By Paddy McCarthy
I am starting off my Out&About this week with sad news on one of Ireland’s greatest. Here is a man that I got to know very well after he was honored by the Ireland-US Council dinner quite a few years ago at the Metropolitan Club in New York Yes! It was the late Tony O’Reilly, an Irish businessman and former Ireland and British and Irish Lions rugby union player. I got to speak to him at the dinner thanks to Mike Gibbons, past President of the Ireland-US Council that I will never forget for giving me the introduction. I was telling my good friend Brian Sharkey about the all the time he gave me when I interviewed him in his suite at the Pierre Hotel the next morning just before 12 noon. He introduced me to his wife Chryss just before she went to get her hair done. We talked about everything from growing up as kids and, of course, rugby and business. He was a total gentleman and he treated me with so much respect I was just flabbergasted.
He asked me would I like to have a coffee or tea, so I said, “if you have Barry’s tea, I’ll have a cup”. He had Barry’s of course and his maid rightfully brought me a cup, I thought that was magic. He was known for his scoring in rugby, his involvement in the Independent News & Media Group, which he led from 1973 to 2009, and as CEO and chairman of the HJ Heinz Company. He was the leading shareholder of Waterford Wedgwood and a key supporter of The Ireland Funds. Both a citizen of Ireland and a British subject, he was knighted for his services to Northern Ireland. As a rugby player, he represented Ireland, the British and Irish Lions and the Barbarians and is enshrined as a member of the International Rugby Board’s Hall of Fame. He died in Dublin on May 18 after a short illness.
I will say this once more, what a great man Tony O’Reilly was, a man who was trailblazer, businessman, philanthropist and may he Rest In Peace.
Now to tell you about one of the biggest Irish festivals that is happening this Memorial Weekend in East Durham. New York, part of the “Irish Catskills”, The 47th East Durham Irish Festival. It’s got star- studded attractions of live Irish music that will be happening on both days and let me tell you this festival is not to be missed. It will feature the cream of the crop of Irish entertainers that you don’t want to miss that has never been seen at the same festival for this two-day event. So, no matter what you have planned for this Memorial Day weekend, this is the one for you as it will also be a family friendly occasion for your entertainment on both days. Be ready for the time of your life and also lots of fun and of course some shopping for unique Irish products.
For the entertainment you will have, as I said, the best of the best in Irish music so here, we go. There will be lots more and the Irish village will be open for business as with Irish stores with shops, bars and restaurants serving Irish food and lots more for your total enjoyment, See you all there as this event is for all the families to attend. Here is a list of entertainers that you will more than enjoy and I am sure you will meet old friends and new friends, so let’s keep the tradition alive like it always was and will be again: Eileen Ivers and Band, Shilagh Law, The Narrowbacks, Andy Cooney, Derek Warfield and the Young Wolfe Tones, Screaming Orphans, Kitty Kelly Band, Diddley Idols, The Canny Brothers, Celtic Fare, Perfect Strangers, Coleman Brothers, Pride of Moyvane Ceili Band, Tommy Comerford, Slainte, Wooden Nickels, Pearl River School of Irish Music, Sheridan Ruitin, Ally the Piper, Bobby Morrill, Jimmy Gallagher, the Farrell School of Irish Dance, Reagh Greenleaf Jr., the Pipers and Drums of Greene and some surprise guests. Now where would yea get it? Only at the 47th East Durham Irish Festival. Wishing all our readers a very Happy Memorial Day.
I just got news of this event that I have to let you know that is happening as it should very much interest you: The East Village in Music & Words: A Conversation with Susan McKeown, will be held at Tompkins Square Library on Thursday, May 23, from 6 to 7:30 pm. The Tompkins Square Library continues its year-long celebration of the culture and history of the East Village and Lower East Side with this very special program featuring Susan McKeown. Susan is a Grammy Award-winning and BBC Folk Music Award nominated singer, songwriter, producer, director, actor and community activist who began her songwriting career on the Lower East Side in the 1990s, as an immigrant from Ireland. She performed at such legendary NYC venues as Sin-E, the Bottom Line, and Fez. The release of her debut album, Bones (1995), led to international touring and recording. Susan features in Marian Quinn’s movie ‘Twig’ that opens in cinemas in Ireland in June 2024. Susan also is the founder and director of Cuala Foundation (www.cualafoundation.com), producing cultural events in Ireland and Manhattan that celebrate community history and indigenous wisdom to empower and build belonging. I can tell you that it’s well worth checking it out as Susan McKeown is again one of Ireland’s great talents, so don’t miss your chance to get to meet with her.
I hope to see you all again next week when I am Out&About once more…