I’ve no green beer or Shamrock shakes, though there is a parade in Shanghai. I am celebrating though by watching the marvelous Secret of Kells available on hulu.com. Check it out.
St. Patrick’s Day in China
17 Mar 2013 Leave a Comment
in film, History, Holiday Tags: animated, beautiful, Book of Kells, exquisite, Ireland, Irish
Favorite Irish Movies
17 Mar 2012 5 Comments
in culture, film, media, movies Tags: Book of Kells, Emerald Isle, Ireland, Irish, Irish films, James Sheridan, Once, Paddy Considine, Saint Patrick's Day, Samantha Morton, Secret of Kells
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, let me share my favorite movies from the Emerald Isle:
- Once, a touching, understated love story between a broken-hearted Hoover repairman cum musician and an intelligent, inquisitive Czech woman. Quirky with great music.
- The Secret of Kells has beautiful animation and tells the story of a boy in medieval Ireland who must defy his uncle to protect and finish the monks’ Book of Kells. A beautiful way to get some history. My nephew 5 year old loved it as much as I did.
- In America. Okay, it’s set in New York, but it’s about an Irish family that immigrates to the US in the 1980s. You’ll hear some wonderful Irish accents and see some strong acting from Samantha Morton and Paddy Considine. The little girls are adorable.
- Waking Ned Divine is a fun romp in small town Ireland, a comedy about townspeople who band together to cash in on the lottery.
- From Frank McCourt’s book, Angela’s Ashes reminds me of Dickens and why so many Irish had to leave.
I’d like to see Michael Collins for a bit of (dramatized) history and The Commitments.
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- 40 Reasons Why It’s Cool to be Catholic-#21 The Irish Monks Saved Western Civilization (deaconcast.com)
- One For St. Patrick’s Day… (reelkidlit.wordpress.com)
- St. Patrick and the truth about the shamrock (noxforchristmas.wordpress.com)
- Go Green! 10 St. Patrick’s Day Movies (aarp.org)
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- Dinner and a Movie: ‘The Quiet Man’ and Irish-spirited brisket (newsok.com)
Brunch at Butch McGuire’s
24 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Chicago, restaurant review Tags: Brunch, Celtic, Chicago, festive, Irish, Irish-American, northside, Rush St.
Penguins
I went to Brunch at Butch McGuire’s Tavern on Rush St. Sunday. The restaurant cum bar is an Irish pub with lots of character. Old time regulars might complain that Butch’s son doesn’t have the same panache or avuncular host/manager, but I’d only gone there a few times and was happy with the atmosphere and service. The bar tenders add a flair with their white shirts and ties, dressing up the place. Yesterday was the last day for the Christmas decorations: colorful, twinkling lights, Disney characters, penguins and a PG-13 Santa.
Car Bomb French Toast
I had Car Bomb French Toast, thick cut bread dipped in a batter with Bailey’s and Guinness. The syrup was infused with Jameson’s. I couldn’t resist the tongue in cheek name. The French toast didn’t have a strong alcohol taste, though the addition of the whiskey was a good twist.
Santa, what are you reading?
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- Butch McGuire’s Tavern
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- Westchester Dining | Peekskill: Quiet Man Public House, a Real Irish Pub – Review (nytimes.com)
View of God and the Devil
31 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
I met God the Father in the street
And the adjectives by which I would describe him are these:
Amusing
Experimental,
Irresponsible -
About frivolous things
He was not a man who would be appointed to a Board
Nor impress a bishop
Or gathering of art-lovers.
He was not splendid, fearsome or terrible
And yet not insignificant.
This was my God who made the grass
And the sun
And stones in streams in April;
This was the God I met
In an old quarry full of dandelions.
This was the God I met in Dublin
As I wandered the unconscious streets.
This was the God that brooded over the harrowed field -
Rooney’s – beside the main Carrick road
The day my first verses were printed -
I knew Him and was never afraid
Of death or damnation
And I knew that the fear of God was the beginning of folly.
The Devil
I met the Devil too,
And the adjectives by which I would describe him are these:
Solemn,
Boring,
Conservative.
He was a man the world would appoint to a Board,
He would be on the list of invitees for a bishop’s garden party,
He looked like an artist.
He was the fellow who wrote in newspapers about music,
Got into a rage when someone laughed;
He was serious about unserious things;
You had to be careful about his inferiority-complex
For he was conscious of being uncreative.
- by Patrick Kavanagh
Matthew read this poem during the John Main Seminar 2006. I had to run and get a book of Kavanagh’s work immediately after. I did get his collected poems, but this wasn’t included. A lot of other great stuff was though.
smkelly8
