By Paddy McCarthy
I hope you all had a very nice 4th of July celebration and kept your Independence Day happy as we all did. It started off a gloomy day with a lot of clouds and then the sun broke through around midday.
I knew my calling was to be a weather men, ha ha, no seriously it turned out to be a beautiful day and there were lots of fireworks going off all over the place.
Yes, I was Out&About last week and I visited Pershing Square, just across from Grand Central Station on 42nd Street that is owned by Buzzy O’Keeffe. Pershing Square was my old stomping ground when I had my office about a hundred yards from its front door. I was so happy to meet a lot of the old staff all still working there and what a great welcome I got, just like the old days.
I have to say that last week’s weather was not good and yes, I did go to the beach for one day. I was at Smith Point beach in Long Island on Friday as it was the best day of the week for my bucket and shovel. I had a dip in the ocean and I do mean a dip as the temperature of the water was very cold. I did sit under my umbrella though as I did not want to get sunburned with my Irish pale skin.
I am now looking forward to a nice few months of sunshine as there will be a lot going on with some concerts and festivals that I really want to attend as well as meeting friends and sharing a bit of gossip.
One big fair that will be a super-duper one that should not be missed is The Great New York State Fair that is held from the end of July to the beginning of September and is ‘a great time every time’!
People from all ages will be welcome as there will be something for everybody to enjoy. All acts announced as part of the Chevrolet Music Series are provided at their website, nysfair.ny.gov.
The Chevrolet Music Series features 1 pm and 6 pm performances at Chevy Court, and daily 8 pm concerts at Suburban Park. Most days, there will be a 2 pm concert there as well. The Great New York State Fair begins Wednesday, August 23 and continues through Labor Day, Monday, September 4. Admission is $6 for adults and free for those 65 years and older, and 12 years and younger.
Here is another big event that will be well worth visiting, the Blarney Star Concert Series will feature Danny O’Mahony, Micheál Ó Raghallaigh and Alan Murray on Friday, July 14 at 7 pm. The latest Blarney Star concert brings three incredibly talented musicians to the stage. Danny O’Mahony is one of Ireland’s very best button accordionists. A native of Ballyduff in north County Kerry, he has won All-Ireland championships as a soloist and with the Shannon Vale Ceili Band. His “Trip to the Cottage” week radio program/podcast has been internationally popular since 2004, and his recordings as a soloist and with concertina virtuoso Micheál Ó Raghallaigh and with the Shannon Vale band have been universally praised. Scottish-born singer, guitarist and bouzouki player Alan Murray has performed withmany of today’s leading Irish traditional musicians. He and Danny will be on the teaching staff of this year’s Catskills Irish Arts Week in East Durham.
This is a play you are all waiting for as The Irish Repertory Theatre presents Landmark Productions’ world stage premiere of The Saviour on the Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage. Written by Deirdre Kinahan, directed by Louise Lowe and starring Marie Mullen and Jamie O’Neill, The Saviour will run from July 1 to August 13.
On days with evening performances, the box office will remain open until the show begins. Buy tickets by calling (212) 727-2737 or online at irishrep.org.
Hope to see you all again next week when I am Out&About again.