By Paddy McCarthy
I hope everyone had a nice Labor Day weekend as it is the last hurrah for the summer, only on paper. When the SUN is out, which it will for the next month or two, go out and enjoy it because I know that I’m going to be doing that. A lot of big Irish events are about to happen though not soon enough either as we were all basically on lockdown for the coronavirus that has kept us all at bay.
On Monday, September 27th we have the St. Patrick’s Day Foundation’s Golf Outing; are you all ready? It will be held at the glorious Plandome Country Club (145 Stonytown Road, Plandome, NY). This is one event you cannot miss especially if you are a golfer which I am not, but I don’t have to be because non-golfers are also invited. RSVP no later than Monday, September 13th by emailing Golf@StPatricksDayFoundation.org or call (914) 833-8363. Check out the ad on both the website and our digital newspaper at www.irishexaminerusa.com.
Two days later there’s another top of the line event that is always one of the best and that is The Hudson Valley Irish Fest which returns to Peekskill’s Riverfront Green Park on Saturday, September 25, 2021. The Fest will run from 11 am to 7 pm, rain or shine. The suggested donation is $10 per person, ages 12 and under free. No coolers or pets permitted. Advance tickets can be obtained at www.hudsonvalleyirishfest.com/tickets.
A community-based, all volunteer and not for profit cultural event, the Fest was established in 2009 to celebrate the rich Irish-American heritage in the Hudson Valley. Dan Dennehy, founding chair, stated, “We plan year-round for our Riverside celebration of Irish and Irish America culture in the Hudson Valley. After a break in 2020 due to Covid restrictions, the Fest, Irish Center, and Library continue to provide high quality, affordable entertainment, educational and musical events.”
On the breathtaking backdropped main stage will be The Cunningham Brothers Band, Niall & The Durty Nellies, T. McCann Band, Tara O’Grady, and a 20th Anniversary 9/11 Commemoration with Tim Murphy, his band Seisuin accompanied by Joe Brady, and the Fighting 69th Regimental Pipe Major and Massed Pipe Bands. The Jack McAndrew Memorial Traditional Tent features Irish recording artists Mary Courtney, Donie Carroll, and many more renowned traditional Irish musicians. The Clan Na hÉireann School of Irish Dance Tent will feature talented local Irish dancers. The spoken word tent features the Irish American Writers & Artists group and is moderated by author John Kearns with best-selling authors, historians, poets, storytellers, and historical displays.
Outstanding artists and craftspeople from Ireland and the Hudson Valley will also be showcased and tempting food trucks and refreshments from area restaurants and Irish products are available.
“Kickoff your Fall with a fun family day of Irish Culture on the Hudson! The Fest is made possible by community support, particularly from the men, women, and families of Peekskill Division 18 Westchester County Hibernians. The Consulate General of Ireland NY assist with an annual grant from the Emigrant Support Program of the Foreign Affairs Department,” says Dennehy.
Visitors are encouraged to take MTA Metro-North’s Hudson Line to Peekskill train station, immediately adjacent to the beautiful Riverfront Green, and a beautiful one-hour ride along the Hudson River from Grand Central Terminal. Ample free parking is available.
The Fest’s website at www.hudsonvalleyirishfest.com and their Facebook page offer details and directions to the Fest, as well as many pictures of past events. For more information about the Hudson Valley Irish Fest, Center, and Library, contact Cathal McGreal, Hudson Valley Irish Fest Chair at (914) 804-0088 or email cathalmcgreal@mac.com.
We here at The Irish Examiner USA will always support any Irish event that needs some publicity to promote the event.
So this next event I am now going to let you know about is a major Irish feis and festival on Long Island: On Sunday, September 19th, starting at 9 am, the Nassau County Board of the Ancient Order of Hibernians will hold its 49th Annual Feis and Festival. It will be held at Nickerson Beach (880 Lido Blvd, Lido Beach, NY). I am told by the Feis Chairman Michael Byrne that they are honored to have National Hibernian Digest Editor, John O’Connell, as this year’s honoree. John has been involved in this feis for several years, promoting it and taking pictures to preserve their history. He is a member and past President of Mike Moran Div 8 Glen Cove, as well as past Nassau County President, past NYS District 6 Director, and currently NYS Publicity Chair. John is also retired from Editor of the Herald Newspapers so popular across Long Island. For more information call (516) 782-4762 or email mikenyaohsports@gmail.com.
I am going to finish my Out&About as I do not want to ignore that we have a sad day this weekend, namely the 20th anniversary of the horrific 9/11 terrorist attacks on this country and information on the Commemoration of this day that has come to my attention. The focus of this year’s commemoration will be the reading of the names by family members in-person. Throughout the ceremony, they will observe six moments of silence, acknowledging when each of the World Trade Center towers was struck and fell and the times corresponding to the attack on the Pentagon and the crash of Flight 93. Their program will commence at 8:30 am, and the first moment of silence will be observed at 8:46 am. They encourage houses of worship to toll their bells at that time. The ceremony will be exclusively for 9/11 family members. Access to the Memorial will begin at 7 am on the anniversary, and the commemoration is expected to conclude at approximately 1 pm.
Family members can use the letter that was mailed to their homes or the email they received from the Museum for entrance to the ceremony. P and T case numbers or Memorial Park identification cards will also be accepted. Only one letter per family group is required. At sundown, the annual “Tribute in Light” will once again illuminate the sky in commemoration of the anniversary of the attacks.
If you are a family member and would like to arrange free advance timed tickets to the Museum on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, please visit the family member ticket portal. Please call (212) 266-5201 with questions.
I am proud to inform you about this as it is very close to my heart and I knew some of the victims of this terrible terrorist attack, may they rest in peace. This was the saddest day in my life and living in New York on that day I will never forget or forgive.
Finally I have to let you know this sad news about someone special that I knew very well” Jennifer M. (Jean) McCluskey, 64, native of Dublin, Ireland, retired from the Irish Tourist Board, died on September 4, 2021. She was the beloved wife of the late Francis J. McCluskey, devoted mother of Kevin and Sarah McCluskey, dear sister of Brian, Alan and Francis Purcell. Funeral Mass will be held at the Immaculate Conception Church, Tuckahoe, Thursday, September 9th at 9:30 am followed by interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Rest in Peace.
Hope to see you all again when I am Out&About…