Irish Film Fest Ottawa - 1-3 April 2016

The second Irish Film Fest Ottawa will take place at the Arts Court, 2 Daly Avenue, over the weekend of 1-3 April (Fri-Sun) 2016.

I attended most films last year and found it to be a very enjoyable weekend. Given all the attention Irish cinema has been getting recently this is a great opportunity to get your fill of the best there is. Please go and support this new venture by and for the Irish in Ottawa!

Program and Tickets Here

Craig

Sharing Our Choral Art - 2 April 2016

The Ottawa Celtic Choir is proud to welcome Near North Voices, the University-Community Choir from North Bay, to Ottawa for a concert of Celtic and folk music that is not to be missed!

Saturday, April 2 - 7:30 PM

Click on image for a larger view of the poster.

The Carpenters of Song - Music and Poetry of Wales, Brittany, Scotland and Ireland - 17 April 2016

"The Carpenters of Song- Music and Poetry of Wales, Brittany, Scotland and Ireland" with Mary Muckle, harp & harpsichord; Julie Leduc, harp; Marilyn Jenkins, voice; Loyda Lastra, flute; The Ottawa Youth Harp Ensemble and the Welsh singers, Cantorion Cerdd Dant.

Takes place Sunday, April 17, 7.30 pm at St. Luke's Anglican Church, 760 Somerset St. W.

The concert is a part of the St Luke's recital series.

Admission is by donation.

Paddy's Day Irish Session at Daniel O'Connell's Pub - 17 March !

Irish Traditional music musicians who aren't otherwise engaged are welcome to come join us for an afternoon of REAL Irish music, a few pints, and complimentary stew afterwards. Patrick Laplante will be hosting.

Location:
Daniel O'Connell's Irish Pub
1211 Wellington st. W, Ottawa, Ontario

Time:
Thursday, March 17, 2 PM - 6 PM

Saint Patrick's Dinner and Irish Dance - 12 March 2016

If you are looking for a great family evening, or a night out with your best friend(s), to celebrate the coming of Saint Patrick's Day (Thursday 17 March, a work day and night!), then why not consider going to the Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann (CCE) annual Saint Patrick's Dinner and Dance? This is the closest you will get to a real Irish ceili in Ottawa. Dress is casual. What is a ceili?

Tickets Here (deadline Thursday midnight)

Food!
Doors open at 5:30, and dinner starts to be served at 6:00. This year they are offering a sumptuous Irish Stew served with homemade Irish soda bread, a staple in the Irish kitchen, followed by cake and coffee and tea. This year CCE features a price for kids (12 and under), $5 for the food and the entire evening of fun and dance. While the event is not a 'kids' event, it is very children friendly and everybody is welcome with the warmth of traditional Irish hospitality. Non-members pay $25 for the dinner and the night of dancing. Also included at about 9:30 is the traditional snack time, complimentary (donations accepted) soda bread with cheese and jams, and tea.

Cash bar!
The bar will be open from 5:30 to 10:00pm. (Drink responsibly, or designate a driver.). Non-alcoholic beverages also available.

Prizes!
Your door ticket may get you prizes from random draws. TD Place tickets, cds, DVDs, and offereings from Blakey Design's, who will be back vending their lovely Irish and Celtic themed jewellry and art (cash or cheque only). There will also be a 50/50 draw!

History!
As this year marks the 100th anniversary of the Irish Easter Uprising, a short commemoration will be held after the meal to honour the fallen. This will include readings in English and Irish of the Proclamation, and the singing of the Irish national anthem.

Dancing!
When the dancing starts, simple ceili dances will be briefly instructed and called for the beginners by expert teachers. Set dancing will also be featured (Irish 'square dancing' to awesome Irish music). The musical backdrop to this evening will be the award winning Comhaltas Ceili Band, which will jigs, reels and polkas till you drop.

Entertainment!
During the break period of the evening, the Trillum Academy of Dance dancers will delight you and your family with demonstrations of precision Irish step and solo dancing. Songs may be sung in Irish as well. How often do you hear a song in the old language of Ireland?

TICKETS are ONLINE ONLY, and there are no door sales. Call 613-912-3664 if you cannot buy online. A vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, chili option available (and it's really tasty, just let us know!).
Buy Tickets Here.

Concert: Celtic Knox, 11 March 2016

Join Ellen MacIsaac (voice, and director of the Ottawa Celtic Choir), Susan Toman (website) on harp and Ross Davison (also of The Trousers) on uilleann pipes and whistle fora fine Celtic music performance. They will be presenting a concert of Celtic songs and tunes, many of which will be in either Irish Gaelige or Scots Gaidhlig (i.e. Gaelic!).

"Celtic Knox" is on March 11, at 7:30 pm. Call Ellen at 613-552-3964 for tickets.

Click image for larger view

The Trousers, Old Ottawa South Concert at Black Squirrel Books - 13 March 2016

The Trousers are an instrumental duo that play traditional Irish and Cape Breton music. Area music teachers Ross Davison and Karson McKeown serve up a fresh batch of toe-tapping jigs, reels, and Adele covers (just kidding, sort of). Their current sound features Uilleann (Irish) bagpipes, Whistles, Fiddle, Guitar, and Bodhran.

Come enjoy some great tunes, hear a few stories, and learn more about Cape Breton Music/The Irish pipes.

There is no ticket fee for the concert, but we will be passing the hat.

When:

13 March, Sunday at 7 PM

Location:

Black Squirrel Books & Café

1073 Bank St., Ottawa, 

Blogger's notes: 

1. Some serious talent here, make it out if you can!

2. Like them on Facebook, frig sakes!

Irish Night at the Log Drive Café - 11 March 2016

Come kick off Irish Week with a performance by Irish musician and writer Kevin Dooley, accompanied by his daughter, Deirdre Dooley in an evening of songs, tunes and stories.

Click to Enlarge

Kevin sings a wide variety of traditional Irish songs from rebel anthems to ancient ballads in the sean nos style, highly ornamented and hauntingly beautiful. He also plays traditional jigs, reels and airs on the Irish flute and whistle. In addition, he has a lot to say about Irish history and culture, and will link the songs together with spoken word.

Kevin Dooley has been in Canada for many decades, moving to Ottawa in 1999. Since then he has been involved in local causes such as the commemoration of the thousands of workers (many of them Irish) who lost their lives in the building of the Rideau Canal. He is also a tireless promoter of the Irish language and Irish culture in general. He has spearheaded many musical gatherings over the years and is currently the host of Celtic Folk Night at the Heart & Crown Pub on Preston Street, a song/tune session every Wednesday evening, in which all are welcome to share songs and tunes of celtic derivation. Kevin is also a writer, with a new novel published last fall, called A Dog’s Breakfast.

Deirdre Dooley also sings Irish songs, and plays solid percussion ranging from bodhran and snare to various other drums. She has been accompanying her dad for many years, and has a great sensitivity to his material and style. Those of you who caught her show at the Log Drive Café in February can attest to her ability to find just the right percussive sound for the song.

The Log Drive Café is a traditional music venue, held on occasional Friday evenings, featuring local and visiting folk singers and musicians in a coffee-house setting, in which the audience is welcome to sing along.

Tea, coffee, cold drinks and baked goods are available.

Abbotsford House is a wheelchair accessible recreation centre focused on older adults; however, the Log Drive Café is an all-ages event.

Please bring indoor shoes as no outdoor footwear is permitted in the performance space.

Parking: There is a small lot at the front, but if that is full and you can’t find anything close on the street, you can park at the underground lot at Lansdowne Park and pay only $2 (exact change) to Pat at Abbotsford. She will validate your ticket. (Some people who came early were turned away at the underground lot last time but those who arrived after 7:15 had no trouble. We hope it won’t be a problem this time because there is no hockey game on March 11.)

Contact Maura Volante with further questions:

maura.volante@gmail.com • 613 277 9208
Or call Abbotsford House: 613 230 5730