By Paddy McCarthy
I was been busy last week as we seem to be getting a little bit back to normal and I got to meet a lot of people. One was none other than Kieran Green
, owner/partner at the Gossip Bar and Restaurant (733 9th Avenue, New York) who also does catering for events at The Irish Consulate in New York. He gets around as he has just opened a new establishment called McCarthy’s Irish Pub that is an authentic Irish pub conveniently located in Times Square on West 46th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues. It’s just a short walk from New York’s famous Theatre District so definitely check it out! You can visit their website at www.mccarthysnyc.com.I promised Kieran that I would give it a visit this week and maybe have one or two. Well, what else can I do as I just can’t walk in and walk out without having a taste… somebody has to do it. I am just kidding as I love to support as many Irish or Irish American establishments as possible as they are the backbone of our community and its hard work too, I might tell yea.
Speaking about the Irish Consulate I was invited to the launch of The Global Irish Festival Series at the Consulate General of Ireland in New York in partnership with Tourism Ireland last Wednesday. Colm Brophy, TD, Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora was in New York to meet with Irish American communities and to highlight the return of the Global Irish Festival Series.
It was so nice to meet a lot of guests that I have not seen for a while because of the pandemic like Larry Kirwan, musician and playwriter, Ray O’Hanlon from The Irish Echo and a host of others. The minister spoke very well and so did Alison Metcalfe, Executive Vice President of North America & Australia/NZ for Tourism Ireland. It was also so nice to hear and see Niall O’Leary as he entertained with his musical group before the Minister spoke. That was a very nice treat.
I left The Irish Consulate to attend another event, the Second Annual Spirit Of Kylemore Abbey Awards that was held at the 101 Club (101 Park Avenue, New York) and benefited the Benedictine Monastery at Kylemore Abbey.
Kylemore Abbey is a Benedictine women’s monastery and one of Ireland’s most iconic heritage sites. It is a place of faith, spirituality, education and history shaped for over a century by Benedictine values of peace, hospitality, service and community. The Benedictine community arrived at Kylemore in 1920.
The 2022 Honorees were Dr. Loretta Brennan Glucksman, Chairman Emeritus, The Ireland Funds, Michael J Dowling, President and CEO at Northwell Health and the man himself who we featured on or last cover, John D Ferrick, Dean Emeritus and Professor at Fordham Law School.
I would like to give special thanks to Mary Reed who worked hard to make this event a total success, a job well done.
There will be a great guided walking tour of the Irish History of St Patrick’s Old Cathedral hosted by AOH Division One, New York County (the founding division of the AOH in America). It is a great opportunity to learn and see the history of the Irish over the years. The guided tour will include the Basilica, the two walled cemeteries, and the catacombs below. Afterwards, everyone is welcome to meet up at Slainte Bar and Lounge. The event is on Friday, May 13th starting at 6 pm. Tickets are $40 and can be booked online at www.aohnyc1.org.
I hope to see you all there, as I will be there too. In the meantime I hope to see you all next week when I am Out&About again…