Out & About

It was one of those nights in which everyone who was anyone was at the event and what a happy crowd! As you walked in the door it wass greetings all round and a lot of faces you would not see from one end of the year to the other and that was nice to see.

Eugene Brophy, the fruit and vegetable man, or should I say the flower man as he had a big white rose on his lapel of his suit, was there and of course, with his smile and the craic it was great.

As I said Mike Carty can bring them out! Again, it was nice to see old friends like Pat Lynch who has a company called the Dublin Jukebox (so if you need music give him a call), Paul Hurley of PD Hurley's and O'Casey's (who I was a guest of) along with Pete Scalley, Joe McManus (President of the United Irish Counties Association), the great Tommy Smyth who was the master of Ceremonies, Ambassador Niall Burgess (Consul General of Ireland) and Larry McCarthy (Chairman of the New York GAA Board).

I said hello to Liam Bermingham on the way in and, of course, Seamus Dooley and Joe Prunty; it was also great to see Terry Connaughton, Tom Fahey (the Dance Chairman), Danny Doohan who was the Journal Chairman (and what a job he did, I have never seen anything like it) and Connie O'Reilly and Andy Breslin. The list goes on and on so I must not forget that Therese Crowe was there and got a nice acknowledgment from the podium and she was all over the place as usual, what a woman.

I would like to say from The Irish Examiner Newspaper congratulations to you Mike and I will be over to Rosie O'Grady's for a pint in the next week, so be ready!

It's all happening on Easter Monday as the Commemoration of the Easter Rising will be held on Monday, April 5th at 12 noon at the Easter Rising Monument (Court House Drive, Mineola) and all are welcome to come along.

The Society of The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick on Long Island are having a "Taste the Flavors of the Emerald Isle" on Monday, April 26th, from 7pm to 10pm at Hofstra University's David Mack Hall (1000 Hempstead Turnpike, Hempstead). Donations $40.

For more information or to purchase tickets contact Richard Drury at (516) 528-1199 or Dom Lavin at (516) 463-6051.

On Saturday, April 24, the National Irish Freedom Committee will have their annual dinner at Connolly's, (on West 45th St.). I am one of the honorees so I hope you can join us!

As you can see I am pushing all these events because they all do a lot of good, just like the URTO! Last Friday, the winning ticket for the URTO All Sports Raffle was drawn by Jean O'Shea, Executive Director of the FDNY Foundation, at The Coliseum on West 58th Street. Kathleen  must have been happy. 

Congratulations to Matt, Mary, Martin and Albarro from Kennedy's who had the winning ticket. Now here's the problem there are only two spaces on the trip, I wonder who will be going? I love it; only in New York!   

I just heard that McFadden's has got the franchise for their bar and restaurant at the Mets' Citi Field and all I can say is well done John Sullivan. It went to a good Irishman again; well, I suppose Steve McFadden must be happy as I am sure he will be getting his percentage. Oh I wish my name was McFadden, ah well, what can I say!

I almost forgot... and if I did Maeve O'Malley would have my life... We all know there are hundreds of children living in the streets of Port Au Prince because they can't find their parents. I believe anything we can do to help them we must do.

With the continuing struggle for life and dignity  for the unfortunate children in Haiti, there's going to be a "Cheese and Wine Fun Evening" on April  14th  from 6.30-8pm at  Jean Clancy's trendy wine bar Claret. For a few hours you get to visit this place; wow, and she has arranged to have a Jazz Band entertain  us yepeeeee!!! 

In order to make some money to help the children they are only charging $30  per head, and they will have a raffle for some wonderful prizes including tickets to Celtic Thunder, tickets to The Irish Repertory Theatre  and Origin Theatre,  several "Dinner for 2" vouchers at popular venues in  Manhattan,  "Spa Visit" and others. 

Did you get a chance to go and see  Candida by George Bernard Shaw yet? Please do as it a show not to be missed and is playing at The Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues).

You have to go to Lillie's Irish-Victorian Bar and Restaurant (on 17th Street between Union Square and 5th Avenue) on Saturday afternoon at 4pm for the best Irish Tradition Session in New York where the cream of Irish talent assemble for a few hours.

Lillie's it self will blow you away and it is owned by two outstanding Irish men: Tommy Burke and Frank McCole and they built this place from the ground up. it's just out standing!

Now for another great new Irish establishment: the new Pig'n'Whistle on 36th Street (just off 7th Avenue) that has been "mobbed" since it opened its doors. I am sure the boys are very happy with the response,  especially Des O'Brien as I have seen him with his sleeves up, yes, his sleeves. Again, what can I say? Only that you heard it here first

See you all next week!