songsandstories.net

Irish musician Ronnie Drew dead at 73
The Associated Press
Published: August 16, 2008

LONDON: Ronnie Drew, a founding member of the Irish folk group The
Dubliners, died Saturday, a family friend said. He was 73.

Drew passed away in Dublin after a lengthy battle with cancer, friend
Brian Hand said.

Drew, born in Dublin in 1934, formed The Dubliners in 1962 with Luke
Kelly, Ciaran Bourke and Barney McKenna.

Their songs include "The Molly Maguires," "Dirty Old Town" and "Seven
Drunken Nights." The Dubliners also recorded with The Pogues, and
together they had a hit with "The Irish Rover." Drew also released a
string of solo albums.

Earlier this year, a group of musicians — including Bono of U2,
Christy Moore, The Pogues' Shane MacGowan, and Sinead O'Connor —
released a song called "The Ballad of Ronnie Drew." All profits from
the single went to the Irish Cancer Society.

The first chorus, sung by Bono, celebrated Drew's gravelly voice:
"Here's to the Ronnie, the voice we adore; Like coals from a coal
bucket scraping the floor; Sing out his praises in music and malt; And
if you're not Irish, that isn't your fault."

Irish President Mary McAleese called Drew a "champion of traditional
Irish music.

"With The Dubliners, he re-energized and refreshed our unique musical
heritage," she said. "He brought great pleasure to the people of
Ireland and yet more around the world. Ronnie will be greatly missed."

In a statement on U2's official web site, Bono said Drew created
"music to inspire, to console."

"Ronnie has left his earthly tour for one of the heavens," the
statement said. "They need him up there ... it's a little too quiet
and pious."

Drew's wife, Deirdre, died last year. He is survived by two children
and five grandchildren.

New Ireland Blog - Please Pass it On to your Friends and lists

Hello,

The Plain Dealer’s Mosaic Ireland, in association with the International Community Council and cleveland.com has launched a new blog about Ireland - news, history, blurb, events, issues and discussion. Written by Ohio Irish American News Co-Founder and Associate Publisher, and Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival Assistant Director John O’Brien, Jr., the blog welcomes you, your input and open and respectful discussion. I hope you will visit often and contribute whenever you have something to say.

You can find the blog at:  http://blog.cleveland.com/ireland/

Hope you will join the discussion,

John

Peace Walls Have Outlived Their Usefulness

“If life is a relay, not a race

Doesn’t that somehow help to explain

Why progress is so often viewed as a loss?”

-         from “Credo” by Pat Boren

In a time of unprecedented peace and unprecedented prosperity in Ireland, we are still loathe to live outside the walls, the protection, of our troubled past.  To loose the strings that have held our identity for so long is difficult, and in many cases, against all we have  been taught.  The land of saints and scholars, poets and sad songs; things that are as part of our blood as oxygen, are tough barnacles to break off.  Maybe it is time to not hold those strings so tightly, to let a little slack free, to see what it catches.  At the very least, to not hold the sins of the father against the son, grandson and on.  We could do this, in order to come to grips and full realization of the Celtic Tiger.  Perhaps, it is the only way that we can, before it has burned on by, and taken the soul of the country with it.

Of North and South, borders blur and traditions are often lost in the mist. The boom has peaked.  Seeking, finding and capturing that balance between prosperity and our soul, just as our ancestors struggled to find the balance between survival and holding onto their Irishness. In either case, our Irishness, our soul, is still the battle, whether our opponent be The Stranger, or the stranger known as prosperity.

Preserve what we must, but no one wants to, nor should be, judged by their religion, the street they live on, or their name; to be bunkered in.  Let it be their character that judges and God the judger.  The peace walls must come down.  Not all at once, not without forethought, but the walls must come down.

Cleveland - West Park Station Music Sched:
1^st - Charlie in the Box
2^nd - Echo Forte
7^th  - Jim and Eroc 6-9 Happy Hour
8^th - Friday Kid Cleveland HH 6-9
9^th - Faction  10pm   (also WPS 1st annual Luau)

14^th - Faction and CC Deville
15^th - Tricky Dick and the Cover Ups
16^th - Punch the Clown 10pm
21^st - Scott Celani
22^nd - Superband
23^rd - George Hartwig / Turn and Cough 10pm

29^th - Jim Tigue and Quinn

30^th - Drunk Betty

Olmsted Twp – West Side Irish American Club
West Side Irish American Club 8559 Jennings Rd. 44138 www.wsia-club.org. FREE Concerts in The Pub, every Friday from 8:00 to 11:00

3^rd – Fabulous Steak Roast.  Doors open at 2, Dinner at 3.  Bald Paul’s Irish Blues Band from 3 to 6. (N.Y. Strip, Colcannon, Corn, Shrooms, Baker, Salad, Fruit Salad, Rolls, plus Hot Dogs for the kids). Contact: Helen Malloy 216.251.4075.

Youngstown Gathering of the Irish Clans Festival August 9^th & 10^th

Held at St. Maron’s picnic grounds, Meridian Road, in Youngstown.   Entertainment will feature Ceann, and Homeland Friday and on Sunday, County Mayo Band, Ceann, Cahal Dunne, Homeland and the Burke Irish Step Dancers. On Sunday the Omagh Community Youth Choir will perform and the wee folk (children) enjoy activities in the Land of the Leprechauns. www.irishodyoungstown.com or 330-726-3351.

Cleveland - 8^th Annual Alex & Alyssa Baker Memorial Scholarship Fund Golf Outing

The 8^th Annual Rooster Open Charity Golf Classic is August 9^th, is in memory of Alex and Alyssa Baker, the children of Paul Baker, renowned fiddle player and frontman of the nationally acclaimed Brigid’s Cross.  Alex and Alyssa passed away in August of 2000 in a car accident.  Contact Richie Reece at roosterscramble@gmail.com or 216-789-7556.

AOH/LAOH Raffle for Notre Dame Football tickets

The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) and the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAOH) are sponsoring a ticket raffle to benefit the Ohio National Convention Fund.  A Grande Prize indeed - four concurrent seats for the September 6 Notre Dame v. San Diego State football game, at ND. In addition to the tickets, the winner will also receive a $250 cash prize.  Tickets are $10 each.  Contact your local AOH or LAOH or Joseph Casey at 330-225-0932

Barleycorn Gigs & News – www.thenewbarleycorn.com

September 16^th – 25^th Annual Irish Tour

Medina – Sully’s Music Sched:

2^nd -    Jim Gill
8^th -     Donal O’Shaughnessy
9^th -     The Other Brothers
15^th -   The New Barleycorn
16^th -   Mossy Moran
22^nd  -  The Kreelers
23^rd  -   That Irish Band
30^th  -   The Other Brothers

Centerville – Book of Kells Presentations

In its continuation of programs related to the Book of Kells, the Centerville Library, 111 W. Spring Valley Road in Centerville, Ohio, offers a series of medieval programs this summer. No registration is necessary and most events are appropriate for all ages.                                               See www.wclibrary.info/kells/2008programs.asp for more information.

Fairview Park - Stamper’s Grill Pub Sched (West 217^th & Lorain)

24^th – The New Barleycorn     

Mt. Vernon – Rathkeltair Celtic Rock’s Mt. Vernon

Friday August 22, 2008 Rathkeltair (www.rathkeltair.com 7:30pm Memorial Theater, 112 East High St., Mount Vernon, OH 43050

Youngstown - Valley to Host 2009 International Ulster Project Conference

The Mahoning Valley Ulster Project has been chosen to host the 2009 International Ulster Project Conference.  The four day event, in October, 2009, will include US and Irish chapter members.  Contact: Char McKenna 330.533.1876

Cleveland – PJ McIntyre’s Music and Events Sched:

1^st - Joe and Jay
2^nd - TBA
6^th - First Pub Quiz with host mike d. Come in for a great night’s craic. Cash prizes!!!!!

8^th - Carlos Jones
9^th - Magpies (aka the Whiskeyhounds)
15^th – Mossy Moran

16^th – Cosmic Candy

22^nd – Chris Allen

23^rd – The Kreellers (formerly Bruno’s Boys)

29^th – Zoo Station (U2 cover band)
30^th - The Reality Band
* Gaelic Football and Hurling Games,  Check website for updates on dance school.
* New Menu with more veggie options!!!!!
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Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh Irish Festival September 5 - 7

Gaelic Storm, Pogey, Glengarry Bhoys, Beoga, Screaming Orphans, Gadelle, Cahal Dunne, Dennis Doyle, Michael Murphy and the Shannon River Band, Matthew Craig and The Kerry Tipper Band, Red Hand Paddy, Hooley, Mike Gallagher, Burke Conroy Irish Dancers, Pittsburgh Ceili Club, Pittsburgh Irish Reelers, Bell School of Irish Dance, Shovlin Academy of Irish Dance, Corned Beef and Curry, Terry Griffith, Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh, Mark Guiser, Alan Irvine, Patrick Regan and many more.  www.pghirishfest.org

Dayton - Ancient Order of Hibernians

JFK Division 1 / Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Mary of the Gael, Division 1 & Member Organizations

 1^st  - The McGovern Ceili Dancers present “First Friday Ceili Parties”.  7:00 to 8:30 p.m..  Contact Shelagh McGovern 937-830-0655 / Shelaghmc@juno.com

9th - An Irish Music Hall Session 8:00 to 11 p.m. at the AOH Hall.  Contact Kevin Graham 937-864-2641

15^th  - AOH Social Hour, 8:00 p.m., AOH Hall

23^rd  - AOH/LAOH Garage Sale at the AOH Hall, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00  p.m.  Contact Theresa O’Connell 937-258-0133 or Pat Smith  937-382-1212

          *The AOH, JFK Division 1 meets every month.  All men who are interested contact Mike McCutcheon, President, AOH, JFK Division 1 at 937-236-0756 myshenanigans@woh.rr.com  *The LAOH, Mary of the Gael, Division 1, meets the second Tuesday of every month.  All women who are interested are encouraged to contact Theresa O’Connell, President, LAOH, Mary of the Gael at 937-285-0133 tocconnelll@mvh.org. The AOH Hall is located at 4156 Dayton-Xenia Road in Dayton

Willoughby – Mullarkey’s Music Sched:
6^th – Kevin McCarthy

13^{th –} Porter Sharks

20^th – Dan McCoy

27^th – Pitch the Peat

Brigid’s Cross Sched: www.brigidscross.com

2^nd & 3^rd  - Dublin Irish Festival

10^th - Lakewood Summer Concert Series

13^th - Howe Meadow Summer Concert Series

15^th & 16^th - The Beer Barrel Saloon / Put-in-Bay

22^nd & 23^rd  - Erin Feis,Peoria, IL

27^th  - Casey’s Bar, Lakewood

Lucas County - River Cruise
Annual Lucas County Hibernian River Cruise, which will be held on Thursday, August 7, Cost is $20.00 per person.  Contact Sherri McNeill at sherrimcneill@hotmail.com

Lakeside - Celtic Tenors to Perform in Lakeside

Thursday, August 14^th Lakeside is located between Cleveland and Toledo on Lake Erie’s south shore  www.lakesideohio.com or call 1-866-9LAKESIDE

Columbus – Byrne’s Pub Music Sched

8^th - Bluegrass Happy Hour Gipson & Fitz

15^th - Bluegrass Happy Hour, Big Red & The Wagoneers

16^th -  Saturday Night – Celtic, Yankee Celtic Consort

22^nd - Bluegrass Happy Hour, Megan Murphy & Yankee Bluegrass

23^rd - Rathkeltair

Rocky River – Stamper’s Grill Pub Music Sched:

21^st – New Barleycorn

August 29-31 - Kansas City Irish Fest

One of the world’s largest Irish Festivals will light the streets of downtown Kansas City Labor Day Weekend.  The Elders, Gaelic Storm, Slide, Damien Dempsey, Barra MacNeils, Enter The Haggis, Derek Warfield and The Young Wolfetones, Millish, Beoga, Eddie Delahunt, Bad Haggis, Jim Cosgrove, The Kelihans, Flannigan’s Right Hook, Wild Clover Band, Kelly, O’Riada Dancers and more.  www.kcirishfest.com

The North American Festival of Wales!  

August 28 – 31, The Doubletree Hotel Chicago.  The North American Festival of Wales is a celebration of Welsh and Welsh American culture will feature the very best in Welsh entertainment and arts, including Fflur Dafydd, the award-winning tenor Aled Wyn Davies and the outstanding CF1 Choir from Cardiff.  www.wngga.org or (810) 632-7850

Ongoing Traditional Irish Sessions - Bring your instruments and play along!
            Great Lakes Brewing Co - First Monday of Every month in the Beer Cellar, 6-9 PM.  (tends to be intermediate to advanced players)

Mavis Winkles  -Independence Only on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month (6:30pm-9:00pm)

Cleveland WSIA Club, Jennings Rd, Olmsted Twp - 1st Saturdays of the Month in Pub BEGINNERS AND KIDS WELCOME!  Usually 2-5pm, call to verify time. (440) 235-5868  website: www.wsia-club.org

Old Angle Tavern, W25th Street in Cleveland - Thursday nights at 8PM

Bardic Circle at The Shamrock Club of Columbus  Beginner-friendly, intermediate-level Irish session meeting every other Thursdays from 8:00 pm -11:00 pm 2008 session dates: Aug 14, Aug 28, Sep 11, Sep 25, Oct 9, Oct 23, Nov 6, Nov 20, Dec 4, Dec 18.

26th Annual Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival
Berea Fairgrounds

10 stages featuring: