April 13, 2006. Beckett's 100th birthday. In anticipation of that April, April future of Aprils past, I recall the first time I ever met him, Beckett, on now into a second decade, the man with the baggy greatcoat, the grey-shocked hair and the yellowed packs of Dutch cigars, sitting by himself in the lobby of the Hotel PLM-Saint Jacques, reading a copy of an Irish newspaper. It … [Read more...] about Waiting for Beckett: Remembrance of a Meeting on the Boulevard of Saint Jaques
Issues
The Future of the Great Blasket Island
Three miles out to sea, stark against the western horizon, storm clouds are swirling above the Great Blasket. The future of this unique island, renowned for its desolate beauty, its crumbling ruins and its cultural legacy, is under threat. After years of agitation, litigation, and endless negotiations, the Irish government declared last July its intention to purchase the … [Read more...] about The Future of the Great Blasket Island
Communion: An Irish Catholic Childhood Remembered
It is the early spring of 1945 in the Bronx. World War II is about to end. Over fifty of us, boys and girls together, cram into our classroom. Sister Mary Herbert stands tall at the front of the room in the black robes, black veil and white headband of a Sister of Mercy. She announces: "Now that you are all seven years old and have reached the age of reason you will be … [Read more...] about Communion: An Irish Catholic Childhood Remembered
Looking Back in Time: A Photo Essay
This collection finds me looking back at where my ancestors came from and retracing their lives. All the photos were taken in Donegal and the islands off the northwest coast. Several are of my family, who live in Gweedore, County Donegal, a rural area, and on Gola, an island one mile off the coast of Gweedore. Gola, which has been deserted for the last 40 years, is where my … [Read more...] about Looking Back in Time: A Photo Essay
Harris Wrecks Cork
Actor Ed Harris made his European stage debut in Neil LaBute's one man show, Wrecks, at the Everyman Palace Theatre in Cork in November. Brian O'Connell spoke to the four-time Academy Award nominated actor by phone as he prepared for his return to the stage after an absence of 9 years. ℘℘℘ Are you nervous about returning to the intimacy of the stage after such a long … [Read more...] about Harris Wrecks Cork