Desert Shamrock May-June 2016 e-Magazine

January MAy-June – February 2016 2015 ~ Arizona’s ~ Arizona’s Original Original IrishIrish Newspaper Newspaper ~ Vol.~27, Vol. No. 26, 3 No. 1

IRELAND’S

SKELLIG MICHAEL ISLAND is home to the Jedi SEE PAGE 3

FREE COPY TAKE ONE!

2016

43rd Annual San Diego Scottish Highland Games & Gathering of the Clans

June 25th & 26th, 2016 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM • Both Days

Entertainment Featuring:

Highland Way The Angry Brians Molly’s Revenge Blackwaterside

Vendors of Everything Scottish: From Foods to Arts & Crafts Massed Bagpipe Bands Scottish Athletics Highland Dancing Competition Drum Major Bag Piping and Drumming Competitions Sheepdog Trials Scottish Country Dancing Kids’ Athletics Kid’s Area Child ID Program Opening Ceremonies at Noon each day.

Closing Ceremonies

with Massed Pipe Bands at 4:45 PM each day.

Get Your Tickets Early Pre sale Ticket Prices: Adults: $13 per day Senior & Military: $8 per day Youth 6-16: $5 per day Make checks payable to: SDSHG, Inc. Ticket orders must be postmarked by June 10, 2016. Tickets will be mailed the second week in June 2016.

Pre sale tickets are available online via PayPal at www.sdhighlandgames.org

www.sdhighlandgames.org Phone: 760-726-3691 or 619-884-3157 Cell: 760-505-5254 sdshgchief@sbcglobal.net

Brengle Terrace Park

1200 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista CA 92084

Please help the all-volunteer, not-for-profit SDSHG by enclosing a self-addressed stamped envelope with your ticket order.

Thanks for the support!

Mail ticket orders to: San Diego Scottish Highland Games P.O. Box 3682, Vista, CA 92085

THE DESERT SHAMROCK MAY/JUNE 2016

3

ANN NIEMANN

D

PHOTO BY DAGMAR WILLHALM

isney’s latest Star Wars: The Force Awakens was filmed in part on Skellig Michael (Sceilig Mhichíl). It’s the larger of the two Skellig Islands, located 7.5 miles off the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland. It’s a spectacular site, rising 714 feet above sea level.

Perhaps as early as the 6th century, a Catholic monastery was established until abandoned in the late 12th century. The remains are part of its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Little Skellig, the smaller of the two islands, has a large bird population, including 29,000 pairs of northern gannets, one of the largest colonies in the world “It’s an extraordinary place. It certainly fed into our Star Wars’ universe,” shared Martin Joy, Star Wars’ Supervising Location Manager. The Irish Film Board spent hours ensuring the film crew had what it needed but also safeguarding the eco-balance of the Islands.

Ireland’s Minister of Arts, Heather Humphreys, and Jimmy Deenihan, former Minister of the Diaspora, both have expressed how the film’s visibility shares the beauty and uniqueness of this landscape to a global audience.

Tourism interest in the Skelligs is soaring. They are certainly on my must-see list!

Little Skellig from the hermitage window on Skellig Michael

Enjoy life and blessings, and a good read!

Discover Ireland: A Journey to Skellig Michael (POWERFUL 55 seconds!)

Exclusive: Behind the Scenes with JJ Abrams in Ireland (2 minutes)

COVER PHOTO BY JERZY STRZELECKI

Celebrate with the Celtic Community All Year.

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Serving the Celtic Community 2320 E. Baseline Rd., #148-623 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 • Heidi Barry Will, Erin Loukili, Jaclyn Threadgill Masthead Design • Elaine’s Design Emporium Contributing Columnists Janice Bryson • J Carro • Vicki Champion Katie Caufield Ginder • Brian Hanrahan • Ellen Harrington Adrienne Leavy • Carmelita Lee • Iain Lundy Lynn Herdman Mascarelli • Leah Rossow Maureen & Jack Sullivan • Marshall Trimble • Kathleen Walters Liz Warren • Jan Whalen • Caroline Woodiel • Gary Woodside Publisher – Julie O’Mahar (2003 - 2013) Editor - Kathleen Wood (2003 - 2008) Publisher - Maureen O’Mahar (1996 - 2002) Founding Publisher - Robert E. Graham (1987 - 1996) Copyright © 2016 - 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.

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Publisher’s Note

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MAY/JUNE 2016 THE DESERT SHAMROCK

9201 N. 29th Ave., #52, Phoenix

TIMFINNEGANS.COM

.Irish

1 North 1st Street, Suite 102, PHOENIX THEKETTLEBLACKPUB.COM

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

GIVEAWAY!!

Win ONE of two pairs of tickets to the Irish music sensation CELTIC WOMAN in concert May 15 at 3pm at ASU Gammage!

They celebrate their brand new album, DESTINY, which has dominated the #1 spot on Billboard’s World Music Chart for seven weeks since its January release.

Put “Celtic Woman” in the subject line and send your name, address, and phone to info@desertshamrock.com by May 10 for the drawing. See ad on back page.

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THE DESERT SHAMROCK MAY/JUNE 2016

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TABLE OF

CONTENTS May/June 2016 ~ Arizona’s Original Irish Newspaper

ARTS

FEATURES

HISTORY

10 The Secret of the Kells 10 Pangur Bán, poem by 9th c. Monk 21 AZ Piping on the Grow: A Little History 25 Celtic Caterer: Evolution of Scottish Cuisine Recipe for Cranachan 25 Keltic Kitchen: Welsh Rarebit 26 Celtic Artisan: Patricia Raphael, Silk Painter 27 Ewe Dirty Sheep, Particulars of Washing Wool

BUSINESS 18 Irish Network Phx: Ellen Harrington 9 Salute to Phoenix Children’s Hospital Doctors and Staff of Celtic Ancestry

12

Every girl. Everywhere.

Period.

COURTESY OF KINNITTYCASTLEHOTEL.COM

Sewing impacts South Africa

CULTURE 8 Int’l. Sister Cities: Arizona Poetry Finalist The Pursuit of Peace by Andrew Yancy 11 Fairy Tales and All Things Great and Small: From the Tiniest to the Mightiest in Irish Legends 20 Leprechauns, Legends & Myths: Thuatha dé Danaan 24 Are you a Celt?

EVENTS 2 San Diego Scottish Highland Games

22

Castles in Ireland’s Midlands

& Gathering of the Clans 8 Tucson-Roscommon Sister Cities: Irish Trivia Fundraiser 12 Every girl. Everywhere. Period.

Sewing impacts South Africa 30 SEACHTAIN NA GAEILGE Irish Language Intensive 31 Celtic Woman IN CONCERT 31 Prescott Highland Games 31 Young Ambassador to N. Ireland Fundraiser BACK Events at Irish Cultural Center & Library

6 Irish Tales from AZ Territory: Hardships as well as Gaity of Childhood 6 Arizona: Kids, did you know?

SCOTS 15 Billy the Kid’s Scottish Side-Kick John Mackie

TRAVEL 14 Scotland Bucket List 14 Multi-Generational Travel to Scotland: Planning 22 Left Lane Maureen, Part 14: Castles in the Midlands

WELSH 13 The Flower Shows of April in Wales

OUT & ABOUT 16-17 Photo Galleries 24 What’s Happening

DIRECTORIES 23 Celtic Pubs & Eateries 28-29 Organizations, Sister Cities, Dance, Clans

CALENDAR 30 Schedule of Events

NEXT ISSUE SNEAK PEEK

North American Roses vie for International Title

27

Ewe Dirty Sheep Particulars of Washing Wool

Irish TV’s Dáithí Ó Sé and 2015 Rose of Tralee Elysha Brennan

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MAY/JUNE 2016 THE DESERT SHAMROCK

HISTORY

Irish Tales from Arizona territory

PROPERTY OF THE AUTHOR

Jerry and Hugh Conohan

Globe Minuet Class

ARIZONA:

Kids, did you know?

37. Arizona grows enough cotton each year to make more than one pair of jeans for every person in the United States.

38. Roadrunners are not just in cartoons! In Arizona, you’ll see them running up to 17-mph away from their enemies.

39. The Saguaro cactus is the largest cactus found in the U.S. It can grow as high as a five-story building and is native to the Sonoran Desert, which stretches across southern Arizona.

40. The amount of copper utilized to make the copper dome atop Arizona’s Capitol building is equivalent to the amount used in 4.8 million pennies.

PHOTO BY GARY M. JOHNSON

Read more fun and fascinating facts about Arizona NEXT edition.

Arizona’s Official State Historian, Marshall Trimble has been called the “Will Rogers of Arizona.”

He’s a “cowboy philosopher,” educator, lecturer, author, folk singer and stage performer, and appears frequently on radio and television. He created and taught Arizona history at Scottsdale Community College for forty years where he was also Director of Southwest Studies.

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Hardships as well as Gaiety of Childhood

T

he practice of medicine has improved beyond belief since Territorial days in Arizona. We are blessed to have the Phoenix Children’s Hospital in our state.

Childhood diseases often ran epidemic through the Territory and harsh living conditions also contributed to illnesses. Three of the sons of Annie and John Holohan died within two days of each other when a diphtheria epidemic spread through Globe. Unsafe drinking water contributed to Typhoid Fever, which could be fatal to both adults and children.

The Irish born Sisters of Mercy came to Phoenix in 1892 to establish a school.

They soon found their calling among the tuberculosis sufferers who came to the desert seeking health. St. Joseph’s Sanatorium was opened in a six-room rented house in 1895. In 1910, the first nursing school was opened at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Medical facilities were in short supply in the Territory and the Sisters received donations from all over Arizona to assist them with their patient care.

Isaac Henry Watkins M.D. had his family assisting him in the care of his patients. Graduating from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in his early thirties, Henry followed the example of many of his fellow Southerners by setting

out for Texas. In Silverton, he met and married Sallie Eaker, a widow with three children. In 1897, Henry was hired as a company doctor for the Southern Pacific Rail Road. The family, with the addition of two children, moved to Benson, Arizona Territory for his new medical practice.

Dr. Watkins was allowed to take private patients as well as treating rail road employees and their families. Sallie helped nurse his patients and if a patient had come to Benson from a remote location, they would care for the patient in their own home. The couple’s daughter, Edith, was only six and was also Henry’s helper.

If a patient were critical, Edith would stay at their home while the doctor called on other patients. If a crisis occurred, Edith knew her father’s schedule and would jump on her pony to find her father to alert him of the need to return to the critical patient. His youngest daughter, Nina, was always proud to say her father delivered her and she was the only one of the family born in Arizona Territory.

Both private and public schools were established to educate the Territory’s children. Dance and music lessons were available as well as singing lessons.

Alice, daughter of Patrick and Margaret Donohue Fitzgerald, grew up to become secretary to Michael Cuniff, who drafted

BY JANICE RYAN BRYSON Arizona’s constitution. She married William P. Mahoney Sr. in 1915. Jerry and Hugh, sons of Hugh and Kate Ryan Conahan, spent their early childhood in Globe before their parents continued their westward movement to California.

There were many good times for Arizona’s children to enjoy. All the cities had 4th of July celebrations that included parades, horse races and picnics. Baseball was a popular sport and what fun it was to cheer on the hometown team! Citizens also banded together to provide community Christmas celebrations for their youngest residents. Family celebrations were much enjoyed with weddings and birthday parties.

Children endured the hardships and enjoyed the good times of a Territory moving towards statehood and they in turn contributed to the growth of the young state, which was finally allowed to join the Union in 1912.

Janice Ryan Bryson descended from Irish Pioneers who arrived in the Arizona Territory in the 1880s. She is co-founder of the Irish Arizona Project and co-author of the book Irish Arizona. Janice was named an Arizona Culture Keeper for her research on the Irish in our state and is a recipient of the 2015 Anam Cara Award.

THE DESERT SHAMROCK MAY/JUNE 2016

PHOTO BY SALLY M. ESTRADA

6th of April The Caledonian Society of Arizona board was invited to participate in a very special ceremony at the State Capitol when the members of the Arizona State Senate proclaimed April 6 as Tartan Day in the State of Arizona. For more information and to read the proclamation, go to www.arizonascots.com.

HISTORY

Tartan Day

7

SeamusMcCaffreys.com

24th Annual

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

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

Did you know...

that the words “under God” were added to the U.S. pledge of allegiance after a Scottish minister who had a church in Washington DC made the suggestion during a sermon when President Eisenhower was present? Where would the world be without us Scots?

[Shared by Iain Lundy, a Desert Shamrock columnist. See his story on page 15]

WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

SISTER CITIES

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MAY/JUNE 2016 THE DESERT SHAMROCK

Arizona Poetry Finalist

R

epresenting Chandler-Tullamore, Ireland Sister Cities, Andrew Yancy, placed as a finalist in the 2015 Sister Cities International Young Authors/Artists competition for his poem on peace. He is 17 and currently a senior at Sandra Day O’Connor High School.

His work and others’ were featured in the 2016 Young Artists & Authors International Showcase Reception, “Peace through People” on April 15 in historic downtown Chandler. Grand Prize Essay winner, Beibhinn Cullen from Sacred Heart School in Tullamore, had her work in the Exhibit as well [see in July-August Desert Shamrock].

Underwriting is made possible through a grant received from the Chandler Special Events Committee and the Chandler Cultural Foundation.

The Pursuit of Peace

By Andrew Yancy

May 17, 2016 - Tuesday

5:00 PM to 9:00 PM

4270 Human equality is aNorth truth,Oracle Road Tucson, AZ 85705 and acceptance makes us stronger 520-690-1900 unity must start with the youth to ensure that peace lasts longer

Our hindrance does not lie in our drive and does not rest upon our zeal for it is a peace that we strive that ignorance tends to steal

As communities and nations began Irish Pub Quiz to connect the plant of prosperity begins to grow and where cooperation and agreement project the flowers of peace start to show

It is prejudice that makes us blind and disunity that gets in our way making us unable to find this harmony in which we say

PHOTO BY KARLEY BROWN IMAGES

We seem to continue an endless pursuit, in which our simple goal is peace yet our quest does not give fruit for war still fails to cease

It is impossible to bring world change alone and to try so is insanity for a person is but a single stone in the mountain called humanity

(MAY707)

Chandler-Tullamore SiSTer CiTieS ellen harringTon

President, Board of trustees

Chandler-Tullamore Sister Cities

May 17, 2016 - Tuesday

5:00 PM to 9:00 PM

May 17, 2016 - Tuesday

4270 North Oracle Road Tucson, AZ 85705 520-690-1900

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

5:00 PM to 9:00 PM

4270 North Oracle Road Tucson, AZ 85705 520-690-1900

PRESENTS

www.chandlerirish.org

www.facebook.com/chandler.az.irish

Irish Pub Quiz

2016 YOUNG ARTISTS & AUTHORS INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE RECEPTION “Peace through People” Irish Pub Quiz

MARY HILL-CONNOR

REALTOR® Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource 3850 East Baseline Road, Suite 119 Mesa, AZ 85206 Mobile: (602) 635-9760 Office: (480) 926-2727 Fax: (602) 357-1975 Email: maryhillconnor@hotmail.com

Reception: Friday, April 15

(MAY707)

3rd Friday Artwalk • 6:00 to 10:00pm in Historic Downtown Chandler

Oh by the way...I'm never too busy for any of your referrals

www.dprrealty.com

WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM • Exhibit will feature poetry, essays and artworks submitted by Chandler students for our 2016 Art and Author Showcase.

(MAY707)

"Nil aon hTintean mar do hTintean fein" (There is no hearth like your own hearth)

THE DESERT SHAMROCK MAY/JUNE 2016

9

A Salute to

Doctors and Staff of Celtic Ancestry SM

P

hoenix Children’s Hospital has provided hope, healing, and the best healthcare for children since it was born in 1983, and has grown to become one of the largest children’s hospitals in the country.

With a Medical Staff of nearly 1,000 pediatric specialists, Phoenix Children’s provides inpatient, outpatient, trauma and emergency care across more than 70 pediatric subspecialties, the most comprehensive pediatric care available in the state. The Hospital’s six Centers of Excellence have grown in size and expertise to place them on par with some of the most prestigious of their kind in the United States:

• Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children’s Hospital • Phoenix Children’s Heart Center • Center for Pediatric Orthopaedics • Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders • Level One Pediatric Trauma Center • Neonatal Intensive Care Robert “Bob” Meyer, President and CEO, shares, “With the help of our entire hospital team—4,200 people strong—we’ve had another phenomenal year with many noteworthy accomplishments. Included is being named again as a “Best Children’s Hospital” by U.S. News & World Report for 2015-16.”

To meet the needs of a growing community, Phoenix Children’s continues to expand: adding new physicians, staff, programs and facilities. Specialty and urgent care centers in high growth areas of the Valley and across the state serve the needs of patients and families in their own neighborhoods.

Today, the most visible evidence of growth is a new 11-story tower on the Hospital’s main campus, which offers a comprehensive, family-centered hospital that allows the doctors and nurses to deliver expert care and healing to Arizona’s youngest patients.

At each location, in each doctor, nurse, technician, staff member and volunteer, you’ll see the difference in a Hospital that’s 100% for children.

The “Ms” have it…

just some of the PCH team with Celtic ancestry and their areas of expertise

Leigh McGill, MD

Mark E. McOmber, MD

Ped. Endocrinology, Diabetes, Thyroid Conditions

Katherine “Kate” McDonnell, MD

Internal Medicine, Pediatrics

Thomas E. McConahay, MD

Craig McKnight, Executive VP, Finance & Chief Financial Officer

Robert Campbell, Senior VP of Business Development & Chief Strategy Officer

Kelly Mahaney, MD

Donald “Don” McClellan, MD

Pediatric ER Medicine, Pediatrics

Pediatric Surgery

Ped. Gastroenterology

Ped Neurosurgery

[She attended University of Notre Dame where she was a member of the women’s rowing team.]

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MAY/JUNE 2016 THE DESERT SHAMROCK

ARTS

PHOTO BY CLARA ARCHER

Ava Gallagher (center) won a chance to turn the page on our Book of Kells on 3/17/2016

Pangur Bán

BY ANONYMOUS IRISH MONK, 9TH CENTURY TRANSLATED BY SEAMUS HEANEY VIA POETRY (APRIL 2006) POETRYFOUNDATION.ORG

Pangur Bán and I at work, Adepts, equals, cat and clerk:

His whole instinct is to hunt,

Mine to free the meaning pent.

More than loud acclaim, I love Books, silence, thought, my alcove

Happy for me, Pangur Bán

Child-plays round some

mouse’s den.

Book of Kells facsimile on display at McClelland Library

The Secret of the Kells

BY CAROLINE WOODIEL

T

he great expanse of Irish history covers many deeply loved topics. One of the most fascinating and imagination inducing points in Irish history is the era of monastic illuminated manuscripts. The art of record keeping and manuscript making in the days of the great illuminators has inspired people for years. Entire books are dedicated to the contributions of the time period, most famously Thomas Cahill’s How the Irish Saved Civilization.

More recently, the fascination with this time period has captivated audiences of all ages in the 2009 Oscar nominated film, The Secret of the Kells. In the film, the talented animators of Ireland’s Cartoon Saloon weave an enchanted narrative around Ireland’s famous Book of Kells.

At the Irish abbey in Kells, the abbot’s young nephew, Brendan, finds himself at the juncture of old Celtic Ireland and the development of Irish Christianity. The young boy spends the film moving back and forth between the two worlds, Pagan Ireland in the forest amongst the trees and fauna, and his Christian community struggling to survive against the attacks of the “North Men” within the walls of Kells. In the end, Brendan finds a way to harmonize

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

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both worlds through the art of monastic illumination.

The Secret of the Kells masterfully weaves the artwork of Brendan’s 9th century monastery into a modern animated tale. The film is rich with historical and cultural details children and adults might miss if not for such an engaging narrative. For instance, Pangur Bán the cat is not just Brendan and Brother Aidan’s accomplice, but the cat of a 9th century Irish monk forever immortalized in a poem translated by some of Ireland’s greats, like Seamus Heaney.

Whether young or old, The Secret of the Kells will capture your imagination and bring a new appreciation for an art form long adored. The Secret of the Kells can be found online through both Amazon and Netflix. For more information on the actual Book of Kells or to see a rare full color facsimile of the “book that brought light to the darkness,” come and visit us at the McClelland Library.

Truth to tell, just being here, Housed alone, housed together,

Adds up to its own reward:

Concentration, stealthy art.

Next thing an unwary mouse Bares his flank: Pangur pounces.

Next thing lines that held

and held

Meaning back begin to yield All the while, his round bright eye Fixes on the wall, while I

Focus my less piercing gaze

On the challenge of the page.

With his unsheathed, perfect nails Pangur springs, exults and kills.

When the longed-for,

difficult

Answers come, I too exult.

So it goes. To each his own.

No vying. No vexation.

Taking pleasure, taking pains,

Kindred spirits, veterans.

Day and night, soft purr, soft pad, Pangur Bán has learned his trade.

Day and night, my own

hard work

Solves the cruxes, makes

a mark.

Caroline Woodiel is a hobby photographer, border collie enthusiast, and librarian with ancestors of both Irish and Scottish descent. She holds a Bachelor’s of History from the University of Colorado and a Master’s of Library and Information Science from the University of Arizona. Caroline is the Public Services Coordinator for the McClelland Irish Library in Phoenix.

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

11

THE DESERT SHAMROCK MAY/JUNE 2016

Midsummer Eve by E.R. Hughes, 1908

Finn McCool Comes to Aid the Fianna

by Stephen Reid, 1932

CULTURE

Painting at left: Take the Fair Face of Woman, and Gently Suspending, With Butterflies, Flowers, and Jewels Attending, Thus Your Fairy is Made of Most Beautiful Things by Sophie Gengembre Anderson

Fairy Tales and All Things

Great and Small:

From the Tiniest to the Mightiest in Irish Legends BY DR. SHARONAH FREDRICK

T

he British veterinary surgeon James Herriott, when he wrote All Creatures Great and Small, was referring to his beloved animals...but his title fits our article well. All creatures great and small, “brilliant” describes the twin extremes of Irish folklore. These are the diminutive Little People, or “fairies” and the huge, loping “giants,” who ostensibly inhabited the land during the time of the mythical “Fomorians.”

The Fomorians were giants who used the forces of mist and lightning to attack their enemies. They came from the sea and terrified the inhabitants of Ireland, called the Nemed. But the Nemed were saved and the Fomorians were allegedly defeated by the people of the goddess Danaan This battle is portrayed in the Lebor Gebala Eirinn, composed by Irish monks at the end of the 12th century.

According to that fascinating chronicle, the people of Danaan dealt mercifully with the gigantic Fomorians. They were given the province of Connaught to

dwell in, and were allowed to intermarry with the people of Danaan in that province. One-eyed Balor, whose glance had a dreadful effect on everyone it looked upon, is an example of Fomorian mythology (originating in the 1st-5th centuries) surviving into the high Middle Ages, the time of the writing of the Lebor.

Finn McCool, a hero of later, Early Modern (16th-18th centuries) Irish oral tradition, is a gentler version of the Fomorians. During the bardic/Early Modern period in Ireland, wandering poets, the bards, kept alive older traditions through song and spoken poetry.

But the “giants” underwent a change, and from being all-threatening some of them became downright friendly. Finn McCool is even said to have saved the Irish from the depredations of the all-hungry giant Far Nuah, whose appetite cost the Irish farmers dearly.

The credit goes to Finn’s resourceful wife, Oonagh. She ordered Finn to get into a cradle and dress up as a small child (as small as giants can be) while she fed

Far Nuah griddle cakes as hard as rocks.

When Far Nuah complained that he’d already lost four teeth chewing these unpleasant cakes, Oonagh mocked him and told him Finn’s “baby” asleep in the crib could chew the cakes more easily than the boastful Far Nuah. When Far went to check the “baby,” he winced at the sight of such a large “child” and decided to avoid confrontation with the father of the baby…if the baby was already that big. Suffice it to say that female giants are more intelligent than either their husbands or their husband’s adversaries.

The tiny “fairies” whose name, according to English folklorist Thomas Keightley, may originate with the Hebrew word “li’faer” meaning “to beautify,” may have been reminders of earlier preCeltic cultures, or pre-Christian gods, that inhabited Ireland in Biblical times.

The fairies may be a memory of Danaan’s people, reduced to a lower “stature” after the establishment of the Christian faith.

Their name in Irish Gaelic, is “sidhe” (pronounced shee) and they were believed to

C

inhabit the old mounds, many of which were Iron Age earthworks.

Some anthropologists feel that these fairies may be later visions of elves from Scandinavian folklore of the 9th century, since many of the mounds were built by Viking Danes. The fairies are sometimes mischievous, and always identifiable by the conic shaped mushrooms that grow throughout the West of Ireland. As the Irish travel, so does their folklore, and the dancing sprites of the “fairy rings” can be seen in the English painter E.R. Hughes “Midsummer Eve” painting, in all its enchantment.

Sharonah Fredrick, PhD, is Assistant Director of the Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies (ACMRS) at ASU. She has a PhD in Latin American Colonial Literature; MA in Renaissance History; and BA in Cultural Anthropology. She’s multi-lingual; attended Yeats Summer School and Merryman Literature Summer School in Ireland, as well as doing independent study in the Donegal Gaeltacht, and summer courses at Trinity College, Dublin.

by Lois A Wallace

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MAY/JUNE 2016 THE DESERT SHAMROCK

Every girl.

Everywhere.

Period.

Paula Blessman sharing kits and instructions in Limpopo

Americans of Irish-Scottish descent impacting Limpopo, South Africa

BY PAULA BLESSMAN

Q

uilters are positively impacting South African girls while doing what they love–sewing! Ladies in Arizona’s East Valley recently gathered at Mad B’s Quilt & Sew in Mesa to make simple but life-changing kits for girls and women of Limpopo, South Africa.

MaDonna (Durkin – ancestry from Co. Cork) Baker, owner, has hosted three workshops with more planned. As efforts have expanded, Kathy Reynolds, owner of A Quilter’s Oasis in Mesa; the next training session is Saturday, July 9, 10am-1pm.

We all know that education is vital to help individuals out of poverty. What is less known is that one of the most common reasons girls miss school in the developing world is their monthly cycle. Girls use socks, mattress stuffing, newspaper, corn husks, anything they can find...but often miss 3-5 days of school every month.

This is a huge problem, but fortunately there is a simple solution. A washable, reusable feminine hygiene kit can make the difference between staying in school or dropping out. Being free to leave the house instead of sitting alone in shame. A sustainable hygiene solution brings mobility, freedom, time, and dignity to women and girls.

Days for Girls International (DfG), a non-profit organization based in Lynden, WA, was formed in 2008 to address this desperate need throughout the world.

Already the organization has empowered women and girls in 100+ nations by designing, creating, and distributing over 300,000 kits (www.daysforgirls.org).

The kits contain 2 pairs of panties, 2 waterproof shields, 8 absorbent flannel liners, a washcloth, soap, 2 Ziploc® gallon-size freezer bags, and instructions, all packaged in a colorful drawstring bag.

Kits are distributed in conjunction with education about reproductive health, good hygiene practices, and related topics.

All of this is being achieved because of the more than 600 volunteer teams like the group in the East Valley. As a leader of Days for Girls Team Cedar Rapids Iowa, it was easy to also tap into the abundance of fellow winter visitors while living in Gold Canyon. With seed money from Thrivent Financial, I’ve been meeting with Phoenix-area sewing clubs and coaching WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

new DfG volunteers. A number of the participants will be starting local teams as they return to other parts of the United States and Canada, multiplying the DfG efforts here.

Kits made by the East Valley and Cedar Rapids teams are distributed in Limpopo, South Africa, through Blessman Ministries, Inc. (BMI). BMI, a Christian multi-denominational nonprofit, currently feeds over 7,500 children daily, distributes eyeglasses to thousands each year, and provides housing for many. Blessman Ministries is currently installing clean water systems and safe toilets at a host of rural schools. Jim Blessman, M.D. and his wife, my sister Beth, also have various projects to empower the local people including farming instruction; micro-enterprises in commercial sewing, baking, well-drilling, and construction; and Internet access/training (www.blessmanministries.org).

Hundreds of thousands of kits are needed in the Province of Limpopo where 79% of the 5.6 million residents live below the national poverty line. A bigger solution is underway. Blessman Ministries is working with Days for Girls International to establish an in-country enterprise, which would provide employment to local women and greatly increase kit-production and distribution.

DfG’s goal is that every girl has access to a viable hygiene solution by 2020.

What if your love for sewing, or your stash of fabric or cash donation, or your willingness to cut/iron fabric could help girls break free from poverty and reach their full potential? It’s a practical way to be part of a solution.

Paula Blessman, a former CPA, is a volunteer with Days for Girls International & Blessman Ministries, Inc., and a rep for Demarle bakeware (French products now available in the U.S. market). She and her husband, John, spend summers in their homestate of Iowa, and winters in Gold Canyon, Arizona. Paula, Beth, and Ann Niemann, Editor of The Desert Shamrock, are sisters of Irish and Scottish descent. For information about teams in Arizona, traveling to Limpopo, sewing instructions, or donations, contact Paula Blessman at paulab@daysforgirls.org or 319-560-7623.

Barbara, Carol, MaDonna, Janice, Paula, Jill at Mad B’s Quilt & Sew

Jim and Beth Blessman

THE DESERT SHAMROCK MAY/JUNE 2016

13

WELSH

BOD YN GYMRY...BEING WELSH

The Flower Shows of April in Wales

BY LYNN HERDMAN MASCARELLI

T

he Royal Horticulture Society (RHS) wishes “to enrich everyone’s life with plants and make the U.K. a greener, more beautiful place.” And happily, one of the most colorful spots in the land is the Cardiff Flower Show, held each April. Prince Charles is among the 24,000 visitors who descend on the city to view layers and layers of blossoms and blooms on acres and acres of land at Bute Park on the grounds of Cardiff Castle since 2005.

The venue is hugely significant in horticultural heritage history with over fifty nurseries and their stunning exhibits.

The Society trials team awards the most beautiful. One award-winning daffodil nursery grew over 3,000 of the country’s national symbol for the exhibit this year.

But of particular interest with our focus on youth in this issue is the emphasis of the Cardiff Flower Show on family and children with so much to do from face painting and storytellers to interactive opportunities to learn willow weaving and how to arrange flowers; forage and build a den in the wild. The Wildlife Haven itself

shows the importance of gardening for the welfare of wildlife, of birds, insects and even the honorable hedgehog.

A special delight are exhibits inspired by the novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and even a bubbling chocolate lake. At the gate, a 12-foot Big Friendly Giant greeted every visitor as children take to the Family Trail that winds through the Garden Show.

Perhaps the most curious and fun are the entries of 439 wheelbarrows, brimming with miniature gardens created by school children. These are part of the celebration of Roald Dahl’s birth 100 years ago, who’s young years were in Llandaff, Cardiff. The theme for each entry is based on a fantasy from Dahl’s books.

The Wildlife Trust of South Wales, RSPB, and Hedgehog Helpline support all such activities. Surely April and May will be wondrous months in Wales and beyond with gardens and fields and wildlife preserves looking their grandest.

Plan your travel to attend next year!

Read more at www.rhs.uk.org and www.visitcardiff.com.

See bio on p. 26

PHOTOS BY RHS/JON ENOCH

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

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

MANUFACTURERS REPRESENTATIVES P.O. Box 1768 Salem, NH 03079

JOE LEWIS

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 WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

MAY/JUNE 2016 THE DESERT SHAMROCK

SCOTS

14

Bruce Monument at Bannockburn, unveiled in 1964 by Queen Elizabeth II

The 3 Keys to Successful Multi-Generational Travel to Scotland:

Planning, Planning, Planning Scotland Bucket List

PHOTO BY LOIS WALLACE

Perfect high school graduation gift: Clan Wallace trip to Scotland

BY BOB WALLACE

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.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF NATIONALWALLACEMONUMENT.COM

T

hose of us of a certain age make a bucket list of things we’d like to do while we are still able to get around. For many, that list would include sites from a number of places around the planet. With Scottish blood, however, one can easily imagine creating a very full bucket of items just within Scotland. It’s easier now with a publication by The Scotsman newspaper, which managed to cover 20 historical sites, including their relationship in shaping modern Scotland.

Dating to the Wars of Scottish Independence, Stirling Bridge and Bannockburn make good choices to visit. The best overall view of approximately where the Battle of Stirling Bridge took place, likely will be from the highest floor of the National Wallace Monument. It overlooks the battle site from the elevation of Abbey Craig. One of those river meanders down below is where Murray and Wallace met the English. Just across the river, Stirling Castle sits atop its volcanic plug, still considered Gateway to the Highlands.

Bannockburn Monument is just a few miles down the road, literally. From Bannockburn to Stirling Castle is about two miles, meaning those in the castle during the two-day battle in June of 1314 had nearly a front row seat to the action between the English invaders under King Edward I; and the Scots defenders under Bruce’s command. The statue of Bruce on his horse was unveiled by Queen Elizabeth in 1964, 650 years after the battle took place.

Bannockburn now features a refurbished Bruce monument, includes an enlarged visitor center for the 3D re-enactment of the 1314 battle.

Gaining access to either of these monuments or the castle is reasonably easy for tourists. Several tours include stops with time for pictures. On your own? If staying overnight in Edinburgh or Glasgow, catch the train to Stirling (Waverley Station in Edinburgh, Queen Street in Glasgow), then ride the shuttle bus.

BY LOIS A. WALLACE

M

any parents and grandparents want to expose the younger generation to their roots and history. Ten percent of the U.S. population has Scottish ancestry, which leads to a keen interest in Scotland. It is a great destination for a first overseas trip for children, different enough but they still speak English, and can include amazing fun adventures that are also educationally enriching.

For travel to Scotland with children to be successful, a lot of planning needs to take place. Nothing can ruin a trip more than tired and hungry children with lost and confused adults who are leading them. There are many ways a trip can be designed incorporating points of interest and activities to satisfy the young and old.

The first step I take with my clients is to begin research by asking the right questions. What is the goal of the trip? To see the highlights, find the specific area ancestors were from or a little of both. Has genealogy research been done or do you just have a general sense or knowledge of which clan you belong to? Genealogy trips can be set up but they are not advised for children because time will want to be allocated for record offices and libraries.

What is the specific interest of all those in the family? All this helps in preparing the best itinerary.

Castles, Palaces, Monuments, Kings, Queens, Knights, Battles, Wars, Lochs—some with monsters; strange-looking cattle, numerous breeds of sheep, wildlife, golf, fishing, ancient cities and small villages. Living

history around every corner; what child would not be excited and intrigued?

After finding a general focus, the next step is to decide on the travel style that fits the group and their needs. Guided group tours where all major details are arranged and taken care of for you are an excellent option for those adults who want to focus on the children and not navigating a foreign environment. City stays with guided excursions to the countryside and sights of specific interest can be booked. In many of the larger cities, apartment style accommodations can be found to allow more space for children and access to a kitchen for some meal preparation.

Rail travel between cities and smaller towns and villages are a real treat for some children. It’s an excellent way to see the countryside and stay engaged with the young ones. Self-drive or chauffer driven itineraries can be set to give the most flexibility and access to out of the way areas. Many of these options can be combined to put together the perfect trip. The goal is for a great vacation experience with shared memories that deepen family connections.

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.

THE DESERT SHAMROCK MAY/JUNE 2016

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John Mackie

BY IAIN LUNDY

Billy the Kid

S

cotsman John Mackie had just been kicked out of the U.S. Army for attempting to murder a man in a bar-room brawl. His days were spent drinking and thieving in the bars and scattered communities of what is now southeast Arizona.

Born in Glasgow, nothing else is known about John’s early life. He was in America during the Civil War and served as a drummer boy with the Union Army’s 6th Cavalry. The regiment was stationed at the U.S. military base at Camp Grant where in 1875, Mackie shot a civilian in the neck in a dispute over a game of cards.

Although he escaped jail, he was dishonorably discharged in absentia.

Mackie frequented the Wild West village of Bonita, Arizona, a few miles from Camp Grant. He was living the life of a bandit and desperado. In 1876, on

the run from New Mexico, a young drifter arrived in Bonita and immediately took up with Mackie. John befriended him and began to show him some of his wellhoned survival techniques.

The 16-year-old had the name Henry McCarty, “young Henry” as Mackie called him. He was to become one of the West’s most famous outlaws: Billy the Kid. John Mackie, the 27-year-old from Scotland became, for a spell, his best friend and mentor. Mackie was the man who taught the Kid how to steal horses.

The owner of the town’s Hotel de Luna would recall how soldiers from Fort Grant would visit the saloons and dancehalls, leaving their horses tethered outside.

Mackie and The Kid would steal the horses, hide out in the wilderness, and sell them to passing strangers.

They were eventually captured in Bonita by the hotel owner. He recalled, “I had the breakfast for the two placed on a

large platter and I carried it into them. I shoved the platter on the table in front of them and pulled a six-gun from under it and told them to put their hands up and go straight out the door.”

The Kid escaped from custody and was famously killed at age 21 by Sheriff Pat Garrett. John Mackie’s brief spell in the limelight was over and he was never heard of again.

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.

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SCOTS

Billy the Kid’s Scottish Side-Kick

MAY/JUNE 2016 THE DESERT SHAMROCK

PHOTO BY DARREN URBAN, COURTESY AZ CARDINALS

Phoenix St. Patrick’s Parade Grand Marshal, Michael Bidwill, President, AZ Cardinals

Greg and Molly Garrison Family of Mesa

OOT & ABOOT

OUT & ABOUT

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Whitmer Family with The DREAD Fleet

Ceili Olney

Pierpoint Family from Goodyear

PHOTOS BY JACQUILYN AVERY PHOTOGRAPHY

New Arrival

Meghan Kennedy, 1998 AZ Colleen, and daughters

Parade emcees, Mallory Melton 2015 AZ Colleen, and Ron Hoon FOX TV-10

Scottish Gathering & Highland Games, Phoenix

Celtica – Pipes Rock!

Scottish Princess (Annika van Neck) and Lorelei Nordquist WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

PHOTO BY ALEXANDRA MACPHERSON-MUNRO

Andrew and Heidi (Barry) Will, 2005 Arizona Colleen, welcomed Kaylee Anne Will at 3:44 pm on Tuesday, February 2, weighing 6lb 7oz and 18.75” long. She joins brothers, Drew and Joey.

THE DESERT SHAMROCK MAY/JUNE 2016

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Over 400 women enjoyed a luncheon and fashion show to benefit the Ladies’ Guild.

OUT & ABOUT

St. Steven’s Catholic Church Sun Lakes Community Fundraiser

OOT & ABOOT

Millie Kowalinski (of Irish descent)

Easter Rising Centennial, Dublin John Stone, Neal Flint, Len Wood and James Stone at GPO, Dublin for 1916 Centennial

Winnie Collins designed entry table (2nd from right)

Tucson-Roscommon Sister Cities Annual Mayor’s Luncheon Patricia, Maggie, Caroilin Callery from Co. Roscommon, Colleen, Sean, Elaine

Maguire Academy of Irish Dance WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

MAY/JUNE 2016 THE DESERT SHAMROCK

Irish Network Phoenix

Ellen Harrington— Chandler-Tullamore Sister Cities E

BY JAN WHALEN

llen Harrington has always wanted to be a part of a Sister City partnership. The process began after many discussions with Thomas Bracken, owner of Chandler’s Bracken School of Irish Dance and a native of Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland. Tullamore was perfect, and as Tullamore photographer Paul Moore says, “The Midlands is a hidden gem!”

Ellen, President of the Board of Trustees of the Chandler-Tullamore Sister Cities (CTSC), cherishes her role in creating peace and prosperity through this reciprocal partnership. Since February 2009, CTSC has initiated several public and private exchanges, supported Student Ambassadors, and Young Artists and Authors Showcases [see story page xx about poetry winner], to name just a few of their projects.

As a Texas native, Ellen held a variety of positions in the business world but while attending her sister’s wedding, she realized that the best man, Patrick from Chandler, was truly the best man for her.

So she married him and moved west.

On July 4, they will celebrate thirty-five years of marriage with their two adult children: Amanda, a former championship Irish step-dancer and PhD candidate in PharmaEconomics; and Kyle, an ASU graduate, working at University of Arizona’s Maricopa County Agricultural Extension Office (he’s the tall redheaded bartender at the Irish Cultural Center).

Ellen’s Irish ancestry on her mother’s side are mostly Ulster-Scots, transplanted from their native Scotland to Northern Ireland. Her father’s ancestors are rooted in Northern Ireland. Pat’s grandparents came to America from Castletownbere, County Cork. The family farm is on the Beara Peninsula.

Working as the Development Director for a Catholic elementary school in Chandler prepared Ellen for her current responsibilities. She beams when she thinks of this year’s theme, Peace through People. “We strive to fulfill our Mission Statement, which incorporates President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s 1956 proclamation of citizen diplomacy. He dreamed of people-to-people relationships which could bring peace and prosperity to communities one person, one community at a

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time. This year, Sister Cities International (SCI) is celebrating sixty years of global citizen action.”

One of the first steps in the process of establishing CTSC was a fact-finding trip to Tullamore in 2007 to find out if Chandler and Tullamore would be a good fit. After much work, the two cities finalized their agreement in February 2009. The first Student Ambassador exchange from Chandler to Tullamore took place in 2013.

Ellen’s joy is in CTSC’s success.

“We’re very proud of the many friendships made. Twenty-one students were sent to Tullamore and forty Irish students were hosted in Chandler. Several delegations from Tullamore have been received by the Mayor and Council, and hosted by the CTSC Committee.”

Ellen recalls two important trips.

“In 2014, we spent a month in Ireland, traveling to family and friend connections, staying in Tullamore with Camilla and Dave Cullen. My husband, Pat, also brought five of his ‘farm families’ over for the Tullamore Farm Show early in August. Sullivan’s Travels organized the first official Chandler-Tullamore Sister Cities tour in 2015, with the board and others who enjoyed the hospitality of the Tullamore Committee.” Another tour is scheduled for 2017.

This past April, Chandler’s Vice Mayor, Jack Sellers, and the Chamber’s Executive Board Member, Teri Ferguson, traveled to Tullamore for an official visit to attend the Dublin Summit for Sister Cities on behalf of CTSC. The economic possibilities of CTSC are endless. Board member Paul McGowan and his wife Kara are both natives of Tullamore and residents of Chandler. Their business, Chandler Mixed Martial Arts, has “twinned” with a like business in Tullamore and they are planning a Tullamore trip in August.

Future opportunities abound. To get involved, visit the CTSC website, www. chandlerirish.org, or check out their Facebook page “Chandler Irish.”

Jan M. Whalen, MASL, is an award winning author who creates books, workbooks and blogs about self-trust, confidence and telling your story. www.whalenvoices.com; jan@ whalenvoices.com

PHOTO BY JACK SULLIVAN

IRISH NETWORK PHOENIX

18

Ellen and Pat at Drombeg Stone Circle​outside Leap, Co. Cork

Harrington Family

Ellen Harrington (center) presented Sinead Dooley, Mayor (left), and Tony McCormack, Tullamore Twinning Chair (right), with handmade copper pieces from Arizona’s mine in Globe.

Tullamore Town Hall, May 2015

THE DESERT SHAMROCK MAY/JUNE 2016

19

IRISH NETWORK PHOENIX

Mary Kallemeyn Independent Sr. Sales Director 602-978-0598 - Home 623-986-4708 - Cell mkallemeyn@cox.net www.marykay.com/mkallemeyn Discover What You Love TM Regardless of skin color, everyone can sunburn.

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Jan M. Whalen, MASL e jan@whalenvoices.com p 623.466.5067 Award Winning Author • Personal Coaching whalenvoices.com Books, Tools, Classes and Blog • Trust, Story, Confidence

Jan M. Whalen, MASL eAward jan@whalenvoices.com p 623.466.5067 Winning Author • Personal•Coaching Books, Tools, Classes and Blog • Trust, Story, whalenvoices.com • Confidence

IAIN LUNDY Freelance Journalist

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

iainlundy@lundyink.com 480-737-5090

www.lundyink.com

The McGurk Law Firm, P.L.L.C. An Arizona Professional Limited Liability Company Joseph P. McGurk, Esq., Principal

A boutique law practice focused upon civil litigation and business counseling Working collaboratively with clients to tailor legal solutions that fit their specific needs. Leveraging relationships, knowledge and expertise developed over the course of founder Joseph P. McGurk’s 15 years of practice in both New York and Arizona to provide the very best in creative, cost effective solutions and legal representation.

Irish Network Phoenix

Irish Network Phoenix is part of the national organization, IN USA, which celebrates Irish Culture and helps Irish and Irish-American professionals across the United States to connect with their peers and to develop relationships that will foster success in their business, economic and social ventures.

Join us today and be ‘in’ with the IN crowd!

Corporate governance and Business Organizations Law Commercial Transactions and Contract law Real Estate Law • Civil Litigation and Trials Employment Law • Alternative Dispute Resolution Phoenix: 40 N. Central Ave. Ste. 1400, Phoenix, AZ 85004 • (602) 283-1039 Cave Creek: 37617 N. Cave Creek Rd. Ste. 102 Cave Creek, AZ 85331 • (480) 503-8651 F: (602)-343-1801 • jmcgurk@themcgurklawfirm.com

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Scan for more info…

623 565 9077 www.irishnetworkphoenix.com theboard@irishnetworkphoenix.com www. facebook.com/irishnetworkphoenix www.meetup.com/irishnetworkphoenix P.O. Box 7116, Phoenix, AZ, 85011 USA

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CULTURE

20

MAY/JUNE 2016 THE DESERT SHAMROCK

LEPRECHAUNS, LEGENDS & MYTHS

Thuatha dé Danaan

Carm with Grafton Street leprechaun last day in Ireland, sadly, November 10, 2011

BY CARMELITA LEE

L

iving in Bray, Ireland, my five-year-old granddaughter and I were out on the green when we realized that we were standing in the “end of the rainbow,” a once-in-a-lifetime blessing, as the colors glowed against our skin. I ran for the camera while my granddaughter began pawing at the damp grass, and shouted, “Dig, Grandma, dig!” She thought we’d find the legendary leprechaun treasure.

But we didn’t find the pot of gold.

The wee, beer-bellied shoemakers we know, are a recent iteration, memorialized by 18th century poets.

Originally, they were more sinister, unsociable, preferred being alone, and to their credit had to be prodded into turning nasty. Folklore puts sprites, fairies and leprechauns accompanying the Tuatha dé Danaan, a tribe that is said to have come to Ireland in ships, while others say the wee people enchanted deep forests, wishing wells and waterfalls since the beginning of time.

The Danaans were said to have supernatural powers, using them to cast spells. Whatever their magic was, oral histories suggest their power came from fallen angels, evil or mournful spirits such as a bean sidhe (banshee, the mourning female spirit). There are hardcore believers in leprechauns, however…

FACT:

The Danaan are attributed to being Greek or Germanic, or from the Tribe of Dan of Ancient Israel.

Thuatha in Irish means tribe, but Danaan is said to be the god Danu, or simply the Celtic name for Dan. Wherever they came from, they were civilized but fierce in both taking the land and then defending it.

With some reservation I tend to believe they were from the Ancient Tribe of Dan. (Dan means “judgment” or “he judges”). They were also called Thuatha Dea, or Tribe of God. They brought with them a very organized system for running the country and for keeping order. The Brehons (judges) ruled Ireland with laws which were the most enlightened in Europe. A Brehon was more like an arbitrator, hearing all sides of a question, and making his decision based upon their law. He was not considered greater than or lesser than another man (or woman).

There was, for instance, no death penalty, but rather an “eric” fine, an “honor price,” which was doubled for murder or manslaughter.

Women were granted equal rights and were the helpers of, and not the property of, their husbands. They could own property, choose their path in life, even fight in wars (in fact, some were generals) and could trade, buy or sell, and had the general freedoms democratic nations afford women of today. Women, in fact, could be a

Brehon. Children, and even animals were provided for by Brehon law.

When St. Patrick came to Ireland, he was so impressed by the Brehon system, that he codified the law for the first time in the 5th century, in five volumes, Seanchus Mr. The law becomes fascinating when you realize that it tracks, almost verse by verse, the law laid out in Deuteronomy.

Brehon law governed Ireland until the 16th century, when the English banned Brehon law and imposed their own. Ironically, Queen Elizabeth I did away with all the rights of women–well, of men too, a cataclysmic, life-altering event for the people of Ireland, who left being freedmen to become servants of the crown.

As for the leprechauns, sprites, fairies, banshees and spirits, in whatever form they took, they were perpetrated upon uneducated citizens by monks in the early days before St. Patrick, in order to instill obedience…yikes.

Whatever works, I guess…

Carmelita Lee How does a gal named Carmelita 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!

There’s time, and then there’s Irish time

Think time moves slower in Ireland? It once did. The Statutes (Definition of Time) Act 1880 defined Dublin Mean Time as the legal time in Ireland until 1916. This was set at Dunsink Observatory outside Dublin, and was 25 minutes 21 seconds behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). So when we say we like to take things at our own pace here in Ireland, we really mean it! [www.ireland.com]

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THE DESERT SHAMROCK MAY/JUNE 2016

The Phoenix Scottish Pipe Band, circa 1959 (Len Wood is far right)

More info, photos, and video at www.apiping weekend.com!

PART 1:

A Little History

BY BETTY BRACKENRIDGE

I

t’s hard to imagine Celtic life without the sound of bagpipes. Weddings, funerals, parades and festivals are all made more exciting, more comforting, more Celtic, by pipe music. In Arizona, we now enjoy easy access to quality piping. But it was not always so.

The first record of piping in the Grand Canyon state did not appear until 1904 when The Arizona Republican reported on a Phoenix performance by The Kilties from Ontario, Canada.

It was years later that local piping got its start. Sterling Briggs, of the Chicago Stockyards Pipe Band, founded the Arizona Moose Highlanders in the mid-50s. The Phoenix Scottish Pipe Band followed in 1958 and shortly thereafter, the original Tucson Highlanders. Eventually, there was a fourth early band, the El Zaribah Shrine Pipe Band.

Bands in place, the stage was set for strong growth in the piping community.

An old saying holds that, “Bagpipers are born in the band room,” because that’s where most pipers begin their education. Greater skill commonly develops in competition, where both bands and individuals benefit from the critiques of more experienced pipers.

One such competition for individuals will take place later this year in Phoenix on December 4 as part of the annual “A Piping Weekend” event. It’s open to the public at the Irish Cultural Center; admission is $5.

Of the four seminal Arizona pipe bands, only the Phoenix Scottish Pipe Band, known as the Phoenix Pipe Band since 2008, remains. They have been joined over the years by five independent pipe bands: the new Tucson Highlanders, Glendale Police Pipes and Drums, Southwest Skye (Northern AZ, based in Williams), Mesa Caledonian, and the Tucson and District; as well as several groups and honor guards and a plethora of individual pipers.

The next article in the series will describe different types of pipes and pipe music played by the piping community the Celts of Arizona now enjoy.

Betty Brackenridge is a retired health educator and lifelong lover of pipe music. She has worked as a volunteer at several Arizona Irish Festivals, Bloomin’ Beerfests and A Piping Weekend events. Her earliest known Irish ancestor is her third great grandmother, Sally Kelly, who emigrated from Roscommon to Virginia in the late 1700s.

Scuba diving in Ireland is a total thrill, with incredibly clear visibility in many

places and a host of exciting spots to explore, from shipwrecks to craggy coastlines. Where to dive?

Perhaps County Antrim in the north, or the Atlantic coast of Donegal, Mayo, Galway and Cork, or the southern and eastern reaches of Wexford, Waterford, Down and Dublin. The main dive sites in Ireland are denoted by yellow dots on the map to the left. [www.ireland.com] WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

ARTS

NEW Series: ARIZONA PIPING ON THE GROW

21

MAY/JUNE 2016 THE DESERT SHAMROCK COURTESY OF KINNITTYCASTLEHOTEL.COM

PHOTO BY JACK SULLIVAN

TRAVEL

22

Hugh O’Donnell Baronial Suite PHOTO BY MEGAN CONRAD

The Conrad Family, recent clients at Kinnitty

Kinnitty Castle, Co. Offaly

Castles in the Midlands

DRIVING TIPS FROM LEFT LANE MAUREEN

PART 14:

BY MAUREEN SULLIVAN CTC COUNTY CORK, IRELAND May the road rise to greet you, as you enjoy County Offaly’s Kinnitty and Birr Castles!

A

number of years ago on one of our many journeys to Ireland, I fell in love with the Midlands of Ireland. Part of the reason was my stay at Kinnitty Castle. The Gothic revival castle has the true feel of a medieval keep. As I entered through the foyer door, I was

greeted by suits of medieval armor and a canon pointing at the front door. From the well-appointed dining room and then down to the Dungeon bar, I felt as though I was stepping back in time!

Sitting in the cozy library bar with the collection of antique books and journals, I could feel the history of the castle. The bedrooms in front have views of the great lawns through lovely leaded glass windows.

Some of the bedrooms have beamed ceilings, massive canopied beds, and wonderful claw leg tubs! Within 25 minutes to an hour’s drive of Kinnitty Castle, there are seven beautiful gardens to be visited.

The town of Birr is one of Offaly’s very attractive towns with Birr Castle as one the centerpieces of interest. The present structure dates from around 1620 when Lawrence Parsons was granted the estate. The Parsons family later became the Earls of Rosse. The present Earl and his wife still live on the estate, which has remained in the family for 14 generations.

The gardens at Birr are especially lovely to walk through in late spring and early summer. On the grounds you will find the Birr Observatory and its telescope built in 1845, which is still in use today. The reflecting telescope remained the largest in

the world for over 70 years and is arguably the largest historic scientific instrument in the world today. The castle is open to visitors from May through August.

Clonmacnois is a medieval monastery on the banks of the Shannon River, which was founded by Saint Ciaran in 544 A.D. in the land of saints and scholars. The Vikings raided the monastery many times and Cromwell’s armies destroyed this historic place in the 1600s. The church ruins and high crosses are quite impressive!

For those wanting to experience the fine art of spirit making, County Offaly is home to Kilbeggan Distillery, as well as the home of Tullamore Dew. You will find that no one’s hurrying in Ireland,except you and the car behind you.

Enjoy Ireland!

Maureen and John (“Jack”) are the owners of Sullivan’s Travels, Inc. Maureen has been a travel professional for 25 years, moving their business to Phoenix four years ago. www.sullivanstravels.com

It’s Here! 304 Pages

Phone: 480-671-0207 • Cell: 847-481-9149 Fax: 480-617-5961 maureen@sullivanstravels.com • www.sullivanstravels.com Travel Europe, Mexico, Cruises & South Pacific WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

…Storyteller, Poet, Rancher, Pilot, Polo Player, Wool Merchant, Globetrotter, Bronc Rider, Philanthropist… and so much more!

Available in Print www.inkwellproductions.com/product/bill-obrien

THE DESERT SHAMROCK MAY/JUNE 2016

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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 6750 W. Peoria, Peoria, AZ 85345 (north side of Peoria at 67th Avenue); 623-486-2118 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

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! See ad page 29

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

602-241-1916 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 21

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 7

Tim Finnegan’s Irish Restaurant & Bar 9201 N. 29th Avenue, #52, Phoenix, AZ 85051 (west of I-17 and just north of Dunlap Ave.) 602-997-2323 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 4

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 4

New customers are looking for you!

Accepting e of allegiance after a ScottishCeltic ggestion during a sermon e world be without us Scots?

listings for Phoenix area, Flagstaff, Prescott, Sedona, and Tucson.

is special in more ways than one.

The beloved black stout takes exactly 199.50 seconds to pour the perfect pint and has been brewed in Dublin since 1759. But perhaps its most unique characteristic is that its bubbles sink rather than rise. The reason for this lies in the shape of the glass, which causes the bubbles to rise in the center and a downward vacuum at the sides. We’ll just let that sink in… [www.ireland.com] WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

CULTURE

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MAY/JUNE 2016 THE DESERT SHAMROCK

Are you a Celt?

BY CHRIS STEVENSON

T

hose of us who were born in Ireland or Scotland, or whose recent ancestors were, are proud of our Celtic heritage. If you’re not sure, it’s “Keltic” not “Seltic”.

But there’s more to a possible Celtic connection than just Irish or Scots; the Celtic League identifies six Celtic nations where Celtic customs and culture persist and a Celtic language is spoken or has been spoken in recent times. Some other organizations recognize seven, eight or even nine Celtic communities.

The ancient Celtic tribes spread West from central Europe to the western shores and the British Isles from the 6th Century BCE. Where else might your Celtic ancestors come from?

They might have come from Wales; as did one of my wife’s ancestors, Mr. Jones from Bala in North Wales. Welsh, a Celtic language, is a living language to this day, taught in school and the first language of around one-fifth of students. Through the regular holding of eisteddfod, festivals of literature, language and music, the cultural heritage of Wales is maintained.

Lying in the Irish Sea between England and Ireland is the Isle of Man. To this day it remains independent, neither a part of the United Kingdom nor of the European Union, a Crown Dependency under Queen Elizabeth II as Lord of Mann. The Manx language, similar to Irish and Scottish Gaelic, nearly died out in the 1970’s but has seen a strong revival–there are even radio programs in Manx. The most famous symbol of the Isle of Man is the Three Legs–so if you have a three-legged ancestor chances are they might have been Manx!

Perhaps your ancestors came from

Cornwall in the south-west of England.

As tin and copper mining declined in Cornwall, hard-rock miners migrated to the mines of the Americas, bringing their culture with them. In many one-time mining communities across the USA and down into Mexico, the Cornish Pasty remains a popular food item. In Cornwall, the language has enjoyed a revival and is now the language of a small but growing number of native speakers.

Just south of Cornwall across the narrow waters of the English Channel, in the north-west of France, lies Brittany–the last of our six major Celtic nations. Once again the Celtic language–Breton–is widely spoken by as many as 5% of the total population; and a vibrant Celtic culture is seen in music, dance and literature.

These six nations, identified by their living Celtic language, also share a culture in music, especially the bagpipe, and literature. In this regard, other regions where a Celtic language is no longer spoken every day, still are part of the wider Celtic culture. Areas such as Galicia, in north-west Spain and Portugal, Asturias in Spain, and even the descendants of Irish and Scottish immigrants in Cape Breton Island in Canada, still maintain their links to their Celtic heritage and are welcomed to Inter-Celtic celebrations. So perhaps you have Celtic roots after all.

Chris Stevenson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He is a Living Historian specializing in the Irish Viking period. A member of CROFT, he enjoys weaving, copper work and coin minting. With his wife Kristie, Chris spends summer in their home in Banbridge, County Down, Northern Ireland, and winter in Glendale, Arizona.

What’s Happening Aaron Kelly

Libby Decker placed 7th in Worlds, the 1st American finisher in Solo Ladies, ages 18-19. She has been selected as one of 2016 Board of Visitor Flower Girls, Arizona’s oldest charity, whose mission is serving the healthcare needs of women, children, and the elderly. One of her roles was to be in the fundraiser fashion show at the Arizona Biltmore last December. Libby has been accepted at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH for this fall.

Tempe’s James Madison Preparatory School won their first soccer game with Aaron Kelly (front). Go Patriots!

In Aaron’s soccer club’s playoff game for the President’s Cup, Challenge FC won 2nd place for the U16 boys!

Taryn Howells, 2013 Arizona Irish Lass, competed at All Scotland

Tom, Henry, Caroline

Nallen Family

Caroline Nallen, originally from Co. Offaly, chaired a fundraiser for The Phoenix Boys Choir in April. It was held at David E. Dodge’s stunning Taliesin West home, and included an elegant dinner and special performance by the choir (with Henry Nallen).

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Championships and then in several Feis in England and Ireland. She danced in Trafalgar Square for St. Patrick’s Day and worked with Camelia Rose Wigs at CLRG Worlds.

Taryn went to Brighton for the WIDA Worlds and helped out at Time In Focus (event photography) and did a photo shoot with Fusion Fighters for their new clothing line. Staying in London, she has been studying and dancing with Maguire O’Shea (Darren Maguire’s family) since February.

(2nd from left) Taryn

Travis Mills

Director Alex Cox is coming to Arizona to shoot his next movie, a western titled Tombstone-Rashomon, in May. Director Travis Mills (Durant’s Never Closes) will serve as the Arizona casting director.

Travis of Irish descent was a feature story in DS January-February 2015. He shares, “I’m so freaking excited about this! Alex Cox made cult classics Repo Man, Sid & Nancy, and my favorite: Walker with Ed Harris.” Durant’s has played or been scheduled to play in over 15 states. www.runningwildfilms.com

THE DESERT SHAMROCK MAY/JUNE 2016

The Evolution of Scottish Cuisine

BY CHEF ERIC W. MCBRIDE

S

cottish cuisine as we know it today is a hybrid of French, Irish and Norse cuisine. It is known that the Celtic people who make up that which is Scotland today are from two distinct groups. The Albanachs who transverse their way to Eastern Scotland via Belgium and the Scots who occupied Western Scotland from Ireland. In the centuries before and after the turn of the first Millennium, the Vikings had numerous colonies and alliances throughout the coastlines.

These were the earlier influences into Scotland’s foods. More recently, it is the French who have contributed greatly

D

ia daoibh a chaired! (Hello friends!)

Welsh rarebit or is it Welsh rabbit? Despite the two variations of the name, the dish does not actually contain any rabbit. Instead, the meal comprises a savory cheese sauce served on top of a hearty piece of bread.

The simple but flavorful tavern dish is credited to the Welsh’s love for cheese but the etymology of “rabbit” or “rarebit” remains unknown.

Welsh rarebit is easy to prepare and makes an excellent appetizer. If you do not wish to serve the sauce on top of a piece of toasted bread, you can serve it fondue style in a fondue pot or bowl. The key is to serve the sauce right away as the cheese will cool and congeal once it is poured on the toast.

Enjoy!

Cranachan Serves 4-6

8 oz. fresh raspberries or blackberries 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream 2 Tbsp. powdered sugar 1 Tbsp. steel cut oats ¼ tsp. vanilla 1 oz. Drambuie or Whiskey Step 1. Before beginning, place the oats in a shallow pan and gently toast them over heat.

Step 2. In a mixing bowl, pour in the whipping cream, sugar and vanilla.

Use the medium speed on an electric mixer to whip.

Step 3. Just before the whip cream is whipped to full texture, add the Drambuie to the mixture.

Step 4. When cream is fully whipped, remove into a separate bowl and gently fold in the berries.

Step 5. Portion out into individual cups and just before serving sprinkle the toasted oats on top.

Chef McBride is an award-winning 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.

KELTIC KITCHEN

Welsh Rarebit

BY KATIE CAUFIELD GINDER Serves 8-10 3 T. or 45 g. butter 3 T. or 45 g. flour ½ t. salt ½ t. pepper ¼ t. dry mustard powder ¼ t. Worcestershire sauce 1/8 t. hot sauce 1 c. or 240 mL milk ½ c. or 120 mL beer ½ lb. or 225 g. shredded cheddar cheese Toasted bread

another minute before adding shredded cheese.

Once cheese has melted, remove from heat and serve immediately.

NOTES: I used a sharp cheddar cheese but feel free to experiment with another type.

The type of beer used will alter the overall flavor. A darker beer, such as a stout, will produce a more robust flavor whereas a lighter beer, such as a lager, will yield a more subtle beer taste.

If you prefer to not cook with alcohol, you can replace the beer with milk.

DIRECTIONS: In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.

Sprinkle flour, salt, pepper, dry mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce over melted butter and stir until thick and bubbly.

Remove from heat and slowly add milk and whisk until incorporated.

Return saucepan to heat and cook until mixture comes to a boil.

Whisk in beer and cook for

PHOTO BY KATIE GINDER

Katie Caufield Ginder lives in Gilbert with her husband and son. 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.

to what is now Scottish Cuisine. First, the contacts through trade under the Auld-Alliance of Scotland and France against England. But later during the French Revolution when the populace was engaged with imprisoning, or worst executing, their Nobles, these interactions also created an enrichment in Scottish fare.

When those decadent Nobles were deposed, they left behind their household staff, including whole culinary wings.

These Chefs, sous chefs, saucier and bakers, could not find work on the level they were used to in post-revolutionary France. Some went to Spain or Italy,

CULTURE

CELTIC CATERER

but a great many found their way up to Scotland. Once there, they taught the Scots many aspects of cuisine that had not been present before. Yet, these were different from what we call true, French cuisine.

One of the many recipes that show a combination of these early influences is the Scottish dessert, Cranachan. This dish mixes the French aspect of whipping cream with the Norse use of honey, added in with the native flavors of raspberries, blackberries, oats, and of course whiskey.

I have made this dish numerous times at various Celtic events. It has always been a favorite. Though the Scottish version of heavy whipping cream contains a higher percentage of milk fat, I have found to get this dish to be exactly the same, to ration 2 parts Crème fraiche and 3 parts heavy whipping cream. But that is only for those wishing to go the extra expense. In the meantime, enjoy this version.

Next up, I’m just finishing my fifth Celtic cookbook containing a variety of recipes from all 8 Celtic Nations utilizing the key ingredient of bacon. All in the series are a hybrid of historical knowledge and culinary delights, which have thrilled audiences all across the U.S. at various Celtic festivals, weddings, Robert Burn’s celebrations, and special parties. Keep me in mind for your next event.

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ARTS

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MAY/JUNE 2016 THE DESERT SHAMROCK

CELTIC ARTISAN

Patricia Raphael, Silk Painter

Colleen O’Dowd Cutler 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

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BY LYNN HERDMAN MASCARELLI

A

rtisan, Patricia Raphael, draws her Celtic roots from County Cavan, known as the Lakeland County. Its waters are the source of some of Ireland’s mightiest rivers like the Shannon and Erne, the Boyne and the Dee and the Annalee...it sounds like poetry.

But there is more; after Patricia’s paternal great-great grandparents emigrated to the States, subsequent generations married other Irish Americans. Patricia’s father married a lovely Italian. Their daughter, our artisan, was born in New York City on Saint Patrick’s Day and her mother would claim, “It took an Italian to do it!” We would not dare argue the point but simply welcome an unusual silk painter into our Celtic community of artisans.

Her work is beautiful! Patricia explained her process in working with crepe de chine. She washes the silk by hand. When almost dry, it is ironed on a cool (silk) setting overnight. “I hand mix the fiber reactive silk dyes into the colors I will use to create my free form designs.

I stretch the crepe de chine on special silk painting stretcher bars then, allow my intuition to guide my brush strokes. After the silk has been painted, it must rest for at least 24 hours; then it is rolled in clean paper and placed in a steamer for 45 minutes to 1-1/2 hours depending on the size of the piece.”

“After the steam has set the dyes and the paper and silk roll are completely cooled, the silk must rest for at least another 24 hours. I then alternate warm/ hot and cold-water baths to remove any resist and excess dye. When the water runs clear, I wash it in cool water with special silk wash or a very gentle soap (like baby shampoo), then rinse in cool water. I wrap the silk in a clean towel, pressing gently to remove excess moisture then hang to dry.

As I have done before, I iron it on cool (silk) setting to enhance its silky feel and luxurious drape.”

I asked if there were any unfortunate art making moments, Patricia recalled, “When the paper separated from the silk and I tore a hole in it.” But the artisan wanted to speak more of her happiest moments when she is painting her silks and even dancing about as she crafts them.

“What I do is not silk screening.

Each of my pieces is an original work.

When you wear my silks, you are wearing a painting, a thing of beauty,” she shares.

And I agree. You may reach Patricia at hellopatriciaraphael@yahoo.com.

Lynn 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.

THE DESERT SHAMROCK MAY/JUNE 2016

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PHOTO BY ANN NIEMANN IN CONNEMARA, IRELAND

ARTS The particulars of how to wash wool This is how I wash wool. Might not be for everyone, but it works!

I put an armful of dirty wool in a piece of cloth to lug it into the bathroom; I don’t want the dirty wool to touch my clothes. If you have a spouse who absolutely will not allow you to do this in the family bathtub, a big washtub outside works just as well.

Ewe Dirty Sheep

BY KRISTIE STEVENSON

W

hen you see a flock of sheep grazing on the hillside, they look idyllic and white until you get up close. Then they just look a dirty cream color. I spin and felt wool, not the processed fluff from the store but straight from the sheep stuff. My husband and I live half the year in Northern Ireland, so I am fortunate enough to know an Irish sheep farmer who keeps back a bag of wool so I can buy it inexpensively.

Sheep, which are raised just for their wool, sometimes wear coats to keep the wool clean. My farmer’s sheep were raised to be meat. The wool smells of farmyard stuffed into a bag while it was wet and allowed to marinate in its own juices, which it was. I had to wash it before I used it.

When I first started my quest to wash wool, I went to an American woman who taught me the ‘right way.’ It had to be washed in sink-sized amounts. A thermometer used to keep the water at an exact temperature. I was scolded for trying to pluck out a stick. I thought about my

thirty pounds of wool…I needed a different method.

Two or three hundred years ago women out on a croft didn’t have a thermometer or special soaps. They needed to get the wool clean with the least amount of trouble possible. I read books written on this subject. Most of these assumed you know how to wash wool; everyone does! A book from the Women’s Institute, a fine organization keeping women’s crafts alive along with other things, said “most people prefer to spin in the grease.” In other words, not washed!

I would try. I sat in my garage to sort the wool and take out the worst of the seeds, sticks, and clumps of sheep waste. I choked on the dust, ripped my fingers on the foxtail bits, and was miserable. I went into the house, washed me, my sheep-ickcovered clothes and treated my cuts. I was not going to spin or do anything with this wool without washing it.

Why not just throw the raw wool into the washer? Have you ever washed an all-wool sweater in the washer and it shrank? You have made felt. Felt can be a

very useful material but it doesn’t spin into yarn. I learned this the hard way.

By chance I met a New Zealander living in Ireland, who had been raised with sheep and spinning. Nancy told me how she washes wool. It was so simple and effective. To wash wool, treat it like a baby, except you can leave it to soak without worrying about drowning. Warm water, the mildest of detergent (I use baby shampoo); let it soak until cold, drain and rinse with warm, then cool water until it runs clear. Dry on a rack and it’s ready to spin.

So that’s how I wash wool, with a bit of American modification.

Kristie Stevenson, a fourth generation Arizonan, traces her Celtic ancestry back to Ireland, Scotland and Wales. A CROFT member, she enjoys spinning, felting and quilting. She with her husband, Chris, spend summers in their home in Banbridge, County Down, and winter in Glendale, Arizona.

Fill the tub with warm water, just the same temperature as for a baby, and put in the wool. Drizzle the mildest soap available over the wool; I use cheap baby soap. The wool floats, so push it down so it is sopping wet. Do not scrub or agitate the wool but do pick out bits and pieces of junk that need to be removed.

Now walk away and do something relaxing while you let it soak until the water is cool. It takes a surprisingly long time as the wool holds in the warmth. Drain the water. I put a colander or something in the drain to filter bits of wool from going down the drain or it will clog up very quickly if you don’t, and your plumber will love you.

Using tepid water, rinse the wool until the water runs clear. I use my detachable shower head on a soft setting for this.

Allow the wool to drain in the bathtub. I use a plastic milk crate upside-down to lift the wool off the bottom of the tub. I always find I haven’t rinsed it enough and there are little mud bars in the bottom of the bathtub. Rinse it more while the wool is off the floor of the tub.

Lay the wool over something to dry, like a clothes drying rack. I often put it over the rungs of a ladder. (I have put wet wool in a dryer but I wasn’t happy with the result.) Feel free to let us know your results.

Now you have your clean, dry wool, still with the lanolin in it, ready to spin.

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DIRECTORIES

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MAY/JUNE 2016 THE DESERT SHAMROCK 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 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 Sweeney-Morgan, 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.

CELTIC HARVEST FESTIVAL SEDONA, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 AT VERDE VALLEY SCHOOL Enjoy the sounds of Celtic music and dance, storytelling, and poetry, wares for sale, workshops by artisans, sheepherding demos, art of falconry, Fairy Village children’s activities, lots of food and drink! New this year Scottish heavy athletics! Adults $15; Teens $5; under 11 yrs. old free. www.celticharvestfestival.com

DAUGHTERS OF SCOTIA DESERT THISTLE LODGE #260 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: Bethany Tso at 602-770-7565 or clanwoman924@yahoo.com

DESERT IRISH WOLFHOUND ASSOCIATION (DIWA) A non-profit corporation, DIWA is committed to improving the health and welfare of Irish Wolfhounds throughout Arizona; encouraging responsible ownership through mentoring and education of its members; and maintaining a source of Irish Wolfhound specific rescue/rehoming contacts statewide. Dues are $20 for a single and $30 for a family membership. For information, contact Christine Davis, President, 602-439-1783; or Pam Clark, Rehoming Coordinator, 928-821-6009; www.desertirishwolfhounds.org.

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: Glenda Walker at 602-277-1376, www.saintpatrickcentre.com

GRAND CANYON CELTIC ARTS ACADEMY It offers classes in Irish music, dance, and language to youth ages 8-15 (July 11-15, 2016) and teens/adults (July 12-14, 2016). Come learn something new or improve your current skills with Cassie and Maggie MacDonald from Halifax, Nova Scotia and Gordon Gower from Tucson. Classes in fiddle, whistle, guitar, bodhrán, Irish language, dance, and more! Contact: Kari Barton, 928-600-1365, kari@ grandcanyoncelticarts.org

IRISH AMERICAN CLUB WEST VALLEY Our purpose is to bring together individual of Irish descent and others interested in Irish culture through our monthly socials. Everyone is welcome; it is part of our Irish hospitality. The Club meets monthly October through May for dinner and dancing at the Sun City Country Club. Dues are $10 per year. For information or a complementary newsletter, contact Maura McConnell, Secretary, 623-933-3698, hummel4fun@aol.com.

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 PHOENIX (IN PHX) Irish Network Phoenix is under the umbrella of the national IrishNetwork USA organization integrating the IrishNetworks that exist in various cities across the United States. It allows members of the networks to connectwith their peers and to develop relationships that will foster success in their business, economic, cultural andsports ventures. Come to a monthly breakfast or lunch to explore membership benefits.www.meetup.com/INPhoenix; www.facebook. com/IrishNetworkPhoenix; www.IrishNetworkPhoenix.com

JIM THOMSON U.S. SCHOOL OF PIPING & DRUMMING 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, 702-340-8859 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 16-17, 2016), the Jim Thomson U.S. School of Piping & Drumming (July 8-15, 2016), and the Grand Canyon Celtic Arts Academy (July 11-15, 2016). 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.

PHOENIX ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE It is one of the largest parades in Arizona! Celebrate being Irish with the entire Valley. Coming up Saturday, March 14, 2015, 10am; route is Third Street south from Sheridan to Moreland, FREE. Contact: John Corcoran, Chair, 623-939-1183, www.stpatricksdayphoenix.org.

PHOENIX ST. PATRICK’S DAY FAIRE 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 14, 2015, 10am-5pm at the Irish Cultural Center and Margaret Hance Park grounds. Contact: Mary Moriarty, Chair, 602-258-0109, www.stpatricksdayphoenix.org.

Mysterious origins: Onopordum acanthium – Eselsdistel In truth, no one knows for certain how the purple-flowered thistle rose to such lofty significance. But one legend has it a sleeping party of Scots warriors were saved from ambush by an invading Norse army when one of the enemies trod on the spiky plant.

His anguished cry roused the slumbering warriors who duly vanquished the invader and adopted the thistle as their national symbol.

Of course, there is not a shred of evidence to support this account, but it certainly makes a good story. [www.visitscotland.com]

WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

THE DESERT SHAMROCK MAY/JUNE 2016 TUCSON-ROSCOMMON, IRELAND SISTER CITIES

Our organization, a 501(c)(3), exists in order to promote cultural pride in Celtic heritage through education, scholarships, activities, special events and the annual Prescott Highland Games. It is a love of all things Celtic which drives our association. Dues are $10 for single and $15 per couple per year. For information, call Andy Hamilton 928642-0020 or Jill Nelson 928-443-1422, regjill@q.com; P.O. Box 12912, Prescott, AZ 86304-2912; www.prescotthighlandgames.com.

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

RIORDAN MANSION STATE HISTORIC PARK

Classes in Chandler, 480-699-2455, www.brackenirishdance.com Thomas Bracken, ADCRG. | Alexis Hodel, TCRG thomas.bracken@brackenirishdance.com, alexis.hodel@brackenirishdance.com

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.

SCOTTISH-AMERICAN MILITARY SOCIETY (SAMS), PRESCOTT Membership is open to honorably discharged veterans or active duty or reserve military persons who have served or are serving with any branch of the United States or Commonwealth Armed Forces, of Scottish ancestry. We welcome your membership. Currently there are 39 Posts within the United States.

Contact: Reg Nelson, 928-443-1422; SAMS Prescott Post 1297, “The Arizona Highlanders,” P.O. Box 2245, Prescott, AZ 86302-2245; sams.commander.post1297@gmail.com.

CELTIC SISTER CITIES CHANDLER-TULLAMORE, IRELAND SISTER CITIES

CELTIC DANCE SCHOOLS BRACKEN SCHOOL OF IRISH DANCE

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

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

Ellen Harrington, President. P.O. Box 4174, Chandler, AZ 85244-4174 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

NEW MEMBERS WELCOME!

Introduce your child

to the world of Irish dance!

The adventures of four very different girls who have one thing in common—their love for Irish dance!

Colorful illustrations Fact-filled sidenotes Describe what Irish dancers

do and wear and why

Highlights the value of things

besides winning medals, like teamwork, sportsmanship, and friendship

Softcover 24 pages $ 1 0.99

www.GhillieGirls.com WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

DIRECTORIES

PRESCOTT AREA CELTICS SOCIETY (PACS)

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MAY/JUNE 2016 THE DESERT SHAMROCK

CALENDAR

MAY-JUNE 2016 [All events are in Arizona USA unless otherwise noted]

JOURNEY THROUGH THE EMERALD ISLE Photography Exhibit by Paula G. Cullison May - June • Great Hall, ICC Dublin, Cork, Blarney, Dingle, Ennis, Galway, Cliffs of Moher, and others www.paulacullison.com

UEFA EUROS 2016 FINALS – EUROPE’S WORLD CUP June 10 – July 10 Rosie McCaffrey’s, 906 E. Camelback, will be showing all of the matches live. Join us to support the Irish teams.

Europe’s equivalent to the World Cup soccer tournament, considered by some to be better, with the best national teams in Europe competing. Both the Republic of Ireland team and Northern Ireland’s are competing in these finals.

Info: 602-241-1916; www.rosiemccaffreys.com

SEACHTAIN NA GAEILGE - Irish Language Intensive May 17-22 (All levels) M-F (6pm-9pm); Sat (10am-4pm); Sun (10am-4pm) Norton Room, McClelland Library Hosted by The Academy of Irish and Celtic Studies The workshop will be led by Éilis Nic Aodhagáin (Éilis Keegan) from Athboy in County Meath.

Info: Vicki Champion, 623-680-1711 Register: Call Elaine Monaghan-Price; 602-864-2357 TuesSat 10am–3pm; OR online at azirish.org

ARIZONA CELTIC WOMEN Sunday, May 22 • 2:30-6:30pm, ICC

BLOOMIN’ BEERFEST! Saturday, June 11 • 7-11pm, ICC

43rd Annual SAN DIEGO SCOTTISH HIGHLAND GAMES & GATHERING OF THE CLANS

FAMILY STORY HOUR Saturday, May 7 • 10:30am to Noon Stories and crafts for entire family. Irish Cultural Center; FREE. Contact: 602-864-2351; info@azirishlibrary.org

June 25-26 • 9am-5pm both days Brengle Terrace Park, Vista, CA www.sdhighlandgames.org

See ad on page 2

SAVE THE DATE:

PHOENIX MERCURY HOSTS CELTIC HERITAGE NIGHT PHOTO BY PAULA G. CULLISON

Tuesday, July 19 • 7 pm PLUS Pre-Game See promo opposite page

ROSE OF TRALEE INT’L. FESTIVAL August 17-23 Tralee, Co. Kerry, Ireland Support Arizona Rose, Ciara Archer Livestreaming; check schedule at www.rte.ie/player/us www.roseoftralee.ie

IRISH CULTURAL CENTER (ICC)/ MCCLELLAND LIBRARY PUBLIC WALK-IN HOURS (TOURS, LIBRARY & GENEALOGY) Tuesday-Saturday • 10am – 3pm Wednesday Evenings (Library only) • 3pm – 8pm Frances McClelland Genealogy Centre available these hours; Open Other Hours for Scheduled Classes, Meetings & Events 1106 N. Central Ave., Phoenix 85004 602-258-0109, www.azirish.org

See ad on back page

SUMMER PUBLIC WALK-IN HOURS (TOURS, LIBRARY & GENEALOGY) June and July Wednesday-Thursday • 10am – 3pm Wednesday Evenings (Library only) • 3pm – 8pm Open Other Hours for Scheduled Classes, Meetings & Events CLOSED JULY 31 UNTIL SEPTEMBER 6

Eddie Brown

PRESCOTT HIGHLAND GAMES May 14-15 • 9am-5pm Watson Lake, Prescott Nationally known Wicked Tinkers and California Celts plus pipe bands, Highland dancing, heavy athletics, tastings and more!

Family and dog friendly event. Tickets sold at the door or online. www.PrescottAreaCelticSociety.com

FIRST FRIDAY May 6 • 6:30pm until late • The Great Hall, ICC Featured artist: Paula Cullison, Photographer June 3, July 1 • 6pm until late • The Great Hall, ICC

THIRD FRIDAY CEILI (IRISH SOCIAL DANCING) May 20, June 17 • 7pm – 10pm • The Great Hall, ICC $6; under 12 FREE (2 with each paid admission)

The Poisoned Pen Bookstore With more than 200 book signings a year, it's more than a bookstore, it's an experience.

YOUNG AMBASSADOR SEND-OFF PARTY Sunday, May 15 • 1-4pm, at ICC Friends of Saint Patrick - Arizona Chapter Fundraiser for Laddie Guy Shane to N. Ireland Food, raffle baskets, 50/50 raffle, entertainment and more!

Admission: Adults $15; Kids 12 and under $5 RSVP to Glenda Walker, auntguck@gmail.com

See ad on page 31

THE POISONED PEN, SCOTTSDALE FULL SCHEDULE AT WWW.POISONEDPENEVENTS.COM

OUTLANDER! Event Thursday, May 5 • 7pm Diana Gabaldon and KC Dyer sign Finding Fraser (Berkley $15) Only books purchased at this event can be signed

COZY CON PLUS A CRIMINAL ELEMENT CELTIC WOMAN: DESTINY WORLD TOUR Sunday, May 15 • 3pm ASU Gammage, Tempe Tickets: remaining seats $76 Box Office: 480.965.3434; www.asugammage.com

See ad on page 31

IRISH PUB QUIZ - Tucson Tuesday, May 17 • 5-9pm Tucson-Roscommon Sister Cities FUNDRAISER at BJ’s Restaurant Brewhouse 4270 N. Oracle Road, Tucson Bring ad to have 20% of food and beverage donated!

See ad on page 8 WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

July 8-15, 2016 Jim Thompson U.S. School of Piping & Drumming July 11-15, 2016 Grand Canyon Celtic Arts Academy July 16-17, 2016 Arizona Highland Celtic Festival www.nachs.info

See ad on page 31

REMEMBERING THE EASTER RISING: HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND CULTURAL LEGACY Now through December An Interactive Museum EXHIBIT | McClelland Library Co-Sponsored by Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Consulate Office of San Francisco.

Cost: $10 adults, $8 seniors and students, $5 members, and $5 kids ages 5-17.

Contact/Info: 602-864-2351; www.azirishlibrary.org

Northern Arizona Celtic Heritage Society EVENTS

Saturday, May 7 • 1pm with giveaways and a cookie potluck 7 authors including: Hannah Dennison signs A Killer Ball at Honeychurch Hall (St Martins $24.99) Annette Mahon signs Slay Bells (Five Star $25.95) Jenn McKinlay Vanilla Beaned (Berkley $7.99) Small book convention hosted for Cozy authors (lighter mysteries with less graphic material)

MICHAEL MCGARRITY Tuesday, May 24 • 7pm Signs The Last Ranch (Dutton $28.95)

OUTLANDER! NEW Tuesday, June 14 Outlander Kitchen release date

THE DESERT SHAMROCK MAY/JUNE 2016

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in northern irelAnd! The Friends of Saint Patrick Centre - Arizona Chapter invites you to send “up” & away our 2016 Young Ambassador

Laddie Guy Shane!

May 15 from 1-4 PM

Artwork by Russ Miller

Irish Cultural Center 1106 North Central Avenue Phoenix Arizona 85004

MayCool 14 & off 15 at Lake, inWatson Prescott at9-5 thedaily

Adults - $15 Children under 12 - $5

TICKET PRICES Nationally known Wicked 12th Annual HighlandAdults Games one-day pass Tinkers and California Celts $15; two-day pass $20 Mayplus 14pipe & 15 at Watson bands, Highland Lake, 9-5 daily Senior/Military/ dancing, heavy athletics, Students one-day pass $10; two-day pass $15 tastings and more!

We are and Nationally known Wicked Tinkers California Celts Children 5 and family andHighland dog friendly plus apipe bands, dancing, heavy athletics, under FREE event.

Tickets sold at the 10 orfriendly more tastings and more! We are a familyGroups andofdog $10 each gate or online. event.

Tickets sold at the door or online.

Food Raffle baskets 50/50 raffle Hat Decorating Contest Entertainment And more!

To RSVP contact: Glenda Walker auntguck@gmail.com

www.PrescottAreaCelticSociety.com www.prescottareacelticsociety.com

Tucson, AZ • May 14

Tempe, AZ • May 15

Save 10% on select tickets with code  at .com Available while supplies last. No double discounting. Offer not valid on previously purchased tickets. Offer not available at the Box Office. Discount valid on P1 tickets only.

Celtic Heritage Night Tuesday, July 19 • 7pm

Half-time performance by Maguire Academy of Irish Dance Important to purchase tickets through www.desertshamrock.com/mercurytix for seating as a group AND for tracking our numbers. Benefits! Tickets: $12 and up WWW.DESERTSHAMROCK.COM

CALENDAR

Adventure is out there...

Cool off in Prescott at the 12th Annual

Open 10am - 3pm Tuesday through Saturday Library (including Genealogy) Open late Wed 8pm ICC & ML Summer opening Hours June and July Wednesday and Thursday 10am - 3pm Library Open Late until 8pm on Wednesdays ICC & ML Closed for Summer July 31 until September 6 azirish.org azirishlibrary.org 602-258-0109 602-864-2351

1106 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85004

Family Story Hour First Saturday of the month May 7, 10:30am - Noon

Remembering the Easter Rising Public Exhibit

First Friday May 6, 6:30 pm until late June 3, July 1, 6pm until late

Irish Language Immersion Week May 16-22, 25 hours Call to register!

Third Friday Ceili May 20, June 17, July 15 7-10pm

Arizona Celtic Women May 22, 2:30-6:30pm Bloomin’ Beerfest!

June 11, 7-11pm

Admission to the Irish Cultural Center and McClelland Library is free except for special events.

Fees for complex-wide guided tours and 1916 Easter Rising Exhibit:

Adults, General Public – $5 tour, $10 exhibit • Seniors & Students – $3 tour, $8 exhibit Children 6-17 – $3 tour, $5 exhibit • Members – $3 tour, $5 exhibit

Annual Membership Levels: $30 Senior (age 62 and up) & Student • $40 Friend $75 Family (For parent(s) and all minor children) • $150 Shamrock • $500 Tara • $1000 Emerald

Special policies and fees may apply to ticketed and special admission exhibitions. General and ticketed exhibition benefits can be used once per day per member household. All membership funds are shared between The Irish Cultural Center & McClelland Library. Annual membership begins on the day of registration

See details at azirishlibrary.org/membership