Out & About

So you had one County (Kerry) celebrating the victory and  the other County (Cork) crying in their soup, or should I say drink.

Congratulations to Kerry! It's always going to be a good game between these two counties who have a great respect for each other.

There was great business being done all round the country for Irish bars and restaurants... I payed a visit the the Irish American center in Mineola on Long Island to see the game and the placed was packed to the roof.

There's lots of stuff happening and Bar 43 in Sunnyside is hosting Bagatelle players on Monday October 5 (you know, The Streets of New York fame) for one night only with tickets at $20. For more information call (718) 361-3090.

Talking of Bagatelle, they are doing a big concert to benefit the Widows and Children Fund of the Fallen NYPD at P.D. Hurley's (on 44th Street & 12th Avenue) starting at 6pm this Thursday (October 1st).

Also performing will be Joe Hurley & The Gents and, the man himself, recording star Enda Keegan. The event has a $35 door cover but this is for a very good cause. Emma Kate Tobia will performing with Gregory Harrington on violin and Hanako Yamagate (must be from Cork) on piano.

She will be singing songs from her debut album on Wednesday October 7 at 7pm at The Triad Theater (158 West 72nd Street, New York). For tickets you can go to www.triadnyc.com or call the theater on (212) 772-0852.

This concert is sponsored by the Irish Business Organization with tickets costing a quite reasonable $20.

This is the season for concerts, and there are shows all over the city where you can see your favorite recording stars live.

One of them is none other than Finbar Furey who topped the charts all over the world with some great hits.

Now you can see him in person at Nevada Smiths (74 Third Avenue, between 11th & 12th streets) for one night only on Thursday October 8 at 8pm.

Tickets are only $20 in advance or $25 at the door if you're lucky. To purchase yours, call (212) 892-2591 or for reservations call (917) 402-1510.

Talking about concerts, I went to see U2 at Giants' Stadium on Wednesday night and I was again blown away with the show. They really are are the best band in the world and we should be so proud of the fact that they come from Ireland.

The great thing about going to a U2 concert is that you are bound to meet a lot of people from Ireland that you haven't see for awhile, and they'll all be in a great mood.

Those of us going met up at Tracks in Penn Station (before boarding the train to Meadowlands Stadium) for a few drinks and the place was packed. Tracks, where Liam Whyte who was voted "The Best Bartender in NYC" at the recent Bartender's Ball, and his team were working hell for leather getting the drinks out.

Of course overlooking everything was the master himself: Michael O'Brien, a partner in the business, making sure everyone got a drink. This is the perfect spot before and after concerts, so drop in and say hello to the gang.

I nearly forgot that the staff of Eamonn's Bar & Grill were seen having a ball at the concert, but I just had to take notice of Avrial (who is the bar-manager at Eamonn's) who never stopped dancing to U2's music and, with a little bit of help from her boss Eamonn I think they should enter "Dancing With The Stars". Let me check that out and see how we can enter them.

I was a little busy this week for I was at the Grand Opening of the new Galway Hooker South (on 10th Street and 7th Avenue). The place was rocking with music from Paul Harrington and Bill Shanley on piano and guitar. They'd just flown in from Dublin to perform for the grand opening.

Everyone that I knew was there and the owners and staff put on a super party for all the invited guests and I can tell it was a late one. What can I say, somebody has to do it right?

The bar and restaurant has three floors, yes, three floors! That again makes me proud to be Irish here in New York as the work that the owners put in is out of this world. So take a trip down to 10th Street and 7th Avenue; the area is just hopping all round. Good on you boys and girls, another fine job and the drinks and food ... yum, yum!

See you all next week.