2009 CCÉ Canada East Region Music Hall of Fame - Stuart Hook

This post is linked to the CCÉ Canada East Region Music Hall of Fame post; slowly we will feature all the people that have inducted to the CCÉ Music Hall of Fame.

Stuart Hook

For more than 15 years, Stuart has been tireless in his efforts to support Irish Culture in St. John. He carried the Branch through tough times when membership was almost nonexistent. Stuart's loyalty and dedication to promoting Irish culture, music, song, dance and storytelling has provided a solid foundation for his branch to grow. Today the branch enjoys a record number of members.

Though Stuart was born in Peterborough, England, his wife Helena, who hails from Athlone, Co. Westmeath, jokes that he is more Irish than she is. It was through the nurturing atmosphere of Comhaltas that Stuart found the confidence to learn to play musical instruments and to sing. He did neither until he was in this fifties! Stuart's skill on the tin whistle and bodhran blossomed under the Comhaltas umbrella.

Stuart is always eager to share his knowledge and talents with others and strives to make traditional Irish music accessible to all ages and skill levels. He has developed musical associations throughout New Brunswick and beyond. This has been a great benefit to Comhaltas and has enriched many people's Irish experience.

Over the years, Stuart has held several positions within the St. John Branch Executive including: Auditor, Secretary, Treasurer, and Public Relations Officer. He encourages other members in their efforts to participate and grow within the organization. Stuart's approachable manner and nurturing personality have made him an excellent ambassador for Comhaltas and the Irish culture in general.

For these and innumerable other reasons, it is with pride that we include Stuart Hook into the Comhaltas Music hall of Fame.

Text taken from the CCÉ Canada East Region Music Hall of Fame program for Saturday October 31, 2009. Toronto, Ontario

2009 CCÉ Canada East Region Music Hall of Fame - Maureen Maher

This post is linked to the CCÉ Canada East Region Music Hall of Fame post; slowly we will feature all the people that have inducted to the CCÉ Music Hall of Fame.

Maureen Maher

Maureen's love for her Irish heritage has taken her on quite a journey. She has dedicated her whole life to preserving and promoting her Irish heritage and culture. Maureen was born and raised in the Irish community of Shannon, Quebec.

Her father Martin Conway, of Lahinch, Co Clare Ireland and her mother, Julia Donaldson, instilled a deep respect for her Irish heritage. With her husband Ray, Maureen strived to pass on her immense pride and love for all things Irish to her children and grandchildren.

Always civic-minded and community-oriented, Maureen has a long list of accomplishments and firsts to her credit, including: a founder of the Shannon Irish Show (now in its' 43rd year); first elected female councillor and the mayor of Shannon (for 10 years); guest speaker at Leinster House (Ireland) on Irish and Canadian differences and similarities. These are just a few highlights of her many accomplishments!

Maureen's involvement with Comhaltas began when she attended the 1989 Provincial Convention in Ottawa. She became a member at that time. She moved to Ottawa in 1991. Her significant leadership experience was welcomed by the Ottawa Branch.

She has held the positions of Ottawa Branch chair and vice-chair (twice). She also chaired the CCÉ North American Provincial convention held in Ottawa in 2005. Maureen has worked in numerous Echoes of Erin tour committees, including the 2009 tour. For the past six years, Maureen has been a voting delegate for the Regional Board and has held the position of Comhaltas Canada East Regional Vice-Chair for the past five years.

It is with pride that we induct Maureen Maher into the Comhaltas Music Hall of Fame.

Text taken from the CCÉ Canada East Region Music Hall of Fame program for Saturday October 31, 2009. Toronto, Ontario.

2009 CCÉ Canada East Region Music Hall of Fame - Stan O'Donohue

This post is linked to the CCÉ Canada East Region Music Hall of Fame post, slowly we will feature all the people that have inducted to the CCÉ Music Hall of Fame.

Stan O'Donohue

Stan grew up in Fanore, County Clare, Ireland. This is just a few miles from Doolin and Lisdoonvarna. His love for traditional music comes naturally. Stan achieved a lifetime goal when he drummed with the  Lisdoonvarna Ceili Band. He was also able to accompany many of the great icons of traditional Irish music  such as Bobby Gardiner, Miko Russell, plus many others, too numerous to mention.

Stan left Ireland in the 1950's and moved to England where he became a professional boxer. He then moved to Canada. Shortly after his arrival in Canada he became involved with Comhaltas in Toronto. 

Stan's involvement with Comhaltas spans over 25 years. From the early days of the Irish Centre Branch, which is now known as the Langan Gorman Branch, he has been witness to many successes. In particular and under Stan's leadership, Toronto played host to two of the most successful North American Provincial conventions ever held; one beign in 1996 and the other in 2001.

Stan was awarded the Comhaltas North American Founders' Award during the 1997 Comhaltas North American Provincial convention in Boston. He is currently chairperson of the Langan Gorman Branch in Toronto and continues to do stalward work on the organization's behalf.

We are all proud of his achievements and are thankful to have Stan as to "go to guy," the fellow who knows how to get things done. It's reassuring to know that, when called upon in the future, Stan will be there to foster the organization and the music that is so near and dear to his huge Irish heart.

For these reasons and many more, it is with pride that we induct Stan O'Donohue into the Comhaltas Music Hall of Fame.

Text taken from the CCÉ Canada East Region Music Hall of Fame program for Saturday October 31, 2009. Toronto, Ontario.

CCÉ Canada East Region Music Hall of Fame

1996:  Leo Brown*

          Chris Langan*^

1997:  Sean Gorman*

1998:  Merv Kelly*

          Kevin Finnegan

2000:  Donald Kavanagh

          Ena O’Brien

          Elizabeth MacDonald

2001:  Tom McSwiggan

          Patrick Conroy

2002:  Maureen Mulvey-O’Leary

          Joe Mell

          Mary Carr

2003:  Rosario Ruane

          Patrick McGuire

2005:  Jack Hickman

          Dennis Alexander

          Frank Cassidy

2006:  Bridgit Ripley

          Karen Light

          Matilda Murdoch

2007:  Micéal Mac Searraig

          Raymond Caldwell

2008:  Anne McConnell-Strong

2009:  Stan O’Donohue

          Maureen Maher

          Stuart Hook

* Deceased

^ Honoured posthumously 

Isle of Irish despair

Not long ago I came across an old article titled “Isle of Irish despair,” by S. Kingsmill, and V. Wilkinson. Canadian Geographic, January/February 1992, 112(1):78-83.

I was surprised to learn that one of the islands we saw from Île d’Orleans last summer, had such a tragic history, for being Canada’s first quarantine station for Irish immigrants. The article recalls the “Summer of Sorrow,” when nearly 100,000 Irish immigrants arrived in Grosse Île, situated 50 kilometers downriver from Quebec City. It tells of the Irish immigration to North America in the 19th century, of people fleeing famine in Ireland and bringing sickness with them, those that survived the ocean crossing faced the quarantine on the island. It is estimated that 5,400 people died at Grosse Île during the summer of 1847.

If you are interested in learning more, check Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site of Canada: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/qc/grosseile/natcul/natcul1/b.aspx

You can also see Newspapers reports from 1847 where are listed all the ships that docked at Grosse Île: 

http://jubilation.uwaterloo.ca/~marj/genealogy/thevoyage.html and http://www.theshipslist.com


By P. Avendano

2013 Ottawa Gaels Annual Golf Fundraiser Tournament

 

When: Saturday, July 13, 2013

          12:30 pm. Shotgun Start
          06:30 pm. Dinner

Where: Irish Hills Golf & Country Club, 3248 Carp Road, Carp, ON K0A 1L0

Cost: $110.00 per golfer (includes   

                   dinner)
         $34.00 Dinner only


For more information, Contact Clara (after 6 pm) at 613-850-9074 or at ottawagaels@gmail.com

Who are the Ottawa Gaels? The Ottawa Gaels Gaelic football Club was established in 1975, they are a Gaelic Athletic Association club in Ottawa dedicated to the promotion and development of Gaelic football in Ottawa

The Ottawa Gaels are affiliated with the Toronto GAA, where they play in both men's and ladies senior competition. The league is made up of 8 teams from Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal, and the season runs from May to September.

https://sites.google.com/site/ottawagaels/

Come and join us for a good craic! 

Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada: Tamworth and Dún Laoghaire (Ontario) 2013

In case that you missed it, the last weekend of June (28-30 June) was the 2013 Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada as part of the Gaeltacht Thuaisceart An Oileáin Úir that was held both in Tamworth and at the Days Inn and Conference Centre in Kingston (Dún Laoghaire), Ontario. For detailed information check: http://www.oireachtas.ca/forbhreathnu-bea.shtml 

Tamworth. Photo courtesy C. Hamm

During the three-day event, the most exciting is the one held on the Saturday, at the Tamworth site. There is where all the competitions are held; competitions are grouped as follows: 

Speaking: Oration, Story Telling, Poetry Recitation, Pair Dialogue 

Writing: Poetry, Prose, Learning Books and Aids 

Singing: Sean Nós Singing, Singing in Irish (not Sean Nós), Individual, Choir, Lúibíní 

Music: Harp, Uilleann Pipes, Céilí Bands 

Dancing: Sean Nós, Set Dancing 

Several CCE Ottawa members actively participated at the Oireachtas, in music, speaking, Sean Nós dancing, Singing, and Set Dancing. At the end of a Saturday where the rain held off for the most part of the day (began to rain as the participants were heading off to the Banquet in Kingston!), the Ottawa group fared quite well. 

Ellen MacIsaac’s Celtic Choir, took the first place (Gold medal) on the Choir competition, the Ottawa Céilí Band took the first price in their category, Ellen MacIsaac took the 2nd place (Silver medal) in the Corn Mhic ConCharraige competition, the Sean Nós competition for those who have already won the open Sean Nós competition. Emilie Funston took 3rd place on Sean Nós dancing, Patrick Scott took the 1st Annual Bob Ely award for Poetry Recitation, and the CCE Ottawa Set Dancers took the first place on Set Dancing.

Ellen Singing and Medals. Photo courtesy of Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada

Pat Scott reciting. Photo courtesy C. Hamm

Pat Scott receiving the Bob Ely Award. Photo courtesy of Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada

Ottawa Céilí Band. Photo courtesy C. Hamm

CCE Ottawa Set Dancers. Photo courtesy C. Hamm

Two of our dancers, Emilie Funston and Melanie Courtemanche with their winning medals! Photo courtesy of Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada

Congratulations to everyone who competed, regardless of the result!