Irish Happy Hour Draws Special Guests

Our Irish Happy Hour on March 22 was indeed made “happy” by special guest appearances

from the current Arizona Colleen and Irish Lass, and Scottsdale’s Mayor David Ortega.

Adding to the enjoyment were the 6 musicians of Dé Máirt Ceól providing toe-tapping traditional Irish tunes.

The evening marked the end of the Killarney Committee’s Silent Art Auction, proceeds of which will support the inaugural Scottsdale-Killarney Student Golf Exchange this summer and fall. JoAnn Garner, Killarney Committee Chair, expressed great appreciation to the successful bidders:

Faith Harris ( Dark Hedges)

Ellen Harrington (Dingle Splendor)

Heather Gala (Scales: A Collection of Tuna Haikus)

Jeff Aspland, president of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Faire, expressed excitement about our partnership with them to launch the 1st Annual Irish Golf Scramble which will tee off on May 12. Proceeds from that fundraiser will support both the Colleen program and the Scottsdale-Killarney Student Golf Exchange.

A huge “Thank You” goes to R.T. O’Sullivans Sports Grill which is donating 10% of our group’s checks to support the student golf exchange.

Picture Captions:

Above: L to R: Mayor David Ortega, Arizona Irish Lass Jillian, AZ Colleen Mackenzie Shane

Below: #1 (Caption): L to R: Janis Goldstein, Mayor Ortega, Terry Haines, Debbie Wallace, and JoAnn Garner

#2. Mayor and Band (Caption): L to R: Mayor David Ortega, Rick Boyle (guitar), Shannon Schumann (harp), Ruth Christensen (fiddle), Brian Harris (whistle), Corey Caulkins (mandolin).

Other band members not pictured are: John Paden (mandolin), Anette Pedersen (bodhran)

#3. (Caption): On Left, Ellen Harrington, winner of “Dingle Splendor” in the Art Auction, is President of Chandler-Tullamore Sister Cities.

#4. (Caption): L to R: Ellen Harrington, AZ Colleen Mackenzie Shane, Jeff Aspland, Arizona Irish Lass Jillian, and JoAnn Garner