Archive of the Celtic Society

The Celtic Society of the Monterey Bay had its origin in 1989 when Tam Paterson, then host of 'The Eagle's Whistle' on KAZU, announced a meeting at The White Cockade in Boulder Creek for those wishing to form a Celtic Society. About a dozen people showed up. Well, there are precedents for beginning ventures with only 12 disciples. Get-togethers at various private residences followed with local musicians providing entertainment.

This led to monthly sessions being arranged at both The White Cockade and Shanty Malone's in Carmel Valley.

The first newsletter appeared in the Spring of 1991 where it was announced ' our aim as a Society is to keep alive Celtic tradition and promote same in the community.' It was also noted in the first newsletter that monthly sessions were being moved to The Elkhorn Yacht Club in Moss Landing.

It was at The Elkhorn Yacht Club, The Celtic Society presented their first concert on Sunday, April 12th 1992 by the Irish singer Michael Black.

With the setting for sessions gradually moving northwards, with McCarthy's Restaurant ( now The Britannia Arms ) in Aptos succeeding The Elkhorn Yacht Club as the venue, concerts began to be organized in the Santa Cruz area as the most convenient central location for the increasing number of people interested in attending events from the South Bay area.

The first of the Santa Cruz concerts took place at The Kuumbwa on Tuesday, December 14th 1993 by Andy Irvine with an opening set by Martin & Jessica Simpson. This was a co-production made possible by the generous financial support, supplementing the meager bank account, by Lisa Eckstrom and Lynda Fotheringham ( R.I.P. ), both of whom continued to help enrich our lives with future co-productions and individual productions.

From this beginning, The Celtic Society has arranged concerts by many performers and groups. Check them out on the links page.

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