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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Out And
About
--- Welsh League News
--- Academy
Fiddler’s Featured At Icc For First Friday
---- Sat, Dec 12th ~
O’connor’s Christmas Irish Music Extravaganza!!
--- Sat Dec
12th - Grand Opening For Irish Wolfhound
---
Christmas Party At The ICC Sunday Dec 13th. From 1:00pm –
5:00pm.-
--- Celtica! Auditions
Extended To December
2. Celtic
Yuletide With Michael Londra In Wickenburg - Wed 12-2-2009
3. Leahy Family Christmas - Sat
12-5-2009
4. An Irish Nutcracker - Sat Dec 19 To 20,
2009
5. Memo From Inis
6. Memo From Meadowlark
7. Memo From Tony Norris
8. This Week In Irish Music
1. OUT
AND ABOUT
--- WELSH LEAGUE NEWS
Hi Michelle and George,
We have an interesting meeting
coming up December 5th, and we invite our Scottish and Irish friends to join us
and celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season. Although his topic features
a Welsh settlement our speaker is prepared to discuss other migrant
populations.
December Meeting
Welsh League Of Arizona
Saturday,
December 5th, 2009
12 - 2 P.M.
Irish Cultural Center
1106 North Central
Ave., Phoenix
A Christmas Gift to Welsh League!
The Gift:
Dr. Robert Llewellyn Tyler
His talk is entitled "The Desert and the Dream" -
The Welsh in Patagonia.
The Giver: The Fulbright Educational and
Cultural Exchange Program
Thanks to this program we are able to present a
distinguished Professor of British history as our speaker in December. Dr.Tyler
from Newport, Wales is the visiting Fulbright-Robertson Professor of British
History at Westminster College, Missouri this academic year. He received his BA
from University College of Wales, MA from University of Pittsburgh (1989), and
his PhD from the University of Melbourne, Australia (2000).
Dr. Tyler
has studied immigrant groups and their interactions with their host communities,
how they have maintained their culture, and is especially well acquainted with
the Welsh settlement in Patagonia, Argentina, where he spent a year. His
research has enabled comparisons to be made with other migrant groups, such as
the Scots and Irish.
--- ACADEMY FIDDLER’S FEATURED
AT ICC FOR FIRST FRIDAY
The Irish Cultural Center is at 1106 N. Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004
602-258-0109 www.azirish.org Jane
invited you to "First Friday Fiddlers Concert!" on Friday, December 4 at
7:00pm.
Jane says, "Your invited....to drop by the Irish Cultural
Center for the Dec. 4 First Friday Fiddler's Celtic Christmas Concert! Hope you
can stop by!!!".
--- 
Event: First Friday Fiddlers Concert!
What: Concert
Start Time: Friday, December 4 at 7:00pm End Time: Friday,
December 4 at 8:00pm
Where: Irish Cultural Center 1106 North Central Avenue
Phoenix Arizona 85004
To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=182641598023&mid=16c403aG5b4e7059Gf5d749G7
[EDITOR’S NOTE: The Fiddle concert will be followed by a
seisiun.]
---- SAT, DEC 12TH
~ O’CONNOR’S CHRISTMAS IRISH MUSIC EXTRAVAGANZA!!
Entertainment provided by Pat McCrossan, Tramor, Sheila
McGuire, Shay Veno and Jane Hilton!!
We will also have Irish Step Dancers and Bag Pipers.
There will be delicious food, entertainment, and CHEER!
NO COVER CHARGE!
--- SAT DEC
12TH - GRAND OPENING FOR IRISH WOLFHOUND
Features music by the McMorrows, Tony Commins and other
guests.
16811 North Litchfield Rd (just south of W.
Bell)
Suite 102-104
Surprise, Arizona. 85374
Phone: (623) 214-1004
Fax: (623)
214-1125
--- CHRISTMAS PARTY AT THE ICC SUNDAY DEC
13TH. FROM 1:00PM – 5:00PM.
The Irish Foundation of Arizona and the Irish Cultural
Center Academy Christmas Potluck will be held on Sunday, 13 December 09, at the
ICC, 1106 N. Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ, from 1-5 PM. The IFA will provide the turkey, ham,
and dinner rolls.
We ask that you bring a potluck dish to share. To simplify this process, we have
divided the attendee’s surname list as follows:
A-C
appetizers
D-L
salads
M-O side
dishes
P-Z
desserts
In order to insure that we have enough turkey, ham, and
rolls, we ask that you make reservations on or before 30 November 09.
For reservations, contact Anna at 480-345-9517
When you make your reservation, please indicate the total
number of people in your party and how many are children age 12 and under.
There will be a 50/50 raffle and 2 drawings for Academy
tuition for 1 term.
Musicians, bring your instruments as there will be open
seisiuns.
Food items for the St. Vincent de Paul food bank will be
collected at this event. Please
bring non-perishable food items and personal hygiene items for donation. Your food donations or a cash donation
of $5.00 will enter your name into a drawing for a free 2010 family IFA
membership.
In addition, it is the kick-off for our annual membership
drive and renewal. Membership is
$20.00 per family.
--- CELTICA! AUDITIONS
EXTENDED TO DECEMBER
Due to heavy interest in this brand new
Celtic Chorale, Auditions have been extended into
December.
Celtica! is Arizona’s Only Choir solely dedicated to the
Music of the Celts. We are in Partnership with:
The Irish Cultural Center
1106 N. Central Avenue.
Phoenix, Arizona
Contact Director Coleen Van Slyke at:
celticachorale@gmail.com to reserve an audition time on
Tuesdays, December First, Eighth, or Fifteenth
2. CELTIC YULETIDE WITH MICHAEL
LONDRA IN WICKENBURG - WED 12-2-2009
Del E. Webb Center for the
Performing Arts
1090 S. Vulture Mine Rd
Wickenburg, AZ,
85390
Phone: 928-684-6624
Fax: 928-684-6698
Email:
boxoffice@delewebbcenter.org
Michael Londra is from the singing capital of Ireland, a
small town on the South East coast called Wexford. He decided in the early 90s
to follow his heart and started singing professionally. His leap of faith was
rewarded when he soon became a leading man in musical theater in Dublin playing
many roles. US director and choreographer, Larry Fuller asked Michael to play
Bobby Kennedy in the world premier of "JFK" where he was noticed by the
producers of Riverdance.
Michael's first album "Celt" was produced by acclaimed
producer Steve Skinner. The album was released in 15 countries worldwide selling
particularly well in Korea where it reached No 1 in the World Music Charts.
He appears with Pavarotti, Bocelli, Il Divo, Sarah Brightman and Kathryn
Kenkins on the Universal Records Asia 2009 release Arias : Ancora. His new album
The Road Not Taken will be released throughout Asia in early '09.
His recording of Danny Boy was described by The Irish
Emigrant in New York as "One of the best recordings of Danny Boy in history."The
Youtube video of this recording has been seen by over 1 million people as of Feb
2009". (1,341,670 views by July 2009).
3. LEAHY FAMILY
CHRISTMAS - SAT 12-5-2009
When::Dec 5, 2009
Start
time::7:30 PM
Where:: Ikeda Theater
Ticket price: $30
Buy Tickets
Preview and
Buy Tickets www.mesaartslive.com Leahy is a Celtic Canadian powerhouse
of eight siblings who are each a triple-threat of fiddle-driven music, dance and
vocals. From sacred hymns, slow airs, and luscious Christmas carols to a toe
tapping mix of fiery reels and jigs, Leahy Family Christmas covers the full
spectrum of the holiday.
Leahy makes Christmas a true family affair!" - The
Calgary Herald
<a
href=”http://www.leahymusic.com/news.php”>Leahy Web Site</a>
4. AN IRISH NUTCRACKER -
SAT DEC 19 TO 20, 2009
Presented by the Celtic Dance
Academy 
When: Dec 19 - Dec 20, 2009
Where: Nesbitt/Elliott
Playhouse
Start time: 2:00 PM, 7:00
PM
Public tickets on sale Now
http://www.mesaartscenter.com/index.php/performances/dance/irishnutcracker
Ticket Price: $11
"A magician with secrets, an
enchanted gift, a battle with the Mouse Queen, a magical adventure through the
land of Tir Na Nog where fairies, flowers and gypsies dance to Irish tunes: it
must be the Irish Nutcracker. Join Claire as she experiences the classic holiday
Christmas story the Irish way."
Box Office: 480-644-6500
Administration: 480-644-6501
One East
Main Street Mesa, AZ 85201
http://www.celticdanceacademy.com
** Children 3 and under
FREE**
5.
MEMO FROM INIS
Subject: Inis December Dates
Hello and Happy Holidays!
Come join us in December as we celebrate the season with
some Celtic and holiday music! We've added some great new tunes and
songs---
Inis
6. MEMO FROM
MEADOWLARK
Hello George,
A quick "hello" to let you know that Meadowlark will be at
the Tempe Fall Festival of the Arts all three days, Dec.4-6 . We've just
released a new compilation CD, "First Light ~ the early years" that includes 74
minutes of music from our very popular first two recordings (now out of print).
We'll be performing these and beautiful holiday selections from our "A Silent
Night" CD. The new release and the Christmas CD will be available for purchase
along with other Meadowlark titles. Hope to see you there and/or at one of the
December Holiday concerts mentioned below!
UPCOMING: 7:30pm Saturday December 12 (Cottonwood) AND ALSO
Saturday December 19 (Sedona) "Join Meadowlark for their annual 'Spirit of the
Season!' concert -a spellbinding evening of Christmas and Celtic-inspired music
celebrating the Holiday Season. Meadowlark's founders Rick Cyge & Lynn
Trombetta will perform their enchanting blend of harp-like acoustic fingerstyle
guitar and effervescent flutes and pennywhistles and will be joined by violinist
extraordinaire, Allen Ames. Visit
www.meadowlarkmusic.com
for more info."
George, thanks for your continuing support of this
wonderful community!
Best Wishes,
Lynn "Ally" & Rick
Meadowlark
This
email was sent by Meadowlark and/or Earthsong Online , P. O. Box 2784,
Scottsdale, AZ 85252, using Express Email Marketing. You were added to this list as
azirishmusic@yahoo.com on 11/9/2008.
7. MEMO FROM TONY
NORRIS
Dear George ,
Happy Thanksgiving. This week we once again we
found ourselves a link in the great food chain. Sue returned from errands in
town to find an immature Northern Goshawk in the chicken run. He had entered
through the doggie [chickie?] door that gives the flock access to the garden. He
had killed the only chick successfuly hatched this season, the Japanese white
hen and the Mille Fleur rooster. When I returned I threw a tablecloth over him
and put him in a cage till we could identify him. With the grandkids directing
next morning we released him. A few powerful wing strokes took him into the pine
trees. Beautiful and deadly. I thought of the ranchers over on The Blue River
listening to the howls of reintroduced wolves on these frosty nights.
Ruth and Timber have moved into town to their
house on Cherry Hill. Leah and her tribe of three are now our neighbors
upstairs. We're looking forward to turkey, hubbard squash stuffed with corn
casserole, greenbeans with bits of bacon and almond, garlic mashed potatoes, rum
glazed butternut squash, yeast rolls and 18 friends and family round the
table.
Best wishes to you all,
Call of The Wild
I arrived early this past Saturday
at my gig at The Arizona Folklore Preserve. South of Sierra Vista I turned up
Ramsey Canyon and drove through meadows of tall honey colored grass and live oak
trees. As I parked beneath the giant sycamore that shelters the preserve theater
I saw about a dozen Gould’s turkeys on the broad deck. There were several tall
toms with the distinctive white patches on their lower backs and tails. They
were pecking at their reflected images in the low glass window. They were
distracted and didn’t pay much attention to me so I grabbed my camera and took
several pictures.
As our founding fathers planned the great seal of
the United States there was some dissent concerning the selection of our
national bird. Ben Franklin wrote in a letter to his daughter
"For my own part I wish the
Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird
of bad moral Character. He does
not get his Living honestly. ..For the Truth the
Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original
Native of America...”
Although the eagle is revered one might argue
that the turkey has a more celebrated place in our daily lives. From 1975-95 our
per capita consumption of turkey increased from 8.3 to 18 lbs. There are those
who swear bald eagle tastes just like spotted owl…….
Thirty years ago I lived in Rapid
City, South Dakota at the edge of the Black Hills. It was my passion to locate
remote campsites in the hills. If I could camp in a spot for a few days and not
see any one else I was elated. One holiday weekend I set up camp off a dim
service road in the area of Castle Creek with my wife and kids and a couple of
friends who brought their dog. Shortly after our arriving the dog found a young
porcupine and killed it.
Now when I was a child and armed with my first
BB-gun my mother laid down two laws. No shooting songbirds and you ate whatever
you killed. This mantra came to mind as I recalled that porcupines were
considered edible. I carefully
skinned the young critter and put it to simmer slowly in the dutch oven. When I
judged it done I offered it round for tasting but got no takers. I took a big
mouthful and instantly knew what the porcupine had been feeding on. It’s not an
accident that he’s called the porcupine.
The tang of fresh ponderosa pine, reminiscent of turpentine, was present in
each bite. With my mother’s words ringing in my ears I finished the piece in my
hand.
That night I developed
violent cramps and only grew sicker as the hours went by. I finally gave
in to the inevitable as the sky began to lighten. Let me mention here that I am
not a recreational thrower upper. I once went twelve years without throwing
up. So I was in dire straights as I left the tent and crawled some
distance into a plum thicket and proceeded to purge myself in the pearly light
of morning.
With my first bleaghhhh I
received an answer from the tree line across the meadow.
Gobble gobble gobble!
As I cried out with each
convulsion of my stomach I marked the progress of a magnificent turkey tom
across the small meadow. His iridescent feathers were fluffed out till he looked
twice his true size and he strutted proudly, dragging his wings stiffly against
the ground and answering my every outcry.
Gobble gobble
gobble!
I didn’t know if he
wanted to fight me or make love to me. Down on all fours in the bushes and weak
from my cleansing I felt strangely vulnerable to either outcome. He was only
about six foot from me when I burst out laughing. He did a double take, then
folded his feathers like a Bedouin’s tent and ran rocking through the gramma
grass and into the still dark woods.
God bless our national turkey.
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8. THIS WEEK IN IRISH
MUSIC
PHOENIX
Michael
McClanathan will play the pipes each day at sunset at the Westin
Kirland.
WED
Paul Knight
will be at Cup O Karma on Wed evening.
Scott Jeffers will be at the Dubliner
on Wed evening
There willl be seisiun at Lis Doon Varna on Wed eveing
THUR
Shay Veno and Jane
Hilton will be be at Tim Finnigans on Thur
Eddie McAteer will be at the
Dubliner on Thur
revor Jones will be at D’Arcy McGee’s on Thur
FRI/SAT
Academy fiddler players will
play at the First Friday gethering at the ICC along with the art show, dinner,
and seisieiun at the ICC. On Fri.
D’Arcy McGee’s will host the McCarthy Bros on Sat
Brazen Heads will be at the Dubliner on Fri and Sat
Keltic Cowboys will be at Fibber Magees on Fri and
Sat
Traveler will be at the Irish Wolfhound on
Lis Doon Varna will host Temperature IIs Rising on Fri and
Sat.
The Leahy Family Christmas Show ill be at the Mesa Arts
Center
Murphy’s Law will host Mike Mercer on Fri and Along for the
Ride on Sat.
Rosie McCaffrey’s will host the Waters on Fri and Sat
Rula Bula will host the Love Brokers on Fri and Sat
Skeptical Chymist will host Holly Kirsten on Fri Pheed on
Sat.
Edie McAtear will be at Tim Finnegan’s Fri.
The Turf will host Hello Swendon on Fri and Biffors on
Sat
FRiI/SAT/SUN DAYTIME
Meadowlark will be at the Tempe Arts Festival Fri, Sat and Sun
Paddy’s Peg Leg
will will be at Lis Doon Varna on Sat afternoon.
Pat McCrossan will be at Lis Doon Varna on Sun
afternoon.
There will be a seisiun early on Sun afternoon at Tim
Finnegan’s
The will be a seisiun late Sun afternoon at Fibber
Magee’s
TUE
There willl be an open mic at Lis Doon Varna on Tue.
TUCSON
There ill be a seisiun at the Auld Dubliner of Tucson on
Sun afternoon.
FLAGSTAFF
There will be a contrdance at Ashurst Hall on Sat.
There will be seisiun at Charly’s on Sat
PRESCOTT
There will be a contradance at the Prescott Activity Center
on Fri.
Inis will be at Celtic Crosssing
WICKENBURG
Michael Londra will be at the Wickenberg Community Center
on Wed evening
COTTONWOOD
There willl be a contradance at the Cottonwood Civic
Center.on Sat.
1. PHOENIX
Cup
O Bean
1710 W. Southern Ave
Mesa 480-890-0579
| 12/2/2009 |
Wed |
7:30 PM |
Paul Knight |
D'Arcy McGee's
2000E
Rio Salado Parkway Tempe 480-557-9087
| 12/3/2009 |
Thu |
6:00 PM |
Trevor Jones |
| 12/5/2009 |
Sat |
9:00 PM |
McCarthy Bros |
Dubliner Irish Pub
3841
E. Thunderbird Rd. Phoenix 602-867-0984
| 12/2/2009 |
Wed |
9:00 PM |
Scott Jeffers |
| 12/3/2009 |
Thu |
9:00 PM |
Eddie McAtear |
| 12/4/2009 |
Fri |
9:00 PM |
Brazen Heads |
| 12/5/2009 |
Sat |
9:00 PM |
Brazen Heads |
Fibber Magees
1989 W.
Elliott Rd. #19 Chandler 480-722-9434
| 12/4/2009 |
Fri |
9:00 PM |
Keltic Cowboys |
| 12/5/2009 |
Sat |
9:00 PM |
Keltic Cowboys |
| 12/6/2009 |
Sun |
4:00 PM |
Fibber's Sun Seisiun |
Irish Cultural Center
1106 N. Central Avenue Phoenix 602-392-7850
| 12/4/2009 |
Fri |
7:00 PM |
Academy of Irish & Celtic Musicians
|
| 12/4/2009 |
Fri |
7:00 PM |
First Friday Art Walk and Seisiun
|
Irish Wolfhound
16811
N. Litchfield Surprise 623-214-1006
| 12/4/2009 |
Fri |
9:00 PM |
Traveler |
| 12/5/2009 |
Sat |
9:00 PM |
Traveler |
Lis
Doon Varna
16100 N. Arrowhead
Fountain Center Peoria 623-979-0730
| 12/2/2009 |
Wed |
7:00 PM |
Irish Seisiun |
| 12/4/2009 |
Fri |
9:00 PM |
Temperature Is Rising
|
| 12/5/2009 |
Sat |
12:30 PM |
Paddy's Peg Leg |
| 12/5/2009 |
Sat |
9:00 PM |
Temperature Is Rising
|
| 12/6/2009 |
Sun |
12:00 PM |
Pat McCrossan |
| 12/8/2009 |
Tue |
8:00 PM |
Lis Doon Varna Open Mic
|
Mesa Arts Center
1 East
Main Street Mesa 480-644-6500
| 12/5/2009 |
Sat |
9:00 PM |
Leahy Family Christmas
|
Murphy's Law
58 S San
Marcos Place Chandler 480-812-1588
| 12/4/2009 |
Fri |
9:00 PM |
Mike Mercer |
| 12/5/2009 |
Sat |
9:00 PM |
Along for the Ride |
Rosie McCaffrey's
906
E. Camelback Phoenix 602-241-1916
| 12/4/2009 |
Fri |
9:00 PM |
Waters |
| 12/5/2009 |
Sat |
9:00 PM |
Waters |
Rula Bula
401 S. Mill
Ave Tempe 480-929-9500
| 12/4/2009 |
Fri |
9:00 PM |
Love Brokers |
| 12/5/2009 |
Sat |
9:00 PM |
Love Brokers |
Skeptical Chymist
15688
N. Pima Ftw Scottsdale 480-609-8677
| 12/4/2009 |
Fri |
9:00 PM |
Holly Kirsten |
| 12/5/2009 |
Sat |
9:00 PM |
Pheed |
Tempe Arts Festival
Downtown - Hayden Square Tempe 480-967-7891
| 12/4/2009 |
Fri |
10:00 AM |
Meadowlark |
| 12/5/2009 |
Sat |
10:00 AM |
Meadowlark |
| 12/6/2009 |
Sun |
10:00 AM |
Meadowlark |
Tim
Finnegans
9201 N. 29th Ave. #52
Phoenix 602-997-2323
| 12/3/2009 |
Thu |
9:00 PM |
Shay Veno and Jane Hilton
|
| 12/4/2009 |
Fri |
9:00 PM |
Eddie McAtear |
| 12/6/2009 |
Sun |
1:00 PM |
Finnegan's Sun Seisiun
|
Turf
705 N. First St.
Phoenix 602-296-5043
| 12/4/2009 |
Fri |
9:00 PM |
Hello Swendon |
| 12/5/2009 |
Sat |
9:00 PM |
Biffos |
2. TUCSON
Auld Dubliner - Tucson
800 East University Blvd. Tucson
520-206-0323
| 12/6/2009 |
Sun |
4:00 PM |
Tucson Irish Seisiun |
3. FLAGSTAFF
Ashurst Hall - NAU
Creative & Comm Arts Bldg 37A Flagstaff
928-523-1889
| 12/5/2009 |
Sat |
7:30 PM |
Contradance - Flagstaff
|
Charly's Pub and Grill
23 N Leroux St Flagstaff 928-779-1919
| 12/6/2009 |
Sun |
4:00 PM |
Flagstaff Irish Seisiun
|
4. PRESCOTT
Celtic Crossings
3250
Gateway Blvd - #400 Prescott 928-443-8454
| 12/5/2009 |
Sat |
6:30 PM |
Inis |
Prescott Activity Center
824 E. Gurley St. Prescott 928-445-8823
| 12/4/2009 |
Fri |
7:30 PM |
Contradance - Prescott
|
6. REST OF AZ
Cottonwood Civic Center
Main Street Cottonwodd 928-774-5936
| 12/5/2009 |
Sat |
7:00 PM |
Contradance - Cottonwood
|
Wickenburg Community Center
160 N. Valentine St. Wickenburg
928-684-2694
| 12/2/2009 |
Wed |
8:00 PM |
Michael Londra |
t