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Inis Oirr will play their final gig before the summer (and Ramadan) in The Club, Abu Dhabi on Thursday 3rd June starting at 8.30pm.  

Playing acoustically (without amplification), Inis Oirr will recreate the special atmosphere of a typical trad music session, with the emphasis on good music, informality, fun and ‘craic’. Come early, bring your dancing shoes and join in the fun!” 

Click here to find out more information about the gig and to register if you aren’t a club member. 

Three events for your calendar!

1. On Thursday June 3rd, we have the Abu Dhabi Na Fianna Dinner Dance and Awards at the Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi. Celebrate the end of the GAA sporting year in Abu Dhabi! Ticket prices are AED 300 for members and AED 350 for non members, and this entitles you to a 3 course meal and an OPEN BAR from 7:00 pm – 2:00 am. Tickets will be on sale on Monday May 31st from 7 – 9 pm in Cappucinos Cafe in The Crowne Plaza Hotel on Hamdan Street.
2. On the following day, for the hardy, the Abu Dhabi Wine Society is organizing a wine tasting event at the Aloft Hotel. From Germany’s Saar Valley comes Mr Roman Niewodniczansky and Mr Markus Molitor from the Moselle region to launch their wines in this region, and Mr Jacques Lurton, with vineyards in Bordeaux and Australia. More details on the attached flyer.
3. Finally, on Wednesday 9th, we have the Annual General Meeting of the Abu Dhabi Irish Society. There’s still time to get your name onto the committee – we would love to have you and your ideas! Click here for more details.

The Annual General Meeting of the Irish Society will be held at 8pm on Wednesday 9th June, in the Emirates Ballroom at the Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi Hotel in Hamdan Street.

If you are interested in standing for election to the committee, could you please forward your name, together with the name of your proposer, to deirdre.mallon@hotmail.com by Wednesday 26th May. The committee consists of President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and six committee members.

This is your chance to support Karen Farrell in her bid to become the official Dubai Rose! The Dubai Rose Ball will be held this coming Friday, May 21st at the Joharah Ballroom, Mina A’Salam starting at 7.30pm. The Celtic Tenors will be hosting the evening kindly brought to you courtesy of Dubai Duty Free.

Fantastic ticket price of 375AED per person!

The evening will kick off with a free flowing drinks reception, followed by a gourmet 3 course dinner with house beverages being served throughout the meal. The Celtic Tenors will be putting the potential Roses through their paces on stage and once our 2010 Dubai Rose has been crowned, a DJ will keep you on the dance floor for the rest of the evening. Limited Tickets available so don’t miss out, get your tickets today!
Ticket Locations in Dubai for collection of reserved tickets are listed below. For Abu Dhabi we have your very own Abu Dhabi Rose Representative of 2010, Karen Farrell who happy to take your call to reserve your tickets. Karen is contactable on 056 107 3117. Support Karen in the Final selection on Friday night and call her today to book your ticket! Alternatively contact one of the committee below.

Mon 17th May – Starbucks @ Borders, Mall of the Emirates 6-8pm Erin 0506720735
Special Ticket Price now 375AED per person
Reception starts @ 7.30pm
Dress Code: Black Tie/National Dress

Looking forward to seeing you at the Ball for a great evening of entertainment,

The Dubai Irish Society Committee.

P.S: if you are staying in Abu Dhabi, why not try the Just Voices A Capella spectacular at the Armed Forces Officers Club? Click here for details!

A new Facebook site called Help Bring Them Home is encouraging Irish people to get the law changed to register deaths of Irish citizens overseas. At present, it is very difficult for family or friends to get a death registered and to complete all official paperwork. Sign up and add your voice!

Padraig Hyland, from our own Inis Oirr, the best traditional music group in the UAE, has asked us to mention an event this Friday at the Crowne Plaza Yas Island.

Skerryvore, who describe themselves as “Blazing bagpipes, fiddle and accordions, electrically fused with funky rhythms and soul-gripping songs – Skerryvore are an award winning Scottish band creating a ‘Trad-rock’ fusion for the 21st Century” – are coming to Abu Dhabi for one night only on Friday May 14th, and then to Dubai for Saturday 15th at Fibbers. See their website for details.

Click the picture for more details, or call the Crowne Plaza Yas Island at 02 656 3053.

Skerryvore Live @ Stills
Friday May14th 2010
Stills Bar and Brasserie,
Crowne Plaza, Abu Dhabi, Yas Island

FREE ENTRY
7.00pm till late
Also, stay the night for AED 399 Dhs

From today, Sunday 9 May, the Embassy of Ireland in Abu Dhabi will be processing passport applications for both normal and emergency passports. The processing time for full passports is currently approximately six to eight weeks.

Passport application forms are available for collection from the Embassy in Abu Dhabi, from the Irish Facilitation Visa Office in Dubai and from DHL offices in the region.

Details on all passport application requirements can be found on the Department of Foreign Affairs’ website at http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=253. Should you have any queries that are not covered on the website please do not hesitate to contact the Embassy – contact details can be found at http://irishsocietyabudhabi.com/wp/?page_id=338

Le gach dea ghuí,

Robert O’Driscoll
Deputy Head of Mission
Embassy of Ireland, Abu Dhabi

Karen Farrell from Athlone, Co.Westmeath is our new Abu Dhabi Rose for 2010. A glittering evening in the lovely setting of the Al Diyafa Ballroom in the Crowne Plaza Yas Island, we met six gorgeous contestants: Joanne Badger, Claire Coakley, Ailbhe O’Donnell, Lisa O’Donoghue, Sinead O’Connor and of course Karen, who now represents us in the official Rose of Tralee Selection Ball in Dubai on May 22.

Click here for some pictures from the event. More to follow!

Robert O’Driscoll, from the newly opened Irish Embassy in Abu Dhabi, was the excellent Master of Ceremonies, and we were also honoured to have Charmaine Kenny, the current Rose of Tralee, originally from Athy, Co Kildare, who gave us a glimpse into the life of a Rose. The judges with the difficult task of choosing the Rose were Audrey Somers, Shane Dooley-Cullinane, and Edith Flahive. The president of the Abu Dhabi Irish Society thanked our generous sponsors Kentz, Kentech, Kerrygold, Etihad, Crocrock, Byrne Contracting, Bin Moosa and Daly, LeaseRentUAE.com, Spinneys, G4S and the Crowne Plaza Yas Island.

If you would like to support Karen and enjoy a night in Dubai, click here for more information from the Dubai Irish Society.

Irish dancing sensation Lord of the Dance is set to tap its way into Abu Dhabi next month with four live performances at Abu Dhabi Hall, in ADNEC.

From June 23 to 25, the highest-grossing dance show ever will take over Adnec, with more than 40 dancers expressing a tale of good and evil through dances inspired by Irish folklore. The award-winning international dance show hits Abu Dhabi on Wednesday June 23 and runs for three nights at Abu Dhabi Hall, ADNEC.

‘Lord of The Dance’, created by the world-renowned Irish-American dancer Michael Flatley back in 1996, has thrilled and mesmerised audiences around the world. For tickets, click here.

Our friends at the Crowne Plaza Yas Island have asked us to let you know about a fun event – the Laughter Factory, on May 4th, in Stills. All welcome! Click the flyer for details…