The Celtic feast of Bealtaine (Bright Fire) began on the first day of May with the lighting of the May Fires. The clan gathered to celebrate the end of the dark months and the return of the light. The fires symbolized the earth's life-giving forces-fertility and rebirth after the dormant winter months. Dancers enacted the sun's movement through the skies and the Maypole and … [Read more...] about Sláinte! The Feast of Bealtaine
Issues
Captain Paddy and Son
Captain Paddy turned his boat around and pointed it toward the open waters of the North Atlantic. He has fished these waters along the rocky cliffs of County Donegal for so long that he no longer observes their rugged beauty. Sometimes he ventures far out to fish for salmon, today he would look for crabs and lobster and see to his numerous traps. The mighty gales and the strong … [Read more...] about Captain Paddy and Son
May June 1994
In the Name of the Father
Pete Postlethwaite astonished critics and cinemagoers alike with his performance in In the Name of the Father. It came as no surprise when the previously little-known actor won a coveted Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Guiseppe Conlon. Jane Campbell caught up with Postlethwaite in London, where they talked about the movie and the challenges of playing Guiseppe -- … [Read more...] about In the Name of the Father
Irish Roots: Quinn, Quinlan and Quigley
Although the Irish language, or Gaelic, does not have a letter "Q," the distinctive sound of the accented "C" in some Gaelic names has caused them to be anglicized phonetically with this sound. Examples include Quinn, Quinlan, and Quigley, none of which are connected other than by their initial letter. Quinn is perhaps the most common of these names. It is derived from the … [Read more...] about Irish Roots: Quinn, Quinlan and Quigley





