"Your papers, please . . ."

(A series of posts leading up to/including The Nocturnes Photo Tour in the West of Ireland, July 15-25, 2013)

For the tour to Ireland in July, if you've not renewed your U.S. Passport, you should be thinking about that at this time. I renewed mine about a month ago and was quoted 4-6 weeks turn-around (it came in about 3 weeks!). If you are a first time applicant for a  U.S. Passport - you can probably add a little more time to the above.

For U.S. Mexican and Canadian Citizens, only a Passport is required for entry into Ireland (no Travel Visa).

Check out the State Department website for all the details.

From The [not so] Daily Nocturne

The Light - and Spirit - of Ireland

(A series of posts leading up to/including The Nocturnes Photo Tour in the West of Ireland, July 15-25, 2013)

 

Great news - our trek to Ireland IS ON !! - for July 15-25, 2013! Of course, we still have a few spots available - so, book early and book often (makes a perfect 'bucket list' gift)! Be sure to check back in to  "The Nocturnes in Ireland - 2013" Blog for periodic missives about the trip, along with specific travel hints, inspiring images, musical treats, readings, and reflections on the West of Ireland - all suitable for Nocturnes travelling with us in July - or not (the "armchair travelers" amongst you)!

Check out the itinerary and other details of the trip here.

 

 

Recently, I picked up a CD (to further get in the mood . . .) called "The Spirit of Ireland." Normally, I don't care that much for compilations of music by different artists around a theme, or composer (Barber's Adagio notwithstanding); but this eclectic collection caught my eye with its broad range of artists, artistic syles, and Irish source material. From the standards ("Danny Boy" performed by the Jazz pianist Bill Evans in 1962) to the harmonic stylings of The Pogues ('Wild Cats of Kilkenny'), even including St. Glen Hansard with the Frames ("Rise").

Worth the price of admission - "The Foggy Dew" featuring Sinead O’Connor with The Chieftains - a tune which was showcased prominently in the movie "Michael Collins."

From The [not so] Daily Nocturne

George Berkeley

(A series of posts leading up to/including The Nocturnes Photo Tour in the West of Ireland, July 15-25, 2013)

 

"The eye, by long use comes to see even in the darkest cavern: and there is no subject so obscure but we may discern some glimpse of truth by long poring on it."

- George Berkeley (Irish philosopher, 1685-1753)

George Berkeley, also known as Bishop Berkeley (Bishop of Cloyne), was an Anglo-Irish philosopher, physicist, mathematician, whose primary achievement was the advancement of a theory he called "immaterialism" (later referred to as "subjective idealism" by others). This theory denies the existence of material substance and instead contends that familiar objects like tables and chairs are only ideas in the minds of perceivers, and as a result cannot exist without being perceived. Thus, as Berkeley famously put it, for physical objects "esse est percipi" ("to be is to be perceived"). Berkeley is also known for his critique of abstraction, an important premise in his argument for immaterialism.

The university town of Berkeley in California is named in his honour.

Image and links to lots more info here.

From The [not so] Daily Nocturne

The San Patricios

(A series of posts leading up to/including The Nocturnes Photo Tour in the West of Ireland, July 15-25, 2013)

On this St. Patrick's Day, some little-known facts about the San Patricios during the Mexican-American War, in an article by Andy Porros.

Also a link to the brilliant album by the Chieftains, produce by Paddy Moloney and Ry Cooder.

From The [not so] Daily Nocturne