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