By Paddy McCarthy
Now that they’ve nearly got Penn Station fully up and running, the new construction is looking beautiful, I might tell yea. This is one of the greatest cities in North America and it should always be a pleasure to walk in there whether you are getting on a train or not and they now have so many food outlets to suite every one’s taste. Penn Station is home to almost all the trains and subways coming in and out of New York City and now passengers can relax and have dining comforts with lots of food and a cocktails as they are coming or going on their journey.
Talking about the construction in Penn Station that is almost finished, now we have Grand Central Station who’ve also got a facelift with the new Long Island Railroad Terminal just opened. Its rich history is a story of immense wealth and great engineering, but also of survival and rebirth. Today, the beaux-arts landmark is a retail and dining destination as well as the home of the MTA Metro-North Railroad and a subway station serving the 4, 5, 6, 7, and S subway lines.
Opened to the public on February 2, 1913, Grand Central is a world-famous landmark and transportation hub in Midtown Manhattan. Its rich history is a story of immense wealth and great engineering, but also of survival and rebirth. The new station, located below Grand Central Terminal, is now open. Try out the shuttle service between Jamaica and Manhattan and explore the new terminal. It’s taken a long time, but the wait was well worth it as Long Island customers like myself are very happy that it is up and running, yippee!
I had a busy week as I was Out&About, I was at a couple of events. One of those was The Emerald Society of Con Edison’s 60th Anniversary Dinner that was held at the Dunwoodie Golf Course in Yonkers last Saturday. The event honored Executive Sponsor Patrick Burke, VP Electric Operations. I was a guest of James O’Leary who is the treasurer of the Emerald Society Con Edison and also a great MC at the event. To my surprise, who walked in was His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan Archbishop of New York. The Cardinal spoke to over 200 employees and guests like myself and my guest Pete Scally and recognized Patrick for all his professional and community services endeavors, and his continued volunteer work with St. Francis Food Pantries and Shelters in Manhattan New York. What a great evening it was and I got to meet a lot of people like Brian Sharkey, John Ryan, Dan Dennehy and the Clan na Gael historian himself Patrick Miller, PhD and, of course, James O’Leary, not forgetting the O’Mara School of Dance who were just brilliant.
Pete and myself left after to go to the Irish American Society of Nassau, Suffolk and Queens in Mineola, Long Island as they also had a big event there as well with the Installations Celebration of its members with music supplied by none other than the Mary G. Band, who were brilliant, and master of ceremonies Tony Jackson. I got to meet the woman herself, Betty McLoughlin the most hard-working volunteer for the Irish community that I have ever met. We had to leave early before the party began for reasons beyond our control, but I got the news that it was a fabulous night. Next up there is the Saint Patrick’s Day event that I also hope to attend.
Yes, of course, I was at the United Irish Counties Association of New York’s 118th Annual Dinner Dance last Sunday at Antun’s in Queens Village. Guests of Honor were the Gaels of the Year Charlotte Moore and Ciaran O’Reilly, co-Founders of The Irish Repertory Theatre. Also been honored was The Rose Cosgrove Distinguished Service Award winner Tom Tuffy. I have to hand it to the UICANY, they know how to promote a big event that was professional from start to finish. I know they put a lot of hard work into it and let me tell you it paid off. There are so many people I would like to thank and you know who you are, so I can mention some of you including President Michael O’Reilly who spoke on behalf of his officers and delegates with true professionalship, along with Rita Lydon Lenz, Catherine Hogan, Ann Henry, and Mae O’Driscoll to mention a few and all the officers, directors, trustees, auditors and volunteers, you should all be very proud. It was also great to meet and acknowledge Consul General Helena Nolan who gave a great speech from the podium and who joined along with her husband Sami who I had the pleasure of sitting at the table with and the Grand Marshal of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Kevin Conway after he spoke at the podium and his lovely wife Denise. I was so impressed that they had me sitting with all the dignitaries and joined by Chairman of the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Sean Lane and Eileen Flannelly Mackell. I can only say this, I must be coming up in the world. I cannot finish without mentioning Tommy Smyth who again stole the show as again he was just brilliant as the host and master of ceremonies on the evening, good on yea Tommy and I did get to meet his wife Treasa for a few minutes as it was a full house in attendance.
The County Cork BP&P Association of New York invites you to join them in celebrating the St. Patrick’s season at their 138th Annual St. Patrick’s Ball and Dinner Dance, on Saturday, March 4th at Antun’s (96-43 Springfield Blvd., Queens Village). Deluxe cocktail hour will begin at 6:30 pm followed by dinner, music, and dancing to the Mickey Peare Band. Tickets are $100, tables of ten $1,000. This year, they are recognizing three very distinguished honorees.
2023’s Cork Man of the Year Jim O’Neill grew up in Valley Stream with his sisters Eileen and Doreen. His parents Michael and Theresa (Sullivan) emigrated from Dromore/Bantry and Canfi/Ardgroom/Beare Peninsula, County Cork. Jim began his career in law enforcement as an NYPD officer of the 10th Precinct in 1982.
The 2023 Cork Woman of the Year, Michelle McCarthy grew up on a dairy farm on the outskirts of Youghal, Co. Cork. One of four children, she was influenced earlier in her life by music choices of her parents William and Liz McCarthy and three brothers William, Gerald and Edmond who listened to everything from Led Zeppelin and Roy Orbison, to our very own Daniel O’Donnell and of course U2. She always had a dream to be part of the music industry and moved to New York City in 2012 in pursuit of a career in the music industry where she landed a key role at The World’s Most Famous Arena in midtown Manhattan. Director of Marketing Strategy for Live Concerts and Sporting Events at Madison Square Garden, spearheading strategic marketing plans for Madison Square Garden’s properties in New York City including Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, and The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
2023’s Frank T. Carvill Distinguished Service Award winner is Thomas Murphy, a lifelong, 3rd generation Dongan Hills, Staten Island resident. His father’s parents, Thomas Murphy and Hannah Minihane, emigrated from Union Hall and Donoughmore, County Cork in the 1890’s. For for information email nycorkbpp@gmail.com.
The Ireland-US Council will be having their annual St. Patrick’s lunch on Thursday, March 16 at The Metropolitan Club. Cocktail hour begins at 11:30 am followed by lunch at 12:30 pm. Entertainment will feature the best of Gradam Ceoil Traditional Irish music compliments of TG4 – Ireland’s Gaelic language broadcaster. For more information, contact David O’Sullivan, Council Executive Director at (212) 867-6268 or email info@irelanduscouncil.com.
I hope to see you all again next week when I am Out&About again.