Past Presidents of The Irish Business Organization (HigginsPhotoNYC)
By Paddy McCarthy
I was at a few events in the last couple of weeks and I’m proud to say that all of them were excellent. The Hibernia Provident Society held its Annual 2023 Gala Dinner. The Secretary and Gala Chairman John Egan, who was originally from Dublin, Ireland, is now the resident manager of 778 Park Avenue. John and I go back a long way as we jointly promoted quite a few Showbands in Cork back in the 80s and this man is so talented in the music business as I’m concerned.
I was also at the Knights of Saint Patrick’s 35th Anniversary Dinner that was held at The Union League Club honoring Kay Quinlivan as their Knight of the Year, Patrick McGowan as Business Executive of the Year and Patrick Dolan as Labor Leader of the Year. The Chairman of the Knights of Saint Patrick John Tully gave a great welcome speech to all the guests and me of course. He gave a great Céad Míle Fáilte on behalf of the Knights of Saint Patrick to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of their founding.
There were a lot of fellow Knights that worked very hard to make this night such a fabulous evening including Marty Cottingham, Dan Donnelly, Kara Ross, Tom Flood, Michael Macintyre, Michael Avis and the journal chairman Brian J. Sharkey who produced a beautiful journal and again, it was an absolutely fabulous evening.
I was also a guest of Artistic Director Michael Mellamphy at the Origin Theatre Gala last Monday evening at the Manhattan Penthouse on Fifth Avenue, New York City.
I want to thank you so much for the invite to one of the most professional dinner Galas that I have been at for a very long time and I have to congratulate you on what a fabulous evening it was and again thank you and all of your volunteers who again were top of the line in all capacities on the great evening, you should be very proud as you’ve all come a long way and you deserve all the success in the world.
You could not ask for better honorees than Consul General of Ireland Helena Nolan, and her husband Sami Dahdouh with The Tom Moran Business Arts Award and the George C. Heslin Artistic Leadership honoree Roger Clark.
As I said, I have been at a few events again that were all just fabulous and here we have The Irish Business Organization of New York who commemorated their 50th anniversary with a celebration of the Irish in New York at The Lighthouse at Chelsea.
Almost 300 members and friends enjoyed cocktails overlooking the Hudson River at sunset, followed by the awards dinner, a performance by the Niall O’Leary Irish Dancers, and dancing to the music of the Sean Fleming Band.
IBO Past President Mave O’Malley with Ciaran O’Reilly and Charlotte Moore
Tony Dunne was on hand to accept the award for Excellence in Financial Service, The United Irish Counties Association’s Mike O’Reilly accepted the Community Leadership Award for his organization, while Dr. Kevin Kenny accepted the Distinguished Service to Education Award for Glucksman Ireland House.
The Distinguished Service in Global Philanthropy Award went to The Ireland Funds, accepted by CEO and President Caitriona Fottrell. The Irish Repertory Theatre earned the Cultural Leadership Award with its founders Charlotte Moore and Ciarán O’Reilly on hand to receive the honor.
The emotional high point of the evening was Mary Burke’s acceptance speech as the IBO honored her with the Arthur F. Clements Founder’s Award for a lifetime of selfless service to the community in her welcoming role at Rosie O’Grady’s, followed by heartfelt remarks by Steven Clements, the son of IBO founder Arthur Clements.
“It was a fantastic event, better than we even dared hope. With such outstanding organizations being honored, and with Mary receiving the Arthur F. Clements Founder’s Award, it was a true celebration of Ireland in New York,” IBO president Paul Finnegan said.
“I believe, of all the amazing organizations in our community, the IBO, with its fifty years of history and its position on the community landscape, is best placed to bring the many strands of the community together like this.”
Paddy McCarthy with Joe Brady (HigginsPhotoNYC)
Look who I got to meet at the introduction of the 2024 Grand Marshal Maggie Timoney for the 263rd New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, none other than the legend himself Joe Brady, Former Pipe Major of the 69th Regiment.
Did I enjoy my time Out&About? Yes I did and what a great way for me to meet so many people.
I hope you enjoyed this week’s Out&About and I’ll see you all again next week.