Ireland’s famed Wexford Festival Opera won the prestigious “Best Festival” prize at this year’s International Opera Awards at the London Coliseum, home of the London Opera, in May. The festival, held every fall and now in its 66th year, beat out other shortlisted international festivals like Festival d’Aix-en-Provence and the Lyon Festival in France; Festival Verdi in Parma, … [Read more...] about Wexford Festival Opera Named Best in World
Music
Irish American Musician Advocates for Syria
Dylan Connor is an Irish American singer/songwriter who, inspired by his Syrian wife, Reem Alhariri Connor, has become a celebrated activist for Syria and its refugees. Connor, who is the first cousin of Robert Downey, Jr., has heightened awareness of the Syrian crisis through four solo albums including the 2014 charity album, Blood like Fire (Songs for Syria), all proceeds … [Read more...] about Irish American Musician Advocates for Syria
Forward the Music of the Gael
There’s more to piping than meets the ear. Kristin McGowan talks to Joe McGonigal, the highly sought-after musician and teacher, about his upcoming plans and the influence of his grandfather on the growth of pipe bands in the United States. Once the St. Patrick’s Day parade season is over, some pipe bands take a break for the next round of summer parades, while others gear up … [Read more...] about Forward the Music of the Gael
Music Reviews
A number of albums released this year and last have has strong thematic links to the Easter Rising. Rising Black Bank Folk A debut album years the making, Rising, tells the human stories of historic heroes, an idea inspired by musician John Colbert’s personal connection to the rebellion through his great uncle, Con Colbert, one of the executed leaders of the Rising. John … [Read more...] about Music Reviews
Bono Named Among Glamour’s Women of the Year
U2 lead and lifelong humanitarian Bono was named among Glamour magazine’s ten Women of the Year in November, breaking a 26-year-long precedent of honoring, naturally, women. The magazine wrote that, while for years the Women of the Year advisory board, which is made up of past winners and Glamour editors, “put the kibosh on naming a Man of the Year on the grounds that men … [Read more...] about Bono Named Among Glamour’s Women of the Year