irish arts & entertainment, may 2016

SPECIAL PREVIEW ISSUE!!

Southern California’s Largest Scottish Highland Games & Celtic Festival

www.scottishfest.com

FULL COVERAGE STARTS ON PAGE 3

Beltaine, 2016

VOLUME XXIII - ISSUE 5

Irish Arts & Entertaniment

nonstop from la to ireland

connections tobritain & europe

SMART FLIES AER LINGUSFROM LOS ANGELESTO EUROPE

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Alex Beaton Returns In a non-performance appearance Alex returns to the festival that started his festival career. Alex looks forward to seeing his fans and chatting with old friends.

Heritage Stage The new stage will feature tradition-al music and entertainment such as harpers and fiddlers. Increasing the number of stages provides the opportunity to add more entertain-ment to the festival.

Beard & Moustache Contest Do you have a beard or mustache that you want to enter to be judged in the contest? Several categories to win: Mustache; Partial Beard; Full Beard (beards over and under 12 inches).

The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band Returns to the Fest iva l

Southern California's Celtic Festival is Coming To Orange County United Scottish Society (USS)

a non-profit organization Proudly Presents

May 28th and 29th OC Fair & Event Center

Daily 9am to 6pm The family friendly festival has the best of Scottish and Celtic enter-tainment and events from the sounds of bagpipes to crack’n Celtic music to men and women throwing heavy objects in the pro-fessional and amateur athletics to dancing to numerous children’s activities to sheep herding demos to the smells of authentic Celtic foods and the sights of the kilts.

N e w f o r 2 0 1 6 If you haven’t been to the festival or are long time guests this year has

exciting new features you don’t want to miss.

Irish Whisky The festival will offer an Irish Whis-ky as part of the premiere Whisky Tasting. The Irish Whisky will be part of the World Tasting that in-cludes whiskies from Japan, Eng-land, USA, Scotland and Ireland Irish Coffee Contest With the addition of Irish Whisky to the Whisky Tasting it makes sense to add Irish Coffee

Canadian Youth Pipe Bands The all youth world champion Rob-ert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Bands from Canada are part of the World Class Pipe Band Contest .

Rock ‘N Piper Retired U.S. Marine Joel M. Daniel performs classic rock and modern pop songs transcribed to the GHB such as AC/DC, Lady Gaga, Jour-ney, Fun, Joan Jet, and many oth-ers.


Comedic Talent of Christopher

You may know him as the Rusty Bawls Show, or as stilt character "McCloud", or his comi-cal look at Contempo-rary Scot-

tish Rock Musicians show, but no matter how you know him you always know you’ll be entertained. A graduate of the Wellington Preform-ing Arts School in New Zealand, Chris-topher has performed on five different conti-nents and no matter the age will win peo-ple’s hearts. Christopher brings a comedic energy to his Edin-burgh Festival like perfor-mances at the festi-val. Don’t miss him!

C r ac k ' n Ce l t i c Mus ic

The 2016 music line-up at Scottish Fest is one of the best in Southern California with all the favor-ites like Bad Haggis, Wicked Tinkers, Neil O'Neill,

Sligo Rags, Highland Way, and the Ploughboys.

The musical performances span the spectrum of Celtic music from the troubadour Neil O'Neill to the cutting-edge Celtic fusion with rock by Bad Haggis.

This will be the 17th year Bad Haggis brings their hearing-is-believing sonic ex-perience to festival. The band is led by “the most recorded piper of all time”, Eric Riggler. A few of his credits are Outlander, Braveheart, Titanic, Men in Black, and the Simpsons plus he's in demand by studios from Hollywood to Nashville to Abbey Road, bringing the timeless, haunting sonorities of the uilleann pipes, the Great Highland Bag-pipe and whistle to au-diences around the world.

A festival favorite are the pioneers of the growing Tribal Celtic movement. The Wicked Tinkers have been playing haunting, heart-pounding bag-pipes and irresistible tribal drums as a profession-

al touring band since 1995. Don't think this is dry, dusty music for museum shelves as the Wicked Tinkers merge the best of modern, almost rock-and-roll energy with the hypnotic, insistent grooves of

their Gaelic ancestors. Rare is the bystander who comes away without feeling a surprising, sometimes bewildering connection to long-

forgotten primal emotions.

The whisky tavern stage is growing in popularity with the entertaining show, "Learn To Play the Bagpipes" by John Allan. John masterfully blends comedy and music while providing insight to how one plays the bagpipe. Neil O’Neill is consid-

ered one of the premiere Celtic singers and his melodic voice contributes to the success of the whisky tavern stage.

The new heritage stage features the melodic strings of the Raggle Taggle Harpers and the toe tapping driving force of fiddle mu-

sic. Scottish Fest has some of the best fiddlers in Southern California with performances by the Scottish Fiddlers of Los Angeles. A strong entertainment line-up indeed!


t he C la ns . . . It would not be Scottish Fest without the herit-age, vivid color, and pageantry the clans bring to the festival. With 70+ Scottish clans and organ-izations on hand, tracing your heritage can be a fulfilling experience of learning about the col-orful and often bloody history. The Clan is a concept which dates back to the 12th Century. While the word 'clan' is derived from the Gaelic 'clann', meaning family or children, not everyone in the same clan is related to each other. It's a common error that every person who bears a clan's name is a lineal descendant of the chiefs. Find out more about your lineage at Scottish Fest.

S ho p , Sho p and Sho p If you love to shop then you'll love about 60 celtic vendors sell-ing a wide variety of Celtic prod-ucts at Scottish Fest . From a kilt, to sweets, to books and jew-elry; from a sword to a spor-

ran to a set of bagpipes it can all be purchased from the plethora of shops at Scottish Fest.

They'll be plenty of products with tartan which is the symbol-ic national dress of Scotland after the Dress Act of 1746 ban-ning the tartan and other as-pects of Gaelic culture was re-pealed in 1782. The kilt is the most iconic use of tartan, but there is also the solid color Irish kilt and the more recent and practical utility kilt.

The festival is a family friendly event with a wide array of activities for all ages. There will

be activities such as children's athletics, inflatable jumpers, sheep herding demonstrations, face painting and archery.

Vin ta ge C ar s How many different makes of British Cars can you name? Most people when they think of British Cars think MG, Healey, Jaguar, As-ton Martin, Rolls Royce, Bentley and Mini. Although most of them have disappeared over time, there have been over 940 different British car makes and more than 75 Scottish car manufacturers. Stop by the Vin-tage Car display to see a variety of fine British automotive designs and engineering. The owners are al-ways willing to talk about the cars.

P r o fes s io na l At h le t i cs Scottish Fest is a festival of champions with one of the only festivals in Southern Cal-ifornia that has a Professional Class Athletic Championship in events such as the Caber Toss, Throwing the Weight, Putting the Stone and Ham-mer Throw. These champion-ships are extremely physical, mentally challenging and ex-citing to watch.

C h i l d r en ’s Ac t i v i t i e s


Dear Friends & Readers,

It is always an exciting time, more or less, if you are a Celt. I think Celts in general look upon our life and time as a bit of an adventure! This time of year though, as all of the Fairs and Festival start to take place, always strikes me as a more exciting period than usual.We hope you enjoy this issue and that we see you at our IRISH OUTREACH Booth at these upcoming events!We are introducing our new offer at Scottish Fest USA, it is called the “VIP OFFER”Very Irish Person; you will be enrolled in our VIP Clubwhich gives you a monthly newsletter with Special Offers and Group Rates on Irish/Celtic Concerts, Irish Theatre, Films, Fairs and Festivals; Two for One Offers on meals at participatingPubs & Restaurants and a host of other VIP Discounts.Details at the Scottish Fair, so please drop by!Slante, Jim McDonoughPublisher

Irish Arts &

Entertainment

The opinions expressed by ourcolumnists are their own and do

not necessarily reflect the opinionof the Irish Arts & Entertainment

or its Editor and staff.

PUBLISHER &

MANAGING EDITOR

James M. McDonough

SALES REPRESENTATIVE

Patrick WeldBrian Boylan

WRITERS

Barbara SingerMaryPat Tuxbury

Patrick Weld

LAYOUT & DESIGN

Shea Newkirk

RESIDENT ARTIST

Adrien Rain Burke

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Ad Clone Contest

Spot the duplicate ads in this issue and WIN!

The prize is a Celtic Gift Bag loaded with Irish Goodies! Concert & Theater Tickets! CDs,

Imported Candy, Apparel and more!

Go through this issue and let us know which ad has a “clone”by telling us the advertiser and the two pages on which the ads appear. E-Mail your answer and contact info to: [email protected] The winner will be drawn at random from entries received.

Contest closes on June 30th, 2016


Highland Dancing Championship Scottish Fest is proud to host the Western Regional Highland Dancing Champion-ship that is a qualifier for the U.S. National Championship at the end of July in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Western Region has a pedigree of winners at the Na-tionals and last year was no different with Erin Blair and Kaylee Finnegan winning Championship titles at last year's competition. They represented the Western Region that is comprised of Arizona. California, Hawaii and Nevada. Only

at Scottish Fest will you see the top dancers in each age group qualify to compete at this year's National Championships.

Competing at the festival will be Erin Blair who won her second World Juvenile Cham-pion title at the Cowel Games in Scotland last year.

Two sought after titles at the festival are the City of Edinburgh Medal awarded to the best dancer at Scottish Fest each year and the Robert Lyall Lowe Memorial Scholar-

ship Award presented to the winner of a special Highland Fling event for any California dancer under the age of 7

New this year, you can learn some of the basic steps at the Highland Dancing Learning Experience. It will provide an opportunity to try some of the basic steps. Come visit the dancers at Scottish Fest and join us on to watch the 2016 Championship competition in the Nan Da-ley Highland Dancing Pavilion.

Plethora of Pipe Bands Galore Scottish Fest hosts the largest Pipe Band Championship in Southern Cali-fornia. with about 23 pipe bands planned to compete from Canada to states like Arizona, Utah and of course California. Two bands connected to the Irish tradition will compete, Bushmills Irish Pipe Band and the LA Police Emerald Society Pipes and Drums. The LA Scots Grade I pipe band will also be performing daily. The Scottish or Irish pipe band in its most common form consists of pipers playing the Great Highland Bagpipe (In Ireland known as the Great Irish War pipes), snare drummers, tenor drummers and usually a bass drummer. The drum section is known collectively as the drum corps. The entire band

is led by a pipe major and the drum corps is led by a drum sergeant. The pipe band began in the military, but its origins are ob-scure, and historical records exist mostly in hints gleaned from contemporary regimental records that had no direct in-terest in pipes. It is known that pipers served in regiments from the earliest times; the Royal Scots have records refer-ring to pipers dating back to the early seven-teenth century. The tunes played consists of music from the

Scottish, Irish and Breton traditions, either in the form of tradi-tional folk tunes and dances, or music that has been adapted for the pipes. Examples are marches, slow airs, jigs, reels, and strathspeys. Competition is a focus for many pipe bands throughout the world during the spring to autumn period. Pipe bands are judged in three areas: bagpiping, drumming and ensemble (pipes and drums playing together). In addition to the band competitions Scottish Fest is home to the largest solo field in Southern California with over 150 piping and drumming competitors from the novice to professional class in a variety of music types such jigs, hornpipes, reels and marches.


Tasty Celtic Fare and Drink The Scottish are not known for their cui-sine, but there's a variety of scrumptious Celtic food to try at the festival including haggis. Haggis is considered the national dish of Scotland as a result of Robert Burns' po-em, Address to a Haggis of 1787. Ever wanted to try haggis or at least be able to say you did? Or maybe you're a lover of haggis. Whatever the case the festival offers traditional haggis either with or without a dram splash. If haggis is not on your food "bucket list" the festival offers a variety of other scrumptious Celtic fare like corned beef sandwiches, Fish ‘N Chips, bangers and meat pies. New this year is an assortment of tasty pies like Chicken Chili Verde, Lamb Cur-ry, Macaroni and Cheese, and Cajun Spice. There's also a variety of American fare. The selection of beers is broad and ranges from Guinness to Belhaven.

Over the past several years Scottish Fest has built its Whisky Tasting into one of the finest in Southern California by combining a unique hard to find varie-ty of premium whiskies along with a knowledgea-ble and entertaining whisky master, Chris Uhde. Chris is also the founder of the Southern Califor-nia Whisky Club.

New this year to the festival’s premium offering of tastings is a selection of whiskies from around the world. The new offering includes a 10yr Irish Single Malt, two Japanese whiskies, a triple smoke single malt from the United States, a cask strength whisky from England and rounding out the selection is the Exclusive Malts Glen Keith 19yr from Scotland Whisky tasting is the analysis of whisky through aroma, visual examination and taste. Single cask is a premium class of whisky in which each bottle comes from an individual ag-

ing barrel, instead of being created by blending together the contents of various barrels to pro-vide uniformity of color and taste. Even whis-kies that are not blends may be combined from more than one batch, or even from differing years to achieve their consistency. Cask strength is a term used in whisky-making to describe the level of alcohol-by-volume and cask strength whiskies are usually not diluted by water in production. In addition to the Around the World flight of whiskies, the Beauty of Cask Strength Whisky flight features the "Speyside Whisky of the Year"- Whisky Advocate Magazine - Tamdhu Batch Strength Edition 117.6 proof. Surround-ing this fine whisky are five others including a 28yr Exclusive Malts Caledonian Single Cask. This year’s premium tasting is a Cask limited edi-tion of Scotch Whiskies with a retail price for these bottles of over $1,000 combined. Leading the flight is the 42yr Exclusive Malts Invergordon Sin-gle Cask whisky. Three of the remaining five whiskies are 19yr old or better. Truly and excep-tional flight of whiskies that can’t be missed. To taste whisky at the festival visit the popular Whisky Tavern. Purchase a dram from a varie-ty of select whiskies at the bar or join the premi-ere tasting sessions offered daily. The tastings sell out every year so reserve your space now on our website. * Because of the limited nature of these items, the malts are subject to change without notice.

I r i s h W hi sk y Ad d ed to P r em ie re Wh isk y Ta s t in g

a t Sc ot t i sh F es t

Pageantry of the Drum Majors One of the highlights of the festival is the Drum Major Championship that features some of the best drum majors in the U.S. Also, the world Class Drum Majors lead the 500 plus pipers and drummers daily in the awe inspiring Mass Bands.

Sword Training by KRON

Go back in time and learn the technique of sword fighting. All ages welcome to battle if you dare!


Salute to Veterans The festival offers active, retired and veteran military personnel free admittance with a valid mili-tary ID. "It's the least we can do. These courageous men and women do so much for us each and every day...to offer free en-try is a small token of apprecia-tion", proclaims the Chieftain. The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band will perform both days at

the festival including performances with the mass bands. "We are pleased to have the brilliant musicianship of the band be a part of the 2016 festival", Chieftain Tom Reoch Jr. stated

in an exclusive interview. On Sunday morning there's an opportunity to remember those that made the ultimate sacrifice at the Memorial Service officiated by Navy Chaplain Lt. Ted Leenerts (Ret). In addition, we give thanks to veterans for their service at the daily Salute to Veterans and Scottish Clan March Program. Again this year several members of the Ma-rine band will showcase more of their talent when their rock band takes to the Beaton Stage. A festival moment to remember.

LA Police Emerald Society Pipes & Drums

Visit the Website to Purchase a VIP Package or Discount Tickets

www.scottishfest.com At Gate Ticket Price One Day Two Day Adult $18 $25 Senior/Student $16 $22 Children (5-12) $3 $4 Under 5 Free Free Military * Free Free (*Active, Retired or Veteran with valid ID)

One of the bands that will be competing and performing at Scot-tish Fest will be the Los Angeles Police Emerald Society Pipes and Drums (LAPES). The band was established in 1992 as a non-profit, multi-agency organization with the objective of fostering goodwill among the members of the numerous law enforcement communities. The band was founded by two Los Angeles Police Emerald Society members, Scott Walton, a detective with LAPD, and Steve Kirby, a retired LAPD detective. Scott is currently the Pipe Major of the band. The band wears the All Ire-land Green Tartan. In addi-tion, many aspects of the bands uniform are more than decoration like the harp on the sporran, but none more meaningful than their bag custom made pipe covers . The bagpipe covers were selected to pay tribute and honor the memory of Policeman Ian James Campbell. Ian was a life-long bagpipe player. On March 10, 1963, while on duty, Ian was mur-dered. The movie The Onion Field told his story. Scottish Fest is proud to be the home of the Ian Campbell trophy that is awarded in solo piping. USS Chairman, Ron Cody, is a tenor drummer in the band. Come see the band compete and perform both days.

VIP Experience Ever wanted to be treated like a King or Queen? Now's your opportunity with two great value VIP packages; the Chairman and the Chieftain. You can sit and have a complimentary pint and Celtic food, amongst the action and sounds of the festival at the House of the VIP pri-vate area in the Whisky Tavern. Depending on the package selected there's complimentary t-shirts, polo shirts, parking, whisky, admittance to the festival and much more...


There are few cultures that are inspired by nature as the Celts. Even in ancient times, the amount of nature poetry and the linkage of their spiritual beliefs and connection with nature is incredible. Read any of their early poetry and look at the transformations to animals, the symbology of plants (in Ogham among others) and you can see their deep reverence. Later, this love of nature went on influence their art, music, and Christian beliefs as well.

Many early cultures, especially in Northern Europe were close observers of the seasons and the astronomical indicators. In those times, it was critical for survival to be able to judge when spring would come, animal migrations would happen, and know the times for planting. The long cold days would pass, spring would come, and then finally Summer, glorious summer. They recognized these points in their year as the following Holy days: Samhain on November 1 was New Year’s Eve, considered the beginning of the Dark time. Imbolc arrived February 1, bringing in Spring, new grass, and lambs at the milking. Beltane on May 1 was the time for Summer celebrations. And Lughnasadh on August 1 launched the beginning of the Harvest season. Beltane is halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice, just as Lughnasadh is halfway between summer solstice and autumn equinox.

Beltane is mentioned in some of the earliest Celtic literature. This is the time when the cattle were driven out to the pastures and celebrations were scheduled. It was considered possibly the most important of the four. Bonfires were lit and the cattle would be driven between them, to protect them magically, and to drive away disease and evil spirits. People would leap over the bonfires, and then the ashes were used for rituals. In fact, to this day, Bonfires are lit on May Day still in many Celtic countries and various other lands as well (Nordic, Germanic, and even English). Beltane was a time when the white hawthorn plants bloomed, a feast was held, homes and buildings were decorated, and even cattle themselves were adorned. Yellow flowers that inspired the look of fire—such as primrose, rowan, gorse, and others—were gathered. And young couples would head to the woods to gather garlands and to celebrate (ahem) fertility. Offerings were made for the aos si/daoine sith, the spirits of nature/ancestors/gods, also

considered the Fay. The Bonfire tradition still continues in Limerick and Claire in Ireland. Beltane is also considered a good time for handfastings. Flowering bushes, called May Bushes, were brought into cities and decorated by the neighborhoods, and occasionally swiped by rival neighborhoods.Some traditions like the burning of the wicker man have passed, but some odd things still hang about, like the making of a special oat cake, in Scotland. A bit of ash is placed in it and, then the cake is divided and distributed blindfolded. The person who gets the burnt bit is obligated to jump the bonfire three times. This may have an ancient link to sacrifices to the fire, but those days are thankfully long gone.

In Scotland, the nights of these four ancient holy days might be when you see the Seelie or Unseelie, the Nobles of the Faerie courts, moving to their new Summer or Winter Homes. If you see the fairy host ride, it’s considered very bad luck to draw attention to yourself. Very. Bad. Luck.

Other countries still celebrate this key point in the cycle of the seasons, often called May Day. And in some places it is still tradition to secretly leave baskets of sweet smelling flowers to celebrate a May Queen, have local Morris Dancing, and to dance around a May Pole. The Maypole in many countries has folks dancing around it, and it is said to be a symbol to invoke fertility and prosperity.

Even our friend William Shakespeare knew that May Day was a powerful night when mischief and magic happened. In a “Midsummer’s Night Dream” Puck, that most clever of Fairies, has put the cou-ples aright by the morning of May Day. Likewise, in the movie “Camelot” there is a lovely bit of Dia-logue between King Arthur and Sir Lancelot, when Lancelot demands a quest. King Arthur has to tell him that the court has gone chasing flowers and amorous pursuits. Says Lancelot: Knights? Gather-ing FLOWERS? Replies Arthur: Well, SOMEONE has to do it!

If you would like to hear an Irish song that possi-bly has very ancient roots, I would like to recom-mend you go online and google the song “Samradh Samradh”, (Summer, Summer) or “Thugamar Féin

an Samhradh Linn” (We bring Summer with us) and you’ll find several versions of it. Look for the less ornate ones and the ones where they sing the words. It is one of the prettiest melodies in all of Irish folk music. Part of the lyrics (loosely translat-ed to English) go like this.

“Mayday doll, maiden of Summer

Up every hill and down every glen,

Beautiful girls, radiant and shining,

We have brought Summer in with us.”

So, next Mayday, light the fires, fill cups, and cele-brate the beginning of summer, and don’t forget a wee bit of an offering for the good folk. Celebrating traditions that link us to the natural world, is a fine Celtic Tradition. – True

True Thomas the Storyteller is a traditional spoken word storyteller, who specializes in Celtic and other traditional myths, legends, and folktales. He is also a ULC Minister and is available for classes on Celtic Lore, Fairy Lore, and Storytelling. www.truethomas.com or on Facebook as True Thomas the Storyteller.

Happy Beltane and Hooray, Hooray the First of May!

Legends and Lore by True Thomas the Storyteller


Film Review: My Name is Emily

Leaves Poetry in Its Wake

By Caitlyn Johnston, MBA

Brought to us by the Newport Beach Film Festival, this stunning Irish film is truly a must-see. True-to-form as a contemporary salon, this festival greeted attendees with lilting harp and dapper fellow Celts. And as the house lights went down, it became evident… Evanna Lynch does it again!

While the name of this movie is as unassuming and unpretentious as its powerful superstar, My Name is Emily is rich with classical literary themes. The plot is, as with most classics, simple and profound: A teenage girl’s life is up-ended by her father’s mental illness and she fights to reconnect with him and regain the closeness they’d shared when she was growing up. Enlisting the help of a not-so-secret admirer (George Webster) to reknit the loose ends in her life, Emily embarks upon a road trip through the Irish countryside. Together they befuddle the cops, out-muscle violent thugs, and charm their way into a mental health facility. While the overall tone of the movie is dark, it’s been billed as horror, which is incorrect. It has intense moments, but in true Celtic spirit, it also finds the humor in tough situations, and the movie ends on a positive and fulfilling note. My Name is Emily is a must-see.

Beautifully written, a leit motif of water and rebirth brings poetry to the plot as Emily fights to come up for air - the perfect and apt metaphor for her struggle to find with her foster parents and new school. Those who decry this as a “chick flick” do a great disservice to the emotional intelligence and intellectual maturity of men. This masterpiece by Simon Fitzmaurice is of the same caliber as anything Hemingway has written.

Brought to us by the Newport Beach Film Festival, a marvelous time was had by all after the film. The lively gathering made its way to Muldoon’s Irish Pub, next door to the theater. Emily is almost the antithesis of Luna.

If My Name is Emily is indicative of things to come, Simon Fitzmaurice is a director and writer to watch for, Evanna Lynch will continue to inspire and challenge us, and George Webster and Michael Smiley will continue making big waves on the big screen. This winning team leaves our minds dripping in poetry.

43rd Annual San Diego Scottish Highland Games

& Gathering of the Clans

June 25 & 26, 2016 9:00 AM ∙ 5:00 PM ∙Both Days

Entertainment Opening Ceremonies Featuring: at noon each day Highland Way The Angry Brians Closing Ceremonies Molly’s Revenge with Massed Pipe Bands Blackwaterside at 4:45 pm each day

Vendors of Tickets on sale at the gate Everything Scottish: Adults $15 From Foods to Arts & Crafts Seniors(62+)/Military $10 Massed Bagpipe Bands Children over 6 $5 Scottish Athletics Highland Dance Competition www.sdhighlandgames.org Drum Major 760-726-3691 or 619-884-3157 Bag Piping & Cell: 760-505-5254 Drumming Competitions [email protected] Sheepdog Trials Scottish Country Dancing Brengle Terrace Park Kids’ Area 1200 Vale Terrace Drive Child ID Program Vista, CA 92084 Educational Classes

IRISH ECHO Honors

John Richards With

“Irish Community

Champions Award” for

2016

Irish American Business Network (IABN) founder and Orange County resident John Richards has been selected by the largest Irish American newspaper in the US, New York’s IRISH ECHO as the recipient of one of its Irish Community Awards for his outstanding efforts in first founding the IABN and then fostering the dynamic growth of the organization and membership.KUDOS and congratulations to Richards for this well deserved award from all of his friends and associates in the Southern California Chapter of IABN; we are all very fortunate to know and associate with him our local Irish Champion Networker!

An Awards Dinner at Rosie O’Grady’s, at The Manhattan Club in NY will be held on Friday, May 20.Local members are invited to attend the next SoCal IABN Meet Up at Muldoon’s Irish Pub in Newport Beach on Saturday, June 4 starting at 3PM, Our esteemed national founder John Richards will be in attendance.


N

EWPORT BEACH, C

A

CURES WHAT ALES YOU

IRISH PUB

Muldoon’s IRISH PUBest. 1974

Planning a Party? come see why Muldoon’s is the perfect venue !

And why Muldoon’s is perfect all the time…

202 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE, NEWPORT BEACH 92660 www.muldoonspub.com 949 640 4110 facebook

Brilliant Food, Spirits, Music, Parties

Live Music Every Week & No Cover Charge • Epic Beer Line-up • Excellent Wine & Cocktails • Happy Hour Monday through Friday • 2 Bars Under One Roof • Gorgeous Patio • Beautiful All-Oak Dining Room • Sunday Brunch •

Delicious Lunch & Dinner 7 days a week • Friendly Service • Darts

Welcome Back Alex Beaton

Scottish Fest USA will have a very special guest later this month when Alex Beaton will be in atten-dance and scheduled to make personal appearances to meet fans.

Beaton is one of the all time best and favorite Scottish Balladeers and headliner at Scots Fest in Costa Mesa (and all around the US and Scotland) for many years. Beaton’s masterful voice and repoitior of Irish and Scottish tunes delighted fans and friends until illness sidetracked his vigorous performance and tour schedule a few years ago. Beaton’s determination to come back and to battle for his health is a testament to the strength and character of this brilliant artist. Beaton is an inspiration to everyo-ne and this appearance thanks to Scottish Fest USA will offer a rare and wonderful opportunity to see him. Please drop by and say hello!


CONVENIENT LOCATIONS: • Burbank • Pasadena

• Silverlake • North Hollywood

Cleary Irish Dance

Fun For All Ages!

if you can walk,

you can dance

Enrollment for new students is on-going!

www.clearyirishdance.com • 818-886-3459 • email: [email protected]

EVENT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AND FREE OF CHARGE!

• 24th Annual St. Ambrose Fall Feis: September 24th & 25th Westin LAX, Los Angeles, CA

Book our Dancers for your next Event or Fundraiser!

Kitchen Open 7 days!Irish Favorites:

*Fish and Chips *Bangers and Mash *Shepherds Pie *Irish Breakfast130 E. 17th (off Newport Blvd.)

Costa Mesa, CA(949) 646-8855

HOURS: Monday - Thursday: 4pm to 2am • Friday: 2pm to 2am • Saturday & Sunday: 11am to 2am

Don’t Miss the Live Entertainment:MUSIC: every Thursday, Friday & Saturday (sometimes on Sunday)

• Sports • Live Music

Home of the

Philadelphia Eagles

LIVE BROADCAST ALL MATCHES10 JUNE - 10 JULYUEFA EURO 2016 (France)

Join Fellow Fans for ALL GAMES!

www.HarpInn.com


2016 43rd Annual

San Diego Scottish Highland Games

& Gathering of the Clans

June 25 & 26, 2016 9:00 AM ∙ 5:00 PM ∙Both Days

Entertainment Featuring:

Highland Way

The Angry Brians

Molly’s Revenge

Blackwaterside

www.sdhighandgames.org Phone: 760-726-3691 or 619-884-3157

Cell 760-505-5254

[email protected]

Brengle Terrace Park 1200 Vale Terrace Drive

Vista, CA 92084

Vendors of Everything Scottish:

From Foods to Arts & Crafts Massed Bagpipe Bands

Scottish Athletics Highland Dance Competition

Drum Major Bag Piping &

Drumming Competitions Sheepdog Trials

Scottish Country Dancing Kids’ Athletics

Kids’ Area Child ID Program

Opening Ceremonies at noon each day

Closing Ceremonies with Massed Pipe Bands

At 4:45 PM each day

Get your tickets early! Pre-sale prices:

Adults: $13 per day Seniors & Military: $8 per day

Youth 6 -16: $5 per day

Make checks payable to SDSHG, Inc. Ticket orders must be postmarked

by June 10, 2016. Tickets will be mailed the second week in June.

Pre-sale tickets available on line at www.sdhighlandgames.org.

Please help the all-volunteer, non-profit SDSHG by enclosing a self-addressed stamped envelope enclosed with your

ticket order. Mail ticket orders to San Diego Scottish Highland Games,

PO Box 3682, Vista, CA 92085


september 17th | 2016WWW.FOLKREVIVALFESTIVAL.COM

FOLK + ROOTS + BLUEGRASS + AMERICANAFESTIVAL

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!


The Irish ContingentSweeney Family Soda Bread:

New This Year at Scottish Fest

USA

Last June, at the Big Irish Fair in Long Beach, we had the good fortune to meet a new vendor there and found some of the most delicious Irish soda Bread that we have ever seen. The Sweeney family bakers use the tradtional ingredients and the family recipe that’s been handed down through five generation’s.

Kathleen Sweeney told us how the recipe was handed down to her,“Our granny was from a little town on the West Coast of Ireland in County Donegal. She was taught by her mother, and her mother was taught by her

mother, and so on. Granny used a wood burning cast iron stove, later a cast iron oven and the ashes had to be swept out of her kitchen every day. She always had flour in her hair and on her face when we would come to visit. Our Mother Kathleen was the oldest of ten children which meant a lot of Irish bread everyday as a staple. When our Mother came to America in the 1950’s to marry Johnny Sweeney who was also from Donegal, she brought the families Irish traditions with her.Kathleen had six children, and she taught them the art of Irish cooking.

I can remember waking up to the smell of Irish soda bread cooking in the oven, and black pudding cooking on the stove most every day. Our family and friends came from all over to sit with her and talk about the old county, and have a cup of tea, Irish bread, and scones with butter and jam.

We are proud of our traditions and want to keep

them close in our hearts and now we want to share them with you!”

CELTIC NETWORKING AT ITS FINESTSo by more good fortune, Ron Cody mentioned that Scottish Fest USA was interested in bringing aboard a bit of an Irish Contingent this year to Costa Mesa so we were delighted to suggest the Sweeney Family to them.

Another IRISH CONTINGENT this year at the OC Fairgrounds and Event Center will be an Irish - Celtic Arts Show with Adrien Rain Burke and Brian Boylan confirmed at press time.

More on this on our Facebook Page:w w w . f a c e b o o k . c o m / I r i s h - A r t s -Entertainment-208682315

Open 7 Days a Week: Mon.—Fri. 11:45am-2am Sat.—Sun. 11am-2am

2226 Wilshire Blvd.Santa Monica (at 23rd. & Wilshire)

O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Restaurant

www.obriensla.com

310/829-5303 Join in the fun for an unveiling and celebration with complimentary appetizers and a NO HOST Bar. Bring along your story of your FIRST PINT to share with those in attendance. Meet the artist and join in for a grand afternoon of good craic!, food & libations! Signed prints will be available as well as a door prize drawing for a Boylan print!

Pictured here is acclaimed Irish Artist Brian Boylan and Publican Willy O’Sullivan with the painting inspired by a photograph that has been hanging at O’Brien’s Pub for over 20 years! Boylan’s rendition is whimsically titled “First Communion”

ART and PUB AFICIONADOS Are InvitedSaturday, June 11

Starts @ 3:00pm


The View from Ireland

Galway’s Rising Star

By Maurice Fitzpatrick

Someone who undoubtedly had mixed a pint of stout with a shot of Crème de menthe once suggested that Galway is the Paris of Ireland. Well, as the song has it: “I love Paris in the springtime. I love Paris in the Fall. I love Paris in the sunshine. I love Paris in the rain”. And Galway too is loveable in all weathers.

Galway City has long represented an alternative for people to the rackety, pressured life of Dublin. The reputation that the city has of having a laid-back atmosphere is accurate: musicians and writers have traditionally found in Galway a place well attuned to their spirits.

Drop into Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop, located on one of Galway’s quiet, medieval, streets on a Saturday morning. Trip over the history professors browsing the new deluxe editions and, deeper into the shop, in the second hand section, meet the hungry students vigorously thumbing books, the budget for which they have regrettably drunk. The whole shop rises to rafters with accumulated knowledge, recondite books, great classics retold in Irish for children and a repository of Connemara poetry and song now thankfully collected and available to the public.

Walk along the narrow streets of Nun’s Island—where James Joyce’s future wife, Nora, was reared—that leads to Galway’s imposing Catholic Cathedral. Cripplingly expensive and ostentatious, and partly built with funds from the Diocese of Massachusetts, the cathedral was out of step with the people when it was erected in the mid 1960s.

The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, is an honorary Galway man. Though his roots are in County Clare, it was in Galway where he lectured on politics and sociology, where he was returned as a TD in General Elections and where he appreciated the need for an Irish language television channel which he helped to steer through the Dail. Galwegians do not forget his contribution to their city and county. One of his more noteworthy

students at NUI Galway, the lyricist of The Saw Doctors, wrote a song about it: “We got Michael D. rocking in the Dail for us/ Michael D rocking in the Dail”—which can be rewritten, now that Michael D is rocking in the Aras.

The secret of Galway’s success is its university. Galway has an ever expanding, fully functional, twelve months a year (with facilities for summer events to fill the university summer hiatus), self-respecting university that is the de facto destination for students all over Connaught and beyond. It has become the dynamo of the city whose population is 75,000, more than a quarter of whom are students. Cork is sustained by enormous pharmaceutical plants and Dublin today has 40% of Ireland’s Gross Domestic Product. But an exposed, wind-swept city like Galway needs a solid stay against economic instability, and that is what the National University of Ireland in Galway has become. NUI Galway also brings students from as far away as Donegal and Derry in droves. As Donegal historian, Breandán Mac Suibhne, put it: “The burghers of Galway cannot believe their luck. They now have a public holiday, Donegal Day, to celebrate money being spent on the Corrib that might be spent on the Foyle.”

The citizenry, businesses and organisational committees of Galway are working hard to secure the city’s bid for the City of Culture award in 2020. A perfect vision. Galway is certainly a contender: its music, film and theatre and scenes are growing and deserve to be bolstered by the investment and attention that such an accolade brings. Galway can and should look to Derry’s City of Culture 2013 successes and learn from its organisational mishaps. Unlike Derry, when it started in its bid, the facilities are already built in Galway to nurture music and theatre talent as Garry Hynes’ theatre legacy in the Druid particular and the consistently good gigs at The Roisin Dubh attest. In film, however, Galway needs more support. While the Galway Film Festival is very notable and the Irish Film Board is

co-headquartered in Galway, in practice most of the film board’s business happens in Dublin. A new studio is under construction in County Galway which is promising; the success of films such as Poitin

and Calvary, show that the west of Ireland deserves to become a de facto definition for film production. That requires money. Galwegians could put film at the centre of its agenda for artistic growth.

Over the past decades the Galway pub that has not renamed itself, translating from English to Irish, is the exception. “Fox’s Pub” became “Tigh Fox” and so forth. The propensity to name one’s business in the Irish language was not attended by a growth in the routine use of Irish. It was, instead, a very successful tourist lure: traditional Galway, last bastion of Ireland’s ancestral culture, lore and language etc. Galway became more intensely associated with the trappings of the Irish language even while it became less the home of the language itself. That is unfortunate for the town. Similarly, the handsome statue of Pádraic Ó Conaire, once the centrepiece of Eyre Square, has been transported to Galway City Museum, substantially less in the public’s view. Ó Conaire’s brilliant short stories in Irish are now read less and less; his disappearance from Galway City’s main park is sadly symbolic.

Watch the way in which the buskers enliven Shop Street with their amazing array of instruments, blending Irish trad with African beats and Guns n’ Roses. Their guitar cases fill up coins, their CDs do not sell. They get the passing public’s attention but short shrift from the elements as they need to pack up again—rain. While some parts of Ireland have four seasons in one day, Galway is capable of four seasons is a quarter of an hour. The gentle drizzle besets the city yet again. It rains in this city almost 300 days of the year. But I love Galway in the rain.

Tigh Chóilí Traditional Irish PubLocation is along a lane between Lombard Street & Shop Street


“This play is a hymn for the working man that shows O’Neill at his most powerful, both as a wordsmith and as a creator of extraordinary plots,” says Director Steven Berkoff (also a British actor). “It’s a very humanistic piece and exciting. I don’t think there has been another play like it.” Katy Davis, a native Dubliner, Katy is a graduate of The Gaiety School of Acting, Ireland. Her onscreen credits there include the role of “Jean” opposite Andrew Scott in IFTA nominated thriller Dead Bodies and both seasons of the TV comedy sketch show “STEW”. On stage Katy has performed all across Ireland with some of her favourite credits including the World Premiere of Homeland and the Irish and US Tour of The Playboy of the Western World (The Abbey, National Theatre of Ireland), The European Premiere of Lars Von Trier’s The Idiots (Dublin Theatre Festival) and Lady Windermere’s Fan (Gate Theatre). An established voiceover artist Katy works both on radio and TV, most recently narrating an episode of E’s The Soup with Joel McHale. Katy created the role of Mildred Douglas in the Irish premiere of The Hairy Ape as part of The Cork Midsummer Festival and is delighted to reprise the role here at the Odyssey Theatre with Steven Berkoff. www.katy-davis.com

Eugene O’Neill’s

‘Hairy Ape’ at Odyssey

Theatre

Eugene O’Neill’s 1922 expressionist play The Hairy Ape, is now being staged at West L.A.’s Odyssey Theatre.(See Calendar this issue) O’Neill’s harrowing critique of class stratification is the story of Robert “Yank” Smith, a brutish ship laborer who searches for a sense of belonging in a world controlled by the wealthy elite. As head coal stoker on an ocean liner, Yank is in his element: he rules his dark, smoky world. But when the pale, spoiled daughter of the ship’s owner visits the engine room for a thrill, she is at once repulsed and terrified by Yank and what she sees there. Half in love with the unattainable and half blinded by rage, the bewildered Yank blunders violently through Manhattan seeking revenge and trying to understand his place on “de oith.”

“This play is a hymn for the working man that shows O’Neill at his most powerful, both as a wordsmith and as a creator of extraordinary plots,” says Berkoff. “It’s a very humanistic piece and exciting. I don’t think there has been another play like it.”

“The Hairy Ape has haunted me since my college days – especially the unexpected and beautifully surreal ending,” agrees Odyssey artistic director Ron Sossi. “What a fortunate pairing is this O’Neill mini-masterpiece with the wildly inventive theatrical mind of renowned British actor/writer/director Steven Berkoff.

The Hairy Ape was first produced in 1922 by the Provincetown Players, a theatrical group co-founded by O’Neill. By this time, he was already an established playwright, having won two Pulitzer Prizes, but the expressionist style of The Hairy Ape represented a departure for him. The New York Times called it “a bitter, brutal, wildly fantastic play of nightmare hue and nightmare distortion… so vital and interesting and teeming with life that those playgoers who let it escape them will be missing one of the real events of the year.” The Hairy Ape’s strong condemnation of the dehumanizing effects of industrialization made it appealing to many labor groups and unions, which seized upon its concepts to further their cause for better working conditions. In the years since its debut, the play has become recognized as a distinctive exploration of a pivotal period in American society.

The Odyssey production stars Hailé D’Alan (upcoming feature film Frozen Peas) as Yank and Irish actress Katy Davis as Mildred, a part she played in the Irish premiere at the Midsummer Festival in Cork. The ensemble features Laurence Olivier Award-winning actor Benjamin Davies as well as Joseph Gilbert, Jeremiah O’Brian, Andres Ramacho, Anthony Rutowicz, Paul Stanko and Jennifer Taub.

Set design is by Christopher Scott Murillo; lighting design is by Katelan Braymer; sound design is by Christopher Moscatiello and features percussionist Will Mahood; costume design is by Halei Parker; and prop design is by Chad Lieske. The stage manager is Savannah Harrow, and Beth Hogan produces for Odyssey Theatre Ensemble.


2226 Wilshire Blvd.Santa Monica (at 23rd. & Wilshire)


www.obriensla.com

310/829-5303 Join in the fun for an unveiling and celebration with complimentary appetizers and a NO HOST Bar. Bring along your story of your FIRST PINT to share with those in attendance. Meet the artist and join in for a grand afternoon of good craic!, food & libations! Signed prints will be available as well as a door prize drawing for a Boylan print!

Pictured here is acclaimed Irish Artist Brian Boylan and Publican Willy O’Sullivan with the painting inspired by a photograph that has been hanging at O’Brien’s Pub for over 20 years! Boylan’s rendition is whimsically titled “First Communion”

ART and PUB AFICIONADOS Are InvitedSaturday, June 11

Starts @ 3:00pm

Irish Arts & Entertaniment Irish Arts & EntertainmentPage 2 E September 2015 E

A thriving Los Angeles business and Southern California Irish Tradition

with deep roots in the community and well established connections in

California's Film & TV Industry! At 53 Years Young, the Irish Import Shop

is the oldest continuously operated Irish store in the US.

(Owner is selling due to retirement).

If you are interested in learning more about this prime business opportunity;

please call Anne at 323-467-6714

Located at: 742 N. Vine Street (1 block north of Melrose) Los Angeles, California

in the heart of Hollywood www.irishimportshop.com

Like Us on FaceBookSearch for “TheShamrockIrishPubandEatery”

THE SHAMROCK is built on bringing entertainment to you

SEVEN DAYS of every week! Comedy Night (adults only) every Tuesday

Live Music on Fridays & SaturdaysSundays are devoted to Family Friendly Entertainment

Check our website

on the web: theshamrockirishpubandeatery.com

The Shamrock Irish Pub & Eatery

39252 Winchester Rd. #145

Murrieta, CA 92563(cross street Murrieta Hot Springs)

Be sure to check our Calendar and Blog on our website.

NOW, you can sign up for our E-Newsletter via FaceBook.

...in addition to all your pub favorites on our menu; we offer

Specials Everyday... Fine Ambiance, Full Bar and a Perfect Pint always on Tap!

TWO HAPPY HOURS!Monday to Friday: 3pm7pm

Sunday to Wednesday: 9pmclose

Open:MonThur: 11amMidnight

FriSat: 11am till late

Sun: 11amMidnight

call us at: 9516965252

New

FOR SALE

The Irish Import Shop Hollywood, California

Like Us on FaceBookSearch for “TheShamrockIrishPubandEatery”

THE SHAMROCK is built on bringing entertainment to you

SEVEN DAYS of every week! Comedy Night (adults only) every Tuesday

Live Music on Fridays & SaturdaysSundays are devoted to Family Friendly Entertainment

Check our website

on the web: theshamrockirishpubandeatery.com

The Shamrock Irish Pub & Eatery

39252 Winchester Rd. #145

Murrieta, CA 92563(cross street Murrieta Hot Springs)

Be sure to check our Calendar and Blog on our website.

NOW, you can sign up for our E-Newsletter via FaceBook.

...in addition to all your pub favorites on our menu; we offer

Specials Everyday... Fine Ambiance, Full Bar and a Perfect Pint always on Tap!

New Happy Shamily Hour: 3pm5pm

20% off full drink and bar tab. 7 days a week!

Karaoke every Monday and Thursday

Open:MonThur: 11amMidnight

FriSat: 11am till late

Sun: 11amMidnight

call us at: 9516965252

New


NOW through July 17The Hairy ApeSee Feature this issueComplete info online:www.odysseytheatre.com

Saturday, June 4 Starts @ 3:00pmMuldoon’s Pub is hosting anIrish American Business NetworkIABN Meet Up!Drop into this Award Winning Puband meet your fellow membersand have a grand afternoon of networking tas only the Irish can!

Muldoon’s is extendingHAPPY HOUR pricesto all IABNers from 3 to 5 PM during the mixer!Muldoon’s Irish Pub202 Newport Center Dr.Newport Beach, CA949 6540-4110

www.muldoonspub.com

Saturday, June 11 Starts @ 3:00pmReception and Unveiling Celebration with Irish Artist Brian Boylanhosted by Publican Willy O’Sullivan and O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Restaurant on Wilshire (at 23rd.) in Santa MonicaSee advert this issuewww.obriensla.com

Monday, June 16 Starts @ 7:30pmBloomsday Celebration at The Hammer MuseumSeventh annual Bloomsday celebration features dramatic readings of episodes in James Joyce’s Ulysses and live songs—including the debut of a commissioned work by Patrick Gutman based on a quotation from W. B. Yeats in Ulysses that

incorporates a fragment of a tune composed by Joyce. Followed by live music by Rattle the Knee and Guinness on tap in the courtyard. Actors: James Gallo, James Lancaster, John Rafter Lee, and Johnny O’Callaghan. Baritone: Lyle Mitchell. Soprano: Oriana Falla. Cello: Niall Ferguson. Flute: Nuala Kennedy. Music director: Mona Lands. Organizer: Stanley Breitbard 7:30 p.m. Readings in the Billy Wilder Theater @ 9 p.m.ALL HAMMER PROGRAMS ARE FREELocation: Billy Wilder TheaterTicketing: Tickets are required and available at the Box Office one hour before the program. General admission tickets are available one per person on a first come, first served basis following member ticketing. Member

Benefit: Members receive priority ticketing (until 15 minutes before the program) by skipping the general admission line and can choose their seats, subject to availability.Parking: Under the museum, $6 flat rate after 6 p.m. Cash only. See more at: https://hammer.ucla.edu

Sunday, June 19Second Anniversary Festivities!MacLeod Ale14741 Calvert StreetVan Nuys, CA 91411USUALTASTING ROOM HOURS:Weekdays 5-10pmSaturday Noon-10pmSunday Noon-5pm818 631-1963www.macleodale.com

California - Irish Community Calendar - By Date

Concerts • Musical Events • Classes • Irish Dance • Socials • Special Events • Theatre

In Hollywood at: 742 N. Vine Street

Hollywood, CA 90038phone: 323-467-6714

Delicious Imported Foods

Clothing, Gift and Novelty Items for all ages

• Teapots • Mugs • Jewelery • Puzzles • Stationary • Sporting Goods

• T-shirts and Rugby shirts

• Rashers • Bacon • Tayto & Walkers Products • Sausages & Black & White Pudding • Jam’s • Tea • Chocolates • Oatmeal • Biscuits and so much more!

Irish Import Shop

Check out our booth at these upcoming events...The vibrant Irish Import Shop in

So. CA is FOR SALE, contact Anne at 323-467-6714

for more information.

shop online: www.irishimportshop.com

BIG Irish FairFather’s Day Weekend, El Dorado Park, Long Beach

Saturday & Sunday, June 18 and 19

Scots Fest USAOC Fairgrounds, Memorial Day Weekend

Saturday & Sunday, May 28 and 29


UNBEATABLE PRICES ON:CUSTOM WEBSITES

PRINTED MEDIALOGOS & MORE!

www.LongBeachWebDesign.com | 562.222.8300

THE HARP INN IRISH PUB Great Entertainment Every Night! Karaoke, Pub Quiz, Open Mic & Live Music Harp Inn Irish Pub 130 E. 17th St. Costa Mesa www.harpinn.com _____________________________________________________

O’Brien’s Irish Pub The Sports Pub with the Irish Heart! Sunday Evenings LA area’s Only OPEN Irish Session Drop by for dinner & stay for the Craic! 7:30pm or so... Join the fun! CHECK OUT THE GROUP O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Restaurant 2226 Wilshire Blvd (at 23rd.) Santa Monica, CA 310 829-5303 www.obriensla.com _____________________________________________________

Ken O’Malley Duo Regularly featured please check with pub or online for schedule: www.kenomalley.com Finn McCool’s Irish Pub 2702 Main Street Santa Monica, CA 90405

June 16 Bloomsday Celebration

To celebrate the life of Irish writer James Joyce and relive the events in his novel Ulysses, all of which took place on the same day in Dublin in 1904.The name derives from Leopold Bloom, the protagonist of Ulysses.BLOOMSDAY (a term Joyce himself did not employ) was invented in 1954, the 50th anniversary,when John Ryan and the novelist Flann O’Brien organized, What was to be a daylong pilgrimage along the Ulysses route?They were joined by Patrick Kavana-gh, Anthony Cronin, Tom Joyce and AJ Leventhal (Registrar of Trinity College). Ryan had engaged two horse drawn cabs, of the old-fashio-ned kind, which in Ulysses Mr. Bloom and his friends drive to poor Paddy Dignam’s funeral.The party was assigned roles from the novel, planning to travel round the city through the day, visiting scenes of the novel, ending at night in what had once been the brothel quarter of the city!


The Celtic Camera

A) Bagpiper Andy Scott, always a treat to be piped from the Irish Spotlight to the After Party at Muldoon’s!

B)Two of the most able NBFF Irish Spotlight interns ever! Pictured here at the Irish Screening on Sunday, April 10 Shelby Dalton and Bree Henry

C) The Stellar Duo of Gregg Schwenk and Deirdre O’Neill at the Irish Spotlight After Party at Muldoon’s Irish Pub in Newport Beach

D) Gregg Schwenk, CEO and founder of the Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF) and the 2016 Southern California Rose of Tralee, Clara Murphy

A

B

C

D

Irish Arts & EntertanimentIrish Arts & Entertainment Page 15E May/June 2015 E


phone: 310/829-5303

2226 Wilshire Blvd. Santa Monica (at 23rd. & Wilshire)


CBS TV (Ch 2) has recently named O’Brien’s Irish Pub on Wilshire one of the best places in all of L.A. to get an authentic Irish Coffee!

Starts @ 7:30pm. Public & Music Makers are invited!Drop by, listen to some grand trad tunes!

“This trendy spot is where many A-listers hang out to savor its expertly-crafted Irish Coffee... (How O’Brien’s)... beverage chefs are able to blend a fevered stimulant with a regulated

spirit so skillfully remains one of its upper draws.”

Catch All Dodgers

Games Here...

Not a bad seat in the Pub!

OPEN IRISH SESSION EVERY SUNDAY

OPEN IRISH SESSION EVERY SUNDAY

O’Brien’s is the Sports Pub with the Irish Heart!

VISIt OuR WEBSItE www.obriensla.com


2016

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edBuy your tickets online!

Friday $20 • Saturday $30 • Two Day Pass $40www.GetShamrocked.com

Get Shamrocked

This is a 21+ event All patrons will be required

to show photo ID before entering the festival.

September 23rd & 24th

Murrieta Town Square Park24701 Jefferson Avenue

Murrieta, CA USA

GAELIC STORM YOUNG DUBLINERS

THE FIGHTING JAMESONSTHE ANGRY BRIANS HOIST THE COLORS

THE MCKINTREE BOYS WHISKEY SUNDAY

MIDNIGHT SATELLITES THE AMERICAN WAKE

THE MAHONES

FLATFOOT 56 THE TOSSERS

BLACK IRISH TEXASBRICK TOP BLAGGERS

QUEL BORDEL

CELTIC PUNK CELTIC ROCK Friday September 23rd Saturday September 24th

BU

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Scottish Fest USA

irish arts & entertainment, may 2016

Documents