A Sampling of the Latest Irish Books. ℘℘℘ RECOMMENDED The Encyclopedia of Ireland is being dubbed the most comprehensive book to date on Irish life, culture, and history, and leafing through its pages, it's hard to disagree. Arranged in alphabetical order, the Encyclopedia contains more than 5,000 essays written by nearly 1,000 contributors. A random sampling (under G) … [Read more...] about Book Reviews
2003
Music Roundup
Sinéad O'Connor Calls it Quits. ℘℘℘ It's not over until the bald lady sings, and in this case Ireland's brilliant vocalist Sinéad O'Connor is not retiring from the limelight quietly. As her swan song, she is releasing her final record She Who Dwells in the Secret Place of the Most High Shall Abide Under the Shadow of the Almighty on September 9 on Vanguard Records. The two-CD … [Read more...] about Music Roundup
Sláinte! Dancing at Lughnasadh
Remember the scene in The Godfather when Vito bit the dust in the tomato patch? The tall plants stood staked in nice neat rows, full of fruit, and bees were buzzing about all over. Well, I too have a tomato plot, but this is my first attempt at vegetable gardening and I simply didn't allow for how huge everything would get. Ergo, unlike the orderly plants tended by the head … [Read more...] about Sláinte! Dancing at Lughnasadh
Saying Goodbye
It's easier to accept loss if you get to say goodbye. It doesn't make it any less painful or tragic, but it's the finality that's missing for so many who were impacted by the events of September 11th. ℘℘℘ We caught 130 pounds of lobster this morning. The tide was high and the ocean was as smooth as glass. Seals poked up out of the water and cormorants dried their wings standing … [Read more...] about Saying Goodbye
Irish on Parade
June 1, 1907: Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. ℘℘℘ My grandfather Phillip L. McQuillan, one of the early plumbing and heating engineers, celebrated his Irish-American patriotism by participating in the 1907 Memorial Day Parade in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. The sign on the side of the wagon reads "P.L. McQuillan, Good Plumbing." Two of his twelve children, Ruth and Frances, are tiding … [Read more...] about Irish on Parade