St. Patrick's Day Special Issue 2024

Oscar Winner

Tina

Maurice

Jim McDonough

John McNally

Barbara Singer

Pat rick Weld

Press Relations

Al Geiener

Graphics/ Ad Design

Jim , Pat rick & Freelancers

Marketing & Sales Director

Jam es McMahon Sales Reps

Jim , Pat rick & Jim McMahon

Layout & Typos

Jim & Pat rick

Cont act Us Via Em ail: irishm issive@gm ail com

Jim 's Cell: 951 216-1493

All Copyright s 2024 by McDonough Media

A DBA of James McDonough

It is absolut ely fascinat ing t o w it ness t he flow of t im e and how rapidly cust om s and t rends can change, ebb and flow !

St . Pat rick's Day is no except ion. The ant ics, high jinks and a general celebrat ion of drunken abandon is not so m uch t he case anym ore

2024 and recent years now bring us a m ore subdued gat hering of celebrant s, fellow ships, reunions, m usic and dance aficionados, as w ell as t he hold over drunken diaspora t hat are st ill st um bled upon.

Enjoy t he fun and gat herings & Happy Saint Pat rick's Day!

Jim McDonough and all of us that bring you the Irish Arts and Entertainment

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Gr am m y- Nom inated M usic Sensation Celtic Wom an Set To Br ing Their 20th Anniver sar y Tour To Califor nia

Soprano Mairéad Carlin to Return

On the heelsof the successful ?PostcardsFrom Ireland,?Celtic Womanwill carry on its legacy of uplifting performancespacked with breath-taking harmoniesand instrumental virtuosity. The group today announced it will bring an all-new live show to celebrate its20th anniversary to North America TheCeltic Woman 20th Anniversary Tourwill be delighting audienceswith itsfresh blend of traditional and contemporary Irish music that echoes Ireland'srich musical and cultural heritage,while reflecting the vibrant spirit of modern Ireland.

In the 20 yearssince the global musical sensation?s debut,Celtic Womanhasemerged as both a formidable musical presence and a genuine cultural phenomenon. The group's albumsand DVD releaseshave been consistent multi-platinum best-sellers and itsconcert tourscontinue to touch the heartsof a devoted audience that spans the globe. Both an accomplished recording ensemble and a world-class performing collective,Celtic Womanintroducessome of Ireland'smost talented singersand musicians to the world stage

The group's repertoire encompassesIrish classics, contemporary songs, classical favoritesand stirring originals The lineup of performers hasevolved in the years since the group'sinception but the signature sound ofCeltic Womanhas remained consistent, showcasing the members' individual and collaborative talents

Celtic Womaniscomprised of four young Irish women whose performing skillsbring centuriesof musical and cultural tradition to life In concert, their angelic voicesand instrumental virtuosity are accompanied by a robust ensemble that includes Irish dancers, bagpipers and a full

band playing an array of traditional Celtic instruments, including bodhrán, tin whistle, bouzouki and Uilleann pipes

Returning to the group issoprano Mairéad Carlin, a former member who joinsthe show for this very special anniversary tour Joining her are fellow soprano Muirgen O?Mahony, fiddle and Irish harp maestro Tara McNeill, as well as the newest member of the group, the multi-talented Emma Warren, who hastoured with Riverdance, Heartbeat of Home and most recently performed in Les Miserables, London.

PBS To Air?20th ANNIVERSARY?Special in More Than 60 Markets Later This Year

Following the PBSbroadcasts, the ?20th ANNIVERSARY? album and DVD will be released in January 2024 and featuresbrand-new compositions and arrangementsplus some fan favorites

Since 2005,Celtic Womanhas sold over ten million CDs and DVDs, and amassed more than 3 billion streams, making it the only all-female act to achieve multi-platinum successin the classical crossover and world music genres during the past decade Named Billboard?s#1 World Music Artist of the Year six times, 12 of the studio CDshave debuted at #1 on Billboard?sWorld Album chart Celtic Womanhas also scored two Top 10 debutson Billboard?sinfluential album chart and five Top Five DVDson Billboard?s Top Video chart, aswell as

achieving platinum-level sales in nine countries Their 2016 album release, ?Destiny?, wasnominated for a Grammy award in the category of Best World Music Album, marking the group?sfirst-ever Grammy nomination

For t he com plet e t our schedule, t icket s and m ore inform at ion,: w w w celt icw om an com / t our-dat es

Sign up for Celt ic Wom an?s new slet t ers: w w w.celt icw om an.com

For t our dat es, album releases and special offers.

Sign up for t he Weekly Irish E-Missive CLICK HERE.

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 this incredible 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, fiddle and 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 coursesomefan favourites.

Celtic Woman - 2021?s Postcards From Ireland. It features new arrangements of beautiful and iconic songs, somenew compositions and of coursesomefan favourites.?

Much more online at :

w w.celt icw om an.com

?20th ANNIVERSARY? - the DVD

features19 songs, plus 2 bonussongs. Filmed in The Helix Theatre in Dublin, Ireland, it takes fanson a journey back to where it all began 20 years ago (and in the very same theatre). The TV special features appearancesfrom four very special guests- original members Lisa Kelly, Máiréad Nesbitt, Méav Ní Mhaolchatha and Chloë Agnew -- who join Celtic Woman for thiswonderful TV special packed with emotional and heart stirring performances.

Later this year, PBS will air theaccompanying ?20th ANNIVERSARY? TV special in North America across 60+ local PBS stations.

In the 20 yearssince the global musical sensation?s debut, Celtic Woman hasemerged as both a formidable musical presence and a genuine cultural phenomenon. The group's albums and DVD releaseshave been consistent multi-platinum best-sellers and itsconcert tours continue to touch the heartsof a devoted audience that spans the globe. Both an accomplished recording ensemble and a world-class performing collective, Celtic Woman introduces some of Ireland'smost talented singersand musicians to the world stage.

The group'srepertoire encompassesIrish classics, contemporary songs, classical favoritesand stirring originals. The lineup of performershasevolved in the yearssince the group's inception but the signature sound of Celtic Woman has remained consistent, showcasing the members' individual and collaborative talents.

Celtic Woman iscomprised of four young Irish women whose performing skillsbring centuries of musical and cultural tradition to life In concert, their angelic voicesand instrumental virtuosity are accompanied by a robust ensemble that includesIrish dancers, bagpipers and a full band playing an array of traditional Celtic instruments, including bodhrán, tin whistle, bouzouki and Uilleann pipes.

Celtic Woman has sold over ten million CDs and DVDs, and amassed more than 3 billion streams, making it the only all-female act to achieve multi-platinum successin the classical crossover and world music genres during the past decade Named Billboard?s#1 World Music Artist of the Year six times, 12 of the studio CDs have debuted at #1 on Billboard?sWorld Album chart Celtic Woman hasalso scored two Top 10 debutson Billboard?s influential album chart and five Top Five DVDs on Billboard?sTop Video chart, aswell asachieving platinum-level sales in nine countries Their 2016 album release, ?Destiny?, wasnominated for a Grammy award in the category of Best World Music Album, marking the group?sfirst-ever Grammy nomination Celtic Woman?s20th Anniversary Spring Tour is scheduled to begin in Feb 2022

PBSTo Air ?20th ANNIVERSARY?Special in More Than 60 Markets starting on Thanksgiving and running through 2024.

- 20 year legacy

- 3 billion global combined streams

- Grammy nomination - Best 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

www.celticwoman.com

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Kevin Flynn?s Funny and Moving ?Fear of Heights?

Ret urns t o t he Odyssey

Following a critically acclaimed, crowd-pleasing run last fall,Odyssey Theatre Ensemble brings back Kevin Flynn?sheartwarming and hilarious Fear of Heights, the story of an Irish American kid'sphobias, family life and the meaning of success Flynn?s grandfather, a tough, Irish steelworker, may have been unafraid to perch precariously on a steel beam high above the New York skyline ? but young Kevin finds himself dreaming of the bright lightsof Hollywood instead Tim Byron Owen directsthisfunny, moving autobiographical solo show in which Flynn, a former professional soccer player and current award-winning stand-up comedian, actor, writer and television host, examines the American experience through the lens of his Irish immigrant family.

Written and Performed by Kevin Flynn and Directed by Tim Byron Owen

April 5 ?April 14

- Fridaysat 8 p.m.: April 5 and April 12

- Saturdaysat 8 p m : April 6 and April 13

- Sundaysat 2 p m : April 7 and April 14

Odyssey Theat re

2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd.

Los Angeles CA 90025

TICKETS::$30

Editor's Note; On April 5 2024, t he venerable Ye Olde King's Head Brit ish Pub w ill celebrat e t heir 50t h Anniversary! We w ill be here report ing all t he excit ing det ails and plans for t his fine t radit ional pub, a Sant a Monica landm ark! Check here & online.

The Galw ay Cat hedral Above. St reet Scenes m ake a w alking t our is a m ust !

Proclamation on I rish-American Heritage Month, 2024

During Irish-American HeritageMonth, wehonor our Irish ancestors, all those who carry on their legacies, and thevalues that have always bound Ireland and theUnited States together

These values ? including determination, decency, and dignity ? havebeen passed down from generation to generation in families like my own and have been grafted into theAmerican character. Last year, I had thehonor of visiting thehomeof some of my Irish ancestors, including theBlewitts of County Mayo and the Finnegans of County Louth As I traveled across Ireland, I learned the true meaning of theGaelic expression, ?a hundred thousand welcomes ? I was reminded that everything between Ireland and America runs deep ? from our history and sorrow to our future and joy. But more than anything, hopeis what beats in the hearts of all of our people

For centuries ? even during times of darkness and despair ? hopehas kept us marching forward toward a better future It is what led so many of our Irish ancestors to leave theonly place they had ever called homeand seek a new beginning in the United States It is what drovegenerations of Irish immigrants to help build the foundations of America with grit and persistence, even as they endured discrimination and were denied opportunity It is what continues to drive tens of millions of Irish Americans across our country to stand up for greater dignity, liberty, and possibilities for all. As we celebratethe 100th anniversary of United States-Irish diplomatic relations this year, hope remains thebedrock of our partnership, as evidenced by our work together to stand with thebrave people of Ukraine in the faceof Russian aggression, combat the climate crisis, and advance workers?rights across both of our nations.

In the years ahead, I look forward to strengthening thepartnership and friendship between thepeople of Ireland and America even further United by history, heritage, and hope, nothing is beyond our reach

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R BIDEN JR , President of theUnited States of America, by virtue of theauthority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of theUnited States, do hereby proclaim March 2024 as Irish-American HeritageMonth

I call upon all Americans to celebrate theachievements and contributions of Irish Americans to our Nation with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.

IN WITNESSWHEREOF, I havehereunto set myhandthistwenty-ninth dayof February, in theyear of our Lordtwo thousandtwenty-four, and of theIndependenceof theUnited Statesof America thetwohundredand forty-eighth.

Six Nations Rugby started February 2 and concludes mid March. Ireland were the champions in 2023 defeating England in Dublin

The Irish team is dominating the tournament for the second year!

WEEK 5 of 5, Sat urday, March 16, All t im es EST (USA)

Wales V It aly @ 10:15AM

Ireland V Scot land @ 12:15PM

England V France @ 4:00PM

Widespread broadcast but best t o cat ch t he gam es at your local pub!

O'Brien's on Wilshre and King's Head in Sant a Monica.

The Harp Inn in Cost a Mesa.

Auld Dubliner in Long Beach. O'Malleys in Seal Beach!

"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 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 and m agazines in t he U.S., Canada, and France.

THE BEST PRESENT EVER: A SINNER?S GUIDE TO THE HOLY LAND is his first w ork of lit erary non-fict ion. His next book w ill be THE PURPLE PIT, a rom ant ic com edy, w hich he has just finished w rit ing 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: w w w.seangunning.com

This looks like a very w ell planned event t o celebrat e St , Pat rick's Day in t he Spirit of t he Irish Season!

FIVE WHOLE DAYS of Special Food and Ent ert ainm ent ! Freew ay close in Hunt ingt on Beach in nearby Orange Count y Special Guest PIPER ANDY SCOTT

Irish Art & Ent ert ainm ent Readers, Fam ily and Friends are cordially invit ed t o a 1916 East er Rising Com m em orat ion in Anaheim , March 30 at 1:00 p m at t he V FW Post 3173 805 E. Sycam ore St , Anaheim , CA 92805

The com m em orat ion w ill feat ure an honor guard, uilleann pipes, a reading of t he East er Proclam at ion, and m usic by t he Sing Song Band

Follow ing t he com m em orat ion, t here w ill be a m ight y sing-song in t he VFW lounge, w hich opens at noon on t he day. The lounge includes a full, no-host cash bar

We hope to see you on the day.

ch 15 you can stream our show on Veeps, live from the

Blues. Join us on tour from the comfort of home and ront row seat to the show. Click the button below to get your ticket!

On Friday, March 15 you can st ream t he show on Veeps, live from t he House of Blues Join GAELIC STORM on t our from t he com fort of hom e and grab a front row seat ! Click t he but t on below t o get your t icket !

Kneecap, a hip-hop t rio hailing from West Belfast

This increasingly popular Irish band has been causing a stir across the realmsof music, film, and politics lately. Blending Irish and English languagesover a techno beat, infused with a touch of traditional music, the group has been known to embrace a Nationalistic stance at their rowdy shows. However, they are firmly non-sectarian and have fansin all communities in Ireland, with a particular appeal to the younger demographic and the working class.

Members Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJPróvaí, have been growing in popularity since the release of their debut single CEARTA (Irish for Rights) in 2017 The narrative behind the song unfoldsas Móglaí Bap, during the Irish language protestsadvocating for equal status, was spray-painting the word "Cearta" on a Belfast wall When the police arrived, Bap managed to escape, but his companion wasapprehended Refusing to communicate in English, Bap'sfriend was subsequently arrested and spent the night in jail, awaiting a translator Another popular single, GET YOUR BRITSOUT isfull of references to the DUP'scondemnation of the band. Their musical compositionsblend elements of humor, referencesto drug use, anti-British sentiments, and advocacy for the Irish language.

In an action that may be in breach of the Good Friday Agreement, the Britsrecently reneged on £15,000 musicians grant saying did not want to hand taxpayers? money to people who oppose the United Kingdom.

A much-anticipated new album FINEART isdue out soon and the band completed a semi-autobiographical film called KNEECAP, the first Irish language film shown at the Sundance Film Festival where it earned the Audience Award. Irish Central calls it a "new black-comedy drama about the culture of post-Troubles Belfast." The film co-starsMichael Fassbender asMóglaí Bap?s dad, and includesGerry Adams, who, by the way, denies ever being a member of Kneecap Sony Pictures will distribute the film later thisyear

Kneecap is presently on a North American tour, with upcoming performances scheduled for April 2nd at the VooDoo Room in San Diego and April 4th at the Echoplex in LA

Approximately 2,500 people were kneecapped during the Troublesby Republicans, and Loyalists, who controlled crime in their areaswith punishment shootings, usually in the thighsrather than the actual kneecap.

KNEECAP are funny and irreverent ahead of all else.T he Irish Rap Trio is pict ured above at t he Sundance Film Fest ival last m ont h. Their docum ent ary w as picked up by SONY so our readers and t he w orld w ill soon be hearing a lot m ore of t hem !

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

The Irish Poet ry Corner is present ed by t he Irish Art s & Ent ert ainm ent Subm issions Want ed: Em ail us at : irishm issive@gm ail.com

Bardspell

By Greg Patrick

Greg Pat rick

?Ever y life is in m any days, day after day. We walk thr ough our selves, m eeting r obber s, ghosts, giants, old m en, young m en, wives, widows, br other s- in- love, but always m eeting our selves ?

? JamesJoyce,Ulysses

When the r aucous laughter r ang too hollow upon the inn?s walls and too gr eat the solitude of the void left by the thr ong intr uded the par ty looked to the em pty shadows by the hear th

?Wher ever is the bar d this eve?? it was asked

As if the shadows m assing at the thr eshold wer e gr anted for m and face, one who was both m ir age and nom ad wer e conjur ed for th; it seem ed like a ghost. It was not song alone he usher edin but a potent eloquential silence and a sigh that does not lie betr ayed in its cadence a br oken duet supplied now only by echoes. The night belongs to the poet with the unbr oken dawn in his eyes and wor ds Because a bar d?s eyes know ther e is a gr eater em ptiness and void than chair s to fill

His wor dsar e like the laughter of the cur ious passer by in the night that fill the dar k and outside withlaughter Will ther e to be light by wor d and the dar k is only that. Nothing m or e.

In the beginning as in the end ther e is the wor d to confr ont the em ptiness out ther e to the cr eative voice A gift A cur se? A fulfillm ent of em ptiness? Either way the bar d steps to the light like a soloist by the cr ossr oad' s lanter n and allow other s that light and voice between inter vals of dar k vBut his m use? Wher e was she this eve? Her voice like that of a falconer , so uplifting the one voice that could br ing him down to ear th Though m aster y of the ar t pr eceded him ther e was som ething expr essive in the entr ance of all who cr ossed the thr eshold, each ar r iving with their own stor y to listen to the bar d?s gr eat ones r etold Their postur es like notes of a song br oodings of hate and love of jubilance and despair .

In the beginning as in the end ther e is the wor d to confr ont the em ptiness out ther e to thecr eativevoice.A gift. A cur se? A fulfillm ent of em ptiness?Either way the bar d steps tothe light like a soloistby thecr ossr oad' s lanter n and allow other sthat light and voice betweeninter vals of dar k But his m use? Wher e was she this eve? Her voice like that of a falconer , so uplifting...the onevoice that could br ing him down to ear th Though m aster y of the ar t pr eceded him ther e wassom ething expr essive in the entr ance of all who cr ossed the thr eshold, each ar r iving with their own stor y to listen to the bar d?s,

Next page please...

BARDSPELL continued from previouspage

Their postur es like notes of a song br oodings of hate and love of jubilance and despair

The bar d' s tatter ed r aim ent like Icar an m oth wings sear ed by the light, betr aying a m an bur nt by r adiance beyond his r each, flar ed like r ebel angel wings inviting m etam or phosis fr om the listless intoxication of patr ons to Renaissance of being and r eawakening of gr eater thir st than even the castaway knows who at last succum bs to dr inking the sea Fr om m essages in bottles bidding one to for get The wor ds by contr ast dar ed them see and for sake the bottle as a sieve,

m ir r or ing facades that seem suspendedin a glacial tear .He closed his eyes into the song, his touch beckoning on the str ings as if tr ying to dr aw the m om ent in tim e back Sear ching look betr ayed in a gaze upon another ?s face bear ing haunting sem blance to his m use but the wor ds ceased m id- song for they belonged to but one under the skies Sonor ous in away few can fathom , save if they listen with the undelved hear t The tenacity of dr eam ?s em br ace when one has to par tways and of what followed: br oken chor ds and dr awn swor ds Wor ds lost to tim e like her etical ideals cast to the pyr e for love. His view of the wor ld has changed though he would not

Celtic Cam er a!

We ar e her e looking for you!

ABOVE: 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 . Feat ure and det ails next issue.

The View from Ireland

By Maurice Fit zpat rick

"Small Things Like These"

A new film, Small ThingsLikeThese, produced by and starring Cillian Murphy, made history in February by becoming the first Irish film chosen as the opening film at the Berlin Film Festival Thefilm is based on the eponymous novella by Claire Keegan, who also wroteFoster, the novella upon which Oscar-nominated Colm Bairéad?s An Cailín Ciúin (TheQuiet Girl) is based

Keegan?s Small ThingsLikeThese has been rightly received as political fiction (it won the Orwell Prize in 2022). It explores the theme of the incarceration of tens of thousands of women and girls by the Catholic church that occurred in Ireland from the 1820s right until the 1990s ? for instance, singer-songwriter Sinéad O?Connor was ?sent away?. The fig leaf behind which the Catholic church and its enablers hid was that the institutions to which the women weresent werecorrective refuges The truth was that the women were slave-labourers in laundries. They washed the laundry of local businesses while the nuns reforming them kept the profits

The classic pretext for sending a woman away was brilliantly visualised in a previousfilm about Magdalene Laundriesand expressed in folk music Peter Mullan?s TheMagdaleneSisters uses the song ?The Well Below the Valley?to a devastating effect in its opening sequences. As a priest at a wedding pounds his bodhrán and sings the song, a young woman is deceived by her cousin into entering a backroom where her cousin rapes her When she confides what has happened to her a chain of whispers reaches the priest who makes the determination: she will be sent away

Mullan?s film becamealmost a cinematic fulfillment of the story told in ?The Well Below the Valley?, in which a ?fallen?woman has been systematically abused and impregnated by the men in her family As thesong goes:

There'stwoof them byyour UncleDan

At thewell belowthe valleyo

Green growsthelilyo

Right amongthebusheso?

Another twobyyour brother John?

Another twobyyour Father dear

Mullan tells thestory of TheMagdaleneSistersfrom the point of view of the incarcerated women, whereas Claire Keegan?short masterpiece unfolds through the eyes of Bill Furlong Owner of a coal shop in New Ross, Furlong delivers coal to the local convent where he witnesses that the women arenot housed but held in captivity ? thenun turns the key when she leaves the laundry, there is cut glassset in concreteon top of its high walls Heis disturbed by what he has seen and by an encounter with one of

the inmates who urges him to help her to escape so that she can throw herself in the river A tense conversation with his wife ensues later at home. Furlong?s wife, conversant in local gossip, knows about the fate of the women in the laundry. Yet she recoils from breaking the code of omertà about it Even as late as 1985, the year in which the story is set, she is terrified of the consequences of speaking about the crimes of the church and the complicity of the society it dominates TheFurlongs arein businessduring an economic depression, and their young family depends on their staying in business for its living

Back at the convent to deliver coal before Christmas, Furlong witnesses a still moretraumatic scene: he discovers a woman, the mother of a 14-week-old baby, locked in the coal shed among her own excrement. When the convent?s Mother Superior enters the scene, she pretends that the young woman got lost ? perhaps playing hide and seek ? and that she should now come in and have a warm bath The head nun senses danger, aman had glimpsed the reality of the laundry regime She insists with all her forcethat he comein for tea and cake during which she references Furlong?s daughters and their schooling: ?Won?t they all soon find themselves next door, in timeto come, God willing?.

The Mother Superior does not even need to threaten Furlong that his daughters will not get a placeat the convent school, next door to the laundry, if hespeaks out Shepasses him her annual Christmas card with a 50 pound note that, this time, has a dimension of buying his silence.

VIEW Conclusion:

As a woman of the town later says to Furlong, only a wall separates ?that place?[the laundry] and the convent school The townspeopleknow what side of the wall they want to stay on, one side represents advancement and the other ruination, but Furlong is tormented by the moral compromise that silence entails In a precise rumination that cannot be conveyed fully in a screen adaptation, Furlong later broods that he had not asked about the young woman?s baby; and that was ?the one thing shehad asked him to do ? and how he had taken the money and left her thereat the table with nothing beforeher and the breast milk leaking under the little cardigan and staining her blouse, and how he?d gone on, like a hypocrite, to Mass?

Keegan brings the reader further into the psycheof her protagonist and, by proxy, the denials and servitude of Ireland Furlong asks: ?Why were the things that were closest so often hardest to see??? a mediation that encapsulates the entire novella and the condition of a society that helped to perpetuate the cruelty

The film adaptation of Small ThingsLikeThese apparently took seed in between takes of Oppenheimer when Murphy spoke to Matt Damon and persuaded him to collaborate to producer the film. It is a smaller scale film than the biopic of the ?father of thenuclear bomb?. Yet theharrowing story of ordinary lives destroyed by institutional abuseand societal cowardicemakes it an essential contribution for a full reckoning with Ireland?s past as well as a clarion call to speak out against injustices in our own time.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! Your Easter Favourites arepacked to the rafters! Drop by soon!

Cillian Murphy Film s & Aw ards

Cillian ...pronounced Killeen Murphy is a prolific act or w it h an im pressive line up of st age and m ovie rolls and honors for his achievem ent s

Murphy's professional debut w as in Enda Walsh's 1996 play, Disco Pigs, a role he lat er reprised in a film by t he sam e nam e in 2001

Som e of his early film credit s are: 28 Days Later. (2002), Horror Intermission (2003), Dark Com edy Red Eye (2005), Thriller

The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006), Irish Troubles and Civil War Ed Not e: An excellent film t hat w e covered ext ensively at t he t im e and it served as our int roduct ion t o his w ork

Sunshine (2007) Science Fict ion t hriller

Breakfast on Pluto (2005) He played a t ransgender Irish w om an in t he com edy-dram a, w hich earned him a Golden Globe Aw ard nom inat ion Murphy began his collaborat ion w it h film m aker Christ opher Nolan in 2005, playing Scarecrow in t he The Dark Knight trilogy (2005?2012) as w ell as appearing in Inception (2010) and Dunkirk (2017) In 2011, Murphy w on t he Dram a Desk Aw ard for Out st anding Solo Perform ance for Misterman

In 2020, The Irish Times nam ed him one of t he great est Irish film act ors of all t im e

On the right: Murphy as Oppenheim er

More on ACCLAIMED FILMMAKER CHRISTOPHER NOLAN?S OPPENHEIMER

GET EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO THE CAST AND FILMMAKERS WITH MORE THAN THREE HOURS OF SPECIAL FEATURES THAT TAKE YOU BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE MAKING OF THIS EPIC FILM

?ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES OF THE CENTURY?

?CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

Universal Cit y, California, ?From celebrat ed w rit er and direct or Christ opher Nolan com es t he m ust -see cinem at ic m ast erpiece about t he m an and t he m om ent t hat changed t he w orld forever. As it cont inues it s dom inant global box-office run, OPPENHEIMER is also for sale on 4K Ult ra HD, Blu-rayTM, & Digit al as of Novem ber 21, 2023, from Universal Pict ures Hom e Ent ert ainm ent . Delve deeper int o t he unparalleled film m aking behind OPPENHEIMER w it h an ext ensive collect ion of special feat ures, including t he global debut of ?The St ory of Our Tim e: The Making of Oppenheimer ? This 70+ m inut e im m ersive piece show cases exclusive behind-t he-scenes foot age and ext ensive int erview s w it h Nolan and his creat ive collaborat ors, offering unrest rict ed access inside t he process, perform ances, effect s, m usic and art ist ry responsible for t his ext raordinary film Addit ional feat ures include t he NBC New s com panion docum ent ary, ?To End All War: Oppenheim er and t he At om ic Bom b,? as w ell as a ?Trinit y Anniversary Panel Discussion? feat uring a panel m oderat ed by Em m y®-w inning journalist Chuck Todd,

w it h Christ opher Nolan, Nobel®Prize w inner Dr Kip Throne; w orld-renow ned physicist Dr. Carlo Rovelli; Dr. Thom Mason, direct or of t he Los Alam os Nat ional Laborat ory; and Kai Bird, t he Pulit zer Prize-w inning co-aut hor of American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, on w hich t he film is based

OPPENHEIMER, t hrust s audiences int o t he m ind of t heoret ical physicist J Robert Oppenheim er (Cillian Murphy), w hose landm ark w ork as t he direct or of t he Manhat t an Project ?s Los Alam os Laborat ory creat ed t he first at om ic bom b

An unprecedent ed cinem at ic event , OPPENHEIMER feat ures an all-st ar cast of t alent ed aw ard w inning act ors Nolan?s film s besides Oppenheimer m ake him one of t he best in his craft of all t im e! They include: Tenet , Dunkirk ,Int erst ellar, Incept ion and The Dark Knight t rilogy Alt oget her, his film s have t aken in m ore t han $6 billion at t he global box office and have been aw arded 11 Oscars®and 36 nom inat ions, including t w o Best Pict ure nom inat ions

Cillian Murphy Aw arded Oscar As Best Act or for His Leading Role in Oppenheimer

Cillian Murphy is an Irish actor born on May 25, 1976, in Douglas, a suburb of Cork, Ireland. He developed an interest in performing arts during his school years and later studied law at University CollegeCork However, his passion for acting led him to switch his focus, and he attended the Presentation Brothers Collegein Cork to pursuea drama course

Cillian Murphy's acting career began on thestage, and he gained recognition for his work in various theatrical productions Hemadehis film debut in themovie " Disco Pigs" and continued to build his career with roles in films like " 28 Days Later," " Batman Begins," and " Inception."

"When Murphyauditionedfor therole in PeakyBlinders, hisintense performanceasthecunning and charismaticgangster leader, told the producersimmediatelythat hewould becomea definingelement of theshow's success." PeakyBlinderspremieredin 2013 andconcludedits run in 2022 .

IA & E, July, 2022

About thefilm: OPPENHEIMER

Oppenheimer isan epic biographical thriller film directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer, the American theoretical physicist credited with being the ?father of the atomic bomb?for his role in the Manhattan Project. Oppenheimer tells the story of the World War II undertaking that developed the first nuclear weapons The film is based on the 2005 biography AmericanPrometheusby Kai Bird and Martin J Sherwin

Oppenheimer premiered at Le Grand Rex in Paris on July 11, 2023, and was theatrically released in the United States and the United Kingdom and Ireland on July 21 by Universal Pictures

The story predominantly focuses on Oppenheimer?s studies, his direction of the Manhattan Project during World War II, and his eventual fall from grace due to his 1954 security hearing.

The film also starsEmily Blunt asOppenheimer?s wife ?Kitty?, Matt Damon ashead of the Manhattan Project Leslie Groves, Robert Downey Jr asUnited StatesAtomic Energy Commission member Lewis Strauss, and Florence Pugh asOppenheimer?scommunist lover Jean Tatlock. The supporting cast included Belfast native Kenneth Brannagh.

Much more on OPPENHEIMER online including Screenings, Streaming & BlueRay/DVD: www.oppenheimermovie.com

Cork nat ive, Oscar nom inee CILLIAN MURPHY as Oppenheim er

Cillian Murphy as Thomas Shelby in the acclaimed TV series " Peaky Blinders" significantly raised his profile

ONLY TWO SHOWSin California

St Pat rick's Day in Ireland

March 16-Clark Cent er in Arroyo Grande

March 17-Vacaville Perform ing Art s Theat re

Get ready t o be t ransport ed t o t he Em erald Isle as t he explosive sound of bodhrán, fiddles, uilleann pipes, guit ar and dancing feet roar t hrough t he t heat re. This t reat for t he w hole fam ily feat ures m ult i-inst rum ent alist s from t he Kerry Tradit ional Band, guest singers and dancers in an unforget t able Irish night ? Be ready t o leave t he t heat re w it h a jig in your st ep!

?St . Pat rick?s Day in Ireland delivers a night of rip-roaring m usic song and dance? ?

- Irish Art s & Ent ert ainm ent -

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!!"

Sat urday March 16 @ 10 AM

Count y Vent ura St . Pat rick?s Day Parade is brought t o you by t he Vent ura Elks

Lodge #1430. Since 1984, t he parade has been a show case of Vent ura Count y?s finest . It feat ures am azing cost um es, dancers, horses, high school bands and m ore.

Get ready for one of Vent ura?s m ost endearing t radit ions. The Parade rout e is on Main St reet in Dow nt ow n Vent ura, st art ing at Lincoln Drive

cont inuing t o Fir St reet

w w w.vent urast pat ricksdayparade.com . No Irish Meet Up In March.

THIRD SUNDAY

Irish Pot Luck! Please, Bring dish t o share!

out and

the great events and music on Sunday, March 17th.!

KRIS

Galw ay Hooker Band

Three Dat es in Orange Count y Great t im es lay ahead w it h t he m usic and fun in t he w ake of Jason St out and t his

band; so st eer yourself

t o Hunt ingt on Beach!

Friday March 15t h 6-9 pm 2nd Floor HB 126 Main St reet Hunt ingt on Beach

Sat urday March 16t h 7 and 9 PM

Paulie's Pizza Sunset Beach 16821 PCH Sunset Beach

Californai

ST PATRICK'S DAY!

Sunday March 17t h 4-7 pm

Surf Dogs Saloon

532 Warner

Huntington Beach

Mark your calendars:

SCOTTISH FEST USA

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 FAIR & EVENT CENTER in Costa Mesa!

The always anticipated and appreciated Scots Fest and Highland Games in Costa Mesa is going to be more spectacular than ever this year. Also, since the Irish Fair that was being planned for Torrancein July has been postponed till 2025, theScottish Fest USA will offer a great opportunity for all Celts to enjoy all of theMusic, Bagpipers and shared Celtic Culture, Food and Libations that weall enjoy

In the same vein a the Irish always say that everyone is Irish on St Patrick's Day; the organizers of this annual event say, EVERYONE IS SCOTTISH At SCOTTISH FEST!

Some of the key differences and highlight

of this event areScotch Whiskey Tasting, Scotch Whiskey and Food Pairings and the Highland Games featuring Scottish Heavy Athletics.

This year world famous piper EricRigler and hisband Celtic Hollywood with LeoZ will be headlining on Saturday only.

Dancers from The McNulty School of Irish Dance will also be performing on both Saturday and Sunday

A much greater array of assembled Pipe Bands and Piping Competitions arealso a crowd pleasing part of Scottish Fest

More online:

www.scottishfest.com

TOUR BOOKINGS NOW OPEN

Keit h Robert s says Get Packed!

IrelandTrip

November 2024

Hellotoall our prospectivetravelersand thosealreadyconfirmed Belowyouwill find adetaileddescriptionof our Irelandtripset for earlyNovember 2024.Hereyouwill find our travel agentsdescriptionof thetour (HammondTours) andsomenotesfrom Keithandtheboys.Thistour isalmost sold out somakesuretocontact HAMMOND TOURSwithall your questionsandtosave your spot asap

November 2 ? 11, 2024

$2995 Landonly

The

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

DEREK WARFIELD & THE YOUNG WOLF TONES NATIONAL TOUR SCHEDULE

For m ore info & TIX: w w w.t heyoungw olfet ones.com

Cham ber m usic w it h Irish Songs, Horry Count y Museum

Sat urday, March 16 @ 1PM MYRTLE BEACH, SC

Illonois

Met ropolis Theat er Arlingt on Height s, IL St . Pat rick's Day

Concert Join

Paddy Hohm an and his group, The Noble Call on March 17t h for a special St . Pat rick's Day concert . Celebrat e t his very special day w it h som e great m usic, and som e very special guest s!

Ticket s HERE

2024 Tour Loreena McKennit t

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 theseconcerts, 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 webite for details on tickets and concerts and to order her music: www.loreenamckennitt.com

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

An am azing offer for our ow n VIP Mem bers and Subscribers!

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.

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

The Might y Irish Net w ork and Irish Cyber Spaces

We have a fledgling Irish Social Media Sit e and you can join us by sim ply subscribing t o t he Irish Arts & Entertainment. Subscribers also becom e m em bers of t he Might y Irish Net w ork and you are

program . For our part , w e are pledged t o do all w e can t o Please help us spread t he new s about all t he w onderful event s, experiences and project s t hat are in st ore for our readers and t he Irish/ Irish-Am erican Com m unit y in Sout hern California.

IRISH

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...