Dancers Emily, Niamh, Grace and Stephanie danced The Four Hand Reel Céilí Dance and came away with Gold Medals .

The Dancers now go forward to The All Britain Fleadh in Leicester 23 – 24th June where they will face competition from England, Scotland and Wales.  Their dance Teacher Jodie Kennedy praised her students for their efforts and watching parents where delighted with the performance.

Hire our Function Room at Bradford Irish Club  and be Sure

of a Warm Welcome

Your Host Brian Flaherty

Perfect for Parties and Celebrations

Catering service Available Upon request

or Self catering Option

Tel : 01274 732000 After 7:00pm

After Midday on Weekends

Dates Secured By Non Returnable Deposit

Lessons in Irish Step Dancing every Saturday at Bradford Irish Club

Teacher Jodie Kennedy T.C.R.G

Facebook Page

Ring Bradford Irish Club

Rebecca Street Bradford BD1 2RX -

01274 732 000

Lessons in Irish music in Bradford

Bradford Irish Club.  Wednesdays 7-9.30

Rebecca Street,

BD1 2RX - 01274 732 000

All abilities and ages welcome.

Lessons in Harp, Accordion, Flute,Mandolin, Bodhran and Whistle.

Ring Dom 07946318129 or Dave 07768905791 or

Email info@bradfordirish.com

Use these posts and pages to find out what’s happening on the Irish scene in and around Bradford and the wider West Yorkshire area.  If you’ve got an event or a session post it here.  Just register and login details will be emailed out to you.

JATP Jazz at Bradford Irish Club  Feb – July

Well done to Brian, Rita and all at the club for putting on what looks like another cracking St Patricks Day. Lets hope for a victory in the rugby to make the day complete!!!!

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/9528262.Live_music_for_disabled_fans/

Sessions provide safe environment for residents to listen and

socialise

Back from left, Alan Holian, Brian Flaherty and Gregory Romer, and front John and Annie Drury at the Irish Club entertaining people with disabilities

The organiser of the event – aimed at providing a safe, friendly environment for vulnerable people to enjoy music and socialising – is appealing for local bands to perform.

The live music sessions, held at lunchtimes, are a collaboration between Bradford Irish Club and Supported Lives, which provides one-to-one support for people with disabilities, enabling them to live independently in the community rather than going into care.

“The sessions are open to all, but particularly to people with disabilities,” said John Drury, a director at Supported Lives. “The aim is to provide people who are vulnerable with a safe environment where they can watch live music and get together socially. That kind of facility is quite limited in Bradford.

“It’s a no-profit venture. We charge £3 for entry, and carers get in free, and we pay limited expenses to the acts who play.”

A  fantastic array of talented

musicians and dancers on stage at

Bradford Irish Club this Year

StrumDinger

The Marriott Extravaganza

AND

THE WASHBURN EXPERIENCE

Featuring John Griffen

ALSO

Our resident Master of Ceremonies

Seán Ó Conduin introduces

Los Músicos Irlandeses Reclutados

Los San Patricios

The Sunbridge Art Club Portrait Class

Bradford Irish Club

Every Wednesday 6.30 – 8.30

Members and Models Welcome

Class Only £3.00 Per Week

Tel : Malcolm Stead 01274 774 912

Bernard Oakes  01274 674 705

Join Us On New Years Eve and for

The Second Year Running

Enjoy the  Old Time Harmonies  of

Appearing at Bradford Irish Club 31/12/2011

Bradford Irish Club Manager Brian gets all dewy eyed and poetic in Ballyjamesduff after the Fleadh

The Garden of Eden has vanished, they say, But I know the lie of it still. Just turn to the left at the Bridge of Finnea And stop when halfway to Cootehill. ‘Tis there you will find it, I’ll go, sure enough, When fortune has come to my call, For the grass it grows around Ballyjamesduff, And the blue sky is over it all. And tones that are tender, and tones that are gruff, Are whispering over the sea: ‘Come back Paddy Reilly, to Ballyjamesduff, Come home, Paddy Reilly, to me’.

My mother once told me that when I was born, The day that I first saw the light. I looked down the street on the very first morn, And gave a great crow of delight. Now most new-born babies appear in a huff, And start with a sorrowful squall. But I know I was born in Ballyjamesduff And that's why I smiled on them all! The baby's a man now, he's toil-worn and tough, Still, whispers come over the sea. 'Come back Paddy Reilly, to Ballyjamesduff, Come home, Paddy Reilly, to me'. * The night that we danced by the light of the moon, Wid Phil to the fore wid his flute. When Phil threw his lip over "Come a-gin soon", He'd dance the foot out o' yer boot! The day that I took long Magee by the scruff, For slander in' Rosie Kitrain; Then march - in' him straight out of Ballyjamesduff, As-sis-ted him into a drain. Oh ! sweet are me dreams, as the dudeen I puff, Of whisperings over the sea. 'Come back Paddy Reilly, to Ballyjamesduff, Come home, Paddy Reilly, to me'.

I've loved the young wee-man of every land, That always come easy to me. Just barrin' the bells of the Black-a-more brand And chocolate shops of Feegee. But that sort of love is a moon shinning stuff, And never will addle me brain; For bells will be ringin' in Ballyjamesduff For me and me Rosie Kilrain. And all through their glamour, their gas, and their gruff, A whisper comes over the sea. 'Come back Paddy Reilly, to Ballyjamesduff, Come home, Paddy Reilly, to me'.

A party of 10 members of Bradford Irish Club attended Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in Cavan  in August and had a rare ould time.

We were based in Killeshandra at a beautiful villa owned by Paul and Geraldine O’Dowd.   The Guinness flowed, the freshest food you wish for came from the impresive vegetable garden and courtesy of the chickens who gave us our daily breakfast.  A glorious week in sublime surroundings.

Sessions were enjoyed in Cavan and in Killeshandra.    David Conley from Bradford Comhaltas on the bodhran here.

Hi folks

Just thought that I would let you know that we have signed up to Premier Sports and will now be showing Gaelic Games starting this Sunday at 1.30pm with Tipperary v Roscommon in The Minor Football Championship Semi Final  followed by Mayo V Kerry in The Senior Football Championship Semi Final at 3.00pm.

So if you are a fan or new to Gaelic Sports  come along and watch a match

Bradford Irishman Shaun Doherty is the latest member of the renowned boxing family to put the gloves on.   Shaun fights Martin Ward  (Tyne & Wear)  on 9th April aiming to continue his journey towards a tilt at the British  title.  Shaun who is sponsored by Bradford Irish Club literally  follows in the footsteps of father John who now trains him.   Shaun won his first pro title after winning the vacant British Masters super-bantam belt with a thrilling victory over home-town favourite Matthew Edmonds in Newport.

Doherty stopped the fancied Welshman in the final round of a back-and-forth contest, dropping him three times before referee Roddy Evans stepped in.

John and Shaun are both proud of their Irish roots and brought their trophies into the club to the delight of onlookers and had a great time telling stories and joking.  Shaun in particular proved to be very popular with the local colleens.

Learn how to speak Irish at Bradford Irish Club  (Club Éireannach Atha Leathan)

Class on Thursday evenings.  All welcome  from beginners upwards.  It’s not important what your ambition is as long as you are motivated.  You’ll find a friendly relaxed environment that’s a million miles from the school language lessons that  so many students came to dread.

So come along and experience the language of the Gael

For more information

Contact Liam Padden 07840704975

A Full day of Music, Dance  Food and Drink was enjoyed by a huge crowd of revellers at Bradford Irish Club.   Entertainment was provided by The Molly Maguires, The Richard Marriot Experience featuring a welcome  guest appearance from Eamon  ( of the  Melborne).   The Evening music was provided by the  popular Andy McDermott Trio who had people on their feet  dancing the night away.   Incidental musical episodes came from Los Músicos Irlandeses Reclutados and a lovely cameo from Marie Dillon that got everybody singing along.  Seán O’Condúin keeping crowd and musicians happy as MC, technical director and occasional backing musician, The Festival atmosphere was sustained by the regular ingestion of Irish Stew in healthy portions washed down with gallons of the black stuff.  A great day was enjoyed by all who came to Bradford Irish Club to celebrate the festival of our Patron Saint.  Old friendships were renewed and new friends were made against a background music, smiles  and the wearing of the  green.

Beidh clár ráidio ar CD le fail go luath. Is clár nócha noimead é agus a bhí sé craoladh a cheaduair i 2005 ar BCB  106.6 fm. Leirigh le Seo Ó Síoráin an clar atá comhrá idir trí stairithe agus oideachasóir áitiúil. ‘Duck Eggs’ is ainm don clár – bhí sé an t-ainm go raibh a tugtha do inimircaigh Éireannach le pobal óstach, an tuairisciú atá ó thús den naoú haois dena dheireanach. Tá iarfhocal ag tógáil an stair dena hÉireannaigh in Átha Leathan go dtí an lá atá inniú ann.

A 90-minute radio programme first broadcast in 2005 on BCB 106.6 fm is soon to be made available on CD. The programme, produced and presented by Joe Sheeran, is a conversation between three historians and a local educationalist. Entitled ‘Duck Eggs’ – the name given to Irish migrants in Bradford, the period covered is from the early 19th century to its end.   A postscript/epilogue takes the history of the Irish community in Bradford to the present day.

It seems that it’s not really well  known that our city is a twin town of the City of the Tribes but we have been twinned since 1987.  So what does it mean ?     Bradford Twin Towns Association (BTTA) aims to promote the friendships developed over more than 30 years between the people of the twin towns  and  Bradford,  although the BTTA entry on the DIVA site makes no mention of Galway.

However,  Bradford Council seems to be more up to date.

The Twin Towns

Galway, Ireland – twinned 1987

Mirpur District Council, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan – friendship agreement 1998
Mönchengladbach, Germany – twinned 1971
Roubaix, France – twinned 1969
Skopje, Republic of Macedonia – twinned 1963
Verviers, Belgium – twinned 1970

More about Galway

Galway (Irish: Gaillimh, pronounced [ˈɡalʲɪvʲ]) or City of Galway (Cathair na Gaillimhe) is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the fifth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city in the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay. The population of Galway city and its environs is 72,729 according to the 2006 census.

Galway is known as Ireland’s Cultural Heart (Croí Cultúrtha na hÉireann) and is renowned for its vibrant lifestyle and numerous festivals, celebrations and events. Every July, Galway hosts the Galway Arts Festival which is known for its famous Macnas parade.

In 2004, there were three dance organisations, ten festival companies, two film organisations, two Irish language organisations, 23 musical organisations, twelve theatre companies, two visual arts groups, and four writers’ groups based in the city.

Furthermore, there were 51 venues for events, most of which were specialised for a certain field (e.g. concert venues or visual arts galleries), though ten were described as being ‘multiple event’ venues. Major squares in the city include Eyre Square (containing John F. Kennedy Park) in the centre of the city, and Spanish Parade next to the Spanish Arch.

In 2007, Galway was named as one of the eight “sexiest cities” in the world. A 2008 poll ranked Galway as the 42^nd best tourist destination in the world, or 14^thnd in Ireland (behind Dingle). It was ranked ahead of all European capitals except Edinburgh, and many traditional tourist destinations in Europe (such as Venice).

Galway has a vibrant and varied musical scene. As in most Irish cities traditional music is popular and is kept alive in pubs and by street performers. Notable bands from Galway include The Saw DoctorsThe Stunning. Galway Early Music Festival presents European music from the 12th to the 18th century. It encourages not only music, but also dance and costumes. The festival involves both professional and amateurs musicians.

Galway Cathedral Recitals is an international series of concerts of classical music concerts each July and August since 1994.

The Galway Arts Festival (Féile Ealaíon na Gaillimhe) takes place in July. It was first held in 1978 and since then has grown into one of the biggest arts festivals in Ireland. It attracts international artists as well as providing a platform for local and national performers. The festival features parades, street performances and plays, musical concerts and comedy acts. Highlights of the festival tend to be performances by Macnas and Druid, two local performance groups.

The renowned performer and singer Siobhan McCormack currently resides in Galway with well known dancer Michael Flanagan.

Galway Arts Festival Parade 2007

There are 6,870 Irish speakers in Galway city nearly 10% of the population. Galway city has a reputation amongst Irish cities for being associated with the Irish language, music, song and dancing traditions. It is sometimes referred to as the ‘Bilingual Capital of Ireland’, although like all other cities in the Republic of Ireland, the vast bulk of the city’s inhabitants converse mostly in English. The city is well known for its “Irishness”, mainly due to the fact that it has on its doorstep the Galway Gaeltacht. Irish theatre, television and radio production and Irish music form a component of Galway city life, with both An Taibhdhearc, the National Irish Language Theatre, in Galway city centre, while TG4 and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta headquarters are in the Connemara Gaeltacht in County Galway. Four electoral divisions, or neighbourhoods (out of twenty-two), are designated as Gaeltachtaí. NUI Galway also holds the archive of spoken material for the Celtic languages.

Places of Interest

Eyre Square

Galway

The heart of the city, also known as “The Square”, it was been built in 1710 by Mayor Edward Eyre.

The Medieval City Walls
Eyre Square
Tel: + 353 91 568 302
Medieval city walls built to protect the Norman invaders from the native Irish.

Kirwan’s Lane
Kirwan’s Lane is a long walk in the medieval Galway.
Kerwan’s Lane off Quay Street
Tel: + 353 91 563 081

Galway Arts Centre
47 Dominick Street
Galway
Website: Galway Arts Centre

Lynch’s Castle
Shop Street
Galway
Tel: + 353 91 567 041
Lynch’s Castle is one of the oldest castles of Ireland and the only complete secular medieval building left standing in Galway.Today it houses the AIB bank.

Kenny’s Art Gallery
Middle Street
Tel: + 353 91 562 739
Fax: + 353 91 568 544
Website: Kenny’s Art Gallery

Galway City Museum
Small museum that preserves some folk and medieval artefacts and all documentation recalling the city’s development since the 12th century.
Spanish Arch
Galway
Tel: + 353 91 567 641

The Claddagh Ring Museum
Quay Street
Galway

Historical Buildings and Monuments

Galway Cathedral
Cathedral Square
University and Gaol Road
Tel:+ 353 91 563 577
Built between 1958 and 1965, the Cathedral stands on the site of the old city jail.

St. Nicholas’ Collegiate Church
Lombard Street
Tel: + 353 91 564 648
One of the oldest churches in Ireland, founded in the 14th Century.

The Browne Doorway
Eyre Square

The Spanish Arch
Tel:+ 353 91 563 081
Galway’s most famous monument, the Spanish Arch was built in the late sixteenth century during the war between England and Spain.

The Cannons
Eyre Square
Iron cannons that were presented to the Connaught Rangers, at the end of the Crimean War.

Nora Barnacle House
8 Bowling Green
Tel: + 353 91 564 743
Home of Nora Barnacle, James Joyce’s wife.

Aughnanure Castle
3.5km from Oughterard off the N59 – Oughterard to Galway road.
Tel: + 353 91 552 214
Built by the O’Flaherty family around 1500.

Wildlife, Scenery and Nature

Aran Islands
The Aran Islands – Inis Mór (Inishmore), Inis Meain (Inishmaan), and Inis Oirr (Inisheer)- are situated across the mouth of Galway Bay
The Bay once was a large lake but millenia of erosion created the Aran Islands. The biggest attraction is Dún Aengus, a stone fortress on Inishmore.
Tel: + 353 99 61 263
Fax: + 353 99 61 420
Website: Aran Islands

Hill of Doon
Galway
Scenic viewing point along the Glann Road shore of Lough Corrib.

Connemara

Places of interest

Ross Castle
Rosscahill
Ireland

Alcock and Brown Landing Site
Derrygimlagh Bog
Clifden
Tel: + 353 91 563 081

Connemara Heritage and History Centre
Lettershea
Tel: + 353 95 21 246
Fax: + 353 95 22 098

Wildlife, Scenery and Nature

Connemara National Park
Letterfrack
Tel: + 353 95 41 054
Website: Connemara National Park

Roundstone Bay

Connemara
‘The bay of the rock of the seals’. Great site for fishing.

Twelve Bens (Connemara Mountains)
Connemara has four ranges of mountains with an alpine environment: the Twelve Bens, Maum Turks, Partry and Sheffrey.

Lough Corrib
Tel: 353-095-41116
E-mail: conamara@indigo.ie
Website: Aillwee Cave.ie

Vast lake of 41,600 acres and some of the best fishing in Ireland.

FLAVOURS OF IRELAND

JOIN

JOE SHEERAN

FOR

A

ST PATRICK’S DAY SPECIAL

of

MUSIC – POETRY – SONG – STORY

MARCH 17th 2011

9am. – 11a.m.

BCB 106.6 FM

or

ONLINE

www.bcbradio.co.uk

Fáilte isteach go leir

All bands billed are now confirmed and we looking forward to greeting all our old and new friends to a great ST.PATRICK’S DAY FESTIVAL OF MUSIC, SONG AND CRAIC.Looking forward to seeing you all there.
Slainte, Sean O’ Conduin

Na’then how you doin?  I am the MC at the Topic on 16th March, moved from the usual Thursday so that you can get more music into the St Patrick’s  week at the Irish Club.  Singers and musicians and listeners, especially those who have yet to visit the Topic, are welcome to play /sing / recite for their and our entertainment.  We start at 8:30, let me know as soon as you get there if you want to do a spot.

Don’t forget to boogie!  Cheers  Rob

An excellent article by Katie Binns and hosted on the BBC website gives an overview of the events surrounding the mass arrival of Irish people into Bradford during the first half of the 19th Century, their living conditions and how they were “Welcomed” by the Bradfordians.

Click Here

Why should you tick the Irish Ethnicity box in the 2011 Census ?   What is the difference between ethnicity and nationality ?  What if I am of mixed race  or dual nationality ?

How Irish Are You?.

The Irish in Britain Census campaign (brought to you by the Federation of Irish Societies) is being run for and by the Irish community to encourage Irish people and people of Irish descent to register their Irishness in the upcoming Census.

When the last Census took place ten years ago, a substantial number of people of Irish descent, despite having one or two Irish parents, thought the Irish ethnicity tick box didn’t apply to them because of having been born here. We are doing our best to make sure everyone of Irish descent can choose to be included.

St Patrick’s Day  at Bradford Irish Club this year promises to be a full day of Music, Dance and Great Craic.  A chance to enjoy the day in the company of friends, family and some of the best local  musicians in the  centre of Irish Culture in  Bradford.

Performances from

The Andy McDermott  Trio

Seán O Condúin

The Marriott Experience

Los Músicos Irlandeses Reclutados

The Molly Maguires

Plus many other local  Musicians

So  Come Along and Celebrate our Special Day !

Get in the mood for St Pats by paying a visit to The Topic Folk Club for

St Patrick’s Special (Wednesday Night) Entry Free

A special ‘open house’ night as part of the Irish Club celebrations – come down and join our friends at the Irish Club for a great night of songs and tunes. Guinness optional! But please note this is on the Wednesday night, not Thursday.

Wednesday 16th March in Bradford Irish Club.  Click the link for more info or email  grintyATBlueyonder.co.uk

The Topic Folk Club : Established 1956 – The world’s Longest Running and Surviving Folk Club

St Benedicts GAA Club is in Leeds  and  is one of the top     clubs in Britain.   Interested players should contact the club directly.

St. Benedicts Harps GAA Leeds
15 Queensthorpe Close
Bramley
Leeds
West Yorkshire
LS13 4JT Map
0113 2790504

For further information click here

Last September members of Bradford Irish Club were asked if they might be interested in an over 55s Luncheon Club and the response was very positive.  The club committee feel that such a club would greatly benefit senior members and provide daytime opportunities for social integration, good food and healthy activities.   It would also enable members  to benefit from the expertise of local agencies and organisations. Your answers to the questionnaire will greatly assist the planning of the Bradford Irish Luncheon Club as well as the sustainability of The Bradford Irish Club itself. Thanks for helping.

Activites that could arise from the realisation of a Luncheon Club could include :

Advice on welfare and benefits
GP/Nursing advice
Form Filling
Home Protection
Irish Language Classes
Newsletters
Trips
St Patrick’s Festival
Walking Club
CD/DVD/Book exchange and many others.

OPEN MIC EVERY SUNDAY FROM 7.00PM

SING, PLAY, WATCH AND LISTEN

COME INTO THE PARLOUR

ALL WELCOME

Take a look Here

BRADFORD IRISH CLUB

Rebecca St
Bradford,

Yorkshire

BD1 2RX
01274 732 000

Session is on the last Sunday of the month   Usually starts 2:30 until 5:00 pm.  All welcome

The Session

Bradford Irish Club

Rebecca Street

Bradford

BD1 2RX

So it’s early April and I’m in Homebase at Greengates and all of a sudden I started to hear the pipes.  I thought I was having an auditory hallucination until I realised it wasn’t the Uillean pipes but the massed sound of the Piob Mhor.  I dropped the plants I was buying and ran outside and was greeted by the sight and sounds of the City of Bradford Pipe Band

Click here for the Vid

As a member of Comhaltas he has been a member of the Provincial Council of Britain, representing the British Province on the Ard Comhairle (Executive Council) at its meetings at Culturlann in Monkstown, Co. Dublin.

For twelve years he has coordinated Culra and Culra na nOg, the Cultural and Educational Programme of Comhaltas in Britain, which seeks to induct second, third and further generations of young Irish people living in Britain, into their historical and cultural heritage as Irish people. For this work Culra was the recipient in 1996 of the Irish Post Award for its contribution to the Irish Community in Britain. He was invited with a Culra, the word means background,group to meet with President Mary Robinson at her residence in Dublin in the same year. Irish traditional music is a sacred deposit from the past in his view and should be preserved and promoted in succeeding generations.

The Irish were well represented at events in the parks of Bradford starting with the Pentecost celebrations in Lister Park.   Dancers from The Bradford Irish Music Association and Music from Dominic Byrne on Piano Accordion,  Aidan on Bodhran and other musicians from the Grove Sessions in Huddersfield on the Bandstand.

There were also significant appearances at Victoria Park in Clayton and The Wetlands Park in Fairweather Green.   David Conley on Bodhran, Councillor Sinead Engel on Flute and Bradford teacher  Margaret Conley teaching youngsters how to play the tin whistle.   Dom Sheeran Behind the camera (Hence dodgy filming !)  Check out the videos.

Parks 1

Parks 2

Parks 3