Brian Friel himself cast Catherine Byrne as Chrissy in Dancing at Lughnasa after watching an Abbey Theatre dress rehearsal of his Aristocrats in which Byrne played clare. She talked of that moment during a pause in rehearsal for Molly Sweeney in which she plays the title role. "He didn't know me," Catherine Byrne recalls, "and when I heard he was coming I thought, what's he … [Read more...] about A Touch of Friel
A Touch of Friel
Glasgow goes green for St Patrick’s Day
THE Irish Scots are a very distinctive part of the Irish in Britain community. When Archbishop Thomas Joseph Winning was made Cardinal in 1994, a tartan army accompanied this son of an Irish miner, working in Lanarkshire, to the Vatican. The Archbishop's enthusiastic band of supporters rocked up in Rome to see him collect his red hat. They were festooned with shamrocks, wore … [Read more...] about Glasgow goes green for St Patrick’s Day
Why Irish Eyes Are Smiling
IRELAND moves to 15th happiest country in the world in the rankings published by the World Happiness Report. The position marks an increase on last year's 17th place in the World Happiness Report. Finland took the top spot for the eighth year running, while the United States dropped to 24th, its lowest position since the report was first published in 2012. The United … [Read more...] about Why Irish Eyes Are Smiling
Barry ‘the Celtic Banshee’ triumphs in Cannock
EARLIER this month Jess Barry, known as "The Celtic Banshee", fought Linzi Buczynskyj for the Commonwealth Silver Featherweight Title at the Premier Suite in Cannock. The fight took place at the Excelsior Sporting Club's St Patrick's Dinner Show. Victory for Jess Barry in Cannock (Pics: Chris Egan) Barry won the fight and retained her English Title. The event also included a … [Read more...] about Barry ‘the Celtic Banshee’ triumphs in Cannock
Ireland’s Groovy Arts Minister
Colin Lacey talks to Michael D. Higgins (recently dubbed by British Vogue as the world's grooviest arts minister) about the renaissance of the Irish film industry. The Crying Game: My Left Foot; Braveheart; The Playboys; The Commitments; The Snapper; Circle of Friends; Window's Peak; The Run of the Country; Into the West; Frankie Starlight - if you haven't been closely … [Read more...] about Ireland’s Groovy Arts Minister



