Danny Boy

Everyone can hum this haunting Irish ballad that inevitably brings a tear to the eye. The most requested Irish song, it has been recorded by a variety of performers ranging from Elvis Presley, Bing Crosby, and Kate Smith to the Pogues. The complete story of this moving tune has been shrouded in mystery until now. Where did "Danny Boy" originate, who actually wrote the lyrics, and is it even Irish? Acclaimed novelist, actor, memoirist, screenwriter, playwright, and raconteur, Malachy McCourt, turns his Irish eye to the song's complex history and myths in an eloquent ode to this classic. He traces the evolution of the music, which is one of more than 100 songs composed to the very same tune, including the familiar "Londonderry Air," and explores the enduring mystique of "Danny Boy" in an unforgettable tribute that brilliantly weaves history with folklore.

Danny Boy grew up on one of the most influential record labels in the history of rap music. As the adopted son of Suge Knight, Danny rubbed elbows with the best of the best in the music industry. He sang for Teena Marie, collaborated with Lisa Left Eye Lopes, and formed a friendship with Jodeci members, K-Ci and JoJo. He witnessed both the rise and fall of Death Row Records, traveled with Suge and Tupac, and performed with some of the greatest musicians of all times. Danny is probably most widely known for "I Ain't Mad at Cha," the iconic song he recorded with the late Tupac Shakur. But there's more to his story. In this autobiography, he shares his secrets, his heartaches, and loves; he takes the reader on a journey that is unforgettable.

Danny Boy is an energetic black colt, new to the ranch. Out on the trail, a guest's poor judgement brings Danny down. Trapped on a ledge, there's no way of reaching him - until Kirstie remembers some disused silver mine workings. Could an old site plan help her to carry out a daring rescue?

Tommy Dunleavy and his life-long friends, 20-somethings in a northeast Philadelphia parish, have no idea their beloved pastor is an abuser, not until a friend dies by suicide after filing a rape complaint. Shocked and guilt-ridden, friendships splinter. The "did he or didn't he" debate rages in the neighborhood. Tommy knows Father is guilty. Despite his friends leaving the Church, he's confident that once the investigation is completed and wrongs are righted, everything can return to normal. Then the accused priest is reinstated, and Tommy has to decide, should he stay or should he go, and if he goes, then what? Heenan writes with authenticity, not just in the details --- row homes, corner bars, and rec centers, but in the closeness, loyalty, and traditions of community. "Danny's Boys is a heartbreaking and provocative story. Heenan does a masterful job of conveying the life and spirit of the Irish-Catholic neighborhood." - Len Joy, author of Dry Heat, Everyone Dies Famous, Better Days "Heenan skillfully takes the reader through the friends' journeys as they explore the limits of friendship and faith." - Ann Stolinsky, author, co-owner, Gemini Wordsmiths, Celestial Echo Press

Ever felt that the way you are living is not the life you wanted? JJ had been feeling this way his whole life. After his drunk and abusive father left him, with his mother and his big brother, he felt it was up to him to take care of his family. As JJ went through life, he encountered many situations that he did not want. But just like life, you rolled on or got rolled over. JJ chose to roll on, and as society failed him, he realized that he didnt choose the game but that the game chose him. Join JJ on his struggle through life and whats right and wrong. Follow him as he transitions from a scared little boy to a self-made man. How will it all play out? You got to read to find out.

Best known for his enormously successful independent film The Crying Game, Irish director Neil Jordan has made sixteen feature films since 1982. Even after achieving commercial success and critical acclaim with such films as Interview with the Vampire and The Butcher Boy, Jordan remains a curiously elusive figure in the era of the celebrity filmmaker. Maria Pramaggiore addresses this conundrum by examining Jordan's distinctive style across a surprisingly broad range of genres and production contexts, including horror and gangster films, Irish-themed movies, and Hollywood remakes. Despite the striking diversity of Jordan's films, the director consistently returns to gothic themes of loss, violence, and madness. In her sophisticated examination of Mona Lisa, Michael Collins, and The Good Thief, Pramaggiore shows how Jordan presents these dark narratives with a uniquely Irish and postmodern sense of irony. This illuminating analysis of one of the cinema's most important artists will be of keen interest to movie enthusiasts as well as students and scholars of contemporary film."