Arizona Celtic Cultural Association

CELTS BAND TO HELP OUR YOUTH

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:07:36 -0600

Forone night only, Aug. 27th, 2009, D'Arcy McGee's at the TempeMarketplace, 2000 E. Rio Salado Pkwy, Tempe, will host CELTS, KILTS& TUMBLEWEED. This premiere event will support Maricopa County'sTumbleweed Center for Youth Development.

Since 1972 Tumbleweedhas expanded to provide more than 12 direct service programs thatprovide a continuum of care for over 3000 homeless, abused, abandoned,neglected, and at risk youth annually, ages 11-22

Admission is free, donations will be taken at the door, in addition to 10% of ALL event sales will directly to Tumbleweed.

LIVE MUSIC, RAFFLE, FREE SAMPLINGS, FOOD & FUN!

7pm: ONE FREE GUINNESS to anyone wearing a kilt!
7-8pm: The Bushmills girls will be there LIVE and SAMPLING Bushmills
8pm: We are HONORED to welcome: The MASTER of Whiskey: Thomas Turner who will be sampling whiskey!

LIVE MUSIC ALL NIGHT! Including Ocean's Apart! This is going to be anAMAZING event for an AMAZING CAUSE!! Check out everything Tumbleweeddoes www.tumbleweed.org. Hope you can join us� BRING A FRIEND or TWOor THREE!

Patty's Day in August

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:40:42 -0600

Join the Irish community in Arizona at O�Connor�s Pub, 2601 W. Dunlap Ave.in celebration of Patty�s Day in August. A fundraiser, in honor of Patty Boyle-McCrossan,will take place on August 2, 2009, at O'Connor's Pub (2601 W. Dunlap Avenue). The goal is toraise funds to offset Patty's extensive medical bills. A silent auction, 50/50raffle, lunch buffet, and a full day of live entertainment, including Irishstep dancers, Irish bagpipers, and musicians will begin at noon. Assistance inthe form of financial contributions, silent auction items, the purchase ofraffle tickets and product of services are needed. For additional informationcontact John Good (co-chair) 623.939.0209 or Jimmy O'Connor (co-chair)602.509.0593. Join Pat McCrossan, BrazenHeads, Ocean�s Apart, Sheila Maguire, Biffos, Brid Dower and many others. For afull list, see the blog spot at http://www.pattysday.blogspot.com.

Arizona Celts mourn the loss of a friend

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:47:37 -0600

The Center would like to send its condolences to the family and friendsof retired Phoenix Fire Captain John Shadron. John was an activemember of the Phoenix Fire Emerald Society and its events including the9-11 Remembrance and the Half Way to St. Patty's party. John wasburied on June 27 and is interned at St. Francis Cemetery.

IRISH CULTURAL CENTER SUMMER HOURS

Mon, 18 May 2009 16:26:51 -0600

The Irish Cultural Center announced today that it will be closed on May 25th in observance of Memorial Day. The Center will also be closed Saturday, July 4 in observance ofIndependence Day. The Center will be open Friday, July 3 from 10 AM-3PM and for First Friday.

THIRD ANNUAL BLOOMIN' BEERFEST

Mon, 18 May 2009 16:22:22 -0600

It�s the Third Annual Bloomin� Beerfest, a celebration that combinesthe fine old Irish tradition of Bloomsday with the fine new Americantradition of a beer tasting. Co-sponsored by the Irish Cultural andLearning Foundation and the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild, the event willmark the 105th anniversary of Leopold Bloom's fictional journey throughthe streets of Dublin in the James Joyce novel, Ulysses. Bloom�sjourney included stops at more than a few pubs. At the Bloomin�Beerfest, the available brews will originate with a dozen or more ofArizona�s top craft brewers. The event will kick-off at 7pm, onSaturday June 6, when The Phoenix Pipe Band leads guests into the IrishCultural Center grounds in downtown Phoenix. The price of Bloomin� Beerfest tickets includes admission to the event, 16 tickets which can be presented to taste the wares of participating craft brewers, and a souvenir tasting mug. Presale tickets can be purchased online for $25 from May 4 through June 4 at http://www.brownpapertickets.com ($35 at the door). Beer tasting ticket sales are limited to 500 persons. Non-beerfest admission to the Bloomsday celebration is $10 at the gate. Additional tickets for beer or food will be available for purchase on site.

The Center has reserved a block of rooms at the Lexington Hotel (formerly the Best Western) at a discounted prices of $59 for Saturday night. Please call 602-252-2100, and ask for the group: Bloomsday.

Bloomsday is celebrated throughout the world by Irish people and Joyce fans alike. The name �Bloomsday� derives from Leopold Bloom, the novel�s Jewish protagonist. He is accompanied, among others, by Stephen Dedalus, a young writer and Joyce�s alter ego; June 16 was the day in 1904 on which Ulysses was set. True to the Bloomsday tradition, readings from Ulysses will be offered in the Center�s stone cottage. Often cited as the greatest novel in the English language, Ulysses is definitely geared to an adult audience with its bawdy themes and salty language, so admission to the Cottage Readings will be limited to guests 18 years and older.The Brid Dower Band will be performing throughout the evening in the Center�s Great Hall, surrounded by the majority of the participating brewers. Brid Dower is one of the finest performers of Irish music today and when performing with Tom Bertling, Kevin Mauch, and Ryan Bowman as her namesake band, she offers the full gamut of Irish music from driving rock to the best of traditional tunes.The Cultural Center grounds will also ring with two sets of traditional and contemporary Irish and Scottish tunes performed by The Fiddlers of the Academy, led by Jane Hilton. This diverse group includes students of all ages brought together by their passion for Celtic music. Students travel from throughout the valley and outlying communities to study and play together in The Academy of Irish and Celtic Studies housed at the Irish Cultural Center. Irish and festival food will be available for purchase.

Welsh League of Arizona May Meeting

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:16:06 -0600

WELSH LEAGUE OF ARIZONA

MAY MEETING

SATURDAY, MAY 2ND, 2009

12-2 P.M.

IRISH CULTURAL CENTER

1106 NORTH CENTRAL AVE, PHOENIX

Phrase of the Month

Cadw Cysylltiad

(Kahdoo Kuh-suhll-tee-add)

(Keep in Touch)

Keeping InTouch With Wales

Our members have many ways ofkeeping in touch with Wales and people all over the world who have connectionswith it. This month come ready to tell othershow you do it. We have a wealth ofresources to share with you including a fairly new Welsh-American networkingweb site: Americymru.ning.com

We will givedemonstrations for your amazement.

PUBS SUPPORT THE RETENTION OF IRISH FREEDOM FIGHTER

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:52:28 -0600

The Brazen Heads are hosting a fundraiser for Pol Brennan; an Irish political detainee thrown in jail by Americans due to a bureaucratic mistake.

Pol & his family need our support if he has any chance of fighting an immediate deportation order and living a peaceful life in the U.S. with his family.

What:      Fundraiser for Pol Brennan and Family

Where:    O�Connor�s Pub

               2601 W. Dunlap Ave    Phoenix, AZ 85021

When:      Sunday, April 26th at 3pm.
Music By: The Brazen Heads and many special guests

This effort is sponsored in part by the MANY generous donations from pubs across the valley!

For more information about Pol: www.polbrennan.com.

45th Annual Arizona Scottish Gathering and Highland Games

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 23:24:00 -0700

FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE
Today�s Date: January 14, 2009
Contact:    Jacqueline Carro
O/ 480.839.1445 * C/ 480.495.8924 * F/ 480.491.4196

Arizona Scots Kick Up Their Heels!

TAKE THE LIGHT RAIL TO
CENTRAL PHOENIX
FREE PARKING & SHUTTLE!
45th Annual Arizona Scottish Highland Games
Fact Sheet & Press Release

Who:        The Caledonian Society of Arizona
What:        The 45th Arizona Scottish Highland Games & Gathering
When:        Friday 2/20/09 Glenfiddich Scotch Whiskey Tasting Friday night at Seamus McCaffrey�s downtown, 7:30pm!
Saturday 2/21 Games & Gathering ~ Gates open at 9am w/ Opening Ceremonies &
Welcoming remarks by Mayor Phil Gordon, Noon! Gates close at 5pm
Sunday 2/22 Games & Gathering ~ Gates open at 10am and close at 4pm
LOOK FOR ENTERTAINMENT, ATHLETIC AND OTHER EVENT SCHEDULES
IN WEDNESDAY�S 2/18 ARIZONA REPUBLIC NEWSPAPER!

Where:        Margaret T. Hance Park, 1106 N. Central in Phoenix (On Central, south of McDowell)
Admissions:    Scotch Whiskey Tasting ~ TBD
Scottish Gathering & Highland Games as follows:
One Day: General Admission - $15, Seniors * $13 * Children 6-12 $5
FREE PARKING & SHUTTLE!

More Info:    Call the Caledonian Society of Arizona (602) 431-0095 or check our Web Site at www.arizonascots.com
Phoenix, Arizona � On Saturday & Sunday, February 21 & 22, 2009 the Arizona Scottish community and about 20,000 of their closest friends from the four corners of the world will gather at Margaret T. Hance Park in downtown Phoenix to celebrate their culture.

The event is comprised of many things: World-class athletic competitions, Highland Dance, Re-enactment presentations, Clans, Food, Live music, Bagpipe & Drum bands from all over the globe and lots of fun for the wee lads & lassies.

Have you ever seen a big burley man in a kilt toss a telephone-pole-like caber? Did you know that the origination of pipe bands comprised of pipers, side drummers, a bass drummer and occasionally a tenor drummer occurred sometime after the battle of Waterloo in 1815? How about that right along with the ancient stories of daring warriors and master pipers you will find dance as a crucial part of celebrations and ceremonies of the Highlands?

Join the Caledonian Society of Arizona on Saturday & Sunday, February 21 & 22, 2009 and enjoy a day about Scottish Culture � Eat, sing, dance, visit the clans, learn about your own Celtic Roots and enjoy a weekend of Scottish merriment!

PLUS! KICK OFF THE EVENT WITH US ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2009 AT 7PM W/ A GLENFIDDICH SCOTCH WHISKEY TASTING WHERE WE�LL SAMPLE 12, 15, 18 AND 21 YEAR OLD SINGLE-MALT SCOTCH! MORE DETAILS TO COME!
Information on Metro Light Rail:

The route also travels directly to our Host Hotel, Extended Stay America, also about two blocks from a station.
During the event, our own shuttle buses will service the Games, the Host Hotel and nearby parking areas. But visitors can also use the Light Rail to reach us from anywhere on the 20-mile line.
In addition, there will be free shuttle service from Sky Harbor Airport to a nearby light rail station, with access to downtown Phoenix and all its attractions as well as our Hotel and Park.
The METRO light rail system will be open for passenger service on Dec. 29. You can ride virtually door-to-door to the Valley's best events and venues including Sky Harbor Airport, Heard Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, Diamondbacks baseball or Phoenix Suns basketball games, Dodge Theater, uptown and downtown Phoenix and Tempe restaurants, Arizona State University and downtown Tempe's Mill Avenue shopping district. The METRO system is fully accessible and a $2.50 day-pass is good for unlimited all-day rides. Purchase your pass at any light rail station with cash or credit card, or buy a pass online. For more information, visit www.MetroLightRail.org on the Web.
# # #

CEILI AND CEILI WORKSHOP SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:52:02 -0700

The Irish Cultural Center will be presenting Ceilis on the second and thirdFriday of the month. Enjoy Irish social dancing in a relaxed atmospherewith live music and dance lessons.
The dates for the 2009 Ceilis are: January 9 & 16, February 13 & 20, March 13 & 20, April 10 & 17, May 8 & 15, June 12 & 19, July 10 & 17, August 14 & 21, September 11 & 18, October 9, November 13 & 20, December 11 & 18.Admission is $6.00 with children under 12 Free (2 with each paid admission) Ceilis start at 7:00 pm. Ceili dance workshops at the Center are on the third Saturday of most months from 1:00-3:00 PM. These are two hour dance intensive for beginning and advanced dancers. Beginners will focus on basic footwork and simpler Ceili dances (Fairy Reel, Siege of Ennis, etc). Advanced dancers will learn more difficult figure dances (Cross Reel, Trip To The Cottage, etc). If you are an experienced Ceili go-er or if you have never danced before, this is the class for you! Make new friends and learn how to dazzle the spectators at the next ICC Ceili. Admission is $16.00 for adults and kids under 12 $2.00 RSVP required (602) 258-0109. Dates for the Ceili workshops for 2008 are: January 17, April 18, May 16, June 20, July 18, August 15, September 19, November 21, December 19. There are no workshops in February, March or October.

VERDE VALLEY CELEBRATES HIGHLAND GAMES

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:50:00 -0700

Saturday, March 28, 10 AM to 5 PM, Sunnyside Charter School, Camp Verde.

I-17 to Hwy. 260. Go east to Sunnyside Charter School, 30 E. Hwy. 260, Camp Verde.
Enjoy games, clans, music, vendors and all things Highland Games. Admission is $12-adults / $10-seniors / $7 - teens / $3 - ages 6-12. This year's musical guests are Oceans Apart, Traditional Blend & Iain Walnick. For info call David McNabb at (928)771-1218.