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The Official Newsletter of the Harp & Shamrock Society of Texas

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Volume 42 February - March 2008 Issue 3

March is the month that we work toward all year long, planning our events so we can afford them and then to be able to enjoy them. Please make every effort to come and participate in your society’s week-end. We are doing things differently this year and pos-sibly the years to come. Please work with us as we go through our growing pains. Even our earlier start on planning still leaves a ton of last minute details. We hope everyone has bought a golf ball for our first golf ball drop. $20 gets you a chance at $500. How can you beat that? We have two weekends jam packed and back to back. If you haven’t volunteered get in touch

Our own St. Patrick statue is in storage at the Institute of Texas Cultures awaiting a refurbish.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Street Parade Steps Off 11a.m. March 15 2008!!

The 2008 Grand Marshal Bill Sinkin was a clear choice for a green St. Patrick’s celebration. The Irish parade was the lead in for the Hemisfair forty years ago next month.

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Here comes the sun,do do do do, here comes the sun, and I say it’s all right.” This could be the theme song to the Solar folks in Bill Sinkin’s office in downtown San Antonio. I’m sure it has been sung or at least hummed a time or two. Mr Sinkin has a twinkle in his eyes and a warm easy smile that makes you doubt his birth certificate. He is 94 years young. Bill Sinkin is the chairman and founder of Solar San Antonio and an advocate for the use of renewable energy for both residential and commercial needs in south Texas. A long time proponent of sustainable energy options,

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HARP AND SHAMROCKSOCIETY OF TEXAS, INCP.O.Box 15306San Antonio, TX 78212

PRESIDENTAnton Hajek, III

VICE PRESIDENTJoan Moody

2nd VICE PRESIDENT *Vacant

TREASURERWayne C. Faught

SECRETARYEileen Burke- Faught

CHAPLAINFr. Flanagan

BOARD of DIRECTORSDarryl BrittenTerence PeakBob WehnerPatrick ClarkeKed MullinsMarcia WeinerMary Jo QuinnTish VillegasKevin DowdGeorge TracyVictor VillegasBill Merriman Shirley Donohue

IRISHMAN OF THE YEARRobert Slattery- 2008

Editor in ChiefKevin Patrick DowdStaff:Terry PeakGreg LewisJoan MoodyEileen Burke FaughtCarolyn DowdJohn McCarthyRosie©2008 Dowd Ranch Publishing

From the Laptop of Your Editor

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,And I say it’s all right

Little darlin’, it’s been a long cold lonely winterLittle darlin’, it feels like years since it’s been here.

George Harrison, 1969

I’ve had the great privilege to have met Mr. Sinkin in his office and see the passion that he is bringing to his newest crusade- solar power. It will always be an uphill battle until big business can figure out how to tax the sun. It will be good to have a friend like Mr. Sinkin.We could have never seen the city putting a stage right in the path of our parade. That is exactly what they tried to do with Luminaria. The Irish are not even on the radar of city hall. This will be up to us to change this situation. We need to let them know we are here and we are staying. This is something every member should get involved with. More information will be availabe on our website. Feárr deire fleidhe ‘ná tus bruighne.The end of a feast is better than the beginning of a quarrel.shamrockeditor@aol.com

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SOCIETY OF TEXAS

HARP & SHAMROCK

Est. 1966

Calling All Members...February

29-Mar 2- North Texas Irish Festival, DallasMarch

*please note there is no board meeting!7- 28th Annual Golf Scramble, Woodlake GC 11a.m. registration, Noon- Golf Ball Drop (applications on line)8- 25th Annual Fun Run, Brackenridge Park, 8:30a.m.9- Irish Heritage Day, Leon Valley Community Center 6427 Evers Road, Noon-5p.m.14- Alamo Irish Festival begins, 3p.m. to 11p.m.15- 40th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Street Parade, 11a.m.15- Alamo Irish Festival continues, Noon to Midnight16- Alamo Irish Festival continues, Noon to 6p.m.16- 39th St Patrick’s Day River Parade, 1p.m.17-The Alamo Wreath Laying Ceremony, Noon29- Noel Henry Irish Show Band, St. Mark’s Hall 1602 Thousand Oaks Dr., 7p.m.-12a.m.

April10- Board Meeting, 7:30p.m.Beethoven Maennerchor18- Thank You Party! 7p.m. Beethoven Maennerchor5-6 Highland Games, Helotes Festival Grounds Sat. 9a.m.-8p.m. Sun. 11a.m.-6p.m.

Keeping It Green...Renew, Recycle, Reuse!

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by email or go to the website to get specific contact information. The world wide web is helping us save trees, save time, and save money. Come out and be a part of your heritage. There are more than enough opportunities to help out. March with us down the avenue in our 40th street parade. Or take a trip on the river spreading the Irish joy of life to passerbys. If you are interested in all or any of these opportunities get on the world wide web and click on the contact information of the person listed .This is our month to shine and remind Texas the Irish are still here.

This month marks the start of our St. Patrick’s Week-end Celebrations. If you never have volunteered, or it has been a long time since, please give up part of St. Patrick’s weekend to come out and work together and enjoy ourselves. And it is that time again. Please pay your dues. Join and bring a new member to join!

We are the only organization that throws a free partyfor San Antonio, complete with parades, music andawards. March is Irish Heritage Month. Yet it seemsthe city conspires against our efforts, raising feesand starting a competing event. A lawsuit has beenfiled, not by us, to challenge the assessment offees. We are watching this lawsuit closely to determine if the exemption applies to us. Finding the means to pay for our parade would be a whole lot simpler.

But before we have our wonderful weekend in March we have our Awards banquet. This year Melissa hasarranged for us to celebrate downtown at the BlueStar. I hope to see you at all the events these nexttwo months. Anton P Hajek III

St. Patrick’s Day ...continued

From Your President

Member News Goodbye to Robert Meade. Bob has resigned from the board and will be missed. He was a major part of our March events planning and he still plans on helping out in March. Thank you for your service and hope to see you back on the board at some future date.

We welcome our new chaplain Fr. Flanagan. He is now the newest member of our Society. A big thank you goes out to our First Vice President Joan Moody for stepping up at the last board meeting and paying his dues.

Tish Villegas wants to extend to her Harp family a big Texas-sized thank you. She is recovering well from her recent surgery and appreciates all the prayers and positive thoughts that came her way in the past year. Keep her in your prayers and thoughts. This is what the Irish are good at, and what this society is best at, taking care of one another.

Congratulations Sheila Carrola! She earned her BA at Wayland Baptist U. She had a great karaoke party at the Beethoven Maennerchor to celebrate. Was that Toby Keith singing up there? Way to go Shelia!

Bill Sinkin and Solar San Antonio promote solar power and other renewable energy sources in our community. He was instrumental in developing Metropolitan Part-nership for Energy, another non-profit organization, that is the leader of Build San Antonio Green.Mr. Sinkin got his first taste of solar power in the early 1980’s when Texas Bank, where he was a co-founder and Chairman, installed solar panels for solar hot water for the bank. He has been a proponent of capturing the power of the sun and other renewable energy sources that will provide a secure, non-polluting and indepen-dent source of energy as well as preserving our health and the environment.Solar San Antonio conducts workshops and demonstra-tion projects including renewable energy teacher work-shops for secondary science and math teachers and a Solar hot water heating installation certification work-shop presented in conjunction with CPS Energy and Alamo Community College District.

Every May, Solar San Antonio sponsors the Annual Solar Fest, a unique opportunity to visit many aspects of Solar Power, as well as Earth Stewardship events in March.

In his career of local service he was one of the founders and first President of both Hemisfair and San Antonio Good Will. Mr. Sinkin has received many awards for recognizing his work including The Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association Award, the City Public Service Shining Star Award, and the United States De-partment of Energy Million Solar Roof True Champion Award.

Grand Marshal Bill Sinkin continued

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Volunteering can be fun!Bob Burke and Tina Grau show us some dance moves on the floor of the convention center during our volunteer time at the H.E.B. Feast of Sharing.Thank you to Darryl Patrick for emailing this photo to me.

Trash duty can be fun!Wayne Faught and Chris Schulz need both hands to help Sean Faught as he clears off a table for the next guests at the H.E.B. Feast of Sharing.

Irish at the South Pole!Adventurers Pat Falvey, 50, from Kerry, Dr. Clare O’Leary, 35, from Bandon, Co. Cork, and Dubliners Jonathan Bradshaw, 36, and Shaun Menzies, 42, made history when they reached the southern tip of theearth’s axis after a grueling 700-mile trek across Antarctica.

First Golf Ball Drop Ball Purchased! History was made as the First ever Shamrock Scramble Golf Ball Drop went on sale at Waxy’s on the river. Wayne Faught collects the first entry from member Nelson Goodrich. Good luck Nelson!

Just another Saturday at Waxy O’Connor’sBarbara Warnock and Bob Meade enjoyed the Irish dancing at Waxy’s.

Carolyn Dowd joins Tim Rooney proud dad and owner of Waxy O’Connor’s with our Irishman of the year Joan Moody. Join the Irish dancers every Satur-day from 2-4p.m. At Waxy’s. I can guarantee a good time.

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If you volunteer you get your picture here!Ready to dish out a hearty H.E.B. Feast of Sharing are from left to right: Carolyn Dowd, Wayne Faught holding our indispensable leader Sean Faught, the late Chris Schulz, our loss and heaven’s gain, Tom Carrola, Mary Jo Quinn, Terry Peak, Melissa Schulz, Tina Grau, Leticia McDonald, Bob Burke, Pat Peak and Kevin Dowd.

If you or a fellow Harp member are doing something special please let me know so I can get the word out. This is our news-

letter, what do you want to see? shamrockeditor@aol.com

You just can’t keep the mic out of this guys hands! Wayne Faught works the crowd at Waxy’s.

Our very own Lord of the Dance: Tom Macken shows how much fun Irish dancing can be at Waxy’s.

Helena Ryan and Margaret Burke were enjoying a tall tale or two on that Saturday afternoon at Waxy’s. A truely enjoyable few hours of Irish fun and good time.

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Music by Joan Moody

Reviews

Welcome Here AgainMartin Hayes and Dennis Cahill

Martin Hayes is the greatest of the modern fiddlers from County Clare and was part of the great music scene in Feakle, Co. Clare. PJ Hayes and Vincent Griffin among others were major influences on the young Martin Hayes. He left Ireland in the 1980’s for Chicago where he became active in that city’s diverse music culture. Martin was spoken to by his music and was inspired by it. With Dennis Cahill playing guitar, Martin’s music became more active and more in touch with each other. This new album shows the intensity that is the spirit of traditional music in its wholeness and tantalizing glory. Cahill and Hayes are “Welcome Here Again.” www.greenlinnet.com

Movie by Terence Peak

ONCEWritten and Directed by John CarneyFox SearchlightReleased in Ireland March 2007

While not your typical Irish music fare, this story of a Dublin busker and a street vendor features some truly remarkable music. Glen Hansard, lead singer of the Dublin band, The Frames, plays Guy, a brokenhearted busker, longing for his true love in London. The songs he writes and sings are heart wrenching, emotional and touching. Girl, played by Markéta Irglová, is a Czech pianist who has arrived in Dublin with her mother and son, but without her estranged husband. Like Hansard, Irglová is a talented musician in her own right, whether she plays a soulful ballad or Chopin. As a pair, the music they make together showcases their talents im-mensely.

The film is billed as a “video album”, yet there is a flowing story line relating to the relationship that grows between Guy and Girl (their character’s names). In the beginning the relationship is based on a mutual love for each other’s musical talents rather than physi-cal attraction. As their friendship develops, they find in each other the courage to change their circumstances, record their music and take a fresh look at the people they care about.

The film is rated R for language. The scenery of Dublin is great, and as I mentioned, the music is soul-ful, emotive and moving. This film received the World Cinema Audience Award for Drama at 2007 Sundance Film Festival. It also received numerous awards for music from Dallas, Phoenix and Chicago film critics.

More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0907657/

“How often do you find the right person?”

BooksbyKPD

The Killing of Major Denis MahonBy Peter Duffy

The famine in Ireland is still a deep and open wound that won’t be easily healed or ignored. This book is able to put a face to all sides of the issue. By looking at a microcosm of this terrible situation Peter Duffy is able to tell the story of a nation in the black years. Ignorant and damaging land practices were partly to blame. But the overbearing policies of England on the poor of Ireland have always been the easy vil-lian. With the potato crop failing, the landlords took to wholesale eviction. Imagine your wee shack being burnt to the ground while you stand in the road with your family around you. Bitterness in the soul of the Irish toward the English can be understandable. With peace in the North and England moving out can this bitter pill desolve? Time will tell. This is a must read for anyone who thinks they know what happened dur-ing the year known as Black 47. “The laughter of our children will be our revenge,” Bobby Sands.

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In MemoriamIt has been a sad start to this new year. We have lost more than our fair share of members. Each of the fol-lowing deserve a page unto themselves. Unfortunately time and space and the pressing business of the living demand that only this humble space be given to them. Rest in peace.

Arline Rose Cusack Feb.25, 1924 to Dec. 19, 2007Arline had a kind heart and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. She was a wonder-ful mother, not only to her own children, but to many individuals in need of love and guidance. Arline was happy to receive the phone calls that led up to our 40th celebration. She was a lifelong member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church and was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Howard E. Cusack.

Josephine Mayo Perkins Jul. 8, 1928 to Jan. 23, 2008Josephine was the lady who never wanted the party to end. Josephine was the perfect example of the Texas host. Her house was your house and nobody was a stranger, just a friend she hadn’t met. Josephine’s presence and high energy will be greatly missed. However, the memory of her fun-loving character will always be held in the hearts of those who knew her. She was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, Robert C. Perkins.

James Joseph Dowd Apr. 9, 1934 to Jan. 28, 2008Better known as Jimmy, my Uncle loved San Antonio and our society. Many summers he would sweat under the monorail track in our small part of Ireland at the Folklife Festival. Jimmy was our treasurer, board-member and Irishman of the Year. He wore his sash proudly at the 40th gala. He was a proud Marine and a consummate volunteer. He loved St. Mark the Evan-gelist Catholic Church right next door to his apart-ment. The American Legion Post 2 was Jimmy’s sec-ond home when he first moved to San Antonio where he rose to the rank of vice commander. His kind of dedication and volunteerism is not easy to achieve in oneself and harder to find in others. Uncle Jimmy lies at rest at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, a few hundred feet from his beloved younger brother and our founder Patrick J. Dowd.

Ní bheidh mo leithéid arís ann!Never see the likes of me again!

Christopher Steven Schulz Jan. 11, 1960 to Feb. 10, 2008This one hurt. We lost a good soul. Chris was our next generation, our leader of volunteers. He was involved in everything this society did from the planning for the 40th gala to the Alamo Irish Festival. From build-ing a bridge for Days of Caring to feeding folks at the Feast of Sharing. Chris was the spirit behind our efforts. In Chris’ own words: “It is what it is.”He is survived by his devoted wife, Melissa McDon-ald Schulz. For those who might not know, Melissa is our social chair. Chris was buried at Fort Sam Hous-ton National Cemetery with full military honors. He is just a few paces from Uncle Jimmy. May God give rest to these soldiers souls.

A Place For Me*

There is a special place in life,That needs my humble skill,

A certain job I’m meant to do,Nobody else can fill.

The hours are demanding,And the pay is not too good,And yet I wouldn’t change it

For a moment, if I could.

There is a special place in life,A goal I must attain,

A dream that I must follow,For I won’t be back again.

There is a mark that I must leave,However small it be,

A legacy of love for thoseWho follow after me.

*I found this on an old yellowed newspaper clipping in Uncle Jimmy’s wallet. I was unable to think of a fitting eulogy until I had stumbled across it. May it bring you inspiration as it obviously did Uncle Jimmy and myself. KPD

The Harp & Shamrock Society of TexasNewsletter EditorP.O. Box 15306San Antonio, TX 78212

www.harpandshamrock.orgEmail: Shamrockeditor@aol.com

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

Cultural Civic Patriotic SocialEducational

Mark your calendar

www.harpandshamrock.org

March07 Friday, 11a.m. Shamrock Golf Scramble

08 Saturday, St.Patrick’s Fun Run

14-16 Fri-Sun, Alamo Irish Festival 15, Saturday, 11 a.m. St. Patrick’s Day Parade

16 Sunday, 1p.m. St. Patrick’s Day River Parade

17 Monday, St. Patrick’s Day 12p.m. Alamo Wreath Laying

UPCOMING EVENTS March 6 Thurday, Stewardship Earth Reception

Beacon Hill Presbytarian Church 1101 W. Woodlawn, S.A. Texas

April 18-20, Stewardship Earth Weekend

SolarFest - May 3rd, 2008 at Maverick Park 2008

www.solarsanantonio.org

Return and Address Corection Requested

Keeping It Green...Renew, Recycle, Reuse!