Keeping Hope Alive At The Craic

By Gwen Orel

"Hope" and "Optimism" are words Terence Mulligan keeps returning to as he describes this year's Craic Festival, running March 8 -10.

The four day Festival includes two full-length films, an evening of shorts, indie music, a morning event of short films for kids, an evening of rock music, and then more music at the After Parties (which are sponsored by Tullamore Dew and Heineken).

It's the Craic Festival, not the High Art Festival - and it's always a party.

The music includes some of the best of Irish indie rock-including hip-hoppers the Rubberbandits and John Gribbing.

The films include two uplifting features and an evening of shorts.

Parked tells the story of Fred Daly, who lives in his car.

Starring Colm Meaney (Get Him to the Greek; The Snapper; Star Trek: Next Generation and Deep Space Nine), it is the story of his friendship with his "neighbor," a 21-year old man named Cathal.

The film, which opens the Festival, was a Galway Film Fleadh winner (and also had a quick outing in Irish Film New York, curated by Niall McKay, in October).

You wouldn't necessarily think a film about a man living out of his car suggests hope. But it does, says Terence.

Hope and optimism are hot commodities not just in an Ireland rocked by an economic backlash but also here in New York, where the Festival is going on its 14th year.

Living in a car "could pretty much happen to anybody in today's society," says Mulligan. "He had a job."

Mulligan describes the film as a "metaphor," of someone who is stuck: "There's a sense of optimism and hope in the film that I think we haven't seen in many years," he says.

Meany is scheduled to appear on the opening of the Festival.

His fans will see a different side of him, Mulligan says: "If you're used to seeing him playing a macho heavy guy, this is a 180 degree turn.

There are undertones that are bleak and dark, but you see from his performance that he's about to turn it around, and that he wants to."

Friday night will be an evening of short films.

Ireland's done very well with short films recently: "Pentecost" by Peter McDonald and "The Shore" by Northern Irish Terry George are both nominated for Academy Awards.

"We wanted to shake it up a little," Terence explains. "So it's the Best Of, and an After Party at Tribeca Cinema."

That night also launches the musical evening "Belfast Rocks," which includes a number of performers, headlined by Duke Special (Peter Wilson), a Belfast performer described as a "vaudeville" type artist who uses a variety of intstruments, including a gramophone, onstage.

Other performers that night include singer John Gribbin, RAMS Pocket Radio, and the Clatty Lads.

The Clatty Lads are actually Irish-American, like Terence, but they have Belfast roots.

There's a lot of really great music coming from Belfast right now, says Terence, as well as from the Republic.

And that is also connected to the need for hope - because people are angry. "Anytime people get angry at the government, it's going to come out creatively."

Rubberbandits are a hip-op pair from Limerick made up of Blindboy Boat Club and Mr. Chrome.

Theatrical and satirical as well as musical, the duo has performed on RTE, MTV, were voted "Best Irish Act" 2011 at the entertainment.ie awards.

Terence booked them after seeing their 2010 video "Horse Outside," which within 72 hours of its release was the top rated YouTube video in Ireland. "You have to see them live," says Terence.

Dublin rockers The Minutes are also selling "big venues in Ireland," says Terence, and going to the famous music festival South by Southwest.

The closing night film, In Sunshine or in Shadows, is also a film about hope.

It tells the story of boxing champ Barry McGuigan, who won the featherweight title match against Eusebio Pedroza in 1985.

"Ireland needed a champion in the 80s; it needed hope. Pedroza was the favorite, but Barry pulled it out and became the champion. I remember watching when he won. As an Irish-American, it was important to me. It felt like a victory for Irish people. It was fantastic."

His Irish-American roots pushed Terence to start the Festival in the first place.

He was an actor and an MC at the New York Comedy Club, and he wanted to connect with his heritage.

"I started meeting people in the East Village. I think it was fate; I happened to befriend actors, writers and artists from Ireland. The genesis of the idea came over a few pints."

He always planned to join film and music together, but couldn't get it done for the first few years.

Now, he says, there's a "renaissance in Irish music. There's so many talented bands coming out right now that it's ridiculous."

No wonder he's optimistic. "When people get excited, that's the best part of the job. It's a party."

The films will be shown at Tribeca Cinemas; After-Parties and Music will be held there and at the Mercury Lounge.

Check the Craic's website for details of specific events.

Gwen Orel runs the blog and podcast New York Irish Arts.