Out & About

Oh sorry, I nearly forgot we've just had the storm Irene that, I have to admit it, gave New Jersey, Connecticut and Vermont a terrible bashing; a lot of my friends had no electricity for over a week and thanks to the Governors of New York and New Jersey people are just getting it back.

Last week I said it was not as bad as predicted, well I now know it was and I apologize to anyone I might have upset as you would definitely not get it as bad in Dingle as I said (but you could go for a pint when it rains).

I was at the 1st Irish event last Wednesday evening at Mutual of America's offices and the Irish Repertory Theatre's event at the Residence of the  Consul General of Ireland Noel Kilkenny and let me tell both were superb.

Again, as I have said so many times when we the Irish here in America want to do something we do it right.

I would like to congratulate George Heslin, Ciaran O'Reilly and Charlotte Moore for all you have been doing for the Irish Arts here in New York.

You deserve a lot of credit and you've have been so instrumental in promoting theatre and the arts here.

Look, I know there are other who have been doing so too and you should also be recognized, and you are by all of us!

The thing is that I could fill up the whole paper with all who should be thanked but this week George, Ciaran and Charlotte have got to be thanked for what they deserve, am I right?

Moving on I see Michael O'Brien of Tracks in Penn Station is moving a bit quicker now that his ankle is getting better; how did it happen again? What, he fell off a horse? I'd like to believe that one myself...

Last week I had Tim Myles name down as Tim Myers and all hell broke loose as he checks every word that I write, so sorry Tim it won't happen again and also keep up the good work you do for the Ancient Order of Hibernians on Long Island. You do great work! Now that should keep him happy?   

A great uilleann piper Ivan Goff will be  over at Lillie's this Saturday. 

This is the same Ivan Goff who will be featured with leading Sean Nos singer Iarla O Lionaird in the Irish Arts Center's Masters in Collaboration concerts at the end of the month, so don't miss it (it's free too).

The County Cork Pipe & Drum Band is celebrating 75 years! They will be having a fundraising dance on Saturday October 15 and are looking to update their uniforms.

They are also selling t-shirts at $20 each, black and dark green. Shirts will be available at the September and October meetings.

Call (718) 634-7808 or e-mail Corkpipebandanddrums@gmail.com.

John Dunleavy, the chairman of the New York Saint Patrick's Day Parade Committee is been  honoured by President John McGay of the NYC Transit Authority Emeralds as their "Man of the Year" for their 50th Anniversary dinner dance.

Having served 25 years with the Transit Authority, John you definitely deserve this honor.

You are all invited to attend this wonderful event which will be held on Saturday September 24 at Ricardo's By The Bridge (21-01  24th Avenue in Astoria) at 7pm.

Dance tickets are $85 per person or you can reserve a table of ten for $800). Please make checks payable to Emeralds Society, NYCTA, PO Box 090319, Fort Hamilton Station, Brooklyn, NY 11209 or call John McGay at (914) 337-3335 or John Fubion (718) 641-1358.

Summer isn't over yet, but it's not too early to look forward to the highlights of September with special events at Glucksman Ireland House NYU (1 Washington Mews, between Washington Square North and 8th Street): On Thursday, September 8 at 7pm they'll be hosting commemoration of September 11th and the attacks on the World Trade Center through the voices of poet and journalist Thomas Flynn and of sixteen individuals featured in the Glucksman Ireland House NYU Oral History of Irish America Project.

Flynn will read from his epic poem, Bikeman, which recalls the morning of September 11, 2001, and Flynn's experience as he jumped on his bicycle minutes after the initial attack on the World Trade Center and rode downtown to cover the disaster.

Echoing the style of Dante Alighieri's, Inferno, Bikeman brings to life Flynn's journey to the towers, his eyewitness account, and his reaction to the tragedies of that morning.

First published in 2008, Flynn will share how he came to write the poem and will reflect on its significance.

The Glucksman Ireland House NYU Oral History Project will also present its new podcast, "'That Forever September Morning': Memories of 9/11."

The podcast features excerpts from Flynn's poem as well as from interviews collected as part of the GIH Oral History Project.

Among the 16 voices heard on the podcast are NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly, former firefighter Vince Dunn, journalist Mary Murphy and her journalist/producer brother Jim Murphy, and author Alice McDermott. 

"'That Forever September Morning': Memories of 9/11" can be found on the Glucksman Ireland House website.

There's free admission to members of Glucksman Ireland House and to all students and faculty with a valid NYU ID card.

For non-members there's a $10 donation. In order to ensure a seat at events, please RSVP to (212) 998-3950 (option 3) or email ireland.house@nyu.edu.

On Thursday September 22 at 7pm there's the Challenge for the Actor, part of 1st Irish 2011 Festival where you can get a behind-the-scenes look at the journey of working on plays from Ireland through a conversation with actors and artists from the Festival.

On Friday, September 23 at 9pm they've the The Blarney Star Concert Series with Jerry O'Sullivan and Rafe Stefanini.

New York Irish uilleann piper Jerry O'Sullivan and Rafe Stefanini, a renowned fiddler, banjo player and guitarist in the southern Appalachian style, come together to explore the many links between Irish and American traditional "old time" music.

On Saturday, September 24 between 10am and 5:30pm they'll be presenting Down These Green Streets: A Day of Irish Crime Fiction.

Irish crime fiction now dominates the literary scene in Ireland and they'll welcome seven of its bestselling and rising young practitioners including John Connolly, Stuart Neville, Declan Hughes, Arlene Hunt, Colin Bateman, Alex Barclay, and Declan Burke. 

The day of talks will also feature Irish-American writers Pete Hamill and Peter Quinn, and Professor Ian Campbell Ross of Trinity College Dublin.   

From Friday September 30 through Sunday October 2 the very best in contemporary Irish cinema comes to Glucksman Ireland House NYU with Irish Film New York - a special three-day festival including filmmaker Q&A, panel discussions, and filmmaker receptions.

As you can see, Out and About offers a service to anyone who would like to send us information about events that are happening and we will do our best to include them.

Thanks again and see you all next week...