By Paddy McCarthy
I am going to dedicate my Out&About to two very good friends from both here and Ireland on this very sad occasion, namely Terry McCarthy and Sean McNeill who I have to tell you were giants in what they did.
One was from Cork and the other was from Roscommon. And I am sure they never met in their lifetime, but I did and that is what is so important as I do my Out&About because I was lucky enough to meet both of them on both sides of the Atlantic. May they Rest in Peace.
I will start with Terry as I did play with him for many years with a fabulous band called Sunset from Cork who were semi-pro on the music scene their and performed a variety of concerts, dances and festivals along the way. Terry moved on the one of Ireland’s greatest showbands, The Dixies who were also world famous as they toured all over the world.
He was the lead vocalist after another big star moved on to form another big band called Stage 2 and his name was Brendan O’Brien, R.I.P. Terry performed with the Dixies for many years before the whole showband era changed and he then concentrated on solo performances before he then joined one of Ireland’s top accordion players and they were still together up to the day he passed away. Rest in peace Terry, you will always be missed and I would like to send our condolences to his wife Marie and family and I will speak for all your friends over here in United States of America in saying R.I.P.
All I can say it has been a very tough year as we lost Brendan Grace who we acknowledged last week and another fine musician Pat Keating again from Cork R.I.P.
Now for the sad news that hits very close to home here in New York, which was the passing of a wonderful man who was also loved by everyone who crossed his path, and that is Sean McNeill who passed away last Friday after a short illness.
Sean was a man for all seasons, a friend to everyone who crossed his path. I just want to tell you that we here at The Irish Examiner were so impressed by Sean we made him our Man of the Year in 2017 and it was so well deserved and we were so proud that he accepted it.
I am now publishing the statement from the Irish Business Organization for which Sean was a past president:
“Sean McNeill
“November 8, 1953 – July 26, 2019
“Surrounded by his loving family Sean McNeill of Forest Hills in Queens New York and Trien, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon slipped away peacefully on Friday July 26th 2019. He was 65 years old.
“Born in Trien to James and Mary McNeill, Sean was one of 8 children. He was raised in Trien where he attended Trien National School before subsequently graduating from Roscommon Christian Brothers School.
“After graduating from the Christian Brothers School Sean would go on to work at A.C.C. Bank in Dublin where he would become manager in the bank’s Naas office.
“It was during his tenure at A.C.C that Sean would go to New York on holiday and dream about coming back and starting a life for himself.
“To say Sean was an entrepreneur would be an understatement. Along with his brother Michael, he would purchase a pub in Wexford St. Dublin in 1988 which they operated for 5 years.
“Although he enjoyed working in Dublin, his heart was still in New York. He would move back to New York in 1994 where he would continue his trade as a bar manager.
“While working in the bar business in New York Sean saw opportunities in Real Estate. He became a broker and worked for a number of real estate companies including William B. May.
“He would eventually start his own Real Estate Company, McNeill Real Estate where he would sell and lease apartments throughout NYC.
“In more recent years he would set up and run his online business Easyshop NYC and more recently Easy Irish Gift Box NYC.
“Sean loved to give back and help where ever he could. He was involved in many charitable organizations. He participated in Concern runs, Solace House Sunrise Walks, the Irish “Meitheal” which helped aid in the recovery of the post-Hurricane Sandy Rockaways.
“He was also active in many County Association events and other fund raising events in the Community including Temple Street hospital and Fighting Blindness.
“No one will ever know of the many he helped on a personal and discrete level whether it was getting their business off the ground or getting through tough times in life.
“A longtime member of the Irish Business Organization of New York, Sean served on the IBO executive board where he was president for three years from 2014 to 2016.
“In 2017 and 2018 he was an Aide to the Grand-Marshall for the IBO in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Fifth Avenue. Sean also served as a member of the IBO advisory board from 2018 to 2019.
“Sean will be remembered as a man with boundless generosity. He was humble, caring and supportive to everyone he met.
“He had an ability to make everyone feel special regardless of circumstances or position in life. His life is an inspiration to all. He will be missed by everyone whose life he touched.
“Sean leaves behind his three brothers; Padraic (Mary), Michael (Marion) and Peter (Phil) McNeill. He also leaves behind his sisters; Maura (Seamus) Kelly, Catherine (Martin) Morrison, Teresa (Des) McGann and Una McNeill.
“He is also survived by his many nephews, nieces, grand-nephews, grand-nieces and first cousins Jimmy and Mary.
“He will be missed by everyone who knew him.
“Sean is predeceased by his parents James and Mary as well as his sister-in-law Imelda and his niece baby Claire.
“Sean’s remains will be repatriated home to Castlerea where he will be reunited with his parents and niece at St Joseph’s Cemetery in Castlerea Co. Roscommon.
“Sean was grateful for the love and care of family, friends especially Kieron and Anne, Dr. Ahmadi and all of the staff at Lenox Hill Hospital during his brief illness.”
As you can see, they said it all much better than I could have said and again he will be sorely missed by all his friends and family. R.I.P. Sean.
See you all again next week when I am Out&About again.