Oscar Wilde, the playwright, novelist, poet, and critic of world renown, has long been labeled Anglo-Irish, but an examination of his roots puts the question of Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde’s Irishness to rest once and for all. All Irishmen must feel a little defensive when someone points out that some of our famous writers are Anglo-Irish – as if they are just … [Read more...] about Roots: Is Oscar Irish?
Arts & Literature
All Too Human: An Interview with Author Rob Doyle
Breakout novelist Rob Doyle discusses the existential strands of isolation that run through his debut, as well as the processes of writing, his relationship with Ireland, his views on Irish and American literature, and finally what he’s working on next. The publication of Dublin native Rob Doyle’s debut novel, Here Are the Young Men ushered in the arrival of a new literary … [Read more...] about All Too Human: An Interview with Author Rob Doyle
Anne Enright Named First Irish Fiction Laureate
Anne Enright,the award-winning Irish writer, was named the first Laureate for Irish Fiction at an Arts Council event this past January. The Irish fiction laureate title lasts three years with a 50,000 euro per annum pay check. The new title was the brainchild of the Arts Council, which had further support from New York University, UCD, and The Irish Times. Taoiseach Enda Kenny … [Read more...] about Anne Enright Named First Irish Fiction Laureate
Review of Books
Young Skins By Colin Barrett Glanbeigh, the fictional Everytown of Mayo native Colin Barrett’s Young Skins, is “nowhere you have been, but you know its ilk,” asserts the narrator of the collection’s opening short story. Barrett borrows from the techniques of William Faulkner and Gabriel García Márquez, immediately setting his debut book in the tradition of literary giants – … [Read more...] about Review of Books
Irish Rep Stages Da at New Home
The beloved Irish Repertory Theatre on West 22nd Street in Manhattan has been all but hammered to bits – but not for long! Breaking ground in September 2014, the Irish Rep has begun the massive rehabilitation of its iconic location in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood. The Irish Rep has brought over 150 productions to its stage since opening in 1995, but it was always a tight … [Read more...] about Irish Rep Stages Da at New Home