Out & About

Ronnie is survived by his two children, Phelim and Cliodhna and grandchildren. Ireland's top musicians provided the music for the funeral mass, including Phil Coulter, Mary Coughlan, Eleanor Shanley, Don Baker, Richie Buckley, Louis Stewart with John Sheehan and Barney McKenna of The Dubliners. Irish President Mary McAlesse and An Taoiseach Brian Cowen were represented by their aides-de-camp.

I will always remember some years ago when Ronnie was playing in Cork. His late wife Deirdre, who only passed away a few months ago called me to get Ronnie a car up to Dublin as he was performing at the opening of a new venue.

I got him the car and driver for the journey to the capital city. They set off and were in Glanmire just outside Cork City on the Dublin road when Ronnie told the driver to stop and the Dubliner grabbed his guitar and got out.

The next thing I got a call from the Metropole Hotel in Cork to come over as Ronnie was asleep in the cloak room - needless to say he did not make the show in Dublin!

He was a great character. I met him for lunch in Eamonn's on his last visit to New York.

We sat all afternoon telling stories of gigs and days that had passed - great, great stories, I could tell so many. May he rest in peace. Ronnie was a great friend and musician.

The United Restaurant and Tavern Owners of New York presented a check to the FDNY Foundation on Wednesday last at the Waterstone Grill on Pearl Street. Paul Hurley the president of the URTO carried out the presentation of the check at the luncheon to Jean O'Shea, Executive Director of the FDNY Foundation. Also present were: Tom Slattery, Maureen McLoughlin, Secretary of the URTO, and Kathleen Reilly who along with her dad Paddy Reilly are owners of the Coliseum.

Don't forget the MurphGuide.com Annual Summer Cruise on the Hudson River this Thursday, August 21st. Tickets are going fast and are $65 in advance and $70 at the dock. The price includes an open bar with hot & cold buffet and also a live DJ and a cruise aboard ship The Temptress.

Where would you get a night out like this? I can tell you. Nowhere.

The cruise departs from the World Yacht Marina on west 41st Street & Hudson River. Come along and bring your friends as I will be aboard and it should be great fun. Boarding is at 6.30pm and the ship departs at 7pm and returns at 10pm.

A new sports bar and restaurant has just opened on the upper east side. The East End is on Third Avenue between 86th & 87th Streets.

Another great hangout is Fiddlesticks on Greenwich Avenue in the west village and on Long Island you have The Recovery Room bar and restaurant at Mineola train station - well worth a visit either for lunch or just before you hop on the train in to Manhattan.

Now that the summer is almost there's only one more week and its back to the grind stone for the kids at college and school and time for them to be hitting the books again.

Ireland seem to have a little bit of luck at the Beijing Olympics with Kenny Egan guaranteed a bronze medal for the light heavyweight division and Paddy Barnes a bronze medal for light flyweight and lot of people did not give them a chance. Well done lads.

The Irish Repertory is packing them in for Around the World in 80 Days. The run has been extended so do not miss out on seeing this show.