By Paddy McCarthey
I hope everyone had a beautiful Thanksgiving Day even though we had lots of rain. The saddest part was the Macy’s Parade which was a very wet one but, as always, the parade went on as best as ever. I am so sure that all the kids really enjoyed it and so did the parents as Santa did not let us down as he gets ready for the big day in three weeks. He was smiling and waving to all the spectators who came out in the rain to welcome him at the second greatest parade in the world!
No I was not at the parade as I went up to Springfield, Massachusetts to visit my son James and his family and were joined by my daughter Christina to celebrate Thanksgiving Day, but I did watch it on TV with all the family along, then we has a very nice Turkey dinner that was cooked and served by my wife Patricia and it was perfect.
I love what happens with my Out&About coming up to Christmas as there is so much going on and here was one that went very well I might tell yea.
The following note and the pictures in this week’s Out&About came to me from the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Myles Scully Division One, Yonkers, New York that I am so happy to let you know about: “Friendship, Unity, and Christian Charity is the AOH motto and we are always happy when we can deliver on this in the Yonkers community. Recently we made donations to several organizations that work hard every day to help others in need and pay it forward for future generations. All of this is made possible by generous contributions from our friends and supporters via our annual golf outing and other fundraising events. We appreciate you and are thankful for your continued support!
“In September, we awarded the AOH Commodore John Barry Memorial Medal to eight graduating elementary school students in the City of Yonkers who have excelled in US History and Social Studies. Each student was also presented with a $100 check.
“Brandon Ford, a Junior at Archbishop Stepinac High School was awarded the new $1,000 AOH Yonkers Scholarship by the North Yonkers Community Fund. We congratulate Brandon and wish him continued success in the classroom and on the baseball field.
“We also continued our support of Sisters of Life with a $1,000 donation. Founded by Cardinal John O’Connor in New York in 1991, The Sisters of Life embody our Catholic values by providing spiritual support to the most vulnerable in our community. In addition, to support our friends at Project Children, we donated $500 to their 50th anniversary “Move to Monaghan” Peace Campus Campaign. We salute Denis Mulcahy and his entire team for the meaningful and impactful work they do to foster both cross community and cross border peace among young adults in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
“We continued as the sole sponsor of the 2024 Firefighter Sean Tallon Memorial Gaelic Sports Tournament at Redmond Field in Yonkers and donated $2,500 to support the NY GAA Minor Board.”
Thank you again, I have to tell that there are so many wonderful people out there that will always give what they can and help the needed. With Christmas coming up that is when your charity is the best time and I am not just talking about just Irish or Irish Americans but all races who need help. Irish, American, and proud? Submit your application to join the AOH at: aoh.com/join.
Here is another announcement that I received from The Cork Association to say: “Please join us on Sunday, January 19th for the Installation of Officers and Scholarship Awards Dinner. Our annual memorial Mass to honor deceased members will start at 3 pm, with the Installation dinner immediately following. You can reserve a table (10 seats) or individual seats with tickets at $50 each. Payment can be made by check to the County Cork B.P.&P. Association, cash or by Zelle to nycorkbpp@gmail.com. You can get more information by emailing Tim Murphy at timothymurphman@aol.com.”
If I did not mention it I would have been expelled, just kidding.
I have one more announcement: “This Giving Tuesday, we invite you to join Irish American Building Society Charities (IABSC) in our mission to foster a vibrant Irish culture and advance education, business, and charitable initiatives throughout New York.
“Guided by the spirit of Tabhair ar ais—“To Give Back”—we are committed to enriching our communities through education, cultural preservation, and charitable giving. In 2024 alone, IABS has donated $50,000 to Catholic schools and organizations across New York, Brooklyn, and Queens.
“These funds are helping to provide scholarships, support educational institutions, and contribute to vital community initiatives that meet immediate needs. We are proud to continue our tradition of giving back, and we need your support to do even more.
“This Giving Tuesday, you can contribute directly to this legacy. Your donation will help us continue to fund scholarships, support Irish cultural events, and honor those who exemplify the best of our traditions.
“Whether it’s through a one-time gift or an ongoing pledge, your generosity helps ensure that IABS’s mission remains vibrant and impactful. It does not have to be Giving Tuesday as you can donate anytime. There are many ways to give, you can donate online at iabsny.org, contribute to an IABS scholarship for deserving students or join us in making our annual events bigger and better, supporting our ongoing charitable endeavors. Stay posted on our Spring 2025 Gala!
“Together, we can continue to give back to our community, ensuring the next generation of Irish-Americans thrive and our culture remains strong. On this Giving Tuesday, make a difference by supporting IABS and our shared mission. Thank you for your generosity, and for helping us keep the spirit of Tabhair ar aisalive for generations to come.”
As we went to press I received a note that the The Grand Council returns to Long Island on Wednesday, December 4 at 7:30 pm with their Delegates Christmas Party: “We will be returning to “Long Ireland” on December 4, 2024, to the Irish Poet of Wantagh, New York (1891 Wantagh Avenue, Wantagh, NY). We cordially invite your attendance at the annual Delegates Christmas Party. This is an open meeting, and all are welcome.
“The donation for adult refreshments, appetizers, buffet, and emerald fellowship is $50. To facilitate the headcount for the Irish Poet, we kindly request that you RSVP at info@gcues.org.
“For those who wish to prepay, you may do so via Zelle payment to info@gcues.org-Grand Council of Emeralds or by using the Square payment button below for Debit or Credit card, Apple Pay and Goggle Pay transactions.”
That is my Out&About for this week, I will have plenty more for you next week when I am Out&About again. Merry Christmas to all and get ready for Santa Clause!