By Paddy McCarthy
We’re all going on a summer holiday, no more working for a week or two, fun and laughter on a summer holiday just for me and you. As I know a lot of people are on summer holidays or about to go on summer holidays so I just had to put that jingle in to wish everyone to have a great time with some nice weather.
As we are talking about travel here is someone who deserves a lot of praise and that is Paula Carroll, sales and marketing director of the famed Ashford Castle in Cong, Ireland, She just collected an award from Travel + Leisure Co. who have voted Ashford Castle the No 1 Resort in UK and Ireland! “Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline Gifford hosted the World’s Best Awards in NYC, along with Ruth Moran, Publicity & Communications Manager at Tourism Ireland. Paula Carroll accepted the trophy. Congratulations to Niall Rochford and the fantastic Ashford team!” Well done to everyone as it must have been good teamwork.
I know I am mentioning this a bit late so here’s the news I got from Jack O’Brien, President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians: The AOH County Board Meeting will be held on Wednesday July 27th at 8 pm in Levittown VFW. All members are welcome to attend.
Last week I said I was going to the premier of The Butcher Boy that will be staged at The Irish Repertory Theatre this Wednesday. Well I am and I can’t wait as I am so excited. By the time you have read my Out&About I will have seen it, so I will give you all the news in our next issue and I already have a very good feeling on it. Now the next advice I have for you is get out and buy your tickets now and don’t wait because I know it’s going to be a blockbuster. Remember you heard it here.
This announcement came my way that the Irish Arts Center are celebrating their 100th performance in their landmark $60m new building and have announced a week-long engagement with singer-songwriter Declan O’Rourke. Their upcoming Fall programming includes: Obie-award winning Irish experimental theatre company Dead Centre to return with Chekhov’s first play, a thrilling deconstruction of earliest, unperformed Chekhov work from October 19th to November 6th.
In addition Seán Curran and Darrah Carr are the latest artists brought together for Irish Arts Center’s acclaimed Masters in Collaboration Series, merging their distinct approaches to invention and tradition in Céilí, playing from September 29th to October 2nd; Utsav Lal’s Ragas to Reels, featuring Linda Buckley, Sam Comerford, Ganavya, and Nitin Mitta, in a genre-bending collision of Indian classical and Irish traditional music from November 17th to 19th; and the 13th Annual Poetry Fest, the weekend-long celebration of sitting and listening to words, curated by Nick Laird from December 2nd to 4th.
Tickets are on sale to all from Thursday, July 28th. Irish Arts Center (IAC), based in New York City and renowned for presenting dynamic, inspiring, collaborative experiences of the evolving arts and culture of Ireland and Irish America in an environment of warm Irish hospitality, celebrated its 100th performance and continues to inaugurate its new home—a 21,700 square foot hub for the arts at 726 11th Avenue—with an ever eclectic suite of programming this fall.
Irish Arts Center Executive Director Aidan Connolly said, “The new Irish Arts Center is a dream realized and a tribute to the broad coalition of people in New York and Ireland who have brought it to life, at a time when we so eagerly need a place to come together with inspiration and hope. But it’s only the beginning.
“Our opening season is a statement of promise and possibility. We invite artists and audiences of all backgrounds to see themselves in this welcoming new home.”
IAC currently requires all visitors to show proof of full vaccination and wear a mask inside the building, at all times, except when actively eating or drinking.
Irish Arts Center, founded in 1972 and based in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City, is a home for artists and audiences of all backgrounds who share a passion or appreciation for the evolving arts and culture of contemporary Ireland and Irish America.
They present, develop, and celebrate work from established and emerging artists and cultural practitioners, providing audiences with emotionally and intellectually engaging experiences—fueled by collaboration, innovation, adventurousness, authenticity, and the celebration of our common humanity, in an environment of Irish hospitality.
Steeped in grassroots traditions, they also provide community education programs and access to the arts for people of all ages and ethnic, racial and socioeconomic backgrounds.
I hope to see you all again next week when I am Out&About.