By Paddy McCarthy
It was a very good week to be Out&About and you never know who you’re going to bump into in a pub. Well, that’s all part of being Out&About as I walked into Maggie’s Place on 47th Street, off Madison Avenue, for a quiet one and lo and behold who was sitting at the bar, only Siobhan and Dan Dennehy and joined by Martin Galvin and Sean Pender, National Vice President of the AOH.
Things do happen when you least expect them and it was a big surprise as were all heading over to the Irish Consulate on Park Avenue to meet Taoiseach Micheál Martin, where he addressed the Irish Communities in the New York area.
Yes, I got to meet him and we had a very good chat as he got a great reception and welcome from the who’s who in the Irish diaspora like the Consul General of Ireland Helene Nolan, Mae O’Driscoll, John Lee, Michael Mellamphy, Kevin Mangan, Debbie McGoldrick, Pauline Turley, George Heslin, Ciaran O’Reilly and Charlotte Moore, as well as Michael O’Reilly, President of the United Irish Counties Association of New York in the audience plus quite a lot more as the Taoiseach was very relaxed after his speech at the UN previously.
The man taking care of the cocktail reception was none other than Kieran Green and his staff. As you know Kieran and his partner Jimmy Lyons own McCarthy’s Pub at 144 West 46th Street, just off Times Square and the famous Gossip Bar and Restaurant on Ninth Avenue between 47th and 48th Streets. What a great job he did, he’s a thorough professional.
Did I have a good time? You bet I did because somebody has to do it right?
Here is some news that I have to tell you about as it is just been announced and that is that the NYC Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Board of Directors have unanimously selected Kevin J. Conway, Vice Chairman, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC, as the Grand Marshal of the 2023 New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade.
Congratulations Kevin. I know what you are saying, yes, I was on the short list, just kidding…
Now some more news on one of the top foundation dinners that was held in the Manhattan Club (800 7th Avenue) and yes, I missed it as I had other arrangements. My friend Marty Glennon gave me all the news on the event which you read on page 18 of our Digital Edition.
I also would like to highlight the Irish Network NYC’s Summer Party, organized by Caroline Regan and held on Stone Street last Thursday evening. Caroline mailed to say, “As I was telling you last night unfortunately at the last minute the photographer for our Big Summer Party had to cancel. I then happen to see some great NY GAA photos taken by Sharon Redican, as her Instagram says ‘some exposure to GAA in NYC’. So, I called her and she immediately agreed to step in.
“I met her early at the event and she really was taken with the Gunpowder Gin gift basket from Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim as her dad is from there. We both agreed that it would be a great present to bring home… well as the night went on, we were all super busy meeting the big crowd. Sharon certainly had work cut out for her as the party was well attended.”
The main prize was a round trip ticket to Ireland for two generously donated by Aer Lingus. Now where would yea get it with all those beautiful prizes, now I am so sorry that I missed it.
Hope to see you all again next week when I am Out&About again…