St. Pat's Auction on March 10

Mercy Academy's fifth Annual St. Patrick's Day Auction and Celebration is set for 5 to 11 p.m., Saturday, March 10, at the Waukesha Expo Center in Waukesha, Wis. Music is by the Elegant Gypsies.

In addition to a buffet, silent and voice auction there will be a drawing for a trip to Ireland. Tickets are $5 in advance, $10 at the door, with proceeds going to Mercy Academy. For more information, call Mercy Academy at 414-258-0881. 

Binchy to Highlight Celtic Arts Benefit

A Celebration of the Celtic Arts in Chicago on March 14 will feature best-selling author Maeve Binchy, as well as Irish composer Micheal O'Sulleabhain and numerous other musicians. Proceeds from the performance will be used for the artistic enhancement and campus expansion of Old St. Patrick's Church in Chicago.

Cochairs of the event at Mayor Richard M. and Maggie Daley, Patrick and Shirley Ryan and Old St. Pat's Father Jack Wall.

The program will be held at 8 p.m. at the Chicago Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.. Tickets are from $20 to $50. For more information, call 312-294-3000.

E-Commerce Provider Opens Dublin Facility

A site in North Dublin to service e-commerce providers was opened in mid-January by Mary Harney, Ireland's tánaiste (deputy prime minister). The 120,00 square foot facility in Clonshaugh is one of the largest in a CityReach International (CRI) network.

"Dublin is rapidly gaining an international reputation as an e-commerce hub for Europe. The establishment of our facility here puts us one step close to became the standard in infrastructure and managed services," said Sanjaya Addanki, CityReach CEO.

At a ceremony marking the opening of the plant on Jan. 18, Harney noted that "companies like CityReach International can now offer their customers in Ireland levels of connectivity and technical excellence on part with those anywhere in the world." She added that the opening was "another milestone in Ireland's development as a gateway to Europe for international companies and further highlights the government's progress in attracting em-commerce enterprises here."

In addition to Dublin, CityReach has facilities in Amsterdam, London, Stockholm and Budapest, with others being planned for additional European capitals later this year.
 

Hibernian Life Seeks Irish History Essays

Entries are being sought for the annual Irish history writing contest sponsored by Hibernian Life insurance company, with essays by grade and high school pupils. Deadline for submissions is March 5, 2001.

Youngsters in grades six, seven and eight will write no fewer than 500 words and not more than 1,000 words about "The Irish Influence in the American Revolution." High school level entries of not less than 750 words and not more than 1,500 words will focus on "The Irish Influence in Shaping American Politics.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners. All entries are to be double spaced, with a cover sheet providing the entrant's name, address and age in the lower left-hand corner. The school name, address and grade level, plus number of words should be in the lower right-hand corner.

Entries are not limited to pupils of Irish background nor to students in private schools. For more information, contact Hibernian Life Insurance Fund, 790 Cleveland Ave., Suite 221, St. Paul, Minn. 55116-1958. Or call 651-690-3888 or 1-800-677-ERIN. The e-mail address is www.hibernianlife.com. The fund's Web page is www.hibernianlife.com.
 

Celtic Youth Day Feb. 11 at ICHC
A Celtic Immersion Youth Day is set from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 11, at the Irish Cultural & Heritage Center of Wisconsin, 2133 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee. Groups associated with the center will host programs for youngsters 3 to 21 years of age.

Activities include a hedge school focusing on culture, history, genealogy, stories and plays. The Milwaukee Hurling Club, the Currach Club and clan members will demonstrate sports associated with their groups. Music sessions cover singing, pipes, tin whistle and bodhran. There will also be a tea room, craft area, sing-along and cooking opportunities. 

For more information, contact the ICHC at 414-345-8800.
 

Irish Authors Tour Offered
Gould-Kelly Travel of Chicago is offering a guided Great Irish Authors Tour, July 15-25.

The tour includes coach transport, nine nights accommodations, full breakfasts, opening lunch buffet and five dinners. Also covered are entrance fees to a Literary Pub Crawl, Book of Kells exhibit, a medieval banquet at Bunratty Castle and other attractions. 

Areas to be visited are Dublin, Wicklow, Sligo, Galway and Clare. Cost of the land portion is $1,599 per person, based on double occupancy. Airfare and insurance are not included. A single supplement in $299. For more information, call Karen Adamitis at Gould-Kelly Travel, 708-424-2223.
 

Adair to Remain Behind Bars
Irish American Information Service

The convicted loyalist paramilitary leader, Johnny Adair, has lost an attempt to be freed from jail in Northern Ireland. In mid-January, the Sentence Review Commission ruled that convicted Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) leader Adair should remain behind bars.

The ruling overturns a previous decision by the commissioners that Adair, 37, should be freed on license. The move has been welcomed by Northern Secretary of State Peter Mandelson who returned Adair to jail last August during a bitter feud between rival loyalist paramilitaries.

The re-arrest -- almost a year after Adair was released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement -- was based on an intelligence report linking Adair to drugs, guns and other paramilitary activity.

The loyalist, from Belfast's Shankill Road, had served five years of a 16-year sentence for directing terrorism. John White, chairman of the Ulster Democratic Party, which is linked to the UFF/UDA, said Adair would now be challenging the decision in the courts.