{"id":19476,"date":"2021-01-27T15:49:58","date_gmt":"2021-01-27T19:49:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=19476"},"modified":"2021-01-27T15:49:58","modified_gmt":"2021-01-27T19:49:58","slug":"outabout-107","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=19476","title":{"rendered":"Out&About"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Norman Houston, RIP<\/figcaption><\/figure>By Paddy McCarthy<\/em><\/p>\n

I have to tell yea, being in home internment has its ups and downs and you know well what I mean by that. I started off this Monday with my annual doctor\u2019s office checkup and guess what? I should keep doing that, the same as I have always done. My heart, lungs and blood pressure are all perfect, there must be something wrong? Maybe it is because I have not been Out&About like I normally am, huh? That was nice right? On Tuesday, I had to go to the dentist. Now, I did not have the same result there as I had to have a root canal procedure done… ahhhh. Naw it was not that bad just a bit numb for an hour or so. It was all planned so I am so happy I will be here for a long time, I think! <\/p>\n

Look I have to tell you all that because there is enough going on at the moment with Covid-19 and some people are very sick with it and, as you know by now there have been a lot of bereavements of loved ones, neighbors and friends. I am so sorry that I again have to mention this as I lost a few friends myself because of this. It is so sad. To all that are reading this column please be careful as the virus has no class distinctions, you can\u2019t buy your way out of this one. Please do this: wear your MASK, wash your HANDS, check on family, friends and the elderly and just be safe and healthy<\/em>. I never thought I would be writing anything like this in my Out&About but I have to just remind yourself follow the guidance and also that we need you, okay?<\/p>\n

Now back to see what else is going on… right here we go. The Irish Repertory Theatre<\/strong> is up and running, or should I say that they\u2019ve never stopped and that is something to be proud of as we need some entertainment in our secluded and sheltered lives right now and for the foreseeable future until this is all over. <\/p>\n

Their four-week\u00a0Theatre@Home Winter Festival<\/strong>\u00a0opens tomorrow! Don\u2019t miss your chance to attend screenings of all nine of their Performances on Screen. Spread the word to your theatre-loving friends! This week, their Performances on Screen will be screened in the order in which they were released, with the schedule changing weekly. Open captions are available on the 2nd and 4th weeks of the festival (February 2\u20137 and February 16\u201321). Not sure where to start?\u00a0Take their quiz\u00a0to find the right Performance on Screen for you! Reservations for all Performances on Screen are free but required\u00a0in order to access the dedicated screening links. Donations of $25 per show, or $100 for the festival, are suggested for each viewer who can afford to give. Call the box office at (212) 727-2737 or visit irishrep.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This repertory retrospective runs from\u00a0January 26 \u2013 February 21\u00a0and features all nine of the original digital productions created by Irish Repertory Theatre during the COVID-19 shut-down.<\/p>\n

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Brian Nolan<\/figcaption><\/figure>In case you might have missed him, the past President of the Irish Business Organization, Brian Nolan<\/strong> was on Zoom with IBO members. He now resides in Galway with his family after spending a good few years here in New York working for Tourism Ireland<\/strong> and later O\u2019Connor Fairways Travel<\/strong>. I personally am so sorry I missed seeing him live on Zoom as I had that dentist\u2019s appointment at the same time. I know very well that this Galway based story-teller, history-talker and writer is not shy because boy can he talk and has the best job in Ireland. I am saying all that with sincere compliments to him, good on yea Brian. <\/p>\n

This came to my attention from the Irish American Writers and Artists<\/strong> organization: Whether or not you\u2019re on board with Edna O\u2019Brien\u2019s theory that \u201cwinter is the real spring,\u201d it\u2019s never a bad time to think about the \u201cresurge of nature,\u201d and more importantly, to consider a little resurge of our own. Because why can\u2019t the end of January be the beginning of something new?\u00a0Good news, friends – it is! <\/p>\n

In Celtic tradition, Imbolg, or Brigid\u2019s Day<\/strong>, marks the beginning of spring – regardless of what the weather or the calendar or furry woodland creatures might say. February first through second is the \u201cofficial\u201d Imbolg, but they\u2019ve got a couple of events, on Sunday the 31st and Tuesday the 2nd to mark the occasion. Furthermore, they\u2019ve got other events coming up, including their General Membership meeting, and members\u2019 happenings in theater and publication. Resurge, recycle, and read on!<\/p>\n

Please join them for their General Membership Meeting this Thursday, January 28. They will report on the activities of the organization to their members, and encourage you to participate in the various committees that carry out IAW&A\u2019s mission.\u00a0As with everything else they\u2019re doing these days, this will be an online event, and it\u2019s a great way to keep the organization thriving, vibrant, and growing. Email\u00a0IASalon@hotmail.com<\/a>\u00a0for the Zoom link. Remember, if you didn\u2019t attend their recent O\u2019Neill event in December, or you haven\u2019t renewed since 2019, it\u2019s not too late to\u00a0join or renew\u00a0your membership!\u00a0Visit\u00a0iamwa.org\/membership-2 to do so.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On Sunday, January 31 at 3 pm EST join them for their\u00a0Imbolg Celebration\/St. Brigid\u2019s Day Eve\u00a0(via Zoom) where IAW&A member\u00a0Maura Mulligan<\/strong>\u00a0will host a Transatlantic Imbolg celebration on the eve of St. Brigid\u2019s Day.\u00a0It will include songs of hope by Mary Courtney<\/strong>, and a conversation with Sheila McHugh<\/strong> of Achill Island, about the Celtic goddess Brigid and her significance and move to St Brigid.\u00a0Guests who attend this Zoom celebration will be invited to donate to The Dwelling Place of NY<\/strong>– a transitional shelter for homeless women.\u00a0For more details send an e-mail to\u00a0mauramulligan@aol.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I meant to acknowledge another great friend of Ireland\u2019s and that is Norman Houston<\/strong>, died on Tuesday January 19 in\u00a0Belfast. He was 62. In a statement, the\u00a0Northern Ireland\u00a0Office said Mr. Houston, who was awarded an OBE for his work in 2019, would be remembered as a \u201ctrue diplomat who served Northern Ireland with distinction.\u201d He was a great friend to everyone he got to meet and was always very supportive. I personally was in Norman\u2019s company and he was always a total gentleman and was very well known in the Irish Community.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor over 15 years, Norman saw to it that Northern Ireland was at the center of political and economic discussions in successive US administrations, bringing much-needed investment and opening many doors for our politicians and wider business leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rest in Peace Norman, we will solely miss you.<\/p>\n

Hope to see you all again when I am Out&About again… <\/p>\n

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