Conference tallis::celt

    My aunts and uncles were all born in Navan.  My grandparents
    moved from Cork to Navan to work in the flour mills.
    That's all I know about Navan.
    
    Sl�n,
    geORge

    
    There's plenty of cowboys in Navan so the hats should go 
    down well...... ;-)
    
    	- Blob
    

    Leaprechauns know some events.
    
    1. Navan "is only an hour from Dublin", use that exact phrase and
       watch the reaction..... (its a well known advertising phrase
       for the Navan funiture mnfgrs.).
       There is an extensive mine nearby for lead & zinc (biggest in
       Europe).
       It is situated in the middle of Co. Meath and not too far from
       the ancient sites of Tara and Slane (ask about their histories).
       Slane castle is the site of huge rock concerts in the last few
       years and the locals in Slane are not too impressed I believe.
       Meath of course are all-Ireland football champions for 1987
       and they now get to keep the original Sam Maguire cup forever
       as there is a replacement on hand.
       Show him the Irish Emigrant -- He'll be impressed (I hope).
    
    Snake must run ...
    

    Dont give your Navan visitor any 'frikes' or 'friken' him. That is the
    way a real Navan man will say frighten (pronounce fry-kin')
    As you could imply from previous reply, it is heavily into making
    furniture. The river Boyne flows through Navan. 30 miles from Dublin,
    north-west direction, I think. I have a sister living there for
    years married to a Carlinstown man, very good carpenter. The mine
    and the furniture is the only employment outside agriculture. A
    long strike at the mine years ago had a very heavy impact on the
    town , lots of shops closed down, very little stock in the remaining
    shops. Sister reckons that many people will never recover from that
    strike, houses reposessed by the banks etc.
    
    - Joe

    
    
    Thanks for your input so far - it's all been right on the money.
    
    When I mentioned that our reptilian friend, the Snake, is from Galway
    and had given the information in .3; Paul said that there's a good
    number of fellows from the Galway area working in Navan because
    of a Copper mine in the Galway area closing down.
    
    Paul specializes in the "upholstery craft" part of furniture
    production.  We're going to take him to some furniture stores in
    the Dallas area as he wants to see what the "American state-of-the-art"
    is in furniture.  
    
    The name of the band is the Navan Silver Band.  The ages range from
    11 - maybe 60 or so.  There's several "subgroups" with the 64 member
    total: senior, junior and swing bands.
    
    One of the groups played last night at the local Budweiser distributor.
    (free Bud, etc.)  They were fantastic.  Then we went to a bar called
    the Outback (formerly Callaghan's where I had a pint on 3-17-85
    just before meeting my wife for the first time).  THEY WERE OUT
    OF GUINNESS - HAD JUST RUN OUT!!  I let them know the proper way
    of planning for St. Patrick's week.
    
    Tonight they play at Jesuit.  They will be giving away tickets for
    two on Delta to Shannon!!  One chance in 175 - not bad - say a prayer
    for Michelle and I!!
    
    JO'R

    
    
    Wow, what a night we had last night at Jesuit and then afterwards
    at Andrews Pub.
    
    At Jesuit, the junior and senior parts of the Navan Silver Band
    were combined and played wnderfully.  An Irish women sang a few
    songs, some with the entire Band others with just the piano.  A
    few of last night's selections: Galway Bay,  March Slainte, Emerald 
    Green, Come Back Paddy Reilly, Molly and Rose of Tralee.  Of course,
    Dallas' entry to Rose of Tralee was present.
    
    After intermission the Shannon Castle Entertainers performed and
    were fantastic.   They received standing ovations.
    
    Then the Navan Silver Band came back and played a few like: Come
    Back to Erin and A Touch of Irish.
    
    Several Standing Ovations brought them back.  It was Lovely.
    
    Then, of course, we were thinking of where to Party.  Well, last
    night we were at an extremely loud, "uncosy" bar.  So, I took advantage
    of the Speed of Light travel of rumors among an Irish crowd.  I
    said we were going to Andrews in North Dallas.  This is closer to
    an Irish Pub with, of course, Guinness and Harp on tap.  Also, it's
    closer to my home.
    
    Well, within 5 minutes the rumor was coming back to me!  So it worked
    and off to Andrews we went.
    
    The manager provided us free snacks when he saw this large crowd
    coming in on a night that is usually quiet.
    
    Soon, these Navan Irish were singing away.  Everyone joined in and
    the strength of the song was incredible.  I'm sure that any patrons
    not associated with the group must have been amazed because you 
    just never see this in a Dallas bar (unless it's an organized singalong with
    songbooks provided).  It was great Crack.
    
    BTW, the group has been impressed with the Irish Emigrant.  You
    see, they didn't know the results of the Meath (football or soccer)
    game.  It was in the Irish Emigrant!
    
    Our guest, Paul Clarke, is such a lovely man.  He's quiet, proud,
    humble, etc.  (as are all the Navan Silver Band).
    
    No, I didn't win the tickets to Ireland.  The man who did win certainly
    controlled his reaction.  Michelle and I would have gone crazy and
    and started making plans last night!!
    
    JO'R

    
    Peter Tinnelly lives near Navan and that great man has done it again:
    
    
    An 8 pounder, female!
    
    -Dermot

    re.6:
    
    mention of Andrew's sure brings it all back...as you say N.D. I
    presume that you mean the one off Beltline in Addison, not the one
    on Greenville...
    
    thanks for the remembrance ..
    
      Annie

    
    Re: .8   yes, the Andrew's in Addison......
    
    The party ended there last night, too.  
    
    What a day of celebration.
    
    The parade left a little bit to be desired.  It became dark just
    before  the parade started.  As the Navan Silver began the heavens
    opened and a very strong downpour came down.  The Band should receive
    a Medal as they bravely played despite the weather.
    
    My wife and I carried the County Cavan Banner and Flag.  As we passed
    the reviewing stand it was announced,  "Cavan County - the O'Reilly
    County"!  
    
    Later in the day after everyone had a chance to have a hot shower
    and whiskey, the band played again in Dallas' historic West End.
    They were very good. 
    
    The Swing Band was playing at one night spot while the Senior Band
    was playing at another.  Both places were packed to the gills as
    Dallasites partied to the sounds of ther Navan Silver Band.  People
    were singing, dancing, drinking and hugging.
    
    Some of the hosts are already leading a movement to bring the Navan
    folks back again next year!!
    
    At the end of the day today, we go to "Southfork Ranch", northeast
    of Dallas where Television's Ewing family lives for a Texas barbecue
    dinner!
    
    The Navan Band returns to Ireland Saturday afternoon, arriving at
    Shannon Sunday morning early.
    
    If any of you get a chance to host an Irishman similiar to this
    I strongly advise it.  It's been great fun.  
    
    Ireland's Greatest Resource: not the beautiful Isle...The People!!!
    
    JO'R

    
    
    Re: .4
    
    My Navan visitor didn't quite agree with your sister's assessment
    of Navan's economy.  He says that only those participating in the
    strike were harmed by it.
    
    Obviously he's biased, but I wanted to put his point in here.
    
    JO'R

    
    
    It was a tearful scene today at DFW airport as the hosts and the
    Navan Silver Band said Good-Bye.
    
    However, there was an upbeat air as well.  The Dallas St. Patrick's
    Day Inc. gave a check for $2,000.00 to the Navan Silver Band for
    their "new building fund".  Also, it was officially announced that an
    effort would be made to get the "Navanites" back next year.
    
    At the departure gate two songs were sung for the last time this
    St. Patrick's week: "Cockels and Mussels" (Molly Malone) and the
    "Wild Rover".  As over 100 people sang, business travelers stopped
    in awe at the singing crowd.
               
    It was a great week.  These partying Irish wore us American wimps
    out!   We'll all need a week to recover!
    
    I plan to be involved in the Dallas St. Patrick's Day Inc. organization
    for next year's parade.
    
    Happy St. Patrick's Day until next year everyone!  
    
    JO'R