{"id":29100,"date":"2024-03-27T17:02:01","date_gmt":"2024-03-27T21:02:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=29100"},"modified":"2024-03-27T17:02:01","modified_gmt":"2024-03-27T21:02:01","slug":"outabout-267","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=29100","title":{"rendered":"Out&About"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Gavin\u2019s Irish Country Inn<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

By Paddy McCarthy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This week in my Out&About I am going to promote some friends of The Irish Examiner USA<\/em> by promoting their very good benefits and I am very proud to do as they have been very good supporters of our project from day one. The first one came from George Heslin, Executive Director of the New York Irish Center<\/strong>: \u201cDear Friends, as we\u00a0celebrate our 20th Anniversary, I am delighted to announce that\u00a0John Fitzpatrick<\/strong>\u00a0and the Committee at the\u00a0Eithne & Paddy Fitzpatrick Memorial\u00a0Fund<\/strong>\u00a0have selected the\u00a0New York Irish Center\u00a0as a signature beneficiary of their\u00a030th Anniversary Memorial Golf Tournament<\/strong>,\u00a0which is scheduled for\u00a0Monday, May 13\u00a0and will be held\u00a0at\u00a0one of the most prestigious private golf courses in the country,\u00a0Sleepy Hollow Country Club<\/strong>. I invite you to join our community by considering one of the golf or sponsorship packages.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor 30 years the\u00a0Eithne & Paddy Fitzpatrick Memorial\u00a0Fund\u00a0has raised millions of dollars in support of charities on both sides of the Atlantic and the New York Irish Center is honored to be one of this year\u2019s recipients.\u00a0For more information or to make a reservation\u00a0at fitzpatrickmemorial.org<\/a>.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now want that very nice so now get out your sticks and bags and sign up as I\u2019ve always supported the Eithne & Paddy Fitzpatrick Memorial Fund since I started publishing a good few years now and I\u2019m still learning how to play golf; ah, some day I\u2019ll get it right, or maybe George or John might teach me the right way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now I am going also promote another very big request that I hope will succeed in the coming weeks or months. As I\u2019ve said, anything that concerns Irish proprieties with suitable appropriateness then I\u2019m there for them. So here we go: \u201cIt was recently announced that a popular upstate New York Irish-themed family resort doing business as Gavin\u2019s Irish Country Inn<\/strong> (\u2018The Golden Hill House\u2019) has been placed on the real estate market. The Golden Hill House, located in Greene County<\/strong>, has been a destination resort since it opened in the mid-1900s. Generations of Irish immigrants – and later their children and grandchildren – have been returning to this hamlet that is otherwise known as the \u201cIrish Alps.\u201d The town of East Durham<\/strong> is famous for the festive spirit of Irish music and dance; the shamrocks painted on the main road passing through the town (Route 145); shops dedicated to the sale of food, drink, sweets and Irish clothing\/knitwear from the Emerald Isle; restaurants where fine Irish cuisine – including meals, teas and scones – are served; an Irish cultural center that hosts multiple popular and packed Celtic festivals each year; and a Catholic shrine named after Our Lady of Knock<\/strong>, which was built upon donations of the returning resort guests who considered East Durham their little \u2018home away from their Irish home.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNotwithstanding the pandemic, East Durham has experienced a resurgence in the past few years, with packed festivals and Irish themed events bringing \u2018sold out\u2019 crowds to the town\u2019s resorts and into local businesses. Since news of the sale became public, a realtor involved in the efforts to sell the property stated that an offer for the purchase of the property was made and accepted; however, neither deposit had been received nor contract executed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt has been communicated that the interested party does not intend to continue The Golden Hill House as a hotel\/resort. These recent events have caught the attention of thousands of families familiar with East Durham and The Golden Hill House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA community-based, grass-roots effort has been commenced in the past week with the goal to purchase the property and continue its operation for future generations as a family Irish resort. This effort has garnered a remarkable amount of attention of various social media platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2018This unconventional, \u2018thinking outside the box\u2019 campaign is a fantastic example of community coming together to continue the brilliant legacy of a family that has been in this town since it became a hub for the Irish in the northeast United States,\u2019 said Helen Emmer<\/strong> from Long Island. Internationally-known Irish American entertainer, Andy Cooney<\/strong> and entertainment specialist\/hospitality professional\/booking agent\/producer Seamus Balfe<\/strong> have spearheaded a GoFundMe campaign to purchase the family run 50-60 room resort\/hotel. In its first few days, the campaign has received over 100 donations in excess of $25,000 from donors across the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2018This is a brilliant idea. My grandparents were immigrants, and I spent a week every summer in the Golden Hill House growing up. It was there as a child I learned how to dance a waltz and do the Stack of Barley and The Highland Fling,\u2019 said Sheila O\u2019Hagan McGirl<\/strong>, a Delaware resident and long-time guest of the resort, \u2018Now, every summer my kids join us in the Catskills for a reunion, to celebrate our Irish heritage and family. I am thrilled to be a part of this campaign to see that tradition continue.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2018I wish I were able to purchase this historic destination property outright,\u2019 said Andy. \u2018I got to thinking of ways to continue the brilliant legacy of the Gavin family and The Golden Hill House. Although unconventional, the GoFundMe campaign makes perfect sense. Since its launch a few days ago, thousands have reached out to me to voice their support and appreciation for the opportunity to become a part of the solution, and to both contribute to the future of and honor the rich history of this beautiful hotel that has accommodated so well America\u2019s Irish community for generations.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRecently, Andy and Seamus Balfe worked together contributed greatly to the resurgence of East Durham by successfully organizing the East Durham Irish Festival<\/strong> after years of the COVID-19 shutdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2018We had a great success producing the festival in 2022 and 2023. We will couple our energy with the energy of our contributors. We also have this remarkable love for and deep roots in for the Irish Alps, and the skills and passion to continue The Golden Hill House as a resort hotel for generations to come,\u2019 said Seamus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The GoFundMe 30-day campaign has a stated goal of $2,500,000 to go to the purchase The Golden Hill House, which includes more than 20 acres of land with a stream and waterfall on the property. Seamus and Andy believe that \u201cwith the community coming together – one donation at a time – we can raise the funds required to purchase this resort and pristine property.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the GoFundMe campaign, any donations of $500 or higher will be credited towards the donors\u2019 stays at the resort; donations of any amount are accepted. In and around April 15th, Andy and Seamus will assess the status of the campaign to determine whether additional financing can be obtained to purchase the property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Andy, \u201cIf the campaign is unsuccessful and we are unable to purchase The Golden Hill House, every dime of every donation will be returned. In fact, GoFundMe controls the donations; refunds are easily processed.\u201d According to the GoFundMe campaign, funds received in excess of the $2.5 million will be invested into the property, to improve the guest experience and continue The Golden Hill House\u2019s rich history as a destination Irish resort for generations to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information, call Andy Cooney\/Mill Pond Music at (516) 798-3014. The GoFundMe campaign link is here: www.gofundme.com\/f\/eastdurham<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now I\u2019ve done my part for both of these two well worth events now its your time to step up and do the same and I know you will, why? Because that\u2019s who we are!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lord Mayor of Cork City Kieran McCarthy<\/strong> paid a visit to Ellis Island\u00a0and viewed the Annie Moore<\/strong> statue on his recent visit to New York City<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

On his recent visit to New York City the Lord Mayor of Cork City Kieran McCarthy<\/strong> paid a visit to Ellis Island\u00a0and viewed the Annie Moore<\/strong> statue, the first immigrant on display in the Ellis Island Museum<\/strong>. Annie Moore is honored by two statues by Jeanne Rynhart<\/strong>. The other sculpture is located in Cobh, County Cork, her port of departure to America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Annie Moore was the first immigrant to be processed on Ellis Island. The 17-year-old girl traveling with her two younger \u00a0brothers on the SS Nevada arrived on January 1st, 1892 from Queenstown. That was so nice for the Cork Lord Mayor to make time to go and visit the island on his recent visit even \u00a0with his \u00a0a very busy schedule. Thank you so much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s it for this week, see you all again next week when I am Out&About again and have a great Easter and don\u2019t forget my Easter Egg\u2026 <\/p>\n

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