Businessman John Fitzpatrick may have a busy working life in New York, running the only Irish-operated hotel in the City, but for the Irishman, there is no place like home.
Returning to Ireland for a flying visit, the hotelier invited a host of people for an evening of cocktails and food at Café en Seine in Dublin.
With the next generation of Fitzpatricks running the Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel in Killiney, John spoke of the renovations taking place in New York with their other two boutique hotels and filled in EVOKE on the celebrities that have crossed his path in the Big Apple since he moved there over 30 years ago.
With the wine flowing, John looked happy to be home, surrounded by those from the travel trade with whom he had worked closely over the last three decades and continues to do so.
Business statesside is going well for the hotel group as they come to the end of a two-year renovation on their second NYC hotel, Fitzpatrick Grand Central. Bedrooms will be ready to go by the end of 2026, with a newly refurbished bar and restaurant for those visiting to enjoy.
As John said to EVOKE, "What I love about the Irish, they want to go away, and they want to see something new, but we're home birds in a way that at the end of the evening we want to come back to somewhere where we know, and the Fitzpatrick hotels bring that level of comfort to those when they are away from home."
A celebrity hot spot, the Fitzpatrick hotels have been a favourite spot for many in the limelight, and for Irish celebrities, it is a home away from home.
John spoke about Liam Neeson, who, in the beginning, was a frequent guest at the establishments, but over the years, formed a tight friendship when Liam entrusted John to look after his mum, Kitty.
Laughing, John said Liam would say when his mum was coming to visit, "John, I'm going to put my mom with you."
"Kitty was one of the nicest women I've ever met," John said. "She'd sit in the hallway every morning, and I'd have to sit down, and she'd want to know who was coming into the hotel, 'who's that? Where's he from? What's he doing?'"
Over the years, Liam told John, "My mom loves staying with you!"
Liam Neeson. (Getty Images)
Before making it big on the hit show "Touched by an Angel," Irish gal Roma Downey would often frequent the hotel, as well as the cast and makers of "The Sopranos."
Roma Downey. (Getty Images)
When the Fitzpatrick Grand Central Hotel opened in New York in 1998, a host of Irish celebrities made their way over for the celebrations.
But it was Brendan Grace that left a mark on the hotelier, and gave him a gift, something that not only John would treasure but others visiting could enjoy.
Looking back, John said, "A gang of them came from Ireland. Mary Black stayed with us. They all stay with us, the chieftains, the Dubliners, but I remember Brendan checking in, and he hands me a guitar."
Confused because he doesn't play guitar, Brendan told him, "John, no, it's not for you. That's to go up on the bar on the wall. If anybody comes in, he says they want to have a song, you hand them the guitar....I thought it was one of the greatest things."
Brendan Grace. (RollingNews.ie)
*This article was originally published on Evoke.ie.
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