CAPE MAY COUNTY MAGAZINE 22 JUNE '83

19

Irish Laid Back?

(From Pago 17) Garvin plays a button accordian, as opposed to the piano accordian with which most persons are familiar. This instrument is designed to provide fast music for the jigs and reels of the Irish songs. DANCING IN IRELAND developed primarily in the agricultual communities, according to Garvin. Consequently, the dances have names like “Shoe the Donkey,” the “Hay Maker’s Jig," and the “Barn Dance.” The Ceili dances to be performed differ from Irish step dancing. These are folk dances similar to square dances, said Garvin. The performing group, Garvin's Irish Folk Dancers, is a Philadelphia-based dance club organized by Garvin’s sister-in-law, Eileen Garvin. Garvin, who says he was once a “closet musician,” learned to play the accordian at the age of 10, from an “old fellow” who visited the Carvin family every Sunday evenin.

Life Is Easier™ (From Page 17) language and dances native to Greece. Because many persons of Greek background attend the church, it acts as a sort of cultural learning ground for the young, and as a place of cultural interaction for all ages. Fofo, her husband, Gus, and oldest daughter, Vessie, returned to visit Greece in 1973. "WHEN I WENT BACK to Greece," said Andy, “I was anxious to get there, but when I got there, I didn't like it.” Because she has become "Americanized," it is difficult for her home people to accept her “as a Greek.” The couple changed their last name to make it easier on their new American friends, an amenity, said Andy, that the older relatives would like to see reversed. "Life is easier in Greece," said Andy, "The people are more calm, more relaxed. Here we have to work all the time. I enjoy it, but I guess I was spoiled." WHEN SHE RETURNED from her trip to Greece, Andy said. "It was like something hugged me. "I love Greece,” she said, “but this is my country." She was awarded her American citizenship in 1977. Foods to be featured at the Greek food booth are sweet pastries such as baklava, diples, and a walnut cake, as well as souvlaki. The dancing group, from the Main Land Church, Northfield, will perform traditional Greek dances in costume. They will also perform "pontiakos,” a dance with knives. The group is comprised of youths aged 15 to 18-years-old.

Now Garvin often plays for the customers at the Cafe. Many of the songs he learned from his teacher, or by listening to records. He said that he plays "by ear.” GARVIN WAS BORN in Philadelphia and spent his summers in Ireland along with his K arents, who came to the states, e said, to "escape poverty." "I grew up with a great love for things Irish and for the music,” he said. The Garvins also reciprocated the hospitality afforded them by their Irish relatives. "Our house was the first stage of the Americanization period when our cousins emigrated here,” he said. "They would stay for a month, and the girls would get their hair curled, and learn how to wear high heels. They were right off the farm." Garvin has been at the Irishman’s Cafe for four years, and has taught Irish dancing there for the last four winters. IRISH MUSIC is played at the pub every night during the summer. Garvin is a member of the Wildwood 'Irish American Seashore Association, but said that he joined the Atlantic County association because he is interested in preserving and promoting the Irish language and customs, as well as music. His oldest child, three-year-old Brian, has his own little accordian, as Garvin continues to develop the “love of things Irish" in his own children. Garvin visits Ireland on a regular basis. His last trip was in 1978. As for returning permanently, he says that is just an “impractical fantasy.” Life in the U S. contains more opportunity for him and his children Besides, in Ireland todav there are few jigs & reels. They piay rock and roll and country western

County Ethnics Parallel State COURT HOUSE - Census statistics on ethnic groups in Cape May County parallel those of the state For both the state and the county, persons of Irish ancestry are the largest of the single, ancestry groups. Of Cape May County's 82,000 residents, 7,680 persons claim Irish ancestry. Statistics show that 1,444,000 New Jersey residents are of Irish background. Other large groups of foreign ancestry include English, 7,306; German, 6,698; and Italian, 5,841. The next largest single ancestry group is the Polish with 1,665 county residents. Other groups reported are Dutch, 389; French, 438; Greek, 213; Hungarian, 263; Norwegian, 125; Portugese, 41; Russian, 193; Scottish, 655; Swedish, 491; and Ukranian, 253.

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