By Ted Smyth Three years ago, I read Pete Hamill’s essay, “Notes for the New Irish: A Guide for the Goyim,” in New York magazine’s special Irish Edition in March 1972. What a revelation that turned out to be. Lurking behind the cover of a vivid, burning green Irish harp, between ads for Benson and Hedges and Sony stereos, Pete wrote one of the best descriptions ever of the … [Read more...] about A Guide for the Goyim
Archives for August 2020
Pete Hamill’s Brooklyn World
By Pat Fenton As sure as Brendan Behan had his Dublin, Ireland, Seamus Heaney had his Northern Ireland, and Dylan Thomas had his Swansea, Wales, Pete Hamill had his Brooklyn. And like them, he wrote about it his whole life. And like them, he was always pulled back home again. And he did it with this literary skill that only comes along every so often. Sadly he’s gone … [Read more...] about Pete Hamill’s Brooklyn World
PassagesAugust 8, 2020
James (Jim) Cagney By Miriam Nyhan James (Jim) Bernard Cagney, born in 1933 in Ireland, passed away peacefully in his sleep beside the love of his life, Bridget M. Cagney, in their home in Sunnyside, Queens, New York on July 28, 2020. Jim was raised in Gibbings Grove House in the parish of Milford Co. Cork. He was the son of the late Michael and Nora (neé Drinan) … [Read more...] about PassagesAugust 8, 2020
The Wars of Dagger John
The Irish American Cultural Institute of New Jersey cordially invites you to a LIVE and FREE online presentation of a new reading from this riveting play, previously presented at the Sheen Center Theater in New York. It “explores themes of race and moral ambiguity in the context of the Civil War as it affected New York’s Irish Community.” The Zoom virtual performance … [Read more...] about The Wars of Dagger John
Extraordinary, really
By Terry Golway Here’s the thing about Pete Hamill – he was one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. And there are countless journalists now of a certain age who will tell you the same thing – they worshipped the guy, maybe got into the business because of his columns in the Daily News, and when they met him for the first time, he greeted you like an old … [Read more...] about Extraordinary, really