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A n I r i sh C h r i st m as Gr eat Seat s O n Sal e N ow !
AS SEEN ON PBS! A per f ect f am ily even t ! Take a journey through Christmas in Ireland with superb dancing, singing and Irish traditional music celebrating the international spirit of the Holiday Season! An Irish Christmas, features an award-winning cast of Irish dancers led by World Champion Dancers Scott Doherty (Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, Rockin?Road to Dublin) Tyler Schwartz (Magic of the Dance, Gaelforce Dance, Celtic Fyre) and Connor Reider in a memorable night that sparkles with the charm and magic that only this festive time of year can bring. Celebrate the great tradition of butter making, chase the wren on St. Stephen?s Day, draw down the half door for spectacular dance, enjoy superb music-making and singing of Christmas carols in an unforgettable Irish night! Songs spinning out of the mists and into the familiar Silent Night, Little Drummer Boy and Carol of the Bells, and superb music of the pipes, flutes, fiddles, and bodhrรกns are just the beginning of this great Irish night! Not to be Missed! Ireland at its best!
I NFO & FOR TI CK ETS CL I CK HERE
"... Genuinely astonishing ... electric!" ? The Village News "An overwhelming success on every level? glorious music, dance, perfect stage craft! \ A first rate production that captures the Irish soul of Christmas!" The Irish Arts and Entertainment
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Ir ish Ar t s & En t er t ain m en t
An In Dept h Look at t h e Tr adit ion s an d M essage of An Ir ish Ch r ist m as
Decem ber , 2017
About Our Format Th e IA&E is n ow DIGITAL an d Print on Demand. We ar e also a WEB PORTAL as m ost LINKS & GRAPHICS ar e act ive! Ju st h over over an d click
Irish Arts & Entertainment Th e opin ion s expr essed by
ou r w r it er s ar e t h eir ow n an d do n ot n ecessar ily con vey t h ose of t h is m agazin e, ou r pu blish er , edit or or st af f . Publisher & Managing Editor Tw o f in e Ir ish M u sic an d Dan ce con cer t pr odu ct ion s ar e pr odu ced by Ker r y Ir ish Pr odu ct ion s each year . Both An Irish Christmas and Saint Patrick's Day in Ireland came to life under the direction, genius and relentless dedication of Irish native Margaret O'Carroll. Great respect for the culture and traditions is conveyed by each production number and routine; the aim of O'Carroll and Kerry is to create an exceptional authentic Irish memory as well as to delight and entertain the audience. Abou t Ker r y Ir ish Pr odu ct ion s In c. Kerry Irish Productions Inc. is an Irish owned production company based in Los Angeles. The company promotes and celebrates Irish culture and its rich traditions through the medium of music, dance, song and storytelling. The company's Irish productions are presented in performing arts centers throughout the United States. Kerry Irish Productions Inc. has partnered with PBS in multiple televised presentations of An Irish Christmas. Further: Kerry Irish Productions Inc. provides entertainment for corporate events throughout the United States, participating in over 60 high profile corporate events to date!
Jam es M M cDon ou gh Writers
Elisa Hast in gs Jim M cDon ou gh Bar bar a Sin ger Pat r ick Weld Sales Reps Jim & Pat r ick Layout & Typos Jim M cDon ou gh & Fr eelan cer s Con t act Us Via: Ir ish M issive@gm ail.com Jim 's Cell: 951 216-1493 All Copyrights 2017 McDonough Media
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T h e am azi n g I r i sh m u si c an d d an ce w i l l t r an sp o r t y o u t o a f ab l ed t i m e an d p l ace! An Ir ish Ch r ist m as: Conceived, produced and directed by Margaret O' Carroll owner of Kerry Irish Productions Inc. Central to her work is the forging of the path between the old and the new; incorporating old Irish traditions reflecting various aspects of Irish life into her stage work, creating an unbreakable bond between the old ways and the new -one emerges from the other! "It is extraordinary how closely connected we are to our past. We are a product of so much that came before us and our traditions are part of that inheritance.There is a value to these traditions. We are craftsmen and craftswomen who carry the stories to the next generation through every-day events such as storytelling, song, music, dance and our daily rituals. Folk theatre is the protector, the interpreter, the narrator the pulse, the heartbeat of these traditions".Margaret O' Carroll
and uniqueness of our traditional ways that play such an important part of life in Ireland.
M em ber s of Th e Ker r y Dan ce Tr ou pe.
Sh oem ak in g:
The Kerry Dance Troupe was established by Kerry Irish Productions Inc. with the intention of promoting and celebrating Irish culture and its rich traditions through the medium of dance and introducing these often forgotten Irish traditions to new audiences. These ?ambassadors?of Irish dance work with KIPI on various aspects of Irish folk-dance, incorporating old Irish dance styles into modern Irish dance styles and thus forging the path between the old and the new. Through this process the best of ethnic and modern Ireland is represented, exposing audiences to the beauty, value, passion
Every village and town in Ireland had a shoemaker (An Gréasaí Bróg). The shoemaker worked from morning ?till night protecting the feet of all! He lengthened the life of shoes and boots, made new shoes and boots to order and prided himself on his fine work as would any craftsman. Leather was the principle material used. We honor their rhythmic craft and in so doing remind you too that the dancer who wears these shoes is indeed a great dancer!
The Dance Master ?s Shoes: A pair of dance shoes become the embodiment of not only all that was lost in Ireland's long and troubled history, but everything that was saved - everything that is still cherished in the Irish folk traditions. The dance master 's shoes, in a sense, symbolize the wealth of Irish culture. These are magical shoes, they have a life of their own and they take us on our journey HISTORY OF DANCES FEATURED Fir ew or k s Dan ce: The great Irish tradition of the dance-off is expressed in this dance. The male and female dancers display their ?wares?and brilliance in the dance and finish with a common step reminding us all that both are equally skilled!
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Ir ish Ch r ist m as Tr adit ion s
ADVENT, the Countdown to Christmas In Irish America and Ireland, Advent begins on the fourth Sunday prior to ChristmasDay, or the Sunday which falls closest to November 30. The season of Advent lasts through Christmas Eve, or December 24. When Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday, it is the last or fourth Sunday of Advent. Irish Families, both Catholic and Protestant, in America as well as Ireland observed and celebrated Advent quite strongly until just the last twenty or so years. A decline in adherence to traditional religious practices in many Irish families has taken its toll on this wonderful part of the Christmas Season.
Growing up in Ohio as part of a very traditional and religious Irish Catholic tribe, Advent was important in our family and household rituals. The Advent Wreath and Blessed Candles were placed on the Dining Room t/le and lit each Sunday in December. It was a delight and helped everyone get in the Spirit of Christmas. The whole idea of the countdown added dramatically to the anticipation of Christmas Eve and the entire Christmas Season. For denominations that celebrate Advent, the holiday marks the beginning of the church's liturgical year. Advent is primarily observed in churches that adhere to an ecclesiastical calendar of liturgical seasons, feasts, memorials, fasts, and holy days. Those churches include Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican / Episcopalian, Lutheran, Methodist and Presbyterian.
Christians all believe that the Season of Advent is a period of repentance and celebration. Christians spend time in spiritual preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ at Christmas. Believers remember not only Christ's first coming to earth as a human baby, but also celebrate his continued presence with us today through the Holy Spirit. Advent is also a time to anticipate His return. Second Coming of Christ. The word "advent" from the Latin "adventus" which means "arrival" or "coming," but with an emphasis on the arrival of something or someone of great significance. Such as the visit of a King or a Festival! The lighting of an Advent Wreath was also Pagan traditional and the current Christian custom came to us from 16th-century Germany. BELOW: A t r adit ion al w r eat h h as t h r ee pu r ple an d on e pin k can dle. In t h e cen t er of t h e w r eat h sit s a w h it e can dle, som et im es called t h e " Ch r ist Can dle" .
ADVENT CALENDAR DATES 2017 -
Decem ber 3 First Sunday of Advent Decem ber 10 Second Sunday of Advent Decem ber 17 Third Sunday of Advent Decem ber 24 Fourth Sunday of Advent Finis page 9
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ADVENT continued The ADVENT WREATH is usually decorated with evergreen branches, holly or flowers; around the the wreath are placed four candles: three purple and one pink candle. In the center of the wreath sits a white candle, sometimes called the "Christ Candle". On the first Sunday of Advent, the first purple candle is lit. Named the "Prophecy Candle" for the prophets like Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Jesus Christ. Then for three more Sundays following, another candle is lit. On the second Sunday of Advent, the second purple candle, called the "Bethlehem Candle," is lit. This candle represents love and symbolizes Christ's manger. On the third Sunday of Advent, the pink (or rose) candle is lit. This Sunday is called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is a Latin word meaning "rejoice." The change from purple to pink signifies the transition in season from repentance to celebration. The pink candle is called the "Shepherds Candle" and represents joy. The last purple candle that is fired up is the Angels Candle.
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It is lit on the fourth Sunday of Advent and represents the coming age of peace and spreading the GOOD NEWS! Traditionally, on Christmas Eve, the white center candle is lit. This " Ch r ist Can dle" represents the life of Jesus Christ that has come to light the world. It represents purity. The whole idea of the countdown added dramatically to the anticipation of Christmas Eve and enhanced the entire Christmas Season. Let's hope, Dear Readers, that we can spark a Revival of this cherished tradition!
Not e f r om t h e Pu blish er : Merry Christmas to all of our friends and readers. All of us at PubGuide.com and the Irish Arts and Entertainment wish you all the best and hope you have a grand Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year! Special thanks to Patrick Weld for his research and thoughts on this feature. Patrick, who grew up near Brisbane in Australia also celebrated a long Advent and Christmas Season as part of his Irish and British Isles heritage. We found a lot on the internet about this topic and left a lot of active links for our Digital Readers.
Jim McDonough; Publisher
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A FEW COL D NI GHTS I N '58 By Ed O'Neill My Dad decided to sell Christmas trees to make some extra money for presents. He had a partner named Guy Petruzzi who worked with him at Truscon Steel. They pooled their money - whatever they invested they couldn't afford -- but the idea wasn't to get rich. Just get a little ahead. There were five of us kids and counting mom we were seven. I don't think guy and his wife, Gayle, had kids he was probably just helping dad out. They bought about a hundred scotch pines, the only kind my father would buy. When he was a kid they never had a real tree. The thing they used he nicknamed "The Tobie" because it looked like a cheap, thin cigar sold during the depression. It was made of wood and was about as tall as a hat rack. Had ten or twelve fold out little arms up and down the length of it. They stored it in the closet and when Christmas time came, would take it out, put a few strings of lights and a box of icicles on it. My dad hated it and swore if he ever had a family he would always get a real tree. Which he did. Sometimes we'd go all over Youngstown before he?d find the perfect one. They rented a lot owned by Ralph and Carmen Naples right across from their restaurant, The Golden Dawn, on Arrow Street. My dad and Guy set a fair price; I think it was something like five to eight bucks a tree and they were in business. Now they only had the lot for a week so they needed to sell about twenty a day to make a profit. Well, the first two days they didn't do so good. Sold seven. But they figured as it got closer to Christmas, things would pick up. And it was cold. No business at all during the day, because the men were working and most women were home. So they had to be there at night ? 5pm to 10pm. And it was cold.
They'd stand out there for hours in the lot with a little string of lights around it, and a little fire going, but it was bitter cold. By the time Christmas Eve came they had over half their stock left so my brother Tim and I were recruited to help. I was twelve and he was ten and for an hour or so we were all there together. Only sold eight. My dad and Guy said they were going to go over to The Dawn for a sandwich. Told us to hold down the fort and sell any tree on the lot for a dollar. My brother and I stood there for two more hours and never sold a single one. We were nearly frozen stiff so I went over to see what was taking Big Ed and Guy so long, and when I saw them at the bar, I knew they were drunk and had given up the Christmas tree business. Meanwhile my brother Tim saw some guy dragging a tree off the lot and he yelled and chased him till the poor guy dropped it and ran off. We always felt bad about that. Fella just needed a tree and didn't have a buck for one. So we finally got dad and Guy out of The Dawn and went home for Christmas. Dad never tried any business again.
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Irish Christmas Traditions The Wren Boys The Candle in the Window "Little Christmas"
Midnight Mass
12 Days &
St. Stephen's Day
Wren Boy's are a lot of fun and have long been celebrated in rural and the West of Ireland! This Christmas custom has in fact been revived in recent years with processions being held on St. Stephens Day even in Dublin and other locations. One of the reasons, we are such big fans o AN IRISH CHRISTMAS is because the Wren Dance and legend is told so well! There are several legends regarding the 'Wren Boys'. "One such tale tells of a plot in a village against some British soldiers during Penal times. The soldiers were surrounded and were about to be ambushed when a group of wrens pecked on their drums raising the alarm. The plot failed and forever more the poor wren became known as 'The Devil's Bird' in Irish lore. Continued on Pg 25
Tr ue Thomas, the I r ish Stor yteller, is well known to our reader s and to thousands of his fans throughout the US. This time of year, a magical
In Ir elan d t oday, Th e Wr en Boys Celebr at ion an d pr ocession is st ill im por t an t especially in sm all t ow n s su ch as Din gle
tr ansfor mation happens and he becomes SANTA TRUE! He has made hundreds of appear ances at var ious Fair s and Festivals throughout Califor nia and in many other states. Check with him to see if
he can drop in to your Holiday Gather ing this year as he has a few choice dates open! Tr ue is also an antiquar ian, blogger and exper t in Folk Tales and Tr aditions of Chr istmas around the Wor ld!
BOOKINGS & INFO: w w w.san t at r u e.com
C
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ABOUT OUR ENHANCED FORMAT Th e IA&E is n ow DIGITAL an d Print on Demand. Th e r eal dif f er en ce is t h at w h ile r eadin g on lin e. w e ar e also a WEB PORTAL as m ost LINKS & GRAPHICS ar e act ive...
Ju st h over over an d click !
FIFTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Th u r sday, Decem ber 21 SHA M I LY HA PPY HOUR 3:PM to 6:PM
Su per b Sh ow St ar t s @ 8PM NO COVER
Fr ee SHAM ROCK Com m em or at ive Sh ot Glass!
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Th e Celt ic Cam er a We are here looking for you!
ABOVE: Acclaim ed Ir ish Act r ess Fion n u la Flan agan an d Get Sh or t y st ar Ch r is O'Dow d
Deir dr e O?Neill M ach in , Co-Fou n der , Ir elan d Week , M ar jor ie DeHey Daleo, Pr odu cer , M ar jor ie M u ldow n ey, Vice Pr esiden t f or Developm en t , Th e Ir elan d Fu n ds. LA's s ow n Hon or ar y Ir ish Cou n sel speak s t o Pop Up Ar t Sh ow au dien ce at LM U
LA Based Ir ish Ar t ist Br ian Boylan w it h THE STRIPES at LM U. Th e Ir ish Rock er s w er e on e of t h e sen sat ion al sin gin g gr ou ps f eat u r ed du r in g Ir elan dWeek ! SEEKING SUBM ISSIONS! The CELTIC CAM ERA Feature is always looking for great content. Submit a picture to us with names & a blurb about the time and place.. We will give you a photo credit and enter your name in our current drawing for tickets , promotional items and Irish Goodies! Hi Res JPEGS, please.. E mail to : ir ish m issive@gm ail.com
L - R: Fin n Tiim on ey, Ir ish Fair Volu n t eer , 2017 SoCal Rose of Tr alee f or Sou t h er n Calif or n ia, Clair e M c M an am on w it h Ir ish Fair CEO Gr if f in Healyw it h Clar a M u r ph y, t h e 2016 SoCal Rose Con t in u ed on page 21
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RECAP & CONGRATULATIONS! Th e Fir st An n u al Ir elan d Week m ay w ell go dow n as on e of t h e best at t en ded an d w ell or gan ized in au gu r al even t s in Los An geles Hist or y. Th er e m u st h ave been a glit ch or t w o bu t t h e pu blic saw an d sen sed n ot h in g bu t on e of t h e ver y best an d am azin gly eclect ic ser ies of Ir ish t h em ed con cer t s, pr esen t at ion s, sem in ar s, an d sh ow s EVER!! IRELANDWEEK?S CONNECT353 was a hit by any and all standards! During a week of firsts, the celebration of Irish business and culture brought a star-studded, powerhouse conference to its centerpiece, connect353.
then took the stage, sharing their experiences
filming Star Wars: Last Jedi in Ireland. ?We had a great experience working with the locals at every location,? said Johnson, while Bergman continued with, ?the disruption we caused to these small towns on the #StarWarsTheLastJedi shoot was huge but the locals always supported us.?
Taking place at Los Angeles?famed Regal Cinemas @LA Live, connect353 attracted an extraordinary group of industry leaders - from speakers to attendees. The presentations opened with Ir elan d an d t h e Wor ld Econ om y: In t er n at ion al Tr ade, Fin an ce an d t h e Br exit Ef f ect with Irish Minister of State Michael D?Arcy TD and Irish Ambassador to the USA, Dan Mulhall. Minister D?Arcy noted, ?creativity links Ireland and Los Angeles closely,? a unanimous sentiment held by all connect353 speakers. Director Rian Johnson and producer Ram Bergman
L-R: St ar War s: Th e Last Jedi dir ect or Rian Joh n son an d pr odu cer Ram Ber gm an
Continued on page 16...
Dr op By Soon f or an in cr edible select ion of Ch r ist m as Cr ack er s, Im por t ed Can dy Tr eat s an d Gif t s, Select ion Boxes an d All
Your Traditional Favourites!
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Ken O ?M al l ey 20 18 I r el an d Tou r Set f or th e N or th an d M i d l an d s of I r el an d The tour will begin at Dublin Airport on Saturday April 21st and will proceed on to Carrickmacross in Co. Monaghan, about forty miles north west of Dublin and will include day trips to different sites in the area, including some of the Ancient East, megalithic, early Christian and medieval sites of interest including Trim Castle and the Hill of Tara. The hotel, where we will stay for three nights, has a golf course, a pool and spa for those who wish to take time out for a round of golf or just relax for an afternoon. Next the tour moves north to the city of Derry with a stop on the way at the: Ulster Irish American Folk Park.
Once in Derry the group will check into the City Hotel for dinner and perhaps a stroll around the streets of this still divided city. The following morning will include a guided walking tour of the more important historical city sites. The rest of the day will be for sightseeing and relaxing in this lovely small city.
After our two night stay in Derry, the tour moves on to the beautiful Glens of Antrim and into Belfast for the remaining three nights. Traveling across the Northern coast where breathtaking scenery awaits, the group will visit the famous Giants Causeway in Co. Antrim; time permitting there just may be a visit to the Bushmills Distillery. In Belfast we will visit the Titanic Museum and dry dock where she was built and launched. We will have an inside look and feel for who she was, who built her and what happened. We will also see the Falls Road and the Shankhill Road, the Catholic and Protestant divide, with the famous murals depicting the history and the struggle of these two peoples who are working together today to find the mutual respect and peace so many wish for. We will visit the bustling city center, the outdoor St. George?s Markets, where you can buy almost anything...great street food, live music and listen to the lilt of that Belfast accent! The final night in Belfast, we will have a gathering with some great music and travel the following morning down to Dublin Airport to return to the USA.
EX PL O RE & L EA RN A B O U T t h e REA L I REL A N D W I T H
K en O 'M al l ey All of this is available for land only cost of: $2400 for double occupancy and $2800 for single travelers. This includes breakfast and dinner each day at each hotel, travel by luxury coach and admission for destinations requiring entry fees.
Cl i ck H er e f or Det ai l s: w w w .k en om al l ey.com
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Second installment :
"In Dublin's Fair City,
I r ish Tr avel and M usings
Where the Girls are
By Elisa Hastings
so pretty I first set my eyes on Sweet Molly Malone? "
These words seem to flow when you arrive in Dublin and begin to wander the streets .It might just be me;I?m one of those people who is strongly connected with music and if someone says a word or line from a song I instinctively (and probably irritatingly) start singing.Example, on the trips to Arizona I have Glen Campbell?s ?By the Time I get to Phoenix? on the tip of my tongue.While visiting Liverpool at the docks, I had ?Ferry Cross the Mersey? by Gerry Marsden?s (Gerry and the Pacemakers) in my head.Before I knew it the I was singing the great ballad while watching the ferry cross the Mersey River.The list goes on. Why do I mention this? Dublin is a great city in which the art and music, history and culture are always there, always either out in the open with the hundreds of buskers or just bubbling under the surface in every shop, park, restaurant or historic site. Like many capital cities, Dublin has an international vibe. There are visitors and tourists from all over the world and with the EU it has attracted a large population of immigrants from a variety of places. A large portion of the staff in hotels and restaurants appear to be Eastern Europe. There are a huge variety of ethnic restaurants reflecting the variety of countries represented ? from Middle Eastern to South American, from Japanese, Korean and Thai to Southern (US) barbecue. There are new establishments that reflect a fusion, a fabulous mixture of tastes that represent many who have come to Ireland to study, to work and to explore this colorful culture and history. One that comes to mind is Saburitto's, a chain of sandwich shops that combine Middle Eastern and Mexican and make ?falafel burritos?. I could do whole piece on food but space is limited so my recommendation is to just walk around and let
Th e icon ic st at u e of M ar y M alon e can be f ou n d on Gr af t on St r eet in Du blin
your eyes and senses be your guide! That way you can see, and even better smell the aromas of what is happening in their kitchen.In addition you can get the idea of how popular it is; are there many tourists (not always a good indicator) or are there lots of locals (which we often use as an indicator, even at home. If it?s Vietnamese cuisine and the table are filled with Vietnamese diners, you know it?s pretty authentic.) Dublin has its ?must see? sights; some examples are the Guinness Brewery; great fun and very interesting, particularly is you?re a beer fan. Topping off the tour (a little ?Guinness pouring humor) is a free tasting in the Gravity Bar, a 360 degree panoramic view of Dublin and the surrounding hillsides. There are several whiskey distilleries that offer tours and tastings. One to mention is Teeling?s. There are many others. You can explore online or ask at any pub or shop; most bar tenders and patrons are more than happy to recommend their favorites. If you like whiskey or the history of it, the Whiskey Museum is a good way to spend a few hours Guides (who are most likely sales reps, but they are very well-informed and make it interesting and fun) go into great detail explaining where it comes from and many other tidbits. I learned that WHISKEY comes from the Gaelic word meaning ?Water of Life?
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Sigh t s an d Tou r s of Du blin , 2017 The Whiskey Museum Tour finishes in a tasting room ? naturally- and at the end you feel like quite the expert and connoisseur .It was my husband?s birthday and the staff sang to him and he got an extra shot. We found that such warmth and generosity flowed throughout Ireland.
Another popular destination is Trinity College and The Book Of Kells.It is definitely worth seeing.However a strong recommendation is to go as early as possible. It became extremely crowded and there isn?t really a system to follow. Fortunately all of the artifacts were also enlarged and displayed photographically.I was much more impressed and moved by the adjacent library that had rows after rows of classic and original writings of all types, along with busts of many of the contributors such asJonathan Swift and Oscar Wilde. If you?re a reader or writer or history buff or just like interesting displays of import contributions I heartily recommend the Dublin Writer ?s Museum.It?s just north of the River Liffey and it?s in a very unassuming block of offices.There are no billboards or marquees so you have to look carefully.We , in fact, went into the Dublin Writer ?s Guild Office by mistake but they very kindly redirected us, as it happens all the time apparently and on the flip side too. It?s quite extensive so leave yourself plenty of time.It moves you through chronologically and covers many different periods, in literature and
politics.It uses an audio guide which gives very comprehensive descriptions. It finishes in what is much more than just a gift shop. It has a very complete library of everything from picture books and reference material to dramatic writings and poetry publications from classic writers like James Joyce and Joseph Mary Plunkett to the moderns like Seamus Heaney and Evane Boland.
On e of Ir elan d's Nat ion al Tr easu r es, t h e Book Of Kells dat es f r om ar ou n d 800AD
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CHECK ONLINE FOR SCHEDULES AND SPECIAL OFFERS w w w.et h iopian air lin es.com
Golden h air Pr esen t ed by Br ian The innovative concert was a spectacular night when composer and Golden Globe nominee Brian Byrne married live orchestral music to the immortal words of James Joyce performed by celebrity guests; Victoria Smurfit (Once Upon A Time), Bill Cantos, Keith Harkin (Celtic Thunder), ChloĂŤ Agnew (Celtic Women), Windy Wagner, Sara Gazarek, Sonya Macari, Kristina Train and Colin Devlin. Special acknowledgement to LA City Councilmember Mitch O?Farrell for his generous support.
CELTIC CAMERA GoldenHair Coverage Continues on next page...
Goldenhair took place at the stunning Barnsdall Theater in Hollywood in front of a sold out audience. Guests included; Fionnula Flanagan, Ambassador Dan Mulhall,Consul General Robert O?Driscoll, Culver City Mayor Mehaul O?Leary, Christine Peters from the City of LA, actress Olivia Tracey, actor Keith Marron, actress Rachel Rath, IrelandWeek cofounders Deirdre O?Neill Machin and nBuzz O?Neill . , Am bassador Dan M u lh all, Right: Fion u la Flan agan
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Abou t Golden Hair
Celtic Camer a
?I hope listeners hear something that moves them or makes them stop for even a minute to hear the beauty in the words of Joyce?s words,? shares Byrne. ?This was James Joyce as a very young man, writing in a very different style that he became famous for, so if it were to open the door to James Joyce?s works, like it did for me, then that would be nice.?
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Decem ber , 2017
Brian Byrne
Top Righ t : Br ian Byr n e, Com poser ,Golden h air Cen t er : M u sician s an d Sin ger s all gave an in cr edible per f or m an ce! Bot t om Righ t : Ch r is O?Dow d, Act or , Deir dr e O?Neill M ach in , & Bu zz O?Neill, Co-Fou n der s of r elan d Week Bot t om lef t : Am bassador Dan M u lh all, an d Teelin g?s Repr esen t at ive Ean n a Ryan
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Th e An n u al CELTIC CHRISTM AS BUYING GUIDE We have lost track of exactly which Annual Celtic Buying Guide this is! We do know that we have done this feature many times before and we have always gotten some positive comments so we are hoping to continue our good track record! It is not all that easy to find a special gift for all those people on your gift list.; the trick is to find something unusual that will be appreciated and remembered. The other reality we face is that most of us probably have too much stuff but that can open up a few avenues of opportunity! a spate of recent articles and studies have suggested that people might well find more happiness in EXPERIENCES than in possessions so that gives us a little more to work with too. Finally, in the interest of full disclosure, we are duty bound to try to plug our advertisers and Irish/Celtic Culture in general and PUBS in particular (After all this writer 's Alter Ego is The Pub Guy) but we figure you know that already and that is why you are here.
More: w w w.clear yir ish dan ce.com The Cleary Irish Dance School holds classes all around the LA area but there are other fine schools in Orange and Ventura Counties. The Celtic Arts Center offers classes in Irish Dancing too!
Th e Pu b Exper ien ce Southern California has a lot of incredible pubs and a promise of a meal and some music or just a night out and a couple drinks would be a mighty nice gift. There is something really special about the ambiance, libations and good solid comfort food served at Pubs. Luckily, in LA and Orange County, most Irish and British Pubs are family friendly and a lot of them have separate Dining Rooms! Most pubs now have Gift Cards or Gift Certificates too. If you have a real Pub Aficionado on your list, odds are that one of their favorite pubs has branded merchandise for sale that they would really like and use! Another timely seasonal tip is to tr eat you r self to a pub visit to take the rigors out of tour own Christmas shopping! if you need to hit the malls!
THE IRISH CULTURE EXPERIENCE
Find yer local at:
Back to the concept we mentioned that it is a good idea to share and have experiences rather than more stuff; might we suggest an Irish Cultural Experience.
Sometimes, nothing will suffice except a nice gift, wrapped and placed under the Christmas Tree; we have that covered!
On page 32, there is an ad for AN IRISH CHRISTM AS, and in March, Kerry Irish Productions also produces a series of shows called Sain t Pat r ick 's Day In Ir elan d. Tickets to these shows would be a great gift and one that most people would appreciate and remember. There are several more high caliber Irish Shows on the near horizon, Th e Du blin Ir ish Dan ce Company is coming in the Spring and tickets are already on sale for their show at The Orange County Performing Arts Center and at Cal State, Northridge. Speaking of Irish Dance, if there is a young person on your gift list, some pre-paid Irish Dance lessons might well be an amazing idea..
w w w.pu bgu ide.com
Un iqu e Im por t ed Gif t s
Let's face it, Costco, most online shopping and the like are actually kind of boring and lacking in Celtic Soul! The one exception to that sentiment is:
w w w.m yir ish pr ide.com Anyhow, if you do find it necessary to take the time to visit one of the really great Import Shops scattered around Southern California ; we can heartily recommend a few. of them who have been extraordinairly supportive of our publication for many years! They all carry unusual and one of a kind gifts , food, imported candy , traditional English and Irish goodies such as Christmas Crackers and Selection Boxes.. Look for the ads in this Special Issue and the list with Websit es
an d Lin k s an d a f ew m or e gr eat ideas on Page 31, t h e INSIDE BACK COVER!
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C
Decem ber , 2017
I r i sh Po et r y C o r n er Fo r D ecem b er
L et t i n g Go B y Sean Gu n n i n g When I was a young and handsome lad, I was grabbed and whirled by tipsy Irish women when the cassette tape in the Panasonic played ?Wild Rover? and ?Wild Colonial Boy? in a wallpapered room in West London carpeted with men and women who believed in hard work, family, Catholic mass, and justice; and I accepted the duty of pecks on the cheek from Bridie and Bernie and Kay at the end of the night; and I learned about being a man by listening to the spirit that ran through conversations flowing over and around each other, to the pop of cans of McEwan?s pale ale opening like hundreds of small explosions, and to the clink of glasses filled with Babycham, Jameson, and Johnnie Walker; by traveling back to an earlier time when the room went quiet and John Galvan sang ?The Banks of My Own Lovely Lee? in an untrained, yet tender tenor; by understanding sixty years after 1916, four years after Bloody Sunday, and a few weeks after pub bombings in Guildford and Birmingham, that our little dining room, beside our little kitchen, was home on this Saturday night for men who cut sheet-metal and paved driveways and women who raised families on not much more than perseverance and selflessness was Church for the singing of patriotic songs of freedom, loss, and pain; was a kind of heaven, where my generation first prayed theirs will one day find a way to let go of the prejudices, grudges, and resentments the hardest among them clung to ? on both sides of the Isle so we can build peace, and live in harmony? so we can all be free.
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Thursday, December 7 From 5PM to (PM Manhattan Beach Christmas Art Walk w it h Ir ish Bor n Ar t ist
Br ian Boylan
Si gn ed Pr i n t s an d O r i gi n al s
CALL or TEXT Br ian Dir ect ly f or det ails... 310 970-4619
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WEL L S OF L I FE By Jim McDonough This year was the first time that I ever heard of Giving Tuesday and I heard about it when my good friend Nick Jordan gave me a call asking me if I would consider sending out an E mailing on behalf of the charity that he founded in 2010, Wells of Life. We agreed to do a rush job on a blast for November 28. We also did a promotion on our Facebook Page. Coincidentally, we had already decided to list good place to donate for a Christmas Gift or remembrance. The Weekly Irish E Missive and the Irish Arts & Entertainment have known about and supported the good work of Wells of life since they drilled their first well back in 2010. It is a compelling story worth hearing about with 310 clean and safe water wells already drilled. Thus saving the lives of tens of thousands of children and dramatically improving the lives of many thousands more! Millions of children, most under the age of 5, do not have decent water. Life and Hope flows when a well is installed and so I asked Jordan if he would share with our readers the top three reasons why donating money to help Wells of Life drill more life changing wells would be a good thing! Here is what he said...he is Irish after all so we narrowed it down to only FOUR!
You are really giving Wells of Love... 1. Because bringing water to another person is the most meaningful and long lasting act of service you can offer. Clean water will save a child's life and give them what we would want for our own childrenHope for a bright future. 2. We have 290 villages waiting, asking and praying for water and they need your help today especially. 3. One water well costs $6000 and provided water to as many as 1000 people. Your gift today will provide water for the next 25 years. 4. If you knew you could save a child's life for $6.00 ...what would you do ? Please save as many lives as you can afford with a gift of $50.00 or more or less, whatever is possible
Con dit ion s ar e br u t al! Th is lit t le gu y n eeds ou r h elp.
Ed and the Boys belting out their usual hits while adding a little Christmas Fun, "some naughty and some nice"! "Twelve Days of Christmas" will never be the same!
Th e Red Lepr ech au n Ir ish Pu b 4000 E An ah eim Lon g Beach , CA
w w w.r edlepr ech au n .com
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ON-GOING...
M ONDAY NIGHT
WORKSHOPS & SEISIÚN Fr ee in t r odu ct or y w or k sh ops in ... In t r odu ct ion t o Ir ish Lan gu age at 7:pm In t r odu ct ion t o Ir ish Céilí Dan ce at 8:pm [Open t o all levels! EVERY M on day n igh t ! Ou r Fam ou s Celt ic Seisiú n 8:00-11:00pm A t r adit ion al Celt ic Jam Session w h er e local m u sician s r aise t h e r oof !] Com e dow n an d en joy Sou t h er n Calif or n ia's lon gest r u n n in g t r adit ion al Celt ic m u sic jam session . It 's a gr an d t im e f or all! Did w e m en t ion it 's FREE t o m em ber s an d t h e pu blic? CAC @ Th e M ayf low er Clu b 11110 Vict or y Bou levar d Nor t h Hollyw ood, CA w w w.celt icar t scen t er .com
Christmas Greetings to all our friends and readers! Please LIKE & SHARE Pu b Gu ide.com !
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w w w.t h esh am r ock ir ish pu ban deat er y.com
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IRISH AMERICAN BOOK REVIEW
DA M ICK By Billy O'Conner Da Mick tells the story of a Bronx firefighter, and club owner, who after his wife?s death embarks on a self-indulgent, abusive spiral of alcohol, drugs and women. Morally rudderless, Mick Mullan flirts with salvation when a beautiful Irish-Catholic fiddler enters his life. Erin Callahan is everything he?s not, religious, anchored and ethical, but because of his arrogant Godlessness and infidelity, Erin can?t reconcile her love for him and his best friend, Matt, fills the void. This dramatic, biographical and prodigally generous tale tackles this love triangle and Mullan?s inner moral battle. It introduces readers to a subplot flecked with flawed yet gallant firefighters who attempt to reform their errant Brother even as they risk their lives laboring in one of New York City?s busiest yet funniest firehouses. The tension between Mick, Erin and Matt and the realistic fire scenes will keep readers riveted and wanting more with every turn of the page. This witty love story turns deadly serious when Erin and Mick reach an impasse that can only be broken by such a cataclysmic force as 9/11. The most poignant and powerful chapters appear in the novel?s fiery conclusion at The World Trade Center.
I r ish Chr istmas Tr aditions Continued from Page 25
Th e Celebr at ion of t h e Tw elve Days of Ch r ist m as goes back to the earliest written records of the Christian Church. The Council of Tours in 567AD laid out some ground rules for observing the Christmas Season and the intertwined Feast days which are now pretty much ignored. In today's more secular world with Christmas and the religious and spiritual meaning of the Season on the wane most people are unaware of the history of Christ's Birth and the customs around it. The actual date itself was borrowed from a Roman Feast Day but that is another story. Most of the whimsical and sentimental views of Christmas that we now cherish come from Charles Dickens, the Hollywood Christmas Parade and tracking Retail Sales. T'would be much better spiritually and fun-wise to harken back to the Middle Ages and Western European and Irish/British practices. Those folks were serious about feasting and observing Saint's Days and celebrated for not just twelve days but actually thirteen! Twelfth Night parties, dinners and even giant masquerade balls were common for a few hundred years especially in Great Britain , Germany and France.
The religious side of the Christmas Season was wrapped up on the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6 with a High Mass for Catholics and post Reformation, services for most major Protestant Denominations.Processions and Blessings of Animals were a popular part of Epiphany. Such practices and still are popular in Latin America and rural areas throughout the world.
Feast of t h e Epiph an y LITTLE CHRISTM AS Christmas decorations were never taken down and put away till the day after (and sometimes on) 'Little Christmas' , The Feast of the Epiphany January 6th. In Ireland and subsequently in Irish households in America, it was (and is) considered very bad luck to remove the decorations and Christmas tree before this date.
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I r i sh A r t s & En t er t ai n m en t C al en d ar M ULDOON'S PUB in DECEM BER Wedn esday, Dem ber 6 @ 8:00pm
Su n day, Decem ber 10 @ 7:00pm Ken O?M alley ?s
Ir ish Session Host ed by M u r ph of Cillian's Br idge Su n day, Decem ber 17 @2::00pm Spor t ive Tr ick s Holiday Af t er n oon Con cer t
" Ir elan d an d t h e Ch r ist m as St ar "
Irish Music with a kick.. these guys are having way too much fun! Drop by and kick out your Inner Grinch! T H EN M I D M O N T H !! M u l d o o n ;s A n n u al
I RI SH D i ck en 's C h r i st m as t ak es p l ace st ar t i n g at 11:39A m o n Fr i d ay, D ecem b er 15 an d r u n s t h r o u gh C h r i st m as Ev e at C l o si n g!
This is Ken's solo Christmas show and is open to the public at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Known for his captivating storytelling as well as his rich, resonant voice, his engaging stage presence has delighted audiences for over thirty years. The realm of the spiritual has always been prevalent at Christmas in Ireland and for him growing up, as a small child he was taught to revere the feast of Christmas. This is going to be a great start to the holiday season !so don't miss this show.
Holy Tr in it y Cat h olic Ch u r ch 3722 Boyce Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90039 -For tickets and more Information contact ch r is@k en om alley w w w.k en om alley.com
C o m e by an en j oy a Sp eci al M en u , M u l d o o n ;s f am o u s W assai l an d m o r e!
M u l d o o n 's I r i sh Pu b 20 2 N ew p o r t C en t er D r , N ew p o r t B each w w w .m u l d o o n sp u b .co m
Th e Celt ic Ar t s Cen t er 's Win t er Holiday Hoolie! M on day, Decem ber 18, 2017 Music, Song, Dance, Poetry, & Prose Th e M ayf low er Clu b w w w.celt icar t scen t er .com
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CELTIC CHRISTMAS Calendar Sat u r day, Decem ber 16 @ 7:00pm
Sligo Rags
2017 An Ir ish Ch r ist m asI Tou r & Lin k s 12 13 SCHERR FORUM , THOUSAND OAKS w w w.civicar t splaza.com / an -ir ish -ch r ist m as 12.16 CLARK CENTER ARROYO GRANDE (2 per f or m an ces) h t t p:/ / clar k cen t er .or g/ even t / ir ish -ch r ist m as-special-m at in ee/ 12.17 SAROYAN THEATRE, FRESNO w w w 1.t ick et m ast er .com / an -ir ish -ch r ist m as-f r esn o-calif or n ia12-17-2017/ even t / 1C0052A9BFD83585? ar t ist id=1036918&m ajor cat id=10001&m in or cat id=5#ef eat 4212 12.18 NORRIS CENTER, ROLLING HILLS, CA h t t ps:/ / app.ar t s-people.com / in dex.ph p?sh ow =80492 12.20 M OUNT AIN VIEW P A T h t t ps:/ / t ick et s.m vcpa.com / even t per f or m an ces.asp?evt =166
"? A money back, no questions 12.21 BANKHEAD THEATRE, LIVERM ORE asked if you are not thrilled? act. Bring friends. Dynamic, up tempo, h t t ps:/ / lvpac.or g/ even t / an -ir ish -ch r ist m as-2/ 12-23 HARRIS CENTER FOR THE ARTS, FOLSOM (3 SHOWS) multi-talented. A fusion that just crackles." ? Bob Stane Tick et s: $20. Reservations/Information: 626 798-6236: 10:am & 10:pm THE COFFEE GALLERY BACKSTAGE 2029 N. Lake Altadena, Ca. 91001 w w w.cof f eegaller y.com / h om e
Th e You n g Du blin er s
Decem ber 21 t h r ou gh 23 A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTM AS PRODUCTION of
A Ch r ist m as Car ol written by Charles Dickens, adapted for radio by Orson Welles in 1939, Presented by LBSC with live music and sound effects performed by the cast Four performances only by LBSC's
Pr odu ct ion . Rich ar d Goad Th eat r e Great way to celebrate and Rock in Old Tim e Radio Christmas Week with THE DUBS The Canyon Club 28912 Roadside Drive Agoura Hills, CA 91301
h t t p:/ / you n gdu blin er s.com
Long Beach Shakespeare 4250 1/2 Atlantic Avenue Long Beach, California 90807 Tickets 562-997-1494
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