Out & About

The great news this week is that Ryan's Irish Pub on Second Avenue (between 9th and 10th Streets) has a new kitchen open and, let me tell you, they definitely have the best burgers in town - they're mouth-watering believe me!

Gerry O'Donavan, Frank Campbell and Andrew DeCourcey are the proprietors and they're always on hand to welcome you in for great Irish hospitality and a nice pint of Guinness.

They also have two other establishments - The Thirsty Scholar also on Second Avenue (between 9th and 10th Streets) and the Bull McCabe's (at 29 St. Mark's Place, between Second and Third Avenues). Now how much more do you want? Spend your time bouncing around from one to the other to have a good time, this must be worth a pint!

Self Help Africa had its official launch last Monday (November 30th) at The Irish Consulate with guest speaker Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Self Help Africa is headed up by our own Angela Dean and Martha Houlican and let me tell you, do these girls work... wow! For more information  visit www.selfhelpafrica.org.

The big event of the week happened at the the Stock Exchange in Wall Street and yours truly was invited. The Business and Finance US 2009 awards lunch honored  Irial Finan, Executive Vice President of the Coca-Cola Company and President of Bottling Investments and Supply Chain, who received the award for International Business Person of the Year.

Lily O'Brien's were presented with the inaugural 'International Enterprise of the Year' award and acknowledged for their outstanding success and growth in the US market over the last few years.

Founded in 1992, Lily O'Brien's started life in Mary Ann O'Brien's Kildare kitchen with little more than a saucepan, wooden spoon and genuine passion for chocolate and it is now a state-of-the-art factory in Newbridge, Ireland and employs over 100 people, manufactures between 55 and 60 tons of chocolates per week and exports to the US, Europe and New Zealand.

Ian Hyland the publisher of B&F magazine really put his back to the wall to hold this superb event. Congratulations Ian!

Liam Clancy died aged 74 last Friday. As you all no doubt know, Liam was a  legendary folk singer and the actor, singer and musician was the last surviving member of The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem, who were credited with bringing Irish traditional music to a world audience in the 1960s.

He died in hospital, surrounded by his wife Kim and two of his children, daughters Siobhan and Fiona. He had been ill for some time and was admitted to Bon Secours Hospital in Cork City Ireland in recent weeks.

Liam Clancy and his brothers and Tommy reclaimed a huge number of folk songs for Ireland and reinterpreted them in terms of their experience in America which is where they made their name, outselling  the Beatles at one point, while Bob Dylan once called him "the best ballad singer I've ever heard." 

He is survived by his wife Kim and four children. May he rest in peace.

World Cup fever has finally started after the draw was made on Friday and could you ask for anything better than the US and England in the same group... now is that something or what?

The Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick got the ball going for Christmas last Thursday night at the Mutual of America building.

The Irish Business Organization are having their annual Christmas Party at The Bourban Street Bar and Grille (West 46th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues) this Wednesday (December 9th) and all are welcome. The event's free for members and $15 for non-members. What can you say - a cash bar, delicious appetizers, great raffle prizes and more!

The Celtic Jewelry Store has renewed itself. They now carry a great collection of antique jewelry plus handmade jewelry by some of the best local and Irish craftspeople. They are also still the last shop in New York City that carries a wide range of Irish and Celtic jewelry, Irish caps, handknit sweaters and scarves and antique prints.

As a promotion, they are giving 50% off all antique prints while they last and, for every $100 or more you spend they'll give back $10, with the promotion lasting until Christmas Eve.

The name of the store has changed though - it's now called Sara's Vintage and Handmade Jewelry Shop and it can be found at 65 East 4th Street between Bowery and Third Avenue. You can also call them on (212) 533-2307.

See you all next week.