Pirate Queen on the Today Show

Tune into your local NBC affiliate -- in New York, that's Channel 4 - between 9 and 10 a.m. EDT to see the cast of The Pirate Queen, led by Stephanie J. Block and Hadley Fraser perform a live arrangement of "If I Said I Loved You/The Wedding Ring" on The Today Show, Thursday, May 31.

Look for the Original Broadway Cast Album to be released by Masterworks Broadway nationwide on July 3, 2007.

Patricia Jameson-Sammartano

Culture Editor, www.thewildgeese.com

http://www.thepiratequeen.com/

Memorial Day...Not Just for Picnics

REMEMBERING

Today is Memorial Day, and I am departing from my usual third person to remember personally some of the veterans who played so large a part in my life.

To the left is Joe Joyce, USMC, Korea, who died earlier this month. Many of our readers are familiar with Joe from his posts on the Wild Geese Forum. Irascible, often funny, sometimes profane, but always passionate, Joe was a dedicated Republican with a love of Ireland and a former past president of the Virginia Unit of NORAID. There are over two hundred posts regarding Joe's death on the Irish forum, more on ours at WGT, many of those posts flaming him, which is something I'm sure has him ROTFLOL(rolling on the floor laughing out loud, for those of you who don't know the computer slang).

I first "met" Joe over ten years ago when we both corresponded with an Irish political listserv(a group of people who write about common interests) run from Texas. Joe got flamed regularly, which means he got insulted online for all to read. Joe was an ardent Republican, but some of the positions he took did not agree with those of other Republicans, especially those of the Socialists. When you realized who Joe really was, it was not surprising; he had served in the Marines in Korea and come home to the Bronx to work as New York City police officer. His positions were not always PC, and he was proud of that fact.

Joe later moved to Virginia and married his beloved Viola, who was an artist and the mother of his son. He found work there as a police polygraph officer.

We began emailing one another outside of the listserv, and I saw a softer side of Joe. When my mother, Jane Jameson(US Navy, World War II)was on her deathbed, Joe said he'd have his NORAID friends pray for her. To the amusement of some relatives, I told my comatose mother that my friend had the whole IRA praying for her. When I lost my father, Jack Jameson(US Army Air Corps and US Army, World War II), fifteen months later, Joe was online with me, mailing me jokes and games to keep up my spirits. He patiently endured my endless diatribes about life in general and politics in New York. At times, we'd agree to disagree. It saved fights. We never flamed one another, although my daughter, scared by a Halloween prank, did take him to task.

Tragedy struck his life four years ago when he lost his Viola to cancer, and it was my turn to play the supportive role. He described it in his blog as "the best of times, the worst of times" quoting Charles Dickens, Indeed, his blog is bracketed by those two entries; his last piece, dated February 19, 2007 echoed one of his first blog pieces, of the previous August. His last email to me, dated February, warned of disaster with a Guiliani administration. Joe always remembered the former mayor as the prosecutor who persecuted Joe Doherty.

I used to email Joe on Memorial Day and send an e-card; this year I cannot do that. Memorial Day for me is somewhat empty, as was Mother's Day and will be Father's Day. Forgive me for stepping away from my role as journalist because I truly want to honor these former veterans who went on to be vibrant members of society as well as the 985 service personnel who have perished in Iraq since last Memorial Day.

Senper Fi, Joe. May God hold you in the palm of his hand, and may you walk hand in hand with Viola. Oh, and say hi to my parents for me, too, please, I know you will all guard the gate for the rest of us.

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

Photo credit: Joe Joyce and Mabh, from Joe's website

Donegal Annual Focus on Flight of the Earls

“This was a distinguished crew for one ship; for it is indeed certain that the sea had not supported, and the winds had not wafted from Ireland, in modern times, a party of one ship who , would have been more illustrious or noble, in point of genealogy, or more renowned for deeds, valour, prowess, or high achievements, than they, if God had permitted them to remain in their patrimonies until their children should have reached the age of manhood. Woe to the heart that meditated, woe to the mind that conceived, woe to the council that decided on, the project of their setting out on this voyage, without knowing whether they would ever return to their native principalities or patrimonies to the end of the world.”

So wrote the Four Masters on the departure, known as the Flight of the Earls, from Lough Swilly, County Donegal, on the Feast of the Holy Cross, September 14^th 1607. On this 400^th anniversary, the event should be remembered, and the current edition of the Donegal Annual has done this in a manner befitting such a watershed event.

Almost half of the articles in the magazine, published by the Donegal Historical Society, are dedicated to the 400^th anniversary of the Flight of the Earls. The cover features a dramatic painting by Thomas Ryan RHA of the final departure from Ireland. The diary of the Flight, written in 1609, presents a graphic description of the journey of Hugh O’Neill and Rory O’Donnell from Rathmullan to Rome. Readers can follow the Flight in detail.

Helen Meehan has written a detailed account of the life and times of O’Donnell, the first Earl of Tyrconnell, while Seán Bonner concentrates on the lives of more than a dozen children whose lives were forever altered by the event. Mary Haggan writes about Rory's brother, Aodh Rua Ó Domhnaill, of Ramelton, while Belinda Mahaffy evokes the tension of the final stage of the journey from Ballindrait to Rathmullan (which took place amid great secrecy). Dr. John McCavitt, a renowned historian of the Flight, describes his pilgrimage to the tombs of the Earls in the church of San Pietro in Rome, which is featured on the back cover. Eunan O’Donnell, from Ardara, provides interesting insights into current views on the Flight and why it was undertaken. The acclaimed pageant of the Flight, written by former Raphoe teacher Arthur Lemon, which was first performed at Rathmullan in 1982, is reprinted to mark the occasion. There are detailed maps, illustrations, specially commissioned photographs and drawings to illustrate the Flight.

A free DVD is included with the Annual, showing local venues associated with the event and scenes from Port na nIarlaí near Rathmullan, the departure point. There are also specially commissioned maps of the journey, and stunning images filmed in the church of San Pietro. Graphic views of the last resting place of the Earls and relations are also shown. This is essential reading for everyone with an interest in this great story of human courage.

Soldiers, painters and railwaymen

In another article, Dr. John Silke, Raphoe Diocesan Archivist, writes about issues arising from the first World War, after the discovery of a letter from a British army soldier whose parents came from Ardara. “Irishmen are very foolish for being deceived by Britain’s smooth policy of Ireland’s future and Home Rule,” he writes. “Our men are beginning to see some of their mistakes now”.

The life of the artist Helen Allingham is evoked by Ballyshannon historian Anthony Begley using contemporary records; he illustrates the profile with an impressive collection of her artwork. May McClintock recalls days of old as she walks along the banks of the Swilly and Leonard Roarty revives memories of turbulent times on the Donegal rail network in the 1920s. Sandra Buchanan surveys the dramatic growth of the Vocational Educational Committee (VEC) in the county.

There are details too of the work of parish committees throughout the county over a century ago and an insight into what is described as “elite entertainment” in past centuries. Other features include an article on Iona by Clonmany historian Rosmarie Doherty, and a list of books, journals and CDs recently published in the county supplied by Eileen Burgess, together with news of Society events.

The Donegal Annual this year celebrates its 60th year of publication, a remarkable feat for a county journal. Copies are available in bookshops or from the Secretary, Una McGarrigle, Parkhill, Ballyshannon, unamcgarrigle@hotmail.com, price 20 euros plus postage.

Tis the Season

'Tis the season for Broadway to honor its best. Or not, as the case may be.

Nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award, which were given on May 7, was Eugene Lee for Outstanding Scenic Design for..."The Hairy Ape," which was produced by the Irish Repertory Theatre last fall.

The Drama League nominations were named May 11, and included among the nominees: for Best Revival of a Play, "Translations" and "The Hairy Ape;" for Best Actress, Eve Best("A Moon for the Misbegotten"), Stephanie J. Block("The Pirate Queen"), Kate Mulgrew("Our Leading Lady");for Best Actor, Brian Dennehy("Inherit the Wind"), Gregory Derelian("The Hairy Ape"), Brian F. O'Byrne and Oliver Platt(both "Shining City). "Shining City" was on Broadway last season.

Next were the Outer Critics Circle Award, named May 14. Eve Best("A Moon for the Misbegotten") won for Outstanding Actress in a Play; nominations also went to Carol Leavy Joyce and Graciela Daniels for Outstanding Choreography for "The Pirate Queen" and to Martin Pakledinaz for Outstanding Costume Design, also "The Pirate Queen"

The Drama Desk Awards were presented May 20, and Eve Best won the award for Outstanding Actress in a Play; nominations went to "The Hairy Ape" for Outstanding Play Revival, Kevin Spacey("A Moon for the Misbegotten"), Outstanding Actor in a Play. Orlagh Cassidy("The Field," presented last year at the Irish Repertory Theatre); Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, Linda Balgord("The Pirate Queen"); Outstanding Direction of a Play, Ciaran O'Reilly("The Hairy Ape") and Tom Ridgely, ("Marco Millions (based on lies)," adaptated from the Eugene O'Neill play "Marco Millions." "Marco Millions(based on lies)" was an off-off-Broadway play, up at the Lion Theatre last August.

The Theatre Word Award is presented to performers who are making their first appearance on the New York Stage. This year, Eve Best will accept on June 5 for "A Moon for the Misbegotten."

And the Tony nominations were announced last week. Eve Best has been nominated for Best Actress and "Translations" has been nominated for Best Revival of a Play. The awards will be announced on June 10th.

To say we are disappointed in the awards this year is an understatement. "The Pirate Queen" has the most to lose; we anticipated awards for choreography, set and costume design, and perhaps performance nominations. Also neglected this year were "A Moon for the Misbegotten" for Best Play Revival, Kevin Spacey, Colm Meaney, and "Translations" actors Alan Cox and Susan Lynch.

On the lighter side, we noted that going to www.thepiratequeen.com/castcom and scrolling back to May 15, Hadley Fraser entered a vlog, and he was wearing a Hell's Kitchen teeshirt. We don't know how deliberate that may have been, but thanks for the shout-out anyway, Hadley!

Patricia Jameson-Sammartano

Culture Editor, www.thewildgeese.com

Fundraiser for St. Brigid's - Bards for St. Brigid's II

A benefit for St. Bridid's featureing the Eamonn Ryan band, readings by local artists(among them Peter Quinn and Malachy McCourt), and an art auction with works by local artists will take place at Solas Bar, 232 East 9th St, New York(between 2nd and 3rd Avenues), Saturday, May 12, 2007, from 6 to 10 pm. A donation of $20 is suggested.

The Lower East Side Famine Church has been closed since 2001 due to structural irregularities and was almost destroyed by the Archdiocese last summer before a New York State judge enacted a temporary restraining order. Interested in historic preservation? This is a fight that's been going on for years.

http://www.savestbrigid.com/

Photo Credit: Patricia Jameson-Sammartano

August 2006

Patricia Jameson-Sammartano,

Culture Editor, www.thewildgeese.com