By Paddy McCarthy
As you all know by now, I was in Ireland for a beautiful occasion that was my daughter Christina’s wedding to Kevin Coyne that I have mentioned before, so I know you missed me. I haven’t missed a beat on my Out&About since I got back as I visited a few bars and restaurants in Manhattan and one particular one was the Pig “n” Whistle on 36th Street off Seventh Avenue. I dropped in there hoping to catch up with Cormac McCormack, partner with Des O’Brien, John Mahon and Pat Burke. Well lo and behold who was standing at the end of the bar was the one and only Pat Burke who I was so glad to meet as we haven’t seen each other too much because of this pandemic.
You can imagine it was so nice to see Pat so we had a pint of Guinness or two that tasted beautiful from the first sip. We talked about everything that has been going on for over two years that has affected the hospitality business very badly and hoped for a quick recovery this year. Look, no matter where you go in the world there is nothing like a visit to an Irish bar and restaurant for a bit of gossip, ahh I love it.
Look what’s coming up at the next meeting of the Irish Business Organization, yes, it’s the April Evening Event on Wednesday, April 13th at 6 pm which will be held in person at the Bank of Ireland NYC Hub (2 Grand Central Tower, 41st Floor, 140 East 45th Street). Join them for an in-person meeting featuring guest speaker Maria Deasy, President of the Irish-American Writers and Artists.
Maria Deasy is a New York-based actress who has appeared Off-Broadway and in several films and television shows. New York credits include The Crucible at The Roundabout Theatre Company, Mario Fratti’s Suicide Club at Theatre for The New City, and Straight Faced Lies at The Theater at the 14th Street Y. Among her film appearances are Aimy in A Cage starring Crispin Glover, Barry Levinson’s Sleepers, and starring roles in the award-winning films Contact Zone and The Anniversary. Television: 30 Rock; All My Children; As the World Turns; Guiding Light; Late Nite with Conan O’Brien; Momsters; and Onion News Network. Maria won the Bairbre Dowling Spirit of the Festival Award at Origin Theatre’s 2019 1st Irish Festival for her work as a Producer of Derek Murphy’s Inside Danny’s Box. She also received a Best Actress nomination for that production.
At the 2018 1st Irish Festival, Maria starred in Dyin’ For It, also by Derek Murphy, for which she received Best Production and Best Actress nominations. She is the author of the play Mine, about the connection between the coal mining industry and the New York finance world, which she produced at The Broadway Bound Theatre Festival in 2017. She completed the Commercial Theatre Institute’s 14-week program, “Advanced Topics in Producing for The Theatre” in 2015.
While her parents harken from beautiful County Mayo, Maria is both a native New Yorker and a Jersey Girl. For more information visit the IBO’s website at IBONewYork.org.
I was in Ireland and I missed the Big Day as I said in my last Out&About, but I was so proud that the IBO handed the Grand Marshal Honor to the famous Niall O’Leary and well deserved it was too. We all so happy for him here at The Irish Examiner USA.
Talking of Grand Marshals I am also proud that James Houlihan got the honor of being the White Plains Parade’s Grand Marshal. The parade was postponed because of weather conditions to Saturday, March 26th. The whole town was excited to have their very own, Jim Houlihan, as this year’s Grand Marshal of the White Plains St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade with the floats traveled all the way down Mamaroneck Avenue and Old Mamaroneck Avenue. To the crowd’s excitement it turned out to be a beautiful day for James and all his family. We here at The Irish Examiner USA would like to send you belated congratulations, the honor was well deserved! Keep up the good work that you do in the Irish community James!
The Kildare Association of New York’s Annual Dinner Dance will be held at Fairways at Dunwoody (1 Wasylenko Lane in Yonkers) on Saturday 30 April with cocktails being served from 7:30 pm followed by a hot buffet, dessert and dancing from 8:30 pm to 12:30 am. Their Guest of Honor is John Duggan, Coill Dubh Past President 2016-2021. Music will be provided by the Guss Hayes Band with tickets at $100. Email KildareAssociationNY@gmail.com for more information. This event promises to be a great evening so don’t miss it.
John Duggan grew up in the village of Coill Dubh as the youngest of the late Paddy and Bea Duggan’s five children. He attended National School in Coill Dubh and went to St. Farnan’s Post Primary School in Prosperous. After secondary school, John attended Bolton Street College in Dublin. He worked for a time as a bricklayer in Ireland and immigrated to America in July 1999.
Fourteen years ago, John started his own company called Coill Dubh Masonry. He is the father to twin girls, Áine and Savannah. John has served as a delegate for United Irish Counties for the past eight years. He became involved with the Kildare Association through Gaelic football in 2010 and has continued to work to solidity Kildare’s Association through Gaelic football.
My brother Kevin McCarthy would have been 53 years old this Friday, April 8th, and he is never forgotten by all his brothers and sisters who always talk about him every day. Rest in Peace Kevin, we love you from all the family.
See you all next week when I am Out&About again…