{"id":30484,"date":"2025-01-08T13:28:26","date_gmt":"2025-01-08T18:28:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=30484"},"modified":"2025-01-08T13:28:29","modified_gmt":"2025-01-08T18:28:29","slug":"outabout-307","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=30484","title":{"rendered":"Out&About"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
George Heslin, Executive Director of New York Irish Center<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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

I hope everyone had a nice time over Christmas and during the New Year\u2019s Eve festivities as much as I did. The sad thing about all of it is that it goes so quick and that is when you\u2019re having some fun. Now the other question is, was Santa good to everyone and were you naughty or nice? I\u2019m sure that everyone was on Santa\u2019s Nice list, a cherished holiday tradition that brings joy and excitement to all the children around the world as well as all the adults, oh I miss it already don\u2019t you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now back to the new year of 2025 that I am so much looking forward to as I feel it will be good for us all if we think positively and look on the bright side of life. I am starting my Out&About this week with some events that should interest you and if not it\u2019s all good new anyhow so let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I just got this one in from the Irish American Building Society<\/strong> to say that they are overjoyed to announce that\u00a0Martin J. Cottingham<\/strong>, their esteemed President, has been named the\u00a0Grand Marshal of the 50th Brooklyn St. Patrick\u2019s Parade<\/strong>! This prestigious recognition is a true testament to Martin\u2019s unwavering dedication to the Irish American community and his outstanding leadership within the society, a well-deserved honor for such an inspiring individual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joining as an aide is their very own\u00a0Kieran McGirl<\/strong>, the talented grandson of the late Al O\u2019Hagan<\/strong>, founder of the Great Irish Fair of New York<\/strong>. Kieran\u2019s involvement highlights the enduring legacy of his grandfather\u2019s contributions and the continued celebration of Irish heritage across generations. Together, Martin and Kieran embody the spirit of pride, tradition, and community that makes this celebration so special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congratulations to both for their remarkable achievements! Please join us in supporting this year\u2019s Brooklyn St. Patrick’s Parade that will be held on March 16. The Annual Brooklyn St. Patrick\u2019s Parade kicks off at Bartel-Pritchard Square at 1 pm. Yes I am a bit early giving you this information only I will be covering as many parades as possible before the big day, March 17th, that again will be on top of us pretty soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now for another historic event that is well worth mentioning to you, as again that is what I am here for with my Out&About. My dear friend George Heslin, Executive Director of New York Irish Center<\/strong>, sent me this message that I am proud to pass on for him: \u201cAs we celebrate our 20th anniversary season,\u00a0New York Irish Center\u00a0continues to be a vital touchstone for our community through social services, educational, and cultural enrichment programs.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot only are we a home and meeting place for New York\u2019s vibrant, ever-changing Irish diaspora, but we are also a welcoming stop for diverse audiences. Thanks to you, over 25,000 toddlers, youth, adults, seniors, and everyone in between enjoy over 100 outstanding cultural events annually, such as theatre, comedy, films, and literary showcases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis fall alone, luminaries from both sides of the Atlantic\u2014from Geraldine Hughes<\/strong>, Colin Quinn<\/strong>, and the award-winning author Colum McCann<\/strong>\u2014have electrified our audiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn addition to celebrating Irish traditions through our monthly\u00a0Blarney Star Concert Series<\/strong>\u00a0(featuring trad Irish music and dance), the\u00a0Queens Irish Heritage Festival<\/strong>\u00a0in June, our 6-hour entertainment marathon on\u00a0St. Patrick\u2019s Day, 40 Shades of Green<\/strong>, and dozens of other events, we embrace the shared journeys of New York\u2019s immigrant communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMany of our programs explore cultural connections and exhilarating collaborations. Our\u00a0Crossroads Concert Series<\/strong>,\u00a0which blends Irish music with traditions from around the globe, continues to sell out.\u00a0 We look forward to savoring fusions of Irish and music from Brazil, the Middle East, Ghana, Puerto Rico, and Native American music. All the while, our\u00a0Finding Home\u00a0literary series explores Irish and Indian connections, forging new and valuable friendships. Our free Social Care Program continues a tradition started by our founders\u00a0Fr. Colm Campbell<\/strong> and Paddy Reilly<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Center boasts one of the most popular immigrant and senior gatherings in NYC: our weekly Wednesday Lunch Program<\/strong>, which serves more than 3,600 hot lunches annually. We also offer free weekly tech literacy classes, fitness sessions, art workshops, movie afternoons, tax filing assistance, Gaelic conversation groups, among so many other services. These programs offer care, companionship, and critical resources to those in need, ensuring that no one is forgotten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYouth come together for festivals like\u00a0T\u00edr Na N\u00f3g\u00a0and the\u00a0Mid-Winter Celtic Kids Celebration.\u00a0Along with after-school classes and school holiday workshops, these programs inspire curiosity, build community, and give the next generation a sense of belonging and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis special holiday season, our\u00a0Toy Drive\u00a0transforms the Center into a bustling workshop, with 100 volunteers wrapping 1,000 gifts for underprivileged children. Santa himself (who has a distinctly Irish brogue, don\u2019t you know!) will give away hundreds of these gifts, all in a day\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need your help to sustain these programs. Your support\u2014whether $36, $360, $3600, or more\u2014makes a huge impact and fuels our work, so please stretch a bit further when making your donation.\u00a0You can support New York Irish Center online with a credit card at\u00a0www.newyorkirishcenter.org\/donate<\/a>, by stock option donation or by check. You can even spread out your giving: pledge a donation of $300+ now and pay it off by June 30, 2025. Thank you for being part of this journey and for believing in what we do. You\u2019re not just a supporter\u2014you\u2019re family!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What I am doing for New York Irish Center I can do for any Irish organization that needs some help getting the word out. Yes they do depend on your donations, so whatever you donate is very much appreciated I can tell you that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again if I did not include this big event, Mae O\u2019Driscoll<\/strong> will have me excommunicated from the association\u2026 I\u2019m only kidding as she is one of the greatest well-known community organizers and a past-president of the New York Cork Association that I am so proud to know very well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 140th County Cork BP&P\u2008Association of New York\u2019s St Patrick\u2019s Day Banquet<\/strong> will be held at Antun\u2019s of Queens Village<\/strong> on Saturday March 8th. New member, Daniel Donovan<\/strong>, Executive Director of Mechanical Maintenance and Operations of DCAS NYC will be Cork Man of the Year for 2025, Christina McCarthy<\/strong>, Vice President of Global Media \u2013 Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is Cork Woman of the Year for 2025 and Bernard O\u2019Dowd<\/strong> is the Frank T. Carvill Distinguished Service Award Honoree for 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information you can go to www.nycorkassociation.com<\/a>. Email nycorkbpp@gmail.com<\/a> to book your tickets early as it will be a sell out for this annual St. Patrick\u2019s Day dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the coast of Connemara, approximately an hour\u2019s drive from Galway City, there is a charming 19th century fishing village called Roundstone<\/strong>. The village is full of colorful houses along the Atlantic and the imposing Connemara Mountains.\u2008At the end of the main road (I dare say perhaps it is the only road in the village) there is an old Franciscan monastery and right beside it a sign that says Roundstone Music &\u2008Craft<\/strong>, the shop\/studio of bodhr\u00e1n maker Malachy Kearns<\/strong>, also known as \u201cMalachy Bodhr\u00e1n\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Malachy has handmade all of the bodhr\u00e1ns used in\u2008Riverdance <\/strong>since 1994 and also designed and made the original stage drums used to drive the show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The bodhr\u00e1n is one of the oldest musical instruments, a one sided hand held drum that is made through traditional methods using treated goat\u2019s skin stretched onto a Birch frame. You can order your own from Malachy where colorful designs will be hand painted onto the bodhr\u00e1n including, by request, family crests. Get yours by visiting www.bodhran.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope to see you all again next week when I am Out&About again\u2026 <\/p>\n

Share this:<\/h3>