Irish Arts & Entertainment November, 2020 Special SAMHAIN Issue

Ju st In AER LINGUS FLASH SALE SEE PAGE 5

Vo l . X X I I X # 10 N ov em b er ~ Sam h ai n

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Just A Few of Ir eland's Dar k Secr ets & A Haunting Tale Fr om County Clar e A true story of travels in I reland...Page 13

O u r j o u r n ey t o f i n d t h e o r i gi n o f t h e I r i sh T r ad i t i o n s o f Sam h ai n an d H al l ow een st ar t s w i t h C o r k W r i t er M ar y C u r t i n See Page 3

K en O 'M al l ey

(C en t er o f C ov er )

I r i sh Seer an d B al l ad eer Gu i d es U s T h r o u gh Sam h ai n N i gh t Page 6

T en t h A n n i v er sar y O n l i n e Pr o d u ct i o n

Set Fo r

SA M H A I N ,

A Celtic H alloween Pg 6

Black Don n ellys, Ir ish Du o Sen sat ion Get Gr am m y Nom in at ion Pg 21

Ver y Tim ely f or Novem ber Ch ills Ir ish Poet r y Cor n er w it h Tin a Day an d Ir ish Lit er ar y Sh ow case

by Gr eg Pat r ick Br am St ok er Rem em ber ed

By Pat r ick Weld

Did You Win ? Tu r n ip Spr it e Tells All on Pg 33

N EW H O U RS N o o n t o 4 PM W ED t h r u SU N

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Sam h ain Hist or y

By Cor k Wr it er M ar y Cu r t in Page 3

Pu blish er 's Let t er Page 4 Aedan M acDon n ell's Ten t h An n u al SAM HAIN, A Celt ic Hallow een Page 6

Pat r ick Weld on Br am St ok er Page 8

M au r ice Fit zpat r ick VIEW FROM IRELAND Page 10

IRISH CALENDAR Ir ish Com m u n it y List in gs St ar t s on Page 28

Ir ish Poet r y Cor n er

Get List ed in ou r 12t h . An n u al Celt ic Ch r ist m as Bu yin g Gu ide!

See page 34

Page 12 Cat er on ia Coyle Ir ish Dan cer To LA Fash ion Hou se Q&A Page 16 Ir ish Lit er ar y Sh ow case Page 22 CELTIC CAM ERA Page 24

Su bscr ipt ion Ser vice & Ver y Ir ish Per k s!

Discou n t s an d Con t est s Det ails on Page 35

November, 2020

I r ish Ar ts & Enter tainment

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T h e Fest i v al o f Sam h ai n o r H al l ow e?en

By Mary Curtin It?s that time of year again when people dress as ghouls and ghosts and celebrate with parties and pumpkins and generally have a good time. Sometimes people confuse it with the Harvest festival which in Ireland falls on the first of August (Lughnasa) but in fact it?s the festival of Samhain which translated from the Irish language means ?Summer?s End.?

In pre-Christian Ireland when we worshipped the gods of the mountains, the lakes and the rivers and woods, the year was divided in two, Winter and Summer. The first of November was the end of Summer but it was also the first day of the Celtic New Year. This was considered a sacred day as it was a day of Death and Rebirth

therefore it was the Open Doorway between this world and the next, the spiritual world. In the Christian calendar it?s called All Souls Day or All Saints Day hence the reason it?s called ?Hallowed? meaning SACRED and ?E?en?which is the abbreviation of EVENING. Hallowe?en - Sacred Evening. It was believed that on that night the souls or spirits of the dead would move between the two worlds and people might see signs or omens to let them know that they were being visited. It was a time of M ar y Cu r t in reverence and respect for the dead Our cover feature writer this month has also been featured in and also a celebration of our our Irish Poetry Corner. She now ancestors. The old gods of pre-Christian Ireland are still talked resides in Cork, Ireland and is active in Irish Theatre about and remembered in song and productions .

Bio on Page 5 dance and stories Fin is on Page 5

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I r ish Ar ts & Enter tainment

More Features Ir ish Calen dar Ir ish Com m u n it y List in gs & Celt ic Cam er a Start on Page 26

Su bm it you r calen dar it em s t o : ir ish m issive@gm ail.com

Irish Arts & Entertainment Th e opin ion s expr essed by ou r w r it er s ar e t h eir ow n an d do n ot n ecessar ily con vey t h ose of t h is m agazin e, ou r pu blish er or st af f .

Publisher & Managing Editor

Jam es M M cDon ou gh Contributing Editor & Graphic Design

Er in Rado Writers Tin a Day M au r ice Fit zpat r ick Jim M cDon ou gh Bar bar a Sin ger Pat r ick Weld Er in Rado Sales Reps Jim & Pat r ick Layout & Typos Jim , Pat r ick & Fr eelan cer s Con t act Us Via Em ail:

in f o@ir ish

ar t san den t er t ain m en t .com Jim 's Cell: 951 216-1493

All Copyr igh t s 2020 M cDon ou gh M edia

Samhain

Let t er Fr om THE PUBLISHER Dear Fiends & Readers, We like Fall best! Most Irish people that I know simply are not big fans of summer and hot weather so this time of year is certainly best weather wise. Mix in the Celebrations that are heading our way for the next SIX MONTHS starting with Halloween which is Irish through and through and you are well on your way to that very festive and special part of the year!

The fun, many of the traditions and by all means the shenanigans associated with the frolicsome and spooky observations of Halloween and Samhain were mostly introduced to America by Irish immigrants. Irish Americans (including us) are enamored now more than ever with

Stay safe and be well.

Jim M cDonough, Publisher

the origins of Halloween and are repeatedly proudly claiming the increasingly popular and now Bacchanalian Holiday as one of Irish origin. Tis true and it is now lost that those same Irish immigrants were mocked and scorned for their customs and Faith! So as you conjure up those traditions of Ireland and the celebrations and superstitions associated with the Druid and in turn Catholic Feast Day of November 1; remember it was not always so much fun.

We devote a lot of this issue to remembering and detailing the ?other ? Irish excuse for revelry; we hope you enjoy the topic.

Let?s hope by next year, we are back to our old tricks and treats when we can gather in person and BE TOGETHER which is basically the core of being Irish.

November, 2020

I r ish Ar ts & Enter tainment

Mary Curtin HALLOWEEN At sch ool w e w er e tol d abou t th e an ci en t D r u i d s w h o ar e l i n ked w i t h th e O ak an d t h e m y sti ci sm of tr ees. T h ey w er e Pr i est s, Ph i l osop h er s, Teach er s an d Ph y si ci an s an d w er e bel i eved to h ave sp i r i t u al p ow er s.

T h ey w er e h i gh ly r ever ed becau se t h ey w er e i n tou ch w i th th e i n v i si bl e sp i r i t s t h at h au n t th e l an d an d cou l d be cal l ed u p on t o r ew ar d or p u n i sh u s. T h ese bel i ef s w er e st i l l ack n ow l ed ged l on g af t er Ch r i sti an i t y cam e t o I r el an d . To th i s d ay th er e i s a d u al i t y i n

ABOUT M ARY CURTIN, a brief bio Mary Curtin grew up with seven boisterous brawling brothers and two sisters in the town of Tralee, in the beautiful County of Kerry, Ireland. She was educated in Presentation Convent School and later studied Drama with London College of Music. She has three beautiful daughters, two wonderful sons-in-law and five grandchildren.

Curtin holds a Fellowship in Drama from The London College of Music. She has put her education and theatre experience to great use over the past years! She is a master of her craft and has contributed in many dynamic ways to theatre in Ireland and in California with Kerry Irish Productions.

Curtin has directed many plays in The Everyman Palace Theatre, Cork City including PRIVATE LIVES by Noel Coward; TRANSALATIONS by Friel; LOVERS: WINNERS AND LOSERS by B. Friel; THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING by Joan Didion and CALENDAR GIRLS by Tim Firth and Gary Barlow. She also directs plays which are performed in The Cork arts Theatre including PLAYHOUSE CREATURES by April de Angelis and THE REGINA MONOLOGUES by Russell and Wafer. She adapted and directed THE THREEPENNY OPERA by

t h e I r i sh n at u r e. W e can be p r acti cal an d su p er st i t i ou s at t h e sam e t i m e.I t i s em bed d ed i n ou r p sy ch e an d cel l m em or y.

So i n t h e n ex t f ew w eek s i f y ou su d d en ly f i n d y ou r sel f t h i n k i n g of som eon e y ou h aven ?t seen f or a ver y l on g ti m e or y ou see or h ear som et h i n g t h at r em i n d s y ou of t h em , or i f su d d en ly y ou get a scen t of p er f u m e an d y ou l ook ar ou n d an d n o- on e i s t h er e bu t y ou f eel a p r esen ce, y ou can be su r e t h at som eon e i s l et t i n g y ou k n ow th at y ou ar e n ot f or got t en . H appy H allowe?en!

Brecht and also devised and directed a showcase on the work of Oscar Wilde which she titled A WILDE NIGHT for The Irish Operatic Repertory Company. Her adaptation of Ruth Draper ?s work VANITY, VAPOURS AND DIZZY DEBUTANTES featured in the Cork Midsummer Festival 2007.

Curtin also devised a showcase of New York writer Ken Friedman?s work titled I?M AN ACTOR, GIVE ME A BREAK! which was performed in UCC?s Granary Theatre. She also worked with Kerry Irish Productions Inc. based in Los Angeles, where she devised CHRISTMAS FROM A CELTIC TABLE and their follow up production IRISH LOVE AND LYRICS. In March of 2020 Curtin was directing Pr esen t Lau gh t er

by Noel Coward when the Government declared a Lockdown due to the rapid global spread of Corona virus Covid19 and all planned events were put on hold, canceled or deferred. When Curtin is not teaching and directing, she spends her time reading, listening to music and writing. She loves literature with a passion and it reeks of magic for her! She has always been fascinated at the power of speech and language and is currently writing a collection of short stories.

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I r ish Ar ts & Enter tainment

Samhain

Ken O'M alley is t h e Voice Of Sam h ain

O'M alley dedicat es h is con sider able t alen t s as n ar r at or , sin ger an d st or yt eller t o t h is m em or able Hallow e'en pr odu ct ion con ceived of an d pr odu ced by Aedan M acDon n ell ever y year f or t h e past decade. For ced by t h e plagu e t o go ONLINE in 2020, don't m iss t h is t r adit ion al Celt ic r en dit ion of all t h e is sacr ed, scar y an d su blim e abou t SAM HAIN!

November,2020

I r ish Ar ts & Enter tainment

Am br Tok er s, Br am St oker , Dr acu la an d Sleepless In Bu der im

By Patrick Weld I have already learned that life is odd and full of twists and turns! Who could ever have guessed that I would go from playing a board game in the Irish Arts office on LaCienega called Pandemic just a few years ago to being home in Australia grounded by a real life shattering whole world pandemic. I?m thinking of this because, it ties into the story I?m writing for the Halloween issue. I got a job with Jim and our amazing magazine to sort the archives and scan pictures. (Interrupted but we hope to finish that job in 2021.) Meanwhile, I got to do some layout, deliveries and write a series about Hiking and Biking In Ireland. All in all, it has been great job.

So, Halloween was coming a few weeks ago and I remembered reading an old issue with a story about the 100th Anniversary of Dracula being published and the really strange twist of this girl named Ambr (With no E) Tokers dropping by the

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office then on 3rd in LA. I remembered all this because I found a packet of files by another writer, who had been working on the story. He really delved into stuff and he had tracked down this Ambr lady who was a Bram Stoker devotee and Dracula fan. So, anyway, turns out this whole story is totally creepy and probably true!! Ambr freaked the other writer out so much that he made excuses to get out of the interview and away from her. Then a guy in the next office disappeared the very same night that she came to visit! Ambr could never be found again. Sorry, I even know all of this!

Th e t r u e st or y is t h at Br am St ok er t h ou gh t Dr acu la w as r eal!

What I found is out is that Bram Stoker researched the whole Dracula Legend extensively for years. He went to Whitby, on the seaside in Yorkshire to the Whitby Museum, Library and Harbour offices.

Traveled many times to London, visited old libraries archives, combed through shipping records, did interviews and took tons of notes and he kept a journal that basically detailed all of his research and his conclusions. In his journal, he says the Vampire Dracula was for real and that it could not be explained. by any logic or science.

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Irish Arts & Entertainment

BRAM STOKER PATRICK WELD

From page 7

document his book and he wrote in his journal, that he also thought

Samhain \

Dracula meant The Devil. I am quite convinced that there is no doubt whatever that the events here described really took place, however unbelievable and incomprehensible they might appear at first sight.

And I am further convinced that they must always remain to some extent incomprehensible.

Stoker did not intend for Dracula to serve as fiction, but as a warning of a very real evil; a childhood nightmare all too real.

Abraham "Bram" Stoker was the 3rd. of seven children born in 1847 in Clontarf, near Dublin. He went to private schools and graduated from Trinity College. His writing career began as a theatre critic and then he started writing Gothic short stories, The unused first title of DRACULA, his most famous work was the UNDEAD. Stoker, as mentioned, took great pains to

There are really strange facts associated with this work. The original typed and hand written manuscript was lost for about forty years and was found in the US in old wooden crates hidden in a barn. It was purchased at auction for a large undisclosed sum by Microsoft rich guy, Paul Allen. It was reported that some chapters of the original were missing. Also, when first printed in 1897, the publisher censored a lot of the book so nobody really knows what the original contained and what was suppressed. London had just gone through the Jack The Ripper murders and the public was on edge so that was the excuse the

Pat r ick Weld

Thanks to our former intern and contributor for this feature. Weld is back home in Queensland owing to the travel problems relating to the Pandemic. We hope he can come back to California in 2021 to pick up his studies and work with us in person! publisher gave for toning down Stoker 's book. Maybe that was just some kind of batty cover!

Anyhow , Stoker 's birthday is November 8; if he is not dead, he'll be 173. Like, I said, Sleepless in Buderim!!

Happy Halloween!!

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I r ish Ar ts & Enter tainment

Samhain

The View from Ireland Th e Su pr em e Cou r t of Ir elan d

By M au r ice Fit zpat r ick On August 19th,a group of Irish politiciansas well asbanking, legal and PR people assembled for the Oireachtas (legislature) Golf Society dinner in Clifden, Co. Galway. The event flouted Covid-19 restrictions and raised the ire of people throughout Ireland,who had been making huge sacrifices for the sake of public health for five months. Within 24 hours of the news breaking the following day, the Minister for Agriculture?s head rolled: Dara Calleary had participated in the cabinet meetings which authorised the Covid-19 guidelines and yet hebrokethem.However,the logic of sanctioning the public figures who attended the golfdinner could not be applied to each in the same way. Some were elected representatives, some were senior officials.

The presence of two people, in particular, became (and remained)controversial longafter the dinner: European CommissionerPhil Hogan and Supreme Court Judge Séamus Woulfe.

Phil Hogan held the trade briefat the European Commission, a crucial portfolio at any time and particularly sonow thatour nearest neighbour is leaving the EU. Hogan?s role in Europe was independent of the Irish government.So when, on the weekend followingwhat became known as?golfgate?, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Leo Varadakar urged Hoganto consider his position, he ignored them.

It was in Brussels that Hogan had to provide a full account of himself. EuropeanCommission President Ursula von der Leyen made an extraordinary plea to Hogan to engage with the media (he had been hiding behind a spokesperson). She also demanded that he providethe completeitineraryof his summer visit to Ireland. Journalists soon identified gapsinhisaccount? places he had visitedthatwere not mentioned. By August 26th, Hogan resigned as the EuropeanCommissionerfor Trade.

Hogan?s downfall begs the question whether it was his attitude towards accountabilityand his concealments that did more damage thanhis decision to attendthe golf dinner. It is an important question because Judge Woulfemade(and continues to make)comparable mistakes in his handling of thefallout from golfgate.

Until this June, Séamus Woulfe was the Irish Attorney General. Then,in July,he was appointed a Supreme Court Judge. Those roles involve a fundamentally different relationship with politicians. Whereas the Attorney General isincontact with politicians almost every day, judges instinctively keepaway frompoliticalcircles. There is no law in Ireland requiring a separation between judges and politicians in their social life. Instead, there is a tacit assumption that judges would be wise to act with discretion at all times.The aggregate of legal opinion expressed in the media on Woulfe?s case inclines to the view that Woulfe should have adhered to that convention.

In Woulfe?sexecution ofhis previous role, the opinionating thataccompaniespoliticsappears to haverubbed off onhim.While still Attorney General in 2018,he rather startlingly calleda legislative bill sponsored by an independent minister?a dog?s dinner ?. Is that not a rather apt description for thedinnerWoulfesaw fit to attend in Clifden?

Woulfe did apologise for his attendance, but his apology fell short of taking responsibility for his actions:?my understanding was that the organisers and the hotel had satisfied themselves that they would be operating within Government public health guidelines?. Given that his new job is to form judgements based on the law that have far-reaching consequences for Irish citizens,hismisjudgement in attending the dinner has not inspired the body politic with confidence in him.

Former Chief Justice Susan Denham held an enquiry to make recommendations on Woulfe?s case. Itwas an exceptionally difficult case to immunise from political circumstancessince it occurred afterseveral politicians hadbeen forced to resignor accept demotion for attending the dinner.

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I r ish Ar ts & Enter tainment

No legal professional, independent or not, could have found the process easy. Moreover, there is the matter that Woulfe retained a barrister for his discussions with Denham and it was necessary that she was indemnified against libel.

If all of this were not bad enough,when Woulfe met with Denham he proceeded to dig himself deeper into the hole. Woulfe told Denham that he considered the media treatment of the event to be ?completely fake? it?s like a Ku Klux Klan now?. Is such language not reminiscent o fa certain Washington DC figure? In a letter to the Irish Times legal and media commentator Colum Kenny argued that Woulfe ?should not be allowed to hear any case involving the media as there would always be a clear perception of bias?. The nub of this claim is the broader reality of a supreme court judge who lacks the public?s confidence.That is attributable not only to his attendance at the ill-fated dinner. Woulfe has repeatedly been indiscreet, in word and deed. How can it be tenable that a supreme court judge remains on the bench given that a significant segment of Irish society has grounds to repudiate his authority?

Now Chief Justice Clarke has made clear he will ?make alternative arrangements to convey his final views on the process to Mr Justice Woulfe?.

Scandals tend to last about a week in the news cycle.

The longevity of this fiasco is indicative of how thoroughly the Supreme Court of Ireland has been devalued by it. The damage resulting from it will endure for years.

Denham recommended that there is no case to remove Woulfe from the bench. (Had the Judicial Council Act 2019 been enforced by now, the judiciary would have been empowered to remove a colleague; as things stand, they do not). Even so, the political fallout for the court has been very considerable, and the loss of public confidence in the judiciary enormous.

On foot of Denham?s published recommendations, the Chief Justice of Ireland, Frank Clarke, sought to meet Woulfe to conclude the matter. During his tenure, Clarke has led an attempt to alter the perception of Ireland?s judiciary as being elitist and removed from the people.How delighted he must have been about golfgate and the fact that on October 15th Woulfe postponed his meeting with him for the fourth time.

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Joh n Hu m e, Ir elan d's m ost cou r ageou s peacem ak er pr of iled by M au r ice Fit zpat r ick ; Available @ am azon .com / Joh n -Hu m e-Am er ica-Der r y-DC/ dp/

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T H E D A RK

By T ina D ay

Tin a Day is ou r f or m er edit or an d h as been a f r equ en t con t r ibu t or an d gr eat f r ien d t o t h is pu blicat ion f or abou t 25 year s. Sh e loves h er w or k , t h e Dodger s, Ir ish m u sic an d is a poet at

heart!

M ORE LINKS: Ir ish Poet r y Cor n er Sept em ber , 2020 Page 18

T.M . Day 's Poet r y on LULU.com

We invite submissions to the I

Irish Poetry Corner A poem or saga in the Irish Bardic Tradition are both considered.

E-Mail us: irishmissive@gmail.com

Light dancing off the ceiling And the walls.

Echoes of voices Bounce down the hall.

Tricks play on your mind.

The silence entwines And slowly all rational Thought will decline.

Reflections of memories Bounce off the mirrors.

Ideals and dreams Bounce off your fears.

Late in the night When you should be in bed.

It?s funny the things That appear in your head.

Things that you know Can?t possibly be Emerge before you In all that you see.

There in the darkness, All things are real.

Your peace of mind Is ready to steal.

So you lie, waiting Helpless; exposed.

Your visions are sketched As you carelessly doze.

And what if the morning?s Light doesn?t come?

There you?ll be trapped, By what could have been done.

Samhain

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I r ish Ar ts & Enter tainment

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Hallow een M em or ies of Ir elan d

By Sammy S Hughes As told by Joe Connell My first trip to Ireland was around September of 1960. My Uncle, a Catholic priest took my Mom, his sister and my sister Nora and I with him to a Clerical Conference.

To be honest, it is all a bit of a fog but I remember the countryside was lush and green and the people were incredibly friendly. Almost everyone, would say they knew someone in ?the States?. My early impression of the people and country was beauty and kindness and that has always been part of my attachment to Ireland.

Not quite 10 years later, in the fall of 1967, my best friend from college (UT at Austin) and I decided to take our wives and go on a vacation together. Our destination was Ireland and we landed at Shannon Airport in a Boeing 707.

My friend Stan Beauchamp was married to an Irish American girl who .was very proud of her Irish Heritage. I wanted to see more of Ireland and share my ancestral ties with my French Canadian wife. The four of us stayed in Limerick at the Inter Continental Hotel for a couple days to get out bearings and to arrange a car rental. Our plan was then to explore the countryside and check out the B & Bs and Hotels in our guidebook.

We also wanted to see Blarney Castle, Kiss the Blarney Stone and go to a feast at Bunratty Castle.

Our trip all set to be an exciting adventure and it was. It changed our outlook on life and our very existence forever.

The first few days in Ireland were amazing, we made it to Cork, to the Waterford Glass Factory and we all climbed up through the tower ruins and kissed the Blarney Stone.

We always remembered how the guides covered the skirts and legs of our wives with a blanket to protect their dignity. On our fifth day, Halloween Eve Day, we arrived in Ennis, County Clare and checked into our hotel. A small Inn really of maybe 10 or 12 rooms.

Fir st Nigh t EVER in Ir elan d!

Off the small entrance lobby was a In t er Con t in en t al in Lim er ick very comfortable living room that we were told served as a small bar for guests in the evening. A closet in the corner opened up for drinks and Guinness. It was a delight and we made good use of it..

We had a quiet dinner and turned in early. The next day was to be our day to drive around and explore the countryside. We had a nice Irish breakfast at the small hotel dining room and left about 9AM. We had arranged for four boxed lunches to take along so we were well provisioned. Stan and !

Linda Beuachamp were much more outdoorsy than Marie and I so we had planned a route that would allow them to go hiking. We dropped them off near the Tullig Famine Village heritage area which was located on a local road and only a short distance off the main route between the Bridges of Ross and Dunlicky Castle. This was a perfect place for hikers with paths that overlooked the Coastal Views of the Loop Head Peninsula. My wife and I planned to drive around and explore Church, Abbey and Castle ruins, and to take pictures with my new 35MM Nikon Slide Camera and that is what we did.

About 4PM, we had picked up our hiking pals and we were back at the inn after a day that was one of the best of my life! Another truly tasty and simple meal at the hotel followed. To this day, I remember the fresh potatoes and peas that were served to us family style.

Ru in s of Cu r r en Ch u r ch ou t side of En n is, Cou n t y Clar e It w as as t h e son g goes..

"A little bit of heaven" For years, I drove family and friends to tears with my slide shows of my Gh ost Tr ip t o Ir elan d GHOST TRIP, you say?? Well that part of the tale unfolded that evening of November 1.

We were a small group in the Sitting Room bar at the Irish Inn, the guests were we four Americans, a British couple, a couple from Belfast and a few other Irish guests and locals who were bar patrons and the most affable barman. We were in Ireland, the drinks flowed and the conversations flowed even better!

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Samhain

A t r u e t ale of gh ost ly en cou n t er s in Ir elan d In turn, we spoke of our respective meanderings around County Clare that fine Autumn day of long ago; of walks, of Castles, of the Seashore, the towns of Doolin, Kilkee, Lisdoonvarna, Ballynacally, Kilrush and Liscannor. It was a great mix of us banded together enjoying our gracious host and libations purveyor, an unforgettable Ennis lad named Liam.

Linda and Stan recounted their day in the hills. Stan spoke of how they had hiked for maybe two hours, saw only a few people in the distance. Finally around Noon, "We came upon some scattered walls and chimneys, mostly stone? some stone field walls. We saw one ruin of a house with quite a large hearth and fireplace, well positioned overlooking the valley and seemingly very well made. Almost intact. We decided to take up residence and have our lunch." Linda added, ?And just then we saw two boys playing and running and calling to each other, It was so pleasant to watch them. The setting was so beautiful, we joked about how wonderful it would be to live there and just enjoy a simple life. It was like I knew the place and was home." Stan continued, "I called to the boys and asked them if they wanted some of our lunch. The hotel had packed so much we had plenty to share." Linda continued, "One of them came quite close, maybe 6 or 8 feet from the place we were sitting by the fireplace. He was so handsome, dark blue eyes. He was about to reach out to Stan."

Then, Stan recalled, ".. the strangest thing happened.

The other boy, they must have been brothers, we noticed that they looked a bit alike..not identical but close, family for sure. The second boy took the closer one?s arm and held it for a minute and kind of shook his head..no, a nod. Then they took off, they did not speak to us, they just quickly walked away? and? " Linda, suddenly looked quite sad, kind of wistful, "They were gone. We actually looked for them for a while, we wanted to talk to them, to ask them about the place, the houses." Stan added, "We really would love to go back, Linda fell in love with the place."

Liam smiled and nodded. "How about another round for everyone? One of the locals gave a knowing look to Liam and intoned, "Sounds like the Burke Boys to me," Linda spoke, somewhat incrediously, "The Burke Boys.

That?s my name, my maiden name, my family are Burkes!!"

Liam, gave Linda another drink...a Whiskey Sour..she had requested one earlier. "On the house, So, you are a Burke. There were many, many Burkes here for generations! This might be a bit of a homecoming for you.: Then Liam, went to an old fashioned glass doored bookcase and took out an old leather bound binder...he flipped to just the right page, walked back and gave it to Stan, We four friends gazed on the really clear, very fine pen and ink drawing, ."It is the boys! cried Linda

THE RUINS OF THE ENNIS FRIARY "Oh how sweet, you know them!!" she said happily.

Liam was serious and smiled with concern and warmth at the young American couple. ? "That drawing was done from memory by a Dublin guy who met them up in the hills. just like you did today...he was a guest here, he was here during the War in 1917", my grandfather told me about them when I started to work here."

The room was quiet, deadly still, Patrick Mooney, one of the local patrons explained that the boys were brothers, Eamonn and Tim Burke who died in 1847 during the Great Famine. The two had been seen playing on the hills near their family home many times during the past hundred or so years by locals and visitors. They are always seen on sunny days by caring and kind people, he explained. We were all somber but the quiet did not dampen our desire to talk among our new friends for long. We let the encounter sink in and accepted that it was a gift to be cherished and remembered. We came to believe just as our new friends in Ennis held true; that the realms of the living and the dead have crossroads; we had happened upon such a place.

Seamus "Sammy" Hughes had his own tale of talking to a local that afternoon and wanted to hear what everyone would have to say about his experience.

Liam with regrets told us that by local custom and ordinance that the bar must close for the night. It was now 1AM on All Souls Day. We agreed to meet again. that evening,

Th is st or y con t in u es M id Novem ber w it h ou r Th an k sgivin g Novem ber Special ... ED MORE ON THE AREA FROM OUR STORY:

ENNIS Am azin g ph ot o gu ide on lin e h t t ps:/ / bit .ly/ 31XXEbL

M ap Of Cou n t y Clar e h t t ps:/ / t ow n m aps.ie/ clar e-cou n t y-m ap/

October, 2020

I r ish Ar ts & Enter tainment

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I r ish Ar ts & Enter tainment

Samhain

SSS

A C o n v er sat i o n W i t h C at er i n a C oy n e & T h e I rish Arts & Entertainment Over t h e last t w en t y f ive m em or able year s t h e Irish Arts & Entertainment h as cover ed t h e ph en om en al r ise in t h e popu lar it y of Ir ish Dan ce in gen er al as w ell as Riverdance, a h ost of ot h er sim ilar pr odu ct ion s in clu din g sh ow s f r om Ker r y Ir ish Pr odu ct ion s. In doin g so w e in t u r n w r ot e abou t Cat er in a Coyn e an d h er f eat s as an Ir ish Dan ce st ar ext en sively over t h e year s. Now w e ar e h appy t o in t r odu ce ou r f r ien ds an d r eader s t o t h is ver y accom plish ed an d t alen t ed Ir ish w om an a bit m or e in dept h an d t o explor e a n ew ch apt er in h er lif e!

I rish Arts and Entertainment (IA&E) Can you share with our readers your early years and how you got into Irish Dancing? When and where did you study and start dancing?

Cat er in a Coyn e I started Dancing at the age of Four. Both my parents immigrated to London when they were in their 20?s. My Mum is from Skibbereen, West Cork and my Dad is from Connemara, Galway. I think sending my sisters and I to Irish Dance lessons in London was a way to stay rooted in our heritage.

We come from a family where music, song and dance was always the normand so I think it was inevitable that I would dance.

I was 12 years old when we moved back to Galway and it was then that I started to compete at a serious level. I went from starting high school in London to an all Irish Speaking school in Connemara! Dance, especially for the first few years was a place where I immediately fit in. I trained 4 times a week and would compete at the weekends. It was and still is my passion. I won the Connaught Championships several times and I placed in the Top ten at the World Championships.

It was around the time I was thinking about college and finishing high school when Riverdance burst onto the scene. What an extraordinary moment for so many! Some say it put Ireland on the Map, I think it solidified Irish Arts, especially Irish Dance as an Art form on a Global scale. Gone were the stereo types of girls jumping around with ringlets

in their hair and their arms stiff and held by their sides. Michael Flatley?s exuberant energy and skill that burst across the stage in 1994 was like nothing anyone had ever seen. Irish dancers now train like athletes, they are athletes just like ballet dancers, skaters or even football stars... working 7 days a week, for hours a day, training in studios, at gyms, with nutritionists to become masters of their craft.

I decided to audition for Riverdance and maybe go back to college after a year or two if I was successful in joining the show. A couple of weeks later I was packing my bags and heading off on a European tour.

IA&E: How long were you touring and what are a few of the best moments?

Cat er in a I toured with Riverdance for over ten years!! My plan to go to college was on a permanent hold. I became the Principle Lead after my first Year. Then my boyfriend at the time, now husband, who was already a hugely successful drummer and recording artist, came to visit me and he couldn?t resist getting up behind the impressive drum set-up and having a go. The drummer on that tour was already known to my husband Mark.He was about to take a break from Riverdance to join a different show and he was kind enough to let Markhave a rip as they say on the drums. Little did Mark know that Bill Whelan, the Grammy Winning Composer of Riverdance was sitting quietly at the back of the theatre that day.

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November 2020

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Cat er in a Coyn e , In t er n at ion ally Acclaim ed Fash ion Design er an d Ir ish Dan ce Sen sat ion

ABOVE: Cat er in a

Coyn e

In t er n at ion al Sen sat ion In River dan ce Coyne was Born in London and raised in Connemara Ireland. Despite early dreams to be a fashion Designer; her amazing gift and talent for Irish Dancing took her on another path! After competing at the highest levels and reaching the top 10 in her age at

the World Championships, All Ireland and Nationals, it wasn?t long before the professional stage came calling and Coyne was asked to join the cast of the Irish phenomenon Riverdance. It wasn?t long before she become Lead dancer. The hit show took her all over the world for ten years. Performing for Royalty, celebrities and dignitaries Coyne remembers her Performing Lead in Radio City Music Hall as a highlight. At this point during the pinnacle of her career , this wise young star began to think about the inevitable ? what if anything could be better than this and what will I do when its all over!

Knowing full well the career of a professional Irish dancer at that level is short, Coyne like so many went on to teach Irish Dance Being an instructor was the perfect way to pass on her love of dance but something was missing. Coyne decided to go back to college.

Now a graduate of the Grafton Academy of Fashion Design, Coyne has quickly made a name for herself as the go to designer for beautiful runway and red-carpet pieces and stunning occasion wear. She is becoming known for her beautiful use of Irish Heritage Carrickmacross Lace. With a style that is effortlessly feminine and delicate Caterina draws on her

Page 17

experience as a dancer and years of travel to inspire her. Caterina has been nominated for "Designer of the Year " at the Irish Fashion and Innovation Awards She has dressed Marissa Carter, Louise Cooney, Sile Seoige, actress Charleigh Bailey and Nadia Forde. Caterina is based between Los Angeles and Ireland and is working with some great Irish stylists and celebrities in Los Angeles to expand her name and brand. Having made a name as the go to for elegant, feminine red-carpet pieces Caterina is ready to launch her Classics Collection, along with a small ready to wear bridal collection.

Beautifully made ready to wear pieces which you can wear effortlessly from day to night and go to time and time again, inspired by the current times Says Coyne, ? I like so many women have changed the way we work, travel, socialise and live due to the current pandemic, but in fashion the tide was already turning and the need for less ?stuff ? and want for pieces you can invest in and keep was already happening. My Classics pieces are just that, pieces to wear, live in and treasure and keep for years to come. " w w w.cat er in acoyn e.com

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CONVERSATION Con t in u ed f r om Page 16

to share with us any of your stories from school?

And the rest as they say is history, he was offered a job there and then! And so, we got to travel and embark on this amazing experience and journey together. Mark and I got to travel all over the world and do something we both loved together.Its hard

Cat er in a

to Pinpoint what the best part or most memorable moments were. My whole family came over to New York to see me Dance lead in Radio City Music Hall, and it was a very special moment! I performed for Royalty, celebrities and dignitaries but the whole experience and journey, the friends I made exploring amazing new cities together, getting to eat different foods and seeing how different cultures live that?s what made it was it was.

I also qualified to teach and have had the opportunity do workshops all over the world. Teaching and helping the next generation to prepare and follow their dreams has been an amazing experience. I spend my time between Los Angeles and Ireland. I have been given great opportunities in life, and it?s through dance, that I have learned the value of hard work and dedication and that if you really and truly want something you have to work for it and to keep growing and learning. A few years ago I was on the set of Mike and Molly teaching Mellissa McCarthy some choreography for a scene and had to pinch myself.Only a week before my mum was visiting me from Ireland and I took her to the usual LA sights, The Hollywood Sign, Santa Monica Pier and Hollywood Blvd so she could see the walk of fame. I laughed out loud when she passed name after name finally stopping on the star that said Melissa McCarthy! ?Oh McCarthy? she said? my maiden name. I know this one?

IN & E: When did you first become intrigued with the world of fashion? Your story is amazing, you trained as a Fashion Designer but became an internationally famous star, how did all that come to be? Do you want

Samhainr

I always had an interest in fashion and design, and even as a child I loved watching my mum sewing and being creative. She made all our dance costumes!! My father is equally as talented working with his hands.

It was while I was in New York dancing in Radio City, when I was at the pinnacle of my career as a dancer that I started to think about what was next. It is inevitable that as a dancer you must stop at that level at some point. And I remember saying to myself ?well it can?t get any better than this?. Design was my only other passion, and I knew that if I wanted to do something in this field it was now or never. It was important for me to study the craft, maybe because I was a student of dance for so long, I knew that if I wanted to be serious about it I needed to have the knowledge to get me through.

So, I went back to college. And it was the hardest thing I have ever done! If anyone thinks getting a degree or diploma in fashion design is easy, well come chat with me and I will tell you all about it!

The workload and hours involved were crazy and still are... but worth it! I started my own Label straight out of college and quickly became known as the go-to designer in Ireland for Red Carpet and special pieces. I started incorporating Irish Heritage lace in a modern way into some of my designs and it got some recognition.

I w as n om in at ed f or Design er of t h e Year at t h e Ir ish Fash ion In n ovat ion Aw ar ds, an d Design er of t h e Year at t h e Ir ish Design Aw ar ds.

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Cat er in a Coyn e Continued from previous page...

I love feminine, delicate pieces and I am absolutely inspired by my experience as a dancer. The way a person feels and moves in a piece I have designed is so important to me.

IN & E: Did you always take a keen interest in the costume and fashion aspects of the shows even as a dancer.

Cat er in a Absolutely, I am a magpie and love shiny sparkly things all of which can be found in most wardrobe departments!!I gathered inspiration and sketched ideas while I toured.I think that without knowing fully what I would do with my ideas I knew that it was important for me to put things down on paper.

It was also an escapism? while I had the absolute time of my life touring it was also tough at times.

Some tours I did were for 9 months, with maybe a month off and then back on the road again.

Traveling, working, sleeping, eating and socializing with the same people can be testing! If Mark and I had an argument the only room to escape to for the most part was the bathroom! Many dancers had hobbies or other passions that they would focus on as it helped keep the mind sharp and active.

A m eldin g of bot h h er passion s!

For t h e Ker r y Ir ish Pr odict ion's sh ow CELTIC WINGS; Cat er in a Coyn e gr aced t h e st age as t h e pr in ciple dan cer an d design ed t h e cost u m es!

Now as a Designer I have started to merge my two passions and have been lucky enough to design for stage shows and productions. No one prepares you for the feeling of loss at not being able to perform at that level anymore... so, for me being able to still have artistic input in a live show has really helped me.

IA & E: In industry jargon, who is your woman?

Have you set up a studio or production facility in California as yet? Are you looking for investors?

Cat er in a When I first started my label. Caterina Coyne, my focus was Red Carpet, Couture and Bespoke. It was always my plan to move into Ready to Wear. I have just designed a new collection which I have called Classics, made up of elegant, stable pieces that can be worn for an evening event, dinner with the girls or with a leather jacket and flats for lunch. My Woman is busy, and she values pieces that can be trusted and worn again and again. I like to think of her for example in my new Classic black and white slip dress with her hair in a top knot having coffee and then having to go to an event after work being able to slip on a pair of sexy black strappy heels, letting her hair down, a spritz of Chanel and away she goes. We all have that one piece that we go to time and time again and now more than ever these are the pieces that we should invest in.

Being a designer and having your own label in today?s market is hard. There have been so many people that have supported me along the way and I most certainly would not be where I am without them. But mostly I have done everything to do with the business myself and with no investment. For someone like me there is most certainly only so much I can do. And yes of course having an investor to help grow and expand would be amazing. I have dreams and ideas of new ways to create enjoyable experiences for shoppers that include brick and mortar shops. Not every experience has to go online though I know how important that is and I have had to completely pivot my business from personal fitting and custom dresses to online and ready to wear which has helped me grow. I also love the idea of building a brand that offers something different and I think that after the world recovers from this pandemic having enjoyable, personable experiences will become ever so important.

w w w .cat er i n acoy n e.com

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Samhain

ERIN RADO an d Celt ic Nat ion s M agazin e For m Allian ce w it h Ir ish Ar t s & En t er t ain m en t

By Jim McDonough Last month in our October issue we did a Q & A with Erin Rado. We were talking about experiences, our mutual business interests and projects for the upcoming feature and Rado had shared her recent stint with editorial and layout work with a small magazine. Starting with that conversation, and Rado's idea that she would like to get into the digital publishing business, we (We being defined as the Irish Arts and Entertainment and Entreprenuer/Publisher this writer) decided to jointly assist our mutual business goals and publications!

The alliance has now formed and the Irish Arts and Entertainment is consulting and sharing with Celtic Nations Magazine on a variety of overlapping endeavors. These areas include, marketing, trading ads, publishing, and all forms of technical work including web design and SEO. We are delighted with this arrangement and we agree and believe that our Co-Op entity will prove that the whole is definitely stronger than the parts We expect this and future joint ventures to be not just efficient but also a lot of fun and lucrative as well as productive. Most of all we look forward to delivering amazing and innovation Irish and Celtic content to our readers! These are separate niche markets but there is a commonality too and we are confident we will serve all facets well. We also firmly believe that we will be of great assistance to a wide range of businesses and events when it comes to promoting their individual enterprises!

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November, 2020

Irish Arts & Entertainment

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I r i sh M u si c: News & Reviews A Ker r y Ch r ist m as, a m agn if icen t Yu let ide M u sic Of f er in g h as ju st been r eleased.

Join t Ir ish US pr odu ct ion capt u r es t h e t r u e essen ce of t h e season !

Aidan O'Car r oll is a composer, arranger, pianist, choral and orchestral conductor, accompanist and music theatre director who lives and works in Tralee, Co. Kerry. He is an A B. Mus. 1st Hons and MA (Music Composition) graduate of NUI Cork. O'Carroll founded and continues to act as Director of the Kerry School of Music and Performing Arts, which provides high quality, affordable tuition in music and performing arts at centres throughout Kerry.

He is also Choral Director in St. Mary?s Cathedral, Killarney. He has founded many of Kerry?s main performing ensembles - Kerry Choral Union, Kerry Chamber Choir, Kerry Chamber Orchestra, Kerry School of Music Senior and Junior Orchestras, Flute Choir, Light Opera Society of Tralee and Kerry Children?s Choir. Commissioned works include Dún an Óir Suite (Údarás na Gaeltachta), Dance of Life (Diocese of Kerry Milennium Celebration) and All Aboard (Radio Kerry). Recent compositions include a five-movement Stabat Mater for Soprano, Baritone, SATB Choir and Orchestra set to liturgical texts and poem s by Padraig Pearse.

Black Don n ellys Up For Gr am m y The ?Black Donnellys? who basically got their start in California at the Shamrock Irish Pub and Eatery in Murrieta are riding high, far and wide! They have garnered a lot of attention and fame with their Documentary Film; ?An Irish Story: This is my Home? about being on the road and playing Irish Music at a mighty fast pace on all levels.

Now, the Dynamic Guinness Award Winning Duo has announced they have been placed on the Grammys ballot to potentially be nominated in a couple of categories this year.

They are up for nominations in the ?Best Music Film? for their documentary ?An Irish Story: This is my Home? and in the ?Song of the Year ? category for their song ?This is my Home.? hey are no the house band at the Rí Rá Irish Pub at

Aidan O'Car r oll con du ct in g in Ir elan d Recent a cappella choral pieces include I See His Blood Upon the Rose (Joseph Mary Plunkett) and a choral suite set to the texts of the Advent O Antiphons. He is currently composing a setting for soloists and large orchestra of Brian Merriman?s epic humorous poem Cúirt an Mhean Oíche which will receive its world premiere in late 2021. O'Carroll was a member of the tenth Arts Council (1993-1998), a founding member of the Association of Irish Choirs (AOIC) and was awarded the Fleischmann Prize by the UCC Music Graduates Association for his work in music education.

Con t in u ed on Page 22

The Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, The 63rd Annual GRAMMY Awards are set for Sunday,January 31, 2021 at the Staples Center /

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A ch or al Ch r ist m as f r om t h e West of Ir elan d!

Th e Ker r y Ch am ber Ch oir : The adult choir of the Kerry School of Music & Performing Arts was founded in 1992 by the School?s director, Aidan O? Carroll. They have performed at the National Concert Hall as part of the Kerry School of Music 30thAnniversary celebrations and regularly tour abroad, most recently in the Czech Republic, Finland, Lithuania and Poland. Most of the choir ?s members study singing at Kerry School of Music and Performing Arts. Works performed include Handel?s Messiah, Haydn?s Creation, Faure?s Requiem, Part?s Berliner Messe and Vivaldi?s Gloria, Pergolesi?s and Vivaldi?s Stabat Maters, as well as a re-discovered large-scale Mass in F by nineteenth century Tralee composer Arthur O?Leary and

Samhain

original choral pieces and arrangements by Aidan O' Carroll, including the world premiere of his Stabat Mater in 2017. The choir has previously made two DVD recordings of Handel?s Messiah and has broadcast regularly on Radio Kerry.

Th e Ker r y Ch am ber Or ch est r a: Founded by Aidan O?Carroll, The Kerry Chamber Orchestra is a truly international line-up of professional musicians from Ireland, Britain, Albania and Lithuania all of whom live in Kerry and teach in association with the Kerry School of Music. The orchestra presents a very wide range of material at venues throughout the region and collaborates with the Kerry Chamber Choir on an ongoing basis. Many members have distinguished and award winning careers as solo performers, as well as leading, encouraging and mentoring students of the Kerry School of Music in their formative musical years.

Tr alee CBS Boys' Ch oir : The choir was established in 1982 by Bro. David O' Connell and Aidan O' Carroll.

Over the ensuing twenty two years the choir under the direction of Aidan O'Carroll performed regularly on local and national radio and television and toured in Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy, singing

Masses and recitals in St. Peter 's Basilica, Assisi, Lecco, Koln, Douai, Canterbury, Westminster Cathedrals and Dublin's Pro-Cathedral.

-

Soloist s: Aisling O?Carroll, Margaret O?Carroll

Novem ber , 2020

Ir ish Ar t s & En t er t ain m en t

Page 23

T h e I r i sh L i t er ar y Sh ow case CONFESSIONS OF THE BANSHEE

By Greg Patrick ?M u r m u r s passed alon g t h e valleys lik e t h e Ban sh ee's lon ely cr oon An d a t h ou san d blades w er e f lash in g at t h e r isin g of t h e m oon ?

John Keegan Casey, The Rising of the Moon Sam h ain Eve, Ir elan d.

M edieval er a

They raise their shimmering swords in homage in passing. I bow my head in finality at his last faltering breath, like an aged traveler stooped against the elements or a soprano to an audience in a darkened room...They do not see me....a voice only...a disembodied song haunting the night. Only an archer at vigil on the windswept battlements flying black banners of mourning, sees me. I blow him a kiss. He will perish in battle within a fortnight. I envy the mortals, the solace of darkness in my thralldom as dirge-singer to chieftains and princes of the Gael. I sang a lament bemoaning keening. They curse my name and presence. My voice that shudders in their mortal hearts on eve of battle. I wept for General Collins when he died on the red grass.

I wept for men who marched with

Su bm ission s Wan t ed Please sen d a cover let t er (Em ail) sh or t bio an d you r sh or t st or y or essay: t o: ir ish m issive@gm ail.com In t h e su bject lin e r ef er en ce

Irish Literary Showcase

A crimson portal opens like a sacrificial wound in the earth, a graceful gowned silhouetted at the threshold...The stage is set for my song...in the shadow of a lordly castle...My eerie serenade caresses the night as an aged knight's breath falters...surrounded by his kin. ?Hark. The banshee cries! ?a steward gasps. My red lips part like a reopened wound and I keen in sonorous silvery tones. They curse me and the monk's hand trembles at the crucifix as the

As told by The Banshee

Th e Ir ish Lit er ar y Sh ow case is a f eat u r e f or em er gin g Ir ish an d Ir ish Am er ican w r it er s. Ou r Poet r y Cor n er h as capt u r ed m an y an im agin at ion an d m an y avid f ollow er s. Th is idea is a n at u r al ext en sion .

Th an k s again t o M ar gar et O'Car r oll f or h er in pu t an d su ppor t of t h is idea.

last quaver trails....and he is gone, cold hands enfolded over his sword. They mistake me entirely.

I am their lord?s praise singer, ushering his soul to his forefathers in their ancestral halls. I do not inflict death. I weep tears of blood at their hatred and keening .I should be revered...I was once.... and loved....I close my eyes, immersed in the sickly sweet song? .I envision the pale shades of men and horses passing me in phantasmal procession from the aftermath of battle?

pikes in hand to their deaths, as constant as their shadows. My serenade, as soulless as the wind, I wept for them in the wake of their coffin ships in hunger-driven exile.

The cold beckoning caress of my song broke only once? .I wept for Boru when he fell to an axe? And here is where my confession begins.

The mortals cursed me for all their days? yet there was one among the sons of mortal lords who did not? and for him I committed the forbidden heresy of my kind. I fell in love with a mortal and killed for him? I encountered him by the twilight of eve of battle? A figure clad in brilliant armour, cleansing his sword and praying to his God by a solitary brook? He smiled at me, catching me completely off guard. I must have been strikingly fair to his eyes? a beauteous noblewoman in flowing gown and hair.

A graceful figure that seemed to glide rather than stride against the vermillion resplendence of twilight.

A mirage of beauty behind

impossibly green eyes pyromanced against the blood red twilight. He doffed his helm? and I felt? moved? inspired? like those that had rallied to his name and banner? He reached his hand out to me? .and I felt drawn? like a moth to a flame? ?Lord Brian! ?An emissary astride a horse reigned in jarringly. ?Alas, I bear fell tidings. The Norsemen draw nigh. They will make landing on the morrow. ?

He hearkened at the war horns, calling for him in harsh throaty tones and I cringed at their sound as mortals did at my song. He turned to speak to me, yet I had dematerialised to the warrior king hailed in the twilight and mourned in the dawn. He sighed after me, his breath steaming in the chill air... I knew he would fall on the morrow and I was condemned to sing for him? Yet I made a solemn vow to the old gods that blood red twilight? A vow of sacrifice?

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Irish Arts & Entertainment

Samhain

Clon t ar f On lin e

T h e B at t l e O f C l o n t ar f

by Hu gh Fr azier (1826) From the Public Domain

sought him that next day, in the aftermath of battle, like a bereaved lover, seeking a warrior among the slain? yet he was not there? I held back the inevitable cry meant for him? though it burned painfully for release? clawed at me to release it like a caged raptor. I crossed the nightmarish mist-enshrouded dreamscape of battle, seeking him? across a red field of horse carcasses and slain warriors. I sought him? . ?Brian! Brian! ? I saw him then and the cry escaped my lips at last? He staggered from his lordly pavilion? bleeding from a grievous wound inflicted by a Norse assassin?s axe. His bannermen had abandoned him and his warriors celebrated their hard-won victory. Only his frantic squire hastened after him. ?My Lord! Your sword! The enemy is upon us! ?he cried.

So too did Norsemen pursue him. He collapsed at last and they closed in. I knelt at his side? Cradled his head and crooned him to him? the ancient songs of my people? .He heard what no mortal was allowed to hear before and everafter? The words of the banshee?s cry? .And I was radiant to behold? like an illuminated manuscript to a monk?s eyes by dwindling candle flame. I lower my lips to his and we

A PRI L O F 10 14 kiss? a forbidden duet to the banshee?s song? I inhale his last mortal breath? hold it intoxicatingly? .and when it is exhaled it is a battle cry? a force of nature? .of unknown power unleashed. The scream is soundless to his ears. Only a chill blast of wind to his senses. Yet not unheard by the ravens scavenging the battle?s aftermath with red beaks and talons. They harken. The ravens rose from scavenging the dead, like a dark prayer. I lingered too long in the mortal realm and began to age in fast forward. I bared my teeth like a shewolf over her wounded mate as huntsmen and hounds approach. ?Unhand him witch! ?the frantic squire squealed.

He is a brave lad and loyal. I tolerate his insolence.

He pressed a sword into his master 's hand. I choked back my cry....Brian's hand gripped the blade and Brian rallies on his last ebbing strength... ?Guide his hand boy, ?I commanded his squire. ?Yes My Lady, ?he whimpers.

The blade strikes a final time, impaling a looming Norseman to the hilt. ?Cover your ears boy...tightly, I bade him. This is not meant for you,? as the differed scream rises to my lips. ?Who is that old hag? ?the Norse Thane growls. ?Old?! Old?!? I rose in indignation like a rearing serpent and laughed mirthlessly, scorning the insolence of his brandished axe.

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BANSHEE from page 24 ?I am older than the earth mortal. I am ancient!

And you will not desecrate his body, impudent mortal! ?

Then I committed the second heresy of my kind. I killed? The ravens swarm the Norse Thane at my bidding, talons raking his face, sharp beaks seeking the delicacy of his eyes. His shieldmen rally to his defense. I scream a battle cry, shrill and fierce as a falcon hurtling down on its quarry and their ears gush blood at its utterance. They do not hear their own cries of agony as the ravens strike in a dark cyclonic torrent, scavenging them alive.

Their fathers fall like black tears of midnight, hailing me in homage. The cries of wolves answer my call, in ghostly choir like dark hounds summoned by a huntress. My cry sweeps the defeated Norse encampment, ventriloquizing the gaping mouths of the slain like phantom battle cries, extinguishing their pyre flames. I scorned their angels and Valkyries and laid their warriors low. They raised their shields to ward it off and cower behind them. To no avail. Souls of the wounded are torn from their bodies.

him? .High King Brian Boru? My kindred appear in admonishment? pale wraiths in regal robes and diadems like a summoned lordly court. I defy their dour reproving looks. It is against the nature of the scavenger to hunt and prey on the living. Yet I am not asking them. And I rise then from his lifeless body. His own people have come seeking him by torchlight. I rise?

We part ways here. Ever divided between worlds? He goes where I cannot follow. I turn in an age-old dance and stride towards the reopened portal, my form rejuvenating. I turn, a last forbidden look at a slain lover before the portal seals behind me. I am the Lady of the Sidhe, the immortal banshee and you will all hear from me. I am not your enemy. I am the singer of your honoured name to your ancestors

?Ragnarok is upon us! ? they cry, as my scream tears though them like a conjured poltergeist.

To their maddened eyes a terrible vision of a ghostly army materialises, necromanced and heralded by my cry, grasping at them with skeletal hands and slashing with pale flaming swords. Men slay themselves to be free of that horror. I cry then, sobbing tears of blood? . I scream? .I sing for

Em er gin g Ir ish Wr it er GREGORY PATRICK Greg Patrick has garnered a loyal following among readers of the Irish Poetry Corner and fans of his books around the world. He is a lover and proponent of Ireland and all things Irish. He is an active participant in the Irish Music scene when in California.

Patrick spent his youth with his mother 's Traveler peo,ple when back home in Ireland. There he hails from Derry and Galway where he worked with great horses for years.

Page 25

When with his Armenian sailor father he traveled the South Pacific and continental Europe.

GP also resides part of the time in Krakow, Ireland and presently the states. He loves to travel but when in SoCal, he resides in County Orange. He is always looking forward to an open horizon again.

A prodigious writer, Patrick crafts short stories, poems, and books. He is an appreciative reader too and always excited to be included in the Irish Arts and Entertainment magazine.

Page 26

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