John R Howley
Where do you live? New York City.
Current company and position? Bunaitheoir (Founder) and Uachtarán (President) of GAELTACHT NYC, a New York organization that has facilitated 60+ Pop-Up Gaeltachts (gatherings of Irish speakers) and continues to host bi-weekly events supporting the city’s Irish language community. GAELTACHT NYC welcomes Gaeilgeoirí of all backgrounds and fluency levels. @gaeltachtnyc
First job and what it taught me? My first job was on a local flower farm in Connecticut. Farming, even when growing sunflowers and zinnias, is challenging; weeds sprout, beetles munch, and weather rarely cooperates. Flower farming therefore taught me the powers of perseverance and patience. I learned to confront obstacles without fear, adapt quickly, and stay committed to long-term goals.
How do you embrace your Irish heritage? The Irish language is at the heart of how I express and experience my heritage. Raised on the music of Clannad and Mary Black, I grew up aware of Gaeilge. I seized on the opportunity to study the language at Glucksman Ireland House and, since then, Irish has become my functional second language. I’m proud to maintain friendships and professional relationships entirely through Irish. I speak Irish most often at the Pop-Up Gaeltachts that I organize through GAELTACHT NYC. Every two weeks, I join a devoted circle of Gaeilgeoirí in pubs and cultural spaces across New York City. It’s a privilege to be part of this vibrant community and to help create a space where our network can share conversation and laughter.
Something people would be surprised to know about me... I am an actor who works predominantly in TV and film. If you want to see me bloody and brawling drug dealers, you can stream my debut horror movie “Bleeding” on Amazon Prime Video, or wherever you buy movies. I also lead the upcoming TV series “Perfect Sundays,” a family drama about dairy farmers in rural America.
Biography: John R. Howley is an Irish language advocate and actor based in New York City. As the bunaitheoir (founder) and uachtarán (president) of GAELTACHT NYC, he has built a community of 500+ members and has partnered with the Irish Consulate, the New York Public Library, and other notable institutions. His acting work includes the lead role in "Bleeding," a Cineverse feature named one of The New York Times’ “Five Horror Movies to Stream Now,” as well as the TV series "Perfect Sundays." A Columbia University graduate, he earned three collegiate awards for excellence in performance and scholarship.
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