Irish Scene March April 2016

Registered with Australia Post PP635639/00006

Western Australia’s

Volume 18 Number 3 March/April 2016

www.irishscene.com.au

In this Issue St Patrick’s Day Events Famine Commemoration Easter Commemoration Irish Race Day Irish Night at the Trots Easter 1916 Stories

• • • • • •

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2016 is a year of commemorating world-wide the Irish Rebellion of 1916. On page 40 of this edition you will find a complete list of events planned for Western Australia.

It is also a time when we celebrate the patron saint of Ireland, St Patrick. This year will again see the St Patrick’s Festival Parade and celebration on Leederville Oval. This takes place on Sunday 13th March and is a day for all the family. Festivities commence at 10am with the parade ending at the oval where you can avail of lots of Irish food, live music and events for the children. It is advisable to take the train as parking is difficult. To find out more about this event visit the parade facebook page /stpatricksfestivalwa/ The St Patrick’s Day Mass is again at St Mary’s Cathedral under the watchful eye of Paul Tanham.

May we take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy St Patrick’s Day... sona lá st Pádraig.

We would especially like to mention the Midwest Irish Club in Geraldton and wish them a great St Patrick’s Day. Fiddlesticks are travelling from Perth to help their celebrations.

Finally, please, please drink responsibly and look after each other as you celebrate our National Day.

Fred Rea

THE IRISH SCENE

Publisher/Advertising: Fred Rea 0418 943 832 Editor: Lloyd Gorman 0479 047 250 - gormanlloyd@hotmail.com Proof Reading: Jack Cullen and Imelda Gorman 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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EASTER RISING 1916…

…‘A terrible beauty is

born’…

By Ivan Motherway

“I desire now, lest I may not have an opportunity later, to pay homage to the gallantry of the Soldiers of Irish Freedom who have during the last four days, been writing with fire and steel the most glorious chapter to the latter history of Ireland…”

So wrote Patrick Pearse in the GPO, Dublin on the eve of the imminent defeat of the 1916 Easter Rising. Pearse was writing Patrick Pearse his manifesto while James Connolly lay wounded beside him directing the final defensive charge. Dublin was in flames; any chance of victory for the Irish Volunteers, the IRB, the Citizen Army, Shin Fein and ultimately, the IRA, was nonexistent. Pearse knew this; yet he believed that he and his comrades had won the ultimate battle at the very least; that this Rising and its subsequent defeat would awaken in Ireland the Revolutionary zeal he steadfastly believed was bubbling within the Irish psyche.

This article in no way is an attempt to chronical the events of the Rising, nor to offer an academic, historical study of those events. Rather, I write this article moreso as an attempt to appreciate those men and women, flawed and all as they were, and in what I have now come to understand, their commitment to their truth.

One cannot denigrate that in any way, shape or form.

If anything, I miss people like they, people of their faith and conviction.

“Of the fatal countermanding order which prevented those (the Volunteer’s) plans from been carried out. I will not speak further. Both Eoin MacNeill and we have acted in the best interests of Ireland.”

So there it was, a struggle from the start, orders countermanding orders; to mobilise or to not mobilise.

That’s hardly the focus for this article; rather, I tend to feel that when Pearse wrote that reference to MacNeill, he did so with a sense of relief. That relief being the realisation that at least all of Ireland was not decimated

4

because of the Rising. A localised Rising was, perhaps, enough of a sacrifice to produce a nationalistic and revolutionary identity amongst the Irish people (history proved that to be true). We now know that Pearse and his comrades knew that military victory was impossible; my thought is this: perhaps they experienced a wondrous, nay delirious, sense of pardon, when they realised their sacrifice would be confined. Just a thought…

The 1916 armband was the first Oh wise men, Riddle me this: decoration given to What if the dream come through? veterans of the What if the dream come through?

1916 Rebellion. It And if millions unborn shall dwell In the house that I shaped in my heart; was awarded at a ceremony held in The noble house of my thought?...

Dublin in 1935 to Was it folly or grace? mark the 19th No man shall judge me, but God. And no man, or men, or women Anniversary of the Rebellion. This should. Far too long the actions of those armband was worn men and women have suffered under

by Volunteer debate and revisionism. What does it veterans with matter? Is the Ireland of today what civilian attire on these patriots would have envisioned ceremonial or wished for? I’ve no idea, nor does occasions, prior to anyone else, if they want to be honest the introduction of about it. To end that speculation; is the 1916 medal. there any nation in existence that has lived up to what her dreaming founders imagined?

So who were these men, what made them become the ‘worthy sacrifice for Ireland’? Pearse, a poet, teacher, non-practicing lawyer and sometimes lecturer; Connolly, a socialist, writer and lecturer; Tom Clarke, a veteran Fenian and tobacconist; MacDonagh, a poet and lecturer; Plunkett, a writer; Mallin, a musician; Ceantt, MacDermott, Daly, Willie Pearse, O’Hanrahan, Hueston, Colbert, Kent; Roger Casement; and Sean MacBride, probably the only one, apart from Clarke, who had any military experience of note: he fought against the British during the Boer War. Were their actions madness? Hardly. There was certainly no hope of military success after the sinking of the Aud (carrying German Arms for the Volunteers), and the countermanding order of MacNeill. However these men, and women, believed it to be a honourable necessity; as such they were fully prepared to meet defeat and certain death. The Irish Volunteers in Dublin, and in pockets of conflict elsewhere on the island of Ireland, fought with the hope that their actions would rouse the nationalist spirit of the Irish nation and make Irish Independence an international issue. This they most certainly achieved, yet at a terrible cost.

The Easter Rising of 1916 was indeed the, ‘terrible beauty’ of Yeats’ words. The seeds of republican dissidence were planted, beyond doubt, after the executions of the Rising’s leaders. The greatness of their sacrifice has never been matched in Ireland’s history.

Their actions culminated in the Ireland we have today; indeed, ‘a terrible beauty.’

How-and-ever, as Yeats intimated, indeed orated, these men were simply just that; they were not Gods, nor superhuman or fantastic beings: they were merely men, women, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, lovers and dreamers… Indulge my sentimentality, which makes them Fantastic figures to me, purely because I… I… Ye know, every time I think about these people and the events that led to their premature deaths, the most prevalent thought that occupies, that smothers me like a rolling fog, is Patrick’s and Willie’s mother: Mrs Pearse lost her two sons, within a week of each other. Forget any revisionism; that’s the human story. And those innocents and combatants who lost their lives, British or Irish, civilians or combatants, they all had mammys, daddys, brothers, sisters, children, lovers too.

Over the coming weeks Perth will be blessed by a plethora of events commemorating the 1916 Rising; not, by the very least, two wonderful plays concerning the events of the Rising: the Irish Theatre Players are producing Sean O’Casey’s, The Plough and the Stars, at the Irish Club Theatre, Subiaco; a controversial play for its time, which looks at the effects of the Rising from the experiences of Dublin tenement residents; and Abandon Theatre Player’s production of The Patriot Game, by Tom Murphy, which recreates the actual events leading up to, and including the Rising, staged at

Studio Underground, at the Heath Ledger State Theatre Centre.

Experience 1916, go to both very different plays.

“For my part, as to anything I have done in this. I am not afraid to face either the judgement of God or the judgement of posterity.”

Can we, today, say the same?

Ivan Motherway,

B.A. Lit., B.A. Hist. (Hons.), Grad. Dip. Ed., Dip. Man. Artistic Director/President, Abandon Theatre Players.

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Sean is doing a powerful job

by Lloyd Gorman

For the last several months now Western Power (WP) has hardly been out of the news before it is back in it. The state power generators response to the start of a savage bushfire season that started in about November of last year reminded many of the role it has to play in a landscape sculpted by fire. Then in early February metropolitan Perth and much of the state sweltered through nearly a week of 40 plus degree heat the longest unbroken spell of such temperatures since 1933. West Australian’s responded to the scorching conditions by switching on their air conditioners, swimming pool pumps, fans and other devices and appliances in such massive numbers that power usage rocketed to previously unseen levels, reaching about 4028 Mega Watts (MW) in a day (February 24) up by 86 MW consumed on the previous record set on January 18. (One MW is equal to 1,000 kilowatts or 1,000,000 watts).

An organisation accustomed to doing a lot of heavy lifting Western Power was being spoken about in terms of another state wide crisis.

With the second damaging downgrading of WA’s credit rating by Moody’s the Barnett government

said some hard choices may have to be made. Already in the midst of what looks like a fire sale of state assets and lands, Premier Colin Barnett said his administration might have to consider slaughtering what was previously a sacred cow by privatising WP. Flogging the state owned power generator could, we were told bring in as much as $15 billion, which would go a long way (but still only about half way) to fixing the gaping hole in the state’s public purse.

In all of these dramatic scenarios an Irish engineer who once couldn’t get a job in Ireland has or will play a major role in what happens to WP. Seán Mc Goldrick has worked in some of the harshest environments and most difficult places in the world. An expert in energy sources - particularly electricity - he has spent weeks and months at a time in the Saudi Arabian desert, Oman, Kuwait as well as Kenya and Ethiopia in Eastern Africa. He has also been called into action to help restore power supplies in war torn nations struggling to rebuild themselves, including Kosovo, Kazakhstan and the former breakaway Soviet Republic of Georgia. “I’ve certainly relocated to more challenging places than Perth,” smiled the man who was a consultant in the UK for the previous five years and was head-hunted for the job as Executive Manager Asset Management with WP. He took up the role in June 2015 and hasn’t

7

looked back.

Essentially his job is to look after Western Power’s extensive and expansive network of power stations, generators, poles and depots.

That means it is his job to look after every power plant, transformer and sub-station facility and even government owned wooden pole or street light in Western Australia.

As a newcomer to the state and the organisation Seán was introduced to the network by touring much of WA and visiting almost every Western Power owned outpost. “You can look at all the maps you want but you need to get out there and touch it, feel it. The first few months were spent going around physically meeting people but also looking at the assets, the depots, and actually see what is out there. The distances involved are just astounding. I’ve been up to Geraldton and not down as far as Albany, but down around Margaret River. The first time I travelled to Kalgoorlie by car it took me a day and a half to get there, and the same to return.”

It is also a role that will have thrust him front and centre of the response to WA’s savage and unforgiving bushfire season. Irish Scene interviewed Seán on November 17, 2015. As it happened this was the day before three young backpackers from the UK, Norway and Germany were killed in the catastrophic bushfires in Esperance. Earlier this month a major bushfire effectively wiped out the township of Yarloop, including more than a hundred homes and properties, claimed the lives of two men and ripped through at least 50,000 hectares of bush and severed the state’s south west from Perth. As soon as it was possible to do so Western Power deployed a convoy of 80 vehicles and work crews from depots in Perth and Australind to try and get the area back up and running. The paperwork to mobilise such a massive and necessary response would almost certainly have crossed Seán’s desk in Perth City.

“I’ve got over 660,000 wood poles, that’s an astounding number,” said Seán. “What you have to

do is look at something like your wood poles and come up with a risk assessment. If I had all the money in the world I’d say replace them all, but of course you can’t do that.

Where do I spend money, what’s the risk, which are the risky ones, how can I cure that risk, what’s my priority, what’s my treatment, what’s my strategy? We are better now at getting information about the state of the assets. Deciding how we can improve it, so we can minimise the risk. What you what your assets to do is stand up and deliver for your customers and you want them to be relatively robust. You don’t want them falling over for no reason.”

A bushfire that destroyed 55 homes and properties in Parkerville, WA in January 2014 was found to have been sparked by a privately owned wooden power line that simply cracked and fell over into dry scrub that caught fire from sparks.

Ageing power lines at the time were called a potential “time bomb”.

Despite high profile incidents like this, the number of bushfires caused by faulty poles is relatively low said Seán.

“It’s my first bush fire season and because it’s a big risk in terms of our assets, I have looked into how what percentage of bushfires are attributable to this cause. It’s three per cent,” he said. “That three per cent includes things we have

no control over, like a Cockatoo flying into a line, going up in a puff of smoke falling down and starting a bushfire. I can’t control that, but even that I’m counting in the three per cent. Much more material for us is when a bushfire starts for a different reason, such as a control burn that gets out of hand and sweeps through and burns our assets. We fire treat our assets and still they get burnt. We have thousands of kilometres of bare metal conductors and occasionally you are going to get a fault or you get a lightning strike, or third party interference, such as people digging up cables or running trucks into poles, or diggers hitting wires. A very small part of that three percent is when one of our assets physically fails on its own. That sometimes happens and can cause a fire.

It’s a big cost for us, because what we have to do is respond.

There’s a couple of elements to that response. When people are fighting the fire they need us to make sure the assets are safe and are not going to materially impact their efforts to control the fire and understand it’s safe to do so. Then, when it’s under control and the fire is out we have to get in there and rebuild quickly because people need power. So it’s a big cost and impost on us and we have to be mindful of that.”

Experienced as he is Seán ad-

mits that he had a steep learning curve dealing with the WA situation.

“It’s my first bushfire season,” he said. “My colleagues would laugh at me going through my almost bushfire virginity because when I’d get a note about a fire that was 40 hectares I’d go that’s a huge fire but they would say that they’d get out the marshmallows for one like that.”

If Western Power is put on the market the value of it’s infrastructure will play a large role in how much investors or a new operator would be prepared to pay for the organisation. Until then, and in any case, Seán will need to make sure that the local grid and system is up to the job of supplying power where and when demand spikes.

Seán holds a PhD (Molecular Physics), Bachelor of Arts (Mathematics) and Bachelor of Engineering from Trinity College Dublin. The PhD was “for fun” he joked. Despite being very obviously clever and qualified as a Trinity graduate he entered the Irish workforce at a difficult time. “There wasn’t any work in Ireland in 1985,” he said. “Of the 103 people in my engineering class I think 90 or 95 of them left the country instantly. Seán stayed because his father was seriously sick, but went on to the UK when he had recovered.

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and later with ESB International.

He couldn’t have known it then but the boy from the Cooley Penninsula, just north of Dundalk, between Dublin and Belfast, would go on to play a bridging role in stitching together the country’s two electricity markets. “From 2006 to 2010 I was the general manager of the single electricity market in Ireland, so I worked with Eirgrid (a transmission system operator in the Republic of Ireland) where I was an executive and System Operator Northern Ireland - Soni. I created the electricity market on the island of Ireland. My job was to join the two smaller markets together to have a dual currency gross market. It’s not the physical grid, it’s the electricity market itself. Every week we’d be responsible for about 70 million Euro of electricity sales. We would take the power from the generators and sell it to the distributing companies and we would set the price every 30 minutes. Every market has its own rules, lots of people putting in bids, it’s kind of like a stock exchange. The job itself was setting all that up, setting up the rules and the IT systems, recruiting people, mak-

ing sure it was run properly and that the money went into the bank and came out of it again. It was a bit of a challenge because there were two currencies (Euro/Pound) involved, but it was fun, it really was fun setting that up.”

He said it made economic sense for a single landmass like the island of Ireland to have such a market but admits there were other motivations. “There was a big political push for a peace dividend,” he added. “The two energy ministers got together in 2005 and made a directive that there should be one electricity market on the island of Ireland. Having a single market also increased the opportunity for energy exchanges with Britain. As the general manager there was a fair amount of meeting parliamentary committees in Stormont and the Dail and explain what we were doing. You might get an EU Commissioner coming over to visit. I had an office in Belfast and one in Dublin and you had to be present in both and make sure that everybody was getting a fair share and neither electricity system was being disadvantaged by the other in terms of the

market. It was great fun. I joined in October 2006 and we launched the market in November 2007. The first few weeks were heart in the mouth stuff but it all went really well”.

If the new electricity market had a political payout it also had one for the average consumer too who saw savings in their household power bills.

It is clear that WP is heading into some interesting times. Seán said energy minister (and treasurer) Mike Nahan is a very progressive minister. The state power generator is also breaking ground in terms of exploring renewable energy and other technologies and is leading its counterparts in Australia and other parts of the world and less than a year into his new role he is excited about the prospect of being involved.

“It’s a time of huge change here,” he said. “I always like to start and hit the ground running and there’s an enormous amount of change happening in the company, and in the sector, and I’m lucky enough to be here in the middle of all that, and that’s great. It’s really energising.”

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by Peter Conole William Robinson arrived in Western Australia during a volatile period of our colonial history and matters grew more complex from one year to another. It was just as well that Lord Carnarvon, Secretary of State for the Colonies, had chosen him. Robinson was a wily practical politician but also both affable and charming and a capable, trusted administrator.

His tact and patience would be stretched to the limit. In 1870 a form of representative government had been introduced in the shape of the Legislative Council. The Governor was excluded from attending its deliberations but exercised his viceregal powers to either reject or give assent to statutes. He could also break deadlocks by calling for elections.

Another item on the political agenda was more radical and Lord Carnarvon opposed it. Some members of the colonial elite wanted complete autonomy and fully responsible government. In August 1874 they proposed a Bill to establish a Council with an upper and lower house, to serve five-year terms, with control of local finances.

Governor Frederick Weld tentatively agreed and then passed the buck to Robinson when he arrived.

The new Governor had no intention of agreeing to the reforms.

Robinson read a despatch from Lord Carnarvon to the Council which rejected the idea as premature on several counts. The colony was vast, sparsely inhabited and in the process of dealing with the lingering aftermath of convictism.

Finance was going to remain a problem for some time and imperial management and financial support would be needed for years.

Having declared London’s position Robinson then tried

(Part two)

Sir William Robinson in the 1870s

to win hearts and minds whilst giving minimal support to political reforms. Such ideas remained in abeyance for years. Robinson and his family fitted well into colonial society. He was a staunch Anglican and kept a ‘good table’ for social purposes, although parts of the local scene did not impress him. For example he described Fremantle to Lord Carnarvon as being “a mere seaport lock-up for drunken sailors and prostitutes”.

On the positive side Robinson soon displayed an obvious and abiding interest in artistic and cultural matters. Before arriving in Australia he had composed orchestral pieces for military band and part songs (short choral works) under the name ‘Owen Hope’. His status was now high enough to make anonymity unnecessary. In February 1875 he composed a waltz called ‘Silver Thaw’ that was performed by a local militia band during a major Government House function. He encouraged and patronised such organisations as the Church of England Young Men’s Society and in July 1876 began attending its notable evenings of readings and musical performances.

The Governor appreciated the importance of exploration and made a lifelong friend of John Forrest, who had recently completed a

10

great expedition. In February 1875 Robinson sent him to London where the young man was feted, hailed as a hero and enabled to go into print about his adventures.

Forrest returned to WA at just the right time, as Ernest Giles arrived from Adelaide in November 1875 after crossing the continent. Forrest went out to meet him. Robinson will have been pleased by the results of their joint efforts. The myth of the great inland sea had finally been laid to rest, for Giles confirmed Forrest’s earlier findings that the waterless inland was unfit for normal colonisation. John Forrest received a suitable official reward in January 1876, the position of Deputy Surveyor-General.

On the economic front the Governor obtained funding from Britain for increased railway building. In July 1875 he assented to a Bill that proved to be of value in developing the pastoral industry.

A year later he accepted a special commission’s recommendation that free trade in minor commodities would benefit the colony.

William Robinson must have been in a buoyant mood when he presided over a lavish Government House reception on Christmas Day, 1875. One of his guests was James Collins, supposedly a wealthy American mining speculator.

Assistant Superintendent Joseph Doonan of Fremantle Prison had just shown him around the place, which was already a tourist attraction.

Readers will know what is coming next. Collins was in reality the great Catalpa Memorial in Rockingham

Fenian agent and organiser John Breslin. The whaling ship ‘Catalpa’ and all involved with her were soon to have an appointment with destiny.

The incident has received

expansive treatment by numerous scholars and is deservedly a major one in terms of the shared history and folklore of Ireland and our State.

The sheer audacity of the rescue and the brilliant, flawless team work of those who planned and organised the great escape of April 17, 1876 still have the capacity to amaze and impress any reader.

The fall-out in the colony is at issue here as the incident had the capacity to wreck quite a few careers.

Governor Robinson himself was in a difficult position. Lord Carnarvon wrote to him from London warning of a possible escape attempt.

Robinson did the necessary checks and responded as follows: “I can assure your Lordship that any scheme of the nature referred to which may possibly be set on foot will end in total failure”. That reply was sent on April 12, 1876, just five days before the Fenians left! We can only imagine the Governor’s embarrassment.

An official Board of Enquiry examined and reported on the episode. At the same time Superintendent Matthew Skinner Smith of the Police Force suggested bluntly that communication breakdowns were a problem.

His detectives tried to keep folk on the alert but were denied full cooperation by some uniformed police. Smith was annoyed and took measures to improve information sharing.

The Board itself focussed on senior officials of the Convict Establishment and made a number of recommendations to improve security. After double-checking what had happened, Robinson blamed Comptroller General William Fauntleroy for disregarding various instructions and allowing prisoners to go on outside working parties with little supervision. Board members agreed and Fauntleroy was eased out of his position after a short, discrete interval.

Poor Superintendent Joseph Doonan suffered most, for as an Irishman he thought himself to be under suspicion. Doonan was wrong. The Board actually recommended him for promotion and the Governor stated he was in the clear as Fauntleroy had accepted responsibility for any lapses. Sadly,

honest Doonan fell into depression and tried in vain to take his own life.

He was allowed to retire on a decent pension and later prospered as a businessman.

William Robinson escaped all blame and was praised for ordering soldiers and police in pursuit on the steamer ‘Georgette’ (above) not The Georgette

to fire on the ‘Catalpa’ if the latter ship reached international waters.

The London authorities realised the Governor had avoided a nasty international incident. Unfortunately for Robinson it was a case of out of the frying pan into the fire because he soon had to deal with another affair that potentially involved even more dire diplomatic repercussions.

At the time the rugged Lacapede Islands off the far north-west coast of the colony were buried in thick layers of guano (bird droppings), a valuable resource for fertiliser and gunpowder manufacture. An adventurer named Gilbert Roberts visited the isles in January 1876, collected some guano and sold it at Mauritius. Roberts scudded off to Melbourne and persuaded the American Consul S.P.Lord to annexe the Lacapedes – without reference to the American Government. He then hired the French barque ‘Roquette’ and a few thugs and went west to take possession of the isles.

Roberts was too late for Governor Robinson already knew about the Lacapedes and local authorities contracted out the guano trade to a colonial company. Its agent Joseph Geddes took formal and lawful possession of the Lacapedes on June 2, 1876. Gilbert Carver and friends arrived on the 23rd, claimed the isles and hoisted the Stars and Stripes.

Geddes and his chums forcibly tore down the flag and sailed off to get advice from Robert Sholl, the Government Resident at Roebourne.

Sholl gave the word for severe

11

direct action. The colonists returned to the Lacapedes, attacked and captured the ‘Roquette’ and hauled Gilbert Carver and the French skipper back to Roebourne to face the court. It is likely shots and blows were exchanged, but no lives were lost, for if such had been the case the whole world would have known about it. Sholl levied a heavy fine on Carver and allowed him and the Frenchman to sail south to Perth and settle matters.

Roberts got no joy from William Robinson, who upheld the fine but allowed the French ship to leave.

When Roberts refused to pay the Governor alerted the Perth police.

The latter promptly clapped him in prison on November 1, 1876.

Robinson eventually released the man on a warrant of detention, which meant Roberts was free to wander around Perth but not free to leave. After he finally slipped away to Melbourne Roberts protested to Consul Lord, who then raised the roof with the administration of American President U.S.Grant and called for a warship to be sent south.

Meanwhile Governor Robinson sent an armed revenue vessel to the Lacapedes and informed his supporter Lord Carnarvon in London, who as Secretary of State for the Colonies took up the issue with his American counterparts in Washington. By the beginning of 1877 colonial militia companies were undergoing intensified training and heavily armed British gunboats ‘dropped in’ to Fremantle to protect the coast if something happened.

Diplomacy and common sense carried the day in March 1877 when the Americans gave up any claim to the Lacapedes and severely reprimanded Consul Lord of Melbourne. For West Australian colonists the result was seen as a triumph. It rebounded to Robinson’s glory. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) and later appointed Governor of the Straits Settlements on August 28, 1877. Sir William and his family left Fremantle on the ‘Rob Roy’, September 3, 1877. Western Australia had not seen the last of him – or the best of him.

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Message from The Irish Club President Sean Daly, President of the Irish Club of Western Australia

T

hings are happening at the Irish Club! We have had a productive couple of months since the beginning of the year and are now looking forward to St Patrick’s Day, the 1916 commemorations and a busy 2016. Visitors to the Club would have noticed some upgrades to the décor both inside and out, and, thanks to fantastic support, goodwill and positive vibes from the Irish community over recent weeks, the Irish Club is well placed to continue to support Irish culture

and interests and provide a central location and focal point for the Irish community in Perth and Western Australia.

2016 is a significant year for the Irish community, with a variety of events planned to commemorate the 1916 Easter Rising. The calendar of events is being coordinated by the Irish Consulate in Perth, and the Irish Club is pleased to host the reading of the proclamation on Easter Monday. The Irish Theatre Players will also present The Plough

and the Stars by Sean O’Casey, with the season running 23 March – 9 April.

The St Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival on Sunday 13 March will be a fantastic day out, and I am sure we will see another successful event, thanks to the efforts of the St Patrick’s Festival committee and the generosity of the sponsors. The Irish Club will have a stall at Leederville Oval for the Family Fun Day after the parade, so feel free to drop by to have a chat and meet the members of the committee.

Wherever you are on Paddy’s Day itself, wear your green with pride and enjoy celebrating everything that it means to be Irish!

Slainte!

Sean Daly, President

Saint Patrick’s Day Message - 2016 From the Irish Ambassador I would like to thank Fred Rea for once again giving me the opportunity to send Saint Patrick’s Day greetings to the Irish community in Western Australia.

2016 is a particularly important year for the Irish as we are commemorating the Centenary of the Easter 1916 Rising – a seminal event in Ireland’s history that led to our independence. It is also the centrepiece of a decade of centenaries (1912 – 1922) which commemorates the events that have shaped Ireland’s history in the hundred years since.

Just as communities across Ireland have come together to plan events to commemorate the Rising, Irish Australian communities have been inspired by the Centenary to reflect on the last 100 years of Irish history and to celebrate the contribution of the Irish to the story of Australia; and no more so than in Western Australia.

I would like to pay tribute to the many community groups who have been working tirelessly to put together an extensive programme of events to recognise and celebrate our Irish heritage and the contribution of the Irish to Australia. This is a further example of the strong, vibrant and cohesive community we have in Perth and the willingness of so many to volunteer their time and energies for their community.

I look forward to spending time in Perth over the Saint Patrick’s period. In the meantime, I wish all my compatriots a happy and a safe festive period.

With very best wishes Noel White Ambassador

Follow the Irish Embassy on Twitter: @irlembaustralia 15

May the leprechauns be near you, To spread luck along your way.

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Working in the migration industry is very different. I get to meet really wonderful people from all over the world and help them migrate successfully to Australia. Gone are the days when stealing a loaf of bread resulted in a oneway trip to Australia on a convict ship. Nowadays you need an awful lot of “bread” just to get here and this is particularly true if you are applying for a partner visa. The Department of Immigration and Border Protection’s visa application fees are just under $7,000.00 for a single person and more if there are children or other dependents to include in the application.

Whatever your situation, if you are planning to get help with your partner visa application it’s very important to make sure you get expert help. Our dynamic and dedicated team of partner visa professionals is here to help you with what is likely to be the most important application of your life!

Partner visa applications can be reasonably straightforward or unbelievably complicated.

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What do you think of social media as it is?

Great for keeping in touch with my people back home, and for information at your fingertips.

What is your favourite sport and player?

Soccer of course and the one and only George Best.

What was your first job and did you like it?

I was a milkman, I can’t say I liked it but it kept me fit running away from dogs.

If you could be any one for a day, who would it be?

Buzz Aldrin on the day he walked on the moon, even though he was the second man on the moon.

Who or what are you most afraid of?

The world running out of Guinness (black gold).

What is your favourite film and actor?

The Commitments and Actor Colm Keaney.

What do you like about the “Irish Scene”?

It’s a great read with plenty of interesting poems, stories and photos.

What would you change if you could live again?

Being a sparkey, climbing into roofs in 50 degree heat.

I would get into music in a big way.

If you could go to any country in the world where would it be?

I would love to go back to Africa. It is magical and wild but beautiful.

with Synnott Kevin Guildea

He is well known around the Mighty Quinn tavern, the Yokine Golf Club and the Irish Club. He is involved in all aspects of sport including football, both Gaelic and soccer. He is a great musician and singer and will come to any Irish event to help out.

What is your first memory of life?

Telling the doctor to buzz off after he smacked my bum for nothing, wouldn’t you?

Where in Ireland were you born?

In Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda, but I come from Balbriggan.

When did you come to Australia and why?

15th April 1986, why you ask – to meet the one and only Tony Synnott.

Tony Synnott

In Ireland, novels and plays still have a strange force. The writing of fiction and the creation of theatrical images can affect life there more powerfully and stealthily than speeches, or even legislation. Imagined worlds can lodge deeply in the private sphere, dislodging much else, especially when the public sphere is fragile. Colm Toibin

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hundred and seven years later my grandmother, Mary Ann Daly, was born in 10 Hoeys Court.

Jonathon Swift was Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin from 1713 until his death in 1745. He is considered to be one of the outstanding writers of the 18th century. His two most notable works are Gulliver’s Travels published in 1726 and A Modest Proposal, a satirical essay which is still viewed as a literary masterpiece, published in 1729. The latter is a layered irony aimed at highlighting the extreme poverty of the Irish in eighteen century Ireland. Today it is still referred to at universities as an example of the use of argumentative language, also in literature and history courses.

William Butler Yeats is widely considered to be one of the greatest poets of the twentieth century. In December 1923, Yeats was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Among the significant output of the literary work of Yeats there were many references to the troubled period in the early 1900’s. September 1913 and Easter 1916 are fine examples of this. Patrick Pearse was a lawyer, a writer and the founder of St Enda’s school for boys in Ranelagh Dublin. His vision was for an independent sovereign state, free of English influence.

s r e s t ter Figh i r W and An old song my mother often sang when I was a child suggested that a bit of heaven fell into the ocean and angels decided to leave it because it looked so peaceful there. And that was how Ireland came to be. Recently at The Irish Club I heard Tony Curtis, a talented Irish poet, read a selection of his work.

One poem featured the term oxymoron and “Civil War” was quoted as an example. Another example of an oxymoron that comes to my mind is “Ireland and peace”.

In 1916 a greatly outnumbered group of men and women participated in a rising that was, at the time, described as unsuccessful.

However, that rising and subsequent events changed Ireland forever. Now in 2016 great preparations are taking place in many countries across the world for the commemoration of the centenary of the rising in Dublin in 1916.

In Dublin during the Easter weekend many memorial services will take place, including a nationally televised military ceremony and a parade which will pass through the city, watched by the President and invited guests from viewing stands lining O’Connell Street.

As a child in Dublin City with Dublin Castle at the end of the street I lived on and just a short walk from the GPO, I was familiar with the numerous historical buildings in the area. At school I learnt much about local history, but it is only in my later years that I have become aware of the value of the rich history that I was privileged to live amongst for the first fourteen years of my life.

Through the ages Ireland has produced writers and literature of renown. So much of the literature, songs and music that has been composed by these writers features Ireland’s troubled history. Now when I pursue history and genealogy I am sometimes amazed. For example Jonathon Swift was born in 1667 in 9 Hoeys Court which was behind Dublin Castle. Two

Sean O’Casey’s Trilogy,

Shadow of a Gunman, Juno and the Paycock and The Plough and the Stars are about the period from 1916 – 1922.

Joseph Mary Plunkett, (left) one of the signatories of the proclamation, married Grace Gifford at Kilmainham Gaol the night before he was executed for his part in the rising. “Grace “is a beautiful song written

by Frank and Seán O’Meara. Troubled times contribute to determination: it can be said that the Irish make their mark wherever they go. Australia wide events this year to commemorate the centenary will remind us of the sacrifices made by those who fought to gain a republic of Ireland. As Yeats expressed it “A Terrible Beauty is Born” Marie Moloney

“I saw my husband in his cell for ten minutes.

During the interview the cell was packed with officers and a sergeant, who kept a watch in his hand and closed the interview by saying, ‘Your ten minutes is now up.’”

- Grace Gifford Plunkett on her “Honeymoon” meeting with her new husband, Joseph Mary Plunkett, shortly after their wedding and hours before he was executed at Kilmainham Gaol.

20

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Since the early 1970’s, Subiaco has been home to the Irish Club.

Scratch the surface of this area and you’ll find other traces of Ireland such as St. John of God Hospital Subiaco (founded by Irish nuns) and the nearby St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (founded by a Cork priest over a hundred years ago) run today by Co. Galway born Parish Priest Fr. Joe Walsh. Subi has also had an Irish born mayor in the shape of Tony Costa who still calls it home today and the sound of Irish voices can be heard in every corner of the city. The Irish have always been at home in Subiaco but Irish Scene only relatively recently discovered how another of the city’s best known landmarks is steeped in Irish heritage from its foundation some 120 years ago right up until today.

In November 2014 the Subiaco Hotel was placed on the state register of heritage places. A striking building built for the Gold Rush era it seemed an obvious choice for the local landmark which had then undergone a multi-million dollar modern makeover.

JOHN MURPHY Heritage minister Albert Jacob said the history of the hotel and the building itself made it worthy of heritage status.

“Today, this opulent architecture acts as a reminder of WA’s prosperity during this gold rush period and the optimism in the State’s good fortune,” Heritage Minister Albert Jacob said.

“In contrast to its lavish architectural style, the hotel became a working mans’ pub frequented by the local population of labourers and blue-collar workers.

“In the late 1890’s, under the management of flamboyant Irishman John Murphy, the corner room was used for gambling. The large windows, looking over the Hay Street and Rokeby Road intersection, proved a perfect vantage point for keeping an eye out for the police.”

Built in about 1896/97 Murphy was the first licensee of the hotel and in fact for the first approximately ten years after it first opened it was apparently called Murphy’s Hotel after him. (The corner also became known as Murphy’s Corner and there is a plaque in the footpath

The Secret Irish Life of the

SUBIACO HOTEL

By Lloyd Gorman

Photo: Courtesy City of Subiaco

outside the point where the Hay Street and Rokeby Road sides meet documenting the fact) So while it seemed he approved of a bit of impromptu wagering, Murphy himself was no flash in the pan character.

Quite the opposite.

Certainly Murphy was larger than life and the gregarious hotelier was even considered to be a pillar of the local community. We know that he was the patron of the Subiaco Football Club (SFC) in its early years.

There are a lot of newspaper articles reporting the activities, events and meetings of the SFC and in the thick of all of them are references or mentions of Murphy. This report, from a Daily News story shows how much he was liked.

“A pleasant function took place last evening at the Subiaco Hotel when Mr J. B Murphy, patron of the Subiaco Football Club, tendered a

22

complimentary social to the members and officers of that club,” the article states. “The toast to “the King” having been honoured, songs

by Messers Orgill and Evans, and a few song selections by Mr and Mrs Murphy proved decidedly enjoyable.”

The article gives a taste of a speech Murphy made to the team and club members about their success and progress on the field for which he got a loud cheer.

“Mr Ditchburn toasted ‘Our Patron’ and spoke in appreciative terms of the practical interest shown by ‘Mr Murphy in all sporting institutions, particularly the Australian game of football. (Cheers) They wanted a few more such men as Mr Murphy to take an interest in the Australian game, and the Subiaco team greatly appreciated the practical sympathy shown them by that gentle man. His kindly generous hospitality that evening proved that Mr Murphy was a “white man”,” the article added.

“Mr Murphy thanked the company for the enthusiastic reception given him.

He had played the Australian game himself, and it was not surprising that he took a deep interest in the game.Though he had been sceptical about the wisdom of joining the senior ranks, he was satisfied that they had made a good start.

They would get over the initial nervousness and if they would go in for training and playing together they would end the season better than they had commenced.

The same article gives us a hint that Murphy may have even had some influence in the eventual establishment and location of Subiaco Oval.

“They [SFC] should endeavour to get a good recreation ground,” Murphy is reported as saying at that event. “There was the old sand patch, which was central and of large area and could be made suitable to the purpose.

The question would have to be faced sometime and the sooner they took it in hand the better. (Cheers) He would do his utmost to further the interests of the Subiaco Club.

(Cheers).”

The Club was originally based in Shenton Park - which was then

Photo: Courtesy City of Subiaco

called West Subiaco where they played their early games near the area now called Lake Jualbup. But in 1908 league football games were transferred from there to Mueller Park, which is beside where the Subiaco stadium stands today. The first league game was played there on 9 May 1908, Subiaco Oval was born.

But it wasn’t all beer and skittles during Murphy’s tenure at the hotel.

Another newspaper cutting reveals that he lost his wife Nellie who lived there with him in May 1899, and that she is buried in the Roman Catholic cemetery at Karrakatta. She was 41 when she passed. Despite

Photo: Courtesy City of Subiaco

this loss Murphy would go on to run the hotel for another few years but by 1906/07 it was being referred to as the Subiaco Hotel. He would go on to become the licensee of other hotels in Perth.

Nothing I have been able to find tells us where he came from in Ireland and what we know of his last days is limited to a small article in the Daily News on February 4, 1919.

“A well-known entity passed way early this morning with the death of Mr John Blaney Murphy at Nurse Anderson’s private hospital,” (there were two of these hospitals - one in Perth and another in Subiaco) the article states. “The late Mr Murphy, who was the licensee of the Melbourne Hotel, corner of Hay and Milligan Streets, had a fall yesterday and was rendered unconscious, death was due to concussion of the brain. Formerly Mr Murphy was licensee for many years of the Subiaco Hotel, corner of Hay Street and Rokeby Road and the corner is commonly known as Murphy’s Corner.

He left there a few years ago and went to Maylands. From there he came to Perth, settling at the Mel-

bourne Hotel (which like the Subiaco Hotel was also built in 1896/97 and still operates today in the Perth CBD). His wife predeceased him. He leaves two sons, one of whom went on active service [in WW1] while the other managed the hotel business for his father.”

DAN CONNOR Prudence Sheldrick, née (O’CONPrudence Sheldrick is one of the owners of the Subiaco Hotel, whose family have a longstanding and special claim to the hotel. “I don’t know anything about him (John Murphy) at all, not a single thing,” she told Irish Scene. “All I know is that behind him was Daniel Connor, Daniel was the owner, he had a number of hotels, (Murphy) was was simply there as licensee because Daniel Connor never admitted to the ownership of anything. Daniel was involved with the Stanley Brewery - which became the Emu Brewery - which took over the running or ownership of the Subiaco Hotel and a number of other hotels. Something went wrong with the Stanley Brewery and the fellow who was running it, either through misfortune or whatever, they sold out to the Emu Brewery and part of the settlement was that the (Connor) family kept the Subiaco Hotel, the Savoy Hotel which was the Shamrock Hotel originally, the Perth Hotel, the Newcastle Club Hotel in Fremantle and the P&O Hotel and maybe some others.

Documentation shows the family took the Subi as part of the deal and promised to buy Emu Beer. So the family retained their ownership of it and has done since then.”

Daniel Connor was Prudence’s great grandfather.

A number of men with this name, one from Cahirsiveen, Co. Kerry, two from Limerick and Cork were deported to Australia around the same time.

This has lead to a number of the-

23

ories and even competing ideas, even within the O’Connor clan, about a man who may not have been able to read or write when he arrived in Australia, but who would become one of WA’s biggest landowners and remarkable figures.

“He supposedly stole a sheep to feed his family and as a convict he came out on the Phobe Dunbar (in 1853) and was pardoned as soon as he got here. He married Catherine Conway and was granted land in the Swan District.”

Connor came to own a farm, mill, hotel and other properties in Toodyay – and became known as the King of Newcastle (Tooydays original name) – before he moved to Perth where he continued the interest in property.

“At one stage, according to my father, he was negotiating to buy the entire length of Hay Street when he died, from Goderich Street (where Royal Perth Hospital is) down to the Subiaco Hotel. He owned part of Barrack Street and he bought the Savoy Hotel, which was called The Shamrock at the time, and put his son in law Tim Quinlan in there to manage it, and just continued to accumulate properties. “According to Dad, Dan had two breweries and 49 hotels, I don’t know about the 49 hotels but he was a crazy, extraordinary person.

Great grandfather built so much, he built most of the St.John Hospital, that was part of the thing about being a Catholic, you had to pay your dues to to the church, otherwise you wouldn’t get to heaven. Here was a man who came to Australia about

1858, probably as a convict and fifty years later his burial was officiated by the Archbishop of Perth.

He was about 65 years old when he died, they called him “the old gentleman”, his estate was $125,000 which would be the equivalent of more than a billion dollars today.

How does a man that nobody knows anything about leave $125,000 in 1898 and nobody talks about him, nobody mentions him?”

Indeed, the exploits of Daniel Connor would be deserving of a sep-

erate and dedicated article. According to Prudence, for example, the story has been passed down through the family that Connor played an active and vital part in the daring 1876 escape of six Fenian prisoners, ultimately orchestrated by JB O’Reilly from America, where he had escaped too from WA seven years ealier.

Connor single handedly carved out a property and business empire but he died shortly before the Subi Hotel was built. Who knows it may well be one of the last big deals he was involved with before his passing.

“Dan Connors built the Subiaco Hotel, I can’t prove he built it, there’s no record of building it as such, except old photographs of it. We’ve always known that we owned it and eventually when they were taken over by the brewery I have a legal document that says the family wanted the Subiaco Hotel back again. I don’t know why, maybe because it was the most successful of all the hotels, but they also got a number of other hotels back too. But the Subiaco Hotel has huge significance for me because its part of my heritage and we are probably almost the only family in WA who still own something that we’ve had for a 100 years.

Dad was obsessed with not letting the estate break up too much.”

The ownership of the Subiaco

24

Hotel is an exercise in contortionism – Irish style. The hotel originally cost 4,500 pounds to build but 2012 plans for a major $4.5 million overhaul lists Prudence, amongst the owners, as well as Terence Edward O’Conner, Edward Desmond O’Conner, Erin Anne Arundell, Dominic Edmund O’Conner, Christopher, Rupert O’Conner, Gregory John O’Conner, Benedict Paul O’Conner and Catharine Sally Aislinn Mellor.

The Catholic Church also has a stake in the business, a bequest of another, now deceased, Irish born owner.

MICHAEL MONAGHAN Another of the owners is Michael Monaghan and wife Judy, who have also been licensees of the establishment since the early 1970’s.

“Most people think I own it but I only own about a third of it, which I bought from a family member who I went to school with at St. Louis’s (Jesuist College XXX) and who wanted to sell. I’ve been trying to buy it for years. It now belongs to one of my companies and other people.”

The ownership structure is hopelessly complicated and involves a “cast of hundreds” with some owners based outside the country and some here in Perth.

The name of Monaghan’s company might sound familiar to Irish ears. The hotel’s tavern licence is held by Ballingarry Pty Ltd. It’s there in black and white above the doorway of the hotel. There are a number of Ballingarry’s spread throughout Ireland, so what is the significance of this name I asked Mr Monaghan.

“I was sitting with my friend Joe O’Halloran, a lawyer when I made it a company. Joe asked me what I wanted and I said get me a map of Ireland and I put a pin in it and it landed on Ballingarry, and that’s what it was.”

Mr Monaghan said he was first approached about the hotel in the early 1970’s. “I’ve been a hotelier all my life, they rang me and said would you look at it and I did. They came back to me and asked me if I wanted to lease it, and I did.”

Michael brings a pedigree of Irishness and tradition of hospitality to the mix. His grandfather was a publican who came out from Ireland

for the gold rush, ending up in WA. “When he arrived from Ireland he went to Coolgardie the best way he could, some of it was walking. He was an athlete and they used to have major athletic races between Coolgardie and Perth and he won a race and some money, which wasn’t very much but enough to start him off. He used the money to ‘grub stake’ - it’s an American word - Irish miners. So he supplied equipment to them on the agreement that if they struck anything he got a percentage and one of them did strike something and he got some money and he bought a hotel in Coolgardie and that’s where it all started. My other grandfather, on my maternal side, was English, but English Irish and he owned a couple of hotels in the city. He was a woodcutter with a company and cut down trees. He did an accountancy course by correspondence and then became manager and then bought a couple of hotels, leases in the city, the Melbourne Hotel and the Australian Hotel. Their daughter married my father, which was a very Catholic wedding. He was a raw boned Irishman who didn’t tolerate fools. My grandfather was one of the founders of the Celtic Club, I believe it was founded to help Irishmen and to counteract the Freemasons, they were different times.”

Over the last forty years, under the management of the Monaghans, the Subiaco Hotel has become one of Perth’s best known venues.

Ken Spillman put it well in his book about Subiaco, Tales of a Singular City - Subiaco since the 1970s, when he wrote: “As a third generation hotelier, Michael Monaghan was unusually qualified to assess the market and guide the business through times of change. In 2005, an eighty year old photograph of board members of the Australian Licenced Victuallers Association (later, the Australian Hotels Association) adorned one wall of his office, the faces peering into the photographer’s lens including those of both Monaghan’s grandfathers. By then Monaghan himself had served as Western Australian president of the Australian Hotel Association for thirteen years and as national president for two years.

By then too, Michael and Judy Monaghan had turned Subiaco’s first ‘local pub into one of Western Australia’s most distinctive hospitality businesses.”

Michael said he had been to Ireland three times, which is pretty good when you consider how far away it is and how demanding and time intensive running a hotel can be at the best of times. Hoteliers are often the least likely people to get away for a break.

“I still feel part Irish,” said Michael. “When Australia is playing Ireland I barrack for Australia, no question about that, I’m an Australian but I have a soft spot when they beat England at the cricket.

I celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. I normally go to mass with Fr. Joe at St. Joseph’s in Salvado Road. He does it well and I gather with some mates and drink Guinness. I’ve got a soft spot for Ireland and the Irish.

We’ve had some wonderful kids, backpackers work here, they know how to work and they have a wonderful personality. I wouldn’t mind a couple more working here. So, the Irish connection is that the Subiaco Hotel was built by Irish, managed by Irish up until it was leased to me and my grandfather was Irish.”

Another local Irish connection is that Rokeby Road on which the hotel sits is named after Henry Montagu, 6th Baron Rokeby of Armagh.

Lloyd Gorman

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

The Irish Western Australia Forum (IWAF) recently held a sundowner on the 18th February at the Terrace Hotel in George’s Terrace. A number of Irish businesses were given the opportunity to speak about their particular business. It was essentially a 2-10 minute pitch with Ciaran McKeown our MC for the night. We heard from owners/ management of the following companies: All Force Labour Solutions, McDonald Surveys, OHMS Hygiene and Your Legal HQ. A capacity crowd turned up for the event and everyone took advantage of the business networking opportunities. Tom Tierney also presented on the evening, telling us about the upcoming St Patrick’s Day Parade.

There were a number of spot prizes and raffles during the course of proceedings and overall the event was an overwhelming success. Special thanks to Taste Ireland who donated an Irish Gift Hamper for the Famine Commemoration raffle.

IWAF will be hosting numerous events over the course of the year so please check our website for further details: www. irelandwaforum.org

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Get involved or recommend speakers contact Marty Kavanagh on 92188422 email: marty@kavlaw.com.au

Mick Cluskey on Terry Wogan’s passing...

Helena Byrne Irish Storyteller writes...

Hi Fred, I hope you are well.

I am an Irish folklore storyteller and singer based in Dublin, Ireland. I perform as a Resident Storyteller for Irish Folk Tours’ show ‘An Evening of Food, Folklore & Fairies’ here in Dublin, and I have also performed for companies such as Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Libraries, Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre, Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, the National Leprechaun Museum and the Yarn Storytelling Festival in County Wicklow. I also produce my own storytelling events throughout Ireland.

In November 2015 I released my album ‘Scéal – a Collection of Irish Stories, Music & Poetry’. I wondered if I could possibly send you a copy of the album for review?

‘Scéal’, meaning ‘Story’ in the Irish language, is a collection of my favourite Irish stories and poems, gathered from various sources, including my own family and neighbours. These stories of Leprechauns and Trooping Fairies, encounters with the ‘Other Folk’ during the festival of Samhain and poems inspired by these magical tales are sure to bring you into the ‘Other World’ and awaken your imagination.

With this album I wanted to capture a piece of Ireland in times past, illustrate the beliefs that our ancestors had in days gone by and how those beliefs influenced their daily lives.

Further information, including extracts from the album, can be found on my website here: http://helenabyrne.com/sceal I hope it will be of interest to Irish Scene Magazine readers.

Kindest Regards, Helena Byrne

WIN A COPY OF HELENA’S CD

Helena sent us a copy of her CD and it is magic. If you would like to win our copy visit her website helenabyrne.com/sceal and tell us why you should receive it especially after you have listened to the recording of My Lagan Love. Send entries to fred@irishscene.com.au or text Fred on 0418 943 832

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Hello Fred, Just a couple of words on the passing today of one of Ireland’s most famous sons Terry Wogan.

Born, Michael Terence Wogan on the 3rd of August 1938 in Limerick City. Terry as he became known started his career with RTE in the 1960s.

Soon after he joined the BBC to become one of the most famous personalities within Ireland or Britain. With a Breakfast Radio programme that had eight million regular listeners, making him the most listened-to radio broadcaster in Europe.

As his radio show was considered to attract older listeners, Terry jokingly referred to his fans as “TOGs”, standing for “Terry’s Old Geezers.

Terry then went on to hosting TV shows such as “Come Dancing” “Blankety Blank” and the Eurovision Song Contest, before hosting his own three times a week chat show for the BBC which ran from 1985 to 1992.

Also from 1980 to 2014 Terry hosted the “Children in Need” Telethon which over the years has raised hundreds of millions for children’s charities.

To prove the popularity of Terry, every news station today ran with its main headline being the passing of Terry.

On a personal note, although not knowing or Our own Oliver ever meeting McNerney pictured with Terry Wogan Terry, I have grown up being back in the 70’s a massive fan of this man that made me feel that he was speaking to me personally every time he spoke.

We will miss you Terry!

RIP. Best Regards, Mike Cluskey.

FAMINE Commemoration York WA 2016 York, Western Australia and the Marwick family are proud to host the Annual Famine Commemoration 2016. The remembrance of those who died or had to leave Ireland for these shores is an important element in fostering an appreciation of the impact that the famine had and how this continues in Australia and Ireland.

No county in Ireland was left unscathed by the famine; research undertaken has uncovered first-hand accounts of the suffering and tragedy which unfolded during those years. We will be privileged to have visitors from Ireland at the commemoration. The official ceremony of

WESTERN AUSTRALIA There will also be an official installation of the Mary Ann Taylor Travel Box to the York Museum following the

commemoration

SUNDAY 8th MAY YORK WA 2016 11.30AM St Patrick’s Catholic Church SOUTH STREET, YORK

INCLUDES THE BLESSING OF THE MARY ANN TAYLOR TRAVEL BOX SAT 7 MAY 7PM: IRISH SESSION ST PATRICK’S CHURCH HALL For Tourist Information and Accommodation visit: York Tourist Bureau • York Town Hall Phone: 9641 1301 • yorktb@wn.com.au

commemoration at St Patrick’s Church with Parish Priest, Fr Stephen Cooney, will be a fitting and poignant reminder of the devastation and loss experienced by millions of people in the years 1845 – 1849 and beyond.

The event will also remember the women sent to Australia from the Workhouse as a result of the Famine. They will be represented by Mary Ann Taylor who arrived in the Swan River Colony in 1853 from Co Galway along with many other Irish girls. Many never to see their homes again.

Enquiries: Fred Rea 0418 943 832

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Beaconsfield parish priest celebrates Golden Jubilee – Fr Liam Keating SMA

By Marco Ceccarelli Courtesy www.therecord.com.au It’s a long way from St Coleman’s Cathedral in Newry, Northern Ireland, where Father Liam Keating SMA was first ordained, to Christ the King Parish in Beaconsfield, Perth, Western Australia, where he now resides as parish priest.

Yet long distances have never stood in the way of Fr Keating’s mission to bring the good news of the Gospel to the remotest ends of the earth. Time has also not been an obstacle, as his recent 50th anniversary to the priesthood revealed.

Fr Liam Keating celebrated his Golden Jubilee at Christ the King Church, Beaconsfield on 18 December 2015. More than 100 people attended the momentous occasion, including Auxiliary Bishop of Perth Don Sproxton, who concelebrated a special Mass of thanksgiving for Fr Keating’s Golden Jubilee along with eight other priests from the Archdiocese of Perth.

Celebrations continued into the evening at the Italian club in Fremantle, where speeches highlighting various aspects of Fr Keating’s eventful life as a priest were delivered by Bishop Sproxton, Principal of Christ the King School,

Peter Panizza, and head of the Christ the King Parish Council, Wayne Sgro.

Further celebrations were later held at Sunday Mass on 20 December 2015, the actual date of Fr Keating’s anniversary.

In an interview with The eRecord journalist Marco Ceccarelli, Fr Keating spoke of how grateful and delighted he was to see so many people attend his thanksgiving Mass, emphasising that these 50 years as a priest have rewarded him a with a deep sense of joy and fulfilment.

“I feel fulfilled in every way, and would not have changed a thing about my life as a priest,” he said.

Fr Keating went on to highlight that his ministry could not have been possible without the presence of three very important groups of people in his life. “As I thanked everyone who attended my Golden Jubilee, I reserved a special thanks to those who form part of my three families: my own family, my SMA family, and my parish family,” he added.

The youngest of ten children, Fr Liam Keating was born in Cahirciveen (Cathair Saidhbhín, meaning “Little Sadhbh’s stone ringfort”), County Kerry, Ireland on 4 September 1939 and received his education in Cahirciveen by the Christian Brothers.

Along with 42 fellow novices, he entered the novitiate of the Society of African Missions (SMA) in 1958 at Cloughballymore, Kilcolgan, County Galway, before undertaking his Bachelor of Arts degree at University College, Cork between

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1959 and 1962. He subsequently moved to Dromantine House at Newry, County Down which was the seminary for the Irish province of the SMA from 1926 until 1972.

Following his ordination to the priesthood at St Colman’s Cathedral, Newry on 20 December 1965, Fr Keating was sent to England for postgraduate studies in philosophy at one of the country’s oldest universities, the prestigious, Jesuitrun, Heythrop College.

Upon completion of his studies, and following a year back at Dromantine House as Professor of Philosophy, Fr Keating moved to the Irish National Seminary at Maynooth in 1969. As well as joining the academic staff of the seminary, he was subsequently appointed the inaugural Dean of Students at Maynooth’s newly-opened SMA House where, from 1972, all SMA seminarians of the Irish province were to reside and study.

The year 1973 saw Fr Keating’s arrival to Western Australia where he accepted yet another teaching appointment – this time at the SMA’s St Brendan’s College in Beaconsfield, Perth. During his time at the college (1973-1977), Fr Keating was hailed as an extremely popular and effective Form Master and teacher, as well as a highly valued chaplain and pastoral companion to both students and staff.

In 1977, Fr Keating returned to Ireland on his way to Africa, only to find himself appointed Novice Master for a year at Wilton College, Cork. A year later, he moved to the Archdiocese of Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria, where he was a parish priest until 1980.

Fr Keating was eventually transferred back to Beaconsfield – this time to the SMA parish of Christ the King where he was appointed assistant to the then parish priest, Fr Edward “Ned” Donovan SMA (RIP).

Following Fr Donovan’s retirement in 1995, Fr Keating was appointed parish priest of Christ the King. To the immense satisfaction of both his parishioners and the Archdiocese of Perth, he is showing no signs of slowing down.

Story with the assistance of Alastair Mackay – Christ the King Parish, Beaconsfield.

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Spinning a yarn or a record is pretty much the same thing to Joe Collins.

This Kildare man’s love of music - mainly but not only Irish music - is matched by his ability to chat about it. Hardly a surprise then that he has a couple of popular slots on York FM and has built up something of a loyal following. And while he may have always been destined to end up sitting in front of and speaking into a microphone this enthusiastic DJ did not exactly come at it from a traditional angle and there was a lot of bouncing around involved before he settled.

He left Ireland in April 1968 as a “young fella”, the only one of 15 siblings to leave home but made regular visits back in the early days.

“I went home two years before my mother died and I went home and saw my father before he passed away, he passed away when I was on my way back to Australia.”

When he landed in Sydney young Joe got a job in the Summit Restaurant which in those days was the tallest building in the city, at 47 floors.

Next came a job pumping fuel in 44 gallon drums with BP Australia, and then putting fuel into tankers. “I gave that away and met another Irish bloke looking for a truck driver and then I did some interstate driving, between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. Then we went to Melbourne, there was a job going in underground rail in the 1970’s, an Irishman from Dundalk, Tom Doherty, (who had also worked on the Snowy Mountain Scheme) was running the show there and I drove a front end loader, I did that for five years and the job ended there so from there I went to Perth.” A job in Armadale was followed by a stint in the mining game in Agnew, handling explosives and doing blasting.

Kalgoorlie proved lucky for the hard working have a go Collins, although it didn’t start out that way. “I came the 380 km from Angew to Kalgoorlie because I had a bit of an accident. I was sitting in Hannon’s Pub there and I spotted this girl with two other girls at the end of the bar.

She was watching me and I was watching her, we were like two hawks.

I ended up marrying her. Margaret (an Aussie) was a school teacher in Kalgoorlie at the time but she picked up a job as headmistress in South Fremantle Senior High School and we moved back to Perth and then I got a job with Arnott Mills and Ware in Fremantle as a delivery driver.

Margaret got a job in Albany so we moved there where our daughter was born, in 1989. I worked with Main Roads WA in Albany as a loader driver, then to Darkan with the Shire of Darkan and then we moved again to Wagin, got a job with Wagin shire as the ranger and caretaker of the showgrounds. Then she picked up the principal’s job here in York, so we moved here and now she’s regional director of schools and has over a hundred schools to look after.”

True to his recent spate of jobs with the local shire Joe picked up a job as a grader with the Shire of York. “I was in a place called West Albert Road,” he said. “I was listening to the radio and the bloke on the air - Peter named a song he had just played and I said to myself that’s definitely not the name so I rang him and I told him. He said that’s what “it said here” and I told him that I have the original song with the original cover, it was the Patriot Game and the singer was Luke Kelly. He asked

Simper St

By Fred Rea/Lloyd Gorman

if I would bring in my copy to compare them. When we met he said why don’t you become a presenter on radio and that he would train me up. I haven’t looked back since, that was 19 years ago. I’ve got a good following with young backpackers in the area doing their regional work. They are working away in the tractors or whatever and they turn me on. It makes their day to hear an Irish voice.

I’ve got a group of Irish blokes out at Toodyay who tune into me each and every time, they wouldn’t miss the show.”

Every Monday on York FM from 4pm to 7pm, Joe drives his flagship programme Celtic Note, named after a

Selby St

ice The Vo Avon of the

The King of Spin

music shop in Dublin where he used to buy his records.

On Wednesday nights he has another show called ‘A little bit of everything’ which over four hours crams in Irish, English and Scottish, with the last hour given over to the country music.

“It’s a real good set up,” he added. “There’s no one else down here that plays that sort of music and people love the Irish music, I love my Irish music. With songs like Richie Kavanagh’s “Aon Focal Eile” I try to make it clear that the songs can have a double meaning and I say it’s up to the listener what meaning you want to put to the song. But I try to explain that it’s not a rude song and that it’s an everyday word song in Ireland. In the whole time I’ve only had one complaint about a song that had a mention of the IRA in it, but all the rest went down well with the people. I get a lot of people calling in for the Chicken Song too. People say to me that only I could get away with what I do on the radio, even the chairperson of the station, and that I get away with murder. So obviously people enjoy my sense of humour.”

Joe has a colourful family history and background.

Born in Naas, Co. Kildare, Joe’s father, a Westmeath man from Kinnegad, family originally came from Cork and there is a family connection to Michael Collins. Indeed his father was born the same year ‘The Big Fella’ was killed.

“I wouldn’t be here if my grandmother had made it onto the Titanic,” Joe casually throws into the conversation in the same way you might ask somebody if they’d like a

biscuit with their cup of tea. “The story is that she got so sick and tired of waiting for my grandfather to ask her to marry him so she had enough and decided to go to America. She made her way to the ship and was about to embark on her when my grandfather caught her in time and proposed to her. If she had made it onto the Titanic I probably wouldn’t be here now.”

Joe and his wife are returning to Ireland in March, in time to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day there, his first time in the country for the occasion in 46/47 years. They spent Christmas (2014) in Ireland too, only his second time to mark Christmas at home in 45 years.

There’s also a bit of a reunion of the Collins family in April, to coincide with what would have been his father’s 100th birthday.

Hallelujah, it’s Handel!

In the 18th century an oratorio was described as a sort of spiritual opera, its subject matter usually taken from the scriptures, or the life of a saint.

One of the most famous oratorios is Handel’s Messiah.

This well known and liked body of music has a strong Irish, and Easter, connection.

George Frideric Handel composed the sacred oratorio in just over three weeks during August-September 1741, which was pretty quick going for even someone as gifted as he was.

Handel had written it in London, but he considered an invitation to Ireland to conduct a series of concerts to be the ideal time to “offer the Irish, that generous and polite nation, something new”.

Messiah was first performed in Dublin’s Fishamble Street in April, 1742, Handel’s gift to the Irish nation.

Dublin clerics insisted that proceeds from ticket sales should go to charity, a tradition that still continues today. Its huge success included the release of 142 indebted Fishamble Street then and now! prisoners.

There was plenty of controversy in London that Handel should have chosen to premiere the work in Ireland and the controversy continued the following year when Handel conducted its London premiere in the secular setting of Covent Garden instead of a church.

These days Messiah is most often performed as a Christmas oratorio and has been performed in Perth during the festive season for many years, most recently at Winthrop Hall, UWA (named after Irishman and university founder John Winthrop Hackett), in December of last year.

While there have been variations and edits to it over the years, the original Dublin version was performed at St. George’s Cathedral, in Perth, as part of Holy Week in 2013.

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Mick muscles in on the act

by Lloyd Gorman/Fred Rea The next time you see a truck or even possibly a plane on TV being pulled down a stretch of road at the end of a rope it might well be a mountain man from Kildare doing the heaving.

Mick Fingleton, a native of Moatefield, Athy, is building up something of a reputation for himself as a strongman. Considered to be something of a big lad by many back in Ireland Mick has found that his talents are being nurtured by being in Western Australia.

“I was a small child, but all my brothers and sisters are all very tall people, they say it comes from my mothers side,” said Mick who stands about 6’ 4”. “Back home I played rugby for about ten years for Athy, from around 2001 to 2010 but I got tired of the rugby, it wasn’t doing it for me anymore. All my life I was always into the weights, I got my first set of weights from Santa and I haven’t looked back since.”

Catching a glimpse of another Irish competitor on a UK TV strong man show in 2011 opened the 33 year olds eyes to the possibilities and revealed to him what he wanted to - and could - do.

“His name is James Fennelly, I saw him and he was from Kilkenny, he’d been Ireland’s strongest heavyweight man four times. Everyone thought I was a big lad but he was massive. I tried to find him on Facebook and got an email address and saw he had a club in Kilkenny, so I emailed him and asked to call down and he was giving a beginners class.

I went down to James and we used to train every Saturday morning, it was tough on the body as I was training for rugby and for strongman.”

Mick would go on to train under his guidance, lifting cars and heavy stones as well as big axles and that

kind of thing. “It’s all technique, with lots of weight training,” said Mick. “I like strong man because its different to everything else and is a test of overall body strength.”

Australia was at the back of Mick’s mind and a choice to make in front of him. Then at 29 he found out that the cut off point for a working holiday visa was 30. “So I was gutted,” he said. “I found my passion and what I wanted to do but I had always wanted to go to Australia, so I had a big decision to make and James told me I had very good potential to be a strongman and he wanted to get me into a competition, but I never did compete in Ireland. To this day my brother reckons I was more devastated leaving the strongman club than my family.”

Keen to keep up the strongman thing Mick started searching out a local club not long after he arrived. He found Daniel Macari, one of Perth’s best known strongmen.

As with James Fennelly, Mick contacted Macari who invited him to train with him and another couple of guys in a garage gym. Saturday mornings again became taken up with training. “James showed me the ropes and asked me questions like “what’s your dead lift? or your squat and I said, “My what?,” and he said he’d show me how to do it and ever since then I’ve been hooked.”

Mick worked out with the local lads for a few months before getting his own weights.

With the support and encouragement of his new friends and regime Mick - weighing in at 105 kilos - entered into his first competition and took second place. He came second in the next competition he entered and then on his third he won the title of WA’s strongman under 105. But just as he seemed to be getting some traction with his

32

strongman ambitions Mick found even his gritty determination and desire was not enough to get him there.

“I was struggling to keep my weight down, I have a big appetite, I was trying to keep my weight under 105, which is a good weight division for me, I was supposed to go through to Australia’s strongman that year in the 105 Division but I couldn’t make it because I was only getting weaker and I was getting sick as well, I just couldn’t handle it. I knew if I went up and over 105 I wouldn’t do so well so I stepped away from strongman for about a year after that (2013) because I was having problems with visa and trying to get my PR (permanent residence) and some other personal issues as well, so I gave it away. Everyone was unaware where I went, a bit like a disappearing act, then I decided to come back to heavy weight division in 2014. I put on a bit more weight and two weeks before the WA strongman I had to go on a business trip to Italy, so I lost a lot of training. I came back and did the competition anyway but came last. I came out of that knowing I had a lot of work to do.”

Mick has seen a nutritionalist to help him control what he eats. He has between six and eight meals a day. His diet now is made up of steak, chicken, potatoes, nuts, tuna, greens and the very odd time maybe a pizza. “Your trying to put on weight, cooking is hard, training is easy.”

Mick got himself some professional strongman equipment and made up some himself as well from scrap metal and stones and was lucky enough to be able to set it up where he worked, leaving him free to practice regularly. “I joined a gym too, because I was getting tired of training by myself in the garage. I never trained in a gym. Back home I used my father’s turf shed when it was empty and I cut a door into my mother’s greenhouse and put all my weights in there. Now I treat myself every Friday, I go for a swim after a hard session in Beatty Park Leisure Centre, it’s good to get out, I haven’t used the garage in a while now.”

Weighing in at 115 Kilos when he spoke with Fred, Mick will be competing against guys with another 15 kilos on top of his weight. “So I always feel small when I turn up on the day but I’ve good strength and I’m happy with what I’m able to do. It’s always been a dream of mine to have my own gym. It would show I practice what I preach and make a name for myself. If I do set something up then people would know me by name, reputation has a lot to do with it. I have my own ideas for a gym here, I’d like to have one that is unique.”

Mick expects to be entering - and hopefully winning competitions again in 2016. As they might say in Ireland, more power to your elbow mate.

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Dermot Byrne

The Irish Quiz Wiz! a.k.a. Dermot from Lesmurdie on ABC radio Nightlife program.

I am packing my bags and heading for Ireland for St Patrick’s Day and the Easter Rebellion Commemoration in Dublin. It will be a time to savour and I will have plenty of news on my return. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours all the best for Paddy’s Day. I leave you with this Irish blessing... Here’s to a long life and a merry one. A quick death and an easy one. A pretty girl and an honest one. A cold pint and another one! (or two in Dublin for me!) Slan!

1. What date is Wales St. David’s Day? 2. What famous song did the German composer George Graff write?

3. Who, in one of Shakespeare’s play’s was told to beware the ides of March?

4. The sinking of which ship brought the USA into World War 1?

5. Liverpool Airport is named after whom?

6. Which of the Seven Dwarf’s does not have a beard?

7. What is associated with a first wedding anniversary?

8. What date is England’s St George’s Day? 9. What record does the Guinness Book of Records hold?

10. Which type of knot is used to shorten a rope without cutting it?

e t n i a Sl

Answers: 1.March 1st, 2.When Irish Eyes are smiling, 3.Julius Caesar, 4.Lusitania, 5.John Lennon, 6.Dopey, 7.Paper, 8.April 23rd, 9.It’s stolen from libraries more than any other book, 10.Sheepshank

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By Lloyd Gorman

ISTEACH SA TEACH

Canberra Special

Taxing times ahead for Irish backpackers?

There was a time when almost every young person capable of applying for a backpackers visa to Australia seemed to do just that.

Once here, the vast majority applied to double that 12 month period by doing a stint of work in regional or country Australia where work is plentiful but a badly needed labour force isn’t exactly bountiful.

A few months spent in deep Australia for an extra-long stay was considered a fair trade by most Irish - and other - backpackers, but that may be all about to change.

The Federal Government - the new one under Malcolm Turnbull that promised to be infinitely better than the Abbott administration - now has backpackers firmly in its sights. Unless something gives way before then - which is always possible - Irish young people coming to Australia for a year or two, while multinationals and the super-rich continue to enjoy low to no tax status, could be doing some of the heavy lifting to get the nation back on track.

From July, the government plans to remove the tax-free threshold for backpackers employed on holiday working holiday visas and start taxing them at the rate of 32.5% from the first dollar they earn. This proposal from the Liberal Party side of the coalition government in Canberra - which is similar to what we have here in WA - is unlikely to fly well with their government partners, the National Party, which represents the interests of rural and country Australia.

Whacking a new tax on workers in important but out of the way agri-

cultural parts of Australia has already been resisted by the National Farmers’ Federation and the ‘Nats’ can’t be exactly enthusiastic about the idea either. Without their support this scheme to rob the working class youth can’t succeed.

The tax slug may make a bad situation even worse. Irish Backpacker numbers are already heading south - and I don’t mean southern hemisphere. Immigration department figures show that there were nearly 12,000 working holidaymakers (as they are classed) from Ireland given 417 visa in 2012/13, but that dropped by 56% to just over 5,0000 in the last financial year. An industry - hospitality, bars and fruit picking - already under pressure in Australia could find itself buckling under the strain of a lack of young people willing to do the hard yards outside metropolitan areas.

So while Malcolm Turnbull’s ability to truly lead the nation in any meaningful or alternative sense from the man he oused to get the top job hangs in the balance, another leadership switch has just taken place. Barnaby Joyce has taken over as leader of the Nat’s from Warren Truss and in doing so has become Australia’s deputy prime minister. If, and when it happens and Turnbull goes on overseas jaunts as sometimes he must, Joyce will be Australia’s head honcho. Anyone who has been in the country for more than a wet week will know that the man whose name sounds like a cross between a detective TV character and a famous Irish writer is a colourful character, a maverick with a reputation for saying or doing something

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reckless or even madcap. Without any authority or expertise on the issue at all I’d like to offer this idea for consideration. Joyce has and is fully aware of his strong Irish heritage (dating back to the 1800’s) and has been to Ireland (Galway was his favourite place). There could be a shopping list of reasons for his renowned eccentricity but I’m not sure his Irishness can be discounted as being one of them. Either way Joyce will be an interesting counterpoint to the urbane and refined Turnbull.

Another drawback to the Turnbull takeover (of October 2015) looms large as March 17 looms closer. In the two years he was prime minister of Australia Tony Abbott made two St. Patrick’s Day online messages.

They were a crass, uncomfortable (to watch), cringeworthy and cheap attempt at endearing him with the Irish Australian community. He shouldn’t have bothered.

The first year was bad enough, with Mr Abbott talking about how busy he was at Parliament to really celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with us but how he was wearing a green tie, and would sink some Guinness at some point. The Irish were a people of dreamers, singers and poets who gave Australia its soul he said. You have to expect a certain amount of blather from politicos on these occasions, but when he rehashed the same bad speech exactly a year later - looking even more uneasy than he did the first time around - I did wonder what he would do third time around. Would his staff go to the filing cabinet, dust off the old speech and give it a nip and tuck or maybe someone from the Irish community should have been on

the the brink of contacting his office with the offer of penning a few lines to mark the occasion that wouldn’t make you feel like reaching for a paper bag.

Now we will never know how Mr Abbott would have fared, a train wreck may have been averted but quite what the Irish community will get in exchange - if anything - remains to be seen.

Rather than worrying over what he might say to Irish Australians Turnbull is likely to be more concerned with when he is going to call a Federal election. Later this year, probably around November, looks likely, but again no one knows, perhaps not even the PM himself. In the mean time and within a very short time of each other - three WA Labor MPs in Canberra have called it a day.

Alannah MacTiernan has said she will leave Canberra after this Federal election. MacTiernan had some success as a transport and infrastructure minister in WA but after a spell in the doldrums the politician with a strong and tangible Irish upbringing and background resurfaced on the local scene with election as mayor of the City of Vincent.

One of her earliest duties as mayor was to head up the first St. Patrick’s Day parade her electorate in 2013. Now she is set to return to WA Labor with some speculation that she could front a leadership spill of the party from the current leader, Mark McGowan, whose Irish roots are less defined or quantifiable.

Because I have been discussing leadership issues so much I should perhaps make a disclosure in the interest of openness. In February WA police minister Liza Harvey became deputy premier (and shortly afterwards was expected to become 2IC of the Liberal party in the state. Harvey - who endured the terrible loss of her husband Hal through cancer while in Cabinet - has been tipped as Colin Barnett’s personal favourite to take over from him when he eventually hands over the reins of the ruling party. Harvey pulled my wife’s ticket out of a Rotary Club draw for a massive Christmas hamper in December.

We were delighted to win of course, but that is the extent of my interest in the matter.

On the day (February 26) that this edition of Irish Scene was going to the printers, Irish voters were going to the ballot box to keep the government they have in place or to pick a new one. So there wasn’t even the slightest possibility of reporting the outcome. I recently called an old friend in Ireland who I house shared with in Rathmines for a couple of years and the election came up. Tommy - now a senior civil servant - and I used to sit-up for hours talking about politics, from the Civil War right up to the present day (which then was the early 1990’s). They were great discussions and I came to respect Tommy’s insights. I asked him which way he thought the wind would blow on election day and he came back with the idea that based on the likely numbers it could be a Fine Gael (who have been in power for about eight years now) and Fianna Fáil (who were also in government for a long time before the people of Ireland kicked them out. Opinion polls showed that Labour’s status with voters was so low that they would be wiped out or culled, leaving them unable to form an alternative government, Tommy reckoned. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are

36

of course old Civil War (1922) enemies and philosophical opponents and always have been, but the prospect of them coming together to form a coalition government. For generations of die-hard political party faithful the unthinkable prospect of going into government with their oldest enemy might be unfathomable, but perhaps also unavoidable.

Yarloop The Town That Once Was

When life’s a battle and your pocket don’t rattle And you’re living on bread and soup Think of those with less consumed with stress Who lived in the town Yarloop Things looked dire when a wall of fire Roared through the little town The folks were bereft when all that was left Was a sea of black and brown Melted metal a twisted kettle Broken and burnt possessions There is no name for a wall of flame That takes with no concessions Barely time to flee as tree by tree Was engulfed by this slice of hell An enormous cost with some lives lost Two veterans who chose to dwell Though times were dark there remained a spark Of hope that faintly burned The message sent that the fire was spent And the townsfolk sadly returned In total grief and disbelief They looked at once was home They clung to each other like sister and brother In an emotional supportive dome Their spirit not killed they hoped to rebuild And honour the two who died The united throng tried to be strong But most of them broke down and cried And through all the tears and all the fears And their emptiness and pain The determined group, the people of Yarloop Vowed that their town would rise again Rise again… rise again… the little town Yarloop Will rise again PETER CAPP 2016

FORGING INDEPENDENCE

With their strong inherent sense of freedom, many Ulstermen contributed to the establishment of the United States and its democratic values.

John Hagan examines the involvement of two such pioneers who helped create the American Constitution.

JOHN DUNLAP

Born in Meeting House Street, Strabane (Co Tyrone), in 1746, John Dunlap was sent to America when he was 10 years old, to be an apprentice to his uncle, William Dunlap, a Philadelphia printer and bookseller. Twenty years later William Dunlap decided to place his business in the hands of his Irish nephew, who eagerly accepted the opportunity.

Initially, times were tough and John Dunlap eked out a living printing sermons and handbills, and remained so poor that he lived in the printing shop where he slept under the counter. Eventually trade improved and John was able to purchase the business from William, who had, by then, become an ordained Anglican minister.

In November 1771, looking to the future, John Dunlap, took a chance on newspaper publishing, and launched the weekly broadsheet, the Pennsylvania Packet. As the business continued to grow, Dunlap wrote home to Ulster to encourage more young men to come to America to seek their fortune: “The young men of Ireland who wish to be free and happy should leave it and come here as quickly as possible. There is no place in the world where a man meets so rich a reward for conduct and industry”.

Since 1765, the 13 American Colonies had been in revolt against the authority of the British Parliament, and in 1773 the infamous incident of ‘the Boston tea party’ occurred and the Colonies established the ‘Continental Congress’ in order to work towards the formation of a republic and throw off British rule. During this revolution, Dunlap served as an officer in the Philadelphia Cavalry and saw action, under George Washington, at the battles of Trenton (1776) and Princton (1777). It was soon after the Trenton battle that Dunlap secured a prestigious contract with the Continental Congress, becoming its official printer. On 2 July 1776, the colonies voted to secede from Britain, and two days later approved the final wording of The Declaration of Independence. Dunlap was ordered, to print broadside copies of this declaration and that evening he produced about 200 copies, which he later distributed to the members of Congress. These were the first officially produced versions of the Declaration of Independence and became known as the ‘Dunlap broadsides’. [A copy of a Dunlap broadside recently fetched $8.14 million] In 1784, Dunlap’s newspaper commenced publica-

tion on a daily basis and was renamed the North American and United States Gazette. Dunlap also printed items for Pennsylvania’s revolutionary government, but the bulk of his new wealth was mainly derived from real estate speculation. He bought land in both Pennsylvania and Kentucky, some of it from settlers who refused to take an oath of loyalty to Pennsylvania. In 1795, at the age of 48, Dunlap retired from business with a sizable fortune, but retirement, apparently, did not agree with him. According to his friend, Dr Benjamin Rush, Dunlap became “a drunkard” during his final years and died of apoplexy in Philadelphia on 27 November 1812. He was buried with full military honours at Christ Church, Philadelphia. His birthplace in Strabane is marked with a plaque erected by the local council.

CHARLES THOMPSON

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My first teaching post was in Maghera (Co Londonderry), close to where Charles Thompson was born in 1729. Thompson still remains the area’s most famous citizen. Following the death of his mother in 1739, Charles’ father, a linen bleacher, decided to try his luck in America. During the voyage, the elder Thompson died and Charles and his younger brothers were robbed of all their possessions by the ship’s captain. Fortunately a kind blacksmith in New Castle (Delaware) took Charles into his care ensuring the child had a good education.

In 1750 Charles became a Latin tutor in Philadelphia and began to develop an interest in politics before going on to become one of the leading lights in the Revolutionary movement. Between 1774 and 1789 he served as Secretary to the Continental Congress, taking “a direct role in the conduct of foreign affairs”. During these years it has also been suggested that Charles Thompson was, in effect, the ‘Prime Minister of the United States”.

The American Declaration of Independence is written by Thompson’s own hand, and he also designed the first Great Seal of America, depicting the American Eagle, and chose what was widely considered the de facto motto of the United States: “E pluribus unum” – one out of many. It

was Thompson who, in 1789, personally conveyed Congress’s invitation to George Washington, at his Mount Vernon home, to become the first President of the United States.

Thompson resigned as Congress Secretary in 1789, and spent his later years working on a translation of the Bible, publishing a synopsis of the four Gospels and pursuing interests in bee keeping and agriculture.

He also wrote a history of the American Revolution, but unfortunately, much to the universal disappointment of historians, he decided against publication and even destroyed all his notes. During his final years, Thompson became senile and died, aged 94, on 16 August 1824. He was buried in Laurel Vale Cemetery, Philadelphia.

During his time as Congress Secretary, Thompson had his critics and detractors, however, such was his renowned reputation for integrity and honesty, he gave rise to the proverb, “It’s as true as if Charles Thompson’s name were on it”.

POST SCRIPT While the Official Declaration of Independence was recorded in the handwriting of Maghera’s Charles Thompson and was printed by John Dunlap from Strabane, other Ulstermen also played a major part in its history. The Constitution was given its first reading by the son of an Ulsterman, Colonel John Dixon, while among its signatories were the following, all either born in Ulster, or born to Ulster parents – John Hancock, President of the Congress, Thomas McKean, Robert Paine, Thomas Nelson, Edward Rutledge, George Taylor, William Whipple and Matthew Thornton.

Seán Roche nday 5pm Easter Su

A Fishy story!!!

An Irish friend went trout fishing in the Harvey Dam just south of Perth. Not having any luck with flies and lures, he decided to try using a frog. Frogs are great bait for trout. He could hear the croaking in the bush. It was then he saw a dugite snake with a frog in his mouth.

Knowing the snake couldn’t bite him with the frog in his mouth he grabbed him right behind the head, took the frog, and put it in his bait bag. Now he has a dilemma, how to release the snake without getting bitten.

So, I grabbed my bottle of Jameson’s Irish Whiskey and poured a little whiskey in its mouth. The snake’s eyes rolled back, he went limp.

He released him into the bush without incident and carried on fishing using the frog. A little later, he told me he felt a nudge on my foot. There was that same snake with two frogs in his mouth. Was there a story about St Patrick driving the snakes from Ireland? It’s as well Patrick didn’t have a bottle of whiskey!

Believe it or believe it not!

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The Australian-Irish Heritage

Sun, 6 March AGM Irish Club Committee Room, 5pm This is the day we review activities of the Association and elect a new Board. Members are encouraged to consider nominating for a Board position or for coordinating one of our many events and activities. Ring our secretary on 9367 6026 to talk about your area of interest.

Attendees must be current paid-up members. Membership was due on 1 January. Contact membership secretary Patricia on 9345 3530.

Credit cards welcome. The Association cannot function without a supportive membership base.

Minutes 2015, President and Treasurer reports will be distributed at the meeting.

The meeting usually concludes within an hour and Afternoon Tea is provided or avail of dinner at the club.

Sun 13 March, St Patrick’s Parade and Festival, 10 am Leederville The AIHA will be participating in the parade and will have an information tent at the oval. You are invited to join our float, dressing in a character, representative of any of our regular events – St Brigid, Yeatsean, Joycean or any Australian Irish heritage theme.

Thurs 17 March, St Patrick’s Day, Mass Service, St Mary’s Cathedral, Victoria Square, Perth at 10am AIHA will be among the community group procession behind our banner.

No formal dinner or luncheon organised by AIHA this year. Lunch at The Irish Club, 9381 5213 and the Celtic Club, 9322 2299.Or join us at Miss Mauds Murray Street following the Mass. Buy off the menu.

Ring Cecilia on 9367 6026 by the 13th for our group booking (Limited Numbers).

Tuesday 22 March and 26 April Fourth Tuesday Book Club Meet in Irish Club Committee Room, 61 Townshend Road, Subiaco.

Book for March ‘The Children of Men’

by P D James.

All welcome. Light refreshments provided excluding drinks.

Contact Maureen on 9279 2486

Easter Monday, March 28, Catalpa Memorial, Rockingham 11 am, 1916 Centenary Event Annual commemoration of the escape of six Fenian convicts on 17-18 April, 1876. It’s the 140th anniversary and the Catalpa memorial depicts six wild geese in flight commissioned by Rockingham Council and created by Charles and Joan Walsh-Smith. It was unveiled in September 2005.

Free event presented by AIHA with a program of music, song, poetry, historic and reflective presentations.

Catalpa Memorial, Rockingham beach just south of township. Some seating, water and shade provided, PA system for hearing comfort.

Afterwards adjourn to Latitude 32 Restaurant, Railway Terrace, Palm Beach Boardwalk – walking Distance Monday 25 April, ANZAC Day commemoration, Rokeby Road, Subiaco, 8am At invitation of RSL City of Subiaco sub-branch, AIHA members carry flags and lay a wreath. The Irish Club President will also lay a wreath.

Assemble at Subiaco Post Office at 8.00am to march at 8.15am to Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial at corner Rokeby and Hamersley Roads.

Barton Vehicle Maintenance CARS - TRUCKS - 4WD’S

Michael: 0413 889 501 mickcarb@iinet.net.au

Refreshments follow at Subiaco Community Centre, corner Rupert Street and Bagot Road Saturday 30 April, 1916 Centenary Concert ‘A Sense of Ireland’, Octagon Theatre, 7.30pm Showcasing best of Irish culture under direction of Frank Murphy.

Join an audience of VIPs and share the pride in your Irish heritage in a theatrical presentation themed to the 1916 centenary commemorations with funding support from the Government of Ireland. Full details to be released at launch of 2016 Programme of events in March Writing Competitions 2016, deadline June 30 The Joe O’Sullivan Writers’ Prize honouring the memory of the Organisation’s late founder, worth $1,000, limit of 2,000 to 4,000 words - prose, fact or fiction. Open to residents of WA only Topic: “Remembrance and Reconciliation”.

Joyce Parkes Women’s Writers’ Prize honours Joyce Parkes who is a well known poet living in WA. She is the patron of the prize, which aims at promoting and encouraging women writers in Australia. Limit of 1,000 to 2,000 words – Prose, fact or fiction.

Prize Money: $500 Topic: “Reflection” Entrance Fee $10 for all competitions. Deadline 30 June, 2016. Enquiries to Denis Bratton 9345 3530

AUSTRALIAN-IRISH HERITAGE ASSOCIATION Non Political-Non Sectarian-Emphatically Australian PO Box 1583 Subiaco 6904. Tel: 08 9345 3530.

Email: aiha@irishheritage.net Web Page: www.irishheritage.net Membership Due in 1st January.

Family membership $65, Concession $55, Membership fee includes tax deductible donation of $20

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ON SITE SERVICE TO ALL MAKES

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The Australian-Irish Heritage Association was founded in 1993 as an inclusive organisation which encourages and promotes an awareness of Australia’s Irish Heritage and Culture. To this end, the AIHA creates opportunities for all to learn about, participate in and enjoy this distinctive heritage.

Licence No MRB 3939

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Martin Kavanagh Honorary Consul Of Ireland

WA REMEMBERS EASTER 1916 St Patrick’s Day is a time to celebrate being Irish and being proud of our heritage. I can see no better place to stand tall and proud than at the St Patrick’s Day festival in Leederville.

On behalf of Irish community in Perth I am delighted to congratulate the organisers and volunteers for their huge commitment and drive.

Their fine efforts are a wonderful service to the community. Resources permitting I hope we can all contribute in some way to the fundraising efforts of the St Patrick’s organisers.

2016 also sees many events organised by dedicated members of our community to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising. I urge you to attend as many as possible events to remember, reconcile, present, imagine and celebrate. Please see the latest list events planned below.

The list changes from day to day so my apologies if your event is not included. Please keep an eye on our website and the excellent website warememberseaster1916.

Finally, Richard and I wish to thank the dedicated and hardworking staff at the Honorary Consulate and the Embassy. Our thanks as ever to Sarah Mangan and Graham Hartnett at the Embassy for their sage advice and assistance and of course our thanks and appreciation to Ambassador Noel White whose service to Ireland cannot be over-estimated.

Happy St Patrick’s Day to one and all.

COMMEMORATION • EVENTS • 29 February Song for Ireland: Outside Broadcast to celebrate the St Patricks day Festival Venue: Irish Club 7pm Presented by: Fremantle Radio & Frank Murphy 23 March A Concert to Celebrate the Easter Rising Venue: GPO Perth Presented by: Perth Chamber Orchestra 28 March Catalpa Commemoration 11am Venue: Catalpa Memorial, Rockingham Presented by: AIHA 28 March Easter Rising 100th Anniversary Commemoration @ 1pm Venue: The Irish Club, Subiaco Enquiries: Mick Manning 30 March to 16 April The Plough & The Stars Venue: The Irish Club Presented by: The Irish Theatre Players 1, 2 and 3 April All Irish Weekend Bunbury 1st: Sean Roche @ Rose Hotel 2nd: Damien Leith @ Cube Theatre 3rd: Commemoration @ O’Reilly Park Presented by: J.B.O’Reilly Association 8 April The Easter Rising Documentary @ 6pm Venue: Cinema Paradiso, Northbridge Presented by: Ireland WA Forum

10 April “Ecumenical Service & Solemn Commemoration” @ 5pm Venue: St Georges Cathedral Presented by: St Georges Cathedral 10 April “Ireland Rising” Supper, entertainment and 6 Irish Whiskies @ St Georges Cathedral Presented by: St Georges Cathedral 17 April “Inter Provincial GAA Games” GAA Bateman Park Canning Vale Presented by: The Gaelic Football and Hurling Association of WA 27 April to 1 May “The Patriot Game” Studio Underground, The Heath Ledger State Theatre Centre Presented by: Abandon Theatre Players 16 to 17 July ‘Visions Past and Present’ Academic Conference Presented by: AIHA 30 April “A Sense of Ireland” An night of Irish culture including excepts from Sean O’Riada’s Mise Eire Venue: Octagon Theatre UWA Presented by: AIHA 8 May “Famine Commemoration and Mary Ann Taylor Travel Box Blessing and Installation” Venue: St Patrick’s Catholic Church, York Presented by: Bill Marwick, Fred Rea and York Museum 12 June @ 5pm “W.B.Yeats Exhibition “ Venue: St Georges Cathedral Presented by: AIHA

Commemoration Updates & Information: www.warememberseaster1916 Perth Office: 1/100 Terrace Road 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

Follow the Irish Embassy on Twitter: @irlembaustralia 40

3. Check the seasoning, if required season with more salt and pepper. Place the stew in a serving bowl, then garnish with spring onions and parsley. Serve immediately with mash or champ.

Fruity Irish Tea Cake Ingredients For the pre-soaking 110g raisins / 110g currants 110g sultanas 50g chopped candied peel 50g demerara sugar 150ml hot tea

with Marguerite O’Dwyer

The night before Place the fruits and peel in a bowl, then dissolve the sugar in the hot tea and pour this over the fruits.

Then cover with a cloth and leave them to soak – as the fruits absorb the tea they become plump and juicy.

1. When you are ready to make the cake, pre-heat the oven to 170°C, then place the nuts on a baking sheet and pop them into the oven. Give them about 8 minutes to toast, but keep an eye on them as they burn very easily.

2. After they have cooled, roughly chop the nuts.

3. Whisk the egg and add it to the fruits, sift in the flour, add the toasted nuts and mix everything together. Add a tablespoon of milk, and if the mixture still feels stiff, stir in another.

4. Spoon the mixture into the greased & lined loaf tin, levelling off with the back of a tablespoon dipped in cold water.

5. Then place it on a lower shelf so that the top of the tin is aligned with the centre of the oven, and bake for 1 hour 10 minutes until it feels springy in the centre.

6. When it comes out of the oven, turn it out onto a wire rack to cool.

7. Cut into thick slices, spread generously with butter and serve. It does keep well in an airtight tin, but it’s also extremely good toasted

The Cure Tavern Irish bar & restaurant

Irish Lamb Stew

Serves 4 Ingredients 600-700g stewing lamb, in thick chunks 1litre lamb or beef stock 2 tbsp plain flour, seasoned with salt and freshly milled black pepper 350g onions, quartered / 225g carrots, sliced 2 medium leeks, washed and sliced 1 large potato, peeled and sliced 1 tablespoon pearl barley Salt and freshly milled black pepper To garnish 2 spring onions, sliced thinly at an angle Fresh parsley 1. Wash and pat dry the meat, dip it in the seasoned flour. Now put a layer of meat in the bottom of a large saucepan, followed by some onion, carrot, leek and potato, then season with salt and pepper. Then put in some more meat and continue layering the ingredients until everything is in. Then sprinkle in the pearl barley followed by 1 litre of lamb stock and bring to the boil.

2. Once boiling, lower to low heat and leave to simmer for 1 1/2 - 2 hours, with lid on.

In the centre of Northbridge you’ll find

that will leave you wanting more. Some Craic will knock your socks off and rock you into the night with their massive energy.

The Cure is not simply just an Irish bar, it genuinely is a home away from home. Along with the staff being a “wee family” they make customers feel welcome and wanted. From the regulars who pop in for a meal & pint, to the Aussies who love the banter that comes with the Irish. It’s where people come to get together, tell old stories, creating new memories.

The Cure Bar & Restaurant

The instantaneous feel of home as you step through the doors is almost as good as being back in the Emerald Isle. Managed by Marguerite O’ Dwyer for the last four years she and her team have developed a name for The Cure being a homely bar with plenty of Craic & Ceol. Not content with running a busy successful pub, that includes being the biggest seller of Magners in Australia, Marguerite continues to write her recipes for the magazine.

In the lead up to their fifth St. Patrick’s Day nothing but the best is expected from The Cure. The perfect start from 9am is the Full Irish breakfast followed by a full menu available until 8pm. The music line-up will set the perfect tone for the day with The Lost Backpackers kicking things off. Aisling and Dave will start the day with their mix of folk songs and array of instruments

For the cake 50g pecan nuts 1 large egg 225g self-raising flour 1-2 tablespoons milk

From Mags and all the staff at The Cure, we thank you all for your continued custom and wish you a Happy St. Patrick’s Day 2016.

To make a booking contact 92279055 or email marguerite@thecuretavern.com.au

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Local News of Interest from the Past

ECHOS OF THE PAST RE SE ARC HE D

Southern Cross Newspaper Fri 10 Feb 1911

Who were the Soupers?

Memories of the Famine

It is hardly necessary to explain to the older generation of Irish men and women “who were the soupers.”

Many of them had personal knowledge of the work of the proselytisers, and the race is not entirely extinct in Ireland yet.

Father Fitzpatrick, O.F.M., writes an interesting article in the Sydney “Catholic Press” under the above heading, from which we quote: Some of your readers may not know who the soupers were, and what their aim was. Well, to make a long story short, the “soupers” were the vilest species of wowser ever moulded in the mint-pot of Satan.

When famine stalked through Ireland, and the main food of the people failed, hunger was most keenly felt in those parts where the land was bad and the means of procuring food extremely scanty.

In these circumstances flights of human vultures blackened the skies of Connemara and Kerry. They brought food and money, but that food and money were proffered to the gaunt spectre’s that crawled or staggered with weakness and hunger on condition that they renounced their faith. Honesthearted Australians, no matter what their religion, will be shocked to hear such things, and yet these tilings were done in the light of day and in the teeth of powerless public opinion and of national indignation.

Nor can it be alleged in mitigation of this crime against the rights of humanity that the soupers were casual stragglers, led by fanaticism, or imprudent zealots impelled by superstitious impulse. Not at all. The soupers were a class in themselves—a perfectly organised body, trained and equipped for their special work with all the precision of a government department.

Indeed, it is a well-known fact that

BY

FRED

REA

the Government of the day had a big hand in the doings of the soupers, whose efforts it encouraged, and whose success it rewarded.

There were several souping colonies in Co. Kerry and in Connemara. There may have been other such colonies in other parts of Ireland, but as I have never read up much about this loathsome subject, I will limit my remarks to those places where the ruins of the souping shops may still be seen, and where the actors in anti-souping campaigns may still be met.

How the Soupers Worked.

The souper programme was this: They came to a locality under the patronage of some rich landlord, and enjoyed the protection of the magistracy and the district inspector. It will be readily understood under what favourable auspices their body-enslaving, soulsnatching operations were begun.

They built comfortable cottages; offered a weekly wage to perverts from Catholicity, also a comfortable home, with plenty of food besides soup, warm clothing by day and by night. Now, anyone who has passed through a long, dreary Irish winter, especially such winters as used to be in bygone times—for the seasons having changed— such a one will quickly perceive the attraction which food, fire, and shelter and clothing must have for the poor, famishing, shivering, halfclothed, homeless human beings.

It’s no wonder that a brief victory was obtained here and there over poor, weak humanity, and a small percentage of the starving people yielded to the temptations held out to them. It is quite possible that many of them were in good faith, as they did not renounce their religion, and may have deluded themselves into believing that their action was justifiable. That the Government of the day was in league with this nefarious propaganda of proselytism is borne out by history.

About 1847 Lord Aberdeen apologised in Parliament for the

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News Published Every Two Months

non-transmission of a marine force to Morocco, as “Her Majesty’s vessels were on duty on the coast of Ireland”. The fact is the war vessel Stromboli and the brigantine Lynx were at the time in Dingle Harbour, and sent ashore armed marines to parade the streets of Dingle to protect a famous person who on a particular Sunday joined the ranks of the soupers.

An excerpt from history may shed some light on this sad period, when the dogs prowled in the graveyards, and rooted up the bones of the dead for food.

Death Preferred to Apostasy.

“But never perhaps,” writes Father T. Maher, S.J., “in all the dark days of her persecution was the tenacity of Ireland to her faith so cruelly tried as during the dreadful famine years of ‘45, 46 and black ‘47. Then was it,” adds the historian, “that this island became like a lazar-house, like a country over which the destroying angel had swept with devastating effect, the whole population struck down, the air a pestilence, the fields a solitude, the deserted, the priest and the pauper famishing together.

No inquest, no rites, no record of the dead. Then was it that in the pangs of their hunger, in the throes of their death agony, our catholic people were shamefully assailed by proselytism, now more especially under the form of souperism as never in their history were they assailed before.

“Abundance of food collected by Protestant agencies in England and all over the world was forwarded to the stricken districts; one condition alone being attached to its distribution—the Catholics receiving it should renounce their faith. It seemed as if the whole population would perish. It seemed as if the entire race would vanish and disappear. One million two hundred thousand, it is calculated, died during that dismal period of disease and starvation; but the food of the soupers they obstinately refused; they would not apostatise

their faith.

“One scene recorded in West Kerry a scene typical of many others, tells of a poor widow, surrounded by her three children, dying of hunger by her side. Two of them in a little time perished. The third, a boy about ten years old alone survived. On the opposite side of the roadway, over against the cabin door, there stood what was called a soup establishment; but the Catholics applying there should first abandon then faith. In the depths of her distress, with her hands clasped in agony the sorrow-stricken mother would beckon to the starving child that food awaited him beyond. But, oh! Bravely heroically, came back the reply to his mother from the famishing, dying boy: ‘No mother, no; death is better than apostasy’,” That England was an accomplice in the aims and designs of the soupers could be proved by overwhelming evidence. The heartfelt appeal of the English poetess, Adelaide Proctor, to her own nation to disown the dark deeds of souperism may not be known or available to your readers. The last verse runs: Tempt not another Judas to barter God for gold You offer food and shelter, if they their faith deny, What do you gain, O England, for such a shallow lie?

Take back your bribes, then, England; your gold is black and dim; And it God sends plague and famine, they can die and go to Him. Till the Praties Crow Potatoes of one year usually last to March of the following year. The new ones don’t be in for three or four months after that, and this time of starvation and destitution was the real harvest time for the soupers. A pathetic anecdote illustrates this point. A poor creature had to pass the Catholic Church, of which he was a member, on his way to the soupers’ headquarters. The unfortunate wretch, whose vitals are being gnawed with hunger, tries to reconcile his duty to his soul with his duty to his stomach, and so puts in has shaggy head at the door of the church, and looks up at the altar, and says he “Good-bye, Almighty God, till the praties grow again.” This was the usual proviso of the poor in those times.

Asthore, my heart is breakin’, as I pass your holy door, An’ see the open portal, all invitin’ to go in, An’ hear the childer’s voices as in sacred song they soar, The priest’s subdued “ Oremus,” and the people’s loud “Amen.”

But, oh, I dare not enter, for a compact I have made— Like Lucifer at heaven’s gate, no farther can I go; Don’t frown on me, my darlin’, nor a broken heart upbraid; Good-bye, asthore alanna—till the praties grow.

Here are a few lines from a ballad directed against a certain Mrs Smyley’s Homes for Converts from Rome to Dublin:-

But, sure ‘twas hard times that drove us to crimes, Here we are with our crimes forsaken, And sellin’ our souls for penny rolls & soup and hairy bacon.

But Ned’s s comin’ home, no more he’ll roam, From Poverty he will raise us And we’ll bid adieu to the swaddlin’ crew And old Smyley may go to blazes.

They’re Gone, those Penal Days As there is no use in opening old sores by giving heartrending details of the doings of souperism, I will conclude this sketch by quoting from Thomas Davis poem on the Penal Days. The concluding verse is singularly appropriate now, when the eastern sky in Ireland is bright with the dawn of freedom.

They’re gone; they’re gone, those penal days All creeds are equal in our isle!

Then grant, O Lord, Thy plenteous grace, Our ancient feuds to reconcile.

Let all atone, For blood and groan, For dark revenge and open wrong; Let all unite for Ireland’s right, And drown our griefs in Freedom’s song; Till time shall veil in twilight haze The memory of those Penal Days.

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’ G da FROM MELBOURNE. Happy St. Patrick’s Day

On a recent trip to Melbourne I took the opportunity to meet up with Mike Bowen and to thank him for his contributions and support of our Irish Scene. Fred Rea

y

That special day for the Irish is almost upon us again.

A day when towns get painted green and people who aren’t Irish want to be. We should thank God for sending St. Patrick to Ireland and not some other part of the then pagan world. What would we do without an excuse to celebrate our national day?

Imagine a ‘normal’ March17 in New York! No parade, no green line painted down Fifth Avenue. The Big Apple will celebrate its 255th parade this year, the oldest and longest tradition of its kind in the world. Hundreds of millions of dollars is poured into the New York economy, much of that into Irish bars and watering holes. And so it is across the world. While parades in Australia (or anywhere for that matter) exist at the whim of a collection of factors as we have seen this year the day itself is always celebrated wherever the Irish are, and their friends.

I have spent a few Saint Patrick’s days in Tokyo and it is an eye opener how St Patrick’s Day has now become a true international celebration day and not just for us Irish. I would never have believed it back in my

honouring Hackett

Hon Irish Consul, Marty Kavanagh speaking at the event.

youth that one day I would be drinking green beer in Japan on St. Patrick’s Day. For some of us Irish St Patrick’s Day is on par with Christmas day, always a wonderful day to look forward to. I am so looking forward to the day and having a real Irish breakfast of bacon eggs and sausages along with plenty of Clonakilty black pudding downed with a large glass of the black stuff, what a perfect way to kick off this special day. The Irish will be out in their full colours here in Melbourne proudly showing the locals how to celebrate. There will be plenty of stories shared and songs too. Anything from Mary and Frances Black, guitar legend Rory Gallagher, Van the Man, Phil Lynott or even West Life capture and inflame my imagination and soul as I’m sure these and other great artists do for you.

Excuse me while I go to the fridge and see if I have stocked it with Guinness for the big day and I might have a little sneaky one now just to check that they haven’t gone sour. Have a great and safe St Patrick’s Day and until I talk to you again soon Slainte from Melbourne. Mike Bowen

Kings Park, UWA, Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth Zoo, the State Library, Art Gallery and Museum all owe their existence in no small way to the direct influence of John Winthrop Hackett, who was born in Bray, Co. Wicklow in 1848.

When Irish born Reverend Graeme Napier, Precentor of St. George’s in Perth realised it would be the 100th anniversary of Hackett’s funeral in his Cathedral he wanted to organise a Choral Evensong - a distinctively Anglican form of worship - in his honour.

Many eminent Perth people and members of the Irish Australian community attended the commemorative mass including two descendants of Hackett himself, who laid a wreath.

“One hundred years ago today this Cathedral Church was filled with those who came to honour and mourn John Winthrop Hackett at his funeral,” a special booklet for the service stated.

“We today also come to honour him, to celebrate his life, and one hundred years after his passing, to give thanks for the enduring legacy of his philanthropy, vision and energy, which to this day still benefits the arts, science, the political and social order the well-being of the people of this state. A great son of Ireland, John Winthrop Hackett became a great father of Western Australia”.

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I have but a few more words to say. I am going to go to my cold and silent grave. My lamp of life is nearly extinguished. My race is run. The grave opens to receive me and I sink into its bosom. I have but one request to ask at my departure from this world. It is the charity of its silence. Let no man write my epitaph; for as no man who knows my motives dare now vindicate them, let not prejudice or ignorance asperse them. Let them and me rest in obscurity and peace; and my tomb remain uninscribed and my memory in oblivion until other times and other men can do justice to my character. When my country takes her place among the nations of the earth, then, and not till then let my epitaph be written. I have done.”

Robert Emmet --- Speech from the Dock, September 19, 1803

I now bid farewell to the country of my birth—of my passions—of my death; a country whose misfortunes have invoked my sympathies—whose factions I sought to quell—whose intelligence I prompted to a lofty aim—whose freedom has been my fatal dream.

To that country I now offer as a pledge of the love I bore her, and of the sincerity with which I thought and spoke, and struggled for her freedom, the life of a young heart; and with that life, the hopes, the honours, the endearments of a happy, a prosperous, and honourable home. Proceed, then my lords, with that sentence which the law directs—I am prepared to hear it—I trust I am prepared to meet its execution. I shall go, I think, with a light heart before a higher tribunal—a tribunal where a Judge of infinite goodness, as well as of infinite justice, will preside, and where, my lords, many, many of the judgements of this world will be reversed.”

Thomas Francis Meagher -- in speech from the dock 10/23/1848

You must not grieve for all this. We have preserved Ireland’s honour and our own. Our deeds of last week are the most splendid in Ireland’s history. People will say hard things of us now, but we shall be remembered by posterity and blessed by unborn generations. You too will be blessed because you were my mother.

Patrick Pearse Letter to his Mother 1916

Easter Rising 1916

100th ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION The Anniversary of the Easter Rising of 1916 is traditionally a most important event in the Irish calendar. All over the world Irish people commemorate the Easter Rising, remembering with pride those who gave their lives in pursuit of an Irish Republic.

Easter Rising 100th Anniversary Commemoration Easter Monday - 28th March 2016 The Irish Club of WA from 1pm Live Music with Sean Roche 46

Seán Roche New 1916 CD

Seán Roche is visiting from Cork on his annual concert tour of Australia. Well known world wide for his amazing and powerful singing of Irish songs, Sean will be launching his new CD ‘Lest We Forget 1916’ on Easter Monday at the Irish Club.

Seán has chosen some of his favourite Irish rebel songs for this CD, such as Down by the Glenside, The Rising of the Moon, Boolavogue The Ballad of Michael Collins AND MAY MORE. From the CD Cover....

The Easter rising lasted six days from Easter Monday 24th April to Easter Saturday 29th. The events of this short week were to have a profound effect on the nation of Ireland.

The songs sung here by native Irishman ‘Seán Roche’ reflects the feelings of the Irish people who lived through those troubled times. Many lives were lost and this album is a tribute to all. Linda Fitzgerald Seán Roche is an Irish balladeer who now lives in Cork. For many years he lived in WA and performed all around Australia and is well known and loved by his legion of followers. Sean will be appearing at the Irish Club on Easter Monday and Carnegies and The National in Fremantle on St Patrick’s Day... There’s no better way to get in the mood for St Patrick’s Day. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to enjoy his beautiful singing, as he’s only here once a year.

Talented local fiddle player, Anne Coughlan, will accompany him during his tour.

“If you strike us down now we shall rise again and renew the fight. You cannot conquer Ireland; you cannot extinguish the Irish passion for freedom. If our deed has not been sufficient to win freedom then our children will win it by a better deed.” ― Pádraig Pearse

The Celtic Club • Perth •

BAR • RESTAURANT • FUNCTIONS

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A: 48 Ord Street, West Perth, WA 6005 P: Phone (08) 9322 2299 The Celtic Club, 48 Ord Street, West Perth E: Email: celtic.club@bigpond.com Bookings Start enjoying this greatEssential Club and9322-2299 become a member today! F: Fax (08) 9322 2899 celtic.club@bigpond.com W: www.celticclubperth.com

Tony and Veronica McKee PO Box 994 Hillarys WA 6923

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

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“Though the last glimpse of Erin with sorrow I see, Yet wherever thou art shall seem Erin to me; In exile thy bosom shall still be my home, And thine eyes make my climate wherever we roam.” ― Thomas Moore

Supporting the

Luck of the Irish heading to

Fun Night at Gloucester Park!

Forget what you know about going to the races in Perth – this is Irish Night and we know we like to do it a little differently!

Gloucester Park is set to be painted Green, White and Orange for the 2nd Annual Irish Race Night to be held on the 29th of April, 2016! With plenty of fun and exciting things for the whole family to enjoy, it’s one of the best nights of the year to head to East Perth for a bet, bite and most importantly… a beer!

The Craic at the 2015 Night at the Trots....

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There will be LIVE music, hearty Irish food, prizes, 10 horse races, pony rides and much more to be announced closer to the date.

A special Irish set of Silks will be worn by the driver of the number three horse in every race on the night, so be sure to give the three leaf clover a cheer as they rush down the home straight!

The Claddagh Association of WA is helping to organise the event, if you or someone you know might be interested in sponsoring a race name on the night, contact the team via their website.

More information can be found on the Gloucester Park Facebook page, or email racenight@gloucesterpark.com. au for restaurant bookings.

49

With Fred Rea

John Biggerstaff

John Biggerstaff comes from the wee village of Ahoghill, in County Antrim, Northern Ireland near the major town of Ballymena. He reluctantly immigrated to Australia in 1971 with his parents and younger siblings; “the troubles were bad back then”. Playing by ear he already had the basic rudiments of guitar, harmonica, fiddle and accordion. An apprenticeship in “fitting and machining” occupied his day light hours whilst at night he would flat pick “rock riffs” on electric guitar in his dad’s shed; at the discomfort of the neighbours.

After many differing line ups in his garage band “Geezer Butler” he finally pulled the pin in 1977 and turned his attentions to studying mechanical engineering at night school. “I married Vanessa in 1982 and had three children by 1987 with number four coming later in 1993; the TV kept going on the blink!”

After a 15 year layoff from music whilst he put a roof over his family’s heads and food on the table he finally got back to doing what he loves; music. It was in 1992 following an earlier heart attack and recent surgery he figured that the time had come to get serious. The prospects of a long working career were now shattered but music could hold the key to keeping busy and making some money. Soon his fiddle playing improved to the point whereby he could manage drones and double stops so he engaged with musicians in the hope of joining a bluegrass or cajun working band. A subsequent yearning to play Irish traditional music led him to the “Irish Club” in Subiaco where he learned to read music even if only at a snail’s pace; “I deeply regret not having learned to read the dots at a young age”.

He always figured that finger style acoustic guitar with country blues was the way to a solo act. So he, all the while, continued to hone his finger style and slide playing techniques putting together a repertoire with leanings towards Mississippi John Hurt, blues resonator guitarist Mike Cooper and early Bob Dylan. In 1998 he was finally performing regularly in pubs and restau-

50

rants as “J Bloos”. He said... “the guitar playing was good with an over driven voice... well it needed to be raspy... was not so hot”, he added.

In 1999 he formed the “Hog Hill Boys” traditional duo with his talented young brother covering: Irish, cajun, bluegrass, Australiana, blues, country, celtic, folk and latin. Also joined “Cahoots” cajun band on acoustic guitar, stomp box and lead vocals with much of the lyrics in French. “My high school French being virtually nonexistent, having had no aptitude for languages, it was back to night school; French for beginners. He remembers his high school French teacher keeping him back in detention and giving him a right old slapping around... I probably deserved it... I was no angel; he had a nervous breakdown soon after (the teacher that is)”. John can be heard on their debut album “Bayou Rhythms”.

In 2002 he spent several months at the “Bali Dynasty Resort” in Indonesia performing in their newly built Irish theme pub “Gracie Kelly’s”. Irish Band at Gracie Kellys from pub website As his daughters by this time were hooked on Irish dancing the wee one, Shay aka, Shaymus, made several cameo appearances at the pub. Unfortunately his middle daughter, Sasha, who went on to record a state championship couldn’t make the trip; she was needed for important upcoming competitions back in Australia. “During daylight hours I taught local musicians to play Irish traditional music resulting in the “Kintamani Shamrocks” band which performed for many years thereafter”.

John reflected on his past Saint Patrick’s Days! “It was always so busy... all day I’d be playing the pubs... the wife would be carting our girls around... but we’d usually end up having a joint booking somewhere. Sadly the girls don’t dance anymore having suffered too many injuries plus they’re a wee bit too old. Mind you I still play all day but the body does complain bitterly. Over the years I’ve tried to get my kids interested in playing an instrument but alas it wasn’t to be. They’d go at it for a wee while especially reading and playing the whistle but the novelty would eventually wear off”.

In 2004 he spent many hours on computer and keyboard creating pop music backing tracks and the following year “Splash” was launched. Now with the “Hog Hill Boys” performing traditional styles and “Splash” pop music the gigs were many.

In 2008 he returned to the “Bali Dynasty Resort” this time to perform with the “Hog Hill Boys” and “Splash” and once again train local musicians. The local boys had no traditional instruments and not a celtic note in them; desperate measures were needed. “This had been known several months prior to departure so I quickly picked up the tin whistle to the dismay of every dog in the street... I half expected a visit from the ranger the barking was so bad... it gave me a complex”. A package was then hastily dispatched to the CEO which included tin whistles, “how to hold” instructions, sheet music scales, sheet music easy to play tunes with the finger positions displayed and a CD. At the resort, on arrival, harmonicas and guitar capos were handed out and it was on. “Happy to say it all went ok but not without some sleepless nights... two more Indonesian bands were now performing Irish traditional music.

John said, “The “Hog Hill Boys” will still continue to woo audiences but I intend to perform the occasional John on the Great Wall of China

COLIN MERREY

solo gig as “Johnny B” with electric guitar, electric fiddle, harmonica and squeeze box. Much of the repertoire will be geared towards the “Louisiana blues”… it should be a hoot” he said.

He has always loved to travel and over the years has been all over Southeast Asia, China, Japan, South Korea, Philippines and let’s not forget Ireland where his heart has never left. A tin whistle is always at hand as he searches out every musical haunt in every town and every village. Vanessa has undertaken to have his ashes spread right in the middle of Ahoghill... the hub... better known as the Diamond. “It will need to be a covert operation carried out under the cover of darkness to avoid government bureaucracy” John said and added, “Australia is a great country and I am so very grateful and privileged to have lived and worked here but Ireland will always be home”.

Frank Murphy presents

You can find Colin Merrey’s Book Reviews on our Website.

107.9fm Fremantle Radio Saturday 8am to 10am

www.irishscene.com.au

IRISH MUSIC • INTERVIEWS • LOCAL & IRISH NEWS 51

REID’S BOOTMAKERS

A FAMILY TRADITION At the Irish Scene we appreciate the support of local Irish/Australian businesses. Joe Mahon is one of these supporters and a very successful business owner in Victoria Park. He has moved into bigger and better premises and we took the opportunity to find out more about Joe, his business and a tradition that spans many gererations...

We came back to London and Erica was keen to show me Australia so I got a one year working holiday visa and we came to Australia.

We lived in East Vic Park for the first six to seven months and had a good look around WA. We then bought a Kombi van for $600 and headed across the Nullarbor to catch up with friends You’re a Kilkenny man Three Generations of Reids LR: Lynnette Reid, Erica Mahon, Tara Mahon, and explore the east coast. By now I knew Joe, how did you end Joe Mahon, Aoife Mahon, Ciara Mahon and Kevin Reid.

I loved the Australian up owning and running life and it was just a a shoe repair business to the Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, in Victoria Park?

Cheryl Crow, Smashing Pumpkins, question of how to get to stay here “When I left school, I worked Reef and the list goes on. Camden permanently.

We worked out it would be as an apprentice pattern maker at was a great place to live and go out Waterford Iron Foundry for a few and on my days off I would usually better to apply from overseas and years while studying mechanical be in the Good Mixer playing pool we still had loads of stuff in London engineering at night. One day I and often managed to get a game so we headed back and I decided decided I needed some excitement with a band member from Blur or to not go back to pubs and instead got into band management and tour and so I moved to London with a other local acts. plan to get a job in a similar type of Shortly after moving to another promoting. The next three years role. pub I got a call from my mate Brian saw us travel quite a bit around I needed somewhere to live and who invited me along to a staff party the UK and Europe with bands saw a job as live in cleaner in a pub being held on that Saturday night. I and festivals, our favourite being in Greenford so I applied and got the didn’t know the person holding the Roskilde in Denmark. We also made job. After a few weeks I was asked to party but Brian assured me it would a few trips back to Aussie for family help out behind the bar and with the be cool. I went along to the party and each time the draw of Perth cellar work, then four weeks later and half way through the night I was grew stronger. By now I was hitting the assistant manager left and I was sitting in the garden chatting when 30 and decided it was time to get given the job temporarily. About a very pretty girl came and sat near married and make babies and with three months later the manager got me. I was immediately enthralled a week’s notice to our respective sacked and I was made temporary and this mystery girl was Erica, who families we got married in Harrow manager…eight years later I was is now my wife.

Registry Office and then went out to still working for the same company As soon as I spoke to her I was a gig for one of my bands that night. and had managed 10 other pubs hooked and spent the next few Family pressure meant the next and was now manager of the largest months doing everything in my year on our 1st anniversary we did pub in Britain. power to get her attention and get it all again in a church with all the The pub was the World’s End a date. Once we did start dating I family in Ireland and some of Erica’s in Camden Town and it also had knew this was the one for me and family and friends coming over from a live music venue and nightclub after only a few months I decided to Australia to join in the celebrations. called The Underworld. This was take long service leave and go travel The wheels were now in motion my particular favourite as I got to around Europe. to move and in September 2003 work with lots of very cool bands We bought a $300 car and off our first daughter was born and in and as manager I got to meet them we went with no great plan but we December 2003 we moved to Perth. personally. My taste in music grew managed to cover nine countries, So in the name of getting a astronomically during that few multiple festivals and met up with mortgage it was definitely time to years and I got to see everybody lots of old friends in three months. do some hard work and so I got a from Rage Against the Machine job in the advertising industry, sold 52 52

old stuff at the swap meet that I picked out of skips or from bulk rubbish and generally took any extra work I could. We got our first home 18 months later and shortly after had our second daughter.

Over this whole period I had spent quite a bit of time in the back of Erica’s dad’s Bootmakers shop and found the whole thing quite interesting. I liked the different skills needed and the sheer variety of jobs he would do. It seemed that anything and everything came through the door. One minute he would be fixing some ladies shoes, then a handbag, then a back pack, then a motorcycle jacket or swag.

After a few years working in advertising I was ready for something new and so while looking I helped out a bit as Kevin was busy and it was then that I really got a love for the shop and thought well if Kevin wants to teach me I could see myself owning the shop one day. Once I was qualified I worked for another year with Kevin and then Erica and I bought the shop in May 2007.

It sounds like Reid’s Bootmakers has a long and varied history, can you tell us a little about that?

The little shop on Basinghall St. became Reid’s in April 1980 when my inlaws Kevin and Lynn Reid bought the business from the wife of the recently deceased previous owner. I believe he was an Italian man name Olisati and he had passed away in the shop sitting on a little three legged stool which we still use today. I am not sure how long they had owned it but customers have told me it was called Craig’s Shoe Repair before that and we found an old shoe repair ticket from the 60’s under the old counter during our renovations.

Reid’s has never been just a Bootmakers shop and always evolved and changed. Even now we have a pedorthist on staff to make orthotics onsite, we fix all sorts of motorcycle clothing and boots, we sell shoes, thongs, slippers and Ugg boots. We cut all sorts of keys, we sell padlocks and more recently have added garage and gate remotes. Over the years there have been many other services including a book exchange.

This is why when I started work in the old shop I could not work out why the shelves in the window were not quite big enough for the slippers, that’s because they were old book shelves.

In 2010 we decided it was time for a facelift and we completely refitted the front of the shop. Since buying the shop we have expanded the long list of things we fix or sell and plan to continue this into the future.

Our next big project was to launch our online shop as we used to get people from all over the world ringing us up to buy shoes from our website.

The online shoe shop had been running for about four years and we were getting ready to launch our second site to sell the huge range of garage, gate and car remotes when we got the news that after 36 years in the same shop, our landlord was not going to renew our lease.

Once the initial shock had passed we set

to looking for a suitable site to move to. To say it was a stressful time would be a massive understatement. We were only given 12 weeks notice and it was in the lead up to Christmas. East Victoria Park has seen enormous growth in popularity over the last 10 years and as a result rent has jumped up dramatically and demand is high for good rental spaces.

We were actually starting to lose hope having found many shops that we could either not afford or that were simply not in the right locations, when through a friend of a friend we heard about somebody who needed to get out of a lease on a shop on Albany Highway and as it turned out it was absolutely perfect. It needed a major re-fit to turn it from a foreign exchange into Reid’s but thanks to some amazing shop fitters, electricians and friends it all came together in time.

We opened on February 1st 2016 and we are really happy so far with how it has all worked. It has been a very tiring job moving 36 years of history and trying to inform all our customers that we have just moved and not gone out of business. We sent out over 3500 text messages to customers who had given us their mobile phone numbers and we also distributed 50,000 flyers in the surrounding suburbs and did quite a bit on our Facebook page and via email. We hope people will find us and continue to use our services for many years to come.

Fred Rea

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Some Facts About

Green was associated with the country later, presumably because of the greenness of the countryside, which is so because Ireland receives plentiful rainfall. Today, the country is also referred to as the “Emerald Isle.”

The Shamrock is not the symbol of Ireland.

The shamrock is a popular Irish symbol, but it is not the official symbol of Ireland. As early as the medieval period, the harp has appeared on Irish gravestones and manuscripts. However, it is certain that the harp was popular in Irish legend and culture even well before that period.

Since the medieval period, the harp has represented the nation. King Henry VIII used the harp on coins as early as 1534. Later, the harp was used on Irish flags and Irish coats of arms. The harp was also used as a symbol of the Irish people during their long struggle for freedom.

Starting in 1642 the harp appeared on flags during rebellions against English rule. When Ireland became an independent country in 1921, it adopted the harp as the national symbol.

There are more Irish in the USA than Ireland.

Well, sort of. An estimated 34 million Americans have Irish ancestry. Some are pure-blood Irish, meaning they or their parents came from Ireland, but many more have mixed ancestry today. By contrast, there are 4.2 million people living in Ireland. This peculiarity has a lot to do with the troubled history of Ireland. During the potato famine in Ireland, millions of Irish left the country for the US. St. Patrick’s was a dry holiday in Ireland until 1970.

Aside from the color green, the activity most associated with St. Patrick’s Day is drinking. However, Irish law, from 1903 to 1970, declared St. Patrick’s Day a religious observance for the entire country meaning that all pubs were shut down for the day. That meant no beer, not even the green kind, for public celebrants. The law was overturned in 1970, when St. Patrick’s was reclassified as a national holiday - allowing the taps to flow freely once again.

St Patrick!

March 17th is when Patrick died.

Saint Patrick is a saint of the Catholic Church, and his holy day is the day of his death, and subsequent entrance to heaven, rather than the day of his physical birth. After spending most of his adult life converting the pagans of Ireland to Christianity, St. Patrick went to his reward on March 17, 461 AD. St. Patrick wasn’t Irish.

St. Patrick wasn’t Irish, and he wasn’t born in Ireland.

Patrick’s parents were Roman citizens living in modernday England, or more precisely in Scotland or Wales (scholars cannot agree on which). He was born in 385 AD. By that time, most Romans were Christians and the Christian religion was spreading rapidly across Europe.

St. Patrick used the shamrock to preach about the trinity.

Many claim the shamrock represents faith, hope, and love, or any number of other things but it was actually used by Patrick to teach the mystery of the Holy Trinity, and how three things, the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit could be separate entities, yet one in the same.

Obviously, the pagan rulers of Ireland found Patrick to be convincing because they quickly converted to Christianity.

Legend says St. Patrick drove all the snakes from Ireland.

According to legend, St. Patrick drove all the snakes, or in some translations, “toads,” out of Ireland. In reality, this probably did not occur, as there is no evidence that snakes have ever existed in Ireland, the climate being too cool for them to thrive. Despite that, scholars suggest that the term “snakes” may be figurative and refer to pagan religious beliefs and practices rather than reptiles or amphibians.

Patrick’s color is blue.

The original color associated with St. Patrick is blue, not green as commonly believed. In several artworks depicting the saint, he is shown wearing blue vestments.

King Henry VIII used the Irish harp in gold on a blue flag to represent the country. Since that time, and possibly before, blue has been a popular color to represent the country on flags, coats-of-arms, and even sports jerseys.

Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me.

Saint Patrick

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nsilsby@loanscafe.com

By Lloyd Gorman

Irish made Vikings arrived back on Australian screens February 24, on SBS. Fans of this exceptional show which is shot in Ashford Studios, Co. Wicklow have been waiting months for the return of Ragnar Lothbrok - played brilliantly

by Australian actor Travis Fimmel - as he returns to try and conquer Paris and also face his brother who now defends the French city. Faint hearted viewers will not enjoy the violence or fighting scenes but the rest of the storyline and plot is gripping and keeps you guessing. In the run up to the new season over January and February SBS have been rerunning the previous seasons on Friday nights, offering the chance to catch up on bits that you might have missed, or maybe even bring in some new fans. Having just started in late February readers will be able to tune in and catch the new season early on SBS on Wednesday nights.

A group of modern day warriors found themselves in trouble in a documentary shown on One on January 16. Soldiers from The Royal Irish Regiment were in Sierra Leone, West Africa as peace keepers in 2000 when they took a wrong turn down a jungle road and ended up becoming the prisoners of a notorious gang of rebels called the West Side Boys. The doco told the story of the considerable and cunning military plan to rescue

them. That same night on the Kumars, on GEM, actress Elizabeth McGovern gave a lovely rendition of ‘The Girl of Belfast City’ that would nearly have you in tears.

Dara O’Briain was MC for Live at the Apollo on January 21 and while his brand of humour is not to the taste of everyone he does seem to have a big following. The 2004 film Alexander was on GO on the same night. I always get a laugh out of how many Irish faces and voices crop up in this action film that if it had never been made at all the world would not be a worse place.

A week later Live at the Apollo featured a young and new Irish talent I hadn’t heard of before but who was hilarious. Watch out for Dubliner Al Porter, he is on his way to becoming a big name. Jason Byrne was another Irish comic to hit the stage with Live at the Apollo on January 29.

Hard to believe now that Titanic (Channel 9, January 25) was made in 1997 but offers a fair quantity of Irish content (except that it glances over the stop at Queenstown (Cobh). On the same night on ABC Fighting Father Dunne (1948) was on, a film with a strong Irish cast and theme.

My Kitchen Rules Irish celebrity chef returned home for My Ireland with Colin

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Fassnidge on Digital (January 26) who rode around on his motor bike and generally just had a laugh catching up with his family and others. A well researched documentary on ABC called The Seduction of Smoking looked at the fight against tobacco in Australia, but also visited Dublin to see how the ban on smoking in pubs has gone over ten years.

Amongst those interviewed were former Irish minister for health Dr James Reilly who said “I firmly believe as the Australian’s do, plain packing will work”, and Perth’s own anti-smoking champion Mike Daube.

Explore Ireland was on Channel 9, January 30, and took viewers to the haunted Loftus Hall on the Ring of Hook Drive, Co. Wexford as well as dropping into Dublin and Northern Ireland.

Terry Wogan died on January 31.

QI with Stephen Fry on February 1st was a repeat of a charity show Wogan had done with them for Children in Need. Wogan talked about Eurovision - which he was famous for presenting - and also a bit about multiple Eurovision winner Johnny Logan who was born in Australia but whose father was famed Irish singer Patrick O’Hagan.

A February 2 repeat of an early Foyle’s War called ‘The Eternity Ring’ saw the action move from Pigeon House in Dublin harbour, Custom House, Four Courts,

Christchurch, Iveagh Markets and Phoenix Park.

There was a weekend of Dara O’Briain on ABC2 over February 6 and 7 with two of his shows, Craic Dealer and Talks Funny on consecutive nights.

Two Irish students featured in Rude Tube on 7Mate, February 8, which was about online pranks.

The two boys, who were renting a house in Waterford, used fireworks to clear a blocked toilet bowl and blew it to heck. The pranksters at least had the decency to clean up afterwards and replace the broken bowl with a new one.

Jack Irish, worth a mention for his name alone but also because it is one of the best things on TV, with Guy Pearce, started a new six

part series on ABC. February 15 on One, The Devils Own which features Harrison Ford but is set in America with riot scenes meant to be in Northern Ireland but which were actually filmed in the streets of Inchicore, Dublin.

Coasts of Ireland, started on SBS on February 13. This five part series travels around Ireland going to places and meeting people that the typical TV shows don’t. Episode two which I caught on Feb 20 started in Blarney Castle, Durrus, Killarney, Muckross House, Dursey Island, Eyeries, Dingle and the Great Blasket Island. Check out the last couple of shows in this current series and hopefully they will rerun

them again in the near future.

Ross Kemp went to all parts of Northern Ireland for his series Extreme World (ABC2/February 22) during the marching season to interview hard core figures on both sides and witnessed a full scale riot in action.

The former Eastender’s actor did a really good job of breaking down and explaining the situation and causes to viewers.

I come from an Irish Catholic family, and hell-raising is part of the DNA. Brian Dennehy

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The Irish Club WA inc Presents

The Marvelous Musicantes Join us on Friday the 22nd April to hear all your favourite songs from shows and perhaps some opera.

Starting time 8pm, with admission price $18.00, tickets on sale at the club, please phone 93815213 see you there!

Paddy was a fine hurler and golfer and a great friend to all who knew him.

Slan a Chara from all your mates in the Western Australian Irish Community

Thursday 17th March

Irish Dance r 3pm a s nd 7pm

Paddyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day at the Woody!

Rhys Wood & David Fyfe 12 noon The 3 Byrnes & Phil Waldron 4pm Gang of Three 8pm Woodbridge Hotel

50 EAST STREET GUILDFORD

9377 1199 57

Dining Guide

Sponsor: McLoughlin’s Butchers

with Danielle O’Leary

St Patrick’s Day Food!

Once limited to Ireland, St Patrick’s Day celebrations now spread from Japan to the International Space Station. It is a national day unlike any other but St Patrick’s Day means something different for everyone. Sure, there are the constant images of green, Guinness and good times but, at the end of the day, we all celebrate it differently. Some start the day at church, some start it at the pub, or at home with a big, Irish fry-up. For my family, St Patrick’s Day is extra special as it is my sister’s birthday.

St Patrick’s Day is, indeed, the best day in the year to have a birthday – it is a day in which the entire world seems to celebrate with her.

This year, St Patrick’s Day will also be my graduation from my Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Western Australia.

Quite fitting, really, as my thesis is on Irish Literature. With both the birthday and the graduation, we will make sure to find the time to celebrate properly this year. And that means eating proper Irish food.

Irish food is special to me. Not only does it define certain moments that I have travelled to Ireland like the perfect meals I constantly had in Cork’s English Market or the mind-blowing gourmet selection at Dublin’s Fallon and Byrne, it also

reminds me any homely meal my mother cooks for me. I have, also, spent the last 12 years eating Irish food in Irish venues around Perth for this magazine. Over 65 restaurant reviews, I think it can be safe to stay I know a little bit about Irish food in Perth. And what I have learnt is this: Irish food is hearty, comforting and generous and it can usually be complimented with a little spoon of Ballymaloe Relish.

Most importantly, Irish food is constantly changing, improving and becoming more creative while respecting the tradition of the cuisine. Long gone are the days of bacon, boiled cabbage and potatoes and white sauce (though I know many who would pick that over any

other meal), Irish food, both here and in Ireland, is becoming a culinary force. With a focus on the contemporary and a nod to the tradition, great Irish food always prides itself on using the best produce available.

Food on St Patrick’s Day is always one of the best parts of the celebration. A day beginning with white and black pudding and pork sausages or possibly smoked salmon and soda bread; whatever you choose, it will no doubt be delicious. Whatever St Patrick’s Day means to you, whether you are at home or far from home, be sure to celebrate with good food, good Guinness and good people.

Due to work committments, Danielle has hung up the pen.

This is her last contribution to our magazine. It’s been 12 years since a young girl took on the roll of food reviewer and how she has grown into a beautiful lady.

Thank you Danielle, it’s been a pleasure and I know readers appreciate your fine writing and reviewing. Fred Rea

Danielle enjoys a drink at the Breakwater in Hillarys with dad Gerard and mum Geradine, cousin Barry, aunty Ursula and Lilly Rea.

McLoughlin Butchers Malaga Proud Supporters of the Irish Scene Drop in and see our range of Irish prepared meats 58 Westchester Rd, Perth WA 6090 mcloughlinbutchers.com.au Like us on facebook

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

Page Sponsored by: Reid’s Bootmakers

WEEKLY IRISH TRAD MUSIC SESSION EVERY MONDAY AT THE IRISH CLUB Comhaltas Perth meets on Monday nights. Come and learn a tune 8pm in the committee room or join in the session (starts off slow).

You don’t have to be a member of Comhaltas to join in.

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

61 Townshend Road, Subiaco

The new committee are planning to have a sausage sizzle, a quiz night and a ceilidh in the coming months.

Bickley Trad Music Camp 2016 The music camp at Bickley will be from 25-27 April 2016. There will be the usual sessions, music and dancing workshops and lots of fun to be had for all the family!

This camp is a highlight of the year for Comhaltas Perth and is very well attended.

Fairbridge 2016 Canadian trad performers, Fásta who have delighted audiences worldwide will perform. Fàsta bridges the two Celtic cultures in a unique way. Fàsta remains true to its traditional music roots while creating a new and original sound.

No doubt there will also be a ceile and mighty sessions of Irish music at the festival.

BICKLEY TRAD MUSIC CAMP 25-27 April 2016

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

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land of

&

Ireland

honey

THE WOMEN OF “THE TERRIBLE BEAUTY” Maud Gonne MacBride

By Sally Desmond

Throughout her long and tumultuous life Maud Gonne was accorded many names – some by her lovers, friends and colleagues and others by her detractors. There were some people who never quite believed in her.

Maud Gonne MacBride

The Colonel’s Daughter: Maud was the daughter of a British Army Colonel at Aldershot where she was born in 1865. Her mother died in 1871 and when her father was posted to Dublin Castle in 1882 she went with him and acted as his hostess. It was here she became interested in the turmoil of Irish politics. Having contracted a form of lung disease she was send to France to recover. She met Lucien Millevoye, a radical politician and journalist, fell in love with him, became his mistress and bore him two children. This part of her life seems to have been in a separate compartment to her Irish life.

There was no WikiLeaks or twitter in those days and these things

were not spoken of – suffice to say Maud recovered. The affair ended in 1898.

Cathleen Ni Houlihan and Muse: W.B. Yeats met Maud in London in the late 1880’s and promptly fell madly in love and lust with her.

He proposed to her and because of her rejection some of the most beautiful love poetry ever written was let loose upon the world. She did the world a great service. W.B. Yeats proposed to her for the rest of his life, she was his Muse, his friend, his confidant, everything except his wife or lover. She was clever – she never quite said a definite “No”. I think she regarded him as “her poet”. She had competition in that quarter because Lady Gregory also considered him “her poet” but in an entirely different way of course. W.B. cast her as Cathleen Ni Houlihan (the spirit of Ireland) in his work at the Abbey and she was a resounding success. She was, in fact, extremely beautiful, and W.B. spent a lot of time wondering

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afterwards if his play and her performance had advanced the cause of 1916. Probably not – but who knows the power of beauty and stirring poetic language?

The Irish Joan of Arc: Maud was a thorn in the British establishment’s side.

She founded Inghinnidhe Na hEireann (the daughters of Ireland) she advocated for prisoners. She joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood and protested vigorously against evictions and organised, with W.B. Yeats, a protest at the celebration of Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee.

She paid her dues and managed to fit it all in with going and coming between Ireland, England and France. Then in 1903 she married John McBride, a nationalist, a soldier and altogether not a nice man.

It devastated W.B. Yeats who mentions him in one of his poems as “a vainglorious lout” which he was.

She bore him a son, Sean. The marriage only lasted two years – he was a wife beater, a sadist, a rapist but he was also a Patriot and fought in 1916 and was executed. Maud assumed her last role as The Widow McBride. Maud returned from Paris, where she had gone, in case MacBride tried to claim his son. The wife of a dead patriot as the State grew into Independence could have been a relatively easy role but Maud worked on assisting republican prisoners.

She was imprisoned in 1923, went on hunger strike and had to be released. Feisty beautiful lady. It would be the brave authorities who let anything bad happen to Cathleen Ni Houlihan. W.B. of course had married – indeed he tried to marry Maud’s daughter Iseult! He settled instead for marrying George Hyde Lees and she bore him two children but a Muse is a Muse for ever. Clever, beautiful Maud to inspire such poetry. Maud died at Clonskeagh, Dublin in 1953.

When You Are Old WB Yeats This poem is a favorite with many. Here, Yeats turns and addresses his beloved directly, takes the focus from himself and his various alter egos (Aedh, Mongan, Michael Robartes), and puts it directly on the love object and her “pilgrim soul”.

By the time he wrote this, Yeats’s love was less cast in idealised mode and more in tune with the sorrows of Maud’s life. The poem reveals a knowledge of those sorrows and a desire to protect her.

It’s based on one of the sonnets another courtly lover, the Renaissance French poet, Pierre de Ronsard, wrote for his unattainable Helene. (You can see the original, which gave us the saying “gather your roses while they bloom”, here.

When You Are Old

When you are old and grey and full of sleep, And nodding by the fire, take down this book And slowly read, and dream of the soft look Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

“[To William Butler Yeats:]

Poets should never marry. The world should thank me for not marrying you.”

How many loved your moments of glad grace, And loved your beauty with love false or true, But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you, And loved the sorrows of your changing face; And bending down beside the glowing bars, Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled And paced upon the mountains overhead And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

―Maud Gonne

61

EXECUTIVE

President: Hilary McKenna ADCRG Vice Presidents: Teresa McGorry TCRG & Eileen Ashley TCRG Secretary: Samantha McAleer TCRG & Alison Johnson TCRG Treasurer/Booking Secretary: Deirdre McGorry TCRG Venue Secretary: Sinead Hoare TCRG AIDA Inc Delegate: Hilary McKenna TCRG Registar: Caroline O’Connor TCRG Grade Exam Co-ordinator: Rose O’Brien ADCRG

SCHOOL CONTACTS

SCOIL RINCE NI BHAIRD Lynwood Tony Ward TCRG 0427 273 596 SCOIL RINCE NI CEIDE/UPTON Subiaco & Woodvale Samantha McAleer TCRG 9405 6255/0414 188 784 Lara Upton - Kalamunda 0409 474 557 EIREANN SCHOOL OF IRISH DANCING Como/Jandakot/Rockingham Siobhan Cummins TCRG 0422 075 300 KAVANAGH STUDIO OF IRISH DANCE Osborne Park kavanaghirishdance.com.au Teresa McGorry TCRG 0412 155 318 Deirdre McGorry TCRG Caroline McCarthy TCRG O’BRIEN ACADEMY OF IRISH DANCING Butler, Kinross, Subiaco Rose O’Brien ADCRG 9401 6334/0423 382 706 O’HARE SCHOOL OF IRISH DANCING WembleyDowns/OsbornePark Jenny O’Hare TCRG 0422 239 440 SAOIRSE SCHOOL OF IRISH DANCING Caramar Sinead Hoare TCRG 0414 647 849 THREE CROWNS SCHOOL OF IRISH DANCE Kingsway & Landsdale threecrownsirishdancing.com Eleanor Rooney TCRG 0449 961 669 TRINITY STUDIO OF IRISH DANCING Morley Eileen Ashley TCRG 0413 511 595 WA ACADEMY OF IRISH DANCING Malaga Glenalee Bromilow ADCRG 9276 3737/ 0410 584 051 Sue Hayes TMRF 9377 5600/0412 040 719 Hilary McKenna ADCRG 0404 730 532

Australian Irish Dancing Association Inc. World Dancing Championships

GOOD LUCK to the following Perth Irish dancers who are heading off to Scotland, for the World Irish Dancing Championships held at the Royal Concert Hall Glasgow, from Sunday 20th to Sunday 27th March 2016.

Sinead Daly (11yrs) Ceide/Upton School Jade Ryan (11yrs) Ceide/Upton School Caoimhe McGuigan (11yrs) Ceide/Upton School Caoimhe McAleer (13yrs) Ceide/Upton School Ruby Driscoll (16yrs) Ceide/Upton School Ciara-Mae Crone (16yrs) Ceide/Upton School Jeremiah Oliveri (17yrs) Ceide/Upton School Dara McAleer (18yrs) Ceide/Upton School Niamh Mathers (12yrs) Kavanagh Studio Hannah Hughes (13yrs) Kavanagh Studio Avril Grealish (Senior Ladies) Kavanagh Studio Dakota Courtney (17yrs) O’Brien Academy Lachlan Moroney 12yrs WA Academy

Look out for the Irish dancers performing at your local pub or St Patrick’s day event and make sure you put a couple of pennies in the jug as it comes around. Perth dancers will be fundraising for their travel to the World Championships in Scotland (End of March), the Australian International Oireachtas in Queensland (June) and the National Championships in Tasmania (September/ October).

It’s not easy being an Irish dancer living in the world’s most isolated city.

Shadow Minister for Mental Health; Disability Services & Child Protection PO Box 2440, SOUTH HEDLAND WA 6722 stephen.dawsonmp@mp.wa.gov.au (08) 9172 2648 • 1800 199 344 (toll free)

62

Congratulations Dakota Courtney (O’Brien Academy) who finished 3rd at Gates of Derry Feis

SUPPORT IN THE WA G

IRISH COMMUMITY

Left: Aftermath of the Easter Rising the General Post Office seat of the Provisional Government from Nelsons Pillar DublinI reland-May 18,1916.

Cormac’s grandfather was a

FOUNDING FATHER OF THE IRISH REPUBLIC

by Lloyd Gorman Most Dubliners were initially hostile to the Easter Rising but that sentiment quickly changed as the British Government clamped down hard on the insurgents, locking up many of them and executing most of the ring leaders. Public opinion reversed about the events of the Rising changed so much that it became a matter of pride to say you were there, with no greater honour than being inside the GPO – on what is now called O’Connell Street but was then Sackville Street – as a volunteer.

Indeed it became so romanticised, to the point of becoming something of a national joke that so many people claimed to have been there or to have had a family member inside that the building would have been bursting at the seams with the sons and daughters of Ireland willing and ready to throw down their lives for the cause.

The truth of the matter is that alongside Padraig Pearse who of

course famously read the Proclamation from the front of the GPO – apparently to a bemused gathering of confused citizens of the city – there were at most a few hundred volunteers, including nurses and other helpers inside the main post office.

So it is a true badge of honour to be able to claim a direct – and documented – link back to those few violent and probably frightening days in 1916 when the GPO was essentially the Head Office of the Easter Rising.

Perth businessman and native of Dublin Cormac Mahon has the right to make such a bold statement.

“My grandfather Paddy Mahon was a young man when he was part of the garrison at the GPO with

Pearse, Connolly and all the others,” Cormac told Irish Scene. “He was a sniper on the roof of the building and was still in it when it collapsed.

My father told me that he was the one who took down the tricolour when they surrendered the GPO. He was captured and taken with others to Brixton prison where he staged a 30 day hunger strike before being released and returning home. In the early 50s there was a reunion of the surviving members together with Eamon DeValera and a photo was taken of them. That picture hangs in the GPO in Dublin.”

Cormac who is the boss at Deep Clean Australia said his family have collected and kept many of the commemorative edition newspapers published by the Evening Press (now defunct) and Irish Times and others over the years. But the Mahon’s have a very special piece of memorabilia from that time. “We have one of only 300 copies saved from the fires in the GPO of The Irish Songbook by Peadar Kearney, with a handwritten note to my grandad,” added Cormac. “I’ve also got the pass they were given in the Garrison to move around, it looks like an old blue library ticket.”

“Peadar Kearney is the author of the Soldiers Song, Ireland’s National Anthem and was Pearse’s godfather.”

Rare photo of the “Irish Republic” flag flying over the GPO in Dublin during Rebellion.

This Irish Republic flag was made by Mary Shannon at the headquarters of the Irish Citizen Army in Liberty Hall.

When the building fell to the British it was taken by British Officers who displayed it upside down at the foot of the Parnell Monument in Upper O’Connell Street, Dublin.

This was the traditional way to display flags taken from enemy forces. Eventually it passed into the hands of the British museum authorities. On the 50th Aniversary of the Rising in 1966, in a gesture of conciliation the British Government decided to return the first flag of the Irish Republic to the Irish Government of the day under An Taoiseach Sean Lemass - himself a veteran of the Rising. It is now on display in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin.

63

Paddy Mahon (glasses) on the right.

Taken at the St Stephens Club.

Cormac was told stories growing up by his father about how DeValera and other high profile figures would pop out the back of the family’s then dairy in Rathmines, and hold secret meetings.

He feels a strong connection to the story of 1916 and will to return in March for the occasion of the centenary commemorations.

“It’s almost too much to put it into words how I feel about my grandfather’s involvement and what that means to us today,” added Cor-

mac.

“I will be bringing Paddy Mahon’s things with me and will stand tall and proud with my two brothers at the celebration”.

With the commemorations of the 1916 looming history played something of a surprise on him very recently.

“By complete chance I discovered a couple of weeks ago that Paddy’s medals were auctioned,” he said.

“According to this website – adams. ie – that I found by accident some of my grandfathers things were sold for €7000”.

The description of the items given by the site is that they belonged to Volunteer Patrick Mahon of C. Coy, 2nd Battalion 1916. Brigade.

The collection includes: 1916 Rising Service Medal, with ribbon and clasp, inscribed with name etc on reverse; 1919 - 1921 War of Independence Service Medal with ‘Comrac’ bar, ribbon and clasp, inscribed on reverse; Rare 1916 - 1935 Survivors linen Armband (worn by 1916 veterans only, before the issue of

the commemorative medals). Copy of ‘’The Soldier’s Song and Other Poems,’’ by Peadar Kearney, printed by Talbot Press, Dublin 1928. A Rare Presentation Coy, inscribed by author, ‘ To Paddy Mahon in Memory of the John O’Leary ‘98 Club. Peadar O’Cearnaigh, 20/4/28.’’ A rare and interesting collection. N.B. Volunteer Mahon served in G.P.O. Garrison in 1916. He was on duty on the roof as a sniper, and was part of the group that moved to the lower floors when part of the building collapsed.

He eventually surrendered with his garrison, and spent the night of the 29th May, 1916, on the grass verge in front of the rotunda Hospital. He was transferred to Richmond Barracks, then Strafford, and eventually Frongoch in Wales. He was involved in active service during 1921 War of Independence, and took the Republican side during Civil War, 1922 on.

He was a personal friend of Peadar Kearney the author ‘’Soldier’s Song,’’ and both were members of the ‘John O’Leary ‘98 Club.”

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Irish Club SOS Fund. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank Shannon, and indeed the numerous volunteers that are rallying around the Club, for their time, support and enthusiasm. The Irish Club is an important institution for the Irish Community in Perth, and it is important to raise awareness that the Club needs our support. Pop in next time you’re out for the best pint of Guinness in town, or a lovely meal by their new chef, Reece Bremen. Indeed, keep our beautiful theatre in mind for your next function and contact the friendly committee for more information.

So, while rehearsals for The Plough and the Stars continue, the committee are busy making plans for the rest of 2016 here at the Irish Theatre Players. We’re currently accepting submissions of plays for our One Act Season in August 2016 – so if you’re a writer with any pieces you’d like to submit, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re also excited to bring you a brand new style of entertainment during the Winter this year – more details to be released soon so make sure you keep an eye on our website and facebook page for updates!

In the meantime, we look forward to welcoming you to our next production, The Plough and the Stars, from March 30th, here at the Irish Club of WA, and don’t hesitate to contact us directly with any queries.

A Message from President,

Claire Wynne Irish Theatre Players is excited to announce the tickets are now on sale for our next show, “The Plough and the Stars”, by Sean O’Casey. Being the 100th anniversary of 1916, we thought this favourite O’Casey play was the only one to do this Easter. The Plough and the Stars was first performed on February 8, 1926 by the Abbey Theatre in the writer’s native Dublin. The first two acts take place in November 1915, looking forward to the liberation of Ireland. The last two acts are set during the Easter Rising, in April 1916. Head to our website or facebook page for more details and ticket bookings.

2016 has started off with a bang for Irish Theatre Players, with huge success at the recent Finley Awards in the Heath Ledger Theatre. Our very own Denice Byrne (right) was awarded “Best Actress in a Play” for her role as Maggie Polpin in our 2015 production of John B. Keane’s “Big Maggie”.

A well-deserved award, I’m sure audiences would agree. Also, our collaboration with Playlovers Theatre in Floreat, “A Man of No Importance” received numerous awards, including “Best Director of a Musical” for Andrew Baker, and “Best Male in a Musical” for the wonderful David Gardette. A fantastic night was had by all, and it was great to see such hard work and dedication being recognised in such a way.

Currently, as you may be aware, we are assisting the Irish Club of WA with their fundraising efforts.

The new management committee of the Club have launched a Gofundme.com campaign (www.gofundme. com/6vkbch4c) to raise funds to help save the premises from its current financial hardship. The Irish Theatre Players are very proud of our home here in the Club, and want to help make sure we keep it! Our newest Committee member, Shannon, has lead the way in organising two hugely successful Fundraiser Table Quizes here at the Club – with all proceeds going to the

itp@irishtheatreplayers.com.au www.irishtheatreplayers.com.au

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• DISCOVER •

the festival of inspired music Fairbridge Festival is Western Australia’s most popular family camping festival. This friendly celebration of folk, roots, blues, acoustic, Celtic, a capella and world music takes place annually in April, in the traffic-free, self-contained bushland site of Fairbridge Village on the South West Highway, 5 km north of Pinjarra and 100 km south of Perth’s outlying south-eastern suburbs.

Fairbridge Village makes a wonderful festival site. Graceful, mature bushland and sweeping views over the Darling Escarpment provides a picturesque and peaceful background to the festival. Music spills from numerous marquees and permanent buildings; colourful markets add vibrancy and delight; delicious aromas waft over the catering areas; and everywhere are the sights and sounds of happy people enjoying a fabulous weekend experience.

Presented by the not for profit organisation, FolkWorld Inc., the festival is a major event on the WA cultural calendar with a devoted audience base, a strong pool of volunteers, a remarkably stable organising committee, and a dedicated and committed Board. The festival is entering its 24th year in 2016 and continues to go from strength to strength.

This year the performers line-up has something for everyone but I am looking forward to seeing Fásta Fásta from Quebec.

Described by The Irish Times… Fásta take Traditional Music of Quebec and Ireland and mate it with resulting beauty, groove and affinity.

“Irish Music with a Quebecois twist at its very, very best” by Mike Harding. Fásta’s pure music resonates deeply with every listener. With members from Ireland and Quebec doing what they love, it’s no surprise that Songlines described their music as straight “from the Heart”.

But Fairbridge is an experience that I know you will enjoy. Visit the website and see for yourself… fairbridgefestival.com.au I’ll see you there, wouldn’t miss it for quids.

Fred Rea

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ULSTER

Rambles with David MacConnell

Well if it isn’t St. Patrick’s Day again and Fiddlesticks (my band) is off to Geraldton to help the locals celebrate in style. Nowadays, I think it is more celebrated than Christmas. You don’t agree? Well check how many pints of the real black stuff are consumed on the 17th March world-wide and you might change your mind.

It never used to be that big in Ulster in the early seventies, but like most of the world, it has caught on more in the last couple of decades.

The good man himself is arguably one of the most beloved and enduring of the saints.

Given his status as the Patron Saint of Ireland, and the migration of the Irish people over generations, celebrations of his feast day are widespread around the globe. Luckily, I will only mention the celebrations in Ulster here. These encompass joyous displays of colour, traditional Irish song and dance, Irish cuisine and a fair amount of Irish wit! Not to forget the odd pint or nine.

I believe that an ideal way to explore Patrick’s life and legacy in Ulster is to follow the long-distance Saint Patrick’s Trail driving route or Saint Patrick’s Way walking route. They are both a bit long but shorter than the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in France and Spain. Another advantage is that a lot of the country folk in Armagh and Down speak a respectable form of English even if they are not quite understood.

Saint Patrick’s Trail (I recently found out) is a trail through a host of Christian sites at Bangor, the Ards Peninsula, Downpatrick, Newry and Armagh which goes to show just how strong Ulster’s links are with the patron saint.

The 92 mile linear driving route links 15 key sites, all identified as having some connection to his life, legacy or

landscape - they are all just waiting to be explored. So what are we waiting for?

Maybe a lotto win to help ease the pain of a long flight!

The North Down Museum is a key Christian Heritage site, and the perfect starting point on any St. Patrick itinerary, attracting pilgrims from Europe and the world over, who come to see where Saint Columbanus set out for Europe to rekindle Christianity in the Dark ages.

The museum is also home to a copy of the Antiphonary of Bangor, one of the most important manuscripts from the early Irish Church and ninth century, Bangor Bell. Bangor Abbey, founded in the 6th century by Saint Comgall is another must-see attraction. At the time of Saint Comgalls death in 601 it was one of the most important seats of learning in Ireland with almost 3000 monks. It must be nearly as good as a glimpse of the “Book of Kells”.

As you journey down the peninsula, be sure to stop off at the pretty village of Greyabbey. Noted for its fantastic antique shops and grey skies, it is also home to one of the finest examples of AngloNorman ecclesiastical architecture, in the ruin of what was once Grey Abbey.

A journey to St. Patrick’s country would not be complete without exploring Downpatrick and Armagh. Take the ferry from the fishing village of Portaferry over to Strangford and you will be in the heart of it! Discover the quaint and peaceful Saul Church (said to be the first ecclesiastical site in Ireland), where Saint Patrick began his crusade to convert the Irish. Three miles from Saul is the magnificent Down Cathedral, where Saint Patrick is buried and where yours truly attended church as a boy.

OK, so you all know the various stories of the good saint’s life. This is the

Looking to Hire a Car in Ireland?

version I prefer. Saint Patrick was born in northern Roman Britain around 387. The son of a wealthy tax collector, Patrick’s life was privileged in a comfortable Roman household.

When he was sixteen, Patrick was captured and brought to Ireland as a slave. Legend has it that he tended sheep and pigs on Slemish Mountain in County Antrim for six years. During these harsh days of slavery, Patrick prayed often as you do and found a deep Christian faith.

His later writings in the Confession and Letter to Coroticus describe his humility and an enduring faith even in the face of isolation and scorn.

After six years, he escaped and sailed on a boat back to his family in Britain. Not as good as St. Brendan’s story here is it? Freedom reinforced his Christian faith and called by God, Patrick went to France where he studied for the priesthood. His French was obviously much better than the rest of us. He was ordained a priest and within a few years, a bishop.

Patrick chose to return to Ireland where his first convert was Dichu, (sorry who?) who gave Patrick a barn where the first church was built at Saul, County Down. Patrick travelled throughout Ireland, converting druidic pagans in Armagh, Tipperary, Mayo, Meath and Dublin and baptising influential royal chieftains. In 445, Patrick established the Seat of Armagh as the centre of Christian learning in Ireland. A monastery church and an archbishop’s house were built here. This was probably another challenging gesture to the druidic order at Navan Fort. No, not Navan in the South but the one near Armagh which was the ancient Ulster capital and had been the royal seat of the Kings of Ulster.

By building his most important church close to the symbol of pagan royalty, Armagh became the most important town in Ireland. The only clergy entitled to spread the Christian faith were taught in the abbey in Armagh.

Saint Patrick died in 493. His remains are believed to be buried in the grounds of Down Cathedral, Downpatrick. A granite stone was laid to mark the grave in 1900. (See picture left).

So how are we celebrating the big day in other parts of Ulster you might

www.dan-dooley.ie 68

well ask? Well Belfast will mark St Patrick’s Day with a fun carnival parade and concert on Thursday 17th. The city centre will be awash with colour and splendour as the parade leaves Belfast City Hall at 12 noon, making its way to Custom House Square. Community groups from across the cultural spectrum will take part along with professional and amateur performers, musicians and dancers.

You could join in the St Patrick’s Day celebrations by coming along to the Centre to enjoy a musical afternoon with the Hot Tamales and The Stumblebums.

For the uninitiated, Hot Tamales are an acoustic Americana duo who mix diverse blues, country and folk-rock influences, whilst The Stumblebums have earned a reputation as Limavady’s finest tradfolk-rock amalgamation. Sounds like B Bumble and the Stingers mixed in with Christy Moore and Tina Turner. There will also be children’s activities in the Square but no mention of what the children will actually get up to: Probably “no good”.

How about in Armagh I can hear you ask? Well this festival is one of Armagh’s key annual events and includes a host of activities that are sure to appeal to at least some of us.

The festival opens with a celebratory event honouring St. Patrick in a performance which will feature words, music and dance - the John Anderson Choral Event. What more could you ask for. Throughout the 10 days there will be many traditional music sessions, a twoday festival of Irish language and a family history fair, where visitors will have the opportunity to trace their families back through the generations - with the help of local experts. The wonderful Armagh Observatory will open its doors for a free guided tour of the main observatory building, the Human Orrery and visitors will be given an explanation of the new multi-speaker outdoor sound installation ‘aroundNorth’. I only wish I had that explanation to share with you now, but I don’t.

On St. Patrick’s Day itself, Armagh will host one of the biggest Carnival Processions in Northern Ireland. Crowds will be entertained with a full programme of music which continues long into the afternoon. The theme for this year’s Procession is Feasts and Wild Beasts.

Just outside the City boundary, the Navan Centre will celebrate its links with St. Patrick in an event called ‘From Pagan to Patrick’; an interactive theatre experience that is sure to be both

educational and enjoyable. The day will end with the lighting of a beacon on Navan’s ancient mound.

The festival continues into the weekend with a Celtic Spirit concert featuring Karl McGuckin, Liam Lawton and Andrea Begley (winner of BBC’s The Voice 2014) in the Roman Catholic Cathedral. The following evening the Ulster Orchestra will perform a specially selected programme of music in the beautiful setting of the Church of Ireland Cathedral, a must for lovers of fine music. This is only a flavour of this notto-be-missed festival. Full details will be available on www.armagh.co.uk closer to the date.

So it remains for me to wish you all a HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY and I leave you with a little song I wrote Yeah, Note for note or even word by word.

Well here we are then we’re in Australia We’ve left our homeland but we’re happy here We’re celebrating good old St. Patrick’s Day One of the best days in all of the year I’m going to tell to you a simple story All about Patrick a Saxon slave Who tended lambs and sheep on the Antrim hill side And lived all by himself in a lonely cave

Pat made his escape then but returned to Ireland To spread the gospel far and wide If he’d had transport he would have gone to Australia Cos the would have had the Irish on his side Now good St Patrick he liked his shamrock That Trinity story we were told How he converted the Kings and all of the people To Christianity to save their souls We’re going to sing songs and raise the rafters We’re going to drink some good old Guinness stout We’re going to eat stew with lots of potatoes We’re going to dance away till we are thrown out © wdm David MacConnell

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A S S O C I AT I O N B U N B U RY W E S T E R N A U S T R A L I A

Irish sensation Damien Leith will perform a one-off concert at The Cube Theatre at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre on April 2.

This popular and well-loved artist and his band will perform hits off his platinum selling albums sold during a 10 year music career, which has propelled him to international fame.

The acoustic show will feature his hit songs Crying, Hallelujah, Beautiful and Night of My Life, along with lively Irish classics and popular Roy Orbison songs as featured on his critically acclaimed album ‘Roy – A Tribute to Roy Orbison’.

The Irish classics feature on his hit album Songs from Ireland which included duets with Sharon Corr from The Corrs, Irish accordion and fiddle player Sharon Shannon and Bing Crosby, from his original recordings.

The concert has been brought to Bunbury by the John Boyle O’Reilly Association of Bunbury, as part of an all-Irish weekend celebrating the life of O’Reilly and the South West’s Irish heritage and culture.

The Irish celebrations also coincide with Damien Leith’s 10th year of winning Australian Idol. Since then the multi-talented artist has been nominated for multiple ARIA and MTV Australian Video Music Awards and Helpmann Awards.

His ARIA wins include Number 1 Chart Awards for the Albums Where We Land and The Winner’s Journey, Highest Selling Album (The Winner’s Journey), and Highest Selling Single and Number 1 Chart Award for the track, Night of My Life.

Tickets to the Damien Leith Concert are available from BREC ph: 1300 661 272.

For more information contact Tom Dillon on 0417986298 or bdillon1@bigpond.com www.facebook.com/jboreilly or www.jboreilly.org.au

Privatised sea­weed gath­er­ing?

Neeson in Love??

nd

Irela m o fr

Ballymena-born actor Liam Neeson refused to name his new love for fear of embarrassing her as “she’s incredibly famous”.

He told the Irish Sunday Independent that “I’ll have to do my best for her” when it came to Valentine’s Day. He added: “It’s amazing how far a simple bunch of freshly picked flowers will go in a lady’s life.”

The 63-year-old Hollywood A-Lister also revealed that several other ladies may receive a bouquet from him with a note saying “from an Irish admirer”.

Elec­tion can­di­date promise...

All the Nuggets...

GONE!!!!

It was his last day working at Burger King. He had almost three years put in at the fast food joint and clearly felt he deserved some sort of bonus. He decided on chicken nuggets. ALL the chicken nuggets. We just hope he’s got room in his freezer. Or he could throw some sort of chicken nugget party.

His post showing his nuggets safely secured in his car, got many hits and currently has over 34,000 retweets and hundreds of replies from people asking him to share and posting their own stories of last day naughtiness.

A local elec­tion can­di­date is rais­ing a few eye­ brows in Meath with his new ‘Don’t Give a Feck Party’ and his sole promise to “do noth­ing for you and my very best to do it!”

What started off as a joke for Duleek launderette-owner Dave Keav­eney has spi­ralled into an elec­tion cam­paign after locals urged him to “run for real” when he pinned a mock poster up in his Main Street business.

His poster fea­tures a slo­gan: ‘Vote Dave No 1 for a cleaner Duleek’.

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There is con­tro­versy in Mayo with moves to pri­va­tise sea­weed cut­ting along the coast of the county.

Arra­mara Teo­ranta is a state-owned body that is seek­ing per­mis­sion to con­trol the huge sea­weed resource along the West­ern seaboard. At present, Údarás na Gaeltachta holds 100 per­cent of the com­pany shares, and an act made in 1933 allows peo­ple to cut it.

Accord­ing to the Mayo News, it seems that a pri­vate com­pany from Canada is bid­ding for Arra­mara.

Local politi­cians are con­cerned that if con­trol of the licences is handed over to a pri­vate com­pany then the peo­ple who have lived along the shore­lines and cut sea­weed will no longer be able to avail of this and other nat­ural resources along the seashore.

“The dan­ger is that this is just another fea­ture of our lives which this gov­ern­ment wants to sell off for pri­vati­sa­tion,” sais Sinn Fein’s Rose Conway-Walsh.

Gui­tar solo plucks wrong strings

THE actions of a mys­tery gui­tarist, who played a half hour long gui­tar solo on a small rocky out­crop in the Ennisty­mon cas­cades, have been described as “reck­less” and “highly dan­ger­ous” by Clare’s most senior water safety official. Clare County Coun­cil Water Safety Offi­cer Liam Grif­fin, yes­ter­day appealed to mem­bers of the pub­lic not to copy the bizarre inci­dent, which he said could eas­ily have lead to a fatality.

Dog owners shot on shite!

Dubliners are being urged to report dog owners who fail to pick up after their pets, to From Offaly local There was quite a sur­prise in store authorities. for Rhode native, Vic­to­ria Mur­phy A new hotline number has been (23) last Wednes­day, 9 April when established by the four Dublin councils she opened up a copy of the Offaly to handle reports of dog fouling on Topic to find a full page mar­riage streets, parks and suburban roads pro­posal on page three! throughout the city and county.

Vic­to­ria was treated to a day out in Currently there are in excess of 30,000 Athlone by her boyfriend Kevin dogs living in Dublin, with 30,745 dog O’Shea (25), and was com­pletely licences issued by the four Dublin local unaware of what the Dublin native authorities in 2012 and 28,122 issued had in store, when he sug­gested to date in 2013. they take a pic­nic on the lakeshore of Lough Ree beside the Hod­son Bay “Dog fouling remains a very serious issue and one of the top gripes for Hotel.

Kevin spent 18 months try­ing to ask Dubliners. As a result, Dublin’s four the most impor­tant ques­tion of his local authorities are coming together to launch a new initiative aimed at life. Hav­ing exhausted all ideas he encouraging all dog owners to clean came up with an idea of cre­at­ing a up after their dog,” campaign full page pro­posal in his favourite spokeswoman, Therese Langan of Dún local paper.

Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council said.

Slimmers lose 977 stone in 2015

Up to the end of November 2015 super slimmers in Co. Leitrim lost a whopping 13958lbs that’s 997 stone in weight – the equivalent of 3 cars, 9 adult male Polar Bears or 90 adult females! Altogether the members of the Drumshanbo, Ballinamore, Manorhamilton, Carrick-on-Shannon and Mohill Slimming World groups are now 6.33 tonnes lighter than they were at the beginning of 2015. The members, who attend the groups every week, follow Slimming World’s Food Optimising eating plan by expert nutritionists, which encourages them to fill up on satisfying foods such as pasta, rice, potatoes, lean meat and fish, pulses and fruit and veg.

Musical Entertainer / Teacher

Your man with the glasses!

A letter was delivered to Roisin Henderson’s office in the Inish Times addressed. “Your man Henderson.

That boy with the glasses who’s doing the PhD up there in Queens in Belfast.”

Sure ya know him - he lives up there with the wife.

Trying to decipher who “your man Henderson” is might seem a fairly big ask, but it proved no bother to the Buncrana postman.

He cunningly delivered it to the Inish Times office where Roisin Henderson, wife of the aforementioned “boy with the glasses”, works as a journalist.

“The postman delivered it to the office when I was out, asking if it could possibly be for my husband.

I think it’s brilliant. Only in Donegal, ” she wrote in a Facebook post. Barry Henderson, to whom the letter was cryptically addressed, is in fact “doing the PhD up in Belfast”in modern history at Queens University.

The couple live in Buncrana, Co Donegal, which is about as far as the writer got in terms of geographical knowledge of the address. The letter contained a small note saying “If this has arrived, you live in a village.”

As the reporter mentioned, “It begs the question - why spend €27 million on an EirCode system when we have postmen trained like sniffer dogs?”

Visiting Ireland?

Gerry & Elsie Tully will give a great welcome!

DIVINE M E R CY

David MacConnell

BED AND BREAKFAST

0413 259 547 wdmacc@bigpond.net.au www.maccdouble.com

Airport Road, Knock Co Mayo Phone: (094) 9388 178 International: 0011 353 94 9388 178

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By Lloyd Gorman

Not so much a pub quiz as a pub test!

When Brownyn Bishop was exposed to have chartered a helicopter to travel a relatively short distance to get to a Liberal Party fundraiser there was naturally and justifiably a lot of outrage. Every politician at the time who was asked about it said her behaviour failed to meet “community expectations”. Fair enough, but the phrase became hackneyed and overused. Former treasurer and now Australian Ambassador to the US, Joe Hockey phrased it much better however when he said a good measure of what was acceptable or not was “the pub test” or the “sniff test”.

Obviously Bishops arrogance in the first place was on the nose of the Australian electorate, but she made matters worse by refusing to apologise and carried on like a pork chop for weeks and ultimately she paid a price for that.

Paul North, (left) publican of JB O’Reilly’s in West Leederville inadvertently held the WA Department of Health up against the pub test.

In early February an official from the health department visited the Cambridge Street watering hole to inspect the establishment’s tobacco permit was up to date and correct, which it was.

JB’s – which has been around for 23 years now – stopped selling fags in 2014 but keeps the licence so that it can sell the occasional cigar.

Paul reckons his joint is one of the only bars in the whole of Perth that doesn’t sell smokes. After all these years of having licences and whatever else in place – and annual checks by the department – this time the eagle eyed official noticed that amongst the plethora of street signs, musical instruments, pitch forks and the like attached to the wall and roof of the place there were some old – antique old – advertising signs for cigarettes that no longer exist.

Displaying advertising for cigarettes in a public place is not allowed under anti-smoking laws that have been around since just before JB’s opened its doors. The department ordered him to take down the signs (about 24 of them) within 14 days or face a hefty fine and court action. Defiant in the face of such unforgiving policy Paul dug his heels in. They were

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works of art, vintage pieces of memorabilia up to 100 years old in some cases for brands that no longer exist.

Paul – who hates smoking himself – said he spent a lot of money - $3,000 a piece in many cases – buying these old signs. He would not take them down.

Once I got a “sniff” of this story as a reporter for the local newspaper in the area, the POST, I got onto Paul to find out if such a ludicrous thing could be true and to find out what he would do. He would take it to the High Court of Australia if necessary he told me. I remembered the famous “it’s the vibe” scene from the Aussie classic comedy, The Castle and I quite relished the idea of travelling to Canberra to report on the court challenge.

It is unlikely to get that far, or indeed to go anywhere. Because all of a sudden an overwhelming rush of media interest – newspapers, radio and TV stations – the story broke and immediately and understandably a large number of the public thought this was a prime example of the nanny state gone mad. The man in the street – the man in the pub – didn’t like it one little bit. Such was the public backlash that within 24 hours of the story leaking, the minister for health (who may have lost the portfolio since this column was written in late February) ordered a “report” into the incident, flagging it would be

killed off. The Premier, Colin Barnett, was asked about it by a mob of reporters at Elizabeth Quay and he came out strongly in support of Paul North and said he believed he should be allowed to keep the signs

up. It would be a rare public health official that would go up against the will of a premier.

Funnily enough, I had been talking to Paul earlier that week, a cou-

Brooklyn will keep bringing you back Reviewed By Imelda Flannery

Brooklyn is the much acclaimed film adaptation of Colm Toíbín’s 2009 novel. Set in 1951 it starts off in Ireland. With little future available in her small town for Eilis Lacey, it’s decided by the her widowed mother (Jane Brennan) and older sister, Rose (Fiona Glascott), that she will travel to America.

There’s a women’s boarding house in Brooklyn, N.Y., run by a Mrs. Kehoe (Julie Walters) and there’s a job at Bartocci’s department store in Brooklyn Heights that’s been arranged by kindly Father Flood (Jim Broadbent). All the young Irish girl has to do is step onto the steamship and the current will carry her away.

The voyage is a precisely rendered series of disasters that include sea-sickness, a locked bathroom, and a world-weary

ple of days before the story broke. I called in to grab a bit of lunch and met him going in the door. “Come here, I want to show you something, what do you think?,” he asked. I wasn’t quite sure at first what I was meant to be looking at. It was a Bus Eireann bus stop sign that he had just mounted on the outside of the main entrance earlier that day. He was proud as punch of the latest bit of Ireland to grace his pub, brought over by a fella who said he’d get it for Paul. I wonder if some “jobs worth” in the Irish national bus company will notice they are a sign short and launch an investigation and court action to retrieve it. Who knows, it nearly happened once already?

While we are on the subject of pub tests there is another that springs to mind, the crowd funding appeal in January to raise $20,000 to help keep the doors of the Irish Club in Subiaco open. This is a real test of how strongly the Irish veteran of the crossing (Eva Birthistle) to teach Eilis the ropes.

Upon arriving in the magic kingdom of Brooklyn, Eilis sets about establishing herself in her digs and also in her job at Bartocci’s. The early scenes of the movie shows Eilis undone by homesickness and allow us to almost physically feel her loneliness.

At a local dance, Eilis meets Tony (Emory Cohen), an Italian plumber with a brash yen for this fair colleen. Cohen electrifies the movie and Eilis. He’s dynamite, transforming a stock role into something wonderfully fresh and exciting. Eilis is shy and virginal but no pushover, and Ronan plays her with robust resilience. This cultureclash romance gives the film an erotic charge that explains why Eilis seriously thinks about putting down roots on alien turf.

Just as things are getting serious between Tony and Eilis, she is called back to her home to cope with a family tragedy. As much as she’s come to love her new life, the forces of homesickness and guilt, as well as the attentions of the kind, handsome local fellow Jim Farrell (Domhnall

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community in Perth feels about the Club, and the need to have it. With tens of thousands of Irish people in Perth $20,000 would – you might have thought – been an realistic and achievable target. About a month in and just over 100 people have kicked in a contribution, helping to raise just over $10,000. But the donations seem to have ground to a halt. If we allow the Club to die it is highly unlikely to be replaced and we will all be worse off.

Another crowd funding campaign was launched about two weeks after the Irish Club’s one. It was to raise up to $500,000 to save the 110 year old heritage listed Bolgart Hotel, about 40km north of Toodyay.

If the small rural community there are prepared to climb such a mountain to save their local pub, then the Irish community in Perth should be ready and able to do the same for their Club.

Gleeson) cause no small confusion for Eilis.

The deep, abiding sadness and hope we feel in the final frames of “Brooklyn” are more comforting than the last lines of the book, in which Eilis looks to the horizon and forces herself to imagine nothing more.

Toíbín wrote of the ways our lives choose us. The movie, by contrast, dramatises how we choose our lives. You come away from the screen version of “Brooklyn” fully satisfied and a little less enriched by doubt.

Meanwhile, watch out for a BBC adaptation of the Oscar nominated hit film Julie Walters is tipped to play her silver screen character in the coming TV series.

Storytelling and black humour key to Anastatia’s success Embarking on a career in theatre can be daunting experience for many, but for local actress Anastatia Ward, it has provided great lessons about using humour to connect with people and to tell stories, particularly within the plays of WA, Australian and Irish writers.

It’s been several months since Anastatia was named ‘Best Supporting Actress’ in the 2015 Dramafest awards, but the memory is still fresh with her, particularly as it came as a surprise, and after an intense experience on the cast of Blak Yak Theatre’s Never Ever by Melissa Merchant.

“My reaction to winning was funny because I didn’t even realise that I was up for an award and received the news via Facebook message while sitting on the couch in my jammies drinking red wine,” Anastatia said.

The award was for her role as Tina in Never Ever, a one-act play that centres on six women playing the drinking game of the same name. Stacy said the slow reveal of the play allowed for a fascinating insight into human relationships.

“Some of them are friends, some of them colleagues, some of them strangers, but they all have their own story bubbling away under the surface, which gets revealed to the audience in an intimate way,” she said.

Backtracking a few years, Anastatia began her career with the Irish Theatre Players, and she maintains that this work has provided her with some of the best ‘aha!’ moments and learning experiences.

“I became involved in the ITP really randomly: my parents owned an Irish Café called Ma Doyle’s in Wembley and one day I was leafing through a copy of the Irish Scene Magazine where I saw the ad looking for Irish actors,” she said.

“I figured that I had the accent downpat having only arrived here at the age of 17, and with the eight

By Caroline Smith

years of Speech and Drama that I’d received from Mrs. Nieves EganLangley back in Arklow that I might be a good fit. I called up and auditioned with Noel O’Neill for a part in Red Roses and Petrol by Joseph O’Connor and it went from there.”

Despite an initial interest in more serious roles – ‘dramatic and tortured’ in her own words – Anastatia soon realised that comedy could be just as revelatory.

“Working with Noel and an actor called Mike-Anthony Sheehy, I realised just how valuable comedy is,” she said. “We did a 60’s comedy at The Old Mill called ‘There’s a Girl in my Soup – it was SO much fun; quick-paced, stylish, a little bit farcical but really funny, and massively accessible for the audience.

“I remember doing the first matinee and looking up from our group bow; in the first row was a tiny, ancient, little old woman in a wheelchair, with terrible arthritis and a curved spine. I will never forget the look of delight on her face – she grinned from ear to ear and clapped her heart out.

“Something inside me just clicked . . . it was the proverbial light-bulb moment.”

Despite her earlier preference for drama, Anastatia said comedy – particularly of the black variety – was a style she hoped to use more in the future, as it allowed actors and playwrights to say something about the human condition in a subtle but meaningful way.

Working on Never Ever also helped her zoom on specific interests, notably working with other women to tell stories specific to the female experience.

“After my experience with Melissa and the cast, I see myself taking on more roles that were written by women for women – I might even get off my backside and create some myself,” she said.

Perhaps with this passion

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for unique storytelling in mind, Anastatia says her favourite role with ITP was in Mark de Friest’s The Beast and the Beauty, which placed a traditional fairytale in the unusual setting of 19th century rural Australia.

“Seeing how the audience embraced the Australian re-telling of the story was truly humbling,” she said.

“We performed the world premiere, and the writer, David Stevens was on-hand – I believe he was pretty happy with our representation.

“The story is set in 1880s Victoria and revolves around a young man named Tom whose parents were killed in a fire on their sheep-station. He survived but was horribly disfigured, hence the “Beast”. I got to play Belle, the female lead, who is basically given over as an indentured servant by her father (who happens to be Irish and was played by Noel O’Neill, so that worked out brilliantly.”

Being involved in a world premier production was also enriching, Anastatia said, as it brought the cast together through their investment in the performance.

“It was really emotional when we came to the end of our run and it was a privilege to be part of that cast,” she added.

Finally, Anastatia informs me of one of the more curious challenges to her building repertoire.

“I suppose challenge-wise my accent has been both a blessing and a curse,” she said.

“It’s limited me in certain areas and enhanced my acting in others.

The nice thing about that is that I have an excellent voice-coach by the name of James Hagan; he was beginning to teach me how to perfect an Australian accent but I was a bit careless and let other things get in the way. I think it’s time to crack on with that…I’ve lived here 16 years, so I suppose it shouldn’t be TOO hard.”

LINENHALL EXHIBITION Brings Heaney’s Poetry to Life

By Carolin e

Smith

Seamus Heaney has long been revered as poet who has left an indelible mark on Ireland’s literary landscape, opening up discussion on the country’s natural surroundings and the emotional lives and traditions of its inhabitants. And despite international acclaim and an academic career further afield in England and the United States, the Nobel prize winner maintained a local theme throughout much of his work, giving an insight into the experiences of the Northern Irish people during the period of the Troubles and its aftermath.

It is not surprising then that Northern Irish artists such as Edward Cartin have been guided by the stories told in Heaney’s poetry, representing these on canvas with the same personal touch as the writer himself. Edward – who is based in Belfast but like Heaney grew up in the countryside near Derry- began painting in this vein after being inspired by one particular subject from the poetry.

“I was always attracted to one particular image, that of his young brother Hugh imitating a bag piper with the chair over his shoulders and the whitewash brush for a sporran,” he said.

“Indeed I thought that the image should appeal to a well know artist here Brian Vallely. Vallely is a Uilleann piper and was well known to Heaney. Vallely frequently painted musicians in a very free style.

“I was discussing the proposal with a friend one day and he simply said “Why don’t you paint it?” At that point I had not really started painting apart from a couple of small landscapes per year. I had a go at it and the work is now named

after the title of the poem.”

Later paintings reflected equally personal subjects, such as ‘Between’, which was based on Heaney’s poem ‘Digging’, about his father’s farm work and how it could be compared to a writer’s.

“Digging was such a well know poem it seemed that a digging pen would be easy and easily communicated,” Edward said.

Sharing a similar journey to the poet in his move from the countryside to the city in the 1960s, Edward was also guided by the way Heaney revealed this in his work, particularly the contrast between the urban environment and the traditional ways of the rural Northern Irish.

“My father died when I was 12 and I had the experience of adults saying “Sorry for your troubles” a very Irish gesture of sympathy at a wake,” he said.

“Heaney describes the same experience of embarrassment at the wake of his four year old brother in ‘Mid Term Break’. In ‘The Follower’ he describes following his father’s footsteps in the wake of the ploughing horses, an experience that I shared.

“Of course the poem describes the fate of many boys at the time who were destined to bypass farming and go on to further education, leaving rural life for an urban one.”

In the beginning, Edward displayed his work at small private galleries, but gathering interest led to a bigger exhibition at Belfast’s Linen Hall Library in August 2015.

“At an exhibition of paintings by over 60’s folk I showed ‘Between’ and ‘Keeping Going’ just to test

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interest,” he said.

“A semi private gallery offered me a solo show in their gallery. Then a friend of mine saw the paintings and bought all eleven! At a class exhibition later a lady bought ‘Sunlight Mossbawn’.

“By the time the Linen Hall library show came I had to borrow them all back! I cannot ask for a better validation of the exercise.”

While remaining humble about his success – describing the success of the Linenhall show as being partly down to the draw of Heaney’s name – Edward acknowledges the innovations that this kind of

A Smart Dub!

Visiting from Australia, Shelia was with her Mayo husband at a football match in Croke Park when he decided to go get himself a kebab.

As she stood up her husband asked her would she mind buying him a Guinness from the bar. The young Dublin jackeen at the bar asked to see her verification of age. “You’ve got to be kidding,” she said. “I’m almost 40 years old.” He apologised, but said he had to insist. When she showed him her passport, and was served the beer. “Dat will be 6 euros.”

She gave him 10 euros, smiled and told him to keep the change. “The tip’s for carding me,” she said.

He put the change in the pocket. “Thanks mam,” he said. “It bleedin’ works everytime.”

artwork represents.

“The paintings address the literary audience first and foremost and I am on new territory for painters here,” he said.

“What I am doing is narrative painting which was most commonly done on religious and historical themes. Narrative painting has been long out of fashion but may be making a bit of a comeback.”

Having never trained in Fine Arts – instead working as Chartered Accountant and executive in a previous life – Edward said he was happy to continue honing his skills,

while placing most emphasis on how his works represent Heaney’s writing.

“I have not served a long apprenticeship at Art college etcetera and cannot expect appreciation for skills that have only been honed for a few years,” he said.

“I can concentrate on the interpretation of the poems and hope that it is the interpretation that will give the viewer the most pleasure. If my paintings help people to enjoy Seamus Heaney poems more, then I can be pleased.”

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AHA winner

The 1916 Anzac’s

by Lloyd Gorman

A little bit of ANZAC is forever stitched into the fabric of the 1916 Rebellion. Exactly a year and a day before the Irish rebels took up arms to strike for Irish freedom, thousands of Diggers from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corp were themselves going into action at Gallipoli in the service of their homelands. Ireland now commemorates April 24, 1916. Australia marks April 25, 1915.

If thousands of Irish men in British uniforms fought and died at Gallipoli, just as thousands of young Australians had done, then history determined that at least some men from the Australian Imperial Force that landed at Gallipoli should be in Dublin that fateful Easter, and even become combatants in the Rising.

Following are two striking accounts from an Australian and Kiwi who unwittingly found themselves fighting in a war for Irish independence in the middle of a World War. And their experience still reverberates for modern day Australians, even here in Perth as a recent exchange of Letters to the Editor in

the West Australian reveal.

A letter from Gerry Coleman in Bassendean was published in the West on February 8, under the heading Sons of Ireland who fought in war. Gerry opened his letter by describing himself as a proud Irish-Australian and stating he wanted to give a brief summary of the Irish born Australian soldiers who fought and also died at Gallipoli and on the Western Front and who were also involved in the Easter Rising.

Gerry - who is a prolific letter writer and has been published widely in local and national Australian newspapers - said a total of 210,000 Irishmen serviced in the British forces, a number which does not include Irish emigrants in Britain who also enlisted but are not registered as Irish, or another 6,600 Irish Australians or even those who served with the New Zealand or Canadian units.

Some 8709 Australians paid the ultimate cost at Gallipoli and while this was a high number, it would be dwarfed in numbers, but not tragedy, on the Western Front.

“This was a brutal place to be,” wrote Mr Coleman. Accordingly, Australian soldiers, including Irish-Australians, visited Ireland at intervals for rest and recuperation.

While most of the British forces were fighting overseas, the Irish seized the opportunity to rise up against the remaining occupying force in Ireland, which kicked off on Easter Monday. As a group of Australian soldiers were on R&R and visiting relatives at the time, they were reluctantly pressed into action

by British officers to utilise their sniping experience, from rooftops.

They were in fact shooting at their

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Irish “cousins”. What a crazy world.”

He went on to remark how the service of so many Irishmen in that war, and by extension the Australian Diggers, some of who have graves in Ireland, became tainted and went overlooked for so long.

The next day the West carried two letters, written in response to his epistle. Patrick McGill from Riverton wrote to say that during her visit to Ireland in 2011, the first by a ruling Monarch in 100 years, the Queen laid a wreath for the dead at the Irish National War Memorial Gardens in Dublin.

“This site had been allowed to

Gerry Coleman

fall into disarray by successive Irish governments until the Queen’s visit was confirmed and was quickly cleaned up,” Mr McGill wrote. “It replicated other memorial gardens spread across Great Britain. It is a beautiful edifice and well worth a visit.”

The other letter writer John Blakely from Hillarys - was able to share a more personal family story about the Rising.

“My grandfather was a Cockney and migrated to Perth in about 1910,” he wrote. “He was at Gallipoli and on the Western Front and hardly ever spoke about that part of the war. Only late in life did he talk, and it was on the topic of when Australian troops were sent to Dublin after the Easter Rising. They were primarily an occupation force and were welcomed by the locals because a lot of the Australian troops were originally from Ireland. He said Australians had access to tea and sugar, which was rationed by the locals. This was much appreciated by the people they were billeted on. It seems the population supported the world war. Being predominately Catholic, they were upset by stories about German atrocities in Belgium, which was also Catholic. Initially, the local populace was against the Easter Rising, and it was not much supported. It was only after the British executed the ringleaders that the sentiment changed.”

This letter sparked another in the next day’s edition of the newspaper from another West Australian with a close connection to the events of the Rising - and also solved a 100 year old family mystery. “In 1916, my father’s brother, young Lennie Buckingham, was recuperating in England, having been shot on the Western Front in France,” wrote Shiri-Ann Blake, from Woodlands. “He’d already been wounded in Gallipoli and the next year in France would be awarded the Military Medal. He decided he had time to go to Ireland to visit Granny Cosgrove’s people, she having married into the family. Feeling a thirst coming on, he found and wandered into a pub in Dublin. With his accent and his uniform he was quickly surrounded by a menacing group of local lads who ad-

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vised him that if he valued his life he should leave Ireland immediately. It was advice he quickly took, and was away on the next boat. John Blakey’s letter has now given us an explanation to the puzzle about young Lennie’s reception in Ireland.”

Editors Note: It is also worth mentioning that a number of men from the Royal Dublin Fusiliers who had served at Gallipoli were also garrisoned in Dublin at the time of the Rising, and took an active part in putting down the rebellion.

The Easter Rising recalled from a Diggers letter home.

In writing to his parents, Corpo-

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ral Finlay McLeod, son of Mr. and Mrs. Finlay McLeod, “Cromarty,” Wolseley Road, Mosman, an ex-Sydney Grammar School boy, who was in the Gallipoli campaign, and invalided to England, related his experience in Dublin during the rebellion. He arrived in Dublin on Furlough on April 20. He says:— “I noticed a bitter feeling against England. Soldiers were even jeered at, and on the following Saturday, April 22, a man was arrested for threatening to shoot anyone in khaki.

On Monday, April 24, the fun started, the Sinn Feins, as they term themselves marching through Dublin and captured the principal buildings, including the G.P.O. and St. Stephen’s Green, practical-

ly in the heart of the city. After this they hoisted their Republican Flag.

It was then they started on soldiers and when I was walking down to the G.P.O. with an Australian, we were fired on, but the fellow was a bad shot, but two officers were shot just ahead of us. We then walked back and volunteered at the Dublin University Officer’ Training Corps (on the way we got 11 more Colonialists). We were given rifle, and were held in readiness. The Sinn Feins hail then surrounded us, and we were unable to start owing to lack of service men and ammunition. Only the 13 Colonials had service, the others being newly jointed recruits, and then only a total of 44. We had the Bank of Ireland to hold, but during the day and evening more recruits came in, and firing commenced. Tuesday (Anzac Day) was well kept up, for at 3.30 am three Sinn Feins, an advance party, came riding towards us, and we dropped them. Only another Australian and New Zealander were with me at the time. We were cheered by the O.T.C., and the officers were pleased with us. We were then relieved by reinforcement from England, and with them went out and captured Weston Row railway station. We were then relieved, and patrolled the city, getting prisoners. We started house searching, and it was not an easy job.

We only had one casualty, and that slight.”

The officer commanding the Dublin University Officers’ Corps in a

despatch to the O.C. of the Base Depot, Horn Church, England, says: — “On behalf of the officers and men of this unit I desire to express our warm appreciation of Corporal McLeod’s services, and on his general soldierly character and bearing.

And a New Zealander’s first hand account: The Rev/ Alexander Doll, of Dunedin, who was at one time a school teacher in Bendigo, has three sons and a daughter with the New Zealand forces. Rev. Alexander Don’s sons, Sergeant Alexander Don, was with the New Zealand artillery and he took part in the Gallipoli campaign, contracted enteric fever and was invalided to England.

Writing to his friends he says:-’’I had seven day’s leave and went to Ireland. I was in Dublin at the time of the rebellion. On Easter Monday morning I was walking past Dublin Castle and everything seemed alright. Then a couple of shots rang out and two ‘Tommies’ who were in front of me fell over. I thought I must be dreaming and went over to where they were lying. One had a bullet through the head and the other through the neck. Then I looked up and saw a couple of men in green uniforms and slouch huts, rifles and bandoliers, covering me from the housetop. It was my hat that saved me because it seemed to puzzle them, being so very light. I had a shot at them from the nearest corner with the revolver which I always carry.

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That was the first intimation I and many others had of the rising of the Sinn Feiners. This sniping of innocent unarmed soldiers was a speciality of theirs. Further up the street I saw some rebels walking on the houses.

Later I saw two New Zealanders who were over on a holiday seeing a ‘little bit of Heaven’. The rebels started shooting at them, so I went over and told them who I was and we went on together. When passing Trinity College a porter called us in and later I got into uniform. That night we kept the rebels from taking the Royal Bank of Ireland, by firing from the roof of Trinity College. There were only a few armed men in Trinity that, night and it took some holding as it occupies the whole block and we were right in the centre of the rebels.

The whole affair was just about ten times worse than any of the people knew.

From Monday to Thursday you could hear all the time the rattling of rifles all over Dublin and the boom of the guns of our artillery. I had seven hours sleep on Easter Sunday and the following Friday.

As we were shooting from the roof it was dangerous work and the cry for the Anzacs (meaning the five New Zealanders and the Australian) to deal with the snipers, were frequent. The rebels even had a church tower opposite, and were firing from it.

We fired a volley through the tower and then went into the church and crept up stairs to the Belfry. One of the rebels was dead and another wounded. On Thursday night I saw a big crowd of rebels in the G.P.O. surrender. There were about 130 of them. It was a great sight, the whole of Sackville Street (now O’Connell Street) being in flames and fire flashing on the bayonets of the guards ranging round the prisoners. I met some of the finest people I have ever met in Ireland, and the Irish -especially in the north of Ireland must not be judged by the Sinn Feiners.”

Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustained him through temporary periods of joy. William Butler Yeats

From Tasmania with Paula Xiberras

LUKA BLOOM-ING TOWARD ANOTHER HARVEST

by Paula Xiberras

I recently spoke to Irish musician Luka Bloom about his upcoming Australian tour.

This will be Luka’s 12th tour of Australia. I’m doing a phoner with him from Ireland and it’s late night his time, in fact a little later than expected because the interviewer before me, Luka says, was Irish and ‘they didn’t stop talking’. Mine won’t be the last interview on this particular night for Luka he is scheduled to be chatting away until 1 am but as Luka’s publicist tells me, ‘he is a trooper’.

Although Luka is not visiting Hobart this tour, because, he tells me he has little control over the itinerary, he is apologetic and reminds me how much he loves Hobart.

Luka is always glad to go home and return to family and friends after a tour but with Australia the feeling is different because when he’s in Australia he doesn’t feel as if he is away from home.

While he can’t exactly say why he feels this way, Luka thinks part of it has something to do with the connection that the modern day

Irish have with Australia and their awareness that their ancestors made that extraordinary trip to the other side of the world. These people have left their imprint on the nation, something both genetic and spiritual embedded in the landscape. An ‘intangible’ feeling manifested in Luka as a sense of familiarity, of being home away from home.

Right back to his first concert at the Elmore Theatre, he felt, he said ‘a hurricane of support’ and fell in love with Australia instantly. Added to that warm reception was the Australian sense of humour with, like the Irish, its irreverent use of the English language. It seems fitting then, that Luka will debut his new album ‘Frugalisto’ here in Australia.

Luka as a folk singer has always had a message in his music and most recently climate change has become a deep concern because of his new neighbours in County Clare, keen surfers who are equally devoted to treading softly on the earth and do that by creating a living environment of positive sustainability.

Luka has seen people’s awareness of climate change grow and notes that for the first time this year in Ireland people were actually scared of the rains coming and for good reason as these rains resulted in frightening flooding.

Luka’s neighbours present hope for the future in a world where the scary scenario is that there might only be 59 more harvests, if climate change is not recognised and acted upon. It is these concerns that has prompted Luka in writing his new album ‘Frugalisto’ to be showcased on this tour.

Luka Bloom is at the Fly By Night on Tuesday 22nd March 2016 Bookings: flybynight.org You can see Luka’s tour details at: http://www.abpresents.com. au/current-events/show/lukabloom-5

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The Nearest to Perfect

by Paula Xiberras

In Castledermot, County Kildare, there are ruins of a Franciscan monastery which houses Western Europe’s oldest window. In a contradiction Kildare is also the home of Hewlett Packard.

It’s this mix of the traditional and modern that is manifested in a son of Kildare, Irish musician and composer Michael English, a young man who celebrates tradition while at the same time bringing a modern twist in his music that provides a window to our emotions.

When I spoke to Irish singer Michael, he told me that the next day he was off to film a DVD for one of his early recordings, which announced his presence on the Irish music scene. That song is ‘The Nearest to Perfect’ written by ‘The Mainliner’s’ Henry McMahon and recorded by Michael in 1997.

Amazingly the song has never had a DVD clip.

It seems suiting that Michael’s early song is called ‘The Nearest to Perfect’ because this humble young man, with all his accomplishments is literally the ‘nearest to perfect’ at what he does.

It’s quite a litany of achievements even at his relatively young age. Among them this all round entertainer has captured The All Ireland ballroom dance champion five years in a row!

Michael waltzed into ballroom dancing as an equally fine Irish dancer, an ability I can attest to having seen Michael doing a spot of Irish dancing in Westport, Ireland on a recent visit.

Michael’s music tuition began at Carlow’s ‘Hennessy School of Music’ and was further honed at The Royal Irish Academy of music in Dublin.

Michael is a fine singer, pianist and malodian/accordion player.

The latter ability he may have inherited from his Dad but his whole family is musical, his mum is a singer and Irish dancer and two sisters play the fiddle and piano.

For Michael music was the only career he could imagine (although he would have considered music teaching) and he has embraced being an entertainer completely, with the desire to be in even more diverse, including taking up acting and with something of the ‘Leonardo DiCaprio’ look about him and some acting experience from filming his music DVD’s, no doubt he will excel at this too.

In his spectacular show Michael includes, singing, dancing, piano playing, and a hint of humour, of the old fashioned variety as he bemoans the fact that present day comedians require ‘profanity’ to create a laugh when it can be achieved without resorting to language that may embarrass or make some of the audience feel

Vanishing Villages and Vanishing Cellulite

uncomfortable.

Michael also prefers a substantial song lyric that tells a story and has some depth to it, for that reason you won’t see him singing many of today’s popular pop songs. Instead he prefers many of the classic songs of the past for their meaningful lyrics as well as performing his own songs.

Many would say his own songs show a depth beyond his years, dealing as they do with strong emotions of love and loss. Michael explains that the songs are often formed from friend’s experiences such as his recent song ‘Til Then’.

An interesting piece of trivia has Michael’s own father playing the part of the ‘Dad’ in the DVD of the song.

This song is not the only instance of Michael enlisting his parent’s collaboration. His hit ‘Locklin’s Bar’ featured his parents as extras. Indeed Michael shows a refreshing commitment to family

is set in a modern day Ireland that includes in its geography the fantasy island of Hy Brasil.

For those considering visiting Hy Brasil, well, it doesn’t really exist

by Paula Xiberras except as far as we know possibly The vanishing of villages might be in the very distant past and in worth scientific investigation, but mythology. The island was a fixture in our appearance driven culture, on ‘ancient maps’ up to the 1800’s vanishing cellulite, well, that might and is located on the west coast of be considered the priority scientific Ireland. A mythology grew around discovery of modern days. A mythical it as the home of a superior group disappearing island and a new age of people like those that lived 6000 treatment for cellulite are both years ago on Atlantis. The belief explored in author Ellie O’Neill’s was that Hy Brasil could only be latest novel. I discussed these topics viewed every seven years and was when I chatted to Ellie recently. encased in haze the rest of the time.

Ellie has never been to Tasmania In Ellie’s novel ‘The Enchanted but tells me as we chat that it is on Island’, Hy Brasil does exist as part her bucket list. Ellie is originally of Ireland with a population says from Ireland but now makes Ellie ‘just outside the radar’ of the Australia home, as it says on her mainland of Ireland, something blurb ‘initially because of love and similar to the very real Aran island. now two babies later!’ After six years Ellie says her novel bends reality Ellie has found it an easy transition like one of her favourite authors, to the Austalian weather.

Stephen King does in his books.

Ellie’s new novel ‘The Enchanted Ellie’s heroine as we meet in the Island’ is written in the genre of early part of the novel is a little selfmagical realism in part informed centred until she learns to adapt to by her interest in Sci fi. The novel

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with his parents cropping up not only in some of his music DVD’s but also accompanying him on tour.

This commitment to family maybe all the more stronger in the light of his Mum having been involved in a car accident some years ago which saw her separated from the family while she underwent recuperation.

Thankfully, now Michael’s Mum is ‘absolutely fine’.

Even when Michael is away from music he is never fully away, Yes he has many hobbies and interests including swimming and cycling every day and he also enjoys painting (the renovating sense) the house. All these hobbies seem to increase Michael’s creativity at all levels, in fact the last time Michael painted the house he wrote four songs!

Michael’s album ‘This is Michael English’ is out now. You can purchase his music and learn more about Michael at http://www. michaelenglish.ie/

the more relaxed style of life when she is sent to Hy Brasil by her boss to obtain a signature of one of the residents to allow a bridge to be built between the island and the mainland.

As well as becoming a little less focused on herself in general along the way she does however discover a cellulite banishing product and believes quite unselfishly that she must explore this cure for womankind.

Experimenting on herself she tells us that ‘the after photo was such a thing of beauty that even Michelangelo would want to travel in a time machine to capture it for some ceiling art’.

‘The Enchanted Island’ by Ellie O’Neill is out now published by Simon and Schuster.

WAGS Western Australian Genealogical Society Inc.

Scene. The exciting opportunities that opened up was dampened by the warning that these records were not yet indexed. So you could only scroll through the pages, parish by parish. There were over 373,000 images of pages from parish registers and you couldn’t search by name! People who have had some hint of the right parish have been lucky enough to find a record of their ancestor’s baptism or marriage. But for many who don’t know the parish – it was way too hard.

In March 2016 both the major genealogical websites, FindMyPast and Ancestry intend to release about 10 million Catholic parish records. They’ve been transcribed from the digitised images made by the National Library of Ireland. So now you will be able to search for a particular name and date. If you are wondering how the two websites can make 10 million records out of 373,000 images, this is because each digitised image of one or two pages in a parish register, yields on average 26 baptisms or marriages running down the page. As each entry is transcribed this creates one transcribed record.

A further 10 million records will greatly increase the Irish record holdings of both websites. Currently, FindMyPast has about 80 million Irish records and Ancestry has about 45 million.

There’s a video on You Tube (link below) where Brian Donovan from FindMyPast gives an overview of Irish records in general (especially the ones held by FindMyPast, of course!) and explains why land and court records are so vital. There are some amazing and unexpected types of records on FindMyPast, including descriptions of people taken in to the Inebriate Reformatory in Ennis, and the details of people issued with dog licences. There are even records of philanthropic micro loans issued in mid nineteenth century with detailed follow-up of each recipient – migrated, settled, died, missing, etc.

Your ancestor’s prison records might be a shade embarrassing, but not when you discover a description of their appearance. Anyway, Australians are quite used to the notion of having convict ancestors. Badge of honour!

The 17 minute video is well worth watching. Link to You Tube video http://tinyurl.com/zapehzf Both FindMyPast and Ancestry are subscription only sites, though you can subscribe for a month at a time.

Irish Special Interest Group Meetings At our January 2016 meeting the Irish Special Interest Group took part in a Finding the Birthplace workshop, pooling our knowledge and experiences to help people find out the birthplace of their ancestor when they don’t even know which county they came from. This is a more common problem for people of Irish descent, than of English or Scottish lineage. We are massaging this pooled knowledge into a guide for the perplexed and this will be available on the Irish Special

Mary Ann Taylor Travel Box Project Update

In the last issue I wrote about the Mary Ann Taylor travel box project that the Irish Special Interest group is involved in. We’re recreating the items issued by a Galway workhouse to young emigrant, Mary Ann Taylor before her journey to Western Australia in 1852. The items are to be put inside a replica travel box when it’s presented to the York Residency Museum on the 8 May. In the interests of historical accuracy we’ve revised the list of items and established a process so each proposal is reviewed by the York Museum curator.

However, only the smaller items like handkerchiefs can be hand sewn. The garments need to be robust enough to be handled by museum visitors and besides - there isn’t time!

We have gathered a terrific group of volunteers who’ve been researching, reviewing, identifying patterns and fabrics and generally getting their sewing hands itchy. Some folk from the WA Historical Society and the York Museum are helping too. The garments that members of the project group are making include gowns, wrappers, chemises, bonnets, aprons, collars, neckerchiefs, handkerchiefs, and petticoats.

There are a few items that we could do with some help with. We’re looking for some women’s boots we can get altered to resemble the kind of shoes worn in the mid nineteenth century. If you are poking round an op shop or have something like this in the back of a cupboard, please get in touch.

Has anyone got a set of their grandma’s old stays?

We’re also seeking knitters who could make a pair of mitts. We can advise about the suitability of wool and design beforehand.

Do you have some dark woollen fabric that could be made into a long cloak, old style combs and brushes, books, such as a bible and Catholic prayer book, towels (plain, simple) and about 1kg of natural-looking soap.

If you can donate any of these items please get in touch.

Coming Up in March

In July last year the National Library of Ireland made freely available thousands and thousands of digitised images of Catholic parish records from all over Ireland, the Republic and Northern Ireland. You would have read about this in the Sep – Oct 2015 issue of Irish

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Interest Group page on the WA Genealogical Society’s website.

Meetings for the rest of 2016 will be held on Sundays: 17 April, 17 July and 16 October all starting at 2pm at the WA Genealogical Society, 48 May Street, Bayswater.

More information on the WAGS webpage under Events.

Visitors and new members always welcome.

The 17 April meeting will feature two fabulous inhouse speakers – Mary Byrne speaking about migration within the British Isles, from Ireland to England for example. New member Anne Walsh will speak about her research into the 1916 Easter Rising, since understanding Irish history is such an important part of family history. For many Australians researching their Irish ancestors, the Easter Rising happened long after their Irish ancestors had left Ireland. Still, these momentous events were reported in Australian newspapers as a search of the digitised old Australian newspapers at www.trove.nla.gov.au will show. This year of course marks 100 years since the Easter Rising took place.

Jenni Ibrahim Convenor, Irish Special Interest Group WA Genealogical Society Phone 9271 4311 Email irish@wags.org.au Irish SIG webpage see http://membership.wags.org.au Online Forum http://membership.wags.org.au/forum/irish-sig (free registration, open to anyone)

Bookings 9381 5213

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

Yes. However, appropriate legal advice is essential as a poorly drafted will dealing with foreign property may cause problems for those left behind after your death.

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The Tamar Valley Folk Festival George Town, Tasmania Reviewed by Fred Rea

The Tamar Valley Folk 25th Anniversary Festival is held in January each year in picturesque George Town, Tasmania is 40-min drive (50 km) north of Launceston.

George Town, on the banks of the Tamar River, is Australia’s third-oldest settlement after Sydney and Hobart and has a rich maritime past and industrial present.

Surrounded by vineyards, orchards, berry and lavender farms, George Town has a long maritime history and many stories to tell. You can explore the town’s history at the Old Watch House Museum, the former local lockup that’s now an information centre and craft shop.

The Low Head Pilot Station along a 4 km scenic coastal path was built by convicts in 1805 to guide ships into the Tamar River, the station has the oldest group of pilot buildings in Australia and like the Pilot Station lighthouse which still operates today.

So this is the setting for the festival.

The festival is a unique event in the Tamar Valley area bringing

many visitors and artists to Northern Tasmania from interstate and overseas. It is the major annual cultural event held over three days in George Town being regarded for its high reputation as a musical and artistic festival and is recognised

as part of the National Folk Festival calendar in Australia.

The festival consists of music sessions, concerts, themed concerts children’s activities, poetry and dance. There is also music in the street on Saturday morning.

The concert venues are all under cover and set in beautiful surroundings of the Tamar River and the historic town of George Town.

We were welcomed to the town by Maureen and Raj at The Charles Robbins Retreat. Raj said to us on arrival, “We want you to enjoy the warmth, generosity, relaxed feel, peacefulness and privacy that truly identify the spirit of The Charles Robbins”. The retreat that has been designed to accommodate adults only and is highly recommend by all who visit.

The first Tamar Valley folk festival was held at George Town in January 1992. The then members of the George Town folk club got together to form a festival committee led

by Mick and Helen Flanagan.

Since then the festival has grown to one that local, interstate and international artists and performers have come to enjoy.

The beautiful location of the Tamar river and surrounding areas have provided a wonderful historic flavour to the festival which has

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always been supported by local businesses and the George Town council.

The small venues and locations make it attractive for visitors and audiences to walk from venue to venue to catch the concert performances and workshops.

The line-up this year was exceptional. Headed by none other than Eric Bogle and Peter Titchener Eric and Peter have performed together for many years and are regular visitors to Perth. Eric is a respected singer songwriter in both Australia and overseas. He performed many of his classic songs with a sprinkling of new material.

One thing is for sure, you never leave a Bogle concert without hearing your favourite song. He works the audience beautifully.

I really enjoyed his performance.

The main hall came alive when dynamic duo Dave Steele & Tiffany Eckhardt took to the stage. This husband and wife team, are seasoned songwriters and performers.

Based in the far south of Tasmania, their music is inspired by the landscape and by the joys and challenges of family life and life as artists. Tiffany and Dave charm audiences wherever they play with their stories and songs and have them either laughing or crying or both!

Melbourne based contemporary folk band Cora & The Crop Boys has Irish roots. Both Cora and Vince born in Ireland have come together with Australian arranger and musician Felix Meagher to form this band. Three strong voices, six delicate instruments and three Australian songwriters. There arrangement of classic Irish songs such as Ride On were excellent. Again, most enjoyable.

Unfortunately due to a delay at Launceston airport I missed the The Common Soldier - A themed concert presented by Phil Beck and his mates Paul Stewart, Danny Spooner, Bob Sharp, Scotty Balfour and Don Bruce. It was a musical journey through the

various theatres of war as the presenters explored, in slide, verse and song, the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune hurled at the humble soldier. The talk at the festival was that it was a beauty and well researched and presented.

The ever green Mick Flanagan who comes from Galway and via Bristol, then Sydney, Mt Isa, Kalgoorlie etc to Franklin in ‘77 and writing songs along the way. Mick resides in George Town sings, plays button accordion and enjoys a good session. The Van Diemen’s Band reunited for the festival. Mick and Helen Flanagan along with Dot and Roy Newman turned the clock back a few years and the magic was still present.

These were just some of the acts at the wonderful festival. But the real craic was the final session in the Pier Hotel on the Sunday evening and a chance for the performers to relax and perform. Lilly and I were kindly invited to Mick and Helen Flanagan’s table for dinner.

While we were enjoying the local fish a mighty session was going on in the corner of the lounge. “Not enough room for everyone” I said to Mick. But as quick as a flash he was among them singing the Galway Shawl. What followed was a great session and it was good to see Christy Cooney who performed with the Cobbers all those years ago rambling around with banjo ready and willing. If I remember rightly he sang The Rare Old Times by Pete St John and did it justice!

I have only covered a small part of the festival.

But I do hope it whets your appetite and you might consider heading to Tasmania in the coming years. It’s small but it’s very friendly and you will be made most welcome. I’ll be back.

Thursday March 17th: 5pm (Paddy’s Day) JB O’Reilly’s Leederville Saturday March 19th: 9pm The Indi Bar, Scarborough Bch with special guests Beltane Fire Sunday March 20th: 5pm Super Sunday Session at The Carlisle Hotel, Easter Weekend: Saturday March 26th: 9pm Woodbridge Hotel Guildford Sunday March 27th: 5pm Super Sunday Session at The Carlisle Hotel Finale Weekend: Friday April 1st: Finale at The Indi Bar, Scarborough Beach with special guests Beltane Fire Saturday April 2nd: 9pm Finale The Woodbridge Hotel Guildford Sunday April 3rd: Finale at Super Sunday Session at The Carlisle Hotel, 5pm Tuesday April 5th: Grand Finale The Perth Blues Club, Charles Hotel, North Perth 85

A Corkman and his wife were stopped for speeding in the gaeltacht (Irish speaking area in the west of ireland).

“Cad is anum duit?” said the garda “Sean” the Dub replied “Agus do bheann?”.... “Toyota Hiace” Can you explain this to your Australian friends!

to help Irish rebels who he expected would declare an independent Catholic Ireland if they won. The plot failed and he returned to Rome, leaving the rebellion and Ireland to be crushed

by Oliver Cromwell’s reign of terror and widespread murder - including a good friend and fellow priest.

Hardly surprising then that the Irish College in Rome remained an enduring and die hard centre of opposition to English control of Ireland.

In the 19th century British Prime Minister William Gladstone sent a delegate to Rome to explain his government’s position and Statue of Luke Wadding, action in Ireland and seek outside Greyfriars their support. Gladstone’s monastery, Waterford. man reported back that the The priest who got the Irish nationalist politicians in pope to make St Patrick’s Ireland itself were moderates Day a feast day. by comparison with the priests and staff of the Irish College.

Waddings impact on the church of his time, and even the church today, was immense.

All the way through his political and ecumenical adventures Wadding kept the Feast of St. Patrick with “great solemnity” according to a Catholic website about him. “It is due to his influence, as member of the commission for the reform of the Breviary, that the festival of Ireland’s Apostle was inserted on 17 March in the calendar of the Universal Church,” states www. newadvent.org.

The Church quickly adopted the feast and with its blessing the day that had been marked by followers of Saint Patrick since the 10th century became a wider and better known fixture in the Christian calendar.

Quite what Wadding would have made of the modern method of honouring the patron saint of Ireland - an occasion he helped to create - would probably not be too hard to guess at.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

The Irish priest who made a Saint’s Day

by Lloyd Gorman

It is easy to forget or at least overlook the fact that St. Patrick’s Day is actually first and foremost a religious feast day. March 17th celebrates the date of the death of the man, more than 1500 years ago who would become Ireland’s Patron Saint. Both the Roman Catholic Church and Church of Ireland recognise and share the significance of the holy day.

The story of St. Patrick’s Day as we know it today cannot be told without reference to a remarkable Irish priest. Luke Wadding was born in Waterford in October 1558, the eleventh of fourteen children. His family were wealthy and influential traders who were well connected with the church. Despite their privileged background his parents were both killed by a plague when he was aged 14 an older successful brother took responsibility for him and on a trading trip to the Portugese city secured him a place in the fledgling Irish college in Lisbon. Already a promising scholar he soon joined the Franciscans marking the start of a long and distinguished career within the church. An outstanding and fiercely intelligent character he quickly came to the notice of his superiors, and his enemies. He was also a keen political player, balancing the interests and agendas of competing Catholic orders and Rome as well as the courts of European kings and queens.

Against this complicated web of allegiances and alliances Wadding would go on to become the cofounder of the Irish College in Rome - which still exists today albeit the last of the many Irish colleges that once dotted the continent when it was not possible to educate priests in Ireland, because of repression by the English Crown and authorities.

A constant ambassador and agent for Ireland’s interests Wadding resented English control of his homeland and dedicated himself to ending that rule.

Wadding, for example, supported the Irish Catholic uprising in the war of 1641 and even sent soldiers and weapons to Ireland. He also persuaded the then Pope to send a Papal envoy (Archbishop Giovanni Rinuccini) to Ireland as his representative in the struggle and the Pontiff’s agent bought a huge arsenal of arms including 20,000 pounds of gunpowder - and money

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CROSS ROADS

By Paddy Cluskey .

The music of my native land Strangers do not understand I love to hear the ceilidh band Playing at the crossroads.

Fiddle players hail from Clare Sligo, Cork and Kildare The love of life is everywhere Dancing at the crossroads Bodhrans and melodians too Make my night when I’m with you Uileann pipes are played by few Dancing at the crossroads The polka jigs and eight hand reel The hornpipe danced with shoes of steel Music played the way we feel Dancing at the crossroads On the night after saving the hay That’s the time we’d come out to play I wish these times were here to stay Dancing at the crossroads North, South, East and West Throughout the world our culture best For centuries has stood the test When dancing at the crossroads

“Some people ask the secret of our long marriage. We take time to go to a restaurant two times a week. A little candlelight, dinner, soft music and dancing. She goes Tuesdays, I go Fridays.”

Henny Youngman

The Shock of Recognition Author: Barry Jones Published: January 2016 Publisher: Allen and Unwin

What’s the new “In Phrase”? I think it’s “Do yourself a favour”. Well do, I urge you. This is a really good, interesting and informative book. Barry Jones needs to make absolutely no apologies for choosing his favourite music and composers in part one and doing likewise with authors and literature in part two. He gleefully explains why he loves all these works of great beauty and tells also of his moments of transcendence while listening or reading.

There are delightful vignettes and anecdotes right through the work, some humorous, some sad but all of them interesting and informative. I found it impossible to put down and did no work of any kind for two days – might have used a hairbrush. This book is full of wonderful “stuff” about great composers and authors. I guarantee when you have finished it you will know what he means by the shock of recognition. You will also, revisit the music, the operas and the literature of “The Greats” armed with a new understanding. An enormous amount of interesting, well written, information in one volume. Buy it or borrow it but do read it.

Reviewed by Sally Desmond

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Around the Irish scene Compiled by Fred Rea The four Amigos, PJ, Gerry, Tommy and Arthur enjoying a pint at the Bailey Bar and Grill Irish Club member, Alan Wray photographed with Gerry Adams Sinn Fein MP on a trip to Ireland in 2015.

Old mates, Brendan Mead, Brain Hannon and Bill Kavanagh at Paddy Wilson’s recent funeral. They had many stories from the past.

The O’Sullivan’s, Barry and the mob dropped into Durty Nelly’s recently. Brother Bernard will be happy that his younger sibling made these pages.

Joe Carroll and daughter Kathleen with grandchildren Charlotte and Oliver Langford at the AIHA Australia Day Service.

Speaking of Amigos, Brian Corr, Vince Gallagher and Tony Costa met up in Hobart. Tony was on a cruise, Vince was touring Tasmania and Brian has moved to the Apple Isle. Who paid the bill?

Celebrating 60 years of marriage bliss, Lena and Paddy Costello.

Congratulations to you both and many more to come I say!

Barry O’Leary with uncle Gerard O’Leary prior to Barry returning to Ireland. It was 40 degrees every day during his trip. I wonder was he smiling when he got off the plane in Cork with a cold blustery wind blowing up from Kinsale. Brrrrrrr!!! It’s a cold one!!!!

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Claire Wynne of The Irish Club and ITP with Paddy Mulligan of Taste Ireland during his visit to the club. It was a Thursday night and Paddy availed of the Pie and Pint offer. “This is a great Pie” was Paddy’s comment. I asked the chef and he said he secret ingredient was black pudding. Go along and try one! I did and I agree with Paddy!

Sean Roche with Fr Fritz Kelly in Wexford. Fr Fritz was part of the Greyfriars Folk Club in Shenton Park in the early 70’s.

Happy days. Always one for a good time, Fr Fritz will be remembered by tha many friendships he had in WA. Happy 90th birthday Fr Fritz.

Ambassador Noel White paid a flying visit to Perth recently and met up with new GAAWA president Gerry McGough and Hon Consul Marty Kavanagh.

Irish Club Senior’s stalwart, John O’Connor is celebrating his 90th soon. Happy Birthday John and I am looking forward to joining you for the occasion.

Our Ulster reciter, Pat Rooney has had a run of bad The Pitman’s and McAleer’s at farewell drinks at Durty Nelly’s for health lately but Dara who was heading to the USA for Irish Dancing committments. now on the Gerry Tully was mend. With spotted in a local pub Mary looking covering the ???? of after you Pat, Derry. Can you guess you should have what he is covering. No no problems. prizes though!

Fiona Rea with Declan O’Rourke.

Fiona will perform Declan’s Children PJ Malone and Moira enjoying the company of Irish relations and of ‘16 friend Elsie Tully. Moira is off to Ireland to celebrate her mum’s 90th! song at the Easter Commemoration concert in the Perth GPO.

At the Christmas raffle for Scarborough Rotary drawn by Lisa Harvey, MLA the lucky winner was our own Imelda Gorman, wife of Lloyd.

Melbourne friends, Eileen and Dan McSweeney were wonderful hosts during Lilly and Fred’s Melbourne visit. It was nice also to meet their friends and share a few songs.

Our Tasmanian correspondent During my recent Tasmania trip it was nice (at last) to meet in person John O’Hagan (and Doris) is no Paula Xiberras (centre), sister Frances and father Joe. We had a mean baker. He shared some of lovely chat and lunch at the New Sydney Pub in Hobart. his culinary delights with us for afternoon tea.

Terry O’Leary (left) asked that we drop in on wife Jan’s family outside Launceston while is Tasmania.

Here’s the proof Terry and you get well soon, enough hospitals for you Hobart farewell drinks with friends! There goes my communion money! What’s the worry, Mullin’s is paying for it! for now!

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Paschal Clarke and Dermot Byrne are off to Dublin for 1916 Commemorations. Should get some great stories on their return.

SHAMROCK Thank you to all our 2016 Club Golf Day sponsors who have once again supported the club tremendously and ensured another very successful and enjoyable event despite the 40+ temperatures. The club asks that all members support the following sponsors listed right when possible.

We also have a special thanks to Gerry Townley and Martin Sheehan for their excellent organisation of the event.

Shamrock Rovers Perth will be back HOME at Harold Rossiter Reserve in Victoria Park for season 2016 for all our home games. The club is ALWAYS looking to add to its player lists and asks any interested players to contact the following people: State League Senior Men Monday and Thursday nights 6.30pm - 8.15pm Rosher Reserve Lockridge. Home games Harold Rossiter Reserve in Victoria Park. Contact John on 0426 726 722 State League Under 18’s Monday and Thursday nights 6.30pm - 8.15pm Rosher Reserve Lockridge. Home games Harold Rossiter Reserve in Victoria Park. Contact Marty on 0410 081 386 Sunday Amateurs Men Tuesday and Thursdays and home games all at Harold Rossiter Reserve in Victoria Park. Contact Wayne 0421 347 571.

For all other information please email wbrooksie@hotmail.com or look for us on Facebook.

Look forward to seeing you at our games in season 2016.

Rovers

Michael Manning President Shamrock Rovers

THANK YOU TO OUR GOLF DAY SPONSORS

Air Skill Ardex AVK Flo Control AW Painting Beldon Tavern Bridie’s Ceiling Fixers Cellarbrations Duncraig Celtic Decor Civil Assist Colgan Industries Danmar Homes Deep Clean Dominic Hyde Enviropipes Gold Star Transport GR Engineering Irish Club Irish Scene/Fred Rea JB O’Reilly’s Jimmy Murphy Killarney Autos Mark Dempsey Marty Kavanagh MaxiPlast Maylands golf Club (Nigel) McLoughlin’s Butchers McDonald Surveying Mick Murray Move & Improve Derek Boyle Naked Nutrition North South Mining and Civil Paddy McOnie Painting Patch All Solutions Paul Hickey Diagno PIHA Rosie O’Grady’s Shane Whelahan Spriggs Piping & Welding The Mighty Quinn Tim Damos Tom Hoey WA Hino

Mick Manning, President

www.shamrockrovers.com.au 90

Come join us for good food, music & Craic!!!

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Gaelic Football & Hurling Association of Australasia Western Australia Season Opener with 7’s

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Tom Bateman Reserve Cnr Bannister & Nicholson Rds, Canning Vale (entrance off Wilfred Rd)

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Interprovincial Railway Cup

After the success of the high schools competition in November last there will be a new competition held on the 12th May. Already there are six teams from four schools confirmed for day. The competition will be held at John XXIII in Mount Claremont. The day will consist of a morning coaching session and game throughout the afternoon. Please contact Ciaran Gallagher

GAA GROUNDS

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The football will then take a break until the Father Kelly cup on the 10th April.

On the 17th April there will be a Railway Cup format Competition. This will be an interesting event to see which province is the strongest in WA. With all the preseason competitions finished on the 17th it will be getting down to the business side of things for the clubs as The WA Gaelic Football leagues will commence on the 1st May.

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0414498910 or email ciaran@ gallaghermigration.com.au if you would like to get involved and assist with the competition in any way.

If anyone would like to assist with the GAA games, sponsor any of the competitions or even get involved in playing please do not hesitate to contact Gerry McGough, the Football Secretary Sarah Daly on President wagaelicfootball@gmail.com.

We look forward to another great season of football and hopefully see you all there supporting the GAA Games.

Nichols

The WA Gaelic football season will be soon upon us. All clubs are currently in preseason and reports from the clubs are that numbers are steady and this will hopefully lead to another great season of football in Tom Bateman for 2016. The season is going to kick off on Easter Saturday 26th March with the St Patrick Day 7’s competition.

This will be a bigger event this year than last as there will be 12 men and 11 ladies teams entering.

The one day competition is always a great day to start off the season. There will be a bar, food, bouncy castle so why not pop down. This year is also special in that the Singapore Lions GAA club will be entering both a men and ladies team.

This type of competition will suit the Singapore teams as this is the format of competition they play numerous times throughout their season and they will certainly be putting it up to the WA Teams. To celebrate the competition and the welcoming of the Singaporeans there will be a reception held in the Irish Club for all on the evening of the competition. The awards for the day will be presented and a local band providing the entertainment for the night.

WA Football Secretary Sarah Daly – wagaelicfootball@gmail.com - 0423351693 Western Shamrocks Gavin Donaghy – westernshamrocks@hotmail.com - 0452215203 Coastal Breakers Tatum Larsen - thecoastalbreakers@gmail.com St. Finbarrs GFC Edel McBarron - secretary@stfinbarrsgfc.com - 0418715820 Morley GFC TBC (contact at the moment Jenny Phelan jephelan@tcd.ie) Southern Districts Lisa O’Neill - southerndistrictsgaa@gmail.com - 0400815738 Greenwood Katie Hill - greenwoodgfc@hotmail.com – no number provided

State Games 2016 - Brisbane Football: BGC Grounds, Tom Bateman Reserve Cnr Bannister & Nicholson Rds, Canning Vale Hurling: RA Cook Reserve, Coode St. Morley

gfhwa.com.au 92

GAELIC GAMES JUNIOR ACADEMY UPDATE Following our AGM, we have a reshuffled committee dedicated to the management and running of our club. Welcome to the new committee: Debbie Teahan - President, John Broderick - Vice President, Sara Tiernan -Treasurer. Secretary position: vacant please contact email: GGJUNIORACADEMY@GMAIL.COM Thank you to all our general members and new coaches who have put their hands up for the 2016 season. We are looking forward to another exciting year of kids Hurling and Gaelic Football fun here in Perth!

We will be operating out of Kingsway again this year kicking off again after Easter in rugby pitch 2.

Registration will take place on Sunday 10th April to coincide with our first day back at training.

St. Patrick’s Day: We will be taking part in the parade and have an information stall on the oval plus a free coaching clinic on the day! So if your child would like to try Hurling or Gaelic football (or get back into it) please pop along on the day and our friendly coaches will be more than happy lend a hand or you can have a go at the challenge/ fun activities planned to test your skills!

Competitions: at the moment we have Phys Ed teachers and coaches from schools north of the river organising a interschool carnival and blitz and we plan to have challenge matches arranged during our season. So as always, lots of things in the pipeline!

From the great success of last years July school holiday Cúl Camps programme our very own Cúl Camps are going to happen this yearwe plan to do the first week of July school holidays and first week of October school holidays. We will publish more details as things get cemented into to our busy calendar of events.

For parents who have their children involved, or would like to have their children involved (details will be emailed and also put up on our facebook page) are welcome to come along to our participation in the 2016 St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Sunday March 13th parade begins at 10 am so come and shout us on! We will have a decorated float, and a walking float for the children to take part in, so let the excitement begin!

Dates to Remember: Sunday 13 March: St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Leederville.

Sunday 10 April: Registration Day and first day of season, Kingsway Sports Complex Rugby Pitch 2.

Email: ggjunioracademy@gmail.com FB: Gaelic Games Junior Academy of WA

WA HURLING

Well it is that time of year again, when the dust and cobwebs are wiped off the hurls and team colours become ingrained in the skin of many around the Perth suburbs. Weekday evenings will echo the sounds of moans and groans as each team member will be pushed to their limits, while Saturdays will become the day that proves hard work and endurance wins championships. That is it, you are right; the Hurling Season is beginning and our warriors are coming out of hibernation.

The beginning of the season will host the Tim Hickey 7’s tournament which will take place at R.A. Cooke Reserve, Morley in April, this will be the first chance players will get to showcase their team. Historically the tournament has been a fantastic day and it is expected to not disappoint this year. The Hurling and Camogie league are in their final stages of planning, fixtures and dates will be provided in the next issues of the Irish Scene.

The WA Hurling committee are looking for volunteers to help with refereeing matches taking place throughout the hurling season. If anyone is interested in helping out please contact the WA Hurling Secretary via email at secretaryshwa@ gmail.com.

Hurling is a fantastic sport and it is a great way to meet new people, all hurling clubs are currently recruiting new players, if interested in making hurling your new past time then contact us on our Facebook page or via email to secretaryshwa@gmail.com and we will forward your information onto the relevant clubs.

Joanne Cunningham PRO WA Hurling committee.

www.thebreakwater.com.au

58 Southside Drive, Hillarys Boat Harbour Ph: 08 9448 5000 Fax: 08 9448 6000

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St Gabriel’s Hurling & CamogieClub Sponsors: PTR Asset Finance: Simon 0423 032 014 www.ptrasset.com.au PERI Australia Pty Limited John 0418 885 604 www.periaus.com.au An Sibin Irish Bar, Northbridge Shane 0404 784 102 Player Contact List: Camogie: Danielle McInerney 0405 418 809 Hurling: Ronan Kilroy 0439 979 237 F/Book:S.t. Gabriels Hurling WA StGabriels CamogieClub Website: stgabrielsgaaclub.com

MONFORD

St. Gabriel’s WA Hurling & Camogie Club are currently into our 5th Year in existence. The club would like to welcome back current players, past players and especially a big welcome to all new players to our great club for 2016.

St Gabriel’s GAA Club caters for players of all levels of ability, including those who have never played the sport before. Joining the club is a fantastic way to get fit, meet new people and be involved in lots of fun social activities.

The hurling and camogie teams have both begun training in recent weeks so check the contact details below and get in touch if you are interested in getting involved.

Following the AGM, various people have stepped in and out of roles within the club. The club would like to say a big thanks to anyone stepping out of a role for their contribution to the club in previous seasons.

Preparations are ongoing for the 2016 and we are looking forward to the year ahead. We would like to wish the best of luck to our sponsors, players, team management and club members. ……GAB’s Abu……

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PERTH IRISH RUGBY ARRIVAL! With the dawn of 2016 saw the birth of the Western Australia’s newest rugby club Perth Irish Rugby Club.

The brainchild of rugby fans Sheamus Walsh and John O’Reilly, they identified a need for the Irish community to be represented on the rugby fields of WA. The idea took hold when they put up a post on Irish Families in Perth and the response was fantastic. With the committee and playing members representing all four provinces, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK the club encapsulates the Irish welcome and hopes that all newcomers to the club irrespective of nationality enjoy the Irish welcome.

The venture has the full backing of Rugby WA and the experienced coaching team include former Irish under 20 captain and current Western Force player Tom Sexton.

Training is currently in full swing and Perth Irish already have numbers and interest to have two senior mens teams and a ladies team and a junior section.

Numbers have been good so far, teams will cater for players that plan to be competitive and also social members.

Senior training for mens and ladies takes place on Mondays and Wednesdays at Pat O’Hara reserve in Morley and new players of all abilities are welcome.

It is hoped that Perth Irish Rugby Club attracts rugby fans from all over Perth to cheer on the team and with the start of the season only a matter of weeks away if you’re tempted to join then get to training! Players will be able to register at our St Patrick’s Day stall at Leederville oval where there will be kids games and Perth Irish RFC merchandise available. If anyone has any queries please check us out on Facebook and perthirishrfc.com.au or call on 0424695917

The 2016 Committee consists of President Peter McKenna, Captain Anthony Gannon, Vice-Captain Allan Rowland, Treasurer Geoff McFadden, Handicapper / Vice-President Jack Ebbs, Committee members Eamonn Fitzpatrick, Kevin McGloin and Kelly Gannon, Secretary.

We’d like to acknowledge the hard work and efforts of Mike O’Callaghan and Brendan Wymbs for their service to the club.

Hamersley, Sun 17 Jan 16 – Summer Shield Results: 1st: M Connelly – 44 points 2nd: L Brophy – 36 points 3rd: B Flanagan – 36 points Low Gross: J Ebbs – 25 points Longest Drive: M Masterson Photo shows Club Captain Anthony Gannon presenting the Summer Shield to winner Mick Connelly.

Sun City, Sun 14 Feb 16 – Irish Club Cup Results: 1st: G McFadden – 37 points 2nd: A Rowland – 35 points 3rd: A Flaherty - 35 points Low Gross: T Barr – 31 points Longest Drive: P.J. Kenny Longest Putt: P.J. Kenny Congratulations to all. Photos show Club Captain Anthony Gannon presenting the Irish Club Cup to winner Geoff McFadden and below Jack Ebbs receiving his lifetime membership.

Kelly Gannon, Secretary

Golf 2016 New Irish Golf Club Life Member...

Jack Ebbs 95

Maylands Golf Course Swan Bank Road Maylands.

Registration from 7.00 am

Bookings, Contact: Peter McKenna 0447258000.

Jack Ebbs 0450675167.

Tom Quinn 0412236498.

Format: TWO BALL AMBROSE. $75.00 per person - Two tee start from 7.30am includes a BBQ lunch after the game.

Carts available at individuals own cost.

Booking for carts 93703211.

HOLE SPONSOR: $500.00 (includes two teams of two players, banners displayed on the day.

Raffle on the day, plus lots of novelties.

The Irish Club Golf Society are proud sponsors of the Charlotte Foundation and the Claddagh Association.

Live Irish Music & Festivities All Day

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

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