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This site includes the postings from the Irish Aires email list. This includes a listing of Irish/Celtic events in the Houston area and other information that the Irish Aires radio program posts.
Saturday, November 20, 2004
[Irish Aires] - Current Events
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Irish Aires on KPFT-FM, 90.1FM Saturday Nights 6:30PM
Now on the internet. You are on the Irish Aires Email ALL list
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Irish Current Events in the Houston Area
What's New?
12/04/04 – Cluan at the Mucky Duck
12/10/04 – The Blaggards at Brian O'Neills
12/19/04 – Celtic Christmas at the Meridian (Update)
02/12/05 - The Greencards at the Mucky Duck
02/22/05 - The Greemcards at the Mucky Duck
This version of Current events at:
Jim McNamara, the longtime piper from County Clare is quite sick
with encephalitis. He is at Memorial City Southwest Medical
Center.
Michael Davitt, Irish performer & AOH activist, is continuing to
undergo treatment for cancer.
Please keep both of them in your prayers and please let others know
about their condition.
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11/20/04 - Blaggards at McElroy's Pub 10:PM - 3607 S. Sandman,
Houston, Texas 77098, 713 / 524-2444
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11/27/04 - Saturday - Rogues at the Mucky Duck
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11/30/04 - St. Andrews day at the Mucky Duck with Jiggernaut.
Tuesday, November 30, 8:30pm, $12 (smoke- free)
Most of the people sitting at the bar here with me are aware of St.
Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, who is credited as being the
one who gathered up all the snakes in the country into his minivan
under the ruse of a weekend holiday and drove them instead to west
Texas, thereby enabling all peoples Irish to wander about Ireland
barefoot without fear of rattling snakes and boa constriction.
However, few people are aware of Scotland's patron saint, St.
Andrew. The story goes that Andrew, a Galilean fisherman, preached
the Gospel in the lands around the Black Sea and in Greece for
which he was eventually crucified on an X- shaped cross in Patras.
The geography of his mission explains the balalaika, for Andrew is
indeed the patron saint of Russia and of Greece as well as of
Scotland.
The association with a land he never set foot on is, not
surprisingly, based on a number of conflicting legends, the most
colourful of which is the story of St. Rule. My favored legend is
that three hundred years after Andrew's martyrdom the Roman Emperor
Constantine, ordered that the saint's bones should be moved from
Patras to his new capital city of Constantinople.
Before the order was carried out a monk called St. Rule had a dream
in which an angel told him to take what bones of Andrew's he could
to 'the ends of the earth' for safe-keeping. St. Rule duly took
what he could and after an epic journey with the aforementioned
assortment was shipwrecked on the east coast of Scotland - which he
deemed the 'ends of the earth'! But the whereabouts of the relics
is unknown. Whatever the veracity of these ancient legends, St.
Andrews Day is a day to celebrate all things Scottish. Many people
wonder what they should eat on St. Andrew's day.
Because Andrew was a fisherman, it seems appropriate to eat fish
(and chips). Otherwise you could eat any traditional Scottish food.
It used to be that a singed sheep's head was traditional, but they
are really hard to find and harder to cook. Ros asks that I let you
know that there is no truth to the legend that all Scottish food is
the result of a dare.
The Duck will be celebrating St. Andrew's Day beginning at 5pm
November 30 with music, dance, Scottish food and and possibly grog.
The musical strains of Scotland will be performed by Jiggernaut,
and Tartanic, our rooftop piper E.J. Jones will be piping up a
frenzied crowd of blindfolded lassies who will be in charge of
judging the Bonnie Knees contest .... you might even learn to dance
the Highland Fling.
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at the Mucky Duck.
South London native Eamon McLoughlin was classically trained
through London's Royal School of Music, where he was awarded seven
Violin Performance Qualifications. He first played country music
professionally at the tender age of 13, but a keening, high
lonesome sound and a desire for permanent work eventually drew him
to Austin in 1997. Once Stateside, Eamon served as a member of The
Asylum Street Spankers, The Austin Lounge Lizards, and the touring
bands of noted Lone Star state troubadours Ray Wylie Hubbard and
Bruce Robison. In addition, he notched up session work with such
celebrated Artists as Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Peter Rowan, Tony Rice,
Robert Earl Keen, Alejandro Escovedo and Kelly Willis.
Raised in Coff's Harbour, New South Wales, Carol Young was
nominated for 'Best Female Vocalist' and 'Best New Talent' by the
Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA}. Carol also enjoyed
two #1 Australian singles in 2000 ("True Blue Fool" and "Part Of
The Past"), which landed her the 'Australian Independent Country
Artist Of The Year' award.
Kym Warner, from South Australia's capitol Adelaide, was a four-
time National Mandolin Champion of Australia (1994-1997), earning a
scholarship to the acclaimed bluegrass program at South Plains
College in Levelland, Texas along the way. His "Mando On The
Mainland" was nominated for 'Instrumental Of The Year' by the CMAA
in 1999. Kym was a member of Kasey Chambers' touring band which
played at Austin's world-renowned annual SXSW blowout near the end
of Chambers' 2001 world tour. The incredibly fertile musical
climate Kym discovered in Texas had a profound effect on him, to
say the least. (Warner has since performed with Trisha Yearwood and
Bruce Robison, played on Kasey Chambers' album, WAYWARD ANGEL, and
appeared on Rodney Crowell's 2004 Live DVD.)
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12/04/04 – Cluan at Mucky Duck at 9:30PM
Cluan (pronounced 'clue-in') is based in Austin, Texas, with a firm
grounding in traditional Celtic music. The name comes from a
milepost sign indicating the distance and direction of 'Pairc
Cluana' that we found in a local pub. We were told Cluana is a
feminine name, and that the masculine version was Cluan;
unfortunately, we discovered much later that the actual word is
Cluain. Thanks, lads.
The band was initially formed by Charles Branch (bouzouki),
Christopher Buckley (fiddle), and Jeff Moore (guitar) in January,
2002. Stephan Paetzold (fiddle) and Chuck Wright (percussion) were
added near the beginning, with the first gig occuring February 4th,
2002, at Fado Irish Pub in Austin. Erin Bobruk (vocals) joined the
band in March, 2002. After Jeff left in April, 2003, Ryan Beavers
(guitar/vocals) joined the band in July, 2003.
` ******************************************
12/04-05/04 - The Rogues with EJ Jones at Dickens on the Strand,
Galveston, TX
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12/10/04 – Frid – The Blaggards at Brian O'Neill's Pub in Houston.
5555 Morningside, Houston, TX 77005 713.522.2603
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12/11 - 12/19/04 - EJ Jones a the Revels Houston Performances.
December 11-12, 18-19 Revels Houston Revels Houston 2004: A
Scottish Celebration Moores Opera House, University of Houston 713-
668-3303
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12/11/04 - Celtic Supporters Christmas Party, Bull & Bear with the
Blaggards, 10:30pm, 11980 Westheimer, Suite A Houston, TX 77077
713.802.9370 Call the 'Blaggards hotline' (713.557.9979) for
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12/19/04 - A Celtic Christmas Festival @ The Meridian - The
popular blend of traditional and alternative Celtic music
and dance with craft vendors, traditional food & drink.
After a two year hiatus, the Celtic Festival Series has returned to
Houston. This is the series that was held for years at Garden in
the Heights, and is produced by the same team that created the
series and ran it. There will be the same mix of great Celtic music
and dance, traditional Celtic food and drink, exquisite Celtic
crafts and wares that made these events such a memorable.
Times
Door: NOONPM
Show: 2:00PM
Admission
Advance: $8
Day of Show: $12
Advance Tickets Available
713.629.3700
:: Beth Patterson: World-renowned bazouki player from New Orleans
melding trad. Celtic with World Music
:: The Trinity River Whalers: Members of the Blarney Brothers
:: The Flying Fish Sailors: Ren-Fest favorites mixing trad. Celtic
with comic original songs
:: Godfrey's Rangers: Houston's longest running Celtic group
:: The McTeggart Irish Dancers: The lively Irish step dancing made
famous in "Riverdance"
:: The Battle of the Oak King & The Holly King: Re-enactment of the
ancient Celtic mythological struggle between Winter & Summer
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12/19/04 - Blaggards @ ROCK THE SHELTER Benefit, The Continental
Club, 3700 Main St, Houston, TX - 713.529.9899
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01/16/05, Sunday - Julian Calendar New Year at the Meridian: Still
the best European bash in town - a colorful blend of ethnic music
and dance from Russia and Eastern Europe. An exotic assortment of
traditional Eastern European, Balkan and Russian food and drink
will be served.
The Gypsies: The most popular band for ethnic music in Houston -
Russian, Eastern European, Polish, Middle Eastern, Jewish Klezmer,
and Gypsy as well as Celtic, Cajun, jazz, and swing.
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01/29/05 - The Rogues at the Mucky Duck
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02/12/05 - Friday, The Greencards -7:30pm & 10:00pm, $12 (smoke-
free) @ the Mucky Duck
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02/22/05 - Tuesday, The Greencards - 8:30pm, $10 (smoke-free) @ the
Mucky Duck
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02/24-27/05: UST Hosts The American Conference for Irish Studies
Southern Regional Conference with the theme Ireland: North, South,
East and West at the Warwick Hotel, 5701 Main Street. The
conference is open to the public, scholars and students. Contact
Lori Gallagher at 713-525-3592 and check the Center Website at
http://www.stthom.edu/irishstudies , which contains details, a
registration form, the call for papers and a flier.
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03/17/04, Thursday - Houston St. Patrick's Festival: The return of
the biggest St. Patrick's Event in the southwest, formerly held at
Garden in the Heights.
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04/24/05 - Irish Tenor Ronan Tynan (3pm) at the Grand 1894 Opera
House in Galveston.
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ON GOING Events:
Wednesday Nights at 8ish PM. The Mucky Duck continues a twenty-five
year tradition, hosting Houston's Irish Session. The Mucky Duck
incarnation of the Session, if for no other reason than the
frequent participation of younger musicians, gives a very real
sense of tradition passed on and history handed down. The most
visible Celtic-influenced traditional bands around Houston -- make
participating in the Session a regular, energy-charging part of
their regular routine.
What is celebrated is the whole of Celtic culture, and a musical
tradition that, over the centuries, has become as much American
roots music as bottleneck guitar. The drums of western Africa are
what gave American music its rhythm; more often than not, though,
the melody is Celtic. The popularity of Celtic folk music is either
a testament to the timeless appeal of these sometimes haunting,
sometimes hilarious, sometimes jig-inspiring tunes, or perhaps an
argument in favor of the nebulous theory of racial memory.
Celtic blood-ties real, suspected and imagined have given many the
impetus to learn the folk-arts of the ancient tribes; that's just
one reason why the Wednesday night Session at the Mucky Duck is as
much a school and tribal gathering as a musical event. This is a
great way to explore Irish music and tradition.
Music starts at 8pm, and there is no cover charge.2425 Norfolk
Houston, TX 77098 713.528.5999 Phone
Be sure to check our calendar in case we have booked a special show
that might preempt our regular Irish Session
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Ar mhaith leat Gaeilge a labhairt?
Would you like to speak Irish?
Beginning Irish Conversation
Brian O'Neill's
5555 Morningside
(Rice Village, near the intersection of University and Morning
side) Brian O'Neill's Restaurant and Irish Pub: brianoneills.com
If you are interested in learning a little Irish then come join us
at Brian Ó Neill's on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 P.M.
This Irish class is tailored to the beginning student who has had
no prior exposure to Irish. You will learn basic conversational
greetings, helpful phrases, informative tips for traveling through
the Gaeltacht such as common signage, asking directions and most
important of all how to pronounce those mystical Irish words.
Pocket phrase books do the tourist no good unless they know how to
pronounce what they are reading! This course provides the beginning
student with phonetically spelled out Irish words, something most
beginning tape and book courses fail to offer.
If you have any questions please contact Tim Theisen (tyson) at
Jeaniebotl@aol.com or phone me at (713) 263-9691
If you are interested please come join us on Wednesday evenings at
7:00 P.M.
There is a $5.00 donation to cover cost of the handouts.
Labhraímis Gaeilge is linne í !
Speaking Irish is cool !
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Wednesdays, 7-10 pm
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING AND MORE
website: http://home.att.net/~diannashipman
New Dancers Welcome - Families Welcome
(children must be accompanied by parent / guardian).
$5 for those 14 and over; $2.50 those under 14
($15 maximum per family) - fourth consecutive Wednesday free.
Location: Oddfellows Hall, 115 E. 14th St. (Heights), Houston,
Texas (3rd building on left traveling east from Heights Blvd. - 2
story red brick - entrance recessed about 15 feet from street -
dancing upstairs).
LINKS ON WEBSITE with map & photo
PHOTO OF HALL:
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Houston Highland Games Association has regular meetings at the
Holiday Inn SW-Sugarland (11160 SW Frwy. Houston, TX 77031-3698
281-5301400) on the first Thursday of each month. We gather in the
lounge around 6:30 or so and prime the pump for the 7:30 meetings.
They usually last for about an hour and a half. More fellowship
follows the meeting.
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The Irish American Heritage Association of Katy, Texas has their
monthly meetings on the fourth Tuesday of each month. The meeting
is held at the MUD 81 Building (Harris Co. Municipal Utility
Building) located on Cimmarron Parkway, off of South Mason Road in
Katy, Texas. From the I-10 freeway driving south on Mason Road to
the 4th light from the I-10 freeway is Cimmarron Parkway where you
take a right turn to drive 2 blocks to the intersection on the
left, there is Hidden Canyon Road where the MUD building is
located. Plenty of lighted parking space is available across the
street from the building. We have refreshments to share during the
social gathering. Usually, by 9:15pm, the meetings adjourns.
Membership is $20 annually due on June 1st. Each meeting features
a different topic. Phone numbers for contact or information: Phil
Connelly, President, Katy, Tx ph.281-492-
8780 Dennis McGuire, VP, Katy, Tx ph.281- 392-0894
IAHA Newsletter monthly advertising space is available too.
A few Irish American Heritage Assoc. members and their friends have
put together a deluxe bus tour of Ireland.
The tour will leave Houston May 24th and return on June 4th. A
private bus will be chartered to carry tourists to the very best
adventures in Ireland.
Plans include a banquet at Knappogue Castle, stops along the West
Coast, a visit to the shrine at Knock, Donegal, Dublin, Waterford,
and Kerry. The bus will make unique stops at places that are often
off the beaten path.
But the most unique feature of this tour will be the leisurely pace
and flexible schedule. Unlike typical bus tours, you will not be
required to wait on the pavement at the crack of dawn to begin an
exhausting rigid daily schedule. Departures and stops will be
adjusted to suit guests as the need arises. Each day will end in
an overnight stay in a fine hotel.
Your hosts for the tour will be Phil and Bridget Connelly. Bridget
is from Ireland, and she and Phil make regular trips to the Emerald
Isle.
At least 20 persons will be signed up by February 5th to make this
trip both affordable and luxurious, so don't delay! Call Phil or
Bridget by February 5th (281) 492-8780.
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Session on Sundays 6 'til 8:30pm at Rudyard's Pub (Rudz). Rudz is
located at 2010 Waugh Drive. The best approach is from Montrose
Blvd., turn west on Welch, when you get to Waugh, Rudz appears in
front of you. The car park to your left is for Rudz' use.
Julian Tribe
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CELTIC CHORUS OF HOUSTON
Do you like to hum or sing along with the music played on Irish
Aires or The Three Irish Tenors? Then join us every Tuesday night:
1st Tuesday 6:30 TO 9:30 PM, other Tuesdays 7:30 to 9:30 PM 1ST
TUESDAYS: BRIAN O'NEILL'S (6:30 pm practice singalong songs, 7:30
perform for Open Mic) 2nd, 3rd, and 4th TUESDAYS: KNIGHTS OF
COLUMBUS, COUNCIL 803 Officers (elected June 11, 2002):
President: MICHAEL "GRIF" GRIFFIN Vice-
Secretary/Treasurer: ROBERT "BOB" DOWNS We will join together in
a sing-a-long session and then later those who wish to learn four
part music may stay and learn choral music of Ireland, Scotland
and Wales. If you need more information contact Richard McGinty
713-943-
The mission statement reads in part: "to provide a community
meeting place for those interested in the Celtic heritages." The
first half of the evening focuses on singalong songs and the
second half on choral arrangements. The singalong songs: Will
You Go Lassie Go The Minstrel Boy Sally Gardens Molly Malone (In
Dublin's Fair City) Finnegan's Wake The Foggy Dew Black Velvet
Band Mcnamara's Band Danny Boy When Irish Eyes Are Smiling The
Unicorn Song I'm Lookin' Over A Four Leaf Clover Whiskey In The
Jar The Wild Rover The Bard Of Armagh Choral Arrangements:
Danny Boy The Minstrel Boy An Irish Blessing My Wild Irish Rose
Summer Break - No Meetings July 2 Thru Aug 6 - Chorus Resumes
Meeting Aug. 13, 2002
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Event: Irish Jam Session/Open Mic. Night
Place: The Beverly Pub, 6325A Beverly Hill (one block south of
Richmond, between Hillcroft and Fairview)
Every Wednesday Time: 8:30 - Midnight
More Info: 713-334-3474 or www.beverlypub.net
Join host every Wednesday at the Beverly Pub for an Irish Jam
Session and Open Mic. Night. All performers, professional or
amateur, are welcome to join in or take the mic. for a few songs
in a supportive, fun atmosphere, or just drop by for a pint and
listen or sing along. Host Patrick "Paddy" Devlin of "On the Dole"
fame and frequent guests jam on everything from Irish to blues to
Elvis.
The Beverly Pub is a cool place to find good music, good friends,
great drink specials and most of all, it's fun atmosphere. It is
relaxing and friendly, and the jolly good lads 'n lasses who make
up the waitstaff offer good food and an impressive collection of
draught & bottled beer and fine spirits.
Need more information? Give us a call @ 713- 334-3474.
(The Beverly won the Guinness trophy in the downtown St. Patrick's
day parade. It is a nice cut glass trophy. Jay)
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Celtic Voyage regularly plays at the Bayview Duck (just two miles
south of the Kemah bridge on Hwy 146) on Sat night at 8pm. So bring
your voices and your good cheer and join in for another song filled
night. 3131 HWY 146, Bacliff, TX 77518, 281/339-3510
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"One hundred thousand welcomes!" This age-old Gaelic greeting is a
timeless expression of Scottish hospitality and goodwill. We can't
think of a better way to welcome you than to invite you to
Houston's Heather and Thistle Society (H&T). The Heather and
Thistle Society was founded in 1953 by Scots living in Houston who
wished to "cultivate an interest in and fond recollections of
Scotland, its history and traditions, its literature and ideals,
its minstrelsy and song, its customs and amusements; and to
provide opportunities for good fellowship and social contact
through typically Scottish functions, so that the blessing of our
Scottishculture may never die in our new homeland". The Heather
and Thistle Society meets 10 times a year, September through June.
Programs include "ceilidhs", lively lectures, slide shows and
movies about Scotland. We are an organization that promotes our
Scottish heritage in various ways.
Membership in the Heather and Thistle Society is open to all with
an interest in Scottish Heritage and Culture. Annual Dues are
$10.00 for an individual and $15.00 for a family.
H&T meets the fourth (4th) Monday of each month, September thru
June, at 7:30 P.M. Current meeting location: Auditorium of
St.Thomas Episcopal School, 4900 Jackwood, Houston, TX 77096
As of 25 March, 2002, current officers are:
Walter May, Chieftain - 281-493-0016 - waltmaySFA@aol.com
Becci Himes, Sub-Chieftain - 281-498-5746 - bhimes@houston.rr.com
Aaron Buchanan, Sgt-at-Arms - 281-376-9749 -
Brenda Barton, Secretary - 713-450-4042
Robert Moore, Treasurer - 713-774-0314
Past-Chieftains Committee:
Wayne C. Barton (Chieftain 2001-02) - 713- 450-4042 -
Edgar W. Biddle (Chieftain 1999-01) - 281- 807-7892 -
Paul E. Ross (Chieftain 1996-97) - 713-661- 5240 -
David N. McLane (Chieftain 1991-92) - 281- 807-7892
W. Alex Munroe (Chieftain 1990-91) - 713-686- 2976
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Royal Scottish Country Dance Society Dancing
General Class Mondays - 7:30-9:30 p.m In progress Classical Arts
Dance Studio, 530 N Illinois, League City - Contact Moon Weiss,
713-465-9650, mland121@aol.com
Basic Class Tuesdays - 7:30-9:30 p.m. In progress DewAnn Cotten
Dance Studio, 9423 Glenfield Court (By S. Braeswood/Hillcroft)
South West Houston For info: Carol Palmer, 713-776-8531,
General Class Thursdays - 7:30-9:30 p.m In progress DewAnn Cotten
Dance Studio, 9423 Glenfield Court (By S. Braeswood/Hillcroft),
South West Houston Teacher: Bill Zobel, For info: Carol Palmer,
713-776-8531, carolhpalmer@hotmail.com
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Stepdancing & Ceili classes
O'Maoileidigh School of Irish Dance
Houston, TX
Sundays starting at 9:30 AM
For more information contact newmembers@omaoileidigh.com
or see http://www.omaoileidigh.com/
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Step Dancing Lessons
Stepdancing Lessons
McTeggart Irish Dancers
The Woodlands, Texas
More info@ http://www.irishdancehouston.com
936-321-6583
*With over 60 dancers and 21 Championship dancers McTeggart Irish
Dancers of South Texas have a lot to be proud of.
*Last year they had 6 dancers travel to Killarney Ireland for the
World's Championship in Irish Dancing. These dancers faced up to
150 of the world's top dancers in their age groups. Two of the
dancers did very well: Zane Glotzbach placed 24th and was 5th out
of all the U.S. competitors and Annelise Rubbo placed 33rd overall.
*Last year they had 21 dancers travel to Norfolk, Virginia for the
Southern Region Championships, also known as "Oireachtas". Most of
these dancers placed high in their age groups, with 3 receiving
first place: Annelise Rubbo, Zane Glotzbach and Shannon Powell.
From this competition a dancer qualifies for the World's
Championship and Annelise Rubbo, Jaclyn Rubbo and
Zane Glotzbach achieved this accomplishment.
*Another well-known International competition is the All-Irelands.
Later in January 2004, Annelise Rubbo and Jenna Pace will be
traveling to Ennis, Ireland to compete.
*Also in 2004 several dancers are heading to Philadelphia for the
North American Nationals Competition, held each July. In addition,
McTeggart Irish Dancers of South Texas hopes to have over 25
dancers travel to North Carolina for the next Southern Region
Championship.
*A new beginner class started Sunday, Jan. 11.For information on
936-321-6583.
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