By Paddy McCarthy
I am going to start my Out&About with some very sad news on a very good friend of mine who I’ve known all the way back to my music days. His name is Tony O’Sullivan, late of Pouladuff, Cork City, Ireland who passed away in Shepherds Bush, West London. We were band members of one of Cork’s well known and favorite groups The Sunset for over 10 years back in the 70s and early 80s.We were classical commercial band from the start as we played at dances and weddings in our early days. We then moved on to be a rock band and one of our greatest events was to open for Rory Gallagher in the first open air rock concerts at the Mountain Dew Festival, Macroom, County Cork on June 26, 1977.
The late Tony O’Sullivan was our lead guitarist and he wrote some amazing songs that we performed on that day. Not only was the Mountain Dew Festival the first major open-air music festival of its kind to be staged in Ireland but it was headlined by the nation’s first true Rock God, Rory Gallagher. We were a three-piece band called The Sunset whose members were Tony O’Sullivan lead guitar and vocals, Eric Kitteringham on Bass and vocals, RIP and past member of Taste with Rory Gallagher, RIP, and myself on drums that made our sound very unique. Rory praised our band Sunset for being the first open air rock festival band in Ireland and not him, wasn’t that very nice of him. I am telling you all this as I remember the two members of the band that passed away that I will solely miss forever, Rest in Peace Tony and Eric. I hope you don’t mind that I weaved off what I normally do in my Out&About and I thank you so much for your understanding.
The World Cup, even with all the critical news media coverage, has been taking off like a bat out of Hell as it has been brilliant with a lot of upsets for some major teams. I for one have been taking close attention. They might not be able to have a pint at the games in Qatar, but the bars and restaurants have been packing them in for the games no matter which team is playing. The two major brands Budweiser and Guinness must be very happy as to get this business as a Christmas gift a few weeks before all the Christmas celebrations wow!
Look at this a treble celebration and more: the Irish Business Organization, Emerald Isle Immigration Center and the United Irish Counties Association of New York are having a Christmas in New York party all together. It will all be happening downstairs at Rosie O’Grady’s (800 7th Avenue) from 5.30 pm on Wednesday, December 7. There will be a three-hour open bar, buffet dinner and music. Tickets for IBO Members are $90, and $100 for non-members. RSVP at IBONewYork.org/events.
Just a reminder that the Dubliners Christmas get together is this Thursday December 1st at Slattery’s on East 36 Street from 6.30 pm. It’s all happening upstairs at the back in the “Tap Room” and they have 30 plus attending so far. First drink and finger foods on the Society, cash bar after that.
I have just been told that the National Secretary of The Ancient Order of Hibernians in America Ed Halligan suffered a stroke on Friday night. Please keep Ed and his family in your prayers. Danny O’Connell, President of the AOH in America said: “We will keep everyone posted as more information becomes available. Eternal God have mercy upon all who have suffered a stroke. Remove the sudden fear that befalls them. Endow them with courage in the struggle to recover what has been lost. Grant them strength and hope to envision new days ahead and a spirit of faith to take the risk of living fully once again.”
This also came to my attention from Wreaths across America who will be holding a ceremony on Saturday, December 17, at 12 noon at the Basilica of Old St Patrick’s Cathedral, at the front of the Church on MOTT Street, (251 Mott Street). The Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, AOH New York County Board and Friendly Son’s of St Patrick Morristown, NJ will be hosting the Wreaths Across America ceremony. The Knickerbocker Grey’s will be providing the color guard. All 3,137 sites will simultaneously celebrate this event at 12 noon eastern standard time, being the start time. Each veteran grave is given a wreath that is placed at their tombstone. The program has been fully financed by the owners of the farms in Maine, who produce these wreaths, and started this program. As of this writing, there are over 2.4 million wreaths laid at the graves of these veterans each year. Many corporate sponsors are involved, and ALL the trucking to the 3,137 sites is through the trucking company donating its own trucks and drivers to this cause. Volunteers lay the wreaths. Please come out and join them at The Basilica but arrive by 11:30 am latest, as the ceremony will start at 12 noon sharp. Please bring your family; neighbors and friends to honor those veterans who defended our great country. As we are coming up to the big Christmas Day holiday this will be well worth supporting. Please contact Bill Duggan at wcdugganjr@hotmail.com or Tom Beirne at tombeirne4@hotmail.com for more information and to coordinate any requests to speak or to present.
See you all again next week when I am Out&About again…