A cairde.
We hope that everyone is keeping safe and healthy these days. Please share the information contained in the items below with your membership and we remind you to make it a two way street and let us know how you are faring in your part of North America and what you are doing for the Comhaltas Movement and Irish Culture and Community while the Pandemic still has us in its fearsome grip.
Paul Keating
CCE NA PRO
- Fleadh2020: If you did not have the opportunity to see any of the virtual #Fleadh2020 programs on TG4 last weekend all four are available to view on demand for another three plus weeks at the TG4 Player and this is the link https://www.tg4.ie/Fleadh2020. As a special request also for public relations and archiving reasons if any branches and/or their members contributed as requested in earlier memos to #Fleadh2020 via various social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook or Instagram, could you send copies/links to me at [email protected] using either Dropbox or Wetransfer.com for large files. I’ve seen a few but certainly couldn’t keep up with all of them on the various outlets. Much appreciated and forward them to [email protected]
- Aer Lingus Discount Offer: CCE North America has been extended a limited time offer which may be of use to some in our membership who may need or be able to travel to Ireland between Sept. 1, 2020 and March 21, 2021. However it only applies to operating Gateways in New York, Boston, Chicago and Toronto on Aer Lingus flights. Full terms and conditions are as follows:
- Offer available exclusively at Aerlingus.com through 6:59 PM ET on August 31, 2020.
- Enter promo code WELCOMEHOME (Case sensitive) in the designated area at the start of the booking journey.
- Up to $100 off the base fare of any round-trip fare in economy class and *400 off the base fare of any round-trip fare in business class on Aer Lingus scheduled transatlantic flights to Dublin (DUB) and select destinations across Europe.
- Note: Base fare does not include fuel surcharge of up to $250 roundtrip or taxes which vary by country and are subject to change.
- All travel must take place between September 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021.
- Offer only valid through bookings made via aerlingus.com, is valid for new bookings only and will apply only once per person.
- Discount is reflected in the flight search results during the booking process.
- Director General Labhras O Murchu Coronavirus #25 is chock full of news in the attached file including info about more TG4 Fleadh programming from years’ past.
- The Reynolds-Hanafin-Cooley Branch of Comhaltas Boston has always enjoyed a close affinity between its musicians and its set dancers so it is no surprise that long-time musician and tunesmith Bill Black recently composed a tune for set-dancer Donna Sheehan who was stricken with ALS leaving her unable to dance. Black felt that music is a form of prayer so he composed a reel (the dancer’s delight) “Donna Sheehan’s Reel: A reel could do no harm”. He encouraged his fellow musicians wherever they may be to play the tune which we share with you and potential musicians who play it might release spiritual blessings for Donna and any other people coping with illness.
- Latest Missive from the Irish Minister for the Diaspora
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Welcome to this latest edition of the Global Irish Newsletter.
Since taking on the role as Minister for Overseas Development and Diaspora last month, I have had the opportunity to travel the world from my office. In a world devastated by COVID-19, video conferencing technology has never been more important. Much like the many thousands of Irish families that have been able to reach across oceans to see and hear from loved ones who are abroad and cannot get home, this technology has enabled me to reach out to our Irish Diaspora Community in a way that has never been done before.
The strength and depth of our connection with the Irish Diaspora has been illustrated very clearly to me, I have had discussions with Irish community organisations that span the globe, in New Zealand, Australia, the Gulf, Britain, the USA and Canada. I have been deeply humbled by the common thread of compassion and commitment shown by the Irish Community throughout the globe, I admire the resilience and spirit of collaboration they have shown in the face of the current crisis.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has worked quickly and decisively to reallocate Emigrant Support Programme funding to support the most vulnerable and isolated members of our communities abroad. The Diaspora organisations have been steadfast in their support and I’d like to take the opportunity to thank them on behalf of the Irish Government for all they have done and continue to do.
During the month I also had the pleasure of visiting EPIC -The Irish Emigration Museum here in Dublin. This gave me a deeper insight into the experience of past generations of Irish people forced to find new lives abroad.
Finally I’d like to pay tribute to the team at Crosscare Migrant Project, who I also met. Their work in supporting Irish emigrants abroad and helping emigrants to return to Ireland is vital. In these challenging times, their work is more important than ever.
Beir bua agus beannacht,
Colm Brophy T.D.Minister of State for Overseas Development and Diaspora
That’s all folks
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