Irish Scene November December 2018

Registered with Australia Post PP100003914

Vol 21 Number 1

November/December 2018

IN THIS ISSUE...

• Big Tom in Top 10 • Binny Foley – Boxer • Daniel O’Donnell review • Duffy House – Wanneroo • Fenian's Pub proud past • Gael's in the Sun • Isaac’s visit to memorial • Jim McKiernan Tributes • Message from Ambassador • Message from Hon Consul • Swan Valley Sisters

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BAGGAGE (UNACCOMPANIED) 86 Aust. International Express 9243 0808 65 Exportair Tel: Geoff 9477 1080 BUTCHERS 48,49,95 McLoughlin’s Meats Tel: 9249 8039 70 Meat Connoisseur Tel: 9309 9992 CAFE/DELI: 89 Avoka Cafe 6406 2336 41 Ma Mooney’s Sandwich Bar Tel: 9221 4872 57 Tina's Place an Sibin 0426 913 084 CELEBRANT: Marian Bryne Tel: 0410 345 224 COMMUNITY GROUPS: 31 Australian Irish Heritage Assoc 44 Irish Families in Perth 39,81 The Claddagh Assoc: Tel 9345 1713 PROPERTY DEVELOPERS: 34 Tyrone Developments Tel: 9582 2186 ENTERTAINMENT: 35 Fiddlestick - David 0413 259 547 Fiona Rea Music 0404 831 445 FREIGHT HANDLERS: 86 Australian International Express 9243 0808 65 Exportair - Tim Hawdon Tel: 9477 1080 FUNERALS: McKee Funerals Tel: 9401 1900 IMMIGRATION ADVICE: 9 EasiVisa: Carol-Ann Lynch 9429 8860 IRISH FOOD & GIFTS: Clonakilty Black Pudding 32 Taste Ireland JEWELLERS: 21 Tighe Jewellery: Graham 0414 309274 MECHANICS: 1 Killarney Autos - Neil 0439 996 764 BVM Autos - Mike 0413 889 501 Tri Colour Autos Tel: Sean 0402 638 221

PUBS, CLUBS & RESTAURANTS: 57 An Sibin Tel: 9328 8930 Albion Hotel 9384 0021 Celtic Club, West Perth Tel: 9322 2299 23 Durty Nelly’s, Perth Tel: 9226 0233 14 Fenian’s/Novotel Tel: 9425 1634 11 Five 6 Eight Tel: 9325 4341 60 Irish Club of WA, Subiaco Tel: 9381 5213 7 JB O’Reilly’s, Leederville Tel: 9382 4555 25 Masonmill Gardens - Tel: 9293 5112 33 Paddy Malone’s Joondalup Tel: 9300 9966 2 Rosie O’Grady’s Northbridge 9328 1488 21 The Mighty Quinn, Tuart Hill Tel: 9349 9600 56 Woodbridge Hotel, Guildford Tel: 9377 1199 REAL ESTATE: Limnios Property Mike Moore 9328 3866 Professionals Kelly Team Tel: 9344 5544 RESTAURANTS 23 Avoka Tel: 6406 2336 17 Island on Elizabeth Tel: 9243 2711 ROOF PLUMBING Mick’s Maintenance 0418 917 050 SHOE REPAIR / NEW SHOES: 51 Reids Bootmakers: Tel 9361 5301 SOLICITORS & LEGAL: 17 Kavanagh Lawyers - 9218 8422 SPORT - CLUBS AND INFORMATION: 90,91 GAA - 0458 954 052 95 Irish Golf Club - Peter 0447 258 000 95 Lakelands Country Golf Club 9405 4888 94 Shamrock Rovers THEATRE: 77 Irish Theatre Players TRAVEL & TOURISM: 12 British Travel Tel: 9285 8182 TYRES, BATTERIES, BRAKES WHEELS:

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Page Index A View from Home 46 AIHA 31 All Souls Night 1957 71 Around the Irish Scene 87 Irish Seniors 68 Big Tom in Top 10 69 Binny Foley – Boxer 10 Book Reviews 74 Claddagh Association 81 Comhaltas Perth 51 Daniel O’Donnell review 83 Dermot’s Quiz 35 Duffy House – Wanneroo 85 Europa – Ciarain Hoey 12 Fenians Pub proud past 15 G’Day from Melbourne 45 GAA 90 Gaba Gubu 66 Gaelic Page 50 Gaels in the Sun 18 Goldfields Water Scheme 42 Henry Phillips – John Hagan 28 Irish Dancing 63 Irish Families in Perth 44 Irish folk on the train to Freo 86 Irish Golf Club 95 Irish Language Club 44 Irish Porter Cake Recipe 47 Isaac’s visit to memorial 40 IWAF 23 Jim McKiernan Tributes 36 Lumpers and Pete St John 84 Marguerite’s Recipes 16 Marty Green’s Mateship 58 Marty Power Book Review 41 Melbourne Film Festival 33 Message from Ambassador 53 Message from Hon Consul 53 Minute with Synnott 78 My Christmas Time 21 News from the Pub Scene 72 Our Heritage 55 Paula from Tasmania 76 Pension Woes – Peter Murphy 34 Remembrance Service 39 Rose of Tralee 64 Shamrock Rovers 94 St Patrick’s Day Parade 6 Swan Valley Sisters 52 The Law & Holy Orders 13 Tina’s Place at An Sibin 57 Tom Cosgrove Greenbushes 4 Tony Synnott replies 79 Ulster Rambles 54 WAGS 82 William Lane Milligan 26 Word Weaving – Bill Daly 30

A shamrock amongst the bushes

By Lloyd Gorman

A return trip from Pemberton took a turn to another destination of sorts for Fred Rea when he was passing through Greenbushes 250 kilometres south of Perth and Fremantle and 90 kms south east of Bunbury - earlier this year.

A Celtic cross headstone caught Fred’s attention and piqued his interest. The inscription read: “Fond memory of Uncle Tom Cosgrove Born Ireland 1838 passed away February 1928 Aged 90 Yrs.” Fred, being Fred, wanted to know more about this man who he quickly established had more than a bit to do with the nearby Shamrock Hotel. Back in Perth he researched this Tom Cosgrove and discovered a fascinating Irish character in deep Western Australian territory.

Thomas was a twin - to Martin - born in the middle of the Irish Famine, on 13 November 1846 in Coolboreen, Kilcomentry, Kilnarath,

Owney & Arra, Co. Tipperary, to farmer Patrick Cosgrove and Mary, nee Ryan. Records show he was baptised on the same day at Ballinahinch and Killoscully in Tipperary and that the family lived in Coolboreen. For some as yet unknown reason Thomas, at the advanced age of 40 migrated to Australia. He spent the first 15 years in the eastern states and the last 35 years of his life in Western Australia, particularly in Greenbushes.

In August 1903 the Western Mail reported that in the Greenbushes Police Court Thomas Cosgrove who held a wine and beer licence, was charged with a breach of the Wines, Beer and Spirit Sales Act. He was fined $30 and the court ordered the immediate cancellation of his licence. This might have been a set back to Cosgrove, but it did not stop his ambitions to be a publican as we will see in a moment. But Cosgrove also had 4

other business interests in the area too. Greenbushes was set up in 1888 as a mining town, after surveyors found deposits of tin there just two years earlier. It took its name from the bright green bushes that stood out against the native grey gum trees. The town went through a boom until about 1893 when the international price of tin slumped, and forestry was ramped up as another source of employment and income. But even well after the boom years there was a strong interest in mining, including by Cosgrove. We know that in 1912 he and another man (John Walter) applied for a mineral lease under the Mining Act of 1904 for “ground” to be known as “Shamrock”. Shamrock was an area of about 22 acres in the Greenbushes. [Mining remains an important industry for Greenbushes today, perhaps even more so than in the past. Today, and for the last few decades it has been mined for Lithium, an essential resource needed to make a new generation of batteries necessary to power electric vehicles, and other devices, for an energy hungry world growing increasingly dependent on technology and devices. Lithium is a resource that can only be found in commercial quantities in parts of South America, and Australia, particularly Western Australia. Australia is on track to produce more than half of the world’s demand for Lithium in an expansion that could potentially dwarf the state and country’s traditional mining sectors, such as iron and coal.]

Thomas Cosgrove placed a tenderers advertisement in the Bunbury Herald (dated 16 December 1903) called for the erection of a two storey brick public house at Greenbushes.

Builders had three days to get their bids in with the plans available for view at the newspaper’s offices.

Thomas and the Shamrock Hotel would be in the pages of the local newspapers for other reasons over the following years.

Almost exactly three years to the day later The Blackwood Times on 19 December 1906 had an article with the headline: “Sudden death at Greenbushes”. The article went on

to report the deceased was a patron of the hotel who was discovered in his room. “The death of the deceased was not unexpected” the paper reported. “For years he had been a confirmed drunkard and has gradually sunk from a good position to being a drunken sot.

The man carried on some sort of a business as a law clerk, but his death must have been a veritable relief to himself. To express regret at the demise of one whose life was shorn of all claim to respect of his fellow men would be hypocrisy.”

On 10 April 1907 the Blackwood Times reported that Cosgrove was summoned by the police for selling liquor “to a person not being a bona-fida traveller or a lodger”. Officers had raided the Shamrock Hotel through the back gate at 11 o’clock on a Sunday night. They found a man leaving the yard with a bottle of beer under his coat and took it from him before investigating the matter.

Cosgrove was the landlord but not

the barman on duty at the time.

“The complaint was dismissed on the grounds that “the complained under Section 61 is obscure and ambiguous”, the local press reported.

In November 1909 the Blackwood Times reported about a letter, and issue, that had been raised at a recent Greenbushes Local Board of Health meeting.

“My object in writing to you (the board)… is on behalf of Mr Thomas Cosgrove, licensee of the Shamrock Hotel, and owner of other property in Greenbushes,” wrote the president of the central board of health. “He pays a good amount in rates yearly, but his present complaint is in regard to a building close to his hotel - only a few feet from his bar door. It is an old rookery and ought to have been condemned long ago.

There is a man living there whose calling is a fish hawker and bottle collector, without any regard for keeping the place clean. You can quite judge what it is to be next door to the hotel in the winter time, all the refuse from the yard washes under the building, and in summer it is enough to create a plaque. It requires someone from your office to condemn the place. you have known me for years and know I would not write without just cause to do so.” The members of the board debated how bad or otherwise the other ‘premises’ was and in the end decided to send health officials into the property, with a copy of the president’s letter.

The following accounts of him were published in the Bunbury Herald in July 1910. “[Judge] Warden Owen struck a quaint witness at Greenbushes in old Tom Cosgrove, the other day. Tom is not a scholar and when a document was handed up to him he excused himself by remarking that he had not his glasses with him. “Then why have you left your glasses?” demanded the Warden. “Sure, your honour,” was the reply, “they were all wet on the counter and the barman was drying them as I left.”

That was settled.”

The Irishman and hotel owner was called as a witness in another local dispute, this time about mining. “Having given his evidence 5

he disappeared,” the Herald reported. “Subsequently Warden Owen wished to recall him, and a messenger was sent to the hotel.

“Divil a bit will I go back to the bully court,” exclaimed Tom, “so get out, me bould American boy”. This was reported to the Warden who remarked, “Here, constable Brown, just run down and bring Tom back with you and if he makes any fuss arrest him”. Cosgrove yielded to the extra pressure and arrived at the court all smiles and apologies.”

The Herald also printed this story about him. “Down Greenbushes way there is an hotelkeeper named Cosgrove, who has elevated thrift to a fine art. If he wishes to go to the opposite end of the town he takes the bye ways and lanes, but the other bonifaces, ever on the alert, see him afar off and lay traps for the ancient, but Tom is not to be caught in that way, not even when they coo for him to “come along and do it”.

Tom won’t drink outside his own hotel, and not music in it, and that is how he has lived to the ripe old age (as he claims) of 108 years. P.S - I haven’t seen his birth certificate but would write a bit off those figures by way of depreciation, just to allow for wear and tear. He was an old man. One who had weathered many storms and looked forward to a few more sturdy winters. Probably because it was a very cold night up here on the top of the Darling Range, as they talked round the fire over a hot toddy, that conversation took an Antarctic drift, and someone mentioned he would like a trip with Captain Scott’s expedition.

“I wouldn’t mind going”, said the ancient (Cosgrove), “but you can’t get a decent drink anywhere near the South Pole”. The statement was doubled- doubted, and reasons were asked in substantiation. “Well, you see,” the Old Bird replied, “if you want a drink down there you would have to bite a piece off and that won’t not satisfy me”. Then there was a laugh, and one of the company broke in with: “why, you old silly, you only drink whisky, and spirits won’t freeze”. “Then I join Captain Scott,” was the venerable person’s firm decision. Chilblains and a cold in the head have delayed

Do They Miss Me at Home?

packing up arrangements, however, to date.”

The WA Record reported about the confirmation of a small group of local children at Greenbushes in March 1912. “Early in the afternoon His Lordship [the Bishop], accompanied by Father Reidy, Father Brenna and Mr E Mc Alinden, motored to Greenbushes arriving just in time for a luncheon neatly laid out at the Shamrock Hotel, and presided over by that goodnatured, cheery, and inimitable Tipperary man, Tom Cosgrove. “Arrah, sure,” said Tom, “you are as welcome as the flowers in May, and ‘tis I am the happy man today”. We knew that he meant every world of it and our assurance was confirmed by Tom’s laughing eyes and gripping handshake. It was well that we accepted his invitation and arrived in time; for we had in his own word that if we forgot to come he’d make us remember it the longest day we lived. And weren’t we glad to meet Tom. Things have gone up and down at the Bushes time after time, men have come and men have gone, but Tom has survived it all he is still there to the good, and as happy as a king, as gay as a child and as fresh as a daisy. And as one of our company said to him in Irish - “May he be seven times better this day twelve months!”.

A few years later (March 18, 1916) Greenbushes and Tom Cosgrove were at the centre of another event in support of the church. This time it was a farewell function for a Father Reidy who was making a trip to Ireland after five and a half years at the parish. The WA Record reported: “The convent school children presented the following most attractive programme of elocutionary, dramatic and musical items, to which parents and friends were invited: - Song, “Song that reaches Irish hearts,” boys, song “Someday I’ll wander back again,” girls, musical dialogue, “The Lord and the Beggar,”…girls recitation, “The wearing o’ the Green,” Miss C. Quirk, song, “Just to pay our respects to Tom Cosgrove,” boys recitation, “Do they miss me at home”…

The various accompaniments were played by Miss Clarrie Philips and excited favourable comment, whist the song referring to Tom Cosgrove created a furore, and is now in great demand.”

by Caroline Atherton Briggs Mason

Do they miss me at home, do they miss me?

‘T would be an assurance most dear To know that this moment some loved one Was saying, “Oh, were she but here!”

To know that the group at the fireside Were thinking of me as I roam,— Oh yes, ‘t would be joy beyond measure, To know that they missed me at home!

When twilight approaches,—the season That ever was sacred to song,— Does some one repeat my name over, And sigh that I tarry so long?

And is there a chord in the music That’s missed when my voice is away?

And a chord in each heart that awaketh Regret at my wearisome stay?

Do they place me a chair near the table When evening’s home-pleasures are nigh, And candles are lit in the parlor, And stars in the calm azure sky?

And when the good-nights are repeated, Does each the dear memory keep, And think of the absent, and waft me A whispered “Good-night” ere they sleep?

Do they miss me at home, do they miss me, At morning, at noon and at night?

And lingers one gloomy shade round them That only my presence can light?

Are joys less invitingly welcomed, And pleasures less dear than before, Because one is missed from the circle,— Because I am with them no more?

Oh yes—they do miss me! Kind voices Are calling me back as I roam, And eyes have grown weary with weeping, And watch but to welcome me home!

Sweet friends, ye shall wait me no longer, No longer I ‘ll linger behind; For how can I tarry, while followed By watchings and pleadings so kind?

The sun had set with it`s golden rays And the bitter fight was o’er Our brave boys sleep beneath the clay On this earth, they are no more The moon shone over the battlefield Where a dying rebel lay His arms were crossed and his body stretched His life blood flowed away In silence they lowered him into the grave To rest ’til his reckoning day Sean Treacy who died, his home to save In Tipperary so far away From Tipperary so far away

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A teacher on behalf of the school children presented Fr Reidy with a travel bag and umbrella. “During the evening the genial Tom Cosgrove, on behalf of the parishioners, presented Fr Reidy with a purse of sovereigns. In making the presentation Tom waxed eloquent indeed, and proved himself an orator of the highest grade, but his well known brogue thickened to a great extent as he referred to the many glories of the “ould sod”, to which our pastor is returning after so long an absence.

He feelingly spoke of the arduous labours and unfailing good cheer of the guest and also extended the people’s hearty welcome to Father Lyons. Messers Prideaux, Crawford [Bridgetown] and O’Shea also paid tributes.

Miss Jessie Arkley touched all hearts by her

magnificent rendering of that grand old recitations “Morning on the coast of Ireland”. Father Lyons expressed his sincere thanks for the welcome and dancing with much vigour and good fellowship was carried on till the early hours.”

Cosgrove was instrumental in Greenbushes getting a Catholic Church. A few years before building the Shamrock Hotel he acted as guarantor for the construction of the church.

We also know from published accounts of payments into the Irish Self Determination Fund in 1920 that Cosgrove (and Fr Reidy) were amongst the many West Australian’s who contributed to the cause!

In 1926 (according to a piece in the Bunbury Herald) the Licenses Reducation Board decided that two hotels were enough for Greenbushes and delisted two existing ones. But the changes also introduced new obligations on the hotels that were allowed to remain open.

“Thomas Cosgrove of the Shamrock Hotel, must provide a new dining room, kitchen, scullery, and pantry on the ground floor,” the newspaper reported.

“Five new bedrooms must be installed and two bathrooms as well as electric light.”

Tom Cosgrove’s did not live long after this, he died in March 1928. The South Western Times reported the following: A resident of Greenbushes for the past thirty years and one of its best-known identities was Mr. Thomas Cosgrove who passed away in hospital in Bunbury on Saturday after passing his 90th milestone.

The deceased was the licensee of the Shamrock

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Hotel. Somewhere about three years ago he had the misfortune to have a fall and from then until his death he was compelled to take life very quietly. The funeral took place at Greenbushes on Monday afternoon, the remains being interred in the R.C. (Roman Catholic) portion of the Greenbushes cemetery.”

The headstone on Cosgrove’s grave that caught Fred’s eye was added some time later, probably during the 1970s. “Mum always told me that uncle Tom wanted a Celtic Cross on his grave,” Patrick Cosgrove told Fred. “We always referred to him as Uncle Tom, I never met him, he was gone long before I came along. He was the uncle of my father. I thought that for mum [Ruby Kiely] to tell me that she must have felt strongly about it and when the time was right I went looking for his grave and put it on.”

The Celtic Cross and the Shamrock Hotel are just two of the endearing marks this charismatic Irishman has left a mark on the town of Greenbushes.

We would like to thank Matt Falvey who helped in the family history research for this story.

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St Patrick's Day Festival WA 2019

Saturday 16th March 2019!

Come along to the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the southern hemisphere!

Invitation to join in on

The biggest Irish Day of the Year

There will be a wonderful parade through Leederville again in 2019, so get your creative thinking caps on and contact us. If you are a sporting club/bookclub/ in a band/knitting ninja’s anything interesting that will add to the colour and vibrancy of the parade on the day...

directly on 0458 759 931 to get an application in and your floats made...

The theme this year is ‘Family’ (but if you want to march in the parade dressed as the Easter Bunny just paint the eggs green and off you go!), and everything to do with adding to Irish culture and sense of belonging and community within Perth,

Contact: niamhstpatsfestival@gmail.com or call

8

where most attending will be spending their immediate future!

We desperately need sponsors to help out and get this event happening. Without companies and individuals helping it cannot happen. Our Goal again is $150,000 this year so dig deep and help.

Our White Collar Boxing event tickets go on sale from 1st November and please support by booking a table. It will be a great night!

We are in need of a major sponsor for our Gala Ball 16th February. If you require any information, please comtact Tom Tierney for details.

Our Parade and Family Fun Day planning is well under way and it's all free thanks to our sponsors and through our Committee’s hard work through the year.

Thanks to all who help!

Thanks to our sponsors, thank you, because without you this cannot happen, so a pat on the backs for all who help.

Everyone involved will definitely get something back and be thanked by us the committee and more importantly on the day by the pride and smiles on the kids and participant's faces.

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Go raibh mile maith agat!

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Consultations - $169 (Written advice provided)

Book online or call 9429 8860 www.easivisa.com

Punching above his weight is what Binny does

By Fred Rea/Lloyd Gorman

“I look the man in the eye and say to him, “you can’t knock me out! It’s the rebel in me, the Cork gene is there alright.”

Binny Foley was born in Cork but spent 20 years living in Naas, Co. Kildare, a stint in Limerick as well as in some of the world’s danger spots, including Lebanon, Syria and Israel, before coming to Australia ten years ago.

A few years ago his life changed radically when he decided to indulge an interest he had harboured all his life.

“About three years ago I saw it advertised that the Claddagh Association were sponsoring a white collar boxing fund-raising event so I went down to it. I always wanted to be a boxer you know, I won’t lie. I’ve always had a fighter in me, but this time they decided to put rings, a referee and rules around it and over the last three years its just taken over my life, I’ve become addicted. I’ve had two white collar fights through Ringside, I’ve had one as an amateur and now I’ve had four and I’ve never lost, I’m still undefeated. The structure and benefits it has brought to my life I couldn’t describe. I was a wild card and this just brings it all into line for me. I have achieved far more than I ever dreamt.”

Binny is a brickie by trade but works as a rigger with an Irish company in Perth. “I’m a rigger but I don’t rig the boxing matches, I’ve had that one thrown at me a few times alright,” he laughed.

The large Irish icon tattooed on his chest is a tribute to his father, the reason why he has lived in some of the world’s most unlikely locales. “He’s 10 10

an officer in the Irish army, the emblem is a dedication to him.”

Binny was born to fight and his natural style of boxing is attracting attention in the sport, and a loyal following of fans. Spectators to his fights at Metro City in Northbridge tend to congregate at nearby Rosie O’Grady’s before and after the fight.

“I have promoters who love it as well,” he added. “They love the crowd I attract. You know, I’m not the greatest boxer in the world, far from it. The Irish community does genuinely get behind me and the numbers I pull in are far greater than boxers who are far more superior to me and they love the noise and atmosphere we create when I fight. It blows me away.

Binny fights at Welterweight and describes himself as being “57 kilos of utter Irish idiot”.

“When the bell goes I find peace inside the ring,” he said. “People say how does that make sense, but it does to me. I find freedom in there.

I’ve won all my fights on points. I’ve been lucky. I enjoy the war. I would rather go four hard rounds than go in and knock somebody out in the first round. I haven’t had any easy ones. They’ve all been good tough fights but at my age, 37, everyone I’m fighting is younger than me. I’ve become accustomed to it and I have the reputation of being able to walk through just about anything. I have that Irish mentality of ‘You will not beat me”. I’m a brawler rather than an artistic boxer, its what sells me to people, but its also a strength. I am what I am, I don’t go in and try to be a boxer. I just go in and scrap it out.”

Binny draws inspiration from his favourite boxer, who fought an Irish fighter in a legendary contest.

“Arturo Gatti - aka Thunder - was a Canadian who fought Micky Ward in probably the most famous boxing round ever, round nine. It was a complete slug fest, I love him - Micky Ward - but Gatti was just ultimate blood and guts. He never stopped, he just kept going, its kind of the embodiment of what I do.”

While it may have been in him Binny still had to prove that he was

up to the challenge. “My parents were due to fly out to watch my first fight and a week before I broke my hand,” he said. “But at that moment I broke my hand before the amateur fight I decided if I’m doing it again I have to go back and do it professional, one last time, one last shot, go for the top. I went to the promoter and he looked at me like I was a madman and said: “Right, you’re 34 years of age, you’ve a broken hand, you’ve won one amateur fight and you want to turn professional?”, and I said “Yeah, that’s right!,” and he said “You know what, I believe you, I’ll give you your shot!”, and he did and he hasn’t regretted it one bit.”

Binny has no regrets himself. “At my age I was never going to conquer the world, but I have conquered mine, that’s how I see it. I’ve done everything I could and I’ve lived my dream.”

Binny works hard to keep that dream alive. He has trained with world heavyweight champion Lucas Big Daddy Browne and works out at the NYX Gym which is a stable for several other professional fighters. “I train with the best and I get the best out of me.”

The Irish Philosophy

“There are only two things to worry about: Either you are well or you are sick.

If you are well, Then there is nothing to worry about.

If you are sick, There are two things to worry about: Either you will get well or you will die.

If you get well, There is nothing to worry about. if you die, there are two things to worry about.

Either you will go to heaven or hell.

If you go to heaven, There is nothing to worry about.

But if you go to hell, you’ll be so damn busy shaking hands with your friends. You won’t have time to worry.

So why worry?” ~ Author Unknown ~

11

By Ciarain Hoey

Earlier on this year I had the privilege of travelling for six weeks across six countries in Europe.

Three weeks was travelling with a friend and the other half was solo. Throughout the six countriesNetherlands, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany and Spain. I found each city had their own unique vibe which shows the diversity of cultural behaviours and traditions. In each country I attempted to learn a few phrases and basic manners which was quite tricky to remember!

The bike culture in Amsterdam is thriving with more bikes then people; I noticed quite a few elderly adults cruising around on bikes.

This could be the secret to longevity in maintaining mobility without any assistance! Berlin’s bike culture was impressive too, I felt bike cities within Europe had a positive and healthy atmosphere. Europe has delicious foods throughout; in Amsterdam I had the stroopwaffel in the famous Albert Cuyp market, delicious kurtoscalacs (chimney cakes) in Prague, pierogi in Poland, plenty of goulash in Budapest and paella around Spain.

Now looking at buildings and statues isn’t my cup of coffee. It was amazing to think that certain landmarks and structures were several hundred years old! In addition to the level of detail to symmetry, aesthetics, sculptures and artistry within the architecture was baffling. On a contemporary level Budapest has a 3D museum with creative and hilarious optical illusions.

For any football fan witnessing Messi turn it on at Camp Nou with two goals in game finishing 8-2; consisting of a star-studded line up of Phillipe Coutinho, Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic and Jordi Alba. The quality of passing and timing of runs within the Barca team was

outstanding and felt instinctual. In the north of Spain, I secured tickets to see Athletic Bilbao v Real Madrid; the Bilbao fans from the Basque region were loco leaving a powerful impression. Their 12th man presence contributed to a 1-1 draw between them and the Galacticos.

An honourable mention to Marcelo with his class tekkers, defensive work from Sergio Ramos and control in the midfield by Casemiro in the second half.

After visiting Auschwitz, the Communist Museum in Prague and Jewish Memorial in Berlin, it truly hits home how brilliant my living conditions are and overall quality of life. I am very lucky to be living in a time where I am not being marginalized by nationality or religious beliefs.

Visiting these places made me realise how seeing your family and friends on a regular basis and access to safe and hygienic amenities is overlooked and easily taken for granted.

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12

The Law & Holy Orders

By Marie Moloney

Memories are created every day.

Gazing into a large box of chocolates a few days ago searching for my favourites, I had a sudden thought “It would be wonderful to do this with memories”.

I was eighteen years old when I left Dublin to live in London. To get my mother’s consent for this move I had agreed to live in a hostel for girls run by The Sisters of Charity.

As the train chugged slowly into Euston station at about 7.30am on that Saturday morning in 1957 fear and excitement battled for supremacy in my head. Excitement won, I jumped to my feet retrieved my case from the overhead rack and made my way along the passage, then stepped on to the platform for my first view of this gateway to my new wonderful life. I followed the signs to the tube station, enquired what train to get, bought a ticket and made my way to West Hampstead. The hostel for girls was situated in a beautiful big old house on West End Lane. I was

allocated a bed in a dormitory with four other girls.

The food was good, a healthy filling breakfast in the morning and a substantial cooked evening meal.

If we were guilty of any discretion or rule breaking, punishment was household tasks on Saturday morning. The nuns in charge of those tasks rarely needed to do any of them themselves, as there was always a list of us who, by the end of each week, were guilty of some wrong doing.

I got a job in a local factory which was all I was qualified for at the time. Also, a Saturday job in Lyons Tearooms to have enough income to survive and send money home. I also enrolled in evening classes at the local technical college to learn book keeping and typing skills to improve my future work opportunities.

Doors at the hostel were locked at 10.00pm weeknights and 10.30 pm weekends. Being locked out was a common occurrence for many of us. The local police station was situated just a few meters away from the hostel. We would move along and stand outside the police station. This attracted the attention of the police as it was classed as loitering which was an offence. As the officer in charge was reluctant to have several young women in the cells for the night he would phone the Reverend Mother, she would then be forced to open up and let us in. Now when watching old repeats of the English TV show Heartbeat it reminds me of one or two of those police officers. Elizabeth, one of the girls who shared the room I slept in was a local. I don’t know why she was living at the

13

hostel, she was a friendly girl who took me around parts of London.

Saturday afternoons she would say “Come on Marie lets go round The Elephant”. Once there, we would visit friends of hers who lived in the largest block of council flats I have ever seen. Those outings included visits to other parts of the East End. Remembering the many hours we spent walking the streets of Poplar, I find it difficult to equate this with the rejuvenation of the area now called Canary Wharf. A favourite Sunday outing was a visit to Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park. There, brave souls with strong beliefs on a variety of subjects, would stand on a box and share these with anyone prepared to stop and listen. On one occasion I even got to watch the Harlem Globetrotters playing basketball on Ice at Haringey Arena London. Six months after arriving in London I moved to a bedsit in Kilburn. During my years of living in Kilburn, I sometimes witnessed Irish builder’s labourers being picked up each morning for transportation to McAlpine’s building sites. Whenever I hear the song McAlpine’s Fusiliers I think of those labourers. I also frequented a couple of Irish dance halls in the area, sadly I never did learn to dance.

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This Fenian has a PROUD PAST and bright future

by Fred Rea/Lloyd Gorman

New life is being breathed into a Perth institution with an Irish identity.

“The plan for the next 12 months with Fenians is to bring it back to its original state,” Derek Walsh told Fred Rea on a recent visit to the ground floor watering hole in the Novotel Hotel on Adelaide Terrace.

“The reason we went with the black is because if you look at Irish pubs nowadays they’re all modernising.

We don’t want it to be an old fashioned dingy place, we want it to look modern but also to keep its Irish theme.

Being the original Irish pub in Perth we want people to come to us.”

Fenians was established in 1986 and was the first modern Irish pub to open in Perth. A lot of pride and effort went into creating the venue but time takes its toll. “The paint work (on the outside of the pub) looks like its was there from the original days of Fenians,” added Derek, who is the Novotel’s food and beverage manager. “When we started to remove some of the paint we realised the old Fenians signage had actually been etched into it, it wasn’t painted or stuck on, it was etched in, somebody must have spent hours upon hours in 1986 etching in the signage.”

The pubs interior was given a facelift several years ago but it is now in line for a more significant makeover.

“The market has changed and you don’t have so many people just going drinking anymore, families come now and food is a massive part of what people want so we looked at what that meant to us and what Fenians needed to catch up with todays times. Our first move was the outside, to clean up the paintwork and some new signage, get the windows redone and a general good clean up. But we are now looking at the interior and we are looking at repainting everything inside and adding some lovely brickwork around the fireplaces to bring them back to life.”

New furniture, decor and carpeted areas to give the place a warmer, more comfortable feel are also on the cards, as is a possible relocation of the stage where live bands play.

“Our focus then is food, our beverage is excellent and our pint of Guinness is one of the best in the city,” added Derek. “Food is our main concept and we are keeping with our traditional dishes - such as Kilkenny batter fish and chips, beef and Guinness pie, Mick (McLoughlins) Campion Irish sausages with mash, gravy and peas - but we are also adding to the menu. One of the new offerings we have 15

come up with is ‘The Guy Tea’. It can feed six to eight people and it has three tiers, with Nachos on the top level, sliders on the second tier and deep fried calamari and other hot food on the bottom tier. We’ve already launched that and have had a lot of people coming back to say it was a different concept and they enjoyed it.”

A serving of good sized chicken Stitzel’s that can be loaded with ten different toppings (which all have movie inspired names) are also proving to be a box office smash. Jugs of beer at $25 a pop and enough drink for four pints are also going down well with punters.

“The chicken schnitzel’s are flying out the door, the jugs too. It's going quite well, so far so good.”

With a pool table, televised sports events, regular live music, a reputation for a good pint, meal and place to meet Fenians has always had something to offer.

Experienced bar manager Tony Tibbs (formerly of Rosie O’Grady’s in Fremantle) is also on hand to make sure the place runs smoothly and lives up to expectations. Perth’s Liverpool Football Suppoert’s Club recently made the venue their meeting point for games and events. (The Kopites - as Liverpool’s fans call themselves - have also adopted Pete St. John’s Fields of Athenry as an unofficial anthem). St Patrick’s Day is always a big occasion at Fenians and next year especially so with a whole weekend of celebrations and festivities in store.

Fenians also has the benefit of being a part of the Novotel Hotel and everything it has to offer, including a restaurant and function rooms, including the Grand Ballroom where the Perth Rose of Tralee is often selected as part of the Gala Rose Ball.

Sherry Trifle

rish Recipes from Marguerite's

Ingredients (Serves 6) 200g Sponge cake, broken into pieces 300ml cream Toasted flaked almonds, to decorate For the custard: 300ml milk 100ml cream 1 vanilla pod split in half length-ways and seeds scraped out 5 egg yolks 4 tbsp caster sugar 2 tsp cornflour For the fruit: 100ml sweet sherry 100g caster sugar 1 vanilla pod split in half length-ways and seeds scraped out 1 x 500g bag of frozen fruits of the forest Method: 1. To make the custard, put the milk, cream and vanilla pod and seeds in a heavy-based pan set over a gentle heat and cook until it nearly reaches the boil – but don’t allow to boil.

2. Meanwhile, put the egg yolks, sugar and cornflour in a large bowl and whisk together until pale and thickened.

3. Remove the hot milk and cream mixture from the heat and slowly whisk it into the egg mixture through a fine sieve until smooth.

4. Discard the vanilla pod and pour back into the pan, then set over a gentle heat. Cook, without allowing it to boil, until the custard coats the back of a wooden spoon, stirring continuously.

5. Remove from the heat and leave to cool, covered with a piece of cling film pressed directly on the surface of the custard to prevent a skin from forming on top.

6. Meanwhile, prepare the fruit. Put the sherry in a large pan with the sugar and vanilla seeds and bring to the boil.

7. Reduce the heat and simmer for 4–5 minutes, until syrupy, stirring occasionally. Stir in the frozen fruits of the forest and set aside until cooled, stirring occasionally. The fruits should defrost naturally in the hot syrup but still hold their shape 8. Scatter the Sponge cake over the base of a 1.5 litre glass serving bowl. Spoon over the fruit and cover with the cooled custard. Chill for 1 hour, until the custard sets a little firmer, or up to 24 hours is fine.

9. When ready to serve, whip the cream in a bowl until you have achieved soft peaks. Put spoonfuls on top of the custard, then gently spread with a palette knife or the back of a spoon to cover the custard completely (or you can use a piping bag) 10. Sprinkle over the toasted flaked almonds and serve.

Sausage Rolls

Ingredients (Makes 16) 500g good-quality pork sausage meat 50g sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and finely chopped 1 small onion finely chopped 4 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese 3 tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 500g (18oz) puff pastry, thawed if frozen Plain flour, for dusting 1 egg1 tbsp milk2 tsp poppy seeds Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper Method: 1.Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F). Line two baking sheets with non-stick baking paper 2.To make the filling, put the sausage meat in a bowl and mix with the sun-dried tomatoes, onion, Parmesan and parsley. Season to taste 3.Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured work surface to make a long oblong shape that measures 35cm x 33cm (14in x 13in), then cut the pastry in half again length-ways. Form half of the sausage meat filling into a long log shape that will run the whole length of the pastry, then put it on top of the pastry, making sure it’s approximately 5mm from the edge.

4.Break the egg into a bowl and add the milk and a pinch of salt, then lightly beat together to make an egg wash 5.Brush the sides of the pastry with the egg wash, then fold the pastry over to enclose the filling and press down well to seal the edges with a fork. Repeat with the rest of the pastry and filling 6.Cut each long sausage roll into eight bite-sized pieces, trimming down and discarding the ends.

Brush the sausage rolls with the rest of the egg wash, then sprinkle each one lightly with poppy seeds and arrange on the lined baking sheets.

7.Bake in the oven for 15–20 minutes, until cooked through and lightly golden, swapping the baking sheets around on the oven shelves

Marguerite O’ Dwyer Pantry Dolls 0405 680 480 www.facebook.com/ pantrydolls/

16

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17

Gaels in the Sun

by Danny Cusack In March 1968 the then All-Ireland football champions Meath undertook an historic three week tour of Australia. They played five games of Gaelic rules against local Aussie rules teams; the Royal County emerged undefeated from these encounters.

Shortly afterwards Meath coach/ manager Peter McDermott produced Gaels in the Sun, a souvenir booklet of that historic trip. Earlier this year a Golden Jubilee edition of this publication was produced, with additional material prepared by former RTE broadcaster and writer John Quinn, native of Ballivor and author of Goodnight Ballivor, I’ll Sleep in Trim: a Childhood Memoir.

This new edition includes the personal memories of a number of survivors of that historic tour, based on interviews by Quinn.

In 1967 the Royal County won the All-Ireland championship. In October of that year the Galahs, a team of Aussie rules players captained

by Melbourne’s Ron Barassi, toured Ireland. Before a crowd of more than 23,000 people at Croke Park the Galahs trounced the All-Ireland champions in a Gaelic rules game 3-16 to 1-10. The overall success of the 1967 tour provided the impetus for the Meath tour of Australia the following year.

The touring party consisted of fifty-two in all – players, officials, family members, friends and supporters.

Prominent personalities included the chairman of the Meath County Board Fr Packie Tully, Senator Jack Fitzgerald and Trim solicitor and local identity Michael Regan, who is still going strong in his home town.

Peter Darby captained the team which included amongst others the legendary Pat ‘Red’ Collier.

The first game of Meath’s Australian tour was played in searing heat on 9 March against a West Aus-

tralian team captained by the legendary Polly Farmer in front of approximately 13,000 people at Perth’s Leederville Oval.

It was refereed/umpired by none other than Dr Felix McKnight, a former Armagh GAA star, who had emigrated just a few years previously. Notwithstanding Felix’s undoubted impartiality the Royal County ran out the most comfortable of victors 6-6 to 0-3. Happily, Felix’s personal memories of the visit, included in the 1969 edition of Gaels in the Sun, are reproduced as a chapter in the current edition.

After Perth, the Meath team ventured on to Melbourne, then Sydney, then Adelaide and then Melbourne again – to a succession of victories.

The man in the cap Peter McDermott – the famous ‘man in the cap’ – was the driving force behind the tour. McDermott played on the victorious 1949 Meath All-Ireland team and captained the subsequent 1954 premiership team. He later went on to referee an All-Ireland final and to serve as Secretary of the Meath GAA Board. He also helped get the new Compromise Rules series underway in 1984. He lived out his later years in Navan and died in October 2011, aged 93. He was pre-deceased by his wife Brid, son Seán and daughter Maura. His surviving son Dermot still lives in Navan.

The re-issue of Gaels in the Sun happily coincided with the centenary year of McDermott’s birth. He was born on St Bridget’s Day (1 February) 1918. The new edition includes a special tribute to McDermott written for this anniversary.

Shortly after I first moved to Ireland in 1985, I had a short spell living in Navan. One day I went to visit Peter at his egg and poultry business down Bakery Lane off Trimgate 18 18

Street, the main thoroughfare in the town. I received a warm reception and a complimentary copy of Gaels in the Sun which – a little faded and tattered – lays beside me on the desk as I write, along with my shiny deluxe copy of the new edition.

Meath ‘Down Under’ I now have an interesting set of connections to relate.

The person who originally pointed me in Peter McDermott’s direction was Anna Lambe, an elderly lady who I met shortly after coming to Navan. Anna was a near neighbour of McDermott who lived at Brews Hill Navan, within a stone’s throw of the local GAA ground Pairc Tailteann. Anna passed away in 1988. Her daughter Eilish, who was very involved in fundraising for the 1968 tour, still lives in the family house.

Anna Lambe (nee Reilly) was a native of Shancor, Kilmainhamwood (about 15 miles north of Navan) where she was raised on a farm by her maternal uncle Andy Smith and wife after both of Anna’s parents died young.

In 1908 Andy’s brother Pat Smith and his friend from the neighbouring farm, Hughie Cusack (the author’s grandfather), emigrated together to Western Australia. By 1915 the two friends were again next door neighbours having built houses side by side at 156 and 158 York Street (formerly Gibney Street – after the

Cavan-born Archbishop of Perth Matthew Gibney) in the shadow of the Subiaco Oval and convenient to Hay Street’s Victoria Hotel. Both houses are still standing but have long passed out of the hands of the Smith and Cusack families.

By 1968 – the year of the Meath team’s visit – Pat Smith (by then aged 78) had been sixty years in Perth, with never a visit back to Ireland. The story is told how Pat turned up to the Meath team’s dressing-room at Leederville Oval on the day of the big game and enquired in a loud voice as to whether there was anyone from Kilmainhamwood present. Up piped the goalkeeper Seán McCormack who it so happens was a native of that parish.

The encounter was a timely one because Pat Smith died the very next year. Kevin Smith, a son of Pat, is currently living in retirement in the northern Perth suburb of Westminster, having taught for some years at Edith Cowan university and has worked one time for then Archbishop Foley of Perth.

Apart from being an indefatigable promoter of the cause of the blessed John Boyle O’Reilly, Anna Lambe was something of an Australophile, despite having never visited the country. In an edition of The Journal in 2000 I described her extended correspondence over many years with the likes of the late Dame Mary Durack and the late Fr Senan Moynihan.

Anna’s daughter Eilish Lambe has over many years maintained links by correspondence with her Smith relations in Western Australia and with other family connections in Tasmania. As a trainee nurse at Galway Hospital in the early 1960s Eilish knew Felix McKnight who was working there as a doctor prior to emigrating.

Eilish’s brother Nicholas Lambe (died 1989) named his first son Daniel McCartan after the star player of that name on the victorious 196061 Down All-Ireland team. Daniel McCartan was of course a brother of Felix’s wife Dr Delia McKnight (nee McCartan). Daniel’s brother James

and cousin Seán O’Neill also starred on that victorious Down side. James McCartan’s sons James and Daniel have both played on the Down team.

James Jnr is the current manager.

Daniel McCartan (Danny) Lambe, now aged 37, is currently living and working in Hong Kong.

The commemoration of the historic Meath tour of Australia of fifty years ago unlocks a host of interweaving connections between the McCartans, McKnights, McCormacks, Lambes, Smiths and Cusacks, all underlined by Felix’s prominent role in that and subsequent visits ‘down under’ by Irish GAA sides.

The chapter contributed by Felix to the original Gaels in the Sun (1968) - reproduced in the Golden Jubilee edition - further serves to underline those enduring connections.

Significantly, it also predates the development of Composite Rules as an alternative to both Gaelic and Australian Rules for subsequent Ireland-Australia encounters.

Surviving members of the 1968 team were invited to record something of their memories for the new edition. Contributors include the aforementioned Seán McCormack; Oliver Shanley and Mick O’ Brien.

McCormack, a retired mechanic, is still living at Kilmainhamwood. In fact, just a few years ago he won first prize in the Bard of Armagh competition to compose a humorous song. I have since heard him regale the audience with it at a ‘rambling house’ session in Gartlans of Kingscourt, a pub immortalised by 19

its appearance in the recent film The Irish Pub. Shanley, a Navan-based solicitor from Duleek, is the brother of Eamon Shanley (formerly a Perthbased academic) who used present an Irish programme on Fremantle FM radio in the early 2000s before retiring to the south-west. Mick O’Brien, now a retired teacher living at Johnstown, Navan, made several subsequent trips back to Australia.

Mick has also taken to writing up local GAA history; over the years I have often encountered him in the Meath Local Studies Library in Navan.

The Golden Jubilee edition of Gaels in the Sun was launched on 18 July last at the well-known Jack Quinn’s Scurlogstown Inn just outside Trim. Jack was another of the players on the 1968 touring team.

The book retails for €10 and may be obtained from: Dermot McDermott, McDermott Brothers, Bakery Lane, Trimgate Street, Navan, Co. Meath. Copies may also be purchased at newsagents and other shops in Navan, and elsewhere in the Royal County. If all else fails, readers make contact this writer and he will endeavour to arrange something: dannycusack55@gmail. com

Danny Cusack is a native of Perth who has lived in Ireland for many years. He currently resides in Kells, Co. Meath.

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My Christmas Time I closed my eyes and thought about Christmas long ago When I was just a little boy and my memories did flow Like sitting in the kitchen upon my Granny’s knee As she told me Christmas stories and sang Christmas songs to me The Christmas tree stood in the hall majestic and divine Every time I think of it I swear I smell the pine Decorations on the ceiling Holly hung from picture frames I wonder if I went back now would it all still look the same Then all of us excited as we climb the stairs to bed Like Baby Jesus we’d head off to rest our weary head Unable now to get to sleep emotion rising high As we look out of the window for a reindeer in the sky Then Daddy would shout up the stairs “I don’t want to hear a peep.

You know Santy he won’t come at all if you don’t go to sleep” We’d wake early in the morning and tiptoe down the stairs To look beneath the Christmas tree to see what’s waiting there

We’d get everything we hoped for Mammy got the orders right She must have had no sleep at all wrapping presents through the night We’d sing songs about the Jingle Bells as the parcels we did pass Then we’d all get dressed in our Sunday best and head off to Christmas Mass These memories they stay with me all throughout the years My Christmas time when just a boy was always full of cheer At Christmas Time—My Christmas Time Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way Oh to be that child just one more time at my Mams on Christmas Day © Tom Grace December 2017 21

Christmas Turkey, Moore Street in Dublin It was Christmas Eve in Moore Street and a woman was anxiously picking over the last few remaining turkeys in the hope of finding a large one.

In desperation she called over the trader and said, 'Scuse me missus do these turkeys get any biggur?'

'No, mam, she replied, 'de're all dead.'

22

Ireland Western Australian Forum

Promoting business, professional and cultural links between Ireland and Western Australia

IWAF welcomes minister at networking event

The Ireland-Western Australia Forum hosted another networking event on 29th October at the Stables Bar in Hay Street, Perth.

The event provided a platform for three inspirational people in the WA Irish community to tell their stories, reveal some of the secrets to their success and promote their endeavours within the business community of Western Australia.

The evening of business networking was also attended by visiting Minister Patrick O’Donovan, TD, and Irish Ambassador Breandán Ó Caollaí, where they heard some interesting Irish connections in the West Australian business community.

The IWAF Christmas drinks function will be held in Kidogo Arthouse in Fremantle in early December.

(L-R) Ireland's Ambassador to Australia, Breandán Ó Caollaí, Mark Black, IWAF, Patrick O’Donovan, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with special responsibility for Public Procurement, Jessica Stojkovski MLA, Stephen Dawson MLC Minister for Environment; Disability Services and Hon Irish Consul in Western Australia, Marty Kavanagh.

23

Irish Australian pension woes I emigrated from Ireland to Australia in the 1960s. It was during a period when the Irish economy was stagnant, and the Australian government was crying out for young willing and able workers. Being 19, and with no prospects ahead for me in Ireland, I jumped at the chance. Back then if you stayed two years and worked your arse off, you automatically became a permanent resident. I’ve never looked back.

I contemplated several times in taking-out Australian citizenship; however I just didn’t get around to it; being either too busy working; putting down roots; and building a life.

Recently I reached pension age and decided to retire from paid working life to care for my disabled wife. Expecting an Australian aged pension after nearly 50 years of paying tax (in Australia) I thought would be a cinch. Wrong. Why? Well it turns out the Irish and Australian governments some years ago entered into a reciprocal arrangement: should you have

worked more than a year in Ireland, you could therefore be entitled to an Irish pension (or part pension).

So when I applied for my Australian pension at Centrelink, they insisted I fill out an application for an Irish pension.

However, when I explained to Centrelink my working life in Ireland amounted to less than 2 years, and I preferred an Australian pension, it all then became rather complicated. According to Centrelink you don’t have a choice, and should you refuse to apply for an Irish pension, then you can say goodbye to an Australian one. Frustrated, I capitulated and filled out reams of forms for an Irish pension and posted them to Ireland’s Social Welfare Services.

In the meantime, I received an Australian pension on proviso should I receive an Irish (or part pension), I would then be obligated to pay Centrelink back the difference (imagine the paperwork).

It took almost a year to hear back from the Irish government. However, the information I received was extremely vague, and didn’t confirm on whether I’d qualify for an Irish pension; not the information I or Centrelink was seeking. The (unsigned) letter however did request my bank account details. In the meantime, Centrelink sent me a letter asking how my Irish pen24

sion application was proceeding, and should I fail to report an outcome within 3 weeks of receiving their letter, then I may lose my Australian pension.

I then wrote back to the Irish government seeking confirmation on whether I was entitled to an Irish pension (or part pension). I also sent them a copy of the Centrelink letter. Months have passed and I’ve yet to hear back from the Irish government. In the meantime, I’ve received more letters from Centrelink again threatening loss of my Australian pension should I fail to forward the information they are seeking. On top of that, I’ve been backwards and forwards (90km round trip) numerous times to my local Centrelink office explaining how I’m doing my best to satisfy both government’s requests.

All this has caused my wife and me much unnecessary stress. So beware those who may (for personal reasons) decide not to relinquish their Irish citizenship for an Australian one, because as the Australian government become more and more precious about what it is to be an Australian, your choice of retaining your ancestral heritage may (as you become closer to retirement age) become less and less. (Author’s name withheld on request).

Peter Murphy

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William Lane Milligan and early Western Australia (Part Two) by Peter Conole

Although William Milligan was officially only the military surgeon in Western Australia, he found it necessary to carry a double workload because of certain mishaps among the civilian medical personnel of the colony. For example, the colonial surgeon, Dr Charles Simmons, was required to move south and work at Port Leschenault and Augusta for quite some time. He was in poor health and died of that horrible disease consumption (tuberculosis) in October 1831.

His possible replacement, Dr John Prendergast Lyttleton, the assistant colonial surgeon, was passed over from some reason but continued to practice in Perth as a subordinate to Milligan. He moved to Albany in 1832 and died there in May 1835 (also of consumption). So until Dr Alexander Collie arrived in Perth to take up the position of colonial surgeon in May 1832 Milligan was Governor Stirling’s go to man on medical matters for two full years. For the record, as an army surgeon he was only paid half as much as his civilian counter-parts!

The reasons for Dr Collie’s delays are interesting. He explored the south-west late in 1829 and eventually obtained a land grant of 6000 acres. In June 1830 the governor sent him out to examine conditions in Thomas Peel’s not very successful settlement in the Murray District. Collie then took up another government post as Government Resident and Justice of the Peace at Albany (plus an additional 500 acre grant), all of which activities delayed his return to Perth. It sounds rather free-wheeling, but Stirling had to maximise the use of highly educated civilians any way he could.

Milligan may not have been too unhappy being left to his own devices in the colonial capital. He shone in his work at the marquee style temporary hospital in Cathedral Square and had a wonderful eye for detail.

For example, he was very well aware of the importance of weather patterns and reproduced complete meteorological reports of the colony for the years 18301833 in his most celebrated publication, of which more later. The interesting thing is that his friend Dr Collie, he of the rather complex career, had designed and put in place a weather report system that became operative

by March 1830.

Milligan and his family set up house on town lot 26, roughly the corner of St Georges Terrace and Mount Street. It took some time to build a cottage and in July 1830 he was still residing in the army officer’s quarters.

The aforesaid quarters were not uncomfortable and

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he was on amicable terms with the senior 63rd Regiment officer, Frederick Irwin. The dwelling eventually occupied by the medical man was close to what became Milligan Street in later years and the original walkway ran right down to the river. It stopped at the Terrace after Swan River reclamation work altered Perth’s landscape in the 1850s. In August 1830, in response to a plea of his own made on July 6, Milligan was given permission to operate as a private practitioner. That was a fair deal and helped boost his limited income.

Work at the hospital - and among settlers and soldiers in general - continued apace, but by the end of the year he knew only too well that better facilities were needed. In March 1831 the colonial authorities agreed to the building of a brick military hospital and provided 460 pounds for the work. The place opened in July 1831, with Milligan in charge, and provided care for military personnel and civilians alike. It was located just north of our current Government House.

Civilians had to wait until 1832 for separate facilities to be provided for them. After Dr Collie finally assumed his duties as the civilian medical man he leased a room for seriously ill patients in a largish building owned by George Embleton. The place is identifiable as the future Commercial Hotel of the 1840s. Collie’s professional position seems to have been under some kind of curse because, like his two predecessors, he contracted tuberculosis and died a lingering death in 1835.

Dr Milligan’s first serious effort to assess general conditions in this ‘brave new world’ of the distant south was revealed in his detailed Report on the Diseases of Perth, Western Australia from 1st March to 1st August 1830, a document submitted to Governor Stirling later in early August. Milligan covered a lot of ground and began by stating that settlers in the new colony were not in an enviable position because of the lack of shelter, the need to eat salted food and the fatigue of hard work even though the climate “is pleasant, appears healthy and favourable to European constitutions”.

Ordinary working class folk were more exposed to health risks than the “higher classes, who were comparatively speaking’, well lodged, well fed, less exposed to fatigue and not guilty of excess…”. By excess he meant heavy use of alcohol. The major health problems, some of which could only be treated effectively a century later, were dysentery, ophthalmia, various fevers and scurvy. One of the fevers may have been typhoid, which made its ugly appearance on board the vessel ‘Calista’ when it was sailing to the colony.

Parts of the report are quite harrowing. Physicians of that era were ‘close to the earth’ and not reticent when discussing various basic functions and problems of the human body. Ophthalmia was a dreadful ailment and the role of flies in causing the often frightful effects had not yet been identified. This writer would prefer to shield readers from Milligan’s description of the disease and his treatment of it and others. However, it is pleasing to note that he took great care to minimise discomfort and successfully treated all cases detected at an early stage.

Doctors of the time were well aware awful sanitary conditions posed a serious health risk and that poor diet played a major role in the spread of scurvy. In regard to the latter disease, Milligan knew what the problem was and how to solve it. He wrote up his findings both in the 1830 report and in an 1836 piece on the colony published in the journal of the Medical and Physical Society of Calcutta: “the labouring classes, as subject to the greatest privations, were of course the greatest sufferers…The remedies were lime juice, fresh animal and vegetable food, dry air, ventilation and cleanliness, wine and quinine”. Not exactly in line with modern medical solutions, but good for that era. Of 63 cases of scurvy treated directly by Milligan, only six ended in death.

In tracing the development of health conditions in the colony Dr Milligan had an excellent ally, the Reverend John Burdett Wittenoom, chaplain of the colony and the subject of a fairly recent and beautifully produced biography. As the sole fully-fledged Church of England man of the cloth available for duty Wittenoom conducted services alternately between Perth, Guildford and Fremantle each Sunday. He also collected a lot of data on births, deaths and marriages and included them in his great Register.

In later years, whilst working on his major study of the colony in the East India Company’s Madras presidency, Milligan noted that the annual tables “give some idea of the prevailing disease and mortality for each year, with the gradual decrease of sickness as the colony advanced”.

The level of detail in the tables is excellent and medical descriptions so explicit and precise that we may safely assume Wittenoom drew on Milligan’s knowledge for causes of death on many occasions. That particularly applies to the years 1830-1832, when Milligan was the only highly skilled medical specialist available.

Milligan of course, ever the gentleman, praised Wittenoom for his work and willingness to share information. The statistics are very revealing and reflect well on the efforts made by Governor Stirling and his subordinates to improve living conditions. The number of deaths from disease in Perth and Fremantle in the year 1830 was 70. The number fell to 32 in 1831, then to eight in 1832. Preventive measures devised by Dr Milligan may explain the rapid decrease. It is hard to account for the sudden increase to 15 deaths during 1833, but the really notable thing for that year is the complete absence of deaths from scurvy.

On December 31, 1831 Milligan sent a brief general report on the colony to Governor Stirling, a document reflecting his own favourable view of the place. He

claimed some folk suffering from illnesses when they left Britain “have recovered their health in a remarkable degree since their arrival”. He even suggested it would be a good place of residence for British folk recovering from illnesses contracted in India. Even more remarkably he noted that “no woman has died in childbirth in this colony since its commencement nor am I aware of any who did within a month after”.

That last comment will have resonated with Stirling, whose wife Ellen was delivered of a boy child (named William) in February 1831. It was a difficult birth and the infant died in April. Ellen was herself in a bad way after a troublesome delivery and was under the care of Dr Milligan until July. Such were the swings and roundabouts of Milligan’s great workload as the colonial man of medicine. In parenthesis, it is essential to mention that aboriginal people also benefitted from his professional skills. On one occasion, March 1833, feuding between indigenous groups ended in a surprise attack by one upon another. It resulted in the spearing of its leader (Munday) and several women. Milligan brought them all to the military hospital and treated their injuries successfully.

Despite his heavy professional work load and an obligation to maintain a dignified place in the upper levels of colonial society, Milligan had his private affairs to consider. Two daughters were born to him and Elizabeth Lane Milligan, namely Harriet (March 1832) and Maria (March 1834). The doctor also had land grants to consider. According to historian P.S.Drew he “either submitted his pension entitlement…to be taken out in land or was awarded an additional amount for medical services rendered, a not uncommon practice in that period” Milligan acquired 2060 acres in the Avon district in December 1830, a grant that was later managed for him by his friend Wittenoom. He took another grant on the coastal side of the Swan River above Guildford in October 1831. From early 1832 he was able to put some effort into developing his Swan allotments, probably with the aid of his nephew Francis Milligan. Frank Murphy presents However, professional life brought an end to all such activity. In September 1833 news arrived to the effect that the 63rd Regiment had been transferred from the new colony to India. An advanced party of officers and men from the 21st Regiment of Foot turned up in the same month. The Milligan family was soon on its travels again.

IRISH MUSIC • INTERVIEWS •

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Saturday 8am to 10am LOCAL & IRISH NEWS

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HENRY PHILLIPS: LONDONDERRY’S IMPRESARIO EXTRAORDINAIRE

tinel commented that, ’no audience more brilliant or appreciative has yet assembled at a concert in the Guildhall’.

The featured soloist was Tivadar Nachez, a Hungarian violinist who had recently settled in London. In 1896 Phillips took control of the Derry Opera House, on the Carlisle Road, which he continued to run until 1903, presenting programmes of drama, opera and operetta.

By John Hagan

While a student in Stroke City (Derry/Londonderry) during the late 1960s, one of my great joys was to visit the Phillips Music Shop which was sited next to the Palace Cinema in Shipquay Street. Not that I had the slightest intention of making a purchase, as, with the exception of sheet music, most of Phillips’ wares were beyond my impoverished means. Expensive pianos, guitars, drum sets, brass and woodwind instruments all adorned the store. I suspect Phillips’ may have been the only real music shop in Londonderry at the time and, as the showband/dance band era was at its zenith, the shop was the haunt of all the city’s leading musos, such as Johnny Quigley (leader of the Johnny Quigley Allstars), and the inimitable, jazz saxophonist, Gay McIntyre. I often saw these musical luminaries (and others) in the shop giving musical instruments an extended work-out and, of course, buying sheet music.

Once, quite by chance, I had the pleasure of listening, to Phil Coulter tinkling away on a Phillips’ piano. Did he play and sing ‘Dirty Old Town’? I can’t recall. At the time, I knew little of the shop’s history (it was said to have the largest plate glass window in the British Isles), or anything about its illustrious founder and his immense contribution to music both in Londonderry and the rest of Ireland.

EARLY DAYS Henry Bettesworth Phillips was born in Athy, County Kildare on 23 December 1866, and, as a 10 year old, won a scholarship to join the choir of Londonderry’s St Columb’s Cathedral. An adept student, Henry became the choir’s head boy and, on Christmas Eve, 1881, sang the solo soprano part in Handel’s ‘Messiah’ in the Cathedral. The following year, Henry left local grammar school, Foyle College, where he had been a student, to serve an apprenticeship at one of Londonderry’s established musical shops. He also spent time in England, apprenticed to a leading London piano manufacturer.

In 1891, he returned to Londonderry to set up his own musical business (selling and tuning pianos) in Marlborough Street. The supply and maintenance of pianos was to become the backbone of Phillips’ future wealth and status. That same year (1891), Phillips promoted his first major concert in the city. The venue for that 8 October performance was the Guildhall, the city’s newest and most prestigious building, erected at a cost of £20,000, and just opened the previous year. This was the Guildhall’s musical baptism. The Londonderry Sen-

THE SHOPS In 1899, Phillips moved his business to Londonderry’s Shipquay Street (the shop was grandly called ‘Beethoven House’), a venue it was to occupy until it closed in 1980. In 1907, he opened a second store in Belfast, at 2-4 Bedford Street, close to the Ulster Hall, the principal concert venue in the city. Both outlets stocked a range of pianos with the emphasis on those made by Broadwood and Bluthner, pianos for which Phillips was the sole Northern Ireland agent. He also marketed a less expensive model, the ‘Phillips Perfect Piano’ for £21, one of the first household items to be sold by means of hire purchase. The shops boasted ‘the finest stock of sheet music in Northern Ireland’, ‘violins, strings, fittings’ together with ‘repairs by competent workmen’ and even a ‘Beethoven House Band’ was available for hire. Soon Phillips was retailing the latest gramophone records together with gramophones, including the Victor Monarch, which could be purchased for £3 10s 0p. Phillips’ Belfast store closed in 1925. While the two shops provided Phillips with a handsome income, it was as a promoter of world class singers, such as John McCormack and Paul Robeson, and musicians of the calibre of Fritz Kreisler that Phillips was to make his greatest contribution to the social and cultural life of Londonderry and beyond.

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JOHN McCORMACK Count John McCormack (the title was a Papal one conferred in 1828), was the most famous Irish tenor of his age.

Born in Athlone, he established himself as an opera singer, performing with many of the world’s leading opera companies. In 1935, Phillips engaged McCormack to present a concert at the Guildhall. This was not McCormack’s first visit to the Maiden City; he had sung there for Phillips in 1909 and again in 1932. Tickets for the October 1935, Guildhall concert were on sale in Beethoven House at prices ranging from five shillings

PAUL ROBESON It was on a wintry Saturday (8 February, 1936) that many early morning shoppers stopped and blinked their eyes in disbelief at the sight of a tall, elegant, athletic, black man, jogging along Londonderry’s Culmore Road behind a sedate Austin sedan. The runner was none other than the great American baritone, Paul Robeson, arguably the most famous US citizen of the day, who was in the city for a concert promoted by Phillips. The Guildhall was so packed that evening (1,094 tickets were sold) that seats had to be arranged along the back of the stage.

The Derry Journal estimated that the audience ‘was the largest seen at a celebrity concert in the city in recent years’. Robeson enthralled the patrons with his extensive repertoire, including eternal favourites such as ‘Ol’ Man River’ and ‘Swing Low Sweet Chariot’. However, much to the disappointment of the large and enthusiastic audience, he did not perform ‘The Londonderry Air’.

Despite the popularity of the concert, Phillips profit, including programme sales, was a mere £13, a fraction of the overall takings, the bulk of which was shared by Robeson and his London agent.

to twelve shillings and sixpence. Despite Phillips’ best promotional effort, the performance was not fully subscribed. The Derry Journal commented next day that, ‘there were quite a number of vacant seats in the higher-priced parts of the hall’. McCormack’s programme included works by Handel, together with a selection of Irish folk songs and the ever popular ‘The Londonderry Air’, but McCormack did not close the concert with the expected ‘God Save the King’, which caused a little controversy amongst some sections of the audience.

The whole venture, though not so enthusiastically supported by the people of Derry, netted its promoter the princely sum of £15.

FRITZ KREISLER Arguably the most outstanding violin virtuoso of his day, Fritz Kreisler performed in the Guildhall on 16 January, 1936, just a few weeks before the Paul Robeson concert. No stranger to Northern Ireland, Kreisler, in October 1904, played in Belfast’s Ulster Hall, and returned to the same venue in November 1910. Initially, arrangements did not go well for Phillips, since he was unable to source a Steinway piano, which Kreisler insisted upon for his accompanist. At the last moment, Phillips was able to borrow a Steinway from the Colhouns, a local Derry family, who owned the Londonderry Sentinel newspaper. Despite his outstanding talent and fame, Kreisler’s billing failed to enthuse Derry concert goers. A few days before the recital, fewer than 50% of the 1,173 available seats had been sold, although with door sales on the night, the Derry Journal reported that the hall was, ‘just about four-fifths full’. The total takings of £130 18s 9d were far short of the expected return, resulting in a gross profit of about £6. Kreisler obliged the audience with a number of encores, including ‘The Londonderry Air’. When asked what he thought about Londonderry, Kreisler replied that he had not seen much of the city as the inclement weather forced him to spend the afternoon at the Palace Cinema watching ‘Going to Town’, the newly released Mae West film.

FINALE While focusing on Londonderry, Phillips’ was determined to popularise classical music throughout Ireland, ensuring that its population had the opportunity to see, and listen, to some of the world’s greatest singers and musicians such as the three above. In addition to McCormack, Robeson and Kreisler, Philips also brought Caruso, the Halle Orchestra, and leading singers such as Clara Butt and Kennerley Rumford to various venues around the country. For many years he owned and promoted the Carl Rosa Opera Company, in which many fine conductors and singers, such as Australian soprano, Joan Hammond, earned their reputations.

In 1948, Philips was made a CBE in the King’s birthday honours, and passed away two years later. The remarkable man, who for over 60 years did so much for the musical life of Ireland, is remembered in a simple plaque on the south wall of St Paul’s Covent Garden amid the memorials to so many great men and women such as Ellen Terry, Gracie Fields, Vivien Leigh, Charlie Chaplin and Noel Coward.

Christmas is the time when kids tell Santa what they want and adults pay for it.

Deficits are when adults tell government what they want and their kids pay for it.

Richard Lamm 29

WORD WEAVING I happened to be walking around one of the Shopping Centres in Galway recently. While I was there, I noticed an amount of communication mechanisms taking place. As I passed the Post Office, some people were mailing letters. Further down at the library there were a number of people sitting in front of computers and connected to broadband. On the seats outside the library, a group of schoolchildren were updating their friends on social media and texting furiously on their mobile phones. As all of this was going on it struck me that the written word had returned to us again through advances in modern technology!

There was a time when the old-fashioned letter was a very important and coveted source of information. It was particularly so for young people who emigrated from the shores of Ireland and would not return for a very long time, and sometimes not at all. These letters were read and read again until the voices of their loved ones came alive in them and they became a tremendous source of comfort for many generations. Many of you may still have bundles of these in your attic from relatives that may have since passed away. If you get a chance, why not dust them off and read through them once again, as they can be a tremendous source of therapy after such a long time.

After a while, the letters began to be replaced by the telephone. This was an effective medium for passing on information but never adequate for passing on emotions, and the majority of conversations were quickly forgotten after the receiver was replaced after the call had ended. Thanks to the advances in technology over the past decades, we now have email, and the explosion of texting and social media interaction. We are once again challenging people to construct sentences to carry information and convey emotion. The written word is back and any modern technology that promotes this is well worth having. If it helps the younger generation to construct well-meaning sentences and give their opinions, it will be of major benefit to us all, and also for the continuity of civilization as a whole.

No matter how far we expand on the technology front, mankind’s innate desire for expression in words, painting and sculpture will always remain with us. We have seen examples of this in our prehistory and later history from the cave paintings at Lascaux in France, the Egyptian hieroglyphics, 30

ogham stones, and the painstaking work on the Early Christian manuscripts. There was an opinion some years ago that newspapers, magazines and books would cease to exist in their current form and that we would be reading them online.

This will happen to an extent but never fully. Books are much more than books, they are a testament, in words, to generations that have since passed out of living memory.

How could we possibly live without the smell of books, to hold them in our hands, and make notes on them as we happily progress through the pages and chapters.

Bill Daly

‘Bookworms are the most precious worms in the world when they are humans, feeding upon the paper’s body with their starving minds’ –

Munia Khan.

Bill Daly: Originally from Tallow in West Waterford, Bill spent 30 years in Cork as a Senior Manager in the Electronics Manufacturing industry with such companies as Apple, EMC and Logitech.

He has been working on his own as a Consultant/Contractor in Manufacturing Operations and Materials for the past 18 years. He also attended UCC and has a BA Degree in Archaeology and Geography. Bill is now resident in Connemara, Co. Galway since 2009.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

The AIHA was founded 25 years ago and much has changed since in the world of communication and socialising. The Board of AIHA convocated in a planning session on Saturday 19 May to review the future of our organisation, its role in promoting an awareness of Australia’s Irish Heritage and ways of delivering on this that engages wide support of the community.

Some outcomes from that session were The Verse afternoon of poetry in July and The Day Dawn River Boat Cruise in October.

A follow up planning session is scheduled for Saturday 10 November. We invite and welcome submissions from our members and friends and all who have an interest in the Irish history and contribution to Australia.

Our current programme features events Historical, Literary and Social and includes lectures, commemorations, stage events, film festival, competitions and awards, book club, publications and projects in addition to supporting community events and individual projects that promote the Australian Irish Heritage mission.

Inter-generational links are very important for heritage and we want to be age-friendly and become a Dementia friendly organisation.

If you have suggestions or opinions on: • What is of interest • What is of relevance • What is possible Please take the time to submit your thoughts to our email address or phone contacts below.

Brendan Award – Deadline 31st December 2018

Nominate someone who has made an outstanding contribution to Australia’s Irish Heritage.

It may be someone in your

Australian-Irish Heritage Association community whose service reflects favourably on Ireland and the Irish.

Nomination forms are available from AIHA website or by contact details at foot of this page.

See Honour Board in the Irish Club of WA for previous recipients.

Recipient for 2018 was Peter McKenna of the Claddagh Association who has also been central in local sporting organisations and recently project manager of the Famine memorial in Subiaco which was unveiled by the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins in 2017. Peter was presented at an Irish Golf Club Charity fundraiser at Maylands Golf Club on 16 March.

AIHA Current Projects

O’Sullivan $1000 and the Joyce Parkes Womens $500 writers prizes will be announced and published in our Quarterly Journal.

The Journal December edition welcomes original articles and letters through editor Denis Bratton. September edition featured articles on Ireland’s greatest engineer, Insults and Put downs, Ireland’s first Cinema, Ireland’s St Andrew, Ireland's White Plague, Baroness Paisley, Gaels in the Sun, Europe’s first female Engineering graduate, Scotch corner, The Road from Deryloran, John Kinsella – Perth poet, Brexit for the Birds, Uncle Sam and much more. The Journal is published in book form and is free to AIHA members.

Fourth Tuesday

We expect to launch the following Book Club projects by December: Meets last Tuesday of the month Interactive website – this is in with exception of December, development and off-line at present however November meeting is 3rd but will offer a great forum for Tuesday. local and overseas interest in the Irish Club Committee Room, work and records of the AIHA. 61 Townshend Road, Subiaco at We acknowledge WA Lotteries 8pm Nov 20.

Commission support.

Book: ‘How Many Miles to Babylon’, WA Irish Heritage Trail – new

by Jennifer Johnston presented by booklet of places of Irish interest Maureen Hart. in WA being finalised by our Admission Free. All welcome. cartographer.

Light refreshments provided. Coin Constitution revision – new donation to Club for tea and coffee regulatory requirements require Contact Maureen on 9279 5959 incorporated associations to conform to model rules for Not-forProfit Associations.

The amendments will be presented to our 2019 Annual General Meeting.

Writers Prizes – closing date was October 31.

Be proud of your Winners of the Joe

Irish heritage

Australian-Irish Heritage Association - Non Political Non Sectarian Emphatically Australian PO Box 1583, Subiaco 6904 Secretary: 08 9367 6026 Treasurer: 08 9345 3530 Email: aiha@irishheritage.net Web Page: www.irishheritage.net Look us up on Facebook Membership Due 1st January – Family $65, Concession $55, Distant (200kms from Perth) $45 Membership fee includes tax deductible donation of $20 Check out events on http://www.irishscene.com.au/calendar-of-events.html 31

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IRISH FEATURES AT THE 2018 MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

By JOHN HAGAN

In the May/June edition of Irish Scene, I wrote a review of Belfast man, Mark Cousins’, latest book, ‘The Story of Looking’. In that same edition my article on Orson Welles also appeared. How serendipitous! Now the two have been linked in Mark Cousins’ film documentary ‘The Eyes of Orson Welles’, which screened at MIFF in August.

Granted unlimited access to a previously unseen cache of Welles’ personal art work, (‘a daily practice of sketching and painting that began in childhood and followed him throughout life’), Cousins traces Welles’ life, carefully displaying how these sketches impacted on his artistic processes over a long career in theatre, radio and film. Constructed in the form of a love letter to the flawed genius, Cousins presents an in-depth look at what made Welles tick both as an actor and director, especially in relation to his film making exploits. Despite Welles undoubted artistic genius, Cousins is careful not to ignore the man himself, offering a largely non-judgmental look at Welles’ many love affairs. Written, directed and narrated by Cousins, this is a deeply reverential paean which will undoubtly enchant those with an interest in movies plus all self-respecting Welles aficionados. I suggest that this documentary may only be released on the art house circuit, with a possible

presentation on SBS sometime next year.

Also structured in the form of a letter, in ‘The Image You Missed’, Donal Foreman plays homage to his father, Irish-American film maker, Arthur McCaig. Portrayed as largely an absent parent, McCaig spent many years documenting the Northern Ireland ‘Troubles’ including ‘The Patriot Game’ , made in 1979. Foreman revisits the visual 30 year old archive McCaig left behind searching for familial affinities. He juxtaposes MacCaig’s footage of violence and balaclava-clad, gun-bearing IRA members with childhood home movies, including scenes of him (Foreman) stumbling around, covered in fake blood. The documentary contrasts both father and son’s differing experiences and opinions of Irish nationalism, with Foreman offering his own thoughts and visual images on the conflict which so deeply affected both their lives. Occasional over exuberant sound track music and scratchy sound quality detracts from the presentation. This doco is likely to merit only a limited Australian release.

The Melbourne International Film Festival is generally presented during the first two weeks of August each year.

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Fairytale of New York

H With Dermot Byrne IR O A I W S Y R H OE U

TRIVIA...

?

As we are approaching the festive season I would like to wish one and all a wonderful Christmas and a great new year.

Dermot Byrne

1. If you were born on Christmas Day what would your star sign be?

2. What was the date that good King Wenceslas last looked out?

3. What was the name of the film that Bing Crosby sung White Christmas?

4. Christmas Day falls on what day of the week this year?

5. In what year was Darwin devastated by cyclone Tracy on Christmas Day? 6. Which Ocean is Christmas Island in?

7. In what Country was St Nicholas AKA Santa Claus born 8. Who was the author of the book “ A Christmas Carol”?

9. Bethlehem is in which modern day country?

10. From the song the 12 days of Christmas, what gift was received on the seventh day?

Answers: 1.Capricorn, 2.The Feast of Stephen 26th December, 3.Holiday Inn, 4.

Tuesday, 5. 1974, 6.Indian Ocean, 7.Turkey, 8.Charles Dickens, 9.West Bank Jordon, 10.Seven swans a swimming.

“Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!” ― Charles Dickens

This is very best Christmas song is, of course, also the only one to involve someone being called “an old slut on junk”. ‘Fairytale of New York’ was released in 1987 by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl and is a glorious drunken hymn to broken dreams and bitterly cold recriminations. It’s become rightfully regarded as a classic.

• The song has made an appearance in the top 20 every year since 2005.

• The song was originally planned as a duet between Shane MacGowan and Pogues bassist Cait O’Riordan.

• Shane MacGowan was born on Christmas Day. • The video featured Matt Dillon as the NYPD patrolman who arrests the intoxicated MacGowan.

•The song went to number two in the UK charts when it was first released in 1987. It was kept off the top spot by the Pet Shop Boys’ ‘Always on my Mind’.

• MacGowan reaction to be being pipped to the post was: “We were beaten by two queens and a drum machine” • Before hearing MacColl, MacGowan had suggested Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde as a possible partner for the duet.

• In 2007, Radio 1 banned the words “faggot” and “slut” from being broadcast as part of the song, a move they said was to “avoid offence”. The words were dubbed out. MacColl’s mother Jean referred to the ban as “too ridiculous”, while the Pogues said they found it “amusing”.

• The lyrics mention: “The boys of the NYPD choir still singing ‘Galway Bay’.” The NYPD doesn’t actually have a choir, but it does have an Irish pipe band who are featured in the music video.

They didn’t know ‘Galway Bay’, so they played the ‘Mickey Mouse Club March’ instead, and the video was later slowed down to fit the beat.

• The title, which is lifted from Irish American author J. P. Donleavy’s novel ‘A Fairy Tale of New York’, was chosen after the song had been written and recorded. The book’s main character, Cornelius Christian, refers to New York as “the city that is too rich to laugh at and too lonely and too ruthless to love and where happiness is a big cat with a mouse on a square mile of linoleum.”

Woodvale Tavern, Woodvale 2nd Tuesday of the Month For more details call David MacConnell 0413 259 547 35

By Lloyd Gorman

ISTEACH SA TEACH Senate salutes Jim McKiernan In the last edition of Irish Scene Isteach sa Teach reported verbatim (thanks to Hansard) the tributes to the late James “Jim” McKiernan by members of the West Australian parliament “Senator was a noble soul”. Jim was a Goliath of the trade union and labor movements in WA and indeed Australia but it was in the national Senate in Canberra that he made his political mark. At the time of going to press with the September/October issue of Irish Scene members of that assembly had not had the opportunity to remember the man from Cavan who made a remarkable life for himself, his family, working class people as well as his adopted country, and the one he always belonged too. But on the 18th of September they got that chance and they had plenty to say about him, including generous salutes from some who would be classed as his political opponents. In fact almost 9,000 words were said ‘on the record’, far too many to repeat in full here, but we can reproduce a selection of those testimonials and tales that sum up the man and some of his many contributions to the world. Jim’s wife, Jackie and former Senators Ruth Webber and George Campbell were in

the public gallery for the occasion and to hear the tributes first hand.

“Jim McKiernan’s Irish nationality and character was an integral part of who he was,” said Penny Wong Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and a Labor senator for South Australia. “Born in 1944 in Cavan, he would migrate to Perth, Western Australia, in 1969. In his first speech, he spoke of his Irish heritage and his desire that Ireland would one day be unified.

Later, recounting his return to Ireland when a senator, reminiscing about his childhood and visiting the region where he grew up, he reflected on the good fortune migration to Australia had brought him. Jim McKiernan’s schooling was limited and was harsh, and it saw him conclude his formal education by the time he was 14 years old. Taking on a number of jobs at this time by necessity, due to the incapacitation of his father following a serious injury, Jim McKiernan experienced firsthand the challenges that existed where social safety nets are inadequate.

These personal experiences helped to shape his values and helped shape his identity. He would later tell the Senate how the suffering of his childhood and the bitter experiences of his youth brought 36

into sharp personal focus the unjustness and inequity of Western society. Prior to embarkation to Australia, he moved first to England where he gained trade qualifications as a first-class machinist following a four-year apprenticeship. On arrival in Australia, after a period he found work at the Dillingham Shipyards in Fremantle. It was through this work that Jim McKiernan became an active member of the Australian trade union movement.

After a fellow worker was sacked on account of the workers union involvement, his response was to join the union.”

WA Senator and finance minister Mathias Cormann recalled those early days too.

“Seeking out work, Jim famously wandered around the Fremantle dockyards in a threepiece suit, braving sweltering heat of a kind not seen in his native Ireland. That early exposure to the dockyards evidently left its mark, as Jim would go on many years later to be a passionate supporter of the Fremantle ‘Dockers’ Football Club…It was in these early years that Jim first interacted with and joined the Australian union movement. Though a member of and campaigner for the Communist Party of Australia in the 1970s, the self-described rebel put that down more to his contrarian nature rather than any ardent communist sympathies. Indeed, he left the

Communist Party for the Australian Labor Party and took on a range of party roles throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, including some roles and responsibilities on the WA branch’s state executive for the Labor Party. It was not long before he made his pitch for parliament....and was subsequently elected at the 1984 federal election. Jim married his second wife, Jackie Watkins, in January 1985. Jackie herself, a migrant from the United Kingdom, was then a sitting member of the WA Legislative Assembly, serving in the seats of Joondalup and Wanneroo. For a time both Jim and Jackie were the only concurrently serving married parliamentarians in the nation— and foreign born ones at that….

He always knew what he believed in, and I’m reliably informed that he was often willing to use his internal heft as convener of the Labor Party’s parliamentary left faction to impress that point. At times these views, such as his strident republicanism, saw him align very well with his party’s leadership. At other times, I’m also reliably informed, they placed him at loggerheads with it, as seen in his open critique of Labor policy on visiting nuclear powered warships in December 1987.

Whatever the topic or the time, when raising issues that he felt to be important, colleagues on both sides of the chamber could be sure that Jim would pull no punches.

That tenacity matched a sense of humour that endeared him to many of his contemporaries and, when combined with his well-known penchant for unique neckties, ensured that Jim cut a distinctive figure on the Senate floor.”

Mr Cormann added: “Having chosen to retire prior to the 2001 federal election, Jim’s Senate term formally ended on 30 June 2002.

Among a range of achievements, in his valedictory speech he counted

among his proudest his role in encouraging Australia to donate to the International Fund for Ireland, which sought to promote economic and social development and, crucially, foster a dialogue between unionists and nationalists. That effort formed just one part of Jim’s lifelong commitment to his homeland. He was a reliable advocate for stronger ties between Australia and Ireland, both within these walls and outside of them.

Prominently, he had been a founding member and long-time secretary of the Australia-Ireland Parliamentary Friendship Group. In his first speech Jim noted that he was the 25th federal Australian parliamentarian of Irish descent. That he took the time to research that fact spoke to his keen sense of Irish identity. That the number was already so high over three decades ago highlights the scale of the contribution made by those of Irish descent to our nation. At the time of his retirement, that passion for Ireland was undiminished. He concluded his valedictory speech with a goodbye to his colleagues in Gaelic.

In 1991, Jim was named Irish Australian of the Year, and just last year he met the Irish President, Michael D Higgins, in Perth, who thanked him warmly for his efforts. It was heartening to learn that, upon the news of Jim’s recent passing, President Higgins penned a letter that praised Jim’s commitment to justice and courage.”

Jim remained very active with a number of organisations after his parliamentary career finished, including as a member of the management committee of the Irish Club in Subiaco..

Senator Wong said Jim was often 37

at the “epicentre” of debates in parliament. “In many ways, there was no more consequential debate than the battle for the leadership of the Australian Labor Party and the country in 1991. A loyal Hawke supporter, Jim McKiernan’s role as the returning officer in caucus meant the duty fell to him to announce the results of the two ballots—the first in June and the second in December— that saw Bob Hawke first retain and then lose the leadership and therefore the prime ministership to Paul Keating. On the second occasion, the moment is captured in the memorable Labor in Power documentary, with Mr McKiernan’s distinctive Irish accent announcing the Keating victory by a margin of five votes—56 to 51—as he walked down the corridor from the caucus room carrying the ballot box. Despite the challenges of his upbringing, Jim McKiernan had retained his Irish citizenship following entry into Australia, and, had the political circumstances of 2018 reigned in 1984, he may never have made it to the floor of the Senate as he continued to hold Irish citizenship through the first two elections in which he was returned. He did relinquish it, albeit reluctantly, ahead of the 1990 poll and following some highprofile cases involving the now significantly more infamous section 44. Had he been disqualified, this Senate would have been deprived of not only a passionate advocate for fairness and support for working people but also one of its genuinely good individuals.”

Patrick Gorman, who was elected the member for Perth in July, recalled Jim’s response to questions over his dual citizenship at the time when he

said: “I haven’t got the time to be stuffed around by an antiquated Constitution drafted 100 years ago.”

Victorian Senator Bridget McKenzie, Deputy Leader of The Nationals a minister in the government said Jim made contributions to Senate debates on a number of issues, especially those relevant to WA, such as the reform of the state electoral system, the mining industry and the corruption at the City of Wanneroo council. “His Irish heritage, the Northern Ireland peace process and AustralianIrish relations were prominent themes in his speeches. He may have watched with amusement last year’s shenanigans around section 44 of the Constitution. As a National Party senator, I found it quite amusing. Jim had retained his Irish citizenship through both the 1984 and 1987 elections. He accepted that he may have been subject to disqualification had a challenge been mounted at the time—talk about the luck of the Irish—but on the advice of the Attorney-General, Lionel Bowen, he reluctantly renounced his Irish citizenship prior to 1990.”

Senator Louis Pratt said she – and other members of parliament – had been inspired by his work ethic when they joined the Labor movement. “It was through his office and his mentorship that the likes of me and his good friend the honourable Stephen Dawson first saw how professional political offices worked.”

“Jim McKiernan was also a proud republican. He submitted 28 petitions between 1992 and 1993 that called for the removal of references to the Queen from the oath or affirmation in the

allegiance pledge made by new Australian citizens.

For me, it’s not surprising that a boy from Cavan, not far from Northern Ireland, who is a migrant from this country, would want this country to represent the values of all migrants in a true republican sense.

It’s a great tribute to him that, in 1993, the Australian citizenship amendment bill brought forward these changes, thanks to Jim’s work. As we have heard, Jim was a strong advocate for the Irish community in Australia and for building a strong relationship between Ireland and Australia. He proposed a motion in the Senate welcoming the endorsement of the Northern Ireland peace processes for the Good Friday agreement, which was passed by the government, the opposition and the independents in this place...he visited Ireland where he met the then president, Mary McAleese, who thanked him for the work that he had done building the relationship between Ireland and Australia. I’m sure that, after relinquishing his Irish citizenship, he endeavoured to regain it and held it in great esteem.”

Senator Claire Moore from Queensland recalled Jim with respect and reverence. “Jim had a genuine twinkle, there is no doubt. I know it’s a stereotype when you talk about a person with a twinkle, but he had it. He had a charm and an interest that made you want to get to know him, made you want to talk with him. He could also be a formidable opponent and advocate for issues on which he felt deeply. I would not have agreed with Jim McKiernan on all issues, but his intelligence 38

and commitment would make you want to engage in the discussion and sometimes get into what would become a debate.

I really enjoyed spending time with Jim. He made me feel happy.

He made me feel challenged. He understood the value of working in the Senate. He understood and celebrated the fact that with Jackie, he had a genuine and long-lasting partnership. That was how you worked together. It was reported on regularly in the Western Australian press about the way the two of you worked together.

In his comments in his speeches, he actually showed that love and respect in a particularly cheeky way. In his last speech in this place he referred to his wisdom in employing you. I think that was one of the major things. He never did get to understand how to do the washing and the cleaning and the housekeeping, which he insisted—absolutely falsely —that you did by yourself, but they were the words that were left in this place.

Jim McKiernan will be missed, but we can see by the contributions this afternoon that remembering him will only make us stronger.

And although I do not have a Cavan accent, I’m going to try to murder the Gaelic language, because he left this place with a couple of wishes in Gaelic.

I’m going try as well, to put some words in Gaelic to finish off this contribution. A Chairde, go raibh mile maith agaibh go leir agus Jim McKiernan Ar Dheis De go raibh a Anam agus go raibh mile mile maith agat.

And that says, ‘A thousand thanks to all of you for sharing this afternoon the words about Jim McKiernan, and also for Jim McKiernan: may your soul always

Walking with Grief Do not hurry As you walk with grief; It does not help the journey

Western Australia

Remembrance Service for

Deceased Family & Friends in Australia and Overseas • St Joseph's Catholic Church 3 Salvado Rd, Subiaco Western Australia • 2pm on Sunday 25th November, 2018 • Fr. Vincent Conroy will officiate.

•

Book of Intentions available for people to sign from 1.15pm and write the names of the people they wish to pray for and will be presented to Fr. Vincent at the beginning of the Service.

Service will include Readings and lighting of candles for deceased family and friends.

rest at the right hand of God and a thousand thanks to you also.’

WA Senator Sue Lines said Jim was a formidable force: “But I have to say that, whilst Jim may have been a formidable force, Jim and Jackie together were very, very powerful. One of the things that they did was really build Labor in the northern suburbs of Perth. Senator Pat Giles, who has sadly passed as well, was a trailblazer out there, but was so Jackie, as the member for Joondalup and later the member for Wanneroo, and Pam Beggs. It’s really pleasing—and I’m sure Jackie reflects on this in the work Jim did in the northern suburbs—that, at the last state election, we took those northern suburbs back with Sabine Winton and Emily Hamilton.

Just two weeks ago, as we gathered in Pearce, again in your footsteps and the footsteps of Jim, with our candidate for Pearce, Ken Travers, Kim Young was there and he talked about the sad passing of Jim. It had

Walk slowly, Pausing often: Do not hurry As you walk with grief.

Be not disturbed By memories that come unbidden.

Swiftly forgive; And let Him speak for you Unspoken words.

Unfinished conversation Will be resolved in Him. Be not disturbed.

Be gentle with the one Who walks with grief.

If it is you, be gentle with yourself.

Swiftly forgive; Walk slowly, Pausing often.

Take time, be gentle As you walk with grief.

been only a few days before. As you know, Kim Young is out there every Saturday doorknocking. We talked to the young people we were with on that Saturday morning before we began doorknocking about who Jim was and what his contribution to Labor has been. He might have passed away, but the footprint of your early work and Jim’s early work in those northern suburbs, along with Pat, and Jackie’s work in Joondalup and Wanneroo, is now getting larger and the Labor beat is getting stronger. I also spoke to Cheryl Davenport, who told me a funny story about Jim when he was contesting the Senate. Jim was always a great supporter of women and he said to Pat Giles, ‘Don’t you worry, Pat, I’m not going to take your seat; I’m going to win one of my own,’ which, of course, he went on to do.”

Jim McKiernan, who died on August 10, 2018, is survived by his wife Jackie, their children, Steven, Jimmy, Donna, Lisa, Kim, Kate and Ben, to your partners as well as to Jim’s 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

39

A visit to the Famine Memorial in Subiaco the people involved in making this memorial, from the sculptors, the Irish committee in Perth and the person who comes every two weeks and cleans the sculpture voluntarily to make the memorial look nice and shiny for all the people in the park.

Not only have I developed a deep respect for the Irish people many years ago who had gone through this time of extreme hardship, but also the people who actually got the memorial put up so we can all keep remembering and honouring these people. And when I grow older, I will be able to educate my other family and friends and anyone else who I may come across about my proud Irish history that has come to shape different parts of the world to what they are today.

William (Willie) McClafferty

My name is Isaac Wieser, and I am a 15 year old Irish born boy living here in Perth, Australia. I have a lovely life, I go to a school called CBC in Fremantle and I play lots of sports that I love such as footy, rugby and water polo. But most importantly I am surrounded with great family and friends.

On Saturday the 18th of August, my uncle Des Kavanagh wanted to take me out for a catch up to see how I had been going with my recently broken leg. We went out to lunch and the movies but before we did all that he took me out to a memorial in Subiaco. Instantly when I got there I recognised the memorial straight away, I had walked past almost every Saturday or Sunday on the way to watch the Fremantle Dockers play at the stadium across the road. To be honest, I had never really given the memorial much thought other than that of it was a weird looking sculpture in the middle of the park. It was, only until my uncle Des started to talk about it,

did I realise the significant importance of this memorial had, not only to Ireland but also to me.

I learned way back many centuries ago about the real struggles in Ireland - the ongoing famine that was wiping out half of Ireland’s population and the increasing number of women who were being sent all over the world to different countries - only to realise when they got there, that they were told they were never coming back to Ireland to see their kids, husbands and friends.

All of a sudden this memorial that I had walked by without giving it a second thought, was now actually a part of me, that the history of this memorial had actually affected me somewhere down my historical timeline.

For a moment I stood there looking at the memorial and I remember feeling quite proud to be Irish, proud of all my ancestors who managed to get through this hardship and keep the Irish population going.

That day I continued to learn about 40

Born: Lower Dunmore, Falcarragh, Co.Donegal 19th December 1941 Passed away: Perth, Western Australia 29 September 2018 Willie, who was a regular at Claddagh and Gathering senior's events, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family.

To Sally, Mary, Victoria and Edward and grandchildren, Fionnuala and David our deepest condolences.

Your struggle is over.

Rest in Peace a Chara

MARTY POWER'S BOOK LAUNCHED @ MA MOONEY'S on Sunday 4th Nov 2018

“WE MADE MARTY FAMOUS!!!

Book available from Ma Mooney's... All proceeds from book sales going to charity...

Dublin 1972 - Perth 2018

by Lloyd Gorman Marty Power was back in his native Dublin in August for a special occasion. He launched his book Dublin 1972 in the Stag’s Head pub in August. “It was a great night,” said Marty. “Rather than having it in a bookshop I wanted to stage it in a pub and the Stag’s Head were brilliant and gave me the upstairs area.More than 100 people turned up, friends, relatives, old school mates and even a radio DJ were among the crowd.

Nearly everyone bought a copy of the book. One of Marty’s oldest pals Tony Jones - who is well known for his singing was in Perth a couple of years ago and was featured in Irish Scene at the time - who along with another Tony, Tony Carney, have known each other for half a century, played for us. It was great occasion, we went from six o’clock until 2.30am” Marty’s story centres around three weekends in Dublin in 1972 through the eyes of 16 year old Marty Curran, a “suedehead” and his four mates against the backdrop of Glamrock, Manchester United, the Troubles, girlfriends, family, David Bowie and much more.”

The book is available in three Dublin bookshops and also online from the publisher https://www.lettertecbooks.com/shop/fiction/ dublin-1972 It has been well received to date and the feedback is great with lots of wonderful reviews

MA MOONEY'S KITCHEN

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Entry ticket with any purchase in Ma Mooney's kitchen....

Winning ticket pulled LIVE on Facebook so LIKE US and see it live on 20th dec 2018 Facebook: MooneysIrishSandwichBar/

It’s a THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT Ma Mooney's Kitchen

Chipper Night Every Friday 4.00 to 8.00pm Fish and chips FUNDOWNER

11 Hutton St Osborne Park Facebook: MooneysIrishSandwichBar Call 9242 4784 said Marty.

He hopes to follow up the success of the launch in the spiritual home of the book with another launch here in Perth - where he has lived for 30 years. “We landed on July 14, 1988 the same day Conor McGregor was born, but that’s the only association I have with him,” added Marty.

For further details go to www.dublin1972.com

Lastly words from Mooney “himself”.... The two of the most important english words, THANK YOU, always love...

From Mooney “himself”... Merry Christmas!

41

GOLDFIELDS WATER SCHEME as seen 70 years ago

Many interesting historic facts are contained in the following essay about the Goldfields water scheme, written by Helen Smith, a 16-yearsold pupil of St. Anthony’s Convent, Coolgardie, in 1949.

A long time ago Jacob d’Edel said of Western Australia that it ‘might not unlikely prove to be gold-bearing.’ In 1854 Mr. R. Austin had considered the Murchison district as probably ‘one of the richest goldfields in the world.’ Later, in 1862, Mr. E. H. Hargreaves, the discoverer of gold in New South Wales, was invited to search for gold in Western Australia. He worked for six months and, although mining with little success, he aroused much enthusiasm in potential prospectors.

In time, when the name of Bayley become synonymous with the discovery of gold in Coolgardie, as the name of the main street of that town testifies to-day, and the following year of 1893, when Pat Hannan and his mate, Tom Flanegan, discovered gold some 30 miles further inland, at first called Hannan’s, and later Kalgoorlie, it was evident that there was plenty of gold to be won in that region.

There were, however, many obstacles hampering production. The goldfields for the most part were situated in the outskirts of the arid region of Australia, which was ranked as the second largest hot desert in the world. The rainfall varied from six to nine inches per year and there were no large rivers in the area. Artesian water, when it could be found, was unfit for human use, while condensing was slow and expensive.

The water that had been carted over miles was even more precious than beer and was sometimes sold for 2/6 per gallon.

Irishman, C Y O'Connor

Sun, wind, dust and thirst claimed many lives in these exciting days, and disease broke out in various forms, chiefly due to the drinking of impure water. But, notwithstanding the dreadful conditions of the ‘fields at the time, thousands of people from all over the globe, possessed with the desire for gold, were attracted to Western Australia’.

The population in 1893 increased by 16,977. In 1895 it increased by 19,129 and in 1896 by 36,653. By the end of 1897 the total population was 161,694. If those people, most of them migrants, were to remain in Western Australia, and if their wives and children were to be made comfortable and the mines worked profitably, water would have to be supplied. Indeed, the whole country cried aloud for water, but how could it be supplied since there was no really reliable source of fresh water within hundreds of miles? This is what I propose to tell you now.

In 1843, at the other end of the globe, in the Irish county of Meath, a boy, later named Charles Yelver42

ton O’Connor, was born who, in the extraordinary designs of providence, was to conceive the idea of bringing water to the waterless interior of Western Australia. C Y. O Connor was educated at Waterford Endowed School and Dublin University.

Against the wishes of his family, he planned to become an engineer and later, succeeded in obtaining this position with the firm of Messrs Smith and Bagnell, where he gained valuable experience, particularly in railway construction.

The same spirit which drove him to adopt engineering as a profession against his parents’ opposition made him dissatisfied with his prospects in Ireland. He set out for the new world and arrived in New Zealand in 1865. O’Connor did so much for New Zealand during his 26-year sojourn there, and identified himself so much with its railways, harbours, bridges, roads and reservoirs, that many people, in good faith, will tell you that he was a New Zealander.

Too much intervention, however, upset his hasty Irish temper. He protested, but in vain, so, disappointed with the government’s attitude, he resigned and accepted the position of engineer-in-chief for Western Australia. By 1896 his work in the Fremantle harbour and undertakings in railway construction assured him of an honoured place in the history of the State. Now a new demand arose. The ‘fields clamoured for water, and O’Connor, after due consideration put forward his scheme which eclipsed anything of its kind then known to the world — the- Coolgardie Water Scheme (as it was then called) — to pump 5,000,000 gallons of water each day to Coolgardie through steel pipes.

His proposal was greeted with

derision. O’Connor was like President Truman at the recent United States elections. Very few thought he would be successful. A wellknown member of parliament at that time, stating his arguments against the scheme, summed up the general opinion when he said.

‘It has never been done in the history of the world and it never will be done.’

But as time proved Truman to be successful, so time is proving daily the engineering success of C. Y. O’Connor, for his scheme supplies not only the goldfields with fresh water, but also towns and farms along the pipeline from Perth. A further 1180 miles of pipes have been laid to serve the agricultural and wheat belt areas, which actually use more water annually than the goldfields.

The Mundaring Weir is about 28 miles from Perth. It has a total catchment area of over 500 square miles, thus enabling many streams and rivulets to bring their contribution until 4,650,000,000 gallons are impounded in the weir. Kalgoorlie being 1240 ft. above sea level, there are eight pumping stations and several reservoirs situated at various suitable places along the line to assist the flow of water in its up-hill journey.

On January 25, 1903, when prominent people from all parts of Australia were present in Coolgardie for the opening of the scheme, the summer sun, as if to demonstrate the full benefit of water, blazed down upon the iron roofs of the gold town. he temperature rose to 106 degrees.

Premier, Sir John Forrest, amidst loud and prolonged cheering, turned the first tap.

The great ceremony of the day, however, was at Kalgoorlie at 5 o’clock that afternoon. ‘In the midst of our rejoicing,’ said Lord Forrest, ‘my thoughts turn to the memory of the great builder of this work— the late C. Y. O’Connor, who, we all regret, is not with us to receive the honour that is due to him.’ O’Connor met with his untimely death on March 10, 1902. His death, it is alleged, was caused by the worry of unjust criticism.

‘I pray God.’ continued Sir John, ‘that this river of pure water may

give health, comfort and prosperity to all who come within its life-giving influence, and that it may prove a benefit and a blessing to the Coolgardie goldfields, and be far-reaching in its influence for the good of Australia.’

C. Y. O’Connor supplied the engineering power and Sir John Forrest the political power to make the Coolgardie water scheme possible.

The Lord Forrest Olympic pool in Kalgoorlie, which was opened in 1938. honours the memory of the politician. The pool conforms with the conditions laid down by the Amateur Swimming Union of Australia, which requires the length of the pool for all championship events to be 165 ft.

The width of the pool is 60 ft. and the depth at the shallow end commences at 3.5 ft., slopes gradually to 5.5 ft. and then steeply to 14.5 ft.

A wading pool, 60 ft. by 30 ft. and of varying depths, from 1.5 ft. to 2.5 ft., is provided for children. The maximum capacity of both pools is 500,000 gallons.

The pool is refreshing and in vigorating to swim in and, because of its modern filtering system, medical men certify that the water is absolutely pure and hygienic.

On each side of the pool is a grandstand, with a total seating accommodation for 800. An average of 170,000 persons visit the pool annually.

If you climb to the top platform of the diving tower before taking the plunge into the placid water, that lies more than 30 ft. beneath, you may interest yourself with a free view of Kalgoorlie and Boulder.

You will literally see hundreds of homes amid little green lawns, flower beds and well-trimmed hedges.

Goldfielders for the most part are like that. They are artistic and tasteful and make the most of what they have got.

Kingsbury Park — a rendezvous for picnic parties and lunch hour crowds, because of its spacious lawns, shady trees, shrubs and attractive beds of perennials and annuals — is right beneath you.

If you look more distant over the many tennis courts and beyond the Christian Brothers’ College you will observe here and there an odd vegetable garden.

43

Vegetation thrives on the goldfields provided the soil is kept sufficiently moistened. In the distance too, it looks as if everything is securely sheltered beneath restful towering pines and palms, eucalypts, jacaranda and pepper trees.

In its short life of less than half a century, the C.W.S. has done marvels. Let us hope that by the end of this century it will have done still more. Water will be at the same flat rate as in Perth, thus bringing it within reach of everybody to beautify their homesteads and grow still more flowers, fruits and vegetables.

Additional piping to the dust producing areas will be laid on, thus making such places more becoming, as well as productive of something more I valuable than dust.

In a word goldfields people, and especially the housewife, will bless that day when the dust nuisance is entirely eliminated. So much for the goldfields of tomorrow.

To-day the Coolgardie Water Scheme, which is handled by a succession of progressive and balanced councils, imbued with high ideals, has been successful in transforming this one-time arid region, completely devoid of natural beauty, into a dignified inland city, the second largest in Western Australia. Its citizens and country folk, of about 30,000 are bright and happy and wherever you meet them they will proudly say — ‘We live in the goldfields.’

Editor: The population of Coolgardie these days is 850. By 1898, Coolgardie was the third largest town in the Western Australia, with an estimated population of 5,008. At its peak, 700 mining companies based in Coolgardie were registered with the London Stock Exchange. The town also supported a wide variety of businesses and services, including the railway connection between Perth and Kalgoorlie, a swimming pool (first public baths in the state), many hotels and several newspapers. Some of the historic buildings still proudly stand and if one travels to Kalgoorlie, is a great stop off to view the history of the area.

Free IFIP Padbury Playgroup

Eimear Beattie

Irish Families in Perth is a voluntary nonprofit organisation with over 14,600 members.

We provide Irish emigrants with advice on how to best assimilate into the Western Australian culture and lifestyle. We communicate with our subscribers through social media where topics such as long lost relatives, housing, jobs and social events are covered. It is a vibrant active forum that provides a wealth of knowledge to young families and singles emigrating to Western Australia.

IFIP contributes to a cohesive Irish Community by working together with many of the wonderful groups in Perth that support Irish culture and heritage.

IFIP aims to · Coordinate Irish family events including twice weekly playgroup. · Develop Irish Culture & heritage. · Help Irish people with any problems that might arise and provide a link to Australian and Irish support services.

You can find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ groups/irishfamiliesinperth/

Padbury playgroup is a purposebuilt playgroup centre which has undergone recent refurbishment.

It has a bright indoor area and a small kitchen complete with small fridge, microwave, tea and coffee making facilities. Outdoors, there is a covered playground attaching to the building and the outdoor area is fenced with a locked gate ensuring the safety of our little ones. It also has a large selection of indoor and outdoor toys ensuring that all parents and kids receive a warm reception. New members are always welcome!

A new Irish Mums group set up by Ruth Fullerton in September and is a roaring success.

Follow the link to add anyone who it may be of interest to https:// www.facebook.com/lecheile. perth.9 all at Irish Club for their support.

Nollaig Shona agus bliain nua shona duit go léir

Campa Samhraidh

IRISH LANGUAGE CLUB January 14-19, 2019

We would like to thank all at Irish Embassy Canberra for the funding for the recent Cultur club hosting by Síne Nic an Ailí of Conradh na Gaeilge and our Consulate Marty Kavanagh for his enthusiasm in our new venture. (see photo below) Finally we would like to thank the Irish Scene, Tom Quinn, Gill and all those who attended. We are in the process of finalising details of a Kids Campa Samhraidh / Irish Language Club to be held in the Irish Club between January 14-19th, 2019. The aim of the camp is very much to get the children to learn our native language through fun activities.

Highly experienced teachers are on board and we have the following volunteers - Iseult Ni Rinn, Mairead McDonald, Angie Roche, Karyn McGeever, Lisa Kerrigan, Heather Deighan and Eimear Beattie.

For more details on the Campa Samhraidh please contact irishinperth@hotmail.com or admin@claddagh.org.au

Kids Halloween Party at Atlantis Play Centre in Clarkson

This was a great success on Sunday 28th October. Thanks to all who attended, especially the kids!

New SOR / Hills Mums Group

44

’ G da FROM MELBOURNE.

By Mike Bowen

y

Here’s wishing you all a happy and safe Christmas and if the fat man can find his way down your chimney I hope he delivers what you always wanted, not the old soap on a rope present that no one ever wanted. I have fond memories of winters in Ireland.

O how I miss the chilly snow covered streets and the rainy dark days of Cork at this time of year. They do bring back sentimental and warm feelings.

I better stop for a few moments and take my medication to help me refocus and get back to the real world. I will read what I wrote in the previous paragraph and get back to you.

OK now that I have read that paragraph, let me retract what I wrote before I took my medication.

This is what happens when you get to my age, you think everything in your youth was perfect. I have to remember to take my medicine, because if I don’t I might reveal all of my bad habits from times gone by and some smartie might make a movie out of it and that could land me in hot water with my bride of many years. O how time lies to you as you get older.

Let’s start again.

G’ Day from Melbourne and how good is it to be having Christmas in the warm sunshine and getting tanned unlike our northerly cousins in Europe, who are wearing two sets of underwear just to keep themselves warm. God only knows what made me say I had fond memories of my youth in Cork at this time of year, I can only blame myself for not taking my sunshine tablets earlier.

Yes, cosy fires and hot turkey sounds attractive BUT warm weather, a cold Aussie beer and prawns are more than a match for any place where there is a shiver to be found. In my youth I’ve dreamt about, laying in the sunshine one day and now that that day has arrived I shall treasure it more than all the snow that ever fell from the skies.

Can you for one moment, imagine yourself driving around the ring of Kerry with the love of your life in an open top car at this time of year, maybe in your dreams only. More than likely it would be raining and not fashionable to have an umbrella sticking out of the top while you were both rugged up like bears wearing multi layers of clothes. On the other hand, you won’t need much of an imagination to know what it is like to be driving, in an open top here in Australia.

In saying all of the above, let me also say that I have been back to Ireland more than 50 times since I arrived in Australia and love being there BUT not in winter. I have just returned again recently and am still recovering from a bad bout of jet-lag. What a whirl wind week I had traveling from Melbourne

to Cork and back again, a twenty one thousand six hundred and forty four miles round trip, as the crow flies’. I am working on a project with well-known Irish theatre director, Pat Talbot based in Cork. I will fill you in on that, in about another twelve months when we finish this exciting project. My business partner Alan Sherratt who is not shy when it comes to handling a Guinness or two accompanied me on the trip. I contacted my friends at Qantas and told them I would like to try out the new flight service from Perth to London on their new Dreamliner. As explained in my last article it was to be a four plus hours from Melbourne to Perth, then a seventeen hour and forty minutes flight to London, with a four and a half delay in London, before catching an Aer Lingus one hour flight to Cork, Exhausting yes, but seeing Ireland from the sky in her gown of Emerald Green looks amazing and that sight, more than makes up for the long journey.

Back to the experience of flying on the longest nonstop flight in the world, the plane itself has many comfort features, such as comfortable seats with a little more room.

A much larger entertainment screen to keep you occupied with a mega list of movies and a much better air circulating system plus it is much quieter than the replaced aircraft.

I would like to thank the Cabin Manager Ross Burton and his colleagues for giving Alan and I the royal treatment and for, introducing us to the Captain, Brian Greenfield who was only too happy to give Allan and I a first-hand look and brief of the Aircrafts cockpit and its workings.

As for the seventeen hours plus journey I can’t say it was very noticeable compare to the one stop I usually have in either Dubai, Hong Kong, or Singapore when I travel the other route to Ireland.

Weather wise, surprise, surprise there was no need for winter clothes on this trip and I don’t mean that because, you might think I spent a lot of my spare time perched at the bar, holding a pint with my back pointing at the fireplace. While in Cork I along with Alan and our friend Charlotte O'Byrne visited an old friend of mine in Youghal, Kirby Kearns who was a TV producer on one of the most famous shows in Australia. Later he moved on to Associated Press Television News as a cameraman working in hostile environments. He worked in Mitrovitza in Kosovo where he saw the worst of what man did to man. He then did five assignments in Afghanistan and two in Iraq where he says he saw the worst and the extremes of humanity, from extraordinary cruelty to enormous kindness. Those assignments took its toll on him physically and mentally as he said it looked like hell on earth. It left him badly in need of a change in his life as his body and mind were exhausted.

Kirby is now CEO and founder of Resolutions Productions the second largest TV network in Doha in Qatar. He has relocated his office to his hometown Youghal, for health reasons.

He has bought and renovated the old Station Masters house right on the beach there, creating a multi-million-dollar view to die for. His new home just goes to show what can be done with some imagination. This place where he finds himself now is heaven on earth and a long way from the troubles and nightmares he saw and endured in the Middle East in the past. Long may he have peace in the beautiful surrounds that he is now enjoying.

Until I speak to you again soon, be good to those who love you and Slainte from Melbourne.

45

Michael Cluskey

Proof if proof were necessary that the Irish economy is on the rise.

Contributing a staggering 8.3 billion euro annually to the economy, Dublin Airport is one of the most important economic assets in the country. Supporting or facilitating in a total of 117,300 jobs, of which 19,200 are actually on campus. To show that this is only going to grow, a brand new 16 million Euro Transfer Hub has just been opened. The new streamlined facility assists passengers switching between one flight and another. This will boost the capability to compete for transfer traffic between Europe and North America.

Transfers in Dublin Airport have risen from 550,000 passengers in 2013 to over 1.6 million in 2017, and already this year are up by another 17%.

The new three storey facility contains airline information desks, Boarding card checkpoints and immigration, which all adds up to a quicker, more efficient passenger journey. With a quicker connection time, the new Hub has a dedicated

A View from Home staff of 20 Flight Connection Hosts to help you on your way.

Not forgetting that Dublin Airport is one of only a handful of airports outside North America and the only capital city in Europe which offers a US Preclearance facility. The benefit being having cleared USCBP passengers arriving to the US are treated as domestic arrivals allowing them to avoid immigration queues, and so just pick up their bags and go.

Every congratulations to Rebecca and all her team that have made this such a success.

You may or may not know that my hometown in Ireland is Drogheda, in the Wee County of Louth.

And for one week this summer, it was the centre of the world for Irish Culture and Music.

Hosting the2018 Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann.

Traditionally associated with the west, this feast of Irish culture hit the east coast, with not so much as a bang, as a sizemolic explosion!

Running from Sunday to the following Sunday, a record attendance of over 500,000 people flocked to see this spectacular event.

Arising from a most unlikely idea, a group of dedicated people had the foresight to envisage this 46

spectacular event. Lolo Robinson, Pardraig Kierans, Joan Martin and the Fleadh Executive committee and local Comhaltas members had for over a year concocted a plan to stage this iconic festival.

With help from the council and Drogheda traders, and with huge help from the people of Drogheda, the town set about being transformed. It came to the point at one stage that if you stood still for a minute you would have been painted! This historic town on the River Boyne now gleamed, freshly painted and re-signed, and decked in what can only be described as a forest of flowers and hanging baskets was ready to welcome the world.

Four main stages were set up around the town to welcome the hundreds if not thousands of musicians, one of these stages broadcasting live to the nation on TG4, the Irish language station.

Now honestly, us Irish are a sceptical bunch, but by god did

we have to eat our words!! From the first minute when President Higgins opened the Fleadh (Sorry to use a Dublin term)” It was only MASSIVE!!”

I guess for most youngsters, they had never experienced the true sound of Ceili Music.

And for seven (officially) solid days there were live sessions on every street corner, with groups from as far afield as Australia, USA and Canada playing their hearts out.

Christmas

IRISH PORTER CAKE

Somewhere along the line in the 1800’s, it occurred to somebody in Ireland that the dark beer called porter would make a good addition to the robust dark flavour of the standard fruitcake. That may have been when porter cake was born.

Porter cake usually contains, at the very least, raisins or sultanas (golden raisins): often dried candied peel (orange peel, lemon peel, candied pineapple, etc.), and sometimes even glacé cherries, come into the recipe as well. All the alcohol in the porter is of course driven off during the long baking period, resulting in a darkly richtasting cake which is another great standby for those who like to wheel out a well-loaded tea trolley.

Look in to my eyes, so that you know that I’m telling you the truth, not twenty feet could you walk without hearing another traditional band or see a group of set dancers perform, and I swear to god there was an Australian Didgeridoo player who took the crowds by storm (his last name was Crimins).

With drink and food outlets opening out onto the main artery of the town West Street, the party atmosphere continued from early afternoon to the wee small hours.

In all my time on this earth I have honestly never felt the complete love and collective happiness of so many people. YES, we were drunk, but on Ceol agus Craic.

I hope I’m not putting a curse on it but, listen… Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann Part 2 will be taking place back in Drogheda 11th to the 19th of August 2019. Seriously if your home and around these dates, give it a visit. You won’t be

disappointed.

Finally, may I wish you and yours a happy and peaceful Christmas, and a very Happy new Year Nollaig Shona Duit.

A hint of you’re using Guinness in this recipe instead of porter: Increase the spices by about one half so they won’t be “drowned out” by the stronger flavour of the Guinness.

Ingredients 375grm Butter 375grm Brown Sugar 750grm Plain Flour 3 Eggs Porter of Bottle of Stout (Preferably Murphy’s but Guinness will do) 1tsp Baking powder 1tsp Mixed Spice ½tsp Nutmeg 500g Fruit (raisins or sultanas) Put butter, sugar, fruit and stout in large saucepan and bring to the boil.

Simmer slowly for 10mins and allow to cool.

When cooled add the flour, spices and baking powder. Add the eggs as well, a little at a time.

Grease and line 25cm or large tin.

Pour the mixture in and put into hot oven (180oC) for 10 minutes, reduce the oven to 140oC and cook for approx two hours or until skewer is clean. I cover the cake after about

47

20min in the oven with grease proof paper on the top to stop it from burning. The mixture is quite wet and gooey when you have it mixed don’t worry about that. Leave it cool in the tin for a while before you put on a cake rack to finish cooling.

Keeps well for weeks in a tin but it won’t last that long!

McLoughlin's CHRISTMAS McLOUGHLIN LEG HAMS

COOKED TURKEY BREAST ROLL

Our hams are Gluten free- Jarrah Wood Smoked and cooked on site – all prices per kg 5235 Full leg ham 9 – 11 kg $7.99 6235 Full Leg Ham 7 – 8 kg $10.99 5261 Half leg ham (bone in) $8.49 5632 York Ham -± 3kg semi bless $7.99 7234 Champagne Ham (split) $14.99 5234 Champagne Ham – 5 -7kg $13.99 5695 Champagne Ham – 8 – 9 kg $10.99 3885 Champagne Ham (unsmoked) $13.99 2096 Pale Gammon Ham (unsmoked) $18.99

(Hand tied and slow cooked)

5262 0605 5230 2824 0753 3886

7391 5431

IRISH CORNER

Raw Gammon Loins 1.5 – 3kg Raw Gammon Ham Leg 3 – 8kg Back Bacon Joint – pale Back Bacon Joint – maple cured Spiced Beef Irish Pork Cocktail Sausages

STUFFING

Sage and Onion Stuffing Cranbury and Pine Nut Stuffing

3237 3147

RECOMMENDED SERVING SUGGESTIONS 4kg Turkey 8 – 10 serves 5kg Turkey 12 – 14 serves 6kg Turkey 16 – 18 serves 8kg Turkey 22 – 24 serves

LINLEY VALLEY PORK 1673 1586 1578 1595 5445

$13.99 $16.99 $12.99 $12.99 $15.95 $15.99

All prices per kg Pork Leg Roast –½ bone in 3-4kg Pork Leg Roast-easy carve Pork Scotch and Crackle Roast Pork Loins boned and rolled Pork Loin Mini Roast Pieces

$6.99 $9.99 $12.99 $14.99 $11.99

WEBBER MEATS

3830 7042 0495 3143 3141

$10.99 $13.99

TURKEY

3201 3241 3223 3217 3226 3238

Just heat and serve – all prices per kg Turkey Breast Roll – seasoned $27.99 Turkey Breast Roll – unseasoned $27.99

All prices per kg Rolled Blade Roast – whole Rolled Blade Roast – pieces Sirloin Roast – seasoned Chicken Roll – cranberry /chest Chicken Roll – sage aWnd onion

$12.99 $13.99 $26.99 $13.99ea $13.99ea

WAGYU RUMP, TENDERLOIN AND STRIPLOIN AVAILABLE

All prices per kg Free Range unbasted Turkey $10.50 Turkey Breast Fillet $21.50 Turkey Breast Roll plain +2.2kg $21.50 Turkey Breast Roll- (sage & onion) $21.50 Turkey Buffs (crown) $11.90 Turkey Ballantine - ± 6kg $19.99 (Boneless whole turkey seasoned With duck breast and chicken breast)

WEBBER COOKING TIPS

Approximate cooking times per kilo Pork - 45 min Boneless Beef - 35 min Turkey Breast - 30 min Whole Turkey – 35 min

DRY AGED BEEF AND LAMB AVAILABLE

48

PRICE LIST 2018

GLAZED BAKED HAM

We have a few delicious glazes for you to try this year.

LIME GLAZE

400 ml pineapple juice Grated zest and juice of 4 large limes 4 heaped tbsp. lime marmalade 1 tsp ground ginger Put all the glaze ingredients into a frying pan reduce by half – brush the ham with glaze basting frequently or until golden brown – or –

MAPLE MUSTARD GLAZE ½ cup brown sugar ½ cup orange juice 1 tsp Dijon mustard Mix all ingredients together, basting ham Frequently until golden brown

from all the Staff at McLoughlin Butchers CHRISTMAS WEEK TRADING HOURS

20th 21st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th 26th 27th

December Thur 8.00am – 5.00pm December Fri 8.00 am – 5.00pm December Sat 8.00 am – 5.00pm December Sun 8.00 am – 3.00 pm December Mon 7.00 am – 1.00pm December CLOSED December CLOSED December Regular Trading Hours

REGULAR TRADING HOURS Mon - Fri 9.00 am - 5.00 pm Saturday 8.00 am - 5.00 pm Sunday CLOSED

58 Westchester Rd, Malaga Phone 9249 8039

BAKING INSTRUCTION: Carefully peel rind off the ham making sure to leave the fat behind. Cut diamond shapes into the ham. At each corner of the diamond you can decorate with cloves and or cherry’s - or evenly space out pineapple rings with glazed cherries in the middle.

Place ham on baking tray and place into preheated oven 190 / 210 degrees. Frequently baste with your favourite glaze and bake until golden brown.

McLoughlinButchers.com.au

DISCLAIMER: PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DUE TO STOCK AVAILABILITY

49

Tógtha ón gcnuasach ‘Dánta Póca’ Le Siobhán Na Spág Ardú gréine Tá fás déanta ag an bhféar Aimsir chaite Rabartai agus stoirm An ghrian ag caochadh Citheanna buailte Paisti beartha Gáirí pleascatha Athrú tarlaigthe D’fhoireasa Ó d’imigh tú Coisceamma tógtha, Caidreamh briste Botúin déanta Galair criocthaí Faoistín ráite Scéalta roinnte Bréaga scaoilte Is fírinne sroichte Ó d’imigh tú An domhan bréan ag rollú In ainneoin mo rogha Realta léimthe Farraige tráoithe Seasúir sciorrtha Inchinn céisthe Torthaí tughta Pianta glactha Ó d’imigh tú.

Oíche chiúin Do lámha sínte trasna orm Osnail lag ó do pholláirí D’anáil ar mo mhuinéal Ciúnas na h-oíche ag drannadh linn Cruicéidí ag ceol, ag cur uathú Gaidhrín beag lubtha Ag cois na leapan Codladh, mo shean naimhde Mo sheachaint.

Báidín Fheilimí Mise Raifteirí an File Le Antoine Ó Raifteirí

Mise Raifteirí, an file Lán dóchais is grá Le súile gan solas Ciúnas gan crá.

Báidín Fheilimí d’imigh go Gabhla, Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann.

Báidín Fheilimí d’imigh go Gabhla, Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann.

Curfá Báidín bídeach, báidín beosach, Báidín bóidheach, báidín Fheilimí.

Báidín díreach, báidín deontach, Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann.

‘Dul siar ar m’aistear Le solas mo chroí Fann agus tuirseach Go deireadh mo shlí.

Báidín Fheilimí d’imigh go Toraí, Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann.

Báidín Fheilimí d’imigh go Toraí, Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann.

Féach anois mé Is mo chúl le balla Ag seinm ceoil Do phócaí folamha.

Báidín Fheilimí briseadh i dToraí, Báidin Fheilimí is Feilimi ann.

Báidín Fheilimí briseadh i dToraí, Báidin Fheilimí is Feilimi ann.

Seanfhocal Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine.

Báidín Fheilimí briseadh i dToraí, Iasc ar bhord agus Feilimí ann.

Báidín Fheilimí briseadh i dToraí, Iasc ar bhord agus Feilimí ann.

Nollaig shona agus Athbhliain faoi shéan ‘s faoi mhaise daoibh go léir.

Bríd

Translation: Felimi's little boat went to Gola, Felimi's little boat and Felimi in it.

Felimi's little boat went to Gola, Felimi's little boat and Felimi in it.

We stock a huge range of tyres from all the leading brands!

Fiona and Adrian wish you and yours a Merry Christmas Qualified Mechanics for light mechanical work.

• Batteries • Brakes • Steering • Suspension • Wheels

PERTH CITY 35 Troode St West Perth (same street as the Licensing Centre)

9322 2214

perthcity@tyrepower.com.au www.tyrepowerperthcity.com.au

50

Seán Doherty Branch

Page Sponsored by: Reid’s Bootmakers

New Committee Members

Would like to welcome the new committee members elected at our recent AGM and to say a big thank you to Dympna Finch for all her hard work in the last few years.

Christmas Ceilidh

We had our Christmas ceilidh on November 2nd and thanks to all the musicians and those who brought a plate.

Comhaltas Camp Weekend 2019 We have booked for May will send dates out at the beginning of the year.

Merry Christmas

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a great Hogmanay.

Yvonne

WEEKLY SESSION

EVERY MONDAY @ THE IRISH CLUB

Come and learn a tune 7pm in the committee room or join in the session.

There is also set dancing most Mondays about 8.30 pm. It’s great fun, beginners welcome.

For news updates visit: www.facebook.com/perthcomhaltas

51

A brotherhood of sisters in Swan Valley

By Fred Rea/Lloyd Gorman

A farm at the end of the Gnangara Road in Swan Valley has a familiarly Irish feeling and touch of hospitality about it. As the name suggests, Swan Valley Sisters - which is next door to the Edgecombe Brothers Winery and Café - is a picturesque rural property owned by siblings Tara Farrell and Ann-Marie Conama . The property has four chalets for visitors and copious crops of fresh produce which has become their world. “We all live together in the main house. We have five teenage daughters: Jessica (17), Josie (16) Kate and Hailee (both 15) and Rachel (13), so you can imagine what its like for Dean, the man of the farm, my husband,” said Tara, “We’ve got one man and seven women! He still works full time as a formwork carpenter and when he gets home he works all afternoon which is probably a blessing for him because he’s out of the house.”

Tara and Ann-Marie’s parents, Tom (From Roscommon) and Bernadette Conama (From Monaghan) also have a hand in the running of the family business which includes a farmer’s market shop that opens at weekends. It also is a charming place to stop in for a coffee, cake and a chat. “Dad will come most mornings and will help Ann Marie and I pick the asparagus. Dad is often the first at the shop every Saturday and helps us set up - He is a real trooper! Mum comes over every Sunday with dinner so that’s a really special thing she does for us. They’re amazing the two of them. Mum and dad came out just after they got married 46 years ago. Dad played for Australia with the Gaelic football team and went on a trip to Ireland to play in 1978. They are always there, always around and are so supportive. Dad has got his potatoes growing out the back so that’s his little venture on the farm too. He’s just a blessing…an absolute blessing.”

But at its very heart, Swan Valley Sisters is also a testament to another family member.

“Our big brother Brendan passed away suddenly in Doha on 13 May, 2015. He was in a motorbike accident and was taken instantly. We repatriated him here to Perth, his home,” added Tara. When they got an inheritance the sisters knew they wanted to do something special with it in his honour but did not know what initially. “We didn’t want to waste it paying off taxes or whatever as that would not honour Brendan’s adventurous spirit. He was an entrepreneur and always had something on the go,” added Tara. “We were away up north for New Years 2016- because we always got together for New Years being that Brendan’s birthday was New Year’s Day - and Ann-Marie showed us this property. We didn’t hesitate. We were all in!. We bought it from a beautiful Edgecombe family. Wally Edgecombe and his wife Isla owned this property. Wally passed away around the same time as Brendan and Isla wanted to sell it because I think she was ready to move on. So we bought the property that included the five acres with its four chalets. We got through by the skin of our teeth,

Left ti Right: Dean Farrell, Tara Farrell, Tom Conama, Bernadette Conama and Ann-Marie Conama

52

sold our houses and we just put everything together and ended up here. And let me tell you there was no messing about, we hit the ground running!” Three of the chalets have three bedrooms and can sleep six while the other has disability access and sleeps four. “They are very busy at the moment and are keeping us flat out.

We’d love the Irish community to come down and check us out and get their asparagus and potatoes. “The whole property is full of all organic produce and at the moment we are picking asparagus in the morning. We also have mangoes, grapes, broad beans, olives, figs and a citrus orchard as well so there’s plenty of work here to keep us busy. This is all sold in our ‘shed shop’ at the front of the property, when in season, along with a variety of other locally sourced fresh produce. We also make our own preserves as well as offer organic bread and eggs. It’s more of a community, old school shop like the corner store you find in Ireland. We have the record player on and people come in. You don’t expect to just buy your fruit and veg and leave immediately. All of our customers interact with us and often with each other.

It’s just amazing the feeling in our shop. We have a lot of people who come in every week and we know them all by name. Our community is really supportive and they come from far and wide. For instance, Ann-Marie was in Ireland and she usually does the baking but in her absence, customers - now friends - along with our family friends, came in and did anything and everything to help. We love them all! It’s such an amazing community feeling being here. It’s very special and I think Brendan would be pretty proud of what we’re doing. We called it, ‘Swan Valley Sisters’ partly because we were next to the Edgecombe Brothers but mostly because we are Brendan’s sisters and between us we have five teenage daughters in the house that hopefully in the future might play a bit of a part it and they’ll be the sisters running the shop in the future.”

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM THE IRISH AMBASSADOR A chairde Gael san Iarthar Tá riméad orm féin is mo bhean,Carmel beannachtaí, agus dea-ghuí na Nollag a chur agaibh.

Christmas and New Year have always been important winter celebrations in the Irish calendar dating from the earliest Celtic times. While the Irish in Australia celebrate them in warmer climatic circumstances the warmth of an Irish Christmas in Ireland is every bit as warm as an Irish Australian Christmas – though admittedly dependent on putting more logs on the fire! It is my earnest hope that the fortunes of all our friends in WA’s Irish community were positive in 2018 and that 2019 will also be a good year for our community. My sincerest sympathies to those who suffered a loss or ill-health during the year – may the New Year bring you better fortunes.

Ambassador Breandán Ó Caollaí

I want to express my deepest appreciation of the ongoing commitment of so many people, clubs and organisations to the promotion of the welfare of our community. I am delighted that we have been able to secure and maintain support from the Government of Ireland for the excellent cultural and vital emigrant support work of some many groups in WA. Finally, I want to thank our Honorary Consul, Marty Kavanagh, and his team at the honorary consulate for all they do in Ireland’s interest in WA. Nollaig faoi shéan is Athbhliain faoi mhaise

organisations, Irish Families in Perth, IWAF and AIHA for their continued enthusiasm.

We are very lucky to have such a dedicated embassy team in Canberra. My best wishes to the Ambassador and Carmel and thanks for their service to Ireland.

Special thanks to Liz at the embassy for all her help and goodwill.

2018 sees our Second Secretary Graham Hartnett finish his term in Australia. Graham has been a source of great help and counsel and I wish him the very best on his return to Ireland. We hope to see Graham and team Hartnett in Perth before their departure.

As ever my thanks to the wonderful Lynda and Yvonne at the Honorary Consulate.

Last but by no means least may I please encourage everyone to support the Irish Club in every way you can.

I look forward to the major fundraising events in December.

It’s hard to believe that it’s been over a year since President and Mrs Higgins visited WA. President Higgins was such an inspiration whilst in WA and I’m sure all Irish people of goodwill are delighted that he will be our president for another 7 years.

Fenians and Fremantle has been a wonderful success and I look forward to more in 2019.

I’m grateful to Fred Rea for the opportunity to send a Christmas message.

2018 has been a time of change for the Irish community in WA. This year we have seen more people return to Ireland than we have welcomed to WA. For the first time in many years Ireland has experienced net immigration. This is a sign that the economy at home is stronger and Ireland is able to provide more opportunity to its people. This trend also reflects the post boom period in WA. Its’s easy to think that soon there will be no Irish left in WA. Of course, we know that will never happen. We’ve been in WA since the foundation of the state and we Irish will always be an important presence in WA. On behalf of the Irish community in WA I would once again thank the many volunteers and leaders who do such great good, selflessly working, quietly and under the radar helping our community. I am strongly of the belief that the GAA is one our most important community groups and I was particularly happy to be patron for the Jim Stynes sporting festival. My thanks and appreciation to all concerned. As ever the Claddagh quietly but effectively goes about its very important work. My thanks also to all our sporting and cultural

Too often Christmas passes too quickly.

Richard and I hope that you can find the time to relax, recharge, reflect and enjoy the break.

Martin Kavanagh Hon Consul of Ireland

165/580 Hay Street, East Perth WA 6004 • Tel: (08) 6557 5802 • Fax: (08) 9218 8433 Email: info@consulateofirelandwa.com.au • Website: www.consulateofirelandwa.com.au Office Hours: Mon-Fri 10.30 - 2.00pm by appointment only

53

ULSTER

known Lough Neagh. Catholics, on the other hand want Ulster to join Ireland. The last time I looked, I thought it was. It happened 3.2845 billion years ago but no one seems to remember that or maybe they have just forgotten. No one cares what ‘the Others’ think. If you read The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel about prehistoric times, you will know what I mean here. If not, forget it or look it up!

The capital is of course Belfast, where, apparently, they made two Titanics. One was a movie and the other was an older movie shot in something called ‘black and white’ whatever that is. The two other largest cities in the province are Derry and Londonderry.

The latter is much bigger as it includes another city.

The politics of this part of the world are intriguing to say (write) the least. The two biggest political parties are the DUP and Sinn Fein. The DUP are now in charge of running England and pretty soon Sinn Fein could be in a coalition in the Irish Republic, but at this moment in time, neither party is in government in Northern Ireland. This might be called power sharing by some cynics and Parsleyites.

The main language is bollix, spoken by over 83% of the population. The remaining 17% live in Co Antrim and speak a Scottish dialect known as Parsleysite where the h is not included. This dialect is so simple that even fluent Parsleyites can’t understand each other except when stocious. That is an Ulster word:

Rambles

with David

How’s a bout youse all. Oops; sorry, I am back in Australia but I just can’t quite get my tongue around G’day.

Anyway, A Merry Christmas to you all. Yes, I had a great trip back to the olde sod. The talk of course was about Brexit and all the political shenanigans at Westminster, loads of English people are suddenly interested in the goings-on in Ulster. And we all know there are plenty of those. Alright Northern Ireland if you want to be pernickety and I will try to give them (the English that is) a little insight into the Province.

Ulster is part of a small island off the English Coast that was discovered by St Patrick in 1690. Well maybe a bit before that. He came across from Britain looking for Protestants but couldn’t find any. They said he was a man before his time He was later named as the Patron Saint of Ireland. Nowadays, Protestants who like Britain can’t stand him, whereas Catholics who don’t really like Britain think he’s the best thing since sliced pan. Do you think you are getting the gist of this? Sh%^&, I wanted to write jist but spell checker wouldn’t let me.

Now Ulster has a population around a couple of million. I was told that the counter got bored with the process of counting and that he gave up around 1 875 639 and that he conveniently rounded it up to a couple; a couple of million that is.

‘And who wants to know the exact number?’ he inquired and before anyone could answer that he added, ‘And why would they be wanting to know that?’ with a further question, ‘And what good to you think that would be doing them?’

No one yet has come up with an answer to any of these questions, so it is officially ‘A couple of million’.

This population is divided into Protestants, Catholics and Others. Protestants want the Isle of Man to be part of Ulster. They reckon some Finnish giant threw it into the sea and so formed ‘Horseslips’ or as it used to be

s: stocious adj. rather inebriated to the point where the proper noun cannot stand without help but can talk continuously without a breath for two minutes and where only the person the proper noun is talking to can perhaps understand.

The most famous tourist attraction of course is the Gigantic Causeway – a huge stone structure formed in 4000 BC during the Great Flood. Some say that the ark belonging to Knoall sank near here, but no diver has yet been able to find it. Perhaps this is due to no diver actually looking for it. I believe that T. Rump said (among other weird things) that there was no gold on board and it probably was not worth finding anyway.

54

The most famous Northern Irish actor ever is, Jamie Dornan.

Thanks to his impossible good looks and impressive acting prowess Jamie Dornan has gone from Holywood, (no, not Holy Wood) to Hollywood. Quite the journey!

He is best known as the one in the movie ‘A Greyer Shade of Pale’ and as a mild-mannered serial killer in BBC TV hit The Autumn , which was filmed in Belfast.

OUR HERITAGE

and culture remains strong Peter Murphy – Friends of John Boyle O’Reilly

In his free time Dornan enjoys being a “bad golfer” (unlike his fellow Holywood superstar Rory McIroy who is one of the world’s top golfers) and watching football.

Like many Norn Iron people Dornan is a fanatic Manchester United supporter. How come? It was the team the brilliant Belfast footballer George Best played for before he took up snooker and changed his name to Alex. As we say in the province …. Maradona – Good, Pele-Better, GeorgeBest. Enough said.

Asked what he liked most about Norn Iron, Dornan’s answer was simple: “The people and the Guinness but not usually in that order.”

The singer Van Morrison is also from the Province. After leaving The Doors in the 1960s he invented a new game about Thrones which became very popular all over the world especially in the town of Natflix which is in Iceland or so my friend Alan informed me. This might explain why the population of Iceland has more than tripled in these last few decades.

Fred Rea was so impressed with this explanation for the English that he has ordered an extra two boxes of the mag to send to Boris; no not Yeltsin, Johnston who some think will be Ireland’s next Taoiseach. Only time will tell; so until the next time, I wish all readers and non-readers a Merry Christmas, a fabulous new year and may your God go with you.

David MacConnell

The wonderful Fenians, Fremantle and Freedom Festival held in January that focused on the 62 Irish political prisoners (Fenians) who arrived in Western Australia on the convict ship Hougoumont (Jan 1868) including their contribution to the fabric of Australian society, catapulted our local Australian - Irish heritage and culture to another level.

Consequently, Friends of John Boyle O’Reilly have played host to several visiting dignitaries captivated by the historical event.

Who could forget the visit in July of Jim Ryan and family from New Bedford (USA)? Jim is great-great grandson of Capt George Anthony of the Catalpa Rescue fame, and what a wonderful ambassador Jim proved as he shared with us yarns and anecdotes on the famous incident passed down to him by his ancestor.

In August, we had the privilege of taking Arbour Hill Prison (Dublin) Governor, Liam Jim Ryan & Peter Murphy Dowling and his wife Anne on a tour of the John Boyle O’Reilly Heritage Walk Trail (JB’OHWT) near Bunbury, and to reciprocate - Liam on his return to Ireland - forwarded us valuable information on O’Reilly when he and other military Fenians were imprisoned in AHP after the 1866 failed uprising.

In Sept, we played host to Australian renowned author Peter Fitzsimons busy researching his new book on the Catalpa Rescue (1876). Together we visited several historical sites connected to the famous yarn including the JB’OHWT. We also paid a visit to 55

Peter Murphy & Peter Fitzsimons at JBO Memorial

the wonderful Rockingham Museum where a number of artefacts and books connected to the Catalpa Rescue are readily on display.

We then dropped by Kidogo Art House where curator Joanna Robertson parleyed with Peter over a pot of Barry’s tea and some Irish soda bread. Peter is aiming to have his book published early in 2019.

In Oct - along with sounds of Fred Rea’s golden voice and guitar, storytelling by Lachlan Kelly and poetry of Noel O’Neill - we performed our ‘Freedom’ show at the Bull and Barrel Festival in the historical town of Dardanup. This year’s festival theme titled ‘The Great Irish Escape’

Peter Fitzsimons and Joanna Roberson

celebrated the 150th anniversary escape of John Boyle O’Reilly to America. The Healys entertained the 6000 plus crowd with their fusion

Then come February 2019, Fenians, Fremantle & Festival Committee will celebrate the 150th anniversary of escape of John Boyle O’Reilly with a three day festival. Irish international singing sensation Sharon Shannon will top the bill with a concert at John Curtin School of Arts Theatre in Fremantle, while local artisans will perform at different venues in and around the port city, while a reading of John Boyle O’Reilly’s novel ‘Moondyne’ will take place in and around Fremantle’s historic precincts. For more info go to: www.fenianfestival.com.au But wait there’s more: a little dickie bird told me that Rockingham Rotary Club in conjunction with City of Rockingham is planning an extravaganza that centres on the Catalpa Rescue in 2019. All this including interest from a locally based tourism company to begin operating tours focusing on Australian – Irish heritage sites in Western Australia.

As you can see, our heritage and culture is doing just grand.

Roll on St Patricks Day in March, where we can kick up our heels, have a jar with friends and loved ones, and take a well deserved break.

Slainte Peter Murphy

The Healys at the Bull & Barrell Festival in Dardanup

of Celtic rock, punk and folk, while Irish dance troupe Gaelic Girls couldn’t put a foot wrong as their intricate steps hypnotised a transfixed audience.

On top of that, I’ve been out and about hawking my

•

SESSION

The Gaelic Girls at the Bull & Barrell Festival in Dardanup

novel ‘Fenian Fear’ which is doing quite well thanks to support from the greater Irish community, and in particular the Australian-Irish Heritage Association - who along with The Irish Club of WA - allowed me to present my book (at The Irish Club) to an enthusiastic audience. Fred Rea and Noel O’Neill again helped out by peppering my presentation with some Irish ballads and poetry.

Radio and TV luminary Frank Murphy then did us Dear Frankie at Kidogo proud with his direction of the play ‘Dear Frankie’ by Irish playwright Niamh Gleeson to a full house at Kidogo Art House in Fremantle. Back in the 60s all of Ireland would stand still as Frankie Byrne’s velvet voice - over the airwaves - would offer rare advice to those struggling with life’s fragilities in a puritanical society.

Interest however in Australian-Irish heritage and culture is unlikely to slow soon. The Irish blockbuster movie ‘Black 47’ is about to be released in Australia.

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Serving homemade Irish dishes just like home!

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• Everything on the menu is homemade and cooked to order.

• Our food will show how passionate we are!

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Tina Tierney is from Co. Monaghan in Ireland. She told Fred Rea, "I arrived in Perth back in 2012 and I have been working in hospitality for over ten years in Ireland and here in Australia".

An opportunity arose to open a kitchen in An Sibin Irish Pub in Northbridge and Tina decided with the support of her partner Alan, now was her time to shine.

"Tina’s Place has just recently opened serving all the tastes of home. My goal is to give back to the Irish community here in Perth who miss the traditional tastes of home". Tina also hopes to attract the local Australians to enjoy the food the Irish love so much. "I want Tina’s Place to be known for the friendly service, it's even better food but also the 'go to place' when Irish visitors step off the plane in Western Australia".

Tina’s Place menu consists of traditional Irish food from back home, double beef and Guinness burgers and our Irish homemade coleslaw to delicious hand cut chips.

Tina added, "Our chicken fillet rolls and breakfast rolls are just like home with our rolls baked in our oven to order".

Tina's Place food will show how passionate Tina and her team are in the kitchen. "So come down to Tina’s Place @ An Sibin in Northbridge and we guarantee, you won’t be disappointed".

Tina would like to thank the owners of An Sibin, Alan, John, Declan and Ciaran for giving her the opportunity to fulfil her dream.

As Tina says, "You can take the girl out of Ireland, but you can’t take Ireland out of the girl".

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Fred Rea

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A GREAT IRISH MATESHIP FORGED IN AUSTRALIA

The lasting friendship of Marty Greene and Michael O’Connor

By Fred Rea

Marty Greene arrived in Perth on 18th August 1977 with his cousin Paddy Greene. For Marty, being an Armagh man, it was the year Dublin beat his county in the All Ireland Football Final. “That was a big disappointment as a local lad from our team at home, Paddy Moriarty was centre half back for Armagh that day”. That was before Marty knew anyone in GAA circles in Perth.

In 1978 Paddy went to the Irish Club one night and spoke to Paddy McClure from Donegal. “Paddy played with Kalamunda GAA Football Club and we ended up training with Kalamunda, now called Morley GFC”. Marty said 1978 was a great year for Gaelic football in Perth because the inter state titles were on in Adelaide.

That was also the beginning of a life-long friendship with Michael O’Connor along with Sean Byrnes, who were playing with St Finbarr’s at the time. “I was in the WA team along with Michael O’Connor when we won the Australian title”. The late Tony (Horse) Reilly was also in that team. In the years ‘78 and ’79, Marty built up a close friendship with Michael O’Connor and Sean

Tony Reilly and Michael O'Connor

Byrnes. “We were great friends because Sean lived in our apartment”.

Mick O’Connor was living with his family in Boulder/Kalgoorlie some 500 miles from Perth and during the season he would travel to Perth each weekend to play Gaelic football. “Sometimes Michael would stay with his uncles and times he stayed with us on the weekends”.

From the very start Marty, Michael, Paddy, Sean were great mates.

“We played on opposite sides but we had the craic as they say!” Though born in Boulder to a Kerry father, Marty said Michael was a Kerry man through and through and very knowledgeable about past Kerry teams.

Marty remembered being beaten by the Barr’s in a Consul Cup final, even though Kalamunda won some trophies, St Finbarr’s was the top side in WA and Michael O’Connor was very much part of their success.

In 1979 the Australasian Championships were played in Perth and in the final between WA and New South Wales, it went down to the final kick of the match. Marty said, “The NSW Captain John Farley (RIP) had the final free kick 45 meters from the WA goal and the referee told him it was the last kick of the ball, saying if anyone touched it, would be a draw”. Big Tony Reilly (RIP) was full back and Farley kicked it over the bar, but Reilly said that he touched the ball before it went over. The referee said it was a point and all hell broke loose but the score stood, and it is still talked about to this day.

Mick O’Connor was also part of that team.”

Marty added, “There wasn’t a lot of work around and one night when I got home, Paddy Greene left a note on the table to come down to the Herdsman Hotel straight away and “bring some money with ye!”. Out 58

Michael O'Connor's family in Kalgoorlie

of the twelve guys in the pub that night, Marty was the only one with a full time job. “It was the end of the football season and the discussion centred on where everyone was going to find work”. Sean Byrnes was going the Shay Gap in the North West and others were moving on.

“That was in 1979 and Paddy and Marty had decided to head to Sydney to look for work”. They mentioned to Michael O’Connor that they would be going through Kalgoorlie and Michael replied, “I might go with yez to Sydney”.

They were joined for the trip

by Martin McDonagh from Galway.

There was a great farewell party at Marty and Paddy’s place and they hit the road in Marty’s HQ Holden, two spare tyres, jerry cans, tents and away they went.

“We drove to Kalgoorlie and we met Michael’s father Christopher and mother Lilian”.

By the way, Michael O’Connors father, Christopher Joseph O’Connor was from Glenbeigh, Co Kerry and emigrated to the West Australian Goldfields as a young man. Christopher’s father Michael had lived in the Goldfields previously and had returned to Ireland to marry and settle down.

Michael’s mother was Lillian Sala.

She was born in Boulder to Croatian parents, Mr and Mrs N. Sala. Lillian’s mother was from Brac and her father from Korcula in Croatia. They met in Croatia, married and lived in Boulder all their lives.

In recent years Michael and his wife Ger visited Croatia and Michael was able find the family ancestry

homes and trace his Croatian heritage, of which he was very proud.

When the boys arrived in Boulder they were made very welcome

by Michael’s parents Chris and Lily and a great dinner was prepared for them. “Their generosity and welcome was wonderful and they couldn’t do enough for us”.

Marty’s plan was to hit the road the following day but Chris said to Michael, “Before you go you have to paint the roof of the house”. The boys just looked at each other and thought he was joking, but he was serious alright. So, Michael asked the boys if they could stay and paint the roof. Marty said, “It was the summer and very hot but we stayed a week and it was a great opportunity to get to know the O’Connor’s of Kalgoorlie, Lilly was fantastic and

tent”. Marty said Mick O’Connor loved the banter between Paddy and himself. “Mick would call me, up to his passing some months ago, ‘the fairest leader’, because he reckoned we would have never got to Sydney without me!” Marty said he would claim that title now but at the time they were just four blokes heading to 4000 miles across Australia to Sydney.

So we lost a week in Kalgoorlie, but what a week it was for all of us and we have fond memories of that time. “The O’Connor’s were fantastic people and I can’t say enough about them, they were brilliant”.

The next stop was Adelaide, the drive non stop is 22 hours and 2,158.1 km.

“I had a camera which I thought was the bee’s knees but Michael

Michael O'Connor with Marty, Paddy and Sean outside the Dublin Hotel in South Australia

we were all well fed by week’s end I can tell you”. Marty added that even though Chris had spent many years in Australia, he had the broadest Kerry accent he ever heard! The evenings were taken up discussing politics with Chris who had a house full of books. “Pretty serious stuff some nights especially when 1916 was brought into the conversation,” It was also an opportunity, being from Armagh, for Paddy and Marty to tell the O’Connor’s about The Troubles back home and living through the gerrymander and civil rights marches in the North.

Before long the four boys said their goodbyes to Chris and Lily and it was time to hit the road. Marty said, “Paddy was the stubborn kind and he did not fancy sleeping in a

took his photography very seriously and got some great shots on the way”. Michael recorded just about everything across the Nullarbor and down into Adelaide. “Michael was a perfectionist when it came to photos and he took some great scenic shots”. After they were developed Mary said he was blown away by the photos Michael took. “It was Michael who captured most of the journey on film”.

The boys had been in Adelaide the year before for the Australasian Championships and we stayed with Marty’s cousins, the McSherry’s originally from Lurgan in Armagh.

Michael knew so many people in Adelaide it was incredible and as I remember saying to Paddy, “This guy knows everybody in Australia”.

59

The Melbourne Cup was coming up, so the lads were on the road again hoping to see the big race.

“We headed down the famous Coast Road and this was another opportunity for Michael to take more photos”. More brilliant photographs and Marty still has many of these photos in his album.

“On the way, we went to Ned Kelly country in Castlemaine and also took in Ballarat and the Eureka Stockade”. We chatted about what it was like in the old days during the gold rush and life must have been hard. “Michael was able to tell us a lot of the history as he had a good knowledge of the history of the time”.

They eventually got to Melbourne and thanks to Michael’s contacts, they were put up again in somebody’s house. “Unfortunately, we missed the Melbourne Cup by a day but we went to the Oaks the next day and for us the novelty of the occasion was something special for us”.

It was the same in Melbourne, because of our GAA contacts we were never lost for friends. “Michael had everybody’s contact number.

We eventually got to Sydney, Paddy, Martin and myself had no contacts but Michael did, a Kerryman, Jim Sullivan who lived in Seven Hills”.

Jim kindly put the lads up in his house for six weeks and he even got them a job in Botany Bay. “Seven Hills is a long way from Botany Bay, we had to get up at 4.30 in the morning and 12 hours later we got home”.

They thanked Jim for his kindness and Michael with his contacts had organised an apartment in Bondi Beach and they paid $95 a week’ “We asked Mick, “How did you get that”, “Contacts” was his reply. We lived in Francis Street, five minutes from the beach and 20 minutes from Botany Bay. “Not getting up at 4.30 each morning was great and a bit more reasonable”.

“Paddy, Sean and myself signed up for a local GAA team, Four Provinces and Michael joined Rovers”.

New South Wales won the Australasian championships that year and Michael was in that team. “Paddy was in that team along with Mi-

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chael and I was in the hurling side and we won that as well, that was 1980”. That meant Michael won two state championships for different states. Marty told me of a book by Kerry Murphy and it details the history of the GAA in Australia of which I have a copy. Kerry was a very special friend of Michael O’Connor. “In 1981 Michael headed off on a GAA world tour with the Australasian team and Paddy mentions Michael in that book and his part in the tour and Paddy said to me on many occasions that there was no one like Michael O’Connor and he was a special friend”. That team played matches all over Ireland against local teams.

Around that time Michael went to America where he was to meet his future wife, Geraldine.

“In 1982 NSW won the Australasian Championships in football and hurling and I played in both sides”, and Marty added, “Paddy and myself weren’t the best but we gave it a shot”.

Paddy got married, Marty went to live in the Central Coast of NSW and he said Michael would have ended up back in WA. Before Marty returned to WA he joined friends and headed to Darwin where he played Aussie Rules. “I was never to to stay there because of the hot climate and the social life, too much alcohol”. During a short trip to Sydney, Marty contemplated buying a house but he said to Paddy, “If I buy the house I’ll be going nowhere!”. I was in a relationship with a girl who was heading back to Perth. “We were together for short while but it didn’t work out”.

After Marty returned to WA 1985, he re-joined Kalamunda (now Morley) while Michael was again with the Barrs. “Because of our friendship I went to Kalgoorlie to live for a short while. It was then we heard that Michael’s girlfriend Geraldine was arriving from New York and she may have stayed with Sean Byrnes and myself for a short while”. Marty was thinking at the time of Geraldine coming from New York to go to Kalgoorlie, “Oh my God we thought, does this girl know what she is getting herself into!” Geraldine eventually got to Kalgoorlie and Marty added. “She loved it”. For Michael’s father Chris, it could not have been better, Michael has a girlfriend who hails from Co Kerry!”

So now it meant that when Michael headed to Perth to play for the Barrs, he had company for the journey.

This must have been an interesting time for Geraldine, driving the length of Ireland and back again each weekend! They would arrive at about 9 o’clock, stay with Marty, Michael would play his match and head off again to Kalgoorlie on Sunday evening after a feed at Marty and Sean’s. “Michael’s father Chris joined them for some of the trips and that made for interesting conversations in the house when they arrived”.

Marty coming from Armagh did not know much about the politics of the South but Chris was a great one to tell yarns about DeValera and the other political figures. “Michael would join in the conversation and when he did say something he could not be contradicted, he knew his history”. Marty added, “Thats why I had mas-

61

sive respect for Michael, he was very serious about his politics, so he was.”

The conversation turned to Michael’s mother Lily and Marty got the impression when he first met her that she was from Kerry. “The way she talked you got an Irish brogue coming through and she was a lovely lady”. In Kalgoorlie the meals were fantastic, and we drank loads of tea”. Marty came from a family of 12 and Paddy six so they knew you were there to help and get stuck in especially for the washing up.

Marty got an invite to Michael and Geraldine’s wedding in Kalgoorlie. “I drove down Saturday morning, stayed overnight and headed back next day, it was a great day”.

Marty said there was a Kalgoorlie 7s tournament around that time and it was an opportunity to again visit the O’Connor’s for a cup of tea! “We went by bus and getting a bunch of wild Irishmen back on the bus was a challenge but we had mighty Craic”.

In the early 80s Marty was back at home for a family celebration and Michael was in Kerry at the time and said that he like to come up to Lurgan by bus. It was at the time of the 12th of July parades and Marty said to him, “When you get off the bus don’t go straight ahead, come back this way. Right where the bus stopped there was an historic arch so give me a ring and I’ll pick you up”. The phone rang, it was Michael, “How’s it goin’?”

Marty asked “Where are you”, “In the Ashbourne Hotel”.

Marty said he couldn’t be in a better place and he was to wait to be picked up. “Michael added, “I just met one of your cousins”. Marty said, “That was Michael, he walked into a place and made friends”. What fascinated Michael was the Union Jacks and all the kerbs painted red, white and blue. Michael asked Marty when he would be returning to Australia and Marty said what his father had said to him, “Son there is no point in you staying here, you know what I mean”. Mary had already been home for some months, he had a job and was in no rush to head back to Oz. The Troubles got really bad and his father told him of a bombing in Belfast not far from where he worked. ‘I went home that night and told dad I would be returning to Australia”. His dad agreed, and it was tough for Marty as it was for many at the time, leaving family and the memories. “Our time was divided, the Unionists lived at one end and the Catholics at the other end of the town”. Marty added that it much better in his home town

house for a few drinks not saying anything to Marty, it was my house!” Marty stayed and played for Morley and also refereed the next game and was thinking of what O’Connor and Byrnsey were up too. “I drove up to the house and saw all the cars parked around the place and my house filled with Finbarr’s players”. Some called out, “Greeney, you’re not allowed in here this is a Finbarr’s party. I can still see the smile on O’Connor’s face to this day. I would give anything to see that smile again”.

“I treasured my friendship with Michael O’Connor and he kept in contact with me especially when an old friend had passed away, he valued friendship”. We have great circle of friends and with Mick it was a friend for life. Marty said he was quite honoured in the last few years when Michael and Geraldine asked what he was doing for Christmas. Michael said, “Why don’t you come to us on Christmas Day”. I was delighted to accept their invitation and have been joining the O’Connor family for the last few years. “Their friendship and kindness to me has been second to none and incredible. Geraldine has extended an invitation to me again for this year, it will be sad but will be an opportunity to share stories about the great man, my friend Michael O’Connor”. He was more than a friend Marty said, “He was my brother and I said as much when I was talking to my own brother at home recently. I said to him Jim, it was like losing a brother. There is not a day goes by when I don’t think about Michael O’Connor”.

I thought I knew Michael but after my conversation with Marty, I have a better understanding of what his friends meant to him.

these days.

Marty returned to Australia and Sydney where he was living at the time and said it wasn’t easy leaving family and his local football team.

Towards the end of his playing career, Marty said that Kalamunda were mainly Italians and Australians playing the game. “The main people behind the club Primo and George Chari, Father Conway and Paddy McClure returned to Ireland. Marty said it was Paddy who said to Marty in 1988, “If you meet someone called Sean O’Casey, don’t talk to him”. Casey was a Barrs man and Paddy must have been wary that he would sign him up for his club. “Sean O’Casey was also a great friend of Michael O’Connor, being a Barrs man!”

Marty continued his great friendship with the O’Connor’s long after they settled in Kalgoorlie. He recollected one time after match in Crimea Park and Morley were playing the last game and the Barrs had finished their match. “Mick and Sean said to the lads, back to my

Senior Girls 4 Hand Choreography

WA STATE CHAMPIONS

Dakota Courtney All Scotland

The Academy Keady Upton National Champions

Under 18 Girls 4 Hand Ceili Champions

Under 10 Mixed 8 Hand Ceili

62

AIDA WA EXECUTIVE 2018 President: Rose O’Brien ADCRG Vice President: Eileen Ashley ADCRG & Caroline McCarthy TCRG Secretary: Katherine Travers TCRG Treasurer: Martina O’Brien TCRG Registrar: Jenny O’Hare TCRG SCHOOL CONTACTS: _____________________________ Celtic Academy East Victoria Park & Karragullen www.celticacademyperth.com Siobhan Collis TCRG 0403 211 941 _____________________________ Eireann School of Irish Dancing Como, Jandakot & Rockingham Siobhan Cummins TCRG 0422 075 300 _____________________________

Kavanagh Studio of Irish Dance Maylands www.kavanaghirishdance.com.au Teresa Fenton TCRG 0412 155 318 Deirdre McGorry TCRG Caroline McCarthy TCRG _____________________________ Keady Upton School of Irish Dancing Subiaco, Wangara & Pearsall Samantha McAleer TCRG Kalamunda Lara Upton TCRG 0409 474 557 _____________________________ O’Brien Academy Butler, Mindarie/Quinn’s Rock, Ocean Reef, Connolly, Duncraig www.obrienacademy.com Rose O’Brien ADCRG 0437 002 355 Martina O’Brien TCRG 0423 932 866 _____________________________ O’Hare School of Irish Dancing Doubleview, Wembley Downs & Craigie Jenny O’Hare TCRG 0422 273 596 _____________________________ Scoil Rince Ni Bhaird Fremantle & Lynwood Tony Ward TCRG 0427 273 596 _____________________________

Three Crowns School of Irish Dance Wangara & Padbury www.threecrownsirishdancing.com Eleanor Rooney TCRG 0449 961 669 _____________________________

Trinity Studio of Irish Dancing Morley trinitystudiowa@gmail.com Eileen Ashley ADCRG 0413 511 595 Katherine Travers TCRG _____________________________ WA Academy of Irish Dancing Malaga Glenalee Bromilow ADCRG 9276 3737/0410 584 051 Sue Hayes TMRF 0412 040 719

Australian Irish Dancing Association Inc. The WA State Championship Solos were held over the weekend of the 25th & 26th August at Newman College, Churchlands. The competition was fierce and the dancing was fabulous!

2018 WA State Champions: Junior Sub Minor Mixed 6 Years & Under – Amelia Murphy Three Crowns Sub Minor Boys 7 Years & Under – Diesel Donelan The Academy/Keady Upton Sub Minor Girls 7 Years & Under – Sahara Donelan The Academy/Keady Upton Sub Minor Boys 8 Years – Charlie O’Connor The Academy/Keady Upton Sub Minor Girls 8 Years – Georgia Western Trinity Studio Minor Boys 9 Years – Scott Ryan The Academy/Keady Upton Minor Girls 9 Years – Saoirse Pearson Kavanagh Studio Minor Boys 10 Years – Corey Smith WA Academy Minor Girls 10 Years – Layla Barnes The Academy/Keady Upton Junior Girls 11 Years - Isabella Campeotto WA Academy Junior Boys 12 Years – Josh Johnston The Academy/Keady Upton Junior Girls 12 Years – Hayley Brooker Kavanagh Studio Intermediate Boys 13 Years – Vaughan Cooper WA Academy Intermediate Girls 13 Years – Caoimhe McGuigan The Academy/Keady Upton Intermediate Girls 14 Years – Medbh Flanagan The Academy/Keady Upton Senior Boys 15 Years – Adam Robinson WA Academy Senior Girls 15 Years – Caoimhe McAleer The Academy/Keady Upton Senior Girls 16 Years – Jade McLaughlin O’Brien Academy Junior Ladies 17 Years – Emily Rooney Kavanagh Studio Junior Ladies 18 Years – Ruby Driscoll The Academy/Keady Upton Men 19 Years – Jeremiah Oliveri The Academy/Keady Upton Ladies 19 Years – Dakota Courtney O’Brien Academy Senior Ladies 20 & 21 Years – Dara McAleer The Academy/Keady Upton Senior Ladies 22 & Over – Shannon Kennedy Kavanagh Studio The Australian National Championships were held over the first week of October in Cairns, QLD. Congratulations to all dancers who competed in this wonderful event. WA came away from the Championships with seven National Titles in Solos, and three National Titles in Ceili.

2018 Australian National Champions: Sub Minor Girls 7 Years & Under – Sahara Donelan The Academy/Keady Upton Sub Minor Boys 8 Years – Charlie O’Connor The Academy/Keady Upton Minor Boys 9 Years – Scott Ryan The Academy/Keady Upton Intermediate Girls 13 Years – Caoimhe McGuigan The Academy/Keady Upton Junior Ladies 18 Years – Ruby Driscoll The Academy/Keady Upton Men 19 Years – Jeremiah Oliveri The Academy/Keady Upton Ladies 19 Years – Dakota Courtney O’Brien Academy Under 10 Mixed 8 Hand Ceili - The Academy/Keady Upton Under 18 Girls 4 Hand Ceili - The Academy/Keady Upton Senior Girls 4 Hand Choreography - The Academy/Keady Upton Congratulations also to Dakota Courtney (O’Brien Academy) who recently won the prestigious All Scotland Championships in Glasgow.

Brendan is Minister for Environment; DisabilitySrServices congratulated Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council by the Italian PO Box 2440, SOUTH HEDLAND WA 6722 members of the stephen.dawsonmp@mp.wa.gov.au community (08) 9172 2648 • 1800 199 344 (toll free) 6363

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Laura’s Rose of Tralee Experience!

I don’t know where to begin with my time as the Perth Rose during the festival in Ireland. I was welcomed home by all my family and neighbours of Coolboy in Donegal with a surprise party, my jet lag was not long disappearing as the adrenaline and excitement all kicked in.

On the 13th August my mammy Isadore and sister Sarah drove me from Letterkenny to the Glenroyal Hotel Co. Kildare where the Rose of Tralee tour all began, this was the day I met all 56 other Roses from all corners of the world and I was paired with the lovely Tipperary Rose as my room-mate (thankfully she wasn’t too untidy). We all ventured into Athy where I wore a dress, heels headpiece and life jacket all at once in a canoe, a sight that will most likely never be seen again.

On the 16th of August after the press launch we travelled from Kildare to Tralee (not by canoe) where we were welcomed by what felt like everyone in Ireland to the Rose Hotel, this is where we met our escorts and we quickly got whisked

away to the races where I didn’t win a cent.

The following day I met my Rose Bud, Isabel. Isabel is nine years old and lives in Tralee, it was lovely to meet her and enjoy some time together at the Rose Bud party. Later that day we had the “Celebration of Roses” where we were interviewed on the Dome stage in front of the judges, I really enjoyed this night as it gave me a change to feel the excitement and feel comfortable on the stage.

One of the days that sticks out in my mind when I think back on my time in Tralee was the morning of the 18th which was the announcement of the lucky 32 roses that made it through to the live international televised nights on the Dome stage. I must admit I was feeling a little worried as 42 members of our family and friends travelled from Donegal for the festival and I wanted them to enjoy the experience of the festival to the full. After the announcement that I had made it through I was feeling excited, proud, relieved and, also upset for the amazing Roses that didn’t get through.

My favourite day was the parade down Denny street on the amazing floats, streets were full of people cheering and enjoying the day, I got to spend a short time with my family and Charlie later that day at the Blasket Bar which was lovely.

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I must mention the two fantastic escorts, Michael Fitzgerald and Michael McKenna who looked after me. They had a tough job and did it well!!

Being in the Dome on Monday and Tuesday night for the live TV nights was very surreal, having grown up watching the Rose of Tralee I felt so privileged to be there representing Perth. I was on stage on Tuesday night, my time on stage felt very short and I enjoyed every minute, Dáithí Ó Sé made us all feel very comfortable and at ease while the bright lights were shining on us. I was the lucky Rose to have the awkward moment of being introduced as the Dubai Rose, this explains the laughing I did on stage.

I was hoping that Dubai might have won as I could have had a chance in claiming that it was me. Thankfully the beautiful banners and cheering

from all the Donegal crowd helped me along and I enjoyed the interview although looking like a deer in the headlights.

Thank you to everyone in Perth, Donegal, the Perth committee and friends all over for their support and kind messages, I am very lucky to have this opportunity to be the Perth Rose. The Rose of Tralee is a fantastic festival celebrating modern women in society and of course Irish heritage. This experience has reminded me of how lucky and proud I am of my own heritage and roots.

It is well and truly back to reality, but I am very thankful for all the friends I have made along the way.

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The growing pains of a small (Irish) business in Australia

by Lloyd Gorman

Bigger isn’t always better.

Quite often the little guy has the advantage, and most of the fun.

Subiaco council recently ran a small business conference for traders and operators who are struggling against a mixture of local, domestic and international economic market conditions that are making life tough for them. Part of the event involved a Q&A session with a panel of representatives and business figures who fielded questions from the event MC as well as members of the audience. iiNet founder Michael Malone was one of the panellists who made themselves available for the event. As

Australia’s second largest internet provider, with more than 1.3 million customers, iiNet is one of the most high profile companies and biggest employers in the area.

The company moved out of its Adelaide Terrace offices in East Perth and set up its HQ in a new building in Hay Street Subiaco in about 2009. The company has remained there ever since.

Malone was CEO when the company made the move, but he stepped down a few years later in 2014 to move onto new ventures.

The company he walked away from was very different to the one he started 25 years ago, in the garage of his parent’s house in Padbury.

The Malone family migrated from Co. Clare to Australia in the late 1970s and they worked hard and became a part of the local and Irish community. Their children had a strong work ethic but were smart too and in Michael’s case he went on to study maths at UWA. One of the best things about being a student at the university was that he could get online to the world wide web but unless he could stump up approximately $20,000 to an internet provider he would lose that access once he graduated.

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The then 23 year old tech head old took matters into his own hands and came up with a better solution. He would set up his own internet company and sign up other students (200 at $25 a month) to make it work. He did just that with a friend, called Michael O’Reilly. Using a loan from his parents and their garage Malone built a homemade connection to the internet with routers, cables and other gizmos all over the place. iiNet was born. It was 1993. The rest as they say is history.

Malone - who was crowned Australian entrepreneur of the year in 2011 - was asked about being a small business operator who went on to become a major corporation.

“Its easier when its just one or two people, you can try new stuff,” he said. “When things are small what’s the worst thing that can happen to you, you might go bankrupt and get a real job? There was little real risk involved in the business when we were small.” Being able to replicate that at a bigger level was another trick entirely though.

“I’ll start at the end,” he added.

“What do most people want from their job on a day to day basis? To turn up and realistically do a good job and go home. Most people want to do that, so they need to know what its going to take. How do I know in 12 months if I’ve done a good job or not? No one likes to

be surprised when they get their end of year review. So in terms of innovation there are two things I’d like to point out. I reckon we had a culture in there around innovation, which means trying to encourage failure. That sounds a bit counterproductive but that’s the reality, every time they try something new most people fail so you gotta have this culture within the business of failure, fail often, but fail fast. So in terms of incentive and performance management there had to be the idea if you give that little matrix of try something new, don’t try something new, succeed, fail. You’ve got 100% chance of keeping your job if you don’t try something new and it fails, thats the way the structure ends up. So I guess one of the things we encouraged was do try something new and if you execute it well but it fails you still get your full bonus and you’ll still be celebrated.

Now, that’s something unusual but that was one of the things we did to create that environment, give something a go and if it sinks so be it. I reckon thats why hubs work, people are given risk to give things a go and if it doesn’t work, you don’t fail, you “pivot”, that’s’ the new word for failure in small business. There was a bunch of other programmes about how to get ideas into the pipeline, so we had a bright ideas programme where we gave a prize each month based upon who had the best idea.

The problem with that was it ended with a pipeline of two years worth of ideas to implement. There was no shortage of ideas.”

Malone was asked when he was at his happiest in the business, when it was big or small. He responded without hesitation.

“When it was small.

Why? because you know everyone, we are herd animals. So

when you’re in a smaller business everyone feels like they are in it together. You were just as likely to find me on reception or in the survey room or developing a system or talking to customers at 3 o’clock in the morning when we were small. But when things got bigger everything became more specialised. So my wife was in the business from around 1996 to 2000, until we had our first child.

When she came back the company had grown substantially, and everyone had come into specialised jobs and she didn’t want to work there at that point, it didn’t feel like a family anymore.

I stayed there 21 years and I saw it grow from very small to very large, but when was it most fun?

When it was small and you were all part of the same family.”

Spelling out the difference between iiNet and TPG Speaking at a breakfast event for St. Patrick’s Day a few years ago in Perth Michael Malone spoke openly about those early days. From memory of what he said the principal of give it a go and see what happens was standard practice in those heady times. Sometimes they would be surprised, pleasantly, themselves by the results. Even the name of the company is a product of that approach. The origins of where it came from are unclear and even its meaning - if it had any - are also shrouded. At that event Michael

said it had been suggested to him that the ii in the name stood for Irish Internet but that seemed to be quite a few theories about what it stood for, all difficult to prove or disprove.

Certainly, the company adopted some of the character of its Irish born founder. Towards the end of his time at the helm of the company the St. Patrick’s Day parade and festival made a welcome return to Perth and one of the biggest sponsors was iiNet. During the twilight years of his CEOship the telco introduced an annual open 67

day for the community. ‘O Day’ as it was known saw hundreds of ordinary members of the public get a chance to take walking tours around the different departments in the head office in Subiaco, including going past Malone’s office, or possibly even bumping into him in the corridors where he would stop for a few words. He and other members of the executive team also took part in well attended Q and A sessions where punters could ask any question about any aspect of the business.

Everyone who registered to take

Photo Source: iiNet blog BI_iiNet_guy_Finn_Basketball

part in the free event was given a “show bag” stuffed with pretty decent corporate merchandise which was worth having, and the chance to win other prizes.

Nobody walked away empty handed or unhappy.

Not long after Malone parted ways with iiNet the corporate culture changed and went from being an entity with an open and welcoming approach to one that was closed and inaccessible. In 2015 iiNet was bought out by TPG - owned by a reclusive overseas business identity who unapologetically protects his privacy - as part of a $1.56 billion takeover. iiNet went from being its own company to part of a bigger group where the focus and outlook was very different to the traditional iiNet ethos.

At the time I predicted - wrongly - that the changes would also spell the end for the friendly and quirky public face of the company. Irish born actor David Smyth in the popular role of ‘Finn’ has fronted all of iiNet’s advertising and publicity campaigns for at least ten years now. Smyth was apparently involved with the Irish Theatre Players before he got the gig which has seen his face plastered on TV commercials and billboards across Australia, as well as radio and of course online. If he isn’t there already, Finn may well be one of the longest lasting advertising and most recognisable personalities in Australian history.

The Irish Club Seniors The Gathering in Wanneroo

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President was also back in Castleblayney from the unveiling of a bronze statue of the singer and the launch of the book on his life last month.

While the book on Big Tom was expected to do well in the niche market among Country music fans its success in competing against publications of a general interest such as “The Guinness Book of World Records 2018” or Patricia Scanlan’s “Bringing Life to Death” has taken many by surprise.

However apart from his massive music success with songs such as “Going Out The Same Way You Came In”, “Four Country Roads”, and his debut hit back in 1967 with “Gentle Mother” many other aspects of the singer’s life, including his Gaelic Football career, his admiration for The Rolling Stones and the strange incident when he is said to have been asked to sign an autograph for Mick Jagger have all proved to be talking points that have emerged from this book.

Already it is being predicted in the book world that the Big Tom biography, President Michael D Higgins and author Tom Gilmore at the launch of the best-selling book on Big Tom. published by O’Brien Press and written by journalist Tom Gilmore, a frequent visitor to West Almost 52 years since the late Big Tom Australia and an occasional contributor to The Irish Scene magazine, had his first Top 10 hit song he is in the could be one of the big sellers on this year’s Christmas market Top 10 again -but this time it’s in the best-selling books charts as the biography with younger family members buying it as a gift for parents, grandabout his life, “Big Tom – The King of Irish parents and emigrant in the UK. Country” has spent the past two weeks in Big Tom was so successful among the Irish in the UK that mounted a row in the Top 10 non-fiction hard-back police had to be deployed for crowd control due to that massive numbers outside The Galtymore Ballroom in Cricklewood, London books charts in Ireland. in the early 1970s while police in Birmingham stopped Tom and While the book is competing with some the band playing at one dance in Birmingham until they removed heavy hitters in the publishing world, over 500 from the hall as they felt the crowd inside had reached including US author Bob Woodward’s book on President Trump, “Fear – Trump dangerous numbers. He played his biggest concert to over 82,000 Irish emigrants at the London-Irish Festival in Roundwood Park, in the White House” which is at number Willesden in 1982. one, there are predictions that the Big While Big Tom never toured Australia or America, due to his fear of Tom book, may, like the singer himself, flying, he still has a lot of fans among the Irish emigrants here and in have longevity in the charts up to the USA. Christmas and beyond.

He was also the first Irish singer to sell 100,000 copies of a vinyl LP, When the singer died last spring over “Ashes of Love” in 1970 and 10 years later his record sales in 1980 10,000 attended his funeral and burial were over one million. Big Tom, described by many as Ireland’s which was similar to a state funeral Johnny Cash, died last April at the age of 81 and his wife Rose (74) and President Michael D. Higgins was passed away only 11 weeks earlier. among the mourners in attendance. The

After 51 years

BIG TOM in the Top 10 again!

“One loses, as one grows older, something of the lightness of one's dreams; one begins to take life up in both hands, and to care more for the fruit than the flower, and that is no great loss perhaps.” ― W.B. Yeats, The Celtic Twilight: Faerie and Folklore

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All Souls Night in Cork 1957

By Noel O’Neill

I look at the world now through tired eyes but years ago I looked at the world through the eyes of a child when I belonged to another time and place where my imagination would take flight and would often get the better of me where the better of me was often taken. I look back now through our cracked kitchen window on all souls night and down through the cold dark cobblestoned back streets patrolled by lop eared flea ridden one eyed alley cats who chased the rats and snarled at the occasional bats who flew around the street lights and were scattered over garden walls by flea bitten hungry mongrel dogs that howled out of tune at the moon, a moon that never smiled down on us but shyly hid behind the clouds away from howling and the barking.

I remember one ghostly night where I hid inside and peeked through the curtains afraid and uncertain as old toothless, snuff stained gypsy women covered in black shawls knocked on our front door with faces of leather holding baskets of heather to ward off bad luck from our helter- skelter- give- me- shelter little house on Crowley’s Lane. And as I watched them slowly leaving our lane like mourners at a funeral, I looked up at the big black, greeneyed crows darting over the slated elongated rooftops and cawed in the wind at each other as they gathered around the warm smoky chimney tops hiding from the chill of November.

Bells would ring from the old church steeple and I was taken from my perch and quickly washed, nails

scrubbed, dressed to the nines, shoes polished, laces tied, socks pulled up to the knee and told we were going to Mass to pray with the broken hearted for the faithful departed and for those lost souls who resided in Purgatory patiently waiting for the soul train to take them to Heaven. In no time at all I was taken in out of the cold, in among the sounds of the sorrowful, chanting Novena’s under the shadow of plastered statues, in among those souls that resided in heaven.

Candles were lit to light the way out of the darkness into the light, those among the dead who may forever wander between heaven and earth.

Hands were clasped around rosary beads where the crucified Christ could be seen swaying from swollen nicotine stained fingers. Silent prayers were whispered in pews like good news to those souls who perhaps were listening from the dark corners of cemeteries where I imagined souls rising through the earth, through the grass, through the flowers, up past the headstones, way up past the clouds, and up into the cold winter sky to the Lord’s kingdom beyond the stars.

Sins from the living for those who left us were forgiven but all was not forgiven through death, so hymns were sung, and more bells were rung. I looked high up past the altar and could almost see a communion of saints come down from above in the name of God’s love and welcome each soul into paradise. If I listened closely I was sure I could hear a choir of angels singing out Hallelujah’s from the rafters of the old church. There were those who confessed then were blessed with holy water from a solemn looking priest draped in purple who shared the body and blood of Jesus. Jesus Christ who forgave the living and some of the dead and tried make us understand, who tried to hold us all together with holes in His hands.

The Mass was over and everyone scurried like mice from the candle lit church out into the sacred grounds where I could see old men who feared death with stout on their breath shake hands with the priest and younger chaps turn up their collars from the wind and 71

put on their caps, light up their cigarettes while the women sighed with regrets then walk through the dark while I ran ahead of the others to avoid the sight of the cemetery, for what I might see would surely alarm and might harm me because I was told that some souls wandered alone on their own looking for company. Once I was past the cemetery wall I could afford to be brave, I knew I was safe but as soon as my Dad caught up to me I held onto his hand for dear life and I held onto my mother’s coat all the way home for extra security. We were home out of the cold where I fled into the kitchen, the sanctuary of the house where the troubles of the world were settled over cups of tea around the table. A match was struck, and the coal fire was lit. I watched the sparks fly up the chimney as the wood burst into flames soon the coal burned and to me it was as if the devil’s flames licked around the coal and soon it turned from cold black into warm blues and reds as the tea brewed in the tea pot Dad took the last pull on his cigarette and tossed the butt into the flames while Mam lit a woodbine and I sat there sipping tea but before I went to bed they brought out the ghost stories like they were bringing out the dead. The horses Dad witnessed pulling a coffin along the street, but he never heard the horse’s hooves on the cobblestones or the wheels of the carriage.

The poker game where one man dropped an ace on the floor and when he bent to pick it up it was the devils hoof he saw. There was the cry of the banshee Mam heard when her Dad passed away, and it went on and on until all hope of sleep was gone. Then I was ushered up to bed when enough about ghosts were said. Dad escorted me to the stairway and stood by the bannister and talked to me until I reached my bed. “DON’T FORGET TO SAY YOUR PRAYERS! He shouted from the stairs. I prayed under the heavy coats on the bed not only for the souls of the living and the dead but for my own soul to make it through the night for it was in the night my imagination would light up the cold dark bedroom.

From the west coast of Ireland to Western Australian shores

by Lloyd Gorman Perth is in line to get something that it hasn’t had in quite a while and that will be a talking point for a lot of people - a new Irish pub. All things being even The Galway Hooker should open for business inside Scarborough’s Rendezvous Hotel early in the new year. It promises to be something special and truly Irish.

The backers behind the project know what they are about. The Kapinkoff brothers - Robert, Kosta and Adam - own and operate another well known Irish watering hole Durty Nelly’s - as well as other premises including Market Grounds in Perth CBD, The Duke Bar and Bistro in Carramar and another Scarborough locale, The Squire’s Fortune, since 2015. The new pub won’t just be a themed Irish bar, it

will be an Irish bar. Just like Durty Nelly’s 20 years before it, the Galway Hooker will be designed, custom built, disassembled and shipped out to Perth to be reassembled in its new location. The fledgling venue has also been created by the very same design company Gemmell Griffin & Dunbar - who designed big sister, Durty Nellys, which has stood the test of time in its own right.

And it won’t just be an Irish pub in name only, the intention is to have an actual Galway Hooker as part of the decor.

“The name the ‘Galway Hooker’ is a style of Irish fishing boat used off the west coast of Ireland that

Concept Design for The Galway Hooker

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battles the often windy and choppy seas of the Atlantic, similar to the coastal conditions of Western Australia and particularly Perth,” the Kapinoff family application to the Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor (DRGL) states. “The nautical name has been utilized also due to the coastal location of the premises’.

The name ‘The Galway Hooker’ is named after the famous Irish fishing boat, described as “a gaff-rigged sailing boat ranging from 35-44 feet in length, used chiefly for carrying of goods.”

Local and international sports telecasts including Irish Gaelic football and hurling, local and international sport, as well as live traditional Irish music and sessions and dancing are also included in the range of entertainment that will be on offer at the Galway Hooker.

Other flavours and tastes of Ireland will be found at the new pub which will have a ‘select Irish inspired cuisine’ and ‘an extensive range of authentic Irish’ drinks.

In terms of food steak and ale pie, chips, gravy & garden peas, Irish pork sausages and mash, hearty roasts, fry ups, bacon, cabbage and béchamel and slow cooked lamb shoulder stew with root veg, barley and fresh soda bread are likely to be on the menu. When it comes to specialty drinks these could include a range of gins – which are sweeping Ireland and the world – including Gunpowder Gin, Thin Gin, Shortcross Gin and Berthas Revenge Milk Gin. Craft beers could include Blacks

of Kinsale Black IPA, Franciscan Well events such as golf days and pickRebel Red, Dungarvan Coffee and ing up a few gongs along the way (including as Guinness’s Irish Pubs Oatmeal Stout, all made in Ireland.

So while it will have a good Irish Global Bar Manager of the Year a pedigree the Galway Hooker will few years ago for proprietor Edward also play an important role in the Janiec who picked up his award in St wider local and West Australian Jame’s Gate, Dublin.

Over the years Murphy’s has community, including visitors and residents. Scarborough already has proved to be a popular place to meet a number of pubs and restaurants friends, hear some music, have a things in the pub trade - with the offering a wide choice of places to meal and night out, watch sports DRGL. eat and drink and an Irish venue will and have a drink. In fact its popuFinally, in more ‘industry’ related add to that variety. Scarborough has larity is growing. In September the news it seems another well estabgone through a $100 million rede- owners applied to the regulator for lished Irish watering hole is looking velopment project in recent years permission to stay open for an extra for a new owner. and needs good local businesses hour after the current 1am closing At the time of writing this Paddy (existing and new) to help make time on the weekend.

Maguire’s in Subiaco – the leasethe whole project work. Everybody “[Murphy’s] is patronized on Frihold business as opposed to the is chasing ‘vibrancy’. Pubs and oth- day and Saturdays by a wide range building itself – was advertised on er hospitality outlets can operate of age groups, but is particularly commercial property websites as during business hours but are ideal popular with persons aged 35 years being for sale by ‘private treaty’ as for ‘activating’ areas and the night and older,” the pub owners said in a ‘going concern’. The asking price time economy and creating em- their application for an extension. was $420,000, plus stock at valuaployment. It will certainly activate “The music entertainment, style of tion. the actual premises which has sat premises and services provide hold “Paddy Maguire’s tavern comempty for five years now. Tourism a particular appeal for this more prises of a traditional “Irish Pub” WA is one of the groups lending mature age group – whose requirestyle bar, lounge/conversation area, the Galway Hooker its full support. ments are not catered for by the restaurant/bistro area on a raised It told DRGL it will be good for the very few other licensed premises in platform, an expansive all weather local and state economies, including the locality, which are authorized to alfresco verandah, fully equipped trade after midnight on Frias a supporter of the commercial kitchen, cool rooms, Taste 2020 stratedays and Saturdays. storage areas and management ofgy to promote food Over the years of operafice, which all present in excellent and wine tourism tion of the extended trading condition,” the sales advertisement in WA over the next permit, [Murphy’s] Friday read. five years. “Culinary and Saturday night have “The tavern provides a wide tourism is one of the been arriving at the premrange of local and international ises later and later into the fastest growing secbeers on tap, including Guinness tors of the tourism evening, with many patrons and Kilkenny, and is a perfect venue industry,” WA Tourarriving at the premises affor those who want to be transportEdward ism said. “Within ter 10pm or 11pm, to enjoy Janiec of ed to the land of Blarney Stone. “Deour well-established the services provided. These Murphy's licious and substantial pub fare are hospitality, viticulpatrons have a requirement a feature, with a recent state of the ture, agriculture and fishing indus- for liquor and related services to be art audio visual upgrade. “Another tries, Western Australia has the po- available at the applicants premises feature is the well performing TAB.” tential to be one of the world’s fore- later into the evening than are curPaddy’s was last sold only a few most culinary tourism destinations.” rently permitted – for an additional years ago (about 2015/16), hopefulMurphy’s Irish Pub in Mandurah hour – until 2am (on Fridays and ly the next owners will take a punt is another locale in a foreshore set- Saturdays)”. on it and keep it green! ting – overlooking Mandjar Bay The request by Murphy’s for ex- and will soon be marking a birth- tra hour rests – like so many other day of sorts. A tavern license was approved on December 11, 2007 “My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, and in 2008 it opened its doors on is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do Manduarh Terrace as an Irish pub. we have to wait for Christmas to do that?”

It has become a well known haunt ― Bob Hope for locals and visitors alike, and a part of the community, sponsoring 73

MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2018

Thirteen books are on the long-list for this year’s £50,000 Man Booker prize, the leading award for literary fiction written in English. Three of these books are

by Irish authors, and two are reviewed below by JOHN HAGAN. This is the first year in which novels published in Ireland have been eligible to enter for the award following a change in rules announced at the start of 2018 which recognised the special relationship between the UK and Irish publishing markets. The third Irish author on the list is Donal Ryan for his book ‘From a Low and Quiet Sea’. The Booker winner is to be announced on 16 October.

NORMAL PEOPLE

by SALLY ROONEY

Reviewed by John Hagan Rooney’s debut novel, ‘Conversations With Friends’, published last year, clearly displays her flair for creating interesting and intricate characters, a trend which is continued in ‘Normal People’. The novel introduces us to Connell and Marianne who hail from the small west of Ireland community of Carricklea. Sixteen year old Marianne is something of an ‘outcast’ both in her school and in the town.

She lunches alone, reads Proust, shuns the social life of the school, lives in a grand house with her mother, and basically doesn’t give a damn about what people think of her. Connell, like Marianne, is academically gifted, and, while poor and somewhat aloof, is popular with classmates and a fine sportsman. The link between them is that Connell’s mother, Lorraine, is housecleaner for Marianne’s rich mother. So begins a clandestine on-again, off-again, relationship between the two. Both eventually enroll at Trinity College, Dublin, where Marianne, because of her background, flourishes in the academic and social environment, while Connell is lonely and often ostracized. Soon, as before, they resume their romantic relationship, but, as previously, it doesn’t last, and so they continue to drift in and out of each other’s life. ‘All these years they’ve been like two little plants sharing the same pot of soil, growing around one another, contorting to make room, taking certain unlikely positions’. Things go unsaid when Connell and Marianne think they have made their feelings clear to each other.

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Will they ever make their liaison work? Do they want to? Rooney displays a fine flair for character study while also exhibiting a deft insight into the process of maturation. There is almost something unsettling in the way she explores, and exposes, the hearts and minds of these two young people in their desire to love and be loved, to hurt and be hurt, and why each causes the other such pain and distress. While not overtly salacious, there is a touch of a latent eroticism underpinning Rooney’s rich, polished, flowing, narrative.

‘Normal People’ Publisher Faber & Faber. $29.99

MILKMAN

by ANNA BURNS Reviewed by John Hagan

“The day Somebody McSomebody put a gun to my breast and called me a cat and threatened to shoot me was the same day the milkman died”.

So begins Anna Burns’ extraordinary and absorbing novel about a conflict ridden community (probably Belfast) as seen through the eyes of an 18 year old girl.

Known only as ‘Middle Sister’, our narrator-protagonist is determined not to let the surrounding civil unrest impinge on her life. She seems a fairly rational young woman immersed in an abnormal environment. She likes to go jogging (with third-brother-in-law), studies French at night school, lives with her mother and two younger sisters, enjoys reading, and carries on a somewhat strained, semi-romantic relationship with ‘maybe-boyfriend’. Unfortunately, she attracts the interest of a local paramilitary heavy, known as ‘Milkman’. “I didn’t know whose milkman he was. He wasn’t our milkman.

I don’t think he was anybody’s. He didn’t take milk orders. There was no milk about him. He didn’t deliver milk. Also, he didn’t drive a milk lorry”, she initially observes. But Milkman had identified her as his property, and begins to stalk her. He pops up after French class, spys on her while she jogs, and often follows her from work in his distinctive white van. It soon gets around the closely knit neighbourhood, quite erroneously, that she is having an affair with this much older, menacing, married, man. For the first time in her life, she becomes ‘interesting’, attracting increasingly forensic scrutiny from family, friends and members of her disturbing, unstable, embattled, enclave. Milkman is an immensely creepy character who makes it clear that he will kill ‘maybe-boyfriend’ if ‘Middle Sister’ continues to see him.

This is, thankfully, not a regulation novel about killing, revenge and retribution. Generally, the novel highlights disturbing aspects of tribalism, prejudice, conformism, distrust, allegiance and betrayal. Stylistically and utterly unique, ‘Milkman’ explores aspects of religion, class,

uitous features of the landscape. He began actively seeking them out, photographing over 240 in total, researching their histories and interviewing those who attended them. In exploring the buildings, he was also collecting a treasury of childhood memories. A former student from the now uninhabited island of Achill Beg recalled a teacher called Mr McNamara who was ahead of his time, using the building in the 1940s as a night school to teach adult islanders to read and write.

After setting up a blog to record his discoveries, the compelling material O'Flaherty had uncovered began appearing in national outlets such as The Irish Times and TheJournal.ie, as well as international publications like Lonely Planet and Atlas Obscura. More and more locals came forward to share their stories. Each empty building has a story to tell, and gathered in this thoughtful collection, they whisper a poignant narrative of a disappearing Ireland – of changing needs, desires and ways of life. Enda O’Flaherty is the founder of the Disused Schoolhouses blog (endaoflaherty.com). He has spent over a decade as an archaeologist in Ireland and abroad, studying the remains of settlements from the distant past. His explorations of Ireland as a wandering archaeologist gave him a wish to better understand the deep and defining importance of the interaction between people and landscape. He now focuses on more recent remains of the past, and is undertaking a PhD at NUIG examining human settlement in Karst landscapes.

He lives in Cork.

gender, race and violence, while offering a disquieting and original take on life in a tension ridden city.

Author, Anna Burns, whose work has been compared to that of James Joyce and Samuel Beckett, was born in the Ardoyne area of Belfast, and now resides in England.

‘Milkman’, is her third novel, following publication of ‘No Bones‘, which was set in Belfast.

‘Milkman’ Publisher Faber. $29.99

NEWS FLASH!

Anne Burns wins Booker Prize Since John Hagan reviewed "Milkman" Anne Burns has won the 2018 Man Booker Prize for Milkman. Ann who was born in Belfast, Ireland, and now lives in East Sussex, England, is the first Northern Irish writer to win the £50,000 prize.

Kwame Anthony Appiah, 2018 chair of judges, praised Burns's "utterly distinctive voice," which "challenges conventional thinking and form in surprising and immersive prose." He added: "It is a story of brutality, sexual encroachment and resistance threaded with mordant humor. Set in a society divided against itself, Milkman explores the insidious forms oppression can take in everyday life.’

Well done Anne!

Deserted Schoolhouses of Ireland

By Enda O'Flaherty Beside yon straggling fence that skirts the way, With blossomed furze unprofitably gay, There, in his noisy mansion, skill'd to rule, The village master taught his little school

West Cork

by Sam Bungey (Narrator), Jennifer Forde (Narrator)

Oliver Goldsmith, ‘The Deserted Village’

Schoolhouse ruins are a common sight in the Irish countryside, wherever populations are in decline and the fabric of what was once a vibrant community is slowly perishing. Within their collapsing walls, friends were made and lessons were learned. Belief systems, traditions and moral codes were imprinted on young minds. These schoolhouses had a significant impact on generations of pupils, whether they still live nearby or have emigrated to faraway lands. However, little or no research has been undertaken into the social and cultural significance of these institutions.

Only some are recorded in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, and they are afforded varying degrees of protection on architectural merit only. Once pivotal to their communities, they now lie abandoned.

Enda O’Flaherty’s work as an archaeologist has brought him to the most isolated parts of Ireland, where he noticed and grew ever more intrigued by these ubiq-

This much we do know: Sophie Toscan du Plantier was murdered days before Christmas in 1996, her broken body discovered at the edge of her property near the town of Schull in West Cork, Ireland. The rest remains a mystery.

Gripping, yet ever elusive, join the real-life hunt for answers in the year’s first not-to-be-missed, true-crime series.

Investigative journalist, Sam Bungey, and documentarian, Jennifer Forde, guide listeners through the brutal, unsolved murder and the tangled web of its investigation, while introducing an intricate cast of characters, a provocative prime suspect, and a recovering community whose story begs to be heard.

I just finished listening to this book on Audible and I highly recommend it! Gripping!

Fred Rea 75

As well as his career as a dancer Brent’s ambitions, after visiting Alice Springs on an outreach program, is to become involved in human rights. With such a medium of dance that can globally unite it seems Brent has a great chance to fulfil that ambition.

Paula Xiberras from Tasmania

A pearler of a read

Reviewed by Paula Xiberras Author Lucinda Riley is a former actress and her novels are certainly befitting of her previous career being full of the dramatic. Lucinda was born in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. Drumbeg, near Belfast was her childhood home until she moved to study drama and ballet at school in London at 14. By age 16 she had completed her first TV role. Lucinda remained in acting for seven years until illness set her on her present career as author, culminating in the seven sisters novels, which themselves are destined for dramatisation in a television series.

I recently read the latest ‘sister’ novel ‘The Pearl Sister’. The story begins with one of the seven sisters, CeCe D’Apliese finding herself feeling alone after the passing of her billionaire father Pa Salt. Pa Salt adopted CeCe and her six sisters from various places around the world and each book showcases the life of one of the sisters. In the Pearl Sister, CeCe decides to search for her birth parents. She has a photo of a female relative, a Kitty McBride in her possession. Kitty was brought up in a conservative home by a ministering father who is not as religious as he seems. Kitty escapes the rigid home in Scotland to Australia.

CeCe, like Kitty begins a journey of her own, visiting Australia via Thailand. The ‘twining;’ of the girl’s lives is paralleled by the appearance of twin men in Kitty’s life which leads to some surprising twists.

While Kitty finds romantic love in Australia CeCe, as well as finding potential romantic love also forms a deep love for the Red Centre and her own connection to its Aboriginal artists. Her artistic career that was suspended when she left art college is resumed with fresh vigour. The novel should be applauded for the prominence of Aboriginal characters and enlightened depiction of same-sex relationships.

The Pearl Sister is out now published by Pan Macmillan.

Keeping Pace with Brent

by Paula Xiberras

In the world of Irish dancing it really is some ‘feat’, pardon the pun, to keep pace with Brent Pace pronounced ‘Par-chay’, Six-time world champion in Irish dance (surprisingly the top champions are all non-Irish) and former star of ‘Gael Force’ and ‘Rhythms of Ireland’. I recently spoke to Brent from New York where he was collaborating with fellow Irish dancers on new ideas and choreography. Talks turned from the Big Apple to the Apple Isle as he told me about his excitement of bringing ‘A Taste of Ireland’ to Tasmania this past September.

‘A Taste of Ireland’ celebrates Ireland’s rich history of music and dance taking, what enchanted audiences about ‘Riverdance’ and ‘Lord of the Dance’ to a new level. Brent told me ‘A Taste of Ireland’s immigrant character Osian’s experience of America, was cleverly adapted instead to 1900’s Australia with Osian searching for work on the docks. He has left the love of his life Ava back in Ireland. Brent wants to show in the dance of Ava, the modernisation of Irish dance from traditional to modern ballet.

The production employs a poetically rhyming narrative to accompany it’s poetic dance, also showcasing the styles of dance from the different provinces of Ireland.

From south Irelands interpretation of ‘Sean-nos’ dancing to the interpretive rhythm of Dublin’s Irish pub traditional sessions to New York’s expressive tap.

The casting for the show was and is rigorous, with dancers needing to display great athleticism as well as being talented singers. Indeed, the production pushes the boundaries with the inclusion of acapella presentation of traditional songs and a dose of humour as well.

Brent who has Irish-Italian and Maltese heritage has a strong identification with the immigrant story and is able to infuse the production with the like-minded heart felt struggle and hard work of his ancestors as they forged a new life in Australia.

WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK!

We have one copy of this book to giveaway.

Just email fred@irishscene.com.au and we will put you in the draw.

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year as we lived in Thornlie and it was a bit to travel.

The people there were always friendly, and the food was good!!

Do you follow any football teams and why?

As I mentioned earlier I follow football and am and have always been a Man United fan!! Probably because I had trials for Stockport County when I was young and that was quite near Old Trafford (Never made the cut) I love watching Ireland In any sport but mainly the round ball.

Where is your favourite watering hole and why?

Locally my favourite pub is Franklins Tavern in Vic Park, it’s just around the corner from me so not much of a distance to stagger home! Years ago, it was a great Irish bar and the music on Sunday’s was always brilliant. The people there are friendly, and we still get a scattering of Irish frequenting the place. Probably one of the best pints of Kilkenny in Perth. I also like going to the Mighty Quinn especially on the music nights where I have sung a few times and met some lovely people and brilliant musicians.

What do you think of the Irish Scene?

I love the Irish Scene and the job Fred Rea and Co do bi-monthly is great for the Irish in Perth. Always informative and great for anyone from Ireland that’s new to WA. Always look forward to the articles in it and it’s nice to know what’s happening in the Irish community. So long may it reign!!

What is your favourite film and actor?

This has to be Blazing Saddles!! Remember watching it for the first time in a pub in Ireland and the atmosphere was brilliant. Mel Brooks is as mad as a hatter but a fantastic writer/director. My favourite actor is Pierce Brosnan, has to be he’s an Irishman!!

Is Perth where you will stay?

Perth is home from home now, the children and grandchildren are well settled and as I said earlier it’s a fantastic place to live. If I could I’d like to buy a place in Kilkenny and go home for a few months each year, you know for the weather!!

Have you travelled much?

Mainly only between here and Ireland, I like to try and get back each year to ensure me mammy is behaving.

Had a couple of trips to Europe for weekends and that but Ireland has always been my destination and base.

Advice to anyone coming to Australia?

Keep an open mind and treat others as you would like to be treated. It’s still a great country full of opportunities so take it as you find it. An old friend of my father’s gave me some good advice before I emigrated. He said get a job, then save enough for the ticket home, put that money away and forget about it, then he said if you do this you can never be homesick because you always have the money to go home whenever you want.

What do you think of the Famine Memorial in Subiaco?

Fantastic job and recommend everyone to go and view it. These were hard times for the Irish people and it’s great to see them honoured in this way. Well done to everyone involved in it.

You enjoy singing and writing?

With Tony Synnott

Meet Tom Grace

What a life, Ton Grace, an honest gentleman and a pleasure to know and meet.

It was enlightening to have a minute with him.

How far did you go at your schooling?

I was born and raised in a little village in county Kilkenny and attended school there until Vocational school level and left with my Group Certificate and entered the Army Apprentice School in Naas county Kildare to train as a soldier and motor mechanic but failed miserably at both, so after been “ASKED TO LEAVE” I ran away to England where I spent a short while squatting in various places and working on building sites but the hunger grew too much so I went back home for some of mammy’s stew!!

At what age did you decide to go to Australia?

I returned to England after a few years at home and trained as a psychiatric nurse in a place called Macclesfield where I met my beautiful wife Pam and had two lovely children Daniel and Kerry. At the tender age of 29 we decided to try something new and the Australian nurses board were advertising for nurses in Sydney. We applied and were accepted and arrived there in 1987. We had planned on staying two years but have remained here since. We moved to WA in 1989 and have lived in Perth since and it’s now home.

Did Australia live up to your expectations and why?

It certainly did, it was a great place to raise children and we have been lucky to meet lovely people which I suppose become family when you are so far away.

Don’t get me wrong, there were times I was very homesick and missed the Craic of Ireland.

Did you get involved in sport here, if so what?

I have always been interested in football, the real game!! And played for Gosnells soccer club for a number of years and later coached juniors for a few years. Still enjoy watching the Premier league and the local Shamrock Rovers.

Did you visit the Irish Club and what was your impression of the people?

I joined the Irish Club shortly after arriving in Perth but probably only went there twice or three times a

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Yes Tony, I have been writing poems and songs for as long as I can remember.

I come from a large family and all of them are musical.

I spent my youth listening to me mammy singing always as she worked about the house. My older brother Mike lives in England and he has always written songs and worked as an entertainer all his life. My younger brothers play in a trad band called Keltic Kats and have played all over the world playing covers and some of their own stuff. I have been very lucky with my writing to have a lot of it published in the Irish Scene thanks to Fred. Also had a song recorded by Brendan Woods and Sean Roche many years ago called “A hope from abroad” and more recently had ‘’The Dragon Awaits” and “Never Too Old To Be Young” recorded by Brendan which is available on You Tube under Brendan. My writing inspirations have come from Eric Bogle, Leonard Cohen and Shane McGowan and have listened to and learned a lot from. Musically I was inspired by my brothers, Christy Moore and locally two Cork men Aiden Bolster (Billy Busker) and a Sydney Corkman Randal Hurley. But my biggest inspiration has been the “Usual Suspects” at the Mighty Quinn singers club who gave me the opportunity to sing my own compositions at their gatherings otherwise all my songs would be sitting in a file somewhere. My ambition is to meet Shane McGowan and sing a song with him.

What is your greatest fear?

Has been and always will be ‘My Mammy’ anywhere near a wooden spoon!!

Tony Synnott replies...

By Colin Smiley.

Just a Minuit with Synnott?

It went well past that limit, At his house and in bars, It took many more hours!

Who is this Tony Synnott, with his regular column in The Irish Scene, in which he collars and interrogates unsuspecting individuals? I reveal some of his early life and then ask the man himself to respond to a few questions.

Tony was born in Co. Wicklow on 9th July 1934 and states: “I am one of the luckiest people to be born in Greystones, Co. Wickford”. His father, James, was in the transport business.

His mother, Suzanne, was a trained piano player and singer, who in 1929 won a Fleadh Cheoil, singing “Beautiful Dreamer” and “Ave Maria”.

In 1939 the family moved to Drogheda, for employment reasons. There Tony’s parents had a further four boys and a girl. Whilst on that subject Tony had six children, 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He married three times.

There was music and song in the Synnott household, but street games were of more interest to the young Tony, than piano lessons. The local band was also a cheaper option for the family. However, even at 11 years Tony admits he had “devilment” in him and was none too impressed with the trombone he was given. Shortly after that he was to be found at the local gym, learning to box. He would also help out, after school, on local farms, to help put food on the table.

At 16 Tony got a job with Vince Deeny, the local draper. This arrangement assisted Tony in acquiring clothes to his liking, but also caused a clash between a father and his fashionconscious son! The family conflict sadly simmered and then boiled over.

His mother then declared that: “two bosses in this house was one too many”.

Thus, on the 6th August 1951 Tony took the Dublin - Liverpool boat.

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He was dressed in a brown suit, with a cream stripe, a green shirt with double collar (cost 7/2d) and green paisley tie (cost 2/11d). I mention the prices to highlight Tony’s amazingly attentive memory for detail, although others have suggested his great memory at times can be quite selective!

In Liverpool, he found Irish lodgings, work on the railways, The Bootle Boxing Club and that, as he puts it, “women would melt”. I will not enlarge on this, as political correctness is appropriate in this family magazine. The lure of greater money took him to the car industry in Coventry, where he would work double shifts. He was no longer boxing now, but his interest in music was rekindled. He sang rock and pop music in a pub with an accordion player – Bill Hayley and the hits of the day.

After singing some “Tenor Songs”, an agent picked up on his musical ability and strong voice and signed him up for the weekend Club Circuit.

By now Tony had moved to Nottingham and had started doing plastering jobs, the basics having been taught to him by an uncle. Soon he had some 40 (non-union!) men working for him, all whilst he was also earning top money through his singing. A show opener for Norman Wisdom earned him 150 pounds!

1956 was the year Tony married a young bride; and had it been in the Wild West there might have been a shotgun, rather than two English Bobbies advising him what he must do.

He moved to London where all was going well, until he had a difference of opinion with the Inland Revenue, over Value Added Tax. The selfconfessed “Tearaway, who stood up for himself”, stood up to two tax men and then tore away. After a quick trip back to Drogheda, he was Australia bound, complete with a false bottomed case, said to contain

Bridie, Connie etc., over the years. Were you Ireland’s answer to Errol Flynn?

great wealth.

Tony’s plastering business continued to flourish in Bathurst, NSW, but when his daughter Maura and Fiancé moved to Perth in 1977, he also moved there.

“Ah! No, I wouldn’t say that. I walked with an independent air. I could have whatever I wanted, but that was in my youth. I’ve been my own worst enemy at times. I don’t like anyone telling me what to do.

Women have taught me about misogyny”.

What do you consider to be your finest achievement?

You are often seen with The Irish Scene. Is this to read “A Minuet with Synnott”? Why else does this publication appeal to you?

“Living to be 84 and living my own way. I’m a stubborn man!”

Who are your favourite singers of all time (male and female).

“No! I like the people in the magazine. I keep every edition and read every page, from cover to cover. I also send copies back home to Ireland”.

“Mario Lanza. I have every record he ever made. His voice is out of this world.”

You had a wedding reception at The Rosemount in 1998. Why exactly did the police get involved?

“Female singers, well in popular music, without a doubt its Shirley Bassey. With classical, it would have to be the mezzo-soprano Maria Callas.”

“Well, Mick Murray had arranged for Paddy Holden to be dressed up as a chimney sweep, for the occasion (as sweeps are said to bring good fortune to the bride and groom). He didn’t turn up and then I had to speak to the police on the phone. Paddy had been picked up for “acting suspiciously”. All was explained and then The Sunday Times drove Paddy to the pub. Pictures were taken and I was in the paper the next day, along with Elena and Paddy. Laughs all round!”

What were your worst and best boxing bouts?

“I fought Joe Foley in Dublin, at the age of 17 and got the worst hiding ever. I was a lightweight and he was bigger than me”.

“In London I fought Percy Lewis as a welterweight. He was a milkman and I gave him a right pasting”.

When and why did you move to Thailand and what got you into flying planes?

You’re spritely for 84. What do you put such fitness down to and are you looking forward to a letter from The Queen/King or Australian President in 2014?

I was very busy with 80 men working for me in Perth.

A chance chat in a pub with a building contractor, led me to taking a two week Thai holiday. I managed several projects there, married again and stayed five and a half years (1988-1993). I learned to fly earlier on, in NSW, in a 140 Cherokee Piper. It was something I always wanted to do and enjoyed it for many years, until health issues put an end to my flying days.

“I think positively. I’ve brains to burn. I love people.

The world is my oyster. I regularly swim and exercise at the Terry Tyzack Pool. I eat a lot of fish and fruit; and whiskey is the elixir of life. I’ve been drinking it for 40 years – and plenty of it!” “And the letter, yes, I’ll be happy to get it; and I’m expecting it!”.

You always have enjoyed a good punt on the horses.

Is it true you once hit a major jackpot?

Yes! I put a lot of money on Rocket Racer, including some at odds of 33/1. Johnny Miller was the jockey. I won $284,000 and bought a house in Applecross.

Tony and Veronica McKee PO Box 994 Hillarys WA 6923

You’ve always enjoyed cars and driving them fast. What was your overall favourite car? Was it the Ford Lantra, Fred Rea got you into?

“No, it was not! It was the Ford Landau. A two door silver-grey model and it was me!”

You alluded to “women melting”. You’ve had a few marriages and many sweethearts including

info@mckeefamilyfunerals.com.au www.mckeefamilyfunerals.com.au

Tel (08) 9401 1900 • Fax: 9401 1911

Mob: 0413 337 785 79 80

Crisis support:

0403 972 265

for the Diaspora, Ciaran Cannon – we’ll keep you posted on the updates!

We also had a presentation on the night from Patricia Halley from Visa 4u in relation to Returning Residents Visas, so people can keep their options open if things don’t quite go to plan with the move home to Ireland.

Thanks to the Emigrant Support Program for the funding for this event and for everyone who came along to hear the information, we hope you found it very useful!

It was lovely to bring Roisin Trainor on a whistle-stop tour of Perth the following morning!

Check your passport!

13/15 Bonner Drive Malaga 6090 Crisis support: 0403 972 265 All other enquiries: 08 9249 9213

As we are approaching holiday season, a reminder to check the expiry on your passports – most countries require you to have six months left on your passport before granting you entry. If anyone needs an Irish passport form we stock them in the Claddagh office or you can renew online at https:// www.dfa.ie/passportonline/ In order to apply online: • you must have less than 12 months validity remaining on your current passport • your passport must not be expired for more than 5 years • no name changes are permitted

AGM FOR MEMBERS

The AGM for Claddagh Members takes place on Tuesday 11 December 2018. Come along and have your say and hear about our committee’s efforts in planning for the future as they launch the Strategic Plan for 2019-2022.

Fundraising and Donations Returning to Ireland Session

On Thursday, 27 September the Claddagh Association hosted a Returning to Ireland Information Session in the Irish Club. This was a collaboration with the Irish Support Agency in Sydney, and we are very grateful to Roisin Trainor for coming over to Perth to co-present this event with us.

The research and information provided to participants was largely from CrossCare Migrant Project in Dublin - a fantastic organisation which supports Irish people emigrating and immigrating to and from Ireland. This information for the CrossCare presentation came from an Indecon Report into ‘Economic Barrier for returning Irish Emigrants’, which was commissioned by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This report can be found at https:// www.dfa.ie/global-irish/returning-to-ireland/report-onreturning-irish-emigrants/ for anyone who is interested in learning some more. The summary of recommendations on page 15 gives a useful overview as to areas identified for improvement.

The feedback from our Perth seminar was shared with CrossCare who have since made additions to their website to include information for people returning to the North of Ireland, we are very grateful to Sarah and Judy for their prompt action on that.

We have shared feedback and questions from participants on the night in relation to tax relief for payments into Superannuation accounts for Returning Irish immigrants. We have put together a summary and asked CrossCare to present this to the government and advocate on behalf of our members in this regard. – this will be presented to the Minister

The support we provide the Irish community in Western Australia would not be possible without the generous donations and fundraising efforts of the Irish community. We welcome donations to the Claddagh Association and encourage people to donate at https://www.givenow.com.au/thecladdaghassociation or via our bank account details on our website.

Claddagh Seniors at the Famine Memorial in Subiaco

New Claddagh Coordinator

Mairead McDonald has been with us since July and has already met quite a few of you at some of our events, keep your eye out for emails from her, or the odd phone call. We are delighted to have Mairead on board, she comes to the Claddagh with a wealth of experience in various fields not least the Irish scene in Perth where a lot of you would know her for the voluntary work she has done with the GAA and the Darkness into Light annual fundraising walk.

Until next time – thanks for supporting the work of the Claddagh Association 81

WAGS Western Australian Genealogical Society Inc. FAMILY LINKS - AUSTRALIA AND IRELAND

This time our story connects with the recent centenary of the end of World War 1, commemorated in Australia as Remembrance Day on 11 November. Many Australian and Irish soldiers served and died – or survived to later return home. Irish Group member Cheryl Hebbs has found that six of her eight great grandparents were born in Ireland. She shares a story about her great uncle Albert who was one of the 60,000 Australian soldiers who fought in Gallipoli.

Arthur Albert Crozier (1887 – 1979) I began researching my family history about five years ago and started my search with family members I knew something about - my mother’s Irish ancestors from County Fermanagh.

We had grown up with this huge old photographic portrait hanging in pride of place in our home in country Queensland. It was fabulous and showed Mum’s father’s family, the Croziers, in a very formal dour Edwardian pose, my great grandparents John Crozier and Lizzie Jane Johnston, and their nine children. I knew their names off by heart, such was my fascination with that portrait.

Albert with Florrie and Maggie Johnston

L to R (back): Albert, Bill (my grandfather), Sarah, Blayney, Joss, Charlie L to R (front): John (my great grandfather), Bella, Walter, Elizabeth, & Lizzie Jane (my great grandmother)

I think that photograph must have been taken sometime between 1911, when Sarah, the daughter standing at the back, married and 1915, when Arthur Albert, standing on left behind his father, joined up for the Great War. He was known as Albert as there were already several Arthurs in the family. It is easy to imagine the family gathering together to wish Albert a safe journey and a short war and going into town to get this portrait made so something of he would always be with them.

Of the five brothers only Albert went to the war. At

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27 he was the youngest of the adult males of the family and still single to boot. The records show Albert joined the 5th Australian Light Horse Regiment in January 1915 and after being deployed at Gallipoli Peninsula in November 1915, was laid low in Egypt with mumps and measles. After his recovery he finally re-joined the action in France in early 1916. Then in August that year he received a severe gunshot wound to the knee and was transferred from France to England for treatment.

He recovered and his record shows that he was granted a furlough after he was discharged from hospital in November 1916, returning about two weeks later.

He was a survivor and would go on to be awarded the Military Medal for bravery in 1918 for his actions at Bonnay on the Somme, northern France. He endured to the very end of the war finally returning home to his family in Queensland in mid 1919.

It is amazing what turns up in this genealogy hobby.

Recently I caught up with Albert’s granddaughter, another family history enthusiast. She kindly shared some mementos from his war time service, including letters and postcards he had written home to his family, which had been preserved by his sister Bella. They provided an insight into Albert’s thoughtful, caring nature and his abiding love for his family and friends.

Some of the postcards were out of the ordinary, not the typical wartime images, but showed Albert, in a portrait studio in Enniskillen, Fermanagh, in his Australian Imperial Force uniform - posing with his Irish cousins!

This really surprised me as I had no idea he had ever met his Irish cousins. I had always thought that - apart from his military service during World War 1 - he had lived out his life as a dairy farmer in northern NSW. At some time during a break in war Albert took the opportunity to travel to Fermanagh to visit and be photographed with this family, most likely during that furlough he took in November 1916.

It must have been wonderful for his mother and sisters back in Australia to receive these postcards, knowing that Albert had been able to meet his Aunt Sarah and his cousins. Both families had kept in touch by letter; three other siblings of these Irish cousins had by then emigrated to live among the Croziers in Queensland. Another family link was forged between my Irish and my Australian families.

Years later when my sister and I visited descendants of Aunt Sarah at Tirwinny near Ederney, in Fermanagh, they too had a copy of that original Australian family portrait.

How it made its way to Fermanagh is another mystery.

Albert Crozier to Belle card of view of Port Said

Cheryl, Hebbs, Deputy Convenor, Irish Spe-

cial Interest Group

Irish Special Interest Group

One of 17 Special Interest Groups at the WA Genealogical Society (WAGS), the Irish Special Interest Group is for Western Australians researching their Irish ancestors. The

Irish Group meets four times a year at WAGS Family History WA Research Centre, unit 4, 48 May Street, Bayswater. On 21 October, Cheryl Hebbs, Deputy Convenor of the Irish Group, demonstrated how to find your Irish ancestors in the Irish Registry of Deeds, which are accessible through a combination of the Irish Registry of Deeds Index Project website and FamilySearch website.

In 2019 the Irish Group will gather on these Sundays from 2.004.30pm: 20 January, 21 April, 21 July and 20 October. The committee has decided that presentations at the meetings in 2019 will be along the theme Back to Basics, perfect for new members and beginners in Irish research. New members and visitors are welcome. Gold coin do-

Daniel will play last concert in Perth

By Tom Gilmore

When Daniel O’Donnell and his band, plus special guest Mary Duff, come to town on Saturday March 9th it will be his 11th Australian concert during this 2019 tour. So it’s the last chance for Australian fans to see the Irish star during this whistle-stop tour of major venues across the continent.

Daniel’s penultimate show this time will have been two days earlier in Adelaide but after the Perth Concert, in the Riverside Theatre, he will be flying to Sri Lanka the next day to play Columbo on Wednesday March 13th.

“We are so delighted to be playing Perth on a Saturday night which may be ideal for many after a hard weeks work. While we always enjoy playing in Australia it is particularly special to play in Perth as it’s our last show this time, and like the last score in a football game it’s always the sweetest,” says Daniel.

He will be playing all his classic songs sounding the same on the live shows as on record. Recently his work presenting TV shows in Ireland has brought out the best of his amazing talent as an MC and a bit of a comedian with a dry wit. Also he has fine-tuned his craft as a smooth singer to perfection.

He will introduce some new segments to the Perth concert including a number of songs heard for the first time in WA from his latest hit album Walkin’ In The

nation is appreciated.

Sending all readers best wishes for Christmas from all of us at the Irish Special Interest Group, and hoping to meet you in the New Year.

Jenni Ibrahim, on behalf of the Irish Special Interest Group Contacts Robyn O’Brien,

Irish Special Interest Group E irish@ wags.org.au WA Genealogical Society (WAGS) http://membership.wags.org.au T 9271 4311 Join WAGS’ Facebook group FamilyHistoryWA – researching family worldwide Irish Special Interest Group page at WAGS https://tinyurl.com/irishsig

Moonlight. It includes a number of new original songs

by Irish songwriters. But no doubt “I Just Wanna’ Dance with You” and the Traditional Irish “Brush Dance” will again be showstoppers for Daniel during his Saturday March 9th show in Perth.

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A big lump of Irish history

by Lloyd Gorman

Over the course of October and November groups of Irish school children will have recently experienced Irish history in a way that virtually no one else on the island of Ireland has in nearly 180 years.

They will have planted, harvested and finally eaten the produce they first sowed around March and April in their school’s vegetable gardens.

They will have grown and tasted Lumper potatoes. This humble and little-known tuber is at the centre of Ireland’s greatest national tragedy and was until very recently almost entirely lost to history itself.

The Lumper became the main food of the poorer classes who tilled and worked the highly productive farms and fields of big landowners. The Lumper was well suited to the Irish climate, required very little attention and could flourish in scratchy and sodden patches of soil. In the run up to and even during the Irish Famine of 1845 to 1850 Ireland produced large volumes of cash crops that were shipped out to England and Europe.

When the first crop of lumpers failed in 1845 it caused hardship and hunger, but with nothing else in reserve the successive failures of the spud quickly pushed enormous amounts of the population into real crisis and then terrible tragedy.

Ireland had known famine before but the devastation of the Great Irish Famine – An Gorta Mór – was somehow different. The nation and people of Ireland have been living with the consequences ever since.

But for all the study, discussion, analysis and memorialisation of the famine and association that has created in the minds of people around the world between Irish

people and potatoes hardly any attention has ever been paid to the actual potato in question. Until now.

The Lumper Schools Project (LSP) was launched at Scoil Santain in Tallaght on April 11, 2018. The Gaelscoil (Irish language school) was the first in Ireland to get the seeds to plant the Lumber. The fact that there were seeds was nothing short of a miracle combined with a vision and plenty of graft. About ten years ago Michael McKillop from The Glens of Antrim Potato’s rescued it from the very brink of extinction and brought it back to life as a viable foodstuff. His company sponsors the LSP and provides enough seeds for every school in Ireland.

“This is our fifth year with the Lumper project, but our first year with the schools involved,” explained Michael Blanch from the Committee for the Commemoration for Irish Famine Victims (CCIFV).

Michael and the CCIFV have campaigned tirelessly over the years to raise awareness of the Famine and its victims. Thanks to their efforts the largest famine era mass grave in Glasnevin cemetery in Dublin became a marked grave in 2016 and was formally recognised by a ceremony involving Irish president Micheal D Higgins.

The second weekend in May is now also officially recognised and commemorated with famine memorials and commemorations around the world. These things came to pass because of the tireless commitment of the CCIFV and its members and successive governments have eventually lent their support. The LSP has followed a similar pattern.

“The government has given up, whatever we do the government 84

Pete St John and Lloyd Gorman

come in and join us,” said famous Dublin singer songwriter Pete St John who is excited about the prospect of creating a living historical artefact.

“This lumper thing is a bit of a pet thing with me, I’m really sold on it.”

Pete St John - who wrote The Fields of Athenry which has become the ultimate anthem about the Famine - is working closely with Michael to get the Lumper into the hands and hearts of as many people as possible.

Wherever they have addressed councils, government bodies or other bodies and actually let people hold them Pete St John said the potatoes have had a captivating and profound effect on them. “I would like to see the same thing happen in Australia with the Lumper as is happening in Ireland. The Lumper is the biggest, most important, iconic crop of the Famine movement. Once you have it in your hand it takes a hold of you.

Its the same as with pensioners like myself as it is with school children. I want to get the Lumper out into the world.”

Closer ties between the CCIFV and the Western Australian.

Irish Famine Commemoration Committee - chaired by Fred Rea - is one of the ways he would like to see the project become a reality.

Pete St John hopes that the wider community will take it on board too.

The role of Irish emigrants in Wanneroo underscored by Duffy House and its history (Part 1) By Caroline Smith If you drive along Wanneroo Road in the northern suburbs of Perth, you will see – along with many typical elements of suburbia – evidence of the area’s rural heritage, in the form of market gardens and wide properties that were once used for farming activities. On one of these properties lies an abandoned homestead dating from the early twentieth century whose history – and that of the Duffy family who owned it- tells us much about the role of Irish emigrants in Perth’s early years.

For more than a decade, the City of Joondalup has been trying to get ‘Duffy House’ listed by the Heritage Council, making a fresh recommendation in February this year. If this does not happen, the homestead – which was built between 1911 and 1913 – may be demolished by the WA Planning Commission, who purchased the land on which it stands in 2014. Calls for restoration and heritage listing have also been influenced by the property’s degradation in recent years, with visitors and rangers reporting dead animals, graffiti and other damage.

This is a far cry from the original condition of the homestead, which at the time of its completion in 1913 was described as one of the most modern buildings in the area, with limestone walls, jarrah floorboards, and a roof but no ceiling – to keep it cool in summer. The work can be credited to local builder George

Dawson, who took on the contract for Frederick Duffy: at that time a farmer, justice of the peace and inaugural secretary of the Wanneroo Roads Board and Wanneroo Agricultural Society.

But if Frederick’s career tells us something about the family’s key role within the local community, it is perhaps his grandmother’s story which attests to the tenacity and resourcefulness of Irish emigrants to Australia. It was in 1859 that the first Duffy’s – Bernard and Sarah – arrived in Perth on emigrant ship the Hamilla Mitchell, along with their four children: Margaret, Brigid, Mary, Sarah and Bernard (known as Barney). Initially they settled in what is now Victoria Park, and ran a small dairying operation. But within eighteen months, tragedy struck the family when the father, Bernard was killed in an accident – breaking his neck after a fall from a cart. Shortly afterwards, his widow Sarah relocated the family north to Wanneroo, settling on what is now the Duffy House property.

Despite the family’s changed circumstances and the obvious challenges they brought, Sarah Duffy was able to replicate the success of the earlier dairying operation, setting up a small farm on the Wan-

85

neroo property and later a house built of brick and stone with a shingled roof. A newspaper article from 1940 recalls her journeying to Perth on horseback with butter packed on her saddle to sell at the city markets. Later, the farm was able to expand and add pigs to its operation, and Mrs Duffy also received an almond tree from prominent colony figure Mr Leeder. It was a wholly family operation, with daughters Mary and Sarah employing five ticket-of-leave men on the property to help with the farming.

Son Barney began his career at the age of twelve, carting timber to the city, but later he too turned to dairying, and in 1890 became manager of Sir George Shenton’s property – also in Wanneroo. It was in this second generation that the Duffy’s began to become more integrated within the fabric of Perth society: first daughter Margaret Duffy married successful dairy farmer Henry Gibbs, and became a prominent figure within the Catholic community, with connections to Loreto Convent and the Sacred Heart Association.

Barney himself had married Cather-

ine Hughes in 1873 and built a limestone house on his property near Lake Goollelal, employing eight ticket-of-leave men. But it was Barney’s son Frederick who would build Duffy House on the family land, consolidating his own position in the district. He too, had married well – into the pioneering Cockman family, whose home Cockman House is also nearby and is the oldest residence in Wanneroo, built in 1870. Frederick established a market garden on the Duffy family land, and kept both horses and cattle, as well as cultivating a wide range of vegetables. He later purchased his own land, on which Duffy House is now located. Upon his death in 1924, his widow Eva Matilda Duffy (nee Cockman) continued the family tradition of dairying with the help of her children. Beginning with one cow and building up to seventy, the family produce soon came to be a staple at Brownes Milk depot in North Perth, and this continued under the guidance of sons Jack and Bob, until the dairy was relocated off the family property in 1962. But Duffy House remained in the family until Jack’s death in 2009, bringing to an end a presence of almost 150 years in the area.

Jessica Stojkovski outside Duffy House Editor: (Above) Jessica Stojkovski Member for Kingsley says that Duffy House is a key part of Woodvale’s heritage. Jessica said, "There have been numerous calls from the community to preserve Duffy House and the historical value it brings to the area". To continue the dialogue, Jessica hosted Street Corner Meetings to discuss the future of Duffy House and funding opportunities with concerned residents in the area. In part two of the story we will tell you about moves by Jessica to have the home heritage listed.

How to get in some training for a trad session!

by Fred Rea/Lloyd Gorman

Time was your best chance of tracking down a good trade session was by word of mouth and whispers, today social media is largely spreading the word. In September an impromptu trad session in Perth went viral across Australia and Ireland and was picked up by traditional print media, The Irish Independent back in Ireland and The West Australian and POST Newspaper here in Perth. The Independent tracked down Irish-born Niamh Campbell, who has lived in Australia for over 30 years, who recorded the scene on her mobile. "We are all getting so used to traveling on public transport with headphones on and faces looking at phones. It was amazing to see everyone engaging with the band and each other, and not a phone in sight - apart from mine," she told the Irish paper.

Her mobile phone recording shows a group of musicians sitting on a train carriage, cheerfully belting out Irish tunes, including the ditty, "I'm a Rambler, I'm a Gambler", watched on by other commuters who were entertained by the 'live' acoustic performance. The clip captures the action between them leaving Perth central station on the Fremantle line.

The recently shot footage caught the public imagination the incident it shows was not a one-off incident, it is in fact something that with a little bit of planning it is possible to experience first hand. As it happens the train is instrumental to the story.

We were told its not the first time its been recorded but it was the first time it went viral with local trad group the Derek Buckley and The Broken Pokers It also highlights the use of the train as a good way to get to a session and back. The journey can hold a special treat for those taking the public transport option. One of the musos told us, "All the musicians get in the last carriage of the 3pm train from Midland and they start playing together on the way to Fremantle".

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Around the Irish scene Compiled by Fred Rea A champion of the Irish Scene

Welsh born Veronica O'Connor was fiercely proud of her roots but she also deeply loved her Irish Australian family. Bingo was one of her many passions and she was for many, many years a keen player. As well as being a social group her bingo friends were also voracious readers of Irish Scene and would constantly ask her everytime they met when the next issue was due out. When a new edition did come out Veronica would bring a large bundle of them with her to the bingo hall where they would quickly disappear into the hands and bags of the rapacious readers. A one woman distribution centre Veronica - who fought cancer right up to the end - was always happy to spread the good word about Irish Scene. Bob is now going to take over distribution duties and will drop them over to bingo when they come out so they don't miss out and has started a new circulation group with his RSL mates.

Veronica is survived by her husband Bob of 56 years, daughter Alison and sons Kevin and Robert, grandson Robert.

BIG CHANCE

Angela Horan - a die hard West Coast Eagles supporter who lives in Heathridge - was in Melbourne for the Grand Final, but not for the football. She travelled east for her father's birthday and a family get together. Eagles legend Nic Naitanui was on the same plane as Angela from Perth and when they landed in Tullamarine (Melbourne) airport she got an unexpected chance to wish him a speedy recovery and best of the luck to the boys in their clash against Collingwood, and of course a quick snap with the man himself for the photo album (and now Irish Scene as well). Well done to the Eagles on a thrilling game of footy and a great win for WA.

Lovely hurling lads!

A big crowd turned out at the new Whitfords Bar in October to give Alan and Edel Gibson – and their beautiful daughters Aoife and Éirinn - a big send off on the next stage of life in Australia.

Alan – from Longford – and Edel from Dublin have called Perth home since January 2012 but from early November will move across to Brisbane.

They will be sorely missed by their friends and the wider Irish community.

“We joined the GAA Junior Academy in 2016 for our two girls Aoife and Éirinn to play Gaelic football and Hurling and my God do they love it!.” said Edel.

In 2017 they both became deeply involved and active with the junior academy where they made a massive contribution.

They said it will be hard to leave it all behind. “We'd like to say one thing about the committee,” said Alan and Edel. “We have never met a nicer bunch of people and the Craic we had with them all is mighty. We all gelled and everyone is fantastic in their own ways and that's why it has been so unbelievably brilliant to be apart of. We will miss everyone and miss being a part of a wonderful community. We will take with us to Brisbane so many amazing memories. Go raibh míle maith agat” Slan leat a chairde, ye are welcome back anytime.

The photo of our committee: Front Row: Andy Brennan, Edel Gibson, Alan Gibson, John Broderick, Tony Ward, Sarah Foster, Jason Fallon, Kieran O Rourke, Back Row: Avril Fallon, Eric Mc Sweeney, Derek Lawlor, Mick Quirk.

Congratulations to Denise Quigley, Perth Rose of Tralee 2016 who recently married Danny Costello.

Tracy and Philip Moore and children recently had a audience with the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Mick Finn. The Moore's returned to Ireland some months ago. We think it was so Philip could be closer to his beloved Liverpool!

87

JIM EGAN IN GERALDTON Jim Egan, Rita Stinson President Geraldton Historical Society, Volunteers, Max, Verna, Carol, and Secretary of the Geraldton Historical Society, Glenis. Jim said it was an enjoyable meeting for morning tea and get together regarding the Irish girls who arrived on the Bride Ships Palestine and Travencore with the members of GHS at the Historical Lighthouse at Geraldton.

McDonald's Oi Oi Oi! Congratulations to the McDonald family who recently became Australian citizens.

Minister Patrick O'Donovan, TD visits Celtic Club and Famine Memorial

Left: Michael Deering, President of the Celtic Club, Patrick O’Donovan, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with special responsibility for Public Procurement, Tom Quinn, President of The Irish Club, Breandán Ó Caollaí, Ireland's Ambassador to Australia and Hon Irish Consul in Western Australia, Marty Kavanagh. Right: Minister and Marty at Famine Memorial.

Rosie lost - then found!

Tommy and Ann Marie O'Brien with friends at the Swallow Bar in Maylands.

They were not so happy a few weeks later when their beloved Rosie went missing... Good news she was found!

The facebook family were in deep shock until Rosie came home! Wuf! Wuf!

It was nice to catch up with some old mates (Billy, Peter, Jim, Joe and John) from the North Perth United and Quarefellas days at the Mighty Quinn recently. Murphy hasn't aged a bit from 40 years ago, still that wicked sence of humour! What would you expect from a scouse git!

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Durty Nelly's 20th Birthday!

Jimmy Connell's Birthday!

Jimmy (Grandad) recently had a double birthday celebration at the Beldon Tavern.

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Gaelic Football & Hurling Association of Australasia Western Australia FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Congratulations to everyone who took part in our GAA WA Football Championship Finals day back in August, where our Juniors, Minors and Seniors took to the pitch. In what has been a very competitive year, where all teams have had to battle it out, Finals day was no different; every game was tense and exciting. Congratulations to the Championships winners; Greenwood Men and Western Shamrocks Ladies. The Greenwood mens team now have back to back Senior Championship wins and Western Shamrocks Ladies have ended a five year drought. It was an extra special day for Greenwood’s McLoughlin brothers; coach Shea and player Daryl and their families, who had their father and former Greenwood player Paddy McLoughlin travel out from Ireland to share Finals day with them.

The football season at Tom Bateman concluded with Prohibition Irish Band raising the roof! We cannot wait to see them in action again for the end of season GAA WA Celebration Night on Nov 17th.

Winners:

Ladies Football Championship Plate Final Winners: St. Finbarr’s Ladies Football Championship Final Winners: Western Shamrocks Mens Football Championship Final Winners: Greenwood Player of the Match Ladies Plate Final - Kate Smith, St. Finbarr’s Player of the Match Ladies Final - Kiara Keegan, Western Shamrocks Player of the Match Mens Final - Shane Barton, Greenwood Football Player of the Year 2018 Ladies - Eileen McElroy, Western Shamrocks Football Player of the Year 2018 Mens - Ronan O’Flatharta, St. Finbarr’s

Ladies Football Championship Final Winners Western Shamrocks

Football Player of the Year 2018 Mens - Ronan O’Flatharta, St. Finbarr’s

Mens Football Championship Final Winners Greenwood

Player of the Match Mens Final Shane Barton, Greenwood

Football Player of the Year 2018 Ladies - Eileen McElroy, Western Shamrocks

Player of the Match Ladies Final - Kiara Keegan, Western Shamrocks

Player of the Match Ladies Plate Final - Kate Smith, St. Finbarr’s

Mens Football Championship Plate Winners St Finbarrs

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AUSTRALASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2018 - MELBOURNE

To be part of the Australasian Championships is a privilege. We thank everyone in WA who made this year a reality for all of our players across Minor Football, Ladies Football & Hurling. Without the support of sponsors and those participating in and running fundraisers, our Clubs, travelling Referees and Physios and the graft of Management and Players, the representation of WA is not possible.

Congratulations to our Minors for taking home the Plate and most especially for showing us all how important the ethos of the GAA is - it was of immense pleasure to receive a letter from Victoria thanking our boys for being the 16th man on their VIC Whites team come the Minor Final. Well done to both the Ladies Football and Mens Hurling teams who were runners up after tough competitions in both codes.

Congratulations also to Eoin Guinan for deservedly taking home Hurling Player of the Tournament.

And to each of our All Stars! We are delighted for you and cannot wait to see you go forward for selection for the World Games in 2019.

Ladies Football Championship Finalists Southern Districts

Ladies Football Championship Finalists Western Shamrocks

Ladies Plate Finalists Morley Gaels

WA MINOR FOOTBALL ALL STARS 1. Ryan Creighton 2. Conail McCarthy 3. Hudson Babich 4. Jack Martin 5. Simon Haywar

Ladies Plate Finalists St Finbarrs

WA LADIES FOOTBALL ALL STARS 1. Sinead Daly 2. Seanan Loughran 3. Sarah Donnelly

Mens Football Championships Finalists Greenwood

4. Kiara Keegan 5. Sarah Shovlin 6. Eileen McElroy

WA HURLING ALL STARS 1. Eoin Guinan 2. Alan Lynam 3. Johnny Cody 4. Paddy Ivers 5. Kyle Loftus 6. Liam O'Shea 7. Peter Kenneally

All teams wish to thank their main sponsors; • Minor Football: Pipeline Technics, K&N Solutions and all Golf Day sponsors • Ladies Football: Catalpa Group, Bar FIVE 6 EIGHT and all Monster Draw sponsors • Hurling: An Sibin, Fenians, Paddy Malones and all Golf Day and Race Night sponsors.

Mens Football Championship Finalists Western Shamrocks

Minor Senior Mixed Game 91 91

We would like to thank each of the State Management Teams - taking on a State team is no mean feat. Your efforts do not go unnoticed. Thank you to those named and the many others supporting in the background for all your hard work; • Minor Football: Ciaran Gallagher, Oisin McFadden, Eimear Beattie, Tom Murphy, Robert O’Callaghan & Richard.

Gaelic Football & Hurling Association of Australasia Western Australia • Ladies Football: Mark McCrea, Ray Vacher, Shane Barton, Michael Mossey, Nollaig Trevarthen and Derek Boyle.

• Hurling: Alan Flatherty, Andrew Kenny, James Loonam, Eoin Burke, Cathal Harte, Dave Sherlock, Kevin Ryan, Kieran Lyons, Stephen Flannery, Ciaran Kelly, Trevor McGrath and Saorise Devey.

Eoin Guinan hurling player of the tournament

END OF SEASON CELEBRATION

We welcome all of our GAA WA members and supporters to our end of season celebration on November 17th from 7.00pm at Mayfair Lane in West Perth. Entry $20.00 at the door. Music by Prohibition. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Hurling Team

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS!

Nollaig Shona agus Athbhliain faoi Mhaise Daoibh! Wishing our GAA WA community, family and friends a very Happy Christmas wherever you may be!

Ladies Football Team

Minor Football Team Football Clubs Greenwood Morley Gaels Southern Districts St. Finbarr’s Western Shamrocks Hurling Clubs St. Gabriel’s Western Swans Perth Shamrocks Sarsfields

CLUB DETAILS Mens Senior Football - greenwoodgfc@hotmail.com Mens & Ladies Senior Football - morleygaelsgfc@hotmail.com Mens & Ladies Senior Football - southerndistrictsgaa@gmail.com Mens & Ladies Senior Football - stfinbarrsgfc@outlook.com Mens & Ladies Senior Football - westernshamrocks@hotmail.com Mens & Ladies Senior Hurling & Camogie - stgabrielsperth@gmail.com Mens & Ladies Senior Hurling & Camogie - westernswansgaa@gmail.com Mens Senior Hurling - perthshamrocks@gmail.com Mens Senior Hurling - sarshurlingperth@gmail.com 92

JUNIOR Gaelic Football & Hurling Association ACADEMY of Australasia Western Australia By Debbie Teahan The seventh season of the Junior Academy has come to a very successful and busy close. A compromised rules blitz was held in Medibank Stadium, Leederville. Where we have AFL clubs play our ‘lads’ with Gaelic football and AFL blending rules. Over 220 children consisting of 12 boys teams and this year we even had two girls teams! It was amazing to see so many children in different pitches representing different AFL clubs in the one large venue chasing O’Neills Gaelic Footballs!

Well done to the winners of the Jim Stynes memorial cup Whitfords Junior Football club and Ellenbrook winning the inaugural girls 2018 Jim Stynes memorial cup. Congratulations to Bayswater for winning the Jim Stynes memorial shield (for the second year running!)

This is such an important event for us as it shows Gaelic Games to so many clubs, children and their parents who would normally have no connection or experience of Gaelic football, plus for our Academy kids who train and have challenge matches amongst themselves, this event brings in true competition, and by God do they appreciate the opportunity, there were tears, and smiles, heartache and joy for our lads, it was wonderful to see just how much it meant to them. On that note, thank you to the kids themselves for harassing the parents into letting them train and play even after the official season ended a few weeks back. Of course thank you to the parents who agreed to giving up said weekends, without your encouragement and chauffer skills we would be lost! To the coaches, who turn up week in week out to pass on their passion and knowledge for all things GAA but to willingly extend their season to add on compromised rules training to their hurling and football training sessions!

When I say willingly, I really mean ‘do it or face the wrath of Edel Gibson’. Speaking of Edel, she put her hand up last year to be an assistant Secretary (to me!) well bejaysus none of us knew what we were letting ourselves in for! She was the push for the Blitz last year, and herself and her husband Alan Gibson rallied the troops from the GAA of WA, the Junior Academy committee, the AFL clubs and whipped us all into shape! We now have a better venue, more coaches, more children, more events, more games, more exhaustion (especially for our president John Broderick!) and importantly more fun! Once the Gibson’s had a hand in increasing our workload 100 fold they then announce they are high tailing it off to Queensland for the next few years. Well. Now. Where are we supposed to find another couple who could sell sand to the Arabs or ice to the Eskimos or rain to the Irish…

You will both be missed, and no words can thank you enough for the effort and positive change you brought to the academy. You took us onward and upward! Anyone who would like to fill these shoes please see our president John Broderick who can be found in a corner rocking back and forth since you said you were upping sticks!

On a serious note, if you would like to help out, coaching or behind the scenes, we would be delighted to hear from you, please contact through our facebook page or download the ‘team app’ search Gaelic Games Junior Academy, you’ll see our logo and then you can message us through that, we would be only too delighted to have many hands making lighter work! ‘Til next time…. Merry Christmas!

GGJA team.

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SHAMROCK

Rovers

SPONSORED AND SUPPORTED BY McLOUGHLIN'S BUTCHERS MALAGA

We are at that part of the year again. With the 2018 season ending we look back and reflect on what we have done. After coming off a dreadful season in 2017 both on and off the field, we regrouped to put things in place for the 2018 season. Being able to hold onto Gerry McEwan as first team coach, we knew that the on field problems we had would be put right. With Keith Trayner and Adam Walsh to assist him things went well. With a very young side the First team more than held their own. It was a ‘steadying of the ship’ season, and we are delighted with the end result.

We would like to thank all of our coaching staff for their commitment to the cause. Special mention to Dean Keating who had the job of looking after our under 18s, and Gordon Webster our goalkeeping coach.

We had a very successful end of season awards night combined with a race night. There was a great atmosphere and great to see all the players, family and friends enjoying what was a special night. I would like to thank all of our committee members and volunteers on the night, especially Frank Grimes, Ciarain Hoey, Dermot Smyth and Robbie Burns, and Mick and the staff of Acclaimed Catering.

We thank all our sponsors for their continued support, whether it be for our annual Golf Day, Race night, donation of prizes etc. We are very grateful to our club and team sponsors: McLoughlin Butchers, Bendigo Bank and our main sponsor Gay Collins of Pipeline Technics.

As we look forward to the new season we are always looking for new people to get involved as volunteers.

If you think you have something to offer and enjoy the game of football give us a call.

Gerry McEwan and his coaching staff are already busy recruiting new players to add to the squads for the 2019 season, and looking forward to the challenge of improving on last season. If you enjoy training and playing in a great atmosphere then Shamrock Rovers is the place for you. Pre season training starts 15th and 17th of January 2019 at 6:30 pm. All players welcome at Harold Rossiter Reserve Vic Park. Looking forward to seeing you there.

Come on the Hoops!

Marty Burke, President

McLoughlin Butchers Malaga Drop in and see our range of Irish prepared meats 58 Westchester Rd, Malaga WA 6090

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Wife's Diary: Tonight, I thought my husband was acting weird.

We had made plans to meet at a nice restaurant for dinner. I was shopping with my friends all day long, so I thought he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but he made no comment on it.

Conversation wasn't flowing, so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we could talk.

He agreed, but he didn't say much.

I asked him what was wrong; He said, "nothing."

I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset.

He said he wasn't upset, that it had nothing to do with me, and not to worry about it.

On the way home, I told him that I loved him.

He smiled slightly, and kept driving. I can't explain his behavior.

I don't know why he didn't say, “I love you, too.�

When we got home, I felt as if I had lost him completely, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore.

He just sat there quietly, and watched TV. He continued to seem distant and absent.

Finally, with silence all around us, I decided to go to bed. About 15 minutes later, he came to bed.

But I still felt that he was distracted, and his thoughts were somewhere else. He fell asleep; I cried.

I don't know what to do. I'm almost sure that his thoughts are with someone else. My life is a disaster.

Husband's Diary: A one-foot putt.. Who the @#$% misses a one-foot putt?

THE IRISH GOLF CLUB OF WA Club Championship

1st Round at Kwinana Winner: M. Masterson. Nett 70 2 round at Hartfield Winner: M. Sheehan. Nett 63 O/A Gross: Winner P J Kenny 166 O/A nett and Club Champion Winner: Jason Whelahan 74 & 69 = 143

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