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Hello AmeriCeltic Reader, FLASH! At the The Celtic Heritage Celebration, this Saturday, June 19th and Sunday, June 20th, the main music stage will be in the large, air conditioned, Mark Twain building. (See Below)
• Co-founders Tony Becker and Celia Fábos-Becker offer an update and commentary on the controversy surrounding the Annual Great Dickens Faire. (See Below)
• Co-founder Celia Fábos-Becker offers timely advice on legal requirements and best practices for nonprofit Boards Connected to Public Events. (See Below)
• From Friday, June 18th, 5:00 AM — July 14th, 5:00 AM & 11:00 AM PDT each morning, Clifton House, Belfast continues its series of 11 lectures on humanitarian and activist Mary Ann McCracken to anyone, anywhere, Online via Zoom. (See Below)
• On Friday, June 18th, 11:00 AM PDT it's Accordion Fridays, with TOP NOTCH Celtic accordion masters streaming Online via Facebook Live. (See Below)
• On Saturday, June 19th and Sunday, June 20th, The Celtic Heritage Celebration returns with regional bands, famous jousting and much much more happens in Angels Camp. (See Below)
• On Saturday, June 19th, 10 AM EDT (7:00 AM PDT) the first annual Cherokee/Scottish Heritage Celebration in downtown Franklin, North Carolina. (See Below)
• On Saturday, June 19th, at 11:00 AM, it's Hyde Street Pier Chantey Sing! After years singing from the wooden decks of the historic 1886 sailing ship Balclutha at the Maritime National Historical Park, Hyde Street Pier, San Francisco, CA, this 39 year old maritime cultural tradition rises like the Phoenix from your computer or device. (See Below)
• On Saturday, June 19th, at the United Irish Cultural Center, there will be outdoor dining from 1:00 - 10:00 PM with LIVE songs from 3:00 PM from Multiple Live Music performances, under their 1800 sq.ft. 'Big Top', and now inside their large facility in San Francisco, CA. (See Below)
• On Saturday, June 19th, at 4:00 PM, Broceliande will give their Joy & Gratitude Concert online via Zoom. (See Below)
• On Sunday, June 20th at 11:00 AM, it's the Piper Sundays, Zoom meeting for an hour and one half with host Patrick D'Arcy and his guest Nicolas Brown, joining us from Ontario, Canada. (See Below)
• On Sunday, at June 20th, at 8:31 PM PDT on the West Coast of America, Midsummer Solstice Sunrise (Litha in the Celtic calendar), will live stream live to your personal devices from Stonehenge in England! If you have never been present at Stonehenge for sunrise on the summer solstice, this year you an be there in virtual space! (See Below)
• On Fridays, at 5:30 PM, the Cross Keys band, Cormac Gannon, Stacy Samuels, Neil O'Neill, sing out at the Way Station Smokehouse & Beer Garden in Fairfax, CA. (See Below)
• On Saturday, June 4th, at 1:00 PM, Sin Silver, will perform piano bar show with the theme 'L.A.'. Stay safe at home, and stream it online from from 'Murray's Pub' (her recreation/piano room) in Concord, CA. (See Below)
• On Wednesdays, well known button accordionist John Whelan offers two free events, a 'Tune Teach' and John's 'Taking Time' Session (See Below)
• Co-Founder Cecilia Fábos-Becker's e-book Ancestry & DNA: Beyond the basics, is available for download now! (See Below)
• The cherished San Francisco Celtic cultural institution, The Plough and the Stars, has re-opened (softly) from Wednesday through Sunday, 4:00 PM to 12:00 AM! (See Below)
• Sláinte Pub Jack London Square in Oakland, CA is open Tuesday - Sunday, with a full menu of great food and drink with outdoor and limited indoor dining service and on Sundays from 4 PM to 7 PM offers traditional Irish music from their house band, Buncrana. (See Below)
• On the first Sunday of each month, a small group of Starry Plough regulars stream a re-newed online Irish Session from 8:00 to 10:00 PM. (See Below)
• Multi-genre violin teacher (especially Irish Traditional Music) and performer Darcy Noonan is available for gigs and lessons. (See Below)
• Sport your Celtic heritage! AmeriCeltic offers a colorful array of items, each emblazoned with the AmeriCeltic logo. (See Below)
• The Celtic Tea Shoppe, in San Jose is your source for Celtic and Celtic inspired carry-out fresh baked foods, confections and rare teas! (See Below)
• Live music is slowly re-emerging in California! Every Sunday, there are now LIVE Irish tunes at the Auld Dubliner in Long Beach, CA. (See Below)
• While Lark In The Morning in Berkeley, CA and Exploring Music in the outer sunset neighborhood of San Francisco, CA are closed for walk-ins, both stores are open for online sales and lessons. (See Below)
• Publican Stan Gamble has re-opened The Duke of Edinburgh Pub & Restaurant, offering outdoor service 7 days a week from 4pm to late. (See Below)
• The Chieftain Irish Pub & Restaurant, local Irish Pub bringing the culture of Ireland to downtown at 5th and Howard in San Francisco. (See Below)
• The Celtic Society of Monterey Bay, has a 32 year record of producing Celtic Concerts in various venues in and around Santa Cruz and Monterey, CA. (See Below)
• Catherine Barry's Irish Culture Bay Area , offers a succinct listing of Irish events around Bay Area. (See Below)

Scan our feature articles below, or as always, you can click here to check the full listings on our website.

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Editorial: Dickens Faire Issues

Eliminating Bad Behavior and Worse at Historic/Cultural Faires

By Tony Becker and Celia Fábos-Becker - 2021-06-17

The state of California, and indeed the entire country re-opening, and soon open air historical-cultural fairies will return. For those of us who are in the habit of attending these events, the Annual Great Dickens Christmas Faire and Victorian Holiday Party, (Dickens), held at the Cow Palace Arena & Event Center in Daly City, has been a staple of that Bay Area calendar for many decades, and with the end of COVID related restrictions in California, many had hoped it might be open this coming Fall.

Unfortunately, that may not happen, due to long simmering issues of some consequence. For Dickens, over the past year, these grew into a confrontation and a mass boycott. Here is a summary of the issues and status from one of the people involved.

In the wake of the George Floyd protests last year, Red Barn Productions, the company that produces the Dickens Fair, made a statement of support for the movement. In response, a group of black Dickens Faire performers, Londoners of the African Diaspora (LoAD), started a dialog with Dickens management, Red Barn Productions, (RBP), about creating a practical Anti-Racism Initiative (ARI) and made proposals to implement it. This process continued for almost a year, but RBP resisted most change proposals and some promises were unfulfilled. RBP offered no method of working within the system to hold it's management accountable to established norms of diversity and equity and inclusivity (DEI). After this process broke down, LoAD released a public statement of 'no confidence', detailing the treatment they had received, over the years from Red Barn Productions, and their demands that the proposed 1. ARI be implemented immediately, 2. Full-time HR and DEI professionals are hired to deal with these issues, and 3. RBP immediately restructure itself with a Board of Directors to operate with more transparency and accountability such that no one person could exercise absolute control of the RBP organization. When this ultimatum was not met, LoAD, along with a coalition of supporting advocacy groups representing other marginalized identities at Dickens, organized a boycott, and many former Dickens Fair participants agreed neither to work for nor to attend the Fair until the changes were made.

In response Red Barn has since pledged to hire HR and DEI professionals and agreed to implement almost all of LoAD's suggestions for an ARI, but they refused to do anything to create transparency and accountability for their actions within the RBP organization. Without this transparency and accountability, LoAD and those in solidarity with them feel that they cannot work with Red Barn, and so the boycott continues. More recently LoAD released a statement saying that since Red Barn will not agree to a board of directors or any other oversight or transparency, LoAD will not return. However LoAD had also published a list of minimum requirements to policies to make Dickens Fair safe for marginalized identities, and LoAD has publicly urged those boycotting Dickens Fair not to stop until those minimum requirements are met.

- Cassiane Mobley 6/15/21

It seems to us that the re-starting of such public events, after this 15 months break, is an excellent opportunity address all long standing issues of abuse and exclusion that have, over the recent past, worsened at some festivals and 'faires.' Yes, there is racism within some fairs and racism and sexism have been tolerated by some organizers, and even practiced by a few. Some have also tolerated abuse perpetrated by performers against other performers and by fair and festival attendees against other attendees and performers. This cannot continue, not after all this nation has suffered and seen in the past few years because the majority of Americans are against racism, sexism and abuse of humans by others.

The majority of Celts world-wide feel the same way. It was not that long ago (1857) when Irish were routinely transported to Australia against their will all manner of minor to major offenses including petty theft, or simply for rebelling against invading conquerors. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, Cornwall and Ireland were regularly raided for white skinned captives, because they they brought high prices in Arab slave markets. Both groups have experienced economic, political and social discrimination for centuries. In our own hemisphere, some Scots were transported to the Carribian as punishment for supporting Charles II as king of Scotland in the 1650's, and some were later sold into chattel slavery.

Read More...

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Editorial: Boards from Hell

Time for Boards Connected to Public Events to Shape Up

By Celia Fábos-Becker - 2021-06-18

Again, as the pandemic shut downs are ending, and people are resuming planning and arranging public events which require attendees to purchase tickets, it is important to reconsider some past behaviors by some companies and non profit organizations. It is not just useful to one's continued success to generally reflect and review, but the national news reports suggest that it may soon be financially and legally vital.

This is not a new idea. In 1993, I earned a postgraduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from San Jose State University. During this coursework, I had an opportunity to meet the authors of several books on proper board behavior and governance, one of whom was Susan Scribner, who went on to a career as a well known consultant in that field. Ms. Scribner died in January, 2021, but her best known book, Boards from Hell, is still used in some degree and certificate programs and still available on Amazon.

From about 1980 to about 2000, I served on boards and in pro bono management for more than 10 non-profit organizations, and from my experience, in non-profit organizations, there is but one thing worse than a 'Board from Hell', and that is No Board at all!!!

Most people are probably aware of the huge national deficit as a result of the tax cuts during the previous administration and the two pandemic stimulus packages of the previous and current administrations. Now the people and most members of Congress are expecting an infrastructure building package, and it appears it also will be over $1 trillion, though not spent almost all at once as the two pandemic recovery stimulus packages were. The U.S. is running about a $3 trillion a year deficit and the Republicans, and some Democrats are balking at raising taxes again. One thing they have all agreed upon is that they WILL beef up the IRS, adding staff, technologies, and funds and a mandate to go after billionaires who have paid little or no taxes, and corporations, and other entities. No more going after just the little people when the country needs hundreds of billions of dollars and trillions to pay for its neglected needs.

Read More...

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Mary Ann 250: Series of FREE
Irish History Talks from Belfast

June 10th — July 14th, 5:00 AM & 11:00 AM PDT
(1:00 & 7:00 PM BST)

Online via Zoom

From 10th June 2021 to the 14th July 2021, Clifton House in Belfast, along with our partners, will run a series of unique free events to celebrate the life, legacy and relevance today of Mary Ann McCracken, on what would have been her 250th birthday.

Mary Ann McCracken (1770-1866) was born and lived in Belfast. In life and in the recorded history that followed, she was often overshadowed by her brother, executed United Irishman Henry Joy McCracken. However recently her name and her achievements are becoming more widely known. Mary Ann was an abolitionist, social reformer and activist who fought for the rights of women and championed the disadvantaged at both home and abroad. She lived a long life that encompassed the most turbulent years of Irish history. Her radical, humanitarian zeal and generous strength of character were indefatigable, and her contribution to Belfast life is still felt and celebrated today.

To see the full list of events and to register, visit https://belfastcharitablesociety.org/mary-ann-mccracken-foundation

We look forward to welcoming visitors from across the pond to these events. If you would like any further information, please don't hesitate to contact me:
Caroline McCoubrey
Freelance Marketing Consultant on behalf of Clifton House, Belfast
mccoubreycaroline@gmail.com

Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CliftonHouseBelfast.

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Accordion Fridays

Celtic Accordion World Masters in Concert

Online via Facebook Live!

Accordion Fridays is back! Come by this Friday for some wonderful free live shows!

Renée de la Prade, brings a set of stomp-and-holler tunes with her button accordion, voice, and her boots, mixing Cajun, blues, reggae, Irish, French, punk, and other flavors that taste good together for a rocking show. Hamburg, Germany. https://www.facebook.com/Accordion-Babes-128066897203923

Will Allen plays English, Scottish and Irish dance tunes on melodeon. Will's playing is very rhythmic, hypnotic and soulful. He's a member of the Ship Band; the U.K.'s Premier Ceilidh band. London, UK. https://www.facebook.com/willthesqueezer

Miss Salaneous a.k.a. Salane is an accordionist and singer from Oakland, CA with a wacky sense of humor and exuberant stage presence. Her music ranges from wild to goofy to spooky and haunting... she's going live from the Gun Street Girls page, a sure sign that we can expect some of her excellent Tom Waits covers. Oakland, CA USA https://www.facebook.com/thegunstreetgirls

All shows are LIVE, FREE, and HAVE ACCORDIONS. You know you want - some bellows-shaking cheer!

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The Celtic Heritage Celebration

Saturday, June 19th — Sunday, June 20th,

Calaveras County Fairgrounds, 2465 Gunclub Rd, Angels Camp, CA

The 35th Annual Celtic Heritage Celebration returns with the Largest and Biggest Celtic Event on the West Coast! Celebrating the cultures of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, Isle of Mann, Galacia and Asturias

We are welcoming back the Imperial Knights Tournament of Champions!

Imperial Knights Production Company produces an exciting medieval tournament with spectacular stunts on horseback, jousting and top-of-the-line, hand-to-hand combat with a variety of medieval weapons, cheer on your favorite knight!

We pride ourselves on our sword fighting and heavy armor jousting capabilities. With practice and hard work, we get better every day. Don’t miss any of the excitement when the Imperial Knights take the field!

Here is their promotional video: 2019 Celtic Faire Promo — Joust.

For complete details, show schedule and tickets, check http://celticheritagecelebration.com.

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Cherokee/Scottish Heritage Celebration

Saturday, June 19th, 10 AM EDT

Downtown Franklin, North Carolina

This is the first year of the Cherokee/Scottish Heritage Celebration hosted in downtown Franklin, North Carolina on Saturday, June 19th. The celebration was created to help the general public learn about the relationship between the Cherokee Nation and the Scots, who developed western North Carolina mountains and showcasing the Scottish Tartans Museum's recently added 'Cherokee/Scottish' display. The Cherokee/Scottish Heritage Celebration will begin at 10am with the opening ceremony hosted at the Franklin Town Gazebo and the various scheduled lectures, demos and living historians actors will be throughout Main Street. One of the scheduled entertainers will be John Mohr MacKintosh Pipes & Drums, who will start off the 'Celebration' after the opening ceremony and will perform throughout the event.

The Cherokee/Scottish Heritage Celebration will take place after the annual Braveheart 5K & Rob Roy Fun Run awards ceremony, a benefit for the Scottish Tartans Museum. This is the 9th year of the 5K/Fun Run and 100% of the proceeds raised from the fundraiser will be donated to the museum to assist it with its mission. The overall winners of the 5K will be knighted with the William Wallace swords by Scottish Tartans Museum curator Daniel Williamson (AKA Sir Daniel).

https://www.facebook.com/tartansmuseum

For information about the Scottish Tartans Museum or the annual Braveheart 5K & Rob Roy Fun Run, please email Dave Linn: bringingit2life@gmail.com or call 828-421-7637

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SF Virtual Chantey Sing Series

Saturday, June 19th, 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM PDT

Online via Zoom from SF Maritime Association

A folk music 'landmark' on the historic ships at Hyde Street Pier, this 39-year San Francisco singing tradition continues in the virtual realm, hosting singers from across the Bay Area – and the country - and now all around planet Earth!

Peter Kasin says,
Ahoy -
Amidst all the chaos going on around us, we still have the monthly virtual chantey sing to help bring joy, calm the nerves, and help us get through these trying times. The next one is on Saturday, June 19th, Noon to 2:15 PM Pacific time, USA, around 8pm in London and 9pm in Paris.

Lead singers will receive a separate link in another email. Since the sings have gone virtual, they have gone international. We have singers from across the country, the UK, and the Czech Republic lined up to lead us in song. All but the lead singer will be muted. Enjoy singing along on the choruses to chanteys from home.
Link for signing up to lead a song: https://maritime.org/sea-chantey-sign-up/ Please use this link ONLY if you are signing up to lead a song. You will be sent a link a few days prior to log on.

For general information,. and for non-song leaders to log in on the day and time: https://givebutter.com/ChanteySing

Visit https://maritime.org/events-home/chantey-sing for details, including links to a signup sheet, info for lead singers, and some suggested virtual backgrounds. You should have a good internet connection and be ready to have fun!

Fair winds,
- Peter Kasin

• Sign up to Lead a Song Here: https://maritime.org/sea-chantey-sign-up/
• Virtual Backgrounds required for lead singers available here: https://maritime.org/chantey-virtual-backgrounds/
• Song Leader On-boarding Instruction Here: Chantey Sing Song Leader Guide

Donations to the Association will be accepted during the event, which will be used to buy virtual technologies to broadcast more events from the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.

For more details, check this Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/SanFranciscoMaritimeNHP

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United Irish Cultural Center

Wawona Gates 1st Anniversary!
Irish Dancing 2:00 & 3:45 PM
LIVE IRISH MUSIC from Fret & Fiddle, 4-7 PM
The Jam Boys, 7:30 PM (indoors)
Outdoor Dining and limited Indoor Dining

2700 45th Avenue, San Francisco, CA

On Saturday, we kick off the Summer at Wawona Gates with Multiple Dance and Music performances beginning at 2:00 PM LIVE on the #WawonaGates stage.

Despite the pandemic, the United Irish Cultural Center has successfully operated a large event facility near the Zoo in San Francisco, serving the Irish and other Cultural communities, in the Sunset District of San Francisco. Thanks to our hard working small staff and dozens of volunteers, the UICC Wawona Gates Outdoor Dining has operated a bustling outdoor dining space under a 1,800 square foot open-sided canopy since January 2021.

And now, thanks to the just announced reductions in related restrictions, the UICC is also offering limited indoor dining in their spacious Saint Patrick's Room!

Facebook Event
UICC website
UICC Facebook Page
'Irish Shoppe' Facebook Event

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Annual Broceliande Joy & Gratitude Concert

Saturday, June 19th, 4:00 PM

Online via Zoom

Celebrate 22+ years of Brocelïanding with a joyous concert of magical Midsummer music! Dances, ballads, madrigals, and more from many times and places, live on Zoom. Tickets are $20, $40 for households of 2 or more. Buy tickets through Paypal: margaret@flowinglass.com or Venmo: @Margaret-Davis-19. Zoom link will be sent after payment. All $ goes to performers.

In keeping with their annual tradition, Celtic/Medieval Ensemble Broceliande will welcome in the Summer Solstice with a joyous concert of traditional and Early music of the season. Between them they play Celtic harp, cello, guitars, recorders, nyckelharpa, octave mandolin, flute, hardanger cello d'amore, and oboe. Join us for dances, carols, and ballads and traditional drinks after the show!

CLICK HERE for a video preview.

Broceliande is Margaret Davis, Kristoph Klover, and Kris Yenney,

Check out the Facebook Event
Check out their website: www.broceliande.org.

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Piper Sundays

Sundays at 11:00 AM
Southern California Uilleann Pipers Club

Online via Zoom
Join the Zoom Event:

Event Website: http://socalpipers.com/piper_sunday.html

Host Patrick D'Arcy says:
'It's every Sunday from 11:00 AM (PDT) for about 90 minutes. I try to get high profile Uilleann piper guests from Ireland and elsewhere. It's not so much a concert as it is a talk show with the guest playing a handful of tunes throughout. Drop by this Sunday to check it out. Our guest will be Nicolas Brown, joining us from Ontario, Canada.

Here is a video preview: Piper Sunday trailer with Tom Kline

• Sunday, June 20th, Nicolas Brown —  Details
• Sunday, June 27th, Tim Hill —  Details

From 1:30 PM on this will become our monthly So Cal Pipers Club social call

Southern California Uilleann Pipers Club Facebook Events: https://www.facebook.com/SCUPC

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Summer Solstice | Midsummer | Litha
Stonehenge Sunrise LIVE ONLINE!

Sunday, June 20th, 8:31 PM PDT

Mark your Calendar for this one! English Heritage, https://www.english-heritage.org.uk, is a charity that manages over 400 historic monuments, buildings and places throughout England, and this year the famous summer solstice at Stonehenge will stream live on English Heritage's Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/englishheritage at sunrise on Sunday, June 20th, 8:31 PM PDT here on the West Coast of America (That is Monday morning, June 21st at 4:31 AM GMT in England.)

The in person event has been cancelled due to COVID, but knowing how important Solstice is to many, the event streaming video will be available online, for free, to watch the both Solstice sunset and sunrise.

Click Here to watch live!. More details here on the English Heritage's Facebook Page, where there will be Facebook live stream (look for the little red LIVE button).

Read more on the Stonehenge events of past years here: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8335661/Stonehenge-livestream-sunrise-summer-solstice.html

Midsummer is one of the four solar holidays celebrated by agricultural cultures throughout the Northern Hemisphere. It is the turning point at which summer reaches its height and the sun shines longest. Here are some brief descriptions of how some of the Celtic cultures celebrate this annual event.

Ireland
Many towns and cities have 'Midsummer Carnivals' with fairs, concerts and fireworks either on or on the weekend nearest to Midsummer. In rural spots particularly the northwest, bonfires are lit on hilltops. This tradition harks back to pagan times and is now associated with "St. John's Night". After much initial upset in the west of Ireland, The Irish Environmental Protection Agency, created an exemption for the burning of bonfires outdoors during midsummer night. Traditionally the longest day of the year in Ireland falls on June 21.

Scotland
Midsummer festivals are celebrated throughout Scotland, notably in the Scottish Borders where Peebles holds its Beltane Week. The Eve of St. John has special magical significance and was used by Sir Walter Scott as the title, and theme, for a pseudo-ballad poem. He invented a legend in which the lady of Smailholm Tower, near Kelso, keeps vigil by the midnight fires three nights in a row (see above) and is visited by her lover; but when her husband returns from battle, she learns he slew that lover on the first night, and she has been entertained by a very physical ghost.

Wales
In Wales it is called Gwyl Ifan, or Gwyl Ifan Ganol Haf (St John's of Midsummer) to distinguish it from Gwyl Ifan Ganol Gaeaf (St John's of Midwinter, the feast of John the Evangelist). Great agricultural fairs used to be held at this time, along with merriment, dancing, and a bonfire. With the advent of non-conformist beliefs on the Welsh socio-political culture, this (among so many other similar festivals) suffered greatly, and its observance finally died out in south-east Wales by the end of the 19th century. However, since 1977, a folk-dance revival started in Cardiff, and is held now annually on this feast day.

Wiccan
Some Wiccan traditions call the festival Litha , a name occurring in Bede's The Reckoning of Time, which preserves a list of the (then-obsolete) Anglo-Saxon names for the twelve months. Ærra Liða (first or preceding Liða ) roughly corresponds to June in the Gregorian calendar. Bede writes that "Litha means gentle or navigable, because in both these months the calm breezes are gentle and they were wont to sail upon the smooth sea".

Source - Wikipedia

Midsummer’s Eve in Ireland (21 June)

A hundred years ago, and for many centuries before, Midsummer’s Eve was celebrated throughout Ireland on the 23 June, that is, on Saint John’s Eve. The bonfire was central to the activities of Midsummer’s Eve, and those who witnessed the flames more than a lifetime ago noted that the landscape was filled with hundreds of bonfires, creating a beautiful aspect by illuminating the country as far as the eye could see. These fires were lit on elevated sites including mountain tops and hills, but also in fields, at crossroads and on the streets and in squares of towns and villages throughout the country. In Dublin bonfires were outlawed by the Lord Mayor in the 1700’s, and as a substitute, the towns’ people attached candles to trees and bushes to maintain the tradition in some form. Gradually, during the nineteenth century, coercion bills eliminated bonfires from many towns and villages across Ireland. Bonfires in previous centuries fed on materials that could easily be obtained; in some areas straw, reeds and wood were collected throughout the whole six months leading up to Midsummer’s Eve, while in other areas the bonfire was principally made of turf, with every inhabitant of the village donating their own share to feed the bonfire. Well into the last century the ancient Irish tradition of burning animal bones continued, some believe in imitation of ancient sacrifices, in certain parts of Munster and Connaught, the addition of which created crackling noises, bright stray sparks, while, at the same time, providing the origin of their very name “bone-fire”, now generally spelled and often pronounced as bonfire.

The Midsummer’s bonfire was thought to increase fertility and produce luck, while passing through the flames of the fire was also thought to provide protection from both the fairies and the evil eye. Many accounts relate how cattle were driven through the flames between two persons who each held lighted sheaf of straw or reeds, known as a “cleer”. Members of the household also jumped through the fire, as did lovers who held hands in the hope of encouraging their own fertility. In County Cavan, a century ago, it was still believed that if you ate your supper by the fire on Midsummer’s Eve you would be protected from hunger throughout the coming year, while farmers often spread a sod of turf, coal, ashes, or even holy water on their crops as a method of protection from diseases including blight on Midsummer Eve.

Games and amusements were performed by many who attended, caps were often grabbed from unsuspecting heads and thrown or, at least, pretended to be thrown in the flames by the more boisterous members of the community. Spectators at the bonfires also fashioned bundles of reeds or straw which, when lit, were waved through the air, and in some places including Belmullet in County Mayo sods of lighted turf where thrown to the sky in the belief that the air would be purified through the motion of these smouldering sods. Additionally, a lighted piece of turf or a coal was often taken from the bonfire and carried home to relight the hearth in the household, which according to many accounts, was annually quenched on Midsummer’s Eve.*

*It is worth mentioning that quenching the fire on Midsummer’s Eve was only observed in some localities, as there was a strong tradition in many parts of Ireland of keeping the hearth fire burning continuously for years, or even decades, on end.

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The Cross Keys

Fridays, 5:30 - 8 PM PDT

Way Station Smokehouse & Beer Garden, 2001 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Fairfax, CA

The Cross Keys are a Folk Explosion, with Cormac Gannon, Stacy Samuels, Neil O'Neill.

Cormac says:
Looking forward to playing with my comrades!

Here is a sample video featuring Stacy Samuels: https://youtu.be/8wKMcbIzKzs

Located in beautiful Fairfax, in the heart of Marin County, the Way Station has risen from the site of a former gas station into a family-friendly beer garden and smokehouse. The Way Station team prides itself on super friendly customer-focused service.

Check waystationmarin.com or The Facebook Page or call (415) 300-3099.

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Sin Silver

Saturdays, 1:00 - 2:00 PM PDT

Online via YouTube and Facebook LIVE, from Concord, CA

Sin Silver is an Irish singer songwriter based in the Bay Area in California. To watch the show, go to Sin Silver's YouTube channel or Facebook Profile, and then look for the little red LIVE button.

Sin live-streams from 'Murray's Pub' (her recreation/piano room) every week and this week's theme is 'L.A.'. Find Sin's Live Performance by checking Sin's Facebook Profile, or go to www.livestream.com/watch and search for Sin Silver.

During the live stream, just drop your requests in the comments.

Virtual Tip Jar:
PayPal https://www.paypal.me/sinsilversin
Venmo @Sin-Silver

With a unique style, her 'Irish piano' and angelic voice are delighting audiences. A featured artist at Northern California's Graton Casino Resort, she brings a unique flavor to her craft. Whether she is playing her expertly crafted originals, covers with her own twist or celtic music, Sin Silver is someone that deserves to be heard live.

Check out her website here:  www.sinsilverandtheavenue.com or email her at sinsilverandtheavenue@gmail.com.

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John Whelan Tune Workshop & Session

Wednesdays, 2:30 - 5:00 PM

Online via Zoom

Since March 2020, John has stepped up his online activities, and his latest project is Master Sessions with John Whelan. This edition of Whelan Master Sessions features The McCarthy Family.

On Wednesdays, John also offers a free one-hour tune teach from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM followed by John's 'Taking Time' slow session at 4:00 PM Pacific - Check them out here: http://johnwhelanmusic.com/slow-session. John sends out a tune list and Zoom link for them on Wednesday mornings. Email John at whelanbx1@me.com to get on the list or for more details.

Seven-time All-Ireland Button Accordion Champion John Whelan is one of the world's best living Irish button accordion players. John was raised in the vibrant London Irish music scene of the 1970s, and learned his craft from such legends as Lucy Farr, Roger Sherlock, Paddy Taylor, Mick O Connor and his teacher Brendan Mulkaire. Along with his All-Ireland Championships, he was twice awarded musician of the year from the Irish Music Association. He has over 15 CDs and has performed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. John's music has been featured on such TV shows as 'Sex in the City,' 'History's Mysteries' and 'History Detective.' John performs with the John Whelan Band and has also teamed up with his old pal Brian Conway forming the group Gailfean, which also features Máirtin De Cógáin and Don Penzien have released their first new CD. For over a decade, John has performed 'Monday's with John' every Monday evening on his Facebook Profile.

Get more details on John's website: http://johnwhelanmusic.com

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