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Saturday February 4: RKIDs' brunch social. Must be vaccinated against Covid.
On Saturday February 4: Emerald Isle Club ceili. Music by: Peter Fitzgerald and the J. Patrick’s All Stars. All dances are called.
On Sunday February 5: Celtic Concerts at the Old Brogue Winter 2023, presents BETH PATTERSON AND SEÁN HEELY.
Wednesday February 8: The Celtic World (video).
February 10 - Feb 12: Riverdance is back, with a 25th anniversary show.
Monday February 13: RKIDs' "Love Fest" lunch social at Outta The Way Cafe.| Main Class | |
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Antrim Square  video | |
| Ballyvourney Jig video | |
| The Black Valley video | |
 | Four-Hand Reel video |
| Moycullen video | |
| Sliabh Luachra video | |
| Spanish Waltz video | |
| Stack of Barley |
If you'd like to join us but aren't interested in going to dance class, download our annual membership form below. Please fill in the first two pages and mail it with your dues and other supporting required information to the address shown on it. Please note our current restriction on in-person gatherings due to the pandemic. More about membership.
Check out the interesting reads and media you can borrow from our library for members.
Every member who is interested in participating may sign up for this group. Contact Sonja via her email as listed in our membership directory. Discussion sessions will be conducted via Zoom on designated Wednesdays; see our events calendar. Registrants will get an email from Tom O. with connection instructions shortly before each discussion date. There will also be an outline of ideas to talk about. You have to acquire the books on your own; we'll display the videos when books aren't on tap. On the soon-to-review agenda is:
| The Celtic World (video) | |
|---|---|
| by Jennifer Paxton | |
| Date: | Wednesday February 8, 2023 |
| Time: | 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm |
| Place: | Zoom - Online |
| This is the last two lectures in this series, which covers events from the warriors who nearly defeated Julius Caesar to Irish saints who took on the traits of Celtic deities, get to know the real Celts. Session titles are "Celtic Music and Dance" and "The Celts Today." |
| Contact: | Sonja (for content info), Tom (for Zoom setup help) |
| More About This: | Info about this Video |
| In Praise of the Bees | |
| by Kristin Gleeson | |
| Date: | Wednesday February 22, 2023 |
| Time: | 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm |
| Place: | Zoom - Online |
 | TBA Full title: In Praise of the Bees: A literary historical novel of Medieval Ireland |
| Contact: | Sonja |
| The Irish Nanny | |
| by Sandy Taylor | |
| Date: | Wednesday March 22, 2023 |
| Time: | 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm |
| Place: | Zoom - Online |
| TBA |
| Contact: | Sonja |
| We Don't Know Ourselves | |
| by Fintan O'Toole | |
| Date: | Wednesday April 26, 2023 |
| Time: | 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm |
| Place: | Zoom - Online |
 | Description is TBA. Full book title is We Don't Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Modern Ireland. To be discussed in two monthly sessions. |
| Contact: | Sonja |
| We Don't Know Ourselves | |
| by Fintan O'Toole | |
| Date: | Wednesday May 31, 2023 |
| Time: | 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm |
| Place: | Zoom - Online |
| Description is TBA. Full book title is We Don't Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Modern Ireland. To be discussed in two monthly sessions (this is the second session). |
| Contact: | Sonja |
| Transatlantic | |
| by Colum McCann | |
| Date: | Wednesday June 28, 2023 |
| Time: | 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm |
| Place: | Zoom - Online |
 | TBA |
| Contact: | Sonja |
| First Crossing: Transatlantic Flight | |
| by Robert O. Harder | |
| Date: | Wednesday September 27, 2023 |
| Time: | 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm |
| Place: | Zoom - Online |
 | TBA - Full title is First Crossing: The Transatlantic Flight of Alcock and Brown |
| Contact: | Sonja |
| Condemned to Death | |
| by Cora Harrison | |
| Date: | Wednesday October 25, 2023 |
| Time: | 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm |
| Place: | Zoom - Online |
| TBA |
| Contact: | Sonja |
The annual Christmas Party at the O'Brien's went off splendidly with copious food, much singing-along, and entertainment by Willie, David D., Toni, David M. and Kathy. Irish Coffee by Roger. Marilyn O. read the Night Before Christmas with the traditional gift swapping ring, but this year, the story ended with everyone holding their gifts! What were the odds, with nearly 40 people in the ring? Well, she quickly read "the" back cover, and then "the" gifts were more evenly distributed. Here's a snippet of the sing along:
October 29 marked the long-awaited (since March of 2021) return of the Blackthorn Ceili! The theme was Halloween, the location McCathran Hall, and the music was fabulously performed by Joe DeZarn,Tina Eck, and Zan McLeod, with Larry Frank calling. Obie O'Brien organized it with support from Marilyn and a host of volunteers. Take a look at clips of some of the dances, such as the Merchant, the elegant Waltz Cotillion, the social Siege of Ennis, and the ever-popular Clare Lancers set:
