New York Irish Arts

How it’s New York: The Crucible is on Broadway right now, through July 17. How it’s Irish: Ciarán Hinds, Jim Norton and Saoirse Ronan are all Irish (Ronan born in US, brought up Ireland). We spoke to Ciarán Hinds about his role as Deputy Governor Danforth in Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible,” running through July 17 on Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theater on Broadway.    Featured tune is The Gloaming’s “The Pilgrim’s Song.” The Gloaming are  Martin Hayes, Dennis Cahill, Iarla Ó’Lionáird, Caoimhín Ó’Raghellaigh, and Thomas Bartlett aka Doveman.     Share this:FacebookTwitterLinkedInTumblrPinterestEmailGooglePrint

How it’s New York: The show runs at the newly refurbished Irish Repertory Theatre, a gem of Off-Broadway Theatre in NYC How it’s Irish: Playwright Conor McPherson is Irish; the play takes place in Ireland, and two of the three actors are Iris– including Lisa Dwan, featured on this podcast. We spoke to Lisa Dwan about her role as Neasa in Conor McPherson’s “Shining City,” running through July 3 at Irish Repertory Theatre, in Irish Rep’s first show back at its home on 22nd Street.    Featured tune is Mick McAuley’s “The Constellation Slide Set,”  from his new CD “Highs & Bellows,” with Colm O Caoimh.   Share this:FacebookTwitterLinkedInTumblrPinterestEmailGooglePrint

How it’s New York: The show performs at Abrons Arts Center, and its satire and humor touches a New York chord. How it’s Irish: Pan Pan Theatre is an Irish company. We spoke to Gavin Quinn about Pan Pan Theatre  and “The Seagull and Other Birds.”   Featured song is Eileen Ivers’ “Walk On” from “Beyond the Bog Road,” vocals by Tim Shelton.    Share this:FacebookTwitterLinkedInTumblrPinterestEmailGooglePrint

How it’s (New Jersey) New York: Author Belinda McKeon lives in the city and teaches in New Jersey; Rónán Ó’Snodaigh of Kila recently performed at the Irish Arts Center. How it’s Irish: Belinda and Rónán are both Irish, and several of the authors in “A Kind of Compass” are Irish as well. We spoke to Belinda McKeon about  “A Kind of Compass,” a short story collection with fiction by 17 writers, and to Rónán Ó Snodaigh of Kila about his solo work and direction. t  Featured song Glen Hansard’s “No Mercy,” from Glen’s new CD “Didn’t He Ramble.” Share this:FacebookTwitterLinkedInTumblrPinterestEmailGooglePrint

How it’s (New Jersey) New York: The production of “Waiting for Godot” is taking place at the NYU Skirball Center; Mike Farragher lives in New Jersey How it’s (Scottish) Irish: Samuel Beckett was Irish, as are Judy Hegarty Lovett and Conor Lovett of Gare St. Lazare Theatre; Mike Farragher is Irish-American. Featured tune is from Iona Scottish Session, a Scottish session in Brooklyn. We spoke to Conor Lovett about the Gare St. Lazare production of “Waiting for Godot” by Samuel Beckett at the NYU Skirball Center. For our money, Gare St. Lazare are the best interpreters of Beckett in the world. Alice Farrell spoke to Irish-American author Mike Farragher about his new book, “A Devilish Pint.”  Tune of the week is “Mary Kelly’s,” from the Iona Session CD “Island Wild.” Iona Session are havig a CD release party at Jalopy in Brooklyn on Oct. 30. For more information, visit Ionascottishsession.com [Continue Reading]

How it’s New York: Actor Ciaran Byrne lives in NYC, and has appeared in NYC’s Irish Repertory Theatre. How it’s Irish: Byrne is from Newry, and the show ‘Public Morals’ is about Irish-American cops and gangsters. We spoke to Ciaran Byrne about his life as an actor, and about “Public Morals,” which begins on Tuesday. Aug. 25, on TNT. The show, created by Ed Burns, stars Brian Dennehy, and is set in New York during the 1960s. Ciaran Byrne Featured tune is from Dylan Foley  and Dan Brown, from their new CD “Irish Music from the Hudson Valley,” which pays tribute to the Hudson Valley Scene where they both grew up. It’s a great CD– pick it up at Bandcamp! Video after the jump… [Continue Reading]

How it’s New York: Many of the players and teachers are from the Tri-State area How it’s Irish: It’s Irish week at the Augusta Heritage Center! We spoke to Dan Neely about Irish Week at the Augusta Heritage Center at Davis and Elkins College, a teaching week founded in 1982 by Mick Moloney in West Virginia.   Loads of great teachers on tap including Colin Farrell, Norah Rendell, Ivan Goff, Billy McComiskey, Shannon Dunne, and many more. Tune of the week is from Colin Farrell from  his brand new CD. Can’t wait! [Continue Reading]

How it’s New York: Winsome Brown’s play is performed at La Mama ETC, one of the most important Off-Broadway houses in New York City, and Brown lives here. How it’s Irish: The play “This Is Mary Brown” is about Brown’s Irish mother, Mary Brown. Playwright/actress Winsome Brown talked to me and to Books Editor Michelle Woods at Greenwich Village’s Cafe Reggio a few weeks ago about her new play, “This Is Mary Brown,” about her mum, which finishes a run at La Mama ETC on June 28.  More information can be found at http://lamama.org/this-is-mary-brown/. The featured tune is from Cape Breton fiddler, Gillian Head, from her new CD, “Spirit.” “Willie’s Mom in Donegal,” which has two from Jerry Holland, and one Irish jig: “Willie Joe’s Jig,” “Mom’s Jig,” and “The Donegal Lass.” Share this:FacebookTwitterLinkedInTumblrPinterestEmailGooglePrint

How it’s New York: Kevin Dundon’s new show is airing on WLIW, presented by WNET. Also, in the New York area, we have easy access to the fresh foods Kevin says make all the difference. How it’s Irish: Kevin is from Wexford, and he’s a fan and an expert on the best of Irish cooking. Food in Ireland is great these days… yet another reason to go! Kevin Dundon is back for his second PBS series, “Kevin Dundon’s Back to Basics,” which begins airing on Friday, March 13. In the show, he will take the viewer from poaching an egg to mastering a soufflé and more. “Back to Basics” follows his first series, the acclaimed “Modern Irish Food,” and PBS is showing a marathon of them both on Saturday, March 14, and on Sunday, March 15. For recipes and more on Kevin, visit kevindundon.com. More information can be found at CreateTV.com. The featured tune is from Cape Breton fiddleer, Gillian Head, from her new CD, “Spirit.” Share this:FacebookTwitterLinkedInTumblrPinterestEmailGooglePrint

How it’s New York: Altan often play here; last seen in Brooklyn this summer, and playing City Winery March 1. New York-based Bruce Molsky is one of the guests on the CD. How it’s Irish: Altan are from Donegal. This album blends Irish and Appalachian sounds. Altan, specifically Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Ciarain Tourish, and Dáithí Sproule, talk to us about their brand new CD “The Widening Gyre.” Special guests on the CD include Bruce Molsky, Tim O’Brien, Alison Brown, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Sam Bush, Darol Anger and more.   Share this:FacebookTwitterLinkedInTumblrPinterestEmailGooglePrint

Malachy McCourt talks to us at APAP, and Micheall O’Domhnaill talks to us about “The Sligo Masters,” a documentary about the lives of Michael Coleman, James Morrison and Paddy Killoran, three of the greatest traditional Irish fiddle players. The film was made in Sligo, Dublin and New York. To see it in full, order a DVD from fleadhcheoil.ie. The tune comes from Brian Conway, who is featured in the film, off of his album “Consider the Source.”       [Continue Reading]

Interview with Stephen Rea,  director of Field Day Theatre in Derry. Rea is currently appearing as Oedipus/Otto in Sam Shepard’s new play “A Particle of Dread (Oedipus Variations)” which runs at Signature Theatre in New York City through Jan. 4. The tune comes from James Cleveland and Jim Norman, from their new CD “Glad Tidings.” [Continue Reading]

Interview with Reidin O’Flynn, artistic director of Catskills Irish Arts Week. Reidin talks to us about what’s new and wonderful in this 20th year anniversary of the week, which runs from Sunday, July 13 through Saturday, July 19 (really, the 20th). Music from The Yanks, Conal O’Grada, Kevin Crawford, Margie Mulvihill, Robbie O’Connell, Oisin Mac Diarmada, Brian Conway, Matt Cranitch and Jackie Daly, and audio clips from Catskills Irish Arts Weeks past, featuring Joanie Madden, Flo Blancke, Dermot Byrne, Matt Mancuso, Brid Harper, Kieran Jordan and others. Dawn at the Blackthorne, after playing all night. I’m in the red shirt, facing away. Share this:FacebookTwitterLinkedInTumblrPinterestEmailGooglePrint

Gavin Quinn talks about All That Fall, a production from his Pan Pan Theatre, that ran at Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Next Wave Festival in December. Samuel Beckett’s radio play was presented as a staged installation, with the audience listening to a carefully made recording while sitting in rocking chairs. Featured tune from John Munnelly from “Together for Christmas: A Contemporary Celtic Christmas Collection” produced by Anita Daly. Share this:FacebookTwitterLinkedInTumblrPinterestEmailGooglePrint

Bob Currie talks about The Pipes of Christmas, concerts that take place in New York City on Dec. 15, and in New Jersey on Dec. 16. featuring the  PM Kevin Ray Blandford Memorial Pipe Band , Scottish Gaelic Mod Champions Jennifer Port and Paul McCallum, James Robinson from Braveheart, Riverdance piper Christopher Layer, New England fiddle champion Paul Woodiel and more. Featured tune from the Christopher Layer! Share this:FacebookTwitterLinkedInTumblrPinterestEmailGooglePrint

Glen Hansard talks about his new album Rhythm and Repose, which came out on June 19, about writing happy love songs that do not whinge,  about not shying away from sorrow and his connection to trad. Glen is on tour now through December, check his website http://www.glenhansardmusic.com for more info! Featured song from the new CD! Share this:FacebookTwitterLinkedInTumblrPinterestEmailGooglePrint

How It’s New York: The Teetotallers are playing Joe’s Pub, NYC, on Sunday June 3rd, finishing their East Coast tour. How It’s Irish: This is a “supergroup” made up of three of the greatest players in trad: Martin Hayes, John Doyle, Kevin Crawford! Chats with awe-inspiring fiddler Martin Hayes and virtuoso flutist from Lúnasa Kevin Crawford  of The Teetotallers, a supergroup made up of the two of them plus guitar wiz John Doyle, as they embark on their first U.S. tour. The tour concludes at Joe’s Pub, NYC on Sunday, June 3. Featured tune from Kevin Crwford! Share this:FacebookTwitterLinkedInTumblrPinterestEmailGooglePrint

Paddy Moloney on The Chieftains’ new CD,Voice of Ages (50 year celebration!), Honor Molloy reads from her forthcoming novel Smarty Girl, Moya Brennan on the WLIW Special Clannad Live at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, airing Mar. 17 on WLIW, Mick Moloney on Irish influences on the American sound (and the origins of the word Hillbilly), from his talk at Sacred Heart University, Mike Farragher tells us what’s in his mailbag. Featured tune from Moya Brennan! HAPPY SAINT PATRICK’S DAY! Share this:FacebookTwitterLinkedInTumblrPinterestEmailGooglePrint

Terence Mulligan on The Craic Festival, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh from Altan on the new album, The Poison Glen, the Irish language, and Courtly Love (the band is at City Winery March 8!); Brendan Fay on the St. Pats for All Parade, March 4 (fundraiser concert at Irish Arts Center March 2); and excerpts from Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s speech at the Consulate February 9. Featured tune from Altan! Share this:FacebookTwitterLinkedInTumblrPinterestEmailGooglePrint

Joanie Madden on Cherish the Ladies, and new album Country Crossroads; Jill O’Mahony on The Willow’s Whisper, a collection  Irish and Indigenous American poem (readings from  from Ailbhe Ní Ghearbuigh  and Travis Hedge Coke); Susan McKeown on the new singer-songwriter series she’s curating, SongLives, debuting at Irish Arts Center 2/17, and Mike Farragher on What’s In His Mailbag: Beannacht and Seamus Kelleher. Featured tune from Michael Brunnock! Share this:FacebookTwitterLinkedInTumblrPinterestEmailGooglePrint