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Hoolie and The Elders

I meant to post this on St. Patrick’s Day but for a variety of reasons wasn’t able to. But better late than never!

Saturday, March 14th I went to my first “hoolie.” Ever been to one? Know what it is? Apparently, it means “party” among the Irish. The hoolie was at the Midland Theatre in Kansas City and featured a band called The Elders. I hadn’t heard their music before but I was impressed! Their music is lively, energetic and entertaining but it is also touchingly filled with pride, emotion and humor associated with their Irish heritage. The lead singer has been in this country since 1987 and proudly announced that he will become a U.S. citizen this year.

As I watched the crowd, I could tell that many of the fans were intimately acquainted with this band’s music. When a familiar song started, cheers went up and people started dancing and singing along, some with vigorous enthusiasm! Much the way I feel when I see a favorite band in concert.

The common denominator among this group, though, is an Irish heritage. I was there because my friend, Rob, has Irish roots that are celebrated by his family. My family doesn’t celebrate any particular heritage and we consider ourselves to be pretty much a Heinz 57 mix of ancestry. It seems to me that families that recognize and celebrate a specific ancestral heritage tend to be more close-knit than those who don’t. What do you think?

What does your family celebrate? What heritage-related traditions do you keep alive?

To all my Irish friends (and those who are only Irish for one day each year) Happy (belated) St. Patrick’s Day!!

By Joyce Stevens

March 21, 2009

Musings

From the Citizen Journalism Academy