February 2017 Ceolta Notes

By Rodger Hara

Great news for The Hydes – Bill Margeson, radio host at the online Irish music station LiveIreland, announced recently that they were given the “New Group of the Year” award for 2016 by LiveIreland.  The award note says in part “This is a magical duo to watch, and major talents are lining up to play with them.”  Congratulations to Joanna and Iain!

The Wicked Sheehogues play from 5 PM to 8 PM at Clancy’s in Wheat Ridge on the 18^th.

Avourneen plays at 8 PM the 4^th in the Tuft Theater at the Swallow Hill Music Hall, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver. Tickets start at $12 and the website is swallowhillmusic.org.  They are in the cozy confines of Ned Kelly’s in Littleton at 9 PM on the 11^th.

(photo) Wild Mountain rocks out at Clancy’s on the 17^th from 7:30 – 10:30 PM and is working on an album they hope to have done by St. Patrick’s Day.

Potcheen fans can catch them on the 17^th at 9 PM in the Bohemian Biergarten in Boulder, on the 18^th at Jack Quinn’s Irish Pub and Ale House in Colorado Springs at 9 PM or at the Bootstrap Brewery in Niwot on the 25^th at 6 PM.

The Commoners are playing 5 nights in Hawaii from the 6^th – 11^th (Great road trip, that!) and play for The Great Guinness Toast at Mulligan’s in Fort Collins on the 18^th at 9:30 PM.  They are recording an all original album that will be out before March.

The Mountain Road Ceili Band, as usual, is on stage at The Margarita at Pine Creek in Colorado Springs on the 17^th from 6:30 –9:30 PM.

Big Paddy can be found on the 25^th at the Grossen Bart Brewery in Longmont from 8-11 PM.

They too are finishing a full-length album and to be released in March.

Chancers Hooley plays at the Grossen Bart Brewery in Longmont from 6-9 PM on the 4^th and the Blue Spruce Brewing in Centennial 7-9 PM on the 24^th.  They are also finishing a CD to be released in March.

The Colorado Dulcimer Festival takes place on the 3^rd and 4^th at St. James Presbyterian Church, 3601 W. Belleview Ave, Littleton. Evening concerts at 7 both nights open to the public, $15, $10 for students and children. Daytimes include a dozen workshops in beginner to advanced hammered and mountain dulcimer, a band scramble, a classical music ensemble, a contra dance (play in the band or dance), student open stage, and the evening concerts by the performer/teachers of the festival. Preregistration for whole festival is $130, and day of festival $140. There is a workshop for children age 8-12 on Saturday afternoon; $40 includes the workshop and the evening concert. For more Info go to Colorado Dulcimer Festival.com.

The Bedlam Boys play at Kinfolks in Manitou Springs on the 17th from 8-11PM and at Jack Quinn’s, Colorado Springs on the 25^th, 8 PM to Midnight.

THE CLADDAGH MAN By Fern Balaun  (for January 2017 Celtic Connection , Denver Colorado)

Mr. Neil Johnson from CROI heart association in Galway presenting a certificate to Tommy Holohan for the fundraising he has done for this heart association. Tommy’s two sons who ran with him in the NYC marathon in November are pictured along with Tommy’s wife Maire, and two grandchildren.

1. 

   Patricia Dolan presenting the book “The Claddagh Boy” to Tommy (from Fern), according to the story!

Most think of the word “Claddagh” as a ring built of love, loyalty and friendship but there is more, so much more.  The  Claddagh.  It is a memory echo of old Eire, its people, its culture, its unique flavor faded to those memory echoes now.

Those whose heritage is that of The Claddagh people of old, well, they are special people.  I know one.  His name is Thomas Holohan, known to me as “Tommy.”  This is my story of Tommy as I know it which is, at its best, an incomplete picture of a Claddagh Man.  You will find a little more of Tommy in his talk, “I Was Born in the Claddagh” that was recorded at the Galway Museum in 2015. He is a modest man so you will not learn everything there is to know about him there either.  But, to me, he is the quintessential Claddagh Man as I understand that to be. There are no few words that can describe this term, but a few of them are that a Claddagh person’s spirit is rooted and stays in The Claddagh.  Tommy is that person and he is as familiar with the two old streets of the Claddagh, Rope Walk and Dog Fish Lane, as if they were still being traveled today.  He has a drawing of every cottage of the Claddagh and the names of the people who lived in each cottage in the day…a marvelous drawing. The thatched cottages there were planted at haphazard angles, close together in the hospitable Irish way, side by side, end to end, giving a jigsaw effect. It was written of that day, “It is a triumph of unconscious beauty.”

Tommy has all the articles of his Claddagh thatched cottage home which was torn down in the 1930s.   He is an expert on the history of The Claddagh as known by the descendants of those ancient people, not that written by “outsiders.” He knows the stories and the lives of his Claddagh family intimately – the O’Tooles and Conneeleys.

Tommy told me one time about the Claddagh men who were fishermen with their specially built boats for the rough Irish Sea, called Galway Hookers.  And he said the men caught and brought in the fish but the women took over from there, processing the fish, giving the men a little money for their drink, then leaving the men with the babies and peddling the fish in Galway Town.  But for me, the most endearing thing about his telling me of the Claddagh men was that they were all very good at calming the babies for they were the only men of Ireland who cared for the little ones while their wives were taking care of the fresh catch and handling the family money.  I asked Tommy if he was good at calming the babies and he said, “Oh yes, I am good with the babbies” (The Irish pronounciation of babies).”

So that is only scratching the surface of the stories that Tommy will tell you about his heritage in the Claddagh.

Then there is Tommy, the painter.  I do not know that side of him as well because I got so caught up in Tommy, the Claddagh Man.  But in addition to his antique collecting of Claddagh memorabilia and the history of the Claddagh, he is also a runner.  At 65 years, he still trains and runs marathons to raise funds for two Irish heart associations.

As I understand it, Tommy has never smoked and does not ever drink.  He runs. When I was in Galway for the seven months in 2014, I would be here or there in the city and there would be a man running and training his body to respond to long distances.  I might yell out to him and wave and he would wave but never pause. Then I found out he was about to set a record in Ireland.  Yes, at that time he had run 18 consecutive New York City Marathons and the record would be 20 consecutive years.

So now, it is 2016 and he has run the 20th consecutive year and set a record.  His two sons ran the record setting run in New York City this year along with Tommy and all finished together.

I tried my best to get the news of that record being set and finally learned that nothing was made of it!  I couldn’t believe it, partly because a big article and interview was held after the 18th run and now nothing?  Something must be done.  Could I help?  Stay tuned to my story.

Now back to my meeting Tommy – I don’t believe it was a coincidence. An arranged meeting I would call it.  You see my great, great grandmother was born in the Claddagh in 1800 and immigrated as a young girl to the United States.  She married here to Joseph Campbell and is listed in the early 1800s census records as “born in Ireland” but never where in Ireland.  I searched most of my adult life for legal records of her but even a hired genealogist was unable to trace her back to Ireland. So, when I decided to live in Ireland for a year (which eventually became seven months), I looked for legal records everywhere possible.  Not finding any, I became reconciled to finding out what it was like in the days when she would have lived there.  This search was a time when Madelaine of Peg’s Cottage in CO Tipperary was posting a lot of Irish information on Facebook so I posed the question of where and how I might look while I was in Galway.  She kindly posted my question and, in answer to my quest, Helga Gleeson came into my life.  Yes, she knew a man who might be helpful in my search and his name was Tommy Holohan – and friendships were born.  I called Helga as soon as I arrived in Galway and then called Tommy.  I believe that call was on a Sunday and Tommy was soon wheeling up to my place in Westside with a load of Claddagh information, photographs, history, memorabilia and a book, “Down by the Claddagh” that he left with me to read. From then on until I left my lovely dark isle, I searched all the places suggested but found nothing.  So, I walked in the Claddagh regularly, feeling very much like my family was there in a thatched cottage.  When I prepared to return home to Colorado, I tried to return Tommy’s book but he gently kissed my cheek and said, “It is yours.”  I couldn’t believe it but there it was, the kindness and hospitality of the Irish right there in the Claddagh Man!

So, I am home now and in 2015 I wrote of my time in Ireland and the book was published in the fall.  I rested and Ireland waited.  Yes, my destiny was to return to reflect on all I had learned there.  So, in August 2016 I returned to Galway to see those wonderful Irish folks who I met there and who have become my friends. I phoned Tommy thinking he was one busy person so he would probably not have time to come to see me.  But he did!  Not once but twice and, in the second meeting he brought another book with information about the Claddagh in it for me.  The reason I tell you this is that, while we were all talking over coffee, he stated that he would really like to find a copy of the book, “The Claddagh Boy.”  He had only ever found one copy and it was very expensive.

When I returned home in August, I began looking for the book.  I did find a copy. It was expensive.  I pondered.  I pondered some more.  I contacted the seller and he would not budge on the price – it was, after all, a collector’s item.  So, I made a deal with myself.  I really, really wanted to give that book to Tommy for all the kindnesses he had shown to me.  So, how could I do that.  It came to me, I did that and the book is now Tommy’s, with gratitude from one very connected to her Irish ancestors in the Claddagh.

In addition to the surprise gift congratulations to Tommy on the recognition of his record 20th run in this year’s marathon and the money he have raised to help those in need in your country. And thank you for being a great historian for your people in The Claddagh. Thank you for your part in the story, Claddagh Man!       Fern Howe Balaun,

January 2017 Ceolta Notes

By Rodger Hara

Take Down the Door livens up the old Salina Schoolhouse, 604 Gold Run Rd, Boulder, CO 80302, up Four Mile Canyon just outside of Boulder at 7:30 PM on the 14^th.  Doors open at 7, tix at the door (if they haven’t taken it down…)

Chancers Hooley plays at the Strange Craft Brewery in Denver from 6 – 9 PM on the 7^th and the LeftHand Brewery in Longmont from 5 -8 PM on the 22^nd. They are also working on a new CD that they hope to have completed in time for St Patrick’s Day

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Brian Clancy takes the stage (and sometimes the cake…) at Jack Quinn’s, downtown Colorado Springs on Thursdays at 7:30 PM – January 5, 12, 19 and 26.

Adam Agee and Jon Sousa, fresh from there successful European tour, are on the Nomad Theater stage in Boulder, 1410 Quince Ave., on the 6^th.  Contact [email protected] for time and ticket info.

Sandra Wong & Jon Sousa provide the music for the Ft. Collins Contra Dance, Club Tico, 1599 City Park Dr., Ft. Collins on the 7^th at 7 PM.

Andy Reiner & Jon Sousa are the musicians for the Boulder Contra Dance in the Avalon Ballroom, 6185 Arapahoe Rd, Boulder on the 20^th at 8 PM.

Avourneen has a busy month beginning at 8 PM on the 6^th at Jack Quinn’s in Colorado Springs, followed by a 9 PM show on the 7^th at Ned Kelly’s Irish Pub in Littleton.  They follow that up with providing the music for the Denver Contra Dance in the Highlands Masonic Center, 3550 Federal Blvd., Denver, on the 13^th at 8 PM (lesson at 7:15 PM) $10 / $8 members / $5 students and at 7 PM on the 21^st for the Pikes Peak Contra in the All About Dance Studio, 2318 Vickers Drive, Colorado Springs, $8.

You can also catch Adam Goldstein opening for the late night burlesque show at the Clocktower Cabaret, 16th and Arapahoe on Denver’s 16th Street Mall, on the 14^th and 28^th.

The Mountain Road Ceili Band is at their regular 3rd Friday gig at The Margarita at Pine Creek on the 20^th starting at 6:30 and playing until 9:30 PM.

Potcheen opens the month at the Halfway to RenFaire Kilt Night on the 6^th at 7:30 PM in Cheers, 119964 Washington St. in Northglenn, CO.  On the 14^th they rock out at

Jack Quinn’s Irish Pub in Colorado Springs at 9 PM and follow that with a gig on the 20^th at the Black Nugget in Carbondale at 9 PM.

Martin Percival’s Nollag seó World Premier Huge Success

Tuesday nights in Denver are not the easiest evenings to ask people to come out and see an Irish Christmas show; especially when Celtic Woman are in town performing their Christmas show on the same night!  But, on December 20^th folks did come out to see Martin Percival premier of Nollag seó: Christmas Celebration of Music, Song and Dance at the Newman Center at DU.  The almost capacity crowd was thrilled by world class performers from Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, Celtic Woman, Miami City Ballet and London’s West End which include: Martin Percival, Mark Milner, Lisa Kelly, Chris Barton, Aisling Toal Casey, Claire Anderson, Ciara Sexton, Eimear McNicholas, Emma Anderson, Marcia Speights, Renae Marshall, Robyn Kinzie, Tara Strazdas, Blaine Donovan, Greg Molony, Levi Hatgi, Robbie Ross, Scott Porter, and Shaun Casey.  At the end of the night the show was given a standing ovation by all followed by glowing accolades on social media.   Post show Percival was elated. “To say I’m relieved is an understatement! I’m so proud, humbled, grateful and inspired by the cast, crew and anyone else who helped me realize my dream! To see a vision from my head created on an amazing stage and be performed by amazing people is beyond life changing! This is the start of a great new journey and I’m delighted that so many people could be a part of it. Thank you to every single person in that audience last night – you were the fuel to keep this old man dancing.”  (Martin, standing with flowers 3^rd from right)

Nollag seó World Premier in Denver!

Christmas Celebration of Music, Song and Dance

(Lisa Kelly formerly with Celtic Woman, Photo Credit: Mike Colletta)

Embark upon a journey this festive season with this dazzling new show from Martin Percival and his mulit-talented company. Brand new musical arrangements of holiday favorites and traditional tunes, given a uniquely Celtic twist in a beautifully woven story that is guaranteed to get you into the Christmas Spirit. Don’t miss the world premiere of this imaginative new show December 20^th at the Newman Performing Arts Center at DU.

Nollag seó conjures the excitement and joy of Christmas through dance, music and song with a host of world class performers from Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, Celtic Woman, Miami City Ballet and London’s West End which include: Martin Percival, Mark Milner, Lisa Kelly, Chris Barton, Aisling Toal Casey, Claire Anderson, Ciara Sexton, Eimear McNicholas, Emma Anderson, Marcia Speights, Renae Marshall, Robyn Kinzie, Tara Strazdas, Blaine Donovan, Greg Molony, Levi Hatgi, Robbie Ross, Scott Porter, and Shaun Casey.  Music Arranged by: Trevor Rutkowski, featuring the musical talents of Sean Softley and Trevor Rutkowski.

Nollag seó  December 20, 2016 at 7:30pm    Ages-family friendly! Tickets at 303-871-7720 or www.newmantix.com

Theatre-Gates Concert Hall, Newman Performing Arts Center

2344 East Iliff Avenue; Denver, CO 80208

‘Irish Christmas in America’  comes to Colorado for 3 Front Range dates

“Lively and reflective…a powerful evocation of the season” Folk Wax

“A celebration of family and good times at the winter season” Gather.com

“Irish Christmas in America” returns for a 20-date US tour with three stops in Colorado. Now in it’s 12th year, the show features some of Ireland’s finest performers in an evening of music, Irish dancing, stories, and historic photographic backdrops. Enjoyed by all ages, the show comes to Colorado Springs on Dec. 15, Brighton Dec. 16, and Broomfield on Dec. 17.  The Irish Echo raves “a stand out performance…full of exceptional music and dance,” and Irish Music Magazine describes it “captivating for all ages.”

“Christmas is a massive holiday in Ireland,” says show creator and fiddler Oisin Mac Diarmada. “It’s a time when people travel home to see families and share great food and lots of music. The country shuts down, apart from the bars!”  This year’s guest singer is Niamh Farrell, an up-and-coming vocalist from County Sligo who came to attention in 2014 during a 10-month world tour with English singer-songwriter star David Gray. She brings to the show a celestial voice and winning stage presence. Séamus Begley from West Kerry is as famous for his wit as award-winning singing and dazzling accordion. He joins Ms. Farrell on a number of songs, including rare carols and an Irish-language “Silent Night.”Champion step dancer and pianist Samantha Harvey, originally from Ventura, CA, is accompanied by the elegant fiddling of Mr. Mac Diarmada. The gifted band also includes Gráinne Hambly on harp and Seán Gavin on flute and uilleann pipes (Irish bagpipes).

“One of the most heartfelt themes of Irish Christmas is emigration,” says Mr. Mac Diarmada, referencing the millions of Irish who came to America looking for a better way of life. “Music was a way that people stayed close to home.”  “Irish Christmas in America” is the brainchild of Mr. Mac Diarmada, a champion fiddler who gained notice still in his teens with his award-winning Irish band Téada. With the holiday show, he wanted to bring the unusual customs of Christmas in Ireland to the States. One of the most popular is the “wren boys” tradition of Dec. 26, where children and musicians go door-to-door dressed in rags or costumes, Halloween style, offering a tune in exchange for a small sum.

First conceived in 2005, the tour has featured stellar guest vocalists over the years including Karan Casey (Solas), Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh (Danú), Cathie Ryan (Cherish the Ladies), Lumiere (Pauline Scanlon & Eilis Kennedy), Cara Dillon, and Michael Londra.  In 2012, the band released the CD “An Irish Christmas Soundscape” with music from the show, available on Bandcamp to preview or purchase: http://irishchristmasinamerica.bandcamp.com/

Niamh Farrell, photographed at the Mill Studios, Harold’s Cross, Dublin on Friday, 5 February 2016.
Photography by Brendan Duffy.

A sparkling tradition among holiday events, Irish Christmas in America is a special show to see this season. For more information visit irishchristmasinamerica.com.

Thurs., Dec 15th, 8PM
Stargazer’s Theater

broomfield.org, 800.838.3006

HOME FOR CHRISTMAS with Celtic Woman in Denver December 20

An interview with Celtic Woman’s Éabha McMahon by Cindy Reich (for The Celtic Connection, Denver CO)

Eabha McMahon

Christmas is the season of music. You can’t help yourself as you stroll downtown–come on, admit it–you are singing along with “Little Town Of Bethlehem” that is being piped through the store’s speakers. Yet in your head, you hear a full orchestra and stunning harmonies. Fear not–you can indulge in the full-on Christmas music experience when Celtic Woman arrive in Denver with their “Home for Christmas” tour, December

Millions of people worldwide have thrilled to the lush harmonies and varied repertoire that Celtic Woman have performed over the years. This show promises to go deep into your Celtic soul with many Irish songs as well as beloved carols and a few surprises thrown in as well. Éabha (pronounced Ava) McMahon, one of the five “Celtic Woman” brings a uniquely personal style to the performance. A native Irish speaker, she grew up speaking Irish as her first language–not in the Gaeltacht of west Cork or Donegal, but in Dublin!  “I went to an Irish speaking school, and both my parents spoke only Irish in the house, so I never knew most everyone else in Dublin grew up speaking English!!  My friends and I all spoke Irish, so when I was in a shop where people were speaking English, I was wondering why they were speaking English!

Éabha finds the qualities of the Irish language convey a special feeling in song. “There are many things in the Gaelic language that are not really literally translatable to English. In truth, Gaelic is more poetic and a single word can invoke several sentences to mean the same thing. Therefore, I can bring this expression to the songs in Gaelic that we perform”.  Éabha began her singing career at the age of 9, and has won the equivalent of the National singing championship for Sean- nós (old style) at an early age, and was a five-time Leinster champion as well as a five-time Dublin champion!  Not to take anything away from the other lady vocalists– Máiréad Carlin and Susan McFadden as well as fiddle player Tara McNeil. Everyone in the group is an outstanding performer and have put together a mighty show, along with the Colorado Symphony.   “I really love the shows that we do with the Symphony orchestras”, said Éabha. “It is such a lush, big sound, and I love the arrangements. We each put our own stamp on the songs, and the entire evening is full of joy. People leave feeling uplifted. We have songs of reflection, songs of joy and even tunes that may have people clapping and dancing in the aisles as well!!  One of the big showstoppers is when we perform “Silent Night”, both in English and in Gaelic, in the Sean- nós style.  It is absolutely beautiful!”

In my conversation with Éabha, I wanted to speak a bit about a foundation she has worked for–The Christina Noble Children’s Foundation.  Revered now in Ireland, Christina grew up rough on the streets of Dublin as a child and had a dream where she was helping orphaned children in Vietnam. She actually ended up building orphanages and schools in both Vietnam and Mongolia, and has helped thousands of children. Éabha spent 7 months in Vietnam and 3 in Mongolia working for the charity and said it was a transforming experience.  “Every cent that is donated to the charity goes towards the children–I saw it with my own eyes”, Éabha said. “Christina is an extraordinary person and has made a huge difference for homeless children in those countries.”  It is obvious that the heart and soul that Éabha brings to her music has crossed other borders as well.

For one special night in Denver, we can all wrap ourselves in a warm blanket of Irish songs, Christmas carols and magnificent music from Celtic Woman and the Colorado Symphony work their magic.

For more information on Celtic Woman–www.celticwoman.com

For information on the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation–www.cncf.org

Celtic Woman “Home for Christmas” The Symphony Tour ,Tuesday December 20, 7:30PM at Boettcher Concert Hall, DCPA 303-623-7876

Hello All, please support Irish Studies in America – Below is a letter from Traolach O’Riordain who heads up the Irish Studies program based out of University of Montana.  The quality and quantity of programs that they offer have been truly amazing, and now he and “Friends of Irish Studies” are spearheading an Irish American film project that when complete will air on both American and Irish TV.  Read below and help Traolach if you can- Thank You!…

To the folks at Celtic Connection,

I hope all goes well. I’m writing to ask for our help the word out about our documentary film project. This appeal for help comes, as you would expect, at the 11th hour.   I now have two weeks to do what I once had six weeks to accomplish! Our hope is that these films will not only record and share a history of the Irish in Montana but will focus  nationwide attention on the rich Irish culture of this state, the unique Irish Studies program we have, and, in some small way, help to attract out-of-state students from the greater Irish American community. As you know, we have a serious enrollment crisis at UM which threatens all program on campus, including Irish Studies.

I know you have a large community of supporters so I’m sending you a poster and asking that you forward it to all your friends, family, contacts and all others whom you believe share your love for Ireland, Irish history, language and culture. I better tell you a little bit about the poster, especially about one of the people featured.

If you look at the pictures, you’ll immediately recognize Marcus Daly and Thomas Francis Meagher. The guy in the middle is one of the unsung heroes of Irish America. His name was Sean O Sullivan and he is probably best known as the father of Fr. Eamon, Fr. Sarsfield and Veronica O Sullivan. Many others who have seen the picture have recognized him as the man who was the janitor in Butte Central High School. What people don’t know about him is that he was a scholar, a poet, a writer, a life-long member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, a champion of the Irish language, and one of the leading cultural nationalists in the United States of America. He was a close personal friend of Eamon de Valera and welcomed to his home such leading Irish nationalists as Countess Markievicz, Mrs. Pearse (mother of Patrick and Willie Pearse), Mary Mac Swiney (sister of Terence Mac Swiney), Mrs. Tom Clarke (wife of the executed leader of the Easter Rising), Frank Aiken, and many more. O Sullivan’s literary output and contribution to the cultural and political life of the Irish in America is now the subject of a PhD thesis. Stories and songs he wrote himself or were taken down from him are held in the Library of Congress, the National Library in Dublin, and in the Butte Silver Bow Archives. He is one of those great figures whose life history seems to have ignored, but we plan to change that with your help and the help of others who recognize the need to honor those who came before us.

I know that it’s a difficult time of year to ask for money, but I do believe that the Irish community nationwide will support a project that focuses on the achievements of the Irish of America. The 150th anniversary of the death of Thomas Meagher takes place next year so it’s appropriate to feature his life with a special emphasis on his time in Montana; a film on Marcus Daly, nationalist and industrialist, is long overdue; and O Sullivan represents an cultural movement that originated in America and began the revolution, as Padraig Pearse said, that would achieve independence.

Once these documentaries are made, they will be broadcast on PBS and on Irish national television. We will also place a copy of each in every high school in Montana, and will offer scholarships to students to study Irish culture at UM for essays, poems and short stories inspired by the films. It’s an ambitious plan, but we need to be creative and ambitious if we are going to educate and encourage the next generation to study the history and culture of the Irish.

That’s about it. Thanks so much,

beir bua

Traolach O’Riordain  [email protected]

The Christmas Revels:
A Scottish Celebration of the Winter Solstice
The Dairy Arts Center, Boulder CO
(2016 Revels rehearsal photos- by Alastair Norcross)

December 2016 Ceolta Notes

By Rodger Hara for The Celtic Connection (Denver CO)

Kindred Spirits present their annual winter concert on the 3^rd at 7:30 PM in the Arts At Cabrini at St. Frances Cabrini Music Room Theater 6673 West Chatfield Ave. Littleton, CO.  This year’s show is titled “Winter Jubilance” and features guest artists Eric Olson on Uilleann pipes and whistles and James Messerich on djembe, bodhrán and miscellaneous percussion. Tickets $10 at the door, online at www.sfcparish.org/kindredspirits, or call 303.919.8000.  They will also perform a free Winter Solstice Service at Mile Hi Church, 9077 W Alameda Avenue in Lakewood at 10 AM on the 18^th.
Keep Britain Irish is at Maddie’s Biergarten in Castle Rock on the 23^rd at 7 PM and invites all to come down after your last minute shopping to party with them, saying, “Wear your ugly sweater or just get ready for the in-laws and drink with us!!”

Avourneen is at Jack Quinn’s in Colorado Springs at 8 PM on the 9^th then plays for the

Pikes Peak Contra, 2318 Vickers Dr. in Colorado Springs at 7 PM on the 17^th, (tix $8).

Big Paddy is at Jack Quinn’s on the 17^th at 9 PM, the Bohemian Biergarten just off the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder at 10 PM on the 23^rd then plays for the New Year’s Eve party at Jack Quinn’s on the 31^st at 9 PM.  BP is also re-releasing their “Times are Tough” CD with new fiddler Karen Lauffer’s tracks on the album.

Colcannon performs a Christmas concert at Casper College in Aley Hall of the Durham Fine Arts Center, in Casper, WY on the 10^th at 7:30 PM, presents their Christmas Holiday Show  at Nissi’s in Louisville on the 13^th at 7:30 (tix $15) and a concert with buffet dinner and tour of the castle at Cherokee Ranch, 6113 Daniels Park Rd, Sedalia, CO 80135 on the 18^th at 6 PM (tix $100 at https://cherokeeranch.org/event-list/).  The band is working on their latest CD and will soon be launching a Kickstarter campaign to help cover production costs.  Watch this space for more information.

Just one gig in December for Chancers Hooley on the 16^th at the Exchange Tavern in Westminster at 8 PM for their annual Wassail toast.

Wild Mountain does their Greengrass thing on the 2^nd at (in?) The Zone in Golden at 8 PM and then at Clancy’s Irish Pub in Wheat Ridge at 7 PM on the 10^th.

Patrick Crossing performs for the partygoers in the Henry Strater Theater in Durango on the 18^th   for the annual Celtic Christmas dinner and show there.

Juice O’the Barley rocks out upstairs in the new Celtic on Market, 14^th and Market Street for the annual AOH Irish New Year’s Eve party from 2-5 PM on the 31^st, while the Celtic Friends present an upbeat trad show downstairs.

The Irish Dance Performance Academy presents nollag seó, a Celtic Christmas celebration on the 20^th at 7:30 PM featuring former lead dancers with Riverdance and Lord of the Dance and Lisa Kelly from Celtic Woman at the Robert and Judy Newman Center, University of Denver.  Tix at www.newmantix.com .

Sligo fiddler Oisin Mac Diarmada presents an Irish Christmas in America show on the 17^th at 7:30 PM in the Broomfield Auditorium with guest singer Niamh Farrell, Séamus Begley and dancer Samantha Harvey.  Tix at www.brownpapertickets.com.

St. Brigit Episcopal Church invites the community to take a break from the hectic pace of the holidays and reflect on the cycle of nature.  On Wednesday, December 21, 2016, at 7:00p.m. St. Brigit will celebrate the Winter Solstice with a special contemplative service.  All are welcome to attend. www.stbrigit.org

The 31st Annual Winter Solabration – A holiday tradition! Juggling, storytelling, sword dancers, Morris dancers, a mummer’s play, wassail, community singing, and traditional American community dances for all. On December 17th, 6 to 11:30 pm, at the Sons of Italy Hall, 5925 West 32nd Ave. in Denver. Tickets, way more info at wsolstice.org

Laura Farley Denver Queen Colleen 2017

The Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee crowned Laura Farley as their Queen Colleen 2017  at their November coronation.

Laura will be a spokesperson for the Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade and represent the local Irish community throughout the year.  Her support court includes McKenna Shea, Brigid Sleevi, Stephanie Echer, Samantha Glenn and Lexi Sullivan.

Laura is a Denver native and earned degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology from Metropolitan State University of Denver. She began Irish step dancing at the age of 10 with St. Brendan’s School of Irish dance and continued until she reached the highest rank of Champion. Dancing allowed her to travel across the US competing and even to Ireland! Laura has a strong passion for volunteering and hopes to represent her Irish heritage with pride as Queen Colleen.

Montana, Ireland of the American West

By Kathleen Gilgannon for Teh Celtic Connection (Denver CO)december 16

Photos 1:  Mass Rock (St. Patrick’s Cemetery — Butte, MT) “stands as a perpetual reminder of those dark days (Penal Times) and of the unyielding spirit of the Irish.”  We visited this cemetery as part of the Anaconda/Butte coach tour.

2: H.E. Anne Anderson, Ambassador of Ireland to the USA, addresses a group of ACIS participants and Irish of Butte, MT at the  Butte Silver Bow Archives.

3: AOH Building in Anaconda

4: Ladies of AOH in Anaconda chat with Traolach O’Riordain  (UofM Irish Studies Dept Chair and ACIS organizer) as they wait to greet Ambassador Anderson

The Irish culture in Montana is alive and vibrant.  For years I took note of the ad in the Celtic Connection for language courses held annually in Butte, sponsored by the Friends of Irish Studies.  Finally, this past summer, I had the great fortune to attend.  I was so drawn in to my ancestral culture and language during the well-spent week that I considered relocating to the area in order to participate in the community there more fully.   In the meantime, though, I’ve decided to take advantage of as many of the offerings in Missoula and Butte as I am able.  This is what led me to attend the ACIS (American Conference for Irish Studies) NW event in October.

We gathered early on the morning of 20 October for what was to become one of the highlights of the ACIS weekend.  Initially, the bus tour through Anaconda and Butte was presented as an “add on” to the weekend conference, and it ended up being so well attended that we could have easily filled another bus entirely.  Joining us on the tour was H.E. Anne Anderson, Irish Ambassador to the United States, along with many of the guest speakers from whom we would hear later in the weekend.  The rich history of the Irish diaspora (Irish living abroad) in the area was well told by Dave Emmons, a long-time local historian and scholar, as we travelled through the soft day via our coach, making stops along the way at the Granite Mountain Memorial, the Berkeley Pit, St. Patrick’s Cemetery, and were guests at receptions honoring Ambassador Anderson in Anaconda (AOH) and Butte (Butte Silver Bow Archives).   Stories of Thomas Francis Meagher (Irish influence in politics), Marcus Daly (economics), William Clark, James Moriarity, Sean O’Sullivan and the long-standing competition between the towns of Anaconda and Butte were but a few of the tales told.

The theme of this year’s conference was HER EXILED CHILDREN:  IRELAND AND IRISH AMERICA.   “To know who we are, we should know those who came before us,” quotes Traolach O’Riordain.  Dr. O’Riordain (Department Chair – Irish Studies, University of Montana) was the local organizer of the ACIS conference this year.  And a fabulous job he did.  This was the first conference that I attended, but reports from others who have been participating for years, claimed it to be the best yet.  The panels and papers presented included:  Irish American Nationalism and the Easter Rising; Irish Identity and the New State; Irish Identity in Music, Song, Print and Stone; The Theater and the Forgotten (where I learned about the orphan trains); Irish Language, Law and Learning; and many more.  Lectures by Irish broadcaster and author Myles Dungan (How to lose a country in sixteen executions) and Ruan O’Donnell, University of Limerick (Irish America and the 1916 Rising) were fascinating.  Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill gave a wonderful poetry reading of her celebrated works, and Breandan Feiritear’s lecture entitled “Dragging it Home:  Songs and Stories from Gaelic America” was an experience to which we all could relate.

I have decided to remain in Colorado and to seek out and become more involved with the Irish Gaelic goings on here.  But I full heartedly encourage you to join the Friends of Irish Studies in Montana and support their projects.  They provide a valuable resource not far from where we sit.  Beir Bua.

www.Indiegogo.com/projects/her-exiled-children-a-clann-dibeartha

http://hs.umt.edu/friends-irish-studies/