Archive 2009
January
Hunger returned to Nottingham Broadway, one night only, Wed 21 Jan.
March
Deirdre gave a talk on the disappearing Anglo-Irish for Birmingham Irish Forum, 4 March. This talk was based on her article in Irish Protestant Identities, edited by Mervyn Busteed. More info:
http://digbeth.org/2009/03/birmingham-irish-heritage-group-last-month-and-this-month/
http://digbeth.org/2009/03/birmingham-irish-heritage-group/
PATRICK’S PEN NAMES Tues 10th March, Nottingham Central Library: A discussion of Irish writers, including Kavanagh, Colum, McGill and McCabe. Thurs 12 March at West Bridgford Library: Moy McCrory read from her work and spoke about her Liverpool-Irish background.
Deirdre accompanied storyteller Clare Muireann Murphy to St Mary’s school, Hyson Green, where Clare gave a spellbinding performance to pupils and teachers. We enjoyed In Bruges, starring Irish actors Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, at Broadway on 17 March.
June
Deirdre told Irish folktales as part of Loughborough University’s centenary celebrations on 14 June.
Bloomsday Brian McCormack and Deirdre O’Byrne celebrated Bloomsday by dressing in 1904 costume and reading Dublin-based extracts to an enthusiastic audience at Arnold Library. Many of us enjoyed Kisses film at Broadway at the end of the month.
August
Sheelagh Gallagher organised an evening of literature and music on 24th Aug at Beeston Library. An enthusiastic audience turned out to hear readings of 1904 Dublin life, performed by Brian and Deirdre in period costume. Comhaltas musician Ruadh Duggan played beautiful Irish airs on fiddle and tin whistle. Douglas MacDonald took photos for Irish World, and you can see them on our NISG (Nottingham Irish Studies Group) Facebook page.
September
An Irish Studies conference took place at Loughborough University 11-12 September. Several NISG members attended. See photos on LISN (Loughborough Irish Studies Network) Facebook group.
Sept 29:Readings by Kevin Fegan at Nott Irish Centre. Irish World photographer Douglas MacDonald was there, and you can see his photos on NISG Facebook page.
October
NISG are now affiliated to FIS (Federation of Irish Societies) . No relation to FBI….
NISG invited to the Irish Embassy on 5 Nov, to celebrate our success in getting an Irish Emigrant Support grant.
Several NISG members attended poet Bernard O’Donoghue’s recent readings at Beeston Library. Bernard read from his translation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. His readings brought out its many similarities to Irish epic sagas.
November
LITERATURE: On Sat 21 Nov, we ran a workshop on Irish writer Sebastian Barry at Nottingham/shire Readers’ Day at County Hall, to an enthusiastic and well-read audience.
HISTORY: ‘Rebels’ sessions began Tues 27 Nov. Pat ran sessions on Gráinne Mhaol, Feargus O’Connor and Seán Ó Casey. Ross Bradshaw spoke on Oscar Wilde, and Deirdre O’Byrne on Fiach McHugh O’Byrne. In the final session on Noel Browne, Tues 1 Dec, Jonathan Moore of London Met proved once again a captivating presenter.
DRAMA: A small group of us went to see Brian Friel’s play, The Faith Healer, in Derby on 7 Nov. It was an excellent production.
December
Deirdre ran a training session for teachers on dyslexia in Leicester, and used some Irish poems as a basis for discussion. Participants were particularly keen on the traditional lament ‘Dónal Óg’, translated by Lady Gregory.
NISG met with Nigel Scott of Mansfield Irish group to discuss possible collaborations in the future. Manfield Irish are keen to host some of Pat Murphy’s talks on Irish history.
