Out & About

As I have said before, it was one of the best weeks ever for the Saint Patrick's Day Celebrations and we had the special joy of the 250th Anniversary to go alone with everything else that week.

We started off on Monday at the 21 Club with the 18th Annual Robert Briscoe Awards which was presented by the one and only Brian O'Dwyer and hosted by Siobhan Dennehy of the Emerald Isle Immigration Center.

The 2011 honorees were The Honorable Eric Schneiderman, New York State's Attorney General and Marc Abbott Esquire. They must have been both from Kerry, just kidding... and as usual it was a first class reception.

Moving on to Tuesday, how do I remember I just don't know, well, I was a a guest of Michael Gibbons the past President of the Ireland-US Council and also the Vice President of Ester Lauder at the Saint Patrick's Day Parade's Gala Ball and haven't I been talking about it for a few weeks now... yes, I was!

Let me tell you this was more than a successful night, it was a magnificent night from the food, honorees, entertainment, fireworks and, of course, the guests; wow, what a night it was!

It was over-booked, but again I have to hand it to the organizers like Carla Capone who directed all the operations before and on the night. What a superb job she did - it was she who controlled everything and got everybody seated and, most important, very happy. Good on you Carla, you're the best.

The next person to thank was Hilary Bierne, Correspondent Secretary for the New York St. Patrick's Day Parade Committe. He was all over the place again, making sure everything was going the way it was planned and it did.

What can I say about the Chairman, John Dunleavy? Just what a brilliant job and again what a success; congratulations you did it again! Now how do you follow that I wonder?

And I must not forget to thank Doctor John Lahey, the Vice Chairman and the brains behind the organization (and I do not mean any disrespect to anyone; I don't but this man has given so much of his time for the the parade committee even though he is the President of Quinnipiac University and what great vision he has behind the scenes).

Now for the Saint Patrick's Day Committee - everyone of them put their backs into make this event a great success. Now I can't name them all, but you know who you are and, again, congratulations to you all, it's great credit to you all that the event was so well run and smoothly organized.

On Wednesday (yes somebody has to do all these things, and I am so glad it's me) I headed to the Ireland-US Council's Annual St. Patrick's Day Lunch at the Metropolitan Club (on 60th Street between Madison and Fifth Avenues).

That is the place to meet old friends and new and this is the lunch to be seen at, especially thanks to the hard work of David O'Sullivan and his staff.

It is the definitely the hottest ticket in town if you're lucky, as it is always sold out. It was nice to meet so many people that you don't get to meet all the time including Sheila Clancy-McCarthy and her husband Gene who is also a member of the Saint Patrick's Day Parade Committee, John Mahon, the owner of and partner in a lot of famous establishments in the city (I think it's nine or ten restaurants nowadays that are major hubs for the Irish and Irish Americans either working in the city or visiting).

I sat with the Grand Marshal's husband John at the table and what a nice man he is too, so down to earth.

Also alongside was, yes, the great Jeff Cleary who was down from Albany for a lot reasons I think; I'll get back to that later!

I did see Tom Moran the Chairman and CEO of Mutual of America, along with Ed Kenney who looks after the Irish affairs at Mutual of America.

Of course I got to meet Paul O'Hara and Alfie Tucker both also of Mutual of America. Now that must have been a great table to be at I am sure.

I would like to go on with the list of who was where, but again I would need the whole paper to mention everyone at the lunch.

That night I went to see the Pogues at Terminal 5 and the place was packed and was rocking. I was with Johnny Holmes and Grahame Curtis, the editor of the The Irish Examiner newspaper and some friends.

I left the concert before it ended as I headed down to Nevada Smiths to see the  Tipperary Knights who were doing a show there so you can imagine it was a late night.

I stayed at the Fitzpatrick Grand Central Hotel (44th Street off Lexington Avenue) as I knew I had to get up early for the Grand Marshal's Breakfast that was held at Eamonn's Bar & Grill (on 45th Street between Madison and Fifth Avenue) before we went to Saint Patrick's Cathedral for mass at 8.30am.

Now let me tell you, the New York City's Grand Marshal Mary Higgins Clark is one nice lady.

After the breakfast at Eamonn's she had her horse-drawn carriage outside the door with a beautiful white stallion and she sat there and never said no to anyone who wanted a picture taken with her - it was just fabulous. Again, what a nice lady and what a great Grand Marshal, we should be proud.

After Mass I walked up the Avenue with the County Cork BP&P Association and I was so proud. I was with the President Tim Murphy, Sean O'Driscoll, Mary Power and her family, Mae O'Driscoll who was also the Grand Marshal of the Brooklyn parade on Sunday and I'm so sorry I missed it as this woman is everywhere and always willing to give a helping hand.

Also marching were Pat and Mary Hurley, Deirdre O'Hea, Noelle Clancy and of course Martin Hurley, Larry McCarthy, Eileen Cronin, Father Jim Drew, John Browne, Donie Carroll, Larry Sullivan, Denis McCarthy, Dan Dennehy, Michael Gubbins, Larry Finn, Dan McCarthy, Kathy Feeley, Billy Kenneally and about 600 more that I cannot mention even if I tried... what a great day!

I will talk more about it again next week and tell you all the other things I was doing, okay?

The star of the popular HBO series In Treatment and Cultural Ambassador to Ireland, Gabriel Byrne, is planning to host a magical evening on Tuesday April 26, at Capitale (130 Bowery; (212) 334-5500; capitaleny.com)

The night will celebrate the ancient world of Archaeology in Ireland, which will include ale and whiskey tastings, a Celtic feast created by native Dubliner and acclaimed Irish chef Cathal Armstrong, merriment and appearances from other surprise celebrity guests.

World renowned underwater archaeologist and professor, George F. Bass will receive the prestigious Bandelier Award for Service to Archaeology for fathering the field of underwater archeology.

Together with Tourism Ireland and Culture Ireland, The AIA will celebrate Irish music, poetry, dance, and cuisine!

The gala will include a contemporary Celtic feast lead by Capitale Executive Chef Jason Munger in collaboration with celebrated Washington D.C. chef, Cathal Armstrong and a team of archaeologists.

In addition, guests will enjoy musical performances showcasing both modern and ancient Ireland. 

Archaeologically-themed live and silent auctions will offer Celtic treasures such as an Emerald Necklace and exclusive once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences to the Emerald Isle including Mythical Heroes & Legendary Voyages: Retracing 'The Odyssey' through the Ancient Mediterranean.

The evening will weave a tapestry of Ireland from its origins to its vibrant presentfrom 7pm to midnight.

See you all next week...