There’s a lot happening from now until Saint Patrick’s Day and that is exciting because it makes my life much easier with a little bit of gossip in between. Here is an event I was invited to last Wednesday at the Irish Consulate and that was Origin Theatre Company’s 1st Irish Festival media event. One thing about going to an event like this is that you get to meet people that you would not see from one end of the year to the other. It was great to meet Patrick Farrelly who I did work with when I was with the Irish Voice back in the 90s when he was the editor. Patrick has a documentary as part of the 1st Irish Festival.
To meet the man himself, George Heslin, the artistic director and founder of the Origin Theatre was very pleasant as he is a fabulous host and a very proud Irish man or should I say Limerick man, good on yea George. Another top-class guest that I got to meet was the one and only Mae O’Driscoll, a very well-known Cork woman as she is very unique woman as far as helping the Irish community all her life.
I also got to meet one of my favorite people, Lorretta Brennan Glucksman, and as you will read below she is been honored by The Irish Repertory Theatre. Now I can’t forget Aine Sheridan for the work she does on Adrian Flannelly’s Irish Radio Show every Saturday morning who is also a great promoter for the Irish Community here in New York. Now there were lots more people at the event, but it would take up the whole page to mention them all and it was fun as well.
My friend Marty Glynn sent me in this notice about another event that is happening and the reason I am letting you know that is that you will be well advised to attend. He said to come join the Brehon Law Society of Nassau County in a night of acknowledgment and gratitude for two of Long Island’s most esteemed Irish–American Congressmen, Tom Suozzi and Peter King on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at 6 pm at the North Ritz Club. These two leaders in a bi-partisan effort crafted and championed House Resolution 585, which reaffirms America’s support for the Good Friday Agreement, a treaty which has brought over twenty years of peace to Ireland and which will one day be the vehicle for its peaceful reunification. HR 585 is resounding loudly across the Atlantic at a critical time in history. America has always played a vital supporting role in promoting peace and freedom in Ireland. This only happens when Irish-Americans ask our political leaders to intercede. When they do, as Congressmen Suozzi and King have here, it is not only proper, but prudent, that we gratefully recognize their deeds. Mary Courtney will entertain the crowd with her beautiful voice as she sings traditional Irish music during the cocktail hour. Guests will choose from four dinner entrees. The open bar includes top shelf beverages and Guinness. The price of dinner is $175 per person, $1,750 for a table of 10 (which includes a dinner sponsorship). The price includes the attendee’s annual dues. Dinner sponsorships alone are $250. For more information please contact Catherine M. Stanton, President of the Brehon Law Society of Nassau County at cstanton@workerslaw.com.
The Irish Repertory Theatre (Charlotte Moore, Artistic Director, and Ciarán O’Reilly, Producing Director) have announced that their 2020 Gala will celebrate the company’s 31st season and honor Loretta Brennan Glucksman who will receive Irish Repertory Theatre’s Visionary Leadership Award in recognition of her philanthropic support of Irish communities and her tireless work in promoting Irish culture and heritage in the US and around the world. The evening will feature performances showcasing the best of New York and Irish talent.
Premium event tickets are available now via phone at (212) 255-0270 and at irishrep.org. Concert only tickets will be on sale to the public in March.
The Brehon Law Society in conjunction with the New York City Bar Association invites you to attend a discussion with the newly elected MP for North Belfast, John Finucane. The topic will be ‘Delivering the Promise of the Good Friday Agreement – Building a United Ireland’. The format is a discussion followed by questions and answers. The event will be held on Thursday, January 16 from 6 pm at the New York City Bar Association (42 West 44th Street). The event is open to all though non members will be charged a $15 fee. For further information or to RSVP, please contact them on (212) 297-6107.
The United Irish Counties Association of New York, Inc.’s 116th Annual Dinner Dance will be held on Friday, January 31 at Antun’s (96-43 Springfield Boulevard in Queens Village). A deluxe cocktail hour will be held from 7:30 pm with dinner and dancing from 8:30 pm to 12:30 am. Music will be provided by the Guss Hayes Band and tickets are $100.
Their 2020 Gael of the Year is Eileen Flannelly Mackell, a native New Yorker with roots in Counties Mayo and Limerick and Martin P. Dunne will be presented with the 2020 Rose Cosgrove Distinguished Service Award.
See you all again next week when I am Out&About once more.