Author: icc-admin

Join the Irish Cultural Center for a weekend of Irish Christmas celebrations, with the annual Christmas with an Irish Touch mass at Our Lady’s Chapel at Elms College on Saturday, December 13 at 4:00 pm, with readings and parts of the mass performed in the Irish language; and the Irish Christmas in America show on December 14.

The Irish Cultural Center presents the hugely popular Irish Christmas in America show for the second year in a row. Featuring some of Ireland’s finest traditional musicians, the joyful performance highlights Irish holiday traditions through music, story, song, and dance. Irish Music Magazine calls it “captivating!”

The show is on Sunday, December 14 at 2:00 pm. in Berchmans Hall at Elms College, 291 Springfield Street, Chicopee, MA. Doors open at 1:30 pm. General Admission advance tickets are $26, $22 for ICC members. All tickets are $30 at the door, cash or check.

Call the ICC at 413-265-2537 or purchase tickets online. **Please note: Phone orders end at 3 pm on Saturday, Dec. 13. Online ticket sales end at 11:00 pm Saturday.**

Now in its 10th season, the enchanting holiday show features top Irish music, song and dance in an engaging performance rich in history, humor and boundless energy. Produced by Oisín Mac Diarmada, the brilliant young fiddler of the award-winning Irish group Téada, the 2014 tour brings back the stunning vocal prowess and charming wit of Séamus Begley, (TG4 Traditional Singer of the Year), along with the angelic voice of his daughter Méabh Begley. Award-winning Irish step dancer Samantha Harvey dazzles with her fancy footwork. The all-star band also includes Sean Gavin on flute and uilleann pipes, and Matt Griffin on guitar.

Mac Diarmada enthuses about the program as a way to bring traditional and often unknown Irish customs to the States. “One of the most heartfelt themes of Irish Christmas is emigration,” says Mac Diarmada. “Music was a way that people stayed close to home.”

This family-friendly performance features evocatively-sung Irish ballads, lively instrumental tunes and thrilling Irish dancing, while evocative photographic images provide a backdrop to some of the rich historical traditions. Take a memorable glimpse into the enchanting spirit of Christmas, as the finest traditional artists from Ireland bring you on a fun-filled start to the holiday season of 2014. Learn more about the show at IrishChristmasinAmerica.com.

Thanks to our major sponsors:

Irish Christmas in America Features Six Outstanding Performers:

Oisín Mac Diarmada is the producer of Irish Christmas in America. A graduate in Music Education from Trinity College Dublin/RIAM, Oisín has been described by The Irish Echo’s Earle Hitchner as “one of the most gifted and creative traditional fiddlers playing today.” Founder of noted group Téada, Oisín is also a regular solo performer, having appeared as guest soloist with the Southern Georgia Symphony Orchestra in the U.S. along with an extensive recording history. He has recently been appointed Chief Examiner of the SCT Irish Traditional Music Examination System, administered by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.

Séamus Begley comes from the Irish-speaking region of West Kerry and is a member of one of Ireland’s most musically-acclaimed families. Famous for his heartfelt singing, Séamus is equally brilliant on the accordion, which he plays with astonishing energy and spontaneity. In 2013, Séamus was honored with the hugely prestigious TG4 Traditional Singer of the Year Award.

Méabh Begley, daughter of West Kerry legend Séamus Begley, commands an audience with her beautiful angelic voice tackling themes of love, emigration and loss in both English and Irish language. Despite her youth, she is fast becoming one of the most respected singers in Ireland, recently performing in the United States during December 2013 and with Téada in Japan and Taiwan during 2014.

Sean Gavin’s playing on the flute, whistle and uilleann pipes reflects his lifelong immersion in traditional Irish music. Sean learned from his father Mick as well has having studied the uilleann pipes with teacher Al Purcell. Currently residing in Chicago, he’s been strongly influenced by flute legend Kevin Henry. He tours regularly with the acclaimed groups Bua and NicGaviskey as well as performing often with his family.

Matt Griffin is a multi instrumentalist based in Dingle. Born in London of Irish parents, Matt grew up playing and learning music within the capital’s vibrant traditional Irish music scene. Matt’s abilities as a guitar accompanist have been in great demand and he has recorded and/or performed with a variety of artists including Alan Kelly, Steph Geremia, Niall Keegan, Garry Shannon, Michael O’Suillleabhain and The Chieftains.

Samantha Harvey is an award-winning step dancer and pianist. Beginning Irish dance at age seven, she reached Open champion level and competed regionally, nationally and internationally. Samantha performs, teaches and choreographs various step dance styles. In addition to Irish Christmas in America, she recently danced with the band Téada during their seven-week tour of Japan and Taiwan.

Irish Christmas in America @ CMU, Mount Pleasant MI from Musical Ireland on Vimeo.

Irish Cultural Center and Elms College Fulbright Scholar Vikki Ní Bhréin will present ‘Fire Festivals,’ a program detailing holiday traditions in Ireland, at an ICC event on Monday December 1, 2014, at 7:00 p.m. in the Alumnae Library theater at the Elms College.

The presentation is free and open to the public.

Ní Bhréin will speak about the Celtic Irish festivals and the traditions that have descended down from them today. She will look at Imbolc (Spring Equinox) and how it exists in the form of St. Bridget’s Day today; Beltene (Summer fire festival) and how it is still celebrated as Mayday in Western Europe today; Lughnasa (Autumn fire festival) and how many celebrations still descend from it; Samhain (Celtic New Year) and how Halloween came from this; and finally, Christmas.

She will illustrate her talk with a photograph presentation that looks at all of these festivals.

Ní Bhréin notes that many of the traditions of modern society are familiar to us all, and it is fascinating to see how truly ancient they are and to understand where they came from. It is also interesting, because much of these traditions are important to Irish culture and very much inform our heritage and culture.

Guests will find that many of the traditions are familiar, while others will be new and thought-provoking. It may also, hopefully, stimulate members to discuss this topic and exchange many of the traditions they remember, that may not be covered here, giving us all an opportunity to learn more about this topic from each other.

Ní Bhréin read a double major, Bachelor of Arts degree in N.U.I. Galway. She graduated with a double first class honours degree in 2006. In 2010 she completed a Masters of Arts in Environment, Society and Development, also in N.U.I. Galway.

In 2014, Vikki was awarded a Fulbright FLTA scholarship and is currently working as an Irish language teacher at the Elms College in Chicopee.

Sunday, November 30 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm at the Collegian Court, 89 Park Street, Chicopee, MA 01013

The Irish Cultural Center welcomes the public to a reading with Irish author and award-winning film producer Brenda Ní Shúilleabháin and her new book, “ANEAS: Words of Wisdom from the Munster Tradition.”

The event, to be held at Collegian Court, 89 Park St., Chicopee, starting at 2 p.m. on Sunday Nov. 30, is free and open to all. Parking is available and light refreshments will be served.

In the book, Ní Shúilleabháin has compiled a selection from the folklore of Munster, mainly west Kerry, in every genre: poems, songs, rhymes, proverbs, triads, charms, and prayers. It is beautifully illustrated with original photographs by Lanka Haouche Perren, a young Frenchman who lives in Dingle.

Ní Shúilleabháin writes that folklore is exactly that: the distilled wisdom of a people, retained in tales, rhymes, epigrams and fables, passed from generation to generation by word of mouth. It was shared at family hearths on winter evenings, exchanged among men in the fields, among women at the wells. It was wrung from generations of observation, from centuries of experience, from a fundamental desire to live life as well as possible, without unnecessary mistakes. It is difficult to define what constitutes wisdom. Philosophers have published volumes in the attempt. But it is unmistakable when it is encountered, and from the dawn of time people took care to remember and pass on what chimed with their instincts.

Ní Shúilleabháin will talk about the research from which she compiled material for the book. She will also read and explain selected sections.

This event will also feature local guests and ICC members who will explain how the ‘old Irish sayings’ were a hallmark of their childhood, told by parents and grandparents, and kept the Irish alive in their families.

Brenda Ní Shúilleabháin was born and raised in Ventry, and still lives there for a great part of the year. She lived for many years in Dublin, where she was an educator and principal of an elementary school where Irish was taught and spoken. She writes and speaks on the oral histories of men and women, on art, on literature, on travel and on education. She excelled at writing and debating from an early age, again an obvious characteristic of her ongoing work, which is engaging, humorous and highly individual. She is also the author of ‘Men of Ventry’ and the producer of award-winning documentary films ‘Children of the Revolution,’ ‘Dún Chaoin, Daichead Bliain,’ ‘‘Bibeanna,’ ‘Bibeanna Mheiriceá’ and ‘Rince ar Phár.’

Married to Mícheál Mac Ginneá, himself a writer, she has three daughters, Déirdre, Aoileann and Sibéal, and one grand daughter, Nell.

The Irish Cultural Center was established in 1999 to foster an appreciation of Irish culture in Western New England. The mission of the Irish Cultural Center is to cultivate a connection with Ireland, through the arts, culture, history, language, and heritage. The Center offers opportunities to engage in educational, travel, and social events that promote Irish culture.

Retiring from Cathedral High School in 2012 after 12 years as the Associate Director of Advancement, she handled donations and correspondence, ran special events and student fundraisers, and helped out with student events whenever needed.

Ellen is looking forward to getting to know the various Irish communities and expanding the membership of the Irish Cultural Center. She says, “No matter where we all come from, I’m sure we have the same fond memories of our childhood, as I have growing up on Hungry Hill. Even though I have spent many years in Easthampton, I still consider myself as from ‘The Hill’.”

Please note that hours for the ICC are generally 10 am – 2 pm Monday through Thursday, but it is recommended that you call ahead if you are planning on stopping by. We are looking forward to working with Ellen as the ICC enters this busy time of year, with our 2015 Membership Drive and Irish Christmas planning in full swing.

– By Chip Costello

I love the Kingdom (Kerry), but I will have to come clean and admit that I really, really like Connemara. Taking an immersion program for a month sponsored by the Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange was not only challenging but also entertaining. The locale, the faculty, abundant opportunities for Irish conversation, and the enthusiasm of fellow students enabled the program participants to improve their listening and speaking skills in a very supportive environment.

The program was run by the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) in Carraroe. The landscape in the area included diverse geography ranging from harbors, islands, and bogs to stark stony expanses. From my perspective as a learner, I couldn’t imagine a nicer place. When I was in town, I could go to the grocery store, post office, or tavern and conduct my business in Irish. At first, I was a bit tentative but grew in confidence the more I used the language. By the third week, I even mumbled responses at Mass as a real native.

One extraordinary benefit of the program was living with an Irish speaking family. The fear an tí and the bean an tí (the man and woman of the house) were extremely friendly and became great friends of ours. There were eight other students in the house from Canada, Germany, and the US. We ate our meals and made progress with the language over the course of the month. At night, we frequently sat in the dining room, drank tea, and spoke Irish with our hosts.

The highlight of my time in Connemara was going with the fear an tí and house mates to an abandoned island where the fear an tí had been raised. Each year a mass had been celebrated in Irish and people with a connection to the island came back and met with family and friends. The island was beautiful and quiet on the day we visited by currach. Everyone was welcomed by the fear an tí’s mother who was well into her eighties. After the mass, music, and conversation, the currachs took people back to the mainland. Sometimes we don’t realize how blessed we are. I knew it at that point though. I felt the ocean spray hitting my face, saw moonlight casting silver rays over the surface of the water, and listened to the boat splitting through the waves. Then the fear an tí’s mother started singing traditional songs in a low and beautiful voice. Although the island had been abandoned, none of us would forget the tremendous sense of community, family ties, and language that we experienced that night.

Our formal schooling took place on Monday through Saturday where we reviewed grammar and practiced speaking. Our teacher was great in getting every student involved. He spoke quickly and clearly, forcing you to concentrate. Each of us became very aware of the richness of the language and of distinctive regional expressions.

There were opportunities for travel in the area, and we spent a day on the Aran Islands, learned more about Pádraig Mac Piarais by visiting his cottage in Ros Muc, and ambled through Galway which was in the midst of a three week arts festival.

Having the opportunity to live with an Irish speaking family and house mates for a month in Connemara provided a first rate learning experience, new friends, and an enhanced appreciation for this area of Ireland. We all felt that we had been very lucky. As we all went our separate ways, I headed for the Kingdom.

An Irish mother loses a son to a tragic drowning in Malawi.

One year later, the mother travels the 5,000-plus miles to the central African country to say goodbye and leave a stone marker in his memory in the town where he died. She sees the abject poverty, and returns to build and run a medical clinic, which opens in 2004.

A few months after that, Bondsville author Suzanne Strempek Shea meets the mother – Margaret ‘Mags’ Riordan – at the Big E, and is so moved by her story that she is inspired to write a book.

Strempek Shea’s book, This is Paradise: An Irish mother’s grief, an African village’s plight and the medical clinic that brought fresh hope to both, was released this spring by PFP Publishing of Boston, and has been met with enthusiastic support across New England, and beyond. She travels in September to Ireland to showcase her work, and to help raise funds for the cause that is already dear to many hearts there.

Strempek Shea and Riordan will discuss their work at an ICC event on Sunday, October 19. The 2 pm event at the Elms College Alumnae Library lower level is free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

Strempek Shea said the idea for the 293-page book grew from the 2004 meeting with Riordan. It was five years after Billy Riordan died while swimming in Lake Malawi in Cape Maclear, a small village that he loved because it reminded him of his hometown, Dingle, Co. Kerry. Billy was just 25 when he died in 1999.

Strempek Shea was working at the Big E in West Springfield, selling clothing and gifts for Dingle Linens in the Young Building. Riordan had a small stand there, where she was selling African trinkets and trying to raise interest – and money – for her new clinic in Malawi.

“I was listening to Mags tell her story over and over. She’d only usually tell up to the point of founding the clinic and people would usually walk away,” she recalled. “I wanted to know the rest. I went over and introduced myself. I wanted to know the rest of the story. I went home at one point and said to Tommy (Shea, her husband) ‘This is a magazine piece, this woman is amazing.’ Tommy said, ‘No, this is a book.’ So I agreed with him,” she said.

Though she didn’t approach Riordan about the idea for the book for three more years, the seed stayed with her and even grew as she got to know the woman who left a secure job as a high school guidance counselor in Dingle to a poor village in Malawi, where she continues to work and expand her clinic.

Getting Riordan’s story took Strempek Shea to both Ireland and Malawi, where she met with friends and relatives of both Riordan and her late son, and saw for herself the clinic that treats all manner of physical malady, including HIV/AIDS, which is rampant in the African country.

“Malawi was very eye opening for somebody from a first world country. I think everyone should go to a place where people are in need, poor. To go to this place that is at once so beautiful, but people are so in need of the basics that we take for granted, like education, health care, food, clothing,” Strempek Shea said.

“If you have a pair of flip flops, that indicates you have some means, that someone is working in your household. Most people are barefoot. It’s not what you’re used to. People were just lovely, welcoming. They clearly love Mags and what she’s doing. There was also a strong story to tell, I felt lucky having the chance to be there, get to know the clinic and a few of people involved,” she added.

Proceeds from the book are being donated to the Billy Riordan Memorial Clinic in Malawi.

Written by Mary Ellen Lowney.

The Irish Cultural Center invites you to an evening with The Elders, one of the most critically acclaimed American Celtic folk rock groups touring today.

WHEN: Friday, October 3, 2014
WHERE: Holyoke Elks Lodge, 250 Whitney Avenue, Holyoke, MA. Get directions.
TIME: The Elders take the stage at 8:00 pm. Doors open at 7:00 pm.
TICKETS: Advance tickets $22.50 / $20 for Irish Cultural Center members. $25 at the door.
General admission, table seating.

They have performed across the United States, Ireland, and Europe, drawing faithful crowds and earning new fans wherever they go. Don’t miss The Elders’ only New England appearance this year. This is a special opportunity to see one of the most exciting bands in the Celtic folk rock world! *Note: phone orders will not be available the day of the show, and online ordering will close at 10:00 am.*

Watch videos, listen to tracks and learn more about The Elders.  See what the critics say.

Thanks to our major sponsors:

and Dr. Megan Doe

About The Elders

Since forming in 1998 in Kansas City, The Elders have set the music scene on its ear, thanks to a skillful blend of American roots rock and amped-up Celtic folk; a cross-pollination of elements that is high-octane and progressive, yet rooted in tradition.

Employing a variety of instruments including guitars, drums, banjo, accordion, mandolin, piano and fiddle, these six gentlemen collectively create music that transcends the stereotypical notion of Celtic music. Powerful four part harmonies, blazing instrumentals and song writing that is unaffected by fads, trends and the giant maw of mind-numbing commercialism.

The Elders are fronted by vocalist and percussionist Ian Byrne, a native of Ireland’s County Wicklow, with guitarist Steve Phillips (The Rainmakers), bassist Norm Dahlor (Tommy Shaw Band, The Secrets and Shooting Star), keyboardist and fiddler Brent Hoad (The Secrets), drummer Kian Byrne (The New Riddim and The Grisly Hand) and fiddler Colin Farrell (Creel and Gráda).

Their songs are mystical, comical, political and cultural, while covering a wide variety of topics such as poverty, civil war, family bonds, spirituality, love and friendship. They tell us stories of people, places and events – some recent, some distant, some real and some imagined.

To date, The Elders have produced 6 full-length studio CDs and 3 live CD/DVDs. Their newest album, “Story Road,” will be released later this year. Their new DVD, “Live @ The Uptown Theater” debuts on Kansas City PBS in August, and is coming to additional PBS stations this fall.

Watch videos, listen to tracks and learn more about The Elders.
See what the critics say.

All sales are final. Refunds are given ONLY in the event of cancellation by performers.

Art Exhibition and Reception
Join Elms College and the ICC on Thursday, September 4, 2014 for a reception with the artist, 4:00 to 6:00 pm.
Borgia Gallery, Dooley Campus Center, Elms College

The exhibit is on display in the Borgia Gallery from August 30 to October 4, 2014.

Paintings of Ireland: A Sense of Place

My paintings have a lot to do with light, and with paint itself. I try explore the full range of what daylight and nighttime have to offer, tackling blinding sunshine, to absolute darkness, and every mood that exists in between those two extremes. Using layers of transparent paint, I try to create maximum depth and richness in a scene. As a plein air painter, I love to work outdoors with spontaneity and speed, and to harness happy accidents. Rather than vistas or panoramic scenes, I am often inspired by the true colors of Irish street life, pub interiors, and other ordinary places. I’ve been influenced by many different schools of thought in art, including the Ashcan School, Russian Impressionism, the Taos painters, Turner’s landscapes, and Rembrandt’s portraits, as well as my early trade-school training in sign painting and decorating, which gave me a great foundation in the practical aspects of applying paint efficiently. I immigrated to Boston in 1990 from my hometown of Kanturk, County Cork, Ireland, and since then, I find that returning home to Ireland is a source of endless inspiration in my life and in my work. ~Vincent Crotty

The Irish Cultural Center and Elms College are pleased to offer a range of Irish classes for the 2014/2015 academic year. In addition, this partnership is again successful in bringing to campus our fifth consecutive Irish Language Fulbright Teaching Assistant, Vikki Ní Bhréin, from Dublin. She brings a great deal of talent and enthusiasm, and will help us showcase the language in our community.

Vikki will teach a Novice class for credit on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. In addition, she will teach the Intermediate class which may be taken on a credit or non-credit basis. This meets on Wednesday evening.

There will be two sections of the Introduction to Irish I non-credit class. Gerald (Chip) Costello, who has participated in Immersion Programs in Kerry and Connemara and has taught Irish at local schools, will teach on Tuesday evening. To accommodate beginners unable to attend classes during the week, Kathleen Gilhooly, a recently retired English teacher at Central High School, and an instructor at the ICC’s Lá na Gaeilge and the Celtic Adventures Camp, will teach another introductory session on Saturday mornings.

A new offering, Introduction to Irish I+, will be offered for students who have had an introduction to the language but are not yet prepared to enroll in the intermediate class. Tom Moriarty, professor emeritus at the Elms and founding member of the ICC, has taught Irish for many years. He has participated in Immersion Programs in Kerry and Donegal. Tom’s class will meet on Tuesday nights.

The ICC and its language subcommittee seek to provide new and satisfying activities for our membership. If you would like to be involved with our annual language day, to select Irish language films, or make suggestions, please contact Chip Costello or Tom Moriarty.

Finally, the ICC does have funds that have been provided by donations in memory of John Johnson. Because of his kindness, we have been able to offer “tuition free” classes for several people. If you are aware of anyone who would like to study the language and might need some assistance, you should call the Director of the Center, Ellen Dziura at 413-265-2537 for details. The maximum number of grants a student can receive from this fund is two.

We are looking forward to another great year. Talk with your friends about the classes, send in your registrations early, and help us increase our visibility for the program. Learn more about the classes and download a registration form.

This year’s Lá na Gaeilge on May 3, 2014 was marked by increased attendance, wonderful faculty, numerous workshops, and remarkably talented presenters. Students ranged from having no Irish to being fully fluent. The theme for the day was Labhair í agus marfidh sí (Speak it and it will last). With that in mind, everyone was encouraged to use whatever Irish they had and to enjoy the benefits of learning and speaking the language.

Participants came from Boston, Worcester, the metro-Springfield area, Utica, NY and Fairfield County, CT.  Four different classes were offered to accommodate the experience of the students. Instructors Kathleen Gilhooly, Mary McShane, Rath DeHoust, and Síobhra Aiken did fantastic jobs in presenting material, encouraging the students to use what they learned, and challenging them to see and appreciate some of the unique characteristics of the language.

There were several workshops throughout the day to supplement the classes. Many students look forward to the varied nature of the day, and Erin Mulvaugh’s popular Irish set dance class was one of the reasons. In addition, Jonathan Kennedy and Amanda Bernhard, recent masters graduates of the UC Galway Irish Language program, and Rath DeHoust facilitated two Irish conversation workshops. The final workshop offering was Irish film. Friendly English subtitles were mercifully available.

The highlight of the day was the presentation delivered by Breandán Ó Caollaí, the Consul General of Ireland in Boston. The ICC was very appreciative that he would take the time to visit with us on a Saturday to discuss the state of the Irish language in Ireland. He spoke about the Language Act, the government’s strategy to strengthen the language, and various statistics regarding the percentage of people who understand the language and use it outside of school or in the Gaeltachts. Breandán read the Nuala Ní Dhomnaill poem on the “Question of Language” to serve as a reminder of how fragile the life of a language can be. He concluded by asking several members of the audience why they were taking the time to learn the language. Many of the answers focused on the opportunity to learn about one’s heritage and culture. “Enjoy the benefits of learning and speaking a language that has been spoken for 2,500 years,” said Ó Caollaí.

Hearing native Irish speakers converse is a treat. Two familiar friends to the Irish Cultural Center, Mike Carney and Muiris Ó Bric, spoke of their native West Kerry roots and the importance of language in their lives. Both men delivered interesting and humorous stories and gave the audience the opportunity to hear what typical conversations in West Kerry would sound like. Both men are great friends and continue their conversations in Irish weekly by phone. This segment ended with Síobhra Aiken’s class reciting a poem, “For Mike Ceárna, Blasketman” written by the Irish poet Louis de Paor.

The day ended with a seisiúin – an opportunity to play an instrument, sing a song, or recite a poem. Fiddles, uillean pipes, and guitars created a wonderful atmosphere for the group. There were traditional songs sung by the group and fine individual efforts by Tom Moriarty, Rath DeHoust and Katie Fournier. The day concluded with the Irish National Anthem and a desire by many to keep the language alive for another 2,500 years.

– By Chip Costello