Claddagh Report

CLADDAGH SENIORS

It was the most wonderful time of the year when the Claddagh Seniors group gathered for their traditional Christmas in July meal at the Mighty Quinn. Everyone enjoyed the Irish music from guest performers, the Broken Pokers, and Santa even paid a visit to all the good boys and girls! In August the Claddagh Seniors met twice for cultural events. On the 22nd August, the Irish Theatre Players hosted the Seniors group at the matinee of their latest play, “Little Gem” by Elaine Murphy. The all-female cast impressed with their fabulous performances in an emotional story that captivated the audience. After the performance, the Irish Theatre Players President, Claire Wynne, presented Claddagh with a generous donation (see details on next page) which we were so pleased to accept for our work. The following week the Seniors subcommittee hosted a private film screening so the Seniors could safely and comfortably view the film ‘Buckley’s Chance’. All enjoyed this touching film set in the Australian outback, highlighting the bond between a grandfather and grandson.

THE CLADDAGH SENIORS GROUP ARE ALWAYS OPEN TO NEW MEMBERS. THEY ARE A FRIENDLY, FUN-LOVING BUNCH AND WOULD LOVE TO WELCOME YOU TO THEIR EVENTS.

If you would like to join them, or if you know a senior from the Irish community who would like to attend the group’s events, you can register by calling Patricia Bratton of the Seniors Subcommittee on 0417 099 801 or 08 9345 3530, or by contacting Claddagh Coordinator Anne Wayne on admin@claddagh.org.au / 08 9249 9213.

CLADDAGH DIGITAL TRAINING FOR SENIORS

Our seniors have also been busy attending the first two of our monthly online training workshops for Seniors in the Irish community in WA. Participants have so far learnt about email and Facebook. The next monthly workshops will be held on Saturday the 28th August, 25th September, 30th October and 27th November. Participants will continue to learn about popular messaging apps, social media and video conferencing apps so they can stay in touch with family and friends wherever they are in the world. These training workshops are very informal and cater for any abilities - from those who have never used technology to those who want to learn tips and tricks to help them get more from their devices and apps. Volunteers are also on hand to give one on one guidance with the teacher’s instructions so that everyone has someone to help them. A yummy Irish morning tea is offered at each workshop and great craic is had by all! All senior members of the Irish community in WA are invited to attend these training workshops. Contact Claddagh Coordinator Anne Wayne on admin@claddagh.org.au / 08 9249 9213 for more information and to register for a workshop. 13/15 Bonner Drive Malaga. Enquiries: 08 9249 9213 / admin@claddagh.org.au

CLADDAGH VISA CLINICS

Our three free visa clinics for members of the Irish community, which were held in May and June this year, were a booked-out success and we hosted an extra clinic in July to cater for the demand. So many members of the Irish community in WA need advice on visas, travel exemptions and citizenship that Claddagh have now made a commitment to hosting a free visa clinic each quarter for the next year. At these clinics, Patricia Halley, registered migration agent from Visa4You, will base herself in the Claddagh office, offering 30 minute in-person or phone consultations and giving valuable advice on visas, citizenship and travel exemptions. The next Claddagh visa clinics are scheduled for Tues 21st Sept 2021 and Tues 16th Nov 2021. If you or someone you know in the Irish community in WA needs advice on visas, travel exemptions and citizenship please contact Claddagh Coordinator Anne Wayne via admin@ claddagh.org.au / 08 9249 9213 to book an appointment.

JOIN AND CONNECT WITH CLADDAGH

Claddagh welcomes new members. Now, more than ever, a strong membership is important to us, because it allows us to attract government and non-government funding for more projects that support our community. Our membership fee is priced affordably at $10 annually and entitles you to voting rights at our Annual General meeting and any Special General Meetings. You will receive our bi-monthly newsletter, gain access to all our information and events, become eligible to volunteer with Claddagh and receive a discount for our Seniors events. You can join online here:

claddagh.org.au/membership/join-our-community/

Don’t forget that you can: check out our events, work and latest news on the new Claddagh website - claddagh.org. au; contact us via Facebook - facebook.com/claddaghwa; and email or ring the Claddagh coordinator Anne Wayne via admin@claddagh.org.au / 08 9249 9213. If your Irish community group is planning an event, contact Claddagh Coordinator Anne Wayne on admin@claddagh.org. au / 08 9249 9213 to list it on the community calendar section of our new website: claddagh.org.au/events/

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 61

IRISH THEATRE PLAYERS DONATION

You may have seen that the Irish Theatre Players recently won $3000 in the Irish Club of WA’s Super Draw Fundraiser. This was a shock to the group who had only intended to support the Irish Club! The Irish Theatre Players committee decided to donate their winnings to Claddagh to be used in our work supporting the Irish community in WA. We are very grateful as we are experiencing more demand than ever for our services. As always, if you or someone you know in the Irish community in WA needs urgent assistance you can contact Claddagh on our crisis line: 0403 972 265.

CLADDAGH ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

We continue to share highlights from the Claddagh Oral History Project 2020 with readers of the Irish Scene. In this issue you can read the story of Sr Regina O’Neill of Co. Dublin. She was interviewed by Claddagh Coordinator Anne Wayne, who is from Fremantle but lived for many years near New Ross in Co. Wexford. The interviews from the Oral History Project were edited and collated as a book, From Home to Home: Oral Histories of Irish Seniors in Western Australia. The full book is available as a digital download at the Claddagh website here: claddagh.org.au/claddagh-

oral-history-project/

SAVE THE DATE FOR CLADDAGH’S ANNUAL REMEMBRANCE SERVICE

3PM, SUNDAY 7 NOVEMBER

Claddagh will host our annual Remembrance Service for members of the Irish community in WA at St Joseph’s Church, Subiaco to remember our loved ones who have died here in Australia, in Ireland or elsewhere in the past year. All are most welcome but due to attendance limits at St Joseph’s Church we need to monitor numbers. Please register your attendance at claddaghremembranceservice2021.

eventbrite.com

FUNDRAISING FOR CLADDAGH

IN MEMORY OF EIREANN

Claddagh are privileged to have worked with the O’Riordan family whose hearts were broken when they lost their little angel Eireann in February 2021. They have recently spoken about the family’s experience saying: “On the 4th of February 2021 we lost our newborn baby girl Eireann. Life went to a standstill while we as a family tried to come to terms with what was happening and what was ahead of us. That’s where we were introduced to the Claddagh foundation. They provided so much financial assistance and emotional support for our family. They assisted with everything and anything that would help lift some burden from us. They also went above and beyond to get our family over from Ireland, in the midst of the pandemic so that we could be together for 6 months. We are now in a position to try and say thank you in raising as much funds and awareness as we can, to support their wonderful foundation so other families like ours continue to get the same support.” In memory of Eireann, her mum Grainne, and her dad Darren, are organising a number of fundraisers for Claddagh between now and the end of the year. We are in awe of the O’Riordan’s commitment and so grateful to them for their kindness in paying it forward so that Claddagh can support other members of the Irish community in WA when they face their darkest hour. The first fundraiser is a gofundme appeal by Grainne’s workmate, Vivian, who will shave her head in memory of Eireann. If you’d like to make it worth Vivian’s while to go bald you can donate here: au.gofundme.com/f/in-

memory-of-eireann

Shortly we’ll be announcing details of a Quiz Night and a Bunnings Sausage Sizzle in memory of Eireann. If you’d like to donate prizes, help with the organising or volunteer at the events get in touch with Claddagh Coordinator, Anne Wayne via admin@claddagh.org. au / 08 9249 9213. ☘