“There never was a sound that was not music – there’s no real trick of creating words to set to music – once you realize that the word is the music and the people are the song.” – Woody Guthrie There is perhaps nothing more joyously therapeutic than lifting one’s voice in song. And in these unsettled times there is a lot of joy and one heck of a good time at the Irish … [Read more...] about The Time is Right for “Woody Sez”
Issues
How to Conquer Cravings
A new book by folk singer and author Judy Collins reveals all about her battle with food. ℘℘℘ Leonard Cohen is dead. Joni Mitchell is ailing. Judy Collins stands out in the crowd of ’60s folk artists as blooming. I recently caught her concert at the Metropolitan Museum – her skin glows, she wears high-heeled boots, she plays guitar and piano (and makes you realize what a … [Read more...] about How to Conquer Cravings
Taunting Death with Malachy McCourt
There is something fitting about where Malachy McCourt is calling from as I speak to him about his dark and hilarious new book Death Need Not Be Fatal. McCourt is at a Manhattan rehabilitation facility, where he will spend the next few weeks recovering from a “severe attack” of gout. “I’m doing pretty good now,” he says, sounding lively and cheerful enough given what he’s … [Read more...] about Taunting Death with Malachy McCourt
Review of Books
Recently published books of Irish and Irish American interest. Napoleon’s Doctor: The St. Helena Diary of Barry O’Meara By Dr. Hubert O’Connor The last few years of the great Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte’s life were spent with an Irishman. That Irishman was Barry O’Meara, a Dublin-born surgeon who caught the Emperor’s attention during his surrender on the British warship … [Read more...] about Review of Books
Portals to the Other World
This fall, a number of our most celebrated Irish American authors will launch books into heavy seas where Twitter storms and televised tantrums batter our attention, but after spending time at the Book Expo, the publishing industry’s lollapalooza in New York City this summer, I realized all will be well. I met with Jennifer Egan, Alice McDermott, Michael Connelly, Lawrence … [Read more...] about Portals to the Other World