Out & About

Giants, Giants, Giants; oh what a win for New York and New Jersey.

Yes, I did watch it in Nevada Smiths that is based at the moment in Webster Hall (on 11th Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues) and it was packed out for the Super Bowl and also for the Chelsea vs. Manchester United game played that morning.

As the word goes: build it and they will come and they are coming in their masses; oh you can't keep a good name down - Nevada Smiths is still the Mecca of football in New York and around the World.

Getting back to the Giants,what a win and with the two best Quarterbacks in the World playing against each other: Eli Manning and Tom Brady.

These boy's names I bet are connected to Cork and Cavan, go check it out; I must ask Brian Andersson the genealogist who found Annie Moore, good on yea Brian.

I am sure a couple of the lads had some good fortune with the Super Bowl pools around town and good luck to them to, even though I did not win anything myself... maybe next year?

Terese Coe who submitted some poems to our man in Ireland Ronnie McGinn which were printed in a few of our weekly editions read poems and translations at the Bowery Poetry Club (308 Bowery, near Bleecker Street) last Sunday and I hope she had a good turnout as it was Super Bowl night.

Here is some information for you that I am sure you will be happy to hear: The Irish American Republicans, a coalition of Irish Americans in the Republican Party originally founded in 1868, have praised US Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) and US Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) for their leadership in introducing the "Irish Immigration Recognition and Encouragement Act of 2011 ("Ire Act") which would grant 10,000 US Visas per year for Ireland.

"Sen. Scott Brown and Sen. Mark Kirk are heroes to Irish America," stated Irish American Republican Co-Chair Jeff Cleary.

"Legal immigration is the foundation upon which this great country has been built," he continued.

"Sen. Scott Brown and Sen. Mark Kirk are true friends of Ireland, and understand the great historic role that Irish immigrants and Irish Americans have played in building America," stated Irish American Republican Co-Chair Grant Lally.

"The Irish American Republicans call upon all Senators - Republican and Democrat - to join as co-sponsors of the Irish Immigration Recognition and Encouragement Act.

We need your support. Ireland needs your support. Irish America needs your support."

You can contact Jeffrey Cleary at (518) 209-1916 or jdc1916@aol.com; Grant Lally at (516) 741-2666 or GrantLally@aol.com.

The Irish American Republicans... www.IrishGOP.com... now how about that huh.

Aisling Irish Community Center (990 McLean Avenue in Yonkers; Tel: (914) 237-5121 Fax: (914) 237-1723; aislingcenter.org; info@aislingcenter.org) is to provide free weekly lunches for Seniors every Tuesday, beginning in March.

This new program has been made possible by the generosity of the following local restaurants and business owners who have committed to catering the lunches on a scheduled basis:

• McKeon's Bar & Restaurant, 996 McLean Ave., Yonkers, NY 10704
• Prime Cuts, 4338 Katonah Ave., Bronx, NY 10704
• Irish Coffee Shop, 948 McLean Ave., Yonkers, NY 10704
• Eileen's Country Kitchen, 964 McLean Ave., Yonkers, NY 10704
• The Heritage Bar & Restaurant, 960 McLean Ave., Yonkers, NY 10704
• Butcher's Fancy, 961 McLean Ave., Yonkers, NY 10704
• Rory Dolan's Bar & Restaurant, 890 McLean Ave., Yonkers, NY 10704
• The Rambling House, 4292 Katonah Ave., Yonkers, NY 10704

"This initiative is another great example of how we all work together in such a cohesive way to help the more vulnerable people in our community," said Orla Kelleher, executive director of the Aisling Irish Community Center.

"We also believe this will be a great social occasion for the elderly Irish living in the local community who can come to the center and enjoy a meal in the company of others every week."

"Our senior group, 'Young at Heart', meets twice a week to participate in planned activities, which promote physical and mental well being, as well as discussion groups/workshops which deal with topics relevant to the elderly," said Agnes Delaney, chairperson of the Aisling Irish Community Center.

The Aisling Center's Young at Heart group undertakes occasional trips to places and activities of interest throughout New York.

A social worker also provides counseling and entitlement information to seniors as well as weekly visits to homebound and hospitalized seniors and daily reassurance calls in some cases.

Seniors also participate in other activities at the center such as the Irish Volunteers for the Homeless program, computers classes, arts and crafts, chair yoga, and Weight Watchers.

The Aisling Center also offers assistance to those in need of home care. For more information on other programs and services provided by Aisling Irish Community Center.

Visit aislingcenter.org for more information or contact Órla Kelleher at (914) 237-5121 or via e-mail at orla@aislingcenter.org.

The Emerald Association of Long Island will hold its 172nd Annual Ball on Saturday, February 11th at the Battery Park Gardens Restaurant located in Battery Park in Manhattan.

The Emerald Ball is the longest running charitable Ball in America.

The Emerald Association of Long Island was founded in 1839 by Catholic lay persons in Brooklyn to raise funds in support of underprivileged children in their community most of whom came from newly arrived immigrant families from Ireland.

For more information on Emerald go to www.emeraldassociationli.org

Today, all proceeds from the Emerald Ball are provided to the Bishops of the Dioceses of Brooklyn and Rockville Centre for the care of poor children, many of whom continue to be from newly arrived families.

To attend The Emerald Ball or support its efforts contact brendancahalan11@gmail.com or call (516) 993-9476.

See you next week...