Irish Scene January February 2018

Registered with Australia Post PP100003914

Vol 20 Number 2

www.irishscene.com.au

Jan / Feb 2018

IN THIS ISSUE Fenian's Crossing?

JBOR/Boston Marathon Frank Smyth & Memorial Sports Reports Irish Dancing Fenian Stories Mags Recipes Irish Theatre Players Mick Manning Award Ann Dunnion Tribute

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THE IRISH SCENE

Publisher/Advertising: Fred Rea 0418 943 832 Editor: Lloyd Gorman 0479 047 250 Proof Reading: Jack Cullen, Imelda Gorman, David McConnell Publisher: Gaelforce Promotions, 12 Dysart Court, Kingsley WA 6026 Email: fred@irishscene.com.au Tel/Fax 9309 3167 www.irishscene.com.au Disclaimer: Opinions expressed by contributors in articles, reproduced articles, advertisements or any other printed material contained in Irish Scene magazine or on www.irishscene.com.au are those of the individual contributors or authors and as such are not necessarily those of Gaelforce Promotions. The publisher and editor reserve the right to accept, reject, edit or amend submitted material in order to make it appropriate or suitable for publication. Irish Scene welcomes submissions, ideas and suggestions for articles and features as well as photographs of events happening around and within the Irish community in Western Australia.

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Page Index

A Christmas Poem 53 A Dangerous Fenian 68 A View from Home 30 Around the Irish Scene 89 Arthur Kennedy in the Wide World 20 Australian Irish Heritage Assoc 72 Book Reviews 74 Boston Marathon & JB O'Reilly 50 Charlie McCarthy Trust Fund 67 Claddagh Association 64 Comhaltas Perth 65 Dedication Irish Famine Memorial 48 Echos of the Past 42 Famine Memorial Letter 14 Farewell my Companion 81 Fiddlesticks Folk & Blues Club 78 Frank Smyth -Famine Memorial 28 Fundraiser for Anne Marie 80 GAA Reports 91 Gaba Gubu 32 G'day from Melbourne 44 Hon Irish Consul 73 Ireland West Aust Forum 23 Irish Club of WA 61 Irish Dancing 62 Irish Families in Perth 45 Irish Golf Club 88 Irish Language 73 Irish Pioneer Priests remembered 83 Irish Recipes with Mags 70 Irish Scene is 20 Years Old 12 Irish Theatre Players 79 Isteach sa Teach 36 John Boyle O'Reilly's Death Mask 9 John Goulding Family History 34 Land of Milk and Honey 71 Live Irish Music in Perth 52 Mick Manning - Brendan Award 18 Minute with Synott 88 New Stamps by Aust Post 39 Paula from Tasmania 16 Playing the Long Game 4 Quiz 87 Rambo of the Raj 40 Robert Walsh RIP 25 Rose of Tralee 38 Sense of Place 46 Shamrock Rovers 90 St Patrick's Day Festival 26 Teenager's memory of Catalpa escape 76 Tele Station Tele Nation 54 The Seniors' Gathering 82 The Voyage by Tony Curtis 47 Time Passage 60 Tribute to Anne Dunnion RIP 10 Ulster Rambles 58 Unforgettable - Brian Travers 66 Why Irish-American History 56 William Collins 11 You know you're in Australia when…. 53

PLAYING THE LONG GAME

Aogán Ó Fearghaíl, GAA President on WA visit Travelling the globe is a normal part of being President of the Gaelic Athletics Association but even so two trips to Australia in as many months is unusual. Aogán Ó Fearghaíl - the current GAA President - was in Western Australia and other parts of the country twice in October and November 2017 for two major events. What he saw in Perth on both occasions made a strong impression on him.

“The first time I came out was for the GAA Australasian Championships,” he said. “That was really incredible and impressive, from the whole facility at Bateman Park and everybody involved in putting that there were wonderful. I thought the Western Australian board did an excellent job, it was a really well organised and run affair.

I’m delighted GAA is so strong here in Perth and right across Australia.

We saw that at the Championships, there are 57 GAA clubs here. GAA clubs are a great way to represent young people and a great place for young people to gather together, and some not so young. I met a man

by Fred Rea/Lloyd Gorman

who came over to Australia in 1958, I met many others who came out in the sixties and then a lot who came in the eighties and the more recent arrivals. So there’s been wave after wave after wave. I was really impressed by that.”

His first outing to Australia was as part of the group travelling with Irish President Michael D Higgins, who started his Australian and New Zealand state visit, which started in Perth. But he narrowly missed the official dedication ceremony for the Famine memorial - An Gorta Mór in Subiaco. Returning to see it would become an important part of his return trip to Australia in November for the GAA AFL International Rules series, that opened in Adelaide Oval and finished in Subiaco Oval.

“On the very first day we were in Perth we went to the Famine memorial, which is something really important, I spoke at length about it”, Mr Ó Fearghaíl said. “Like the President, I have a keen interest in Irish history and its great to see it being commemorated. Its a very sad forgotten story, all those young

4

Irish girls who came out here and its wonderful to see the bloodlines of the Irish here to be so storng in Perth. And I think it was wonderful that it was three Irish men that first discovered gold - Paddy Hannon and O’Shea and Flanagan - in Kalgoorlie. I think it would be nice if they were commemorated at the Perth Mint. All of that is very much in the consciousness of people here, and the story of the Fenians is everywhere, and to see people are now so conscious of it and to see the Famine commemoration memorial was very special. We went there on this (second) trip, the whole team. I think a lot of the lads found it emotional. I think they were genuinely moved to see that we were here, in what they say is the most isolated city in the world, can you imagine what it was like for those young girls, many of who were Irish Gaelic speakers, with a little bit of English perhaps, arriving here back in 1850, 1851/52, its just incredible. And to know they have been commemorated properly is very special.”

The Irish team and its entourage

visited the famine memorial in Market Square Park on the evening of the Wednesday, before they faced Australia in the nearby Subiaco Oval just four days later. From there the group went to the Irish Club - which is also close by - for a reception.

“We’ve had nothing but the warmest generosity from our hosts here in Perth,” he told Fred Rea. “The games were disappointing in that we didn’t win, but they were uplifting in the sense people

to the GAA events, the Famine memorial or when I went to the Irish Club, there were similar people. I like that, I think its important that everybody pulls together, works together. I could also see that for people who are based in Perth for many many years it meant a lot to them to know they aren’t forgotten about, they are very much a part of the GAA and Irish diaspora. All in all it has been a positive experience and we enjoyed it immensely.”

Ireland first played Australia on November 12 in Adelaide with a final score of 63 to the home side and 53 to the visitors. A week later in Subiaco Ireland dominated most of the game but the assembled AFL team pulled back and after a major tussle on the field the scoreboard read 53 to the Australians, 50 to the Irish.

“The players were rightfully focused on the games and they know sport can be argued about,” added Mr Ó Fearghaíl. “But probably the most athletic sport in the world is Australian football. In terms of strength, speed, agility it has all of that and these are professional sportsmen who play at the high-

est level and to know that our lads, from Ireland, playing Gaelic football as volunteers, as amateurs, these men all have jobs, they’ll all be going back to their student desks and workplaces, to think that they can match almost and in fact - we do may times match and beat them and we did match them - I mean it was only a few minutes to go and we were ahead in the the last test in Perth, we can match these fine wonderful athletes at our game is really something our lads are pleased about. And they’ll go back to their clubs enriched I believe.

They’ve enjoyed the generosity of everybody and they loved meeting the young Irish, at the Irish Club.

It was wonderful. We had a great reception which was very nice for everyone involved and then within ten seconds of the doors being opened the room was packed with

thought it was a great spectacle, a great game and it was a great focus for the people to come together, so we really enjoyed our tour. We really feel these tours are important because they connect Irish people abroad and at home. We’ve always been a migrant race, the Irish have always gone everywhere.

I find in my role as president - and I’m coming to the end of a three year term - and I’ve travelled on all the continents - except the South Pole - and the Irish are everywhere, and the GAA is everywhere and the two mix together well.

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a couple of hundred people, all coming in with their jerseys. You’d see the Mayo jerseys heading straight for Aidan O’Shea and I saw a couple of Monaghan shirts head straight over to Connor McManus, I thought that was lovely. I could see tears in eyes too, which is nice, it means people are feeling genuine emotion and genuine connection. Our players were very moved by that, very touched by that because our players are used to playing in Ireland, playing in their clubs and counties and a lot of them never get overseas experience. They hear from people like me about the strength of the GAA around the world but it doesn’t mean anything until you experience it yourself. They also enjoyed knowing at half time we had GAA games from the young people that are born here - the Junior Academy of WA they were very impressed by that.

In fact, I was very impressed by the junior academy the first time I

was here of the two trips. I was impressed by the quality, the standard, the coaching and the commitment.

And these are all young Australians - many of them of Irish heritage and some of them have no Irish heritage and I really admire that, its very enriching, for the players, for all of us.

It was a fantastic tour.”

The work and contributions of a lot of people had made the trips a success said the president who was reluctant to name individuals. But he said he could not go past the efforts of Gerry McGeough (Chairman of WA), Tom Murphy (PRO) and Nollaig Trevarthen, Sean O’Casey, Tom Quinn (Irish Club president) and Fred Rea and the WA Famine Memorial Committee. Mr Ó Fearghaíl said they could not have done more to welcome them and offer hospitality and help for their stay.

“As everybody knows the GAA is about Gaelic football, hurling and the promotion of our games, but we

are more than that, we are a cultural organisation and we come from that strong nationalistic tradition in Ireland. The events of the famine predate the GAA, but we are very much part and parcel of the Ireland that the GAA merged into and we were always conscious of that. To see people from home in Perth, so far from home, are willing to put their time, their effort and their dollars into commemorating an event like that, we really appreciate that and think its it wonderful.

As well as speaking from the prestigious position as president of the GAA Mr Ó Fearghaíl has some personal insights into the effects of emigration on Irish society, sport and history.

“I’m from Cavan and I’m the first man from Cavan to be elected president of the GAA, so that’s always special, to my family and club (Drumgoon Éire Óg). I’m the 38th president, the first from Cavan as

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I said and the seventh from Ulster.

Cavan has a great heritage, we won the All Ireland five times, in 1933, 35, 47, 48 and 52 but unfortunately all of these were before I was born.

People often ask me what happened to Cavan football and I always say the answer is simple - emigration.

They’re in Perth, they are in Boston, they’re in London. We are a small rural county. When we last won an All Ireland in 1952 we had 110,000 people in Cavan. When we won our first All Ireland in 1933 we had 143,000 in the county. The population of Cavan today stands around 56,000. So that’s what happened, we lost our people, we were decimated and we still continue to dream, next year is always Jerusalem! We are a proud county and GAA is very much at the heart and the soul. I’ve a particular passion and interest in history. I was very delighted what I saw at Fremantle, wanting to know more about John Boyle O’Reilly and the famous jail break of the Fenians. There was a strong Cavan connection, from my own parish through Fr. Patrick McCabe the priest who organised John Boyle O’Reilly’s release. Fr McCabe

was here on the Catholic mission and came out in the 1850’s and he tended to the Irish and a lot of the Fenians. He formed a close bond with John Boyle as many people seemed to do, but Fr McCabe was from the parish of Drumgoon and in fact the family continues. There is a Patrick McCabe who would be a descendent of the priest and a lot of the family flourish. Without Fr McCabes help John Boyle O’Reilly might never have gotten away. So I was glad as a Cavan man to quietly wander through the streets of Fremantle and think about these people from your own place that had done so much many years ago to help each other. It's what Irish people still do well. We have a bond with each other when we meet and we tend to be Wild Geese, we tend to travel and to have that sense that when we are moving, flying away, but is the thing that keeps us together. Next year we are bringing Hurling back to Sydney. Galway as All Ireland champions will be playing the Alliance League winners for a trophy called the Wild Geese trophy, so we remember and we honour and tip our hats to the origins, the foundations.”

The links between Ireland and America are well known, much more than those with Australia.

He puts this down to the tyranny

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of distance between the two countries, but that is changing. “I think they are known now better and I think people are much more aware and more in tune with the strength of Irish heritage here in Australia, and that has to be good for both our countries into the future and I have no doubt both countries will benefit from the strong mutual links. I really value what former Prime Minister Paul Keating said when he said that Australia without the Irish is unthinkable. I think the same happens to be true today, the Irish have such a strong influence in Australia, but Australia is good for Ireland too, with various events and activities.

With Brexit, Ireland will need all the friends it can get and I’ve no doubt Western Australia will be one of them.”

Mr Ó Fearghaíl is also a former primary school principal. “I was a teacher for many years and a lot of my past pupils are here in Perth and I met them, some of them, at the game and I know the value, from home. It's nice when a parent at home might feel sadness, and they do, when their child emigrates, but it's a great comfort for them when they know that they come to a city like Perth and they are warmly welcomed and has a strong Irish community and everything is, well, a home away from home.”

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John Boyle O’Reilly’s

Death Mask

On a recent visit to Fremantle Prison, I was fascinated to see numerous exhibits that paid homage to the 62 Irish political prisoners (Fenians) who arrived on the last prison ship Hougoumont to Australia.

There was however one particular exhibit that stopped me in my tracks: the Death Mask of Fenian John Boyle O’Reilly (1844 - 1890). O’Reilly is best known for his literature, poetry and advocacy for human rights. He was also one of the organisers of the Catalpa Rescue.

Death Masks were used during the 18th and 19th centuries to sometimes celebrate the passing of a person of high stature, or even a person of notoriety, such as Ned Kelly including unknown deceased persons for purpose of identification.

Death Masks were also copied from photographs of those whose faces were disfigured beyond

recognition during time of their death, such as anti-Fenian campaigner Irish born Canadian politician Thomas Darcy McGee. McGee was shot in the face outside his home in Ottawa on April 8th 1868 it is claimed by a Fenian assassin.

Death Masks were made of wax, clay, plaster or bronze. O’Reilly’s Death Mask was cast in bronze; perhaps a sign of his importance and contribution to society of that day.

Death Masks were later replaced with photography.

O’Reilly’s Death Mask can be viewed at Fremantle Prison and is part of the Fenian, Fremantle & Freedom Festival which celebrates the 150th anniversary of the arrival of 62 Irish political prisoners on the Hougoumont on January 9th 1868.

For more information go to: www. fenianfestival.com.au or www. facebook.com/jboreilly Peter Murphy

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In tribute to my mother, Anne Dunnion R.I.P

M

(12-10-2017)

y dear mother was born in the far away land of Strabane, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland (19-03- 1934), so as you can imagine times were very different in Ireland then, At the age of 18 she became pregnant to a local protestant lad which of course was a big “no-no” then. Not only was an unwed mother to be a taboo subject, the fact that the father was protestant was even worse. So, Anne was compelled to end up in a home in Belfast for unwed mothers. There, she spent her time until I was born in August 1953. Because of the stigma at the time, Anne could not return to her home town of Strabane for thirteen years so had to make a living by whatever means.

Meanwhile, I was signed up for adoption (against her will, as she was below the legal age then of 21).

So, after thirteen years Anne was, allowed to return to her family for a wedding. She came from a family of two boys and seven girls. So, life carried on for Anne as if nothing had ever happened. She got jobs in the local factories or whatever she could grab as Strabane was not always beaming with work.

In the year 1968 she married Patsy Dunnion who was a local from the town. After experiencing two miscarriages she never had any other children so the one she lost in 1953 to adoption was always on her mind although she kept that bit to herself.

I migrated to Australia in 1989 with my wife Maire and three children, Caitlin, David and Charles. Life continued per normal learning to settle into the new ways in Australia.

Anne Dunnion

In the last edition of The Irish Scene we paid tribute to Ann Dunnion who was a regular at the Wanneroo Seniors Gathering.

Subsequently, we were contacted

by Ann's son Brian and asked if we would print the story of Ann's amazing life's journey.

Fred Rea

My adoptive father died in 1980 and my adoptive mother did not pass away until 2003 so I made the first trip to Ireland after 14 years to bury her. We never really hit it off, but you took the blows and carried on.

When there, (in Northern Ireland) I had been informed that the laws had been changed so that adoptive children could seek out their birth parents, so on arrival back to Australia, soon afterwards I went to the Adoption Society of Australia to see if they could help me.

After much searching they first discovered that my birth father had died in 1978, but the good news was that my birth mother was still alive.

The welfare in Northern Ireland first made contact so for the first time ever in 53 years I was allowed to talk to my own mother on the telephone. After this I just decided that there was nothing else for it but to make the journey back to Ireland once more to meet my long-lost mother.

In July of 2007, my wife Maire, son David and myself took to the air and flew to London, then to Derry airport to meet my long-lost mother. What a meeting! The moment I 10 10

met her I just connected and knew that this must be my mother. After 53 Iong harrowing years I had finally met my birth mother and then what a crazy month we had in Strabane and elsewhere meeting all my long-lost family. They were very accommodating and welcomed us with open arms. Not only had my mother met her son, but also got to meet her three grandchildren and three great grandsons.

In 2009 my mum came to Australia to live permanently. The Australian Government would only grant her a bridging visa which allowed her to stay indefinitely here. So, as you can imagine what a time we had catching up. We laughed and cried together, exchanged stories about her experiences in Ireland while I told her about my adoptive parents and family. She adapted as best she could to life in Australia but that didn’t really matter to her. The fact that she had met her immediate family was the most important part to her and boy did she love it. For the first time in her life she could be the mother she wanted to be with all of us and of course she blessed us all with her typical Irish wit and humour.

Sadly, her health kept reasonably good until last year. She suffered a few illnesses and was in and out of hospital, Transitional care and finally into a local nursing home as she could no longer be looked after at home. After a few weeks in the nursing home we knew and said our last farewells to a beautiful mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend to many. Sadly, she passed away on 12-10-2017 and we buried her with great honour and respect in Pinnaroo to the air of “The flower of Sweet Strabane’’.

Thank you, Anne and mum, for giving us such a wonderful time it just could not have been long enough but thank you for giving us so much of yourself. May you rest in eternal peace.

Brian D. Dougan. (Son)

William Collins

The Flower of Sweet Strabane

By William Collins If I were King of Ireland and all things at my will I’d roam through all creations new comforts to find still And the comfort I would seek the most as you might understand Is to win the heart of Martha the flower of sweet Strabane Her cheeks they are a rosy red her hair a lovely brown And o’er her milk white shoulders it carelessly hangs down She’s one of the fairest creatures in the whole of Ireland And my heart is captivated by the flower of sweet Strabane If I had you lovely Martha away in Innisowen Or in some lonesome valley in the wild woods of Tyrone I would use my whole endeavour to try to work my plan For to gain the prize and feast my eyes on the flower of sweet Strabane

But I’ll go o’er the Lagan down by the steam ships tall I’m sailing for Amerikay whatever may be fall My boat is bound for Liverpool right by the Isle of Man So I’ll say farewell, God bless you my flower of sweet Strabane

It is said the William Collins was always faithful to duty.

Was never furloughed, and never sick till his fatal illness.

Collins was born in Strabane in 1840 and emigrated to Canada at the age of 15. Later he moved to Cleveland and enlisted in the Federal Army. He fought in both the American Civil War, and in the Fenian Raid of Canada. After the wars, he wrote several books of poems.

Collins also wrote for the Boston Globe and the New York Globe.

Collins married at the age of 23 years on Aug. 7, 1862, enlisted for 3 years in 1st Reg. Massachusetts Vol. Cavalry in Company “H”. Rank Private with no subsequent changes.

He participated in all the operations of his Reg. till August 1864, when he was taken ill of typhoid fever. He died in (Harswood) Hospital, Washington, Sept.

19, 1864. He was just 24 years of age!

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The Irish Scene is 20 years old in 2018!

It’s arrival couldn’t have come at a more opportune time for the Irish community in Perth and Western Australia. The then Irish President of Ireland, Mary McAleese had just been on an official tour of Australia, including a visit to WA. (Mary Robinson became the first President of Ireland to visit Perth just six years earlier) Then, as now, Perth and the rest of the state was a popular destination for Irish people in search of adventure and opportunity.

It was around this time too that the Irish pub in Perth was coming into its own as a social phenomenon. Several new bars opened their doors adding to established and popular venues such as the Irish Club and The Blarney Castle.

St Patrick’s Day was celebrated by the community with a parade and events around the Basilica in Fremantle and Perth always ran a strong field of Perth Roses.

If Ireland as a nation was enjoying an economic, cultural and sporting boom then this was reflected in Western Australia. It was in this context that Irish Scene was hatched.

It was - and still is - published by Gaelforce Promotions, which was set up as a collaboration between editor Joe Crozier, an English teacher and lecturer at Tafe, and publisher Fred Rea, a compositor by trade and folk musician by night, from Cork. Fred took on the mantle of editor in late 2002 with the retirement of Joe, who continued to contribute as a writer. He passed away in 2015. Since about 2009 journalist Lloyd Gorman has acted as editor.

The fledgling title set out to represent the broad church of activities, interests and stories of the Irish community in WA, from those Australians with a proud Irish heritage to those with an Irish passport and accent.

Irish Scene today is very like its younger self. It is still packed with local and sporting news and stories, photographs, interviews, reviews of gigs, CDs, listings, company listings, jokes, history and current events.

It is still published every two months and distributed largely through Irish clubs and pubs. Irish Scene too would be a platform for interested businesses without whose generous support and advertising the magazine could not have been - or remain today - free to readers.

But it has evolved to be much more.

ANNIVERSARY 1998 - 2018

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From a print run of a couple of thousand copies in the early days Irish Scene’s readership now tops 40,000.

Originally printed in an A4 format with about 20 pages on green paper every two months the magazine is now full colour across (typically) 96 pages.

Our contributors are now drawn from across ​ Australia (including Melbourne and Tasmania) and Ireland. The magazine is still eagerly anticipated in pubs but is also widely distributed to subscribers in Ireland, England and further afield. Many more download PDF’s of the latest edition of Irish Scene from our website, which was has just been re-launched to help make it more accessible and relevant to an even wider audience.

The Irish Scene is the envy of the other Irish communities throughout Australia. These sentiments have been said by many visitors to our state and many have joined our mailing list.

The support of the Irish business community is what makes it all possible and a quick glance of the first edition will show Fergus Kelly of the Professionals has been there from the beginning.

We will have the first edition up on line in a few weeks for readers.

In order for The Irish Scene to continue, more businesses need to support us by taking out adverts. It also helps when readers get on our mailing list.

Please contact Fred Rea on 0418943832 or email fred@irishscene.com.au

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13

Dedication and Unveiling of the Famine memorial...

A Letter from Ireland To: Mr. Fred Rea Chairman, on Committee Western Australia Irish Famine Commemorati 25th October 2017

President Michael D Higgins Unveiling Famine Memorial

Dear Mr. Rea, cation by and your committee on the occasion of the dedi I am writing from Ireland to congratulate you ine victims.

Fam Irish l new memorial to the memory of the President Michael D. Higgins of your wonderfu support of this rous gene are also to be congratulated for their The City of Subiaco and Mayor Heather Henderson project. ificant of the dedication ceremony was one of the most sign I believe President Higgins’ speech delivered at about the here exist still he to reveal the raw emotions which the Irish his presidency as it digs deep into the Irish psyc by red igno ally central theme of his address was virtu famine, even after all these years. Strangely the media.

Britain, often flowing with food which was being exported to At the time of the Famine the country was over . lords sh economy and the Anglo Irish land under armed guard, for the benefit of the Briti famine victims a proper memorial of an appropriate scale to the You may be interested to know that there isn’t the bottom of at those le this is so and there are reasons. Whi anywhere in Ireland. You may ask yourself why and whose ine Fam the there were others who benefitted from the economic pile in Irish society starved or fled Ireland today. land cultural descendants still hold much power in farmers many of whom were able to expand their The rich Among those could be mentioned the middle class t. fligh or h deat gh by the famine victims either throu fled to holdings by “grabbing” the small farms vacated they as lings dwel backs on those who passed their fine Men”, professional classes in the cities who turned their been “Gom as to ed ts and middle-men commonly referr the ng the “coffin” ships. Then there were the merchan duri tages shor the to of the commodities they traded due who benefitted from the increases in the price Famine. ican churches for the impoverishment of the people. The Angl Nor can the main churches escape culpability do so. The to force ical religion – often employing phys collected tithes from the people regardless of their for these nce fina The t though the period of the Famine. the only Catholic Church was building huge churches righ were ers Quak existed even until recent times. The was raised by a form of moral blackmail which – we thank them. religious group who tried to help the starving see that such tioned exist in today’s Ireland. You can therefore on of it The cultural inheritors of the groups I have men inati exam r close a ng the Famine and may even fear nd forgets! groups would have no interest in commemorati Irela er emb rem t entail. While Perth and Australia ches mat which a proper system of commemoration migh all footb at ) Song ial National Anthem (The Soldiers ds crow Shame on us! While we in Ireland have an offic the ch whi nry” Athe it is a Famine song – “The Fields of and other events where large crowds assemble sing – significant. tragedy free have the courage to commemorate this appalling I envy the people of Irish descent like you who . society show in regard to Famine issues from the embarrassment which many in our great country of Australia.

I wish you well in the fine city of Perth and the Sincerely, Brendan F Logue, Co. Meath Ireland 14 14

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From Tasmania with Paula Xiberras

Larry steals Ryan’s Celtic thunder

by Paula Xiberras Ryan Kelly, member of Celtic Thunder singing group and also part of musical duo Byrne and Kelly has visited Tasmania twice as a member of Celtic Thunder however, next year’s visit will see him tour for the first time, as half of Byrne and Kelly, with fellow Celtic Thunder member Neil Byrne making up the other half.

The duo’s experience will be a more intimate one with just themselves and a pianist, a very different experience from the Celtic Thunder production of a 60-piece symphony orchestra, which Ryan is part of at the time of our chat, as Celtic Thunder tours the US. Ryan tells me he enjoys both productions equally, but differently.

Ryan is enthusiastic about visiting Tasmania again as he loves the local’s appreciation of culture

and in spite of the distance between Ireland and Tasmania, music proves once again its universality, with the performance and songs resonating with audiences. On the subject of audiences’ reception of the songs Ryan adds that he welcomes the many interpretations of the songs of audiences and says he would never dismiss anyone’s interpretation, even if it were something he as the writer never considered. Ryan just marvels at music’s ability to speak to the individual’s heart and soul.

Of Ryan’s song writing process with Neil Byrne, each guy has their own approach, in fact come January, Ryan will take himself off to a remote cottage in County Cavan and work on new songs for the upcoming tour.

Considering the solitary pursuit that song writing can be and how touring takes you away from those you hold dear for long periods of time, Ryan tells me about how, when he is away on tour, he misses and is missed by his French bulldog Larry. Larry has become something of a celebrity in his own right among Ryan’s fans and Ryan says he is somewhat deflated that the fans often bring more gifts for Larry than for him! Ryan’s mum takes care of Larry when Ryan is away on tour and thoroughly spoils him, so much so, Ryan believes one day Larry might decide not to return home with him at all.

When Ryan is on tour perhaps to the amusement of some fans he keeps in touch with Larry via skype!

You can see Ryan and Neil sans Larry at Subiaco Arts Centre, Perth on February 13, 2018.

Rhythms, a reel Irish Experience.

by Paula Xiberras This year in the midst of a world-wide, 10 year anniversary tour, dance troupe ‘The Rhythms of Ireland’ danced their way to Tasmania including Hobart’s iconic Theatre Royal in October and Perth in December. I spoke to lead dancer Tom Brosnan about the anniversary 16

and the groups return visit to Tasmania Tom reminded me he had been to Tasmania before as part of Celtic Illusion, a dance and music exploration of Celtic music and magic Magic is what Rhythms of Ireland is all about as well, steeped in the tradition of myth and mystery, music that seemingly could only be created by gods and goddesses and a fantastic frenzy of dancing.

Tom had special memories of the performance in Tasmania in 2009 because not only was it his first tour as a professional dancer but he also met his ballerina fiancée, that year.

He also had great memories of Tasmania, which he called ‘picturesque’ and how friendly the people were. On this visit he hoped for a couple of days to experience some more of Tasmania.

This year’s anniversary celebration brought with it the best of Irish culture, songs and choreography and a whole new set of fabulous costumes.

Tom’s great love of Irish dancing is tempered with the knowledge of how easy it is to burn out after many years of constant work. Tom himself took a break for a while and became a soccer coach before returning to his great love of dance.

Tom hopes one day, with his fiancée, to open a dance studio combining both of their talents, of Irish dance and ballet.

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Mick scores top award for life long goals

by Lloyd Gorman The winner of the 2017 Brendan Award is someone who most people will know but someone who never seeks recognition. Mention the name Michael ‘Mick’ Manning in any place where a soccer ball is kicked or Irish people in Perth gather in company and there will be a generous amount of stories about what a solidly reliable and unassuming bloke he is and hardworking disciple of football.

Mick might have blown a few referee whistles in his time, but never his own horn so the recognition of the Irish Australia Heritage Association’s award is very well deserved.

He received the gong for his untiring commitment and passion to his favourite sport and the Irish community.

Having been named the award winner Mick was a guest on A Song for Ireland on Fremantle FM in December and the special show organised a number of callers to pay tribute to him.

Former WA minister for health Bob Kucera co-hosted the Irish radio programme with Frank Murphy and knows Mick, and his type, well.

“I used to be the minister for volunteering as well, and 38% of Australian’s volunteer,” Bob said. “Their volunteering is worth $200 billion to the economy and Mick epitomises that spirit and is the backbone of what makes Irish heritage in Australia great.”

He was born in Mulhuddart, County Dublin and lived in Kilbride,

Co. Meath. He recalls Kilbride was so small that it didn’t have a post office, for that the locals had to cross the border and go into Dublin.

Despite - or maybe because of - its size Kilbride would go on to become the real life setting for the hit RTE soap opera of the time, The Riordans, the forerunner to its successor, Glenroe.

“I played Gaelic but I always had an interest in soccer. I used to go over to England fairly regularly to watch the matches at weekends. We used to get the boat from the B&I terminal.”

When he left in 1974 there were only a few soccer teams in Meath but during the 1980s and 1990s they started shooting up all over the county.

A decade after his arrival in Western Australia Mick was himself involved with the setting up of a soccer side himself. Shamrock Rovers Soccer Club was founded in 1984 and he was one of the founding members. He remembered how it came about. “I was here ten years at the time and the Briar Patch opened and we all went down there at the weekends for a drink. There was a lot of lads in there who played with other clubs, so over a few drinks one night someone said why don’t we start our own club instead of going to play for other people, so we organised a meeting for the Briar Patch.”

Bob Kucera also recalled those days and how important the Bri-

18 18

Mick Manning receiving award from President of AIHA, Denis Bratton

ar Patch was. “It actually brought people together and out of that you started to see the links, like the Claddagh Assocaiton and the Heritage Association all started to grow stronger and stronger and brought about things like Shamrock Rovers.

Sport is a great leveller, it brings people together and they can get a direction and I think Mick you really deserve this award from the point of view you brought people together, you are humble, but you spearheaded it, it needs a leader and someone to get a hold of things and make it work, and that’s what you did, you, Mick Murray and the other guys, you did that.”

Mick summed it up by saying that he enjoyed doing it, which made it easy, and how he met many good people along the way and made great friends.

Sean Roche rang from Ireland the conversation and the craic was probably just as it was in those early days. Sean - who owned the Briar Patch along with Phil Beck and Mick McCauley - remembered the first AGM of Shamrock Rovers in the pub, and even had a list of those present.

Mick Manning enjoying the moment with his Shamrock Rovers friends and former teammates

Mick with his family

The pub - known amongst regulars as The Trap because of its famously sticky carpet - sponsored the first set of jerseys while a Scot - Ian McDonald - bought the nets.

“McCauley made a big blue,” said Sean. “He said he’d give a free jug of beer for every goal that we got and the first day we scored eleven goals, and that was an end to the free jugs,” he laughed.

Mick is married to Val, a Geordie lass from Sunderland, and the couple are celebrating 40 happy years together. Lisa, one of their two daughters, who rang Songs of Ireland said it was an interesting

house to grow up in and their heritage was always close to home.

“Dad is very proud of where he has come from and that has translated into the way he brought up my sister and I,” said Lisa. “We would regularly visit Ireland and it became our second home, a home away from, with all our relatives there.

He’s always had that Irish community feeling here in Perth and tried to remain as close to it as possible.

All our family and friends are from an Irish background. Its always been a part of him, and a part of us, he’s never forgotten his Irish roots.”

Lisa was the Perth Rose in 2001 and went on to become crowned the international Rose of Tralee that year (and later a Rose judge). She said it was an amazing experience overall but that the Kilbride community really embraced her as one of their own. “I was the Perth Rose, and their Rose.”

Mick shared a story with listeners that he hadn’t told people before. “I went for a walk the day before and Ladbrokes had betting on it, it was up in the window. Lisa was 25 to one, she was the rank outsider, so I looked at my wallet and I had a five Euro note and a fifty Euro note.

I said if I put 50 on it, she definitely won’t win, but if I put a fiver on Lisa, she might.”

Bob Kucera said Mick had played a role in helping with the reorganisation of soccer in Australia during his time as a sports minister and chairman of soccer, when the leagues were amalgamated to align it more closely with European football.

“The great thing about the reor19

gnisation was that people like Mick were spoken to and asked what was needed to get the game off the ground,” added Bob. Since it was founded Shamrock Rovers has steadily grown and currently has seven teams participating from Social through to State League with 130 registered players.

Mick was awarded Life Membership of the club for his continuing leadership as a long serving President and his long-term participation.

He has been a committee member of the Irish club regularly during the 1980’s to as recently as 2012. He has given voluntary service in maintenance of the Irish club over the years not only to the roof, but as recently as 2016 painting the premises.

During the decade of the Irish Radio programme ‘It’s the Irish in Me’ Mick provided weekly soccer results and other sporting information.

Mick was coordinator of the Easter Commemoration Centenary commemoration on Easter Monday this year at the Irish Club. and has supported the annual St Patrick’s Parade under Shamrock Rovers Banner.

The citation for the Brendan Award said Mick meets the criteria for the ‘Brendan Award’ through: Commitment: Sporting and Social - founder and executive of successful Irish Sporting organisation which has grown over a 34-year lifetime, providing opportunities for local and emigrant Irish people.

Contribution: Founder, longterm president and life member of Shamrock Rovers Soccer Club, and active supporter and contributor of Irish Club management and other Irish community organisations.

Performance: over 30-year commitment at leadership level to Shamrock Rovers. See website for lists of awards and trophies Persistence: Mick is still as active and committed to local Irish organisations as he was over 30 years ago.

The Extra Mile: Mick is very personable and supportive of the Australian Irish community. He is collaborative and highly respected by all who know him.

ARTHUR KENNEDY in the Wide World (Part three)

By Peter Conole Some of the problems Kennedy experienced in his administration were self-inflicted wounds, others were inherited. However, the latter type of difficulty could not be blamed on previous Governors.

Certain methods of doing things had simply evolved in the colony because they seemed good in earlier years and therefore only suitable for minor modifications.

A classic example was the highly political clash over the judiciary.

The revered William Mackie (an Irishman) retired from his position of Commissioner of the Civil Court in 1858. His successor was yet-another-Irishman, Alfred McFarland, a volatile and hottempered product of Trinity College, Dublin who alienated several other members of the legal fraternity. He then locked horns with Kennedy, who on one occasion issued a proclamation to form a ‘court of special sessions’ for a particular trial. His predecessors had dealt with sudden, urgent matters in the same way, but McFarland objected. The Governor then asked the retired Mackie for advice and received a ‘go ahead’ opinion, but McFarland and four justices of the peace ignored him and blocked the trial.

The Governor cannot have been happy with the result and worse was to follow. McFarland resented and disliked Mackie and continued to clash with other lawyers, Kennedy and even the Colonial Office in London. The man demanded a salary increase and refused to continue help with minor legal administrative matters as Mackie had done.

Three other lawyers asked the Executive Council - over which

Kennedy presided - to intervene in May 1858. McFarland lost his cool in the dispute but eventually agreed to compromise. Too late - the councillors made a point of noting they were “not insensible of the disrespectful tone towards the Governor in Executive Council”.

Kennedy tolerated the situation for as long as he could, but eventually Lord Carnarvon (Secretary of State for the Colonies) advised him to remove McFarland if he thought it was necessary and dismissed the man from the Legislative Council into the bargain. McFarland resigned his position in July 1859 but had the grace to continue the work until a replacement arrived in February 1861. In regard to his general behaviour, one local press man wrote that he had tried to behave like a “Doge of Venice and the Great Mogul”.

The new senior law man, Archibald Burt, got on famously with Governor Kennedy and received his backing for major judicial reform. In order to put an end to petty disputes over court jurisdictions Kennedy decided to support moves to create a Supreme Court for the colony. Legislation was quickly drawn up and formally proclaimed on June 18, 1861. He spoke in support of the new setup and carefully pointed out that the late, beloved Judge Mackie had also been in favour of reform. On the face of it, personality clashes 20 20

and the attitude of McFarland had delayed the inevitable. All the same, the very free local press soon found petty reasons to criticise the reforms.

In defence of Governor Kennedy it is necessary to emphasise that he often went out of his way to encourage other officials struggling to manage their bailiwicks during the chaotic convict era. For example, Colonel John Bruce (yetanother-Irishman), the senior military officer in the colony and commander of the Enrolled Pensioner Force, had to deal with an awful scandal in 1856. Captain C.V.Foss (not Irish), officer in charge of Fremantle, was court martialled for misappropriating military funds and left both the army and the colony. Bruce was wounded by the case and wrote to Kennedy blaming a local merchant for the foul-up.

The Governor kept his cool and developed a good relationship with Bruce. He supported a decisive ruling from the Colonial Office that in 1858 brought the old soldier into the Legislative Council and made him more senior to Frederick Barlee, the Colonial Secretary.

Some behind the scenes politics may have underpinned that move for Barlee had helped arrange the removal of John Conroy (also Irish), Commissioner of Police, a sleazy business that pleased few ‘insiders’ in colonial society.

Kennedy went on to support Bruce during a dispute of 1859, when some military pensioners involved in apprehending convicts who tried to escape by sea were denied any share of the reward money by the Convict Control Board. Bruce had the common

sense to forward a copy of his complaint to Kennedy, with the result that the Board agreed to reward the soldiers as well. In passing it is perhaps worth noting that at any one time well over half the men in WA’s colonial defence establishments were Irishmen.

The implications deserve more attention.

Another beneficiary of Kennedy’s positive attitude towards competent, reformist officials was Superintendent William Hogan (also Irish) of the colonial police, in office from January 1861. The Governor had already approved a Police Ordinance of 1859 that brought the colonial law enforcement systems under one umbrella. The next and quite logical step was to spell out police powers and limitations.

The very ‘brainy’ Hogan drew up a new Ordinance explaining the structures and duties of police establishments and clarified their responsibilities to civil society.

Kennedy approved the package and agreed to implementation in 1861. It was one of the Governor’s truly important decisions and certainly a beneficial one: the people of Western Australia owe a debt of gratitude to Kennedy and Hogan unto this day.

Arthur Kennedy also deserves credit for the steady expansion of the colony in population, generation of revenue and the spread of agriculture and pastoral activity. Between the time he took up office in 1855 and departed in 1862 the number of arrivals in WA (not counting convicts) increased by about a third. Consolidated revenue, including customs, increased by around the same percentage. The amount of land held by way of leases or licences nearly doubled, as did the total area under crop. Livestock figures reflected the same kind of trends, especially horse breeding, which had the capacity to become a nice money spinner by way of the sale of good steeds to the army establishment in India.

Rather surprisingly, mining

activity tended to misfire. In 1855 explorer Robert Austin claimed that gold could be found in the Murchison district, but subsequent prospecting yielded next to nothing at the time. Lead and copper mining were more promising, notably near the present town of Geraldton, and Kennedy tried to boost the industry by resolving transport problems. The Governor wanted a railway or tramway built to link the mining area to Geraldton to facilitate easy movement of minerals to Perth and beyond. His appeal for assistance from the Imperial authorities in London was bluntly rejected in July 1860 and the potential of the fledgling industry was never fully realised.

Kennedy also encouraged exploration and surveying work and a handful of interesting expeditions were launched under his auspices. A.C.Gregory, starting from the Northern Territory, journeyed to the north-east of the colony and reached as far south as the future Kimberley Goldfields.

In 1857 F.T.Gregory surveyed large areas along and around the Murchison Rover. A year later he followed that up by following the river inland to Mount Gould and thence down the Gascoyne River to the coast. He claimed that the area was suitable for pastoral purposes, but the Governor preferred to focus on grain producing districts closer to the capital, including the Avon valley and beyond. Settlements such a York and Northam were doing rather well under what may be described as the benevolent autocracy of Richard Meares (yetanother-Irishman), the resident magistrate of the area.

One of the most interesting themes of Kennedy’s administration was that of religious faith and the related development of church structures and administration. The Governor was a high church protestant (or an ‘Anglo Catholic’, as you will) and Perth was elevated to a bishopric and cathedral town in 1856.

The first bishop, the remarkable 21

Matthew Blagden Hale, crossed swords with Kennedy under unusual circumstances. After being consecrated in London in July 1857 he sailed for the colony on the convict ship ‘Nile’, but experienced a near miss when some poor wretches tried to start a mutiny.

Although disaster was averted Hale disliked the convict system and letters he wrote about the incident were published in both London and Perth.

Kennedy must have been incandescent with rage over the reports, because in mid-1858 he attacked Hale in the Legislative Council, expressing his “grave disapproval, because they caused embarrassment to Her Majesty’s Government”. There was potential for further disputes, as the Governor appointed colonial chaplains who were paid by government funds. The same chaplains also had to report to their bishop, but somehow Kennedy and Hale patched up their differences. No additional squabbles between them are on record.

In the early years of his administration, things were not so easy in regard to relations between Arthur Kennedy and leaders of the Catholic denomination. In February 1856 Bishop Serra complained that Catholic felons were being compelled to attend a Convict Establishment school run

by Protestants. The Comptroller General of convicts (stupidly and tactlessly) thumbed his nose at the bishop in response and that generated a ‘turf war’ which dragged on for a year. The squabble got very messy in 1857 because the bishop removed a Catholic chaplain (the Reverend Donovan - another Irishman) who seemed willing to compromise over the issue. Kennedy was eventually dragged into the quarrel and the clash only ended when the London authorities intervened and restored both Donovan and the status quo.

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Ireland Western Australian Forum

On the Couch with Marty!

Photos from the Stables Bar hosted “On the Couch with Marty” by GAAWA, Ireland Western Australia Forum (IWAF) and the Irish Australian Chamber of Commerce. This event saw RTE Gaelic Games Correspondent Marty Morrissey interview Ireland Team Selectors Padraig Joyce & Darragh O’Se along with former West Coast Eagles Star Glen Jakovich on their thoughts on the eve of the second International Rules Test between Ireland & Australia.

The IWAF is an organisation committed to promoting business, professional and cultural links between Ireland and Western Australia.

The focus of the Forum is on Western Australia and Ireland. Being present in WA is the important issue. Being Irish or of Irish heritage is an added bonus but not a prerequisite.

The Forum aims to have 6 speaking events (either breakfast or evening cocktail events) per year with leaders in business, government, and the professions.

Vis it our website for details of upcoming events. irelandwaforum.org/

23

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

Shure isn't JBs on everyone's New Year wish list!

Drop in for a MEAL or a PINT or great live MUSIC or just the CRAIC!

Nightly M eal Spec ials

24

Robert Patrick Walsh

An ALL-ROUND GOOD BLOKE 31.12.1952 – 7.12.2017

Bob Walsh was born in Dublin and on leaving school, Bob got his first job as a messenger boy with Guinness. Following in his father’s footsteps, who was a long-serving Guinness employee, this job led to a long and successful career with the brewing company for Bob. With Guinness Group Sales, Bob followed his career to South County Donegal, where he became ‘The Guinness Man’ for the area. Here Bob spent some of the happiest times of his life, and Donegal, subsequently, always held a special place in his heart.

Outside of the office, Bob’s greatest passion in life was rugby.

With a strong build, great speed and swift agility Bob showed great promise in the second row. He played with Guinness RFC before moving to Lansdowne

RFC under the guidance of his brother-in-law, Pat Casey who was an Irish Rugby International.

At this time, The Irish Senior League Club games were played early in the day to allow international fans and players to watch the Irish XV, who played later in the afternoon.

On one such Saturday, Lansdowne were playing the early game and as their first choice second row was playing for Ireland, Bob was the man selected to take his place and went on to play a stormer of a game. The following week, when the international player returned to Lansdowne’s first team, he found he had a new second row partner. This new partnership was the start of what was to become a great friendship between Bob Walsh and Moss Keane.

However, halfway through the season, Bob received news of a transfer which would bring him away from Donegal. The prospect of transferring meant he had some tough decisions to make.

It was at this point that Bob, and his new wife Judy, decided to take a couple of years out and travel the world as backpackers. Many adventures, continents and countries later they landed in Dunedin on the south island of New Zealand.

Here, Bob made a return to rugby playing for Green Island and also began working in the fire protection industry.

After a short time settling in, Bob opened a very successful cafe in Dunedin which he called The Dubliner. It was in The Dubliner, in 1987, that he hosted the official Irish Rugby Supporters Group who had travelled from Ireland for the World Cup with their tour leader, Bob’s good friend and former team mate, Moss Keane.

It was in this same year, just before the World Cup, that Bob and Judy welcomed their daughter Gemma; a beautiful little girl and the apple of her father’s eye.

25

In 1989, with their new young family, Bob and Judy left New Zealand and relocated to Western Australia, settling in Floreat.

Bob continued working in the fire protection industry while in Perth, also taking time out to train as a chef. Bob had a true passion for cooking and went on to become an excellent chef, operating the kitchen at the Irish Club for some time.

In Perth, Bob became involved with various organization’s; he played rugby with the Irish Ex-Pats, he was an enthusiastic member of the Irish Theatre players and appeared in many of their productions. An avid rugby tourist, Bob travelled the globe with groups of friends from Perth as well as from Ireland. He also coached a number of rugby teams for Wests Subiaco RFC who he barracked for, all his time in Perth.

One of the many memories which Bob leaves behind is of himself and Pat Ducey, parked on the sideline in their deckchairs hail, rain or shine watching Wests. They were always there and the only concession they would make to the weather is the amount of clothing they needed. Bob loved his rugby and over his career played for Guinness, Lansdowne, Leinster, Donegal, Green Island and the Irish ExPats.

When Bob received the news of his illness from the doctor he accepted the blow bravely. There were only two things he wanted; to see his sister Ann and to walk his beloved daughter Gemma up the aisle on her wedding day. He succeeded in both of these in recent weeks.

Those of us who knew Bob will miss him. Bob was a larger than life character. While he was not a singer, when he received the noble call he instantly responded with" Arkle”; a recitation about the great steeple-chaser from Ireland in the 1960's. Bob was a great storyteller, a cook, a bon vivant and an all-round good bloke.

We know he will never be forgotten. RIP a Chara.

Saint Patrick's Day Festival WA 2018

By Debbie Cashman

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

This year is going to be extra special as our celebrations will fall on St. Patrick’s Day itself which is on Saturday 17th March 2018. There will be the wonderful parade through Leederville again, so get your creative thinking caps on and contact us through ESP the Event Services Productions company that we enlist to help us run this amazing day. So if you are a sporting club/book club/in a band/knitting ninja’s anything interesting that will add to the colour and vibrancy of the prade on the day contact jess@ eventservicesproductions.com or call directly on 9328 9771 to get an application in, as of course, this day in age even fun stuff needs a paper trail!

The theme this year is ‘The Future’ which was part of a 3 year theme of past, present, future and has nothing to do with the ghosts of Christmas (but if you want to march in the parade dressed as Ebenezer Scrooge just paint the chains green and off you go!), and everything to do with adding to Irish Culture and sense of belonging and community within Perth, where most attending will be spending their immediate

future!

Events: Thanks to all who have attended the quiz in the Irish Club, these fundraisers are crucial to our viability, and our next event is our annual Ball, which will be on February 17th from 6pm, as with other years there will be great food, music, prizes and we intend to have (a ball) great craic! Entertainment will be by the Broken Pokers and special guests. Ticket purchases can be made online and includes a number of meal courses and a drinks package and entertainment, $170 each or $1600 for table of ten.

The parade and family fun day itself is free and the hard working committee pull out all the stops in getting funding and sponsorship to 26

have this day open for all to enjoy!

Anyone who has come along over the last few years will realise the commitment and effort put in to ensure this amazing day takes place!

The parade itself will have many different and interesting (stilt walkers, theatre groups, music groups etc.) sometimes very funny (Mrs Browns Boys, St. Patrick himself with real snakes!) so if you can’t take part in the parade, be sure to be there to cheer on all those that do come onboard and put in so much effort! Kick off is at 10am starting from the water corporation car park along Newcastle Street, you can’t miss it, just follow the sea of green into Leederville on the morning! Amazing atmosphere!

or a smile to the face, sure haven’t we done our job!

Stalls

As always there will be a selection of stalls that specialize in different foods, gifts, crafts, special interest, community focus and information, and this year we are looking to increase to selection of food stalls to cater for all tastes! Again, if you wish to have a stall for your community group/baked goods/business/Irish interest on the day please contact us to register as increasing our variety will add to the enjoyment of the day!

Sponsorship Festival in Medibank stadium

The parade nicely leads right into the oval where the rest of the days fun and entertainment takes place!

For the kids there is a number of fun activities for all ages from inflatable obstacle courses to skills challenges, face painting, pet farm, previous years we had bucking bull, foam pits, fun bus, and much more, but we can’t reveal all yet for 2018 as we do change it up a bit every year to add something new and

interesting, so you’ll just have to come along with the family and see for yourself!

Music

This year’s entertainment will incorporate many different styles, with traditional and more modern rubbing along nicely and will be guaranteed to entertain all generations and Irish or not you’ll be singing along and tapping along to the wonderful musical talents in store on the main stage and in the bar. If it brings a tear to the eye

We have a wonderful list of sponsors who help us undertake this massive project for the benefit of you the Irish Community and your friends and family, we would like to say a huge thank you, and to Fred at the Irish Scene for helping us spread the word for this very important and poignant day in the Irish Calender in Perth. Since to run this event costs half of Ireland’s GDP here’s the cap in hand bit: if you would like to become a sponsor, we have packages available to suit available budgets please contact us for details. Pretty please!

Look forward to seeing you there, we’ll have a word to the man above this year to hold off on the lightning, although it did add to the electric atmosphere last year!

ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE AND FAMILY FUN DAY 2018 Leederville - Saturday 17th March 2018.

St. Patrick’s Festival WA relies on the support from sponsors, fundraising initiatives and volunteers. If you would like to get involved, contact us at info@stpatricksfestivalwa.com or visit www.stpatricksfestivalwa.com 27

'AN GORTA MÓR' A MONUMENTAL EFFORT

By Lloyd Gorman

Now that we have the “An Gorta Mor” Famine memorial set gloriously in Market Square Park in Subiaco, it may be a good time to acknowledge those who made the dream a reality. Over the next twelve months Irish Scene will profile those companies and individuals who contributed their skills to the project.

This memorial by artists Charles Smith and Joan Walsh-Smith was erected by The Western Australia Irish Famine Commemoration Inc. in partnership with the City of Subiaco to commemorate The Great Irish Famine1845-1852. Especially re-

membered are the girls who arrived in Western Australia in the 1850s following the Irish Famine. The bronze sculpture depicts a childless mother keening for her children, lost through starvation and forced emigration as a result of the Famine.

Frank Smyth was the choice of the committee to do the finishing stonework. His reputation as a skilled stoneworker is unquestionable. Irish Scene had a story about Frank in a previous issue when he was responsible for the repair of the War Memorial in Kings Park in Perth. He removed the memorial 28

block by block, fixed the problem and put it all back together again!

When Fred approached Frank, and asked if he would assist in the Famine Memorial his reply was instant, “Of course I will”. Now that the memorial is complete, we were interested in Frank’s thoughts.

Frank said it was a great honour to be asked to do this job. “At this stage of my life I don’t know if I would be able to do many more, but it was a great thing to be able to be part of this wonderful project”.

Frank admitted that there were problems, like there always are on construction sites. “Things you have got to solve and now that the job is completed it probably looks simple enough. I couldn’t have wished for a better job to finish my career on. It took five weeks from start to finish up, ten hours a day, six days a week”.

When Frank received the granite for laying around the memorial, it was not as simple as many thought. As Frank put it, “Things that had to be corrected before it could be laid, letters to be put in, but that it what construction is all about”. We also thank Colgan Industries, Nathan Colgan for supplying labour to help Frank, Seamus Mason, Tom Colgan, Rowen Spence and of course Frank’s nephew Michael McCormack for their support of Frank. Nathan Colgan also made their premises in Greenwood available for Frank to do the ‘Dry run’ and insert the lettering for the famine prayer.

Back to Frank, “But for my part it was nothing compared to what those ladies suffered coming over in the hull of the ship for around three months. Can you imagine all these women in the hull of the ship for that length of time!” During construction, Frank called the memorial Bridie O’Brien. Frank said there were four O’Brien girls travelled to Australia on Bride Ships.

Frank said this memorial is going to make a name for the Irish and it is going to be there for a long time.

“The memorial looks fairly simple and it is not meant to be like a massive five story building, it is what it is, and the writing tells you the story and the position it is in, anyone who walks by even if they are not Irish, will have to have a look at it and

today was founded by those young all helped when he repaired the war women. “It is a hard country, I know memorial up in Kings Park “Working that. But if you get in, you survive. on such a significant memorial was The population of Australia is made a great honour. Every morning, beup of many different nationalities lieve it or not, because it was a huge and one third of them boast of Irish challenge, I would say a prayer that ancestry and proud I am of what I would survive each day, taking it they contributed to Australia. West- down especially because of the actuern Australia is a massive state, most al construction of the rocks because of it desert. Farming the country is they could weight anything from hard. They survived; they are the two ton to five ton and granite is as backbone of this country”. hard as steel but as brittle as eggs”.

Frank Smyth is from a village Frank acknowledged the work just outside Athenry called Kiltul- done by Fred Rea for the Irish in lagh. The little village itself is called Western Australia. “Fred’s work for Bookeen and the other little village the Irish Community in WA is apwhich divides the family farm is preciated by all and his efforts for called Lisnadrisha which translat- the clubs and organisations needs to ed is called village of the briars. "I be acknowledged. Because of that, it came to Australia 48 years ago, by was an honour to accept his request ship, the journey took five weeks." for help with this wonderful memoHe said. " Our ship and voyage was rial. Thank you Fred for asking me". probably luxury compared to how Frank has the last word: “The job the women would have travelled. is completed, and everybody is hapFive weeks is an awful long time to py and so am I”. be on a ship, can you imagine travelling months by sea?” When Frank Go Raibh Míle Maith arrived, he started in the building game and taught himself a lot of the Agat Frank! have a read. I think the memorial skills needed for construction. This (See pages 48 & 49) tells the story of the women. When you look at the sculpture of the lady bent over, anybody with any kind of a heart and knows a bit of Irish history would know it. And even in today’s world no other nation on earth in modern times has lost nearly half its population over the so called We i n v i t e y o u t o e x p e r i e n c e ‘famine’.” Frank is a very humble man and lives for his dog “Barney Rubble” who joined him every day during construction.

This was an emotional journey h quality, deliciou s cuisine . for Frank and he has said many of hig times that he can’t imagine what it was like for the women to travel in DINE IN OR TAKE AWAY FULLY LICENCED the hull of the ship for that length of Monday to Wednesday Thursday to Saturday Sunday 7:00 - 4:00 7:00 - 9:00 Last Food Orders 7:30 - 12:00 time and to be lined up in the port and to be chosen as the homemaker NOW OPEN FOR DINNER or the wife for somebody out in the bush. “Some had to walk sixty miles to Toodyay to start their new lives.

“Even though I understand the bush, I go out in it and I even go hunting in it, prospecting but I have luxury 4WD and gear compared to what those girls had. We have fridges now and things like that, what did they have? Did they have good shoes on their feet, I doubt it?”

Frank said the Australia we know Unit 6, 153 Trappers Drive, Woodvale | Ph: 6406 2336

Frank Smyth in 2005 on the War Memorial in Kings Park

WOODVALE’S BEST KEPT SECRET

29 29

Michael Cluskey

A View from Home

Wars” film “The Last Jedi” was released, the director Rian Johnson has raved about the experience of shooting some of the latest instalment of the franchise in Ireland.

As with the 2015 movie “The Force Awakens” scenes were shot on Skellig Michael, a small Island off the beautiful coast of Kerry.

So, until the next time, yep I’m going to say it “May ‘The force’ be with you all!! Mike!

Homeless Man Poem by C.J. Heck

Well at this moment in time, Ireland seems to be the hot topic of conversation all over Europe, if not the world.

How many times in the recent past have I mentioned the “B” word, BREXIT!! Apologies if this is getting boring, but this is one of the most major events to have happened in recent times.

With the UK being one of our biggest trading partners, the fact that they are pulling out of the European Union will have major consequences.

Having the only land border with the UK, how is this going to be policed? Having either a hard or soft border between Northern Ireland and the Republic is going to have major ramifications for both areas.

With a ‘hard-border’ memories of times passed of stop and search were common placed may be reintroduced.

With a soft border, supported by the Irish government, the British are worried that the Republic will become a gateway into the UK for migrants.

The European parliament supports the Irish government in its efforts to get the best

deal for the Republic.

Don’t under estimate the importance of decisions made, as these will affect us for years to come.

In other news, in recent times the number of homeless has risen to around 8500 in Ireland. Homelessness has now become a major issue here, especially as Focus Ireland have reported that there has been a 24% rise within the past year. To highlight the situation one Saturday night in late December, 400 past and present GAA stars, made up of inter-county, Hurling, camogie and gaelic football players got together under the banner of Gaelic Voices for Change and took to the streets for mass sleep-outs which were held in many parts of the country. Close to 200k was raised for homeless charities.

Meanwhile, as the latest “Star

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Homeless man I watched you line a deserted doorway, your Maytag boxes cardboard monuments in Fed Ex labels and signs pointing 'This Side Up', stark reminders of what is, and what could be, but for the grace of God. I wondered if I wished hard enough, a Fed Ex truck might spirit you away on a magic carpet ride to where you wouldn't be invisible for those who take the time to look and really see to where someone would offer you a job with no Catch 22, first telling you to shower and have clean clothes, and you with no money for either without a job.

I wished. I prayed.

But for the grace of God go I.

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By Lloyd Gorman

Pipe dream comes true for Irish A United Nations agency recently recognised something that anybody who has ever heard the Uilleann Gay McKeon

Pipes being played already knows only too well - they are a world class act.

On December 7, 2017 the United Nation’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) decided to include Uilleann Piping on its ‘representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’.

While it is an unwieldly sounding accolade from the Paris based agency the award itself is

Oireachtas (Irish parliament) and the government itself.

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan TD said: “[This] decision is testament to the community of Uilleann Pipers across the for heritage cultural country who, since the 1960s, practices considered to have succeeded in their mission to enrich mankind. stop the decline in the playing and Na Píobairí Uilleann launched making of the uilleann pipes. The a campaign to win the title for success today is a real community the pipes - sometimes called the effort from Na Píobairí Uilleann, ‘Irish Pipes’ or ‘The Sound of Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy, the Ireland’ - back in January 2016 Armagh Pipers Club, and other as a “designated masterpiece of organisations and individuals humanity”. who have contributed to Gay McKeon the resurgence of interest in CEO of Na Píobairí Uilleann Piping, in Ireland and Uilleann (www. around the world.” pipers.ie) and himself More than three thousand a celebrated player Uilleann Pipers play Irish music said: “Today is a on this instrument in dedicated global milestone for clubs throughout Europe and Uilleann Piping and in North and South America, shines a world-wide Josepha Madigan TD Australia, New Zealand and spotlight on The Japan.

Irish Pipes. From movies to TV Western Australia has its own and now video games, there are proud and long part in that global new opportunities opening up network. The Cork Pipers Club was all the time that showcase the set up in 1898 and was the first versatility of the instrument and club of its kind in the world. Its its distinctive sound.” founder John Smithwick Wayland An essential part of the a Tipperary man by birth - migrated process to even get nominated to WA in 1912 with a set of rare is to get the support of the pipes at the invitation of a Father Crowley, founder of the Perth Irish Willie Clancy Warpipe Band. A year after his arrival Wayland moved to Geraldton where he was a familiar sight dressed in a green waistcoat and mauve knee-britches (apparently the traditional dress of a 17th century Irish piper - playing the uilleann pipes outside the Club 32

John Smithwick Wayland

also Anzac Day. There is an account of how Geraldton residents were moved on April 25, 1938 by his playing of ‘The flowers of the forest’. Sadly, Wayland would die forgotten at a nursing home in Geraldton in May 1954. (On Michael D Higgins and the anniversary of Richard Andrews his death in 1994 a plaque was his own tribute to the UNESCO unveiled on his grave). cultural heritage listing of Uilleann When the Western Australian Piping by posting a short video of Uilleann Pipers Club was set up in himself (on December 8) playing August 2006 sixteen people turned Waltzing Matilda on a set of pipes, Hotel, the Railway Station, or on the up with pipes - probably making it and making a pretty good fist of it. A wharf at Geraldton during the First one of the largest concentrations man of many talents! of Irish pipers in the southern World War, giving the soldiers a It should be noted too that the musical escort as they march to war. hemisphere at the time.

National Folklore Collection at UCD Ormonde Waters - a founder of “In recognition of this service, - which has a bit of Uilleann Piping that club - played the pipes as part Captain W C Robinson made a history itself - was also added to of the Sense of Ireland concert that presentation to John Wayland at a the UNESCO listing for its “world was laid on for the visit of President significance” and “outstanding Ormonde Michael D Higgins. It is always a universal value to culture”. It Waters pleasure to hear the pipes which contains several thousand originally is unfortunately not a common and irreplaceable manuscripts, occurrence for most people or 90,000 photographs and more than music lovers.

10,000 hours of audio recordings The Australian ambassador to from a period of Irish history that Ireland - Richard Andrews - paid has now largely ceased to be.

Frank Murphy presents

recruiting rally held at the Town Hall on 5 January 1916. The gift consisted of a medallion for a watch chain, bearing the inscription; “Presented to J S Wayland, Piper to the Geraldton (WA) Recruits for the Great War”. Wayland would of course play on St. Patrick’s Day but

107.9fm Fremantle Radio Saturday 8am to 10am IRISH MUSIC • INTERVIEWS • LOCAL & IRISH NEWS 33

Family history inspires Fenians Festival

By Sarah McNeill For Anne Golden, stories of the Fenian Rising of 1867 in Ireland were part of her childhood.

Now living in Mosman Park, Anne grew up in County Kerry knowing the story of her greatgranduncle John Golden’s involvement in the Fenian Movement.

“The Fenians were always seen as brave heroes fighting for Irish freedom,” Anne said. “I never heard a bad word about them.”

Her family history is an integral part of the inaugural Fenians Fremantle and Freedom Festival in January, which will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the last convict ship to Australia.

The frigate Hougoumont arrived in Fremantle on January 9, 1868, carrying 262 of England’s transported convicts including 62 Irish Fenian political prisoners, John Golden among them.

Anne’s family story goes that John was a member of the Fenian Movement in Co Kerry and was to be involved in the uprising to overthrow British rule in Ireland in 1867.

The uprising was cancelled for the day it was planned, but news of this didn’t reach John down in Kells in southern Kerry.

He and his mate set out, raided a coastguard station for more guns and rode for miles expecting to pick

up fellow Fenians along the way. No one was there.

They realised they were lone fighters and ran for the hills, but John was captured five days later.

The Golden family legend has it that John’s mother, heavily pregnant, walked the 60 miles (100km) to his trial and walked home again, before giving birth to Anne’s great-grandfather a few days later.

John was charged with treason and sentenced to five years imprisonment and transportation to Fremantle Prison.

He was given a free pardon in May 1869 and left Fremantle to settle in Gerringong in NSW, where he married a farmer’s daughter, Ellen. They had seven children, the youngest of whom was born after John’s death in September 1883, at the age of 39.

Anne wrote a dissertation about John as part of her history and archaeology degree at University College Cork, and then decided to come to Australia and “walk his walk”.

She decided to stay in Perth, but last year she organised a Walk of the Ancestors gathering in Co Kerry to commemorate John Golden and his involvement with the Fenians.

Originally intended for her family members, especially her dad, who would never make it to Australia, the family gathering turned into a three-day event with more than 300 people attending, including relatives from Gerringong, and was officially opened by the Australian Ambassador to Ireland, Richard Andrews.

Anne will once again be celebrating her great-granduncle with the Fenians Fremantle and Freedom Festival from January 5 to 14.

She will take part in a re-

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enactment of the march of the convicts from the port to Fremantle prison on January 10, the 150th anniversary.

The 10-day cultural festival will celebrate Irish culture in Australia.

Historian Mike Lefroy will conduct walking tours, there will be performances by legendary Irish musicians Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill, and renowned Irish poet and writer Tony Curtis will give readings and run workshops.

A new boutique hotel in Bannister Street, Fremantle has been named after the Hougoumont.

In the dining room is a board featuring the names of the convicts she carried to Fremantle a century and a half ago.

The festival’s closing party on Bannister Street has been dubbed the Feast of the Wild Goose after a newspaper of that name produced

by Fenian prisoners John Flood and John Boyle O’ Reilly on board the Hougoumont, to “keep up the spirits”.

An original edition of The Wild Goose will be on display at Fremantle Prison during the Festival.

Kidogo Arts House will have an exhibition and Anne Golden is part of a team organising a family day at the Maritime Museum on January 6.

For details and tickets to all events go to eventbrite.com.au and search “fenians”.

This article was first published in the POST Newspaper on December 30, 2017 and is reproduced here with the kind permission of Sarah McNeill, the POST’s Arts and Features Editor

Ballad of Johnny Golden Let Kerry's sons remember well the men who marched alone As they tramped the hills and mountains to bring Caitlín her throne.

It was in 1867 when O'Connor did command And by his side the man who died out in Van Diemen's land.

Need Lollies for your event?

First at Kells Station they drew rein to face Coastguard Dingwall And to take from him his rifle, his powder and his ball.

He said, "This is a bad nightís work for any rebel band And you'll all face transportation unto Van Diemen's land".

They said, "We do not fight alone for Ireland is aflame And men are marching on the hills to spoil a Saxon game.

Like Mitchell and like Smith O'Brien we'll fight and take our stand And if we fail we'll risk the jail or face Van Diemen's land".

At Drung Hill then beside the bridge they shot a policeman down And searching in his pockets found a letter to the Crown.

O'Connor read and grimly said, "We can't fight now as planned And may God keep us in his care far from Van Diemen's land".

And Talbot, Massy, Corydon where are you all today?

Your hearts you sold for English gold and you swore their lives away.

In Tralee town the judge looked down upon that rebel band And he sentenced Johnny Golden to far Van Diemen's land.

O'Reilly, Griffin, Donovan, O'Connell and O'Shea, Conway, Sheehan and O'Brien their names are strong today.

They're masters in their own house now; they plough and till the land But brave young Johnny Golden lies in Van Diemen's Land.

For he sleeps today where lonely waves wash over Australia's shore And never again he'll see the glen of lovely sweet Foilmore.

But Foilmore's sons remember well that gallant Fenian band And forget not Johnny Golden out in Van Diemen's land.

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By Lloyd Gorman

ISTEACH SA TEACH LOVE WAS BIGGER AND BETTER THAN POLITICS IN 2017 kept the ‘yes’ Marriage equality and the dual campaign on track, citizenship fiasco that claimed and he found and more than a few political scalps shared human were two of the biggest political stories that changed stories of 2017 and both had some attitudes of people Irish influence. throughout the Western Australian Liberal Andrew Laming House of Reps Senator Dean Smith who is openly country.

From Carnarvon gay was one of to Cairns, Bunbury to Balmain, the main driving Tiernan travelled to almost every forces behind corner of this great land to get the the marriage message out; if Australia legalises equality and it marriage equality, the sun will was his private come up the next day and the members bill Senator Dean Smith only thing that will happen is that that got through more people in loving, committed parliament and is the basis of the relationships will be able to have new law in Australia. those relationships recognised.

Speaking in the Senate shortly Thank you, Tiernan, for guiding us after the Australian parliament through this marathon, always enacted the majority Senator Deborah O'Neill with a smile on your face and a will of the postal spring in your step. survey - Mr Smith had New South Wales Labor a lot of people to thank Senator Deborah O’Neill for their role in the thanked Mr Smith and others marathon campaign - including Tiernan - for their that at times got ugly. work in this cause too...”I record Amongst the many my appreciation for the work of who played their part the equality campaign….and of there was no doubt in course the face and voice of the Mr Dean’s mind who ‘yes’ campaign, Tieran Brady. How one of the main champions of the could anyone say campaign was. no to that Irish “You might wonder what a lilt?”. sprightly Irishman might have Andrew to do with marriage equality in Laming the Australia,” Mr Dean told the Senate Liberal member on December 6. for Bowman in “Tiernan Brady was Senator Jerry Buttimer (Irish Seanad) Queensland told responsible for the successful ‘yes’ the House of result in the Irish referendum Representatives (December 6) that on this very issue. Tiernan’s he was the first member of that leadership, focus and ebullience 36

chamber to hold an annual postal survey in his own electorate about marriage equality. He felt Australians had surpassed the Irish experience. “Two years, two months and two days after the much-celebrated Irish vote, Australia did an even better job,” Mr Laming said. “We had exactly the same result as the Irish plebiscite, a ‘yes’ vote of around 62 per cent, but we had an 80 per cent participation rate, mostly down to, I think, Australia’s general predilection in Senator Maire Devine (Irish Seanad) votes when they come along. But on-one came near to forecasting that 80 per cent participation prior to us carrying it out,” he added.

Congratulations for the overwhelmingly supportive vote in the Australian postal survey in midNovember could also be heard in the Irish parliament (Dáil Éireann).

Professional singer turned senator Frances Black extended her congratulations to “the people of Australia on the fantastic result in the marriage referendum”.

Senator Maire Devine expressed gratitude to everyone who took part in the debate, campaign and vote but especially the 61% who voted yes. “I am proud that some of the Irish method was replicated in the campaign and that it was led by many Irish living over there. I

hope Australia form entitled ‘checklist members of parliament and will legislate for it for eligibility’, which particularly members of before Christmas,” asked if my parents government - swear an oath she said (on or grandparents of allegiance to an English November 15). were citizens of monarch, Queen Elizabeth.

President Michael D Higgins Federal another country.

Back in the WA parliament David Feeny (Labor MP) parliament did This vetting process the issue of the monarchy indeed pass was compulsory for all Labor and its rule over Australia was the legislation into law before candidates. As a result of this raised during a debate in October Christmas. check, I was advised by the ALP about a 2017 amendment to the Senator Jerry Buttimer national secretariat that, as my (1889) Demise of the Crown recognised the father was born in Northern Bill [ The term “demise of the impact Irish players Ireland, I should renounce my Crown” refers specifically to the had Downunder. citizenship entitlements under end of the reign of one monarch “I join with the British law. I was also advised by death or abdication, resulting other Senators in that out of an abundance of in the transfer of sovereignty to congratulating the caution I should also renounce another monarch]. people of Australia any entitlements under Irish Jessica Stojkovski on their magnificent Simon Birmingham (Minister) law. I can advise the House that was elected into vote yesterday on neither I nor my father, nor any parliament for marriage equality other of my family, is or has been the first time in and I commend Tiernan Brady, an Irish citizen, nor have any of the March 2017 formerly political director of the them taken any steps to enliven any state election as Yes Equality campaign in this entitlements to Irish the member for country,” said Senator Buttimer, citizenship…To the Kinglsey. “It will “for leading the campaign in best of my memory be no surprise to Shane Love (National Party) Australia, others like Craig Dwyer from a decade ago, I members here that who travelled there to help with followed the advice with fiery Irish that campaign, and the many Irish I received and sent Chris Tallentire blood running through my veins, people living in Australia who renunciations to I am a staunch republican,” she played a pivotal role in it. Today both UK and Irish authorities.” told the Legislative Assembly on in a wonderful day for the people But because he was unable to October 17. “When the demise of Australia and a further sign of produce or find evidence of his of the Crown legislation was put progress around the world. request to the British Home Office before us to look I salute and commend all he conceded there was a question at, I was very involved and thank them on their mark over his UK citizenship and excited because work.” he would therefore be referring I thought we Unlike the same sex marriage himself to the High Court for an were taking issue, the dual citizenship crisis ultimate decision. some progressive affected a very small number of Cabinet minister Simon steps towards people, but it did threaten the Birmingham was challenged but becoming stability of the Federal Government remained tight lipped about this a republic. and potentially undermine Prime status, given that his father - John However, I Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s Francis O’Loghlen, was from understand that Jessica Stojkovski leadership. The opposition party Ireland. Mr Birmingham’s father is not to be - at - Labor - was smug about its MPs died in 1987, when he was 12 this time.” not getting caught up in the fiasco and he took the surname of his Her Labor colleague - Chris but amongst those members of stepfather, Jim Birmingham, when Tallentire who represents parliament to have their right his mother remarried. Other Thornlie - joined the debate and to hold a seat in the national Cabinet ministers - such as Dan said Australia needed an Australian parliament questioned was David Teehan - also have Irish parents head of state and that there were Feeney who represents the seat of or grandparents but the heat has various good reasons why that Batman. “In 2007, I was nominated largely gone out of that issue and should be the case. “I was in for election to the Senate as a seems unlikely to cause much more Canberra yesterday and noticed candidate for the Australian Labor upset in 2018. that there was full head of state Party,” he told the House of Reps It had been pointed out by recognition for the head of state on December 5. “As part of my more than one pundit during of Ireland. When does Australia nomination process I completed a this constitutional crisis that get head of state recognition 37

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overseas? It never does, because our head of state never travels on our behalf. It never does. If we look at things in bland marketing terms, Stephen Dawson prestige is conferred upon a nation that has its head of state travel and represent it elsewhere - there is that elevation of recognition. Australia has never had that.”

Mrs Stojkovski agreed. She suggested to an opposing MP and all monarchists that “if they would like to see a functioning head of state who lives in the country over which they preside, perhaps they should look at the Darren West esteemed President of Ireland, who addressed us last week.”

While President Higgins speech on October 10, 2017 to the WA parliament - the first by a visiting head of state - was cause for a temporary halt to local politics and bickering, it was not above being used for political reasons. Shen Love, the National member for the seat of Moore, used his speech to have a dig at the government and one member of cabinet. “Today, of course, the Irish President was in the chamber and he gave a very erudite speech largely about the influence of the Irish diaspora in Australia generally and also Western Australia,” said Mr Love. “One of the gentlemen he highlighted was a fellow by the name of Paddy Hannan, who was responsible for the discovery of gold in Kalgoorlie in the last century. Of course, gold has been a rather topical subject of late as the government seeks to punish the gold industry with an unnecessary and rather foolishly thought-out increase in the gold royalty, which, I understand, is now the subject of a disallowance motion in the upper house. I witnessed Hon

Jacqui Boydell from the National Party speak on the disallowance motion just a while ago. It was quite instructive to hear the Irish President talk about the importance of the gold industry. In 2014 another fellow from Ireland who sits in the Legislative Council, the Minister for Environment; Disability Services, Hon Stephen Dawson, spoke about gold in Kalgoorlie.

He said that gold is a very important industry for Kalgoorlie and that it is not making the same sort of money as BHP Billiton and other iron ore miners. It is very interesting that these two fellows with Irish connections have highlighted the importance of the goldmining industry and what it means to Western Australia.”

Darren West, the local (Labor) member for the Agricultural seat wanted to raise awareness and interest in an exhibition of Victoria Cross portraits that was coming to Geraldton because he had himself not been aware of it. One of the soldiers included in the exhibition was an Irishman. “Martin O’Meara, VC, was born in November 1885 in Ireland and joined the Australian Imperial Force in Perth in 1915,” said Mr West.

“After training in Egypt with the 16th Battalion, he Martin O'Meara initially served as an infantryman and machine gunner with the 4th Machine Gun Company before arriving in France in 1916.”

WA’s Legislative Assembly will sit for the first time in 2018 on February 12 with the Legislative Council resuming exactly a month later.

It will be fascinating to see what issues become political battlegrounds in 2018 - and to what extent they will have an Irish angle!

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New Stamps issued by Australia Post Convict Past Release date: 16 January 2018 This stamp issue commemorates the end of convict transport to the Australian colonies. In January 2018, it will be 150 years since the last convict ship, the Hougoumont, docked in Australia, at the Swan River Colony in 1868. Between the arrival of the First Fleet, in 1778, and the cessation of convict transportation, some 165,000 convicts arrived here to be punished for their crimes, whether political activities or something as trivial as stealing a loaf of bread.

Initially, convicts were sent to the colony of New South Wales, but into the 19th century Norfolk Island, Van Diemen’s Land, Port Macquarie and Moreton Bay were all convict destinations.

Though initially colonised by free settlers, Swan River (Western Australia) also became a location for convict detention.

The historical imagery is from the collections of the State Library of New South Wales, the National Library of Australia and the National Museum of Australia.

LISBURN’S JOHN NICHOLSON

RAMBO OF THE RAJ

By JOHN HAGAN

H

is was a life full of colour, movement, intrigue, drama, derring-do and death. Brigadier-General John Nicholson was a complex, charismatic, controversial, authoritarian military officer. He commanded regiments of knife-swinging Purchas, hunted Bengal tigers on horseback, inspired a religious movement and was instrumental in helping tame India’s notorious North West Frontier. A one-man government, he initiated law and order and encouraged infrastructure development. Little wonder that he became a legend of the Victorian era.

EARLY CAREER Born in Lisburn (Northern Ireland) in 1822, Nicholson was educated at Dungannon Royal School, thanks to the largesse of his maternal uncle, Sir James Hogg.

When he turned 16, Uncle James bought John a cadetship in the East India Company’s Bengal Native Infantry. Nicholson arrived in India in mid-July 1839, and one year later was embroiled in the fierce military action of the First Anglo-Afghan war, which terminated in 1842. During this campaign Ensign Nicholson’s column marched 147 miles (240 km) through the mountains and deserts of Afghanistan to capture Kandahar from the enemy. As a result of this sortie, Nicholson was commended for his bravery in leading enemy attacks involving hand-to-hand combat with sword and bayonet.

Amongst his fellow soldiers were the Lawrence brothers (George, Henry and John) who had been educated at Foyle College (Londonderry) and with whom Nicholson forged a lifelong friendship.

DISTRICT COMMISSIONER Following distinguished action and astute leadership during the First (1845-46) and Second (1848-49) Sikh Wars, Nicholson’s abilities, both as a soldier and administrator, were recognized, and he was promoted to the post of District Commissioner at Rawalpindi, centre of one of the most lawless and inhospitable regions in British India. During his time there, Nicholson mastered the Urdu language, immersed himself in the local culture and adopted the indigenous code of honour – that no offence go unpunished. He gained respect for his fair dealings with the locals, introduced medical care and established a stable administrative system. Such was his fame and respect that he came to be adored, and worshipped, by a certain section of the hill tribesmen.

The cult of ‘Nikal Seyn’ was formed to adulate Nicholson as ‘the lion of the Punjab’. It was veneration of which

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Nicholson thoroughly disapproved and discouraged, but which persisted until the 1980s in some of the remote border regions. Two tales from his time at Rawalpindi help clarify the nature of the man.

As a pastime, many of the English settlers and army officers hunted deer and wildfowl in the scrub around Rawalpindi. But such prey was too tame for Nicholson. He preferred pitting his wits, and skill, against the fierce Bengal tigers which also roamed the Punjab countryside. Once a tiger was located and isolated in the long grass, Nicholson would ride his horse at a gallop round and round the beast, never allowing it a stationary target. Gradually, Nicholson would contract the circle keeping the tiger constantly turning to face him. As the beast became more and more disorientated, Nicholson was eventually able to charge in and kill it with his sabre. The first thrust had to be accurate; there could be no second chance with such a dangerous animal.

The second anecdote concerns Nicholson’s handling of a local warlord who was pillaging the area. Nicholson set a price on his head, but because the warlord was so feared, nobody would betray him. Eventually, Nicholson was prompted to take the matter into his own hands. He rode out alone and eventually found the miscreant’s village and, as luck would have it, the first person he met was the warlord. When he refused to surrender, Nicholson ran him through with a sword and then cut off his head. He took the head back with him to Rawalpindi, placed it on his desk and then invited every local village leader to meet him. As each entered, he was asked if he recognized the owner of the head.

Nicholson’s leadership style, his courage and demeanour, attracted the admiration of many local tribesmen, in addition to the ‘Nikal Seyn’ disciples. On manoeuvres, and in action, he was accompanied by a ‘motley crew’ of about 250 frontiersmen ‘who came, out of local devotion to Nicholson’. They worked without pay and ‘recognised no leader but Nicholson, whom they obeyed with blind devotion’. Chief amongst these followers was Muhammad Hayat Khan, a large, black-whiskered, Pahtan warrior, who never left Nicholson’s side and who, each evening, slept across the doorway of his tent. When Nicholson dined at the mess, Khan stood behind his chair with a cocked revolver in one hand, ‘allowing none to pass a dish to his master save himself’. It was during mess one evening in Peshawar in 1857 that Nicholson announced

to the British officers assembled for evening meal that he was sorry for the delay because ‘I have been hanging your cooks’. It transpired that Nicholson had been informed by one of his ‘spies’ that, the poison, aconite had been added to the soup by the Indian cooks. Nicholson ordered the cooks be rounded up and demanded that they sample the soup. They refused saying it was against their caste. Nicholson then fed the soup to a

The City of Delhi Before the Siege The Illustrated London News

captured monkey which soon died. Within minutes, as one of the officers reported ‘our regimental cooks were ornamenting a neighbouring tree’.

STORMING DELHI In August 1857, and now promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General, Nicholson was dispatched to Delhi with orders to relieve British troops and help quell a mutiny which had arisen. With the city in the hands of Indian dissidents, the British and Indian troops were stranded on a ridge overlooking Delhi. Morale was low, but Nicholson’s arrival soon boosted troop confidence as he was viewed by many as ‘a war leader who seemed invincible, almost godlike’. Nicholson set about planning and organizing a siege to breach the city walls. On 14 September 1857 he led the first charge against Delhi’s seemingly impenetrable fortifications. Distinguishable by his green standard, he became separated from Muhammad Hayat Khan, and was cut down by a sepoy sniper’s bullet which struck him below the armpit on his right side. John Nicholson took nine days to die but when he learned that the city had finally been taken, he remarked, ‘My desire was that Delhi should be taken before I die and it has been granted’. Nicholson passed away on 23 September 1857.

IN MEMORIAM Nicholson’s burial took place at daybreak on 24 September 1857 on open ground between the ruins of Delhi’s Kashmir Gate and Ludlow Castle. A new graveyard had been prepared and when Nicholson’s coffin had been lowered into the void, his frontier tribesmen ‘threw themselves on the ground’ and ‘sobbed and wept as if their very hearts were breaking’. Most of these loyal Indian frontiersmen went back to their own villages following the internment. According to Ensign Reginald Wilberforce, ‘These men never took any pay

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whatsoever for their services’, because, ‘they owed no allegiance to the English Government – they had come down to serve and protect Nicholson’. To mark the sad occasion of his death, one of Nicholson’s colleagues, Neville Chamberlain, obtained a large marble slab which was placed over ‘the hero of Delhi’s’ grave with the following inscription: THE GRAVE OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOHN NICHOLSON WHO LED THE ASSAULT AT DELHI BUT FELL IN THE HOUR OF VICTORY MORTALLY WOUNDED AND DIED SEPTEMBER 23, 1857 AGED 35 The last line was incorrect: Nicholson was only 34 at his death.

LEGACY Following Nicholson’s demise, the Victorians immediately hailed him as a hero. He had extinguished the Sepoy mutiny and helped establish Pax Britannica in the Punjab. His deeds inspired books and ballads, and helped boost the numbers of young boys enlisting for overseas service. He features in a number of books including Henry Newbolt’s ‘A Ballad of John Nicholson’ and is mentioned in George MacDonald Frazer’s novel ‘Flashman and the Great Game’, where Flashman pays him the ultimate compliment describing him as a person who ‘could be trusted with anything, even money’. Nicholson also appears as one of the main characters in James Leasor’s book, ‘Follow the Drum’.

A large effigy of Nicholson was later erected in Delhi but was removed when India was granted independence. It now stands in the grounds of Dungannon Royal School, where one of the school’s houses has been named in his honour. A large statue, commemorating ‘Nicholson of India’, also graces the Market Square in his hometown of Lisburn.

Local News of Interest from the Past

ECHOES OF THE PAST R E S E A R C H E D

B Y

F R E D

News Published Every Two Months

R E A

An enduring love story that was born of Ashes

By Lloyd Gorman

After the best possible win, they could have hoped for on a wet and wild finale in Perth on December 18, Australia once again claimed the Ashes as its own. The fact that the home side ‘the Poms’ and the ‘Barmy army’ yielded to the home team at the WACA will be a lasting source of pride and joy for many West Australian cricket lovers. The win was splashed all over the front page of the West Australian the next day and the clever headline ‘We urned it’ offers a peek at the origins of the oldest sporting rivalry between the two countries, a story that starts with a love story and some Irish influence.

It all started on August 29, 1882 when Australia beat England in a game of cricket played at Kennington Oval, London. The shock win by the colonists was a blow to the English and a few days later a mock obituary was published in the Sporting Times - which could be seen as the first recorded example of ‘sledging’ in the sport. The fake death notice - written by one Reginald Shirley Brooks - read: “In affectionate remembrance of English cricket which died at the Oval on 29 August.

Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances. RIP. N.B. The body will be cremated, and the ashes taken to Australia”. The seeds were sown, and a sporting phoenix was born.

(Brooks’s mother was Emily Watkinshaw, who was herself the daughter of a Dr William Bannatyre Watkinshaw of Naparima in Trinidad. While she was a Creole Emily also had Irish heritage, and was proud of it) Just three weeks later an English cricket team captained

by Ivo Bligh was due to go to Australia later that year and into 1883 and he vowed to bring back “the ashes of English cricket” and restore his country’s honour. A round of three hotly contested and hard-fought games ensued with the English getting the upper hand overall.

As it happens the start of the Ashes legend also happened very close to Christmas. Sir William Clarke was the president of the Melbourne Cricket Ground -

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the current site of which had been selected in 1853 - and he invited the visiting side to his home - an estate in Rupertswood in Sunbry, Victoria - as his guests for Christmas and Easter.

It is though that on their first visit and after a friendly game of cricket at Clarke’s home on Christmas Eve that Lady Clark presented an urn - a piece of terracotta pottery - with the burnt remains of a cricket ball as a friendly prank. The Clarke’s music teacher Florence Morphy - was also a part of the merriment and would later go on to marry Bligh.

Florence Morphy was born at Beechworth in August 1860. She was the youngest of seven children and the daughter of a gold commissioner and police magistrate posted to Beechworth. Her father John Stephen Morphy was a Kerryman (a Charles J Morphy who died in 1913 would become the Crown Solicitor for Kerry) Morphy died when Florence was about one year old, and the family moved to Melbourne where they survived on a small government pension.

A great grandson of Bligh, Rupert Peploe, wrote a book about his famous ancestor called “Crickets Burning Passion”. He said Ivo Bligh set out to Australia with the single-minded objective of recovering the ashes and restoring pride to the English cricket team. But he discovered something else at Rupertswood.

“By the time the Test series began on 30th December 1882, Bligh had set his heart on another prize as well - the hand of Florence Morphy, a young woman in the employ of Lady Janet Clarke, wife of Sir William and chatelaine of Rupertswood, a grand mansion near Melbourne”, wrote Peploe.

“All had their role to play in the formation of what we now know as the Ashes and the little urn residing proudly at Lords. But it was the love between Florence and Ivo that is ultimately responsible for it surviving those early years to become what it has now become.”

proved to be a popular artefact that helped shape the public and even cricket’s imagination as the symbol of the Ashes.

Lady Florence, Countess of Darnley, died in August 1944, the mother of three children with her husband.

The Ashes are the embers of their great love story.

IRISH TOAST FOR NEW CRICKET BOOK

Austin ‘Ocker’ Roberston is an Australian Rules Football legend - having - amongst other achievements - kicked 60 goals in 18 games in the VFL and in 2015 he was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

He would also make a big splash in the world of cricket having managed many of Australia’s leading sportsmen, including cricketers Dennis Lillee, Allan Border and Shane Warne. He was an integral part of revolution in World Series Cricket and crossed paths with a young up and coming lawyer called Malcolm Turnbull. Austin’s new book Cricket Outlaws was launched in Paddy Maguire’s Irish Pub in Subiaco on December 13.

Finally, the WACA (West Australian Cricket Association) grounds in East Perth might be ironically identified with cricket, but it has played host to two international - or compromise - rules test games in its time. In the very early days of the fledgling hybrid code the 1986 game narrowly missed out on becoming the first event to be staged under the stadium’s new floodlights by one day to the McDonalds Cup cricket fixture on 10 October of that year. The next time Ireland would face Australia at the cricket grounds was in 1990.

According to The Ashes Bail website the little urn survives to this day because of the symbol it represented; the love between the poor lower class Australian Florence and the dashing upper class English Captain.

“Without this love, the urn would not be the symbol it is today. Indeed, it was the Ladies behind the Cricket powers that created the most poignant symbol in the gentleman’s game of cricket.”

As Michael Clarke explains it in his book “Clarke of Rupertswood”: “The two would have seen much of each other when the English cricketers stayed at Rupertswood in 1882-1883. They had reached a secret understanding before they left for England. Florence was an attractive and graceful young lady, but his family position made the marriage a difficult one. He was the second son, born 1859, of the sixth Earl of Darnley, born 1827. His eldest brother, born in 1851, was still single and seemed unlikely to marry, so that Ivo was his heir to the earldom and the magnificent mansion and estate of Cobham Hall in Kent.”

The Ashes urn remained at Cobham Hall until Bligh’s death in 1927. His widow presented it to the Marylebone Cricket Club two years later where it was placed in the Long Room at the Lords Pavilion until 1953 when it went to the neighbouring cricket museum. The urn

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’ G da FROM MELBOURNE.

By Mike Bowen

y

I hope you all had a happy and safe Christmas. I also hope, your loved ones gave you what you always wished for. Ok that was a joke, sorry about that. Now it’s down to looking in the mirror and trying to convince yourself that you have not put on weight over the winter. So, you try to convince yourself that all your trendy gear from last summer has shrunk and it’s the fault of the washing machine or the powder that went into it. A bit of advice from one who has been there and done that, throw the lot out. If you don’t do that and squeeze yourself into them with a shoehorn, you will look like that self-cantered narcissi Kim, from the Kat and Kim TV sitcom who has muffin tops written all over herself.

How’s that for a bit of good advice for the New Year?

On a totally different note, this might also be of interest to you? I have stepped down as a financial adviser after thirty-four years and ten months.

Note, I said stepped down not retired, I have become a full-time writer/columnist and any other thing that relates to pen, paper and telling stories. Now that, that’s on the record let me try to explain what my wife’s interpretation of stepping down and not retiring means.

Honey you will not be taking control of the TV remote as I have befriended that item for years and it has now become part of my DNA for ever, please remember that and there will be no reason for bloodshed or a murder in our house. However I will allow you to help me with all the things that I want done in the garden and around the house. She already knows that I couldn’t hit a nail straight if my life depended on it as I have told her, at least a thousand times. I also told her that there is no way I wouldn’t ever live in the same street where someone had a shovel. I thought I couldn’t be any more honest than that, by baring my limitations to her. Now she tells me that she is a patient person and will take as much time as is needed to teach me all she knows. I asked her why she wants to teach me to do things, that she is so good at doing herself. I knew that was a stupid question the moment it fell out of my mouth because the answer was always going to be coated in sugar and spice. Got that right, because darling she said, we can spend more time together. But darling I reply we have already spent thirty years together and there are people who were let out of prison after serving less time for murder. As you can imagine I was expected to be ecstatic with her sugar and spice answer and fall down on my knees with joy but that didn’t happen. I

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had to put on a fake smile, you know the one you put on when you know you are in the s**t as I think I put her nose slightly out of joint with my answer. There is a fair possibility that my life could well be shortened if I continue to be objective when it comes to the possibility of my pending domestic duties.

I do get confused when trying to understand my wife’s logic sometimes, considering we have been together a long time as I have previously mentioned.

You would think by now she would have come to terms with what I am good at and what I am not, well the answer to that is no. The palms of my hands are softer and smoother than a baby’s bum, which gives anyone who shakes hands with me a good idea that I am not a tradie. Just to expand on more of my limitations, let me tell you, I wouldn’t try to remove a huntsman spider from the house, even if it was the size of a pinhead, I leave that to my own in-house expert, you know who.

That and any electric repairs are also handled by my in-house electrician, the same person, who by the way doesn’t have any qualification certificates. But what does a small detail like that have to with getting any job done. Her expertise has even extended to taking this computer apart to fix it along with dismantling the dishwasher, the washing machine/dryer, the fridge, she even chased a possum around the house one night after he fell down our chimney and caused havoc. Yes, she did catch him by throwing a towel over the little bugger and diving on him like any good Australian Rugby player would have scrambled for a ball, I just wish I had a camera on hand at all those times. Can someone please explain to me, why I should try to master all the skills that my wife has mastered over a lifetime? For what?

Just so I can say at the end of every day, look honey my domestic talents are well short of yours. Or maybe we could have cooking competitions or who can vacuum the carpet better competitions.

Who in their right mind would want to be cutting grass on a beautiful day when they could be at the beach soaking up the sunshine with a cold tinny in one hand and a pretty girl on the other, or who would want to be ironing shirts on a similar kind of day. Not many at all certainly not me after I step down.

As a matter of fact, I am beginning to think seriously about my usefulness at home if I continue to rebel about being retrained to become a domestic servant. As you can tell by my age after standing down I am of the old school style of thinking. I assumed that when I stood down, life would slow down, not in my wildest dreams had I considered changing my career to becoming a domestic servant, if I wanted that I would have trained many years ago, well before I became a financial adviser.

The reason I became a financial adviser was because I didn’t want a job where I would have to dirty my hands and or carry heavy equipment. The heaviest things I have had to carry was a load of cash many years ago in my early years in the financial industry and now I don’t even have that pleasure, as all transactions are done on

computer.

Thinking more broadly maybe I should encourage my wife to do some special qualification courses to enhance her already growing knowledge of knowing more that the experts. I reckon that would be a class worth spending time in as an observer, a case of the tail wagging the dog. Maybe she could convince the tutors to drop all qualifications and then we could all become totally qualified know-alls without ever going to class, don’t knock it, it’s just a thought.

Going forward I expect to finish all the books that I am working on in the next twenty-four months or so, in between travel holidays, that is assuming I won’t have too many interruptions to do domestic work that I am not qualified for and don’t want to be trained for either. I was expecting life to be less stressful now that I don’t have to fight my way through the dreadful Melbourne traffic.

Melbourne is now known as the clogged roads state, thanks to the Andrews government. In saying that I think it was the late Dusty Springfield who gave us great hope with her song ‘Wishing and Hoping’ that she sang many years ago, I think I will make that my anthem from now on. What have I just done to myself here, looks like I have just dug my own grave when she gets to read this?

Here’s wishing you all the best for 2018 and I hope all your wishes will be fulfilled. Until next time be good to those who love you.

Happy New Year and Slainte from Melbourne

Irish Families in Perth

Western Australia

with Eimear Beattie

IRISH FAMILIES IN PERTH IS A VOLUNTARY NON-PROFIT ORGANISATION WITH OVER 13,500 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 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.

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

IFIP MUM’S PLAYGROUP UPDATE

Delighted to announce that we have limited spaces available on Monday and on Wednesdays at Padbury Playgroup from 9-11 am, which are both very kindly sponsored by Irish Families in Perth. New families always welcome to join our lovely group of Mam’s, whether you’re new to Perth or been here for a while and looking to join a wonderful group, join our page below and you’ll find info on all of the above! https://www.facebook.com/groups/774916025922214/about/

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IRISH COMMUMITY

Sense of Place

by Peter Murphy

“Who better to interpret our environment for tourists than Indigenous people who have developed an understanding and knowledge of their country which can never be duplicated by non-Indigenous tour guides?”

Aboriginal Elder Lowitja O’Donoghue ‘Successful Tourism at Australian Heritage Places’ (Australian Heritage Commission 2001).

Back in 2001, when studying Cultural and Heritage Tourism at Bunbury TAFE, did I come across that quotation; a quotation that would not only challenge my perception and enthusiasm of becoming a tour-guide, whose role is to interpret the West Australian landscape, its heritage and its cultural values to Interstate and International visitors. That same quotation would also challenge my own sense of place: on whether I belonged on one of the oldest continents, with one of the world’s oldest cultures.

As a teenage migrant landing on Australian soil from Ireland in 1970, back then I never gave much thought to where I was going, or where I might belong. My only incentive was to leave Ireland in search of ‘a better life’, whatever that was supposed to have meant. Besides, finding a sense of place for me back then was rather like finding where they sold the best pint of Guinness.

I can still remember clearly the mantra of yer man from the Australian Immigration Dept, “Australia was a young country and desperately needed young people like you”.

I’ve now been a part of Australian society for nearly half a century, and even though I’ve spent most of my adult life here - and think I may have a grasp on country - I realize I’m only fooling myself and in reality: know very little of this ancient landscape and its original inhabitants, the aboriginal people.

Being non-indigenous Australians, we can sometimes fool ourselves by displaying arrogance and ignorance towards this ancient landscape and its traditional owners. This I put down to our own personal insecurity, thereby convincing ourselves we do belong, even though in our mad-rush for prosperity and security we readily stand by and allow what could

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eventually become our sense of place, slowly disappear in our pursuit of wealth.

In Western Australia however we are blessed, as there are still some natural places left where one can still experience some sense of place, such as the tall eucalypt forests of the South West; pristine beaches on the South Coast; inland deserts of the interior, and of course the Kimberley region; places where one can still manage to plant their feet on country where air is clean and clear; and drink crystal clear water from unpolluted creeks, waterholes and billabongs. But how long in our pursuit of wealth can we afford to take these special places for granted?

It was interesting to note, that an art exhibition: titled “Australia”, held in London in 2013, exhibited Australian art painted over the last 200 years by Australian artists. However, what intrigued me most about the exhibition was of the 200 pieces of art being exhibited, 140 of those depicted the Australian landscape. This to me proved that even Australia’s most gifted colonial painters, the likes of Watling, Conrad, Streeton, Roberts, McCubbin and Nolan, (to name a few) set out instinctively to capture their own sense of place within their work.

But what about those thousands of unwilling immigrants who came in chains on convict ships; thousands of men and women forced to set barefoot on Australian soil? What would their perception have been of this vast landscape; rumoured at that time to be occupied by hordes of savages and flies? Would they - under such inhospitable conditions - have also sought a sense of place in this ancient landscape? Sure, most were criminals; some charged with petty crimes; others with most heinous of crimes. But there were some amongst them who regarded themselves not as common criminals, but as political prisoners. These were what authorities of that day referred to as Fenians; a shadowy militant organisation whose mission was to overthrow Her Majesty’s forces in Ireland and free their countrymen and women from the shackles of the Crown. One of those political prisoners, poet and author John Boyle O’Reilly, during his short time in the Penal Colony of Western Australia (January 1868 to March 1869), had managed somehow - in his poetry and writing - to capture a sense of place, in what would have been (at that time) a most inhumane and inhospitable environment.

It’s difficult to imagine a young person like O’Reilly, aged 22, faced with the prospect of having to spend the next 20 years of his life labouring on a convict road gang; away from his family; his loved ones; his homeland; in such an inhumane and inhospitable environment, yet would somehow manage to capture a sense of place.

Let me share with you some of O’Reilly’s observations and thoughts he profoundly observed of the Western Australian landscape as he went about his convict business. Then let us ponder on how this young man - from some distant far off land - under the

most inhumane and inhospitable conditions - managed within a short space of time to so beautifully capture a sense of place we sometimes take for granted, yet so few of us understand.

Valentines Day

Prologue: Western Australia (John Boyle O’Reilly - 1869) How can I show you all the silent birds, with strange metallic glintings on the wing?

Or how tell half their sadness in cold words, The poor dumb lutes, the birds that never sing?

We ca n for all cater flowe your r need s!

Of wondrous parrot-greens and iris hue Of sensuous flowers and of gleaming snake,Ah! What I see I long that so might you, But of these things what pictures can I make.

Sometime, maybe, a man will wander there,A mind God-gifted, and not dull or weak; And he will come and paint that land so fair.

And show the beauties of which I speak.

d& Irelan nal tio a n r Inte r Flowe ry e v li e D

Peter Murphy is Vice-President of John Boyle O’Reilly Association (Bunbury)

"Grá mo Chroí"

$45

DUNCRAIG FLORIST

Glengarry Shopping Centre Glengarry Shopping Centre Arnisdale Rd, Glengarry WA 6023 Email: serendipity@iinet.net.au

The Voyage

Call Rosemarie or Wiesia on

By Tony Curtis

Phone: 9448 3160

It is years since I last crossed by boat to Ireland, but tonight I am going home over the waves.

The sky is filled with fading scars, their light has travelled for a million years and they are weary; the last trace of the light that left us here.

I’d promised to be in Dublin by summer, but it is the first of November: the first day of winter.

The decks are icy underfoot and there is snow in the air. Behind me, a man is asking a woman if she loves him?

It is far too cold for such great questions.

It is an Irish night, under an Irish sky.

And I am beginning to remember this voyage: the beer, the songs, the cigarettes; the asthmatic wheeze of the engine as it lifts us over another mountainous wave.

It is all up hill to Ireland: against the tide, against the wind, against the dark and the cold.

The journey, preparing us for the land.

Many readers who spent time working in England would relate to this poem. It captures the journey ‘home’ for many an immigrant.

You would have had to make that crossing to

understand what Tony has captured in these beautiful words.

Tony Curtis is appearing at the Fenians, Fremantle and Freedom Festival in January. Tony was born in Dublin in 1955, he studied literature at the University of Essex and Trinity College, Dublin.

As well as being available for readings at Irish and International festivals Tony Curtis is an experienced facilitator of poetry and creative writing workshops with both adults and children and is a regular contributor at the Clifden Arts Festival. In 1993, his poem The Dowser and the Child won the Poetry Ireland/Friends Provident National Poetry Competition, while These Hills won the Book Stop Poetry Prize. He also edited As the Poet Said (1997), a selection of quotations from Dennis O’Driscoll’s regular column in Poetry Ireland Review. In 2003 he was awarded the Varuna House Exchange Fellowship to Australia.

For details and tickets to Tony Curtis go to: eventbrite.com.au and search “fenians”.

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Dedication of An Gorta Mรณr Irish Famine Memorial

Mayor of Subiaco, Heather Henderson, Sabina Higgins and President of Ireland Michael D Higgins with the WAIFC committee at the unveiling of the Famine Memorial

The Irish Famine Memorial officially dedicated by the President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins on 9th October, 2017 in Market Square, Subiaco has been made possible thanks to the Western Australian Irish Famine Commemoration Committee, the City of Subiaco and Joan Walsh-Smith and Charles Smith of Smith Sculptors The memorial joins many others across the world including New York, Dublin and Sydney, highlighting the international impact Irish immigration has had. It demonstrates the ongoing passion and spirit of the Irish community and the long standing traditions upheld by descendants of Irish immigrants.

WAIFC Committee: Fred Rea, Chairman | Peter McKenna, Project Manager | Sheila Murphy, Publicity Sean McDonagh, Treasurer | Allan Smith, Project Consultant Jim Egan, Secretary | Vince Gallagher, Fundraising Thanks to the following who helped in the construction of the Memorial: Mark Price, Wood & Grieve Engineers | Denis Burke, BC Formwork Frank Smyth | Nathan Colgan, Colgan Industries Olan Healy, McDonald Surveys | Andy & Sally-Ann McDonald, McDonald Surveys John Whelahan, Complete Cabling | Sean King, PC Walls Mark Keogh, UON | Gay Collins, Pipeline Technics | Conway Portables Thank you to the many organisations and individuals who helped raise the funds to pay for the memorial. www.waifc.org 48 48

Right: A selection of photos taken during the construction of An Gorta Mor

49 49

How a Western Australian 'convict' on the run helped create the one of the world’s biggest races

By Lloyd Gorman

The Boston Athetics Team in Athens Photo courtesy Boston Athletics Association

Had John Boyle O’Reilly failed in his attempt to flee captivity in Western Australia one of the world’s greatest running events may never have come to be.

Having made good his escape O’Reilly set sail for Boston where from his arrival in 1870 he would establish himself as a leading light of Irish patriotism, human rights and the arts and it would become his home for the rest of his days.

But he also excercised a strong influence in the strongly Irish American citys sporting circles as well.

As well as being an intellectual O’Reilly was an active outdoors enthusiast and even taught fencing at Harvard University. In 1888 he published his book Ethics of Boxing and Manly Sports, which was a defense of the controversial sport, but also touched on Irish hurling, canoeing and had tips for fitness and nutrition for the serious athlete.

The Co. Meath born figure was a founding member of the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) in 1887. [For comparison the Gaelic Athletic Association was set up in Thurles in November 1884] In January, 1887, “at the suggestion of the late John Boyle O’Reilly, the first meeting was formed to consider…forming an athletic club in Boston,” wrote The Boston Globe in a March 9, 1912 story on the BAA’s 25th anniversary. That initial meeting generated excitement and resolve to create an athletic organization, modeled on the popular New York Athletic Club, according to reports.

A few months later, on May 9, 1887, the General Court of Massachusetts passed an act to incorporate the BAA, listing O’Reilly as an official, along with other leading Bostonians like Henry Parkman, George Morrison, George W. Beales, Francis L. Higginson, Richard D. Sears and Harrison G. Otis.

The first meeting of the BAA took place on June 14, 1887 at the Boston Cadet Armory. The full membership of 1,200 was already enrolled by the time the first meeting took place, wrote the Globe.

A new book by John Hanc, entitled the B.A.A. at 125 recounts the formation of the group and gives a synopsis of O’Reilly’s life and his involvement in the forming the city’s most famous athletic organisation.

The BAA helped field the first US Olympic team that competed in Athens, Greece in 1896, and also started the Boston Marathon in 1897, a race it continues to run and organise.

The marathon has grown in popularity and size with the wider community but it has always had a strong

50

and dedicated Irish following thanks to the city’s strong Irish heritage. The Boston Marathon is something of a mecca for individual and organised groups, including the Irish Cancer Society, for who supporters use it as a fundraising opportunity.

The Boston Marathon has seen the best and the worst of humanity in its time. The 2013 bombing close to the finishing line was its lowest point. The explosions killed three people and wounded 264 others. There were many stories about the people who died or were injured, including some with Irish family and connections. Denise Richard, nee O’Brien, a young American woman whose grandmother hailed from outside Mitchelstown in Cork lost her eight year old son Martin in the blast. Her five year old daughter Jane - who was a talented Irish dancer - lost a leg. On top of the horror inflicted on her children, Ms Richard had to have major eye surgery. Their relations in Ireland - as well as in the US - were left reeling and grieving by the terrorist incident.

The 2017 race, which fell exactly one month after St. Patrick’s Day, (the Marathon is always held on Patriot’s Day in the US calendar), saw an inspirational display of sportsmanship by one Irish runner.

Northern Ireland firefighter Terry Canning became an overnight hero to millions around the world for his actions during the Boston Marathon. A crew commander from Omagh Station in County Tyrone Canning was running in aid of the Enda Dolan Foundation, a charity set up in memory of the 18 year old who was hit and killed by a van in October 2014 when he was in his first year at Queens University.

The Northern Ireland runner was travelling well and making good time and was about 2,600 feet (half a mile) from the end of the 26 mile course when he came across a female runner - one of the 27,000 event competitors who was struggling badly because of heat and physical exhaustion. He stopped to help her and together with

another runner who did the same (Mario Vargas) the two men walked either side of her, holding her up, acted as human crutches. Even with that show of strength and solidarity the woman - Julianne Bowe - was unable to go on. When he realised that she was on the point of total collapse Canning scooped her up into his arms and - still being helped by Vargas - carried her to the finishing line before gently placing her down so that she could finish the race by limply crossing the line on her own two feet.

Bowe was so fatigued that she was not aware of what was happening or could not remember it afterwards.

TV cameras had picked up on the drama and filmed on as a wheelchair and medics were waiting for her on the other side of the finishing line. Over the public address system for the race the event announcer thanked the men for helping her and called for applause for them. Footage of the whole episode has been viewed by millions of people. Tributes and commendations for their actions flowed in from across America, Ireland the rest of the world.

The 2018 Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 16, 2018, Patriots’ Day, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with registrations having opened on September 11, 2017 and will remain open until the event itself.

“The Boston Marathon is the oldest consecutively run marathon in the world, and we at the B.A.A. are grateful that so many dedicated athletes desire to compete here,” said Tom Grilk, B.A.A. Chief Executive Officer.

“THe mission of the Boston Atheletic Association hasn’t really changed since it was founded in 1887, its for the promotion of health and fitness. We do it in three areas, one is in running events, the Boston Marathon that everyone knows about and the other (running) events we conduct. The second part is community service, to be of service to all of the constituency that provides such magnificent support to us in good times and in the most horrible times, and that’s been a lot of kids events, of many kinds and working in what might be called underserved neighbourhoods to get not only kids out moving for the benefit of their health and fitness but also their families. The third part is the development of elite, high performance athletes, which is were the BAA began, sending the first US team to the revival of the Olympic games in 1896 and we now have stable and excellent athletes who we are helping to develop. So all of that goes on all year.”

T A V E R N 302 The Strand Dianella Perth, Western Australia 6059 (08) 9276 1733 Open daily: 11:00am - 10:00pm kerryblackburn@live.com.au

•

• • • •

Fox Sports showing a large variety of sports on 10 large screen TV’s.

TAB with Sky Chanel and Race Wall Bottlemart Express Bottle Shop Nightlife Juke Box ATM on site Linguine with prawns, chilli, garlic & parsley Great Value $17.50 Scotch Fillet, Beer Battered Chips & Salad Only $20.00 (choice of Pepper or Mushroom Sauce) Everyone’s favourite Chicken Parmigiana $20 Served with Salad & Chips

To those who believe that a love for innocent sport, playful exercise, and enjoyment of nature, is a blessing intended not only for the years of boyhood, but for the whole life of a man. John Boyle O'Reilly

A dedication from ‘Athletics and Manly Sport’ by John Boyle O'Reilly AND in the book O’Reilly wrote….

"Some said, John, print it; others said, not so; Some said, it might do good; others said, no."

51

Joe O'Flaherty ALWAYS HAS THE THIRST FOR A SONG Local Perth muso, Joe O’Flaherty was born in Bluebell in Dublin. Joe told us, "My grandmother, who I was very close too, helped bring me into the world".

Joe played in school bands and was a fan of a wide range of music from Thin Lizzy and Rory Gallagher to Perry Como and Bob Dylan.

"I left school at 14 and got an apprenticeship as a carpenter serving a five year apprenticeship".

He left Ireland at 16 with mate Paddy Gill also from Bluebell to see the world... "but all they saw was Jersey and England".

He married in England and returned to Ireland to live in Tallaght in Dublin and was blessed with four children.

"In 1988 my family emigrated to Auckland, New Zealand where I worked at my trade and played music with local bands".

After 12 years living in land of the long white cloud, in 2000 Joe and family headed for Australia. out a Irish song with the passion "The former manager of Rosie’s they deserve". in Northbridge, Jon Smyth is my Joe is also a very keen song nephew and he writer. “I’ve written close to was a great help in 50 songs and one of these us settling in. Jon days I will record them for also introduced the world to hear. That’s me to the Irish my dream,”. community and Joe now plays with Shamrock Rovers The Thirsty Travellers soccer club boys. in local venues, An Sibin, Joe with Damien Dempsey As mentioned, Paddy Malones, Rosie Joe has a great love for all music O’Gradys, The Bailey and The from classical to crooners.

Duke. The other members of the “I remember sitting in my band are Ken McLaughlin, Barney grandmother’s parlour listening to Croskery and Derek Farrell. I was the old vinyl records of singers like curious to know where the band Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and that name originated and Joe told me: vintage".

"An Sibin manager, Susan said one So playing and loving music day that we need a band name, so comes naturally to Joe and it wasn’t I suggested she picked a suitable long before be was performing in name that reflected the band”. That Perth. was easy when she checked the bar Joe has supported Gary Og, tab and found a massive increase in The Young Wolfe Tones, Damien consumption on the nights the boys Dempsey, Mick Flannery and played, hence the name was picked Charlie and the Bhoys to mention The Thirsty Travellers. a few.

Now and again Joe plays in “There is nothing I like more a duet with lovely lady Sinead than picking a guitar and belting Twomey from Cork.

TheThirstyTravellers 52

A Christmas Poem

By Joe O'Flaherty

Joe O'Flaherty shares the stage with Derek Warfield of the Young Wolfe Tones

Joe also told us that his grandson Colin O’Flaherty (left) was diagnosed with Leukemia, "He’s 5 years old now, and has another year of treatment. It really makes you appreciate life and many of my songs mean much more when I think of him". Joe hopes that one of these days he will pen a song for little Colin and for all the children who suffer from the same disease.

"I have the song in his head but its just too hard a present to complete the lyrics as readers will understand. “I have the song name, Baldy Heads in Hospital Beds and those who like me have visited hospitals will appreciate where I am coming from when they see the other kids as well”.

After his family, music is Joe’s second love and he likes nothing better than to sit a session with a Irish crowd joining in. “They are the best audience in the world, I get a great buzz when I hear the crowd singing along to the Irish classic folk songs".

Look out for Joe and The Thirsty Travellers around the Irish pubs in Perth. Offer to buy them a drink, the venue will appreciate it!

Fred Rea

Well happy Christmas everyone on the mobiles… are all out there at the Christmas parties...

When we’re out and about We’re havin’ the crack There’s selfies and pictures of us all Sure, bejasus in five minutes There’s enough to fill a wall

But in my house, there’s something that means so much to me Two biscuit tins a shoebox That’s full of memory’s But in that box a photo that I got long ago When I was far away from home at Christmas time you know Me heart began to flutter was it good news was it bad When I opened up the envelope kinda made me sad Was a photo of my Mother sent over by my Dad I traced my finger cross her brow So old and wrinkled now And down across her eyes that shined bright so long ago And around her cheek bones that I’d kissed many times And through her hair of golden strands I once held in my hands I wished that I could touch her To tell her that I love her To see her now at Christmas Would be such a cheer Now I can hardly see her as I wipe away my tears There’s nothing like your mother at Christmas time you know But that’s just how it is in life and we all have to go So, if you’ve still got your Mother you better tell her so Tell her that you love her 'cause it’s Christmas time you know

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You know you're in Australia when:

1. The best parking space is determined by shade instead of distance.

2. Hot water comes out of both taps.

3. You learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron.

4. The temperature drops below 35c and you feel a little chilly.

5. You discover that in February it only takes two fingers to steer your car.

6. You discover that you can get sunburnt through your car window.

7. You develop a fear of metal car door handles.

8. You break a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30am.

9. Your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, "What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?"

10. You realise that asphalt has a liquid state.

11. Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to prevent them from laying hard-boiled eggs.

12. The cows are giving evaporated milk.

13. The trees are whistling for the dogs.

14. While walking back barefoot to your car from the beach, you do a tightrope act on the white lines in the car park.

15. You catch a cold from having the air con full blast while you sleep during the night.

16. You pray that your train will have air-conditioning, and if it doesn't, waiting an extra 15 minutes for one is worth it.

By Lloyd Gorman

TeleStationTeleNation

WINNER ALRIGHT !

WINNER ALRIGHT !

The Melbourne Cup is always a big spectacle and for those not lucky enough to be at Flemington Racecourse to watch it live the race is a major television event that brings millions of Australians together.

With a few Irish horses in the race there was always going to be some interest in how they fared but who could have predicted the result? An Australian owned horse trained by an Irish man and ridden by an Australian jockey. The first interview directly after the end of the race was on horseback as jockey Corey Brown rode Rekindling back for the formal announcements and celebrations. But it was the interview with Joseph O’Brien that really stole the moment. The 24-yearold son of champion trainer Aidan O’Brien was fun to watch and listen to as he answered questions at a hundred miles an hour, which combined

with his distinctive accent, would have made his answers hard to understand for many viewers.

It was an unforgettable piece of TV and great display of unbridled Irishness at its best.

Michael Portillo was in Northern Ireland on November 16 as part of his Great British Railways Journeys. Belfast to Whitehead is episode 24 of season 3 and was filmed in 2012. He explored Belfast’s Victorian docks and discovered Irish spade making traditions that have been unchanged for 150 years.

‘Roy’ an animated kid going to school and growing up in Ballyfermot, Dublin returned to ABC Kids in November.

It looks and sounds Irish because of the real world setting and actors the animation is added too with the whole thing produced in Dublin. It seems to be one of those cartoons 54

that most kids will watch and enjoy.

A new season of Catastrophe also returned in November on ABC. If Roy is great fun for kids, then Catastrophe is fun meant for adults. Irish woman Sharon Horgan and her American husband Rob Delaney complement each other very well in this bawdy comedy about the life of a married couple.

SBS aired two episodes of a one-off show ‘Real Vikings’ on November 25. Vikings cast members Katheryn Winnick (Lagertha) and Alyssa Sutherland (Princess Aslaug) join leading experts in an investigation of the different roles women played within Norse society. A couple of weeks later December 6 Vikings itself returned to SBS with a double bill the start of season five. Made in Ireland Vikings continues to have bloodshed, drama and adventure and a swag of great characters played brilliantly by quality actors.

On November 25 the movie King Arthur had a fair amount of fighting and adventure itself with a smattering of Irish actors.

But perhaps the most interesting thing about the 2004 movie is that the film’s main set, a replica of a section of Hadrian’s Wall is the biggest film set ever constructed in Ireland. Measuring one kilometre in length and built in a field in Co.

Kildare it took 300 workers more than four months to build.

Given the investment that went into creating it a lot of scenes particularly the battles scenes in the final section are filmed with it featuring prominently.

In Back to the Future III Michael J Fox - aka Marty McFly - travels back in time to 1885 when he briefly meets his ancestors who emigrated from Ireland to start a new life in America.

P.S. I Love You is a 2007 romantic comedy that sees a lot of the plot and action take shot in different parts of Ireland and America. It has a good cast (Gerard Butler as the Irish husband of Hilary Swank as well as Lisa Kudrow and Harry Connick Jr. The film is based on the 2004 book by Cecelia Ahern.

Over November and December My Big Fat Gypsy Weddings was on GO and provided a real insight into the world and culture of travellers.

Shot mainly in the UK the series did feature a number of Irish families and for one wedding even went to Rathkeale, in West Limerick.

Jimeoin had Yee Hah - one of his stand-up shows - shown on ABC on November 29. The Northern Ireland born comic seems to have a good following across Australia. On the same night a young chap from Perth, WA, was one of the audience members who sat in the Big Red Chair to tell a story. This chap got the flick for his feeble fable.

Star Wars Movie The Force Awakens was on Aussie screens on December 1.

Watching it again I couldn’t help think how when a hooded Luke Skywalker turns up at the end (on the Skelling Islands) how remarkably like a St. Patrick figure he looked.

Kids programme Baby Jake returned in December and for anyone with very young children this Irish made programme is good at holding their attention through its use of animation and song. Another returned cartoon, The Skinner Boys is a for older children and again is made in Ireland.

On the food channel Follow Donal to Europe pops up on a regular basis.

Dublin born Skehan has had more success with food than music as he was a member of the boy band Streetwize.

GEM promoted the start of a new Irish crime drama Jack Taylor which started on December 10. I was genuinely looking forward to seeing something new out of Ireland and was pleased to see in the first episode that the whole thing is shot in and around Galway, with real names

used for everywhere (example the G Hotel/Roisin Dubh pub). But it quickly became apparent that the story of a former Gardai working on the edge of the law wasn’t brilliant. In fact, the best reason to watch it was to see glimpses of Salt Hill, Claddagh or Galway town centre, but that will only carry it so far. Not sure this show will last long if even Irish people living abroad aren’t prepared to support it. Later that night over on 7 Flix Michael Fassbender plays the lead role in the action film Centurion and he even gets to speak a bit of Irish in it.

Dara O’Briain’s Crowd Tickler got an outing on ABC on December 17 as did a Christmas special Mrs Brown’s Boys on the same night, over on Seven.

Meanwhile, if you have Foxtel look out for another Irish funnyman, Ardal O’Hanlon, who will be starting his TV tour of Ireland on January 31.

Musical Entertainer / Teacher

David MacConnell

0413 259 547 0doublexx7@gmail.com www.maccdouble.com 55

Why Irish-American History?

by George Thomas McLaughlin

So, why Irish-American history?

We often focus on our ability to see a clear path ahead of us—socially, politically, spiritually. But history is important, because we cannot clearly see the path behind us.

Sometimes, the best way forward is to go back. Maybe we do not want to see what is too painful, too enlightening, too demeaning, or too confusing. Maybe the past is crowded with the unknown-- those innately or marginally connected to us whom we sense are trying to tell us something. Yes, maybe the dead are following us!

And so it is with this writer from Brooklyn, New York, who lives in Providence, Rhode Island with roots in Donegal, Westmeath and Longford. He is being followed by the dead, too! Years ago, with a small group of avid immigrant high school students, Irish-American activists and community historians, I began looking back at some of those dead, trying to make out their faces, their lives. After an activist told me, “There’s a Fenian buried near you. You might want to find out more about him,” I learned his name was James McNally Wilson, buried in St Mary’s in Pawtucket.

Wilson began to “follow” me and I learned that he was buried with his wife, Lucy, in the same plot with Frank and Mary Byrne. Byrne was an aide to Charles Stewart Parnell and secretary of the Irish Home Rule League and the Irish National Land League. Eventually, he and his wife fled to America, after being suspected of revolutionary activity with the notorious “Invincibles.”

Thus began a journey for me which has lasted many years and will continue until the dead, like Wilson, who pursue me, let me rest.

THE FENIANS And who were the Fenians anyway?

What forces and events formed them? The Fenian organization, the Irish Republican

Fenian James McNally Wilson in his later years_with auxiliary Irish American Volunteers

Brotherhood, headed by James Stephens, was formed on St. Patrick’s Day, 1858 by exiled rebels who had taken part in yet another short-lived and unsuccessful rising in 1848, yet another effort towards Irish freedom in response to An Gorta Mor , the Irish Famine or the English Negligent Genocidal Loss, depending on who interprets it.

At least one million died and 1.5 million immigrated. There was no doubt how the Fenians interpreted it.

Stephens’ comrade, John O’Mahony, went to America and set up the apparatus for money and arms to support the IRB in Ireland.

During and after yet another failed rebellion in 1866 —and another betrayal—The Catalpa Six, all military Fenians who had served in the British Army, were sentenced to death for treason, a sentence later commuted to penal servitude for life—what some have called a “a fate worse than death”— in the Crown’s prison in Fremantle, Western Australia.

TO THE END OF THE EARTH 19th century Western Australia 56

could be called the moon of that time. The prison had the bush on one side and the ocean on the other. The prisoners aged quickly. Eventually, the prisoners found a friend in Catholic priest Patrick McCabe of Gowna, County Cavan. He smuggled a series of letters to comrades in America. The most famous, called “Voice from the Tomb” was written

by Wilson. Wilson feared that he and the other military Fenians would perish in this no man’s land. The Fenians in America, like John Boyle O’Reilly—who was in Boston, having escaped Fremantle earlier with the crucial assistance of Father Patrick McCabe—were deeply moved by Wilson’s pleas and set about investigating a possible rescue.

THE PLEA IS ANSWERED Afterwards, Fenians in America—notably John Devoy and Clan na Gael—raised money, organized Fenian volunteers to

Fr Patrick McCabe

coordinate the escape, purchased the whaling vessel the Catalpa in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and convinced Captain George Anthony to oversee the voyage and organize a crew.

Celtic cross over his grave there.

We learned that the stained glass window dedicated to Fr. McCabe’s memory was saved when the

Fr Patrick McCabe's grave

THE CATALPA RESCUE After a series of mishaps and misconnections, but with the help of scores of secret Fenian helpers, and, yet again, Fr. Patrick McCabe, the rescue took place on April 18, 1876. Although an attempt was made by the British authorities to commandeer the Catalpa, Captain Anthony warned they would be firing on the American nation if attacked. The warning worked, and the rescue was successful.

THE NEW WORLD Months later, after a harrowing voyage, the Catalpa arrived in New York, and then New Bedford. The Catalpa Six distributed themselves, via other Fenians and sympathizers, to locations in their new world.

None would ever return to Ireland.

But what had become of these men in their new home, the land of freedom, but still a foreign land?

THE SECRET HERO And what of Fr. Patrick McCabe?

Shortly after the Catalpa escape, Father McCabe made arrangements to flee Australia. There is no mention of his whereabouts until he reappears in Minnesota, coincidentally my wife’s place of birth, and is granted a position as a rural parish priest by Bishop John Ireland from Kilkenny. Father McCabe eventually became pastor of Saint Mary’s Church in Waseca County, Minnesota, a mainly Irish mission church. We found a great

Unmarked Graves Fenians Robert Cranston and Thomas Darragh

church was razed and later installed nearby in Sacred Heart Church— coincidentally, the church that my wife, Annie, attended growing up!

Grave marker installed by the Fenian Memorial Committee in Chicago for Fenian Martin Hogan

The impact of the Fenians and other exiles in America on the development of a new identity, the Irish American, was profound and that influence did not stop at the sea; it leapt across it, helping to form and invigorate the 1916 resistance and beyond, to this day.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS Now, what of the unfinished business? Two members of the Catalpa Six, Robert Cranston and Thomas Darragh (the only Protestant member) are buried without grave markers in Philadelphia; Fr. Patrick McCabe, who also spent his life in silent exile in the wilds of Minnesota, has no marker that specifically 57

memorializes his brave role in the escape of Fenians to the land of freedom halfway ‘round the world.

Some say, “Don’t look back,” but I say, “Look back, and you will see yourself walking with the Fenians.”

As we uncover the hidden tombs and stories of Irish America and its deep roots in the march towards an unshackled nation, let us remember that coincidence in research might just be someone behind us, calling.

George McLaughlin at unveiling of Martin Hogan grave marker

Listen to them. They are the ancestors of our somewhat odd, vibrant, passionate people who refuse to go away, Irish-Americans.

George Thomas McLaughlin B.A., Queens College M.A., Rhode Island College P.D., Fordham University “Nothing conquers but truth.” - St. Augustine

ULSTER

Rambles

with David

I do hope 2017 was a successful year for you with many happy memories. But let’s not dwell in a past we cannot alter. Instead, let us live the present and plan for the future. OK. I have been attending some mindfulness classes recently and very useful they are, helping

one to strive to live positively in this modern world. A friend of mine advised me recently not to view or listen to the news. “Far too depressing”, was his comment, “and this leads to various reactions in the body which make the listener even more depressed.”

I lived in Spain for four years at the time the “North” was going through a bad time. My Spanish was very average (amongst other jobs I taught English for some of this time and we were forbidden to speak any Spanish!) and even if I had a television, (I didn’t) I could not have understood much about what was going on. It was one of the happiest times of my life and I put it down to living for the moment and not worrying about what was happening in the world.

Now (for something completely different) I agree that there is a lot of confusion regarding Ulster and Northern Ireland. Even those that should know (newscasters, for example) often mistakenly refer to something

58

which happened in Northern Ireland as having happened in Ulster. I suppose it is not incorrect geographically, but misleading, nonetheless.

Just to inform younger Australians, Ulster is one of four provinces of Ireland though I am assured that there once was five; the fifth province, Meath was incorporated into Leinster and Ulster. The provinces of Ireland serve no administrative or political purposes, but function as historical and cultural entities. Ulster lies to the North of the island. The remaining 3 provinces are Leinster to the east, Munster to the south and Connacht to the west. Ulster is comprised of 9 counties (Londonderry(Derry), Antrim, Down, Tyrone, Armagh, Fermanagh, Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal. Northern Ireland was created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which existed from 22 June 1921 to 30 March 1972, when it was suspended. It was subsequently abolished under the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973. In 1921the 6 counties of Northern Ireland were partitioned (separated politically from the other 26 counties of Ireland). The 6 of Northern Ireland are: Londonderry, Antrim, Down, Armagh, Tyrone and Fermanagh. Some people refer to Londonderry as Derry for political reasons which I won’t go into here. Ireland is now made up of two separate countries: 1) The Republic of Ireland and 2) Northern Ireland. Most people whether in Northern Ireland or The Republic of Ireland refer to themselves as Irish, though some people in Northern Ireland refer to themselves as British. To complicate things further, the roots/history of some organizations goes back to before partition and has Ulster in their name. The parliament of Northern Ireland is based in Stormont and the parliament of The Republic of Ireland (or Irish Republic) is based in Dublin. Not

easy to understand all this I know so let me try a more humorous version.

Ireland is an island to the west of Britain, but Northern Ireland is just off the mainland – not the Irish mainland, the British mainland. The capital of Ireland is Dublin. It has a population of approximately four and a half million people half of whom will be shopping in Newry or Derry (or Londonderry if you prefer) this afternoon.

The Southerners travel up to Newry and Derry because many retail items are a lot cheaper since Brexit and I do

mean a lot. Also, it is in the North, which is not part of Ireland.

Under the Irish constitution, the North used to be independent… but a successful 30-year campaign of violence for Irish unity which has ensured that it is now definitely in the UK. Had the campaign lasted longer, the North might now be in the Isle of Man or is it now the Isle of Person! (Never really caught up with that political correctness (whatever that is!)

Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland.It was the place where the Titanic was built. Yes that was the unsinkable ship that sunk before she had completed her maiden voyage.

Northern Ireland has a population of around two million, half of whom have houses in Donegal. Donegal is in the north but not in the North.

It is in the South. No, not the south, the South. If you ever visit the North you might like to go and visit the Giant’s Causeway. You cannot miss it – the final bus stop is near it. Close by is the ‘Game of Thrones’ where you can experience the seven kingdoms or so I am told.

There are two parliaments in Ireland. The Dublin parliament is called the Dáil, an Irish word meaning a place where banks receive taxpayers’ money. The currency is called Euros and may work in some phone boxes near Knock.... a sort of a spiritual place near an airport. The parliament in Belfast is called Stormont, an Anglo-Saxon word meaning placebo, or deliberately ineffective drug (it does not function at present!).

The currency is called Sterling after someone who migrated to Australia and found a range.

This currency will not work in any phone box due in part to there being no phones in the kiosks!

A few years ago their respective jurisdictions were defined by the border, an imaginary line on the map to show farmers how to make money by constantly walking their cows to and fro across it.

After the peace agreement, it became a soft border just like the butter. Now no one knows where it is supposed to be. This may prove to be problematic as I have been well informed that at some time in the near future, it will again be implemented. You might well be able to buy a Guinness in the south, pay in euros and drink it in the north but in the same bar! Que? Well think about it.

Protestants were generally in favour of the border which generated millions of pounds/euros in smuggling for Catholics, who were generally opposed to it.

Travel between the two states is complicated because Ireland is the only country in the world with two M1 motorways. The one in the North goes west to Dungannon where few people want to go. The one in the South goes north to speed up the trip to Newry. I do hope that explains things.

I wrote this little song about Christmas and the New Year.

It’s that time of year we call Christmas A really good time of the year When family and friends get together To eat and to drink with good cheer

It’s a time for us all to reflect then On the year that has rushed by again For some it’s a year of good memories…

For others a year to forget. Amen But whatever the future might bring us It’s great to have friends like you all We’ll go through this life all together We’ll try to help whenever you call

Cos there’s one thing we all have in common I’ll let you work out that for yourself In the meantime I wish you a merry Christmas For the future I wish you all good health

Happy New Yera and may your God go with you!

David MacConnell

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59

etable garden was a necessity. The wages were generally low and it helped the household budget along enormously. If the family provider happened to lose their job, at least the family could continue to eat in the interim. These gardens have rapidly disappeared over time as people became more affluent, had less time on their hands, and as the large stores and supermarkets started to spread their commercial web across the landscape.

Well done to the people in the house at the fingerpost who are continuing with this tradition and hope you will keep it up for many years to come. If we could have the benefit of the crystal ball to visualise Douglas in 2037, we would possibly see a proliferation of high rise apartment blocks and offices, with the smaller dwellings on Tramway Terrace and Douglas West sucked into the vacuum of progress. Change is advancing towards us at a rapidly accelerating pace, and we will be lucky to cling on to any semblance of life in other and simpler days. We tend not to see the changes from day to day and no one notices the customs of the past slipping away.

Time Passage

by Bill Daly

One morning, as I attempted the dreaded school run, I was stuck in the usual traffic chaos at the bottom of Maryborough Hill. As the cars whizzed by from all directions I started to notice the local skyline punctuated

by Douglas Court, the Watergold Building, Mc Donald’s and various apartment blocks all around. I reflected that the suburb of Douglas in Cork is quickly crystallizing out of its suburban shell to take on the spreading wings of an urban city. The drivers seemed tense at that time of the day and many had that ‘hunted look’ as they thought of confronting their employees and peers at the morning meeting and also what might be in the E-Mails received from the corporate overlords across the pond.

Amongst all of this modern turmoil, there is a house at the fingerpost roundabout with a stone wall that leads on to Tramway Terrace. Inside this stone wall, there is a vision of Ireland’s past, a small vegetable garden with rural characteristics nestled in an urban landscape, almost defying time. I noticed it earlier in the summer when the potatoes were shooting above the ground and there were cabbages, onions, carrots and lettuces in abundance also. These gardens are a rare sight in urban landscapes these days and they have started to tail off in the countryside also in recent decades. These have, in most cases, been replaced by decking and BBQ areas.

They are part of another era and conjure up images of, rising to the potato drills, the big barrel of bluestone mix to prevent the blight, which was replaced by the yellowish looking dithane in the latter years. Shaking the spuds out of the stalks and digging a trench in the ground, this was covered over with straw and clay to ward off the severe winter frosts.

In days gone by, especially in country areas, the veg-

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.

Vegetable John Day in, day out, bending o'er the cabbages, Bending o'er the long rows of potatoes and beans.

Stolidly, in endless toil, stooping to the fruitful soil Of many a pleasant river flat, by many a sylvan scene; Toiling in the blazing sun, bleak wind or rainstorm, Week in, week out, the work went on; Never toiled more tirelessly humble men by land or sea"Muchee diggum, plenty glow," said vegetable John.

From the crazy shanty there, squalid and mysterious Harboring, tradition said, a hoarded golden store Built awry of old tins bush boughs and timber ends, Rusty iron, straw-thatch, with sacking for a door Came six blue-clad blank-faced men.

There to toil from dawn-light till day be gone; Watering and barrowlng. weeding, hoeing harrowing— "Allee sam' my cousin, him," smiled Vegetable John.

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Join LUB THE C

Best Wishes from The Irish Club On behalf of the Committee and Staff of The Irish Club I wish you, your family and friends the very best for the coming year. This time of year is a time of joy and happiness but can also be a time of homesickness and sadness. I encourage you to reach out to those who may be alone at this time and offer a friendly ear or a cup of tea.

The club will have different opening hours from Christmas Eve until the end of January so please see our notice below.

Our office will remain closed in January so please leave a voicemail, drop us an email or call me on 0412 236 498 should you require any information on the Club.

Take Care and God Bless.

Best regards, Tom Quinn, President

The Irish Club is a members only club, and we welcome new members. Application forms can be downloaded from the website.

New Year Opening Hours

For the month of January, we will only open Thursday to Sunday and will resume normal trading in February.

We will re-open at 4pm on 25th Jan 2018.

REGULAR EVENTS at the club Game of 25, Comhaltas, Irish Theatre Players Plays, Irish Choir, Irish Language and Dance Classes, Markets and much more.

Contact us to find out more – 9381 5213.

61 Townshend Rd, Subiaco Western Australia 6008 Phone: 9381 5213 • irish1@iinet.net.au • ww.irishclubofwa.com.au

Pie & Pint Night Every Thursday

The Irish Club EVERY MONDAY A GREAT PLACE Trad Music & Irish Classes FOR A PARTY COMHALTAS

Functions & Fundraisers Contact Club:

Tel: 93815213

Irish1@irishclubofwa.com.au

Music Lessons Set Dancing 8pm followed by the Seisiun Irish Language Classes 7pm

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IRISH CLUB SENIORS

SENIORS’ LUNCH

FREE TEA & COFFEE

available upstairs every night

Ist Friday of the Month. $15 per person Bar open from 12.30pm.

Lunch at 1pm.

Bookings 9381 5213

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. Western Australia’s Irish dance year closed out with the exciting news of four new Irish dance teachers.

AIDA WA congratulates Megan Cousins, Avril Grealish, Melissa Kennedy and Dhana Pitman on their recent qualification as Teagascóirs Choimisiúin le Rinci Gaelacha (TCRGs) in December. The State’s newest TCRGs successfully passed the exam set by An Coimisium le Rinci Gaelacha (the World Irish Dancing Commission).

November saw WA dancers participating in Grade Examinations. 336 grades were completed, including three senior dancers who passed their final Grade 12 diploma. Congratulations to Dakota Courtney, Stephanie Howard and Justine Callaghan who are now eligible to sit the TCRG exam.

Following the Australian National Championships in October, Keady Upton dancers Sahara Donelan (Under 7), Layla Barnes (Under 10) and Sinead Daly (Under 13) headed overseas to compete in championships in the United Kingdom.

Great Britain Championships

Grade exams - Grade 12 candidates

Congratulations to Sahara who was 20th at the Great Britain Championships and 9th at the All Scotland Championships, and Sinead who placed 8th and 12th.

Local WA competitions begin again in March. We look forward to another fabulous year of Irish dancing in Western Australia.

For more information and updates on Irish dancing in WA head to our Facebook page: www.facebook. com/AIDAWesternAustralia

Grade exams - Celtic Academy

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) 62

SUPPORT IN THE WA G

IRISH COMMUMITY

Grade exams - Keady Upton

Grade exams - O'Brien

Grade exams - WA Academy

Grade exams - Trinity Seniors 6363

SENIORS' CHRISTMAS LUNCH

Such a fantastic end to a very busy year for our Seniors Project. A very enjoyable day had by all. Special thanks to the Mighty Quinn for a delicious 3 course Christmas dinner and the generous donation of a bottle of Jameson and wine for our raffle and McLoughlin Butchers and Hetty’s Kitchen, for their ongoing support and generosity. Thanks to Fred Rea and Joe Carroll for the entertainment and of course, our Seniors who make their way each event.

We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year. We look forward to seeing you all at our 2018 Senior’s events, which include the following: 15th January – Morning Tea / Information Day / Mighty Quinn 12th February - Sausage Sizzle at Trigg Beach 12th March – St Patrick’s Day Party at the Mighty Quinn 9th April - Picnic at Moore River The Claddagh Seniors Committee

THANK YOU TO MARIE MOLONEY FOR HER FOLLOWING LOVELY REPORT ON OUR CHRISTMAS LUNCH.

Claddagh Seniors Christmas Lunch 2017 On Monday the 11th December, Ninety Eight Claddagh Seniors gathered at The Mighty Quinn Tavern for the annual Christmas lunch. The ambience in the room was tangible at this obviously popular event.

Conversation, laughter and happy smiles abounded at each table.

Fred Rea and Joe Carroll entertained with their usual enthusiasm. A singalong of Irish songs preceded a delicious lunch which was served by Mighty Quinn staff.

There were some wonderful door prizes won, also games of heads and tails winners were rewarded with bottles of wine. Eight Claddagh Crisis support: volunteers and Mighty Quinn Staff worked non0403 972 265 stop to ensure the comfort of all present. Thank you, Claddagh, The Mighty Quinn, and Fred Rea. Everyone involved in organising these events are dedicated to honouring the older people in the Australian Irish community here in Perth.

Huge thanks again to Nathan Slane, brother Marc and girlfriend Amii who presented Claddagh Association with an amazing $3.500 cheque, after completing Spartan Race in cruel 30 degree heat!!

John and Marie, parents of Nathan and Mark Slane visiting from Ireland met the newly elected Claddagh Committee.

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WEEKLY SESSION

Seán Doherty Branch

Dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Irish traditional music and dancing world wide.

Page Sponsored by: Reid’s Bootmakers

EVERY MONDAY AT 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.

Christmas Wind-Up

Comhaltas had the Christmas windup at the Irish Club on Monday 11 December 2017. It was a lovely night with about 30 musicians and a few dancers.

Sean Doherty and the other music, dancing and Gaelic language teachers were given presents as a token of appreciation for the time and dedication they spent on all members throughout the year.

Summer Break

Comhaltas will resume on Monday 5th February at The Irish Club of WA from 7pm for lessons and sessions.

Bickley Music Camp

The music camp will be booked at Bickley Outdoor Recreation camp in May 2018 (date to be confirmed) other events throughout 2018 also to be confirmed.

Riverton RSL Session

The RSL session starting from January 2018 is going to be on the second Sunday of each month on High Road in Riverton from 3-5pm.

Kind regards Dympna Finch

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

65

For Fiona the encounter was a real treat and a tipping of the cap from a forty year veteran muso of the recording business. Fiona said, “He was so kind and complimentary of our music and I even got a kiss!”

Travers was born in Birmingham in 1959 and became famous for the bands take on reggae but he also claims some Irishness as the Dubai newspaper – Khalee Times – discovered. “The Irish will talk to anybody,” he told the journalist. “We’ll talk till the cows come home.”

And he does.

“As a kid, he says if you could draw a dinosaur better than anybody else, you got an opportunity to go to this wonderful school in central Birmingham in England Mosely Road School of Arts. And that is where all the boys who would eventually become the band, first met.

The area they lived in was multicultural - there were Indians, Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, Irish and Jamaicans.

The music they listened to was reggae.

He shares stories: “My grandfather, a Dublin man,

Fred Rea, Jon Edwards, Fiona Rea, Lilly Rea and Brian Travers

A great song is like a fine wine –

UNFORGETTABLE

By Lloyd Gorman

Live music can be full of surprises - normally for audiences - but occasionally the performer gets something unexpected as well from the occasion. Fiona Rea has performed dozens of gigs in Australia and Ireland and is a regular fixture on the live music scene in Perth. Even still for this veteran singer songwriter a Sunday afternoon gig in Durty Nelly’s turned out to be something special.

About half way through her set Fiona was asked to sing and play a UB40 song. She obliged the request with a rendition of one of the UK reggae band’s biggest hits from 1983 ‘Red Red Wine’.

Almost as soon as Fiona broke into the tune there was a flurry of activity that she wasn’t aware of, outside the bar. A face looked in to see where the singing was coming from, and then some other people looked in as well. They appeared to show a special interest in the song but at first it wasn’t apparent why. The reason for their curiosity soon became clearer. The man who first peeped in to the opening strains of ‘Red Red Wine’ fixed on Fiona’s father, Fred who was sitting in the back, listening to the show. Having established who Fred was fairly quickly the man’s identity and connection to the music became apparent.

He was Brian Travers, one of the first members of UB40 in 1978 and a long-term stalwart of the group until its demise in 2008. The electrical apprentice turned saxophonist was a part of their meteoric rise to fame in the 1980’s and that legacy has stayed with him – and the other members ever since.

Brian was very impressed by what he heard and was keen to meet Fiona and have a chat. He also gave her tickets for his show the following night in the Capitol and even lauded her from the stage on the night of the gig. The November show was Travers second local one of 2017, he had also played the Fremantle Arts Centre in January as part of another tour.

Brian Travers on saxophone with UB40 Credit: Richard Gray/EMPICS Entertainment

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joined the English army in the second World War. He went to India. He gave me what he called his bulletproof vest.” It is a little turquoise Ganesh (Hindu God of good beginnings) on a heavy metal chain that he wears around his neck. His grandfather told him he never had to shoot anybody, and nobody shot him. Travers says he himself is a scientific man, not really religious, but he loves the gift from his grandfather: “This little fella - he looks after me everywhere I go.”

“Travers once went to the Gangotri, the source of the river Ganga, a tough trek to 14,640 feet. “I walked up there; Man, that was tough,” he says rolling his eyes and blowing a raspberry. Some big guys had to be rescued and brought down on ponies. “I’m only a li’l fella so it was easier. Man, it was cold,” the Khalee Times reported.

“Apart from walking across raging rivers, and drinking the pure water at the source of the river, which India experience stands out? “Around the Ghats, in Rishikesh, next to the river Ganges, these young monks were singing of a night, and they waved me in to join them.” That’s where he played the tambourine with them, he says, setting up an acapella beat right where we are seated. He says his wife often tells him that he must have been an Indian in his last birth. ‘You couldn’t have been a good one,’ she says, ‘You came back as an Irishman!’”.

Unaccompanied baggage

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Backpackers • Tourists • Windsurfers •Surfboards

On 23rd December 2017 the lives of Charlie McCarthy's beloved family were changed forever with his untimely passing. The Charlie McCarthy Family Trust has been created to raise financial aid for Charlies wife Nicole and two young children Clara & Niall.

Charlie was one-of-a-kind. His big smile and quick laugh lit up every room. A fun dad, he was as adored by his children as he adored them. He gave his love so easily and welcomed everyone into his world. A wonderful husband, an incredible father, and the most loyal friend you could ask for. He is irreplaceable and will be forever missed.

Any donations no matter how small would be greatly appreciated to help cover any unexpected expenses that occur at this sad time for the family.

All unused monies will be used to set up a family trust for Charlies two children Clara & Niall to help secure their future.

The Claddagh Association Inc. here in Perth have provided fantastic help and guidance and will be assisting us with the administration process.

Thank you all so much for your kindness and support, Charlies friends x

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A Dangerous Fenian

The Mount Lawley Underpass would seem an unlikely place for a Fenian story, but the origins of this spot are steeped in Fenian folklore. A history and information brochure published by the City of Vincent about the bailiwick has some detail about how the early city of Perth and neighbouring Vincent developed in the early days. “The government’s resumption of land for the construction of the Fremantle to Guildford railway in 1881 cut a wide swathe through Swan Location but

By Lloyd Gorman/Fred Rea

erected.”

A trawl through old newspapers by Fred Rea - using Trove - reveals just how precarious the spot was.

One newspaper article with the headline Railway Regulations, Crossing and Cutting A Heavy Fine recounted the story of how a train had to brake hard to avoid a collision.

“At the City Police Court- this morning, James Kenny was proceeded against at the instance of the officers of the Railway Department, for having driven a mob of cows across the railway line on the Fenian crossing between East Perth and Bayswater, when a train was at the time approaching within a quarter of a mile. Mr Sayer prosecuted, and Mr. Browne defended. The evidence adduced was to the effect that while a train,’ which was approaching from Guildford, came out of a cutting 14 chains from the Fenian crossing, the defendant at the same time was driving 23 dairy cows within about 50 yards of the crossing. The engine-driver applied the brakes, and kept up a continuous whistle, averting an

Tony and Veronica McKee PO Box 994 Hillarys WA 6923

the opening of the East Perth Railway Station provided access to cheap transport,” The council’s introductory brochure states. “The section where tracks crossed Guildford Road became known as ‘Fenian’s Crossing’ because a group of Fenian convicts had built that section of road. Unfortunately, it proved to be very dangerous for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic and it was the scene of several serious accidents before the Mount Lawley Subway was

info@mckeefamilyfunerals.com.au www.mckeefamilyfunerals.com.au

Tel (08) 9401 1900 • Fax: 9401 1911 • Mob: 0413 337 785 68

accident only by promptly pulling up the train. It was alleged that the defendant disregarded the warning, and instead of endeavouring to turn his cattle back, he persisted in attempting to cross in front of the train, the defendant had time to stop the cattle.

The defendant contended that when he first heard the whistle he had not time, to head his cattle, and drive them back. The magistrate considered that an offence had been committed, and imposed a fine of £5. He ordered the defendant to pay to the Government the costs of four of the railway officials who gave evidence. The safety of the travelling public must be protected.”

In another case a Mr T. Hodgine of the Royal Hotel was charged for breaching the railway regulations when he drove his car across the railway crossing while a train was approaching it, about a quarter of a mile off. “The case arose out of an accident which occurred at the Fenian Crossing, between East Perth and Bayswater, on the first of the month, when a passenger train collided with a buggy that was being driven by the defendant across the railway line,” the newspaper article states. “The back of the vehicle was smashed, and the driver thrown out.

The offence consisted in the defendant having endeavoured to get across in front of the train at all risks, instead of waiting until it had passed. The Bench pointed out that the safety of not only the defendant but also of the passengers was endangered, and imposed a fine of £1, with costs. The defendant, Mr. Roe added, deserved to be fined £5, the penalty fixed in a recent case against a dairyman, but he was reluctant to make the amount beyond the defendant’s means to pay.”

But there was at least one other incident reported by the local press in which a person was killed at the spot. An article with the headline “Cut to pieces by a train - a crossing keeper’s duties’ - covered the outcome of an inquest into a fatality near Fenian’s Crossing on the Perth

to Bayswater line. The article - which has another Irish connection - also reveals quite how dangerous the crossing was.

“The deceased’s identity [Andrew Higgie] was established by Mr. Alexander McDonald, who had known Higgie for between eight and nine months,” the paper reported. “The poor fellow had been in the employ of Mephan Ferguson and Co. for some time past, was about 50 years of age and appeared to Mr. McDonald to be in full possession of his hearing and seeing senses. When the two men parted prior to the accident Higgie seemed to be quite sober. J. Cassidy, an Irishman, as the name implies, was the keeper of the crossing near which the fatality took place, but his evidence bore more upon his duties and responsibilities than upon the manner in which Higgie met his end. He had to work 12 hours a day, he told the jury, for which he received payment at the rate eight pence an hour. His business he considered, was to look after the crossing and the crossing only, and never having received any authority to prevent people from passing up the line, he did not think it was his duty to interfere in that direction. “Who knows,” he said warmly, “but what if I tried to prevent anyone from going up that line I might get knocked down.” Dr Lovegrove: “Oh, then you are frightened?” Witness: “Yes, your

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69

worship.” (Laughter). He was subjected to a severe examination by Inspector Campbell, in the course of which he pleaded absolute ignorance of that fact that anyone trespassing on the railway line was liable to a penalty. “ So long as my crossing is right I am all right,” he told the railway officer. “If I saw anybody in danger I would go to his assistance, but without authority I will not stop any man from going on to the line. I have never received any instruction to do so. “This seemed to stagger Inspector Campbell, and the matter was allowed to drop.

J. T. Blackmore, the driver of the engine running between Perth and Guildford on the night of the accident, stated that near Fenians Crossing he received the signal that all was clear, and acknowledged it by blowing the whistle. About 100 yards away from the crossing, when the train was travelling at the rate of between 25 and 30 miles an hour, his attention was arrested by a quantity of gravel being flung up against the sides of the engine. He knew at once that something was wrong, and bringing the train to a standstill alighted, to find that a man had been cut to pieces. He did not see anything on the track before the accident.

There was a headlight on the engine, the power of which fluctuated with the oscillation of the engine. His description of the appearance of the remains as they were found was too gruesome for repetition. The jury returned tho following verdict: “The deceased came to his death by being run over by a train, and there is no evidence to show how it occurred”.

A rider was added to the following effect: “Notice boards should be erected and instructions should be given to all railway employees to prevent people from trespassing on the railway line,” the article concluded.

There is no doubt that the now Mt Lawley underpass has Irish connections and in this time of celebration of the local Fenian story in Western Australia some kind of recognition - such as a plaque or piece of public art - would be a fitting way to lionize that connection!

rish Recipes from Marguerite's

Raspberry Chocolate Torte

Ingredients: 125g raspberries 200g butter 250g chocolate drops (70% cocoa solids) 6 eggs 1 tsp vanilla 200g caster sugar 85g plain flour 90g ground almonds Cocoa powder, to dust 300g raspberries, to decorate Whipped Cream, for serving 1. Brush a 23cm spring form tin with melted butter and line the base with parchment. Wrap a piece of foil around the outside of the tin and place in a roasting pan.

2. Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan 160°C 3. Randomly place the raspberries on the base of the spring form tin.

4. Place the butter and chocolate in a ceramic bowl over a pot of simmering water and leave to melt. In the meantime, whisk the eggs and vanilla with an electric mixer and add the sugar, a tablespoonful at a time, until the volume is ¾ or more up the bowl.

5. Fold the slightly cooled melted butter and chocolate into the eggs.

6. Add the flour and ground almonds and gently fold together until all the chocolate is mixed.

7. Pour into the prepared tin. Place the roasting pan with the filled tin into a preheated oven. Pour sufficient hot water into the pan to ¼ fill the pan.

8. Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes until the torte has a very gently “wobble” in the centre.

9. Transfer to a cooling rack and leave in the tin to cool.

10. To unmould, run a thin knife or spatula around the edge of the tin, unclip the tin and remove the collar of the tin.

11. Serve with whipped cream.

Marguerite O’ Dwyer Pantry Dolls 0415 723 380 www.facebook.com/pantrydolls/

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land of

&

honey

2018 Into the Woods…

As I am tapping away here it is fast approaching New Year. Have you all shaken hands underneath the Mistletoe for Christmas, because to do anything else in this strange time would be politically incorrect and Society would be scandalised.

In the name of all that is holy what is happening to us? Things are quite out of perspective. In my young days it was the spontaneous and unexpected hug that made it all quite exciting. It was innocent and funny and as it happened it was never the one you wanted to hug that you actually did!!

New Year’s always remind me of that wonderful Sondheim show

Ireland

“Into The Woods” Strange things happen in the woods. Things are not as they seem - there is a frission of excitement- Monsters appear and disappear- storms sweep across the landscape and people are lost. The important thing is they all carry on - some with less enthusiasm than others. In the chaos of the journey and the quest strange things happen to people, the cowardly find the strength to be bold and the vainglorious and arrogant are suddenly revealed as shallow and unreliable. Like all of Sondheim shows it is much, much more than it initially appears to be. In there is one song with a lesson we all have to learn for the year “Sometimes people leave you half-way through the Woods. That’s the sad truth, but it doesn’t stop one carrying on.

As I look at the leftovers of Christmas I am ridden with guiltwhat on earth was I thinking of?

An invading army could have been adequately fed. What happens to me when I see an attractive bargain is

quite unforgivable. Next year it will be different should I be around. I promise in January 2018 and pray that I will remember it in November 2018 Would that the world could to its senses and realise that war is an abomination and fruitless. Countries don’t need bombs and nuclear arms anymore they can knock each other out with a computer switch.

As a matter of fact, any teenager could show them how to black out a country without loss of life. Let’s light a candle this year and pray that The Trumps, The Putin’s and the little man from North Korea will be shown to be vainglorious and untrustworthy. Let us have the courage to fight, in any way we can, the tragedy that is Africa. Dear Lord, no more frightened children please.

So here we go “Into The Woods” with hope.

Beannachtai na hAit Bliana to gac aon daoine diobh.

Sally Desmond

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I dare say that we’ve all settled down after the excitement of the visit by President Michael D Higgins, especially those groups involved in organizing functions.

With preparations for Christmas and the New Year on most of our minds, we can look forward to another celebration of Irish Culture in Australia.

From January 5th - 14th, the Fenians Fremantle and Freedom Festival will be

Australian-Irish Heritage Association AIHA Poet Laureate and award-winning poet, Tony Curtis will be in attendance at an Irish Literature Workshop on Sunday 7th January 10 am to 4.30 pm at the Samson Building in Cliff Street Fremantle. Entry by donation.

Tony will also host a Poetry Workshop for writers on Thursday 11th January from 1pm to 4pm at the Samson Building, Cliff Street Fremantle. Cost $50 Australia Day- Friday 26th January 3pm (see advert below) The AIHA and Fred Rea will present a programme of music and poetry, at the Irish Club, Townsend Road Subiaco, following on from last year’s enjoyable get-together.

celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Hougoumont's arrival in Fremantle with 62 Irish Fenians on board. A plethora of activities has been organised to whet the appetite of all those thirsting.

Many local and international artists will be in attendance,

The Fourth Tuesday Book Club – 23rd January and 27th February as usual, 8pm.

Books for consideration are: - Nora Webster

by Colin Toibin and The Years of Wonders by Geraldine Brookes.

The Association congratulates Michael Manning on winning the Brendan Award. (see page 18 for award story) Joe O’Sullivan Writers Prize - Winner Guy Salvidge, WA (pictured below)

The Australian Irish Heritage Association presents

Australian/Irish Songs & Poetry Friday 26th January From 3pm at The Irish Club Townshend Road, Subiaco

with Fred Rea and Friends

covering music, art, Irish films, poetry and literature, historic exhibitions, walking tours and much more. Full details can be found on www.kidogo.com.au/ feniansfestival or Fiona phone Mariah 0401333309.

Joyce Parkes Writers Prize – Winner Gina Dawson SA Winning entries are on our Website and in the latest edition of The Journal

McLoughlin's Sausage Sizzle $5

Denis Bratton, President

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL DUE 1st January 2018 Family membership $65 Concession (Centrelink and unwaged students with ID) $55 Distant (200 kms from Perth) $45 Membership fee includes tax deductible donation of $20 Members enjoy discounted rates to dinners and functions, exclusive events, quarterly Journal, voting rights, and opportunities to participate in activities which promote an awareness of Australia’s Irish Heritage AIHA BOARD OF MANAGEMENT President: Denis Bratton Vice Presidents: Frank Murphy & John Sullivan Secretary: Tony Bray Treasurer/ Membership – Patricia Bratton Committee: Eleanor Nolan, Carmel Ryan, Heather Deighan, Patrick Gaffney

72 72

Martin Kavanagh Hon Consul of Ireland

WE HAVE M OV E D Our New Address 165/580 Hay Street, EAST PERTH WA 6004 Perth Office: 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

bhalcaisí beaga éadaigh.

Is é mí Feabhra an chéad mhí den earrach. Bhíodh agus tá tábhacht le tús mhí Feabhra sa traidisiún Críostaí agus sa traidisiún réamhChríostaí. Is é an 1 Feabhra lá fhéile Bríde. Rugadh Bríd Naofa i bhFochaird, Co. Lú sa bhliain 450 agus timpeall 470 bhunaigh sí mainistir agus clochar i gCill Dara. Timpeall ar an mainistir sin a d’fhás baile Chill Dara.

Déantar crosa Bríde fós in go leor áiteanna. As fióga nó tuí a dhéantar iad. Chrochtaí crosa Bríde sa teach agus, go minic, sa scioból nó sa mbuaile, le beannacht naomh Bríd a thabhairt ar mhuintir an tí agus ar na hainmhithe.

Tugadh Imbolc ar an bhféile Cheilteach a cheiliúrtaí timpeall an 2 Feabhra. Bhítí ag impí an tráth sin ar Bhríd eile, Bríd iníon an Daghda, a bhfuil trácht uirthi i Leabhar Gabhála Éireann. File ab ea í agus bandia tine agus bhíodh an nós ann tinte a lasadh ag impí uirthi fás maith a sholáthar san earrach.

Ba ghnáth le daoine trí lá saoire a cheiliúradh faoi fhéile Bríde mar a dhéantaí faoi Nolllaig – is iad sin lá fhéile Bríde an 1 Feabhra, lá fhéile Muire na gCoinneal an 2 Feabhra agus lá fhéile Caolainn an 3 Feabhra.

(Leabhar Laethanta, Donla uí Bhraonáin 2013)

EANÁIR AGUS FEABHRA Is é Eanáir an mhí dheiridh den gheimhreadh de réir fhéilire na hÉireann. Lá Caille a thugtar ar an gcéad lá den bhliain. Ón Laidin Calendae (an chéad lá den mhí) a thagann an focal ‘caille’. Thugtaí Lá na nIarsmaí air freisin, is é sin lá na mbronntanas athbhliana.

Tugtar Lá Nollag Beag ar an 1 Eanáir freisin i gcodanna den tír, san iarthar go háirithe, ach is coitianta Lá Nollag Beag chomh maith le Nollaig na mBan agus Lá Chinn an Dá Lá Dhéag ar an 6 Eanáir. Deirtí go ndéanadh na fir obair an tí lá Nollag na mBan agus go mbíodh deis ag mná dul ag cuartaíocht ar a muintir féin. Feictear go bhfuil an nós sin tagtha chun cinn arís.

Is iomaí rud a chreidtí a tharla Oíche Nollag Beag.

Chreidtí go ndéantaí fíon den uisce, airgead bán de chlocha na trá agus arán de chroí an iolair.

Is é oíche fhéile Bríde, an 31 Eanáir, an chéad fhéile mhór eile i mí Eanáir. Is é seo an lá deiridh den gheimhreadh agus an lá a ndéantaí ullmhúcháin d’fhéile mhór an earraigh. Bhíodh lucht na Brídeoige timpeall agus crosanna Bríde á ndéanamh. Théadh daoine ó theach go teach agus Brídeog leo, déanta suas de

Seanfhocal Scuab nua is fearr a scuabann an teach.

73

Bríd

HALLELUJAH by Jonathan Bardon

Reviews by JOHN HAGAN

GRACE by Paul Lynch

This is a Dickensian coming of age novel which follows the journey of Grace into the harsh, unforgiving world of gorta mor, the 1845 Irish Potato Famine. We first meet our 14 year old heroine as she is violently dragged, by her pregnant mother, to ‘the killing stump’, where she has her long hair hacked off, is dressed up as a boy and given a final hearty meal. Next morning, to save her from her lecherous stepfather, she is banished from her home and family and sent out into famine torn Ireland with the instruction she is to now make her own way. The confused and fearful Grace is soon joined by younger brother, Colly, who instructs her on aspects of manliness, including how to smoke a pipe. Eventually, Grace finds work including labouring on a road crew, and as a cattle drover, a job which plunges her into betrayal and murder. Tragically, Colly is swept away as the pair attempt to rescue a drowning sheep, but his voice from the grave continues to sustain Grace through the dangers she encounters. Eventually, Grace meets another wanderer, Bart, who becomes her protector, as the pair move from job to job, seemingly covering most of Ireland on foot.

This is Lynch’s third novel and undoubtly his best yet. In Grace, not only has he created a memorable heroine, he has sketched an insightful and sometimes horrific portrait of Ireland during the Great Hunger.

Exemplifying a disfunctional country, the author occasionally employs broken syntax, sometimes excises either, the subject, verb or noun from sentences (‘Hears when the woman speaks a knot twisting the cords in the throat’). A bleak tale indeed (think of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road), but there is much to admire in Lynch’s writing as he intertwines hallucinations, memory, myth and triumph with measured panache and aplomb.

GRACE is published by One World. $24.99

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The winter of 1739 ushered in one of the greatest tragedies in the history of modern Ireland. It was dubbed, bliadhain an air, or the ‘Year of the Slaughter’.

On 30 and 31 December 1739, ‘the most violent storm… for several generations’ hit the island, with bitter cold winds sweeping in from the Arctic. In January 1740, vast numbers of fish were found dead on the shores of Strangford Lough, while it was possible to walk across the frozen Lough Neagh, from Tyrone to Antrim. Ice, some 19 inches thick, covered the River Shannon. Huge numbers of cattle and sheep died in the extreme cold, potatoes rotted in the fields and tens of thousands of Irish people perished from hunger and fever. It was the coldest winter for two centuries resulting in a greater proportion of deaths in one twelve month period than the entire mortality arising from five years of the notorious potato famine of the 1840s.

In order to raise funds to alleviate the suffering, the governors of Dublin’s Mercer’s Hospital together with the city’s Charitable Infirmary and the Charitable Musical Society for the Release of Imprisoned Debtors, all combined to invite the greatest composer of the day, George Frederic Handel, to Dublin to conduct one of his musical compositions - The Messiah. It was in Dublin, on 13 April 1742 in the Fishamble Street Music Hall, that one of the world’s most popular pieces of classical music was first performed. In his book, Hallelujah, author Jonathan Bardon, recounts the story of the musical genius who wrote the music, and the city which brought his enduring masterpiece to life.

In this meticulously researched and highly entertaining narrative, Bardon lucidly describes the social and musical life of Dublin in the 1740s, adorned as it was by such characters as John Toland, Susannah Cribber, the Duke of Devonshire and Jonathan Swift, Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, who very nearly managed to derail the fledgling oratorio by blocking its initial performance. Bardon delightfully traces the life and work of the energetic Handel, and his increasingly strained relationship with collaborator, Charles Jennings, who was responsible for the libretto.

While The Messiah may have been a hit in Dublin, it was not until May 1750 that this masterpiece was fully appreciated on the other side of the Irish Sea in London.

This proved to be a pivotal moment for the sacred oratorio as it became inextricably associated with good works, moral improvement and religious devotion. For all those who love The Messiah, been at a performance, or may just have just listened to it, this book is a must.

HALLELUJAH, published by Gill, is available from the Book Depository, for $33.51 (free delivery).

was assisted by four specialist investigators), which contributes to the wealth of information uncovered about the ill fated expedition. But, in many respects, the outcome of research is like the proverbial dog chasing the car; what’s the pugnacious pooch going to do when it catches the vehicle? In FitzSimons’ case, I have the feeling that he has chosen to use every morsel of the research unearthed by his assistants – hence the length (and weight) of the book. Arguably, a more judicious culling and editing of quotes might have enhanced the pace of the narrative, without adversely affecting the compelling impact of the tale. Pity is, that FitzSimons failed to include more of Burke’s back story (desertion from the Austrian Army and time in London), and also that of the expedition’s only survivor, Ulsterman, John King (Quaker background and upbringing in Moy, County Tyrone). To do so might have shed greater light on their motivation and ability to cope in adverse conditions. Unlike many other historical narratives, this is a saga chronicled in the present tense and constructed in the form of a novel. At times, I found FitzSimons’ switching between events occurring on the same day, in differing locations, somewhat inhibiting to the flow of the story. Nevertheless, for those with an interest in Australian history, and exploration of the continent in particular, this publication is a veritable tour-de-force.

Burke & Wills is published by Hachette. $49.99

BURKE & WILLS by Peter FitzSimons

As something of a rugby buff, I first became acquainted with Peter FitzSimons through his sporting exploits. FitzSimons was a feisty, don’t-take-abackward- step, rugby lock-forward, who represented the Wallabies seven times during 1989-1990. Since then, he has become something of an Australian literary colossus, with novels including Kakoda, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli to his credit. He has now, at the behest of his brother, David, (‘there’s a book in this’) turned his attention to recounting the tale of Australia’s most famous explorers – Irishman, Robert O’Hara Burke and his assistant, William Wills.

Like FitzSimons’ three previous historical forays (above), his new publication is an extensive 700 page tome, weighing in at some 1.2kg.There is no doubt this is a meticulously researched volume (FitzSimons

I am living in Australia and I have property in Ireland. Can I make a will in Australia dealing with my Irish property?

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75

James Wilson

Martin Hogan

Michael Harrington

Thomas Darragh

Robert Cranston

Thomas Hassett

A teenager’s memory of the Catalpa escape

By Lloyd Gorman

On September 11th, 1937 the West Australian published an article with the headline ‘What a boy saw at Fremantle’. The story is based mainly around a letter penned by one ‘Bill’ Lynch from Geraldton who recounts in his own words his vivid and detailed memories of the events on the day when the six Fenian compatriots of JB O’Reilly were finally sprung from the Western Australia penal colony.

Mr Lynch’s first-hand account offers a fascinating insight into how the drama unfolded and even how he even crossed paths with the hunted men. He reminds us too that a ditty written about the Catalpa escape was banned by the authorities, with severe penalties caught singing it.

But the article also benefits from the contribution of another West Australian (An Alfred Douglas of South Perth) who shared incredible information about the planning and preparation that went into freeing the Fenians and even claims to have first-hand knowledge of the failed attempt of a previous rescue attempt.

Going down the street towards the beach we met four men in convict’s dress coming towards us. One I knew well to be Big Bob, the prison letter carrier. I spoke to him like I had done before, but he told me to go away.

I watched them go across some spare ground to the Rockingham Road corner, and then took no more notice of them.

“We went on to the beach but again I and another boy decided to go to the north jetty on the river where the paddle steamer, the Lady Stirling, was taking on passengers to go to Perth for the regatta and we tried to steal our passage but were hunted off twice. So, we watched the steamer going to Perth with a full load of passengers. I then decided to go to the long jetty fishing.

‘Coming at full Gallop’

‘What a boy saw at Fremantle’

From two old colonists we have received first-hand accounts of the sensational incidents of April 1876, when six Fenian prisoners escaped from Fremantle.

The prisoners were picked up by an American whaler, the Catalpa. The colonial steamer Georgette went out in pursuit and, after firing several warning shots, demanded that the convicts be surrendered, but the American being on the high seas, defied the challenger and sailed off in safety. The excitement caused in the colony is well described below.

Mr “Bill” Lynch, of Elizabeth street Geraldton, writes as follows: “I was 13 years old at the time and was living in the top barracks in Fremantle, my father being a military pensioner, and one who went on the Georgette to bring back the prisoners. Being a school holiday on Easter Monday morning, the boys of the barracks got together to see how we would spend the day. We decided to go bird-nesting out in the bush along Rockingham Road.

We got as far as the Government House on that road and after another ‘confab’ we decided to go swimming.

76

“I went along Cliff street, and when I got to High street I was a horse and rider coming down the street at a full gallop. The horse was frothing at the mouth and the rider had no coat on; his hat was tucked on his head and, with his red whiskers and his legs bare, he looked every inch a madman. He pulled up at the police station, not fifty yards from me, and dismounted.

“I stood there for a while and then I saw a mounted policeman and his black tracker go galloping towards the water police quarters, and when I got that far I saw the water police in a great excitement running about everywhere, and then launching their boat from the shed and sailing off towards Rockingham. Now with all the water police gone I as safe to go on the jetty fishing, because fishing on the long jetty was not allowed at this time. So, after catching a couple of dozen herring, I got home about one (I) o’clock; and it was then I got the news that those prisoners were making their escape.

All pensioners [pensioner guards] were ordered to be confined to barracks till further orders.

“At three o’clock that evening the water police boat came back from their chase and reported that they had sighted the runaways, and then the excitement started.

About 60 pensioners were called on for duty. They were all served out with 25 rounds of ball ammunition, and in marching order went to the jetty and embarked aboard the Georgette. The first casualty took place just

the gunner who fired the two shots at the Yankee ship.

He said that Mr Stone, who was Comptroller of the Fremantle Prison, called on the captain of the Catalpa to stop and to hand over the convicts he had on board his ship. The answer came back that he had no convicts on his ship, and his captain was on short. Stone replied: “Unless you stop I will sink your ship”. The man on board replied that his ship sailed under the American flag and he was on the high seas, and for any damage done to his boat they would be responsible to the United States Government. The gunner continued: So, I received orders to fire the first shot at her stern but not to hit her. She did not stop, and I was ordered to fire across her bows, but again not to hit her. This shot went close to her bows and at once the stars and stripes went up to the masthead, but she did not stop. Stone and Major Finnerty, now consulted and, having no orders to fight on the high seas, returned to Fremantle and abandoned the chase.”

before going aboard, when one of the old men collapsed and was sent back to hospital. Now there were two old cannon that had been in a yard at the end of the jetty for years, and these were run down the jetty and put aboard with some round shot a bit larger than a cricket ball. This was the ammunition for the cannon.

‘A song banned’

‘The Watching Women’

Mr Lynch also gives a fuller version of the song which was sung to celebrate the escape. He agrees with other correspondents that the ditty was banned by the Government, and it meant gaol for one to be singing it.

His version is:

“Late that night the Georgett got away. Now I will not try to describe the scene among the wives of those old pensioners who were away on war duty that night, except to say that, like my mother, none went to bed, and they were very pleased women next day when their husbands returned safe.

“On the night of the Georgett’s return I went with my father and I listened to the story of the encounter from

•

She was a Yankee whale ship and commander Called the Catalpa by name Came out to Western Australia And stole six of our convicts away

IRISH IRISH MUSIC MUSIC

So come all you screw warders and jailers Remember the Perth regatta day, Take care of the rest of your Fenians Or the Yanks they will take them away

SESSION

The Georgette well manned with bold warriors Went after this Yank to arrest But then she hoisted her star-spangled banner Saying “You better not board me I guess”

EVERY TUESDAY

7PM -11PM

For seven long years have they served you And seven or more would have stayed Fore defending their country, Ould Ireland If was for that they were banished away

PIE & PINT DEAL JUST $15

You kept them in Western Australia Till their hair began to turn grey When a Yank from the States of America Came out here and stole them away

Every Tuesday: Guinness $6 from 6pm

Now remember those six Fenians colonial And sing o’er these few verses with skill And remember the Yankee that stole themselves And the home that they left on the hill.

Woodbridge Hotel

50 EAST STREET GUILDFORD

9377 1199

77

For now, there in the States of America When all will be able to cry “We will hoist the green flag with the shamrock” Saying “Hurrah, for Ould Ireland we die”.

Mr Lynch also refers to another song which suggested that certain warders had a hand in the escape and refers to “Fenian gold”.

‘Hatching the plot’

Mr Alfred Douglas, of South Perth, giving his version of the affair, refers to the fact that in 1867, several years before the deliverance of the prisoners, the American whaling ship Catherine put into the coast off Fremantle and lay in Careening Bay at Garden Island for three days.

A certain Captain Fischer landed at Fremantle from the Catherine. Mr Douglas says that Captain Fisher remained at Fremantle for two years whaling for the late Mr John Bateman, and prepared a chart of the coast of Fremantle, and the landing places on the coast.

Then he moved on to Albany, and went whaling for the late Captain Thomas. In March 1875, there was a vacancy for a caretaker for the Albany quarantine station and this Captain Fisher got the situation.

In March 1876, three American gentlemen arrived at Albany on board the outward-bound P. and O. Royal Mail steamer Siam. They were the only three passengers for this state, and they were quarantined for nine days. These three American’s, Mr Douglas alleges, were the real accomplices working on behalf of the Fenians. After they were freed from quarantine they left Albany for Fremantle by the Rob Roy and stayed at aboard house in High Street, Fremantle. “I can prove this,” the correspondent says, “as I was in their company three times – twice in Albany with Captain Fisher and once in Fremantle by chance at a boarding house. In March 1876, the Catalpa put into Frenchman’s Bay, Albany, and took fresh water on board and she put out to sea the same day. Captain Fisher was the only person who went on board her at Albany on this occasion. I beg to say the Catalpa was not the first ship that came to rescue these six Fenians. The first ship was wrecked on the West Australian coast, and I know where her ones lay.”

The big start of the club went well. Fiona Rea entertained us as the main artist and as a follow up she had her Dad to help out. Yes the one and only Fred Rea who gave a very polished performance. Various other artists performed and performed really well.

This included Des (a great singer in the seventies and still has it) as well as most of the Ironbark band recently returned from a trip to Thailand.

The second show was a quieter affair due to it being a little close to the festive season. Garry introduced his friend from south of the river and they both put on a good show. Fred again held the honour with his Dunne Song. Suanne MacConnell entertained us with a few jigs which we all tapped and clapped to.

Well, isn’t variety the spice of something….. music and song in this case.

The next Folk Club night is on January 9th. Yes, the 2nd Tuesday in the month from now on at the Woodvale Tavern Trappers Dr, Woodvale function room. So if you can’t put it in you diaries or i-phone, just think of the 2nd part and Tuesday! It looks like a big one. Various artists have agreed to perform. I believe some of them have even won competitions in the past, so come along and open your ears to some really fine singers and musicians.

See you there. David MacConnell

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79 79

A Surprise trip home from Perth turned tragic for Anne Marie

treatments and research projects being carried out in Ireland and internationally.

She is willing to participate in anything that will help improve her ongoing rehabilitation and further facilitate her recovery.

So, what’s happening at present?

As well as being a wife and Mum to a toddler, Anne Marie attends a physiotherapist, walks in an exoskeleton at every chance she gets, attends an accessible gym and the hyperbaric chamber in Dublin.

All these activities have been sourced and paid for by Anne Marie herself. Her goal of driving independently has also been achieved.

Following a flight home from Australia, for a surprise family birthday party, Anne Marie suffered a spinal cord stroke thus leaving her paralysed from her chest down. The resulting catastrophic injury meant relocating suddenly with her husband and young son from her life in Perth Australia, where they had lived for almost 6 years.

Anne Marie spent 7 months in total recovering in Beaumont hospital and The National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoighaire.

At the moment she is waiting to move from rented accommodation into a newly adapted house, in her home town of Ballybay.

Anne Marie is refusing to accept her prognosis and her goal is to someday walk again. In the meantime, herself and her husband Mark, with the help of family and friends, are keeping a close eye on current

Fundraising

In order to continue on this journey a trust fund has been established to help with the cost of the various therapies, also to enable the purchase of specialist equipment, helping Anne Marie pursue her goals and continue her fight against paralysis. Any fundraising support is much appreciated.

How to get in touch?

If you wish to fundraise for this trust, please email: theannemarieleonardtrust@gmail.com or contact The Anne Marie Leonard Trust facebook page / theannemarieleonardtrust A website, www.theannemarieleonardtrust.ie has also been set up and a PayPal donate link button can be found here.

FUNDRAISER Quiz Night for the Anne Marie Leonard Foundation

St. Patrick’s Weekend: Friday 16th March 2018 @7:00 PM Irish Club Of WA, Subiaco, Perth Admission - $100 per table (max 6 per team) Entertainment and prizes on the night!

For more details and to purchase tickets please search “The Big Irish table quiz” event on Facebook.

Your support would be greatly appreciated

79 80

During my childhood growing up in inner city Dublin in the 1940’s and 1950’s life was hard for many. Thousands of large families lived in cramped conditions in a couple of rooms, in grand old houses which were originally intended for one family. These properties were frequently badly in need of repair and lacked the facilities required for communal living.

It was common to have as many as fifty human beings living in a house with one toilet and no bathroom. My family lived in two rooms over a newsagents shop on Parliament Street in the centre of Dublin. The living quarters of the premises had eight rooms, one toilet and two cold water taps, one on the top landing and one in the back yard. Eighteen people including my family lived there.

It was a busy street, we had three pubs as neighbours, and a cacophony of sound was ever present. Life was never dull!

Each Christmas the late night revellers at McCauley’s pub seemed to become more vocal than ever. As I lay in my bed, two houses from the pub, I was bombarded with “Carols by Street Light” every night until Christmas Eve. Their usual Irish and modern songs were interspersed with carols such as Silent Night. A silent night was exactly what I often longed for.

Memories of that wish eventually taught me the value of the saying “Be careful what you wish for!”

The house we lived in was inside the old Dublin boundaries, at the end of the street is City Hall, next to that is Dublin Castle, further down Dame Street is Trinity College. These are just a few of the buildings I spent hours roaming around in as a child. Another fond memory I have is of being a passenger in what was to become the last genuine horse drawn hansom cab in Dublin.

Mr Eustace would take my friend Bridie and myself in the cab on his way to pick up passengers and we would walk home.

With Mr Eustace sitting up top as we sat inside, the clip clop of the horses hooves on the pavement as the cab journeyed along the quay to King’s Bridge station, had a musical resonance

Farewell my Companion

By Marie Moloney

81

all of their own. These jaunts fed our longing for a life of grandeur. Each trip was different, as we explored the parameters of our imaginations, our first concern being attire. Which gown did each of us choose for today’s outing, the blue green or lavender? These gowns were of course made by our personal seamstress. As we sat inside the cab we imagined ourselves as ladies off to a ball or some other equally exciting journey. The odour from the slimy river Liffey became an exotic fragrance as our imaginations ran riot.

In late October 1952 my family moved to a corporation house on a new estate in Bluebell. The allocation of a corporation house was a dream come true for every over crowded family, but for many, that dream soon became tarnished. At first there was great excitement at having a whole house to move around in, including a bathroom and a large back garden to hang the washing out, but reality set in far too quickly. The move created more financial difficulty for most, as local schools often could not accommodate the influx of children. The cost of bus fares to a school that could, put additional strain on already strained finances.

Discontent among residents on these new estates was talked about by many people in the larger community and in the media, without any understanding of the misery involved. Often it was seen as the poor not wanting to help themselves.

That first Christmas in the suburbs was a sad and lonely time for me, a form of isolation. All of my experience of life until then had been inner city crowded living conditions and busy streets. I missed the passing parade, the constant noise and ongoing human traffic around me. All of my friends were in the city, the need to belong is strong and runs deep. This was the case with most of the new residents around us who had all come from similar circumstances. The hype and activity of Moore St, Henry St and O’Connell St was replaced by a long road of characterless little terrace houses. No jaunts in the Hanson Cab to incite my imagination, just row after row of grey houses all exactly the same, long winding roads of nothingness. This move of about six kilometers was almost the equivalent of moving to another planet!

THE SENIORS' GATHERING The Northern Seniors Suburbs ‘ The Gathering’ will recommence on Thursday 15 February at St Anthony’s Church Hall, Dundebar Road , Wanneroo registration 10.15am details as follows: The monthly activity includes music and sing along, short Quiz, guest speakers, light lunch ( bring a plate). We invite Senior Citizens to join in the fun at our Irish Style ‘ The Gathering’ and to share in the fun and laughter and to meet new friends. Please contact Sean Mc Donagh – 0431 018 388 for further information.

Monthly ‘The Gathering’ dates for 2018.

1. 15 February 2. 15 March 3. 19 April 4. 17 May 5. 21 June 6. 19 July 7. 16 August 8. 20 September 9. 18 October 10. 15 November

The Craic in the North!

Pub grub, plus trivia, live music and sports, in a boisterous Irish tavern with outdoor seating.

Hours: Mon-Thurs: 11am–11pm Fri: 11am–12am Sat: 11am–12am Sun: 10am–10pm

bia maith I Fionn Maith I amanta maithe

Joondalup 9300 9966 paddymalones.com.au

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Irish Pioneer Priests Remembered

by Fred Rea

Local Western Australia retired priest, Fr Laurence Murphy brought to our attention the story of seven Irish priests buried in East Perth Cemetery. Fr Laurence asked if The Irish Scene would acknowledge them.

In 2000, the late Bishop Robert Healy unveiled and blessed a Celtic Cross at the Cemetery to remember seven priests buried there in the 19th century.

Fr Laurence passed onto us a copy of the Record newspaper which carried the story.

Fr John Coyle passed away from Dysentery on 23rd December 1853 in the aged 36 years. Fr Coyle arrived in the state on 18th of December 1851 on the ship ‘Anna Robertson’. Interestingly he arrived with John Brady who later became Bishop Brady.

Fr Thomas O’Neill was born in 1830 in Clonmel, Co Tipperary and passed away on 25th April 1854 in the Episcopal Residence Perth 24 years. Fr O’Neill arrived 14th August, 1853 on the ship ‘John Panter’ and was ordained in 1853 All Hallows Dublin and was sent as Chaplain of Convict Establishment Fremantle in Fremantle.

Fr Michael Kirwan was born in 1842 in Co Kilkenny passed away aged 30 years on 14th November 1872 in Subiaco. Fr Kirwan arrived on the 5th January 1869 on the ship ‘Stratmore’. He was educated for WA Mission at College of All Hallows Dublin; Chapel of Convicts at Guildford and Toodyay; Served at Albany and Perth.

Fr John Joseph Quinn was born in 1853 in Clonmacnoise Co Offaly and passed away 23rd September 1896 in Subiaco aged 43 years. The cause of death was heart disease. Sadly Fr Quinn arrived in June of 1896 and passed away four months later and was Professor of History in the Diocesan College Longford Ireland.

Fr Dennis Paul Long was born in Cork in 1870 and passed away 17th May 1899 at 2.15pm in Perth Public Hospital aged 29 years of typhoid fever. Fr Long arrived on 27th September 1895 on the ship ‘Orbua’. His place of residence was Bishops Palace Perth and was ordained at All Hallows College Dublin 24th June 1895. He served in Cue, Coolgardie, Kalgoorlie and Kanowna in Western Australia.

Fr William Prendergast was born in Cork in 1842 and passed away on 3rd July1899 in Subiaco Hospital aged 57 years. Fr Prendergast who arrived on a ship from South Australia received early education in Cork Ireland; Studied in France and Italy; Ordained Church of St John Lateran South Australia and left estate to John Horgan.

Seventh priest, Fr Michael O’Shea who died of ill health aged 29 on December 26th and was exhumed

Bishop Healy unveils the memorial in East Perth Cemetery

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to Karrakatta Cemetery on 30th August 1939, 42 years after his death. He is remembered on the plaque under the Celtic Cross.

At the service, Bishop Healy said a suggestion was made in 1880 in The Record newspaper that a memorial be erected to the priests buried in the East Perth Cemetery. The suggestion was repeated in about 1900 but nothing had happened until 2000.

“It would not have happened were it not for the efforts of a number of caring people”, Bishop Healy said.

Most of (these pioneer priests) died in their twenties, victims probably of the hazards they faced in their pastoral ministry.

Fr Prendergast, who ministered at Roebourne, Geraldton, Toodyay, Northam, Guildford, Southern Cross, Kanowna and Coolgardie, died at the age of 57, “the only one to live for a reasonable time,” Bishop Healy said. “Sometimes, he travelled by boat but mostly on horseback. It may help us to assess the arduous nature of his ministry when we realise how far he travelled to bring his spiritual assistance to the people of Western Australia”.

Bishop Healy said the memorial was an expression of gratitude to the priests for their witness. “It is also a reminder to us that we, too, are committed to Jesus Christ and that eternal life is also our hope and our expectation”.

At the service the President of the National Trust of Australia (WA division) told those at the graveside the East Perth Cemetery had been classified by the National Trust and listed by the Heritage Council.

Burials took place there until 1924 and it was the main Perth cemetery until 1899.

‘Only about 800 headstones and memorials exist, the head­stones revealing much about everyday life in early Western Australia,’ the president said.

East Perth Cemeteries was the first cemetery established for the Swan River Colony in 1829 in East Perth, Western Australia. It is estimated that as many as 10,000 people were buried there between 1829 and 1919 in seven independently administered denominations or sections which is why the place is known as ‘East Perth Cemeteries’. A large section of the original site has since been built over, leaving about five hectares (12.5 acres) remaining. The site, which is a short distance from Gloucester Park and the WACA Ground, is now bounded by Plain Street, East Perth, Wittenoom Street, Bronte Street and Waterloo Crescent.

The East Perth Cemeteries is open to the public every Sunday between 2pm and 4pm.

n at Rosie's

Blackrock College Reunio

Irish Club Christmas Parties

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St Patrick's Day Quiz Night at Irish Club

Thespians at JBs

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H

O IR W A ISH R E Y O U

Thank you Dermot!

Dubliner, Dermot Byrne has retired as our Quiz King! His quiz questions have been very popular for many years and it is with deep sadness that we say farewell to our friend. Dermot was the 'Irish Voice' on Tony Delroy's ABC Australia Nigh-life show for a number of years. Only last week I received an enquiry from a reader who saw his name in our mag and remembered him from the radio. The reader was concerned and enquired about him and his health. I was able to tell her that he is doing fine and still enjoys the pint of Kilkenny.

Dermot from all of us at the Irish Scene, thank you for your friendship and your support of our Irish Scene. We will continue with a quiz with the blessing of Dermot. Fred Rea

?

1. Which Society, also called the Quakers, was at the forefront of famine relief?

2. Bandon - born Graham William Walker is better known professionally as?

3. What is Carrageen Moss?

4. On St Brigid's Day people went from house to house carrying a straw doll.

What was the doll called?

5. What is another name for 'Wrenboys'?

6. Who played the lead roles in 'The Quiet Man'?

8. In Connacht, which county does not have a coastline?

9. "Dancing at Lughnasa" was written by which Irish playwright?

10. Who wrote the music and lyrics of the song "Ride on"?

11. Who is singer Eithne Ní Bhraonáin better known as?

12. Which all girl band sounded like they had magical powers?

BELIEVE IT OR NOT....

• The majority of people attribute the Guillotine to the French (hence the name), but there is evidence of it being used in Ireland 500 years before it made its way to France. A man named Murcod Ballagh seemingly used it for an execution near Merton in county Galway on April 1st – the unfortunate victim and their crime is unknown.

• The term ‘boycott’ originated in Ireland when the people of Ballinrobe, county Mayo, began a protest against Charles Cunningham Boycott, a British ex-soldier who became a land owner in Ireland after his retirement. The locals didn’t take kindly to him

because of his background, stature and refusal to reduce rents, so they refused to harvest his crops, serve him in shops or do his laundry.

After writing to the British press and importing Orangemen to harvest his crops, he eventually gave up and went back to England.

• In 1974 a bizarre medical case occurred when a baby was born with the cap of a Guinness stout bottle stuck in its scalp. Neither the mother nor her doctors had any idea how the cap made it in there – the only explanation to date is that she must have accidentally swallowed it at some point.

• Contrary to the often used stereotype, Irish people are not in fact the biggest alcohol drinkers in the world. We’re actually fourth on the list after Austria, Czech 87

1.The Society of Friends / 2. Graham Norton / 3. An edible seaweed / 4.A Brideog / 5. The Mummers / 6. John Wayne & Maureen O'Hara / 7.'The Van' / 8. County Roscommon / 9.Brian Friel / 10. Jimmy McCarthy / 11. Enya / B*Witched

7. Colm Meaney starred in a 1996 funny film as an unemployable middle aged

man just before the Celtic Tiger period. What was the name of the film?

Republic and Germany. We are, however, the biggest tea drinkers, consuming an average of 1,184 cups per person per year.

• Up until the 1920s, couples could legally marry in Ireland just by walking towards each other, as long as they did so in Teltown, county Meath, on Saint Bridget’s Day. If the marriage didn’t work out, they could also divorce at the same spot on the same day by walking away from each other. The custom was based on old Irish Brehon laws which allowed temporary marriage contracts.

• Ireland’s national airline carrier, Aer Lingus, takes its name from the Irish phrase ‘aer loingeas’. This literally means ‘air feet’. Doesn’t sound so musical when translated into English, does it?

Source: CladdaghDesign

With Tony Synnott

“Tommy Walker, a friend to all”.

It’s always a pleasure to meet Tommy, a very wise man and well read.

Wherever you go, you will always run into him. He loves a beer and is a friend to everyone.

Q: Born in London what is your earliest memory?

First memory being in my cot when it broke in the middle of the night. Can’t remember what I was doing.

Q: How far did you go at your schooling or college?

In the sixties university was free and I managed to get an engineering degree.

Q: Favourite Sport and were you any good?

The manly sport of boxing and because I was no good I became a good runner Q: You and your wife travel where is your special place?

Probably my favourite place is Africa where I worked in South Africa, Botswana and Rhodesia. Rhodesia now called Zimbabwe was a beautiful place. Another placed I visited recently was Transylvania and I highly recommend it.

Q: How do you rate the Irish Scene?

What can you say about a magazine that allows you to grace its front cover and then commemorate the issue 10 years later.

Q: What is your favourite Pub and why?

JB O’Reilly’s is my favourite pub because class, religion and culture mix freely. Pity about the publican! I also drink in the Dianella Tavern, The Mighty Quinn, Morley Ale House etc.

Q: Which film and actor would you like to see again?

My favourite movie: Morgan a Suitable Case for Treatment.

As the name suggests it concerns a man obsessed with dynamite, Tarzan and Karl Marx and his ex-wife. My favourite actor: Charlie Chaplin, his movies never age.

Q: What brought you to Perth?

I came to Perth to be part of the team preparing cost estimates for the first stage of the Perth electrification.

Perth then had Semaphore Signals controlled by big levers like in the old black and white movies. Look at it now!

Q: You are still working and in demand for your rail expertise why?

I have always enjoyed my work which has enabled me to travel the world and I once spent four consecutive Christmases in a different continent. Because I work in a specialised field “Railway Signalling “and railways are always expanding there is always work opportunities irrespective of your age which is fortunate what with the price of drink these days as Paul well knows.

Q: Who is your favourite author?

My favourite Author is Fiann O’Brian a genuine comic genius.

Q: If you could change one thing in your life what would it be?

Not work so long in the one country.

November Sun City Golf Club Tim Hickey/Kilkenny Cup Winner: Mick Connelly Photo Mick with Jack Ebbs and Pat Hickey.

IPGS & Irish Golf Club Challenge December 3rd. The IGC won convincingly 14.5 to 12.5.

December at Maylands Winner Joan Ross (41pts) Second PJ Kenny (39pts) Third Sean Byrnes (39pts) Thanks to all our players who turned out and also McLoughlin Meats who sponsored the day with the Ham & Turkey voucher.

Peter McKenna.

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Around the Irish scene Compiled by Fred Rea

Family balloons for Christmas and New Year A lot of Irish families in Perth inflate in size around Christmas and January, as loved ones and relations fly in to share the special time of year. Ian and Tamar Jordon's family unit ballooned with the arrival from Galway of her father (Padraic) and sister (Nikki) and her husband (Jay) and their brood. The collective Henehan, Jordan and Gannon are pictured here during their stay, enjoying Mullaloo beach on Christmas Eve.

Alanna Therese Clohesy MLC and staff enjoying Christmas drinks at Masonmill Irish Bar!

The Perth Irish Choir following their amazing sell-out Christmas Concert at the Irish Club of WA. It was fantastic community carol singing enjoyed by all present.

Bebe and Kevin Carroll of Avalon The lucky ones remember the weekends in Avalon Homestead in Toodyay. Bebe and Kevin now live on the Gold Coast and send good wishes to all their old friends!

Congratulations to Tom Percy local muso and now 20 years a Queen's Council.

Also celebrating 40 years as a Lawyer. Tom is a member of the Gang of 3 band around town and a very proud Kalgoorlie boy!

He has penned a few songs about the Golden Mile!

Well done Tom!

Congratulations to our own Brandon O'Neill in getting his first A-League goal for Sydney FC.

Joe Oxley's long and successful career in hospitality started at the old Jury's in Dame Street, Dublin and ended recently at the Richardson Hotel in West Perth. After more than a decade under his - and business partner Ted Powell's ownership - the five star establishment ceased trading as a hotel about a week before Christmas.

Joe - who is married to Annette - and Ted are retiring from the industry, while the property they built and ran together will become an upmarket retirement home in 2018. Pictured with Ashok Parekh at Blackrock College re-union at Rosie O'Gradys.

Megan McLoughlin from Donaghmede, Co. Dublin, working at the Kingsley Tavern. Megan bubbles with personality and likes nothing more that a good chat with the regulars at the tavern.

Send your photos for the Gossip Page to fred@irishscene.com.au

Get well soon Gerry Gannon. It's been a tough few months for Gerry and rest assured he will be back to his vibrant self before long. We are all thinking of you Gerry.

Returning to Ireland?

We can help you with the move!

Air, Sea & Road Transport Quick, Efficient & Reliable Contact our Sales Team (08) 9243 0808 sales@aiexpress.com.au www.aiexpress.com.au

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SHAMROCK

Rovers

Michael Manning President Shamrock Rovers

SPONSORED AND SUPPORTED BY McLOUGHLIN'S BUTCHERS MALAGA

S R E PLAY ED T N A W Season 2018-19

Pre Season Training: First, Reserves, 18s.

Join Gerry McEwan for pre-season training on Monday 22nd of January.

All players welcome, new and old.

6:30 start at Harold Rossiter Reserve, Victoria Park.

Junior trials: U14-16 Thursday 1st February and Tuesday 6th February 5:00 pm start.

U10-12 Thursday 8th and Tuesday 12th February. 5:00pm start Venue Harold Rossiter Reserve Victoria Park.

Call Marty 0410081386.

Come on Down!

Saturday the 3rd of February to

Bunnings Belmont for our Sausage Sizzle!

McLoughlin Butchers Malaga Drop in and see our range of Irish prepared meats 58 Westchester Rd, Malaga WA 6090

mcloughlinbutchers.com.au Like us on facebook 90

Tom Murphy PRO

Gaelic Football & Hurling Association of Australasia Western Australia Irish International Rules team at the Irish Club

International Rules: GAAWA was delighted to host the Irish team and officials for a welcome dinner in the Irish Club on November 15th. Before the party arrived at the Irish Club they visited the Irish Famine Memorial in Subiaco where they were met

by GAAWA Public Relations Officer Tom Murphy. The party were then introduced to the Chairman of the Western Australia Irish Famine Commeration Committee Fred Rea who talked to them about how and why the memorial was established.

After dinner presentations were made to the Irish Club and GAAWA along with a few words from Uachtaran Cuman Luach Leas Gael Aogan O’Fearghail and Ireland Team Manager Joe Kernan. After dinner members of the public met with the Ireland players before they departed for their hotel. Before the second Test on November 18th members of the GAAWA Executive attended a reception hosted by the AFL in Domain Stadium. Our sincere thanks to the AFL for their kind invitation. Although the result did not go our way on the day, a highlight was the taking to the field of a team from our Junior

Academy representing Ireland who took on Australia.

The children were shown on Channel 7 Television and met Irish & Australian players afterwards for photos and autographs.

On the Couch with Marty:

A unique networking and sporting event took place on Friday 17th November in the Stables Bar with the hosting of “On the Couch with Marty” by GAAWA, Ireland Western Australia Forum (IWAF) and the Irish Australian Chamber of Commerce. This event saw 91 91

RTE Gaelic Games Correspondent Marty Morrissey interview Ireland Team Selectors

Padraig Joyce & Darragh O’Se along with former West Coast Eagles Star Glen Jakovich on their thoughts on the eve of the second International Rules Test between Ireland & Australia. A great day was had by all and hopefully it not the only time an event such as this takes place in Perth.

Gaelic Football & Hurling Association of Australasia Western Australia

Minor All-Stars Presentation: Eight members of the Western Australia Minor Squad received their All-Stars at an award ceremony in the Irish Club on the 25th November. Added to the two minor players who received All-Stars at the Australasian Championship Ball this brought to 10 the number of Minor players from Western Australia who received All-Stars in 2017. Well done lads! www.gaawa.com.au Facebook: gaainwa Twitter: @GAAinWA Instagram: gaainwa www.gaelicgamesjunioracademyofwa. com.au Facebook: GaelicGamesJuniorAcademyofWA

GAAWA Annual General Meeting

The 2018 Annual General Meeting of the Gaelic Athletic Association of Western Australia will take place on Friday the 19th January in the Irish Club.

All are welcome.

www.thebreakwater.com.au

58 Southside Drive, Hillarys Boat Harbour Ph: 08 9448 5000 Fax: 08 9448 6000 92

Gaelic Football & Hurling Association of Australasia Western Australia

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Gaelic Football & Hurling Association of Australasia Western Australia

The Gaelic Games Junior Academy update

By Debbie Cashman Teahan

We did it! We hosted a massive Blitz in Domain Stadium (Subiaco Oval) with 12 local AFL Clubs and our team taking part in the compromised rules. It was the first time most of the Australian kids that took part ever played Gaelic football (a compromised rules version) and they really enjoyed the speed, skill and lack of stoppages and tackles were more about retaking possession of the ball than trying to injure another player in the hope of getting the ball. Many of the parents were impressed by the sportsmanship and skill involved, a win for GAA, so with this increased exposure we are expecting our numbers to rise again this year. Well done to North Beach who took home the Jim Stynes perpetual trophy, it was a day to remember, and the AFL kids having the opportunity to play in the Domain was the holy grail for them! Our lucky under 8’s also got to play at the last ever game (Ireland V Australia) in Domain Stadium recently at half time, even getting coverage on TV which was a huge achievement to play a demonstration game in front of thousands of footy fans! The only trouble the kids seemed to have, was some weren’t sure during the senior game which country they were shouting for!

With all that happened for us we confidently expect more players this year, therefore means more coaches, so if there are ex-players of hurling or football out there that would like to put your hand up, please contact us!

There are a few new changes taking place for 2018, one being we will have our registration available online, there is also a discount for early bird payments. More information on our Facebook page. Second is our 4-6 year old program is going to revamped and we are incorporating a lot of early childhood physical/emotional developmental actions and activities using movement and equipment for gross motor skills, hand eye coordination, instructional play and games using many different tools to help these wonderful little boys and girls pick up skills in a fun way that will lead to them enjoying sport in general, and develop confidence in applying their new found skills to GAA based actions in time. Our hope is they will learn to love the game and enjoy every minute of their training and have so much fun they don’t realise they are ‘learning’ new tricks!

The venue again for this year and going forward

will be at Sacred Heart’s Oval in Sorrento, just across from Hillary’s so we are quite spoiled, nowhere else on the planet is there a more picturesque place to play GAA! Our plans for this year are again about the academy striving forward and creating new ‘firsts’ to add to our achievements, and our fingers are firmly crossed that we will secure the new Perth Stadium as our venue for the compromised rules blitz, not only that but we envision that we can enter girl’s teams into a competition too! Even though our academy is for both girls and boys aged 4 plus we didn’t have the ability 2017 to field a female under 12’s team, but with our increase numbers and the progression of the younger girls now being old enough to be in this category, and since it is a critical age to keep girls interested in sport we will have to work hard to ensure they enjoy the games and have fun with their peers and look forward to taking on the challenges set out for them. We have been contacted by other states in Australia wanting to know how we operated and how we ran the show in WA for childrens' hurling and Gaelic football. So it’s wonderful to see other states coming on board and finally investing time and energy into junior GAA and in time no doubt it can only benefit the senior clubs of each state that supports underage development. Good on ya Melbourne!

After St Patrick’s day we will hit the ground running, do look out for us in the parade and in the oval at the Paddy’s day celebrations and come meet the team! We have a Bunnings sausage sizzle on January 7th at Joondalup. We will have reminders on social media to remind people to come along and stuff your face enjoy a snagger for a good cause.

Sponsorship packages are available if you would like help support our huge efforts in keeping the GAA growing in WA, we would be delighted to hear from you!

Email ggjunioracademy@gmail.com Find us on Facebook @ gaelicgamesjunioracademyofwa Or come along on any given Sunday from April- Sept!

www.per thirishrfc.com 94

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Athbhliain faoi mhaise duit

Thank you for your continued support