Weekend Playlist
Our transatlantic dance exchange, the far-reaching effects of a toothache, an international tale of derring-do, and a fox’s flattery of a feathered foe.
Plus, the launch party and livestream for Shrines’ new EP—5pm ET TODAY—and our free (inter)cultural lecture next week.
Here is your weekend playlist.
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Shrines
The artist Shrines performs modern re-imaginings of Irish folk ballads—learned from Iarla Ó Lionáird, Karan Casey, and other masters of the tradition—to celebrate the release of her new EP, Our Ship is Ready. Cellist Chris Loxley accompanies.
Friday, May 7 | 5pm ET
WATCH & LISTEN

The IAC NYC Irish Dance Festival
A world champion dance-off, top-class music, down-home jigs and reels, and more, in Sunday’s virtual Irish Dance Festival. Watch it again.

Stephen Sexton’s “The Chair”
The Forward and Rooney Prize-winning Belfast poet Stephen Sexton discusses the many expressions and reverberations of pain in a new introduction to his 2019 PoetryFest reading.

“The Catalpa”
The story, and song, about the most daring jailbreak in history. Here’s Mick with the improbable escape of the Fremantle Six.

Préachán
There’s a great illustration of the word plámás—meaning to flatter someone with a hidden motive—in a well-known tale about a fox who spots a crow (préachán) sitting in a tree with a piece of cheese in his beak. Unable to reach him, the fox instead tells the préachán what beautiful a voice he must have, and could he sing a song for her? He starts to squawk away, the cheese drops, and the 🦊 nabs the prize.
Click image for more on the crow in Irish folklore.
Visit here for pronunciations.
COMING UP
Intercultural Connections with Mick Moloney: Ned Harrigan and the Rise of American Musical Theatre
Mick Moloney traces the musician, actor, playwright and composer Ned Harrigan’s meteoric rise to prominence in next week’s installation of Intercultural Connections. Free event, but registration is required.
Thursday, May 13 | 8pm ET
FROM OUR FRIENDS
Europe Day / Irish European Short Films
This Europe Day 2021, the Consulate General of Ireland in New York and Irish Screen America present a virtual program of seven Irish/European short films in celebration of the diversity of European culture and Irish filmmaking talents. All are FREE and available to stream from May 9, 6pm EDT through May 16. Get tickets here >
Irish Rep Online presents
Theatre @ Home—Available Now
“The gold standard for theatrical webcasting”—Wall Street Journal
All 10 of Irish Rep’s Performances on Screen created during the COVID-19 shutdown are now available on demand! Watch works by Brian Friel, Conor McPherson, Geraldine Hughes, Eugene O’Neill, and more >
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