Saint Patrick’s Day Reading
Thanks to An Cumann: The Irish Association of Nova Scotia, for kindly inviting me to read an excerpt from Chief O’Neill for their virtual Saint Patrick’s Day Event. Although the Read More …
Author: Ronan
Bringing The Past To Life
I have joked before about making a movie about Francis O’Neill, imagine my surprise when I was able to bring the famous chief of police and music collector to life Read More …
The Boys of the West
Francis O’Neill was a multi-faceted character: Chicago chief of police, avid Irish music collector and player, successful real estate investor. You wouldn’t know this from the stern photographs that survive. Read More …
A Merry Christmas
Looking back on 2020 like Scrooge from Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, there is much cause for gloomy reflection: a global pandemic wreaked (and is still wreaking) havoc all around the Read More …
Chief O’Neill: Second Excerpt
Continuing the theme from the previous post: here is the next excerpt from my forthcoming novel, Chief O’Neill. This second excerpt has also already been published by the Celtic Junction Read More …
Chief O’Neill: First Excerpt
I would like to start a new series on the Chief O’Neill blog. The next few posts will excerpt portions of the forthcoming book. Some of these excerpts have already Read More …
Sketchy Recollections of an Eventful Life in Chicago
The above image is of my personal copy of Chief O’Neill’s memoirs, collected and extensively annotated by his great-granddaughter Mary Lesch and Chicago historian Ellen Skerrett. I was fortunate enough Read More …
The Sherlock Holmes of Chicago
Francis O’Neill was a Chicago detective for many years before his appointment as police chief. His memoirs outline several interesting cases: how he helped upset confidence schemes and violent crimes Read More …
Francis O’Neill Irish Arts Week 2020
2020 has been a tough year in so many ways, and yet people are adapting like never before. Take for example, the Irish Music School of Chicago. For ten years Read More …
Two Years Before the Mast
Francis O’Neill is remembered for his huge contribution to Irish music while Chicago police chief at the turn of the last century. But not many know about his life at Read More …