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www.celtic-connection.com
APRIL 1999
Meet with Friends Old and New at Vancouver's Favourite Neighbourhood Gathering Place and Irish Music House
* ENJOY OLD COUNTRY CHARM, MUSIC, * COMFORT FOOD WITH ALL THE IRISH STANDARDS ON TAP ---*-
Tl'ES. - Folk Hootenany Night
THURS.- Irish & Folk Ballad Open Staee - with Brian Goldie, Hughie Rudd & Angus McKinnon
FRI. & SAT. - Danny Burns & The Ballad Band with Alan Mullen, Culpepper's resident step-dancer 8:30 p.m.
MON. - 2nd and 4th of each month
Traditional Seisiun with Stovedodgers Set Dancers
CULPEPPER'S (Since 1984) 3135 West Broadway, Vancouver (604)^1-6565
did CAFG
Come join in the ceCebrations oftheotd<BeaCtaine (May 1st.) with tive music, (Cancers and traditional feasting.
For more
information
& reservations call:
(604) 983-3463
999 Marine Drive (at McKay) N. Vancouver B.C.
An Absorbing Tale of Murder, Deception and Betrayal
The Narrowback by Michael Ledwidge Atlantic Monthly Press ISBN 0-87113-716-X
By SHARON GREER
Moving rapidly through the gritty streets of New York city, Michael Ledwidge's debut novel, The Narrowback, erupts across the page. Ledwidge has the uncanny knack of conveying a heightened sense of insularity in this sensational new book.
In gripping, tight prose, Ledwidge unravels an absorbing, riveting tale of murder, deception and betrayal. The reader is drawn into the mind of the protagonist, Irish-American, Tom Farrell.
Farrell has a prison record for gun dealing, and is not able to tolerate a regular job. After a short stint as a hotel doorman, he hatches a plan to execute the perfect heist.
Everything seemingly goes well until Farrell discovers one of the gang trying to take more than his fair share. Escalating into a tense, volatile situation, the group kills the avaricious thief. Unknown to them, the murdered man is a member of the IRA.
Born and raised in the Bronx to Irish parents (his mother is from
County Leitrim, his father from Cavan) this astonishing 27-year old newcomer to the world of writing, is himself a "narrowback," an uncomplimentary reference to being Irish-American.
Ledwidge, currently working full time for the telephone company in New York, hopes to eventually write full-time. He is now working on a second novel involving Irish-American characters. If it is anything like this mesmerizing yarn, it is sure to be a big hit.
Exploring Celtic Women's Culture
MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin — Celtic Women International, a two-year old organization with members throughout North America and the Celtic world, will hold its Second Annual Celtic Women's Conference on October 7 - 9, at the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center in downtown Milwaukee.
The theme for the Conference is "Being Together" and this year's conference will explore women's contributions to Celtic heritage. A wealth of Celtic experts (representing all seven Celtic nations) will be speaking on a variety of interesting topics and will lead a series of workshops. Internationally known Celtic musicians and singers will provide entertainment.
Returning for another year is best-selling Irish author Morgan Llywelyn. Also invited is Diana Gabaldon, another best-selling author and Scottish historical fiction writer, and Alice Taylor, one of the most popular authors in Ireland today.
Flora MacDonald Gammon, Scottish folk singer and historian; Joan Gill, Manx storyteller; Barbara Martin, Welsh linguist and writer; Susan Pellowe, Cornish Bard and actress; and Cecile Marie Sastre, Galician and Breton historian and arche-ologist are also among the 19 presenters on the program.
One participant at last year's conference enthusiastically
wrote, "I felt more in touch with my roots and came away with an even greater understanding of what it means to be Celtic than I would have imagined."
This will be truly a conference not to be missed by anyone interested in Celtic culture and history. For additional information about the Conference and Celtic Women International, please contact Jean Bills at (414) 257-3770 or visit the CWI web site at: www.cwiltd.org.
New Film on Veronica Guerin
A film based on the experiences of murdered journalist Veronica Guerin is to commence production in Dublin on April 12. American actress Joan Allen will play the lead although most of those involved are Irish. The screenplay is based on collaborative work between the late Veronica Guerin and Michael Sheridan.
STAGE EIREANN PLAYS ON THE DRIVE
By LIAM O'MALLEY
VANCOUVER — Stage Eireann is currently busy with plans to re-stage its successful November production of the recent Abbey Theatre hit comedy Happy Birthday, Dear Alice. The play, by celebrated Dun Laoghaire playwright Bernard Farrell, is schedule for a short run at the Havana Theatre on Vancouver's trendy Commercial Drive during the first week in May.
This will be followed by an entry in the Theatre B.C. Vancouver Zone Festival competition which will take place at the White Rock Playhouse between May 15 and 21. The Zone Festival winner will then compete against other theatre groups from around the province in the Theatre B.C. Mainstage Festival between July 3 and 10, in Nanaimo's impressive new 800-seat Port Theatre.
Stage Eireann's last Theatre B.C. Festival appearance was in Spring 1997 with J.M. Synge's classic Well of the Saints. That production won the Zone's Best Actor award for Tom Kavadias, and other awards for the group including best set and lighting.
President and Director Bill Forbes expresses high hopes that Happy Birthday, Dear Alice may do at least as well this year, and that those Stage Eireann supporters who missed the production in November can take advantage of the run at the Havana. It is located at 1212 Commercial Drive, in the heart of the theatre, restaurant and shopping district.
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For more information on Stage Eireann activities, call Veronica Stabler at (604) 731-8779.
Granuaile Dramatized
SEATTLE — Playwright Molly Lyons will stage a reading of her work-in-progress Granuaile at the Greenwood Studio at 8 PM on May 7. The nearly completed play is based on the life of the Sixteenth Century Irish queen and sea captain.
Granuaile has been showcased in New York City at the American Conference of Irish Studies. Lyons will again take the script to New York when completed to showcase it to potential producers, including Charlotte Moore of the Irish Repertory Theatre.
Granuaile shares the bill at the Greenwood Studio with Not a Nice Girl, also a solo show, by New York artist, Cheryl King. The two women will join forces for an exciting evening of theater. Audience participation in works-in-progress is a crucial part of the development of plays and everyone is invited to attend.
The Greenwood Studio is located at 8312 Greenwood Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98103. For more information, call (206) 783-9156 or E-mail: gnwdstudio@email.msn.com.
