Established 1966
Harp Strings
The Official Newsletter of the Harp & Shamrock Society of Texas Winter 2014 Volume 47
Issue 4
St. Patrick’s Day Parade is Back! One of the oldest parades in San Antonio is back! The St. Patrick’s Day parade will kick off our South Texas Alamo Irish Festival at UIW on March 8, 2014. We are fixin’ to put on our first festival on the grounds of the University of Incarnate Word. As part of our new South Texas Alamo Irish Festival at UIW, we will be having music, dance, and food as well as the opening round of the Texas League GAA football. Our very own San Patricios will be playing the Houston Gaels football team. Dallas will be playing Austin in the second game, and there will be B-team games on the soccer pitch, as well as ladies football. Our Saint Patrick statue is on display at the UIW Mabee Library. It has been on continuous display in the library since its unveiling November 1, which was the same day as our yearly memorial service. The artist, Raphael Paz, was there and pointed out his work to anyone curious enough to ask. Special thanks to Dr. Cheryl Anderson, Dean, Library Ser-
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South Texas Alamo Irish Festival 11 am-11 pm
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Gayle & Tom Benson Stadium at 11:30 am
Texas League Gaelic Football Tournament
Starts 12:30 San Antonio vs. Houston, Austin vs. Dallas Plus a womens game in between. With B-teams on the soccer fields. Map of event on page 7. For more information look for us on Facebook!
Music Festival
Performances throughout the day by: Robert Doyle Joe Walmsley Texas Thunder Cloggers Irish ‘Comhaltas’ Musicians and Dancers San Antonio Pipes and Drums Rod Campbell & RTFM Ravenmoor &
Blaggards
Admission $5 Includes free parking Free for Active Duty Military with ID & Children 12 and under.
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From the President
HARP AND SHAMROCK SOCIETY OF TEXAS, INC P.O.Box 15306 San Antonio, TX 78212
PRESIDENT Kevin P. Dowd 210-845-4424 VICE PRESIDENT Bob Meade 210-946-7220 2nd VICE PRESIDENT Steve Mattick 210-212-7800 TREASURER J.T. Norris 210-621-3407 SECRETARY Dana Goodman 210-219-7356 CHAPLAIN Bill Merriman 210-259-3482 BOARD of DIRECTORS Melissa Schulz 210-445-2777 Melinda Britten 210-699-8632 Carolyn Dowd 210-896-1598 Darryl Britten 210-215-9952 Elissa O’Brien 210-348-6877 Joan Moody 210-656-2666 Erin O’Brien 210-348-6877 Ryan Stone 210-849-1215 Rob Holden 210-243-5067 Terence Peak 210-829-3920 Derrick Cossey 210-886-8640 J. Sean Habina 210-523-9267 Allison Hickey 210-822-1182 IRISHMAN OF THE YEAR Mary Jo Quinn - 2013 Editor in Chief Kevin Patrick Dowd 210-845-4424 The Staff: Carolyn Dowd John McCarthy Mariee Pilkington Terry Peak Remember we have PayPal™ on our website!
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Dunluce castle on the Antrim Coast.
Carolyn and I had a grand trip home. October is a beautiful time to visit Ireland. While there I learned of the downside to our broken immigration policies. Ireland is losing its best and brightest once again to other countries. Unfortunately for the US they are going to Canada and Australia. There are over 50,000 illegal Irish in the states. They would love to be here legally if they could. Any fix is better than nothing. OK, I’ll get off my soapbox for now, but we’ll have more information on this at our festival. So come join the Harp in celebrating our Irish Heritage and Texas Roots on March 8, 2014 for an authentic Irish Music and Dance Festival. Your society will be hosting The South Texas Alamo Irish Festival on the UIW campus in downtown San Antonio. We are bringing back our St. Patrick’s Day Parade! We are also introducing Gaelic Football to the UIW campus. The league includes teams from Dallas, Austin, Houston and our 3-year old San Antonio San Patricio team. This festival will be an opportunity for all of us to celebrate the rich Irish Heritage and traditions here in South Texas. Our society has almost 50 years of experience hosting festivals and parades here in San Antonio. The Harp & Shamrock Society is very excited to be working with the University of Incarnate Word to make this happen. This partnership will allow us to bring our festival to a larger audience and become the premier St. Patrick’s Day event in South Texas. Our past events have brought together a blend of civic, social, military and educational organizations representing our city and community. The parade will start at 11:30 at the Benson stadium, including a Little Miss and Mr. Shamrock. Entertainment starts soon after with the Blaggards, Joe Walmsley, Irish ‘Comhaltas’ musicians, Robert Doyle, Rod Campbell & RTFM, San Antonio Pipes and Drums and Ravenmoor. See you there! Kevin Patrick Dowd shamrockeditor@gmail.com
vices and Terence Peak, Tech Training Coordinator. Terry worked hard to pull this all together in my absence and he made sure the statue would be in place in time for our memorial service. He’s a good man. The idea of having the parade on campus was almost a non-starter. The continuing construction, both on Hildebrand and on campus, made for an interesting meeting to decide where to have the parade. After two years without any parade we decided that the best bet was to have it where we know there will not be any construction. In the new Benson Football stadium. You really have to come out and see it. There are over 6000 seats availible and I’ve heard from alumni that they all have a great view of the field. Each parade entry will have a chance to perform in front of the VIP grandstand on the 50 yardline. Hope to see you all there.
South Texas Alamo Irish Festival
This Event is made possible with the generous support of our sponsors. Thank you! Emerald
Guinness and Pabst Blue Ribbon Over the Rainbow Sponsors
McCombs Foundation Pot of Gold Sponsors
Broadway Bank Kevin and Carolyn Dowd Wayne and Eileen Faught Joan Moody Shamrock Sponsors
Pat O’Connor David and Barb Patrick Paesanos Restaurant Group Sponsorship Levels are: Over the Rainbow $1000-$4,999. Pot of Gold $250-$999. Shamrock $50-$249. Pictured left to right in front of our statue: President Kevin Dowd, the artist Raphael Paz, past president and man of the hour Terry Peak, Vice-president Robert Meade.
We are seeking additional sponsors for this event. Please consider making a donation or ask businesses that you frequent for a donation to this historic event.
Letter to the Editor: Just wanted to say “ThankYou for a job well done!” to all those who worked on our Christmas party. You put a lot of thought and effort into it and it showed. Food was delicious; location was easy to get to with plenty of parking; lots of happy faces and comradery was in abundance. Those members who were unable to attend missed a great evening. Thanks to one and all, Deby and Jim Stelling
Sports Report Texas League season opener is part of the S.T.A.I.F. The boyos have been training hard and getting into the best shape ever. Get ready Houston! 22 Feb Austin Hurling tournament 12/13 Apr Texas League Dallas 3/4 May T.L. Houston 14/15 Jun T.L. Austin For more information: Facebook/SAGAC or www.sanantoniogac.org
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Harp Christmas Party @ the Barn Door
4 Everyone had a great time and a great meal, and the Kelly Singers entertained. Lets keep this tradition growing. See you next year.
H.E.B. Feast of Sharing
The H.E.B. Feast of Sharing has become one of the best volunteer days that we do. The Feast of Sharing is the best way to start the Christmas holidays. Our volunteers, and thousands of others, helped H.E.B. and the United Way feed over 17,000 folks. That was the total number of meals that went out this year. I want to thank all our members who volunteered to come out and spend a Saturday with their fellow San Antonians. As part of the leadership council Carolyn and I had an after action debrief. The final shift is one of the hardest to fill. But this year the complements flew about “those folks in the green shirts� who really chipped in and helped. Carolyn and I could barely contain our pride as we informed the group that those green shirts were from the Harp and Shamrock Society! Hope to see more folks out for next years Feast. Special thanks to: Sean Faught, Shannon Faught, Andre Sirhan, Allison Hicks, Pat Peak, Barbara Warnock, Terry Peak, Chris Hayes, Melinda Britten, Catherine Strey, Melissa Shultz, Mae Kelly, Derek Cossey, Elvira Holden, Darryl Britten, Barbara Patrick, JT Norris, and David Patrick. Once again thank you all for all you do. What a great feeling to help others. Hope to see more folks sign up at our next opportunity!
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Book Review
ClanDonnell A Storied History of Ireland By David McDonnell
Irish Central just recently did a top ten list of must read books for Irish-Americans. I feel that this book by David McDonnell could possibly be added to that list in the future. This is a great introduction to the history of Ireland for folks who don’t like history books. The great detail that the author takes in recording the Irish history is extraordinary. The early invasions and the introduction of Christianity are well covered. Most people don’t realize that the celebration of Halloween has Irish roots, the end of the Celtic year and beginning of winter was always close to November 1st. I want to thank Mr. McDonnell for making some spots in the Irish history that I’ve gotten lost in before, much easier to understand. David is planning on being at our Festival and we are working out the details on a possible ‘meet the author’ time. Pray For Us Sinners By Patrick Taylor Wow! Not my usual way to start a review but after finishing this powerful novel I couldn’t help myself. If you have any interest in a good story about the bad old days of Northern Ireland’s Troubles this is the book. You might recognize the author’s name from his popular “fun and fancy” Irish Country series of books like An Irish Country Doctor. Well, Forge Publishing has rereleased an earlier completely different novel. 1973 in Belfast was smack in the middle of the Troubles. Just this summer the ghost of Belfast past seemed to be rearing its ugly head. Even to the point of a few petrol bombings, which recalled the darkest days of the Troubles. Belfast Welcome to the next generation! Thanks to Eileen Burke -Faught for sending this to me. Shan- today is a youth filled city with all the universinon is the granddaughter of founder Sean Burke and Zach has ties and modern opportunities. This should be been “volunteered” for many years at many Harp events and is required reading over there now. a freshman at UT. Congratulations! 6
In Memoriam Volunteers Needed
Martin P. Bowles
We need members’ participation to make this event a success! This means you! Please volunteer for this event by contacting David and Barb Patrick. We are looking for volunteers to staff assorted areas. There are jobs of all kinds and chairs will be available. See job description @ www.harpandshamrock.org Any questions call 210-259-9867 or 210-658-1506.
April 20, 1933 - October 18, 2013 A good friend and quiet Irishman has passed. Martin was 80 and passed away on October 18, 2013. This fine man was born in Kilfree, Gurteen, in the County Sligo, Ireland on April 20, 1933 to James and Margaret Hannon Bowles. Martin served in the United States Army. After his stint he worked as a bus driver for the City of New York. There he befriended another city worker and Gurteen man, my grandfater James Dowd. Martin leaves behind his lovely bride Josie. Please keep her in your prayers. Above is one of my favorite pictures of himself beating the piñata at my 50th birthday party. Martin was interred with military honors at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery. Rest in peace my friend.
Joan Carole McIntyre Aschbacher August 9, 1931-August 30, 2013 Joanie and her husband Paul were longtime members of the Harp. She loved singing, especially during the Annual Folklife Festival and particularly during the St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations. Joanie attended Incarnate Word H.S. when the family moved to San Antonio and when she graduated she received scholarships to Our Lady of the Lake University and the University of the Incarnate Word. Joanie is survived by her husband, Paul, and her daughter, Becky Wells and husband, John of Dallas, Texas; her sons, Paul, Jr. and his wife, Carolyn, and Jeffery J. Aschbacher and his wife, Corina.
Key to Map 42- parking garage 48- parking garage 51- player entrance only 56- Soccer field Hildebrand is east bound only. Access to University from Hildebrand or 281 service road into campus. Once on campus you will be directed to parking in the two parking garages (42&48) or to parking behind Natatorium (31) . Festival is at football stadium and area adjacent to stadium (37). Gaelic football will be played in the stadium and on soccer field (56). St Patrick’s Day parade is to be held at the football stadium. 7
The Harp & Shamrock Society of Texas Newsletter Editor P.O. Box 15306 San Antonio, TX 78212
Harp Holidays at the Barn Door! Paula Ewing, Anton Hajek, Carol Mattick, Melissa Shultz, Mary Ann Hajek, and Steve Mattick are all smiles for a fun time at the Christmas Party. More pictures on page 4
Cultural
Educational
March
8, Saturday, South Texas Alamo Irish Festival
Civic
Patriotic
Social
Thank Our Sponsors
9, Sunday, Irish Flats Walking Tour First Presbyterian Church @3 pm 14, Friday 33rd Golf Scramble Silverhorn GC 15, 5k Donovan’s Run Lady Bird Johnson Park 15-16, Irish entertainment @ Arneson River Theatre
Thank you to our sponsors:
16, St Patrick’s Day River Parade @3 pm 17, St. Patrick’s Day Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Alamo @Noon www.harpandshamrock.org
McCombs Foundation Waxy O’Connor’s Irish Pub See more inside on page 3!
Shamrockeditor@gmail.com
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