The Irish Edge 🇮🇪 🎸

So, What’s the Craic?

The Craic is back on this jaunty Friday, bringing you what little bits of news and views we could find about the Irish at home and abroad. Like this newsletter just a wee bit? Well, ask your friends and fam to sign up here, le do thoil.

News from Home

Irish Edge. We’d bet a pretty penny that most people thought U2’s “The Edge” was already an Irish native. Yet, David Evans is technically an Englishman – or at least he was. Little Baby Edge, which we presume his parents called him on his birth certificate, was born in Essex, England, and moved to Dublin at the age of one. Sixty-two years later, he’s finally getting his Irish citizenship. He joined several thousand others at a ceremony to confer citizenship in Kerry earlier in the week. Welcome aboard, folks.

One to Watch. We are big fans of the Galway Film Fleadh, which showcases the best of independent Irish cinema. This year, we are excited to see Ciara Tinney’s film debut based on her novel, Wildkind. The mammy-of-three previously worked on Game of Thrones before trying her hand at the old novel writing. The Fleadh gets underway on July 8th, and Wildkind will be screened at 12.30 on July 13th on the final day of the festival.

Glasto Gaels. Glastonbury, Britain’s biggest music festival, is underway, featuring acts as diverse as Neil Young, Olivia Rodrigo, Charlie XCX, and Rod Stewart. No fewer than 33 Irish acts are over there, too, but all eyes will be drawn to one, in particular: Kneecap, whose participation was in doubt, takes the stage at 4pm local time tomorrow. Expect controversy, possible censorship from the BBC, political points-scoring, and, most likely of all, a barnstorming set of rap music as Gaeilge.

Voice of Ireland. The inimitable Joe Duffy has signed off from Liveline, one of Ireland’s most popular radio shows, for the last time this afternoon. Duffy helmed the show for 37 years, covering current affairs and personal stories alike, and absolutely nailing that “everyone’s favorite uncle” rapport with his audience. He was hailed as a “broadcasting genius” for his ability to balance hard-nosed journalism with a rare empathy. Good luck, Joe.

The Irish Influence

Alex Dunne has become the first Irish driver to feature in an F1 race in 22 years. Dunne, aged 19, took over from Lando Norris to race in Friday’s practice session for McLaren ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend. He’s officially the 6th Irishman to race in F1, 12th overall if you count Northern Ireland (which we do 😉). The Offlay native has been tipped for big things since taking the F2 Championship by storm. He looked every inch an F1 star of the future in today’s practice session, coming 4th overall and beating the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz. So remember the name - Alex Dunne - as this lad will be a superstar one day.

Cúpla Focal

Grianstad {Gryan-Stad} – Solstice. June 21st was Grianstad (literally sun stop) an tSamhraidh, summer solstice. In the wintertime, it’s Grianstad an Gheimhridh for the shortest day.

Blast from the Past

On June 25th, 2005, the British and Irish Lions prepared for the opening test against New Zealand. Widely recognized as the most dominant team in sports history, facing the All-Blacks is the ultimate challenge. Yet, in 2005, they did not have the world’s best player: we did. Brian O’Driscoll was the Lions’ captain, in his prime, and ready to take on the threat of the All-Blacks head-on. Yet, 41 seconds into the First Test, everything changed. The infamous “Spear Tackle” from Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu almost ripped O’Driscoll’s arm from its socket, dislocating his shoulder and ending the captain’s Tour. It changed the course of the Lions’ Tour and rugby history (spear tackles would later be banned), but the targeting of O’Driscoll remains a heated topic 20 years later. The affable O’Driscoll eventually forgave because he’s a nice lad, but it’s worth remembering that Irish sports fans can hold grudges for a very long time (ahem, Thierry 🇫🇷🤾🏼).

And One Last Thing….

Landed aristocracy can be viewed with a bit of suspicion in Ireland for reasons that should be obvious. Yet, we might make an exception for Lord Mount Charles, who passed away this week. “Lord Henry,” as he was sometimes known, provided the setting of Slane Castle for some of the biggest shows in rock history. U2, Bowie, the Stones, Madonna, Springsteen, and many other legends played Slane, often remarking on the unique backdrop and natural amphitheater. There are many great tales from the shows at Slane since its inception in the 1980s, but perhaps our favorite is the time Axl Rose went missing before his performance in 1992. Sleuths found him passed out in a Dublin pub (over 50 miles away). They managed to revive him, and the show did indeed go on as Guns N’ Roses and their inebriated frontman put on one of the castle’s iconic performances.

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