The Irish American Writers & Artists gathered at Houghton Hall, East 30th Street, New York City on April 1. It was national Flann O’Brien Day, 60 years exactly since the death in Dublin of Brian O’Nolan, or Myles na gCopaleen, who was originally from Strabane, Co. Tyrone.
This line from the great man’s “The Third Policeman” came to mind: “Your talk… is surely the handiwork of wisdom because not one word of it do I understand.”
Houghton Hall is a special and historic space for actors in Midtown Manhattan. The venue, the church, has been a haven for artists for a century now. Back at the beginning those who chose to go on stage were seen as a lower caste by some in the jewelry rattling section, so Houghton Hall offered a refuge for acting professionals. And yes, it does feel like we are going backwards sometimes.
This was a different kind of salon where we had three featured writers showcasing their published work with some questions for each after their reading.
The first of our writer readers was Joseph Aquino. His book “Memoirs of a Watch Salesman – a NYC Real Estate Story” goes deep into Manhattan commercial salesmanship in the 1990s and beyond. However, his origin story of a snot-nosed not so street wise kid selling watches — that told the time all over the world for people who never go anywhere — was a riot.
He was asked a couple of questions about the early days and his writing experiences. He’s a good speaker and obviously still a salesman. He likes to talk. Tales of his Italian roots and his now Irish family and their new New York could go on and probably will. His book does get to the toll that high pressure life takes on a body and soul, so it was fun to hear about the boy before.
Marcia Brady Loughran has a new chapbook out, “Skylights,” with Longship Press. Marcia is also an accomplished reader of her own work. She has won prizes and plaudits. Billy Collins has written adjectives about her.
Marcia’s latest work deals with the death of a clearly lamented brother. It’s heart breaking and she could sell tissues.
Marcia’s words have space for grief.
Bernadette Cullen had a sit down and asked her a few questions about her writing.
Marcia is into brevity. Chapbooks people!
John Munnelly gave us some songs. An awesome performer with a lovely new hairdo. A folking songwriter with a slant to profanity but only for emphasis. Ciara Emmanuel joined in on vocal.
Larry Kirwan read from “Rockin’the Bronx.” Larry’s story is an epic with a cinematic scope. An 1980s story of New York life. He could have read forever but guest interviewer, Siobhán McCourt, had some deep questions for him. Larry, on the spot, eventually evaded any indecency and we all went home happy.
