Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.

High School club striving to educate community about Irish heritage

Lunasa (shown here) is an Irish band that will be performing at a fundraising concert for the Ceili Crew at West Springfield High School Sept. 27. Reminder Publications submitted photo
By Katelyn Gendron-List

Reminder Assistant Editor



WEST SPRINGFIELD What started out five years ago as an after school club at West Springfield High School that showed films illustrating Irish heritage once per month, the Ceili Crew has now transformed itself into a group of over 20 students committed to community involvement and promoting Irish heritage in the region.

Their latest and largest project to date will be a benefit concert on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. in the West Springfield High School auditorium featuring the Irish band Lunasa.

"It's the opportunity to see a fantastic band," Kelly Ann Moore, 9th grade teacher at Terrier House at the West Springfield High School and co-advisor of the Ceili Crew said.

According to Moore, the most important part of this benefit concert is that a piece of Irish culture was brought to the West Springfield community, as that is the ultimate goal of the Ceili Crew.

The club is also involved in various community events such as building a float for the Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Parade, which is funded purely by donations.

Moore also praised the Ceili Crew's participation in PeaceJam, a program that teaches high school students the identification and implementation of conflict resolution projects.

The club also hosts many other events such as dinner theaters, Irish breakfast and a Ceili or dance.

However, in order to keep participating in such community events the Ceili Crew looks to the community to help raise funds in support of their efforts.

The concert next month will provide listeners with traditional Irish music, Moore said, that gets people tapping their feet and clapping to the rhythms of the upright bass, guitar, flute, pipes and fiddle.

"It's an excellent band and it will be fun to watch them live," Kimberly Strong, 12th grader at West Springfield High School and president of the Ceili Crew said.

When asked what she hopes concertgoers will gain from Lunasa's performance Strong said, "I hope that people will learn that we're not just any old club. We're there to learn more about Irish culture."

Not only does the community at large seem to benefit from the works of the Ceili Crew but the students involved in the club are recognizing the impact that their exposure to Irish culture is having on themselves.

"I've learned that being in a club is really important and a lot of fun," Melissa Lyons, 12th grader at West Springfield High School and vice president of the Ceili Crew said. "It's great to be involved and to be a part of something."

Not only will the Lunasa concert provide funds for the Ceili Crew's events within the community but it will also raise money for their trip to Ireland in February, where they will learn about Irish history and culture firsthand.

Moore stated that the Ceili Crew will be visiting various historical monuments with tours of Belfast and other cities, and the members of the club will interact with other Irish students.

Tickets for the Lunasa concert may only be purchased prior to the concert by calling the West Springfield High School at 263-3400 or by e-mail at ceilicrew@hotmail.com. The cost of each ticket is $20.

According to Moore, the Ceili Crew will be selling refreshments as well as Ceili Crew merchandise at the event.

For more information about the Ceili Crew, the Lunasa concert, or to make a donation to this club go to www.ceilicrew.com.