Out & About

Why am I talking so much about the weather? I just came back from Montauk on Long Island and it did seem as if we were back in Ireland - somewhere down in Kerry. I called in to see Tom McCormack from Ballymahon, County Longford, the owner of Ronnie's Deli on Main Street Montauk. The place was packed with a line also out the door as people waited for one of the best sandwiches this side of the Atlantic.

Tom will take your order and have a chat with you in the very comfortable surroundings of his deli. Take a trip out if you can as it is the best fishing port around and it has some great beaches for swimming. It is a great fishing outlet with fishing boats that will bring you out on half day or full day trips for the best of tuna, bluefish, fluke, marlin and shark.

You have to visit the restaurants in Montauk because they have the freshest fish right off the dock - mmm just delicious - from Gosman's Dock restaurant and all the way back to Cyril's Clam Bar just off Old Montauk highway. Cyril Fitzsimons, the owner, is from Dublin and the man is a legend - all the famous stars call in to see him. On any given night there are about four hundred patrons in and about the place with cars parked almost a mile up the road. You have to pay him a visit he will greet you with a do-b-do hand fist shake.

The annual Business & Finance US-Ireland Awards luncheon was held on Thursday last at the New York Athletic Club. We were guests of none other than Diarmuid Hogan from Dublin, President and CEO of insurance and investment firm Global Excess Partners and the very popular weekly Out of Ireland TV show.

The one very notable guest at the table was Ted Tracey a former Bank of Ireland Senior Executive who is always very helpful with advice based on his expertise with financial problems and solutions.

Ian Hyland, Publisher of Business & Finance opened the proceedings and gave a great presentation and introduction from the podium to the award recipients and guests. It was a great luncheon in great company and in a wonderful atmosphere. Awards were presented to some of the most influential US-Irish businesses and business leaders:

Cameron O'Reilly, CEO Landis & Gyr was the 'International Irish Business Person of the Year' and Andreas Kreb, President EMEA and Canada accepted the award for 'Outstanding Contribution to Ireland' on behalf of Wyeth.

It was nice to meet Brian Stack, President and CEO of CIE Tours International at the NYAC. Other guests included: Ed Kenney of Mutual of America, Kieran McLoughlin, President of the American Ireland Fund New York; Gary Hanley, Executive Vice President, Invest Northern Ireland; Loretta Brennan Glucksman, Chairperson of the American Ireland Fund; Niall Burgess, Consul General of Ireland New York; John Fitzpatrick, CEO Fitzpatrick Hotel Group; Barry Lynch of the Ireland-US Council; Adrian Flannelly of Irish Radio Network USA & Flannelly Promotions; Brian Ruane Executive Vice President, Bank of New York Mellon.

Keep it a secret! When An Taoiseach Brian Cowen was in town last week the boys from the Secret Service were seen checking out Eamonn's Bar & Grill for any 'suspicious' characters as he was expected to arrive for a late cocktail after a very busy few days for his first visit as Taoiseach. That must have had the unflappable Limerick man, Noel Donavan the manager very worried!

Get on the bus for O'Brien's Irish Pub's trip to the USA Eagles Vs Munster International Rugby game on August 23rd at Rentschier Stadium in East Hartford. To reserve your ticket at $45 per person and $30 for under 21s you can email Cormac at obriensnyc@yahoo.com or call (212) 391-1516.

See you all next week.