Irish guitar makers are rare, and George Lowden, the man behind Lowden Guitars, is the best of them. Here, he tells Tara Dougherty about the beginnings of his craft and the future for Lowden Guitars. Luthier is certainly not the word one might hear an Irish child say is their dream profession. In fact, luthiere, or the crafting of stringed instruments, mainly guitar and lute, … [Read more...] about The Luthier: George Lowden
Interviews
George Clooney Has Nothing to Prove
The perennial leading man talks about his Irish roots, getting older, and his passion for activism. George Clooney has nothing to prove as an actor and he knows it. It’s part of what makes him such a pleasant and relaxed interview – quick with the self-effacing jokes, interested in the wider world beyond where he now sits, at home in his own skin. At 51, he is aging … [Read more...] about George Clooney Has Nothing to Prove
The President’s Visit: Michael D. Higgins in the U.S.
After his first official U.S. visit, Ireland’s new President reflects on the importance of the diaspora and the unique creativity of the Irish. Michael D. Higgins, the 9th President of Ireland, arrived in New York on the evening of April 30 for his first official visit to the U. S. The president and his wife, Sabina, went straight to a welcoming reception at the Consulate … [Read more...] about The President’s Visit: Michael D. Higgins in the U.S.
John Cusack on Poe and The Raven
Exploring a character forced to grapple with inner demons is a familiar task for actor John Cusack, who has portrayed quite a few anguished souls throughout his versatile film career. From his role as an existentially suffering puppeteer in Charlie Kaufman’s absurdist Being John Malkovich to his – not one but two – turns at playing troubled assassins (first in Grosse Pointe … [Read more...] about John Cusack on Poe and The Raven
The Irish Don of Fashion
Don O’Neill, creative director of the up-and-coming label Theia, reflects on his journey from a small seaside town in Co. Kerry to the fashion houses of London, Paris and New York, and finally, a showroom of his own. When we meet at his garment district showroom on an afternoon in early April, it’s clear that Don O’Neill, creative director of the fledgling couture label Theia, … [Read more...] about The Irish Don of Fashion