Hyping up Wilde in Earnest won't win Parker and Oscars. "Life is too important to be taken seriously," Oscar Wilde observed. He demonstrated that principle most dazzlingly in The Importance of Being Earnest, his 1895 play satirizing, among other things, the uselessness of British upper-class twits, the hypocrisy of would-be moral arbiters, the shallowness of social standing, … [Read more...] about Film Forum: The Importance of Being Earnest
2002
Irish Roots: The McNamaras
The hotel lobby buzzed with conversation. Irish inflections mingled with accents from New Zealand, Australia, England, Canada, and various parts of the U.S. And above the hum the name would grab my ear. "McNamara." "McNamara." As a reflex, I'd ram. And almost instantly smile and shake my head, laughing to myself at how often I kept doing that. Back in America, if I heard my … [Read more...] about Irish Roots: The McNamaras
The Origins of The Clan McNamara
The roots of the McNamara family are in the distant past of Thomond, the region of Ireland that today is known as County Clare. By the 11th century the sept (or clan) had become the Lords of Clancullen, the territory comprising most of East Clare. The Irish form of the surname, MacConmara, which means "son of the hound of the sea," eventually evolved into the two most common … [Read more...] about The Origins of The Clan McNamara
Book Reviews
A Sampling of the Latest Irish Books. RECOMMENDED Acclaimed historian Edward T. O'Donnell goes from the Ice Age to Michael Phelan ("The Father of American Billiards") in his breezy history 1001 Things Everyone Should Know About Irish American History. O'Donnell, professor of American History at Holy Cross College, covers topics ranging from Ireland Before 1850, Religion, … [Read more...] about Book Reviews
Sláinte! The Hedgerow Harvest
Recently I had an opportunity to visit Kauai, The Garden Isle of Hawaii. While pouring over tourism info prior to leaving LA, I noticed a place that locals are so proud of it's marked on maps in red. Tiny letters named it a `tree tunnel.' Anything special enough to be highlighted always piques my curiosity. The spot was close by the airport, so as soon as I picked up my rental … [Read more...] about Sláinte! The Hedgerow Harvest