Scottish & Irish Society
Of the Black Hills
Serving the Celtic Communities of Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Isle of Man, Corwall, Galicia and Brittany
Mid Summers Eve
As is our tradition, we few who dared to
participate, celebrated the coming of the summer
solstice with the Mid-Summers Eve party at Sally
and Bill Knights beautiful home. There were some
30 or so participants and a really great time was
had by all.
This years theme was the Greenman.
Sally and Carole prepared individual bits of
information which each member shared with the
whole group.
As is normal for these annual
events there was an over abundance of fare and
conversation.
Each
participant
had
ample
opportunity
to
contribute
to
the
overall
atmosphere of the event, and most did. And as
traditional at the event the night ended with the
vigil by the fire.
Inside This Issue
Calendar of Events
2
Quote of the Day
2
The Greenman - Ledgend
3
From the President
It’s hard to believe it’s almost September. The kids will be in school and Christmas
will be here before we know it.
I’m looking forward to the picnic at the Burke house on August 21st. I’ll supply a
main course if everyone else will pot luck. Let’s have cocktails at 6pm with dinner
around 6:30. Would the board members come earlier for a quick meeting? We need to
discuss the Gathering and talk about the rest of the year.
The last meeting was sparsely attended. We may have to take July off in the future.
Get out there and shake the bushes for some Celts. We need to grow the club.
John Burke
Calendar of Events
August 21st - 6:30 pm
SIS Patio Party at John Berke’s Home. John is providing
the main course and the rest is Pot Luck.
August 29th and 30th.
Dakota Gathering of the Clans.
Sept 19th – 6:00 pm
Sis Board Meeting @ Dublin Square Down Stairs
Sept 19th – 7:00 pm
SIS General Meeting @ Dublin Square Down-Stairs
Quote of the Day
America is a country that
doesn't know where it is going
but is determined to set a speed
record getting there.
Finn MacCool - An Irish Legend
As Finn MacCool was walking past the north coast of
Ireland, near now day Portrush, one of his adversary, a
Scottish giant named Benandonner, started shouting and
ridiculing Finn's fighting prowess. Now Benandonner was a
targer. No other giant of the day could stand before him; and
such was his strength, that, when well vexed, he could give a
stamp that shook the country about him. The fame and name
of him went far and near; and nothing in the shape of a man,
it was said, had any chance with him in a fight. By one blow
of his fists he flattened a thunderbolt and kept it in his
pocket, in the shape of a pancake, to show to all his enemies,
when they were about to fight him. Undoubtedly he had
given every giant in Ireland a considerable beating, barring
Finn MacCool himself; and he swore that he would never
rest, night or day, winter or summer, till he would serve Finn
with the same sauce, if he could catch him.
This outburst angered Finn so much that he lifted a lump of
earth and pelted it to Scotland thus challenging Benandonner
to a duel. Of course the Scottish giant retaliated by fling a
rock back at Finn, at the same time shouting that if he could
get his hand on him, he would make sure that Finn would
never fight again, but added that unfortunately he could not
swim the short distance across the Channel, so Finn would
be spared that fate.
Finn wasn't going to let the Scottish giant off that easily. He
tore down great pieces of volcanic rock that lay near the
coast and stood the pieces upright, making them into pillars
that formed the causeway, he pushed them into the ocean
bed and made a sturdy causeway to Scotland, when he had
finished he shouted 'Now you'll had no excuse'. What ever
the story the Scottish Giant Benandonner fearing to lose his
own reputation and pride, had no alternative but come over
the causeway.
It is said that Finn realized he could
not win against the larger more
powerful Benandonner, so he went
home to his wife, Oonagh.
Benandonner followed Finn there but
instead of an epic battle, Oonagh
duped the Denandonner into
believing that Finn was the more
powerful.
And this part of the Story is for
another day’s telling.
Officers and Board of Directors
President
Serving the Celtic Communities of
Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Isle of Man,
Cornwall, Galicia and Brittany
PO Box 765,
Rapid City, SD 57709-0765
Phone: 605-381-1500
E-mail: info@blackhillscelticevents.org
We’re on the Web at
www.blackhillscelticevents.org
John Burke
info@BlackHillsCelticEvents.org
Vice President Kerry Smith
Secretary
Heather Payden (Sally Knight, cosecretary)
Treasurer
Carole Conrad
Board Members
Aliyah Sanders, John Duggan, Jim
Byrne, Paul Smith
Past President Bill Knight
Membership Sally Knight
Web Site
Gary Hamilton
Newsletter
John Duggan jcdugi@rushmore.com
If you would like to contribute an article or story, list an
event, submit a photo, etc. to the newsletter, please email
the item to me by the 5th of each month.
SIS Meeting
07-17-08
There was not sufficient participants to meet the quarum. No minutes were taken