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Solas Nua Capital Irish Film Festival starts tonight!
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Solas Nua, contemporary Irish Arts group are proud to present the new and improved Capital Irish Film Festival, taking place in downtown Washington D.C. from Thursday 5 December to Sunday 8 December.
Get the holiday season off to a hilarious start with the comedy Life's a Breeze, starring Pat Shortt and Fionnula Flanagan. Learn more about Bernadette Devlin, the young radical socialist from Northern Ireland who captured the world's attention in 1969 when at 21 she was elected to the British Parliament at the screening of the documentary Bernadette: Notes on a Political Journey and discussion afterwards with Director Lelia Doolan. Bring the kids along to the special screening of children's films! And lots, lots more!
Full programme, ticket info, etc., available here.
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Fancy Dancing!
The Maple Academy of Irish dance will host the Southern Regional Oireachtas ( Irish dancing championships) at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, MD, from Friday 6 to Sunday 8 December. Come and watch the best dancers from across the region compete for the title!
Full programme, venue info etc available here.
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Solas Nua Book Club
This Monday, 9 December, the Solas Nua Book Club will discuss Donal Ryan's The Spinning Heart, a set of interlocking short stories set in modern Ireland. "Wry, vulnerable, all-too human, it captures the language and spirit of rural Ireland and with uncanny perception articulates the words and thoughts of a generation. Technically daring and evocative of Patrick McCabe and J.M. Synge, this novel of small-town life is witty, dark and sweetly poignant." (Amazon UK)
The Spinning Heart has just won the Guardian First Book Award and was longlisted for the 2013 Man Booker Prize and chosen as the Irish Book Awards book of the year in 2012.
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Dublin 5 in Concert
Dublin 5 (formerly the Rovers) perform at Rams Head on Stage in Annapolis, MD on Friday December 13th. Catch this popular band before it sells out!
For more information click here.
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Are ye dancin'?
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann will host a céilí
(Irish dance social) with potluck dinner on December 14 at Frying Pan Park Visitor's Center, Herndon VA. There will be a short lesson at 7pm for the uninitiated (and maybe the initiated!) with céilí following at 7:30. Music by the Bog Wanderers Ceili Band & Friends.
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Rock the Gardens!
The 40 Thieves play Irish Rock at the US Botanic Gardens on Thursday 26 December.
For more info here.
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A new year, a new language
What's your New Year's resolution? Why not make it learning Irish? Let's Learn Irish begin a new term of classes on 7 January. Come enjoy this ancient and beautiful language! Early bird rates are available until December 18th.
For more information, click here.
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Danú: Christmas in Ireland:
An Nollaig in Éirinn
Enjoy a Celtic Christmas celebration straight from the Emerald Isle. Hailing from County Waterford, Danú performs traditional Irish music of the season in a very special holiday treat for young and old alike. This award-winning group is one of today's leading Irish bands with a large worldwide following due to its authentic and spirited performances, mastery of traditional Celtic instruments, and striking vocals. Bring the entire family out for high-spirited festivity featuring traditional Irish songs and Christmas carols. "Danú stirs the blood and lifts the heart." (Irish Music Magazine)
The show is scheduled for December 6, 2013 at 8:00 pm.
More information on show times and tickets can be found here.
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Tweet Tweet!
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For up to the minute Embassy news, follow us on Twitter:
@IrelandEmbUSA
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Season's Greetings!
Ambassador Anne Anderson and all the staff at the Embassy of Ireland would like to wish our friends "Nollaig shona" (Merry Christmas) and "athbhliain faoi mhaise" (happy new year). We're looking forward to an exciting 2014 full of new Irish events!
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John Banville's The Sea
 | | The Sea (2013) - Trailer |
On Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 December The American Film Institute will screen The Sea, a film adaptation of John Banville's Man Booker Prize winning novel of the same name, starring Ciarán Hinds, Natascha McElhorne, Rufus Sewell, Charlotte Rampling and Sinéad Cusack. The screening is part of the AFI's European Union Film showcase which runs from 5 to 22 December - enjoy the best of European cinema, without the jetlag!
For more information, click here.
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Tons of Tenors!
The Celtic Tenors, Matthew Gilsenan, James Nelson and Daryl Simpson, will perform at Maryland Live! Casino on Friday December 6th, bringing some holiday cheer with their latest recording, "The Celtic Tenors Christmas". More information here.
The Irish Tenors, Finbar Wright, Anthony Kearns, and Ronan Tynan, will perform 2 special holiday concerts on Saturday 21 December at The Music Centre, Strathmore MD. You'll find "a full measure of joy" (Las Vegas Review-Journal) in this concert that combines The Irish Tenors' greatest hits with holiday classics. For more info, click here.
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Bah Humbug!
Back by popular demand! The Keegan Theatre of Washington DC presents An Irish Carol by Matthew Keenan from 13 to 31 December. The play, a modern interpretation of the Dickens' classic, A Christmas Carol, premiered in 2011 to sold out houses and rave reviews. An Irish Carol follows one evening in the life of David, a wealthy pub owner who has distanced himself from others and lost touch with his own humanity in the interest of self protection and material success. But on this Christmas Eve - challenged by a voice from the past, provoked by those in this present, and faced with the reality of lonely future - David's life may change forever...
For more info click here.
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Moya Brennan in Concert
Grammy award winning Celtic singer Moya Brennan performs 2 special Christmas concerts on Saturday 7 December at National Geographic Live.
Further details available here.
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The Fighting Jamesons in Concert
The Fighting Jamesons perform at Rams Head on Stage in Annapolis, MD on Sunday December 15th. Take them on, if you dare!
For more information click here.
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Shop till you drop!
Swift Run Lodge in Fairfax VA is hosting a Celtic Crafts Fair on Saturday/Sunday 14/15 December. Get your holiday gifts whilst you can! If shopping's not your thing, there will be music, mulled wine and tasty nibbles to get you in the holiday spirit.
More information here.
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Governor Martin O'Malley in Concert!
Yes, you read that correctly! Governor of Maryland Martin O'Malley performs 2 concerts at Rams Head on Stage in Annapolis, MD on Thursday 26 December with his band O'Malley's March. Come see the Governor play the Irish (and American!) music he loves so much.
For more information click here.
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Sessions
Check out some of these traditional Irish music sessions taking place near you!
- McGinty's Public House, Silver Spring MD. Tuesday nights from 8-11pm. Hosted by C.B. Heinemann (guitar, bouzouki, vocals) and Dennis Botzer (fiddle, piano, whistle).
- P. Brennan's Irish Pub, Arlington VA. Dec 8 --- Spencer Nitchie (concertina, flute, fiddle) & Marc Glickman, Dec 15 --- Joe DeZarn (fiddle) & Doc Botzer, Dec 22 --- Samantha Suplee (fiddle) & Marc Glickman, Dec 29 --- Josh Dukes (flute, guitar) & Doc Botzer
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Would you like your event listed in the Embassy's newsletter?
The Embassy is happy to advertise cultural and Irish community events in this newsletter on request, so please let us know about your upcoming events well in advance so we can include them. If you don't tell us about it, we can't publicise it! You can email details of your event to washingtonembassy@dfa.ie.
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