By Paddy McCarthy
Normally I would start my Out&About with some gossip but that will have to wait until after I have given you this news from Ireland (more on which you can read in our news pages). Taoiseach Micheál Martin laid out the new Level-5 Restrictions on Monday after Ireland’s National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) recorded 1,031 new Covid-19 cases.
The new measures will come into effect for six weeks from midnight on Wednesday, making Ireland the first EU nation to return to the severe lockdown restrictions imposed in March.
“Everyone in the country is being asked to stay at home,” Martin said in a televised speech, with exercise allowed only within a three mile radius of home. The government also announced “there will be a penalty” for violating this restriction. Schools will also be allowed to function “because we cannot and will not allow our children and young people’s futures to be another victim of this disease,” Martin said.
Look I feel sorry for him because that is a very big undertaking to lockdown the country as he is doing his upmost to keep everyone safe and healthy. If people would just stop and think that this is not a political problem it’s a worldwide pandemic and not any politician’s fault, so stop this blaming stuff and let’s all work together to cure this sickness.
Here is some news that is closer to us all here in America: the US and Canada have extended a ban on non-essential travel along the world’s longest international border until November 21. Canada reached a milestone on Monday as the number of recorded cases surpassed 200,000. The figures have seen a spike since September with the return to work and school following the summer break.
I could keep going on and about this pandemic as nearly every country has the same problem and guess what, we will beat it believe me.
Now on a lighter note… The Irish Repertory Theatre have one of my favorite performances on screen – A Touch of the Poet that I know I will be watching and my advice is for you also not to miss it. The Irish Rep said that they are excited to share a first look of next week’s Performance on Screen: Eugene O’Neill’s A Touch of the Poet! This production, originally scheduled to begin in-person last March, has now been reimagined and recreated for the screen by the team behind this summer’s critically-acclaimed digital production, The Weir.
Filmed and edited remotely, this Performance on Screen stars Tony Award nominee, Robert Casciola (Jekyll & Hyde) as Con Melody! Performances begin Tuesday, October 27 at 7pm EDT and run for one week only. Don’t miss it – reserve your place now! Reservations are free, but a donation of $25 per viewer is suggested for those who can afford to give. Visit www.irishrep.org for more information.
A Performance on Screen by Eugene O’Neill is directed by Ciarán O’Reilly and also stars Belle Aykroyd, Ciaran Byrne, Robert Cuccioli, Kate Forbes, Mary McCann, Andy Murray, David O’Hara, Tim Ruddy, David Sitler and John C. Vennema. Now it runs from October 27 to November 1 so please don’t miss it.
Proud and tempestuous Cornelius Melody (Con) owns a run-down inn and tavern near Boston in 1828. Laden with debt, Con clings to his tenuous identity as a landed gentleman and war hero and chastises his wife and daughter for actions that expose the family’s humble Irish origins. When his daughter, Mary, falls in love with a wealthy American guest at their inn, Con’s pride drives him to an explosive reckoning with his true place in the New World.
Now for some sad news: The Mean Fiddler (at 266 West 47th Street) is closing its doors. One of the most popular bars for the last 15 years The Mean Fiddler is run by two brothers Michael and Patrick McNamee. This was one of the most popular Irish pubs for Irish immigrants because it had a great homely atmosphere that will be solely missed. It was also well-known to tourists and it was right in the neighborhood of Times Square and Broadway, it was also most important to its regular customers. The closing was not due to Covid-19 directly as they worked very hard to keep it open during this pandemic but the landlord would not cooperate with them in any way with the rent that was very high and would not give them any leeway at all.
Look lads an old saying that I would often say myself, one door closes and another door opens so from all here at The Irish Examiner we wish them lots of luck in the future.
The Irish Business Organization of New York will be holding a virtual breakfast on Tuesday October 27 from 8 am to 9 am with guest speaker Shane Finn. Shane is an ultra-endurance athlete and business owner from Dingle in County Kerry. Since running his first marathon at the age of 18 in aid of Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Ireland, he has since completed over 100 marathons, ultra-marathons and Ironman triathlons all over the world, including 12 Marathons in 12 Days in 2014, 24 Marathons in 24 Days in 2017 and Crossing the USA over 36 days in 2019.
Shane spends his time running, cycling and training in the hills of West Kerry. He is the owner of Shane Finn Training, a fitness and endurance business with members from all over the world and he is also the co-owner of Clann Health in the USA. Along with fitness coaching and consulting Shane has spoken to many different audiences and companies on endurance and mindset. For more information, email info@ibonewyork.org.
See you all next week when I am hopefully Out&About again…