By Paddy McCarthy
I am just back from Cork after spending a few days with my family and friends. We celebrate two birthdays with my brothers Michael and Bernard in the South Country Bar and Restaurant in Douglas, Cork. It was just wonderful to have all the family together for their birthdays as we had some good family chats with some cocktails and food that was very good, I might say. It is always a good time to visit my home from home and to meet friends that I grew up with and worked with when I lived in Cork, working and in the music business that I miss so much, and I still have the passion for visiting as I always have a great time been back there.
I always stay at The Metropole Hotel on McCurtain Street in Cork City. It is always so welcoming and so comfortable and very convenient as it’s walking distance from everything you ever want like shopping, pubs, restaurants and theatre, now what more could you ask for?
To be quite honest I had a ball as I got to meet so many people as I stopped in a few places like Jack Forde’s by the famous Shandon Steeply and got to meet John Forde and some of my brothers for a nice pint of Guinness and then off to one of my favorite pubs, Pa Johnson’s to meet the owner Barry Johnson for a nice creamer pint of Murphy’s. I also visited the famous Barry’s Pub and Restaurant that is big and beautifully designed for comfort and who walked in was the one and only Sean Coyne. Sean traveled all the way up to meet me from Youghal as I was so sorry that his wife Rita could not make it, we will meet back there in the summer I promise.
Now I am telling you all this as it was my Out&About time in my home town that I enjoy so much and would advise anyone would like to travel over to Ireland to give Cork a visit as it’s got everything for your tourist needs and you will get a great welcome, I guarantee it and a céad míle fáilte I promise.
Now for some news of an event that will be happening next week that came to me from Marty Glennon that said: “As I mentioned last week the Cooper Union event for April 3rd is sold out. There is a waiting list that you can still register for on the same link, as spots become available, you will be notified if you received a ticket. There are still limited tickets left for the April 4th Martin McGuinness Peace Foundation dinner. We have just been informed that in addition to Gerry Adams, Congressman Richie Neal will also be speaking at this dinner. Do not get shut out of this event. Call Amanda at (631) 777-6928 or email her at amacaluso@abgllaw.com. The Cooper Union policy will be strictly enforced for the Cooper Union event on April 3rd – all guests without exception including dignitaries must come with proof of a covid vaccine or a negative covid test result taken within three days of the event (for PCR Tests) or a rapid test taken that day. Please be sure that everyone that RSVPs and plans on coming is in compliance with the Cooper Union policy. They have told me several times that it will be strictly enforced.
“On April 3rd and 4th, Gerry Adams will be in NYC. On Monday the 3rd, Gerry Adams and President Clinton will be at Cooper Union for the 25th Anniversary of the GFA. On Tuesday April 4th, Gerry will be the special guest speaker at the Martin McGuinness Peace Foundation dinner at Rosie O’Grady’s in NYC. Congressman Richie Neal will also be speaking at this event.Tickets for both events can be found on the links here: mmpfnyc.org/events and www.eventbrite.com/e/reflections-on-the-good-friday-agreement-25-years-of-peace-progress-tickets-563808675927.”
I got this notice from Thomas Browne, president of the Cork Association which had some sad news about the passing of a lady that gave a lot to Cork and New York who passed away peacefully at her home in Rockaway on March 21. That was Patricia Young O’Connor who was born and raised in Dunmanway, Co. Cork, the eighth of fourteen siblings born to John and Margaret (McSweeney) Young.
Patricia attended St. Mary’s N.S. and Maria Immaculata Secondary School in Dunmanway. She continued her education at the American International College in Springfield, MA. and Brooklyn College, NY.
Brought up in a fiercely competitive family, all the Youngs were very successful in their chosen fields of endeavor. Emphasis was placed on Faith, Culture, Education and Athletics. “Work hard, Play Hard and Pray Hard” was the order of the day.
Paul O’Leary who lived in New York and went home to Ireland has also passed away after a long illness. He was a well-known singer on international cruises all over the world, RIP.
See you all again next week when I am Out&About again.