'Flight of the Earls' Documentary Airs Tonight

We're happy to convey the contents of a news release, in English and Gaeilge, from Richard Gibson, Flight of the Earls Coordinator, www.flightoftheearls.ie, sent this morning:

LETTERKENNY, COUNTY DONEGAL, IRELAND -- 2007 marks the 400th anniversary of the Flight of the Earls. As part of this year long commemoration, BBC is screening a three-part documentary series titled Flight of the Earls, produced and presented by Antaine O Donnaile. This feeds in with Donegal County Council's commitment to commemorating the anniversary. The first episode will be screened tonight, at 10.40 pm on BBC1 Northern Ireland.

The Flight of the Earls, from Rathmullan, on September 14 1607, is a pivotal event in the history of Ireland, and indeed in the history of Europe. The series takes an in-depth look at what led to the sudden departure of Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, and Rory O'Donnell, Earl of Tyrconnell, and charts their epic journey across Europe as they sought allies who would assist them in their quest for victory at home. Dramatic reconstructions of various battles (such as the Battle of Kinsale 1601) have been used in the series to create a clearer picture of the events leading up to the departure and the repercussions in Europe. Presenter and producer, Antaine O Donnaile travels across Europe, tracing their footsteps, ending at Rome at the Earls' final resting place.

Digital viewers will have the choice of watching the series in Irish or English (by pressing the red button on the control). The Irish version of the series will also be shown on BBC2 Northern Ireland on Sundays at 10.45pm starting Sunday.

For further information on other events taking place throughout the year to commemorate the Flight of the Earls, contact Donegal County Council on 074 91 94200.

Sraith faisnéise ar Imeacht na nIarlaí i dtrí choda ag tosnú Dé Ceadaoine ar BBC1 Thuaisceart Éireann.

Tá 2007 ag comóradh 400 bliain d'Imeacht na nIarlaí. Tá BBC ag scannánaíocht trí shraith faisnéise 'Imeacht na nIarlaí' a léiriú agus a chur i láthair ag Antaine Ó Donnaile. Beidh seo ceangailte leis an tionscnamh ceiliúraithe atá a eagrú ag Comhairle Chontae Dhún na nGall. Beidh an chéad sraith a thaispeáint ar an Cheadaoin, 24ú Eanair ag 10.40in ar BBC 1 Tuaisceart Éireann.

Is eachtra fiorthábhachtach i stair na hÉireann, agus fiú i stair na hEorpa, é 'Imeacht na nIarlaí' ar 14 Meán Fómhair 1607. Amharctar ar an fáth gur imigh Aodh Ó Néill, Iarla Thír Eoghain agus Ruaidhrí Ó Dónaill, Iarla Thír Chonaill, chomh tapaidh agus a d'fhág siad chun tearmann a fháil agus tacaíocht a lorg dá gcás trasna na hEorpa. Déantar atógáil ar chathanna éagsúla (mar Cath Cheann tSáile 1601) chun na himeachtaí suas go dtí an 'Imeacht' agus frithbhuailte san Eoraip a dhéanamh níos soiléire. Leanann Antaine Ó Donnaile á gcuid lorga trasna na hEorpa, ag críochnú suas ag uaigh na nIarlaí san Róimh. Beidh rogha ag an lucht féachána ar an tsraith Gaeilge nó Béarla. (Beidh an sraith Gaeilge a thaispeáint ar BBC2 Tuaisceart Éireann ar an Domhnach ag tosnú 28Eanair ag 10.45in.)

Déan teagmháil le hOifig na nIarlaí Chomhairle Chontae Dhún na nGall ag 074-9194200 fá choinne tuilleadh eolais ar chomóradh Imeacht na nIarlaí i rith na bliana

'Devils With Dirty Faces' Cops a Globe for Scorcese

The 64th Golden Globes Awards, hosted by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, are now history. We were watching to see how “The Departed,” nominated for 6 awards, would fare; Martin Scorcese took home the Globe for Best Director. He referred to the Boston crime drama/remake of “Internal Affairs” as “Devils with Dirty Faces.” The Jimmy Cagney reference was unmistakable. Leonardo DiCaprio, who was nominated against himself in the Best Actor/Drama category(“Blood Diamond” and “The Departed”) lost out to Forest Whitaker, who portrayed Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in “The Last King of Scotland.” Whitaker played a British soldier kidnapped by IRA soldiers in Neil Jordan’s “The Crying Game" (1992).

Best Film/Drama went to “Babel,” the Mexican film which was in contention for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival last year. “Dreamgirls” won Best Film/Musical or Comedy; Jennifer Hudson took Best Supporting Actress/Musical and Eddie Murphy took Best Supporting Actor/Musical. Best Actor/Comedy was Sacha Cohen for "Borat" and Best Actress/Comedy was Meryl Streep for "The Devil Wears Prada." This was her 2oth nomination for a Golden Globe; she has won 6 Globes.

Royalty was a pervasive motif; Jeremy Irons, winning for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester in HBO’s “Elizabeth I.” Irons owns Kilcoe Castle in County Cork; he describes the location as "West Cork, near Skibbereen." Helen Mirren took home the Best Actress Award in that category (she ran against herself in “Prime Suspect: the Final Act.” “Elizabeth I” took home the Golden Globe for Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television. Helen Mirren also took home a Golden Globe for Best Actress/Drama, playing Elizabeth II in the theatrical release “The Queen.” Peter Morgan also took home a Globe for Best Screenplay.

The other motion picture we were watching was Emilio Estevez’ intriguing drama “Bobby” which tells the story of hotel patrons at the Ambassador Hotel on June 6, 1968, set against the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy. It was nominated for 2 Golden Globes, Best Drama and Best Original Song, but didn’t win. The cast has been nominated for a Screen Actors Guild ensemble award, against “Babel,” “The Departed,” “Dreamgirls” and “Little Miss Sunshine.” That ceremony is on Sunday.

Patricia Jameson-Sammartano
Culture Editor, www.thewildgeese.com

http://www.hfpa.org/

http://www.sagawards.com/PR_070104.htm

http://movies2.nytimes.com/2006/11/17/movies/17bobb.html?ref=movies

BBC Considers Filming Don Mullan's Boyhood Memoir

The BBC may film Don Mullan's book "Gordon Banks: A Hero Who Could Fly," a memoir chronicling the legendary Stokes FC footballer's long and inspiring influence on the Dublin-based investigative journalist and author. (Read TheWildGeese.com's review of Mullan's book.)

Gordon Banks, left, with author Don Mullan at the launch of "Gordon Banks: A Hero Who Could Fly" in Dublin last summer. Photo by Aoife O'Donnell

The British Broadcasting Co. optioned the book, which was published in March, and has received a treatment written by Mullan. Mullan told TheWildGeese.com in a Jan. 12 phone interview that he expected word by mid-February whether the project would be green-lighted, for either theatrical release or TV production.

In a landmark book published in 1997 and reissued in 2002, Derry native Mullan compiled never-before published, first-hand accounts of the Jan. 30, 1972, Bloody Sunday Massacre that killed 14 peaceful demonstrators in his hometown. He has considerable film production experience, having served as a co-producer for the Paul Greengrass film "Bloody Sunday" (2002), as well as the 2004 film "Omagh," which examines the aftermath of the 1998 Real IRA bombing that killed 29 people in Omagh, Northern Ireland.

The author's admiration for Banks has led him to help organize what he calls a "living monument" to the legendary English goalkeeper. Assisted by Banks' Dublin-born teammate Terry Conroy and local sculptor Andrew Edwards, Mullan is working to create a stone monument outside Stoke City FC's Britannia Stadium and a charity match within the stadium, pitting teams led by Brazilian soccer star Pelé and Banks.

The monument unveiling, and the match are slated for the same day, and may occur as early as August. Funds raised will go to the Derry-based charity Children in Crossfire. Mullan said he hopes to have Pelé unveil the monument, which Edwards has titled "A Hero Who Could Fly."

Mullan has frequently worked with charities and human rights organizations. In 2002, he received the Defenders of Human Dignity Award from the International League for Human Rights at the United Nations. His books include "Eyewitness Bloody Sunday: The Truth" and "The Dublin and Monaghan Bombings," both by Wolfhound Press. He has also written Columba Press' 'Little Book' series, including "The Little Book of St. Patrick" and "A Little Book of Mother Theresa of Calcutta."— Gerry Regan, Producer / TheWildGeese.com

* Buy an autographed copy of "Gordon Banks: A Hero Who Could Fly."

Authors Get Yuletide Chance To 'Give and Get'

As we conclude the 12 days of Christmas, Hell’s Kitchen presents a new feature. Throughout the year, we have met many prominent authors. This year we asked which book each author would like to receive for Christmas, and which they would like to give to a friend. Some surveyed were from academia, others are ink-stained wretches. Please feel free to log in under the comments feature here to leave your own entries.

Paul Muldoon signs at Glucksman Ireland House in November. Photo by Patricia Jameson-Sammartano

So, without further ado, here are our authors' replies:
(Click on the titles for more info on the books or to buy them.)

Dan Cassidy ("The Secret Language of the Crossroad: How the Irish Invented Slang," forthcoming in 2007) would give "Hour of the Cat" by Peter Quinn and would like to receive "William Kennedy's next book."

Michael Patrick McDonald ("All Souls,""Easter Rising") would give: "Paddy Whacked" by T. J. English and would like to receive Colum McCann's "Zoli: A Novel."

T. J. English ("Paddywhacked") would give Nuala O'Faolain's "The Story of Chicago May" and would like to receive Michael Patrick McDonald's "Easter Rising."

The above authors, who were together, laughed when we posed our question, and may have succumbed to a "I'll give yours, if you'll give mine" ... mmm... exchange of favors.

Eileen Reilly (contributor, "Making the Irish American") of NYU's Glucksman Ireland House, would give Angela Bourke's "The Burning of Bridget Cleary" and would like to receive "A Guide to Irish Fiction," edited by Rolf Loeber.

John Waters whose book "Scattered Radicals: Irish Writers and Atlantic Modernity" is forthcoming, is an English professor at NYU. He would give Alice McDermott's "After This"
and would like to receive Kevin Whelan's "Atlas of the Rural Irish Landscape."

Terry Golway ("So Others Might Live: A History of New York's Bravest," "Irish Rebel," "The Irish in America") would give his own "Let Every Nation Know," a look at the speeches of John Fitzgerald Kennedy. He notes the books are taking up too much room in his attic, and his wife isn't pleased. He said he would like to receive Peter Quinn's forthcoming "Looking for Jimmy."

Peter Quinn ("Banished Children of Eve") would give Peter Behrens' "The Law of Dreams" and would like to receive a boxed set of John Dos Passos' "USA."

We are ready to vouch that there was no collusion between Quinn and Golway.

Alice McDermott ("That Night." "Charming Billy") would give Edward P. Jones' "All Aunt Hagar's Children: Stories" and would like to receive "Vladimir Nabokov: Novels and Memoirs 1941-1951 : The Real Life of Sebastian Knight, Bend Sinister, Speak, Memory (Library of America)."

Paul Muldoon ("Moy Sand and Gravel") would give "The Aeneid" (translated by Robert Fagles) and would like to receive John McGahern's "Collected Stories."

I would give "Banished Children of Eve" by Peter Quinn and would like to receive a boxed set of "The Field Day Anthology of Irish Writing," edited by Seamus Deane. Thanks for asking.

Patricia Jameson-Sammartano,
Culture Editor, TheWildGeese.com

I’ve Been Dying On The Railroad

In June 1832 fifty-seven Irishmen arrived in Philadelphia aboard the John Stamp out of Derry. Just six weeks later all of them would be dead. All over America Irishmen were doing the back-breaking labor that was building the country’s roads, canals, railroads, bridges and anything else that a new and usually poorly educated immigrant could do to make a living.

On the docks the fifty-seven men were hired by Phillip Duffy, a railroad contractor working for the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad. No doubt they thought it a wonderful start to their new lives in “Amerikay,” instead it was the beginning of the end of their lives. Duffy took them to a spot in southeast Pennsylvania along the route of the new rail line near Malvern. It was a ravine between two hills that needed to be filled. The spot is known as Duffys Cut today.

We know that a cholera epidemic broke out shortly after they began work and that some of them caught it. Shortly after that all fifty-seven were dead, supposedly of the disease, and buried in a mass grave. But the normal death rate from cholera is 40 to 60 percent, not 100 percent, and most of these men would have been in tremendous physical condition to do the job they were doing. The suspicion exists that some of them may have been killed by locals who were fearful of the spread of the disease and prejudiced against the Irish Catholic suddenly thrust into their midst.

Now a group from Immaculata University is hoping to clear up this historical mystery with an archeological dig at Duffy’s Cut. Thus far they have found a large group of artifacts, including belt buckle, coins, eating utensils, buttons, and nails, but no bodies. You can learn more at the Duffy’s Cut Project website.

Duffy’s Cut Project

Articles on Duffy’s Cut

Philly's big dig: Closing in on the secrets of Duffy's Cut

The dark side of the Irish-American dream

The Ghosts of Duffy's Cut: The Irish Who Died Building America's Most Dangerous Stretch of Railroad

2006 Movie Poll by BBC

"The Wind that Shakes the Barley" has taken second place on BBC One's "Film 2006 with Jonathan Ross." This is an interactive poll taken through the website of the BBC, so it's hardly a scientific poll, but it does show us that the Ken Loach-directed drama about the Irish War of Independence, starring Cillian Murphy, Padraig Delaney Liam Cunningham and Orla Fitzgerald, has not gone unnoticed in the United Kingdom. We saw the movie at a special journalists' preview; we can't understand why IFC, the distributor of the film in the United States, is waiting - hesitating? - until March to release this enthralling, riveting and award-winning film. Although it won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival last May(see http://thewildgeese.com/blogs/2006_05_01_archive.html), the movie will not be eligible for an Academy Award in 2007 because it has not been shown for a week in Los Angeles before the end of calendar year 2006. So any pre-Oscar buzz for Murphy, who was Golden Globe nominated last year for his performance in "Breakfast on Pluto," is moot.

Patricia Jameson-Sammartano,
Culture Editor, www.thewildgeese.com

Above, Cillian Murphy and Padraig Delaney as brothers Damien and Teddy, serving in the Irish Republican Army, in "The Wind That Shakes the Barley." Pathe.co.uk photo

http://www.rte.ie/arts/2006/1229/windthatshakesthebarley.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2006/11/03/the_wind_that_shakes_the_barley_dvd_2006_review.shtml