Irish America
Irish America
Frank Shouldice explores the relationship between Irish travellers and the settled community. When Mary Robinson announced she would not be staying on for a second term of office as President of Ireland it was worth observing the reaction from various quarters. For most people, the announcement heralded a conclusion to a uniquely popular presidency. As a most impressive … [Read more...] about Living on the Fringe
Frank McGuinness, whose adaptation of Ibsen's A Doll's House won four Tony Awards, talks to Patricia O'Haire. It would be hard to miss Frank McGuinness lumbering into a room. Curly red-hair that looks as if it had never, in all its life, been introduced to a comb, a curly red beard to match, he's tall and somewhat overweight, but he gives off an air of nervous energy that … [Read more...] about McGuinness’ Doll House
Frank McCourt has gone from retired New York City high school teacher to 66-year-old international celebrity in a matter of months. Almost a year after the publication of Angela's Ashes, McCourt tells Brian Rohan "it's been lovely, thank you, but I wouldn't mind a bit of peace and quiet, either...." Frank McCourt sits in the back room of the Old Town tavern, acting not at … [Read more...] about The Year of Living Famously
While her class-mates in St. Mary's Secondary School in Nenagh, County Tipperary, are busy preparing for end-of-year exams in their last year before Leaving Certificate, 17-year-old Bernadette Flynn is savoring the sweet success of a dream come true as leading lady in the acclaimed show, Lord of the Dance. And Bernadette has absolutely no regrets about leaving her school life … [Read more...] about Young Ladies of the Dance
A descendant of Famine immigrants recounts her trip home. It was our first trip to Ireland. And it was a trip my mother, Mary Lanigan Schmidt, always yearned to make, but never did. Now dead these 12 years, she left behind so much, including her First Communion veil from 1926, now yellow with age. I took two snippets of the delicate lace and brought them with me, a part of … [Read more...] about Beyond the Veil
