Recalling high-profile brothers from Bohola

[caption id="attachment_71667" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Paul O’Dwyer."]

Jim Callahan began the Irish American Writers & Artists salon on the first Tuesday of the month reading from his book in progress, “The Boys from Bohola.” The books subjects are County Mayo-born brothers, William O'Dwyer, NYC’s mayor from 1946 to 1950 and later ambassador to Mexico, and Paul O’Dwyer who was a noted labor and civil rights lawyer for 60 years and served as NYC’s City Council President from 1974 to 1977. In the scene Jim read, FDR summons William O’Dwyer to the White House in 1944 to put him in charge of the War Refugee Board, its mission to house, clothe and feed the millions of people who had been displaced during and after World War II. He read of O’Dwyer’s self-doubts and how honored he felt to be chosen for the job. And Jim has first hand knowledge of Paul O’Dwyer, as well; he served on his staff in the mid-seventies.

New member Jim Rodgers got off to a great start with an impressive reading from his novel “Long Night's End.” The story is based on the protagonist, Johnny Gunn, and takes place in Sunnyside, Queens and in Manhattan. Themes explored in the novel include Catholicism and Irish-American New Yorkers, friendship, loss, sin, addiction, and ultimately the road to redemption. I'm looking forward to hearing more from this new member.

Kathleen Rockwell Lawrence read from her fourth book, a memoir-in-progress of her huge family called “Becoming Irish.” In this episode, Father becomes pregnant for the 13th time and hopes "if the baby is born after my 65th birthday, Medicare will pay for the delivery." Further, Father accuses Kathleen of causing Second Stepmother's miscarriage, but Kathleen has an alibi. Very witty.

Robert Haydon Jones, who read a terrific crime story at the last Thalia salon, followed up with another winner, "The Good Nazi." The story revolves around a couple who meet a survivor of the Nazi slave labor camps of WWII, on a weekend vacation at an old-line, seaside hotel in Rhode Island. Another powerful reading.

And as has become the Thalia salon custom, Malachy McCourt, wrapped things up with an hilarious poem, "The Book of my Enemy Has Been Remaindered" and closed out the entertainment portion of the evening with his wonderful rendition of "Will Ye Go, Lassie, Go?"

Salons are the held on the first (at the Thalia) and third (at the Cell Theatre) Tuesdays of the month. The events begin at 7 p.m. For more information about the salons please contact Charles R. Hale at chashale1@yahoo.com or visit storiesconnectloveheals.com.