Liam Clancy figures prominently in "The Yellow Bittern."
“That Volcano” may have been the cause of many a travel upheaval for folks around the globe recently, but it wasn’t only people who got delayed. Planes grounded by airborne ash also temporarily waylaid the arrival of the brilliant feature documentary “The Yellow Bittern” from arriving at its Philadelphia destination.
The film, the brainchild of director Alan Gilsenan, is a riveting feature-length portrait of Liam Clancy, culled in large part from rare archival footage (some that had been tucked away, forgotten, in Liam’s attic for years, the discovery of which, according to Gilsenan’s comments on the film’s Web site, surprised and thrilled the man himself), and intimate interviews done over the past several years. And the Philadelphia Ceili Group is one of only a few American outlets to be granted the rights to a stateside showing of the movie.
“One of the researchers from the film found us online, and contacted one of the board members at the PCG,” explained Beth Ann Bailey, the Ceili Group’s treasurer. “I took it on as my project to chair because my parents always had The Clancy Brothers albums playing in the house when I was growing up. As far as I know, the PCG is the first to host it in the Philadelphia area.”
There were just a few moments of worry for Bailey when the flight delays continued…but those worries are over now. The documentary arrived safe and sound this week, awaiting its one and only Philadelphia showing on Friday, May 7, at The Commodore Barry Center (aka The Irish Center) in Mount Airy.
“This is a different event for the Philadelphia Ceili Group to host…we haven’t done anything like this in a very long while, and the showing of “The Yellow Bittern” is a great way to re-introduce film premieres to the group’s events,” said Bailey.
The film is indeed a feast of music, biography and poignant insight into the lives of the Clancy Brothers. Liam, who was the last surviving member of the group, and who passed away this past December, figures most prominently. He’s the man that Bob Dylan once called “just the best ballad singer I’d ever heard in my whole life.”
Admission to the screening is $10, and seating will be limited. Tickets can be purchased online at www.philadelphiaceiligroup.org. The PCG recommends you purchase your tickets early.
“We hope people take advantage of the opportunity. It will be a great evening at the Irish Center…a brilliant movie showing at 7 p.m., and then immediately following the film, there will be a session happening as well!”
For a peek at the online preview of “The Yellow Bittern,” check out the official Web site of the film at www.liamclancyfilm.com.
