Irish Heritage on Tuesday 2nd December had a distinctly festive feel, with a special Christmas quiz. Here’s Chair Michael Walsh’s take on the fun:
Ann Robinson Misses Heritage Quiz
Manx 5 pence with Manx Gaelic inscription
The Christmas Quiz of the Birmingham Irish Heritage Group survived the absence of Ann Robison. Not just any Ann Robinson but Ann Robinson Queen of the BBC TV Quiz, The Weakest Link and undoubtedly a star of the current trend of “humiliation television” shows. You know the sort of programme where a very powerful person degrades and humiliates people who are in a very weak position, and can’t wait to tell them “Your Fired” or “Your Going Home” or “Good Bye” thus smashing their dreams.
Well! at least they have not reverted to throwing Christians to the lions on live TV just yet. Now to be fair to Ann Robinson she did not promise to conduct the heritage quiz or even attend, but even somebody as exalted as her is still a member of the general public, so she could have come along. As is widely known the general public is invited to all Birmingham Irish Heritage Group Events which are held at 7pm on the first Wednesday of each month, upstairs in the Irish Centre, High Street, Digbeth, Birmingham.
However the Heritage Group survived the absence of Ann and her place was more than adequately filled by the Vice Chairman of the Group, John Macintyre. He conducted a lively, humorous and interesting quiz, without resorting to humiliation, and in fact he ensured that everybody had a good time, just by force of personality and great preparation. He did all this without a production staff and without even a single facelift, or makeup, unless there is something he is keeping from us.
Questions were generally of Irish Interest but with a good proportion of general knowledge, across music, films, sport and current affairs. It made for a keen contest between the several teams formed by people on the spot as they arrived. Individuals also got the opportunity to shine by being the first to jump up and correctly answer special questions to win spot prizes. Final victory went to an all ladies team, not that there was any kind segregation going on, just a group of friends.
One Pound Edge inscription - PLEIDIOL WYF I'M GWLAD
They are to be greatly congratulated have won against very knowledgeable opposition, capable of answering really obscure questions such as on the existence or not, of Welsh and Manx Gaelic inscriptions on modern British coins. The other teams also received well deserved prizes followed by a fine buffet provided by the Heritage Group and ordered from the Irish Centre. Then everybody enjoyed live music from Anthony Drury accordion, Kieran Clifford fiddle and Sue Shortland-Webb fiddle, and although they did not end with “Will Ye No Come Back Again” we do all want them back again.
Remember all are welcome free of charge, just come along to the next Birmingham Irish Heritage Group Event, upstairs at the Irish Centre at 7pm on Wednesday 6th of January 2010.
Along with the usual October Irish Heritage Group meet up this month it was also the AGM, in which Nicky and her wonderful work on this website were specifically mentioned.
“We have greatly appreciated the assistance of Nicky Getgood, the proprietor of the Digbeth Blog website, who has included news reports of most of our events sometimes including a video of the entire event. Her website could be regarded as a sort of local newspaper for Digbeth, but much better having moving pictures and sound, do log in the address is www.digbeth.org .”
Mike Walsh has also kindly provided us with a copy of the Chairpersons Report.
Lake Isle of Innisfree which inspired Yates and Charlie Leydon.
Michael Walsh provides this months write-up on the Octobers Irish Heritage Group meeting and reminds us that; The general public are welcome at all Birmingham Irish Heritage Group Events, which commence at 7pm on the first Wednesday of each month upstairs at the luxuriously refurbished Irish Centre in High Street, Deritend, Birmingham.
Story Behind the Ballad
The stories behind a selection of traditional Irish Ballads/poems were revealed, prior to hearing them at the October Event of the Birmingham Irish Heritage Group. It was so warmly welcomed by the crowd that an Event completely devoted to the playing of traditional Irish Ballads/poems, and hearing their secret stories will be held in the near future. The general public are welcome at all Birmingham Irish Heritage Group Events, which commence at 7pm on the first Wednesday of each month upstairs at the luxuriously refurbished Irish Centre in High Street, Deritend, Birmingham.
John McIntyre spoke eloquently on the origins of his selected ballad the very moving and beautiful love song “Down by the Sally Gardens” which was then played and much enjoyed by all. Charlie Leydens contribution ranged from Birmingham to USA and on to Sligo and the famous Irish Poet W B Yates, and a recitation of his poem The Lake Isle of Innishfree.
More sombre was the playing of Phil Coulters moving Ballad “The Town I Loved so Well” about Derry. It was preceded by the recounting of the story of Finbarr O’Doherty, who during an early civil rights demonstration had jumped into the Mayor’s chair, and consequently had to flee Derry as he was a marked man. He was not the only one, Finbarr himself had recounted how as children they had played in Derry, the town they loved so well, and later the half dozen childhood friends were scattered, some on the run, one in Long Kesh, one killed. They had paid the price for half a century of neglect by London and Dublin.
The October Event also dealt in a very efficient manner with the necessary business of the Annual General Meeting for the year 2009. Readers who have ever attended AGM’s of even the most worthy organisations will have noticed the low numbers attending, but happily this was not so with the Heritage Group. There was a fair crowd and they were happy to voice their opinions, and all participated in voting on decisions for the forthcoming year.
Anne Scott the Group Event Organiser spoke to her printed report on all the speakers brought in during the last year, and on forthcoming events. She drew particular attention to the next event on Wednesday 4th of November 2009, having the rather mysteries title A Tragedy of the Wild Geese. It will be presented by Adam Lyons who survived an encounter with the formidable Paxman when a contestant on University Challenge.
There were votes in favour of returning last year’s committee to office, extending the area of the Groups operations and increasing subscriptions. Many of those attending spoke strongly in favour of an increase in subscriptions, because it would show how much members valued the continuing work of the group. The business of the AGM was followed by the collection of prizes, by the many delighted winners of the raffle. Then on to the refreshments and probably the most important part of the evening conversation with friends and acquaintances who share your interests. Then downstairs to more substantial refreshments, available in the luxuriously appointed Connaught Bar, whilst setting the world to rights with one’s companions.
Michael Walsh
Derry, the town they loved so well as children and which inspired Phil Coulter.
The first week of the month is a busy one for the active Digbeth citizen. All the community meetings seem to happen during the evenings of that week. Here’s the week for the community-minded:
Monday – the first Monday of the month is always the Digbeth and Highgate Residents’ Association meeting at 7pm, invariably at the Paragon Hotel. Go along to discuss local issues with fellow residents, police and housing officers.
Tuesday – on the first Tuesday of each month the local landlords get together to talk about things concerning them, what’s coming up, plan-out future big events and the like. However, this Tuesday they’re meeting a little later than planned so as not to miss out on the Digbeth: Past, Present & Future discussion at Ikon Eastside from 6.30pm.
Wednesday – at 8pm on the first Wednesday of each month the Birmingham Irish Heritage Group meet for events about Irish heritage and culture in the Connaught Bar. I’ve been to a few and always found them to be incredibly interesting and informative. I always go away having learnt something completely new and unexpected, these nights are a real hidden gem. Everyone is welcome. This Wednesday is their Annual General Meeting, where you can get a taste of the year to come and take part in a raffle prize draw.
There’s also a Digbeth Business Association who meet monthly to talk about common issues, but I’m not sure when. I don’t think it’s in the first week of the month, which kind of scuppers my theory really. Ah well.
Here’s the write-up of September’s Irish Heritage Group meeting, this time by Sean. The next meeting is their Annual General Meeting at 7pm on Weds 7th Oct – all are welcome.
Shirley Thompson’s Literary Presentation
Mrs Thompson enlightened the Birmingham Irish Group with seven readings from two publications at their meeting at the Irish Centre, Deritend on 2nd September 2009. The first three readings were from the autobiography of Seamus Dunleavy ’Finally meeting Princess Maud’. Dealing with his poor mother’s childbearing of Seamus in Barrack St Charlestown, Mayo in 1934. A delightful World War Two trip to the Sligo seaside, followed by his arrival in Birmingham in the 1950’s. Shirley mentioned the late Actor/Wrestler Pat Roach who together with Seamus Dunleavy and the colourful Eddie Fewtrell who she had assisted with their autobiographies.
However it was her four readings from her new novel Paradise that enthralled her audience. First reading concerned the tragic death of the heroine’s husband in Solihull due to a heart attack. The second saw her consoling herself with two different gentlemen on the idyllic Greek Island of Skiathos. The third saw her driving with the new man she chose through Victoria, British Columbia to his Canadian mansion, and the last saw her walking with an old friend on a Vancouver Island Beach.
Shirley’s husband sailed in 1965 from Liverpool to Montreal, Quebec via Newfoundland down the St Lawrence River stopping at the Irish Famine Memorials on Anticosti Island and Grosse Isle. This had helped with the Quebec Part of her book, and their intimate knowledge of Skiathos, Vancouver Island and Solihull had helped shape her story.
After her seven readings she answered many intriguing questions in a frank manner, after which the usual Complimentary Refreshments were served. Birmingham Irish Heritage Group meets First Wednesday of each Month upstairs in The Irish Centre- Connaught Bar, High Street, Deritend, Birmingham from 7pm. Admission and beverages Free. The Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 7th of October to which the general public are invited. AGM business will be followed by information on origins, background, interpretation and playing of a number of CD’s of Irish Ballads followed by free refreshments.
This month’s Birmingham Irish Heritage Group meeting is this coming Wednesday 5th August. Abigail Wilkinson will be talking about ICAP (In the Community). It’s in the Munster Room of the newly refurbished Birmingham Irish Club at 7.00pm. There’ll be refreshments and all are welcome, there’s no charge.
Michael Walsh, Chair of the Birmingham Irish Heritage Group has sent me another little write-up of their last event to whet your appetite for this Wednesday evening’s talk by Peter Duffy- The 1916 Uprising and War of Independence – A personal Journey of Discovery (action starts at 7pm in The Irish Club).
Red Hand of O’Gara
The June Event of the Birmingham Irish Heritage Group carried a title which did not do justice to the depth of the presentation given by Alan Bairner PhD. The subject “Studying Irish Sport” whilst interesting in it’s self to many, revealed much about the underlying clash of identity in North East Ireland.
Alan demonstrated much authority on the subject having spent many years there engaged in field research and lecturing. Anybody who missed this event lost the opportunity to hear a very professional speaker, who in addition had the talent to engage with the crowd. After a prolonged session of interesting questions and contributions from the floor, a halt had to be called as we had run out of time. However we do hope to have Alan back in the not to distant future.
Birmingham Irish Heritage events commence at 7 pm on the first Wednesday of each month, but this was the first to be held in a palatial listed building. Not just any listed building, but one that had been visited over a century ago, by no less a personage than Princess Helena Christian of Schleswig- Holstein. Now I would hazard a guess that Schleswig-Holstein is not a name that rings a bell with many of our readers, even those who are supporters of the Heritage Group and I readily forgive them for that.
Even if it did ring a bell at one time and they had forgotten, they are in good company. Lord Palmerston the British Politian who held high office for much of the nineteenth century, is on record as having said about the mind numbing complexities of the problem.
“Only three people understood the Schleswig-Holstein Question. The first was Albert, the Prince consort and he is dead. The second is a German professor, and he is in an asylum. And the third was myself — and I have forgotten it.”
This answer did not do any harm to Lord Palmerston, for shortly afterwards he won an election. So there is hope for Gordon Brown, and indeed for the Irish Taoiseach Brian Cowen, if either of them were to comment in relation to the financial meltdown that there were only three men who had the answer to it and:
Regrettably the first man was dead. The second man has become quite mad. And the third is myself – and I have forgotten it.
However such extraordinary answers would not cut any ice with the crowd at the Heritage Group Event, if their keen questioning of this months speaker was any guide. There were questions and contributions from John MacIntyre, Patricia Naylon, Charlie Neylon, John Costello and several others whose names are regrettably unknown to me. They were several contributions from the crowd on rugby player O’Gara meeting Queen Elizabeth as part of the Lions Team.
Each received a thorough reply from Alan based on his long experience seeing first hand the feelings generated by the separate sports of opposing communities in the six counties. The debate would have gone on for much longer had we not run out of time, but likely it continued in the well appointed lounge afterwards. Those who missed this exciting event can watch it on film, on the internet at digbeth.org thanks to the support of the operator of the Digbeth is Good Blog, Nicky Getgood. Type Irish Heritage into the search box half way down the screen on the right hand side and click GO.
Regarding the headline of this report, the picture shows that O’Gara’s hands were in his pockets and the red was on the faces of the others, but much too long for a headline. Anyway why spoil a snappy headline, with a pedantic adherence to trivial facts. Is O’Gara on his way to joining the hate figure of the British media “Hand of God” Diego Maradona.
ABOUT CLARE EDWARDS « Un-convention Blog – Meet Clare Edwards, Gigbeth’s highly qualified Director. More importantly, her favourite pie is also my choice: steak and ale (although I will stretch to beef and guinness). Great minds think alike.
News from Eastside Projects « Fused Magazine – Eastside Projects on Heath Mill Lane opens on Fri 26th Sept 7-10pm with This is the Gallery and the Gallery is Many Things with a lot of artists, including BILL DRUMMOND! I like him.
Spaghetti Gazetti: Irish heritage and arts events at artsfest Birmingham – The Birmingham Irish Community Forum, Birmingham St Patrick’s Festival & Birmingham Irish Heritage Group are running events as part of Birmingham’s artsfest this weekend, mostly in the Birmingham Irish Club. Loads of great music and dancing.
finding the creative needles in birmingham’s haystack – Graphiquillan, spurred on by Creative Republic this week, rants articulately about Birmingham City Council’s crap approach to creativity in Birmingham and begs for No Logo. A musician once told me that the Council agreed to fund their music video only if the Birmingham City Council appeared within it. Says it all really.
