By Paddy McCarthy
I have to start my Out&About on a very good note and that is about one of the biggest hubs in North America that is here in New York, Penn Station. I have been a critic for a very long time on the progress of the new renovations that are going on, well lo and behold, it’s all coming together now and it is looking beautiful. I know I was very hard on them as it was taking so long but it is well worth it. I came into Penn Station on Thursday last not expecting what I saw and boy what a great job they have done, yes, I will take back all my criticism and congratulate all the workers on the great job that they have done.
My advice when you go there is not finished yet, what I suggest is you go to Moynihan Hall, the new extension that joins onto the old post office on Eight Avenue, it’s beautiful. You have everything you might need there as far as eating and drinking before and after your journey from where ever you are going or coming from. The bathrooms are impeccable and cared for by a very professional staff, not like the old ones on the main floor…
I had an appointment with my Editor, and I suggested I would meet him there. I was early so I headed to this gigantic bar as I was waiting for him, of course any excuse. The Bar at Moynihan is owned by one of New York’s great tavern owners, Danny McDonald from Dublin, a great friend and boy is he a true professional at what he does. I have to say the staff were wonderful and very accommodating and could not have bee nicer. Yes, I had a pint of Guinness in a 20oz glass too at a price that was reasonable as well and then my Editor joined me and he also had a pint of Guinness that, as we say in Ireland, was like mother’s milk!
I got in touch with Danny who also he has other restaurants in the city, like the Swift Hibernian Lounge (34 East 34th Street) and Ulysses on Stone Street hoping he might be around but he was pretty busy with them at the time and I had another appointment to go to after having a pint or two.
I checked out what was around in Moynihan Hall and again, for eating or just to having a coffee this is the place and there’s plenty of seating even if only to have a seat to rest before or after your journey. So now you know that Penn Station is looking fabulous so check it out.
Now back to another very good announcement that that I am happy to bring you: The United Irish Counties Association of New York is once again sponsoring Essay Contests for both High School and College. Contests are open to students who are Seniors in High School and Freshmen in College (as of September 2022) and the son, daughter, grandchild, nephew, niece, grandnephew or grandniece of a member in good standing of an organization affiliated with the United Irish Counties Association. Complete details and official application forms can be found on their website at www.uicany.org/essay.
The essay and application form must be completed and postmarked no later than December 18th, 2022. Winners will be determined in early January and recognized at the UICANY’s 118th Annual Dinner Dance on Sunday January 29th. Hopefully someone in your family will be able to avail themselves of this opportunity! Please feel free to share this notice with friends who have family who meet the eligibility requirements.
Here is another very good event that might interest you that a friend of The Irish Examiner USA Shane Humphries sent in and that is a Fundraiser for The Drive to Revive, to help keep the county associations active. Race sponsorships are $100 and the Dublin Society will be sponsoring “The Six in a Row Stakes”.
If you would like to enter a horse as “an Owner” in the race it is $25, simply pick a name for your horse and pay through the Dublin Society’s Venmo account at www.venmo.com/DublinSocietyofNY.
If your horse wins you get $100. You do not have to be present to win the race and the money. If you would like to attend admission is free and there will be a cash bar, finger food and you can bet on the races in $2 increments.
I would like to remind you again about this Fundraiser announcement that came to me from Friends of Martin Beirne and Family. It will be held this Sunday, October 30th, from 2 pm to 7 pm at Downey’s Bar & Grill (5790 Mosholu Avenue in the Bronx).
There will be a raffle with cash prizes. See the ad elsewhere in this newspaper for full details of both of these fundraisers.
I have said again and again that The Irish Examiner USA will always be happy to publicize any fundraiser by giving complimentary advertising and coverage to help the event to be a success. This is the reason I love what I do with my Out&About column as I can talk (gossip) about anything I want and I have to thank you our readers, we get great reaction to this page, so thank you again.
The Origin Theatre Company will be presenting Clare O’Malley Online Live from the iconic Bewley’s Cafe on Grafton Street, Dublin, this Saturday, October 29th at 2:30 pm. Returning to Origin following her successful one-woman piece Transatlantic Living at The Irish Repertory Theater for Origin’s 1st Irish 2022, Clare O’Malley brings her new musical journey of song to Origin live from Dublin!
Clare O’Malley has played some of the great Irish female leading roles including Nora in the The Plough and the Stars for the Irish Repertory theatre’s acclaimed O’Casey Cycle and Joan in a brand-new adaptation of GB Shaw’s Saint Joan at DTC. The New York Times singled O’Malley out as “one of the most astonishing performances” that year. (2020).
Clare has had great success originating roles in plays and musicals on both sides of the Atlantic. She most recently received an Agility Award from The Irish Arts Council to develop her own one-woman piece called TransAtlantic Living which she performed in January of this year on the Main Stage at The Irish Repertory Theater.
Clare has worked at The Abbey, The Gate, The Olympia, The Gaiety, and Smock Alley among many others while home in Dublin. She is currently producing and performing in her own Cabaret Live @ Bewleys’s Cafe, which she livestreams all over the world.
Clare grew up in Dublin, Ireland with her family deeply rooted in the Arts – her grandmother, Mary O’Malley founded The Lyric Theater in Belfast and her grandfather on her mother’s side was the poet, Thomas Kinsella. Clare received a Promising Artist Scholarship to study Theater in the USA and graduated Valedictorian from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia in 2010.
I am told to grab a cuppa tea, sit back, relax as Clare, along with her three-piece band of award-winning Irish musicians fuse traditional sounds with the best of jazz and folk. You won’t want to miss this magic. Tickets are available at www.origintheatre.org/productions.
Stay tuned to Origin as they will be announcing the lineup for this year’s 1st Irish Festival in the coming weeks.
Hope to see you all again next week when I am Out&About again…