Out & About

What a win for the New York Giants on Sunday and you know what that means?

Well, it's a bonanza for all the New York bars and restaurants.

Ah, come on, I know love me telling you that because now you have an excuse to go to the pub and check on your pools and, of course, for a pint or two... good on yea!

Some people have all the luck and I think you have to be from Mayo as well as Tilly and Noel McParkland are down in Clearwater, Florida basking in the sun while we are all up North freezing our toes off.

Well don't forget your poor cousins who have to work; ah they deserve it as they worked so hard and long and they're great friends of The Irish Examiner newspaper.

The Irish Institute Installation of Officers and Grant Award Ceremony was held in Glucksman Ireland House, last Thursday and your host Jim Lombard was handing out awards to a lot of good Irish organizations here in New York in front of a capacity crown.

Some of the awards, which were checks (and good ones too I might tell) you went to the Emerald Isle Immigration Center in Woodside in Queens and also The Irish Center in Long Island City (again in Queens) and well deserved too as they do so much for the Irish Community. It's sometimes unbelievable what they do and can accomplish.

Thanks again Jim for the invite and to have me sitting with the Consul General of Ireland Noel Kilkenny, The New York Saint Patrick's Day Parade Committee Chairman John Dunleavy and Michael Prunty - the President of The United Irish Counties Association.

Speaking of The United Irish Counties Association, they are having their 108th Annual Dinner Dance at Antun's (96-43 Springfield Boullevard in Queens Village) this Friday (January 27th) with the cocktail hour starting at 7.30pm. Tickets are only $85.

The guests of honor are Gael of the Year, Niall O'Dowd and the Rose Cosgrove Distinguished Service Award Recipient Gerry O'Shea.

For more information please contact Michael Prunty (917) 699-3256, Katie Barrett (917) 915-6344, Cathy Hogan (646) 489-5252 or Anne Hearn on (516) 798-5488.

Opportunity Ireland is under way and is headed up by Maurice Landers and I am proud to say that The Irish Examiner newspaper is a sponsor.

Let me get straight to the point: The Irish Examiner USA, in association with the New York James Joyce Society, is planning a unique trade mission to Ireland next May and June called 'Opportunity Ireland'.

This will be an intimate gathering of like-minded business leaders who would like to avail of the opportunities Ireland currently presents foreign companies to substantially increase their exports, by setting up a European base, whether initially a small development/exploratory stage operation, or a full fledged operation ready to take advantage of the the unique export platform Ireland has to offer Irish domiciled companies.

For more information on Opportunity Ireland you can contact Maurice Landers at mauricelanders@yahoo.com.

How are the New Year resolutions going? Ha! Not to good right?

I should know I have been trying it for years now and guess what, I go right back to what I was always doing... well we gave it a try anyway.

I had better take care of the following as I might be banned and we can't let that happen can we?

The Emerald Isle Immigration Center will honor Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and Sandra March, Trustee of the New York City Teachers' Retirement System at the 19th Annual Robert Briscoe Awards to be held at the 21 Club on January 30th.

The event celebrates the contribution of a member of the New York's Jewish Community to better the lives of immigrants.

Robert Briscoe, after whom the award was named, was elected the first Jewish Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1956.

Brian O'Dwyer, Chairman of the Emerald Isle said of the honorees that: "Each has contributed a great deal to immigrants in their respective areas.

"Sandra March has worked to educate immigrants and improve the education system. Marty Markowitz has welcomed immigrants to Brooklyn and worked with them closely throughout his career."

The event has previously honored such luminaries as Senator Charles Schumer, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and broadcaster Gabe Pressman.

Robert Briscoe was at the forefront of the movement for Irish Independence at the beginning of the Twentieth Century and played a significant role in the early days of the Irish Free State.

He accompanied Eamon de Valera on his vital diplomatic mission to New York in 1919.

Following the creation of Fianna Fáil he became a Member of Parliament and served until 1965, after which his seat was won by his son Ben.

The event supports the vital work of the Emerald Isle Immigration Center in assisting immigrants and supporting those on the margins of our community.

Since its foundation in 1988, the Center has served the most vulnerable immigrants, providing legal services, seniors' programs and comprehensive social services to the Tri-State Area.

Over its twenty-four years in operation, Emerald Isle has worked to ease the pressure of immigration and to improve the position of immigrants in the US.

Reservations for the event are required and admittance is $125, with all net proceeds going to support the work of Emerald Isle.

The reception will begin at 6pm and finish at 8pm.

To RSVP or for more information on the event and possible sponsorships contact Eoin Delap, Development Coordinator by e-mail at edelap@eiic.org or phone at (718) 478 5502 ext 204.

Feld Motor Sports have announced that tickets are now on sale for the Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam® coming to Nassau Coliseum from January 27th to 29th, and the IZOD Center from February 3rd to 4th.

This show will feature some of the most popular monster trucks ever assembled to compete at Nassau Coliseum and IZOD Center, led by the legendary Grave Digger®, celebrating its 30th anniversary!

Other trucks will include Turtle, Crushstation, Shockwave and Thrasher among others.

Tickets are available at the Nassau Coliseum and IZOD Center Box Offices, all Ticketmaster locations or by phone at (800) 745-3000.

Advance ticket prices are $70.00 (VIP Front Row) and $40.00 (Gold Circle), and Super Value tickets available for $30.00 (adults) and $15.00 (children 2-12).

Tickets are $2.00 more on the day of the performance. Additional facility fee and taxes may apply.

See you next week...