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.
The next “networking breakfast” for the IBO will be held Tuesday, March 27, at 8 at the Fitzpatrick Manhattan Hotel on Lexington and 56th. You do not need to be a member to attend; details here!
Orla O’Sullivan visits the Irish Business Organization and finds a feast of food, music and craic.
‘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 recognizably 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 Avenue 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, blogger here, and author of the new novel, Smarty Girl.
The main organizer was Dr. Ciarán Grant, a vice president of the IBO.
Sheila Lynott Hourican, who became IBO president in January, presided over events—i.e. told the revellers to leave.
As she joked, “If we don’t go, we won’t be asked back again”.
