By Paddy McCarthy
I went to the Detective Barney Ferguson Emerald Legacy Fund 7th Annual Awards Dinner last Thursday, at Juliano’s Restaurant in New Rochelle. I have gone to a lot of events in my time but this one is top of the list because it was a fundraiser dinner for a very good cause. The honorees were Paul DiGiacomo, Carla Caccavale, Lieutenant Joseph Lapointe and the NYPD Retired Detectives for their lifetime of service and devotion. The master of ceremonies was John J. Ferguson, son of the late Barney Ferguson. The event was sold out and it was so nice to meet a lot of people that I know quite well like Clive Anderson, Funeral Director of Pelham Funeral Home, Peter Whalen, President of the Grand Council of United Emerald Societies, and of course I cannot forget to thank the man that invited me, Brian Sharkey, vice president of the NYCDESA. A man I have not met for a very long time and was looking great was the Past Chairman of the New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, John Dunleavy along with John Byrnes, Noelle Clancy and many more. The entertainment was beautiful, that was The Golding Academy of Irish Dancers and were they good, no they were brilliant. I can only say it was one successful evening and it was great credit to the late Detective Barney Ferguson that I knew quite well, may he Rest in Peace.
While I was Out&About I came across a new Irish bar being built on 46th Street, west of Broadway named O’Casey’s Bar and Restaurant. I am told it should be ready by October for customers to visit. I am also told it will feature on their wall of fame past and present Irish actors dating all the way back to the famous Noel Purcell who came from Dublin. One of his famous acting parts was the block buster movie Moby Dick. Why I am giving this Irish bar coverage is because so many Irish bars in the New York City closed their doors since the pandemic that put them out of business. I wonder with O’Casey’s opening soon would this be the start of a new trend of Irish bars coming back? You never know, but we wish them well and lots of success.
I also called into the Pig’n’Whistle on 36th Street, just off Seventh Avenue, and lo and behold who did I get to meet? Only two of the owners Pat Burke and Cormac McCormack and guess what, I had a pint of Guinness with Pat Burke, my editor Grahame Curtis, who was drinking Stella Artois, and the artist herself Noelle Clancy. Let the party begin and it did.
The Irish Arts Center have a big push on to celebrate their 50th Anniversary with a lot of super talent performing so I am going to introduce you to some of them starting with Céilí where Seán Curran and Darrah Carr evoke the spirit, life, and celebration of the Irish céilí in the world premiere of a new work that merges contemporary choreography and modern Irish form into a vibrant transformation of social dance. Along with a multigenerational cast of performers from both companies, and musicians Dana Lyn and Kyle Sanna, whose score connects the dots between their experience as composers/improvisers in NYC and their deep admiration for Irish music, the award-winning choreographers explore the idea of coming together for a céilí that simultaneously embraces tradition and innovation. They have lots and lots more happening so check out their full schedule at irishartscenter.org/whats-on as I am sure you won’t want to miss anything.
In this business you have to love the theatre and New York has the cream of the crop especially Irish theater with the Irish Repertory Theatre, the Irish Arts Center, Origin Theatre, and the New York Irish Center. We here at The Irish Examiner USA support all of them in every way we can as you really can’t beat Irish theatre no matter where it is and its performers are the greatest in the world.
I hope you enjoyed reading this week’s Out&About as much as I enjoyed bringing it to you. See you all next week when I am Out&About again.