By Paddy McCarthy
I want to start my Out&About to send a message to an unbelievable supporter of The Irish Examiner USA since the day it started. His name is Mike Gibbons who was the past President of the Ireland-US Council and he is just celebrating his 82nd birthday. So, from all the staff of the Irish Examiner USA and all of your friends, and you have quite a lot of them, we wish you a very Happy Birthday.
Here is a lady that I’ve totally respected from the day that she contacted me earlier in the year. Her name is Bernadette Clancy from Dublin and now living in Tipperary where my dad Thomas McCarthy was born. Oh, I know all about Tipperary as that is where all my family spent our summer holidays staying with my grandfather Joe and my uncle and aunt Paddy and Nora O’Dwyer with my three cousins. Now you can imagine we all stayed in the one house in Tipperary town with no problems and it was so much fun, I loved it so much. That’s enough of me me me now back to introducing you to this brilliant woman who went through a lot and came out a winner now here is her story that is well worth telling, so here we go. In 2018 Crafters of Ireland was founded by Bernadette to alleviate the plight some artists, crafters and designers nationwide found themselves in. By 2020 Crafters of Ireland had grown to be an award winning PR, marketing and digital media service for the arts, crafts and hospitality sector in Ireland as that is an art in itself. The work done on behalf of this sector was so impactful that they won awards.
The first was from the Republic of Ireland Prestige Awards for Business Consultancy of the year 2021/ 2022 and another in June for Community Champion Honoree 2022 from the Irish Echo for representing the vendors of Irish and Celtic handmade goods across the globe and assisting via mentoring a variety of small businesses to become viable. Working hard to promote people, their communities, counties and Ireland herself worldwide, they now have six channel partners who work with them to promote Irish/Celtic handmade goods.
Invented, reinvented, tested and iterated to make it the best each year, Crafters of Ireland is now on the brink of launching their new website and new service to the world. At his time they call on this sector worldwide who have a passion for hand making Irish and Celtic arts and crafts, no matter what part of the world they are located in.
Diagnosed with breast cancer in February, Bernadette underwent two operations in March/April and then completed her radiation therapy. She has found it very tiring but she recognizes that she is very lucky to have discovered it in its early stage and, although having to cut back and take it easy, she has continued the work she is passionate about and that is giving everyone in this sector the spotlight they may not normally get outside of this service.
We are so proud of Bernadette and her impressive work representing Ireland and arts and crafts people to the world. She has opened up the door to practice what we preach: inclusivity, authenticity and support for people who strive to be self-sufficient in Ireland and Celtic people around the world. The journey has been a tough one for her, on the night of the first lock down in Ireland she moved out of the residence she was living in, having become disillusioned with life and being caught in what she felt was a rut. She launched her first company Solutions Consultancy Ireland at age 49 a consultancy firm specializing in innovation and design thinking. She restructured her company in March 2020 and has continued mentoring clients such as SMEs, entrepreneurs and start-ups from all industries. Crafters of Ireland are here for you in the arts and crafts sector if you want to be seen in Europe and right across the US – so watch out for their new website in the next month. Join them and open your own handcrafted Celtic goods store. They are looking forward to having you on board. Visit their website at www.craftersofireland.com or email craftersofireland@gmail.com Now isn’t that something? You bet it ism so all I can say to Bernadette is onwards and upwards, yippee!
Last Sunday a celebration of the life of the legendary Paddy Noonan was held by the Irish American Society of Nassau, Suffolk and Queens. Yes of course I was there to honor this gentleman who I had a privilege to meet the very first time I emigrated to New York in 1982. Paddy, a world-renowned Irish accordionist, and long time resident of Garden City passed away in April 2020, just one month shy of his 84th birthday. He was born in Mallow, Co. Cork 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. To see the turnout to honor this man was just fabulous and all the proud musicians that performed for the tribute were superb. The place was packed with not an open seat insight and if you were lucky to get a table you had done well. I got to meet his lovely daughter Sheila Noonan who thanked me for coming to her dad’s tribute and I said I would not have missed it for anything. As I said there were so many musicians there that I could not mention them all so here are just a few: Tommy Mulvihill, Martin Flynn, Kenny McLeod Sr., Jimmy Walsh and Michael O’Rourke who all gave their services for this great tribute. I also got to meet Brian Sharkey and his lovely wife Maria along with Paddy Galvin. I also cannot forget the one and only Eileen Cronin from WRHU Radio Hofstra University who always haw a happy smile. I have to say this about Eileen, she is one of the best Irish radio personalities in North America and very popular with all ages, keep it going Eileen.
Everyone who was anyone in the Irish music field turned up for the tribute. One particular star was Susan Gillespie and her musician husband Gerard Corbett and let me tell you they are just brilliant. I am so happy to say that the woman behind the scenes was the great Betty McLoughlin who always makes sure that the show goes on and I can’t forget the master of ceremonies, the one and only Tony Jackson.
I want to finish with some sad news on a family who are always unbelievable supporters of every thing that is Irish that came to me from the President of the AOH, Nassau County Board: “It is with a heavy heart I announce the passing of Mrs. Patricia Byrne, Mother of AOH Division 3 Member Mike Byrne. She recently passed away in Ireland. Mike and his entire family have been so active in our order, a true testament to Patricia. Please keep the entire Byrne Family in your prayers.
I hope to see you all again next week when I am Out&About.