The Irish have long loomed in American imagination. From Mr. Dooley to Scarlett O'Hara to Randall Patrick McMurphy, they have appeared as powerful symbols in popular American fiction, standing for will power and unbowed determination (in the case of Ms. O'Hara, who would never go hungry again) or for deep-seated sanity and freedom of spirit (in the case of R.P. McMurphy, the … [Read more...] about The Irish Moment
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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
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The movie Leaving Las Vegas, based on John O'Brien's novel, stunned audiences and had critics raving. But the coming success did not mean much to O'Brien, who took his own life soon after selling the movie rights. His new work, finished by his sister, also reflects his dark side. Writer John O'Brien did not live to see the phenomenal success of the movie based on his novel, … [Read more...] about The Life and Times of John O’Brien
The name Walsh or Welsh is one of the most numerous of Norman associated names found in Ireland. It seems to have been the name used independently by the many different groups of Welsh people who arrived in Ireland with the Normans during the 12th century. The name simply means Welshman and its early Norman form was "Le Waleys" but this became gradually anglicized to Walsh. The … [Read more...] about Roots: Walsh, Welsh (or Brannagh)
For years we have been waiting. Director John Ford, way back when, was interested. In the early '80s Robert Redford talked about doing it. At different times Kevin Costner and Tom Cruise were said to be scouting locations in Ireland. Even Mickey Rourke was talked about. Well, at last, almost 75 years after his death, we have our movie Michael Collins made by an Irish director … [Read more...] about Neil Jordan: The Man Who Made Michael Collins