By Paddy McCarthy
The “Women of Ireland Awards” were held at the New York Irish Center in Long Island City last Thursday. Unfortunately I could not make it as because another engagement went on a bit longer that I had planned. From what I’ve heard though, it went very well and I’m very happy to hear that, as, I am sure, is George Heslin, Executive Director of the New York Irish Center put a lot of work into it.
Here I am going to give you a feature on the event for you to see what I missed. Corina Galvin, Sinead Naughton and Fiona Walsh were the first to receive the “Women of Ireland” award with Rose of Tralee Róisín Wiley and Consul General of Ireland Helena Nolan presiding at the festivities.
The new awards recognize achievement in business, community support and the arts, and were presented to three New York area-based women of Irish descent. The first honorees, Corina Galvin, Sinead Naughton and Fiona Walsh, were feted in the Center’s storefront theater Reilly Room at a cocktail reception with entertainment hosted by the reigning Rose of Tralee, Róisín Wiley, and Ireland’s Consul General to New York Helena Nolan.
As part of the festivities, and prior to the conferring of the awards, Ms. Nolan led a brief panel talk on women’s topics with Andrea Haughian of Invest Northern Ireland, Tourism Ireland’s Alison Metcalfe, and the author Yvonne Cassidy.
“We felt this would be the perfect way to celebrate St. Brigid’s Day,” said the New York Irish Center’s executive director George Heslin, referring to Ireland’s newest national holiday. “And judging from the excitement and pure joy in the room, this needs to be an annual event.”
Consul General Helena Nolan’s briskly paced and thoughtful conversation with her hand-picked panel was organized to offer a compact survey of the many challenges, opportunities and strategies for success facing New York women in today’s boisterous social climate.
“These Irish and Irish American women in New York do us proud as role models, like Brigid, for creativity, leadership, peacemaking and innovation.“ Nolan told the predominantly female crowd.
“The talk was enlightening thanks to the remarkable women who took part,” Heslin added. “Best of all it contextualized the achievements of our honorees so that they could shine and be themselves without long speeches.”
The three Women of Ireland Award winners were – American Express Global Business Travel Planner Corina Galvin (Women of Ireland Community Leadership Award); Sinead Naughton who owns and operates a number of hospitality establishments (Women of Ireland Business Leadership Award), and the comedian, actor, writer and music producer Fiona Walsh on whom was bestowed the Women of Ireland Cultural Leadership Award.
About the winners, Ms. Metcalfe, Tourism Ireland’s Executive VP USA & Canada, observed: “Marking the advent of spring in Ireland – a time of unfolding celebration of life and hospitality on the island, we honored not only the timeless legacy of Ireland’s matron saint St Brigid on the 1500th anniversary of her passing but underscored the ongoing importance of championing Ireland’s influential and creative women of today.”
The evening’s emcee was Rose of Tralee Róisín Wiley, who commented, “I continue to be amazed and inspired by the community of Irish women in New York, and we are very lucky to have the support of the New York Irish Center to bring us together!”
As the New York Rose, the Westchester native was picked to be top rose at the famous international festival for young women of Irish descent from Ireland and around the world, which took place in August at the Rose Dome in County Kerry.
After receiving her award, Walsh helped segue the ceremony into an even more celebratory mode, spinning discs for a little extra revelry that lasted well into the evening.
Event sponsorship was generously provided by Tourism Ireland and Lash Star Beauty.
A hub for culture and community enrichment serving diverse constituencies in Long Island City, the NY Irish Center (NYIC) programs a wide variety of cultural events spanning film, theater, comedy, books and traditional and contemporary music.
NYIC’s social support programs include classes, networking and outreach for LGBTQ+ individuals, seniors and children.
NYIC’s next large scale community event will be its 3rd Annual 40 Shades of Green Cultural Cabaret, a six hour marathon featuring a feast of performers and local luminaries from the five boroughs and beyond. Rated a Time Out NY Top 5 Pick two years in a row, this fast-growing post-parade cultural showcase runs non-stop on Saturday March 16, from 3 pm to 9 pm. Tickets are on sale at www.NewYorkIrishCenter.org.
The New York Irish Center, 1040 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City NY 11101, is just seven minutes, and one stop, on the 7 train from Grand Central Station.
When it was founded in 2004 by the late Father Colm Campbell and Paddy Reilly, NYIC was primarily an Irish immigrant service organization and community center. Now the NY Irish Center produces close to 100 events a year.
Among its community enrichment programs are its Wednesday Lunch Club – one of the most popular active retirement gatherings in New York City – and “The Story Continues” – NYIC’s quarterly LGBTQ+ networking event, featuring prominent voices from the community and a safe space for conversation and advocacy.
NYIC also houses Solace House, a provider of free, confidential suicide prevention counseling for one-on-one, group or family mental health support. Solace House’s services are available for anyone seeking help.
Here are some events that should interest you as we lead up to the Saint Patrick’s Day festivities. On Saturday February 17th, the Irish Family History Forum are hosting a presentation which will be of interest to anyone researching genealogy. The program is titled “How to Leave Your Genealogy: Don’t Let it Get Thrown Away” with Lisa S. Gorrell, CG. Join them in-person for the event at the Bethpage Public Library (47 Powell Avenue in Bethpage) at 10 am.
The Irish Family History Forum, (www.ifhf.org), is a not-for-profit Irish genealogy society. They promote the study of Irish genealogy, history, culture, and assist members in researching their Irish ancestors.
I have just been told a bit of sad news from the Irish community: fellow Irishman Richie O’Sullivan has been diagnosed with Stage 4 throat cancer and needs your help. My friend the maestro magician David Cremin from Cork has asked me to help spread the word on Richie’s major problem with his health and his living accommodation.
Unfortunately, the development is not good as his landlord has sold the house and asked him to vacate by March 1st as this only happened two weeks ago. To make a donation to Richie O’Sullivan’s fundraiser visit www.gofundme.com/f/please-help-richie-to-live-longer.
This is what my Out&About is here for, to get messages like this out so we can all help each other when we are in need.
That’s it for this week, see you all again next week when I am Out&About again.