Life and Times of Eamon Kelly

At our September 14th meeting, we will learn about the Life and Times of Eamon Kelly, the great Irish storyteller. Appropriately, our speaker will be our own seanchaí, Jim Hawkins. Jim has recently returned from Ireland with Diane, where he refreshed his story-telling gifts.

Kelly’s attraction to stories came from Bryan MacMahon, one of Ireland’s leading writers at the time. His liking for plays by Irish authors such as Brian Friel, as well as the plays of Chekov, Ibsen and others led him to join the Listowel Drama group where he met his wife Maureen O’Sullivan performing in Synge’s “Playboy of the Western World.” Then Eamon played in “Philadelphia, Here I Come” at the Abbey Theater, leading to his touring in America. His story telling developed as he participated in variety shows on the radio, leading to his own storytelling show, “In My Father’s Time,” on Sunday nights. When America was watching Ed Sullivan, Ireland was listening to Eamon Kelly.

Tonight, Jim Hawkins will take us through Eamon’s experiences, including some of his best loved stories. Jim has been listening to and telling stories since he first heard Uncle Jack and neighbors tell while growing up in County Westmeath. Jim taught English for 39 years here on Long Island where he read and told for his students.

When he retired in 2009, Jim became a full time Teller in his various programs including “Growing up in America,” “Pivotal Moments in Irish History,” “Children’s Stories from Around the World,” and

“Driving Across America with Billy Zuckerman.” There is always time for story time! Thank you, Jim.

Meeting Details Wednesday, September 14, 2022 - 7:30pm Garden City Casino 51 Cathedral Avenue Garden City, NY