Tis the season! Win Tickets to Christmas Shows!
Vo l . X X X I V # 12
D ecem b er ~~ N o l l ai g
20 25
Celebrate Irish Traditions with Dance & M usic
CELTIC W OM AN
AN IRISH CHRISTMAS
Nollaig ? A Christmas Journey Page 13 Now t hrough December 22nd. Page 3 INSIDE THIS ISSUE All Around t he US! From East t o W est & In Bet ween! Celt ic and Irish Christ mas Shows t ake t o Cent er St age!!
New IrishPresident is all in on Irish! Starts on Page 17
Comment ary & News By John M cNally See page 15
Coverage starts on Page 3
& Profile on Ireland's New President
Our regular feat ures:
IRISH TRAVEL!
M aurice Fit zpat rick's View from Ireland
Christ mas M arket s See Page 25 & 26
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I r i sh Ar t s & En t er t ai n m en t
Irish Arts & Entertainment
Let t er f r om t h e Pu blish er
Th e opin ion s expr essed by ou r w r it er s ar e t h eir ow n an d do n ot n ecessar ily con vey t h ose of t h is m agazin e, ou r pu blish er or st af f .
Dear Readers,
Publisher & Managing Editor
2025 was a rough year in many ways. The polit ical t urmoil in Ireland and t he US cont inues and bot h of t hese nat ions t hat we cherish have some serious problems t hat need t o be addressed. I t hink it is our DNA as Irish Americans t o have a st reak of fait h in us t hat believes t hat we can cope and succeed so t hat is t he horse t hat I am backing. These are t he t imes when our at t it ude and grat it ude cards must be played. Bearing t his in mind, let 's all t ry t o focus on what is really good and posit ive and embrace and appreciat e t he t rue meaning of t he upcoming Christ mas Fest ivit ies!
Jam es M M cDon ou gh Marketing & Outreach
Th om M acNam ar a Jam es M cM ah on
Writers M au r ice Fit zpat r ick Joh n M cNally Gr eg Pat r ick Pau l Wat t er s Bar bar a Sin ger Pat r ick Weld
Press Relations OPEN; Sen d let t er or em ail t o Jim
Graphics/ Ad Design Jim , & Fr eelan cer s
Sales Reps Jim & Also OPEN
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Con t act Us Via Em ail: ir ish m issive@gm ail.com Jim 's Cell: 951 216-1493
All Copyr igh t s 2025
by M cDon ou gh M edia
December is upon us!! W e wish all of our advert isers, friends and readers a t ruly wonderful Christ mas Season!
In t he November issue, we were going t o publish a feat ure on t he Christ mas M arket s in Ireland. W e even referenced it on t he cover and I forgot t o put it in. W e received a few emails and calls point ing out t he error and we have t he st ory in t his issue on pages 25 & 26. In my November let t er, we ment ioned t hat "our world is changing drast ically and at a pace t hat is bot h amazing and unset t ling." I cert ainly st and by t hat remark and I was surprised by t he response t hat I got from a few of our readers. It is nice t o know t hat our readers agree t hat t he "Irish Communit y is import ant because it can help creat e a realit y and sense of belonging. W e all st rive t o make our coverage and feat ures bot h ent ert aining and relevant . Our writ er help make t his happen and we are honored t o have t hem help us. As we have been saying, we are expanding our reach. The Irish t hemed cont ent t hat we offer has a wide audience; far beyond SoCal so we are confident t hat we have a market around t he US. W e already have readers and subscribers in 6 count ries and in 15 plus st at es. Our mission is t o cont inue t o deliver a digit al magazine t hat is fun, int erest ing. readable and t rue t o t he cause. The cause being our shared love of Ireland and All Things Irish! W e have new feat ures coming t oo: a Celt ic Crossword Puzzle, and anot her feat ure t hat we did for years is being revived; t he Pan Irish Digest . Any ideas from you on what else we should cover would be appreciat ed. As we move ahead; we will keep offering a fant ast ic value t o our subscribers. Right now we are offering our readers a $5. per year discount on our one year subscript ion. M ent ion GOOD DEAL when you call or Email us.
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More INSIDE THIS ISSUE! Greg Pat rick's Time Tr avel SciFi Part 3 Page 23
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Calendar is growing! Submissions for Calendar, Celt ic Camera and Travel Feat ures are want ed: Send ideas and St ory Submissions wit h jpegs and capt ions
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AN IRISH CHRISTMAS is ext ensively covered in t his issue. W e t hink it is one of t he best Irish Christ mas Shows ever produced! Ent er our Ticket Cont est for a chance t o go!
Nollaig Shona daoibh go léir !
J ames M cDonough, Publisher
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Decem ber , 2025
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Celtic Woman December Release
N o l l ai g ? A C h r i st m as Jo u r n ey Experience the magical sound of Celtic Woman this holiday season In t he st illness of wint er, as t he world quiet s, familiar melodies drift like snowflakes; gent le, t imeless, and full of wonder. Celt ic W oman?s album is a reflect ion of t hat magic. Encompassing t radit ion and newness, and capt uring t he spirit of Christ mas in it s most delicat e form, each song is a window int o a wint er?s evening; some familiar, some reimagined, all wrapped in a feeling of joy.
Nollaig A Ch r ist m as Jou r n ey f eat u r es som e of you r f avou r it e Yu let ide classics in clu din g: God Rest Ye M er r y Gen t lem en , Nollaig n a m Ban , Lit t le Dr u m m er Boy & m or e, alon g w it h br an d-n ew com posit ion Nollaig n a m Ban an d som e Ir ish son gs & t u n e s w it h a
Ch r ist m as t w ist .
For m or e in f or m at ion an d t o or der , go t o: w w w.celt icw om an .com Continued on page 14
Celt ic W oman?s brand-new album Nollaig - A Christ mas Journey feat ures some of your favourit e Yulet ide classics! The word Nollaig is t he Irish word for ?Christ mas?.It is also t he name for t he mont h of December, and a given name for many people born wit hin t he mont h of December. For Celt ic W oman, it epit omises t he spirit of t he ent ire Christ mas season. Newest members Cait ríona Sherlock and Ciara Ní M hurcú make t heir Celt ic W oman debut on Nollaig - A Christ mas Journey. Sean-Nós singer Cait ríona and fiddle player Ciara join sopranos M airéad Carlin & M uirgen O?M ahony, along wit h fiddle player Tara M cNeill, are feat ured. This 13 t rack st udio album produced & arranged by Golden Globe-nominat ed composer Brian Byrne.
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Drawing from our rich herit age of Irish female musical t alent , Nollaig - A Christ mas Journey also feat ures a guest appearance by Sean-Nós singer Sibéal on 3 songs, and award-winning mult i-inst rument alist Tara Howley joins t he Celt ic W oman band playing Uilleann Pipes & W hist les.
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Celebrat e t he holiday season wit h Grammy-nominat ed mult i-plat inum Irish singing sensat ion Celt ic W oman
The t hirt een t racks on t his Chrit mas CD include: 1. God Rest Ye M erry Gent lemen (2:29) 2. Nollaig na mBan (4:45) 3. Have Yourself A M erry Lit t le Christ mas (3:00) 4. River (4:59) 5. Codail a Linbh (3:21) 6. Silent Night (4:16) 7. W exford Carol (4:06) 8. Lit t le Drummer Boy (3:05) 9. Don Oíche Úd i mBeit hil (2:24) 10. Silver Bells (3:45) 11. In t he Bleak M idwint er / Goin? Home (4:34) 12. The Bells of Dublin / Christ mas Eve / Navan in t he Snow (3:38) 13. Auld Lang Syne (4:50) See Celt ic W oman?s Symphony Christ mas Tour - Dec 2-22, 2025 Celt ic W oman is t he most successful all-female group in Irish hist ory, wit h a legacy of 12 Billboard number ones, over 10 million album sales & 3 billion online st reams t o dat e. In 2024 Celt ic W oman celebrat ed an incredible 20 years.
www.celt icwoman.com
Pict ured above, newest members Cait ríona Sherlock and Ciara Ní M hurcú make t heir Celt ic W oman debut on Nollaig - A Christ mas Journey. Sean-Nós singer Cait ríona and fiddle player Ciara join sopranos M airéad Carlin & M uirgen O?M ahony, along wit h fiddle player Tara M cNeill, are feat ured. This 13 t rack st udio album produced & arranged by Golden Globe-nominat ed composer Brian Byrne. Also, Celt ic W oman is current ly on t heir Symphony Christ mas Tour 2025 and have several concert dat es scheduled bet ween now and December 22, in various US cit ies. For concert det ails, t our informat ion and t o buy t icket s, go t o: www.celt icwoman/t our-dat es
Decem ber , 2025
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An I rish Christmas T r aditions Kerry Irish Product ions Announces But t er M aking t he 2025 W est Coast t our of Ag Déanamh
An Irish Christ mas Kerry Irish Product ions is back in 2025 wit h it s acclaimed product ion of An Irish Christ mas. These amazing shows feat ure an award-winning cast of dancers along wit h an incredible group of musicians and singers t o celebrat e t he holidays as only t he Irish can. Audiences will enjoy all t he holiday carols t hey know and love including Silent Night , Carol of t he Bells, and The Twelve Days of Christ mas plus a spect acular high-energy display of Irish dancing at it s very best
An Irish Christ mas is a celebrat ion of family and communit y t hat showcases some of t he great Irish holiday t radit ions Segment s of t he show are based on cent uries of Irish knowledge and t radit ion including, chasing t he wren, but t er-making, and dancing on t he half-door. An Irish Christ mas brings t hese t imeless t radit ions t o life, celebrat ing t he warmt h, wonder, and spirit of t he season t hrough uniquely Irish cust oms. In An Irish Christ mas, t he holiday season unfolds not just wit h t winkling light s and fest ive cheer, but wit h deep-root ed t radit ions t hat echo cent uries of Irish herit age. From candlelit windows t o spirit ed W ren Day parades, t he show capt ures t he heart of Ireland?s yulet ide cust oms? each one a t hread in t he rich t apest ry of Irish cult ure.
The Candle in t he W indow: A Beacon of Welcome One of t he most poignant images in An Irish Christ mas is t he single candle glowing in a window on Christ mas Eve. This t radit ion, st ill pract iced across Ireland, symbolizes hospit alit y and remembrance? a silent invit at ion t o t ravelers and a t ribut e t o loved ones far away or passed on. Hist orically, it was also a sign t hat M ary and Joseph would find shelt er t here, blending fait h wit h folklore.
In t imes gone by, but t er making was a cot t age indust ry in Ireland and an import ant t ask for many farming families. It played an import ant role in t he household economy. During t he churning, everybody, young and old who ent ered t he farmhouse, had t o t ake a t urn at t he churn which light ened t he labor of churning. There were many cust oms associat ed wit h t he product ion of t he but t er: salt or a drop of Holy Wat er was added t o ensure t hat t he but t er was prot ect ed from t hose t hat would like t o ?st eal t he but t er?for t heir own use,. W ork songs were also an essent ial part of t he magic of t he rit ual performed t o ensure t he success of t he but t er making (t o get more but t er, of course), and dances were danced around t he churn in a joyful expression of t hat success! Of not e: Ireland was t he leading export er of but t er t o t he known world in t he 18t h. cent ury.
Dancing on t he half door Ag Damhsa ar an Leathdhoras The ?half door?was an import ant part of Irish social life. Placed in front of t he front door it possessed no lat ch. It would swing back and fort h in free movement ! It admit t ed light and kept animals out . It was a wonderful cent er of ?gossip?and was no doubt , t he bearer of many secret s. It became t he ?st age?when an evening of fun or compet it ion was called in t he communit y. The half door would be removed from it s posit ion and dropped t o t he floor whereupon t he dance challenge was delivered! Somet imes t he half door was soaped t o make t he compet it ion more challenging!
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HALF DOOR from page 6 It was said - ?a good dancer could dance on a t ray, and an excellent dancer could dance on a half-penny?. The best dancers danced as it were, underneat h t hemselves, t rapping each not e of music on t he floor, and as each dancer at t empt ed t o out do t he ot her wit h more int ricat e st eps t he fun knew no end. The dancers always gat hered at t he end of t he dance in one friendly st ep, much t o t he joy of t he observer!
ABOVE: The Dancing STRAW BOYS from
An Irish Christ mas In some versions,, t he capt ain of t he St raw Boys might well, "kidnap" t he bride, demanding a ransom of port er!
The Day of t he W ren Lá an Dreoilín The show?s depict ion of W ren Day, celebrat ed on St . St ephen?s Day (December 26t h), is a vibrant nod t o one of Ireland?s oldest cust oms. Tradit ionally, ?W ren Boys? dressed in st raw and colorful cost umes parade t hrough t owns, singing and playing music while carrying a symbolic wren bird. .
: Half Door Dancing from
Above
An Irish Christ mas
St raw Boys Buachaillí Tuí This ancient t radit ion of act ing out old st ories and songs had t he men dressing in disguise and using st ylized st raw hat s t o hide t heir faces. They would randomly appear at celebrat ions t o perform t heir songs and dances, and t hey usually request ed and received food, money or some t oken of grat it ude in ret urn. In former t imes when house weddings were t he norm, it was common for St raw Boys t o appear and t hey were always welcomed and t reat ed well!
This rit ual, root ed in
Celt ic legends, myt hology and medieval pageant ry, honors communit y, mischief, and renewal.
Decem ber , 2025
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K er r y I r i sh Pr o d u ct i o n s p r esen t s AN I RI SH CH RI ST M AS No one celebrat es Christ mas wit h more joy t han t he Irish. W e kicked off t he t our yest erday wit h an ent husiast ic crowd and a st anding ovat ion! M eet t he cast in t his special feat ure!
From his 12 years of t raining, AJ has achieved much success in t he compet it ive world of Irish Dance. Current ly, AJ is t hird in t he W orld, a Nat ional Champion, and 6-t ime Sout hern Regional Champion. AJ is incredibly grat eful for t he opport unit y t o t ake t his st ep forward in his dancing career. He is looking forward t o ent ert aining audiences across California and sharing his passion for Irish dance wit h audiences of all ages in t he product ion of An Irish Christ mas.
Elizabet h Gerhard
AJ Brainerd began Irish dancing at t he age of eight , and it quickly became his passion.
Elizabet h has been dancing since she was t wo and found her t rue passion for Irish Dance when she was seven years old. She is an Open Champion wit h t he Clan Rince School of Irish Dance, and t his is her fourt h t our wit h An Irish Christ mas. Elizabet h graduat ed from UCLA t his spring and now is at t ending graduat e school at Vanderbilt Universit y.
Layla Giles began Irish dance at t he age of four and has been compet ing and performing for more t han t hirt een years Training under Jeannie Thornt on wit h Clan Rince School of Irish Dance in San Diego, she is a W orld Qualifier, W est ern Region US Top 10, and placed in t he Top 40 at t he Nort h American Irish Dance Nat ionals. In addit ion t o her compet it ive achievement s, Layla is a feat ured dancer wit h t he Na Scéalait he Irish Dance Collect ive and made her debut wit h Kerry Product ions in t he acclaimed St . Pat rick?s Day in Ireland in M arch 2025.
Decem ber , 2025
Irish Dance Team Continued
Ellie M endler, Clan Rince School of Irish Dance
I r i sh Ar t s & En t er t ai n m en t America. W hile pursuing her compet it ive goals, Kelly at t ended t he Universit y of M innesot a and graduat ed summa cum laude wit h a B.A. in Philosophy.
Page 9 Academy (USA & Ireland), he helps t rains dancers bot h compet it ively and professionally, inst illing in t hem t he same passion, discipline, and art ist ry t hat defined his own career.
Kelly has t oured t he U.S. and Europe wit h mult iple product ions including Gaelforce Dance, Celt ic Rhyt hms of Ireland, Dance M ast ers, and Celt ic Illusion, as well as performing as a lead dancer for several years wit h Celt ic Fyre, an award-winning product ion at Busch Gardens in W illiamsburg, VA. She is also a cert ified Irish dance t eacher (T.C.R.G.) and a Barre inst ruct or and Regist ered Yoga Teacher (RYT200).
Ellie M endler is an accomplished Irish dancer, from Clan Rince School of Irish Dance, where she has t rained and compet ed for t he past eight years under t he direct ion of Jeannie Thornt on, Alisa Dosch, and Rori Rit chie. In November 2024, she placed 10t h in t he W est ern U.S. Region and has represent ed her school at prest igious int ernat ional compet it ions, including t he CLRG W orld Irish Dance Championships. This summer, Ellie t raveled t o Ireland t o perform wit h t he renowned Fusion Fight ers at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, Ireland?s largest t radit ional music and dance fest ival. This year marks her debut performance in An Irish Christ mas, and she is t hrilled t o be part of t he product ion. Out side of dance, Ellie is pursuing a degree in Human Development at t he Universit y of California, Davis, wit h plans t o become a physical t herapist .
Kelly Pearson hails from M inneapolis, M innesot a, and has been Irish dancing for over t went y years, first wit h Scoil na dTri Irish Dance Academy and t hen wit h Corda M or Irish Dance. During Kelly?s compet it ive career she qualified for t he W orld Championships five t imes, achieving mult iple placement s in t he t op 10 in M id-America and t he t op 20 in Nort h
This year, Cian is especially excit ed t o be back wit h Kerry Product ions?An Irish Christmas, bringing his art ist ry and energy t o audiences across California during t he holiday season.
Kelly Pearson delight ed t o
Ellie Port er. Born in Dublin, Ireland and now based in At lant a, Georgia
ret urn t o An Irish Christmas and is excit ed t o share her passion for dancing (and t he holiday season) wit h audiences and performers alike.
Cian Port er- Irish Dancer Originally from Dublin, Ireland Now based in Jacksonville, Florida, Cian Port er is a world-renowned professional Irish dancer whose career has spanned st ages across t he globe. W it h numerous int ernat ional t it les t o his name, Cian rose t o prominence as a feat ured performer wit h Riverdance, t ouring ext ensively around t he world. His career highlight s include performing for t he President of t he Unit ed St at es at t he W hit e House as well as for t he President of Germany. Beyond t he spot light , Cian is dedicat ed t o passing on his craft t o t he next generat ion. As he helps out at his family?s academy, Kavanagh Port er
Ellie Port er is an accomplished Irish dancer .... See next page
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KERRY DANCERS Continued
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t he Riverdance Summer Showcase. This season, she is delight ed t o ret urn t o t he st age wit h An Irish Christ mas!
Ronan Krist ufek began Irish Dancing at t he age of nine wit h t he Onórach M ulhern Geraght y School in Chicago.
Layla Giles M ost recent ly, she t raveled t o Dublin t o perform on t he iconic Gaiet y Theat re st age as part of
Since t hen, Ronan has become a four-t ime M id-American champion, t wo-t ime Nort h American champion, and a five-t ime world medallist , placing as high as t hird. Professionally, he has performed around t he world wit h M ichael Flat ley?s ?Lord of t he Dance,? dancing in places such as Aust ralia, Sout h Africa, and Taiwan.
"
Ronan Krist ufek He has also performed t hroughout t he US wit h ?A Tast e of Ireland? and is excit ed t o be joining Kerry Product ions??An Irish Christ mas? for his second t ime!
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Elllie Port er has shared t he magic of Irish dance wit h audiences around t he world. She has performed wit h celebrat ed act s such as Celt ic W oman, Lisa Kelly, Chloë Agnew, t he High Kings, and many more. Alongside performing, Ellie Port er remains a dedicat ed compet it or, proudly placing 10t h in t he world, sixt h in t he nat ion, and t hird in t he region. W it h a passion for t radit ion, precision, and st oryt elling t hrough dance, Ellie is t hrilled t o be t aking t he st age again for her second t our wit h Kerry Product ions?An Irish Christ mas t his season.
Aubrey St agnaro began Irish Dance at t he age of four and has been compet ing and performing for over t en years.
I r i sh Ar t s & En t er t ai n m en t
Dancing wit h Celt ic Irish Dance Academy, under t he direct ion of M aeve Coughlan she is a five-t ime W orld Qualifier, has placed in t he W est ern Region US Top 10, and placed in t he Top 20 at t he Nort h American Irish Dance Nat ionals. In addit ion t o compet ing t hroughout t he U.S. and Int ernat ionally, Aubrey has performed on nat ional t elevision, in t he Hollywood Christ mas Parade, t he Jennifer Hudson Show, and in 2022 at t he Dorot hy Chandler Pavilion as part of t he 62 nd Annual Holiday Celebrat ion. Aubrey has become a familiar face wit h Kerry Irish Product ions and t his year she has t aken on t he role of Assist ant Dance Capt ain in An Irish Christ mas as well as cont inuing t o feat urein t he show. Aubrey is a Varsit y Cheerleader for bot h Gameday and Compet it ion Cheer, and a Gold Award Girl Scout .
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Aubrey St agnaro.
Daily Lu n ch Specials
Click Her e
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M ore from K er r y I r ish Productions: The 2025 Tour 's
AN I RI SH CHRI STMAS M USI CI ANS TEAM Anna Collit on (Bodhrán, Perussion) Anna Collit on?s dist inct ive and imaginat ive playing has made her one of t he leading exponent s of t he bodhrán, t he t radit ional Irish frame drum. Anna has appeared wit h Eileen Ivers, Cherish t he Ladies, Comas and t he Paul M cKenna Band among ot hers, worked as a sub wit h t he original company of t he Broadway hit ?Come From Away,? and complet ed a t hree-year residency at Walt Disney W orld in Orlando, Florida. She has performed and t aught at dozens of fest ivals across t he count ry, including Cat skills Irish Art s W eek, The Swannanoa Gat hering Celt ic W eek, Fairbanks Summer Art s Fest ival, The O?Flahert y Irish M usic Ret reat , The St . Louis Tionól, CCE M AD W eek, The Gulf Coast Cruinniú, Tune Junkie W eekend, and t he Nort h American Comhalt as Convent ion. As a t eacher dedicat ed t o advancing t he t radit ion of bodhrán playing, Anna inspires st udent s of all levels t o incorporat e bot h ?t he old?and ?t he new?int o t heir playing, emphasizing t he import ance of personal st yle in t radit ional music. Anna is also t he aut hor of ?Hide and Seek: An ears-first approach t o int erpret ing rhyt hm and variat ion in Irish t radit ional melody for t he bodhrán,? which is a funny lit t le bodhrán book for int ermediat e and advanced players
An n a Collit on
The An Irish Christ mas M usicians
Colin Cot t er (Guit ar)
Colin is a mult i-inst rument alist , singer, songwrit er, recording art ist from t he San Francisco Bay Area. He has played gigs from coast t o coast in t he USA, t ours int ernat ionally and t eaches regularly at some of t he t op folk music camps in t he count ry. Colin grew up fully immersed in music. W hen he was four years old, his mom gave him a fiddle and began t eaching him t o play t he t unes she had learned herself as a child, building on several generat ions of a family t radit ion in Finnish folk music. He fell in love wit h t he Scot t ish and Irish t radit ional t unes and songs along t he way and Celt ic music would come t o play a leading role in his ongoing musical journey alongside Americana, rock, pop, funk, and a wide array of improvisat ional jam bands.
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This is Alasdair?s second t our wit h An Irish Christ mas.
COLIN Continued He has released several albums wit h t he bands he co-founded, M AC (Perfect ly M anufact ured Realit y, 2018) and A Thousand Years at Sea (4 releases bet ween 2009-2014) and has mult iple new releases in t he works wit h his current project s which include an edgy, elect ro-acoust ic advent ure wit h fiddler / violist Ryan M cKasson - Old Growt h Graveyard; an int ergenerat ional acoust ic groove, energized t rio called Joe Craven & Frisky! wit h Joe Craven and Sumaia Jackson; and duos wit h fiddlers Sumaia Jackson and Adrianna Ciccone. This is Colin?s second t our wit h An Irish Christmas.
Alasdair W hit e (Fiddle and W hist les). Alasdair White is an exceptional exponent of west coast Scottish and Irish traditional music and is widely regarded as one of the foremost Scottish fiddler players of his generation. He wasborn and brought up on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, a chain of islands of singular importance to Gaelic Scotland?s musical heritage and is perhapsbest known as having been a member of Scotland?s seminal Battlefield Band for over 16 years, touring extensively in that time throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Now resident in New York, Alasdair has performed and recorded as a guest with many of the best-known names in Scottish, Irish and Breton traditional music including Kathleen MacInnis, Julie Fowlis, Eddie Reader, Allan MacDonald, M anus Lunny, Nuala Kennedy, and Arnaud Ciapolino. Current ongoing project s include Daimh, t he Alan Kelly Gang and of course, Bat t lefield Band. Alasdair also recent ly premiered a major commission at t he Hebridean Celt ic fest ival in St ornoway, an hour-long original piece ent it led An Iuchair.
Alasdair Wh it e I rish M usic wit h song and dance is t he main
reason AN IRISH CHRISTM AS is so popular. The singing cast members in Kerry Irish Product ion's Annual Christ mas Shows are some of t he best in t he world. One such example is Julie Hint on, based in Los Angeles. She is t he principal soprano for t he 2025 An Irish Christ mas Tour. Julie Hint on is a mult ifacet ed performer based in Los Angeles, excelling as a singer, act or, writ er, and composer. See full story on page 6
T h i s H ol i day Season T r eat your sel f w i t h som e I m por t ed Bi squet s, Can dy & a gr eat sel ect i on of I r i sh an d UK T ea!
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The principal soprano t his year for An Irish Christ mas is Julie Hint on Julie Hint on is a mult ifacet ed performer based in Los Angeles, excelling as a singer, act or, writ er, and composer. Hint on regularly lends her voice t o various performances t hroughout t he great er LA area, working as a recording art ist , church soloist , choir conduct or, Christ mas caroler, and more. Beyond performing, Julie?s choral arrangement s are sung by groups around t he world, showcasing her t alent s as a composer and arranger. Her dynamic st age presence has led her t o st ar in numerous musical t heat er product ions, and she co-wrot e and recorded t hree albums of The Big American W int er Holiday M usical Spect acular.
Pr in cipal Sopr an o Ju lie Hin t on
Celebrating T radition and Excellence:
C l an Ri n ce Sch o o l o f I r i sh D an ce Since 1998, Clan Rince School of Irish Dance has been infusing San Diego wit h t he joy, t radit ion, and boundless energy of Irish dance. W e are more t han just a dance st udio; we are a t rue communit y. In fact , our name, Clan Rince (pronounced clan rinka), lit erally t ranslat es t o ?dance family? in Gaelic. From our very first day, our mission has remained simple: t o cult ivat e a welcoming, family-orient ed environment where every dancer? from t he recreat ional beginner t o t he compet it ive at hlet e? feels inspired, support ed, and successful. W e recognize t hat everyone learns different ly, which is why our t eaching approach is as unique as our st udent s. At Clan Rince, we blend t he grace of t radit ional Irish dance wit h t he excit ement of modern choreography. W e offer classes for bot h children and adult s, ages 5 and up. W het her t raining for fun, fit ness, and friendship, or aiming for regional, nat ional, and int ernat ional compet it ion, our st udent s find t heir rhyt hm here. Along t he way, t hey part icipat e in vibrant performances, parades, and communit y event s, keeping Irish cult ure alive and t hriving t hroughout San Diego. Founded by Nort h American Champion Jeannie Thornt on, ADCRG, Clan Rince quickly expanded from our original st udio in hist oric Kensingt on t o a second locat ion in San M arcos, serving Nort h Count y and coast al communit ies. Jeannie was joined in 2006 by her former st udent Alisa Dosch, ADCRG, and in 2020 by t he t alent ed Rori Rit chie, TCRG. Toget her, t his passionat e and highly qualified t eam t eaches full-t ime at bot h st udios, sharing decades of
experience and a cont agious love for Irish dance. As regist ered t eachers and adjudicat ors wit h An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha in Dublin? t he global governing body of Irish dance? we uphold t he highest st andards of t raining and performance. W het her you are st epping int o your first class or aiming for t he world st age, Clan Rince is here t o help you achieve your goals while celebrat ing t he spirit , t radit ion, and joy of Irish dance.
Special Guest Dancers: Ella Zabr osk y Ella Yer k es Kily Kin g Kaya Fer n an dez Jacob Kr am er M ar ie M cCain Alain a Haw k Ava Sch n eeber ger Saoir se Law lor Sh ay Reed
Decem ber , 2025
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Ir elan d?s Sam h ain an d M exico?s Día de los M u er t os Fet ed In Los An geles The Consulat e General of M exico in Los Angeles, in collaborat ion wit h t he Consulat e General of Ireland, host ed a celebrat ion unit ing t wo rich t radit ions t hat honor ancest ors: Ireland?s Samhain and M exico?s Día de los M uert os. Samhain, t he Celt ic precursor t o Halloween, marks t he end of t he harvest season and t he beginning of t he ?darker half ? of t he year? a t ime when t he boundary bet ween t he living and t he dead was believed t o grow t hin. In M exico, Día de los M uert os pays homage t o loved ones who have passed on, t hrough vibrant alt ars, marigolds, and heart felt offerings. M ore t han a remembrance, it is a joyful gat hering where color, rit ual, and affect ion int ert wine, celebrat ing t he et ernal bond bet ween life and deat h. Alt hough t hese t radit ions emerged worlds apart , bot h reflect a shared belief in t he enduring connect ion across generat ions. This joint event offered a unique opport unit y t o explore how different cult ures honor t he same universal experience. Held on Oct ober 30t h at t he M exican Consulat e in Los Angeles, t he celebrat ion feat ured lively Irish t radit ional music by The Lads; st oryt eller Lisa Dobbyn, who recount ed t he legend of Jack O?Lant ern and t raced Halloween?s root s back t o Ireland; and a concluding performance by t he Oaxacan ensemble M aqueos M usic. Cait lín Higgins Ní Chinnéide, t he newly appoint ed Consul General of Ireland t o t he Sout hwest ern Unit ed St at es, previously served as Deput y Head of M ission at Ireland?s Embassy in M exico.
John M cNally, wearing a San Pat ricio Bat t alion shirt , and Sally M cNally, dressed as a crow, at t he M exican Consulat e in Los Angeles.
She holds a BA in M odern Hist ory and Polit ics from t he Universit y of Oxford, as well as an M Phil and PhD in M odern Irish Hist ory from Trinit y College Dublin, and was called t o t he Irish Bar in 2014. A Dublin nat ive, she is fluent in bot h Irish and Spanish.
Joint Ofrenda, designed by Oaxacan art ist Aldo Cruz, a symbol of cult ural connect ion and remembrance included t ribut es t o t he lat e M anchán M agan and Sinead O'Connor.
John M cNally In the center above: Irish Consul General Cait lin Higgins Ní Chinnéide and
M exican Consul General Carlos González Gut iérrez at t he Samhain and Día de los M uert os celebrat ion.
Our frequent Cont ribut ing W rit er is Insight ful and well t raveled. He is very well known t hroughout Sout hern California as an Irish Communit y act ivist and organizer.
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From t he Claddagh t o t he Áras: The Rise of Ireland's President Cat herine Connolly In lat e 2025, Ireland wit nessed a hist oric shift wit h t he elect ion of Cat herine Connolly. Inaugurat ed on November 11, 2025, following a landslide vict ory, she became t he t ent h President of Ireland and t he t hird woman t o hold t he office. Her ascent t o t he Áras an Uacht aráin is a st ory of grit , int ellect , and an unwavering commit ment t o t he "plain
people of Ireland." Born in 1957 in Shant alla, a working-class neighborhood in Galway Cit y, Connolly?s beginnings were humble. She was one of 14 children raised in a social housing est at e. Her fat her
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was a carpent er and shipbuilder who craft ed t he t radit ional Galway hookers, inst illing in her a deep respect for Irish herit age and craft smanship. Tragedy st ruck early when her mot her died when Connolly was just nine years old, a loss she has cit ed as a defining moment t hat shaped her resilience. Connolly is a brilliant woman wit h a career spanning psychology, law, and polit ics. She first qualified as a clinical psychologist , st udying in Galway and Leeds, before lat er becoming a barrist er. She ent ered polit ics locally, serving on t he Galway Cit y Council and event ually as M ayor of Galway (2004?2005). Prior t o her president ial run, she served for
nearly a decade as an Independent Teacht a Dála (TD) for Galway W est . She gained a reput at ion in t he Dáil for her firm belief t o hold t he government t o account , part icularly during her t enure as Leas-Cheann Comhairle (Deput y Speaker) from 2020 t o 2024.
"My journey from the Claddagh to the Phoenix Park has been driven by one simple belief: --that the Presidency belongs not to the powerful, but to the plain people of Ireland." She was never a "part y insider," running as an Independent who refused t o t oe a part y line.
CATHERINE CONNOLLY Personal Life and W ealt h Connolly is not considered wealt hy. She has frequent ly emphasized her reliance on her public salary and has pledged t o ret urn a significant port ion of her president ial allowance t o t he st at e, consist ent wit h her socialist principles. She has been married t o Brian M cEnery since 1992, and t hey have t wo adult sons. W hile her official residence is now t he palat ial Áras an Uacht aráin in Dublin?s Phoenix Park, her heart remains in t he W est . For over 30 years, she has lived in a modest home in t he Claddagh, t he hist oric fishing village in Galway Cit y famous for t he Claddagh ring. It is expect ed she will ret urn t here frequent ly when not performing official st at e dut ies, keeping her grounded in t he communit y she championed for decades.
Ser ved Ever y Day t h r ou gh Decem ber
Decem ber , 2025
I r i sh Ar t s & En t er t ai n m en t
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The View From Ireland
President Connolly and t he Irish Language By M aurice Fit zpat rick The role of t he Irish language became prominent in t he Irish president ial elect ion, not least because only one of t he t hree candidat es t o receive nominat ions is a fluent Irish speaker ? t he one who became Ireland?s 10t h president , Cat herine Connolly. The debat e about t he import ance of our Head of St at e having a command of t he language t ook various forms but was largely reducible t o t he proposit ion whet her fluency in Irish should or should not be a requirement for t he holder of an office symbolising Ireland. The word ?symbol?is key because many support ers of t he Irish language engage in t he language in t hat way only; it is symbolic of Ireland, propped up by t heoret ical defences. In her inaugural address on November 11t h, President Connolly announced t hat she would make Irish t he first language of Áras an Uacht aráin, and she also cit ed t he old dogma, ?t ír gan t eanga, t ír gan anam?/ ?a count ry wit hout a language is a count ry wit hout a soul?.This may prove anot her inst ance of t heoret ical advocacy. Alt hough t he first and most aut horit at ive language of t he st at e ? judicially and const it ut ionally ? is Irish, t here are ext remely rare inst ances when t he aut horit y of t he Irish language version of t he const it ut ion, Bunreacht na hÉireann, is cit ed as superseding t he English language version. Cont radict orily, English is in pract ice so preponderant in all aspect s of Irish public life t hat it voids claims made for Irish (except in t heory). Connolly said: ?Irish will not be spoken in a low voice in t he Áras; it will have first place as a working language?.W hat is t he basis for t he implicat ion t hat speakers of Irish are forced int o speaking it in a ?low voice?? The subt ext is t hat t he language cont inues t o be oppressed. Yet Connolly?s predecessor as president , M ichael D. Higgins, who held t he office for fourt een years, rout inely int erpolat ed Irish in his speeches and never faced censure for doing so. Sounding t hat keynot e for Irish as an
oppressed language is an anachronist ic view, far t ruer in t he 19t h or 20t h cent uries t han in t his one. W hile t he st at e could cit e t he primacy given t o t he language in t he educat ional syst em and in t he civil service since t he st at e?s foundat ion over a hundred years ago, a dominant at t it ude t owards t he language has been t hat t he English language is infinit ely more import ant . Associat ions of t he Irish language wit h defeat and marginalisat ion prevailed. The broad inabilit y or unwillingness t o ret hink t he language and embrace it as a beaut iful addit ion t o daily life has done far more t o keep it down t han anyt hing else. The challenges t hat Irish faces (and t here are many) no longer st em from oppression, but from a lack of act ivism in using it at every level of Irish societ y. Connolly?s words chime wit h a march held in Dublin on Sept ember 20t h in which over 25,000 people demanded increased support for t he Gaelt acht ? t he biggest march in support of t he Irish language in our hist ory. There was not a ?low voice?among t he marchers. The st rengt h of t he t urnout bespeaks a growing confidence in expressing t he language and it s cent ralit y t o our herit age. The immediat e concern of t he marchers is t hat t he housing crisis const it ut es a part icular t hreat t o t he Gaelt acht . W hen t he next generat ion of an area whose language could disappear in daily use cannot afford t o live in t he Gaelt acht , an emergency is heaped upon an emergency. If President Connolly makes speaking out in favour of Irish a recurrent t heme of her presidency, a focus on t he new-found confidence in Irish t hat animat es t hat organised act ivism would be a good place t o st art , swapping a vocabulary of afflict ion for a vocabulary of gain. Irish speakers are accorded a legal st at us in t he st at e in t he 21st cent ury t hat was badly lacking for most of t he 20t h cent ury. For example, in 2001, a landmark case in t he Supreme Court , O?Beoláin v. Fahy (2001), est ablished a precedent t hat t he st at e must provide Irish-language t ranslat ions of
Ou r r egu lar con t r ibu t or , M au r ice Fit zpat r ick is an Ir ish w r it er an d f ilm m ak er w h o w as edu cat ed at Tr in it y College Du blin . Fit zpat r ick au t h or ed t h e book , John Hume in
America: From Derry to DC an d w r ot e, dir ect ed, an d pr odu ced t h e docu m en t ar y f ilm , John Hume in America.
CLICK t o bu y or m or e INFO Act s of t he Oireacht as even if t he president signs a legislat ive bill in t he English language only. That paved t he way for a move at a supranat ional level, in t he European Union.
: EU HQ in Brussels
ABOVE
Since 2022, Irish has had parit y of est eem wit h ot her EU official languages ? and all EU document s must now be t ranslat ed int o Irish. View conclusion next page
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View Continued The view from t he Nort h is, as it t ends t o be, a lit t le more complex. The flowering of t he Belfast Gaelt acht , Irish-language hip hop and t rad groups are suggest ive of a mini renaissance. The Nort hern Ireland Assembly also managed t o est ablish an Irish-language commission t o support t he language t his Oct ober. Probably most remarkable is t he work of Linda Ervine in East Belfast in est ablishing communit y classes and now an Irish-language school (Gaelscoil) in an area t radit ionally host ile t o t he language. Her premise is t hat t he Irish language pervades our shared cult ural herit age and our place names. Ervine faces down t hreat s t o her life t o t ake t hose init iat ives in unionist East Belfast , displaying an appreciat ion of t he richness of Irish t hat is oft en forgot t en sout h of t he border where many t ake language right s for grant ed. This debat e ult imat ely goes back t o reframing t he language, t o ret hinking it s anchors and associat ions and envisaging a new t raject ory for it . There are definit e st irrings of t hat happening in Ireland now. So, perish t he nonsense t hat recent ly arrived people t o our island could feel excluded by our using Irish (t hat is not somet hing t hat keeps t he French up at night when t hey speak Français). An act of espousal is wort h a world of doubt s, hesit at ions and object ions. Next t ime you are in Dublin and want t o order a cup of coffee you could make a point of doing so in Irish: ?Tabhair dom cupán caife, le do t hoil?.W het her t he server has been raised in Ireland or is a foreign nat ional t hey will probably decipher t he order. If you want an espresso (for which t here is no dist inct t ranslat ion int o Irish), why not make up your own t ranslat ion? ?Tabhair dom caife luais, le do t hoil?.The server may well have arrived t o work on t he Luas (t he t ram syst em in Dublin) for years and never once wondered what t he word ?luas?means. It means ?express?.
Tír gan t eanga in úsáid, t ír gan t eanga i gceart : a count ry wit hout a language in use is a count ry whose language has not fully come int o being.
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N ov em ber , 2025
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Yo u M U ST B E a C u r r en t Su b scr i b er . T o su b scr i b e n ow , j u st sen d u s y o u r n am e an d Em ai l an d w e w i l l b i l l y o u i n Jan u ar y B U T St ar t y o u r su b scr i p t i o n an d el i gi b i l i t y f o r o u r W EEK L Y D RAW I N GS r i gh t aw ay. Em ai l u s at : i r i sh m i ssi v e@gm ai l .co m
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Ireland's Chef Paul's Watters
Sliced pork filet on a rocket salad with pomegranate and a red pepper and a smoked paprika sprinkle with a pomegranate syrup drizzle Serves 4 You will need
For t he Pork Fillet 350?400g pork fillet (Close to one pound of tenderloin) 1 tsp smoked paprika ½ tsp red pepper powder ½ tsp garlic powder ½ tsp cumin Salt & black pepper 1 tbsp olive oil
ABOUT CHEF PAUL Chef Paul Wat t ers is an int ernat ional chef from Belfast , Nort hern Ireland, wit h nearly 30 years of experience in t he culinary indust ry. His career began at 17, and aft er formal t raining, he worked in several prest igious kit chens around t he world, including The Savoy Hot el in London and t he Sydney Opera House in Aust ralia. Aft er t raveling and gaining ext ensive int ernat ional experience, Wat t ers has ret urned t o his homet own of Belfast . He is focused on making cooking accessible t o home cooks by sharing his expert ise.
For t he Salad
Food Column & Online Work
1 carrot , julienned
Food Column: In addit ion t o his regular feat ure in t his publicat ion, he writ es a regular food column called "PLATING UP" for Belfast M edia
½ cucumber, sliced or ribboned ½ small red onion, t hinly sliced 6?8 cherry t omat oes, halved Large handful rocket or mixed salad leaves Fresh dill sprigs Fresh mint (opt ional but great ) 3?4 t bsp pomegranat e seeds
belfast media.com The column's goal is t o "t ake t he fear out of cooking" by providing easy-t o-follow, accessible recipes for home cooks. Online Presence: As you not ed, he is act ive on Facebook, where he runs a page and blog called " Simple, Tast y, Healt hy by PW ." Through t his plat form, he shares recipes, t ips, and inspirat ion, oft en focusing on using local Nort hern Irish ingredient s and helping people cook delicious meals on a budget
Decem ber , 2025
I r i sh Ar t s & En t er t ai n m en t
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For t he Dressing 1 t bsp olive oil 1 t bsp lemon juice 1 t sp honey (opt ional) Pinch salt Pinch pepper For t he Finishing Sprinkle Red pepper powder Cracked black pepper Opt ional: pinch smoked paprika
The Method Prepare t he Pork Trim any silver skin from t he pork fillet . Rub wit h paprika, red pepper powder, garlic powder, cumin, salt , pepper and a drizzle of olive oil.
Heat a pan over medium?high heat . Sear t he pork fillet on all sides unt il nicely caramelised (about 6?8 minut es). Lower heat slight ly and cook unt il just done but st ill t ender ? int ernal t emp ~63°C (145°F).
Rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly
Prepare t he Salad Add rocket , carrot , cucumber, onion, t omat oes, dill and mint t o a bowl. Drizzle over t he lemon?olive oil dressing. Toss light ly. Scat t er pomegranat e seeds over t he t op Followed by t he pomegranat e syrup over t he t op (available in all good st ores and supermarket s) ENJOY! ......Chef Paul
2025, Decem ber
I r i sh Ar t s & En t er t ai n m en t
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Decem ber , 2025
I r i sh Ar t s & En t er t ai n m en t
TheIrishLiteraryShowcase
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Another storyjust intime for Samhain
Guising for Soul Cakes --- By Greg Patrick "Shadows of a t housand years rise again unseen, Voices whisper in t he t rees, Tonight is Halloween!" ---Dexter Kozen
"Every parting gives a foretaste of death, every reunion a hint of the resurrection." ---Arthur Schopenhauer.
Part 3
About the Author A dual cit izen of Ireland and t he US, Greg Pat rick is an Irish/Armenian t raveler, poet and writ er.
Oct ober 28 2019
M useum Before leaving t he t rain M ichael looked over his not es. "Our modern holiday of Halloween is believed t o originat e from t he ancient Celt ic fest ival of Samhain. Though it s exact rit es and rit uals are lost t o t ime it is t heorised t hat t he rit uals conduct ed by ancient Celt ic priest s called Druids may have involved rit ual sacrifice of animals and somet imes humans t o ensure t hat all nat ure would not die wit hout t he renewal of spring." M ichael arrived at t he museum and halt ed in t he shadow of t he glowering got hic building. An ost ent at ious banner advert ising t he exhibit was slung over t he drab grey st oned ent rance flanked by lion st at ues. The exhibit was cont roversial in it s land of origin excavat ion was confront ed by prot est ers. He wat ched a YouTube video of a prot est or dressed as a Druid raving warnings about robbing t he ancient dead and t hat t he dead would ret urn t o reclaim t heir possessions. M ichael wat ched foot age of prot est ors dressed in whit e robes joining hands t o prot est and block t he excavat ion dragged away by garda. " You don't know what you just brought back" t he prot est or st ammered urgent ly wit h fear in his eyes t hen pit y for t hose who desecrat ed t he sacred ground. Inside t he museum t he passionat e loquacious docent guided t he pat rons t hrough t he lavish exhibit regaling t he guest s wit h encyclopedic knowledge about t he ancient art ifact s. "Any quest ions so far? yes?" The docent asked t he pat rons. "So why human sacrifice anyway?" "During t imes of disease, war, and uncert aint y, hunger..." "Kind of like now?" There was scat t ered nervous laught er " W ere t hey sacrificed?" "No. W e believe t hat t hey were massacred," t he docent explained. M ichael sighed deeply at t he t rigger warnings t hat human remains are on display. As t he docent and pat rons swept by t o a succession of displays M ichael lingered at one art ifact . A helmet illuminat ed in a glass case. It had been excavat ed from a bog among ot her ornat e grave goods and corpses of sacrificial vict ims. Yet it was t he mask t hat seemed t o beckon M ichael. It was a st riking piece compared t o t he ornat ely carved helmet wrought forged helm among ot her art ifact s compared t o t he ot her art ifact s yet he felt magnet ically st rangely drawn t o it .
Greg Pat rick, pict ured here wit h an Aust ralian friend He now writ es and t ravels. His writ ing has appeared in several int ernat ional publicat ions including Celt ic Nat ions M agazine, Lot hlorien Press, Irish Art s and Ent ert ainment , and Cannery Row Press. Herit age-wise, Pat rick is t he son of a Navy man and a son of t he Traveling People. His work experiences are also quit e int erest ing; he is a former Humanit arian aid worker who has seen and helped in famine and war. In his earlier life in Ireland, he worked wit h great horses for many years. For inspirat ion, he dwells in and loves t he wilds of Connemara and Galway especially in t he rain where he has writ t en many st ories. Greg spent his yout h in t he Sout h Pacific and Europe. He current ly resides in Galway, Krakow, and somet imes t he st at es.
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Continued from previous page... Was it made of animal skin---or was it human more ancient t han t he druids and donned by shamans on Samhain eve? A rit ual mask t hat t he corpse speaker necromancer used t o see and speak t o t he dead . Disembodied chant ing seemed t o haunt t he air as he approached. Or was it a rit ual mask from t he eve of ancient bat t les. Faded ancient markings could be seen. M ichael's lips moved soundlessly as he read t he crypt ic Ogham runes. M ichael was suddenly jolt ed by his t rance. ? "I see t his art ifact really caught your eye, " t he eager docent said. M ichael looked t ransfixed at t he enigmat ic mask. "It s significance is a myst ery," she explained. "It ... It 's a prophecy..." M ichael said dreamily. ?You're quit e a scholar if you can read t hat . Prominent scholars have st ruggled t o decipher it , " t he docent said pat ronisingly. He saw a warrior reflect ed in t he mirror. "Are you okay?? t he docent asked. " Yeah yeah I just need some fresh air I t hink, " M ichael st ammered. It was already get t ing dark as M ichael left t he museum. Brooding st orm clouds were massing ominously. A masked figure wat ched him from t he window of a wait ing car in a back alley. M ichael arrived home just as t he st orm broke. Light ning lit t he mullioned windows illuminat ed him as he writ hed in his sleep in an eerie spect ral glow in t he writ hing t hroes of night mare haunt ed sleep. M eanwhile in t he halls of t he museum a display case was shat t ered. "Quick! Grab t he mask and some of t he old jewels! "
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The heist and escape under t he cover of t he st orm and darkness ended in a pursuit and fiery crash. The loot was cached somewhere bet ween t he museum and t he accident . The lone survivor raved in t he hospit al about ancient ghost s before dying and t aking t he secret s of t he lost art ifact s t o his grave. A reward was post ed and a search was conduct ed but t he t rove of art ifact s remained elusive.
NEXT DAY NEW S That morning his eyes caught t he newspaper headlines t he museum he had just visit ed suffered a heist . Robbers loot ed art ifact s only t o die in a fiery car crash. M any of t he art ifact s remained unaccount ed for. Declining a ride t hat morning M ichael st rayed off pat h and was jarred from his preoccupied brooding when he was confront ed by his old school. It was shut t ered since t he shoot ing. As he hurried past t he graffit ied gat e crows and ravens gat hered perched along t he roof and gat e wat ching him int ent ly. Unnerved he quickened his pace alarmed by a part ing rumble of t hunder. He abrupt ly changed his pat h passing a wooded area. Then he heard it .... disembodied voices beckoning. As if t ransfixed he followed t heir urgings. He began digging impulsively. His hands grasped a st range object t hat he lift ed in myst erious rapt ure. The mask from t he museum! And t he ancient Celt ic helmet . M ichael closed his eyes and donned t he mask on impulse as t he last red of t wilight enflamed disembodied chant ing ceased. His senses sharpened almost M addeningly. He could hear small noct urnal creat ures st irring under t he leaves and t he minut e sounds of spiders weaving webs and t heir ensnared prey st ruggling. Like a parasit e claiming a human host t he mask seemed t o become a second skin. He gripped it s edges and screamed in agony as he t ore it off. The pain was so t errible he expect ed t o see blood on his palms yet t here was not hing. The mask seemed t o smile back at him before disint egrat ing in his hands. He st ill felt t he mask on his face as if his skin absorbed it .
One of t he robbers halt ed in front of t he mask ut t erly spellbound.
He t ook a short cut t hrough a cemet ery. A funeral was being held. Suddenly he was approached by a pale young child who began t alking t o him cheerily.
"Don't just st and t here grab somet hing and run! "
" W ho are you t alking t o?' a caret aker asked curiously.
He didn't feel t he shards of t he glass as blood ran t hrough his fingers. He clut ched t he mask and sprint ed, his boot s crunching on t he floor. Alarm sirens blared as t hey burst of out of t he museum and t heir escape car. Rain fell in a relent less t orrent . The morning seemed like an aft ermat h in a war wit h t he dead. Prop zombies were ravaged by t he st orm as if by a mad polt ergeist .
?The boy next t o me,? M ichael replied casually.
The body bag was zipped over a horribly burned face t he expression and eyes frozen in a paroxysm of final horror. The art ifact s were unaccount ed for.
M odern Day Oct ober 24t h 2019
?W hat boy?? t he bewildered caret aker replied. All Hallows Eve was ushered in by a shockingly chill wind caressing t he skin. That was before one donned a mask and flirt ing wit h t he shadows. The night felt elect ric as if t he fabric of darkness was st ret ching like a black cat before t he hunt . The st reet s were overrun wit h a ravenous horde of t rick or t reat ers, laying siege t o t he houses for candy like orcs st orming Helmsdeep. M ichael was silhouet t ed against t he vigil candles of a memorial t o t he shoot ing vict ims. His foot st eps splashed on puddles and soggy and crisp fallen leaves. He saw wit h disgust t hat an effigy of t he accused shoot er was being beat and burned in effigy t o cheers. TO BE CONCLUDED MID-MONTH
Decem ber , 2025
I r i sh Ar t s & En t er t ai n m en t
Page 25
I r el an d 's Ch r i stm as M ar kets Among them all, we visited four over the years and here are our impressions and suggestions! Galway Cont inent al Christ mas M arket
The most famous and beloved Christ mas market in Ireland. Eyre Square, Galway Cit y (Right out side t he t rain st at ion)
Sant a?s Polar Express Train:
A dedicat ed t rain ride for children t hrough t he market Belfast Cont inent al Christ mas M arket
This market is only fift een years old t his year but Galway has been host ing Fairs and M arket s on religious holidays since t he M iddle Ages! This Christ mas gat hering and market is held for almost t wo mont hs from November 7t h. t ill W ednesday, December 31st . It has grown from a small collect ion of st alls t o a massive event drawing over 450,000 visit ors annually. The Big W heel is a famous at t ract ion, it is a massive 32-met er Ferris wheel t hat offers views of t he cit y light s. Anot her favorit e is t he large German-st yle Bierkeller (beer t ent ) which is t he social heart of t he market . The Bierkeller serves st eins of beer and t his gives a nice Okt oberfest -st yle vibe.
The largest "Int ernat ional" st yle market , offering a t ast e of Europe.
Foodies also rejoice when t hey find t he M an of Aran Fudge which is a t radit ional Irish fudge makers.
Vint age Helt er Skelt er: A classic Vict orian-st yle spiral slide t hat is a visual icon of t he market .
There are also numerous Cont inent al Food Chalet s, famous for t he European food offerings including giant German brat wurst s, French crêpes, and Belgian waffles.
The Carousel: A beaut ifully ornat e vint age carousel right in t he grounds of Cit y Hall.
M ore Ent ert ainment & Tradit ions
Dut ch Pancakes (Poffert jes): Perhaps t he most famous st all; t hey serve t iny, fluffy pancakes covered in but t er and powdered sugar. M eat s of t he W orld: A unique vendor serving exot ic burgers, including Kangaroo, W ild Boar, and Ost rich meat . Kochem Vineyard: A t radit ional German wine merchant selling hot Glühwein (mulled wine) and "hugs in a mug."
Light ing Ceremony: The "Light Swit ch-On" (usually mid-November) is a huge t radit ion where t he whole square light s up. Live M usic: Choirs and DJs play daily, oft en creat ing a
Locat ion: Belfast Cit y Hall, Donegall Square (10-15 min walk from Lanyon Place St at ion). 2025 Dat es: Sat urday, November 15 ? M onday, December 22. Hist ory: St art ed in 2004/ 2005, t his year marks it s 20t h anniversary. It brings aut hent ic int ernat ional t raders t o Nort hern Ireland. M ain At t ract ions:
Famous & Unusual Vendors:
Belfast also offers an Int ernat ional Focus The main
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Wat erford W int erval Ireland?s official "Christ mas Capit al" and largest fest ive fest ival is spread across Wat erford Cit y (a short walk from Plunket t Train St at ion). It opened t his year on November 15 and will close before Christ mas Day on M onday, December 23. The W int erval was t art ed in 2012 t o help revit alize t he cit y cent er and it is dist inct because it is a fest ival wit h a market , not just a market . The unique at t ract ions include W int erval Illuminat es which is a spect acular light and music show project ed ont o t he cit y's hist oric buildings every 30 minut es. The Wat erford Eye: pict ured at t he t op pf t his page is a giant Ferris wheel on t he quays and is well wort h going on!
Famous & Unusual Vendors: These include t he St able Yard Food Hall, locat ed in a hist oric court yard, feat uring art isan makers like Cart ers Chocolat e Café (famous for hot chocolat e). Seagull Bakery, a cult -favorit e local bakery oft en present wit h sourdough and fest ive t reat s.
Polish Christ mas Village Ireland is home t o t housands of Polish
I r i sh Ar t s & En t er t ai n m en t
immigrant s so t here is also sect ion dedicat ed t o Polish craft s, food, and t radit ions. The massive W int erval Parade (usually early December) act ually rivals t he St . Pat rick's Day in scale. Finally, a very quirky t radit ion. t he TRASH M ONSTER. a t alking "monst er" t hat encourages kids t o recycle t heir market rubbish!
Yulefest in Kilkenny
Sam h ai n
The market sit s lit erally in t he shadow of a massive 12t h-cent ury cast le, providing t he best at mosphere of any market in Ireland.
Also quit e different , "STARLIGHT", a project ed light show inside St . Canice?s Cat hedral.
Ent ert ainment & Tradit ions: Sant a by Boat : In a unique local t radit ion, Sant a does not arrive by sleigh; he arrives by boat down t he River Nore before marching t o t he cast le.
The most at mospheric "M edieval" market is held each yea at t he The Parade (a plaza near Kilkenny Cast le), Kilkenny Cit y which is a (15 min walk from t he M acDonagh Train St at ion
This YULETIDE FESTIVAL open t his year on November 29 and closes before Christ mas Day on Tuesday, December 23. Also, please not e t hat t he M ain event s are on weekends. This is a fairly new event , (rebranded as Yulefest around 2016), it focuses heavily on local Kilkenny craft and design. Kilkenny Design St alls: Kilkenny is t he craft capit al of Ireland; look for high-end ceramics, wool, and jewelry rat her t han cheap t rinket s. Cakeface Pat isserie is a local legend known for unusual and gourmet sweet t reat s oft en found at t he market .
Kilkenny Cast le Backdrop ED Not e: You might see references t o a Dublin Cast le Christ mas M arket . Please be aware t his has been cancelled for 2025 due t o government preparat ions for t he EU Presidency. Kilkenny is t he best hist orical alt ernat ive
Decem ber , 2025
I r i sh Ar t s & En t er t ai n m en t
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The Irish Arts & Entertainment's
CELTIC CAMERA
ABOVE
Th e Fen ian s' Ter r y Casey as
Him self w it h Her self an d f r ien d w ill be celebr at in g t h e Ir ish New Year at THE HARP INN Ir ish Pu b in Cost a M esa!
Ir ish Ar t s & En t er t ain m en t con t r ibu t or an d w r it er , Joh n M cNally an d Cait lín Higgin s Ní Ch in n éide, t h e n ew ly appoin t ed Con su l Gen er al of Ir elan d t o t h e Sou t h w est er n US
LEFT
Also at THE HARP INN, A New Lin e of appar el Th om M acNam ar a an d Ken O'M alley in clu din g t op at t h e Ch r ist m as Par t y h ost ed by t h e qu alit y Hoodies Ir ish Con su lat e in Los An geles ar e on sale!
Con sider Adver t isin g in t h e Irish Arts & Entertainment For all com m er cial lin k s/ list in gs & ads: Con t act Jim at Jim @pu bgu ide.com CELL: 951 216-1493 w w w.ir ish ar t san den t er t ain m en t .com
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Updates in the works! Sor r y t o r epor t bu t w e h ave h ad som e ser iou s w eat h er r elat ed delays on r eceivin g calen dar it em s. Tw o of ou r elves got st u ck in air por t s f or alm ost f ou r days t ot al w h ich t h r ow s u s of f !! Ch eck back M on day AM an d t h e calen dar w ill h ave been u pdat ed! We also h ave a n ew Ir ish M u sic News and Reviews
N ol l ai g
H A PPY CH RI ST M A S & Best W i sh es f or 20 26
to al l ou r Cu stom er s & Fr i en d s!
t h at w e w ill post !
FRI A R T U C K Gi f t Sh o p an d I m p o r t s N ex t t o t h e Ro b i n H o o d Pu b an d acr o ss f r o m I r el an d 's 32
136 38 B u r b an k B l v d Sh er m an O ak s, C A 9 14 0 1 O PEN & D AYS N O O N t o 7PM
Decem ber , 2025
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I RI SH ART S & ENT ERT AI NM ENT CALENDAR M or e Fr om t h e Pu blish er Continued from page 2 St ar t in g t h is m on t h , w e w ill be br in gin g ou r r eader s a lot of n ew adver t iser s, ch an ges an d f eat u r es. We w ill f in lly st ar t ou r CELTIC CROSSWORD PUZZLE w it h ou r M id-Decem ber issu e,
Also in Decem ber ; ou r M on t h ly Con t est k ick s of f ! Ever y m on t h , dr aw in gs an d pr izes w it h ou r Win Tick et s t o Ir elan d Gr an d
Pr ize! En t r y Det ails in t h e Decem ber issu e!
Ou r su bscr iber s ar e im por t an t t o u s so you all w ill be r eceivin g a ser ies of su r vey qu est ion s over t h e n ext f ew w eek s. Th e r esu lt s w ill h elp u s sh ape t h e con t en t an d scope of f u t u r e issu es. Th at 's it f or n ow , h ope you en joyed t h is issu e.
Jim M cDon ou gh ,Pu blish er
O'M alley 's on M ain in Seal Beach h ost s t h e BELL BOYS f or TWO sh ow s! Decem ber 27t h , f r om 9-m idn igh t . An d Decem ber 31st , f r om 3-6 pm as w e br in g in t h e New Year , Du blin t im e, w h ich w ill be 4:00pm Seal Beach Tim e. Wor ld Fam ou s & Gu in n ess Recor d Holder s
Dave Roon ey & Fr ien ds (Half of Th e Black Don n elly 's of Du blin ar e at RiRa in Las Vegas Details online: t heblackdonnellys1.bandcamp.com h t t ps:/ / r ir a.com / las-vegas/
We ar e look in g f or Lin k s & List in gs A FREE Ir ish Com m u n it y Ser vice
Cost Ef f ect ive f or Pu bs an d m ost Bu sin esses! Pr oven n ich e m ar ket Ir ish in f or m at ion sou r ce f or 34 year s! Con t act u s f or a M edia Kit :
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I RI SH ARTS & ENTERTAI NM ENT CAL ENDAR By Date OnGoing Trivia & West Coast Celtic Page 30
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On -Goin g Lin k s & List in gs: Ever y Week Su n days st ar t in g @ 4:pm Ir ish M u sic Session Tr adit ion al m u sic / No Cover Au ld Du blin er Ir ish Pu b . Lon g Beach
w w w.au lddu blin er .com EVERY M ONDAY CELTIC ARTS CENTER Open Session , Ir ish Lan gu age Classes & Socials Fu ll Bar CAC @ Th e M ayf low er Clu b 11110 Vict or y Blvd., Nor t h Hollyw ood, CA w w w.celt icar t s cen t er .com
Ever y M on day st ar t s @ 7:PM Or an ge Cou n t y Celt ic Jam Player s in vit ed! St . Pau l's Episcopal Ch u r ch 1221 Wass St ., Tu st in Door s open at 6:30 pm . M u sic at 7:00 pm . $3 don at ion f or u se of t h e r oom .
xw w w.f acebook .com / gr ou ps/ OCCelt icJam
join in the celebration.
www.harpinn.com
Decem ber , 2025
I r i sh Ar t s & En t er t ai n m en t
Fin al DATES 2025 Dec 22, 2025: Hager st ow n , M D Th e M ar ylan d Th eat r e Dec 23, 2025: Tor r in gt on , CT War n er Th eat r e
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Join Eileen Ivers and her
six-piece band as t hey celebrat e t he glorious st ory of Christ mas? t hought fully, uniquely and wit h pure unbridled JOY - t hrough t heir signat ure Irish and American root s music, songs, st ories and poems. Final Shows of the 2025 Tour:
(On eglia Au dit or iu m )
Dec. 19: Colonial Theat re Laconia (Laconia, NH)
Ch r ist m as in Killar n ey Tick et s
Dec. 21: W einberg Cent er for t he Art s (Frederick, M D)
w w w.ch r ist m asin k illar n ey.n et
For t he most up-t o-dat e informat ion, t icket det ails, go t o:
www.eileenivers.com
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I r i sh Ar t s & En t er t ai n m en t
Sundays in December 7, 14 , 21 & 28 St art ing at 4:00pm
KEN O'M ALLEY I rish balladeer, enjoy an
N ol l ai g
C i n ci n n at i , O h i o T h e I r i sh H er i t age C en t er o f Gr eat er C i n ci n n at i (I H C ) w as est ab l i sh ed t o p r o m o t e t h e cu l t u r e, t r ad i t i o n s an d ar t s o f I r el an d . T h e I H C i s a cu l t u r e cen t er t h at h as a p u b , l i b r ar y, m u seu m , t h eat er an d co n cer t h al l . T h e v en u e b o ast s l o t s o f sp ace an d r o o m s t o r en t f o r w ed d i n g, p ar t i es, co n cer t s an d m o r e. Pu b n i gh t i s ev er y T h u r sd ay b egi n n i n g at 6 p m .
aft ernoon/evening of st ory and song from one of t he mast ers...
Ir ish Her it age Cen t er
Appearing in Redlands, CA
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Br eak f ast at 9.30 am Ken os Rest au r an t 2661 West La Palm a An ah eim M or e in f o & t o get on t h e m ailin g list :
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Sat urdays @9:00pm Th e Har p In n Ir ish pr esen t s t op local ban ds Ch eck on lin e! !Or an ge Cou n t y 's M ost Au t h en t ic Ir ish Pu b! Week ly Live M u sic & Spor t s Daily Ser vin g OC f or 30+ year s
HARP INN IRISH PUB & RESTAURANT 130 E 17t h St , Cost a M esa,
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CRAIC HAUS ar e back w it h t h eir or igin al gen r e of Sh am r ock abilly!! Th e Back Abbey Lively gast r opu b of f er s cr eat ive bu r ger s & Belgian br ew s in a r u st ic din in g r oom or on t h e pat io. w w w.t h eback abbey.com Th e Back Abbey Uplan d, 1902 Cam pu s Ave. Uplan d. CA Decem ber 31
Ir ish New Year w it h M ich ael Kelly at M acallan s Pu blic Hou se Rin g in t h e Ir ish New Year w it h Celt Hick M iu sic! M ich ael Kelly (f iddle & vocals) per f or m s f r om 3pm -6pm , w it h a ch am pagn e t oast at 4pm t o u sh er in t h e Ir ish New Year ! W. Bir ch Br ea, CA
w w w.au lddu blin er .com
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For More on Owen Dara and his films may we suggest the following links and digital resources:
w w w.ow en dar a.com Owen Dara on... A Lesser Gift on
Streaming Now
Just CLICK Graphic
Decem ber , 2025
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Ch r ist m as Sh ow Dat es & Lin k s
Th e Sh am r ock Ir ish Pu b an d Eat er y 951.696.5252 39252 Win ch est er Rd. #145 M u r r iet a, CA Hou r s: 12 Noon Till Lat e 7 Days
h t t ps:/ / t h esh am r ock ir ish pu b an deat er y.com /
CELTIC ARTS CENTER CAC/ACS @The M ayflower Club 11110 Vict ory Blvd., Nort h Hollywood, CA www.celt icart s cent er.com
w w w.au lddu blin er .com Remember t o check back for Calendar links and list ings,
new Feat ures & Updat es Usually, we have been updat ing t he Irish Art s around t he middle of or 15t h or 16t h of each mont h so look for anot her issue in 15 days. W e will also updat e t he Calendar again and do a BLAST t o all subscribers usually on W ednesday aft ernoons. Then again on Sunday evening (or possibly M onday by Noon)
There is a lot going on t his mont h so st and by for W hat 's on t ap!
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N ol l ai g
I RI SH ART S & ENT ERT AI NM ENT CALENDAR PHOENIX, ARIZONA
Enjoy the Christmas Season! w w w.ar izon air ish .or g
h t t ps:/ / ir ish ou t r each cen t er .or g
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m ast er ed Digit al M ar k et in g an d w e can en h an ce you r ou t r each f or a ver y cost ef f ect ive r at e. Th e digit al age h as been good t o u s an d w e h ave been able t o pr osper an d gr ow ou r su bscr iber base. We w ill h ave f in al det ails soon on ou r expan sion plan s an d ou r Af f iliat e Pr ogr am s. We ar e also goin g t o en h an ce ou r Ver y Ir ish Per k s an d st ar t a n ew ser ies of ver y excit in g Dr aw in gs an d Con t est s!
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