iMacca
G’day and welcome to the June (69th) edition of the Blarney Bulletin - the voice of Australians with a proud Celtic heritage, incorporating the Blarney Podcast and the Australian Celtic Tiger resource directory.
Again, this Bulletin is coming to you from Australia’s Top End - from Darwin, where we have had to endure the the huge smorgasbord of international foods at the Mindil Beach Markets each Thursday night and witness the amazing Darwin sunsets - but I guess someone has to do it!
We have just returned from the Top Half Folk Festival on the Mary River, about 100 km south east of Darwin - and there will be a review in the July edition.
The June Blarney Podcast features three songs from Irish singer Tommy Fleming, who will be touring Australia in October, AND Tommy has a chat to Kerry. There’s a couple of songs from Scotland’s Battlefield band, who are touring Australia, plus a tune and a song from Irish group - Sober Men. There’s a bit of a military theme in this Podcast, with songs from Tommy Fleming and The Battlefield Band, plus the Rebel Yelp Songwriter Award entry from Vanessa Craven - Burning Sand - about the Iraq conflict, and another song about Iraq from Queenslander Joe Lynch - whose son is serving over there with the Australian Army. AND THERE’S MORE - from the Kimberley Stolen Generation album Stealem Away, we have Trevor Jamieson with Memories of Dormitories, and finally the Blarney Pilgrims celebrate guitarist Tommy Carty’s elevation to Legend of the Lake with Carty Wants a Drink.
So just sit back and relax, click on the Podcast and listen to your own national Australian Celtic broadcast while you read your Bulletin and enter the competitions. Alternatively, you can download the Podcast and listen at your pleasure - at home, at work, or in the car.
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The Blarney Events Calendar is again full of great activities, like Gaelic Storm at the Clifton Hill Hotel, the Lake School program launch in Koroit in July, where the infamous Tommy Carty will be inducted as a Legend of the Lake by Ted Egan, there’s Bloomsday celebrations in Melbourne, Raelene Bruinsma’s Finding Your Voice workshops in Melbourne, and the Irish History Circle.
And don’t forget , the Folk Alliance conference in August, the Bellingen Global Carnival and the Boorowa Irish Woolfest in October, and Goulburn’s Fleadh Nua in November.
On tour we have Scotland’s Battlefield Band and then Irishman Tommy Fleming in October.
Ah, you wouldn’t be dead for quids! And anyone with a drop of Celtic blood in their veins who doesn’t attend at least one of these great events would have to be a mug!
In this June edition, Kim Michod reviews of the Frankston Celtic Festival, and Darryl Kennedy & Sharon Stynes review the Grand Irish Charity Ball; a review of Tommy Fleming latest release - A Journey Home, the Kimberley Stolen Generation’s compilation CD Stealem Away, and details of the Battlefield Band's tour - Dookin’ DownUnder.
There’s news about the South Coast Folk Club turning 20, a call for an Irish memorial in Melbourne, a warning to touring performers from Andy Busuttil, the National Folk Festival calls for performers in 2009, as does the Illawarra Folk Festival.
There’s Mossie Scanlon’s Irish language section - Mossie’s Gems, and the Jameson Joke of the Month from Nikki Ruggeri is in the Bulletin.
This month we have loads of prizes to give away - NINE copies of Tommy Fleming CD A Journey Home, TWO Battlefield Band CDs plus a DVD, a copy of the Kimberley Stolen Generation’s compilation CD Stealem Away, and of course a bottle of Jameson Irish Whiskey - so get your entries in!
In the Community Action section, Big Russell Hannah gives advice on how to handle junkmail and those dreaded telemarketers.
For the songwriters, the 2008 Rebel Yelp Songwriter Award is open and of course you can listen to some “classic” sample tracks from the Blarney Pilgrims.
In McCarthy’s Bar this month, Paddy comes up with a solution to the petrol crisis, there’s a picture of an impromptu session in Beachmere, plus details of the Quiet Man’s Sunday Session and Kathryn Clements’ singers session on Wednesday nights, as well as Peter Anderson’s Sunday singers session at the Dan O’Connell.
As usual, there’s the popular reader’s feedback segment, and ALL is revealed in the Blarney Events Calendar.
And while you’re at it, let your mouse do the walking to the Australian Celtic Tiger
resource directory at www.australianceltictiger.com.au where you can now SEE and HEAR the
listings. Whether it’s a holiday, genuine crafted Celtic jewellery, authentic Irish & Scottish foods, a family history, festival tickets, music, entertainment, musical instruments, tuition, a website or business services, you will find it all on the Australian Celtic Tiger.
Kevin “Blarney” McCarthy
HEAR the Celtic Tiger ROAR!
The Australian Celtic Tiger resource directory is literally ROARING with the introduction of audio to the listings - so you can not only SEE but also HEAR from all those businesses, organisations and individuals who so proudly identify with their Celtic heritage.
The Australian Celtic Tiger has a first class range of goods and services available. So whether it’s a holiday away, genuine crafted jewellery, authentic Irish & Scottish foods, a family history, entertainment, musical instruments, tuition, or business services, let your mouse do the walking to the Australian Celtic Tiger at www.australianceltictiger.com.au
A 12-month listing in the Australian Celtic Tiger (incl audio message) will cost only $275 - and in the true spirit of Australia’s Celts helping themselves, the Australian Celtic Tiger will distribute $20 to a not-for-profit Celtic group or organisation of your choice.
Listed on the Australian Celtic Tiger resource directory you will find the likes of Aer Lingus, Anti-Damp, Ancestry Victoria, Ardara House B&B, Aussie Ade Visas, Bailey’s Irish Cream, Bridie O’Reilly’s Irish Pubs, Celtic Catering Company, Cockatoo Ridge Wines, Consulate General of Ireland, Embassy of Ireland, Emerald Travel, Ezibinder, Footscray Collision, Fraynework Multimedia, Alex Grant Violins, Highland House, Ireland’s IDA, Irish Australian Chamber of Commerce, Irish Design Shop; Jameson Irish Whiskey, Kenilworth House, Kerry Ingredients, Lake School, Lansdowne Club, Little Piece of Scotland, McElligotts, Moo Media, Kevin Moran, Mt Isa Irish Club, O’Sullivan Sibeen Irish Pub, Parkform Constructions, Penrith Gaels, PJ O’Brien’s Irish Pubs, PJ Gallagher’s Irish Pubs, Quiet Man Irish Pub, Skilled, Sou’West Collectables & Music, Spowers, Taste Ireland, Tourism Ireland, Enterprise Ireland,Webnation, and Yelp Studio.
So don’t forget to play your part in keeping the Australian Celtic Community alive and well by letting your mouse do the walking to the Australian Celtic Tiger at www.australianceltictiger.com.au
If you want to be listed in the Australian Celtic Tiger resource directory, or if you know somebody who should be listed in the Australian Celtic Tiger resource directory, or if you want to find out more about the Australian Celtic Tiger resource directory, then contact
Kevin McCarthy at the Blarney Bulletin on macca@blarneybulletin.com or 0411
135 418
BLARNEY MUSIC COLLECTION
Tommy Fleming - A Journey Home
Tommy Fleming is currently Ireland’s No.1 performing artist, and has just visited Australia to release his new album, A Journey Home, and to make plans for a tour later in the year ... in October.
A Journey Home, available in CD and DVD, was recorded live at the INEC in Killarney with a 23 piece orchestra, band and choir. It catalogues the journey of Irish music from Thomas Moore to U2, and features twenty two songs from Irelands most celebrated and acclaimed writers and poets - including Australia’s Eric Bogle. The songs featured are uniquely stamped with Tommy’s own indelible style, in a performance that can only be captured live for that spine tingling feeling that leaves you wanting more and more.
The track listing of this superb double CD (or DVD) includes Carrickfergus, The Meeting of the Water, Raglan Road, The Sally Gardens, Isle of Hope Isle of Tears, An Chualinn, The Green Fields of France, The Voyage, Don’t Give Up til it’s Over, Isle of Innisfree, Fare Thee Well Love, The Cliffs of Dooneen, The Town I Loved So Well, All I Want is You, The Bantry Girls Lament, The Quest, Cal, Summer in Dublin, The Water is Wide, May We Never Have to Say Goodbye, The Long Journey Home, and Hard Times.
Besides Tommy Fleming’s exquisite voice, A Journey Home is brilliantly recorded in terms of both sound and picture quality - a definite addition to your music collection.
You can hear Kerry interview Tommy Fleming on the Blarney Podcast, as well as Listen to Tommy sing three songs from his new album - Summer in Dublin, Green Fields of France, and All I Want is You
Tommy Fleming is Ireland’s biggest selling Irish artist over recent years and his concerts are the biggest selling show, but these successes have come after 18 years of hard work. Tommy has released eight albums, has overcome a life-threatening accident, and has worked as an Aid Field Operative in war-torn Sudan ... and he’s done it all with a smile on his face, a ready joke on his lips, and with that typical Irish charm.
Tommy Fleming’s career took off after a chance encounter with renowned producer and composer Phil Coulter in 1993 - within days he was performing with Phil and his orchestra. Then there was a three year stint as vocalist with Galway traditional group De Danann. Tommy recorded his first solo album in 1996, Different Sides to Life, followed in 1998 by Restless Spirit.
During a promotional tour for the album, Tommy was involved in a major car accident resulting in him sustaining a broken neck, leaving both his life and his career in jeopardy. A year later, a determined Tommy Fleming was back on the road touring, and started work on his third album The Contender.
He then made a decision that even his closest friends or family did not expect - he took six months off and flew to Africa to work with the aid agency GOAL in war torn and famine stricken Sudan.
He returned to Ireland and released his fourth album Sand & Water, followed by Tommy Fleming: The Collection, a double CD representing a decade of work (1992-2002). A concert at the Basilica in Knock was filmed and turned into the DVD (and his sixth CD) - Voice Of Hope. A Life Like Mine was released late 2006, followed by A Journey Home.
And soon Australia will get the chance to experience Tommy Fleming in concert.
A Journey Home (CD & DVD) is released in Australia through Universal Music and available at all good music stores. And don’t forget Tommy Fleming is touring Australia in October ... so stay posted for tour details. You can find out more about Tommy Fleming at www.tommyfleming.net
WIN: the Blarney Bulletin has NINE copies of Tommy Fleming’s new CD A Journey Home to give away. To enter the draw, simply email your contact details (name, address & telephone number) to macca@blarneybulletin.com
Don’t miss the Battlefield Band Dookin’ DownUnder in Australia
Scotland’s music legends, The Battlefield Band, need no introduction, and they are currently touring Australia & NZ - so check their tour guide and get your tickets today!
Under their banner “forward with Scotland’s past”, the Battlefield Band are inspired by their rich Celtic heritage and fired by the strength of the modern Scottish cultural scene. After three decades, they still lead the way in Scottish music!
The Battlefield Band mix the old songs and tunes with new self-penned material, playing them on a unique fusion of ancient and modern instruments - the Battlefield Band pioneered the integration of the bagpipes with fiddle, keyboard, guitar, and vocals.
The Battlefield Band includes Alan Reid (vocals, keyboards, accordion), Sean O’Donnell (vocals, guitar, bass, bouzouki), Alasdair White (fiddle, whistle, bouzouki, Highland bagpipes), and Mike Katz (Highland bagpipes, small pipes, whistle, guitar, bass).
You can listen to a the Battlefield Band sing The Beaches of St Valery and One More Chorus on the Blarney Podcast
The Battlefield Band’s Dookin DownUnder Tour - promoting their latest CD, Dookin’ - includes the following shows:
June 2 (Mon 2pm) Exhibition Hall, Forum North, Whangarei NZ
June 5 (Thu 8pm) Al’s Bar Christchurch NZ
June 6-9 National Celtic Festival Portarlington
June 10 (Tue 7.30pm) Under The Grandstand QEO Bendigo
June 14 (Sat 8pm) Logan Diggers Club, Logan Queensland
June 15 (Sun 2pm) St.Marys Leagues Club. Sydney
June 19 (Thu 8pm) The Harp Irish Pub Hotel. Tempe, Sydney
June 22 (Sun 6pm) Fly BY Night Club Fremantle
June 24 (Tue 7.30pm) The Burns Club Kambah ACT
June 25 (Wed 7.30pm) 16’ Sailing Club, Belmont. NSW
June 26 (Thu 7.30pm) The Scots School, Albury
June 27 (Fri 7.30pm) Melbourne University
June 28 (Sat 7.30pm) Her Majesty's Theatre Ballarat
For more info, go to The Battlefield Band’s website: www.battlefieldband.co.uk
WIN: the Blarney Bulletin has TWO Battlefield Band CDs (Road of Tears & Dookin’) PLUS a DVD (Battlefield Band in Concert at Brunton Theatre) to give away. To enter the draw, simply email your contact details (name, address & telephone number) to macca@blarneybulletin.com
Stealem Away
The Kimberley Stolen Generation Aboriginal Corporation (KSGAC) has produced three compilation CDs expressing the Stolen Generations experience through songs by Indigenous artists from across Australia.
The last album, Cry Stolen, was reviewed in the last edition, and the first CD, Nobody’s People, will be reviewed next month.
This month we’ll look at the second recording - Stealem Away.
Stealem Away embraces the many emotions of people taken from country, culture and language. It features contemporary artists, traditional players and soundscapes expressing the deep feelings and experiences of people removed from their families. This emotion-charged album features Alice Haines (Sorry/Political Injustice), Wayne Barker (Taken Away), Groovylips & The Yang (Em No Good), Tahnee Carrie (Stolen Son), Greg Tait (Turn Back Time), Gina Williams (Mr Neville), Sam Lovell (Lonesome For You Mother Dearest), Geoffrey Fletcher (Dearest Mother), Mark Bin Bakar (Why Oh Why), Trevor Jamieson (Memories of Dormitories), and Charmaine Bennett (Mission Days).
The recording was produced by Desert Ocean Productions in Broome.
The set of CDs is dedicated to all the suffering that children and mothers have had to endure, enforced by bad government policy and Australia’s lack of compassion for our Indigenous peoples. All three CDs, Cry Stolen, Stealem Away and Nobody's People are available for purchase at www.kimberleystolengeneration.com.au
You can also listen to audio samples of all the tracks.
KSGAC has begun work on our fourth CD and they are looking for songwriters and musicians who would like to be involved.
From Stealem Away, you can listen to Trevor Jamieson sing Memories of Dormitories on the Blarney Podcast
WIN: the Blarney Bulletin has a copy of the Kimberley Stolen Generation second compilation CD Stealem Away to give away. To enter the draw, simply email your contact details (name, address & telephone number) to macca@blarneybulletin.com
Blarney Pilgrims’ tracks
The Blarney Pilgrims get together from time to time to record various “classic” demo tracks - beginning in 2001 with Duopenilitis (which you will find on the GetUp compilation CD Stand Up & Shout), to:
The Baa National Anthem
The Battle For Bennelong
The Big Fella
Black WAS the Colour
Dirty Old Man
The Great Australian Dream
Kiwi Dreaming
Margie’s Song
Never Gonna Drink Again
So Near
Song For Australia, and
Your Aussie Wildlife Warrior
You can listen to samples of these tracks here: Blarney Music
And you can listen to a new Blarney Pilgrims track, Carty Wants a Drink, on the Blarney Podcast
If you would like a particular Blarney Pilgrims track to play around the home or at work, or to sing along with, drop an email to macca@blarneybulletin.com
SONGWRITERS:
2008 Rebel Yelp Songwriter Award
This month’s entry in the 2008 Rebel Yelp Songwriter Award comes from Vanessa Craven of Diggers Rest, with her song Burning Sand.
Vanessa: “My name is Vanessa Craven and I live in Diggers Rest - an outer suburb of Melbourne. I love singing and playing the guitar and this song is called Burning Sand .
The words were written by my friend Colin Bowes, and I put a tune to it. It’s about a US soldier in Iraq - one who is there for the long haul. It’s about some of his feelings and frustrations with this senseless war!”
You can listen to Vanessa Craven sing Burning Sand on the Blarney Podcast
An alternate look at the invasion of Iraq comes from Joe Lynch of Mt Mellum in Queensland.
This is not an entry in the Rebel Yelp Award. Joe has a son who is in the Australian army and serving in Iraq. This is a deeply personal message from a father to his son.
You can listen to Joe Lynch sing Somewhere Over in Iraq on the Blarney Podcast
2008 Rebel Yelp Songwriters Award - entries open!
In the finest Australian Celtic tradition, the 2008 Award again provides a platform for songwriters to stand up and speak out on issues dear to them.
As you all know, it is not the responsibility of the songwriters to stomp on the cockroaches, but simply to turn on the kitchen light and watch the little critters scurry!
If you have an ORIGINAL UNPUBLISHED REBEL song that you want to share with the world, contact the Blarney Bulletin at
macca@blarneybulletin.com
PS: “rebel” is defined quite broadly - as an issue dear to your heart.
McCarthy’s Bar
This month, Paddy comes up with a strategy to deal with the ever-increasing price of petrol.
“Drink - Don’t Drive!”
NEWS
Ted Egan to induct Tommy Carty as a Legend of the Lake
If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to get your tickets for the launch of the 2009 Lake School program, to be held at Micky Bourke’s Koroit Hotel on Saturday July 5 from 6.30pm.
The highlight of the evening will be Ted Egan inducting notorious Warrnambool musician, DADGAD terrorist and Lake School tutor, Tommy Carty, as a Legend of the Lake.
Legendary Aussie singer and songwriter, Ted Egan will be visiting Koroit to launch the tenth annual Lake School of Celtic Music Song and Dance.
Felix Meagher, program director of the Lake School said, “It is a great honour to have
Ted Egan visit us, and I am sure music lovers far and wide will flock to Micky Bourke’s
to say G’day to Australia’s greatest living folk singer/ songwriter.”
Ted Egan has performed thousand of gigs, written hundreds of songs, released 26
albums, written nine books, and is known world wide as the man who plays beer carton
- otherwise known as the Fosterphone! In 1991 Ted was awarded the Order of Australia for services to Aboriginal people, and for “an ongoing contribution to the literary heritage of Australia through song and verse”. In recent years Ted has served as Administrator of the Northern Territory, a term that was extended twice, and which ended only recently in October 2007.
Ted was born in Melbourne and went to the Northern Territory in 1948 enroute to South America to become a cowboy. He never made it to South America, but followed a varied career in the NT as an patrol officer with the Department of Native Affairs and a teacher in outback schools, before becoming a professional entertainer and building a home in Alice Springs - the famous Sinkatinny Downs.
Ted has family connections with Koroit, on his mother’s side of the family, and will be
travelling to Koroit with his partner Nerys Evans. Ted Egan was recently listed amongst Australia’s National Living Treasures by the National Trust of Australia!
Paddy O’Neill Award winners Rant will perform on the night, followed by a mighty session led by Tommy Carty and Paddy Fitzgerald ... and no doubt Ted Eagan!
This is an event not to be missed - tickets (including a meal) are only $20. For tickets or information contact Felix Meagher on 0413 801 294, email felix@bushwahzee.com or go to www.bushwahzee.com
You can listen to the Blarney Pilgrims sing Carty Wants a Drink on the Blarney Podcast
South Coast Folk Club turns 20
From Peter Thornton:
A reminder that South Coast Folk Club is 20 years old in July.
Here is a brief history of the Club - South Coast Folk Club was founded in July 1988 by Peter and Annie Thornton as a means of fostering folk music in the community living in the area south of Adelaide. Their aim was to encourage other local musicians to share their skills and develop their musical expertise. The first session was held on a Thursday night from 8pm-10pm at the James Craig Inn (now Mick
O’Shea’s) in Hackham and there were about 15-20 people in attendance.
The following month saw the first of the monthly concerts, held on Sunday afternoons, which attracted the attention of the whole folk scene as well as the locals, and featured some of the best local performers of the time.
After 12 months there, we decided to move to the Southern Districts Workingman's Club which had separate spaces suitable for both sessions and formal concerts. Informal (free) sessions were held every Thursday night and monthly concerts on a Sunday afternoon at which a small fee was charged. We eventually left this venue after 6 years when asked to move the sessions into the large concert room due to the advent of poker machines.
Since 1995 we have been meeting at the Port Noarlunga RSL Club, which has a comfortable function area suitable for both sessions and concerts, a good sized stage, friendly welcoming hosts and no poker machines!
The Club has grown enormously since then and has been involved in a vast number of activities. We still host weekly sessions, present monthly concerts, a weekly radio program, and give strong support to the Fleurieu Folk Festival. Our newsletter is in its thirteenth year of publication and we also have our own website, which has helped to give us a higher profile and attracts Interstate and International acts to perform at our concerts.
We’ve come a long way in twenty years and we have a lot to be proud of – congratulations to all involved!
P.S. Wouldn’t it be nice if all the people who came to the Club 20 years ago could read this and come along for a big reunion to help us celebrate this milestone?
Keep Folking!
Find out more at: www.southcoastfolkclub.com.au
Proposed Irish Memorial in Melbourne
From Kieran Maher:
Hi Kevin,
I wonder if you can help me....
I’m thinking about a memorial garden for emigrants from the auld sod to remember souls who’ve departed in Ireland.
In my own case, I’m unable to travel back to Dublin for health reasons and have recently had a number of acquaintances pass away in Ireland. I wasn’t able to attend the funerals, wakes etc. Which led me to think about a special place I could visit in Melbourne that would address the tyranny of distance effect. A garden populated by memories of times and places past - and a virtual chunnel through the Earth to the Emerald Isle.
Hope I’m explaining this idea OK. It could even be in the beer garden of a pub!
Have you ever heard of any similar thoughts? Has anyone done something similar that you know of?
If you are able to assist Kieran, you can contact him at cask@iinet.net.au
Let the Hirer Beware!
From Andy Busuttil of Blue Mountain Sound:
Hi folks,
just a word of warning regarding hiring venues if you are an indie band as we are. We recently completed a tour of the North Coast. Hired one venue which, on a number of occasions, we were verbally told would cost $110. Didn’t check the contract carefully enough and received the bill for the venue.
Well the other costs included a one-off $300 or 10 percent of the take whichever is greater. This was in the contract but I missed it. Out of the gross income of $700 for the night the band has received $197 after costs. What we took on face value was so far off the mark and the hire of what was quite an ordinary venue - flat floor space (no stage) and poor shape for a gig - ended
up costing us over $500. For a small band like ours this is an awful outcome.
The message is clear: DON'T TAKE AGREEMENTS ON FACE VALUE OR TRUST. CHECK THE CONTRACT EVEN IF IT APPEARS BENIGN.
We felt taken advantage of with this one. The shame is that the reps from the venue didn’t tell us about this cost over the phone but it appeared in the contract and as mentioned I missed it and I've never been so easily taken to the cleaners before!
Performer Applications - 2009 National Folk Festival
From Jan Nary:
It’s on again! Now that you’ve had five minutes to catch your breath after the wonderful 2008 National Folk Festival, it’s time to start preparing for 2009.
Next year South Australia is the Featured State and we can expect another roll-call of great talent and wonderful ideas. (Do you remember the wooden boat that was part of the 2003 South Australian contribution? It was moored in the Budawang and became a popular young folks’ cubby house).
The musical theme for 2009 is Music of the Americas (all of them - North, South Latin and Central) and the social theme is Natural Fibres - now there’s a concept to conjure with!
The 2009 National will run April 9 - 13; performer applications are available online and close on August 31. Booking notifications should be out by the first week in December.
So ... it’s time to start hunting, gathering, researching, collaborating and rousing your Muse!
You can contact the festival office on 02 62 49 7755; the website is www.folkfestival.asn.au
2008 Folk Alliance Conference
From Jim Macquarrie:
Hello folks
To let you know that Folk Alliance Australia will be holding their Annual Conference at the Mechanics School of Arts, Sydney on August 30 & 31.
All are welcome, and all are encouraged to come along.
Called "FOLKBIZ 2008" - it will be a weekend for those who keep the folk industry's wheels turning.
For information, please visit: www.folkalliance.org.au/facon/
Illawarra Performer Applications
From Dave de Santi:
The historic Slacky Flat at Bulli Showground will burst into party mode from January 15-18, 2009, when over 500 performers will converge into 11 venues for the 24th award-winning Illawarra Folk Festival.
Online performer applications are now open and will close July 31.
Go to: www.illawarrafolkfestival.com.au/page/PerformerApplication/
The festival also has a new website - www.illawarrafolkfestival.com.au
JAMESON JOKE OF THE MONTH
This month’s joke comes from Nikki Ruggeri of Herne Hill, who will receive a complimentary bottle of Jameson Irish Whiskey for this little gem:
A Water Board bureaucrat stopped at a farm and told the farmer that he needed to inspect the property to assess its water allocation.
The old farmer said: “That’s OK, but don’t go in that field over there.”
The indignant bureaucrat retorted: “Look here, I have the authority of Federal Government with me. See this card? This card means I am allowed to go WHEREVER I WISH on any agricultural land - no questions asked nor answered. Do I make myself clear?”
The old farmer nodded politely and went off.
Some time later, the farmer heard loud screams and saw the bureaucrat running for the fence, with the farmer’s bull close behind - in full flight. The bull was gaining on the terrified Water Board man with every step.
The old farmer immediately threw down his tools, ran over to the fence and shouted: “Your card! Your card! Show him your card!”
If you have a good joke and want to be a contender for a bottle of Jameson Irish Whiskey, simply email your joke and contact details (name, address & telephone number) to: macca@blarneybulletin.com The jokes can be in text form, photos, graphics or video (but not powerpoint presentations), or you can record your joke and send in an audio CD.
Jameson, of course, is Australia’s finest Irish Whiskey
- and that’s no joke!
MOSSIE'S GEMS: An Irish language lesson
I was fortunate enough to attend native Irish speaker and Sean Nós singer Mossie Scanlon’s Irish language classes at the Lake School in Koroit in January, and thought I should share some of Mossie’s little gems.
A highlight of the class was the booklet 500 Mallacht Ort (500 Irish curses) - and the way Mossie would level one at me at regular intervals throughout the class - which he seemed to enjoy immensely.
Anyway, here’s a couple of gems Mossie directed my way:
1: “Nár chaithir é” - may you not live to wear it
2: “Allas do mhaillí go loisce thu” - may the sweat of you brow scald you
Thanks Mossie
If you would like to know more about the Irish language, have a look at www.gaeilgesanastrail.com
And you can find out all about Mossie at www.mossiescanlon.com
You can listen to Sober Men sing Come By The Hills (not in the Irish language this time) on the Blarney Podcast - it’s from their CD Drowsy Maggie. If you would like to buy a copy of this album, contact the Blarney Bulletin for contact details.
REVIEWS
Reach St Patrick’s Ball review
This review of Melbourne’s premier Irish social event comes from photographer Darryl Kennedy and from Sharon Stynes:
Darryl Kennedy: Recently I had been sent to take photos of the Grand Irish Charity Ball, hosted by Jim & Sharon Stynes - and what a magnificent and grand event it was. It was one of the best functions I have ever been to ... I felt privileged being there, and would recommend it to anyone.
They had auctions, silent auctions, raffles and door prizes, from which I am sure they would have raised a substantial amount of money for the Reach Foundation. I even donated some of my photos from the Wallabies vs Ireland game. They gratefully accepted them and put them in to the silent auction and I'm sure one photo hit $120.
The colour on the Irish dancers outfits were radiant and the voices of the guests in the sing along were infectious. The atmosphere of the night was amazing, and I have never seen so many people honestly having a ball - with the dance floor never empty and at some points it was bursting with people.
Sharon Stynes: We celebrated St Paddy’s Day, with flowing green champagne, a pint of Guinness and a Ball to be remembered. The annual St Paddy’s Day Ball, was of course a big party immersed in the Irish festivities! Although a new location, and new time of year, the Ball was bigger and better than ever before.
Katie Ingles, Reach facilitator nearly started an Irish jig in excitement just talking about it! “I have been to a few Irish Ball’s in my time, so the prospect of another wasn’t overly exciting, 2008 however, proved to be the greatest Irish Ball I can remember going to! There was a new energy and buzz about it. The venue was unreal and proved to be one of the best nights on the Reach calendar.”
With an incredible vibe and amazing decorations, guests were not only awed by the venue but also the live entertainment. Jimeoin, Kate Cebrano and Russel Robertson led the onstage entertainment, while a hoard of colourful Irish dancers took to the floor, and started the night off.
So mark your social calendar now for next year’s Grand Irish Charity Ball!
Frankston Celtic Festival review
This review comes from Kim Michod, marketing & fundraising co-ordinator for the Peninsula Hospice Service:
Irish eyes weren’t the only ones smiling at the recent Celtic Festival held at the Frankston Arts Centre in March.
Hosted by the Frankston Lions Club as a fundraiser for Peninsula Hospice Service, over 550 people enjoyed a delightful afternoon featuring Celtic song and dance. This is the second year running that the Frankston Lions have hosted the fundraising festival and, with the increase in attendance from last year, it seems the community is very happy with their efforts.
The afternoon began with two solo pipers entering the auditorium and working their way to the stage where they joined the rest of the Frankston RSL Pipe and Drum band. Resplendent in their uniform, the band kicked off the afternoon’s Celtic theme to perfection. In a blur of colour and movement, the talented girls and boys from Celtic Feet Irish Dance Group took to the stage and mesmerised the crowd with their dextrous footwork and rainbow coloured costumes.
Braemar (pictured), undoubtedly one of Australia’s best Celtic duos, delighted the audience with their impressive resume of classic Scottish and Irish songs. Featuring the talented Eddie Lewis and Marc de Rijk, the lads were certainly a major attraction and drawcard of the afternoon’s festivities.
Under the direction of Mrs Anne Credlin, the Australian Male Welsh Choir finished the first half with two much loved traditional Welsh songs, perfect in their harmonies and dulcet tones. The crowd was also treated to a beautiful duet featuring choir member tenor Kristian Kupsch and Anne Credlin as soprano.
All the entertainers returned to the stage again for the second half, entertaining the audience with their variety of performance. The highlight of the afternoon was Braemar’s traditional farewell song that signalled the close of the event for another year.
The afternoon raised an amazing $6000 to support the Peninsula Hospice Service.
COMMUNITY ACTION
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that
matter.” - Martin Luther King Jr.
Big Russ on Junkmail & Telemarketers
This valuable advice on how to handle dreaded junkmail and telemarketers comes via Joe Dolce’s electronic newsletter (www.joedolce.net), from Russell Hannah:
(1) The three little words: “Hold on, please ...”
Saying this, while putting down your phone and walking off instead of hanging-up immediately would make each telemarketing call so much more time-consuming that boiler room sales would grind to a halt. Then when you eventually hear the Telstra's beep-beep-beep tone, you know it’s time to go back and hang up your handset, which has efficiently completed its task. These three little words will help eliminate telephone soliciting.
(2) Do you ever get those annoying phone calls with no one on the other end? This is a telemarketing technique where a machine makes phone calls and records the time of day when a person answers the phone. This technique is used to determine the best time of day for a real sales person to call back and get someone at home. What you can do after answering, if you notice there is no one there, is to immediately start hitting your # button on the phone, 6 or 7 times, as quickly as possible. This confuses the machine that dialled the call and it kicks your number out of their system. Gosh, what a shame not to have your name in their system any longer!!!
(3) When you get those pre-approved letters in the mail for everything from credit cards to 2nd mortgages and similar type junk, do not throw away the return envelope. Most of these come with postage-prepaid return envelopes, right? It costs them more than the regular 50 cents postage IF and when they receive them back. It costs them nothing if you throw them away! In that case, why not get rid of some of your other junk mail and put it in these cool little, postage- prepaid return envelopes. Send an ad for your local chimney cleaner to American Express. Send a pizza coupon to Westpac. If you didn’t get anything else that day, then just send them their blank application back! If you want to remain anonymous, just make sure your name isn’t on anything you send them. You can even send the envelope back empty if you want to just to keep them guessing! It still costs them $1.00 The banks and credit card companies are currently getting a lot of their own junk back in the mail, but folks, we need to OVERWHELM them. Let’s let them know what it’s like to get lots of junk mail, and best of all they’re paying for it... Twice! Let’s help keep Australia Post busy since they are saying that email is cutting into their business profits, and that’s why they need to increase postage costs again. You get the idea! If enough people follow these tips, it will work ... maybe you’ll get very little junk mail anymore!
COMMUNITY EVENTS
The events listed below have specifically invited the Australian Celtic Community to come along and enjoy themselves.
Gaelic Storm @ the Clifton Hill
If you missed them at the National Celtic Festival, your only opportunity to catch US-based Gaelic Storm kicking up a storm in Australia is at the Clifton Hill Hotel’s Emerald Lounge on Thursday June 19 from 8pm.
Tickets are $25 from the venue - phone (03) 94898705, but be quick ... they may well run out!
The “not so” Quiet Man
At Melbourne's popular Quiet Man Irish Pub, on a Friday night you will find either Welders Bench or the John Kendall Band.
Rotating on Saturday nights are Claymore, Coogans, Welders Bench and the John Kendall Band.
On the 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of the month, from 8pm, Kathryn Clements hosts a singers session. And then Irish button accordion master Joe Fitzgerald leads the traditional music session each Sunday afternoon - commencing at 5.30pm.
It’s warm and friendly atmosphere makes The Quiet Man a grand place to catch up with old friends and meet new ones - there’s a new menu and extended dining hours (to 10pm) on Friday & Saturday nights.
For more information about what's on at the Quiet Man, 271 Racecourse Road Flemington,
phone (03) 9376 6232, email info@thequietman.com.au or
log onto www.thequietman.com.au
You will find more about the Quiet Man on the Australian Celtic Tiger
resource directory: www.australianceltictiger.com.au
Sing Your Own Song - with Raelene Bruinsma
Finding Your Voice presents an eight week course to unlock creativity and access creative ideas, learn the craft of shaping ideas into a song, express and give voice to your authentic self, and perform the song to each other in a ceremony designed by the participants themselves.
Finding Your Voice includes 6 group sessions, one 1:1 session, and a final ceremony/ event.
Finding Your Voice begins on Wednesday June 11 - 7.30- 9.30 pm. Full price is $320, earlybird price $250 (before May 21). Bookings close on June 4.
Call 0439 722 470, email raelenebruinsma@yahoo.com or go to www.findyourvox.com
Bellingen Global Carnival
The 2008 Bellingen Global Carnival will be held at the Bellingen Showgrounds on October 3 - 5. The Global Carnival is an exciting multi-arts festival held in the glorious, subtropical Bellingen Valley. There will be staged performances, workshops, an outdoor physical theatre, a forum, children’s festival, food & craft market, and a bar. Experience the colourful sights and sounds of the world while slowing to the rhythms of a beautiful country town.
For tickets or information, go to www.globalcarnival.com phone: 02 6655 3024 or email madamglobal@globalcarnival.com
Irish Woolfest Boorowa
Boorowa’s Irish Woolfest on Sunday October 5, featuring The Running of the Sheep - leading the colourful street parade, the Blessing of the Fleece, lots of Irish spirit with Irish dancers, Irish bands and singers, The Jitterbugs, and a Grower’s Market. The National Flyball team (featuring hurdling dogs) have made the Irish Woolfest a major competition day.
The Irish Woolfest is a free country street festival.
For more information go to www.irishwoolfest.boorowa.net or call 02 6385 3962
Goulburn’s Fleadh Nua 2008
Goulburn’s 2008 Fleadh Nua - Festival of Irish Music will be held on November 7-9.
There will be traditional Irish music, song and dance, set and step dancing, ceili, Old Time dancing, concerts, plus workshops for flute, tin whistle, fiddle, accordion, uilleann pipes & banjo.
Musicians, singers, and dancers who are interested in performing at the 2008 Fleadh Nua, please send a CD or tape or credentials to Kevin Doyle at 8 South St, Drummoyne NSW 2047
For more info call (02) 9181 3365, 0401 827 460, email irishmusicianssydney@hotmail.com or go to: www.irishmusicianssydney.com
Irish History Circle
The Irish History Circle meets at Melbourne’s Celtic Club on the third Monday of the month at 8 pm.
On June 16, there will be a screening of The Seven Ages of Man; The Birth of the Irish Free State. All welcome.
For more info contact Nell McGettigan on (03) 9419 6882 or mmcgetti@bigpond.net.au
Bloomsday in Melbourne
Bloomsday in Melbourne Inc presents Brave New World? at the Melbourne Museum on Bloomsday, June 16 from 1.00pm. Brave New World? imagines Leopold Bloom meeting a fiction within a fiction, his Australian great-great-great-granddaughter. Then at 3.45pm there will be a seminar in The Age Theatre, in the Museum Lower Level, followed at 7.00pm by a dinner with original music, The Roaratorio, at Monties in Smith Street, Fitzroy.
For bookings contact Bob Glass on 03 9898 2900.
SESSION SCENE
The Session lies at the very heart of Celtic culture - a place
to gather, to listen, to play music, to sing and to dance, to chat
and to enjoy. The Blarneymobile is on a national pilgrimage in
search of a good session - so if you hear of any, please let me know!
Beachmere Sessions
One of the great memories of our stay at the Beachmere Caravan Park in Queensland were the impromptu sessions that just happened - involving the residents and other local and visiting musicians. Great nights with great people!
On the Blarney Podcast, you can have a listen to Sober Men play the South Wind / St Anne’s Reel set from their Drowsy Maggie CD (only available from Ireland/UK - contact Blarney Bulletin for details)
From: Peter Anderson
Subject: Hello Macca - Could you give this session a mention?
Date: 18 May 2008 11:49:49 PM
Hello Macca,
I'm not sure if we've met - certainly we'd have seen each other around.
Anyway, I've been around the Melbourne Bush and Celtic scene for many years in many bands, and am oft known as Captain Accordion.
I wonder if you'd be good enough to incorporate into the Blarney Bulletin a mention of a session I run every Sunday night? It's actually been going for about 3 years.
It's every Sunday night at the Dan O'Connell (Princes St. Carlton) from 9ish till 11.30ish and is a Singer's Session.
It predominantly features Celtic and Trad singing, though other styles and instrumentalists are welcomed.
At this time of year it's right in front of the open fire in the bar, so can be very pleasant and cosy!
FEEDBACK
Here’s a sample of the recent feedback from Blarney readers/listeners:
From: Ross Connolly
Subject: Battlefield Band Concerts in Melbourne
Date: 6 June 2008 11:28:06 AM
Hi Macca
Thanx for sending me the Blarney Bulletin!
I was wondering if you could mention that we are hosting the Battlefield Band again for two concerts in June. All money raised goes towards supporting the Victorian Pipe Bands and in particular a couple of workshops for the younger members, where the biggest cost is for bringing international standard tutors out from Scotland and Canada.
The concert dates are:
Melbourne University, Union House Theatre - Friday June 27 at 7.30pm $45.00
Her Majesty's Theatre Ballarat - Saturday June 28 at 7.30pm $45.00
Thanx for your help
Ross
Vice President Pipe Bands Victoria
From: Vanessa Craven
Subject: RE: your May Blarney Bulletin & Podcast
Date: 27 May 2008 11:52:04 AM
Hi Kevin,
quite a smorgasbord of events in this newsletter - well done!
So much happening!
cheers,
Vanessa
From: Peter Bird
Subject: Re: your May Blarney Bulletin & Podcast
Date: 23 May 2008 8:56:44 AM
Thanks Kev.
You're looking fit and relaxed.
Cheers,
Pete
Yelp Studio Warrnambool
From: Sean McGrade
Subject: Re: your May Blarney Bulletin & Podcast
Date: 23 May 2008 1:42:57 AM
Many thanks Kevin.
I always appreciate your very informative Blarney Bulletin.
I wish you well.
Regards
Sean
Purple Heather Promotions/Erne Promotions
Enniskillen
From: Elaine Velt
Subject: Change of Address
Date: 22 May 2008 11:59:11 AM
G'day Kevin,
we met in Canberra at this year's NFF, I'm Elaine (Lainey) from Newcastle, President of our FC and a Union Choir singer.
Please unsubscribe me from this email address (work) and send to me at home
Keep up the good work - we are also having a Battlefield Band concert here in Newcastle, on June 25th. Last year I saw them at the Vineyards, but can never tire of such a treat!
warm regards,
Lainey
From: Wendy Ealey
Subject: Inquiry
Date: 22 May 2008 1:39:36 PM
Hello Kevin
Jeanette Gillespie just emailed me the info about your bulletin. I've just taken on the running of the Maldon Folk Festival Roddy Read Memorial Songwriters Awards and for some years now I've been the co-ordinator of the Darebin Music Feast Songwriters Awards.
How do I go about publicising these two events in the bulletin and does it cost very much?
It does seem that your publication/podcast/directory are all directed in absolutely the right arena for potential participants in the events I'm involved in.
I look forward to hearing from you and thanks for what you do.
Kind regards
W
http://www.wendyealey.com.au
From: David O’Brien
Date: 22 May 2008 9:31:13 AM
Hi Kevin
thanks for the Bulletin ... its great
hope you are doing well in the Top End
I know I keep saying I have a new song but I can't get it to you- ... I will try soon
I've just written one about Bernie Banton called Ode to Berni B keep a look out for it
also I don't know if you'll be about but I've included an invitation to my 50th
regards to Kerry and the rest of the mob
David
If you have any comments, criticisms, or suggestions concerning
the Blarney Bulletin, the Australian Celtic Tiger, or the Blarney Podcast,
please send them in to macca@blarneybulletin.com but
remember - I know where you live!
WINNERS
The winners of the May Blarney Bulletin competitions are:
Ian McMillan of Glen Waverley won the Chris While CD Rosella Red
Kevin Reynolds of Malabar won the Golden Fiddlers CD Forte
and Anne McAllister of Lower Templestowe won the Cry Stolen CD
Of course you can still enjoy your own copy of these great CDs - so go out and buy one ... or three today!
The Blarney
Bulletin’s 2008 readers prize of a return airfare to Ireland/UK
is generously sponsored by the Australian Celtic Community’s leading
travel agent, Seamus & Chris Moloughney’s Emerald
Travel.
