A new documentary dubbed as "Spellbound meets Mad Hot Ballroom, with a touch of Riverdance" As an Irish American who had a very culturally rich childhood, I may be something of an anomaly in that I never once tried Irish step dancing. I never raised a foot to a jig or a reel, never donned a massive curly wig, never learned how to jump two feet in the air while keeping my arms … [Read more...] about The Jig is Up!
Sheila Langan
The Seisiún Network
Dubliner Tony Lawless may prove to be the Mark Zuckerberg of the traditional Irish music world. On April 28th, he launched TradConnect, a new website that aims to connect trad players all over the world, from cautious beginners to seasoned professionals. Lawless firmly believes that playing with other musicians is the most effective, not to mention the most enjoyable, way to … [Read more...] about The Seisiún Network
Imagining Ireland With Gabriel Byrne
The acclaimed actor discusses his role as Ireland's first Cultural Ambassador, his experience as an emigrant, and his thoughts on the strong ties and the disconnects between Ireland and America. The most immediately striking thing about Gabriel Byrne, aside from his very light blue eyes and the chunky silver Claddagh ring he wears on his right hand (and the fact that he is … [Read more...] about Imagining Ireland With Gabriel Byrne
The Pipe: Small Irish Town Meets Big Oil
A new documentary from Ireland sheds light on the Corrib pipeline plans in Rossport, Co. Mayo. In 2005, Rossport was a small, peaceful costal village in Co. Mayo, Ireland. Risteard Ó Domhnaill was living there, on his uncle’s farm, and working as a camera man. Then Shell, the international oil company, came to town with plans to build a gas pipeline from the sea, through … [Read more...] about The Pipe: Small Irish Town Meets Big Oil
Meghan O’Rourke on Writing Through Grief
Meghan O'Rourke talks about her recent memoir, The Long Goodbye. Meghan O’Rourke’s accomplishments are many. A graduate of Yale, she was a fiction/nonfiction editor at The New Yorker at the age of 24, one of the youngest editors in the history of the magazine. She then became culture editor and literary critic for Slate, a poetry editor of The Paris Review from 2005-2010, and … [Read more...] about Meghan O’Rourke on Writing Through Grief