"What The Crying Game is saying is that there is a war going on there — a war that nobody is admitting to. There is a conspiracy and an accepted level of violence, but what it comes down to is warfare. To that extent, it is about Ireland." Irish director and screenwriter Neil Jordan is speaking at a press conference about his latest movie. Currently playing to packed movie … [Read more...] about Tears of Joy for Jordan
Issues
The First Word: The Shamrock Chain
Half of the population born in Ireland since 1820 have emigrated, some to win great fame and success around the globe. Their descendants— Irish Americans, Irish Australians, Irish in Britain, Irish in Patagonia or wherever - form part of the 70 million people worldwide who claim Irish ancestry. Imagine the 70 million as a shamrock chain, starting in Ireland, linked to New … [Read more...] about The First Word: The Shamrock Chain
Master European Paintings
By Kathryn Hixson
January February 1993
In 1744, Joseph Leeson, a member of a prosperous Dublin family and soon to become the First Earl of Milltown, embarked on his first tour of the European continent to further his education and collect objects of art for his stately new country mansion in County Wicklow. A compelling portrait depicting Leeson in a sumptuous fur-lined robe was painted in Rome during this trip by … [Read more...] about Master European Paintings
Geraldine Fitzgerald: A Woman for All Seasons
By Janet Noble
January February 1993
Geraldine Fitzgerald left her home in Graystones outside Dublin as a young girl and moved into the city to pursue her career in the theater, a career that would eventually take her to the stage in New York and to the Hollywood screen. Along the way she would come in contact with a host of characters, including the great Orson Welles, and Laurence Olivier with whom she would … [Read more...] about Geraldine Fitzgerald: A Woman for All Seasons
Roots: Gilhooly, Gilmartin, Gillespie, and Gilfoyle
By James G. Ryan
January February 1993
A significant number of Irish names have the prefix "Gil" or "Guil," including Gilchrist, Gildea, Gilhooly, Gilmartin, Gillespie, Gilfoyle, Gilleece, (Mac) Gillicuddy, Gilpatrick, Gilroy (now McElroy), Gilsenan and Gilvarry. These names were all originally prefixed by Mc and are all based on the Gaelic word Giolla which means a youth, attendant, servant or follower. The usual … [Read more...] about Roots: Gilhooly, Gilmartin, Gillespie, and Gilfoyle