By Paddy McCarthy
I’m just back from Ireland as I was visiting my home town of Cork as I was very much Out&About this week. It was a very pleasant trip visiting family as I traveled over and back on Aer Lingus from JFK to Shannon Airport.
My brother Joe had driven up from Cork to pick me up as I was staying at The Metropole Hotel for a stay of five days that I can say were fast and furious and went so quick. While I was there I got to meet Aaron Mansworth, the Managing Director of the Trigon Hotels Group who are responsible for The Metropole Hotel, Cork International Hotel and Cork Airport Hotel. In addition to his voluntary role with the Cork Business Association as President until 2025, Aaron had great experience here in New York as he was the Banqueting Manager at one of the most famous hotels in the world for some eight years at The Waldorf Astoria on Park Avenue.
Aaron was offered a position by Connie O’Reilly, a well-known restaurant owner with three of them here in New York City and one in Port Washington, to manage his hotel in Ireland. Aaron and his wife liked the package offered and decided to take up the offer where he spent three-and-half years managing Crover House in Cavan. He also ran the resort operations at the Heritage in County Laois and then became general manager of the International Airport Hotel which is now part of the Trigon Hotel group. He deserves great success and is still the most down to earth person that I have ever got to meet.
Now on my trip home I had to visit a couple of pubs just to see how things were doing and I have to admit they all doing fine from what I could see and yes, I had one or two. I first visited a well-known establishment, The Long Valley and got to meet the owner, Pader Moynihan. If you think that The Long Valley is famous for just the drinks then you would be wrong, it also has deliciously tasty sandwiches that are always mouthwatering and the best soup you have ever tasted as well to wash them down, yummy!
I took a trip out to one of the boroughs, Douglas, Cork to meet one of the greatest entrepreneurs ever, Peter Collins, who is the owner of Barry’s of Douglas Bar and Restaurant in the heart of Douglas. It’s the perfect place to meet for morning coffee, a meal or a drink or two; now you can see why I visited my friend Peter and my brother Kieran, who is a good friend of Peter’s and yes, I did have a beautiful lunch that was delicious and a pint of Heineken as well. Peter is also the owner of the luxurious four-star Carrigaline Court Hotel (call for reservations @ (833) 621-3686) that I can tell you is a classic. So, the next time you are visiting Ireland take a trip down to Carrigaline and visit the hotel as you will love it. Located just 15 minutes from Cork City and only 10 minutes from Cork Airport it is the ideal base for exploring the stunning south of Ireland.
This trip was probably the best that I have done for a long time because it was nonstop from the time, I got off the plane to the time that I returned to New York. The day I arrived I went to Murphy’s Brewery in Cork City for a book signing for Conal Creedon .He is a critically acclaimed novelist, playwright and documentary filmmaker who invited me to attend, now where could it have been better held than in Murphy’s Brewery’s reception room, ahh I love it. Conal’s book, The Spaghetti Bowl is an anthology of essays. The inspiration for each individual piece is very much a stand-alone exploration, with some translated into Chinese and German. Yet the unifying dynamic in this compendium is Creedon’s global perspective as viewed from what he calls the ‘Spaghetti Bowl of Streets’ in downtown Cork City – where his family has lived and traded for generations. When examined in its entirety, this diverse and eclectic collection of essays come together – as a single cohesive body of work that resonates far beyond the inner-city streets of his native Cork. Not too bad to have your book launch in none other than Murphy’s Brewery, of course I was not going to miss it, thank you Cónal.
I just would like to finish off with some sad news. The Irish Examiner USA would like to express our condolences on the passing of Theresa Tuohy, of Dungloe, County Donegal and Brooklyn, NY, who passed away peacefully on Monday, September 16 at her home surrounded by her beloved children and grandchildren.
Theresa was a devoted parishioner of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, where she served as a Eucharistic Minister, the Ladies Auxiliary and in later years the Circle of Friends. Theresa lovingly raised her family in their home on 57th Street, and in later years on 79th Street. Her home was always filled with warmth, hospitality and prayer. There was always a cup of tea to share for all who visited, RIP.
I hope to see you all again next week when I am Out&About again…