Fáilte Lughnasa - Celtic Festival of the Harvest

Welcome to August! Summer begins to wind down and the fruits of our gardening labors are ready for picking. In Ireland and the Celtic nations of old, this was a great festival time - the end of summer growing, the start of the harvest.

As with most Celtic festivals of old, there was a lot of celebrating going on. Lughnasa was a day to honor Lugh, a Tuatha De Dannan king who is often referred to as an ancient god of light. There is some wonderful information about the Irish and Scottish celebrations of Lughnasa - both ancient and modern - at the All Saints Parish website.

This is a wonderful time of year to enjoy the fruits of your labors and cherish the

warmth of summer. I'll spend Lughnasa baking some bread, making yummy tomatoe sandwiches, and visiting our local farmers markets.

With the harvest comes lots of work - putting up fruits and herbs into jams and jellies, drying herbs, making herb vinegars and tinctures, freezing fruits and veggies. After the dog days of July, August begins the flurry of activity that leads to the cool of Autumn.

So Happy Lughnasa everyone! Let the celebrations begin.

American Premier of THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT at Monmouth University Shadowlawn Stage

Chairde means friend - and we always love sharing news about our friends.

Irish writer Niall Williams, the author of the international best-selling novel FOUR LETTERS OF LOVE, will be on the Jersey Shore this coming week to attend the opening night performance of the American premiere of his play THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT at Shadow Lawn Stage on the campus of Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ. The play runs June 27th thru July 13th (www.monmouth.edu/shadowlawnstage ). Williams, who co-authored with his wife Christine the popular non-fiction book series O COME YE BACK TO IRELAND: OUR FIRST YEAR IN COUNTY CLARE (about the couple's "reverse immigration" odyssey from NYC back to their home country) will also appear at the Spring Lake library the evening of Wednesday June 25th to talk about his career and to sign copies of his works.


This looks to be a great evening of theatre at a wonderful venue. And I'm delighted to say that two of my good friends, Georgette and Bill Timoney, are also appearing in the show. That's where the Chairde comes in.

But they aren't just friends, they are wonderful performers. Bill and Georgette have appeared in a number of plays together, including productions at Shadow Lawn and at the Celtic Theatre Company. Bill has a long career on stage, television and movies. Plus - they're nice folks.

This is the American Premier of a show that has received high praise in the Emerald Isle.

For more information or to make reservations, you can call the theatre at 732-263-6889.

Join us for Croi na mBan

Just a quickie reminder that Croi na mBan will be at the Watchung Arts Center, Saturday, April 19 at 9 p.m. Sara, Suzanne and Jim create such hauntingly beautiful music, it would be a shame for you to miss it.

Some of the songs they will be performing are:

Come By the Hills (which is my favorite!)
Beidh Anoch Amarach
Suil A Run
Si Do Mhaimoi I
Ta Na Baid
Roisin Dubh
Puirt a Beul
Dulaman
Thugamar Fein
Raglan Road
Oro Se Do Bheatha Bhaile
Song For Ireland
Fear An Bhata

and many more! To get a sampling of their music, you can go to their MySpace page.

There's Something About the Irish

March is one of my favorite months. It's the month the brings you the in's and out's like a lion or lamb. It's the month that daylight savings time begins. It's the month that holds within it the promise of spring and increasing sunshine, of lovely little flowers and plants pushing their way through the soil. It's my birthday month! And it is the month where everyone, no matter their race, creed or color, can make the claim of being Irish and the only repercussion is a hearty pat on the back and a welcoming smile.

There's just something about the Irish. Just mention "Irish" and stereotyping, however un-PC it is, makes many people think of: beer and bars; bawdy songs or haunting ballads; parades; green; comhrá (that's talk in Irish); bagpipes; beer; storytelling; and a general joy that warms like the upcoming spring sun.

I've often wondered why that is?

Certainly, Ireland hasn't always had it very easy - wars and disputes, starvation and poverty. Doesn't sound like a jolly spot, does it? There are volumes of websites and books on Irish history. In fact New Jersey has a very large population boasting Irish decent. In fact, there's a book - The Irish in New Jersey - written by Dermott Quinn, that talks to this very point. But all you need do is look at the grace and elegance of the land, the friendly faces of the people, and hear that lilt in their speech, and your heart open up like a flower.

This enchantment with the Emerald Isle and her people has been with me my whole life. My dear old sainted grandmother, Katherine Bridge nee Dalton Papp, may she rest in peace, was born on March 17th. She was a woman who enjoyed life immensely. It was because of her I took a shine to my Irish heritage.

So, through out my life, I've gravitated to all things Irish. Ireland is one of the Celtic nations, having once been home to the Celts. I've been to Ireland - although it was many years ago - and was enthralled with the history and beauty. I'm part of an Irish theatre company. I like potatoes! I follow the Celtic wheel of the year and have a real love of the land that many Irish share. Some of my dearest friends are in an Irish musical group called Croi na mBan (A Woman's Heart) . And I'm a partner in Celtic Chairde Creations.

Chairde means friend in Irish. And my business partner, Cindy, is one of my oldest and dearest friends (oldest as in I've known her a long time - not that she's old). We went to college together, were and still are involved with Irish theatre, and we both have Dalton's in our lineage (althgouh we don't think we're related). That's where the Chairde comes from.

So you see, there really is something about the Irish. And this is the month to celebrate and discover just what that something is.