{"id":19932,"date":"2021-02-17T15:02:16","date_gmt":"2021-02-17T19:02:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=19932"},"modified":"2021-02-17T15:02:16","modified_gmt":"2021-02-17T19:02:16","slug":"outabout-110","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=19932","title":{"rendered":"Out&About"},"content":{"rendered":"

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New\u2008Zealand\u2019s Damien Smith MP<\/figcaption><\/figure>By Paddy McCarthy<\/em><\/p>\n

I just got my first vaccination <\/strong>jab on Saturday last for Covid-19 in Jones Beach\u2019s Parking Field 3 on Long Island. I am so glad to get it as it was the first one and the second one will be administered on March 3. I could say I was lucky as I know there is a long waiting list but with a little bit of perseverance with phone calls I was on the list. I am not bragging about it as I want everyone who applies to get it and get it sooner rather than later and not be put on a waiting list like it is in Ireland. I\u2019m not putting them down in Ireland, it\u2019s just that I have been talking to family and friends and some of them have to wait till April. Now what is all that about? <\/p>\n

Ireland is just a small country compared to most if not all of the European countries that seem to be doing things quicker than they have. Now, I am not blaming the government and not saying anything political only I do care about it and is somebody dragging their feet? Again, from what I am told you cannot call as it\u2019s your doctor who calls you. Now what the Hell is that about.<\/p>\n

I was just reading that 80,000 vaccines have now been distributed to those over 85 years or older. God help the rest as they have to wait. From what I can see and have seen over here they seem to be more mobilized and very efficient. The biggest counties in the Republic as far as population goes are Dublin and Cork so how do they break it down? That\u2019s all I would like to know and I have not seen any data or anything anywhere on how it\u2019s done. I better stop as I might put someone\u2019s nose out of joint and the only reason I am talking so much about it is because I care and I wish everybody got the vaccine with no discriminations on age or gender. As I have said over and over again this virus does not pick and choose and that\u2019s it. <\/p>\n

This week I heard from a good friend of mine, Peter Ryan, Ireland\u2019s Ambassador to Aotearoa, New Zealand<\/strong>. He sent me this and it\u2019s nice to know as well that he is doing a great job, being so far away. This is what he said: \u201cI get to join many special occasions, but yesterday was a very historic one as I joined my colleague Faran Foley<\/strong> in Parliament for the Maiden Speech of Damien Smith MP<\/strong>. Born in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Damien has lived in Auckland for 25 years and is the ACT Party List MP for Botany. He brings extensive international business experience to the role and spoke movingly of growing up during the conflict in the North of Ireland. Damien also referenced the fact that he is the 62nd Irish-born Member of the New Zealand Parliament, which included three PMs and Thomas Bracken who wrote \u2018God Defend New Zealand\u2019. We wish Damien well in his new role and look forward to welcoming him again to many of our community events.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also great to know also that the Ambassador gets The Irish Examiner\u2008USA every week, yippee! <\/p>\n

The IBO\u00a0Women\u2019s St. Brigid Day Virtual Networking Lunch<\/strong> will take place on\u00a0Friday, February 19 from Noon to 1:30 pm. Their special guest will be New York-born\u00a0Irish designer\u00a0Jennifer Rothwell<\/strong> who\u2019ll be\u00a0zooming in from Ireland to visit with one of her favorite Irish diaspora\u00a0groups. Many\u00a0IBO\u00a0members are\u00a0devoted fans of Jennifer\u2019s work, which include\u00a0bow ties and scarves, bomber jackets, kimonos and leggings, and\u00a0most recently, a\u00a0collection of silk face masks printed and made in Ireland.<\/p>\n

The next IBO\u00a0Business Networking Breakfast<\/strong> will be held on\u00a0Tuesday, February 23 from 8 am to 9 am. Join them for a St. Patrick\u2019s Day pre-heat with special guest\u00a0acclaimed chef, writer,\u00a0and raconteur Terry McCoy<\/strong>. His cookery book,\u00a0“Saint Patrick\u2019s Plate”<\/strong>, brings to life recipes from the\u00a05th century as Saint Patrick and his followers traversed Ireland spreading the gospel.\u00a0Chef Terry will be\u00a0zooming in from the\u00a0Skerries coast,\u00a0where legend has it that\u00a0St. Patrick founded his first Church on St. Patrick\u2019s Island. <\/p>\n

He\u2019ll welcome us into\u00a0his\u00a0kitchen\u00a0and\u00a0explain\u00a0the recent movement back to \u201cshoots and roots\u201d and\u00a0why food and cooking from St. Patrick\u2019s time was healthy, high in energy values, and free from modern methods of preservation and extension of shelf life. For more information call (212) 750-8118 or email info@IBONewYork.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Another good friend of The Irish Examiner USA is Michael Mellamphy<\/strong> who has just finished a very successful run with Origin Theatre\u2019s 1st Irish Festival<\/strong> in the month of January in New York.<\/p>\n

Award-winning playwright David Gilna<\/strong> will follow in the footsteps of Brendan Behan, Oscar Wilde and Sean O\u2019Casey when his play \u2018The Unsung Hero\u2019<\/strong> is staged in New York from March 16 to 20, streaming live to your devices and starring Irish actor Michael Mellamphy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fresh from the recent success of co-curating Origin Theatre Company\u2019s 1st Irish festival 2021, New York based actor Michael \u201cMick\u201d Mellamphy will take on the role of The O\u2019Rahilly in the play \u2018The Unsung Hero\u2019. The play was commissioned by Dublin City Council for the 2016 Easter Rising Centenary Commemorations to critical acclaim having its world premiere at The Theatre Upstairs<\/strong> with the support of the late Karl Shiels<\/strong>. The play went on to launch further commemorations at Fingal County Council and Kerry County Council. <\/p>\n

The play will also feature musical performances from Rob Vickers<\/strong> (Olivier Award winner for his performance in the 25th anniversary production of Les Miserables in London\u2019s West End), dancing and choreography from world renowned Nawal Elabdri<\/strong> (Michael Flatley\u2019s Lord of the Dance, Riverdance, Prodijig and Dear Fingal) and lead female vocalist Rebecca Murphy<\/strong> (Irish Dreams, The Unsung Hero, Taylor\u2019s Tree Rock Irish Cabaret).\u00a0The play is an unforgotten love story from Easter week 1916 between Michael O\u2019Rahilly\u00a0(The O\u2019Rahilly), co-founder of The Irish Volunteers and his wife Nancy O\u2019Rahilly, vice-president of the Cumann na mBan.<\/p>\n

Of the project Mellamphy said: \u201cHaving executed an almost a month-long festival of over 20 productions with 1st Irish 2021 entirely online, I feel re-energized about presenting the work of playwrights in this format. Although we do miss the intimacy of in person and live performances, we are able to reach new heights with audience engagement. The most exciting element of this project with David Gilna productions and my own The Pigeon Theatre Company<\/strong> is being able to tell the story of a somewhat overlooked Irish hero of Easter week, \u2018The O\u2019 Rahilly\u2019, to a new audience.\u201d <\/p>\n

It is scheduled to be streamed online from 2 pm EST on March 16th -20th straight to your devices for the Saint Patrick\u2019s Week of Festivities in order to coincide with online celebrations of Ireland\u2019s most famous Saint. Each ticket is valid for 24 hrs of streaming.\u00a0Information and tickets are available by going to ThePigeonTheatre.com<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

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

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