“People think [the Irish] are such great talkers, but there is so much silence in Ireland about certain issues.” – Fionnula Flanagan The image of Michael Fassbender on our cover is very different to how he was seen in Hunger, the 2008 movie in which he played Bobby Sands, leader of the 1981 hunger strike in Northern Ireland. Fassbender, a Kerry native whose mother is from … [Read more...] about The First Word: Hunger and Silence
Patricia Harty
A Gaelic Storm Lights Up St. Louis
Patricia Harty writes about Helen Gannon and the Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Convention. Storm clouds gather over St. Louis, but Helen Gannon is unfazed as the tornado warning siren blares and we move into the center of the hotel, away from the windows. After many years of living here, she has made her peace with the weather patterns that in spring can range from heavy rain to severe … [Read more...] about A Gaelic Storm Lights Up St. Louis
The First Word: Ties That Bind
“Nostalgia for Ireland sweeps over me often, not just when I’m working with an Irish cast. I love Ireland and I miss it very much.” – John Huston We’ve had quite a year (at Irish America we measure time from March to March). In March 2011 we hosted our inaugural Hall of Fame luncheon in New York City, and later that year opened our Irish America Hall of Fame in New … [Read more...] about The First Word: Ties That Bind
Anjelica is Smashing
Anjelica Huston is causing a stir on the new hit series Smash. Stars aren’t born, they are made” is the tagline for Smash, the new drama series on NBC. Produced by Steven Spielberg, the show revolves around the creation of a Broadway musical about the life of Marilyn Monroe, and showcases Anjelica Huston in her first television series. Huston was born into Hollywood royalty – … [Read more...] about Anjelica is Smashing
The First Word: Something to Shout About
When we first published the magazine back in 1985, I wasn’t entirely comfortable with our slogan “Mórtas Cine,” which translates from the Irish as “Pride in one’s heritage.” As children we were warned about “pride” and its place at the top of the list of the Seven Deadly Sins. “Pride goes before a fall,” my mother would caution. Growing up in Ireland, surrounded by other … [Read more...] about The First Word: Something to Shout About