At the Hungry Grass gig at the Emerald Club last night, the Celtic and Irish Cultural Society officially announced that an additional event will be held over the August Bank Holiday “Celtic Weekend”. On 26 June 2006, a new event, “Celtic Rock in the Park” aimed at a youth audience will hit Southgate Fields in Crawley, West Sussex.

The Celtic Rock in the Park will feature Limehouse Lizzy and Emerald Dogs at a brand new, professionally lit stage in the open-air. Gates open at 6.30pm for a 7.30pm start.

Limehouse Lizzy are the world’s number one tribute to Thin Lizzy and keeping alive the great rock music left behind by Phil Lynott: “The Boys are back in Town”, “Dancing in the Moonlight”, “Whisky in the Jar” plus many more. Music lovers will enjoy a great mix of music with inspiration from across the globe given a Celtic touch by the Irish Press award winning Emerald Dogs: Reggae tune “Baby Come Back” with a Celtic style, original music and many favourites as you have never heard them before.

The Celtic Rock in the Park concert tickets cost just £8. Book now from the Hawth Box Office on 01293 553636.

[Celtic Weekend] - [Emerald Dogs] - [Limehouse Lizzy]

The Mullins School of Irish Dancing took part at the Luton Open Feis on 22-23 April. Alicia Harris, of the Mullins Dance school ranked 4th overall at the Under 14 Open Championship.

Congratulations to Alicia Harris and everyone at the Mullins School of Irish Dancing.

[Mullins School of Irish Dancing]

Over 3,000 people attended the England-Ireland Under-18s Schoolboys Soccer International on Friday night at Broadfield Stadium, Crawley.

It was a fantastic result for England who now sit top of the table, with 7 points, having played all their games. Rep. Ireland Schoolboys remain unbeaten in three years. The Republic of Ireland Schoolboys now need to beat Northern Ireland on 10 April to share the shield with England (goal difference is not a factor). Scotland and Northern Ireland have no chance of winning in 2006.

[ESFA]

Broadfield Stadium, Crawley, is the venue for this year’s final Centenary Shield football match as the schoolboys of the Republic of Ireland take on their English counterparts this Friday, 31 March 2006 at 7pm. Around 3/4 of the tickets have already been sold for what promises to be one of the most exciting schoolboy internationals in years.

The Republic of Ireland schoolboys are unbeaten, since 2002, whilst the English side have conquered both Scotland and Northern Ireland this year to make the final showdown the Shield decider. The schoolboys are young adults in full-time secondary education (aged 17-19). This will be the final opportunity for many of the players to compete at this level before they begin their professional carreers.

So get down and lend your support to the fixture - tickets are just £6 (adults) / £4 (concs) and available at the turnstiles. Tickets are also available from Crawley Town Football Club.

At the Hennigan O’Loughlin Feis, in Essex (14th-15th Jan), Irish dancers from the Crawley and Horsham based Mullin’s School of Irish Dancing were placed higher than any other dance school from Sussex.

In addition to the overall result, Bella Zanin took fifth place in the Under 9s Open Championship and Alicia Harris took ninth place in the Under 14s Open Championship.

The Mullins School regularly performs at the Crawley Irish Festival and at many of our events. She hosts a number of classes for children and adults. The Mullins Website gives more details.

Cathie Ryan has received an accolade from liveireland.com for her album “The Farthest Wave”. Barry received the Best Vocal Album of the Year “livie”.

LiveIreland.com is one of the best sources of traditional and themed music on the internet - providing two online radio stations, direct from Dublin, to the global community.

In awarding the accolade, the internet radio station commented:

“Cathie Ryan’s, The Farthest Wave may be the best vocal, traditional album we have EVER heard, never mind just this year. She is, beyond any debate, the pre-eminent Irish singer and song writer of her time. This album is so carefully thought out and so passionately performed, we continue to listen over and over and over again. Cathie is fearless. She cut to deep inside her heart, and shared all with the listener. This voice. God gave her the tools. She has built the mansion. A wonder. If you don’t have this album, your collection is not really a collection.”

Cathie Ryan will be performing at the Chequer Mead Theatre on 17 January. For more information or purchase tickets on 01342 302000.