Reading Up on Irish Roots

Montecito globetrotting accountant Frank McGinity has just published his latest 246-page work chronicling nearly 40 years of the California branch of the American Irish Historical Society from its creation in 1983 through the first quarter of the 21st century.

Riven Rock-based founder Frank says his work serves not only as a historical document of the many events held by the branch in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, but as a repository of speech and article exploring the lives of famous Irishmen and women throughout history.

In addition, the book highlights the renowned and lesser-known Irish immigrants who impacted the American experience in California and beyond, such as John MacKay, who fled the famine in Ireland, escaped the slums of New York City, hiked a hundred miles across the Sierras and became one of the richest gold miners in the West.

There’s also the stories of Nicolás Den, who saved the Santa Barbara Mission from being secularized and sold off by the Mexican government, and the San Patricio Battalion soldiers, who deserted the U.S. Army in 1846 to join with Mexico and fight against the tide of American expansionism.

As Frank says: “Whether or not Irish blood runs thick in your veins, if you seek a richer understanding of the multicultural tapestry of our nation, read on and marvel at the unique influence of the Emerald Isle.”

The book, edited by Bryan Snyder, can be ordered on Amazon.

Heading Across the Pond

Prince Harry and his former actress wife Meghan Markle are winging to the U.K. next month to attend several charity events, including the One Young World Summit in Manchester on September 5. 

The tony twosome will also head to Germany for the Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023 One Year to Go event, before returning to England for the WellChild Awards on September 8.

The Sussexi may also meet with Harry’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, who will have returned to Windsor Castle from her Balmoral Castle, Scotland, retreat. Their home, Frogmore Cottage, is just a tiara’s toss or two from the historic pile.

Harry also took time to make a three-day solo visit to Mozambique, staying at the Vilanculos Beach Lodge, where he met with conservationist and philanthropists supporting Africa’s parks.

New Home Available

Billionaire Larry Ellison, who owns a number of homes in our Eden by the Beach, has listed his Palm Beach, Florida, property for a hefty $145 million.

The tech tycoon purchased the sprawling 15,500-square-foot Tuscan-style estate, located in the exclusive Seminole Landing neighborhood, for $80 million last year.

It is the third largest oceanfront parcel in Palm Beach County with 520 foot of ocean frontage. It has seven bedrooms and 14 baths on 7.35 acres.

In June the Oracle founder purchased an even larger property spanning 63,000 square feet in nearby Manalapan for $173 million from internet entrepreneur Jim Clark.

The transaction was the largest sale ever in the Sunshine State.

Ellison, 78, also owns several properties in Malibu and the entire Hawaiian island of Lanai.

Working Man

Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s youngest son, Charlie, 25, is costarring on the HBOMax show Sex Lives of College Girls. Charlie is joining the show’s second season as an Essex College student. Additionally, he will also be in a Sweethearts movie, as well as the Big Shot series, according to Deadline. “That’s my boy!” the Montecito-based Veep alumni, 61, gushed on Instagram.

Paltrow on the Panel

Montecito actress Gwyneth Paltrow is going to be a guest panelist on the ABC show Shark Tank. The Goop founder, 49, will appear on season 14 along with Emma Grede, British co-founder of Good American and founding partner of Skims, Tony Xu, co-founder and COO of DoorDash, and Peter Jones from the BBC show Dragon’s Den on which the U.S. show is based.

Sightings

Actor Ryan Gosling checking out Whole Foods… NCIS: Los Angeles actor Chris O’Donnell, an old friend from my sailing days at the Tarratine Club in Dark Harbor, Maine, getting his Java jolt at Pierre Lafond…. Billionaire candy heiress Jacqueline Mars and family living it up at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara.

Pip! Pip! Be safe, wear a mask when necessary, and get vaccinated.