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Mornings unPHILtered - 'Gaels' help Irish Studies at GSU
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    Tuesday's first guest on “Mornings unPHILtered” was Dr. Howard Keeley, director of the Georgia Southern Center for Irish Studies. Dr. Keeley, who has a Ph.D. in Irish Literature, also teaches literature at the college.
    Keeley shared that his wife was expecting their fourth child at any moment, but said he turned his cell phone off because his mother-in-law was with her at home. Host Phil Boyum, a father himself, laughed, and told him to turn it back on.
    Keeley came on the program to talk about the fourth annual “Gaels of Music” celebration that was held Tuesday at the Emma Kelly Theater. The Irish entertainment show is a benefit for scholarships in the Irish Studies program.
    Vic and Cheryl Power started the annual “Gaels of Music” in order to fund the scholarships to honor the memory of their son Eddie Ivey. Ivey was a Savannah restaurateur and lover of Irish music and dance, who passed away in 2005. All of the performers donate what would be their fees towards the scholarship, and most of the money raised through ticket sales goes towards the scholarship, as well.
    Keeley said “Gaels” essentially means having an evening of music and good times. The show included the Savannah Irish dancers, and Gabriel Donohue from New York City.
    The money raised goes to help fund four scholarships for a full-credit semester at the University of Limerick in Ireland for GSU students in the Irish Studies program.
    Keeley shared that on a trip this summer only one of his students had ever been out of the country before. Students worked all year long in order to earn the money to go on the trip. Keeley said he observed that the GSU students were the most respectful and hard working of any of the groups that they see.
    Boyum asked why was an Irish program established in the center of rural Georgia. Keeley spoke about southeast Georgia's long and storied Irish history, from Henry Ellis, the second Royal Governor of Georgia, to the establishment of the community of Queensborough.
    Boyum's next guest was Adam Brady of the Statesboro Convention and Visitors Bureau. Brady talked about the Special Olympics state fall Games that just concluded in Statesboro. Brady said some 1,000 volunteers helped run the games, and invited those who missed it this year to make sure they make it next year.
    Brady informed Boyum that there is a “Scarecrow Contest” underway among downtown businesses. Many of the scarecrows have been up for as long as two weeks. He shared there are some 30 entries in the contest all around town, many of which are inside the businesses.
    Brady said people who wanted to enter needed to call either he SCVB at 489-1869 or the Downtown Development Authority at 764-7227 for more information. The DDA is handling the contest entries. Brady then talked about “Scare On the Square” which will take place downtown on Halloween night, with some dozen downtown merchants who will be participating.
    Brady went on to say that three movies will be shown, and there will be a “Thriller Dance.” In order to get people prepared for the performance on the Saturday at “Scare on the Square,” the SCVB is holding three dance practices during the next two weeks so that people will be able to get the entire “Thriller” dance moves right.
    
    “Mornings unPHILtered” airs live Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on statesboroherald.com and also simulcast on WWNS-AM 1240 on the radio. You also can listen anytime at BoroLive.com on statesboroherald.com
   
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