[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 82 (Thursday, June 10, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1226]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN HONOR OF KEVIN SHANAHAN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 10, 1999

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Kevin Shanahan, one 
of the founders of Irish Dancing in the Cleveland area.
  Kevin Shanahan came to the Cleveland area from his home in Dublin, 
Ireland in 1953. The thriving Irish community in Cleveland welcomed his 
expertise in Irish Dancing. And because of Shanahan's efforts, Irish 
Dancing has transformed over the years into a popular and creative 
expression of Irish culture.
  Under the auspices of the West Side Irish America Club, Mr. Shanahan 
organized the first Cleveland Feis in 1957. Through his beginning 
efforts and the Club's hard work, the Cleveland Feis has become a 
premier Irish event. Even today, it is a festival to which everyone in 
the Irish community looks forward each year.
  While Mr. Shanahan has returned to Dublin, to live in the house where 
he was born, his legacy lives on in the Cleveland area. The students he 
taught during his time in Cleveland continue to carry on the Irish 
Dance traditions they learned from the master.
  My fellow colleagues, please join me in honoring a man who has kept 
traditional Irish Dancing alive in the Cleveland area, Mr. Kevin 
Shanahan.

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