Championship dancer Tristan MacManus: Irish addition to ‘Dancing With The Stars’

By R.J. Donovan, Special to the Reporter
July 5, 2011
R.J. Donovan, Special to the Reporter

By R. J. Donovan
Special to The BIR

Fans of ABC-TV’s “Dancing With The Stars” may have noticed that a good-looking young Irishman joined the show this past season as a member of The Dance Troupe. His name is Tristan MacManus, but what not everyone may know is that he taught dancing here in Boston several years ago.

Overheard at the Eire Pub

By BostonIrish.com... (not verified)
July 5, 2011

By James W. Dolan
Special to the Reporter

“The Republicans want to cut spending to reduce the budget deficit,” says Michael, “but they refuse to consider tax increases.”

“You can be sure the reductions will affect the likes of us,” says Rory, “they’ll be going after Medicare, Social Security, public works projects, research, and education.”

Social Club closing not yet a done deed

Ed Forry
By Ed Forry
July 5, 2011

By Ed Forry

The story of the closing of the Irish Social Club (ISC) in West Roxbury apparently has several chapters still to be written.
The facility, located in a converted bowling alley on Park Street, just off busy Centre Street, had for years been a wildly successful venue for Irish social events, in particular the Sunday evening dances that at their peak attracted hundreds to the site.

McIlroy, hero in Belfast, dons US Open golf crown

By Staff
July 5, 2011

Rory McIlroy AP PhotoRory McIlroy AP PhotoThe Irish Emigrant

GALWAY – Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland was the big story late in the month as commentators tried to grapple with the dominance of his success in the US Open golf championship held at the Congressional Country Club near Washington the third week of June.He dominated the media when he arrived at Belfast City Airport on Tuesday night, June 21, and when he appeared at the Hollywood clubhouse the following day.

Cultural Council’s grants help ensure that Irish traditions will endure

By Staff
July 5, 2011

Emerald Rae and Kieran Jordan, beneficiaries of Mass. Cultural GrantsEmerald Rae and Kieran Jordan, beneficiaries of Mass. Cultural Grants Sean Smith
Special to the BIR

Even when she was a little girl, Lowell native Natalya Kay Trudeau knew that she wanted to play Irish music—to the point of fairly exasperating her classical violin teacher. “I started out playing classical, but as I got better I tried to teach myself Irish music,” recalls Trudeau, now a high school student, who drew inspiration from her fiddle-playing grandfather. “I don’t think my teacher liked it very much when I’d come in with some jig or reel and ask him to teach it to me instead of a piece by Bach or Vivaldi.”

Fortunately, Trudeau eventually found a fiddle teacher in Laurel Martin, who helped her to develop her childhood interest for Irish traditional music into a full-fledged passion. But just when Trudeau thought things with Martin couldn’t get any better, they did.

Last year, Trudeau and Martin were awarded a Massachusetts Cultural Council Traditional Arts Apprenticeship grant, which enabled them to set up a far more comprehensive and intensive program of study in Irish fiddle for Trudeau. In the months to follow, Trudeau would go beyond learning tunes and develop a greater appreciation for regional styles of fiddle, particularly the County Clare style favored by Martin, influential musicians in Irish tradition, and other aspects of the music.

Update: Boston College Moves to Quash Subpoena of IRA Interviews

By BostonIrish.com... (not verified)
June 10, 2011

By Michael Caprio
Special to the BIR

Boston College announced Wednesday that it will fight a subpoena from British authorities demanding that the university hand over protected interviews with former IRA members.

University spokesperson Jack Dunn said in a statement that the release of the tapes could threaten the safety of the living IRA participants and the ongoing peace process in Northern Ireland.

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