St. Joseph’s College is hosting Irish historian Dr. Michael Doorley for four lectures at its Brooklyn and Long Island campuses from Oct. 17-22. At these events, sponsored by the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, Doorley will discuss his latest work, “Justice Daniel Cohalan, 1865-1946: American patriot and Irish-American nationalist” (Cork University Press), which chronicles the influential role that Judge Cohalan played in early 20th century New York state politics and the Irish nationalist movement.
All events are free and open to the public, though the second of the four requires a reservation. The series will take place at SJC Long Island and SJC Brooklyn as follows:
Thursday, Oct. 17, 12:40 to 1:30 p.m. in the McGann Conference Center, O'Connor Hall, SJC Long Island, 319 West Roe Blvd, Patchogue
Thursday Oct. 17, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Suffolk County Historical Society (reservations required, please contact Dr. Mark Hessler at mhessler@sjcny.edu)
Monday, Oct. 21 12:40 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. SJC Brooklyn, Tuohy Hall Student Lounge, 245 Clinton Avenue, Brooklyn.
Tuesday, Oct. 22, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Brooklyn Historical Society, Great Hall and Fransioli Gallery.
“Cohalan is fascinating in that he was a major power broker in both New York City politics and the Irish nationalist movement simultaneously during a period of significant flux,” the college said in a statement. “Guests at these lectures will learn how he navigated not only the reform/Progressive Era in local politics but also how he managed the American response both in advance of the Easter Rising and the de Valera/pro-Treaty schism in the Irish community.”
Dr. Michael Doorley is an Associate Lecturer in History with the Open University in Ireland. He is a graduate of University College Dublin and earned his Ph.D. at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is the author of "Irish American Diaspora Nationalism: The Friends of Irish Freedom, 1916-1935" (2005). He has published widely on the history of the Irish diaspora in the United States including chapters in the landmark volumes, "Ireland’s Allies: America and the 1916 Easter Rising" (2016), and "The Atlas of the Irish Revolution" (2017). An interviewed with Doorley will appear in an issue of the Echo before the St. Joseph series begins.
