New York-based Irish American Writers & Artists (IAW&A) celebrates author, historian and foremost chronicler of New York’s Irish history, Peter Quinn.
How it’s New York: Irish American Writers & Artists is a New York based arts not-for-profit.
How it’s Irish: It was founded by, among others, Limerick’s Malachy McCourt; and the award is being presented to Peter Quinn.
The Irish American Writers & Artists, Inc. (IAW&A) announced author Peter Quinn as the nonprofit organization’s 2019 recipient of its prestigious annual Eugene O’Neill Lifetime Achievement Award. Quinn will receive the award at a ceremony held at the Manhattan Club, upstairs at Rosie O’Grady’s (800 7th Ave., New York City) on Monday, on October 21, 2019.
A former chief speechwriter for New York Governors Hugh Carey and Mario Cuomo, Peter Quinn is author of Banished Children of Eve, the definitive and magisterial novel about the New York City Irish experience during the Civil War; a trilogy of historical detective novels and a nonfiction collection, Looking for Jimmy: In Search of Irish America. Co-writer of the television documentary McSorley’s New York, he has been a guest commentator on several PBS documentaries. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Commonweal, Irish America and other publications. A proud son of The Bronx, an in-demand speaker known for his erudition and wit, Peter Quinn was a founder and first President of Irish American Writers & Artists. Recipient of numerous awards, including the distinguished NYU Glucksman Ireland House’s Seamus Heaney Award for Arts & Letters and The Irish American Cultural Institute’s Annie Moore Award, Quinn will now add IAW&A’s Eugene O’Neill Award to his honors
“I’m honored beyond words to receive this year’s O’Neill Award, and deeply grateful for IAW&A’s generosity and lapse in judgment. “Nom sum dignus“ said Quinn.
Mary Pat Kelly, President of the Irish American Writers & Artists, said, “We’ve all gathered around the turf fire of Peter Quinn’s storytelling – full of humor, wisdom and solid history. We’re delighted to honor him.
Founded in 2008, IAW&A aims to highlight and encourage Irish Americans who are active in the arts, with twice-monthly salons and a vibrant community. In eleven years, IAW&A has become an important contributor to New York’s Irish-American arts scene. Every year, the organization celebrates the achievements of Irish American writers and artists by bestowing its Eugene O’Neill Lifetime Achievement Award to an individual recognized for exemplary contributions to the arts.
Past recipients of the Eugene O’Neill Award include Joanie Madden (2018) Phil Donahue (2017), Malachy McCourt (2016), Patricia Harty (2015), Pete Hamill (2014), John Patrick Shanley (2013), Judy Collins (2012), Charlotte Moore and Ciarán O’Reilly of the Irish Repertory Theatre (2011), Brian Dennehy (2010), and William Kennedy (2009).
The price of $150 per person includes a year’s membership with the organization. Tickets are available now through Eventbrite at https://oneill2019.eventbrite.com
MEDIA CONTACT: Irish American Writers & Artists, iawaoneillaward@gmail.com
