THE IRISH IN HAVERHILL,
MASSACHUSETTS, VOL. II
Dr. Patricia Trainor O’Malley
After Dr. O’Malley’s first chronicle of the Irish in Haverhill, Mass., made its debut, she was inundated with photographs and family histories of those who didn’t make it into her book. The result is another volume that pays tribute to this town’s Irish heritage. With immigrants trickling into Haverhill from the days of the Great Famine all the way to the present day, they have had a tremendous impact on the evolution of the town. Published by Arcadia. 128 pp. $18.99.
PASSAGE TO THE CENTER
Imagination & the sacred in
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the poetry of Seamus Heaney
Daniel Tobin
Regarded by many to be the greatest Irish poet since Yeats, Seamus Heaney, a1995 Nobel Laureate, is examined for the first time by Daniel Tobin in a modernist and postmodernist light. Tobin contends that Heaney’s poetry can be charted through the recurring image of "the center," reflecting Irish folklore, customs, rituals and Catholicism. "Passage to the Center" is the most comprehensive examination of Heaney’s poetry to date, studying his entire body of work, including his two latest works. University Press of Kentucky. 338 pp.
MYRIAD
Gerry O’Connor
Considered to be the best four-string banjoist in the history of Irish music, Gerry O’Connor has come out with a new album. The product of five years of work, "Myriad" is a musical journey for O’Connor. It exposes the listener to various styles, feelings and textures. O’Connor’s latest work is greatly influenced by the musical heritage of his family. The last track, in fact, features a song with his father and brother. Compass Records, 117 30th Ave. South, Nashville, TN 37212.
REMEMBRANCE
John McDermott
John McDermott has become one of the most celebrated Irish tenors of our time. McDermott is perhaps best known for his part in PBS’s "The Irish Tenors." His latest work is a salute to the veterans. The album features songs from the Civil War through Vietnam. McDermott’s sonorous voice gives new life to the World War I classic "And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda," as well as World War II favorites. Angel Records, 305 Park Ave. South, New York, NY 10010.