Pete Shovlin and his wife Sheila pose with a bear in their younger days.
DONEGAL man Pete Shovlin has been made Grand Marshall of the Pittsburgh St Patrick’s Day Parade.
Mr Shovlin (90) was born in Liskerraghan, located outside Ardara. He emigrated to London as a young man and married here before moving to Pittsburg.
He met his late wife Sheila Sweeney at the Shamrock Irish Dance Hall in London. They married in September 1956 and together emigrated to the US, arriving on March 13, 1957.
The couple had eight children, Liz, Ralph, Peter Jr., Patsy (died in 2007), John, Michael, Kevin and Sheila, all who married and made them grandparents of seventeen and great-grandparents of three. His wife Sheila passed away in 1997.
Pete returned to Ireland for his first trip back in 1977 withall his family. Since then, there have been many return trips including 2005 when nearly all his children and grandchildren returned for a Shovlin Reunion.
“The Irish influence was intertwined in our daily life, always there but never forced. Mostly, we all found it fun. Mom loved to dance and Dad loved to play the fiddle,” his daughter Sheila explained.
“As a result, we learned and competed in Irish dance and later started our own dance school. One was the feis chairperson for 13 years and another was the founder of a ceili club. Many played Irish football and later helped run and coach the local clubs.
“One became proficient in the fiddle. One was the 1990 Miss Smiling Irish Eyes and another the 1978 International Rose of Tralee. Many of dad’s grandchildren are also now involved in Irish dance and Irish football as well as playing the fiddle,” she added.
One of the charter members of the Irish Centre of Pittsburgh, Pete helped turn the property into a welcoming gathering place which brought Irish families together. He played the violin and provided music at many of the early dances, sometimes with other ICP members.
He served on the ICP Board of Directors as a board member and Treasurer, Vice-President and then President in 1980-81.
One of the main objectives of the ICP was to pass on Irish culture to the members’ children. In 1970, he arranged with other members to have Irish step-dancing taught at the ICP by an instructor certified by the Irish Dancing Commission. That school still continues and spawned the creation of others including the Shovlin Academy of Irish Dance – where daughters Sheila and Liz and son Peter are founders and instructors.
Pete Shovlin was the founder and chairman of the first Irish Centre of Pittsburgh Feis in 1971 and played his fiddle at every Pittsburgh Feis up to the early 2000s. He used his carpentry skills to help build the outdoor stages used for the dance competitions.
He also played for many, many feiseanna in the Mid-West Region (Ohio, Michigan, Maryland, New York and Canada) during the 1970s through the 90s.
Pete finally got time to create and make his first fiddle in 1991. Since then he’s made 24 and has given one to each of his children and donated some to causes close to his heart. In 2003, he made a musical recording of some of his favourite tunes, “Beyond the Wee Strand”
He is a lifetime member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, Local 432 Eastern Atlantic States, Regional Council of Carpenters. He is retired since the mid-90s and just received his 55 year pin.
He is also an active member of St John Fisher Catholic Church in Churchill.
Pete playing the fiddle.
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)