IBO: Celebrating Ireland, a Night of Cuisine & Culture
How It’s New York: The party to mark St. Patrick’s Day was held on Park Ave., with the Irish Consul hosting the Irish Business Organization.
How It’s Irish: The IBO is a networking body for Irish and Irish-American entrerpreneurs and professionals.
‘Ceoil, caint, craic agus Cashel Blue’ were enjoyed by about 200 people, attending the IBO social to mark St. Patrick’s Day. To the uninitiated (in Irish/Gaeilge) that’s ‘music, talk, fun’ and a creamy cheese from Co. Tipperary.
The night was not just fun, but a showcase for Irish culinary arts, as well as the music and wit for which we are better known. Award-winning chef Stephen Harrington produced a stream of circulating appetizers, including ‘bacon and cabbage,’ but not as we know it. Individual cubes of roasted pork belly came topped with a crispy ‘afro’ of deep-fried dark cabbage, creatively served in the boatshaped, ceramic soup spoons typically found in Chinese restaurants.
More recognaisably Irish fare laid out around the room included smoked salmon, brown bread, whiskeys and liqueurs. Sweet tooths were sated by Shane from Bailieborough, Co. Cavan, proprietor of what must be the most fragrant-sounding bakery in New York: The Tulip Bake Shop on Verbena Ave. in Floral Park.
The food of love—music—was served from several quarters. Russell Brown, played the harp, while Patrick Cullivan made the crowd laugh in recalling St. Patrick’s Day parades past, replete with agricultural floats. He’s had practice, as singer-songwriter and satirist for one of Ireland’s most popular TV programs, ‘The Late Late Show’.
Other entertainment included readings by Colin Broderick, from his play, Spudmunchers, and Honor Molloy, from her novel, ‘Smarty Girl’.
The talent was thanks mainly to Dr. Ciarán Grant, IBO second vice president, and one of the executive committee which organized the event.
The party was so well received that Sheila Lynott Hourican, who became IBO president in January, had to jokingly tell the revellers to leave. “If we don’t go, we won’t be asked back again,” she quipped.
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Labels: Irish Business Organization; St. Patrick’s Day; the Irish Consul; Stephen Harrington; The Late Late Show’; The Tulip Bake Shop; Sheila Lynott Hourican; Dr. Ciarán Grant.
