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E-mailAn Irishman’s American Dream: Meet the Irish Central Park cyclist
On any given day a young County Mayo man can be found chauffeuring tourists around Central Park on the back of his rented Pedi-cab, winning them over with his charm and wowing them with his in-depth knowledge of the city.
Neil Ainsworth, 26, has everything -- charm, knowledge and, most of all, a savvy business mind.
Ainsworth, who hails from Castlebar, County Mayo, is new to the city, but his knowledge goes back decades.
“Over there,” points Ainsworth. “That is original granite rock. It’s actually the only natural thing in this man made Central Park.”
On a recent swoop around the iconic city landmark, Ainsworth proves his worth.
During his one hour cycle tour, this young Mayo man, while peddling up and down hills ferociously, was spouting off Central Park facts, pointing out where various famous movies were made and imparting his knowledge of what superstar lived where on the ride.
Ainsworth came to the U.S. in May 2008 to create his own American Dream. He laughs, however, when asked if he ever saw himself cycling bikes to make a living.
“Not at all,” he said smiling. “But it’s a great job seriously. Let me tell you where exactly I’ve worked.”
Although Central Park is his summer hub, during the winter Ainsworth travels the country to make his money.
Joined by his friend, Dean Doherty (also a Castlebar man), Ainsworth has worked some of the most prestigious and historical events in the U.S.
Last January, Ainsworth and Doherty left New York for Washington, D.C. It was, after all, the place everyone wanted to be.
President Barack Obama was being inaugurated and the boys knew there was plenty of money to be made. In fact, Ainsworth made a whopping $4,000 in four days in the capital, chauffeuring folks from event to event.
The day of the inauguration, January 20, Ainsworth made $1,500. His client list was impressive.
He chauffeured former vice president Al Gore to a party that day. “He was lovely,” recalls Ainsworth, who resides in Woodlawn in the Bronx.
But it was money hard earned. “When we got to Washington me and Dean spent six hours walking the streets so we would become familiar with the place,” he said.
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