Glucksman Ireland House at New York University, located at One Washington Mews (at Fifth Avenue), will host five special events in February. Admission is free to members of Ireland House and those with an NYU ID; for all others, $10 admission charge for regular events and $15 for Blarney Star Concert Series. To reserve a seat call 212.998.3950 or email: ireland.house@nyu.edu.
On Friday, February 3, at 9 p.m., the Blarney Star Concert Series presents a fourth-generation musician and a native of Co. Clare, Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin. He holds five World Championship Irish music titles — as a concertina player, uilleann piper, and as a member of the renowned Kilfenora Ceili Band. With academic credentials and a roster of highly regarded recordings, he is both performer and musical historian. He will be joined by Paris-born Patrick Ourceau on fiddle.
On Saturday, February 4, from 10 a.m. until evening, the NYU Humanities Council will hold a day devoted to “Storytelling in the Lyric and Ballad Traditions.” The day will include roundtable discussions on the role of song in storytelling, and will feature an evening concert with Mick Moloney, John Roberts, Tony Barrand, Susan McKeown, Barry O’Neil, and John Doyle. A full schedule is on the Ireland House website.
On Thursday, February 16, at 7 p.m., author Tom Phelan discusses his latest novel, The Canal Bridge, which tells the tale of two Irish stretcher-bearers serving in the British army during the Great War. On one level, the book deals with the lives of young men caught up in the war, and the lovers and families they leave behind. On another level, it questions why Ireland’s World War I veterans do not occupy an honored place in the pantheon of Irish heroes.
On Thursday, February 23, at 7 p.m., Irish writer and Cullman Center fellow Mary Morrissy reads from her work-in-progress, The Duchess, a ghosted autobiography of Bella O’Casey, sister of famed playwright Sean O’Casey. The book explores O’Casey’s life and influence upon her brother. Morrissy is also the author of a collection of short stories and two other novels, one of which, Mother of Pearl, was shortlisted for the Whitbread Award and won the Lannan Foundation Award.
On Friday, February 24, at 9 p.m., the Blarney Star Concert Series presents one of the most talented, creative, and influential musicians of our time, fiddler Tommy Peoples. Peoples is a native of Donegal, and his trips to America are both rare and memorable.