* PHOENIX TRIBAL GATHERING, SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013
* BILLY BRETT BELOVED MUSICIAN PASSES AWAY
* IRISH LANGUAGE CLASSES FOR CHILDREN, AGES 4-10, SATURDAYS, AT 12:00 P.M.
* ACADEMY OF IRISH & CELTIC STUDIES TERM 2 2013 STARTS APRIL 8TH
* NEW CELTIC/IRISH HARP TEACHER FOR THE ACADEMY
* SECOND & THIRD FRIDAY CEILIS WITH SET DANCING ON THIRD FRIDAYS
* THE CELTIC CRAFTERS AT THE ICC
* THE 7TH ANNUAL BLOOMIN’ BEERFEST SATURDAY, JUNE 15TH
* ARIZONA LAW ENFORCEMENT EMERALD SOCIETY 4TH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
* FRIENDS OF ST. PATRICK PRESENTS: THE LEGACY OF ST. PATRICK TOUR OF IRELAND OCTOBER 4-13 2013
* Anticipation of the Hance Park Master Plan RFQ builds at the Hance Park Conservancy
* TIME RUNNING OUT TO PURCHASE ENTRY STONES FOR THE MCCLELLAND IRISH LIBRARY
* ORDER YOUR CERTIFICATE OF IRISH HERITAGE AND HELP BENEFIT THE COLLEEN PROGRAMS
* IRISH FOUNDATION OF ARIZONA NEWS
* CHANDLER TULLAMORE SISTER CITIES NEWS
* IRISH CULTURAL CENTER DOCENTS NEEDED
* PHOENIX SISTER CITIES YAEP CAR WASH MAY 18TH
* PHOENIX SISTER CITIES NEWS
* RUGBY IN THE WEST VALLEY, ALL AGES
* SAVE THE DATE FOR THE FIFTH ANNUAL HARVEST FESTIVAL IN SEDONA
* CHANDLER TULLAMORE DESERT FARE COOKBOOK ON SALE
* Arizona Emerald Society Pipes and Drums
* PHOENIX GAELS NEWS
* CONTRA DANCE MOVES TO FOURTH FRIDAY OF THE MONTH
* ICLF BOARD MEETING MINUTES

The Academy of Irish and Celtic studies is starting a new Irish Language class for children ages 4 through 10 on Saturdays.  Class time begins at 12:00 p.m. and runs until 1:00 p.m. at the Irish Cultural Center.
Children will learn the fundamentals of Irish through game play and FUN!
CLASSES ARE $125 FOR A 10-WEEK TERM. 
Contact Vicki Champion at 623-680-1711, or you may sign up on line by going to:
http://iccacademy.com/SIGN_UP_FOR_CLASSES.html

The Academy of Irish & Celtic Studies begins its second term of 2013 on April 8th  The cost for music, dance and language classes is $125.00 for the 10 week term.  (Minimum 3 person class).  Private lessons are available in 30 or 60 minute time slots. Private classes may be adjusted to fit your schedule. The cost for private lessons is $20.00 per 30 minute class and $40.00 per 60 minute class. For further information, please call Pat McCrossan at (602) 254-6094.  Tuition is pro-rated for late start.
The 3rd Saturday of most months, we offer Ceili dance lessons. This is a 2 hour dance-intensive workshop, geared towards both beginning and advanced dancers of all ages. Cost is $16.00 for adults and $2.00 for children under 12.  Call Mary at 602-258-0109. RSVP requested.

Classes offered:
5-String Banjo (Clawhammer)
5-String Banjo (Scruggs Style)
Accordion
Bagpipes
Banjo (Irish Tenor)
Bodhran
Ceili Dance
Fiddle
Guitar
Harp
Highland Dance
Irish Language
Irish Step Dancing
Mandolin
Music Theory
Piano/Keyboard
Pipe Band Drumming
Slow Seisiun
Ukulele NEW CLASS   NEW:  Steve Colby is offering Ukuelle lessons.  The bigger Uke, (Baritone) is tuned like the first 4 strings of the guitar so can be used to teach smaller children basic guitar.
Welsh Language

Lifetime musician John Piggott read too many fantasy books as a child and grew up thinking the harp would be a swell instrument to learn...eventually.
"Eventually" turned out to be when he was in his 30's and it has since become the Grande passion of his life.  Since then, he has played at many Celtic festivals, gatherings and concerts, renaissance fairs, not to mention corporate events, weddings, workshops, churches and spiritual celebrations.  John was a founding member of the seminal Welsh/American traditional band 'Afan'.  These days he enjoys bringing new and diverse material to the harp strings with sources ranging from Elvis and Sting to Bach and Henry V111.
John is currently performing with Welshman John Good, our Welsh language, whistle & flute teacher.

The Center will be presenting Ceilis on the second and third Friday of the month. Enjoy Irish social dancing in a relaxed atmosphere with live music and dance lessons.  We will be learning set dancing at our third Friday Ceilis. 
Admission is $6.00 with children under 12 Free (2 with each paid admission) Ceilis start at 7:00 pm.  Ceili dance workshops at the Center are on the third Saturday of most months from 1:00-3:00 PM. These are two hour dance intensive for beginning and advanced dancers. Beginners will focus on basic footwork and simpler Ceili dances (Fairy Reel, Siege of Ennis, etc). Advanced dancers will learn more difficult figure dances (Cross Reel, Trip To The Cottage, etc). If you are an experienced Ceili go-er or if you have never danced before, this is the class for you! Make new friends and learn how to dazzle the spectators at the next ICC Ceili. Admission is $16.00 for adults and kids under 12 $2.00 RSVP required (602) 258-0109.

The Celtic Crafters at the ICC will meet  at 10:00 am on Saturday, ,May 11th at the ICC.   For  further information call Patricia Prior at 480-242-3500 or iccpr@cox.net

A unique Bloomsday Celebration which commemorates Irish author James Joyce and his groundbreaking novel, Ulysses, with beer-tasting, wine & spirits also available, readings from the novel, live Irish music and food.
DATE: 15 June, 2013, 7—11pm
LOCATION: The Irish Cultural Center
1106 N. Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ, 85004
INFO LINE: 602-258-0109
WEBSITE:www.azirish.org
CONTACT: Mary Moriarty
1106 N. Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ, 85004
602-258-0109            mary@azirish.org
Sales for this event will begin at midnight May 30, 2013 12:00 AM PST
DESCRIPTION: The Irish Cultural and Learning Foundation presents The Seventh Annual Bloomin' Beerfest Saturday, June 15, 2013, 7:00 - 11:00 PM at the Irish Cultural Center in Downtown Phoenix.
WHAT IS BLOOMSDAY? The name "Bloomsday" derives from Leopold Bloom, the protagonist of James Joyce's novel, Ulysses. June 16th was the day in 1904 on which the events in Ulysses were set. In the novel, Bloom travels around Dublin meeting many fascinating characters while making full use of the city's pubs. Bloomsday is celebrated in Ireland and throughout the world by Irish people and Joyce fans alike.  This year's event features a wide array of specialty beers produced in Arizona and Ireland, as well as our full bar.  Irish music and readings from Ulysses will be performed throughout the evening. Food will be available for purchase.
TICKETS: BEER-TASTING ADMISSION:
$27 presale, or $37 at the gate. Presale tickets available May 30 - June 15 at 12 noon at: www.azirish.org
Price includes all Bloomsday activities plus 16 token tickets which can be used for beer and/or food.
TEETOTALER’S ADMISSION:
$12 at the gate. Price includes all Bloomsday activities plus free soda or bottled water.
No alcohol can be purchased with this admission. Please purchase Teetotaler's tickets at the gate.
Members of the Irish Cultural Center & McClelland Library will receive 4 extra drink tickets.
Children under 12 $1.00, but Ulysses is definitely geared to an adult audience with its bawdy themes and salty language, so admission to the Library Readings will be limited to guests 18 years and older.

The Friends of Saint Patrick Chapter has been bringing graduates to Ireland for many years, and now, for the first time, we have packaged this incredible behind-the-scenes experience for Adults. Visit legendary and hidden sites with the experts and be welcomed by leading political and historical figures.

Visit the legendary and hidden sites of Ireland with the experts and be welcomed by leading political and historical figures. Our trip will begin in Dublin with a welcome Dinner and a visit to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral and Trinity College before heading to County Down where we stay near Downpatrick in the luxurious Slieve Donard Resort. Spend time with Tim exploring Saint Patrick’s County, meeting local people including the Ulster Scots and the Magus Vikings and come to a local traditional folk session before going to Belfast for a behind the scenes tour of Stormont, C.S. Lewis, Belfast City Hall and the Titanic Centre. The tour will meet senior politicians who will talk about the peace process and Northern Ireland today before we have a very special private dinner in the Member’s Long Gallery at the Stormont Parliament. The following day we have a civic reception in Armagh before touring that famous Cathedral City. Next the tour heads through the west of Ireland to Galway where we explore the ‘City of the Tribes’ and hold a special reception with elected official Eamon O’Cuiv, member of the Irish Parliament and grandson of Eamon de Valera, the founder of the Irish Republic. Finally we head to Glendalough to explore the legacy of Saint Kevin and back to Dublin for a trip to the Guinness Storehouse and Farewell Supper.

Seeing the sights is just half the story – meeting the people makes the trip.

PHOENIX, Arizona 12 February 2013
February 14th, the 101st anniversary of Arizona statehood, will mark an important new threshold for Hance Park, a public space in our city's heart that aspires to be a distinctive signature destination and world-class park. This Valentine's Day is the deadline for design teams from around the region and beyond to submit their qualifications to design a new master plan for Hance Park. They will be responding to the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department RFQ (Request For Qualifications http://phoenix.gov/parks/businesspks/pdfpkshancemstplan1.html).
Each design team's qualification portfolio will be evaluated by a panel of civic and professional leaders. They will select as many as five design teams for a Phoenix site visit and interview presentation. Following that interview the evaluation panel will recommend one design team to be placed under contract with the City of Phoenix to design the Hance Park master plan.

Hance Park’s 32 acre size and Central Ave location, a short distance from two light rail stations and amongst rich cultural assets of libraries, museums and arts district activities, makes Hance Park a compelling site for a new vision that invigorates the City's commitment to providing a quality of life in its urban core. The Hance Park RFQ generated master plan will give focus to this urban imperative and serve as a framework and catalyst for ongoing public and private partnership efforts in Hence Park and the surrounding urban fabric.

Neighboring stakeholders have long been concerned about the wellbeing of Hance Park, a park asset particularly challenged during the severe economic downturn. Responding to the advocacy work of the Roosevelt Action Association, the Hance Park Conservancy and citizen visioning sessions, the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department refocused on Hance Park in 2011 by appointing the Hance Park Master Plan Steering Committee. While the Committee's work identified key desirable park features and programming opportunities, their primary recommendation was to use a RFQ process to attract a first class design team to complete an inspiring and phase-able direction for reinvigorating Hance Park. This recommendation was approved in joint vote of the Parks and Recreation Board and the City Council Parks Subcommittee in the spring of 2012.

The Hance Park Conservancy will continue to advocate for a more vital Hance Park as we understand and celebrate the fact that great cities have great parks, and great parks make great cities! 

For further information contact:
Louise Roman
Hance Park Conservancy Marketing Chair
louise@louiseroman.com
602-820-7380

The McClelland Irish Library at the Irish Cultural Center is complete!  What an exciting day this is for the Irish community of Phoenix as well as the community at large. 
We still have a few engraved stones left to purchase to complete the entry way into the Library.  Make sure you go down in history by claiming your historical space on the steps of the McClelland Irish Library.  The stones are 1' square and are available for $500 each. They make the perfect gift to acknowledge and honor loved ones, past and present.   Simply download the  attached form to order your engraved stone today or visit this link https://secure.qgiv.com/for/icclesc/  
Don’t miss being a significant part of Arizona’s Irish history!! Thank you in advance for your support and generosity!  For more info contact, Bridget Costello – 480-217-1806 bridget@emeraldconsulting1.com
The McClelland Irish Library is dedicated to preserving the Irish and Celtic cultures. The library will feature an extensive collection of Irish and Celtic books, manuscripts, paintings and photographs spanning from the classics to modern writers. Our hope is that the library will educate, inspire and connect you and other visitors to this rich heritage. The McClelland Irish Library will also be the leading Irish genealogical research center in the country with tools and resources to discover your heritage