EuropeanIrish.com News Stories

(1) December 8 - Hurling - A First - Leinster Club winners take on European All Star
 
(2) December 8 - Ceiliuradh Le Cheile - Celebrate Together 19:00 - 04:00
 
(3) Monthly Events
 
(4) December 16 - Childrens Christmas Party Shillelagh Den Haag
 
(5) Message from our Italian Irish music lover
 
(6) CONTRACTOR FOR THE NEW STADIUM AT LANSDOWNE ROAD
 
(7) Cairdeas - an bronntana Nollag is fearr
 
(1). 
December 8 - Hurling - A First - Leinster Club winners take on European All Star

December 8 we www.denhaaggaa. com will be hosting, at the WRC, Westlands Rugby Club, Beresteinlaan 52, Den Haag the hurling match between Europe and the Leinster Junior Champions Killurin, Co. Offaly.

This is a historic occasion as it is the first time the winners of any GAA competition in Ireland will earn the right to take on the best in European hurling.  It promises to be a great game, certainly the highest standard of hurling ever to be played in the Netherlands since the County teams of Clare and Wexford played a game in Hurling Hockey Club in Amsterdam nearly 3 2 decades ago..
 
We expect a large number of supporters to come over from Ireland , so, let’s do all we can to get out a big home support as well.  I know we won’t get Croke Park figures but please show support for the efforts being made by European GAA to promote the best sport in the WORLD.Tony Bass European County Secretary will be the referee and well deserved considering the efforts and hours he has given to European GAA all codes. 

Special thanks to the Liam O’Neill and Sheamus Howlin, Leinster Council for allowing this to happen www.gaa.ie/leinster  .

Bring your family, friends and colleagues along to enjoy this unique occasion.

Bain taitneamh as!!

If you have a contact for a TV channel, newspaper or website, Dutch or Irish, send the details to Marie please.   mariesheehan@ yahoo.ie

(in Dutch )

Killurin, winnaars van het Leinster Special Junior Club Hurling kampioenschap in de finale tegen “County Europe” in Den Haag

Den Haag GAA club zal gastheer zijn voor de wedstrijd op 8 december 2007.

Den Haag, Nederland – 20 november, 2007 – De Den Haag Gaelic Athletic Association, kortweg GAA, is een van de oudste en succesvolste GAA clubs op het vaste land van Europa. Wij als club zijn er trots op dat wij gastheer mogen zijn van de finale van het Leinster Special Junior Club hurling kampioenschap, gespeeld door Killurin uit County Offaly, Ierland tegen ‘County Europe’.
 

Killurin uit Offaly werd Leinster Special Junior Club hurling kampioen door Park Ratheniska uit Laois te verslaan op 18 september jongst leden. Zij zullen naar Nederland af reizen om de finale tegen ‘County Europe’ - een team samengesteld van hurlers uit Brussel, Parijs, Luxemburg, Zurich en de gastclub Den Haag te spelen.
“Als winnaars van het Europees Hurling Kampioenschap 2007 zijn wij erg blij met het feit dat wij deze wedstrijd mogen organiseren. En wij verwelkomen Killurin bij onze club,” zegt Marie Sheehan, Den Haag GAA Club promotor. “2007 Is een zeer succesvol jaar geweest voor onze dames en heren

Directions to Westlandse Rugby Club Haaglanden (WRC):

Westlandse Rugby Club Haaglanden (WRC)

Beresteinlaan 52a (beside GONA)

Den Haag

www.wrc-haaglanden. nl
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Public transport: Tram 9 stop Beresteinlaan/ Melis Stokelaan & Bus 25 other end of Beresteinlaan by Lidl

By car:

From Amsterdam Direction (A4)

- Follow the A4 in the direction “Den Haag Zuid”

- Take exit number 12 “Den Haag Zuid (afrit 12)”

- Follow the road (it verves to the right) and continue straight

- When you come to the 4th set of traffic lights turn right onto Melis Stokelaan

- At the first ‘crossroads’ to left onto Beresteinlaan

- The rugby club, WRC-Haaglanden, is on your right hand side

From the Rotterdam Direction (A13)

- Follow the A13 in the direction Den Haag

- Take exit number 7 “Den Haag Zuid (afrit 7)”

- Go right in the direction “Den Haag Zuid A4 (E30)”

- Follow the direction A4 richting Den Haag Zuid (E30)

- Take exit number 12 “Den Haag Zuid (afrit 12)”

- Follow the road (it verves to the right) and continue straight

- When you come to the 4th set of traffic lights turn right onto Melis Stokelaan

- At the first ‘crossroads’ to left onto Beresteinlaan

- The rugby club, WRC-Haaglanden, is on your right hand side
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(2).
 
December 8 - Ceiliuradh Le Cheile - Celebrate Together 19:00 - 04:00

A GREAT FORMAL DINNER PARTY
WITH INFORMAL ATMOSPHERE !
SOUTH AMERICA MEETS IRELAND - CHICOLEO PART II
Strandweg 155, 2586 JM Scheveningen
(between the Pier and Carlton Beach Hotel)
Phone 070-3588642
Semi-Formal Attire

This event is organized by the Irish Club~Netherlands, Den Haag GFHC and Holland Ladies team as a celebration dinner for the winners on the day and also for the winning Leinster Junior Hurling Club (Killuren, Co. Offaly, Ireland) and as an end of season and Christmas party celebration for all the organizers after a very successful year of culture and sport.

Join in the ceol agus craic - An Oiche “Ceiliuradh Le Cheile”.

PROGRAM Saturday 8th of December 2007

19.00 hrs – RECEPTION
Welcome Cocktail (with or without alcohol).
On the tables you’ll find nachos and dips
Music:
Katie & Conor 
19.30 hrs BUFFET AI CARAMBA!
***
Presentations
***
Sean Kilkenny Irish Dancers
***
22.00 – 01.00 hrs Live Music with Band “Big Deal” a five piece cover band that have promised to get us all dancing. 

01.00 – 04.00 hrs DJ - Kutzai will help us make sawdust out of the dancefloor and keep us going until the wee wee hours of the morning. There will be a raffle and lots of spot prizes you’ll be delighted to know that all of this is included in the ticket price!

Contact: 06-20573678 to book your ticket NOW limited space 

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(3).
Monthly Events
(a). Contact Helen 070-3923273 if you would like to join this group.
Also, if you fancy going for a nice long walk any weekend please call Helen.

(b).  Ceadaoin 19/12/07
Beidh Teacht le Chéile le  caint agus craic as Gaeilge i ‘Murphy’s Law’ ó 8 i.n. go dtí 10 i.n.  Is cuma faoi do chumas teanga…tar chun do chúpla focail a úsáid agus b’fhéidir cúpla ceann eile a fhoghlam!!!!

Wednesday 19/12/07
There will be a Teacht le Chéile with chat and craic through Irish in ‘Murphy’s Law’ from 8pm until 10 pm.  Don’t worry about your language ability….come to use your few words and maybe learn a few more….

(Teacht le Chéile is the official name of the informal drink occasion, as Gaeilge, of the Irish Club~ Netherlands )
Maire Ni Shlatara (an muinteoir) mnishlatara@hotmail.com
Ait: Murphy’s Law, Dr. Kuyperstraat 11, Den Haag
(in aici le an Ambasáid na hÉireann chun Ríocht na hÍsiltíre)
irishclub_nederland@yahoo.co.uk

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(4)
December 16 - Childrens Christmas Party Shillelagh Den Haag
Irish Club Netherlands
Children’s Christmas Party
14.00-17.00 hour’s
Sunday, 16th December

The Shillelaigh (Upstairs Functions Room), Javastraat 94, The Hague
Lots of fun and games
Entertainment: by the famous Zassie (clown) of course
Santa will be arriving as usual with bags full of presents
He needs to know your childs age, sex & name by  December 12th.
Please contact  Caroline macafici@planet. nl
070-4277123/ 06-24417780
or Eithne: 070-3657425

Members:   € 5.00                     Non-members: € 7.50

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(5)
Message from our Italian Irish music lover

Dear friends,

One of these days there will be a new Website where you can read more about the Irish, Italian and Dutch musicians and about the Irish dancers, who will play, sing and dance at our Music night on Saturday January 26, 2008, I will let you know when the Website is on line.

The tickets for this night will be available next week, starting on Tuesday November 27,in the Murphy’s Law, Dr. Kuyperstraat 7, 2514 BA  Den Haag, located between the Denneweg and the Koninginnegracht, right next to the Irish Embassy.

This nice Pub is closed on Sundays, but on all other days you can enjoy the cosy and relaxed atmosphere and all the good wines, beers, single malt whisky and much more, and every Monday night starting around 2100H,they have very nice jazz-jam sessions.

So if you would like to join our next Music night in January, this is the place where you can find your tickets, for those of you who live out of town, please send over 30 Euro p.p. to; A.J.G. Bruti  Gondelstraat 53     2586 ER  Den Haag  ING banknr. 67 53 16 928, with your name and address, and please mention; Contribution Music night. And I will send over your tickets by post.

In order to create a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere for all of us that night, there will be a limited number of tickets available, so please get your tickets in time, and join us in the Church, where we will have many hours of pure music, pure food, and where good wine and beer will be available.
For those of you who didn’t receive my first email, for whatever reason, please let me know and I will send it again, for now all the best.

Sandro
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(6)
CONTRACTOR FOR THE NEW STADIUM AT LANSDOWNE ROAD

22/11/2007

SISK APPOINTED MAIN CONTRACTOR FOR THE NEW STADIUM AT LANSDOWNE ROAD

Sisk, Ireland’s largest construction company, has been appointed main contractor on the New Stadium at Lansdowne Road .  Sisk, who won the contract following a public procurement tendering process, will have overall responsibility for the construction of the stadium, which is scheduled to see its first action in 2010.  Sisk is currently mobilising on site.

The contract with the Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company (LRSDC) was formally signed earlier today, 22 November, 2007, in the presence of Mr Seamus Brennan T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism.  The New Stadium is a joint venture between the IRFU and the FAI with the Government providing €191 million towards the cost. 

Work on the construction of the new stadium began in May of this year with the awarding of both the demolition and sub structure contracts.  Demolition of the old stadium was  completed over the August bank holiday weekend with the demolition of the old West Stand. 

Work on the sub structure commenced in tandem with the demolition programme.  A key element in the new stadium, the construction of a podium over the DART line, was completed over the October bank holiday.  Along with the construction of the podium a major new underpass under the railway line was also completed over that weekend. 

Currently the sub structure programme is well advanced.  This has included the construction of a basement under the East Stand and work on a new underground car park under the back pitch. 

Sisk will have complete control over all of the various construction contracts in relation to the stadium including the structural steel, the cladding, the installation of the pitch etc.  In order to meet the LRSDC deadline of matches being played in the new stadium in 2010 many of these contracts were initially awarded independently.

Speaking on behalf of Sisk Mr Tom Costello, the Sisk director in charge of the project, said that Sisk was delighted to have won the contract given the fact that it has already been responsible for the construction of Croke Park .  “We believe we have a unique insight into what is required in the construction of a major sporting venue such as this.  We fully realise that Lansdowne is quite a different stadium than Croke Park but many of the challenges are the same.  We are really excited to have the opportunity to deliver what is another essential piece of Ireland ’s sporting infrastructure”.

Speaking on behalf of LRSDC Mr Philip Browne, chairman of the company, said that he was “delighted with the progress on the stadium to date. The work continues to be on schedule and that is essential.  I think everyone connected with sport in Ireland admires Croke Park .  It really is a fantastic stadium and I think everyone acknowledges that Sisk did a wonderful job there.  We are looking forward to having them on board and to seeing the new stadium rise out of the ground”.

On completion the new stadium at Lansdowne Road will have an all seated capacity of 50,000.  The new stadium will consist of a continuous curvilinear shaped stand enclosing all four sides of the ground.  The South, East and West Stands will have four tiers of seating for spectators.  The second tier will provide facilities for premium ticket holders while the third tier will provide facilities for corporate boxes.  The North Stand will comprise of one low level seating tier to reflect its proximity to the residential properties at that end of the ground.

Note on Sisk:

Sisk are Ireland ’s largest and longest established construction firm having been established in 1859 and currently employing 1500. A private, family owned enterprise, the company will be celebrating its 150 years in business in 2009.  The company has been synonymous with construction in Ireland having delivered such well known landmarks down the years as Cavan and Galway Cathedrals, Cork City Hall, Irish Life Mall, and more recently Croke Park, Dundrum Town Centre, Cork School of Music and the recently opened Ritz Carlton Hotel at Powerscourt.  Sisk are also currently constructing the new Convention Centre, Grand Canal Square, and major pharmaceutical facilities for Johnson & Johnson at Centocor and Cordis.  Sisk have seven offices countrywide located in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo, Waterford and Dundalk and have built a reputation for delivering complex projects, utilising latest construction innovations and managing within predetermined ! budgets and schedules. Sisk are focused on the following construction sectors Commercial, Retail, Pharmaceutical, Residential, Civil Engineering, Healthcare, Hotels & Leisure, Industrial and Social Infrastructure.  Sisk were recent recipients of the NISO Overall Construction safety Award for 2007.

*SEE OUR MEDIA GALLERY AT WWW.LRSDC.IE FOR THE LATEST PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE NEW STADIUM*
Regards,
Claire Seale

LRSDC

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Cairdeas - an bronntana Nollag is fearr

Friendship - the best Christmas gift of all  Cairdeas - an bronntana Nollag is fearr

Sonas agus siochain faoi Nollaig

From Irish Club~ Netherlands Board

Why not? It’s only since last January Gaeilge was a recognised Euro language so why not G.A.A. as an Olympic sport. It would make an interesting proposition. It might make an interesting catagory too, Gaelic football alongside Sumo wrestling, Thai kick-boxing, Aussie Rules & Turkish mud wrestling. This could be a major contribution to understanding the Irish psyche. Anyone who ever ate a kebab knows this.

As a child of the 50’s I well recognise the dilemma posed by playing G.A.A. It was called a ’code’ & having played the various sports on the menu, ’code’ was about right, because the rules would baffle the breakers of the Da Vinci Code.

On Sunday I played for Ballymun Kickhams, kickhams by name & nature because we kicked everything & everyone that came within arms-length, legs-length to be more precise though the odd dig in the ear was allowed. The team did have Fran Ryder, a future captain of the Dublin team I believe, who had a deft left-foot & great vision of play, along with some sort of familial gig that stopped one of the great could-have-beens in what was then labelled a ‘foreign’ game. Rule 26 I think .. He could land a ball on your nose from 50 yards but Rule 26 did’nt recognise noses.

On Monday I was disbarred from playing because I had been ‘reported’ for playing a  ‘foreign’ game. Rule 26 if I remember rightly. I had been ’seen’ carrying a Rugby ball. I had just bought an Easter Egg for my Ma. Had my Easter Egg had an Easter Lilly I’d have been o.k. but I was into football. Gardening was not on my must-do list.

On Wednesday I was convened before a ‘panel’ who wanted to know if I was a communist. Along with the Rugby ball/Easter Egg I had also been ’seen’ carrying a Beatles L.P. I had failed to understand that such an action was also contrary to Rule 26 .. such behavior rendered me liable to accusations of being ’a fierce mad dog & a west brit’ tho all I knew was The Beatles were a lot better than John McCormack, singing about his dead mudder .. or words to that effect .. it was actually something O’Dwyer, one of whose sons later engineered the Rolling Stones. He had’nt heard about Rule 26 either by the sound of things .. more ‘foreign games’ ..

That same year Mick O’Connell, the Man From Valencia, Valencia Island, as featured on global weather reports, not Valencia as in Spain, was also ’seen’ attending a game in Cork, Cork Hibernian to be accurate .. not only was he ’seen’ but a long-lens shot of him in the crowd was on the front page of all the national papers. The witch-burners had a field day. Phones were ringing at H.Q. It was akin to some sort of crisis of faith, that a man of such grace & power should be seen at a ‘foreign’ game, let alone even looking at it. Declarations from the pulpit were expected. We were suddenly aware, us 50’s kids, that we were living under a kind of Sharia Law, a mixum-gatherum of Fr. Reilly & a sports monopoly. Quare times .. 

The rest is history, or hysterics more like. Brush Shields released an album Paddy’s Dead & The Kids Know It  & life went on, sort of ..  Years later Heffo’s Army [ Army not Kids ] made some progress at retrieving the persona of the G.A.A. from that of a gang of culture thugs into some kind of Vox Populi but the damage was done. Our local heroes were Billy Whelan, John Giles & George Best .. not Finbar McChruiskeen & Joe Stafford, & Joe was a friend of my Da so don’t come the hound over that reference. Finbar McChruiskeen is a construct with no athletic validity, borrowed heavily from Flann O’Brien, another weirdo like Sean O’Riada & Brendan Behan & others too many to mention, who suffered under the Rule 26 mentality. You could do worse than include Mick O’Connell in the weirdo list.

G.A.A. sports as an Olympic sport? Why not? Along with the Jamaican bobsleigh team, the Iranian Women’s gymnasts, the Papua New Guinea dwarf-throwing team & the Sudanese teddybear-naming team. Why not? Is Micheal O’Murcharteagh still about? Imagine Coo coo agus cooleen amhain go tSomalia! [Connemeara dialect] resounding around the arena!! Shli amach a fear!

You know this makes sense. You can’t say you’re Irish & not know this. I live in The Netherlands now & the word here is Rowing With Spoons & Pushing The Elephant Up The Stairs as Olympic sports. Why not?

Don’t say you were’nt warned. 

Scott Evans has climbed the world of men’s singles badminton over the past number of years, qualifying for the Olympics next year in Beijing, if he maintains or improves this outstanding achievment.
Recently he has taken on the World Number 1 and defeated the former World Number three.

This guy is one Ireland should be proud of, and follow his tremedous climb in world badminton.

He is currently Training hard in Denmark. http://scottevansbadminton.blogspot.com/2007/11/training-hard.html

Watch Scott Evans on You Tube - on his website and blog.

RTE backed, Garage starring Pat Shortt is a story about a Petrol Station attendant in Ireland whose life changes over a summer.

Pat Shortt’s acting was recognised, with the award for Best Actor at the Monte Carlo Film Festival last weekend.

In Cannes it has won the CICAE award, and a Prix Coup de Coeur in Dinard France.

A Jury award was also won at the film festival de Chatenay Malabry, and the Grand Prix at the Film Festival de Cinessone.

Do you think that Gaelic Games should be an Olympic Sport.

Gaelic Football and Hurling are now played in  Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic,  Guernsey island, Jersey Island, Hungary, Croatia.

Add in the Asian Gaelic Games, Gaelic Games in Australia, Canada, UK, USA and you find gaelic football and hurling growing in global profile.

http://europeanirish.com

Gaelic Games as an Olympic Sport ?

30th November 2007
At the GAA European County Board Convention, being held in Budapest Hungary on 1st and 2nd December 2007, wording is being agreed to submit a motion to Ireland’s Annual GAA Congress to ‘pursue the recognition of Gaelic Games as an Olympic Sport’.

The motion being submitted by the European County Board looks to establish an International Gaelic Games Federation. This Federation would drive the development of Hurling, Gaelic Football and Camogie across the globe. It would look for recognition as a sport from official authorities in countries where Gaelic Games are played, and pursue the recognition of Gaelic Games as an Olympic Sport.

“This is just one of more than 75 Motions being discussed this weekend at the County convention of the European GAA County Board.” reports Siasy Collins editor of EuropeanIrish.com.

ECB Secretary Tony Bass of Maastricht Gaels explained that “Almost 30 clubs and one national federation …, over 600 men and 200 women played Gaelic Games on European soil during the year”

Chairperson of the ECB Eileen Jennings (Paris Gaels) is delighted “to welcome Helen O’Rourke (Ladies Football Association), Pat Toner (GAA Overseas Committee) and GAA club development personnel Con Hogan, Pat Fitzgerald and Kieran Leddy from Ireland and all European Club delegates to the 2007 ECB convention”
Delegates from every club arrive in Budapest Hungary for the weekend which comprises of a GAA Club Development Training Seminar, a Games Workshop, and the ECB Convention.

Follow a morning Training Seminar, the Convention opens at 16:30 on Saturday 1st December, with reports from the Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer. The election of 2008 officers and voting on ECB Motions continues on Sunday from 10:00.

European County Board (ECB) is an official Gaelic Athletics Association County, under Croke Park (Dublin, Ireland) and the Leinster Council, similar to Kilkenny County Board or Dublin County Board.
In fact, Killurin from Offaly ,  Leinster Special Junior Club Hurling Champions  travel to The Netherlands next weekend December 8th and will take on County Europe – a team comprising hurlers from Brussels, Paris, Luxembourg, Zurich and host club Den Haag, in the away final of the Leinster Special Junior Club Hurling Championship.

Read More on European GAA at www.EuropeanIrish.com

EP News

Plenary Session ( Brussels )

28-29 November 2007

How to combine social security for employees and flexibility for employers?

On Wednesday, the European Parliament will vote on a report by Danish MEP Ole Christensen which comments on the European Commission’s recent Communication on ‘More and better jobs through flexibility and security’.  On behalf of the Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee, Mr Christensen’s report highlights the need for a well-educated and adaptable workforce in the EU. The report agrees that ‘flexibility can be in the interests of the employee as well as the employer’, but it emphasises that the policy of ‘flexicurity’ (a combination of labour market flexibility and social security for the employee) ’should be based on common values that underpin the European Social Model’.  MEPs call on EU Heads of State and Government at the next summit meeting of the European Council (December 2007) to “adopt a balanced set of common principles of flexicurity”, which would include “core rights for all workers regardless of their employment status”, adaptable but reliable contracts coupled with action against abusive labour practices, measures to reconcile work and private life, gender equality and equal opportunities.

Irish MEPs on this issue: Marian Harkin ( Ind. - North West ); Kathy Sinnott (Ind. - South); Mary Lou McDonald (SF - Dublin ); Proinsias De Rossa (Labour - Dublin ) 

Quality of tourism in the EU

Italian MEP Paolo Costa has drafted a report on behalf of the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism, which looks at tourism in the EU and the drawbacks associated with EU Member States interpreting the classification of accommodation for example (number of stars, etc.) differently.  The report argues that this and other difficulties have hampered growth in tourism across the EU.  MEPs claim that an EU-wide classification should be introduced with a standard EC quality mark.  The importance of accessibility for all is emphasised in the report, not only for accommodation, but also for museums, restaurants, etc.  Procedures relating to the issuing of visas to non-EU tourists are also dealt with in the report, although the recommendations focus primarily on the Schengen Member States. 

Irish MEPs on this issue: Liam Aylward (FF - East); Jim Higgins (FG - North West ); Kathy Sinnott (Ind. - South);

The EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights

This week’s Plenary Session in Brussels will begin on Wednesday with a debate about the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, to which the European Parliament has been asked to give its approval.  This Charter sets out the rights to which EU citizens are entitled and aims to ensure that in all of its activities, the EU institutions respect those rights.  The Charter will also apply in the EU’s Member States when EU law is being implemented.  Jo Leinen MEP, Chairperson of the Parliament’s Constitutional Affairs Committee will recommend on Wednesday that the Parliament approves the Charter. 

Irish MEPs on this issue: Proinsias De Rossa (Labour - Dublin ); Kathy Sinnott (Ind. - South); Seán Ó Neachtain (FF - North West ); Marian Harkin ( Ind. - North West );

In addition:

The Future of Europe

Brian Crowley (FF - South), Mary Lou McDonald (SF - Dublin ); Proinsias De Rossa (Labour - Dublin ) and Gay Mitchell (FG - Dublin ) will participate in the debate on the Future of Europe with the Prime Minister of Spain, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.  Marian Harkin ( Ind. - North West ) will also ask the Council of the EU about a consolidated text (one easy-to-read text) for the new Treaty.

Economic Partnership Agreements with the 78 ACP countries

Eoin Ryan (FF - Dublin) and Gay Mitchell (FG - Dublin) will speak during the discussion which will follow the European Commission’s statement on progress relating to the new Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) currently being negotiated with 78 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries.  The current agreements are due to expire at the end of this year.

Agricultural development and food security in Africa

Gay Mitchell (FG - Dublin ) and Kathy Sinnott ( Ind. - South) will participate in the debate on the European Parliament’s resolution on advancing African agriculture.

Railways

Jim Higgins (FG - North West ), Kathy Sinnott (Ind. - South) and Bairbre De Brún (SF - Northern Ireland ) will speak during the debate on three reports dealing with the railway network in the EU.  The measures are aimed at revitalising the network by removing the obstacles to the free circulation of trains throughout the EU.

Court of Auditors

Mairéad McGuinness (FG - East) and Gay Mitchell (FG - Dublin ) will speak following the presentation of the Court of Auditors’ Annual Report for 2006.

Humanitarian Aid

Kathy Sinnott ( Ind. - South) and Gay Mitchell (FG - Dublin ) spoke during the debate on humanitarian aid which took place in Strasbourg earlier this month.  MEPs will vote on a resolution on this issue on Thursday.

Trade and Climate Change

Kathy Sinnott ( Ind. - South) and Bairbre De Brún (SF - Northern Ireland ) will participate in the debate on the role of trade policy in climate change.

Individual MEPs:

·         Avril Doyle (FG - East) will deliver a speech to the European Landowners Organisation on the links between climate change and biodiversity; she will also participate in a meeting of the Parliament’s working group on Islam.

·         Kathy Sinnott ( Ind. - South) will speak about the following issues which will be on the Agenda of this week’s Plenary Session - GM food and feed; medicinal products for human use; residue levels of pesticides in food or feed; export and import of dangerous chemicals.

·         Mairéad McGuinness (FG - East) will participate in the Agriculture Committee’s hearing on the CAP Health Check on Tuesday.

·         Mary Lou McDonald (SF - Dublin ) will participate in the debate on the forthcoming constitutional referendum in Venezuela .

The Dubliners 5 nights in Germany

27.11.2007: D Hannover, Theater am Aegi
28.11.2007: D Flensburg, Deutsches Haus
29.11.2007: D Kiel, Kieler Schloss
30.11.2007: D Berlin, Tempodrom

December 2007
01.12.2007: D Hamburg, CCH

http://www.karsten-jahnke.de

5-Dec Luxembourg Fil Campbell Luxembourg Folk Club

Fil is on the team at Newry’s new radio station FIVE FM.
Listen online or live at 8.30pm every Thursday night to “The Lough To The Glen”, Five FM’s weekly arts programme with Fil and guests.

EuropeanIrish Radio & TV

http://www.europeanirish.com/Radio/index.html

Rhythm of the Dance France and Croatia

France:
Nov 27 08:30 pm Zenith Arena Lille 
Nov 28 08:30 pm Galaxie Amneville 
Nov 29 08:30 pm Parc des Expositions Mulhouse 
Nov 30 Cancelled Salle Polyvalente Laval 
Dec 02 06:30 pm Palais des Sports Berck Sur Mer 

Croatia
Dec 08 08:00 pm Sportska Dvorana Kostrena 
Dec 09 08:00 pm Dvorana Jug 2 Osijek 
Dec 12 09:00 pm Sportska Dvorana Mladost Karlovac 
Dec 14 09:00 pm Dvorana Jazine Zadar 
Dec 15 09:00 pm Dvorana Gripe Spilt 
Dec 16 09:00 pm Školska športska dvorana Bjelovar

2008 has tour dates in Germany, France, Switzerland and Belgium

http://www.europeanirish.com/Music/index.html

Celtic Legends - France Irish Dance shows in Vichy, Montlucon, Clamecy, Cahors, Albi, Bressuire, Vannes, Reims, Morlaix

2007
Nov 27 03:00 pm Opera Vichy 
Nov 27 08:30 pm Opera Vichy 
Nov 28 08:30 pm Centre Athanor Montlucon 
Nov 29 03:00 pm Salle Polyvalente Clamecy 
Nov 29 08:30 pm Salle Polyvalente Clamecy 
Nov 30 08:30 pm Espace Valentre Cahors 
Dec 01 08:30 pm Scenith Albi 
Dec 02 05:00 pm Bocapole Bressuire 
Dec 02 02:00 pm Bocapole Bressuire 
Dec 06 08:30 pm Espace Avel Vor Plougastel 
Dec 07 08:30 pm Centre des Arts Concarneau 
Dec 08 08:30 pm Salle Sesame Morlaix 
Dec 09 04:00 pm Parc Expo le Chorus Vannes 
Dec 11 08:30 pm Centre des Congres Reims 
Dec 12 08:30 pm Espace Jean Beauchet Forges Les Eaux 
Dec 13 08:30 pm La Halle Aurillac 
Dec 14 08:30 pm Salle Oesia Notre Dame D’Oe 
Dec 16 04:00 pm Salle La Soucoupe Saint Nazaire 

2008

France

Mar 06 08:30 pm Salle Damremont Boulogne-Sur-Mer 
Mar 08 08:30 pm Zenith D’Orleans Orleans 
Mar 14 08:30 pm Theatre Municipal Denain 
Mar 18 08:30 pm Gare du Midi Biarritz 
Mar 22 08:30 pm Centre Culturel Ris-Orangis 
Mar 29 08:30 pm Tarmac Deols 
Mar 30 05:00 pm Cite des Congres Nantes 
Apr 02 TBA Salle de Spectacle Casino Arras 
Apr 03 08:30 pm Elispace Beauvais 
Apr 04 Cancelled Les Arenes Metz 
Apr 05 Cancelled Le Zenith Nancy Nancy 
Apr 11 08:30 pm Parc des Expositions Valence 
Apr 12 08:30 pm Le Capra Mejannes Les Ales 
May 21 08:30 pm Le Dome Marseille 
Nov 28 08:30 pm Parc des Expos Isle D’Espagnac 
Nov 29 08:30 pm Espace La Gare Fontenay Le Comte 
Nov 30 08:30 pm Palais des Congres Chasseneuil du Poitou

http://www.celticcafe.com

MAGIC OF THE DANCE
GERMANY
Dec 26 08:00 pm Stadthalle Osnabrück 
Dec 27 08:00 pm Phönix-Halle Mainz 
Dec 28 08:00 pm Saarlandhalle Saarbrücken 
Dec 29 07:30 pm Gerry Weber Center Halle/Westfalen 
Dec 30 07:00 pm Westfalenhalle 3A Dortmund 
Dec 31 05:00 pm Festspielhaus Füssen 
Dec 31 08:30 pm Festspielhaus Füssen

2008 includes shows in Germany from January, through to the 28th February.

A selection of Denmark shows at the start of  March,

then 10-16 Mar in Germany,

and 19th March - in Vienna Austria.

GERMANY
Nov 27-28 08:00 pm Kulturpalast Dresden 
Nov 29 08:00 pm Stadthalle Cottbus 
Nov 30 08:00 pm Arena Leipzig 
Dec 01 08:00 pm Stadthalle Magdeburg 
Dec 02 07:00 pm KuK Gera 
Dec 04 08:00 pm Mittelhessenarena Wetzlar 
Dec 05 08:00 pm Schwabenhalle Augsburg 
Dec 06 08:00 pm Baden Arena Offenburg 

SWITZERLAND

Dec 07-08 08:00 pm Messe Basel 

GERMANY

Dec 09 08:00 pm Congress Centrum Ulm 
Dec 11 08:00 pm Esperantohalle Fulda 
Dec 12 08:00 pm Philipshalle Düsseldorf 
Dec 13 08:00 pm Halle Münsterland Münster 
Dec 14 08:00 pm AWD-Hall Hannover 
Dec 15 08:00 pm Donauarena Regensburg 
Dec 16 07:00 pm Dreiländerhalle Passau 
Dec 18 08:00 pm CCS Suhl 
Dec 19 08:00 pm Oberfrankenhalle Bayreuth 
Dec 20 08:00 pm CCW Würzburg 
Dec 21 08:00 pm bigBOX Allgäu Kempten 
Dec 22 08:00 pm Arena Trier

New year concerts in Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Switzerland and Austria

2008
CZECH REPUBLIC for St Patrick’s Week
Mar 12 08:00 pm Tip Sport Arena Liberec 
Mar 13 08:00 pm Zimni Stadion Hradec Kralove 
Mar 14 08:00 pm Víceúcelová sportovní hala  Frydek Mistek 
Mar 16 03:30 pm Hala Rondo Brno 
Mar 16 08:00 pm Hala Rondo Brno 
Mar 17 08:00 pm T-Mobile Arena Prague 
Mar 18 08:00 pm Budvar Arena Ceske Budejovice 

SLOVAKIA

Mar 19 TBA Národné tenisové centrum Bratislava 

GERMANY
Sep 07 07:00 pm Stadthalle Magdeburg 
Sep 08 08:00 pm Musik- und Kongreßhalle Lübeck 
Sep 09 08:00 pm Ostseehalle Kiel 
Sep 10 08:00 pm König Pilsener Arena Oberhausen 
Sep 11 08:00 pm Westfallenhalle 3 Dortmund 
Sep 12 08:00 pm Stadthalle Rostock 
Sep 13 08:00 pm Händelhalle Halle/Saale 
Sep 14 07:00 pm KuK Gera 
Sep 16 08:00 pm Stadthalle Zwickau 
Sep 17 08:00 pm Messehalle Erfurt 
Sep 18 08:00 pm Arena Leipzig 
Sep 19 08:00 pm Stadthalle Braunschweig 
Sep 20-21 08:00 pm Tempodrom Berlin 
Sep 23 08:00 pm Stadthalle Chemnitz 
Sep 24 08:00 pm Kulturpalast Dresden 
Sep 25 TBA Kulturpalast Dresden 
Sep 26 08:00 pm Stadthalle Cottbus 
Sep 27 08:00 pm AWD-Hall Hannover 
Sep 28-29 08:00 pm CCH Hamburg 
Oct 01 08:00 pm Stadthalle Bielefeld 
Oct 02 08:00 pm Siegerlandhalle Siegen 
Oct 03 08:00 pm Alte Oper Frankfurt 
Oct 04 08:00 pm Rhein-Main-Theater Niedernhausen 
Oct 05 07:00 pm Rittal Arena Wetzlar 
Oct 06 08:00 pm Harmonie Heilbronn 
Oct 07 08:00 pm Liederhalle Stuttgart 
Oct 08 08:00 pm Congress Centrum Ulm 
Oct 11 08:00 pm Saarlandhalle Saarbrücken 
Oct 12 08:00 pm Schwarzwaldhalle Karlsruhe 
Oct 13 08:00 pm Circus Krone München 
Oct 14 TBA Circus Krone München 
Oct 15 08:00 pm Saturn Arena Ingolstadt 
Oct 16 08:00 pm Meistersingerhalle Nürnberg 
Oct 18 08:00 pm Donauarena Regensburg 
Oct 19 07:00 pm Sporthalle Oberwerth Koblenz 

SWITZERLAND
Oct 20-21 TBA Festsaal Messe Basel 

AUSTRIA
Oct 23-24 08:00 pm Stadthalle Wien 
Oct 25 TBA Stadthalle Wien 
Oct 27 08:00 pm VAZ St. Pölten 
Oct 28 08:00 pm Arena Nova Wiener Neustadt 
Oct 29 08:00 pm Intersportarena Linz 
Oct 30 08:00 pm Stadthalle Graz 
Oct 31 08:00 pm Salzburgarena Salzburg 
Nov 02 08:00 pm Stadthalle Villach 
Nov 03 08:00 pm Olympiahalle Innsbruck 
Nov 04 08:00 pm Festspielhaus Bregenz 
Nov 05 TBA Festspielhaus Bregenz

Irish Dancing in Europe
http://www.europeanirish.com/Music/irishdancing.html

Tommy Campbell on Irish cycling.com reports that Kerry’s 18-year old Denis Dunsworth has signed for AC lancaster 56, an ‘Orange’ telecom sponsored team based in Lorient France. He was observed as he had a chance on winning the National Martin Donnelly Junior Tour earlier in the year.
He also won a race in Tramain in July, afterwhich he was asked to sign for the 1st Division team for the 2008 season.

He joins more than 15 U23’s in this squad . Through this team , there are opportunities to feed through to top teams like “Credit Agricole”

Kerryman Damian Foxall is still leading the two handed, round-the-world yacht race with his skipper Jean Pierre Dick.

Early on Sunday morning, the leaders of the Barcelona World Race, entered the dreaded doldrums zone, an area characterised by light, fluky winds, thunderstorm and rain cells and confused, lumpy seas.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/sailing/2007/1125/sailing.html

27.11.2007 Molly Blooms, Tel Aviv, Israel
28.11.2007 Molly Blooms, Tel Aviv, Israel
29.11.2007 Irish House, Haifa, Israel
01.12.2007 Molly Blooms, Tel Aviv, Israel
02.12.2007 Leo Blooms, Ramat Hahayal, Israel
03.12.2007 Molly Blooms, Tel Aviv, Israel
04.12.2007 Leo Blooms, Ramat Hahayal, Israel
05.12.2007 Irish House, Haifa, Israel

Featured on EuropeanIrish Samhain - Compilation - Humours of Lissadell
Download their track for free and access their website at:
http://www.europeanirish.com/Radio/free_online_cd.htm

Catch the concerts this week and over the Christmas period of these great artists.
Download their tracks for free and access their websites at:
http://www.europeanirish.com/Radio/free_online_cd.htm

Blue Dew Netherlands (in compilations EuropeanIrish Spring 2006, and Ceol3)
30 november : Theater De Tobbe, Voorburg * with theatre program “The Long Journey Home”
8 december : Theater De Kappen, Haaksbergen * with theatre program “The Long Journey Home”
Noel Shannon Netherlands (Long Way Home - in Compliation European Irish Ceol1)
Nbvember:
29 De doctor Wageningen  22.00
30 O Shea’s Eindhoven  23.00
December:
1 O Shea’s Eindhoven  23.00
7 Finnegans Irish Pub Apeldoorn  22.00
8 finnegans  22.00
9 Bierreclamemuseum Breda  17.00
14 Sally O Briens Zwolle  22.00
18 P.W. Jannssen Verpleeghuis  15.00  Deventer, Kerstmarkt  
20 Mulligans Amsterdam  21.30
21 O’Shea’s Rotterdam  22.00  O’Shea’s website  
22 O Shea’s Eindhoven  22.00
23 Sally O Briens Zwolle  17.00 - 20.00  
25 *****Christmas Day******    “Café ‘t Hart van”…  vanaf 22.00  Marktstraat 88C Musselkanaal  
26 Tweede Kerstdag   “Paddy’s”   Balkbrug  22.00  Paddy`s Pub Hoogeveenseweg 2  7707 CH Balkbrug.
Blackwater France ( Gone to Hilo -  on Ceol3 )
  29/11/2007 : Concert à St Etienne (42) Dirty Old Town
  30/11/2007 : Concert à Bourg en Bresse (01)  Galway   
  01/12/2007 : Concert à Salaise-sur-Sanne (38)
  07/12/2007 : Concert à Port-Lesney (39)  L’Edgar
  08/12/2007 : Concert à Maiche (25)  Kuesako

Midnight Court Germany (Welcome Paddy Home - on EuropeanIrish Ceol5)
30-Nov Germany 20.00 Drensteinfurt - Bürgerhaus Alte Post
2-Dec Germany 20.00 Iserlohn - JuZ
The Bottlewash Band Czech Republic ( One Dream - on Music Marquee)
1-Dec Sýpka Brno - pořádá Skotský pes
The Stouts Switzerland (Last of the Great Whales - on EuropoeanIrish Spring compilation)
15. Dezember 07 ANGIE Konzert auf dem 4-Waldstättersee
21. Dezember 07 Stadtkeller Luzern
Will o the Wisp Italy ( Working Men - on EuropeanIrish Spring2006)
Italy DECEMBER
16  live concert ore 16.00 - Piazza Risorgimento-Marina di Grosseto (GR)
21 Concerto per il CAI - Teatro Comunale - tba - Merano - BZ
Red Shamrock - Switzerland ( The Sailor - on Music 8 compilation)
2. Dezember 2007, Sonntag / Stubete Pöstli, Aeugstertal ZH

The Shanes Germany ( Hands of Fate - from Ceol 1)

15 Dec Wurzgurg - Pleicher Hof - at Balkan Banja Party
22-Dec Rüdesheim - Hajos

Listen to European Irish Music :

http://www.europeanirish.com/Radio/

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

Nov. 27, 2007 Ballerup Denmark Baltoppen +45- 4477-3060
Nov. 28, 2007 Greve Denmark Portalen +45-4397-8383
Dec. 08, 2007 Schaffhausen Switzerland Kulturzentrum Kammgarn 052-6252403

Celebrating the success of Johnny Logan’s new CD - Johnny Logan and Friends : The Irish Connection
It has gone Gold and Platimum in Denmark and in Norway, with new release in Sweden on 26th December

Find his website here:
http://www.europeanirish.com/Music/irishbandsontour.html

27: Today Johnny Logan receives the Platinum Record Award
at the Irish Embassy, Copenhagen
There are Norway, Sweden and Denmark tours planned for 2008.
This month, enjoy Johnny Logan’s X-Mas tour of
29.11.2007:
 Denmark
JOHNNY LOGAN X-MAS TOUR 2007
TORVEhallerne  / 21:00
Kirketorvet 10-16
7100 Vejle
28.11.2007:
 Denmark
JOHNNY LOGAN X-MAS TOUR 2007
Juviklubben
Bredgade 26
4400 Kalundborg
Telephone: (+45) 59 51 18 00  (sold out )

and in December
15.12.2007:
 Norway
JOHNNY LOGAN X-MAS TOUR 2007
Grieghallen  / 18:00
Edvard Griegs plass 1
5015 Bergen
 

14.12.2007:
 Norway
JOHNNY LOGAN X-MAS TOUR 2007
Kulturhuset Blå Grotte  / 21:00
Nygaardsgate 22-24
1605 Fredrikstad
13.12.2007:
 Norway
JOHNNY LOGAN X-MAS TOUR 2007
Sandnes kulturhus  / 19:30
Mauritz Kartevoldsplass 1
4306 Sandnes
 (only few tickets left)

11.12.2007:
 Denmark
JOHNNY LOGAN X-MAS TOUR 2007
Høllin á Hálsi (Sports Hall)  / 20:00
Heyggjarvegur
100 Tórshavn
Faroe Islands

09.12.2007:
 Denmark
JOHNNY LOGAN X-MAS TOUR 2007
Nykøbing F. Teater  / 20:00
Torvet 3
4800 Nykøbing F.
08.12.2007:
 Denmark
JOHNNY LOGAN X-MAS TOUR 2007
Vallekilde-Hørve Fritidscenter
Idrætsvej 3
4534 Hørve
 (sold out)

07.12.2007:
 Denmark
JOHNNY LOGAN X-MAS TOUR 2007
Hotel Pejsegaarden
Søndergade 112
8740 Brædstrup
 (only few tickets left)

06.12.2007:
 Denmark
JOHNNY LOGAN X-MAS TOUR 2007
Slagelse Musikhus  / 20:00
Sdr. Stationsvej 1-3
4200 Slagelse
 (sold out)

04.12.2007:
 Denmark
JOHNNY LOGAN X-MAS TOUR 2007
Sønderborghus  / 20:00
Løngang 1
6400 Sønderborg
 (sold out)

02.12.2007:
 Sweden
CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Tonica Orkestern with Johnny Logan and the 3 sopranos Carolina Jönsson, Jenny & Emma Freij
Helsingborgs Konserthus  / 16:00
Drottninggatan 19
252 21 Helsingborg
01.12.2007:
 Denmark
JOHNNY LOGAN X-MAS TOUR 2007
Portalen  / 20:00
Portalen 1
2670 Greve

 (sold out)

Festival in Austria Guinness Irish Christmas Festival - Mosaic : Susan McKeown, Alan Kelly, Michelle O`Brien & Co.
and Providence - Top Irish Traditional Music Band

Organised by Weltenklang Irish Music promoters and festival organisters in Austria.

Fr 30.11.2007 BRUCK / Mur Bundesförsterschule
 Sa 1.12.2007 BUCHSCHACHEN Dorfscheune
 So 2.12.2007 BLEIBURG Altes Brauhaus
 Mo 3.12.2007 FELETTO UMBERTO (I) Auditorio - tbc
 Di 4.12.2007 FELDKIRCHEN Amthof
 Mi 5.12.2007 GRAZ Brücke
 Do 6.12.2007 GÖTZIS Am Bach
 Fr 7.12.2007 VÖLS Seidemann
 Sa 8.12.2007 SAALFELDEN Kunsthaus Nexus
 So 9.12.2007 RIED KIK
 Di 11.12.2007 ST.PÖLTEN Bühne im Hof
 Mi 12.12.2007 BAD ISCHL Leharkino
 Do 13.12.2007 SALZBURG OVAL - Die Bühne im Europark
 Fr 14.12.2007 LINZ Posthof
 Sa 15.12.2007 Waidhofen / Th. Igel
 Mo 17.12.2007 KORNEUBURG Gwölb
 Di 18.12.2007 LAA / Th. Festsaal BG
 Mi 19.12.2007 WIEN Metropol
 Do 20.12.2007 WR.NEUSTADT Stadttheater
 Fr 21.12.2007 ALLAND Fiddlers Green
 Sa 22.12.2007 OSLIP Cselley Mühle

http://www.europeanirish.com/Music/festivals.html