Winter Film Series
In 2001, Sean Patrick Crane conceived a popular annual event, the Winter Film Series: a program of four Irish films shown on Wednesday evenings in February. Sean organized the event each year by choosing films that tied in with a theme. He hosted the event, gave the audience an introduction to each film and offered a follow-up discussion. Some of the films featured were: Some Mother's Son, Circle of Friends, The Maze, A Love Divided, and In America. In 2006 Heather Lowe took on the role of hosting the series; she showed The Nephew, Secret of Roan Inish, Waking Ned Devine and Ned Kelly. She has also shown films at other times of the year.
St. Patrick's Day Celebration/ Month of March
To honor the patron saint of Ireland we have initiated several events over the years.
Irish Exhibits
Various artifacts, artwork and collections are exhibited at the Center in our display window. For several years board member Noreen Moriarty, prepared an exhibit at the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum (Springfield, Massachusetts) of historical memorabilia from her personal collection, as well as items from the Center. Cultural exhibits by the Center were also featured at the Holyoke Heritage State Park for several years.
St. Patrick's Day Party at Holyoke Heritage State Park
Holyoke Heritage State Park hosted a party for children and their families on the Sunday before the Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Parade for several years. The Park provided entertainment and activities in arts and crafts while the Center provided refreshments. Middle school essay contest winners were invited to read their essays at the party where they were awarded cash prizes. Various individuals and organizations sponsored the prizes.
St. Patrick's Day Sing-along / Irish Tea Party
In 2005 we hosted a Sing-a-long on March 17th. The event featured Cairde members, Mary Franz and Tom Feeley, collaborating in singing Irish tunes, while the audience was encouraged to join. Some folks also stepped forward to offer solo renditions. Attendees enjoyed Irish breads and scones, as well as tea or coffee. For the next several years we hosted the annual Irish tea party in early March with Mary Franz acting as emcee and introducing guest speakers and singers. In 2010 we enjoyed music by the Healys and John Tabb.
Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Parade
The Irish Cultural Center has participated in the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade since 2001. Member Dan Curran built floats three years, in 2001, 2003 and 2005, when we won an honorable mention from the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade Committee. Tom Moriarty, one of the co-founders of the Center, was honored in 2001 with the Ambassador's Award (the award recognizes a person or persons who reinforce the economic, cultural and political ties between the United States and Ireland); Elms College President Kathleen Keating, SSJ, another co-founder of the Center, served as Marshal of the Chicopee contingent in the same year. Family members, friends and Elms students marched with us. In 2006 we dedicated the float to Danny Curran who built the float and who died in January. In 2007 we used an authentic Irish jaunting car (owned by Tim Allen and originally purchased from Ireland by his grandfather, Peter Hogan) drawn by a horse, with riders and walkers costumed as late 1800 emigrants. In 2010 we honored the founders, Sr. Kathleen Keating, Tom Moriarty and Sean Cahillane who rode in a convertible driven by Bruce Fitzgerald.
Member Brunch
For several years we sponsored an annual brunch in June, usually in the Dooley Campus Center. In 2002 Congressman Richard Neal gave an update on the Peace Process; the Center recognized Tom Moriarty and Kathleen Kirley, SSJ upon their retirement from the Elms College. The following year singer Theresa Kane performed and Tim Allen gave a slide presentation of All Things Irish. The next year, local musicians, Bo Fitzgerald and friends performed; Judith Kappenman, SSJ and Paula Dugan gave a presentation on The Center's Events of the Year (the event took place in the Wherehouse?, Holyoke.) In 2005 we hosted a reception for the Consul General of Ireland, Isolde Moylan who spoke on Ireland and Ireland's connection with the United States. In 2006 Elms President Dr. James Mullen spoke on the Elms College and its Connection with the Irish Cultural Center. Congressman Richard Neal introduced her. Musicians Tim Donoghue and Bill Dempsey performed background music yearly.
Celtic Adventures for Kids
Kathleen Keating, SSJ dreamed a dream in 1999 - a dream of young people learning all things Irish. Kathleen Kirley, SSJ, Paula Dugan, Board Members and Mary Ellen O'Brien, a local teacher and Irish dancer, worked to make the dream a reality in 2001. Thus, the weeklong program of Celtic Adventures for Kids was born, a favorite program for children from grades two through eight. In 2007 the program expanded to also accept children in grades one and nine. Participants learn to speak and write the Irish language, dance, play the tin whistle and bodhran, and sing Irish tunes. They listen to stories and folktales from Ireland, and create arts and crafts. The Maguire Pool on the Elms campus is available to the children for a daily swim with lifeguards on duty.
Big E and Dingle Reception
One of the missions of the Center is to "promote economic ties between Western New England and Western Ireland." To achieve this, we maintain ties with merchants in Ireland, especially on the Dingle Peninsula. In September 2000, the Center invited a group of merchants to visit the Big E in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Since 2001 the Dingle merchants have brought their Irish wares for sale to the biggest fair on the east coast.
During the fair we have hosted a reception yearly for the visiting merchants at the Center, some years more formally than others.
During the seventeen days of the fair, several Cairde members host some of the merchants in their homes, and provide transportation to and from the fairgrounds. In 2004, the Center was invited to have a booth with the Dingle merchants in the Young Building at the Big E where we have information on our programs and events, as well as information on the Elms College. We look forward to seeing you at the fair each September! For several years the Center hosted a concert to raise money for the Billy Riordan Memorial Fund (medical center in Malawi, Africa).
Christmas with an Irish Touch
In 1999 the Center initiated a program called Christmas with an Irish Touch. Established on the first Saturday of December, mass is celebrated in Our Lady's Chapel on the Elms campus. An entertainment program and refreshments follow the liturgy. Music, song, dancing, hearing stories of Irish Christmas, and all the festive touches put everyone in the mood for celebrating the season. Children who participated in the Celtic Adventures for Kids come to entertain the audience with dancing, singing and playing Christmas tunes on their tin whistles. This is truly one of our best-loved events and definitely one not to be missed!
