About THAT DAMNED IRISHMAN Sean O’Hara is born in Ireland, a land in which its people are struggling against the British occupation of their country. After the family is forced to witness the hanging of Sean’s uncle Liam, his father, Colin O’Hara becomes the leader of a resistance group. When an ambush of a British patrol goes awry, Colin is killed and Sean, his mother, Catha, and three younger siblings escape and board a ship for America. During the voyage, his youngest sister, Elizabeth, sickens and dies. In New York City, Sean works as a stevedore and later becomes a liquor supplier to the saloons of the city in partnership with Mike Callaghan, a not -too-law abiding New York policeman. A rival gang led by Al MacDuff, attack’s Sean’s home in his absence, killing his remaining sister, Jennifer, and injuring his mother and brother Tony. His mother blames Sean and they are estranged. Sean prospers and enters the field of banking and finance where he befriends the Mexican ambassador to the United States. Later, he meets and falls in love with Margarita, the ambassador’s granddaughter. They marry and spend their winters on an adjacent rancho given to them as a wedding present by Margarita’s grandfather.
THAT DAMNED IRISHMAN is the second book after The AMBASSADOR, continuing the lives of many of the characters. The third novel, MERC, is about Sean's son. The last book in this series is The SACRED LAND. | From the author, Phillip Lee Edwards Being of English, Scots and Irish descent, I'm distantly related to people in all three countries. However, my sympathies lie with the Irish, who suffered under the English occupation forces as did the Scots in earlier years. I’m sure these feelings are evident in my writing of THAT DAMNED IRISHMAN, as the main character leaves Ireland and comes to the United States as an immigrant, working and fighting his way to success.  |
