Barbara and Cliff Miercort hosted the first Texas AIF Literary Salon of the Gallery Circle at their beautiful home in Glen Lakes March 6th. The Gallery Circle is designed to provide supporters of The American Ireland Fund with ongoing opportunities that deepen their connection with Irish culture and the arts.
The guest of honor was Irish literary giant and New York best-seller list author Frank Delaney.
Over champagne and tea Frank visited with fellow authors Dr. Fred Wendorf, world renowned archaeologist and prolific writer on Egypt; Dr. Barbara Wedgwood, widow of Hensleigh Wedgwood whose book on the Wedgwood family and the pottery they founded was of special interest because of the Waterford Wedgwood connection; and last, but not least, hostess Barbara Dolan Miercort author of Fires in the Mist an historical novel of pre-Celtic Ireland.
Frank charmed all with reading excerpts from his latest novel Shannon and signing copies of this and his other books Ireland and Tipperary. After his sold-out appearance at the Dallas Woman’s Club the previous evening, it was almost impossible to find his latest book, Shannon, in any of the bookstores so literary fans were just buying any Delaney book available before coming to the Miercort event.
Among those attending were AIF Board members Dolores McCall who flew in from Midland Texas, Mike Corboy, and Tom Codd. Frank, who had stated that he only stocked Irish WineGeese wines in his cellar, was presented with a copy of Dr Ted Murphy’s award-winning book A Kingdom of Wine and from the hostess a copy of her book on pre-Celtic Ireland.
Adding to the festivities was a celebration of June Bennett’s American citizenship granted the day before. Frank insisted on having the first slice of the cake before being whisked away by AIF supporter, Bobbie Sue Williams, to attend the North Texas Irish Music Festival