By Paddy McCarthy
I took a trip back to the green fields of Ireland for a few days and I was not disappointed as guess what, it was raining. Now I did not mind that because I was not out in it for too long as most of my meetings were indoors.
Before I get into my trip, I am going to tell you that the stewards on both the Aer Lingus flights going and coming were absolutely fabulous and one in particular was Paul Dalton, who was just unbelievably capable and professional. That was on my return flight from Shannon Airport back to Kennedy in New York. He treated everybody as if he was their personal steward, again, he was just fabulous. Not that all the staff were not doing well, yes, they were but Paul stood out as he talked to all the passengers. He was serving so gracefully that I just have to tell you my little story while traveling with Aer Lingus as they have improved 100% since the old days, well that what it’s all about when I am Out&About.
Ah, I love this job as you get to meet so many people, and I did while I was in Cork, that’s where I come from, I am sure you all spotted that a long time ago.
I had some serious meetings on my trip and one in particular was with Michelle O’Mahoney and Dave McGilton. These two are superstars in their own right as Michelle is an author and history consultant who’s written a superb book on the Famine in Cork City (see elsewhere in the paper for Brad Balfour’s Q&A with Michelle) and Dave is a song writer and a very good vocalist; both are just brilliant! They both have talent oozing out of them in each of their different fields.
I will start with Dave as he’s written and composed a new album called “Drift” and let me tell you, I have been listening to lots of music over the years and I would put Dave among the best of them. His album is flying off the shelves all over Ireland and you can get it yourself by going to his website at www.davemcgilton.com.
Michelle has researched the historical famine that happened in Cork City. These events that happened over one hundred and seventy years ago are known as Ireland’s Great Famine as over two and a half million people died. What can I say more about Michelle? Only that she has all the talent in the world and she’s passionate about history and more so you have to read her new book. You can contact Michelle and order the book at her website at www.omhistoryconsultant.ie.
I also got to meet Paul Moynihan, Director of Services, Corporate affairs and International relations for Cork City’s Lord Mayor Kieran McCarthy and Tony Fitzgerald, former Lord Mayor of Cork City who will be here in New York for the annual Cork County BP&P Association of New York’s 139th Annual St. Patrick’s Dinner and Ball, which will be held on Saturday March 2nd at Antun’s (96-43 Springfield Blvd. in Queens Village) that is almost sold out. You still have a chance if you book right now by calling Sheila Smith-Gonzales at (646) 522-9917, Kathy McCarthy on (516) 314-6440 or Eileen Dwyer at (917) 413-9898.
Now I am going to introduce you to a very special charity foundation that would like to have your support, so here goes. A special evening introducing Cliona’s Foundation (a charity helping families with seriously sick children in Ireland) will take place at The Laurel’s in Manhattan’s East Village on Friday March 1st from 5 pm until 7 pm.
The event aims to raise awareness of the work of Cliona’s Foundation, a national charity with their head office located in Limerick. Cliona’s provide financial assistance directly to parents of children with life-limiting or chronic complex care needs across the island of Ireland to help with the non-medical expenses related to caring for their seriously sick child.
The foundation was set up by Brendan and Terry Ring, following the death of their daughter Cliona from an inoperable brain tumor in 2006, aged 15. It is estimated that there are approximately 4,000 families caring for a child with a serious illness in Ireland.
Since 2008 Cliona’s have been helping families and the foundation has provided financial assistance for almost 1,300 families so far. Families with sick children are often disproportionately affected by situations out of their control. These are parents who are in a living nightmare and the last thing they should have to worry about are bills. Many parents must give up their jobs to care for their sick child leaving them struggling to cope. Studies have highlighted that a family will need between €10,000 and €15,000 a year to cover various non-medical costs while their child is ill.
Speaking about the importance of fundraising events for the organization, Co-Founder and voluntary CEO of Cliona’s Brendan Ring said: “So many of these families experienced, and continue to experience, the significant non-medical costs of caring for a child with a life-limiting condition. It has never been more urgent to work even harder for the ‘forgotten families of Ireland’ that Cliona’s support. I am delighted to be raising awareness of this cause in New York and I am very much looking forward to meeting everyone on the night.”
Cliona’s are planning an inspiring evening for all attendees. Guests will enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres in the fabulous surrounds of The Laurels. There will be an opportunity to network with other professionals, and to hear insights from Cliona’s voluntary CEO into how we can all overcome life’s challenges in our own ways.
Cliona’s Foundation distributed €502,328 in 2023. A record-breaking amount again which sees a 60% increase in applications compared to 2022. To learn more and to help, visit www.clionas.ie or tune in to the two-part documentary “Ireland’s Forgotten Families” which is readily available on their website. at www.clionas.ie, or contact Charlotte Kavanagh via email at charlotte@clionas.ie.
That’s it for this week, see you all again next week when I am Out&About again with a little bit of gossip.