Irish Scene November December 2016

Western Australia’s

Vol 19 Number 1

Registered with Australia Post PP100003914

November/December 2016

www.irishscene.com.au

Merry Christmas Brian!

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Welcome to WA Irish Ambassador Breandán Ó Caollaí

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57 Celtic Club, West Perth Tel: 9322 2299 20 Durty Nelly’s, Perth Tel: 9226 0233 18 Fenian’s/Novotel Tel: 9425 1634 Friar Tuck’s, Wannanup Tel: 9534 4788 61 Irish Club of WA, Subiaco Tel: 9381 5213 37 JB O’Reilly’s, Leederville Tel: 9382 4555 16 National Hotel, Fremantle Tel: 9335 6688 56 Orla's, West Perth Tel: 0449 168 667 79 Paddy Malone’s Joondalup 2 Rosie O’Grady’s Northbridge 9328 1488 The Heights Bar & Bistro Tel: 6161 3333 CAR RETAILERS: John Hughes, Vic Park - Tel: 9415 0110 12 The Mighty Quinn, Tuart Hill Tel: 9349 9600 CELEBRANT: The Cure Northbridge Tel: 9227 9055 The Skye Bar, Northbridge Tel: 9228 2200 Marian Bryne Tel: 0410 345 224 EMPLOYMENT: Voyage Kitchen Tel: 9447 2443 67 All Force Labour Sol. Tel: 0457824916 Woodvale Tavern, Woodvale 9309 4288 ENTERTAINMENT: 73 Woodbridge Hotel, Guildford Tel: 9377 1199 Fiona Rea - 0404 831 445 REAL ESTATE: 64 Fiddlestick - David 0413 259 547 O’Rourke Real Estate Tel: 9341 6611 FINANCE/ADVICE: 15 Professionals Kelly Team Tel: 9344 5544 56 The Loans Café Tel: 0402 284594 ROOF PLUMBING FREIGHT HANDLERS: Mick’s Maintenance 0418 917 050 Australian International Express 9243 0808 SHOE REPAIR / NEW SHOES: 69 Exportair - Tim Hawdon Tel: 9477 1080 59 Reids Bootmakers: Tel 9361 5301 FUNERALS: SOLICITORS & LEGAL: 57 McKee Funerals Tel: 9401 1900 13,83 Kavanagh Lawyers - 9218 8422 IMMIGRATION ADVICE: 42 Your LegalHQ Tel: 94459200 5 ASC Migration Tel: 9301 5905 SPORT - CLUBS AND INFORMATION: 9 EasiVisa: Carol-Ann Lynch 9429 8860 91 GAA - 0458 954 052 17 McGovern Migration Tel: 0457 580402 88 Irish Golf Club - Peter 0447 258 000 IRISH FOOD & GIFTS: 89 Shamrock Rovers Clonakilty www.clonakilty.com.au 95 St Gabriel’s Hurling Club 45 Mooney’s Irish Sandwich Bar: 9221 4872 THEATRE: JEWELLERS: 86 Irish Theatre Players 6 Tighe Jewellery: Graham 0414 309274 TRAVEL & TOURISM: LIGHTING: 34 British Travel Tel: 9285 8182 Tilly’s Lighting Phone 9242 5160 TYRES, BATTERIES, BRAKES MECHANICS: WHEELS: 1 Killarney Autos - Neil 0439 996 764 26 Tyrepower Perth City Fiona 9322 2214 47 BVM Autos - Mike 0413 889 501 WEDDING RECEPTIONS / PUBS, CLUBS & RESTAURANTS: FUNCTIONS: An Sibin Tel: 9328 8930 57 The Celtic Club Tel: 9322 2299 Bailey Bar & Bistro Tel: 9300 063392 29 Masonmill Gardens - Tel: 9293 5112 Breakwater, Hillarys Tel: 9448 5000 Carnegies, Perth Tel: 9481 3222

Index

Jess to stand for Parliament 4 Marie Maloney - Romancing The Past ...

8 Peter Conole - Paths of Glory 10 Ambassador/Consul Message 14 Minute with Synott 16 Dermot Byrne - Irish Quiz 17 Sr Anna Maria O'Shea RIP 19 Foley and Donovan reunion 21 Ireland WA Forum 22 Auf Wiederehen Fr Fritz Kelly 24 Tom Murphy PRO 26 Perth Rose Denise in Ireland 30 Ulster Rambles 32 Irish in Business Network 34 Isteach Sa Teach 35 The Need for Good Friends 38 Dermot Hegarty 50yrs in music 39 Gaba Gabu 40 Echoes of the Past 43 G'Day from Melbourne 45 AIHA 47 In Conversation with JohnHagan 48 Book Reviews 49 Live Music - Hills Folk Club 52 Worlds Oldest Stuntman 53 Tele Station Tele Nation 54 When You Need Help 58 Comhaltas 59 Land of Milk & Honey 60 Irish Club News 61 Irish Dancing Assoc 61 Claddagh Association 65 Letters to Editor 66 Yvonne O'Brien World Champion 68 The Healy's in Ireland 70 Marguerite's Recipes 72 News from Ireland 74 Photos around the Scene 77 Martin O'Meara recognised 78 Paula...... From Tasmania 80 WA Genealogical Society 82 Around the Irish Scene 84 Irish Theatre Players 86 Sports Pages from Page...

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THE IRISH SCENE

Publisher/Advertising: Fred Rea 0418 943 832 Editor: Lloyd Gorman 0479 047 250 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.

3

and Happy New Year from all of us to all of you.

Thank you for your support.

Community DOING IT FOR THE KINGSLEY

Jessica Stojkovska, née O’Gorman, is putting her hand up for a very tough and often thankless task that most young people today would shy away from. She is standing for election in state parliament, as a member of the Legislative Assembly for the electorate of Kingsley. Five months out from the March 2017 election she is standing on the brink of one

By Lloyd Gorman & Fred Rea of the biggest challenges of her life.

She believes her Irish heritage, are you doing this?” the profession a family tradition and place as an of politics has been marred by active member of the community lots of different facts, including will all serve her well in the tough that people don’t trust politicians months ahead. anymore and I think that’s what’s “Politics is in the family, Dad missing. I like to think that if I was being a politician was an eye representing Kingsley that the opener, both the good and the bad people of Kingsley could trust me. of it, so I go into this fully aware I’m one of them, a mum, with two of what it entails” she told Fred kids, with a little girl in athletics, Rea recently. “But the good that with a baby and I’m doing it for I saw him doing in politics really the right reasons. I’m doing for my motivated me to say I’m going to family and for my community. “ pursue that path.”

Jessica is a first generation Her father Tony O’Gorman Australian, born to Irish was a member of the parents (her father was Australian Labor Party for "I go born in Birmingham but the Legislative Assembly into this grew up in Shannon) from 2001 to March 2013, and mum Bernadette is representing Joondalup. fully a Limerick girl, born and While he has stepped out aware of bred. “She grew up on the of the political limelight, island in Limerick; they the lure of public service what it emigrated here when mum is strong with the next generation of O’Gorman. entails” was pregnant with me in 1981. I was born here but “I was asked to run in after a couple of years a couple of different seats they got homesick and went over the years but I was never back for a couple of years so prepared to do it because it wasn’t we had about two and a half a seat where I could represent my years in Ireland, where community, as in the people that my sister Samantha was I live with the people I see at little born. Then they decided athletics, the people I see at school, Australia was where I wanted to be a representative their future was and for my neighbours. I didn’t just even though their want to parachute into a seat heart was at home and represent somebody else, so in Ireland we came when the opportunity to run in back to Australia Kingsley came up I finally said and have lived yes because I wanted to represent here ever since. the community I live in. I’m not “I’ve been back pursuing it to be a politician. a few times I’m doing it to be a community to visit, and representative to parliament and when I was that’s where I see my role to be, 19 I went if elected, as a representative to back and parliament, not a politician, and lived in there is a difference.”

Ireland, in There are a lot of hills to climb Limerick to get there, but she isn’t daunted.

“So many people say to me “why 4

and in Dublin, for about nine months and loved it”. Growing up I heard all about the Rose of Tralee so when I was old enough I entered the Rose of Tralee. I entered it once before I went to Ireland and once again when I came back.”

Sometime later Jessica rediscovered the Rose of Tralee and connected strongly with it. For five years she was associated with the Rose committee, four of which were as convenor.

She and the other committee members worked hard to establish the Rose of Tralee as something deeper than a ball and the festival in Ireland. In recent years they encouraged the Roses to become involved in the community, to carry out philanthropic work, fundraising and other activities. Past entrants cooked meals for the families of sick children staying in Ronald McDonald House in Perth. They also did a fun-fun to raise awareness about domestic abuse and violence and even collected and donated clothes to women’s shelters.

Jessica said it was important to

Jessica Stojkovska

establish the Rose of Tralee as something of substance and not just a “lovely girls” competition. “I decided 2016 would be my last year with the Rose committee and while I am sad to be leaving it I know it will be in good hands moving forward.”

“I loved that connection it gave me to the Irish community and the fact I could rekindle and keep alive that Irish spirit without having to go back to Ireland all the time. Having been involved with the Rose of Tralee I’ve tried to maintain those relationships within the Irish community, with the Irish Club, Claddagh Association, and Marty (Kavanagh) as the Honorary Consulate. Now I’m passing on that Irish heritage to my daughter Nadija. She’s a Macedonian Irish Australian, so you’ve got two really strong cultural backgrounds coming together. It’s really important to both of us to expose her to them, she speaks Macedonian and we go to Macedonian dances. We keep some Macedonian traditions, feasts and festivals alive. So for me doing the Rose was an important way to get her involved in the Irish culture. A couple of years ago she was a Rosebud and she loved it, interacting with the older girls and the Roses, being involved in the St. Patrick’s Day parade. She did it twice and loved the Irishness of her background. One of her favourite pieces of music is from Riverdance

and she plays it over and over again in her room and I’ve caught her several times in her room doing a little jig. Being in touch with that Irishness is really important for her and when her brother Kristijan grows up we’ll be doing the same for him.”

As well as her involvement in these ethnic communities, Jessica is active in the wider community. She is a part of the Parents and Friends Committee at St. Luke’s where Nadija goes. When she lived in Landsdale she was President of the Landasale Residents Association.

“I re-formed that committee, with Rita Saffioti (a Labor MLA for West Swan); because it went off the boil for a few years and because I think it’s important for a community to have a voice. Through our efforts we got funding for footpaths and air-conditioning and also for a community neighbour day where people could come down and get to know their neighbours. So that’s the kind of thing I’ve always done and I guess politics is a natural progression after that.”

She knows she’s got a tough fight on her hands but is willing to take it on and is hoping the community will help her rise to the occasion as well. “I’m not naive to the fact that it’s going to be tough.

But regardless of the fight or how hard it’s going to be I still think we need to have somebody in there that is going to fight for the people

2016 Rose of Tralee Committee: Jess with Lindsay and Sarah

of Kingsley.”

She said she feels Kingsley is a bit forgotten as an electorate because it is considered a safe liberal seat, with a 14.8% margin towards the Liberals. But it has been held by the Labor party before.

Liberal party MLA Andrea Mitchell won the seat in 2008 when the Libs swept back into power. Before her, Judith (Judy) Hughes, Labor, had represented Kingsley in parliament, from 2005 to 2008. “It’s been held by us before, so there’s no reason it can’t be held by us again,” added Jessica. “It’s going to be a tough fight, but it is a fight worth fighting.

If I bring back the margin at all that will be fantastic and if I’m lucky enough to win the seat I will be very humbled and grateful to the people of Kingsley.”

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current Liberal holder of the seat.

To do that she is going to need as much support and help as she can get. “I’m not a target seat (for the Labor party), that will be no surprise to anybody in the game but to be able to do my best I’m going to need all the support I can get from my communities, be that my Kingsley community, my Irish community, the parents at the school, my family and my friends.

I’ll be asking for help from everyone that can give it to me. Campaigns are expensive; they cost a lot of money. I’ll be accepting donations and every little bit helps, even if it is $10, it goes towards feeding volunteers, posters and tee shirts, to raising my presence and profile in the community.”

She is hopeful businesses and enterprises will also come on board and contribute in whatever way they can, such as prizes and donations.

And people willing to help out are the lifeblood of any successful campaign. “I’m always looking for volunteers,” she said. “That doesn’t mean you have to volunteer all your time, a couple of hours out door knocking with me would always be appreciated. There is always plenty of work to be done and you can never have too many helpers and supporters. It also makes for a good party on election night when you have lots of volunteers”.

Jessica said she was deeply

encouraged by something that was said about her when she was announced to the Labor party members as the party’s candidate for Kingsley. “Patrick Gorman, the state secretary, said it was a testament to the Labor Party and the candidates that we would normally be happy to run in a target seat are actually putting their hands up for seats like Kingsley because we think we can offer a much better alternative, especially when it comes to my key issues which are education, being a mum, and health. Labor is the only option for these two things because they have just been neglected under the current Liberal government and I know we are ready to roll up our sleeves and get in there and get going because we’ve got a plan. We don’t have all the answers, but we have a plan of what we want to do and what we want to achieve and it’s not spending tens of millions of dollars refurbishing government office blocks. It’s about putting money into education and health and things that actually matter to people. When I talk to people I hear them say there are no apprentices places anymore, it’s harder to find a job. The Liberal party have wasted the mining boom. We were in a very good financial state before but they have wasted it on projects that won’t help people in their everyday lives.”

Christmas Happy Yuletide everyone, Where ever you may be.

Here in the Emerald Isle, Or far across the sea.

Down under in Australia, Canada or the USA, My thoughts are with you, Those exiles far away.

England, Scotland and Wales, Are just across the pond, I would take them home, If I had a magic wand.

The 2017 Western Australia state election is on Saturday March 11.

You can get in contact with Jessica at kingsley@walabor.org.au or 0422 636 587 or donate at http://walabor.org.au/donate?campaign=sking

This time of year, Is so lonely and sad, I miss my brother and sister, My mother and my dad.

What a great Christmas present!

If they were alive, How happy I would be, Eating our Christmas dinner, Around our Christmas tree.

I Th Sc ris e en h e

For Ma or Pa, Have the IRISH SCENE home delivered.

I feel so happy, Receiving a Christmas card, So in this poem this year, I send you my Regards.

Wherever there are Irish, All over this earth, A Cead Mile Failte From the land of your birth Paddy Cluskey.

Call Fred today for details on 0418 943 832 7

Romancing the past

By Marie Moloney

Many TV programs and stories can make the past seem like a wonderful place. Whenever I see pictures of Temple Bar as it is today my mind flashes back to the Temple Bar of the 1940’s with rows of washing hanging across the street.

Life in inner city Dublin during my childhood was hard for many. Large families living in cramped conditions in a couple of rooms in grand old houses which were originally intended for one family. These properties were frequently badly in need of repair and lacked the facilities required for communal living. It was common to have as many as fifty human beings living in a house with one toilet and no bathroom. Infections were rampant and treatment sometimes interesting. One practice I remember was children who had whooping cough were taken to breathe in tar fumes from roadworks. News of current roadworks was shared by word of mouth and mothers pushing prams would take the sick children to the site.

I have only one memory of been taken to see a doctor once during my childhood.

With large families being normal and incomes low, there never was any money left after the bare essentials were provided. I was a fairly healthy child with just the usual childhood ailments. There certainly were quite a lot of those and on these occasions my mother would take me to see Mr Mushatt at his chemist shop in Francis Street. These visits were dreaded experiences for me as Mr Mushatt always recommended Senna tea. He was tall, thin and had a lot of white hair, he also had a very kindly manner. But, without fail,

regardless of what my ailment was, he insisted what I needed was more Senna tea, even now the mere thought of this liquid makes me shudder. However the Mushatts were known all over Dublin for their wisdom in health issues. People came in droves from all directions to seek help. Indeed, without this establishment, many people would not have had any access to health information.

The Mushatt brothers ran their business in the Liberties area in Dublin for over forty years. They made their own medicines in the back room of the premises and the poor of Dublin believed in them.

Frequently the shop was full of mothers with their sick children, and the queue spilled out on to Francis Street. Often walking along the streets of the city people could be overheard discussing the benefits of Mushatt products and eagerly recommending a visit to the establishment if any mention was made of feeling unwell. The inexpensive medicines and caring attitudes offered during so many years, to the poor in Dublin, is a part of the social history of the city.

There is now a website offering Mushatt’s no 9 products, it is also on facebook.

Editor: I too remember the Senna Tea Marie Ugh!!! I saw the following extract on the web: Harry Mushatt set up his “chemist” shop in Dublin’s poorest tenement district, known as the Liberties in the 1920’s. An excerpt from “Dublin Tenement Life” helps explain what the times were like back then: “You never saw doctors. You could go to a chemist and even if your throat was cut, he’d give you a cure for it. He’d put a dressing on it. Mr. Mushatt was in Francis Street-he was the masterpiece, for a bad chest, bad back…..from north, south, east and west, people’d come for them. People trusted him as he concocted his own old fashioned medicines in the rear compounding room. His lotions, potions, and tablets were thought to be the purest medicines. People really believed in them, swore by them.”

Old Fashioned Remedies by Edgar Albert Guest

Taking medicine today isn’t what it used to be. Castor oil is castor oil, but they’ve banished Senna Tea, And they’ve sugar coated now all the bitter things we took, Mother used to brew for us from the family doctor book. Now I tell that boy of mine when he starts to make a fuss, He is lucky not to be taking what they gave to us.

Seems the kitchen stove back then always had a pan or two Brewing up a remedy for the ailments which we knew, Something mother said we’d need surely in a little while, Senna tea for stomach ills and its brother chamomile; But I vow the worst of all remedies they gave to me Was that gummy, sticky stuff known and served as flaxseed tea.

Boy, put down that little pill, take your powder and be glad You’re not getting what they gave when your father was a lad.

Mother’s hand was gentle, but rough and hard it seemed to be When she sat beside my bed rubbing goose-grease into me.

Getting well is easy now. Take your medicine and smile, You are lucky that it’s not Senna Tea or Chamomile.

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WA’s first choice when it comes to sound migration advice It’s hard to believe that Christmas is almost upon us!

It seems like only yesterday that we were sat on the warm sand at Scarborough Beach celebrating Christmas morning with a glass of bubble and a bacon butty!

2016 has been an eventful year at EasiVisa! We've had two new staff join us – the very lovely Pamela Perin, a registered migration agent from Castelfranco in Northern Italy and Sam Turco, a recent law graduate from UWA who is just about to complete his Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law and Practice at Murdoch University. Historically (apart from the boss Mark Stevens) EasiVisa has been an all female team … but we’ve made an exception with Sam because he has a very smart man bun! Hahaha … I hope Sam’s not reading this! :-) March proved to be a big challenge for Esther Thurbin, a senior and valued member of our team.

Esther is one of the “cyclistas" at EasiVisa and had been cycling huge numbers of kilometres to work and home every day … until this March, when she got knocked off her bike in West Perth and suffered serious injury to her ankle. Anyone else would have taken a few weeks off to recover, but not Esther!

Esther “Übered” to work the very next day and almost every day after that with her ankle strapped up, her leg in a big boot, two crutches and enough painkillers to kill a rattlesnake! A truly amazing human being!

In May of this year we moved to lovely new offices opposite from the Department of Immigration building (which is next to the bizarrely named WaterTown) on Wellington Street. We’ve been totally gobsmacked at how many times a day the Western Australian police cars zoom up to the Department delivering what we assume to be “visa overstayers.” It’s quite exciting to watch, but I’m sure it’s not so exciting for the poor devils who are promptly transported to a detention centre before being sent home. The police seem to have picked up a huge number of overstayers this year. If you are in Australia and have no visa, it might be a good idea to get some advice on your situation ASAP or even buy a ticket home but if this doesn’t appeal, it might be worth carrying a toothbrush and spare pair of undies with you … just in case you get picked up and find yourself in detention for a few days … but hopefully

not over Christmas!

We launched our new mobile friendly website in August and added a handy points calculator and a partner visa eligibility checker earlier this month.

We'll be adding even more DIY type tools over the next few months.

There’s a lot of talk at present about the working holiday visa age being raised to 35 years. We’re keeping our fingers and toes crossed that this actually happens (and soon!) as it would give so many more people an opportunity to sample life in Australia and who knows, some of them might even want to stay! Despite the gloom and doom put out by the newspapers, Australian businesses still need huge numbers of migrants for jobs that cannot be filled locally. Australian rates of pay beat most countries around the world. We currently have employers seeking teachers, nurses, carpenters, sparkies, skilled railway workers, cooks and chefs, osteopaths and other medical professionals. If you know anyone in any of these jobs who is looking to move to or stay in Australia, please ask them to send their CV to info@easivisa. com . Sponsorships are available for suitable candidates.

As the year comes to a close, our team at EasiVisa would like to wish our clients, families, friends and all at the Irish Scene a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Peaceful and Prosperous 2017.

MIGRATION MADE SIMPLE www.easivisa.com Carol-Ann P. Lynch LLB MMIA Principal Registered Migration Agent

O: +61 8 9429 8860 E: carol-ann@easivisa.com A: 803A Wellington Street, West Perth WA 6005 Phone our team of experienced migration professionals for a FREE FIRST CONSULTATION www.easivisa.com

9

Thomas Francis Meagher was welcomed as a hero by the Irish of New York, who constituted about 20% of the city’s population. Most lived in run-down slum areas and were sometimes subject to religious or ethnic intolerance. Nevertheless Irish cultural and political life thrived and the escapee was soon in demand as a patriotic, eloquent public speaker:”life became a series of receptions, testaments and social engagements”. Meagher Clubs and even Meagher militia companies were formed. In early 1853 he attended the inauguration celebrations for President Franklin Pierce.

His wife Catherine left Tasmania after Meagher’s escape and returned to Ireland to stay with her father-in-law. She moved to New York in July 1853, but felt out of place in the bustling city and soon returned to Waterford. Son Thomas Bennett Meagher was born there in 1854. Catherine died of childbirth complications soon afterwards.

The tragedy was not the fault of her husband, but some political enemies blamed him anyway. In truth Meagher’s more cautious Irish patriotism and connection with the fast-fading Young Ireland group could be issues. In July 1854 he publicly brawled with an abusive journalist (also Irish) and horsewhipped the man, who pulled a gun and shot and slightly wounded him in the fray. A judge imposed a hefty ‘good behaviour’ bond on the pair.

In 1855 Meagher shocked just about everybody in the New York Irish community by marrying Elizabeth Townsend, a Protestant member of an influential, wealthy and conservative upper class family.

She converted to Catholicism and turned out to be a perfect match for Meagher, who a year later became the editor of the popular journal ‘Irish News’. Meagher provided another shock by excluding political stories and making the periodical “a pleasant home journal for our people here”.

More surprises were on the way for folk who thought they could safely label Meagher, put him in a box and walk away. He was friendly with southerners and appreciated

(Part Two)

by Peter Conole

Thomas Francis Meagher - Captain of Zouaves, 1861

their genteel, hospital ways. That is, he had a positive attitude towards folk of the slave-owning States of the Union. Unbelievable though this may seem he suspected abolitionists exaggerated the ills of slavery. He thought removing the worst elements of the system and letting time do the rest was a better policy. His old friend William Smith O’Brien (pardoned and freed in 1854) criticised Meagher’s attitude. The latter responded thus:”I am NOT in favour of slavery.

I am devoted to the Union. The Union accepts slavery”. He was right. The institution was legal in the USA. And he had no crystal ball…

Meagher supported the fencesitting James Buchanan’s run for the presidency in 1856 and, plunging into politics once more, applauded his victory in the ‘Irish News’. He then tried to obtain a diplomatic post in Latin America, only to 10

be disappointed. Readers may well be startled by what follows.

Meagher expressed admiration for the notorious adventurer William Walker, who raised a pack of mercenaries, invaded the Central American republic of Nicaragua , overthrew its regime, appointed himself president, legalised slavery and then tried to hand the country over to the USA. Neighbouring republics combined forces and drove him out. He tried again at the expense of Honduras in 1860, but the British Navy captured the rogue’s ship and Walker was shot by a firing squad on the nearest beach.

Meagher probably had dual reasons for his supportive attitude.

Firstly, the episode could have seriously damaged Britain’s interests in the region. Secondly, he had a grand plan for settling desperate, poverty-stricken Irish people in Central America. Costa Rica was “a good place for deserving Irishmen with large families and requiring aid to reach a home in the west”. The Costa Rican government was favourable and in 1860 Meagher and Elizabeth visited the place to lobby for land and try and obtain a grant to build a railway line linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The plan was decades ahead of its time, but the US Senate refused to supply the necessary million dollars.

The Meaghers gave up and returned to New York in 1861.

Meagher had already established a successful law practice and got involved in one case that attracted banner headlines. Future Civil War hero Daniel Sickles shot dead a man who had seduced his wife. In aid of the defence Meagher wrote a brilliant appeal which was read to the jury. Sickles then won acquittal on grounds of temporary insanity - still a landmark in criminal law.

Meagher’s zeal for the Irish cause did not diminish and for some time he acted in concert with the patriot James Stephens, only to fall prey to serious (and reasonable) doubts about the chances of starting a major revolt in Ireland at that time.

He hesitated to join the Fenian Brotherhood when it was formed

in 1859 and did not take the pledge as a member until 1864.

By then, of course, his adopted country was in fearful, bloodsoaked chaos.

When the American Civil War broke out in April 1861 Meagher’s views were not exactly ‘politically correct’. As he said in one debate ”my sympathies are with the south”. He also made no secret of his contempt for the trendy and ‘progressive’ set in cities of the north: “In the south there are no long haired fanatics preaching a millennium of free love”. Forces from below - from the often despised New York Irish - caused him to change his attitude very quickly. Firstly, the Catholic Church stood firmly for the Union and had a dim view of slavery.

Secondly, many Fenians thought the creation of well-trained Irish units would be useful in attempts to liberate the Emerald Isle after the war. Thirdly, on St Patrick’s Day, 1861 he saw a newly raised New York Irish regiment marching through the city under a green flag and was suitably moved.

Thomas Francis Meagher offered his services to Mr Lincoln’s army soon afterwards and was commissioned as a captain in the ‘Irish Zouave’ company of the 69th Regiment soon afterwards. The commanding officer of the regiment, the formidable Colonel Michael Corcoran, later rose to general rank

AN OLD IRISH BLESSING

May love and laughter light your days,and warm your heart and home.

May good and faithful friends be yours,wherever you may roam.

May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures.

May all life's passing seasons bring the best to you and yours!

in the Union Army. The Zouaves wore gaudy uniforms based on those of French Algerian regiments.

Some sections of the press mocked and snarled, but Meagher persisted in training his men, was promoted to major and along with the rest of the regiment went off to do battle in a brigade commanded by laterto-be famous William Tecumseh Sherman. Whatever his later fame, Sherman behaved like an utter swine in the way he treated the 69th Regiment. For example, the Irishmen had trouble getting basic provisions and transport…

The details of what followed in the rather naïve, amateurish beginnings of the American Civil War have been discussed at great length by many historians. A Union army including the 69th Regiment marched south and collided with a Confederate Army at the first Battle of Bull Run (AKA Manassas). The result was an awful, humiliating defeat for the northerners. The Irish regiment, however, won a certain degree of honour. Early in the fight they faced off against a very dangerous, hard fighting Irish Confederate regiment, the ‘Louisiana Tigers’. Corcoran’s outfit was made to suffer.

Meagher fought like a hero of antiquity and assorted accounts of his exploits are on record. As the Zouave company went into action

Tony Horgan was very proud of his Irish heritage. His family came from Macroom in Co Cork. He was a great supporter of The Rose of Tralee and was a very proud man when his daughter Nyomi won the International Rose of Tralee 1995. His rendition, from the stage, of The Fields of Athenry at a Perth Rose Ball some years ago was also a great moment for Tony as the song was his favourite. At Tony’s request, he asked that The Fields be sung with gusto by the congregation at his farewell service. It was. He will be sadly missed, taken way too soon.

To Sandra, Nyomi, Ben and Tim our deepest sympathy. Slán abhaile a Chara.

11

he shouted “come on boys! You’ve got your chance at last”. When a standard bearer was shot down he somehow picked up the flag and roared out “think of Ireland and Fontenoy” as he rallied his men.

Fontenoy was an old victory of the Irish brigade in the French Army.

His luck ran out soon afterwards.

Meagher’s horse was shot from under him; he was thrown very heavily and knocked unconscious.

When the Union army collapsed and began its dismal flight a horseman scooped Meagher up and carried him safely from the field. Colonel Corcoran was also out of action - a prisoner of the Confederates.

The aftermath can be summarised quickly. Meagher was certain he could raise an Irish Brigade of up to 5000 men to serve the Union and made the offer to Simon Cameron, the Secretary for War. After a lot of intrigue and back stabbing, which was countered by a chorus of praise for Meagher by other 69th Regiment officers, President Abraham Lincoln firmly instructed Cameron to let Meagher continue his recruitment and organisation of the Brigade in December, 1861.

Meagher spent the winter in endless, vigorous work to raise, train and equip his men. The Federal (Union) Army and key government insiders were duly grateful.

Dating from February 3, 1862 he was appointed to the position of Brigadier General of Volunteers in the army of the Union.

The Mighty Quinn Tavern

Sunday Session:

Happy Christmas Roast dinner and with potato & vegetables $18.00 Happy Sunday Session: New Year From all of us at Bryan Dalton (& Guests) 3-10pm 112 Wanneroo Road, Tuart Hill • 9349 9600 the Mighty Quinn.

Keep safe over the Mon: Mighty Mexican Night $20.00 Tues: Chicken Parmigiana Night $20.00 Festive Season!

Wed:

Thurs: Fri: Sat:

Quiz Night (Free entry, giveaways & cash prizes) Quiz starts 8pm -10pm + Steak Night: Porterhouse Steak (300g) with chips & salad garnish for only $15.00 Mighty Curry Night $19.50 The Mighty Slider Night $20.00 Music: The Lost Backpackers 8pm Mighty Pie Night $20.00 Saturday Music: Plays from 8pm Sue Summers: Sat 5 Nov • Bryan Dalton: Sat 12&26 Nov, 10&24 Dec Jonnie Reid: Sat 19 Nov, Sat 17 Dec The Lost Backpackers: Sat 3 & New Year’s Eve 31 Dec Sun: Roast dinner with Potato & Vegetables $18.50 Sunday Session: Bryan Dalton & Friends from 3pm -10pm Dates to watch Saturday 24 December - Christmas Eve with Bryan Dalton Sunday 25 December Christmas Day (The Mighty Quinn is closed) Monday 26 December - Boxing Day with Bryan Dalton

Sunday Roast Dinner with Potato & Vegetables $18.50 Music: Bryan Dalton & Friends

Check out our New TAB Racing Wall in the Public Bar of The Mighty Quinn Tavern.

Fun at Irish Race Day!

12

West Australian Folk Clubs, Music and Folk Groups

Comhaltas Perth, Sean Doherty Branch The Irish Club of WA, 61 Townshend Road Subiaco, Western Australia. Every Tuesday from 7pm Facebook: @perthcomhaltas Call (08) 9397 5152

Wanneroo Folk Music Club

Corner Dorchester St & Dugdale St, Warwick 2nd Fri 8 pm. $10 (WAFF $8) Email: John Ralph johndralph@hotmail.com.

Jackadders Music Club

Woodlands Reserve Hall, Teakwood Ave, Woodlands 3rd Sunday 3pm. Adults $8, WAFF - Children $2 Email: carmel@carmelcharlton.com Carmel Charleton 9446 1558

Hills Folk Club

Falls Farm, Cagney Way, Lesmurdie. 1st Friday 8 pm Pauline Tonkin-Saunders 9291 6026

Mundaring Folk ‘n’ Blues Club

Mundaring Sporting Club, Coolgardie St 3rd Friday 8pm www.mfnbc.iinet.net.au

Mandurah blue grass jam sessions 32 Ronlyn Road, Furnissdale, Pinjarra/Mandurah 3rd Sunday 1-4pm. kayj4u@gmail.com

Perth International Folk Dance Group

St. Margaret’s Hall, Nedlands (Cnr Tyrell & Elizabeth) Every Monday 7-9:30 pm (except Public Holidays) $6/$4 Mundaring Scout Hall every Friday 9.30-11am www.perthinternationaldance.org.au

We keep our finances totally separate... so we’re not de factos, right?

Not necessarily. How you both manage your finances may be only one factor to be considered by the court.

Being in a de facto relationship brings great benefits but it also can involve serious obligations.

For advice please contact Louise Muhling

Family Friendly • Family Lawyers 1/100 Terrace Road EAST PERTH WA 6004 T: (08) 9218 8422 F: (08) 9218 8433 E: reception@kavlaw.com.au W: kavlaw.com.au

13

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM IRISH AMBASSADOR My wife, Carmel, and I are delighted to send our warmest seasonal greetings to the Irish community of Western Australia.

We very much look forward to visiting this part of Australia over the next few years.

Guímid Nollaig Mhaith Mhór ar Ghaeil is Cairdre na nGael ar fud Iarthar na hAstráile.

Ambassador Breandán Ó Caollaí

Follow the Irish Embassy on Twitter: @irlembaustralia

Martin Kavanagh Honorary Consul Of Ireland

Richard and I are delighted to welcome our new Ambassador HE Breandan Ó Caollaí and Carmel Callan. By the time this has gone to press the community will have had the pleasure of meeting Breandán and Carmel in WA this November. I’m sure you will all join with me in making the Ambassador and Carmel feel very welcome to the West.

2016 has been a very exciting but also a very challenging time for the Irish in WA. My sincere thanks and appreciation to all those who designed and implemented such a wonderful 2016 Centenary program. The program was a credit to all those concerned. 2016 has also been a very challenging economic time for WA and for many of our own. Fortunately, the economy at home has been steadily improving. Whilst 2016 has seen many Irish return to Ireland or relocate elsewhere WA is and will continue to be home to very many Irish.

A new year generally brings into focus where we are in life and what we wish to achieve. I’d recommend the advice of a friend who sadly passed this year: “Be happy and do the very best you can”.

Richard and I wish you and yours all the very best for Christmas and 2017.

Nollaig Shona Marty Kavanagh 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 14

Sona agus Sรกbhรกilte do Cliรกch Nollaig Happy and Safe Christmas for all

Fergus Kelly 0410 621 447

Suzanne White 0414 885 954

Tom Quinn 0412 236 498

Clint White 0422 960 305

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15

Graham Smyth

with Synnott

is from Glenroe, Co Wicklow.

He is a project manager in Perth city and a consultant to private builders. Graham has just returned to Perth following a visit to Glencoe to visit his mother. I had a chat with Graham at The Mighty Quinn in Tuart Hill.

What can you remember when you were a young lad in Glencoe?

When I was 4 years old knocking the handbrake off on my dad’s new van and it rolling into the house wall!!

How far did you travel for your education?

I got a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dundalk in 2005, now I’m undertaking a Master’s Degree.

When did you immigrate to Oz and why Perth?

I arrived in Australia in May 2010. The reason I came here because I heard there was plenty of work and had family from my father side here who were here for 20 years already.

What mode of social network do you use and why?

You can’t beat socialising in the pub with mates for a few pints. I also use Facebook and Linkedin.

If you could change something in your life what would it be?

Actually don’t have any big regrets, only minor things!

What’s your favourite sport and team?

I follow soccer and am a Man United supporter!

Do you go to the Irish Club and if not why?

I think I’ve only been to the Irish club once, for a game, it’s mostly out of the way from where I live and never get a chance to go there.

How do you get your information from home?

Looking up the RTE website and chatting to the family every week or so!

What is your favourite movie and actor?

Predator and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Have you travelled in Oz and if so, where?

I’ve been down south in WA a few times and been to Sydney, nowhere else.

Do you read The Irish Scene and where do you get it?

Yeah, I only read it the odd time when I get a copy in the Irish pubs such as the Mighty Quinn or Rosie O’Grady’s.

Where would you like to travel in the world and why?

I’d love to visit Hawaii. Nice beaches, sun and surfing!

Have you ever been a FIFO? I never did FIFO, was never really into working in the middle of nowhere for long periods of time. I like my social life too much!

Will you ever go back to Ireland to live?

Someday I’d like to have a holiday house in Ireland where I can enjoy my retirement.

Turning back the Years Tour November 13, 20, 27 3.30pm to 6.30pm

98 High Street, Fremantle • Tel 9335 6688

Seán Roche Perth Gigs:

16

Sat 5 November: Favershem House in York Sat 12 November: Paddy Malones in Joondalup Sun 13 November: National Hotel, Fremantle Fri 18 November: Hilton Park Tennis Club Sun 20 November: National Hotel, Fremantle Sun 27 November: National Hotel, Fremantle Fri 2 December: Hills Folk Club, Falls Farm, Lesmurdie.

Pauline Tonkin-Saunders 9291 6026 Sun 4th December: Paddy Malones in Joondalup

Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year from all at McGovern Migration!

Phone: 0457 580 402

Dermot Byrne

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

As we are approaching the end of 2016 I would like to take this opportunity to wish one and all a wonderful Christmas and best wishes for the New Year. I am looking forward to quizzing you all in 2017. Dermot What was the name of the name of the film in which Bing Crosby sang White Christmas?

What do you add to Guinness to make Black Velvet?

What is the difference between Scotch and Irish whiskey?

What drink is made from the Camellia Sinensis plant?

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

What date was it that Good King Wenceslas last looked out?

How many legs does a has Bombay Duck have?

In what year was Darwin devastated by Cyclone Tracy on Christmas Day? Who was the author of the book A Christmas Carol?

In what country was St. Nicholas (Aka Santa Claus) born?

Answers 1.Holiday Inn, 2.Champagne, 3.Scotch is spelt Whisky, Irish is spelt Whiskey 4.Tea, 5.Capricorn 6.26th December, 7.None it’s a fish, 8.1974, 9.Charles Dickens, 10.Turkey.

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Fenians Pub Grub Service Hours 11.00am - 9.30pm

DROP IN TO FENIAN’S & TRY OUR NEW FOOD OPTIONS Our Amazing Sliders • Irish Pub Sandwich • Famous Guinness Pie • and much more!

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Lunch 11.00am - 3.00pm Dinner: 3.00pm - 9.30pm

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It is the season of party and fun.

It is the season of prayer and celebration.

It is the season of happiness and peace.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Derek and staff at Fenians.

Drop in and say hello over the Festive Season.

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Novotel Perth Langley - 221 Adelaide Terrace T. 9425 1634 • E: h1764-fb2@accor.com • www.novotelperthlangley.com.au 18

Anna O’Shea was born on 15th July 1923, into Tullaher House, which had been the summer residence of the Stackpooles until purchased by her Grandfather, Patrick O’Shea, in 1884. She was the third eldest of four other siblings, Maureen, Patrick, William and John.

When her father, James O’Shea died, her mother, Margaret (Grogan) O’Shea, gave birth to the youngest brother Jim, five days after her father passed away.

Anna was a smart cookie from an early age, attending Bansha National School, near Kilkee on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. She told her mother at age four that she was going to be a nurse. Her mother obviously wanted to talk her out of it, for she told her that it might not be too nice a job, as she may have to cut the toe nails of the old farmers.

That might have turned her off nursing as a career, but when she was fourteen she was inspired by Mercy Sisters who visited the St. Xavier’s Secondary School in Kilrush, where Anna and her siblings cycled seven miles to school every day.

Her mother brought her around every relation she could find in an effort for them to talk sense into her.

She probably felt she was a bit young to be making such a huge decision.

But Anna was not to be dissuaded.

Her young cousin Sr. Kathleen Mary Grogan of Tiernaglohane remembers being woken up very early one morning in 1938 by her parents so that she could say ‘Goodbye’ to her, as she was leaving Ireland for Australia to join the Mercy Sisters.

She and twenty one other young ladies set off in November on a journey that took well over a month until they landed in Perth, Western Australia.

On 8th January 1939 Anna entered the Convent of Mercy, Victoria Square, Perth, W.A. She trained as a novice from that date until 1942, with her final profession on 2nd February 1945. The motto she adopted on her ring was ‘Ser-vite

Anna Maria O’Shea - RIP 22nd October 2016

Domino in Laetitia.’ Now Anna Maria, her name became Sr. Gregory.

Anna Maria began Primary Teaching at St. Mary’s, South Bunbury in 1943, followed by Sacred Heart High School, Bunbury, 1947; Toodyay, 1952; then to Our Lady’s College, Victoria Square where she was responsible for the Junior University Examination Students Group from 1955 -1966.

From February 1967, following the merging of Our Lady’s College and St. Joseph’s High School to form Mercedes College, (Part time).

From 1967 – 1976 Anna Maria

Sr Anna Marie with her brother the late Mons Sean O’Shea at his 50th Anniversary on Rottnest.

was involved in administration, being a member of provincial Council, Bursar & Formation Ministry. Then she went to Santa Maria College, and, finally, to Saint Anne’s, Harvey.

Her final ministry, beginning in 1984 was in the Sisters of Mercy Perth Archives and then located at Victoria Square. Finally, Anna Maria was admitted to Mercy Aged Care, Wembley in May 2005.

Anna’s room in the Care Centre was like another office in the building, with her carers Marie, Jenny, her beloved friend Mollie and sisters Pattie and Eileen McVittee to name but a few, constantly trying to relieve her of the un-ending build-up of paperwork. They knew the meaning of the saying ‘An archivist never sleeps’.

Anna Maria loved her family in Ireland, England, the U.S and Australia. She was a gentle, good humoured, loving aunt, who was proud of every academic success that her family achieved. She was devoted to her Mercy Congregation and right to the very end felt so happy that she had chosen to be a Mercy Sister.

In her own words ‘I have reason to be most grateful for God’s goodness to me throughout my entire life, and, most particularly, for the privilege of Consecrated Life here with the Sisters of Mercy in Perth, Western Australia.’

Back home in Ireland we acknowledge the end of an era in Anna Maria’s passing and all her nieces; Rita, Siobhan, Brid, Goretti, and Claire, her nephews; Declan, Criostoir, Jim, John and Timothy, and all her relatives and friends will always remember with fondness her sharp wit and intelligence, her love of her own siblings and her joy in poetry.

Ina bhfocail fein: May God be praised and thanked for all his goodness.

Ar dheis lamh De go raibh a h-anam.

Brid McCarthy . 22nd October 2016.

"Love one another as I have loved you." This was the special command of Jesus Christ .... which as a most valuable legacy, He bequeathed to all His followers... Catherine McAuley 19

20

Foley and Donovan

FAMILY REUNION Like many Irish families the Foleys and their Donovan cousins emigrated to all corners during the last century and a half. More unusual though, is the strong connection that has remained throughout the generations which spread to Australia, USA and UK. This connection was seen in the turn out for the recent family reunion held in Scarborough on Sunday 16 October. A visit from the Boston cousins, Kenan and Stephanie Foley, has been the incentive for a number of family reunions that began in the mid 1980’s. Ken and Steph visit Australia every five years or so and the family was pleased to have a happy reason to get together again.

The Foleys are originally from Leamnaguila, a dairy farm near Farranfore Co Kerry which is now run

by Dermot Foley. The Donovan’s farm was nearby at Skahies and remained in the family until the 1970’s when it passed to their Fitzgerald cousins.

The first arrival in Australia was Jeremiah in 1882 who it is believed

had to leave Ireland in a hurry after an altercation with a bailiff. He was in the eastern states for some years before heading west for the gold rush. He settled in the Fremantle area and later in Mosman Park, and was heavily involved in the Irish community and the union movement. His two sisters joined him, and later in the early 1920’s his niece Mary and two nephews Tim and Pat also emigrated to Perth. Australia was kind to the Foley family and the family thrived, producing, amongst others, Archbishop William Foley, Sandover Medallist Footballer Brian Foley, a police Superintendant John Foley, Fr Dan Foley, an Olympic hockey player and a contestant on the current reality TV show The Block.

Mary, Tim & Pat’s first cousin was Frank Donovan whose father ran a large grocery store in Kenmare called O’Brien Corkery & Co. They had fond memories of their uncle who would bring them baskets of food on his visits. When Frank emigrated with his wife Catherine there was a warm welcome at Fremantle

21

from his Foley cousins and the the families remained close for the next generations.

In the 1980’s Brian Foley put all the details down on paper and sent it to the cousins overseas and since then the family links have grown stronger as the world has grown smaller and different generations have travelled and been welcomed into each other’s homes. There is now a new generation who are starting to travel to visit the farm in Ireland and their cousins in Kent or the Boston cousins.

Sunday was a day for catching up with familiar faces and remarking how the kids have grown (many of the Foley men are 6’ 3’’ and taller and this young generation is no exception). Fr Vincent Glyn (a Donovan son) said a few prayers and those family members who were dearly missed were remembered.

Everyone looked to find their place on the family tree printout that Kenan had provided, and the details of the newest additions to the family were happily added. There were old

photos to view and new photos taken. And it was agreed that it was far too complex to think about 3rd cousins twice removed etc and that we were all just cousins.

There were lots of good memories revisited, but a favourite moment was the happy reunion and delighted comment “Sheila I thought you were dead years ago!� This raised much laughter, including from the surprised, but still going strong, nonagenarian Sheila Oldfield (Foley).

The family connection was shared and strengthened by the welcome, laughter and friendship flowing freely on the day. It The last generation of the original Foleys and Donovans who came out from Ireland in the 20s and 30s was a good day for all - Jeremiah and co would be pleased.

Ireland Western Australian Forum

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

Next Networking Event:

The Irish Western Australia Forum are having a sundowner event to celebrate Women in Business.

The evening will consist of female speakers that have made an impact on the local business world here in WA. The event will also be a fundraiser in line with Breast Cancer Awareness month, giving our members an opportunity to make a donation on the night.

When: Thursday 10th November, 6pm Where: The Terrace Hotel, St George Terrace Cost: $35 per head, incl glass of wine on arrival & canapes It will be run in association with Pink Ribbon https://www.pinkribbon.com.au/

Newwork event at the Celtic Club

22

WOODVALE BOULEVARD SHOPPING CENTRE WHITFORDS AVE, WOODVALE

9309 9992

We can provide all your Christmas Meat and Poultry needs!

We supply an extensive range of products, including: • Irish Pork Sausages

•

Gammon Joints – Raw and Cooked

• Irish Pork Cocktails

•

Free Range Turkeys

• Irish Pork Sausage Meat

•

Turkey Breast Rolls

• Black Pudding • Turkey Crowns • White Pudding • Irish Bacon

CHRISTMAS TURKEY AND HAM - ORDER EARLY Please place your order in store or by phone as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Don’t forget we have a whole range of Irish smallgoods as well.

Including Barry’s Tea, Chef’s Brown and Red Sauces, McDonnell’s Curry Sauce, Odlum’s Brown and White Flour and our popular Potato and Soda Bread.

We are now also stocking Tayto Crisps.

Please visit us anytime or feel free to phone with any queries.

Shop 14 Opening Hours: Woodvale Boulevard Shopping Ctr Mon to Wed: 8:00am to 6:00pm Whitfords Avenue Thursday: 8:00am to 7:30pm Woodvale WA 6026 Friday: 8:00am to 6:00pm (08) 9309 9992 Saturday: 8:00am to 5:00pm meatconnoisseur@bigpond.com Sunday: 11:00am to 5:00pm

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from All of Us to All of You! 23

Auf Wiedersehen

y l l e K z t i r F Fr

Lloyd Gorman and Fred Rea

Father Fritz (Malachy) O'Kelly went to his eternal reward last month. The Franciscan priest whose religious service included a stint in Shenton Park during the 1970's was 90 years old when he passed away in October. Fr Fritz as he was affectionately known had a long and remarkable life.

During his time in Shenton Park he ran the Grey Friars Folk Club. A raconteur, he told many great stories of his life in Cobh and his family's association with the German U-Boats during the second world. We were not sure at the time if there was truth to these yarns but lo and behold it was all fair dinkum as the say.

Born in 1926, he was a native of Grange in Co Limerick, the young Malachy - who was known as Fritz - was the son of a German mother, Olga Moller, and Irish father Jeremiah O'Kelly, an agent for the Great Western Railway.

His German heritage came to the fore when as a young man he came directly face to face with the reality of World War II in neutral Ireland.

He was one of a group of young men who were on the quayside in Cobh, County Cork in Ireland in late December 1943 when the "Kerlogue" berthed with an unexpected wartime load. The little Wexford boat was sailing back from Portugal with a cargo of oranges when her crew happened upon a scene of carnage and terror. What appeared to be the start of a deadly attack by a German fighter plane in the middle of the night quickly turned into

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24

something else entirely? Instead of opening fire on the Kerlogue the plane signalled them and dropped flares close by, beacons for them to follow. In the dark icy cold and choppy waters of the Bay of Biscay were hundreds of German sailors clinging desperately to life rafts and other debris. They had been shipwrecked three days earlier during a naval battle between their flotilla of ten ships and two Royal navy cruisers.

An estimated 500 men went into the water and by the time the little Irish vessel arrived at the scene there were about 300 left 'in the drink' - many of who were badly injured, burned, shot and struggling to cling to life. The Kerlogue crew immediately began hauling men from the heaving sea.

For ten backbreaking hours the eleven-strong crew pulled men on-board. If they saved a body but it turned out to be a corpse they would let it go back to the sea so that they could give other survivors a chance of life.

Every inch of space on the Kerlogue was packed so tightly that the crew were often unable to move around and a final head count found there were 168 German sailors on-board Unable to take on even one more man and probably dangerously overloaded the Kerlogue was forced to leave the area and the hundred and more men to their fate.

With so many people on board it didn't take long for the ships food stores to empty. The captain ordered crew members to break open the orange cargo and make hot drinks with them for their passengers. On the two day voyage back to Ireland the Germans had to be kept hidden and under deck in case they were spotted by Allied planes. At night time they took turns to come up and breathe fresh air.

By the time they reached Ireland three of the German sailors died from their injuries. At Cobh the Kerlogue was met by ambulances and medics who treated the injured and took them to hospital. From there they would be sent to the Curragh Camp in Co. Kildare where they would be interned for the rest of the war, effectively prisoners of war in neutral Ireland.

It must have been a highly charged and emotional event for the seventeen year old Malachy O'Kelly who was sympathetic to the German cause in the war. His ability to speak German meant he could communicate directly with the sailors who had a pitiful end to their war.

Two days later (January 3, 1944)

Malachy attended the funeral in Cobh of two German crew who died from their wounds. The funeral included an honour guard of uniformed officers. Malachy would become a regular visitor to the Curragh where the men were held until the end of the war, and even for a time afterwards. Even after they had been repatriated to Germany after the war ended he stayed in touch with some of them and even visited them in Germany.

Speaking later in life, Fr Fritz was critical of the British Royal Navy for abandoning their German counterparts and leaving them in the water. But ships that stopped to rescue survivors were at high risk of being sunk by submarine and it was standing orders for them not to rescue enemy seamen in distress.

Malachy respected the Germans he met. "They were ordinary loyal soldiers, boys of 17 or 18 years of

Perhaps filled with rage as much as admiration, Malachy later volunteered to join the German air force the Luftwaffe - but was told by the German ambassador in Dublin that transporting him to Germany for pilot training would be impossible. He had relations in the Luftwaffe and Germany army (Wehrmacht).

When asked about how he felt about the fall of Hitler he said he and his friends were not very happy about it.

Malachy would become an accountant in Cork City and then travelled to England where he joined the Grey friars in 1950. He became a missionary priest for 40 years in Africa, and even wrote a book (Love from Zambia) in 2011 about his life and experiences there. Proceeds from the sale of the book went to support the Conventual Franciscan missions. One of this many other achievements and accomplishments was to set up support groups for alcoholics wherever he served, including in Africa and Australia.

He came to the Franciscan Friary in Wexford from missionary work in 2007 and remained there for the rest of his life. He leaves behind an extended family and many friends, including here in Australia.

age, who would have far rather been defending their homeland than locked up in Ireland for the duration of the war,' he said. “They fought for their country and we admired them all."

He is buried in Dardistown Cemetery, Santry in Dublin.

Rest in Peace Fritz you left many great memories in Perth!

25

For the Love of the Game

You can take the boy out of the GAA but you can't take the GAA out of the boy. Tom Murphy, a native of Cratloe, Co. Clare, came to Perth at the start of this year with his girlfriend Diane Butler.

Sure it's a long way from home but Tom, like many others, was able to find himself on familiar ground in his adoptBy Lloyd Gorman/Fred Rea ed home. Not long after he landed in Western Australia and made his way to his first GAA event Tom became the public relations officer for the Gaelic Athletic Association of Western Australia - which he calls "The Organisation". The Clare man is an ideal candidate for the job, the job of spreading the gospel about Gaelic games and is making a good fist of the task.

"My girlfriend will tell you I'm sports obsessed, but I've a particular fondness for GAA. I'm only here about seven months and still getting to know and learn as I go but I'm quite happy to go to people, like yourself Fred, and say to them I'm wondering about this or that, and asking them what do they think. I find that if you are willing to do a job people here will let you. No one has told me I'm doing a bad job and I'm quite willing to take on feedback. I don't know everything but I've got very good support with the state committee and president Gerry McGough and the rest of the teams, be it the hurling, the football, minors and juniors academy, it's an enjoyable job and it's getting easier, I enjoy it a lot."

He has been busy since becoming the PRO in March and been involved with the football seven's, Tim Hickey Memorial seven's and league and championships for hurling and football. "We've been organising our minors team, which is comprised of a lot of Irish kids and a lot of indigenous kids and looking to next year and the years after that. Then we have our junior academy which is 80 kids in Kingsway on Sunday morning learning their skills of Gaelic football and hurling."

Tom, a big man with big ideas for the sport, can be seen on the side lines at games, training, events and contests, taking photographs and writing up reports for Irish Scene. He leaves no stone unturned in his drive to promote and encourage Gaelic games.

"We're a minority sport in Western Australia, we're fighting against the AFL," he said. "The good thing is Gaelic football is a game we can bring all over the world but because we are a minority sport we have to be flexible and we have to use things like if there are small children, or small teenagers who want to play, who will find it tough to play AFL, that there's an outlet, here's Gaelic football, here's a sport you can try without the pulling, dragging and the tackling that goes on in AFL.

Tom Murphy with Diane Butler

The children are the future of GAA over here so if we don't give them an opportunity to showcase their skills, encourage them to a wider audience in Perth, well then you're on a slippery slide."

As PRO Tom see’s a major part of his role as bringing together the four arms of the organisation. "They are all

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doing brilliantly on their own, but there's nothing in the centre, it's very separate but we are getting there. It's about telling people we have a strong juvenile section, our minors are getting going again, hurling takes place on a Saturday and football on a Sunday and trying to get the word out so everyone knows what’s going on."

When he isn't in the field with players, Tom can regularly be found elsewhere talking up the organisation, the good work they do and the need to support it and building bridges and connections wherever he can in the community. He is forging links with groups like Irish Families in Perth which has 12,000 members and has been going strong now for five years. Irish Families is headed up by Eimear Beatty who herself is heavily involved with the minors said Tom. "They're a great source to let us know what's going on but also to advertise our senior mens gold classic, our minor golf classic, cull camps taking place for the GAA academy in the October school holidays. He is also reaching out to the Claddagh Association and the Ireland Western Australian Forum. "Just because games stop for the summer season doesn't mean that new, features and events behind the scenes stop," he added.

While some clubs have a large number of players to draw from, others have a smaller pool of talent to work with. "Numbers would be our biggest enemy, the clubs have to be flexible in the way they operate and attract players and we in GAA WA have to do the same. If we can get the word out to make our organisation as known in possible in WA, but also across Australasian GAA, people coming over to Perth for a job would know of GAA here because they're playing it in Queensland or Victoria or wherever. If they come over and don't have anything better to do people would say to them there is GAA on in Bateman, why don't you come down on the weekend and we'll introduce you to a few people. It's a good way of making friends and acting as a support system. Some of the stronger clubs are quite good at attracting people and the way they do this is through Facebook pages, or floats in the St. Patrick's Day Parade.

If we have no players in our clubs then GAA WA is dead as an organisation. We have to try and support our clubs and that will help GAA WA." He throws himself into the role despite having a medical condition that ended his prospects of stepping onto the field with his mates. "My eyesight was one of the reasons I had to stop playing. I was diagnosed with a tumour at the back of my eye when I was 13 and I spent most of the 1994 World Cup in the Mater Hospital in Dublin," he said. "I had a couple of operations on my eyes, they couldn't save my right eye, I've got light and shadow as such, but they saved the left one. But it hasn't stopped me from doing anything. Legally I can't drive, which can be a nuisance, so I'm reliant on lifts and public transport, but I'm so used to it now. If I come up against a roadblock I generally find a way around it. Doing this work gives me an opportunity to make new friends and contacts and my experience has been that when people hear I can't get somewhere, like a game, because of my eyesight many will give me a lift."

There is no doubting the strength of his commitment to the sport, and his passion for it. Why he is al-

most evangelical about it is easy to understand when you find out more about his background and connection to the game.

"My family are heavily involved in GAA. My mother Eileen is a Kilkenny woman from Dicksborough hurling club. She served as secretary and chairman of the minor (Cratloe) club and is currently treasurer of our senior club. I have three younger siblings, Michael, Alan and Ciara. I played hurling and football but my two brothers were always better at it. As kids we were always brought along to games. That's where we got our love of Gaelic games from and even when we started building our pitch, Pairc O'Hare in Cratloe, which opened in 1991, there are photographs of us going down to pick up stones and trying to get the pitch ready. GAA is social fabric in Ireland and in small villages like Cratloe. He went to the local primary school (St John's) and then to boarding school at St. Flannan's College in Ennis where there was plenty of GAA. After secondary school he then went to St. Patrick's College in Carlow town, where he became a student sports officer and organised GAA, boxing, soccer and other sports.

He has seen the changing fortunes of his beloved Cratloe and how much things can change. "I remember times we didn't have our own pitch and we couldn't win a game to save our lives and we've gone from that to winning two senior football titles in Clare in the last five years and we were in a senior country football championship final in Ennis this year and we've won two senior hurling championships in the last five years as well which is unheard of because we are a very small club in Co. Clare and don't have the resources or population like other traditional blue ribbon clubs in Clare in hurling and football."

If Tom has always held a candle for GAA then he has good reason to keep a special vigil for the national Irish sports.

Tom gives encouragement to linesman, Marty Green at the 2016 football finals

27

Irish Families in Perth

"Michael passed away in 2001, he was playing an U21 hurling championship quarter final for Cratloe against Ballyea in Co. Clare.

We were told later that Michael had had an aneurysm at the base of his brain. So he just got a tap of the hurley on the back, nothing malicious, nothing untoward, just one of those things that happens and he passed away. As a consequence of that we built sports lawn O Murchu in Cratloe, that opened in 2009 in the 125 anniversary of the GAA. We had great support from the then minister for sport Jim McDaid and the Irish national lottery.

"My other brother Alan is Australasian vice president for Queensland GAA, he's been there since 2008 with his wife Natalie from Brisbane, and their little boy, Michael. Natalie is a very handy player and will represent Queensland on their camogie team. You could say we're born into it as a family."

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Denise Quigley writes...

An

Unforgetable Experience!

So I have just returned from the Rose of Tralee Festival in Kerry feeling thankful and blessed for the opportunity I was awarded. This year I was fortunate to have been selected as the Perth representative for 2016. The festival celebrated its

jewellery to wear during our time at the festival.

Kildare had the warmest of welcomes for us. Local people gathered at the council offices for photographs and autographs whilst the Army Band supplied the music. We also stopped by the Irish National Stud, the Japanese Gardens, the K Club and some light shopping at Kildare Village.

Next stop was a quick lunch in Portlaoise before making our way to Tralee. Arriving there the welcome we received Roses in Guinness Gravity Bar was like nothing I had ever experienced, the band was in full swing in the foyer, crowds of people filled the reception area and camera crews followed our every move. The Rose Hotel was our home for the reminder of the tour and we occupied the whole first floor.

Interviews with the judges commenced immediately followed by dinner. It was then we 57th Anniversary and all 65 centres were introduced to the escorts. around the world were invited to Dara O’Boyle, a strength and attend the Rose Tour. As I arrived conditioning coach from Dublin, at the Maldron Hotel for the meet was my first escort and Eugene and greet, the volume of people and Sheehy was my second escort. atmosphere was amazing.

We stayed at the Maldron Hotel Both gentlemen were very comical, courteous and friendly. We made for four nights whilst visiting some our way to the town square where of Ireland’s most famous, historic and symbolic tourism landmarks. the official welcome party took For me some of the more memorable place to mark the beginning of the Rose of Tralee Festival. excursions were the Guinness Storehouse, Kilmainham Gaol, the The days that followed consisted of so many activities 1916 Exhibition and Harold’s Cross such as a high tea at Ballyseede Greyhound Stadium. Tipperary Crystal invited us to an evening style Castle, a jiving lesson in Listowel, event in Arnott’s department store a sing song with everyone at Blennerville Resource Centre at which we were presented with 30

and strolling around the rose gardens meeting the locals.

Selection interviews were held in the Dome with host Dáithí Ó Sé over two nights in front of a full audience. All 65 Roses had the opportunity to experience the amazing atmosphere before the final 32 Roses were selected later in the week. The Rose Ball was the most formal event in which the Dome was transformed into a truly magical setting.

Chandeliers draped from the ceiling, roses centred every table and after the five course meal the band played as we waltzed until the small hours.

Denise and escort Eugene Sheehy The parade was also a highlight of the tour, we were organised into small groups and assigned a float along with

Festival of 2016.

This experience was one that I will never forget and want to thank The Rose of Tralee Team 2016 for making it possible.

A special thanks to my sponsors in Perth who have been an exceptional help, The Dunphy Family, Dinny Burke of BC Formwork, Jennie at British Travel, AVA Designs, Elma Lauren Hair, Nakisha’s Beauty Boutique, Alcorn Body Repairs. Also thanks to my friends and family for their endless support. Special thanks to The Perth Rose committee and Denise Lynch who guided and prepared me for the entire experience.

Applications are now open for The Rose of Tralee 2017, for more information see

Denise on stage in the Dome with Daithi O'Shea

our little Rosebuds. We left the Rose Hotel and made our way to Denny Street followed by a firework display and some entertainment by very talented street performers.

Pouring rain did not deter the thousands of people that joined us that night.

The final 32 Roses had two more nights of televised on stage interviews in the Dome with Daithi.

Unfortunately I was not successful in making the final however I was delighted to be there supporting all my fellow Roses that did make it through and thoroughly enjoyed both nights entertainment. The beautiful Chicago Rose Maggie

www.roseoftralee.ie Australian Roses

McEldowney was selected as The Rose of Tralee, a beautiful, inspiring and amazing representative for the class of 2016. Midnight Madness Parade concluded the celebrations on Denny Street for the Rose

PERTH CENTRE Congratulation to Carl Holmes who takes over this year as chair of the Rose of Tralee Committee. Carl comes with a wealth of experience and has supported the Perth event for a number of years. we wish him all the best and we know he will continue the wonderful work of the previous committee.

There will be an interview with Carl in our next edition and find out his plans for the 2017 Perth Rose of Tralee.

Maith an Fear!

Denise outside her host pub!

31

ULSTER

Rambles with David MacConnell

Ramblings about BATHS BREAKFAST and BREXIT… How’s about youse all have a gigantum and a happy Christmas from ‘The Rambler’. Another year has spun round again and if they get any faster, we all will be octegenarians before we know it. My daughter pointed out to me the other day that when my grandson turns eighteen, I will be eighty eight! We definitely should not think like that! We would go crazy long before our time. The good thing is we can still learn something every day.

I was in the spa bath at the Craigie Leisure Centre only yesterday when I was greeted with a “And where would you be from?” Why was I in the spa bath? To try and get warm! The sad part is that most of us have become Aussifed in various ways.

Let me give you an example as I quote a conversation on skype with my sister.

She: “We are all having a difficult time here coping with the heat. It’s bloody twenty degrees here, much warmer than we are used to at this time of year. I am still wearing all

my summer outfits.”

Me: “We are all having a terrible time here. The winter is lasting forever. I think it was twenty degrees here yesterday, much colder than we are used to at this time of year.

I am still wearing my thick woollen sweaters.”

Going back to the spa, I told her (my new Irish aquaintence ) my usual spiel about father from Meath and mother from Down.

“I’m from Monaghan” she anounced with a certain amount of pride.

“Ah yes I know Monaghan quite well,” I replied. “I still have cousins who live in Cavan; between Cavan town and Ballyjamesduff.”

“We always looked down on people from Cavan,” she replied haughtily. “Monaghan people were more elite in my day. In the sixties” she added.

“I never knew that,” I replied and we rambled on as Irish people do until the centre was closed for the evening. Of course she knew FRED. Well everybody who is somebody knows Fred. (I hope that makes sense). If you are not Irish, please ignore that previous sentence. If you are reborn as an Irish person, you might get it.

I just had an email from one of my american friends bemoaning the fact that she doesn’t like Trump

and all his antics but I am NOT going to go there. He has no Irish connections has he? Instead, I am going to revisit Brexit.

I believe that certain Irish retailers are experienceing unusual circumstances.

Looking to Hire a Car in Ireland?

A range of items are much cheaper in its Northern Irish shops - thanks mainly to the exchange rate brought on by the Brexit vote.

Car parks in Londonderry and Newry have been filling up with shoppers from south of the border seeking to make large savings on a range of goods. From computers to cars, coats to cots, the rise of the euro against the pound is already sending shockwaves through businesses in the Republic.

But it’s good news for traders north of the border and for hardpressed Irish families looking for an early Christmas bargain.

A snap survey of UK-owned retail stores with branches on both sides of the border gives a taste of the savings being made. Even in a retailer like Halfords, with a solid reputation for almost price-matching items either side of the frontier, the sterling slide is starting to show up.

Cars parked outside the Derry shops.

My friend Michael (from Yorkshire) asked me to give him a brief summary of the vagrancies of Ireland with particular emphasis on the North and South.

“Well Michael to begin with you can see Scotland on a clear day from the North. Someone saw it last August, or so I heard. You cannot, repeat cannot see Wales from the South. But let’s start at the beginning.

“Ireland is an island to the west

www.dan-dooley.ie 32

of Britain, but Northern Ireland is just off the mainland – not the Irish mainland, the British mainland.”

‘Hey,” says Michael, I’m not stupid. I’m from England. We do get some Education there, just not about Ireland!” he bemoaned.

“OK, sorry” I say and continue with, “the capital of Ireland is Dublin.

It has a population of approximately four and a half million people half of whom will be shopping in Newry or Derry this afternoon. Come to think of it, it’s Londonderry to you.

“Why is that?” he wants to know. I ignore this and continue…..

The Southerners travel up to Newry and Derry because many retail items are a lot cheaper since Brexit and I do mean a lot. Also, it is in the North, which is not part of Ireland.

Under the Irish constitution, the North used to be independent… but a successful 30-year campaign of violence for Irish unity which has ensured that it is now definitely in the UK. Had the campaign lasted longer, the North might now be in France!”

“Are you trying to be funny here?” he asks.

I continue, “Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland. It was the place where the Titanic was built. Yes that was the unsinkable ship that sunk before she had

completed her maiden voyage. But you know all about that I’m sure.”

Here, Michael nods knowingly.

“Northern Ireland has a population of around two million, half of whom have houses in Donegal. Donegal is in the north but not in the North. It is in the South. No, not the south, the South. Do you think you are getting the idea here Michael? If you ever go there you might like to go and visit the Giant’s Causeway.

You cannot miss it – it is near a car park.”

“Ah,” says Michael, “you are having me on here.”

“There are two parliaments in Ireland,” I say. “The Dublin parliament is called the Dáil, an Irish word meaning a place where banks receive taxpayers’ money. The currency is called Euros and may work in some phone boxes near Knock a sort of a spiritual place near an airport. The one in Belfast is called Stormont, an Anglo-Saxon word meaning placebo, or deliberately ineffective drug. The currency is called Sterling after someone who migrated to Australia and found a range. This currency will not work in any phone box due in part to there being no phones in the kiosks!

A few years ago their respective jurisdictions were defined by the border, an imaginary line on the

map to show farmers how to make money by constantly walking their cows to and fro across it. But these days no one is sure exactly where it is (the line that is and the cows) or where it was for that matter.

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

Travel between the two states is complicated because Ireland is the only country in the world with two M1 motorways. The one in the North goes west to Dungannon where nobody wants to go. The one in the South goes north to avoid everything and especially the price of drink…..”

At this point Michael had had enough and got up to buy two pints of Peroni in our local golf club.

“Cheers Michael.”

I hope this little aside helps you convince your husband to take you to the province before Christmas!

Well I am sure by the time you read this, we will all be complaining about the heat. For most of us here in Australia….. bring it on.

A very merry Christmas from me and as Dave Allen would say, “May your God go with you.”

David MacConnell

I’ll drink to that!

The U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironsides), a combat vessel, carried 48,600 gallons of fresh water for her crew of 475 officers and men. This was sufficient to last six months of sustained operations at sea. She carried no evaporators (i.e. fresh water distillers).

However, let it be noted that according to her ship’s log, “On July 27, 1798, the U.S.S. Constitution sailed from Boston with a full complement of 475 officers and men, 48,600 gallons of fresh water, 7,400 cannon shot, 11,600 pounds of black powder and 79,400 gallons of rum.”

Her mission: “To destroy and harass English shipping.” Making Jamaica on 6 October, she took on 826 pounds of flour and 68,300 gallons of rum.

Then she headed for the Azores, arriving 12 November. She provisioned with 550 pounds of beef and 64,300 gallons of Portuguese wine. On 18 November, she set sail for England. In the ensuing days she defeated five British men-of-war and captured and scuttled 12 English merchant ships, salvaging only the rum aboard each.

By 26 January, her powder and shot were exhausted. Nevertheless, although unarmed she made a night raid up the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. Her landing party captured a whisky distillery and transferred 40,000 gallons of single malt Scotch aboard by dawn. Then she headed home.

The U. S. S. Constitution arrived in Boston on 20 February 1799, with no cannon shot, no food, no powder, no rum, no wine, no whisky, and 38,600 gallons of water.

Thanks for the story Noel!

33

In the business of being Irish

Ciaran McKeown moved to Perth from Ireland in 2012 with his wife Jacqueline. Despite there being large numbers of Irish migrants here at the time because of the mining boom they found it a little difficult to get involved with the Irish community said Ciaran.

“Although we were keen to settle in Australia and begin enjoying the Australian way of life, there was always a comfort in knowing that there was a strong Irish community here in Perth, which can help stop a feeling of home sickness,” he said.

“But despite the various groups on Facebook and numerous pubs, we found it hard to become part of the Irish community. After starting my own business in 2014, I could see that there was a disconnect between the Irish people living here and the local businesses that were either Irish owned or had a large Irish influence. Having been a software developer for over a decade, I saw that a website that allowed people to search for Irish businesses based on location, anywhere in the world, could have the ability to connect those businesses to the community around them. That is where irishinbusiness.com was created, as a solution to the problem of connecting the local community.”

Ciaran launched the site in the Celtic Club at a well attended Ireland Western Australia Forum event in September.

Using social media and monthly newsletters localised to each city Ciaran said the online service

promotes its business clients but also keeps the community informed about upcoming events in the area.

“While it is very important to become part of your local community here in Perth, we wanted to make it as easy as possible for people to find out what was happening in their local Irish community too,” he added. “Businesses pay a small monthly fee to create a listing on the website, however this allows us to list charities, not-for-profits and sports teams for free. The aim is that we aren’t just finding customers for businesses, but also volunteers for charities and players for local teams.”

As well as running his own business Ciaran is also heavily involved within the Irish community,

Christmas Quotes....

Ciaran and Jacqueline McKeown

particularly with the Claddagh Association and the Ireland Western Australia Forum and from his experience is keen to ensure that anybody and everybody who would like to volunteer or become active in some way has the best opportunities to do just that.

• The High Court has ruled that they cannot have a nativity scene in Canberra this year. This wasn't for any religious reasons. They couldn't find three wise men and a virgin.

• When we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmas time. Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs?

• Christmas to a child is the first terrible proof that to travel hopefully is better than to arrive.

• Don't give me books for Christmas; I already have a book.

WHY? Because you deserve it!

d n a l e o Ir

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britishtravel.com.au

By Lloyd Gorman

ISTEACH SA TEACH

Diplomacy rather than politics is the order of the day

lowed by a one year term as Joint Director General for the International Fund for Ireland. After that he was off to Boston to serve as the Consul General for just over Diplomatic ties between Ireland and Austraila two years.

For the last 12 took an interesting turn last month with both nations months of so he has trading new ambassadors in October and cementing been stationed in relations between their respective governments. overseeing Regular readers of Irish Scene will remember that Dublin in the last edition outgoing Irish emissiary to Australia the security of Irish HE Breandán Ó Caollaí Noel White made Perth his last stopping point on a facilities and personand Carmel with bit of a farewell tour after spending more than four nel across the globe Embassy staff and related issues. years here, before returning to the Department of He hit the ground Foreign Affairs and Trade HQ in Dublin.

Mr White – who running recently and if memory serves will no doubt be in Perth before long meeting the locorrectly was a cal Irish community and other key players in WA. Mr Ó Caollaí preCarlow native – will sented his credentials be replaced by to Governor-General Breandán Ó CaolPeter Cosgrove on laí. Mr Ó Caollaí October 11, a function was named by the at which the Australian Irish government Royal Military College as his successor in HE Breandán Ó Caollaí and Carmel Band played a “great January 2016 but with Deputy Head of Mission, rendition of Amhrán Ms Sarah Mangan only stepped into Australian Ambassador and Second Secretary, na bhFiann” accordthe role officially in Mr Graham Hartnett Richard Andrew with President ing to a tweet sent out October. Like his Michael D Higgins by the Irish envoy on predecessor, he the occasion. Army also has responsibility for relations with other smallbands are a regular fixture at these ceremonies as er island nation states in the region, including New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the Solomon Is- Australian diplomat Richard Andrews found out lands. Canberra will not be Mr Ó Caollaí ‘s first rodeo. about a week later as he presented his credentials to He has been with the Department of Foreign Affairs the President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins. Mr Ansince 1989. His first posting as a diplomat was to the drews tweeted that it was “an honour and a privilge to present my credentials to President Higgins @ Irish embassey in PresidentIRL at Áras an Uachtaráin”.

Italy, a role he held Mr Andrews was confirmed as Australia’s for just over four new ambasssdor to Ireland on August 1 by Perth years, until 2002. based Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop. She His next overseas said the two countries enjoy a warm and friendly posting was to New relationship and in 2016 commemorated 70 years York as Consulate of diplomatic relations between them.

General between Australian Ambassador Richard Andrew “Our bilateral relationship is underpinned by 2006 and 2010 fol35

strong economic, historical and people-to-people links,” she said. “Today over two million Australians claim Irish ancestry. Economic ties between our countries are well established and in 2015, two-way goods and services trade was valued at $3.8 billion.

Our investment relationship is also strong. In 2015, Ireland’s investment in Australia totalled $18.4 billion and Australian investment in Ireland was $10.1 billion.”

Mr Andrews – a senior career officer in the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade – has some experience of the Irish neck of the woods, having served in the UK for a while. He has been a Minister (Political), Australian Embassy, Tokyo and as Counsellor, Australian High Commission, London.

He had earlier postings in Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur.

In Canberra, Mr Andrews was most recently Assistant Secretary, Mainland South-East Asia Bilateral Branch, and has previously served in the G20 Taskforce, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and as Executive Director, Economic Analytical Unit, DFAT. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Sydney and a Graduate Certificate of Public Sector Management from Griffith University.

Minister Bishop said she appreciated the service of his predecessor in the Dublin mission.

“I thank outgoing Ambassador Dr Ruth Adler for her important contribution to advancing Australia’s interests in Ireland since 2013.

by the gift and pleased to see research on aspects of Irish/Australian history.

The Archdiocese commissioned the books during the restoration of St Mary’s Cathedral, which was completed in 2009.

Originally from Ireland, Mr O’Brien has been applying his research skills to his work as a Heritage Advisor for the Town of Claremont and is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Western Australia on the relationship between the Catholic Church and government of Western Australia during the colonial period.

Meanwhile, Julie Bishop and her Irish counterpart Charlie Flanagan met at a summit in September.

Irish Foreign Affairs Minister The Irish embassy Charlie Flanagan and his put out this tweet: “23 Australian counterpart Julie Bishop September at 09:04 · Welcome to Facebook, Embassy of Ireland, Canberra. It may be our first year of Facebook relations but it’s 70 years of diplomatic relations! Great to see Julie Bishop MP and Charlie Flanagan catching up at the UNGA.”

Outgoing Australian Ambassador to Ireland Dr Ruth Adler and Odhran O'Brien in Dublin.

Dr Adler is pictured here with Irish born Perth author Odhran O’Brien, who presented her with a copy of the books published by the Archdiocese of Perth, showcasing the life of Archbishop Patrick Clune and Bishop Martin Griver.

The books provide a unique insight into the lives of Bishop Martin Griver (1814–1886) and Archbishop Patrick Clune (1864-1935), recalling the stories of faith, empire and social justice during the challenging early years of the local community in Perth and the Church in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Mr O’Brien said Ambassador Alder was delighted

HE Breandán Ó Caollaí and Carmel at the Irish Embassy in Canberra

36

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37

Scorn Not His Simplicity

The need for good friends!

Irish songwriter/performer Phil Coulter’s first son was born with Downs Syndrome, and several months later he wrote the song “Scorn Not His Simplicity” about his experiences with his son’s disorder.

A FRIEND PUT THIS UP ON FACEBOOK “I would just like to put this out there. If your kids are not around special needs kids at school and have never been taught that not everyone is the same, then maybe you could take a few minutes tonight to explain this to them, because even though they may not encounter kids with additional needs at school, they will come across them in the course of their lives.

In the light of recent events, such as the exclusion of a child who has autism from participating in a school trip and a child who has Downs Syndrome being kicked out of dance class because she couldn’t keep up, there is a real need to write this.

There are boys and girls that nobody invites to birthday parties for example. There are special kids who want to belong to a team but don’t get selected because it is more important to WIN than to include these children. Children with special needs are not rare or strange, they only want what everyone else wants - to be accepted!

Is there anyone willing to copy and paste this post to their wall without sharing it, like I did, for those special children out there?

They are no different to the rest of us, who are lucky enough to be born without the challenges that they must face every day.

I have a son who has never been invited to a birthday party, will never drive a car or take a girl out on a date. Our son has autism and can struggle to make sense of the world and gets really anxious which can lead to a meltdown. He cannot talk. He can’t help the way he is. We were only told recently that the criminal justice system has many kids like our son because an uncaring world doesn’t want to see or deal with them and their issues.

This frightens us as he gets older”.

See the child With the golden hair Yet eyes that show the emptiness inside Do we know Can we understand just how he feels Or have we really tried See him now As he stands alone And watches children play a children’s game Simple child He looks almost like the others Yet they know he’s not the same Scorn not his simplicity But rather try to love him all the more Scorn not his simplicity Oh no Oh no See him stare Not recognising the kind face That only yesterday he loved The loving face Of a mother who can’t understand what she’s been guilty of How she cried tears of happiness The day the doctor told her it’s a boy Now she cries tears of helplessness And thinks of all the things he can’t enjoy Only he knows how to face the future hopefully Surrounded by despair He won’t ask for your pity or your sympathy But surely you should care Scorn not his simplicity But rather try to love him all the more Scorn not his simplicity Oh no Oh no Oh no

Always try to be helpful if you know someone with special needs. Ask if they would like help with carrying their books or opening a door. Ask them to join you and your friends at lunch. It’s important not to be “overly helpful” when no help is needed. Why? Because just like you, kids with special needs like to be as independent as they can be. Being friendly to kids with special needs is one of the best ways to be helpful. As you get to know them, they may help you understand what it’s like to be in their shoes. And you’ll be helping fill a very special need, one that everybody has — the need for good friends.

Fred Rea 38

Dermot Hegarty celebrates 50 years in Music Ireland’s legendary ballad and folk singer Dermot Hegarty was born on October 6, 1940 in Longford. His father Andrew came from Donegal and married Longford native Josephine McHale and they started up a small 21 acre farm. Dermot had a varied job career before starting in the music business which would last for half a century. After leaving the local St. Mel’s College, he went for a short while to a college in Dublin. In Dublin at the age of 19 he started out as a door to door bible salesman and continued this in Germany eventually ending up in London.

It was in London Dermot started playing piano and singing Irish ballads. He returned to Ireland after his father passed away at 59 and helped to run the family farm.

Dermot got his big break into the recording business in 1967, with his debut record, Shores of Amerikay. It reached No. 4 in the Irish charts an soon he became a household name in Ireland and the UK. His biggest hit record came in May 1970 going to No.1 for 29 weeks… the song was Twenty One Years. In 1969 Dermot launched his own showband, The Plainsmen, and they were a great success in Ireland, the UK and America.

In 1973 Hegarty left the band to return to a solo career. He was replaced in the band by a country and Irish singer from Derry the late Brian Harkin. Dermot went on to play in Las Vegas for a week, but declined a contract to sing at the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas for a year.

He continues to play in Ireland, Canada, Spain, and in the UK where he now lives. Dermot also plays on cruise ships from time to time. He

Oliver’s great ‘Irish Showband’ music falls kindly to the ear!

Dermot Hegarty and Oliver McNerney in the early 70s.

is currently recording a new album in Ireland.

In September 1974 a song that he wrote and recorded, 19 MEN, was banned by RTE radio in Ireland.

The song was based on of the most successful and spectacular by 19 republican prisoners from Portlaoise Prison in the summer of 1974. During the early months of 1974, with over 120 republicans from north and south of the border imprisoned in Portlaoise, the prisoners began planning an escape.

At the end of June, following the discovery of an 80-foot tunnel in the prison, the number of Gardaí in the jail was increased and 26-County soldiers patrolled the outside of the jail. Undeterred by the discovery of the tunnel, the prisoners pressed ahead with another escape plan and 19 prisoners serving long terms of imprisonment, were selected to escape in mid-August.

For Dermot, back in the days of growing up in Longford, and trailblazing the rush of youth upon audiences, few realised or could have foreseen that he would have such great success and even he said, “was beyond my wildest dreams”.

His 50 years now as a performing artist still has no sign of letting up. To think that some felt it wouldn’t last twenty one years. I hope to interview Dermot on his my Saturday radio show on Capital Community Radio, 101.7 fm. I can be heard every Saturday from 6pm till 8pm, also on Perth Digital Radio and on line at www. capitalcommunityradio.com Oliver McNerney

39

Every Saturday from 6 till 8pm you can hear easy listening and middle of the road music and songs, as well as Irish singers and showband from the golden years of radio on Capital Community Radio 101.7fm with Oliver McNerney. You can also listen on the web and on capital digital www.capitalcommunityradio.com. Oliver tells us that all of the senior presenters and staff at Capital Radio are all volunteers, “Nobody gets paid”. Capital is the only station in Western Australia catering for seniors. “We play all the great golden oldies from yesteryear, from the 50s 60s & mid 70s, we also play music and songs from the 1940s”.

In an ear of Ipods and Ipads its good to know that one can listen to great music right here in Perth and when it is specifically dedicated to providing music and information to the Seniors of the Greater Perth area and beyond, all the better.

Oliver said, “We play wonderful music from those golden years of radio and a bonus, we also tell you what is happening in your local community”.

I read on one community radio station website that these days, “talk back” radio has reduced or completely removed the music content from many radio stations and numerous listeners to today’s radio usually have only two choices of radio programming - talk back, or music that they do not understand or enjoy. Hence, the unique sound of station’s like Capitol have carefully formulated to fill the void. The nostalgic sound of radio as it used to be heard from the 1940s to the 1970s. So it’s on the music and radio style of those years that Capitol mainly concentrates, with some attention given to music outside those parameters provided it is of good lyrical and melodic quality and of an evergreen standard which falls kindly on the ear.

Have a listen and send Oliver a request?

By Lloyd Gorman

e g d i fr

Ireland's a magnet for adventurers Taraustralis Two unusual trips led Aussie girl who goes by the handle of Taraustralis on the road to Ireland recently for an experimental visit of her own and an experience that would touch her in ways she didn’t expect. Tara Australis quit her job as a TV producer in Sydney earlier this year to find herself. As well as taking time out of her her professional career she also elected for a complete change of scene - and ended up in Ireland.

A keen blogger and user of social media she choose to see the country (largely) on two wheels for a couple of reasons. Her forum #AroundIrelandOnaPushie - the equivalent of a travel journal that anyone is welcome to read - explains the back story.

“A friend of mine told me his incredible tale about how he bicycled from Sydney to Melbourne for a wedding,” she writes. “He showed me the pictures, the route and he told me these incredible stories from the adventure. I sat there with a shocked look on my face, shaking my head thinking, “You’re nuts!”

I couldn’t believe the epicness of this journey – it was raw and it was something I had been craving for some time. Even thinking about it now, I still think his adventure is the coolest, craziest travel idea I have ever heard!.”

That mate - Ronan who she describes as a pretty cool cat - was in Ireland and she caught up with him at Cork train station. “He’s raced and sailed around the world on some of the most amazing yachts on this planet and also had a successful band called The Empire

Lights,” she added. “He’s a pretty ly and what I didn’t realise was this awesome dude. He’s also the guy little idea was helping me to heal who bicycled from Sydney to Meland grow. Here I was planning an bourne on a $50 bicycle for his epic adventure with no real reason mate’s wedding. Yep, this is the guy with absolutely no idea why I was who gave me the idea to bicycle doing it – but it felt right. So, this is #AroundIrelandOnAPushie.” who I was before planning #Aroun“I took (Ronan’s) story and dIrelandOnAPushie.” thought about it – a lot. I was doing Inspiration to free-wheel around a lot of reflecting all because of this Ireland also came from another amazing story. It seriously affected quarter. She calls him fridgeman. me. I thought about where I was goHer site includes clips of her talking, what I was doing and where I ing with Tony Hawkes, who twenwanted to be. I had a pretty rough ty years ago hitched and pitched trot the past year and was living in his way around Ireland carrying survival mode. I went to work, the a fridge. She said the trip changed gym, ate dinner and slept. Work. him forever and discovered that his Gym. Dinner. Sleep. Repeat. I was next outing was also going to injust going though the motions. I volve two wheels and a saddle. wasn’t sad about it; I was doing a “Not wanting to lose a £100 lot of fun things, too. I ran my first drunken bet, Tony took on the half-marathon, went on epic weekend adventures, canyoning, bush walks, did social media stuff for the ESA and NASA, but something was missing. I couldn’t put my finger on it. But, then I realised that #AroundIrelandOnAPushie gave me exactly what I needed. I am not a bicyclist by any means…. so I was basically starting from scratch. It was an investment, physically, mentally and financially Taraustralis and I wasn’t sure why I plans her Irish was investing in it. Betrip on two ing able to look back wheels the past few months and reflect, this was a prescription for my life. I could not stop thinking about bicycling Ireland. I was thinking about it dai40

challenge and hitch-hiked around Ireland with his £120 refrigerator,” she wrote on the eve of her expedition to the Emerald Isle.

“As someone who is about to embark on a similar journey…. less the drunken bet and £120 fridge, I thought it be best to consult the expert himself. Tony explained how the learning experience didn’t take place whilst on tour, but when he was actually started to write “Round Ireland with a Fridge.” He reflected on the experience that changed him, and like he said to me… “You can’t fail, unless you get killed.” Tony basically told me to keep my wits and to

have fun. “Your bike is like your fridge.” This bit really resonated with me. Tony said that it was OK not to stick with the plan.

It’s OK to leave your bike behind if you have to. “Things that go wrong are often things that create new friendships.” “There’s no such thing as something going wrong.” I asked about how I should manage that moment I start to doubt myself….

“Why am I doing this?” Is there anywhere else in the world where you can do this? Tony talks about his new adventure, Once Upon a time in the West Country where he cycled with a baby pig. How can you not love this guy!.”

Once she had made the decision that she was going - and where she was going - Tara kept her travels plans a secret. “I kept everything

to myself. I had been surrounded by the wrong people, so I basically stopped trusting everyone. It’s sad but true… I had be on high alert for so many years, that I stopped reaching out and sharing. I was just going though the motions of life. I’m a TV Producer by trade, so its very easy for me to just switch off and push though. I felt nothing. For the longest time, I wasn’t feeling emotions. I was just existing and living. #AroundIrelandOnAPushie forced me into trusting people again – it made me reach out and ask for help. It made me realise that people believed in me and it made me surround myself with the people that actually cared about me. It gave me something to live for – a goal. I am now about to do something that is much bigger than me – the biggest challenge of my life, in fact.

And this is the coolest scariest, most thing I have ever done.”

Her blog - which is easy to find on any search engine - plots the length and breadth of her two month long Irish sojourn that ended in October.

She arrived into Dublin but made a good fist of seeing a lot of the country, including visits to Kinsale, Galway, Cobh and Wexford.

This extract from her blog about the trip to Kinsale reveals a road to Damascus moment. “I’ve been in Ireland for an entire month and I’ve had an absolutely amazing time.

The hills aren’t that different than anything else I’ve experienced already on this adventure and to be honest, I have no dramas walking up hills. I get it. Sometimes you just gotta walk up them. That’s cool. But, out of frickin nowhere – up hills, down hills… whatever – I somehow became super emotional for no apparent reason. I think I need to have a long think about what may have set this all off – I also think it’s also really important to discuss this – like not just me, but anyone who’s having a rough time. What I’m trying to say is… It’s OK to talk to people. It’s OK to get emotional. It’s OK 41

that you don’t know what caused it, or even why for that matter. I’m not beating myself up. Sure it felt really weird. I had no idea why I felt the way I did. And that’s totally OK The landscape and views I experienced on my way to Kinsale were super gorgeous and ya know what, I cried over that. I walked up hills and I cycled down hills; I cried over that… I cruised the streets of Kinsale… yep cried… see the trend…

I seriously love aviators. They are fabbo at making you normal when you don’t feel it. And I still have no idea why I was all emotional. Then, later that night, I cruised around to a recommended Irish pub. This is where I saw one of the most gorgeous Irish sunsets I’ve ever seen….

I had a MASSIVE cry over by the water and I felt like crap. I didn’t want to cry… I wanted to be awesome, but I was crying.. uggghhhh…… I wanted my emotions to just stop.

It was getting super annoying but my body just needed this release.

Perhaps it’s been a build up of everything. It’s been a pretty amazing experience so far. The Irish people have been kind, the views have been gorgeous and everything has been fun. I am so utterly grateful. I know a lot of that came out in tears.

Thanks Ireland. The next day, I felt pretty exhausted – emotionally, physically and mentally. I went for breakfast… I didn’t feel 100% but I felt a lot better after a cup of coffee.

I was less of a zombie but for some

reason still felt really lost. It was so weird. Then, whilst bicycling back to Cork, I had one final cry in the middle of a country road in the middle of nowhere. Then, right on cue, the Irish skies opened up and I mean… OPENED UP, like monsooned all over me… There were MASSIVE rain drops. I let out the most massive roar – put my hands out and just let the rain pelt my face. It felt amazing. I laughed. I think what I’m trying to say in a very poorly written way: Sometimes things happen for reasons that you can’t explain. Sometimes, things happen that make you feel a certain way… and there’s no real answer. It’s OK not to know. Perhaps in the future I’ll know why, but right now I’m OK with what I experienced. It was kinda really cool. I feel really good right now. The rain soothed me. Perhaps Ireland needed a big cry, too.”

As well as clocking up quite a few road miles Tara also generated a lot of media interest in her exploits.

Tara wanted to be expose to the real Ireland so in addition to making pitstops at official and even some unofficial attractions - such as a guided tour of Facebooks European HQ in Dublin - she put out a call (through the site) that she would like to experience an Irish wedding and at least one invite was duly issued and accepted.

She also did a stack of traditional TV and radio interviews, including at RTE central in Montrose Dublin. And all the time she was putting updates on her facebook site. Its fair to say this Aussie adventurer squeezed a lot of fun and experience out of the little country on the other side of the world!

Stephen O’Sullivan 1/11/1940 – 10/09/2016

R.I.P.

Since our last edition we have lost a stalwart of our Perth Irish Community. Steve O’Sullivan was a proud Beara man, a great Corkman and an immensely passionate Irishman. 'Stevo' was given a fitting farewell by his sons at his funeral service in Fremantle. A keen golfer and a robust footballer in his time, Steve was a regular at the Gaelic football matches in Canning Vale and a great man for the banter! We will all miss him greatly. Slan Abhaile a Chara.

What shall I say about the Irish?

The utterly impractical, never predictable Something irascible, quite inexplicable Irish.

Strange blend of shyness, pride and conceit, And stubborn refusal to bow in defeat.

He’s spoiling and ready to argue and fight, Yet the smile of a child fills his soul with delight.

His eyes are the quickest to well up in tears, Yet his strength is the strongest to banish your fears.

His faith is as fierce as his devotion is grand, And there’s no middle ground on which he will stand.

He’s wild and he’s gentle.

He’s good and he’s bad.

He’s proud and he’s humble.

He’s happy and he’s sad.

He’s in love with the ocean, the earth and the skies.

He’s enamoured with beauty wherever it lies.

He’s victor and victim, a star and a clod, But mostly he’s Irish in love with his God.

To Mariette, Paul, Stephen and Ben and Vanessa and Steph and grandkids Neve, Rory and Elsie our deepest condolences.

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Local News of Interest from the Past

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

What’s in a Name?

F R E D

R E A

to, Ontario on 4th October 1852.

At the outbreak of the war with Russia, the Welch Fusiliers were among the first troops dispatched to the East. With their old comrades, the Royal Fusiliers, and the Duke of Wellington’s (33rd), they formed Codrington’s Brigade of the Light Division, with which they served at Scutari and in Bulgaria and proceeded to the Crimea.

Molloy was engaged at Alma when a company of his regiment was the first of the British troops to set foot on Crimean soil and exchange shots with the Russians.

Furthermore, a party from the regiment captured the first Russian gun on the heights of Alma. Molloy received his Crimea Medal with a clasp for actions at Alma, together with the Turkish Sultan’s medal. The regiment remained in the Crimea throughout the long siege of Sevastopol and assaults against the enemy in June and September 1855.

About a year after the regiment returned home, it was ordered out to China. However, intelligence of the outbreak of the mutiny in India was received while in the Bay of Bengal and the regiment’s destination was changed to Calcutta. Molloy served with the regiment in India for 13 months, but there is no record of him receiving a medal for action in the Indian Mutiny. He was promoted to Corporal once more in February 1860.

He was discharged from the Army in 1861 with a pension of one shilling and sixpence per day – a better pension than most – reflecting his 21 years of service, his rank and his four Good Conduct badges. By now the Molloy’s had two more children born in England: John in 1856 and Catherine in 1857.

by Diane Oldman

Let’s start with a quiz. What do these names have in common: Ahern, Brennan, Connolly, Delaney, Egan, Farrell, Gallagher, Hagan, Ireland, Jeremiah (struggling now), Kelly, Lynch, McMahon, Nolan, O’Connell (or O’anything really), Purcell, Quin, Reilly, Sullivan, Toole, U get the picture…?

You don’t get a prize for saying they are typically Irish, but I may be more generous if you said they all came to Western Australia as military pensioners and veterans of the Crimean War. I have currently identified 300 Crimean War veterans who arrived in our State post-1856. This is a moving total; I may have around 400 in the months to come. They came predominantly as part of the enrolled pensioner force, guarding the convicts on ships starting with the arrival of William Hammond in 1856 and ending with Hougoumont in 1868, the latter being the ship that brought 62 Fenian prisoners to our shores. Some of the men came here as prison warders in the Convict Establishment (later renamed Fremantle Prison); some came as policemen; many came as convicts. Fifty-two percent of these veterans of the war between allies Britain, France, Turkey and Sardinia against Russia, were of Irish origin.

“M” for Molloy

John Molloy was born c. 1820 in Gibraltar, Andalusia, Spain. Nothing Irish about his origins then – except that he was the son of an Irish soldier serving ‘on the rock’.

On 13th March 1838 in Dublin, Molloy enlisted in the 23rd Regiment of Foot – the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He signed on as Private #1316. His Army documents describe him as 5 ft. 6½ ins. tall, blue eyes, dark brown hair and a fresh complexion.

Private Molloy made an inauspicious start to his Army career, in April 1838 he was convicted of desertion at a District Court Martial, sentenced to eight weeks’ imprisonment and marked with a ‘D’. His sentence was remitted and he served only four weeks. He remained in England for three years and then joined his regiment in Canada.

He served in Canada for eleven years during which time he married Jane Curtis and was promoted to Corporal.

Just one month after his promotion he was busted back to a Private after a Regimental Court Martial and served two weeks in prison for an offence not stated on his War Office record. John and Jane’s son Thomas George Anstruther Molloy (after Jane’s father) was born in Toron-

B Y

News Published Every Two Months

Western Australia

Fourteen months after his discharge he boarded Norwood bound for Western Australia; he had joined the enrolled pensioner force. Jane and children travelled with him. Just over three weeks into the voyage, Molloy got into trouble - the Surgeon Superintendent’s Journal recorded: “During the forenoon, Corporal Molloy was reported by the Sergeant Major for use of insulting and provoking language to Acting Sergeant Graham. Offence clearly proved against him, sentenced him to have his Grog Stopped for 14 days, at the same time addressed the Guard relative to more particular attention to their duties.”

A Humble Legacy

In common with most of the enrolled pensioner force members, Molloy’s good news story in the Colony is mainly silent, while the bad news (a fine for abusive and insulting language in 1874 and his conviction at a District Court Martial and subsequent imprisonment in 1876) is there for all to see. He died on 21st April 1882 of a fever, seemingly without much of a legacy “……. and that the whole of the personal estate and effects of the 43

said deceased does not amount in value to the sum of Ten Pounds ……”

A humble legacy, except of course for his children, one of whom made a very large impact in his day which lingers on in the City of Perth.

John Molloy’s eldest son Thomas was ten years old when he arrived in Western Australia. His working career began as a teenager in the Co-operative movement. He spent a year or two in South Australia but returned to WA where his career flourished. He was a journalist with the Daily News and commercial manager of the West Australian. His road to real prosperity came when he became a real estate speculator and property developer. On Easter Money 1897 he opened Theatre Royal; it was the first purpose-built theatre in Western Australia.

‘Tommy’ Molloy (left) became a Perth City Councillor in 1884 and served almost continuously until World War I. He was Mayor of the City of Perth in 1908/9 and again in 1911/12. In 1892 he won a seat in the Legislative Assembly. However, his most enduring legacy was to be His Majesty’s Theatre. Built in 1904 at a cost of £46,000 the theatre was “a four storey ornately decorated Edwardian hotel and theatre. At the time of construction, Western Australia was experiencing the wealth, prosperity and security of a long running gold boom” (Perth Heritage website). For many years it had the largest theatre stage in Australia.

Diane Oldman

Sydney Mail (NSW: 1860 - 1871), Saturday 4 January 1862, page 4

LAMBING FLAT

A mob of Irish miners, known here as The Donegalers, have again been distinguishing themselves. Christmas and Boxing Day passed quietly, but on Friday morning a funeral row took place at Booth's public-house.

Sticks were soon brought into request, and three men were dangerously wounded. The police were soon on the spot, and made several arrests. Some of the prisoners were sentenced to two mouths' hard labour. Five others are in custody, charged with assault; the wounded not being able to appear, they were remanded. Since these disturbances various reports have been circulated with respect to other riots. Booth's public-house was threatened to be burnt down.

Applications were made to the bench by several storekeepers for police protection. The police force now on this field is ridiculously small. Every credit is due to the men for the way in which they have performed their arduous duties. During the last few days the streets have been patrolled at night, the mounted men being under the charge of Sir F. Pottinger, and the foot police under inspector Musgrave. These sights we have been used to here, and think nothing of them; but

Sydney dwellers would think they were surrounded by a very curious population, when it became neces-

sary to send troops and police fully armed to supress disturbances, which, if not done promptly, serious riots are certain to ensue. There is a determination here, on the part of a great number of Victorian miners, to suppress these riots that the Donegalers are accused of originating.

The police force ought to be increased, or you may be prepared to hear of further disturbances. The escort left with 2822 ounces gold and £690 in cash. The mining prospects of this place have much improved during the last few weeks. A very superior class of men are now coming on the field. Were it not for the scarcity of water at present our escorts would exceed any hitherto forwarded.

Researched by Fred Rea

Visiting Ireland?

Gerry & Elsie Tully will give a great welcome!

Sources Records and Badges of the British Army, Chichester & Burges-Short, 1900 Surgeon Superintendent’s Journal from Norwood, National Archives, Kew Norwood Pay List – reference WO22/226, National Archives, Kew Supreme Court of Western Australia Probate, State Records Office ref. Cons. 3458-1884-046 Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University My website http://crimeanwar-veteranswa.com

DIVINE MERCY BED AND BREAKFAST Airport Road, Knock Co Mayo Phone: (094) 9388 178 International: 0011 353 94 9388 178

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’ G da FROM MELBOURNE.

Pat Falvey

By Mike Bowen

This week let me give you a little oasis away from the troubles, of front-page tabloids; let’s have a laugh for a change. Rumors of his death are greatly exaggerated; no I’m not talking about Oscar Wild I’m talking about Robert Cowland. This is a case of bureaucrats gone stark raving mad; no not a little mad but loony loony loony!

A while back Robert Cowland’s mom Jenny, received a letter about the death of her 38 year old son Robert, from Vic Roads (our government department here in the state of Victoria who look after driving licenses, registration of motor vehicles etc.). As you can imagine the poor woman was distraught with the shocking news. Brian, Robert’s dad was also dumbfounded, as both parents were consoling one another with the tragic news. As all this anger and confusing is going on, guess who comes in the door but Robert, right as rain as alive as anyone can be with a smile from ear to ear.

Now double shock syndrome sets in, first the shock of hearing of the death of their beloved son, and then the shock of his reincarnation nearly sent the confused parents to an early grave themselves. Then almost two months later, poor Robert is at his wits end trying to convince the department of Vic Roads he’s not dead. The first letter Robert’s parent received cancelled the registration of his car and his driving license. Robert is an earthmoving contractor for over twenty years and obviously needs his license for his job. Robert wasted no time Joe with U2 painting in contacting Vic Roads informing

y

them of his good health and telling them that the news of his death was a bit premature. He assured Vic Roads that should death arrive unexpectedly or otherwise they would be first to know.

Now you would think that was the end of the matter but oh no, we are not dealing with logic here, this is a government department. Robert’s mom and dad receive a second letter confirming he is definitely dead and they, the department are requesting a transfer of registration of his car. Now this creates a lot of confusion in Robert’s family as they don’t know whether to mourn the loss of their son or celebrate his

reincarnation. Robert signs and returns the documents that Vic Road’s sent him stating he is still dead; I can’t make them believe otherwise he says.

Robert then takes himself along to the Vic Roads department a few days later, armed with his drivers’ license, birth certificate and statutory declaration as proof that he is still very much alive and well and could they kindly check his pulse to make sure that he’s not lying. So far he hasn’t received any correspondence from Vic Roads and as he says he is now driving without a license; but then again if you’re dead you can’t be prosecuted. The assumption here is Robert might very well be dead and buried before the department of Vic Roads sort out this embarrassing saga – bureaucracy gone bonkers!

Everyone needs a young nephew like I have; I won’t state his name, as he will be mortified when he reads this. He won’t have too much recollection of this conversation as he had had a few drinks under his

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

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belt at the time. Every time we speak on the phone he’s got a story of some sort. He’s a hoot. So he rings me after a day’s outing at the Mallow Races, now there’s no way that I couldn’t tell he had more than his fare share of liquid beverages.

How’s it going son? This is his opening comment again I should point out I’m 22 years his senior and he calls me son; yea I’m fine dad I reply I should be writing this in slow motion ‘cos that’s how this conversation went. Been to the races in Mallow today he mutters, I respond great! How did you do? His reply confuses me; I had a good first half with lots of celebration drinks but a bad second half. I tell him there is no first and second half in racing only in soccer, rugby or hockey etc to which he replies oh shite I must have turned up at the wrong venue he giggles. Oh well in that case I might apply for a refund. I had a bit of a mixed day really, it started off as a flyer I won three hundred Euro’s in the first half of the races, then I lost six hundred on the second half he tells me. I ask him why you didn’t leave when you were ahead. He replies I couldn’t leave; it was my shout at the bar. I tell him it’s a pity he didn’t stay in the bar as he might have had a bigger hangover tomorrow but he would have had at least, more money left in his pocket. Holy shite I never thought of that.

Now to make matters worse, he then changes the conversation and say’s one of his neighbours that he was talking to the other day, won sixteen million Euros in the lotto.

His neighbour thought the prize was only four million; now he’s twelve million better off than he thought my nephew says. Do you think he might flick me a couple of mill?

Now I have to be honest here if I was standing next to him and he was sober when he asked me that I would have hit him on the back of the head with a frying pan and hoped to knock some sense into him; but that’s what I love about my wacky nephew always teasing.

Rarely when we talk on the phone after one of his nights out do we ever have what you might call a sensible conversation? As I said in my opening lines so much tragedy these days it’s nice to get away from the doom and gloom and enjoy a bit of lunacy.

Hope I made you laugh if only for a moment.

Until next time be good to those who love you!

Be good to those who love you and Slainte from Melbourne Mike Bowen

Australian, Irishman and the 3 Cookies

An Australian and a Irishman go to a cake shop.

The Aussie whisks three cookies into his pocket with lightning speed. The baker doesn't notice. The Aussie says to the Irishman: "You see how clever we are? You'll never beat that!" The Irishman says to the Aussie: "Watch this, an Irishman is always smarter than an Aussie." He says to the baker, "Give me a cookie, I can show you a magic trick!" The baker gives him the cookie which the Irishman promptly eats. Then he says to the baker: "Give me another cookie for my magic trick." The baker is getting suspicious but he gives it to him. He eats this one too. Then he says again: "Give me one more cookie... " The baker is getting angry now but gives him one anyway. The Irishman eats this one too. Now the baker is really mad, and he yells: "And where is your famous magic trick?" The Irishman says: "Look in me Aussie mate's pocket!"

KAVANAGH CHR IS T M A S

CONCERT 2016 SUNDAY 11TH DECEMBER 7PM

RIXON THEATRE, PENRHOS COLLEGE, COMO FOR MORE INFORMATION EMAIL

kavanaghtickets@hotmail.com

46

HERITAGE

Australian-Irish Heritage Association 2016 New

Programme of events

Fourth Tuesday Book Club

Venue: Irish Club Committee Room, 61 Townshend Road, Subiaco Book for Nov: ‘The Green Road’ by Anne Enright Admission: Free. All welcome. Light refreshments provided excluding drinks. Coffee/ Tea from Bar December: No book club but Christmas Social on Tuesday 13th in Kensington, South Perth Contact Maureen on 9279 5959

The Board are restructuring the annual programme of events to adapt to changing needs of members. Some regular new year events will be discontinued while the popular Garden Festival of Irish Cinema will continue in February over 5 Wednesdays.

We welcome new members to continue our 23 years of celebrating Australia’s Irish Heritage and if you are interested in developing a project supporting our aims then please talk to us.

BRENDAN AWARD – Deadline for nominations 31 December 2016

Membership renewal is due 1 January 2016

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

It may be someone in your community whose service reflects favourably on Ireland and the Irish.

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

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

Recipient for 2015 was Joan Ross of The Claddagh Association who was presented at the Saint Patrick's Day Concert this year by Irish Ambassador Noel White.

Members enjoy a quarterly AIHA publication called The Journal as well as an extensive programme of events on historical, literary and social themes including talks, lectures, commemorations, festivals, competitions and awards

The Board of the AIHA wish all our members and readers of the Irish Scene a Christmas season steeped in the happy memories of a lifetime.

And memory, you have me spared A light to follow them Who go to Bethlehem

ANNUAL WRITER PRIZES 2016

The Joyce Parkes prize worth $500 was won by Kathy Prokhovnik of NSW. The Joe O’Sullivan prize of $1,000 was not awarded this year.

Best entries are published in the current edition of The Journal

(Concluding lines of Patrick Kavanagh’s ‘Christmas Eve Remembered’, 1939)

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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 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.

Since its publication in 2013, Hannah Kent’s first novel, Burial Rites has been translated into thirty languages and become an international best seller. It is now optioned for a Hollywood film. Hannah talks to John Hagan about her latest novel, The Good People, which is set in Ireland.

(See Book Reviews on following pages).

In Conversation JH: Your previous book (Burial Rites) was set in Iceland. This book (The Good People) is set in Ireland. What similarities did you find between the two countries?

HK: I initially started out thinking that there were few similarities between them, but when I was in Ireland I realized that they had a lot in common. I think the landscape struck me; I could see a lot of Iceland in the Irish landscape.

I spent a lot of time on the west coast of Ireland and I was really struck by the shoreline. But also, and more specifically in relation to the novel, I think one of the reasons I became interested in the folk wave and fairy law in Ireland is that it is also very much a part of Icelandic culture. I found that many of the stories I heard in Ireland, or I read about Ireland, had a lot of similarities to those of Iceland.

JH: How did you get on with the Irish language?

HK: My Irish friends, from Kerry, tried to teach me a few words. I lived in Iceland for 12 months and that was how I was able to learn Icelandic, but in Ireland I had a deadline and unfortunately didn’t have the opportunity to go and learn the Gaeltacht. If I had had my way I would have taken five years to write the book and to learn as much of the language as I could. I

think Irish is a beautiful language. You can learn it on this new app now called ‘Duolingo’, so I’m still trying.

JH: How long did it take you to write The Good People?

HK: When I’m asked this question I often include the daydreaming time, the time when ideas start percolating in the mind. The Good People is based on a true event which I came across in 2010, so I think in many ways I have been writing the book since then. In actual time, engaging in research, going to Ireland and then sitting down to do the hard graft of writing, it probably took me about two and a half years. I also wrote about another 50,000 words which I threw out when I discovered it was the wrong way to tell the story.

JH: Have you got any ideas in mind for the next book?

HK: I do have a few projects in mind. I haven’t set a book in Australia yet. I’m from South Australia and I know that on one side of my family I have Irish and Scottish heritage. On the other side I have a lot of German and Prussian heritage and a lot of my ancestors came and settled in the Barossa Valley. I really have tapped into that aspect of my history, so I’m thinking about that. I have an attraction to places like Iceland 48

and Ireland which also have such a dramatic and historical literary heritage.

JH: What did you most enjoy about Ireland while you were there?

HK: I was only there for about six weeks, not as long as I would have liked. Things I really enjoyed were the landscape which made a great impression on me. I was struck by just how much history was around and of course by the incredible scenery. The cliffs and the lakes took my breath away. The phrase, ‘It’s God’s own country’ comes to mind. The second thing I enjoyed was the people. It’s a difficult thing trying to become acquainted with a culture one is not familiar with.

Prior to going to Ireland I had emailed a lot of museum curators and academics thinking that I would probably be lucky if one or two got back to me, but every single one was more than happy to speak with me. I was also struck by the generosity of people and their love of storytelling and its place in Irish culture.

JH: What encouraged you to become an author?

HK: It probably started when I was

a kid. I loved reading and I think there must have been some point when the light bulb went off and I thought that maybe I could do that for a job. I think I was about six years old when I told my parents that I wanted to write.

So when growing up, when someone asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up, I’d say I wanted to be a writer, or a writer and a teacher, or a writer and a bricklayer, and yes, I did want to be a bricklayer once upon a time. Now, I think the main reason why I wanted to become a writer, irrespective of whether or not I publish a book, is because there is something incredibly magical about being alone with a pen, or with a computer, and basically engage in pure imagination, and having one other person read your work and being able to inhabit that same situation. There’s nothing else quite like it. I think there is a lot of magic about books that is universal, particularly in relation to historical fiction. Storytelling is something which is inherent in human nature.

JH: Burial Rites has been optioned as a movie. How is the project going?

HK: It’s still going.

Jennifer Lawrence [The Hunger Games] is committed to playing Agnes and I think it’s only a matter of scheduling. I know it’s going ahead, I’m not sure just when.

Book Reviews The Shardy Shamrock

by EAMON MURRAY Reviewed by JOHN HAGAN

As a student, one of my favourite authors was Richard Amour who was responsible for such literary gems as ‘Hamlet’, and ‘Macbeth’. And here’s you thinking that William Shakespeare wrote them!

Well, of course he did, it’s just that Amour somewhat altered, embellished and satirized the historical constructs of the Bard’s handiwork. I was again reminded of Amour’s humorous approach while reading Eamon Murray’s, The Shardy Shamrock.

In this, Murray’s first novel, we follow the exploits of hero, Coup Halloran, as he, and his followers, attempt to rescue the parts of the magic silver shamrock which have been dispersed far and wide by the evil, tyrannical, Oliver Crummywell. If only Halloran can restore the three leafs and the stem of the shamrock, good may again prevail over evil. It is a quest which not only involves 49

Halloran in some serious time travel, but also leads him on an intricate, and fantastical journey to search for the shamrock shards in Ireland, Scotland, America and Australia. Halloran is a veritable Doctor Who without the Tardis. Embodied in this humorous and zany novel are struggles between good and evil, freedom and tyranny, the oppressed and the oppressor. I especially liked Halloran’s sojourn on Craggy Island, where he locked horns with the scheming Father Ted, and his over attentive, masterchef, Mrs. Doyle.

This is a novel full of comedic and engrossing characters and situations, not to mention a plethora of ‘feel-good’ outcomes.

For someone who enjoys history, whimsy and a good belly laugh, this could be an appropriate stocking filler.

Author, Eamon Murray, who was born in the Andersonstown district of Belfast but now lives in Perth, was inspired to write The Shardy Shamrock thanks to the rescue of the Fenians from Fremantle by the legendary ship ‘Catalpa’.

The Shardy Shamrock, published by Austin Macauley, is available online http://www. austinmacauley.com/book/ shardy-shamrock

The Good People

by HANNAH KENT

Reviewed by JOHN HAGAN It’s Ireland in 1825. Norah Leahy lives in the remote River Flesk valley in Killarney and has just lost her husband and daughter during the previous twelve months. She is now caring for her four year old grandson, Micheal, who cannot walk or speak, and Norah, sensitive to the gossips in the valley, has tried to keep the child hidden. Despite her efforts, rumour is that Michael

is ‘a changeling’ – born of fairy stock – and is deemed responsible for the ill-luck which increasingly affects the valley. Norah hires fourteen year old Mary to help her cope with Micheal, and work on her smallholding.

Living nearby, is old Nance Roche who is said to possess the knowledge of ‘the Good People’, enabling her to use the plants and berries of the woodland to heal community ills. But is Nance a bean feasta (wise woman) or a cailleach (witch)? The new local priest, Father Healy, believes her to be the latter, denounces her from the pulpit and condemns her folkloric influences and superstitious practices. His opinion, however, does not deter Norah seeking Nance’s help to find a cure for Micheal. With an increasingly reluctant Mary in tow, Norah embarks on a final desperate venture to ‘drive the fairy’ out of Micheal, and be reunited with her ‘true’ grandson.

The Good People is a wonderfully detailed and descriptive book, full of evocative, rich, eloquent prose which faithfully captures the privations and beliefs of life in early nineteenth century Ireland.

Not only has Australian author, Hannah Kent, extensively researched and presented a profound literary novel in crisp, emotive, language, she has also faithfully captured the cadences, idioms, expressions and lilt of the Irish language. I was deeply affected by her thoughtful, expressive prose and sensitive observations, as she launched me into an intense, emotional, roller-coaster ride. While Kent’s tale is a work of fiction, it is based on true events, with characters presented in seemingly effortless

detail as engaging, complex and complete. There is no room for disbelief as their lives are insightfully described and their fates sealed. I am now, thanks to Kent’s research, more aware, and appreciative, of the part plants and herbal cures played in rural Irish life, together with the beliefs abroad in early nineteenth century Ireland. I can’t help feeling that in many instances the ‘cure’ seemed worse than the affliction. Terrifying, thrilling and moving, The Good People is an absorbing, highly recommended read, and a seminal follow up to Kent’s previous international best seller, Burial Rites.

The Good People, published

by Picador Australia. $ 32.99

Nine Folds Make a Paper Swan

by RUTH GILLIGAN Reviewed by JOHN HAGAN

One of the most captivating, and perhaps least heralded, of Ireland’s many fine museums must be the Irish Jewish Museum.

Situated in an unassuming red-brick terrace on Dublin’s Walworth Road, I first visited this ‘little Jerusalem’ in 1990, and was immediately intrigued to learn of the contribution Jews made to Irish history and culture. In our rich literary tradition, the most famous Jew was undoubtly Leopold Bloom, whose day long meanderings continue to bask in 50

international acclaim. In this, her fourth book, Irish author, Ruth Gilligan, also focuses on Jews in Ireland, but does so over a much longer time span than that of our redoubtable Ulyssean hero.

Gilligan deftly, and elegantly, weaves together three narratives which span the twentieth century.

The first focuses on the Goldberg family who, fleeing from Lithuania in 1901, accidently leave their ship in Cork, believing they have arrived in New York. We follow the fortunes of Ruth, the second of Moshe Goldberg’s two daughters, as she and the family attempt to settle down in their new environment. Ruth enthusiastically tries to adapt to Irish life and customs, but despite her best efforts she is never quite allowed to feel ‘at home’, either in the Irish community or amongst her fellow Cork Jews.

The second storyline, set in the 1950s, features 18 year old Shem, who has been speechless since he was 12, following his disastrous bar mitzvah. Committed to an Irish asylum by his father because of his silence, Shem is called upon to surreptitiously record the memoirs of the elderly, Alf, another Jew, who lost his legs during the war. Shem’s narrative is perhaps the most absorbing of the three as he rails against the outrageous visiting psychologist, the institution, and the nuns who run it, in an attempt to again be reunited with his beloved mother, who is about to abandon him.

The third cadenza introduces Aisling, a present day Irish immigrant to London. Here she works as an obituary writer for a newspaper, and faces the dilemma of whether or not to convert from Catholicism to Judaism in order to marry her partner, banker and amateur magician, Noah. Just how great a part, if any, does religion play in her life, and how much is Aisling willing to change? Despite being fascinated by the Jewish

religion and traditions, Aisling remains somewhat satisfied, and comforted, by her own Catholic rituals.

This is an ambitious and enjoyable (I laughed out loud at Shem’s observations of the Irish) novel with several themes linking the voices of the three characters.

All are struggling to find their place in the world, and each of them is searching for their own identity, fulfillment and cultural belonging. Gilligan demonstrates a fine grasp of Jewish tradition and beliefs and assuredly addresses the difficulties of migrants adapting to a new sense of place. Gilligan is a fresh, new, inventive voice in Irish literature and I look forward to her next novel.

Nine Folds Make a Paper Swan is published by Atlantic Books. $29.99

two young adults delve into their past and transformed it from a confused knot of shadows and secrets into one they could accept.

"Told with compassion and humour, this story is a refined perspective of childhood suffering and endurance, wrapped in strong themes of alcoholism, poverty, neglect and abuse. It gives a searing account of the systems and authorities of the 1960s. This book is an act of resilience in and of itself."

Commended, Best Creative Non-Fiction, Australasian IP Picks 2009.

Books cost $27.95 and are available from Kidogo Arthouse or from the author’s website www.margoobyrne.com.au This is a wonderful read and a great gift for Christmas!

Left Unsaid The Most

by Margo O’Byrne ...a triumph of sibling love over parental neglect and institutional care Left Unsaid by local Perth writer Margo O'Byrne is a memoir about the growing up years of Margo and Micko O’Byrne. Their father emigrated from County Wexford to Queensland in 1948, but died tragically when the children were young. His wife, Jean, took to the drink and the little family struggled from one disaster to the next until the State intervened and the children were sent to Nudgee orphanage.

The truth of their childhood story was hidden and lied about until years later, living in Western Australia, when their mother disappeared. That’s when these

Fearless and Gallant Soldier I Have Ever Seen

By Ian Loftus

This first biography of Martin O’Meara VC, Australia’s only Irish-born Victoria Cross recipient of the First World War, is now available.

The book trace’s Martin’s life from a young man growing up in rural County Tipperary, through his early years labouring on railway construction projects in South Australia and Western Australia, his wartime service in Egypt and on the Western Front with the 16th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force, and his subsequent breakdown and life in mental hospitals in Perth after the war.

This book would make a great Christmas gift for and is available

51

to purchase by clicking here. It is also available from the Army Museum of Western Australia at Fremantle, the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, and from Boffins, Perth’s best specialist bookshop.

The book can also be purchased directly from author.

Ian Loftus Perth, Western Australia +61 417 674 974 ianloftus@gmail.com www.ianloftus.com

Irish Lives in the Western Australia Police

by Peter Conole

Peter has over 400 publications to his credit on various subjects.

Irish Lives in the Western Australia Police is his twelfth book. All of the sections in the book were previously published in the journal Irish Scene between the years 2008-2013. They have been drastically revised and expanded for present purposes.

It is a wonderful read and insight into Irish lives in the Western Australian police in the 1800’s and early 1900s.

The book is available from Fremantle Prison Gift Shop, Royal WA Historical Society in Nedlands, Serendipity Books, 256 Railway Parade, West Leederville or from the publisher on 0418 943 832.

It is said that Folk Music itself is a window to other cultures and eras past. It is always evolving, being influenced and influencing.

By soaking up different music and lyrics you are exposing yourself to valuable insights and creative directions that have shaped all you hear today.

The people you meet in the Folk Music world are a hugely varied, hugely passionate, hugely friendly group. Folk Music gives you a reason to meet people from all walks of life. It bonds people through a common interest, a shared goal, a nice telecaster, an impressive left foot… whatever. Many great life-long friendships have been created by regularly attending Folk sessions.

So, it’s a great way to meet some incredible people.

If you have an instrument, so you can play or sing whatever you want. When ones performs original songs at a folk club you are singing your lyrics so you can say whatever you want about whatever you want, you will have a listening audience. Music is an art, so just like an artist can paint his/her emotions onto a canvas; musicians can play a piece in an individual and expressive way. This gives you an individuality, a freedom and an outlet like no other.

It was Vin Garbutt that said one time that those who attend folk clubs are so lucky, they get to hear what the mainstream will never hear.

HILLS FOLK CLUB

The Hills Folk Club is held in the historic Falls Farm Cottage on Neil Tonkin Park, Lesmurdie. The Club was involved in the restoration of the Cottage in 1985 and is delighted with the ambience and wonderful acoustic qualities which the Cottage provides. Audiences also appreciate the pot belly stove in the winter.

The Hills is a friendly club run by Peter Murphy, Kevin Saunders and Pauline Tonkin. While Folk Music is prominent on the programme, all genres of acoustic music are welcome. Irish music is always popular at the Club. They particularly encourage young performers, offering them a small venue to perform in front of a supportive audience.

The Hills Folk Club organised the music programme for Falls Farm’s 100th Birthday Celebrations in 2011. When Sean Doherty and the Junior Comhaltas Fiddle Players performed it had special significance as fiddler Ciara Sudlow’s family owned Falls Farm in 1924.

Everyone’s favourite Irish singer Sean Roche will be back at the Hills Folk Club on Friday 2nd December at 8pm.

Enquiries: Pauline Tonkin-Saunders 9291 6026

52

World’s Oldest

Stuntman

By John Vukovich

I am second cameraman in a team filming the adventures of the Fenian, John Boyle O’Reilly (J.B. O’R) in the Bunbury region in the mid 19th century.

On Saturday we were shooting a scene where J.B.O’R launched a wooden dinghy at Buffalo Beach to row out to a Yankee whaler which was arranged to pick him up. The whaler sailed past him, the captain claiming he wasn’t seen, and J.B.O’R rowed back to the beach understandably upset.

The young fellow playing J.B.O’R (Lachlan) had no nautical experience so the director (Peter) asked me to stand in for him when the dinghy was being rowed out through the surf and back. Peter commented that it would add drama to the scene if the dinghy capsized when trying to land back at the beach but he didn’t ask me to deliberately capsize.

The scene was shot with Lachlan climbing into the dinghy at the water’s edge and then cut while we changed clothes and I boarded the dinghy and rowed out through the surf.

The surf was starting to stand up a bit and I had to row strongly to climb up over the waves with the dinghy nearly vertical. Eventually I was past the surf and a camera drone was sent out to film me rowing a way off-shore before I turned around to row back through the surf.

I managed to charge in on two waves by rowing hard but the third was steeper and tipped the dinghy over me in the shallows which were rocky. The borrowed dinghy was luckily unscathed and I was only slightly dented in a couple of places.

The team rescued me and the dinghy including contents and all were very pleased at the dramatic finish while at the same time relieved that there had been little damage. Kim, the first cameraman/editor, commented that I would have an extra mention in the credits as stunt-man. Lachlan Googled on his phone to find the world’s oldest stunt-man and was informed

that a 70 year old Englishman held that title. As I pipped him by 11 years, the team promptly awarded me the title.

The John Boyle O’Reilly Association announces that the 2017 Weekend will take place on Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th March 2017 as this is a busy weekend in Bunbury we advise people attending to book accommodation as soon as possible.

Futher details will come soon when plans are finalised.

Frank Murphy presents

Support our Advertisers

107.9fm Fremantle Radio Saturday 8am to 10am IRISH MUSIC • INTERVIEWS • LOCAL & IRISH NEWS 53

By Lloyd Gorman

TeleStationTeleNation Vikings, Celts, Bushrangers, Comics and Foodies galore

Season two of the hilarious Catastrophe started back on SBS on September 1. This boy meets girl story of American ad man Rob Norris (Rob Delaney) and Sharon Morris (Sharon Horgan) is very much aimed at an adult audience who can appreciate its insights. The pair live in London and have two children, including their baby daughter Muireann - whose Irish name confounds everyone but her parents and Irish grandparents to say.

On September 9, Channel 9’s

Extreme Homes took us inside the Ranelagh home of architect Ciaran McCoy and his wife Enid Bebbington. They turned a semiderelict shell of a traditional red

brick Victorian terrace house they bought in 2011 into an amazing state of the art and very cool home for their family.

The next day on SBS Irish actress Dervla Kirwain - aka Assumpta Fitzgerald from Ballykissangel - was the subject of Who do you think you are? She learns more about a blood line connection to Michael Collins and even discovers that an unfortunate episode in her family’s past has become immortalised in James Joyce’s Ulysees.

The first of a three part series about The Celts screened on SBS on September 11. This series looked at the story of this fearsome but interesting race as a European phenomenon occasionally touching on their influence in Ireland.

Ireland got a couple of mentions on the ABC’s Q&A episode of September 12. One reference was by a panel member about the same sex referendum in Ireland while the other came in the form of a tweet or text sent to the programme which 54

was displayed across the screen.

The message read: “At one stage Pauline Hanson would have complained Australia was being swamped by Irish”.

Also that night, but over on Channel 7, the new season of

Mrs Brown’s Boys was back, which would have thrilled the show’s fans no doubt.

On September 13 on ONE the 2003 film Ned Kelly was screened again.

With the late (and great) Perth actor Heath Ledger in the role of Kelly this is very much a movie that tips its hat to the Irish heritage of the Kelly clan and is an excellent flick in its own right. Ireland’s unhealthy addiction to sugar came under the spot light in the documentary Sugar Crash on SBS on September 22.

In this hard hitting and worrying probe Dr Eva Orsmond investigates Ireland’s sugar over-consumption and the shocking cost of a sugar

habit: hospital admissions, longterm illness and premature death.

Dublin (Swords) stand up Ed Byrne’s Crowd Pleaser was on ABC2, on October 1. For more than an hour the one man show delivered laugh after laugh.

More laughs on ABC four days later on the excellent QI. Up and coming Irish comic Aisling Bea from Co. Kildare was a team mate with Tony Hawks, the man who 20 years ago honoured a pub bet and toured around Ireland - with a fridge (also see page 40/41). During a discussion about food QI host Stephen Fry - whose intellect and knowledge is something to behold - said that the potato was for a long time seen as an aphrodisiac because of the impact it had on stabilising and then increasing the Irish population - before the Great Famine.

It is three years since Philomena hit the big screen and on October 7 it was back on the small screen,

on SBS. It is always amazing how much attention a film can attract to such a subject. The film is the story of Philomena (Judi Dench) who in 1952 as a teenager has a baby out of wedlock and is sent to a convent where she lives with her son until as a toddler the nuns put him up for adoption in America. Philomena spends the rest of her live wondering about and searching for her lost son and eventually with the

help of a former TV journalist Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan) discovers what happened to him, how the church blocked her attempts and that her child died only a few years before she discovered his identity. It is a very powerful and realistic story based on Sixsmiths book ‘The Lost Child of Philomena’.

Dench is perfectly cast for the role and she told Graham Norton on his talk show once that she had an affinity for Philomena as her own mother (Eleanora Olive (nee Jones) was from Dublin and had met her Dorset born father Reginald Arthur Dench while he was studying medicine in Trinity College and the couple went on to live in Dublin for some time.

The Famine popped up again on October 10, on SBS, but not in the type of show you might expect. Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll is the story of an American band on the brink of making it big but of course nothing goes smoothly in show business.

Anyhow, a sub plot to the main story is about a full blown musical (not sure if its meant to be Broadway or off Broadway) about the Irish Famine called ‘Feast’.

From what we get to see of it the show actually looks fairly good, the kind of production you might actually see getting put on for American audiences to mark an anniversary of the Great Hunger.

The Siege of Pinchgut is a 1959 British thriller shot in Sydney, with the bulk of the film filmed on Fort Dennison in Sydney Harbour. The small island with a Martello tower on it - the only one ever built in Australia and the last one ever constructed in the British empire - takes its name Pinchgut from the fact a Dublin killer, deported to Australia and who struck again, 55

was allowed to starve to death and his corpse left there as an example to others. The black and white film has an Irish connection of its own. A prison escapee plans to use the artillery cannons on the island as a threat to fire on Sydney if he is not given a fair trial. The gang of criminals take the island including some of its inhabitants including the character played by Dublin born Gerry Duggan - who is a relation of Irish Scene’s own Jack Cullen.

The terrorist attempt fails, even though the convicts never had the chance to access the shells they would have needed to carry out the threat.

Lyndey Milan’s Taste of Ireland October 15 on the Food Channel

- really does get around. On this occasion she was cooking duck breast with Madeira sauce as a tribute to the chef and food of the Titanic. In that vein, this episode was filmed in the actual room of Harland & Wolf in Belfast where the head chef would have prepared for the doomed voyage.

Later that day on GEM a short travel programme took us on tour around Doolin and surrounds as well as the Cliffs of Moher, including by boat. Anyone who knows this neck of the woods will know how beautiful and spectacular it is and those who don’t will be in for a treat if they ever go.

Graham Norton’s talk show frequently has a strong Irish flavour and the show on Channel Ten on October 21 was no exception. Mullingar (Westmeath) boy and One Direction’s Niall Horan shared the couch with Co. Roscommon comic and actor Chris O’Dowd and the two

resident, started talking about being at a friends wedding. The groom got up to make his speech and asked all the guests to stand up. Anyone without a red dot at the bottom of their plate could sit down he said, leaving eight blokes standing and curious what it was all about. They had all slept with his wife while he was engaged to his fiancé the groom announced as he walked out of the room, demanding an annulment.

This yarn - a true story - sent the internet and social media into meltdown as it went viral.

Here’s hoping Christmas will have a lot of good programmes and shows and some Irish content to offer. One hit to keep an eye out for is the return of Vikings on SBS.

seemed to bounce well off each other. But the best part of this show came last when audience member Donegal man Sean McInerney took to the famous Red Chair to tell a story.

Sean, originally from Letterkenny but then a London

CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH & DINNER 12-3pm

Great Food • Great Music Great Craic

Hours: Mon 7:30am–3pm Tues 7:30am–3pm Wed 7:30am–9pm Thur 7:30am–9pm Frid 7:30am–Late Sat 7:30am–Late Sun 7:30am–Late

4-7pm

Sunday 25th December 2016

4 Course Menu $75

• Welcome Drink • • Christmas Carols • • Christmas Gift for everyone from Santa • • Spot Prizes • (Drinks packages available)

1238 Hay Street West Perth Phone: 0449 168 667 56

The

Celtic Club • Perth •

• BAR • • R E S TA U R A N T • • FUNCTIONS

Celtic Club Forecourt Launch

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48 Ord Street, West Perth, WA 6005 9322 2299 celtic.club@bigpond.com www.celticclubperth.com

What a great evening!!!

Thank you everyone who attended and also for the amazing feedback.

The weather was perfect and allowed us to show off this outstanding facility to its best.

Club President Bob Johnston welcomed everyone and thanked them for coming.

The Club is very excited about the rejuvenated area and invites members to make enquiries about using the facility for their events and parties.

The perfect location for a summer function

Start enjoying this great Club and become a member today!

Tony and Veronica McKee PO Box 994 Hillarys WA 6923

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

Tel (08) 9401 1900 • Fax: 9401 1911 • Mob: 0413 337 785 57

“Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustained him through temporary periods of joy."

William Butler Yeats quotes (Irish prose Writer, Dramatist and Poet. Nobel Prize for Literature in 1923. 1865-1939)

When you need help - get Cabhrú

Being left to fend for themselves is something that Irish migrants who hit a rough patch or get bogged down in issues are accustomed too when they leave Ireland. Whatever about your chances of getting support locally where they find themselves it has traditionally been a case of out of sight and out of mind for the experts and authorities that might be able to offer some shred of solace.

A service being trialled in Australia aims to change all that and keep open a meaningful link with Ireland. Cabhrú - which means help or support in Irish - is a new counselling service which could make all the difference to a lot of Irish people who need a helping hand and shoulder to cry on when they are far away from family and friends. To be effective any counselling service has to be accessible and available and Cabhrú has the best of both. It is a free online service - go to helplink.ie - that runs in the evenings seven days a week with users able to get six free appointments.

Cabhrú was launched on September 10, World Suicide Prevention Day, for the Irish abroad.

It is the result of a collaboration between Helplink.ie - a national, non-profit organisation that provides mental health and other social services for free or at low costs - the Gaelic Athletics Association (GAA) with the official backing of the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Dublin based Crosscare Migrant Project - which works with Irish people leaving Ireland to live abroad and those coming back to Ireland having been away - is also involved.

“The idea for providing counselling to Irish citizens abroad originally came from Helplink’s counsellors and members of its board,” said Lochlann Scott, Founder and CEO of Helplink Support Services.

“Some of our clients who had been availing of counselling while in Ireland were able to continue their regular appointments when they went abroad for work because of Helplink’s online counselling service”. Mr Scott continued “When we, as an organisation, analysed current and previous research in the area of mental health and emigrants we found that they

are very unlikely to make use of counselling services in their @ HelplinkSupport #helpfromhome @HelplinkSupportServices adopted country of residence. The research also illustrated that some of those who did attempt to engage in mental health services abroad reported many barriers, including encounters with culturally unaware counsellors, which made the counselling process more difficult”.

Helplink has been providing thousands of counselling appointments online or by phone nationwide for the past five years and they will now be providing these services internationally. The support organisation has plans to expand the Cabhrú service to other countries such as Canada, the U.S.A. and the U.A.E in the future.

To do this it is looking for companies and corporations to help fund and spread the initiative.

Cabhrú has also set up a Thunderclap, a completely safe website that allows people to pledge to Tweet or post a Facebook message all on the same day and at the same time. To register for Thundercalp go to http://thndr.me/ UREwxU and choose either ‘Support with Twitter’ or ‘Support with Facebook’ (or both!) or use the hash tag #helpfromhome when referring to Cabhrú on social media.

NEED A HOME LOAN?

Call Nik Silsby on 0402 284 594 Lic No 387131

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nsilsby@loanscafe.com

WEEKLY IRISH TRAD MUSIC SESSION

Seán Doherty Branch

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

Page Sponsored by: Reid’s Bootmakers

Congratulations to the New Committee for 2016/17:

EVERY TUESDAY AT THE IRISH CLUB

Comhaltas Perth meets on Tuesday nights.

Come and learn a tune.

7pm in the committee room or join in the session. You don’t have to be a member of Comhaltas to join in.

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

President: Yvonne Jones Vice President: Kevin Giang Treasurer: Brendan Doherty PRO: Fiona Secretary: Dympna Finch Committee: Max Arul, Kathleen Kearns, Chris Horgan & Colin Henley

Christmas Wind-Up 2016

Christmas Windup will be at the Irish Club on Thursday 15 December 2016 from 7.30pm until 10.30pm. Come along for a great free night of music and fun while recognising all of the hard work of the teachers and volunteers over the past year especially Sean Doherty as usual who gives up a lot of time at home also to teach children.

Happy Birthday Sean & Ray

Move to Tuesday at Irish Club:

Comhaltas has changed from Mondays due to the Irish Club closing on a Monday.

Comhaltas is now on Tuesdays with lessons starting at 7pm and the session starting at 8pm.New club closing times on Tuesdays is 9pm.

Dympna Finch

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

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land of

&

honey This Other

Every now and then, throughout life, you get a little glittery surprise.

It happened to me just a few weeks ago. I was heading for a four day trip to Tasmania to catch a performance. Grandmothers do these sorts of things happily. It was a first visit. All my life I had heard of the darkness, the cruelty and the sheer loneliness of our people who had been transported there. A dark windswept place, I thought, buffeted by gales. Van Diemen’s Land - there be Dragons. Not a great way to start a break, one must admit.

As the plane swung low over Hobart I got a view of what must be one of the loveliest approaches to an airport in the world. A little bump and we were down. No air corridor to the plane, down the ramp and across the tarmac we trailed and suddenly I sniffed it - air - with a capital A. Clean air with a little bit of damp - Island air. My skin took a deep breath of recognition.

In three days, thanks to good friends, I fell under the spell of this special island. We went to the top of Mt Wellington and made snowballs in bright sunshine!! Around a corner and there was Clew Bay and

Ireland

Co. Mayo spread out before me. At that stage I was starting to feel at home. We did the Mona Museum Malcolm Turnbull would love it. It is Innovative in the extreme but scary and interesting - I would not want to be locked in. Next day we took off for the Huon Valley and that was truly memorable. I had another bout of homesickness but recovered, there were intricately winding up and down roads through tree lined hills. In the distance were purple mountains- the same purple that every Irish painter from Jack Yeats down had painted. All round the hills were dotted farm houses in pastures where contended cows were roaming in green fields. There were acres of apple orchards starting to show signs of life and somewhere a cock crowed. Every ten or so miles there was a little village with interestingly old buildings - Ned Kelly Buildings. Lovely welcoming cafes with homemade cakes and pies seemed to abound and I have never seen so many churches of every denomination in my life.

Religion wise they are spoiled for choice. There are obviously many roads to Heaven and Hobart had covered all of them.

By the end of the day I was never leaving the place!! So like Ireland I was having a serious bout of nostalgia.

We had a wonderful fish meal at Carnelian Bay and the seafood

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chowder was as fresh as Doolin see more nostalgia-.cannot get away from it. Then we ended it at The Concert Hall with The Tasmanian Symphony playing The Planets.

Suddenly it was over and as I trailed my roll - on case across the tarmac to the distant plane it started to mist - lovely soft Island Mist - much better than Estee Lauder for your skin and far less expensive.

Now I know every Eden has a serpent and I am sure there are days when everything is storm tossed and I know also that our convicts had no time to admire the scenery and love the place but please God someone of them found some life and peace there. All journeys are enhanced by friendship and this one surely was. I would have missed so much without Julia and Brian. I know one thing for certain I am a Small Island person.

If I was younger I would have great plans for The Blaskets.

Sally Desmond

My wonderful hosts Carnelian Bay Brian and Julie Corr

At this time of year we look forward to Christmas and the Aussie summer, but it is also time to reflect on the year just gone. As most would know, it has been a tough year for the Irish Club, but we are still here and I would like to thank the Irish community for your support over the last 12 months.

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

Join us for a

Our Christmas function is on December 2nd and we would love to see a big turnout to mark the start of the festive season. We will be having a break from trading over the New Year period, but look forward to a positive start when the doors reopen in 2017.

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas, safe travels to those heading home or away, and a fabulous year in 2017 for you and your families!

Sean Daly, President

Eat, Drink and be Merry Friday 2nd December 2016 at the Irish Club 8pm 61 Townshend Road, Subiaco

ED L IM IT S ET T IC K

Live Music with The Hold and 2 course Christmas Dinner Santa will be there!

Christmas Singalong Spot Prizes - Raffles Best Christmas Hat Prize

ch

$49 OeaK

It will be some craic!!!!

BO Y EARL

Bookings Essential. Ticket Only Event 9381 5213

Pie & Pint Night Every Thursday

A prosperous and happy Christmas to you!

And thank you for your continued support.

From the President, Committee, Volunteers and Staff of the Irish Club

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

Functions & Fundraisers Contact Club:

Live music from 7pm.

Nollaig faoi shéan is faoi shonas duit.

Tel: 93815213

Irish1@irishclubofwa.com.au

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

IRISH CLUB SENIORS

SENIORS’ LUNCH

FREE TEA & COFFEE

available upstairs every night

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

Lunch at 1pm.

Bookings 9381 5213

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

The 2016 Perth Premierships were held on Saturday 27th August at the Morley Recreation Centre followed by the WA State Ceili & Figure Dance Championships on Sunday 28th August.

Congratulations to this year’s Champions:

2016 Perth Premierships Results Australian Intermediate Premierships U 9yrs Champion - Sahara Donelan (Ceide/Upton) U 11yrs Champion - Stefanie Scott (Kavanagh Studio) 11yrs & Over Champion - Erin Muir (Kavanagh Studio) Open Premierships U 10yrs Champion - Isabella Campeotto (WA Academy) U 12yrs Champion - Caoimhe McGuigan (Ceide/Upton) U 14yrs Champion - Tara Collis (Trinity Studio) U 16yrs Champion - Nancy Holohan (Kavanagh Studio) U 18yrs Champion - Dakota Courtney (O’Brien Academy) 18yrs & Over Champion - Shannon Kennedy (Kavanagh Studio)

Irish Dancing Association Inc.

2016 WA State Figure & Ceili Championships Wall of Limerick U 8yrs - O’Hare School U 10yrs - O’Hare School 4 Hand Ceili’s U 10yrs Girls - 1st Kavanagh Studio U 10yrs Mixed - 1st WA Academy U 12yrs Girls - 1st O’Hare School U 12yrs Mixed - 1st Kavanagh Studio U 15yrs Girls - 1st Trinity Studio U 15yrs Mixed - 1st Wa Academy U 18yrs Girls - 1st Kavanagh Studio Open Age Girls - 1st Kavanagh Studio Open Age Mixed - 1st Ceide/Upton 8 Hand Ceili’s U 8yrs Girls - 1st Ceide/Upton U 10yrs Girls - 1st Kavanagh Studio U 10yrs Mixed - 1st WA Academy U 12yrs Girls - 1st Ceide/Upton U 12yrs Mixed - 1st Kavanagh Studio U 15yrs Girls - 1st Ceide/Upton U 15yrs Mixed - 1st WA Academy U 18yrs Girls - 1st Kavanagh Studio Open Age Girls - 1st Kavanagh Studio Open Age Mixed - 1st Ceide/Upton 6 Hand Ceili’s U 10yrs Girls - 1st Kavanagh Studio U 10yrs Mixed - 1st WA Academy U 12yrs Girls - 1st Kavanagh Studio U 12yrs Mixed - 1st Kavanagh Studio U 15yrs Girls - 1st Kavanagh Studio U 15yrs Mixed - 1st WA Academy

Own Choreographies U 8yrs Reel in Couples - 1st Ceide/Upton U 10yrs Reel in Couples - 1st Kavanagh Studio U 15yrs Girls Reel in Couples - 1st Ceide/Upton U 15yrs Mixed Reel in Couples - 1st WA Academy U 12yrs Girls 3 Hand Reels - 1st Ceide/Upton U 12yrs Mixed 3 Hand Reels - 1st Kavanagh Studio Open Age Girls 4 Hand Jig - 1st Kavanagh Open Age Mixed 4 Hand Jig - WA Academy The 2016 Australian National Championships were held in Hobart, Tasmania, from Tuesday 27th September to Sunday 2nd October. Many dancers travelled from all over Australia to compete in both solo and team events over 6 days. Congratulations to all the WA dancers on their wonderful dancing and amazing results, including 4 National Champions from WA; Scott Ryan (7yrs), Caoimhe McGuigan (11yrs), Caoimhe McAleer (14yrs) from the Ceide/Upton School and Dakota Courtney (17yrs) from the O’Brien Academy.

The next event on the WA Irish dancing calendar is the Beginner, Primary and Elementary Feis, which will be held at the Morley Recreation Centre on Sunday 6th November. This Feis is dedicated to our new dancers, showcasing and rewarding the skills of our beginners and the future of Irish dancing in WA.

Sr Brendan is Shadow Minister for Mental Health; congratulated Disability Services & Child Protection by the Italian PO Box 2440, SOUTH HEDLAND members WA 6722 of the stephen.dawsonmp@mp.wa.gov.au community (08) 9172 2648 • 1800 199 344 (toll free) 62

SUPPORT IN THE WA G

IRISH COMMUMITY

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A View from Home...

by Michael Cluskey I don’t claim to be a political commentator, but I have to admit over the past number of months I have been enthralled by the situation within Europe, specifically “Brexit”.

You might say the UK electorate voted to leave the EU and that was their decision to make but the fact is it has major ramifications within Europe and around the world.

Trade agreements will have to be redefined between the UK and each of its trading partners.

The whole political spectrum has imploded within the UK. Theresa May, the new Conservative prime minister leads a divided government with half of its MPs who don’t want to leave the EU. In-fighting over who should be the leader of the Labor Party has that on its knees while the incumbent leader Jeremy Corbyn has been re-elected for a second time. This has happened to the annoyance of a large section of labour voters.

What has this got to do with Ireland you might ask?

Over recent weeks, surveys have been carried out in the UK asking foreign investors and companies what happens when Article 50 - the mechanism that starts the withdrawal of the UK from Europe - is invoked. Three out of five foreign companies firms admitted to reconsidering their investments in the UK. Now, Ireland being so close, potentially stands to benefit massively. We now have a road network that matches anywhere in Europe, one that can connect Dublin to Cork, to Galway to Limerick and most anywhere within the Republic within a matter of hours.

Our Graduates are so highly rated

overseas companies come to the country to poach them and offer them jobs around the world.

And Ireland is now considered to be one of the countries at the heart of Europe, even to the point that financial institutions based in the City of London are actively considering relocating to Dublin’s successful financial area.

This can only be good for Ireland, so long as we remember not to get ahead of ourselves and keep in mind what happened to the Celtic tiger!

For many years now since the economic crisis hit Ireland so bad, the Irish workforce have endured little or no pay increases. That is until now, where we have the situation that a surge in pay claims have started to disrupt our new flourishing economy.

It is right and proper that the rates of pay must be looked at for doctors, nurses and gardai and others services. But we must also balance out that the opportunity which we now have almost in our grasp, a mass exodus of foreign companies leaving the UK to set up in Ireland will be more beneficial in the long run for our youth.

Watch this space.

Musical Entertainer / Teacher

David MacConnell

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

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How do we help?

Our Committee or Coordinator will make an assessment of each case as it arises to determine how best to assist. We meet with the individual(s) at their home, in hospital or in prison. Assistance we provide could be support via in-person visits, financial assistance or linking up with outside agencies such as our counsellors, the Irish Consulate or the organisations such as Crosscare Migrant Agency or Irish Prisoners Abroad. We do not hand over any cash amounts and we keep professional records on all cases. We offer full confidentiality to all our clients.

Who does The Claddagh Association Inc. Help?

How to get in touch?

We are often asked who we help, what do we do and who do we do it for. The Claddagh Association assists Irish Citizens based across Western Australia in times of crisis. We assist where there are no other authorities/organisation in WA who can assist the individual(s). Quite often the type of visa held by the individual(s) dictates what, if any services may be available to them under Australian Law. In the past 6 months we have assisted Irish Citizens in WA during times of serious illness, accidents, financial hardship, job loss, visa issues, mental health issues, immigration detainment and imprisonment. We have also assisted families with the repatriation of their loved ones back to Ireland.

We have worked closely with families back in Ireland who have loved ones in crisis here in WA.

Our office is based at 193c Flinders St, Yokine, We offer a confidential email service via support@ claddagh.org.au or we can be contacted on 08 9345 1713 or 0403 972 265. We are more than willing to speak to everyone and determine if we can assist or who is best to assist so please never hesitate to contact us.

Annual General Meeting AGM is to be held at the Irish Club on 22nd November 2016.

Volunteer Induction Session

We are hosting a Volunteer Induction Session on 5th November 2016 at the Irish Club - not sure when publication is happening but if it is time if you could add this please.

If you can lend a hand to the Claddagh Association in any way, donations or as a volunteer, please call the office.

PO Box 3069 /193c Flinders St, Yokine WA 6060 (08) 9345 1713 admin@cladddagh.org.au • www.claddagh.org.au

Claddagh Irish Club Christmas Christmas Lunch Lunch

Senior's

The Claddagh Senior's Christmas Lunch will be held on Mon 5th December 2016 at the Mighty Quinn.

Bookings

9345 1713 65

The Irish Club Senior's Christmas Lunch will be held on Fri 2nd December 2016 at the Irish Club.

Bookings:

9381 5213

Dear Editor

Tess says thanks I want to thank everyone who attended my beloved Noel’s funeral.

Thanks for the Mass cards and flowers and just being there for me and the family. Special thanks to Michael Murray for singing at Pinnaroo Cemetery and Fiona and Fred Rea for being part of Noel’s church service.

Of great comfort during our sorrow were the expressions of sympathy conveyed to us in many ways. We appreciate your thoughtfulness and thank you most sincerely.

Bail ó Dhia ort (The blessing of God on you.)

Tess Colgan and Family

Your article by Brian Hannon....

On Mulligans in Milligan St. Perth was very interesting and has prompted me to revisit these fantastic times.

I first visited Mulligans in 1971 or 72 and listened to the Quarefella’s Traditional Band lead by the late Mick McAuley. Frank Byrne was on whistles, Ian Thompson on guitar and Phil Reebes on banjo. It cost one dollar entry with Mick Brand, a Channel 7 celebrity taking the money at the door.

No queue at the door as there was no limit to accommodate the many people that crammed in to this pub.

Mulligan’s was a two story pub and it was equally crowded on the stairs and on the second level and even though the band had only two microphones between them, the Irish music permeated the whole pub.

The Craic was fierce and the friendly, happy atmosphere was more due to the thick mist of a sweet smell.

The smell magically appeared and as something was passed in procession to the many punters through the ground floor up the stairs and on the second floor.

There was no Tricolour played there so I must presume that the Ranting Lads may have taken it with them. (see photo Alan. It was sent by Jimmy Rogers now living in Rosslare Harbour).

I remember talking with Mick McAuley over a beer during their break he informed me that Phil Reebe was leaving so I offered 66

my services and I was accepted into the the Quarefella’s The pay was $30 per gig from 7.00pm until 10.00pm no beer band tab (pubs closed at 10pm and 7.00pm on Sundays ) there were no pint glasses and no Guinness, just the local Swan beer at $1.50 per jug.

Frank Byrne left the band for Hobart and Anita Webb joined us playing fast fiddle. This put a new spin on the band playing jigs and reels that brought our music to a new level.

Of all the times I played in Mulligan’s I never saw a single altercation, everyone was just too happy.

When we finished our gigs there was always a party going and we

Jimmy Rogers and Ian Thompson and the Tricolour!

would stagger along with our beer or flagons of plonk. (Cask wine was not available at this time).

There we would team up with the Ranting Lads who had finished their gig at UWA Tavern and a blazing acoustic session would ensue until all hours.

It was the fire in the dry cleaners next door to Mulligans that was to change things forever.

We were hammering out the good music to a jammed pub when somebody shouted out “Fire!”

Mick told him to f…k off but when the flames came roaring past the front door we grabbed our gear and crashed outside amidst the stampede. All were out safely on the footpath when we noticed Mick Brand, the manager, standing there with the cash register under one

arm and a bottle of beer in the other.

Someone asked if the Ranting Lads were with us as they were recording in the upper level of the pub.

Mick immediately took off at the speed of light back in to the pub. I recall his recollection of the event… “Lads the feckin pub is on fire”, Dobe Newton replied, “Go feck off Mick, we’re recording”. Then Mick said, “Jaysus guys open the feckin window”...

Well the second story windows had shutters! Dobe threw open the shutters for all to see flames dancing past. Then there was panic! Everyone went charging for the door. Guitars, banjos, whistles, recording equipment plus a lagerphone went tangled in everyone’s path. To further recall Mick McAuley ‘s event, I grabbed a banjo and got to the top of the stairs when Newton and myself got jammed trying to get out the door. Dobe said, “Move your

feckin ass” But replied Mick “we were feckin stuck!”

Next thing we knew was the fireman’s hose spraying on us.

Like two dogs, we separated and descended the stair in a very unusual fashion and out to the footpath.

These were wonderful times at Mulligans but, picture this, the girls were all in long dresses of varies patterns, flat shoes, so no damaged ankles, silk or Indian shirt tops and bra-less being the statement of the day. Blokes were growing their hair long, granddad mustachios, beautiful shirts and studded jeans making for a colourful collection of happy people.

Some little time passed when we as a band turned up for the gig.

I still remember that it was hauntingly strange. Only a few people were at the bar. The tables were decked with checked style table clothes and knife and fork(s). This bollix of a guy introduced himself as... believe or not... Davy Crock-

ett the new manager.

We as a band stood there in amazement until Mick said to quote, (‘cause I was standing next to him) “Are you the feckwit that shot a feckin bear in the song?”

Mick turned to us lads and said “Do you want to work with this bloke or what?”

We all went to Sam’s Cellar at the Railway Hotel in Barrack Street and continued a moment in time for 2 years, so simple and enjoyable and never to be repeated. That was to be the Railway’s Frank Reilly episode of the Quarefellas when Fred Rea joined the band.

And a great recall from Brian.

Thanks.

PS. The name Quarefella’s was born out of Brendan Behan’s play...the quarefella...as in an itinerant musician. Dobe Newton went on the join The Bushwhackers and is credited with penning We Are Australian.

Alan Ferguson

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The case of the LONG ARM of the LAW meets empty HAND!

By Lloyd Gorman/Fred Rea

Ballyvolane Co Cork woman Yvonne Cashman has been a proud member of An Garda Síochána since 2005. As a Garda she has been stationed in Dublin’s Kevin Street station but in more recent years has been based closer to home, at Charleville, North Cork.

But long before experiencing the rigours and rewards of being ‘in the force’ the mother of two who is married to Fermoy farmer Tommy O’Brien was already familiar with a life of discipline and training in civilian life.

“I started karate when I was eleven years old, in Mayfield karate club sports complex, in the north side of Cork,” she said.

“My brother and his friends went up and joined the local club and came home and started beating me up, saying “Look what I learned tonight”. So I said, “If you can do it I can do it”, so me and my friends went up and long story short I stayed at it and I was good at it.”

The unarmed martial art which takes its name from a Japanese

word meaning empty hand has taken Yvonne to places she might not normally get too - including most recently Perth, Western Australia.

She dropped in on her sister Debbie Cashman and her family who have made the west coast of Australia their home on her way back from a very successful karate tournament in Jakarta.

Even before she left Ireland Yvonne knew it would be a great chance to catch up with family in Perth and hand deliver a copy of the most recent Holly Bough as well.

“This was my third world championship but my first one in the Masters Section - the old folks section - because I’m 40,” she joked. “I competed in Milan, Italy in 1997 and Bali is 2000 as a senior lady (between 21 and 39 years of age). Before that I competed in two Europeans and I have four European medals as a senior lady. The furthest I got was down to the last eight, in Bali.”

Yvonne is a familiar figure on the Irish and English circuit and has a good understanding of the other competitors and what’s required to vie for victory in that arena. The next Europeans will take place in Prague in May and the Cork woman said she was confident of her “medal chances” in the Czech Republic. But she admits that travelling to places like Jakarta, Republic of Indonesia, to fight against the likes of the Indonesians, Japanese and South American’s is on a different level again.

“I never came out here expecting to win medals; I wanted to come out and see what the standard was like and see what I was up against. I had competed at that level before and I knew the standard would be high.”

Yvonne competed in two different events - Kata a detailed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs - and Kumité, free style fighting.

“There was a hundred people 68

Sisters, Debbie Cashman and Yvonne O'Brien at the Hillaries Marina

in the Kumité group and everyone fights it off until there are fifty, and then halve that again,” she said.

Yvonne battled her way down to the top of the heap. “I was up against Indonesia, the home country; the last time I competed at the Worlds was against Indonesia. Jakarta was locked away two years in advance as the host city for the championships which meant the locals in particular went into hard core training and preparation.

“So I came up against an Indonesian girl in a fight before the final and I knew she was going to put it up to me. She was a big strong girl, but I beat her. I was delighted.”

In the final Yvonne seemed to have the upper hand of her opponent but ultimately lost the bout.

On the brink of winning gold, Yvonne walked away with silver instead.

But things went her way in the Kata category. “I got down to the finals in the Kata and I think I was in the middle of the group when I came off the floor and one of the team managers said, “you’re in first place”. I said there was more to gooey but I stayed in first place

and I won it. I was delighted with myself. It was 16 years since I competed at the Worlds level at that high standard. I genuinely didn’t think I’d win. I was thrilled to bits altogether you know. My instructor told me afterwards that in the last few weeks of my training before I came out it was all starting to come together and it was getting right, the sharpness and timing. He said to my other instructor in my own club that he thought we were on our way to a world medal. So I won the Kata. I’m the lady’s world champion.”

She said her brother and father “went off on a weakness” when she rang home with the news. “My brother does karate as well and he’s a brown belt.

My instructor told me Tony is back training and that I’m an inspiration. Apparently my four year daughter Karen was going around telling everyone that her mammy was the champion of the world.”

Yvonne’s father is an old hand at the empty hand himself. She recalls “traipsing” all over Ireland and the UK as a child with him but in later life he was the big supporter, as well as mum and her sister, who followed her around to contests.

As well as being very happy to see her sibling, Debbie can appreciate her sister’s accomplishment.

A black belt in the martial art herself, even if more of her time lately is taken up with hockey.

“There’s not enough time to do everything,” she said.

But she is sending her kids to classes. “Karate is a handy thing for them to do. It’s good for their confidence, character and discipline. It’s all about teaching them how to defend themselves if the need arises.”

Yvonne described the Jakarta World Championships as the best for an Irish team in a long time.

“I’m one of the three Gold medals Ireland ever got in the World Championship and overall we did well. We came home with nine medals, my gold, two silvers and six bronze. That’s the best we’ve done for many, many years.”

Even before her elevation as a world class karateka the code exercises big demands on her time and need to keep her standards up. Luckily the job is sympathetic to her needs.

“Twice a year we get a Dojo or senior instructors from Japan to teach us, so we train with them a couple of times a year. They always get a good reception in Ireland and they like coming here. Over a week they travel between Dublin and Cork and teach kids, but also run a black belt only class, the instructor’s class, to teach us how to teach others to learn karate. I take time off work to attend those classes.”

Armed now with a world class gold medal anything is possible for Yvonne.

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Monday 15th August 2016 saw The Healys band set off on their first ever tour of Ireland. The band felt it was time to bring their craft back to the land of their birth after leaving Ireland for the sunny shores of Western Australia over 28 years ago. Ten shows were booked over three weeks for a tour that would stretch the length of the country.

First stop was Kavanagh’s Bar in Portlaoise. The band were joined there by tour sponsor and long time friend Paul North of J.B O’Reilly’s along with other ex Perth residents Pol O’Sherin (Limerick lads / Clover fame) and John White for what was a very enjoyable first Irish show at a great live music venue in the heart of Ireland. The tour then took the band further south to the west of

Cork for some great and lively nights at Skippers Bar in Castletownbere, The Pargaon bar in Skibbereen and Casey’s Bar in the picturesque town of Kinsale where they met up with more former popular Perthites Anthony Ryan, Michelle Scroope,

Jamie & Denise Shine.

The second week of the tour saw the Healy brothers playing their home town of Drogheda but not before a live radio interview & performance on LMFM 95.8, then playing the legendary live music

TOUR OF EIRE venue Boyles of Slane, a wedding at The Grand Malahide Hotel and a massive night in the centre of Belfast city at the very popular Madisons Hotel meeting up with more Perth personalities in Brendan (Barney) McKenna, Barry & Michelle Kinsley.

So at the end of a very successful and rewarding second week The Healys were set to play Odd Mollies of Drogheda on

a sunny Sunday afternoon. The band were scheduled to start at 6pm and arrived at 4pm to a half full large live music venue which continued to fill and hit capacity just before the band hit the stage.

Once on stage the band were received with a huge homecoming cheer & applause that would set the tone for an amazing night.

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A night that would see the band perform for five hours straight accompanied at times by many musician guests and a venue that ran out of alcohol and had to raid the local off licence to continue serving customers. It was a night the band will remember forever. The band later received a message from the venue stating “That night in Odd Mollies has gone in to folklore already, people still talking about it, brilliant night, brilliant guys and by all accounts brilliant tour�.

The third and final week included some well deserved time off with family and friends and only two more shows left to complete the tour. Friday night at McPhails Bar in Drogheda saw a dream come true for the Healy brothers playing a venue that has always been at the top of their wish list and playing to another electric full house was the icing on the cake for the tour.

The following day the band took the scenic route to the lovely town of Virginia Co Cavan & played their final show of the tour to a warm & receptive audience at The Coachmans Inn, a great new venue owned and run by fellow Irish Australian David Sheridan who ran The Quiet Man Irish Pub in Melbourne for many years.

As with all good things the tour finally came to an end and when all was said and done the tour was a huge success for the band of brothers and a new beginning in place with plans for future tours.

Alan healy

Irish Saying...

"May the curse of Mary Malone and her nine blind illegitimate children chase you so far over the hills of Damnation that the Lord himself can't find you with a telescope."

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Irish Recipes from Marguerite's

Barbecued Turkey with Honey Macadamia Stuffing

Ingredients: 60g butter 1 small brown onion, finely chopped 100g Macadamia nuts, finely chopped 80g Fresh breadcrumbs 1 teaspoon finely grated orange rind 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary 150ml Orange juice 5 tablespoons Honey 1.6kg single turkey breast, skin on Gravy, to serve

Method: 1. Melt half the butter in a medium frying pan over medium heat. Add onion.

Cook, stirring for 5 minutes or until softened. Add nuts and cook, stirring for 1 to 2 minutes until golden. Stir in the breadcrumbs, orange rind, rosemary, 2 tablespoons orange juice and 1 tablespoon honey. Stir until combined. Remove from heat and leave aside to cool.

2. Place remaining butter, orange juice and honey in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low.

Simmer, uncovered, for 3 to 4 minutes or until mixture has slightly thickened. Cool.

3. Place turkey, skin-side down, on

a board. Using a sharp knife, make a deep cut along one side of the breast being careful not to cut all the way through. Open breast fillet out. Place stuffing along centre at one half of breast. Roll to enclose stuffing. Tie up turkey with kitchen string 2cm intervals to secure.

4. Preheat barbeque (with hood) to a medium heat with hood closed.

Place turkey, skin-side-up, in a large disposable foil baking tray.

Brush turkey with half the butter mixture. Season with salt & pepper.

5. Cook turkey, using indirect heat, with hood closed, basting occasionally with remaining butter mixture, for 1 hour 30 minutes or until cooked through (cover loosely with foil if over-browning during cooking).

6. Remove turkey from barbeque.

Stand for 10 minutes. Thinly slice.

Serve with gravy.

Sticky orangeglazed barbequed Christmas Ham

Serves 6 Ingredients: 4kg Ham Joint (boned) 2 onions finely sliced 3 bay leaves 10 black peppercorns (whole) ½ cinnamon stick Zest of ½ lemon 72

25 whole cloves 300g orange marmalade 60g brown sugar 1 tbsp. soy sauce 3 tbsp. wholegrain mustard

1. Combine the onions, 10 cloves, bay leaves, peppercorns, lemon zest and cinnamon in a large saucepan.

2. Place the Ham in the centre, add enough cold water to cover the ham. Bring to the boil, reduce to a simmer and cook for 2½ hours.

3. Remove the ham from the pan and set aside to cool slightly.

Preheat BBQ on high heat with hood closed.

4. Remove the rind from the ham and using a sharp knife and lightly mark a diamond pattern through the fat exposed on the ham.

5. Stud each corner of the diamonds with the cloves, ensuring they are evenly spread out. Place ham on a wire rack in a disposable foil tray. Pour boiling water into tray until 2cm deep.

6. Combine the marmalade, brown sugar, soy sauce & mustard to a smooth paste. Brush half this mixture evenly over the ham.

7. Reduce BBQ temperature to a medium heat. Cook ham with hood closed for 30 minutes.

8. Brush remaining marmalade mixture over ham and cook for a further 45 minutes with hood closed. Ham should be caramelised and slightly charred.

9. Remove ham & set aside for 15 minutes to rest.

10. Slice ham & serve with mustard.

Marguerite O'Dwyer

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No Bull.....

A turkey was chatting with a bull. "I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree," sighed the turkey, "but I haven't got the energy."

"Well, why don't you nibble on some of my droppings?" replied the bull. They're packed with nutrients."

The turkey pecked at a lump of dung, and found it actually gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree. The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch.

Finally after a fourth night, the turkey was proudly perched at the top of the tree. He was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot him out of the tree.

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the horse that won the 2016 Grand APRIL National horse race! But the comments following the win are priceless!!!

• Presumably it finished at Market Rasen and was then put on a bus to Aintree?

• The jockey had to pay extra for his own saddle and whip.

• Presumably he’ll fly home with the trophy and charge himself for excess Roses to showcase some livelier talents baggage. such as hula hooping, kickboxing and even making breakfast rolls. Organisers believe ditching recitals will increase the pace of the show, with some of the opinion that poetry is old fashioned Man with new tractor ‘suspicious’! entertainment.

They will be looking out for new tractor owners in Leitrim this week following the news that the €11.1million winning lotto ticket was purchased in the local Spar in After winning €5,200 worth of Lidl Kinlough. vouchers on 2fm today, Darragh Nobody came forward to claim Saturday Muldoon decided to give €5000 of the night’s Lotto jackpot of €11,179,621, the vouchers to The Simon Community National lottery office said on Monday charity. The Carlow native is going evening. to spend the remainder of the money If shared it equally with each of Leitrim’s on buying ice-creams for his whole office. Niamh Randall from the Simon population, everybody would get Community said that they are “absolutely €351.58. delighted” at the gesture. The Simon The local newsagent said… “Lots of rumours in the village, until we see the Community works all around Ireland ticket, we won’t know. There’s an odd with people experiencing homelessness peculiar movement all right, we’ll say and those at risk. “Especially at this time, when there are 6,000 people in nothing about it yet. One guy went up emergency services in Ireland, we with a new tractor, that’s suspicious". really do appreciate it,” she added.

Who was the Leitrim Lotto Winner?

Generous Carlow man gives away winning!

nd

Irela m o fr

Happy in Fermanagh The residents of the district of Fermanagh and Omagh are the happiest in the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics. This comes as no surprise to any of them. It’s a large area with three civic hubs – Enniskillen, Omagh and Dungannon – each of which claims to be happier than the other two.

Enniskillen people are known to congratulate one another on the weather even when it’s raining. Omagh residents are enamoured of its beauty.

And Dungannon, with its squat, claustrophobic high street under smokegrey clouds, easily the ugliest town I’ve ever seen, simply fosters joy. I don’t know how.

“We’re brilliant,” said Jackie, who declined to give her age. “Why would you not be happy?” her companion Nigel asked, baffled. Donna Close, 47, generalised: “I think Northern Irish people in general are quite optimistic.

We’ve survived. We’ve had our troubles but hopefully we’re coming out of them.”

Grand National win for O'Leary Ryanair’s owner Michael O’Leary owns

Sexy Irish farmers strip off for charity calendar

Following hot – and we mean HOT – on the heels of the the New York Firefighters, Ireland’s farmers have manned up, taken off their tops, and posed for the fourth annual Irish Farmer Calendar 2013, which supports the Irish charity Bóthar.

Christened “agri porn” by Irish television host Ryan Tubridy, the calendar has received orders from the US, Australia, UK, Germany, Poland, France, Hong Kong, and South Africa, with an international audience hungry to see the charms of Ireland’s farmers.

Rose of Tralee organisers are encouraging ‘livelier talents’

Rose of Tralee fans didn’t hear any poetry at this year’s festival. Organisers say recitals have been banned to ensure the competition remains modern and fast moving. They are encouraging 74

Couples getting married older in Ireland

The age of Irish brides and grooms is on the rise in Ireland, the latest Central Statistic Office figures reveal. The average age rose to 33.4-years-old for grooms and 31.3-years-old for brides.

Also one fifth of marriages take place in a civil registry office. In 2007 5,146 civil services were recorded. The figure now stands at 22,756. Also the rate of weddings has dropped from 5.2 in every 1,000 of the population to 4.8 last year. Roman Catholic marriages are still the most popular. They account for 74 percent of all marriages or 16,854 marriages. Church of Ireland ceremonies account for 526 with the remaining one percent made up of Presbyterian, Methodist, Jewish and other ceremonies.

Civil ceremonies were most popular in the Dublin area and with grooms over 45 and brides over 40. In more than one third of civil ceremonies one of the parties was divorced. Also 329 men

and women who remarried had been widowed. In 63 percent of marriages the groom is older than the bridge and in 15 percent of cases they are the same age.

In one quarter of cases the bride is older.

World Beer Award for Wexford

A County Wexford brewery, representing Ireland, was the proud recipient of a silver medal at the 2016 World Beer Awards which were held in London recently. Jack Doyle’s Brewery of Blackwater won for its Irish Stout product. The World Beer Awards are an annual international event, generally recognised as the premier beer competition of the year. The awards are open to all licensed breweries, from artisan micro-breweries like Jack Doyle’s right up to macro-breweries such as Heineken. Commenting on the win, Liam Doyle of the Blackwater-based brewery said: “we feel immensely proud to be considered worthy of mention by the top beer experts in the world, especially in such exalted company, and to be able to bring this medal home to Wexford.”

Best Seafood in Ireland for Wexford

An esteemed Wexford seafood restaurant has been recognised as the best of its kind in Ireland.

La Côte, Custom House Quay, was awarded the ‘Best Seafood Restaurant in Ireland’ award at a recent YesChef banquet. The awards honour of the work of Ireland’s hard-working chefs and lauded praise upon Wexford seafood supremo Paul Hynes of La Côte. I like my seafood chowder must try it on my next Irish trip!

Moher Robbery

Old woman conned by ‘good Samaritan’ AN 80-year-old woman had her purse stolen after being conned by a man with over 100 previous convictions.

Mrs Angela Forde told Claremorris District Court that she accepted an apology from Pat (Paddy) Harty.

Harty, of no fixed abode, conned Mrs Forde into asking him for assistance before driving her in the wrong direction and stealing her purse in Kiltimagh on September 18, 2015.

The court heard that Mrs Forde had driven to Londis in the town to pick up some groceries and on getting out of her car she was met with Harty, who told her the wheel on her car was ‘wobbling’.

Harty said he could help her, and Mrs Forde showed him a kit for changing the wheel of her car.

Ireland’s Loch Ness in Clare

A clipping from a September, 1871 edition of The Day’s Doings.The mystery of the sea serpent of County Clare has never been solved. Mary Evans Picture Library The sea serpent, often referred to as Ireland’s Loch Ness monster, was sighted numerous times in the late 1850s off the coast of Ireland along County Clare. The mystery of its nature has never been solved and is up for debate again now that an illustrated newspaper sketch of the creature has been found in the archives of the Mary Evans Picture Library in London, after the library set about digitizing its Victorian illustrated newspaper collection. One of the earliest

“The scene is preserved and a technical examination is being carried out. No arrests have been made but an investigation is ongoing,” a garda spokesperson said.

There was no major damage done to the centre.

Legal Rush for Irish Passports

More than 700 British solicitors have applied to register with the Law Society of Ireland this year as lawyers scramble to secure professional rights of audience in European courts.

The precautionary investment, which cost each applicant about £300, is a way of guaranteeing access to the higher EU courts and tribunals in Luxembourg that deal with community law, which would be lost in the event of Brexit. Only lawyers from EU states can appear at the European court of justice.

Ken Murphy, the director general of the Law Society of Ireland, confirmed that 543 solicitors from England and Wales and 21 solicitors from Northern Ireland have been admitted to the roll of solicitors in Ireland so far this year.

A further 145 applications are being processed. The figures compare with an average of 50 to 100 admissions a year from England and Wales in previous years.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Is drinking costing you MORE than money?

Gardai are investigating a robbery at the Cliffs of Moher Visitor centre in which a “substantial” amount of money was stolen.

The popular tourist destination was robbed sometime between 10pm on Sunday night and 9am on Monday morning, according to gardai.

sightings of the monster was recorded in 1850, the Irish Times reports, when it was described as “sunning itself near the Clare coast off Kilkee.” Then, in September 1871, the Limerick Chronicle ran an article about a “large and frightening sea monster” encountered by a group of people, all of whom “had their nerves considerably upset by the dreadful appearance of this extraordinary creature.” Just in time for PJ’S visit…

Amazing what you see after a few pints!

Help is available!

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.

The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions.

AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organisation or institution, does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes.

Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

Contact: Alcoholics Anonymous,

24 Hour Helpline Ph: 9325 3566 • www.aaperth.wa.org 75

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Hillary's Soccer Club Awards Night Around the pubs!

Ray & Ray's 80th Sean

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A soldiers salute for Martin O'Meara

by Lloyd Gorman

Tradition is a uniform worn proudly by armies and the Australian Defence Forces are no exception.

The 16th Battalion, Royal Western Australia Regiment, which is based at Irwin Barracks, Karrakatta, demonstrated this quality at an annual dining function on October 13 to honour an important milestone in its history.

Pride of place and centre stage for the occasion were the medals of an Irish Australian familiar by now to regular readers.

"Sergeant Martin O’Meara’s Victoria Cross provided inspiration to the officers, senior ranks and soldiers of 16th Battalion, the Royal Western Australia Regiment (16 RWAR) at their annual Cameron Supper 100 years after the man from Lorrha, Tipperary Ireland won his VC at Pozieres, France," the Brigade's Facebook said.

"The evening is 16 RWAR’s major dining function and honours the Battalion’s 80 year Cameron Highlander heritage. Those present are the heirs to two great generations of 16th Battalion soldiers from both World Wars. That fine tradition of service from Gallipoli, the Western Front, the Middle East, Kokoda to the beaches of Balikpapan, is kept alive today through the soldiers’ involvement in regional and domestic security operations and humanitarian assistance and border protection duties. Sergeant O’Meara was the battalion’s first VC. His medal is on display at the Army Museum of Western Australia (in Fremantle)."

In short, O'Meara earned his VC -

the highest decoration that can be awarded to a soldier of the Commonwealth forces for courage and gallantry in the face of the enemy for relentlessly and at great danger to himself going into No Man's Land under heavy fire over the course of four days to pull more than 20 wounded Australian men to the relative safety of their own lines and for treatment.

Perth historian and author Ian Loftus has done an incredible job of detailing the life, military deeds and tragic demise and death of O'Meara in his new book; "The most fearless and gallant soldier I have ever seen - the story of Martin O'Meara Australia's only Irish born Victoria Cross recipient of the First World War".

Loftus left no stone unturned in his quest to document O'Meara's life story and has written a book about him that will possibly serve as the definitive account for generations to come. No doubt though the author might welcome other research and publications about this remarkable figure. If that happens it would be impossible for future scholars and followers of military history or just O'Meara himself not to consult his book. It collates and collects old and previously known images of O'Meara which have been identified

by Loftus's attention to detail. It always helps to be able to put a name to a face, and a face to a story, especially when it ends in horrible futility and mental torment.

O'Meara was decorated for his act over the course of August 9 -12 1916, during which he was injured the first of three times during his service in war.

The other two VC's referenced by the regiment came almost two years later for further action in France.

The second one came in July 1918 through the action of Thomas "Jack" Axford. A Lance-Corporal he single handedly relieved a platoon that bogged down under heavy fire by 78

throwing bombs at enemy gun cress.

He then jumped into the German trenches and charged the position with his bayonet, killing 10 men and capturing six prisoners.

A month later saw Lawrence Dominic McCarthy distinguish himself on the field of battle. He was the son of Florence McCarthy, originally from Cork, Ireland and his wife but was orphaned at a young age.

On August 23 1918 McCarthy rushed a German machine gun nest across open ground, out pacing two other Diggers who joined him. Having blown up the nest he then charged a German trench, killing 22 enemy, taking 50 prisoners, knocking out three machine gun positions and capturing 500 yards of front line. It has been described as one of the finest examples of individual fighting in the history of the Australian army, and his VC was dubbed "the super VC" by the London newspapers.

McCarthy was in Dublin at the time his VC was announced.

Another lasting local legacy to these men, and other West Australian winners of the Victoria Cross, is that they have wards named after them in the Repatriation General Hospital, in Hollywood, Nedlands.

The Festive Craic in the North!

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

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there is definitely room for all including many babies and assorted kin at the table.

Roisin’s novel reminds us that even in the sometimes raw and wrenching realities of life there is hope especially so at Christmas. Perhaps the image of the tree that flowers all year can be compared to the family at the heart of this novel and families everywhere that continually flourish and bear all things in their branches.

I’ll Be Home for Christmas is out now published by Hachette.

From Tasmania with Paula Xiberras

Damien, an Idol that’s never idle!

Roisin’s Meaney-ingful Family Christmas Tree

by Paula Xiberras Damien Leith performs in Tasmania annually and tells me, when we catch up for a chat, that he loves Tasmania and always gets a great vibe from audiences, not to mention Tassie reminds him of his native Ireland.

This November Damien will be heading to Tasmania again and this time it marks a very special occasion Damien’s 10 year anniversary since winning Australian Idol.

In the decade past Damien has continued to build a substantial and eclectic career in music, as an author, TV presenter and now actor but it is as a musician that most people think of him.

Of the ten year celebration Damien reflects that if he could do it all again he would put much more emphasis on enjoying the moment as the hoopla following the win was so full on, actually savouring his success passed Damien by in a whirl!

Damien tells me that the celebratory concerts, as well as being a showcase of Da-mien’s music over the ten years will also have some surprises and reflections. Damien may even answer the mysterious question of why some songs are never played at concerts!

Damien shares with me and the readers some privileged information of what he’s up to next, not only has he done some acting for the program ‘The Milky Way’ but he’s also been cast in a movie that will be out next year!

Ever the renaissance man Damien has a lot more going on including two albums coming up, one a concept album and one of original songs and there are two books as well, a children’s one and another, not yet divulged!

With all these creative works on the way it would seem Tassie can expect many more visits from Damien in the future but for now you can catch Damien’s Idol cele-bration around Australia including the following WA dates: Nov 18 Albany Entertainment Centre Richland, WA Nov 19 Heath Ledger Theatre Perth

by Paula Xiberras

‘I’ll be home for Christmas’ Roisin Meaney’s latest novel is the perfect Christmas gift for both Australian and Irish readers, with its chief protagonist Tilly, a Brisbane teen seeking her family connections in Ireland, the story centres around family because, as Roisin tells me, when we chatted, there is probably nothing more important to the Irish, particularly so at this time of year.

Aside from the traditional Christmas unwrapping there are all sorts of secrets being revealed and sensible solutions baked up with a sprinkle of the supernatural thrown in for flavour.

Rosin sets her novel on the fictional island of Roone, loosely based on the island of Valentia on the Kerry coast. The name Roone appropriately means secrets.

The island of Roone symbolises the starkness of reality and the isolation the characters feel as they have fought and survived illness and loss. The brutal reality of life is juxtaposed with the promise of hope from the other worldliness of the island, with its mysteries that defer rationality, a tree that bears fruit all year round and then falls on the stable housing the farm animals, the remarkable survival of those same animals (due to a thoughtful ghost) including a donkey which reminds us of the Nativity story and the snow fall unknown to the island.

Hope in the future is personified in the novels cast of babies, born or yet to be born, including two sets of twins and if that is not coincidence enough more can be seen in the the arrival of a doll, long afloat on the oceans between Australia and Ireland which seems to mirrors Tilly’s own journey to find her other family and home.

The blurb on the cover of the book asks us ‘will there be room at the table for an un-expected guest this Christmas’ again drawing comparisons to the Christmas story and where in that story the room was a stable, in Roisin’s story, as we have already seen 80

An old lady’s poem What do you see, nurses, what do you see?

What are you thinking when you’re looking at me?

A crabby old woman, not very wise Uncertain habit, with faraway eyes?

Who dribbles her food and makes no reply When you say in a loud voice, “I do wish you’d try!”

Who seems not to notice the things that you do, And forever is losing a stocking or shoe...

Who, resisting or not, lets you do as you will, With bathing and feeding, ‘the long day to fill…

Is that what you’re thinking? Is that what you see?

Then open your eyes, nurse, you’re looking at me.

I’ll tell you who I am as I sit here so still, As I do at your bidding, as I eat at your will, I’m a small child of ten, with a father and mother, Brothers and sisters, who love one another, A girl of sixteen with wings on her feet, Dreaming that soon now, a lover she’ll meet.

A bride soon twenty-my heart gives a leap, Remembering vows that I promised to keep.

At twenty-five now, I have young of my own, Who need me to guide and secure a happy home.

A woman of thirty, my young now grown fast, Bound to each other with ties that should last.

At forty, my young sons have grown and are gone, But my man is beside me to see I don’t mourn.

At fifty once more, babies play around my knee, Again we know children, my loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead, I look to the future, I shudder with dread.

For my young are all rearing young of their own, And I think of the years and the love that I’ve known.

I am now an old woman and nature is cruel, ‘Tis just to make old age look like a fool, The body, it crumbles, grace and vigour depart, There is now a stone where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass a young girl still dwells, And now and again my battered heart swells, I remember the joys, I remember the pain, And I’m loving and living life over again, I think of the years all too few, gone too fast, And accept the stark fact that nothing can last, SO OPEN YOUR EYES, NUSES, OPEN AND SEE, NOT A CRABBY OLD WOMAN LOOK CLOSERSEE ME!!!!

When an old lady died in the geriatric ward of a small hospital near Dundee, it was felt that she had nothing left of any value. Later when the nurses were going through her meagre possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital. One nurse took her copy to Ireland. The old lady’s sole bequest to posterity has since appeared on the Christmas edition of the news magazine of the north Ireland Association for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been based on her simple but eloquent poem. This little old Scottish lady with nothing left to give the world is now the author of this anonymous poem which is winging its way across the internet. It goes to show that we all leave SOME footprints in the sand of time.

Editor: Thanks Frank for sending this in. I am sure our readers will appreciate it.

Bookings 9381 5213

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WAGS Western Australian Genealogical Society Inc. Who are the Irish?

Culturally speaking, most Irish people identify as Celts, a people who also lived in Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man and Brittany. Celtic languages survive in those places, but no longer in other sites of Celtic peoples Portugal and north-central Spain.

Comparison of music and dance in these places helps confirm the connection.

But who were the Celts and where did they come from - or were they always in Ireland and these other places?

In the past, evidence of the Celts in Ireland has relied on archaeological finds and linguistic analysis. But the newer science of DNA analysis and genetic genealogy has provided new insights into the earliest ancestors of modern Irish. Whose modern DNA do they most closely resemble?

There’s evidence of Irish settlement going back 10,000 years, but was it Celtic settlement? Until recently many people assumed so. About 2,500 years ago the ancient Greeks described the Keltoi who lived north of them, in central Europe.

It’s always been believed that it was the Keltoi who migrated west, eventually reaching Ireland, and that these people were the original Celts. Some similarities in the art of the two regions supported that idea.

But recently, in December 2015, researchers at Trinity College Dublin and Queens University Belfast, published

findings of the whole-genome analysis of ancient Irish skeletal remains that has turned these assumptions upside down.

1 The reconstruction of the Ballynahatty Neolithic skull by Elizabeth Black. Her genes tell us she had black hair and brown eyes. Photograph: Barrie Hartwel The remains came from four Stone Age farmers unearthed in Rathlin Island, co. Antrim and Ballynahatty, near Belfast, in County Down.

The remains were buried 3,000 to 5,000 years ago.

The Ballynahatty farmer, a woman, was unearthed in 1855 but her complete DNA was only recently analysed and compared with DNA from living people and from the remains of the three men from Rathlin Island.

Surprising many, the genetically closest living relatives of the ancient Irish female farmer from Ballynahatty, live in the Basque country of northern Spain!

The deep ancestry DNA 82

analysis revealed where these Neolithic people’s ancestors had originated – the Middle East, via southern Europe. The DNA of the 5,200 year old Ballynahatty farmer most closely resembles that of people living in Spain and Sardinia today.

The three men at Rathlin Island however lived much later, in the early Bronze Age, when metal was first being used to make tools. In contrast, the Ballynahatty farmer lived when agriculture was still developing in the ancient British Isles.

Unsurprisingly, the men’s DNA

showed a different pattern from the woman’s.

One third of the men’s DNA matched people now living in the Eastern European area

now known as Russia and Ukraine. It more closely resembled the DNA of modern Irish, Scots and Welsh than the Ballynahatty woman’s did. Some of the matching genes that they identified in the men carried haemochromatosis, a condition where people retain too much iron in their red blood cells.

Other genes seen in the men are associated with the ability to digest milk into adulthood (lactose tolerance), a characteristic high among Irish people.

Of course modern Irish also share a significant amount of DNA with the British, especially the Scots and the Welsh. The researchers concluded that the beginnings of a distinctively Irish genome began about 4,000 years ago – or 160-200 generations ago!

If you’re interested in exploring your own Irish DNA there’s a public Facebook group called Irish DNA, and a closed group for people who have already had the DNA test, The Irish DNA Registry.

In 2017 the Irish SIG will meet on these Sunday afternoons: 15 January, 23 April, 16 July and 15 October at the WA Genealogical Society. All start at 2pm except for the April meeting which begins at 10am. New members and visitors are welcome.

Gold coin donation for afternoon tea.

Jenni Ibrahim Convenor, Irish Special Interest Group WA Genealogical Society 5/48 May Street, Bayswater 6053 Phone 9271 4311 Email irish@wags.org.au Irish SIG and DNA webpages http://membership. wags.org.au Online Forum http://membership.wags.org.au/ forum/irish-sig (free registration, open to anyone)

IRISH SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP

Meanwhile, back in Western Australia in 2016, on 16 October, Sabrina Armstrong showed Irish SIG members just how easy it is to create a safe Facebook account and then start joining some of the many Facebook genealogy groups to explore Irish family history. Most of the traditional Irish counties are covered by a specific group. There’s even one for those who don’t know which county their ancestors came from! Sabrina’s handout is on the Irish Special Interest Group webpage on the WA Genealogical Society website.

More http://www.pnas.org/content/113/2/368.full www.theguardian.com/science/2015/dec/28/origins-of-the-irishdown-to-mass-migration-ancient-dna-confirms https://owlcation.com/stem/Irish-Blood-Genetic-Identity http://marketbusinessnews.com/irish-come-from-all-over-the-placeancient-genomes-show/118336 https://youtu.be/R1ffyUFRURk https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celts

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.

For advice please contact Leo Barry

Family Friendly • Family Lawyers 1/100 Terrace Road EAST PERTH WA 6004 T: (08) 9218 8422 F: (08) 9218 8433 E: reception@kavlaw.com.au W: kavlaw.com.au

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Around the Irish scene Compiled by Fred Rea Two big birthdays recently in the Reid household. One celebrated in Cork I believe and the other in Bali. Congrats to Ann Reid and Sean Reid, we'll keep the numbers quiet!

Declan Doherty met Celtic & Australia star Tom Rogic on a visit to Parkhead. Your late dad Paddy would be proud of you Declan.

Congratulations David & Marie-Clare MacConnell on the birth of grandchild Harrison Scott to daughter Sharon.

Talking of birthdays it was Denis Bratton's of the AIHA 80th recently. Doesn't look a day over 60 I'd say. Congratulations Denis

Martin Sheehan holding his latest grandchild. Martin is retiring soon and I'd say he'll have to get a 42 seater bus to look after all the grandkids.

They're taking over the state.

Rita Fallon organised a wonderful 80th Birthday for the two stalwarts of Comhaltas in WA, Sean Doherty and Ray Deely. They were joined by many muso friends at the Gosnells pub beer garden.

The 2 Amigo's Phil and Tim are off to South America.

I wonder will they find a pub with Guinness? They'll try!

Conratulations Myles O'Neill and Lorraine Happy 30th Wedding Anniversary. Son Brandon with Sydney FC must be making you very proud!

Returning to Ireland?

We can help you with the move!

Welcome 'home' Frank and Gerry from your European travels. We will hear all about in the coming weeks on Fremantle Radio 107.9fm

Air, Sea & Road Transport Quick, Efficient & Reliable

Jim Egan was attending a family graduation at UWA and couldn't help himself saying hello to Justin Langer the WA Cricket coach.

Actually Justin looks quite honoured meeting the President of the Corkman's Association of WA. 84

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Verity James the MC

Donough & Annette O'Donovan

Max Kay and Malcolm McCusker

Thanks to the Claddagh Association for presenting yours truly, Fred Rea with Honorary Membership. It was presented to me by President Joan Ross at the recent Irish Race Day. We will always support the wonderful work of the Claddagh.

Russell and Tamara Gibbs

Malcolm, Tonya and Mary McCusker

Paddy Monaghan was all decked out for the Irish Race Day.

The night Mother Russia met Kathleen Ni Houlihan

Malcolm McCusker and Tonya Batalin got married in 2007 but they only had their Malcolm and Mary wedding reception this October. Some 180 McCusker friends family and other guests helped them celebrate their marriage at the belated bash in the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club in Peppermint Grove in October. As well as laying on a party for the occasion the couple – who have an eight year old daughter Mary – decided it should have a theme. Guests were invited to attend in traditional dress or costume of the hosts heritage. Mr McCusker – the former Governor of Western Australia – donned a green dickie bow and suit in recognition of his Irishness while Tonya wore Russian, with guests following 'suit' (pardon the pun) along whichever line they chose. So on the night there were Brendan Behan's, Leprechauns and clergy mixing it up with Russian generals, cossacks and spies.

A great night was had by all by all accounts.

Photos: Michael Bain Photographics 85

The An Gorta Mor Monument was be unveiled in Glasnevin cemetery in Dublin as part of the National Famine Memorial Day Commemoration. Above is Michael Blanch and Pete St John at the memorial. It is beside the church just inside the gate and close to the Daniel O'Connell tower.

Michael said, "After many years campaigning for such a fitting Monument to remember the An Gorta Mor victims in Glasnevin". Pete St John's "Fields" was sung as part of the program.

Below is Pete and Michael presenting a Famine memorial badge to President Higgins.

With 2016 of course being the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising, ITP rose to the challenge to commemorate this important event in a fitting way by producing Sean O’Casey’s epic play “The Plough & The Stars”. Directed by Hellie Turner, “Plough” told the story of Nora & Jack (played by Sandi Buckley & Brian Donohoe) as a young couple torn between love and loyalty in the midst of the uprising in Dublin.

Irish Theatre Players welcomed record audiences to this fantastic production, and received rave reviews from all who attended. Next, we had a complete change of pace! Irish Theatre Players introduced our inaugural “Ballroom Blitz Competition”. With thanks to Gilkisons Dance Studio, our novice dance couples performed two different Latin Dance routines in front of a packed theatre audience, while competing for the “Killarney Autos Cup” – with thanks to Neil and the team in Wangara for their kind sponsorship.

Sarah Hession and Manuao TeAotonga went on to be crowned Ballroom “Blitz Champions for 2016” – and we’re already looking forward to bringing your Round 2 in 2017. Many thanks to kind sponsors such as Masonmill Family Restaurant, who made this great event possible. Then in August 2016 we continued with our new, fresh approach and brought you a selection of One Act Plays, all written

by New York based writer, Bruce Kane, and all (loosely!) based on Shakespeare’s works.

These three very different, short and funny plays, kept the audiences entertained for a very successful season here at The Irish Club. Our bubbling cauldron and devilish witches kept the audiences entertained, even during the free supper intervals!

Now we come to November and we’ve had a bit of a change to the proposed calendar for 2016. We purchased the rights to Roddy Doyle’s “War” and recruited well-known Writer and Director Noel O’Neill to undertake this difficult production for us. With a large cast of 16 characters, and the majority of the roles for young Irish males, we knew it would be a challenge but we accepted it regardless. However, after weeks of auditions and rehearsals we unfortunately had to make the decision to change plays. It became apparent that we were not going to find the number of actors we needed in the time we had left. Instead we’ve decided to keep the dedicated and hardworking cast we have and proceed with Noel O’Neill’s hot-off-the-press, brand new play “Kalamunda Here I Come”.

Based in Dublin, circa 1999, “Kalamunda Here I Come” is a dark(ish) comedy which, through a series of flashbacks via eldest daughter Louise (Lulu), tells the story of a typical Northside Dublin family and their individual dreams and ambitions – or lack thereof. A story which many of us ex-pats will relate to, Lulu is a young nurse

A Word from the President,

Claire Wynne

It’s been such a great year for Irish Theatre Players, It’s hard to believe it’s almost over!

We started off the year with quite a bang at the Finley Awards in the State Theatre and our numerous nominations for these prestigious awards. We are, of course, most proud of the Best Actress Award for Denice Byrne and her fantastic performance in John B. Keane’s “Big Maggie”.

Photo by @CarlForanPhotography

BOOK NOW; www.trybooking.com/NPVX or Phone; 0406 085 620

IRISH CLUB OF WA, 61 TOWNSHEND ROAD, SUBIACO. itp@irishtheatreplayers.com.au

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who struggles with the decision to leave her family and move to the exotically named, mysterious “Kalamunda” to carve out her own niche in this world.

Kalamunda Here I come runs from November 11th to November 25th, and tickets are just $25 ($20 for concession holders) and are available from www.trybooking. com/NPVX or by calling 0406 085 620.

Also in December 2016 we look forward to hosting the Independent Theatre Awards Nominations Night here at the Irish Club of WA. This fantastic event welcomes all Independent Theatre groups in WA to hear nominations for the prestigious Finley Awards in the State Theatre in 2017. Irish Theatre Players are delighted to welcome back the Independent Theatre community event to the Irish Club

for the second consecutive year, and look forward the nominations for the hardworking cast, crew and volunteers that make shows like ours possible throughout the year.

ITP Committee and Crew would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and we look forward to welcoming you to the Irish Theatre Players’ productions in 2017.

Make sure you check out our website – www. irishtheatreplayers.com. au – and our facebook page – www.facebook.com/ irishtheatreplayers - for regular updates.

LOOKING FOR THAT SPECIAL GIFT?

Why not, the natural beauty of Ireland in Fine Art right here is WA!

Henry McLaughlin F I N E A RT

Henry McLaughlin International Artist, immigrated to Western Australia with his wife Margaret and their two sons in 1969 from their native country Antrim in Northern Ireland.

As we reported in our last edition, Henry’s talents were obvious at an early age, and throughout his childhood he derived great pleasure in sketching and capturing on paper the natural beauty of Ireland especially the Antrim Hills and coastline.

Henry’s skill has been fine-tuned over the years and now includes works in acrylic, oils and watercolours.

His style has been described as ‘in fine and detailed, yet rugged, and has been described by many as having a illustrative Streeton-like quality, as seen in many of the outstanding works produced today’.

A U S T R A L I A N & I R I S H O I L PA I N T I N G S

Studio: 11 Bookara View, Lakelands WA 6180 Tel 9581 9149

Now you can be an owner of one of Henry’s fine pieces.

If you have someone special in your life why not gift one of Henry’s fine art paintings.

Henry’s studio is in Mandurah and he welcomes visitors to see his collection of IRISH and Australian fine art pieces.

For your diary...

IRISH FAMINE COMMEMORATION 2016 WESTERN AUSTRALIA

BUNBURY: Sat 20 May 2016 at King Cottage dedicated to Bridget Mulqueen.

DARDANUP: Sun 21 May 2016 at Dardanup dedicated to Elizabeth Carbury.

Enquiries: Fred Rea 0418 943 832 Email: fredrea@iinet.net.au 87

A Light in the Forest O Santa may I wish for, please.

A forest filled with Christmas trees And under every tree a toy For every girl and every boy.

A place where loved ones never part.

And peace is found in every heart.

Where people come to kneel and pray And thank the Lord for Christmas day.

Fill the trees with Christmas light.

Keep them shining day and night.

Place a star on every tree.

Shining bright, for all to see.

A star to help us light our way Through the forest while we play.

A star for souls who left us here So they will never disappear Take each star to God above.

Fill each soul with peace and love.

Oh Santa may I also say.

Just before this Christmas Day Keep all children safe from harm.

Keep them sheltered from each storm In this forest they can find Love and good will from mankind.

Oh Santa, make my wish come true Because I still believe in you.

Noel.

W.A. Under 18 Gaelic Football Team

F L O G R E S I A R FUND Format: TWO BALL AMBROSE.

$75.00 per person Two tee start from 7am

Raffle on the day plus lots of Prizes

00 ONSOR:two$5 players, HOLE sSP two teams of day). (include played on the banners dis

includes a BBQ lunch after the game.

MAYLANDS GOLF COURSE

Swan Bank Road Maylands.

Registration from 6am

Sunday 27th November 2016.

Carts available at individuals own cost.

Booking for carts 93703211.

Bookings Contacts: Ciaran Gallagher 0414 498 910 Peter McKenna 0447 258 000

Club Championships Kwinana & Maylands Over Winner/2016 Club Champion: PJ Kenny Low Gross Cham.: Allan Rowland Longest Drive (Men): Geoff McFadden

President's Plaque

Lakelands September 1st: Eamon Fitzpatrick 2nd: Mark Keogh 3rd: Dominic Hyde L/Gross: P.J.Kenny NTP: Alan Rowlands, Bill Kavanagh, Ger Stevenson, Martin Sheehan Jnr L/Drive: Mark Keogh, L/Putt: T.J.Hogan & Mark Keogh 2/Ball: Peter McKenna, Martin Sheehan Jnr.

Farewell "Stevo"

The committee extend deepest sympathy to the family of long standing member Steve O'Sullivan on his recent passing.

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SHAMROCK

Rovers

Award Winners 2016 Season 2016 finished at the Irish Club on Saturday 15th October with the clubs annual trophy presentation night. This season’s recipients were:

CLUB AWARDS:

Club achievement award - Robbie Fanning Committee Player of the year - Will Pender

STATE LEAGUE FIRST TEAM: Fairest and Best - Will Pender Players Player - Fraser Burt

STATE LEAGUE RESERVE TEAM: Fairest and Best - Rory Whelehan Players Player - Rory Whelehan

STATE LEAGUE UNDER 18’S TEAM:

Under 18 team coaches player: Tommy Counihan Under 18 team players player: Abdulwahid Nadeemi

SUNDAY AMATEUR FIRST TEAM Fairest and Best - Ian O’Leary Players Player - Ian O’Leary

SUNDAY AMATEUR RESERVE TEAM Fairest and Best - Tony McCaffrey Players Player - Tony McCaffrey

I would like to thank the following sponsors for their support in season 2016: McLoughlin Butchers, Thomas Hoey Painting, Killarney Autos, Cinnamon Vic Park and St Lukes Medical Group. In addition to this I would also like to thank all supporters, coaches, committee members and players for their efforts this year.

In conclusion, I invite anybody interested within the Irish community here in Perth to get the boots on and attend pre-season training in preparation for season 2017. Dates, venues and times will be released soon and can be found on our club web and facebook pages.

Mick Manning Club President.

www.shamrockrovers.com.au 89 89

Michael Manning President Shamrock Rovers

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Gaelic Football & Hurling Association of Australasia Western Australia Football Finals:

Sunday 11th September last saw the Western Australia State Gaelic Football finals take place at Tom Bateman Reserve. A massive crowd saw savage footballing skills demonstrated by the ladies of Southern Districts and St Finbarr’s in the Ladies final, over 50 children from our Junior Academy and the men of Southern Districts and St Finbarr’s in the Men’s final. After two closely fought games with the Men’s final under floodlights and threating extra time, Southern Districts were crowned Ladies Champions while St Finbarr’s took the Men’s Championship title. Our Junior Academy children escorted both men’s teams onto the pitch led by bagpiper Viv Reilly. Music on the day was also provided by The Broken Pokers.

On behalf of the Sate Committee of GAAWA sincere thanks is extended to all of our volunteers on the day who made everything possible.

We were also delighted to host the Claddagh Association and thanks to Liz O’Hagan and her staff for promoting the vital work the Claddagh Association does at our State Finals.

The Gaelic Athletic Association of Western Australia was saddened to learn of the passing of a very popular Gael, Steve O’Sullivan just before our State Finals. As a mark of respect a minutes silence was held before both our Ladies and Men’s Finals to remember Steve. Our sincere condolences are extended to Steve’s family on his passing. Ar Dheis Dé go Raibh a Anam

Ladies Jersey Presentation Night:

On All-Ireland Football Final night, the ladies representing Western Australia at the Australasian Championships received their jerseys in the Skye Bar, Northbridge.

Sincere thanks to Ladies sponsors, The Skye Bar, Pipeline Technics and Janssen & Maluga Legal.

Men’s Jersey Presentation Night:

The Irish Club hosted the presentation of Jerseys to our Men’s squad that travelled to Brisbane for the 2016 Australasian Championships on 23rd September last.

Ashley Doherty from The Cure Bar and Shane O’Meara from Final Trim Operators were on hand to present the lads with their jerseys. Sincere thanks is extended to Men’s Sponsors Kentz SNC Lavin, Orla’s Wee Snug, The Cure Bar & Final Trim Operators for their support of our Men’s squad. Sincere thanks is also extended to the personal sponsors of the individual members of the Men’s squad who supported them on the road to Brisbane.

WA Men’s Golf Classic:

On the 24th September Maylands Golf Club hosted a Golf Classic in aid of the WA Men’s squad travelling to Brisbane for the 2016 Australasian Championships. The event was a great success with over 80 teams turning out in great sunshine. The players were also treated to a lovely meal in the club house afterwards.

A huge thanks to Mr Peter McKenna for his organisation of the event and the staff of Maylands Golf Club for their help and assistance on the day.

Minor Golf Classic:

In preparation for sending a U18 Gaelic Football Team to represent Western Australia at the 2017 Australasian Championships, a Golf Classic will be held at Maylands Golf Club on Sunday 27 November 2016.

Sponsorship of a hole is $500 and $75 to play. Price includes lunch on the day. For further details please contact Ciaran Gallagher at 0414 498 910 or Peter McKenna at 0447 258 000.

2016 Australasian Championships:

Western Australia sent both a Men’s and Ladies football squad to 91

Brisbane for the 2016 Australasian Championships hosted

by Queensland GAA at Gaelic Park, Willawong.

WA Ladies played Tom Murphy PRO Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland. Over the course of three days WA Ladies won two games and lost two games. On Saturday 1st October WA Ladies met Victoria Ladies to decide the destination of the Ladies Plate. After a titanic battle played in sweltering heat WA ladies went down to a lucky break that got Victoria a goal which allowed them to hold on in the finish. WA Men played four games over the three days coming out on the wrong side of results due to sheer bad luck. On the 1st October they met Queensland Men losing by one point in a game that threatened extra time. On behalf of the State Committee of Western Australia I wish to thank all the players, mentors and supporters who travelled to Brisbane to support our teams. I also want to thank Queensland GAA for their impeccable hosting of the Games and the warmth and hospitality Western Australia received from Queensland.

Finally in relation to State Games fixtures it was deemed necessary to hold the two plate finals at the same time on the same day. This hurts any of the States involved and it was particularly unjust that WA supporters could not watch both of our teams play and both teams support each other when either of them were playing. State Games fixtures are controlled by Australasia and the deployment of some common sense would have meant nobody was put in the position of having to choose to watch the WA Men or Ladies play their respective Plate Finals. As PRO I was running between

both matches monitoring both of our teams. Something for Australasia to keep in mind for the future.

Finally, if you are interested in taking up football or hurling, becoming a referee, getting involved behind the scenes or providing sponsorship for any of our competitions or State Teams for the Australasian Championships 2016 please do not hesitate to contact myself as State PRO or Gerry McGough, our State President.

Sincere thanks is extended to all our players, coaches, referees, volunteers and sponsors for their continued

Junior Academy Update

support of Gaelic Games in Western Australia.

Tom Murphy, PRO

www.facebook.com/gaelicgamesjunioracademyofwa www.facebook.com/gaelicfootballstatewau18team www.facebook.com/gaelicfootballandhurlingwesternaustralia Gaelic Athletic Association of Western Australia; President: Gerry McGough – 0410 233 532 PRO: Tom Murphy – 0458 954 052 Hurling: R.A. Cooke Reserve, Coode St, Morley.

Football: Tom Bateman Reserve, Wilfred Rd, Canning Vale.

the camogie player to get into the swing of things and the hurley to feel like an extension of her arm!

One of the parents from the Academy who has started coaching for us this season Alan Gibson was also able to help for a couple of days even juggling work commitments, he did wonderfully, always had a smile and you could see he was enjoying every minute of it!

From Sara Tiernan and myself who organise behind the scenes, we cannot thank this great bunch enough!

So our next plan is to enjoy the break as much as possible and I know the regular coaches John Broderick, Tony Ward, Rosanne Ryan, Ruiri Dowling and Gavin Kelly will be delighted to get their weekends back! Again without these lads (and lassies) giving up a few hours of their Sundays most weekends none of our ventures of bringing the joy of Gaelic Football and Hurling to the kids would be possible, so hats off to you all, thank you and I’ll say a few rosaries that you’ll all return next year! After Christmas we’ll have our AGM and before long the plans for the St. Patrick’s Day kick into action and our season starts all over again after that! To all the children and their families involved with the Gaelic Games Junior Academy, have a great Christmas and summer break and see you all in 2017!

We have finished our 5th season with the 2nd GAA Cul Camps of 2016. Thankfully, it was very successful!

It was a hectic week, but very rewarding! It is a school holiday program that goes for the length of a school day that lasts the week so it’s not something we take on too lightly!

We were very lucky with the wonderful kids we had, their behaviour was exemplary, and we were blessed with our coaches, it does take a special kind to immerse oneself in the company of children all day every day!

We had Eimear Beatty who is a PE teacher and perfect for the role of coach, plus her enthusiasm for Gaelic Football never wains, we also had Gerry Crowley who, it has to be said, has the patience of a saint and his easy going nature and good temperament makes him a great asset for us at the camp. Of course a decent knowledge of football and hurling doesn’t hurt! Luckily we had Matthew Quin coaching for us again, since he is young and cool, showing the kids secret handshakes and all that, it shows the rest of us up! There were a few other coaches that lent a hand one such Ciaran Gallagher stepped up to the mark to help and the kids really enjoyed his coaching, we were delighted to have him. Sheila Nolan lent a hand too, it was a while since she was involved with GAA but it didn’t take long for

www.thebreakwater.com.au

58 Southside Drive, Hillarys Boat Harbour Ph: 08 9448 5000 Fax: 08 9448 6000 92

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St Gabriel’s Hurling & CamogieClub Sponsors: PERI Australia Pty Ltd John 0418 885 604 www.periaus.com.au An Sibin Irish Bar Shane 0404 784 102 Player Contact List: Camogie: Danielle McInerney 0405 418 809 Hurling: Ronan Kilroy 0439 979 237 Facebook: S.t. Gabriels Hurling WA StGabriels CamogieClub Website: stgabrielsgaaclub.com

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.

Plans for 2017...

Plans for next year’s hurling and camogie are already underway & the club are planning some social events to be held before Christmas. Please get in touch if you are interested in getting involved in the club. Check the contact details below.

Thanks to our Sponsors...

We would like to thank Peri & An Sibin for their sponsorship of the club this season.

Thanks to you our members...

We would also like to thank everyone involved in the club for their for their contribution this year.

PERI Australia Pty Limited John 0418 885 604 www.periaus.com.au

An Sibin Irish Bar, Northbridge Shane 0404 784 102

GAB’s Abu!

Come join us for good food, music & Craic!!!

Hours: Monday - Thursday 12pm - midnight Friday & Saturday 11am- 2am Sunday 11am-12midnight

147 James Street, Northbridge, 6003 Perth Phone:0404 784 102 Email: Manager@ansibin.com.au www.facebook.com/pages/An-Sibin-Irish-Pub/1586650448222038

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From everyone at McLoughlin Butchers Free Range Hams & Turkeys, and a great selection of fresh meat for all your holiday needs!

Please visit our website to see our excellent range of products & cooking ideas for your Christmas feast.

58 Westchester Rd, Malaga, WA 6090 McLoughlinButchers.com.au 08 9249 8039 96