See the IHSM Calendar Page by clicking on the “Calendar” tab above for all weekly entertainment, bands, trivia, etc.

Don’t forget to visit Non-IHSM Events for activities not sponsored by IHSM but available locally. Monthly invitations from Comhaltas are posted here as well.

IHSM Irish Knitting and Cniotála Club. Crocheters welcome too! ~ This activity is held every Wednesday from 6:30-8:30 pm at the Clubhouse. Come enjoy social time with other knitting and crocheting enthusiasts. We are currently making items to sell at the Christmas Fair to support the Christmas Family. All ages and ability levels welcome.

Irish dance lessons with Mulkerin School of Dance are held at the clubhouse at 6:30 pm every Wednesday beginning October 3rd
Come join in the fun! Your first class is free!

Clubhouse Trivia Every Thursday
It’s game on at 7:30pm!
Grab some friends and head to the Clubhouse.
Good times, fun prizes and lots of laughs are what you’ll find! Join the party!

Sunday Traditional Music
1pm – 3pm Every Sunday at the Clubhouse.
These are informal musical seisiúns in the tradition of Pubs in Ireland. All Members and their guests are welcome. Bar is open.
Bring your instrument and energy. Clubhouse rentals take priority over Sunday Traditional Music. Check website calendar.

Sat, December 8, 4pm – 6pm
Featured Musicians – Caitlin Finley (fiddle) and Will Woodson (flute and uilleann pipes)

Caitlin Finley and Will Woodson play sparky, driving, and well-rooted traditional Irish music. They’ve both spent a considerable time digging deep into sources of the tradition, with the music of North Connacht and Ulster at the fore. A mutual interest in the recordings of Irish music made in America in the 1920s and 30s informs their sound, as does the piping of Willie Clancy and Seamus Ennis and the fiddling of John Doherty. To all this is added the vibrancy of the living tradition, with the thriving Irish music scenes of New York City and Boston playing a major role in the music of the pair. In fact, it was in a New York session where Caitlin and Will first met, finding a rare natural chemistry in their flute and fiddle duets that they’ve elaborated upon over the years.

Originally from Philadelphia, Caitlin Finley learned much of her music from some of the great traditional players who live in the Philly area. As a teenager, she took fiddle lessons from Rose Flanagan and Brian Conway, and subsequently fell in love with the fiddle music of Sligo. While Caitlin’s interest in Sligo fiddling has not diminished, she has since developed a great love of Northern music, and her playing reflects the influence of both traditional styles. Caitlin has performed throughout the Philadelphia and New York area with various musicians, including Mick Moloney, Billy McComiskey, and Dylan Foley. Since leaving Philadelphia, Caitlin has lived in New York, where she played an active part in the city’s traditional music scene. She now lives in Boston, where she can often be found playing in the city’s numerous and superb sessions.

An East Coast native, Will Woodson lived in Glasgow, Scotland and New York City before moving to Portland, Maine. He holds a master’s degree in traditional music from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. On the flute, he’s heavily influenced by the music of the older generations of Sligo, Leitrim, and Roscommon flute players; on the pipes, Seamus Ennis, Willie Clancy, and Patsy Touhey are at the fore of his listening. He’s also deeply influenced in the fiddle tradition of Donegal, and by John Doherty in particular. Will plays in the band Daymark and is active in the Portland and Boston traditional music scenes."

Irish Heritage Riders meet the 3rd Thursday of every month @ 6:30 pm in the bar area of the club house. All riding members are welcome!
Please contact Kevin Fox @ Krfox821@gmail.com for more information

Saturday, December 1st – 10 am to 12 pm
Open to all IHSM members interested in pursuing their family history and share successes and collaborate on tools and research tips. Coffee, tea, water, etc. offered. Held the first Saturday of each month; often off-site — Contact Sheila Johnson at vershe@vershe.com or 203-878-7888 for more information._

Information for December coming soon!

Biagetti’s Restaurant
Campbell Ave., West Haven

Date: Dec. 14, 2018
Time: 12:30 pm
Cost: $23.00 cash; cash bar

Please contact Joan Sullivan at jmlsully@gmail.com or 203.215.4626 for reservations.

The IHSM Irish Book Club is open to all members who have read the book of the evening and wish to discuss its merits with other interested members. Drop ins welcome! Please bring a snack to share between friends! This club meets every other month.

November’s Book: How Many Miles to Babylon by Jennifer Johnston, © 1974.
When: Tue, November 20, 7pm – 9pm
Johnston is one of the foremost Irish writers and was born in Dublin in 1930. This book explores the relationship of two men, an Anglo-Irish aristocrat, Alexander Moore, and a lower class son of a Catholic laborer on his lands, Jerry Crowe, as they experience the First World War. After enlisting, they both find themselves in Flanders and while encamped in the trenches, their commonalities are what help them survive.

January’s Book: An Irish Country Christmas by Patrick Taylor, M.D. © 2009.
When: Tue, January 15, 2019, 7pm – 9pm

Given the upcoming holiday season, our selection will help put us in the spirit with a charming novel from a Northern Ireland writer. Patrick Taylor, who was born & raised in Bangor, County Down, sets this novel in the cozy (fictitious) village of Ballybucklebo where young doctor Barry Laverty, M.B. is looking forward to his first Christmas there. Barry learns that his sweetheart, Patricia, might not be coming home for the holiday but has little time to dwell on romantic disappointments as he and his senior partner, Doctor Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly, deal with the medical and community needs of their beloved patients.

Kerry Boys
Fri, November 23, 8pm – 11pm
The Kerry Boys are Mark James, originally from the county Kerry Ireland now from Cheshire, CT, and Pierce Campbell, (CT’s official State Troubadour 2007/08) from Prospect, CT. These two dynamic and popular Connecticut Irish Balladeers combined their talents to form an exciting Irish music duo, and they have dazzled fans of all ages with their humorous high-energy performances and engaging style of Irish ballads and sea songs ever since. Joining them for many shows are Paul Neri on banjo and Tony Pasqualoni on bass.

Mapleview Farm
603 Orange Center Road
Orange, Ct
Sunday, November 25th – $7 per rider
infants under 1 year old are free
Ride Times: 1 pm and 1:30 pm
Rides fill up quickly and this event always sells out so…
Make Your Reservations Soon!
To reserve your spot(s), contact Jenn Hussey @ jenniferhussey71@yahoo.com

DECEMBER 1st, 2018 – Come shop for the holidays! Hours: 10 am to 4 pm

Event to benefit the Christmas Family

$15 per table for Members $25 per table for Non-Members

To volunteer or reserve a table, contact Amanda Potkay @ Mandypk89@gmail.com; or call her @ (203)907-5485

Saturday, December 1st, 2018
Kick off the season with our IHSM Annual Adult Ugly Sweater Party! This event is open to adult members and their guests.
Sweater contest with prizes & MORE!

Sat, December 8, 4pm – 6pm
Featured Musicians – Caitlin Finley (fiddle) and Will Woodson (flute and uilleann pipes) These two incredible talents play sparky, driving, and well-rooted traditional Irish music.
*See the Monthly Happenings section above to read more about this ‘Dynamic Duo!’

DynaMojo
Date: December 8th, 2018
Time: 8 – 11 pm
Open to members and the general public.

SAVE THE DATES/TIMES:

Children’s Christmas Party
December 16th @ 12 pm

Teen’s Christmas Party
December 16th @ 2 pm

More news to follow!

Fri, December 21, 7:30pm – 10:30pm
*members and their guests welcome*

Fri, December 28, 8pm – 11pm
Members and their guests welcome.

December 31st, 2018
Adult New Year’s Eve Party
Time: 7-11 pm
…details to follow…!

Save the date! Sunday, January 13, 2019, 12pm – 3pm
The Bridge House, 49 Bridgeport Ave.

Each year, on the Sunday following the Epiphany, we celebrate Mother’s Christmas. This traditional Irish celebration acknowledges the women of the house who work so hard for their families during the busy holiday season. The men stay home to take care of families, while the women enjoy a relaxing time with their friends, mothers, sisters, aunts, grandmothers and daughters.

Our celebration is a grand afternoon filled with good food, drinks, raffles and companionship. Please join us at this wonderful and popular event!

$30 per person includes Brunch Buffet, a Mimosa or Bloody Mary and Cash Bar.
Checks made out to: IHSM and are due by January 5, 2019. For information on where to send your check, please contact Sally Carter sjcarter1@optonline.net and Frosty O’Keefe carolynokeefe3@gmail.com.

January 26th, 2018
50s/60s dance party from 7-11 pm
…details to follow…!

February 3rd, 2018
Super Bowl Party…details to follow!

February 9, 2018
Sound Tigers Hockey Game
vs. Providence Bruins