Buffalo Irish Times, 2002-06-01

              Buffalo Irish Times $1.00 Volume 11-Number 3 June-July, 2002 Gaelic American Athletic Association

First Celtic Music Fest On Buffalo's Waterfront Brings New Life To The Pier

Buffalo's First Celtic Music Festival is being held at the Festival Grounds at the Pier 325 Fuhrmann Blvd. at the Foot of the Skyway featuring...

Solas... In six short years, Solas has made a major impact in both America and abroad as an Irish music supergroup whose albums and live shows are among the finest and most exciting musical experiences in the world! Featuring Seamus Egan, multi instrumentalist wizard from Philly who grew up in Ireland, has won All Ireland honors on FOUR dif­ferent instruments. Donal Clancy, Liam's son, is on guitar. Lead vocalist Deirdre Scanlan is also a renowned soloist in Ireland, Winifred Horan on the fiddle was a core member of Cherish the Ladies and the Sharon Shannon Band. Absolutely fantastic group.

Black 47... "Finally rock & roll means something again." Time Magazine. Black 47 burst onto the American scene in 1993 with their hit single Funky Ceili. They had formed in the Bronx in 1989 and became immediately contro­versial because of their eclectic mix of rock, reggae, hip hop I and downtown noise fused with Irish traditional music. Their main songwriter and singer, Larry Kirwan, has one of the most distinctive voices in the Irish music business.

Glengarry Bhoys... Former Ontario Provincial Policemen turned performers, these bhoys from Glengarry, Ontario are into their fourth album, and are making huge strides towards becoming the regions most successful Celtic band.

Graham Wright on vocals, Ziggy on drums... kilts, bag­pipes and fiddles. Fun!

Brigid's Cross... Cleveland's most popular Irish band, featuring Paul Baker on a furious and fantastic fiddle.

The McKrells... Back from a show at Carnegie Hall, Kevin McKrell leads an extremely talented group of musicians and percussionists. Award  winning song writing, and a bluegrass tint to Irish music makes the McKrells a must see.

Jackdaw... Tough to list such a great local group so far down in the pack... Three CD full of original Celtic music has earned them the cover of Buffalo News' Gusto section, and an increasing number of festival appearances all over the Northeast.

Seamus Kennedy... Belfast born funny man, Seamus will act as entertainer and emcee for the weekend long event.

Martha Harkin Passes

 

Martha K. Harkin, the co founder of the Belfast Summer Relief Program, passed away on June 1, 2002. She was 86.

For over 20 years, she was a driving force behind the Belfast Summer Relief program bringing hundreds of Irish children, Protestant and Catholic, to Western New York for peaceful summer fun.

She co founded the program in 1975 with her late husband Tom and others. Acting on Tom's concern for the lack of children playing due to "the troubles" in the streets of his home town in Northern Ireland, the couple decided to get active and implement a program for chil­dren similar to one enjoying success in Minnesota..

When Tom passed away in 1982, Martha continued to head the program until 1996 when health problems forced her to curtail her very active involvement. The program continues to bring Irish chil­dren for some summer respite under the direction of Jack and Maureen Fecio.

A graduate of Lafayette High School, she attended Canisius College. She obtained work at the Buffalo Psychiatric Center and served there for 45 years, obtaining her Registered Nurse designa­tion and later becoming the Supervisor of Dining Room Services.

Text Box: Martha K. Harkin, the co-founder of the Belfast Summer Relief Program, passed away on June 1, 2002. She was 86. For over 20 years, she was a driving force behind the Belfast Summer Relief pro¬gram bringing hundreds of An active member of Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, she was an Extraordinary Minister. She was active in the annual Catholic Charities drives, served as president for a number of years of the Altar and Rosary Society and served on the Bishop's Committee of the Buffalo Diocese.

Her memberships includ­ed: the N.Y. State Dietetic Assoc; the Ladies of Kincora; the Buffalo Irish Center; the Irish Friendly Society; Daughters of Erin, Court 5; the Town 'o Tonawanda Irish American Club and the United Irish American Assoc. for which she served as Historian.

Honors bestowed on her include: Buffalo News Outstanding Citizen Award, 1977; First Female Grand Marshal of the Buffalo St. Patrick's Day Parade, 1978; Irishwoman of the Year, 1987 by the Irish Legislators Society of N.Y. State; 1993 by Bisons Baseball; 1994 by the Amherst Gaelic League and 1998 by the Knights of Equity and Daughters of Erin.

Surviving, are her daughter, Maureen Jendresky; a son, Thomas E.; four grandchil­dren and two great grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Margaret's Catholic Church.