Out & About

What a week I had as I was all over town and I made a lot of stops on the way including at Eamonn's Bar and Grill, O'Casey's Irish Pub, the Pig'n'Whistles on 48th, 47th and 36th Streets to name a few.

I had a few pints... yes, I did... in all of them and I got to meet Eugene Wilson at the Pig'n'Whistle on 48th Street and the place was rocking; well they were all rocking let me tell you.

I got to meet Ed Fitzmaurice and his lovely wife Roseann in the 36th street location and, as you can imagine, a few cold ones as well and some very nice hor d'oeuvres... how is my French?

I then proceeded down to Tracks in Penn Station hoping to catch one of the boys, either Bruce Caulfield, Pat or Michael O'Brien but nobody was around... Michael must have had a half day; must check that out huh!

Well, talking about owners I missed Des O'Brien as I know this man is all over the place and that is the same with Pat Burke and the man himself Eamonn Maher; maybe they all knew I was on the way. What do you think, huh?

I did see Brendan the manager of the Pig'n'Whistle on 36th Street though.

When you read this on Tuesday it will be just after the Robert Briscoe Awards Reception at the 21 Club that was held on Monday night.

That is always a great night thanks to Siobhan Dennehy, Brian O'Dwyer and the Emerald Isle.

I have to tell you that this week I have never got so many announcements and I am happy about it too as I always want to pass on information about what is happening around town.

The Craic Festival is ready to roll again this year and takes place between March 8 and March 10 at Tribeca Cinemas and the Mercury Lounge.

You can check out the full line-up at thecraicfest.com.

The Saw Doctors will be playing Irving Plaza on Saturday March 10, and Friday March 16 and tickets are now on sale.

The Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street; 212-727-2737) will have a new show on called Beyond the Horizon by Eugene O'Neill.

This production is directed by Ciarán O'Reilly on will run from February 15 - April 8. Tickets are already on sale!

Beyond the Horizon was Eugene O'Neill's first full-length play and won the first of his four Pulitzer prizes.

Set on a farm in Massachusetts at the beginning of the twentieth century, this riveting drama pits brother against brother for the heart of one woman.

Robert Mayo, a romantic young poet is about to embark on the voyage of his dreams.

His brother Andrew is a contented farmer with a passio for the land.

On the eve of Robert's departure, when their neighbor, the beautiful Ruth declares her love for one over the other, the brothers trade lives with heart-breaking consequences.

The farmer goes to sea and the poet tends the land.

It is a powerful, timeless work by America's greatest playwright.

Performances include 8pm shows on Wednesday through Saturdays and 3pm shows on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

This week at Glucksman Ireland House NYU photographer Alen MacWeeney shares Irish Traveller culture of the 1960s.

He will be appearing on Thursday, February 2nd at 7pm.

Author of Irish Travellers: Tinkers No More, renowned photographer Alen MacWeeney will talk about his experience capturing a changing culture at a particular moment in history, illustrated with his photos and music recorded during his deep involvement with the Irish Traveller community from 1965 to 1971.

For over five years, Dublin-born Alen MacWeeney photographed the native itinerants of Ireland known as Travellers, spending countless evenings in their caravans and by their campfires, drinking tea and listening to their tales, songs, and music.

With his memoir of this period, Irish Travellers, MacWeeney has crafted a profoundly beautiful record of a slowly vanishing way of life rarely seen by outsiders, let alone captured by a camera.

Author and winner of the Man Booker prize John Banville compared the volume to "Edward Curtis's masterly recuperation of the American Indian."

You can preview some of the photos at alenmacweeney.com.

The lively evening will incorporate colloquial Traveller stories brought to life by actress Aedin Moloney, who appeared as Rose in the Irish Rep's recent production of Dancing at Lughnasa.

The introduction will be given by award-winning journalist, novelist, and playwright Belinda McKeon.

There's free admission for members of Glucksman Ireland House and to all students/faculty with a valid NYU I.D. card.

For non-members there will be a $10 donation at the door for the general event series.

In order to ensure a seat at events, please RSVP to (212) 998-3950 (option 3) or email ireland.house@nyu.edu, except for the Blarney Star Concert Series which does not accept reservations.

See you next week...