By Paddy McCarthy
I am dedicating my Out&About this week to a great friend of mine Michael O’Brien, RIP, who was always very supportive of all that I have been doing since I emigrated to the USA. He himself was a very proud man in all that he had done since he also had immigrated from County Tipperary. So now I am giving you on how successful he was and never looked for anything just kept doing his upmost and stayed very quiet on all he had done.
Michael O’Brien passed away unexpectedly on September 25, 2026 surrounded by his family, leaving behind a rich legacy and many people still wondering how he managed to fit quite so much into one life.
Born in Knockavilla, County Tipperary, Ireland, Michael grew up on a small farm in a large family. He followed closely in the footsteps of his older brothers, who were deeply involved in Tipperary hurling, including Donal, a renowned All-Ireland goalkeeper.
Despite his deep reverence for home, Michael knew that Ireland couldn’t contain his spirit. In 1972, following his brothers Donal and Bill, Michael came to New York in pursuit of the American dream.
He settled in the Bronx, was first employed in construction and quickly adapted to the pace, opportunity, and the madness of New York City.
Before long, he set out on his own, starting his first construction company with a little more than ambition and his first van. What followed became a career spanning construction, development, waste management, trucking, real estate, and special event production.
His waste business became one of the longest-standing Irish-owned garbage companies in the New York City market. But another major chapter began in the mid-1990s, when his work crossed into New York’s live-event world.
In 1995, Michael contributed to the enormous Disney premiere of Pocahontas on Central Park’s Great Lawn, followedlater that year by work surrounding Pope John Paul II’s visit to Central Park.
In 1997, Disney returned to New York for the premiere of Hercules, accompanied by the spectacular Disney Electrical Lights Parade down Fifth Avenue, the first-ever showcase outside of the theme parks. Mike and the boys were called on again for the Papal visits in 2008 to Yankee Stadium & St. Joseph’s seminary in Yonkers.
From there, Michael’s unusual combination of knowledge and an absolute refusal to be intimidated by a difficult job positioned him to contribute to some of New York’s largest and notable live events over the past four decades.
He was especially proud of his contribution to work at the Landmark Theatre in Times Square, formerly known as the Hilton Theatre for Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.
Michael was self-made, but never in isolation. He learned from mentors, tradesmen, businesspeople, friends, and colleagues who influenced him along the way, just as he would later mentor and influence countless others.
The event production world suited him. Event people became his people and throughout his career Michael both learned from and worked alongside an extraordinary number of people across construction and live events. Internally, Cormac McHugh and Ellen Clark were instrumental to his long and fruitful career, both before and after his three sons joined him. His philosophy was generally uncomplicated: “Make it happen.”
Michael met Cathleen at Gaelic Park in 1974, and they married in 1983. Together they raised three sons: Cormac, Ronan, and Conall.
There was rarely much separation between Michael’s work and family life. His sons grew up accompanying him to job sites, productions, meetings, and wherever else the day happened to take him. He brought them to work, put them to work, and taught them that if something needed doing, you found a way to do it.
Long before fatherhood officially began, Michael had already decided his sons would be part of the future he was building, naming his company Michael O’Brien & Sons before his first son, Cormac, was even born.
Michael was tough, focused, practical and passed this on. He was enormously proud of Cormac, Ronan, and Conall — of their talents, resilience, successes and the men they became — and he also took great pride in being a grandfather.
Later in life, Michael created another important chapter with his partner of 20 years, Karen Riley.
Karen brought out a softer side in him — if there was one to find — and helped him slow down, at least by Michael O’Brien standards. Together, they built a life in upstate New York filled with travel, dancing, country and Irish music, classic cars, friends, family, and the occasional attempt at relaxation. Their morning cups of tea and beloved dog Bailey were staples in their beautiful home.
Michael was also a deeply devoted friend. When someone needed him, particularly when they were sick or struggling, he showed up. He was a storyteller – which might change slightly depending on how many times you’d already heard it. Some stories grew in the telling. Others sounded impossible but somehow turned out to be true.
He was also generous in the open and in the shadows, loyal, resourceful, resilient, and completely, unmistakably himself.
His sayings became part of the family vocabulary: “Make it happen,” “If this was easy, everybody would do it,” “Let’s get this show on the road.” And, of course, “It’s a long way to Tipperary.”Michael is survived by his partner, Karen.
See you all again next week when I am Out&About again…