By Paddy McCarthy
Before start my Out&About this week, I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, and ate way too much.
I got a message from The New York Irish Center that said that their Annual Toy Drive returns this festive season on December 2 from 1 pm!
“Once a year for the last 11 years, New York Irish Center has transformed into a wondrous holiday toy shop, with dozens of volunteer elves giving their time to wrap and pack gifts ahead of the holidays. All gifts are destined for children in our community whose families are less fortunate and may be struggling to afford gifts.
“We’re calling on the community to once again help us hit our goal of raising enough money to purchase 1000 gifts for 1000 underprivileged children. Your donations at work: $25 = One Gift, $50 = Two Gifts and $100 = Four Gifts.”
The whole idea is to help them meets their goal of 1000 gifts for 1000 underprivileged children this Christmas holiday season. This is a big undertaking that I am sure they will succeed with and know that with your help they will.
I am sure that George Heslin, Executive Director will be very happy that you will all support and volunteer plus bring gifts as you know Santa will be watching.
Calling out to all Dublin people and of course all their friends to come and support The Dublin Society’s Christmas Party that will be held on December 12th at Slattery’s on East 36 street from 6.30 pm. There is an open bar for the first hour or so and finger foods all evening. Shane Humphries said to let him know if attending and mile maith agut to those who have already.
He also wanted to remind everyone that dues for 2024 are due. These pay for the Society’s membership in the United Irish Counties and affiliation with the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Dues are $30 a head, payable by check to The Dublin Society of NY, 180 East 79th Street, New York NY 10075, or Venmo, www.venmo.com/DublinSocietyNY. Or in person at the Christmas party.
I am so sad to talk again about another great legend who passed away after a long illness. Tom Slattery is known the length and breath of New York and beyond as the number ONE salesman in the liqueur business as he must have never got the answer of no from all the restaurant and bar owners that he served.
Here is a little bit on Tom that was publisher a few years ago in The New York Times: “He is not a dabbler. He is a connoisseur. He is more than a salesman. He is a professional drinking man. By trade, Tom Slattery is a liquor distributor, and he was running late. He had worked into the wee hours of the morning, carousing with Father Pete, the Saloon Priest. He woke up late. This sometimes happens, and when it does, he refers to it as an occupational hazard. ‘I never sell anything I haven’t tried at least three or four times myself,’ he said, as he took a stool and a glass of premium vodka and orange juice at PJ Moran’s at 48th Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.
“‘It was noon. ‘The job of the liquor representative does not end at 5, but the hard sell is set aside for a relaxation and further research,’ he said, licking the remnants from his lips. He was wearing a tweed jacket, silk tie, pocket kerchief, overcoat, polished loafers and eyeglasses, looking every bit like the Midtown businessmen who frequent the place for lunch.
“The bartender was telling the fable of Tir Na Nog, the Land of Ever Young. It seems that a man out hunting was visited by a beautiful maiden on horseback. She promised him riches, love and eternal youth if he would come with her to the Land of Tir Na Nog. And he did. Three days later, he decided that he should let his mother and father in Ireland know where he had gone. The maiden told him that under no circumstances should he get off his horse and touch the soil. What the hunter did not know was that one day in Tir Na Nog was equal to 100 years in Ireland. When the hunter tried to visit his relatives, he learned they were long dead. So, he headed back to the Land of Ever Young. But while riding through Sligo, he stopped to help some men move a rock, and as he did the strain broke his saddle’s girth and the hunter fell to the ground. Immediately he turned into a withered old man and died.
“‘I feel like that too,’ the salesman said. ‘Bars are like that. You feel young in here and then you walk out into the sunlight and you feel like you’re dying.’
“Mr. Slattery is a solitary man of 65, a rubber sole who works door to door earning 2 percent commission on a bottle. He was once almost married, but almost doesn’t count, he said. The drinking life has changed in his 27 years in the business.
“The Manhattan saloons have gone from buckets of blood to buckets of pinot grigio. That is not to say that Mr. Slattery feels that time has passed him by. There are 11,000 bars in the five boroughs and they are packed full of his friends. He tries to get his work done by Thursday. This leaves Friday to the ‘advancement of professionalism’.”
I could not have said it better myself on our dear friend the late Tom Slattery, RIP.
His funeral will take place at St Ignatius Church (721 W. Broadway, Long Beach, Long Island) on Monday December 4 at 11 am. There will be a Celebration of Life following the Mass at JJ Coopers (124 W. Park Ave., Long Beach).
Tom was also very involved in Division 7 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and a very long-time committee member of Kruise for Kids. He was also the Head of the United Restaurant and Tavern Owners Association in New York for many years.
IBO Past President Martin Dunne has been named Tipperary Man of The Year 2023 and will be honored at the Tipperary NY Hurling Club Dinner Dance on Saturday, December 2 which kicks off at 8 pm in Mulino’s at Lake Isle (660 White Plains Road in Eastchester). The Guest of Honor is Declan O’Meara (Toomevara) with special guest Donie Shanahan (Toomevara).
Additional award winners include Senior Hurler of the Year Conor Hammersley, Junior Hurler of the Year Joey Grace and special guest Seamus Callanan (former Hurler of The Year and recently retired Tipperary hurler).
I hope to see you all again next week when I am Out&About.