Andy Cooney's Cruise of Irish Stars takes place January 25-February 1, 2020 and features some of the most treasured names in Irish and Irish-American entertainment like Ronan Tynan, The New York Tenors, and Dee Reilly.
Click here to be entered to win a trip for two on the Cruise of Irish Stars
The Cruise of Irish Stars offers a once-in-a-lifetime trip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to the Eastern Caribbean and back, with major names from the Irish music scene providing entertainment the whole way.
Ports of call, on board a Princess Cruises ship, include Princess Cays in the Bahamas, St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, and St. Maarten.
The drawing will take place September 19 at Andy Cooney's Halfway To St. Patrick's Day Bash at The Irish Coffee Pub in East Islip, NY. Call 631-277-0007 For Reservations.
The performers, who will be traveling on board the ship and providing entertainment along the way, include some of the best-known names in Irish and Irish American classic entertainment. Such as:
Andy Cooney, christened “Irish America’s Favorite Son” by The New York Times. From his sold out performances at New York’s Carnegie Hall to performing in big and small cities across America, Andy Cooney is a household name in every Irish American home. Some of Andy’s latest successes have included his 9th sell-out appearance at Carnegie Hall last December with The New York Tenors and The Irish Tenors.
Click here to be entered to win a trip for two on the Cruise of Irish Stars
Andy will be at Carnegie Hall again on December 9, 2019 with the New York Tenors and Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers. This will be Andy Cooney’s 22th Annual Cruise of Irish Stars. “It all began in 1998. We’ve gone from a few hundred cruisers to as many as 1700! Let’s keep this great Irish Party at sea going for many years to come!”
Andy Cooney and friends aboard the 2018 Cruise of Irish Stars
Ronan Tynan. “Put courage in your dreams, Ronan, and leave the rest to the Man Above, And then you will carve your footprints in the sand.” These words have shaped the remarkable life of the Irish tenor Ronan Tynan – a proud and loving lesson of his mother’s – from his childhood milking cows on a farm in County Kilkenny, Ireland, to an ever-evolving career as a singer, bringing him worldwide fame and admiration that could have existed only in the farthest reaches of those dreams.
Click here to be entered to win a trip for two on the Cruise of Irish Stars
International audiences met Tynan as a member of The Irish Tenors. Now his singular voice and irresistible appeal have led him to strike out on his own, a decision that seems to have resulted in something far more meaningful than a mere solo career.
Ronan Tynan on Cruise of Irish Stars 2019.
The New York Tenors are three of New York’s finest voices that have come together to celebrate the worlds most famous city as they take you on a musical journey of faith, heritage, and patriotism.
The New York Tenors:
- Andy Cooney whose voice has filled concert halls from the National Concert Hall in Dublin Ireland to New York’s Carnegie Hall
- New York Italian tenor, Christopher Macchio, a young talent tenor with a powerful voice, whose Nessun Dorma will rattle the roof of any venue
- New York Latino tenor Daniel Rodriquez, whom you may remember for his version of God Bless America - the New York City police officer captured our great nation and even made Oprah Winfrey cry as he performed on her show after the tragic event of 9-11.
The cast on Cruise of Irish Stars 2019.
Deirdre Reilly beautifully personifies the dramatic influence that Irish music has had on today’s American Country scene. Born in Holyoke, Massachusetts to a mother from County Cork and a father from County Mayo, Ireland, Deirdre began performing at age five.
As a teenager, she sang with her step-father’s show band and traveled around New England and parts of New York with her own band. Deirdre’s talents were revealed on a national level at age eighteen when she toured the United States with Paddy Noonan’s Irish Variety Show.
Click here to be entered to win a trip for two on the Cruise of Irish Stars
In 1989 Deirdre auditioned at the Berkeley School Of Music in Boston, Massachusetts for talent scouts from the Opryland Show Park in Nashville, Tennessee. After hearing Deirdre sing, there was little deliberation among the scouts about offering her a contract to perform in their most popular show “COUNTRY MUSIC USA” for the coming summer season. Deirdre eagerly accepted that contract and was well on her way to exploring a world of music that she innately was destined to pursue.
That summer led to three consecutive seasons at Opryland Show Park where she quickly began to open many doors in the music industry.
The Sky Princess
The Byrnes Brothers are a family band from Dublin who moved to Donegal for 12 years and now reside in Orlando, Florida. They consist of three very young talents that are champion level, decorated with medals in traditional Irish music.
Dempsey, the youngest at 9 years old, plays Bodhran, whistles, and sings. Finn, 13, plays banjo and mandolin. Luca, the eldest at 14, plays the button accordion. These young lads are also champion Irish Dancers. Tommy Byrne the “Daddy” plays Guitar and also plays Uilleann Pipes, Fiddle, Whistles, and Bagpipes.
Further performers include Mich Thomas, the 19th Street Band, Keohane & Kenneally, Paul Duffy, Declan Aungier, The Willie Lynch Band, Stephen's Green, Tom Comerford, Bill Lewis, the Catskills Ceili Band, Jim Kelly, Mitch Reilly, and John Nolan.
Fr Frank saying Mass on Cruise of Irish Stars 2019. 
Still on the fence? Take it from those who have traveled on the cruise before you:
"My name is Dan Brennan from New Jersey now living in the vibrant 50 and over community called The Villages in Florida. I love everything Irish as my family are from Ireland. I have to say our favorite event that my wife Carolyn and I love is being a part of is Andy Cooney’s “Cruise of Irish Stars”.
Click here to be entered to win a trip for two on the Cruise of Irish Stars
"This is an annual trip that leaves from Miami or Fort Lauderdale to the Eastern or Western Caribbean. A long time ago my wife Carolyn and I were blessed to be introduced to the music of Andy Cooney and since then we go to see him whenever we can. When this cruise came along it was just a perfect way that we could enjoy AndyCooney and his Band and bring our friends on a week-long trip.
"On this cruise Andy surrounds himself with a top class Irish entertainment package with many Irish Bands and performers including another one of my favorite vocalists, Ronan Tynan. Over 1000 people were in our group. Every night there was an Irish music show in the Theater followed by Irish music and a variety of dance music in the other rooms onboard. All of these performances were exclusively for us and not open to passengers not in our group. There was daily Mass celebrated by Fr Francis Pizzarelli. He was so compelling that hundreds of people attended everyday. One of the days we renewed our marriage vows. We were aboard one of the most beautiful ships on the high seas, The Celebrity Equinox. The food was amazing, our cabin was spacious, and the staff couldn’t do enough for us.
Andy Cooney and his band.
"If you combine all of that with the Irish entertainment that we love, you’ll find yourself returning every year. This past Cruise of Irish Stars was our 12th. We have made so many new friends that we look forward to seeing year after year. We have kind of become like one big family! If you’re thinking about coming next year I can promise you music-filled evenings with people like ourselves that love to sing along to all the old favorites, get out for a few Rock n’ Roll dances, enjoy a few spirits and have a good time. You will make friends and memories that will last for the rest of your life. "
