Jean Butler, Lisa Hannigan and Panti Bliss. together with "Agreement," "Reclaiming a Space" and "Distillation" top the bill in the Irish Arts Center's spring programming (see here), but there is much more to experience at IAC in coming months, including popular annual events.
‘Muldoon’s Picnic,’ March 11, April 1, June 3
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon’s beloved variety show “Muldoon’s Picnic” returns with another season of music and madness, prose and poetry, high commentary and low comedy. Based on a late 19th-century New York show of the same name, “Muldoon’s Picnic” kicks off on March 11 with Matthew Rohrer, Mona Simpson and Suzanne Vega with Gerry Leonard.
Café Concert Series, February-May
In IAC’s Devlin Café, the Café Concert Series brings spirited music out into a social and intimate environment with Big City Folk Song Club, in its 17th year, curated by Niall Connolly on Feb. 9, March 8, April 4, and May 23, and Traditional Irish Sessions, curated by Tony DeMarco, on Feb. 2, March 15, April 5, and May 17.
Book Day, March 15
Irish Arts Center, for the 12th year, distributes thousands of free books in New York’s five boroughs in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.
‘Scéal Nua,’ January-April
A new initiative from Origin Theatre Company, Scéal Nua is a development lab geared toward supporting emerging voices in the New York Irish theatre community. Program participants will meet weekly in the Irish ArtsCenter library to read and develop their work. There will be a symposium and reception on March 9.
Imbolc, Feb. 3
An event celebrating Imbolc, the ancient Irish festival heralding spring and honoring the Irish patron saint and goddess Brigid, with a family concert and activities for audience members of all ages. It will feature singer-songwriter Jenna Nicholls and artist Alicia Gerstein. Hot chocolate and Imbolc-inspired crafts follow the show.
St. Pat’s for All Benefit, Feb. 12
Irish Arts Center hosts the benefit event – a cocktail party with music, food, drinks, raffles and fun – for the March 3 St. Pat’s for All Parade in Sunnyside and Woodside, Queens, one of the most inclusive and progressive celebrations of Irish culture and solidarity in the USA.
Claire Keegan, March 6
The Booker Prize finalist (“Small Things Like These”) and 2023 An Post LAI Author of the Year Claire Keegan will be in conversation to celebrate her latest collection, “So Late in the Day.”
Open Day, March 16
Every St. Patrick’s season, “IAC invites our community to a free day of Irish arts and culture, with traditional music and dance performances, workshops and demos, children’s crafts and activities, and a sampling of our multidisciplinary educational offerings.”
Irish Language Day,
May 18
Explore stories of historic and current day Irish speakers through three recent documentaries: “Peig,” revisiting and reclaiming the iconic Peig Sayers; TG4’s “Éire Eile” series examining the subcultures and scenes of Ireland’s youth today; and “Ó Bhéal,” a look at the rise of hip hop and electronic artists in Ireland through Irish language rappers Seán “Mory” Ó Muirgheasa and Oisín Mac, multi-instrumentalist Fehdah, and Limerick rapper Strange Boy.
