Film Fleadh Debut Night
Edited by Kevin Smith
The theme was fun; it wasn't really a theme party but there seemed to be one nonetheless. The launch party for the Guinness Fleadh Film Festival--which ran from March 9- 12 in New York City--took place at Shine, a SoHo night club. The crowd wasn't the usual Wednesday night clubbers, but was made up of enthusiasts for the festival to come. With an open bar from 8-10 p.m. (sponsored by Bailey's), it was more of a shmooze-fest for film fans, actors and young indie film-makers with a smattering of backers of the event. There were no attitudes and everyone was having a good time except three girls from earlier in the evening who seemed to be glued to their chair waiting for celebrities who were advertised to appear. Within one sentence of asking one how she was invited, she asked "Did any of the celebrities come yet!" Well, Liam Neeson did not make it but the Winters Brothers from the television show, Oz did and so did Jean Butler and Colin Dunne from Dancing on Dangerous Ground. As for the festival itself, once again the organizer discovered lots of new Irish films that would not have been exposed otherwise. They provided a forum for the filmmakers to speak about their craft and a few additional late night parties for all to enjoy Watch the pages of this magazine for future reviews, interviews and coverage of the filmmakers debuted at the Fleadh. Contact the organizers at 212-615-6608 or view the website- www.filmfleadh.com -for reviews and information about future events.
ST.PADDY'S DAY Jam 2000
Artists 4 Ireland, an organization with offices in Dublin and New York has developed St Patrick's Day Jam 2000. The J.A.M. (Justice,Arts, and Music) is the largest Irish arts showcase in New York City.This event begins March 9 and will culminate March 18. Only in its second year, J.A.M. 2000 will eclipse last year's event and there are already plans underway for an even bigger J.A.M. next year.
Aside from the great arts and music, the group also hopes to erase some of the well-worn stereotypes and cliches that have dominated Ireland's image abroad. Trhis year's chairman, Senator Christopher Dodd, lends his support to this festival which will bring a variety of arts and entertainment to the N.Y.C. area.
HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
Music J.A.M.-a week of music at Arlenef Grocery featuring local/national acts.
Comedy J.A.M.-benefit honoring Gerry Red Wilson featuring Colin Quinn,Jim Breuer, and Darrell Hammond
Traffic J.A.M.-four mile run through Central Park
Word J.A.M.-a night of readings and discussions by prominent Irish authors including Thomas Kelly and Colum McCann
Film J.A.M.-a screening of Monument Ave. followed by a Q&A with Denis Leary. A festival of Irish music films and documentaries by performers such as U2,The Chieftains, etc.
Theater J.A.M.-a week run of Jim Farmer's Morning Milking, Evening Milking
Digital J.A.M.-a series of online chats in association with artscapes.com featuring: Frank McCourt, Aiden Quinn, Alan Parker, Patrick McCabe, Colm Toibin, Gavin Friday, Jack Lukeman, Ever Martin, and Jimmy SmalEhorne
Other J.A.M. Events-coordinated with: A Moon for the Misbegotten featuring Gabriel Byrne and James Joyce's The Deed starring Christopher Walken
Artists 4 Ireland New York
708 Broadway 9th Floor
New York, NY 10003
Artists 4 Ireland Dublin
7 Seapoint Terrace, Irishtown
Dublin 4, Ireland
St. Paddy Is J.A.M. 2000
Mary McFadden Celebrates Mongolian Festival in New York
Ambassador Jaralsaikhany Ensiakhan of Mongolia is a diplomat and an impresario who is chairing a Festival of Mongolia that will bring archers on thundering ponies, wrestlers and dinosaur bones to New York in the Spring of 2000. He asked legendary Irish-american fashion designer Mary McFadden to be added to the advisory committee for the event. McFadden is no stranger to Mongolia--in Spring 1999 she showed her Fall'99 collection influenced by a trip in'98 to this Asian country. She was impressed with the power and glory of a country which birthed Genghis Khan--actually Chengiss Khan (the correct spelling). When Khan and the Golden Horde swept across Asia, the country was a real super-power. Much of its history will be on presented at the Metropolitan Museum in New York ranging from arms and armor to gold coins and art. The Museum of Natural History will exhibit the famous "Fighting Dinosaurs" of Mongolia---bones found locked in combat that killed both. In addition, there will be other events through the months of April to lune. Some include events to be held at major institutions throughout the city. American Museum Of Natural History:
--an exhibition of Mongolian dinosaurs.
--lecture/film series on the expeditions in Mongolia since the 1920's.
--music and dance performances by the Mongolian cultural troupes..
--a photo exhibition combining photos from the 1920's archives with photos of modern Mongolian nomadic culture documentaries and feature films made in Mongolia Central Park:
--a two day Mongolian'Naadam" celebration (the Mongolian annual competition of traditional Mongolian sports--wrestling, archers, and performers).
--performances of Mongolian dancers, musicians, and singers in Central Park plus a demonstration of the Chengiss Khan ceremony Metropolitan Museum ofArt:
--an exhibition of art objects featuring work from the Mongol Empire.
--lectures about Mongolian Empire Art 6 East 77th Street, New York, N.Y., 10021 T.212.726.2453, F.212.696.4334
Silicon Alley 2000
For Silicon Alley veterans, Silicon Alley 2000-the conference put on by the team behind the Silicon Alley Reporter--felt like old home week. For newcomers, it was a suitable introduction to the high-powered, high-financed world of NewYork's internet generation. Populated with mostly 20-to-40 somethings who drive the NYC web world, the crowd was well-dressed and sometimes be-suited, but whatever the dress, were in high marketing form. With the young, sometimes brash editor-in-chief Jason McCabe Calacanis, brother Jaime (a key conference organizer) and mother McCabe among those at the helm of the event, it had a very personal feel. The fact that it ended with the attractive energetic attendees at one of the best parties Silicon Alley has made it worth attending..
The event took place at the Metropolitan Pavilion (on West 18th St.) from Feb. 29th through Mar. 2nd in New York City.Though I missed the February 29th opening night cocktail party, I made it to the Mar. 2nd third annual Silicon Alley 100 party, The food was everywhere the music was good and the crowd on the younger side yet mixed with digital world veterans. The conference included panels, an exhibition hall and press conference given by Musicmaker.com with Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page; there was a sold out pre-dinner and second night dinner with cocktail parties throughout. Silicon Alley 2000's final round of speakers included the likes of such familiar personalities as designer Clement Mok, Ms. Magazine editor Marcia Ann Gillespie and Robert Lessin of Wit Capital. A good time was had by all the young entrepreneurs of now and the future.
--Brad Balfour
Jeanie Johnston, Ship's Ahoy
Ireland's most exciting Millennium project, the Jeanie Johnston-- a tall ship-in-the-making-is situated beside the Blennerville Windmill west of Tralee, on the Tralee Bay waterfront. Currently, over 200 Irish and international students and shipwrights are working to build this triple-mast, 135-foot vessel--an exact replica of a Famine Era immigrant ship (1847-1 858). Visitors are welcome to tour it via several levels of viewing platforms, watch the work in progress, and talk to the shipwrights and trainees at hand.When completed in April, 2000, the ship sails from Tralee across the Atlantic on a "Millennium Voyage" to North America. She will follow the route taken by the 19th century Irish Famine ships, calling at 20 U.S. and Canadian cities over a nine-month period. The journey starts with visits to Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia and Trenton. It will also go to NYC's South Street Seaport for the 4th of July, and then sail up the Hudson River to Albany. It will then call at Newport, R.I., Boston, and then Canada-St.john, N.B., St. john's, N.F, Grosse Isle, Quebec, Montreal, and Toronto. Other cities on the itinerary include Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, and Chicago.
The original Jeanie Johnston carried a full passenger complement of 200 passengers and 17 crew. The "new" ship is licensed to carry 40 people: 10 professional crew, 18 volunteer crew, and 12 paying passengers. The volunteers include young people from Ireland--North and South, plus the U.S. and Canada.
After its North American sojourn, the Jeanie Johnston will return to Ireland, calling into the ports of Derry, Belfast, Dublin and Cork, before it docks permanently at its Tralee Bay home as a floating museum. Total cost of the project (over IR4.5 million or US $6.5 million) also includes a brand-new Shipyard with Visitor Museum, craft shops, restaurant, and research center.To follow the ship's progress in the shipyard and on its transatlantic voyage, visit the Jeanie Johnston web site: www.JeanieJohnston.com
-KS
Moon Shines Bright
Starting early March, at the Walter Kerr Theater (219 W 48th St.,)Moon for the Misbegotten, Eugene O'Neill's last complete play (written in 1943) begins a limited run with noted actor/writer/ director Gabriel Byrne as the lead.This sequel to Long Day's journey into Night tells the story of the doomed james Tyrone (Byrne) haunted by the memory of his dead mother and guilt ridden by his own depraved behavior. Byrne has appeared in such films as Usual Suspects and Miller's Crossing among others, Byrne also produced In The Name of the Father and The Brylkreem Boys.
St. Patrick's Day Parades Nationwide
ALABAMA(1) Birmingham.
ALASKA (2) Anchorage, Fairbanks.
ARIZONA (4) Phoenix, Sedona, South Tucson, Tucson.
CALIFORNIA (8) Dublin, Hermosa Beach, Los Angeles, Mission Viejo, Pasadena, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco.
COLORADO (2) Colorado Springs, Denver.
CONNECTICUT (9) Bridgeport, Danbury, Greenwich, Hartford. Meriden, Milford, New Haven. Stamford, Waterbury.
DELAWARE (1) Wilmington.
District of Columbia (1) Washington DC.
FLORIDA (13) Cape Coral, Coral Springs, Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Hollywood, Melbourne, Miami Beach, Naples, Port St Lucie, Stuart, Venice, Winter Park
GEORGIA (4) Atlanta, Augusta, Dublin, Savannah.
HAWAII(1) Honolulu.
ILLINOIS (11) Chicago. Chicago South Side, Decatur, Elmhurst, Hoffman Estates, Naperville. Peoria, River Forest, Rockfort Rock Island, Waukegan.
INDIANA (6) Crown Point Indianapolis, Ireland, Shelbyville, South Bend, Terre Haute.
IOWA (6) Cedar Rapids, Davenport Des Moines, Dubuque, Dyenville, Emmeuburg.
KANSAS (4) Atchinson, Leawnworth, Shamee, Topeka.
KENTUCKY (2) Lexington, Louisville.
LOUISIANA (3) Baton Rouge, Metarie, New Orleans, Irish Channel.
MAINE (1) Portland.
MARYLAND (2) Baltimore, Ocean City.
MASSACHUSETTS (8) Abington, Brockton, Easton, Holyoke, Lawrence, Scituate, South Boston, Worchester
MICHIGAN (7) Bay City, Devoit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Hancock, Traverse City. Ypsilanti.
MINNESOTA (8) Belie Plaine, Le Center, Minneapolis, New Ulm, St Paul, St. Peter, Remer, Waseca.
MISSOURI (13) Belton, Brookside, Cameron, Chillicorhe, Grand View Kansas City, Lake of the Ozarks, North Kansas City, Parkville, Rolla, Metropolitan St. Louis, AOH St. Louis, Springfield.
MISSISSIPPI (1)Biloxi.
MONTANA (5) Anaconda, Butte, Great Fails, Helena, Libby.
NEBRASKA (3) Omaha. O'Neill, Wisner.
NEVADA (1) Las Vegas.
NEW HAMPSHIRE (1) Manchester.
NEW JERSEY (21) Atlantic Bayonne, Belmar, Bergenfield, Franklin, Sussex. Hoboken, Jerry City, Kearny. Morristown, Newark, North Wildwood, Nutley, Ringwood, Sea Island City, Seaside Heights, Somerville, South Amboy, Trenton, Union, West Orange, Woodbridge.
NEW MEXICO (1)Albuquerque.
NEW YORK (50) Albany, Bayport, Blue Point, Bethpage, Binghamton, Brentwood, Brooklyn Park Slope, Brooklyn Bay Ridge, Brooklyn Heights, Buffalo, East Islip, Elmira, Garden City, Glen Cove, Greenport, Greenville, Hoosick Falls, Hornell, Hudson, Hunter, Huntington, Kingston, Lake Ronkonkama, Mahopac, Mid-Hudson, Miller Place, Montauk, Montgomery, Mount Kisco, New York City, Niagara Falls, North Creek, Patchogue, Pearl River, Peekskill, Rochester, Rockaway Beach, Rockville Center, Sleepy Hollow, St.James, Staten Island, Syracuse, Throggs Neck, Troy, Utica, Walkill, Wappinger Falls, Westhapton Beach, White Plains, Yonkers, Yulan.
NORTH CAROLINA (3) Charlotte, Nags Head, Raleigh.
NORTH DAKOTA (1) Fargo.
OHIO (8) Akron, Cincinnati. Cleaveland, Columbus, Toledo, Youngstown.
OKLAHOMA (2) Oklahoma City, Tulsa.
OREGON (2) Hillsboro, Portland.
PENNSYLVANIA (14) Allentown, East Stroudsburg, Erie, Freeland Jim Thorpe. Levittown, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Pottsville, Scranton, Springfield, Upper Darby, Wiles Barre.
RHODE ISLAND (4) New Port, Pawtucket Providence, West Warwick.
SOUTH CAROLINA (3) Columbia, Hilton Head Island, North Myrtle Beach.
SOUTH DAKOTA (3) Clear Lake, Deadwood, Sioux Palls.
TENNESSEE (1) Knoxville.
TEXAS (10) Abilene, Brenham, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Dublin, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio (street), San Antonio (river), Shamrock.
UTAH (1) Salt Lake City.
VIRGINIA (4) Alexandria, Norfolk, Richmond, Roanoke.
WASHINGTON (2) Seattle, Spokane.
WISCONSIN (8) Appleton, Beloit, Erin, La Crosse, Milwaukee New
Richmond, Siren, Wauwatosa.
CANADA (2) Montreal, Toronto.
PUERTO RICO (1) San Juan.
VIRGIN ISLANDS (1) St. Croix
...web addresses...
Irish Information Services
www.irishvoice.com Irish Voice Newspaper
www.irishecho.com Irish Echo Newspaper
www.local.ie Local Ireland
www.ancientireland.com Ancient Ireland
www.eiic.orn Emerald Isle Immigration Center
www.usairish.net USA Irish Network
www.virtualireland.com Irish News
www.nvirish.net NY Irish Network Entertainment
www.radiocitv.com Radio City Music Hall
www.concerthotline.com Metropolitan Ent. Group
www.stpaddysjam.com St. Paddy's Jam 2000
www.cce2000.com Washington DC Irish Festival
wwwroguesmarch.com Rogue's March
www.riverdance.com Riverdance on Broadway
www.irvingplaza.com Irving Plaza
www.dararecords.com Dara Records
www.broadwaytheatre.com Broadway Theatre
www.jamesjoicesthedead.com James Joyce's The Dead
www.enterprise.net/sawdoctors Saw Doctors
www.musicfair.com Irish American Celebration 2000
www.filmfleadh.com Irish International Film Festival
www.joyce.orn Joyce Theater
www.litriocht.com Irish Language Bookshop
www.JoeShane.com Mobile Music DJ's
www.l2travel.com Travel company
www.kearneyhomecare.com Kearney Medical & Nursing
www.aibny.com Allied Irish Bank
www.tarashipping.com Shipping Company Bar/Restaurant
www.smithandwollensky.com Smith and Wollensky
www.rockysullivans.com Rocky Sullivans
www.brianborus.com Brian Boru's Pub
www.thetemplebar.com Temple Bar
www.RoryDolans.com Rory Dolan's Bar
TORONTO'S DOYENNE OF FASHION
Pat McDonagh (for PM. designs Inc.) presents her Fall 2000 collection on March 22nd and her consumer Spring 2000 collection on April 6th as a presentation at the Brazilian Ball on April 8th. McDonagh will also be designing for Alfredo Versace Women's label or possibly the Couture and evening line. Deborah Kara Unger was recently seen arrayed in a full skirted gown and wrap. This Canadian couture creator was once a designer for Diana Rigg, of the 60s classic TV show, The Avengers.
Photographer Susumu Sato's midtown studio looks like a veritable Tournament of Roses Parade. The main hall is lined with photographs of national flags made from cut flowers including the Irish national flag. Sato's Flower Power flag project was inspired by an East Hampton exhibition of Jasper Johns' flag paintings in 1992. Sato worked on an Airwick campaign involving flowers and was inspired to combine the two. Using Johns' work as a model, he made the American flag first. Last year, in commemoration of Flag Day, the American Flag Institute honored Sato with an Award for Excellence and an exhibit. But the location fell through so Sato found Chrissy Max, a downtown NY Irish center to exhibit Flower Power: Flags of the World. The American Flag Institute combined the award with the show, provided that Sate make a flower representation of the Irish flag. Flower Power has become an international sensation, and Sato has made flower flags for 70 of the 186 United Nations countries, and Texas.
--Ilana Schweber
Music News
Dublin-based Claddagh Records has joined forces with the Atlantic Group for an exclusive, long-term North American licensing agreement. Claddagh was founded 40 years ago to preserve and promote traditional Irish music and spoken word artistry. The extensive Claddagh catalog remains unrivaled in it's depth and importance. New Claddagh/Atlantic releases include two new compilations of the early work of The Chieftains--titled The Chieftains Claddagh meets Atlantic Staff Collection:The Very Best Of The Claddagh Years, and a four-CD boxed set containing their first four albums, entitled From The Beginning... The Chieftains 1-4, both released in 10/99. The Chieftains were formed to record Claddagh's third release, and the group went on to do eleven albums for the label. To celebrate the new partnership, a reception was held at the residence of the Irish Ambassador to the United Nations.
The Saw Doctors --one of Ireland's most popular bands since their 1990 debut, N 17, (they had an Irish best selling single, "I Useta Lover:')-are promoting new songs from the up-coming CD, Villains,. On 4/9/01 -- the second anniversary of Northern Ireland's Good Friday agreement -- the band will perform a Concert for Peace along with other top Irish musicians at London's Royal Albert Hall. The Full Monty producers have selected a Saw Doctors' song, "Only One Girl", for the soundtrack of The Closer You Get (see Ian Hart feature) out 4/ 21.
Black 47 has released, Trouble in the Land (Shanachie). In honor of the new LP these noted local rockers made an in-store appearance at NYC's Virgin Megastore.
Intercultural Niche Strategies (INS), presents the National Celtic Music Radio Chart which reflects an average of the most popular Celtic albums played on Celtic radio programs across the U.S. Currently the chart comes as an e-mail and is sent monthly to radio deejays, Celtic publications, Celtic web sites, musicians, Irish gift shops, Irish and Irish American businesses and Irish dance schools. Consisting of the top 15 Celtic albums that aired the previous month, this chart is published on the first of each month. Compiled from deejays, I.N.S. tabulates CDs that appear most frequently, scores them appropriately and lists them. The only national listing of this kind, Notional Celtic Music Radio Chart will appear in future editions of Irish Connections.
John McDermott --one of the original Irish Tenors -has a new album, Remembrance (Angel) release which is dedicated to the memory of those who served their country in past wars. A Canadian, he recorded a collection of Irish songs as a gift for his parents on their 50th wedding anniversary while working for a Toronto newspaper. That album, Danny Boy, was heard by an EMI recording executive who immediately signed him. McDermott can also be seen in The Irish Tenors Live From Belfast which is slated for broadcast on PBS in March. McDermott joined fellow tenors Anthony Kearns, Ronan Tynan, and new trio member Finbar Wright at Belfast's Waterfront Hall.
Paddy Casey's American debut on Columbia is due for release, with US dates lined up supporting the Pretenders. In June '99, after signing to S2, Paddy's Irish debut, Amen (So Be It) went gold in Ireland and earned him various award nominations and Hot Press reader picks. He performed support gigs in UK, Ireland, Europe (Reef, lan Brown, REM and Ani DeFranco among others) played at Glastonbury and The Fleadh last summer, completed a residency in London's Borderline, supported The Pretenders throughout Europe and completed a nine-date sell out Irish tour. He also headlined his own UK tour and is currently up for the Best New Recording Artist award at the Irish World in London.
Sunrise Exposed
When Tipperary-born Christopher Toyne started out documentaries he never expected to be filming the greats of rock and roll as a staple. From an English'showbiz' family (father--actor Gabriel Toyne; mother--actress Diana Beaumont; other relatives include Comyns Beaumont; Sir Gerald Du Maurier and Daphne du Maurier),Toyne trained at the BBC in both dramatic and multi-camera techniques and worked on features, commercials and various "serious" documentaries. Once the award-winning filmmaker partnered with producer/director Robert Swope, their Nashville-based company Sunrise Entertainment became one of the first to shoot in high definition digital television format and film a live concert movie, The Legends of Rock N' Roll--Live at Itchycoo Pork '99, on a 500 x 100 ft. stage, using millions of dollars in sound, lighting, and production. The Sunrise rock festival was held on 540 acres in Manchester, TN on August 12, 1999. Using 12 main cameras, digital multi-track audio, hi-def-image magnification and high definition graphics, this landmark recording marks the first production of this enormity--from the number of hours shot to the amount of footage culled together.With over 30 acts, Sunrise has the most extensive library of heritage rock & roll artists captured on this format.
