The Common Ground

Vol. VIII, Issue 4

April 2010

Common Ground readers and other supporters of the Ireland Institute can now follow Jim on Twitter.

Log on to www.twitter.com, and enter Jim's ID in the search tab.  His ID is Jim_Lamb.

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News:

Sports:

Lifestyles:

Events:

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

THE JAGGED CLIMB

I was in Ireland two weeks ago to participate in the launch of a new program for young people coming to Pittsburgh. I will talk more about that in next month’s issue. 

One of the major developments in the North was the devolution of Policing and Justice from London to Northern Ireland. Yet another deal toward self determination for the people of Northern Ireland had been reached. The long and winding road toward peace and reconciliation, civil society and prosperity, continues in the right direction.

Of course, there are stumbles along that road. The announcement of this deal brought out dissident reaction in the form of an explosion near Belfast, executed by the Real IRA, on the same day that the Northern Ireland Assembly voted to appoint Alliance Party Leader, David Ford as the government’s newly created Minister of Justice. This is simply the nature of progress. You gather momentum, you move a few steps forward, you hit an obstacle and fall back a step, you get up, gather more momentum, enough to move or sidestep the obstacle, and proceed, always looking forward. And one step at a time, you get closer to that final destination.

And every so often, it’s ok to take a breather and look back at that winding road, that jagged climb that looks like a Wall Street growth index, moving up over time with small drops interspersed, reminding you of the obstacles that seemed insurmountable. They are now just turns in the road that, over time, continues to go forward.

Dr. Paisley, for most of his political career represented an obstacle to peace. Now he gets credit (deserved or not), for sustaining that peace he so vehemently seemed to oppose. Adams and McGuinness, once viewed as criminals and obstacles, are now part of the team pulling the peace truck along that road.

Let’s be clear. There is still a lot of work to do to sustain peace and encourage reconciliation. Young people need jobs and training. Children must have opportunities to engage across sectarian lines. Schools and the government must continue to encourage more integration while continuing to respect communities’ cultural differences. And community groups need to reach out to each other, also across sectarian lines, to accentuate the important things they share in common. (Take note Orange Order, your attacks on the Pope aren’t helping)

I predict over the next year that Northern Ireland will continue to climb the jagged mountain toward peace, hitting obstacles along the way like petty politics, turf wars, misunderstandings, unsolicited interventions, etc. But those obstacles will be removed with consensus and momentum. Let’s see if I’m right.

Jim Lamb

President

jlamb@iiofpitt.org

                                                IIP NEWS

NEWS 

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BLOODY SUNDAY REPORT GETS APPROVAL

The long-awaited Saville report into the British army killings on Bloody Sunday in Derry in 1972 has been approved by the three members of the Bloody Sunday tribunal.

Mr Saville's inquiry was set up in 1998 to re-examine the events of January 1972, when soldiers from the Parachute Regiment opened fire on civil rights demonstrators in the Bogside area of Derry.

It was established after the original Widgery Inquiry in the wake of the killings was dismissed by the families as a whitewash.

However news of the reports approval drew controversy when it was initially revealed that publication of the report may be delayed in the event that a British General election was called. 

While bereaved relatives wanted an early publication of the report, which took 12 years to compile and cost £200m, Mr. Woodward said he was legally obliged to have legal checks of the 5,000-page document carried out by British Government lawyers for potential national and personal security issues.

Mr. Woodward said relatives of the bereaved and injured, plus soldiers involved in the inquiry, would be offered early access to the report on the day of its eventual release. 'Publication of the report of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry has been long-awaited and it promises to be a hugely significant event in Northern Ireland's history,' he said. 

'But this is also an occasion that will have an enormous impact on the private lives of ordinary people. 'I am determined to ensure that arrangements for publication are fair and reasonable, and at all times I intend to act reasonably in recognition of the interests of the families, soldiers and others involved in the inquiry, and of my obligations to Parliament.'

After the bereaved families expressed concerns that the report would be handed to government to allow it to carry out the (aforementioned) legal checks, Mr. Woodward confirmed that while the text was being reviewed, the report would remain under the control of Lord Saville.

Mr. Woodward said he wanted to publish the report in full, but said he would remove extracts where advised necessary to ensure the safety of individuals.

Mr. Woodward said: 'I will seek to offer advance sight on the day of publication to one representative of each of the families designated as full interested parties to the inquiry and to their legal representatives, without distinction between the families of those killed and of those wounded. Equal arrangements for advance sight will be offered to those soldiers most centrally involved in the subject matter of the inquiry.'

The SDLP was critical of the announcement. Foyle MP Mark Durkan said the statement confirmed that both British government and Lord Saville have acceded to the request from the Bloody Sunday families that the report remains under Lord Saville's guardianship until the day of actual publication.

'He also puts on public record suggestions that he has made to offer controlled reading to family representatives and their lawyers, and similarly in respect of the soldiers involved, on the day of publication.

'It has to be recognized that the families still resent and reject the idea that British government officials should have a prior, long access to the report as opposed to the few hours being accorded to them.

'It is also not particularly fair or sensitive to insist that each family should select a single member to go into the controlled reading arrangement,' Mr. Durkan said.

Eventually after further consideration Mr. Woodward recanted and allowed two members from each family to read the report before the findings are published.

Families said that they were relieved there had been a change of heart.

RIRA CLAIMS CO. DOWN CAR BOMBING

The Real IRA (RIRA) claimed responsibility for the car bomb that exploded close to the British Army base at Holywood, Co Down, last week.

In a phone call to the BBC, a spokesperson for the dissident republican group said it had carried out the attack.

The bomb exploded near the headquarters of MI5 in Northern Ireland shortly after policing and justice powers were transferred from London to Belfast.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) sources said the bomb was taken to the barracks in a taxi, which was hijacked in north Belfast after the driver's family was held hostage.

A PSNI spokeswoman confirmed: 'A device has exploded in a vehicle at the rear of Palace Barracks in Holywood.'

'The explosion occurred at approximately 12.24am this morning.'

PSNI chief Superintendent Nigel Grimshaw said those responsible had shown no regard for human life and were nothing more than criminals.

Homes around the Palace Barracks, which houses the MI5 building, were evacuated.

Policing Board member Basil McCrea of the Ulster Unionists said between 50 and 60 people living near the barracks were taken to the Redburn Community Center in Holywood following the bomb warning.

Mr. McCrea said: 'The warning was given and the attack alarms went off, but it is obviously a significant device.

'One person, an elderly man, was blown off his feet. I think he was just a member of the community who happened to be walking past. He has gone to hospital. I think it must have been a bit of a shock.'

The blast came as law and order policy was returned to Stormont at midnight, marking the end of 38 years of Whitehall control.
Police have blamed the Real IRA for a series of hoax security alerts in Derry.

At least three controlled explosions were carried out on suspect devices which had been left in various locations around the city.

The areas around Derry's Courthouse and the Strand Road police station were closed for much of the day as British Army Technical officers attended the alerts.


At a press briefing in Derry this afternoon, the PSNI described how masked men had hijacked vans in two different parts of the city - leaving one outside the courthouse and one outside the police station.

Both decks of the Craigavon Bridge were closed but have since re-opened with nothing untoward being found.

The hoaxes caused severe disruption across Derry, which has been strongly condemned by local politicians and businessmen.

A security alert at a shopping center in Ballymena has also ended.

In Belfast, motorists have been advised to avoid the city center area because of a series of security alerts there.

In the Finaghy Road North area of West Belfast - police have erected a security cordon around a bus after two masked men boarded it shortly before three, leaving a suspicious object on board.

DAVID FORD BECOMES NORTHERN IRELAND JUSTICE MINISTER

The Northern Ireland Assembly has elected Alliance Party leader David Ford as the new Justice Minister at Stormont. Mr. Ford was nominated by his fellow party colleague, Naomi Long, who said he was committed to being a constructive force in the new post.

He received parallel consent from all parties in the Assembly and was thereby elected.

The Ulster Unionists and the SDLP also nominated their party members, Danny Kennedy and Alban Maginnis, for the Justice and Policing post, but neither received the necessary cross-community votes.

Sinn Féin and the DUP did not nominate any of their MLAs for the role. Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has said his party would give David Ford all the support it could in his new role. Mr. Adams said he would have preferred to have seen the appointment of a republican politician, but wished Mr. Ford well in the role. He described the transfer of justice and policing powers as a 'very significant step forward'. He said that political reform, such as the transfer of justice and policing powers, was the best way to get the message across to dissidents that their actions were futile. 

He added that dissident republicans should be asked to outline the rationale behind their actions.

IAN PAISLEY PRAISES PROGRESS IN FINAL SPEECH

Former DUP leader Ian Paisley made his farewell speech in the House of Commons, insisting Northern Ireland was 'moving in the right direction'.

In an 11-minute valedictory speech, Mr. Paisley wished for a time when the Troubles would be forgotten and paid tribute to the Ulster people as 'loving and caring'.

In a parliamentary career dating back to 1970, Mr. Paisley often dominated debates on Northern Ireland.
However, last night he was in reflective mood before stepping down at the upcoming general election. He said the day had come when Northern Ireland must face the facts.

He said: 'There are people in Northern Ireland who have diverse religious convictions and diverse political convictions - but they can live together as neighbors.
'I am confident that with the good friendship that is in this house towards Northern Ireland that we will go forward and come to a day - I may not live to see it - when these Troubles will be forgotten.'

But he acknowledged there were deep wounds still to overcome and insisted: 'We won't forget the price that was paid.'

Mr. Paisley said: 'Northern Ireland is moving in the right direction and this House needs to encourage it to go forward at this time.'

He welcomed the 'good work' of various Northern Ireland Secretaries while admitting 'some of them we would liked to have punched'.
In debate on parliamentary orders that will enable the creation of a Department for Justice in Northern Ireland, he added: 'It doesn't mean we have reached the end of the journey - far from it. But we are in the right way.'

Current DUP leader Peter Robinson paid tribute to his predecessor's 'colorful career,' describing him as a colossus of Ulster politics.

'His name will be remembered in history of Northern Ireland as one of the most influential figures in Unionism,' Mr. Robinson said.

'His leadership has been a major factor in bringing Northern Ireland through to the peaceful and stable society we are now enjoying.'

'A document is only a start. What matters is delivery and Alliance will be holding the First and Deputy First Ministers, and in fact the entire Executive, to account on how well they deliver,' he said.

ORANGE ORDER AGAINST POPE'S BRITISH TRIP

The Orange Order in Ireland says it cannot welcome or agree with the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Britain in September for biblical reasons.

In a statement, the Grand Orange Lodge calls on all citizens in the UK, especially its members, to demonstrate against the Pope's visit to Scotland and England and to oppose any future invitation to visit Northern Ireland.

The Order says it recognized the right of the Pope to visit his flock as it recognized the civil and religious rights of all.

But it says anyone welcoming Pope Benedict is in danger of appearing to acknowledge his primacy and universal supremacy as Vicar of Christ on earth.

It urges members to refrain from any uncharitable acts against Catholics.

Grand Chaplain Reverend Alistair Smyth, a clergyman in Co Down, says they do not want anything of a violent nature taking place. But he said the opposition could take a variety of forms.

He believed the final decision was up to the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland and Grand Orange Lodge of England.

But he suggested members might consider holding rallies to demonstrate the differences between the Catholic Church and the Reformation principles they believe in.

The Order may produce booklets and leaflets outlining their stance and individual members may also write letters to the national papers expressing their opposition to the visit on biblical grounds.

Mr. Smyth said the order's statement was not sectarian but he said members wanted to flag up the principles of the reformed faith.

He did not think it would damage the work that had been done in Northern Ireland to heal divisions between unionists and nationalists over the issue of controversial parades involving the loyal orders.

He felt the Orange Order position was a model for how things could be and ought to be and a model for better relationships.

To say you disagreed with someone on biblical grounds did not mean you detest or have hatred for them, he said.

MPs CALL FOR NEW OMAGH BOMBING INQUIRY

A British parliamentary report has said a new investigation must be set up to examine whether the state withheld vital intelligence from detectives investigating the Omagh bombing.

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee said too many questions remained unanswered over how much the security services knew about the killers' movements around the time of the dissident republican attack and if police officers were left out of the loop.

The Real IRA car bomb exploded in the Co Tyrone town in August 1998 killing 29 people, including a mother pregnant with twins.

No one has been successfully convicted of the murders, but last year four men were found liable for the bombing in a landmark civil case taken by the victims' families.

The committee undertook an inquiry into the security services' role following claims in a BBC Panorama documentary that the British government's listening station GCHQ had monitored suspects' mobile phone calls as they drove to Omagh from the Republic of Ireland on the day of the atrocity.

Panorama said this information was never passed to Royal Ulster Constabulary detectives assigned to the case.

While a subsequent review by Intelligence Services Commissioner Peter Gibson rejected many of Panorama's assertions, committee chairman Patrick Cormack said the bereaved still needed answers.

Mr. Cormack said: 'Far too many questions remain unanswered. The criminal justice system has failed to bring to justice those responsible for the Omagh bombing. 'The least that those who were bereaved or injured have the right to expect are answers to those questions.'

Mr. Cormack also criticized the British government for refusing to give the committee sight of the commissioner's full report, which has been classified for security reasons.

          lifestyles

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15,000 JOBS LOST IN DRINKS INDUSTRY

Representatives of the drinks industry claim that 15,000 jobs have been lost in the past 18 months.

According to the Drinks Industry Group, drinking levels are down over 20% compared to the height of the boom, with one bar or restaurant going out of business every day.

Chairman of the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland Kieran Tobin said that 'as predicted, 2009 turned out to be an even poorer year than 2008 for drinks sales and consumption in Ireland, meaning that it was the worst year for our industry in living memory.

'The 8.9% decline came on top of a 5.9% fall in 2008.

'While some of this decline is attributable to the major increase in cross-border purchasing of alcohol that emerged in the last 18 months, even when this is factored-in there is still a substantial consumption decline of over 7% in 2009.'

The report's author, Anthony Foley said the declines recorded in the report are profound.

'Across all four drinks categories there were marked reductions in 2009. The lowest decline was cider at 5.9%; beer fell by 6.5%; wine by 6.9%; and spirits by 18.5%.

'Bar sales volumes alone decreased by 11.1% in 2009, while off-sales fell 6%. As a result of this, the off-trade's share of the drinks market is now in excess of 50% and growing, while the on-trade's share continues to decline.

'Prospects for 2010 remain weak. DIGI estimates that alcohol volumes will continue to decrease this year by 5%, but that there will be larger proportionate declines in the on-trade with a knock-on effect on jobs and employment.'

In other drink-related news, pubs in the Limerick area opened for business on April 2nd, ending the tradition of Irish pubs staying closed on Good Friday. 

Alcohol was served in pubs, bars, and hotels in the city after businesses were given special legal permission to do so because of the Munster versus Leinster rugby game. Limerick publicans were granted a special exemption to open for business from 6pm until 11.30pm. 

Businesses in Limerick said the exemption was worth €7.5m with people who couldn't get tickets for the game expected to stay in the city center. 

Limerick's Diocesan Secretary Fr. Paul Finnerty said that whether people drink or not was up to them. 

LIMERICK TO GALWAY RAIL LINE REOPENED

The Limerick to Galway rail line has been officially reopened, with trains traveling between the two cities for the first time in 34 years.

Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey said support for this phase of the project would be critical to the successful completion of the next phase from Galway to Tuam due to be opened in 2011.

Minister Dempsey today attended the official departure of the first service from Limerick at 10.30am.

The re-opening of the rail link comes after €160m was spent upgrading the Ennis to Athenry line.

As well as serving Limerick, Ennis, Athenry and Galway, the project involved the building and total fit-out of new stations at Sixmilebridge, Gort, Ardrahan and Craughwell.

Car parking facilities, as well as mobility-impaired access, are provided at the new stations.

There will be five services each way along the new route starting at 6am from Limerick, with journey times varying from just under two hours to two-and-a-half hours.

An estimated 300,000 passengers a year are expected to use the service.

The new link has been widely welcomed, however Labour's Jan O'Sullivan said it was disappointing the route did not include a terminal at Moyross as part of the important regeneration process.

Fine Gael Senator Fidelma Healy Eames, who lives in Oranmore, said the greatest mistake on the line was that it did not include a stop there, which serves a hinterland of up to 15,000 people.

An Oranmore stop is planned to open in 2011.

West on Track, which has campaigned heavily for the new service, said it is important to proceed to phases two and three to Tuam and Claremorris.

However, Iarnród Éireann cannot say when these phases will be started given the current difficulties with the State finances.

$14MILLION PLEDGED FOR GIANT'S CAUSEWAY CENTER

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board is providing a £9.25m ($14M) grant towards the building of a new Giant's Causeway visitors' center in north Antrim.

The grant represents half the cost of the project which will serve Northern Ireland's most popular tourist site.

The Heritage Lottery Fund had already pledged £3m and the National Trust will invest £4m.

The National Trust is seeking to raise the remaining £2m from public donations, which have so far reached £215,000.

The Trust's Director for Northern Ireland, Hilary McGrady, said work should begin on the site by the end of spring.

The center is due to be completed in 2012 and was designed by Dublin architects Heneghan Peng.

It will be hidden from the coastal landscape by a grass roof and will have environmental features such as water-permeable paving, natural lighting and rainwater harvesting.

The decision to go ahead with the center follows years of controversy after the original visitors' center was destroyed in a fire in 2000.

NITB Chief Executive Alan Clarke said the project would help promote tourist destinations beyond the Causeway.

'This will provide opportunities to grow the tourism sector by signposting visitors to other attractions in the region, increasing the time that visitors stay in the region and increasing the amount spent by visitors', he said.

CROSS OF CONG TO BE TRANSFERRED TO MAYO

The National Museum has announced that the 12th century Cross of Cong is to be transferred from the Museum of Archaeology in Dublin to Co Mayo where it will be put on display for the next year.

The highly ornate processional cross is one of the country's most important medieval art treasures and is regarded as one of the finest examples of early Irish Christian art.

It is believed it was made in Roscommon about the year 1123 to house a relic of the True Cross, which had been acquired by the then High King of Ireland, Turlough O Connor.

The cross was preserved in the Augustinian Abbey at Cong in Co Mayo until the 1830s when it was acquired by the Royal Irish Academy.

It was subsequently added to the collection of the National Museum.

Next week it will be transferred to the Museum of Country Life at Turlough House, near Castlebar, where it will be put on display for the next year.

It is the first time that it will ever have been taken from the museum in Dublin.

It is expected that it will attract thousands of visitors to the Castlebar museum this year.

SPORTS

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With Summer only around the corner we thought this month we'd tell you about two of Irish sports that are alive and well in Pittsburgh!

GAELIC FOOTBALL

Gaelic Football can be described as a mixture of soccer and rugby, although it predates both of those games. It’s a little like Australian Rules (which evolved from it). Gaelic Football is played on a pitch about the same size as a rugby field with similar goalposts. The ball used in Gaelic Football is round, slightly smaller than a soccer ball. It can be carried in the hand for a distance of four steps and can be kicked or hand-passed, a striking motion with the hand or fist. After every four steps the ball must be either bounced or "solo-ed", an action of dropping the ball onto the foot and kicking it back into the hand. You may not bounce the ball twice in a row. To score, you put the ball over the crossbar by foot or hand / fist for one point or under the crossbar and into the net by foot or hand / fist in certain circumstances for a goal, the latter being the equivalent of three points. Teams consist of 15 players and are played over two halves (30mins each). 

Pittsburgh Gaelic Athletic Association (PGAA) represent Pittsburgh's three Gaelic Football Teams: The Pittsburgh Celtics, Pittsburgh Banshees, and Pittsburgh Celtics Youth Teams. All three teams comprise Irish born and American born players - many whom were new to the sport. New players are encouraged with training for the upcoming season beginning on Sunday 25th April.

Teams compete against others from Detroit, Cleveland, Baltimore and Washington DC with the hope of making the Nationals in Chicago on Labor Day Weekend.

For more information about Gaelic football or the PGAA contact PRO@PittsburghGAA.com or log-onto www.PittsburghGAA.com 

CURRAGH RACING

The curragh is a wood frame, skin (canvas) covered rowboat with 3 (standard curragh) or 4 (Naomhaig) seats. The basic design is well over 1000 years old, and little has changed over that time. What are considered to be the “modern” curragh designs, using canvas rather than skins dates back several hundred years. The sport of modern curragh racing has been documented as far back as the 1800’s in Ireland. However, curragh racing was virtually unheard of in the U.S. before 1980 outside of Boston, MA. Even the events in Boston consisted entirely of Irish-born crews. Things changed in the early 1980’s, and Pittsburgh was at the forefront of this movement. Many of the Irish-born citizens of Pittsburgh were from Connacht, particularly Co. Galway. 

PIRC compete against teams from Boston, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, and Annapolis to name but a few. Their big event every year is the St. Brendan's Cup Regatta, held in Pittsburgh each July.

The future of the PIRC is bright, featuring one of the youngest and most talented clubs on the North American circuit. This however, will be short lived without a continuous supply of new members to wear the maroon & white. The only prerequisites are determination, persistence, and the ability to have a good time. For more information on the Pittsburgh Irish Rowing Club contact patrick.j.clark@att.net or log onto www.pittsbughirishrowingclub.com

WIDER HORIZONS PROGRAM

If you are interested in becoming a Host Family for the Wider Horizons Program in 2010, please contact Robert Tierney at  rtierney@iiofpitt.org or phone (412) 394-3900.

                               events

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Our Mission:

Help the Institute:

Saturday, April 17

Pittsburgh Ceili Club will sponsor their monthly Ceili at the VFW in Morningside, 7:00 PM Workshop, Ceili at 8:00 PM.

Saturday, April 24

AOH Msgr. Charles Owen Rice Division 1 in the South Hills is sponsoring “A Night of Irish Music” at the Castle Shannon Fire Hall, 3600 Library Road. Entertainment 7PM with Mike Gallagher, 8PM with Bell School of Irish Dance, 9PM with Corned Beef & Curry; Raffles, Auction, & Fun. Donation includes refreshments & snacks, BYOB. Information Rich O’Malley 412.401.3945.

Sunday, April 25

Pittsburgh's Gaelic Football Teams start training  - new players are more than welcome. Contact ViceChair@PittsburghGAA.com for more information.

Sunday, April 25

Gaelic Arts Society of Pittsburgh presents ‘Celts on the Isle of Manx’ presented by Rob Willis and Jack Webber. New Venue – Dithridge House, 220 Dithridge St, 2:30PM. Information Earl McCabe 412.761.1844 or Jack Webber by Email: jfwnamesman@aol.com 412.885.5540.

Friday, May 14

AOH Allegheny County Board's 6th Annual Celtic Golf Open at South Park Golf Course. Contact Rich O'Malley at 412-401-3945 for more information

Saturday, May 22

Pittsburgh Gaelic Athletic Association present 2 great events. There will be a Family 7-Aside at Founders Field in Indianola from 10-3pm - all are welcome - especially folks who have never played before. Contact Chair@PittsburghGAA.com. This event is free.

That evening at the Irish Center in Squirrel Hill will be a Trivia & Irish Music Night - featuring trivia and Guaranteed Irish. The admission is $20 and includes trivia, the music, and complimentary beer. All are welcome.

Pittsburgh Irish Dance Schools

            Bell School of Irish Dance  http://bellschool.com/about.htm  

            Burke Irish Dancers          http://www.burkeirishdance.com/  

    Pittsburgh Irish Reelers    http://www.pghirishreelers.com/  

    Shovlin Academy of Dance  http://www.shovlinacademy.com/  

    Pittsburgh Ceili Club        www.pittsburghceiliclub.org/  

Pittsburgh Irish Sports

Pittsburgh Irish Rowing Club (PIRC)  http://www.pittsburghirishrowingclub.com/  

    Pittsburgh Gaelic Athletic Association (PGAA)

- a representative organization of the Pittsburgh Celtics, Pittsburgh Banshees, and Pittsburgh Celtics Youth

Secretary@PittsburghGAA.com 

www.PittsburghGAA.com

become a regular at these local programs!

 The Echoes of Erin is marking its 22nd year!  It airs every Sunday afternoon at 12:30-2:00p.m. on WEDO, 810 AM.  Diane Byrnes continues to provide Irish music, news, and other great information from the Emerald Isle.  Keep up the good work, Diane!

Paddy's Pour House located on Main Street in Carnegie, PA hosts live entertainment every Friday and Saturday night starting at 9:00 p.m.  Tuesday nights, come for Irish Night: Guinness, Smithwick's, and Half and Half specials 8-12 p.m.  For more information, visit their website or call (412) 279-0770.

Catch the Thistle and Shamrock every Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m. on WYEP 91.3FM for Celtic music performances and discussions.

We're always looking for events to include: If you'd like to include your next event in this newsletter, please send event information including date, time, location, admission cost, and contact information to info@iiofpitt.org. 

LOCAL IRISH ENTERTAINERS WEBSITES

Check Performance Schedules, Etc.

Aran from Johnstown PA -              http://www.people.iup.edu/rahkonen/Bands/Aran.htm  George Balderose  -  http://www.pittsburghpiper.com/

Carnival of Souls -  http://www.carnivalofsouls.com

Ceann  -  http://www.ceannmusic.com/  

Cue Ball Music  -  http://www.cueballmusic.com/index.asp  

Cahal Dunne  -  http://www.cahaldunne.com/

Tony Egan   -  http://www.tonyegan.info  

Michael Gallagher  -  http://www.mike-gallagher.com/

Terry Griffith  -   http://www.pittsburghirish.org/griffith  

Guaranteed Irish    -  http://www.guaranteedirish.info/

Hiraeth  -  http://lugh.as.cmu.edu/Hiraeth.htm

Hooley  -  http://www.hooley.info

John McCann  -  http://www.johnmccannlive.com/

Corned Beef & Curry - http://www.cornedbeefncurry.com/

Michael Murphy & TSRB  http://www.michaelmurphy.us/

Na Gaels  -  http://www.pittsburghirish.org/nagaels

Jack Puskar  -  http://www.jackpuskar.com  

Red Hand Paddy  -  http://www.redhandpaddy.com/

Rolling Scones  -  http://www.rollingscones.com

The Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh’s mission is to promote mutual understanding of the Catholic and Protestant traditions in Northern Ireland and economic development throughout all of Ireland. The Institute fulfills its mission by providing quality programs in job training, economic development, leadership development, educational alliances and reconciliation. The Institute is a change-oriented organization that collaborates with industry, educational and government institutions in the development of all programs.

The Ireland Institute relies on its donor and volunteer network to continue its mission of mutual reconciliation and economic development. Your generosity is kindly appreciated.

The Ireland Institute is available to accept donations through the United Way. Please remember our code for the United Way Campaign of Southwestern Pennsylvania: 4534. We are also listed as a non-Profit under the Combined Federal Campaign. Our number is: 12438. A third option is to donate through the local Federal campaign. This number is: 9016.

If you prefer, a tax-deductible donation can also be made directly to the Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh. The Ireland Institute also appreciates in-kind donations such as event tickets etc. that we can then distribute to our participants.

For further information or questions about how you can donate, please contact us at 412-394-3900.

 All articles are adapted from www.rte.ie, the Irish Emigrant, the Belfast Telegraph, the Irish Examiner, BBC, and other news sources.