"I only ask to be free. The butterflies are free. Mankind will surely not deny to Harold Skimpole what it concedes to the butterflies." -Bleak House, by Charles Dickens-

No Irish Need Apply is a brilliantly written novel most worthy to sit next to some of the greatest writers. It speaks from the very soul of the author to the soul of the reader.

Two boys of Irish background know inside they are different but not exactly sure if they are gay, and certainly don't know if they want others to know. This keeps them alienated from the rest of the world until they discover one another. They are not products of perversion or trauma. They come from Irish Catholic background.

Sarah, Kevin's mother, pushes the boys to each take a date to the prom together. "Make it a double date," she said.

Rumors around the school already have it that the two boys are gay, but the prom night may show a spectacular come out for both.

Edward C. Patterson knocks down the barriers to see the superficial discrimination of gays without knowing who they are or judging them by a stereotype and this enlightening novel, like Butterflies Are Free, shows the world of a gay as seen through the eyes of a young person who is gay. Open your mind. Be enlightened to this. It has an invaluable lesson.

What humbled me about this tale was Sarah was presented up front as though she would be someone who would have been heart broken to hear that her child was gay. Perhaps the type (stereotype that is) who would not accept Kevin or Louis for who they were. Yet, the reader finds the reason why you can't judge the book by its cover--no matter if you are gay or straight! And it shows the real reason why they are accepted. Sarah has a true love for everyone--not just her own son but someone else's son. Are you a parent? How would you judge your son and the other man in his life? It hits both audiences and the truth is the truth!

The point is well taken and the boys are fascinating their audiences with the wonder of discovering who they were. (This is not a sexually explicit book.)

Edward C. Patterson leaves a mark of enlightenment on the reader with his beautifully delivered narrative prose."