Out & About

It was nice to have a break last week after the hectic week before, but there's no use complaining as it is all for a good cause.

The New York GAA held their Annual Dinner at Autun's on Saturday; this venue is more popular than the 21 Club, well what do you expect when you have the King family running one of the most profession catering halls in New York.

The Guest of Honor for the event was the great Tommy Smyth of ESPN Fame and The Saint Patrick's Day Parade Commentary  Box and I wish I could have gone, but I had a prior commitment and thanks for the invite Therese Crowe, miss Night in Gale herself.

Do you know a wonderful young lady between 18- and 27-years-old? The New York Rose of Tralee Committee will select their representative, on Sunday May 1, at the Polish Center in Yonkers, NY.

The Rose of Tralee is all about personality and Irish "Craic", this is not a beauty contest, the bathing suits can stay in the drawer until summer.

The New York Committee is welcoming nominations of great young ladies who are fun, articulate, Irish by birth or by ancestry, and embrace their Irish heritage.

Contrary to what you may have heard there is no talent or performance in the selection, it is really just a personal interview.

Tell them about the great girl you know. To nominate a great girl email Jim Houlihan at jlohouls@gmail.com.

Sponsorships are available, as well as journal ads, and tickets for the May 1 selection, just email or call 845-445-9036.

The National Arts Club (15 Gramercy Park South, New York; (212) 475-3424)is presenting an exhibition of the work of acclaimed Irish artist Elizabeth Cope from March 28 until April 9. The opening reception will be held on Thursday March 31 from 6pm to 8pm.

The Emerald Isle Immigration Center will be hosting U.S. Citizenship seminars and application drives at both offices in April.

They'll have free informational meetings on Tuesday, April 5 at 6pm at the Woodside, Queens office (59-26 Woodside Avenue Woodside; (718) 478-5502, Fax: (718) 446-3727) and on Thursday, April 7 at 6pm at the Woodlawn, Bronx office (4275 Katonah Avenue Woodlawn; (718) 324-3039, Fax: (718) 324-7741) to provide general information on citizenship eligibility.

They'll also be holding a U.S. citizenship application drive on Saturday, April 9 from 10am to 1pm in the Woodlawn office and on Saturday, April 16th from 10am to 1pm in the Woodside office.

Counselors will be available to help complete the application for US Citizenship. Those who wish to attend should call the office to register in advance. For further information check the ads in this paper or visit www.eiic.org.

If you have not got a copy of Irish Connections Magazine yet, you should! We've Greg Kelly the co-anchor of Fox's Good Day New York on the cover and the latest issue also features our New York Irish Ten Top Tens which features some great people such as Adrian Flannelly, Brian Stack, Christine Quinn, John Fitzpatrick, Larry Kirwin, Brian O'Dwyer, Paul Hurley, the FDNY's Father John Keenan, Tom Coughlin and Ciaran O'Reilly. Now how's that for talent?

Book now for the Eithne and Paddy Fitzpatrick Memorial Golf Tournament which will be held on Monday, May 16. the The Master of Ceremonies is Ronan Collins with Celebrity Player Christy O'Connor, Jr.

For tournament information call (850) 445-9034 or e-mail Melissa@SilhouetteGroup.com.

Jim Houlihan from Houlihan-Parnes Realtors was honored by Fordham University at this year's Fordham Founders Award Dinner last Monday at the Waldorf=Astoria.

The gala affair annually raises several million dollars for academic scholarships for the brightest and the best of Fordham University. Good on you Jim, it is well deserved.

If you haven't got the 250 Years of the New York St. Patrick's Day Parade book yet then you certainly should.

The book's a full-color hardcover edition, with 144 pages all lavishly illustrated with the history of the legendary New York event.

You can order it by visiting the 250yearsparadebook.com website; it retails at $49.95. You have to have this book as it is history in the making.

If you still have not been to The Irish Repertory Theatre on West 22nd Street between 6th & 7th avenue to see Molly Sweeney by Brian Friel, it has extended to April 10th, so you still have a chance.

Ireland are looking good after the EURO 2012 qualifier victory over Macedonia as they share the top spot and have a great young team coming up.

Eamonn Maher's brother Dermot from Dublin was in town for the Saint Patrick's Day celebrations and was seen to be having a good time in New York. E

ddie Dowling from the Padded Wagon is just back from a trip from Florida on which I was hoping to go too, but I had to cancel at the last minute. Maybe next time Ed as I would have loved to be there.

See you all next week...