Pop quiz: what’s the most popular Irish boy’s name? Odds are, the first one that came to mind was Patrick. Wrong. While Saint Patrick is Ireland’s patron, his name comes in at #18. Go ahead, try again. Did you say Sean? If so, you picked #2, and you get extra credit because Sean is also spelled Shane, Shawn, Shuan, Eoin, Ion, and Ian, all of which rank in the top twenty and … [Read more...] about Sláinte!: Feasting with the Angels
Music Reviews
Susan McKeown and Lorin Sklamberg Saints & Tzadiks In this self-titled album, Saints & Tzadiks, Susan McKeown and Lorin Sklamberg come together on a musical endeavor which takes traditional Irish language songs and Yiddish folk songs and bridges the gap between the two rather similar genres. The pair have worked together before, memorably with the Klezmatics, which … [Read more...] about Music Reviews
Review of Books
Recommended Deirdre Madden’s new novel Molly Fox’s Birthday is the story of a complicated friendship between three unique individuals: lauded Irish actor Molly Fox, who is away working in New York and London; Belfast-born art critic and television personality Andrew; and the unnamed narrator, a well-established female playwright who is struggling with a new work while staying … [Read more...] about Review of Books
June 15, 2010
Just before the publication of the Saville Report, the inquiry into Derry's 1972 Bloody Sunday, British Prime Minister David Cameron makes a speech at Westminster Abbey in which he says that the event was "unjustified and unjustifiable." Cameron also apologizes on behalf of the British government. On this same day, thousands of people gather at the memorial and march to … [Read more...] about June 15, 2010
Travel Stories from IA
By Mary Pat Kelly, Contributor.
Return to Ireland: Mary Pat Kelly writes about the ancestors calling her home. The kings of Ireland were not inaugurated in Christian churches as were other European monarchs. The chieftains stood on the high hills that enclosed the tombs of their tribal ancestors during the ceremonial rites that made them king. This image, given to us by Eamonn Kelly, keeper of Irish … [Read more...] about Travel Stories from IA