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Thursday, November 9 - 6:15 p.m. – Desserts and Coffee - 7:00 p.m. Movie

Muskegon Museum of Art Auditorium Theater

     On Thursday evening, November 9,  we are returning to the Muskegon Museum of Art auditorium theater for our annual fall meeting - scrumptious gourmet desserts and coffee, followed by an Irish movie. This has become one of our most popular events, and this year we will enjoy our own private showing of the outstanding film, Inside I’m Dancing, which was released in the U.S. under the title, Rory O’Shea Was Here.  Filmed entirely in Dublin with an all-Irish cast, this movie was voted the best picture of the year last year in Ireland. In the U.S. it was released in some big cities with large Irish populations, but it was not distributed in smaller markets like Muskegon.  So this is likely our only chance to view this film on the big screen! And an added treat is that our friend Tony Kenny, who will be performing in Muskegon next March, appears in a brief singing role!  This is a contemporary Irish film, and it contains some strong language – nothing that we haven’t heard before and nothing compared to what we hear in American movies.  But the story takes place in today’s Ireland, and it is not about leprechauns dancing around a peat fire in a thatched cottage.  So be ready for a film with emotion and humor, and which will leave us with lasting memories.  Invite friends and relatives for this great Irish entertainment.

      And here is a big BONUS for us!  That same evening beginning at 5 pm, the Art Museum is sponsoring one of its quarterly events called a “Salon” exhibit. Many artists from West Michigan come to the museum to exhibit and discuss their works.  The museum furnishes snacks and light refreshments, and admission is free!  So arrive early and get acquainted with our area artists and their work! See you there!

Special Upcoming Event

Boys of the Lough Celtic Christmas Concert

Thursday, December 7, 2006, 7:30p.m., R-P Rocket Center

        By now we have all received our invitation to attend this concert by the Boys of the Lough, one of the classic bands of Irish music who have traveled the globe for more than thirty years and toured the U.S. more than fifty-two times!  It just doesn’t get better than this, and to have them right here in Muskegon to perform their Christmas concert is an opportunity we just cannot pass up.  Many thanks to our fellow member and Quietfaith Productions partner David McIntire for giving our members the special advance purchase price of $16.00 per ticket, which is $4.00 less than the $20.00 door price.  To purchase your tickets visit the Quietfaith website at www.quietfaith.com.  Don’t miss this world-class entertainment!

 Last Events

Summer Barbecue Dinner

     On Tuesday, August 22, over ninety of us attended our annual summer barbecue picnic at the Mona Lake Boat Club. This was a record attendance for this event and we all had a most convivial evening of good times with our friends and relatives. This year Bob and Terri Wright gave all comers a demonstration Irish dance lesson, several of us got up on our feet and joined in. John and Barb McFadden chaired our very first Irish book/cd/dvd/tape sale, which was very successful. But some of us had a problem: the concept of the sale was to get rid of our Irish stuff, we ended up leaving with more that we brought! As always, Peg and Colette did a great job of leading out music and were joined by Jim Keating, David McIntire, Kevin Donovan, Bob and Terri Wright and Darlene Collet. Their instrumentals and vocals were outstanding and again remind us of how much talent we have right here in our midst. Thanks to everyone who helped to enjoy this night.

Milwaukee Irish Fest

     Several of our members greeted Saturday morning, August 19, by embarking on the Lake Express to Milwaukee for a day excursion to the Milwaukee Irish Fest, the largest Irish festival in the world. The arrangements by the Orchard View Travelers organization were excellent. The festival was incomparable and a single afternoon visit could not do it justice. Not only were sixteen stages in operation, but Malachy McCourt presented a recitation, theatre performances were taking place and vendors of all things Celtic were in abundance. The Gaelic Park Players, who have come to Muskegon in recent years, performed a delightful one act comedy during our groups stay. It all ended too soon when we had to catch the 7 pm return ferry. The only blemish to a perfect day was the rock'n and roll'n night voyage to Muskegon, when motion sickness claimed a fair number. Landfall in Muskegon was a welcome sight!

Michigan Irish Music Festival

     Dare we say the best ever? Certainly one of the top five! Start with the weather - perfect! Next, the attendance - a record! Then the entertainment line-up - terrific! Add to that the extras like the dance lessons, story telling tent, the photo contest, the genealogy presentation, the kids' activities, etc. The heritage tent display of the traditional Irish wake was intriguing and caught a lot of interest. (The deceased bore no resemblance to anyone we knew, although someone commented that he looked like a Notre Dame fan!) Of course, the feis (dance competition) at the L. C. Walker Arena drought in the best young dancers from near and far. There are simply too many of our members who were leaders, sponsors and/or volunteers to mention then all here. We can't wait until next year! The festival board is already hard at work on 2007.

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