With European legislation already curtailing the amount of available fishing waters, the Irish government’s proposed decision to end the drift netting of salmon has put one of Ireland’s most iconic professions in danger of extinction. Sharon Ni Chonchuir examines the plight of small Irish fishermen who fear their way of life is about to end. Standing at the end of the pier on … [Read more...] about Death of the Fisherman
October November 2006 Issue
The Abbey’s Rejuvenation
With artistic flair, business acumen, and oodles of courage, Fiach MacConghail is set to rejuvenate Ireland's national theatre It was in January 2005 when Fiach MacConghail, knee deep in a muddy football field in west Dublin, got the call. It was from the chairwoman of the Abbey offering Fiach that much cherished post – director of the oldest and most famous theatre in … [Read more...] about The Abbey’s Rejuvenation
Leahy: Staying True to the Tune
Leahy sure knows how to bring a crowd to their feet. The Canadian group’s music fills a listener with the intensity of unfiltered joy, a rare experience in an age where songs lose their power after having been played to death by radio stations. This raw energy can perhaps be attributed to the group’s unwillingness to compromise their values. Fiddle player Donnell Leahy … [Read more...] about Leahy: Staying True to the Tune
Roots: O’Connor
The O’Connor name, with its varied spellings, doesn’t spring from a common source. The name arose in five areas of Ireland: Connacht, Kerry, Derry, Offaly, and Clare and split into six distinct septs, five of which are still in existence. The most prominent sept is that of the Connacht O’Connors who gave us the last two High-Kings of Ireland: Turlough O’Connor (1088-1156) and … [Read more...] about Roots: O’Connor
Review of Books
FICTION F.X. Toole found literary success at the age of 70, and his first collection of stories Rope Burns was the basis for Clint Eastwood’s Oscar winning film Million Dollar Baby. Sadly, Toole (whose dad was an Irish immigrant) died before the film hit the screen. But we do have one more work from this late-blooming artist, a boxing novel called Pound for Pound. As Toole … [Read more...] about Review of Books