The Nest

Joe Ruane, a playwright, is working on a play dealing with some very difficult material. He also has a business "Old Things New," where he refurbishes furniture and antiques.

He will be moving with his family to San Francisco soon (from Castlebar, County Mayo) to start a new life. The play that he is finishing now is called "The Nest." His previous plays are "There's Nobody Mad Here," "Marty's Shot" and "Sin." Lots more to come.

Birthday Bash for Artist and Poet

Actually, it was a mild but joyous affair in honor of the birthdays of a profound Irish poet, Jean O'Brien, and a multi-dimensional visual artist from Texas, Dixie Friend Gay. If you click on each of their names, you will find more information about them. Dixie's website, which displays her astounding art, also contains a blog with some photographs from Annamakherrig.

Strange Migrations

Today, I stayed somewhat close to my room and my work, with fewer walks and wanderings. But there is a little get-together tonight before dinner at the cottage of the director, Pat Donlon. We'll also be celebrating the birthday of two of the artists here, who were both born on this day. I'm going to try to post something about them and their work as a birthday present to them. For some reason, I'm having trouble doing so right now--and also explaining the title to this blog. All will have to wait as I have clothes in the dryer to collect and an invitation to a party that I need to attend.

Red Is the Color

There are lots of red windows, doors, signs--and even trees in Ireland.




Here you'll see a gate at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre with the detail of a human hand. Also, there's a picture of a pub (I haven't been in one yet!) in Monaghan, and below it a picture of my friend Elizabeth Greisman, a visual artist from Ontario, standing outside her studio here at the Centre. I'm going to do a blog posting on Elizabeth and her work soon. But meanwhile, I'm going for a walk. The meals are delicious here. And a walk after dinner, with the light still glorious, is the perfect aid to the digestion. Also, there are lots of cows and sheep who contribute to the scenery along the way.

Attraction of the Marvelous

This year is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Olivier Messiaen. It seems that everywhere I turn, I hear about a concert or about some of his music, which was eloquently described by Anthony Tomassini in the NY Times earlier this year (6 April 2008). The names of his works are poetic enough, such as "Quartet for the End of Time" and "Des Canyons aux Etoiles" ("From the Canyons to the Stars")--not to mention his lifelong passion for birdcalls. He loved Shakespeare, fairy tales, and the Bible, all of which he described as having the "attraction of the marvelous." Hence the title of this post.

And now, Therese Fahy (pianist), one of the fellow residents here at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, is preparing for a major concert of his work: "Reveil des Oiseaux," with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland this coming October. Her concert of Messiaen's works last spring got an excellent review from the The Irish Times (click on the title of this post, then scroll down to read it). She is practicing six or more hours a day, but still has time to go on an occasional walk after dinner with me, Romeo the cat, and others.

(Afterthought: additional Messiaen music material referred to in the NYTimes, "A Taste for the Natural and Celestial," about the recent release by Naive of a 6 CD boxed set of recordings.)

Walking 'Round Ireland

Today, as every day so far, I've gone on several walks. The landscape in Ireland is, as they say, picturesque, and the people enchanting. I met a man by the name of Brian Anderson down the road. He claims to be a brother of Prince Charles and brought out the family "picture album" to prove his point--a coffee table book of the royal family. I was actually able to tape his voice using my iPhone, but I haven't figured out how to get it on my blog yet.

Romeo, the Annamakherrig cat, likes to follow people on their walks. If you are enjoying going along this Irish journey with Romeo and me, you might like Round Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawks. By clicking to the title of this posting, you can read more about this philosophical meandering occasioned by a refrigerator.

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"I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in."

--John Muir

My new friend at Annamakhrerrig, Brendan Cleary

You can watch Brendan read three of his poems by clicking on the title above. He's watching me enter this on my blog right now. Tomorrow I will post some additional pictures of other poets, writers, artists, and musicians.

Buddha of Suburbia

Meanwhile, back at home, Sean is reading "The Buddha of Suburbia" by Hanif Kureishi. Read about him (Kureshi not Sean) by clicking on the title to this post

A Room of Her Own

This title, taken from Virginia Woolf's famous novel, refers to my room at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre. Where I am staying is located on the 2nd floor. You can see the windows on the left side of the house. I have two other windows around the corner, hence the wonderful light and scenic views. Tomorrow I will take some pictures of a few of the artists here, some of them quite famous. It's a very sociable group. Staying in a house like this offers less solitude than at the Hambidge Center, but no bears or ghosts (yet!).

New Bliss!

A slide show from some of the sights and sounds of my very first day at Annaghmakerrig, near Newbliss Ireland. I'll add more photos as time goes on.

Luck of the Irish!

This is a picture of a glass of champagne I was offered when I got upgraded to Business Elite on my way to Ireland. As a result of the upgrade, I enjoyed a 4 course meal as well as a very comfortable reclining chair and unlimited wine. I slept well on the flight, needless to say.

We arrived early in Dublin; I caught an earlier bus than expected to Monaghan; and took a taxi from Monaghan to the outskirts of Newbliss where the Tyrone Guthrie Centre is located. In fact, I arrived in time for Sunday dinner with the other residents here and have taken a long walk. Off to an excellent start on my Irish adventure.

Kay Ryan: New U.S. Poet Laureate

A new poet laureate remarks that "Poetry should leave you feeling freer and not more burdened . . . . I like to think of all good poetry as providing more oxygen in the atmosphere. Poems just make it easier to breathe."

I'll Fly Away

In just a few days I'll be in Ireland, after a lot of planning, thinking, and creating a blog. Listen to Allison Krauss sing "I'll Fly Away" by clicking on the title to this post. You can sing along with us, if you'd like.

My Family and the Dalai Lama (not!)

Look carefully at this picture. We are seated on the bench in Winter Park, Florida, dedicated to my father in celebration of his 90th birthday. Except none of us were actually on the bench together. My friend Randy, who is a magician, captured this ephemeral (and non-existent) moment for us. Now, it's a favorite picture in the family archives. We think the Dalai Lama likes hanging out with us, too, as an example of "the art of happiness."

U-2: Wild Irish Rose

Well, here's a commentary on Wild Irish Rose by U-2. Now, this is quite a find. I'm figuring out some of the links here.

Pavarotti in Milan, 1979

Thanks to Pierre Ruhe, music critic of the AJC, I've found Pavarotti on You Tube! Keep following the sequence once you click on the title link (above) to get there.

"Everyone's Story is a Part of Everyone Else's"

I've had the pleasure of spending some time with Salman Rushdie during his visits to Emory. In fact, we even took a road trip together to visit Milledgeville, home of Flannery O'Connor, and various points in between. Here are some photos of our time together, even before he won the Booker of Booker of Bookers.

To see My Playlist, click here.

I haven't figured out this music link entirely, but you can see my playlist in Last.fm by clicking on the title (above). Try listening to "My Wild Irish Rose" by Keith Jarrett. It's lovely!

Annamakherrig: Tyrone Guthrie Centre

Here is where I'll be going in Ireland. Send me a message!

Seamus Heaney

Click on his name (above) to get to Seamus Heaney's website. I think I'm making some progress here.

“If you have a strong first world and a strong set of relationships then in some part of you you are always free, you can walk the world because you know where you belong, you have some place to come back to.”
--Seamus Heaney (Magherafelt Civic Reception January 1996)

I may have the opportunity to meet with and interview Seamus Heaney while in Ireland. I'll definitely make note of this experience in a blog post.

True Blog

It is time to turn this experiment into a true blog rather than primarily a picture album. I wonder how I do that since I never even read blogs. Anybody out there have some good blog recommendations? Maybe I should start with a map of the world, of all the places I've visited or am planning to visit. I will have to figure that out. First, I'm going to try to link some music to my site. Surely there is a way to do that. Stay tuned!

Some Fellow Travelers: Family and Friends . . .

"I am a Berliner"

Thomas Jefferson Award 2008. Represents many paths I have pursued.

Click on the title link (above) to read more about this journey.

This is where I started. Home sweet home.

Then There Was Hawaii (2006)!

Our 30th Anniversary . . .

Here are some family travel slide shows, hither and yon.

This is not a slide show. It's Sean*2+Ron.

See below.

" A Day in Lucknow with Rebecca"--link has been discontinued!

Rebecca

Savannah Dreams: Isle of Hope

Every Picture Tells a Story

I wonder how to include photos in my blog.

I am seeking new places to find myself.