0434 - "Ceol agus Craic" A St. Patrick's Day Celebration
Course Description
Join us for a lively presentation of Irish music, song, history and literature.
FEATURING
Aideen O’Donnell – professional harpist, singer, and teacher
Recognized for her dedication and excellence in music, Ms O’Donnell began her career as a professional musician after studying in Ireland and teaching for several years. Originally inspired by her mother, who was involved in speech and drama, she celebrates 20 years in the music industry as a critically acclaimed harpist and vocalist. Her distinctive voice and musicianship on the Concert Harp creates a powerful musical sound providing audiences with an original and memorable performance. A critically acclaimed performer, she has showcased her talents at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Ms. O’Donnell has collaborated with notable artists and performed for dignitaries. She is a two-time winner of the All-Ireland Harp Competition and holds a Bachelor of Arts from the College of St Elizabeth. She is a member of the American Harp Society and the Irish American Cultural Institute, and plans to continue her solo work, teaching, and music education.(Includes morning coffee and lunch)
PROGRAM AGENDA
Morning Coffee & Welcome
Ireland: The World’s Literary Powerhouse
Maureen Dunphy Brady, MA, NYU
Ireland is internationally recognized for its gifted writers and literary accomplishments, an impressive achievement considering the country’s size and population. This was not always the case. Explore how this small nation revived its native voice while under British rule and discover how contemporary Ireland nurtures its next generation of writers to actively preserve its cultural heritage.
Yeats & Heaney: “Held In Devout Reverence”
Patrick McGowan, MA, Montclair State University
Over 400 years ago an English nobleman characterized Ireland as a place where “poets are held in a devout reverence.”Jump ahead in time and join us in celebrating the two most “revered” Irish poets of the 20th and 21st centuries, Nobel Prize winners William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) and Seamus Heaney (1939-2013). We will also consider some of the trends in modern and contemporary Irish poetry, including the current state of Irish verse, “post-Heaney.”
Lunch
Music & Song: A Conversation With Aideen O’Donnell And Irish historian, Henry McNally
Musical Renditions performed by Aideen O’Donnell
The Irish Arts Center in NYC has generously agreed to donate books as part of their Annual Book Giveaway to all attendees at this “lifelong learning” event.