2007 4th Annual Irish-American Crossroads Festival
March 8–17, 2007
The Irish have been meeting at the American crossroads for five hundred years. The Irish-American Crossroads Festival is an annual event that celebrates and explores the Irish-American experience.
Crossroads 2007 demonstrates our commitment to creating a space for the gathering and public presentation of these creative energies, historical reflections, and cultural expressions.
MARCH 8th, 2007
Home — A Film Screening
Screening of a film about the journey of an Irish immigrant in New York (Dir. Dawn Scibilia, 70 mins). Followed by Q&A with the Director. See www.homethemovie.com.
MARCH 10th, 2007
The Irish Americas, Latin American and Native American Crossroads at the San Francisco Main Public Library
Colm Ó Riain and Hy Brassyl
Violinist Colm Ó Riain and his Hy Brassyl project mixed up music from Ireland with influences from jazz, blues, Brazil, Argentina, Cuba, Gypsy, Indian, and much more. Colm was joined in Hy Brassyl by guitarist Geoff van Lienden, Tim Kelly on stand-up bass and multi-percussionist James Greenfield. For more information, see www.hybrassyl.com.
MARCH 10th, 2007
Irish in the Americas
A discussion including:
- Carlota Caulfield, author of Ticket to Ride which explores her Cuban-Irish experience
- Juan José Delaney, author of Moira Sullivan, Treboles del Sur about the Irish in Argentina
- John-Carlos Perea, musician who explores Native American/Irish hybridity through music
- Edgardo Vega Yunqué, author of No Matter How Much You Promise to Cook or Pay the Rent You Blew It Cauze Bill Bailey Ain’t Never Coming Home Again and Blood Fugues, two novels which are hinged on intersections between Puerto Rican and Irish communities in New York
Special thanks for support from the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library
MARCH 11th, 2007
Poetry Night
Readings from local poets including Michael Thomas Kelly, Mary Rudge (Poet Laureate of the City of Alameda) and Jennifer Stone.
MARCH 12th, 2007
The Richmond Irish
Reflections on the history of the Richmond District’s Irish Community in San Francisco
An exploration of the history of the Irish-American community of the Richmond District of San Francisco, featuring Paul Mathews of The Plough & Stars, Joseph Breen, President of the Irish American Bar Association, Marina O’Shea, and other story-tellers from the neighborhood. Moderated by Richard P. O’Hara of McAvoy O’Hara Company Evergreen Mortuary. Join us by bringing your photos, memories and stories of the neighborhood.
A special thanks to McAvoy O’Hara Company Evergreen Mortuary for their sponsorship of this event.
MARCH 13th, 2007
A Literary Portrait of Working Class Irish America
A Book Launch and Reading
Charles Fanning introduced and read from A World I Never Made the first in James T. Farrell’s O’Neill-O’Flaherty pentalogy.
MARCH 14th, 2007
Common Grounds
The Costs of Assimilation
Audiences joined us for an engaging dialogue focused on the effects of assimilation on immigrant and Native American communities in the San Francisco Bay Area. The participants — together with the public — discussed the cultural, historical and spiritual costs related to the experience of assimilation.
Confirmed guests include:
- Isabel Barraza of the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts;
- Daniel Cassidy, Co-Director, Irish Studies Program, New College of California;
- Linda James Myers, Ph.D., Academic Vice President and Dean of the Graduate School of Psychology, New College of California
- Bill “Jimbo” Simmons, Activist and Organizer with the International Indian Treaty Council.
Co-Produced by KQED.
MARCH 15th, 2007
Looking for Jimmy: A Search for Irish-America
Peter Quinn, novelist, essayist, and chronicler of Irish-America read from his newly released book, Looking for Jimmy: A Search for Irish America.
MARCH 17th, 2007
A Traditional Irish Hooley
Bring your own stories, songs and tunes and join us for a traditionally inspired celebration!