Out & About

We started last Thursday at Langan's Irish Broadway Bar and Restaurant where we caught up with Jeff Cleary having cocktails with the Irish-American  Republicans.

The guests on the night were William Flynn, Chairman Emeritus, Mutual of America, Congressman Peter King and Alana Sweeny of the GOP Platform Committee.

Donal Kelly, the former executive Vice President of Emigrant Bank, now retired, was also there, along with our great friend Jack Irwin and his lovely wife.

It is nice to see that Eileen McCormick is up and about again to make some noise when she is around. We miss that when she's not around!

Last Sunday at Antun's (in Middle Village, Queens) the New York City 248th St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Marshal and Aides Reception was packed to capacity with over 700 guests. Now where is the recession I wonder since they were eating and drinking as if there was no tomorrow.

I can tell you that this was a great event and it would make you very proud of your Irish Heritage.

There were a lot of familiar faces in the room and I will name just a few: Garret Doyle from the Emerald Guild, the past president of the United Irish Counties, Michael Fogarty and his lovely wife, the president of the Cork Association, Mary Powers along with the BOSS, Mae O'Driscoll, Martin Hurley, Eddie Dowling and his lovely Aine of (The Padded Wagon), Terrence Tierney (Friends of the Fighting 69th), my good friend Jim Lombard and his wife Rosemary (how does she put up with him, just kidding), Denis Mulcahy, Noele Clancy (THE hairdresser) and her boyfriend Joe Feenan, Treasa Smyth Goodwin (Ireland Calls), wife of the man himself, Tommy Smyth with a Y of  ESPN fame, who could not make due to a prior commitment.

As I said, there was a large crowd and I can not mention them all.

On the dais was the Consul General of Ireland Niall Burgess, Officers, Aides and, of course, the Grand Marshal Michael Gibbons.

To make sure that everything went right on the night, was the Parade Chairman John Dunleavy, Dr. John Lahey, the Parade Vice Chairman along with Hilary Beirne, who made all the introductions, Peter Cassels, the Sergeant-At-Arms and the hardest working lady Catherine Mitchell Miceli.

Also in attendance were some of the past Grand Marshals including Dorothy Hayden-Cudahy, Mary Holt Moore, Thomas Gleason and of course Dr. John Lahey.

I hope I did not miss anyone; oh, yes, I must not forget Gerry Finlay and the Black Velvet Band who keep them all on the floor.

What a great win on Saturday night at the Garden. Congratulations to one of Ireland's top boxers John Duddy. It could not happen to a nicer fellow as he heads for the big leagues.

Now that we are talking about boxing, we're getting ready for Irish Ropes' Erin Go Brawl  on Monday March 16th.

Topping the bill will be Andy Lee and Wayne McCullough. For more information and tickets, call (212) 868-9544.

It is starting to heat-up now with all that will be happening over the next few weeks, starting with The Craic Festival Music Series and Film Gala which runs from Friday March 12th to Saturday March 14th.

The music starts on Thursday at the Mercury Lounge (217 East Houston Street) at 8pm where The Mighty Stef (Dublin) will be followed by The Voxys (New York) and my favorites, Stand (Dublin)  and Enter The Haggis.

On Friday March 13th, Dirty Epics, Dead Sparrows and Fight Like Apes will be followed by the very popular Paddy Casey who needs no introduction.

On Saturday March 14th the Mercury Lounge will feature Fairplay Collective, Foy Vance and Duke Special - now that is some lineup.

Terrance Mulligan has done it again bringing the cream of Irish Talent to New York.

The Craic Festival's Film lineup opens on Friday March 12th at 7pm with the award winning movie about the life of Bobby Sands called "Hunger" which stars Michael Fassbinder and Liam Cunningham.

On Friday March 13th they'll be showing "32A", starring Aidan Quinn and Orla Brady and closing the festival on Saturday March 14th is "Saviours," a movie directed by Liam Nolan that deals with three young boxers from a Dublin Boxing club who are looking for a better life inside and outside the ring.

There's lots more going on, as you'll see in next week's Irish Examiner newspaper, and you can get more information by calling (646) 549-1349.

See you all next week.