N.Y.I.C. NEWS November 2006 Welcome to the first edition of the NYIC's eNewsletter! We look forward to keeping you up to date on the goings-on, as well as letting you know about our exciting program of events taking place at the Center.  "Bia, Beascna agus Bealoideas" is a Big Success! Last month you may remember the email message we sent out about this fundrasing event, and many of you were lucky enough to see what it advertised! The Center’s Resident Drama Group, Aisling Arts, performed The Playboy of the Western World, by John M. Synge, and did a wonderful job of it!  The evening came complete with a champagne reception and a buffet in between acts. We were lucky to have some platforms donated, by Sean Doherty who we thank very much for his time, because of him every one had a good view. Which was important because on opening night we filled the house! We would also like to thank all of the people that volunteered their time to help us get everything ready that weekend and those that helped us to put together the baskets for the raffle. It’s clear that events like this in the future will be a great help to the Center and something the whole community can continue to enjoy! Official Irish Dirt is a Hit! The Irish Center found itself surrounded by quite a bit of publicity this month due its support of the Auld Sod Import Company. You might have seen Fr. Campbell in the Post. Based in Ireland, the company has found a way to bring real Irish soil to the U.S. The soil can be used to grow real Irish Shamrocks, something that simply can not be done in American soil. Many people have also sought out the company to spread the soil over a relative or loved one’s grave.  The Irish Center is helping to sell the soil for the company, at $15 a bag. Shamrock seeds are available as well. To purchase some or receive more information contact the Center at info@newyorkirishcenter.org. Classes at the Center The New York Irish Center has had a great deal of success expanding its line of classes held at the Center.  Irish  language, Irish Dance and Irish music have all taken off thanks to the help of our brilliant resident   teachers. For more information about any of those classes you can contact the individual teachers. We also have some weekly events that are not about Irish culture but still draw a crowd. Jennifer Milich’s Music for Aardvarks has grown to a large group where kids can have fun and mothers can relax. Many of the same  mothers that attend the mother toddler group on Thursdays come out for the music class on Fridays at 10 am.   Declan O’Neil, who helps a great deal around the center, has started a Karate class Saturday mornings 10-12 that has also been quite successful.   The Center also has a number of “Teach Yourself” Computer programs available for anyone that comes in. One on one lessons can be provided on Wednesdays after the Senior Luncheon.    Teacher Contact Information Irish Language: Maura Mulligan, mauramulligan@aol.com or (201) 869-6717 Irish Dance: Niall O’Leary, nialloleary@ireland.com or (212) 726-1602  Tin Whistle: Brendan Dolan, (917) 952-6045 Irish Fiddle: Niall Mulligan, (718) 683-7235 Seniors Club is a Continued Success! Our weekly Senior’s Luncheon and Afternoon club is one of the best attended regular events held at the Center. Seniors often stay long after the meal is over to talk or play cards. Local restaurants continue to help donate food while musicians and professionals donate their skills providing everything from health information and Flu Shots to giving a manicure or two!     Safe Home Ireland   We recently had visitors to the Center to speak to the Seniors about the Safe Home program, which helps return Irish seniors to their home counties in Ireland. With this going on during the lunch we managed to have an even stronger turn out than usual! The program is a great help to seniors that find themselves increasingly isolated here but don’t have other options available to them. If you are a senior and have been thinking about returning to Ireland to live you can contact the Center to receive more information about the Safe Home Program..A sincere thanks to the Emerald Isle Immigration Center for their help with the event.   Lisdoonvarna, USA!   Have you ever heard of 8 minute dating? No, not the kind of date you wish were over in 8 minutes! 8 minute dating, or “speed dating”, is when someone gathers together a group of men and women and on a rotating basis through out the evening they get to spend 8 minutes with each member of the opposite sex. In this way there is a much bigger chance you will meet someone that you would like to go on a longer date with and less of a chance you will get stuck on a bad date with someone! We set up an Irish-Irish American Speed Dating event here at the Center and everyone had a great time. They even went out together afterwards. It was such a success we plan on having a second one on December 11th. To register for the evening or learn more go to our website and click the Speed Dating link.   Coyote Run Christmas Show This event promises to be the perfect follow up to the Play Boy of the Western World. Coyote Run’s music is driving, powerful, and is layered with Celtic traditional music. The band is coming to the New York Irish Center to perform a special Christmas show, their only show in the Northern United States, with songs from their album “Tend the Fire”. (Which you can listen to here at the Center - just ask at the office) There will be a champagne reception and a buffet after the show and you can meet the band and get a signed copy of their CD. Tickets are $40 and a portion of the proceeds from the show will go to help support the New York Irish Center. So come out with the family and enjoy a great Christmas Show with a Celtic twist! For tickets or more information contact the Center or visit http://www.newyorkirishcenter.org/special_events.htm.   About the New York Irish Center: The New York Irish Center offers the community a support network and a range of services to families and individuals who care to commune and converse.  We recently launched our Internet Café where people gather to enjoy a light snack, watch television, read the newspapers and socialize with friends.  We offer classes including Irish language, dance, Fiddle and Tin Whistle classes, a library with an eclectic collection of books, and a comfortable living room.  We also offer a pleasant weekly luncheon for senior citizens, as well as card games, and various other forms of entertainment.   Please visit our website at www.newyorkirishcenter.org for more details on our upcoming events and programs.