Irish Arts and Entertainment Digital May, 2024

Woman interview and details start on Page 6

Eim ear Noone's IRELAND, See page 3

Eimear Noone, who made history as the first woman to conduct the orchestra at the Oscars, bringsher expertise and passion to curate an unforgettable evening.

Irish Arts & Entertainment

The opinions expressed by our w rit ers are t heir ow n and do not necessarily convey t hose of t his m agazine, our publisher or st aff

Publisher & Managing Editor

Jam es M McDonough

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Maurice Fit zpat rick

Jim McDonough

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More INSIDETHISISSUE!

Our regular feat ures:

Maurice Fit zpat rick's View from Ireland and John McNally's Irish Com m ent ary

This m ont h bot h w rit ers explore very t im ely t opics Irish Unit y McNally and Fit zpat rick w it h his t ake on last m ont h's Irish Resignat ions and Ireland's

Recognit ion of a Palest ine st at e

Starts page 16

Let t er From THE PUBLISHER

Dear FriendsandReaders

What a m ont h!! May w ill be m em orable as far as Irish and Scot t ish Event s go!!

The Cover of t his issue is focused on t hree out st anding event s! com ing t o Sout hern California! IRELANDWEEK and t he am azing and t alent ed vocal group and ensem ble CELTIC WOMAN and t heir upcom ing concert s in California Lat er t his m ont h, over t he Mem orial Day Weekend Scot t ish Fest USA t akes over t he Orange Count y Fairgrounds and Event s Cent er in Cost a Mesa!

Celt ic Wom an Ticket Cont est

We are part icipat ing in a cont est for t icket draw ings for each of t he concert s w it h t his delight ful Group. The draw ing is May 7, There are t hree w ays t o WIN and all are EZ! Opt in t o receive our FREE Irish E-Missive. See how on page 20 Mem bers of t his list are ent ered,

Secondly: SUBSCRIBE t o t he Irish Art s & Ent ert ainm ent . All subscribers are also Aut oEnt ered. See page 35.

Finally, Sim ply E-Mail us at : irishm issive@gm ail.com In t he subject line, please put : CELTIC WOMAN One ent ry per cat egory so Mult iple ent ries are accept ed up t o a t ot al of t hree. Draw ing w ill be on May 7t h!!

HIDDEN GEMS SERIES is back and t he Dublin t o Galw ay by t rain feat ure w ill cont inue m id-m ont h

Celt ic Cam era, Poet ry and Feat ures are w ant ed: Send ideas and St ory Subm issions jpegs and capt ions t o: irishm issive@gm ail.com

CELTIC WOMAN profiles and a new Q & A See page 6

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En ter Our

Cel ti c W om an Ti ck ets Dr aw i n g! Details above and on Page 35

Jim McDonough

IrelandWeek Presents : Eimear Noone's "Ireland - Where Legend Lives".

Eim

ear Noone:

A Legend in Her Ow n Right

Hailing from thevibrant city of Galway, Ireland, Eimear Nooneis an internationally acclaimed conductor and composer whose work has transformed the world of video game music. A pioneer in her field, she is renowned for her emotiveand captivating scores for iconic titles likeWorld of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo III Her passion extends beyond gaming, as she has composed for numerous films and television productions, showcasing her versatility and range

On May 5th, Eimear Noone will bring her musical magic to the First Congregational Church in Los Angeles with a spectacular performance titled " Ireland, Where Legend Lives" ! This captivating concert celebrates the rich musical heritageof her homeland. Immerse yourself in the spirited melodies, haunting traditional airs, and contemporary arrangements that paint a sonic pictureof Ireland's vibrant culture. Noone will be joined by an ensemble of world-class musicians as they evoke the spirit of the Emerald Isle

Known for her energetic and expressive conducting style, Eimear Nooneis a force of nature on stage. Her performances have graced prestigious venueslike the Sydney Opera House and the Kennedy Center In 2020, she made history as the first woman to conduct at the Oscars, highlighting her immense talent and breaking barriers in the industry

" Ireland, Where Legend Lives" promises to be a moving and unforgettableexperience, transporting you to a land of myth and music. Don't miss this opportunity to see a true visionary at work as Eimear Noone showcases the power of Irish storytelling through a symphony of sound.

More info and TICKETS

IrelandWeek Returns to Los Angeles May5-13, 2024

Patrons Include Anjelica Huston, Colin Farrell, Chris O'Dowd, Fionnula Flanagan, Hozier and Roma Downey

LA, CA ~ DUBLIN, IRELAND ( April, 2024) ? IrelandWeek www.IrelandWeek.com - a showcase of Irish culture, is proud to return to Los Angelesfollowing a hiatuslast year due to the strike actions at the time.

Academy Award winner Anjelica Huston, Two-time Golden Globe winner Colin Farrell, Emmy Award winners Chris O?Dowd and Fionnula Flanagan, Multi-platinum artist Hozier, and Multiple Emmy Award nominee Roma Downey, will serve as IrelandWeek patrons

A variety of entertaining eventswill take place at venues throughout LosAngeles May 5-13, 2024

?It isour greatest honor to announce IrelandWeek?s return to Los Angelesin 2024. It isa joy to showcase our amazing leaders, supportersand those just starting out in the worlds of film, music, tech, and the arts. We look forward to welcoming old friends and new, to a wide range of events and gatheringsacrossthe great City of Angels, aswe continue to foster the ever-strengthening linksbetween California and Ireland,?said IrelandWeek founders Buzz O?Neill - Maxwell and Deirdre O?Neill Machin

Celebrating the cultural, trade and economic ties between Ireland and LosAngeles, IrelandWeek aimsto highlight a breadth of exciting events throughout the nine-day lineup The celebration will highlight where Ireland excels, in the

MoreonIrelandWeek's2024 Line-Up:

Sunday night'sirish extravaganza in all probability will be the most spectacular evening of Irish Entertainment in LosAngelesthisyear Rarely in our 33 yearsof covering concerts have we seen such a billing.

Thisgathering of enlightened souls, promisesto be a spectacular cultural event set to captivate Los Angeles

Conceieved and organized by he renowned composer Eimear Noone, the event is a celebration of every facet and genre of Irish life, showcasing the rich tapestry of the country'sartsand culture

Eimear Noone, known to millionsof people around the world as the first woman to conduct the orchestra at the Oscars, bringsher expertise and passion to curate an unforgettable evening.

field of entertainment, arts, culture, tourism, tech, and business.

The festivities include Eimear Noone's?Ireland?WhereLegend Lives?DramaticSongsandStoriesfromContemporary Ireland on the first day, May 5.

In addition, IrelandWeek seesthe return of Ireland Connects, itsentertainment business-to-business anchor event. The showcase allowsIrish and U S leaders from entertainment, tech, business, arts, andvculture to connect and form productive relationships.

Other highlights of the festival include Digital Irish- An Irish Tech Mixer, CelticWoman, and the worldwide party phenomenon, BingoLoco. In addition, rising Irish star Katie Boyle, will deliver a brilliant evening of comedy

Family SportsDay makes a triumphant return, and a production of the Irish play,?SHARD,?under the expert direction of Alan Smyth, makes itsIrelandWeek debut

For a full list of festival events and more information; please visit: www.irelandweek.com/2024-events/

IrelandWeek issponsored by Aer Lingus, The Ireland Funds, Arrowmac, PhRMA, California Legislative Irish Caucusand LMU

A concert showcase exploring the origins of contemporary Irish storytelling through dramatic scenes and music. The music ensemble will include Rock band, small orchestra, choir, solo harp, and solo uileann pipes

The acting talent on show will include Caroline Morahan, Alan Smyth, Kevin Marron, Rachel Rath, Sonya Macari, Nigel Lysagt, Glenn Keogh & Kevin Ryan

Musical collaborationsalso by, Chloe Agnew, Hannah Crowley, Mairead MacMullan, Carly SmithsonEvanescence and American Idol Finalist and many more to be announced.

The concert will also include A tribute to Sinead O'Connor, Shane McGowan and Christy Dignam It will be directed by Kirsten Sheridan and Madison Cole Garfinkle.

Profile and Q & A with Mairead Carlin of Celtic Woman

Irish Artsand Entertainment (IA&E):

Hello Mairead, we appreciate your time Please tell us how you are doing and feeling about rejoining Celtic Woman and how the experience compares to your earlier stint with the group

Mairead: I feel better than ever thank you! Returning to thisgroup hasbeen a true blessing After eight years on the road, I felt it wastime to take a little break during the pandemic, but I truly missed thisfamily and so, when Celtic Woman asked me to rejoin for the 20th anniversary I jumped at the chance. Sometimes you have to take a wee break from something to realise just how lucky you really are and being a part of this group truly feelslike home for me.

IA&E:

What can you share with our readers about your travels?

MaireadCarlin

Mairead Carlin first joined Celtic Woman in 2013 when she waschosen asthe replacement for one of the original members, Chloë Agnew. Mairead became the first member of Celtic Woman born in Northern Ireland. This brought a unique and much-appreciated perspective to the group Mairead'sinitial tenure in Celtic Woman ran from 2013 to 2021 when she announced a break to focus on other projects.

Mairead joyfully rejoined the group in 2023 just in time for the Christmastour and the current 20th Anniversary tour.

Mairead wasborn in Derry on December 5, 1988. She studied and trained in Classical Music at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London, specializing in Vocal Performance

Mairead's classical vocal training adds depth and versatility to Celtic Woman'ssound, which frequently explores folk traditionsalongside classical influence

Mairead's accomplishments even before Celtic Woman are significant She won the BBCTalent'sYoung Singers competition at age 15, hasrecorded with the London Symphony Orchestra, and toured with iconic artistslike Don McLean

Danny Boy : During the COVID-19 hiatus, a beautiful solo rendition of the classic Irish ballad "Danny Boy" by Mairead wasreleased aspart of the #CWCW (Celtic Woman Crush Wednesday) social media celebration and continuesto resonate deeply with fans

Mairead: Traveling is one of my favourite thingsto do, so it isan absolute bonusthat I get to do it while I also get to do my other love which is performing. We have traveled all over the world with thisgroup Brazil, Australia, Japan, South Korea, North America, Europe, China, and the list goes on! One of my favourite thingsto do when we travel isto discover local placesand really find the true gems of wherever we are. Whether that?sthe local beach or a cool coffee shop, I make it my mission to really see the place asthe localssee it.

IA&E

How do you all go about Balancing Tradition & Innovation?

Mairead: It is important artistically to keep thingsfresh However, with a group like Celtic Woman, there isalso an element of legacy and being true to the reason why we are all here in the first place History and tradition are a fundamental part of why this group exists People from all over the world resonate with that Songs like Danny Boy and The Parting Glassare integral to our shows, but we are also very much aware that we are moving into a modern music industry and also have to go with the times Our new Musical Director, Golden Globe nominated composer Brian Byrne has added a new flare to this group with his original songs and compositionswhilst also managing to remain true to the original sound That issomething not many people could do, but we are blessed that our future sound isin handslike his.

Continued on pages5 through 10

IA&E

How doesthe group work, do you all contribute to the mix?

Mairead: The four women come from very different musical backgroundswhich we get to showcase during our solo momentsin the show, but when we come together there is a onenessand the blend is just magnetic. Each of ushave our own musical tastes and personalitieswhich they really do take into account. I love folk music and classical crossover music and in this show I get to explore both of those, firstly with the beautiful folk song Red is the Rose, and then operatically in the Ennio Morricone wonder that is?Cinema Paradiso?

A&E:

Celtic Woman hasa reputation for respecting the classic Irish melodiesand incorporating contemporary elements into the arrangements. How doesthat happen?

Mairead: AsI mentioned previously, we have a new Musical Director Brian Byrne. Brian has a wealth of knowledge in so many different genres of music. Whether that is Irish traditional, jazz, classical or folk music-hisknowledge is boundlessand you can really hear that in our latest album Celtic Woman ?20?It?sa truly exciting time to be a part of this group and I?m so excited to see what the future holds for us!

Body text

Muirgen O'Mahony is from County Cork, where she studied at University College Cork,and earned a degree in Music and Irish Muirgen joined Celtic Woman around 2015 asa temporary replacement after working extensively throughout Ireland asa professional stage actressand singer She wasthen made a permanent member of the group and has been a active member ever since then Muirgen's Theatrical Background and her acting experience adds a dramatic flair to her stage presence within Celtic Woman. Muirgen brings a beautiful and strong solo voice to the group and hastaken on some of Celtic Woman'smost beloved songs.. Another important factor, Muirgen is Deeply rooted in Irish Culture , having been raised in County Cork and studied Irish language and music, she embodies a strong connection to Ireland's traditional culture.

Tara McNeill

Tara was born on July 10th, 1989 in Antrim, Northern Ireland She studied at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and Trinity College Dublin, where she focused on Music Education.on ispublic. Tara was a founding member of the group Anúna and then joined Celtic Woman in 2016

Some of the Salient Facts about Tara are that she isnot only a stunning vocalist but also a highly skilled harpist and fiddler!

Tara's background in Anúna, another celebrated Irish musical group, highlights her commitment to Irish choral traditions. Finally, her Representation of Belfast and Northern Ireland addsto the diverse regional perspectiveswithin Celtic Woman

Emma Warren

Emma now resides in Donegal but she wasborn in Dublin and went to school there She attended the Conservatory of Music and Drama, Dublin.

Emma isthe newest member of Celtic Woman having just joined the group in 2023. She brings with her a wealth of experience after an impressive career in theatre and performing with Music and Dance groups like Riverdance and Heartbeat of Home Her training and experience in Irish dance promisesto add a captivating element to Celtic Woman'sperformances.

Emma's Musical Theatre Pedigree istop notch as well She performed in LesMisérables in London, so Emma brings stage experience and a flair for storytelling to the group n summary, Emma's fresh energy and talent are revitalizing for the group'slong-term fansand add a new dimension to the Celtic Wom an Ensem ble w hich has been at t he forefront of Irish Music now for 20 years!.

Celtic Woman?s20th Anniversary Spring Tour is scheduled to Arrive In California in May!

Be part of Celtic Woman's - 20 year legacy

- 3 billion global combined streams

- Grammy nominationBest World Music Album

- 4 million concert ticketssold

- 10 million global album equivalent sales / Platinum in 9 countries

- 12 consecutive Billboard number ones

- 6 time Billboard World Music Artist

- 900k+ FB followers/ 80K+ IG/ 800k+ YT subscribers wwwcelticwoman.com

Celt ic Wom an - 20t h Anniversary

DVD and album Released on January 26th

Vinyl release in March

Celtic Woman returns with a brand-new album and DVD to celebrate thisincredible 20year milestone

Returning to the group is soprano Mairéad Carlin, a former member who joins the show for this very special anniversary Joining her are fellow soprano Muirgen O?Mahony, fiddleand Irish harp maestro Tara McNeill, as well as the newest member of the group,the multi-talented Emma Warren, who has toured with Riverdance,

Heartbeat of Home and most recently performed in Les Miserables, London ?20th ANNIVERSARY?- the album - features 18 brand new recordings, and is the group?s first new studio album since 2021?s Postcards From Ireland It features new arrangements of beautiful and iconic songs, somenew compositions and of coursesome fan favourites. Celtic Woman - 2021?s Postcards From Ireland. It features new arrangements of beautiful and iconic songs, somenew compositions and of coursesome fan favourites.?

Much more online at : w w w.celt icw om an.com

The Scot t ish Fest Is Get t ing Close!!

TICKETS NOW ON-SALE!

Visit us at w w w scot t ishfest com and not only save $$ w it h our advanced sale discount , but save t im e by avoiding t he line!

Scot t ish Fest prides it self on offering an affordable t icket t hat is great value for your m oney! We are SO excit ed t o bring you t he 2024 Fest ival w it h m assive am ount s of ent ert ainm ent .

This year w e are expanding our Children's glen w it h m ore inflat ables and junior at hlet ics t o keep your lit t le one's ent ert ained all day.

This year also is proving t o be our biggest at hlet ic ent ry ever w it h m en and w om en of various levels com pet ing against each ot her for t he t op prize

General adm ission t icket s as w ell as t icket s t o our w orld class w hisky t ast ings can be bought t oday!

w w w cot t ishfest com / w hisky-t ast ing-1

ERIC RIGLER'S

Celt ic Hollyw ood Sat

urday Only

Eric Rigler is fam ous for being

" The Most Recorded Piper in Hist ory"

due t o his ext ensive w ork in film and t elevision soundt racks. His iconic playing can be heard in m ovies like Braveheart,Titanic, Austin Powers, Lord of the Rings, and shows like Outlander.

He' has also collaborat ed w it h m ajor art ist s such as Phil Collins, Josh Groban, Rod St ew art , and m any m ore Celt ic Hollyw ood

As an art ist , Rigler spans all genres and because of his am azing experience a few years ago he creat ed Celt ic Hollyw ood.

It is a LIVE CONCERT EXPERIENCE like no ot her for t w o dist inct reasons.

First ly, it show cases his m ost fam ous film and t elevision scores, bringing t he m agic of Hollyw ood soundt racks t o t he st age. Secondly, you w ill hear a m ast er play in person You'll hear t he haunt ing m elodies and evocat ive sounds t hat Eric is fam ous for, perform ed live alongside a group of t alent ed m usicians Expect a m ult im edia experience w it h visuals and st oryt elling expert ly w oven int o t he perform ance. One Day ONLY Sat urday, May 26t h.

Eric Rigler w as born and raised and st ill lives in Los Angeles, California While he is deeply connect ed t o Scot t ish and Irish m usical t radit ions, his hom e base is in t he Unit ed St at es

As a child, he w as fascinat ed by m usic and w ind inst rum ent s and st art ed serious m usic st udies at an early age

Rigler is a w orld-renow ned m usician w ho specializes in Scot t ish and Irish w ind inst rum ent s like t he uilleann pipes (Irish bagpipes), Great Highland Bagpipes, and w hist les

His band Bad Haggis played t he Scot t ish Fair in Cost a Mesa and w as alw ays popular so he is already w ell know t o Scot t ish Fair pat rons

See our Advert for Mot her 's Day TEA on Page 10 Our Gift Shoppe is anot her w onderful source for t he perfect dist inct ive gift for your Mum t his year, Drop by soon!

Irish Unity, Focus On Progress

Now t hat t he Saint Pat rick?s Day fest ivit ies have passed, it 's t im e t o address t he pressing issue at hand: t he im pending vot e on Irish reunificat ion Over recent years, t he quest ion of reunifying Ireland as out lined in t he Belfast / Good Friday Agreem ent has risen t o t he forefront of polit ical discourse. Organizat ions such as Ireland?s Fut ure are host ing public forum s t o explore t he pot ent ial of a unit ed Ireland. San Francisco is host ing one of t hese event s on May 23rd. Try t o at t end or invit e your Bay area friends t o at t end

Mem bers of t he Friends of Ireland Caucus on Capit ol Hill over Saint Pat rick?s Day w eek acknow ledged t hat im port ant conversat ions on a possible border poll w ere already t aking place Cont act your Congressional Represent at ive and ask t hem t o join t he Caucus, safeguard t he Irish peace process, and allow t he Irish people t o det erm ine t heir ow n fut ure The Knight s of t he Red Branch and The Irish Herald w ill host a discussion on reconciliat ion and t he prospect of const it ut ional change on t he island of Ireland. We need your part icipat ion & support t o m ake t his a success.

- 7pm , Thursday, May 23rd. at t he Unit ed Irish Cult ural Cent er in San Francisco.

- Keynot e speakers represent ing Ireland's Fut ure are Niall Murphy, a Civil Right s At t orney, and t he Reverend Karen Set huram an, t he only fem ale Bapt ist Minist er in Ireland. Bot h are from Belfast .

- Ireland's Fut ure is an All-Ireland civic group t hat enjoys engagem ent from across t he polit ical spect rum , including from unionism .

- Our belief is t hat t he best w ay t o secure a fair and prosperous societ y for everyone living in Ireland, regardless of t heir fait h t radit ion, cult ural background or et hnicit y, is t o reunify t he count ry.

- The discussion w ill focus on how t o advance const it ut ional change, w it h a focus on reconciliat ion.

- Irish Am erica has a very im port ant part t o play.

- RELATED AD IN CALENDAR, ON PAGE 34

For m ore info on t he program & Speakers, please go t o: w w w.irelandsfut ure.com

John McNally

Our feat ured w rit er, colum nist and Irish Com m unit y Act ivist shares his t hought s on t he lat est new s and t rends concerning Ireland and Irish Am erica. Different opinions and view s are essent ial in any free societ y

We deeply appreciat e our press freedom s Now , m ore t han ever, it is im port ant t o have Irish Com m unit y act ivism , diversit y and input .

Ireland's Cross Border Art Exchange

Crawford Art Gallery loans

14 paintings to Northern Ireland?sHillsborough Castle

In the largest ever loan from a National Cultural Institution in Ireland, Hillsborough Castle located in County Down, NI, hasbeen loaned 14 paintings from Crawford Art Gallery?s collection.

Hillsborough Castle isset to display these significant artworksfrom Crawford Art Gallery?scollection in their State Drawing Room, viewable via public tours that focus on art acrossthe island of Ireland

The State Drawing Room at Hillsborough Castle haslong been known for its impressive collection of Irish art and now thismajor rehang hasbeen announced by Historic Royal Palaces, the charity which manages the castle and gardens

The 33 works of art which are now on view is a veritable who?s who of Irish art. The impressive collection hasbeen assembled made possible by collaborations with a variety of lenders, primarily by the Crawford Art Gallery in Cork

M ay, 2024

Art Loan & Exhibit ion in NI

ABOVE: Shea Rourke's The Bliss of Village Life 1875

Catherine Martin, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media commented at the opening,

"I warmly welcome this loan of worksby the Crawford Art Gallery to Hillsborough Castle The sharing of art between institutionsand historic venuesacross the island of Ireland assists in bringing important works to new audiences, and contributes to a shared understanding of the island, asseen through the eyesof each artist. While each work reflects the artistic and interpretative style of the individual artist, they all reflect a deep love for the island of Ireland in all its diverse landscapesand seascapes In addition, the loan is also symbolic of a deepening overall relationship between North and South I saw this first-hand at the recent plenary meeting of the re-established North South Ministerial Council. I wish to offer my thanksto the Crawford Art Gallery and to Hillsborough Castle and Gardensfor bringing together the fourteen workswith those from other collectionsto create what is a unique window into our shared heritage."

"The Holy Land is in the news now This amazing book will give you some insight in understanding exactly why through the centuries many faiths and people have thought this sacred and special city was worth fighting for I love this book." Jim McDonough

SEAN GUNNING Is a Londoner from Irish st ock

This is t he First of Three inst allm ent s t o t his piece

Next issue, w e w ill cover m ore on how t his project cam e t o be, t he ARTWORKS and Art ist s and finally, t he part icipat ing inst it ut ions More info online: www hrp org uk

Aut hor of NO SAMARITAN (48 poem s) , he has w on poet ry cont est s in t he U.S. and Canada and has been published in m any ant hologies. THE BEST PRESENT EVER: A SINNER?S GUIDE TO THE HOLY LAND is his first w ork of lit erary non-fict ion He lives in Long Beach, CA w it h his Mexican-Am erican w ife, w ho aft er 34 years t oget her is st ill t he funniest girl he has ever m et He can be cont act ed at seangunning1@verizon net or w w w seangunning com ORDER ONLINE AT:

Ireland's Hidden Gem s; St ory and Phot os By

John McNally

Belfast 's Cave Hill

View ed from Belfast , Cave Hill's silhouet t e bears a st riking resem blance t o t he profile of a slum bering giant Originally know n as Beann Mhadagáin (Ben Madigan), a nint h-cent ury King of Ulst er, it is bet t er know n for it s five caves w hich w ere said t o be used as refuge from invaders Brian McArt of t he O'Neill dynast y, one of t he last Irish leaders resist ing t he 16t h cent ury Elizabet han conquest of Ireland, fort ified and held t he hillt op unt il being capt ured and execut ed by t he English In 1791, inspired by t he Am erican and French Revolut ions, t he Unit ed Irishm en, considered t he founders of Irish Republicanism , gat hered on Cave Hill t o pledge t heir com m it m ent t o Ireland's independence from Brit ain.

In 1898 a w ell at t ended cent enary com m em orat ion of t he 1798 rebellion t ook place on Cave Hill. It w as during t his t im e t hat W B Yeat s and Maude Gonne hiked up t he hill Gonne w rit es about experiencing profound visions t here The hill is also a sit e for loyalist bonfires, eit her in celebrat ion of visit s from Brit ish Royalt y or as a signal of w arning against nat ive Irish rebellions

Originally barren slopes, w hen Belfast Cast le w as built in t he 1860's t he current forest w as plant ed w hich encom passes t he first port ion of t he hike

Sally McNally surveys t he spect acular Fort McArt view

Sm all sign post s direct you t hrough t he w oods on t he m any pat hs t hat feed from various t rail heads unt il t he t rees end at a glorious lit t le valley resem bling a m iddle eart h shire. The low est of t he five caves is accessible here and a decision needs t o be m ade t o t urn right t o

follow t he est ablished t rail w hich circum navigat es t he st eepest slopes Or head st raight up t o Fort McArt , m y preferred rout e provided it 's not t oo w et as t he shale and grass can be slippery

At t he sum m it , only rem nant s of t he fort 's foundat ions rem ain. Belfast Lough lays before you w it h t he Germ an m ade shipyard cranes Sam son and Goliat h easily visible. On clear days, view s st ret ch t o Scot land and t he Isle of Man in t he east , w hile t o t he nort h lies a quarry w it h t he peak of Slem ish Mount ain in t he dist ance. The Sperrins dom inat e t he w est ern horizon, w it h Slieve Gullion occasionally visible t o t he sout h

Parking is available on Innisfayla Park or in t he Belfast Cast le car park The 750-acre Cave Hill Count ry Park, offers a relat ively easy 1-2 m ile hike t o t he peak, w hich st ands at 1,207 feet above sea level

LEFT: The im posing Cave Hill is only about 6 m iles (10km ) from Belfast Cit y Cent er and t here is public t ransport

En ter Our

Cel ti c W om an Ti ck ets

Dr aw i n g!

Details on Pages 2 & 35

w w w .cel ti cw om en .com

Not far from Belfast , View from inside t he low est of t he five caves on Cave Hill.

Cave Hill Count ry Park includes Cave Hill, Belfast Cast le, and several ot her landm arks. It get s it s nam e from t he five caves on t he side of t he cliffs The park offers a variet y of act ivit ies, including hiking, orient eering, and picnicking.

Linked here is m ore info about t he park from Belfast Cit y Council

The View from Ireland

By Maurice Fit zpat rick

" Two Resignations and One Recognition"

Two resignationsthat shook Irish politics, and one recognition by a state that will have far-reaching geopolitical effects, just happened within a month of each other in Ireland

First up, theresignations

In wholly unexpected developments, the leader of the government in the South and the leader of one of the two governing partiesin the North resigned within daysof each other. On March 20th, Leo Varadkar resigned asTaoiseach. Nine dayslater Jeffrey Donaldson resigned as the leader of the DUP after being charged with rape and other historical sexual offences(which he denies).

When the DUP agreed to return to Stormont on February 3rd, Jeffery Donaldson wasexcoriated by elements of hardline unionism for accepting a Sinn Féin First Minister ? a perceived blow to unionist prestige. It isremarkable that Donaldson, who hasbeen in the public eye for nearly four decades, wasarrested six weeksafter his party finally accepted the Windsor Framework and restored the assembly. Almost nothing about the case or the source of the allegationsisknown yet, but the fact remains that his political enemiesin the North are pleased.

The DUP hasenemiesin London aswell, especially since it repeatedly held the Conservative Party to ransom during Brexit negotiationsand it stalled for so long before accepting the Windsor Framework ? a priority for London ? and restoring Stormont. The Donaldson investigation will not only hurt him, but his party (which hasdistanced itself from him) and indeed wider unionism. This isthe political significance of thiscase. The timing of the allegationsthat will probably destroy his political career is curious.

Varadkar?sdeparture wassomewhat explicable, even if it wasalso very unexpected. Fine Gael has been in government since 2011 and it isbereft of vision, coherence and drive. In a development without an analogue in Irish politics, one third of sitting TDsin his party have declared that they will not contest their seatsin the next general election. That is brutal for a leader of a party as it isinevitably perceived as a sign of no confidence in the leadership. Moreover, Varadkar wasvisibly shaken by the historically bad defeat of the government in the family and carer referendums in March. So, Varadkar followed the suit of many of hiscolleagues and resigned.

There are limits to what thisgovernment can hope to achieve, given that there isless than a year before a general election must be held, and a new government is formed in the South. Add to that the depleting energy and electoral strength of Fine Gael and the inevitable growth in factionalism between the coalition partiesreadying to contest seats in the election. Even so, the new Taoiseach, Simon Harris, will need to cite some achievementsin office at the hustings And that brings us to a recognition by the Irish State, already firmly tabled and imminent, that is of considerable international consequence

Ireland haslong since been among the most supportive nationsin the EU of the Palestinian cause. Since the horrific attacksin Israel by Hamason October 7th, 2023, Ireland has been steadfast in balancing itscondemnation of the terror attackswith itscriticism of Netanyahu?s mendacious regime Israel?sambassador to Ireland, Dana Erlich, hasbeen routinely in the spotlight arguing her government?s case: faulting Irish public opinion, the Irish government and personalising a criticism of President Higgins for spreading ?misinformation?when he argued last October that Israel?s actionshad reduced the Geneva Conventions ?to tatters? . Ambassador Erlich condemnstheir stances, which she refers to as a ?ground operation in Gaza to release the hostages and defeat Hamas? . Othersare apt to decry the Israeli Defence Forces?bombardment of Gaza, itspersistent targeting of civiliansand itsobstructing humanitarian suppliesintended to prevent famine in Gaza.

Leo Varadkar

Jeffery Donaldson

The language used to designate Israel?sactionsis extremely contentious, and that isalso true far beyond Irish-Israeli relations.

Nicaragua hasjust taken a case against Germany in the International Criminal Court, in which it allegesthat Germany supplying weapons to Israel isin defiance of the Geneva Conventions; in the same court, South Africa took a case alleging that Israel?s actions towards the Palestinians in Gaza are genocidal.

On the same day asSimon Harrisbecame Taoiseach, Tuesday April 9th, the Irish government (through Minister of Affairs Micheál Martin) moved for Ireland to formally recognise the Palestinian State. This, predictably, has raised Israel?sire. Micheál Martin responded on RTÉ recently: ?how isit in any way rewarding terrorism to say that we recognise a Palestinian state??

In Brussels, on April 11th, Harrisinformed President of

the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen of Ireland?sintention to recognise Palestine, in coordination with a handful of other EU states, including Spain. It may be assumed that von der Leyen hasa somewhat different perspective on the matter. Last April, she praised Israel for having ?made the desert bloom? , which the Palestinian Foreign Ministry characterised asan ?anti-Palestinian racist trope?that wilfully ignored Palestine?s existence before and since Israel wasfounded. Von der Leyen?s stance becomeslesstenable across the EU (Israel?sbiggest trade partner) with every day that the invasion of Gaza continues. If a coterie of EU nations recognisesthe Palestinian State, the other member states may feel pressure to do the same. Ireland isamong the nationsdetermined to recognise Palestine?s statehood and the human rightsof itscitizens. This isan important and necessary move.

Israel has lost most of the support it once had in Ireland The Israel Times has reported that 45%of residential buildingsin Gaza are destroyed beyond repair according to the World Bank.

Ireland is expected to formally recognize Palestine as a state imminently Irish Foreign Minister Micheál Martin announced on April 10, 2024 that the recognition would happen "in the next couple of weeks". "DUBLIN, April 12 (Reuters) - Ireland is close to formally recognising a Palestinian state and would like to do so in concert with Spain and other like-minded countries, new prime minister Simon Harris said on Friday after meeting his Spanish counterpart." This follows a long history of Ireland supporting a two-state solution and Palestinian statehood.

IrelandWeek present s, Fam ily Sport s Day Sunday, May 12 An Irish Classic Sport s Day for all t he fam ily w it h all your favorit es! Egg & spoon, 3-legged race, pot at o sack race, face paint ing, refreshm ent s and m ore Puc Fada com pet it ion and Irish hurling dem onst rat ion gam e. Venue: Sunken Garden 1 LMU Drive, Ignacious Circle, Los Angeles, CA 90045 More on ALL EVENTS: w w w.IrelandWeek.com

Celt ic Art ist St eve O'Loughlan has a gift for m aking LA Freew ays a w ork of art He has also paint ed m urals and Ut ilit y Boxes!. Now t he Pet erson Aut om ot ive Museum is put t ing one of his creat ion on Exhibit .

Celtic Cam er a!

Details on Pages 8 & 35

We

In Sant a Monica y en Mexico

San Pat ricios. Their m em ory is honored in Mexico Cit yw here , a plaque com m em orat es t hem at San Jacint o Plaza There, a m ont hly t ribut e is held w it h Mexican bagpipers honoring t heir service.

Irish Net w orking at it s finest ! John McNally at O'Brien's Irish Pub on Wilshire! Writ er m eet s advert iser!

A very special t hank you and shout out t o our good friend up in Redding, our new m arket ing and prom ot ions guru, Jim Mc Mahon He is t he form er ow ner of Habourside Radio in Warrenpoint , NI w ho w as our part ner in our acclaim ed Livest ream Alone/ TOGETHER on St . Pat rick's Day 2021 during t he height of t he Covid Epidem ic.

McMahon t ook t his m oving pict ure of t he San Pat ricios Mem orial in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico A very st rong rem inder t hat w e are bet t er unit ed t han fight ing and bet t er finding com m on ground t han being divided. Check out his Facebook Page; t he Nort hern CA chapt er of Friends Of Ireland!

Pat rick Weld's Irish Rail Advent ure is com ing Mid-Mont h!!

We ar e her e looking for you!

The Cafe 50s above and The Prat t ies below ! What do t hey have in com m on?

The Art of Irish Film & Film m akers

Sm all Things Like These St arring Cillian Murphy

A new film t hat about t he horrible condit ions t hat t ook place in Cat holic run hom es in Ireland and t he plight of unm arried pregnant girls is raising m ore aw areness about som e of Ireland's recent dark past .The Film is set in Ireland, 1985,and follow s Bill Furlong, a coal m erchant and fam ily m an As Christ m as approaches, he encount ers a young w om an at t he local convent and uncovers a w eb of dist urbing secret s about t he inst it ut ion and t he t reat m ent of t he w om en w ho are forced t o reside t here The film t ackles t hem es of pow er, inst it ut ional abuse, social injust ice, and individual act s of kindness in t he face of oppressive syst em s Sm all Things Like These prem iered in February 2024 at t he Berlin Int ernat ional Film Fest ival.

There's no official w ord yet on a US release, but since it 's based on a w ell-regarded book and has got t en posit ive crit ical recept ion, t here's a

good chance it w ill be released in t he US sooner t han lat er and w e w ill keep our readers inform ed

- Aw ards:It w as w ell-received crit ically and w on an aw ard at t he Berlinale

- Based on t he novella of t he sam e nam e by acclaim ed Irish aut hor Claire Keegan w rot e t he novella "Sm all Things Like These."

- Fact ual Basis: While not a direct ret elling of a specific t rue st ory, Keegan's w ork draw s inspirat ion from t he very real hist ory of Ireland's Magdalene Laundries, inst it ut ions w here "fallen w om en" (oft en unm arried pregnant girls) w ere confined and subject ed t o harsh t reat m ent .

Bronx Nat ive, Thom Mac Nam ara's Acclaim ed Film The Boys Of Kingsbridge Screening Set

OpeningNight Benefit

Thursday, May 23 ? 6:30-10:00pm

Special feature presentation of the acclaimed documentary TheBoysof Kingsbridge,with post screening conversation with award winning filmmaker Thom MacNamara, and his featured friendsBrendan Carroll, Danny McNally, and Mike Hussey with Inwood Art Works?Founder and Executive Producer, Aaron Simms.

Five friendsfrom the same neighborhood in the NW Bronx grow up and go separate ways. Amazingly, four of them come to be at the same place at the time on that fateful day in September 2001

Written, Produced and Directed by Thom MacNamara, the "5th unseen friend", TheBoysof Kingsbridgeisa compelling, gritty and honest story of survival, community, and what selflesspeople do in a time of crisis

Plus, experience deliciousfood from Amores Café, unlimited wine and refreshing beer from Dyckman Beer Company, and delectable desserts in celebration of our incredible filmmaking community!

The Inw ood Film Fest ival is a com m unit y film fest ival show casing film s w it h connect ions t o t he Inw ood neighborhood of New York Cit y. It 's run by t he non-profit organizat ion Inw ood Art Works

Here are som e key det ails:

- Focus: Feat ures film s m ade in t he Inw ood neighborhood or by film m akers w ho reside or have resided in Inw ood.

- Program m ing: Includes short film s, feat ure-lengt h film s, docum ent aries, and m ore. Sem inars, film w orkshops, and Q&As w it h film m akers

- Next Fest ival:The 2024 Inw ood Film Fest ival w ill t ake place May 23 - 26, 2024 Keep an eye on t heir w ebsit e for fut ure dat es

- Who Runs It :Inw ood Art Works, a non-profit art s organizat ion dedicat ed t o support ing art s and cult ure in t he Inw ood neighborhood w w w inw oodart w orks nyc/ film -w orks/ inw ood-film

Click Below to Sign Up Free

Over 20 Years ago, w e pioneered a calendar blast via AOL and t hen cont inued t he service for 10+ years using Const ant Cont act .

Our digit al edit ion of t he Irish Art s and Ent ert ainm ent is soon going t o be dist ribut ed via paid subscript ions only.

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Em ail:

In Memoriam RIP

Allyn

Francis Anderson

1941 t o 2024

Allyn?s education was interrupted by being drafted into the United States Army, and proud to serve as a helicopter gunner in the 1st Infantry combat unit.

Allyn?s tour of duty was with distinction, that earned him a BronzeStar

Military Honors Services were held for Allyn on April 29th at the Los Angeles National VA Cemetery in Westwood, CA

Allyn was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and as a child was raised in Burbank, CA He was active in swimming, diving, and Boy Scouts

The family moved back to Cleveland where Allyn, as a teenager, became excited about cars and racing. Allyn was accepted into the Otis Cleveland School of Art, wherehe excelled in auto designing

Later in life, hebecame a self taugh computer graphic artist and designed many ads for the Irish Fair which ran in this publication for many years. Hewas always quite cheerful and pleasant to deal with

Upon returning from Vietnam, Allyn completed his education at UCLA and then had a career in theairline industry with United Airlines . Allyn loved being part of theUnited Airlines family, and his many travel experiences None moreimportant than his trip with his brother Terry to Mulranny, Ireland ThereAllyn and Terry found their Irish family that sparked his interest in the LA Irish American community. Hewent on to becomeVice President of Division One of theLos Angeles Chapter Ancient Order of Hibernians. Later in the late 1970?s, he co-founded and chaired 50 years of TheGreat Irish Fair, Beverly Hlls Saint Patrick?s Day Parade, and numerous Civic Center Ceremonies. Allyn was known for his lighthearted stories of his full lifethat included racing cars, his 62?Corvette, travels, and his brothers? Terry, Dale, and Gary After retiring to Capistrano Beach, Allyn married his sweetheart AlaneAnderson

Allyn is survived by his widow Alaneand brother Gary

IRISH ARTS & ENTERTAINM ENT CALENDAR

By Date OnGoing Trivia & Around The States

Irish Im m ersion Weekend

St art s Friday, May 3 t hrough Sunday May 5

w w w gaelicleaguela com

Mid-Mont h

Updat e CHECK BACK for final calendar list ings on May 14

INFO & TICKETS

IrelandWeek Event s

Sunday, May 5 @ 6:00pm

Irish Com poser Eim ear Noone

?Ireland ? Where Legend Lives?

Dram at ic Songs and St ories from

Cont em porary Ireland

Eim ear Noone brings her expert ise and passion t o creat e an unforget t able evening. The program includes a concert show case exploring t he origins of cont em porary Irish st oryt elling t hrough dram at ic scenes and m usic. The ensem ble w ill include a rock band, sm all orchest ra, choir, solo harp and solo Uilleann pipes.

First Congregat ional Church of Los Angeles

540 S. Com m onw ealt h Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90020

Tuesday, May 7

Digit al Irish ? A Tech Mixer

- Against t he backdrop of California?s bust ling t ech scene, t his gat hering celebrat es t he recent surge of Irish st art ups m aking w aves in t he Golden St at e. From innovat ive AI solut ions t o revolut ionary

fint ech plat form s, at t endees w ill w it ness t he breadt h of Irish ingenuit y on display. Cont act w w w irelandw eek com for addit ional inform at ion and locat ion.

Thursday, May 9

IRELAND CONNECTS h-

Building on t he success of it inaugural event in 2022, Ireland Connect s 2024 is delight ed t o once again brings t oget her key player in t he ent ert ainm ent business, cont inuing it s legacy as a prem ier indust ry event .

Venue: IMAX HQ

Sat urday, May 11

Darkness Int o Light

Sunrise Walk

- Join t he Irish Com m unit y in t he great er Los Angeles area for t he Annual Darkness Int o Light Walk, support ing Piet a House Ireland. Locat ion det ails t o TBA.

To get t icket s, updat es and det ailed inform at ion about t he event s please visit : w w w.irelandw eek.com / all-event s/

Inst agram : w w w.inst agram .com / irelandw eekla2022/

IrelandWeek Tw it t er: ht t ps:/ / t w it t er.com / IrelandWeek IrelandWeek Facebook: w w w.facebook.com / irelandw eek

KRIS COLT & as the Lady Black Rose

solo & with fr iends som e dates!

M ay 25- 27, June 1- 2, 8- 9, 15- 16, 22- 23

10am - 7pm Satur days

10am - 6pm Sundays and M em or ial Day

Kor onebur g

Renaissance Fest

Check out their them ed weekends and activities!

ht t ps:/ / renfest corona.com /

Sunday, May 12 & Monday, May 13

Under t he expert direct ion of Alan Sm yt h, t his product ion of ?SHARD? is present ed in associat ion w it h CIACLA, t he Cont em porary Irish Art Cent er, Los Angeles. The play is set t o unfold in an aut hent ic Irish pub, providing an im m ersive set t ing t hat enhances t he t heat rical experience, t ransport ing t he audience int o t he heart of t his Irish narrat ive.

VenueMolly Malone?s Irish Pub 575 Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036 w w w irelandw eek com

MORE IRELANDWEEK

Sat urday, May 11

The w orld?s #1 part y event t hat originat ed in Ireland, ?Bingo Loco? is a global phenom enon! IrelandWeek is t hrilled t o w elcom e t hem t o Los Angeles for an out rageous evening of fun and laughs!

Academ y

-6021 Hollyw ood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 9002

Monday, May 13

Kat ie Boyle Live Com edy

Show case

Dynast y Typew rit er 2511 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA

w w w aulddubliner com

Mark your calendars:

Memorial Day Weekend

Saturday & Sunday

MAY 25-26, 2024 10am-6pm Sat, 10am-5:30pm Sun

SoCal's premier Celtic Event will be held in Orange County at the OC

Com ing soon t o SoCal Sat urday, May 17

Kiet h & THEBAND are back!

Aft er t hirt y years as one of t he w orld?s leading Celt ic Rock bands, The Young Dubliners have begun w ork on t heir t ent h st udio album w hile st ill m aint aining t heir busy t our schedule.

Opening band, The Uninvit ed The Caynon Club

DOORS OPEN @ 6:PM DUBS @ 9:PM 28912 Roadside Drive Agoura Hills, CA 91301

ht t ps:/ / w herem usicm eet st hesoul.com / canyon-agoura-hills/ Please consider Advert ising and prom ot ing your business, concert . event or Pub w it h McDonough Media. Cost Effect ive and m ult i-plat form 33 Years of m aking m arket ing and advert ising cam paigns t hat w ork. We are nice and we are sincere! Click here for our lat est MEDIA KIT If you w ant m ore info, please Em ail us at : irishm issive@gm ail.com

IRISH SOCIAL SUNDAY Irish Pot Luck! Please bring a dish t o share Host ed By & Music By DENNIS MURRAY EVERY THIRD SUNDAY From 2PM t o 6PM St Cornelius Church Hall 5500 E. Wardlow Long Beach, 90808 FREE PARKING!

FIFA Euro Championship (UEFA EURO 2024) starting in mid- June: June 14th ? July 14th ,2024

- Host Count ry: Germany

- First Gam e:Germany vs. Scotland at the Munich Football Arena Munich

- Team s: A total of 24 teams will compete You can find a full list on the official UEFA website: w w w.uefa.com / euro2024/

- Scotland has qualified and will be playing in the tournament!

- Unfortunately, Ireland did not qualify for EURO 2024

-

OWEN DARA is back at The 1881 Club in Pasadena!

8 PM t o 11 every Tuesday night . Says Owen about the show, " I mix some Irish songs with comedy and original songs It?s always a fun night And there?sno cover charge. The 1881 hasa variety of beers winesand mixed drinks And the Guinness there is exceptionally good! Especially on a Tuesday night!!"

at

MORE TRIVIA

Wednesdays

The Harp Inn Irish Pub

Pour House Trivia Every Wednesday Evening at 7;00pm

THE HARP

130 E. 17t h. St . Cost a Mesa, CA w w w.harpinn.com

PUB QUIZES & TRIVIA

Mondays

The Auld Dubliner

Every Monday w e host Trivia Night , gat her your friends and com e in t o com pet e and enjoy a pint

The Auld Dubliner

71 Pine St . Long Beach, CA w w w.aulddubliner.com

O'Brien's Irish Pub St andard Trivia Night s are Mondays and Wednesdays Monday

st art s at 8PM t ill 10:30PM WED: 8PM t o 10PM Form a t eam or t ry t o form one at t he pub. Play for cash prizes of $150. No ent ry fee O'Brien's Irish Pub 2226 Wilshire Sant a Monica, CA w w w.obriensla.com

Wednesdays

Ye Olde King's Head

Brit ish Pub & Rest aurant Trivia in t he pub at 7:30pm 116 Sant a Monica Bl Sant a Monica, CA

Irish Art s & Ent ert ainm

Loreena McKennitt?s ?eclectic Celtic? music has won critical acclaim worldwide and gold, platinum and multi-platinum sales awards in 15 countries across four

Loreena McKennitt is oneof the most talented and amazing artists of our time. If you can make it to oneof these concerts, you will berewarded with a highly entertaining and uplifting evening.

In 2024, The Visit Revisited Tour heads to Europe and concludes in London in early April

Visit her websitefor details on tickets and concerts and to order her music:

Check our FACEBOOK PAGES for Daily Updat es:

Irish Art s & Ent ert ainm ent

VERY IRISH PERKS VIP GROUP

All subscribers become members of our VIP Group.

Current ly w e are offering som e really good prom ot ions and as t he Pandem ic eases w e w ill add m ore

At Present :

O'Brien's On Wilshire in Sant a Monica w ill give our subscribers a Free Appet izer w it h purchase. w w w obriensla com

Go t o t he m enu click here

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Buy a GIFT SUBSCRIPTION bet w een now and Decem ber 23rd. and w e w ill give you a FREE ONE YEAR EXTENSION on your ow n subscript ion.

PubGuide E New s LA Count y Irish Event s

Irish Arts & Entertainment's VERY IRISH PERKS (VIP) PRIMER

The VIP program is a very im port ant com ponent of our subscript ion program It has a m ult it ude of posit ive fact ors built int o t he program . It serves as a bonus/ rew ard syst em for spending hard cold cash on our publicat ion AND it is a good net w orking t ool for t he Publisher We are able t o at t ract subscribers and advert isers t o our publicat ion and keep t hem int erest ed w hile delivering great Irish int erest cont ent and inform at ion t o our readers. The advert isers benefit by having a readership int erest ed in our excit ing niche m arket and t hey can t arget our readers w it h special offers The volum e m akes it w ort hw hile for t hem t o part icipat e.

The Pandem ic has set us all back a bit in one w ay or anot her and w e are rebuilding our VIP benefit s package We w ere count ing on discount s and deals at pubs and event s but t hat plan is now on t he back burner as t here are few event s and pubs need volum e t o m ake t he discount s pract ical. In t he m eant im e, w e are w orking hard t o line up new offers for our subscribers Throughout t his Buying Guide, w e have som e list ings on good deals and w e w ill be adding special offers t o our w ebsit e as w e find t hem . One VIP, w e have now of int erest is Buy ONE SUB and get a Gift Subscript ion!

Be sure t o check out t he Very Irish Perks each issue and on our Facebook pages.

- Thousands of people have learned m ore about Ireland's m ost fam ous w rit er because of t his series of event s!

- The European Com m ission aw arded "Jam es Joyce, A European Odyssey" a grant of ?1.72 m illion t hrough t he Creat ive Europe Fund.

- Tot al Project Cost :The t ot al project cost w as approxim at ely ?3 m illion. This suggest s t hat addit ional funding w as secured from ot her sources, likely including t he part icipat ing cit ies, cult ural inst it ut ions, and possible privat e sponsors.

First publicat ion ever of t he post er for "A Lesser Gift " t o be released lat er t his year. "A Lesser Gift " t ells t he st ory of an Irish couple w ho are facing challenges aft er having t heir first child Their sit uat ion is furt her com plicat ed w hen an Am erican w om an ent ers t heir lives. Set in pict uresque Ireland, w rit t en and direct ed by Ow en Dara. His t hird feat ure film is current ly in post - product ion in Los Angeles For More on Owen Dara and his films may we suggest the following links and digital resources:

w w w.ow endara.com

Owen Dara on...