May 2024
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Get a “Flavor Hit” of Spring With this Asparagus Recipe
Imported asparagus spears are available all year round, but there’s nothing to beat the flavor and texture of those locally grown in its short spring season: in Ireland, traditionally beginning on April 23 and ending on Midsummer Day. Although its delicate flavor and seasonality make it highly desirable in the kitchen, asparagus is much more than just a pretty vegetable: it’s long been recognized as a good source of dietary fiber and is high in […] Read More
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“Foster” … a Quiet Tour de Force
“Foster,” a novella by Irish writer Claire Keegan, set in rural Ireland, was the inspiration for the award-winning movie “The Quiet Girl”—in Irish, “An Cailín Ciúin,” a 2022 Irish coming of age drama written and directed by Colm Bairead in his feature film debut. Keegan’s novella is narrated through the eyes of a 9-year-old girl. She is one of many siblings in a household with few amenities and another baby on the way, with an overwhelmed mother and a somewhat disinterested father. […] Read More
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Love’s Labors Won: The Philadelphia Fleadh
Photo: Chrissy and CJ Mills, Fleadh organizers. Photographer: Tom Keenan The Philadelphia Fleadh—a one-day extravaganza of Celtic rock bands and trad muscians—has become so well known worldwide that organizer CJ Mills gets dozens of requests from international bands asking to perform. He always says no. Is this man crazy? Not really. He’s just a real hometown guy. “All of our bands are local,” says Mills who has played fiddle with several bands in the area. “They’re […] Read More