People:An audience with the Duke
Friday, July 9th, 2010Desiring to be creative is among the many inspirations for Duke Special, whose latest work mimics a fictional silent movie actor’s testing times. Peter Cheney caught up with the alternative artist just before his second Belfast gig. A regular name at festivals and more intimate appearances in Europe and the States, Duke Special’s current tour took him home to his Belfast roots in early June. “I had an ancestor who was a highwayman and he was doing what he was doing,” he says of his name. “There was a carriage going past with a nobleman in it and he stole the title.” Asked...[full story]
People:Ian Cumberland
Friday, July 9th, 2010Rising artist Ian Cumberland discusses his work to date. Banbridge-born Ian Cumberland is currently best known for his portrait of Allen McClay, the benefactor of Queen’s University’s new library, unveiled at its naming in early June. He came to prominence when his self-portrait won the 2009 Davy Portrait Award but remains modest about his work and achievements so far. As he finished up at the University of Ulster’s Art College in 2006, the Arts Council bought an oil on canvas, the Mercy Seat, from his end of year exhibition. Showings of his work in Irish galleries followed, leading...[full story]
Politics:Pictured history
Friday, July 9th, 2010Posters of protest, warnings and calls for co-operation make up the Linenhall Library’s Troubled Images exhibition. Meadhbh Monahan reports. Seventy posters from throughout the Troubles feature alongside children’s stories about a romance across the religious divide, in the Linenhall Library’s ‘Troubled Images’ exhibition. “It’s a very hard exhibition in that it relays the story of a split community over 40 years,” librarian John Killen tells agendaNi. He has seen journalists, historical writers, academics and politicians come to the exhibition over the years to be...[full story]
People:Photographer John McVitty on variety is the spice of life
Thursday, June 3rd, 2010Winner of last year’s BT Northern Ireland Regional Press Photographer of the Year award, John McVitty has been a lenseman for the Impartial Reporter for 28 years. Described by the judges of that competition as having “dedication, commitment and an intuitive eye for the perfect picture”, McVitty says the main challenge for a newspaper photographer is “creating different pictures for different stories.” He enjoys having “plenty of variety” in his job and contends that “in the media world, every day is different.” Since beginning his career 28 years ago as a darkroom technician,...[full story]
People:Stuart Neville on his dramatic debut
Thursday, June 3rd, 2010Acclaimed for “finally giving Northern Ireland the novel its singular history deserves”, Armagh author Stuart Neville speaks to Meadhbh Monahan about his debut which won the Los Angeles Times book prize for best mystery/thriller. Despite his initial aim to avoid writing about Northern Ireland and the Troubles, “it just so happened the story that came along was set in that [time].” Neville, who kept the fact that he was writing ‘The Twelve’ a secret until it was finished, began writing only four years ago. Prior to that, he had an eclectic mix of jobs including guitar teacher...[full story]
People:Ashes to Ash
Friday, May 14th, 2010Ash front man Tim Wheeler speaks to Ryan Jennings about paving the way for Northern Ireland music and the band’s musical journey into the digital age. It’s 19 May 1998 and Downpatrick act Ash are appearing in the ‘vote yes’ concert at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall. In four short years, Tim Wheeler, Mark Hamilton and Rick McMurray went from 17 year-old school boys leading a “weird double life” to sharing a stage with the great U2, pushing for peace in Northern Ireland. It’s fair to say that Ash have blazed a trail for bands from the province. A general rule of thumb is that...[full story]
People:Special relationship
Friday, May 14th, 2010Eight months into her first European post, US Consul General Kamala Lakhdhir tells Meadhbh Monahan about her impressions of the province so far. The phrase “special relationship” – which has long been used to describe relations between the UK and America – does not reflect the modern Anglo-American relationship, according to Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee. However, Kamala Lakhdhir insists that “whether you call it special or not you cannot ignore how much we share.” America has had a consular presence in Belfast since 1796 and Lakhdhir reflects on the fact that...[full story]
Corporate agenda:Quinn’s world
Tuesday, March 9th, 2010A man of many talents, Peter Quinn shares his thoughts on business, economics and sport with Meadhbh Monahan. Growing up in “relative poverty” in south Fermanagh didn’t hinder Peter Quinn, who has taken on prominent roles in education, business, sport and the media over the years. An admirer of Seán Lemass and Barack Obama, Quinn is a chartered accountant and financial consultant with his own consultancy agency in Enniskillen. He is Director of the Quinn Group and a number of other organisations in the Republic, and is also Chairman of Irish language television station TG4. Quinn...[full story]
People:Frank McGuinness
Friday, March 5th, 2010Frank McGuinness, famous Donegal playwright and Professor of Creative Writing at University College Dublin, takes time out from preparing lectures to tell Meadhbh Monahan about the events in his life that have helped shape his work and how he is still “terrified” to watch his plays being performed on opening night. Suicide, homosexuality, death and war. Frank McGuinness has dealt with these topics and more throughout his illustrious 27 year career. Born in Buncrana, on the Inishowen Peninsula, County Donegal, McGuinness’ most famous plays include: The Factory Girls, Observe the...[full story]
