Pat Wood, et al I have the new book "Paradise Alley" on my library table and can't wait to start it, but am finishing "By the Lake" by John McGahern. a lovely treasure of a book about rural County Leitrim today. What isn't rural in County Leitrim! Since my English /Coleman family was in the 4th Ward in 1860-70s, I'm sure they were knocking heads with the rest during the Draft Riots. I have a few favorite books and media for Irish background in NYC, among them: GOTHAM by Burrows & Wallace CHANGING NEW YORK: Photos by Berenice Abbott HISTORICAL ATLAS OF NEW YORK CITY: Homberger LOW LIFE: LURES AND SNARES OF OLD NEW YORK: Luc Sante BANISHED CHILDREN OF EVE: Peter Quinn (fiction) IRISH IN AMERICA: Video A&E PAPERBOY: Isabelle Holland ( children's fiction) BROOKLYN BOOK OF THE DEAD: Michael Stephens (fiction) WEDDINGS AND WAKES: Alice MacDermott (fiction) CHARMING BILLY: Alice MacDermott (fiction) NEW YORK TRANSIT MUSEUM: http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/museum/index.html Some of the fiction is later than the second half of the 19th C. But it's what happened next. Alice MacDermott is absolutely describing my families. Cheers, Sheila MacAvoy Block