Irish Thought for March 31

Irish-American Movies

Gangs of New York

Having seen his father killed in a major gang fight in New York, young Amsterdam Vallon is spirited away for his own safety.  Some years later, he returns to the scene of his father's death, the notorious Five Points district in New York.  It is 1863 and Lower Manhattan is run by gangs, the most powerful of which is the Natives, headed by Bill "The Butcher" Cutting.  He believes that America should belong to native-born Americans and opposes the waves of immigrants, mostly Irish, entering the city.  It is also the time of the Civil War and forced conscription leads to the worst riots in United States history.  Among the violence, corruption, and havoc around him, Vallon tries to establish himself in the area and seek revenge for his father's death.  Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Daniel Day-Lewis.  Directed by Martin Scorsese.

from http://www.urbanography.com/5_points/

Irish Thought for March 30...

Irish Proverbs

Three things come without asking; fear, jealousy, and love.

Irish Thought for March 29...

Irish Toasts

Here's to a healthy heart and a wet mouth!

Irish Thought for March 28...

Irish Writers

Clive Staples Lewis

Born in Belfast, C.S. Lewis was an academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, and a Christian theologian, but he is also known for his novels, especially The Screwtape Letters and the children's classic series The Chronicles of Narnia.

Irish Thought for March 27...

Irish-American Facts

Al Smith, who lost to Herbert Hoover in the 1928 presidential election, was the first Irish-Catholic to run for president.  John F. Kennedy is the only Irish-Catholic to have become president.

Al Smith

John F. Kennedy

Irish Thought for March 26...

Quotations

Hugging trees has a calming effect of me.  I'm talking about enormous trees that will be there when we are dead and gone.  I've hugged trees in every part of this little island.
   -Gerry Adams

Irish Thought for March 25...

Irish-American Heroes

After rising up from being a housemaid to achieving socialite status and becoming a philanthropist, Margaret Brown (July 18, 1867 - October 26, 1932) became immortalized as "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" when she survived the sinking of the Titanic.

Irish Thought for March 24...

Limericks!

There was a Young Lady whose nose,
Was so long that it reached to her toes;
So the hired an Old Lady,
Whose conduct was steady,
To carry that wonderful nose.

Irish Thought for March 23...

Irish Trivia

The oldest, most popular hiking trail in Ireland is Wicklow Way, which leads from a Dublin suburb to a village named Clonegal in County Carlow.  More than 20,000 hikers follow Wicklow Way every year.

from http://www.walkinghikingireland.com/photogallery.htm

Irish Thought for March 22...

Irish-American Celebrities

Pierce Brosnan

Pierce Brosnan is an Irish actor, film producer, and environmentalist who holds Irish and American citizenship.  Following a stage-acting career, he rose to popularity in the television series Remington Steele.  Subsequently, Brosnan took the lead in many films such as Dante's Peak and The Thomas Crown Affair.  In 1995, he became the fifth actor to portray secret agent James Bond in the official film series, starring in four films between 1995 and 2002.  He also provided his voice and likeness to Bond in the 2004 video game James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing.  Since playing Bond, he has starred in such successes as The Matador (nominated for a Golden Globe in 2005) and Mamma Mia! (National Movie Award in 2008).

First, I would like to say that I wrestled with the title of this thought because it seemed like I was saying Brosnan wasn't Irish.  However, Brosnan is Irish and American, so I felt odd calling Brosnan an Irish celebrity and leaving off the American.  Oh, the conundrum of an Irish blogger!

Second, Brosnan should also be recognized for being my fantasy house-voice in The Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror XII" in the segment titled "House of Whacks" (yes, you should watch this - it is an awesome segment).  Brosnan is also found in the epilogue of the episode during which Pierce Brosnan, the Leprechaun, and the freakish Frog Prince exit a trailer, with fruit baskets. After the Leprechaun and Frog Prince (who were also apparently guest stars) criticize Brosnan for being allowed to park so close to the set in such a vastly large parking lot, Brosnan offers them a ride to their car. As Brosnan pulls out, he finds out too late that he has been taken hostage as they drive out of the parking lot in a mad haste.  Now that I think about it, I could perpetrate the epilogue to get my wish which sprang from the first segment.  Darn my Irish Catholic guilt for keeping me from hatching these plans!!!

Irish Thought for March 21...

Irish-American Writers

Flannery O'Connor

Flannery O'Connor was a novelist, short-story writer and essayist.  An important voice in American literature, O'Connor wrote two novels and thirty-two short stories, as well as a number of reviews and commentaries.  She was a Southern writer who often wrote in a Southern Gothic style and relied heavily on regional settings and grotesque characters.  O'Connor's writing also reflected her own Catholic faith, and frequently examined questions of morality and ethics.

Irish Thought for March 20...

Irish Blessing

God grant you to be happy as the flowers in May.

Happy Spring!

Irish Thought for March 19...

Kansas City Irish Fest News

I can't figure out why this news is not showing up clearly (my computer savvy is lacking).  You can get the gist from this cut off image, or go to Kansas City Irish Fest Entertainers

Your 2013 KCIF Entertainers We're proud to kick-off St. Patrick's Day by announcing many of the entertainers that will help us celebrate our 11th year of bringing the Heart of Ireland to the Heart of America. Put Kansas City Irish Fest 2013 (Aug. 30-Sept. 1) on your calendar.  Or better yet, book your hotel room now. Have a safe and wonderful St. Patrick's Day!! xoxo The staff of Kansas City Irish Fest We're all about family, aren't we, the Irish? But, where do you put all those folks when family gathering time comes around? Irish Fest has the answer. We're booking family reunions now for Irish Fest weekend. Don't like your family? Book your corporate event! Find out more about family reunions / events at KCIF here. Congratulations to the Kansas City St. Patrick's Day Parade for bringing a wonderful Irish tradition to KC the past 41 years. Kansas City Irish Fest is a proud sponsor of the Kansas City St. Patrick's Day Parade.