I have to tell yea, being in home internment has its ups and downs and you know well what I mean by that. I started off this Monday with my annual doctor’s office checkup and guess what? I should keep doing that, the same as I have always done. My heart, lungs and blood pressure are all perfect, there must be something wrong? Maybe it is because I have not been Out&About like I normally am, huh? That was nice right? On Tuesday, I had to go to the dentist. Now, I did not have the same result there as I had to have a root canal procedure done… ahhhh. Naw it was not that bad just a bit numb for an hour or so. It was all planned so I am so happy I will be here for a long time, I think!
Look I have to tell you all that because there is enough going on at the moment with Covid-19 and some people are very sick with it and, as you know by now there have been a lot of bereavements of loved ones, neighbors and friends. I am so sorry that I again have to mention this as I lost a few friends myself because of this. It is so sad. To all that are reading this column please be careful as the virus has no class distinctions, you can’t buy your way out of this one. Please do this: wear your MASK, wash your HANDS, check on family, friends and the elderly and just be safe and healthy. I never thought I would be writing anything like this in my Out&About but I have to just remind yourself follow the guidance and also that we need you, okay?
Now back to see what else is going on… right here we go. The Irish Repertory Theatre is up and running, or should I say that they’ve never stopped and that is something to be proud of as we need some entertainment in our secluded and sheltered lives right now and for the foreseeable future until this is all over.
Their four-week Theatre@Home Winter Festival opens tomorrow! Don’t miss your chance to attend screenings of all nine of their Performances on Screen. Spread the word to your theatre-loving friends! This week, their Performances on Screen will be screened in the order in which they were released, with the schedule changing weekly. Open captions are available on the 2nd and 4th weeks of the festival (February 2–7 and February 16–21). Not sure where to start? Take their quiz to find the right Performance on Screen for you! Reservations for all Performances on Screen are free but required in order to access the dedicated screening links. Donations of $25 per show, or $100 for the festival, are suggested for each viewer who can afford to give. Call the box office at (212) 727-2737 or visit irishrep.org.
This repertory retrospective runs from January 26 – February 21 and features all nine of the original digital productions created by Irish Repertory Theatre during the COVID-19 shut-down.
This came to my attention from the Irish American Writers and Artists organization: Whether or not you’re on board with Edna O’Brien’s theory that “winter is the real spring,” it’s never a bad time to think about the “resurge of nature,” and more importantly, to consider a little resurge of our own. Because why can’t the end of January be the beginning of something new? Good news, friends – it is!
In Celtic tradition, Imbolg, or Brigid’s Day, marks the beginning of spring – regardless of what the weather or the calendar or furry woodland creatures might say. February first through second is the “official” Imbolg, but they’ve got a couple of events, on Sunday the 31st and Tuesday the 2nd to mark the occasion. Furthermore, they’ve got other events coming up, including their General Membership meeting, and members’ happenings in theater and publication. Resurge, recycle, and read on!
Please join them for their General Membership Meeting this Thursday, January 28. They will report on the activities of the organization to their members, and encourage you to participate in the various committees that carry out IAW&A’s mission. As with everything else they’re doing these days, this will be an online event, and it’s a great way to keep the organization thriving, vibrant, and growing. Email IASalon@hotmail.com for the Zoom link. Remember, if you didn’t attend their recent O’Neill event in December, or you haven’t renewed since 2019, it’s not too late to join or renew your membership! Visit iamwa.org/membership-2 to do so.
On Sunday, January 31 at 3 pm EST join them for their Imbolg Celebration/St. Brigid’s Day Eve (via Zoom) where IAW&A member Maura Mulligan will host a Transatlantic Imbolg celebration on the eve of St. Brigid’s Day. It will include songs of hope by Mary Courtney, and a conversation with Sheila McHugh of Achill Island, about the Celtic goddess Brigid and her significance and move to St Brigid. Guests who attend this Zoom celebration will be invited to donate to The Dwelling Place of NY– a transitional shelter for homeless women. For more details send an e-mail to mauramulligan@aol.com.
I meant to acknowledge another great friend of Ireland’s and that is Norman Houston, died on Tuesday January 19 in Belfast. He was 62. In a statement, the Northern Ireland Office said Mr. Houston, who was awarded an OBE for his work in 2019, would be remembered as a “true diplomat who served Northern Ireland with distinction.” He was a great friend to everyone he got to meet and was always very supportive. I personally was in Norman’s company and he was always a total gentleman and was very well known in the Irish Community.
“For over 15 years, Norman saw to it that Northern Ireland was at the center of political and economic discussions in successive US administrations, bringing much-needed investment and opening many doors for our politicians and wider business leaders.”
Rest in Peace Norman, we will solely miss you.
Hope to see you all again when I am Out&About again…