I thought I’d post a slideshow of some of the photographs that I’ve taken of Dublin Bay, which have been quite popular on Facebook this year. For full screen best effect, click on the title of the post and allow the carousel to move forward by itself. If you save down and use one of these photos, please credit and link my site, thanks. Happy New Year to all!
Really looking forward to the “Finding a Voice” special evening on Thurs, 8th December at 18:30, when author, poet and playwright Dermot Bolger hosts an evening of readings and music at The National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Dublin.
The event celebrates Dermot’s 2016 writer’s residency, a collaborative project set up by the Museum’s 1916 Public Entertainment Programme and Poetry Ireland, which saw a series of events entitled “Finding A Voice” take place throughout the year. Combining workshop, panel discussion, lectures and readings, these afternoons were a pleasure for all – both the writers who read and spoke at them, and the participants – often first time writers – who benefitted from the series.
Elsewhere at the museum, the centenary is celebrated by “Proclaiming a Republic – The 1916 Rising” – a splendid exhibition in the Riding School venue at Collins Barracks – a visit to which would be more than worthwhile on Thursday afternoon, before the reading in .
With this aspect of the 1916-2016 centenary celebrations in mind, Dermot asked me to join in the final event, not only as a writer (I’ll read from my book, “Ferenji“), but also as the Granddaughter of the 1916 rebel Jimmy Mulkerns, who fought at the Four Courts during the Rising, and who then spent eight hard months incarcerated at Frongoch Prison Camp, along with almost 2,000 other Irish rebels.
My grandfather, a fine actor and tenor who had his own touring theatre troupe, was part of the “Amusements Committee” that set up the weekly entertainment evenings in Frongoch camp, along with some of the other prisoners involved in the theatre or the entertainment field of the day, who fought in the rebellion.
At the time, there were at least three theatres in operation in Dublin – the posh new Abbey Theatre, founded by Yeats and Lady Gregory, the more popular Queens Theatre, and several other music hall style venues – including the old Empire Palace Theatre (now The Olympia). It wasn’t surprising that a number of the rebels were also entertainers and actors. To keep up the spirits of the men, they organised a little cabaret/seisúin each Friday evening.Their efforts included the presentation of music, original drama as well as skits and satire.
Jimmy Mulkerns served in the role of Master of Ceremonies and satirical songster at these evenings, earning the nickname “The Rajah of Frongoch” in playful reference to the exotic costumes he would derive from curtains, rags or donations from women of the local Welsh community. The Rajah was the inspiration for my own entertainment evening, The Cáca Milis Cabaret, at which Dermot Bolger has been a much appreciated participant on several occasions.
So this Thursday evening promises to be a lively and enjoyable event, with the participation of those who have attended Dermot’s excellent workshops through the year since March and from literary friends, as well as a few songs to remember those who might have fought in the area in or around what is now the National Museum, Collins Barracks, in 1916.
For more fun stuff, click the links:
www.DermotBolger.com
National Museum of Ireland 1916 Public Event Programme
The daughter of the Rajah of Frongoch Val Mulkerns, visits the location of the camp, 2016 (by Maev Kennedy)
With thanks to Matthew Lloyd for the links to his fascinating website on old music halls and theatres:
http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/
It was such a wonderful surprise to open the Irish Times today, and find my book mentioned by one of my favourite short story writers, Nuala O’Connor, as one of her “Favourite Books of 2016”. The full article is filled with great recommendations for Christmas presents, 2016 – check it out at this link:
Nuala says: “Ferenji is the debut short story collection of Helena Mulkerns, a former press officer with the United Nations. The stories concern both aid workers’ and locals’ stories and are humane and graphic. Beautifully written and topical, this book is a heartbreaking look at the realities of post-war lives.”
BACK TO BLOG
Friday, 16 DecemberNow in its 7th year, Cabaret hosts Helena Mulkerns and Josh Johnston are always happy to return to the Cáca Milis alma mater, The Wexford Arts Centre. This time around, Mulkerns, fresh from the success of her own fiction debut, “Ferenji” (on sale at The Wexford Book Centre) is excited to present both new and long-standing Cabaret performers.
The evening will kick off with some tributes to the ones that got away this year, including Bowie, Cohen and Prince, and then there will be high drama as dancers Ellina Shmarkovska and Andrew Green perform some sensual Argentinian Tango and Milonga. We’re delighted to welcome Natalia Cullen, a popular chanteuse in the Russian Irish community, joined by musician Des Kiely for some smooth vocals and jazz guitar.
Readers may be most familiar with the fine singer songwriter Gar Cox through his wonderful song, “Too Late For Christmas” and its yule time reflections of an Irish person living abroad issued last year. He’ll sing it (and more) tonight. To provide some literary thrills, author Cat Hogan will read from her best-selling book, “They All Fall Down”. And to rev up the night, don’t miss the much-anticipated performers Aileen Mythen and KJ McEvoy – otherwise known as The Remedy Club, one of Wexford’s hottest blues/rock duos.
Then: the movie! For your entertainment pleasure, we present My Life For Ireland the brilliant and hilarious story of a young Irish man willing to fight for his country. Directed by Kieron J. Walsh and written by Patrick McDonnell, it gives the 1916 commemerations a whole new take… Following that there’s a last minute Christmas surprise as the inimitable Mr Eoin Colfer, along with cast members from the upcoming production NOËL, will present a song from the show, playing from 19-23 December at the Wexford Opera House.
Wexfordian Seán Kiley’s original poetry and short fiction, already published in several anthologies and reviews, has made him a man to look out for in Wexford letters. He’ll be reading live for the first time on Friday night and is sure to receive a warm welcome.
Top of the night the audience can expect a treat as the compelling artist known as The Late David Turpin takes to the stage. His work could be described as a sort of superlative fusion of mood, fantasy, glam and techno. Performing with a visually stunning multi-media edge, it’s not surprising that David is involved both in music and in film. His first feature screenplay, “The Lodgers” is currently in production.
Finally, work by all on the bill will be available to purchase from the artists themselves, and audience members may well get some DVDs or books for their Christmas stockings this year among the grand raffle prizes. You’ll also be able to purchase your copy of “Ferenji” by Helena Mulkerns, and of course the Cáca Milis anthology “Red Lamp Black Piano.”
Show starts at 9:00 pm sharp – so get there early, as seating is limited, or book ahead at:
www.wexfordartscentre.ie / phone 053-912-3764 Also see: www.cacamilis.org
And for more on your Cabaret hosts: www.HelenaMul.com / www.JoshJohnston.com
The Irish Independent newspaper asked Irish Writers for their “top book picks” of 2016 for the Christmas Eve issue, and it was great to see Dermot Bolger giving the heads up to Ferenji in his input. Click here or on the image below for details.
He notes: “It is also lovely when a writer whose stories you have read with pleasure for years finally collects them in an overdue debut, and I was very taken with Helena Mulkerns’ Ferenji (Doire Press) where she mines her experiences as someone working in remote, dangerous regions with the United Nations to create short fictions which are finely written and astutely observed, in terms of the human heart and of the physical terrain they skilfully traverse.”
