Damien Rice: o If you have lost faith in the possibility for a new singer-songwriter to emerge with a graceful album of dirges and lullabies, it's time to believe again. Dublin-born Damien Rice's debut album, o, has been released in the U.S. by Vector Recordings (see also www. damienrice.com) after being praised ceaselessly overseas for the past year. With literary references … [Read more...] about The Rice Man Cometh
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Book Reviews
A Sampling of the Latest Irish Books. ℘℘℘ RECOMMENDED Providence College Professor of English Charles F. Duffy was planning to teach some Irish American fiction in one of his Modern Irish Literature classes. "Figuring Edwin O'Connor would loom large...I reread The Last Hurrah," Duffy writes, "and then looked around for a biography of the author. To my surprise, no such book … [Read more...] about Book Reviews
Sláinte! Patriotic Potatoes
are Perfect for Summer
In the early days of the American Revolution, a number of battles took place in New England eventually causing the British to flee their Boston stronghold. The flight took place on March 17, 1776. George Washington was commander in chief of the colonial forces. His password for the day was `Saint Patrick.'
I stumbled on that fact a number of years ago, and it has never ceased … [Read more...] about Sláinte! Patriotic Potatoes
are Perfect for Summer
The Magdalene Sisters
A disturbing movie by Peter Mullan on what happened to the "wayward" women of Ireland. Peter Mullan's The Magdalene Sisters opens ironically with a wedding scene. But it is not a happy occasion. Margaret is lured by her cousin Kevin to an upstairs room where he rapes her. Kevin is chastised, but it is Margaret who has "shamed" her family and is carted off the next morning by … [Read more...] about The Magdalene Sisters
An Irish Soldier
1861: Luke Masterson, 4th Cavalry Mounted Volunteers. My great-grandfather Luke Masterson immigrated to the U.S. from County Cavan, Ireland. In 1861, he enlisted in the 4th Cavalry Mounted Volunteers of New York. As a member of this group, he fought in the Battle of Gettysburg. His brother, Patrick, was a member of the 4th Infantry of New York. Patrick died in combat due to … [Read more...] about An Irish Soldier