By Paddy McCarthy
I have a lot going on this week in my Out&About, most of it is not so good but some is very good. I will start off by giving you the memorials of some of the greatest talents in the world. On Tuesday August 16th, 1977 Elvis Presley passed away, the King of Rock‘n’Roll. On August 16th, 2018 Aretha Franklin passed away, the Queen of Soul. Also on that day in 1948 Babe Ruth, one of the most famous baseball players in the world died and on August 16th, 2008 Ronnie Drew, singer, musician and member of one of Ireland’s most famous ballad and folk groups, The Dubliners, passed away. The reason I have given all those who passed on that date as they were very close to who I admired and will never be forgotten, RIP.
A 15-year-old horse named Ryder tripped and fell last Wednesday, and couldn’t get up for more than an hour. A spokeswoman for the carriage industry said blood tests revealed the horse collapsed due to a previously undiagnosed neurological disease. The Transport Workers Union (TWU) responded to criticism of the driver’s actions, and wrote via Twitter, “The diagnosis of the equine veterinarian who examined Ryder is that he has EPM – a neurological disease caused by possum droppings. Please do not jump to conclusions before knowing the facts or talking to the carriage drivers’ union.” They later added that “Ryder is on the mend” alongside a video of the horse eating out of a woman’s hand. Now that’s great news as we got a lot of enquiries on Ryder the horse and we were asked to respond, so you can see that he’s getting back to himself again and is almost ready to do what he likes most, to be around Central Park, New York City.
A great friend of The Irish Examiner USA, Sean Minogue sent me news of a fundraiser that is happening and yes of course we support it as we do with all fundraisers that come our way. We have a policy here at The Irish Examiner USA that we will publicize all fundraisers absolutely with no charge so please keep that in mind.
Now you can support this fundraiser that is very meaningful and will remember Lawrence Reilly and support The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.
Kevin Bell was a young lad who lived in the Bronx, 2014. He was crossing a road and got hit by a car. His remains were sent home to Newry, and sometime later his parents opened the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust to help other families in need repatriate their loved ones. For more info visit www.kevinbellrepatriationtrust.com. They have helped so many families all around the world at a time of need.
Our friend Lawrence Reilly was a proud Mayo man from Binghamstown, Belmullet. He owned Chasers bar in Maspeth, Queens, held many fund raisers and was also generous in donating, whether it be for a new roof on the local church back home, Shannon Gaels sports club and many more. In April 2021 he held a card game for the Kevin Bell fund not knowing they would be bringing his remains back to Ireland a few months later. Lawrence got sick and passed away on September 20th, 2021.
In honor of Lawrence, there will be a fundraiser on September 10th at the Bantry Bay Bar (33-01 Greenpoint Avenue in Long Island City) for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust. There will be live music and a DJ, 50/50 raffles and Chinese auction. The event will start at 4 pm. Iif you can attend it would be most appreciated as this is a worthwhile time to acknowledge both Kevin and Lawrence so do your best to attend. See the notice on page 17 for details of getting tickets. Now you have no excuse as there are plenty of contacts all waiting for you.
I was Out&About in Manhattan last Thursday and I called into McCarthy’s Pub on 144 West 46th Street. It is an authentic Irish Pub conveniently located in Times Square between 6th & 7th Avenues. Well, who did I get to meet? Only one of the owners Kieran Green, who was there with his family as it’s hard to track him down as he also has another establishment with his partner Jimmy Lyons, called Gossip Bar and Restaurant located on 9th Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets, so you can see how lucky I was to meet him. Check out McCarthy’s as they have one of the best pints of Guinness in New York City that tastes as good as you would get at home in Ireland.
Here is another event that should interest you, the Annual Chieftain’s Walk to honor the sorely missed Martin McGuinness and raise awareness of his Peace Foundation on September 18th. Registration and entertainment begins at 10 am at the Irish Hunger Memorial in Battery Park City. At 10.30 am, opening remarks by will be made by Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer with the walk commencing at 11 am.
The Inaugural Martin McGuinness Peace Foundation Dinner is also be held on Wednesday September 21st at Manhattan Manor (201 West 52nd Street, New York) with special guest Gerry Kelly, MLA for North Belfast.
Please RSVP to Amanda Reuschle at amacaluso@abgllaw.com or call (631) 777-6928. This again is an event that should be well supported and I am sure it will be.
Hope to you all next week when I am Out&About again.