McGowan Made His Mark

ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY

BY LLOYD GORMAN

IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ST PATRICK’S DAY, BUT MARK McGOWAN FIRMLY OWNED THE OCCASION.

In what was may have been his first – or at least one of his earliest - public appearances since the March 13 ballot landslide election he personally spearheaded, Premier McGowan made a lunchtime visit to a packed Irish Club in Subiaco where he got a rock star reception. The Labor leader arrived fresh from an engorged party room meeting of all his MPs, the largest in the WA party’s history. He was greeted at the entrance to Club by a reception party that included Club President Alan O’Meara, Consulate Marty Kavanagh and the unmistakable Rob Kearney. The Western Force fullback posed for photos and chatted with the popular politician before returning to a training session with his team mates. A little time earlier, Kearney – Ireland’s most decorated rugby player who had joined the WA Club only weeks beforehand – had mingled with revellers and fans already in the club. On any given day a chance to rub shoulders with the likes of Rob Kearney would be highlight enough, but the main act was just taking the stage. Mr McGowan’s arrival upstairs charged the electricity already in the room. There was an avalanche of applause, cheers and even a group at one table who sang ‘For he’s a jolly good fellow’. He was quickly ushered behind the bar where he poured a pint of Guinness (see page 30). He was then escorted by bodyguards and members of his team through the throng and crush to the top of the room to where the musicians were playing to address the audience. He thanked the crowd – and minister Stephen Dawson, (newly elected Nedlands MP) Dr Katrina Stratton and Hon. Consulate Marty Kavanagh – for the opportunity to join in the festivities.

Toast of the Irish! Premier Mark McGowan at the Irish Club, where he was greeted by Irishman Rob Kearney of the Western Force (left), and was entertained by some of Perth’s talented Irish dancers

Below: Paddy & Lena pictured in front of the Irish Club recently, and on their wedding day (right)

“Thank you for having me here for Paddy and Lena’s 65th wedding anniversary,” Mr McGowan added for the Galway couple and co-founders of the Irish Club. “Its a wonderful achievement, Patrick and Lena were part of the original members of the Irish Club of WA, and its wonderful to have you here today, and its wonderful you got married on St. Patrick’s Day,” the Premier said. “Can I thank you all for the invitation to come today and enjoy this important celebration of all things Irish and indeed here in Western Australia we are one of the few places in the world where we can all have a beer and stand up at the same time. When you Facetime them in Ireland make sure you show them what a great time we are having here in Perth. Ireland and other parts of the world may not be as good as what we are experiencing and enjoying here in Western Australia. “I’ve just been re-elected, I’m very grateful to the people of the state and humbled by what people have done, very appreciative. I wanted to make that very plain to you all and secondly can I acknowledge the Irish Community of Western Australia?” A woman at the front of the audience shouted back “Yeah ya can!” which raised some laughs. McGowan added: “A wonderful part of Australian life, the Irish community, I don’t know if you realise but my last name is Irish and one of my life ambitions actually is to go back to Ireland – I’ve never been there... No, I’ve never been there but my heritage on both sides are all Irish and the Irish community of Western Australia going back as we all know for over 200 years now has been responsible for so much of what makes Australia great, and so much of our way of thinking and our social life, our desire always to help those less fortunate is because of our Irish heritage, because Irish people came out here over 200 plus years and at various points of time they had not much money. They came from very poor backgrounds and obviously they wanted to create a better life here in Australia and worked hard to achieve that. So much of what Australia is today is because of the Irish and I want to say thank you and acknowledge that.” Mr McGowan and his entourage, as well as the rest of the room were then treated to a powerful and pounding display of traditional Irish dancing. For the rest of the hour he spent at the Townshend Road premises, the premier was mobbed by folk who wanted to meet him and have their photograph taken with him. More than a few young mums and their babies got their picture taken with him. The last time this writer can remember similar scenes was back in 2013 when former Boomtown Rats frontman Bob Geldof was in town for St. Patrick’s weekend and did a press conference at the club. About an hour after he arrived Mr McGowan left the building, even more popular with the punters than when he arrived. How long such popularity can last remains to be seen!

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