There’s great work being done by the Irish in New York

There’s great work being done by the Irish in New York

6 May 2020

A FORMER Ardglass man now living in New York has revealed how the Irish community have been coming together to support each other during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Tommy McConvey was hoping to travel back home to celebrate his 40th birthday among his family and neighbours in Curran’s Bar in Chapeltown later this month. He is disappointed at having to postpone his trip, but says it’s better to remain in New York. 

Tommy, who is a treasurer of a global finance company, usually commutes by subway into the heart of the Big Apple each day.  However, since the city went into lockdown on March 22, Tommy has been self-isolating at home with his girlfriend, Lia. 

The former Crew Road resident has been living in New York since 2001, 

after he completed his Masters degree at Queen’s University Belfast, and says he only intended staying for six weeks. 

That same year he flew to Dublin on September 11 — the same day as the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, which he and friends had visited the previous day.

“We had taken pictures with the security guards and other workers and it still haunts me wondering if those guys were able to make it out alive,” he says. 

Tommy says that 19 years on fear has returned to the streets of New York. 

“At the beginning of the pandemic back in early March our company was swift to respond. We put social distancing measures in place and rotated staff on a shift basis so that only a third of workers were in the office each day.

“We knew the virus was going to get more severe so after we learned the St Patrick’s Day parade was to be cancelled we took that as a signal and mandated that all staff should stay at home.”

Tommy says the sweeping changes have left an eerie feeling in their wake. 

“In the first few weeks the only workers that remained in the city centre were builders availing of free movement and the empty streets to get ahead with development projects, but they too were forced to quit,” he said.

“Traffic has all but ceased, apart from a few ambulances and delivery trucks.

“The economic impact of coronavirus has been devastating, particularly for the Irish who have found themselves furloughed off, out of work and not entitled to any government aid. 

“A charity has been set up called Slainte 2020 which was formed with the sole intention of alleviating the suffering that many have been going through and to help those less fortunate to get through it.”

Tommy is also a leading figure in the GAA in New York which is supporting Slainte 2020.

At the weekend local Gaelic footballers in the city ran a combined distance of 1,000 kilometres, which is the equivalent of running the length of Ireland, from Malin Head in Donegal to Mizzen Head in Cork — and back.

The event was in place of a cancelled Gaelic football tournament and all proceeds went to Slainte 2020.

“Over half of the people who have applied for help from Slainte 2020 are in the hospitality industry which looks to be one of the last groups that will return to work in all likelihood.

“There is also a lot of great work being done by other Irish community groups in New York.”

Tommy says it is very encouraging to see the Irish community pull together during a time like this. 

He said: “The Irish are renowned for putting their shoulder to the wheel in times of adversity and the last few weeks have been no different. 

“We’re looking after each other as we always have done when hardship strikes.”

Tommy says people can still make donations to Slainte 2020 by going to the link www.slainte2020.org.