The Irish Community in New York came out in full force to support the New York Irish Center on June 14th. Brendan Grace, Pat Shortt, Colin Smith and Fiona Walsh entertained the sold out crowd of over 750 Irish Center supporters. Brendan and Pat, both recognized titans of Irish comedy, shared the top of the bill. Brendan has a long and distinguished career in comedy and his sense of timing and ability to read an audience is without equal. As Frank Carson used to say, ‘ it is the way you tell them ‘ and no one tells ’em better than Brendan. For details on upcoming shows visit brendangrace.com/ In contrast to Brendan’s genial storytelling approach, Pat Shortt is a comedic character actor. Pat’s latest comedic creation is Dixie Walsh, “a legend in his own North Tipperary Country and Western lifetime”. Staying true to his D’Unbelievables roots, Pat or rather Dixie began his performance not on stage but in the fourth row of the audience. With comedy songs like, “I gave you my heart, you poisoned my liver” and “the jumbo breakfast roll”. Dixie had the audience crying with tears of laughter as he told and sang us the stories of his dating exploits and struggles to reach the pinnacle of county and western stardom. More

information at patshortt.com Musical entertainment on the night was provided by none other than The Colin Smith band. Colin played a selection songs from his latest album, The Wilderness opening with the song, Love. Check out the YouTube video, this is a song that once bitten by the strong lyric, catchy melodic hook and “crescendoing” arrangement will stay firmly ensconced in your musical memory. To top it all, our very own local New York transplant Fiona Walsh, did a masterful job as MC for the evening. A renaissance woman and consummate entertainer, Fiona is the regular co-host of Sundays at Seven at the IAC (with Ann Design). Check out her website at fionawalsh.com The evening began with the premiere showing of the New York Irish Center’s new promotional video. The video tells the unique story of the New York Irish Center, its founding and development since it’s inception in 2003. Produced in collaboration with New Aims Production (based in Ireland newaims.ie the video uses the very latest in whiteboard animation techniques to tell the story of the Center and the people who made it the home for the Irish community that it is today.

Check it out on our homepage at nyirish.org While you’re there, sign up for our email newsletters and event blasts and make sure to check out our regular programs by downloading the week to week schedule from our home page. As we continue to expand our programming, We invite you to come and be with us, come shape our future and make us stronger. To paraphrase a Native American expression, “we haven’t inherited our cultural identity from our ancestors, we’ve borrowed it from our children.”

Chris Deignan & Howard Maxwell

As an eager and very supportive Irish-orientated audience started arriving at Symphony Space for the New York Irish Center’s 7th annual fundraiser, a gala evening of Irish Music and Comedy on Thursday evening 14th of June, the atmosphere backstage was one of excitement and anticipation. It would be fair to say there was a show for everyone on the main stage, and a slightly more improvisational show within the green rooms.Early that day, The New York Irish Center production crew under the shrewd direction of show producer Mark Fox, joined forces with the Symphony Space technical staff, and of course our legendary Irish Comedians, Brendan Grace and Pat Shortt, our lovely MC Fiona Walsh, and

the very talented Colin Smith and his fantastic eclectic band, to transform the superb Peter J Sharp Theater into a haven for Irish music and comedy for one night only. Throughout the day of the show, the theater was like Grand Central in a manner of speaking, with people coming and going with various deliveries from unusual musical instruments to a mouth-watering stack of original NYC pizzas that enjoyed a short stay in the green room before being devoured by our massive team.At 5pm one hour before the crowd was due to start arriving, the final sound checks were being carried out, lighting designs were being set, entrance and exits were being decided, the 11th draft of the running order was been re-written, and of course all bodies were keeping a watchful yet hopeful eye on the Irish football match. There seemed to be no end to both Brendan Grace and Pat Shortt’s patience and humor. As we moved towards the 1 minute-call, all the entire green room enjoyed a highly charged and energetic creative atmosphere. After many months preparation we were at the point of no return, for better or for worse, this newly-formed alliance

between the NYIC production team, Symphony Space, and our Irish artists were about to launch the NYIC premiere Broadway venture to a packed 700+ audience.3 hours of pure Irish entertainment felt like 5 minutes if one was part of the backstage environment. The crowd was electric, and from the offset were on board, with Fiona Walsh, as she welcomed Colin Smith and his huge band on stage. Colin opened with a lively set. Mr. Grace did not disappoint with his much-loved brand of Irish humor and had the audience in stitches. “Dixie Walsh” literally burst out into a delighted crowd and left them howling over his musical humor. From a backstage perspective, a production team, technical crew, and artists couldn’t have asked for a greater gift than

the overwhelming standing ovation from a packed 700+ audience, who not only stood with delight, but joined in with our artists and danced and sang the classic Monty Python tune “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”. The green rooms were a hive of post-show activity with artists and audience enjoying the opportunity to exchange words, stories and photo opportunities. Just half an hour later, I found myself on an empty stage assisting with final post-show duties; and in an unusual silence reflecting on what an absolute privilege it is to be part of the New York Irish Center, a organization built by the Irish community, for the Irish community, and continues to be warmly supported by the Irish community, and involved in such a magnificent evening, working alongside, legendary Irish Stars and Gentlemen, Mr. Grace and Mr. Shortt, Mr. Smith, and of course Ms. Walsh, knowing this NYIC premiere Broadway-based show will serve as the fuel to keep the NYIC running and serving the Irish and their friends in New York.

Jane McCarter Arts & Cultural Director

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New York Irish Center

A Gala Night of Irish Comedy and Music at Symphony Space

The View from Backstage Brendan Grace

Colin Smith

Fr. Colm Campbell & Andy Breslin

“Dixie Walsh”

Jane McCarter, Mark Fox & Fiona Walsh

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