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Shadowy ninjas of Irish dance, Fusion Fighters set to debut March 17 (VIDEO) (IrishCentral)

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 11:47:15 PDT

Pray that they only use their awesome hip-hop, techno, disco, martial arts, Celtic dance powers for goodI discovered Fusion Fighters today when I opened a mysterious Facebook message sent in a plain brown envelope (new service, still in beta), and throwing caution to the wind, followed a cryptic shortened URL to its YouTube sourceNothing could prepare me for the Mcfunkadelicness I found, and now share with you:http://wwwyoutube READ MORE

Peter Fallon “Poet of Ireland’s Heartland” at the Irish Cultural Centre (IrishCentral)

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 11:16:18 PST

One of Ireland’s most gifted contemporary poets, Peter Fallon, is in Boston this winter and will be reading from his collected works at the Irish Cultural Centre of New England in Canton, Massachusetts on Thursday, February 7th at 7:30 pmBorn in Germany and raised in County Meath, Fallon found his calling to the written word early in life On February 6, 1970 at age eighteen in Loughcrew, Oldcastle, County Meath he published the first Gallery book READ MORE

Learning Irish has never been so easy - marrying culture and technology, learning Gaeilge online (IrishCentral)

Sat, 12 Jan 2013 05:00:44 PST

Eoin, Sasa & Uisce (the dog)Learning Irish, with Bitesize Irish Gaelic, has never been so easy even for me, a born and bred Irish woman, I learned a few new things when I signed up for their free 14 day trial For example, did you know that there only 18 letters in the Irish Alphabet or that the Irish word for zero is (a náid), I didn’t!This is great, because it is very trendy to be able to speak Irish or labhairt (talk) ás Gaelige (in Irish) these days in Ireland, we even have a dedicated Irish speaking television channel, TG4, which has some of best Irish made documentaries (with subtitles) you will see anywhere and yes you can watch it onlineThe brain child of Limerick Eoin Ó Conchúir, a native Irish speaker and computer science graduate, Eoin, has successfully and playfully married culture and technology with the launch of this very easy and accessible online learning, Irish language courseSo, whether you would simply like to learn the basics ie the cúpla focal (a few words) before coming on holidays so as you can meet and greet people, order a drink and more properly ‘have the craic’ as they say in Ireland, this is the course for you READ MORE

Loneliest man in Ireland leaves deserted island after 20 years (IrishCentral)

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 03:58:26 PST

By: PADDY CLANCY

Ireland’s loneliest man has said he is moving back to England this year after 20 years on the Co. Donegal island of Inishfree.

The changing face of Bed and Breakfast in Ireland (IrishCentral)

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 05:30:41 PST

Beach Cove B&B, Ballinskellig, County KerryThe idea for this style bed and breakfast holiday sprang up years ago when farmers’ wives or Mammy’s with extra rooms opened up their houses to paying guests during the summer holidays, which I am told put many sons and daughters through university, even if their own had to sleep in the attic! You could roll up of an evening wherever you saw a vacancy sign (you still can) and get a reasonable priced bed for the night and a hearty breakfast often in very wild and lovely places Basically, you became one of the family, sharing home-cooked meals and sampling what life was like on the farm, that you would not ordinarily get to see if you were staying in an hotel, besides there were not too many hotels in remote locations 50 years agoBut, gone are the days of shared bathrooms and revolving bedrooms, bed and breakfasts nowadays are Bord Failte approved (and inspected annually) and have the highest standards of hygiene and accommodation while remaining true to their roots of staying with an Irish family This kind of holiday is not for everyone, many like the anonymity of staying in hotel but if you want an insight into what it is really like to live in a rural community than you should definitely try one or two READ MORE

Kinky Irish top poll for world’s most adventurous in bed -- Lots of fooling around as state's birth rate hits 118-year high (IrishCentral)

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 04:15:27 PDT

Birth rate in Ireland hit a high as Irish get kinkyEveryone in Ireland seems to be mad for a bit of sex these days The most recent research reveals that Irish men and women are topping the polls for being among the most "adventurous lovers" in the worldAkin to this, Ireland’s Central Statistics Office revealed this week that the country had the highest fertility rate of the 27 European Union states in 2009Separate to the CSO stats, the sexual wellbeing survey revealed that the Irish use more sex toys than the French, more lubricants than the Germans and one in five say they are up for a threesome READ MORE

20 Questions with a "Reel Boy" from South Africa- Neil Roberts (IrishCentral)

Thu, 03 May 2012 07:45:15 PDT

Neil Roberts2012 World Irish Dancing ChampionshipsBelfast, Northern IrelandEvery month, I have the great honor of interviewing one of the fabulous boys or young men in Irish dance This month, I chatted via e-mail with sixteen year old Neil Roberts of Johannesburg, South Africa Neil studies Irish dance with the Duncan Studio Neil began dancing at the age of six after watching his older sister and mom Irish dance from the sidelines READ MORE

Irish dancers opportunities to study abroad in Ireland (IrishCentral)

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 03:00:09 PDT

by Caitlin Buck, Feis America LLC writerNorth American students in Ireland summer 2011Photo courtesy Irish Life ExperienceAdvertisements for dance camps are starting to pop up left and right as summer gets tantalizingly closer I once dreamed of attending Blas; International Summer School of Irish Music and Dance in Ireland, but in the spring of my junior year in college when I was planning to apply to go READ MORE

International friendships at the World Irish Dancing Championships -- John Whitehurst (IrishCentral)

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 07:15:10 PDT

Jack Sieve with John Whitehurst World Irish Dancing Championships in BelfasIrish dancers have lives outside of class, competition and conditioning Yes, it is true! However, Irish dance becomes such a big part of an Irish dancer’s life, that many form their closest friendships right in the close-knit world of Irish dance Friendships are formed in Irish dance school as the students see the same dancers in class week-in and week-out over years You’re in the same space and doing the same things, and it’s natural to like, hang-out and spend additional time with those same people READ MORE

Irish dancers make calories allies for lasting energy and performance (IrishCentral)

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 10:00:12 PDT

A Dancer's Guide to Energy Rich Snacks: Make Your Calories Your Allies !by Caitlin Buck, Feis America LLC contributorTo avoid the hand-in-hand cohorts - fatigue and injury - during this busy month of March, maintain a steady stream of energy by eating foods that keep your blood sugar stabilized Whether you are getting ready for the next parade or dance-out, or that trans-Atlantic crossing to the next major Irish dancing competition, say no to junk food!Junk foods, gotta love 'em, break down very quickly A dancer can feel a sugar RUSH, that wears the guise of energy, and then within 15 minutes CRASH and be hungry again Yes, hungry again! This sugar-induced munchy craving often leads to overeating READ MORE

Interview with professional Irish dancer Owen Barrington - VIDEO (IrishCentral)

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:15:17 PST

Owen Barrington Photo: Levi Nilsson of Apogee Studios in Anchorage, AKOwen Barrington is currently on tour with Michael Londra's Beyond Celtic in New York he took time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions about being a professional Irish dancer, how he got there, his competitive years, and some info about who he isFeis America: How old are you now, and when did you start Irish dance?Barrington: I just turned 27 years old and I started my Irish dancing adventure at the relatively late age of 12 I didn’t compete at my first feis though until I was 15 because I was learning to dance in my hometown of Anchorage, Alaska and we did not have a certified instructor for several years READ MORE

Irish Dance - All Ireland Irish Dance Championships - Monthly Feature- Twenty Questions with a Reel Boy - Billy Petrocelli (IrishCentral)

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:15:12 PST

Billy Petrocelli took 4th place in the Boys under 12North American National Irish Dancing Championships 2011Photo: Feis America LLCEvery month, an Open Champion Irish dancer will be featured here on the Moms to Reel Boys blog! This month, I interviewed Billy Petrocelli of Massachusetts, USA He placed fourth at the 2011 North American National Irish Dancing Championships Also, he has won the New England Regional Irish Dancing Championships three times Recently, Billy competed at the All-Ireland Irish Dancing Championships in Dublin, Ireland READ MORE

Health tips for families traveling to All Ireland Irish Dancing Championships (IrishCentral)

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:30:17 PST

photo courtesy Irish TimesWith the World Irish Dancing Championships quickly approaching, thoughts of staying healthy and ready for performance are on the minds of many Irish dancers and their families Airplane travel and the change in altitude should be a concern for athletes heading to competition, especially Irish dancers heading to Belfast for the next major international Irish dancing competitionHigh altitudes when flying mean lower air pressure which can lead to extra moisture evaporating from the skin and lungs Staying hydrated is a must! If you have traveled on a plane in the last ten years, you know you cannot bring bottled liquids of more than 3 ounces through security inspection READ MORE

Irish Dance - All Ireland Irish Dance Championships - Watching from the sidelines - Schedule of Competitions (IrishCentral)

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:30:24 PST

The 2012 All Ireland Irish Dance Championships (Oireachtas Rince Na h'Eireann) are starting in just one day The event will take place at Dublin's Citywest Hotel and will run from the 11th - 18th of FebruaryI feel a bit like an arm-chair fan sitting at home, getting ready to cheer for their favorite sports team or Olympic athlete Instead of "Go, Manchester United!!", or "Go, Steelers!!", or even "Go, Jamaican Bobsled Team!!" (Can't be helped- ever since "Cool Runnings", I've had a thing for them), I find myself getting ready to cheer from afar for the Irish dancing boys, who I know or whose names I know as being the names of major contenders for top place Irish dance championship titles READ MORE

Temple Bar - Dublin’s tourist trap not a ‘cultural mecca’ (IrishCentral)

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:45:16 PST

Temple Bar SquareWaking up last Saturday morning to a small bit of rare sunshine in Dublin and a desire to seek some more cultural inspiration in the city, I was trying to decide between Temple Bar (‘Dublin’s cultural quarter’) or a trip to Dublin Castle Catelyn and Maggie, my other two roomies, were still recovering from their night out before, and in need of clearing their heads with some fresh air and hangover food, so we all agreed on heading down to Temple Bar for a stroll and a bite to eatIt was mid-afternoon by the time the girls actually get themselves showered and made-up and the clouds were forming over quickly, so I was not a happy camper to start with! I had read that there was a food market, a National Photographic Archive with an exhibition area, a National Irish Film Institute and a Project Arts Center and I was dying to hit the cobble stone streets of Temple Bar to see them allWe started on Fleet Street, right off Westmoreland Street, so we wouldn’t miss a thing READ MORE

Why Irishmen badly need to grow up -- Mammy’s Boys compare badly with American guys (IrishCentral)

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 04:30:18 PDT

Dublin: To me, as an American woman in Ireland, Irishmen never grow upEverything with most of the men (or boys, rather) that I have met here is "for a laugh" and a "skit," which basically means that if you’re not laughing at yourself or your friends doing stupid, immature things, then you’re a right bore!Excuse me while I try to distinguish between the twelve-year-old boy in you and the grown man you’re supposed to beMany encounters have confirmed my doubts about these Irish man-boys They may look like men on the outside, but underneath it all they’re a bunch of spoiled, rotten teenagers looking for a woman to play “Mammy READ MORE

How to look like an American in Ireland - Vera Bradley bag the giveaway that screams ‘Yank’ to the Irish (IrishCentral)

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 04:15:17 PDT

Vanessa Hudgens - rockin' the lookOver the weekend, during the Jazz Festival, I got to not only experience some great live music, but also got to people watch - a favorite pastime of mineWhile quietly observing the crowd, I tried to guess if the people was watching were Irish, American, or another European nationality…I found that I could pick the Americans quite easilyI have been here for nearly two months and while I do try to blend into the Irish crowd as much as possible, there are a few unchangeable things that I understand will always identify me as an American While this is not entirely a bad thing as these are things that cannot be changed such as my accent, some of my shoes (Frye boots aren’t really found in this part of the world), and I get that I can simply “look American,” I have noticed that there are a few things that do make some Americans stand out more so than others: Vera Bradley bags1 READ MORE

Gaelic Girls in Dublin - Catelyn’s first impression of fashion in Dublin (IrishCentral)

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 05:15:19 PDT

New York London Milan These cities are all synonymous with fashion READ MORE

Exiled Gaels and sporting rebels of Ireland - part III (IrishCentral)

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:15:14 PDT

Still from the 'Gaelic Gold' DVDIn this the final of our three part look at the clash of the ash and salmon like leaps for midfield aerial supremacy across the world of Gaelic games, we recall some famous and infamous Gaelic sporting events from days of yore, where in some remote or fabled corner there remains fields and memories which remain forever Irish Ireland v Scotland, 1897- at Celtic FC soccer grounds, Parkhead, the first Hurling Shinty International MatchMichael Cusack himself presented the Celtic Times Challenge Cup (in whose honor this parish is named) in 1897 to mark the first international hurling/shinty match between Ireland and Scotland at the soccer grounds of Celtic FC in Parkhead, and indeed officiated thereafter at a return match played at Jones’ Road in Dublin that same yearIt marked the culmination of close ties and communication between the Scottish Caledonian Society and Irish cultural and sporting revivalists since the early moves to form the GAAJohn Murdoch, the renowned Scottish land league leader and founder/editor of The Highlander newspaper had, along with fellow Scot and entrepreneur, Morrison Millar, (who helped Cusack establish the Celtic Times newspaper) cultivated sporting links with Irish sports enthusiasts READ MORE

The restoration of the ruined heart of the midlands, St Mel's, and the New Ireland of Auckland (IrishCentral)

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 05:25:20 PDT

St Mel's Cathedral On Christmas Day 2009, residents of Longford town woke up to find its landmark St Mel's Cathedral ablaze, and with it, the county's most prestigious collection covering the full span of the region's history, including priceless artefacts like the magnificent bronze wrapped yew Crozier of St Mel himself, and the Shrine of St Cailin READ MORE