EuropeanIrish.com News Stories

US Results Show Irish Crew In Great Form Kelly Proper Sets CBP at AAA Championships in BirminghamKelly Proper set a new CBP at the AAA indoor championships in Birmingham yesterday. Her winning jump of 6.17m is just 2cm off her national record.
Clubmate Mairead Murphy was second in the 60m hurdles in a time of 8.49, a new PB for her.

Stateside there were good wins by Martin Fagan (Mullingar), Richard Yeates (Raheny), and Erin Kinnear.

1,500m Ht1: 3 Emmett Dunleavy IRL 3:52.19 PB
Long Jump Qual: 4 Steve Fleming IRL 7.04
Gothenburg

3,000m: 1 Yeates, Richard Providence College 8:20.45 PB
5,000m: 1 Fagan, Martin Providence College 13:55.02 PB
3,000m: 5 Twohig, Breffini Providence College 9:51.44 9:37.65 PB
New England Indoor Championship Boston University

3,000m: 6 Gallagher, Michelle Iona 9:57.72
3,000m: 9 Baker, Ashling Iona 10:19.04
3,000m: 3 Farrell, Brian Unattached 8:16.28
NYU Fastrack Invitational Armory Track & Field Center

1 Mile Ht: 1,500m2 Costello, Colin SO Arkansas 4:11.93Q
800m Ht: 2 Costello, Colin SO Arkansas 1:52.41Q
1 Mile Ht: 2 Galligan, Rose-Anne FR Tennessee 4:51.75Q
(Finals today)
SEC Championships Nutter Fieldhouse- Univ. of KY- Lexington,KY

Pole vault: 1 Erin Kinnear SR South Alabama 3.80m
2.90 3.05 3.20 3.35 3.50 3.65 3.80 3.95 3.97
PPP PPP PPP PPP XO O XXO PPP XXX
Sun Belt Indoor Track & Field Championships Arkansas State University

1 Mile: 13 O’Lionaird, Ciaran Michigan 4:16.19
Big Ten Conference Indiana University, Bloomington

Birmingham
Long Jump: 1. Kelly Proper (Ferrybank) 6.17m CBP
60m hurdles: 2. Mairead Murphy (Ferrybank) 8.49secs.

Joe Sweeney and Fionnuala Britton won the individual titles at the Inter Varsity cross country championships in Athlone yesterday, with UCD winnng the men’s team and DCU the women’s.

Inter Varsity Cross Country Championship Results

Athletics Ireland has named a team of 13 to compete at this year’s European Indoor Championships, which take place this weekend in Birmingham.

The team includes 2005 European Indoor Champions David Gillick and Alistair Cragg. Gillick, who took the gold in the 400m in Madrid two years ago, has just recovered from flu which prevented him from taking part in the Irish indoors last weekend. Paul Hession who recently broke the Irish 60m record is also included. Derval O’Rourke is absent from the squad as she opted out to concentrate on the outdoor season.

Liam Hennessy, chair of the High Performance Committee, was optimistic at the announcement.

He said: “Our record of success at the European Indoor Championships has been significant. One of the great occasions in the recent history of the sport was the glorious Saturday night in Madrid at these championships two years ago when David Gillick and Alistair Cragg won gold medals in the 400 and 3000 metres respectively.

“We know that to succeed at this level is a formidable achievement, nevertheless we are delighted to be announcing an impressive team list here today and we look forward with anticipation to some high-level results in Birmingham this weekend.”

The European Indoor Championships take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Birmingham.

60m Anna Boyle Ballymena & Antrim
3,000m Mary Cullen North Sligo
High Jump Deirdre Ryan Dundrum South Dublin

60m Paul Hession Athenry
400m David Gillick Dundrum South Dublin
800m Thomas Chamney Crusaders
800m David McCarthy Le Cheile
1,500m James Nolan UCD
1,500m Liam Reale Limerick
1,500m Gareth Turnbull St. Malachy’s
3,000m Alistair Cragg Clonliffe Harriers
3,000m Mark Carroll Leevale
3,000m Mark Christie Mullingar

Read more

King Announces Irish Squad to Compete in Womens Algarve Cup

Republic of Ireland of Ireland senior women’s manager, Noel King has today announced a 20 - strong squad to compete in this year’s invitational Algarve Cup. Returning to the squad is Arsenal defender, Yvonne Treacy who missed last year’s World Cup qualifying campaign through injury.

This year, 12 teams will meet in the Algarve region of Portugal between March 7 and 14th. The teams are divided into three groups.

Group A
Germany, Norway, France, Denmark
Group B
USA, China, Finland, Sweden
Group C
Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Iceland

Republic of Ireland manager, Noel King may have one eye on the UEFA European Championships qualifiers which begin on 1st April, 2007 as his side face Hungary in Richmond Park, “This year’s Algarve tournament could not have come at a better time for our side, the girls will be competing against the best sides in the world at the Algarve Cup and I hope to keep the momentum gained for the UEFA qualifiers which begin in April.”

King added, “The Algarve Cup is one of the world’s most prestigious events in women’s football, after the Women’s World Cup and Women’s Olympic Football, and I have no doubt that we will be taking this competition very serious and I hope to use all 20 players in the squad with a view to key preparation for the UEFA Championships.”

Fixtures
Wednesday 7th March:
Portugal V Ireland
Estadio Municipal – Lagos, Kick-off: 15.30 Hrs (Local Time)

Friday 9th March:
Ireland V Iceland
Estadio Municipal – Lagos, Kick-Off: 18.00 Hrs (local time)

Monday 12th March:
Ireland V Italy
Estadio Dr.Francisco Vieira – Silves, Kick-off: 15.30 Hrs (local time)

Tuesday 13th /Wednesday 14th March
TBC

Republic of Ireland Squad
Emma Byrne (Arsenal FC)
Sarah Peters (Michigan Phoenix)
Yvonne Tracy (Arsenal FC)
Sharon Boyle (Raheny United)
Sonya Hughes (New Hampshire Franklin Pierce)
Ciara Grant (Arsenal FC)
Elaine O’Connor (Long Island Lady Riders)
Michele O’Brien (Long Island Lady Riders)
Claire Scanlan (Bristol Academy FC)
Denise Thomas (Boston Renegades)
Laura Hislop (New Hampshire Phantoms)
Alisha Moran (New York Athletic Club)
Olivia O’Toole (Raheny)
Marie Curtin (Hofstra University)
Diane Caldwell (Hofstra University)
Aine O’Gorman (Stella Maris)
Noelle Murray (Raheny)
Niamh Fahey (Salthill Devon)
Susan Byrne (St.Johns College)
Stephanie Curtis (Bristol Rovers)

Republic of Ireland Under-18 manager Sean McCaffrey has named his 18-man squad for next week’s four-nation international tournament in Portugal where Ireland will face Georgia, Belgium and Portugal. Read more

Irish Under 21’s Make a Winning Start in Madeira Republic of Ireland U21 1-0 Slovakia Kieran Murphy produced a brilliant header to grab all three points for the Republic of Ireland’s under-21 side in their opening fixture in the Madeira tournament tonight. Read more

Do you know of Irish or Celtic Music, Dancing, Festival, Sport or Cultural Events in Europe between 6th and the 26th March?
siasy@europeanirish.com
All across Europe from Russia to Turkey in East Europe, Serbia to Poland in Central Europe, Malta to Portugal in the South, France Benelux and Germany in the West, Iceland to Finland in Northern Europe - there are events being planned for the 2 weeks up to St. Patrick’s Day, during St.Patrick’s day, and for the 2 weeks after St. Patrick’s Day.

Only on www.EuropeanIrish.com/stpatrick you will find the Greatest collection of St.Patrick’s Day and week’s events and Celebrations of all time. These are not taking place across Ireland, not across USA, not the Irish Scene in Canada or Australia, not even across the Irish expat scene in the UK - - for the Greatest St.Patrick’s Festivities will take place across Continental Europe this year - and like last year, we will leave no stone unturned to find that event nearby.

If you already know of any St.Patrick’s Event nearby, or are organising an event in Europe- a festival , a Pub event, an Irish Club/Society event, an Irish Mass, a BBQ, an Irish Sports day - whatever it is - then get it online on EuropeanIrish.com/stpatrick

simply email the details here: siasy@europeanirish.com

All across Continental Europe, Gaelic Football and Hurling are played on European City Soccer, Rugby, and Cricket grounds.
In fact, one of the keys to success of the Gaelic Games in Europe - (as is the case worldwide) is the facilitation of Rugby & Soccer Clubs’ grounds for Irish Sports,

Brazil are considered the world’s top Soccer players. In Rugby New Zealand are considered the kings. These are the ‘foreign’ sports labelled by Irish Generations.
To see the Irish in these sports playing in the magnificent stadium of Croke Park makes sense.

Soccer and Rugby are not foreign sports, they are global sports, and Ireland are part of that.

Ireland 43, England 13

I don’t think Irish Pubs across Europe have ever seen anything like it.
John in Paddys Pub in Keflavik Iceland, Joanne in The Black Stuff in Luxembourg, Maria in Kitty Kiernan’s - Linz Austria, Tom in Legends Pub in Cala n Bosch Menorca, Michael in Kirribilly Pub Milan Italy, Kevin in Jimmy Bradleys Warsaw Poland, and Phillip in JJ Murphys Pub Sofia Bulgaria - the atmosphere was electric, there was deafening silence as the 2 National Anthems were broadcast, the hair stood on the back of everyone’s necks.
The match starts, an English first score is soon levelled by a thunderous reception to Ronan O’Gara’s boot, as he kicks over one penalty, then another, then another. 9-3 Ireland led with 26 minutes gone. England down to 14 men as Danny Grewcock is sin-binned.

Then Ireland moved up another gear. Within a minute the ball was released out to the right, where D’arcy gave a behind-the-back pass to O’Driscoll, who threw a long clear pass finding Dempsey in full speed, over for the TRY -
Croke Park erupts, The Irish Pubs in Turkey, Germany and France erupt in synch.
Ireland’s raw courage and passion - twinned with a superbly organised pack, defence and attack- powered their way to 3 more superb tries, each converted. O’Gara added another 2 accurate penalty kicks, to score nine times out of nine kicks for a 100 % record.
It was great to be Irish in Europe. It is great to be Irish!

Irish Dance Classes & Ceili in Nanterre, (Paris outskirts) France

Nanterre(92) :

Venue: salle Jacques Decour, rue des rosiers (place des Bergères)

stage de danses irlandaises - Irish Dance Classes -
from 14h th 17h with Hervé (15 euros)
AND ceili with The Froggy Stew from 20h30 till Midnight (8 euros) organised by l’association Folktuat Nec Mergitur, 01 47 21 38 26. 
le site des Froogy Stew

http://froggystew.free.fr
http://www.association-irlandaise.org/

TUES 27, FA CUP ( replay )
READING V MAN UTD AT 8.45PM.
 
WEDS 28, FA CUP ( replay )
BLALKBURN V ARSENAL AT 8.45PM.
 
THURS 01 MARCH
LIVE MUSIC WITH STEVE & FRIENDS 8.30PM.
 
FRI 02 MARCH
LIVE MUSIC AT 9PM ( HOODOOHAT )
SPORTS
LIVE SUPER 14,  CHEETAHS V CHIEFS AT 6.10PM
LIVE MAGNERS, MUNSTER V CARDIFF AT 8,40PM.
 
SAT 03 MARCH
LIVE MUSIC AT 9PM ( MELTRAD IRISH MUSIC )
SPORTS
LIVE PREMIERSHIP FOOTBALL
LIVERPOOL V MAN UTD AT 1.45PM.
PORTSMOUTH V CHELSEA  AT 6,16PM.
LIVE RUGBY
SUPER 14 SHARKS V CRUSADERS AT 4PM.
GUINNESS,  LEICESTER V HARLEQUINS AT 6,15PM.
MAGNERS,  LIANELLI V ULSTER AT 6,35PM.
MATCH OF THE DAY LIVE ON BBC 11PM.
 
SUN 04 MARCH
PREMIERSHIP FOOTBALL
BIRMINGHAM CITY V CARDIFF AT 12,30PM.
BOLTON V BLACKBURN AT 2,35PM.
WEST HAM V SPURS AT 5PM.
LIVE SPANISH FOOTBALL AT 7PM
 
COMING EVENTS IN THE MONTH OF MARCH
MID MARCH, WORLD CUP CRICKET 13th ONWORDS.
ST PADDY’S DAY WITH LIVE MUSIC ALL WEEKEND
EURO 2008 QUALIFIERS MARCH 24th & 28th

www.bradleys.pl
All at Jimmy bradley’s Irish Bar, 39 Sienna St, 00-121 Warsaw.

SHOW JUMPING - TABLOT THIRD IN ITALIAN GRAND PRIX

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSI1* MANERBIO ITALY 23-25 FEBRUARY 2007

MANERBIO GRAND PRIX
Table A with jump-off
Sunday, February 25th 2007

1) Fleetwood 28; Leonardo Falomo (ITA) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 43.52
2) Cohiba II; Domenico Morosoli (ITA) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 44.74
3) Tequi d’I CH; Niall Talbot (IRL) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 45.99

###
SHOW JUMPING - KURTEN AND HANLEY IN SWEDISH PRIZE MONEY

ON the opening day (Thursday) of the World Cup show in Gothenburg,
Sweden, Irish competitors Jessica Kurten and Cameron Hanley both
found themselves in the prize money.

Claremorris-born Hanley steered the nine year-old stallion Royal Star> to a third place worth 1600 euro in the Two Phase class,
while German-based Kurten picked up over 2500 euro for a second place
in this evening’s speed class with another stallion, the 13 year-old
bay .

Both riders compete in tonight’s (Thursday) big qualifier for
Friday’s Masters’ competition.

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSI-W GOTEBORG SWEDEN 22-25 FEBRUARY 2007

International Jumping 1m40
Table A against the clock
Art. 238.2.1, 1m40
Thursday, February 22nd 2007

1) INDIANA; Harrie SMOLDERS (NED) Faults 0.00 Time 44.29
2) GALOPIN DU BIOLEY; Jessica Kurten (IRL) Faults 0.00 Time 44.57
3) CACTUS L; Emma EMANUELSSON (SWE) Faults 0.00 Time 46.00

33 starters
—
TWO PHASES
Presented by STIHL
Table A, Two Phases, both against the clock
Art. 274.5.3, 1m40
Thursday, February 22nd 2007

1) CLASSIC LADY; Svante JOHANSSON (SWE) Faults 0.00 Time 22.99
2) VAN SCHIJNDEL’S NOW OR NEVER; Piet RAYMAKERS (NED) Faults 0.00
Time 23.05
3) S.I.E.C. ROYAL STAR; Cameron HANLEY (IRL) Faults 0.00 Time 23.07

Check Irish Horse show-Jumping website and websites for all Irish Sports Associations which compete in Europe - HERE 

World Champion Katie Taylor defeated German challenger in Fermoy, Co.Cork
World lightweight champion Katie Taylor chalked up her third victory of 2007 following a comprehensive victory over German national champion Yana Kultysheva in Cork on Friday night.

rte.ie/sport

Katie will now meet English champion Amanda Coulson in a light welterweight contest at the Dungarvan Sports Complex on March 2nd.
############
2ND INTERNATIONAL
SENIOR MENS BOXING MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT
‘ZLATKO HRBIC 2007′,
ZAGREB, CROATIA 7-11 MARCH 2007

Weight Red Corner Club/Country
48KG PADDY BARNES HOLY FAMILY
51KG CONOR AHERN BALDOYLE
54KG RYAN LINDBERG IMMACULATA
57KG DAVID OLIVER JOYCE ST. MICHAELS ATHY
60KG JOHN JOE JOYCE (ST. MICHAELS ATHY)
64KG AODH CARLYLE GOLDEN COBRA
75KG DARREN SUTHERLAND ST. SAVIOURS OBA
81KG KENNETH EGAN NEILSTOWN
91KG IAN TIMMS ST. MATTHEWS
91+KG CATHAL McMONOGAL HOLY TRINITY

########

MARCH:
DANAS POZNIAKAS JUNIOR TOURNAMENT
14TH - 19TH ‘DANAS POZNIAKAS JUNIOR TOURNAMENT VILNIUS, LITHUANIA
20TH-25TH FELKIS STAMM TOURNAMENT, SENIORS POLAND

APRIL
11th - 15th EUROPEAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS CROATIA
12TH-16TH GEEBEE TOURNAMENT, SENIORS FINLAND

MAY
7TH - 13TH PRESIDENTS CUP, CADETS AZERBAIJAN
8TH - 13TH AHMET CUP, WOMENS TURKEY
9TH - 13TH CHEMISTRY CUP, SENIORS GERMANY

www.iaba.ie

Irish Club Netherlands

March 17 - Van Morrison St. Patrick’s Night Heineken Music Hall

March 17-18 - Ierland Vakantiebeurs Grote Kerk Den Haag

March 31 - Gaelic Football 1st Regional Tournament 2007 Den Haag

Monthly Irish Club Events

May 12 - 10th Annual Irish Club~Netherlands Golf Tournament

March 10 - Wine Tasting

March - The Dance Show Magic of the Dance will visit Holland

February 27 - Bridge Workshop Den Haag

Gaeilge

Local Music

Theatre news

March 18 - Karate News

March 1-4 - Soccer Teams Opponents wanted

Titanic’s Little Sister - Last of the once-mighty White Star Line

April 13 - Chess with Dutch Grandmaster Jan Timman

DETAILS HERE

New CD Single for March 19, 2007.

Track 1: Suffer So Well (Eleanor McEvoy)
“Some people aren’t always as bruised as they make out. “There are those that get really cut up when they’re heartbroken. Other’s can manage to cover it up to some extent. Then there are the ones who really seem to be having TOO good a time to really be upset.” EM

Track 2: Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology - Marvin Gaye)
“In Marvin Gaye’s version, the groove is so wonderful that you get carried away by it…… this means that you maybe don’t focus on the words as much as you should. People come up to me after gigs all the time and say “I was actually never aware of the subject matter of that song before” I slowed it down a bit and stripped the arrangement right back to really focus on the words. The evening I recorded it I went into the studio and just sang it with the acoustic guitar. I had notions of adding strings etc. The consensus in the control room was to leave it exactly as it was.” EM

Both tracks are taken from the album Out There:

“OUT THERE” breaks new ground for Eleanor McEvoy in that she has scored all the arrangements and provided most of the music for the album. Liam Bradley joins her on percussion and Dave Rotheray plays bass on ‘Quote I Love You Unquote’ a song composed after Dave and Eleanor became musical associates when Eleanor toured with Homespun and Sam Brown as their special guest. Dave & Sam are fans of Eleanor’s work.

Wed 11 Centro Cultural Cajastur, Oviedo, Spain.

Sun 15 Palacio Euskalduna, Bilbao, Spain.

Tue 17 Teatro Del Mercado, Zaragoza, Spain.

23-24 Feb      Finland      Primordial (Heavy Metal) Finland Mini-tour http://www.primordialweb.com
25-Feb      Netherlands      Folker Irish Music Events: Cara concert, Sevenum
25-Feb     Netherlands     The Celtic Tenors, Purmerend
24-Feb      Germany      Garden of Delight (Celtic Rock/Irish Folk), TANZ DER DRUIDEN - Das irisch-keltische Rockfestival mit G.O.D., Keltenherz und einem weiteren Topact Speyer - Stadthalle
25-Feb      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.

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

6-Feb      Aschersleben, Germany      Magic of the Dance
27-Feb     Dortmund, Germany     RHYTHM OF THE DANCE
27-Feb     Germany     Iontach, Heiligenhaus, Der Club
27-Feb     Germany     Magic of the Dance Chemnitz
27-Feb     Germany     Rhythm of the Dance, Dortmund
27-Feb     Netherlands     The Celtic Tenors, Uden
28-Feb     Austria     The Frames spielboden, dornbirn
28-Feb     Germany     Rhythm of the Dance, Hagen
1-Mar     Austria     CELTIC SPRING FESTIVAL  with HAMON MARTIN QUINTETT and UISCEDWR , RIED KIK
1-Mar     Austria     The Frames posthof, linz
1-Mar     Croatia     The Slip band, concert, Hopdevil pub, Branimirova St., Zagreb
1-Mar     Germany     Rhythm of the Dance, Remscheid
1-Mar     Gibraltar     International Dance Council   Festival in Gibraltar, Open to amateurs aged 4 to 25. Individuals/Groups/Schools/Academies from all countries
2-Mar     Austria     CELTIC SPRING FESTIVAL  with HAMON MARTIN QUINTETT and UISCEDWR , ROTTENMANN GH Kaiser
2-Mar     Belgium     The Tannahill Weavers - Gooik, BE
2-Mar     Denmark     Gerry O’Connor,  Tour of Denmark with Alan Burke. Tbc
2-Mar     Duisburg, Germany     RHYTHM OF THE DANCE
2-Mar     Germany     Garden of Delight (Celtic Rock/Irish Folk), Vereinsheim Stuttgart-Hoffeld
2-Mar     Germany     Rhythm of the Dance, Duisburg
2-Mar     Gibraltar     International Dance Council   Festival in Gibraltar, Open to amateurs aged 4 to 25. Individuals/Groups/Schools/Academies from all countries
3-Mar     Austria     CELTIC SPRING FESTIVAL 2006, with HAMON MARTIN QUINTETT and UISCEDWR , BUCHSCHACHEN Dorfscheune
3-Mar     Austria     The Frames orpheum, graz
3-Mar     Denmark     Gerry O’Connor,  Tour of Denmark with Alan Burke.
3-Mar     Essen, Germany     RHYTHM OF THE DANCE
3-Mar     France     Froggy Dew, à Nanterre (92) : salle Jacques Decour, rue des rosiers, stage de danses irlandaises de 14h à 17h avec Hervé et ceili de 20h30 à minuit organisés par l’association Folktuat Nec Mergitur, 01 47 21 38 26
3-Mar     Germany     At First Light,   Irish Tour
3-Mar     Germany     Folker Irish Music Events:County Hell (Celtic Folk), Speyer Irish Pub Inside Holzmarkt 8
3-Mar     Germany     Garden of Delight (Celtic Rock/Irish Folk), Ryans Irish Pub Kastellaun
3-Mar     Germany     Rhythm of the Dance, Essen
3-Mar     Gibraltar     International Dance Council   Festival in Gibraltar, Open to amateurs aged 4 to 25. Individuals/Groups/Schools/Academies from all countries
3-Mar     Netherlands     The Tannahill Weavers - Heerlen
4-Mar     Austria     The Frames wuk, vienna
4-Mar     Denmark     Gerry O’Connor,  Tour of Denmark with Alan Burke. Tbc
4-Mar     Germany     At First Light,   Irish Tour
4-Mar     Germany     Rhythm of the Dance, Koblenz
4-Mar     Gibraltar     International Dance Council   Festival in Gibraltar, Open to amateurs aged 4 to 25. Individuals/Groups/Schools/Academies from all countries
4-Mar     Hungary     Celtic Spring Festival 2007 BUDAPEST (H)
4-Mar     Italy     CELTIC SPRING FESTIVAL 2006, with HAMON MARTIN QUINTETT and UISCEDWR , UDINE (I)
4-Mar     Koblenz, Germany     RHYTHM OF THE DANCE
4-Mar     Netherlands     Clive Carroll, ETTEN
4-Mar     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.

Enterprise Ireland Events in Germany, France, Kazakhstan, Croatia, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Hungary
26 Feb - 2 Mar Kazakshtan Enterprise Ireland Trade Fairs: week long event where Enterprise Ireland will be on the ground in Almaty, Kazakhstan to support Enterprise Ireland clients
27 Feb - 1 Mar Germany Enterprise Ireland Trade Fairs: Group Stand at Medtec Stuttgart 2007.
15-16 Mar France Enterprise Ireland Trade Events: Northern European Insurance Industry Market Development Initiative
26-27 Mar Croatia Enterprise Ireland Trade Fairs: Trade Mission to Croatia
3-4 Apr Czech Republic Enterprise Ireland Trade Events: Trade Mission to Prague
16-19 Apr France Enterprise Ireland Trade Events: MIPTV featuring MILIA is the world”s premier audiovisual & digital content market. Cannes
17-Apr Switzerland Enterprise Ireland Trade Events: Design Study Visit to Basel Jewellery Fair
19-Apr Hungary Enterprise Ireland Trade Events: Trade Mission to Budapest
http://www.enterprise-ireland.com

Irish Films like -John Duffy’s Brother - at FILM FESTIVALS in Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Portugal, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Russia, Serbia and Austria

Belgium Film Festival: BRUSSELS CARTOON AND ANIMATED FILM FESTIVAL (ANIMA)
Bulgaria Film Festival: CAROLINA FILM & VIDEO FESTIVAL Plovdiv / Sofia
France Film Festival: Cinerail Paris with John Duffy’s Brotherby Mikel Murfi - Irlande
Germany Film Festival: INTERNATIONAL FORUM OF NEW CINEMA (BERLIN)
Italy Film Festival: TAM TAM DIGIFESTIVAL NAPLES
Portugal Film Festival: 26TH FANTASPORTO (OPORTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL) Oporto
Turkey Film Festival: IFISTANBUL FESTIVAL FOR INDEPENDENT FILMS
Russia Film Festival: KINOTEATR.DOC MOSCOW
Serbia Film Festival: BELGRADE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Austria Film Festival: TRICKY WOMEN FILM FESTIVAL Vienna
http://www.filmfestivals.com

Where to next
Consultation ‘negotiations’ between the Motorola Cork Staff reps and the Motorola Business Mgt reps continue.
I won’t comment on that as I presume it is “internal information” until the process is complete.

In fairness to some of the Local Management team, the 6 Employee reps and HR in Cork, alot of effort seems to be going into the ‘external Mitigation’. All a bit formal with terms etc, I know, but it is looking at life after Motorola, and softening the fall - after pending redundancy and job layoffs - as much as possible - by introducing avenues for the staff here
- Quite a few external technical companies are introducing job possibilities,
- Some organisations like FAS are suggesting re-Training courses,
- and others are looking at individuals’ business start-up ideas, and looking at ways to support such initiatives with the likes of Enterprise Ireland, and local Enterprise Boards.
There are external opportunities being presented, which is great!

No one knows for sure what one’s own finish date is with Motorola Cork. One should get a good idea on the 9th of March.

March 9th,
March 9th + 4 weeks(early April),
March 9th + 6 weeks (late-April),
March 9th + 8 weeks (early May),
the end of May - meeting some work deliverable commitments,
or through some internal mitigation - some jobs are maintained - based at some other location after May, perhaps at another office, or working from home …

I have no doubt that - although acceptance has hit most employees at this stage, it is when one walks out the door for the last time, that one feels the tingle of nerves, will it be followed by overwhelming sadness or relief?

Friday night,  The Late Late Show held the Irish contest to select the Euro-song entry to represent Ireland in Helsinki Finland in the Eurovision Song-contest. There were 4 songs sung and played by Dervish.

*
“The Thought Of You” - Matti Kallio from Finland

*
Walk With Me” - Stigg Lindell from Sweden

*
“Until We Meet Again” - Malachi Cush, Pam Sheyne, Martin Sutton, Don Mescall

*
“They Can’t Stop The Spring” - John Waters and Tommy Moran

Cathy Jordan has a unique voice - suited to the purest of Irish Traditional Music, for which Dervish is famous. Her voice is like a unique instrument itself, and when tuned correctly - ie. When the correct tune and song are sung, has a resonance like none other.
On Friday, while the first song had a Celtic flavour, it was too easily forgettable, and while the 2nd song was better, I don’t think it was a good match for Cathy.
“Until We Meet Again” was much better, and I thought that this would win the contest.
However 10 minutes after the 4 songs had finished, I could only remember the last one, “They Can’t Stop the Spring” - A song which started with a tin-whistle Celtic intro, and built to a bodhran beating finale.

Is it strong enough to win the Eurovision, - Don’t bet against it! The dark horse for the year.
As Cathy adds her flavour and vibrancy to this Celtic Performance and the strong Celtic Sound around the song, then I have no doubt the Europeans will love it. There are more than 500 European Irish Music bands performing weekly across Turkey, Israel, Russia, Finland, Cyprus, Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg, Poland, Hungary, etc  … Irish bands & Irish Music bands are European Festival favourites.

Over the next 10 days -
Garden of Delight (Celtic Rock/Irish Folk) are heading up a festival in Germany
At First Light - including Uilleann Piper John McSherry and outstanding young fiddle player Dónal O’Connor, tour Germany next week.
There is a Celtic Spring Festival running for most of March in Austria & Hungary.
In Holland, Irish groups The Fureys, The Celtic Tenors and Beoga have Performances this week and next.
Belgium welcomes The Tannahill Weavers this week.
Luka Bloom was live in Switzerland last night.
The Slip band has an Irish Trad concert in Croatia
There is live Irish Music & Dancing in Istanbul Turkey every Thursday and Sunday.
Irish Music & Dance Shows - such as Rhythm of the Dance & Magic of the Dance are currently on tour in Germany, Netherlands

In Scandinavia - Moving Cloud Irish Folk band has a Concert in Sweden this week
Eleanor Shanley, Ben sands and Grada have been in Denmark this past week -
Irish top traditional Fiddler Gerry O’Connor in Denmark next week

And of course in March, almost every major European City will host an Irish Festival during St.Patrick’s Week.
So the time is right and the season is perfect to tap this European love for Irish Traditional & Folk music, into Eurovision success.