Around the
irish scene
A lasting legacy
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A Car-ona celebration Drive-by birthdays have become a sign of the times and social distancing, particularly in Ireland. The new custom of friends and family forming a cavalcade that hoots and toots its way past the birthday boy or girl was rolled out to celebrate a very special woman. Galway girl Lena Costello turned a big roundy 90 in late April, but a big party wasn’t on the cards so loved ones, friends, well wishers and neighbours formed a noisy mini-traffic jam on St Joseph’s Street, West Leederville. Paddy, 93, and Lena (right) are the street’s longest resident residents. The couple - both from Galway but who met in Dublin - were married on St. Patrick’s Day 1956 and moved to Australia soon after. They bought their home a few months after they got here and have lived there ever since. They were also instrumental in finding and buying the Irish Club’s premises in Townshend Road, Subiaco in the late 1970s and are both past presidents of the Club. Many happy returns Lena and Paddy!
Roses hopes nipped in the bud The International Rose of Tralee Festival is one of the many casualties of COVID-19. Towards the end of April, the organisers said the event would be called off for this year, the first time this has happened in its 61 year history. “Our immediate priority is to support the health and civic authorities in doing whatever we can to keep each other safe and well, and ultimately to protect lives,” Anthony O’Gara, Executive Chair, Rose of Tralee International Festival said in a statement. Everyone involved would have a role to play in restoring communities and local economies following this pandemic, yet “we look forward to coming together in celebration in August 2021”, he said. In the meantime, he saluted the leadership and selfless efforts of frontline and support staff… including the 2019 Rose of Tralee, Dr Sinéad Flanagan. A change to the competition’s rules meant some cities - such as Perth - would only be eligible to take part every second year. 2020 was meant to be Perth’s chance to shine. The last time Perth sent a Rose to Ireland was in 2018 in the form of Donegal native Laura Cannon (right). At the time (and probably still now) Laura was an ICU nurse at St. John of God Hospital Subiaco.
Reds turn Green for St. Patrick The Red Hat Ladies (Kalamunda Happy Hatters, right) went green in honour of St. Patrick's Day. Love your work ladies! THE IRISH SCENE | 72
The main section of the trial for the man accused of the Claremont serial killings of the mid 1990’s was wrapped up in the Supreme Court in late April, with the concluding part expected to open later this year. Ciara Eilish Glennon’s parents Denis and Una - from Mayo and Monaghan - have lived with the anguish of their daughter’s death. She was just 27 at the time and had been out celebrating with work colleagues for St. Patrick’s Day. Ciara’s memory is honoured every year through the scholarship that bears her name. On April 17 UWA announced Ciara’s scholarship for 2020 was going to Isabel Philip, 23, of Subiaco (above). “I can think of no better way to honour Ciara Glennon’s memory than using the proceeds of this scholarship to take the opportunity to step back from paid work and put more energy into helping people who are in a less fortunate position than I am,” Isabel said. The Ciara Glennon Memorial Scholarship was established in 1998 with the support of the Glennon family and is sponsored by Ashurst (formerly Blake Dawson), the law firm where Ciara worked as a solicitor. It is awarded annually to a full-time student from UWA’s Law School who needs financial help to continue studying, makes a recognisable contribution to the community, demonstrates an active interest in an area outside the practice of law and shows a balanced approach to life and concern for others. The winner also receives an offer to undertake a paid seasonal clerkship with the law firm in Perth.
