Lori Gallagher, J.D., Director, Center for Irish Studies
713-525-3592; irishstudies@stthom.edu

Thursday, September 17, 2009
Early Irish Saints’ Lives: St. Brigid and St. Brendan
Dr. John McNamara, University of Houston English Department
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: University of St. Thomas, Cullen Hall, 4001 Mt. Vernon St.
Free and open to the public

Back by popular demand, for our opening cultural outreach lecture of the fall season, Dr. John McNamara will lead us on a journey through the remarkable lives of St. Brigid and St. Brendan.  Alongside the traditions of St. Patrick, the traditions of St. Brigid and St. Brendan preserved and promoted a distinctively Celtic Christianity, even beyond the efforts of the Anglo-Saxon church’s efforts to reshape and control Celtic traditions. While the traditions of St. Patrick are well known, this lecture will explore the somewhat less well known cultural memories of Saints Brigid and Brendan, together with their continuing influence on the development of medieval Christianity, both in Ireland and on the Continent.

Dr. John McNamara, former Chair of the University of Houston English Department, teaches the medieval languages and literatures of England, Scotland and Ireland. He regularly offers courses in Irish Literature, both early and modern, and he has conducted special topics courses in Old Norse/Icelandic, Old and Modern Irish, and Medieval Latin.

His recent research and publications have been on Anglo-Saxon, Anglo-Latin and Middle Scots literature and folklore (including saints’ legends).  He is also co-editor, with Carl Lindahl (University of Houston) and John Lindow (University of California, Berkeley), of Medieval Folklore: An Encyclopedia (ABC-Clio, 2000), now in a revised edition (Oxford University Press, 2002).  More recently, he has published an edition, featuring his own verse translation, of Beowulf (Barnes and Noble Classics, 2005), with an introductory essay and notes focusing on the epic in oral tradition. He is currently working on the oral circulation of early Irish saints’ legends.  Dr. McNamara has twice won the University of Houston Teaching Excellence Award, and he has also been selected for the Master Teacher Award of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

Friday, October 23, 2009
Annual Irish Gala
6:30 p.m.: Silent Auction
Dinner and Program thereafter
Houstonian Hotel, 111 North Post Oak Lane
Honorees:  Colleen and George McCullough
Chairs:  Gayle and Bob Longmire
Benefiting the University of St. Thomas Center for Irish Studies Study Abroad and Academic Programs
Individual Tickets: $250
Tables:  $2,500, $3,500, $5,000, $7,500, $10,000 and up!
For reservations or more information, contact Abigail Showalter at 713-525-3173 or schleua@stthom.edu
RSVP Deadline: Friday, October 16, 2009

Gather with the Friends of the University of St. Thomas Center for Irish Studies for the 2009 Annual Irish Gala celebrating honorees Colleen and George McCullough, who are Ambassador Members of the University of St. Thomas Cultural Outreach Forum and Friends of the Center for Irish Studies and the University.  George McCullough also serves on the Center for Irish Studies Advisory Board. Gala chairs are their good friends, Gayle and Bob Longmire.

Lighten your heart with the magic of Irish American musician Kathleen Keane, whose remarkable touch on the fiddle and lilt of the tin whistle is second to none.  For more information, see concert information below for October 25th and Kerry Records’ Website: www.kerryrecords.com. 

Sunday, October 25, 2009
An Afternoon with Fiddler and Tin Whistle Player Kathleen Keane
Concert and Lecture
When: 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Where: University of St. Thomas, Cullen Hall, 4001 Mt. Vernon
Cost: $10 for public; students free
Co-Sponsor: University of St. Thomas Music Department
For more information, see the Kerry Records Website: http://www.kerryrecords.com/ 

Once in a while, America produces an exceptional artist with tremendous versatility and talent. Such an artist is Chicago-born Kathleen Keane. Called a “child prodigy on the whistle” (Martin Hayes) and “virtuoso violinist, one of the world’s finest Celtic fiddlers” (Chicago Tribune), Kathleen has won numerous American and International awards. She joined Gaelic Storm in 2000, and she wrote, sang, played and arranged for their album Tree, which went to # 2 on the Billboard World Music chart.   She co-wrote, sang, produced and performed The Longing, which appeared on Windham Hill’s Celtic Christmas Silver Anniversary album, staying at #1 on Billboard’s World Music chart for three weeks.

Kathleen has shared the stage with many great traditional Irish artists, including Jimmy Keane, Mick Moloney, Robbie O’Connell, Johnny Cunningham and Eileen Ivers. You can see and hear Kathleen play in two feature films, “The Road to Perdition” and “Backdraft”, and she has also played on the movie soundtrack for Universal’s “Cinderella Man”, starring Russell Crowe.

In June of 2004, Kathleen starred in the world premiere of An Evening of Irish Love and Lyrics, developed by Irish theatre director Mary Curtin for Kerry Records.  Most recently Kathleen starred in Kerry Records’ productions of A Grand Irish Variety Concert and An Irish Christmas at The Shiley Theater, San Diego, The United Irish Cultural Center, San Francisco, The Balboa Theatre, San Diego, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, and Marsee Auditorium, El Camino College, Torrance, to name a few.  Kathleen lives in Chicago where she continues her music and acting career.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009
David and Kieran Munnelly Live in Concert
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: University of St. Thomas, Cullen Hall, 4001 Mt. Vernon
Cost: $10 for public; students free
Co-Sponsor: University of St. Thomas Music Department
For more information, see the Kerry Records Website: http://www.kerryrecords.com/

November brings us a dynamic musical duo in the Munnelly Brothers of County Mayo, Ireland.

David Munnelly, who was born and raised in Mayo, is the most exciting young button accordionist to have emerged from Ireland in generations. From the ages of 21 to 25, David was the accordion player for The Chieftains. He also toured and performed with De Danaan and other legendary Irish artists before forming his own band in 2002. David composed and recorded the original soundtrack for the TG4 Irish television special “Solas sa nDorchadasm,” for which he received the 2004 “Composer of the Year Award.” He was also honored with the 2005 “Composer of the Year Award” and named “Best Traditional Artist 2005” by LiveIreland.com and the Irish American News. In 2006, his band received the “Concert of the Year” award from the Irish American News.  The David Munnelly Band has just released a new album, recorded in July 2009 in Spiddal, County Galway - Tight Squeez! - on sale in the United States in September 2009.

Kieran Munnelly, an expert on the flute and bodhrán, has been playing music since the age of seven. He has worked with some of Ireland’s finest musicians, including Matt Molloy, Martin O’Connor, Kieran Goss, Francis Black and many others. Additionally, Kieran has toured extensively through the United States and Europe with The David Munnelly Band. He graduated from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick, with a B.A. in Irish Music Performance in 2007 and with an M.A. in 2009.

Sunday, December 6, 2009
A Celtic Christmas with Danny O’Flaherty and Friends
When: 2-4:30 p.m.
Where: University of St. Thomas, Jones Hall, 3910 Yoakum
Cost: $10 for adults
Students free with student ID (any school)

It would not be a proper Christmas without a return performance of A Celtic Christmas by Danny O’Flaherty and friends.  Once again, they will celebrate the true Christmas spirit of the Celtic Nations of Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Cornwall, Brittany, Galicia, and the Isle of Man in a one-day only concert.  The show will tell the tales of the charming and unique yuletide customs that evolved over the centuries in the nations of the Celts.  In December of 1990, Danny O’Flaherty teamed with Welsh harpist, Robin James Jones to present the first Celtic Christmas show.  The performance explored old Christmas favorites and songs of the Celtic Nations.  It quickly became a holiday favorite at O’Flaherty’s Irish Channel Pub in New Orleans. 

Over the years, the program has evolved through cast member changes.  In 1995, Janet Shea and Michael Cahill joined the cast.  The duo worked with Danny O’Flaherty to revamp the production into a concert presentation of stories, dances and songs.  Hurricane Katrina put A Celtic Christmas on hold for the first time in fifteen years, but, like the city where it was established, it will return this year to delight audiences once again. 

Come join cast members Danny O’Flaherty, Janet Shea, Michael Cahill and friends as you slip back in time and savor the yuletide season as it has been celebrated for centuries among the Celtic countries. The cast of A Celtic Christmas will bring the precious ancient gifts of music, song, dance and especially the gift of storytelling to the University of St. Thomas.

Save the Dates for our Spring 2010 Cultural Outreach Series!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Storyteller Batt Burns from the West of Ireland
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: University of St. Thomas Cullen Hall, 4001 Mt. Vernon
Free and open to the public

 Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Traditional Irish Music Concert with Sliabh Notes, Paddy Keenan and Tommy O’Sullivan
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: University of St. Thomas, Jones Hall, 3910 Yoakum
Cost: $15 for adults with advance ticket sales
Contact Lori Gallagher at 713-525-3592 or irishstudies@stthom.edu
Students free with student ID (any school)

Wednesday, March 17, 2010
University of St. Thomas Center for Irish Studies
His Eminence Daniel N. Cardinal DiNardo
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
When: 10 a.m. Mass; breakfast to follow Mass
Where:  Mass: Chapel of St. Basil, University of St. Thomas, 3802 Yoakum St.
Breakfast:  Jerabeck Gymnasium, University of St. Thomas, 4000 Mt. Vernon St.
Cost of Breakfast:
$20 check or cash with advance ticket sales; $25 at the door
RSVP for Breakfast: Monday, March 8, 2010
Contact Lori Gallagher at 713-525-3592 or irishstudies@stthom.edu
Other details to be announced

More 2010 UST Cultural Outreach events to come!

Other Irish Events: Save the Date

Society for the Performing Arts, Houston
The Band of the Irish Guards
7:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Jones Hall, Downtown, 615 Louisiana St.
Family Fun Series 
The Irish Guards were formed on April 1, 1900, on the expressed wish of HM Queen Victoria to commemorate the bravery of the many Irish Regiments. The Regimental Band was formed at about the same time and consisted initially of 35 musicians and a Warrant Officer, Mr. C. H. Hassell, who was the Bandmaster. Over the years the Band has toured extensively visiting Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Germany, Hong Kong, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Japan. In 2010, The Band of the Irish Guards will make its debut tour of the United States.  For tickets contact Michael Coppens at the Society for the Performing Arts, Houston, 713-632-8113 and mention that you are Friend of the University of St. Thomas Center for Irish Studies or a member of The Irish Society.