HEADLINES

Drama, Knights, and Damsels, Set in Ancient Britain

THE EAGLE

Jack Whyte is a storyteller of the old school. A Scot with a sense of humor he claims a direct Irish connection, on his mother's side (County Clare), to the...more

Lord of the Dance Brings High Octane Performance to the Queen E

VANCOUVER - More than 50 million people worldwide have seen Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance tour - the international Irish dancing phenomenon that...more

A Children's Ceili: An Enchanting and Energetic Performance

NORTH VANCOUVER - A Children's Ceili [ceilidh], presented courtesy of a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts, was held in the Centennial Theatre...more

Celebrating 25 Years of Welsh Song in Vancouver

VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Welsh Men's Choir (VWMC) celebrated its silver jubilee in 2005 and some of the highlights of the first 25 years include the...more

Poem For Cynthia Austin

Roger Buston...more

CEOL AGUS CRAIC : Great Celtic Tunes to Look Forward to in 2006!

Ceol binn a bhaint as an saol! It's been a grand year for music in Vancouver and 2006 looks to be even better. Raise a glass this holiday season to the musicians...more

The latest offerings from the best in Celtic Music. This month featuring The Coors, Afro Celt Sound System and Mystic Harmony...more

A Homage to Keane's Style of Folklore Storytelling

THE TEAPOTS ARE OUT and Other Eccentric Tales from Ireland

One of Ireland's favourite storytellers for many years, John B. Keane's last collection of short stories, The Teapots are Out and other Eccentric Tales...more

Celtic Colours Festival on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island Transports Visitors to Another World

Celtic Colours Festival is undoubtedly the most exciting Celtic festival offered anywhere, and we have been to many. When you cross the bridge to Cape Breton...more

The Celtic Tenors: One of Ireland's Biggest Classical Crossover Artists

The Celtic Tenors - Matthew Gilsenan, James Nelson, and Niall Morris - have been receiving acclaim ever since being signed to an international record...more

The Cottars: One of the Next Big Bands in the Celtic World

MAPLE RIDGE, BC - On December 4, The Cottars, winners of the East Coast Music Award, will perform at the Fraser Valley’s newest home for Celtic music...more

Magic of the Dance: A Spectacular Performance

VANCOUVER - The roots of Irish dancing go back centuries - from the music and dancing in the thatched cottages, to dancing at the crossroads and around...more

West of Ireland is Home to World’s Only Full-Time Bodhran Maker

ROUNDSTONE, County Galway - For more than 20 years, Malachy Kearns has been crafting bodhrans - a goat-skinned drum-like instrument played with...more

A Wildly Successful Tour of Scotland for Tiller’s Folly

VANCOUVER - Local folk group Tiller’s Folly is making some big waves here on the wet western coast and receiving considerable media attention and air play...more

Celebrate the Holidays Cape Breton-Style

During her numerous tours, Rita MacNeil often refers to treasured memories of Christmas at home in Cape Breton. This year, the internationally famous singer...more

CEOL AGUS CRAIC : Chances Aplenty to Dance the Rain Away

Ceol binn a bhaint as an saol! Mark December 11 in your calendar. That's when the Wolf & Hound hosts the fourth annual Danny Burns Memorial "Feed the Hungry...more

Celtic Music Reviews

The latest offerings from the best in Celtic Music. This month featuring The Barra Macneils, Newgrange and Emma & Joyce Beaton...more

Flann O'Brien: One of the Most Brilliant Irish Writers of All Time

I never thought I would get the opportunity to review a book of my favourite Irish writer, Flann O'Brien, since the author died in 1966...more

An Invitation "To Lose Yourself in the Unspeakable Places, Where Time has Stopped"

An exhilarating rush of passion for her ancestral home of Ireland is what initially strikes the reader of Patricia Monaghan's The Red Haired Girl from the Bog...more

Danú Perform a Dazzling Concert in Maple Ridge, B.C.

Danú has been described as the hottest Irish band on the festival circuit today, and it was easy to see why when they took to the stage at the ACT - the Maple Ridge...more

Great Big Sea: 'This Music is What Made us Unique'

Great Big Sea is one of Canada's best-selling artists with well over one million records sold in Canada. Their ninth release called The Hard And The Easy will be...more

CEOL AGUS CRAIC: Great Concerts for the Fall

Ceol binn a bhaint as an saol! It's hard to accept that the rainy season has come down upon us already. At least there are plenty of dances, sessions and concerts...more

Celtic Music Reviews

The latest offerings from the best in Celtic Music. This month featuring Great Big Sea, Margie Adam and Mick, Louise & Michelle Mulcahy...more

Interpretation of Irish Political History Through Protestant Eyes

AN ARMY WITH BANNERS: The Real Face of Orangeism

The long history of the Orange Order's parades, marches and demonstrations against Catholics is one of many themes in William Brown's fascinating recent book...more

Integrating Horses Into Healing for Drug and Alcohol Addiction

HORSES AND THE MYSTICAL PATH

A book about the expansion of the human soul, most notably through mysticism and integrated work with horses isn't the likeliest of books you'd imagine would...more

A Delight for Students of Celtic Folklore and Spirituality

YEARNING FOR THE WIND

"In Celtic folklore, there are tales of healing winds coming to cure an illness or revive the dead, or faery winds coming to calm and soothe a person or an animal."...more

Rogue Announces New Fall Line Up & Hosts CD Release Party

VANCOUVER - On August 29 the Rogue Folk Club held a reception at the Wolf and Hound to publicize their upcoming fall concert program and to announce the...more

CEOL AGUS CRAIC: Joy and Sorrow in the Music Scene

Ceol binn a bhaint as an saol! Though it was a fine summer for music and all the joy it brings, there was sorrow as well. The Vancouver music community lost one...more

Celtic Music Reviews

The latest offerings from the best in Celtic Music. This month featuring Tiller’s Folly , Mary Jane & Cleia...more

Collins Captures the Immaturity and Mayhem of Adolescence

THE GARDEN OF EDEN ALL OVER AGAIN

BComing of age stories have always fascinated me. Whether in literature or film, a good, well-written narrative can convey the confusion, isolation and pain of...more

The Lark in the Morning World Music and Dance Camp

MENDOCINO, CA – The Lark in the Morning World Music and Dance Camp - an eight day long celebration of music and dance - will be held from July 29 to August 6...more

CEOL AGUS CRAIC : Your Guide to Celtic Summer Music

Ceol binn a bhaint as an saol! There's heaps of fantastic music looming to see us through the summer months. All we need is the sun!...more

Celtic Music Reviews

The latest offerings from the best in Celtic Music. This month featuring Tartan TV, New Celeste & Mary Duff....more

Sharing an Uplifting Journey Down the Road of Discovery

STARS ABOVE THE ROAD By Treasa O'Driscoll

Our attraction to this book was for two reasons, one we loved the title Stars Above the Road as we knew with road and stars in the title it was about a journey...more

Scottish Supergroup Capercaillie to Make a Long-Awaited Return

VANCOUVER - Fans of Capercaillie will be delighted to learn that the Scottish supergroup will perform live at the Commodore Ballroom on August 11. Since hitting...more

Scottish Country Dancers Step Out at the Library

VANCOUVER - Dancing in a Library? It would seem an unlikely scenario - the raised eyebrows of irate readers being denied the expected silence, as lively...more

Ceili Irish Music and Dance Camp 2005

VANCOUVER - All things Irish are on the schedule at this year's annual Ceili Music and Dance Camp. Beginners to advanced levels are invited to join in lessons...more

Come Harp in the Mountains!
Cassandra Chowdhury Island Mountain Arts

WELLS, BC - From August 9 to 13, the Cariboo town of Wells, B.C. will become a harper’s paradise as students of all levels come to learn from three of...more

SFU Pipe Band Presents a Celtic Concert Series at SFU

VANCOUVER - Thus year is the 40th anniversary of Simon Fraser University, and the world-beating pipe band that carries its name has decided to do something...more

CeltFest 2005 to Celebrate Fifth Anniversary Of Celtic Magic

NANAIMO - Organizers of CeltFest, Vancouver Island's five-day celebration of Celtic music and dance are getting ready to welcome the world on their fifth...more

CEOL AGUS CRAIC : Your Guide to Celtic Summer Music

Ceol binn a bhaint as an saol! Here comes the summer! This is the season for beaches, BBQs, long warm evenings and music in the great outdoors. Here's your...more

Celtic Music Reviews

The latest offerings from the best in Celtic Music. This month featuring Lynch & Knill, The St. Patrick Regional Secondary Choirs and Sharon Shannon...more

U2 Treats Vancouver like the Chosen City

VANCOUVER - For a tour that began on less than perfect footing with too little rehearsal time, personal problems and a stressed out feeling that they simply weren't...more

U2: No Fatal Hesitation a Second Time

In the late Seventies, Dublin's economy was bustling and it was an opportune time to leave work, move from Wicklow to Glasnevin to complete an engineering...more

The Chieftains: Ireland’s Traditional Music Ambassadors in Seattle

SEATTLE - The internationally acclaimed Irish musical ambassadors The Chieftains, bring their traditional Celtic music to Seattle audiences on July 14 at The...more

A Wild Celtic Celebration at 'Last Night of the Proms'

VANCOUVER - After eight years of touring festivals and clubs on both sides of the Atlantic, Mad Pudding has developed a well-earned reputation for consistently...more

Tribute to Four Slain RCMP Officers Infused with a Haunting Celtic Sound

On March 3, the lives of four members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), were senselessly taken just outside the small community of Mayerthorpe...more

A Wickedly Dark Tale About Marriage, Adultery, Friendship and Manners

A WILD PEOPLE by Hugh Leonard

In an interview in the New York-based Irish Connections magazine, the Irish playwright and writer, Hugh Leonard, noted, “My life is every moment of my life. It is not...more

A Powerful Double Bill at Jewish Film Festival Draws Irish Audience

VANCOUVER - The 17th annual Vancouver Jewish Film Festival at the Norman Rothstein Theatre included two films of special interest to the Irish community...more

CEOL AGUS CRAIC: Eighteenth Birthday Bash for Rogue Folk Club

Ceol binn a bhaint as an saol! The fine folks at the Rogue Folk Club have plenty of cause for celebration at the minute. The club has its 18th birthday bash this...more

Celtic Music Reviews

The latest offerings from the best in Celtic Music. This month featuring Shona Le Mottée, Tiller’s Folly and Caledon & The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra...more

Celtic Music to Soothe Your Baby

VANCOUVER - A happy baby...a sometimes fussy baby...two moms (Amy Millar and Laura Cameron)...a well-known Irish musician...18 months of hard work. All this...more

CelticFest, Another Big Craic!

VANCOUVER - CelticFest 2005 was a great success on many levels. Granville Street came alive with CelticFest banners on the street light posts, posters and displays in...more

Monterey Celtic Arts Academy Launches New School of Piping

MONTEREY, CA - The Monterey Celtic Arts Academy is launching the Monterey Bay School of Piping which will be held from June 12 through June 17 at Stevenson School...more

CEOL AGUS CRAIC :
The Best Weather in the World and Some Great Local Music

Ceol binn a bhaint as an saol! How lucky we are to live here on the wet coast: the best weather in the country, heaps of great local musical talent and plenty of concerts by the...more

Celtic Music Reviews

The latest offerings from the best in Celtic Music. This month featuring Mutiny Gone Overboard, Three Row Barley & Altan...more

A Very Handy Resource for Celtic Folklore

CELTIC INSPIRATIONS

From the eye catching book jacket of green and gold with Celtic design, Celtic Inspirations, can be judged by it's cover. It is a beautiful little book of Celtic treasures that...more

New Irish Reference Source for Genealogists

COUNTY LONGFORD RESIDENTS PRIOR TO THE FAMINE

Millions of people worldwide can find their roots in Ireland and a new reference work published by Dome Shadow Press belongs in every Irish genealogy collection...more

Writer Offers Great Insight Into the People and the Land

LAMBING SEASON IN IRELAND: Tales of a Vet's Wife

As the title says Lambing Season in Ireland, written by Maria Coffey, is a novel recounting her experience during such a period of time on the rugged south_west coast...more

Truth About Human Foibles Captured in Short Stories

AFTER RAIN

Arguably one of the best contemporary Irish writers of the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries, William Trevor never fails, in his usual lucid style, to capture the truth about...more

Irish Writing Retreat to Inspire Body, Mind and Spirit

A Writing Retreat in Ireland designed for fledgling writers will be offered from June 19-25. Your are invited to join authors Treasa O'Driscoll and Merle Levin on a journey...more

North American Convention of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann:
A Great Weekend of Singing, Dancing, and Music

OTTAWA - The North American Convention of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann will be held at the Ottawa Marriott Hotel from March 31 to April 3. This event is a great gathering of...more

Canadian Celtic Harp Workshop Accommodates All Levels

VANCOUVER - The fifth Annual Celtic Harp Workshop will once again take place in metro Vancouver (Coquitlam). The weekend program of the June 4 and 5 workshop is...more

Michael Cronin of Killarney Says Apprenticeship in Irish Showband
The Best Experience for Young Musicians

VANCOUVER - Michael Cronin's world is music, his day job is music and his night job is making music. Cronin is the manager of the Long and McQuade Music Store...more

CEOL AGUS CRAIC: The Mid-March Madness is Upon us Again!

By ERIN MULLAN

Ceol binn a bhaint as an saol!......Mid-March is the busiest time of the year for Irish establishments the world over so whatever your destination be sure to get there...more

Celtic Music Reviews

The latest offerings from the best in Celtic Music. This month featuring Celtic Woman, The Wheat In The Barley & Dublin City Ramblers...more

A Night in November:
An Emotionally Charged Play by a Belfast Playwright

VANCOUVER - Dublin-born actor Frank Talbot will be part of the CelticFest celebrations when he presents his amazingly powerful two-and-a-half-hour one man show, entitled...more

Most Recent Book Completes Trilogy for Writer Brendan Gillen

Writer Brendan Gillen's third book Moving On: More Irish Stew for the Loveless, completes a trilogy which he has written since the breakup of his marriage. His first two are...more

Celtic Wedding Traditions Detailed in New Book

VANCOUVER - For many Celtic brides and grooms, it is important to incorporate something of their culture into the ceremony or dress on that very special day in their lives...more

Second Novel in Doyle Trilogy, Disappointing and Unconvincing

In the fall of 1999 Roddy Doyle was a guest of the Vancouver International Writers Festival. He had just published the brilliant novel, A Star Called Henry, the first part of The Last...more

Enjoy French-Canadian 'Joie de Vivre' With a Celtic Flavour

COQUITLAM - For the past 16 years, one of the highlights of the festival season is the annual Festival du Bois held at Blue Mountain Park in March. Traditional and folk music...more

CEOL AGUS CRAIC : Spring is Dancing in the Wings With Some Amazing Music

Ceol binn a bhaint as an saol! Winter's had its wicked way with us and spring is dancing in the wings. February brings some amazing Irish music to chase the last of the winter...more

Celtic Music Reviews

The latest offerings from the best in Celtic Music. This month featuring Alan James-Carr, Edith Wallace, Fairport Convention...more

New Patrick Taylor Book: "James Herriot for Humans"

The Apprenticeship of Doctor Laverty

The Apprenticeship of Doctor Laverty is the third novel for Northern Ireland-born author Patrick Taylor, who has previously published Pray For Us Sinners and Only Wounded...more

Local Music Composer Scores with Scottish Musicians

VANCOUVER - Scottish-born Mike Paul has written numerous musical compositions and he is thrilled by the response to one of his recent compositions. The composition...more

CEOL AGUS CRAIC: Make the World a Little Brighter With a Donation to Help Others

By ERIN MULLAN

Ceol binn a bhaint as an saol! If the looming end of another year makes you feel the urge to do a little something to make the world a bit brighter, why not make a donation to...more

Celtic Music Reviews

The latest offerings from the best in Celtic Music. This month featuring The Real McKenzies, Spirit Of The West & Celtic Circle 3...more