EuropeanIrish.com News Stories

Wishing all of you in Europe and across this small world a wonderful Christmas.

For the  100,000’s of Irish heading back to Ireland for Christmas, we wish you safe travelling, enjoy your break as only Irish know how, and we hope you return with  renewed spirit in the New Year.

If you are in Europe this Christmas, we send you our warmest Seasons Greetings, with all the trimmings.

To all our friends and EuropeanIrish visitors across the world, spend a few minutes to think of your most special moments and memories from 2006, cherish them, and from all of us, we wish you another special year in 2007.

Le ghach dea Ghuí
With Every Good Wish,

Siasy Collins

http://www.EuropeanIrish.com

19-Dec  Davezieux, Celtic Dances, A new Spectacular of Irish Dancers and Musicians
20-Dec  Association Attchoo-Dancin ‘the World : Private Soirée Irlandaise –  for students of l’internat du Lycée Julie Daubié, Laon (02)
20-Dec     Cholet, Celtic Dances, A new Spectacular of Irish Dancers and Musicians
21, 22-Dec  Blois, Celtic Dances
23-Dec  Meaux, Celtic Dances

MusicCalender

21st - 23rd Dec in Russia - special Christmas Music Performance in St.Petersburgh. Russian Irish-Music group Mervent will be in St. Petersburg to perform together with the leading St. Petersburg groups

LINK

Other upcoming Central and Eastern Europe include - in Czech Rep, Croatia, Poland, Hungary, Turkey:
20-Dec Czech Republic concert Irish Dew, Praha, balbínova poetická hospůdka (20:00)
21-Dec Croatia The Slip band, concert, Hopdevil pub, Branimirova St., Zagreb
21-Dec Hungary Irish Coffee , Concert, 19:30, YOUNG, GIFTED & BACK. Szent Imre Gimnázium (XI. Villányi út 27.)
21-Dec Czech Republic concert Fiannan Praha, Salmovská literární kavárna (19:30)
24-Dec Turkey The Irish Centre, Istanbul, # Dance Lessons: Irish Dance (Dans Atolyasa 5. Kat) - 13:00 - 15:00 ; Live Music: ‘THE IRISH GROUP’ (James Joyce) - 22:00 - 01:00.
27-Dec Hungary Irish Coffee , Concert, ASK OF THE WILD WOLVES THEIR PARDON -. Békebíró (XIII., Hollán Ernő u. 13-15. - A Jászai Mari térnél! - Foglalás: 340-46-24)
6-Jan Poland Poland Folkowa Events: Słodki Całus Od Buby (Irish Club) - Koszalin
7-Jan Hungary Irish Coffee , Concert, Do You Prove True To Me? . Szent Imre Gimnázium

http://www.europeanirish.com/Music/MusicCalender.htm

Theatre  Pygmalion, Praha, Studio Ypsilon (19:30), G.B.Shaw
Theatre  DIVADLA - Plný kapsy šutrů, Praha, Divadlo Rokoko (19:00), M.Jones
Theatre  Lordi, Praha, Divadlo v Jibndřišské věži (20:00), O.Wilde, R.Ross
Theatre  Mrzák Inishmaanský, Cheb, Západočeské divadlo (10:00), M.McDonagh Theatre  Virginia, Praha, Divadlo Kolowrat (19:00), E. O´Brien
LINK

Continuing across Austria until the 22nd Dec, - Guinness Irish Christmas Festival, with Solas and Cora & Breda Smyth (solo violist from Lord of the Dance, and Celtic Tiger),

19th  LAA/Th.
20th WR. NEUSTADT
21st Vienna (Wien)
22nd Oslip
LINK
Coming up in early January - concerts in Austria by
Dropkick Murphys,
Serendipity
http://www.europeanirish.com/Music/MusicCalender.htm

The Republic of Ireland will host the UEFA Under 19 Elite Phase of Qualifying as Sean McCaffrey’s outfit face Hungary, Germany and Bulgaria in Group 1 from the 14th-19th May 2007.

The Republic of Ireland Under 17 side, also under Sean McCaffrey, will travel to Germany for the UEFA Under 17 Championship where they will compete with Greece, Scotland and mini-tournament hosts, Germany from the 21st – 26th March 2007.

Susan Ronan, Women’s Under 19 manager will lead her squad to France where they will compete in Group 2 of the UEFA Women’s Under 19 Championship, 2nd Qualifying Round against France, Netherlands and Portugal from 9th – 14th April, 2007.

http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1531

Helsinki - Full 4 day Results

10 December 2006

Results from Day 1 of the European Championships in Helsinki

50m F/S Barry Murphy 22.48  (25th) - NEW IRISH RECORD
100m F/S Melanie Nocher 56.37 (33rd)
100m B/C Melanie Nocher 1:02.24 (20th)
100m B/S Andrew Bree 1:00.76 (23)
200m B/F Sinaed Tyrrell 2:18.08 (23)
200 B/C Shane Aherne 2:03:93 (25th)
200 B/C Karl Burdis 2:06:09 (28th)
Mens Medley Relay Team - 4×50m - (15th)
Karl Burdis 26.35; Andrew Bree 28.05; Shane Aherne 25.49; Barry Murphy 21.98

Results from Day 2 of the European Championships in Helsinki

50m B/C Karl Burdis 26.34(32nd)
400m IM Shane Aherne 4:29.69(26th)
100m IM Melanie Nocher 1:06.07(29th)
100m F/S Barry Murphy 50.11 (43rd)
100m F/S Karl Burdis 52.77 (63rd)
800m F/S Jill Nesbitt 8:59.75 (17th)
800m F/S Sinead Tyrrell 9:08.32 (20th)

Results from Day 3 of the European Championships in Helsinki

50m B/C Melanie Nocher 29.90 (28th)
50m B/S Barry Murphy 28.10 (25th)
50m B/S Andrew Bree 28.46 (32nd)
400m F/S Jill Nesbitt 4:23.02 (25th)
400m F/S Sinead Tyrrell 4:29.65 (29th)
100m B/C Karl Burdis 56.81 (33rd)
100m B/C Shane Aherne 58.32 (35th)
100m IM  Barry Murphy 56.51 (24th)
100m B/F Sinead Tyrrell 1:05.99 (34th)

Results from Day 4 of the European Championships in Helsinki

400m IM Sinead Tyrrell 5:01.93 (23rd)
200m B/S Andrew Bree 2:11.24 (14th)
200m F/S Jill Nesbitt 2:05.39 (34th)
200m F/S Shane Aherne 1:54.44 (59)
200m B/C Melanie Nocher 2:11.41 (14th)

http://www.swimireland.ie

Northern Ireland manager Sanchez has called for a Celtic Cup competition to be setup, to replace friendlies - a new tournament with Rep. Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6173603.stm

What do you think?
Northern Ireland boss Lawrie Sanchez has called for a new Celtic nations competition to replace friendly internationals during the season.

Sanchez believes NI, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland would play in the competition but claims England would not want to take part.

“There’s a lot in it for us, for Wales and Scotland, but not a lot in it for England,” he said.

“It would be much more beneficial than playing non-interesting friendlies.”

Sanchez’s suggestion is a new twist on calls for the resurrection of the Home Nations Championship, which ended in 1984 with Northern Ireland the holders.

The big difference would see England being replaced by the Republic of Ireland.

“You saw the fallout when England lost to us last September in the World Cup qualifiers,” added Sanchez.

“Every England manager would have that fear for all three games and I can see why England are not as interested as the other three countries.

“You have to remember that England have to make big commercial decisions - every game is worth a lot of money and perhaps playing Northern Ireland would not be financially great.

“But there is talk of the Republic of Ireland being interested.”

“The tournament would not be at the end of the season but instead it would take part during the season - use up our friendly dates for that tournament.”

Scotland manager Walter Smith would also like to see some sort of revival of the old Home Nations tournament.

“Sometimes the friendly matches that we have at international level are not worthwhile having, unless you have one of the bigger countries,” said Smith.

“Home internationals were a good thing and I would like to see them brought back.”

The Republic of Ireland Women’s squad has been drawn in Group 2 of the UEFA EURO 2009 qualifying series alongside Sweden, Italy, Hungary and Romania.

DETAILS: Republic of Ireland Women’s Draw Sweden in UEFA EURO Qualifiers

Ireland’s Davis and Fed Cup teams enjoyed a friendly win in Bilbao on Sunday.

Both teams both won their matches against a Basque Region in an international friendly match.
The Davis Cup team won 3-1 with wins for Conor Niland and Louk Sorensem who won the both of his singles games.

The Ladies Fed Cup were also 3-1 winners with two wins for Kelly Liggan and

another for Mariana Levova.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/2006/1217/tennis.html

IRISH PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL EQUESTRIAN EVENTS

CSI-W MECHELEN BELGIUM 26-30 DECEMBER 2006 Jessica Kurten with Castle
Forbes Libertina, Quibell and Castle Forbes Vivaldo, FS Sandro Boy
Jnr and Lord Lancer 4, Cameron Hanley with Concept and SIEC Hippica
Kerman, Livello, SIEC Ratina Z and Dermott Lennon with I Caesar and
Exploit du Roulard. Tel +32 15 75 39 68, email info@jumping-
mechelen.com, www.jumping-mechelen.com

ends

THIS INFORMATION WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE ON EFI WEBSITE
www.horsesport.ie/internationall1.html

SHOW JUMPING - O’CONNOR WINS SPANISH TWO PHASE CLASS

HONOURS in the largest class at the five star show in La Coruna, Spain today (Sunday) went to Ireland’s Cian O’Connor, who won the
1m50 Two-Phase competition with ,
beating the Ukraine’s Gregory Wathelet into runner-up position by
just under a second.

Afterwards, the 27 year-old Meath-based rider said: < mare's last competition of 2006, and she finished in grand style. I'm
really pleased with her, and hope to have more days like this in
2007.>>

O’Connor yesterday (Saturday) had a second place at the Spanish show
with his other mare , in the 1m35 speed class.

SHOW JUMPING RESULT: CSI5* LA CORUNA SPAIN 15-17 DECEMBER 2006

Class No.8 - Caixa Galicia Prize
Table A - Two Phases Against the Clock 1m50
Art. 274.5.3
Sunday, 17th December 2006

1) IRISH INDEPENDENT ECHO BEACH; Cian O’CONNOR (IRL) Faults 0.00/0.00
Time 25.80
2) LORIOT; Gregory WATHELET (UKR) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 26.65
3) JERICHO DE LA VIE; Giuseppe ROLLI (ITA) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 26.90

36 starters
#################
16/12/06

SHOW JUMPING - O’CONNOR SECOND IN SPANISH SPEED COMPETITION

IRELAND’S  Cian O’Connor had his first taste of prize money this
weekend at the five-star show in la Coruna, Spain, when he finished
second today (Saturday) in the two-phase speed class.

Riding his 12 year-old mare , the Meath-based rider was
just fractions of a second too slow to catch Brazilian winner Alvaro
de Miranda in the final round.

O’Connor is the sole Irish competitor at the Spanish venue.

SHOW JUMPING RESULT: CSI5* LA CORUNA SPAIN 15-17 DECEMBER 2006

Class No.4 - Lexus Prize
Table A - Two Phases Against the Clock Art. 274.5.3
Saturday, 16th December 2006

1) AD JOUJOU DE SOULAT; Alvaro DE MIRANDA (BRA) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time
29.52
2) ZANOUBIA; Cian O’CONNOR (IRL) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 29.58
3) OSTA RUGS CORONATION; Jean Claude VAN GEENBERGHE (UKR) Faults
0.00/0.00 Time 29.7

48 starters
###

16/12/2006

PONY SHOW JUMPING - BOWEN WINS AT BOIS LE ROI

ELIZABETH Bowen this morning (Saturday) added to Ireland’s collection
of trophies at the pony international in Bois Le Roi, France, with a
win in the Special Competition on .

Last night (Friday) Michael Moloney and placed second
in the Jump-Off class, while Robert Harrison slotted Shuffle> into third.

Harrison was the winner of the speed class earlier on Friday, when he
rode across the line a comfortable five seconds ahead of
French runner-up Anne-Lyse Gonin.

PONY SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSIP BOIS LE ROI FRANCE 15-17 DECEMBER 2006

Competition No 7
Special Competition 1m15
Saturday, 16th December 2006

1) BORRISMORE QUEEN; ELIZABETH BOWEN (IRL) Faults 0.00 Time 24.58
2) JAPSE DE CHINTRE; CAROLE GREGOIRE (FRA) Faults 0.00 Time 25.87
3) JALOUSIE DE LA BRESSE; HAELWENN SEBILLE-KERNAUDOUR (FRA) Faults
0.00 Time 26.16

35 starters
####

16/12/2006

SHOW JUMPING - HANLEY SECOND IN GERMAN JUMP AND DRIVE

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSI3* FRANKFURT GERMANY 14-17 DECEMBER 2006

Class 30 Mitsubishi Jump & Drive
Saturday December 16 2006

1) Denver; Rene Tebbel (GER) Time 72.37
2) Concept; Cameron Hanley (IRL) Time 79.15
3) Landini; Bernd Herbert (GER) Time 80.67

10 starters

######
15/12/2006

PONY SHOW JUMPING - MOLONEY SECOND, HARRISON THIRD AT BOIS LE ROI

PONY SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSIP BOIS LE ROI FRANCE 15-17 DECEMBER 2006

Competition No 6
Table A Against the Clock with Jump-Off
(art 238.2.2) 1m15
Friday, 15th December 2006

1) MEEPING CHA DE FLORYS; SYNDI RIGAUT (FRA) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time
34.63
2) SHANGAN ERIC; MICHAEL MOLONEY (IRL) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 36.79
3) SHAMROCK SHUFFLE; ROBERT HARRISON (IRL) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 38.20

24 starters
###

15/12/2006

PONY SHOW JUMPING - HARRISON WINS AT BOIS LE ROI

PONY SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSIP BOIS LE ROI FRANCE 15-17 DECEMBER 2006

Competition No 3
Tabe A Against the Clock without Jump-Off
(art 238.2.1) 1m10
Friday, 15th December 2006

1) ERRAROEY; ROBERT HARRISON (IRL) Faults 0.00 Time 57.64
2) BARNEY RUBBLE III; ANNE-LYSE GONIN (FRA) Faults  0.00 Time 62.82
3) JOYAU D’ARGENT; SANDY CASTEL ESCOFFIER (FRA) Faults 0.00 Time 64.18

9) BORRISMORE QUEEN; ELIZABETH BOWEN (IRL) Faults 4.00 Time 56.13

35 starters
####

Results

Following a quiet couple of seasons with the AG2R – Prevoyance team, former world junior champion Mark Scanlon is training hard prior to a move to race on the US circuit in 2007.

…fully motivated prior to his relocation to Los Angeles and, he is planning mixing both road and track next season.
Mark Scanlon’s interview with Shane Stokes here

David O’Loughlin’s recent strong velodrome performances continued on Friday with a fine eighth place finish from 21 starters in the individual pursuit at the Moscow round of Cycling’s track World Cup.

http://www.irishcycling.com

Elite national time trial champion David O’Loughlin finished 8th in the Individual Pursuit World Cup event in Moscow today (December 15). Taking on many of the world’s top pursuit riders O’Loughlin (27), from Cong Co Mayo, is delighted with the high finish which is a major boost to his qualification hopes for the 2007 World Championships in Palma, Mallorca, in April 2007.

The first phase of the 4,000 meter pursuit saw 22 riders time trail to determine the competitors in the final and third place races. O’Loughlin registered a time of 4 minutes, 32 .206 seconds, at an average speed of 52.901 km per hour. That was just 5 seconds off a final four sport. It was also his first outing on his new Carbon Terry Dolan Track bike.

David O’Loughlin; “I am very happy with that result. It confirms that I can compete at the very top level on the track. I’m not in peak shape and I am only a couple of seconds from the top four. Cycling Ireland has put in place a new system that has targeted the velodrome and that has given my career a new focus. Now I am really looking forward to 2007.”

Frank Campbell was appointed Performance Director of Cycling Ireland in October 2006. He said “David has exceeded our expectations in Moscow. Clearly he has great talent on the track. We can build on what he has achieved in 2006, including today’s qualifying points for the World Championships, with a training and competition programme in 2007″.

The World Cup is the elite series of four track events each year. The Moscow event (December 15 to 17) is the second of the season ( Sydney, Moscow, Los Angeles (Jan 07), Manchester (Feb 07)) which reaches its climax in Mallorca in April. The Irish team in Moscow is led by Cycle Ireland’s Brian Nugent, Head of Track Coaching, and includes a Moscow based mechanic from David’s US Pro team, Navigator.

David’s road pedigree is very impressive being twice Irish elite road champion. He stunned the world of international track cycling by breaking the long standing Irish record for the 4000 metres pursuit with an incredible 4 minutes 29.9 seconds on his first ever track session in Newport in early October. He followed up with his defeat of reigning Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins, Tour de France yellow jersey holder David Millar and former World champion, Australian Bradley McGee, in the recent revolution meeting in Manchester.

Frank Campbell: We have a number of quality cyclists who have the potential to produce top quality performances on the track. I have put in place a programme for the next couple of years, with the support of the Irish Sports Council, that will give Ireland a presence in the track disciplines.

David is the trailblazer leading the first official Irish team at a World Cup event, and I am optimistic, with the talent in the sport, we can get an Irish team to the World Championships next year.”

Rob Hayles from the UK had the fastest qualifying time in the event at 4:23:032.

Track World Cup 06-07, Round 2, Moscow, Russia, December 15-17, 2006:

Men’s 4000m Individual Pursuit

Qualifying:

1, Robert Hayles (GBr) 4 mins 23.03 sec (54.746 km/h)
2, Robert Bartko (Ger) 4 mins 26.38
3, Alexander Serov (Rus) 4 mins 26.92
4, Paul Manning (GBr) 4 mins 27.13
5, Jens Mouris (Ned) 4 mins 27.89
6, David Muntaner Juaneda (Spa) 4 mins 29.84
7 Vitaliy Shchedov (Ukr) 4 mins 31.72
8, David O’loughlin (Irl) 4 mins 32.21
9, Zach Bell (Can) 4 mins 32.94
10, Maksym Polischuk (Ukr) 4 mins 33.11
11, Tom Zirbel (USA) 4 mins 33.76
12, Ingmar De Poortere (Bel) 4 mins 34.32
13, Alexander Khatuntsev (Rus) 4 mins 34.33
14, Fabien Sanchez (Fra) 4 mins 35.72
15, Marc Ryan (NZl) 4 mins 35.87
16, Alex Rasmussen (Den) 4 mins 37.17
17, Giairo Ermeti (Ita) 4 mins 38.41
18, Aliaksandr Lisovski (Blr) 4 mins 39.40
19, Matti Pajari (Fin) 4 mins 49.18
20, Ho Ting Kwok (HKg) 4 mins 53.03
21, Elchin Asadov (Aze) 5 mins 29.85

Final

Gold Medal match:

1, Robert Bartko (Ger) 4 mins 25.862 (54.163 km/h)
2, Robert Hayles (GBr) 4 mins 26.472

Bronze Medal match:

3, Paul Manning (GBr) 4 mins 28.040
4, Alexander Serov (Rus) 4 mins 31.911

Fionnuala Britton took silver for Ireland in the Under 23 event at the Spar European Cross Country Championships in Legnano, Italy.

The 22 year old DCU athlete ran a superb race and finished second in a time of 18:56. This was just nine seconds behind the highly fancied Turkish runner Binnaz Uslu who took gold.

Ireland’s other great medal hope was Mullingar Harrier’s Mark Christie in the men’s Under 23 event. However he never really got going in the race and ended up finishing 19th in a time of 23:47.

Dundrum’s Joseph Sweeney ended up finishing 13th in that race recording a 23:33 and along with the performances of Andrew Ledwith (24th), Mick Clohisey (46th), Mark Hanrahan (62nd) and Mark Kirwan (75th), this ensure the Irish team a 4th place finish overall in the Men’s Under 23 race.

The best performer in the senior races for the Irish was Mary Cullen in the women’s event. Cullen finished 14th in a time of 23:54, while the team finished 8th overall.

 http://www.athleticsireland.ie/

from - the cultural centre Zuiderpershuis in Antwerp.
The theatre play ‘The Attendants’ Gallery’.

I think it’s an interesting play because The Attendants’ Gallery is about a personal quest of five actors from the periphery of Europe (Slovenia, Portugal, Romania, Rag Country and Ireland), it ’s a reflection on the present and the future of Europe. The 5 actors are accompagnied by 5 musicians and 5 illustrators.

The Attendants’ Gallery
Stories of Europe
19,20,21 december 2006 - 8.30 p.m.
Entrance:9-16 euro
at  the WCC Zuiderpershuis, Waalse Kaai 40, 2000 Antwerp

More info: www.zuiderpershuis.be

The Irish singer/songwriter Danny Guinan proudly presents his long-awaited new cd. It is the result of three years of intensive writing and recording and the result certainly shows. In the company of multi-talented musicians Siard de Jong, Onno Kuipers, Janos Koolen and many more guests come join him for what promises to be an enthralling and special evening.
SUNDAY 17 DECEMBER 2006
PATRONAAT, KLEINE ZAALZIJLSINGEL 2, HAARLEM
CONCERT 17.00, DOORS OPEN 16.00 UUR

a Ukrainian irishmusic band based in Kiev.

Contact Name: Viking
Name of Organisation: Rún (RÚN)
Full contact postal address: zip code: 04211
11d, Laiosha Gavro st., ap.219, Kiev,Ukraine
Check out their Website
in the European Irish Bands section for Ukraine (East Europe).
http://www.europeanirish.com/Music/irishbands.htm

Classes in: Merseburg, Naumburg (Saxony-Anhalt), Dresden (Saxony), Spremberg (Brandenburg)
details :

 http://www.europeanirish.com/Music/irishdancing.htm

Note for Calendar: 2nd Albain Open Feis, Merseburg, 2 June 2007

In Wateloo, Belgium - visit the Snug Irish Pub  with live Sky Sports Coverage.

in Saint Andre de Bohon, France, check out An Tobar
with Sports coverage on Plasma Screen, live music, festivals, pool table, darts.
The pub/bistro forms part of Le Chateau du Taillis, a castle which also offers accomodation,

 Or in Paris France- Rula Bula has Sky Sports, Live Music, Salsa, Ladies Night (with a difference…), DJ Nights, Weekend Brunch, great Pool Room, 5 large screens showing all major sports.

INTERNATIONAL SINGLES NIGHT 7th DEC.

Find Details of Irish Pubs in Belgium and France at :

http://www.europeanirish.com/pubs/