For old time’s sake, I’m submitting a photo of my friends, known as the Irish Lads of West 96th Street in Manhattan back in the day! 

Most of the lads served two years in the Army and Marines during the Korean War. A couple were over-aged for the draft.

The lads attended Mass faithfully every Sunday at nearby Holy Name Church where they met and chatted with the boys and girls also from Ireland after Mass.

The Band of Brothers, as I now call them, worked as conductors on the New Haven Railroad, the New York Police Department and Consolidated Edison.

For leisure time, you could find them maybe dating the ladies, playing handball on the nearby courts in Central Park, or maybe on Sundays playing hurling or football for their county in Gaelic Park. They also became avid baseball fans.

As the years passed the Band of Brothers met their future wives through friends, dances, Gaelic Park and the Catskills.  All attended each other’s weddings.

Sadly, only two of the Band of Brothers are now living. They were a credit to Ireland and America and are sadly missed by all. May they rest in peace.

The photo shows, from left to right, myself, Tommy Lydon (Galway), Joe Hillary (Clare), Tim Casey (Clare), Tommy Foley (Sligo), John Rowland (Mayo), Tommy Hanley (Galway), and Tom Judge (Mayo). Only myself and John Rowland are living.