Sheen Center Screening Documentary on Restaurateur Jimmy Neary

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Jimmy Neary eagerly awaits his big week.

Neary, an 86-year-old Irish immigrant from Tubbercurry and popular New York City restaurateur, will be the subject of Neil Leifer’s documentary, “Neary’s: The Dream at the End of the Rainbow,” being shown to a sold-out Loreto Theater at the Sheen Center for Thought & Culture in Manhattan on Monday, March 13.

Four days later on St. Patrick’s Day, Neary will celebrate with family and friends the 50th anniversary of Neary’s restaurant opening on March 17, 1967.

“I’m very excited about the documentary, and I’m very excited about St. Patrick’s Day,” Neary, a parishioner at St. Joseph’s in Demarest, N.J., told CNY.

“Whatever worked, I never changed it. What made it work are the staff and the people in the neighborhood.”

Leifer, a photographer and filmmaker, directed the documentary. When he left Time Inc. in 1990, his photos had graced more than 200 covers of Sports Illustrated, Time and People magazines. He’s published 16 books, including nine collections of his sports photos. The filmmaker was nominated for a 2003 Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Sports Documentary.

Filming for Neary’s documentary took place in Ireland and the United States. The film features Neary’s notable regular customers including Cardinal Dolan, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein. They are among the presidents, governors, mayors, U.S. senators, astronauts and celebrities who have been served at Neary’s. Best-selling author Mary Higgins Clark, another customer, has used Neary’s name as a character in 21 of her mysteries.

A panel discussion will follow the screening with Leifer, Cardinal Dolan, Neary and Neary’s daughter Una Neary, one of Neary’s four children and a managing director at Goldman Sachs. Neary’s four children—Patrick, Ann Marie, Eileen and Una—all attended Catholic schools from elementary school through college, and all will be at the screening along with Neary’s eight grandchildren.

“It’s going to be a great night,” Jimmy Neary said. “From what I heard, (the documentary) was nicely done.”

Neary said he’s not ready to give up his daily routine of greeting and interacting with patrons at Neary’s, which is located on East 57th Street in Manhattan. He takes very little time off from the restaurant, which is closed only on Christmas Day.

“I wouldn’t give up this life for all the money in the world. I really love it,” Neary said.

“I wake up in the morning and can’t wait to get here. It’s been a fabulous life.”