The Celtic Connection is a tabloid size newspaper, with international distribution, published 10 times a year from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Submissions are welcome but will not be returned, so please keep a copy for yourself. Opinions expressed in the paper and on this site are not necessarily those of the publisher, but rather a reflection of voices in the community.

All correspondence must include a name, address, telephone number and email address when appropriate.

From the Publisher

click the headline to read the letter

> Creating a Cossack Irish Community in Siberia

> Irish Dance Teacher Gives Thanks for Support

> A Sad Memorial to the Victims of Newfoundland's Helicopter Crash

> Thank You to the Community

> As the Wheel of the Year Turns,We Enter the Season of Chaos

> Your Support Helps Keep our Celtic Flame Burning

> Walking in the Steps of our Ancestors:Our Visit Home to the Gatineau Valley

> Getting Ready to Head Back to the Green Hills of the Gatineau Valley

> The Celtic Society of Canada Giving Support to Those in Need

> The Elusive Celtic Spring is Just Around the Corner

> The Irish Echo Forms Sister Publication Alliance With The Celtic Connection

> Another Season Draws to a Close On the Great Celtic Wheel of the Year

> Countdown to Our 15th Anniversary Issue

> The Celtic Society of Canada: Dedicated to Assisting Those in Need in Our Community

> Marking the Passages on Our Own Journey: 15 Years in Publishing

Creating a Cossack Irish Community in Siberia

Dear Editor:
My name is Sean Hennessy and I'm a happy-go-lucky Irishman living and working in Siberia. My job is a consultant director for a Siberian development company and we now have a restaurant and bar.

Guess what? I'm introducing "River Ice Dance" here, yes it's true, a spectacle here in the wilds of the Russian tundra. We're also training Russian Irish dancers and creating a Cossack Irish community. In fact I'm trying everything possible to bring home from home to the icy wilds here.

In the bar one month ago I introduced Quiz Night. They have seen nothing like it and now we have 25,000 ruble prize money. How much in real money you ask? 400 euro, or thereabout.

My son was born here and we celebrated his second birthday last week. He has a Russian passport to go along with his Irish one. His official name on the Russian passport is, Daniel Seanavich Hennessy.

AVICH is like our O', meaning son of. Son of Sean eh? I'm well made up with that.

Well, thanks for reading and I sure do miss home. Took advantage of the block e-mails sent by the department, so please forgive me if my little sharing from the other side of the world is too random for you.

God bless you all and think of that little green corner in Siberia which I call Ireland.
Yours truly,
Sean Hennessy
Siberia, Russia

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Irish Dance Teacher Gives Thanks for Support

Dear Editor:
I am taking the liberty to write and thank three of my new heroes who are refusing to accept any gifts of appreciation for the generosity they extended to myself and my dancers that is beyond the pale.

With the parade date looming and the long-range weather forecast looking fierce, I wanted my dancers travelling the route onboard a flatbed trailer.

However, after learning of the cost of renting these items, I phoned John Coughlan - who had given me his business card at the Sweetheart's Ball and told me to call him if there was ever anything he could do for me. Trusting he'd remember me, I called him.

John, true to his word, came forth with a million dollar huge, truck, capable of hauling the trailer. After my own qualified trailer driver opted out at the eleventh hour, John saved the day again and came forth with one his own drivers.

My next call went to Marcus Clark who gave me a number to call and secured a donated trailer from Bart Dueck, the branch manager at Lionsgate Trailers.

John's driver drove from Seattle, picked up the truck from Annasis Island, drove to United Boulevard in Coquitlam where the trailer was housed and then to Vancouver. He repeated that arduous journey when the parade finished.

After thanking each of these heroes and offering a paltry bottle of Jamesons, which they refused, insisting I use the money on my class, I am left to take the liberty with this letter to Maura and Catholine, that they might allow me to show my appreciation on behalf of myself and my dancers - via a letter to the editor in The Celtic Connection.

Goraibh Mile Maith Agath
Violet Moore

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LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER
A Sad Memorial to the Victims of Newfoundland's Helicopter Crash

Dear Readers:
April has finally arrived bringing with it the promise of Spring. It has been a very dark and difficult winter for many this year. Between economic hardships and unrelenting cold and snow, it's a blessed relief to feel the approach of sunnier days and the re-birth of Mother Nature.

Last month the feast of the patron saint of Ireland was marked with St. Patrick's celebrations and parades in towns and cities around the world.

Here in Vancouver, the sixth annual Edgewater Casino CelticFest brought Celtic to the forefront of downtown Vancouver with hundreds of performing artists from Canada, the U.S. and Ireland appearing in over 60 events.

The highlight of the festival is the hugely popular St. Patrick's Day parade which was held on March 15. In the early hours it was fascinating to watch the diverse and multi-cultural array of characters lining up in preparation for the parade.

There were ancient Celtic warriors, knights in shining armour, fairies, princesses, fishmongers, troubadours, leprechauns, pipers, drummers, and pirates, just to name a few, along with lovely Irish dancers in colourful costumes. Even the Empire Loyalists turned out to proudly proclaim their presence! There was room for everyone.

At 11:30 AM as the sea of green slowly began to march up West Georgia Street, the bitter cold of the morning finally gave away to rain, then snow, and finally, as we rounded Howe Street, the driving wind and sleet was enough to knock you off your feet.

I have to give credit first of all to all those brave souls who came out and stood strong along the parade route. Despite the awful weather there was still good humour in abundance, and the enthusiasm of both participants and audience carried the day.

The night before the parade we attended the St. Patrick's Day dinner and dance presented by the Irish Heritage Society. A delicious buffet dinner was served, followed by entertainment by the hugely popular Rogues n' Tinkers.

As the band prepared to open the evening and the lights dimmed, band leader Jimmy Cole, who was born and bred in Newfoundland, asked for a moment's silence to remember the 17 men and women who perished in the March 12 helicopter crash off the coast of Newfoundland. May they rest in peace.

Scottish Week activities are now underway throughout North America and Scotland to recognize Tartan Day on April 6 and promote the year long Homecoming Scotland 2009 celebration and to mark the 250th anniversary of Robbie Burns.

There is excitement in the local Scottish community as preparations are underway to welcome a Minister of the Scottish Parliament.

Michael Russell is the Minister for Culture, External Affairs and Constitution, and he will attend a Burns Symposium sponsored by the Simon Fraser University Centre for Scottish Studies and the Vancouver Burns Club from April 7-9.

A reception to welcome the Minister will be held at SFU's Harbour Centre campus on April 9 and piping will be provided by members of the World Champion SFU Pipe Band and a musical tribute by Scottish singer Kirsten McCue.

The SFU Pipe Band is currently preparing for the annual World Piping Championships in Glasgow in August with ambitions of bringing home their sixth world championship trophy.

This year the Band launched an innovative Internet age fundraising event by auctioning off an honourary membership to the SFU Pipe Band on e-Bay. This once-in-a-lifetime offer provides the winner with an insider's view of the Band.

It includes airfare, accommodation for the week, a ticket to the Band's 'Affirmation' concert, a seat in the preferred seating section in the Grade I World Championship arena, and a seat on the Band bus. The final bid for the winning entry was $7,500.

The SFU Centre for Scottish Studies is an important cornerstone of the community and helps to maintain the strong historical bond between Scotland and Canada through cultural and academic achievements.

These include the oral history project capturing the contributions of Twentieth Century immigrants to the development of Vancouver and British Columbia, the Scots in British Columbia archive, an annual St. Andrews and Caledonian Society public lecture, academic conferences, cultural events, and most recently, the establishment of the graduate fellowship in Scottish Studies. For more information, visit: www.sfu.ca/scottish.

Until next month, Maura

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Thank You to the Community

Dear Readers:
For the past 18 years, Catholine and myself have been privileged to bring you The Celtic Connection on a monthly basis.

Over those years, we have stood witness to the joys and sorrows of our community and with each issue published we continue to learn more about the wonderful and diverse people who make up our Celtic family.

This month in particular, I would like to acknowledge the kindness and generosity of all those who are working to organize a Celtic Connection appreciation night to be held on February 14 at St. Patrick's Hall in Vancouver at Twelfth Avenue and Main Street.

All proceeds from the Sweetheart's Ball will benefit this publication and we are truly grateful for this assistance.

In particular, I would like to thank George McDonnell of the Irish Heritage Society; Deirdre O'Ruairc of the Irish Women's Network; John Pye of The Irish Club of White Rock; Steve McVittie of The Celtic Treasure Chest; and Helen Ritchie of Celtic Creations for their efforts on our behalf.

The evening will feature entertainment by some of Vancouver's best local Celtic talent, including the Rogues and Tinkers, the Pat Chessell Irish Band, Mark Downey, and the Violet Moore School of Irish Dance.

There will also be a silent auction which is being co-ordinated by the Irish Women's Network. If you would like to help by donating any items, you can contact Deirdre O'Ruairc at (604) 538-6765.

His Excellency the Irish Ambassador to Canada Declan Kelly has been invited, along with other dignitaries. I hope that as many of our readers as possible will also be able to come out and enjoy an evening that will begin with a delicious meal followed by some great fun and socializing.

The rewards of publishing The Celtic Connection have been so much greater than monetary but the reality is that we must constantly rise to meet the challenge to keeping a small publication on track. We couldn't do it without your support.

Hoping to see you on February 14. Full details of contacts for tickets are on page 3.

Wishing many blessings for you and your loved ones,
Maura.

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As the Wheel of the Year Turns, We Enter the Season of Chaos

Dear Readers:

The season of Samhain draws near and like many of you, as we enter this season of chaos, I have been watching events unfold that have put more than a few shivers of fear through me.

It seems like our world has been turned upside down and the storm that has been approaching is upon us. There is terrible strife and violence in our world, a global financial meltdown, and a lack of leadership at the highest levels. Where to turn?

Our ancient Celtic ancestors believed that the great fire festival of Samhain was the period when both life and death were celebrated. It marked the period between the long dark nights approaching at the Celtic new year and the return of the sun at the Winter Solstice.

They knew that as the wheel of the season continued to turn, the sun would ultimately return. It was a time dedicated to both the new harvest and the beloved departed. In Ireland and Scotland, Féile na Marbh, the "festival of the dead" took place on Samhain.

Today, Samhain is known widely as "Halloween," a term derived from the movement by Pope Gregory III of the feast of "All Hallows" from May to November to coincide with the end of the Celtic year.

Our forefathers knew only too well about fear at the turn of the season. Their very survival depended on the bounty of the harvest and the shadow of hunger and poverty was never far away. Many experienced forced evictions and the loss of home and country during times of great darkness.

Strength and comfort was found in the deep faith which has characterized the Celtic people, along with their love of laughter, music, song and dance.

Despite facing great upheaval, the Celts have also been known for their kindness and generosity of spirit and willingness to help others - even in the face of their own hardship.

In this issue, we look at some of the challenges we face in our own time. The economic crisis is paramount on the minds of many people today. Our coverage looks at the dramatic steps taken in Ireland to help stabilize the economy there and the impact throughout Britain.

In her monthly mythology column, Cynthia Austin reflects on the importance of illuminating the darkness in each and every one of our lives.

This is a time to come together as family and community, to forgive one another, and to look for the good we have to offer as humanity. There is much to hold dear.

As the song goes....the times they are a changing. We must remember that while we mourn the passing of the season, the wheel in the cycle of life will continue to turn and as the old must die away, the new year will bring a rebirth and a new awakening.

Until next month,
Maura.

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Your Support Helps Keep our Celtic Flame Burning

Dear Readers:
Welcome back to the first issue after the 2008 summer break. I hope everyone had an opportunity to spend a few days of sunshine in the company of loved ones.

Time is fleeting these days, it seems like the days, weeks and months all seem to blend together. It is so important to take a moment once in awhile to stop and smell the sweet scents of the season.

One of the highlights of our summer was the annual Celtic Connection golf tournament. Anyone who has ever organized an event will tell you of the extensive background work and planning that makes for a successful day.

We are deeply grateful for the outstanding support of our community which helped make 2008 our best year yet. All 18 holes of this extremely important fundraiser were fully sponsored.

Hole sponsors included: Clare Construction; Clark Freightways; Cleary Insurance; Doolin's Irish Pub; Doug Medley; Dublin Crossing Irish Pub; Foggy Dew - Coquitlam; Foggy Dew - Richmond; GAA Western Division; Irish Heritage Society; Irish Women's Network; Johnnie Fox's Irish Snug; Johnston Meir Insurance - Port Kells; Mahony and Sons Public House; New West Gypsum; Penny Lane Pub; ProCoat Coatings - Calgary; Sunset Grill; Tony and Gwen McCamley; West Limerick Holdings; William Kelly and Sons; Wolf and Hound.

Special thanks also to Liam Gibbons and Germaine Point of Johnston Meir Insurance - Port Kells - who generously sponsored the opportunity for a $10,000 prize for a hole-in-one.

Thank you also to all those who came out and participated in our tournament. Your support helps to keep our Celtic flame burning at The Celtic Connection.

Following our tournament, I spent a week at the Simon Fraser University Summer Publishing Workshops for writers and designers. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn from and work with some of Canada's top editors, writers, marketers, designers, publishers, and media moguls.

Challenging and intense but an extremely worthwhile experience for anyone involved or interested in the publishing industry.

After all that work, it was time for some fun and the most entertaining and festive event of the season for my friend Sharon and myself was the B.C. Renaissance Festival.

We had a blast watching knights in shining armour jousting before assembled lords and ladies. Entertainers and magicians mingled with faery folk and pirates for a day of merrymaking and revelry held at Aldor Acres in Fort Langley, B.C. Read more about the event in this issue of The Celtic Connection.

Some of the other features in this issue include an interview with Cameron Millikin, the Honorary Consul General of Ireland for Alberta who speaks to Catholine Butler about Canada's role in the Northern Ireland peace process.

We also have extensive coverage of the unfortunate collapse of Zoom Airlines which brought so many holiday plans to a crashing halt and left travellers stranded from Glasgow to Vancouver.

Finally, we would like to extend a huge congratulations to the five-time world champion Simon Fraser University Pipe Band....they have brought great honour to our region and deserve a big round of applause.

Until next month,
Maura

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Walking in the Steps of our Ancestors: Our Visit Home to the Gatineau Valley

PUBLISHER of The Celtic Connection Maura McCay with her husband Jose De Freitas at the reunion in Venosta, Quebec.

BANNERS celebrating the 150th Anniversary Low Homecoming depict a log driver and a leprechaun which honours both the French Canadian and the Irish heritage of the region.

THE MAGNIFICENT 12-foot Celtic cross in the Martindale Pioneer Cemetery which depicts the voyage across the Atlantic on the coffins ships to Quebec.

CHRISTINE AND JOE BURKE are shown above with their three children Jude, Frankie, and Stephen with Catholine Butler at the Venosta picnic.

ST. MARTIN'S CHURCH at Martindale, Quebec was one of the stops on our journey.

CATHOLINE BUTLER at the Martindale Pioneer Cemetery, standing beside the triple cenotaph for which she researched the names on the front and back of the stones. Catholine, along with Martin Brown and Eddie McLaughlin of Venosta, Quebec, were responsible for raising the funds for the cenotaph and the12-foot high Celtic cross. More info: www.celtic-connection.com and click on the link "Gatineau".

THE ENTRANCE FOYER of Les Filles du Roy in the Hotel Pierre du Calvert in Old Montreal.

ST. JOSEPH'S ORATORY in Montreal where so many pilgrims seek consolation.

STAFF at the Embassy of Ireland in Ottawa (L-R) [Back Row] Karl Gardner, Gurpreet Bajwa, Virginie Proskurniak, David Keating, Alain Tassé. [Front Row] Siobhan Doran, Declan Kelly, Debbie Earwalker.

Dear Readers:
After a flying visit to Ottawa and Montreal, with a trip up the Gatineau Valley tucked in between, Catholine and I have been working overtime to publish this issue of The Celtic Connection, which is our combined July/August issue for the summer.

Although the trip was only five days, it was like stepping back into another era for a short period. In fact, the whole journey was more like a pilgrimage than anything as we spent so much time visiting sacred spaces.

Among these was the little church at St. Martin's Parish in Martindale, Quebec, where I spent my childhood years. Along with my mother Catholine, my husband José, and my uncle Keith McCambley, we walked together through the church graveyard across the road and it was like visiting old friends.

So many of our family have found their final resting place there, two brothers, my grandmother and grandfather, great grandmother, my uncle and most recently, my beloved aunt Faye - Keith's wife. In fact, we're related to most buried in that small cemetery through extended family connections.

Although one cannot live in the past, it felt important that we should revisit our loved ones and reconnect with them. There was a tremendous sense of peace just walking over that familiar ground.

Another very powerful experience for me was on the night of our arrival. Although we were staying in Wakefield, Quebec, I felt a strong urge to return to the site of our farm on the Martindale Road, just north of the church.

Despite having travelled all day and darkness drawing in, I wanted to drive up the old highway and get a sense of the place I once knew so well. We drove through the village of Low, then up the Martindale Road. Soon we were in darkness and all around I could only hear the sounds of the crickets and bullfrogs echoing in the night as the silence descended on us.

The evening was hot and humid as we drove past all those familiar houses and farms. Past the church and onto the gravel road up toward the farm where my grandparents once lived. Then over the hill and on to the land where our farm once stood.

We stopped and I got out of the car and felt overwhelmed with the closeness of the spirits of those I had known from the past. I was drawn in to walk in the long overgrown grasses and to my amazement the whole night lit up as I became aware of fireflies flickering all around me. It felt enchanted and I remembered how magic the summer nights could be.

We spent the following day in Ottawa where we made a visit to the Embassy of Ireland and were warmly received by the Irish Ambassador Declan Kelly, First Secretary Karl Gardner, and Second Secretary David Keating.

Afterwards, we enjoyed a sumptuous lunch at the majestic Chateau Laurier Hotel, followed by a boat tour on the Ottawa River and a quick visit to the Bytown Museum. This area has such historical importance to Canada and it is also where so many Irish died while helping to build this great country.

Inside the museum there is a commemoration for all the Irish navvies who fell ill and died while digging the famous Rideau Canal. It was here that the Irish died by the hundreds as they dug out the waterway in the early 1800s.

A new footbridge was recently opened to pedestrians and cyclists crossing the Canal between Somerset Street West and the University of Ottawa. It has been named the Corktown Bridge in honour of those who died while building the Canal.

It is believed to be near the former site of Corktown, a rough settlement of huts that once housed about 6,000 Irish navvies and their families, including many from Ireland's County Cork.

The workers helped pick and shovel out the Rideau Canal between 1826 and 1832. In the process, half fell ill - many with malaria - and about 1,000 died. Their settlement was dismantled after they completed the canal.

Across from the Bytown Museum stands a Celtic cross memorial at the entrance locks of the Canal. The cross was erected in June 2004 to remember the hundreds of Irish workers who died during the building of the famous waterway.

Our journey continued with a close family gathering in Ottawa. It was wonderful to see my aunts and so many of my cousins and their children. We reminisced about our childhood together spent up on the farm with my grandparents and how fortunate we were to have those wonderful memories.

The next day we headed back up the Gatineau to Venosta, Quebec for the church picnic which would kick off the Low Homecoming 2008 celebrations. Held in "the most Irish part of the Gatineau," the event covered the communities of Low, Venosta, Fieldville, Brennan's Hill, and the Manitou (Martindale).

Organizers are to be commended for all their hard work in putting together the four-day festival along with a beautiful commemorative book and CD featuring local musicians. Michael Francis, the Mayor of Low, opens the compilation with an introduction and a great history of the region.

Despite showers and inclement weather, several hundred turned out for the event which featured local musicians onstage, a square dancing demonstration, horseshoe competitions, watermelon eating contests for the kids, and lots of socializing.

We met so many old friends and relations but the one meeting that stands out is the one with Joe and Christine Burke and their three children Jude, Frankie and Stephen, who we know from Vancouver. Christine continues to work on graphic design for all the advertising with The Celtic Connection from her new home in Buckingham, Quebec.

There was a delicious meal served in the afternoon, followed by Mass at the little church at Venosta. It was interesting that the priest, Father John Dourley, chose to speak about the significance of the Celtic Cross in his homily as it spoke directly to the heart of my mother Catholine and myself.

My mother, along with Martin Brown and Eddie McLaughlin of Venosta, were directly responsible for erecting an enormous 12-foot high Celtic cross in the Pioneer Cemetery at Martindale. This is where so many survivors of the Irish Famine found a final burial place in the New World. These people were our ancestors and they found a peaceful home in the green hills of the Gatineau Valley.

Following the Venosta picnic we had one more leg of our journey left as we headed off for one night in Montreal.

As we drove along, I read excerpts from Brian Doyle's evocative novel The Low Life: Five Great Tales from Up and Down the River to my captive audience in the car. I found the story fascinating since it opens in Bytown, around the late 1800s and travels so much of the territory we had just covered.

So many of the characters and situations are based on actual people and history from around the Martindale area, I felt such a strong sense of familiarity, as though I had met some of these people along the way.

It was a wonderful sunny drive and along the way we decided to stop for a short break at the Trappist Monastery at Oka, Quebec which is renown for their famous cheeses.

Then, onward to Montreal where we arrived in late afternoon. We decided to make the most of the visit, so we headed out for dinner in Old Montreal at a traditional French-Canadian restaurant called 'Les Filles du Roi.'

What an incredible meal in such an exquisite setting surrounded by the most sumptuous period furnishings. The history of the name of this restaurant is also most interesting as it represents the young women who were sent out by King Louis XIV of France to marry soldiers stationed in New France.

Most of the millions of people of French Canadian descent today, both in Quebec and the rest of Canada and the U.S. are descendants of these courageous women of the Seventeenth Century.

Afterwards, we walked for hours through the old quarter, just savouring the rich cultural atmosphere and magnificent architecture. Finally, at 2 AM, we enjoyed poutine at a café on a bustling Ste. Catherine Street, still filled with lively music and entertainment.

The final touch and the pinnacle in so many ways, was our closing visit to the great basilica at St. Joseph's Oratory at Côte-des-Neiges near Notre Dame in Montreal. This is the most important sanctuary in the world dedicated to Saint Joseph.

A real spiritual presence permeates this massive granite structure where millions of people have come since 1904 to pray and to search for peace and consolation. This sacred place has brought comfort to so many visitors, regardless of origin, language or faith.

Many have found healing and the innumerable canes and crutches left inside in the Votive Chapel - which contains 10,000 lights and candles - are a testament to that faith. Often pilgrims will mount the 283 entrance stairs on their knees and the centre section is reserved for those who choose this method.

We were actually overcome with the powerful emotions we felt at this site. It was an experience we will remember and hold dear and it felt like a fitting farewell as we prepared for our homeward journey to Vancouver.

Until next month, Maura,

[For more information about the Martindale Pioneer Cemetery, visit our website at: www.celtic-connection and click on the "Gatineau" link.]

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Getting Ready to Head Back to the Green Hills of the Gatineau Valley

Dear Readers:
Summer is finally upon us and everyone is busy making holiday plans. There are plenty of festivals and events throughout the season for every taste in Celtic music and entertainment.

In this issue of The Celtic Connection, we have a wide range of upcoming folk music festivals, Highland games, and concerts and sporting events listed - there is something for everyone.

One event that I'm looking forward to with great anticipation will take place in a small enclave in western Quebec, in an area known as the Gatineau Valley.

We're making plans to travel there to participate in the Low Homecoming 2008 celebrations to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Incorporation of the Township of Low on June 28,29, and 30.

The town is located north of the Ottawa/Hull national capital region and it is here where so many Irish immigrants settled after fleeing their homeland in search of a future during the dark days of the Great Irish Famine of the mid-1800s.

Some of the events planned for the Homecoming celebrations include the Venosta Picnic on June 28 which will feature music by local musicians, a heritage photo display, an old-fashion square dance, and a home-cooked meal, followed by Mass and the Mayor's words of welcome.

The weekend is expected to draw friends and family from far and wide who have moved away to return for the celebration. The Lions Club is setting up the grounds at Tucker Lake to receive campers in tents and RVs, so there will be no shortage of places to stay.

Homecoming 2008 promises to be a weekend of rousing music and great company, sharing some wonderful memories of days gone-by in the Township of Low.

This is where my mother's family settled after emigrating from County Mayo in Ireland during the mid-1800s, and this is where I spent my childhood. My father was also an immigrant and arrived in Canada from Strabane, County Tyrone in Northern Ireland in 1954.

Upon their arrival in the area, the Irish cleared the land and established homesteads and farms throughout the area. Many of the men worked in logging camps alongside the French-Canadian lumberjacks and this alliance is reflected in the logo adopted by the Township to celebrate the Homecoming - a shamrock crossed with a fleur-de-lys.

While glad to find a new home in the Gatineau, the Irish never forgot their roots and they kept their heritage alive in their stories, their music and songs, and their unique style of step-dancing.

To commemorate the Homecoming celebrations, a special CD has been compiled featuring many local singers and musicians performing some of the best loved tunes of the area.

Some of these include: Our Township of Low by Howard Hayes - a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame; The Gatineau Girls by Howard McLaughlin; The Country Girl by Glen Hayes and Jeff VanDuyse; Harbor Grace by the Doggers; Don't Let Me Die of a Broken Heart by Janet Egan; In the Township of Low by Heather and Barry O'Connor; A Mother's Love is a Blessing by Teresa and Kevin McCarthy; Immigrant Eyes by Patsy and Lionel O'Connor; The Boom Song by Joe O'Sullivan; Road to the Isle by Norbert Daly; Old Brown Coat and Me by Ron Hayes; A Handful of Maple Leaves by Frayne McCarthy; Four Grey Walls by Martin O'Sullivan; When You and I Were Young Maggie by Lowell Montague.

It should be a lot of fun and we're counting down the days until we return for the festivities. We've covered a lot of miles and crossed many bridges since leaving the green hills of the Gatineau Valley but our hearts have never been far away and we're looking forward to making the journey back home.
Until next issue,
Maura

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The Celtic Society of Canada Giving Support to Those in Need

By MAURA McCAY

Dear Readers:

On behalf of the (Benevolent) Celtic Society of Canada, I would like to express a warm and heartfelt thank you to all those groups and individuals who have stepped up and donated to the benevolent fund to assist the Boggan family in particular, and others in need in the future.

Kevin and Stephanie Boggan are very well known in the local community for their generous volunteer work with many organizations over the years.

This past December Kevin and Stephanie travelled to Edinburgh, Scotland to celebrate the wedding of their son Caley. Their daughter Clare had been living in Edinburgh for the past number of years and the plan was for the family to return together to Vancouver by January 5.

Unfortunately there was another plan and between the date of the wedding and the date of departure, Clare was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and needed treatment immediately.

It was decided to proceed with treatment in Edinburgh since Clare had been living out of B.C. for the past number of years and B.C. Medical has a two month waiting policy for returning residents.

Surgery took place in January in Edinburgh to remove the smaller lumps. This left the primary tumour which cannot be operated on until it is reduced in size through a series of radiation treatments. That process is now underway.

After much consideration, B.C. Medical has finally agreed to waive the two month waiting period. This decision has given the family a much needed boost. It is now hoped that following the radiation treatments in Edinburgh, Kevin and Stephanie can bring Clare home to Vancouver where she will be treated at the B.C. Cancer Agency.

When word went out that the family needed assistance both spiritual and material, the community response was overwhelming. Any excess funds raised during a particular emergency and in the regular course of fundraising will be held in the fund to aid other people in need in the future.

I would like to extend a very special thank you to all those who took the time to help with this appeal, your support is very much appreciated. In particular, thank you to the Irish Women's Network and the Irish Heritage Society in Vancouver, and the Eire Og Red Deer Gaelic Football Club of Alberta, and the Gaelic Athletic Association of Dublin.

The Role of The Celtic Connection
Over the course of the past 17 years, The Celtic Connection has received many calls from people facing difficult and desperate and in need of help in one form or another.

In the early days, when the paper itself was so fragile and vulnerable, we had no resources available to offer assistance but felt compelled to help in whatever way we could.

What has evolved is a separate non-profit organization called The Celtic Society of Canada. The Society administers a benevolent fund to assist those in need of support in our community. Since there are no overhead or administration costs, proceeds go directly to those most in need.

History and Background
Many will recall the story of John Devlin. His story is one which you might recognize. He arrived in Edmonton, Alberta in 1968 with his wife and two young children filled with hopes and dreams for a new life in Canada, only to encounter a series of disasters and a fall from grace into a pit of alcoholic despair.

His wife and children left him and returned home to Belfast, leaving John to descend into a world of darkness. He eventually arrived in one of Canada's most forbidding neighbourhoods - Vancouver's downtown eastside.

There he met another woman and in 1984 they had a young child together named Brendan. Trapped in the depth of her drug addiction, the woman was unable to care for her child and left the relationship, awarding full custody to John.

Faced with this responsibility, John had a spiritual awakening and found sobriety. He was able to reconnect with his family and make amends for the past but the peace and serenity of those days was very short lasting.

The years had taken a very hard toll and John was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1992. It was at this point that the telephone rang at The Celtic Connection and an anxious social worker at a Vancouver hospice asked for assistance to help John and his young son return home.

Catholine Butler answered the call and the appeal was urgent as John was gravely ill and there was concern that he would die in Canada leaving Brendan alone in this world.

Through the assistance of many in the community, enough funds were raised to send both John and Brendan home to Belfast.

While the family reunion was a joyous one, it proved tragically brief. Upon his return John was rushed to hospital where he was put on a morphine drip to ease his pain.

Ten days later, his father, aged 75, who had a coronary problem, suddenly collapsed and died in front of John during a visit to the hospital.

Three hours later, on May 28, 1992, John Devlin died at home in Belfast surrounded by family at the age of 52.

John's wife welcomed Brendan into her family and home as one of her own. He would be 23 years old now.

The Celtic Society of Canada
The Celtic Society was registered as a non-profit organization with the Province of British Columbia in 1994. While it has maintained a relatively low profile, innumerable families and individuals experiencing crisis and requiring emergency financial assistance have found help through the Society.

Originally established as an organization to support arts and culture, the Society took on the role of benevolent fund when it became apparent that there was no other organization dedicated solely to assisting those in need in our community.

The funds is administered by a board of directors: Marie Morris, Sharon Brown, Catherine Brennan-Schwarz and myself, Maura McCay.

The Irish Women's Network in Vancouver in particular has been very generous in supporting the Society. Their efforts generated much needed funds for a number of years through their annual wine and cheese auction and more recently through the Irish Women's Network calendar 2008.

If anyone would like to assist this fund or would like more information, please call (604) 434-3747, or e-mail: maura@telus.net .

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The Elusive Celtic Spring is Just Around the Corner

By MAURA McCAY

Dear Readers:
As the clock counts down to press time, we are back in full production mode here at The Celtic Connection after our all-too-brief break over the Christmas season.

In December, I travelled with my family via London en route to the warm and enchanted island of Madeira to join a huge Portugese family Christmas reunion (my husband is Portugese-South African).

The island is located in the Atlantic Ocean, some 650 kilometres off the coast of Africa (the next stop is Morocco), but it belongs politically and culturally to Europe, some 860 kilometres from mainland Portugal.

Madeira has a year-round mild climate and in December there were flowers in bloom everywhere and the weather averaged 18-22ºC (approximately 65-70ºF). Everywhere on the island there were incredible light displays and ongoing fireworks throughout the season.

One of the highlights was the New Year's Eve celebration. Madeira boasts the largest pyrotechnic display in the world on New Year's Eve according to the Guinness Book of Records. We had the benefit of viewing it from the terrace of a private villa overlooking Funchal (the main city on the island).

The display was absolutely spectacular. Over 17 tons of fireworks are used to create 660,300 detonations…that's 8,000 explosions per minute… over an area of six kilometres by two and half kilometres…and lasting almost 10 minutes.

One fascinating tidbit for our group was that Christiano Ronaldo, the famed Manchester United footballer who is from the island of Madeira, had bought the luxury home next door for his mother and had flown in to watch the fireworks and celebrate New Year's Eve with his family.

On our travels, my family flew Zoom Airlines from Vancouver to London on our way to Madeira. I had heard very good reports about Zoom but had not yet had the opportunity to experience it firsthand. They offer flights from Vancouver to London via Belfast for exceptional prices and we were extremely pleased with their service.

I returned from holidays to find my server overloaded and bouncing back e-mails, voice mails asking why I wasn't accepting any more e-mails, and postal mail stacked up on my desk.

It took awhile to get it all sorted out but we're back in production now for the 2008 season and looking forward to all the exciting events upcoming this year.

In this issue you will read about the diverse and sometimes colourful events organized in January to honour Robert Burns, Scotland's greatest bard.

St. David's day is next on the Celtic calendar and the Welsh community is busy organizing events to mark their national day on March 1. You will also notice in this issue that preparations are already in high gear for the many St. Patrick's Day festivities in March.

Unfortunately, I had deluded myself into thinking that upon our return from Madeira winter would be all over and we could only look forward to spring.

The good news is that February is the month of St. Brigid and the beginning of the Celtic spring. The bad news is that winter hasn't left yet......something to look forward to.

Until next issue,
Maura

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The Irish Echo Forms Sister Publication Alliance With The Celtic Connection

By MAURA McCAY

The Celtic Connection is proud to announce of our affiliation with the Irish Echo as a sister publication. Based in New York City, the Irish Echo has been the very heartbeat of Irish America since 1928 and is the largest selling Irish-American newspaper.

The Irish Echo was recently acquired by an investment consortium led by well-known businessman and former GAA President Peter Quinn.

Seán Finlay, who purchased the paper in 2002, retains a significant stake in the newspaper and will remain on the Irish Echo's board.

Newspaper and internet publisher Belfast Media Group is taking a minority stake in the consortium and will bring commercial and editorial synergies to the Irish Echo Group.

Under the editorship of Ray O'Hanlon - one of the most experienced and respected journalists in the Irish-American media - the Irish Echo is committed to delivering a first-class new service from coast-to-coast. They also offer a new state-of-the-art 48-digital page-turning online edition to subscribers.

Now, readers of The Celtic Connection will benefit from this association through shared news articles. When combined with The Celtic Connection at very competitive rates, an advertisement in the Irish Echo gives you unparalleled coverage from coast-to-coast. For more information about the Irish Echo see www.irishecho.com.

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Another Season Draws to a Close On the Great Celtic Wheel of the Year

Dear Readers:

On October 31, many of you celebrated Halloween, others marked the Feast of All Saints and All Souls on November 1 and 2. Still others celebrated Samhain, the Celtic new year, one of the most important of the four fire festivals on the wheel of year.

Whatever your beliefs, it is a powerful time of year. A time when our thoughts are drawn to the passing of the year and the continuous journey of the soul. A time to draw close to the warmth of our homes and take comfort in our loved ones. And it is a time when the veil between the two worlds is most permeable.

During this season I am reminded how all the chaff of daily life fades away as insignificant when confronted with the spiritual dimension of existence. It is so much more profound than we can ever grasp.

Last night as I stood on my doorstep dressed as a witch, I was assisted by a divine little two-year old dressed as an angel. We both took such glee in dispensing chocolates and sweets to a cavalcade of ghosts and goblins, along with assorted tigers and bunnies, as they arrived at the door looking for treats.

Halloween in its most contemporary incarnation has roots in an ancient tradition extending back through the mists of time when we remember the souls of our ancestors and mark the passing of another cycle of life.

This great journey of the soul was brought home to me today with even more resonance on November 1 when I learned of the passing of one of our neighbours.

She was an elderly lady and she died very suddenly a number of days ago. She lived alone since her husband predeceased her a number of years earlier. When her husband was alive he would often be seen working in his garden and I would hear him whistling and singing old tunes such as Danny Boy. He always had a ready smile and a friendly wave.

He died very suddenly and his widow was left to carry on. She was an active lady and we would see her coming and going and greeting her family. Her daughter lives just down the street, so there was a steady stream of visits up and down the street between both houses.

Although she died over a week ago, it was the manner of her passing which struck me most of all. I'm filled with wonder and awe at the mystery of how the Divine works through others and how forces we can hardly even imagine come into play and touch our lives.

This lady had just celebrated the birthday of one of her grandchildren on a Sunday afternoon. Her whole family gathered at her home to mark the occasion. The weather was warm and the sun was shining, so they all sat out in the back garden to savour the final days of autumn. It was, by all accounts, a wonderful day when they paused for a moment to bask in the joy of each other's presence.

That night after the family departed, the lady prepared for bed as usual and lay down to sleep, just like any other ordinary night. Except she never woke again. She died very peacefully in her sleep and slipped away.

The most astounding aspect of the story is that on that very same morning, her sister who was also in her eighties and who lived on the other side of town, also passed away. I am told the family believes that the one sister stopped along the way and asked the other to go along for the journey and they decided to travel together.

As I was processing this news, my telephone rang again with the news that my cousin had just given birth to a healthy nine pound baby girl. The child was born by caesarian and through the blessing of modern medicine both mom and baby are doing well.

Souls moving in and souls moving out of this realm and the continuity of existence. As it has always been before us, and as it will continue long after we also depart this life.

So, let us remember our ancestors and those beloved friends and loved ones who have gone before us, while we look forward with anticipation to a new year and the unfolding rebirth of a new season.

Until next month,
Maura

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Countdown to Our 15th Anniversary Issue

Dear Readers:

It gives me great pride to announce the winner of this year’s annual Irish Woman of the Year Award. Each year, for the past eight years, the Irish Women’s Network in Vancouver has presented this award to a woman who has contributed to the community and made a difference. The 2006 recipient was Catholine Butler of The Celtic Connection.

This year is the 15th anniversary of this newspaper and it seems fitting to mark our journey with such an honour. Many of our readers will know Catholine through her articles published on these pages over the years. Others will be familiar with her coverage of community events. Our advertisers are familiar with Catholine through her monthly contact and ongoing communication.

But what many do not see is all the work behind the scenes that Catholine has done and continues to do for so many people in our community. She has been an ear at the end of the telephone for people in distress, she has been a counselling service, a referral service, and more than anything, a constant figure with a wealth of knowledge and contacts.

Another exciting development in the community has been the success to date of the Team Ireland squad in Vancouver. At the moment they are top of the Group B table, following their first round penalty shoot out against Bosnia Herzegovina at Swangard Stadium.

The team is participating in the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Penalty Kick World Cup against 16 other ethnic teams in a bid to win $30,000 for the Celtic Society of Canada – a benevolent charity fund to assist families and individuals in crisis in our community.

Team Ireland has also just announced an exciting new development with a well-known local athlete joining the squad to help boost their chances of winning their next two games on June 9 vs Italy, and on August 13 vs England. Don’t miss these exciting games.

Special thanks to Brendan Flynn and Al McCabe and all the players and supporters who have worked so hard to make Team Ireland participation possible.

Also, in our community round-ups, we have coverage of two main fundraising events in the Scottish community. The world-champion Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band and Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, along with the Heather Jolley Highland Dancers, presented their second annual “Spirit of Scotland” concert and ceilidh at the Seaquam Secondary School in Delta on April 29.

On the same date, April 29, the United Scottish Cultural Centre in Vancouver also presented a fundraising event featuring champion Scottish fiddler Paul Anderson from Tarland, Aberdeeenshire; pianist and entertainer George Donald from Perth, Scotland; Scottish lyric soprano Wilma Paton; and a team of Scottish country dancers under the direction of Simon Scott.

The next major event in the Scottish community in British Columbia is the upcoming BC Highland Games which will be held at the Coquitlam Town Centre Stadium on June 24. This is another very important fundraising event to benefit the United Scottish Cultural Society which has been cultural heartbeat of Scots in this province for generations. Its main goal is to preserve and encourage Scottish culture, including music, dance, and the Gaelic language. For more details, visit: www.bchighlandgames.com.

In this issue, we also feature the Irish community in Alberta, including a visit to the Irish Club in Edmonton, interviews with members of the Celtic Supporters Club in Calgary, along with the Calgary Chieftains and the Edmonton Wolfe Tones Gaelic Football Clubs by Catholine Butler.

Finally, in late breaking news, the Consulate General of Ireland in New York has just announced a visit to the United States by the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese and her husband, Dr. Martin McAleese, from May 15-22.

The visit of the President comes at the invitation of the Governors of Colorado and Montana and of the University of Notre Dame. There is a huge Irish community in both of those states and in fact, Butte, Montana, proudly calls itself “Ireland's Fifth Province.”

Today, you can still find hundreds of Irish surnames in the local phone book. The descendants of Sullivans, Shannons, Harringtons, O'Neills Lynchs, Sheas, Driscolls, Dolans, Duggans, and O'Briens still inhabit that island city. Last year, about 20 people travelled from Butte to Seattle for President McAleese’s visit there. For more information about the President’s itinerary, visit page XX.

On a closing note, I would like to remind our readers that we will be publishing our souvenir 15-year anniversary issue with our July/August edition. If you have any thoughts, memories, or photos...anything you might want to share, funny, sad, or otherwise, about the past 15 years with The Celtic Connection, we’d like to hear from you. Also, if you have any thoughts about the next 15 years, don’t hesitate to let us know what you would like to see.

You can send to me by e-mail at: maura@telus.net, by fax (604) 438-8419, or mail to: The Celtic Connection, #741 - 916 West Broadway, Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 1K7.

Until next issue
Maura

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The Celtic Society of Canada:
Dedicated to Assisting Those in Need in Our Community

Dear Readers:

If you are a local reader by now you are probably thoroughly confused with the plethora of Celtic organizations which have sprung up since The Celtic Connection was established in 1991.

Among these is the Celtic Society of Canada, a non-profit organization registered with the Province of British Columbia in 1996. The Celtic Society has maintained a relatively low profile, but over the years it has quietly played a role in assisting innumerable families and individuals experiencing crisis and requiring emergency financial assistance.

Originally established as an organization to support arts and culture, it evolved when the need to establish a benevolent fund became apparent, as there was no other organization dedicated to assisting those in need in our community.

Over the years, numerous people have called The Celtic Connection newspaper with appeals for help, either for themselves or others in need of immediate short term aid. Many of these have been associated with tragic situations over which there was little control, and in which, but for the grace of God, any of us could find ourselves.

Since The Celtic Connection was not in a position to provide direct assistance, we turned to the larger community and it has been gratifying to see the kindness and willingness of so many to help others less privileged.

The Celtic Society of Canada which is administered by a Board of Directors has been responsible for disbursing these funds and since there is virtually no overhead or administration costs, the proceeds go directly to those most in need.

The Story of John Devlin

Some of you may recall the earliest of these tragic appeals in 1992 for a terminally ill man called John Devlin. His dying wish was to return to his native Belfast with his young son Brendan.

At the time of the call about John Devlin, The Celtic Connection was also in a life and death struggle for survival and it became clear to us that there was a need for an organization, separate and apart from the newspaper, which could raise funds and assist others in such difficult circumstances.

John Devlin’s story was not unfamiliar to many immigrants who came in search of a better life in this country, but instead found disappointment and disillusionment. It is a story with issues that many families have faced such as death and separation, alcoholism and recovery, family and reconciliation.

The Devlin family arrived in Canada in 1968. John, his wife and their two young children settled in Edmonton in the midst of a bitterly cold Alberta winter. They found the climate and their new life a very difficult adjustment.

There was marital strife, along with financial tensions. Finally, when a neighbour’s house burned to the ground, killing two of the children’s young playmates, his wife decided she had enough and packed up and returned to Belfast along with their two children.

The years that followed were very hard for John Devlin. He turned to alcohol and he never really recovered from his wife’s departure. He worked as a labourer at various jobs throughout Canada and became an alcoholic, often living in flop houses.

Eventually, he arrived in Vancouver where he lived on the downtown eastside, one of Canada’s most forbidding neighbourhoods.

It was here in 1983 that he began a common-law relationship with a Vancouver woman. In 1984, his son Brendan was born of that union but the woman was unable to care for the child and Devlin was awarded full custody.

It was two years later, he told The Celtic Connection that he had a “powerful dream” in which “there was this old man and he was showing me all this wealth.” He interpreted this to mean that he could straighten out his life and do better. He stopped drinking that day and began turning his life over to the care of God.

For the first time in many years, he wrote to his wife in Belfast but said nothing of his cancer, lest he shock his elderly father who had heart trouble.

Finally, in 1992, John shared to news of his worsening cancer with his cousin Frank who lived in San Francisco. Frank felt obliged to inform his family in Belfast of John’s condition. The family along with John’s wife, who had completely forgiven the past, urged him to return home with young Brendan. But there was no money for airline tickets.

It was at this point that the telephone rang at The Celtic Connection and an anxious social worker at a Vancouver hospice asked for assistance to help John and his young son return home.

Catholine Butler answered the call and the appeal was urgent as John was gravely ill and there was concern that he would die in Canada leaving Brendan alone in this world.

The Vancouver community responded and it was astonishing to witness the outpouring of generosity to help a dying man realize his final wish. Catholine Butler first called The Province newspaper and asked if they could run a story and help with the fundraising.

After a front page story in The Province with a photograph of the tragic man and his eight- year-old son, the telephones at The Celtic Connection went crazy with people calling with offers to help.

Some could only donate a few dollars, but they were so moved by the plight of this man and his child, they wanted to help in whatever way they could. A travel agency offered to pay for tickets on credit and send John and Brendan home immediately, allowing more time for the necessary fundraising.

The late Danny Burns organized a fundraising concert at the WISE Hall where many talented local entertainers donated their time to help raise funds. There was a tremendous turnout and it was a night many will remember when Patricia Conroy stepped onstage and sang James Connolly unaccompanied. You could hear a pin drop in the room.

Devlin’s homeward journey meant a reconciliation with his wife and their two grown children whom he had not seen for 23 years. It also meant a reunion with other family members as well – his father, his uncle, his aunt, his cousin – along with old friends and neighbours.

While John’s family reunion was a joyous one, it proved to be tragically brief. Upon his return he was rushed to hospital where he was put on a morphine drip to ease his pain.

Ten days later, his father, aged 75, who had a coronary problem, suddenly collapsed and died in front of John during a visit to the hospital.

Three hours later, on May 28, 1992, John Devlin died at home in Belfast surrounded by family at the age of 52.

Brendan was embraced by his family in Belfast and John’s wife welcomed Brendan into her family and home as one of her own. He would be 22 years old now.

Your Support is Appreciated

In closing, I would like to express a warm thank you to the Irish Women’s Network for their ongoing support of the Celtic Society of Canada. Their efforts have generated much needed funds for a number of years through their annual Wine and Cheese auction. Special mention to Deirdre O’Ruairc, Geraldine Megannety and Eilis Courtney and all the women who worked to make the evening such a great success. Thank you also to Pat Cleary of Cleary Insurance Agency for his generation donation.

In addition, I would like to also express a very big thank you to Mary Rooney who organized a special Mass celebrated by Father Anthony Boniface on St. Patrick’s Day at St. Pius X in North Vancouver. Part of the proceeds from that collection were also donated to the Celtic Society of Canada.

Also....this just in. The Celtic Society of Canada has an opportunity to be awarded $30,000 thanks to the efforts of Brendan Flynn and Team Ireland at the Whitecaps Penalty Kick World Cup. The kick off will consist of 16 local ethnic teams competing for the prize money. This is a chance for everyone to come out and cheer on our team while helping those most in need in our community through the Celtic Society of Canada.

Anyone with any questions about the Celtic Society of Canada can contact me by e-mail at: maura@telus.net.

Sincerely,
Maura

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Marking the Passages on Our Own Journey: 15 Years in Publishing

Dear Readers:

It seems hard to believe that it’s been 15 years since my mother Catholine and I embarked on this journey and launched the first issue of The Celtic Connection.

I have often reflected on the stories of those ancients Celts who launched their little coracles as they set out on voyages of discovery into the great unknown. These inspirational tales of old are the journey of the soul in search of wisdom and enlightenment.

Over the years we have had our share of encounters with our deepest fears and our greatest joys. Our venture into the publishing world has also brought us a deeper appreciation for the world around us and given us so much to be grateful for.

Many of you have been with us through each edition over those years. We’ve shared births, baptisms, weddings, anniversaries, and bereavements – the joys and the sorrows of our community.

We have served as a link uniting Celts across Western Canada and the U.S. Pacific Northwest and brought the message of your culture and heritage to a North American audience.

Now, as we approach our anniversary issue in July/August, we’re asking for your input. We want you to send us your thoughts, your memories, your photos...anything you might want to share funny, sad, or otherwise about the past 15 years with The Celtic Connection.

We also want to know what you like about the paper, and maybe what you would like to see in future editions. In short, we want to hear from YOU!

In the next few months we will give you full details regarding prizes that will be awarded and the selection process for submissions to be published in our anniversary issue. Be sure to watch for more details in our upcoming March issue.

So, think back to those golden moments or events over the past 15 years where The Celtic Connection has played a role in your life, the life of your group or organization, or your community....and send them to us!

You can send to me by e-mail at: maura@celtic-connection.com, by fax (604) 438-8419, or mail to: The Celtic Connection, #741 - 916 West Broadway, Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 1K7.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Wishing you many blessings,
Maura

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