Out & About

This means so much to us and we have you all to thank, as it was you, our readers and advertisers, who help to make it such a success and believe me, we are only just getting started.

Before I go on, as we all know it's a team effort that always make things happen and one of my partners the late Hank McQueeney was very instrumental in helping me understand what the media business is about and what it takes to be successful.

I do miss him a lot for all his kindness and most of all for his tutoring.

Another man we have to compliment is another great newspaper man: Joe Murphy, formerly of the Irish Echo and founder member of the Irish Voice for his expert advice which is always much appreciated.

So, we say thank to these two great men who's help and support will never be forgotten.

Five years is a long time when you're pushing all the buttons in all aspects of the media business and when we launched it was not the easiest of times as the paper industry experiencing a downturn, especially since a lot of readers were turning to the Web for their news.

But the good news is that our sales have trebled since we first began business and again it's thanks to you for having the confidence and for your loyalty in both newsstand sales and also (for those thousands of readers across all the fifty states) who are reading the paper in our Digital Edition (at irishexaminerusa.com).

Thanks again... we've finally made it! Yippee!!!

On Saturday March 5th the County Cork B. P. & P. Association will be having its 127th St. Patrick's Banquet at my favorite spot, Antuns (96-43 Springfield Blvd., Queens Village).

Cocktails will be served at 7pm followed by dinner and dancing to the Black Velvet Band.

For reservations, call Mary Waters on (718) 899-6776 or Mary Hurley at (917) 886-4196.

There to welcome you will be the new President Tim Murphy. Congratulations Tim, you have a hard act to follow in Mary Powers but I know you will do great as you will have plenty of help from Mae O'Driscoll and Denis Forde who will be watching and also be advising I am sure.

The newest Board member for the Irish-American Heritage Museum in Albany is no other than Thomas Prindle who has a great resume. He is the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany Executive Director of Development with responsibility for the stewardship, oversight and implementation of all development initiatives including a $7million annual fund campaign for the 14 counties of the Diocese of Albany.

He was the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany Director of Development and Public Relations for the Cathedral Restoration Project from 2001-2008, which raised over $3,500,000 for restoration of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

He's also designed award winning marketing materials for fundraising and managed public relations for multi-million-dollar restoration project, produced special events, major concerts, a lecture series and a documentary film for Public Television.

He also founded the Friends of the Cathedral, not-for-profit support organization and is Editor of Your Cathedral Today, the Friends of the Cathedral newsletter.

Well, Jeff Cleary and all the board members must be happy to have Thomas on board with all those credentials; now let's get working as this is a wonderful project that will need everyone to be involved.

An Imelda O'Reilly produced play called Kid Shamrock is coming to The Atlantic Theatre Company, Stage 2 (330 West 16th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenue). It'll open on February 8th.

The play stars New York's recently retired Irish boxer John Duddy who's making his US acting stage debut and Seamus McDonagh, the former New York Golden Gloves champion star.

Written by Bobby Cassidy Jr. and directed by James Smallhorne, the play is a homage to the vibrant blue-collar tradition of Irish American boxing.

You just can't miss this and, as all of them are great friends of this paper, we urge you to support it

Performances begin on Tuesday February 8th and run through February 13th. There are shows from Tuesday through Sunday at 8pm.

Tickets are $27.50 and are available online at www.ticketcentral.com or by calling (212) 279-4200.

The time is right for this announcement... there's a Recruitment and Information Open Day for Irish unemployed holders of J-1 visas in O'Casey's Irish Pub & Restaurant (22 East 41st Street, between 5th and Madison Avenues; (212) 685-6807) from 1pm to 7pm on Tuesday January 25th.

For further information contact Brendan Barry on (571) 296-8572 or e-mail him at bbarry@irishbusinesssolutions.net.

Some shows that should interest you all include Trio Festivale at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall on Tuesday February 15th at 7.30pm. The Trio Festivale presents three internationally renowned musicians based in Ireland: American flutist Sabrina Hu, Irish cellist Gerald Peregrine, and Northern Irish pianist Cathal Breslin (two Ireland-U.S. Fulbright Scholars).

Their Carnegie Hall concert is part of the year long Imagine Ireland project by Culture Ireland, to promote Irish Arts in the US in 2011.

It is also almost the final concert of the Trio's national US concert tour which will have performed in Texas, Florida and New York.

They have set up a special 30% discount code for the Irish and Irish-American community in New York: INY11051 (it can be used online or by phone).

Regular tickets are $25-35 before discounts. It would be great if we can show our strong support from the Irish and Irish-American community!

I've heard lots about what is happening with the Saint Patrick's Day 250th Gala Ball and it looks like it will be the event of the Century as the entertainment is now firming up. Remember, I am hoping to have all the facts soon, but this is what is rumored for the evening: The High Kings, Michael Flatley (yes, the king himself), soprano Emma Kate Tobia and violinist Greg Harrington. Now all is not confirmed yet as more are likely to be added.

The date for the Gala Ball is March 15th and it's at Chelsea Piers. For tickets visit the Parade Web Site at NYCStPatricksParade.org or send a snail mail to the St. Patrick's Day Parade & Celebration Committee, P.O. Box 295, Woodlawn Station, Bronx, NY 10470. You can also call (718) 231-4400 for more information.

There are three concerts that really should not be missed coming up at Terminal 5 (610 West 56th Street) including Josh Ritter and The Royal City Band on Saturday February 12th, Flogging Molly on Wednesday March 2nd and, yes, The Pogues with the full original line up on March 15th, 16th, and 17th. For tickets for all these shows go to Bowerypresents.com, ticketmaster.com or call (800) 745-3000.

See you all next week.