I really admire Conn Ó Muíneacháin and the work that he has done for many reasons, not the least of which being such a strong advocate for the Irish language without approaching it from an academic or theoretical perspective. He simply does what he does in such a way that everyone knows this is simply the way manner in which he goes about his life. I was very much following his lead when I converted my Nahenahe.net podcasts to be exclusively in the Hawaiian language last year. Language blogs and language podcasts shouldn’t just be about the language but in…
Where Are The Irish Artists On The Grammy Ballot?
I’m a voting member of The Recording Academy, which is responsible for the Grammy Awards. It amazes me how few Irish artists get entered. There are a few this year, including Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, whom I had only known as a member of Danu. I checked out her website and her CD sounds awesome. I ordered a copy and got a nice email from her. Susan McKeown, Lunasa, and Solas are on the Traditional Folk ballot, and Enya on the Album of the Year, which has hundreds of entries. Any Irish artists I’m missing? I’ll hold onto my ballot for…
Net Visionary Awards
Conn and Bernie have both been nominated in the Net Visionary Awards run by the Irish Internet Association. Like they used to say in Chicago, “Vote early and vote often.” Just kidding, one vote per voter.
Baby Steps Toward Eire
I’ve been making slow progress on refining my topic for Ph.d. research and perhaps narrowing down my choices regarding a location for studies. I just completed a Fulbright scholarship application last week that would go a long way toward paying for my Ph.d. in Ireland. I have been considering the ethnomusicology programs at both University College Cork and Queens University Belfast, but had to chose to specify only one since you are only allowed to chose one country. Care to guess which one I chose? I’ve been told that the applications are whittled down and sent to the host country…
Ground-Breaking New Radio Show To Teach Internet “As Gaeilge”
Radio listeners across Ireland will join internet users worldwide next Monday, as they tune in to the first episode of a new series focusing on the social aspects of the internet. It’s the first time an Irish radio series has been devoted exclusively to the phenomenon of “online social networking”, of which the best known example in recent months has been Bebo. What’s more: all 59 episodes of the show will be in Irish. The programme is called An Líonra Sóisialta, which translates to The Social Network. It will broadcast a 12 minute episode each day for 12 weeks. So…
The History of Irish Music, The Animated Tale
Be prepared to be amused or offended.
What ever happened to…
Annie Moore, from Cork, Ireland, has been immortalized in bronze and in song as the first immigrant to arrive in America via Ellis Island. This feature from the New York Times helps clarify what happened to her after that famous day. [ Free registration required ]
Woman claims she was held for speaking Irish
This is a few days old, but still relevant. A Northern Ireland schoolteacher claims she was arrested for not obeying an order to stop speaking Irish with her friends. It’s been discussed heavily on some Irish blogs. Most doubt that she was arrested simply for her refusal to stop speaking Irish, but who knows. Her attorney has requested that all the papers in the case should be in Irish.
Beo! Turns Five
The online Irish language magazine Beo! is five years old this month. A special concert will be held on Wednesday, 10 May in the Temple Bar Music Centre, Dublin to celebrate these first five years. The doors will open at 8.30 p.m. and guests will include the Irish language rock group Na Fíréin. Tickets will cost €8 and €6 and will be available at the door on the night. For more information, call (01) 675-3658.
First Irish Podcast to Achieve Radio Syndication
Congratulations to Conn at An tImeall, who will become the first independent Irish podcast to cross-over to traditional radio. An tImeall begins a syndicated run on Galway city’s college community station, Flirt FM today. I was approached by a web radio operator who wanted to syndicate my Nahenahe.net podcast in his streams, but needed me to secure releases for the music and had stipulations that made it less than attractive for me do it. If someone was able to do it without requiring me to do any additional legwork (or fingerwork) and broadcast the podcasts as is, I would definitely…