.Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council Jim Finucane presented a gift to Governor of New York, Ms. Kathy Hochul, during a Kerry County Council Civic Reception in Spillane’s Restaurant, Fahamore, The Maharees, on Sunday afternoon. Photo: Michelle Breen Crean Photography
KERRY County Council hosted a Civic Reception for the Governor of New York, Ms. Kathy Hochul, on Sunday at Spillane’s Restaurant, The Maharees.
Ms Hochul is visiting Kerry for a number of days including attending the Global Economic Summit in Killarney.
Ms Hochul, whose ancestors came from the Fahamore area, was honoured by the Cathaoirleach and Elected Members of Kerry County Council at the reception and was presented with a number of gifts which marks the close connections between New York and County Kerry. Scroll down for photos…
Danny Hennessy pictured with his Nana Marian Browne and his mom Kerry Hewson when they met their relative, Governor of New York, Ms. Kathy Hochul, at the Kerry County Council Civic Reception in Spillane’s Restaurant, Fahamore, The Maharees, on Sunday afternoon. Photo: Michelle Breen Crean Photography.Mary Ellen Maunsell and Trish Browne pose for a photo with the Governor of New York, Ms. Kathy Hochul, during a Kerry County Council Civic Reception in Spillane’s Restaurant, Fahamore, The Maharees, on Sunday afternoon. Photo: Michelle Breen Crean PhotographyThomas Finn, Evelyn Courtney Finn and Martha Farrell pictured meeting Governor of New York, Ms. Kathy Hochul at the Kerry County Council Civic Reception in Spillane’s Restaurant, Fahamore, The Maharees, on Sunday afternoon. Photo: Michelle Breen Crean Photography.Sandra Finn and Martin Finn pictured meeting Governor of New York, Ms. Kathy Hochul at the Kerry County Council Civic Reception in Spillane’s Restaurant, Fahamore, The Maharees, on Sunday afternoon. Photo: Michelle Breen Crean PhotographyCllr Seamus ‘Cosai’ Fitzgerald (left) with Christy O’Connor (Kerry County Council) and guests pictured with Governor of New York, Ms. Kathy Hochul, at the Kerry County Council Civic Reception in Spillane’s Restaurant, Fahamore, The Maharees, on Sunday afternoon. Photo: Michelle Breen Crean Photography.Kerry County Council Chief Executive, Moira Murrell, First Gentleman of New York Bill Hochul, Minister for Education Norma Foley and Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council Jim Finucane pictured the Kerry County Council Civic Reception in Spillane’s Restaurant, Fahamore, The Maharees, on Sunday afternoon. Photo: Michelle Breen Crean PhotographyLocals prepare to meet Governor of New York, Ms. Kathy Hochul, at Spillane’s Restaurant, Fahamore, The Maharees, on Sunday afternoon. Pictured were: Mary Ellen Maunsell, Maura Lynam, Mary Harrington, Martin Finn, Dora Moynihan and Pat Finn. Photo: Michelle Breen Crean Photography.Maura Lynam has a quiet word with Governor of New York, Ms. Kathy Hochul, during a Kerry County Council Civic Reception in Spillane’s Restaurant, Fahamore, The Maharees, on Sunday afternoon. Photo: Michelle Breen Crean PhotographyCarmel Courtney meets her second cousin, Governor of New York, Ms. Kathy Hochul, at the Kerry County Council Civic Reception in Spillane’s Restaurant, Fahamore, The Maharees, on Sunday afternoon. Photo: Michelle Breen Crean Photography.Evelyn Courtney Finn welcomes Governor of New York, Ms. Kathy Hochul, to Spillane’s Restaurant, Fahamore, The Maharees, on Sunday afternoon. Photo: Michelle Breen Crean Photography.
.New York Governor Kathy Hochul with a Kerry jersey earlier this year.
THE Governor of New York, Kathy Hochul took time out from her busy schedule to send a good luck message to the Kerry team ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland Final.
With her grandparents coming from the west Kerry peninsula, she will be rooting for the Kingdom against Galway.
In a letter issued from her office, Governor Hochul wished both teams well but admits she will be supporting Kerry tomorrow.
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The letter reads; “It is my pleasure to send greetings to everyone gathered in Dublin for the 2022 AllIreland Senior Football Championship.
This much-anticipated event will bring fans of Gaelic football from around the globe and the Irish diaspora to historic Croke Park for the 135th finale of the Gaelic Athletic Association’s premier inter-county Gaelic football tournament.
Galway’s road to the final included the Connacht Championship and the defeat of Armagh and Derry.
The Kingdom’s road included the Munster Championship and the besting of Mayo and a show-stopping win over Dublin.
Although I know that the best team will prevail, my deep roots in County Kerry compel me to root for my home team.
My grandfather John, from the village of Cutteen on the Maharees Peninsula, was the founder and president of the North American GAA and a star player for our local Buffalo team, as was his son, my father, Jack, after him.
The fighting Kerry spirit is ingrained in who I am today and I know well the commitment, skill, and team work required to play this fierce and exciting game.
I can’t wait to see who takes Sam home. Best wishes for a wonderful and exciting tournament. Ciarrai Abu!”
.Mayor Norma Foley and Eileen Henggeler of The Rose Hotel at the parade.
THE Mayor of Kerry, Cllr. Norma Foley, joined the New York Kerry Association led by the Kerry Pipers in the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade down 5th Avenue.
She met with the President of the Kerry Association Frank O’Keefe and other officers and thanked them for all their support for the Kerry GAA Centre of Excellence and other initiatives.
This was the biggest New York Parade for many year and over 2,000 Kerry exiles including Rose of Tralee 2018 finalists and excorts joined 200,000 marchers from all over the United States in the parade.
Earlier she joined the Mayor of New York Bill di Blasio for an early morning reception at his official residence, Gracie Mansion.
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Among the other invited guests were the Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan, Moira Murrell, Chief Executive of Kerry County Council and the current Rose of Tralee Kirsten Maher.
On Friday, the Kerry delegation which included the Mayor, Chief Executive Moira Murrell and Tourism Officer, John Griffin, held separate meetings in Ireland House with senior executives of IDA Ireland and Tourism Ireland to discuss further investment and promotional opportunities for the county.
They also met with members of the Ireland America Business Council and attended the launch of the Ireland-US Business Review 2019 hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in the Irish Consulate. The Mayor is due to return to Kerry on Monday. Scroll down for photos…
With Frank O’Keefe, President Kerry Association at the start of New York St. Patrick’s Day Parade..Mayor of Kerry Norma Foley with Sean Myers, Dromtacker, Pat Quirke and son Darragh from Derrymore and Moira Murrell, CEO, Kerry County Council prior to the start of the NYC Parade.Assembling for the parade on 49th Street..Launch of Ireland US Buisness Review at Ireland House.
MAYOR Pat McCarthy concluded his official visit to the United States on Friday evening as guest of honour at the Kerrymen’s Patriotic and Benevolent Association of New York’s Dinner in Westchester in Yonkers.
President Loretta King warmly welcomed the Mayor and Kerry Tourism Officer John Griffin. The Association founded in 1881 has been a great supporter of Kerry people in their hour of need and other charities, including most recently, Kerry people working in the Third World.
It also provides scholarship support for young people of Kerry heritage seeking further education and most recently the Kerry GAA Centre of excellence.
Last evening, the Association honoured two members – John Riordan, from Brandon, former president of New York GAA and attorney Sean Coffey, whose father hailed from Cahersiveen – for their work in the community.
In his address, the Mayor praised the work of the Kerry Association and the leadership provided by Loretta King, the first female President, and Vice President John Fleming.
He spoke emotionally about his participation in Thursday’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, walking with members under the banners of St. Brendan and Thomas Ashe down Fifth Avenue.
“You have to be here to experience it,” he said. “The entire city centre comes to a standstill and everyone of every race is Irish for the day. What a showcase for Ireland.”
He recalled the events of 1916 and the crucial role New York played when the Associatiion sent a $1000 – an enormous sum 100 years ago – to the rebel leaders in Dublin.
He mentioned specifically the role of Kerry men and women in the Rising and the cable sent by the Ring Brothers from the Valentia Trans-Atlantic Cable Station to John Devoy, informing the Irish in New York even before the British knew aboiut it in London. It cost them their jobs and earned them a term in Frongoch Prison in Wales.
He said a large programme of commemorative evnts were being planned around the county and invited them to visit during the historic year.
He also mentioned other events like the Tralee 800 Celebrations in mid June and the Valentia Trans-Atlantic Cable 150 Celebrations in July.
Tourism was the backbone of the Kerry economy, worth over €400m, and each Kerry person abroad ought to be an Ambassador for the county, promoting it at every opportunity.
The Mayor mentioned specifically the Rose of Tralee organisation and its wide ranging ambassadorial role for the county and Ireland and the fact that over 20 current and former roses and escorts travelled from different parts of the world at their own expense to walk under the Kerry banner in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
The event was overshadowed a little by the death of Mike Keane, a past president, whose funeral took place earlier in the evening. A minutes silence was observed and prayers offered by Chaplain, Fr. Brian Coffey from Beaufort.
Scroll down for photos by Denis Griffin of the Mayor and those attending at the event…
.....Kerry Tourism Officer John Griffin and Mayor of Kerry Pat McCarthy with Loretta King President of the Kerryman’s Association.
Ashley Raymond took this photo of the blaze from the rooftop of his apartment in the lower east side of Manhattan. Photo courtesy of Ashley Raymond
A TRALEE man was just half a block away from the explosion in New York yesterday when fire engulfed two buildings causing them to collapse.
There were 19 casualties in the incident – which is suspected to have been caused by a gas leak – four serious with one person reported missing.
Watching it all unfold was Tralee man, Ashley Raymond, who lives and works on the Manhattan street where it all happened.
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“I work half a block away and was talking to a friend of mine when we heard a boom,” said Ashley.
“Then all of a sudden there was fire truck after fire truck flying by. After two or three hours we had to close the bar where I work and evacuate people out of the apartments and find other places to stay for the night. Lots of people have said the smell reminds them of 9/11, I can only imagine how bad that was,” said Ashley.
Ashley is originally from Spa Road, but has been living and working as a barman in New York for the past eight years.
Ashley Raymond.
The fire took place on Thursday afternoon, just after 3pm New York time.
At one point the blaze was so intense, the Fire Department, had to withdraw from combating it.
“People are not really scared as the NYPD and Fire Department were on the scene really fast and took care of everybody that needed to be taken care of. Now, it’s just so, so, so smokey for two or three blocks and people have to evacuate their apartments as it will be dangerous to sleep with the amount of smoke in the apartments,” said Ashley.
Over 250 firefighters responded to the fire which engulfed four buildings which contained a total of 49 apartments.
“It really really could have been a lot worse, there could have been more fatalities. I work probably 300 or 400 metres from where the explosion happened so our street was closed off all day,” he said.
“Americans really do come together at a time of need and today just proved that,” Ashley said.
Abbie O’Sullivan on her Make A Wish trip to New York.
A YOUNG Tralee woman enjoyed the trip of a lifetime last week when she flew with her family to New York courtesy of the Make A Wish Foundation.
Abbie O’Sullivan, from Ballyseedy, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes four years ago and the 16 year old Mercy Mounthawk student has a tough time with the condition. Her mum Julie explained.
“The condition has turned her life upside down, she’s on six injections a day and there’s a lot of complications with that type of diabetes. Those injections keep her alive every day, if didn’t have them she’d become violently sick and could go into a coma and die,” said Julie.
“The nurses at the hospital told me about Make A Wish two years ago when Abbie was going through a very hard time. So I put her name forward for it 18 months ago. They weren’t promising anything, but if there was something they could do they’d be in touch,” said Julie.
“They contacted us within the year and said whatever Abbie’s wish was, they’d sort it out. It’s always been Abbie’s dream to go to shopping in New York. I honestly didn’t think they’d be able to afford it, but they got back to us and said if that’s her wish they’d grant it. She nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard it,” said Julie.
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Abbie flew out with her parents Julie and Connie and brother Neil on Thursday last, for a five day trip and were met in New York by the ‘Make A Wish US’ team.
They stayed in a beautiful mid-town Manhattan hotel, two blocks from Times Square. They got passes for the Empire State Building, the ferry around Staten Island and the Statue of Liberty and Abbie got a $1,000 to spend.
This was put to good use on the Saturday, the ‘Make A Wish Day’, when they were picked up by Limousine from the hotel and taken to Sephora make-up store where Abbie got a full makeover and was treated like a princess for the day.
“She got a load of free cosmetics to bring home too. The limo dropped us from shop to shop all day. It really was fantastic to see her so happy, it’s just what she needed,” said Julie.
“I can’t thank Make A Wish enough for what they’ve done for Abbie, they couldn’t do enough for us. They really went out of their way, it was just unbelievable. I would love to see another family who needs it, get the treatment we got,” said Julie.
The O’Sullivan family travelling in style on the Make A Wish Foundation trip to New York.A room with a view…Abbie and Neil O’Sullivan in New York.
