Saw Doctors Concert Set For Palladium in Hollywood
INSIDETHIS ISSUE
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Snow Patrol Review in Irish Music Startson Page 17
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Very Latest update on Peaky BlindersFilm with Cillian Murphy Story onpage33
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have noticed
Saw Doct ors Playing t he PALLADIUM on Sunset in LA
FROM OUR COVER
Celebrat ing 35 years on t he road, acclaim ed Irish rock band The Saw Doct ors w ill play five US show s t his sum m er!
Back in 1990, The Saw Doct ors?debut single ? I Uset a Lover ?clim bed t o No 1 in t he Irish chart s, st aying a record nine w eeks at Num ber 1 and going on t o becom e t he biggest selling Irish single
Led by songwriting duo, Davy Carton (lead vocals) and Leo Moran (electric guitar), The Saw Doctorsrecently welcomed back one of their founding band membersPearse Doherty on bassguitar, vocals, penny whistle and wooden flute
The eight-man lineup features longtime members Rickie O?Neill (drums), Kieran Duddy (keyboards and accordion) and Tommy Carton (backing vocals) as well as acclaimed sidemen, Anthony Thistlethwaite (saxophone, formerly of The Waterboys) and Noelie McDonnell (guitar and backing vocals of The Whileaways)
Ahead of the UStour dates, The Saw Doctorswill release a new single ?Same Oul?Town? , recorded with the RTEConcert Orchestra, on Friday June 27 on all digital platforms
?It wasan amazing experience to be backed by the RTE Concert Orchestra?says Davy Carton, ?without a doubt, the highlight of my career ?
?I never imagined when we started out, we?d get a chance to play one of our songswith an orchestra?said guitarist Leo Moran, ?The RTEconductor, Gavin Murphy, wrote a magical score for Same Oul?Town.?
Discovered by Mike Scott of The Waterboys on a stormy Tuesday night in the Quay?sBar, Galway, The Saw Doctors quickly grew a reputation as a live band, touring around Ireland and the UK, including a six-week stint with The Waterboyson the Fisherman?s Blues tour.
The Galway band?sdebut album ?If ThisIs Rock ?n?Roll, I Want My Old Job Back which includesthe anthemic song ?N17?has
sold a half a million copies world-wide
The Saw Doctorscomeback tour in 2023 / 2024, following a five-year hiatus, wasa resounding success, marked by sold-out showsin Dublin, London, New York, Boston anda barnstormingperformanceon theMainStageat the ElectricPicnicfestival inIreland. Carryingthetorchof resilienceandstill brimmingwith infectiousenergy, The Saw Doctorscontinuetosolidify their placeasoneof Ireland?smost cherishedbands, thrillingaudiencesboth at homeandabroad.
?If they could bottle the sort of Bonhomie that make and entire concert hall feel better, The Saw Doctors would have the medicine show to end them all.?
TheTimes
?The Saw Doctorsoffer wistfulness, humour and small-town nostalgia?
New York Times
https://sawdoctors.com
The Saw Doct ors: A Brief Hist ory of t he Beloved Irish Rockers
The Saw Doct ors, a band synonym ous w it h rousing, heart felt , and dist inct ly Irish rock m usic, have been fixt ures on t he m usic scene for nearly four decades
Hailing from Tuam , Count y Galw ay, t he band w as form ed in 1986 by Leo Moran, Davy Cart on, and Mary O'Connor While O'Connor w ould depart early on, Moran and Cart on have rem ained t he core of t he band, craft ing a sound t hat blends rock and roll w it h t radit ional Irish influences
The band's early years w ere spent honing t heir craft in t he pubs and clubs of w est ern Ireland
Their breakt hrough cam e in 1990 w it h t he release of t heir single "I Uset a Lover," a raucous and infect ious t une t hat w ould go on t o becom e t heir biggest hit
The song t opped t he Irish chart s for a rem arkable nine w eeks and rem ains one of t he best -selling singles in Irish m usic hist ory This success cat apult ed The Saw Doct ors t o nat ional and int ernat ional acclaim
Their debut album , "If This Is Rock and Roll, I Want My Old Job Back," w as released in 1991 and furt her solidified t heir reput at ion for energet ic live perform ances and songs t hat capt ured t he hum our, heart ache, and spirit of rural Irish life Ot her popular songs from t heir ext ensive cat alog include "N17," an ant hem for Irish em igrant s, "Green and Red of Mayo," and " To Win Just Once " 2025 US Tour Dat es
Fans in t he Unit ed St at es w ill have t he opport unit y t o see The Saw Doct ors in July as t hey em bark on a lim it ed US t our The dat es and locat ions are as follow s:
July 18, 2025: The Agora, Cleveland, OH
July 19, 2025: Aragon Ballroom , Chicago, IL
July 22, 2025: Hollyw ood Palladium , Los Angeles, CA
July 24, 2025: MGM Music Hall at Fenw ay, Bost on, MA
July 26, 2025: Sum m erst age in Cent ral Park, New York
Derek Warfield's "Washington'sIrish" is actually a deep dive into the Emerald Isle'sRole in the American Revolution
The CD was created and inspired by Derek Warfield who wasborn in Dublin, Ireland, in 1943, Derek Warfield isa seminal figure in Irish folk music. A founding member of the legendary Wolfe Tones group, he has been a force in Irish traditional and rebel music for over fifty years! After parting ways with his original group in 2001, Warfield embarked on a successful solo career, often collaborating with hisband, The Young Wolfe Tones.
A passionate historian as well as a musician, Warfield has dedicated a significant portion of hiswork to preserving and sharing the storiesof the Irish diaspora and their impact on world events This dedication wasbehind his2011 album, "Washington'sIrish." The brilliant CD isa meticulously researched musical project that shinesa light on the often-overlooked contributionsof the Irish to the American Revolution The album features a collection of songsand tunesfrom the 18th century, offering a soundtrack to the Irish-American experience during this pivotal period in American and Irish history The album'stitle itself isa direct reference to the significant number of Irish-born soldierswho served in the Continental Army under General George Washington Warfield'swork aimsto reclaim thisnarrative, showcasing the shared ideals of liberty and freedom that connected the Irish struggle for independence with the American cause
A Track-by-Track Journey Through History!
John Barry was born on Good Friday, March 25, 1745, in Ballysampson, Tacumshane, County
Wexford, Ireland
The Irish born future "Father & Founder of the United StatesNavy" began his seafaring career at a young age,working on merchant ships. Barry arrived in Colonial America in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, around the age of 15 (circa 1760) and quickly established himself as a skilled merchant captain. In his thirties, John Barry married Sarah Austin in 1777. They had no children together, but Barry adopted his wife'sniece and nephew
Continued onpage10
Irish and Scot s in t he Am erican Revolut ion
John Barry and George Washingt on had a close relat ionship. The Irish nat ive w as an Int egral Part of George Washingt on's m ost t rust ed Circle:
He also served as a naval advisor t o Washingt on during t he Revolut ionary War. Also aiding in t he act ive w ar effort , he also t ransport ed t roops and supplies for Washingt on's arm y.
Sadly, Com m odore John Barry died at only 56 and he is buried in St Mary's Cat holic Churchyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Derek Warfield and the Young Wolfe Tones
Warfield founded hiscurrent band
The Young Wolfe Tones in 2005!
He had previously been a founding member and leader of The Wolfe Tones, which he co-founded in 1963, and left in 2001.
The Young Wolfe Tones are considered to be a traditional Irish music and folk band Their music incorporates elementsof Irish folk, traditional ballads, and rebel songs!
Derek Warfield isa legendary singer, historian and writer and hisband reflectshis commitment to Irish excellence Each and every member isa seasoned and very talented Irish musician .
They play about 30 plus Festivalsin Ireland and the USevery year and countless other public and private gigs, in the USand Europe, The next Concert set for Butte Montana in August
Com m odore Barry's naval career w as m arked by significant achievem ent s:
He w as t he first capt ain com m issioned by t he Cont inent al Congress in 1775. While in com m and of t he USS Lexingt on, Barry capt ured t he Brit ish w arship HMS Edw ard in 1776,t he first capt ure of a Brit ish w arship by an Am erican vessel During t he rest of t he w ar, he com m anded several ships and w on num erous bat t les against t he Brit ish, disrupt ing t heir supply lines and capt uring valuable prizes
Com m odore Barry's m ost last ing and significant act ions cam e aft er t he w ar w hen he st rongly advocat ed for t he est ablishm ent of a perm anent Unit ed St at es Navy. He is credit ed w it h playing a key role in it s creat ion in 1794
If you w ant t o read m ore, m ay w e suggest , t hese t w o fine w orks on t he cont ribut ions, life and t im es of t his rem arkable Irish Am erican hero
"John Barry: An Am erican Hero in t he Age of Sail" by Tim McGrat h
" The First Capt ain: John Barry, Fat her of t he Am erican Navy" by William Bell Clark Sources for Furt her St udy: The m ost am azing Websit e
- Naval Hist ory and Herit age Com m and: ht t ps:/ / bit .ly/ 3RNHZ8M
The Young Wolfe Tones t oday are:, Eddie Kane, Dam aris Woods, Derek Warfield, Paddy McGrandles, Andreas Durkin.
1776 or Irish Unit y
Momentum Builds for United Ireland: Varadkar Calls for Referendum Pat h
By John McNally
Leo Varadkar, Ireland?sformer Taoiseach from Fine Gael, advocatesfor Irish Unification calling it the defining mission of this era at a recent forum in Belfast
In a recent survey commissioned by QueensUniversity and the University of Ulster, the question of Irish unity revealed a notable shift in public opinion When asked if they would vote for Irish unity tomorrow, 36%responded affirmatively, compared to 42%who said no? a narrow gap of just 6% This representsa significant change from previousyears, where support for unity wasonly 12%in 2023, 14%in 2021, and 23%in 2020, halving approximately every three years Clearly, the Northern Irish public is increasingly open to the idea of Irish unity
Many potential supportersof unity expressreservationsnot about the
concept itself, but about the practicalities They want reassurances that unification would not lead to rushed decisionsor Brexit-like chaos In the Republic of Ireland, there is widespread support for unity, tempered by concernsabout potential loyalist violence and the financial implications for both regions
Questionsabout the future of a united Ireland abound There needs to be consideration of the substantial subsidy the UK currently providesto Northern Ireland, and how integrated systems, such as governance structures and national symbols like the flag and anthem, would be managed
Mr Varadkar proposed a structured approach to addressing these concerns He suggests two referendums: one to gauge public desire for unification, and a subsequent vote to determine the
specifics of a proposed united Ireland Drawing parallels to the reunification of Germany, Varadkar believes that any economic challenges can be overcome relatively quickly, potentially restoring financial stability within a couple of yearsand that only a small minority might turn to violence
Many of us feel that when the day of Irish unity dawns, the world will greet it with open hearts? offering gesturesof grace and tidesof investment, moved by the promise of the nation made whole Varadkar views Irish unification as the transformative national project of our age, emphasizing that it isnot merely a goal of Sinn Féin but a broader constitutional imperative He?s made it his mission to advocate for unity, saying it?shis duty to make the case for it
John McNally
Our frequent Cont ribut ing Writ er is Insight ful and w ell t raveled He is also an Irish Com m unit y act ivist and organizer.
The Polit ics of St arvat ion
By Maurice Fit zpat rick
The total blockade of Gaza began on March 2nd this year. By late May, deprivation of food, water and medical supplieswas endangering the livesof one in five people on the Gaza Strip.
Inflation of costsfor essentials rocketed accordingly The inhumanity of what ishappening beggarsbelief. And it is important to state exactly what ishappening By a premeditated policy of the Israeli government, Gazans are being starved. AsAndrew Forde noted in a letter to Irish Times on May 16th: ??Starving?isnot the same as?being starved? There is undeniable malice aforethought in the Israeli policy of starving the Gazans. The Israeli government isfulfilling its objectives, announced over 18 monthsago On October 9th, 2023, two daysafter the Hamasattack on Israel, the then Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said: ?There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything isclosed We are fighting human animalsand we are acting accordingly?
Gallant remained in office, head of the key ministry for prosecuting the invasion of Gaza, for over a year after making that comment When the International Criminal Court sought to arrest him for war crimes, it duly noted the ?use of starvation as a weapon of war?in itswarrant Gallant is far from alone Israeli Minister of National Security, Itmar Ben G?vir, speaking at Mar-a-Lago this April 23rd, said that senior USRepublicanshad ?expressed support for my very clear position on how to act in Gaza and that the food and aid warehousesshould be bombed? . The incumbent Israeli Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, said last August: ?Nobody will let uscause two million civiliansto die of hunger, even though it might be justified and moral until our hostages are returned? . There is a causal relationship between these statements and current policy
Thispolicy is not reflective merely of a handful of demonic membersof Netanyahu?scabinet who have seized control of the government In a recent poll, Israelis were asked if ?when conquering an enemy city, the Israel Defense Forces should act asthe Israelitesdid in Jericho under Joshua?scommand ? killing all itsinhabitants? Fully 47%of respondersagreed In some condemnationsof the strategy, key global figures have specifically underlined the horror of the use of starvation For example, UN Secretary General António Guterressaid last March that the famine in Gaza is?entirely man-made disaster? and noted that Gaza constitutes ?the highest number of people facing catastrophic hunger ever recorded by the Integrated Food Security Classification system? .
In previousonslaughts in Gaza, journalists could gain accessto the strip No longer The outside world is wholly reliant on citizen journalists, bloggers, UN officialsand such to communicate the horror Yet, that rigid control of information and coverage isno excuse for pretending not to know what is happening If food doesnot enter a place whose infrastructure isalready obliterated by relentlessbombardment, people starve Television footage should be superfluous Mass starvation hascaused a minor reprieve in the relentless support for the invasion in a way that detonating tensof thousandsof tonnesof bombson civilians and civilian targets, including schoolsand hospitals, did not Starvation clarifies like nothing else that the targetsare civilians, and that international rulesof engagement are completely disregarded Thishasapparently hit home even with President Trump who hasallegedly said to Netanyahu: ?We will abandon you if you do not end this war? This would be the same Donald Trump who, on February 4 th , glorified, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his flank, the prospect of ridding the Gaza Strip of itsentire population of 2 million people His vision was of a ?Riviera of the Middle East? , purged of Gazans
Even the most ardent defenders of Israel are appalled by the policy of starvation AsHolocaust awarenessactivist in Dublin, Oliver Sears, recently wrote, the starvation of Gazans runs?counter to Jewish morality and collective memory, one that jarsso keenly with me My mother knew hunger in the Warsaw Ghetto asa four-year-old, where 100,000 Jews were starved to death deliberately by the SS? Consider the response of Germany?snew chancellor, Friedrich Merz, ? I honestly don? t understand what the goal is in causing such suffering to the civilian population?Long Israel?sstaunchest supporter (and chief weaponssupplier) in Europe, even Germany can no longer condone or ignore the policy of mass starvation
VIEW, Continuedfrompreviouspage
The Israeli government isnow allowing food deliveriesbut only to a small part of South Gaza.
There were 400 food centresin operation earlier this year After the total blockade, only four are operating. Heaping evil upon evil, Israel isusing food to corral the starving population into a smaller territory to seize the vacated area and debar Gazansfrom returning
In a 1946 essay, ?The Politicsof Starvation? , George Orwell argued against the lunacy of any calculation that ?you can ever get good resultsfrom starvation? Recalling that the blockade of Germany remained after the Armistice in 1918: ?We did keep up the blockade after the Armistice, and the children we starved then were the young men who were bombing usin 1940? people could and
did foresee that the resultsof wantonly starving Germany, and of making a vindictive peace, would be evil?
At least 100,000 German civilians died between the Armistice in November 1918 and the end of the blockade in March 1919. That isnot a history you hear much about It is a deep shame on the Alliesand, indeed, another world war did ensue two decades later. Similarly, Netanyahu?s stated objective to destroy Hamas are rubbished by his own inhumane tacticsand the vengeance they will engender Make no mistake, thisdisaster is not limited to Israel/ Palestine. Tolerating starvation as a method of war will have grave consequences for international law and the institutions which uphold it Is the mere condemnation of starvation as a method of war sufficient to salvage what isleft of the credibility of the West?
Our regular cont ribut or, Maurice Fit zpat rick is an Irish w rit er and film m aker w ho w as educat ed at Trinit y College Dublin
Fit zpat rick aut hored t he book, John Hume in America: From Derry to DC and w rot e, direct ed, and produced t he docum ent ary film , John Hume in America. CLICK t o buy or m ore INFO
Unionism 's recent failures t o serve t he Prot est ant people of Nort hern Ireland are st arkly evident In Ballym ena, a t ow n deeply root ed in Paisleyism , several days of violence erupt ed over allegat ions of a local t eenage girl being assault ed by t w o im m igrant boys. This sparked days of ram page against im m igrant s, sm ashing w indow s and firebom bing t heir hom es. In a desperat e at t em pt t o prot ect t hem selves, som e hung Union Jack flags and UVF st ickers on t heir w indow s, only t o face furt her at t acks Many chose t o flee and w ere sent t o a leisure cent er in Larne for em ergency shelt er but w hen w ord got out t hat t oo w as firebom bed as t he violence spread t o ot her t ow ns
The m et hods of m ob violence and t huggery hist orically used against Cat holics are now direct ed t ow ards ant i-im m igrant racism , reflect ing ram pant bigot ry w it hin t he unionist com m unit y. Unionist polit icians, w ho once lobbied t o ease im m igrat ion for cheap labor,
now decry t he influx of im m igrant s t hey facilit at ed When I visit ed Belfast last sum m er, a Hindu rest aurant w as firebom bed? t arget ed in a t ragic act of ignorance aft er being m ist aken for Muslim .
July 12t h bonfires, beyond t heir healt h and environm ent al harm as t housands of pallet s and t ires are burned adjacent t o hom es, serve as annual rem inders of ent renched hat red t ow ards Irish Cat holics In East Belfast , t he m essage "ALL TAIGS WILL BE CRUCIFIED" lingered unchallenged for days on a bonfire visible from t he road, replaced event ually by ant i-im m igrant slogans
Unionist leaders seem m ore int ent on resist ing change t han forging a progressive pat h forw ard. While m any Prot est ant s m aint ain loyalt y t o t he union, nost algia for a past m arked by division and hat e cannot deliver a prosperous fut ure. Unionism , m eant t o secure t heir fut ure, now risks leaving it m ore uncert ain t han ever.
Tensions are high in t he nort h of Ireland
Above: The sign is Sect arian t hreat calling for ?Taigs? (Irish-Cat holics) t o be ?crucified?...displayed on a loyalist bonfire.
The Irish Literary Showcase
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Bloomsday 2025
The Celebration of the mythical day created by Irish writer James joyce in Ulysses awaysfalls on June 16th, and in 2025, that was a Monday. The world'sbiggest Bloomsday Festival of 2025 (June 11-16) wasin Dublin and it appears to have been well-attended and lively, asis typical. The James Joyce Centre, the main organizer, is likely well pleased with the turnout for their impressive program of over 100 events
According to their PR; the sheer breadth of events ? from traditional readingsand walking tours to academic discussions, film screenings, and musical performances ? suggeststhat there was something for every level of Joyce enthusiast, from scholars to casual admirers---for collectors and and we alwayshope for true Joyceians.
One of t he event s t hat drew a lot of at t ent ion w as " The Dubliners Dilem m a" Perform ance: The Declan Gorm an one-act play.
" The Dubliners Dilem m a," w as perform ed at t he Jam es Joyce Cent re on Bloom sday it self (June 16t h), and received posit ive m ent ions in t he press and online Pre-show , com m ent s t aken from crit ics and w rit ers w ho had been able t o at t end preview s, w as also high The play w as described as a "t ruly m esm erizing"
Also, w ell w ot h m ent ioning; t he broader init iat ive by t he Irish Depart m ent of Foreign Affairs t o celebrat e "Ireland, Island of Writ ers" alongside Bloom sday globally seem s t o have successfully broadened t he lit erary focus and engagem ent in Ireland t his year.
Bloom sday 2025 Review s - USA
Press report s and online post ing from various US cit ies indicat e st rong part icipat ion in Bloom sday celebrat ions. Bloom sday perform ances and readings are increasingly popular. No w onder, as such pop up event s at t ract bot h die-hard fans and an int roduct ion for new com ers
A lot of pubs hold event s t oo including Bloom sday Breakfast s, readings and t oast s t o Joyce and his charact ers
The Rosenbach Museum & Library:
Locat ed in Philadelphia, PA, t he Rosenbach's Bloom sday Fest ival 2025 on June 16t h w as a significant event , The m useum get a lot of at t ent ion all t he t im e because of t heir collect ion of Jam es Joyce Unique possessions including
Joyce's Ulysses m anuscript as w ell as First Edit ions
Highlight s for 2025 w ere t he inclusion of a special m usical program , public readings in t he garden (w it h public reader spot s available for t he first t im e), and a sunset perform ance of Molly Bloom 's soliloquy by Kirst en Quinn w ere all w ell-received. The free adm ission for all event s w ould have m ade it highly accessible and likely increased at t endance
The collaborat ion w it h local vendors for food and a cust om "Bloom sday brew " also cont ribut ed t o t he fest ive, com m unit y at m osphere. Overall, t he em phasis on m aking Joyce accessible and engaging for bot h seasoned fans and new com ers appears t o have been a success
New York, NY:
New York's m ult iple Bloom sday event s, including, "A Shout in t he St reet " by The Jam es Joyce Societ y and Irish Am erican Writ ers & Art ist s Inc (June 14t h), Origin Theat re Com pany's celebrat ion at Bloom 's Tavern (June 15t h), and Colm McCann's annual event out side Ulysses Folk House (June 16t h), provided a range of opt ions for part icipant s
These event s are t ypically lauded for t heir vibrant at m osphere, live Irish m usic, and t he cam araderie am ong Joyce ent husiast s. The opport unit y for dram at ic readings by act ors and t he inclusion of Joyce t rivia add t o t he int eract ive and celebrat ory nat ure
Chicago, IL:
A recent review from June 20, 2025, for a "Bloom sday in Chicago" event not ed a "com m unit y of Joyce fans, lit erary lovers, and t he just plain curious" gat hered.
The evening feat ured cast m em bers of a planned product ion of Ulysses in Night t ow n and a book release, w it h part icipant s reading from various sect ions of t he novel.
The review highlight ed t he "grand ol' t im e" t he cast had, t he "lovely pre-show of Irish classic t unes and song," and t he "heart y roar " from t he crow d as t hey enjoyed Guinness and cam araderie It appears t o have been a highly engaging and enjoyable event , even for t hose less fam iliar w it h t he full t ext of Ulysses
BLOOMSDAY REMEMBERED
Ir ish M usic: News& Reviews
Review from Belfast
By Paul Wat t ers
Belfast's Heart BeatsStrong: Snow Patrol Deliversan Unforgettable Belsonic Night
Belfast welcomesback Music Sonsto their first Belsonic at Ormeau Park Snow Patrol are no strangers to playing Belfast asthey alwaysensure that when it comes to playing live, Belfast isalways on the to-do list
The Setting could not have been more perfect; it was a beautiful, warm, sunny night People from all over the world attended to capture Gary Lightbody, Nathan Connolly, and Johnny McDaid. What people don't realise isthat Snow Patrol was formed in Dundee, Scotland
The band opened with the Classic Take Back the City to both the band'sand the crowd's delight, a powerful anthem to get Belfast alive and ready for an unforgettable night of music Gary and the band have been going strong for a long time, but this didn't show the energy, the enthusiasm, and the Endurance that the band perform regularly shows how rock and roll, old school style should be performed at a high level and high volume.
The band belted out their classics, Chasing CarsMake ThisGo On Forever and crowd favourite Run. Throughout the night, with Gary's love and admiration for the Belfast audience, it wasa night for them all to remember. Gary Lightbody isno stranger to promoting and supporting local talent. On thisoccasion, he brought along the fine acoustic angel voice of Lucy Gaffney and moved on to an electric grunge energetic band called the Florentinas
" Belfast will always welcome their brothers Snow Patrol back home with a smile and a huge hug."
...Paul Watters
Ireland's Hidden Gems
Céide Fields In Co. Mayo: A Neolit hic Landscape Uncovered
Journey back 6,000 years t o t he w orld's m ost ext ensive St one Age m onum ent . Hidden beneat h t he w ild boglands of Nort h Mayo, t he Céide Fields reveal a highly organized Neolit hic farm ing societ y t hat predat es t he pyram ids, offering a profound connect ion t o Ireland's earliest ancest ors
Céide Fields, represent s one of t he m ost ext raordinary archaeological discoveries in t he w orld. Far m ore t han just an ancient ruin, it is a vast , w ell preserved Neolit hic landscape, offering an unparalleled w indow int o t he lives of Ireland's earliest farm ers The im m ersive visit or experience offers t he essent ial logist ical inform at ion for t ouring t he herit age sit e Capt ivat ing at t ract ions in t he surrounding Count y Mayo are also m ent ioned!
Discovery and Hist ory
The st ory of Céide Fields is a t est am ent t o persist ent observat ion and dedicat ed archaeological pursuit , spanning generat ions of a single fam ily The sit e's init ial recognit ion began in t he 1930s w hen Pat rick Caulfield, a local schoolt eacher, not iced unusual piles of st ones w hile cut t ing t urf for fuel He possessed an int uit ive underst anding of his local environm ent , w hich allow ed him t o discern t hat t hese configurat ions, found deep beneat h t he bog, w ere not nat ural form at ions but had been deliberat ely placed by people. This indicat ed an
ext rem ely ancient origin, predat ing t he bog's developm ent it self, and his keen observat ion laid t he groundw ork for fut ure invest igat ions.
The t rue significance of Pat rick's init ial observat ion rem ained largely unknow n for nearly four decades It w as not unt il his son, Seam us Caulfield, having pursued a career in archaeology, began syst em at ic invest igat ions in 1970 t hat t he full scope of t he discovery st art ed t o em erge Seam us's w ork revealed a com plex net w ork of fields, houses, and m egalit hic t om bs, all rem arkably preserved beneat h 50 cent uries of blanket bog grow t h.
Through various dat ing m et hods, including radiocarbon dat ing from heart hs and cross-com parison w it h pot t ery from ot her Neolit hic sit es in West ern Europe, t he Céide Fields w ere det erm ined t o dat e back approxim at ely five t housand years, w it h hum an occupancy around 3000 B C This places t he sit e's creat ion and developm ent significant ly before m any iconic global m onum ent s, predat ing t he building of t he pyram ids of Egypt and St onehenge by over 2,000 years The discovery of a prim it ive plow head w it hin t he enclosure provides direct evidence of early agricult ural pract ices Céide Fields is not m erely an archaeological dig; it is a m onum ent al t est am ent t o early hum an ingenuit y and com m unal effort , represent ing an agricult ural landscape of unparalleled age and scale
The Céide Fields Visit or Cent re Offers A Tim e Travel Experience
Visit ors t o t he The Céide Fields Cent re in Count y Mayo, Ireland, w ill find t hem selves going back in t im e! The exhibit s depict a unique w indow t o t he past as you find yourself st anding in a farm ing com m unit y t hat lived over 5,000 years ago. This aw ard-w inning cent er is your gat ew ay t o underst anding t he m ost ext ensive St one Age m onum ent in t he w orld.
Exploring the Deep Irish Rootsto the American Revolution
TheConfluenceOf Gaels, God andRevolution
The Pivotal Role of
the Irish
The hand of Providence w as at w ork during t he years t hat first led up t o and t hen guided t he vict ory of t he Am erican Colonies over t he seem ingly invincible Brit ish Em pire. Most of t he Founders and t he m ajorit y of t he populace of t he Colonies in t he lat e 1700s believed t hat in t heir heart s and souls.
A sizable port ion of t he populat ion of t he Thirt een Colonies w ho w ere of Irish birt h and Irish or Celt ic Ancest ry w ere t ot ally cert ain t hat it w as ordained by God t hat t hey should be part of t he Rising Against t he cruel and greedy Brit ish Crow n
A dist inguished Circle of George Washingt on's m ost able and t rust ed advisers and officers w ere Gaels They included Revolut ionary War heroes; Com m odore John Paul Jones, born in Scot land, Major General Richard Mont gom ery and Com m odore John Barry from Ireland and General Henry Knox w ho w as born t o Scot s-Irish parent s Knox w as Washingt on's chief art illery officer and a t rust ed advisor
There w ere count less ot hers including an Irish born New York t ailor, Hercules Mulligan w ho w as a spy for George Washingt on. As one m ight im agine, t he inspirat ion and m ot ivat ion t o fight for t he cause of freedom varied w it h everyone but t he Irish in general w ere m ore act ive, eloquent and involved in t he Am erican Revolut ion t han t he average Colonial Aft er a shared hist ory of hundreds of years of harsh t reat m ent , occupat ion and t axat ion of t he Brit ish Em pire; t he Gaels w ere ready for t he fight !
In The American War Of Independence
From our cover:
Our opening salvo is apropos! In t he feat ure on t hese gallant m en w ho helped forge Am erica, w e begin w it h t he Fat her of t he US Navy, John Barry We begins on page 8 at the right top corner.
Then w e are also finishing our piece on t he Irish Music of t he Am erican
Revolut ion w it h help from our gret friend, Derek Warfield.
Derek Warfield is a w ell know n aut her st oryt eller and m usician t o be sure He is also a w ell know n hist orian especially on t he US Rebellion and t he US Civil War Millions of Irish and Scot s w ere involved and m illions of Celt ic t unes w ere shared and sung!
25 Years!
More on the Award-Winning Visitor Centre:
A Gat ew ay t o t he Past
The Céide Fields Visit or Cent re, designed by t he Office of Public Works (OPW) of Ireland, is an aw ard-w inning building, recognized w it h Ireland's m ost prest igious archit ect ural aw ard. The cent re serves as a vit al gat ew ay t o t he past , addressing t he challenge of int erpret ing a sit e largely hidden beneat h t he bog
It houses st at e-of-t he-art exhibit ions t hat bring t he Neolit hic period t o life These include im m ersive, 360-degree audio-visual displays, int eract ive graphics, and aut hent ic art ifact s from t he era A part icular highlight is t he unique infinit y box m odel, w hich uses a live project ed landscape and w alls of m irrors t o creat e t he illusion t hat t he ancient fields st ret ch out for m iles, providing a com pelling visual represent at ion of w hat t he landscape w ould have looked like during t he Neolit hic period
The cent re also feat ures t earoom s, offering hom em ade cakes, scones, soup, and sandw iches
Exploring t he Ancient Landscape:
Beyond t he cent re, t he t rue essence of Céide Fields unfolds in it s vast out door landscape Professional guides lead engaging w alking t ours of t he sit e, t ypically last ing bet w een 45 t o 60 m inut es These t ours delve int o t he hist ory and st ruct ure of t he ancient field syst em , t he lives of it s inhabit ant s, and t he local ecology, explaining how t he landscape has t ransform ed over 5,000-plus years
Finally, t he spect acular cliff-edge plat form , sit uat ed 110 m et ers (approxim at ely 370 feet ) above t he w ild At lant ic Ocean offers breat ht aking panoram ic view s of t he At lant ic The Céide Cliffs t hem selves are ancient , dat ing back over 300 m illion years
The Cent re w ill be fully open from 15t h March unt il 3rd Novem ber
Opening hours:
10am t o 6pm in June t o Sept em ber 10am t o 5pm in Oct ober
Last adm ission is 45 m inut es before closing The last guided t our at 1 hour before closing Wint er m ont hs ? available for group books Adult : ?5 00 Group/ Senior: ?4.00 Child/ St udent : ?3.00 Fam ily: ?13.00 The Céide Fields Cent re Ballycast le Count y Mayo Ireland
Telephone: (00353) 046-9407250:
Tandoori pork fillet, biryani
rice with grilled veg and tandoori curry spice sprinkle
Serves x 2
You will need
The Tandoori Marinade
1/ 2 t easpoon of t urm eric
1 t ablespoon of dried coriander
2/ 2 t easpoon of chilli pow der (hot / m ild)
2 t ablespoons of sm oked paprika
2 t ablespoons of garlic past e
1 t ablespoon of ginger past e
1 t ablespoon of garam m asala
1 t ablespoon of t andoori spice
1 t easpoon of red food colour
Com bine all ingredient s t oget her in a m edium -sized bow l
The Meat
1 pork fillet
1 cup of long-grain rice
1 red pepper (cut int o chunks)
1 green pepper (cut int o chunks)
2 t om at oes (quart ered)
2 red onions (cut int o quart ers
1 t easpoon of curry pow der
1 t easpoon of t andoori spice
1 t easpoon of t urm eric
(Wit h t he curry pow der, t andoori and t urm eric reserved for sprinkle around t he plat e)
IRISH CHEF PAUL WATTERS
"With this Recipe, I wanted to try something different with New ideas and flavours. So I decided to recreate a takeaway classic. I hope you enjoy!"
The Biryani Rice
1 cup of Basm at i rice
1 t ablespoon of t urm eric
1 t ablespoon of Madras curry pow der
1 knob of fresh ginger (peeled and grat ed)
1 t easpoon of cum in
1 t easpoon of garam m asala
1 t easpoon of cinnam on
2 cups of chicken st ock(boiling)
A drizzle of veget able oil
First off, prepare t he pork, cut t he fillet in half, and m ix it in w it h t he m arinade.
It 's best t o leave for 24 hours, but if you w ant , 2 hours is also good.
Preheat t he oven t o 180 degrees.
Bring a m edium -sized pan t o m edium
t o high heat and cook pork on one side for five m inut es, flip over, and cook in t he oven for a furt her t en.
Continued n page 24
Chef Paul Wat t ers has been nam ed Spokes-Chef for Mr Franks Spices. The popular Irish chef is w ell know t o our readers for his recipes and Facebook Page...
Moving on to the rice; gather a medium-sized frying pan and bring it to medium to high heat. Add the oil and spicesand cook for about 15 seconds. Add Rice and mix well with the spicesto ensure all rice iscoated with the spices. Then add chicken stock, bring to a boil and simmer for approximately ten. Stir once ThisWill allow the pork and rice to cook at the same time.
For the veggies
The Method
I cooked on a hot griddle pan and dressed in a little oil and salt and pepper. These don't take long to cook so it works well with the rest of the cooking process. Check your Rice give it a quick stir taste and add salt and pepper to your liking my tip add a little chopped fresh coriander)
Carefully remove the pork from the oven and place it on a board for a few minutesallowing it to rest. You are now ready to plate up. I used a black plate for an added touch, but this Will equally look good on either colour plate. Place Rice down one side of the plate and spread it out evenly. Take veggies and place them on the other side of the plate; carefully slice the pork and place it on top of the Rice. Add a picked coriander leaf on top. Sprinkle spices. Around the plate. Serve and enjoy.
The Irish Literary Showcase
Last Light of The Midnight Sun
By Greg Pat rick
?One should say before sleeping: I have lived many lives. I have been a slave and a prince. Many a beloved has sat upon my knee and I have sat upon the knees of many a beloved. Everything that has been shall be again.?
? W.B. Yeat s
PART II
The laught er of his m use at Bealt aine revels seem ed like a song t hat st epped free of t he st rings as a song t ook a life of it s ow n But t o be t ouched by t he gods is oft en t o be denied t he hum an t ouch The Bard had rehearsed t he quest ion like a song in expect at ion of a concert yet in he saw her colours w orn by anot her w arrior int o bat t le and crest fallen t urned aw ay from t he sight of her at t he bat t lem ent s as t hey m arched on t he enem y int o t he chill rain
The night previously on t he eve of bat t le court w as held and all t hrilled t o t he songs com posed for t he occasion, t he spell bound assem blage list ening t o t he bard?s sonorous barit one and silvered harp st rains draw n by a conjuring hand t hat seem ed a graceful w alt z of apparit ional dancers An air of elect rified enchant m ent pervaded t he night as t he hall rang w it h refined bardic songs beckoning inexorably t o t he valour in t heir heart s so t hat even t he faint est heart could not fail t o be m oved Yet valour alone did not prevail Warriors seem ed t o be conjured before his gaze by fingers at t he harp t hat seem ed t o beckon in t heir draw ing at t he st rings like a prisoner break of night m ares passing t hrough w arding dream cat cher chords pulled apart And t hey seem ed t o pass in phant asm al procession, som e gazing w it h fam iliar faces of ashen pallor
? Join us t hen if you dare ? t he w rait hs ut t ered
To be im m ort alised by t he st rings t o be a ?lord of t he st rings? is t o know no puppet eer am ong kings of m en Then t he bard realised he w as but gazing at a t apest ry?s st oryboard of w arriors m arching t o bat t le Yet his dream s beheld m ore As if ghost s had st rayed from t he im ages of legendary bat t le and hunt sm an?s chase. The bard gazed over t he bejew eled rim of his goblet The eyes int oxicat ed m ore so by t he sight of his bet rot hed His m use w as t he very essence of a Celt ic bard?s inspirat ion The bard?s silhouet t e w as cast in t he w all-lengt h heart h?s blazing fire t hen subdued nearly t o t he em bers at t he night drew on and t he flam es t hat sighed like charm ed serpent s t o t he harp song dim inished t o a w hisper as one w it h his ow n There is m ore t rut h t o be found in t hose endearm ent s t han
The Second of Three Parts
in all t he rhet oric, bat t le cries, and ant hem s. Wit h each fall of t w ilight t o night hum anit y loses yet anot her chance at rest orat ion The Celt ic t w ilight seem ed envisioned by t he m use of her person. Many m ore t im es w ould t he m oon t rail her pallored grace across t he night sky, as inconst ant as fat e it self Yet he w ould behold her no m ore He rem ained at vigil by his fallen lord?s side, lingering as an eerie silence fell w it h t he night and last bat t le cry and clash of blades t railed off int o t he dusk. Like great w ords unheeded fading int o obscurit y t ill t hey are called for again In t he deafening silence The bard knelt by his side and st rum m ed absent ly at t he harp his eyes dist ant and far aw ay like a cast aw ay?s expect ant gaze t o t he horizon for t he m irage of a sail Touch draw n so sublim ely at t he st rings like m oon and m oonbeam s upon t he t ide Like a com poser t ranscribing t he language of t he heart in not es
?Play for m e bard ? t he king drew st rengt h t o w hisper w it h st rained breat h
?My Lord...?? t he voice puerile and sorrow ful.
?Play your finest Announce m e int o t he presence of m y forefat hers ent hroned in t heir hallow ed halls sing m e int o t he societ y of t heir queens and cham pions of our people ?
?You have fought w ell you shall have your honoured place am ongst t hem ?
?I w ill m iss your w ords bard ?
?And I you m ast er.?
The bard sighed heavily and closed his eyeshandspoised at the strings The last song and dance isalwaysmeaningful A last song before they parted waysat twilight before the inevitability of night fall. He played a song he had composed for her, hismuse
Feverishly he sang
?For minewasa battlecry lost onthemoorwindfor a cause forgotten. Themoon?sorbseemedsphereddaisof a pale queenenthronedpresidingover a throngingcourt of darknessandthevvigil candleof thestarsinradiant majesty. Asnight cast itsdark spell over thepastoral dreamscape. He closedhiseyestofitful sleepHauntedby therednightmares of battle.?
It was a song he had composed on sleeplessnights thinking of her Hisvoice visible in the chill air like the ghostsof wordsleft unspoken between lovers Hisfallen lord felt up lifted upon the wordsas if borne away from the field of war by his knightsyet higher still Though admonished to subdue histone for the bards were outlawed on pain of death by the invader hisvoice rose like a solitary bastion against the night ?But there are some darknessesI cannot hold at bay with song Against thisthe magic of song cannot avail ?he brooded ashe sang. If ever voice was instrument of the soul or praisesinger to the stars it would have been then. When last string was drawn, the chordsdisappearing like a friend into the dusk. it seemed his patron?sbreath too faltered at last like a contented sigh
?Hasthe song pleased you then...??
The chill wind answered Silently he covered the slain king in a mantle and placed the in the chill hands closing the eyes? And in the darkness the bard wept as he had not before. His eyesclosed to a sleep dreamless as death
Upon an isolated copse of trees, he at last fell faltering from the aftermath of battle He walked the aftermath of invasion like a somnambulist across a nightmarish dreamscape standing like avswaying scarecrow before desolate fields before seeking treeslike a pilgrim hallowed sanctuary of stone
He walked an alien new world like approaching the bedside of a friend that wasemaciated beyond recognition A sensation of sinking into the earth overcame him How did it come to thisnew dawn?
He had ridden at the vanguuard of the knights asbefitted his station with standard bearer and king himself While his lord and hisguard maintained aloof decorum as they advanced acrossthe moor the bard made jestswith the warriors riding along the linesand fraternizing with knight and foot soldier alike. He sang their old hero ballads to inspire them to emulate great feats of arms and taking requestsfor favoured songs A shadow befell his face as if a premonition vexed him and the red dreams of an old warrior?sfitful sleep seemed to passhis vision
?My Lord Hold!?the bard faltered
?Stand aside bard! Make Way!?the king?s champion arrogantly pushed past
Conclusion next issue
The Irish Arts & Entertainment's CELTICCAMERA
We are looking for Links & List ings A FREE Irish Com m unit y Service Cost Effect ive for Pubs and m ost Businesses!
Proven niche m arket Irish inform at ion source for 33 years!
Cont act us for a Media Kit : irishm issive@gm ail com
The Fenians& Terry Casey
First off, KUDOSto Terry Casey of The Fenians for histirelesswork in conceiving, organizing and putting in the time to make the second year of the California Celtic Fest a reality!
Terry Casey and The Feniansare a beloved force in Irish Music and Celtic Rock in SoCal They have also toured around the US They have a very loyal fan base and have also garnered a reputation for organizing tours to Ireland The tripsare called "Hooley Holidays" ? in Ireland and they combine sightseeing with their musical performancesand sessions.
It takesdedication to the cause of Irish Culture and Music to successfully pull off these endeavors. The California Celtic Festival wasan excellent festival and adventure! Many thanksto all who were involved! ED
The California Celt ic Fest w as am azing! Great m usic, craic, fam ilyfriendly park set t ing and a delight ful fun-filled t w o days!!
ABOVE: Lorraine Cham bers and Ken O'Malley at t he Irish Fair and Music Fest ival in Torrance.. On t he left : THE BLARNEY BOYS form ed recent ly and just in t im e t o be t he hit of t he event ! The bhoys are: Padraic Conroy, Ken O'Malley and John McKenna. The group played only on Sat urday and w ere very w ell received.
At t he Irish Fair in Torrance,t he back up version of Trooper Thorn; w hen t he ot her half of t he band have The Fenians gigs at t he sam e t im e! Wine expert Mike Moore on bodrun, chorus alt o singer Lorraine Cham bers w it h singer/ songw rit er/ m usician Rick Boyle
We are looking for a Calendar Editor. If interested, please contact us via Email to start; irishmissive@gmail.com
Andy and Ann Scot t are regular at t endees at Celt ic event s and t his year t hey represent ed CLAN SCOTT AND THE Irish Art s and Ent ert ainm ent at bot h t he Scot t ish Fest ival in Cost a Mesa and t he California Celt ic Fest over Fat her 's Day w eekend.
The Second Year for the California Celtic Festival was much bigger and well attended! The entertainment line-up was quite impressive aswell
Sina Thiel, a German born singer from Ireland got a lot of attention and praise for her music! Theil, an award-winning artist in the Irish country music scene, isa singer-songwriter known for her captivating performances. She hasreleased several successful singles and albums, with a strong following in Ireland.
Official Website: https://sinatheilmusic.com/
IRISH ARTS & ENTERTAINM ENT CALENDAR
By Date OnGoing Trivia & West Coast Celtic
On-Going
Every Week
Sundaysstarting @4:pm Irish Music Session Traditional music / No Cover
Auld Dubliner Irish Pub Long Beach
www.aulddubliner.com
See advert this issue on page 5
Every Wednesday st art ing @ 9:pm
Irish Music w it h
Niall Cash
Irish Music Maker from Wexford. Follow him on w w w.inst agram .com / niallcash
The Auld Dubliner Irish Pub, Long Beach
w w w.aulddubliner.com
EVERY MONDAY
CELTICARTSCENTER
Open Session, Irish Language
Classes& SocialsFull Bar
CAC@The Mayflower Club 11110 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood, CA www.celticartscenter.com
Saturday, July 5 @9:00pm
The Harp Inn Irish present s Wight Lit ening Band Top 40/ Classic Rock
Orange Count y's Most Aut hent ic Irish Pub! Weekly Live Music & Sport s Daily Serving OC for 30+ years
HARP INN IRISH PUB & RESTAURANT
130 E 17t h St , Cost a Mesa, w w w.harpinn.com
Saturday, July 5 starting @8:00pm
The Sea Miners
The Three St ags Irish Pub 328 Orange St reet , Redlands, (909) 792-8335 w w w.t het hreest agspub.com
Sat urdays in July, 19 & 26 St art ing @ 8:pm
Whiskey Sunday
Acoust ic Trio
Rousing Irish Am ericana
The Three St ags Irish Pub 328 Orange St reet , Redlands, 909 792-8335 w w w t het hreest agspub com
Sunday, July 13 St art ing @ 11:00am
CRAIC HAUS are back from Germ any w it h t heir original genre of Sham rockabilly!!
The Back Abbey
Lively gast ropub offers creat ive burgers & Belgian brew s in a rust ic dining room or on t he pat io. 128 N. Oberlin. Clarem ont , CA w w w.t hebackabbey.com
Sundaysin July
Shows are on the 6, 13, 20 & 27
Starting at 4:00pm
KEN O'MALLEY
Irish balladeer, enjoy an afternoon/evening of story and song from one of the masters...
Appearing in Redlands, CA
@The Three Stags Irish Pub www.thethreestagspub.com
IRISH ARTS & ENTERTAINM ENT CALENDAR
West Coast 's Celt ic & Irish Links
Sacramento, CA
Sean Finnegan'sPub: Located in Old Sacramento Waterfront, this pub is housed in a historic building dating back to the 1800s It offersGuinness, Harp Lager, Irish whiskey, and an authentic Irish pub atmosphere with a Wild West twist15
O'Malley's Irish Pub: Family-owned and located at 1109 2nd Street, known for Irish fare like Irish tacos and a solid selection of Irish drinksincluding Guinness345
Malt & Mash: Located at 715 K Street, boasts 150 typesof whiskey and 15 beerson tap, with a lively atmosphere5
Blarney Stone: Known for itslarge selection of draftsand live bands, located at 8906 Greenback Lane5
Pitch and Fiddle: An Irish restaurant and pub with many TVs for sportsand Irish-inspired food like corned beef tacos5.
De Vere'sIrish Pub: Praised for its atmosphere, Irish stew, and range of beersand whiskeys. Offers American and Irish comfort food like shepherd's pie and bangers& mash
San Francisco, CA
The Irish Bank at 10 Mark Lane isa popular spot
Geary Street hostsmany Irish barsincluding : Pig n' Whistle Abbey Tavern, Ireland's32, and Buckshot (formerly Pat O'Shea's)
Plough and Stars in the Richmond district isnoted for live music and a friendly atmosphere Kell's (a chain) and recommended for live Irish music.
O'Neill's on Third Street offersHarp and Guinness on tap, catering to ballpark crowdsand locals
Portland, OR
KellsIrish Pub: A Northwest institution with hearty Irish fare, live music, and a large St Patrick?s Day celebration They also have a brew pub in Northwest Portland
Paddy?sBar and Grill:
Portland?soldest Irish bar, known for a huge liquor selection, traditional Irish dishes, and live Irish music and dance events
T.C. O?Leary?s
Combines Irish hospitality with local ingredients, offerslive Irish music several daysa week, and a good selection of Irish drinks.
Whelan?s Irish Pub:
Family-friendly with live Irish music, classic Irish food, and a good whiskey selection
Moon and Sixpence: An English pub with one of the best Irish music sessions, On Mondays in Portland.
Seattle, WA Sorry to say, no luck in our search so far, Check back
Reno, NV
Ceol Irish Pub: Established in 2007 on California Avenue, it isa cozy neighborhood pub with a full bar, extensive whiskey selection, and the "best Guinnesspour" in Northern Nevada It hoststraditional Irish music and community events
These venuesoffer a variety of authentic Irish drinks, food, and live Irish music, making them all great spots to recommend and visit. irishmissive@gmail.com
Ir ish Film : News& Reviews
Update On Peaky Blinders Film Sequel...
TheImmortal Man?
Good thingstake time; that has certainy been the theme of the upcoming Peaky Blinders film . The film hasbeen delayed a few timesfrom the original speculation of release for Christmasof 2024.
The eagerly anticipated "Peaky Blinders" film, which has been operating under the working title, "The Immortal Man," is set to bring the iconic Shelby family saga to the big screen While an official, definitive title has yet to be publicly confirmed, "The Immortal Man" hasbeen widely used in production reportsand is strongly rumored to be the final name
Cillian Murphy will reprise his acclaimed role asThomasShelby .Joining him are several familiar faces from the series, including Sophie Rundle asAda Thorne (née Shelby), Ned Dennehy as Charlie Strong ,Packy Leeas, Johnny Dogs, Stephen Graham as Hayden Stagg, and Ian Peck as Curly.
The film will also introduce new talents to the "Peaky Blinders" universe, with confirmed additions such as Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Roth, Jay Lycurgo, and Barry Keoghan in new roles
Asof early June 2025, there isno official theatrical or Netflix streaming release date for the "Peaky Blinders" movie. However, speculation points to a potential late 2025 release on Netflix.
Filming for the movie began in July of 2024 and wrapped up in December 2024,, All of these clues align with a 2025 release window.
While Netflix isdistributing the film, it'salso being made in association with BBCFilm, suggesting a potential initial theatrical run before its streaming debut.
Irish Actors Barry Keoghan and Cillian Murphy
The basic plot of "The Immortal Man" isconfirmed to be set during World War II, which makes for an explosive new chapter for the Shelby family. Creator Steven Knight has stated that the film will be a "full-on Peaky Blindersat war," with both the country and the family facing immense conflict It'sexpected to delve into the effectsof the global war on the underground crime scene and explore the end of the British Empire, a significant historical context that will undoubtedly impact Tommy Shelby'sjourney Knight has also teased that the film aimsto "shock, delight, and horrify" audiences, and that it "won't be the end" of the Peaky Blindersstory.
Filming for "The Immortal Man" primarily took place in the West Midlands of the UK, including Digbeth Loc Studios in Birmingham and locations aroundSt Helens, Merseyside. The original series also extensively filmed in Leeds and Liverpool, so it'slikely the film continued to utilize the gritty, period-appropriate backdropsof these industrial cities
The film waswritten by the creator of the original series, Steven Knight. Knight isalso a producer on the film, alongside Cillian Murphy, Patrick Holland, and Guy Heeley Other executive producersinclude Tom Harper (who also directsthe film), David Kosse, Jamie Glazebrook, Caryn Mandabach, and Andrew Warren.
Kris m ixes Count ry, Bluegrass and Am ericana st yles t o her Celt ic-st yled songs w w w.kriscolt -blackrose.com /
LATEST NEWSON KNEECAP:
By Jim McDonough
The Irish hip-hop group Kneecap played to adoring crowdsat the Glastonbury Music Festival in England in late June.
Asusual, they again faced the wrath of British authorities for daring to expresstheir opiions KNEECAP simply believe in Free Speech which isat odds with the thinking of the current British government
AllegationsandCharges:
One member of the band, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (who performsas Mo Chara), was charged with a terror offense in May ofthis yeaar This charge stemsfrom an incident in November 2024 at a London gig, where he allegedly displayed a flag in support of Hezbollah He is due to appear in Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18, 2025 The band deniesthis offense and states they will "vehemently defend" themselves Kneecap has also been criticized for footage from a November 2023 concert where a band member appeared to say, "The only good Tory isa dead Tory. Kill your local MP."
EmphaticDenials:
Kneecap has stated they have, "never supported Hamas or Hezbollah" and that the footage circulating online has been "deliberately taken out of all context" as part of a "smear campaign" following their criticismof Israel's actionsin Gaza.
On the out-take from the concert in November of 2023, the band hasissuesan unequivicol apology and issued a personal apology to British victim'sfamily members. They told the familiesof murdered MPsthat they "never intended to cause hurt."
Concert Cancellations:
Due to these concerns, Kneecap was"removed" from performing at the TRNSMT music festival in Glasgow in July 2025, with organizersciting "safety concerns" raised by the police. We searched but could find no details from the police so thisseems odd at best Kneecap hasscheduled a replacement show at the O2 Academy in Glasgow to make up for this. Several other gigs have been canceled asa result of the controversy, including a planned show at the Eden Project in Cornwall. Some British politicianshave called for the group to be dropped from the Glastonbury Festival lineup, where they are still scheduled to perform The Irish Rappers also just announced their biggest UK headline show to date. They will perform at the 12,500 capacity OVO Arena Wembley in London The group shared the newson social media with the message: ?All London heads Our biggest
headline show outside of Ireland will take place on September 18 at the OVO Wembley Arena.... The belly of the beast ? let?s go!?
Kneecap consist s of t hree m em bers: Mo Chara (Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh), Móglaí Bap (Naoise Ó Cairealláin) and DJPróvaí (J J Ó Dochart aigh) w ho oft en w ears t he Tri-Colour balaclava. He init ially w ore it t o disguise him self from his st udent s w hen t he band st art ed out , as he w as a t eacher
USToura and History:
Kneecap hasperformed in the USmany times In SoCal, we were introduced to them when they were one of the acts for Ireland Week in 2021.
They also played Coachella this year where they displayed anti-Israel messages and led chants of "Free Palestine." You may well disagree with this but this isan America tradition to criticize War and mayhem
However, following Coachella, Sharon Osbourne. a born Brit, who hasno affinity for Free Speech, called for the band'sUSwork visas to be revoked The irony and pettinessinvolved in her actions is first rate. A couple generationsback, her husband's band washeld to be despicable by many but the answer wasdon't go to the concertsor buy the LPs! Times have changed It istruly amazing that the insanity of censorship and McCarthyism isstill an issue in the US. Worse than Osbourne's blathering, the American Jewish Committee hasalso cited the terror charge against Mo Chara as further evidence that Kneecap's tour should not proceed
Looking ahead, as of press time: there are listingsfor Kneecap concertsin the US starting in October including San Francisco. Washington, D C While some sourcesrefer to an "upcoming" US tour, these particular dates seem to be in the past or are placeholdersfor future events. The specific statusof any current upcoming UStour datesisnot definitively clear from what we could find However, it isa few monthsout and Kneecap sell out their shows
The official website for the film about the band is: www.kneecapfilm.com
FRIENDS Of IRELAND Breakfast
The Fut ure of Irish Event s in SoCal
Last m ont h w as int erest ing in m any respect s, especially in Sout hern California
The m ass m edia port rayed it basically as t he end of civiliat ion as w e know it . We don't buy t hat perspect ive.
Efficiaency, hard w ork and organizat ion are st il rew arded. This w as proven w it h t he t hree large public event s t hat w ere profiled in our June issue,
Tw o of t he t hree did quit e w ell and t he Torrance Irish Fair w as a flop. WHY? This is not a good forum t o debat e t hat . How ever, w e do have a part ial solut ion, To m ove forard w e need t o expand our ow n publicat ion, The Irish com m unit y deserves a voice Please st art by volunt eering and joining our Facebook Group
Did you know that in the past four years the
PUB QUIZES & TRIVIA
Mondays
The Auld Dubliner
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O'Brien's Irish Pub
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Ye Olde King's Head Brit ish Pub & Rest aurant Trivia in t he pub at 7:30pm
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IRISH LANGUAGE An Ghaeilge
The View From Ireland Feat ure last year about t he Irish Language by our great friend and Irish Art s and Ent ert ainm ent colum nist Maurice Fit zpat rick really resonat ed w it h us. We use t he m ont hs of t he year in each issue but our collect ive Irish is very lim it ed.
In fact , w orking on t he folio (t he t op of each page) recent ly, I forgot t he w ord for Oct ober in Irish and had t o look it up. I found t his really int erest ing YouTube video and share t he link below.
m ast ered Digit al Market ing and w e can enhance your out reach for a very cost effect ive rat e.
The digit al age has been good t o us and w e have been able t o prosper and grow our subscriber base. We w ill have final det ails soon on our expansion plans and our Affiliat e Program s. We are also going t o enhance our Very Irish Perks and st art a new series of very excit ing Draw ings and Cont est s!
This m ont h, t hree event s are on t ap, t hen
t he Holidays are alm ost here and w e w ill be doing Special issues for Hallow een and for Christ m as!
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I w ould like t o change m y lack of Irish t oo so st art ing now and in fut ure issues, w e w ill be offering our readers a few w ords or phrases in our Mot her Language
Also, if you are in t he LA area,t he Celt ic Art s Cent er has ongoing Irish lessons As w e expand around t he US, w e w ill add m ore such links. More on t his project in com ing issues.
CLICK ICON FOR A QUICK LESSON
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VERY IRISH PERKS (VIP) PRIMER
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