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The material in this newsletter is copyright 1995. We welcome this information to be distributed in the spirit of Comhaltas -- to enhance the Irish heritage -- but please give credit to the source: Comhaltas Newsletter, Seery/Curry Branch, Third Qtr '95.
A Chairde Gael
Our fall season is well under way. We held a very successful session at the I.A.C.C. in New Haven on September 25. A members meeting preceded the session.
While our picnic for "Musicians Appreciation Day" did not take off this year, we will try again next year, le cunamh De.
The '94 CCE Concert Tour stop at the Fairfield Gaelic American Club was very successful financially and culturally. Go raibh mile maith agaibh as ocht an obair a chuir sibh ins an cuirm cheoil.
On October 16 set dancers from our branch took part in the Special Olympics Ethnic Festival in New Haven. We plan to take part in the ethnic festivities for the World Games in June/July of 1995. We will need musicians and dancers to sign up for this worthy cause.
Our branch was honored to provide the music at the John Boyle O'Reilly Club in Springfield on October 23 for the party honoring our own chaplain Fr. John Moran on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. Go n-eiri an bothar leat.
November 6 saw us at the Waterbury A.O.H. Hall for our annual general meeting. Thanks to Mike Meehan and his committee for hosting the meeting and the ceili after. Mike also conducted the election of officers. A list of new officers is included in the left sidebar of this newsletter.
My heartfelt thanks to the outgoing officers for their service and dedication to the promotion of Irish culture.
As we begin a new year I would like to ask for your help and co-operation in making the Curry-Seery Branch the best it can be. If you have comments or ideas, please don't hesitate to call me.
Beannachtaí an Leanbh Íosa oraibh go léir. Nollaig faoi shean agus faoi mhaise dhaoibh go léir.
Remember to teach your children your heritage; otherwise someone else may teach them theirs.
A blessed Christmas to all agus bliain nua shona dhaoibh.
Mise le meas,
Joan Kennedy
Chairperson
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'94 Northeast Regional Meeting
The Northeast Regional Meeting took place on November 12, 1994 in Rochester, N.Y. Six members of the Curry-Seery Branch attended. North American Coordinator, Bill McEvoy addressed the meeting and asked that all branches make a special effort to promote and keep alive our Irish traditional music, dance, and language classes. He also suggested the creation at the branch level of a Traditional Music Hall of Fame to recognize local musicians. The election of regional officers also took place at this meeting. Our Curry-Seery Branch treasury will benefit from the profits realized at the 1993 North American Conference which was held in Syracuse, N.Y. Following the meeting, there was a lively Ceili with sixteen musicians playing a variety of old-time waltzes, set and ceili dances. The next Northeast Regional Meeting will take place in Albany, N.Y., on Saturday, February 11, 1995.
Our Sympathy and Prayers
Kathleen Turbett on the recent death of her husband Frank.Dorothy McAndrew on the death of her husband Tom. Tom was a musician with our branch and was always willing to help anyone interested in learning how to play Irish music. He will surely be missed!
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Calendar of Events
December 11 -- Sunday -- 4 PM until 8 PM
CCE Christmas Party. Music, Sessions, and dancing. Pot Luck Supper. No
admission charge, just bring your favorite dish. All are welcome.
December 26 -- Monday -- 7 PM until 11 PM
St. Stephen's Night Ceili Dance. Music by Music in the Glenn with John
Whalen and special guest artist Bobby Gardiner & Jimmy Monahan. Admission
is $10.
January 15 -- Sunday -- 4 PM until 8 PM
A ceili will be held at the I.A.C.C. in New Haven. Bring your instruments
& dancing shoes!
Classes & Lessons
Music -- Lessons -- Tuesdays -- 7:00 P.M.Traditional Irish Music Lessons with John Whalan are held on Tuesday evenings at 7 PM at the I.A.C.C. in New Haven. Call Andrea at 484-2655 for more details.
Ceili & Set Dance -- Fridays -- 9:00 P.M.
Ceili & Set dancing. Lessons each Friday evening beginning at 9 PM
at the I.A.C.C. in New Haven. Contact Joan Kennedy at 393-0377 for further
information.
Irish Language Classes -- Wednesdays -- 7:30 P.M.
Irish Language Classes are held each Wednesday at 7:30 PM at I.A.C.C.
in New Haven. Call David Manning at 888-4041 for details.
Music Lessons -- Tuesdays -- 8:00 P.M.
Ceili and Set Dance Lessons are held on Thursday Evenings at the Gaelic
American Club in Fairfield at 8 PM. Call Joan Kennedy at 393-0377 for
further information.
Irish Language Lessons -- -- Thursdays -- 7:00 P.M.
Irish Language Lessons are offered at the Gaelic American Club in Fairfield
on Thursdays at 7 PM. Call Jim Fahey at 255-5845 for details.
Get Well Wishes
Our good wishes to Sean Canning for a speedy recovery from his recent surgery.___________________________________________
Membership Dues for the New Year
Dues are payable Nov. 1, 1994 for fiscal year 1994/1995. Individual membership is $12.00 and $8.00 for each additional family member (maximum $35.00 per family).Make checks or money orders to Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, and send to:
Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann
c/o Andrea Hogan
145 Old Post Road
Northford, CT. 06472
Please include your telephone number and current mailing address with your dues payment so branch records can be updated.
Welcome to Our New Members!
Cead Mile FailteEsther & Patrick Lawless
Joan & Harold Toland
For Newsletter Articles, Suggestions, or Comments:
Jim Smith, Editor
Comhaltas Newsletter
12 Webster Ct.
Newington, CT. 06111
(203) 666-0197
TWELVE GREAT WAYS TO HELP KILL YOUR LOCAL BRANCH
(Slightly edited with thanks to the anonymous author)
- Don't come to meetings.
- If you do come -- be sure you are late.
- Never accept an office, as it is easier to criticize than to do things.
- If asked by the Chairperson to give your opinion on an important matter, tell him/her you have nothing to say.
- After the meeting, tell everyone how things ought to be done.
- Hold back your membership dues as long as possible... or better still don't pay at all.
- If you agree with everything during the meeting, make sure you disagree with it outside.
- When everything else fails, abuse the office bearers.
- Don't bother about enlisting new members, let the secretary do it.
- Talk about co-operation with your fellow members, but never actually co-operate with them.
- Don't tell the branch how it can help you; but if it doesn't help you, just tell everyone it is useless.
- When members have worked very hard to put together a special event or function, be sure and let everyone know how much better you could have done it.
- Do nothing more than is necessary but when other members roll up their sleeves willingly and they unselfishly use their ability to help matters along, complain that the branch is being run by a clique or a dictator.
Polo Shirts have arrived
Proudly display your CCE Curry-Seery Branch logo on a beautiful polo shirt in your choice of colors. Joan Kennedy has arranged to have custom embroidered short sleeve polo shirts available in sizes to fit everyone. Priced at $23.00 this is a nice gift idea with Christmas right around the corner. Our branch may be able to realize a small profit from the sale of these shirts. To order, complete the order form on the back cover of the newsletter.___________________________________________________________________
EDITOR'S CORNER
A few years ago my wife and I were driving down Route 1 to the shore line. We passed many roadside picnic areas on a beautiful summer day when we saw someone sitting quietly at a picnic table playing an accordion. We recognized him as an active member of Comhaltas; someone we have enjoyed playing music with at many area Ceilis. We visited for a while before traveling on to the shore.Ever since that pleasant chance meeting, we enjoyed driving by the little roadside picnic tables any time we were going to the shore; many times we would see him playing Irish Music on his accordion, and we would wave hello or stop for a chat.
We were saddened to hear recently that our "picnic table friend" and fellow CCE musician, Tom McAndrew, died. There will be an emptiness this summer when we drive down the long road toward the shore... we will miss that friendly wave and cheerful gift of traditional Irish music that Tom offered us.
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Irish Airs
"Irish Radio Programs"
================================= Echoes Of Ireland
Tues. 6 P.M. - 8 P.M.
88.7 FM Radio; WNHU.
Hosts: Joan & Pat Kennedy;
John O'Donovan & Pat Hosey
=================================
Music Of Ireland
Thurs. 6 P.M. - 8 P.M.
88.7 FM Radio; WNHU.
Hosts: Tom Faherty
=================================
Music of Erin
Sat 10 A.M. - 11 A.M.
990 AM. Radio; WNTY
Hosts: Peter Guinan & P.J. Tierney
=================================
Irish Hours
Sat 11 A.M. - 1 P.M.
730 A.M. Radio; WHCE
Hosts: Jim & Peg Sullivan
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Healy's Irish Program
Sun 10 A.M. - 12 P.M.
1490 A.M. Radio; WACM.
Hosts: Don & Sheila Healy.
=================================
Ceol Na Gael
Sun 12 P.M. - 4 P.M.
90.7 F.M Radio; WFUV
Fordham University
=================================
Thistle & Shamrock
Sun 3 P.M.
90.5 FM Radio; WFCR
MA Public Radio, Amherst
=================================
Ceili House
Monthly - TBA
88.7 FM Radio; WNHU.
Hosts: Joan & Pat Kennedy
=================================
WEAR YOUR COLORS !!!!
Wear your CCE Curry-Seery Branch logo on these polo shirts in your choice of colors and in sizes to fit everyone. At only $23.00 these make a nice gift idea with Christmas right around the corner. Joan Kennedy is in charge of sales and has generously offered to sell larger quantities at two for $46.00 or three for $69.00! To order, complete the following information and mail it with your check made out to "CCE" to:
POLO SHIRT OFFER
Size: small, medium, large, x-large
Color: white, blue, green, maroon, yellow, black
Name: ________________________________________________
Address:_______________________________________________
City:___________________________ST:______Zip:____________
Phone: ( ______ )______________________
Note: For multiple orders, please specify size and color for each shirt.
Address
Paul Curry/Jim Seery Branch 12
145 Old Post Road
Northford, CT 06472
(203) 484-2655
Send comments or story ideas to Jim Smith, the newsletter editor.
