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| By Erin O'Connor Staff Writer WEST SPRINGFIELD - The Ceili Crew, a West Springfield High School Irish club that was created in January of 2004, will be sponsoring an Irish film weekend Nov 4-6 at the West Springfield High School Auditorium. "The big focus on the [Irish] film weekend is Saturday," Kelly Ann Moore, West Springfield High School history teacher and contact for the Crew said to the Reminder. "We received a video last year from the Blasket Center in Dingle, Ireland, that talks about the first Irish immigrants in Springfield," she said. Moore said that she is hoping to get the two Kaerney brothers, the first Irish immigrants of Springfield, to speak at the event Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. "They are over in Ireland right now but I am hoping they will be here. Members of their family that are living in Springfield will be here [auditorium]," Moore said. Moore said the Ceili Crew began from an Irish History class that she taught. "We first began by showing movies and traveling to Ireland," Moore said. Moore said that herself and fellow history teacher, Katie Blazejowski, would organize trips to go over to Ireland. "The students said, 'Lets start a club'," and Moore the eager teacher helped. "Since then we have grown to a club with 35 members from all ethnic backgrounds, who are currently helping to promote Irish heritage and culture," she said. The Crew is founded on the principle of nourishing a knowledge of the Irish culture. The Crew sponsors a variety of activities from hosting authors and historians; to movie nights; to marching in parades; participating in community service; and, of course, the trips to Ireland. "One day, in the future, we hope to have an exchange with students from Ireland. We look forward to fostering ties between our school, the state and groups within Ireland," Moore said. The Crew meets once a week on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. at the West Springfield High School in room 633. "There is a sister group starting up at Minnechaug High School," Moore said. "Teacher Christine Danker heard about us by seeing our name in the newspaper," she added. The Crew participates in community service projects that include getting in touch with the "Operation Santa" in towns, working with Baystate Children's Miracle Network, presenting bake sales and donating money annually to the Billy Reardon Medical Center in Africa. The movie event is free but donations are accepted. For more information about the event or the Ceili Crew call Moore at 263-3400 or visit their web site at www.ceilicrew.com. |