"MAUI CELTIC BLOG" & MAUI CELTIC NEWS ARCHIVE
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2010
Sunday July 11th ongoing - part of the Maui Celtic crew, namely Hamish Burgess of West Maui, and Chuck Wall of Kailua, Oahu embaked on a Celtic oddessy to the ancient Celtic lands. Well-known Irishman and organizer of the Honolulu St.Patrick's Day Parade, Chuck decided (inspired by this website) that he was going to visit all the Celtic nations on one trip to Europe ! Coinciding with Hamish's trip to see family in Cornwall, and piping events in Scotland, the following epic journey evolved.
Monday July 12th - First stopover to break the long journey was to visit Jennifer of Maui Celtic up in Vancouver, BC, Canada. A nap to catch up from the red-eye flight, a fabulous lunch - thanks Jennifer - and the boys were back at Vancouver airport for another red-eye over the North Pole. One of the nicest airports, featuring Pacific North-west works of native art, including late Haida artist Bill Reid's amazing Jade Canoe, or 'Spirit of Haida Gwaii', a massive bronze of mythological spirit beings on a journey. right - 'Spirit of Haida Gwaii'
Tuesday July 13th - next stopover London, England. Many trains and tubes while dragging luggage, the lads were happy to arrive at friends Alejandro and Iulia's place by Canary Wharf, in the East End. A nice Chinese meal, a few beers, and a good yarn with friends, and they were ready to crash - thanks for the hospitality.
Wednesday July 14th - the travellers arrived in the ancient Celtic land of Galicia, in the north-west of Spain. Flying into Santiago de Compostela, it was off south to the capital of Vigo a big city with an old medieval town center, before heading for the out-of-the-way Celtic ruins of Castro de Santa Tegra (Santa Tecla), high on Mount Santa Tegra, overlooking the surf of the Atlantic Ocean.
Celtic ruins of Castro de Santa Tegra, southern Galicia, looking south
An ancient Celtic settlement of hundreds of round stone-walled dwellings, dating from at least the 2nd to 1st centuries BC, the ruins have spectacular views - south over the Rio Miño, and across to what is now Portugal, and to the north along the Galician coast and the town of A Guarda.
Celtic ruins of Castro de Santa Tegra, southern Galicia, looking north
Re-discovered in 1913, with the last excavation in 1988, only part of the ruins have been uncovered, showing houses, stores, workshops, yards and granaries, and even rainwater ditches and tanks. The population may have been 3000-5000 people of the Grovii tribe, and it is thought this was an important center controlling maritme traffic along the coast and up-river, dying off after the arrival of the Romans, with their new roads and settlements on lower land.
Also up the mountain is an old Christian pilgrimage road, lined with huge crosses and rest areas, with many stairs leading to the old hermitage of Santa Tegra, with it's courtyard and outbuildings. At the summit there is a good museum, cafe, and many stalls selling local Galician souvenirs !
Hermitage of Santa Tegra
Being just across the river from Portugal, Chuck suggested a quick drive over the bridge for a visit to the next country - the boys had a look round the nice old town of Vila Nova de Cerveira, before heading into Spain and Galicia again, and north to to old town of Pontevedra for the night. Eating at cafes proved interesting, as very few folks here speak English, the lads spoke little Spanish, and had a lot of fun with the waiters guessing what was on the menus !
Thursday the road led to Santiago de Compostela. The Camiño de Santiago has been a pilrimage route since the 10th century, with Christian travellers heading from all over Europe to pay homage to St.James the Apostle, who brought the new religion to the Celts of the Iberian Peninsula. His relics were rediscovered here in 814, the first church being buit in 829, and the existing cathedral started in 1075 and finished in 1122. The old pilgrimage road is now one for hikers and cyclists, who happily arrive in the main square, the Praza do Obradoiro, at the end of their long journey. There can often be heard the sound of the Galician bagpipe, the gaita galega, played by gaiteros in traditional costume - Hamish met local piper Paulo Perez.
Hamish was on a different pilgimage, a traditional Celtic music one, to meet and interview one of the world's best bagpipers, Galician piper Carlos Nunez. The were to meet at the Cafeteria of the Hostal de los Reyes Católicos, a fabulous 15th century building, originally a hospital, across the Praza do Obradoiro from the cathedral.
MORE TO FOLLOW............
August 20th - The Friends of St.Patrick on Oahu held Finnegan’s Wake - a pub crawl between all the Downtown Irish Pubs. Folloewed the next day by The Hangover meeting, where they do annual organizing of their files and library. Contact Bill Comerford at 808-223-3997 or bill@ejlounge.com
Sunday August 8th - The Saint Andrew Society of Hawaii presented their 4th annual Blue Shamrock Kilted Golf Tournament at Pearl Country Club in Aiea, Oahu. Grand prize for a Hole in One was a trip for two, to Scotland for a week and golf at the famous Saint Andrews. Kilts were encouraged to be worn. A portion of the funds raised to be donated to the Celtic Pipes & Drums of Hawaii.
Saturday July 31st - LUGHNASADH GREETINGS TO ALL ! - Lughnasadh, or Lunasa in modern Irish, is the Harvest festival, starting on the eve before August 1st,
and marks the beginning of Autumn or Fall. Named after the god Lugh, "The Bright or Shining One", a Celtic Sun God, and God of the Harvest, who also presides over the arts and sciences, as he was called Lugh the Il-Dana, "Master of All Crafts" (also Lugh Llamfadha ('the long-handed'), Samildanach ('he of the many gifts'), Lug,
Lugaidh, Lleu, and Llud).
In Irish history, Lugh's mother was Eithne, Fomorian daughter of Balor, and his father was Cian of the Tuatha De Danann. In legend it was foretold that he would kill his grandfather, so his mother, afraid for his life, fostered him to Tailtiu, Queen of the Fir Bolg, and later to the Sidh of the Sea God, Manannan Mac Lir, on the Isle of Man. He became a famous warrior of the Tuatha De Danann, fulfilling the prophecy and killed his grandfather, Balor of the Evil Eye at the Battle of Moy Tura, winning the day for the Tuatha.
Lughnasadh means 'the binding duty of Lugh', referring to funeral games he held in honour of his foster-mother Tailtiu, a goddess of agriculture. It is said that she died from exhaustion after clearing a great forest so that the land could be cultivated, and on her death-bed she told the men of Ireland to hold funeral games in her honor - she prophesied that as long as they were held Ireland would not be without song. Many summer fairs and festivals today come from this tradition. Lughnasadh continued through the harvest time, not necessarily just one night, as crops were harvested in August, fruit in September, and meat in October.
Saturday July 31st - The Saint Andrew Society of Hawaii on Oahu held a SASH members and guests Luau Party. More details please call the society at 808-381-7216 or email - saintandrewsociety@hawaii.rr.com
Sunday July 25th - The Friends of St.Patrick on Oahu held The Golden Pratie, their annual golf match play contest between the Friends of St Patrick and the Wild Shamrocks - held at Navy Marine Golf Course, with an awards dinner and drinks after the rounds of golf at the Celtic Room at O'Tooles Pub.
Saturday July 17th - The Friends of St.Patrick on Oahu held a meeting with the theme Clan Names or Irish Travel.
Sunday July 11th - Hamish was back with some great new Celtic music on 'Sunday Solstice' on Mana'o Radio 91.5 FM, Wailuku, Maui. The show was dedicated to Gerald V.Conlon, who sadly passed away Tuesday, July 6th aged 70, after a courageous battle with cancer. Hamish spent good times with Gerry on the Irish Music Cruises. A huge Irish music fan, Gerry was born in the Bronx and retired after 20 years of service with the New York City Fire Department, and was a Registered Nurse at the V.A. Medical Center in Montrose, NY. Much Aloha to Brian, and the family.
The show is live online at www.manaoradio.com. Local time will be 8-10 am (Hawaii), which for the summer will be 11am-1pm US/Canada West coast, 12pm-2pm Mountain time, 1-3pm central time, 2-4pm East Coast, and 7-9pm in Ireland and the UK.
Monday July 5th - The Friends of St.Patrick on Oahu marched in the Kailua 4th of July Parade and then cooled off at a pool party on the route. Even though the parade was All American there was plenty of green in there too !
Sunday July 4th - Tony hosted 'Sunday Solstice' on Mana'o Radio 91.5 FM, Wailuku, Maui. He played 2 hours of great Celtic music, while Hamish was flying to Hilo, Hawaii to play bagpipes at a celebrity wedding.
Saturday July 3rd - The Isle of Maui Pipeband marched in the 4th July Makawao Rodeo Parade in the Upcountry cowboy town of Makawao. The Parade started at the lower end of Baldwin Avenue, up to Makawao Avenue and ended at the Eddie Tam Center. Parade Info: 572-9565.
Maree McRae and Linda Hickman house concert in Lahaina
Wednesday June 30th - there was an evening of Americana/Celtic music at a house-concert in West Maui with contemporary singer-songwriter Maree McRae and Celtic flute player Linda Hickman. At the home of Rev.Paul Tangonan in Lahaina, the audience (from all over Maui and visitors from the mainland) was treated to a rare intimate evening of fine music, when Maree sang her own fine songs and played piano and guitar, accompanied by her sister Linda on a few tunes. Linda played several solos on the Celtic flute and tinwhistles, with traditional Irish tunes, and some of her own beautiful compositions. A great atmosphere with drinks and pupus too - thanks to Rev. Paul for hosting the event.
Singer-songwriter Maree McRae and Celtic flute player Linda Hickman
Maree McRae's single "Breeze" hit National Adult Contemporary Radio as the #1 most added new single last year, with the album "Urgency" topping the Top Ten Adult Contemporary Chart. A national award-winning singer songwriter appealing to most genres from Folk Rock to Adult Contemporary, McRae has been described as a charismatic, energetic, and heartfelt act with true professionalism and musician skills. A very special show brought to Hawaii and not to be missed.
Special guest Linda Hickman (flute, singer and tinwhistle) is well known in the Celtic music world in America, playing with the original Celtic Thunder since 1977 (not to be confused with the PBS t.v. production of male vocalists), performing three times at the White House with the band for President and Mrs. Clinton and Irish guests. She also played with Irish music group "The Narrowbacks" in January 2009 for the Obama Inauguration in Washington D.C. As well as playing at Maison de la Musique in Paris, her music was featured on Discovery Channel's 2001 Outward Bound series and in 2003 Showtime's documentary entitled "What's Going On: Children Soldiers of the Sierra Leone" narrated by Michael Douglas.
The ladies also performed at a house-concert in South Kona, Big Island of Hawaii, at the home of Drew Womack in Captain Cook.
Sunday June 27th - Hamish had a special interview show with Folk and Celtic music on 'Sunday Solstice' on Mana'o Radio 91.5 FM, Wailuku, Maui. In the first hour he chatted with Americana singer-songwriter guitarist Maree McRae and sister, Celtic flute player Linda Hickman, who were on Maui for a house concert in Lahaina, West Maui (see above). The ladies were having a great time exploring Maui, before getting geared up for an Americana/Celtic evening of music on Wednesday night. He played several tracks from Linda's "The Windy Day" album, and from Maree's "Urgency" CD. ...................Maree McRae and Linda Hickman
In the second hour, Hamish featured the music of James Keelaghan, and spoke with him as he was heading home to Canada, from an old songs festival in New York. They spoke about James' career and music, with several tracks from the album "A Few Simple Verses" with great backing from Celtic band Danu, featuring a great collaboration with Jez Lowe, and his new CD "House of Cards" , high on many folk DJs top ten lists in 2009. James has been called "Canada's finest singer-songwriter", and the Juno Award (Canada's Grammy) winner is on his 11th album, ranging from contemporary, folk and Celtic music. The Calgary native now lives in Winnipeg, and has written a lot of great historical material about Canada.
James Keelaghan
The show is live online at www.manaoradio.com. Local time will be 8-10 am (Hawaii), which for the summer will be 11am-1pm US/Canada West coast, 12pm-2pm Mountain time, 1-3pm central time, 2-4pm East Coast, and 7-9pm in Ireland and the UK.
Saturday June 26th - Oahu's own Celtic Waves returned to Ward's Rafters this evening, and continued their practice of often having a guest artist sit in with tehm, this time Louise Taylor. Louise is a contemporary singer/songwriter who has toured extensively in the US and Europe and has released 5 critically acclaimed CDs with Signature Sounds Recording Company. Visit Celtic Waves website.
Saturday June 26th - The Caledonian Society of Hawaii held their Annual General Meeting with Lunch in the Robert Louis Stevenson Room, Waioli Tea Room in Manoa. Dr. Richard Hill, an authority on Robert Louis Stevenson, enlightened folks about Stevenson's life, works, and visits to Hawaii.
Friday June 25th - West Maui rocked Celtic-style at Mulligan's at the Wharf in Lahaina, with local duo the Unintelligents - that's Bud Clark on bodhran and whistles and Clint Burdick on Celtic guitar and banjo. This week they were joined by special guest the talented Linda Hickman, a Celtic flute and whistle player from New York, here for a concert this week (see above). Another surprise guest was local Lahaina fiddler, and the group had the joint jumping with jigs and reels ! Also Bud's son, young Kieran Clark did a solo spot with his songs and ukulele, and piper Hamish Burgess joined Bud for some Scottish and Irish tunes on the bagpipes. Mulligans at the Wharf is in the Wharf Cinema Center opposite the Banyan Tree, Lahaina.
Linda Hickman, Clint Burdick, Bud Clark, and fiddler Noel at Mulligan's at the Wharf
June 25-29th - Irish storyteller and balladeer from Oahu, James McCarthy performed at libraries around Maui as part of the 'Children's Summer Reading Program'. He presented "All Together Now", with stories and songs for the kids. James is well known on Oahu as frontman of local band Doolin Rakes.
Monday June 21st - SUMMER SOLSTICE GREETINGS TO ALL ! The summer months of May, June and July are divided by 'Alban Heruin', the Summer Solstice, on June 21st, with the longest day of the year (in the Northern hemisphere). It is also referred to as Midsummer because it is roughly the middle of the growing season throughout much of Europe. Many remains of ancient stone structures can be found throughout Europe, some of which align on the midsummer sunrise.
According to the ancient Gaulish tablets, the Coligny calendar, the time of June / July was called "Equos", or 'horse-time', a time for fairs and good weather. In ancient Gaul the Midsummer celebration was called Feast of Epona, named after a horse goddess who personified fertility, sovereignty and agriculture. She was portrayed as a woman riding a mare. Right - Epona, Celtic horse goddess represented on Hamish's coin of the Trinovantes tribe of Britons from 15 BC. Druids celebrated Alban Heruin ("Light of the Shore") and led the ancient Celts in homage to the Sun. The days following Alban Heruin form the waning part of the year because the days become shorter. To signify this, a descendant of an ancient ritual was to wrap a cartwheel with straw, set it alight, and roll it down a hill. Young children would spend the day weaving discs of vines, to light that evening and hurl into the sky, or roll down hills.
In Penzance, Cornwall, the Golowan Festival or Feast of St.John takes place, with musical processions through the old town down to the harbour led by Penglaze, the Obby Oss.
Sunday June 20th - Hamish was back with some great new Celtic music on 'Sunday Solstice' on Mana'o Radio 91.5 FM, Wailuku, Maui. he had a Summer Solstice/Father's Day/Birthday Special, with music, songs and traditions of the time of year.
Saturday June 19th, and Monday June 21st - the great Scottish film "Stone of Destiny" was shown several times at the Movie Museum in Kaimuki.
This is a brilliant Scots Nationalist film - anyone proud to be Scots should go and see it !
"The Stone of Scone traditionally confirmed the mandate of whoever sat on it as the ruler of Scotland, but since 1296, it was installed under the Coronation Chair in Westminster Abbey, London. In 1950, an idealistic young Scottish university student, Ian Hamilton (Cox) decided to recruit a few strangers to do the impossible: return the stone to Glasgow. The engaging heist comedy won 3 international film awards and was nominated for a BAFTA Scotland Award. Rated PG." 2008- Canada/UK, 96 minutes. D. Charles Martin Smith. Charlie Cox, Kate Mara, Billy Boyd, Robert Carlyle, Ciaron Kelly.
Saturday June 19th - The Friends of St.Patrick held a Literary Meeting and Bloomsday Celebration at the Celtic Room behind O'Toole's Pub, Nuuanu St. Downtown Honolulu - they celebrated Irish literary giant James Joyce and his masterpiece "Ulysses", with readings from the novel, as well as discussions on other literature.
Actually June 16th has been immortalized by lovers of James Joyce’s "Ulysses" everywhere as 'Bloomsday', after Leopold Bloom, and has become an annual day of celebration for the Irish.
Ulysses is the epic hour-by-hour account of one day in Dublin – June 16, 1904. James Joyce (1882-1941) met and fell in love with Nora Barnacle, taking their first walk together that day.
Thursday June 17th - Maui folks heard some fabulous Celtic poetry by John Beaton when the Maui Live Poets Society met at Borders Books & Music in Kahului. John Beaton is a poet and spoken word performer from Inverness, Scotland, now living in Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island (BC). He started with a serious poem about the life of an old woman on the Isle of Skye, followed by a very funny and animated poem about a Scotsman and his sporran in Spain, finishing of with the classic Robert Burns piece "A Man's A Man For A' That". It was a great night, with readings from tonight's two featured poets, John and Mungo, followed an open mic session, with some fine recitals from group members. For more info on the Maui society's weekly meetings, please contact Melinda Gohn 808-875-0315, or email poem@maui.net
John Beaton
Sunday June 13th - Maui Celtic Show special guests today were Scots Joyce and John Beaton of Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island (BC), from the bandCeltic Chaos. Joyce is a fiddler orginally from Glasgow, and John is a poet and spoken word performer from Inverness. Hamish played some great new Celtic music on 'Sunday Solstice' on Mana'o Radio 91.5 FM, Wailuku, Maui, and they chatted about the Celtic music scene on Vancouver Island, and their daughter Emma Beaton's music career, playing tracks from the "Pretty Fair Maid" by Emma Beaton & Celtic Chaos, and the new self-titled album by duo Emma Beaton and Nic Gareiss. ......................................... Joyce and John Beaton
The show is live online at www.manaoradio.com. Local time will be 8-10 am (Hawaii), which for the summer will be 11am-1pm US/Canada West coast, 12pm-2pm Mountain time, 1-3pm central time, 2-4pm East Coast, and 7-9pm in Ireland and the UK.
Friday June 11th - "WAKING ALFIE" - a sunset Celtic music session, rocked the West Maui hillside overlooking Launiupoko. A bunch of the local pipers and Celtic musicians attended a potluck BBQ and Celtic music session to celebrate the fact that Alfie Rawlings is alive and kicking !!
Hamish Burgess, John Beaton and Alfie Rawlings - Waking Alfie
Let me explain......
A few of us had a shock this week when we heard that West Maui Scot-at-large Alfie had passed on - Hamish went looking for our man, and found out that it was a stupid rumour started by a young fool, and was very happy to find Alfie himself alive and well, and swearing about the rumour-monger in Glaswegian ! Kevin O'Kennedy (Celtic Tigers) up in Chicago suggested we still have a Wake for our resident Wegie anyway for the criac, so there it was !
The guest of honour was Alfie himself - an alchohol-welcome and politically incorrect event !
The criac was 90 in the Isle of Maui - pipes, trombone, voice, drums, ukulele, guitars !
We had a great sunset followed by bagpipes, drums, ukulele, guitars, flutes and whistles, voices and even a trombone ! The criac was 90 in the Isle of Maui.......thanks to Bud Clark for hosting the party on his lanai. Slainte Alfie !
Sunday June 6th - a new line-up of local Maui based band The Celtic Tigers appeared at Mulligans On The Blue in Wailea - founder singer/whistle player Kevin O'Kennedy is away in Chicago, and will be back every month - but the Tigers rock on ! The new line-up is with regulars singer/guitarist Murray Thorne, drummer Kris Thomas (off tonight), bassist Lenny Castellanos, and tonight joined by newbies piper/whistler Roger McKinley, and fiddler Mark John (both great musicians from the other local Celtic band Finn McCoul) - with tonight's drummer the talented Paul Marcetti. The evening started with the Mad Bagpiper - Roger McKinley, appearing on a knoll across the valley from the lanai, playing a haunting piobaireachd, the classical music of the Highland bagpipe. The band then rocked the house - playing everything from beautiful Irish airs, to jigs and reels and raucous folk songs - Irish and Scottish ! All with a new energy from tonight's unplanned line-up. Call Mulligan's at 874-1131 for more info.
Celtic Tigers newest line-up at Mulligans, Wailea
Sunday June 6th - Hamish was back with some great new Celtic music on 'Sunday Solstice' on Mana'o Radio 91.5 FM, Wailuku, Maui. He featured many new albums including 'Lessons Learned' from Ennis from Newfoundland, which appeared unnanounced in his mailbox on what would have been his grandmother Cecilia Strachan's 101st birthday, strangely enough with the great track 'Cecilia' on it. The lyrics fit Hamish's story with his Gran exactly...........
Saturday June 5th - The Caledonian Society of Hawaii held a New Members At-Home Evening with a Sing-Along at Heather's (Alexander Manor). Contact the Caledonian Society for more details - Heather MacGregor at 526-1559 or email heather@alexandermanor.com
Sunday May 30th - Hamish was back with Celtic music on 'Sunday Solstice' on Mana'o Radio 91.5 FM, Wailuku, Maui. As well as new music, he had a special Memorial Day show, with the history of this American holiday, dating back to the American Civil War - with Irish songs from that era ! Special guest in the studio for a chat was John Grant, who Hamish did his first few shows with on Mana'o Radio, back in 2003.
Friday May 28th - local well-known Irishman Michael O'Dwyer married lovely Tiara Matsui - a big wedding in the Irish community - Michael, from Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, is the owner of the home of Irish music on Maui, Mulligan's on the Blue, where he has hosted many of Hamish and Jennifer's Maui Celtic events. The couple were married at Keawalai Church in Makena, piped down the aisle by Roger McKinley and Mike MacDougall, before an interesting wedding vow from Mike....
Michael O'Dwyer and Tiara Matsui - Makena wedding, with family
The many local, and visiting Irish friends and family, then moved to a fabulous reception at a beachfront estate in Makena - great food and drink (with plenty Guinness, of course), and music from Jimmy Mac and the Cool Cats. The first dance for Mike and Tiara was sung by Limerick's own Dave Lawless, accompanied by Kevin O'Kennedy on whistle and Murray Thorne on guitar.
Michael and Tiara O'Dwyer's first dance
After a speech from Michael's 'best woman', there was spectacular fire dancing from Merkabah Fire Productions, with the didgeridoo player joined on the Highland Bagpipes by Roger McKinley and then Mike MacDougall for a grand finale. The Celtic Tigers then got the place rockin' Irish style, until the party moved up to Mulligan's in Wailea until the wee hours.
Merkabah Fire Productions, and Roger McKinley on bagpipes
The craic was mighty in Makena Wailea that night, with more endearing swearwords than has ever been heard at a Maui wedding........thanks for a great party ! Best wishes to Mike and Tiara O'Dwyer from Hamish and Jennifer at Maui Celtic.
Sunday May 23rd - Hamish was in the studio at Mana'o Radio in Wailuku, broadcasting some great new Celtic music on the Maui Celtic Show on 'Sunday Solstice' worldwide, but not locally over the airwaves today, as the station antenna was down. He was really busy between lining up discs chatting online with listeners in the US, Canada, and the UK. To chat with him, be a friend on Facebook at Hamish Douglas Burgess, or be a fan of The Maui Celtic Show - Mana'o Radio.
Friday May 21st - Hamish Burgess was a featured guest on Joel Agnew's 'Aloha Friday - 11.10am on 1110AM' show on KAOI 1110am Maui. Joel talked to Hamish about his receiving 'Scot of the Year' for 2010 from the The Caledonian Society of Hawaii, for services to the Scottish/Hawaiian community. They chatted about bagpiping, the Hawaiian/Scottish Princess Ka'iulani, and his Celtic art on the new debut CD from Finn McCoul - and played 3 tracks of traditional Celtic music, Maui-style, from the local band's album.
Thursday May 20th - local Maui based band Finn McCoul's CD Release Party was a great night at Mulligans On The Blue in Wailea with their first album entitled “On The Shoulders Of Giants…” seeing it's official release. The fun started before the spectacular sunset, in full view from Mulligan's recently refurbished lanai. The lads and lasses played a mix of lively jigs and reels, marches and strathspeys, and haunting celtic airs.......with great songs from the fabulous mum and daughter duo, Pamela and Lily Telford ! The group performed most of the material on the new CD and many more traditional pieces. They invited Maui Celtic's own Hamish Burgess up onstage to explain the story behind the cover artwork he designed for the band. In ancient Irish mythology, Fionn mac Cumhaill was a great leader of the Fianna, known for his cleverness and good will - and in some legends a giant performing great feats - more details on our Gallery page.
The hit of the recent Hawaiian Scottish Festival on Oahu, the repertoire for this new celtic band comes from Ireland, Scotland and other Celtic cultures and often brings a modern feel to these familiar traditions. Fronted by beautiful vocals, strong fiddling and piping, with a solid rhythm section of guitar and bass with bodhran and ukulele, this ensemble delivers a great range of songs and tunes.
Finn McCoul "On The Shoulders Of Giants..." CD release party at Mulligan's
Finn McCoul (left-right): • Bud Clark (bodhran and whistles) • Mark John (fiddle) • Cary Ritt (guitar) • Lily Telford (vocals/fiddle) • Peter Della Croce (ukulele) • Pamela Telford (vocals) • Roger McKinley (bagpipes and whistles) • Andre Deslauriers (bass) • ........www.finnmccoul.com
Sunday May 16th - Hamish was playing old and new Celtic music on 'Sunday Solstice' on Mana'o Radio 91.5 FM, Wailuku, Maui. He featured the music of one of the world's best whistle and flute players, Grammy Award winner Joanie Madden, who just got inducted into the 'Bronx Walk of Fame'. An Irish New Yorker, Joanie is a founding member of the great Celtic group Cherish the Ladies, and has collaborated with folk legends like Liam Clancy and Pete Seeger. Hamish played some of an interview he recorded with Joanie at her home in New York. He also celebrated the songs of prolific Scottish poet Robert Tannahill on the 200th anniversary of his passing, playing versions of his popular "Are Ye Sleeping Maggie?" and "The Braes of Balquhidder" – said to be the basis for the famous ballad "Wild Mountain Thyme" - all recorded by many Celtic bands. There was also a special chat with Peter Della Croce of local band Finn McCoul about their group and music, and upcoming CD release party for their new album 'On the Shoulders of Giants', with artwork by Maui Celtic's own Hamish Burgess (more details on our Gallery page). They also talked about the Celtic nations, and other great Celtic music that Hamish was playing.
Peter Della Croce of Finn McCoul and Hamish Burgess at Mana'o Radio
Saturday May 15th - over on Oahu The Friends of St.Patrick held a meeting at the Celtic Room behind O'Tooles Pub in Honolulu with the Wild Shamrocks. They hosted and toasted the boys of the Wild Shamrocks in a social as they made plans for this years Golden Pratie Match Play golf contest. For the golfers in our group they are looking at Sunday July 25th as the Golf match date at 12 noon at Navy Marine Golf Course. If you are a golfer let Bill Comerford know. 808-223-3997 or email at bill@ejlounge.com
Friday May 14th - the duo of bodhran player Bud Clark and Clint Burdick - Celtic guitar and banjo - the Unintelligents, were back at Mulligans at the Wharf in Lahaina, for the regular Friday night Irish music. This week they were joined by the lovely Yvonne Falk, a whistle player from Santa Cruz, not to mention as usual Kieran Clark, and Hamish Burgess joined Bud for some Scottish and Irish tunes on the bagpipes. Mulligans at the Wharf is in the Wharf Cinema Center opposite the Banyan Tree, Lahaina.
Clint Burdick, Yvonne Falk and Bud Clark at Mulligan's at the Wharf
Wednesday May 12th - there was live Celtic music on Mana'o Radio 91.5 FM, Wailuku, Maui, when local band Finn McCoul were the featured guests on Club Mana'o for 2 hours of lively jigs and reels, fun songs and beautiful slow airs, from Scotland and Ireland. Band members chatted with host Alana Cini about how their new group got together, and the traditions behind their music, and band name. The lads and lasses played many tunes and songs from their live stage show, including some from their new CD 'On the Shoulders of Giants', with artwork by Maui Celtic's own Hamish Burgess (more details on our Gallery page).
Sunday May 9th - Hamish had a special show of Celtic music on 'Sunday Solstice' on Mana'o Radio 91.5 FM, Wailuku, Maui. The Mother's Day Special featured music about mothers and grandmothers, with history and traditions of the American celebration, with it's origins in the Civil War, and the earlier Mothering Sunday, from the old countries, when young apprentice children were given the day off to re-unite with their families at their area Mother church.
Hamish Burgess wishing his Mum in Cornwall UK a Happy Mother's Day
Saturday May 8th - on Maui the Seabury Hall Craft Fair had some great Celtic content, with local bands the Isle of Maui Pipe Band, Upcountry Celtic and new group Finn McCoul. There was also other good local musicians, and hundreds of crafters.
May 8th - on Oahu The Caledonian Society of Hawaii presented Scottish-Hawaiian Family Stories from several kama‘aina families, during A Tea at Anderson House - the program was coordinated by Elspeth Kerr. Please contact the Caledonian Society for more details.
May 8th - also on Oahu The Saint Andrew Society of Hawaii presented a Celtic Nations Pub Crawl. More details please call the society at 808-381-7216 or email - saintandrewsociety@hawaii.rr.com
Sunday May 2nd - 'Mulligan's on the Blue' celebrated their 9th Birthday ! The home of Irish music on Maui is down in Wailea on the Blue Golf Course, opposite the Kea Lani Hotel.
They had a huge party with Roger McKinley the Mad Bagpiper, the Celtic Tigers, and Kanekoa.
Mulligans has become a premier venue for music of all kinds on Maui - well done Mike O'Dwyer. (Photo courtesy of Mulligans)
Sunday May 2nd - Fresh from rolling round on the grass in the May Morning Dew, Hamish was playing some great new Celtic music on 'Sunday Solstice' on Mana'o Radio 91.5 FM, Wailuku, Maui. The Maui Celtic Show featured music, folklore and traditions of Beltaine, now known as May Day (see below), and some Galician and Asturian music in the spirit of Cinco de Mayo.
Friday April 30th - BELTAINE GREETINGS TO ALL OUR CELTIC FRIENDS !
Beltaine is an ancient Celtic festival starting at sunset on April 30th, now known better on the following day as May Day.
The ancient May Day eve festival was dedicated to Bel, the sun god, and marked the beginning of Summer. Beltane means 'the fires of Bel'. In ancient times, Druids would kindle the Beltane fire, and two seperate bonfires were made, with poeple and animals being driven between them, to cleanse them of diseases and bad luck form the dark part of the year, winter. Household hearths were re-lit from the Beltane fire, having been extinguished for the occasion. The festival tradition has continued to this day in Britain and Ireland, in the form of May Day celebrations, such as dancing around the May Pole.
Friday April 30th - the Unintelligents were back at Mulligans at the Wharf in Lahaina, for the regular Friday night Irish music. The duo of bodhran player Bud Clark and Clint Burdick on Celtic guitar and banjo, played Celtic music and some great originals. A big hit with the cowd, Kieran Clark sang a few songs, and Hamish Burgess joined Bud for some Scottish and Irish tunes on the smallpipes. Mulligans at the Wharf is in the Wharf Cinema Center opposite the Banyan Tree, Lahaina. 661-8881
The Unintelligents, Bud Clark and Clint Burdick at Mulligan's at the Wharf
Sunday April 25th - Hamish featured some fine Celtic music on 'Sunday Solstice' on Mana'o Radio 91.5 FM, Wailuku, Maui. The first hour was dedicated to Anzac Day, with memorials around the Pacific today, honoring the fallen members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey in World War 1. The second half of the show featured music, folklore and traditions of Beltaine, an ancient Celtic festival starting at sunset on April 30th, now known as May Day (see above).
Sunday April 18th - Hamish and Jennifer went to see the local production of the Welsh play Under Milkwood by Dylan Thomas, presented by the Maui Academy of Performing Arts at the Steppingstone Playhouse in Kahului, running weekends April 16-25th. The play was set in a radio station, with 45 actors reading from scripts, each bringing multiple roles to life, in the story of the gossip and goings-on in a small Welsh fishing village. Frank Kane narrated as the first voice, with Sharyn Stone as second voice, directed by Mark Collmer. There was a nice wee bit of Celtic music with Elaine Olson on concertina, and Frank Kane on the fiddle.
Dylan Thomas' Welsh play Under Milkwood by MAPA
Sunday April 18th - Hamish was back from Oahu with some great Celtic music on 'Sunday Solstice' on Mana'o Radio 91.5 FM, Wailuku, Maui. Special guest in the studio was the lovely Jennifer Fahrni. The first part of the show was a memorial to the Battle of Culloden, the last battle fought on British soil (near Inverness, Scotland), April 16th 1746, when the Jacobite forces of 'Bonnie Prince Charlie', Prince Charles Edward Stuart, were heavily defeated by the Government forces of King George 11 - a tragic affair with Scots fighting Scots, the aftermath of the defeat was a brutal scourge of the Highlands by the King's men, 
changing the way of life forever.
The second half of the show featured Welsh music, and an interview with special guest Frank Kane, lead in the local production of Under Milkwood by Dylan Thomas (see above). Frank is a local actor and musician, playing the fiddle. he is a long-time fan of Celtic music and culture, and the trio had a great chat about all things Celtic and especially Welsh, with Frank's current interest in Dylan Thomas' play. Hamish played one song that tradition has it comes from a 6th century poem !
April 17th - The Friends of St.Patrick held their first ever Gaelic Speakers Meeting at the Celtic Room, behind O'Toole's Pud downtown Honolulu. Elizabeth Tuthill and others invited a few Gaelic speakers to the meeting to give a basic instruction in the Gaelic tongue. It was followed by a session of Irish music in the front room of O'Toole's. Please contact Bill Comerford for more info at 808-223-3997 or email at bill@ejlounge.com
Sat-Sun April 10-11th - the Scottish event of the year took place on Oahu. The Hawaiian Scottish Association presented their 29th Annual Hawaiian Scottish Festival & Highland Games at Kapiolani Park, Waikiki, a beautiful location under the shadow of Diamond Head. The park was originally landscaped by Scotsman Archibald Scott Cleghorn, father of Hawaii's Crown Princess Victoria Ka'iulani Cleghorn - the program contained their story, contributed by Jennifer Fahrni of Maui Celtic and the Princess Ka'iulani Project. A great event as usual, with good weather both days, very busy on Saturday, and mellow on Sunday.
Kapiolani Park and Diamond Head, Waikiki
Hamish, Jennifer, Jason and Alison were there early Saturday setting up the Maui Celtic booth, which was busy from 9am onwards - busy enough for Hamish to abandon his endless arranging of Celtic items by 11am to get changed into his kilt and deal with customers ! The day was in full Celtic musical swing by 10am with local traditional band Celtic Waves on the main stage, followed by bagpiping with the Isle of Maui Pipe Band, traditional dancing from the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society of Hawaii and Highland Dance Hawaii, and army marching band music from "Tropic Lightning", the 25th Infantry Division Band. Meanwhile on the small stage there was traditional Irish dancing and singing from The Celtic Keiki, and new Oahu band Dharma. The focus at noon was on the march of the Parade of the Color Guard, Massed Pipe Bands and the Scottish Clans, leading into the Opening Ceremonies.
Color Guard, Flags and Massed Pipe Bands on parade at the Hawaiian Scottish Festival
The opening ceremony, with MCs Milton Ragsdale and Ian Laing (former HSA Chieftain), featured a blessing by Father Richard Rubie, opening by Hawaiian Scottish Association Chieftain Dan Peddie, and the National Anthem of the USA and Hawaii. Then Chieftain Bruce McEwan of The Caledonian Society of Hawaii introduced Maui Celtic's own Hamish Douglas Burgess who was awarded 'Scot of the Year' 2010, for services to the Scottish/Hawaiian community. "The Caledonian Society has presented this award each year since 1987 to an individual who is of Scottish descent or has embraced an interest in Scotland and Scottish culture, has supported the Scottish community in Hawai'i, and has made a contribution to the Hawaiian community in general. The Board members of the Caledonian Society believe that you meet these criteria and are a person who exemplifies the values upon which this award is based." Hamish would like to humbly extend his gratitude to the Hawaiian Scots of the Caledonian Society for this recognition - Mahalo.
Hamish Douglas Burgess (right) recieving 'Scot of the Year' award from Caledonian Society of Hawaii Chieftain Bruce McEwan (left) at the Hawaiian Scottish Festival
First up on the bandstand (main stage) were the local long-established Oahu pipeband The Celtic Pipes and Drums of Hawaii. The Pacific North-west was well represented on the main stage with Highland dancers from the MacKenzie School of Dance of Port Alberni, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and bagpiping from The Kenmore & District Pipe Band of Edmonds, Washington. There was Irish dancing on both stages from Oahu's own Jig This - School of Irish Dance, and sword-fighting displays from the Society for Creative Anachronism (Barony of the Western Seas, who had their own medieval tent on site) and the Musketeer Fencers, and kids' fun with 'Russell Da Rooster' from Mark Jeffers of the Storybook Theater on Kauai. Meanwhile, the small stage featured Maui talent with new Celtic band Finn McCoul with their seven person line-up, followed by followed by Maui pipers David & Innes MacDonald Asher (father & eight year old son), then pipe and drum duo Allison Jackson & Cary Ritt (all in the Isle of Maui Pipe Band, Allison is the Pipe Major). Oahu's own James McCarthy told some great Celtic stories, with a few traditional songs too. The main stage featured a great set of music and songs from all over the Celtic lands by neighbor islanders Finn McCoul, then Oahu's traditional Irish dance and songs from The Celtic Keiki, with a lively closing set from local Celtic rockers The Doolin Rakes.
Finn McCoul from Maui, at the Hawaiian Scottish Festival & Highland Games
Running all weekend was of course the yearly Highland Dancing Competition, featuring dancers from Scotland, Canada, and the USA, with expert Piper Mark Elliot, and Highland Dance judge Elizabeth Johnstone. Saturday saw the men's and women's Highland Games heavy athletics competition, with braw-looking kilted strong lads and lassies - featuring tossing the caber, throwing the hammer, putting the stone, and throwing the weight. Sunday saw the fun 'Housewife Games', traditional at Highland Games, of Frying Pan Throw and Rolling Pin Throw (for distance), and a Haggis Toss (for accuracy) !
Heavy Athletics competitors at the Hawaiian Scottish Festival
Also both days there were vendors, including great Celtic CDs from Rampant Lion Celtic Traders, and locals Maui Celtic with a booth of fine Scottish imports, classic Maui Celtic logo wear (with brand new cool "Slainte" baseball shirts), plaid items - Hawaii Tartan sashes, shawls, and head wraps (do-rags) !! 
They also represented Sportkilt again this year, with the biggest selection of tartan to be seen in Hawaii for a year. Everyone was looking good in the official Hawaii Tartan, including Hunter Locke, the miniature Dachshund, who made the local newspaper on Monday. The wee kilties are made for can/bottle holders, but fitted this fine beast perfectly.
Nearby was the Clan tent, where you could find out more about your family history, and visit the The Saint Andrew Society of Hawaii, The Caledonian Society of Hawaii, and the The Friends of St.Patrick booths. There were of course the usual tasty food booths - tea and great scones - fish & chips and even Haggis !
Hamish, Jennifer and Jason Wolford at the Maui Celtic booth
Sunday started with a Celtic Mass by Father Richard Rubie, and the "Kirkin' o’ the Tartans", a traditional blessing at Highland Games, conducted by Rev. Robert Walden. Kicking off the music with bagpiping was the Isle of Maui Pipe Band, and Scottish Country Dancing from the RSCDS of Hawaii. The Tropic Lightning Band alerted everyone to today's parade, starting in the noon-day sun, again in sight of iconic Diamond Head.
Same as yesterday, the Opening Parade and Ceremonies featured the Color Guard, National and State Flags, Society Chieftains, Chaplains, Massed Pipe Bands (Celtic Pipes and Drums of Hawaii, Isle of Maui Pipe Band, and the Kenmore & District Pipe Band), followed by the Scottish Clans with their banners, and costumed Highland, Scottish Country and Irish dancers. Last but by no means least, the warriors of the SCA.
Massed Pipe Bands at the Hawaiian Scottish Festival & Highland Games
The main stage featured the great line-up from Saturday, but today with addition of the historic Royal Hawaiian Band, founded by King Kamehameha III in 1836, the only band in the United States with a royal legacy. Also fresh out today were Whiskey Starship, and the Saloon Pilots.
The small stage rocked Celtic style most of the day, with traditional Scottish and Irish music from Celtic Waves and Finn McCoul, and dancing from Jig This and The Celtic Keiki - the Dueling Dancers, twin sisters Delia and Caleigh Fabro (right), and in fact the whole family looking great in their Hawaii tartan kilts, bought that day from Maui Celtic.
Right - the Celtic Keiki in action
Mahalo to all the Oahu residents (and of course visitors), who visited us at the Maui Celtic, and supported your local Celtic imports business.
Next year's event is the 30th anniversary of the Hawaiian Scottish Festival & Highland Games - it should be a big one !! 1st weekend of April 2011. More info on the event from The Hawaiian Scottish Association at www.scotshawaii.org.
Friday April 9th - 'The Hawaiian Scottish Association' presented their 4th annual 'Taste of Scotland' Ceilidh at The Willows Restaurant in Honolulu) - a good time for residents, members of the Scottish community, and visitors to the Games to socialize. The tranquil haven in the middle of urban Honolulu was rocking tonight with great Celtic music from Maui's own Finn McCoul, and special guests.
Finn McCoul and Kenmore & District Pipe Band at the Taste of Scotland Ceilidh
There were local pipers from Oahu and Maui, visitors the Kenmore & District Pipe Band and highland dancers from Oahu, Nova Scotia and Scotland - as well as dancing onstage in costume, there was an impromptu session outside in the courtyard with young dancers in street clothes.
Highland dancers in the courtyard and the Willows Chapel
Not forgetting the sampling bar with several whiskys and unusual beers, with a fine array of real ales and porters, ironically housed in the beautiful chapel ! More info on this yearly event at www.scotshawaii.org
Wednesday April 7th - The 'The Hawaiian Scottish Association' and 'Fujioka Wine Times' presented the 1st ever 'Grand Scotch Tour' 2010 at The Willows Restaurant in Honolulu. The early evening function featured a selection of 30 acclaimed Scotch whiskys ! On hand to talk about their whiskeys were Tom Turner, Diageo Master of Whiskey, and Martin Daraz, Highland Park Brand Abassador. Among many fine whiskys Hamish tried, his favorites were the Macallan 18, Highland Park 18, Glenmorangie Signet, Johnnie Walker Blue Label blend, Lagavulin 16, and the outstanding Highland Park 25 and Macallan 25. Ultimate favorite - the Macallan 25 year-old.
Celtic Waves playing at the Grand Scotch Tour 2010
Cuisine was by Exectuive Chef Jay Matsukawa of the Willows Restaurant. Great music throughout the evening was by Honolulu's own Celtic Waves, with traditional Scottish and Irish airs, jigs and reels, and songs. Mahalo to Ian Laing for inviting Hamish to this fun event. More info on this new event at www.scotshawaii.org
Tuesday 6th April - was National Tartan Day in North America. Tartan is commonly known as 'plaid' in America. We hope you all joined us in wearing an item of tartan material that day to remember our heritage. The contribution of the immigrant Scots upon North America is considerable and throughout Canada and America Scots and their descendants have taken the anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath (1320) as their national date to celebrate their Scottish roots. This document, declaring independence, proclaims, “For we fight not for glory nor for riches nor for honour, but only and alone for freedom, which no good man surrenders but with his life.”
In 2008 the Hawaii State Legislature passed a resolution designating April 6 each year as Tartan Day and recognizing the Hawaii Tartan - created by Douglas Herring on Oahu in September 1997 - the full story is at our Hawaii Tartan page. Many folks around the State are now wearing the official tartan.
Tuesday 6th April - the Caledonian Society of Hawaii presented their yearly sunset Tribute to Princess Victoria Kawekiu Lunalilo Kalaninuiahilapalapa Ka'iulani Cleghorn at Mauna ‘Ala, the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii, in Nuuanu Valley (2261 Nu‘unau Avenue), Honolulu. Princess Ka'iulani (October 16, 1875 – March 6, 1899) was half Hawaiian (her mother being Princess, Miriam Likelike) and half Scottish (her father was entrepreneur, Archibald Cleghorn, last Royal Governor of O'ahu). She was heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaii at the time of the illegal overthrow of the monarchy.
Princess Ka'iulani Memorial at at Mauna ‘Ala, the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii
L- Piper Hardy Spoehr & The Margaret Rose School of Dance. R- Jennifer Fahrni
Fine Scottish weather of light rain combined with Hawaiian sunset made for a rainbow over the chapel. Hardy Spoehr piped the gathering into the chapel, where Caledonian Society Chieftain Bruce McEwan hosted the evening, wearing the Hawaii Tartan, combining the tribute with National Tartan Day (see above). Mrs.Bruce recited Robert Louis Stevenson's famous poem, and speaker Jennifer Fahrni of the Princess Ka'iulani Project passionately talked about the Princess' life and achievements.
The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society of Hawaii
The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society of Hawaii performed a special dance composed by Bruce McEwan, 'The Pikake Lei', in the chapel entrance hall, then visiting young Highland dancers, from The Margaret Rose School of Dance from Helensborough, Scotland, put on a fine display. Finally there was a presentation of a lei at the crypt where the Hawaiian-Scottish crown princess and her family lie at rest, accompanied by the moving bagpiping of Hardy Spoehr.
Sunday April 4th - Hamish was back with some great Celtic music on 'Sunday Solstice' on Mana'o Radio 91.5 FM, Wailuku, Maui. The theme was Easter, with some surprising folklore and traditions of this time of year, named after the Anglo-Saxon Goddess Eostre, or Ostara "Goddess of the Dawn". He also played some Irish rebel songs in honour of the heroes of the 1916 Easter Uprising.
Sunday March 28th - Hamish played some great new Celtic music on 'Sunday Solstice' on Mana'o Radio 91.5 FM, Wailuku, Maui. With lovely guest Jennifer Fahrni, he played a tribute to Nancy Agnew, wife of felllow radio presenter Joel Agnew of 1110AM, who tragically passed away recently. Plenty of Scottish music also, for the upcoming Hawaiian Scottish Festival in Waikiki, Oahu.
The show is live online at www.manaoradio.com. Local time will be 8-10 am (Hawaii), which for the summer will be 11am-1pm US/Canada West coast, 12pm-2pm Mountain time, 1-3pm central time, 2-4pm East Coast, and 6-8pm in Ireland and the UK (until you Old Countries folks move your clocks, then it will be an hour later).
Sunday March 21st - Hamish was back with some great new Celtic music on the Maui Celtic Show on 'Sunday Solstice' on Mana'o Radio 91.5 FM, Wailuku, Maui. A US exclusive premier featured 2 songs from the upcoming Ivan Drever album 'Notes from an Island', and more new music from the fine artists at Flying Pixie Promotions in the UK. The whole show was dedicated to the memory of a great man who passed away recently, William J. Cooney, proud Irishman and Marine Corp veteran. Bill was a huge fan of traditional Irish music, and turned Hamish onto many bands that he plays to this day - specifically the Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem, the Chieftains and surprisingly, MacKeel - mahalo Bill. Aloha 'Oe, mo chara.
Saturday March 20th - Oahu band Celtic Waves were playing traditional music at the Koko Marina for the “All things Green” celebration. They kicked things off Celtic style at 10am, with other entertainment following until the afternoon.
Saturday March 20th - The Caledonian Society of Hawaii presented Of Scots and the Sea, a Potluck Dinner on the Dock, beside the Falls of Clyde (Pier 7, near Aloha Tower) at 5.30pm. With a talk by Dr. Hans Van Tilburg, Marine Archaeologist.
Saturday March 20th - The Saint Andrew Society of Hawaii held their Annual Meeting. For more details contact The Saint Andrew Society of Hawaii - (808) 381-7216 or email - saintandrewsociety@hawaii.rr.com
Thursday March 18th/19th - on Thursday the Maui Celtic duo of Hamish and Jennifer, along with visiting troubador Kieran and Joe Murphy, went to see visiting Celtic band from Japan, the MacFiddles playing at O'Toole's Pub, Downtown Honolulu. The great trio from Kyoto, Japan, featured Felicity Greenland on vocals, bodhran and whistle, Atsuko Kasamura on fiddle, and Jay Gregg on fiddle and guitar. They played everything from airs to jigs and reels, and traditional Celtic songs - a fine addition to the local craic for St.Patrick's week in Honolulu. The trio were joined by Lawson Cannon from Celtic Waves on the guitar. The band also played more gigs that week at O'Toole's Pub, and Kelley O'Neil's and The Irish Rose Saloon in Waikiki.
MacFiddles from Japan in O'Tooles Pub, downtown Honolulu
Wednesday March 17th - St. Patrick's Day on Maui !
South Maui - biggest party on Maui started early with the 'St.Paddy's Day Bash' at Mulligans on the Blue in Wailea. Kicking it off was their 1st Annual St. Patrick’s Day Golf Tournament to benefit Save the Arts with a 6:30am Shotgun start !
Music started at noon with new Celtic band Finn McCoul (see below) playing a 3 hour set to a busy crowd, followed by resident local Irish band The Celtic Tigers rocking out through the sunset hours. The Isle of Maui Pipe Band played 3 times over the afternoon and evening, joined by guests local piper Roger McKinley and World Champion Bagpiper Jack Lee from BC, Pipe Sgt. of the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band. Closing the packed house was the legendary Willie K Band.
Roger McKinley stayed busy piping all day, playing at the 4 Seasons Hotel, the Dog and Duck Pub, and Diamonds, before heading to the west side for another Finn McCoul gig !
Central Maui - the party was with local Celtic band Upcountry Celtic who played at the Ale House in Kahului. www.upcountryceltic.com
Upcountry Maui - a fine crowd of around 30 folkies joined Larry Sarner to Sing Irish Songs at the Makawao Library in the early evening. Local radio presenter, guitarist, whistle player and singer, led folk-type songs likely to be heard in Irish pubs in Ireland, Canada, Australia, the U.S.
West Maui - celebrated St.Patrick's Day at Mulligans at the Wharf opposite the Banyan Tree in Lahaina. The house rocked Irish style with local legends The Celtic Tigers, then bodhran/whistle and guitar duo Bud Clarke & Clint Burdick - the Unintelligents, closing with rock 'n' roll from Johnny Ringo. With of course Guinness, Harp, and corned beef and cabbage, the craic was here on the west side.
Also on the west side Celtic band Finn McCoul were at The Westin Resort in Ka'anapali, making the party at Ono's Restaurant the one to be at for St. Patrick's Day dinner - until heavy rain stopped the party. Great traditional Irish and Scottish music from Maui's newest Celtic group, joined by guest piper Allison Jackson, Pipe Major of the local pipeband.
Wednesday March 17th - St. Patrick's Day on Oahu.......(see above for Maui St.Patrick's Day craic). The 43rd Annual Saint Patrick's Day Parade went down Kalakaua Ave, Waikiki at 12 Noon. The Celtic Pipes and Drums of Hawaii, the Marine Forces Pacific Band, and the Damien Memorial School Band, marched with around 560 people, including Celtic Keiki, Clan na Gael, The Wild Shamrocks, and some Leprechauns ! Organizers The Friends of St.Patrick marched proudly wearing the green, joined by their Scottish cousins The Saint Andrew Society of Hawaii.
The Post Parade Party was nearby at Kelley O'Neil's in Waikiki, with great live Irish music by the Celtic Waves, and the MacFiddles from Japan. Corned beef and cabbage and of course Guinness was the order of the day.
Meanwhile downtown.....
Hamish and Jennifer at the Maui Celtic booth with a friendly Guinness - St.Patrick's Day
Maui Celtic set up shop at the Honolulu St. Patrick's Day Block Party. Every year Murphy's Bar and Grill sponsors a FREE all afternoon/evening block party in downtown Honolulu at Nuuanu Avenue and Merchant Street - www.gomurphys.com. The party started at noon, with a steady crowd until the evening, when the streets closed and the madness started. There was great food - tasty fresh oysters, corned beef and cabbage, fish & chips - and of course plenty of Guinness and Irish whisky at the outdoor booths, not to mention in Murphy's and O'Tooles !
Hamish and Jennifer with friend Jim Mackintosh (photo left) were there with a Maui Celtic booth of Irish jewelry and other goodies and cool kelly green HAWAII CELTIC T-shirts, Hawaii and Irish Tartan (plaid) clothing, and All Ireland plaid noggin wraps (do-rags) too !! New green baseball T-shirts were of course a hot item, as well as some mad hats ! Mahalo for supporting your local Celtic business.
Jim MacIntosh and Jennifer at the Maui Celtic booth, downtown Honolulu, Nuuanu Street - St.Patrick's Day 2010
Right there on the block there was great traditional Irish music in O'Toole's Pub (www.irishpubhawaii.com) Hamish Burgess opened it up on the highland bagpipes, with the Kaimana Ceili Band in the afternoon. More piping to kick off wandering Irish minstrel Kieran Murphy (see below), who played a killer set for 3 hours. The Doolin Rakes rocked the block Irish style until late. Plenty of piping all day from Hamish, at large around the blockparty, with several visits to Murphy's and O'Tooles, and a few TV camera sessions, until it became too difficult to move through the crazy green-clad crowd. The streets were jumping by sunset, with folks in crazy green costumes, and mobbed by the late evening !
Credit and mahalo for the above photo to Tracy Chan at Metromix Honolulu. For more information on the yearly event visit www.gomurphys.com
Celtic Waves also played late afternoon at Gordon Beirsch at the Aloha Tower, before 2 evening shows at The Arts at Marks Garage, with Irish dancers featured for the later show.
Over in Waikiki The Irish Rose Saloon was hopping with traditional Celtic music from Japan with MacFiddles, then Celtic rock with Warsaw and The Piranha Brothers until late.
Tuesday March 16th - to get folks ready for the following day (St.Patrick's Day), Roger McKinley played bagpipes onboard a Trilogy yacht for Pipes on the Pacific, leaving Ka‘anapali Beach. This two hour sunset sail aboard TRILOGY featured coastal sailing, panoramic views, five-star menu with cocktails, AND festive St.Pat's music! As well as his usual fun jigs, reels and marches, Roger said that when he played beautiful slow airs, there seemed to be more whales coming around the boat !
Sunday March 14th - Tony was spinnning some great Celtic music on 'Sunday Solstice' on Mana'o Radio 91.5 FM, Wailuku, Maui, while Hamish was over on Oahu for the St.Patrick's Day festivities.
Also on Maui, Celtic band Finn McCoul played at the Ocean Arts Festival Under the Banyan Tree in Lahaina Town. Finn McCoul play a mix of lively jigs and reels, rhythmic marches and strathspeys, bouncy hornpipes, and haunting celtic airs. The repertoire for this new celtic band based on Maui comes from Ireland, Scotland and other Celtic cultures and often brings a modern feel to these familiar traditions. Fronted by beautiful vocals, strong fiddling and piping, with a solid rhythm section of guitar and bass with bodhran and ukulele, this ensemble delivers a range of songs and tunes. In ancient Irish mythology, Fionn mac Cumhaill was a great warrior, leader of the Fianna that protected Ireland. Known for his cleverness and good will, in some legends he was a giant.
Sunday March 14th - over on Oahu, Lorie Suankum hosted an Irish event with the Celtic Keiki and Miss Deaf Hawaii at Snappers pub in Waikiki, in support of local deaf folks. A fun afternoon with raffles, lots of signing, and Irish dancing from the lads and lasses.
Also on Oahu, downtown on 'Irish corner' - after a Friends of St.Patrick meeting of volunteers for the Saint Patrick's Day Parade in the Celtic Room, the folks headed next door to O'Toole's Pub to catch visiting troubador Kieran Murphy for some fine songs before the Guinness Toast Finals.
Guinness Toast judges Chuck, Bart and Hamish - winner and patron Bill Comerford
Judged by Hamish Burgess of Maui Celtic/Mana'o Radio KEAO Maui, Bart DaSilva of KKOL Kool Gold Oahu, and Irishman-at-large Chuck Wall, the grand prize was a trip for 2 to Las Vegas. With entries ranging through short and funny, completely mental, and historic, meaningful and relevant, the eventual winner was found after a difficult decision over a few Guinness.
Still on Oahu, local band Celtic Waves started their St.Patrick's Week at Kelley O'Neil's in Waikiki, with the following night at O'Toole's Pub, on Nuuanu, Downtown. The group served up their usual blend of reels, jigs, and songs for folks enjoyment. Doolin Rakes started their St.Patrick's run at O'Toole's Pub, rocking Irish sounds into the wee hours.
Saturday March 13th - on Oahu, The Society of the Friends of St.Patrick presented their 56th annual Emerald Ball at the Willows, in Honolulu. The Society was founded on St.Patrick's Day in 1955 and this is their premier fundraiser event of the year. Hamish of Maui Celtic was invited by Chuck Wall, Parade Director and all-round fine Irishman - mahalo for your hospitality, Chuck.
Friends of St.Patrick Society's Emerald Ball, Honolulu
Starting with a cocktail hour while folks could check out the huge selection of Irish goods at the silent auction, largely collected by Society President Bill Comerford. The ball really began with Pipe Major Dan Quinn piping in the Procession of the Board of Directors. After the 'Pledge of Allegiance', young Tristan Fabro performed 'If You're Irish', Caleigh Fabro beautifully sang the Irish National Anthem, and Father John Keenan blessed the affair. During the fine buffet dinner of corned beef and cabbage, salmon, shepherd's pie and the best Irish soda bread ever tasted, there was beautiful harp music from Kate McClellan. After toasts to the United States, Hawai'i and Ireland from MC Lorraine Suankum, Chuck Wall and Bill Comerford, frontman of local band Doolin Rakes, James McCarthy performed a one man show of his 'Stripes and Stars', the story of Irish immigration to America.
Kate McClellan and James McCarthy at the Friends of St.Patrick's Emerald Ball
Well-known local publican and philanthropist Don Murphy was deservedly awarded 'Irishman of the Year 2010', well received by enthusiastic applause from the packed room. Don is involved with many charities, and sponsors the St.Patrick's Day Blockparty on Nuuanu Street. Bidding on the silent auction closed, and the dueling dancers of the Celtic Keiki took the stage with some great stepdancing from the local girls and their younger brother. The memorable night ended with the whole crowd singing 'The Parting Glass'. A brilliant event co-ordinated this year by Lynn Jones - well done and mahalo. Thanks to Chuck Wall for inviting Hamish. www.irishclubhawaii.com
'Scot of the Year' Hamish Burgess, 'Irishman of the Year' Don Murphy, and Pipe Major Dan Quinn at the Emerald Ball - a highlight was stepdancing from the local Celtic Keiki
Saturday March 13th - rescheduled from Feb 27th due to the Hawaiian Islands having a Tsunami warning that day, The Caledonian Society of Hawaii presented "Treetops with Eagles" Brunch Buffet at Treetops Restaurant, Paradise Park, Honolulu. After enjoying a bird’s eye perspective of green Manoa Valley during the buffet meal, folks shifted their view to soaring eagles over the Scottish island of Mull as captured in the video EAGLE ISLAND, by wildlife photographer and Mull native Gordon Buchanan. “Eagle Island,” subtitled ”A Year on the Island of Mull,” follows Gordon, who returns to his native island to photograph eagles, otters, seals, whales and sharks in the stunning wild Mull landscape. Buchanan becomes a character in the film as he explores “the familiar, the nostalgic, and the new” about the island he knew as a boy. He “surprises himself with new findings and falls in love again with the splendor and magic of Mull.”
The Isle of Mull, the dramatic fourth largest Scottish island, is home to golden eagles and also to a newly re-introduced species, the powerful sea eagle, which has an 8-foot wingspan and is powerful enough to hunt an occasional lamb. The whales and sharks whose territory he visits are awe-inspiring, but the elusive otters finally steal the show. The photography of the varying moods of the island is spectacular, the animals are compelling, and Buchanan is an enthusiastic adventurer and host. “Eagle Island” was shown last year on PBS Nature under the title “The Eagles of Mull.
Saturday, March 13th - on Maui, the Isle of Maui Pipeband presented their “WORLD MASTERS OF PIPING SERIES” Concert, featuring World Champion Bagpiper JACK LEE. One of the world’s leading pipers returned from British Columbia to lead a workshop for the local bagpipe band, and perform at the historic Makawao Union Church. This year’s concert also featured the Isle of Maui Pipe Band. All proceeds fund the local non-profit pipe band. www.isleofmauipipeband.com
For 30 years, Jack Lee has been regarded as one of the world’s leading pipers. His accomplishments as a Solo Piper, Pipe Band leader and Teacher cause him to be much sought after as a performer, lecturer and teacher throughout the world. In the pipe band world, Jack is the Pipe Sergeant and co-founder of the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, which, in 2009, won its 6th World Championship.
Saturday March 13th - very sad news - a great man and Celtic warrior passed away this afternoon. Hamish's good friend Liam's dad Mr. William J. Cooney, proud Irishman and Marine Corp veteran, went to the other side. Bill was a huge fan of traditional Irish music, and turned Hamish onto many bands that he plays on the radio to this day - specifically the Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem, the Chieftains and surprisingly, Celtic rock band MacKeel - mahalo Bill. Aloha 'Oe, mo chara, and see you later for a seisun in Tír na nÓg.
Friday March 12th - St.Patrick's Week on Oahu started with the return of wandering Irish minstrel Kieran Murphy back from New York to play traditional Irish music (and more) in Honolulu pubs. Kieran rocked Kelley O'Neil's in Waikiki and O'Toole's downtown on Nuuanu St. all the way through St.Patrick's Day.
The boundlessly energetic Kieran and larger-than-life dad Joe are regulars in Hawaii at this time of year, taking a break from the north-east to entertain our local Irish crowd. Kieran's singing was amplified outside the pub and across the block party for thousands to hear !
Kieran Murphy is a singer and songwriter whose music ranges from traditional folk to contemporary rock and even electronica ! He is New York born, but with a heritage deeply rooted in the culture of New England and the mysticism of his Irish ancestors. Check out his award winning website at www.kieranmurphymusic.com
Friday March 12th - Oahu band Celtic Waves played a Wards Rafters St.Pats Party in Honolulu. As well as great traditional music there was lively Irish dancing from Jig This School of Irish Dance.
Sunday March 7th - Hamish was back spinnning Celtic music on 'Sunday Solstice' on Mana'o Radio 91.5 FM, Wailuku, Maui. As well as new music, he featured a lot of great Irish music in honour of the upcoming ST.PATRICK'S DAY. Special guests were Irishmen Michael O'Dwyer and Dave Lawless from Mulligans on the Blue in Wailea, who swung by to tell us about their big party on St.Patrick's Day.
Mana'o Radio's Barryfest 2010, Kahului, Maui
Then Hamish headed on down to Mana'o Radio's all-day 8th anniversary party, BarryFest 2010, at Keopuolani Park Amphitheater in Kahului, dedicated to the memory of station co-founder Barry Shannon. Hamish had a collection of Maui Celtic T-shirts for sale and donated a portion of sales to support Maui’s favorite little listener-supported radio station. and met a bunch of listeners of his Sunday morning show - thanks for coming by to say Hi.
Hamish at the Maui Celtic booth at Barryfest 2010
Unlike the rest of the week, the sun shone most of the day, and the great music line-up was non-stop action all day with station co-founder and MC Kathy Collins, Eddie Tanaka & Friends, The Trio (Dorothy, Les, Vince), Hula Honeys, Mojo Gumbo, Jazz Café Regulators, Mana'o Radio Orchestra with Jimi Lee from Austin TX, Dr. Nat & Rio Ritmo, Soul Concepts, Haiku Hillbillys, Gail Swanson, Vince Esquire Band, Erin Smith & the Throwdowns, finishing Hawaiian style with John Cruz, Amy Hanaiali'i & her band, then a big kanakapila encore with a whole gang of the artists. Mahalo for giving up your time for our radio station !
Proceeds from BarryFest 2010 will help to ensure the survival of one of the last free-form live radio stations in the country. Check out www.barryfest.org for updates.
Hawaiian singer John Cruz at Barryfest 2010, Kahului.
March 5th - HAPPY ST.PIRANS DAY TO ALL OUR CORNISH FRIENDS. St.Piran's Day is the national day of Cornwall. St.Piran is the patron saint of Cornwall and tin miners, and Cornish around the world celebrate their culture. Cornwall was a huge tin mining area, until the collapse of the industry, sending emigrant Cornish all over the world, with large communities in America and Australia. The Cornish flag, St.Piran's Cross is said to have come from the saint using rock in a fire and finding a silver liquid melting out (tin). The flag shows Cornish tin over black rock, represented by the white cross on a black field.
Monday March 1st - HAPPY ST,DAVID'S DAY TO ALL OUR WELSH FRIENDS. Today is St.David's Day, the national day of Wales. Dewi Sant, or St David died 1st March 589, and is the patron saint of Wales, with Welsh around the world celebrating their culture that day. The Welsh emigrated all over the globe, many in the mining industry. There is even a large community of Welsh in Patagonia, with street signs in the Welsh language. Although St.David's Cross is yellow on a black field, the Welsh flag is a red dragon, on a split background of a white above green stripe. The red dragon (Y Ddraig Goch) represents the nation's heritage as one of the early Celtic peoples of the island of Britain.
Sunday February 28th - Hamish was back on The Maui Celtic Show on Mana'o Radio 91.5 FM, Wailuku, Maui. He featured some great Celtic music to celebrate the safe outcome of the previous day's Tsunami, on an oceanic theme, as well as Welsh music in honour of ST.DAVID'S DAY, and Cornish music for ST.PIRAN'S DAY. St.David or Dewi Sant (birth date uncertain, somewhere from 462 to 512) is the patron saint of Wales, and Welsh folk around the world celebrate their culture on March 1st. St.Piran is the patron saint of Cornwall (in the South West of the UK), and also tin miners, with his celebration day on March 5th.
Wednesday February 24th - hot new local Celtic band Finn McCoul played at Milagros in Paia, as part of a Breast Cancer Fund Benefit. This year over one million women worldwide will be diagnosed with it - folks helped fight this disease simply by eating a hearty meal in Paia - Milagros donated 10% of all food sales all day. There was a cool silent auction with items like a Jimmy Lewis stand up paddle board, Neil Pryde gift bag, Mana Foods gift certificate, a model from Konrad’s Ship Gallery, kettlebell personal training with Tree and Jeremy Baca and an Upcountry Fitness membership. More info mariedejournette@gmail.com
Sunday February 21st - ‘Mulligans on the Blue’ in Wailea rocked Celtic style, as usual on a Sunday night, starting with Roger McKinley, or his alter ego the Mad Bagpiper, followed by local legends the Celtic Tigers. Singer whistle player Kevin O'Kennedy, singer/guitarist Murray Thorne and drummer Kris Thomas, played everything from Irish airs, to jigs and reels and raucous folk songs ! Piper Roger played three sets with airs, marches, and jigs and on the Highland Pipes - with a few rock tunes that got the packed house going ! Nice to see Kevin's mum back on Maui, and Michael O'Dwyer with his wee lad digging the music, as well as visiting piper Stephanie from the Chicago Police Pipeband, and well-known Oahu Irishman and great guy Chuck Wall.
Roger McKinley
The Celtic Tigers - Sundays at Mulligans on the Blue, Wailea
Sunday February 21st - Maui and the world online heard some great new Celtic music on 'Sunday Solstice' on Mana'o Radio, when Hamish was back spinning the latest discs from Ireland, Scotland and Canada. He also played some songs for his brother Dudley's birthday - Dud is a great Celtic tattooist with a studio in Cornwall, UK - DNA Tattoo Studio in Newquay.
Saturday February 20th - The Friends of St.Patrick had a St Brigids Day Meeting in the Celtic Room, at O'Tooles Pub, Downtown Honolulu. Rosanne Donohoe hosted the party bringing a bit of the old and new together while celebrating St Brigid's Day, the Mary of the Gael.
Friday February 19th - there was the Friday night Irish music at Mulligans at the Wharf in Lahaina, with the duo of bodhran player Bud Clark and Clint Burdick on Celtic guitar and banjo. The boys played high powered Celtic music with Bud on the goatskin, and Clint with his finger-pickin' of traditional Celtic tunes, and some originals. Kieran Clark did a couple of guest spots with his Dad, singing Irish and original songs and playing his new guitar, and Hamish Burgess joined Bud for some Scottish and Irish tunes on the smallpipes. Mulligans at the Wharf is in the Wharf Cinema Center opposite the Banyan Tree, Lahaina. 661-8881
Bud Clark and Clint Burdick - Fridays at Mulligans in Lahaina
Sunday February 14th - Hamish was back spinnning some great Celtic music on Mana'o Radio, with interview clips and music from the recent Irish Music Cruise, as well as some traditions, dedications and songs for Valentines Day. Lots of love songs, not all of them slow - the last half hour was rocking folk music !
Friday February 12th - saw the return of Celtic duo Magical Strings to Maui, with a Harp workshop and concert at St. John’s Church, Keokea, Kula. Philip and Pam Boulding shared their new compositions and stories inspired by their recent journey to Ireland last fall. They played beautiful slow airs, polkas, jigs and reels, with Philip on Celtic harps, accordion and whistles, and Pam on hammered dulcimer and concertina. Highlights were the couple rocking on concertina and childrens accordion, and Philip's fabulous 'slack key harp' compositions.
Philip and Pam Boulding of Magical Strings
Philip and Pam Boulding founded Magical Strings in 1978, beginning their tradition of family Celtic Yuletide concerts with their five children. They have performed throughout the United States, Canada, Ireland and Japan, toured and recorded with Dan Fogelberg, appeared on Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion,” and recorded 18 albums on four labels. Over 30 years ago, Philip became inspired by the music of Keola Beamer, and proceeded to develop a style of slack-key music for the Celtic harp, which later developed into a collaboration with Keola on their recording “Islands Calling.” Philip and Pam also design and build Celtic harps, run the School of Magical Strings, and host the Magic Hill Summer Harp Camp and Summer Fairy School on their
beautiful 5-acre home in the Northwest overlooking the Puget Sound. For more details, please visit www.magicalstrings.com
February 7th - Hamish was back on the 'Maui Celtic Show' on Mana'o Radio 91.5 FM, from Wailuku in Maui, when he featured great new Celtic music from Vancouver and Florida, and from the artists on the Irish Music Cruise (see below).
January 24th-Feb 3rd - Hamish and Jennifer were cruising in the tropics with the Irish Music Cruise to the Southern Caribbean, presented by Debbie Casey (www.irishmusiccruises.com) 1-888-56IRISH. They joined a host of talented singers and musicians - Archie Fisher, the Makem & Spain Brothers, Gabriel Donohue, Ciaran Sheehan, Matt & Shannon Heaton, Hanneke Cassel, and Kevin Evans & Brian Doherty.
The craic started with a reunion party at the Doubletree Gallery One hotel in Fort Lauderdale, where they met old friends and made a few new ones - a surprise guest was Seamus Kennedy from last year's cruise, well lubricated, and ready for a sing-song. The next morning we all headed off to Port Everglades, where we boarded Holland America's MS Noordam, our floating home for the next 10 days.
Sunday, the first night of Irish Music Concerts at Sea started with Hamish Burgess as MC, introducing the talented multi instumentalist and singer Gabriel Donohue, for a great set ranging from traditional songs to originals, as well as some brilliant Celtic guitar pieces. He was joined by the fabulous Irish tenor Ciaran Sheehan, for some amazing vocals, mostly traditional, but with the odd theater number showing us how Ciaran landed the role as the Phantom of the Opera for several years on Broadway. A special guest for a few tunes was the lovely fiddler Hanneke Cassel, and Rory Makem came up for a song - a fine night to start it all off. .........................(above) Ciaran Sheehan & Gabriel Donohue
It didn't end there though, as the craic continued in the Piano bar into the wee hours, with the customary after-hours session where anything goes........
On Monday we sailed on past our first scheduled stop at Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas, due to gales and rain, and headed south-east for better weather.
The day passed with plenty to do onboard exporing the ship, until an Irish History and Language talk by the informative and entertaining Joe Murphy, who explained the difference in the Celtic tongues, and focused on the history of the Irish language, and even taught us some useful Gaelic phrases. Following that was the Welcome Cocktail Party, for a few drinks in the Crow's Nest bar, with a great view up on the Observation Deck.
Joe Murphy
During the first formal dinner, the kilted Hamish and fellow Scot Archie Fisher hatched a plan to celebrate Robert Burns Night, as it was January 25th, this year being the poet's 251st birthday.
Hamish Burgess, Archie Fisher, Shannon Heaton, Hanneke Cassel, and Matt Heaton on Robert Burns Night aboard the Irish Music Cruise 2010
Traditional Celtic music trio, Matt & Shannon Heaton and Hanneke Cassel, started the concert for the night with some great tunes, and were soon joined by Scottish folk music icon Archie Fisher who beautifully sang some of Robert Burns' poetry, accompanied by Hamish Burgess on the Scottish smallpipes for a fine rendition of 'Scots Wha' Hae'.
Archie Fisher and Hamish Burgess on Robert Burns Night on the Irish Music Cruise
Hamish led a toast to 'The Immortal Memory of Robert Burns', with the whole Irish Music Cruise crowd raising a glass to the poet, to be recorded as part of the Worldwide Toast to Robert Burns. Matt, Shannon and Hanneke ripped on more trad jigs and reels, and some fine songs from the Heatons recent award-winning album 'Lovers Well'. Next up was the powerhouse Irish duo, well-known in the Canadian Maritimes, Kevin Evans & Brian Doherty, for a raucous set of traditional and original songs, with the approproate sea-shanties thrown in, as we headed into the Caribbean. They ended a memorable night by inviting guests the Makem & Spain Brothers, Hanneke Cassel, and the Heatons, to the stage for a big closing set. Then on to the Piano bar for another late session of songs, sea-shanties and much more........
Kevin Evans and Brian Doherty, and guests
Tuesday we awoke docked at Grand Turk, in the Turks and Caicos Islands, for our first day ashore, arriving early with extra time on the island, after missing the first port-of-call. Hamish and Jennifer, with friend Joanie took a cab to nearby Cockburn Town, tiny but quaint capital of the Islands, and had a look in the few shops and the local museum, with Lucayan Indian artifacts, early shipwreck history and items, and a display on the space capsule that splashed down nearby with John Glenn in 1962. Then they went snorkeling in the warm clear blue waters off a deserted white sandy beach near the town, for a look at the tropical fish on the shallow reef, surprisingly quite far off shore.
Cockburn Town, Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands
Turks and Caicos Arms - and the Government Buildings
There was plenty of time for a look round the complex of bars and shops near the cruise ship dock, before heading back onboard for a sunset rum punch party before dinner.
The concert that night started with Scotland's broadcasting icon (he has a 27 year-running radio programme Traveling Folk on BBC Radio Alba on Thursdays), the legendary singer songwriter Archie Fisher. With decades of experience, he sang some traditional songs, and many fabulous originals, accompanied with brilliant open-tuning guitar playing, all introduced with wit and story-telling proving him to be a master of his craft. Check out his latest brilliant CD 'Windward Away'.
In total contrast to Archie's quiet brilliance, but equally good, were Irish music's wall of sound, the Makem and Spain Brothers. Powerhouse 5 man vocal harmonies, backed by guitars, mandolin, banjo and bodhran, the lads romped through traditional Irish and Scottish songs and their own originals, with witty banter in-between. For the final set they invited a long-time hero of theirs, Archie Fisher, back onstage to end a great night. Not quite.....on to the Piano bar session !
The Makem & Spain Brothers, Irish music's Wall of Sound
Wednesday we awoke anchored off Semana, in the Dominican Republic. Although it felt odd to be safe and happy tourists on the same island (old Hispaniola) as the suffering people of Haiti, in the aftermath of the recent disastrous earthquake, it was great to see the crew of the Holland America Line off-loading trucks of supplies destined for the stricken areas on the far side of the island - all the passengers cheered each trolley as they passed by us, having priority to unload first. Ship's tenders took us ashore through the sheltered bay.
M.S. Noordam anchored off Semana, Dominincan Republic
Hamish, Jennifer, Joanie and Gabriel hired a taxi-driver for the day to show us around the beautiful tropical island. We headed up through the mountains, stopping at various lookout spots for photos, before reaching the town and beaches of Las Terranas. An interesting ride, with seemingly no road rules on overtaking, and our driver skillfully avoiding deep potholes everywhere, not to mention other vehicles and horses. The beaches were spectacular, with crystal clear warm water for swimming. The area was also a local fishing spot, with the fishermen proudly displaying their Dorado catch for sale.
Local fishermen at Las Terranas, Dominican Republic
Fishermen with Dorado, and a Bread-bike in the Dominincan Republic
Dominican/Haitian art in a market, and traditional Dominican musicians
The street markets were full of bright colored Haitian artwork and souvenirs, although back in Semana we had to run the gauntlet of vendors trying hard to make a sale - start talking to them and you couldn't get rid of them !
Wednesday evening was Ceilidh night, with a great line-up on stage of Hanneke Cassel, Gabriel Donohue, Kevin Evans, Matt & Shannon Heaton, Rory Makem and Liam Spain making up a brand new ceilidh band ! Hanneke was the life and soul of the party, as always, and taught everyone the fun ceilidh dances, even Hamish and Shane Makem ! She then led the Scottish dances including 'The Gay Gordons', with Hamish Burgess asked up on stage with the electric bagpipe chanter to get the Scottish ceilidh mood going, with the Irish Music Cruise gang doing a grand job with the dancing.
The Irish Music Cruise Ceilidh Band !
Then of course on to the Piano bar for a now infamous late night session !
Thursday was a day at sea heading through the Southern Caribbean, to the ABC islands.
After a leisurely breakfast Hamish joined the gang at the Piano Bar for a fun and informative Irish 'Name That Tune', led by the knowledgeable and talented Gabriel Donohue and Ciaran Sheehan, who gave some hints about the songs and played the first few bars of the tunes.
That afternoon saw the first official session in the Crow's Nest bar, with all the musicians taking a turn with a song or tune, as many joining in as like to, with any of the guests welcome to have a go too. You never know what talent is in the room - Hamish lent his smallpipes to guest piper Kevin Palm for a couple of tunes. You also get to hear some great songs that the performers don't normally sing on stage.
After the second formal dinner night of the cruise, the concert that night started with Gabriel Donohue, with more fine Irish tunes, and his hilarious Johnny Cash versions of some traditional and pop songs. Gabe was joined by tenor Ciaran Sheehan and fiddler Hanneke Cassel for a great set, with Hamish Burgess on the smallpipes, and later on the electric bagpipe chanter for an epic version of 'Amazing Grace'. Shannon Heaton also joined Gabe for a set of whistle and piano tunes.
Hanneke Cassel, Ciaran Sheehan and Gabriel Donohue
Friday morning we awoke docked on the Dutch Antilles island of Bonaire, famous for it's clear blue waters and coral reefs, a hub of scuba-diving in the Southern Caribbean. The Dutch built Fort Oranje in 1639.
Fort Oranje and waterfront in Kralendijk, Bonaire
After a walk round the small town of Kralendijk with it's colorful buildings, we jumped in a cab for a tour round the north of the small island, stopping at 1000 Steps (only actually 68), to look at some coral rock arches, feed wild donkeys, and see the pink flamingoes in Lake Gotomeer.
Pink flamingoes in Lake Gotomeer, Bonaire
Wild birds in Bonaire
The tour took us through the center of the island to the vliiage of Rincon, and to a monument and a look-out high above Kralendijk, with a great view of the coast and ships.
Friday evening concerts started with the return of Scots folk music icon Archie Fisher, with more great original songs, brilliant stories behind them, and more fine guitar playing. Archie comes from a musical family from Glasgow, and recorded with them in 1965, then followed a solo career as well as playing with Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy, and Garnet Rogers. He has written many songs covered by famous singers and Celtic groups, including 'The Final Trawl', a standard on past cruises from Liam Clancy, and the epic 'Witch of the Westmorland', a favorite by many band's on Hamish's Maui Celtic Radio Show. Last summer Archie invited Hamish onto his own show on BBC Scotland, 'Traveling Folk', running for 27 years !
To close the concert night in raucous fashion were the Makem and Spain Brothers. Multiple strings and bodhran, the boys powered through a great set, with a break when Rory makem sang a tribute to the brothers late father, the legendary Tommy Makem. Back to the five-man 'wall of sound' for a ripping finale......before......the Piano bar session !
Saturday morning found us docked on the island of Curaçao, the largest and most populous of the three ABC islands. An easy walk from the dock through an old fort turned into a shopping center, was the unusual floating footbridge across the river dividing the picturesque town of Willemstad, founded by the Dutch in 1634. The historic buildings here earned the capital a place on UNESCO's world heritage list.
Willemstad, Curacao
The colorful buildings house shops for tourists and locals alike, and street cafes line the waterfront - a great place to recover from 'land-sickness', Hamish found out. There was a floating market along a canal, with the market stalls built alongside the docked boats.
Floating Market, Willemstad
With the ship staying in port for the evening, the Irish Music Cruise gang had a free night, and after dinner Hamish headed ashore with Archie Fisher and his agent Bob Jensen, for a few beers and a good yarn at some of the bars in the converted fort. The only music scheduled tonight was of course.......the late night session.
Sunday we arrived at the island of Aruba, and the capital Oranjestad. This was a reunion for Hamish with a few old work pals, as he worked here for a year 15 years before as a scuba-diving instructor.
Alejandro Rivas-Vasquez, Frank Dennert, Adolo Garrido and Hamish Burgess at Unique Sports of Aruba.
One of the lads was by chance visiting from his job in London, UK - Alejandro and Iulia met Hamish and Jennifer at the cruise-ship dock, and took them to see the boys at Unique Sports of Aruba, where they had a private dive boat trip ready as a surprise - also the shop where musicians Hanneke, the Makems, and Ciaran and family, and also Brian Conlon were taking a dive class.
The Irish Music Cruise divers were a mixture of certified divers and first timers, producing a few new underwater addicts, not least new scuba-queen Hanneke. Their trip was accidentally held up by Hamish's private dive reunion with his three old work pals from Unique sports - the lads in the photo above. A great shipwreck dive had the boat back late, with Ciaran cursing Hamish as he had a second trip arranged with a tight time-frame straight after ! .........Aruba time, mon.......
Unique Sports of Aruba goes Irish !
After a huge crab sandwich in one of the new restaurants by the hotel zone, Alejandro and Iulia took Hamish and Jen to one of the Unique boys old haunts - the bar by the California Lighthouse, La Trattoria el Faro Blanco Restaurant, on the northern point of Aruba, with a great view of the beach at Malmok. A couple of beers later, and they went to the beach for a while to meet the owners of Unique Sports, Emmit and Suzanne Kimble, who Hamish also had not seen for 15 years.
Sunday evening's music was a session at the Crow's Nest, with all the performers taking turns at a tune or song, with a surprise piper borrowing Hamish's smallpipes -
MORE COMING SOON...............only half done.......
Finally...........
We said our farewells at the bar that night, and all dispersed to the far corners of the globe the following day. What a brilliant week of great company, laughs, fine food, Caribbean adventures, and amazing world-class Irish music - the craic was indeed mighty on the MS Noordam !
Thanks to Debbie Casey of IRISH MUSIC CRUISES CONCERTS AT SEA - check out the yearly event at www.irishmusiccruises.com or call 1-888-56IRISH for more info.
Monday, January 25th - was of course Robert Burns Night, this year the Scottish poet's 251st birthday. 
Robert Burns (25 January 1759 – 21 July 1796) is Scotland's national poet, and his 200 year old verse has become part of Scottish heritage celebrated all over the world on January 25th. He is the best known of the poets who have written in the Scots language, and is the most widely translated poet in the world, even more than William Shakespeare. He was born in Ayrshire, Scotland in 1759, into a poor farming family. At age 27 he published his first volume of poems, which was a huge success, and his humour and wit became legendary. He moved to Edinburgh, and received critical acclaim. He wrote about everyday things, philosophy, and about his loves, which contributed to his popularity. 2 years later, he married and moved to a farm in Dumfries, working as an exciseman while still continuing to write poetry and songs. He died at 37, in 1796.
The Maui Scots celebrated Robert Burns Night at 'Mulligan's on the Blue' in Wailea, on the Scottish poet's 251st birthday. Maui's newest Celtic music group, the Finn McCoul band, kicked the evening off playing traditional Irish and Scottish songs and tunes. Roger McKinley played the traditional “piping in of the haggis”, with Michael O'Dwyer carrying the wee beast, and Bud Clarke as the whisky-bearer. Roger and lovely wife Leili McKinley were MCs, as John Crowe was under the weather. Added to all the whiskey toasts, poetry, and good craic, guest pipers Mike MacDougall, Allison Jackson, and the Asher Family played a few sets. ‘Mulligan’s on the Blue’ had a Scottish/Hawaiian buffet, with traditional dishes including Cock-a-leekie soup, and of course Haggis. Then Finn McCoul rocked the full house again, Celtic style. As usual, it was sold out, and an event you don’t want to miss next year.
Roger also led a Maui Celtic group in a toast to 'The Immortal Memory of Robert Burns', with the whole pub raising a glass to the poet, to be recorded as part of the Worldwide Toast to Robert Burns.
Saturday January 23rd - The Caledonian Society of Hawaii presented Robert Burns: The Man and his Music at the Hawai'i Convention Center. The Formal Dinner was Highland dress or evening wear, with the traditional “piping in of the haggis”, and the usual toasts and poetry to celebrate Scotland's national poet. "The Immortal Memory Toast" was by Kalani Brady and Terence Knapp.
Robert Burns had a love of music, especially the folk music of his time. He collected hundreds of traditional songs and set many of his poems to Scottish fiddle tunes. The evening was filled with many of these songs. There was Scottish Country Dancing, Highland dancing, fiddle music from Lisa Gomes, and piping from the Celtic Pipes & Drums of Hawaii. Special guest piper was the Queen's 10th Piper from 1998-2003, Jim Motherwell, a fellow Scot from Kilsyth. He learned to play the pipes from Duncan Johnstone, a foremost composer and piping instructor from Glasgow.
It was announced that Maui Celtic's own Hamish Douglas Burgess was named The Caledonian Society of Hawaii's 'Scot of the Year' for 2010, for services to the Scottish/Hawaiian community. "The Caledonian Society has presented this award each year since 1987 to an individual who is of Scottish descent or has embraced an interest in Scotland and Scottish culture, has supported the Scottish community in Hawai'i, and has made a contribution to the Hawaiian community in general. The Board members of the Caledonian Society believe that you meet these criteria and are a person who exemplifies the values upon which this award is based." A great honor. Hamish would like to humbly extend his gratitude to the Hawaiian Scots for this recognition - Mahalo. Caledonian Society website - www.scotsinhawaii.org.
January 20th-23rd - Hamish and Jennifer were in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, visiting old friends before heading out on the Irish Music Cruise (see above). They saw an excellent exhibition at the Museum of Art featuring the brilliant work of Norman Rockwell.
They also spent Friday night at a great local Irish pub The Field, one of the most authentic pub atmosphere's anywhere in America, with good traditional music from Celtic Bridge. Hamish had a chat with singer/guitarist Ade Peever (from Crewe, UK) and uilleann piper Eamonn Dillon (from West Belfast) about their music - the band also features guitarist John Schreiber, Roisin Dillon fiddle, and Hollywood Mike on guitar.
Celtic Bridge at The Field, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Thanks to old pals Willie, Cari and Aisling Lacey for their hospitality and great company - not to mention a few Guinness !
Friday January 22nd - Oahu's own trad group Celtic Waves celebrated the release of their new CD, "CELTIC WAVES IN HAWAII" at Ward’s Rafters in Honolulu. Sitting in for Aubrey Knuth, who played phenomenal cooperative fiddle on the CD but could not attend this concert, was Curtis Vandeloop, who helped start the band and actually taught them many of the tunes on the CD. Curtis was a member of the legendary Honolulu band "Irish Hearts," which served as the inspiration for Celtic Waves.
January 13th-19th - Hamish was up in Vancouver, BC, Canada for a bit of R&R with Jennifer, after a rough Holiday Season recovering from hernia surgery, and a bad pinched neck nerve. The time unable to surf on Maui, he spent working on some Celtic art for the Irish Rovers (see below).
Vancouver is a beautiful city, and the view from Jennifer's family home is spectacular.
"...her misty coloured mountains raise their head into the heavens, and gaze upon that blue Pacific shore" - Vancouver by Tommy Makem.
English Bay, Vancouver, B.C.
They saw a good performance from Bruce Coughlan at Ceili's Irish Pub & Restaurant, Downtown Vancouver. Bruce was singing his own great historic Pacific Northwest songs, as well as Irish and Scots traditional ones. The talented songwriter also fronts the local BC band The Tillers Folly, who play 'high-energy acoustic roots music' with a lot of Celtic content. Bruce has had 2 solo albums now, first 'The Wild Bird's Nets' with some beautiful old traditional songs, and the recent 'A Minstrel In Moray', mainly Bruce's originals, with a couple of trad songs in there too.
Bruce Coughlan at Ceili's Irish Pub, Vancouver (right)
They also met with George Millar founder of the legendary Irish Rovers, to finalize the details of the release of the latest Irish Rovers CD, featuring Hamish Douglas Burgess' artwork on the cover and inside booklet.
Hamish Burgess, George Millar of the Irish Rovers, and Jennifer Fahrni in Vancouver (right)
The Irish singer commissioned Hamish after seeing his Celtic artwork whilst on Maui earlier this year. The album cover is a piece of folk art entitled 'Gracehill Fair', that George thinks captured the spirit of the title track of the album. It features a traditional Celtic knotwork border and a fairground tent, with Irish musicians, dancers and spectators making merry, like you may see at an Irish country fair, any time in the last century or so.
'Gracehill Fair' by Hamish Douglas Burgess © 2009 - cover of the new Irish Rovers CD
The second piece 'The Irish Rovers Tree of Life' is for the liner notes booklet of the new 'Gracehill Fair' CD, and can be seen below.
The Maui Celtic couple saw a preview of the new musical play Beyond Eden at the Vancouver Playhouse, based on the journey of master Haida artist Bill Reid and archaeologist Wilson Duff to recover decaying totem poles from Ninstints in Haida Gwaii (The Queen Charlotte Islands) in 1957. With a great set, and a spectacular moment when traditional Haida carvings were lit up on the totems, the show posed the question whether the taking of the last totems at Ninstints was a cultural travesty or a heroic act to save a nation's artwork. Jennifer grew up surrounded by Bill's art, and he is credited with saving the Haida art from extinction. Haida art shares a similar tradition of form-lines with ancient Celtic art.
Hamish caught up with great musician pal and Geordie-about-town Tim Readman, when he took him and the lovely Jennifer and Neasa to a long-table dinner at the Irish Heather Pub in downtown Vancouver. Roast beef and Yorkshire pud' with a pint of Tetley's !
He saw two other artist friends in the city. Rudi Diesvelt is a fine jeweller and leatherworker, and a Celtic renaissance man. Hamish sells some of Rudi's work - see Maui Celtic at locations on our Contact Us page. Rudy crafts excellent leather items and one-off custom works of museum quality.
Aidan Meehan is a renowned Celtic artist, the Irish author of many books on the construction of Celtic knotwork, and an inspiration to Hamish for many years. Aidan is a master artist of the traditional Celtic style, using ancient techniques to produce works that have to be seen to be believed. He does custom original work and also has fine art prints.
Sunday, January 17,24 and 31 - Tony was back spinnning some great Celtic music on 'Sunday Solstice' on Mana'o Radio 91.5 FM, Wailuku, Maui, while Hamish was off gallivanting on the Irish Music Cruise. Mahalo to Tony, the originator of the show, for holding the fort for a few weeks.
Sunday, January 10th - Hamish's 'Maui Celtic Show' on Mana'o Radio 91.5 FM, from Wailuku in Maui, featured great new Celtic music, including some award winning music from winners of the 'Livies', the Live Ireland Music Awards. Also a few songs to celbrate regular listener John Crowe becoming an American citizen, and a wee Elvis competition, as the rock 'n' roll legend's birthday was on Jan 8th - of course there are Celtic versions of Elvis songs !
Friday January 8th - there was Irish music at Mulligans at the Wharf in Lahaina, with the new duo of bodhran player Bud Clark and Clint Burdick on Celtic guitar and banjo. The boys rocked the wee pub with Bud on the funky goatskin, and Clint on fire with his finger-pickin' of traditional Celtic tunes, and a brilliant original ripping like Freight Trains at Ma'alaea ! Kieran Clark did a couple of guest spots with his Dad, singing Irish and original songs and playing the guitar. Mulligans at the Wharf is in the Wharf Cinema Center opposite the Banyan Tree, Lahaina. 661-8881.......pity they painted over the mural though !
Wednesday January 6th - Happy Christmas again ! Today is known as Nollaig Beag (Little Christmas) in the old Celtic lands, and also in Ireland as Nollaig na mBan (Womens Christmas) - the tradition is so called because of Irish men performing the household duties for the day, leaving the ladies to hold parties or celebrate the day with friends or relatives.
Little Christmas has a longer story - Julius Caesar's Roman calendar year was inaccurate, so in 1582 Pope Gregory XIII sanctioned the cutting of 10 days to fit the new Gregorian calendar, adopted throughout Catholic Europe. Protestant Europe kept the old Julian calendar until the middle of the 18th century, meaning England was by then eleven days ahead of the Continent. To align Britain with the rest of Europe, in September 1752 the Calendar Act authorized a jump from the 2nd to the 14th, provoking riots with folks thinking that the government had stolen eleven days of their lives. Before this change, Christmas was celebrated on the equivalent of January 6th on our modern Gregorian calendar - hence Old Christmas Day, or Little Christmas.
In America the residents of Rodanthe, Hatteras Island, North Carolina, have celebrated Old Christmas for over 100 years, on the Saturday closest to Epiphany. Local tradition has it that in colonial days, the isolated Outer Banks coastal towns were not informed of the 1752 change by the English Crown to the Georgian calendar, and refused to adopt it.
Acoording to a friend in St.Petersburg "Russian Church also refused to accept Gregorian Calendar....So we too celebrate Christmas today".
Tuesday, January 5th - Hamish finished a commissioned piece of art for the Irish Rovers. Founder George Millar gave an enthusiastic OK to a new Celtic art design for the latest Irish Rovers CD, due out in the New Year for the legendary band's 45th year on the road ! 'The Irish Rovers Tree of Life' is for the liner notes booklet of the new 'Gracehill Fair' CD, and is a Celtic Tree of Life with the stalks and leaves representing the 45 years that the legendary band have been on the road. The Celtic Tree of Life comes out of a traditional cauldron, and entwined are the seven creations of the ancient Celtic world as they saw it - plants, humans, animals, birds, fish, reptiles and insects. The design contains a tribute to the band's landmark million selling single from 1967, 'The Unicorn', with a Celtic-style unicorn, and from a line in the song, "there were green alligators and long-necked geese....", the reptile on the 4 is a green alligator, with a long-necked goose amongst the 5.
'Irish Rovers Tree of Life' by Hamish Burgess © 2010 for the New Irish Rovers CD
The landmark album for The Irish Rovers' 45th year of touring, "Gracehill Fair" will be released on Feb 10th. It contains fine traditional songs and tunes, and great new original songs. Watch this page or our Gallery page for details on where to get it, and the Irish Rovers website.
Sunday, January 3rd - Roger McKinley, or his alter ego the Mad Bagpiper, or possibly both, played the first of his new weekly spot at ‘Mulligans on the Blue’ in Wailea at 6.30pm, and again at the Celtic Tigers break. Piper Roger Mckinley performed airs, marches jigs and reels on the Highland Pipes and Smallpipes.
Sunday, January 3rd - Hamish's 'Maui Celtic Show' on 'Sunday Solstice' on Mana'o Radio 91.5 FM, Wailuku, Maui, featured great new Celtic music, and artists from all the Celtic nations - Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Mann, Cornwall, Brittany, Galicia and the Asturias - not to mention Cape Breton and Russia !
More world exclusive advance tracks from the pre-release of the Irish Rovers new album, entitiled 'Gracehill Fair', due for release in February.
Hamish also played some songs as a tribute to Kathryn Lawrence Dragas, a lovely ladyfriend of Jennifer's, who tragically passed away recently at a young age.
The show goes out live online at www.manaoradio.com. Local time 8-10 am (Hawaii), which for the winter will now be 10am-12pm US/Canada West coast, 11am-1pm Mountain time, 12-2pm central time, 1-3pm East Coast, and 6-8pm in Ireland and the UK.