By Paddy McCarthy
I was in the city last week and I got a good feeling about it as I could see the buzz coming back. It’s nice to see that New York City, the city that never sleeps, waking up again and you could see it on people’s faces – that relaxed look of some happiness that I have not seen for almost TWO years. While I was in city I had two meetings to go to and one was in M J Smith’s, a busy midtown bar with a vibrant after work crowd that I love to see. It is located at 9 East 45th Street, between Madison and Fifth Avenues, a short walk from Grand Central Station. I got to meet Attracta and Nicky who are the husband and wife owners who are hard workers especially with the pandemic that did not help their business one bit. Looking at Wednesday, the day I was in, you could see that they are back as the place has a great vibe so call in as you won’t regret it as the food and the drinks are just superb! Tell them I sent yea.
After I left M J Smith’s I went to a meeting held by the Irish Business Organization whose guest speaker was the new Consul General for Ireland in New York Helena Nolan who spoke very well. The good thing about the meeting was the introduction of the new President of the IBO Paul Finnegan who has a lot to do to follow John Lee and I know he will do so as he is well experienced. Paul had been the Executive Director of The New York Irish Center for many years before handing over that role to George Heslin.
Next up is a big announcement that came across my desk for a man I really admire for all the charitable work he does and also for his music accomplishments. Yes, that is the one and only Donie Carroll who hails from Cork and has traveled the world doing good deeds for poor and the hungry. Here is an event that Donie has his heart in and that is Mercy Center’s Bangkok Gala Fundraiser to aid the poorest of the poor in the slums of Bangkok, Thailand. The event will be held from 8 pm on Saturday November 6th at the New York Irish Center (on Jackson Avenue in Long Island City). Mick Moloney and Donie with feature, in the event that starts with a lavish cocktail hour at 7 pm.
The Mercy Center is a shelter dedicated to saving the lives of many street kids in the slums of Bangkok, one of the poorest areas in the world, where conditions are often life threatening and lacking basic opportunities.
The Mercy Center comprises five orphanages and a 300-pupil kindergarten and is a safe haven for abused and abandoned local kids, some of which unfortunately are also HIV positive.
Situated in a former slaughterhouse, the Mercy Center’s premises were donated to Father Joe Maier, a Redemptorist Priest who dedicated his whole life to helping these kids.
Tickets are $60 (that includes dinner) and can be booked by emailing Donie at ducksyc@earthlink.net.
Here is another super event that should interest you as The United Irish Counties Association of New York is once again sponsoring Essay Contests for both High School and College. Contests are open to students who are Seniors in High School and Freshmen in College (as of September 2021) and the son, daughter, grandchild, nephew, niece, grandnephew or grandniece of a member in good standing of an organization affiliated with the United Irish Counties Association. Complete details and official application forms can be found on their website at www.uicany.org/essay.
The essay and application form must be completed and postmarked no later than December 15th. Winners will be determined in early January and recognized at the UICANY’s 117th Annual Dinner Dance on Friday January 28th, 2022. Hopefully someone in your family will be able to avail themselves of this opportunity!
The ladies that work so hard to make this a success and are Catherine T. Hogan, Corresponding Secretary, Mae O’Driscoll, Chairperson, Essay Contest Committee, and Rita Lydon Lenz, President of the United Irish Counties Association of New York.
The Irish Repertory Theatre is back in full swing with another great show ‘Autumn Royal’ which will run until November 21st. This show is not to be missed. Here is how it goes: May and Timothy are looking after the father who has long since taken ill to bed. Their own lives are on hold and they’re not getting any younger. Should they stay and help? Or is it time for them to move on? This dark comedy set on the northside of Cork city is about life and death, love and hate, jealousy, rage, horror, and homicidal notions – just a normal play about a family.
Author Kevin Barry is the multi-award-winning writer of the novels Night Boat to Tangier, Beatlebone, and City of Bohane, and the story collections That Old Country Music, Dark Lies the Island, and There Are Little Kingdoms. ‘Autumn Royal’ is his first piece written originally for stage and was acclaimed by critics and the public alike during its world premiere run at The Everyman, Cork in 2017. This show is directed by Ciaran O’Reilly and stars Maeve Higgins and John Keating.
Now where would yea get? So now don’t forget you can book now online at www.irishrep.org or call the box office at (212) 727-2737. You can also visit the box office at 132 West 22nd Street, New York which is open between 12 pm and 6 pm from Monday to Saturday and between 12 and 5 pm on Sundays.
Dublin-born, New York-based international violin soloist, Gregory Harrington – known for his bold combinations of genres from classical to jazz and pop – kicks off the New York Irish Center’s new concert series “Ireland Live… From New York,” on Wednesday November 10th at 7 pm. The series will feature notable musical artists from different corners of the Irish diaspora. The New York Irish Center (NYIC), a hub for culture and community enrichment serving a broad audience from its base in Long Island City, just celebrated its 15th anniversary, and is currently programming a separate popular jazz series, also playing in the Reilly Room, the center’s newly remodeled, flexible seating storefront theatre.
Leading a quartet including cellists Eleanor Norton and Zsaz Rutkowski and Brandon Lewis on drums, Harrington discovers musical references and relationships across genres spanning an array of iconic classical pieces, jazz standards and pop and rock classics. He further illuminates these musical affinities with humorous and pungent storytelling, all the while punctuating his set with Irish gems from Glen Hansard, U2, the Cranberries, traditional ballads and unique reels. Stops along the way on this one-of-a-kind journey include Hendrix, Brubeck, Reinhardt, and the White Stripes. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased in advance at www.newyorkirishcenter.org.
Unfortunately I must end with some sad news from the County Cork Association who were deeply saddened to announce the passing of Mary Forde nee O’Leary, wife of past president Denis Forde. Mary is a native of Garraduff, Co. Kerry.
The wake will take place at Kennedy Roth Funeral home (41-45 58th Street in Woodside) on Wednesday, October 27th from 3 pm to 8 pm with the mass on Thursday, October 28th at 10.45 am followed by burial at Calvary cemetery.
We here at The Irish Examiner USA extend our condolences to the Forde and O’Leary families. May she rest in peace.
See you all again when I’m Out&About…