Two live performances and an trip to the historic Ellis Island made for an action-packed day for the Timahoe Male Choir on their first full day in New York on Saturday.
While Friday evening was about finding their feet in the city that never sleeps, Saturday was very much a case of getting down to business.
The bus departed the Gallivant hotel just off Times Square to make its way out the pier to get a boat to Ellis Island, the historic site which, for many years in the late 1800s and early 1900s was where immigrants, many of them Irish, first stepped onto US soil.
The choir sang the beautiful ‘Isle of Hope’ song outside the museum there, which is the story of Annie Moore, the young Cork woman who the first person through the gates in 1892.
After a quick visit to the adjacent museum, the boat tour continued out around the bay to go right past the iconic Statue of Liberty.
From there it was back to the city to get ready for their first actual gig, an invite to the private American Irish Historical Society on 5th Avenue.
An upmarket venue that you can become a member of and attend historical talks throughout the year, it wasn’t long before the place was rocking.
All decked out immaculately in their red shirts, choir master Damien Bowe read the room wonderfully, giving the background to the choir’s establishment – and getting plenty of plugs in for their recently-launched CD.
Among those in attendance were Mike Dunphy, president of the Laois Association of New York and a native of Ballinakill, Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council Padraig Fleming and CEO of the Council Michael Rainey.
Many members of the Irish community around New York travelled to be in attendance for the performance and there’s no doubt it went down a treat, helped in no small part by a stunning Irish dancing cameo from LaoisToday photographer Paul Dargan who is also a hugely talented dancer.
From there, a bus journey to their next venue, the Beer Authority, was required with a now growing band of groupies.
The Beer Authority, as the name suggests, was a more lively bar but the crowd there were also a captive audience and the set list – which again included some of their favourites like Dreams, The Way I Am, N17 and Grace – once again proved a huge hit.
For many of the group, the Rock and Roll antics continued into the early hours.
“Where is the tour going next,” asked one Irish lady with an American accent at one stage.
We reckon she thought they may well be out here for a couple of months travelling the high roads and by roads.
No – their next gig is tomorrow evening in Phebe’s Tavern in New York where their host is Sean Michael Manley from Portarlington. While it’s also expected that another short gig is being added in McSorley’s Old Irish Ale House, where Shane Buggy from Crettyard is one of the top men.
The show, as they say, goes on.
You can check out our selection of photos below from photographer Paul Dargan.
SEE ALSO – Check out all our weekend New York coverage here
