Irish Arts & Entertainment March 2018 Irish Music Special!

Sp eci al I ssu e I RI SH M U SI C M A K ERS Starts on Page 7 2016 / Volume 1 / Issue 1

I r ish Film Features Star t on Page 20 EXPANDED CELTI C CAL ENDAR Star ts On Page 24

Vol XXV # 2

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Ken O'M alley Solo an d w it h t h e KRIS COLT w ill be ban d Th e Tw iligh t Lor ds w ill be br in gin g Ir ish M u sic t o playin g t h r ou gh ou t Sou t h er n t h e Ren aissan ce Fair ! du r in g t h r ou gh t h e M ar ch Ir ish See page 8 M u sic Fest ivit ies!

2018

Danú celebrates St. Patrick?s Day in Long Beach on March 15 with their second appearance at the Carpenter Center. The acclaimed Irish traditional group have been winning fans around the globe since they were formed in 1994 in Waterford!

Features

Eileen Iver s & t h e Celt ic Spir it Tou r St op In Lon g Beach On St . Pat r ick 's Day!!

Th e KERRY Ir ish Voice Squ ad Will Sin g Ou t t h e Sh eer Joy of Bein g Ir ish ! Full Coverage Starts on page 3

SAOIRSE RONAN Exclu sive See page 20

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St . Pat r i ck ?s D ay I n I r el an d Ph en o m en al I r i sh D an ce an d M u si c t r o u p e f r o m K er r y I r i sh Pr o d u ct i o n s h o n o r s t h e gr eat t r ad i t i o n an d t h e m i gh t y j oy o f b ei n g I r i sh !

NATIONAL TOURING COMPANY PRESENTS SHOWS THROUGHOUT ARIZONA and CALIFORNIA For Thousand Oaks, California's Scherr Auditorium afternoon performance on Sunday, March 11, special guests have been added to the already amazing line up:

The Celtic Irish Dance Academy Transport yourself to Ireland for a magnificent experience that captures the very essence of St. Patrick?s Day and the joy of being Irish! Join in with the Ker r y Tr adit ion al Or ch est r a with Ryan M cKasson (Fiddle), Jack ie M or an (Bodh r รกn , ban jo, vocals), Isaac Alder son (Uillean n pipes, f lu t e an d w h ist les) an d Jesse Lan gen (Gu it ar )! These four, well known and respected multi-instrumentalists will share their love, passion and talent for the traditional music of Ireland.

The brilliantly choreographed Irish champion dancers Con n or Reider , Kear a Osbor n e, Sien a O?Regan an d Gu n n ar Nelson bring a rare confluence of dexterity, skill and experience to the stage.

All are seasoned troupers in the world of Irish Dance Individually and collectively they have delighted audiences and Irish Dance aficionados all over the globe!

To round out the ensemble, the haunting and moving Irish song from the three lovely lassies of The Kerry Voice Squad

comprised of Kor al Aak r e, Kat h er in e Tr im ble and Ash ley St an bu r y will bring a tear to the eye and a glow to the heart of every assembled Celt!

Under the direction of founder, Margaret O'Carroll, this concept and production of St . Pat r ick 's Day In Ir elan d has delighted and won acclaim at every venue it has played for the past few years. The 2018 company and carefully crafted music and dance selections will delight everyone!

Surely a show not to be missed!

More on the KERRY ARTISTS, Page 10

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Maurice Fitzpatrick Elisa Hastings Jim McDonough

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Can oga Par k 's An n u al St . Pat r ick 's Day Celebr at ion FREE FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT! On M arch 17, the Canoga Par k I mprove Distr ict's annual tr ibute to St. Patr ick and the I r ish contr ibution to Amer ican culture and histor y will be celebr ated with Canoga Par k's Community M arch & Celebr ation ~ where ever yone is I r ish for the day!

sidewalk revelers march through through town and end up at the stage set up at Main Street Canoga Park Farmer?s Market on Owensmouth Ave (just north of Sherman Way) At the Irish Entertainment Stage there will be live Irish music & entertainment - featuring Owen Dara, True Thomas the Storyteller and members of the Jumbo Shrimp Circus!

Bagpipers, Community Leaders and the public will all join in becoming Irish Merrymakers for the day.There will also be a light-hearted FREE raffle ? where gifts and money are included as prizes! The March and St. Patrick's Day Festivities will continue till 2PM Saturday,MARCH 17,

For more infor mation please call M ar y Pater son: (818)346-7480 or email: M pater son@canogapar kcal.com

Ow en Dar a St an d Up Com edy

The fun starts at 11AM when folks start to gather in front of the landmark Madrid Theatre located at 21622 Sherman Way. The March starts promptly at 11:30AM from the Madrid, the

Owen Dara has been a singer and comedian for most of his adult life. He performs both Irish and original songs, and has performed in live venues throughout the world. He has also written and performed a one-man show based on his memoir ?White Horses: An Irish Childhood?, and his most recent comedy show ?Two Pint Wonder? received rave reviews during its sold-out run at

w w w.scot t ish f est .com

the Renagade Theatre in Hollywood. He has also written, directed, composed the music for, and starred in three feature films. St. Patrick?s Day is his favorite day of the year because he gets to perform the songs he learned from his parents and grandparents and which he always enjoyed singing as a child.

The Jumbo Shr imp Circus Based in Winnetka, this innovative troupe of performers will be on hand to thrill and amaze all those in attendance with antics and feats of fun and skill! This will be a return visit to the March and Celebration for these popular entertainers!

An M ar t a Ir ish Ar t s & En t er t ain m en t Page 7 L O N G B EA C H SYM PH O N Y C EL EB RAT ES ST . PAT RI C K 'S D AY W I T H RI V ERD A N C E V I RT U O SO Su p er st ar I r i sh Fi d d l er , Ei l een I v er s St ar s w i t h St ep - D an cer s f r o m t h e C l ad d agh D an ce C o m p an y The Long Beach Symphony POPS! will celebrate St. Patrick?s Day in proper authentic style on March 17 when nine-time All-IrelandFiddle Champion and musicstar ofRiverdance, Eileen I ver s, and conductor William Waldrop step onto the stage of the Long Beach Arena for an evening of celebratory Celtic music.

From the opening notes of John Williams?Symphonic Suite from Far and Away to the final strains of Tony Finno?s arrangement of Blizzard Train, concert-goers will want to kick up their heels to the spirited jigs and folk melodies from Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Indeed, champion dancers from the Claddagh Dance Company will join the musicians on stage to strut their Irish step-dancing stuff for everyone?s enjoyment!

An ensemble will join the Long Beach Symphony to lend their special Irish sounds: M att M ancuso(lead vocals, guitar, trumpet, fiddle), Buddy Connolly (button accordion, whistles, piano, vocals), L indsey Hor ner (upright and electric bass, baritone sax, vocals), and Dave Barckow (lead vocals, percussion, guitar).

Eileen Ivers has firmly established herself as the pre-eminent exponent of the Irish fiddle in the world today. Her long list of accomplishments includes a GRAMMY award, Emmy nomination and headline

performances with the London Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops and over 40 orchestras across the world.

Ivers is the original musical star of Riverdance, a founding member of Cherish the Ladies and a Nine Time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion.

Lest there be some confusion, the fiddle and the violin are essentially the same instrument; the difference in nomenclature relates to the type of music being played; this is an evening of music for fiddles! The playlist for the first half of the program features several favorites written by Ms. Ivers, including Canbrack Girls, Bygone Days, Walk On and Mackerel Sky Medley. After intermission, the program resumes with the fast-paced jig The Irish Washer Woman (arr.

Leroy Anderson), then moves on to Pachelbel?s Frolics (arr. K. Sammut), an ingenious blend of his well-known Canon with Celtic folk melodies.

One of the evening's highlights will be Irish composer Bill Whelan?s ground-breaking Riverdance (1994), that spawned a worldwide craze for Irish dancing and Celtic music and also won him a GRAMMY. EILEEN IVERS Broadway music director, pianist and conductor, ...has been proclaimed ?a national William Waldrop, who currently serves as Principal Conductor of the Broadway revival of Cats will lead treasure? by NCTA Board Chairman George Holt as she celebrates her 30 plus year the orchestra as guest conductor.

His recent Broadway success has made him a sought-after conductor and one of the best and brightest new faces on the pops circuit today!

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career a performer, composer, producer, songwriter, band leader, educator, multi-instrumentalist and renowned pioneer and profound influence in the realm of Irish Music Makers!

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Celebr at in g t h e Em er ald M on t h of M ar ch Wit h Dan u At Th e Car pen t er Cen t er

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haunting ballads, Danú celebrates St. Patrick?s Day in their second appearance at the Carpenter Center. In celebration of the famous Irish holiday, the Carpenter Center will be serving Guinness Beer, available for purchase at the bar, that night only.

Traditional Irish Musicians return to CSULB just in time for St. Patrick?s Day Celebration LONG BEACH, California? On Thursday, March 15 at 8 pm, the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, located on the campus of Cal State Long Beach, presents a musical journey through Ireland in a moving and memorable concert experience by one of the leading traditional Irish ensembles Danú in a St. Patrick?s Day Celebration.

Known for high-energy performances, Danú blends the ancient music of Ireland with a new repertoire in a glorious mix of contemporary Irish sound.

Springing onto the scene two decades ago at the Lorient Inter-Celtic Festival in Brittany, France, the ensemble has since recorded seven critically acclaimed albums, won numerous awards from the BBC and Irish Music Magazine, and performed worldwide including at The Hollywood Bowl in 2012 and the Carpenter Center in 2015. A whirlwind of epic and enchanting traditional Irish music, Danú has captured the imagination and loyalty of fans worldwide with performances that theLos Angeles Timescalls, "compellingly original."

The band that hails variously from counties Waterford, Dublin, Donegal, and Cork, comes to Long Beach as part of their current US tour with new band member Nell Ní Chróinín, the award-winning vocalist who joined Danú in 2016. Singing in Gaelic and English, Nell is a specialist in traditional Celtic music known as "sean-nós" and has teamed up with the veteran troupe of virtuosic flute, tin whistle, button accordion, and bouzouki players. From rousing jigs, reels, and hornpipes, to gentle waltzes and

Single tickets for Danú start at $45. For tickets and more information, visit CarpenterArts.org or call the Carpenter Center Ticket Office at (562) 985-7000. This series is made possible in part by Season Media Partner KPCC 89.3-FM.

American Celtic Music Maker Kris Colt Kris Colt is is above all a Roots Music Singer and Songwriter who has a great love for all types of music and a great gift for singing Irish & Celtic tunes. On stage she brings with her the tradition of the Bardic Storyteller. Colt is a master of at performing trafitional tunes while weaving her successfully radio charted originals into her live shows. Kris Colt will lead you through an evening of the most beloved Irish and Scottish classics as well as the sassy fun filled, upbeat pub tunes that get you stomping and singing along. The multi-talented artist is also an accomplished songwriter? both lyricist and compose. Her debut CD entitled THE VOYAGE, A MYSTICAL JOURNEY, is distributed by New York?s Dara Records. Selections from The Voyag ereceived national airplay across the United States and Canada: reaching #26 on NAV national music chart. Colt?s single, ARMS OF ASTRANGER, from her most recent CD has received acclaim on national commercial radio, with selections currently being played in Ireland. As a recording artist, she has been charted in The European CMA Top 100 Jan. 2013 for the sexy duet Somebody?s Knockin.

Colt had the honor of being one of five finalists chosen forI rish Woman of the Year, and had a thrill being shown on National television singing in thetraditional Irish Sean-Nós style

her rendition of the honorary Irish National Anthem Danny Boy in the middle of the Grand Hall of L.A. City Hall. ? Kris Colt &The Black Rose Band ?, have been popular attractions at Celtic Fairs and Festivals throughout Southern California and Nevada such asThe Great American Irish Fair in Orange County, The San Diego Highland Games,Scotfest in Costa Mesa ,Bakersfield Highland Games, and performing solo as the Gypsy Songbird Black Rose, for Age of Chivalry Renaissance Fairei n Las Vegas, and Big Bear Renaissance Faire.They had a terrific time as one of the headlining acts at the Irish Fair & Music Festival at Fairplex for five years in a row.

Kris Colt, with her band, as a duo or a solo act has played many concert, pub and club dates throughout Southern Califormia, Neveda and in Nashville. Just a few of the many bands that she has shared the stage with are The Young Dubliners, The Fenians, Derek Warfield and the Young Wolfe Tones and many, many more.

Of late, Kris Colt has been enjoying moonlighting and strolling solo through the Renaissance Faire with her portrayal of her

Kr is Colt as Th e Lady Black Rose

Celtic Gypsy Songstress, The Black Rose! can be seen & h ear d at t h e

w w w.k r iscolt .com

Ren aissan ce Pleasu r e Fair f r om Apr il t o M ay.

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Irish Music Makers SEO LINN We first heard about the Irish Singing Group Seo Linn (SHOW LIN) last year when visiting a friend who had discovered them while in Ireland.

They are quite well known and popular in Ireland! They are also different from the pack for several reasons! They sing in Irish Gaelic mostly as they are part of the Gaielge Movement and they had the good sense and fortune to compose and sign Ireland's World Cup anthem in 2016!

For many years, we have been doing our Annual Irish Music Makers issue and we are delighted to find an Irish Song with that theme!!

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I r ish Balladeer K en O'M alley Dublin Bor n, L A Based Singer, Songwr iter & Stor yteller Getting Set For An Exceptional Concer t and Tour Season

Ken O'M alley Pr of ile an d M ar ch Sch edu le Please go t o page 27

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THE KERRY IRISH DANCE TROUPE M EM BERS Con n or T. Reider , Lead Dancer For 14 years Reider danced under the direction of the late Ann Richens and John Timm, competing at local, regional, national and world levels. In his final year of competitive dancing he placed in the top 5 in Mid-America, top 10 in North America and top 20 in the World Championships. Reider graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2014. He has performed with the Chieftains and in 2015 with Celtic Fyre at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg.

In 2015 Reider joined An Irish Christmas national tour and returned for the An Irish Christmas 2016 and 2017 Tour.s In March of 2017 Connor was principal dancer for the new Kerry Irish Productions Inc. Concert Tour: St. Patrick?s Day in Ireland and is delighted with his to continuing association with Kerry Irish Productions as principal dancer for the 2018 Tour.

Reider is currently based out of Manhattan!

Reider was quoted recently expressing his views on his craft, Performing brings me such joy because I get to share my passion with others both on stage and with those in the audience. I am very honored and excited to return to An Irish Christmas 2018?.

Sien a Rose O'Regan

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Established in 1935, the Lon g Beach Sym ph on y marks its 83rd season in 2017-2018. Each year the Symphony draws audiences to its six Classical concerts in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center Terrace Theater and five POPS! concert events in the Long Beach Arena. The Symphony partners with the Long Beach Unified School District to provide over 150 free music education programs throughout the year. Through its comprehensive music education programs? including professional ensembles in elementary and middle schools and the Symphony Concerts for Young People program ? the Symphony reaches more than 24,000 students a year.

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Kear a Osbor n e Keara has been an Irish dancer for 25 years. She has competed numerous times at the local, regional, and national levels. Now retired from competitive dance she enjoys performing regularly with world touring bands such as The Young Dubliners and The Fenians. In 2012, she was delighted to be a part of the Irish dance ensemble in Battle of the Dance in Anaheim, California. Keara has made several television appearances as an Irish dancer, including the Disney XD show Crash and Bernstein in 2013 and the DJ Tommy Trash "Lord of the Trance" music video in 2014.

In May, 2013 Keara completed her Masters of Social Work at the University of Southern California. Keara is delighted to make a return visit as lead dancer in St. Patrick?s Day in Ireland Tour 2018 Gu n n ar Nelson

Siena began Irish dancing at the age of six. Irish dancing has been her passion her entire life and she proudly follows in the footsteps of her grandmother, Sheila. Siena is one of the top dancers in the Western Region US having qualified for the World Championships seven times and Nationals seven times. She recently traveled to Glasgow, Scotland where she recalled at the All Scotland Championships. She has amassed 18 Open wins, and she is also a five-time North American Feis Commission Junior Belt qualifier. Siena dances competitively with Celtic Irish Dance Academy in Los Angeles. She has performed on stage with The Chieftains the past two years

L ONG BEACH SYM PHONY

and was featured in the Disney Channel show ?Shake it Up?.

Siena is excited to join the dance team for the St. Patrick?Day in Ireland Tour.

Irish dancer Gunnar Nelson began Irish dancing at the age of 8 in a small rural town in Washington state. He competed in the National Championships and the World Championships in both Scotland and Ireland. Since the age of 17 Gunnar has toured throughout North America with Michael Londra's Cetlic Fire. He has taken his childhood hobby and has turned it into a professional career! Gunner is thrilled to join St. Patrick?s Day in Ireland Tour 2018 and Kerry Irish Productions Inc welcomes Gunner to our wonderful team of artists!

Tickets to a Long Beach Symphony POPS! concert include options for seats at 10-top or 4-top tables or Loge seating.

Jumbo screens on each side of the stage bring the action to life for everyone, regardless of seating preference, and all patrons are invited to bring their own picnics and libations or purchase dinner from a list of preferred local caterers.

One of our sponsors is the Farmers & Merchants Bank.

Doors open at 6:30 pm to allow time for dining and mingling with friends, and the concert begins at 8:00 pm.

Tickets start at $26 with student tickets available for $10 with valid student ID. For more information or to purchase tickets and subscriptions : call 562-436-3203 ext . 1.

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Wells of Lif e?s An n u al Ru n 4Wat er Set f or Apr il 22 Wells of Life will host the Fourth Annual Run4Water 5K and 1K on Sunday, April 22 at Laguna Niguel Regional Park. Run4Water is the single largest fundraiser for Wells of Life which funds water wells for poor villagers in Uganda, Africa. In addition to the timed 5K & 1K runs, Run4Water features a festival with exhibit booths, give-a-ways, food booths and entertainment.

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of Life aims drill 1,000 water wells in ten year period to serve 1 million villagers in Uganda. Plans are also underway to build a training and educational center in Uganda. The nonprofit organization views the provision of clean water as the catalyst that drives change and revolutionizes community life for Uganda?s poorest villages.

Run4Water organizers aim to recruit 40 teams to fund 40 wells at a $6000 cost per well. Each well provides clean water for 1000 people for up to twenty-five years. All non-well expenses are raised through private donations and fundraisers, so 100% of the well production is funded by donors.

M ot ivat ed In dividu als, Gr ou ps, Com pan ies an d Or gan izat ion s Ar e Ur ged To Par t icipat e Individuals can participate for $40/entry for the 5K, $25/entry for the 1K and virtual participants are $25/entry. All registered participants receive an official race time, t-shirt and medal.

Fountain Valley-based Pedego Electric Bikes is a corporate supporter and has donated an electric bike valued at $2295 as an opportunity drawing prize.

Abou t Wells of Lif eThe founders and supporters believe that water is a basic human right and should be available to all people. Most importantly, they believe they can enlist and motivate everyone to help make a difference. Since their founding in 2008, Wells Of Life have done great work hrough fundraising efforts in schools, churches and corporations, Wells

For m or e in f or m at ion abou t Ru n 4Wat er or Wells of Lif e:

w w w.w ellsof lif e.or g or e-mail: m ik e@w ellsof lif e.or g.

YE OL DE K I NG'S H EAD St. Patrick'sDay

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Jack ie M or an M u sician's Coor din at or Bodh r รกn , ban jo, vocals The foundation of Irish traditional music is the pulse of its drum, the Bodhrรกn.

No other percussionist fills that ground better than Jackie Moran. Born in Tipperary, ten-year-old Jackie and his family immigrated to Chicago where he quickly began drumming with the best players on the Irish music scene. The young boy became the man who is

Ir ish Ar t s & En t er t ain m en t preeminent in Chicago Irish music today.

He is a founding member and driving force of such influential bands as The Drovers, Comas, and Bua. Jackie is a fixture in the studio and in concert settings, accompanying such great artists as Alphonso Ponticelli, Kevin Burke, Dennis Cahill, Liz Carroll, John Doyle, Alain Genty, Martin Hayes, Paddy Keenan, Michael Londra, Philip Masure, Aidan Burke, Howard Levy and Jimmy Keane.

Jackie?s talents have also led him to

M ar ch appear on stage with ?Riverdance,? and to help form and perform with the Trinity Irish Dance Company. When Hollywood needs a musician to play the part, and look it as well, you?ll see Jackie. ?Backdraft?

(1991), ?Blink? (1993), ?Traveler ? (1997) and ?The Road to Perdition? (2002) all saw fit to feature Jackie and his Bodhrรกn. Most recently, Jackie has been a member of the Kilgubbin Bros. and is teaching at the Irish Music School of Chicago. He also makes custom Bodhrรกns with Mike Quinlan.

Ryan M cKasson , Fiddle McKasson has gairnered an outstanding reputation as a performer, composer, collaborator, and teacher. In 1996 he was the youngest musician to win the National Scottish Fiddle Championship. In 1997 he was awarded a Merit Scholarship for Viola Performance from the University of Southern California where he studied with Donald McInnes. Ryan started lessons on

the violin at the age of 4. One of his early fiddle teachers was Carol-Ann Wheeler who encouraged Ryan to join the Seattle Scottish Fiddlers, headed by Calum MacKinnon, where he first began to play Scottish fiddle. In 1994, he started attending Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School (VOM), where he met fiddler and teacher Alasdair Fraser, and joined a rather remarkable generation of musicians; many of whom have gone on to be notable performers and teachers. In 2004 Ryan and his sister, Cali, formed a band, The McKassons, that eventually included Ryan?s wife, Brooke, and her brother, Matt Jerrell. Ryan has also been a member of a baroque/celtic/fusion combo Ensemble Galilei. He helped co-write and co-produce First Person: Seeing Americaa collaboration between Ensemble Galilei and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. He also recorded with Ensemble Galilei on A Change of Worlds (2012), and Surrounded by Angels: A Christmas Celebration With Ensemble Galilei (2013). Ryan has recorded with Hanneke Cassel on her albums Silver,For Reasons Unseen, and Dot The Dragon?s Eye, and also with Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas on their album Highlander?s Farewell. Ryan has taught at fiddle camps around the US and New Zealand, most notably: Boston Harbor Scottish Fiddling School, Southern Hemisphere International School of Scottish Fiddle, Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School, Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp, and Swannanoa Gathering.

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K er r y Voice Squad M ember s Kor al Aak r e.

and is excited to per- form in upcoming shows with the company.

Soprano, hails from Coos Bay located on

Ash ley St an bu r y,

the beautiful southern Oregon coast comes from a family of singers and began voice lessons with her father at the age of seven.

Koral is well known in Oregon?s Bay area.

She was a dancer and singer in Oregon?s Little Opry on the Bay. Upon graduation from high school she toured the East Coast for one run, and has toured withCeltic Woman. As a teacher, Isaac has led workshops in flute, whistle, and uilleann pipes at the Great Northern Irish Pipers' Club Tionรณl, the St. Louis Tionรณl, the year with Lutheran Youth Encounter ?s Christian Rock Band, ?Captive Free.? This was her opportunity to enter the world of performance and touring to see if this was really where her heart was. She studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston and returned to Oregon to earn a degree in vocal performance from Southern Oregon University where she studied opera. She performed with the Rogue Opera, Opera in the Streets, Brava Opera Workshop, SOU Chamber and Concert Choir and the Southern Oregon Reparatory Singers. She was honored to sing multiple times for the Oregon State legislative assemblies. When Koral moved to Los Angeles she auditioned for her first season with ?An Irish Christmas.? She loves performing with the Kerry Irish Productions Inc. cast members

Soprano, is a Southern California native and graduate of the Bob Cole Conservatory at California State University, Long Beach, where she earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance. Ashley has performed with Long Beach Opera, the Pacific Lyric Association and the Los Cancioneros Master Chorale. She has performed as the featured soprano soloist in the MozartRequiem, the FaureRequiem, John Rutter 'sThe Mass of the Childrenand the VivaldiGloria. In 2005, Ashley was selected to represent Southern California at the Rose of Tralee International Festival in Ireland. She was interviewed and performed live on RTร , as a part of the festival featuring women of Irish descent from around the globe. Ashley is thrilled to return to the cast of ?An Irish Christmas? and to continue with the Kerry Irish Productions Inc. 2016-2017 season. Ashley is thrilled to return to Harris Center for An Irish Hooley 2017 and to continue with the Kerry Irish Productions Inc. 2017-2018 season.

ST. AM BROSE SPRING FEIS

26TH. Annual

May 26th and 27th, 2018 The Westin LA Airport Hotel 5400 W Century Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90045?

ST. AM BROSE FALL FEIS September 22nd & 23rd, 2018 The Westin Los Angeles Airport

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Kat h er in e Tr im ble, Mezzo soprano 2018 marks Trimble's San Jose State University, Katherine finds her Irish Christmas home the perfect meeting place of her classical music education and love of her heritage's music and dance. Katherine is fresh from playing Lilas Pastia (Carmen)with Opera San Jose where she was noted by the San Jose Mercury News for her "agile" performance.

Other operatic roles include Ormindo (L'Ormindo),Public Opinion (Orpheus in the

Underworld), Olga (Eugene Onegin), Zita Gianni Schicchi and Petra A Little Night Music! She has been the alto soloist in Mozart's and Durufle'sRequiemas well as Saint-Saen'sChristmas Oratorio.She has taken first place in competitions held by the SAI Music Fraternity, San Jose Woman's Club, and San Jose Study Club.

Katherine was also honored to be the first recipient of the Irene Dalis Memorial Award from San Jose State University.

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KERRY ARTISTS PROFILES Continued from page previous page...

Isaac Alder son , Uillean n pipes, Flu t e an d Wh ist les Alderson grew up in Chicago. At the age of 12, he discovered Irish traditional music and began serious lessons and practice on the uilleann pipes, learning from such players as Al Purcell, Patrick Cannady, Kieran O'Hare, and many others. At 14, he began to study the flute and whistle with Laurence Nugent from Co. Fermanagh. He traveled to Ireland over subsequent years which gave him the opportunity to study and play with many outstanding musicians. In 2002, Isaac won the All-Ireland Senior Championships on all three of his main instruments. After finishing college, Isaac toured for two

Jesse Langen, Gu it ar Langen is a guitarist from St. Cloud, Minnesota who currently lives in Chicago. He is equally comfortable on classical, electric and steel string, and plays professionally in a wide range of styles.

Jesse and his brother Tim grew up learning traditional fiddle tunes from their grandfather Clarence; his childhood guitar influences were the classical playing of his father, Bill, the playing of Daithi Sproule and Paul Brady, and the playing of delta blues legend Robert Johnson. He can be heard regularly in Chicago, throughout the US, and abroad as a soloist, as the guitarist for Ensemble Dal Niente, in thetrio Pesejet, in Hasco Duo with Amanda Deboer Bartlett, and in duowith harpist Ben Melsky.He is also a passionate and committed teacher of young musicians; his students have won multiple prestigious awards and been placed in international festivals, both as composers and as

performers.

years with Eileen Ivers as part of her band, Immigrant Soul, and afterwards with such diverse groups as Jameson's Revenge and Runa.

He currently performs with his band The Yanks, and the international quartet Comas, the showCeltic Crossroads, Irish bar band The Bronx Boys and the chamber folk group Ensemble Galilei. He has toured in the US, Canada, Ireland, Colombia, much of Western Europe, and recently did a three-month tour of China as the piper in the famed show,Riverdance. He also performed in the pit orchestra for Sting's Broadway musical,The Last Ship, during its Chicago run, and has toured withCeltic Woman. As a teacher, Isaac has led workshops in flute, whistle, and uilleann

pipes at the Great Northern Irish Pipers' Club Tionรณl, the St. Louis Tionรณl, the Re-Jigged Festival in Nova Scotia, the O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat in Texas, MAD Week in the D.C. area, the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival in Canada, Common Ground in Maryland, the Corofin Trad Fest in Co. Clare, Catskills Irish Arts Week in upstate New York, and the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival in Alaska. He has also led small workshops for students in Rio Negro and Villa de Leyva, Colombia.

Isaac teaches private lessons online and in person, mainly to advanced students. He is known for his patience and compassion in teaching students of all levels.

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The Celtic Camer a We are looking out for you! Send us your I r ish or Celtic Event photos and a caption. We'll give you a PHOTO CREDI T and Enter You in our Dr awing for a Celtic Gift Pack!

SAOIRSE RONAN r eceived h er SBIFF San t a Bar bar a Tr ibu t e Aw ar d in Febr u ar y aw ar d f r om h er co-st ar Tim ot h ee Ch alam et .

Photo by Barbara S

See feature on page 20

ABOVE: Pu blican an d At t or n ey Ron Scw ar t z an d M ayor of New por t Beach at M u ldoon's Ir ish Pu b on t h e occasion of bein g h on or ed on t h e M u ldoon's Ir ish Wall Of Fam e.

BELOW: St . Paddy 's Day Celebr at ion s ar e Even t s To Rem em ber at M u ldoon's Pu b an d last year w as as good as it get s!

Photos Courtesy of Muldoon's

Celt ic Ar t ist , Er in Rado , at t h e Scot t ish Fest ABOVE an d w it h h er cr ew at Son om a on t h e lef t .

Er in r ecen t ly did an even t on How To Dr aw Celt ic Ar t w it h t h e Celt ic Ar t s Cen t er in LA.

An M ar t a

Ir ish Ar t s & En t er t ain m en t

The Celtic Camer a

Rick Boyle an d t h e Boys f r om TROOPER THORN at THE HARP INN IRISH PUB

Ir ish Au t h or Gr eg Pat r ick sh ow n above w it h book illu st r at or an d ar t ist Kat h ie War r en w h o is w or k in g on h is n ew book , Falcon er s Cr y of Th e Hear t Harp and above Photo Courtesy of Greg Patrick

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SANTA BARBARA FILM FESTIVAL FETES IRISH ACTRESS SAOIRSE RONAN WITH HER THIRD SBIFF TRIBUTE THE SANTA BARBARA AWARD Feature & Photos by Barbara Singer Irish ?American actress, Bronx born, SAOIRSE RONAN is considered one of todays amazing Young talents. As the star of writer & director Greta Gerwig?s ?Lady Bird? film, SAOIRSE was welcomed back to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) 2018 as an honoree with the tribute of The Santa Barbara Award, presented to a person in the entertainment industry, who has made a great contribution to film. Her performance this year has received major acclaim, as well as an Oscar nomination. The SBIFF has a major role in the Hollywood awards season.

Past tribute visits to SBIFF for SAOIRSE were in 2016 with the award of Outstanding Performer of the Year for her role as a lonely Irish girl who relocated to New York, marries and longs to return to Ireland in ?Brooklyn.? This remarkable performance earned her an Oscar nomination. She was first tributed in Santa Barbara as a Virtuoso in 2010 for her part in ?The Lovely Bones? by director Peter Jackson. Her first Oscar nod was at age 12 for Best Supporting Actress in ?Atonement.? Early on SAOIRSE was recognized as a compelling young star.

At t h e h ist or ic Ar lin gt on Th eat r e, RONAN t ook cen t er st age f or a per son al in t er view w it h lon gt im e f est ival m oder at or An n Th om pson , t ellin g t h at sh e h ad been a ch ild per f or m er sin ce age 6. Wh en sh e played a par t w it h h er f at h er in a sh or t f ilm . It w as t h en t h at SAOIRSE r ealized t h at sh e loved act in g. Bot h of h er par en t s ar e f r om Du blin , Ir elan d, alt h ou gh

SAOIRSE w as bor n in t h e Br on x, New Yor k , at age 3 h er f am ily m oved t o Cou n t y Car low , Ir elan d, w h er e sh e w en t t o sch ool an d w as m ost ly h om e-sch ooled.

Sh e becam e a ch ild act or in t h e TV RTE soap ?Th e Clin ic? an d h er m ovie debu t w as as M ich elle Pf eif f er ?s dau gh t er in ?I Cou ld Never Be You r Wom an .

At this special occasion at the SBIFF, SAOIRSE was cheered by fans and spent pre-tribute moments for photos, signing autographs and posed for selfies with local young fans thrilled to see her back again. Just about all of them have seen her latest film ?Lady Bird.?

Never a dull moment for this powerful 23 year old young actress since her break through role in Joe Wright?s ?Atonement? at age 12 with an Oscar nod, she went on to other defining roles such as: in ?Hanna? as a trained assassin,?Byzantium? as a vampire,?The Grand Budapest Hotel? as a pastry chef, ?The Lovely Bones? as a girl, who has been raped and murdered and Peter Weir ?s ?The Way Back? as Irena, a polish orphan in WWII.In the works this year is her part in Ian McEwan?s ?On Chesil Beach? and her upcoming role as Mary Stuart in ?Mary Queen of Scots? plus Chekhov?s ?The Seagull? with Annette Benning and Elizabeth Moss. When she does have free time, you will find her reading, traveling or watching films.This year Ronan won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama, ?Lady Bird,? Here is a teen?s tale of a high school student in Sacramento. CA. As Christine ?Lady Bird? McPherson, she is uncanny and outspoken about her beliefs and has continual riffs with her mom, played by Laura Metcalf, hoping to move to New York for college, while her Mom tries to keep her home. She showed the quality of her craft in Gerwig?s film, where audiences could empathize with her. She was nominated for a BAFTA and SAG Awards for her compelling portrayal as well.

The lure of Broadway has now reached this young actress with her debut in Arthur Miller ?s ?Th e Cr u cible?

Ronan also has animation credits, as the voice of Marguerite Gachet in the biographical animated film ?Loving Vincent? and she even hosted the aging but hanging on "Saturday Nigh t Live "which irinically was a hit before she was born.

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T H E H O L Y FA I L , An I rish Comedy by Owen D ara Nuns and an I r ish Caper, What could go r ight?

On Festival Circuit Now, Release To Be Announced Soon ?The Holy Fail? is a comedy caper feature film set in Cork, Ireland. It's about a man (Owen Dara) who is desperately trying to save a marriage, in which his wife (Jessica Lancaster) is getting bored of the life they created together. In an effort to save the relationship, he attempts to show his wife how exciting he can be by agreeing to rob a safe with his best friend. With his wife enthusiastically on board, the couple, along with two of their wacky friends, plot to commit the robbery. What next ensues is an hilarious series of events as the unlikely criminals stumble through the planning and execution of what they believe to be a justified crime. In spite of a series of mishaps, they seem to be on the road to success, but unfortunately for them, they are ill- equipped for their greatest challenge yet? the wrath of an Irish nun. Will they learn the lesson of Thou Shalt Not Steal?

With the success of the robbery now thwarted, is there any hope that the marriage can be saved?

The producers Jessica Lancaster and Owen Dara are a real life couple who have completed two feature films together. The first ?Choosing Signs? has won numerous awards, including three Best Feature Film Awards, Best Soundtrack Award, and an Audience Favorite Award. It got its first theatrical release in 2013 and is slated to be distributed on digital platforms by Random Media in the summer of 2018. ?The Holy Fail? is having its world premiere on March 11th 2018 at the Pasadena International Film Festival.

I n case you missed it: Owen Dara is also featured in the Canoga Park St. Patrick's Day story on page 6 of this issue.

Dara will be performing there on 3/17!

w w w.t h eh olyf ailf ilm .com

SCREENING LINK Su n day M ar ch 11 Pasaden a Film Fest

Ow en Dar a was born in Cork, Ireland. While in his early twenties, he left and began making his living as busker, singing and playing his guitar on street corners throughout Europe, parts of the Middle East, Asia and Australia. While living in Melbourne, he started performing stand-up comedy and soon became a headline act on the comedy circuit. For several years, he performed his comedy in various parts of

the world and often appeared as a comedic guest on TV. Moving on, Dara needed to explore his other creative passions. He moved to the United States and began performing his original solo shows (Two Pint Wonder) and music in bars and clubs in LA while taking classes in writing, acting, and film-making. It worked! This is Dara's second film and the third is in post production.

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M ar ch

For March

Judas

By Sean Gunning Has that moment from long ago Flown from your mind; it has not mine.

And did your throat run wet or dry The hour before you gave the sign?

And has your kiss upon my cheek An age since left your trembling lips?

And from this cup did not our God With love design for us to sip?

Bring me thy silver-coined embrace!

Bring me thy lips" betraying deed!

Bring me thy heart's repentful grace!

Bring me thy love on wings of speed!

I will not fail to shine for thee A light toward forgiving peace, Till all who lose their way return; In this belief, your kiss I keep.

M or e In f o: w w w.bede.or g

This month's selection, JUDAS is from the book of poetry NO SAM ARITAN by our good friend, SEAN GUNNING. Used with permission.

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19TH. ANNUAL NEWPORT BEACH FILM FESTIVAL TO SHOWCASE IRISH CINEM A AND CULTURE After Party Set For Muldoon's Pub With Irish Music By SLIGO RAGS

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BLACK 47 Successful World Premier In Berlin

Fam in e Er a Ir ish Film Receives Cr it ical Acclaim At Ber lin In t er n at ion al Film Fest ival Th is gr ou n d br eak in g Ir ish Film has been called a "Revenge Action dram/thriller " in previous press. By all accounts, it is and it is set in a time and place that is not well known to most people; the Great Irish Famine.

Black 47 stars Hugo Weaving (?Hacksaw Ridge?, ?The Lord of the Rings?, ?The Matrix?) and Jim Broadbent, (OscarÂŽ winner for ?Iris?) and the prolific Irish screen and stage actor Stephen Rea (?The Crying Game?, ?Michael Collins?)

Following its debut at BIFF, the film is garnering recognition internationally, as it highlights the harrowing atrocities that took place in Ireland during the mid-19thCentury. ?Compared to other eras in Ireland?s history, there is no great wealth The 19th Annual Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF) will present one of contemporary Famine literature, few photographs document its of the largest celebrations of Irish Cinema on the West Coast during excesses and even fewer films.? its eight-day run (April 26-May 3rd, 2018) in Southern California. ?Black 47?joined films by Wes Anderson and Gus Van Sant at this Highlights include an Irish Showcase event, numerous premieres, year ?s festival and now follows major Irish films such as Jim several feature-length narrative and documentary films, two Irish Sheridan?s ?The Boxer?, Neil Jordan?s ?The Butcher Boy?and John Shorts programs, and the participation of Irish filmmakers and Michael McDonagh?s ?The Guard?to have premiered in Berlin actors.

On Sunday, April 29th, NBFF will present its Irish Showcase, an evening celebration of Celtic cinema and culture. The event will feature the premiere of the three highly anticipated Irish films followed by a n After Party with Irish Music by Sligo Rags at Muldoon?s Irish Pub. Since its inception almost twenty years ago, the NBFF has programmed over 100 Irish titles, to an estimated reach of over 750,000 audience members. Some of the recent films have included: A Date for Mad Mary (2017), Tomato Red (2017), Life?s A Breeze (2013) and The Runway (2011). The Festival is also proud to partner with Irish Film Festivals, including the Galway Film Fleadh, Richard Harris International Film Festival, and Audi Dublin International Film Festival

The Newport Beach Film Festival Irish Showcase is presented by Guinness and supported by Aer Lingus ? LAX to DUB Direct, The Irish Arts & Entertainment, w w w.M yIr ish Pr ide.com , M&M Printing, Irish Fair Foundation and Muldoon?s Irish Pub, Culture Ireland, Irish Screen America,among others.

Tickets will go on sale April 1 at:

w w w.New por t Beach Film Fest .com

?And so this may well be the first encounter international audiences will have had with the Great Hunger, and for them Daly delivers a resonant, beautifully performed Irish Western that benefits from the exotic sound of Irish Gaelic spoken as a living language,.."

Benlamin Klang

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I r i sh A r t & En t er t ai n m en t C al en d ar Fr iday, M arch 16 Star ts @ 6:30pm St. Patr ick's Celebr ation Dinner & Dancing I r ish M usic by K r is Colt & the Black Rose Band

Don your kilts and join Long Beach Symphony for an exciting program of Scottish music. We begin our Scottish journey withMendelssohn?s Symphony No. 3, inspired by the ruins of Holyrood Chapel in Edinburgh with a lively second movement incorporating the characteristic Scotch snap rhythm. Following intermission, the Symphony performsMax Bruch?s Scottish Fantasy featuring the harp in the instrumental accompaniment to Goulding's violin. The night wraps up withMaxwell Davies? charming Orkney Wedding with Sunrise that vividly depicts the riotous celebrations after a wedding on the Scottish isle. The piece closes with the entry of the bagpipes, which Davies describes as symbolic of the rising sun over Caithness. This is one of the few works in classical repertoire that uses this unusual instrument, so you won?t want to miss it!

MORE: w w w.lon gbeach sym ph on y.or g

THE NE'ER DUWEL S This band is the newest that O'Malley has helped form and nurture over the years and they are an eclectic blend of Irish Contemporary Music Makers who lean to the Traditional . According to their own accurate press, " who weave a seamless

blend of traditional Irish music, world rhythms and a sound distinctly their own."

The Ne'er Duwels are Ken O'Mallry. Patrick D'Arcy, Brian Dobbs and Grammy award winning percussionist Forrest Robinson.

w w w.n eer du w els.com

Sunday, M arch 18 @ 2:00pm The Ne'er Duwels in a Cour tyar d Concer t

Followed at 6:00pm by more I r ish M usic with Hugh L ehane M uldoon's I r ish Pub 201 Newpor t Center Dr. Newpor t Beach, CA www.muldoonspub.com

949 640-4110

Star ts at 11:AM till 2:PM

SATURDAY MARCH 17 In Per son an d Per f or m in g Af t er Th e M ar ch !!

TRUE THOM AS, Th e Ir ish St or yt eller Par ticipants Gather

in front of the M adr id Theatre l21622 Sher man Way Canoga Par k At 11:00AM The M arch star ts promptly at 11:30AM From the M adr id, The M arch goes to the Canoga Par k Far mer 's M ar ket on Owensmouth Stages and Continuous L ive I r ish Enter tainment FREE RAFFL ES Continue Till 2:00PM Free Event!!

PUBL I C I NVI TED!!

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Ir ish Sin ger M C & Com ic OWEN DARA JUM BO SHRIM P CIRCUS

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An M ar t a

On Goin g Celt ic Calen dar SUNDAYS Au ld Du blin er in Lon g Beach IRISH SESSION Starts at 4:00pm.

GOES TILL AFTER 7:00pm

w w w.au lddu blin er .com O'Br ien's Ir ish Pu b

Authentic OPEN IRISH SESSION Starts at 8:00pm

23r d. & Wilsh ir e San t a M on ica, CA w w w.obr ien sla.com Ye Olde Kin g's Head Su n day Kar aok e Starts @ 9:00pm (till 1:00am)

w w w.yeoldek in gsh ead.com Sh am r ock Ir ish Pu b an d Eat er y Sunday Evening Game Night Starts @ 9:00pm till closing

w w w.t h esh am r ock ir ish pu b an deat er y.com

M on days @ 7:00pm Celt ic Ar t s Cen t er Session & Ir ish Classes M eet @ M ayf low er Clu b Det ails & M or e on lin e: w w w.celt icar t scen t er .com M ost Th u r sdays @ 5:00pm Ken O'M alley Solo Sh ow Du blin n at ive, LA based, Ir ish Balladeer , O'M alley en t er t ain s w it h st or y an d son g alm ost ever y at t h is ear ly sh ow !

Au ld Du blin er Ir ish Pu b 71 S. Pin e Ave. Lon g Beach , CA 90802 562 437-8300

Ju n e 23r d - 24 t h 20 18.

Sat - Su n

9 am - 5p m .

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Brengle Terrace Park. 1200 Vale Terrace Drive Vista, CA.

w w w.sdh igh lan dgam es.or g

Open 8am St. Patrick's Day No Reservations Limited Menu

O 'B RI EN 'S I r i sh Pub & Restaurant

"The Sports Pub with the Irish Heart"

2226 Wilsh ir e Blvd. ~ San t a, M on ica, CA ~ 310 829-

w w w.obr ien sla.com

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An M ar t a

I r i sh A r t s & En t er t ai n m en t C al en d ar Sat u r day, M ar 17 @7:00pm An n u al Ir ish Cen t er of Sou t h er n Calif or n ia St . Pat r ick 's Day Din n er & Dan ce M u sic by Ken O'M alley an d t h e Tw iligh t Lor ds Ir ish Dan cin g w it h Th e Clear y Sch ool of Ir ish Dan ce

SAVE THE DATES!!

Th e Ir ish Fair an d M u sic Fest ival is t h r illed t o an n ou n ce

A NEW LOCATION for the IRISH FAIR & M USIC FEST! Sat u r day & Su n day, Ju n e 8 & 9 Or an ge Cou n t y Gr eat Par k Ir vin e, CA! "The Twilight Lords are the logical connection of ancient modalities to electric instruments. Their treatment of classic songs -- such as "The Foggy Foggy Dew," "The Water is Wide" and "Carrick Fergus" are amazing and real favorte of the Irish Community!!

Please join the fun and support the Irish Center of Southern California, Inc. which promotes Irish culture and supports our local Irish and Irish-American community.

Glen dale Hilt on

100 Glen oak s Blvd.

h t t p:/ / ir ish cen t er .or g w w w.k en om alley.com

Sunday, M arch 11 from Noon to 5:PM

FAM I LY FUN DAY!!

I f you are an I r ish M usic buff, You can't do much better than The Whooligans with their mix of timeless I r ish pub and rebel songs!

The Red L eprechaun 4000 E. Anaheim L ong Beach, CA

Glen dale, CA 91202

At t r act ion s f or t h e en t ir e f am ily.

Rides f or t h e k ids, M u ch M or e Ir ish M u sic, Ir ish Food an d Dr in k s Sh eep Her din g Dem on st r at ion s!

Ir ish Food & Libat ion s!

Dr op by ou r boot h !!

Th e Ir ish Ar t s & En t er t ain m en t h as st ar t ed a n ew Net w or k an d On lin e Com m u n it y!

You can sign u p at t h e

Ir ish Fair .

Hope to see you there!

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Ir ish Ar t s & En t er t ain m en t

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KEN O'M ALLEY, Pr of ile & Spr in g Sch edu le

once describer Ken O'Malley as, "the hardest usician", that he knew! I believed my friend then 25 years ago) and I still believe it today. ingly tireless and he is also one of the most straight forward Irish Music Makers that I know! zeal for his craft that makes him stand out; y standard a mega talent, a great singer with an gifted instrumentalist (guitar & mandolin) a storyteller. All this and his engaging and affable are much appreciated gifts to which both his nd music critics/writers will attest. He is also eader as he has formed or been in three of the d best Irish Traditional bends to have even fornia, The Mulligans The Twilight Lords and the , The Ne'er Duwels.. O'Malley also frequently s a duo. and has played in musicals.

EVERY WEEK ON TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS STARTING ON M ARCH 6 Starts @ 7:30pm Both Nights The Wren Theater Space at the Irish Import Shop will be hosting an open Traditional Music Session on Tuesday nights On Thursday Night OPEN MIC If you have any ideas for shows, classes or performances, we would love to hear from you and we will keep you posted as events are scheduled.

Currently we are looking for individuals who would be interested in doing readings, monologues or story telling at our open mic,Spoken Word Cabaret.

Stop by or call the shop for more details.

All are welcomed to participate by playing, dancing or just enjoy the ambiance, craic and good company. Refreshments will be available.

Admission is free and open to all members of Clan Craic.

Call Ken O'Malley started singing in pubs in Dublin at 15. He continued as an Irish solo act when he came to LA and started working and performing at Molly Malone's on Fairfax..

the Store for information

742 Vin e St . Hollyw ood, CA 323 467-6714

O'Malley is leading a tour this Spring to Ireland. Details linked here:

h t t p:/ / bit .ly/ 2BKCcM 5

See f eat u r e on page 15

M ar ch - Apr il Sch edu le High ligh t s Th u r sdays ear ly 5PM solo at t h e Au ld Du blin er , Lon g Beach Ken O'M alley w it h Jäger M alon e on Fr i, M ar 16 @6:00PM Br en dan's Ir ish Pu b an d Rest au r an t , New bu r y Par k , Ken w it h Ne'er Du w els, Cou r t yar d Con cer t at M u ldoon's Pu b on Su n day, M ar ch 18 @ 2:00PM Ken in Du o on Tu esday, M ar ch 20 @ 6:00pm Fin n M acCools, M ain St , San t a M on ica APRIL 8 Special Af t er n oon Con cer t w it h Ken O'M alley an d

t h e Ne"er Du w els Coffee Gallery Backstage, 2029 Lake Ave. Altadena, CA w w w.cof f eegaller y.com

w w w.gaelicla.com

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Ir ish Ar t s & En t er t ain m en t

Th e View f r om Ir elan d

By Maurice Fitzpatrick

Whose Narrative?

There is a theory abroad that some mean-spirited politicians within the DUP (a tiny minority of course) wished to block the re-establishment of the Northern Ireland Assembly until Gerry Adams stood down as President of Sinn Féin. The motive of this alleged plot was to deprive Adams of the chance to gloat in his valedictory about the distance Sinn Féin has come from 1983, when Adams became president of Sinn Féin, through to Sinn Féin?s electoral success in Northern Ireland combined with its reasonably strong presence in Southern politics. The theory falls down, however, now that Gerry Adams has been replaced by Mary Lou McDonald and, even so, there is all but no prospect of talks leading to a breakthrough in Stormont. Yet Gerry Adams?legacy, the fate of negotiations to revive Stormont and the DUP?s strategy remain linked in curious ways.

The latest crescendo hit Northern Irish politics on February 14th when Arlene Foster announced that she had given up on talks to re-establish the power-sharing Assembly, despite the arrival of the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister in Belfast on February 12th. The DUP?s pretext for withdrawing from negotiations is the threat to their identity that a stand-alone Irish Language Act apparently poses.

That language has emerged as the sticking point between the political factions is far less incidental than it might first appear. So many of Northern Irish identity problems are reducible to language, and it is only when those problems are addressed as being bound up in language that a profound shift can occur in the attitudes of people who live there.

Whether or not Foster realises this, it suits her to characterise Sinn Féin?s demand for an Irish Language Act as an arrogant and one-sided takeover of the power-sharing structure.

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What greatly enables Foster to characterise Sinn Féin thus, is that they are indeed dab hands at arrogant takeovers. For example, in early February, Sinn Féin?s national chairman, Declan Kearney, argued that the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s was in fact led by Sinn Féin, stating that the movement had ?multiple parents and many children??whereas the historical record debars them from legitimately claiming paternity to it. Danny Morrison, former Sinn Féin publicity director, is similarly enthusiastic to portray Sinn Féin as an equal rights party, stating

recently that if Unionists had acceded to equal rights on Good Friday 1969 nobody would have lost their lives in violence. Yet Sinn Féin?s defence of equal rights is vitiated by its ongoing defence of its terror campaign during the Troubles, including as far back as the 1973/4 period when a power-sharing Executive between Nationalists and Unionists attempted to govern Northern Ireland.

In a post-truth era, these howlers constitute the norm of political whitewashing and airbrushing ? an historical revisionism that poisons the contemporary political environment. Founding members of the Civil Rights Movement ? Bernadette Devlin McAliskey and Eamonn McCann ? rapidly dismissed the canard that the Civil Rights Movement was steered or started by Sinn Féin. McAliskey was scathing of the hypocrisy: ´ Those claiming bragging rights from 1968 might reflect with greater humility on the price paid against the degree of progress made since that first march and examine their actual contribution to the reality of 2018 ? a stagnant, sectarian, dysfunctional Stormont making the rich richer and the poor poorer; a damaged, demoralised and divided community; justice denied; truth distorted?.

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ONCE FIERCELY INDEPENDENT IRISH NOW EM BRACE EU CONTROL According to a recent feature in the WSJ, Ireland may be the most \pro-European country in the European Union. A 2017 Poll found that 87% of Irish citizens think EU membership is good for the country; only 12% responded that Ireland should follow the U.K. out of the EU.The most recent Eurobarometer survey found that 80% of Irish citizens are confident about the outlook for the EU, the highest of any member state.

Yet despite this optimism, Ireland?s relationship with the EU is bound to get more complicated.

For A Hu n dr ed Gen er at ion s t h e Ir ish f ou gh t t o r egain in depen den ce bu t n ow af t er abou t on e gen er at ion of lar gess f r om Br u ssels, t h ey seem r eady t o m ove lock st ep aw ay f r om ch er ised f r eesom t o Eu r opean dom in an ce of Ir ish Cu lt u al an d Econ om ic Lif e.

It is worth remembering that the Civil Rights Movement?s objective in 1968 was to secure the same rights in Northern Ireland as obtained in Britain. Since Sinn Féin could never risk arguing for the benefit of any form of association with Britain, their claim to an historic quest for rights carefully elides any reference to their campaign to extricate Ireland from the political link with Britain. In Sinn Féin?s revisionist project, they must not simply insert themselves into the narrative of a movement that was not theirs, they must reconfigure the original aims of that movement to reflect the image of Sinn Fein. Little wonder, then, that the founding members of the Civil Rights Movement abhor Sinn Féin?s forgeries upon the annals of history.

Against this backdrop of the historical narrative hewn to serve tawdry political agendas, a new documentary on Gerry Adams?political life, written and presented by veteran journalist Vincent Browne,

Over the past 45 years, EU membership has bought two great benefits to Ireland. The first is a dramatic economic transformation.

Since it joined in 1973, income per capita has soared from 60% of the EU average to the second highest in the EU. Memories of the 2009 banking crisis are already fading fast. The economy has grown by more than 5% every year since 2014, fueled by booming exports and large inflows of foreign investment; unemployment has fallen to 6.1% from a peak of over 15%, while average house prices have risen by 72% since 2013.

screened on TV3 on February 7thand 8th.

That there is no Unionist voice in Browne?s documentary undercuts the piece because it enables the film to considerably side-step Adams?attitudes towards sectarian killing during the Troubles and to power-sharing. The documentary does detail IRA atrocities and makes it clear that Adams ? for all his denials ? was a member of the IRA; Adams himself is absent from the film.

The most glaring absence in the documentary, however, is the constitutional alternative to violence that existed throughout the Troubles, which ultimately Sinn Féin embraced after the Good Friday Agreement. A younger viewer of this documentary could be forgiven for thinking that there was no middle ground during the decades of the Troubles, and that Adams?milestone achievement was not so much leading Sinn Féin towards constitutional politics but rather creating the political space in Northern Ireland for

constitutional politics to exist in the first place. The role of John Hume cannot be recognised in such a portrayal of history because Hume?s entire political life, starting as a Civil Rights leader in the 1960s, is a comprehensive repudiation of this narrative. This is history with pages ripped out.

This portrait of Adams ? who Martin Mansergh calls ?a statesman?in the documentary ? fails to liberate itself from the web of political fictions spun by apologists for a futile campaign of violence. As the prospect of re-establishing the Good Friday Agreement?s institutions becomes ever more remote, the revisionist narrative erodes the basis for their continued survival still further. It is the revisionist attitude of mind, more than anything else, that enables Arlene Foster to dominate and to sabotage Northern Irish political affairs today.

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Ir ish Ar t s & En t er t ain m en t

NEED M ORE INFORM ATION ON Irish Arts & Entertainment Ou r E New slet t er s ou r n ew NETWORK or w w w.pu bgu ide.com

M ar ch

Con t act :Jim M cDon ou gh Em ail: jim @pu bgu ide.com CELL: 951 216-1493 We of f er cost ef f ect ive an d pr oven m u lt i m edia adver t isin g & pr om ot ion al plan s st ar t in g at ju st $200. per qu ar t er !

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YOUR LINK & LISTING COULD BE HERE FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED WITH OUR FREE COM M UNITY & OUR CLIENT M ULTI M EDIA IRISH OUTREACH!

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STREET TEAM FORMING Just In Time for

St. Patrick's Day! Help u s get t h e w or d ou t on u pcom in g Ir ish / Celt ic Con cer t s, Even t s, Fair s & Film s!!

Join ou r Sou t h er n Calif or n ia Ir ish Even t s & M u sic St r eet Team ...

Com p t ick et s f or Sh ow s & Even t s an d a lot of ot h er per k s!

In t er est ed??

Call m y Cell 951 216-1493 or em ail u s at : ir ish m issive@gm ail.com Th an k s, Jim , Pu blish er