Picture a young man sitting in a large cathedral in Ireland with his wife and small children. He lives around the time of our founding fathers and is a rising entrepreneur in Dublin. His name is Arthur Guinness, and he is a brewer, and it is hard to exaggerate just how important beer was to the people of Guinness’ day.

Guinness lived at a time when no one understood micro-organisms and how disease is spread. They routinely drank from the same waters in which they dumped their garbage and their sewage. Unknowingly, they polluted the rivers and lakes around their cities. People died as a result, and this made nearly everyone in Guinness’ day avoid water entirely. Instead, they drank alcoholic beverages.

Usually, this was done in moderation and all was well. Occasionally, though, excess set in and drunkenness plagued the land. This is what happened in the years just before Guinness was born, in the period historians call “The Gin Craze.” Parliament had forbidden the importation of liquor in 1689, so the people of Ireland and Britain began making their own. It was too much temptation. Drunkenness became the rage. Every sixth house in England was a “gin house,” many of which advertised, “Drunk for one penny, dead drunk for two pence, clean straw for nothing.” It was a terrible, poverty-ridden, crime-infested time.

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Noted several times by national press and media for his capability, in RTE Television’s song writing contests in the early 1990’s and by Ireland’s largest music magazine ‘Hotpress’ in the later 90’s.

USA Tour… October 2010.

Friday, 8th Oct: Appalachian State University Entrepreneurs Summit, Raley Hall. http://www.business.appstate.edu/summit/

Saturday, 9th Oct: Canyons , Blowing Rock, NC. 9 pm. http://www.canyonsbr.com/

(co-presented by Split Rail Records)

Sunday, 10th Oct: River House Inn, Grassy Creek, NC. http://www.riverhousenc.com/

Monday, 11th Oct: Old Salem Tavern, Winston-Salem, NC.  http://www.oldsalemtavern.com/

Thursday, 14th Oct: Tir na Nog, Raleigh, NC.  http://www.tirnanogirishpub.com/

Friday, 15th Oct: Kildare’s Irish Pub, Chapel Hill, NC http://www.kildaresirishpub.com/

Saturday, 16th Oct: Kildare’s Irish Pub, Chapel Hill, NC

Thursday, 21st Oct: Chicago Street Pub, Joliet, IL. 9pm. http://www.chicagost.com/

For more info, visit: http://www.mickeyhartemusic.com

“Wallace USA” owes its foundation and allegiance to The Society of William Wallace in Scotland.  As such, our causes, goals and objectives shall be consistent with those of our parent organization. Through the works of our Society, we seek to emulate the ideals of William Wallace.  We also seek to honor and preserve the memory of our departed friend David R. Ross who himself did much for love of Wallace and Scotland.

“Wallace USA’ shall be participating at the Grandfather Mtn. Highland Games, held 8-11, July. Organizational meeting shall be held Saturday the 10th, at 11am in The Chieftain’s Tent.  Membership is open to all who share similar interests and values.  Application forms will be made available shortly and a Facebook page is being constructed. More information will be forthcoming very soon!

The Celtic Force – Visit our website: www.thecelticforce.com

Stay Connected!

The 54th Grandfather Mountain Highland Games will be held July 9-12, 2009 at MacRae Meadows on Grandfather Mountain near Linville, NC.

For a schedule of events, click HERE!

Visit our website: www.thecelticforce.com

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