Cynthia Gallaher, a native Chicagoan of Irish and Galician Polish heritage, reads from her newly completed poetry manuscript, Windy City Word of Mouth.

The poem dishes up new urban gossip and casts a skewed eye on contemporary scenes and Chicagoans; the Chicago flood, B-girls from Berwyn, the man who dyed the Chicago River green, Celtic forebearers, shoplifter lifeguards, carnival workers, and lead-foot denizens along the Kennedy Expressway.

Gallaher, the author of two books of poetry: night Ribbons and Private, on Purpose, is also the contributing editor and poetry columnist for Chicago Books in Review. Night Ribbons was honored by the Illinois Library Association and the Chicago Public Library.

Chicago installation and performance artist Jerry Boyle hooks up Irish historical connections and offers a poetic contrast of two historical figures whose cosmology shaped the Irish psych. A poem attributed to Amorgen the first Celt from Galicia of northwest Spain to enter Ireland cira 500 B.C. mirrors a poem attributed to St. Patrick, the bishop who Christianized Ireland in the fifth century A.D. Descended from a long distinguished line of Tr Connell schizophrenics, believing himself to be an avatar of Lug, an ancient Celtic solar diety, Boyld practices consumer and human rights law by day, emphasizing the need to end rapacious corporations and the British Empire.

Quirky, charming Virginia Boyle laces personal coming-of-age stories of Irish American south side Chicago neighborhoods between song renditions that carry the true meaning of being Irish. As a writer performer she has toured nationally and internationally as well as being a workshop leader and lecturer. A recent Ph.D. candidate in communications she currently facilitates media literacy workshops based on the recently published Facets Non-Violent, Non-Sexist Children's Video Guide.

Annemarie O?Brien provides classic Irish fiddle interludes throughout the evenings programs such as reels, jigs, polkas airs and hornpipes that will set your foot tapping and gladden your heart. A violin and fiddle student since age 12, she has appeared in such venues as the Milwaukee Irish Fest, the Irish American heritage Fcenter and Abbey Pub.

Rob Drizen pursues justice by day and plays with fire at night. Possessed of a wandering spirit, he is honred to openly celebrate his acquired celtophilia on this Holy Feast.