AIMS NEWS AND NOTES

AIMS News and Notes 10-18-2005 Arizona Irish Music Society
www.azirishmusic.com
Information Line: 602-770-8077
Signup - signup@azirishmusic.com
George L. O'Brien - george@azirishmusic.com
News - news@azirishmusic.com

Anyone interested in receiving the Directory/Calendar only version of this newsletter should e-mail us at signup@azirishmusic.com. You will be able to read the entire newsletter on the web at www.azirishmusic.com/00000000.htm.
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The Expanded Irish Cultural Center Gift Shop run by Pat & Patty McCrossan, the former proprietors of Ireland's Own, is now open from 10:30 am until 6 pm Tuesday through Friday and from 10:30 am until 3 pm on Saturday. It will also be open for any ICC special events. Call (602) 254-6094.

The Irish Cultural Center is at 1106 N. Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004
602-258-0109 www.azirish.org

--- Tony's Back In Town
--- Phoenix Irish Feis At St Pauls This Weekend
--- Southwest Acoustic Music Gathering In Tucson This Weekend
--- Special Deal For Riverdance Tickets

2. Memo From the Knockabouts
3. Fri, Oct 20 - Scary Irish Stories for Halloween at ICC
4. Memo From The Irish Foundation
5. Memo From Brid Dower
6. News From CJA
7. Dec. 2-3 Irish Language Weekend Scheduled At ICC
8. Sat Dec 9 to Dec 10 - Bagpipe Concert Workshop and Competition at ICC
9. Thur Oct 19 - Meet and Greet Flan Garvey and Cliffs of Moher Delegation at At ICC
10. Festival Performance Schedule
11. "Back to the Future" Car Model Featured at Irish Festival
12. Thur Dec 21 Winter Solstice Celebration at ICC
13. Rosie McCaffrey's Beer Pong Tournament
14. Memo From Jennifer Sordyl
15. This Week In Irish Music

Everyone's favorite "wild and crazy guy", Tony Cummins is back at the Dubliner for the next two weekends. It's best to get there early since he packs them in.

Syllabus Preview:
--- All adult competitions will be on Friday night.
--- All non-championship competitions will be on Saturday.
--- All championships and championship specials will be on Sunday.

Irish Music Competition (Sat At Noon):
--- Beginner: playing less than two years
--- Intermediate: playing two to four years
--- Advanced: playing five or more years

Any traditional Irish music. Contestants must supply their own instrument. Two minute limit per performance. Judged by Chris McGrory.

Please use the solo form as the entry form for the music competition. Entries for this will remain open until one hour before the competition. Entrants will be asked to complete an additional form prior to competing. Entry fee is $5.

Tickets just for the evening concerts on Friday, October 20th & Saturday, October 21st are now available to purchase at the "Folkshop" 2525 N. Campbell Ave, (520) 881-7147. Ticket Prices: $15.00 for Friday or Saturday night; both nights $25.00. Discounts for TFTM, TKMA and all students; $13.00 each or both nights for $23.00. Tickets will also be available the night of the concerts at the Proscenium Theater Box Office. The Box Office will open at 6:30 PM; seating will begin at 7:00 PM. It's all first come first served, general seating. Proscenium Theater, 520-206-6986.

Yes! Festival attendees who purchase a Nov. 2 engagement Riverdance ticket will receive one for FREE. http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/hokb3k

And in addition to the 2 for 1 deal, I have 2 pair of FREE tix for our raffle at the Festival.
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First Time In Northwest Phoenix!

Riverdance - The Original International Phenomenon

Comes To Maricopa County Events Center - (Formerly The Sundome)

Limited Engagement - Six Performances Only!

NOVEMBER 2ND THROUGH NOVEMBER 5TH
Of all the performances to emerge from Ireland in the past decade, nothing can compare to the energy, the sensuality and the spectacle of RIVERDANCE. Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or 480-784-4444

Hey George,

Just wanted to let everyone know that the Knockabouts will be performing at the Irish festival (Oct. 28th) at noon on the Pub Stage. The Knockabouts will also be at Molly Branningans on Friday Oct. 27 starting at 9:30 PM. And to close out the month, the K'bouts will be Flagstaff's feature band as we play at Charly's for the official Halloween Party on Oct 31st.

Thanks
John McGregor
j14abut@hotmail.com

"some bands raise the roof...we lower the floor"

Get your Halloween season off to a good start with an evening of scary stories at the Irish Cultural Center. Four of Arizona's best storytellers will present Scary Irish Stories for Halloween on Friday, October 20th, at 7:00 p.m. The program will feature Sean Buvala, Cari Knarr, Sandy Oglesby and Liz Warren. They will present a program of traditional stories, with some modern twists.

"Stories are best told in the dark part of the year and Samhain, or Halloween, is the traditional gateway to that time," said Warren, a faculty member in the Storytelling Institute at South Mountain Community College. "You will hear stories about blood-drawing ghosts, haunted houses, spirits from the other world, and many other Irish horrors in story form."

Storytelling is one of the hallmarks of traditional Irish culture, though not always as familiar to modern audiences as music and dance. Scary Irish Stories for Halloween provides a great opportunity to hear some of the best stories of the Irish folk tradition.

Hi George,

Thanks for including the information about the Irish Foundation Picnic last Sunday and the Spaghetti Dinner on Nov 11 at the ICC. However, our next regularly scheduled meeting will be on November 1 at 7:00 PM, also at the ICC.

Thanks,
Glenda Walker

Hi everyone,

Brid & Smoot Mahooty will be appearing at Rosie McCaffrey's in Phoenix tomorrow night, Wednesday 18th from 8:30 to 10:30. Rosie's is located at 906 E. Camelback Road. Hope to see you there!

The mother and daughter's team of CJA has released a new CDs titled "Things Have Changed" while Joanne and Krystle as JAK have a CD titled "God Help Us All Then".

(Phoenix, AZ, September 18, 2006) - The Irish Cultural Center will promote the revival of Ireland's national language with workshops for beginning and intermediate students of the Irish language on Saturday and Sunday, December 2-3, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day.

Instructors are Walter and Maureen Stock, instructors for Daltaí na Gaeilge in New York; and Jason Carns, instructor at the Irish Cultural Center in Phoenix. Walter Stock is also adjunct professor of Irish at New York University and Irish language examiner at Vassar College and University of Arizona.

No experience is required for beginners' classes. Emphasis will be on conversation and understanding spoken Irish. The fee for the weekend is $100; it includes all required materials and a light lunch each day. The Best Western Central Phoenix Inn, (602-252-2100, next door to the Irish Cultural Center) is offering a special $74 per night rate for the weekend. Mention Irish Cultural Center when booking. Hotel reservation must be made by October 31.

For registration and more information, contact Pat McCrossan at 602-254-6094 or academy@azirish.org .

Fans of Celtic music will have a rare opportunity to hear solo bagpipers from all over Arizona and the Southwest perform at the Irish Cultural Center on Sunday morning, December 10. The competition, sponsored by the Phoenix Scottish Pipe Band, crowns a weekend of bagpipe activities.

Iain Macey, one of the world's top competitive pipers, will give lessons in Piobaireachd, the classical music of the bagpipe, on Saturday, December 9. Macey has studied piping with some of the preeminent players in Scotland and has won many of the top prizes available in the piping world. Pre registration is required for piping lessons, and visitors are welcome.

The public is invited to the solo piping contest from 9 am to 1 pm on Sunday, December 11. Admission is $5.00. There will be vendor booths, plus food and beverages available for sale. Visitors can also take a tour of the Irish Cultural Center, featuring the Book of Kells museum.

For more information, call Pipe Major Leonard Wood at 602-274-8081 or visit www.phoenixscottish.com.

Mayor Garvey and his delegation will be available to meet those interested in the Cliffs of Moher Tourist Center at a meet and greet to be held at the Center on October 19 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

The Center is pleased to welcome Flan Garvey, the Mayor of County Clare, who will visit the City of Phoenix October 19-20 with a high level delegation and the hope of attracting potential corporate and individual sponsors interested in supporting the development of a state of the art Tourist Center at the Cliffs of Moher. Mayor Garvey will bring with him Mr. Alex Fleming, Clare County Manager, and, Mr. Ger Dollard, Deputy Clare County Manager and Project Leader of the Tourist Center development. The Cliffs of Moher, is one of Ireland's most spectacular sights. Standing 230 metres above the ground at their highest point and 8km long, the Cliffs boast one of the most amazing views in Ireland. On a clear day, the Aran Islands are visible in Galway Bay as well as the valleys and hills of Connemara.

Sat Oct 28

1106 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ
http://festival.azirish.org/

ON THE FESTIVAL STAGES

Traditional (East) Stage
In order of appearance, beginning at 10:30am
-- Marshall Trimble, Master of Ceremonies
-- Bracken School of Irish Dance
-- Celtic Spring (First set, 11:30am)
-- McTeggart Dance School
-- Oceans Apart
-- McElligott Dance School
-- Celtic Spring
-- Celtic Dance Academy
-- The Brid Dower Band
Stage closes at 5pm

Pub (West) Stage
In order of appearance, beginning at 10:45
-- Pat McCrossan, Master of Ceremonies
-- O'Carroll's Gate
-- The Knockabouts
-- Brazen Heads
-- Eric Rigler and Bad Haggis (Two Sets)
Stage closes at 5:30pm

Confirmed! The DeLorean Car Club will have a presence at the festival

~ they're bringing 2 cars for exhibit and will have members on hand to discuss the history of DeLorean Motor Company. See below for some interesting facts!

Historic Information - Summary

The most unique features of the cars include the stainless steel exteriors, which require no paint and were therefore left unpainted, and the gull-wing doors. This unique design gives the car a futuristic look that is probably best identified with the popular "Back to the Future" movies starring Michael J. Fox.

Once again preparations are underway at the Irish Cultural Center, 1106 N. Central Ave. Phoenix, for the annual celebration of the mid-winter Solstice Thursday, December 21. The occasion now as in ancient times marks the longest night of the year. For people living in Ireland, this could mean having darkness for as many as seventeen hours. So it is understandable why the first farmers who arrived Ireland over 5,000 years ago, so eagerly awaited evidence from within the passage tomb called Newgrange, in county Meath, for signs that the sun had started to return from it's annual southern migration. The penetration of light from the rising sun into the central chamber at Newgrange on December 21 had great ceremonial significance for the Irish and others in pre-historic times, in addition to serving as a precise celestial clock for those early farmers.

Songs and poetry illuminate the longest night of the year. The vigil fire illuminates the monument, An Gorta Mor. We proceed to the Ribbon Trees and honor those no longer here to enjoy the fruits of life. By placing ribbons on the branches of this special tree(s), those dearest to us, but who are no longer here, can rest in knowing that their passing and suffering will long be remembered by those of us who care. Afterwards, the firelight guides us to the Great Hall where we feast and enjoy the music of our heritage.

To help raise funds and food for the needy, we will be placing ribbons on the "Ribbon Tree" being introduced for the first time this year. Also, those wishing to drop off non-perishable food items at the Irish Cultural Center may do so between now and the Solstice event on the evening of December 21 st .

This year, the Irish Cultural Center welcomes Grove of the Rising Phoenix, a Ár nDraíocht Féin (ADF) affiliate located in Arizona. They will present a Winter Solstice ceremony celebrating the return of the light.

The event begins at 6:00 PM. Dinner will be served at 7:00 PM. Admission is $5 per person, $10 per person with dinner. Ribbon donation is $1. Due to the popularity of this event, seating is limited, RSVPs before December 17 are necessary. Unfortunately, walk-ins for dinner cannot be accepted.

For further information, please call (602) 258-0109 or check www.azirish.org/newsletter .

Due to the overwhelming success of the Beer Pong Tournament during the Halfway to St. Paddy's Day Benefit we have decided to make it a monthly event. Starting October 14th at 4:00PM the events will commence. To sign up or for more information email rosiepongtour@yahoo.com.

Rosie's now has wireless access. Customers can now bring in their laptops and enjoy free Internet access with a great lunch and a pint!

Rosie McCaffrey's was selected the Editor's Choice for "Best Fish and Chips" and the Readers Choice for "Best Irish Pub in 2005" as presented by the Arizona Republic, the valleys best newspaper! The great people in Phoenix know where to find the finest, truly authentic Irish pub in Phoenix! C'mon in and have a great meal, a cool Imperial pint and watch some of the best local bands in Phoenix!

Thursday, 10/19 9:00 p.m. The Scones
Friday, 10/20 9:00 p.m. O'Carroll's Gate
Saturday, 10/21 9:00 p.m. O'Carroll's Gate
Sunday, 10/22 6:00 p.m. Rosie McCaffrey's Irish Seisun

Yes, I'd appreciate that! I know it's not Irish, but it sure is a bunch of Irish players stepping outside the genre!

This month we're playing music for a Jane Austen Society Ball, which is closed to the public, however, if you would like to see what all the excitement is about, come to this dance~

Thursday Oct 26th, 2006
7:00 p.m. in the Methodist Church hall near The University of Arizona at Tyndall & Fourth St.

No experience is necessary. Beginners are always welcome.

Michael McClanathan Will Be At The Westin Kirland Every Evening At Sunset.

WED

Paul Knight will be at into The Bean on Wed.
Scott Jeffers will be at into The Dubliner on Wed.
Smoot Mahooty With Brid Dower will be at Rosie McCaffrey's on Wed

THUR

There will be a meet and greet with the Delegation from County Clare at the ICC on Thur
Meadowlark will be at the Desert Ridge Market Place on Thur

FRI/SAT

Listen to "Scary Stories for Halloween" by the Story Tellers from South Mountain CC.

The Phoenix Irish Feis will be held at St. Paul's Church starting Fri evening and all day Sat and Sun.

Tony Cummins will be at the Dubliner on Fri and Sat

Keltic Cowboys will be at Fibber Magee's on Fri and Sat.

O'Carroll's Gate will be at Rosie McCaffrey's on Fri and Sat

Love Brokers will be at Rula Bula on Fri and Sat

Haiku Road be at Seamus McCaffrey's on Fri

Shirley's Temple will be at Skeptical Chymist on Fri. and Sat.

The Southwest Acoustic Music Gathering will be held at Pima Community College on Fri and Sat.