Out & About

Is it here yet? I do mean summer... And the answer is obviously no not yet as we did have a lot of rain in the last week. I should know as I got soaked; ah well, I might be crying for rain in a few weeks...

OK! There have been lots of events recently and I made it to a few, and a few I did not I am so sorry to say.

Two of them though are close to me. The first is the Irish Business Organization which I support quite a lot but I missed their Summer gathering at Battery Park last Wednesday though I heard they had a blast. Of course I would miss that huh?

I also missed the first Failte 32 event at O'Casey's this year due to unforeseen circumstances, but I was told there was great turn out. Failte 32 has the full backing of

The Irish Examiner newspaper here in New York as does, of course, the man who is doing all the work: Maurice Landers.

He is the spearhead of the organization and where would it be without Paul Hurley and his generosity at O'Casey's Irish Bar and Restaurant on 41st Street between Madison and Fifth Avenues?

So all you J1-ers call in for some complimentary food and, yes, $1 beers... now where would you get such a great deal, only in New York!

Maurice sent us this little bit of news also and everyone can help just like when we all arrived, remember?

This is what he said:  Failte 32 is in the process of setting up a support fund for those on longer-term transient work visas who are finding it difficult to find work in their specialized field in the U.S.

We plan on setting up a fund initially in the amount of $5000, which is a modest start, but a start nevertheless.

We haven't decided exactly how we will use the fund yet, but we are considering ideas such as paying the annual membership dues to well established business organizations, on behalf of those on work visas, who after a certain number of months in the U.S. (two months) have not yet found suitable employment.

This fund will not apply to Summer J1 visa holders as they only reside in the U.S. for a few months.

We will inform you once the fund is launched. 

Finally, Failte 32 is continuing to lobby for a broader portfolio of transient/exchange work visas in order to provide a work visa for all.

We see this as a way to finally turn off the tap of undocumented coming from Ireland, and a compliment to efforts being made towards achieving comprehensive immigration reform.

Good on yea lads from all of us here.

Another bit of news is that Brendan Barry, President, of Irish Business Solutions aims to attract Irish employees to the Irish pub and restaurant sector in the US. Check out their website at irishbusinesssolutions.net or call them on (571) 296-8572 or e-mail bbarry@irishbusinesssolutions.net.

They're specialists in recruiting for the Irish hospitality sector on the East Coast for General Managers, Trainee Managers, Bartenders, Servers, Head Chefs, Sous Chefs, Sautee Cooks, Prep Cooks, Line Cooks. etc.

I have met him and he is as genuine as they come and has been working with Failte 32 in the past and is a great supporter of Failte 32. 

Now another event that I missed, so sad to say, was the Bloomsday Breakfast in Bryant Park (which was part of the Imagine Ireland campaign (imagineireland.ie), Culture Ireland's year of Irish arts in America. The event was a great success as you will see from one of the pictures we've got on this page.

Now I know what your saying: how did he miss this event? Now it wasn't because it was at 8am in the morning... oh alright it was as I live in Long Island and missed the train, OK?

Shame though because just the thought of the sausages and black pudding is making my mouth water right now now... just thinking of the breakfast that Tommy Maloney was donating.

There's some more news but this might be a little bit late as we hit the newsstands on Tuesday morning. The IBO is holding another Business Networking Breakfast on Tuesday morning (June 21) beginning at 8am at the Fitzpatrick Manhattan Hotel (687 Lexington Avenue, between 56th and 57th Streets).

The featured speaker is Liam LaHarte from Dublin, owner of The Porterhouse Bars in Dublin and London and the recently reopened Fraunces Tavern in New York City.

Twenty-two years in business in Ireland, just opened in New York City in January, The Porterhouse is Ireland's largest genuine Irish Brewery with bars in Dublin, New York, London and Bray, brewing in excess of nine beers.

In 1989, cousins Liam LaHarte and Oliver Hughes bought a run-down building in Bray, County Wicklow, which became the first Porterhouse.

In 1996, the Porterhouse brewpub was opened in the Temple Bar area of Dublin city centre.

The New York location is at the famous Fraunces Tavern a tavern, restaurant and museum housed in a conjectural reconstruction of a building that played a prominent role in pre-Revolution and Revolution history.

The building, located at 54 Pearl Street at the corner of Broad Street, has been owned by Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York Inc. since 1904, which claims it  is Manhattan's oldest surviving building. (theporterhouse.ie)

You do not need to be a member to attend. You can choose from a full Irish breakfast, buffet-style: or any healthier option from the menu!

Informal networking first, then everyone talks for a minute about themselves, the featured speaker goes last, followed by questions and a business card exchange! 

Well at least I gave the Fraunces Tavern a good plug and yes, I was there and again I and others very much recommended it.

Now for the biggest news of all which is that the New York City House Speaker Christine Quinn will be The Irish Examiner newspaper's recipient of the annual Woman of the Year awards and very proud we are too.

The event will be held at the Consul General of Ireland residence on Thursday July 7th and we at The Irish Examiner would like to take this opportunity to thank the Consul General Noel Kilkenny and his lovely wife Hanora for their hospitality. It is very much appreciated and, to all the staff at the Irish Consulate without your help we could not do it, thank you so much.

The Third Annual Cornelius F Doolan Memorial Outing will be held on Monday August 22nd at Bethpage State Park - Red Course. The event will benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the International Rett Syndrome Foundation and the Special Olympics. Call (203) 391-2123 or e-mail dools15@aol.com or jdoolan@heinekenusa.com for more information.

Now I am going for a pint... See you all next week...