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Fresh from performing his Breeders’ Cup tribute song Stateside before more than 65,000 people at Churchill Downs on the final day of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, 14-year-old singer/songwriter Mark Boylan and family returned home to to Banagher, County Offaly, today after three planes and about 24 hours of travel from Louisville, Kentucky.
Singing from a stand in the racetrack’s infield on Saturday, looking out at Churchill’s signature twin spires, Boylan delivered a spirited rendition of his Stateside on Saturday, electrifying the crowd which sang along with the official 2011 Breeders’ Cup Anthem from lyrics printed in the track program.
"Mark is such a talented kid and added so much enthusiasm to the Breeders' Cup festivities," said Peter Rotondo, Breeders' Cup Vice President Media & Entertainment. "From doing media interviews to posing with fans, Mark was a great ambassador for the Breeders' Cup and horse racing during his visit to Louisville this past week. We are all looking forward to what he'll do in the future."
Even before his memorable performance, Mark had become a Louisville celebrity thanks to enthusiastic coverage by local TV, radio, print and online media, racing media, national coverage in the New York Times and a free lunchtime concert at Louisville's entertainment center, 4th Street Live. All week, his new fans stopped him for photos and autographs, including Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day and renowned film star Bo Derek, much to his amazement.
“Great to be home even though I really didn’t want to leave Louisville—it’s one of my favourite places in the world,” Boylan said. “This was the most amazing weeks of my life especially the two days of the Breeders’ Cup Word Championships. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this wonderful experience—all the people who welcomed and encouraged me, the folks at 4th Street Live and the Louisville Visitors and Convention Bureau, the media which covered me so kindly, everyone at Churchill Downs and especially the Breeders’ Cup and MOC Insurance who sponsored my trip.”
Mark’s performance on Saturday was the centerpiece of a great day for the Irish as it followed trainer Aidan O’Brien’s win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (Grade 1, $1 million) with the Irish-bred Wrote, Ryan Moore up, for the Coolmore team of John Magnier. Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. O’Brien would be back in the winner’s circle after Mark’s song with the same owners when the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Turf (Grade 1) went to Irish-bred St. Nicholas Abbey, with the trainer’s 18-year-old son Joseph O’Brien in the irons, the youngest rider ever to win a Breeders' Cup race.
Stateside is available for download at iTunes for $1.29 with all proceeds going to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.
Photos available by request
About Breeders’ Cup
The Breeders’ Cup administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s year-end Championships. The Breeders’ Cup also administers the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. Total purses for this year’s two-day event at Churchill Downs, Nov. 4-5, are $26 million. The 2010 Breeders’ Cup delivered nearly $140 million in winning wagers to fans at betting locations around the globe. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup Web site, www.breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media platforms, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
John Lee
John Lee MEDIA - (0) 917-653-3444 - (c) 917-653-3444 johnlee@johnleemedia.com - www.johnleemedia.com
The Stinging Fly in New York
Three Evenings Celebrating New Irish and International Writing
After nearly a decade and a half of publishing the best new Irish and international writing, Ireland’s leading literary magazine The Stinging Fly is coming to New York, staging three events on consecutive nights, Oct. 25-27, at three very different venues: Columbia University, The Center for Fiction and The Swift Hibernian Lounge
Part of Culture Ireland’s year-long Imagine Ireland initiative, the three literary evenings will celebrate the launch of a special New York-themed issue of The Stinging Fly, a journal of short stories, poetry, author interviews, essays and book reviews. The Stinging Fly also operates the successful book-publishing imprint The Stinging Fly Press, which has published titles by Sean O’Reilly, Kevin Barry (winner of the 2007 Rooney Prize) and Michael J. Farrell, as well as several highly acclaimed anthologies of short stories.
The Stinging Fly in New York details:
Tuesday, October 25, 7pm
Writing Dublin, Writing New York: a discussion moderated by Declan Meade, editor and publisher of The Stinging Fly. Nick Laird, Emer Martin, Sean O’Reilly and Keith Ridgway will discuss the literary and cultural connections between Dublin and New York, and share their experiences of writing at home and away.
Where: The Center for Fiction,
17 E 47th Street (between Fifth and Madison)
New York, NY 10017
Web: www.centerforfiction.org/calendar/writing-dublin-writing-new-york
Wednesday, October 26, 8pm
Reading at Columbia U. hosted by Columbia: A Journal of Literature and Art: Readings by visiting writers Aifric Mac Aodha, Sean O’Reilly and Keith Ridgway and Columbia PhD student Max McGuinness all of whom have contributed to the New York issue.
Where: Columbia University, Morningside Heights Campus
116th and Broadway, Dodge Room 501
New York, NY 10027
Thursday, October 27, 7pm
The Stinging Fly New York issue launch party at The Swift Hibernian Lounge: A night of readings and music to mark the official launch of the New York issue. Readers on the night include Ciaran Berry, Tim Dwyer Martín Espada, Emer Martin, David McLoghlin, Idra Novey, Jana Prikryl and Mark SaFranko.
Where: Swift Hibernian Lounge
34 E 4th Street
New York, NY 10003
Web: www.swiftnycbar.com
The Stinging Fly is funded by the Arts Council of Ireland and Dublin City Council. New York events are supported by Culture Ireland’s Imagine Ireland, a year-long season of Irish arts in America in 2011, with funding from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
FOR MORE PRESS INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT
Declan Meade (Dublin) T: +353 (0)86 840 9133 E: stingingfly@gmail.com
Emily Firetog (New York) T: +1 917 514 7824 E: emily.stingingfly@gmail.com
Web: www.stingingfly.org, www.facebook.com/StingingFly
LOUISVILLE, KY. (Oct. 10, 2011)- A young racing fan from a small town in the middle of Ireland got the biggest birthday present of his life today when the Breeders’ Cup invited him to be part of thoroughbred racing’s biggest stage, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
Mark Boylan, celebrating his 14th birthday at home today in Banagher (pop. 1,636), County Offaly, has two passions in life--horseracing and music. He combined them on YouTube in his song “Stateside,” a heartfelt tribute to the Breeders’ Cup. One YouTube viewer posted “This kid is absolutely great! He should definitely perform this in Kentucky on BC weekend, the crowds will love it!”
The Breeders’ Cup had the same reaction.
"When we first heard the song 'Stateside', we were blown away," said Peter Rotondo, Vice President of Media and Entertainment for Breeders' Cup. "Mark is such a talented kid and we thought he'd be a great addition to Championship weekend festivities."
Rotondo confirmed with Mark today that he and his family will be getting an all-expenses-paid trip to Louisville, KY for Breeders’ Cup week and that Mark would be performing “Stateside” at Churchill Downs during the Breeders’ Cup Championship weekend, Nov. 4-5. Additionally, “Stateside” will soon be offered online for download, with a 100% of the proceeds going to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF). Joining the Breeders’ Cup in sponsoring the Boylan’s trip is MOC Insurance Services, a firm with extensive experience in thoroughbred racing.
“When our CEO Van Maroevich and I heard Mark’s story, we knew we had to be involved,” said John Unick, president of MOC Insurance Services thoroughbred racing division. “We are thrilled to help bring Mark over to the Breeders’ Cup. MOC has helped raise over $200,000 for the PDJF over the years and we are delighted to be associated with such an inspirational song and worthy cause."
Mark’s passion for horse racing developed at a young age. His mother, Helene, grew up next door to four-time Breeders’ Cup winning trainer Aidan O’Brien and Mark and his family became regular visitors to O’Brien’s Coolmore Ballydoyle training center.
“To say I'm excited about going to the heart of US thoroughbred country, to storied Churchill Downs for the Breeders' Cup is an understatement,” Mark Boylan said. “It's obviously a huge thrill to be going across the pond for the first time. I'm really looking forward to experiencing world-class racing and hope my song will play a part in the excitement of this year’s event.”
Earlier this year, Mark performed another song he wrote, “The Festival,” in front of 60,000 fans during the Cheltenham Festival steeplechase meet in England.
Accompanying Mark on his Breeders’ Cup adventure will be his father Dave, mother Helene and six-year-old sister Holly.
To preview Mark Boylan’s Breeders’ Cup performance of “Stateside,” go to:
Embed link: <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZnwST8QB2fs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Mark’s social media links include:
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/horseracingvids
Facebook: www.facebook.com/markboylanmusic
Twitter: twitter.com/markcboylan
About MOC Insurance Services and MOC's Private Client Group
MOC Insurance Services is a privately held full service insurance brokerage with licenses in all 50 States. MOC provides the highest quality commercial and personal lines of insurance, offering clients a full range of innovative insurance products that meet their specific business needs, including insurance for a number of specialized industries, including aviation, arts & entertainment, real estate, agriculture and thoroughbred racing.
MOC's Private Client Group caters to the personal insurance needs of thoroughbred owners throughout the world.
About Breeders’ Cup
The Breeders’ Cup administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s year-end Championships. The Breeders’ Cup also administers the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. Total purses for this year’s two-day event at Churchill Downs, Nov. 4-5, are $26 million. The 2010 Breeders’ Cup delivered nearly $140 million in winning wagers to fans at betting locations around the globe. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup Web site, www.breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media platforms, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Gabriel Byrne will present the Irish American Writer's & Artists annual Eugene O'Neill Lifetime Achievement Award to Irish Rep founders Charlotte Moore and Ciarán O'Reilly, in an evening of "literary libation," Monday. Oct. 17, 2011 at the Manhattan Club, upstairs at Rosie O'Grady's, 800 7th Avenue and 52nd St., NYC starting at 6 p.m.
Opening its doors in 1988 with Sean O'Casey's The Plough and the Stars, the “Irish Rep” has consistently pursued its mission to bring works of the highest quality by Irish and Irish American masters and contemporary playwrights to American audiences.
Gabriel Byrne has a long association with Eugene O'Neill having won a Tony nomination for best actor in Moon For the Misbegotten and an Outer Circle Critics Award for his acclaimed performance in A Touch of the Poet.
Best selling author, actor, singer, raconteur and IAW&A Board member, Malachy McCourt will host a brief program that will include a short video send-up of the Irish Rep and its founders, narrated by Fritz Weaver.
New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn will open the proceedings with the presentation of an official proclamation in honor of the Irish Repertory, its founders, and the Eugene O'Neill Award.
The celebration surrounding the O'Neill Award has a convivial, casual cocktail party atmosphere, with much conversation and mingling with guests both famous and infamous, live traditional Irish music, an extensive array of appetizers and desserts, and an open bar. The evening begins at 6 p.m and continues until 10 p.m.
Advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended by ordering online at:
or by mail to:
Irish American Writers & Artists, Inc.,
511 Avenue of the Americas #304,
New York, NY 10011.
($75 admission for members, $150 for non-members includes membership).
Founded and operated as a non-profit organization, Irish American Writers & Artists, Inc. celebrates the achievements of Irish- American writers and artists, past and present, and works to highlight, energize and encourage Irish Americans working in the arts. For more information about Irish American Writers and Artists, Inc, and to purchase tickets, please go to http://www.i-am-wa.org.
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For media inquiries and photo requests, please contact:
John Lee 917-475-6981 johnlee@johnleemedia.com
“It was very gratifying to see the people cued-up for the first film of the first Irish Film New York.” IFNY organizer Niall McKay said. “There were many with Irish connections of course, but I was impressed by how diverse the demographics of the audience were—quite a cross section of New York City.”
A full house was also on hand for Saturday’s screening of 32A and when the Q&A with writer Director Marian Quinn and her husband, producer Tommy Weir concluded, many dashed to the adjacent theater to join the crowd already seated for the New York premiere of The Runway.
Irish Film New York continues Sunday with three films on the following schedule:
· Sun., Oct. 2 4PM Pyjama Girls followed by Q&A with editor Paul Rowley
· Sun., Oct. 2 6PM Parked, followed by Q&A with Writer/Director Darragh Byrne
· Sun., Oct. 2 8 PM Sensation, followed by Q&A with Director Tom Hall
All films screen at NYU Cantor Film Center, at 36 East 8th St, New York, NY 10003.
For more information, schedule & tickets go to www.irishfilmnyc.com
MEDIA CONTACTS:
John Lee, John Lee MEDIA, johnlee@johnleemedia.com
The mix of four dramatic films and two documentaries kicks off Friday at 8 pm with Knuckle, a visceral look at the violent world of bare-knuckle boxing among Ireland’s Traveler community, opening in theatres in December of 2011. HBO is adapting the documentary into a new drama series. IFNY continues with two films Sat., and three on Sun. Each film will be followed by a Q&A with key participants.
Who: Filmmaker Niall McKay created Irish Film New York after success with similar events in San Francisco and Los Angeles. In addition to documentaries Knuckle and Pyjama Girls, IFNY includes feature films 32A starring Aidan Quinn, Parked with Colm Meaney,, Sorcerer with Domhnall Gleeson of Harry Potter and True Grit and Weeds star Demián Bichir in The Runway.
When:
· Fri., Sept. 30, 4PM Industry panel on contemporary Irish Cinema with IFNY filmmakers (free)
· Fri., Sept. 30 6PM Reception at Glucksman Ireland House (for invited guests and media)
· Fri., Sept. 30 8PM Knuckle Q&A: Boxer James Quinn McDoonagh & director Ian Palmer
· Sat., Oct. 1 6PM 32A Q&A: Actor Aidan Quinn & Writer/Director Marian Quinn
· Sat., Oct. 1 8PM The Runway Q&A: Writer/Director Ian Power
· Sun., Oct. 2 4PM Pyjama Girls Q&A editor Paul Rowley
· Sun., Oct. 2 6PM Parked, Q&A: Writer/Director Darragh Byrne
· Sun., Oct. 2 8 PM Sensation, Q&A: Director Tom Hall
Where: All films screen at NYU Cantor Film Center, at 36 East 8th St, New York, NY 10003. The Friday 4 PM panel will be at Dean's Conference Room, 12 Floor, NYU Tisch School of Arts, 721 Broadway, NY NY, 10003. (The 6 PM reception for invited guests & media is at NYU Glucksman Ireland House, 1 Washington Mews, NY, NY)
Story elements: The first Irish Film New York…IFNY is a David going up against NY Film Fest’s Goliath…organizer Niall McKay offers the do’s and don’t’s of creating a niche film festival on no budget….bare-knuckle Boxer James Quinn McDoonagh and director Ian Palmer discuss their violent world…Aidan Quinn on coming of age…and working for his sister.
For more information, schedule & tickets go to www.irishfilmnyc.com
MEDIA CONTACTS:
John Lee, John Lee MEDIA, johnlee@johnleemedia.com
Irish Film New York (IFNY) brings the best in contemporary Irish filmmaking to New York University’s Cantor Film Center for a three-day, six-film screening series. Opening the festival on Sept. 30, 2011 is the New York premiere of the documentary Knuckle, a visceral look at the violent world of bare-knuckle boxing among Ireland’s Traveler community, opening in theaters in December of 2011. HBO is adapting the documentary into a new drama series.
Irish Film New York includes the Galway Film Festival-winning feature Parked, starring Colm Meaney, a story of friendship, hope, and perseverance between two “neighbors” living in their cars. Also new to New York is The Runway, inspired by the true story of a South American plane that crashes in a County Cork town and how the town comes together to send the pilot home, featuring Weeds star Demián Bichir.
IFNY is partnering with the San Francisco Irish Film Festival and the Los Angles Irish Film Festival to bring the filmmakers of Knuckle, Parked, and The Runway on a tri-city tour in anticipation of each film’s U.S. release later this year.
“We created Irish Film New York to connect New York’s avid film audiences with the best films and filmmakers coming out Ireland today,” IFNY founder Niall McKay said.
Established through partnerships with New York University’s Glucksman Ireland House, Culture Ireland, the Irish Film Board and the Irish Film Institute, IFNY features six feature-length films, a series of shorts including Academy Award-nominees, filmmaker Q&As, panel discussions, filmmaker receptions and industry events such as a documentary showcase.
Films are screened at NYU’s Cantor Film Center, located at 36 East 8th Street, on Sept. 30, Oct. 1 and Oct. 2. Tickets are $12; $10 for students and members of Glucksman Ireland House NYU. Festival Passes are $60 for six screenings. Tickets and full list of films with background information and video previews are available via www.irishfilmnyc.com. IFNY is part of Imagine Ireland: a year-long celebration of Irish arts in the United States in 2011.
About Irish Film New York
Irish Film New York was founded by Niall McKay, the founder and director of the San Francisco Irish Film Festival and the co-founder of the LA Irish Film Festival. IFNY is co-presented by NYU’s Glucksman Ireland House and funded by Culture Ireland and supported by the Irish Film Institute and the Irish Film Board. For more information please visit www.irishfilmnyc.com.
For media inquiries, contact: John Lee, 917-653-3444, johnleemedia@gmail.com
For photos and other media info, please go to: http://www.irishfilmnyc.com/about/
For more info on Irish Film New York: http://www.irishfilmnyc.com/- info@irishfilmnyc.com
On the first Tuesday of each month the IRISH AMERICAN WRITERS & ARTISTS holds its “Salon” at Symphony Space’s Thalia Café in Manhattan. The purpose of the ‘Salon’ is to allow IAW&A members an opportunity to present in the medium of their choice: reading, poetry, comedy, music, etc. The event is meant to be low-keyed and social. Participants present their work while listeners enjoy a drink and good spirit of the evening. ”Enjoyed the craic,” the Irish might say.
Only IAW&A members are invited to perform, although friends are urged to attend.,and many attendees have become members on the spot in order to present.
There’s no charge or cover, just buy a drink if you’d like. The Thalia Café is at 2537 Broadway (entrance on 95th Street) in NYC. Participants will have up to ten minutes to present in the medium of their choice: reading, poetry, comedy, music, video, etc.
The next IAW&A Salon is Tues., Aug. 2 from 7 to 9 PM. Hope to see you there!
