IRA claims it will put arms completely and verifiably beyond use
Irish American Information Service
The IRA has said that it has agreed a plan  with the  Independent International Commission on Decommissioning  (IICD) which will put its weapons "completely and verifiably beyond use."[More]

Sinn Féin's chief says, 'Bring on the trees'
By Diarmaid Mac Dermott
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has revealed that he has a secret passion — hugging trees. The West Belfast MP said he has hugged trees at the White House and No. 10 Downing Street. [More]

Dublin puts the brakes on digs
By Rita O'Reilly
Non-stop road works could be a thing of the past after Dublin Corporation imposed a ban on fresh digs by utility companies. The corporation said it has written to utility companies to warn of a moratorium on digging on key routes.  [More]

War crimes judge expects to hear of horrors
By Rita O'Reilly
A leading Irish criminal lawyer who is to sit as a judge at the War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague has spoken of detaching herself from the horrific evidence she will hear. Senior Counsel Maureen Clark and 26 others were selected from 61 nominees received by the UN for the post of part-time judges of the War Crimes Tribunal at The Hague. [More]

Drake to perform Irish sea songs
In honor of Milwaukee Irish Fest, folksinger David H.B. Drake will present a selection of "Irish Songs of the Sea," at 7 p.m., Monday, Aug. 13. The performance is set for the Wisconsin Lake Schooner Center, 500 N. Harbor Dr., Milwaukee. As part of his show, Drake will explain the background of each song and how it evolved over the years.

Drake is the resident singer for the Denis Sullivan, a recreated lake schooner that is currently docked at the center just north of the Milwaukee Irish Fest grounds. The ship is named after a Dublin-born ship captain who made Milwaukee his Great Lakes home port more than a century ago. 

In addition to sailing on the Denis Sullivan, Drake has sailed aboard the H.M.S. Bounty and other wind-driven ships. He is also a regular performer at Milwaukee Irish Fest and at Great Lakes maritime festivals.

For more information, call 414-276-7700 or 703-6053. The sing-a-long program is open to the public. 

Spirituality Workshops in Darien
The Carmelite Spiritual Center in Darien, Ill., will offer a four-part workshop on Celtic spirituality on Oct. 8, 15, 22 and 29. The Monday sessions run from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and are open to the public. They will be led by Fr. Kevin O'Neill Shanley, a Celtic scholar who is a member of the staff at the Carmelite Center.

"The richness and beauty of the Celtic legacy appeals to the deepest part of our souls," Shanley explained. "It awakens a great yearning for a closer relationship with God and all of creation. The workshop will explore the earthy, mystical power of Celtic spirituality," he added.

The Carmelite Center is located at 8433 Bailey Rd., near the junction of the I-55 Stevenson Expressway and Cass Avenue North. For more information, call 630-969-4141.

ICHC sponsors concert series
Milwaukee's Irish Cultural & Heritage Center is sponsoring the Hallamór Concert series this autumn, winter and spring featuring some of the top Irish musicians on tour today. 

Performers include Danú, Friday, Sept. 28 ($15 advance, $17 at the door); Cherish the Ladies, Friday, Oct. 26 ($17 advance, $19 at the door); Aoife Clancy Band, Saturday, Nov. 10 ($15 advance, $17 at the door); Ré Mór, Saturday, Dec. 15 ($15 advance and $17 at the door); Connie Dover and Roger Landes, Saturday, Feb. 2 ($15 advance, $17 at the door); and Altan, Friday, April 12 ($17 advance and $19 at the door).

Each show begins at 8 p.m, with the doors opening at 7 p.m. Deadline for enrollment in a subscription package is Sept. 1. A six-concert package is $75, the five-concert series is $64 and four concerts are $53.

The ICHC is located at 2133 W. Wisconsin Ave. for more information, call 414-345-8800.

Set Dancing on Aug. 25
The Milwaukee Set Dance Club meets at 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 25, at the Irish Cultural & Heritage Center, 2133 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee. For more information, call 414-345-8800.

Slim's sponsors 6th annual golf outing
Slim's 6th Annual Golf Outing benefiting the Irish Cultural & Heritage Center in Milwaukee is set for Monday, Aug. 27 at Oakwood Country Course. The tourney is sponsored by Slim McGinn's Pub, 338 S. 1st St., Milwaukee. The $85 per person fee covers the golf and cart, beverages, lunch, dinner at the pub and prizes. Call 414-271-7546 for bookings.
 

Tickets to be awarded
A first prize of round trip tickets for two to Ireland, courtesy of Aer Lingus, plus a land package from Brian Moore International Tours, will be presented in a raffle drawing at 8 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 19, at Milwaukee Irish Fest. The second prize is $1,000 in gold, with a third prize of a Benjamin Franklin Waterford crystal bowl courtesy of the Irish Tourist Board.

Dorsey to officiate at liturgy
Bishop Norbert Dorsey of Orlando, Fla., will be the main celebrant at this year's Liturgy for Peace and Justice at Milwaukee Irish Fest. The liturgy is set for 9:30 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 19, on the festival's lakefront showgrounds. Dorsey is also national chaplain of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

Free entry to Irish Fest is offered by bringing a donation of non-perishable food items to the gates prior to the liturgy.

Genealogist to discuss Irish records
Irish genealogist James G. Ryan will be the featured speaker for the Irish Genealogical Society of Wisconsin meeting at 7 p.m., Monday, Aug. 13 at the Irish Cultural & Heritage Center, 2133 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee. He will discuss Irish estate and church records.

Ryan is editor of Irish Records and co-author of Tracing Your Dublin Ancestors. A new edition of his reference work, Irish Church Records, has just been released by Flyleaf Press, along with Sources for Irish Family History: A Listing of Books and Articles on Irish Families.

In addition to his lecture for the genealogy society, Ryan is also a speaker at the Milwaukee Irish Fest summer school at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Aug. 12-17.

Future meetings of the genealogy society are Sept. 10, Oct. 1 and Nov. 5. For more information, check the group's Web site at www.execpc.com/~igsw/.

Shamrock Club Picnic on Aug. 5
The Milwaukee Shamrock Club Picnic will run from noon to 6 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 5, at picnic area No. 6 in Lake Park. The park is located at Lake Drive and Kenwood Avenue in Milwaukee. Free Guinness will be offered, beginning at 3 p.m. A free shuttle is also set for running between the picnic grounds and the Milwaukee hurling matches at McKinley Marina. For more information, call 414-332-0504.

The Chicago H-Block Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee
will feature speakers Laurence McKeown and Raymond McCartney at 
6 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 4 in the Local 134 Union Hall, 600 W. Washington, Chicago.  Call 773-693-1345.  Tickets are $50.

O'Meara to present Parsimony, Aug. 30-31 
O Tempora! O Mores! Productions presents Parsimony, an audio play for one actor, written and performed by Dave O'Meara.  The play is set for 8 p.m., Thursday & Friday, Aug. 30-31, at hermetic gallery, 226 lst St. Call 414-226-2098 for details.  Donations accepted at the door 

Parsimony  will also be aired at 7 p.m., Sept. 4, on Milwaukee Presents The Hermetic Radio Hour on  Ideas 90.7 WHAD.