Chair’s Corner: Notes from the CCÉ Ottawa Chair, April 2015

Congratulations to all the members that collaborated to make the St. Patrick’s Day March Dinner and Céilí a success. The meal was, according to reports, delicious. The whole evening went off very well. The Blakeys ended up enjoying being on the dance floor, close to the dancers. It was a long day for everyone. Thank you to all who came out to help with the set up and those were able to stay for the ‘take down.’ Bravo everyone!!!


The Chair represented CCÉ Ottawa at the induction of Eithne Dunbar into the Brockville Performing Arts Hall of Fame, on Thursday, March 26th . As many of you know, Eithne has been an energetic promoter of Irish music, language and culture in the region, initiating the Irish Cultural Society in 1996. That organization hosts ceilis, concerts and other cultural events. She has come to teach Irish for us during our Lá Gaeilge events run with Caint ‘is Comhrá. Eithne has made 2 CDs of songs in the Irish language, the only singer outside of Ireland to have done so. Profits from Eithne's CD's go to the Canadian Gaeltacht, devoted to the teaching and preservation of the Irish language and culture outside of Ireland. Eithne was featured recently at one of our ceilis, where she sang and sold some of her CDs.


The Chair also taught Irish classes at the Irish language weekend in Kingston, April 10-12. I also helped call the Saturday evening ceili by calling all the ceili dances. Stephen called the 2 sets dances. I also taught with Julie a sean nós workshop on the Sunday.


We prepared a page of memories for the family of Dorine Best. She had been involved for years in the running of the Irish language weekends in Arnprior, most recently as a member of Caint ‘is Comhrá. She also attended out Irish language classes and ceilis at Blessed Sacrament. Dorine died of cancer. A celebration of her life was held on Saturday, April 11, the same day that many of us were at the Irish language weekend in Kingston.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ottawacitizen/obituary.aspx?pid=174489177

  

Respectfully submitted, Cathaoirleach

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann 2015 Spring Tulip Ball

The Ottawa Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, once again have the pleaseure to invite you to attend the  

2015 Spring Tulip Ball

Unfortunately the event had to be cancelled.

The Spring Tulip Ball, besides being a fundraiser for CCÉ Youth, is a terrific opportunity for young people and formerly young people to get together, dress up (attire is semiformal to formal) and celebrate the arrival of Spring, tulips and just being alive. 

The beautiful residence of the Irish Ambassador to Canada is a perfect setting for this elegant and enjoyable evening, and we appreciate his making it available. 

 

Soft drinks and water will be available at the bar. Finger foods will also be available.

The award-winning Ottawa Comhaltas Band will provide the music and there will be dancing for those that are interested.

Come and join us for a good Craic, Ceol & Damhsa!

Where Motley is Worn: Transnational Irish Literatures -- Book Review

http://www.corkuniversitypress.com/Transnational-Irish-Literatures-p/9781782051008.htm

Where Motley is Worn: Transnational Irish Literatures

by 

Amanda Tucker and Moira Casey

Transnationalism—and the connected issues of race, migration, and diaspora—has been an area of increasing interest in Irish Studies. Where Motley Is Worn is one of the first collections to focus on transnationalism in Irish literature. Although Irish literature has shaped national consciousness, this collection illustrates how literature has constructed a transnational imaginary—not only in the contemporary moment but also during earlier periods of Irish history. The chapter-length introduction outlines the transnational turn in Irish Studies while the eleven essays that follow are split between transnational Irish literature in the nineteenth century and the twentieth and twenty-first century.


From Ireland’s emergence in the global economy and accompanying inward migration to its increasing emigration and racial strife following the 2008 recession, transnationalism has been a meaningful topic in contemporary Irish culture. Most scholars view the “new” multicultural Ireland as a rupture from earlier historical periods. This collection takes a different approach. Using transnationalism as a framework, the volume investigates how the multiple connections that Ireland has fostered with diverse parts of the globe influenced its literary output and production. Where Motley is Worn opens the borders of Irish literary studies, which has traditionally been dominated by a nation-centred focus.


The essays in this collection cover both a wide historical period, covering the nineteenth through the twenty-first centuries and a broad geographical range, from Asia to the Caribbean and Latin America. By examining writing that places Irish identity in dialogue with other cultural, national, or ethnic affiliations, the collection allows us to see how Irish literatures have participated in and shaped dynamic cultural flows across the globe.


Amanda Tucker is at the Department of Humanities, University of Wisconsin-Platteville and Moira Casey is in the Department of English Miami University.

===========

This book review appeared in Stylus: Trade, Academic, and Professional Books - Fall 2014, book catalogue. For more information about, and to place an order of "Where Motley is Worn: Transnational Irish Literatures,” please check Stylus/Cork University Press website.

Irish Film Festival - Ottawa

27th - 29th March 2015

Arts Court Theatre

2 Daly Avenue, Suite 240, K1N 6E2, Ottawa

SCHEDULE

Friday 27th March - Gala Opening, 7PM - Gold

Saturday 28th March: 
    2PM - Song of the Sea
    5PM - Pilgrim Hill
    8PM - The Bachelor Weekend

Sunday 29th March:
    2PM - An Píopa (The Pipe)
    5PM - Good Vibrations
    8PM - Kisses


Tickets available, for information:
Twitter: @IrishFilmOttawa

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ottawairishfilmfestival
Website: http://pamurray73.wix.com/irishfilmfestivalott

Chair's Corner: Notes from the CCÉ Ottawa Chair, March 2015

I will start by congratulating the CCÉ adult dancers and their energetic choreographer Caitlin for their breathtakingly creative choreography (especially the piece named “Recess”) and performance at the February céilí. Bravo!!!

Oscar Mou and I participated in the International Day at Ottawa University main campus on March 5^th. I taught two dances, “The walls of Limerick”, and a modified version of the “Rince Mór". Oscar was very helpful as a demo partner and rover.

The Ottawa Chair will be travelling to the CCÉ Hamilton branch for a Saturday 7 March event filled with language classes, dance workshop and céilí.

Respectfully submitted, Cathaoirleach

St. Patrick's Dinner and Céilí - 14 March 2015 - Family-friendly event

We Invite you

When: Saturday, March 14th, 2014. Céilí from 08:00PM to 11:30PM


Where: Blessed Sacrament Church, 194 Fourth Avenue, Ottawa Ontario K1S 2L5.

Tickets: $35, Please note that NO tickets will be sold at the door! Deadline for ticket purchase was 11 March. 

This is an authentic Irish, family-friendly (no green beer) event!

Last year's dinner and dance were a sellout and a HUGE success. In fact, last couple of years, we had to turn people away at the door. It will sell out this year, so you should get your tickets as soon as possible.

This year our dinner will be catered by the award-winning Bobby's Table chefs. The three-course dinner will include vegetarian, and gluten-free options! 

After a first-class, three course complete dinner, beverages available for purchase, there will be an Irish dance (Céilí), with the dances called. No experience or partner is required, and it is loads of fun and helps work the dinner off.

The excellent Comhaltas Céilí Band will provide the music and Sheila Scott will call the dances. At the intermission, Irish dancers from the Trillium Academy will be performing.

There will be a raffle, a 50-50 draw, and a multitude of crafts and items for sale, by Blakeney Designs from Kingston.

At around 10:30 PM, there will be tea and snacks.

A splendid time is guaranteed for all.

Come, join us  and have a good craic!

Ceol, damhsa, craic!

Notes from the CCÉ Ottawa Chair, February 2015

Many thanks to current PRO for teaching the Beginner level Irish classes at the start of the term. Bridget Gulich gas accepted to take the instruction of the Beginner class onwards.

Also we have received confirmation that Ottawa will be hosting four levels of the TEG this year: A1, A2, B1 and the new B2. Ottawa is the only testing centre for Canada!

We are encouraging students in the English Intensive program at Ottawa University to attend our ceilis.

I have confirmed that I will be running a language teaching workshop on basic sean-nós dance class and to call the ceili of the Hamilton branch on Saturday March 7th.


Respectfully submitted, Cathaoirleach