St. Patrick's Day Special Issue

Volume XXIII Issue 3

St. Patrick’s Day

2015 Special Issue

global

greening set again for St. Patrick’s Day…see B

page 3

irish american

A

profiles

Actor Ed O’Neill…

M L

GREENING

OF THE

see page 5

WORLD

irish

music makers check out the latest and the greatest in Irish music…see page 17

C

film critic

K

speaks out D

J

’71

movie takes place in Belfast–brutal, fast paced–no happy ending here…see page 15

E F

irish

honorees Los Angeles city to honor the Irish…see page 9

H

I G

Where are these GREEN places?…see

page 3

Irish Arts & Entertainment

2015 St. Patrick’s Day Special

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2015 St. Patrick’s Day Special

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GREENING OF THE WORLD Our cover feature for this St. Patrick’s Day Special is a pictorial spread about the Greening of the World, This is a really wonderful idea Tourism Ireland (Irish Tourist Board) has been organizing for the last six years. Tourism Ireland recently announced that the Colosseum in Rome, the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in the fabled district of Montmartre overlooking Paris and the Grand Ole Opry (the show that made country music famous!) in Nashville will go green for the first time ever for St Patrick’s Day this year, as part of the organisation’s sixth annual Global Greening initiative. Since its inception, it has now become an annual tradition at a multitude of famous landmarks around the world to GO GREEN FOR IRELAND & ST. PATRICK! The very clever idea is a tribute to our Great Saint’s great day and to the admiration, respect, good will and trust that Ireland has earned in the world.

Official Website of Tourism Ireland: www.ireland.com WHERE ARE THESE GREEN PLACES (on the cover)??? A) Monaco; B) Great Wall of China; C) Chicago, Illinois; D) Jordan (site for filming of first “Indiana Jones” motion picture E) Norway; F) Niagara Falls; G) Washington, D.C.; H) Dublin, Ireland; I) Jordan; J) Las Vegas, Nevada; K) Netherlands; L) Gaza; M) Disneyland

Austria: Zell-am-See region was bathed in green.

Muldoon’s Shamrockin’ March Brilliant Entertainment Irish Bands Every Sunday In March

Sexiest Kilt Contest 3.8.2015 1st, 2nd & 3rd place prizes.

Ken O’Malley. Blue Duex.

Craic In The Stone.

Sportive Tricks. Craic Haus.

ladies & gents can enter. $25 gift cards for all contestants

and 12 more Brilliant bands appearing throughout the month

Bagpipes. Dancing. Brunch & Lunch.

Live Music by Craic In The Stone. all ages Welcome. admission is Free.

St. Patrick’s day Party 3.17.2015 dOOrs Open at 9 am . LIVE MUSIC ALL DAY & NIGHT . DANCING & CARRYIN’ ON . BEST PARTY ANYWHERE .

202 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE, NEWPORT BEACH 92660 www.muldoonspub.com 949 640 4110 facebook

Irish Arts & Entertainment

2015 St. Patrick’s Day Special

Page 4 Volume 23, Issue 3

42

nd

2015 Annual San Diego Scottish Highland Games & Gathering of the Clans

June 27th & 28th, 2015 • 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM • Both Days Entertainment Featuring:

Highland Way Browne Sisters & George Cavanaugh Vendors of Everything Scottish: From Foods to Arts & Crafts

Kid’s Area

Massed Bagpipe Bands

Child ID Program

Scottish Athletics

Opening Ceremonies at Noon each day.

Bag Piping and Drumming Competitions Sheepdog Trials Scottish Country Dancing Kids’ Athletics

PUBLISHER & MANAGING EDITOR James M. McDonough

WRITERS Thom O’Shaugnessey Pat Gallagher Barbara Singer MaryPat Tuxbury Paul Noonan

Stand Easy

Drum Major

The opinions expressed by our columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Irish Arts & Entertainment or its Editor and staff.

SALES REPRESENTATIVE Dave McNaff Paat Gallagher

Wicked Tinkers

Highland Dancing Competition

Irish Arts & Entertainment

Closing Ceremonies with Massed Pipe Bands at 4:45 PM each day.

Get Your Tickets Early Pre sale Ticket Prices: Adults: $13 per day Senior & Military: $8 per day Youth 6-16: $5 per day

www.sdhighlandgames.org 760-726-3691 or 619-884-3157

Fax: 760-726-3591 • sdshgchief@sbcglobal.net

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LAYOUT & DESIGN jam Graphics Julie A. Manning Irishart@pacbell.net RESIDENT ARTIST Adrien Rain Burke

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E-MAIL jmcdonough44@gmail.com Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. Subscriptions are delivered via Armadillo Distributing, UPS & USPS First Class. Send subscriptions, address changes, and inquires to: Irish Arts & Entertainment 7310 South La Cienega Blvd.

Suite 100 Inglewood, CA 90302 Address editorial correspondence; Attention Editor. Letters to the Editor are not necessarily the opinion of the Editor or Publisher of the Irish Arts & Entertainment.

Address business inquiries; Attention Publisher.

Irish Arts & Entertainment

2015 St. Patrick’s Day Special

Page 5

Irish American Profile…

Actor Ed O’Neill Second of three parts…

Irish Arts and Entertainment (IA&E): I remember reading that you were with the Pittsburgh Steelers, can you tell us about that?

O’Neill: Yeah, well I tried out for the Steelers. I was a rookie. It was Chuck Knowles’ first year, 1969. Nice guy. Also met the Rooneys (The Owners). Nice guys. The Steelers were a good experience and I did not get hurt, which was probably lucky. I didn’t make it. Probably lucky too, cause I had a couple knee injuries and I knew it was not going to get better.

IA&E: So you were disappointed but moved on.

O’Neill: At the time, I was a little worried about what I was going to do. Stumbled into acting when I was 23 maybe 25. Before that, my first exposure, (to acting) in high school, was not serious, a nun made me do it or something. Back then, I thought they were too dramatic, it was high school and they were over acting. In those days, they had these competitions You would go from room to room and do a reading before a panel of judges, Readers’ Digest kind’a thing. I think I won one once. I remember my impression was that they really were all overly dramatic. Over the top. So I was less, but that was the fashion. Not me, not my style.

IA&E: You took it to heart, you are so low key. You are a great actor, especially the cop show in New York!

That episode where you take your dying sister to the Aquarium was wonderful!

O’Neill: Yeah, The Big Apple*. Oh God, that was a great show! That (“NYPD Blues”) was David Milch, I also did his other show “John From Cincinnati”.

Very interesting roles in both “Big Apple” and “John From Cincinnati”. They did not last long. “John From continued page 25

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MULDOON’S IRISH PUB

NEWPORT BEACH, CA

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Irish Arts & Entertainment

2015 St. Patrick’s Day Special

10 Handy Tips to Avoid being a Plastic Paddy on St. Patrick’s Day • Don’t say St. Patty’s. St. Paddy’s if you must. But generally it’s more respectful if you say the whole thing: “Saint Patrick’s Day.” • Forgo the “Kiss me, I’m Irish” plastic beer mug with antennae and shamrock glasses. Or at least wait until you are completely: “elephants,” “flaming,” “gee-eyed,” “locked,” “sloshed,” “steamboats,” “scuttered,” “paralytic,” “ossified,” “plastered,” “bollixed,” “fluthered,” “langered,” “petrified,” while “on the lash, on a piss up, drunk off one’s face.”

• Contrary to popular belief, the Irish themselves don’t wear a lot of kelly green, and never say “bejabbers” or “begorrah.” That’s Hollywood faux-Irish and a dead give-away. Well that, and your average American is about 50 lbs heavier than your average native Irish person.

• Ireland is the land of music. It is the only country in the world with a musical instrument as its national symbol—that would be the Trinity College Harp, also known as the Brion Boru or O’Neill Harp—both on the flag and on the Guinness bottle. There are tons of excellent rock bands that originated in Ireland (U2, the Pogues, and hundreds more). But if you go into the pubs and see a seisuin (session or sesh) traditional music jam going on, it helps to know the tunes. And for that you need to give a listen to the disciples: The Chieftains, The Clancy Brothers with Tommy Maken, and Van Morrison.

• If you are person of Irish-American descent, please refrain from talking about the IRA, Orange vs. Green, as if it’s your fight. You really don’t want to get involved. Really. Remember, tens of thousands died, and the peace agreement was only 20 years ago.

• Irish food. Every year, people drag out the corned beef and cabbage, plus potatoes, which is decent enough. Except you should know that corned beef isn’t really traditional Irish cuisine.

When the Irish lived in the slums of New York they borrowed corned beef from their Jewish neighbors, and it became a tradition here in the U.S. for the American-Irish. Potatoes are a mixed blessing. While Irish potatoes are delicious, the potato itself is sort of a poster child for the great potato famine. Potatoes originated in South America and were forced on the Irish as a sustenance crop. The breed chosen was not well adapted to wet and soggy climates.

And when the blight came, millions starved. But aside from that depressing note, Ireland is now justly famous for their dairy with famous butter and cheese, plus award-winning salmon, beef, and pork. If you get a chance, try some traditional and new Irish recipes. I heartily recommend colcannon (a mashed potato recipe), homemade Irish soda bread, boxty (an Irish potato pancake), and many of the stews and soups.

• There are other days besides March 17th in which to explore your Celtic heritage!

St.Patrick’s Day was mainly a quiet, religious holiday in Ireland until the American Irish of New York, Boston, and Chicago decided to make a big deal of it. Strangely enough, now it’s becoming a bigger deal in Ireland and more of a party, especially when the tourists are around. By the way, most major cities have Celtic cultural centers and events. You can catch a seisuin, learn some Irish (Gaelic), and have some fun dancing as well.

Written by True Thomas the Storyteller (who is not Irish, but has been hanging with Celts for a long time as a traditional Celtic storyteller.) www.truethomas.com Facebook: True Thomas the Storyteller Originally published on Krypton Radio

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Irish Arts & Entertainment

2015 St. Patrick’s Day Special

Los Angeles to Honor the Irish Geraldine Gilliland is 2015 Irishwoman of the Year Gilliland is a well known and respected local restaurateur and has been selected as the 2015 Irishwoman of the Year for the City of Los Angeles! A Malibu resident and a native of Northern Ireland, she has been running excellent restaurants in Santa Monica since the 1980s. In addition, much to her credit Gilliland has sponsored over 20 native Irish men and women through the years via the J1 Visa Program. Many of whom have gone on to successful careers of their own in The United States. The owner of the famed Irish Pub restaurant Finn McCool’s in Santa Monica counts former Irish President Mary McAleese as one of the many who nominated her for this honor.

At press time, the 2015 City of Los Angeles Irishman of the Year has yet to confirm but will be announced prior to the 140th Annual Irish Day Civic Ceremonies. This year’s Irish civic Day is set for 10:00 am, Friday, March 13, 2015 in the City Council Chambers of the Los Angeles City Hall.

Geraldine Gilliland, Author, Entrepreneur and Restauranteur

These ceremonies are hosted by City Councilmember Tom LaBonge, Councilmember’s and other City and County officials will be in attendance. Irish Bagpipers from the Los Angeles Police Emerald Society along with Irish Dancers from the Kelly School of Irish Dance and a wee Irish song or two will add to the festivities. The 14 lovely 2015 Rose of Tralee Debs also will be presented to the City Council. The public is invited to attend.

New Location for the Irish Civic Day Luncheon — World Famous Irish Restaurant Tom Bergin’s Selected. The Irish Day Civic Ceremonies will be followed by an Irish Day Luncheon at Tom Bergin’s Irish Pub, a Los Angeles landmark pub founded in 1936. Tom Bergin’s is located at 840 S. Fairfax Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036 323. 936-7151. Tickets for the Irish Day Luncheon are $35 each and may be purchased online at www.irishfair.org.

HONOREES TO BE FETED AT GRAND BALL of the IRISH The Irishman and Irishwoman of the Year and 2015 City of Los Angeles Irish Honoree’s will be introduced to the public of Los Angeles on St. Patrick’s Day, Tuesday, March 17th at the Annual Pershing Square Irish Concert. The concert is open to the public.

Honorees in attendance at the 31st Annual Grand Ball of the Irish and Rose of Tralee Presentation at the Renaissance Hotel on Ocean Boulevard in Long Beach will be marched in by bagpipers and introduced on stage.

More information and tickets purchase details, if needed, can be found at www.irishfair.org.

IRISH HONOREE’S TO BE FETED BY LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL 2015 Irish Honoree’s being honored for their contribution to Irish American culture, successful accomplishments in their careers and their commitment to helping the needy

Page 9 are: Irish actor and Dublin born Glenn Keogh who has achieved outstanding success as an Actor in America, being featured in Scorpion, Days of Our Lives, Sons of Anarchy and the latest Transformers movie by Michael Bay. He also commits time working with and raising money for Autistic kids..; World renown traditional musician and Uillean Piper Patrick D’Arcy who has starred in venues from The Waterfront in Belfast to The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville to Carnegie Hall in New York”. Patrick arrived on the sunny shores of Los Angeles in November 1993 and with growing interest in traditional Irish music and specifically uilleann piping, he travelled annually to Ireland to attend the Willie Clancy Summer School to learn from the best pipers in the world. He created the internationally renowned website UilleannObsession.com. in 1997 and in the same year co-founded the Southern California Uilleann Pipers Club. Patrick has recorded on numerous albums and movies as a session musician including “Snow White & The Huntsman” and in 2012 released his solo album “Wallop The Spot” to critical acclaim.

Currently he is involved in various projects including The Ne’er Duwels and A Gaelic Gathering, a group of dancers and musicians that play throughout the LA area promoting Irish music and culture in schools. If you are a friend of Bono’s don’t be surprised if Patrick shows up unannounced on your birthday some time to serenade you with some old airs of Ireland. Oprah Winfrey and Quincy Jones, have been victims of this Irish onslaught.

He married the love of his life, Joy and in 2004 their daughter Tierna was born.

Irish born Disney Studio Vice President Una Fox who has risen through the corporate ranks with hard work and drive to one of Hollywood’s key film industry positions; Newport Beach residents Ron and Sindi Schwartz, the long time owner’s of Muldoon’s in Fashion Island - the continued page 10

A new cookbook titled by Gilliland will soon be released based on her longest running restaurant- Lula Cocina Mexicana! It can be pre-ordered on Amazon ahead of it’s May 5th release.

All proceeds from the book will go to “Chiquita’s Friends”, a non-profit that Gilliland founded to help abused, neglected and abandoned dogs in the Los Angeles area, so you’ll be doing a great thing AND learning how to make a mean enchilada too!

Irish Arts & Entertainment

Los Angeles to Honor the Irish

2015 St. Patrick’s Day Special

Send ‘The Bad Arm’ to Edinburgh!

continued

classic and classy home for the Irish in Orange County. Muldoon’s Wall of Fame highlights numerous Irish celebrities and political leaders who have visited the Irish Pub over the past several decades.

Irish born Ciaran Gallagher who is a great promoter of the Irish in Southern California, both in Huntington Beach (Gallagher’s and Killarney’s) and Gallagher’s in Long Beach. A supporter of the Emerald Society and active in the Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Also being honored are long time Irish Fair Ambassador ambassador’s and community leaders Shannon Van Nest (who has been working the Irish Fair since childhood days) assisting her father John Carl and Kathleen McKenna Votaw whose countless hours of efforts helping at Irish Fair Foundation activities is beyond match; LAPES Society member Limerick born David Copely is honored for Outstanding achievement as a local business leader and Irish pub/ restaurant owner. He is the proprietor of the Auld Dubliner Pub and also owns the Legends Sports Bar and The Boathouse on the Bay.; Irish brilliance will shine with Walter O’Brien, exemplifies Irish success in America. His business’ help Government Agencies, Silicon Valley Tech, Fortune 500’s and foreign governments in matters that need brain power and computing, trouble shooting and formulating. Saving lives and progressing industry. Walter’s life story has been developed into the current hit TV show on CBS “Scorpion”. With the 6th highest recorded IQ in World History, Walter is a credit to Ireland and Irish people everywhere!; Irish Footballer and Leader of the greater Los Angeles Wild Geese Football team Daithi “Dok” O’Caoim of Dublin who aided in the resurgence of Gaelic Football in Los Angeles; Irish born and famed Hollywood casting agent Karen Ryan from Ballyboughal, a small town in rural Dublin where her large family still live. She has been active in the Irish community for 13 years here in Los Angeles and in that time has built a successful commercial casting business and her clients have included most major car brands, Apple, Corona, Bud Light, Hershey’s, AT&T, Just For Men, LG, Nexus, Android, Absolut Vodka , and countless music videos:). Her company is Canvas Casting. Not to be forgotten is honoree Maureen Pride who has contributed countless hours to helping all things Irish in southern California. A third generation Irish American, her Cullinane/Calnan family is from Ballineen, County Cork.

Maureen, a semi-retired stay at home mom, now devotes her time to volunteering with the Red Cross, Blue Star Mothers, Civil Air Patrol and traveling with Alton, her husband of forty years.

From the sporting leaders to committed volunteers to the young Irish in Hollywood - the City of Los Angeles honors the Irish in greater Los Angeles. Well deserved!

More online: www.irishfair.org.

www.tombergins.com

www.muldoonspub.com

Page 10

Máire Clerkin, writer, dancer and actor, launches an online fund drive to bring her hit comedy, The Bad Arm – Confessions of a Dodgy Irish Dancer to the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2015.

Máire Clerkin, writer-performer, is appealing to fans, friends and our readers to ‘Send The Bad Arm to Edinburgh’. Over the past 6 years, The Bad Arm has toured North America, from Florida to Vancouver, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta, Minneapolis, San Diego and Santa Cruz – to widespread acclaim. In 2011 it was also staged in Dublin.

Now she sets her sights further a-field. It is 29 years since Máire last performed at Edinburgh Fringe: the largest arts festival in the world which takes place every August for three weeks in Scotland’s capital city.

Clerkin believes her tale of a scowling misfit girl in 1970s London will resonate with UK audiences, especially with large Irish communities in central Scotland. (It is a universal tale of the underdog, but this one spits at the chance of redemption). All she needs are the resources to make it happen.

In order to bring her drama comedy from west coast USA to east coast Scotland. Clerkin must raise $20,000 by March 25 to cover costs of renting a theatre in central Edinburgh, marketing, producer’s fees, and for technical equipment and operator. In return, participants can get signed photos, digital comedy recordings – even credit as Associate Producer!

In line with Kickstarter.com guidelines, artists have a set number of days to raise all the funds, or the project receives nothing. Máire Clerkin’s ‘Send The Bad Arm to Edinburgh’ campaign has a 30-day fundraising window, from start to finish. If the allotted budget ($20,000 US) isn’t raised before March 25, all pledges are canceled and the project will not be funded. Scary! Kickstarter is the go-to brand for fundraising – they structure it so that your project is viewed globally, the word spreads quickly, gathers momentum and is maintained by status updates – increasing the excitement with the prospect of success. Their pay system through Amazon enables people to donate via credit card from anywhere in the world.

The Bad Arm – Confessions of a Dodgy Irish Dancer is a comedy drama about growing up as the disappointing daughter of an Irish Dance teacher, in not-so-swinging 1970s London. Directed by Dan O’Connor of LA Theatresports, it has been described as ‘Punk Riverdance’. The show has won many plaudits and glowing reviews.

Our readers and fans can ledge online via this link: kck.st/1EZqFlt More info:

www.maireclerkin.com www.facebook.com/DodgyIrishDancer twitter @mauraclerkin #dodgyirishdancer

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2015 St. Patrick’s Day Special

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THE

Celtic Camera

Highlights 13th Annual Sexiest KILT CONTEST at Muldoon’s Irish Pub in Newport Beach Amazing music by CRAIC IN THE STONE, and a brilliant performance by the lovely young ladies from CLADDAGH IRISH DANCE STUDIO! The many talents of this year’s great contestants ~ including a hilarious human bagpipe performance from contestant Justin and a fantastic jig from our first ever female contestant Kriztina!

The best was saved for when the kilt-clad winner for 2015 was chosen ~ the man, the myth, the mohawk, Gereme O’Gaffney!

14 SoCal 2015 Rose of Tralee Debs To Be Presented At City Hall…

Fiona Nohilly, Brittany Anne Forsythe, Lauren Waller, Nicole Barnett Fossier, Caitlin Escobar, Cara Hunter, Kelly Ann Boyce, Courtney Teskey, Megan Haney, Michelle McEvoy , Kiely Crow, Makayla Smith, Briana Conway, Michelle Wolf

Ed Bell with a strong finish!

Laura Crockett, Irish American Author, and Bill and Nancy Lomas of Pageantry Productions at the Great Irish Tenors

Irish Arts & Entertainment

2015 St. Patrick’s Day Special

Brother Zone

Page 12

Having kids may be the best and worst thing that can ever happen to you. Brother Zone is about the transition as a family moves past the toddler period and realizes that they have, in fact, become a family.

This book started life as Mary F McDonough's daily writing journal about her sons. Mary says: "I don't think that anyone could have given me a better gift as a writer. I watched and listened as they became experts in communicating exactly what they felt and wanted. Sometimes, though, I had to hold my breath in horrified fascination."

If you have a sibling, or are interested in food, life, fighting, girls, school, books, aliens, war, burping, cats, farting, drawings, being human, growing up, weapons, baths, sex, mythology,

linguistics, body parts, and love, Brother Zone is the book for you. If those things terrify you, Brother Zone is cheaper and more fun than psychoanalysis.

The book itself is a family effort. The cover art and drawings are by Brendan and Tristan, the two boys, and the book design is by their dad, Martyn.

You can read more about Brother Zone and other Gadfly Editions titles, including After Dark—possibly the only photo poem about bats—on Gadfly Editions website or Facebook page. Brother Zone is currently available in hard cover from Amazon and other online retailers, with a paperback coming soon. www.gadflyeditions.com www.maryfmcdonough.com

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from All of Us! Open:

Monday to Friday from 4 pm - 2 am, Fri & Sat 10 am - 2 am

Food Served until 10 pm Menu includes full Irish Breakfast Fish and Chips • Bangers and Mash

MUSIC: Every Thursday, Friday & Saturday (sometimes on Sunday)

Irish Music Line Up Starts St.Patrick’s Weekend Friday, March 13 9:00pm The American Wake Saturday, March 14 9:00pm Galway Hooker Band Sunday, March 15 Trooper Thorn From 4:00pm to 8:00pm

Paddy’s Day Noon to 6:00pm Trooper Thorn

6:00pm SWAGGER, Irish Band www.harpinn.com

130 East 17th Street • Costa Mesa, CA 92627 • 949-646-8855 • www.harpinn.com

Irish Arts & Entertainment

2015 St. Patrick’s Day Special

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St. Patrick’s Day

&

Canoga Park Community March

Tuesday

Celebration

March 17th

1:00 - 4:00 pm

Gather at The Madrid Theatre, 21622 Sherman Way (just east of

March

starts at 1:30 pm.

Owensmouth) at 1:00 pm. The cLean Jerry M Everyone who attends gets to be part of our Annual Sidewalk March. Join St. Patrick, bag pipers, stilt walkers, and friends as we march through Old Town Canoga Park and once again celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the great Canoga Park Way!

Celebration

After the March, the continues at the end stage located at 21825 Sherman Way. Enjoy LIVE IRISH MUSIC with Jerry McLean, a Free Raffle, True Thomas the Irish Storyteller and other festivities!

For more information, contact Mary…

(818) 346-7480 or e-mail: mpaterson@canogaparkcal.com Sponsored by: Canoga Park Improvement Association, The Canoga Park Neighborhood Council, Los Angeles City Councilman Bob Blumenfield, Green Thumb Nursery, Follow Your Heart, Canoga Park West Hills Chamber, and PubGuide.com.

website:

www.CanogaParkCal.com LINK: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Canoga-Park-Improvement-Association-Canoga-Park-IA/131155166917643

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2015 St. Patrick’s Day Special

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A Film by Yann Demange Starring Jack O’Connell ’71 takes place over a single night in the life of a young British soldier (Jack O’Connell) accidentally abandoned by his unit following a riot on the streets of Belfast in 1971.

Unable to tell friend from foe, and increasingly wary of his own comrades, he must survive the night alone and find his way to safety through a disorientating, alien and deadly landscape.

‘71

This “War Movie” is brutal, fast paced (99 minutes flew by),depressing and treacherous . There is no happy ending. ‘71 is a film that delivers the message that war is hell and wars fought for hate and religion are more hellish than any.

‘71is well worth seeing as it brings home the painful experiences of the recent past and the “troubles” better than any film or documentary that we know of.

The enemy lines are Catholic Belfast so it is an emotional ride for anyone who knows or better yet understands anything about recent Irish history. To sum it all up in a quote from the film, “It was a confusing mission”.

About the film and director After completing the critically acclaimed and multi award winning Channel 4 series ‘Top Boy’, director Yann Demange was ready to embark on his debut feature film. Despite developing and reading numerous scripts he had not found his next project. One screenplay he did not anticipate connecting with was a thriller set in Northern Ireland during the early years of the Troubles.

However, after reading the script, he was gripped by the story of ’71, it struck a chord and the main character resonated with Demange.

The project was conceived a few years earlier as an original idea by producer Angus Lamont of Crab Apple Films. “I had a friend at school who joined the army at 15,” he said. “He’d already been to Cyprus and Northern Ireland while we were still doing our exams, he was so young to be in those situations. I’d also been researching The Troubles, and had come across a piece from the perspective of a Loyalist gang member. He talked about seeing a teenage British soldier crouched in a doorway, terrified, confused and crying in the middle of a sectarian riot. This young soldier, like most of the public on mainland UK, had no concept whatsoever of what was happening in Northern Ireland. I thought there was a story in his experience in that environment.”

It was this human experience that also attracted Demange. He immediately connected with the powerful narrative of the young man, which seemed universal and relevant in the modern world. This was a timeless story which would continue to appeal and captivate.

“What I love about Greg’s script,” says O’Connell, “is there are no answers, no attempt to shift the blame. I’m half-Irish myself, and could see that these events were realities to people. I wanted to normalise Gary as much as possible, make him someone who existed in that time.”

Filmed in the UK over nine weeks, seven of which were night shoots, ’71’s production was as arduous as it was invigorating. “It was a tough shoot, man,” laughs O’Connell, “but we knew it was going to be brutal. I was on set only a little less than Yann, so a good relationship between us was key, I trusted him totally.” Together, Demange and O’Connell cut back dialogue on set to craft a sparser characterisation. “It’s a very expressive performance,” says Demange, “Jack’s pretty alpha, he’s got real fight in him, so he found it quite taxing holding back. It’s an exhausting part to play - you can’t hide behind the lines. I think he’s brave and committed and incredible to watch.” The challenge, for O’Connell, wasn’t just the physical endurance – it was getting under the skin of the (continued next page)

Irish Arts & Entertainment

2015 St. Patrick’s Day Special

‘71 continued era. “To me, ’71 is truly a period film,” he says. “I couldn’t modernise Gary in any way.

I hope I was immersed enough to kill any of my own contemporary mannerisms and do the character justice.”

Although the production benefitted from Northern Ireland Screen’s backing from the outset, filming took place on location in England. “The Belfast of 1971 doesn’t exist in Belfast today,” Lamont explains. “To make it look as authentic as possible it had to be fake.”

Blackburn and Liverpool were cast as an uncanny double to Belfast’s terraces (it’s all in the red bricks), while Sheffield’s Park Hill Estate served as a brutalist doppelganger to the notorious Divis Estate. “Fundamentally, ’71 is a thriller,” notes Gutch “but Yann wanted to create a sense of credible action, and for that we needed credible locations.

Throughout, ex-military were posted on set to advise cast and crew”, “from the way to hold a specific rifle to the squaddie lingo,” says O’Connell, who found himself drawing on his previous work-experience in the army. “At one point I was determined to join it after my football career messed …a film that delivers the up,” he said.

It was Blackburn where the film’s alarm- message that war is hell and ing and explosive riot was staged, the wars fought for hate and religion turning point of the film. “It was extremely intense,” says Demange. “We are more hellish than any filmed over five days, rehearsed the whole sequence, and then ran it in real time, over and over again. Making sure the energy levels stayed up. The supporting actors were unbelievable and they really helped to make that scene come alive. One of the older gents got so into it that he was collecting the rocks -all rubber – and pocketing them to throw at the army.”

Film Score The film score too is hauntingly stark.The music was composed by David Holmes a Belfast born DJ & producer . No trumpets or fanfares here, it was bleak and Holmes captures the period perfectly with with a mostly guitars.

The Irish Arts & Entertainment is looking for an Editor Part time position Editing, Proofreading and Writing Skills required.

Please contact Jim McDonough 951 216-1493 jmcdonough44@gmail.com

Page 16

Irish American Heritage Month celebrates the centuries of contributions by the Irish to the United States.

By proclamation, March has been designated “Irish-American Heritage Month.” Within the authority of the Executive Branch, the President of the United States has also issued a proclamation each year since 1991.

Here is Barack Obama’s proclamation for 2015: “The vibrant culture and rich heritage of the Irish people shaped many of the earliest chapters of America’s story.

Our common values and shared vision for the future laid the foundation for an eternal friendship between Ireland and the United States, and today, daughters and sons of Erin continue to enrich our Nation. This month, we reaffirm the bonds of affection between our two great countries, and we honor the courage and perseverance of the Irish-American community.

“From ethereal green shores, generations of Irishmen and women set out across an ocean to seek a new life in the New World. Often without family or funds, these brave souls put their faith in the ideas at the heart of our democracy -- that we make our own destiny, and if we work hard and live responsibly, we can build a better future for our children and grandchildren. Early immigrants from Ireland shaped our founding documents, and in the decades and centuries since, Irish-American heroes -- like the courageous members of the Fighting 69th -- have fought and died to protect a Government of, by, and for the people.

“Today, tens of millions of Americans proudly trace their heritage to the Emerald Isle. They are descendants of our Founding Fathers, heirs to a resilient spirit forged during the Great Hunger and painful periods of discrimination, and the latest in a long line of Irish Americans who have poured their energy and passion into perfecting our Union. With grit and determination, they have enhanced our communities, bolstered our economy, and strengthened our Nation.

And their brogue continues to ring out from our halls of government and every place people strive to make our society more free, more fair, The Irish story is one of hope and resolve -- in it Americans see our own dreams and aspirations.

Our pasts are bound by blood and belief, by culture and commerce, and our futures are equally, inextricably linked.

During Irish-American Heritage Month, let us celebrate the people-to-people ties between our nations and continue together our work to forge a brighter tomorrow for every American and Irish child.

“NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2015 as Irish-American Heritage Month.

“I call upon all Americans to observe this month with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.”

Irish Arts & Entertainment

2015 St. Patrick’s Day Special

Page 17

IRISH MUSIC MAKERS 2015

accompanying on the mandolin, the acoustic guitar or the very creative, innovative sounds of his Fender Stratocaster.

THE NE’ER DUWELS

Grammy award winning percussionist Forrest Robinson provides the heartbeat of the ensemble. An alumni of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Forrest has traveled the globe to perform with such artists as India Arie, Victor Wooten, Arrested Development, TLC, and many others. A lover of Celtic music and rhythms, Forrest drives the rhythm that combines The Ne’er Duwels’ unique, eclectic blend of traditional Irish music and song with a modern, electronic edge. n

What do a Grammy award winning percussionist, a prolific Irish bard and balladeer, a master of the uilleann pipes, and an indie producer/guitarist have in common? They are The Ne’er Duwels, a formidable quartet of seasoned musicians who weave a seamless blend of traditional Irish music, world rhythms and a sound distinctly their own.

The “real deal” from Ireland, Ken O’Malley’s rich, resonant voice and engaging stage presence have delighted audiences for over 30 years. “He holds nothing back. Whether singing a passionate ballad, playing a solo on the mandolin, or explaining the gloriously sad history of Erin his homeland, Ken O’Malley is all-in, wide open to the world, and as true as an arrow’s flight. Ken’s fine tenor voice could carry him through a show all alone, but he backs himself beautifully on guitar and mandolin. . . .His wonderful wit and good humor draw us in and carry us along, and the beauty of his songs, both traditional and original, fills us with irresistible joy.”

Joining Ken onstage is Patrick D’Arcy, also from Dublin, one of the finest uilleann pipers in the United States. Patrick has toured extensively with many well known artists throughout the world and is also a talented pennywhistle and bodhran player. He is an expert on the culture and history of the Irish pipes and as such is a much sought after teacher and consultant. His work has been featured in many film, television and live theatre productions.

Bryan Dobbs is the “sound” of the Ne’er Duwels. Originally from New Mexico, Bryan adds the mysterious, the romantic and the attack that traverses the musical spectrum,

Good Read!

Irish Arts & Entertainment

2015 St. Patrick’s Day Special

Page 18

IRISH MUSIC MAKERS

Gerry Carthy

2015

Carthy was born in County Mayo, on the West Coast of Ireland. He plays a variety of instruments including banjo, guitar, tenor guitar, tin whistle, saxophone, fiddle, mandolin, bouzouki, and vocals. Inspired by the folk revival of Irish music in the ‘60s and ‘70s, he spent 10 years playing music at sessions around Galway.

Gerry is one of the founding members of the traditional Irish session at the Crane Bar, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary - the longest running session in Galway. He holds two degrees from the University College Galway: one in English, French, and German, and the other in Teaching Education. Gerry now lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico with his wife, Laura and son, Michael. He carries on the Tradition both through teaching and performances. He has been on faculty with the Music Department at the College of Santa Fe for 15 years, where he has taught classes and private lessons in tin whistle, banjo, guitar, and Celtic Ensemble. In addition, Gerry is an Artist in Residence for the New Mexico Arts Commission and has taught tin whistle and Irish language at Santa Fe Community College. He performs at Celtic festivals around the United States and plays regularly in the Santa Fe region.

“Mark Josephs, the president of the Tenor Guitar Foundation, contacted me last year to join many others who play the tenor guitar at an Annual Gathering in Oregon. I cannot tell you how much fun it was! It reminded me of being in Ireland with my old friends.

I’m going to be playing there again this year at the end of May. It’s the only gathering of tenor guitars in the world, and I’m the only Irishman!”

For more information about Gerry Carthy and to hear his music: http://www.gerrycarthy.com For more information about the Tenor Guitar Foundation and the Tenor Guitar Gathering: http://www.tenorguitarfoundation.org

Irish Arts & Entertainment

2015 St. Patrick’s Day Special

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IRISH MUSIC MAKERS 2015

Review: The Great Irish Tenors With Ed Bell

By Jim McDonough We recently had the great pleasure of experiencing Ed Bell as one of the Great Irish Tenors at the Red Leprechaun in Long Beach,. It was an amazing Dinner and Show at a fantastic Irish American Bistro Pub! We gave both FIVE SHAMROCKS which as our readers know is our top rating!

The Great Irish Tenors is a live multi media musical celebration of the Great Irish Tenor Voices of the 20th century.

This entertaining and informative performance of Story and Song, captures the magic and memories of days gone by, as noted Actor and Entertainer E.E. Bell performs some of the greatest Irish Ballads and Sing-a-Longs of all time, in the style of The Great Voices that first brought them to life.

Humorously interwoven with anecdotes of how these timeless classics came to be written, and just who those Great Irish Tenors were.

Ed and The Whooligans can be found appearing at Irish Pubs in Long Beach, most notably The Auld Dubliner and Red Leprechaun and throughout the Southland.

E.E. Bell (www.eebell.net) www.thewhooligans.com www.redleprechaun.com

From Ireland’s John McCormack in the 20s and 30s to America’s own Dennis Day in the 40s and 50s and featuring such song’s as “When Irish Eyes are Smiling”, “MacNamara’s Band”, “I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen” and Of Course the ever popular “Danny Boy”, My absolute favorite of the night was Bell’s masterful rendition of “The Minstrel Boy”!

It is an event sure to put a sparkle in every eye and perhaps a tear as well.

Aside from his incredible musical talents as lead singer and founder of The Whooligans, Bell is also a well know TV and film actor. He was Al Bundy’s pal in the recurring role of Bob Rooney in Fox’s “Married with Children”. Younger audiences have seen Ed on “Drake and Josh”, “The Amanda Show”, and most recently in Disney’s “Good Luck, Charley”.

Feature film appearances include “Air Force One”, “Water For Elephants”, Disney’s “Herbie: Fully Loaded”. And Ed has just finished filming on The Coen Brother’s next film “Hail Ceasar!” due out next year Ed and The Whooligans can be found appearing at Irish Pubs in Long Beach, most notably The Auld Dubliner and Red Leprechaun and throughout the Southland.

Dave Champagne (Accompanist) Mr. Champagne is an accomplished musician, actor and magician, specializing in Bagpipes, Flutes and Whistles.

His keyboard accompaniment adds a musical flair and at times humorous addition to the evenings entertainment.

3RD Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations Our Marquee Guinness Tent Doubles Our Size!!

Irish Music includes the

Dublin Rogues Direct from Ireland

Our main day of celebration will be Saturday 14th Open at 11am. Entertainment in the afternoon will be provided by the legendary Dublin Rogues flying in especially for the occasion. Joining them we will have pipes and drums, interactive characters and other surprises! In the evening Quel Bordel will continue the party till 1AM hours. Tuesday 17th is the same line-up however Celtic rockers the Brick Top Blaggers will be the evening headline act.

The Shamrock Irish Pub & Eatery, 39252 Winchester Road #145, Murrieta CA 92563 Phone: 951 696-5252 www.theshamrockirishpubandeatery.com

Irish Arts & Entertainment

Boycott Against Hershey Over Imports Gaining Momentum

2015 St. Patrick’s Day Special

Page 20

The Time Chair Diary

By Laura Crockett One of the most mesmerizing of modern subjects is the idea that we could, possibly, zoom back into the past, or visit the future. Even if one doesn’t believe such a thing as time travel being remotely feasible, we are fascinated by it.

I confess. I am not only fascinated, I am a true believer. I buy the Everett and De Witt theory of “many worlds”, sometimes referred to as parallel universes. However it is called, time travel is something I would do in a nano second.

You might not be able to get your favorite Cadbury Easter Candy this year because of the Hershey companies monopoly on the brand name in the US. Even though, the sales of imported Cadbury products is very low when compared to overall Hershey sales, the giant chocolate company decided last year to stop the imports through legal action.Consumers are outraged and they have started a boycott against Hershey. The court case is over, Hershey won. There will be an appeal and we are hoping that public opinion will sway Hershey. Also a boycott will hurt their stock prices even further, so far they are down $3.00 per share.

Here is the website needed to sign the petition against the ban on importing Irish and British candy. MoveOn.org/Brits and Irish United against Hershey, Please sign this worldwide petition and pass along to all your friends via facebook etc.

Contact Hershey directly is also an effective way to be heard.

Mail: Mr. John Bilbrey, CEO

The Hershey Company

100 Crystal A Drive

P.O. Box 810

Hershey, PA 17033 Email: independentdirectors@hersheys.com In addition, the Hershey Concern Line may be used by calling 1-800-362-8321 and by accessing the website www.

HersheysConcern.com.

Please let Hershey know that you and your family will be boycotting ALL Hershey products until they allow the import of Cadbury products from Ireland and England.

Please Sign this petition & Share this story. http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/protest-hersheys-lawsuit Click link to March Digital Issue Irish Arts & Entertainment

bit.ly/1NswdbU

Not knowing any physicist who has invented such a machine, I do the next best thing. I make stuff up so that I can “time travel” in my mind. I also find it a wonderful literary device for teaching history to those who want to learn through a feel of the past. I mean, what was it like to be involved in the great, and not so great, moments of humanity’s life story?

My primary mission in life is to follow Rudyard Kipling’s advice on teaching history as if it were a story, because then it won’t be forgotten. Amen. My first novel, Mary Stumpf at the Battle of Princeton, not only gives the reader a feel for a major American event, it gives an accounting of what life was like in 1776 New Jersey, when troops came marching through, not just once, but several times during the months of December and January 1776-1777. How would you like it if soldiers galloped their horses across your barnyard? How would you feel if you watched as a man you talked to moments before, died in front of you? Not pleasant for a 12 year old girl to witness.

But witness such events children did. And still do.

My newest foray into history and children is the Time Chair Diary. The time chair is, you guessed it, a time traveling device.

This is a series of books written to teach history as Mr. Kipling suggested. In the first book, Big Battles in Trenton, the main character, 11 year-old Ell Evans, desires to time travel because she loves history, but the history books leave her flat. She tells the physicist who invented the time chair that she wants to “feel” history. That is exactly what happens to her when she is taken back to December 1776, when Washington crossed the Delaware to take Trenton.

Have a child or grandchild that likes history, sort-of? Consider this book as a way for them to feel the past, and inspire them to study it more on their own.

Big Battles in Trenton is available as a paperback, ebook and audio book. All available on Amazon, and iTunes (audio book).

Irish Arts & Entertainment

2015 St. Patrick’s Day Special

Listings are FREE. Email to: irishart@pacbell.net

Geeks Who Drink Pub Quiz Auld Dubliner Irish Pub 71 S. Pine Ave. • Long Beach 562-437-8300 www.aulddubliner.com

Starts at 8:00pm The Shamrock’s Karaoke Party Night The Shamrock Irish Pub & Eat. 39252 Winchester Rd. Ste. 145 Murrieta, CA 951-696-5252

Second Sunday

the auspices of Father Michael Gleeson and Coordinator Sister Alicia. Drop by and have fun, talk about the ould country, enjoy a bit of singing, a bit of dancing and good old Irish FUN! St. Cornelius Catholic Church • 5500 E. Wardlow Rd. • Long Beach An Claidheamh Soluis / The Celtic Arts Center

Starts at 9:00pm TEAM TRIVIA. Pub Quiz with great prizes.

O’Brien’s Irish Pub 2226 Wilshire • Santa Monica 310-829-5303 www.obriensla.com

Comedy Night with the Aces Comedy Club & Guests.

The Shamrock Irish Pub & Eat. 39252 Winchester Rd. Ste. 145 Murrieta, CA • 951-696-5252 www.theshamrockirishpuband eatery.com

ACTION TRIVIA. Get ready to enjoy food and drink while you compete in a live team trivia contest. It’s free to play and prizes are awarded! For more info, go to: www.tboylestavern.com

6:30 to 10:00pm THE SHAM-JAM MIC NIGHT Interested musicians or singers are invited to sing and play. If you want a chance to entertain on the stage at THE SHAMROCK, please drop by.

The Shamrock Irish Pub and Eatery • 39252 Winchester Rd. Murrieta, CA • 951-696-5252 www.theshamrockirishpuband eatery.com

8:00 to 11:30pm YE OLDE KING’S HEAD PUB QUIZ. Sports Schedule on King’s Head FaceBook page!

King’s Head Pub & Restaurant 116 Santa Monica Blvd. • Santa Monica, CA 310-451-1402 www.yeoldekingshead.com

ACOUSTIC NIGHT. No cover charge at Sonny’s.

Sonny McLean’s Irish Pub 2615 Wilshire Blvd.

Santa Monica, CA 310-449-1811 www.sonnymcleans.

FRI

Live entertainment. Band & schedules online or call.

Open daily 11:00am - 11:00pm.

Olde Ship British Pub 1120 West 17th St. • Santa Ana 714-550-6700 www.theoldeship.com

SAT

q

Live entertainment. Band & schedules online or call.

Open daily 11:00am - 11:00pm.

Olde Ship British Pub 1120 West 17th St. • Santa Ana 714-550-6700 www.theoldeship.com

5:00pm KEN O’MALLEY SOLO SHOW Auld Dubliner Irish Pub 71 S. Pine Ave. • Long Beach 562-437-8300 www.aulddubliner.com

q

2:00pm to 4:00pm

St. Cornelius’ Informal Irish gathering under

MON

ACTION TRIVIA. Get ready to enjoy food and drink while you compete in a live team trivia contest. It’s free to play and prizes are awarded! For more info, go to: www.tboylestavern.com

TUES

7:00pm Genuine Open Irish Session - Musicians invited.

O’Brien’s Irish Pub 2226 Wilshire • Santa Monica 310-829-5303 www.obriensla.com

WED

Traditional Irish Session Auld Dubliner Irish Pub 71 S. Pine Ave. • Long Beach 562-437-8300 www.aulddubliner.com

THUR

SUN

OnGoing Celtic Calendar

Page 21

Monday Night Workshops & Seisiún Free introductory workshops in...Irish Language and Ceili Dance. Open to all levels. our Famous Celtic Seisiun Open to all levels! 9–11pm. Come down and enjoy Southern California’s longest running traditional Celtic music jam session. It’s a grand time for all! FREE admission!

The Mayflower Club • 11110 Victory Boulevard • North Hollywood www.celticartscenter.com

1st Tuesday of the Month 9:30am FRIENDS OF IRELAND BREAKFAST. This great bunch of people, all with a love of Ireland and all things Irish meet for breakfast on the first Tuesday of every month. All of our readers and everyone with an appreciation of Ireland and all things Irish are invited to attend.

Contacts and Info: allene7@verizon.net or Pete at 714-200-7365 Every Wednesday

PUB Quiz with GEEKS WHO DRINK The Harp Inn 130 E 17th St. #A Costa Mesa, CA www.harpinn.com

17th of Every Month Join us at the pub all day long the 17th of every month for St. Practice Day!

Every Second Wednesday LA Police Emerald Society www.emerald society.net

r

Practice makes perfect! We will have all types of SPECIALS each month to help celebrate.

The Harp Inn • 130 E 17th St #A • Costa Mesa, CA

Click here to go to: www.pubguide.com

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: We provide the information and verify it when it is submitted to us. We still recommend that our readers call first to make sure the event or function is being held as scheduled. Cancellations and changes do happen on occasion. We update these listings on a quarterly basis.

Irish Arts & Entertainment

California

2015 St. Patrick’s Day Special

Page 22

Irish Community Calendar

By Date

Concerts • Musical Events • Classes • Irish Dance • Socials • Special Events • Theatre

MAR Incredible Irish Music Line Up for St. Patrick’s weekend at The Harp Inn Irish Pub Friday, March 13 9:00pm

The American Wake Saturday, March 14 9:00pm

Galway Hooker Band Sunday, March 15 Trooper Thorn From 4:00pm to 8:00pm

Paddy’s Day Noon to 6:00pm

Trooper Thorn 6:00pm

SWAGGER, Irish Band

The Harp Inn An authentic Irish Pub 130 E. 17th St. Costa Mesa, CA 949 646-8855 www.harpinn.com

The Auld Dubliner’s

St Patrick’s Weekend Live Music Line Up through 3/17 Friday, March 13 The Whooligans Saturday, March 14 The American Wake Sunday, March 15 Traditional Irish Session Starts at 4:00pm Monday, March 16

Them Bearded Men & Guests Tuesday, March 17 The Humble Hooligans Auld Dubliner Irish Pub 71 S Pine Ave Long Beach, CA Call or go online to check times.

562 437-8300 www.aulddubliner.com

Saturday, March 14 7:30am

Live Action Rugby Ireland v Wales The Harp Inn 130 E. 17th St. Costa Mesa, CA 949 646-8855

www.harpinn.com

Saturday, March 14th 7:00pm

THE THREE IRISH TENORS

Classical and contemporary Irish music performed by the internationally-acclaimed Three Irish Tenors, accompanied by concert violinist Tara Novak.

Poway Center for the Performing Arts Tickets starting at $45 www.threeirishtenors.eventbrite.com

Sunday, March 15 Call or drop by for show times

The Whooligans and Irish Dancers

Ed Bell and a talented group of Irish Traditional musicians.

This band is the most fun of ANY Irish Pub & Rebel Tunes purveyors in SoCal (or probably anywhere)!

The Red Leprechaun LA Area’s ONLY Irish American Gastro Pub, a great Pub with incredible food and an artfully selected craft beer selection!

4000 E. Aneheim St. Long Beach, CA 562 343-5560 www.redleprechaun.com

Click here to go to: www.pubguide.com

Sunday, March 15 1:00pm There will be an early start on St. Patrick’s Day, at Old in World Huntington Beach.

The Second Annual Irish Sweepstakes will take place with the traditional Dachshund races!

Good old Irish/Celtic music by The Wylde Rovers The fun goes on all afternoon, so get there early, why wait in line?

Old World 7561 Center Ave #49, Huntington Beach, CA 92647 714 895-8020 http://oldworld.ws

St. Patrick’s Day Céilí Monday, March 16 7:00pm An Claidheamh Soluis Celtic Arts Center North Hollywood, CA

www.celticartscenter.com

We’ll be dancing ‘til the sheep come home!

Irish Arts & Entertainment

California

2015 St. Patrick’s Day Special

Irish Community Calendar

Page 23

By Date

Concerts • Musical Events • Classes • Irish Dance • Socials • Special Events • Theatre Tuesday, March 17 6:30pm A special St. Patrick’s Day Dinner and Show

Kris Colt & the Black Rose Band IN CONCERT!

“One of the best Irish Groups around today; they form a cohesive unit that produces a really able, lively and melodious sound.” www.kriscolt.com

Marina City Club Marina del Rey Call Kris to reserve a table: 818 590-1133 No Cover

Irish Theater Opens March 28

Previews 3/26 & 3/27

“Corktown ‘57”

A powerful family drama set in the Philadelphia Irish community of “Corktown,” a seething hotbed of pro-Irish Republican activity. Emotions run high and battle lines are drawn when family and political loyalties collide.

Written by John Fazakerley Starring Jonah Beres, Josh Clark, Andrew Connolly, Eve Danzeisen, Belen Greene, Kevin P. Kearns, John Ruby, Nick Tate, Rebecca Tilney

Performances: March 28 – May 3

Thursday at 8 p.m.: March 26 ONLY (preview) Fridays at 8 p.m.: March 27 (preview); April 3, 10, 17, 24; May 1 Saturdays at 8 p.m.: March 28 (opening); April 4, 11, 18, 25; May 2 Sundays at 2 p.m.: March 29; April 5, 12, 19, 26; May 3 TICKET PRICES: • Fridays and Sundays: $25 • Saturdays: $30 • Previews: $15 Odyssey Theatre 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd.

Los Angeles CA 90025 Tickets & Info: 323 960-5770 www.plays411.com/ corktown

BRILLIANT IRISH TEXT MESSAGE: “Mary, I’m just having one more pint with the lads. If I’m not home in 20 minutes, read this message again.”

Irish Arts & Entertainment

2015 St. Patrick’s Day Special

Page 24

• All weekday Beginner Level One classes (4 - 5pm) • Mondays – Silver Lake • Tuesdays – Pasadena • Wednesdays – Burbank • Thursdays – North Hollywood • Saturday morning (9 - 10am) Beginner Level One class – Burbank • Adult Class (all levels) Wednesdays (8:30 - 9:30pm) – Burbank

HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY

$6

a month gives water to one for life.

Sign up by OCTOBER 15 and get a FREE Quarter-page Ad in the December IRISH ARTS!!

Call: 951-216-1493 Copy this to your browser or CLICK HERE in Digital Edition

http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?pn-irishnewsusa

Irish Arts & Entertainment

Ed O’Neill

2015 St. Patrick’s Day Special

Page 25

continued

Cincinnati,” we shot down in Coronado. Got complicated toward the end, went off the rails but it was on for a year.

IA&E: Well, so going back a bit. After the Steelers, you went to New York? This was your struggling actor phase, cause I read that you started your career in theater.

O’Neill: Well, no, not right away. I went to Florida first. I went down there with my old college roommate Sammy Angott. His father, Sammy Angott by the same name was a famous boxer from Little Washington, PA and they lived in Massillon, Ohio when I knew him. Sammy Angott (the father) was the Lightweight Champion in the 40s. He had a couple Ed O’Neill as a young Broadway and theater star, aabout 1971. hundred fights and he’s in the Boxing Hall of Fame.

His son, my roommate, pitched short relief for the Pirates. But then, Sammy had a motorcycle accident and got hurt and couldn’t pitch so they let him go.

So here we were, two bust outs, one from the Pittsburgh Steelers and one from the Pittsburgh Pirates. We went to Fort Lauderdale and found jobs.

I worked as a bellhop, Sammy worked as a night bartender. We thought of buying into a bar on the beach. Talked about it a little for a few months but then we went back home.

I came back to Youngstown. Sammy went back to Massillon. We did not each other see too much after that. He’s back in Massillon now.

When I went home, I started teaching school as a substiture teacher.

I taught in the inner city, mostly black kids, I had grown a beard and the called me wolf-man “Mr. Wuffman”, it was funny, a lot of funny stories with that.

Then, I started thinking, I needed to do something else, I looked in the paper and saw ads for the Youngstown Playhouse and I went down and did the audition. I was not very good but I did this several times and never got the part. Then, I was told or realized that the parts were kind of precast, they planned the schedule around the people they had, who they knew and that made sense. They had to put it in the paper, cause they got certain monies and had to be an open call. Well, that was alright I thought and I felt a little better about it. I went to another call anyhow and I finally got a small part in the Greek Tragedy, Antigene. There were two stages, this was the smaller stage. I literally carried a spear but I was on stage and I did that and I really liked it.

So, I decided to take some classes, I’m already 25 or 26 and I still wasn’t sure. So I go to Youngstown University and talk to the Artistic Director.

His name was William B Hulsopple, He was a big guy with hugh head like an animal and he was gay, seemed unlikely, big hands .

He asked me what I wanted and I said I wanted to get into the program.

He explains that all the preliminary classes, introductory stuff was taught in the Fall.

I tell him I’m an actor, on the basis of carrying the spear. I was already 26 or something and I couldn’t wait around. He kind of chuckles, knows I’m lying but he lets me in! (in the Spring). I missed the preliminary classes that were taught in the Fall. There were some some very good actors and I was completely lost. They are doing monologues and scene work. There are some pretty good actors in there! But I really worked hard. I kept at it. I caught on a bit and I started doing pretty well.

The whole thing was very social and a lot of parties, lots of drinking and most of them were appling for teaching positions. talked about teaching or working after college. After a play, for example, as we got toward the end of that college experience, we talked about what are you going to do? Most of them are going to teach. I wanted to make my living as an actor, go on Broadway. They kidded me and I would hear things like “Are you nuts, nobody goes to Broadway! Do you know how many people try?”

Why the fuck would I want to teach college kids? I am a college kid. I was the only one; well there was one other who did try, he was a good guy, his name was Gary. He went to New York and he came back, it had not gone well and then he went down to New Orleans to get money.

He got a job on an oil rig. There was a terrible explosion and he was burned horribly! Took months for him to die, really sad story.

IA&E: Tragic, poor guy.

O’Neill: Really sad story.

IA&E: Then...you kept working as a substitute teacher when you studied acting?

O’Neill: No, this is right after. I taught for awhile and then I got a full time job as manager of a little pub at the University in the student union.

IA&E: What year was this?

O’Neill: Ah, this would’ve been ‘74, ‘75, at the pub. It was a lovely little place, served 3.2 beer and sandwiches. Had jam sessions on Friday nights. It was a civil service job and it was run by bureaucrats...

Meetings on Monday mornings...just not my kind of people. And it was partly my fault. There was a restaurant and bookstore, all inside and it was dark. I was the manager and I had bartenders and I would leave to take a break and go outside. And they would be there when I got back writing me up. I did not fit in there and they they attempted to fire me.

At one point, they were trying to get rid of me and they forced me out.

When I was turning in my keys to my boss, KJ, I said, I’m going to walk back in here and get my job and keys back. continued page 26

Irish Arts & Entertainment

Ed O’Neill

2015 St. Patrick’s Day Special

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continued

You see it was a Civil Service job and I had just passed the probationary period. I was mad so I filed a complaint or I sued them before the state commission or board, Anyway, my mother knows this black lawyer Curtis McCullum and she recommends him. Curtis is a real shyster. I never liked him but my mother liked him and my brother liked him. They thought he was brilliant!

My Mother (a Social Worker) asks if its because he’s black. God, no, I’m not anti-black, I tell her. I just don’t like him. Anyway, he drives me to the hearing in Columbus. We’re going to find out whether I’m fired for good or what is going to happen. This guy had dealings with Columbus unions and stuff, but he’s a real scum-bag to me. He did no preparation, he doesn’t know the case, I’m thinking I’m done, this is going to be embarrassing, we’re going to lose.

But, on the three hour drive to Columbus, I happened to tell him a story about an incident that had happened a couple weeks before I got fired.

KJ, my boss, the one who did not like me and who had fired me, had a boss, Phil Hirse, from upstate New York, not a bad guy by the way. His wife was a gal who was very attractive, and she would come in the pub, she had boyfriends, she was making out in the pub.

So one day, she comes in and she asks me to come over for pizza, there was a game on so I say OK. I figured how could it hurt to have pizza with my boss and his wife. So, I go there and find out the boss, this guy Hirse is out of town. Please believe me, I would not have minded to stay!

But I begged off, whatever, I make an excuse and I get out of there. She knew I was lying of course.

Ed laughed as he told me this part: I did not even get a slice of pizza!

IN&E: You were being honorable.

O’Neill: Yes, and I was seldom honorable about that in those days.

Anyway, the next Monday, I go into work and Phil calls me into his office and he’s upset. She had told him that I had come by and put some moves on her and she had to throw me out. I told Phil, that’s not what happened, that’s a fucking lie. I told him exactly what had really happened but he did not believe me.

I did all the work for Curtis. We go to the hearing, do a couple preliminary things, Phil Hirse is there; anyway, in the hearing, Curtis brings it up and asks Hirse if that incident had happened. Hirse says yes. Curtis asks him if it had colored his judgement and Hirse says no but the hearing officer doesn’t believe him and Curtis nails him, and we win the case.

Back in Youngstown, at the University, I walk into the office of KJ and I said I won the case and I want my job back. So I even get the back pay.

If she had had a gun, she would have shot me! I went back to work and right away and I realized that I did not want to be there, I just wanted to win.

IA&E: To prove your point?

O’Neill: Well, yeah in a way. So I took off for lunch to this other restaurant that I knew well. My grandfather and my father went there, an Italian place, the Golden Dawn! I’m sitting at the bar eating and I ask the bartender, Hey Carmin, you got a quarter, this is way before cell phones.

I called KJ on the payphone. She says, Are you coming in late? ...really sharply on the phone. I said ‘No, this is another matter; I’m quitting, I’ll give you two weeks, this is my notice.

Back in the her office. She tells me, I’ve talked to Phil Hirse already and he agrees you don’t need to work your last two weeks, we’ll pay you.

Then she asked WHY?? You won the case, you got your job back. I told her, I just wanted to win. I’m going to New York.

Later, I became pretty successful and they (Youngstown State University) brought me back. I was walking through the Student Union and bumped into KJ on the elevator and said, Oh, you’re still here!

After, I won the case and quit, I went to New York, that was what launched me to New York. I wanted to be a real actor, You can’t get better working with amateurs. Nothing wrong with what they do but it was not what I wanted to do. I wanted to work with pros. I also really did not want to go. All my family was there, my uncles and aunts. I really liked Youngstown and I was also probably a little scared.

IA&E: I read online that you sold your car for the money to go to New York.

O’Neill: Well, partly. I had A Fiat, it was a terrible car, did not run well so I did sell that but I had some other money too. I knew that I would need to work too. Nobody was giving me money, not my Father or any help. I was a grown man so I did what I needed to do, bussed tables, waited on tables.

IA&E: OK, so in New York, did you take acting classes there?

O’Neill: No, I needed to work. I got the backstage magazines and looked for parts. You mostly did not get paid. There were so many. Off, off Broadway. I figured out which were the best ten places to look, The Phoenix, SoHo Rep and other places. Places where casting directors actually came to watch the plays. I did that and I worked at O’Neal’s Balloon, right across from Lincoln Center. At O’Neal’s, you were in the mix working and meeting people. People know what you do, you hear things and you make contacts. I got a part in play at SoHo Rep, “Requiem For A Heavyweight” by Rod Serling. It was the first production of that play.

Next Issue: Broadway, Celebrations and Clairvoyance, Of Mice And Men, TV Legend *The Big Apple, Great Police/Crime Drama Created by David Milch. Starring Ed O’Neill, a 2001 series on CBS. Reviews of the show were largely positive. Variety called it “a triumph all around” and compared it favorably to NYPD Blue and Murder One. Entertainment Weekly praised O’Neill’s performance as Detective Mooney and gave the show high marks.

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