By Paddy McCarthy
In my last Out&About I forgot to mention a legend that I got to meet at The Irish Rep’s Gala that was none other than Malachy McCourt and his lovely wife Diana who I had the privilege to meet. I have to say this, Malachy is an inspiration to the Irish community and should not be ignored as he is been up there with the cream of the crop of Irish talent for a long long time.
As I am talking about the Irish in New York, here is another theatre company that deserves to be highlighted: “New York’s popular immersive Bloomsday celebration, the “Bloomsday Revel,” co-produced by Origin Theatre Company and Blooms Tavern, and returned to a fully in-person format, took place this year on Sunday June 12 from 3 pm to 6 pm, at Blooms Tavern’s two-level Midtown home (208 East 58th Street). Combining readings from “Ulysses” by notable New York Irish actors; music; afternoon food and refreshment, and a new Joycean pub quiz, the event marked the 100th anniversary of the publication of Joyce’s landmark novel.
Featured in the cast were Terry Donnelly, Ed Malone, Aidan Redmond, Gina Costigan, Paula Nance, and Michael Mellamphy, Origin Theatre’s artistic director. Musical interludes were performed by the Irish folk-rock troubadour Alan Gogarty, Charles Arrowsmith emceed the Joycean Pub Quiz and Ireland’s Consul General to New York Helena Nolan presided over the opening ceremonies.
This was the 9th annual event co-produced Origin and Blooms. Formerly the Bloomsday Breakfast, the “Bloomsday Revel” commemorates the Dublin spring day chronicled in James Joyce’s landmark novel “Ulysses,” June 16, 1904. James Joyce first serialized “Ulysses” beginning in 1918. Considered a masterpiece of modernism, it was banned in the US before the book was published in its entirety in France in 1922.
Bloomsday observances around the world date back to 1924, five short years after the last world pandemic. I would have loved to be there only I had another engagement that I had already confirmed to be at and I know I was missed, ha ha.
I am always preaching that I will not be discussing any politics in my Out&About and I am still not. But I do want to mention this man who cares a lot about the Irish community in Queens, New York who deserves to be heard. Brent O’Leary is one of the leading candidates for New York State Assembly to represent Maspeth, Sunnyside, Woodside, Long Island City and Ridgewood. His grandparents are from County Claire and his grandfather was a New York City Police Officer when he emigrated to the US and settled in Sunnyside, Queens.
His father, Frank O’Leary was ticket teller at Belmont Race Track and member of Local 3, the electricians union for 40 years, retiring at 74 years old Brent started working when he was 12: bus boy, waiter, mail room, concession stand and was able to attend college on financial aid and even attended University College Galway as a study abroad for a semester. He then went to Japan and taught English for a year before returning and going to law school on financial aid.
“I understand the sacrifices made by generations of my family to give me the opportunity for a better life. I remember my father telling me he didn’t realize he was poor growing up because of how our community came together to provide for us,” he has said. “Every New Yorker deserves that same opportunity and support from our government.
“I had a successful career as an international business attorney for 25 years and now it’s time to give back. People want someone with the blue-collar values I grew up with and my white-collar experience to deliver for our community. I know what our community needs because I’m from it and I’ve served this community for over a decade.”
Brent is President of the Board of Woodside on the Move which provides after school programs and housing assistance and President of the Hunters Point Civic Association fighting for quality of life issues for the area. During the pandemic, he established two emergency food pantries which served over 200,000 people in two years.
Brent describes himself as an FDR Democrat who believes in giving people the tools to empower themselves and a strong social safety net to protect people when times are tough. He is running on a platform of safe streets, good jobs, quality education and health care.
The reason I have published this for Brent O’Leary is that his honesty in helping his community seems so heartfelt and that is what we are all here about.
Now back to me, as it is always me just kidding. The great Paddy Noonan, RIP, who for years was one of the most popular figures on the Irish American entertainment scene passed away aged 83 on April 7th, 2020. He was a world-renowned Irish accordionist, He was born in Mallow, Co. Cork on May 5th, 1936 to Annie (nee O’Connor) of Rathmore, Co. Kerry and Denis Noonan of Buttevant, Co Cork and emigrated to New York City at the age of 13.
He was loved by all and a celebration of his life will be held at the Irish American Society of Nassau, Suffolk, and Queens at 297 Willis Avenue, Mineola, Long Island, New York. All are welcome, friends, musicians, singers, dancers, comedians and you the public come along and pay homage to this most lovable entertainer. Admission is free, donations will go to the Diabetes Research Foundation. It will be held on Saturday, July 9th from 2 pm to 6 pm. Betty McLoughlin hopes to see you all on that day; well I’ll be there, will you?
Hope to see you all again next week when I am Out&About.