By Paddy McCarthy
It’s just great to see that things seem to be getting back to normal, not just in North America but all over the world. It looks like we’ve finally got a firm hand on these outrageous pandemics at last, I hope that is so as they have cost a lot. I do care because it also upset what I was also doing because the gossip had been more announcements than anything else as almost everything was closed and I do mean everything. With the curfews that were placed upon us (that we had no say in as the Governments had all the answers they thought), the closing of all the schools, travel, theatre, concerts, bars restaurants and a lot more businesses, it was just terrible for everyone, but now we are beginning to get back slowly.
Well as I said to you last week, it’s great to see all the counties of Ireland being represented under one roof in the United Irish Counties Association of New York and also the individual counties having their own annual St. Patrick’s Day dinners. This week I have two events that might just interest you and get you in the spirit of Saint Patrick’s Day so here we go. The 51st/52nd Annual Awards Banquet of the New York GAA Minor Board will be held on Sunday February 27th at the Villa Barone (737 Throgs Neck Expressway in the Bronx). Cocktail hour is from 2 to 3 pm with dinner and dancing from 3 pm to 7 pm. Music is provided by the Cunningham Brothers. Tickets are $120 for adults and $60 for children under-18.
This year’s Guests of Honor are Paul Levins, Rockland GAA/Supervisor Commodore Construction and Mike McKenna of Shannon Gaels GAA. The James O’Sullivan Award recipient will be Micky Quigg, former NY GAA Games Development Manager) The New York Minor Board will also recognize their 2021 Championship and League winners, 2021 Players of the Year in each age group, as well as the winners of the Scor na Nog this past year. The John Clarke and John Brady Scholarships will also be presented. Additionally, there will be Minor Board scholarships presented to three high school and three college students who are active Minor Board players.
Fifty two years ago, individuals with vision and determination established a GAA youth program here in New York which has continued to grow year after year. With your continuous support and generosity the New York GAA Minor Board is committed to continue in the footsteps of their founders and to promote and develop Gaelic games at underage level in the tri-state area. For further information email them at minorboarddance@gmail.com.
The County Cork BP&P Association of New York invites you to join them in celebrating the St. Patrick’s season at their 137th annual St. Patrick’s Ball & Dinner Dance on Saturday, March 5th. The dinner dance will be held at Antun’s (96-43 Springfield Blvd. in Queens Village) with a deluxe cocktail hour beginning at 7 pm, followed by dinner, music, and dancing to the Mickey Peare Band. Tickets are $100, with tables of ten available for $1,000. This year they are recognizing three very distinguished honorees, their very first 70-year member of the Association, as well as two 60-year members and a 50-year member of the Association. 2022 Cork Man of the Year is John O’Mahony, a Fairfield, Connecticut resident. Born and raised in Ballydehob, Co. Cork with his parents, Michael and Elizabeth, five brothers and sister. John’s adventurous spirit led him to live in Australia, New Zealand, Germany and back to Ireland before immigrating to New York in 1988. John worked construction during his travels before becoming a building manager at 40 Mercer Street, a SOHO apartment building home to many celebrities. The 2022 Cork Woman of the Year Breda Carroll hails from Rockchapel, Co. Cork, the eldest of seven children of Kathleen (nee Fitzgerald, RIP) and Mike Carroll. Upon completing her degree at the University of Limerick, Breda immigrated to New York in July 1994. She has been very active in many organizations since her arrival in New York including The NY Ladies GAA, Cork GFC, Cavan Ladies GFC and Team Aisling to name just a few. She has been a member of the Cork Association for over 10 years. The 2022 Frank T. Carvill Distinguished Service Award is Maura Coughlin, a longtime resident of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. For more information check out their website at NYCorkAssociation.com or email them at nycorkbpp@gmail.com.
I also received some news on the White Plains Saint Patrick’s Day Parade that our friend Colleen Fay sent me. Well she said it is happening, with the parade returning on Saturday March 12th. More information can be obtained on their website at whiteplainssaintpatricksday.com. The parade route will be the same as in previous years and they’ll keep you updated on the line of march as the date nears. Here’s to seeing old friends and celebrating our Irish heritage once again. Sláinte Colleen. I am going to do my best to be at it as there is so much going on around that time.
To finish off my Out&About, The Irish Repertory Theater is waiting to welcome you back with some big discounts and news of their 2022 Gala concert, A Tribute to Our Pal: The Musicals of Harold Prince, which will take place at The Town Hall (123 West 43rd Street) on Monday June 13th at 7 pm. The evening will honor Loretta Brennan Glucksman with Irish Repertory Theatre’s Visionary Leadership Award in recognition of her philanthropic support of Irish communities and her tireless work in promoting Irish culture and heritage in the US and around the world.
Hal Prince’s fearless creativity effectively created the American musical theater scene we know today. His risk-taking was rewarded with a record 21 Tony Awards. On this special evening, Irish Rep will remember its pal through his groundbreaking musicals and celebrate his legacy as a friend and collaborator – a leader who lifted up young artists and new endeavors. Hal and his wife Judy were two of Irish Rep’s earliest champions, helping them to become the company they are today; Hal went on to serve on the Irish Rep Board for more than 30 years, and adapted and directed Grandchild of Kings for the theatre in 1992.
A star-studded cast of Irish Rep company members and Broadway singers will perform selections from Hal’s legendary oeuvre, which includes The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees, Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, Merrily We Roll Along, Cabaret, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, The Phantom of the Opera, Evita and more.
Performance-only tickets start at $50 and will be on sale beginning April 19th. VIP Gala Event Packages are available now at irishrep.org. Further event details and performer information will be announced at a later date. For more information, please contact Irish Rep at (212) 255-0270 or email development@irishrep.org.
Hope to see you all again next week when I am out and about…