Glucksman Ireland House at New York University, located at One Washington Mews (at Fifth Avenue), will host several special events in April, including a lecture on April 24 by former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland Garret FitzGerald. Admission is free to members of Ireland House and those with an NYU I.D.; for all others, $10 admission charge for regular events and $15 for the Blarney Star Concert Series. All events take place at Ireland House, unless otherwise noted. To reserve a seat call 212.998.3950 or email: Ireland.house@nyu.edu.
A schedule of events follows:
Thurs., Apr. 6, 7 p.m. Inaugural Barra Ó Donnabháin Lecture: “Eugene O’Growney (1863-1899): A Progressive View of the Irish Language” by Thomas Ihde, director, CUNY Institute for Irish-American Studies and associate professor, Lehman College. The lecture series honors Ó Donnabháin who provided invaluable service to the teaching and promotion of the Irish language in America.
Fri., Apr. 7, 9 p.m. Blarney Star Concert Series: features some of the greatest traditional Irish musicians. Check www.blarneystar.com for the featured musicians.
Sat., Apr. 8, 10 a.m. All-day program: “A Taste of the Yeats Summer School.” The WB Yeats Society of NY presents a day-long program evoking the spirit of the school in Ireland, including a dramatic presentation by Sam McCready, frequent director of the drama seminar. Visit www.YeatsSociety.org for further details.
Thurs., Apr. 20, 7 p.m. Airneál na Bealtaine: an evening of traditional music and song with NYU students and local musicians to celebrate the beginning of the Celtic summer with Irish Language lecturer Pádraig O’Cearúill.
Mon., Apr. 24, 5:30 p.m. Lecture: “The Role of the European Union in World Peace” by Garret FitzGerald, former Taoiseach of Ireland and Chancellor of the National University of Ireland. Note venue: NYU Silver Center, Jurow Hall, 100 Washington Square East.
8 p.m. Book launch: Further Reflections on the Irish State by Garret FitzGerald, who has twice served at Taoiseach of Ireland, from 1981 to 1982 and then again from late 1982 to 1987. He was the driving force behind the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985. In this book FitzGerald examines the emergence of the Irish state, the Northern Ireland question, and Ireland’s relation to Europe, the U.S., and the wider world.
Thurs.-Fri. Apr. 27-28 Irish Theatrical Diaspora Conference. The third annual Irish Theatrical Diaspora conference comes to Glucksman Ireland House after successful seasons in Dublin and London. The featured topic is “Irish Theatre in America” presented by John P. Harrington, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York. The keynote speaker is Ireland House’s Mick Moloney, speaking on “Harrigan and Hart: Irish America and the Birth of the American Musical.” Visit www.itd.tcd.ie for conference speakers and schedule.