Desert Shamrock Oct-Nov-Dec 2017 e-Magazine

January Aug-Sept Oct-Dec – February 2017 2017~~2015 Arizona’s Arizona’s ~ Arizona’s Original Original Original Irish IrishNewspaper Newspaper Irish Newspaper ~~Vol. Vol.28, ~ 28, Vol. No. No. 26, 54 No. 1

28TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

What a Year!

People, Places, Events

FREE COPY

O’Brien’s Tower, Ireland TIM H MURPHY PHOTOGRAPHY www.timhmurphy.com

2

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017 THE DESERT SHAMROCK

Celtic Pubs & Eateries

If you're looking for some Craic, look no further!

Greater Phoenix The Dubliner Irish Pub & Restaurant 3841 E. Thunderbird Road, #111, Phoenix, AZ 85032 (east of AZ-51); 602-867-0984 www.dublinerpub.com Arizona’s original Irish pub and very first to serve Guinness on tap, Irish and American fare, games on big-screen TV, live music six nights a week.

Gallagher’s Sports Grill 7575 N. 16th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85020 (16th Street & Morten); 602-997-0084 3220 E. Baseline, Phoenix, AZ 85042 (NE corner of 32nd St. & Baseline); 602-437-0981 34406 N. Black Mountain Parkway, Cave Creek, AZ 85331 (Carefree Hwy. & 48th Street); 480-595-8800 751 E Union Hills Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85024 (7th & Union Hills); 602-867-3222 www.gallaghersaz.com Discover a great tasting menu, HD sports, daily and late night specials, weekend breakfast, karaoke, trivia and OTB!

The Harp Irish Pub 1744 S. Val Vista Drive, Mesa, AZ 85204 (just south of US-60 in Dana Park Village Square) 480-507-7827 www.theharpaz.com An Irish pub from our interior to our menu. We offer a perfect blend of modern and comfort Irish/American food and drinks in an authentic atmosphere. Dueling pianos Fridays 9pm; live music Saturdays 8pm.

The Irish Wolfhound Restaurant & Pub 16811 N. Litchfield Road, Surprise, AZ 85374 (just south of Bell Road) 623-214-1004 www.irishwolfhoundpub.com Bringing a little piece of Ireland to the desert. Featured on PBS “Check, Please!” with award-winning Corned Beef & Cabbage and Guinness Battered Atlantic Cod.

The Kettle Black Kitchen & Pub 1 N. First Street, #201, Phoenix, AZ 85004 (between Washington and Adams) 602-651-1185 www.thekettleblackpub.com Late night restaurant, bar and grill. Jimmy Culleton and Tom Montgomery bring you another great gastrobpub menu and Irish atmosphere. Grand opening was packed! See ad page 9

Mountain View Pub 7033 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, AZ 85331 (west of crossroads: Tom Darlington & Cave Creek) 480-575-7782; (480)-5757PUB Facebook: Mountain View Pub - Cave Creek Extensive lines of Irish whiskey and beers. Irish influenced pub fare.

Amazing mountain views experienced from our indoor/outdoor bar and patio!

O’Connor’s Pub 2601 W. Dunlap Avenue, #7, Phoenix, AZ 85021 (east of I-17) 602-997-7714 www.oconnorspub.com Where You’re A Stranger Only Once! For some good ol’ Irish hospitality in the Valley of the Sun, drop in the best Irish pub in Phoenix!

Rosie McCaffrey’s Irish Pub 906 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85014 (additional parking on 10th Street! 100 feet away!)

602-241-1916 www.rosiemccaffreys.com Irish owned and operated pub in central Phoenix serving good food and drink, the traditional Irish way, showing all Celtic FC matches, daily specials. Sláinte!

Rúla Bula Irish Pub and Restaurant 401 S. Mill Avenue, Tempe, AZ 85281 (between University and Rio Salado Parkway) 480-929-9500 www.rulabula.com Downtown Tempe, old world pub serving traditional and contemporary pub fare. Draft craft beer, premium whiskies and specialty cocktails.

Daily Happy Hour. Live Music weekends. See ad page 7

Séamus McCaffrey’s Irish Pub 18 W. Monroe Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003 (adjacent to historic Hotel San Carlos) 602-253-6081 www.seamusmccaffreys.com Downtown Phoenix’ Original Irish Pub & Restaurant. Est.-1991. Corned beef & cabbage, Irish stew, fish & chips, full menu, weekend brunch, AZ’s largest whiskey menu, 10 on tap, open late. See ad page 9

Tim Finnegan’s Irish Restaurant & Bar COMING SOON! New location: 17045 N. 59th Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85308 Great food, warm atmosphere, authentic Irish! www.timfinnegans.com Evokes images of the great old pubs of Ireland with blend of modern Ireland’s music, food, beverages. Featured on PBS “Check, Please!”

Arizona #404 | Chapter 2 of 3. See ad page 9

New customers are looking for you!

Accepting Celtic listings in Arizona.

National Wreaths Across America Day

All proceeds go directly to wreaths honoring and showing respect for all those buried at our Prescott National Cemetery.

The Scottish American Military Society, Post 1297

Donations: $15 per wreath; www.wreathsacrossamerica.org, scroll down to “Donate to a Local Fundraising Group” click and enter Code: AZPNCP, continue with “Donate” and follow prompts. Contact: PNCWAA@gmail.com

Saturday, December 16, 2017

WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

REMEMBER our fallen U.S. veterans. HONOR those who serve.

TEACH your children the value of freedom.

[PHOTO: CEREMONIAL WREATHS LAID AT THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN, PRESCOTT, AZ]

3

THE DESERT SHAMROCK OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017

Sunday, October 1, 2017 · 7:00 p.m.

Full season listing

ChandlerCetnter.org

480.782.2680

Sunday, March 11, 2018 · 3:00 p.m.

ARIZONA’S ORIGINAL IRISH NEWSPAPER

Serving the Celtic Community 2320 E. Baseline Rd., #148-300 Phoenix, AZ 85042 • (602) 568-3455 Visit www.DesertShamrock.com • E-mail: info@desertshamrock.com Owner & Editor in Chief • Ann Niemann Publisher • Niemann Publishing, Inc. Art Direction, Design & Layout • Erin Loukili, Jaclyn Threadgill Masthead Design • Elaine’s Design Emporium Contributing Columnists Janice Bryson • J Carro • Sharonah Fredrick Katie Caufield Ginder • Brian Hanrahan • Ellen Harrington Carmelita Lee • Iain Lundy • Lynn Herdman Mascarelli Maureen & Jack Sullivan • Eric McBride Chris Stevenson Kristie Stevenson • Marshall Trimble • Bob Wallace Lois Wallace • Liz Warren • Jan Whalen • Caroline Woodiel

Sunday, March 18, 2018 · 7:00 p.m.

Celebrate with the Celtic Community All Year.

Subscribe Today!

NEW Subscription RENEWAL Address Change Gift From Payment Enclosed Check if Seasonal—Contact us with second address and dates FASTER delivery—1st Class $26 USA Name (Please print clearly)

Publisher – Julie O’Mahar (2003 - 2013) Editor - Kathleen Wood (2003 - 2008) Publisher - Maureen O’Mahar (1996 - 2002) Founding Publisher - Robert E. Graham (1987 - 1996)

Phone Number

Address

Copyright © 2017 - Niemann Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed herein are the opinions of the writers, and not necessarily those of ‘The Desert Shamrock,’ the publisher or the editorial staff. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission from the publisher. Publication of advertising herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement of a product or service. Unsolicited materials become the property of Niemann Publishing, Inc. All unsolicited materials are greatly appreciated and carefully evaluated although publication is not guaranteed.

City

State Zip

Email

Subscribe Online: www.DesertShamrock.com ONE YEAR 2017 Rate (6 issues) $20 USA; $28 USD Canada (USPS 7-25+ days)

SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO:

THE DESERT SHAMROCK

2320 E. Baseline Rd., #148-300 Phoenix, AZ 85042

602-568-3455; info@desertshamrock.com

OND17

BE SEEN! ADVERTISE IN THE JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 EDITION! Step on in…to Celtic Worlds! TRAVEL EDITION

Ads due by December 1, 2017 Info@desertshamrock.com

Topics of interest to over one million of Celtic (primarily Irish, Scottish, Welsh) ancestry in the State, and Celts AND non-Celt readers worldwide.

Full color, magazine-style format. Economical advertising.

WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

4

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017 THE DESERT SHAMROCK Jack’s parents were born in County Cork, Ireland, settling in Chicago in the 1920s.

Mother is Mary Patricia Doyle of the Doyle clan from County Galway, Ireland

Phone: 480-671-0207 • Cell: 847-481-9149 Phone: 480-671-0207 • Cell: 847-481-9149 480-617-5961 Fax:Fax: 480-617-5961 • www.sullivanstravels.com maureen@sullivanstravels.com • www.sullivanstravels.com maureen@sullivanstravels.com 67%

100%

Europe, Mexico, Cruises & South Pacific TravelTravel Europe, Mexico, Cruises & South Pacific

25% 50%

5628 E. Thomas Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85018 Bus.: (480) 990-1900 Fax: (480) 481-9551 E-Mail: daveb@isugsw.com http://www.isugsw.com

Dave Binsfeld, CIC, ARM

Vice President

67%

100%

25%

Grandparents: John O’Dowd emigrated 1929 to NY from Castlebaldwin, Co. Sligo and Ellen Greevy from Roscommon 1938.

67%

50%

Mary Kallemeyn Independent Sr. Sales Director 602-978-0598 - Home 623-986-4708 - Cell mkallemeyn@cox.net www.marykay.com/mkallemeyn

Colleen O’Dowd Cutler

100%

25%

50%

Whether you are buying a new home or want to refinance your current home, call your neighborhood lender Colleen O’Dowd Cutler to get pre-approved.

FHA, VA, Conventional and Reverse Mortgages

602-248-4200

Grandmother Anna Kerr missed the Titanic because of family illness but emigrated later in 1912 from Belfast

Discover What You Love TM 67%

Makeovers are always Fun, Free & Fabulous and you get a 10% discount when we meet!!

1599 E. Orangewood Ave. #200 Phoenix, AZ 85020 MB092214 • NMLS# 1007154 • Colleen Cutler NMLS# 852437

100%

25% 50%

BE OUR GUEST! SECOND FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH

67%

7 - 8:30am • First-time Guests FREE

Special Speaker and hot Irish Breakfast!

100%

The Great Hall, Irish Cultural Center

25% 50%

SPEAKERS & EVENTS:

67%

100%

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13

25% 50%

Local Radio Personality Liz Boyle!

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10

Janice Ryan Bryson, author of Irish Arizona Dinner with Friends Thursday, October 26 • 6:30pm – 8:30pm at The Harp Irish Pub, 1744 S. Val Vista Dr., Mesa, AZ 85204.

Happy Hour specials extended just for us!

RSVP EVENTS: info@irishnetworkarizona.com OR 602-978-0598 For the latest, follow us on Facebook.com/IrishNetworkArizona Sign up for our e-newsletter at http://eepurl.com/cMdB8X

Maternal side “Murphy” came from County Cork and father’s side “Morrison” arrived from County Waterford 67%

100%

WEE MORSELS WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

25% 50%

Ireland was once densely forested, but was practically denuded of tree cover in the 17th century.

[See story about restoring native Giant Redwoods on page 7]

The scenic “Wicklow Way” is the oldest and most popular hiking route in Ireland. Stretching from the Dublin suburb of Rathfarnham in a south-westerly direction toward the village of Clonegal, in County Carlow, 8 to 10-day experience for a hill-walker of average fitness.

[See story about Wicklow Mountain Man, Michael Dwyer, on page 18]

THE DESERT SHAMROCK OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017

5

TABLE OF

CONTENTS Oct.-Nov.-Dec. 2017 ~ Arizona’s Original Irish Newspaper

ARTS

EVENTS 3 CONCERTS Chandler: Gaelic Storm; Celtic

6 King Arthur’s Irish and Biblical Roots/ From the Ardagh Chalice to the Holy Grail 8 Book Review: Ireland to Iowa to Arizona - From Humble Beginnings by Frank and Eileen Leavy 22 Book Review: The Girls of Ennismore: a novel

by Patricia Falvey 22 Book Reviews: Neville, French, McInerney – Murder and Crime in recent Irish Fiction

Nights; Musical Thrones, A Parody 4 Irish Network AZ Breakfast & Speaker, Phx 7 CONCERTS Phoenix: Christina Pato; Skerryvore; Julie Fowlis; Irish Christmas in America; Cherish the Ladies 15 Chandler-Tullamore Sister Cities: Southwest Tea, Chandler 23, BACK Irish Cultural Center & McClelland Library EVENTS, Phx 23 Annual Anam Cara Awards Gala, Phx 23 2018 AZ Irish Lass & Little Miss Shamrock Competition EVENT, Phx 23 Annual Christmas at the Castle, Phx 23 12K’s of Christmas Run/Walk, Gilbert 23 Annual Winter Solstice, Phx

CULTURE 7 Plant a Redwood in Ireland 12 Celtic Caterer: CHEESE: Blue vs Cheddar In the Lands of the Celts

13 Keltic Kitchen: Cranberry Oatcakes – Not Your Typical Biscuit 14 Arizona Sister Cities: Tribute to Milt Laflen 15 Chandler-Tullamore Sister Cities: Southwest Tea with an Irish Flair 16-17 FEATURE: Arizona’s Celtic Leaders…

A Quick Look Behind the Curtain

HISTORY

FEATURES

Frank and Eileen Leavy

08

Ireland to Iowa to Arizona

12

Celtic Caterer

16

Arizona’s Celtic Leaders

From Humble Beginnings

14 SCOTS: John Muir, Naturalist, botanist, geologist, glaciologist, environmentalist 18 Now You See Me now you don’t: Michael Dwyer

NEXT ISSUE

TRAVEL

SNEAK PEEK: Step on in… to Celtic Worlds

10 SCOTS: Stirling: Scotland’s Gateway to the Highlands 11 SCOTS: Bucket List – Falkirk Wheel Today 13 WELSH: The Protected Areas of Wales and the Falls of Pistyll Rhaedr

TRAVEL EDITION

TIM H MURPHY PHOTOGRAPHY, WWW.TIMHMURPHY.COM

OUT & ABOUT 19 Photo Galleries (mini this edition)

DIRECTORIES

CHEESE: Blue vs Cheddar In the Lands of the Celts

2 Celtic Pubs and Eateries 20-21 Organizations, Sister Cities, Dance, Musicians, Clans

CALENDAR 23 Schedule of Events

A Quick Look Behind the Curtain WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017 THE DESERT SHAMROCK

ARTS

6

The Death of Arthur PAINTING BY JOHN GARRICK, 1862

Ardagh Chalice PHOTO BY KGLAVIN, WIKIMEDIA

King Arthur’s Irish and Biblical Roots

From the Ardagh Chalice to the Holy Grail

BY SHARONAH FREDRICK, PHD

W

hen Celts from Gaul and Ireland introduced, in Wales, the ironwork techniques taken from their earlier sites of the La Téne period on the European mainland, it was clear that…Celts MOVED. So did their legends. Is it possible that some roots of the King Arthur legend, the most beloved tale of Celtic origin in the English (or French or Spanish) speaking world, may be Irish?

We know that the Irish legends, such as Lebor Gebala Eirinn (The Book of the Taking of Ireland) were written down prior to the Welsh White Book of Hergest.

(13th-14th century). That book, and its accompanying Red Book, were combined and translated from the Welsh in the 19th century by Lady Charlotte Guest, in the version known as the Mabinogeon.

This is the oldest source of the Arthurian legends. Did Irish stories influence the Mabinogeon? Considering the notable presence of Irish scholars and soldiers in

WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

the British Isles, it would be difficult for there NOT to have been an influence from Éirinn.

Christianity came to Wales via Irish missionaries between the 6th and 7th centuries. Many early stories of Arthurian tradition, particularly those of the Welshman Geoffrey of Monmouth, showed awareness of earlier Jewish accounts of King David. How so? Ireland’s monks traveled in the Holy Land during the 5th-10th centuries, and their scholarship encompassed languages such as Hebrew, Arabic, and Aramaic.

Oral accounts of Arthur spoke of his sinful connection with his half-sister, the sorceress Morgana Le Fay. While David, in the Biblical account, does not commit incest (his son Amnon rapes his half-sister Tamar), David sinned with Bat Sheva (Bathsheba), the wife of his general, Uriah. Absalom’s rebellion (even though he was not Bat Sheva’s son, but the avenging brother of Tamar) is interpreted in the Jewish Talmud and by Tertullian and St. Augustine as being a punishment for David’s adultery with Bat Sheva.

That sin, like Arthur’s sin with Morgana Le Fay, results in a murderous child. In Arthur’s case, the child brings down the kingdom: he is the villainous Mordred, who destroys Arthur’s reign, and not Lancelot, a later 12th century French invention as the adulterous suitor of Arthur’s wife, Gwenhwyfar (Guenevere).

In the case of David, his red-haired son Absalom almost destroys the kingdom, causing dissension and strife. Could these Biblical elements have been grafted on the 5th century Welsh chieftain Arthur’s stories, by Irish monks?

It could only have been done so by Irish monks. The area now called Wales was, in the 5th-7th century, submerged in warfare with fragmented, pagan AngloSaxon entities, (as well as struggling with the pagan remnants of the Roman Empire in Britain). Biblical stories came only by way of the recently Christianized Irish. Many Arthurian stories bear trace elements of contact between the ancient Gaels (Irish) and the ancient Brythons (Welsh).

The Holy Grail, historically, would

have been the cup from which Jesus and his disciples drank wine during the Jewish festival of Passover. The later Grail legend bears a strong resemblance to Dagda’s cauldron, one of the four sacred elements brought to Ireland by the People of the Goddess Danu (Tuatha de Danaan), quoted earlier in our article in the Lebor Gebala Eirinn.

Dagda’s cauldron was a source of abundance, fertility and inspiration in Irish tradition; and in Ireland’s National Museum in Dublin, the extraordinarily beautiful Ardagh chalice shines, with a rock crystal under its base, a supreme achievement of Celtic art from the early 8th century. This was the century in which Irish and Welsh legends overlapped, in an oral and literary sense, and produced a wonderful blend of shared elements in their respective stories.

As anyone who has ever seen the Ardagh Chalice will attest, it takes no leap of the imagination to see it as that Grail so desperately sought by Sir Galahad in subsequent Arthurian legends.

For a real-life scene from King Arthur legends, see the Welsh column on page 13.

Sharonah Fredrick has a PhD in Latin American Colonial Literature, MA in Renaissance History, and BA in Cultural Anthropology.

Her studies have included Yeats Summer School; in the Donegal Gaeltacht; and coursework at Trinity College, Dublin. She’s multi-lingual and currently the Clinical Assistant Professor of Spanish Language and Culture at SUNY Buffalo; and a 2017-2018 Research Fellow of Colonial & Caribbean History at the George Smathers Library of University of Florida.

President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins launches Birr’s Giants Grove – the largest grove of giant redwoods outside California. Giants Grove aims to return to Ireland Giant Redwoods that were once native to Ireland by creating a grove of over 1,000 redwoods at Birr Castle, County Offaly, Ireland.

It will provide an opportunity for people with Irish roots to enhance their connection by dedicating a Giant Redwood to loved ones here or abroad, living or dead.

The Giants Grove project aims to create beside the gardens of Birr Castle, a living, enduring and inspiring tribute to Ireland’s diaspora.

Giants Grove, is part of the legacy project there initiated by Lord Rosse and Crann. Brendan Parsons, 7th Earl of Rosse of Birr Castle Estate has allocated the land for the project. Crann – ‘Trees for Ireland’ was formed in 1986 with the aim of “Re-leafing Ireland”.

For more information and to participate: www.giantsgrove.ie

PHOTOS BY FENNELL PHOTOGRAPHY

Plant a Redwood in Ireland

THE DESERT SHAMROCK OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017

7

UPCOMING CONCERTS AT THE MIM MUSIC THEATER CRISTINA PATO Sunday, October 1 | 7:00 p.m.

“She is a virtuoso, and when she opens the floodgates of her technique . . . the force can knock you back a few steps.”

—New York Times

SKERRYVORE President Higgins and Lord Rosse

Wednesday, October 4 | 7:00 p.m.

“Six of the best musical ambassadors Scotland could ever have wished for . . . a living, breathing, twelve legged party waiting to happen.”

—Falkirk Herald (Scotland)

JULIE FOWLIS Sunday, October 15 | 3:00 & 7:00 p.m.

Multiple award-winning Gaelic singer whose crystalline and intoxicating vocals are featured in “Touch the Sky” from Disney’s Brave.

IRISH CHRISTMAS IN AMERICA Monday, November 27 | 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, November 28 | 7:00 p.m.

A sparkling tradition among holiday events, Irish Christmas in America is the special show to see this season.

CHERISH THE LADIES: CELTIC CHRISTMAS Tuesday, December 19 | 7:00 p.m.

“It is impossible to imagine an audience that wouldn’t enjoy what they do.”

—Boston Globe

TICKETS AND LINEUP AT MIM.ORG 2017 Concert Series sponsored by

MIM.org | 480.478.6000 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ

WEE MORSELS

Located in the Scottish Highlands, Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles. Standing at 4,411 ft (1,345 metres) above sea level, it is located at the western end of the Grampian Mountains.

In comparison, Camelback Mountain (resembles the head and hump of a kneeling camel) at 2706 ft (825 metres) in Phoenix is less than one-third. Think about the ease of Highlanders (i.e., Braveheart the movie) scampering about that!

There are 149 peaks in Arizona higher than Ben Nevis, culminating with Humphreys Peak (Hopi: Aaloosaktukwi, Navajo: Dook’o’oosłííd), north of Flagstaff with an elevation of 12,633 feet (3,851 m).

[See story about the Highlands on page 10]

WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

ARTS

8

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017 THE DESERT SHAMROCK

Ireland to Iowa to Arizona From Humble Beginnings

By Frank and Eileen Leavy REVIEW BY BRIAN HANRAHAN

M

any Irish American families boast written histories detailing their ancestor’s migration to the United States. Although fascinating to family members, these detailed notes, whether in book form or in longhand, routinely exist as a compilation of generational history— where the ancestors emigrated from; where they settled in the U.S; occupations they held; extended family; birthdates, death dates; etc. What sets Frank and Eileen’s written effort apart is implied in the title. From humble beginnings in Croboy, County Meath, Frank Leavy built a large and successful family business in a story reminiscent of Andrew Carnegie. In a word, the foundation for Leavy’s success was built on meat. From butchering to the sale of final meat product to consumers, the Leavy family was involved at every step. Upon his retirement in 1997, Frank Leavy cited annual sales in his Harvest Meats Company of $380,000,000.

Readers are initially captivated by the book’s cover depicting an obviously proud and imposing couple, Frank and Eileen Leavy on their wedding day in Ireland in 1950. Frank, square of jaw and shoulders, wearing a dark suit, stands a head taller than bride Eileen who is smartly dressed in a jacketed skirt with a gloved hand thrust into Frank’s crooked elbow.

Encouraged by a friend, Sy Dunn, an opportunistic Frank and Eileen decided to emigrate to America. First stop in the U.S. for the Leavys was Marshalltown, Iowa. The heartland. Here, with a growing brood of children, they immersed themselves in a whirlwind of family life, anchored by their Catholic faith.

It’s apparent that Frank Leavy maintained copious notes along his life’s journey. Dates, the names of individuals he met along the way, daily family routine, successes, trials and tribulations; it’s all there in his narrative. Eileen’s part in the story details her Slevoy family history out of County Wexford. Further,

IAIN LUNDY Freelance Journalist

she effortlessly glides through the task of personally addressing the Leavys’ eight children and providing biographies of each child in the book.

In turn, the Leavy brood offer personal observations and tales of growing up in a large Irish Catholic family. Little League, wrestling, basketball; Frank and Eileen were involved in all. Coupled with Frank’s storytelling, the Leavy’s charming tale has the feel of a well-maintained diary.

Post-WWII America witnessed a land rush of citizens from the cold and snow of the Midwest and East to warmer climes in the Southwest and West. In Arizona, terrain morphs from arid desert to sun swept mountains alive with towering Ponderosa pine trees. Family health concerns guided the Leavys’ decision to join the parade of ‘snow birds’ to relocate to Scottsdale. The Leavy business empire continued to flourish, ultimately leaving a mark throughout the West, Midwest, and points East.

Later, Frank Leavy was instrumental in promoting the burgeoning Irish scene in Phoenix, serving as Chairman of its first St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

“Leavy was a fairly prominent surname in the area stretching into West Meath. The name shows up further west into County Sligo as DunLeavy and further west into County Sligo as McDunLeavy. It appears as Mcaleavy and Lavey in the north of Ireland.” Author From Humble Beginnings is available through Amazon’s Kindle Division. It’s a worthwhile read. Married almost 62 years, Eileen passed away in 2012.

Wedding photo taken October 4, 1950

Brian Hanrahan’s great great grandfather arrived in Canada on a coffin ship out of Limerick in 1852. After a year or two in frigid Montreal, he migrated to balmy Wisconsin where he joined dozens of other Irish immigrants to farm in Erin Township, which even today remains replete with Irish surnames. Brian and his family live in Phoenix, Arizona. During his employment tenure, he wrote for two in-house educational publications.

Last photo taken of Frank and Eileen together

2018 Irish Advertising Calendar

• Writer, Author, Blogger, Proofreader, Copy Editor • Expert in all things Scottish • Scottish genealogy a specialty

iainlundy@lundyink.com 480-737-5090

www.lundyink.com

WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

Advertise your business or organization with our beautiful Irish Calendar.

67%

100%

Includes your imprint, beautiful photos, top Irish events, Map with info, and much more.

25% 50%

Maternal grandparents from Co. Kerry, paternal from Co. Clare

Your Imprint Here

Size-11”x17”

Share your Irish heritage!

www.AhernIrishCalendars.com

THE DESERT SHAMROCK OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017

9

Pub Directory: COMING SOON NEW LOCATION - 17045 N. 59th Ave., Glendale

Thomas P. Murphy, CPA 21639 N. 12th AveNue, Suite 203 • PhoeNix, ArizoNA 85027 (623) 581-0375 • FAx (623) 581-9242

1 North 1st Street, Suite 102, PHOENIX

Grandfather Murphy born in County Westmeath and Grandmother in County Longford, Ireland

SALEM, NH 603-898-5130 FAX 603-898-5113

THEKETTLEBLACKPUB.COM

PHOENIX 602-944-5400 FAX 602-944-3154

MANUFACTURERS REPRESENTATIVES

JOE LEWIS

P.O. Box 1768 Salem, NH 03079

10611 N. 11th St. Phoenix, AZ 85020 jhlreps@aol.com

Electrical, Mechanical, Plastics, Metals, and Contract Mfg. Joe Lewis Cell 617-510-9260 Joe Jr. 603-365-1301

SeamusMcCaffreys.com

Chandler-Tullamore SiSTer CiTieS

AUTHORS RECEPTION ople”

ril 15

24th Annual

ellen harringTon

President, Board of trustees chan.to.tull@gmail.com (480) 600-8509 P.O. Box 1474 Chandler, AZ 85244-1474

67%

www.chandlerirish.org 100%

www.facebook.com/chandler.az.irish

25%

(602) 253-6081 SeamusMcCaffreys.com 18 West Monroe Phoenix, Arizona 85003

50%

1 8 We s t M o n r o e P h o e n i x , A r i z o n a 8 5 0 0 3

Norman McClelland, Philanthropist

Chairman of the Board and former CEO of Shamrock Foods Company Irish Cultural and Learning Foundation Board member and Founder Norman McClelland was laid to rest with services in both Phoenix and Tucson on July 21-22, 2017. For more information on Norman's life and how to contribute to his memorial fund, go to www.azirish.com/ norman-mcclelland. TRIBUTE APPEARING IN DESERT SHAMROCK’S MARCH-APRIL 2018 EDITION.

WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

10

Stirling Castle

Stirling: Gateway to the Highlands

BY LOIS WALLACE

WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

Lois Wallace is the owner of Authentic Celtic Travels, based in Phoenix, AZ. Not only is her heritage Scottish and Irish, she married into Clan Wallace. Her business focus is on all Celtic nations. She has extensive knowledge of Scotland, having traveled there numerous times individually and leading groups.

Bannockburn Battle Simulator

PHOTO COURTESY NATIONAL WALLACE MONUMENT

S

tirling, an easy day trip by rail from both Glasgow and Edinburgh, is steeped in history within a small easily navigable area. It will be a day full of castles, medieval buildings, art, battle sites and monuments, all within easy reach due to the new hop-on hop-off bus service set up

by Destination Stirling. A brilliant idea.

The last time Bob and I were there we navigated the city bus service to get close to the National Wallace Monument.

Then had quite a walk in the rain to get to it; consider yourselves lucky. Day passes can be obtained on the bus which stops at the main bus terminal adjacent to the train station so you can start the route as soon as you arrive.

Stirling Castle, perched on the top of the hill, is a commanding presence in the landscape with stunning views of the area. Historically, it’s one of Scotland’s most important strongholds due to its strategic location guarding the way north to the Highlands. It has been a royal fortress since the 12th century, often falling to occupation of warring English forces.

Many Scottish Kings and Queens have made it their home.

Currently owned and operated by the National Trust for Scotland, it has been well restored to various times in history.

The Great Hall, Royal Chapel, and Renaissance Palace have been beautifully restored to all of their glory. Having been there three times, I am ready to go again. I always see and learn something new.

The Battle of Bannockburn Visitor Center, a short ride into the valley from the castle, is the site of the decisive battle

of 1314 when King Robert I, the Bruce, was victorious over the English, winning the Scots their independence. In 2014, the Visitor’s Center was totally rebuilt and now houses a 3D battle experience, telling the story of how the battle was fought and won. This new facility is getting rave reviews so be sure to pre-purchase tickets, particularly during the high tourist season.

National Wallace Monument, high atop Abbey Craig across the valley from Stirling Castle, would be the next stop on your historical tour. Erected in 1869, this 220-foot tower commemorates William Wallace and his fight for Scotland’s independence.

Abbey Craig, overlooking the Forth River, was the staging area for Murray and Wallace’s troops at the famous Battle of Stirling Bridge. You can climb to the top of this Victorian Masterpiece; it is only 246 steps with three levels of displays to view and rest on your way up. The view from the top of the Valley of the River Forth is unparalleled and well worth it. At designated times during the day, live actor performances tell the story of Wallace and the battle–a not to be missed visit.

After visiting these three locations, you have taken in all of the major highlights while having a delightful day in Stirling!

PHOTOS COURTESY VISITSCOTLAND.COM

SCOTS

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017 THE DESERT SHAMROCK

National Wallace Monument

11

THE DESERT SHAMROCK OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017

SCOTS

Bucket List:

Falkirk Wheel Today Falkirk Wheel

WELCOME TO SCOTLAND

Bob Wallace is a Council member and past president of Clan Wallace Society. He and his wife, Lois, have traveled to Scotland many times. Since joining the Clan, Bob has become highly interested in Scotland’s First Wars of Scottish Independence, in particular the history associated with Sir William Wallace and King Robert I, the Bruce. Bob is Chief Research Assistant for Authentic Celtic Travels.

Lois’s travel business. They now reside in Phoenix.

PHOTOS COURTESY VISITSCOTLAND.COM

D

ecades would separate closing of the Union Canal in the 1930s, removal of the lock system that moved vessels up and down between the two systems, and a general cleanup of the area around the old locks. The Forth-Clyde Canal was closed down in the 1960s.

In the 1990s, the idea came up to once again connect the Forth-Clyde Canal with the Union Canal, allowing for water travel from Glasgow to Edinburgh. How best to make that happen was answered in the long run by erecting the Falkirk Wheel that today lifts and lowers vessels between the two canal systems. Difference in elevation is 79 feet between the lower basin and the aqueduct, although vessels going on to Edinburgh will require another 36 feet of elevation to get into the Union Canal.

The Wheel is the only rotating boat lift in the world and is absolutely stunning to see! Included within its design is a Celtic battle ax at the rotation end, that end supporting the two gondolas that lift and lower boats. Each rotation takes about five minutes to accomplish, connecting

the lower basin with the aqueduct and tunnel at the top. Five iterations in one direction, clockwise, for instance; then it reverses direction.

It’s appropriate that the two passenger vessels at Falkirk be named as they are.

Antonine, for the Roman-built wall each trip takes it and its passengers through, and Archimedes, the Greek mathematician who learned centuries ago that a vessel offsets its own weight in water. Each time the Falkirk Wheel goes through its rotation, it’s moving exactly the same weight regardless of the number of vessels at either end. Fascinating!

PHOTOS COURTESY VISITSCOTLAND.COM

BY BOB WALLACE

Union Canal

WELCOME TO SCOTLAND

“Lands And Legends of Scotland”

Travel with Bestselling author Amanda Scott. áilte (welcome!)

Learn what sets her imagination afire!to your authentic Celtic

June F 7-15, 2018

YOUR CELTIC JOURNEY STARTS HERE...

Guided Vacation, hand-crafted by our local

BEST OF SCOTLAND 7 DAYS

experts. Carefully designed to deliver a

THE CALEDONIAN SOCIETY OF ARIZONA

“The Best of Scotland”

deeply immersive, hassle free vacation, our friendly,

Travel arrangements made by professional Travel Directors will take you deeper into each destination with our unique insider’sJuly view. From 29

Trip information here

- August 4, 2018 | $1,725.00 (land only)

C

making all the ideal arrangements to introducing you

Travel to our tight-knit group of friends along the way, we

with Society members on this share our beloved homelands. vacation.

Visit with Amanda locations she has about in her and Glasgow.hassle-free Thewritten urban hubs of Edinburgh Legends

by Lois A Wallace b. 602-501-7423 c. 775-671-0148 áilte (welcome!) to your authentic Celtic YOUR CELTIC JOURNEY STARTS HERE...

Experience Edinburgh, thrilling stories of ancient Scotland.

Learn insight her This 8050 19th Avelochs. #236 Phoenix AZ 85021into and Castles and country. leisurely look at Guided Vacation, hand-crafted by our local For full information contact: creative process that leads to the tales we cannot down. – but Scotland coversput the essentials still Glasgow, has time to the Highlands, BEST OF SCOTLAND 7 DAYS lois@authenticceltictravels.com experts. Carefully designed to deliver a Edinburgh, Peebles, Holyrood Abbey, Falklandstop Palace, Scone Abbey, Skye and much more for Perth, a ‘wee dram’ or two. b. 602-501-7423 c. 775-671-0148 602-501-7423 deeply immersive, hassle free vacation, our friendly, Abbotsford House, Melrose Abbey, Hermitage Castle, Kirkcudbright, e Borders, Trip information 8050 19th Ave #236 Phoenix AZ 85021 here and still have time for Tour operated by Lochcarron Mills, attend Strathmore Highland Games , Glamis Castle and more... professional Travel Directors will take you deeper into a wee each destination with our uniquedram. insider’s view. From

by Lois A Wallace

C

F

Lois's Biz card Aug 2015 FINAL.indd 1

C

8/24/15 2:04 PM

AuthenticCelticTravels.com

CTA phone, email, address etc.

making all the CSA ideal benefits arrangements to introducing from each booking.you Lois@authenticceltictravels.com Phone (602) 501-7423 cell (775) 671-0148 Lois's of Biz card Aug 2015 FINAL.indd 1 Limited number spaces available. to our tight-knit group of friends along the way, we Contact Lois to get the full information. share our beloved homelands.

The urban hubs of Edinburgh and Glasgow. Legends and lochs. Castles and country. This leisurely look at

C

8/24/15 2:04 PM

WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017 THE DESERT SHAMROCK

CULTURE

12

ASPARAGUS & IRISH BLUE SALAD Serves 6-8

2 bunches of asparagus 2 oz. Irish blue cheese 1/3 cup of mayonnaise 1 tsp. thyme 1 Tbs. finely chopped parsley 1 pinch of white pepper 3 Tbs. salt

CELTIC CATERER

Cheese: Blue vs Cheddar In the Lands of the Celts

BY CHEF ERIC MCBRIDE

B

eing that there are 8 Celtic Nations or regions, there is not a single type of cheese that can be called truly Celtic. All of these nations are historically major dairy producing cultures. The use of dairy products such as milk, cream, and cheeses are a staple within any recipe that can be called Celtic.

Cheese making on the Isle of Man goes back to the 9th century by Vikings who brought their skills in this culinary delight. There is an old legend about the daughter of a Viking Chieftain, named Hilda, and her mastery use of black peppercorns in cheese. Today, the island still celebrates Hilda’s surprise cheese even if they have forgotten the chieftain.

Unbeknown to many, Ireland does have a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) cheese, it is known as Imokilly Regato. A Regato cheese is a type of hard Italian cheese made from cow’s milk, but the Imokilly uses a specially developed rennet based off traditions of pre-medieval Ireland. To be specific, the curds are cut very fine, which allows it to take heat very quickly adding to the growth of the

WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

beneficial bacteria and flavor.

Welsh Caerphilly Cheese, is the most famous of Celtic cheeses. It is very smooth, very creamy, like a Brie but firmer. In 2011, I visited the Caws Cenarth cheese making farm and was instantly in cheese nirvana. They have won so many various cheese awards that even Prince Charles made a visit to garnish secrets between their usages of the local cow’s milk and the process of how they make it sooo very creamy.

Cornish Yarg, is a semi-hard cheese made from cow’s milk produced locally in Cornwall. It is similar to Caerffili cheese but firmer. Before it is left to mature, it is wrapped in nettle leaves which contain formic acid, serotonin, and histamine.

This produces a moldy rind. The name Yarg is actually the name gray spelled backwards after Allan and Jenny Gray, who first published the original recipes.

Brittany is like the rest of the country, with too many cheeses to choose from though Carre Breton and Plancoutin are amongst the most famous. It is funny in 1962, ex-president Charles de Gaulle was famously quoted for saying, “Comment voulez-vous gouverner un pays qui a deux cent quarante-six varieties de

fromage?” Translation: “How can you govern a county which has two hundred and forty-six varieties of cheese?”

Asturia and Galicia, both on the northern coast of Spain both have their own PDO cheese. In Galicia, they are famous for Tetilla cheese which means “the small breast,” a name describing the nipple shape of the semi-soft cheese.

Cabraes is a southern-style blue vein cheese. Traditionally, this cheese was wrapped in maple leaves and stored in the mountains surrounding the southern borders of Asturia. Outside of this area it is nearly impossible to get ahold of these cheeses as neither one will pass the EU’s pasteurization regulations.

In Scotland, one of the most remarkable and old-school-style cheeses are made on the Clerkland farm in Northeastern Ayr by one woman. Ann Dorward makes a type of cheddar cheese from a recipe dating back 300 years. In addition to Ann’s cheese, there are some other remarkable types, like Isle of Mull Cheddar which is packed in with the hash from Tobermory Scotch and aged for 18 months. But when looking for a single cheese that is used more for cooking, there is one that stands out, at least for the

Step 1: Wash and cut asparagus in thirds. Bring salted water to a boil, then add asparagus.

Step 2: Using an electric whisk, blend the cheese in with the mayonnaise, adding in the parsley and white pepper.

Step 3: Arrange the asparagus on a serving dish and pour the dressing over the middle of the asparagus.

Northern most Celtic Nations, that of a blue vein cheese. First introduced to the Northern Celts by the Vikings.

I have found many people who are under the age of 30 do not enjoy blue cheese. NOTE (For all the haters): Not all blue cheeses are the same. In Scotland, there is a famous cheese known as Lannak Blue. In the U.S. one can use a similar style found in Amish blue cheese.

Flavorful, but not over powering. In Ireland, they have found ways to use blue cheese, to really enhance a dish. Enjoy my suggestion this edition!

Chef McBride is an awardwinning chef and author of four Celtic cookbooks (Scotland, Ireland, Wales & Manx, and Celtic-style vegetarian), and has a line of traditional Celtic Seasoning mixes. You can get his books via his website www.celticcaterer.com or on his Facebook page “the Celtic Caterer & Chef Eric W. McBride, or on YouTube.

THE DESERT SHAMROCK OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017

Cranberry Oatcakes PHOTO BY LAUREN HIRSCH

Not Your Typical Biscuit

The Protected Areas of Wales and

The Falls of Pistyll Rhaeadr

BY LYNN HERDMAN MASCARELLI

S CRANBERRY OATCAKES Yields 2 dozen

BY KATIE CAUFIELD GINDER

D

ia daoibh a chaired! (Hello friends!)

If you have ever travelled to Ireland or the UK, most likely you have sampled an oatcake.

Comprised predominantly of oatmeal, these crackers or biscuits date back to 14th century Scotland when soldiers would cook oatmeal and water in their shields over an open flame.

Although the traditional oatcake recipe typically only contains a tablespoon of sugar, I wanted to try making a sweeter version. Increasing the brown sugar to ½ cup and adding some dried cranberries, the recipe below is a nice twist on a classic teatime biscuit. Crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, the cranberries and additional sugar produce a flavorful version of the Scottish staple.

Enjoy!

Katie Caufield Ginder lives in Gilbert with her husband and two sons. Her background is in higher education program management, instruction, and faculty recruitment. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, cooking, yoga, volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters and learning about her Irish heritage. Katie’s great, great paternal grandfather was from Galway and immigrated to Pennsylvania in the 1860s.

INGREDIENTS: 2 c. or 240 g. flour 2 c. or 180 g. oats ½ c. or 90 g. brown sugar 2 t. baking powder ½ t. salt 1 c. or 190 g. shortening ½ c. or 120 ml cold water ½ cup chopped dried cranberries

ome years ago at the end of a difficult day, a colleague of Native American descent and the Navajo Nation, whispered to me, “I need a waterfall.” I never forgot it and often repeated her words; the image I conjured up brought me some calm.

Wales must believe this as well, writing into law, protection for its most natural, most beautiful areas that draw thousands each year from around the world.

But what does it mean to be chosen 1000th anything? Well, somewhere in wonderful Wales near Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant to be precise, a cascade of water with plunge pools and a natural rock arch, would tell you if it could speak. Wales indeed is a land of many waterfalls. In 2000, the Countryside Council of Wales chose this one named Pistyll Rhaeadr, one of the Seven Wonders of Wales, to join 999 other protected natural sites.

It is the tallest waterfall in the land.

Above is the river Afon Disgynfa as it flows from the mountain heights of Moel Sych. Beneath it, the river Afon Rhaeadr that ends in a small stream some distance away. Interestingly, protected sites in Wales are managed by landowners; this beautiful waterfall, tended by the Wynnstay Estate.

WELSH

KELTIC KITCHEN

13

Among other protected natural sites are the national parks of Snowdonia and Pembrokeshire, the entire Prembrokeshire Coast path and the estuary of Daugleddau and Caldey Island. Of particular interest are the so-named Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty among them, the Clwydian Range with its hills filled with the legends of King Arthur and Wye Valley, shared with Britain. And it might surprise the reader to learn that the whole of the Isle of Anglesey is designated as one of these areas.

Perhaps one could say the protected and beautiful lands of Cymru are meant to inspire, to take one away; its people, their guardians and its beauty, other-worldly and mystical.

Resources: Patmore, John Allan (1971). Land and Leisure in England & Wales. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press. p. 262. ISBN 978-0-8386-1024-4.

Lynn Herdman Mascarelli is a former high school teacher of art, history, and political science. She is a potter, illustrator, muralist in public venues and private homes, and wordsmith. Frequently a featured artist at the Irish Cultural Center, Celtic landscapes intrigue her. Her mom, a Williams, is totally Welsh with ancestry as far back as 1700s and the Isle of Anglesley.

DIRECTIONS: Combine flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder and salt in a medium size bowl.

Add shortening to mixture and combine using fingertips.

Mix in water with a fork and then add dried cranberries. At this point the mixture should resemble a ball.

Roll out ball on a floured surface until ½ - ¼ inch thickness.

Use a 2 inch circular cookie cutter to cut out dough.

Place dough cutouts on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degree for 15-20 minutes or until edges are lightly brown.

Notes: If you prefer a traditional oatcake, simply reduce the amount of brown sugar to 1 tablespoon and omit the cranberries.

In lieu of the cranberries, you may also enjoy using chocolate chips, dried currants, or dried blueberries.

Pistyll Rhaeadr, one of the tallest waterfalls in Wales and England. Note the natural arch in the middle.

To enjoy the beauty of Pistyll Rhaeadr, watch and listen https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=d5vUzYd0R4U

WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

PHOTO BY CARLETON WATKINS, c1875

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017 THE DESERT SHAMROCK PHOTO BY FRANCIS M. FRITZ, c1907

SCOTS

14

COURTESY UNITED STATES MINT

BY IAIN LUNDY

T

ens of thousands of Americans own the collection of the 50 State Quarters issued by the United States Mint between 1999 and 2008.

Every state in the union, plus the District of Columbia, and the five U.S, Territories, all have their own coins with a special design on each to symbolize the area. The designs ranged from the Chicago skyline for Illinois; a bucking horse and rider for Wyoming; the outline of the Great Lakes system to represent Michigan;

and a fiddle, trumpet, and guitar to celebrate the musical heritage of Tennessee.

A number of people are represented, including Helen Keller, Neil Armstrong, and Abraham Lincoln. But what few people realize is that the only non-American to be featured on the collection is a Scotsman.

Environmentalist John Muir, a hero to millions of Americans, was largely unknown in his native land when his image was selected for the California coin. The then state Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, picked Muir ahead of images of the Golden Gate Bridge in San

John Muir

Naturalist, botanist, geologist, glaciologist, environmentalist

Francisco, a giant redwood tree, and the California gold rush.

On the coin, Muir is shown gazing at Half Dome Mountain in the Yosemite National Park with a soaring condor above his head. It bears the inscriptions: California—John Muir—Yosemite Valley—1850 (the year California became a state). At a special ceremony to mark the coin’s launch in 2005, Schwarzenegger said, “Muir lit the torch of conservation in our state. He has inspired generations of Californians to preserve our natural beauty, and this is what makes him so special. Yosemite wouldn’t be the cathedral that it is today.”

Muir was born in 1838 in the town of Dunbar, East Lothian and left Scotland with his family when he was age 11. The rest of his childhood was spent in the back woods of Wisconsin and he grew to love his natural surroundings. After travelling extensively through America, Muir settled in a pine cabin in California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range. He published 300 articles and 12 books, primarily about the need to protect the environment, which led to the setting up of the Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and Petrified Forest National Parks, among others.

One visitor to his cabin was President

Tribute to

Rent • Sell New • Used

www.KiltRentalUSA.com info@kiltrentalusa.com 7655 E. Redfield Rd., Suite 8 Scottsdale, AZ 85260 1-877-KILT-SHOP • 480-460-0907

Listen to music samples at www.thebagpiper.com

WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

Milt and Cheryl Laflen

BY ELLEN HARRINGTON CHAIR, CHANDLER-TULLAMORE SISTER CITIES

M ichael McClanathan ARIZONA’S FAVORITE BAGPIPER 602-549-4394 • 480-460-0907 www.thebagpiper.com

Iain Lundy grew up in Ayrshire, Scotland, and has worked as a journalist since the 1970s.

He and his wife moved from Scotland to Arizona in March. His paternal grandfather came from Downpatrick, County Down, and moved to the west of Scotland as a young man.

Milt Laflen

Scottish Made Kilts

Kilt rentals available for your special event at KiltRentalUSA.com

Theodore Roosevelt and the discussions between the two men laid the foundation of Roosevelt’s innovative conservation programme. Muir is known now as the “Father of the National Park System.” The Muir coin was designed by Los Angeles graphic artist Garrett Burke. The final design was one of more than 100 submitted to a committee that narrowed the selection to 20 entries. Schwarzenegger selected the winner.

Co-founder of Sierra Club, there is a John Muir Day celebrated in California since 1988, and in Scotland starting in 2013. An admirer of Robert Burns, he carried a book of his poetry with him during many wilderness explorations.

It’s said he never lost his strong Scottish accent despite having lived almost his entire life in America.

Grandmother is from Tiree, an island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland

I

t is with great sadness that we share the untimely passing of Milt Laflen, President of Arizona Sister Cities, on June 12, 2017. ​This is a true loss for Arizona Sister Cities membership across the state. His passion for Sister Cities had him criss-crossing the state - encouraging the existing Sister Cities organizations, helping the fledgling ones, and always seeking new relationships. He represented Arizona at regional meetings, and always waived the Arizona flag at the Annual Sister Cities International Conferences.

Arizona has six active Sister City relationships with Ireland: Phoenix-Ennis, Tempe-Carlow, Chandler-Tullamore,

Gilbert-Newtonabbey, ScottsdaleKillarney, and Tucson-Roscommon.

We’ve lost a mentor, colleague, and personal friend, who was always positive and productive for all the individual organizations, and a firm proponent of making worldwide friends “one person, one community at a time.” He also visited many of the international sister cities of Arizona when delegations were going - his latest was Agra, India with Tempe Sister Cities.

Please keep his beloved wife, Cheryl, and their family in your prayers.

15

THE DESERT SHAMROCK OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017

IRISH FLAIR!

BY ELLEN HARRINGTON

T

hink – Scones and Soda Bread with Jalapeño Jelly! ChandlerTullamore Sister Cities’ Sixth Annual Southwest Tea will be held on Saturday, November 4, 2017 from 11am-1pm, with Registration at 10:30am. This fun event will be held in the Cotton Room of Chandler’s Tumbleweed Recreation Center, 745 East Germann Road, Chandler 85225. Lots of energy has gone into the planning and preparation for this event. We’ll have live entertainment – bagpiping entrance, scrumptious tea menu, great baskets, and more! Our Chef will be Maureen Sullivan – who will prepare a tea menu for all tastes. Over 18 Table Hosts are “decorating” the lunch tables with their individual themes and creative imagination, plus baking our desserts. Background music with be provided by Hana Halverson, harpist.

In addition to celebrating with a diverse group of local entertainers, this occasion will showcase the CTSC’s current and future projects — our very successful “Commonality” Postcard project with Tullamore, hosting the International Exhibit of Sister Cities International’s 2017 Art & Author Showcase, participation in the 2018 SCI’s YAAS program, a proposed Spring 2018 Wine & Design evening, sales of our “Desert Fare” Cookbook, a collaboration between Chandler and Tullamore high school students, and other upcoming events. We will also be sharing information on our planned guided trip to Ireland in June 2018.

Our Guest Speaker is Jan Whalen, President of Whalen Voices, an award-winning author, speaker and coach who honors the female voice. She will speak on “You Are the Perfect Age,” from her new book of the same name.

An excerpt from her book states, “Days turn into decades and I see before me a kaleidoscope of experiences and lessons

and people and yes, even wisdom.” Jan and her husband Ross love to travel, and Ireland, where her ancestors lived, is a favorite place. The incredible beauty and charm of the Irish people inspire us to reflect upon ourselves, and our Perfect Age, the theme of Jan’s message. Jan has recently been selected as one of two women honored at the “Celebrate Arizona Women” event hosted by Southwest Airlines.

Reservations for the Southwest Tea are necessary; to purchase tickets online, please visit our website, www. chandlerirish.org. General admission is $18 for Adults and $10 for 11 years and under; Walk-ins on the day of the event with no registration are $25 per Adult.

Doors open at 10:30am for Registration, purchasing basket tickets – we want to begin the meal and program promptly at 11:00am.

CTSC was created to join Chandler and Tullamore, Ireland as Sister Cities through Sister Cities International. Their mission is to “cultivate and maintain a strong reciprocal relationship between Chandler and Tullamore to encourage cultural understanding, community involvement, economic development, and educational exchanges.” CTSC offers a variety of membership gatherings, informational meetings and other benefits throughout the year.

For further information on Chandler-Tullamore Sister Cities, please contact Ellen Harrington, (480) 6008509), or chan.to.tull@gmail.com; website www.chandlerirish.org.

Ellen Harrington serves as Chair of the Chandler, AZ-Tullamore, Ireland Sister Cities, VP of the newly formed Chandler Sister Cities, Secretary of Arizona Sister Cities, as well as an Advisory Board Member of the Irish Cultural and Learning Foundation, which oversees ICC and the McClelland Library in Phoenix. Her Irish heritage descends from the Stewarts of County Down, Northern Ireland.

Jan Whalen Dawn Odil and Carol Schultz 2016 Table Toppers

Chandler - Tullamore, Ireland Sister Cities

Sixth Annual Southwest Tea Saturday, November 4, 2017 11am - 1pm • Registration 10:30am The Cotton Room, Tumbleweed Recreation Center 745 East Germann Road, Chandler 85286

• • • •

Bagpiper Opening Luncheon Entertainment Chance Baskets

Guest Speaker — Jan Whalen “You Are the Perfect Age” Reservations and Updates, www.chandlerirish.org $18/Adult; $10 children 11 & under; $15 Members w/ Code

Advance Reservations Needed; contact (480) 600-8509 All proceeds to further our Mission of Education, Business & Cultural Exchanges

WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

SISTER / TWINNED CITIES

Southwest Tea with an

16

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017 THE DESERT SHAMROCK

Arizona’s Anna O’Hara

Irish Foundation of Arizona, president | Friends of St. Patrick Centre AZ Chapter, founding member | Currach Team Phoenix; and Tempe Sister Cities, member

Born in Washington, D.C., Anna moved to Arizona in 1952 and resides in Tempe.

Since retirement, she has volunteered as a docent at The Irish Cultural Center. In 2015, she was a recipient of The Irish Cultural and Learning Foundation Anam Cara Award. She enjoys reading; hiking, and traveling, especially in Ireland with husband, Michael. Besides being the mother of O’Hara-Irish children: Tara, Mike, and Arick; and grandson Brendan, she has an Irish 4x great-grandmother too.

Ashleen O’Gaea [pronounced oh-jee-uh]

Clan MacCallum-Malcolm Society of N.A, arizona convener

Ashleen and her husband Jim Law enjoy Celtic Games with their two West Highland White Terriers (Westies), Wee Dram (an AKC champion); and Islay Single Malt, a “clancestor.” Col. Edward Donald Malcolm developed and named the iconic breed.

Ashleen’s fifth great-grandfather, “Old John” MacCollum, was transported from Argyll, Scotland to New Jersey in 1685 for his participation in the failed Monmouth Rebellion. [Photo: Wearing most common MacCallum tartan]

Catherine Harris

Tucson St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival, vice-president | Feile Rince Tucson and the Arizona Roadrunner Feis, co-chair | Celtic Academy of Tucson, board member

Cathy’s mom was born and raised in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland and moved to England at the age of 17. Cathy was born there and hence the nickname “E.C.” or “English Cathy.” She is a published author and avid animal advocate. Her volunteer work focuses on bringing

Coleen Van Slyke

Academy for Irish and Celtic Studies, music director & academy administrator | CELTICA! Chorale, artistic director

Coleen supervises the Academy’s music offerings and teachers, and provides faculty and students with opportunities to perform within the Celtic community. Representing the ICC, she functions as musical event planner and stage director, is often serving as Mistress of Ceremonies, and is a seasoned performer in her own right. Coleen studied Choral Conducting, Piano and Vocal Performance, and Music Education. She lives in Mesa with her husband Rich and daughter Lily.

WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

Colleen Beaman

BFA, MEd, EdD, AFAA Tucson, AZ – Roscommon, Ireland Sister Cities, chair

Colleen is the standard bearer of the Kelly style of dance (Father Fred who invented the “Cha Cha” and Uncle Gene). Having taught throughout the USA and Europe, she teaches a variety of styles. Active in Celiac support groups for 30+ years, she is married to James over 40 years with 4 children and 3 grandchildren so far! From NYC area, Colleen is pure Irish on her father’s side, Kelly married her grandmother, a Curran.

Darren Maguire ADCRG Maguire Academy of Irish Dance Tucson, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston and Mexico

Darren is the eldest son of Michael and Kathleen Maguire of the famed Maguire O’Shea Academy of Irish Dance, established over 40 years ago in London, England.

He toured with Riverdance for close to ten years. In 2006, the Celtic Academy of Tucson invited Darren to open his own academy in Tucson.

Darren has taken hundreds of his dancers to championship level and continues to be one of the foremost Irish dance instructors in the world.

Don Finch

Caledonian Society of AZ, president

Don has served as President since March 2015 following positions as Vice President, Membership Chairman, and Co-Chair of the Burns Supper committee. Following an international career with Cargill, Inc., Don and his wife Pearl retired to Chandler in 2011. His grandmother Jennie Duncan; dad Captain Norman Finch of the SD&G Highlanders; and the occasional dram contributed to his love of Scotland.

Ellen Harrington

Chandler, AZ-Tullamore, Ireland Sister Cities, chair | Chandler Sister Cities, vice president | Arizona Sister Cities, Secretary | Irish Cultural and Learning Foundation, advisory board member

Ellen’s Irish heritage descends from the Stewarts of County Down, and a recently discovered link to County Antrim, both in Northern Ireland. Her husband, Pat, is the grandson of 19th Century Irish immigrants from Castletownbere, County Cork, Ireland.

THE DESERT SHAMROCK OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017

17

Celtic Leaders A Quick Look Behind the Curtain Thank you to all in our Celtic Directory who sent in their bio!

Helen Rose Buck-Pavlick

Kari Lapins

Grand Canyon Celtic Arts Academy, executive director

MFA, TCRG | Maguire Academy of Irish Dance, instructor

A native of Chicago, Helen trained with the Trinity Irish Dance Academy (87-99), toured with the company (Varsity Tour 97-99), and won the silver medal at the World Championships of Irish Dance in figure choreography. After relocating to Phoenix, Helen teaches Irish dance and now trains world qualifying solo dancers. Her MFA in Dance thesis at ASU explored a conditioning program to reduce injury in Irish dancers. She has presented her research on the relationship of Irish Ceili dancing and Irish identity around the country. Her mother is an O’Leary.

John Good/Sioni Dda

Welsh League of Arizona, president Ninnau, creative literary columnist

John was born in South Wales in the shadow of blast furnace number 4, Port Talbot, went to university in Yorkshire then back to Glamorgan...Master’s degree in Music Composition, in Phoenix where now resides, plays folk harp, Welsh bagpipes and pibgorn, flutes, whistles, sings, teaches on-line Welsh Language classes, writes for AmeriCymru and Ninnau and, on a Saturday night with his band, Tramor, does a jig or two if influenced to do so.

John Murphy

Tucson’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival, president

Dedicated to bringing Irish history and culture to the Tucson Community, our theme for 2018 is “Building Bridges” to celebrate all we as human beings have in common with each other. Love is love, brothers and sisters. Born in New York City, this branch of the Murphys came over in the 1870s. Lots of cops & firemen in the family, including losing a cousin, Michael Egan, in the 9/11 bombing of the WTC. Peace.

Kari grew up in Flagstaff. With both Irish and Scottish ancestry, her love of Celtic culture began early with her dad. She started Irish fiddling and dance as a teenager and continues today. She presented 65+ Celtic concerts through Living Traditions Presentations and started Grand Canyon Celtic Arts Academy in 2009. She now resides in Knoxville, TN with her husband and infant daughter. She will continue directing GCCAA each July.

Kelsey Kelleher

Friends of St. Patrick Centre – AZ Chapter, president Currach Phoenix, member Irish Foundation of AZ, member

Kelsey is the Library/Genealogy/Systems Assistant and Membership Administrator at the Irish Cultural Center & McClelland Library. She served as 2013 Arizona Young Ambassador to Northern Ireland. Kelsey is a Renaissance actor each season, designer and seamstress of historical costumes, and former competitive Irish dancer. Her family hails from Cork, Kerry, and Derry. She enjoys reading a good book and sipping a hot cup of tea.

Lee Cooley [Chúille] Irish Network Arizona, president

Lee’s surname is anglicized from Mac Giolla (“Son of the Servant of St.”) Chúille. As former editor of the Cooley Family Association newsletter, he became fascinated with bio-genealogy.

Although a Florida native, Lee and his wife Andrea moved here from Ohio in 2006. During this nonprofit phase of his career, he has worked with Make-A-Wish America, Valley Youth Theatre, and is currently Communications Manager of the Arizona REALTORS® state association.

Jude McKenzie

Northern Arizona Celtic Heritage Society, President

Wow, I have a LOT of interests ranging from Egyptian art to my biggest passion...promoting Celtic culture. My husband Richard and I are founding members of NACHS, based in Flagstaff, and have been working to further this organization for more than 20 years. I LOVE to organize festivities and make them fun, interesting and most of all educational. I have almost the full complement of Celtic ancestry: the most being Irish, then Scottish, Cornish, Breton, and even some Iberian Peninsula (Spain)!

See our Celtic Directories for details about the amazing organizations represented.

Guests and New Members welcome!

WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

PHOTO BY THORSTEN POHL

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017 THE DESERT SHAMROCK

Now You See Me

NOW YOU DON’T

Wicklow Mountains PHOTO BY TICKETAUTOMAT - WIKIMEDIA

HISTORY

18

BY CARMELITA LEE

T

he Society of United Irishmen was a political organization dating from the 1780s. The forward-thinking founders envisioned Catholics, Presbyterians, Anglicans, even dissenters, to be a united force for reform of the Irish parliament; seeking less British meddling in Irish affairs, and voting rights for all men regardless of religion. They had been stirred by both the American and the French revolutions. A haphazard rebellion grew out of the Society, which had called for simultaneous uprisings in the spring of 1798, which didn’t quite happen. There were unorganized skirmishes, but a lack of leadership and direction all but killed the Society. After a

WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

rebellion of a few months’ time, most of the leaders were arrested, some executed.

The rebels of County Wicklow were mountain men, who knew their hills and valleys well. They waged a war (from 1798 to 1803) by pouncing on unsuspecting British encampments, hitting them hard and fast, raiding them, then vanishing into the thickly wooded hills.

Military Roads were built that stretched 67 miles across the spine of the Wicklow Mountains, meant to facilitate bringing the brigands to justice. (These roads are still in use.)

Michael Dwyer, from the Glen of Imaal, was one such brigand. He traveled light, with perhaps no more than six men.

When nothing came of the rebellion, Dwyer decided to take care of business on his own terms. He gained the trust and respect of villagers all across County Wicklow. He raided and was pursued for a full five years without being caught, always making good his escape with the help of the locals, being hidden, fed and tended to, always to fight another day. He had informants, even among the British troops, who had come to admire his stealth. He always escaped capture.

He narrowly escaped while staying with a family, which owned several small cottages. His men had come to stay the night. He was shaken awake by the master of the house, to be told that they were surrounded, and that the British were going to start killing the families. After negotiating the release of the families,

Dwyer agreed to be arrested. However, his faithful friend, Samuel McAllister, stood in the doorway to draw fire, and Dwyer, with the others, escaped yet again. There is a monument to Dwyer in that area, now called Derrynamuck.

Legend has it, his most daring escape was when he was being chased alone on foot through thick forest, over hills and streams. At one point he was clearly in their sight. He suddenly sprang over a cliff, and with a large groan, he seemed to hit solid ground. Shouts went out that they had him, and they set out to search for him, but never found him. He had led them to a place he knew since his youth, a hook-like underhanging cave with a stone “chair” inside. Though they looked for hours, he was shielded by heavy undergrowth. The soldiers never spotted him napping inside.

In 1803 Dwyer brokered a settlement with the Brits; he would stop his guerilla warfare in exchange for safe passage to America with his family. In the end, the Brits reneged, instead sending them to Australia, where he lived out his life in relative peace.

How does a gal named Carmelita Lee claim to be Irish? Scottish, even? Granny Holland’s family hailed from Ennis, County Clare, and Grandpa Maxwell from the Borderlands, Scotland. Her husband’s mother was a Dowdall, and he had a Grandma O’Higgins…ye can’t be more Irish than that!

THE DESERT SHAMROCK OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017

19

The Centre’s Director, Dr. Tim Campbell, from Downpatrick, Northern Ireland (seated, center) shared about the collaborations to create “Saint Patrick’s Way: The Pilgrim Walk” and its hiking and touring guide. Visit Downpatrick!

Happy anniversary to Jeff and Elizabeth (née Nelson) Aspland, married November 14, 2015

Irish Network Arizona September’s hot Irish breakfast also featured Musical Instrument Museum Theatre Manager Patrick Murphy and Marketing Specialist Christopher Wieman. These lads previewed some of MIM’s fall concert series lineup. Celtic music! Photo with Lee Cooley, INAZ President

ChandlerTullamore Sister Cities 1. Workmen at Tullamore Dew Distillery - Ellen Harrington (Chandler), Camilla Cullen (Tullamore), Laurie Fagen (Chandler), Roisin Ui Oistin (Tullamore) 2. Chandler Vice Mayor, Kevin Hartke, knocking at the Fairy Door, Charleville Castle Forest, Tullamore, Ireland WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

OOT & ABOOT

Celtic Wedding at the Irish Cultural Center, Phoenix

OUT & ABOUT

JAMES ERICK PHOTOGRAPHY

Friends of Saint Patrick Centre – Arizona Chapter

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017 THE DESERT SHAMROCK

DIRECTORIES

20

NEW MEMBERS WELCOME! IRISH CULTURAL CENTER & McCLELLAND LIBRARY Our mission is to provide a link between the people of Arizona and the people of Ireland and other Celtic cultures. The Irish Cultural Center serves as a central meeting place for cultural groups, affiliate groups and people looking to celebrate their Irish/Celtic heritage. The McClelland Library is a three-story building resembling a traditional 12th century Norman castle from the Emerald Isle. The Library houses 8,000 books from Irish authors, poets, and genealogical sources, a permanent exhibit on The Book of Kells, several reading rooms, and computer access to various disciplines of Irish and Celtic studies including genealogy. Their current exhibition is on the Historical Context and Cultural Legacy of the 1916 Easter Rising. The mission of The Academy of Irish & Celtic Studies is to spread the knowledge and wisdom of the Celtic nations through music, dance, art, literature and language. We do this by providing many musical and Arts programs, open to young and old alike. The Center is also available for private rentals, being a beautiful venue for all occasions! www.azirish.org, 602-258-0109

ARIZONA COLLEEN PROGRAMS

ARIZONA

CENTER

The Arizona Colleen and Rose of Tralee Selection, Arizona Irish Lass and Little Miss Shamrock programs select young ladies of Irish descent to participate as spokespersons at area events. Prize packages for each competition. The Colleen wins a trip to Ireland and $1,000 scholarship. For details, visit www.azcolleen.org or contact Erin SweeneyMorgan, Chair, 602-373-7931, info@azcolleen.org.

ARIZONA LAW ENFORCEMENT EMERALD SOCIETY (ALEES) ALEES was incorporated in 2004 to promote and celebrate accomplishments of Irish-Americans in law enforcement. Its members, families and friends support ALEES Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) created in 2012 to provide financial assistance to the families of injured and fallen brothers and sisters in Arizona law enforcement. If interested in becoming a member or volunteering, contact us at azemeraldsociety.org.

THE CALEDONIAN SOCIETY OF ARIZONA Our mission is to promote Scottish culture through art, education, and athletics. Each year we grant scholarships to aspiring and professional Highland athletes, musicians, dancers and/or any other individuals or organizations whose mission, project or program promotes Scottish heritage. We meet the 2nd Thursday of each month for drinks, entertainment and Scottish fun! Everyone welcome!

ArizonaScots.com.

THE CELTIC ACADEMY OF TUCSON

IRISH FOUNDATION OF ARIZONA Formed in the 1970s to bring together people of Irish heritage in Arizona, the group sponsors social events throughout the year. Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 7pm at the ICC. Contact: Anna O’Hara, President, 480-345-9517

IRISH NETWORK ARIZONA (INAZ) Irish Network Arizona is part of IrishNetwork USA organization.

Members connect with their peers and develop relationships that foster success in their business, cultural, and social interests. Come to a monthly breakfast or event to explore membership benefits. Facebook.com/IrishNetworkArizona; IrishNetworkArizona.com 67%

100%

JIM THOMSON U.S. SCHOOL OF PIPING & DRUMMING 25%

50%

This bagpipe and drum school is dedicated to excellence in bagpiping as well as camaraderie and fun. All levels of students are welcome! Instructors are brought from Scotland, Ireland, Canada and the U.S. Contact: Eric Poleski, Administrator, ericpoleski@cox.net, 702-270-8974 home, 702340-8859 cell, 928-556-3161, www.nachs.info

LOS SAN PATRICIOS DE ARIZONA (ST. PATRICK’S BATTALION) The organization honors the 150-year-old bond of friendship existing today between Mexico and Ireland. Los San Patricios de Arizona was founded by Wm. “Bill” Howard O'Brien; Hector Corona, El Teniente; and Ernie Patino, El Teniente. For information, please call 480-951-1152 or email whoco@cox.net.

NORTHERN ARIZONA CELTIC HERITAGE SOCIETY The nonprofit organization is dedicated to presenting, promoting, and preserving Celtic culture. Each year we host the Arizona Highland Celtic Festival (July 21-22, 2018), the Jim Thomson U.S. School of Piping & Drumming, and the Grand Canyon Celtic Arts Academy. Contact Jude McKenzie, information@nachs.info, 928-556-3161, www.nachs.info.

PHOENIX ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE & FAIRE COMMITTEE Formed in 1983, the Committee has the responsibility for organizing the annual Phoenix St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Faire that follows, which are held on Saturday (the closest before or falling on March 17); and the Arizona Colleen Programs throughout the year. It is entirely volunteers and meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm at the ICC. Contact: Harry Sexton, President, 602-863-9198.

Dedicated to promoting Irish dance and culture in Arizona, the board of directors are Betsy Lopez, Catherine Harris, and Beth Solinsky. They provide information on classes at the Maguire Academy of Irish Dance and on various Celtic gatherings. They sponsor Feile Rince Tucson, an annual Irish dance festival now in its 32nd year. www.tucsonfeis.com

PHOENIX ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

DAUGHTERS OF SCOTIA DESERT THISTLE LODGE #260

PHOENIX ST. PATRICK’S DAY FAIRE

Formed in 2005 to promote Scottish heritage. Ladies of ancestry, married to a Scot or born in Scotland may join.

We hold monthly meetings, tea socials, a teahouse at the AZ Highland Games and attend Scottish events. We support Highland dance competition and other charities. Contact: Tammy Gonzales at dos260recsec@gmail.com, 623-707-5032.

FRIENDS OF SAINT PATRICK CENTRE – AZ CHAPTER The nonprofit organization was formed in 2011 to promote positive relationships between Arizona and Northern Ireland.

Through education, cultural exchanges and charitable events, the Chapter nurtures St. Patrick’s legacy. Meetings held quarterly at the ICC. Contact: Kelsey.Kelleher@ AZIrishLibrary.org, 602-301-1083.

GRAND CANYON CELTIC ARTS ACADEMY Dates: July 16-20, 2018 at Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy. It offers classes for Youth and Adults in: fiddle, whistle, dance, guitar, and more! Scholarships Available through Northern Arizona Celtic Heritage Society. Contact: Kari@GrandCanyonCelticArts.org, 928-600-1365. www. grandcanyoncelticarts.org

WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

It is one of the largest parades in Arizona! Celebrate being Irish with the entire Valley. Coming up Saturday, March 17, 2018, 10am; route is Third Street south from Sheridan to Moreland, FREE. Contact: John Corcoran, Chair, 623-9391183, www.stpatricksdayphoenix.org.

Fun for the entire family, it showcases Irish music, step dancing, Irish and Celtic arts and crafts, plus traditional Irish foods and beverages. Coming up Saturday, March 17, 2018, 10am-5pm at the Irish Cultural Center and Margaret Hance Park grounds. Contact: Mary Moriarty, Chair, 602-258-0109, www.stpatricksdayphoenix.org.

RIORDAN MANSION STATE HISTORIC PARK Built in 1904 for two Irish brothers, Riordan Mansion is an architectural treasure offering a glimpse into the lives of Flagstaff’s early Irish settlers. The “fairy ring” seen on the outdoor self-guided tour hints at the Irish tradition of providing fairies an outdoor dancing space, preventing mischief inside.

For admission rates and hours call 928-779-4395.

SCOTTISH-AMERICAN MILITARY SOCIETY (SAMS), FLAGSTAFF Chartered on April 21, 1981 in North Carolina, membership is open to all Active Duty and Veterans of the USA and the British Commonwealth who are of Scot or Scot-Irish lineage.

For more information, contact SAMS Flagstaff Post 2000, George G. Shoemaker, 928-607-1600, gduffer@suddenlink.net.

THE DESERT SHAMROCK OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017

Celebrating our 31st year on March 18, 2017! The parade starts at 11am and winds through downtown Tucson ending up with a great festival at Armory Park from 10am until 6pm. Serving Guinness and Harp! Great food, Irish music and dance, a Kids’ Corner, face painting and much more!

Established 1987. www.tucsonstpatricksday.com

WELSH LEAGUE OF ARIZONA Our mission is to promote Welsh language and culture with performing arts and literary events, classes, and participating in Celtic festivals and other community events.

We endeavor to enhance relations between the U.S. and Wales by being a point of contact for visitors, businesses, and expatriates. We warmly welcome travelers, offering assistance and networking.

Contact: Mary Gilchrist marygilchristmg@gmail.com. www.welshleagueofarizona.org

CLANS

CELTIC SISTER CITIES CHANDLER-TULLAMORE, IRELAND SISTER CITIES Ellen Harrington, Chair, P.O. Box 1474​, Chandler, AZ 85244-1474, 480-600-8509, chan.to.tull@gmail.com, www.chandlerirish.org

PHOENIX-ENNIS, IRELAND SISTER CITIES Mary Hill-Connor, Committee Chairperson 602-635-9760, mary.hillconnor@gmail.com www.phoenixsistercities.org

SCOTTSDALE-KILLARNEY, IRELAND SISTER CITIES Kathy George, President, 480-326-6666, kathygeorge9@ gmail.com www.scottsdalesistercities.com; 480 945-0384 (Main Office)

TUCSON-ROSCOMMON, IRELAND SISTER CITIES Colleen Kelly Beaman, Chair 520-743-7979, Ckbeaman@hotmail.com 1670 N Country Club, Tucson, AZ 85716; and Facebook

CLAN MACINNES INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION Arizona Convenor: Steve McKinnis 11505 E. Calle Javelina, Tucson, AZ 85748 macinnes@macinnes.org • 520-290-1268 • www.macinnes. org

CLAN MACCALLUM-MALCOLM SOCIETY, N.A. Arizona Convenor: Ashleen O’Gaea Ashleen@Comcast.net w/MacCallum in subject line www.Clan-MacCallum-Malcolm.org

MUSICIANS KILLARNEY FAIR Women’s quartet singing melodic, lively Celtic favorites in multiple harmonies. Metro Phoenix.

Mckell Keeney, 480-223-7217, mckell11@gmail.com www.facebook.com/killarneyfair, www.KillarneyFair.com

CELTIC DANCE SCHOOLS BRACKEN SCHOOL OF IRISH DANCE Classes in Chandler, 480-699-2455, www. brackenirishdance.com Thomas Bracken, ADCRG. | Kieran Noe, TCRG thomas.bracken@brackenirishdance.com, Kieran.Noe@Brackenirishdance.com

MAGUIRE ACADEMY OF IRISH DANCE Classes in Phoenix, Tucson, Dallas, and Houston Info@maguireacademy.com (520) 319-0204. Darren Maguire, TCRG, ADCRG www.maguireacademy.com

MASCHINO SCHOOL OF HIGHLAND DANCE Kari Maschino, 480-242-7760, Kari@maschinodance.com Gilbert, Tempe, Peoria www.maschinodance.com

MICHAEL PATRICK GALLAGHER SCHOOL OF IRISH DANCE MPGirishdance@yahoo.com Michael Patrick, TCRG, ADCRG, Ann Paitel, TCRG www.mpgirishdance.com

Matt’s grandparents, James Joseph Cunningham and Delia McNicholas, each emigrated from Co. Mayo, Ireland, met and married in Chicago

WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

DIRECTORIES

TUCSON ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE AND FESTIVAL

21

ARTS

22

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017 THE DESERT SHAMROCK

The Girls of Ennismore: a novel

By Patricia Falvey REVIEW BY KELSEY CM KELLEHER

T

he Girls of Ennismore, written

by Patricia Falvey, was released in New York by Kensington Publishing Company in March of 2017 in commemoration of the 100year anniversary of the events of the 1916 Easter Rising.

The story follows Rosie Killeen, a farmer’s spunky and spirited daughter, as she unexpectedly befriends Victoria Bell, the lonely and obedient daughter of Lord and Lady Ennis. Rosie is thrust into the world of the property’s “Big House” as she is educated beside her new friend. The two young women find themselves torn between two worlds: that of the wealthy gentry and the revolutionaries amidst growing national tensions and tempestuous conflicts. As their world is redefined by war, they must choose their own paths and sculpt their futures.

Falvey’s writing possesses all the effortless charm and elegance of a classic novel while incorporating richly-developed characters of all stations and walks of life, each with their own colourful backstories, opinions, associations, and beliefs about the future of the Emerald Isle. Falvey centers the dramatic action around major events in Ireland’s history, flawlessly weaving them into the narrative. She explores the rapidly changing role of women, social structures, personal alliances, and political ideologies in this pivotal moment in history. The themes of friendship, loyalty, and love are central to the plot, propelling the characters to face monumental struggles and hardships. The reader will navigate unexpected twists and turns as they find themselves immersed in the era.

Unfortunately, Falvey falls prey to the unfortunate trend of vilifying those with red hair. The only “copper-curled” character in the book is a mean-spirited gossiping maid Sadie Canavan, while the heroines of the story are described as blonde or having beautiful black curls. It will be a refreshing day for redheads everywhere when their attributes are no longer used to enforce a dated and baseless stereotype or produce a feeling of oddity or otherness. The story also contained one too-similar repetition in the private love lives of two main characters, breaking moral tradition unnecessarily to illustrate and promote a “new” standard of relationship and an “independent” breed of “modern” fashionable women, who do

WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

Murder and Crime in Recent Irish Fiction REVIEW BY MARY WILBER

I not value a sense of purity. Especially in Rosie’s case, it was unnecessary to the plot and character development and may seem to some readers to have been added for pure sensation and excitement rather than of any useful purpose.

Falvey conducted extensive research and immersed herself in her inspiration, spending a month at the “Big House” of her childhood, Enniscoe, after which she modeled the book’s setting, Ennismore.

Her efforts to create vivid imagery based on her experiences are greatly rewarded.

The reader finds themselves walking beside Rosie, as she listens to “…the squelch of her toes on the damp grass beneath her, the gathering notes of birds preparing for their dawn chorus, and the faint squawks of wildfowl from the distant lake” (page 4). Such rich descriptions fill the pages of the book: flooding the senses of the mind and creating a thoroughly unified picture of the world.

Overall, The Girls of Ennismore is a phenomenally well-written work filled with beautiful imagery, an engaging storyline, and enchanting characters. This book does contain adult themes, such as intimacy, war, and death, so reader discretion is advised. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys historical fiction and is interested in learning more about the events surrounding the 1916 Easter Rising.

Kelsey Kelleher is the Library/ Genealogy/Systems Assistant and Membership Administrator at ICC & McClelland Library, and President of Friends of St. Patrick Centre – AZ Chapter. The 2013 AZ Young Ambassador to N. Ireland, Kelsey’s family hails from Cork, Kerry, and Derry. She enjoys currach team rowing, reading a good book and sipping a hot cup of tea.

rish writers from several parts of the island published mystery and crime novels last year. Whether your taste runs to police procedurals, psychological thrillers or tales of criminals acting badly, there is something for everyone in these three titles.

Detective Antoinette Conway in Tana French’s The Trespasser must deal with vicious pranks and harassment from fellow detectives in Dublin’s Murder Squad. When she and her partner are assigned to investigate the murder of Aislinn Murray, she isn’t sure why other detectives continue to push her to arrest the woman’s boyfriend. Is it to find fault with her investigation and compromise her or is it beginning to seem like a cover-up?

When Antoinette recalls that she met Aislinn several years ago when the young woman asked help from Missing Persons to find her dad, Detective Conway’s suspicions began to focus on areas and people closer to home with devastating results .Tana French is being recognized as one of the best contemporary mystery writers and this latest is a good place to start.

Author Stuart Neville has written two novels featuring Belfast detective Serena Flanagan. In the latest, So Say the Fallen, Flanagan is not ready to write off the death of local businessman as a suicide. Henry Garrick was a successful businessman who had been severely maimed in a car accident

so perhaps the overdose was his way of ending his suffering. Is Roberta Garrick really the grieving widow she seems to be? And what role did Reverend Peter McKay, rector of the local church and close family friend, play? Neville spins a number of threads here and brings them all to a satisfying conclusion.

Lisa McInerney is new to the scene and her first novel The Glorious Heresies takes place in Cork. While not strictly a murder mystery since we know from the first that Maureen has just killed an intruder by hitting him on the head with the Holy Stone. Since her son is Cork’s most feared gangster, she can’t just call the Gardaí! Her son Jimmy was raised by her parents after they exiled her after his illegitimate birth 40 years earlier. Other misfits include Ryan, a 15-year-old drug dealer, his drunken father Tony, and Georgie, a prostitute who fakes a conversion. They all populate this dark and humorous book that takes aim at contemporary attitudes to sex, religion, and family. This novel won the UK’s Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2016.

Mary Wilber worked as a reference librarian at the Scottsdale Public Library until retirement. She now cocoordinates the Book Discussion Group at the McClelland Library.

Mary loves Irish literature. The first member of her family arrived in Illinois from County Kerry in 1823.

23

THE DESERT SHAMROCK OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017

CRISTINA PATO

[All events are in Arizona USA unless otherwise noted] PHOTO BY BOB RINK

Sunday, October 1 • 7pm MIM Music Theatre, Phx

See ad page 7

GAELIC STORM Sunday, October 1 • 7pm Chandler Center for the Arts

See ad page 3

SKERRYVORE Wednesday, October 4 • 7pm MIM Music Theatre, Phx

IRISH CULTURAL CENTER (ICC)/ MCCLELLAND LIBRARY

Public Walk-In Hours (Tours, Library & Genealogy) Tuesday-Saturday • 10am–3pm Wednesday Evenings (Library only) • 3pm–6pm Closed all major holidays Frances McClelland Genealogy Centre available these hours; Open Other Hours for Scheduled Classes, Meetings & Events 1106 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix 85004 602-258-0109, www.azirish.org

See ad on BACK

EXHIBIT: FROM PROTEST TO PEACE NOW through May 26, 2018 McClelland Library

“IRISH CELEBRATION OF TEA” Third Saturday of each month!

Saturday, Oct 21, Nov 18, Dec 16 1:30pm–3pm •Advance Reservations Only Tickets: $20 Members, $22.50 Non-Members Norton Room, Irish Cultural Center & McClelland Library

THE ACADEMY OF IRISH AND CELTIC STUDIES

IRISH MUSIC IRISH LANGUAGE IRISH AND SCOTTISH DANCE

See ad page 7

FAMILY STORY HOUR Saturday, October 7 • 10:30am–Noon Stories and crafts for the entire family “The Banshee” by Eve Bunting & Emily Arnold McCull “Too Many Fairies” by Margaret Read McDonald” Irish Cultural Center - Castle Keep; FREE

10TH ANNUAL ANAM CARA (“SOUL FRIEND”) AWARDS GALA Saturday, Oct 14 • 5:30pm–10pm Honorees; John Corcoran and Pat McMahon Irish Cultural Center Tickets in Advance

2018 ARIZONA IRISH LASS AND 2018 LITTLE MISS SHAMROCK COMPETITIONS Sunday, November 5, 2017 • 2p.m.

Hosted by the Arizona Colleen and Rose and Phoenix St. Patrick’s Day Committee Open to young girls ages 6-12 and 13-17 of Irish descent. Applications are available at azcolleen.org and are due October 23.

Irish Cultural Center • Open to the public • Light refreshments Tickets: $5 cover charge at the door Contact/Info: Jaclyn Given, juniorprograms@azcolleen.org

Saturday, Nov 11 • 10:30am–Noon Presented by Miles Davenport Irish Cultural Center - Norton Room Admission: $15 members/$20 non-members

IRISH CHRISTMAS IN AMERICA Monday, November 27 • 7pm Tuesday, November 28 • 7pm MIM Music Theatre, Phx

See ad page 7

FAMILY STORY HOUR

JULIE FOWLIS Sunday, October 15 • 3pm & 7pm MIM Music Theatre, Phx

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP Saturday, Oct 28 • 10:30am–12:30pm “The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne” by Brian Moore (novel, 1955) Irish Cultural Center- Norton Room; FREE

FAMILY STORY HOUR Saturday, Nov 4 • 10:30am–Noon Stories and crafts for the entire family “Bye-Bye Baby Brother” “The Day the Crayons Came Home” Irish Cultural Center - Castle Keep; FREE

IRISH NETWORK ARIZONA BREAKFAST & SPEAKER Second Fridays 7am-8:30am • Oct 13, Nov 10 Dec 8 Christmas Gift Exchange The Great Hall, Irish Cultural Center Members and First-Time Guests FREE Returning guests $10 Donations collected for St. Mary’s Food Bank RSVP for headcount: info@irishnetworkarizona.com

SAVE THE DATE: CELTIC NIGHTS Sunday, March 11 • 3pm Chandler Center for the Arts

See ad page 3

GENEALOGY WORKSHOP

Saturday, Dec 2 • 10:30am–Noon Stories and crafts for the entire family “The Christmas Pups” “Adam saves Christmas” Irish Cultural Center - Castle Keep; FREE

See ad page 7

CALENDAR

OCT-NOV-DEC 2017

MUSICAL THRONES, A PARODY Sunday, March 18 • 7pm Chandler Center for the Arts

See ad page 3

LANDS & LEGENDS OF SCOTLAND TOUR WITH AUTHOR AMANDA SCOTT June 7-15

See ad page 11

Scotland

Saturday, Dec 2 • 10:30am–12:30pm “The Ghosts of Belfast” by Stuart Neville (thriller, 2010) Irish Cultural Center- Norton Room; FREE Annual Christmas at the Castle Saturday, Dec 9 • 6pm–10pm Irish Cultural Center

MAP BY PEEPERMAN DERIVED FROM BRITISH ISLES UK

12K’S OF CHRISTMAS® EVENT FACTS “Celebrate Christmas and Give yourself the Gift of Health” Saturday December 9 • 8am–Noon Freestone District Park, 1045 E. Juniper Road, Gilbert AZ 85233 FREE admission to Christmas Bazaar and Santa’s Pet Village Fee for Runners and Walkers Register NOW at: www.fieldworksevents.com

CHERISH THE LADIES: CELTIC CHRISTMAS

THE BEST OF SCOTLAND TOUR WITH CALEDONIAN SOCIETY OF AZ July 29 - August 4

See ad page 11

Tuesday, December 19 • 7pm MIM Music Theatre, Phx

See ad page 7

ANNUAL WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION

See ad page 4

Tuesday, December 21 • 4pm Irish Cultural Center

ANNUAL SOUTHWEST TEA Chandler-Tullamore Sister Cities Saturday, November 4 • 11am–1pm Tumbleweed Recreation Center, Germann/ McQueen Roads, Chandler, AZ Registration online, www.chandlerirish.org

See ad page 15

WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

C E L E B R AT E

PEAC

E

Saturday, Sept 30, 2017 to May 26, 2018 2017-18 SEASON EXHIBIT AND LECTURE SERIES

Peace and Reconciliation: the 20th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement

Book Discussion, Exhibit Opening and Public Lecture “Seeds of Discontent”

Saturday, October 14 10TH ANNUAL

Anam Cara (Soul Friend) Awards Gala 6PM - 10PM Wednesday, October 18 FILM SHOWING

In the Name of Peace: John Hume in America 7PM

A

GAL

Saturday December 9

FILM

3RD ANNUAL

Christmas at the Castle 6PM – 10PM Thursday, December 21

CH

ANNUAL

Winter Solstice Celebration 4PM – 10PM

RIS

TM

AS E C I ST

L

SO See the calendar and directory in this issue for more information about us.

Fall/Winter/Spring Regular Hours:

1106 North Central Avenue Phoenix, Arizona 85004

10AM – 3PM Tuesday – Saturday (Tours, Library & Genealogy)

602.258.0109

3PM – 6PM Wednesday Evenings (Library and Genealogy only)

Closed all major holidays Open Additional Hours for Scheduled Classes, Meetings & Events

info@azirish.org

azirish.org The Irish Cultural Center and McClelland Library are divisions of the Irish Cultural & Learning Foundation and are owned and maintained by the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department.