By Paddy McCarthy
I’ve got a lot for you this week in my Out&About that I am sure you will be happy with all the gossip, good and sad. I am going to start with the good news that I got lots of inquiries on and that is who is the New York City St Patrick’s Day Parade’s Grand Marshal? Well, guess what, I have it for you and again we’ve another great nominee for Grand Marshal. Here goes as it’s Robert J. McCann, who was born in Pittsburgh, PA, and is a third-generation Irish American with roots in County Armagh. He holds dual Irish and American citizenship, embodying the enduring connection between Ireland and New York City.
Serving as a bridge between his ancestral homeland and the city that shaped his professional life, he is President of the Irish Arts Center’s Board of Directors. In this role, Mr. McCann has been instrumental in promoting and preserving Irish culture in New York, particularly through the Center’s transformative growth, which led to the opening of a $60 million new facility in 2021 and redevelopment plans for its original building.
Professionally, Mr. McCann has played a significant role in strengthening New York’s position as a global financial capital through leadership positions at three distinct financial services firms. As President of Global Wealth Management at Merrill Lynch and later as CEO of UBS Americas, he led organizations employing thousands and contributing greatly to the city’s economic vitality. Today, as an investor and Co-Chairman of NewEdge Capital Group, Mr. McCann continues to impact the financial landscape of the New York metropolitan area while also championing the vibrant Irish-American cultural community that has been central to the city’s identity for generations. We here at The Irish Examiner USA would like to congratulate him on this honor as Grand Marshal of the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade of New York City.
Now for more good news and this person has also been a backbone of the New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade and now she has another great honor that has been awarded to her. I got this notice from the President of the Cork Association, Diarmuid Connolly that I am so glad to announce in my Out&About column. This is what he has said: “Our esteemed member and Past President Treasa Goodwin-Smyth will be honored by the NY Irish Center (1040 Jackson Avenue in Long Island City) and receive the Women of Ireland Community Leadership Award on Monday February 2, or St Brigid’s Day.”
Congratulation to Treasa from all the staff here at The Irish Examiner USA as it is well deserved. Your well known husband of radio and television fame, the great Tommy Smyth must be very happy to hear the news . Yes, I will be there, so will lots of your friends, ahh I love being Out&About.
I am also told that The Cork Association will hold its annual St. Patrick’s Banquet at Antun’s (96-43 Springfield Blvd in Queens Village) on Saturday, March 7th starting at 6:30 pm. This year the Association will honor four distinguished members, Tom Browne as Cork Man of the Year, Dr. Keara Browne, Cork Woman of the Year, Kevin J. Healy who will receive the Frank T. Carvill Distinguished Service Award and Daniel Cronin as a Lifetime Honorary Member. Wow there is so much happening as it’s that time of the year.
I just got this sad news on the passing on another great friend of mine, Denis Twohig from another great man, Cónal Creedon from Cork who is well known all over the world as a writer and film-maker. I featured Denis last year in the pages of The Irish Examiner USA and also featured his video on our website.
Denis was such a special, kind and generous man. This is what Cónal sent me: “I’m very saddened to hear of the passing of my dear friend Denis Twohig. From Cork City, The Bard of FairHill I call him. Storyteller, writer, poet and musician. Always proud of his FairHill tradition, culture and heritage : music, song, cuisine. Always so kind and generous with his time. Instrumental in arranging for my niece and I to visit Scott Lee’s pigeon loft to ‘christen’ a pigeon Dowcha Boy after the fictitious pigeon in my novel [Begotten Not Made] – and name another new hatchling pigeon ‘Asha’ after my niece. Denis also arranged a most memorable field-trip for my niece and I up around Nash’s Boreen and The Croppy Boy, all famous areas in Cork. And a few years ago, Denis gave us a master class in growing a crop of potatoes in a tub. Always interested and interesting – such wonderful company. We had plans to visit (Tobar na hAoine in Killeens) in the Spring. My deepest sympathy – to Denis’ family – he will be so sadly missed.
I myself would also like to add my deepest sympathies on the passing to Denis’s family and his wide circle of friends. Ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís. Suaimhneas síoraí dá anam.
I hope to see you all again next week when I am Out&About again…