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Description
The unique account of the Irish in the Twin Towers, from Niall O’Dowd, the man described as “the authentic voice of the Irish in America, who has more knowledge of this community than almost anyone else alive.” Jim Dwyer, New York Times, Pulitzer Prize winner
"It has a clearer focus than many of the other products hawked by the tragedy merchants, and what really sets the book apart is Niall O'Dowd's approach to his subjects... [He] has an ear for the authentic voice of Irish America... Fire in the Morning captures the humanity, heroism and imperfections that define the millions of decent, hard-working Americans of Irish descent." Irish Independent
"From the ashes of the Twin Towers he has constructed a vital testimonial to the lives of working people... Its pages are filled with a humanity that transcends Armageddon, ignores the follies of class difference and spending power, and serves to unite the living with their dead. And besides, it's well written. It's a story that reduces hatred, despite the ineffable horror, through sense of community and self-discovery and, ironically, relays a strong spiritual dimension." The Irish Times
"For Irish Americans, the stairs of the doomed towers became a crossroads: there, the children of the Irish diaspora met office workers on the way down, rescuers climbing up. Their extraordinary stories are told beautifully and simply in Niall O'Dowd's "Fire In the Morning," a book that will linger in memory as long as there are Irishmen and Irishwomen, and people who love them." Jim Dwyer, New York Times Pulitzer Prize Winner
The Irish built New York and they built it well. The World Trade Center, its majestic twin towers set like a jewel against the skyline, was in many ways their Rembrandt, the ultimate example of their industry.
When it came crashing down on September 11th it took over a thousand Irish with it. Their stories ranged from undocumented workers holding illegal work papers who laboured away in the shadows, to second generation titans of Wall Street.
Then there were the firemen and police officers, the backbone of Irish America for generations. They rushed towards the flames when all else were running away from them. Since its foundation back in the 1830s the Fire Department of New York has lost a total of 700 men. On September 11 they lost almost half that number in a single day.
This is the story of the Irish in New York on that dreadful day when a community faced the greatest test in its history and emerged changed forever. Their stories are inspiring and varied and provide an important historical account of the day that will forever live in infamy. |
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Author
Niall O’Dowd is the editor and founder of The Irish Voice and Irish America magazine. He continues to be a frequent analyst for CNN on Irish issues and has appeared on Good Morning America, NBC Today, and The Charlie Rose Show on PBS.
In addition he has written many opinion pieces published in the New York Times, Washington Post and The Irish Times. He was awarded the American Book Award by the Before Columbus Foundation in 1996 for “excellence in writing.” An arts graduate of University College Dublin and a native of Tipperary, Ireland, he came to the U.S. in 1978. He is a resident of Manhattan and married to Debbie McGoldrick. They have a daughter, Alana.
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