CenterPieceNY

Like many a man before him, Michael Doherty left his home in Ireland, and followed his brother to New York, in search of a steady wage.  What he hadn't figured on was the big down payment he'd have to pay to America soon after arriving in New York, to prove his commitment to his new country.  Within months of his arrival, Mike was drafted by the US military and packed off to Vietnam, where he served his tour of duty as a medic.  Almost a year later, with war behind him, he finally embarked on his American life, working hard and making lifelong friends every step of the way.  In time, he met the love of his life, his wife Kathleen.  A born storyteller, Mike's life has been full of adventure. And it hasn't always been easy; there was a life threatening illness and then, this year, the isolation of COVID. But Mike, with his signature chuckle and his ever-present cap, is a survivor and a winner, with lots of adventures left in him.  Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @CenterPieceNY or visit us at CenterPieceNY.com.  Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And thanks to Purple Planet for the music!!  

Our very first episode! Though still a teenager, Helen Ward left her small village in rural County Longford, Ireland, in 1960, to come to New York. Now a mother, a grandmother, and a widow, living in the traditionally Irish neighborhood of Woodside, Queens, she has led a full life, with its share of ups and downs, including one very traumatic family event. Learn of her tough upbringing in Ireland, finding her own voice in America, her sustaining faith, and dealing with the pandemic of 2020.  And after six decades in New York, she's still smiling! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @CenterPieceNY or visit us at CenterPieceNY.com.  Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And thanks to Purple Planet for the music!

We will be dropping our first couple of full episodes in the run up to Thanksgiving (that's before November 26th, for those of you who do not live Stateside). In episode 1, we'll be talking with Helen Ward, a great lady who came to New York in 1960, and who has led a remarkable life since. In episode 2, Mike Doherty, from South Armagh, tells of his service in Vietnam, his love for the US, and the many twists and turns on the road since he arrived in New York in 1963. In the meantime, you can listen to this introductory episode, where I chat with George Heslin of the New York Irish Center. It will give you a sense of what this podcast is all about. Twitter and Facebook: @CenterPieceNY Website: CenterPieceNY.com  Thanks to Purple-Planet for the music!