How It’s New York: Malachy McCourt is a literary Irish fixture in New York, one of the founders of Irish American Writers & Artists (IAWA), and the person who suggested the salon. This reading took place at SOPAC, NJ: South Orange Performing Arts Center. And one of the things about New York, of course, is that it’s tri-state!
How It’s Irish: McCourt is from Limerick, like his brother Frank (author of the famous Angela’s Ashes). He’s a writer too, and has that gift of the gab.
Welcome aboard new blogger Kathy Callahan, an active member of IAWA, and a writer herself! Kath is a healing arts therapist in Wayne, NJ. So good to have another Jersey girl in the house! She looks forward to his forthcoming book: When I’m Sober I’m Not Drinking.
Malachy McCourt is the hardest working storyteller on both sides of the Hudson: a seanachie like no other in the Irish tradition. Himself through and through. Malachy imparted his magic through song, poetry, storytelling and observational wit that doesnt quit to an immediately enchanted audience at SOPAC on Saturday March 9. I have to admit when I first heard about, Loving Life and Laughing at Death……..in NJ of all places! I thought, “Malachy must be working on the sequel: The O’Soprano’s of the Oranges. And he’s coming to South Orange to try out new material on us.”
Here is the take away from the show.
1. You can love life while laughing at death in New Jersey, all the while discovering no less than 75 ways to say it. Malachy read a roaring out loud list of words, expressions:
She has bit the dust, expired, gone to a better place and or the other side. And where is the other side exactly? How do you know if it is a better place? I’d like to know so that I can plan ahead.
2. Prayers are answered in their own time.
There is a mystical air that you can feel in Ireland…Where incredible dreams are created and sometimes come true…I myself have been very blessed as I have lived a big and full life filled with incredible good luck! When I was a little boy I prayed hard for Santa to bring me the Lionel Train Set that I so admired in Limerick department store window. But it never came… ” Or so he thought. A few years ago, I finally got the Lionel train set.”
Malachy’s prayer was answered 70 years later.
3. Prayers are a form of sacred storytelling…And like all good stories that have a rhythem, timing and delivery that is all their own.
3. Prayers are a form of sacred storytelling…And like all good stories that have a rhythem, timing and delivery that is all their own.
4. There is but one word for sober: sober. That says it all!
5. We are all looking forward to reading Malachy’s soon to be released book, When I’m sober I’m not drinking.
Malachy holds storytelling court on the first Tuesday of every month at Irish American Writers and Artists Salon, Thalia Café at Symphony Space, 96th and Broadway, 7pm. IAWA also meets at the Cell on the third Tuesday, The Cell theatre, 338 W.23 Street
