I want to begin my column by tell you about a great man and when I say a great man I mean that in every sense of the word. His name is Joe Murphy, who comes from Rock Chapel in County Cork.
Joe, who lives in Whitestone, Queens with his wife Judy who is from Galway has been incapacitated for the last few years sadly to say. This woman should be knighted as she has looked after Joe ever since he had this dreadful illness and all I can say is good on yea Judy.
Now the reason I am telling you all this is that I would not be where I am today except for this man and so many others as well. Joe encouraged me in everything I have done since I came over from Ireland to New York and he has helped a lot of others as well.
He got me my first job here in New York as a bartender and then he introduced me to the media business for which I am very grateful. Joe was one of the main coils in the Irish Echo as far as writing and advertising and then moved on to start up the Irish Voice with Niall O’Dowd.
He did not forget me and he asked me to join him at the Irish Voice to help him with advertising; well, as you can see, that opened all the doors for me as you can see today. He also inspired me to start my own newspaper even when I was already in the magazine business with a product that had flourished for a few years until the economy took a bad turn.
With his advice here I am with one of the most informational and well-read digital newspapers, The Irish Examiner USA that every day is exciting. I will stop now but before I finish I want to thank Joe for all his confidence in me and I will never forget the great times we had while Out&About. I know he will be able to read this as again he is my inspiration and I thank him again and, everyone who is reading this column please say a prayer for Joe as he could really do with it and he will hear you believe me. Love you Joe!
Ship ahoy! All aboard as this is one event I will always support and of course be aboard as it is always a fun evening, so book early as it is always sold out believe me. The AOH, Division 7, New York County presents the Celtic Cruise in support of the Emerald Isle Immigration Center.
The Celtic Cruise is ready to set sail on Wednesday June 12 from Chelsea Piers at 6 pm sharp, returning at 10 pm. Admission is only $125 in advance and $135 dockside. For more information, or to make a reservation, please contact Eva at (718 )478-5502, Ext. 216 or email eva@eiic.org. You can also make a reservation through the Celtic Charity websites at events@eiic.org. Now where would yea get it, dinner, four bands providing music and an unlimited open bar! This has consistently been a great night in support of a great cause for an incredibly reasonable cost thanks to corporate contributions, liquor donations, raffle ticket sales, etc.
Talking about cruises, Andy Cooney’s 22nd Annual Cruise of Irish Stars will be held from January 25 to February 1, 2019. The round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to the Eastern Caribbean has prices that start at $999.00 plus port taxes. If you book by June 1 you will get free gratuities that are valued at $95 per person, now where would yea get it? And get up to $100 shipboard credit per cabin.
The entertainment on board is extravagant with the man himself Andy Cooney, international singer Ronan Tynan with special guests The Andy Cooney Band, New York Tenors, Dee Reilly, Mick Thomas, The Byrne Brothers, 19th Street Band, Keohane & Kennelly, Paul Duffy, Declan Aungier, Willie Lynch, Tom Comerford, Bill Lewis, Stephen Green, The Hibernian Festival Singers, The Catskills Ceili Band and Pipe Major Joe Brady. For booking information call Travel Professionals at (800) 724-9511 or email travelpro@warwick.net. What a line up! This cruise will be very exciting and, no, I am not in the travel business but I will let you know a good deal when I see one, yes of course I would like to go.
The Irish Arts Center will hold its Third Annual Claddagh Circle Luncheon celebrating the Women of Irish Arts on Monday, June 10 from 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm at The Metropolitan Club (1 East 60th Street). The honorees are two very well known actresses Fionnula Flanagan (Tony Nomineee for The Ferryman) and Aisling O’Sullivan (Actress, King Lear). Just to mention that The Irish Arts Center is one third of the way through construction on the New Irish Arts Center, it is such an important time to bring everyone together who cares about Ireland and her cultural legacy and celebrate the amazing women in our orbit! This should a wonderful afternoon paying tribute to all the amazing women of Irish heritage in New York City in the company of Irish Arts Center’s great leading ladies.
Just to let you know, the Irish Claddagh symbol represents loyalty, friendship and love, so we use it to represent our most loyal friends with whom we love to share the very best of Irish culture!
To purchase tickets or make a donation, please contact Chad Newmanat at chad@irishartscenter.org or call (212) 757-3318 Ext 228.
The IBO’s May 2019 Business Breakfast will feature guest speaker Elizabeth Crowley, former NYC Council Member, co-founder of 21in21, and civic leader. This event begins at 7.30 am on Wednesday, May 21 at Fitzpatrick Manhattan Hotel (687 Lexington Avenue).
Elizabeth Crowley is a public figure in her Queens county, a leader who served nine years as a New York City Council Member, the first woman and only Democrat ever elected to represent the 30th Council District. SAhe is currently an elected Democratic District Leader in the 38th Assembly District and is the co-founder of 21in21 Inc; a New York City-based nonprofit with the primary mission of bringing gender balance to the New York City Council which is currently 78% male.
Don’t miss it as it promises to be a nice breakfast. I will certainly try and make it. If you would like to contact the IBO 2019 Executive Board please email them at info@IBONewYork.org.
See you all again next week when I am Out&About again.