{"id":31971,"date":"2025-10-02T05:04:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-02T09:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=31971"},"modified":"2025-10-02T22:15:42","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T02:15:42","slug":"outabout-331","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=31971","title":{"rendered":"Out&About"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The boys are back in town: Paddy McCarthy, Tony Creed, Stephen Dennehy, Tom Holland and Tommy O\u2019Shea<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By Paddy McCarthy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Out&About this week coming to you this week from Cork<\/strong>, Ireland where I have been for a few days to visit family and friends. I stayed at the Metropole Hotel<\/strong> for the whole duration of my trip. And lo and behold who would you think I would meet? The one and only Donie Carroll<\/strong>, the great Ballad and Folk singer who was with a tour group that included members of the Port Jefferson Yacht Club<\/strong> from New York, who were also staying at the Metropole Hotel. What a coincidence that was, you just can\u2019t hide, ha-ha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My first meeting at the hotel was with Barry Coughlan<\/strong>, Travel Correspondent for The Irish Examine USA<\/em>. I have to tell you this: Barry is one of the most talented travel correspondents that I could ever wish for as he does unbelievable coverage of tourism in Ireland and beyond for us every week with content that is very popular with all our readers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was just walking from the hotel when I got to meet another Barry, yes it was Barry Johnson<\/strong>, owner of Pa Johnson\u2019s<\/strong> legendary pub next door to the Murphy\u2019s Brewery<\/strong> and of course I paid a visit to Pa Johnson\u2019s later that day for all the memories we had there. I also got to meet Finbarr Cott<\/strong> who lives in Cork City but also has a house in Riverdale in the Bronx that he visits quite a lot so it\u2019s great to meet him when I come back to Cork each time. I had a pint and a bit of gossip with him in the Long Valley. I always love talking to him about all the news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ryan, Michael and John, the McCarthy\u2019s at Barry\u2019s Bar & Restaurant in Douglas, Cork<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I went to Barry\u2019s Bar and Restaurant<\/strong> in Douglas Village that is not too far from the city center of Cork to meet the McCarthy family brothers, with myself, Joe<\/strong>, Michael<\/strong>, Bernard<\/strong>, John<\/strong>, Kieran<\/strong>, his wife Geraldine <\/strong>and their son Ryan <\/strong>and his girlfriend Leona<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was hoping to get to meet Peter Barry<\/strong> as he is a great friend only, he was away on business, maybe next time as we did have a great time all together with most of the family with a few pints and very nice food that we ordered as well. This is why I love my trips back home, meeting so many people on my travels, especially family and friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also met up with Barry Twomey<\/strong> who now lives in Cork, and is late of O\u2019Connor Fairways Travel Agency<\/strong>. Yes of course, I also met up with my sister Mary <\/strong>and her husband Gerald Murphy<\/strong> as I just can\u2019t miss her breakfast as it\u2019s the best in the world and I do mean that, so I always make it one of my first stops when I get back to Cork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sean O\u2019Connell, Metropole Hotel, Cork City<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Now moving along on my Out&About I got to meet Aaron Mansworth<\/strong>, Managing Director at Trigon Hotels<\/strong> including the Metropole, Cork International Hotel<\/strong> and Cork Airport Hotel<\/strong>. I also got to meet the General Manager of the Metropole Hotel, Louise McNamara<\/strong> who is a brilliant host for the hotel. The man out front Sean O\u2019Connell<\/strong>, Guest Relations Waiter at the hotel is also an absolutely brilliant host.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also met with the legendary Jackie Lyons<\/strong> (the Bell <\/strong>and famous rock band The Who<\/strong>) and one of the greatest entertainers of the Showband era Joe McCarthy<\/strong>, of The Dixies Showband<\/strong> known all over the world and still playing drums better than ever again every Sunday at 6 pm in the famous Canty\u2019s Bar<\/strong> in Cork City. Check him out he will be thrilled to meet you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jackie Lyons and Paddy McCarthy where it all started when we were Irish dancing<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

My friends from when we were kids growing up in James Square off Tower Street and still great friends to this day as we meet every time I head back to Cork a couple of times a year call ourselves the Cork Boys Gang, Tony Creed<\/strong>, Steven Dennehy<\/strong>, Tommy O\u2019Shea<\/strong>, and Tom Holland<\/strong>. Unfortunately Michael Hehir<\/strong> was not able to make it as he was in Dublin for a doctor\u2019s appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also visited the Blackrock Cemetery<\/strong> to visit the grave to say a prayer for my late mom Christina<\/strong>, dad Thomas <\/strong>and my younger brother Kevin<\/strong>, RIP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Out&About I paid a visit to my local hangout in my music days, Pa Johnson’s which is still a famous meeting place for musicians and there is always some band playing music a couple of nights a week. I also always make a stop at the Long Valley<\/strong>, normally one of the first stops, and I get a great welcome from the owner Padder Moynihan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Michael Reidy, owner of La Chateau<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I then visited one of Cork\u2019s most famous bars that was established in 1793 by the Huguenots from France. Le Chateau<\/strong> has been a successful fine wine and spirit business from the first day it opened and is still the only pub on Patrick\u2019s Street in Cork City. I always give it a visit when I take a trip back home to Cork and I got to meet one of the owners, Michael Reidy<\/strong> of the Reidy family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are some of the other establishments that I visited: Mutton Lane Inn<\/strong>, The Bodhran<\/strong>, The Fountain<\/strong>, The Rob Roy<\/strong>, and Gallaghers Bar and Restaurant<\/strong> that serves great food on McCurtain Street and if you make it there on one of your visits say hello to Neill Kramer<\/strong>, the manager, and you will get a hundred thousand welcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I did visit a few more that I forget, ha-ha\u2026This was one of my best Out&Abouts that I ever had and I hope to see you all again next week when I am Out&About about again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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