Irish America

Irish America

Tradition

Sláinte! The Night of Cakes

By Edythe Preet, Columnist.

November/December 1996. Republished in Winter 2022.

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No Christma-a-as! No Christma-a-as!” Such was the town crier’s chant in the streets of 17th-century Dublin when Ireland felt the hammer blow of Oliver Cromwell’s Puritan iron fist. Garlands of greenery were pulled down and publicly burned. Revelry was forbidden. Priests were imprisoned. But the Irish people found ways to celebrate their most loved holiday despite the … [Read more...] about Sláinte! The Night of Cakes

Puck Fair: Ireland’s Oldest Festival

By Sheila Langan, Deputy Editor

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Every August since 1613 (or possibly earlier) the County Kerry town of Killorglin has given itself over to the idiosyncratic joys and celebration of the Puck Fair Festival, and this year was no exception. From August 10 – 12, Killorglin residents and visitors were granted the “Freedom of the Town” by the young Queen of Puck Fair and her goat companion, King Puck, and reveled in … [Read more...] about Puck Fair: Ireland’s Oldest Festival

The Seisiún Network

By Sheila Langan, Deputy Editor
August / September 2011

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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

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann Celebrates 60 Years

By Patricia Harty, Editor-in-Chief
June / July 2011

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Held in San Antonio, TX for the first time, CCE's annual celebration marked the organization's 60th anniversary. Hundreds of devoted Irish music and dance fans descended upon San Antonio for the annual Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann North American Convention on the weekend of March 25th. The annual event, held in different cities around the U.S., was extra special this year, as … [Read more...] about Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann Celebrates 60 Years

A Glimpse of Ireland Past

By Sharon Ni Chonchuir, Contributor
April / May 2011

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Sharon Ni Choncuir discovers that 'Romantic Ireland' is still alive. ‘Romantic Ireland is dead and gone.  It’s with O’Leary in the grave.’ This was Yeats’ lament in the Ireland of 1914 and it was often repeated during the Celtic Tiger years. In our frantic quest for materialistic modernity, Ireland and its people were said to have forsaken the traditions of the past. But how … [Read more...] about A Glimpse of Ireland Past