May 15

May 15, 2012

The book discussion was such a super get together. There were 6 of us.  The Last of the Donkey Pilgrims by Kevin O Hara was a the book chosen. The book seems to have touched a string in all of our hearts and we all had so much to contribute to the discussion. I loved it.

Dorothy had a nice table set up with tea and scones and Joan brought cheese and crackers.

Debbie suggested that we switch to another of our Celtic cultures for our next book to learn a bit about them. So we have chosen, the Legend of the Celtic Stone, of Scottish history, the first of a two part series, by Michael Phillips. I have started it and am finding it intriguing.

At this point the next book discussion will be in November. Joan Kramer will let us know the details when she gets a chance.

Our next event will be on June 16^th. The real Bloomsday this year. Last year, our first year, we cheated a bit and celebrated on the evening of June 15^th to coincide with the music that Sean O Dwanny hosts at 52 Stafford on Wednesday nights. The world celebrates on June 16^th.

Bloomsday—June 16th—is an annual celebration among Joyce fans throughout the world, from Fort Lauderdale to Melbourne. It is celebrated in at least sixty countries worldwide, but nowhere so imaginatively, of course, as in Dublin. There the events of Leopold Bloom's day are reenacted by anyone who cares to participate, and his itinerary is followed all across Dublin.

At lunchtime it's traditional to stop off for a glass of burgundy and a Gorgonzola sandwich at Davy Byrne's Pub on Duke Street, just as Bloom did. In the afternoon the Ormond Hotel is the spot for an afternoon pint, where Bloom was tempted by the barmaids in the Sirens chapter.

This is from Infoplease.com

I plan on being there at 6:30PM for dinner and then the Bloomsday festivities will begin at 7PM. I plan on doing some readings, bringing Gorgonzola cheese and Burgundy to enhance the festive mood.

Then, on July 18^th, we, at the book discussion, decided that we would like to meet at 52 Stafford again for a fun night of the CRAIC. A group of musicians always have a session there on Wednesday night. Again, if you want to have a dinner out too, come to the Inn at 6:30PM so that we can have a good table and hopefully a super meal before the session.

Irishfest Milwaukee is the weekend of August 17, 18,19. We are hoping to have a BIG gang of the Sheboygan County Branch to carpool to the Fest on Sunday. Sunday is a great day. We can get in free if we bring food to the Mass at 9AM. The Fest opens at 11:00AM. At 3PM, the Celtic Women march in the Irishfest parade. If there are enough of us, I have flags from all the seven Celtic Nations that we can proudly carry behind our banner. All we need are nine stalwart women. Let me know.

Labor Day Weekend, on Saturday September 1^st, I am going to ask for a CWI table in the hall at the Highland Games in Waukesha again. This year I want to be there at the opening and stay til the endof the day. I only got to see a small part last year and feel it is a wonderful Celtic Festival and a good place to recruit members.

Samhain is currently scheduled for October 28 , If this changes I will let you know. More information later.

November 17^th is the tentative day for the next book discussion. More information later.

December, (No date yet) we will co-host the Christmas Tea at the Plymouth History Museum with the Sheboygan County Historical Research Center.

So that's it. A fun filled half year is ahead of us. Hope you all can join us for all or most of our meetings. Bring friends. Growing is fun too.

Dia Dhuit

Mary Kunert

920-893-5139

May 6 Newsletter

May 6, 2012 Early May Update for the Sheboygan Branch of Celtic Women International Thanks to those of you who contributed and/or attended the CWI Annual Meeting and Gathering at the Inn on Woodlake and the American Club. It was a super event carried out under the careful planning of Joan Kramer and Dorothy Rose, with help from so many others – Janet Bieschke, Rebecca Belmont to name just two. We started off with a sausage and cheese reception in the Hall of the Great Lakes at the American Club and it reached new heights with each event. The annual meeting the next morning went very well. We have our new slate of officers and full board of directors. Debbie O'Grady has agreed to stay on as our International President. We learned to make very special note cards on Saturday morning, then were treated to a Low Tea by John Vollmer, Pastry Kitchen Chef at the American Club. The Low Tea made a great lunch and John gave us the recipes for the pastries on the table and will get any other American Club recipes we want to us. Then we went back to the Inn on Woodlake and were treated to a Bagpipe concert by Mary Lynn Donahue, a local attorney and super bagpipe player before dinner at Blackwolf Run. Perhaps next year, more of the Sheboygan members can plan to attend the Annual Gathering. The destination is not yet determined but updates will come. Sheila Isakson has agreed to head the Annual meeting committee.– though we did have a nice turnout. CALENDAR OF EVENTS May 12, 2012 - Book discussion meeting at UCC, 1405 State Road 67, Plymouth WI 53073. The meeting will start at 2PM. Dorothy Rose is our host. We are discussing the Last of the Donkey Pilgrims by Kevin O Hara. If you have not read it come anyway. You may find out that you want to read it and can also help pick out the next book. June 16, 2012 – Bloomsday. 52 Stafford has agreed to cosponsor this world wide event with us. Anyone who has read Ulysses by James Joyce, please come to help me not make a fool of myself again. June 16th is a Saturday this year. The book covers one day in Dublin, June 16, and is considered James masterpiece. Lets meet at 52 Stafford at 6:30PM for dinner and follow that with readings from Ulysses or other James works. I will again bring Gorgonzola cheese to go along with the most famous food mentioned in the book. People can buy their own Burgundy if they want some. July is still up in the air. We had our garden tea in Kate Herman's lovely yard last year. Do we want another tea, or perhaps a scone or pasty making fest? We could use my house for that as I have two ovens. Or are there other ideas. Jump in. August 18-21 - Milwaukee Irishfest (irishfest.com). The best Irish Festival in the nation. On Sunday, CWI marches in the afternoon parade. This year, if we have enough people, we can carry our banner PLUS flags from all 7 of the Celtic Nations. Please come, you can't go wrong with this one. September 1,2,3 ,Labor Day Weekend - The Wisconsin Highland Games (wisconsinscottish.org). I am again planning on asking for a table for Saturday of the games for CWI. I want to spend all of Saturday this year and get to see more of the wonderful events and displays that are all over the grounds. We could conceivably have a table for all three days but I will only be responsible for Saturday. Any ideas, or interest? October 28, Samhain - Our annual potluck to celebrate the end of the summer and the beginning of the dark season of the year. Bring your friends, significant others and things to celebrate those who have gone ahead of us. We invite them to the gathering with place mats and place settings for them. Bring harvest food. I will be bring colcannon. November – Book discussion group – Date not decided. December – Christmas tea with the Sheboygan County Historical Research Center and the Plymouth History Museum. Date not decided. That's all I have Folks. Hope it all sounds exciting to you. Please bring friends to any of the events. The more the merrier and we do have fun. Dia Dhuit Mary Kunert mary.kunert@gmail.com 920-893-5139 Cell: 920-912-5345

2012 Spring Gathering

The Annual Meeting and Gathering was especially meaningful for me this year. It gave me two days and nights to renew my spirit in the company of the dynamic women that comprise us - Celtic Women International. As we grow, I hope that more of our members will be able to take advantage of this gathering as we get to know sisters that are outside of our immediate circle AND are introduced to things of the culture that are always new and exciting.

Double blessings and thanks to Joan Kramer, Dorothy Rose, Rebecca Belmont and Janet Bieschke who put in hours and lots of love and thought to have this weekend run so smoothly.

Congratulations to Sheila Isakson on her award. Thank you for all you did to help with the gift bags. And for everything else that you do.

Dia Dhuit - Go proudly through the days