Toledo Irish: Irish Happenings in Toledo

Toledo Irish: Irish Happenings Around Town!
By Molly McHugh 

The month of June is so bittersweet for me. The sweet:

It’s the start of warm summer days and nights, with the sun shining brightly down on us, Toledo MudHens baseball is back in action, Irish festivals begin, and maybe most importantly, vacation days are being used!  The bitter: Father’s Day crops up, which is always a hard day for me, especially this year as it will be right around the five-year mark of my father’s passing.

Interestingly, there are several variations as to where Father’s Day is believed to have been  founded, but one of the key figures in the establishment was led by Sonora Smart Dodd from Spokane, WA. in the early 1900s. It’s said that after hearing a sermon about Mother’s Day, she felt that it was only right to have a day to honor fathers as well, so she went to her pastor requesting special day. Low and behold, the first celebration took place on June 19, 1910.

In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson made the first presidential proclamation for a day to celebrate fathers, declaring an official Father’s Day be designated every year on the third Sunday of June. President Nixon made this law in 1972.

In my house growing up, Father’s Day was a little unique, at least when it came to the food. My dad was the cook, and he would even want to cook on his day. Clearly, he was not leaving his dinner to the amateurs!  

Although my dad is no longer on earth, I know he’s only as far as God, and God is very near. Back to the sweet!  

Don’t forget all of the upcoming Irish events happing in Toledo during the month of June. As I mentioned in last month’s issue of iIrish, the Toledo Ancient Order of Hibernians, in partnership with the Toledo Irish American Club, will be hosting The Druids at St. Clements Hall on Thursday, June 9^th at 6:00pm. The Druids are starting their second U.S. tour of the year, and we are very excited Toledo is on the list of stops.

Tickets can be purchased online through Eventbrite.com. For both the talk and the concert, tickets are $25 in advance/$30 at the door; for just the concert, tickets are $20 in advance/$25 at the door.

If you need more Irish music in your life, and who doesn’t, rest assured that Irish Sessiún (session) are back in full swing at The Blarney. The next session will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 10^th.  All musicians who play traditional Irish are welcome to join the circle. Everyone else is welcome to join in the fun!

Have fun at the AOH golf outing at Cherrywood, Saturday, June 25^th at 10:00am. The morning will consist of 9 holes of golf and lunch for $25.00. It is scrambles golf, so if like me, you can barely swing, you will still have fun!

In addition, preparations are underway for the Toledo Sister Cities International Fest to return to the streets of downtown Toledo on Saturday, June 25^th. Ireland will be well-represented, with different events, culinary delights, and of course, great music. The event is at Levis Square Park and free for everyone!

Sometimes, you just have to take the bitter with the sweet!