The making of the movie Bloody Sunday was a tremendous undertaking for all involved. For actor James Nesbitt it was the beginning of an extraordinary journey that become much more than just about acting. ℘℘℘ James Nesbitt is an actor who has had great success in comedic roles such as Adam in the TV series Cold Feet and the pig farmer in Waking Ned Devine, but his latest movie … [Read more...] about A Personal Odyssey
Culture
Book Reviews
Recommended Pete Hamill offers up an epic tale of the Irish -- and almost every other immigrant group -- in America with Forever. An almost fantastical novel, Hamill's book begins outside Belfast, in the late 1730s. The Carson household seems a placid one, with a hardworking Dad (a blacksmith) and loving Mom. But soon, Hamill reveals tragic -- then dangerous -- details. … [Read more...] about Book Reviews
The Tyrone Guthrie Centre
Hugh Mulligan Visits Ireland's premier retreat For artists and finds a workplace without a time clock. ℘℘℘ The Tyrone Guthrie Centre at Annaghmakerrig is located in lush and lovely countryside populated by more cows than people and rather inconveniently located 75 miles from Dublin and Belfast on what the lady in the airport car rental office called "the far side Monaghan … [Read more...] about The Tyrone Guthrie Centre
Music
It started like a scene from The Commitments. - Hello, Glen? - Yeah? - It's Frank Shouldice from Irish America magazine. - Oh, how's it going? Is this for an interview? - Well, we have one scheduled. - Oh right. I'm just having me dinner at the moment. Could you ring back? Glen Hansard is founder find front man of The Frames, once featured as Outspan, the woolly-headed … [Read more...] about Music
Waking the Dead
I had never really been all that comfortable with my Irish heritage. I've always been scared that our American society views the Irish as a bunch of drinkers, big talkers who cannot be relied upon. It's not accurate or even generally true, but it's out there, lurking behind many a conversation. The image of the poor, pathetic, disheveled McCourt family of Angela's Ashes haunts … [Read more...] about Waking the Dead