6 IRISH WEEK 2016

2016 IRISH FESTIVALMain Stage Schedule

SATURDAY, MARCH 12

* All times on schedule are approximated *

SUNDAY, MARCH 1310 am

10:30

11:00

11:30

Noon

12:30

1:00

1:30

2:00

2:30

3:00

3:30

4:00

4:30

5:00

5:30

6:00

N o P r o g r a m m i N g CarrigalineTraditional irish musicians

(10:00 - 12:15)

Comerfordirish Dancers (12:45 - 1:30)

Fire & Iceirish Dancers (1:45 - 2:45)

Tara Academyirish Dancers (3:45 - 4:45)

The Gothard Sistersirish music & Song (5:00 - 6:00)

Balefire irish Dancers (12:15 - 12:45)

Slieveloughane Irish DancersShowtunes Theatre Company “Finians Rainbow” Favorites

(2:45 - 3:45)

Smilingest Irish Eyes Contest (1:30 - 1:45)

Drawing for Free Ireland Vacation (4:45 - 5:00)

C l o S eC l o S e

Emmet“That Irish Guy”

McElhinneyirish Folk music

(12:00 - 1:30)

Tara Academy irish Dancers(1:30 - 2:00)

The HomerulersTraditional irish & Scots music

(4:00 - 6:00)

Saint Patrick’s Day Parade closing Ceremoies (2:30 - 2:45)

Most Irish looking Face Contest (3:15 - 3:30)

Showtunes Theatre Company“Finians rainbow” Favorites (2:00 - 2:30)

Grafton Street irish Dancers (2:45 - 3:15)

Katie’s Hope - music & song about an irish emigrant Family (3:30 - 4:00)

IRISH WEEK 2016 7

Saturday & Sunday

tara academy of irish dance • www.taraacademy.com

Loft Gallery2016 Irish Festival at the Seattle Center Armory

FEATURED EXHIBIT Lily Kempson McAlerney

Antique Irish Postcards &Bartlett Engravings

An exhibit of photos of Seattle woman Lily Kempson McAlerney is on display in the Gallery area of the Armory Loft. Born in 1897, Lily was a dedicated Trade Unionist who participated in the 1913 Dublin Strike/Lockout as well as in the 1916 Rising. The photo at right shows James Connolly and Lily in 1914 when she lived with the Connolly family. Connolly was one of the 1916 leaders who was executed when the Rising collapsed. Lily escaped to Seattle where she married Matt McAlerney in 1917 and raised a family in Seattle’s Central District. From the 1930s until her death in 1996, she received an annual pension from the Irish government for her role in 1916.

John and Alice Cooper grace the Irish Festival again with their exhibition of thousands of antique Irish postcards, plus 48 original reproductions of Bartlett’s Views of Ireland dating from the 1840s, just a few years before the Great Potato Famine. The Coopers’ collection provide an interesting glimpse into the social history, cultural history and material culture of Ireland, especially in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the “Golden Age of Postcards”.

Outside the Armory, Saturday & Sunday from 1–4 pm

The futuristic-looking Irish-made DeLorean DMC-12 sports car that was made famous in the 1985 movie ‘Back to the Future’ will again be on display outside the Armory at the Seattle Center. 9,200 DeLoreans were manufactured in Belfast in 1981 before the company went bankrupt. Pacific Northwest DeLorean Club members are a community of enthusiasts dedicated to preserving the DeLorean heritage by bringing the community together for social events and to exchange technical expertise. Visit pndc.org for details.

Delorean auto display

8 IRISH WEEK 2016

21 Mercer Street (One Block from Seattle Center)

206-282-1910

What butter or whiskey will not cure, there’s no cure for.

Soda Bread · Northwest King Salmon

Fresh baked Pot Pies · Fish & Chips · Great Steaks · Salads

Burgers · Made-In-House Desserts · And of course, Harp

Lager, Guinness Stout & Seattle’s Best Irish Coffee

HAPPY HOUR · Mon. - Fri. 3-6 pm · All Appetizers

$4

Families Welcome • Children’s Menu

www.tsmchughs.com

The Rich Flavor of Ireland!

Lunch & Dinner Daily

upper Level Workshops

Rare Books & Maps of Ireland

Photo Exhibit highlighting a Seattle Woman’s involve-ment in the 1916 Rising - Lily Kempson McAlerney, Labor

Leader, Insurrectionist

Sunday: 12:00 - 5:00 pm

Loft Activities

Charles Hadrann, Historian and GenealogistNumerous original and reprinted rare Irish books and manuscripts of great historical and genealogical interest are available for free examination and perusal, courtesy of the Irish Heritage Club’s own genealogist and historian. Charles will also be available to answer questions and help you with your research. His only request - please handle all documents with care and respect!

Lily (Kempson) McAlerney was born in County Wicklow, Ireland on Jan. 17, 1897. When she died in Seattle, four days after her 99th birthday, she was the last surviving combatant from the 1916 Easter Rebellion, the week-long armed insurrection in Dublin that fought for an independent Ireland.

Lily and her family moved to Dublin when she was young. She lived in poverty: eight members of her family lived in two rooms. Lily found work at Jacobs Biscuit Factory, but objected to the harsh child labor conditions. During the 1913 lockout, Lily, along with her friend Rosie Hackett and other Jacobs workers, went on strike for better conditions.

On November 13, 1913 Lily was sent to Mountjoy Prison for her actions during the lockout. She raised bail after two weeks, and avoided a reform school by saying her age was 17 when she was actually 16. Lily remained in the labor movement, and in a May 1914 picture of the Delegates at the Irish Trades Union Congress in Dublin, Lily is pictured standing next to Irish Citizen Army leader James Connelly.

Lily lived with the Connelly family in Belfast in 1914 and when she was 17, Lily took an oath of allegiance to the Irish Republic. She and five girls who had also taken the oath stopped by a photographers shop and rounded up enough money for a small negative-size print. In that image above, one of the few items she brought to Seattle after fleeing Dublin, Lily is sitting front and center with James Connelly’s daughter, Ina, on her right.

When the Easter Rebellion started on Aug. 24, 1916, Lily was part of the St. Stephens Green Garrison under Michael Mallin and Constance Markievicz – a woman she had known well from her time at Liberty Hall. Lily, who carried a revolver that day, was part of the initial group that took over the Royal College of Surgeons, across from the park. The bullet holes can still be seen in the college’s columns. She also ran messages to the General Post Office where the rebels were headquartered.

When the rebels surrendered, Lily escaped being captured because she was trying to deliver a message when she got word of the surrender. She went home, took her sister’s passport, and at some point fled to Liverpool. From there, she boarded a ship to America.

Lily arrived at Ellis Island on July 9, 1916 and took a train to Seattle where her uncle worked on ships. After staying with him briefly, Lily lived in the Madison Valley and found work as a housekeeper. She met Matthew McAlerney, a 27-year-old from Co. Down who had emigrated in 1911 and Lily and Matt were married in 1917 at St. Joseph’s Church on Capitol Hill. They had seven children: Alice, Kathleen, Matthew, Jim, Betty, Peggy, and John. Lily died in 1996, four days after her 99th birthday.

2016 Irish Festival at the Seattle Center Armory

IRISH WEEK 2016 9

Join us at Sully’s Lounge, located inthe heart of historic Queen Anne. A great neighborhood spot with a touch of Irish charm.

Thursday, March 17:We will be opening at 12pm on the Big Day.

Our back deck will be open, covered, and heated!

The only Irish bar in Seattle that doesn’t charge cover on St. Paddy’s Day!

Spend St. Patrick’s DayOn Top o’ the Hill!

1625 Queen Anne Ave. N.(206) 283-3900

www.SullysLounge.com

upper Level Workshops

Saturday

sunday

Basic Irish Genealogy

gasworks walls & Marble Halls

Learning the Irish Language

from brian boru to the foggy dew

reflections on the life and legacy

of Seattle woman Lily Kempson McAlerney and her role in the 1916 rising

Lecturer: Jean Roth, Irish Interest Section, Seattle Genealogical Society

Lecturer: Casey McNerthney, Lily’s Great-Grandson

Lecturer: Liam Boyle

Both Days - 1:00 - 2:00 pm

2:00 - 3:00 pm

12:00 Noon - 1:00 pm

2:00 - 3:00 pm

Both Days - 3:00 - 4:00 pm

Loft Activities

Get some idea of the background to your family surnames and have a look at some of the basic guides to tracing family history. Learn where to start and what resources are available to help.

Irish poets Anne-Marie Fyfe & Cahal Dallat trace the tangled weave of Irish music (from the early harpers through to The Chieftains & The Dubliners) exploring James Joyce’s—and Ireland’s—great cultural dilemma: whether to opt for the West of Ireland authenticity of the tragic (Galway gasworks employee) Michael Furey singing the plaintive Lass of Aughrim (in Joyce’s best-loved short story, The Dead), to join the ‘modern tide’ of commercial music, or to aspire to the Marble Halls of high European culture… Cahal’s history is interwoven with traditional Irish (and a touch of classical) playing on his musette accordion, mandolin & traditional flute—and with Anne-Marie’s choice of readings from Joyce, Yeats & contemporary Irish writers.

Irish (Gaeilge) was the predominant language of the Irish people for most of their recorded history. Learn some basic words and phrases in Irish.

In an hour-long mix of poem, music, history, life and letters, poet Anne-Marie Fyfe and historian/literary-critic, Cahal Dallat (with mandolin, traditional flute and accordion) explore the intersections of history with poetry, song and story, over 900 years from 11c Brian Boru’s March by way of Robert Emmett and the Fenians, to Yeats’ Easter 1916 and that great post-1916 anthem, The Foggy Dew (written by Cahal’s great-uncle): with readings/excerpts from Thomas Moore, WB Yeats, Padraig Pearse, Alice Milligan & Roger Casement.

When Casey’s great-grandmother Lily Kempson McAlerney died in Seattle in 1996, she was the last surviving combatant who fought in the 1916 Rising in Dublin during Easter Week 1916.

2016 Irish Festival at the Seattle Center Armory

10 IRISH WEEK 2016

7518 15TH Ave. NW in Ballard (206) 784-9343

www.GalwayTraders.com

Open 7 days a week

Sweaters, capes, scarves & hats from Ireland & Scotland

Irish dance ghillies, hard shoes & poodle socks

Claddagh & Celtic jewelry, Belleek china, Galway crystal

CDs, music books & DVDs; books in English & Gaelic

Bewley’s, Barry’s & Lyons teas, & various food items

Children’s ActivitiesCustom 1916 lego display

Activities in the Loft

Contests

A 1916 Lego Display re-creating scenes from the 1916 Rising in Dublin is being prepared by Dan Parker, one of only 13 LEGO certified professionals worldwide. At last year’s Festival, Dan recreated Lego images of Irish poet W B Yeats and of some of the mythological figures featured in his poems and writings.Children will also be able to create their own Lego figures. iriSH arTS aND CraFTS - Children and adults alike are invited to create a tissue paper shamrock to wear around their wrists or in their hair! Irish themed coloring pages will also be available.

“Most Irish-looking” FaceSaturday at 3:30 pm

“Smilingest Irish Eyes”Sunday at 1:45 pm

All children 12 & Under are invited to participate onstage in these fun contests - just be at the Main Stage when the contest is announced. What determines who has the “Most Irish-looking Face” or the “Smilingest Irish Eyes”? As the song says, the winners are those kids with eyes that “twinkle as bright as can be” and smiles that would “steal your heart away,” and not necessarily the kids with fair skin, freckles, red hair, green eyes, etc. .

Irish Reels Film Festival

Saturday & Sunday from Noon - 5 pm

Listings available at irishreels.org

All screenings are FREE. Visit IrishReels.org for the complete

schedule and other screening details. Note that films are not rated and may

contain graphic language or adult situations.

Parental discretion is advised. Call (206) 330 4913 with questions.

Program subject to change.

2016 Irish Festival at the Seattle Center Armory

IRISH WEEK 2016 11

Professional Repairs,Appraisals & Sales

1314 E John StSeattle, Washington

206-324-3119www.bviolins.com

Performer highlights

Anne-Marie Fyfe & Cahal Dallat

featured Poets

the gothard Sisters Carrigaline

Katie’s Hope Musical Drama

Anne-Marie Fyfe’s fifth poetry collection, House of Small Absences (Seren Books) has just been published. Born in Cushendall, County Antrim, Ireland, Anne-Marie now lives in London where she works as an arts organiser. She has won the Academi Cardiff International Poetry Prize, has run Coffee-HousePoetry’s readings & classes at London’s leading live literature venue, the Troubadour, since 1997, is Poetry Co-ordinator for the annual John Hewitt International Summer School in Armagh City, & is a former chair of the UK’s Poetry Society. Check out her wesite: www.annemariefyfe.com

Traditional Irish music from multi instrumentalists who are steeped in the tradition from west Kerry to Galway. Sara McDermott learned her Irish fiddle music at University of Limerick and Galway. Bob Howell is a teacher of percussion and specializes in Irish bodhrán. Andrew Anderson is a vocalist who sings in Irish as well as English. He plays an array of stringed instruments including the harp, cittern and banjo. Kieran O’Mahony who is a native of Carrigaline, a picturesque village in County Cork, plays Uilleann pipes and whistles.

Told through drama, song, and dance, Katie’s Hope tells the story of a fictional family immigrating to America from Ireland during the famine years. You’ll enjoy “American Wake” songs, Ceili dances, and Irish Blessing songs, a truly inspiring and enjoyable experience.

Fiddling, dancing and singing sensations the Gothard Sisters provide a highly choreographed, fast-paced and polished show which can be appreciated by audiences of all ages. Watch champion Irish step dancing used in a fascinating variety of intricate showpieces, fast fiddling, lively music on the guitar and bodhran, raw energy and beautiful ballads. Sit back and be entertained and inspired by these rising stars from here in Seattle. These girls have been playing violin and dancing since a very young age, and they grew up performing on stages in the Pacific Northwest. They started out with rigorous classical violin training and competitive Irish Dance, leading them to leadership positions in the local Youth Symphonies and bringing them to the Irish Dancing World Championships three years in a row. The three sisters have also developed their talents on various other instruments including guitar, bodhran and voice in the pursuit of creating a fuller, more compelling show. For more information - see thegothardsisters.com.

C.L. Dallat, poet, musician and critic, (b. Ballycastle, Co. Antrim, Ireland) now lives in London where he reviews literature and the arts for the TLS and Guardian among others, and has been a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4’s weekly Saturday Review since 1998. His first poetry collection, Morning Star, was published in 1998, he has won the Strokestown International Poetry Competition in 2006, and his latest collection is The Year of Not Dancing (Blackstaff Press, 2009). Check out his website: www.cahaldallat.com

2016 Irish Festival at the Seattle Center Armory

12 IRISH WEEK 2016

Performer highlightsthe homerulersEmmet “That Irish Guy”

Mc Elhinney

The Homerulers, a Seattle threesome, build on traditional Irish and Scots music with grace and cutting edge rhythms. On fiddle, Susan McCroskey Burke performs regionally with many bands, and her debut CD,” Journey Home,” embraces both Scots and Irish traditions. (susanburkemusic.com). Dan Carollo, performs internationally and was steeped in Irish music during his recent years there. He recorded ‘Miles from Dublin” and “Communion of Saints, “ which reflect his spirited and reflective voice. (celtograss.com). Bruce Singleton is a seasoned Seattle piper and flute player, spearheading the Seattle Irish Pipers Club and the Seattle Tionol. Together, they weave a spell of Irish stories and places, with verve and fire.

Born into a musical family in Omagh, Co. Tyrone in 1974, “That Irish Guy” has been steeped in folk music from a very early age. His great uncle, Tommy Makem, of Makem and Clancy brothers fame, was a huge influence on his chosen path into folk music. It was to America he found a niche market for authentic Irish folk songs. His songwriting influences range from his Uncle Tommy Makem to American folk luminaries such as Guy Clark, John Prine and Townes Van Zandt whose songs he regularly includes in his set list.

Enjoy some favorite tunes sung by members of the cast of “Finian’s Rainbow”. Showtunes Theatre Company brings “Finian’s Rainbow” to Benaroya Hall on March 19th and 20th, 2016. This old-fashioned musical premiered 69 years ago on Broadway, and its message of racial harmony, justice, and social equality remains just as relevant today. “Look To The Rainbow”, “Old Devil Moon”, and How Are Things in Glocca Mora?” are but a few of the lyrical tunes in this magical tale of Finian McLonergan and his daughter Sharon.Tickets at showtunestheatre.org or call 206-215-4747.

Win a Vacation in Ireland!

Some lucky person will leave the Irish Festival with a coupon good for two weeks in a fully-furnished Galway townhouse that sleeps six, located near the Salthill Seapoint Promenade and 400 yards from Galway Bay. Airfare not included. The drawing will take place on the Festival’s main stage at 5:30 pm on Sunday. You do not have to be present to win, but you must visit the Irish Heritage Club booth to enter the drawing. Ádh mór - Good luck!!

2016 Irish Festival at the Seattle Center Armory