Out & About

I forgot to mention that Mike Bowen our Australian correspondent from Downunder flew to Ireland for the Cork Association's 125th Annual Dinner that was held at Rochestown Park Hotel on August 7th and what a pleasure it was too as he kept me up till 5.30am...

Now I am not complaining mind you as we were having a chat and some cocktails along with a few others who lasted the pace.

When I was in Cork, Mary Power and some of the gang were up early to go to Dublin to watch the Cork and Killkenny semi-final that was played at Croke Park, and we all know the result of that I am sure.

Getting back to my time in Cork with Mike Bowen we paid a visit to a great bar that is over by the Heineken Brewery (formerly the Murphy's Brewery) in Blackpool (on the the North side of the City) called Pa Johnson's and behind the counter was the man himself Barry Johnson.

This bar is a great hangout for musicians and you're always going to meet up with some old friends as the word goes out pretty fast; now I wonder how that is.

Well, yet again we had a wonderful time meeting and greeting and getting Mike acquainted with a lot of the locals since he had left Ireland for Australia more than 30-years ago. As you can probably tell he was very happy with his visit back to the old sod, good on yea Mike. I hope you had a nice trip home as you were flying on Qantas airlines that is headed up by another good Irishman from Dublin Alan Joyce who was born in the Liberties, now how about that huh?

I wonder did Mike get up the front? My guess is that he did... after all, we Irish look after our own and Mike Bowen had written a great interview with Alan Joyce - the CEO and Marking Director of Qantas - for a previous issue of the Irish Connections Magazine.

You can check out the magazine at irishconnectionsmag.com and have a look at our Digital Edition.

I just got a message from Ed Malone just saying thanks to all of you for helping to make the Three Irish Widows One Year Anniversary happen!

He said your support has been incredible! Thanks! Some of you have come back 2 and 3 times! 

He also said this has really touched him... you've got me crying Ed; if you could come back a 4th or 5th time this Thursday night would be a tremendous night to do it. That goes for those of you who have never seen it too!

I am one of them and I do hope to see it soon and as for the kindhearted kick-starter people who have not yet taken their complimentary ticket, this Thursday is also a great night for you to come and see it! Hurry up we need you at the show.

Again congratulations to Ed Malone on your 1st Anniversary.

Another show's coming to Broadway or is it off Broadway? Anyhow here we go!

A highly praised drama, not seen in New York since 1985 will be running from September 22nd to October 2nd as part of the 1st Irish 2010 festival.

Ron Hutchinson's searing drama "Rat in the Skull," a mind-bending dissection of the psychology of enemies locked in an unending cycle of aggression and retribution, is being staged by Wallfly Theater Company as part of 1st Irish 2010, New York's only all-Irish theatre festival. 

With the Irish television star Tom C. O'Leary and Colin Stewart heading the cast, "Rat in the Skull" runs from September 22nd to October 2nd at The Drilling Company Theater (236 West 78th Street). 

Ian Belton is the director, and Roderick Hill serves as creative consultant. "Rat in the Skull," which The Evening Standard calls "an electric jolt of a play," performs 12 times at The Drilling Company Theater, on the following dates: Wednesday to Friday September 22nd, 23rd, 24th at 8pm; Saturday September 25th at 3pm and 8pm; Sunday September 26th at 3pm; Monday September 27th at 8pm; Wednesday, Thursday, Friday September 29th, 30th, October 1st at 8pm, and Saturday October 2nd at 3pm and 8pm. 

Tickets, which are $18, are available via SmartTix, by phone at (212) 868-4444, or online at www.smarttix.com. 

For more information visit www.1stirish.org.

Coordinated by the New York-based Origin Theatre Company, 1st Irish 2010 (the 3rd annual edition) runs from September 7th to October 4th, and features plays by 16 mostly contemporary, living Irish playwrights in venues across New York. 

The festival concludes on Monday October 4th with an awards ceremony at which the festival's jury will honor the outstanding performances and productions, and a new Audience Choice Award for Best Play will be inaugurated.

There are lots and lots of things happening with the Origin Theatre Company, which is headed up by George Heslin and a very proud job he has done too let me tell you.

We here at The Irish Examiner newspaper are also proud to be a sponsor for this wonderful event over the next few weeks.

A new website that is taking Ireland by storm called  RendezVous353 is the new Irish Global Networking Site connecting the Irish Diaspora worldwide.

You can plug in at www.rendezvous353.com.

Check it out as it has all the information you need for business.

Just one more announcement: The Irish American Republicans - "The GOP's Delta Force," accord to Sean Hannity - is holding it's Annual 6 Months To St. Patrick's Day Celebration on Friday September 17th.

The event will be held between 6pm and 8pm at O'Casey's (22 East 41st Street, between Madison and 5th Avenues).

The Guest Speaker will be The Honorable Mike Long, Chairman of the New York State Conservative Party.

Tickets are $75 per person with an open bar and hor d'oeuvres... Now that souds good!

What the hell happened at Lily O'Brien's Chocolette Cafe (on 40th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues) which is Irish-owned and Irish-run? It's said that they would not let a mother Breast-Feed... is that true? Now I am told that all mothers can now Breast-Feed at the Cafe; I wonder, do you have to book a space as with all the publicity you never know...

See you all next week.