A team of young boys from Ringsend, Irishtown and Sandymount have won the 2008 Solar Travel World Cup in Liverpool this year. They are our own Cambridge boys Under 10 A1 Squad.

The competition took place on Good Friday through to Bank Holiday Monday. Eleven local boys and ten fathers went along to Liverpool the City of Culture for 2008.

There were teams from Norway, Dublin, Galway and Cork to name but a few of the 60 teams who entered. The under 10s had a group A and group B with St. Pascall’s, Lourdes Celtic and Burford in the A league and Ballyfermot, Lourdes and Ash Celtic in the B league.

In the semi-finals Cambridge played Ballyfermot and it was a 0-0 draw until the Cambridge boys stepped up in penalties and won it 4-3. In the final, Cambridge scored an OG with two minutes left but then Eric Reynolds Doyle scored for Cambridge. It was decided on penalties and the score was 4-3.

Also not to be forgotten are the under 11s Cambridge team who lost one and won two and made it through to the semi- finals which they won with a convincing 7–1 scoreline but sadly lost on penalties in the final.

The boys received their medals in Hobbler’s End on Sunday 6th of April. They are David Lane, Thomas Groves, Gavin Boland, John Lee, Andrew Neville, Dean Gannon, Darragh Smith Byrne, Sean Rimmer, Adam Kavanagh, Eric Reynolds Doyle, Jordan Stone, Ryan Brophy and James Yuxon. Charlie Murphy of Dublin Port spoke warmly of his association with Cambridge Boys.

Thanks and congratulations to the managers David Doyle and Edward Richardson and Coach Thomas Quinn. It was an educational and rewarding trip and a great achievement for the boys.

THE SUN RIDES ON AGAIN!
By Robert C. Díaz

It’s always, good when you hear that a Cuban musical ensemble is visiting Ireland.  Some people might say. Buena Vista Social Club, one of the all-time greatest Cuban classics, will play in Dublin pretty soon, as part of its European Tour- 2008. It’s predicted to be a magic night on June 18th at The Olympia Theatre, Dublin.

This unique concert will take audiences on a musical excursion from the original Buena Vista Social Club recordings in 1996 up to the present day.  Cuba is an island of musical traditions. In this wonderful Caribbean land was created more than 32 different popular rhythms like: Danzón, Bolero, Cha-Cha-Cha, Mambo and Son, without any doubt, the most popular Cuban national rhythm within the “Casino’s” dancers. 

This is the sixth time Buena Vista appears since its first appearance at Whelan’s Pub, on May 5th 1996. Actually it was the worldwide opening of the band. At that time they broke the cellophane with a luxury line-up: Don Rubén González  piano), “Cachaíto” López (Double Bass), Manuel “Guajiro”  Mirabal (trumpet), Amadito Valdés ( Timbales & Cuban percussion set), Carlos González (Bongos), Angel Terry (Congas), Jesús “Aguaje” Ramos (Trombone), Juan D’Marcos Gonzalez (Tres guitar), and the unforgettable “sonera”  voice of Ibrahim Ferrer (lead vocals).  

After that, a legend was born. Multi-Grammy winners and Oscar nominations earned them international recognition and the "Buena Vista Social Club™" name became an umbrella term to describe these performances and releases. The new success was fleeting for some of the artists in the ensemble, six of whom, including Compay Segundo, Rubén González, and Ibrahim Ferrer, have since died.

This time around an extraordinary line-up of Buena Vista Social Club stalwarts, together with a 13 piece band direct from Havana present some of the finest Cuban music ever made.

The line-up is composed of both male and female vocalists, strong brass and rhythm sections and the results are guaranteed to keep you on your feet. Of the original integrants, “Guajiro”, “Cachaíto”, “Aguaje”, Amadito and Manual Galbán (Guitar) together with Barbarito Torres (Laud) are with the band. On vocals is Idrania Valdes, daughter of the legendary Amadito Valdes. They have, over the years, been joined by Carlos Calunga on Vocals, Angel Terry (Congas), Filberto Sanchez (Timbales and Bongos), pianist Rolando Luna, Luis Alemañy on trumpet and Raul Nacianceno who plays Clarinet, Flute and Sax.

Each of these artists has an individual take on the gamut of Cuban Music, onto which they've placed their own stamp. Having honed their skills over many years, their passion for the music has remained undiminished. Now after ten years as the backbone of the Buena Vista Social, this esteemed group finally gets their chance to shine. So, don’t miss this opportunity to shake your body and dance with it, and of course, let the son ride on again!