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Traditions, folklore, history and more. If it's Irish, it's here. Or will be!
"People will not look forward to posterity who never look backward to their ancestors."
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 One The Video Library
Featuring the legendary Frank Patterson and other glorious voices, this video features many of the hymns I remember my dad singing when I was a little girl.
Click here for Faith of Our Fathers
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Have you often wished you could return to the land of your Irish ancestors and learn all about your personal heritage? Now you can accompany five Irish-Americans who return to their ancestral homeland on a genealogical adventure, in search of their roots and their traditions. Irish Homecoming is a moving film that captures the essence of what it means to be Irish. As an added bonus, the film includes beautiful footage of the Irish countryside as well as the music of Clannad, Brian Kennedy and Maura O'Connell.
Click here for Irish Homecoming
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A compelling drama with potent political undertones. The talent involved is first-rate all the way: In addition to the volatile teaming of Sean Connery and Richard Harris on opposite sides of a Pennsylvania miners' war, director Martin Ritt and screenwriter Walter Bernstein give viewers a visceral, grittily authentic drama about the exploitation of Irish immigrant miners in the centennial America of 1876. Connery's secret gang, the Molly Maguires, retaliates by destroying mines and equipment; Harris infiltrates the group as an informer hired by the coal-company owners, leading to his inevitable crisis of conscience. Pub brawls and manly action give the film its meat-and-potatoes appeal.
Amazon reviewer, Jeff Shannon
Click for Molly Maguires
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Directed by Dave Tennant and filmed entirely on location in Ireland, this 46-minute documentary blends the story of the saint with commentary from Father Frank Fahey of Ballintubber Abbey and Michael Slaven, author of "The Book of Tara." Interspersed are black and white flashbacks featuring Patrick's own words as his story unfolds - from his birth to his capture and enslavement in Ireland, and then, ultimately, to his almost single-handed conversion of the pagan Irish to Christianity. In the opinion of one very satisfied viewer, the program is "informative, engaging and inspiring."
Click here for St. Patrick - Apostle of Ireland
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This made for television movie stars Patrick Bergen as St. Patrick and Malcolm McDowell as one of the saint's many antagonists. According to the reviews, it's not 100% accurate, but this doesn't detract from the primary focus of the movie which is to portray the devotion of the saint and his love for the Irish people.
See Review
Click here for St. Patrick legend
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We're proud to feature one of the most memorable World War II movies ever made. The true story of the five O'Sullivan brothers is a moving tribute to all those who made the ultimate sacrifice in order to protect and defend the home country - wherever that might be.
Click here for The Fighting Sullivan's.
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Set mainly in the Ireland the tourist board didn't tell you about, Into the West is the story of a "traveling" family who have given up their traditional life of roaming, and find themselves trying to make it in the gritty, violent projects of Dublin.
Gabriel Byrne is excellent as Papa Reilly, a once-proud father and leader whose grief over his wife's death has turned him into a booze-sodden has-been. His two sons, Tito (Ruaidhri Conroy) and Ossie (Ciaran Fitzgerald), escape the projects on an apparently magical white horse, Tir Na Nog, which leads them back to the West.
See Review
Click here for Into the West
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The Informer which was published in 1924, was later made into a movie by his famous cousin, John Ford. It's likely that if you know of no other works by Liam O'Flaherty, you would have heard of this one - such is the influence of Hollywood.
See our Article on O'Flaherty
Click here for The Informer
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Filmed on the Dingle Peninsula, this stirringly dramatic story takes place during World War I. Rosy Ryan (Sarah Miles) sets her cap for the local school master (Robert Mitchum). They marry, but her life is not what she'd hoped for. Then, a shell-shocked British officer enters the picture. The incredible scenery becomes the ironic backdrop for a brutal drama that plays out to an almost inevitable conclusion. Worth seeing? Definitely - if only for the cinematography. But, Ryan's Daughter also offers an often painful glimpse of how Ireland once was.
Click here for Ryan's Daughter
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The Brylcream Boys
Based on the true story of what happens in a World War II POW camp in the neutral Republic of Ireland , we bought this movie in a frenzy of collecting just about anything that featured Gabriel Byrne. We weren't disappointed. But the credit doesn't belong to one of our favorite Irish actors. He's good, but so is the rest of the cast, including a brilliant performance from Jean Butler of Riverdance. Imagine... USAF and RAF pilots housed next to Germans - in Ireland.
Click here for The Brylcream Boys
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The rich and poignant traditions of Irish and Irish-American music are masterfully showcased by some of today's greatest musicians in The Kennedy Center Presents: The Irish Gala. Artists such as Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Carlos Nunez, and Ricky Skaggs join such Irish luminaries and performers as Mary Black, Nollaig Casey, Maighread and Triona Ni Dhomhnaill, Liam O'Maonlai, Riverdance, Sharon Shannon, and Donal Lunny and Coolfin. Noted actress Anjelica Huston, who was raised in Ireland, and author Frank McCourt, host this celebration of Irish music, dance, and culture. Amazon Review
Click here for The Irish Gala
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Soul-stirring Christmas performances filmed at Galway's famed Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas, the living symbol of a modern city with ancient traditions. It's a night of extraordinary talent, featuring hundreds of beautiful voices from The Galway Baroque Singers and The Choristers of Belfast Cathedral. This special Irish Christmas celebration continues at such venerable locations as the Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed Into Heaven and The Spanish Arch.
Click here for A Galway Christmas
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Three
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Wed, Feb 8, 2006
Irish God and Goddess of love
Oengus is the Irish God of love, beauty and youth. According to the old folklore, his kisses became birds. It is also said that he dreamed of a beautiful maiden named Caer, for whom he searched all over Ireland. Eventually, he found her chained to 150 other maidens, destined to become swans at the time of Samhain. Legend has it that Oengus transformed himself into a swan and was united with his love.
Aine of Knockaine is the Irish Goddess of love. She is also known as the Fairy Queen of Munster and as a goddess of fertility beause she has control and command over crops and animals, especially cattle. Another name by which she is known is Aillen. To learn more about Irish mythology, please click Irish Myths & Legends.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Click for More Culture Corner.
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 Can't Find it?!
Our Library is compiled from what we know and like. If you can't find what you're looking for read on.
• First: go to Amazon -
There's no escaping the fact that they are the largest catalog.
Note: There are multiple Amazons and they do not carry exactly the same items. Any one of the U.S., U.K. and Canada sites may not have the item but another Amazon will. Each site will ship anywhere in the world. Try them all before you give up.
Click here for Amazon.US.
Click here for Amazon.UK.
Click here for Amazon.Canada.
• Second: Amazon doesn't have it? Alright, try ALibris they are the place for 'books you never thought you'd find'. They now carry videos. The prices vary, since they are offered from various sources.
Click here for ALibris.
• Last: Nothing Worked?
E-Mail us, we'll give it a go. Click for Russ & Bridget.
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