March 9, 2007

 

Press Contact:  Dan Brick
dan@solasnua.org
Phone/Fax: 202-595-1915
Cell: 202-487-4694
www.solasnua.org
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Solas Nua's 2^nd Annual Irish Book Day

Saturday, March 17^th at Various Venues

What is Solas Nua's Irish Book Day?

Solas Nua's annual Irish Book Day is an amazing and unique event.  On Saturday, March 17^th, 2007, Solas Nua will distribute over 4,000 contemporary Irish publications for free at public locations throughout the DC metropolitan area.
Further details, including titles of books are available at www.solasnua.org.

 

Venues:  Venues are being added every day and are subject to change without notice.

Venue: Landmark’s E Street Cinema
Address: 555 11th Street NW
Time: 11:00am – 8:00pm

Venue: Warehouse: Washington’s Downtown Art Complex
Address: 1021 7th Street NW
Time: 12:00pm – 12:00am

Venue: Bethesda Row Cinema
Address: 7235 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, MD
Time: 11:00am - 3:00pm

Venue: Playbill Café
Address: 1409 14th St. NW, Washington DC
Time: 5:00pm – 11:00pm

Venue: Ticketplace
Address: 407 Seventh Street NW , Washington DC
Time: 10:30am – 5:00pm

Venue: Eamonn's - A Dublin Chipper
Address: 728 King Street, Alexandria VA
Time: 12:00pm – 7:00pm

 

 

Solas Nua's Artistic Director, Linda Murray on Irish Book Day

 

ÒSolas Nua's Annual Book Day is based on the idea of book crossing events, popular in Europe, where the public find free books left on public transportation, in coffee shops and other habitual locations, with the hope that they will read, enjoy and then pass along the book to a friend. At their best, book crossings promote literature, literacy, community and a spirit of generosity.
Similarly, Solas Nua's Irish Book Day for the D.C. public aims to foster knowledge of Ireland's diverse and rich literary talent, to promote literacy and education, and to create a friendly environment for St. Patrick's Day that will hopefully endure throughout the year.
This year the books come from writers in Northern Ireland courtesy of the Verbal Arts Centre in Derry, and the publishers whose donations made the event possible. Many of the book titles are not for sale in the U.S. giving Washingtonians a real coup - an opportunity to engage with literature not available anywhere else in America. The decision to highlight writers from the North is tied to the Rediscover Northern Ireland Festival which will take place in D.C. this year.Ó

 

What is Solas Nua?

 

Solas Nua is a non-profit arts organization that seeks out both feted and obscure work by contemporary artists in Ireland to promote awareness of modern Irish culture in Washington D.C.  Solas Nua is the only organization in the United States dedicated exclusively to contemporary Irish arts.

Since 2005 Solas Nua has produced the critically acclaimed theatrical shows Disco Pigs, Misterman, Howie The Rookie, The Mai, Bedbound, La Corbi�re and most recently The Small Things.  We have also produced two film festivals, Amharc Eile: Women directors in Irish Cinema at E Street Cinema and Dra’ocht: Magic at Play in Contemporary Irish Film.  In addition to our numerous special events including Beckett Centenary Festival and our monthly Book Club and our free Monthly Play Reading Series, we produced our first annual Irish Book Day last year.