Honolulu -- During the annual Irish Emerald Ball, held at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii's Manoa Grand Ballroom, here, in Honolulu, on March 7, 2015, Dr. Lisa Gomes, United States Army Health Clinic - Schofield Barracks (USAHC-SB), was selected as the 2015 Society of the Friends of St. Patrick of Hawaii Irish Person of the Year for her outstanding and selfless contribution to the local Celtic community with dance, song and musical performances.
Gomes is heavily involved in the local Irish community and has played her fiddle for entertainment for years.
Gomes is a full-time employee at the USAHC-SB where she works as a Clinical Psychologist in the Child and Family Behavioral Health Services (CAFBHS) clinic.
Gomes believes that music and art is important in everyone's wellbeing and medical state.
"Music is so important to having good mental health. In fact, being involved with any art form heals us when we're feeling stressed, puts things in perspective, and helps connect us to our community", Gomes stated.
She also believes that her Behavioral Health patients at the USAHC-SB benefit by exploring themselves through art.
"We do the same thing at the CAFBHS", Gomes added, "by using music, drawing and drama in play therapy with children and with adults",
Gomes is a part-Irish musician who has been involved with Irish cultural arts in the Hawaii community for over 30 years.
She was inspired to play Irish music after her first trip to Ireland, while at a pub, someone lent her a fiddle and people cleared the tables and chairs so they could dance while she played.
She was hooked after that and in 1996, she co-founded Hawaii's first Irish traditional band, Irish Hearts, which began the music scene at O'Toole's Irish Pub in Honolulu.
Gomes went to Ireland three more times to study fiddle with the great County Clare Fiddler, Martin Hayes.
She arranged for Hayes to give a fiddle workshop while he was here in Hawaii in 2002.
Gomes has instructed Irish music to anyone willing to learn, giving workshops at Hawaii Bluegrass Association get-togethers.
Gomes was a dancer with the Jig This School of Irish Dance for seven years and she has played music at Irish festivals in Ireland, France, and Canada, as well as, various pubs throughout the United States.
Gomes has participated with several Irish bands in Hawaii, including Doolin Rakes, Celtic Waves, Hooligan's Harp, Celtic Tigers (Maui) and with the Celtic Pipes and Drums of Hawaii.
She often donates her time making Irish dance and music presentations at schools, care homes and assisted living facilities throughout Hawaii.
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