Great Pilot TV show played Monday night and will replay on Thursday. I heard the term Black Irish ever since I was a kid, and never knew what it meant.
This show has Canadian roots. Now I know why my father had black hair and blue eyes.
Bill
- Actress Lauren Graham is referred to as Black Irish in a celebrity profile.[16]
- In the pilot to NBC's new television series The Black Donnellys, Joey "Ice Cream", one of the mainstay characters (portrayed by actor Keith Nobbs) narrates the action drama and at one point indirectly refers to himself and unspecified Donnelly brothers as Black Irish. Joey cites a story told by his grandmother asserting that Ireland was originally inhabited by a 'dark haired race of people' who the invading Celts attempted to unsuccesfully wipe out.
- Actress Lauren Graham is referred to as Black Irish in a celebrity profile.[16]
- In the pilot to NBC's new television series The Black Donnellys, Joey "Ice Cream", one of the mainstay characters (portrayed by actor Keith Nobbs) narrates the action drama and at one point indirectly refers to himself and unspecified Donnelly brothers as Black Irish. Joey cites a story told by his grandmother asserting that Ireland was originally inhabited by a 'dark haired race of people' who the invading Celts attempted to unsuccesfully wipe out.
12 comments:
gee yellin and twice??
I apologize for the large type and the redundency. I have no control over my posts. as I've stated here a number of times.
Last time I apologize and only because you are new.
Second Avenue.
From the original Donnellys massacre in Ontario Canada:
Farrell, in spite of his agreement in court, was bitter about having had to give up some of the acreage he had paid for, and vocally lambasted the Donnellys in public for it. During a local barn-raising, a drunken argument ensued between Donnelly and Farrell, and Farrell was killed by a blow to the head with a handspike thrown by Jim Donnelly. Pat Farrell died on June 29th, and Jim Donnelly then became a wanted man. (Interestingly, Farrell's very young son was adopted by the Donnellys, and was brought up by them until adulthood.) By the time police had arrived to arrest Jim however, he had seemingly disappeared and his wife Johannah refused to speak on the subject. He had, it was later discovered, been staying in the barn, and working the fields dressed in his wife's clothing. Almost two years later, Jim turned himself in to Jim Hodgins, a sympathetic Justice of the Peace
Jim was sentenced to be hanged on September 17, 1859. A petition for clemency started by wife Johannah saw his sentence reduced to seven years in Kingston Penitentiary.
[edit] Massacre
During the early-morning hours of February 4, 1880, a group of approximately 30 townsmen, members of the Biddulph Peace Society, under the leadership of the town's police Constable James Carroll, stormed the Donnelly household. They used crude farming instruments and clubs to kill Jim, Johannah, their son, Tom, and their 21-year-old niece, Bridget, who was visiting from Ireland. The invaders fled after setting the house on fire.
An 11-year-old farmhand named Johnny O'Connor, who was staying the night with the family, had hidden under a bed and was ignored during the massacre; apparently the assailants did not see him. He eventually escaped to a nearby farmhouse and later became the primary witness in the trial against the vigilantes, who had since stormed off to Will Donnelly's house -- where they mistakenly shot and killed John Donnelly, thinking that it was Will who answered the door, before retreating into the night.
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20012448,00.html
Last one I promise. Watch a clip. I hope this show stays great but becuse its on NBC and not pat channels I have no expectations. Watch a clip.
http://www.tv.com/the-black-donnellys/show/49534/summary.html
Bill, The book I read over twenty years ago was called 'The Black Donnelys of North Ontario'. Ed
Thanks Ed, I'll check the library first then Amazon.com
Bill
The Bood the Black Donnellys is by Thomas P. Kelley, I have it in front of my now in paperback. My husband picked it up at a Coles Bookstore in North Bay, Ont. a few years back. The new show on TV really is not like the book at all. The Black Donellys lived in Lucan, Ontario. Glo
I heard a story once from a man called Cliff Wheeler. Cliff was the Gazette District Manager for Verdun/LaSalle and anyone who new Cliff knew he was straight as an arrow. He told me that an elderly Uncle of his had been working on a CNR line in Northern Ontario and were making their lunch in a line shack. A stranger asked if he could come in and get warm. While the stranger warmed himself the Uncle's mate was talking about the Black Donnelys and how bad they were. The stranger suddenly whirled and said , "Yes, you bastards they were my family. You don't talk about them like that." With that he stabbed the fellow with a knife and ran out the door. Apparently the man survived. Knowing Cliff and his family were not the type to make stories, I have tended to believe it. Ed
Hi I just saw a book about them in the mall this week. Did not catch the name but I think its the same one. Lad
I don't want to beat this thread to death but here's an interesting response to the TV show I received from a NY friend. Never heard of a DINK before.
Second Avenue.
Bill
I'm afraid that the "organized crime" theme may be slightly dated regarding the plot line of the Black Donnelly's. The neighborhood known as "Hells Kitchen" has been renamed Clinton by real estate speculators and the old tenements (those that are still standing) have been gutted and turned into efficiency flats rented to DINKS (double income no kids). I knew most of the fellows in most likely the last ethnic Irish American crew from Hell's Kitchen. The ones not dead now or in the Witness Protection Program are doing long terms in prisons. These guys were in a rather loosely formed unit known as the "Westies" they were basically an equal opportunity hit squad (they would whack any body regardless of race , creed or economic class provided they were paid enough to do this by the Italians).
My cousin and another kid introduced me to swimming by throwing my off the Morton Street Pier into the North River. It makes me shudder now when I think of this method of introducing an eleven year old to aquatics but in my case it worked as I'm north of sixty now and still a strong swimmer.
The other kid , who later served with me as an alter boy in Sacred Heart Church grew up went to Vietnam became a Westy and is now doing a life sentence in the Federal Penitentiary at Leavenworth.
Sic transit gloria mundi;
Hugh
The pilot for 'The Black Donnelly's' are on tonight NBC in my neighbourhood. Is it on elsewhere? Just curious.
Second Avenue.
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