Out&About

By Paddy McCarthy

One more time… as you know by now there is a lot going on between now and Saint Patrick’s Day and a big one is the Annual Installation Reception for the 2020 NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade’s Grand Marshal and their Aides. The reception will be held at Antun’s (46-43 Springfield Boulevard in Queens Village) on Sunday February 23 at 3 pm for Grand Marshal James T. Callahan.

Now the reason I am telling you all this is it is the last call to send your congratulations via a journal ad and buy tickets that will certainly be sold out if you wait any longer. Email Journal@NYCStPatricksParade.Org.

The Irish Business Organization are holding their February event this Wednesday with keynote speaker Elaine Brennan, Chief Commercialization Officer for Northwell Health; now that should be interesting. Hailing from County Clare, Elaine is one of the leaders of True North, a Northwell Health entity established to develop and invest in innovative products, technologies and services that will generate revenue to support the health system’s mission of delivering quality care, innovative research and education. The event is set for Wednesday February 12, with networking starting at 6:30 pm, and the meeting at 7:15 pm in Scandinavia House (58 Park Avenue, NYC).

What a day I had last Saturday evening at Hofstra University with none other than Eileen Cronin who hosts her The Long Ireland Radio Show on WRHI.66.7 FM. This lady is a force to be reckoned with as what she does promoting Ireland is just superb and all her music is Irish and Irish American. Eileen has been doing this presentation on radio for a very long time and she is brilliant. The beautiful thing about visiting Eileen is that she always has tea and cake ready for you. Now where else would yea get it. When I visited the show to be interviewed, I was told that on March 8 they have a festival call Ireland’s Day at the University that will feature everything Irish so do not miss it, and yes, I will be there. Keep it going Eileen you are doing great job promoting Ireland through your music.

A couple of weeks ago I had a little piece in my Out&About a special event that is hosted by a great friend and that is the Francis Pope Memorial Foundation Friendship Ball. This event has been going on for a good few years and thankfully it has proved very successful for this Charity .The honorees this year are very well known in the Irish community and are well deserved honorees for all that they have contributed to the Irish Community.

You have Patricia Houlihan, a native of the Bronx and a very successful professional licensed realtor The wife of Jim Houlihan of Houlihan Parnes Realtors, Pat and Jim were instrumental in helping create the acclaimed “Great Hunger Memorial” in Westchester County and have been involved in, and supported a variety of charitable organizations including Fordham University, Fairfield University, Fordham Prep, The Irish Repertory Theater and The Irish Arts Center.

Pat is particularly proud of her involvement with the Pope Foundation’s support of those families with the heartache of childhood illness. 

The other recipient is none other that Desmond O’Brien. Des hails from Nenagh, Co Tipperary, where he was raised on Solsboro, the farm that had been in his family for four generations. He attended the Cistercian Brothers boarding school in Roscrea. Des has been a big supporter of the New York Rugby Club, as a player, an Old Boys member, and a sponsor. He is an ardent fan of the New York Rangers, Mets, Jets and loves golf –  but topping that list of ardor are his three daughters Charlotte, Phoebe, Daisy and of course his wife, Amy.

In 1992 he met John Mahon and a partnership began that lasts to this day. Together they opened the New York classic Langan’s in Times Square, O’Brien’s Irish Pub, Pig N Whistle and Broadstone Bar & Kitchen in the New York’s Financial District with great success.

The Friendship Ball is the Francis Pope Memorial Foundation’s primary fundraiser to enable them to fulfill their mission which is to help families meet some of the expenses not covered by insurance while caring for their children with cancer.  It’s consistently a great night of good dining, dancing, singing and fun while helping families who are going through some tough times.

See you all again next week when I am Out&About once more.