By Paddy McCarthy
What a great week it has been, especially all around the Saint Patrick’s Day festivities. I have never been so happy, as I was Out&About quite a lot and I am not complaining let me tell you. I was invited to the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s Annual St. Patrick’s Luncheon, that was held in Antun’s on Wednesday, by none other than their President and CEO Thomas J Grech. The Guests of Honor were Jack Schlossberg, grandson of President John F. Kennedy and the day’s keynote speaker, and Mary Murphy.
Jack Schlossberg is the only grandson of former President John .F Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy Onassis. He was born to parents Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg on January 19, 1993 and was named John Bouvier ‘Jack’ Kennedy Schlossberg after both of his maternal grandparents. Jack studied at Yale University, where he completed his undergraduate degree. and at Harvard Law and Business School for his MBA and JD. He passed the bar exam in 2023 and. like many of his family members, is passionate about the environment and politics.
Mary Murphy was born and raised in Queens, and she’s been telling stories in all corners of her hometown during an award winning journalism career. Mary served as weekend anchor at PIX11 News for 14 years, from 1995 to 2009, playing a large role in coverage of the deaths of Princess Diana and John F Kennedy Junior.
I was at the Ireland-US Council’s Saint Patrick’s Day Lunch at The Metropolitan Club last Friday and it was actually fabulous with Michael Flatley being honored as he was presented with the Ireland-US Council’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Performing Arts. The award is presented annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to enhancing the economic relationships between the United States and Ireland. Flatley was lauded as one of Ireland’s most prominent ambassadors, enriching our culture through his promotion of Irish dance and music on a global scale.
Entertainment was provided by Michael Londra, who was brilliant and Flatley was also commended for his innovation and philanthropy work from the CEO of Breakthrough Cancer Research Orla Dolan: “Michael Flatley embodies creativity and innovation. Thirty years ago, he changed the way we all felt about one of our oldest cultural traditions when he revolutionized Irish dance. He shattered conventions, defied expectations, and sparked a worldwide Irish dance phenomenon that has lasted to this day. He changed the way we felt about the place we could have in the world and a new confidence rose up in Ireland.
“Still, Michael’s impact extends far beyond the realm of art and entertainment. He has always quietly supported various causes, including being a supporter and ambassador of Breakthrough Cancer Research for 12 years. His dedication to innovation, his example to be creative and dream bigger, resonates deeply with our own mission. For if you want to find new innovative, better ways to treat cancer, you can’t settle for the way that it has always been, you must create them.
“Michael Flatley’s story serves as a reminder to dance, to dare, to dream, to change, to inspire and to believe that we can create a better future.”
Keynote speaker at the event, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said his performances and shows are filled with “unrivalled and unmatched excellence”. Accepting the award, Flatley, who received a standing ovation from the guests, said, “It is an honor to receive this award from the Irish-American community. This very impressive gathering of people makes me so proud to be Irish-American and to have spent my life promoting Ireland globally. It’s important that we continue to share our culture and to nurture the business relationships between Ireland and America.”
That’s it for this week, see you all again next week when I am Out&About again.