Out & About

For the New England Patriots you have Quarterback Tom Brady, Tight End Ryan O'Callaghan, Tight End Matt Light and offensive Coach Bill Ryan.

The biggest upset in the NFL history and the Irish connections were a great part of it.

Congratulations to both teams for an excellent game of football.

The parade must have been the biggest sports parade in recent history with over a million people on the Streets and Avenues in Downtown Manhattan.

We visited Stitch where we met Nick Cohen, his  partner in the business Kevin McKenna and the bar staff Elena and Marlene. Nick had a picture of his newborn son Cian on the wall. He is one proud Dad. He also brought us across the road to show us his new premises that  has two floors and will open in March. It looks like its going to be fabulous.

The Galway Hooker was packed as usual for lunch when we met two of the owners: Ana just back from vacation in her home country of Argentina and Johno, who was leaving for Ireland to catch both the Rugby game and the International Football (soccer) game with Brazil playing Ireland in Croke Park, Dublin.

In town for business from Boston was Brendan O'Neill a native of Cork City and Bat O'Keeffe a native of Kenmare, County Kerry. They must have been planning the next All Ireland.

In the Pig'N'Whistle on 47th Street off Broadway we met some Broadway stage hands who are regular customers of Pat Burke who we had a few pints with. Scruffy Duffy's closed its doors this Wednesday and hopes to open very soon at their new location at 690 9th Avenue between 47th & 48th Streets. Pat Hughes  and the entire Hughes family said thank you to all his loyal customers and staff for all your support and they hope to continue the tradition in their new premises.

Yes, I met outside Stout (133 West 33rd Street between Sixth & Seventh Avenues) the two owners Noelle Mooney and Gail Klien having a good chat. Wonder what they were talking about? The place was hopping when I went in for a pint.

We stopped over at Tracks which was busy as usual. Liam the bartender served up the best of drinks as always, but where was Bruce, Michael or Patrick. Missed you again.

Andy Pike had a very nice reception to welcome Norman Houston as the new director of the Northern Ireland Bureau and he invited some very affluent  guests including DJ Carey, Aine Sheridan, Denis Mulcahy and his lovely Miriam along with Terrence Mulligan from the Craic Irish Film festival, Gary Hanly from Cork who is also U.S. Director for Invest Northern Ireland. The hostess who made sure all had a good time was none other than Lorraine Turner who was just promoted to be assistant to Norman Houston. You also had Breda Walls representing British Airways and representing Tourism Ireland  was Alison Metcalfe V.P. Marketing U.S. 

See you all next week.