On 29th May the Republic of Ireland will look to build on their first game under Giovanni Trapattoni. They play Colombia in an international friendly in London, at Craven Cottage (home of Fulham Football Club), and hoards of Irish fans are expected to pack the stands and sing their hearts out for the occasion.

There promises to be plenty of Premier League stars on show and notably John O’Shea (Man Utd), Robbie Keane (Tottenham), Stephen Ireland (Man City) and Damien Duff (Newcastle) who have all been named in the squad.

The game will also be the first time that Colombia have visited London since their eccentric goal keeper René Higuita saved Jamie Redknapp’s shot with a spectacular scorpion kick, in a friendly against England.

The South Americans are likely to be tricky opponents for the Republic of Ireland, so it could be a scintillating game of football, and a great live appetiser for the Euro 2008 tournament in June.

Craven Cottage is located in SW6 close to Hammersmith and Putney, the game kicks off at 8.05pm. If you want to be a part of it tickets are available at fulhamfc.com, or through the Fulham ticket office on 0870 442 1234 (option 1) or call 020 8336 7555 for a range of hospitality options.

Speaking at the recent AGM of the Celtic & Irish Cultural Society, Chairman, John Nolan, explained that it had been a very challenging year for the Society. He said:

“2007 was certainly an eventful if not testing year, but at the same time it has been very rewarding.  I think that Crawley is a much nicer place to live and work thanks in part to the CICS working for the good of the community and providing a great cultural experience for us all”

The CICS, which is responsible for the Crawley Irish Festival, the St Patrick’s Day Parade and the Crawley Fleadh, has undergone a number of important changes during the last 12 months including:

1. Becoming a Company Limited by Guarantee – a move which offers protection against personal liability to the committee members/trustees and thus offers them protection when employing people and forming contracts with suppliers and service providers
2. Appointing a new Board of Directors – The new Board is comprised of John Nolan (Chairman), Norah Green (Company Secretary), John Lyons (Treasurer) and Mary Allen
3. Employing its first paid member of staff – something which the Society feels demonstrates a strong commitment to improving its work, both in terms of cultural activities and the events it provides, as well as its ambitions to raise the profile of the Irish community which are an important part of Crawley’s multi-cultural mix
4. Starting the process of registering as a Charity – this will help with accessing additional benefits and funding for the organisation

All the changes the CICS has undergone will leave the society in a stronger position to handle the major events they have planned for the year ahead, including the fast approaching 13th Annual Crawley Irish Festival, which is planned for Sunday 24th August.

In conclusion to the AGM, the Chairman concluded by saying

“We should not forget our supporters, the big and the not so big. They provide funding and loan us equipment so we can organise our events.  We could not survive or get to where we are today without their help. In particular we would like to thank Crawley Borough Council, West Sussex County Council and the Town Centre Partnership for their support. Also, this busy year could not have been achieved without the assistance of the many volunteers and helpers”

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A new Irish TV channel should be available by Saint Patrick’s Day 2009 according to the Irish communications minister who made an announcement on Saint Patrick’s Day. Diaspora TV will be an RTÉ channel available on the new Freesat service in the UK.

In recent comments from Eamon Ryan, the minister spoke about time-frames and the need for the service:

The 2001 Census in Britain records a figure of 850,000 Irish born people living in Britain. There are many more of direct Irish descent. I know that many of these people have been looking for an RTÉ channel in the UK for some time. This new channel will be up and running by next St Patrick’s Day [and] will provide the Irish abroad with a valuable link to home.

The new service will be a hybrid of RTÉ One and RTÉ Two with additional programming from TG4. It will carry the One, Six-One and 9 o’clock news bulletins live and will aim to provide “home-grown Irish programming that will be of real interest to Irish communities abroad”.

Mr Ryan went on to say that

I will be working closely with Minister Dermot Ahern to ensure that vulnerable groups in the UK will be supported in receiving the service

Diaspora TV will be the first service for the Irish community in Britain since Tara TV closed back in 2002 for financial reasons.

Freesat is a new free-to-air satellite service that will be available throughout the UK and across the Astra satellite footprint, covering Ireland and some other parts of Europe.  It is led by the BBC and ITV.  Further information is available at www.freesat.co.uk

The service will also be available to users of the Sky Satellite System on a Free to Air basis.

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

Frank Kelly is currently undergoing a seven-month chemotherapy course after having a tumour removed last year.

Father Ted star Frank Kelly, who played Father Jack Hackett in the sitcom between 1995-98, had been diagnosed with bowel cancer.

Frank told The Mirror:

“The tumour was the size of a bloody cabbage. I had discomforts and symptoms that I thought were just bowel problems.

“But when you’re told it’s cancer, it doesn’t come as such a massive shock.

“I’ve made a complete recovery. But I need chemo to reduce the chance of it returning.”

News of Frank Kelly’s illness comes at a time when the Federation of Irish Societies (FIS), of which the CICS is an affiliate member, has welcomed news of regular NHS screening for heart disease, stroke and illnesses.

The Irish community suffer from the highest rates of cardiovascular disease in men and women of all ethnic groups, and have a greatly increased risk of heart disease. Even more worryingly, the Irish have the highest rates of stroke amongst all ethnic minority communities, and far higher than the White British population.

It is more important than ever for the Irish community to be regularly screened for potentially fatal illness, according to Mary Tilki; chairperson of FIS.

The Celtic and Irish Cultural Society, together with the Federation of Irish Societies, encourage everyone to ensure they are in best health by ensuring regular screening takes place. You can keep up to date with the latest health advice by visiting NHS Direct or call 0845 4647.

As a special treat for all our visitors, take a look at this fantastic film called “My Name is Yu Ming” or “Yu Ming Is Ainm Dom” in Irish. I hope this short film, by Daniel O’Hara, is inspirational for 2008.

Enjoy the film:

AtomFilms.com: Funny Videos | Funny Cartoons | Comedy Central

Saint Francis School, in Southgate Avenue, became the first school in Crawley to provide Hurling coaching to its primary school pupils last Monday 3rd December. The training day, provided by London GAA coach Grainne O’Sullivan, was the first of its kind provided to pupils in Crawley.

The training day was funded by the Celtic & Irish Cultural Society and follows an introduction to Gaelic Football that took place during the 2007 Crawley Fleadh.

The coaching lesson was a primary introduction to the sport and focused on the skills also relevant to the sport of Hockey - a descendant of Ireland’s Hurling and Scotland’s Shinty.

Chairman of the CICS, John Nolan commented:

The Irish are rightly proud of their sporting tradition and Gaelic Games remains the most popular sports in Ireland. We wish to extend the reach of the sport, in association with the London Gaelic Athletic Association, by helping local schools to deliver team sports that all the community can enjoy.

Back in 2006, the CICS also funded Gaelic Football coaching at Saint Wilfred’s School and the society is keen to expand coaching into other schools.

Interested schools around Crawley can contact the Celtic and Irish Cultural Society for more information:

“The Irish Experience” radio show returns to our wireless sets in the run-up to Christmas on RTÉ Radio Europe and RTÉ Radio One.

Paschal Mooney from Radio Telefis Eireann, and well known to the Irish Community in Britain, will be visiting various Irish Centres/Communitiee to record a series of programmes for RTE.

In the run up to Christmas ‘The Irish Experience’ team will be visiting the UK ; between entertainment items provided by the Irish Diaspora in the area visited, Paschal will also interview local Irish activists in welfare, sport, business, entertainment etc and give people the opportunity to send Christmas wishes to families back in Ireland.

The first programme will be transmitted on Friday November 30th at 9pm on RTE Radio 1 from the Kathleen Connolly Hall in Luton. The second from the Irish centre in Camden Town on December 7th, the third programme from St.Michael’s Centre in Liverpool on the 14th of December . The final programme in the series will be recorded at The Beaches Hotel, Prestatyn on Thursday December 6th.

Full schedule can be found on the RTE website page - http://www.rte.ie/radio1/theirishexperience

Crawley hosted a radio programme as part of the series last November (more information) which included live music, interviews and the famous “Irish Dancing on the Radio”.

RTÉ can be listened on line www.rte.ie or on LW 252 and via SKY TV (radio channel 0169). RTÉ are planning future programmes in the new year on a proposed new programme for the Irish Abroad worldwide.

The Crawley Fleadh is a celebration of traditional Irish culture taking place during the month of November in and around Crawley, West Sussex.

The Crawley Fleadh – pronounced flar - is a traditional festival celebrating Irish culture through a variety of different art forms and activities. The 2007 event is the fourth of what has become an annual celebration as part of Crawley’s cultural calendar. Organised and run by the Crawley based Celtic & Irish Cultural Society and funded by the Dion Fund - the Irish Government body that supports Irish Organisations in Britain - this year’s event features a wide range of different activities including music, comedy, dance, film, sport, story telling and cookery.

Award winning comedian Eric Lalor, who has headlined at venues and festivals in Ireland and the UK, including the Edinburgh Fringe and the Bud Light Comedy Revue in Dublin, will host an Irish stand up comedy night at Bar Med in Crawley High Street on Monday 19th November. With his fast moving style, Lalor, who has been described as ‘excellent and bellyachingly funny’, will be joined on stage by the very tall Brendan Dempsey performing his well crafted and subtle brand of intelligent, witty stand up and the very funny, fresh, sexy, animated girl next door, Tara Flynn.

The Irish Cookery Evening at Oriel High School in Maidenbower, on Tuesday 6th November, gives people the opportunity to learn the secrets of an Irish kitchen and gain some expert culinary tips for cooking the Irish way with award winning Chef Frank Coughlan, Corporate Executive Chef at the new Wembley Stadium and the 2007 Champion of Irish Food Award Winner.

The classic 1930’s documentary film Man of Aran will be screened at the Emerald Sports and Social Club in Southgate, on Friday 9th November. A dramatic depiction of the primitive lifestyles of fishermen and farmers living on the Ireland’s west coast, the film is renowned for its spectacular cinematography of land and seascapes and for its gritty realism. Live music and light refreshments will also be provided.

The fleadh also includes GAA sports and storytelling activities for local children in the schools.

Other events include live music at the Cherry Tree in Faygate from Brogue on Friday 9th November and various activities at the Emerald Sports and Social Club including a lecture on The Role of Ireland and the Irish in English Literature on Thursday 15th November, a charity 25 Card Drive on Saturday 10th November and taster sessions for anyone wanting an introduction to the Gaelic language or Set Dancing.

Further details are available from http://www.celtic-irish.co.uk/fleadh2007 or Shannon Mackey-Witton on 07815 055281

CELTIC ROCK IN THE PARK – 25 AUGUST 2007

This Bank Holiday Weekend sees the second Celtic Rock in the Park open-air concert on Saturday 25 August featuring four live acts on stage from 6pm.

The Celtic and Irish Cultural Society have organised this event to create a memorable musical event to celebrate Crawley’s 60th Anniversary as a new town so that young people, families and music lovers will enjoy a fantastic night.

The Horsham based AC/DC tribute band, Bad Boy Boogie, will join the “bottle slamming rock” of the award winning Bible Code Sundays as well as two bands with strong links to Crawley. Emerging local metal band, Angst, kick off the evening before the mix of award winning Irish and Celtic rock culminates with the big finale with a local sound.

Headliners, The CureHeads, bring the evening to a close with their acclaimed tribute to the music, fashion & performing style of The Cure. Having just returned from a tour of Ireland, they will perform music that spans from the beginning of The Cure’s career, through to the latest releases.

The Cure, formed by Crawley schoolboys who first toured southern England in 1977, still have strong links in Crawley. Thirty years on from their first gigs, expect something special on the night. You’ll also be pleased to hear that bar prices will be among the cheapest around - just £2.50 a pint!

Celtic Rock Tickets cost just £8 for Adults (£4 NUS/ Under 18s) - Rock and Roll!

CRAWLEY IRISH FESTIVAL – 26 AUGUST 2007

A great start to the weekend concludes with the 12th Crawley Irish Festival, on Sunday from Noon with live music, sport and more. The Festival, and the whole Crawley Celtic Weekend, is organised entirely by volunteers.

This year’s Celtic Weekend will feature the biggest Crawley Irish Festival ever held with two live music stages, an Irish Dance Stage, Set-Dancing and Ceili Marquee, GAA sports, free children’s entertainment and great craic for the family.

The FDL Dome Stage, sponsored by Foundation Developments Limited, features around seven hours of the finest folk, traditional, rock and country music. TV personality, Alan Ennis, will act as MC introducing each act with his unique and genuine Irish wit, observations and humour.

Guilfest favourites, The Twelve Sullivans, provide a spark of the folk traditional, plus a fusion courtesy of Guns and Horses, leading directly into the high energy Irish rock of The Emerald Dogs. Mustang and the ever-popular Mick Flavin will provide the country flavour as well as popular Irish tunes. The FDL Stage has something for all tastes but there’s more…

The Landmark Traditional Stage, sponsored by Landmark Groundworks and Civil Engineering, includes some of the best traditional Irish and Celtic music featuring Blackthorn, Brogue, Rocas and The Flying Toads will get the toes tapping and hands clapping.

Free Children’s Entertainment including magic shows, a circus workshop, balloon creations and children’s theatre will entertain the little ones throughout the day.

Irish dance shows from the local Andromeda, O’Brien and Mullins Irish Dance Schools taps off at 3pm, you’ll also have a chance to get involved at the Ceili and Set-Dancing Marquee.

Televised action from the GAA Gaelic Football championship live from Croke Park will be shown on the big screens at the Beer Tent while over at the Sports Arena, there is a busy lineup of Tug o’ War, Hurling and Gaelic Football action.

The Crawley Irish Festival is the most diverse event of its kind in the UK with content that will appeal to all. All proceeds will enhance future events in and promote culture. Entry just £5 for adults and children go free. Get set to paint the town green and enjoy the craic at Crawley.