This sunday marks the fifth annual Crawley Saint Patrick’s Parade and everyone is invited! After the parade, free entertainment in Queen’s Square which includes music and Irish dancing demonstrations. The parade starts at 1pm from Crawley Bus Station and concludes at Queen’s Square.

There has been some freak weather warnings from our friends at the Met Office so please remember, one and all, to bring appropriate clothing with you.

It’s also an exciting weekend otherwise as we approach Saint Patrick’s Day on Monday 17th March.

There’s live rugby on the box, or if you are lucky enough to get to Twickenham it would be much closer; lots of events in venues throughout the town and, on Saint Patrick’s Day itself, the GAA club championships at Croke Park. If Croke Park is too far to travel, it’s also live on Setanta.

Have a great weekend and the CICS invite you all to come down to celebrate your roots with the Irish in Crawley.

More information at http://www.celtic-irish.co.uk/stpats

Details of Crawley’s 12^th annual Celtic Weekend have just been finalised. The Weekend is the largest event in Crawley to take place on Southgate Playing Fields and organisers believe that the line-up on offer promises to be their best yet.

The Weekend begins with the 2^nd Celtic Rock in the Park, on Saturday 25^th August at 6pm. The hugely talented local hard rock/metal band Angst kick off the evening which features an impressive line-up of rock talent including Bad Boy Boogie, a fine local AC/DC Tribute band and TheBibleCodeSunday’s, who’s unique blend of traditional Irish and modern rock music won them the 2006 Irish World Newspaper Award for “Best Band on London Circuit”.

Headliners The Cureheads bring the evening to a close. This premier band is well known in Crawley for their tribute to the music, fashion & performing style of The Cure. Formed in 1990, they will perform music that spans from the beginning of The Cure’s career, right through to the latest releases, some of which are only available online.

The Weekend continues with the Crawley Irish Festival, on Sunday 26^th August from 12-6pm. The Festival, now in its twelfth year, never disappoints with its vibrant and colourful mix showcasing some great Irish entertainment, music, sport and dance. The main music stage will feature a whole afternoon of some of the finest Irish music from bands such as Mustang, The 12 Sullivan’s, The Emerald Dogs, Guns and Horses and the ever popular Mick Flavin. Some of the best traditional Irish music will be played live on a second stage.

This year we are planning to run a more high profile event for 2007, in celebration of the New Town’s sixtieth anniversary, and there will be lots for young people and families to do with a special children’s entertainment marquee featuring games, songs and stories, with particular emphasis on Irish traditions and folklore. There will also be live GAA Sports, live televised sports, Irish Dancing Displays, two beer tents and many stalls offering Irish goods.

Tickets for the Celtic Rock in the Park will cost £8 and will be available online, at local outlets, at the gate on the day and at The Hawth Box Office – Tel: 01293 553636 or book online at www.hawth.co.uk.

Tickets for the Crawley Irish Festival will cost £5 for Adults, £2 for concessions (students and over 60’s) and children under 18 are free and will be available at the gate on the day.

For further details on the bands for the Celtic Rock Night see:

• Angst - www.angst.uk.com/home.htm
• Bad Boy Boogie - www.celtic-irish.co.uk
• TheBibleCodeSunday’s - www.biblecodesundays.co.uk/bcshtml/index.htm
• The Cureheads – http://www.garyash.addr.com/

At its 12^th Annual Dinner Dance at The Clarion Hotel, Gatwick on the 3^rd March, The Celtic and Irish Cultural Society (CICS) were pleased to announce that Rosie Keaveney, one of Crawley’s very popular community midwives, was the Crawley Irish Person of the Year 2007.

Carol Collins, Secretary of the Celtic and Irish Cultural Society took great delight in announcing that Rosie Keaveney was also Crawley’s first female Irish Person of the Year. Carol went on to explain…

Tonight history is being made as we are awarding Crawley Irish Person of the year to a woman for the very first time. This exceptional woman has neither required, nor desired, recognition for the many ways in which she contributes to the community of Crawley. For many years in her role as community midwife she has helped women of all ages and backgrounds to fulfil their dreams and make the fulfilling, yet sometimes difficult, transition to motherhood. To some of our more recent Irish migrants, far from home and family, she brings the personal touch and for that thousands of women will never forget her…she is one of the unsung pillars of the community

Rosie Keaveney was presented with a crystal vase, sponsored by the Bank of Ireland and flowers by the CICS committee. On receiving the award she said…

I am thrilled and delighted to be honoured by my fellow countrymen

The Dinner Dance, which helps to raise funds for the Crawley Irish Festival, was also honoured to welcome Patricia Brady from The Embassy of Ireland who congratulated the CICS on the work they did and proposed a toast to Ireland.

Post meal entertainment was provided by The Mullins School of Irish Dancing, who presented a stunning dance display and music was from the Mary Rose band.

The Crawley Irish Dinner Dance 2007 approaches this Saturday and features additional surprises including a live auction conducted by television presenter Alan Ennis.

There are five lots up for auction including perhaps the “biggest lot of the night” which comes from our good friends at Fresh ‘n’ Funky.

The company’s team is headed by Celebrity Chef, Gos, who first appeared onto our screens during Big Brother 4. The lot includes your chance for Gos to come to your home and cook just for you and your loved ones. It’s one not to miss, we have included details of the company for you below.

Further prizes include:

• A limited edition print of Aldaniti, the 1981 Grand National Winner, signed by the artist, the owner and winning jockey, Bob Champion. The champion horse has not signed it, however.
• Boxing Gloves, signed by Former World Champion Alan Minter
• A Romantic Meal For Two at the Clarion Gatwick Hotel
• A Rare Clock celebrating the 125th FA Cup Final held at Cardiff

ABOUT FRESH ‘N’ FUNKY

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F’n'F can provide you with professional business lunchboxes, stylish fork buffets, delicious global platters, appetizing canapés and mouth-watering three course meals. Seasonal menus are also produced throughout the year.

With over 15 years catering experience including past clients such as Jimmy Choo, Prince Andrew and the England Rugby Team. Fresh ‘N’ Funky pride themselves on providing quality food and an excellent maître d table service.

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[Fresh 'n' Funky Website]

With less than a month until the fourth annual Crawley Saint Patrick’s celebrations, full details of the event has been confirmed. Two new sponsors will partner with the Celtic and Irish Cultural Society for the 2007 event.

ITW Construction Products, who distribute the Paslode Spit nail gun, and Plumbase, the specialist supply store, will sponsor the event that takes place on Sunday 18 March.

At the Fourth Annual General Meeting of the Celtic Irish Cultural Society, held at The Hawth, the re-elected Chairman John Nolan took time to reflect on the last 12 months and declared 2006 as “a YEA year – a YEAR of EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS.”

He went on to explain how he felt that:

the last 12 months has been a busy and very successful period with numerous exceptional achievements”

Highlights of 2006 included:

• The Crawley St Patrick’s Parade in March in which more people took part than ever before
• The renamed Crawley Celtic Weekend in August, which saw a new event on the Saturday night specifically aimed at a youth audience
• The Crawley Fleadh Week, which was re-scheduled to run in November for the first time, and offered a host of events, including Gaelic football coaching in senior schools, together with Irish story telling and Celtic art in the junior schools and for adults, Irish language classes, set dancing classes and Irish Cookery classes.

John Nolan said that the success of the CICS was in no small way due to its supporters:

They provide funding and loan us equipment so we can organise ourselves in moving forward. We could not survive or get to where we are today without their help. There are far too many to mention here tonight but should not be forgotten and deserve our thanks. This busy year could not have been achieved without the assistance of the many volunteers and helpers. Time and again they have come out (in all weathers) to assist in everyway possible”

However, John was keen to stress that the CICS was planning to move forward with a new committee in place. The new committee comprises of John Nolan as Chairman, Leo Beirne as Vice-Chairman, Carol Collins as Secretary, John Lyons as Functions Officer, Tony Green as Publishing Officer and Mia Phillips will help with Fundraising. The post of Treasurer will be filled by Norah Green until March, but a new person will need to be found after that time.

With a large grant from the DION (an Irish Government Agency supporting Irish Organisations abroad) and the support of the Federation of Irish Societies, he said:

The vision of our society in moving forward into the future is to achieve a more confident, professional and successful group”.

The Society is planning three major changes to the way it works:

Firstly, it is planning to set up a company limited by guarantee. This will offer protection against personal liability to the committee members/trustees and will offer them protection when employing people and forming contracts with suppliers and service providers

Secondly, it is planning to register the Society as a Charity which will offer additional benefits, such as being eligible for a broader range of funding opportunities, access to a range of training and business support initiatives, plus tax and financial benefits.

Thirdly, the committee has just employed its first paid member of staff, a move which demonstrates a strong commitment to improving its work both in terms of cultural activities and events it provides, as well as its ambitions to raise the profile of the Irish communities in the region. The newly appointed part-time co-ordinator, Shannon Mackey-Witton, brings experience of administration and events management and joined the Society from the beginning of February.

John Nolan felt that:

With our new development policy in place I firmly believe the coming year should be anticipated as a YES year … A YEAR of EXCEPTIONAL SUCCESS”

The annual Crawley Fleadh (pronounced Flar) kicked off last Saturday week and concluded on Sunday with free Irish dance classes for youngsters. The Fleadh was the third celebration of Irish culture taking place at venues throughout the town.

The opening night concert was an eclectic start to a week of events aimed at broadening awareness of the Irish in Britain, organised by the Celtic and Irish Cultural Society. and featured live music from Sateen and Fairtrade plus Irish dancing from the Andromeda School of Irish Dancing. MC for the night was television presenter Alan Ennis and additional material was provided by Marie Aine Dhrainne in both English and Irish Gaelic. The event was opened by Amanda Bane from the Irish Embassy and the acting Mayor, Chris Redmayne.

One of the highlights of the Fleadh is Gaelic Football and Hurling coaching in local schools. It gave young children an opportunity to learn distinctly Irish sports for the first time in the town’s history. The Fleadh also held Irish Art classes plus story telling.

Set dancing, Irish language and cookery classes were also held during the week. Ryder Cup head chef, Frank Coughlan, introduced visitors to some culinary details inspired by Irish cooking traditions on Tuesday Night. The Fleadh also re-launched Irish language classes which will take place fortnightly. The Set Dancing takes place weekly.

The award winning Nomadic Theatre Company brought the dramatised fictional meeting of Patrick Kavanagh and Brendan Behan, Rare ‘Oul Times, to the town on Friday evening. The play is romp of argument and conversation between two of Ireland’s famous playwrights. The actors had previously taken the play all over the world.

The Saturday Night of the Fleadh provided an evening dance focused on Irish country music at the Emerald Club. Music was provided by Sham.

The Tavern on the Green, Pound Hill, was host of “The Irish Experience” radio programme on Thursday 30 November. Paschal Mooney, former RTÉ presenter and now Senator in the Irish upper house will be presented the show entitled “The Irish Experience”. Music was provided by Blackthorne, Brogue and the Celtic Colleens. Irish dancing from the O’Brien School of Irish Dancing was also on show. The programme included interviews with local people and is due for broadcast later in December.

The “Irish Experience” is a four-part programme looking at the Irish living in England. Other programmes are to be recorded in Manchester, Newcastle and London. The recording will be broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 on Friday 15 December at 9pm. RTÉ Radio can be received on Sky Radio 160 and Longwave 252.

The Fleadh was funded by profits from the Crawley Irish Festival, sponsors and the Irish government Dion Fund. Photos from the events can be found at http://www.celtic-irish.co.uk/photos.

RTÉ, the Irish national broadcaster, will be in Crawley this Thursday (30 November) to record a radio show focused on the Irish population in the southeast.

Paschal Mooney, RTÉ presenter and now Senator in the Irish upper house will be presenting the show entitled “The Irish Experience”.

The event takes place at the Tavern on the Green, Pound Hill, from 7.45pm with traditional and ballad music from Blackthorne and Broge plus Irish dancing from the O’Brien School of Irish Dancing. The broadcast will also include interviews with local people.

The “Irish Experience” is a four-part programme looking at the Irish living in England. Other programmes are to be recorded in Manchester, Newcastle and London.

The Celtic and Irish Cultural Society, who organise the Crawley Irish Festival, would like to invite the Irish community, and anyone with an interest, to come down and join in the fun.

The recording which will be broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 on Friday 15 December at 9pm. RTÉ Radio 1 can be received on Sky Radio 160 and Longwave 252.

The third annual Crawley Fleadh (pronounced Flar) kicked off at 8pm tonight at the Conservative Club, Three Bridges.The Fleadh is a celebration of Irish culture taking place in venues throughout the area.

The opening night concert featured live music from Sateen and Fairtrade plus Irish dancing from the Andromeda School of Irish Dancing. MC for the night was television presenter Alan Ennis and additional material was provided by Marie Aine Dhrainne in both English and Irish Gaelic.

The Fleadh opening night was also the venue for the launch of the 2006 Annual Report which detailed plans for the future and reviewed events during the year. Distinguished guests included the Deputy Mayor of Crawley, elected officials and representatives from the Irish Embassy in London.

[Crawley Fleadh 2006] - [2006 Annual Report (PDF) 87kb]

The Irish will paint Crawley green as the Fleadh kicks off on 18 November. The Crawley Fleadh (pronounced “Flar” and meaning festival) is a celebration of Irish culture that includes music, theatre, sport and a brand new schools programme.

The Crawley Fleadh 2006 is the third annual event and the first year the events will be held in November to coincide with the academic term. The event is organised by the Celtic and Irish Cultural Society who organise a number of events including the Crawley Saint Patrick’s Parade in March and the Crawley Irish Festival in August.

The Fleadh will bring qualified Irish sports coaches into local secondary schools: it will give local schoolchildren the opportunity to play Gaelic Football and Hurling, the oldest field sport in Europe, for the first time in Crawley’s history.

John Nolan, Celtic and Irish Cultural Society chairman:

“The brand new schools programme forms a major part of this year’s Fleadh. We’re very excited that we can showcase Irish sports plus literature and art workshops in local schools. We hope that youngsters will take the opportunity to find out more about Irish traditions and get more involved in the future.”

For adults, Irish language classes, set dancing classes and theatre in the form of the award winning “Rare Oul’ Times” performed by the Nomadic Theatre Company. There will also be plenty of activities for the whole family including Irish dance shows, live music and much more! More details are available online at: www.celtic-irish.co.uk/fleadh

SAT 18 NOVEMBER 2006, 8pm: OPENING NIGHT OF FLEADH – £5

Live traditional and ballad music, Irish dance and poetry at The Conservative Club, Three Bridges, Crawley

MON 20 NOVEMBER 2006, 7.30pm: CEILI AND SET DANCING CLASS - £3

Live Music from Wraggle Taggle and a chance to try set dancing at The Emerald Club, Southgate Avenue

MON 20 NOVEMBER 2006, 7.30pm: PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD - £12.50

Irish Playwright JM Synge’s magnificent comedy classic at The Hawth Theatre, Hawth Avenue, Crawley

TUES 21 NOVEMBER 2006, 7pm: IRISH COOKERY CLASS - £3

Ryder Cup head chef, John Coughlan, teaches the secrets of Irish cuisine at Oriel High School, Maidenbower

WED 22 NOVEMBER 2006, 7.30pm: IRISH GAELIC LANGUAGE CLASS - £Free

A chance to learn Europe’s oldest language at The Emerald Club, Southgate Avenue, Crawley

THUR 23 NOVEMBER 2006 7.30pm: IRISH KARAOKE @ WHITE HART - £Free

Classic Irish tunes with a twist at The White Hart, High Street, Crawley

FRI 24 NOVEMBER 2006, 7.30pm: THE RARE OUL’ TIMES - £5

Award winning Irish theatre as Patrick Kavanagh meets Brendan Behan at The Friary Hall, Haslett Avenue West

SAT 25 NOVEMBER 2006, 7.30pm: CLOSING NIGHT OF THE FLEADH - £5

Live music and dance that the dance halls would be proud of at The Emerald Club, Southgate Avenue, Crawley

SAT 18-26 NOVEMBER, Multiple Venues/Times: ADDITIONAL EVENTS- £Free

Irish Sports, Art and Literature at local schools and introductory dance classes for boys and girls

Notes to Editors:
The Celtic and Irish Cultural Society organise a number of major events throughout West Sussex including the Crawley Irish Festival and the Saint Patrick’s Festivities which includes the Saint Patrick’s Parade. In addition to funding the insurance costs associated with the free events, cultural and educational events such as Irish Language classes are also funded. The Celtic and Irish Cultural society is funded through business sponsorship, a grant from the Irish government and nominal admission charges. The majority of the costs of operation are met by corporate sponsors including Accurate Developments, Cappagh Group, Coinford Construction, Foundation Developments and LF Nugent Group. Crawley is centrally located in the southeast of England and is an ideal location to celebrate its population’s Irish traditions.

Further press information is available at www.celtic-irish.co.uk and from David Nolan on 07740 358221

[FLEADH WEBPAGES]