A message from Paul Finnegan, creator, producer and host of CenterPieceNY. ================================================== Dear Friend, Whether you've been actively listening to my creation, the CenterPieceNY podcast, or can only spar…
It's fair to say I've been neglecting my blog, The BlogSledder. A combination of having limited time and a focus on more pressing priorities can be trotted out as my excuses, however strong or weak they may be. Be that as it may, our current Cente…
Photograph: Robert Malmberg Nowadays, a focal point for NYC's dance culture, is one of the highlights of Ridgewood, Queens NYC, which has been named the 4th coolest neighborhood IN THE WORLD by Time Out!! Eamon Harkin, the visionary be…
The final episode of Season Two of CenterPieceNY can be listened to here. It explores the world of renowned DJ, Eamon Harkin, from Derry in Ireland, and his innovations with his business partner and fellow DJ, Justin Carter, in New York City's danc…
It could be argued that the Irish American identity is an endangered species. Why so, you ask? Because of the changes in the flow of permanent immigration from Ireland to the US.Gone are the days when the first order of business for an Irishman …
I was sent on an errand into Williamsburg (Williams-boyg?), Brooklyn, early this morning (by the missus). I don't remember a drinking establishment touting hot peanuts in its window before, but there you have it. Right up there–equal billing with …
As you will have gathered from our Season Two, Episode Seven, which was titled 'The Computer Club', elsewhere on this site, my friends and I recently suffered the loss of someone close to us, Paraic Feeney. Among the many things in his life he got …
[Photo: Paul Finnegan with Carole King.] We are coming to the end of the week of St. Patrick's Day. It was a good week for me, I can't complain. The only thing I lacked was enough sleep, but I soldiered on! Here are some highlights: I spent t…
Found myself this week on a podcast devoted to (American) football, the Buffalo Bills, and Sullivan's Beer (https://www.sullivansbrewingcompany.com/).Go figure...I was updating their audience on all things Irish American, and the role the Irish Echo…
Just a few weeks ago, in Hell's Kitchen, in New York City, Irish Arts Center cut the ribbon on a magnificent new state-of-the-art cultural hub.No doubt, the road to that day was paved with enormous challenges for its current leaders. It's a credit …
I keep a close eye on the boys at the Irish Stew Podcast. They support their wonderful podcast with great, innovative marketing. I have emulated (ahem.. 'copied') many of their promotional tactics, albeit in less bulk–and who can keep up?–for this …
The Irish American community is changing, in some ways for the better, with more inclusion and diversity. There is great strength, but there are also new challenges to the sustainability of its identity. US immigration law is so restrictive it sev…
Our most recent centerpiece, Jacqueline Keely, stage and movie actress, is the proverbial poster-child for the biggest category of Irish immigrant to the United States: independent, adventurous, talented, optimistic and... female. Here's a quote f…
The guy behind our podcast was himself a guest recently on the Irish Stew Podcast, hosted by fellow-podcasters (and bitter cross-town rivals) John Lee and Martin Nutty. Have a listen. It's a good way to get to know Paul better: 'The Stew' …
Shortly after we released our episode with radio legend Adrian Flannelly, it was announced by Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, that Adrian is one of 11 recipients of the Presidential Distinguished Services Award this year. Wel…
The restful summer hiatus has come to an end and Season Two is underway. We're back with a pre-season friendly chat (released Thursday September 23rd). Host Paul Finnegan takes on premier league comedian (and blood relative!), the mighty Colm O'Re…
Eyre Square, Galway City. [Photo by John Herbert] The Irish Echo, the most widely read Irish American source of news in the United States, penned an article about our podcast, skillfully written by journalist Peter McDermott. You can check it out…
So, this Thursday July 22nd at 6PM a few us New York Irish podcasters are getting together for a pow wow. We are meeting up at St. Patrick's pub on W46th 'tween 5th and 6th Avenues–further info about the venue can be seen here. It's a very informal…
by Maddison Rhoa. Maddison with Oscar Wilde in the city center... I’ve always thought of Galway as a city of contradictions – one must only take a stroll down its famous Shop Street to see that. It’s simultaneously a diverse university city a…
It's always been my intention to make the telling of this epic story, and the story of one of its main protagonists in particular, the centerpiece of an episode of this podcast, and now, in the merry month of May, in episode 9, season 1, it has come…
We've 'dropped' our latest episode today, Thursday April 29th. I put little single-quote thingies around the present participle of the verb 'to drop' to hint, as Elaine from Seinfeld might do, that for some strange reason I am not comfortable wi…
This is the place where you can slide further down the tracks of the long and winding mind of CenterPieceNY. The posts are written by myself, Paul Finnegan, the person behind this podcast. I will be referring to my posts as blogsleds from here on.…