LIFE

There’s a chance peace will come

In your life, please buy one.

There’s a chance peace will come

In your life, please buy one.

 

This chant was sung a long time ago by a singer called Melanie.

Twenty five years after the Good Friday Agreement GFA, and thanks to the tenacity of those involved, we can celebrate normality, being able to live normal lives in Northern Ireland. This is their greatest legacy and our greatest inheritance. Thanks to the Good Friday Agreement and all those who took the chance.  A million thanks.

A film has just been released starring Brian Kennedy called So What If It Rains.

The film says it all.

Singer Brian Kennedy on celebrating 'multicultural Belfast' with film debut - The Irish News

Brian sang at the SOMA Festival, a giant music and cultural festival bringing people together in the beautiful town of Castlewellan under one banner – music.

LA UNIVERSIDAD POPULAR SANSE

 Monnet, one of the founders of the European Union, was asked if, on looking back, there was anything he would change. His reply was .'Yes. I would begin with culture.'

In San Sebastián De Los Reyes La Universidad Popular did just that. They began with culture.

Last week our UNIVERSIDAD POPULAR paid tribute to one of its founders.

https://canalnorte.org/videos/emotivo-tributo-en-memoria-de-pepe-garcia-rayo-fundador-de-la-universidad-popular-jose-hierro/

Thanks to people like Pepe and Pablo we have access to the best culture for free. A case in point are  the concerts at Los Viernes De La Tradición which are held on Fridays at 19h .

 DÜO KRUPOVES LOZANO brought us music and ballads from Eastern and Western Europe, from Ukraine to Cataluña, sung in Spanish, Polish, Breton, Catalán, Russian, French, Bosnian. Beautiful voices accompanied by a spell binding guitar and a wonderful chance to see and hear the incredible hurdy gurdy.

Our association has a space in La Universidad Popular too where we share books and thoughts.

You can find us at 18  Av Baunatal, Wednesdays18:30h.

ACT TWO

 The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

The Second Act

SCENE: Garden at the Manor House. A flight of stone steps leads up to the house. The garden, an old-fashioned one full of roses. Time of year, July.  Basket chairs, and a table covered with books, are set under a large yew tree. MISS PRISM is discovered seated at the table. CECILY is at the back watering flowers

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/844/844-h/844-h.htm#chap02

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdk2u0G-APE 

Take time to read or view and enjoy the company!

Metro Madrid celebrates with Ireland

Metro Madrid  is joining in the international celebrations of St Patrick's Day by adding the name of San Patricio to one of its stations.

San Bernardo will be San Patricio for a few days, even coloring the emblematic metro logo to green.

Here is the programme of this lively celebration of cultural awareness.

An Irish Goodbye

 An Irish Goodbye director Ross White described James Martin as the beating heart of the film on receiving the Oscar for the best live action short film and said that he would love to use the rest of the time of his acceptance speech to sing to James. And so the biggest stars in Hollywood happily sang Happy Birthday to James who turned 31 that same day March 12th 2023. Dreams really do come true.

It was a great moment for Northern Ireland's burgeoning film and television industry and for Templepatrick, Saintfield and The Sperrins (lovely names) where An Irish Goodbye was filmed highlighting the beauty of its landscape and the talent of its people. Artists are leading  the way to a brighter future for beautiful Northern Ireland.

March 8th 2023

 

International Women’s Day celebrates the achievements and contributions of women in society. 

We all have influential and inspiring the women in our lives.

Who do you owe a debt of gratitude to?

 Wednesday at 18:30h

asedow@gmail.com

Everything under the sun

Join our lively discussions. And if you enjoy them, become a member of this assocation that brings people together from all walks of life.

Wednesdays at 18:30h.

Av Baunatal 18, San Sebastián  De Los Reyes.

Irish Shamrock

 We were always told that shamrock only grows in Ireland.

It is a tiny plant, much smaller than clover.

There are no white specks on shamrock.

Of course the name itself actually means young clover. This is early spring after all.  

Each leaf is shaped like a heart. With three heart shaped leaves this makes it the perfect plant for St Patrick to illustrate the mysteries of faith, three Gods in one.

Three hearts in one.

St Patrick’s Day is March 17th and there will be shamrock everywhere.

'I hear her hair has turned quite gold from grief.'

 Last week on Antonio's suggestion we decided to see the really good BBC version of Oscar Wilde's play The Importance Of Being Earnest, before discussing it together in our weekly talks.

The Importance Of Being Earnest BBC

As we had copies of the first act from our shared readings a few years ago at the local library here in San Sebastán De Los Reyes, we read it out loud together. We were lucky enough to have my niece Josephine Oliva  to read  for us the part of Jack/John/  Ernest and Antonio who did an excellent reading of Algy's part. It went smoothly and  we were actually laughing out loud proving that Wilde's witty play stands the test of time.

This is an initiative that we might follow up in our association. It could be once monthly if we were able to rope in more Wilde enthusiasts.

If you are interested, you can contact us at asedow@gmail.com

Lá Fhéile Bríde St Brigid's Day in Madrid February 1st

 Here are some pictures of the St Brigid's Day celebration held in Madrid. Laura, Sammé and I were lucky enough to have tickets to hear the uilleann pipes played by the gifted musician Louise Mulcahy, of the highly acclaimed Mulcahy family from Limerick in Ireland accompanied by beautiful dancing from Irish Treble. Music and dancing that would carry you magically to Ireland. It was a privilege to hear such a prestigious musician play her own composition St Brigid's jig. 

The event was hosted by the Irish Embassy in Madrid to celebrate this new national holiday in Ireland that marks the contribution of women today, in the past and in the future of Ireland. St Brigid's Day will be a bank holiday, which means that the day off will  be on the nearest Monday or a Friday.

The long walk from the Atocha train staion to the venue in the Retiro Park took us past the lake which was beautiful in the dark with the shimmering lights and as we were taking the train back from Recoletos station, we popped into the nearby Irish bar for a celebratory drink.

There is also a photo  of crosses which  are made from reeds on this day and put over doorways to protect all who enter.