By Paddy McCarthy
Kevin J. Conway, Grand Marshal of the 2023 New York City St Patrick’s Day Parade was introduced to the community at an event hosted at the Irish Consulate by the Consul General of Ireland, Helena Nolan. Parade Chairman Sean Lane introduced the Grand Marshal to a room filled with dignitaries, leaders from the Irish American community and New York City. Mr. Conway will lead marchers up Fifth Avenue in the 262nd New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday, March 17, 2023.
I have another couple of announcements to give you that makes my Out&About a little bit easier on the feet. Ah ha. So here we go as this came to me from IBO President Paul Finnigan and said, “please forgive the impersonal nature of this message, but I wanted to contact you all directly as soon as possible. Many of you I have seen regularly at our meetings this year and would love to see you soon again. We are six days away from our Irish Business Organization (IBO) Christmas party, which we are doing jointly with EIIC this year at Rosie O’Grady’s Downstairs on December 7, starting at 5:30 pm (buffet with open bar for 3 hours). The United Irish Counties is also supporting the event.
“The focus this year is to have as many J-1 Visa holders join us as is possible, because for many it is just too expensive to travel back to Ireland to be with friends and family for the holidays. So, we thought we would throw them the best substitute party we could and allow them an event where they could connect with each other as well for the holidays. We will also be revealing our Sean McNeill Award winner for 2022.” To register, visit iboevents.org/events.
Please also consider joining the Irish American Writers and Artists for their annual Christmas Salon and Party, on Thursday December 15 at 7 pm in the first floor lounge at the Irish Arts Center (726 11th Avenue, between 51st and 52nd streets). This year’s Salon will be hosted and curated by Honor Molloy and Kathleen Walsh D’Arcy, and will feature light refreshments and beverages (safe to say there will be a few “little oranges”). This event is free of charge and open to all.
Now that is so nice from The Irish American Writers and Artists, so be there if you can as I will do my best.
The organization are also proud to be partnering with the African American Irish Diaspora Network and the Folger Shakespeare Library on “The Poetry Of Your Story,” an online seminar and workshop featuring poets Remica Bingham-Risher and Paula Meehan, genealogy professionals Kyle Betit and Noah Lapidus, and hosted by Teri Ellen Cross Davis, award-winning poet and Poetry Coordinator of the Folger Shakespeare Library. The seminar portion is free and open to all, while the workshop is limited to 30 participants and carries a modest tuition of $50 ($25 for members of IAW&A and AAIDN). They are especially grateful to the The Consulate General of Ireland in New York for their sponsorship of six scholarships for BIPOC individuals.
This is the busy pre-Christmas time as you have a lot of parties going on, ah I love it. Here is another party that I did mention last week that I also hope to attend, if they let me in, just kidding I will be there: The New York Irish Center (1040 Jackson Avenue in Long Island City, one stop from Grand Central on the 7 train) are having a big Christmas party also on Friday, December 9, from 7 pm to 10 pm. Call (718) 482-0909 for more information.
“New York Croons for Christmas” is the Center’s annual holiday concert, staged as a fundraiser to support all their cultural and social-support programs. Colm Reilly, son of beloved co-founder Paddy Reilly, delivers a cabaret-style performance with a who’s who of special guests and some of New York’s most esteemed jazz musicians… all of which adds up into a peerless show, and their very own Christmas classic.
Here is something that I think will interest Irish historians that is presented by the Irish Family History Forum, an Irish Genealogy Society. Storyteller Jim Hawkins, has been listening to and telling stories since he was a boy growing up in Rathnugent, Co. Westmeath. A member of the Forum, Jim will be performing at the December 17th meeting. He will tell stories, recite poems, sing songs, and discuss Christmas customs in Ireland. A retired English teacher, Jim works as a storyteller throughout tristate region. All Are Welcome! The event will be held at the Bethpage Public Library (47 Powell Avenue in Bethpage) beginning promptly at 10 am. Visit www.IFHF.org for more information.
I also just got this in from the Grand Council of Emeralds: on Tuesday, December 13, at 7:30 pm, the GCUES will convene a board of directors/affiliated delegates meeting at The Irish Poet (1891 Wantagh Avenue, Wantagh). Please make a note of the date and location. All officers, trustees, affiliated presidents, and delegates are encouraged to attend this meeting. In addition, their friends from Fighting 69th Whiskey will be in attendance. Their Irishman of the Year Dinner is coming up in January too.
That is what I am here, to give you all the gossip on anything Irish or Irish-American, so you’re not left out. I hope to see you all again next week when I will really be Out&About…