By Paddy McCarthy
I only just got the news that the famous Abbey Tavern in Manhattan closed on January 20th. It must have been on the corner of 26th Street and Third Avenue, near Gramercy Park for well over 60 years or more. This is the announcement that the owners have released: “It is with sad hearts I announce that we have been unable to reach an agreement with our landlord and The Abbey Tavern as it closed permanently January 20th. We want to thank all of you that have supported us throughout the years. We have been so blessed to have such wonderful staff, customers & friends. We must say goodbye to the end of an era.
“Abbey Tavern, opened in 1963 as a casual bar-restaurant, for the past ten years, featured 12 large-screen TVs and was a sports-viewing mecca. Regulars preparing to gather to watch Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game between Ohio State and Notre Dame were stunned by the closure.”
Now I have to tell it brought a tear to my eyes as I used to frequent it quite often as it was one of the biggest Irish landmark bar/restaurants in New York City. It was always a big hang out for movie and theatre actors to visit when they were in the City with the likes of Harrison Ford, Richard Harris, Maureen O’Hara and Phil Coulter. It was also known for folksingers to pay a visit including the late Jim McCann, Paddy Reilly, Ronnie Drew and lots more who I got to meet there.
The Abbey Tavern was owned by a Belfast man, the late Gerry Toner and his partners and Gerry was an Irish hospitality legend for many many years. It is so sad to see this famous Irish establishment closing as it was a pride of the Irish community. Gerry was a very good friend of mine and he was a great supporter of charitable organizations and anyone Irish who needed his support and he helped a lot of people who were down on their luck and he did it very quietly with no fuss, may. RIP.
It was a night to remember when the Grand Council of United Emerald Societies gathered to commemorate the 50th anniversary since the reorganization and to recognize the 2025 Irishman of the Year, John Samuelsen, International President of the Transport Workers Union of America. John will serve proudly as the Aide to the New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal Michael A. Benn.
It was great to meet the President of the GCUES Martin Bellew who gave a great introduction to John, who got a standing ovation from capacity audience made up from a lot of different Emerald Societies including Con Ed, FDNY, NYCD, SCPO, HVPES, DSNY, NYSCT, NYCDOE and HVPES.
Martin expressed his gratitude to Brian Sharkey who worked tirelessly to make the evening a total success and thanked Michael Barzal and Thomas J. Ryan for all their dedication. Well done to all for their relentless dedication in making the event a total success. The Grand Council of United Emerald Societies donated a check to Denis Mulcahy, Co-Founder of Project Children as well on the night at Antun’s in Queens Village.
The St Pat’s for All Parade, to be held on Sunday March 2nd, will feature the current Lord Mayor of Belfast, Micky Murray and singer-songwriter Judy Collins as Grand Marshals, where Consul General Helena Nolan is a Special Guest.
Micky Murray took up office on June 3, 2024. He is the first openly gay Lord Mayor of Belfast. A member of the Alliance Party, Micky was initially co-opted onto Belfast City Council in May 2022, and retained his seat in the local government election of May 2023. His background before politics was in the community and voluntary sector, where he worked helping homeless people and those with addiction challenges. Micky is committed to using his year in office to furthering the goal of making Belfast an inclusive and compassionate city.
Judy Collins has long inspired audiences with sublime vocals, boldly vulnerable songwriting, personal life triumphs, and a firm commitment to social activism. In the 1960s, she evoked both the idealism and steely determination of a generation united against social and environmental injustices. Five decades later, her luminescent presence shines brightly as new generations bask in the glow of her iconic 55-album body of work, and heed inspiration from her spiritual discipline to thrive in the music industry for half a century.
Helena Nolan, Consul General of Ireland in New York joined Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs in 1990, after an initial 7 years in the Department of Education. Over the course of her career, Helena has held a wide number of roles at home and overseas, most recently serving as Ireland’s Ambassador to Belgium and the Partnership for Peace Liaison Office (2017-2021).
Prior to her appointment to this role, Helena served as Director for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation in the Department’s headquarters in Dublin and was a regular visitor to the UN here in New York. She has also served in London, Armagh, Kuala Lumpur and Dar Es Salaam, as well as working in the Departments of Education and Enterprise and the Office of Science and Technology. She took up duty as Consul General of Ireland in New York on 26 August 2021. Helena and her husband Sami have two sons.
The New York City St Patrick’s Day Parade have announced that The Installation Reception Honoring The Aides to the Grand Marshal of The 264th NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Michael A. Benn The 2025 Grand Marshal will be held at Antun’s on February 23rd from 3 pm.
The Aides are New York County: James B. Ferguson Jr., Bronx County: Fr. Brendan A. Fitzgerld, Queens County: William (Bill) G. Corrigan, Kings County: Kieran M. McGirl, Richmond County: Warren Coffey, Rockland County: John B. Kelly Jr., Nassau County: Marian Cronin, Orange County: Kevin M. Strommer, Suffolk County: Gerard (Jerry) J. Belmont, Westchester County: Cathal M. McGreal, United Irish Counties: Regina O’Dwyer, Grand Council of Emeralds: John Samuelsen, Knights of St Patrick: Joseph M. Murphy Jr., Aide at Large: Betty McLoughlin, Archdiocese of NY: Fr. Ryan A. Muldoon, STL, FDNY: Dep Chief Thomas Reilly, and NYPD: PO Kevin Murphy.
This year’s Grand Marshal Michael Benn was born in Limerick City, Ireland in 1948, where he attended the Christian Brothers School before emigrating to the United States in 1962. Michael completed his second level education at Cardinal Hayes high school in the Bronx before attending and graduating from Mercy College with a degree in accounting. Michael then served as a Sergeant in the US Army from 1969 through 1972.
Michael and his wife Christina who is also from Limerick City, met in the Bronx, and they have been happily married for 53 years. They have built a life with their family in Rockaway Beach, NY, and have six children; Michael, Richard, William, Brendan, Patrick and Tara. They also have 11 grandchildren: Michael, Oliver, Shayla, Brendan, Ryan, Heidi, Madison, Richard, Teagan, and Mackenzie Cassidy, as well as five daughters in laws: Kimberly, Helena, Martina, Valerie, and Kristen. They have raised their family to be proud of their Irish roots, to embrace their Catholic up bringing, and celebrate their Irish culture.
Michael is the President and Chairman of Queens County St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Rockaway Beach, the second largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York. He works effortlessly on organizing the parade year-round to ensure strong Irish leaders are recognized and celebrated. Michael has always had close ties in the Irish community and is very involved in celebrating Irish culture. He produces and directs Au Suil Na Gael “In the Eyes of the Irish” television show that promotes Irish culture and heritage.
Michael retired from the Construction Industry after spending time in two strong unions: Local 30 International Union of Operating Engineers and Local 608 Carpenters Union.
He was honored by the New York City Council on three separate occasions and received the Tom Manton award. Michael also received the Irish Ministry Shining Star, was the Chief Brehon of Coney Island’s Great Irish Fair, and Queens County AOH’s man of the year.
I hope to see you all again next week when I am Out&About again…