshamrock.org
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Our 9th Annual Halfway to Saint
Can you believe it has been nine years since we started this? The idea was borrowed from some friends of ours and seemed like a good fit for our society. Now it has grown and absorbed our board installation and an Irish stew cook-off and Irish soda bread competition. Every year we’re growing and attracting more interest.
In August some members of the Harp and Shamrock branched out of our usual area to go northwest to participate in the Kerr County Celtic Festival 2015. This two-day festival celebrates all things Celtic and we were invited to bring our unique brand of Irish and Irish-Texan information and fun to the show. Should this be an annual event?
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www.harpandshamrock.org
Patrick’s Day Cook-off ‘n Hooley
A very big Thank You to all the stew cooks, soda bread bakers, volunteers and guests who made the 9th annual “Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day” a rousing success. Thanks to the Beethoven staff who go above and beyond to help. Congratulations to the winners of the competition and raffle. See you next year, September 17, 2016.
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Book Review
The Keeners By Maura D. Shaw
Movie Review
“’71” Written by Gregory Burke (born 1968) is a Scottish playwright and this is his first film. ‘71 stays true to its factThe inherent joy that the main based origins of the Troubles character holds deep in her heart while remaining as gripping as parallels the heart of the Irish a well crafted action thriller. people. Even though this story Voted one of the best films of portrays one of the toughest times the Troubles by the Belfast Film in Irish history. We begin our story Festival. The plot centers on a in 1846 the first year that the potato young British soldier who is acblight hit everyone hard, country wide, but the darkest cidentally abandoned by his unit following a riot on the streets times are still to come. The novelist does a good job of Belfast. Unable to tell friend of keeping this tough story moving and entertaining. from foe, raw recruit Private Gary Hook (played by Jack When our protagonists come to America they quickly O’Connell) battles to survive and find his way to safety get into hardworking jobs but start to fight the injustice through a disorienting landscape while encountering the of horrible work conditions and unscrupulous bosses. presence of the IRA, Loyalists and the Military Reaction This book takes you from Ireland’s Great Hunger to the Force (MRF), a British Army unit. At one point a young United States establishment of trade unions and workProtestant boy brings him to a local pub where he glimpses ers rights. An epic journey well told. a Loyalist group constructing a bomb under the guid©2004 Medallion Press, Inc. ance of the MRF. Hook steps outside before the explosion destroys the building and the boy. He flees once more into An Historical, Environmen- the dark streets of Belfast. I highly recommend this movie.
tal and Cultural Atlas of County Donegal Edited by Jim Mac Laughlin and Seán Beattie
More from the Archives...
Here is a book worthy of any cocktail table. The sheer depth of information is encyclopedic. Wonderful pictures adorn the pages through out and every section of Donegal history is explored. This is a tome that tells the tales of Donegal from pre-history to modern times. Over 50 writers contributed to this enormous volume. The stories take you through the prehistoric archaeology of Donegal to the tough political times and on to the changing face of modern agriculture. The topics are architecture, poetry, novelists and artist. They have stories about the Irish language, as well as singers and songwriters. I found the chapter on the early years of the GAA and soccer fascinating. There is truly something of interest for everyone. I hope As I make my way through the boxes of Harp memorabilia I this might inspire and challenge the other counties to came across this great picture. It is possibly the last time the three founders were all together. From left to right we have take this deep and introspective look at themselves. Professor Sean Burke, Col. Joseph McShane and Patrick Dowd. ©2013 Cork University Press This was at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade 1986 in downtown SA. Distributed in the U.S. by Stylus Publishing I wonder what the lads would think of us now? 6
SAGAC News
By Chris A. Hayes Since ESPN failed to report on it… The San Antonio Gaelic Athletics Club finished its months-long Avoca Champions Cup games in late September. Four Gaelic football teams, each consisting of SAGAC members, competed for the prize. They were “De Bexars,” “Dullahan GFC,” “The Irish Citizen Army” and “M.A.S.H.” The team captains were Chris King, Rick Ortiz, Jaco Paz and Sean Hipp respectively. The games were played on the University of the Incarnate Word’s upper field usually every other Saturday afternoon. The final game was played between Dullahan GFC and M.A.S.H. with the latter taking home the Cup (Picture at right). Final score: 10-9. In addition to football, SAGAC has a newly formed hurling team led by Kevin McManus. It has its first official match in Austin on December 13 hosted by the Celtic Cowboys. SAGAC will play both football and hurling at Irish Fest New Orleans in the eponymous Big Easy on October 17. Also in attendance will be an abundance of Irish music, dancing, arts and crafts and a whole lot of fun. The festival is hosted by the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Recently, besides playing football and hurling, SAGAC participated in the YMCA’s “Siclovia” held downtown. This regular event encourages walking, running and biking. SAGAC also hosted its fifth-annual golf scramble at Silverhorn Golf Club of Texas. Chris King was the event organizer. The group will also attend the Texas Ceili for a Cause at St. Pius X Family Center Hall on November 6. The proceeds of this evening of Irish dancing go to support the Killeshandra Nuns Retirement Community in Dublin. If you or someone you know are interested in playing Gaelic football or hurling, please check us out. The San Antonio Gaelic Athletics Club is on Facebook, Twitter and at sanantoniogac.org.
The San Antonio Pipes and Drums, above, as well as the Inishfree Irish Dancers, below, did another outstanding job of entertaining the Halfway crowds.
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The Harp & Shamrock Society of Texas Newsletter Editor P.O. Box 15306 San Antonio, TX 78212
Diana Jordan, past president Dana Goodman and past Irishman of the Year Eileen Faught took the lead on our Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day this year. More Pictures inside.
Cultural
Educational
Civic
Patriotic
Social
Thank Our Sponsors
November 6th Ceili For a Cause Information on page 7. 7th Veterans Day Parade *Volunteer opportunity! Watch for an e-mail blast. 12th Board Meeting
December
10th Board Meeting 12th Harp Christmas Party th 13 2015 Hurling All Stars Exhibition Games St. Edwards University, Austin, TX Information on our Facebook page. 19th HEB Feast of Sharing *Volunteer opportunity! Please check out the calendar on our web site!
Waxy O’Connor’s Irish Pub Lion & Rose Restaurant & Pub McCombs Foundation
Shamrockeditor@gmail.com
www.harpandshamrock.org ©2015 Dowd Ranch Publishing