By Paddy McCarthy
I was so lucky in to be invited to the Mayo Society of New York’s 143rd Annual Ball and Dinner last Saturday. I was invited by John Healy to the event to honor Mayo Woman of the Year Rose Moloney and Man of the Year Jimmy McMahon, and boy what a great turn out there was with over 600 guests attending the dinner.
As I said I was a guest of John Healy who has a video podcast, “It’s Good To Talk” as John can really do that when he is asking questions and has a huge viewing audience all over North America. His guests that he interviews can range from poets, singers and songwriters, performers and many other talented Irish people from all walks of life. His interviews are always fun and so unique to listen to on YouTube so tune in and check it out.
Coming back to the Mayo dinner I would personally like to congratulate their fabulous honored guests Rose Moloney and Jimmy McMahon as the honor on the evening was well deserved.
The entertainment was provided by the brilliant Cunningham Brothers who yet again had everyone on the dance floor. It was great to meet so many people on the evening that I knew very well and I got to meet and talk to quite a lot of them which made it an exciting evening. I would like to mention some of them including Garret Doyle, Kevin McAndrew, Rita Lydon Lenz, Betty McLoughlin, Ronan Clarke, Michael O’Reilly, Noel McCarthy, Chief Mike Collins, Martin Dunne, Martin Casey, Mickey McCreesh and lots, lots more that would be impossible for me to mention and I’d like to thank them all, that’s why I love this job that gets me Out&About so much.
I got this note from a very nice lady in Texas who reads The Irish Examiner USA every week along with all her friends. Her name is Joan Moody of the Harp and Shamrock Society. She said that “March is always the most exciting month for the Harp and Shamrock Society. St Patrick’s weekend and our events are close approaching. As we enjoy the entertainment and the parade on the river during this weekend, I believe it is important to remember where the Harp got its origins.
“Every year since 1968 the Harp and Shamrock lays a wreath at the Alamo in honor of the twelve Irish descendants that perished at the battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1883. As we read the names of these brave men, I realized that I did not know much about them. Thus, I have decided to feature one of these Strong brave Irishmen each month with information about their journey through Texas and the Alamo.
“Alamo defender Samual E. Burns was born in Ireland in 1810. Samuel immigrated to the USA, arriving in New Orleans, Louisiana according to the Natchitoches, Louisiana city records, where he became a resident in 1835. A clerk listing from Nacogdoches, Texas shows he filed for the grant of 640 acres prior to 1835. He enlisted in the Texas Army as a private in an artillery company commanded by Capt. William R. Carey. He was assigned to serve in the Alamo garrison.
“On February 23, 1836, the Mexican army arrived and began the siege of the Alamo. March 6, 1836, Samuel E Burns was killed in the Battle of the Alamo. It has been said that the sarcophagus in the entrance at the San Fernando Cathedral contains the remains of defenders of the Alamo whose bodies were burned after the 1836 battle.
“As we memorialize our Irishmen as a group, let us pause to remember that each of them had their own life and story. I would also like to thank everyone who signed up to help during our St Patrick’s weekend events. Could not do it without you!”
It has also come to my attention that Joan, who those trojan work in the Irish community in Texas, is herself to be honored in The Heroes of Irish America Awards. These awards came about from the demand of Buffalo, the Irish capital of America, to host a national event for Irish Americans. That request came strongest from New York State senator Tim Kennedy who last year sponsored the Irish Echo’s Art Awards which included honorees from Texas. This year the Irish Echo decided to broaden the awards beyond arts to everyday heroes.
Their honorees will be people who have gone the extra mile to build strong communities while being mindful of the Irish heritage and roots and will come from across the nation. They already have nominees from San Francisco, Boston, Austin, and New Jersey.
Regarding Joan, they said: “We delighted to announce that Joan Moody, the outstanding Irish American who served the Irish in San Antonio for many decades, will be among this year’s honorees. She is a star Irish American from the Lone Star State. The award ceremony will take place in Buffalo during April.”
Congratulations Joan from all here at The Irish Examiner USA.
East Durham’s first ever Saint Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on Sunday March 17th. I hope you all can make it there to celebrate this great day. All are welcome because East Durham has been the second home for the Irish for many years. So on up and join them to show we are all Irish on Saint Patrick’s Day no matter who you are, Éirinn go Brách, Céad Míle Fáilte.
Recently at the reopened American Irish Historical Society building on Fifth Avenue, Sean Lane, Chairman of The New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade introduced Maggie Timoney as the Grand Marshal of the 263rd New York City St Patrick’s Day Parade.
Timoney, from Ballina, Co Mayo will make history when she leads the 2024 Parade, as one of only five females in the Parade’s 262-years to lead what is the world’s largest and oldest St Patrick’s Day Parade.
Maggie Timoney is the first female President & CEO of Heineken USA based in White Plains, New York. She is an alumnus of Iona University in New Rochelle, New York where she played basketball and earned two degrees. Throughout her career, Maggie blazed a trail in the traditionally male-dominated beer industry, and today, Maggie is the first woman to serve as chief executive of a major beer company in the United States.
“I had a tear in my eye tonight thinking about my parents, Una and Seamus, who are gone. They never would have thought I would one day lead the St Patrick’s Day Parade in New York,” Grand Marshal Timoney said. “I joked that with Maureen O’Hara, and I am in really, really good company – I know there have only been five females in total in the last 262 years and I hope that this is the start of the trend.”
Sean Lane said “We were truly delighted that Maggie Timoney has been chosen unanimously to lead us on March 16. Like all the hard-working Irish emigrants that came before her, she is a shining example of what hard work and determination can achieve in this great country. We know that Maggie’s selection as Grand Marshal is a popular one.”
“We as a community are proud of Maggie Timoney, she is an outstanding leader in her chosen field and we will be proud to march behind her in the greatest Parade in the world, in the greatest city in the world, New York City,”, said Hilary Beirne, CAO of the Parade.
Among those present were former Grand Marshals Lorretta Brennan Glucksman, Tommy Smyth, Kevin Conway, John Tully, Chairman of the Knights of St Patrick, the New York Consul General of Ireland Helena Nolan, Rosine Wiley, the 2023 Rose of Tralee from Eastchester, New York, Kerri Ann O’Connor, the New York Mary from Dungloe as well as other well-known New York dignitaries.
The New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade marches in honor of St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland and of the Archdiocese of New York. The Parade is held every March 17th (except when March 17th falls on a Sunday, it is moved to Saturday March 16th because of religious observance). The Parade starts at 11 am and begins at 44th Street and proceeds up Fifth Avenue to 79th street in Manhattan.
The New York City St Patrick’s Parade marched for the first time in 1762, fourteen Years before the Declaration of Independence was signed in Independence Hall, Philadelphia. The Parade is regarded as the most popular of the all the Parades in New York City.
The New York Parade consists only of marchers and each year hosts some 250,000 marchers and two million spectators. The Parade has many outstanding marching bands, bagpipers in marching formations, high-school, and college bands from throughout the United States and from all over the world.
The occasion is televised live to millions of households nationwide for four hours by host station WNBC Channel Four. The broadcast is webcast live via the internet through the Parade’s web site at NYCStPatricksParade.Org and WNBC Channel Four web site at www.wnbc.com and a host of other digital platforms.
Just before I finish with my Out&About I got the sad news of a good friend to me and lots more, when I receieved the news that Malachy McCourt passed away on Monday after a long sickness. May he rest in Peace.
That’s it for this week, see you all again next week when I am Out&About again with a little bit of gossip.