The opinions expressed by our w rit ers are t heir ow n and do not necessarily convey t hose of t his m agazine, our publisher or st aff.
Publisher & Managing Editor
Jam es M McDonough
Marketing & Outreach
Thom MacMam ara
Jam es McMahon
Writers
Maurice Fit zpat rick
John McNally
Greg Pat rick
Paul Wat t ers
Kat hleen Donohue
Barbara Singer
Pat rick Weld
Press Relations
Open; Send let t er or em ail t o Jim
Graphics/ Ad Design
Jim , & Freelancers
Sales Reps
Jim & Also OPEN
Layout & Typos Jim
Cont act Us Via Em ail: irishm issive@gm ail com
Jim 's Cell: 951 216-1493
All Copyright s 2025 by McDonough Media
Dear Friends and Readers,
HAPPYSAINT PATRICK'S DAY!!!
W e star ted th i s p u bli cati on i n Sep tem ber of 1992 i n San ta M on i ca, so w e ar e i n ou r
33r d . year of p u bli sh i n g an d th i s i s ou r
32n d Pad dy 's D ay w i th ou r d ear adver ti ser s, f r i en d s an d r ead er s.
A f ew year ago Sean M an n i n g of M y I r i sh
Pr i d e, th e late Bi ll L om as w h o or gan i zed th e L A Cou n ty I r i sh Fai r i n Pom on a f or a f ew year s an d I w er e talk i n g an d Sean sai d w e sh ou ld star t p r om oti n g th e "I r i sh
Season " f r om St. Br i gi d 's D ay to St.
Patr i ck ''s D ay. T h i s year w e f i n ally m an aged to d o th at! O u r r ead er s seem to ap p r eci ate i t as w ell. W e w i ll con ti n u e th e tr ad i ti on
I n M ar ch , (on p age 3) w e r ep r i n ted th e
Pr esi d en ti al Pr oclam ati on . T h i s star ted i n 1991 u n d er Geor ge Bu sh an d ever y
Pr esi d en t si n ce h as si gn ed i t an d h osted th e T ai oseach ar ou n d St Patr i ck 's D ay
W e h ave som e m or e on St. Patr i ck as w ell by ou r n ew w r i ter , K ath leen D on oh u e
En joy th i s, p lease sh ar e an d h elp u s get th e w or d ou t. I f you ar e able to su bscr i be; p lease d o so.
And to all of you who have signed up already, many thanks again! Please tell your family and friends. We invite you to check our website too! w w w.irishart sandent ert ainm ent .com
Ireland is dom inat ing! SIX NATIONS RUGBY Final Weeks
Coverage continues on Page 4
Our regular features: Maurice Fit zpat rick's View from Ireland and John McNally's Com m ent ary
and w e st art your sub
You m ight have not iced t hat our Calendar is grow ing! Subm issions for Calendar, Celt ic Cam era and Travel Feat ures are w ant ed: DANU on
Celt ic Soul on PG
Send ideas and St ory Subm issions w it h jpegs and capt ions t o: irishm issive@gm ail.com HAPPY
!
By Jim McDonough
France defeated Ireland in the fourth round of fixturesin the Guinness Six NationsRugby, The resultswere a shock to Ireland fansand bookmakers around the globe The Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship then went down to the witre! On Saturday did win Game 5 France secured the GuinnessSix Nations Rugby championship title The tournament's outcome wasdetermined through a pointssystem acrossfive roundsof matches In the fourth round, France defeated Ireland making it almost certain that Ireland would not get the hopedforThird Year in a row victory France clinched the title with a strong performance, ultimately winning four out of their five games Bonuspointsearned throughout the tournament, especially in their dominant victory over Scotland, gave the French team the points
they needed to win the competition.! Asnoted before, the surge in popularity in bars and pubsislikely due to a combination of factors The GuinnessSix Nations coincideswith a period when other major sporting events might be lessprevalent, filling a gap for sportsfans The exciting nature of the rugby matches, the national pride involved, and the social atmosphere of watching with friends all contribute to itsappeal. Rugby has seen increasing investment and commercialization in recent years, with sponsorships, broadcasting deals, and growing fan bases. While it may not reach the levels of some other sports, there'sdefinitely a lot of money involved The rising popularity in bars and pubsis a natural outcome of this growing interest and investment in the sport. I think the GuinnessBranding hascreated an allure as well
IRELAND, The Land of Saint s and Scholars
St. Patrick, The Apostle of Ireland
By KathleenDonohoe
On their album Spirit of a Nation, the Wolfe Tonessing a song called, ?St. Patrick was a Gentleman, " which was written by Christy Moore It begins: ?Patrick was a Gentleman He came from daycent people
He built a church in Dublin town
And on it put a steeple
His father was a Gallagher Hismother was Grady.?
The lyrics are a wink to the fact the saint whose name has become synonymouswith Ireland was not Irish Patrick was
born into a wealthy Roman family, near the end of the 4th century Hismother was Conchessa and hisfather was Calpurnius In his own book, Confessio, Patrick named his birthplace as Bannavem Taburniae, a Roman village in Great Britain Scholarstoday are still debating where this may have been Catholic Encyclopedia saysit was ?near Dumbarton in Scotland,?but othersbelieve it was a Roman settlement in Wales
When Patrick was sixteen, the family?s estate was attacked by Irish raiders, and Patrick was taken back to Ireland, where a powerful chieftain enslaved him In captivity, Patrick worked asa shepherd, possibly in County Antrim, near modern-day Ballymena, and he wrote that in his anguish, he grew closer to God
After six years in captivity, Patrick escaped, inspired by dream that told him he would soon return home Patrick reunited with his family, but many years later, after he had been ordained to the priesthood, another dream told him to return to Ireland and so he went back, no longer a prisoner, but a missionary
Daily Lunch Specials Click Here
KATHLEEN DONOHOE
is t he aut hor of Ashes of Fiery
Weat her, a novel about t he w om en of a Brooklyn firefight ing fam ily, w hich w as nam ed one of Book Riot ?s 100 Must -Read New York Cit y Novels and feat ured on Elect ric Lit ?s 12 Irish-Am ericans t o Read on St Pat rick?s Day. She is also t he aut hor of Ghost s of t he Missing, w hich follow s a w om an?s search for t he t rut h behind her best friend?s disappearance decades earlier Her st ories and essays have appeared in NYU?s Washingt on Square, Web Conjunct ions, Harpur Palat e, Read650, Irish Am erica Magazine, and t he ant hology, The Writ ing Irish of New York.
Kat hleen Donohue
A lifelong Brooklynit e,l Donohue ives t here w it h her husband and son and is current ly at w ork on her next novel, Saints in Brooklyn.
St. Patrick traveled throughout Ireland, often challenged by the powerful Druidic chieftains, like the one that had once held him hostage But during histime among the Irish, St Patrick had learned the language and customs and he incorporated tenetsof Druidism into his lessonsabout Christianity, such as the use of fire in celebration, and sun-worship Some scholars believe St. Patrick may have created the Celtic Cross, and the circle behind the traditional Christian cross representsthe sun, blending of the two traditions But most famously, St Patrick used the shamrock to illustrate the Holy Trinity. One stem, three leaves: the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost St Patrick died on March 17, 493
Today, St. Patrick?sDay iscelebrated all over the world, which makesthe holiday the world?s largest, and longest-running, Irish wake?
This Iconic Public Dom ain depict ion of a young St . Pat rick in st ained glass can be seen at t he Church of Ireland Cat hedral dedicat ed t o St Pat rick in Arm agh The spirit ual capit al of Ireland is a m ust visit for anyone int erest ed in Pat rick's life, legacy and Irish hist ory.
Of course, most Irish saintsdon? t have a dedicated holiday Indeed, there are many Irish saints whose nameshave come down through the centuries with only fragmentsof biography Their names can are buried deeply in hagiographies, or encyclopedic booksabout the lives of the saints. Yet, often, these saints are memorialized locally, through churches, holy wells, grottos, artwork and prayers
Herearea few:
Saint Darerca, The Mother of Saints
Valentia Island isin the southwest of County Kerry, connected to the mainland by a road bridge Itswebsite, www valencia ie, invites visitorsto come visit ?the edge of Europe? The island hasa lighthouse and a historic transatlantic cable station that datesto 1857 And a patron saint ? St. Darerca, or, alternately, asit?sspelled on the island?sprimary school, Derarca.
She wasSt Patrick?s sister, one of two sisters named in The Tripartite Life of Patrick, a biography of St. Patrick, written about 400 years after hisdeath Like her brother, Darerca wasborn near the end of the 4th century. Some traditions hold that she wascaptured along with Patrick and they were separated upon arrival in Ireland
Tradition holdsthat Darerca established a convent on Valencia Island and that the nuns drew their water from a nearby well that isstill there today. It isknown as Tobar Rí an Domhnaigh(Sunday?s well), and also St. Darerca?sWell.
St. Darerca married at least twice, and she wasthe mother of 19 children, 17 of them sons, all of whom became bishops. Four sons by her second husband are named as St. Mel of Ardagh, St. Rioc of Inisboffin, St. Muinis of Forgney, County Longford, and St. Maelchu. Both her daughtersbecame nuns. And so St Darerca isknown as ?The Mother of Saints.?
Her feast day isMarch 22nd
Saint Jarlath, The First Bishop of Tuam
St. Jarlath wasborn Iarlaithe mac Loga in 445, in Connaught Jarlath isan Anglicization of his name (there is no Jin the Celtic alphabet) and it means?lord?which might indicate that he came from a wealthy family. According to Catholic Encyclopedia, St Jarlath first founded a monastery at Cloonfush, a village outside of Tuam in County Galway It wasrenowned as a place of learning. Scholars from all over Ireland traveled to the monastery to study under St Jarlath One such student was St Brendan of Clonfert, also known as St. Brendan the Navigator. He related a prophecy to St. Jarlath, and told him to travel by chariot and wherever the wheel broke, would be Jarlath?s ?place of resurrection,?and there, Jarlath should build a new monastic school. St. Jarlath did exactly this And at Tuam, only three miles from Cloonfush, the wheel broke Jarlath fulfilled his student?s prophecy and built a new school there, which also became a renowned center of learning
St Jarlath died around the age of ninety, in the year 540 Hisremains are in hisnamesake church, beside the Cathedral of Tuam and encased in in a silver shrine, which gives the church the name, Teampul na scrín, the ?Church of theShrine ?
In 1800, St Jarlath's College wasfounded in Tuam, and there isa statue of St. Jarlath on the grounds. The school'slogo isa broken wheel And, aswell, in the Tuam'sMarket Square, there is a sculpture of a broken wheel, recognizing St. Jarlath's influence on the town Hisfeast day isJune 6.
O?Brien?s 30t h St . Pat rick?s celebrat ion!
This year it falls on Monday so w e w ill be celebrat ing all w eekend Lat e night celebrat ion w ill be Sat urday night w it h Irish m usic from Óm ra follow ed by Dj Narc! On Monday w e open at 8am on St Pat rick?s Day w it h t he usual fest ivit ies Irish m usic, Irish dancers, bagpipers and t he best Irish food and drinks in t ow n!
ABOVE: St . Dym phna, Center: St . Jarlat h
Saint Dymphna - The Lily of Eire
In Geel, a town in Belgium not far from Antwerp, there is a church named for St. Dymphna, an Irish saint. The church was built between 1349 and 1570 on the site where Dymphna was murdered, and her remainsare interred in church Today, it isa place of pilgrimage for those suffering from mental illness? St. Dymphna istheir patron saint
Dymphna wasborn in Ireland in the 7th century, a time when Ireland wasno longer wholly pagan but not yet fully Christianized. Dymphna?sfather was a pagan king, and her mother wasa Christian After her mother?s death, Dymphna?s father grieved so deeply and for so long that hisadvisors persuaded him to marry again. He agreed but only if he could find a woman asbeautiful ashis late wife After a long and fruitlesssearch, the king decided there was only one woman who would do, and that was Dymphna, his own daughter because she resembled her mother.
Horrified, Dymphna sought help from an elderly priest, Father Gerebran, who washer advisor and confessor Like her mother, Dymphna wasa Christian, and she had already pledged her life to God According to the National Shrine of St Dymphna Dymphna and Father Gerebran fled Ireland, and reasons very unfortunately lost to history, the court jester and his wife fled with them
The Irish fugitivessettled in Geel, Belgium, where Dymphna used the money she had absconded with to establish a hospital for the poor. But her father was hunting for her, and word of Dymphna?sgenerosity spread, and this led him to her He tracked her to Geel, and there, confronted her, demanding again that she marry him. Father Gerebran denounced the King, and the King in turn killed the priest. Then, when Dymphna again refused him, her father beheaded her
St. Dymphna?sfeast day isMay 15, the day of her death. She isinvoked against incest, depression, stressinsanity and sleepwalking. Today, the church that bears her name, spelled Dimpna, has become a place of pilgrimage for those struggling with mental illness, and in the spirit of the martyred Lily of Eire, the townspeople of Geel, welcome and support them
Oliver Plunkett -
The Final Martyr Killed in England
Oliver Plunkett was born in County Meath in 1629 He was from a prominent family, related to the Earlsof Roscommon and Fingall. In 1645, he left Ireland to study for the priesthood at the Irish College in Rome, where he distinguished himself as a scholar After his ordination, he was chosen by the Irish bishopsto act as their representative in Rome, an urgent responsibility in the aftermath of Oliver Cromwell?s conquest of Ireland Cromwell?s goal wasto crush the Catholic faith in Ireland, by both violence and by legal means. Plunkett worked on behalf of the Irish church in Rome, and then in London, trying to mitigate the anti-Catholic lawspassed by England in Ireland.
In 1670, Plunkett was appointed Archbishop of Armagh, and so returned to Ireland Enforcement of the harshest anti-Catholic lawshad eased, and Plunkett was able to minister openly He confirmed thousandsof Irish people, worked to instill reforms within the church and established a college at Drogheda, which had been the site of an infamous massacre carried out by Oliver Cromwell (who?d died in 1658). Yet, the respite was brief, and in 1673, England passed the Test Acts, which required public office-holders in England and Ireland to belong to the Church of England In other words, be Protestant
Churchesand schoolswere forced to close and Catholic priestswere suddenly outlaws. Oliver Plunkett continued his ministry ashe best could while in hiding and on the run The Catholic Encyclopedia quotesone of his letters, "Often we were in danger in the valleys of being lost and suffocated in the snow, till at length we arrived at the house of a reduced gentleman who had nothing to lose But, for our misfortune, he had a stranger in his house by whom we did not wish to be recognized, hence we were placed in a garret without a chimney, and without fire, where we have been for the past eight days"
When Plunkett was implicated in the ?Popish Plot,?a supposed conspiracy to replace the Protestant King, CharlesII, with his Catholic brother, the accusations were widely believed to be false ? even by CharlesII himself. But the King exploited the scandal for political purposes, and Plunkett was arrested A trial at Dublin Castle, the seat of British rule in Ireland, ended in acquittal British authoritiesthen took Plunkett to England for a second shot, and thistime Plunkett wasfound guilty of treason He was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn Tree, London?sinfamous execution site Hisfinal wordswere, ?Deo Gratias,? Thanksbe to God. Plunkett?sbody is interred in England, but his head was returned to Ireland and isnow displayed at St Peter?sChurch, in Drogheda. Oliver Plunkett, the last Catholic priest martyred in England , was in 1997 named the Patron Saint of Peace and Reconciliation in Ireland. Hisfeast day is July 11th.
Saint Bronagh: The Virgin of Glen-Seichis
St Bronagh isa 6th century Irish mystic Her name derives from the Irish word, bronach, which means sorrow St Bronagh established a monastic community in Glen-Seichis, which is now called Kilbroney, a civil parish of Rostrevor, in County Down Kilbroney, or Cill Bronaigh, means Bronagh?s church, and itsremainsstill stand today, in Rostrevor?s cemetery
According to Catholic Online Saints, Bronagh wasknown for her beauty There are few historical factsabout her but much lore Her convent had a bell, which issaid to have been used to call the nuns to prayer and perhaps as a beacon to guide shipwrecked sailorsto safety Hearts of Rostrevor relates the story of the re-discovery of Bronagh?sbell, long after her community wasgone. On windy nights, locals would hear a bell ringing, though no bell could be found, and this gave rise to ghost stories Then, one night, in the mid-18th century, a powerful storm knocked down a tree in the Kilbroney graveyard Inside the trunk, a bell was found St Bronagh?s bell may have been hidden during penal times, when it was illegal to celebrate Mass. Today, the bell isinside Star of the Sea Church in Rostrevor If you pray to St Bronagh, and ring the bell three times, your prayer will be answered Her feast day isApril 2.
Although saintshave their own feast day, Pope Benedict XV declared November 6 asthe Feast of All the Saints of Ireland in 1920. ThisacknowledgesIreland?spivotal role in spreading Christianity acrossEurope Often referred to as the "Land of Saintsand Scholars," Ireland carriesa legacy of faith, piety, and intellectual brilliance that hasendured through the centuries
The Hidden Bell of Bronach Kilbroney , Rostrevor Co. Down
MOST RECENT IRISH BORDER POLL RESULTS
By John McNally
A recent poll has revealed that the gap between those favoring a united Ireland and those living in Northern Ireland wanting to remain part of the United Kingdom has narrowed over the past year The LucidTalk survey, commissioned by the Belfast Telegraph, found that if a referendum were held today, 48%of voterswould choose to stay in the UK, while 41% would support a united Ireland.
The survey also found that 53%of all voters, and 60%of those under 35, believe Irish unity should be pursued within the next 20 years.
When it comesto gender, men are more likely to support remaining in the Union and women prefer Irish unity.
Support for Irish unity is strongest among younger generations. Older generations, however, remain more supportive of the Union
www lucidtalk co uk
An Irish TimesPoll found that there hasbeen an increase in support for holding a referendum on Irish reunification in the Republic of Ireland where 79%of people think there should be a referendum, while 10%are opposed
The new Dublin Government says Irish Unity isnot a priority.
Colin Harvey, a Professor in the School of Law at Queen?sUniversity Belfast, says, ?People worry if this new Irish government isgoing to dodge the Irish Unity issue for the next five years"; Harvey said. "Think about what that meansfor usin the North trying to make the argument proactively?We need to keep calling thisout and reiterate that pursuing Irish Unity should be uncontroversial."
Meanwhile in the USA, Trump wants to see Britain succeed with Brexit so hopefully he will realize that a united Ireland would solve the problem of Northern Ireland?saccess to the EU which hamperstrade deals
Although the Scottish Nationalists Party may have seen a decline in support in Scotland, the population remainsdeeply divided, with an equal split between those in favor of and those opposed to Scottish independence.
In Wales, Plaid Cymru, the party advocating for Welsh independence, was just one point behind the ruling Welsh Labour party in a recent opinion poll
John McNally
Our frequent Cont ribut ing Writ er is Insight ful and w ell t raveled. He is also an Irish Com m unit y act ivist and organizer.
Irishwoman of the Year
HONORABLEMARCELLA SMYTH
County Cavan born, Marcella Smyth arrived in Los Angelesas Consul General of Ireland and immediately immersed herself in putting together a plan for all the Irish Diaspora in the southwest states. Her outstanding work in the community of Irish and Irish Americanshasbeen without equal Irishman of the Year
KEN O'MALLEY
Dublin born Ken O'Malley'soutstanding contributions to the people of Los Angeles, Southern California and the globe over the last 50 are the stuff of legend For fifty years now, O'Malley hasentertained a multitude of fanswith his knowledge of Irish Heritage through irish Music asa singer and songwriter, storytelling and as a Tour Directer to Ireland. Seerelated Profileand Q &A on page16
The IRISH IRISH HONOREESfor 2025
DARREN COYNE
Darren Coyne hasmade an amazing commitment to the Irish Community of Southern California with his Irsih restaurants and his volunteer work.
He has been involved with the Irish Fair and worked with the Rose of Tralee festival which have benefited the Irish and Irish Americansin the City of LosAngeles
WILLIAM CHRISTOPHER (LIAM) FOUNTAIN
Another fine Irish gentleman with a deep commitment to the Irish and Irish American Community of Los Angelesas the President of Division One of The ANCIENT ORDEROF HIBERNIANS, founded in LA in 1875.
DAVID MANNION
A well deserved recognition for his commitment to the Irish and Irish American community asa Lawyer and past president of the IRISH AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION and sponsor of the Irish Fair Foundation
BETTY GIFFORD
For her commitment to the Irish and Irish American community as a leader in the Heritage of Irish dancing in Los Angeles and Southern California. Congratulations.
POLICEMAN OF THEYEAR CHIEF JEREMIAH (JAY) HART
Chief Hart of the city of Torrance has been a leader in the Irish and Irish American communitiesover the years. He isa director of the IRISH FAIR, officer in Ancient Order of Hibernians, many police organizations, and asa member of an Irish Band
All of these fine people will be be honored with the blessings and endorsement of City Council Member, Tim Mc Osker and the Irish Fair Foundation'sGrif Healy
The Irish Civic Day Tradition has been in place in Los Angeleson or around St. Patrick'sDay since 1875. This year isa return on a somewhat smaller scale after a three year hiatus owing to Covid The current political turmoil hasforced the closute of the LA City Council Chambers and the ceremonieswill be held instead in Van Nuys at LA's San Fernando Valley Civic Center.
This will be a much smaller ceremony with fewer honoreesthan normal, but next year there will be enough time and opportunity to bring it back to its former glory according to Grif Healy, Presif=dent of the Irish Fair Foundation
The date hasalso been rescheduled to Friday, March 28 at 10am and the public is invited.
Van Nuys Civic Center
14410 Sylvan Street, Van Nuys, CA 9140
Parking information and directions to the Public Facility can be found at: www.lacity/vannuys.org
DANU IN CONCERT at Irvine Barclay
?Danú stirsthe blood and liftsthe heart.? -IrishMusicMagazineEnjoy the traditional music of Ireland with acclaimed Irish ensemble, Danú. With its glorious mix of brilliant musiciansand gorgeousvoices, Danú takes you on a musical journey to its native Ireland, offering a spirit-raising concert experience for the entire family.
Ticket Office:(949) 854-4646
www.thebarclay.org
SOUND of t he CELTIC SOUL
Det ails: Join us for a beaut iful celebrat ion of Celt ic song, m usic, dance, and spirit ualit y!
A t roupe of Irish dancers w ill kick off our evening w it h a joy-filled perform ance as at t endees enjoy hors d'oeuvres generously provided by Part ies by Panache
Then t he m usic of Deirdre ni Chinnéide w ill soot he t he soul as w e ent er int o t he spirit of t his advent urous t im e of change This is a m usical journey like no ot her, filling t he list ener w it h a calm feeling of hope, t he richness of possibilit y, and a t ast e of t he m agic of Ireland.
Plus ... an opportunity to win a week's stay in the Irish countryside!
Det ails: CLICK HERE
25 Years!
AnIrishBardsJourney
Dublin Native, Ken O?Malley Left Ireland & Arrived On the Pacific Shores In 1974
In the Fall of 1974, a twenty year old Ken O'Malley arrived in Los Angeles from
Ken was from a musical family and he had musical training as well He has never stopped and only looks forward to continuing his life-long passion for being a singer, storyteller and ambassador for all thingsIrish"!
Aslong ashe remembersKen O'Malley has been playing, singing, acting, teaching and producing Irish and Celtic music! O'Malley was educated by the Christian Brothers in Dublin and owesa great deal to their music education programs, including learning the Gaelic language, poetry and songs Throughout his career, he hasappeared in feature films, television, playsand stage productionsin Los Angelesand has performed throughout the USand Europe.
O'Malley has performed his music and songsat every level from public house to arena stages and is well know to SoCal Irish Fair attendeesfor hismany yearsasa headliner, He has also been credited with assisting musicians, actorsand othersfrom the Young Dublinersand Gaelic Storm to Pierce Brosnan in furthering their musical endeavors. O'Malley has also enjoyed hismembership at the Celtic ArtsCenter in Los Angelesfor a long time, and hasbeen their Musical Director and Gaelic Choir Master in the past He isa valued historian of Irish music, history and culture and is in constant demand for hiswealth of knowledge and experience. Asa producer, Ken has presented shows and eventsall over Southern California. He is one of the best known tour guidesto Ireland and has lead many Toursand Group trips, For more information visit www.kenomalley.com.
Dublin and quickly found a gig singing Irish Music. Even at that young age, he wasa well seasoned at his music maker craft. He had been playing Irish Trad Tunesin Irish Pubs already for many years,
Ken O'Malley's Q & A st art s on page 18
Q & A With LA's 2025 Irishman of the Year
KEN O'MALLEY
Irish Arts and Entertainment, (IN&E):
We understand that this isthe 50th Anniversary of your arrival in the statesto pursue your goal to sing professionally. That was a significant decision, how did you find the Irish music scene upon your arrival?
KenO'Malley: Not much has changed since I arrived here in October 1974 Unlike the east coast, the midwest and the north west, Southern California didn? t have many pubs and venuesfor Irish music Despite there being a decent Irish population, there are and never really were any areasor neighborhoodsthat had the kind of community that many of the citiesin the UShad The San Fernando Valley probably had the most Irish living there and parts of the Westside like Santa Monica. In the 1980?s there wasa decent influx of Irish,many of whom settled in Orange County
IN&E Your repertoire encompassesa wide range of Irish music How do you balance preserving the authenticity of traditional songswhile also bringing your own unique interpretationsto them? You have an impressive discography too; where can our readers find your music?
KenO'Malley:
I have played Irish music and sang all of my life The nuns and the Christian Brotherswere great teachers of Irish songs with a strong rebel influence. I grew up in the city center of Dublin, surrounded by notable charactersin my neighborhood such as Brendan Behan, Patrick Kavanagh, all of the famousDubliners group, Danny Doyle and many more. By the age of fourteen, I wasperforming in the folk clubs around the city and ever since have alwaystried to stay very close to the old traditions.
IN&E You composed music for the film; Gods and Generals, an historical drama set during the American Civil War. How did you approach blending Irish musical sensibilities with the film's American historical context?
KenO'Malley: Irishmen fought on both sides during the Civil War, some didn? t even speak English They had their music and songswith them and my song ?The Roses and the Rye?speaksof a man writing to his wife about visiting him the night before the battle of Fredericksburg He knows he probably won? t make it out alive
IN&E: What wasthe experience like composing for a major motion picture, and how did it differ from your other musical endeavors?
Writing for film or TV isabout timing, how many minutes for
a piece of music and at the level of ?God?s and Generals?, the director Ron maxwells wasquite clear on what he wanted and wasin studio while I wasrecording. It?sa lot of pressure but all went well at the time Naturally I prefer my own pace for writing but in film and theater one doesn? t often have that luxury.
IN&E Fifty years isa remarkable milestone! Reflecting on your time in the United States, what are some of the most significant changes you've witnessed in the Irish music scene here? The City of Los Angelesis honoring you for your contributionsto music. What doesthis recognition mean to you, and how do you feel about the impact you have had on the Irish and American communities?
KenO'Malley:
I?m delighted and honored to be irishman of the Year for 2025. I?ve never stopped playing over the last fifty yearsand have actually made a living doing so Besides playing music, I have acted on screen and in theater, directed and taught the membersof the Celtic Arts Center?s Gaelic choir and have coached many young folks in their effortsto learn Irish music I have also been an advisor many times for all thingsIrish to the Hollywood community.
IN&E: Over your long career, you have performed for so many people. Do you have a favorite memory of a concert or audiance that stands out to you, or the onesthat have been most meaningful? How about collaborations or groups you were in?The Mulligans come to mind.
KenO'Malley:
I did four shows at the John Anson Ford Theater in Hollywood over a five year period, they were terrific Celtic ArtsCenter produced shows with Thom MacNamara at the helm. All the Irish fairs were fun, so many great memories. Truth is, I?ve done thousandsof shows, can? t remember any bad ones, I?m sure there were a few lessmemorable but I?ve alwaysenjoyed myself playing and meeting other musicians and above all loved meeting all t he people over t he years t hat support ed m e and enjoyed m y m usic. My m usic and all inform at ion about m y show s, t ours and w hat ?s happening around m e can be found on m y w ebsit e :
w w w.kenom alley.com
KenO'Malley, Q &A
IN&E
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians, particularly those interested in preserving and sharing Irish or other formsof traditional music?
KenO'Malley:
The best advice I can give is, be true to yourself and your craft It?s not an easy road but stick with it, never give up and you will be successful, to what level ?That?sup to the individual Show biz isfunny, some lessthan talented people become very successful because they believe in themselves, some great musicians give up and don? t follow the journey It takesall kinds I have been blessed that I?m still doing it but I paid a price at times and I?m just glad I?m still here doing what I believe was what I was put on thisearth to do.
IN&E So what doesthe future hold for you?Any plansor concert tours lined up. How about travel?We covered your Derry and Irish Halloween tour a while ago, any plans?
KenO'Malley:?
A YES! on the tour thisyear! Much more on that soon.
I'm happy to be still playing regularly, I often look around a venue and think ?I?m the oldest person here?and I smile and think how lucky I am to be still here giving it all I?ve got, I don? t know to do it any other way.. I?m all in when I?m on stage
And back to the travels, I?m taking another Halloween Group Tour this Coming October 27th to November 5th, Halloween in Derry over three daysis the biggest extravaganza in the world and we have a terrific spooky time in ireland ?ontheroads lesstraveled?which ismy motto I have no plansto put my instruments away and I will keep playing aslong asGod allowsme and the strings don? t rust !
Chef Paul Wat t ers has been nam ed spokes-Chef for Mr Franks Spices. The popular Irish chef is w ell know t o our readers for his recipes and Facebook Page
A Legacy of Flavor, Now Shared w it
Mr. Frank?shasalwaysbeen committed to the purest spices and herbs, freshly ground with absolutely no additives or fillers. Now, we are pleased to share this story with our readers because of our connection with Irish Chef and our regular contributing columnist, Paul Watters!
Mr. Frank'sbegan when a young Frank Posti, an immigrant and skilled wood-carver, left Europe and headed for Canada in 1953. He worked hard and over 60 years ago, in 1964, he opened "Frank's Steak House & Tavern" in Niagara Falls. Known for its handcrafted wood carvingsand unforgettable flavors, the restaurant became a local landmark. His legendary steaks and lobster butter cemented his statusas a culinary icon, and hislegacy lives on at the site, now the celebrated Weinkellers restaurant.
In his restaurant, Mr. Frank's spice blend wascreated! It became a family treasure, and has found itsway from his original recipe into kitchensacross the globe thanks to hisdaughter's vision. Today, Mr. Frank?s Kitchen is still led by his daughter, Lisa Russell, who honors her father's incredible legacy. His work ethic, charm, and determination continue to inspire every blend they offer. Whether it'sthe Original, Spicy Original, Garden Sriracha, Tropical Sriracha, Seasoning Salt, or Mediterranean, each sprinkle bringsa piece of this flavorful history to your table.
an Irish Touch
Our readers and thousands of other people around the world are familiar with the Simpleand Healty food that is advocated by Belfaast-born Paul Watters. Now Mr. Franksis part of the mix asChef Paul has joined them as a spokesperson
SaysChef Paul, "When I first tasted Mr Frank'sOriginal Seasoning, I was immediately transported back to the essence of true, unadulterated flavor It's a testament to Mr Frank's dedication to quality. Asa chef, I understand the importance of using the best ingredients, and Mr. Frank's spices deliver that in every blend To be part of sharing this legacy, bringing these exceptional flavors from Niagara Fallsto kitchens, including my own in Belfast, isa true honor "
Chef Paul?sexpertise and his deep connection to the culinary world will help share Mr Frank?s rich history and exceptional quality with a wider audience. His voice will bring a fresh perspective, highlighting how Mr Frank's blendscan elevate any dish, from simple family mealsto gourmet creations.
Lisa Russell commented, "Mr. Frank?s Kitchen hasa rich culinary history built on a legacy of global flavors, and with Chef Paul Watters, we are excited to continue thisjourney, bringing the authentic taste of Mr. Frank?sto more home and restaurant kitchens."
St Patricks Day Seafood Feast, A Medley of Grilled Seafood with Vegetables and a Cream Sauce
Easy to scale/ serves x 2
A delightful Seafood Medleyof grilled Prawns (or Jumbo Shrimp) and Scallops, Calamari rings , tender stem broccoli with slow-roasted tomatoes and grilled red onionswith wilted baby spinach and a dill cream sauce
You will need
8 king prawnsor jumbo shrimp
2 Calamari tubes(cut into rings)
8 baby Scallops
2 plum tomatoes( halved)
8 tender stem broccoli
2 red onion (peeled and halved)
4 handfulsof baby Spinach
For best results, sourcefresh seafood,. All thisseafoodis availableinall goodsupermarketsor Seafoodmarket,
TheSauce
2 Oz of unsalted butter
2 Oz of plain flour
1 chicken stock cube
250 ml of milk
2 tablespoonsof double cream
1/2 handful of picked dill (chopped)
The Method
Bring a medium-sized saucepan to a boil and add 1 teaspoon of salt. While the Water is coming up to a boil you can prepare your sauce by bringing a saucepan onto medium heat and melting the butter along with the chicken stock cube remove from the heat and gradually add the flour and mix well Bring back to the heat and simmer add the milk slowly until a Sauce isformed season with salt and pepper and cream and dill and leave on a low heat
If you don't have a griddle Pan, it's ok. You can cook it in a normal frying pan The good thing about this recipe is you cook all the ingredientsin the same pan. First off, add a little oil to the pan. Add the onion flat side down, season with salt and pepper, then add the tomatoesand cook for three to 4 minutes. Remove and place onto an oven-proof dish and place in the oven. Then place the prawns on the pan and cook for four minutes on the Side. Flip over, add the Scallops Cook for a further four Flip over the Scallops and remove the prawns. Take the dish out of the oven and add prawnsand Scallops. Place back in the oven and bring the Pan Back to the heat. Add a little more oil, then cook Calamari for four minutes on each Side. Remove the tray from the oven and add Calamari Place back in the oven until the rest of the ingredients are Cooked.
While the ingredientsare cooking in the oven, add the broccoli to the water and cook for three to four minutes. Once Cooked, Strain. While that's cooking, add the Spinach to the frying pan. Add a Spoonful of butter, a little salt, and pepper ( my tip is that a little nutmeg is great with fried spinach). Allow to Wilt then turn off the heat.
Get ready to Serve Remove
Carefully the dish from the oven and place it on one Side Get 2 large plates and place the Spinach in the centre of the plate place 4 prawnson each on top of the spinach followed by the tomato and onion beside then place the broccoli then place the Calamari over the edge of the prawns add a drizzle of the Sauce around the plate then place Scallopsaround the plate sprinkle over a little red pepper powder over the top for extra coloursif desired and picked dill for extra garnish and serve.
InIreland, weeat a lot of SeafoodandI think thisrecipe bringstogether locally sourced ingredientstomakethisperfect St Patrick'sDay feast a Perfect Meal
Enjoy, Chef Paul
SUBSCRIPTION OFFER
Our new website is now in action!
Subscribers will be able to read the current issue and soon archives of the Irish Arts& Entertainment You will still be emailed a link to read, and share the Flipbook However, our research hasshown that there isgreat interest in just going online via smart phones so we will be offering that option.
We can also send you a PDF file via Google Drive or Dropbox etc if you prefer,
I am I r elan d 20 25
By Gr eg Patr i ck
" I am I r elan d : I am old er th an th e old Cr on e of Bear e
Gr eat m y glor y: I w h o bor e Cu ch u lai n n , th e br ave.
Gr eat m y sh am e: M y ow n ch i ld r en w h o sold th ei r m oth er .
Gr eat m y p ai n : M y i r r econ ci lable en em y w h o h ar asses m e con ti n u ally?
Gr eat m y sor r ow : T h at cr ow d , i n w h om I p laced m y tr u st, d i ed
I am I r elan d :
I am lon eli er th an th e old Cr on e of Bear e.?
I am Ireland ~~~ 2025
ABOUT GREG PATRICK
Our cont ribut ing w rit er t akes his pen t o poet ry t his m ont h; t his is not a giant leap as his prose oft en has a poet ic and evocat ive st yle
Greg is an Irish nat ive w it h st rong t ies t o Galw ay and t he t raveling people. He is a dual cit izen of Ireland and t he Unit ed St at es w it h Arm enian and Irish herit age
Prior t o his current success as a w rit er Greg has w orked as an int ernat ional aid w orker and as a horse t rainer
He is a prolific w rit er, w it h books available t hrough Lulu.com . Leg Iron Books, and Terror House Magazine
I am t hirst .
Not for t he drink but craving expressed in eyes t earing up over t he rim of t he pint cup raised in a silent t oast over t he sound and fury of Saint Pat rick?s eve revelry on a foreign shore
A solit ary t oast raised by one aloof from t he parody of cult ure and t radit ion in neon green caricat ure I st and an em bodim ent of t he island surrounded by cold sea am ong a w all of backs feeling a st ranger at his ow n part y Man and island w it h an em pt y usurped t hrone at it s heart and poet ry at it s soul. The upbeat background m usic is like venom ous honey. On im pulse I t hrow t he bot t le against t he graffit ied w all out side, shat t ering it
My eyes grow haunt ed and dist ant as I envisioned t he m uralled w alls of m y old neighborhood illum inat ed in int ervals of crim son
The t hunder of explosions echoing in m y soul
I am Ireland
I am loss st epping out int o t he night a sigh st eam ing in t he chill air
The cold w here scars of bat t le pulse am id t he disillusionm ent of a foreign dream And I w ill not drow n out t he m em ory in drink anym ore t han a cent ury of rain can ext inguish t he fires of burned t hat ched cot t ages. For am id t he raucous m errim ent I feel t he keening for t he st arved and lost caressing t he soul. A lam ent am id t he force cheer of an Am erican w ake.
I am Ireland
I am Hunger
Around m e t he pat rons t oast and drink green beer Their lips t urn green
My eyes grow haunt ed and dist ant I rem em ber m y love and m use Our lips w ere bot h green w hen w e kissed from eat ing grass under gnaw ing hunger
Cart s loaded w it h food w ere paraded past under arm ed guard bound for England w hen I kissed m y love farew ell. I back aw ay t o get a final look at her before st aggering t o t he dock t hronged by t he em aciat ed seeking passage on a coffin ship. She kisses m y gaunt sunken cheek t ast ing m y t ear.
Pictured here are our intrepid writer and adventurer
Greg Patrick and hiseditor, Kathie Warren
?I w ill send m oney back hom e I m ust do t his?
I vow.
?I w ill ret urn,?
I t ell her even w hile hearing a harsh silent w hisper t hat I w ould not
We em braced before part ing at t he dock at t he m orrow bound for t he uncert aint ies of t he horizon and st range shore I hold her as t ight ly and closely as I held t he dream of her as I looked back across t he w ake.
Som e drink t o forget
Yet I rem em ber t he sparkle of her green eyes like shim m ering t idepools of Celt ic Sea lingering, left by t he w aves sighing t o t he greenest shore.
I knew t rue hunger
We t he exiled Heirs t o hunger for hom eland For freedom
Turning eyes t o t he horizonI, sing t he old songs I first heard around t he t urf fires.
I am Ireland
I am anger lingering at t he pub at m usic night t o hear t he old rebel songs from young lips The red lips of t he singer are like reopened w ounds as she recit ed w ords com posed by rebels .
Words singing in t he eyes looking beyond ranks of soldiers locked on a vision bright as an illum inat ed m anuscript .
I envision ranks of m en and w om en pass across a dream scape of m ist in phant asm al procession chant inga m arching song in Irish t heir pikes out lined and gleam ing against t he rising m oon
I m eet t he eyes of t he rebel leader w ho halt s in m id-st ride w it h st art led recognit ion t hat t ranscended t im e as I cry out at t he vision jarring t he singer and servers.
I am Ireland
I w ill not bow before a t hrone and one w earing a crow n w hen our heroes w ore a noose of rope around t heir necks
The Irish Arts & Entertainment's CELTICCAMERA
The Ebell Theat re in Mid Wilshire. Los Angeles w as t he sit e of t he US-Ireland Alliance?s Oscar Wilde Aw ards on February 27
Guest s enjoyed Irish favorit es like Wilde Irish Gin?s signat ure cockt ail ? a Wilde Irish Coffee, m ini m ugs of Irish st ew , fish & chips, t he m ashed pot at o bar, Tayt os, Five Farm s Irish Cream , Writ ers Tears Whiskey, Guinness, Irish coffees, cheeses and breads The iconic Beverly Hills Hot el w as t he hot el sponsor for t he event , and The Hollywood Reporter w as t he Media sponsor
PHOTO CREDIT: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for the US-Ireland Alliance
Johnny O'Callaghan at t he Oscar Wilde's Johnny is a very t alent ed Irish born act or, w rit er and form er LA Irish Man of t he Year.
Im pressive pint s!! An art ist ic AI aided m achine pour
What's Coming Soon?
Part II of Chef Paul with another recipe and a Q & A about Mr Frank's Kitchen and other great food topics
The Aurora Borealis, over St. Patrick's in Armagh. The city isconsidered the Spiritual Capitol of Ireland and is home to two magnificent St. Patrick Cathedrals
Pict ures of t he devast at ion on Lake Avenue in Alt adena! A once t hriving aut o repair shop t uned t o a m olt en m ess and rust ing hulks of cars. In t he aft erm at h, our readers can. help by support ing w w w.alt adenarise.co Feat ure com ing in our March issue Photos by Thom MacNamara.
IRISH ARTS & ENTERTAINM ENT CALENDAR
By Date OnGoing Trivia & Around The States
On-Going
Every Week
Sundays st art ing @ 4:pm
Irish Music Session
Tradit ional m usic live/ No
Cover
Auld Dubliner Irish Pub
Long Beach
w w w.aulddubliner.com
See advert this issue on page 9
Wednesdays st art ing @ 9:pm
Irish Music w it h Niall Cash
Irish Music Maker from Wexford. Follow him on w w w inst agram com / niallcash
The Auld Dubliner Irish Pub, Long Beach
w w w.aulddubliner.com
EVERY MONDAY
CELTICARTSCENTER
CAC/ACS
Open Session, Irish Language
Classes & Socials Full Bar CAC@The Mayflower Club 11110 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood, CA www celticarts center com
Friday. March 7. From 8 to 11pm
Irish Singer Niall Cash; he hasbeen playing in barsand restaurants around Los Angeles since his move in 2019. Niall honed his craft playing in lively barsin Dublin- his set is tailored to each night and venue to ensure there is music for everyone to enjoy!
The Three St ags Irish Pub 328 Orange St reet , Redlands, CA info@t het hreest ags.pub (909) 792-8335
w w w t het hreest agspub com
Sunday, March 9 @ 6:00pm
CRAiC HAUS Spirit of Ireland
Show is a fun, lively celebrat ion of t he Em erald Isle. Ballads, Jigs and Reels, Sing Along Songs and a huge dose of CRAIC! Sure t o keep you sm iling all t he w ay t hrough St . Pat ricks Day. Ticket s available at t he door. Morgan Audit orium 1950 3rd on cam pus Universit y of La Verne
Thursday, March 13
CRAiC HAUS and t heir original blend of Irish w it h aggressive rockabilly sound; m ix w it h t he occasional penny w hist le, m andolin, or harm onica All t his and t heir original t unes have garnered t hem a legion of fans! Follow ed up on Friday, March 14.. by The Reel Deal t hese guys are
a very t alent ed local duo, playing folk-Irish t unes as w ell as classic folk and popular songs form t he 60's t hrough t he 90's; from 8 ? 11:00pm
Then on Sat urday, March 15 st art ing @ 9:pm t ill 11:pm Bren Holm es & Bob Boulding, t w o of t he best Irish rock m usicians on t he planet ! Bot h form er m em bers of t he popular Celt ic rock band Young Dubliners, Bren and Bob have nearly 50 years bet w een t hem playing Irish and Am ericana m usic. They've m ade several album s, t oured t he US and Europe, and now engage t heir audience w it h t heir charism at ic, grit t y, and t im eless rock-n-roll sound
The Three St ags Irish Pub Redlands, CA i w w w.t het hreest agspub.com
Thursday, March 20 @ 8:pm
Danu, t radit ional m usic of Ireland in Concert
?Danú st irs t he blood and lift s t he heart ? -Irish Music Magazine IRVINE BARCLAY THEATRE 4242 Cam pus Dr Irvine, CA
Sat urday, March 22, St art s @ 10:pm CRAiC HAUS hails from Clarem ont , California, and t hey are t he pioneers of "Sham rockabilly"! This am azing local band brings a heavy dose of t he Em erald Isles t o all t heir show s
AuldDubliner in Long Beach w w w.aulddubliner.com
See m ore from Auld Dubliner t his issue on pages 4 & 5
IRISH ARTS & ENTERTAINM ENT
Em m y-nom inat ed Irish singer
Michael Londra
has ret urning t o PBS w it h a new season of his show , "Ireland Wit h Michael." The fift h season prem iered on January 9,, and w ill feat ure eight half-hour episodes t hat explore t he beaut y and cult ure of Ireland! More inform at ion about t he show , including episode descript ions and clips w w w.irelandw it hm ichael.com .
TheView fromIreland "Christy"
FromBerlinBy MauriceFitzpatrick
Last year the opening film of the Berlin Film Festival was an Irish production, Sm'all ThingsLike These" A tough act to follow thisyear, but one which Brendan Canty?s Christy, the only Irish film in this year?s listing, has lived up to
The eponymousChristy (played by Daniel Power) isa tracksuited, blinged, eyebrows-furrowed and lost young Corkman. Christy has been in and out of foster care during histurbulent youth, and he is mourning his mother. He is about to turn eighteen and has no idea about where to go or what to do with hislife The film begins with Christy adjusting to being back in the north side of Cork City, a place that is supposed to be home. Yet he iscontinually estranged: some relatives are new to him as are codesin the menacing gang-controlled part of the city Absent lodgings of his own, he landsby default in the house of his older brother, Shane (played by Diarmuid Noyes) Shane is torn between a will to help Christy ? he employshim in his house-painting business ? and a yearning to have his life with hisyoung family back, even if it means Christy returning to foster care. Shane assumesan in loco parentis role and instructs the authoritiesto seek a family to host Christy, outside Cork if need be. Partly because of these uncertainties, Christy experiences a profound difficulty in integrating back into ?hishome? , and the film becomes a discovery of what home can mean for him
When Christy, a gutsy young man, realisesthat he is not wholly welcome at Shane?splace, he opts to sleep rough for a night, encountering an on-off drug addict Here the film exposes the still uglier side of the Irish housing crisis ? the concomitant homelessnessdisaster It isnot so much a subplot asa ghastly vista that Christy, who is more capable of looking after himself than he isgiven credit for, managesto steer away from.
Christy?s break with Shane leaveshim not only homeless but jobless. Here, in an example of female rolesin the film that are not only heroic but believable, a family friend, Pauline, steps in A hairdresser by trade, Pauline has faith in Christy and giveshim a start asa barber. His mother had also cut hair, and Christy evinces a flair with the scissorsand razor. Soon the young lads of Knocknaheeny all want the ?Christy Special? It is a lifeline for the young Christy and seems to confirm that he will be staying at home in Cork
The tone of film owessomething to the runaway success, Young Offenders, Peter Foott?s 2016 madcap escapade, also set in Cork featuring track suited lads in search of adventure or fortune or whatever Still, this film remainsvery much its own and its exploration of Christy?sinner crisisisessentially serious Canty wisely pullsback from a tragic ending Christy several timescomes to the precipice, but it is more of a piece with the rest of the film that he does not go over. While not made fully explicit in the film, Christy?s mother?s death may have been drugs related. One side of the wider family are dealers, and one cousin is a kingpin who
rulesa fiefdom The searing grief Shane experiencesmay be complicated by the knowledge that his own wider family was partly responsible for his mother?sdemise; he wantsto protect Christy both from them and from any perception of their implication in her death The split in the family isprobably irresolvable. Nevertheless, Shane triesto contain it
Christy launches a real talent in director Brendan Canty Despite the weighty themesof the film, Canty managed to condense and convey the palpable sense of community and joviality of Knocknaheeny: audiencesat the Berlin Film Festival rocked with laughter at the varioussend-ups and put-downs delivered in the film with the rising lilt of Corkonian indignation. Just asRich Peppiatt did for West Belfast in Kneecap, Brendan Canty hasdone much to contribute to an emergent cinematic hub in Cork.
Full credit to the cast aswell. Some of them cut their teeth in the aforementioned The Young Offenders But it is a boy in a wheelchair who steals the show: his imperturbable drive and wit make him loved by all in the hard but compassionate community. The film resolves with a reconciliation of the brothers through the intimacy of a haircut ? Shane arrives at the hairdresser at the end for a ?Christy Special?and puts himself in Christy?sgentle and capable hands.
?You?ve never been to Cork?is a haughty dismissal non-Corkonianssometimeshave to deal with from denizensof the Rebel County In Christy, we have a portrait of a man who seems to invert it by embodying a sense of pride that he has never been outside Cork. The journey of this film isChristy?s struggle to make sense of his life and configure that within a sense of home Just as cinema audience members were reaching for their coats to brave the perishing elements in the German capital, the entire cast displayed (over the rolling credits) their hip-hop mojo on the silver screen. The film intermittently incorporatesrap with attitude and verve In a final flourish, they treat us, à la Slumdog Millionaire?scoda, to a number that would knock the head off a Norrie
FRIENDS Of IRELAND
Breakfast
Check back every few days for
The SoCal Irish Fair and Music Fest ival t hat w as planned in Torrance for t his past July has been rescheduled t o Fat her 's Day Weekend 2025.
Please follow t he Reorganizat ion New s and Plans on t heir Facebook Page. Irish Com m unit y input is im port ant . So, please join t he page and support t his im port ant event !
We invite you to Advertise With Us
Our new Media Kit is available if you are int erest ed in advert ising or prom ot ing your business or event w it h us. Our proven 30 plus year t rack record speaks for it self w hen it com es t o great value w it h our niche m arket publicat ion!
We really have no equal.
Now in addit ion t o our effect ive and w ell respect ed publicat ion; our t eam has
IRISH LANGUAGE An Ghaeilge
The View From Ireland Feat ure last year about t he Irish Language by our great friend and Irish Art s and Ent ert ainm ent colum nist Maurice Fit zpat rick really resonat ed w it h us. We use t he m ont hs of t he year in each issue but our collect ive Irish is very lim it ed.
In fact , w orking on t he folio (t he t op of each page) recent ly, I forgot t he w ord for Oct ober in Irish and had t o look it up. I found t his really int erest ing YouTube video and share t he link below.
m ast ered Digit al Market ing and w e can enhance your out reach for a very cost effect ive rat e.
The digit al age has been good t o us and w e have been able t o prosper and grow our subscriber base. We w ill have det ails soon on our expansion plans and our Affiliat e Program s. We are also going t o enhance our Very Irish Perks and st art a new series of very excit ing Draw ings and Cont est s!
The Holidays are alm ost here and w e w ill be doing Special issues for Hallow een and for Christ m as!
I w ould like t o change m y lack of Irish t oo so st art ing now and in fut ure issues, w e w ill be offering our readers a few w ords or phrases in our Mot her Language
Also, if you are in t he LA area,t he Celt ic Art s Cent er has ongoing Irish lessons As w e expand around t he US, w e w ill add m ore such links. More on t his project in com ing issues.
CLICK ICON FOR A QUICK LESSON
ARIZONA
FIRST FRIDAY
Seisiúnis (Irish session ) St art s at 6:pm azirish.org/ first -friday/ Third Friday
CEILE
Contact Us
Phone: 602-258-0109, Em ail: info@azirish.org, 1106 Nort h Cent ral Ave Phoenix, Arizona 85004
w w w.azirish.org
PUB QUIZES & TRIVIA
Mondays
The Auld Dubliner
Every Monday w e host Trivia Night , gat her your friends and com e in t o com pet e and enjoy a pint . 71 Pine St Long Beach, CA
w w w aulddubliner com
O'Brien's Irish Pub
Trivia Night s are Mondays and Wednesdays
Monday st art s at 8PM t ill 10:30PM
WED: 8PM t o 10PM Form a t eam or t ry t o form one at t he pub.
Play for cash prizes of $150. No ent ry fee 2226 Wilshire Sant a Monica, CA
w w w obriensla com
Wednesdays
Ye Olde King's Head Brit ish Pub & Rest aurant
Trivia in t he pub at 7:30pm
116 Sant a Monica Bl Sant a Monica, CA w w w yeoldekingshead com
Check our FACEBOOK PAGES for Daily Updat es: Irish Art s & Ent ert ainm ent
E New s LA Count y Irish Event s
VERY IRISH PERKS VIP GROUP
All subscribers become members of our VIP Group. Current ly w e are offering som e really good prom ot ions and as t he Pandem ic eases w e w ill add m ore
At Present :
O'Brien's On Wilshire in Sant a Monica w ill give our subscribers a Free Appet izer w it h purchase. w w w obriensla com
Go t o t he m enu click here
An am azing offer for our ow n VIP Mem bers and Subscribers!
Buy a GIFT SUBSCRIPTION bet w een now and March 31st ,. and w e w ill give you a FREE ONE YEAR EXTENSION on your ow n subscript ion.
Irish Arts & Entertainment's VERY IRISH PERKS (VIP) PRIMER
The VIP program is a very im port ant com ponent of our subscript ion program . It has a m ult it ude of posit ive fact ors built int o t he program . It serves as a bonus/ rew ard syst em for spending hard cold cash on our publicat ion AND it is a good net w orking t ool for t he Publisher. We are able t o at t ract subscribers and advert isers t o our publicat ion and keep t hem int erest ed w hile delivering great Irish int erest cont ent and inform at ion t o our readers. The advert isers benefit by having a readership int erest ed in our excit ing niche m arket and t hey can t arget our readers w it h special offers The volum e m akes it w ort hw hile for t hem t o part icipat e.
The Pandem ic set us all back a bit in one w ay or anot her and w e are rebuilding our VIP benefit s package. We w ere count ing on discount s and deals at pubs and event s but t hat plan is now on t he back burner as t here are few event s and pubs t hat need volum e t o m ake t he discount s pract ical. In t he m eant im e, w e are w orking hard t o line up new offers for our subscribers We st ill have som e list ings on good deals and w e w ill be adding special offers t o our w ebsit e as w e find t hem . One VIP, w e have now of int erest is Buy ONE SUB and get a Gift Subscript ion!
We are expanding and w e are using new and im proved m et hods for reaching out t o our readers!
We have set up a new affiliat ed Irish Art s & Ent ert ainm ent Channel on Telegram . We also have updat ed our Websit e. w w w.irishart sandent ert ainm ent .com
