Out & About

Padraig Harrington made history on Sunday last becoming the first European in 102 years to win back-to-back Open Championships and take home the famous Claret Jug. Ireland has a new king of golf and a lot of credit is due to Padraig for his performance given the wrist injury that troubled him in the days before the tee off. We are a proud nation and we have found respect from around the world for our achievements in sport, the arts and business.

We would like to thank Mr. Niall Burgess, the Consul General of Ireland in New York and all the Irish Government departments at Ireland House on Park Avenue for inviting the Irish Examiner to your receptions to meet with An Taoiseach, Mr. Brian Cowen, T.D. It was one busy week for all of you as he made so many stops on his trip over to New York all I can say it was a pleasure to meet with him.

Based on the novel by Jules Verne, Around the World in 80 Days is now playing at The Irish Repertory Theatre at West 22nd Street between 6th & 7th Avenues. The show has received rave reviews from all the major papers. This is fun packed entertainment for all the family and is on every Tuesday to Saturday at 8pm and Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 3pm. For tickets Call (212) 727-2737.

If you would like to have one of the best steaks in town go to Gallagher's Steak House where they have been in operation since 1927. Pop over to west 52nd Street and say hello to Terry Condon the manager. Then take a walk across town for a visit to Papillon Bistro & Bar on East 54th Street just off Madison Avenue and meet another great bar manager Reese Brennan all the way from Dublin who will greet you when you come in the door. This is the most unique Irish restaurant you will ever visit in New York City as the atmosphere is superb and the food is delicious and served up by a top class team.

We met Stephen Rea the actor on our rounds of the city last week, but he was too busy to talk to us, he must be famous! Or is he? We also met Terry Connaughton who runs one of the best restaurants in Riverdale in the Bronx, The Riverdale Steak House. Terry is also very active with the GAA in Gaelic Park. Another man we met on our rounds was none other than Seamus Dooley the past president of the New York GAA. Did he retire... it's hard to tell!

I received some pictures of the late Brendan O'Brien, the lead singer of the Dixies Showband from Cork, from his daughter Aileen sent down to us from Toronto, Canada, the images brought back a lot of great memories.

We bumped in to Diarmuid Hogan, owner of the Irish Television show, Out of Ireland, presented by the wonderful Patricia O'Reilly every weekend. The show features the RTE news, tourism and entertainment from both the USA and across the pond - not to be missed: it's on every Sunday night at 6.30pm and is repeated on Monday nights at 11.30pm on WLIW 21.

Our own Denis Mulcahy of Project Children seems to be getting around. This man never stops doing good deeds and charitable work all the way across Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Denis is a great friend of this paper and for a man who retired from the Bomb Squad with the NYPD he deserves a lot of credit we thank you for all you has done.

David Beckham and his team L.A. Galaxy were playing at the Meadowlands on last Saturday evening against the NY Red Bulls in front of 46.000 who jeered every his every move - you have to love New York sports fans.

We were at the Black Sheep Bar & Restaurant on 3rd Avenue and who walks in the door only Attracta Lydon the USA manager of Dooleys Rent a Car. Along with Attracta was Maura Nolan owner of Irish Links Golf Travel company and Patricia Cunningham of Continental Airlines. The girls were having a few cocktails - that must have been a late one.

I must not forget to tell you to call in to see Mike Carty at the World famous Rosie O'Grady's at 52nd Street and 7th Avenue. Rosie's has one of the best function rooms in the city upstairs called the Manhattan Club and it is available for all weddings and private partys.

Des O'Brien of Langan's was a very busy man last week catering at Ireland House for the reception for An Taoiseach; again he did a wonderful job making sure everybody was taken care of... down to the last drop!

See you all next week