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>>> Feb. 10, 2001 <<<>>>  THE IRISH WORD  <<<>>>      No.11    <<<
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To Both the Irish of Blood and the Irish of Heart:

    Well, if you thought Chicago's Irish scene was rather dead last month, I assure you there'll be nothing to complain about for awhile. From now until St. Paddy's Day, Chicago is all about being Irish. Music, plays, parades, and shamrock shakes galore!

Ortsa an t-dh!
(Lucky you),

          Brett Wilkes
          DIS President

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SOCIETY UPDATES:

New officers! We are very pleased to announce the arrival of three new officers. Their positions are as follows:

  Abigail Dumke ~Vice President
  Kristen Szewczyk ~Secretary
  Jessica Madsen ~Rugby Coordinator

Brett Wilkes will remain President and Annie Riordan will continue as Treasurer. You can meet each new officer and send them a congratulatory e-mail at http://www.depaul.edu/~dis/newofficers.html.

The Milwaukee Irish Film Festival that we had tentatively planned to attend the weekend of Feb. 17 has been postponed until September. We're all disappointed, but hey-- you can drown your sorrows with us over a couple of pints at a pub outing we're holding that Sunday.

Show off your Irishness: Part of our great DIS St. Pat's celebration on March 16th will be an open mic for all of you. Contribute anything Irish-related that you'd like-- song, dance, stories, jokes; anything! If there are any solo musicians out there that would like to do a group thing, email depaul_irish_society@hotmail.com and we'll try to get a few DIS members together for you. We'll start the open mic around 5:30, after the scheduled entertainment ends. For this to happen, however, we need to know enough people are interested, so please give us a holler if you intend on contributing something.

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UPCOMING DIS EVENTS:

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IRISH ON-CAMPUS:

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IRISH IN CHICAGO:

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NEWS FROM IRELAND:

The following is condensed from "The Irish Times," Feb. 10 edition:

-Patrols stepped up as pipe bomb attacks continue-

British troops were back on the streets of another Northern Ireland town tonight as security chiefs fought to combat the growing campaign of loyalist sectarian bomb attacks on Catholic homes.

Security was stepped up in Limavady, Co Derry, with both the military patrolling and extra police patrols.

In recent days security has been stepped up in north Belfast, the Waterside area of Derry, Larne, Co Antrim and Coleraine, Co Derry.

The local RUC commander in Limavady, Superintendent Noel McClenaghan, said: "The increased security measures will be concentrated mainly on residential areas in order to thwart and apprehend those responsible for carrying out these evil acts."

The continuing attacks have been blamed on rogue elements of the Ulster Defence Association.

The Presbyterian Church Moderator in Northern Ireland, Dr Trevor Morrow, lashed out at those responsible describing their actions as "a moral outrage".

Northern Ireland Security Minister Adam Ingram issued a thinly-veiled warning to loyalist paramilitaries about the continuing attacks in the House of Commons yesterday.

He said the Government was considering whether so-called "hate crime" law could be tailored for sectarian crimes in Northern Ireland.

The attacks continued into the early hours with the petrol bombing of the home of a couple and their nine children in Co Tyrone. The device smashed into the front door of the house at Castlecaufield, outside Dungannon starting a fire.

In another attack in east Belfast a nail bomb shattered a window in a pensioners' sheltered dwelling on the Newtownards Road.

Sinn Fein said the target of the attack had been the local Catholic chapel.

Meanwhile the search for the seat of an explosion reported close to the main Belfast-Dublin railway line outside Newry, Co Down, three days ago continued.

This text may be found at: http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2001/0209/breaking30.htm
For great background information on the Troubles in the North, visit: http://www.ireland.com/special/peace/

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THEATRE REVIEW:

"The Pagans"

The Seanachai Theatre company recently gave the world premiere of local playwright Ann Noble Massey's "The Pagens". If you're interested in anything and all things Irish, I highly recommend you check this play out. It is filled with loveble characters, great Irish wit, and a great, twisted storyline. It takes place in the present day, and tells the story of a young man returning home to Ireland after being off in New York for 5 years without any contact with his family. Needless to say, both the brother and the family have news for each other that stirs everything up. "The Pagens" is running until March 24, Thursdays through Saturday at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 3 PM at the Theatre Building at 1225 W. Belmont. Student discounts are available. Their website is http://www.seanachai.org and the number for tickets is 773-327-5252.

-Kristen Szewczyk, Secretary

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THE IRISH WORD:

May you be in heaven an hour before the devil knows you're dead!

~Irish Blessing~



THE FRIENDSHIP BRACELET
O~xxxxxxx@@@@@xxxxxxx~O

May there always be work for your hands to do; May your purse always hold a coin or two; May the sun always shine on your windowpane; May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain; May the hand of a friend always be near you; May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

~Irish Blessing~


(Contributed by DIS member Colleen Hill. Cheers!)

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Don't forget to mark your calenders for our March 16th celebration and to RSVP if you're interested in the Irish open mic. Only 36 days 'til St. Paddy's!

Thanks for reading,
          Brett Wilkes


Gura slán an scéalai.
(May the bearer of the news be safe.)

©2001 DePaul Irish Society; Brett Wilkes