What a week it has been with so much going on including the Ireland-US Council 57th Annual Dinner, held in the Metropolitan Club last Wednesday, that was fabulous, and it is always great to meet a lot of friends and fellow Irish guests that I would not meet from year to year. My only regret was I did not to get to meet with Michael Gibbons and his lovely wife Cynthia, as they stayed down in Florida, where the weather is just beautiful at this time. Hopefully they will be up in New York for Saint Patrick’s Day because I do not want to miss his shamrock green jacket, good on yea Mike.
This year’s Ireland-U.S. Council Award for Outstanding Achievement was presented to Denis O’Brien, Founder & Chairman of Digicel by Dennis Swanson, President-Emeritus of the Council.
Moving on, I was invited to the Gaelic Players Association Dinner on Friday evening that was a roaring success as well, let me tell yea. I have to congratulate Carla Capone who has been organizing events in New York for many years and boy does she know what she is doing; I must say that she did a very professional job again, good on yea Carla.
The one and only Finbar Furey was at his best providing the music, and I got to chat to him as we go back a long time. What can I say about Finbar? Only that he is brilliant and he put one of his guitars as a raffle prize to benefit the GPA, now is that nice or what?
I had the privilege of sitting with Patricia Harty, the Publisher /Editor of Irish American magazine talking about the old days as we worked alongside each other when I was with the Irish Voice newspaper. It was nice to see Eddie Dowling and Conor O’Brien who were enjoying themselves at this fabulous night, ah somebody has to do it.
The New York Irish Center’s Holiday Fundraiser “Home for Christmas” is presenting a holiday musical experience with Colm Reilly on Friday December 6 from 6pm to 10pm at the Paddy Reilly Community Hall. Featuring Sean Harkness, the Life of Reilly Band and special guest performances from a host of New York City’s most loved cabaret and Irish country music stars, tickets are just $60, which includes food and libations. Purchase tickets online at www.eventbrite.com/e/colm-reilly-live-concert-home-for-christmas-tickets-79759379451 or visit their website at www.NewYorkIrishCenter.org.
The Aviva Stadium in Dublin will host the 94th playing of the Navy-Notre Dame game on August 29, 2020, Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk, University of Notre Dame Vice President and James E. Rohr Director of Athletics Jack Swarbrick and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar have announced. The announcement by Prime Minister Varadkar in Dublin is part of a five-game American Football Series that will bring a $250 million economic value to the country. Aer Lingus was unveiled as the title sponsor for the series and all five games will be played in Aviva Stadium, starting with the Navy-Notre Dame game. The classic will be called The Aer Lingus College Football Classic. This event is being promoted here from New York and you should not miss out on it.
The first game of a planned annual series of five, the Notre Dame vs Navy game in Dublin in 2020 will be the successful start for future American football events in Ireland. The Notre Dame versus Navy season-opening game scheduled for August 29, 2020, at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin will be the first in a planned annual series of five and could generate over $250 million dollars into the Irish economy from Notre Dame vs Navy game in Dublin. Over thirty-five thousand Irish Americans are expected back on the old sod for the game.
This was sent in by a great friend of mine, Patrick McGowan passing on a message from Rebecca Skedd, CEO Of Solace House who said: “At this stage I’m sure you all know that we’re hosting our first ever Christmas gala on December 7 in Rosie O’Grady’s. We’re really excited and the community has shown a massive amount of support since we announced it so we’re confident it will be a sold-out event.
“We are relying on this event to bring in sufficient funds to start of the new year and so, we’re making a HUGE effort to bring in as much corporate sponsorship as we possibly can – I can’t emphasize enough how crucial it is that we’re successful.
“We would really, really appreciate if you could forward this information to anyone or any organization who you think could potentially be interested in supporting this event and Solace House.”
This is an event that should be well supported and here is the direct link to buy event tickets (in case you know of anyone interested in attending): www.eventbrite.com/e/christmas-gala-tickets-77192682391?aff=ebdssbdestsearch.
See you all again next week when I am Out&About once more.