Out & About

I am sure everybody knows about the massacre that happened all those years ago, when three of the band members were shot dead and two were seriously wounded by the UDF as they came over the Border.

It was one of the worst tragedies ever to happen, especially to they members of one of Ireland's most famous bands who were travelling to Belfast just to entertain people.

It was a very nostalgic night and I met so many old friends who came along to the show.

One, who was a great travel agent here in New York, was none other then Barry Twomey of O'Connors Travel who has now settled back in Cork City.

A friend of mine came over with me for the trip - Tom DeSantis of the Tipperary Knights group who are regulars in Eamonn's Bar and Grill (on 45th Street) on St. Patrick's Day.

This was his first trip to Ireland so there was a lot to see... well, he saw a lots of pubs at least.

What else to you need to do? He got all the information and gossip he needed to bring back to New York.

He was hoping to go to Tipperary but time was against us as we were only over for three days.

We traveled with Aer Lingus into Shannon Airport and rented a 'Dooley Rent-A-Car' for the duration of the trip and let me tell you, they are the best rental in the country and very highly recommended.

The service they give is excellent combined with courtesy that we should be all be proud of. Tell them I told you so.

Coming back again with Aer Lingus and lo and behold, who is on the screen but New York restauranteur John Mahon who was pulling no punches about the famous New York Irish restaurants that he is partners in, in New York City, including Langan's Broadway Pub & Restaurant with Des O'Brien, Pig'N'Whistle with Pat Burke (all on 47th Street), O'Brien's Irish bar and restaurant on 46th Street, Channel 4 on 48th Street with Eugene Wilson, Pig'n'Whistle on Second Avenue (between 50th and 51st Street) and Pig'n'Whistle on Third Avenue with Ken McCoy, P. J. Moran's on 48th Street, just off Fifth Avenue, and Eamonn's Bar & Grill on 45th Street (between Madison and Fifth Avenues) with Eamonn Maher.

All I can tell you is that it was a fantastic presentation. How does he do it, good on you John.

There's a big night planned at the Galway Hooker on East 36th Street (between Fifth & Madison Avenues) this Sunday (November 23) as they celebrate their 2nd Anniversary with a early Christmas party featuring one of  Ireland's  best bands: The Coronas.

All you have to do is donate a $20 gift card or something similar as a gift and you can join the celebrations with an open bar from 7pm until 9pm.

Ana and all the gang will be there and I hope to be with them as the craic should good.

Andy Cooney is heading up a concert - The Magic of Christmas - at Carnegie Hall on Thursday, December 4 at 8pm.

There's another big concert, again at Carnegie Hall, which you should catch if you can - violinist Gregory Harrington performing a tribute to to the Great Irish Tenor John McCormack (1884-1945). Gregory will be joined by soprano Celine Byrne and tenor Alfie Boe, all of them accompanied by a 28-piece orchestra.

Make sure you catch this show, otherwise you'll miss the cream of Irish talent

Check out next week's Irish Examiner USA for more coverage and if you want to get tickets then call (212) 247-7800.

See you next week.