Irish Times Article
I got the opportunity to write an article for the Irish Times about the stress of balancing life and work while under lockdown. I also talk a little about Francis Read More …
Chief O’Neill: Now Widely Available
It’s finally here! I never thought I would get to this point when I started researching Francis O’Neill a number years back. This is a real dream come true for Read More …
The Tongs by the Fire
This dramatic picture was taken recently of the statue of Francis O’Neil. That’s a gorse fire raging in the background. The image was shared the image with me by my Read More …
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 …
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 …