Irish Arts & Entertainment
Samhraidh 2014
Page 12
Celts in California LA’s St. David’s Day Festival Founder and Author Lorin Morgan-Richards Lorin Morgan-Richards (b.1975) is a children’s book author, poet and illustrator, known mostly for his humor, nonsense, and thought provoking work. Richards, of Welsh and Swiss descent, is also the Publisher of Celtic Family Magazine and is the founder and Chief Executive for the Los Angeles St. David’s Day Festival. Morgan-Richards is well respected and appreciated by the Celtic Community at large in Southern California. Morgan-Richards has an interesting background, he was raised in an converted old schoolhouse in Beebetown, Ohio. Richards spent countless hours drawing the fifty-some odd pets, most of which were cats, and writing them into stories. Inside there was an extensive collection of folk stories to read and a family pump organ his mother taught him to play. Richards ancestor was the 19th Century poet Robert Dennison Morgan. Richards suffered from dyslexia in childhood and struggled to keep up with his peers. This in turn, caused him to become more focused on creative outlets. While at University, Richards initially studied music and had some minor success in producing musical ventures between 1996 and 2002, including ‘ENKI’ based on Zecharia Sitchin’s book the Twelfth Planet’, and ‘An Occurrence Remembered’ centered on Ambrose Bierce’s short stories (premiered November 2001 in New York City). Moving from New York to Los Angeles, Richards co-created and curated a free Indigenous American film series entitled Bringing The Circle Together focusing on social political issues affecting Indigenous peoples. The series ran monthly from May 15, 2008 until March 21, 2012 with special guests, speakers and performers. At the series on February 25, 2010, a historic meeting between representatives of the Ioway Nation and the Tongva Nation marked the first time a California tribe gathered with a Midwestern tribe. Richards is also actively involved with organizing for Welsh Americans coordinating the 2011 West Coast Eisteddfod, the first Eisteddfod in Los Angeles since 1926. Participants at the Welsh festival included: Monica Richards, Jen Delyth, and Michael Aston. Richards is the Executive
(l to r) Lorin Morgan-Richards with fellow author J.A. Pringles, exhibiting in Cardiff, Wales.
Director of the annual St. David’s Day Festival-National Day of Wales which encompasses an eisteddfod, Celtic marketplace, classes, art show, children’s activities, and a concert. A Raven Above Press, Richards small press, released his first book Simon Snootle and OTHER small stories in February 2009. His second book A Boy Born from Mold and Other Delectable Morsels was released in 2010. In the Summer of 2013 and published by A Raven Above Press, Celtic Family Magazine began its quarterly run devoted exclusively to serving Celtic communities and their descendants by providing global news on travel, entertainment, art, culture, history, events, dining, exhibits, and the very best in shopping. Celtic Family Magazine can be found at select stores across the US and Canada, including many Barnes & Noble, Hastings, and other fine retailers. Go to www.celticfamilymagazine.com for more information.
Irish musicians at O’Brien’s Irish Pub at 23rd. & Wilshire in Santa Monica. O’Brien’s Pub hosts an authentic “Open Irish Session” evry Sunday , starting at 7:30 pm. Grat Craic; the public and all musicians are invited!