Irish America
Irish America
Colum McCann, one of the hottest new Irish writers on the literary scene, talks about his career with Laoise MacReamoinn. Colum McCann, the New York-based Dublin-born writer who burst on to the American literary scene last year with his first novel, Songdogs, which the New York Times called "powerful, strong and sure," and whose first collection of short stories, Fishing the … [Read more...] about Tales from the Deep
Although the brilliance of actor Donal McCann is well-known abroad – even a Dublin cabdriver praised him as a "great actor" to this writer on the trip from the airport to the city center -- McCann's name seems a well-kept secret in the U.S. That oversight should be corrected when Donal McCann opens, in the starting role, in Sebastian Barry's luminous, moving, poetic memory play … [Read more...] about The Steward of Irish Theater
There are several different septs of the O'Neills in Counties Clare (where the name is also spelt O'Nihill), Waterford and Carlow. The most famous of the O'Neills, however, are the O'Neills of Tyrone, in the province of Ulster. The name in Gaelic means descendant of Neil or Niall, which was, and still is, a popular personal name in Ireland. In the U.S. the name is sometimes … [Read more...] about Roots: The O’Neills
The movie Leaving Las Vegas, based on John O'Brien's novel, stunned audiences and had critics raving. But the coming success did not mean much to O'Brien, who took his own life soon after selling the movie rights. His new work, finished by his sister, also reflects his dark side. Writer John O'Brien did not live to see the phenomenal success of the movie based on his novel, … [Read more...] about The Life and Times of John O’Brien
The name Walsh or Welsh is one of the most numerous of Norman associated names found in Ireland. It seems to have been the name used independently by the many different groups of Welsh people who arrived in Ireland with the Normans during the 12th century. The name simply means Welshman and its early Norman form was "Le Waleys" but this became gradually anglicized to Walsh. The … [Read more...] about Roots: Walsh, Welsh (or Brannagh)
