12 Raroa Road,
PO Box 31-469
Lower Hutt
New Zealand

info@huttirish.org.nz

+64+4+569-6139

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Hutt Valley Irish Society

The Irish Press

Septenber, 2007

WHAT’S ON?

A QUIZ QAND A CEILI

We have two events planned for the next couple of months which you won’t want to miss. Mark in your diary or calendar 22 September and 27 October.

The response to the Quiz Nights we’ve held in the last couple of years has been such that we have organised another one. Saturday 22 September is the date. The arrangements will be much the same as previously – $10 per-head cover charge, a light supper, raffles, and teasing questions, and the funds go the HV-W GAA trip to the Australasian Games. These evenings are grand craic - don’t miss out. Call Lynn or John on 04 973 8675 to book your team-table.

And then on 27 October we will be holding an old-fashioned Ceili. More about it next month, but suffice to say that the focus will be on fun, NOT expertise. It will be a family affair, so plan ahead, and make sure it’s on the calendar or in the diary!

A SEASON OF THEATRE

We are blessed with a focus on the Theatre in the next couple of months.

Firstly Circa Theatre in Wellington is presenting “Shining City” by Conor McPherson. A man has seen the ghost of his dead wife. He comes to another man, a counsellor, to try to make sense of his world, to find his place in it. What follows is a struggle between the living and the dead - a struggle which will shape and define both men for the rest of their lives.

The season is 8 September to 13 October. To book, call 801 7992 or go to www.circa.co.nz/bookings/.
But more importantly than that, a group of our members with Thespian aspirations have got themselves organised, and will present for our delectation and entertainment a one-act reading of “The Chastitute” by John B Keane. Yes, I was puzzled as well!

But I can now reveal that a ‘Chastitute’ is a person without holy orders who has never lain down with a woman – a rustic celibate by force of circumstance peculiar to countrysides where the Catholic tradition of long-life sexual abstemiousness is encouraged and free-range sex is absolutely taboo. So now you know too!
The cast features our members, and rehearsals are underway as I write this. I believe the premiere is to be held at HVIS late in the year, but more details next month.

ROSE OF TRALEE INTERNATIONAL

By now everyone will know that the International Title was won by Lisa Murtagh of New York. That means, of course, that New Zealand’s Rose, Sarah Dwyer, was ‘unplaced’. However, having watched the broadcast of her interview I can tell you she did New Zealand proud. Well done Sarah, and thank you for the fine job you did representing the entire New Zealand Irish community.

ANNUAL FEIS

The annual National Feis takes place in Auckland this year over the October Labour weekend (Friday 19th through to and including Monday 22nd). All Feis activities will take place within a radius of 1 kilometre in the suburbs of Western Springs - Mt. Albert.

The opening of the festival weekend begins on Friday 19th October from 7.30pm in the Irish Club, Rocky Nook, Fowlds Park, Mt Albert, Auckland. Entrance to the club from Melvern Avenue, off Western Springs Road or from Rocky Nook Avenue, off New North Road, St Lukes. Why not make a weekend of it? There’s plenty to do or see: traditional Irish dance, poetry, oratory, drama, storytelling, singing, instrumental performance, Gaelic football, hurling, camogie, indoor bowls, golf, pool, tossing the sheaf, netball, darts, and, of course, cards of various descriptions!

HURLING, GAELIC FOOTBALL, AND THE RUGBY WORLD CUP

Why do they schedule all these games at the same time of year? And at odd times like 2:30 am or 11:45pm? How’s a fellow supposed to sleep and work (not to mention help with the campaign!)?

Of course, the Hurling Final has been held already. If you missed it and want to see it, give Bryan a call on 04 938 9525 and we’ll come to some arrangement so you can catch up.

If you want to see the Football final but can’t face struggling into Wellington to join the other fanatics who have booked the Wellington Irish Society for the 2:30am kick-off on Monday 17, join those less fanatical (or somewhat older!) at the more sensible time of 7:30 pm on Tuesday 18 September.

And then there’s the Rugby World Cup. The schedule for the remaining pool games, in case you don’t know is like this:

And then there are the playoffs of course.

CEILI CLASSES

Forget dancing with the stars - get fit with ceili classes! Esther Budding (Hutt Valley & NZ Rose 2005) is offering social ceili classes every Wednesday evening from 7.30-8.30 during term three at the Hutt Valley Irish Society clubrooms. The focus of these is the movements, not technique so it is for everybody, really! They also help Esther’s preparation for her dancing teachers’ exam. Come when you can - koha donation only.

VISITING THE COUNTIES

Each month I will briefly profile a County, and give pointers to websites from which you can find out more. This month, County Carlow, apparently “Ireland’s Floral County”.

The local government site is www.carlow.ie/. It says that “Carlow Local Authorities are committed to the provision of high quality relevant services to and on behalf of the people of County Carlow.” Laudable indeed.
The official tourism site for the area is at www.carlowtourism.com – a disappointingly amateurish looking site, although with plenty of useful information. The County Museum www.carlowcountymuseum.com is worth looking through, if only for the somewhat disorienting panoramic view of Carlow Town from the top of the 260 ft high Sugar Factory Lime Kiln Tower.

I NEVER KNEW THAT ABOUT …. CO CARLOW

Carlow is the second-smallest County in the Republic.

Bagenalstown, built by one of the Bagenals of nearby Dunleckney Manor, was intended as a ‘New Versailles’. However, only the tiny classical Court House was ever completed. By contrast Duckett’s Grove near Carlow Town was completed in 1830. A gothic fantasy now in ruins, it has the biggest castellated gateway in Ireland.
In the middle of a field near Carlow Town is Browne’s Hill Dolmen, a 5,000-year-old portal tomb with the biggest capstone in Europe, weighing over 100 tons.

Ireland’s first Polo Club was founded in 1872 at Clogrenane.

What's on the Calendar?

GREETING CARDS

Our thoughts go to Alan Lee and his family. Alan’s father died recently and he has flown home for the funeral.
On a less somber note, many will know that one of our members is standing the Hutt City Council in this year’s elections. Desiree Mulligan is standing for the Central Ward. She says it’s because she has become increasingly frustrated at the short-sightedness and lack of vision offered by the current leadership on the Council. You can see her campaign at www.desireemulligan.co.nz. I’m sure all members wish her well and will help ‘spread the word’.

OUR CONGRATULATIONS RODNEY!

At the recent 2007 Tourism Industry Award Winners, Rodney Walshe was awarded the Horwath Sir Jack Newman Award. A well deserved recognition for many years work promoting tourism between New Zealand and Ireland.

CARDS ‘N’ DARTS ‘N’ MUSIC NIGHTS

Do you enjoy a game of cards? There’s one on at the Club on the first Friday of each month. The next evening will be October 5. Call Anne on 2329962 to check dates, times, and other arrangements. Or come along on the second Friday of the month for a casual game of Darts, or the third Friday of the month for our music session. No arranging needed – just turn up!

ACKNOWLEDGING THE SUPPORT OF:

iServe Ltd

Road Bowling