Off The Record
by Mike FarragherRSS 
Recent Posts
- An open letter to the Catholic League on rant against David Bowie video “The Next Day” - VIDEO
- All-star benefit for great Irish musician Mickey Finns’ Ray Kelly who died tragically
- Amen to Rend Collective Experiment - VIDEO
- Finally some new U2 music from Bono and the boys?
- The Jersey Shore is back after Hurricane Sandy - The Irish Festival kicks off
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I told you a few weeks ago about the fantastic documentary, Welcome Home: The Music of Ireland, that broadcast on PBS stations as part of the March fundraising drive. Hosted by Clannad’s Moya Brennan, the program is a collection of archival footage and fresh interviews conducted by Brennan with some of the biggest names in Irish musical culture.
“I wanted to just have a conversation that was natural, and I assured the producers that I would be able to get more footage that way,” says Brennan when asked what it was like to be on the other side of the camera doing the interviews instead of answering the questions.
As sure as shamrocks are green, you could be sure that Riverdance would pull into Radio City’s Music Hall in March to capitalize on the greenery of our big holiday. Sadly, that tradition comes to an end this year as the current production of the show takes a final bow.
Just as the bible is divided into two parts, Irish culture must be viewed as life before Riverdance and life afterwards. You’d have to go back to the Clancy Brothers playing on the Ed Sullivan Show in the sixties to find a time when Americans of all races were seduced by Irish music on such a broad scale.
Ladies and gentlemen, start your livers! Our big green holiday is almost here!
Is it me, or does it seem like holidays start sooner on the calendar nowadays? You can see the retail outlets putting Valentine’s Day merchandise on display right after New Year’s, and St. Patrick’s Day is no exception.
