Kentstown man in NY bachelor competition

Kentstown man Patrick Curtis is a finalist in the Bachelor of the Year fundraising competition at the Aisling Irish Center in New York this weekend. Established in 1996, the Aisling Center's main aim is to assist Irish immigrants in their transition to life in the USA, by offering a number of services including legal, social, psychological and educational. The Aisling Center is one of the largest Irish immigrant resource centers in the tri-state area and the main provider of services for the elderly Irish and Irish-American community in Yonkers and Woodlawn.

The Bachelor of the Year award is run by the centre every year to raise much needed funds.

Patrick explains: 'I will be here one year on St Patrick's Day and boy how things have changed in a year - I started coaching the New York ladies under-18 team to who had a successful year, becoming the first ladies team from New York to win an u18 completion blitz in Ireland. Since then, I progressed to being named the head coach of the New York men's team who play host to Mayo on 4th May in this years All-Ireland Championship. I am also the manager of the New York ladies team who will travel home in August to play in this year's All Ireland Junior Championship.'

Parisk, from Kentstown, attended St Paul's NS and St Patrick's CS in Navan, and says that since moving to America, he has been over whelmed by the generosity and welcome feeling by everyone.

'Since I landed, it's like a home away from home and hopefully I can help repay some of the kindness by helping out doing the voluntary work , be it feeding the homeless around New York city with the Aisling Center or helping coaching the kids in Gaelic Park, I'll continue to help in what ever little way I can.'

Best wishes to Patrick in the competition - he tells us he can purchase the Meath Chronicle every second week in a shop on McLean Avenue!