NEWSLETTER March 2020

Meeting/Program: In keeping with tradition, we will not have a meeting in the month of March. Our next monthly meeting will be on Sunday, April 5th. However, there are plenty of activities and events this month for you to get out and celebrate your Irish heritage. Many of them are included in this month's newsletter, so keep reading!!

Membership: If you have renewed your membership for this year, you should have received yourcopy of the 2019-2020 roster. If you have not, please let Lou know at lpkelley@stic.net. If you need a hard copy, please let Kay know (342-5334). You may want to check with them to ensure you have paid this year’s dues.

Telephone Tree;Kay is looking for another caller to alert members of an upcoming event, a bit of news, or just a reminded of a meeting that weekend. It only requires calls to about 6 to 8 people and most times you just will be leaving a message on a machine. Please call her if you can spare the time to help out. Thank you to the callers who agreed to continure in this capacity. Their help is much appreciated.

Plans and Programs: As Plans & Program chair, I would like to take this opportunity to extend a big THANK YOU to the many volunteers who came out to help on February 23rd as we presented our annual Irish Heritage Day. We couldn`t do it without you, whether you were ICS, H&S, or SAGAC members. We appreciate ALL of you who took the time to be with us last Sunday. Thanks so much!! Susan

Sunshine and Shadow:We extend our sincere sympathy to Brian Corrigan and Joyce Stanush, both of whom are ICS members, on the recent sudden passing of their sister.

Birthdays: Please wish a Happy Birthday this month to our March celebrants! They include Margaret Burke, 1st, Beth Corrigan, 6th, Nora Olivares and Mike O’Grady, 15th, BillO’Brien and Karen Griffin, 21st, Maria Leavy Hoelscher, 24th, and Doris Gaines, 26th.

St. Patrick.`s Day Mass: Please come join the Irish community of San Antonio as they meet for 10am Mass on March 17th at St. Patrick`s Church at 1114 Willow, off of I-35 over by Ft. Sam Houston. Afterwards enjoy some tasty dishes in the church hall. The ladies of the parish outdo themselves providing a wonderful selection of food for the Mass attendees.

Annual ICS Picnic: Don’t be among the missing. Marvelous foods, friends, games and conversation. ICS 3rd Annual Picnic coming up on Sunday, March 22, 2020, from noon - 5 pm.We will meet at Pavilion #3 at Mac Arthur Park, off Loop 410 in North Central San Antonio. Exit 410 at the Harry Wurzbach exit and follow the frontage road west to the park entrance. Circle the road signs in the park to the north side to Pav. 3. Parking is next to the Pavilion - we ask, tho’, that you leave the spots right by the pavilion for those of us who have difficulty walking. There is a playground right by Pav. 3, so bring the kids and grandkids. The Society will provide non-alcoholic drinks, and meats BBQ-ed to perfection by our world famous pit master, Robert McDaniel, using his secret sauce. ICS members are asked to bring sides and desserts. Ethna will run a list of sides and desserts, to prevent doubling - so call Ethna and tell her what you intend to bring.

Harp &Shamrock March schedule:Festival-Passport to Ireland-Music Festival, at the La Villita/Arneson Theater, Saturday, March 14th from 12 noon through 8:00 pm and on Sunday, March 15th from 12 noon through 6 pm.

St. Patrick's Day River Parade on Sunday, March 15th 5-6 pm.

53rd Annual Alamo Wreath Laying Ceremony Tuesday, March 17th at 12 noon. In front of the Alamo.

37th Annual St. Patrick's Day 5k run Saturday, March 21st, Southside Lions Park East, at 8:00 am.

Upcoming Events:SAGAC: The 2020 Gaelic Football and Hurling season has begun! It has been great seeing many of you out at training already. If you haven't made it out yet, here's the schedule:MEN’S & LADIES’ FOOTBALLWednesdays: 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm @ Olmos Basin ParkSundays: 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm @ Olmos Basin ParkHURLINGSundays: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm (before football) @ Olmos Basin Park

Cherish the Ladies will be performing at the University of the Incarnate Word Concert Hall on March 10, 2020 at 7 PM. Tickets are available at www.ccvichapel.org.

Celtic Woman will also be visiting San Antonio again. They’ll be at the Majestic Theater on Tuesday, April 28th at 7 PM.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Irish-American Heritage Month is celebrated by proclamation of the President and Congress in the United States to honor the achievements and contributions of Irish immigrants and their descendants living in the United States. It was first celebratedin 1991. The heritage month is in March to coincide with Saint Patrick's Day, the Irish national holiday on March 17. Heritage Months are usually proclaimed by nations to celebrate centuries of contributions by a group to a country.

Saint Patrick's Day is a Roman Catholic religious holiday that honors the saint, who introduced Christianity to Ireland in the early fifth century. It has developed inthe United States as a celebration of all things Irish. With large ethnic Irish populations, Boston and New York City both claim the world's first Saint Patrick's Day parade, while Philadelphia claims to be the second oldest behind New York City. In New York City, it occurred on March 17, 1762, featuring Irish soldiers serving in the British military protecting the Colonies during the French and IndianWar. In 1948, President Harry S. Truman, of Scottish descent, attended the New York Saint Patrick's Day parade and gave a speech to attendees. This was a proud moment for the many Irish whose ancestors had to fight stereotypes and prejudice to find acceptance in the United States. In 1960 John F. Kennedy was elected as thefirst Irish American Catholic President; in 1961 he was in New York to review the Saint Patrick's Day Parade.

In tribute to all Irish Americans, the US Congress, by Public Law 101-418, designated March 1991 as "Irish-American Heritage Month" Congress again proclaimed March as Irish-American Heritage Month for 1995 and 1996.

Within the authority of the Executive Branch, the President of the United States has also issued a proclamation each year since 1991.

Each year in March, the Irish Taoiseach visits the United States for Saint Patrick's Day. A Shamrock Ceremony takes place in the morning at the White House where a crystal bowl containing shamrock, a traditional symbol of Ireland, is presented to the President in the Oval Office. This is followed by a Friends of Ireland luncheon hosted by the House Speaker in the U.S. Capitol or the Rayburn House Office Building. The luncheon is attended by the President, Vice President, the Taoiseach, the Speaker, and other officials. In the evening, a Saint Patrick's Day Reception takes place at the White House.

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