Patricia Harty, the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Irish America, received the prestigious Eugene O’Neill Lifetime Achievement Award from Irish American Writers and Artists, Inc., on October 19, on the 30th anniversary of the founding of the magazine. Luminaries who were in attendance included journalist and writer Pete Hamill and playwright John Patrick Shanley. Hamill complimented Harty on her editing and writing skills. And Shanley, who remarked on her work building a contemporary, national community of Irish Americans, joked that Harty is, in fact, too good, adding that in order to make it interesting for her biographers she should do something “to blot her copybook,” like run for politics – as a Republican.
The evening, which was held at the Manhattan Club, was moderated by IAW&A vice president Mary Pat Kelly, who co-presented Harty with the crystal award, along with Consul General Barbara Jones.
Many of Irish America’s past editors, writers and interns were in attendance, as were Robert Downey, Sr. and his wife Rosemary Rogers, who writes Irish America’s “Wild Irish Women” column; award-winning novelist Peter Quinn; actor Michael Murphy; Irish soprano Mary Deady, who sang “Song for Ireland” and “I Happen to Like New York;”and actor, author, and raconteur Malachy McCourt, who closed out the evening by leading the audience in a version of “Will You Go Lassie.” ♦
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For more coverage of the Eugene O’Neill Awards, click here. Photo by James Higgins.
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