John Wallace looks at the careers of Wicklow-based actor, Daniel Day-Lewis and his Irish father, the Poet Laureate Cecil Day-Lewis One of the most dedicated actors of his generation, Daniel Day-Lewis totally immerses himself in his carefully-chosen film roles. He is difficult to satisfy artistically and he continues to confront the rules of Hollywood. De [...]
Dr John Wallace looks at a book detailing the history of the most influential magazine in pop culture, Rolling Stone, which doubles as a history of the culture of recent times A fascinating book, Rolling Stone, 1000 Covers, is not just about the evolution of a magazine, but about the evolution of the culture of [...]
In the fifth century the Pass of Thermopylae in Greece was the scene of a defensive battle by an outnumbered Greek force against a vast, invading Persian army. Among the Greek defenders, were 300 Spartans. The army of Persia, under King Xerxes, was one million strong and it was poised to crush Greece, ‘an oasis [...]
The Tudors is an Emmy award-nominated series that examines the early reign of Henry VIII and the role of his leading advisor, the last of the great medieval prelates, Cardinal Wolsey. In this ten-part series, Henry VIII is played by Irish actor, Jonathan Rhys Meyers while Wolsey is played by Irish-born Sam Neill. Katherine of [...]
There was a rumble in the media lately about theatre-goers not minding their manners. There were letters in the national press giving out about noisy punters who spoiled the theatre experience for others by clinking glasses, rattling ice and, of course, failing to turn off those ubiquitous mobile phones. Most of the comment was generated [...]
In just three short years in the late 1970s, punk provoked shock, cynicism and bafflement. This new musical era, dating from 1976 until 1979, was characterised by loud energetic music, torn jeans and safety pins. Punk was essentially a back-to-basics movement and a reaction against the ‘flower power’ of the late 1960s. It mocked the [...]
Maybe the numbers weren’t quite what the organisers expected and certainly the weather wasn’t what we’d all have liked, but, despite all that, the recent World Fleadh in Portlaoise seems to have been a hit. I had great intentions of going to workshops and sitting in on the odd seisiún but, between the jigs and [...]
There is one thing we’re good at in this country and that’s our ability to host and enjoy a hooley. And, by the time you read this, the mother of all hooleys should have happened in Portlaoise. For the last week, The World Fleadh will have rocked and reeled the town in a celebration of [...]
Edith Piaf knew what hardship was. Born on a pavement in Paris and abandoned by her alcoholic mother at birth, she led a life marred by unhappiness and illness. However, she still achieved phenomenal, worldwide success. She is portrayed by French actress Marrion Cotillard who gives ‘the little sparrow’ more street cred than any rock [...]
One of the most important novels of the 20th century is Brideshead Revisited. Ecosse Films (Becoming Jane) is set to begin filming the book for the big screen at Castle Howard in Yorkshire in June. Young actors Ben Whishaw and Matthew Goode are to play Lord Sabastian Flyte and Charles Ryder respectively, with Bobert Bernstein [...]
Loading ...
