The Very American Ways of Senator John McCain

The Very American Ways of Senator John McCain

By Brad Balfour As I watched the motorcade ferreting late Senator John McCain’s body from Arizona to the airport where he/it would jet to Washington, I pondered what all the hullaballoo over his death meant to me. The pundits were...
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Out & About

Out & About

It is with great sadness that I start this column on the passing of one of the nicest gentlemen that I have ever known, and that is Tom Moran. What can be said about this man that has not been...
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New Home For Irish Women Playwrights In NYC

New Home For Irish Women Playwrights In NYC

By Brad Balfour New York is has always been and is becoming even moreso a place to showcase new talent from Ireland — especially works created women. Recently Irish Repertory presented “Woman and Scarecrow” to much positive response by writer...
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Abba’s Music Makes “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” A Worthy Visit To A Greek Island

Abba’s Music Makes “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” A Worthy Visit To A Greek Island

By Brad Balfour Opening 10 years to the week after the first film was released, “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” — the “Mamma Mia!” sequel — provides perfectly mindless summer entertainment. The ABBA song-infused musical — the first film...
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This Week Try Celebrating Liberty Gallic Style

This Week Try Celebrating Liberty Gallic Style

By Brad Balfour While July 4th celebrates one earth-shaking revolution, another world shattering event took place in France on July 14th 1789 — the storming of the Bastille, the notorious French prison — a symbol of the French aristocracy’s dominance....
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Festival Circuit: New York Asian Film Festival – June 29 – July 15, 2018

Festival Circuit: New York Asian Film Festival – June 29 – July 15, 2018

New York Asian Film Festival June 29 – July 15, 2018 Various Locations The massive New York Asian Film Festival returns with its slate of drama, horror, comedy, action and classics from East Asia and related regions. Running from June...
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For Celebrants of Literary Legend James Joyce, Bloomsday is a Day Like No Other

For Celebrants of Literary Legend James Joyce, Bloomsday is a Day Like No Other

by Brad Balfour If any literary figure seems synonymous with being Irish, the legendary author James Joyce fits the appellation. And, thanks to having written the 730+ pages of his intellectually unparalleled tome, “Ulysses,” (released as one complete book...
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The 2018 Book Expo America Celebrates The Literary World

The 2018 Book Expo America Celebrates The Literary World

Book Expo America May 30 – June 1, 2018 Jacob Javits Center 655 W 34th St. New York, NY 10001 With over 150 exhibitors from across the world of publishing, the 2018 Book Expo America takes over the Jacob Javits...
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Playwright Tom Murphy Dies, Aged 83

Playwright Tom Murphy Dies, Aged 83

The Irish playwright Tom Murphy has died at the age of 83. The Galway man was associated with the Druid Theatre and is known for works including A Whistle in the Dark and Bailegangaire. President Michael D. Higgins has been...
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Israel Wins Eurovision Song Contest

Israel Wins Eurovision Song Contest

Israel have won this year’s Eurovision Song Contest with he song Toy sung by Netta Barzilai. The bookies’ favourite scored a total of 529 points and became the fourth ever Israeli act to win the competition. Ireland’s Ryan O’Shaugnessy ...
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