Out & About

Well its nice to know that you're missed as you all did last week... I've got tell yea, I had a hard weekend so I'll go no further as you can understand, but it's great to be back.

Did you ever see so much b******* in all your life, and the press believed it from one guy who has nothing else to do but spread propaganda... You all know who I am talking about; with his failing Empire he tries to kick something off about the Irish and the Saint Patrick's Day Parade.

I was in the particular room and much closer than the person who started all the furour last week. The Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg was just joking about us and was not making disparaging remarks about the Irish... Can't anybody take a joke anymore?

Everyone else who was at the event that night for the launching of The Saint Patrick's Day Parade with the Grand Marshal of the Parade, Mary Higgins Clark, were not offended and actually had their pictures taken with the Mayor, so let's get a life and look at the more positive side of what the 250th Saint Patrick's Day Parade is all about and move on.

I hope Mayor Bloomberg walks in the Saint Patrick's Day Parade as this man has done a lot for Ireland along with all the City Council; come on let's do it and show the nay-sayers what we are truly about as you know you can't beat the Irish!

Of course, we will all celebrate the 250th Anniversary and I am sure we'll do it with a few pints, ah it's great.

Moving on, I am I was on the New York Stock Exchange floor last Tuesday evening as a guest of the American Ireland Fund for the kickoff reception for their 36th New York Gala.

If my mother saw me now, I don't think she would not believe it if she was here; the Lord of Mercy on her soul as I came from a very humble family and I do not want to dwell on it as I got some great breaks in life.

Coming back to the Saint Patrick's Day Celebrations, the 250th Anniversary Celebration Gala will be held on Tuesday, March 15 at Chelsea Piers (Pier Sixty to be specific) and all are welcome!

What a line up of guests they've got to be honored: Mary Higgins Clark, the 250th Grand Marshal, General Michael Hayden, Major General Karl Horst, Doctor Gerard Kean (President, Kean Solicitors in Ireland), Denis Kelleher (2005 Grand Marshal and Chairman and CEO of Wall Street Access), John Lahey (the 1997 Grand Marshal and President of Quinnipiac University), Kevin Nelson (CEO Action Technologies) and Timothy Rooney (President of Yonkers Raceway)... wow, what a line up huh?

The entertainment is just as good and includes, the Michael Flatley Troupe of Dancers, The High Kings, Greg Harrington, Emma Kate Tobia, Cormac McCarthy, Kevin Carey and the Darrah Carr Dancers; boy what a line for this Gala Ball.

For additional information or to make a reservation please contact the Gala Office at (212) 213-1166 or e-mail events@carlacapone.com or reserve online at the parade website at nycstpatricksparade.org. Cocktails begin at 6.30pm and dinner will be served at 7.30pm. 

On the Adrian Flannelly Irish Radio Show last Saturday, his guests included Kieran McLoughlin (President & CEO, The Worldwide American Funds). Fact: only 5% of the Irish school-going population have access to musical training. Fact: U2 and the American Ireland Fund have raised $7.5m of $10m to establish "The Music Generation" project in Ireland.

The Ireland Funds Wordwide has began a 2-year $100m Promising Ireland Campaign. 

The Galway Hooker was packed again on Sunday night for the Grammy Awards; I tell you, they know how to promote and they have the best Happy Hour in the city, good on yea Niamh.

The Saw Doctors are coming to the USA on tour beginning on Thursday March 3 and finishing up in Las Vegas on Saturday March 26 at the Hard Rock Cafe. They've come a long way these boys from Galway and they'll be playing Irving Plaza in New York on Saturday March 12 and Sunday March 13.

Talking about concerts The Pogues are at Terminal 5 (610 West 56th Street) on March 15, 16 and 17! Call (800) 745-3000 for tickets. Oh, and I almost forgot, the Flogging Molly are there on March 2.

Next week at Glucksman Ireland House NYU they'll be presenting Roll Away the Reel World: James Joyce and Cinema. This event will be held on Thursday February 17 at 7pm at Glucksman Ireland House NYU (1 Washington Mews on Fifth Avenue).

The event will mark the publication of Roll Away the Reel World, James Joyce and Cinema (ed. John McCourt, Cork University Press, 2010). Maria di Battista (Princeton University), John McCourt (Università Roma Tre), Jesse Meyers and Philip Sicker (Fordham University) will discuss James Joyce as a pioneer of Irish cinema and show how his novels were influenced by the screen innovations of the early twentieth century.

They will also explore the impact of his revolutionary output on future filmmakers from Huston to Scorsese.

From Dublin, John McCourt was educated at Belvedere College and University College, Dublin. He is a researcher and lecturer at the University of Trieste, where he is also program director of the university's annual Trieste Joyce School. His books include James Joyce: A Passionate Exile (2001) and The Years of Bloom: James Joyce in Trieste, 1904-1920 (2000).

This event is presented in association with The James Joyce Society. It's free admission to members of Glucksman Ireland House and to all students or faculty with a valid NYU ID card. For non-members there will be a $10 donation at the door. In order to ensure a seat at their events, please RSVP to (212) 998-3950 (option 3) or email ireland.house@nyu.edu.

It's all go at The Irish Repertory Theater  (132 W 22nd Street ; (212) 727-2737). On the Francis J. Greenburger Main Stage you have the  World Premiere of  My Scandalous Life by Thomas Kilroy and directed by John Going which will run until March 6 (Check out our interview with Des Keogh on pages 16 and 17). This play is not to be missed as it's got it all!

See you all next week...