Irish Eclectic

By Brian McGowan In the last column, we considered what-ifs in Irish history. A recent vacation in Italy brought home another one. In planning this trip, I was anxious to draw out the connection between Ireland and Italy. My research

By Brian McGowan By any measure the greatest Irish hero is Cúchulainn (pronounced koo-HULL-en).  He is the mighty hero of the Irish epic, “Táin Bó Cúailnge,” translated into English as “The Cattle Raid of Cooley.” Son of the great Celtic

By Brian McGowan Who does not love a sea shanty? Pronounced “shan-tee,” it is a rhythmical work song sung by sailors at sea. While much of the work once performed by hand on sailing vessels has been replaced by machines

By Brian McGowan I mentioned, a few articles past, a film, “The Quiet Girl,” which is based on the novella “Foster,” by Irish author Claire Keegan. This brilliant film played for several weeks at Pleasantville’s Jacob Burns Film Center. To

By Brian McGowan Got here last night, it seems. Early on, we are out and about with a free day to explore the Republic of Ireland’s third largest city, population of 82,000 souls. Galway, which spans the River Corrib, is

By Brian McGowan On a Tuesday morning we say farewell to Sneem and the waters of Kenmore Bay, and embark once more, with the ultimate destination of the day being Galway, “City of the Tribes” and gateway to another area

By Brian McGowan We wake up on our fourth day “in country” to a beautiful sunrise, viewed from the balcony of the Garryvoe Hotel in Ballycotton, County Cork, where we arrived the evening before. The hotel is situated on a

By Brian McGowan My wife and I had the pleasure last Saturday of viewing “The Quiet Girl” (in Irish An Cailín Ciúin) at Pleasantville’s Jacob Burns Film Center, where it opened for a Westchester exclusive showing. Directed by Colm Bairéad,