IAN WORPOLE looks at the massive musical contributions of traditional groups Solas and Cherish the Ladies, who both reach major milestones this year. When I was a lad growing up in post WWII England, festive holidays were always about food. One of the lesser but still vital days was Shrove Tuesday, AKA Pancake Day. Or should it be the other way round? We knew there was some … [Read more...] about Anniversaries and Amazing Performances
Issues
Snow Patrol. Rock and Reflect.
Eyes Open by Snow Patrol should firmly establish the band on this side of the Atlantic. That they could produce such an assured work in a period when they lost their bassist and welcomed two new mem- bers is impressive in itself. With a mix of power rock and angst-ridden ballads, the Snow Patrol canvas is adorned with lush strokes and deft touches. The melancholic “Chasing … [Read more...] about Snow Patrol. Rock and Reflect.
The Other Irish Riots of July
By Tom Deignan, Contributor
TOM DEIGNAN writes about the deadly “Orange Riots” in New York City in 1871. Thanks in large part to Martin Scorsese's epic movie, Gangs of New York, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio and Liam Neeson, the New York Draft Riots are now more or less permanently lodged in the consciousness of most Irish-Americans who are interested in their history. A slew of books … [Read more...] about The Other Irish Riots of July
A Summer of Irish Pride
Irish Festivals and Fleadhs Abound in the Summer Months. Michelle Harty reports. It has been said that no one is as Irish as an Irishman overseas. Every year St. Patrick’s Day parades across the United States bring out the Irish in anyone who has even the measliest bit of Irish in them and draw the Irish out of Ireland. Even those with no Irish who just want to have a good … [Read more...] about A Summer of Irish Pride
Sláinte! Irish Tree Tales
From space, Earth resembles a big beautiful marble with swirling patterns of blue (oceans), white (clouds), and green (trees). As global warming makes weekly headlines, we are warned of the dire future we face should the delicate balance between the three become irreparably compromised. In a worst case scenario, plants would disappear. In 1657AD, the English scholar William … [Read more...] about Sláinte! Irish Tree Tales