Category: arts and culture

Emigrant film dominates Irish awards

The emigrant-themed film Kings has dominated the nomination for the Irish Film and Television Awards. The film, which tells its story mostly through Irish, depicts the troubled lives of a group of Irish emigrants who left Galway for London in the 1970s. It received 14 nominations, including the categories of best Irish film, best actor… Continue reading Emigrant film dominates Irish awards

Irish Theatrical Diaspora focuses on Dublin Theatre Festival

The Irish Theatrical Diaspora group will hold its 2007 conference in association with the Dublin Theatre Festival and the Irish Theatre Institute. The conference will explore the history of the Dublin Theatre Festival in its first five decades, focusing on landmark Irish plays first staged at the DTF visiting companies and productions from abroad that… Continue reading Irish Theatrical Diaspora focuses on Dublin Theatre Festival

Immigration scholar retires

One of the leading scholars of Irish immigration to the US is retiring. Charles Fanning, who founded the Irish and Irish immigration Studies programme at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is leaving teaching after 14 years there, reports the Southern Illinoisan. Dr Fanning has written and edited more than ten books, including “Exiles of Erin: Nineteenth-Century… Continue reading Immigration scholar retires

Potato patch inspires thoughts of home

Kevin Connolly, a US-based Irish emigrant, wrote in Saturday’s Irishman’s Diary in the Irish Times of his experiences growing potatoes in his home in Indiana. While the topic may seem prosaic, the writer creates a particularly  moving snapshot of a simple link with home. He notes that he grows Kerr’s Pinks, and adds, “Inspired by… Continue reading Potato patch inspires thoughts of home