Out & About

Oh what a night it was last Wednesday at Eamonn's Bar and Grill where we held our annual Man of the Year event

This year's honoree was the Impresario himself, Adrian Flannelly. Adrian is a well known radio personality on both sides of the Atlantic, but lucky for us he is here in New York with his radio show broadcast through Irish Radio Network USA.

As you might expect, when The Irish Examiner does a party it becomes hooley as that biz, what it's supposed to be is a good, happy evening and that is what Adrian had with all his friends.

The Consul General Noel Kilkenny and his wife Hanora made a welcome appearance and had some nice words to say about Adrian and what he means to the Irish in America.

Another great friend who also had some nice things to say was Malachy McCourt, author of many books and who, as usual, lit up the room.

The entertainment was by the one and only Donie Carroll and Caitlin Warbelow on fiddle and let me tell you again, the music was outstanding as Donie is so versatile; no wonder all the woman love him!.

Eamonn Maher did it again - the food was superb; well it must have been as everyone had a plate but me... just kidding. The service was excellent thanks to Noel the manager; what more could you ask for, it was brilliant.

Pat Burke, who is a partner of Eamonn and John Mahon made a pleasant appearance and hung out with the coffee man Pete Scally.

The who's who of the Irish Diaspora was at the event and I must not forget Aine Sheridan, Maeve O'Malley, Lauren Turner, Attracta Lyndon, Noelle Clancy, Deirdre O'Hea, Paul Keating (who rushed all the way down from the Catskills), Brian Anderson, the NYPD's Mike Shea, Paul Hurley, Karl O'Connor, Timmy Myles, Malachy McAlister and the Flannelly family.

Again, lots of people came to the event, is he that popular? He must be! Oh, of course the IBO was well represented by president Sheila Lynott and the Irish Rep by Ciaran O'Reilly and Charlotte Moore. JP Delaney and Cody McCoy were there from O'Dwyer and Bernstien as well as Bruce Caulfield from Tracks, Siobhan Dennehy from the Emerald Isle Immigration Center, and John Dearie who made a surprise appearance. Was Ciara Nolan there? I think so. I'd better stop or my editor will want to know whether I need the whole paper for names as that is what I could do.

Now that is why he is The Irish Examiner newspaper Man of the Year, congratulations again Adrian it is well deserved!

Without great music, where would we be? Don't make any plans for June 29 when The Wolfe Tones will appear in concert at the Capital District Irish- American Center (AOH Hall) at 375 Ontario Street in Albany.

The pub and its kitchen will be open at 5pm. The concert starts at 8pm. All tickets are $30. Reservations are recommended by calling (518) 331-6116. Proceeds will benefit the Irish American Heritage Museum.

The Irish Repertory Theatre continues its 24th Season with Bob Merrill and George Abbott's Tony-nominated 1957 musical New Girl in Town based on Eugene O'Neill's Anna Christie.

Directed by Charlotte Moore the musical co-stars Margaret Loesser Robinson as Anna Christie, Cliff Bemis, Patrick Cummings and Danielle Ferland.

Preview performances begin July 18 with the official press opening on July 26.

New Girl In Town takes place in New York City, 1926. Along the sordid New York Waterfront teeming with drunks and merchant sailors, Anna, a young woman with a secret past, arrives searching for her father, old Chris Christopherson, Swedish Captain of a coal barge traveling between New York and Provincetown.

On a foggy night, a sailor is pulled from the cold, dark waters of the Atlantic... and when the fog clears, Anna comes face to face with merchant sailor, Matt Burke, and both lives are changed forever.

Based on Eugene O'Neill's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, New Girl In Town is a passionate and joyous musical with music and lyrics by eight-time Tony Award-nominee Bob Merrill and book by Tony Award-winner George Abbott.

Co-founded by Producing Director Ciarán O'Reilly and Artistic Director Charlotte Moore, The Irish Repertory Theatre opened its doors in September 1988 with Sean O'Casey's The Plough and The Stars.

The mission of the theatre was and remains to bring works by Irish and Irish American masters and contemporary playwrights to American audiences; to provide a context for understanding the contemporary Irish American experience; and to encourage the development of new works focusing on the Irish and Irish American experience, as well as a range of other cultures.

Right now at the Irish Rep, with performances recently extended through July 1, is George Bernard Shaw's Man And Superman, a co-production with Gingold Theatrical Group, directed by David Staller.

Performances of New Girl In Town run July 18-September 9 at The Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues): Wednesdays at 3pm and 8pm; Thursdays at 7pm; Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 3pm and 8pm; and Sundays at 3pm.

Tickets are $55 and $65, and are available by calling (212) 727-2737 or online at www.irishrep.org.

There's a fundraiser this Wednesday (June 27) at 7pm at O'Lunney's Time Square Pub (145 W. 45th St., upstairs) to raise awareness of Marian Price's harsh treatment and deteriorating health in Her Majesty's Prison at Maghaberry, Northern Ireland. Performance and presentations will be made by: Andrew Harkin, Chris Byrne, John Duddy, Larry Kirwin, Malachy McCourt, Mary Courtney, Michael Patrick MacDonald, Peter Quinn and Father Sean McManus. Help them ensure Marian Price's story ends happily.

The IMMRAM and Stone Street Streetfest will be held on July 10th, from 5pm - 11pm in Stone Street. The participating establishments are: Adrienne's, Beckett's Bar & Grill, Burger Burger, The Dubliner, The Growler, Mad Dog and Beans, Pizza Pizza, Stone Street Tavern, Ulysses, and Vintry Wine and Whiskey.

It's the event when New York dines out for Africa! On July 10th, IMMRAM and Stone Street, in collaboration with the Irish New York business networks - IN-NYC, IBO, IIBN and Irish Network NJ - invite you to join their fundraising street festival to support Self Help Africa's work in helping people in rural Africa to lift themselves out of poverty. Stone Street is Manhattan's oldest paved street, and is lined with some of the city's best bars and restaurants.

"This is about giving back," said Brendan P. Farrell, Jr., founder of IMMRAM and Chief Executive Officer at XSP. "All of the participating businesses on Stone Street have generously committed to donating a portion of their proceeds from the event to support Self Help Africa's mission of empowering people to lift themselves out of poverty by setting up small rural enterprises.

"IMMRAM is joining forces with other Irish networks and local organizations to promote the 'Helping Africa to Help Itself' benefit," he said.

"We encourage all members from IMMRAM, IBO, IIBN, IN-NYC and Irish Network NJ, along with their colleagues, friends and family to attend this event, which will raise much needed funds to support Self Help Africa projects."

"The city really joins in for this effort," said Beckett's Ronan Downs. "It's great fun to get involved with the activities, there's live music, and a really great effort.

"What better way could you spend Tuesday after work than hanging out on Stone Street in the sun, having a drink or some food, and helping some of the poorest people in the world to start a small business and escape the poverty trap?"

Event sponsors include Engle Martin, XSP, Southern Wine and Spirits, IMMRAM, the Irish Business Organization of New York, the Irish International Business Network, Irish Network New York and Irish Network New Jersey.

Donations for this event can also be made directly at Self Help Africa's website.

The Catskill's Irish Arts Week (CIAW) runs from July 15 to 21. For more information email irishartsweek@gmail.com or call (518) 634-2286.

See you all next week...