By Paddy McCarthy
Yes! It’s back! Of course, I am talking about the Celtic Cruise that everyone has been waiting for as this is always one the biggest Irish community events in the Big Apple’s calendar. After the pandemic cancelled the 2020 and 2021 June cruises, the members of NY County AOH Div. 7 decided to hold their annual Celtic Cruise in October this year. Save the date: Wednesday, October 6th, 2021. I will be there, will you? Don’t miss out, the craic is mighty and what a way to meet friends again.
The Celtic Cruise supports the Emerald Isle Immigration Center. This year live music will be provided by Celtic Cross, The Cunningham Brothers, Shay Mac Band, Celtic Blend and a trad seisiun with Ed Bowles & friends. Tickets are on sale at CelticCharity.com or call (212) 717-9955 for more information.
This obituary I am sad to say that I missed for our last issue on a man who dedicated a lot of time to organizing the New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. His name is Doctor Patrick Joseph Delamere who worked quietly in the organizing capacity of the parade. The news came to me from Hilary Beirne, Chairman of the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade New York that I received a little late to publish, so I decided to print it this week in my Out&About on this great man: “We are deeply saddened to inform the community of the passing of longstanding and beloved member of the Parade’s committee, Dr Patrick J. Delamere. Dr. Delamere passed to his eternal glory on July 10, 2021. He was deeply devoted to the Parade attending all except one since 1945, attending his first at the age of four with his parents. For the past ten years we were very grateful for his service every March 17th as Chairman of the Line of March on Fifth Avenue. Dr. Delamere will be sadly missed by his wife Kathleen, his children, grandchildren, member of the Parade’s Board of Directors and all members of the Parade Committee.”
Patrick Delamere grew up in Manhattan and graduated from All Hallows and New York Chiropractic College, earning the degree of Doctor of Chiropractic. He practiced for 59 years, while caring for tens of thousands of people. Patrick and Kathleen Delamere married in 1964 and they have five children, Kieran, Siobhan, Fiona, Brendan and Deirdre and 17 grandchildren. Dr. Delamere was a retired colonel in the New York State Guard for 10 years and a resident of Mahopac for 53 years. We here at The Irish Examiner USA would like to send our condolences to the Delamere family.
Aer Lingus have let me know that starting from last Monday (July 19th) Ireland has re-opened for non-essential travel from North America! Whether you’re going reunite with friends and families or finally getting to take that long-overdue vacation, they’re looking forward to welcoming you on-board! For reservations call (516) 622-4222. I personally can’t wait as it has been two years since I took a trip home to Ireland and boy am I looking forward to it.
Did you see that first Richard Branson and now Jeff Bezos have now been into space as astronauts. This is just brilliant for these men and their guests to visit space. Bezos, of course, is one of the world’s richest men and does not have to worry about going to the pawn office anytime soon I am sure and Richard Branson is not to far behind him either. No, no, I do not begrudge them as I said it’s just fabulous that they can do it and I know I won’t get that chance, Now they both started from humble beginnings in two different parts of the world, Branson was selling secondhand records in London, England and Bezos was selling books out of his garage in Houston, Texas where he founded Amazon on July 5, 1994 and the rest is history. Branson’s business sold records for considerably less than the “High Street” outlets, especially the chain WH Smith. Branson once said, “There is no point in starting your own business unless you do it out of a sense of frustration” and he’s right and again the rest is history. The motto of my story is never give up trying as you never know what’s around the corner for you and again nothing comes easy, I should know.
Here is something of great interest that I received from the Emerald Isle Immigration Center. The NYC Vaccine Referral Program says if you get vaccinated at an NYC-run site, you can select Emerald Isle Immigration Center as a sponsor and the organization will receive $100 – an easy win-win! Make your referral when you schedule an appointment online at nyc.gov/vax4nyc or walk up to any NYC-run site! You will need to use the sponsorship field and select/type Emerald Isle Immigration Center from the drop-down list under the personal information page. Now that is something you should do if you’re ready to be vaccinated and you also helping a good cause.
The great Andy Cooney’s Cruise of Irish Stars is ready to go again and if you are ready too he has one of the best Irish Cruises out there at the moment. He will be sailing from January 25th -February 5th, 2022 and he’s got one of Ireland’s top tenors performing in Ronan Tynan plus a lot of Irish super stars as well as himself and his band. For bookings you can call Travel Professionals at (800) or email travelpro@warwick.net.
Hope to see you all again when I am Out&About…