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The Mosser Hotel

2010 FESTIVAL CALENDAR

This year, during the week leading up to the annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration, the Crossroads Irish-American Festival 2010 features both traditional and cutting-edge musical acts and explores the ancient roots and modern influences of spirituality in the Irish-American community. Crossroads 2010 also continues with its commitment to reveal the hidden histories of the local Irish-American community.

All Events are free to the public unless otherwise indicated.

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TUESDAY, MARCH 2nd

OPENING NIGHT

The Legendary Tommy Sands in Concert

Crossroads 2010 opens with a performance by Tommy Sands, renowned singer-songwriter and peace activist from Northern Ireland. Sands will perform with his daughter and son, Moya and Fionán in this rare local appearance. The performance will feature music from Tommy's recently released CD, Let the Circle Be Wide. Tommy has been called "The most powerful songwriter in Ireland, if not the rest of the world", as he is a rare combination of singer, songwriter, storyteller, author and social activist who captivates audiences with the same musical skill and charm that earned him the respect of fellow musician, Pete Seeger, and many others.

Tommy Sand with Moya and Fionán

Cost: $18 door/advance

Advance Tickets Available at The Plough & Stars or call
415-810-3774.


Time: 8:00 PM

Location: The Plough and the Stars Pub, 116 Clement Street @ 2nd Avenue, San Francisco.

MUNI: Bus Lines 2, 44, 38, 33

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SATURDAY, MARCH 6th

MUSIC * SPIRITUALITY *DANCE

Children’s Hour

Music, song, and dance featuring young dancers from the Murphy Irish Dance Company and traditional Irish music & story-telling by internationally celebrated fiddler, Colm Ó Riain! Bring your whole family and join us in celebrating Irish heritage.

Murphy Irish Dance Company

Time: 11:00 AM -12:00 Noon

Location: Fisher Children’s Center, Main Public Library, 100 Larkin Street @ Grove, San Francisco.

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Irish-American Spiritualities: From Ancient Roots to Modern Times

Time: 1:00 - 4:00 PM

Location: Koret Auditorium, Main Public Library, 100 Larkin Street @ Grove, San Francisco.

Event Times:

*1:00 - 1:30 PM Musical Interlude - Enjoy a traditional Irish musical performance by San Francisco's own Tipsy House before our keynote presentation.

*1:30 - 4:00 PM Irish-American Spiritualities: From Ancient Roots to Modern Times  Special thanks for support from the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.

On this day, we invite the public to join the Crossroads Irish-American Festival and its featured guests to explore the multifaceted nature of spirituality in the Irish-American experience and its links to ancient roots. This "roundtable conversation" will feature: Josephine Coffey, a leader of tours to Sacred Sites of Ireland and coordinator of the Ancient Irish Mysteries study group in San Francisco, Patricia Monaghan, a poet, teacher and author of books on Irish and Celtic spirituality, mythology and ecology including, The Red-Haired Girl From The Bog: The Landscape of Celtic Myth and Spirit and Irish Spirit: Pagan, Celtic, Christian, Global, Sister Maureen O’Brien, BVM, Pastoral Associate at St. Teresa of Avila Parish, San Francisco and member of the Sister's Council of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, and Catherine Regan, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist and spiritual director. She is on the program staff of Mercy Center, Burlingame where she trains spiritual directors, teaches Mindfulness Meditation, and coordinates the Centering Prayer Program and Conscious Evolution group. Her great interest is in cultivating contemplative consciousness and fostering a mutually enhancing human-Earth relationship. Moderated by Hillary Flynn.


Josephine CoffeyPatricia Monaghan

Sr. Maureen O'BrienCatherine Regan

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Parking: Civic Center Garage, 355 McAllister Street, San Francisco

MUNI:
Underground: Civic Center, F Line and Market Street Buses

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SUNDAY, MARCH 7th

Irish-American Spiritualities Workshop

An opportunity for reflection on the topic of "Irish-American Spiritualities" continues with this facilitated workshop by Maureen Murdock, author, educator, Jungian-psychotherapist, and photographer.  Participants will be given the opportunity to reflect upon and write about their experiences and beliefs related to spirituality with the aim of expanding their understandings of what an Irish spiritual inheritance contains.

Maureen Murdock

Cost: $10 (no one turned away for lack of funds)

Time: 2:00-5:00 PM

Location: The United Irish Cultural Center, 2700 45th Avenue, San Francisco.

MUNI: Underground: L Taraval, Bus Lines 23 and 18

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THURSDAY, MARCH 11th

Getting the Job Done: Irish San Franciscans and a Lifetime of Civil Service

Crossroads 2010 continues to explore histories of the local Irish-American community through this storied event. This evening will feature Barney Crotty, former head of the San Francisco Retired Employees' Association, Kevin Mullen, former Deputy Police Chief of San Francisco, and author of The Egg Man's Son: A San Francisco Irish Life, Clare M. Murphy, recently retired Executive Director of the Francisco Employees' Retirement System (SFERS), and Bob Twomey, District Director for Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, representing San Francisco’s 12th District.  Moderated by Tony Bucher of the Irish Herald, this night will highlight the legacy of civil service within the Irish community. We are honored that San Francisco Supervisor Sean Elsbernd will also join us in welcoming the public to this event.

Barney CrottyKevin Mullen

Clare M. MurphyBob Twomey

Tony Bucher

Time: 7:00 PM

Location: The United Irish Cultural Center, 2700 45th Avenue, San Francisco.

MUNI: Underground: L Taraval, Bus Lines 23 and 18

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SATURDAY, MARCH 13th


Avatar Ensemble

The Doug Martin Avatar Ensemble

Music at the Crossroads continues with a performance at the St. Patrick's Day Parade Festival at United Nations Plaza at San Francisco's Civic Center. The band will perform a blend of music - traditional Irish tunes, American Swing, as well as their fiery signature music, gypsy jazz - from their most recent CD entitled, Giniker.  This CD derives its inspiration, in part, from the work of the late Daniel Cassidy, author of How the Irish Invented Slang: The Secret Language of the Crossroads.  In his book, Cassidy described how "giniker" is from the Irish language, meaning "lightening" or "fire" and "jazz", also Irish in its origins, means "heat".  So, 'jazz' is the heat we feel when we 'ginkier' strikes! This musical performance will be a great show featuring a unique sound that is distinctly Irish-American in its originality and creative inspiration -- a true example of music at the 'Crossroads'! For more info on the Doug Martin Avatar Ensemble visit www.dougmartinguitar.com.

Time: 1PM-2:30PM - The St. Patrick's Day Parade Festival.

Location: United Nations Plaza, Civic Center, San Francisco.

Parking: Civic Center Garage, 355 McAllister Street, San Francisco

MUNI:
Underground: Civic Center, F Line and Market Street Buses

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SUNDAY, MARCH 14th

Irish Dance in America: Workshop & Discussion

Join award-winning Irish dancer and choreographer, Nicholas Yenson, who is currently touring Canada, Ireland and the United States with Riverdance, as he leads an introductory Irish step dance workshop that will include a discussion about the history and impact of Irish-America on Irish dance, as well as the impact of Irish dance on the American entertainment industry. This introductory class welcomes adults of all ages and abilities.

Nicholas Yenson

Cost: $10 (no one turned away for lack of funds)

Time: 2:00 - 4:00 PM

Location: St. Anne’s Catholic Church of the Sunset, Basement Hall, Funston Avenue between Irving & Judah Streets, San Francisco.

Parking: Parking available in the school yard at the back of the Church, between Funston and Irving Streets.

MUNI: N Judah, Bus Lines 6, 28, 43, 44, 66 and 72

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Also, Mark Your Calendar!

Renewal: Printmakers from the New Northern Ireland

Exhibition: Jan. 30 through March 21, 2010
Main Library, Sixth Floor, Skylight Gallery




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The Mosser Hotel

Come to the Crossroads Festival and stay at The Mosser Hotel in downtown San Francisco!  Special rates for all Crossroads Festival participants and attendees.  www.themosser.com.


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All Events are free to the public unless otherwise indicated.

For more information, please call (415) 810-3774
or email info@irishamericancrossroads.org