What is most striking to me about the pre-Rising Irish middle-class is its freewheeling bohemian character: romantic advanced nationalism provided many fora (meetings, dance-floors, remote country language camps, amateur and professional theatrical stages, communist communes) for debating and living secularism, feminism, suffragism, even vegetarianism and lesbianism. Continue reading
A Traveller’s Tale by Historian, Dianne Hall April 2016 was a great time to be visiting Dublin, not only was the weather good, but the energy and enthusiasm in commemorating the events of the 1916 Rising was infectious. While I was not in town for the official events at Easter, I was standing outside the … Continue reading
Nowadays the funds raise $US 540 million for projects both north and south of the Border with over 3000 organisations contributing to its coffers. Continue reading
Les Murray speculates on the ‘odd beginnings’ of shiralee, suggesting, but not asserting ‘Gypsy, perhaps, or Irish origin’ for the word…… Continue reading
A BOOK REVIEW by Frances Devlin-Glass Vivien Igoe: The Real People of Joyce’s Ulysses, a Biographical Guide, University College Dublin Press, Dublin, 2016 ISBN: 978-1-910820-06-03 RRP: €40 This is a book that few lovers of Joyce will be able to resist, and they should be urged not to resist. We’ve known since the Linati schema was … Continue reading
CD Review by Niki na Meadhra Helena Byrne: Scéal: a Collection of Irish Stories, Music & Poetry Available at http://helenabyrne.com/sceal RRP: €12 Helena Byrne is an experienced storyteller, seanchaí, who also works as an actor and director, in theatre, founding the Break-Away Project Performance Company in 2012. Her new CD, Scéal, begins with an introduction to the Ireland … Continue reading
In a few years I had lost this language. I vowed to go back to Irish and to never again lose it. Continue reading
Launch of the 18th Lake School Continue reading
There was no silver in Brendan O’Carroll’s childhood spoon Continue reading
Since its inception, Celtic Thunder has thrilled audiences the world over with their signature vocal harmonies and ensemble productions. Continue reading
