By Paddy McCarthy
I started my Out&About in the last issue by telling you that I would visit McCarthy’s Irish Pub, on 46th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues. Well I did… it’s just a short walk from New York’s famous Theatre District so you definitely also have to check it out! I dropped in for a pint and I was served by a very nice bartender called Kennidy. She was very attentive and professional managing and serving the customers, now that’s what makes a very good bartender. I asked for the owner and told her my name and she gave the man himself, Kieran Green a call in his office. I did say to her if he was busy no problem, but he did come away from what he was doing to welcome me for stopping in as I did promise I would.
It is a very cozy place and highly recommended right in the heart of Times Square with my name’s sake all over the place. I like it as it is an authentic Irish pub conveniently located in Times Square. You can visit their website at www.mccarthysnyc.com for more information.
I left McCarthy’s as I was on a was on a mission, invited to an event at the Manhattan Manor function room that is part of the famous Rosie O’Grady’s Bar and Restaurant for the Irish American Building Society Gala. I have to thank Gerard McCabe for inviting me as it was a great evening and of course the red-headed painting artist Noelle Clancy came with me as my guest. I got to meet a lot of people including Marty Glennon, Brian McCabe, and Julie Hewitt together with many more who I have not seen since the start of the pandemic. I have to recommend the venue to you as it is so central and right off Times Square and on the same evening the Emerald Guild held their annual dinner as well as there are two function rooms. I was invited to come up and lo and behold I must have known almost all of them as I had a cocktail with Martin Hurley and Noel McCarthy. I did see Barry Riordan dancing up a storm on the dance floor to the McLean Avenue Band who were very good and had the place rocking. Now you can see all the hard work that I do and it’s not easy, but I don’t mind as I am out promoting The Irish Examiner USA, well somebody has to do it! Ah, I love it.
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 join them at Slainte Bar and Lounge. During the 90 minute walking tour of the grounds of the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral you’ll learn about the important role it played in the Irish history of New York. They’ll tour the two walled cemeteries, the Church and the catacombs below it. Resting peacefully here are the early Irish pioneers of Irish Immigrant Society, Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, Irish Immigrant Bank, Ancient Order of Hibernians, The 69th Regiment, The Irish Brigade. The tour will be held on Friday May 13th, meeting at 266 Mulberry Street at 6 pm. Tickets are $40 and can be booked online at www.aohnyc1.org.
Here is another event that should interest some of you that is well worth attending. The Irish Business Organization will feature guest speaker Sean Davis, Regional Director of Enterprise Ireland for the Americas on Wednesday, May 11 at 6 pm in person at the Bank of Ireland NYC Hub (2 Grand Central Tower, 41st Floor, 140 East 45th Street). I have been a few of those meetings and let me tell yea it’s well worth checking them out!
The Irish Business Organization Women’s Networking Committee also invites all to a night of cocktails
, light fare, and a raffle to benefit Ukrainian women and children. This will be held at the Playwright Celtic Pub Rooftop (732 8th Avenue, at 45th Street) on Tuesday, May 17th from 6 pm to 8:30 pm. Visit www.IBONewYork.org for more information.
I have a sad note to add on a dear friend of the Irish community and that is the late Paraic Feeney, RIP. Our friends at the New York Irish Center sent word that there will be an evening dedicated to the memory of Páraic Feeney on Saturday, May 7th at 5 pm. Páraic was a dear friend to many and a former member of the IBO. This note came from the New York Irish Center: “As many of you may know, one of New York Irish Center’s dedicated volunteers and board members, Páraic Feeney, passed away in Ireland in early March. New York Irish Center will host an evening of remembrance for Páraic on Saturday, May 7th at 5pm. All are welcome to attend. You can listen to an episode of the Centerpiece NY podcast dedicated to the Saturday Computer Club, and Páraic’s influence and dedication to the program on CenterPieceNY.com.”
I hope to see you all next week when I am Out&About again…