Out & About

You have to give thanks for all the fantastic work by Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and the New York Police Department, keeping us all safe from those a******* who have nothing better to do but disrupt our daily lives as we try to get on with the economy as it is for now.

I have to hand it to Adrian Flannelly and the Irish Radio station. He works very hard in the push for immigration reform and he was at it again last Saturday on his show.

If you listened then you would know already that three of the nation's top Democrats including New York Senator Charles Schumer have drafted contingency plans for a new immigration reform bill; New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn condemned the Arizona Immigration Law and announced passage of Resolution 162-A calling for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, and Geri Garvey, Administrator,  Irish Apostolate USA:  US Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Migration also supported the emerging conceptual proposal which includes an E3 Visa Provision for Irish nationals!

It was also announced by Ambassador Consul General Niall Burgess that on May 24th the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese will be on the show.

Ireland's top radio talk show host Gerry Ryan was found dead in his home last Friday, aged 53. I met Gerry on a few occasions when he visited New York...

As I am on the subject, a great friend of mine also passed away suddenly last Monday at his home  in Yonkers. His name was Liam O'Driscoll from Blarney Street in Cork City and he was laid to rest at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

Liam is survived by his wife Eileen, daughter Deirdre, grandchildren Kayleigh and Liam and his brothers and sisters Kathleen, Rose, Michael, Connie and Eddie. May he rest in peace.

Joe Ednie, the Master technician at Stellar Printing who, among other things has worked on The Irish Examiner newspaper for many years, also left us after a long illness. He will be sorely missed.

I heard that the Galway Cruise on Friday night was a fabulous success and I am sure we will get some pictures from Kevin Kennedy who has been shooting pictures for all the Irish media for years.

Failte 32 seems to be well underway, the buzz is out there and it's got everyone's attention so let's get behind it and make it work!

Pierce Turner played at Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette Street), and the place was sold out again. It's great to see one of our own having the success he deserves, good on you Pierce; keep it up.

Golf, who's for golf? Well nearly every bar owner and bar staff member that I know loves their golf and where better to start, only with the United Restaurant and Tavern Owners of New York who are having their 24th Annual Golf Outing at Dunwoodie Golf Club in Yonkers on Monday, May 17th.

The URTO "Industry Golf Outing Honoree" is Anthony Ray, Manager of Crown Imports and the URTO "Member Golf Outing Honoree" is Tony Doyle, partner in the House of Brews, Bourbon Street Bar and Grille and the French Quarter Guest Apartments.

For more information telephone (212) 557-5200 or e-mail Maureen@urandto.com.

Now for more golf! The Links of Union Vale will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary with a gala celebration on Saturday, May 15. It'll be a great day of golf, delicious food and music and the Links will honor Phil O'Meara for making a dream a reality. For more information call (845) 223-1002.

The Irish Business Association, New Jersey are having their 2nd Annual Awards Dinner at the Gran Centurions (449 Madison Hill, Clark, New Jersey) on Tuesday May 18th

They'll be honoring their Man of the Year, Chief Denis Connell, Woman of the Year Kate Conroy and Company of the Year Red Flannel.

I called into the Galway Hooker on Thursday night with some friends to have a pint and let me tell you, it was packed upstairs and down. It's definitely a happening place to be... so we left and ended up at the Bliss Street Station for a few cocktails and some fine food. I was hoping to catch up with Ambrose, but he'd just left... maybe next time.

The Kruise for Kids is on Wednesday June 9th and again, you have to be on it since I will and you can't miss all the great music and the craic (that's an Irish word for fun just in case). For more information and to purchase tickets go to Murphguide.com or call (212) 717-9955.

Please help Natasha McShane and her family. There's going to be a fund raiser taking place on Saturday 8th May in The Heritage (on McLean Avenue) at 10pm. Events include a raffle on the night, body waxing and head shaving. Please come along and support Natasha and her family through this traumatic time.

Natasha McShane and Stacy Jurich were both brutally attacked on Friday April 23, 2010, during a mugging in Bucktown, Chicago. They were returning home from a night out celebrating an internship Natasha had received which would allow her to extend her stay in the United States. The attack has left Natasha in a paralytic coma with massive head trauma in North Western Medical Hospital, in Chicago. Due to her extensive injuries, Natasha has a long recovery process ahead of her and will need all the support and help we can give her. Please do your best and support this cause. See you all next week!