An evening of top-notch entertainment in aid of the New York Irish Center (NYIC) is promised at Symphony Space with the best of stand-up comedy, courtesy of headline act and Broadway powerhouse, Colin Quinn, and stellar Irish music act Mundy, of chart-topping “Galway Girl” fame.
Throw in a guest appearance from Co. Kildare's mesmerizing Jack Lukeman, known simply as Jack L to many, and you have the makings of a night for the history books.
This year’s show follows the NYIC’s highly successful evening of comedy and music last June when Brendan Grace, Pat Shortt and musician Colin Smith graced the stage at Symphony Space, performing to a packed-house of 800 supporters.
This year's line-up promises to outdo even that great night. Organizers are asking people not to leave it too late to get your tickets. They can be purchased immediately from the NYIC website here.
This is the eighth annual fundraiser for the NYIC and typically its biggest push for direct community support each year, as it goes from strength to strength. In the words of Executive Director Paul Finnegan “we feel we’re just getting started”.
The NYIC is a home for the Irish in New York, their Irish-American “cousins” and anyone who is Irish at heart. It’s a true community center, as its founders intended, welcoming members of all ages through its doors, reveling in the joy of mixing the generations, so that Irish culture and heritage can be passed along from one to the other. The center’s wide range of programs and services reflect this, with activities for young and old alike; from a weekly Senior Lunch Club on Wednesdays, a Senior Computer Club on Saturday mornings, to a Tír Na nÓg children’s festival each July, along with concerts and movies, Irish ceilí dancing and classes in Irish dance, traditional music and the Irish language, to name just a few. The NYIC has become renowned for bringing people together and stories of friendship permeate its walls.
The NYIC is both at the heart of a community, and has the community at its heart. It was a first responder in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in November, ferrying vital supplies to those most badly hit. In December it played a key role in the Irish Meitheal Day of Action, setting up a toy factory in Far Rockaway, putting gifts in the hands of little kids in the run-up to Christmas.
Situated just across the East River from Midtown Manhattan in scenic LIC in Queens, just five minutes from Grand Central on the #7 train, it is readily accessible from much of Queens, Brooklyn and the city as a whole, so if you haven’t been to 1040 Jackson Avenue in Queens, you really have no excuse. Seeing is believing, and if you set off to visit the NYIC, in no time you’ll find yourself being welcomed through the doors of a fine building, of which the NYIC is rightly proud.
But first, book your place at this year’s Evening of Music and Comedy at Symphony Space on June 6. You won’t regret it.
Comedian Colin Quinn is highly respected among his peers as a comedian’s comedian. Quinn starred recently on Broadway with his smash hit one man show, Long Story Short, produced by Jerry Seinfeld. He is a former SNL cast member and from 2002–2004 he hosted the very popular Comedy Central show, Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn.
The band Mundy is one of Ireland’s most popular contemporary Irish singer/songwriters and has a reputation as an outstanding live performer. He has recorded four albums, his most recent In Strawberry Blood (2009), went into the Irish charts at No.14. In 2007 and 2008 he had the biggest selling single in Ireland, with his version of Steve Earle's Galway Girl and his third album, Raining Down Arrows, (2004) entered the Irish album charts at number one.
Singer Jack Lukeman is renowned for his versatility and his live performances. He is considered a national treasure by many in Ireland. The Irish rock music publication Hot Press once called him an artist as unique as Ireland has ever produced. In his career Jack L has performed with such artists as U2, Ronnie Wood, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Lee Hooker, Elvis Costello and Julie Feeney.
And last but not least, the Master of Ceremonies for the evening is comedian Eddie Brill, currently the warm-up comedian for the Late Show with David Letterman. Eddie is also a successful writer and actor. He tours frequently, performing in the US as well as England, Ireland, France, Australia, Amsterdam, and Hong Kong.
So don’t leave anything to chance - jump on NYIRISH.ORG right now before you’re too late! Get your tickets for what promises to be an excellent night of fabulous entertainment, all in support of the most worthy of causes, the New York Irish Center. It would be a shame to miss it!
Here's a short cartoon that tells the story of the New York Irish Center, in Long Island City, Queens:
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