By Paddy McCarthy
Tony and Emmy nominee Gabriel Byrne’s solo show Walking with Ghosts ended last Sunday. Where were you all, as this show was sold out in Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre and also went onto play at the Edinburgh International Festival and a limited run in London’s West End and all were sold out. The show was booked to the end of December at the Music Box Theatre on Broadway, here in New York. Did you all know that this Irish actor is the cream of the crop and you should have gone to see him perform? If you had booked your holiday gifts and included tickets for Walking with Ghosts, I guarantee you that the show would have fulfilled its engagements and supported one of Ireland’s most talented actors. Where were you all, I ask again?
Yes, I am not happy and I have to make my feelings felt as I was planning to be there myself for one of the shows before Christmas. Well what can I say? Only that I’m sorry I missed it, maybe next time?
The World Cup has started and it seems to have got off to a pretty good start as far as football (soccer) is concerned and bars and restaurants all seem to be doing nice business since it started on Sunday. Now now I know that the rules were that no alcoholic beverages are served at the stadiums, and that was probably a bit of a bummer for most who traveled for the games. Now here’s the good news, you can still have a Budweiser, the official beer sponsor of the World Cup in Qatar. All is not lost as the campaign was curbed, not crushed by the Qatari beer ban. The good news is Budweiser found a way to get rid of its surplus beer after the last-minute decision led to all alcoholic beverages being banned at stadiums. Fans will be able to drink alcoholic beer in the evenings in the FIFA Festival dedicated locations outside of the stadiums. Most fans will be staying at hotels as the consumption of alcohol is been permitted in the hotel bars for years outside tournament run areas. A taste of Dublin in Qatar The Irish Harp in the Sheraton Grande Doha, along with two other Irish run pubs, The Irish Pub at the Best Western Plus Hotel, Doha and The Shamrock Tavern in Doha will still be serving Budweisers. That’s just a bit of gossip in case you know someone that headed over to the games and wants to know where they would be able to get a drink or something to eat.
Are we all ready for the Thanksgiving holiday? Yes, that’s the next busiest day next to Christmas. That is the day in America almost everyone has turkey for dinner. The holiday commemorates a harvest festival celebrated by the Pilgrims in 1621, and is held in the US on the fourth Thursday in November, now you know what it means.
Here is another Christmas treat that might interest you before the big occasion. Presented by the New York Irish Center, New York Croons for Christmas featuring Colm Reilly and Special Guests will play on Friday, December 9 at 7 pm. Performers include Wendy Lane Bailey, Kathy Kaefer, Jeanne MacDonald together with acclaimed guitarist Sean Harkness leading The Life of Reilly Band.
New York Croons for Christmas is NYIC’s annual holiday concert, staged as a fundraiser to support all the cultural and social-support programs of the New York Irish Center.
Colm Reilly, son of beloved co-founder Paddy Reilly, delivers a cabaret-style performance with a who’s who of special guests and some of New York’s most esteemed jazz musicians … all of which adds up into a peerless show, and their very own Christmas classic.
The Irish Center also supports some very worthy causes that should interest you with the holiday spirit on the way. New York Irish Center’s annual Shoe Box Appeal Toy Drive enters its 10th year, as the organization works to raise enough money to purchase 500 gifts for 500 less fortunate children at the holidays. On December 3, the Center transforms into Santa’s Workshop, with dozens of volunteer elves packing and wrapping gifts! Joy abounds in this community-wide labor of love. Like last year NYIC plans to collaborate with Woodside on the Move, Hour Children and Habitat for Humanity to distribute gifts.
The Irish Repertory Theatre is putting on the world stage premiere of Jack Was Kind, written and performed by Tracy Thorne (We Are Here) and directed by Nicholas A. Cotz (My Name is Gideon). Jack Was Kind has a limited run through December 18th on the W. Scott McLucas Studio Stage.
Jack Was Kind gives an imagined, painfully human backstory to an actual American event that will affect the country for generations to come. This intimate confessional story examines long-seated issues of privilege and complicity at the core of America, as well as our current and explosive political moment.
Do not miss this performance with this wonderful actress Tracy Thorne. The performance schedule is as follows: Wednesdays at 2 pm and 7 pm; Thursdays at 7 pm; Fridays at 8 pm; Saturdays at 2 pm and 7 pm; and Sundays at 3 pm. There is no matinee performance on Wednesday November 9, and no performance on Thursday November 24. There will be an additional performance on Tuesday November 22 at 7 pm.
Tickets to Jack Was Kind begin at $50 and are available now at IrishRep.org.
The Dublin Society of New York’s Christmas get together will be held on December 1st at Slattery’s (8 East 36th Street, just off 5th Avenue) from 6:30 pm. Your first drink is on the Society then there’s a cash bar, and complementary finger foods. Guests are welcome. I might just turn up myself.
I did receive some very sad news on a great man who was a true Irishman, the late Frank Skuse, RIP. The County Cork Association announced the passing of esteemed member Frank Skuse, on Sunday November 20th at his home in Flushing. A native of Union Hall, Co. Cork, Frank was a loyal and dedicated member of the association for forty-three years and was honored by the association in 2000 as their Cork man of the year. He was proprietor of the Kinsale Tavern.
Throughout his sixty plus years in New York, Frank was a major benefactor for many nationalist, cultural and charitable causes in the Irish community. The Cork Association will gather to pay their respects on Tuesday, November 22nd, from 3 pm to 8 pm at the Frederick Funeral Home (192-15 Northern Boulevard, Flushing, NY). The Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, November 23rd from 9:45 am to 10:30 am at St. Mel RC Church (26-15 154th Street, Flushing).
I am so sorry to hear about Frank Skuse as from the time I arrived in New York this man and another man Joe Murphy were so helpful in giving me directions and advise me on settling in, help that I never will forget. Rest in Peace.
I hope to see you all again next week after you have had your Turkey when I am Out&About again…