There was a time when rock and roll bands from Ireland were saddled with obligatory comparisons to U2. Most of the Irish bands of the 1980s, like the soulful rockers Hothouse Flowers, took many years to shed the tag of being "the next U2." This was due in part to the fact that so many Irish rock and roll bands tried desperately to be U2. Not anymore. Irish rock music has … [Read more...] about Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll Comes of Age
1998
The Irish on Ice
Ice hockey is not traditionally regarded as a sport in which the Irish have had much input, but history records a large number of Malones, Clancys and Sullivans as having been hockey heroes. Today, their legend lives on through the likes of Brendan Shanahan and Colleen Coyne. John Kernaghan looks at past and present Irish ice personalities.In repose, leaning on his hockey stick … [Read more...] about The Irish on Ice
Slàinte! A Taste of Bloomsday
Promenade. Ambulate. Ramble, rove, and wander. Trudge. Strut. Meander, stroll and saunter. Call it what you will, but moving your feet one after the other along the ground all comes down to a very basic physical activity. Walking. It's one of the things the Irish do best. No matter the time of day, the season, or the weather. From top to bottom and sea to sea, tiny Ireland is … [Read more...] about Slàinte! A Taste of Bloomsday
The Dawn of a New Peace
HISTORIC NI AGREEMENT GIVES HOPE FOR FUTURE: Deaglán de Bréadún, Northern Editor of The Irish Times, describes an epic week in the history of the North of Ireland culminating in the historic peace deal. ℘℘℘ I have been privileged to cover two truly epic stories in my career as a journalist. One was the mass migration of the Kurds from northern Iraq into Iran and Turkey … [Read more...] about The Dawn of a New Peace
McCourt’s Magic Touch
After almost 18 months on the New York Times bestseller list, Angela's Ashes is still up there in the top five, dancing around form number one down to two or three, maybe hitting on four for a spot, but then working its way back up to the first or second spot. Across the Atlantic in Ireland, the hardcover and the paperback versions are both selling like hot cakes, consistently … [Read more...] about McCourt’s Magic Touch