Out & About

Happy Birthday to the great Jimmy Neary of Neary's Pub (358 East 57th Street; (212) 751-1434) who celebrated his 80th birthday last Monday (September 14th). A lot of celebrities turned up and we were, of course, invited there by none other than the lady herself Mary Connor from Cork who has worked for Jimmy for some time.

This man is a legend and he'll always greet you with a smile when you enter the pub; that's why he is so successful in the running of this great establishment. Thanks for the memories!

Now how about this that came from one of our readers Michelle Cleary. She said she travelled to New York City recently and had the pleasure of staying at the Thirty/Thirty Hotel in Midtown.

"Arriving into Penn Station my friend and I found the four blocks (one street block and three avenue blocks) an easy walk to the hotel despite the warm temperature. The mid-town setting was filed with many convenient shops and restaurants.

"The hotel itself has an attractive lobby that is modern but welcoming. Our check-in was handled quickly - no big lines or long waits like you might find at some of the chain hotels and the front desk clerk was the perfect blend of pleasant and efficient. All the staff we encountered throughout our stay were courteous and helpful.

"My friend and I stayed in a suite with a king-size bed and pull-out couch. The layout of the room allowed us to have privacy and our own separate space. The bathroom and the comfy king sized bed were the highlights of the room. The sleek bathroom was roomier than most you see in New York City hotels.

"My friend and I also took advantage of the convenience of Zana's restaurant which is an independent restaurant at the hotel with both indoor and outdoor dining. We both enjoyed our lunches. The Thirty/Thirty has the great blend of quality, efficiency and a convenient location. I'd recommend it to both friends and family!"

Not bad at all so you can tell your friends all about the 30/30 Hotel and the lady that runs it Kerry Bennett and also tell them you read about it in The Irish Examiner newspaper... Plug, plug, plug!

The Adrian Flannelly Show had some every interesting guests on last Saturday, including Concern Worldwide's Operations Director Dominic MacSorley who was there for the launch of their 'Houses for Haiti' campaign.

Adrian also talkd to Congressman Russ Carnahan, who began Congressional Hearings to look at Northern Irish Human Rights on Thursday and Fr. Sean McManus, President of the Irish National Caucus in Washington D.C.

Tommy Tiernan returned to New York City for two nights at the Comix Comedy Club last Friday, September 17th and Saturday, September 18th and what a show it was!

All I can say is that this guy has a lot of talent so next time when he is back make sure you don't miss him as he will have you laughing all night.

Camogie in New York celebrates its Golden Jubilee. To mark the occassion, the New York Young Ireland's Camogie Club are hosting a 7-a-side tournament in Gaelic Park (240st Broadway in the Bronx) on October 9th and I am told that everybody is welcome to attend. Contact camogieus@yahoo.com for more details.

At 7.30pm on Tuesday, September 28th Irish-born novelist and Booker Prize finalist Emma Donoghue will read from her newest novel 'Room' (published by Little, Brown and Company in the USA on September 13th) in the Donaghy Theater at New York City's Irish Arts Center (553 West 51st Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues; subway C or E to 50th street).

Donoghue is a critically acclaimed novelist ('Slammerkin', 'Life Mask') but in 'Room' she delivers one of her most powerful works to date in a story about love, parenthood, and the meaning of freedom.

Tickets are $10 for general admission and $8 for IAC members and are available from Smarttix.com or by calling (212) 868-4444.

For more information on the Irish Arts Center please visit www.irishartscenter.org.

For one night only, The New York Irish Center will be presenting 'An Evening with Luka Bloom'. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, October 5th! The doors open at 7pm and there's a free cocktail hour showtime at 8pm

The downstairs area will also be open after the show for drinks. (Donations to the Center encouraged.)

Luka is one of Ireland's finest and most original singer songwriters and this should be a wonderful evening of musical entertainment.

There is an 80 seat limit so purchase your ticket(s) today to avoid disappointment - there is no limit to individual purchases. Please arrive early, seating is open and there's no admission after 8pm.

Tickets at $42 each can be purchased ONLY via Credit Card or Paypal using the link of their homepage: www.newyorkirishcenter.org.

The New York Irish Center can be found at 10-40 Jackson Avenue in Long Island City - take the 7 train to Vernon/Jackson Avenue, one stop, about five minutes travel on the 7 train.

Co-founder of the Druid Theatre Company, acclaimed director, and Tony Award-winner Garry Hynes will be delivering the Fourth Annual Irish Institute of New York Lecture: 'From Galway to Broadway and Back Again' on Thursday, September 23rd at 7pm at NYU's Kimmel Center (Eisner and Lubin Auditorium 60 Washington Square South, Room 401).

Graduates of University College, Galway, Garry Hynes, Mick Lally and Marie Mullen co-founded the Druid Theatre Company in 1975, the first professional Irish theatre company outside Dublin and one that changed the geography of Irish theatre.

In the thirty-five years since then, Hynes and the Druid Theatre Company have been on a remarkable journey, touring all over Ireland and extensively internationally.

Outside of her work with Druid, Garry has worked with The Abbey and Gate Theatres in Ireland and internationally with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Court in the UK, and with Second Stage, Signature Theater and Manhattan Theater Club in New York; and with The Kennedy Centre in Washington.

Hynes made history in 1998 when she was the first woman to win a Best Director Tony Award for Martin McDonagh's 'The Beauty Queen of Leenane'.

Since then she has received three honorary doctorates, was awarded the Freedom of Galway City and received the Irish Times/ESB Irish Theatre Special Tribute Award for her contribution to Irish Theatre. F

unding to endow this lecture series has been granted by the Irish Institute of New York, which has been dedicated to the support and promotion of the finest in Irish culture since 1950 and has been a generous donor to Glucksman Ireland House NYU since its opening in 1993.

It's free admission for this event but please don't forget to RSVP to (212) 998-3950 (option 3) or email ireland.house@nyu.edu in order to ensure a seat.

I heard that Des O'Brien of Langan's, O'Brien's Irish Pub and Pig'N'Whistle on 36th Street (just off 7th Avenue) was golfing on Long Island when the "Hurricane" hit on Thursday and was nearly blown away; what would we do without you Des? It's okay though... he made back! (Phew!)

What a day it was last Sunday at Molloy College who hosted the Nassau County A.O.H. Feis.

The Feis was first class and great credit is due again to all involved who made this event a true Irish festival. The turnout was huge and there were plenty of events for people to attend, like Step Dancing, Pipe Bands, Kids Rides and, to top it all off, the U2 tribute band 2U... Now where would you something like that huh?

Talking about the new Pig'n'Whistle on 36th Street (202 West 36th Street, off 7th Avenue) where we stopped in on Wednesday last, the place was going gangbusters and now they are showing all sports from around the world, including rugby, and yes, international soccer together with National Football League games, Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League and the NBA. Go check it out you will love it.

I just heard some very bad news: one of our writers for Irish Connections Magazine Bob Roman passed away on Saturday after along illness. He was one of the most colorful writers I have ever met in my life, we will sorely miss him. May he rest in peace!

See you all next week.