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4 <strong>Irish</strong> <strong>American</strong> <strong>News</strong> “We’ve Always Been Green!” <strong>May</strong> <strong>2011</strong>(ISSN #1085-4053) USPS #013454<strong>May</strong> <strong>2011</strong> Vol. XXxV 05PERIODICALCover Photo by Cathy CurryFounderBob BurnsPublisherCliff CarlsonEditorial Assistant/Art DirectorJoyce EdwardsAdvertising SalesNancy MoorePhotographerCathy Curry - Senior PhotographerPatricia Brach -Staff PhotographerStacy McReynolds - Staff PhotographerEditorial InternKatey MitchellColumns and ReviewsBooks & Theatre - Frank WestTheatre - Terrence BoyleSenior Trad Music Editor -Bill MargesonHealy Law - Martin HealyMick - Mike MorleySafe Home - Heather BegleyChicago Gaelic <strong>News</strong> - Pat HennessyA Word With Monsignor Boland -Msgr. Michael Boland<strong>Irish</strong> Musings - Fr. Michael LeonardHooliganism - Mike Houlihan<strong>Irish</strong> Diaspora - Charles BradyFor The Republic - Chris FogartyFrom the Motherland - Sean FarrellSwimming Upstream - Charles BradyCareers - James Fitzgerald, CPARaised on Songs & Stories - Shay ClarkeReel Jiggy - Deirdre KozickiBoyle The Kettle - Tom BoyleHoroscopes - Theresa Castro<strong>Irish</strong> Rover - Jim McClurePiping it In - Jack BakerReal Ireland - Rachel GaffneySpoirts - Mary Margaret O’LearyDaly Investor - John Daly CFPCeltic Traveller - Maureen CallahanCrowley on Kells - Frank CrowleyMeehall Recalls - Michael CarrollWebsite - Cathy Curry<strong>Irish</strong> <strong>News</strong>, Inc. is publishedmonthly on the 1st of monthSubscriptionFirst class deliveryFastest! Delivered in envelope1 year $ 35 2 year $ 65 3 year $ 90Regular delivery1 year $ 30 2 year $ 55 3 year $ 75Canada 1year $ 35 2 year $ 60International: 1 year $ 85(Periodicals Postage Paid atPalatine, IL.) Postmaster:Send address changes to<strong>Irish</strong> <strong>News</strong>, Inc.7115 W North Ave #327Oak Park, il 60302708-445-0700e-mail to:editor@irishamericannews.comPUBLISHERS STATEMENTThe opinions and statementsexpressed in this newspaper areentirely those of the authors, and donot reflect in any way the opinionsof <strong>Irish</strong> <strong>American</strong> <strong>News</strong>.Distribution20,013Greek Drama and <strong>Irish</strong> TheatreGreek drama has influenced theatreof the Western World for over2,500 years! And, it directly influenced32 modern <strong>Irish</strong> plays.That influence is the focus of thisbook, <strong>Irish</strong> Appropriation of GreekTragedy, by Brian Arkins.Greek plays (really Athenian plays)were written to honor the God, Dionysus.Greeks believed he was one ofthe twelve Gods on Mount Olympus.He was the God of the energy of life,or the life force, and he encouragedagricultural and human fertility. Hewas the God who protected theatre.He was also the God of masks used inGreek theatres to project a character’spersonality, or persona.For many hundreds of years Greekscelebrated the death and resurrectionof Dionysus. They believed that eachSpring the God died, triumphed overdeath. Forty-one plays written tohonor Dionysus survive. They werewritten by playwrights who competedfor prize money, and for the greathonor of having their play chosen.Those plays still have a powerfulinfluence on today’s <strong>Irish</strong> theatre.The book has an excellent anduseful introduction, index and bibliography.Everything has been carefullyfootnoted. The footnotes are neatlytucked behind each chapter.Brian Atkins, the author, is Professorof Classics at National Universityof Ireland, Galway. He earned a PhDin Latin, and authored ten books withGreek and Roman themes.These are other things that caughtmy attention.Webster says: a tragedy is “a seriousplay with an unhappy ending.”Dionysus represents “everythingthat escapes human reason and canonly be attributed to the unforeseeableaction of the Gods.”The life force, or energy of Dionysusrepresented freedom to theancients.The function of the chorus inGreek plays was to ask questions ofthe wealthy and powerful in the play.If there was a great king, or wealthyperson on the stage, the chorus mightask, “What about ordinary people?”or “Do you care only about wealthand power?”<strong>Irish</strong> Appropriation of GreekTragedy by Frian Arkins. CaryfortPress and DuFour Editions, ChesterSprings, PA 2010. 149 pages, $33.95.info@dufoureditions.com,There is aPlace for FantasyThis book is the result of a lifetime’sdevotion and work. The author,Patricia Lynch, devoted her life tocollecting <strong>Irish</strong> stories and legends.She also wrote the pamphlet,Rebel Ireland. This was her famouseye-witness account of the Easter,1916 events in Dublin.Lynch was born in 1898, andpassed away in 1972. She was thevery prolific author of fifty novels,and 200 short stories. Lynch’s writingwas rich with the enchantment andmagic of <strong>Irish</strong> history and culture.She describes the robust heroictale of Cuchulain (soundslike Cuhullin) to the humorousstory of the Kingdom of theDwarves.Tales of <strong>Irish</strong> Enchantment is alarge 8.5 by 11.5 inch book filledwith <strong>Irish</strong> stories and legends. It isAndrea Beaton & Nuala Kennedy in MilwaukeeWith their furiousfiddling, enchantingflute, gorgeous singingand high-energystep dancing, AndreaBeaton and Nuala Kennedywill bring seriousgirl power to the <strong>Irish</strong>Cultural and HeritageCenter, 2133 W. WisconsinAve., in Milwaukee,on Saturday, <strong>May</strong>21, at 7:30pm. BackingBeaton and Kennedyon guitar is Louis-Charles Vigneaufrom Canada’s Prince Edward Islandband Vishtèn.Pre-concert music in Quinlan’s Pubfrom 6:30-7:15pm will be performedby Atlantic Wave. One of SoutheastWisconsin’s most popular Celtic bands,their style is built around the harmonizingfiddles of Kaitlin Hahn and EdPaloucek with lead vocals and guitarAndrea Beatonby Barry Houlehenand additional vocalsand percussion by JohnKarr.Originally from Irelandand now livingin Scotland, Kennedycombines traditionaland original materialfrom both countries ina musically dynamicway and is recognizedfor her eclectic crossgenrework.Coming from Cape Breton’s extraordinarymusical tradition as wellas generations of musical Beatonsand MacMasters (well-known fiddlerNatalie MacMaster is a cousin), Beatonis making a name for herself with thepower of her bow, the drive and swingof her timing, and the crispness of herattack.Beaton, Kennedy and Vigneau willaccompanied with bold, colorfulillustrations.Her children’s fiction rangesover various genres, fantasy,realism and historical fiction. Itportrays Ireland as a place ofstrange happenings and enchantments.Robert Dunbar, of Children’sBooks Ireland, says about this bookfirst published in 1952, that “Irelandmay have changed almost beyondrecognition, and development ofchildren’s literature over the past fewdecades may have taken its youngreaders into the unexpected domains,but the human need for magic, formiracle, for enchantment, remainsperhaps more than ever—and PatriciaLynch’s stories provide all threein abundance.”Tales of <strong>Irish</strong> Enchantment byPatricia Lynch. Mercier Press andDuFour Editions. Chester Springs,PA, <strong>2011</strong>. 208 pages; $29.95. info@dufoureditions.com.present workshops in fiddle, flute/whistle, guitar and Cape Breton songand step dance during two sessionsfrom 1-3:45pm on <strong>May</strong> 21 at the ICHC.Nuala KennedyThe fee is $25 for each workshop or$40 for two with discounts for groupsof five or more. For information and toregister, call (262) 370-3686 or e-mailkaitlinhahn@earthlink.net.Tickets for the show are $19 in advanceand $23 the day of concert withdiscounts for students and groups. Toorder visit www.ichc.net or call 414-345-8800.
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