9 December 2022
Irish-Australian Culture Roundup
9/12/2022
This month’s IFF culture roundup features Bono, Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Áine Tyrrell, Kilkenny’s own Cartoon Saloon AND the winners of the Film Festival Audience Feedback prizes. All this plus a diary of upcoming Irish culture vulture events and a chance to win some Irish Christmas spirits from Artisan Ireland.
Has Bono found what he’s looking for?
I first saw U2 perform at lunchtime in Trinity College in Dublin in 1978 for the princely admission price of 30 Pence. 177 million album sales later and Bono is not only the biggest rock star that Ireland has ever produced but he counts Ex – Presidents Clinton and Obama as close friends and is as well-known for his activism as he is for his music. In this biography entitled “Surrender”, Bono reveals much about his relationship with his dad but the biggest revelation for me was how much religion still plays in his life. Details of his memoir are here.
A recent review of the book by Bono’s old friend and UK journo, Mariella Frostrup is here.
What is the place of Irish artists in Australia?
Irish born and NSW based musician, Áine Tyrrell has written a powerful polemic about the place of Irish artists in Australia. In her Open Letter Áine expands on the difficulties of playing music in Australia and the dangers of being pigeon-holed as an ethnic musician. Áine says, “This is the conversation I’ve wanted to have for 10 years of playing music in “so-called Australia” and around the world as an “Irish act” This is at every layer of the “Australian music industry” and many others around the world.”
Her full video is here and it does contain strong language.
https://www.facebook.com/AineTyrrellMusic/videos/3286317291623880
Áine Tyrrell and the Country Witches Association celebrate the Winter Solstice at
Murwillumbah in the Northern Rivers on 22/12/22. Details here.
Father Ted meets the Quiet Man! – The Irish Times verdict on ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’
The Irish Times has written an in depth review of dark comedy ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ saying “Gleeson and Farrell play off one another in a perfect complement — sulky gorilla opposite enthusiastic puppy — that, as awards season kicks up a gear, has been entertaining premiere audiences on both red carpets and inside the auditorium”.
Read the full review:
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/review/2022/10/21/the-banshees-of-inisherin-review-gleeson-and-farrell-in-perfect-complement/
The Banshees of Inisherin will be released in Palace Cinemas around Australia on Dec 26th.
https://www.palacecinemas.com.au/movies/the-banshees-of-inisherin
“I grew up thinking it would be terribly tragic if I stayed in Kilkenny my whole life”, Tomm Moore.
A very heart-warming article about Kilkenny’s wonderful Cartoon Saloon animation company and its idiosyncratic founder, Tomm Moore, taken from the New Yorker magazine.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/12/21/cartoon-saloon-and-the-new-golden-age-of-animation
The new Cartoon Saloon animated film My Father’s Dragon is now available on Netflix.
Featuring the voices of Gaten Matarazzo (Stranger Things), Chris O’Dowd (Moone Boy, The IT Crowd) and Whoopi Goldberg. From five-time Academy Award-nominated animation studio Cartoon Saloon (“The Secret of Kells”, “Song of the Sea”, “Wolfwalkers”) and Academy Award-nominated director Nora Twomey (“The Breadwinner”), comes an exquisite film inspired by the Newbery-honored children’s book from author Ruth Stiles Gannett. Struggling to cope after a move to the city with his mother, Elmer runs away in search of Wild Island and a young dragon who waits to be rescued. Elmer’s adventures introduce him to ferocious beasts, a mysterious island and the friendship of a lifetime.
Watch Here
Irish Film Festival Audience Feedback prizes
Thanks to everyone who gave us feedback on the festival in our post-festival survey. Congrats to Dee Freeman who wins a bottle of Dingle Gin and a mixed case of O’Hara stubbies from Artisan Ireland. And congrats to Kimberley O’ Sullivan who wins a Taste Ireland ‘Joyce Red Wine Hamper’.
Win an Artisan Ireland Deluxe Gift Pack
This is your chance to win an exclusive Artisan Ireland gift pack featuring some of Ireland’s finest craft beers and spirits. The lucky winner will receive a 700ml bottle of the multi award-winning Dingle Gin, a 700ml bottle of Dingle Vodka and a 700ml bottle of the extraordinary Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur along with a selection of O’Hara’s Nitro Red Ale and Nitro Stout cans.
Artisan Ireland is an independent company dedicated to bringing the best of Irish Craft Beers and Spirits to the Australian market so please check out their website https://artisanireland.com.au/ and keep them in mind for any corporate gifting solutions. Please click on this link to enter the Artisan Ireland competition.
Sláinte!
TASTE IRELAND CHRISTMAS SALE
Nollaig shona duit! The festive season is brewing and what better way to indulge your nostalgia for home than with a hand-picked selection of your favourite Irish Christmas goodies? Recreate all your Christmas memories – except the snow!
Christmas | Shop Now – Taste Ireland
Romani-Gypsy Christmas at the Gaelic Club
Join Romani singer Sarah Bedak and her rocking 8 piece gypsy band, Lolo Lovina, for a very raucous Christmas Party at the Gaelic Club on Thursday, December 15th. There will be rajika (fruit brandy) from the Balkans and burek (beef pie) from Serbia to get you in the mood for dancing to the infectious tunes of Lolo!
GRAB YOUR TICKETS THROUGH HUMANITIX: https://events.humanitix.com/lolo-lovina-s-christmas-show…
‘An Cailín Ciúin’
The well-received Irish language film ‘An Cailín Ciúin’ (The Quiet Girl) is making its way on to Australian streaming platforms.
The film is currently available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play or Fetch TV.
Music News
Our friends at Troubadour presents have some exciting shows on sale so head over to www.troubadourpresents.com and grab a ticket.
Marty Mone and Grace Petrie are both returning on tour to Australia in January 2023.
IFF T-shirt solves the Christmas Present conundrum
Finally, if you are stuck for a present for Christmas, don’t forget you can order an Irish Film Festival 2022 ‘ET Fón Abhaile’ iconic t-shirt through our website and send it anywhere in Australia for the princely sum of $30! Hand printed in hipster Marrickville. Christmas present for granny is solved!
https://irishfilmfestival.com.au/merchandise/
We would like to wish all of the Irish Film Festival supporters a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Nollaig shona agus athblian faoi mhaise díobh go léir!
Enda Murray
Director Irish Film Festival
