WHAT'S NEW IN THE STORE?

We've been doing some remodeling here at Things Celtic.! In addition to getting a new roof put on the building, we've also updated some of our display fixtures in the store. The result is that we can display even more merchandise, while taking up less floor space. Stop by soon to see our new look.

Also new: Celtic snacks! In addition to the Irish teas that we've carried for years, we are now stocked with Irn-Bru (Scotland's favorite soft drink), Odlum's brand scone and brown bread mixes, Tayto brand crisps in four flavors (cheese & onion, "wuster sauce", smokey bacon, and prawn cocktail), McVitie's Hobnobs and Ginger-Nut biscuits, and Nestles Smarties. In the Fall, we may start carrying more of the Irish & Scottish chocolates, as some of our customers have requested.

WEAR A KILT TO THE BEACH?!

Well, maybe not. But you can show your Scottish pride at the beach or pool with an Instakilt! It's the fun beach towel that looks like a kilt. Don't let the blazing Summer keep you from showing some Celtic style!

UPCOMING EVENTS

GILMER & MOORE AT GENUINE JOE'S COFFEEHOUSE
Gilmer and Moore will be performing at Genuine Joe's Coffeehouse, 2001 W. Anderson Ln., Austin, TX, on Monday, July 13 at 8PM. Heather Gilmer and Jeff Moore are a traditional Irish music duet, specializing in a variety of tunes and songs that extend beyond the average dose of jigs and reels commonly found within the genre. Particularly interested in dance music from the Sliabh Luachra region of Ireland, they include in their repertoire a generous helping of slides, polkas, hornpipes and slip jigs.

"FOODIE DAY" AT THINGS CELTIC
Are you interested in trying some of the new snack items now available at Things Celtic? Come in on Sunday, July 19th when we're having "Celtic Foodie Day"! We'll be sharing small samples of cold Irn-Bru, Barry's Irish tea, brown bread, scones, Nestles Smarties, and Tayto crisps. If you're not familiar with Irn-Bru, it has a mildly citrus/sweet flavor; best served very cold. Tayto brand crisps (potato chips) are what you'll find being sold in nearly every Irish pub; the flavors are intense and unique.

In addition to the sampling, we'll also have some recipes to share, and all in-stock cookbooks that day will be 10% off the regular price.

There will also be entertainment on the 19th! Doc Grauzer will be here playing Irish Harp from noon until 1:30, and then from 2Pm to 4PM, Season's Melody will be here to share her songs with us. We hope you can join us!

Things Celtic will be closed on Saturday, July 4th 2009 for the Independence Day holiday. We'd like to wish all of our customers a safe and happy Independence Day!

Things Celtic is located at 1806 W. 35th Street, Austin, TX 78703.

TEXAS IRISH-AMERICAN LEADERS TO BE HONORED

The Irish Echo, the USA’s largest and most widely-read Irish American weekly publication, is joining with the Harp and Shamrock Society of San Antonio to host an awards evening for champions of Irish America in Texas, on June 5, 2009. The event will build on the rich Irish American heritage of Texas while also celebrating the Scots-Irish links to the Alamo and the Lone Star State.

This event will be held on June 5, 2009, 7PM, at the Menger Hotel, San Antonio, TX. For information about the awards event, call 212-482-4818, or email Madeline O'Boyle at moboyle@irishecho.com.

This year's honoree's are:

Donnelle McKaskle, Austin Celtic Festival & Celtic Storm, KOOP radio, Austin
Pat Doab, Celtic Cowboys, Austin
Maria Elena Torralva-Alonso, Director of Port of San Antonio
Kinetic Concepts Inc, Catherine Burzik, CEO, San Antonio
Joan Moody, Harp and Shamrock Society of San Antonio
Lori Gallagher, Director, Center for Irish Studies, University of St. Thomas, Houston
Larry & Kathleen Miggins, Irish Society of Houston
Jackie Nelon, Rose of Tralee, Dallas

TEXAS SCOTTISH FESTIVAL AND HIGHLAND GAMES

The Texas Scottish Festival and Highland Games will be held June 5-7, 2009, at Maverick Stadium, UTA Campus, Arlington, TX. The event is held rain or shine; hours are: 5:00 p.m. to midnight on Friday, 9:00 a.m. to midnight on Saturday, and 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Ticket information can be found at www.texasscottishfestival.com/price.htm. There is a nominal fee for parking, which is not included in the ticket price. Along with the Athletics Competition, there will be musical entertainment, workshops, pipe bands, food, and vendors.

Things Celtic will be vending at this festival; please stop by our booth and say hello.

CELTIC MOTHERS DAY BRUNCH
SUNDAY, MAY 10th, 11am to 3pm, $25.00 a person, $14.50 for children under 12
Limited seating of 200
Advance purchase recommended !

Introducing a beautiful new venue for upcoming Celtic Cultural Center events. Mick Morris (former proprietor of Mother Egan's Irish Pub) has opened up a new banquet hall in South Austin called Waterford House.

Waterford House is just off I35 at 2008 Brandt Road yet secluded among Texas woods and towering live oaks, it's the perfect place to spend an early Spring afternoon.

Special Musical Performances by:
James Keane and Jeff Moore
plus Gregory Grene with Darren Maloney and Dave Fahy

Great Buffet Menu including:
Homemade Irish Soda Bread
Spiral Cut Honey Roast Ham
Roast Beef
Roasted Red Potatoes
Egg and Cheese Bake, Bacon, Sausage
Assorted Muffins, Scones, Fruit and more!
For complete menu, and ticket ordering info, click here.

*Join The Austin Celtic Association at Central Market for the traditional May Day Celebration of Sring!
Throughout the day, Central Market will host performances by local Celtic artists, family activities and a maypole to commemorate this age-old holiday.

Musical performers will include Sean Orr, Bourrée Texane, Sarah Dinan, Silver Thistle, Gilmer & Moore, the Tea Merchants, and Poor Man's Fortune, as well as dancers who will lead a colorful procession around the maypole.
*
*A silent auction will also be held benefiting the Austin Celtic Association
(ACA.) The ACA hosts events including the annual Austin Celtic Festival, held the first weekend of November each year at Fiesta Gardens.

*WHEN:*
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Music and events from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.

*WHERE:*
Central Market
4001 North Lamar
Austin, TX 78756

Please join us for a great day of music, a silent auction, a maypole and fun for the whole family

Bring the entire family out to enjoy bagpiping under the stars!

Silver Thistle Pipes and Drums 10th Annual Ceilidh!
benefitting the Silver Thistle Development Fund.


Saturday, April 11, 2009
6PM to 9PM at Scholtz Garten, 1607 San Jacinto Street, Austin, TX

$10 admission - featuring The Hill Country Dancers, and Silver Thistle Pipes and Drums
raffle - Scottish food - drinks - ...and more!





See www.silverthistle.org for more details.

This is just a reminder: Things Celtic will be having live entertainment at the store this weekend!

The weather forecast looks like we'll have a bit of cool & rainy weather through Saturday afternoon. We have a "rain plan", though! The space next door to Things Celtic (formerly occupied by Allegra Printing) is now empty. We have permission to move our outdoor activities inside that space if the weather is bad. So don't let a little bit of rain keep you from joining us for our celebration this weekend!

MARCH 14th

On Saturday, March 14th, Things Celtic will have our annual "St. Patrick's Day Family Celebration". We'll have live entertainment all day long, with a children's activity area with crafts and games out in the front parking area. Kids, be on the lookout for "Leigh the Leprechaun"! She'll be paying us a visit sometime during the afternoon.

The entertainment schedule for the day will be as follows:

11AM - Storytelling, with Lucinda
Noon - Life of St. Patrick, by Bishop Andrew
1PM - Emergency Services Pipes & Drums
2 PM - Kenny Tweedy (folk songs & traditional tunes)
3PM - Pine Beetles
4PM - Silver Thistle Pipes and Drums
5 PM - Doc Grauzer, on Irish harp

Our front parking lot will be closed off, but there is plenty of free parking along the side streets, and in the parking garage next door at the 35th At Jefferson Building. This is a FREE event!

MARCH 15th

On Sunday, March 15th, 3:30 PM here at Things Celtic, Strayaway will be back to entertain us! Join us for an afternoon of their toe-tapping Celtic music. Again, this will be a FREE event, and all ages are welcome.

Slainte!
The Things Celtic Staff
Lanora, Kimberly, Melisa, Sam, Rachael & Drusilla

CELTIC MUSIC ON KUT 90.5 FM

KUT 90.5 FM, Austin's public radio station, has announced a new show featuring Celtic music!

Ed Miller, who has been one of the radio hosts of KUT's "Folkways" program, will now have his own program on Sunday evenings at 7PM: Across the Water, with Ed Miller.

This program will focus on the music of England, Ireland and Scotland, as well as Celtic Music in North America. As Ed is a long-time performer himself, he knows many of the artists whose music he'll be playing personally. He also has an academic background as a folklorist, so listeners can count on a personal, entertaining and knowledgeable commentary. "Across The Water" will begin on March 1st, 2009.

Even if you're not in the Austin area, you can listen to KUT on the web; the website is http://kut.org/togo/listen.

On Tuesday, March 17th (St. Patrick's Day), the Celtic Cultural Center of Texas presents the Austin St. Patrick's Day Festival. The event will be held at Fiddler's Hearth, 103 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX, from 11AM to 10PM. See www.stpatricksdaysaustin.com for details.

Advance sale tickets for this event are $7.75, and can be purchased online, at the Celtic Cultural Center website. Tickets at the door will be $10 each; children under age 12 are free.