The Irish Scene Magazine Sept/Oct 2019 Edition

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vol 21, no 6 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019

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Page Index

baggage (unaccompanied) & FREIGHT 72 AI Express....................................................... 9243 0808 83 Exportair........................................Geoff/Tim 9477 1080 Butchers 89/96 McLoughlin’s Meats................................9249 8039 37 Meat Connoisseur..........................................9309 9992 CAFE/DELI & fresh food: 58 Avoka Cafe Belridge..................................... 6406 2105 Fresh Frontier Co...............................................6162 9958 Ma Mooney’s Sandwich Bar.........................9221 4872 Tina's Place an Sibin...............................0426 913 084 community groups: 33 Australian Irish Heritage Assoc................9345 3530 47 Irish Families in Perth 67 The Claddagh Assoc.......................................9249 9213 19 Irish Aust Chamber of Commerce........1300 513 633 Entertainment: 7 APB - Dylan Moran 82 Fiddlestick.......................................David 0413 259 547 Fiona Rea Music.......................................0404 831 445 46 Gallie 77 Irish Theatre Players 31 Torc Ceili Club Funerals: 32 McKee Funerals...............................................9401 1900 Immigration advice: 61 EasiVisa...........................Carol-Ann Lynch 9429 8860 irish Food & Gifts: Clonakilty Black Pudding Taste Ireland Jewellers: Tighe Jewellery..............................Graham 0414 309274 MARKETING: AYD....................................John Ruane 0408 025 650 Mechanics: 1 Killarney Autos...............................Neil 0439 996 764 BVM Autos.......................................Mike 0413 889 501 Tri Colour Autos.............................Sean 0402 638 221 POLITICIANS: 28 Jess Stojkovski.................................................9309 2666 74 Stephen Dawson...............................................9172 2648 PROPERTY DEVELOPERs: 14 Tyrone Developments....................................9582 2186 Russell Building Approvals..........Karl 0416 382 246

All Dressed Up and Somewhere to Go...................14 Around the Irish Scene...............................................88 Australian Irish Heritage Assoc...............................33 Australian Irish Dancing Assoc.................................74 Aussies Do Their Thing in Dublin.............................18 Avoka Cafe Belridge....................................................58 Ballinafad House........................................................... 22 Book Reviews..................................................................78 Claddagh Report...........................................................68 Cobh Goes Into Cruise Control for Aussies..............4 Colonel John Bruce, Part 3.........................................38 Connon Quinlan Gets a Makeover..........................28 Comhaltas Perth..............................................................57 Seniors Lunch.................................................................. 51 Dub 2 Dub........................................................................73 Duffy House....................................................................26 Family History WA.......................................................70 Final Print Run for Jack................................................60 From Clare to the Bush................................................. 15 G’Day from Melbourne................................................ 52 GAA Junior Academy.................................................95 GAAWA...........................................................................92 Happy Snapping for a Happy Christmas...............91 Honorary Consulate of Ireland Western Aust.....49 Iarla Inis Eoghain..........................................................85 Irish Choir Perth............................................................. 62 Irish Screen and Stage................................................82 Irish Recipes from Marguerite’s Cookbook...........59 Irish Theatre Players......................................................77 Isteach sa Teach............................................................40 Making it Easier to Return to Ireland....................... 21 Matters of Pub-lic Interest!.........................................64 Meeja WAtch.................................................................20 Melbourne International Film Festival.....................81 A Modest Hero Remembered...................................34 Minute with Synnott......................................................76 Naoise Gets a Birds Eye View...................................16 Northern Suburbs Social Group................................73 Our Personal Renaissance.........................................32 Paula from Tasmania....................................................86 The Revelation of Optus Stadium............................90 Roads to Redemption......................................................8 Rose of Tralee.................................................................. 12 Shamrock Rovers..........................................................89 Two Wheel Warriors Take on the World...............50 Ulster Rambles...............................................................54

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THE IRISH SCENE | 3

Cobh goes into

Cruise control For Aussies

BY LLOYD GORMAN

Christmas in July is a well established Australian celebration but marking Australia Day in July is an Irish one!

For ten years now a luxury cruise liner packed with thousands of Australian and New Zealand tourists has visited Cobh, Co. Cork. On July 11 this year the “Sea Princess” pulled into its only Irish stop and one of 36 ports on its 107 day or 59,000km voyage around the world cruise that started - and will end - in Auckland, New Zealand.

The 1500 Australian’s and 300 Kiwi’s arrived into the picturesque Cork town for a full Irish welcome described as “Australia Day in Cobh” to “experience ‘Down Under’ right here.”

The whole of Cobh rolled out the red carpet treatment for the visitors with day long entertainment and activities laid on in festival style.

Traditional music and Irish dancing, market stalls, live music from trad band Gaelic Brew, local artists and groups including Niamh O’Connor, Seán Damery, Forever Young and a send off by the Cobh Confraternity Band occupied the town’s waterfront

promenade, close to the docked vessel.

Australian Ambassador to Ireland, Mr Richard Andrews visited the area to greet passengers. He and others were given a guided tour of the impressive St Colman’s Cathedral, which celebrated the centenary of its dedication in August. The Cathedral boasts the largest carillon (49) in Ireland or Britain and the guests were treated to a special recital of Australian airs by carillonneur Adrian Gebruers.

Visitors with Irish heritage could trace their ancestors at the Cobh Heritage Centre [between 1848 and 1950 over 2.5 million Irish people emigrated from Cobh, in Above: Australian Ambassador to Ireland, Cork Harbour] which was also Richard Andrews celebrated Australia Day in the venue for a Blessing of the Cobh, pictured here at the Commodore Hotel Bonnets ceremony, in memory of (twitter.com/AusEmbIre) all the convict women transported to Australia. There was also a ceremonial flag raising on the Promenade to mark the 81st century of the handover of Spike Island to Ireland by the British. The Tricolour was simultaneously raised in Cobh and on Spike Island at precisely THE IRISH SCENE | 4

Left: Sea Princess leaves Cobh. Right: The Australia Day send off in Cobh.

8pm, exactly 81 years after Eamon de Valera raised it for the first time ever on Spike Island.

A new ferry service made getting to the island easier for any tourists inclined to make the trip while other nearby attractions such as The Titanic Experience, St Coleman’s Cathedral, Jameson Distillery and Fota Wildlife Park all within easy reach. Local pubs and hotels and even shops were all open for business and great places for visitors to experience a bit of Irish ‘craic’ and culture. More adventurous passengers could book in for self drive boat tours and high speed RIB tours of the harbour.

Right: Photo Visiting cruise liners comparison of a represent a major injection modern cruise ship into the local economy. The and the Titanic. all inclusive cost of a ticket Below: Ireland’s 2012 Titanic themed for the entire world trip is about €16,000, not including commemorative stamps, one of what they choose to spend them featuring Irish when they hit land. “There photographer Father are so many world class Browne, who travelled aboard the Titanic from attractions in Cobh now Southampton to Cork, that the ship should really with the Titanic at be making an overnight anchor off Cobh. call to make the most of all that there is to see and do,” commented Jack Walsh, chairperson of Cobh Tourism.

The Sea Princess left Cobh at 10pm, bound for Reykjavik, Iceland and the rest of its voyage, which was due to finish on August 25 at Auckland, New Zealand.

As it happens Sea Princess will pull into Fremantle on October 20.

to travel to New York. One of the fortunate few to get off at Cobh was one Fr. Francis Browne, a Cork born Jesuit, who was given a gift of a ticket to the Titanic from Southhampton to Queenstown, via Cherbourg in France. During the two days he was on board, Browne - a prolific photographer - took hundreds of shots of the ship, its crew and passengers, during the uneventful part of the trip. A wealthy American couple on board offered to pay for him to travel all the way to New York, but when he asked for permission he was told in no uncertain terms to “Get off that ship - Provincial”. It was almost certainly a decision that saved his life, and when the news of its sinking broke a short time later, many of Browne’s photographs were used in newspapers around the world as part of the reporting of the tragedy. After the war - during which he served with distinction - Browne would go on to spend an extended time in Australia, and true to form, take many photographs of the people and places he experienced there.

Most cruise ships - like the Sea Princess - dock next to the Cobh Heritage Centre but when there is more than one big cruiser, others can dock at Ringaskiddy, about 2km away, where ferries take passengers to and from land.

Smaller cruise ships (up to 499 feet/152 metres) can actually berth right in the heart of Cork city, about 20km away. Cork harbour is the second largest natural harbour in the world - after Sydney Harbour.

Cobh has a long standing association with cruise ships, and an established maritime tradition. Cobh - or Queenstown as it was called then - was the last port of call for the Belfast built RMS Titanic on its maiden, and fateful, voyage. Unlike the Sea Princess, Titanic did not berth at the quayside itself. Instead it dropped anchor about two miles offshore around 11.30am on April 11, 1912. A lucky seven passengers disembarked at the Irish coastal town while 120 souls boarded there, hoping continued on page 6 THE IRISH SCENE | 5

continued from page 5

Freo of the Fáiltes If Cobh was the launch pad for the emigrant lives of countless Irish people then Fremantle was the final port for large numbers of new arrivals. The Western Australian Museum’s Welcome Walls are peppered with their stories. Take panel 114, for example. Francis and Catherine (nee O’Sullivan) Donovan were a young couple from Kenmare, Co. Kerry who left Cobh in 1930 and arrived in Freo later that year. Within a year of settling in Perth they had their first of five children. The WA Museum has a very good website which makes it really easy to research and find those who arrived here by boat.

Fremantle is one of the major Australian cruise destination and in the 2018/19 season some 35 ships and 62,500 passengers made Freo their port of call. Its passenger terminal was also given a $3 million plus upgrade to help it keep up to par with the facilities offered by other ports. [Fremantle also celebrated its 50th anniversary as an international container trade in Australia in March.

A drive through parts of the Fremantle area, such as Rous Head, where thousands of shipping containers are piled high on top of each other in long rows, will give you a true picture of the size and the scale of this maritime trade!

It is fair to say that Fremantle’s rise as a major port owes no small amount to the efforts and ingenuity of Irish born engineer Charles Yelverton O’Connor. The Australian Dictionary of Biography details this period of his life, as this extract shows. “In April 1891 (Sir) John Forrest, premier of Western Australia, offered O’Connor the position of engineer-in-chief. In reply to his inquiry as to whether his responsibilities would cover railways or harbours or roads, Forrest cabled ‘Everything’.

THE IRISH SCENE | 6

Top: The Sea Princess. Above: Historian Michael Lefroy, great grandson of CY O’ Connor who built Fremantle Harbour, showed the President and Sabina around Fremantle during their 2017 visit to Australia.

“O’Connor, with his eldest daughter Aileen, travelled via Victoria where he presented to the government a report on its railways. In June he met Forrest. Both were big men, O’Connor, lithe and athletic; at over six feet (185 cm), he was slightly the taller. Both had known the toughening experience of surveyors working in unexplored places. O’Connor was the more sensitive, with wide and cultivated tastes and a passionate sense of justice for men of all degree. For the next ten years they worked closely together. O’Connor found that he was also to act as general manager of government railways. He carried this dual responsibility for

the next five and a half years.

“Forrest’s first demand was a harbour at Fremantle to accommodate the royal mail contractors, the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. and the Orient Steam Navigation Co., whose vessels were the largest steamers coming to Australia. Forrest and some of his influential peers had decided on the harbour they wanted and where it should be sited. They had accepted plans elaborated in 1887 by Sir John Coode who had found that the Swan River’s entrance was obstructed by a bar of rock exposed at low water in an estuary, with little difference between high and low water. Some local people believed the region was menaced by serious littoral sand travel. So Coode designed an outer harbour.

“Though his estimates were higher than Forrest could accept in 1891, the premier supported his plan.

O’Connor doubted whether evidence had been tested.

With characteristic independence and thoroughness he examined all the data, and collected more: he had observations and soundings made; and he consulted everyone who handled ships and knew the area’s seas, currents and winds. This convinced him that there was no serious littoral sand travel. He considered it would be practical and economical to remove the obstructing bar, deepen the area within the river mouth, and to keep it clear by dredging.

Above left: Three cruise ships in Victoria Quay, Fremantle.

Above right: Cruise ships arriving at the Fremantle Passenger Terminal. ceremony of the harbour works took place. In 1897 Lady Forrest opened the harbour, and in 1900 the mail station was altered from Albany to Fremantle. The official seal of success was set when on 12 September R.M.S. Himalaya, the P. & O. mail carrier outward bound from London, entered the inner harbour and berthed.

“The harbour of 1900 was larger than that O’Connor had detailed in his first meticulous plans and was capable of extension.”

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“An extensive sheltered harbour, further protected by a north and south mole stretching seawards from Rous Head and Arthur Head, could be created within the estuary to satisfy Forrest’s demand, and at a cost consistent with available resources. Before the end of the year O’Connor completed plans and estimates for an inner harbour for all vessels drawing 30 feet (9 m) at low water, and sufficient to meet the port’s demands for the foreseeable future. He calculated that the more extensive of his two schemes would cost £800,000, and could be completed in eight years.

Forrest was convinced by the clarity of O’Connor’s presentation and by parliament’s acceptance of the findings of a select committee inquiring into the competing plans for the works.

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roADS TO

REDEMPTION

Ireland recently witnessed one of its biggest annual pilgrimages, while Western Australia is just about to have its.

Climbing Croagh Patrick and trekking the Camino Salvado are very different experiences, the sentiment and intent behind them share similarities.

BY LLOYD GORMAN

The rocky road to the Reek On the last Sunday of July every year Ireland’s holiest mountain Croagh Patrick (Cruach Phádraig in Irish or the “Reek” as it is known locally - becomes a magnet for tens of thousands of souls.

Each year approximately 25,000 people turn out on “Reek Sunday” to honour Ireland’s patron saint who is said to have fasted and prayed on top of the Mayo mountain, which already had special significance as a place of worship dating back a thousand years, for forty days and nights in 441AD. In a long standing tradition spanning more than 1,500 years pilgrimages to the summit by the faithful have been practiced there ever since. Hiking boots are recommended for the ascent but many pilgrims make the often difficult and very stoney climb barefoot. This hardcore practice - an act of penance - dates back to the origins of this pilgrimage.

Jay Gannon, a good friend of mine from Ballinrobe, who moved to Perth with his family

last year, knows ‘Reek Sunday’ well. He said it was not uncommon for people in the area and other nearby towns and villages to get up in the middle of the night and walk from their homes - often eight or ten miles away - to the sacred mountain, and then make the climb, often still in the cover of night. And the roads would be alive with motorists often driving long distances from other parts of Ireland just to get up and down Croagh Patrick for the occasion, before jumping back into their vehicles and driving home again.

Considering the large numbers of people involved in such a concentrated period of time and the nature of the terrain the pilgrimage requires the involvement of many state agencies including the Gardai, Defence Forces, Civil Defence, Order of Malta Ambulance service and local mountain rescue to name a few. This year, some 23 people suffered a variety of medical and minor trauma injuries, with one person

Pilgramages have been practiced for hundreds of years

Images sourced from Mayo Online, Irish Catholic Bishops Conference, Discover Mayo, croagh-patrick.com, Society of Saint Pius X, Twitter - including by Lorraine Mulholland

THE IRISH SCENE | 8

evacuated by helicopter to Castlebar Hospital for a minor cardiac issue.

At 764m (2,507 ft) above sea level, the Reek is Mayo’s third highest mountain and sits about 8km (five miles) outside Westport (and 92km from Galway), so getting to the mountain in the first place can involve a bit of effort.

The 7km long trail - described as being moderate to strenuous - starts at the village of Murrisk, near a statue of St. Patrick. On average it takes two hours to climb and about ninety minutes to get back down again. As many people carry cameras as they do rosary beads for when they reach the top. Weather permitting, the summit offers breathtaking 360 degree views of the surrounding area, including Clew bay. Rolling masses and confessions are held at St. Patrick’s Oratory, on top of the mountain, which was built in 1905. In the past, pilgrims would end their pilgrimage at Kilgeever Holy Well, where they would have circled the well in barefoot or on their knees, as they made their request, after which they knelt and prayed.

Reek Sunday is the main pilgrimage but other traditional Pilgrimage days are the last Friday of July, known locally as ‘Garland Friday’, and August 15th which is the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven.

Top: Helicopters on standby in case of emergency. Above: Pilgrims, some barefoot, heading up and down the mountain, some stopping to pray along the way

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WAlk the WAlk Like Croagh Patrick, the Camino Salvado is about reflection and renewal for young and old alike and is not necessarily an easy path to take. But it is one that is open to people of faith, those with no faith and people seeking faith. Inspiration for the pilgrim trail began on the Camino Santiago in northern Spain in September 2008 and was introduced into the WA landscape in the following year. Now in its tenth year, there will be two Caminos, with the first running from Sunday 25 August to Sunday 1 September 2019 and the second from Sunday 8 September to Sunday 15 Sept 2019.

Pilgrims start the 202km Camino Salvado after morning mass at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Subiaco. The first stage of the route goes through the Perth CBD via Hay Street, onto East Perth, the Swan River foreshore and then up through Maylands and Bayswater into Guildford and St. Charles Seminary, a gentle 18km walk to

warm up the travellers for the next week.

Day two sees the city give way to countryside, as they pass through the vineyards of the Swan Valley and onwards across the bridge over the Bells Rapids onto a rough foot path north to the Walyunga National Park (23kms) - which contains one of the largest Aboriginal campsites in Perth, dating back 6,000 years. The national park is hilly but offers stunning views of the city in the distance. It gives way to farm land and the Lower Chittering Valley and back onto tarmacadam with winding roads and gentle hills for the rest of the day (23km).

Day four takes the walkers through the Moondyne Reserve to Moondyne Road and Keating Road and the start of the Julimar Forest (21km). A trail through mixed Wandoo and Jarrah trees of the Julimar State Forest is contrasted with nearby wide open farmlands that burst with bird life, orchids and other wild flowers in August and September (26km).

Day six is another 26km leg through farmland (with farmers consent) and off the beaten track. The final day follows along Old Plains Road until it meets the Great Northern Highway 5kms south of New Norcia - Australia’s only monastic settlement.

A great day’s walking (28kms) in the Wheatbelt, it THE IRISH SCENE | 10

Top: A pilgrim walking the Camino Salvado. Above: Australia’s only monastic settlement, the Abbey Church in New Norcia

offers a fantastic view of the Deep Space Telescope in the foothills to the west (a different way of reaching for the heavens).

This year the trail may avoid the Highway by taking a new route into New Norcia from the east – new bypass permitting. Pilgrims can take part in sung vespers at 6.30pm that day and then a sung mass at 9am on the next morning. There is also a tour of the monastery before a bus arrives to take the weary but rewarded walkers back to Perth.

Anyone I know who has undertaken this spiritual trek raves about it and how the change in pace, time to think and opportunity to escape everyday distractions is as much a holiday for the mind as it is for the soul.

Images sourced from caminosalvado.com, Twitter - including by Mandy Connor

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rose of

tralee Rose about to flower

BY LLOYD GORMAN Irish Scene magazine was whizzing its way to our Perth printers just as the Rose of Tralee festival - now in its 60th year - was reaching its natural conclusion.

On the two final nights in the Dome, one of the more than 20 women from across Ireland and around the world was crowned with the prestigious title.

So we don’t know how Perth girl Rebecca Mazza - the Sydney Rose who hails from Perth - fared in the final wash up, but we do know that she - like the other girls has had the time of her life. Her parents and siblings as well as other family from Perth flew into Ireland to support her and to reconnect with their Irish roots in Kanturk, Co. Cork, in what must be the ultimate fun packed holiday.

Irish Scene and many others in Perth will be wishing her all the best in the festival, but even if she doesn’t walk away as the 2019 International Rose of Tralee Rebecca will return to Australia all the richer for this once in a lifetime opportunity!

Look out for details of the selection process to become the 2020 Perth Rose of Tralee in the next issue of Irish Scene!

Rebecca is having the time of her life with her family in Ireland for the Rose of Tralee festival THE IRISH SCENE | 12

IRISH DAY

ASCOT RACECOURSE 26 OCTOBER perthracing.com.au THE IRISH SCENE | 13

All dressed up and somewhere to go!

BY LLOYD GORMAN Getting all dolled up is one of the best things about a day at the races, especially when its Irish Day at Ascot Racecourse in Perth (Saturday October 26). Looking good in new threads or a drop dead number goes hand in glove with the thrill of the race, the promise of a tip, good weather, great hospitality and the company of friends.

Ladies Day is always a glamorous affair at the Dublin Horse Show but this year was extra special as it marked the 100th anniversary of the first Ladies Day in 1919. The Dublin Horse Show itself is 140 years old and further evidence – if it were ever needed – that the Irish are a nation of horse lovers.

There is always a lot of competition for the style title at the equestrian summer event but this year the winner had a distinct West Australian influence.

Anne Marie Dunning, a fifth year primary school teacher at Scoil Mhuire in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, stood out of the 380 women who took part in the fashion race. She walked away with the prestigious award and €10,000 bounty.

She won with a simple but elegant white neoprene boat neck dress from Kalgoorlie based label Bel Cappello.

The dress was worn with a large black and white bow draped from Anne Marie Dunning (right), in the winning dress the shoulder

by Bel Cappello Couture Designs and fixed to her waist at the back and front. A stunning headpiece in the form of a large bow from Roscommon milliner Laura Hanlon, added to the winning look.

Just in case you were wondering, the best dressed man at the horse show was one Luke Gibbons, from Co. Mayo.

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THE IRISH SCENE | 14

From Clare to the Bush

BY DANIEL ARMSTRONG In the early days of the twenty-first century I was privileged to have watched Ivan O’Connor perform at what was then Rosie O’Grady’s Fremantle. The weekly Sunday session in those days was legendary and the band that performed there, The Settlers, featured the towering voice of Australia’s finest balladeer Sean Roche, accompanied by the fine musical talent of Brendan Woods on keyboard.

However, it was Ivan’s immense skill on the fiddle that managed to get the Sunday crowd up and moving their feet to the best renditions in Australia of traditional Irish song, reels, and jigs.

Known as Blackie to his many friends, Ivan is living proof that when it comes to the Gaelic propensity for musical virtuosity the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree! As a youngster in County Clare, Blackie was aware of the rich musical tradition he inherited and felt a desire to contribute to its legacy.

“It’s such a well-done part of the world for traditional music. My dad got me a fiddle and away I went,” Ivan explains.

It wasn’t long before recognition came his way as he picked up one prestigious award after another, winning both the Monster title and then

on to the All-Ireland title as musician of the year at the Raheny Music Festival in Dublin.

Upon moving to Australia his musical journey continued, and then in the year 2000 he received the greatest gift of all. “My daughter Elaina was born and latched on to the musical gene,” Ivan points out.

Hereditary has proven to be a blessing within the O’Connor clan, with Elaina acquiring much of her father’s natural ability and passion for the performing arts. At only nineteen years she already has an impressive amount of experience in musical theatre.

“I’ve appeared on Telethon and performed in the production for Legally Blonde last year…

I’m currently rehearsing for The Wizard of Oz at the Regal Theatre,” Elaina tells me.

Future aspirations abound for Elaina, who one day hopes to break in to the professional musical theatre industry and join a touring cast. Song writing is also a craft Elaina aspires to, and she will get the opportunity to display her flourishing musical talent on an upcoming project in the form of a record that her father Ivan is working on. The future release From Clare to the Bush has the O’Connor’s very excited. Elaina is poised to make her vocal debut on the track Caledonia, which is one of Dolores O’Keane’s best known works.

Top: Ivan O’Connor. Above: Ivan’s daughter Elaina

The contributors on the upcoming album is further cause for enthusiasm! Fiona Rea is set to feature on a song called Any Old Gum written by her father Fred, a man who needs no introduction on these pages!

Fiona is joined on the album by Sean Roche who will lend his soaring vocals to many of the tracks, and in the engineering room overseeing the recording process is Erik Kowalski. A fine musician in his own right, both Ivan and Sean highly appreciate the role Erik has played both in this upcoming project and in past musical releases.

“Yes, Erik is a very gifted muso and Fiona has put on a wonderful song written by her dad Fred,” Ivan enthuses. Sean put it more succinctly when I asked him about Erik. “He’s a genius boy”, he told me in no uncertain terms.

Part of the motivation in making the upcoming album is to show how much of a united bunch the Australian-Irish diaspora is. As Ivan’s family and friends continue to work on the project, the hope is it will be set for release later in the year.

“It’s going to blow people away,” Ivan energetically explained to me during one of our conversations. One thing is for sure, it may well be a long, long way from Clare to Here, but in the case of the O’Connor’s, we are glad they made the journey out to the distant shores of Western Australia.

THE IRISH SCENE | 15

Naoise gets a bird’s eye view of Eagles eyrie’s

BY LLOYD GORMAN Sligo man Naoise Leonard landed in Perth on January 10. He couldn’t have timed his arrival in Perth any better if he tried. The University of Limerick sports science student’s internship with the West Coast Eagles coincided with the single biggest period of change in the Club’s history.

He is the last in a long line of enthusiastic Irish students to work with the Eagles at their traditional home grounds at Subiaco Oval and the first to experience their state of the art purpose built facilities at Lathlain Park.

“I was there at Subiaco until June, this is completely different,” he told Irish Scene. “They were going to move in here at the end of the season but they decided to move in the mid season buy, so it was really worth it, getting to see it.

You have natural light instead of being in under the grandstand in Subiaco. Its just a lot easier here, this is the highest standard in the southern hemisphere, its unbelievable.”

Dave Feehan, a member of the Eagle’s support staff who also looks out for

the young Irish trainees, has an even longer perspective on the transition and isn’t looking back.

“Its always sad leaving the place you spent a lot of years in yourself, let along the history of the Club and football history there previous to that,” he said. “It is a sad occasion but its great to be here, the facilities here are now the benchmark for the AFL and in terms of space its miles ahead and the equipment and everything has been updated to the point where they have everything they need.”

Data collection and analysis plays a big part of what Naoise does with the Eagles. “A lot of what I do here is based on GPS, putting GPS units on players to track distance, how far they run, how far they sprint in games and training. It’s good for preventing injuries as well, so if a player is running too much you can pull them back, and add certain drills and training if they are doing too much. We have a baseline for players from previous seasons to see how well they are going and you try to maintain them at the same distance and keep them controlled. I also work with the Eagles WAFL teams. I’m on the bench, rotating players on and off and making sure they are not playing over what they should be playing timewise, and doing their GPS as well. Its good to get the experience on game day and see what is like on the bench.”

Inset left: The West Coast Eagles training at the old Subiaco Oval. Below: Training at their new home at Lathlain Park

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live at home is in the countryside, about ten minutes from the nearest town, to living so close to everything is great,” the 22 year old said.

Plus he gets to go to all the Eagles home games and enjoy their success, and the spanking new $1.2 billion Optus Stadium. “I go to all the home games, the atmosphere and the crowds are great and the Eagles fans are really something, even on small home games they fill the stadium. The stadium is state of the art and everything is so easily accessible, we do training there and the parking was so easy and access is easy on game days.”

Naoise Leonard with Dave Feehan It might be far from AFL that Naoise was raised, but he has always been a keen sportsman. He played Gaelic football until the age of sixteen when he moved into running and athletics before he returned to Gaelic. When he got here first he trained and played with Morely Gaels for a bit but the pressure and demands of work got in the way of that.

Naoise is from just outside Tubercurry, on the border with Mayo, where he went to school.

Mum and Dad, Patricia and Michael, both work in local nursing homes and he has three brothers, Oisin, Finn and Eoin, and two sisters - Muireann and Saoirse.

The Eagles new home in Lathlain Park, Mineral Resources Park, has two ovals – one the same size as the one at Optus Stadium, and the second matching the MCG, where West Coast have proved themselves winners on more than one occasion. At time of going to press, the Eagles were having a great season and on track to reach the Grand Final on September 28. Unfortunately for Naoise his stint with the Eagles lapses before then and he will be back in Ireland when it comes around.

Sister Act! The Kelly sisters (above) are the latest in a strong field of Irish players to enter the the AFLW. They follow in the path of another Mayo duo - Cora Staunton and Sarah Rowe - as well as Ailish Conisidine, Yvonne Bonner and Aisling McCarthy, who all signed rookie contracts after a trial camp in Melbourne in September 2018. (Niamh and Grace were due to take part in the same trial but in the end weren’t able too.) Everyone of the Irish recruits have been resigned for 2020. Now that’s real girl power!

As well as the great experience the internship with one of Australia’s elite footy teams would give him, he had another good reason to try and get onto the Perth programme. He was one of five students to apply for it and he was offered the place. “My sister came out here seven years ago so I’m living with her out in Forrestfield. I really like it here, it seems relaxed and it’s nice to have good weather. When I came, between January to March, there were two days of rain. It’s a lot more of an active and outside lifestyle, especially in summer. Where I

THE IRISH SCENE | 17

He will be watching their progress closely and wishing them well and his interest in the fortunes of the club is set to grow. In December, the Eagles will be entering a team into the new Australian Football League Women’s [AFLW] and it will have a quality Irish element. “The Kelly sisters - Niamh (23) and Grace (24) - are good Gaelic footballers from Mayo, not far from where I’m from.”

Auzzie Auzzie Auzzie, High High High Probably Australia’s most famous wedgetailed eagle (Aquila audux) Auzzie has been flying for the West Coast Eagles since 2007, and this year reached more than 150 games (a record many players would love to hold). She swoops into action before bouncedown at Eagles games, with her handler Yvonne (below) from the WA Birds of Prey Centre.

Aussies

do their thing

in Dublin

Clear blue skies and warm weather set the scene for a recent and new event at the Australian Ambassador to Ireland’s official residence in Killiney, Dún LaoghaireRathdown, Dublin. On June 26, Abbey Lea - which has been home to every Australian ambassador and their families since 1964 - hosted the first Summer BBQ in association with the Embassy and Irish Australian Chamber of Commerce. Australian firms with a presence in Ireland - Harvey Norman and Meat & Livestock Australia - sponsored the ‘barbie’ event in the manicured grounds of the character house. As well as members of the local business and community, special guests included the ‘Killiney Koala’.

“We hope the Summer BBQ will become just as popular a fixture in the Irish business calendar as the Abbey Lea, the Australian Ambassador to Ireland’s official residence Australia Day in Killiney, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Dublin Corporate Lunch (on or near January 26 in the Hogan Stand in Corke Park),” the Irish Australian Chamber said.

Another bunch of Aussies in Ireland also celebrated their national heritage in traditional style in July. The Ireland Australia Association encouraged their guests - which also included ambassador Richard Andrews and the Irish Australian Chamber of Commerce - to bring their stubby holders and hosted ‘Ireland’s biggest BBQ’ on Sunday July 29 at Wanderers Rugby Club, next to Aviva Stadium, Dublin 4.

THE IRISH SCENE | 18

Join us for this premium event at the Champagne Bar, Members' Area, Ascot Racecourse for an enjoyable afternoon of racing and networking.

16TH OCTOBER, 12PM - 5PM GUEST SPEAKERS INCLUDE: - Charlotte Mills of Racing and Wagering Australia, - Niamh Bliss of Absolutely Beautiful Beauty Salon - Jessica Stojkovski, MLA Member for Kingsley Australian Labor Party. *Member ticket $60 +GST *Former IWAF customers can avail of this price until 1st October.

Associate ticket $70 +GST Guest ticket $ 90 +GST Ticket price includes drinks, canapes, members' area access and racecourse entry.

(We will also be donating a portion of ticket sales to The Cancer Council of WA.) For bookings please vist us at www.irishchamber.com.au THE IRISH SCENE | 19

Meeja WAtch IRISH NEWS IN PERTH

BY LLOYD GORMAN

Western Australia, and the rest of the country, are never far from the hearts and minds of many in Ireland, particularly those who have lived and worked here or amongst those still with family still here. Interest in WA in particular is high if a sample of news and feature articles amongst some of Ireland’s traditional print media are anything to go by....

‘Irish’ Samaratins brave rescue bid in Perth petrol station blaze Perth media reported the dramatic story of how a man was pulled from a burning car while it was just metres from petrol bowsers at a service station in Dianella on the first weekend of August.

Something worth ‘zincing’ about A Perth firm - West Perth to be precise - has big plans for the Irish midlands. On August 15 veteran Leinster Leader reporter Conor McHugh reported Aussie company Zinc of Ireland had green lighted its flagship mining Kildare project.

An estimated 743,000 tonnes of zinc and 116,000 tonnes of lead are deposited in Allenwood, Co. Kildare, about 47km from Dublin and halfway between Rathangan and Clane in the north of the county.

Image sourced from 7NEWS

Large amounts of zinc have previously been found in neighbouring counties such as Tipperary and Laois, and if the project goes ahead - as Zinc of Ireland has told the ASX it will - it could create as many as 600 local jobs. www.leinsterleader.ie/news/home/438539/ potentially-hundreds-of-mining-jobs-for-kildare.html The car was a burnt out wreck.

Martin O’Meara’s Medal

Passer-bys and people at the station witnessed a terrifying sight as flames suddenly engulfed the car.

Instead of running away from the danger some good Samaritans dashed towards the flame licked car to see if anyone was inside. There was. A man was unconscious in the passenger seat who would have been unable to escape under his own steam. They tackled the blaze and got him out of the inferno. The driver was taken to hospital, but wasn’t hurt.

The loan of Irish born Martin O’Meara’s Victoria Cross medal from its home in the WA Army Museum in Fremantle to the National Museum of Ireland at Collin’s Barracks Dublin was widely reported by a large number of Irish and Australian media.

An interesting detail was missing from the news reports. Irish Scene understands from good sources that the strangers who came to his aid were two Irish lads, who quietly slipped away once the man was safe. Irish Scene tried to reach out to the lads to get their story but it seems while they are not afraid to face danger they would rather shy away from any publicity. Anyhow, well done boys. www.thewest.com.au/news/perth/man-pulled-fromburning-car-at-perth-petrol-station-ng-b881280878z

See page 37 for a sample of the coverage it generated. www.colliemail.com.au/story/6301737/victoria-crossmedal-loaned-to-ireland/

THE IRISH SCENE | 20

The Clinic meets A Country Practice The July/August edition of Irish Scene carried a story about a small group of medical students from NUI Galway who put their hands up to take part in an exchange programme with Fremantle Hospital and Narrogin Regional Hospital over July and into early August.

On July 31 the Narrogin Observer carried this story about the doctors in training - Olivia Dixon, Rachael O’Neill, Maeve Murphy and Rosemary Joseph - who spent two weeks in the Wheatbelt town learning their trade. All four said they enjoyed the experience and would be keen to return to Australia because conditions and prospects were better here than in Ireland. www.thewest.com.au/news/narrogin-observer/ young-doctors-love-the-oz-life-ng-b881267521z

Making it easier to

return to Ireland A new online information portal for Irish emigrants looking to move back to Ireland was launched in August.

Returning to Ireland was created by the Citizens Information Board, with support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, this new website contains information on the practicalities involved in returning to Ireland.

Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Ciarán Cannon, T.D said it is a key component of the government’s Ireland’s Diaspora Policy to help, in practical ways, those that left Ireland and want to return home.

“I am keenly aware that returning to Ireland from abroad can be a challenging experience,” said Mr Cannon. “This is why the Government is committed to making this process as smooth as possible by ensuring that, as a first step, people thinking about making the move have access to comprehensive, detailed and accurate information.

The Citizens Information Board has already consolidated its position as the go-to resource for information about public services in Ireland.

This new content, specially catered for returning emigrants, is exceptionally detailed and will

no doubt be an invaluable resource for Irish emigrants moving back home.”

Citizens Information Board Chief Executive Angela Black said the site citizensinformation. ie recorded more than 13 million users and 47 million page views last year.

“This new Returning to Ireland category will be a very useful resource for all Irish citizens living abroad and thinking about coming home, whatever their stage in life,” he said. “We hope that this information on returning to Ireland, in addition to the existing 1,200 webpages already available, helps our Irish citizens abroad navigate their way back home. ‘Returning to Ireland’ provides practical information on Irish public services aimed specifically at people returning to live in Ireland. Returning citizens need easy access to information which can help during their transition to Ireland on matters such as how the Irish taxation system works, how to get an Irish driving licence or get a passport for a child born abroad.”

Returning to Ireland content can be found at: www.citizensinformation.ie/en/returning_to_ ireland/

THE IRISH SCENE | 21

we can. Despite years of neglect and a lot of damage there was still a wealth of original details such as plaster work, door and window cases that survived and could be saved but a lot had to go.

“The first thing we had to was put on a new roof,” he added. “The house has survived nearly 200 years but when we came in it was nearing the point of no return. We fixed the wiring, plumbing, and roof and all the boring bits before Hugh and the cameras arrived so they got Everything to see all the about the glamourous 70,000 square stuff and I think foot building the viewers will set on seven like that.” acres of Irish countryside The seeds for screamed large Great House scale project, Revival were

BY LLOYD GORMAN except the sown about price. Bede, the same time who has Irish that Bede ancestry, was was buying on the look out Ballinafad for a historic House. Show property to presenter restore in and Dublin Ireland or architect Hugh Scotland when Wallace had he found the lunch with his Mayo mansion friend Debbie in about 2012.

Thornton of He found it Amino TV. “I online and remarked that Ballinafad House as SMA College knew it was it was terrible exactly what he to see old was looking for. buildings and outhouses and school houses going to rack and ruin,” said Wallance. “It became an idea for a “It seemed like a building worth saving,” he said. The programme which she then pitched to RTÉ.” couple flew in from Australia in November 2013 and within a couple of months they were the new owners of With several ambitious restorations featured the series Ballinafad House. They paid just €80,000 for the pile had to be filmed over a two-year period. “There was a and had a modest budget of just €500,000 to get the huge time commitment with six or seven visits to each gargantuan job underway and reinvent the husk of a building,” Hugh explained. “But I loved it and had a fabulous journey and met fabulous people.” house into something entirely elegant, sophisticated and even romantic.

As well as Bede and Sandra’s brave and bold three year long effort to save Ballinafad House, Great “You don’t buy a building like this to make money, House Revival features five other mercy missions if you are going to do that you are mad,” Bede told to prevent distinctive Irish properties from rotting The Mayo News. “But a building like this does need away into obscurity. They included an 1840’s house to generate some kind of sustainable income for its in Sherrard Street, Dublin; a derelict 19th century long term future and it lends itself very well to what school house in Cavan; and a Donegal woman’s bid we want to do. For me, this is a passion to save this to renovate her great, great grandmothers thatched building. Something like this has so much potential cottage on the Inishowen Peninsula that had all but for a community, to see it abandoned is crazy to me. been reclaimed by the earth. An old farmhouse and We began work in March of 2014 and because it had agricultural outbuildings in Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow, been abandoned for virtually 20 years with no power and the Belvelly Tower House in Cobh, Co. Cork - an or water, the first six months were just filling skips ancient stronghold that had not been lived in for 400 and clearing it out, documenting the building. We are years - also featured. But none compared in scope or trying to restore the original building as faithfully as Never mind Grand Designs or The Block, RTE’s relatively new property programme show Great House Revival aired on SBS in June and July, and the hit series kicked off with a truly impressive restoration job. Bede Tannock, an architect and cabinet maker from Perth, WA, and his partner Sandra took on the daunting task of restoring the derelict 110 room Ballinafad House, outside the village of Belcarra, near Ballinrobe and about 10 kilometres south-east of Castlebar, Co. Mayo.

Ballinafad House To the Mayo manor reborn

THE IRISH SCENE | 22

scale to Ballinafad House, which is a 70,000 square foot building set on seven acres of beautiful Irish countryside.

Originally it belonged to an estate that measured 1,000 acres.

Like a sunken ship wreck that becomes an artificial reef teeming with life, the great house came to harbour a variety of wildlife while it was abandoned by people. The bulk of the great building provided shelter and protection for local sheep and their lambs during inclement weather while more exotic creatures also took up residence there.

In addition to being a listed building, Ballinafad is also a special area of conservation for the protected lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros). The colony in the roof of Ballinafad is the northern most colony recorded on the planet! Restoration of the building also ensured the long term preservation of their habitat. Brown eared bats (Plecotus azurites) also lived in the house while other critters - including swallows, crows and even a colony of pint martens - a small animal related to the mink, otter, badger and weasel - also made it their home.

Places like Ballinafad House have a long and complicated history and many memories. It was built before the Irish Famine as the wedding home of local couple Anne Lynch and Maurice Blake. In 1908 the property - which boasts its own stately stain glassed chapel - was given as a gift to the Society of African Missions by the family. The SMA opened a secondary school and also used it as a seminary for students preparing to go overseas with the priesthood. Some 500 priests were ordained out of it before its doors closed in 1957.

In the 1960’s the House was bought by Balla Mart and for five years it was used as a post primary agricultural college before that facility closed in the mid 1970’s, with its 200 students (boarders and day students) left with no choice but to continue their Top: Ballinafad during the restoration. Middle: The grand staircase, before it was renovated.

Above: Bede Tannock with Great House Revival presenter Hugh Wallace in front of the house education elsewhere. entry. Inset: Bede and his partner Sandra.

Continued on page 24

THE IRISH SCENE | 23

Continued from page 23

Banshees and bands Perth media identity Gerry Gannon probably knows Ballinafad House better than most in Ireland, and almost certainly more than almost anyone else in Australia. The former ABC radio announcer and journalist hails from Galway and spent his formative years as a student at the House during its SMA days in preparation to become a priest. At the age of 13, Gerry entered the college that would become his de facto home between 1966 and 1972. His experiences and time there would have a profound impact on the rest of his life, and he continues to have a close link with the place, even now.

Growing up in rural Ireland in the 1950’s, Gerry said the only place they got to go was Mass on a Sunday, and the theatre of Mass appealed to something within him, which lead him to consider following a vocation as a missionary priest.

“It was an interesting place,” he told Irish Scene. “I learned resilience, I learned to develop a sense of independence and I learned about mate-ship. I learned nothing by way of religion.

Images sourced from www.rte.ie

“I was very religious up until then. I turned away from religion 10 years ago and became a devout atheist about seven or eight years ago. I now despise religion and all that it stands for,” he said.

“It was where I learned to play music, and it was the place I had my first consciousness about the fact I didn’t want to be a priest, and its the place where the girls from the local convent where allowed to join us for a dance,” he recalled. “We had a little band at the school called the Concords, we were the musicians who provided the entertainment for the hop (dance), with the girls from Bal. At that particular dance every opening to that particular venue was blocked by a priest and a nun, and yet many of us managed to escape, and I remember well having a kiss and a cuddle with a girl called Madeline Lyons, who I was in love with at the time (who’s married with many children now I’m sure) in the school dump,” he laughed. “It was at that dance, playing guitar and singing, that halfway through I realised for certain I didn’t want to be a priest, I wanted to be in show business, and I subsequently did go into show business because the day I finished school was the day a band called the Swing Left: Photos taken prior to the restoration project, including the dining room (bottom).

Below: The restored dining room

THE IRISH SCENE | 24

Times Masies picked me up to play my first gig as a professional musician.”

One teacher in particular had a big impact on him.

“My English and geography teacher was Ken Lyons, and it was his love of English that inspired me to become a journalist. Of all the teachers I had, Ken was the one who had the greatest positive Inset: Gerry Gannon as a student at influence on me - we still Ballinafad House. stay in touch. When I go Right: Gerry in Perth back every year, we go for today dinner in Castlebar with one or two of the other lads who went to Ballinafad with me and its become an enduring friendship.”

Gerry has some interesting early memories of Ballinafad House. “It had been a school for about ten years before I went there,” he said. “I became good friends with the director Father Vincent O’Neill, who has died since. I also ran the tuck shop in that final year together with Fr. O’ Neill. About once every fortnight we would go to Castlebar to buy stock and we’d go to a restaurant which was like a Kentucky Friend Chicken outfit in Castlebar, and we would proceed to have a good feed out of the proceeds of the shop,” he added. “We became mates. Vincent was co-celebrant at my wedding, but died not too long after. He was a demon behind the wheel, didn’t mind a drink, sometimes I would be called to pick him up from places where he was imbibing alcohol in order to get him back safely to the college.

“The original owner of the building was Count Blake and it was said he haunted the school. One of the kids in my year opened his locker one night to see the face of Count Blake on the inside of the door.” He has a very vivid personal memory of another possibly paranormal experience there. “I distinctly remember this as though it was yesterday. It was a June evening when the evenings were long and we were out the front of the college, and there was about a dozen of us horsing around, when we heard a scream that I could never describe - it just chilled you right to the bone.

Next morning we heard that a local woman called Mrs Mac ‘something’ had died, and the legend is that a banshee is heard when a woman - predominately named O’ or Mac ‘something’ - dies. So I can lay claim that I have heard the banshee. I have no idea what I heard, but all the boys heard it, all the priests heard it, and everybody stopped doing what they were doing because it was a wailing sound that chilled you to the bone.”

He has been back to Ballinafad in different contexts over the years. “We went back once with Ken and another former pupil, and went through the building with Bede who is a good bloke and was in the process of renovating the place, and we shared some memories and reminiscing about some good and bad times. It was a cathartic experience. I’ve also been back before Bede took over, when the place was essentially a ruin, my wife and I drove through there and you couldn’t get into the building, it was all locked up. We walked around, saw various places, stirred different memories - things you don’t think about but now there’s new life being being breathed into it, Bede’s done an absolute fabulous job.”

The House has also seen some glamour in its past, a quality which will no doubt reappear as it is reinvented as a luxury wedding venue. Kathryn Crosby, the second wife of Bing Crosby, stayed there during a trip to Ireland. The beauty of the silver screen, now 86, also attended a fundraiser in the 1980’s for Ballinafad while it was being used as a college (a lack of funding was responsible for its closure). In more recent years, before Bede and his partner bought it, The Mayor News reported its possible use as a ‘detention centre’ or a multi-million euro sports complex.

Today Ballinafad House is a place of joy and life.

Considering the place was built as the home for a then newlywed couple, its reincarnation as a wedding venue is perhaps very fitting and has even seen friends of Bede’s fly in from Perth to hold their nuptial celebrations there. Apparently it also makes a great entertainment location. In mid June the House also provided the venue for the 20th birthday extravaganza - ‘Gospel in the House’ - of the Chapel Street Gospel Choir, who are recognised nationally and internationally, with special guests.

Chapel Street Gospel Choir performing at Ballinafad House. Photo by Liz Parsons.

THE IRISH SCENE | 25

Restoration work on what is thought to be Joondalup’s original - and oldest - house got underway at the end of July. Duffy House near Woodvale [in Yellagonga Regional Park, and adjacent to Beenup Swamp] is a simple but sturdy stone cottage built between 1911 and 1913. The unassuming looking structure has strong Irish ancestry.

Duffy house brought back from the brink

BY LLOYD GORMAN

parent’s house was four rooms with a front verandah. [My father] never had time to put a back [room] on it and he never had time to get it plastered or sealed inside. But it was never finished.

It was built of limestone from the quarry out there in Perry’s Paddock... where the school is.”

Jack recalled that the property was ‘one of the most Bernard and Sarah modern homes in (née Campbell) the district... The Duffy, emigrated house stood on 10ha from Ireland to of rich land with a Western Australia swamp in the front on the Hamilla garden and natural Mitchell in April bush all around’. He Jack Duffy House in 2009 1859. Tragedy struck said: “Dr Haines, the family early into who lived in East their new life in WA Wanneroo, told when Bernard died in 1861 after he fell from a cart and Dad it would be healthier not to put a ceiling in the broke his neck. house. So he didn’t. We certainly had plenty of fresh The Irish couple had five children, including their only air through the place. Visitors sometimes said it was a bit cold in winter, but I never felt cold there in 80 odd son Bernard James - aka Barney - who was born in years and there isn’t anywhere cooler in summer.

1849 in Ireland. Barney was one of the first European settlers in the Wanneroo district and became a farmer with 100 acres near Lake Goollelal. A limestone house he built on the property was demolished in 1977.

Barney married a Catherine Hughes in July 1873 and they had six children, including a son in 1875, Frederick John. After being schooled in Fremantle and the Christian Brothers College in Perth, Fred returned to the family estate in Wanneroo and later took up his own farm in the district, on which Jack Duffy House was built. He farmed a market garden and kept horses on the holding. Fred got married to an Eva Matilda Cockman, a daughter of another Wanneroo pioneering family, James and Mary Cockman, who settled in the area in 1852. [Their homestead Cockman House has been maintained and is a popular local attraction and heritage site]. Frederick and Eva had eight children and in 1911 they commissioned local builder George Dawson to build their home which would become known as Jack Duffy House. One of their children John ‘Jack’ Duffy - was born 17 May 1913, around the same time the house was finished. A heritage council assessment of the place includes two recollections of it by two of their sons. Bill Duffy recalled: “My

“All the walls and floorboards are original and still in good condition. Under the lino the jarrah floorboards are all clean and strong. We held dances on those floorboards, when we had birthdays or surprise parties. We’d roll everything up out of the way and have a good dance.”

The property originally consisted of 25 acres, of which Frederick Duffy used the swampland as a vegetable garden until his death in 1924. His widow did not continue the veggie garden but did start a small dairy.

Jack Duffy recalled: ‘We started with one cow and built up from there.

Although we boys ran the dairy, it was still a hard

THE IRISH SCENE | 26

time for Mum.” At its peak the family run dairy milked as many as 70 cows, with their milk sent to a Brownes depot in North Perth. Brothers Jack and Bill ran the dairy until 1962 when it moved off the homestead, and finally closed in 1976. The remnants of the dairy are found about 100 metres to the south-west of Duffy House. Jack Duffy never married and lived his entire life at the house that bears his name, until his death in 2009, when he was almost 96.

A heritage assessment of the property was carried out in July of 2009, and while it found several abandoned vehicles there, the place still held most of its original charm and character.

“Jack Duffy House may be the oldest surviving building in the City of Joondalup.”

It found: “Jack Duffy House is a fine example of a simple vernacular building influenced by English Georgian architecture, built of local limestone, and adapted to suit local conditions through the addition of a verandah.

“The setting of Jack Duffy House has landscape qualities within relatively cleared parkland, with picturesque views. Jack Duffy House has a close relationship with its surroundings. The house, together with the setting, is important evidence of the history of occupation of Woodvale and demonstrates the original development of the site as a farm. The association of the place with the former dairy is important evidence of the occupation and development of Woodvale. Jack Duffy House is associated with the prominent Duffy family – early Wanneroo settlers and long time Wanneroo residents.”

anti-social behavior and vandalism and was slated for demolition.

Then in 2015, the Western Australian Planning Commission bought the site with a view to finding a “long term solution” for the historic building. Jessica Stojkovski, the member for Kingsley, and others in the community and Joondalup council championed and advocated for Duffy House. The other two places mentioned above - Cockman House and Perry’s Paddock, Cottage and Stables - both on Ocean Reef Road, have been saved and restored as examples of early local settlement.

With so few of them left it would have been almost criminal to allow Duffy House to disappear. In 2018 Joondalup council agreed to accept the future management of the building.

“The Woodvale area continues to grow, however, there are now fewer historical sites that remain, so it was vital for our community to keep Duffy House and our heritage link to the Joondalup-Wanneroo suburbs,” The Kingsley MLA said. “The State Government funding will enable the local council to restore and retain the building - having overall management to take it into the future. I’m looking forward to seeing it take shape. The people power behind this campaign has been extraordinary and this is truly a win for our local community.”

In February of this year the state government gave the council the permit it needed to occupy Duffy House and restore it. The government also contributed Continued on page 28

The House was found to be intact, but it was also abandoned and allowed to fall into a state of disrepair. The isolated house attracted disturbing Below: Jack Duffy House in 2019. Right: Remains of Duffy’s Dairy, located 100m to south-west of Jack Duffy House (July 2009)

THE IRISH SCENE | 27

Continued from page 27

$300,000 towards the initial repairs, maintenance and conservation works.

On July 25, Joondalup announced stage one works had commenced. These included fencing off the area, carrying out repair works on the house itself, by reusing brickwork from the dilapidated dairy which may feature in future restoration works - and installing power and water to the building.

Joondalup Mayor Albert Jacob said he was pleased the property would be refurbished to a condition that will allow it to be appreciated for generations to come.

“Duffy House is one of our last surviving links to the pastoral land use in the Wanneroo and Joondalup area many decades ago, and I look forward to seeing what awaits for this significant historical landmark in the future,” Mayor Jacob said.

According to Joondalup council, future uses for the site are currently under consideration and further information will be made publicly available in due course.

Rear (west) of Jack Duffy House, showing lean-to extension and outside toilet (July 2009) Images sourced from www.joondalup.wa.gov.au

Jessica

Stojkovski

MLA

MEMBER FOR KINGSLEY 4/923 Whitfords Ave, Woodvale WA 6026

Jessica.Stojkovski@mp.wa.gov.au Phone: 08 9309 2666

Above: The facade and plans for 69-75 Barrack Street, Perth Heritage can be an emotive word, not to mention heritage restoration. Heritage restoration projects typically require specialist skills, materials that can be hard to find and reams of red tape, all of which can add to the expense of a project.

But balancing that is the fact that quite often there can be free* cash for conservation works. (*strings may be attached).

Back in April of this year, the City of Perth dealt with a complex request for heritage grants from the Connor Quinlan Estate. There is a good reason why the name sounds so Irish. The estate owns six buildings - an entire block - in the Perth CBD, 618 and 612-616 Hay Street as well as 69-75, 77-85, 87-93 and 95-99 Barrack Street, all built around 1892. The owners plan to spend just over $1 million to restore the facade and applied to get just under half ($434,756) back in heritage grants, in line with the council’s own heritage policy which can allow for a 50% refund, capped at $90,000 per building.

“The proposed façade works to these six buildings will have a significant positive impact on the Barrack Street streetscape which has being undergoing a transformation since the first [heritage] grant was allocated by the City of Perth in 2006,” the planning staff said in their report to the council.

“The proposed conservation works are comparable for each building within this package of grant applicants. The proposal is to either repaint the building based on original paint scapes or repoint if the building was originally brick, repair awnings including replacing the pressed metal, re-glazing, repair damaged masonry and reinstate missing architectural detailing…the works will be a positive outcome for the area and will ensure the conservation of the building well into the future. The visual appearance of the building will improve significantly and ensure that it is also more usable for potential tenants. The works will improve the aesthetics of the subject building but also the Barrack Street Conservation Area as a whole.”

THE IRISH SCENE | 28

Another heritage grant worth just over $61,000 was So while there was much to recommend handing over the money, there were some complications. As part of also approved by Perth city council in July 2015 for their application, the estate intended to replace signs minor facade works to the same buildings. Those across several of the buildings, but because the signs works were never carried out within the two year were “not original” they did not qualify for heritage approval period and expired. support and that element of the request was taken Two Irish figures played a prominent role the history out, reducing the grant down to $366,157. of Perth at the end of the 19th century and turn of the The council was also not convinced about the 20th century. Daniel Connor and Timothy Francis effectiveness of Quinlan had very the bird proofing different journeys in measures for all life but would form the buildings that a powerful coupling were proposed, in their adopted and the council home. recommended Daniel Connor that “these costs…

(Connors) was born be borne by the in Cahersiveen, Co. owner”.

Kerry in 1831. At the

BY LLOYD GORMAN Another snag with age of 19 he was their plans came sentenced to seven up during the years transportation process. “Given the for the crime of extent of [council] sheep stealing, funding required… and he arrived at the assessment Fremantle on-board panel saw the the ‘Phoebe Dunbar’ opportunity to on August 30, request the property 1853. As a convict owner to relocate he deliberately all air conditioning tweaked his name units to comply with to Connors to the City Planning sow confusion for Above left & right: The Connor Quinlan buildings at 612 - 616 Hay Street, Perth Scheme No. 2 anyone who might planning policy…” try and find out staff said. Indeed, as well as stating that the cost of more about him. doing moving the “intrusive services away from the public environment” should be at the owners expense Connors was an intensely private man - for reasons that are not clear - and there are no known the administration recommended that “the total grant photographs of him, even though he would go on to package be conditional on the owners of the Connor become probably the richest man in Australia at the Quinlan Estate agreeing to comply with the City time.

Development Design Guidelines associated with all Apparently there is a story about him that goes air-conditioners on buildings subject to the heritage something like this. He was walking down a city street grant applications.” in Perth with someone else when a photographer took Having been “happy to move [the] motion” for the his photo, and he seized the camera and destroyed the Connor Quinlan heritage funding application at the film. Despite his secretive side Connors would have April 30 meeting of Perth City Council, Commissioner been a relatively well known figure by virtue of the fact Andrew Hammond added one more condition of that he owned huge swathes of prime land and hotels approval. in the city, Fremantle, Wanneroo and elsewhere (the The extra clause was: “that there be no further heritage listed Connors Mill - a steam driven flour mill funding provided under this policy until such - in Toodyay being just one). time as the policy has been reviewed and given Connors has featured in Irish Scene before, amongst reconsideration by the council”. many other metropolitan premises he was the owner Mr Hammond explained to the meeting why he of the Subiaco Hotel as well. The last issue of Irish added the condition. “The reason for that is I’m not Scene featured some of his story in relation to the sale convinced its good public policy to invest ratepayers of the famous Subi venue (A Subi Icon With Good Irish funds into privately owned properties. I’m not saying Credentials) which has until now remained largely its a wrong thing but I am saying its something that in the ownership of the Connor family since the late requires a review”.

1890’s. [He married Catherine Conway, an Irish servant The commissioners approved a grant of $366,157, which was to be paid in the 2019/20 financial year.

Continued on page 31

Connor Quinlan gets a heritage makeover

THE IRISH SCENE | 29

THE IRISH SCENE | 30

Continued from page 29

on the premises that same year. girl, in 1859 and they had seven Heritage Perth [formerly known as children.] This is the first time it Today, Connor Quinlan Building the City of Perth Heritage Appeal) has been put on the open market was inaugurated in June, 2005 (or ‘Sharp’s Corner’) is one of the with August 8 the cut off date for as a joint venture between the best-known icons in central Perth, expressions of interest to buy the City of Perth and the National and remains open as a retail outlet building and the business. Word is Trust of Australia (WA)] gives this more than 120 years after first that interest has been very strong! description of the Connor Quinlan trading.”

Watch this space. building.

One of the reasons why Barrack Connors was a generous supporter “The Connor Quinlan Building Street was declared a culturally of the Catholic church and held was erected in 1892 for Daniel significant heritage area by the some civic positions with the road Connor and Timothy Quinlan, council was for the contribution board and education boards of jointly the largest landholders made by men like Connor and Toodyay. When he died in January in the central business district Quinlan. “Barrack Streets’ 1898 he was considered to be one of Perth. There were four shops developers and business operators of the wealthiest men in the colony, on the ground floor with living have included people from a not bad for a former convict. accommodation upstairs. Access to diverse range of nationalities the apartments was from staircases and walks of life, and as such is Timothy Quinlan was born in on the back balcony which were Borrisokane, Co. Tipperary in a particularly good example of February 1861 and came to Western intended to offer views of the city an area that demonstrates the Australia two years later with his and fresh air. Since the late 1890s, opportunities for investment and parents. When he was just four the ground level corner shop of commercial success taken up years old he was orphaned and Connor Quinlan Building by enterprising individuals and then reared by has been occupied by a groups who settled in Western a Joseph Reilly tobacconist, which from Australia form the nineteenth to and educated 1912 traded as T. Sharp & the early twentieth century.” in Perth. In Co Pty Ltd, and retains a 1882 he leased typical tobacconist’s store Another remarkable aspect of the Connor Quinlan estate is that it is the Shamrock fit-out from the 1950s. At Hotel in Perth ‘Sharp’s Corner’ you could still in the hands of the family and descendants of the two Irish men. from Connors not only buy and a year later tobacco he was married products, to Connors but also daughter Teresa have a Connor. They haircut and would have buy tickets 618 Hay Street, Perth eight children, for boxing including matches.

Bernard Gerald and Patrick Francis In 1930, following a Quinlan who both played first-class small fire, T. Sharp cricket in Ireland while their other advertised cheap children would be married to high cigars and cigarettes profile local political figures. which were, If Connors became increasingly shy perhaps ironically, about his identity, Quinlan turned ‘smoke damaged’. his attentions to public affairs By 1935, Mr Sharp from 1890 when he was elected to was among those the Western Australian Legislative complaining THURSDAYS AT seat of West Perth. At the same that legitimate time he was also a member of the tobacconists were THE IRISH CLUB, SUBIACO Perth City Council (1890-1902). He being ruined by was re-elected to the Assembly in dodgy traders who sean nos - 5.30pm 1897 for the seat of Toodyay, which sold cigarettes he held for 14 years, amongst set dancing & céilÍ - 6.00-7.00pm outside of licensed other high profile political and hours. This may $10 pay as you go administrative positions in the have, perhaps, colony and fledgling state. He died Teachers: Caroline McCarthy & Sinéad Hussey contributed to in 1927 and is buried in Karrakatta www.facebook.com/TorcCeiliClub his decision to cemetery. torcceiliclub@gmail.com give up his lease

Images sourced from www.perth.wa.gov.au

CÉILÍ AND SET DANCING IN PERTH!

THE IRISH SCENE | 31

Our Personal Renaissance In Connemara, we will shortly experience the wonderful manifestations of the autumn season once again, a time when nature changes in a myriad of colours. It can also be a time for personal reflection and stepping beyond our normal boundaries of operation and familiarity.

The Renaissance proper is a French word meaning ‘rebirth’. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Europe was overrun by Barbarian tribes which led to the historical timeframe that we now refer to as ‘The Dark Ages’. After many centuries of this, there was a major push to renew science, literature, travel and culture and this gave rise to the Renaissance period in the Middle Ages. This fostering of culture and learning would eventually spawn scientists such as Galileo and Newton, sea travellers like Columbus and Da Gama and artists of the calibre of Michael Angelo and Da Vinci. It was a time of great change, spiritual renewal, and it was a massive kick start for civilization in general.

In this present age we should also look beyond our normal boundaries and at our own potential ‘renaissance’. The human being is a very adaptive animal but we have bound ourselves so much to particular careers that we do not have the confidence to break out of them or try other avenues of work.

There was a statistic published a few years ago that said only 10% of people were in the careers they should be in. The vast majority of us stumble into boxes and get trapped inside them.

Many people are reluctant to try new ventures if they do not have previous experience of the new function they are now entering into. This attitude has changed over the past few years to now bring our experience, wisdom and work ethic to the new position and learn

BILL DALY:

the elements of the new job afterwards as a secondary consideration. We are capable of making abrupt career changes and adapting to them successfully if we need to. The main thing is not to get boxed in, take the time to look around and put your plans in place to make that transitional change if you feel that you need to achieve more.

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

He has been working on his own as a Consultant/Contractor in Manufacturing Operations and Materials for the past 18 years.

He also attended UCC and has a BA Degree in Archaeology and Geography. Bill is now resident in Connemara, Co. Galway since 2009.

As we navigate the early years of the 21st century, new tools are demanding new rules. It is important that we take a ‘leap of faith’ and follow our intuitions. It is a time to start challenging the traditional assumptions and to find new prisms in order to look at a changing world.

It is also vitally important that we respect the inputs from another point of view.

From a business perspective, we are living in two worlds at the same time. The transition from the factory focused, mass production way of operating to the digitally based knowledge economy is a road full of bad corners and detours. However, many successful companies today are balancing both of these worlds and using the best of the old practices to bring into the new. It is time to stop paving the cow paths and build a new route instead. As we progress onwards we must be able to step back, adjust the vision, and emerge stronger and more confident to a world that demands greater expectations.

PO Box 994 The main thing in this world is Hillarys not so much where we stand but WA 6923 in what direction we are moving.

Tony and Veronica McKee

info@mckeefamilyfunerals.com.au www.mckeefamilyfunerals.com.au Tel (08) 9401 1900 • Fax: 9401 1911

Mob: 0413 337 785

THE IRISH SCENE | 32

‘Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work’ –Stephen King.

NEW PILOT EVENT: SUNDAY MISCELLANY, Sunday October 6 Based on the popular radio programme on Irelands national radio RTE 1, to be heard every Sunday morning at 9am for the past 50 years.

Listen to podcasts on www.rte.ie/ radio1/podcast/podcast_ sundaymiscellany.xml This new event on our calendar incorporates the popular poetry content of last year’s ‘The Verse’, but now we are inviting writers, reciters, readers and listeners for an afternoon of “Radio essays, reportage, appreciations, memory pieces, poetry, travel writing and personal accounts”.

Our criteria is: • Essays are generally 700/800 words that can hold listeners attention, usually 5 minutes maximum; • Subject is geared for the ear.

Therefore the reader should have an engaging voice. The focus is on entertaining our audience; • Prose and poetry can be original or sourced from other writers.

The programme will include live music, visual slides and introduction of readers. There will be two 45 minute segments with afternoon tea during the interval. Readings from behind lecterns with microphone facility under theatre light.

This is a pre-programmed event so for inclusion in the programme please email your interest to secretary@irishheritage.com.au.

No entry fee applies

Venue: Irish Club Theatre, Townshend Road Subiaco, cabaret seating. Time: Sunday 6 October, afternoon 3pm to 4.45pm. Cost: $10, pay at the door, includes Irish afternoon tea

Australian-Irish Heritage Association THE FOURTH TUESDAY BOOK CLUB Meets fourth Tuesday of the month, with exception of December. At 8pm.

September 24 “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine”, by Gail Honeyman October 22 “Strumpet City”, by James Plunkett (to be confirmed)

Venue: Irish Club Committee Room, 61 Townshend Road, Subiaco. Admission: Free. All welcome.

Light refreshments provided. Tea and coffee from the Bar $2. Contact: Convener Mary Purcell, m.purcell@telstra.com

WRITING COMPETITIONS FOR 2019 DEADLINE 31st OCTOBER The Joe O’Sullivan Writers’ Prize honouring the memory of the Organisation’s late founder. Limit of 2,000 to 4,000 words - prose, fact or fiction. Prize money: $1,000. Australian-wide entries invited. Topic: “Memories”

Joyce Parkes Women’s Writers’ Prize honours Joyce Parkes who is a well-known poet living in WA. She is the patron of the prize, which aims at promoting and encouraging women writers in Australia. Limit of 1,000 to 2,000 words – prose, fact or fiction. Prize Money: $500. Australian-wide entries invited. Topic: “If Only” Entrance Fee: $10 for all competitions. Deadline: 31 October, 2019.

Enquiries to: Denis Bratton 9345 3530

2018 WRITING COMPETITION WINNERS

Winner of Joyce Parkes Writers Prize for 2018 was Freya Cox from Tasmania with ‘Blackbird Fly’. Winner of the Joe O’Sullivan Writers’ prize was Peta Shaw of Lesmurdie with ‘Wildflowers’.

AIHA other activities

Planning AIHA future: We welcome suggestions on projects, activities and events, and people willing to assist. Reply to contact details in footer section of this page.

We meet on Saturday 14 September to plan for 2020.

AIHA new Website went live on 31 May. Please visit, log in for discussion and

enjoy interactive media and photo gallery of events, www.irishheritage.com.au/.

We acknowledge support of Lotterywest and thank Patricia Bratton.

The Journal is issued Quarterly to members only and the latest edition was

mailed out in July. This collector’s digest features stories from at home and abroad, poems, reports and features. Learn of one of Ireland’s greatest scientists; Irish Pilgrim Paths; an Irish photographer who recorded the American Civil War and portraited 18 American Presidents; Seamus Mallon on Irish Unity; Irish whiskey; Scotch corner and so much more. Back editions are available to new members on request.

Check out events on www.irishscene.com.au/calendar-of-events.html Australian-Irish Heritage Association Non Political - Non Sectarian - Emphatically Australian

Be proud of your Irish heritage

PO Box 1583, Subiaco 6904. Tel: 08 9345 3530. Secretary: 08 9367 6026 Email: secretary@irishheritage.com.au or admin@irishheritage.com.au Web: www.irishheritage.com.au Find us on Facebook @australianirishheritage Membership due 1st January – Family $65, Concession $55, Distant (200kms from Perth) $45.

Membership fee includes tax deductible donation of $20 |

THE IRISH SCENE

33

A modest hero

remembered

BY LLOYD GORMAN A framed print of a painting of Martin O’Meara, including a replica set of his service medals and Victoria Cross, was unveiled a special ceremony at the Celtic Club in West Perth on Friday August 23.

Pinjarra woman Sandra Playle who champions Western Australia’s military history and heritage donated the piece - based on an artists painting of Irish born O’Meara - to the Celtic Club.

“He is someone we should remember and we here at the club will remember him from tonight onwards with this beautiful painting,” said Lt. Col. Ross Cable, Acting President of the Celtic Club said O’Meara was a significant Australian. “He was an Irishman who became an Australian, a West Australian, who then won a Victoria Cross. He was the second West Australian to be awarded a VC in World War I and he was the first West Australian to be awarded the VC on the Western Front, so he is a significant person in his own right,” Lt. Col. Cable said.

“All Victoria Cross winners are awarded the VC for incredible acts, he is largely remembered for his compassionate actions, saving the lives of his fellow soldiers and that makes him special.” John McCourt, CEO of the RSL and representatives from the 16th Battalion Royal Western Australia Regiment - who Lt. Col Cable said were the modern day custodians of Martin’s actions and legacy - and club members took part in the ceremony.

Honorary Irish Consulate Marty Kavanagh said he was introduced to O’Meara’s story by Fred Rea and he found it to be both fascinating and tragic.

“Fascinating because here was a young Irish man working in Collie and he goes off into the Australian forces to fight for Empire at the very same time that many Irish people like Michael Collins were fighting for liberation from the Empire. It placed him and over 400,000 Irish men in a very conflicted position, did they fight for Empire, did they fight for themselves, many of them were told and promised that in fighting for Empire they would secure freedom for their own country.”

Some 6,000 Irish born men enlisted in the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) in World War 1, out of which about 900 were killed in action. One of the duties he was proud to carry out as the Honorary Consulate was to place a wreath at the memorial for the Victoria Cross medal winners at Kings Park every Armistice Day (November 11) and ANZAC Day (April 26) Mr Kavanagh added.

THE IRISH SCENE | 34

“It is impossible to visit any war memorial in Australia without seeing some glimpses of the Irish and people with Irish ancestry… what makes Martin stand out head and shoulders above everyone else was his selflessness and his concern for his fellow soldiers… A reason I admire Martin O’Meara is what he stood for, modesty, selflessness and service, what more could a man or woman expect of a life, a life well lived.”

Before he unveiled the framed tribute to O’Meara, Mr Kavanagh read the WB Yeats poem ‘An Irishman foresees his death’.

jarrah trees the area is renowned for.”

Over the course of four days of heavy fighting in August 1916, Private O’Meara repeatedly went into no-man’s land and brought at least 20 wounded Australian officers and soldiers to the safety of their own lines, and carried badly needed supplies to his regiment (16th Battalion) on the front line, which was pinned down by major artillery fire.

It was for this action he was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest possible decoration for courage in the face of the enemy.

Ms Playle read a statement from Noreen O’Meara, the great niece of Martin O’Meara, who lives in Kent, England. She thanked Sandra Playle for the generous donation of the print, which was lovingly and professionally framed

by Australian army veteran Mathew Jones.

“Martin was Irish by birth, but Western Australia became his country,” Noreen O’Meara said. “So it is fitting his portrait should be hung here.

My family are proud of his achievements.”

O’Meara would be wounded three times on the Western Front and he returned to Australia in 1918, arriving back on the day of his birthday November 6.

She painted her own picture of Martin, who was the youngest of seven children who survived to become adults - four siblings died as infants from causes linked to poverty - on their parents farm of about 15 acres in Lorrha, Co. Tipperary. “Theirs would have been a tough life… as the youngest… Martin’s only possibility of escaping such poverty was to leave home and seek his fortune elsewhere. Shortly before Martin left Ireland he had a girlfriend, Mary Murphy, and we believe that he may have proposed to her was turned down, so perhaps his decision to leave Ireland for Australia was connected to that.”

He first came to South Australia in around 1911/12 but made his way across to Western Australia where he worked as a railway sleeper cutter on the railway. “It would have been a tough life with Martin and his fellow workers probably living in tents or makeshift shacks in the bush. But we know from letters he wrote that Martin developed a great affection for that part of the country and in particular the mighty THE IRISH SCENE | 35

“It must have been hard for Martin to endure a long journey back to Australia, knowing there would be nobody to meet him and he had no place to call his own. As he himself said [to a reporter] upon his arrival, “Where is my home? Why I haven’t one, under any old gum tree I suppose is best way to describe it.”

Soldiers returning from the European war were placed in confinement in a camp in Woodman Point in Cockburn in order to try and stop the spread of the deadly Spanish Flu. “It was during this week that he had a dramatic mental breakdown, and his army records show that he was forcibly taken from Woodman Point to a psychiatric hospital suffering Continued on page 36

Continued from page 35

from hallucinations as well as homicidal and suicidal tendencies. Although we do not understand the exact nature of his illness, many of his symptoms were typical of what is now known to be Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Sadly at the time this condition was not recognised and he appears to have had no treatment for his condition other than the barbaric forms of mechanical and chemical restarting, which must have made his condition so much worse.”

O’Meara would spend the next 17 years of his life in various mental asylums and hospitals in Perth until his death in 1935. He is buried in Karrakatta Cemetery.

Noreen O’Meara said his story was largely forgotten after the war, but in recent years he has been actively remembered in Ireland and West Australia and Australia. Just a month earlier, Martin’s Victoria Cross medal and other war medals cased in specially engraved jarrah display boxes - were loaned to the National Museum of Ireland, where they are on display until about July 2020, as part of the “Cost of War – Costas Cogaidh” exhibition.

“The family is very grateful to everyone at the Army Museum in Fremantle and the Australian Government for generously allowing this to happen. Martin’s descendants in Ireland and scattered around the world are particularly grateful to Fred Rea and other members of the Irish community in Western Australia for ensuring that he is remembered and his story continues to be told.”

The ceremony finished with the song ‘Under Any Old Gum Tree’, sung by Fiona Rea, from the CD ‘Songs for Heros’ with original songs from Fred Rea, Phil Beck and Dave McGilton. Copies of Songs for Heros are available from Fred Rea (0418 943 832). The framed portrait of Martin O’Meara can be seen on the ground level of the Celtic Club.

Middle left: Martin O’Meara’s VC on display in the National Museum of Ireland. Above: The arrival of the medals in Ireland and the O’Meara display as part of the “Cost of War - Costas Cogaidh” exhibition

THE IRISH SCENE | 36

A range of news sites across the world reported on this story

armymuseumwa.com.au

colliemail.com.au

contactairlandandsea.com

news.defence.gov.au

tipperarylive.ie

camd.org.au

midlandtribune.virtualcms.it

nenaghguardian.ie

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COLONEL JOHN BRUCE His life & career - Part 3

BY PETER CONOLE As soon as he arrived in Western Australia during October 1850 John Bruce took command of the Enrolled Pensioner Force (EPF) from Captain Henderson of the Royal Engineers, who had looked after the first batch of veterans when they turned up several months earlier. A lot more were to arrive in the future. In all, between June 1850 and January 1868 about 1200 men with nearly double that number of their wives and children arrived in the colony of Western Australia - a total of 35 detachments in all.

Bruce demonstrated his commitment and positive attitude towards his men very early, but he always kept an eye open for known competence. He asked the governor to allow a sturdy sergeant (John Kirwan) from the earlier detachment to take charge of the ‘Hashemy’ men because he deemed no man on that ship capable of doing the job from day one.

In passing it is worth noting that Bruce was at the time the only commissioned officer available to manage the incoming pensioners.

He was based in Perth. Others were seconded to supervise matters in Fremantle, beginning in 1852 with Captain Christopher Foss (18141890), an Irishman from County Cork who had served as a staff officer in Britain since June 1848.

Ensign Coningsby M.Harward of the 12th Regiment briefly replaced him on a secondment basis during 1856-1857. After two more short-term helpers the formidable Captain Charles Finnerty (yet another Irishman and a Crimean War veteran) arrived to manage the Fremantle situation in 1859.

In general terms, Bruce always worked closely with the Governor of the day and other public officials. He had no choice but to do so. Bruce was a tactful hardworking and efficient man, but he was committed to his pensioners and stood up for them in the face of criticism from even his most valued colleagues.

His friend Captain Henderson doubted the ability of pensioner soldiers to take part in serious military operations. Bruce rejected the criticism in November 1850, pointing out that veterans had served well and were potentially inspired by “stirring memory of past achievements in different quarters of the world…”. Furthermore an ordinary veteran, having his pension and the Articles of War to consider “has a greater motive to discharge his duties faithfully than a young soldier of a few years standing”. Bruce was right - the community could rely on the pensioner soldiers.

In 1865 a small detachment of them involved in the Camden Harbour venture helped deter an attack on the settlement and aborigines by an armed fleet of nearly forty dhows from the port of Macassar in the east of the current Indonesian archipelago. The fleet was probably engaged in slave raiding as well as

The Pensioner Guard Barracks THE IRISH SCENE | 38

legitimate fishing activity. For the record, several Muslim states in south-east Asia were still involved in the slavery business until, from the 1870s onwards, concerted action by British, Dutch and Spanish colonial regimes put an end to it. The visitors of 1865 tried to carry off some women, which is not surprising as there are copious records from the 1800s of bitter, bloody coastal strife between indigenous folk and such raiders/ pirates/fishermen.

More detailed comments on the pensioner guards commanded by Bruce are essential. The veterans wore a uniform designed for them, were placed on duty at the Convict Establishment in Fremantle (which largely meant the famous old Fremantle Prison) and, as numbers increased, at various convict depots around the colony. Guard duty was just one facet of their activity.

Members of the EPF and their families were given free passage to the colony and employed on full military pay for the first six months. They were required to attend military exercises for twelve days each year, attend church parades on Sunday and help defend the colony and preserve public order. They were paid a rather generous amount for the

time they devoted to military exercises or assisted the ‘civil power’ in upholding the peace.

Finally, they were to receive land grants after serving for seven years in the EPF. The EPF men were accommodated in barracks (eg, the Perth Barracks, sadly torn down in the 1960s) or were allotted plots of land in various locations. At first they were given only a petty three or four acres, but that was increased to ten and - with John Bruce’s support in 1857 - twenty acres. As a further boon the pensioners were given money to help clear land and build their cottages. A tiny handful of such buildings in our State are still standing. Only a couple are relatively intact and their long-term survival is perhaps in doubt.

In March 1856 Governor Kennedy sent a full report - including all of Bruce’s activities and findings - to the Secretary at War in Britain.

Kennedy was impressed by the ‘Pensioner Force’, by now “an important element in the population of his colony and it is calculated to exercise a lasting influence on the popular character of the Colonists”. Progress was due to “the judicious management and unremitting attention of Colonel Bruce and Captain Foss, his second in command”.

Kennedy was stretching things a little, because Bruce was not a full colonel. He had been promoted to major on June 20, 1854 and then to the local rank of lieutenant colonel on September 26 of that year. After

Another boon followed in 1853, when new regulations granted to the pensioner guards freehold title to their cottages and land.

There were of course, certain conditions. The regulations stipulated that misconduct (which all too often involved alcohol), death within A Pensioner Guard cottage the first seven years, causing annoyance to the departure of Sir Frederick neighbours and consorting with Chidley Irwin in that year John bad company would lead to loss of Bruce was made commandant in privileges. the latter’s place of all military Bruce was already aware of issues forces in Western Australia on that required generous, sensible December 11, 1854. It should be action. During 1854 he reported noted that his receiving the local that the rising costs of food was rank of lieutenant colonel was troubling his men, as were delays not formalised as a permanent in building cottages, especially promotion until February 13, 1860 in outlying areas such as around and even then only at brevet level.

Albany. He dedicated himself to All the same, most colonists and fixing the problems and visited key often the press simply called him ‘Colonel Bruce’. areas such as North Fremantle, York, Toodyay and other places to In 1857 Bruce was elevated to check on progress and see what higher status in the civil affairs of the colony, an indication more was required.

THE IRISH SCENE | 39

that he had won the trust of the hard-nosed Governor Kennedy.

He was made a member of both the Legislative Council and the Executive Council and thus took his place among the key power brokers of Western Australia. In 1858 another mandate arrived from London: if at any time no governor presided over the colony, Bruce as the senior military man was to carry out his functions.

The decision had long term implications and probably aroused the hostility of the displaced colonial secretary, Frederick Barlee, now more junior to Bruce.

Regardless of the Governor’s approval of his work, Bruce still hammered away on delays in projects and the need for further action. He paid close attention to the North Fremantle pensioner house building situation and noted that insufficient skills among many convict labourers meant he had to use other means to get things done. He took advantage of a passing shortage of work affecting free artisans and hired such folk to complete the project, using available government money, agreed payments from the pensions of the affected Pensioner Force men and a generous, interest free loan from a bank. The project was thus more or less completed by 1858.

Sadly for Bruce, his management of Enrolled Pensioner Force had on one occasion been badly shaken by a scandal in 1856. His respected and reliable Fremantle-based subordinate, Captain Foss, had personal financial problems. Foss apparently tried to solve them by using money entrusted to him for military usage. The result was a messy court martial, the disgrace of the captain and his departure from both the army and the colony.

BY LLOYD GORMAN

ISTEACH SA TEACH Murphy’s Irish Pub the toast of parliament

Labor’s Dr Tony Buti, the Member for Armadale, wanted to know “where is that?”.

Kirkup told him it is on Mandurah Terrace, in Mandurah. “The member for Armadale would have gone past that place on his bike,” he added. Buti responded that he would “stop by”.

There is a general rule in Ireland that you should never discuss religion or politics in a pub. But the same protocol doesn’t apply politicians talking about pubs.

Zak Kirkup, a 32 year old young gun of the WA Liberal Party, gave one local Irish establishment the equivalent of a free ad in parliament last month.

Kirkup, the Member for Dawesville and Sabine Winton, the Member for Wanneroo, were going head to Kirkup replied: “Tell him I sent you head during an and he will drop the price of a pint.

August 13 debate When talking about liquor-licensing about the small reform, as the member for Perth spoke business sector. about, it is interesting to look at what Main: Murphy’s Irish Pub in Mandurah. Top inset: Zak Kirkup that looks like in the context of the “We are engaging Above: John Carey, Dr Tony Buti and Bill Marmion local publicans in my district. I have in great banter,” a great relationship with a number of Kirkup tautened his opposite them, as well as a lot of other small business owners, number. “It has been a great chat, but I might get whom I will get to as part of my contribution.” back to the bill.”

Fellow Liberal, Bill Marmion the Member for Somewhere along the line the argument went Nedlands, wanted to know where the pub was, how from fluoride in drinking water to a different type far it was from ‘Brighton’. “You could walk there; it of imbibing. “The member for Perth [John Carey] is about 200 metres,” Kirkup added. “I am happy to spoke about the importance of past liquor-licensing show the member for Nedlands around. The member reforms,” Kirkup said. “I would like to reflect on the for Nedlands is very popular in my district.” number of bars in my district that are doing very well. One in particular, Murphy’s Irish Pub, is run

by Edward Janiec. If members are ever in Mandurah, I recommend that they go to Murphy’s Irish Pub. In 2018, Murphy’s was awarded the best food experience, I think worldwide, by Guinness. It is one of the best pubs to get a Guinness in the country.”

No beer please – I’m Irish The idea of politicians sharing a pint isn’t always a straightforward matter. In his (July 3 2019) tribute to the late Prime Minister Bob Hawke, Tony Burke, MP

THE IRISH SCENE | 40

in Federal Parliament, said he loved Hawke, but there had been a wrinkle in the relationship.

“One of the only moments of tension between me and Bob was one time when he offered me one of his Bob Hawke beers,” Burke told the House of Representatives. “Now, of Tony Burke course, as is common for people of Irish heritage, I’m coeliac, so there’s only a couple of brands of beer that I can have that don’t wreck me. And when I said no, there was a movement in Bob Hawke’s eyebrows.

They sharpened. I started to try to explain, and as the eyebrows got sharper and sharper I had that moment when, for the first time, I saw Bob as he looked when Andrew Peacock and John Howard looked at him—that complete ‘I do not understand what you are saying to me’. And from that moment on, every time I caught up with Bob, I made sure I had some gluten-free beer that I had brought with me so that the challenge wouldn’t be quite the same.”

As the last two Irish Scene’s have shown, Hawke was a friend to Ireland and he was a friend to the Irish, as another Labor politician, this time Senator Deborah O’Neill, said on the same day in her tribute to the late PM as she reflected on the first time she met him.

“Unlike Bob, I don’t come from a long line of political activists in this country; I’m the daughter of Irish immigrants,” she told the Senate. “Bob made me feel welcome in a party that I’d joined only a few years before I ended up running as a candidate. The very first time I met him was in the lead-up to the 2010

Above: Mr Hawke with his Bob Hawke Brewing Co beer. Right: Deborah O’Neill

election, where he supported me in fund-raising, as he has done for so many people in our movement who’ve stood for parliament, and I spoke to him as a character from television, really—I hadn’t seen him up close and personal at Labor Party events; I’d seen him at a distance—but he was so warm and friendly immediately. I said to him, ‘You’ve met my father.’

He looked at me and I said, ‘Yes, he’s argued with you many times through the television.’ That is how Australians knew Bob. They could talk to him through a screen, because he talked Australian. He talked in a language that was generous, a language of care, and it changed the way a conversation was able to happen in this country.”

Deep Irish roots!

While it seems that it is predominately Labor politicians who regularly reclaim their Irish ancestry you do get Liberal’s who are happy to do the same.

Matt O’Sullivan was elected to the Federal Senate for WA in July, and made his first address to that assembly on July 30. He spoke proudly about his Irish heritage as a West Australian.

“My great-grandparents, Michael and Kathleen Kilrain, migrated to Australia and seized an Matt O’Sullivan opportunity created by the Group Settlement Scheme in Manjimup in the great south west of Western Australia. The Group Settlement Scheme was an assisted migration scheme which operated in Western Australia from the early 1920s. It was engineered by Premier James Mitchell to provide a labour force to open up large tracts of agricultural land and create a dairy export industry.

Like the other settlers in group seven, Michael and his bride were provided with 100 acres of heavily wooded land and a small interest-free loan to get started. My great-grandparents used that loan to purchase a cow, a bucket and an axe. They got to work with other settlers to clear the land, build the fences and dams and, together, they also built a school to educate the local children. It was an impossible task.

Continued on page 42

THE IRISH SCENE | 41

ISTEACH SA TEACH Continued from page 41

This was tall timber country—mostly karri and jarrah—and many of the settlers failed. And after a royal commission into the scheme, it was abandoned. But Michael, unlike many in the scheme, had farming experience back in Ireland and, through their strength and effort, he and future generations were able to make it a success and purchased the surrounding properties, and the farm is still in the family today.

Mick and Sarah O’Sullivan, my other great-grandparents, worked and raised their children in Manjimup too. Mick was one of the first foresters appointed by the government. His job was to implement the Forests Act. He would take his horse and sulky deep into the forests, camp for nights on end and mark out the trees which needed to be preserved. He was pro-development, but knew it had to be done in a sustainable way. When I was a child, my father would tell me the stories of his parents and grandparents, and I would be absolutely mesmerised. These stories were to light a fire in my imagination and became a visceral part of my own thinking and imagination.

“The virtues of hard work and determination, personal responsibility, reward for effort, working with and giving back to community, the importance of family and family values have guided my life and my career. These are the values that led me to the Liberal Party.”

who is of good Irish stock, was able to provide the answer: “The UDA”.

He may not have heard or understood the answer: “I am not sure of the name of it.

The one that Reverend Paisley was involved with. I cannot remember the name,” Dr Buti said.

Peter Katsambanis, the Member for Hillarys, repeated the “The UDA” answer already given to him and had to spell it out further by saying it stood for “Ulster”, at which point the meaning got through.

He then confessed he wanted to go down a ‘sidetrack’ at that point, which led to this interchange.

“Part of the problem with Brexit is the whole issue about putting up a hard border and increasing secular terrorism tensions in Northern Ireland. The main stumbling block has probably been what to do about the Northern Ireland situation. I do not believe that Boris has the answer either way.”

Ian Blayney, Liberal Member for Geraldton said; “It is the most ironic thing in the

- Matt O’Sullivan

Still bogged down in Brexit quagmire Brexit - and its impact on Ireland raised its ugly, gnarly head in the Legislative Assembly of the WA state parliament on August 6. During a debate about terrorism Dr Buti talked about the history of terrorism in other parts of the world.

“We had generations of terrorists in Northern Ireland and also in mainland England due to the troubles in Northern Ireland—the IRA terrorist activities—and also the terrorist activities of the provisional loyalist army.”

Frank Murphy presents

107.9fm Fremantle Radio Dr Tony Buti

He was not clear what they - the “pro-British” terrorist group were called.

His Labor colleague, Member for Girrawheen, Margaret Quirk, THE IRISH SCENE | 42

Saturday 8am to 10am IRISH MUSIC • INTERVIEWS • LOCAL & IRISH NEWS

Margaret Quirk, Ian Blayney and David Michael world. Ireland did not want to be part of the British Empire, and now Ireland is what is stopping the British from getting their freedom from Europe.”

Dr Buti responded: “I do not think it is the Irish who are stopping it because the Irish do not have any say in Westminster… It might be ironic that this could lead to the unification of Ireland, although it is probably unlikely. It would be a bit ironic if the conservative forces lead to the unification of Ireland.”

At this point, David Michael, Labor Member for Balcatta, piped up to say: “Derry is a wonderful place”.

Dr Buti replied by saying: “We know which side someone is on in Northern Ireland if they say Derry or Londonderry! There is no answer really. If there is a no-deal Brexit by the UK, a border has to go up.

There is no choice. One way or the other, there could be no solution without some kind of border going up between Northern Ireland and Ireland; otherwise it defeats the purpose of Brexit in the first place, which was principally motivated by voters’ concerns about the free movement of people in the European community.”

Where you arrive as a customer... and leave as a friend

With that said, he returned to the subject of terrorism.

In the context of this debate in the WA state parliament it is worth remembering that just days later, it was the 50th anniversary of Operation Banner, the first mission of the British Army that saw its forces deployed in Northern Ireland, a historic milestone the likes of which surely nobody wants to see repeated!

Continued on page 44

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“A drink precedes a story” – Irish proverb

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THE IRISH SCENE | 43

ISTEACH SA TEACH Continued from page 43

What’s a good word for Brexit?

The mere mention of Brexit brings a flood of words to mind, none of them good. But there is one short phrase hatched by a French diplomat hundreds of years ago that succinctly summarises a lot of what could be said about the whole affair long drawn out, painful, sorry, pitiful affair.

Perfidious Albion - la perfide Albion - was a phrase first used by the Marquis de Ximenès (1726–1817).

Perfidious comes form the Latin word for ‘treachery’ while Albion is a literary term for Britain or England in olden times.

Leo Vadakar

Perfidious Albion is a pejorative phrase used within the context of international relations diplomacy to refer to alleged acts of diplomatic sleights, duplicity and treachery specifically by monarchs or governments of the UK in their pursuit of self-interest.

Boris Johnson

A big thanks to Bob O’Connor who brought this wonderful expression to my attention. It would be funny to see Taoiseach Leo Vadakar somehow work it into a question or statement directly to Prime Minister Boris ‘Bojo’ Johnson and his reaction and even if he understood the meaning of it.

Tayleur tragedy retold Readers of the last edition of Irish Scene may have seen the story about RMS Tayleur - The First Titanic - the passenger ship that was bound for the gold fields of Australia but sunk after it struck the rocks off Lambay Island off the Irish coast, with the loss of hundreds of souls. Gerry Coleman, who hails from Rush, brought that tragic tale that happened close to his home town to our attention because of the Australian connection, but also to try and bring the little known story to the attention of as many people as possible. In his determination to get the story out there Gerry managed to find another whole new audience for the saga of the Tayleur.

On August 20, Michael Mischin, member for North Metropolitan, got a chance to indulge his passion for history.

“I welcome being informed about little known historical events that might otherwise be forgotten,

but ought not to be,” Mr Mischin, the shadow Attorney General said.

“I want to take up a few minutes of the house’s time to relay a story, the significance to me of which I will speak about at the end. But I am indebted to Mr Gerry Coleman of Michael Mischin Bassendean, who has an interest in these matters, for having drawn to my and my office’s attention, and for providing me with some information about, this incident.” The senior Liberal figure went on to do his own homework about it.

“The Tayleur was launched on 19 January 1854. It sailed down the Mersey and out into the Irish Sea. The vast majority of [the approximately 600 to 660] passengers were coming from Europe and heading to Australia. Several problems became readily apparent… the compasses had not been properly swung. The iron hull and the iron masts contributed to giving different readings for each of the three compasses on board. It also emerged very quickly that the rudder appeared to have been too small; it was unresponsive to its helm. This proved to be particularly significant when, after its first day out at sea and into the evening it encountered a gale.

The crew thought they were travelling south-southwest into the Atlantic Ocean, but in fact they were sailing due west into the coast of Ireland. The ship could not be steered away, and it was rammed broadside into the rocks off Lambay Island off the coast of Ireland. The ship rapidly broke up. Again, there is difficulty knowing the exact figures, but at least 400 passengers perished.

Of the some 100 women on board, only three survived.

Many of the women stayed beneath decks in the accommodation spaces because they thought it would be safer. We can only imagine the darkness, the noise, the cold and the conditions that they were under—the fear and uncertainty that reigned on that vessel as it broke up. It was only when water started entering the accommodation decks that many of them managed to try to flee up to the decks, but by then it was too late.

Of the some 70 children travelling with their parents, only three were saved…

It strikes me that there is an element of our maritime history and our immigration into this country and into what was then a colony that is often overlooked.

THE IRISH SCENE | 44

For example, at the Fremantle Maritime Museum there are monuments to immigrants who did make it to this country and to this state. We seem to lack a monument to those who tried, but through circumstances did not make it —those who were lost on the voyage, either through misadventure, disease, due to being lost at sea, wrecked and the like. It is Mr Coleman’s view, and I tend to agree, that there ought to be some recognition of that.

Apart from anything else, it makes us realise the risks and hazards that people endured in those days to try to make a new life for themselves on this continent, and the tragedy of every one of those lives that was lost and the hopes that were dashed..

My point with this tale is simply to outline that there is an often forgotten area of our history. The experiences of our fellow humans in times past is something that is worth reflecting on. I thank Mr Coleman for bringing this particular incident to my attention and for the time and trouble he has taken to provide me with this information and to spark my interest in another area of our history that is often forgotten.”

Gerry Coleman, history buff

Lessons in homelessness A new approach to tackling homelessness in Ireland gained some attention in Perth recently. Homelessness Week in early August saw community, government, industry and other groups come together to find the best response possible to the problem.

“This year’s theme was “Home Safe Home”, [with] over 35 events held around the state and across the Perth metropolitan area,” Fremantle MP and Minister for Community Services, Simone McGurk told the Legislative Assembly on August 14. “I was pleased to meet with Bob Jordan, the national director of Housing First in Ireland, who was brought to Perth by Shelter WA to share the impressive results emerging from Ireland and the Housing First approach it is implementing. I know that Bob’s time here was well spent, promoting this evidence-based approach to the sector, to the community and within government.”

Less than a year old, the Housing First plan that started in Dublin is gaining ground in Ireland and is being rolled out across several counties, including Cork, Wicklow, Kildare and Meath. Unlike traditional schemes to help homeless people and those sleeping rough, this approach sees them moved into permanent accommodation as quickly as possible, with other specific support services then put in place, to break the cycle of homelessness.

Currently there are 10,253 people in Ireland, including 3,449 children who were officially registered as homeless in May 2019.

If his Perth counterparts got something from his presentation then Mr Jordan did too. “We don’t have this in Ireland, in fact I can’t think of anywhere in Europe where we do have it,” the Irish leader said. “When people are so busy doing, doing,

Top: One of the events from the “Home Safe Home” project.

Above left: Lived Experience Advisor Allan Connolly & Bob Jordan.

Above right: Simone McGurk doing, under pressure in delivering homelessness services, having one week of the year where you are pausing and thinking about strategy and how we do things next seems to me to be so important.”

Mr Jordan’s Housing First presentation can be seen at www.facebook.com/ShelterWA/ videos/1298424937002721/

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THE IRISH CLUB

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SUNDAY 29 SEPTEMBER PUBLIC HOLIDAY WEEKEND

DOORS OPEN 6.30PM MUSIC STARTS 7.30PM

TICKETS ON SALE NOW Tickets available from: www.trybooking.com/behgl Email: thegatheringliveconcert@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thegatheringliveconcertperth

Gallie is a critically acclaimed songwriter from Ireland. His album ‘The Occoquan River’ has made it to a number of Best of the year lists in both Australia and the US, selling out shows over the last year and and drawing large crowds at a number of festivals around the world.

Gallie’s shows are like no other, due to the warmth that he brings through his songs and humorous, witty and intelligent story telling.

Kidogo Arthouse, October 10 Nanga Music Festival, October 11 - 13 Tickets from gallie.com.au THE IRISH SCENE | 46

Upcoming EventS

Kids Meet Up in fun playcentre During school holidays Cost $5 entry per child over 12 months. Adults go free! Finger food provided. See our Facebook page for more details.

EIMEAR BEATTIE

Irish Families in Perth is a voluntary non profit organisation with over 15,000 members on our social media group.

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

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

IFIP aims to:

IFIP Padbury Playgroup Each Monday & Wednesday Our playgroup meet up is a purpose-built playgroup centre which has undergone recent refurbishment. It has a bright indoor area and a small kitchen complete with small fridge, microwave, tea and coffee making facilities. Outdoors, there is a covered playground attaching to the building and the outdoor area is fenced with a locked gate ensuring the safety of our little ones. It also has a large selection of indoor and outdoor toys ensuring that all parents and kids receive a warm reception.

New members are always welcome.

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

www.irishfamiliesinperth.com facebook.com/groups/irishfamiliesinperth THE IRISH SCENE | 47

THE IRISH SCENE | 48

Martin Kavanagh Hon Consul of Ireland

Congratulations to Imelda and Lloyd on their first solo edition of the Irish Scene!

Martin O’Meara VC I was delighted to attend a reception at the Army Museum in Fremantle recently to mark the loan of the medals of Martin O’Meara VC to Collins Barracks Dublin. The medals are on loan for 12 months. It took an act of parliament to allow the medal out of Australia, so it is an important event.

Going home for Christmas?

Check your passport

The O’Meara story is one of bravery, sadness and tragedy.

Having shown tremendous bravery in WWI, Martin returned to Australia only to suffer after effects, shell shock and what we would probably call post traumatic mental health issues. He died a lonely death in a Perth mental asylum at a relatively young age.

If you are planning to go home for Christmas, please make sure your passport and your children’s passports are up to date. A few things to remember:

If you are visiting Dublin in the next 12 months, please take the opportunity to visit Collins Barracks. If not, encourage your friends and family to do so.

• Always ensure you have 6 months validity on your passport.

• Many countries are now very sensitive to even the most minor damage to a passport. We have had cases recently where Irish passport holders were not allowed travel because of small tears on the cover page.

• If in doubt, renew your passport. The cost of a renewed passport is nothing compared to missing your flight.

• All renewal passports for adults and children are now online.

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

Contact Imelda Gorman 0450 884 247 THE IRISH SCENE | 49

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Two wheel warriors

take on the world for sick kids

BY LLOYD GORMAN Two inspiring Irish lads were expecting to cross the border between South Australia and Western Australia in early September, as part of an amazing adventure and display of philanthropy.

As this edition of Irish Scene hits the streets, Paddy Flynn from Rathgormack, Co. Waterford and Daithi Harrison from Carrick-on-Suir Co. Tipperary, will probably be slugging their way across the expanse of the Nullabor Plain. The friends of many years are taking on a cause and challenge of global proportions. Starting out in Sydney on August 4 they are on a mission to cycle - and run - across 28 countries and three continents to raise money for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation and Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin, an epic trip that will take them at least twelve months to complete. September will be spent on the Western Australia leg of their journey, before they cross to Asia and onto their ultimate destination. They are doing it because they want to give something back.

“We are really looking forward to learning about the cultures and histories of all the countries we’re visiting,” said Daithi.

“It’ll be an exploration of the mind and a journey of the soul. We both believe that it’s our duty to be of service to the generation that follows us, especially to those who need it most.

Paddy said: “It’s really cool to think that we could be making a difference not only to the children in Australia and Ireland, but also to our local towns, and our local counties, Tipperary and Waterford, bringing excitement and inspiring people from all walks of life,” Paddy said.

“We decided to raise money for CMRF and the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation because they do wonderful work for sick children in Ireland and Australia, and making the journey from Sydney to Crumlin will be a way of not

only helping both charities but also marking a link between the two.”

Not content with just cycling half way around the world for a great cause, the boys decided to “push the boundaries” and take on the challenge of running an ultra-marathon [anything over 42.2km] in each country along the way - starting with their first ultra-marathon in Perth, the Waterous Trail on Foot in Dwellingup, on September 28th.

At the end of a grueling and often lonely cycle - with 85% of the Australian population living within 50km of the coast much of their route will take them through large areas of sparsely populated or visited areas - the chance to take to two feet will no doubt be a welcome break from the saddle.

“We hope to be in Perth around September 21 to 23rd and give ourselves a few days to prepare for the ultra-marathon in Dwellingup,” Daithi added. “We have a few days there if we hit bad weather or there is any other hold up. We will run the 50 mile event on the day,” Daithi added.

“It’s a bit more than our planned 64km so we will get more miles of smiles, and the bonus of it being an event makes it easier on us not having to worry about a route, aid stations on the course will save us trying to carry water and food to do us for the full day. Also getting to meet the other participants and the buzz around the event will make it all the easier.”

Perth should also give them a chance hopefully to see some friends from home who are now living and working here. “We are staying with one of our childhood friends when we get there,” he added. Maybe they will even have a bed to sleep in while they are in town. They will have camped their way across Australia but admit to enjoying that. “We fly out of Perth on the 30th September but hoping to spend at least a week there and catch up with friends before we head to Vietnam.”

The rest of their trek will take them across Asia - the boys will be spending Christmas in Nepal and have issued an open invite to anyone on holidays to join them for the festive occasion - and onto Europe.

Having cycled across Italy, Switzerland, France (Tour de France anyone?), Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland and then over the English Channel, they will cycle through England to Wales, where they will catch a ferry across the Irish Sea into Dun Laoghaire. From there they will roll onto the doors of Crumlin Hospital, where you can imagine there will be quite a reception waiting for them. Shortly afterwards they will finish the voyage by cycling home to the sunny south east and their family and friends. Lads, may the wind be at your back all the way and have a safe trip!

For more information about their route, where they will be and what they will be doing and to make donations visit: 2cycle28.com

THE IRISH SCENE | 50

SENIOR’S LUNCH The Irish Club - August 2019

THE IRISH SCENE | 51

’ G da FROM MELBOURNE

BY MIKE BOWEN

y

I have kept diaries for many years and occasionally I look back through them. Last week, it was time for me to look through some again and travel back in my time machine.

Here is one of the memory gems I found this time in my diary treasure chest. While watching RTE Television back in 1964, I saw John B. Keane for the first time on a program called Newsbeat. I was totally amazed with his wit and how he was able to turn simple issues into magic stories. I noted then, that in spite of the general comments that he was a Kerry Publican with a funny brogue and would probably only last another few weeks, I had a different opinion!

he and I having a discussion of a piece he did on radio once. He spoke for what seemed like forever on the subject of braces (the things that hold your trousers up). I asked, how long more could you have spoken about that subject? He replied, ‘till the cows came home.’

On another visit to his office, he was behind the bar and talking to two other customers. They were talking about his appearance on Gay Byrnes’ Late Late show. He asked me if I had watched the show, I replied I had not, he then told me that there was also a Russian guest on the show. When the show finished, the Russian guest gave him a bottle of vodka. He said he was about to open the present to sample it with the History has shown the world other two men at the bar, and that the Kerry Publican with the asked if I would like to try some. funny brogue was then a genius Me, pretending to be macho but in disguise behind a bar counter. more naïve, said yes why not.

Soon after seeing him on TV, I He told us, the Russian told him headed off to Listowel to meet Irish playwright, novelist and essayist John B. Keane when drinking this, you have to and watch this master of stories pinch your nose and hold your at his working place, The John head up high and swallow in one shot. I didn’t see B. Keane Pub in Listowel. I soon discovered that his genius came from being able to communicate and ball him pour the vodka but I assumed that we were all drinking from the same bottle. hop with his customers.

The term ball hop meant, a person would say something like ‘wasn’t that an awful thing that happened last week when that Cork man declared that Kerry were lucky to have won so many all Irelands’ to a single person of a group of people.

John B. would then listen and watch the reaction of those as they debated and argued over the statement he made. I sat there many times and watched this master weave his magic, and was fascinated as to how he was able to create situations that then turned into stories for him to tell and write about. I well remember

The penny should have dropped when all three waited for me to have the first drink, but naïve me should have remembered that John B. was also a great prankster. There I was, holding my nose and my head held high, no sooner had the white spirit hit the inside of my body, it felt like a volcano erupting. I swear my temperature went off the scale as I wrestled for the water jug. The laughter from the three co-accused could be heard back in the laneways of Cork. Holy s**t, I declared, what was that? After the laughter settled down, John B. said what did you expect? That

THE IRISH SCENE | 52

drink was made only a few hours ago. That was, and is the only time my lips have ever touched poteen.

from all sorts of events over the years. Two days later I decided to visit John B at his home to have the program signed by the maestro. On arrival at his Sometime later in the week I slipped back into his home, Mary answered the door. I asked her if John B pub, only to hear him tell the tale of my misfortune was home as I wished for him to sign the program. to a group of others. As the years rolled on I made She delivered the shattering news that he was in bed many trips to watch this master work at his craft, and and was in very poor health. I apologised to her for not I would like to think that some of phoning and giving notice of his magic has rubbed off on me.

There I was, holding my nose my pending arrival. I asked It delighted me to no end to see her to pass on my best wishes John B stick his finger up, so to and my head held high, no to him, she thanked me for speak, at all those in the theatre sooner had the white spirit hit coming all the way to see world who looked down on this him. As I left her standing master of wit for many years. the inside of my body, it felt there looking so sad, I felt History has now shown he has like a volcano erupting. awful for my intrusion. I become one of Ireland’s greatest walked back to my car in playwrights. When the Abby the rain and sat there, soon after Mary appears at Theatre needed someone to rescue it from dwindling the door and beckoned me over. She stretched her support due to lack of quality shows, John B. was the hand out then asked me for the program, then said answer to saving its demise. His contribution to Irish John B. would not let me travel all that way to be literature and theatre is immense and worthy of sitting disappointed. Therein lies the true character of a man with all the greats who came before him. who was waiting in God’s waiting room and still had As I watch many of the new wave of writers, time to think of others. comedians, ball hoppers, and writers, I see John B’s.

I will always cherish John B. for this, and also for influence everywhere. I found him to be very patient opening my mind to the many ways of communication and generous in giving his time to those who wished with the world in print. to follow in his footsteps. I am grateful that I was one When John B. passed away on May 30th 2002, Ireland of those who benefited from his generosity. lost one of its greatest and I lost my idol.

In early 2002 while in Dublin I went to see his play UNTIL NEXT TIME, BE GOOD TO THOSE WHO LOVE YOU AND “The Field” at the Abby Theatre, and as always I SLAINTE, FROM MELBOURNE purchased a program. I have collected programs

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ULSTER RAMBLES WITH DAVID

In my 39 years of exile, I have returned to Ulster five times. Admittedly, I have very few relatives left above the ground but quite a few below it!

Do I miss the old sod? Yes, when I think about it. All the wonderful times I had during my youth. Do I think about it? No, well not until I started writing this article about ten minutes ago. Why did I start thinking about it? Well, I have just finished a very disturbing book

by Kevin Myers, a Dublin journalist with the Irish Independent. He lived in Dublin but eventually found a job as a journalist. They promptly sent him to Belfast to report on anything he might find interesting for the Dublin readers and eventually the Dublin T.V. watchers.

He had no trouble in this regard and included many incredible, disturbing stories in his book.

I was lucky to have been able to travel extensively when I was quite young; so many of us were unable to do so for financial and other reasons. One had to travel to Britain first to be able to get to the continent or farther, and the price to travel to Britain (by any means) was not cheap. As a group of people, we became insular. Thank heavens this situation has changed dramatically.

When I was in the States in the early seventies, living in Right: Belfast City Hall Below: Belfast Peace Wall

Cape Cod, Massachusetts, I was asked to place money in a tin to help the I.R.A. The person holding the tin was interested in my opinion of course and asked me how it had developed into such a dreadful place. She was not interested in a long monologue from me (well she did have to continue with the collection) so I gave her my laconic answer; ‘History’.

Due to this complex history of Ulster, or maybe I should say Northern Ireland here, and the recent period of conflict known as ‘The Troubles’, visitors (and maybe a few locals!) may want to know whether Northern Ireland is a dangerous place to visit.

Apparently the tourism websites have had quite a few emails asking questions such as ‘Is Northern Ireland dangerous?’ and ‘Is Northern Ireland safe to visit?’

Someone even asked them ‘how do I go to Northern Ireland and stay safe?’

I can understand why people would ask such questions. If all I heard about a place was a few negative news stories, I would certainly do my research before visiting. Unfortunately, there have been many instances over the past 50 or so years that have given Northern Ireland a bit of a reputation, to put it midlly. I grew up in Northern Ireland and have seen pretty much all the negative news that made headlines around the world.

Kevin’s book ‘Watching the Door,’ was published with the following remark; ‘Sex, drink, betrayal, cowardice, bravery, more drink and beyond all this, always, the violence …. This book stinks of the truth.’

Now I am sure that Kevin experienced all the events that he claimed in the book, but I would like to add that for the majority of people who lived in the Province at that time, it was not like that. For obvious reasons, Kevin attended and reported about the incidences that occurred in certain dangerous areas and rest assured, they were dangerous. News can be a strange thing. No one I know reports about the good things that happen and that was certainly true about Ulster in the seventies.

However, I believe, Northern Ireland has moved on from the dark days of the conflict. Today, it is a very peaceful and safe place to live or so I am led to believe. In fact, or so it has been reported, it is the safest region of the UK, and it’s capital, Belfast, is much safer to visit than other

THE IRISH SCENE | 54

‘Save Our Shipyards’ photo from www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk (Liam McBurney/PA)

UK cities - including Manchester and London. So why was the Province considered unsafe for many decades?

Well, it is the same answer that I gave to the collector in Cape Cod; History!

I suppose it all started in 1690 but that is too long ago for most of us. In short, the whole island of Ireland was once part of the United Kingdom but in 1922, the 26 counties which now make up the Republic of Ireland, became an independent country and Northern Ireland remained part of the United Kingdom.

Thus, Ireland as an island has been divided into two separate administrative areas, having different laws, Governments and currencies.

I can hear you sigh here. Is he going to go on here and tell us all about this history thing? All right, I won’t. You can look it up for yourselves.

A few years ago my wife (yeah, still the same one from Dublin 4) persuaded me to take the ‘Hap-onhap off bus’ on a tour of Above: The Harland and Wolff Belfast. I was reluctant cranes at the Belfast port. Right: as I knew the city really Workers locked themselves into well. It turned out to be a the yard and refused to leave in a highly enjoyable event. bid to save their jobs.

The guide had that kind of Ulster humour which was infectious.

‘Good Friday peace agreement was endorsed by the majority of people in 1998,’ he recited at one point.

‘This agreement aimed to ensure rights for all the people of Northern Ireland and respect their traditions.’ He continued, “Yet if you look out the window you will see a wall. Yeah, it’s called the peace wall.’

He continued with his commentary mixed up with his version of the situation: ‘Ireland is an island to the west of Britain, but Northern Ireland is just off the mainland – not the Irish mainland, the British mainland. Look!

If you wanted a region where traditions are easier to understand, you should have gone to Australia where they don’t have any: traditions that is.’

(I knew I should not have told him that I lived in Australia!)

‘Now please pay attention! The capital of Ireland is Dublin. It has a population of approximately one million people, all of whom will be shopping in Newry this afternoon. They travel to Newry because 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 has ensured that it is now definitely in the UK. Had the campaign lasted longer, the North might now be in France!

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. Are you still paying attention? Belfast has a population of around half a 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.

Those who cannot follow this might like to go off to the Giant’s Causeway instead. You cannot miss it – it is near a car park.

If you would like to visit all of Ulster well then you may well have major problems because Ulster is in the North and the South!’

He did ramble on a bit more, especially about the Titanic, and Harland and Wolff, the company whose famous yellow cranes Samson and Goliath dominated the Belfast skyline for so long. Apparently, it has just recently been declared bankrupt and the Administrators have moved in.

So a company that employed over 30,000 workers and has been recently reduced to around 120 might well be extinct by the time you read this. I will try to bring you up to date in the next issue.

Well did the 1988 agreement achieve peace you might well ask?

Northern Ireland has changed dramatically in the years since the Good Friday peace agreement was signed. However, its troubles have not entirely ceased. There have been outbreaks of violence since the agreement but these have been sporadic and not directed at tourists. BREXIT under Boris might well turn out to be a disaster for the Province. Teresa May had little alternative but to ‘stick up’ for no border but the same cannot be said for the present Prime Minister.

In conclusion, the only risky time to travel to Northern Ireland is during the marching season in June/July that climaxes with the annual Orange March on July 12. You might need to revise your history back to 1690 to have any hope of understanding this. Most of the parades that take place during this time are very peaceful but if tourists do visit Northern Ireland during this time, it’s best to avoid the areas close to where marches take place, or maybe you could watch the marchers from the streets.

Overall, the Good Friday Agreement was a great step towards peace for Northern Ireland and today it is almost the same as any other modern country in Europe. Northern Ireland, or Ulster as I like to call it, is an absolutely stunning place with extremely friendly people. I think it would be a shame if you visited the island of Ireland without heading north of the so-called border! If you visit, I promise you won’t regret it!

I am certainly looking forward to ‘going back home’ in the foreseeable future even though, as we have all experienced, it is a long way.

THE IRISH SCENE | 55

LY EXC AT LU J.B SI . O VE ’RE !

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THE IRISH SCENE | 56

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SEÁN DOHERTY BRANCH

For more information, call the Club on 9381 5213 or 0488 149 382 For news updates visit: facebook.com/perthcomhaltas Ceilidhi Thanks to all who turned up to our Ceilidhi in July.

It was a good turn out, and we had a lot of feedback about having another one!

upcoming events Some dates for your calendar:

13th SEPTEMBER 2019 We have booked the club for our Dinner at 7pm, all Comhaltas members and friends are welcome.

After the meal we have session so if you play an instrument, please bring it with you and join us.

18th-20th OCTOBER 2019 Bickley Camp - all welcome! We will send information about the camp nearer the time.

WEEKLY SESSION EVERY MONDAY @ THE IRISH CLUB Comhaltas meets in the Irish Club every Monday night. Music lessons and Irish Language classes start at 7pm, and Irish Set Dancing at 8pm. Our session starts just after 8pm, so if you are interested in any of the above, please come along and meet us! Hope to see you all Monday.

It’s great fun, beginners welcome.

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THE IRISH SCENE | 57

Cafe brings a little bit of Irish culture to Belridge

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Shop 7a, Belridge Shopping Centre, Beldon Phone: 6406 2105 Text your coffee order:

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Avoka Belridge

The shopping experience at the Belridge Shopping Centre recently became a lot more enjoyable. A small cafe is having a big impact on the busy complex of Ocean Reef Road shops. The centre has a plethora of fast food outlets but up until very recently there wasn’t anywhere that weary shoppers or busy visitors could stop and relax over a coffee, a tasty treat or a quality cooked meal from a menu with a good selection, in a pleasant and comfortable environment with friendly and quick service.

Avoka is in a convenient spot for most shoppers, nestled near the main entrance to Coles. The premises is bright, welcoming and has been renovated and fitted out to a high standard.

But it is also the sound of banter and laughter, aroma of food freshly cooked and the sight of smiling staff that give the cafe its real colour and flavour. Its a great place to spend some quite time or drop in and pick up a bit of news. Chances are at least one of the owners, Valerie or Derek Boyle, will be on hand with traditional Irish warmth for everyone who walks through the door. Val and Derek will be known to many in the Irish community. Several years ago the Dublin couple opened the original Avoka Cafe in Woodvale, which has proved to be a bit hit with regular customers and passing trade alike. Avoka is a destination and meeting point for many Irish in that neck of the Northern suburbs, but its appeal extends into the broader community.

Avoka Woodvale is a busy spot in its own right, a cafe by day that adopts something of a restaurant and bar atmosphere at night. They have even developed their own range of pilsner beers. The premises has catered countless parties, gatherings, celebrations and even fundraising events. Val and Derek are great supporters of good causes and sponsor more than a few local and community charities where they can.

Having crafted the Avoka model in Woodvale the couple were in a position to transplant their unique cafe culture experience to a second location at Belridge in July. And if you can’t get to them, Avoka can come to you. They do outside catering and even have a coffee and food trailer for events and special occasions.

And don’t forget, as well as being a great place for the best of food, refreshing drink and good company Avoka Woodvale and Avoka Belridge are great places to pick up the latest copy of Irish Scene magazine.

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Irish Recipes from Marguerite O’Dwyer’s

MARGUERITE O’DWYER PANTRY DOLLS - 0405 680 480

Minestrone Soup Serves 4

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INGREDIENTS

Ward off winter chills with this delicious and hearty minestrone soup.... best served with some warm sourdough bread!

IRISH MUSIC

SESSION EVERY TUESDAY

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2 tbsp olive oil 1 onion, diced 2 carrots, diced 2 celery sticks, trimmed and diced 1 fennel bulb, trimmed and diced 1 small red chilli, seeded and diced 2 garlic cloves, crushed 2 x 400g cans of chopped tomatoes 1.2 litres (2 pints) vegetable stock 1 tbsp tomato purée 150g spaghetti, snapped into short lengths 100g green beans, trimmed and diced 1 tbsp torn fresh basil sea salt and freshly ground black pepper sourdough bread, to serve (optional)

METHOD 1. Heat the olive oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, fennel, chilli and garlic. Sauté for 5 minutes, until softened but not beginning to brown.

2. Stir in the chopped tomatoes, stock and tomato purée. Bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes, until the liquid has slightly reduced, and all the vegetables are completely tender.

3. Add the spaghetti and simmer for another 10 minutes, until the spaghetti is al dente – tender but still with a little bite.

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4. Stir in the green beans and basil, then season to taste and cook for another minute or two, until the beans are just tender. Ladle into warmed bowls and serve with sourdough bread, if liked

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9377 1199

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Final print run for

Jack

For many years our friend Jack Cullen - who was skilled in the art of printing and up until recently acted as our proof reader cast a close eye over the contents of Irish Scene before it hit the streets. No doubt Jack enjoyed being one of the very first to read the new edition and being involved with the production of the magazine. He was always one to “have a great idea” and will be missed by us. But of course his great legacy was his family and love for Betty. Family and friends gathered at Pinnaroo Cemetery for his burial and to pay their respects. Here is some of what daughter Catherine remembered about him.

“He was born to Michael and Molly Cullen in Cork, Ireland in 1932. In his adventure filled stories of his childhood, he used to be put on the train in Dublin to travel to relatives in Cork for his holidays. Here he learnt to drive a truck at the age of eight with one uncle, and with another uncle developed a fantastic pair of sea legs fishing in the Atlantic. My favourite story though, was of Dad placing a firecracker in some poor neighbours house, lighting it and running away. He managed to completely blow the door off its hinges, and sadly for Dad, he was in big trouble very quickly as he had been seen!

He took up an apprenticeship for the printing trade in his teenage years, and with the money earned Above: Jack pictured with his fellow bike riders in Ireland. Right: With Annette Donnelly in the from working, Irish Theatre Players show, “Blarney Castle” was able to buy a road bike. This began his love of racing, and through sheer hard work and hours in the saddle round the Dublin mountains, he developed his abilities. He competed in many short day races around Ireland, and together with a group of fellow riders decided there should be a Tour de France style race round Ireland – and so they developed the Rás Tailteann, an international road race still held annually. Dad met my beautiful Mum in his racing years, and Dad was fond of telling stories of how he would finish riding the mountains, race home, change clothes and then ride out again for a night of dancing with Mum. They married in 1961, a day Dad described only recently as the happiest day of his life.

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Jack had a great love of golf - here he is showing off his ‘hole-in-one’ ball They had many adventures together, both good and bad, and decided in 1966 that they should head for new horizons. So, with much of my Mum’s family in tow, they boarded the Fairstar and headed for Australia as ten pound ‘Irish’ poms. An eventful trip, my poor Mum was sick as a dog from day one, but not my Dad. Those sea legs really stood up on this crossing, even winning crew member bets when he consistently turned up for breakfast on even the most challenging rough days.

They loved everything about Sydney, especially the sunny weather and the ready availability of a good steak.

My sister Marcia came along in 1972 and myself in 1974 to complete their family. I have fond memories of growing up in Turramurra,

climbing trees and having a procession of unsuitable pets including geese, mice, a deranged puppy and a long necked tortoise being some of them. Dad used to pile pillows and blankets into the back of the car so we would be comfortable heading off on holidays, and he used to trick us into going to bed early the night before these holidays, saying we would be off at the crack of dawn - usually round 10 am. It worked a treat! We had many wonderful Christmas, Easter, Birthday and ‘just because’ parties and celebrations in that house, which we continued once we moved across to WA in 1983. Dad also loved a good picnic, but not so much the kookaburras who liked to steal the sausages.

Jack with Betty,” the absolute love of his life”.

He developed a love of acting and performed with the Irish Theatre Players in many plays, often as the drunk or the old character, and notably as an upstaging corpse in the Blarney Castle. He also learnt to love the game of golf, and either played spectacularly well and won, or lost completely (which also helped keep his handicap at a very high number). Jack was so happy when in 2001 Mark and Catherine were married, and again in 2003 when he walked Marcia down the aisle as well. He welcomed with great joy all his grandchildren, James in 2002, Harry in 2004, Dillon in 2005, Amelia in 2006 and finally Jessica in 2007. He has watched them grow into lovely young men and women, and will surely be watching over them still.

Sadly Dad had more than his fair share of illness over the years, but with the illness came his miraculous ability to recover when we were told all was lost. Despite the ill health, he stayed happy and resilient, always enjoying the small things in life and being in his home with Betty, the absolute love of his life.”

Jack is survived by Betty, Marcia, Catherine, sons in law, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

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Irish Choir Perth to Perform

at Guildford Songfest 2019

BY MAGGIE TWOMEY Irish Choir Perth has had a busy few months. After performing at the Freo Songfest and hosting their own concert, A Winter’s Night, the Choir are now in the final stages of preparation for their two performances at the Guildford Songfest, which takes place on 14th and 15th September.

Performing was not in the forefront of the choir members minds when the choir was set up a couple of years ago.

For the majority, the Irish Choir Perth was new territory, a blank sheet. There is much diversity within Irish music and a lot of potential direction to take with song choices.

Much of the first 18 months was taken up with building a repertoire, with finding and experimenting with arrangements and fine tuning key pieces.

While new songs are always being added, there are some Choir favourites that the group love to sing together and these have formed the backbone of the repertoire. Performances therefore have become something the Choir has begun to embrace and are building into the yearly calendar. Having taken part in last year’s Guildford Songfest, this year’s event was first on their list for 2019 events.

Irish Choir Perth

Last year’s performances were held in the beautiful St Matthew’s Church and Hall in the heart of historic Guildford. The acoustics in the Church in particular were spectacular, although perhaps the Saw Doctor’s lyric ‘I used to see her up the chapel when she went to Sunday Mass, the glory of her ass’ was in retrospect a slightly risqué addition – well received by the audience however!

Taking part in the Guildford Songfest not only gives Irish Choir Perth a chance to sing for an audience, but also to be part of the audience for some of the most talented performers in WA’s choir scene. In true Irish Choir Perth fashion, a catch up with friends and family and a cheeky drink in beautiful Guildford is also part of the schedule!

After this, the Choir will be on a short term break before returning to practice in October and will meet as always at 7pm on Wednesday nights at the Irish Club WA. New members continue to join and are always welcome (the first session is free for new members!), and all the upcoming dates and details, including how to buy tickets to attend the Guildford Songfest 2019 can be found on the Irish Choir Perth’s Facebook page.

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THE IRISH SCENE | 62

THE IRISH CLUB IS Proudly sponsored by

SuSANN Keating Registered Psychologist

Child, Adolescent & Family Psychology Service

Your Irish Psychologist in Perth

SUNDAY 29 SEPTEMBER Doors Open At 6.30pm

0414 251 967

www.generalpsychologyservices.com.au

SUNDAY $15 ROAST

TICKETS $20

EVERY SUNDAY 4-7pm

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

Join UB CL THE

61 Townshend Rd, Subiaco Western Australia 6008 Phone: 9381 5213 • info@irishclubofwa.com.au • www.irishclubofwa.com.au Opening Hours: Mon-Wed 5-10pm • Thur-Fri 5-11pm • Sat 5-late • Sun 4-10pm

A great place for a party! contact the club for your next function

comhaltas, traditional music & irish classes

Music Lessons, Set Dancing, the Seisiun, Irish Language CLASS - EVERY MONDAY FROM 7pm THE IRISH SCENE | 63

Matters of

PUB-LICinterest!

BY LLOYD GORMAN

New pub will take you in hook line and sinker One of the best ways to measure the quality of a pub is by the landlord. Their stamp on the place sets the standards for everything about the place.

The owners of Durty Nelly’s in the Perth CBD know how to run a good venue. Myself and and a mate (Brendan) dropped into the Shafto Lane watering hole for a couple of swift ones before going on to the Fleetwood Mac concert recently. Fiona Rae and a friend museo were laying on live music that had the place rocking, helped by the fact that the Torc Ceili group were in the house, adding live traditional dancing to the mix. The craic at the Sunday session was mighty.

Now that Durty’s magic is being exported to another venue - The Galway Hooker in Scarborough.

Irish Scene was given a sneak peek inside the new premises recently by James Connolly from the ARK Hospitality Group.

While there wasn’t much in it at the time, the expansive and empty void that will become the pub is ready to take on the custom made interior that has been designed and shipped in from Ireland, just as Durty’s was all those years ago. A large team of tradies will assemble the kit.

The Galway Hooker is bound to impress. It will have a capacity of between 350 to 400 customers and look the part. As you’d expect, there will be live music and entertainment, Gaelic games and other Irish sports events on big screens. There will be traditional Irish fare, but with a contemporary flavour and choice on the menu. They are gearing up to serve the best pint of Guinness in Australia too by having specialised equipment and dedicated cooling areas for the black stuff and Kilkenny.

A large and diverse range of Irish whiskeys will be available as well as a wide selection of gins from Ireland.

A big draw card of the place will be a replica of the traditional West of Ireland fishing vessel from which the coastal bar draws its name. Apparently the sail ship - once a familiar sight in Galway Bay - will be built and laid out in such a way that THE IRISH SCENE | 64

Above: Durty Nelly’s team with the annoucement they are opening a new venue. Left: The Galway Hooker location is ready to take on the custom made Irish interior punters will be able to get into it and enjoy a drink and the company of friends and family.

The Galway Hooker aims to be open for business by November and the start of Spring and just in time for the festive season.

With any kind of luck Matters of Public Interest will have much more to report in the next edition of Irish Scene.

Irish bar gets American accent Paddy Maguire’s bar in Subiaco - which existed as Mooneys Bar and Kitchen for a few weeks in March - has been reborn.

After being closed for several months, the Barker Road drinking den reopened its

doors in August as Fenways, themed as a 1930’s Chicago bar, with sports (baseball) paraphernalia and photos on the walls.

The opening night was a success. It got a big crowd in, there were free drinks and Ben Maher, the proprietor who also owns the Varsity Bar chain, is an amicable host.

The previous owner of Paddy’s - who sold it to the Maher family - popped in for a look, but only stuck around long enough for a quick quiet one before leaving the crowd to discover the new establishment.

While there have been some cosmetic changes - including new carpets and fresh paint and a new look - the venue will be instantly recognisable to anyone who frequented it in its long days as Paddy’s. In any case at a time when shops and businesses in the area are regularly shutting down, the opening of a ‘new’ bar in Subiaco is an exception to the rule and something worth supporting. Drop in for a look and check it out yourself if you’re in Subi.

Nearly time for hotel owners to check out Just down the road from Fenways the Subiaco Hotel is also about to change hands. August 8 was the deadline for Expressions of Interest for prospective new owners to get their claim in on the historic hotel. Our spy tells us that there was very strong interest from the moment it went on the market.

‘The Subi’ was owned by Irish man Daniel Connors - deported from Ireland for stealing sheep - and has remained in his family’s ownership ever since.

The operators of the hotel business (Michael and Judy Monaghan, whose trading company is Ballingarry Pty Ltd) also have strong Irish heritage and background.

A good time to ‘call’ into the Irish Club There should be no excuse now for not getting a good reception or decent internet speeds on your phone at the Irish Club. Apparently Telstra has now installed a base station - comprising of three 2.53m high panel antennas and other equipment - on the roof of the club’s Townshend Road premises. The telco said the facility was necessary for a continuity and quality of service in the area, as Subiaco Oval’s grandstands - where it previously had a base station - were being torn down. Another site on top of the shopping centre at 115 Cambridge Street - a stone’s throw from JB O’Reilly’s - was deemed “too far north to achieve commensurate service objectives,” Telstra said.

The base station - which Telstra describes as “a low impact facility”, went up in August and will help bring in some extra funds (about $17,500 a year) for the cash-strapped club.

In fact there are a few signs that the Club may well be on the mend.

There have been promising noises coming from a reliable source close to the rescue effort to bring it back from the brink. After a hiatus of some time, the Irish Theatre Players have now returned to their traditional and spiritual home at Townshend Road, and the venue is heavily booked for functions and events between August and December.

Continued on page 66

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THE IRISH SCENE | 65

Continued from page 65

No doubt the Club has a long road ahead of it before it arrives at a comfortable position and nothing can be taken for granted, but at least there is a sense of enthusiasm and energy about its prospects. A lot of that can be chalked down to the efforts of the Committee and many others working diligently behind the scenes to get the club back up on its feet.

We can all do our bit by becoming members, or just calling in and buying a drink or something to eat or using any of the various services and activities held there.

Above: The Irish Club hosts many services and events, including a ‘Christmas in July’ party

A great local!

What would an Irish pub be without its customers - particularly the regular punters who drink there religiously. They help make the venue a viable venture by handing their cash over the counter but just as importantly they also contribute to the character of the place and what makes it special.

Tony Synott - he of ‘Minute with Synott’ fame - is a great example of this. Tony has been a regular at the Mighty Quinn for the last 19 years and even has his own chair in the corner. “I won’t sit anywhere else,” he said.

Tony - who hails from Drogheda celebrated his 85th birthday in July at his favourite watering hole. Karl, Bobby, Michael and the rest of the team and friends at the popular Yokine establishment gifted him with several bottles of wine and whiskey including Proper 12, Conor McGregors top shelf blend. Tony had a great time and appreciated the bash thrown in his honour, particularly as he had just got out of Osborne Park Hospital where he had been for seven and a half weeks.

By the way, the Mighty Quinn Singers Club - of which Tony’s fine singing voice makes him one of “the usual suspects” - returned from their winter break on August 26, and are playing again on a regular basis, with all funds going to the Charlotte Fund. So if you’re anywhere in the area pop in for a great time and to support an even greater cause.

Above: Some of the punters who frequent The Mighty Quinn Tavern in Yokine, including Tony Synnott (top right)

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CLADDAGH REPORT

Crisis Support: 0403 972 265

13/15 Bonner Drive Malaga 6090. Enquiries: 08 9249 9213

www.claddagh.org.au connected to Ireland. If you’re interested in reading a copy of the report, please contact Claddagh Coordinator Anne Wayne on 08 9249 9213 or admin@claddagh.org.au and she’ll email it on to you.

Returning to Ireland Seminars Claddagh hosted a final Returning to Ireland seminar at the end of June for Irish community groups around WA. We shared the work of these seminars where we responded to the needs of those trying to decide whether to go home to Ireland. At earlier seminars we discussed such issues as getting immigration permission for Australian partners, what to do with your superannuation, and how to access healthcare, schools and childcare in Ireland. At our last Returning to Ireland seminar with Irish community groups, we shared all the information and resources we had gathered so that they can be distributed amongst the Irish community to anyone who needs them. Since then we’ve also produced a webcast and brochure which are hosted on Claddagh’s website, along with links to all the information and resources we gathered for anyone trying to decide #shouldistayorshouldigo.

New Diaspora Policy for Ireland Claddagh responded to the call, made by Ciarán Cannon TD, for written submissions to inform the new diaspora policy which is planned for 2020. He wanted to know how the connections between the Irish diaspora and Ireland can be strengthened and made relevant for changing Irish communities abroad.

Claddagh set up an online survey, gathered the views of our members and Seniors in one-to-one consultations, conducted a focus group with Irish community members who attended our last Returning to Ireland Seminar and investigated the views of the Claddagh committee. All this work resulted in an 11-page submission which outlined what we found out about the Irish community here, and gave 18 recommendations for keeping the Irish diaspora in Western Australia

Seniors events The GAA in WA welcomed Claddagh’s Seniors Group to watch the matches at the Tom Bateman Sporting Complex on the 30th June. Despite the cold weather, the seniors had a great time and loved seeing the skill of the players. They also enjoyed the unlimited Barry’s tea and hearty lunch from the canteen. It was a great chance for the seniors to connect with the games of their youth and meet up with old friends. Thanks to the GAA in WA for such wonderful hospitality.

Our traditional Christmas in July dinner for Claddagh’s Seniors Group was celebrated in style at the Crown Casino this year. The group started their day with morning tea at the Mighty Quinn in Yokine, including homemade Irish shortbread from Hetty’s Scullery.

After a comfortable bus ride, they met up with south of the river Seniors to explore the casino and enjoy a delicious Christmas lunch. In September the group will be making their annual trip to Araluen to see the Spring flowers. If you’d like to participate please contact Claddagh Coordinator Anne Wayne on 08 9249 9213 or admin@claddagh.org.au so she can pass your details to the Seniors Committee.

Fundraising What a successful day Claddagh had at Bunnings on the 7th July! Our first ever sausage sizzle raised more than $1000 which will go directly towards our work with those in the Irish community who need

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support. The last six weeks have been a particularly busy time for Claddagh with many families and young people from the Irish community needing advice and financial assistance, so this injection of funds is very much needed. We are so grateful to the more than 20 volunteers who contributed to organising and staffing the BBQ, to McLoughlin Butchers who very kindly donated the yummy sausages we sold on the day and to all of you who came along and bought a hotdog from us.

If you couldn’t make it on the day but still want to donate to support Claddagh’s work, you can do so here: www.givenow.com.au/thecladdaghassociation.

If you want to make a recurring donation through a payroll deduction from your wages, contact Claddagh Coordinator Anne Wayne on 08 9249 9213 or admin@claddagh.org.au. Claddagh is a not for profit organisation with gift recipient status. Any funds donated over $2 can be claimed as a tax deduction at

the end of the financial year and Claddagh will email you your donations summary for inclusion in your tax return.

What’s next Claddagh’s next fundraiser is a quiz night on Friday the 20th September, 7pm at the Irish Club. Come along and have some fun while raising money for Claddagh’s work. Tickets are $20 per head for tables of six or eight. Reserve a table by contacting Claddagh Coordinator Anne Wayne on 08 9249 9213 or admin@claddagh.org.au

The Claddagh Association to expand volunteer visiting scheme A key part of Claddagh’s mission is the support of senior members of the Irish community. As many of you will know Claddagh’s dedicated Seniors Committee organises a very popular Seniors Group, hosting monthly social gatherings and activities. Since the beginnings of the organisation, several Claddagh volunteers have also visited Irish seniors either in their own homes or in nursing homes. The volunteers and the seniors they visit share companionship and a connection to Ireland and very much enjoy the time they spend together.

Claddagh have noticed an increase in requests for regular phone calls and home visits by Seniors from the Irish community. We plan to expand our visiting programme so that we can reach more Seniors who may be isolated or want to have contact with others from the Irish community.

Claddagh’s coordinator, Anne Wayne, is developing the visiting programme along with Claddagh volunteers, Joe Carroll and Mariea Crabbe.

Mariea and Joe are both long-time volunteers on the Seniors Committee who bring their great skills to assist with organising the Seniors Group activities. Both speak of how much fun they have meeting the Seniors every month. Joe has also been visiting Irish seniors in nursing homes for many years along with his friend Pat Cleary. At these visits Joe and Pat sit and chat, sharing current news of Ireland or talking about the old days back home. A manager at one of the nursing homes told Claddagh that these visits are a highlight for the Irish residents and that ‘one gentleman in particular who had quite late stage dementia, and was often agitated, stopped when he heard their beautiful Irish accents and turned to them with the biggest smile on his face!’

Joe Carroll, Anne Wayne and Mariea Crabbe Claddagh are now inviting interested volunteers to apply to be part of the new visiting scheme. We hope to host a training for volunteer visitors at the beginning of October. The training will be facilitated by a professional with many years’ experience of community visiting schemes. Claddagh welcome expressions of interest from anyone who would like to get involved. Contact Claddagh Coordinator Anne Wayne on 08 9249 9213 or admin@claddagh.org.au if you have questions about what is required of a volunteer or if you would like to attend the training.

Alternatively, if you or someone you know from the Irish community would like a regular visit or phone call from a Claddagh volunteer visitor (starting after October 2019), we also invite you to get in contact with Claddagh Coordinator Anne Wayne on 08 9249 9213 or admin@claddagh.org.au. She will meet with you to find out your visitor preferences and then match you with a Claddagh volunteer. Be assured that your personal data will be treated confidentially and that all volunteers will complete training and hold current Volunteer National Police Certificates.

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IRISH FAMILY HISTORY

Patrick McBride RIC

Maureen Mulligan is a member of the Irish Special Interest Group committee. She has been to Ireland a number of times and is an active volunteer for FamilyHistoryWA. Here she tells the story of her great grandfather, Patrick McBride and his connection with the Royal Irish Constabulary, through traditional records-based research and genetic genealogy.

BY MAUREEN MULLIGAN

Patrick McBride, a constable in the Royal Irish Constabulary, my great-grandfather, was born around 1841. His father was Terence McBride from Crossan, County Tyrone, according to Patrick’s marriage certificate. I believe his oldest brother was Francis McBride, a witness at his marriage, born in 1836. He had another older brother, Eugene and two sisters, Ellen and Margaret.

As he was not the eldest son in the family, Patrick, at 20 years old, was probably faced with three choices in these post famine times - labouring, emigrating or joining the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC). He chose the latter. There were attractions, as Elizabeth Malcolm stated in her book, The Irish Policeman, 1822–1922: A Life … “(it) offered reliable employment; wages that, if not generous, were at least regular; allowances and paid leave; and, most importantly a retirement pension.” Also, “a constable was considered a good marriage prospect by most rural women and their families.” And, “it allowed men to travel to different parts of the country; it gave them the opportunity to exercise some authority and also…to win some respect. None of these things was true of the life of a rural labourer.” (p.60) The RIC was the police force in the whole of Ireland from the early nineteenth century. There was another separate police force, the unarmed Dublin Metropolitan, which patrolled Dublin, Derry and Belfast. Later they joined as separate divisions in the RIC. Approximately 75% of the RIC were Catholic and the remaining 25% of various Protestant denominations. The RIC was disbanded in 1922 as a result of the Anglo-Irish Treaty and was replaced with the Garda in the south and the Royal Ulster

Constabulary in the north.

When I commenced my research for my greatgrandfather a few years ago, a second cousin gave me his name, the townland (Drumbinnion) and the vital clue that he was an RIC pensioner. This information was given to her by our grandmother’s sister. I then located Patrick in the 1901 Census, where it clearly stated he was an ex-RIC pensioner.

With a fair amount of certainty that I had the correct information, I researched his RIC records. Excellent personnel records for RIC men were kept from 1816.

These can be found at the UK National Archives: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ HO 184.

You can find information regarding the Garda here: www.policehistory.com/museum.html. It does help to find their service number. The subscription sites Ancestry and FindMyPast will assist in locating a service number. If your ancestor was an officer in the RIC, a book held in the FHWA library may be of interest. Written by Jim Herlihy called, The Royal Irish Constabulary: A Complete Alphabetical List Of Officers, 1816-1922, it also provides service numbers to access the records quickly and easily. I obtained a copy of my great-grandfather’s recruitment record

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where on the first page, it shows his date of joining, his height, religion, county, and the name of the individual who recommended him. In this case it was the parish priest. His transfer and pension dates are also recorded.

position in life carrying out what seemed to them the ordinary duties of a police force, … it was only after ten or twelve years that they began to see that this force was specially organised and equipped to sustain landlordism and keep the people in subjugation.”

The following page had the date of his marriage to Elizabeth Maguire, 11 May 1871 and her native county, Fermanagh.

Patrick was probably destined to remain a RIC Constable but hopefully he escaped the possible distrust within his own community and the worst of the bigotry that grew in Northern Ireland during the War of Independence. Over 500 policemen were killed between 1919 and 1922, often when they were off duty. Between July and September 1920, numbers declined by almost 1300 (from approximately 9,500 at the beginning of the year).

An RIC constable could not serve in his home county.

Hence, Patrick was transferred to Fermanagh after his training in 1861. The strict RIC code governed their lives, on and off duty. Police were unable to vote or to belong to any political or religious groups (the exception being the Society of Freemasons). The code also stipulated recruits were to complete at least seven years of service before they married, and they could not serve in their wife’s county. Patrick married Elizabeth Maguire of Aughaherrish, Co. Fermanagh in the Monea Chapel in 1871. He was then transferred to County Leitrim in July 1871 where they remained until Patrick’s resignation.

According to census records, Elizabeth returned to county Fermanagh for the birth of her first three children, Mary Ellen, Elizabeth and Francis. The following three children, Catherine, Bridget and Anne Jane were born in Leitrim and my grandfather, Patrick James, and his younger brother Owen, were born in county Tyrone. The family had returned to farm in the townland of Drumbinnion after Patrick’s resignation. Sadly, Elizabeth died in 1898 at the age of 54.

However, life as an RIC constable did not end on retirement. As Elizabeth Malcolm wrote “… even in retirement from the RIC and engaged in other employment, ex-policemen were not considered before 1922 at least - to have completely severed their connections with the constabulary. The 1883 act governing pensions made plain that men were ‘granted’ pensions on certain conditions; they did not have an absolute right to a pension. And even when they had satisfied the conditions qualifying them for a pension, they could still forfeit that pension in the future. Men could have their pensions cancelled if they were convicted of an indictable offence; if they knowingly associated with thieves or ‘suspected persons’; or if they were guilty of any ‘illegal’ conduct or, indeed, any conduct considered by the inspector general to be ‘disgraceful’, ‘discreditable’ or ‘improper’.” (p212)

Patrick McBride resigned from the RIC in June 1886, after 25 years and 1 month of service. He was granted a pension of £42. 2. 4. If he had stayed on for another 5 years he would have received a pension of approximately £60.

The RIC primarily drew constables from farming families and an officer corps from the upper ranks of society. Constables were mostly involved in civil duties and local administration and were widely accepted in rural Ireland. According to Thomas Fennell, a former RIC Head Constable who served in the force between 1875 and 1905; “Recruits generally were the sons of small farmers, with a sprinkling of policeman’s sons. … They had no knowledge whatsoever of Irish history nor had their parents, and they were absolutely in the dark as to the purpose of this force, beyond the preservation of peace and order, like every other police force … Young men went on thoughtlessly year after year, having a much improved

And, “Even after retirement then, men were expected to continue their duties of watching and collecting information for the authorities. In this sense, there was really no retirement from the RIC: pensioners went on fulfilling some basic, but significant, police duties until disease or death ended their active lives. In the case of retirees, it was a matter of, once a policeman, always a policeman. Standing rules and regulations, 1911”.

Patrick died of probable senile degeneration at the age of 73 in 1925. His death certificate stated his profession as Pension(er)-RIC. Continued on page 72

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Continued from page 71

My paternal grandparents did not marry. My grandfather, Patrick James McBride, remained in Co. Tyrone and my grandmother migrated to Western Australia in early 1922. My father was born in Yalgoo the same year and never met his father nor grandfather - but that is another story.

I visited Northern Ireland in 2015 and 2017 and had the pleasure of meeting my father’s cousins. One, a descendant of my grandfather’s sister, agreed to a DNA test and his match with me finally confirmed my research to be correct. I had found my grandfather,

MORE...

ROBYN O’BRIEN Convenor, Irish Special Interest Group

E. irish.sig@fhwa.org.au

FAMILYHISTORYWA (FHWA) membership.wags.org.au T 9271 4311

IRISH SIG WEBPAGE AT FAMILYHISTORYWA tinyurl.com/irishsig

QUESTIONNAIRE TO PREPARE FOR IRISH BRICK WALL WORKSHOP ON 20 OCT tinyurl.com/brickwall-prep

BOOK A FREE PLACE FOR SUN 20 OCT MEETING AT TRYBOOKING tinyurl.com/irish-oct2019 Join FAMILYHISTORYWA Facebook group Researching family worldwide, open to all

Patrick James McBride and his father, Patrick McBride, farmer and ex-RIC constable.

References Elizabeth Malcolm. The Irish Policeman, 1822–1922: A Life. Dublin: Four Courts, 2006. Pp. 266Jim Herlihy, The Royal Irish Constabulary, Four Courts Press, 1997. Pp116National Census of Ireland 1901 (free) www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/ The National Archives, Series H0184, Document Type: General Register – Numbers 25291-27200

The Irish Special Interest Group The Irish Special Interest Group (Irish SIG) of FamilyHistoryWA meets every quarter and the next gathering will be on Sunday 20 October at 2pm when there will be an opportunity to put into practice all we’ve learned over 2019, the year of Back to Basics: looking for Australian clues, Irish history and land administration.

There will be a live research session using the Family History Resource Centre facilities, including subscription access to RootsIreland, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Experienced members will be on hand to help new researchers. For those not quite ready to look things up in the databases, there will be a brick wall session at the same time. To help things go smoothly on the day it is essential that everyone seeking help on the day complete a “Questionnaire to Prepare for Irish Brick Wall Workshop” before 20 October. It is available on the Irish SIG website (details left).

New members and visitors are always welcome. Gold coin donation is appreciated. If you’d like to come along, and are not yet a member of FamilyHistoryWA (the business name of WA Genealogical Society) do drop a line to the convenor Robyn O’Brien.

Please book a free place using the online booking site TryBooking, details left.

JENNI IBRAHIM, ON BEHALF OF THE IRISH SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP

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Dub 2 Dub Emirates’s Dublin to Dubai route has been a success for the airline.

Since its launch in January 2012 more than 2 million passengers have travelled on this route, with that tally expected to hit the 2.5 million mark

by December.

There are two daily flights between the Irish capital and Dubai, and the Gulf carrier considered laying on a Emirates operate two daily flights between the Irish capital and Dubai Image sourced from www.thejournal.ie third daily service on the route last year, but Dublin airport proved to be too crowded. Emirates country If the third flight was launched it would probably manager for Ireland, Enda Corneille, was quoted in need to share the airports runway at its busiest time, thejournal.ie as saying the extra capacity was canned between 6am and 7.30am. due to “pain points” with the location. Dublin airport A second runway for Dublin is planned in the next few saw nearly 30 million passengers pass through it in years.

2017, with yearly numbers growing strongly.

The most popular onward destinations from Dubai “The challenge for Emirates is that we’re operating in are Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Singapore, Hong Kong Terminal 2,” Corneille said. “We believe Terminal 2 is and Cape Town. Some 550 Irish nationals work for utterly conducive to our product. Our customers like it as well, but it’s a busy place.”

Emirates in Dubai.

Northern Suburbs Social Group

The Gathering - 19 september

All welcome!

Guest Speaker: Transperth Education Music by: Paul Spencer Cost: $4 contribution Registration: 10.15am

You are invited to ‘The Gathering’ which is our monthly social meeting including music, entertainment and community information.

The next meeting is being held from 10:30am on Thursday 19 September 2019 at St Anthony’s Parish Hall, 15 Dundebar Road Wanneroo (parking at rear of Church).

Bring a plate to share and enjoy great sing along music, meet new friends, and hopefully win a prize.

Enquiries to: Jim Egan 0413 866 320 or Maureen Jones 0432 008 635 Email: thegatheringnorthernsuburbs@gmail.com THE IRISH SCENE | 73

AIDA WA EXECUTIVE 2019

President: Caroline McCarthy TCRG Vice Presidents: Melissa Kennedy TCRG and Samantha McAleer TCRG Secretary: Katherine Travers TCRG Treasurer: Martina O’Brien TCRG Registrar: Jenny O’Hare TCRG National Delegate: Eileen Ashley

SCHOOL CONTACTS:

Celtic Academy East Victoria Park & Karragullen www.celticacademyperth.com Siobhan Collis TCRG 0403 211 941 Kavanagh Studio of Irish Dance Maylands www.kavanaghirishdance.com.au Teresa Fenton TCRG 0412 155 318 Deirdre McGorry TCRG Caroline McCarthy TCRG Melissa Kennedy TCRG Avril Grealish TCRG The Academy/Keady Upton Subiaco, Wangara & Pearsall Samantha McAleer TCRG Dhana Pitman TCRG Kalamunda Lara Upton ADCRG 0409 474 557 O’Brien Academy Butler, Mindarie/Quinn’s Rock, Ocean Reef, Connolly, Duncraig www.obrienacademy.com Rose O’Brien ADCRG 0437 002 355 Martina O’Brien TCRG 0423 932 866 O’Hare School of Irish Dancing Doubleview, Wembley Downs & Craigie Jenny O’Hare TCRG 0422 273 596

Australian Irish Dancing Association Inc.

Congratulations

to our 2019 wa state champions 6 Years & Under Mixed Champion ISABEL COOKE (O’Brien Academy) 7 Years & Under Girls Champion ELLIE MURPHY (O’Brien Academy) 7 Years & Under Boys Champion DIESEL DONELAN (The Academy Keady Upton) 8 Years Girls Champion SAHARA DONELAN (The Academy Keady Upton) 8 Years Boys Champion RONAN O’REILLY (The Academy Keady Upton) 9 Years Girls Champion GEORGIA WESTERN (Trinity Studio)

14 Years Girls Champion CAOIMHE McGUIGAN (The Academy Keady Upton) 14 Years Boys Champion VAUGHN COOPER (WA Academy) 15 Years Girls Champion NIAMH MATHERS (Kavanagh Studio) 16 Years Girls Champion CAOIMHE McALEER (The Academy Keady Upton) 16 Years Boys Champion ADAM ROBINSON (WA Academy)

9 Years Boys Champion CHARLIE O’CONNOR (The Academy Keady Upton)

17 Years Ladies Champion CAOIMHE VAN OSCH (The Academy Keady Upton)

10 Years Girls Champion TARA FOX (Three Crowns)

18 Years Ladies Champion EMILY ROONEY (Kavanagh Studio)

11 Years Girls Champion ZOE CAHOON (Kavanagh Studio)

19 Years Ladies Champion RUBY DRISCOLL (The Academy Keady Upton)

12 Years Girls Champion ISABELLA CAMPEOTTO (WA Academy)

20-21 Years Ladies Champion DAKOTA COURTNEY (O’Brien Studio)

13 Years Girls Champion MATILDA DILLON (O’Brien Academy)

22 Years & Over Ladies Champion SHANNON KENNEDY (Kavanagh Studio)

Scoil Rince na hEireann Rockingham irishdance@iinet.net.au Megan Cousins TCRG 0411 452 370 Scoil Rince Ni Bhaird Fremantle & Lynwood Tony Ward TCRG 0427 273 596 Three Crowns School of Irish Dance Wangara & Padbury www.threecrownsirishdancing.com Eleanor Rooney TCRG 0449 961 669 Trinity Studio of Irish Dancing Morley, Midland, Bayswater & Singleton trinitystudiowa@gmail.com Eileen Ashley ADCRG 0413 511 595 Katherine Travers TCRG Nell Taylor TCRG WA Academy of Irish Dancing, Malaga Glenalee Bromilow ADCRG 0410 584 051 Sue Hayes TMRF 0412 040 719

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

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SUPPORT IN THE WA G

IRISH COMMUNITY

Congratulations to all the dancers who represented Western Australia at the North American National Championships

26th in Girls U10 GEORGIA WESTERN (Trinity Studio) 43rd in Girls U15 STELLA ASHLEY (Trinity Studio)

Congratulations to our Western Australian dancers whom competed at the McAleer Championships in Victoria 11th Place (OC) 1st Place (Prelim) NIAMH MATHERS (Kavanagh Studio) 2nd Place (OC) SHANNON KENNEDY (Kavanagh Studio) 4th Place (OC) ZOE CAHOON (Kavanagh Studio)

congratulations to all our Western Australian dancers who competed at this year’s Australian International Oireachtas over in the Gold Coast

16th place in Senior Ladies SIAN FITZGERALD (Trinity Studio) 19th place in Girls U17 TARA COLLIS (Celtic Academy) 55th place in Girls U17 ISOBEL ASHLEY (Trinity Studio)

6th Place (OC) ISABELLA COMPEOTTO (WA Academy) 7th Place (OC) ADAM ROBINSON (WA Academy) 5th Place (OC) AMELIA MURPHY (Three Crowns School) 6th Place (OC) BRITTANY PYMM (WA Academy) 11th Place (Prelim) CAITLIN LEAHY (Three Crowns School) Championship Award (OC) ELLIE MURPHY (O’Brien Academy) 13th place (OC) EMILY ROONEY (Kavanagh) 8th Place (OC) FAYE CONWAY (O’Brien Academy) 28th Place (OC) HAYLEY BROOKER (Kavanagh) 6th Place (OC) ISABEL COOKE (O’Brien Academy)

7th Place (OC) JOEL BROOKER (Kavanagh Studio) 16th (OC) 1st (Prelim) LENE BRADY (Kavanagh Studio) 8th Place (OC) (1st Prelim) MAEGHAN OLDFEILD (Kavanagh Studio) 4th Place (Prelim) NIAMH LEAHY (Three Crowns School) 8th Place (Prelim) NIAMH MATHERS (Kavanagh) 13th (OC) 5th (Prelim) SASHA BROWN (Kavanagh Studio) 7th Place (OC) SHANNON KENNEDY (Kavanagh) 28th Place (OC) TAHLIA HARRIS (WA Academy) 7th Place (OC) TARA FOX (Three Crowns School)

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7th Place (OC) TAYLOR PYMM (WA Academy) 23rd Place (OC) 4th (Prelim) TEREZINA PEARSON (Kavanagh) 9th Place (OC) TRINITY RYAN (WA Academy) 4th Place (OC) VAUGHAN COOPER (WA Academy) 7th Place (OC) ZOE CAHOON (Kavanagh Studio)

Meet...

Nicole Giaguinto

WITH TONY SYNNOTT While in Osborne Park Hospital a charming young Irish lady came in to see me. We had a wee chat and it went like this ….

1. What County and town are you from, and how long are you in this ‘lovely country’ as you put it?

I am from the grand old County of Tyrone, from a wee town called Omagh. I arrived in Australia with three friends and only a bag on my back in September 2009, so that would make it nearly 10 years!

2. Did you fall on your feet when you came to Perth, were good jobs hard to find at the time?

We did a bit of travel and had casual jobs for the first part of our trip which suited us at the time, but were very lucky in that we always found work. The group I came out with went home after 6 months, but I decided to stay and was lucky enough to make it work.

3. Have you been to see the Famine Memorial in Subiaco?

All the work was done by a great bunch of Irish lads!

I haven’t actually but that sounds great. I have some visitors from Sydney soon so perhaps I can take them there. Thanks for the tip.

4. Did you find the man of your dreams and will you settle here?

I did indeed, a Sydney boy! We got married in 2017 in Italy and had a second party in Ireland of course.

Nothing like an Irish wedding as we all know! Looks like I am here to stay, I have the passport and all.

5. There are a lot of Irish seniors between 80 and 100, all you have to do is to get the Irish Scene and see their faces.

Come along and join them for lunch or a play, why not?

I will have to keep my eyes peeled for what the local seniors are up to. I was very close to my grannies in particular and miss them very much, so I enjoy being around the older generation and hearing all their stories.

6. It’s great to be Irish at any time, but Mrs May is up to her tricks and things are different now, and we have social media to make us more aware, what are your opinions on her?

It certainly is! We’re very lucky to call such a green and beautiful land home. I tend not to get too involved in the politics to be honest, but fingers crossed its all under control and people are peaceful and happy.

7. Do you go to the cinema, what’s your favourite film/actor?

I used to love going to the cinema but I don’t go as often these days, I guess life is busy and we have access to all the tv shows and movies on our smart tv’s. Might have made us a bit lazy. I do enjoy Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood.

8. What advice would you give people coming to Perth, from the smallest country in the world to the largest and hottest?

I would say do it. You only live once, and if it doesn’t work out you can always turn around and go back home - but you can’t always regain missed opportunities. There’s Skype and Facetime now which helps keep in touch back home.

9. Do you think I am a bit cheeky asking you to take part in ‘A Minute with Synnott” ten minutes after meeting you ?

Not at all, you’re opportunistic. We’ve got to take these moments when they come.

10. Daniel O’Donnell has just played to full houses in Perth, did you go or are you a fan of Mary Duff?

I didn’t go but if my mother had known that I think she would have been on the first flight over – she’s mad about Daniel O’Donnell. I’m sure he would have put on a great show for the fans.

11. If you could visit any country in the world, where would you go to and why?

I’ve been lucky enough to visit many beautiful countries but I still have a few on my list including Canada – I’ve heard it’s magnificent and not unlike Ireland in parts. I’m meeting my family in France in June this year so that’s the next adventure.

12. What is your favourite watering hole in Perth and why?

My favourite Irish one would be Durty Nellys in the city, they always have great live music and great craic but I also like exploring the wine bars around town along with some nice food.

Thank you Nicole. Nicole is a co-ordinator at the Osborne Park Hospital for the social welfare of the pateints and make sure that any problems they they might have are solved... What a pleasant young lady, a pleasure for me to interview her.

Article has been edited for brevity

THE IRISH SCENE | 76

11–15 SEPTEMBER 2019

StArt—evening SHoWS 7.30 PM, MAtinee (15 SePt) 2.00 PM

A Yearning No Room to Party for Home Written by Sean byrne DirecteD by Dale James

Written by Harry Davies DirecteD by Aidan Murphy

Caught Inside Written by therese edmonds DirecteD by Paul taylor byrne

Tickets: $25 or $20 with concession www.trybooking.com/BEOZY iriSH club of WA | 61 toWnSHenD roAD | SubiAco

Big News!

Following an approach from the new President and Management Committee at the Irish Club of WA, Irish Theatre Players are happy to announce that they’ll be returning to their former home – 61 Townshend Road, Subiaco, from September 2019.

The plan is for ITP to further to explore the potential of the performance space at the Subiaco venue while also working with the Irish Club committee to develop a long-term strategy for the promotion of Irish Culture in WA. ITP would like to thank their loyal audiences for their continued support and look forward to welcoming you to the One Act Season 2019, which opens 11 September at the Irish Club of WA.

Irish Theatre Players

One Act Season 2019 3 short plays each night “A YEARNING FOR HOME” Written by Sean Byrne & Directed by Dale James

“NO ROOM TO PARTY” Written by Harry Davies & Directed by Aidan Murphy

“CAUGHT INSIDE” Written by Therese Edmonds & Directed by Paul Taylor Byrne

THE IRISH SCENE | 77

Dan and Mags have been married and living in Australia for forty years.

Dan decides he wants to be buried in Ireland...” Oh yeah, it’s a comedy.

A romantic comedy involving a vampire called Stephen and a lady called Sam – a woman whose attire makes her look like a set of bagpipes. They meet at a Hallowe’en themed party – even though it’s not Hallowe’en. *Spoiler alert* Stephen is not really a vampire…

Claiming he’s heading down to Yalls to honour the memory of his old surfing mate, Lochie finds his trip back to being 19 again turns a mirror on part of himself that he’d rather not see…

BOOK REVIEWS

BY JOHN HAGAN

AFTER SHE’S GONE

BY CAMILLA GREBE

A woman, barefooted, and with face and arms covered in scratches, stumbles from the frozen depths of a Swedish forest; she has no memory as to who she is, or what she has been doing. Police identify her as Hanne LagerlindSchon, a forensic profiler who, with her partner Peter, has been investigating the long standing murder of a child, near the rural backwater town of Ormberg. Hanne, aware of her failing memory, has recorded her detailed thoughts about the murder in her diary, which is discovered by local teenager Jake, who, instead of taking it to the police, keeps the diary in order to hide his own dark secret.

Soon, another body is found in the same location, and to make matters worse, Peter is still missing and feared dead by the investigating officers. One of the police team is female rookie detective Malin, who was born and brought up in Ormberg before leaving to enroll in the Police Academy. Malin thinks she knows most of the town’s secrets, but during the investigation she becomes aware of neighbours’ deviances and misdeeds long concealed. As Jake becomes increasingly concerned for Hanne’s welfare, he realises that her notebook contains the key to

Ormberg’s murders and disappearances, and sets out to try to stop the killer before he, or she, has time to strike again.

The atmospheric drama unfolds through the eyes of Jake and Malin, (in alternating chapters), and also through Hanne’s meticulous diary. This is Scandi-noir at its most unsettling and menacing, with a scorching, impressive, fast paced, and masterfully plotted narrative. It’s ‘la crème de crime’; a novel which will chill to the bone. I can see why ‘After She’s Gone’, was named the ‘Best Nordic Crime Novel of 2018’ by the crime writers of Scandinavia, and why Grebe has been catapulted into the pantheon of distinguished noirfiction authors.

AFTER SHE’S GONE by CAMILLA GREBE is published by BONNIER. $29.99

THE PROMISED LAND

BY BARRY MAITLAND

It’s always a bit risky to delve into a book which is part of a long running series. So, it was with more than a little trepidation that I began reading this novel which is the thirteenth installment in Barry Maitland’s best selling Brock and Kolla crime series. I needn’t have worried as the book can easily be read without any prior knowledge of the featured characters, Brock and Kolla.

Kathy Kolla has recently been promoted to the status of Detective Chief Inspector in London’s Met. Her former boss, David Brock, now off the beat, has retired to England’s south coast, where he seems a little bored. Kathy Kolla’s first case in her new role focuses on the gory murder of two high-profile women around Hampstead Heath. One of these women is the wife of an eminent judge, so the pressure is on to find the murderer. When another body is discovered in the house of a struggling local book publisher, he is soon arrested for all three two crimes. The publisher’s barrister persuades Brock to investigate and soon the ex-Chief Inspector finds himself at variance with his former protégé, Kolla. Central to the case, and adding further complications, is the discovery of a mysterious manuscript belonging to Eric Blair (aka George

THE IRISH SCENE | 78

Orwell), which leads Brock into danger and conflict with the law.

Maitland has undoubtly crafted a clever police drama, mystery and psychological thriller in this book.

It’s intriguing how he brings the pieces together, incorporating a last minute twist which I didn’t see coming. While reading the book I couldn’t help compare Maitland’s Brock and Kolla with Ian Rankin’s retired Rebus and his successor, DI Siobhan Clark.

While the situation is not entirely analogous, I feel I never got to ‘know’ Brock and Kolla as I did with Rebus and Clark, whose characterization and inherent idiosyncrasies are superb.

THE PROMISED LAND by BARRY MAITLAND is published by ALLEN & UNWIN. $29.99

CLIENT CONFIDENTIAL

BY SEAN HARTNETT

The old adage ‘never judge a book by its cover’ is certainly very apt in the case of this slim volume. Beneath its rather uninspiring dust jacket, lurks a wealth of intriguing and explosive material revealing the excesses of greed, corruption, espionage and incompetence which finally led to the collapse of the ‘Celtic Tiger’. The author of the bestselling ‘Charlie One’ (the book the British Ministry of Defence tried to ban), is back again with this well documented expose of the distrust, deceit and paranoia which engulfed Ireland during the early part of this millennium, and which eventually led to the worst financial crash in the nation’s history.

A former covert surveillance operative in the British Army’s counter terrorism unit in Northern Ireland during ‘The Troubles’, Hartnett (surely a pseudonym) possessed all the skills required to be in demand around the corporate and semi-state board rooms of Ireland as they tried, not only to protect their own secrets, but undertake clandestine espionage on their competitors. He introduces us to the tools of the trade from the voice-activated intelligent GSM listening bugs to the top-of-the-range spectrum analyser, designed to detect illicit eavesdropping signals. But Hartnett is also capable of building his own micro-listening devices as he had to do, in 2008, for Quinn Group boss, Sean Quinn, at that time the wealthiest man in the history of the Irish Free State. Quinn provided his

expensive slim-line pen and asked Hartnett to install an audio storage device so Quinn could surreptitiously record a critical meeting he was having with Anglo Irish Bank CEO, David Drumm.

On a previous occasion, Drumm had employed Hartnett to fit the plush Anglo Irish offices with armoured communication cables to ensure that taps were not being used by spies in Anglo’s extensive communication network. Hartnett carefully traces his involvement with Anglo Irish and how the ‘Best Bank in the World’ suddenly collapsed, costing the Irish taxpayers €34 billion, and plunging the country into more than a decade of recession and a generation of debt.

As a rugby devotee, I was especially interested in the chapter addressing problems facing Irish Rugby. The Rugby Board was in the throes of negotiating the exit of coach, Eddie O’Sullivan, and was perplexed as to how confidential discussions were making their way into the Irish media. Hartnett was employed to try to trace the leak.

This is a lucid, well documented, expose of how a nation was brought to its knees through corporate greed and mistrust. Hartnett’s revelations kept me riveted until the final page.

CLIENT CONFIDENTIAL by SEAN HARTNETT is published by IRISH ACADEMIC PRESS. Available from the Book Depository www.bookdepository.com $24.59 (free postage).

THE CATALPA RESCUE

BY PETER FITZSIMONS

FitzSimons’ latest novel was launched by the Premier of Western Australia, Mark McGowan, on 22 April, 2019, at Rockingham. An apt location since it was just off Rockingham that the epic escape took place and where a memorial to commemorate the event has been erected. The break out of six Fenians (Darragh, Hogan, Harrington, Hassett, Cranston and Wilson) in April 1876, from then the British penal colony of Western Australia, is the stuff of Irish folklore.

The three-masted whaling bark, Catalpa, which Clan na Gael had bought, was first scheduled to collect the six members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (political prisoners), who had been incarcerated Continued on page 80

THE IRISH SCENE | 79

BOOK REVIEWS

BY JOHN HAGAN

Continued from page 79

in Fremantle Prison, on 6 April. However, the appearance of Royal Navy ships in the area forced the rescue to be postponed until 17 April when much of the penal colony’s attention in Western Australia, was focused on the Perth Yacht Club regatta. The escape dramas which the six had previously faced before boarding the Catalpa, were now replicated at sea, when the heavily armed SS Georgette intercepted Capalta demanding that the escapees surrender and resume their captivity.

Based on extensive research, FitzSimons recounts the whole stirring saga with his trademark gusto.

However, there are times when chunks of quotations seem to impede the immediacy and flow of the narrative. Unfortunately I am not a fan of FitzSimons’ gung-ho, in-your-face, present tense historical exposition, but for those who are, and have a hankering to relive the fraught and intricate rescue, perhaps this is the book for you.

THE CAPALTA RESCUE by PETER FITZSIMONS is published by Hachette. $34.99

THE CHAIN

BY ADRIAN McKINTY Before addressing McKinty’s latest offering, a word (or two) about the author.

McKinty grew up in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, during ‘The Troubles’ of the 1970s. He studied law at Warwick University and also graduated in philosophy from Oxford, before leaving for New York, where he had a number of jobs including, security guard, door-to-door salesman and librarian.

He later moved to Denver to teach English, and then on to Melbourne where he settled down to become a full-time writer, developing his crime novels featuring Carrickfergus detective, Sean Duffy. The Duffy series has been acclaimed as the Best Crime Novels of the Year by newspapers worldwide, including the Times, of London, the Daily Mail, the Boston Globe, and the Irish Times. McKinty is also a two-time winner of the Ned Kelly Award plus many other literary prizes.

Lately, he has returned to the United States which is where ‘The Chain’ unfolds.

On her way to school, 13 year old Kylie is kidnapped at gunpoint. Soon after, Kylie’s mother, Rachel, receives a phone message from an anonymous caller. Rachel must pay a ransom, then kidnap another child and await further instructions. Rachael’s unknown caller is a mother whose son has also been abducted and if Rachel doesn’t do exactly as she is told, a child will die. Rachel is now a link in the diabolical and dangerous ‘Chain’. If she breaks the Chain’s rules, deviates from her instructions, or goes to the police, Kylie will be killed. This is the crux of McKinty’s book which has received acclamation from many notable American novelists including Dennis Lehane and Don Winslow, who has dubbed ‘The Chain’ as ‘brilliant’ and ‘nothing short of Jaws for parents’. Unfortunately, I cannot share his enthusiasm, for despite the intriguing plot, I found the characterization shallow and some aspects of the story bordering on credulity.

Maybe I just had too much time to think and rationalize actions and events in the narrative. Maybe it was just too ‘American’ for me. However, I have no doubt that in the right hands, as the novel fairly rattles along, ‘The Chain’ will be a smash hit at the cinema, an option on the book having been taken out by Paramount Pictures.

While I found ‘The Chain’ disappointing, I am certainly looking forward to the new Sean Duffy adventure, Detective Up Late, which is scheduled to be released later this year.

THE CHAIN by ADRIAN McKINTY is published by Hachette. $32.99

THE IRISH SCENE | 80

Melbourne International Film Festival

BY JOHN HAGAN

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As a film buff, during early August, I always like to attend the Melbourne International Film Festival which this year celebrates 68 years of movie presentations. The MIFF programme this year was the largest, and most ambitious in history, screening 259 feature films, 123 shorts and 16 virtual reality experiences, including 31 international premieres and 160 Australian premieres. In the richly diverse world of cinema, 78 different countries were represented with on-screen productions, one of which, I am pleased to say, was Ireland. While last year there were only two Irish presentations (both docos reviewed in Irish Scene), this year Ireland showcased a whopping seven feature films including – Animals, Come to Daddy, Dirty God, Extra Ordinary and Vivarium. Unfortunately, these five movies were screened outside my time at MIFF. The two which I managed to see were:

PJ Harvey: A Dog Called Money Irish war photojournalist Seamus Murphy tracks British alt-rock superstar, PJ (Polly Jean) Harvey through war-torn Kosovo, Afghanistan and the poor neighbourhoods of Washington DC. The journey allows Harvey to capture impressions, sounds and ideas for her 2016 album, The Hope Six Demolition Project, which she records in an unprecedented art ‘installation’ in a specially constructed studio in the bowels of Somerset House, London. Written and produced by Murphy, the documentary was supported by Screen Ireland. Evocative, haunting and sometimes disturbing, this is a ‘must see’ presentation. I’m now a big fan of PJ and hope to see her live when she tours Australia early next year.

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Rosie

From a Roddy Doyle screenplay, this film was shot in and around Ballymun, Dublin and paints a heartbreaking portrait of a working-class family searching for a home amid Ireland’s housing crisis.

“We’re not homeless, we’re just lost,” Rosie says at one point, as the movie follows her, husband John Paul and their four children, through a distressing loop of diminishing options and frustrations.

Rosie’s distressing and emotional screen journey is fanned by a feeling of desperation to escape from the confines of the old car in which they all live. Irish actor, Sarah Greene, gives a remarkable performance as the patient, persistent and loving Rosie. This is destined to be a hit movie; keep a look out for it at the local multiplex later this year.

THE IRISH SCENE | 81

IRiSh screen & stage Irish in mind and soul – Kate O’Connor Kathleen (Kate) O’Connor, daughter of Irish born engineer C.Y. O’Connor who would have a profound impact on the development of a fledgling Western Australia, was a fearless, determined woman who flouted the conventions and expectations of her time to courageously pursue a career in art. She became an acclaimed impressionist artist, exhibiting for six decades, and her work is now held in the national galleries of Australia and New Zealand, every state gallery, and major art collections such as those of the University of Western Australia, Wesfarmers, Janet Holmes à Court, Kerry Stokes and the City of Fremantle. Although Kate was born in New Zealand, came of age in Western Australia, and lived and worked for most of her life in Paris, she identified herself throughout as being ‘Irish in mind and spirit’.

Her life and legacy were the subject of the 2019 Mary Durack Memorial Lecture, staged by the Australian-Irish Heritage Association at the Irish Club on Sunday 21 July 2019. Dr Amanda Curtin, author of Kathleen O’Connor of Paris, explored the influence of Kate’s Irish heritage on her extraordinary life and career. Amanda is the author of novels Elemental (shortlisted for the WA Premier’s Book Awards) and The Sinkings, short story collection Inherited, and her new work of narrative non-fiction, Kathleen O’Connor of Paris. In 2018 she was nominated for the Alice Award,

Author Dr Amanda Curtin a biennial award honouring Australian women who have made a long-term contribution to Australian literature. Amanda has a PhD in Writing and has worked as a book editor for many years. She lives in Perth with her husband and an opinionated Siamese cat, and works in a backyard studio among magpies, doves and old trees.

Easy to see why O’Connor was so important County Meath (Gravelmount, Castletown) born Charles Yelverton O’Connor achieved the impossible but paid the ultimate price. He built Fremantle

Musical Entertainer / Teacher

David MacConnell

0413 259 547 0doublexx7@gmail.com www.maccdouble.com Charles Yelverton (C.Y.) O’Connor THE IRISH SCENE | 82

Harbour and the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme - the longest pipeline of its kind in the world at the time. He perished by his own hand in South Fremantle, having suffered intense scrutiny for his ability to complete the water scheme linking Mundaring Weir in Perth to waterless Kalgoorlie. It would be too late for him personally, but his ability and vision would ultimately be vindicated and recognised. For quite a few years now, the National Trust of Australia (WA) has been commemorating his significant contribution to WA and Australia through the annual CY O’Connor Lecture Series, on the anniversary of his death on March 10.

Senior and respected WA figures deliver the lecture.

This year it was given by former Water Corporation CEO Sue Murphy, but in past years has seen the likes of former Governors of Western Australia Kerry Sanderson and Dr Ken Michael, as well as former WA Premier Carmen Lawrence.

Speakers invited to deliver the annual address will explore a topic and/or person, historical or contemporary, relevant to their area of expertise, that is within the spirit of O’Connor’s legacy. “While it is not necessary that topics relate specifically to O’Connor or engineering, it is anticipated that they will present ground-breaking research, innovation, best practice or excellence,” the National Trust said.

“O’Connor’s work and his personal life were guided by qualities of integrity, innovation, sustainability and equality. His projects have stood the test of time and remain a testament to his brilliance. It is this sense of courage and purpose and its subsequent legacy, that this lecture series seeks to promote.”

Videos of the CY O’Connor lecture series can be found and viewed at the National Trust website.

Irish seniors on the silver screen A Lifetime of Stories – Oral histories of Irish seniors in Sydney – is a documentary and web project that tells the amazing life stories of some of Sydney’s Irish seniors.

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The documentary premiered at the Irish Film Festival in Sydney and is now available free online. A Lifetime of Stories is a 40 Continued on page 84

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IRiSh screen & stage Continued from page 83

minute documentary and also a website with full in-depth interviews with the participants who come from the four provinces of Ireland.

Pat Foley, Tomás de Bhaldraithe, Marion Reilly, Marie McMillan and Damien McCloskey tell their own stories with humour, style and wisdom.

Pat Foley is 90 years young and still gracing the dance floors of Sydney! Pat left Moyvane in County Kerry in the early 50’s and worked on the Snowy Mountains hydro-electrical scheme.

Damien McCloskey grew up in Derry and witnessed some of the tumultuous events in that city including Bloody Sunday in 1972. Damien also played snooker and was a doubles partner of Hurricane Higgins!

Marion Reilly is from Connemara and had the adventure of a lifetime when she travelled to Australia overland on a hippy bus in the 70’s.

Tomás de Bhaldraithe is from Dublin and is a learned Gaelic scholar and a skilled sailor of Galway hookers.

Marie McMillan is from Dublin. Marie is a skilled performer and has won numerous awards at slam poetry battles around Sydney.

A Lifetime of Stories was devised with the interviewees by director Dr Enda Murray using a workshop-based process which incorporated elements of creative writing, drama and music.

Alia Shawkat and Holliday Grainger star in Animals drinking and living their life without limitations.

American ex-pat, Tyler – a siren of drugs, alcohol and debauchery – lures aspiring writer, Laura, away from her long-overdue novel as well as her new beau, the irresistibly handsome Jim. A teetotal classical pianist, Jim is the antithesis of Tyler and the world she and Laura inhabit, and with his presence, the girls’ hedonistic double act finds itself in jeopardy.

While Tyler wants to keep the party going, Laura, buoyed by Jim’s restraint and stability, starts to emerge from her years of partying, searching for her place in the world. Caught between desires – youth and adulthood, her old self and her future self – Laura impulsively gets engaged to Jim, knocking Tyler for a loop. Bereft at the thought of losing of her partner in crime, Tyler spies a chance to rock the boat of the “perfect” life Laura can see on the horizon, but in doing so inadvertently helps Laura find a new unexpected path to independence.

The documentary is available at this website address: irishassociation.org.au/a-lifetime-of-stories-seniorsoral-history-project/

Animals will be screened as part of the exclusive season starting September 12 at Luna Leederville.

The Claddagh Association in Perth has its own oral history project of local Irish seniors in the pipeline. Watch this space or contact the Claddagh for more information!

A look at Irish film

Watch out for Animals!

Shot in Dublin, Animals is a new Irish movie that proclaims to be a fierce and unapologetic celebration of female friendship. It is also an intimate, funny and bittersweet examination of the challenges of turning talent into action, and being a modern woman, with faults, longings and competing desires.

Laura (Holliday Grainger - Tulip Fever, My Cousin Rachel) and Tyler (Alia Shawkat - Search Party, Arrested Development) are soulmates. Thirty-something best friends and revellers residing in Dublin, they are ingrained in the fabric of each other’s lives; dating, partying,

The Revelation Perth International Film Festival in June and July featured Irish films - Black ‘47, Metal Heart, Unquiet Graves and Extra Ordinary - at Luna Cinema in Leederville.

The films were curated for the Perth film festival

by Dr Enda Murray – founder and director of the Irish Film Festival Australia – who flew in for the occasion (before flying on to the Galway Film Fleadh). Enda also hosted an interesting presentation about the Irish film industry.

Amongst those to turn up for the film buff’s retreat were none other than Perth’ own trad muso’s, the Healy Brothers. The boys are currently in Ireland playing around the country and we hope to have a full report of their adventures in the next issue of the magazine.

THE IRISH SCENE | 84

IARLA INIS EOGHAIN

BY BRÍD Sorcha Anna Ní Dhónaill, Doire na Mainséar, a scríobh.

Iseabal Ní Dhuibheannaigh, aois 45 bliain, Doire na Mainséar, a d’aithris.

Bhí lánúin ina gcónaí in Inis Eoghain fada ó shin agus ní raibh acu ach mac amháin. Bhí bothóg acu amuigh ins an chaorán. Bhí poll ar an bhothóig os coinne gach lá sa bhliain. Teach an Iarla an leasainm a bhí ar an bhothóig. Nuair a bhí an mac ag éirí aníos ina stócach agus é ag gabháil chuig na damhsaí bhí náire air fán teach a bhí agna athair.

Oíche amháin bhí siad ina dtriúr ina suí a chois na tineadh agus dúirt sé go raibh sé ag gabháil go Meiriceá. Ar maidin lá arna mhárach rinne sé réidh agus d’imigh sé. Nuair a bhí sé tamall ins an tír sin bhuail sé suas le níon Iarla a bhí ann agus bhí an bheirt acu le pósadh.

Dúirt an t-athair leis an chailín nach ligfeadh sé daoithe é a phósadh go bhfeiceadh sé caidé an méid saibhris a bhí aige sa bhaile. D’iarr sé ar fhear de na seirbhísigh imeacht go hÉirinn go bhfeiceadh sé caidé an cineál áite a bhí aige. Rinne an seirbhíseach réidh agus d’imigh sé.

Nuair a shroich sé Inis Eoghain d’fhiafraigh sé cá raibh teach Iarla Inis Eoghain. Thaispeáin siad bothóg dó amuigh ins an chaorán agus chuaigh sé fhad leis an bhothóig sin. Chuaigh sé isteach agus shuigh sé ar chliabh a bhí thíos i gceann an tí. Chuir an tseanbhean ceist air an raibh ocras air agus dúirt sé nach raibh ach mar sin féin dá mbeadh rud beag bídh aige go n-íosfadh sé é. Chrom sí siar faoin leabaidh agus thug sí aniar cúpla práta agus chaith sí sa tinidh iad. Nuair a bhí siad rósta, ghlan sí lena naprún an luaith díofa.

Ansin thug sí anonn chun an tábla iad agus ghearr sí iad le cois spúnóige. D’iarr sí air suí anonn agus

a chuid a dhéanamh. Fhad is a bhí sé ag déanamh a dhinnéara, bhí gabhar ceanglaithe do chois an tábla agus é ag goid na bpréataí uaidh. Nuair a bhí a dhinnéar déanta aige chuaigh sé amach a ní a lámha.

Thug an seanduine cogar don tseanbhean nach raibh uisce ar bith sa teach agus d’iarr seisean uirthi a ghabháil amach agus sin a inse don fhear. Chuaigh sí amach agus d’inis sí don fhear nach raibh uisce ar bith sa teach agus go raibh giota fada acu le ghabháil fá choinne an uisce. D’iarr sí air theacht isteach agus ghlan an tseanbhean a lámha ina naprún. Dúirt sí leis an fhear an chéad pholl uisce a chasfaí air a lámha a ní ann.

Dúirt an fear go raibh sé ag imeacht. Nuair a chuaigh sé anonn go Meiriceá chuir an fear uasal ceist air caidé an cineál áite a bhí ag an stócach. Dúirt an seirbhíseach go raibh caisleán aige agus go raibh fuinneog air os coinne gach lá sa bhliain. Dúirt sé go bhfuair sé an dinnéar ab fhearr a fuair sé ariamh agus nach bhfaca sé a leithéid de chailín freastala ariamh.

Chreid an fear uasal é. Pósadh níon an fhir uasail agus mac an Iarla ar maidin an lá arna mhárach agus bhí bainis acu a mhair bliain agus lá agus b’fhearr an oíche dheireanach den bhainis ná an chéad oíche. Bhí saol sona sásta acu ón lá sin go dtí lá a mbáis.

(Rann na Feirsde, Seanchas ár Sinsear, Conall Ó Grianna, Cló Cheann Dubhrann, Tír Chonaill 1998) ‘Sé atá sa leabhar seo ná cuid de na scéalta a chruinnigh páistí Scoil Náisiúnta Rann na Feirsde (1937-38), faoi stiúr na máistrí Dónall agus Pádraig Ó Baoill, fá choinne Scéim na Scol. Nuair atáthar ag léamh na scéalta, tá sé tábhachtach go gcuimhneofaí gur páistí scoile a scríobh síos iad ó aithris na scéalaithe. (Réamhrá) Seanfhocal: Bíonn an saibhreas sa chroí, ní sa sparán.

THE IRISH SCENE | 85

PAULA XIBERRAS FROM TASMANIA Writing in the Burren never barren for Luka

Sleepless Sophie

Earlier this year I get the opportunity to catch up with one of my favourite Irishmen and musicians the wonderful Luka Bloom.

Luka has demonstrated through the years he is a fantastic songwriter as well as a performer so I ask if writing for him is a protracted process, Luka Bloom serendipitously he mishears and answers with a question ‘did you mean protected? If so, yes!’

It’s a brilliant and insightful moment. Luka has made me realise that he is indeed protective of his creative processes. While he is open to ideas, pays attention to conversations and the surroundings and might take notes for new songs on tours such as his recent Australian tour he has a policy of not actually writing any songs, while on tour he really focuses on the concerts and tour. Once the tour is over, away from the airports he gets the quiet space he needs to turn that inspiration into creativity. He retreats home, hunkering down in the Burren for a couple of months. It’s a spiritual time as he takes that inspiration and translates it into creativity.

While Luka’s mother wanted him to go to college and to please her, he acquiesced attending the University of Limerick, to study European studies and Russian but Luka was frustrated - all he wanted to do was play music. Luka continued his scholarly pursuits in the 70’s attending Trinity College, as a second year student studying German and History. It wasn’t the right time for him to be a student and tells me ‘he couldn’t concentrate’ and was ‘more concerned with chords notes’.

When Luka did start playing music as a career, he found a niche in Australia. It was the beginning of a special relationship with Australia and its audiences. Australia he says is a ’unique place on earth’. He explains ‘for instance, consider how many countries one has to pass over to get to Australia’. It remains the country Luka is always in two minds about leaving after a tour. Yes, he wants to go home but he is always disappointed and sad to leave the country that has held him and his music in their hearts from the beginning of his career.

Talking to Australian/Irish author Ber Carroll from Tasmania, Ber tells me she is a great fan of Tassie author Meg Bignell and has had friends spend extended holidays in Tasmania although unfortunately she herself has not had a chance to experience our state as yet.

As Ber says holidays for her means trips back to Ireland but she does have plans to holiday in Tasmania in the next couple of years.

I’m speaking to Ber about her new book ‘The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy’. The novel begins with the protagonist Sophie McCarthy returning to work after recovering from a car accident and settling into a new relationship with the man who was the other party in the accident.

This new book, says Ber, is something a little different for her but not completely so. It’s a domestic noir, so is a slight variation of her usual contemporary novels although she adds, most of her previous books ‘have included an element of intrigue in them’ and there is much intrigue in ‘The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy’ or ‘Sophie’ as Ber abbreviates it.

It wasn’t Ber’s conscious decision to make ‘Sophie’ a noir novel but that is just how it happened and Ber is pleased with the result, so much so she is already at work on another domestic noir fiction.

When she began writing the novel Ber wasn’t sure how it would end and the novel holds many twists and turns before its resolution. In arriving at that resolution Ber attempts to show us that everything is not black and white, that things and people are complicated and she likes to leave an opening ‘for fate to intervene’ before she ‘draws the threads together’.

Something that Ber was very happy to interweave through the story and to highlight was the problem of insomnia and the importance of sleep for good health.

Ironically, in a good way this is one book that will not let you sleep until its resolution.

THE MISSING PIECES OF SOPHIE MCCARTHY is out now. Published by Penguin Books.

THE IRISH SCENE | 86

Maya Linnell’s lingering memories of Tasmania

Paddy’S strange story

Maya Linnell has fond memories of Tasmania because it was here she met her husband and later eloped and married him on a chairlift at Cataract Gorge.

Maya’s novel ‘Wildflower Ridge’ is about the Irish sounding named, Penny Macintyre and Tim Patterson.

Maya says she got the idea for her novel when she participated in a writing course and looking through ‘a stockpile of magazines’ came across the story of a girl who was ill and returned home to her farm to recover. So it is in the story that the novel’s heroine, Penny is sent home from hospital to recover at her family’s farm, a place she has not visited for some time.

The story combines traces of the prodigal daughter and King Lear. It is the story of four sisters, Penny, Angie, Diana and Lara. Penny returns like the prodigal and the original girl from Maya’s magazine to her home after illness to find some discontent from her sister Lara. After the four girl’s father is injured in a farm accident Penny decides to take on working the farm which furthers her rift with Lara.

Maya says that rural fiction like her book is popular because rural stories are a return to Australis past when everyone lived on the land and there was a better sense of community. With Australia becoming more metropolitan and the increases in technology we have lost some of that human element.

Another wonderful aspect of Mayas book is that it is the story of empowered women instead of sons, the father in the story has four daughters and Maya who grew up in a family of four with two brothers and two sisters wanted to emphasis the equality of the girls and inspire young women not to be farmers wives but farmers themselves!

The inclusion of Penny’s romantic interest, Tim Patterson’s brother Eddie who is living with a disability rounds the inclusiveness of this novel.

The story of the four sisters doesn’t end with this novel, Maya aims to write individual books on all four sisters, while Penny will appear as a minor character in the next books as each of her sisters will take central focus.

Maya tells me some fantastic news that her novel debuted on the bestseller charts for Australian Fiction @ Booksand Publishing and Neilson BookScan at #5.

I recently spoke to Mick Elliot author of ‘Squidge Dibley Destroys the School’, appropriately from the children’s section of the local library. He admits ‘it’s a great crime’ he hasn’t got to Tasmania as yet. Mick has a four book series in process following the life of school boy Squidge Dibley. The four books will always be concentrated on Squidge as a year 6 student, just like The Simpsons, a TV program extending over a quarter of a century has characters Bart and Lisa never progressed from their present grade in school.

While the first ‘Squidge’ book covered a period of months in the grade 6 classroom. The new book coming out in September will concentrate on just one day in year 6. The fourth book will also give some time to developing the characters of Sludge’s dad and mum.

Mick has been a producer for Nickelodeon for twenty years. So he knows what children like. Working for Nickelodeon made life busy as he juggled two jobs so a year ago he decided to become freelance which has says Mick ‘freed up more time in the last seven or eight months and ‘relieved some pressures’ to concentrate on his writing for which he says there is ‘never an shortage of ideas’ Squidge Dibley attempts to show that unlike Mick’s own experience of school, ‘when everyone was blond and blue eyed’, reflects the contemporary classroom in its diversity. The narrator Padman is Sri Lankan and Squidge Dibley himself is ‘born different’. Mick wants to show that being different is not something to hide but to celebrate, as in the case of Squidge Dibley’s fantastical abilities as the books applaud the attributes of difference.

Another interesting aspect of the books is that they are always from the point of view of a grade 6 student with no commentary from the viewpoint of adult like teachers and parents. Which makes it truly a book for kids. This doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot of fun to be had with the teacher characters in the book, including the mean teacher who sharpens his fingernails and the ‘cool’ one who shaves her head and sleeps with her pet rats!

SQUIDGE DIBLEY DESTROYS THE SCHOOL is out now. Published by Hachette

WILDFLOWER RIDGE is out now. Published by Allen and Unwin.

THE IRISH SCENE | 87

Around the

irish scene

Have you heard some news lately?

Let us know and you might be seen in the next issue!

Email irishsceneperth@gmail.com

BIG BIRTHDAYS!

Above: Bob O’Shea with the Bledisloe Cup

Right: Happy 70th, Brian Hannon!

Below: Niki Gannon celebrated her 50th birthday with her family Below right: Annie Ross (centre), arrived in Perth from Belfast in the late 60’s celebrated her 80th birthday recently with family and friends.

Bottom left: Bob O’Connor will be celebrating his 80th birthday, congratulations Bob. Inset: Bob in his younger years!

Left: Lilly at Smiths, feeding cockie Below: Congratulations to Molly & Sumaiya who made their First Holy Communion recently

Left: Oliver McNerney with the late Brendan Grace & Irish longford singer Declan Nerney, photo was taken in Ireland 12 years ago. Sad to hear about the passing of Dublin folk singer Danny Doyle in USA on the 7th August. RIP THE IRISH SCENE | 88

SHAMROCK

Rovers

SPONSORED AND SUPPORTED BY McLOUGHLIN'S BUTCHERS MALAGA

Hoops aim for strong finish to season in State Leagues

Once again a big thank you to our sponsors:

Great performances in recent times from all teams which has seen some sensational results. Head Coach, Gerry McEwan, has again improved on last seasons efforts and added value across all three State sides. Hoops are looking for a strong finish in the last five games of the season.

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R’S GOLF CL VE

Our last fundraiser of the season is the “2019 Rovers Golf Classic”. Plenty of opportunities to enter a team and get involved as a sponsor.

Contacts: President

Marty Burker 0410 081 396 Secretary

Dean Keating 0415 534 204

SIC

120 Places Book Early!

AS

2019 R O

“Go Pink for Linda” Day was again a fitting tribute to an outstanding member, Linda Launders, who passed away in 2017. Over $7,000 was raised on the day as the Hoops took on Wanneroo for the perpetual trophy. We would like to thank all our supporters and members who got involved on the day.

Irish Scene Classic Cup

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Left: Golf Classic 2019 fundraiser.

Above and Right: Our “Go Pink for Linda” Day

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mcloughlinbutchers.com.au Like us on facebook THE IRISH SCENE | 89

The revelation of

Optus Stadium

BY CIARAIN HOEY Since the opening to the public of Optus Stadium on 21st January 2018. It has been an excellent avenue and platform for world class acts in the sporting and entertainment domains. The world class multi-purpose venue hosts a 60,000 capacity with the option on 5,000 drops in seats on all four sides of the pitch and 70,000 capacity for concerts and when the demands are present for AFL fixtures. It is no surprise Optus Stadium won the Unesco Prix Versailles award: effectively meaning the most beautiful sports stadium for 2019. The new stadium in Perth is currently the third largest stadium in Australia, behind the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Stadium Australia.

Prior to the unveiling, former Perth Glory Striker Adam Taggart termed the potential for football as a “sleeping giant” in Perth. He certainly was right with the first football game between Perth Glory against Chelsea FC hosting 55,522 people on a cold rainy Monday night on June 23, 2018. Just over a month ago the facilities and appeal of Optus Stadium in

The excellent Optus Stadium in Perth

Perth was successful ahead of Melbourne in hosting Manchester United as part of their pre-season warm-up with global super stars consisting of Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford and Juan Mata taking part. This was a lucrative swoop as Manchester United are the most recognised football club around the world, providing the greatest commercial football brand and have a fan base of 325 million people worldwide. Between the two games against Perth Glory on the Saturday 13th July and Leeds 17th of July it was estimated that there were 21,000 visitors from 30 different countries to view respective matches. From a national perspective close to 10,000 interstate visitors from New South Wales and Victoria, overall creating interstate and international attraction. Second to that Melbourne or Sydney are usually the two heavy weights in landing the massive clubs from England and other countries in Europe.

Surprisingly this season’s A-League Grand Final reached a crowd of 56,371 holds the highest attendance for a football fixture with Manchester United v Leeds United at 55,274. Further to that the two highest official attendances haven’t been from AFL with Rugby Union between Australia and New Zealand competing for the Bledisloe Cup cracking the 60,000 mark at 61,241 and the State of Origin between NSW and QLD (Rugby League) at 59,721.

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Considering all of the sports across the states of Australia, I would say cricket is the national sport given the majority of all states following cricket in summer; the public interest for recent events show that football, rugby union and league are right up there with AFL for winter sports. Mark McGowan confirmed with Gareth Parker on the 6PR morning program they are working on recruiting Liverpool FC in for pre-season fixtures next year. Liverpool are currently the most successful team in England and are reigning European Champions. A stirring rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone in a crowd of 60,000- 65,000 would be nothing short of timeless and sensational!

Optus stadium is similar to Allianz Arena (Home of Bayern Munich FC in Germany) in how it projects colour on the exterior of the stadium, however it goes one better with coordinating the colour projections on Matagarup Bridge too. Right now, Optus Stadium is right up there with the top sporting stadiums in the world. You could also compare it to Aviva Stadium in the Emerald Isle. After the demolition of Landsdowne Road in 2007, Aviva Stadium became a world-class venue, hosting the major matches for GAA and Hurling for the All-Irelands, the national teams for

football and rugby and world class performers in entertainment. The stadium in Dublin has a capacity reaching just over 50,000.

The facilities of Perth Stadium are making headlines with world class performers of Ed Sheeran and one of my childhood heroes Eminem selecting Perth as one of the cities to entertain and explore in Australia; in the past major artists, performers and musical bands opt for the major cities over East. Irish modern rock group legends U2 will be performing on Wednesday 27th in November later this year. U2 performed 9 years ago the week before Christmas as part of the 360 tour. 55,000 fans packed Subiaco Oval to watch the rock legends, maybe they might get into record attendance territory in the new stadium!

The Tourism WA is considering further expansion with potential planning to construct a zip from Matagarup Bridge to Burswood Peninsula, a step climb to the top of Matagarup Bridge and seating at the top of Optus Stadium inclusive to people of all mobility levels. Over the past few years the terrific constructions of Optus Stadium, Matagarup Bridge and Elizabeth Quay have provided greater depth, balance and choice for locals and tourists in Perth.

Happy snapping for a Happy Christmas Christmas is just around the corner and Irish Scene wants to have an amazing wrapper for our November/December edition. We are inviting readers to send us their festive photo for a chance to feature on the front cover of the next issue!

Just set up a photograph and send it to us at irishsceneperth@gmail.com

by October 18 at the latest. The best photo wins!

The competition is open to everyone, from families and playgroups to clubs and companies. We will also send ten copies of the winning edition to an address in Ireland so family and friends can share and enjoy the magic moment!

This could be you, on the cover of our next issue!

THE IRISH SCENE | 91

Gaelic Football & Hurling Association of Australasia Western Australia 2019 GAAWA

Hurling Championship Finals

2019 GAAWA

Football Championship Finals

3 finals were down for decision on Saturday 24 August in Tom Bateman. Southern Districts defeated Morley Gaels in the Ladies Plate; Western Shamrocks came out on top against St Finbarrs in the Ladies Championship while Greenwood successfully defended their Men’s Championship title against St Finbarrs. Emma Doyle and Paul Donoghue from St Finbarrs were awarded Ladies & Men’s Player of the year. Thank you to our Football Subcommittee and Members of the Executive for the hard work put in throughout 2019 and a brilliant finals day in Canning Vale.

Both Hurling and Camogie Finals were played at RA Cooke on Saturday 20 July. The finals drew a big crowd on the day which saw Western Swans defeat St Gabriels in the Camogie and Sarsfields come out on top in a hard-fought hurling decider against Western Swans.

Thank you to the Hurling Subcommittee for all their hard work and efforts throughout 2019 and putting on a great finals’ day.

THE IRISH SCENE | 92

Gaelic Football & Hurling Association of Australasia Western Australia

GAAWA CLUB DETAILS

Feile Peil na Nog 2019

Football Clubs GREENWOOD Mens Senior Football greenwoodgfc@hotmail.com

Western Australia made history this year when we sent a team to take part in Feile Peil hosted

by Connaught GAA. The team had a very successful competition reaching the semi-final of their Cup at their first attempt.

MORLEY GAELS Mens & Ladies Senior Football morleygaelsgfc@hotmail.com SOUTHERN DISTRICTS Mens & Ladies Senior Football southerndistrictsgaa@gmail.com ST. FINBARR’S Mens & Ladies Senior Football stfinbarrsgfc@outlook.com

Thank you to the team sponsor FT Workforce, Australasia GAA and the many other people who made the trip a reality.

A review of the trip will follow in a later edition of the Irish Scene.

WESTERN SHAMROCKS Mens & Ladies Senior Football westernshamrocks@hotmail.com

Hurling Clubs ST. GABRIEL’S Mens & Ladies Senior Hurling & Camogie stgabrielsperth@gmail.com

Kilmacud All-Ireland 7’s Fresh off the back of sending a Feile squad to represent WA in Ireland, Sarsfields Hurling Club Perth became the first club team from Down Under to take part in the Beacon Hospital Kilmacud 7’s held on All-Ireland Hurling Final weekend.

The team acquitted themselves admirably winning 2 out of 3 games and only being eliminated on score difference. Well done to all involved.

WESTERN SWANS Mens & Ladies Senior Hurling & Camogie westernswansgaa@gmail.com PERTH SHAMROCKS Mens Senior Hurling perthshamrocks@gmail.com SARSFIELDS Mens Senior Hurling sarshurlingperth@gmail.com

Football: BGC Grounds, Tom Bateman Reserve Cnr Bannister & Nicholson Rds, Canning Vale Hurling: RA Cook Reserve, Coode St. Morley HR

GAA GROUNDS

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Tom Bateman Reserve Cnr Bannister & Nicholson Rds, Canning Vale (entrance off Wilfred Rd)

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Sarsfields Hurling Club Perth took part in the Beacon Hospital Kilmacud 7’s THE IRISH SCENE | 93

Gaelic Football & Hurling Association of Australasia Western Australia

Minor Board

Renault GAA World Games

It has been a very busy year to date on the Minor Board front and underage development continues this October school holidays with the second running of the Mick Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor Cup.

Australasia had a very successful World Games overall with 6 teams making 5 finals and a quarterfinal.

We will also be advertising expressions of interest for a GAA in WA camp to run during the October school holidays. This camp will provide hurling and football games and coaching for a number of hours each day over the course of a week.

Keep an eye on GAAWA social media for further information over the coming weeks.

Western Australia had 7 representatives between Ladies Football and Hurling. Sarah Donnelly, Sarah Shovlin, Eileen McElroy and Kiara Keegan were part of the victorious Irish born Ladies football team who defeated Middle East in the final while Julie Ulhe, Joey Langdon and Jessica Valvasori narrowly missed out on a winnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s medal after defeat by the Middle East in the Native-born Ladies Football final.

Peter Kenneally from Western Swans was part of the Australasia Irish born Hurling team who lost out to the Middle East in the Hurling final.

Claddagh Seniors Group GAAWA was delighted to host the Claddagh Seniors Group to lunch and championship fare at Tom Bateman Reserve on Sunday June 30.

Fred Rea was MC for the day with Association President Gerry McGough taking the mic to entertain the crowd gathered with a few songs.

Many thanks to the Claddagh Association and their senior members for making the trip to see us. We look forward to having them back again.

Perth Ladies representing Western Australia at the World Games

THE IRISH SCENE | 94

GAAWA

JUNIOR ACADEMY

Gaelic Games Junior Academy of Western Australia GGJA has had a very successful year to date operating out of their new home at HBF Arena in Joondalup.

The Academy participated in both the Hurling and Football Championship finals days and had a great time.

Their annual fundraising table quiz takes place on Friday 30 August at 7pm in the Woodvale Tavern and it is always a great night. Thank you to Committee member Brendan Petson for his time and effort in securing great prizes and of course all our supporters.

The Jim Stynes compromise rules tournament takes place in October.

Follow the Junior Academy on Facebook where further details are available.

SPONSORED BY

THE IRISH SCENE | 95

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