Irish Scene Jan/Feb 2025 by irishsceneperth

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Fresh from his latest overseas adventure – a family wedding in Dingle – 6PR morning radio host Steve “Millsy” Mills met with Irish Scene editor Lloyd Gorman for a chat about the trip and revealed a personal appreciation and affection for Ireland and its people, past and present. There is a lot to talk about and as anybody who has heard him on air will know he is blessed with the ‘gift of the gab’, but that was not always the case and his life could have taken a very different direction.

“I was born with club feet and no muscles in my legs so I spent the first seven years in hospital,” he said. “And I had a twin sister who used to talk to me so I never really spoke until I was about seven years, which people find hard to believe now given what I do for a living. I had a severe lisp and I had to work hard on that and even today when I get tired you can hear a bit of the lisp come though. I think of the women that came from Ireland to educate me, Irish nuns like Sister Finbarr and Sister Diane. They were encouraging and they took no hostages and people say they were pretty tough but no, they left their families behind and came across the world to evangelise – and it is no different to what we are getting out of South East Asia now, they do the same thing, they leave their families behind to provide some kind of faith education.”

Millsy, 63, went to primary school at St Pius Catholic school in Manning and believes the education and care they provided helped him – and many others like him – to overcome obstacles and achieve in life. He did not experience the abusive and cruel side of the Catholic Church that has scarred so many. “I’m sad when people went off the rails and did things they shouldn’t have done because it was an insult to the people who didn’t go off the rails, the people who gave their lives to educating, so many different people who never laid a hand on a child or did anything wrong. I feel for those people, they genuinely did it because they had some calling or commitment and without the a lot of us would never have had the education we received and for that many of us owe the likes of the Brown Joeys. But I was never a victim of any of that. I can imagine what it

about Ireland Personality

was like for someone who was a victim.”

He is old enough to remember Vatican II and its mantra ‘the truth will set you free’. “Well the truth never got let free, the church never developed, never grew, because there were all these hidden things that were happening. I know personally people were doing that to kids in one parish and moved to an isolated area in the country where there was no one to check on them and just leave them to their own devices. It was crazy.”

6PR and the road to Ireland

On November 29 last year Steve celebrated his 20th anniversary behind the mike at 6PR, a testament to his ability and success as a broadcaster in the competitive world of commercial radio. But it was also as a direct result of working at the station and the influence of a colleague that Millsy ‘discovered’ Ireland – and he was an automatic convert.

“I’m 63 now but I got my first passport when I was 48 or 49. I had never left the country,” he said. “But I’d been through a few things and my producer said I should get a passport. I said “What’s to see, Australia’s

the best country in the world, why do I need to go overseas?’”. Anyhow, I was able to get a cheap fare through Air Asia to London and my good mate Enda Brady [who has two slots every weekday on 6PR including one in the mornings with Millsy and his co-host Karl Langdon] who is from Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford said I should come over to Ireland. So that was my first visit and I just fell in love with the place. They knew how to suck me in, they took me to some of the most picturesque places you could ever see. I remember going to a race track called Gowran Park and it was just so beautiful. You wouldn’t even have to like racing, you’d just look at the hills and the rain, it was just magnificent.”

As well as his radio career Millsy is also a bookie who can been seen at race meets across the state – including Irish Race Day and the St Patrick’s Day

Millsy celebrates with fellow 6PR presenters Tony McManys and Basil Zempilas at the National Hotel Fremantle for the station’s 90th anniversary on the air

races at Ascot. An outing to another race fixture in the west of Ireland produced another great result. While he was in Galway he decided to visit Ballinrobe race track, in county Mayo. “Looking at the map it said it was 26km and I thought that’ll take me half an hour, but it took an hour and a half because the road is like a goat track, we had to pull over to let some animals pass by and we got stuck behind a couple of tractors, but it was all part of the experience.”

The jaunt was well worth his while.“I backed five winners out of six races which paid for the whole cost of my first trip to Ireland, it was a great day” he said. “I picked the five winners by taking the second selection in the race call. I’ve been to other race tracks where I haven’t picked a winner using exactly the same technique. Ballinrobe is my favourite track of all time.”

His winnings weren’t the only impressive thing about the fixture. The race commentator made an impression. “I can’t remember his name but he was an old guy who wore one of those Irish peak caps. He had a drink and rocks up about a minute before the start of the race, which has 20 to 30 jumpers in it and off he went commentating the whole thing. Whether he was making it up or not I have no idea but he convinced me and he only got animated with about 100 metres

to go. He was a good caller. There was also a bloke there who was broadcasting from there in this great van that was like a big camper trailer with a beautiful. lounge, green room and a big radio desk. He was spinning some music and telling some yarns, it was good. I thought ‘how good is this?’, and being in the game I had to go up and have a look. I told him I was on the radio in Perth and thought that would be good enough to get me on the radio, but apparently not,” he laughed. “I should have pulled out my phone and shown him the 6PR website.”

As well as placing bets with them Millsy also had some interaction with his counterparts. “The bookies there just stood there in the rain and everything and I said to them that they had a great area why didn’t they get their money together and put a cover up and he said ‘Oh no, that’d wreck the atmosphere’. And I said but you’re getting rained on and you’ll get electrocuted but he said ‘Oh no, we’ve got batteries, you can’t get electrocuted with batteries. Yeah, great humour.”

Millsy thought nothing of driving from one side of Ireland to another on the same to get to a fixture. “People there couldn’t believe me, that I would drive 200km on the same day to do two race meets in the same day. And I’m thinking to myself that I drive to Kalgoorlie and back, that’s 1200 clicks, but its a different kind of kilometres and also different roads, but the

The picturesque Gowran Park race course in Co. Kilkenny

motorways (in Ireland) are brilliant. I love them. There should be more motorways...I was at Bunbury yesterday and that was interesting. I love it. People ask me why I do it, that it must be boring, but it's the people you meet. Like I go to Northam on a Thursday and there’ll be no one there but someone will come up to you and tell you stuff you’ll never get anywhere else, some is interesting, some is not, but it gives you a better understanding of issues. Its the same with Ascot, I’ll get there early and people will come up to me and have a chat. Irish Race Day is beautiful, it's the best day. I love the Irish, if every punter was Irish I’d be very happy. The Irish love bookies and I could never work it out until I went to Ireland. They love the battle and I love it too. They want to take my money and I want to take their money, but its all very good natured banter. When we have Irish Race Day at Ascot, and for St. Patrick’s Day, they just love bookies and the races. If the world was made up of the Irish then racing would be so successful. The Irish love a punt, but they also enjoy the thrill of the hunt and I must admit when you go to a race meet in Ireland, they clap the winner a long way from home, even if they are not on it, they clap it, and I think that’s great because they are honouring the horse and they appreciate the vigour of the sport.”

He has had so much to do with them that he reckons he can take a punt on which part of Ireland they hail from. “I can start to pick where they are from, North, South, East or West, but maybe I’m kidding myself,” he smiled. “They are a very happy and attractive people who are there to have fun and they look after each other.”

On the subject of great horse racing I mention Robbie Dolan, the 28 year old jockey from Co. Kildare who – in his first ride in the event – rode 90 to 1 outsider Knight’s Choice across the finish line in a dramatic photo finish to win the Melbourne Cup.

“We spoke with him the next day on 6PR, which was probably one of about one hundred interviews he did and he was very honest, he said ‘I’m not a champion, but I gave it my best’ and he said the best thing was that his father was over from Ireland and he got to witness it. How good was that?”.

As we saw in the last edition of Irish Scene Robbie’s proud father could appreciate his son’s win on another level (A horse of a man, Irish Scene Nov/Dec 2023). Bobby Dolan was a jockey for Dermot Weld, whose stables are in the Curragh, just outside Kildare town. It was Weld’s horse Vintage Crop that became the first horse from the northern hemisphere to win the Melbourne Cup in 1993.

Mateship

“I never knew Enda [Brady] before I came to 6PR and that was twenty years ago,” added Millsy. “He’s welcome in my house and I’m welcome in his

Millsy working as a bookie at Kalgoorlie Race Course

Enda Brady ran in the 2019 City to Surf Marathon

Happy punters at Irish Race Day, Ascot

and we will stay with him in Ireland and he will stay with us here. The first time I went to Ireland we went to his parents house and I was staying in what I thought was a plush guest room and there was even Sky Racing on the TV and I thought how good is this?, but little did I know I was staying in their bedroom and they were sleeping in another room in the house. That’s the kind of hospitality they showed. Myself and Enda have a genuine friendship. We don’t agree politically on everything and we do have our arguments about the way we see the world but I respect him and he respects me, and that’s what it comes down to. My grandfather died when I was pretty young, but I remember him saying that if you don’t stand for something, then you’ll fall for anything. I can appreciate your argument but I don’t have to agree with it. Enda’s a genius, he’s one of the smartest people I know. He can speak five or six languages and when he went for a new job that he had to be able to speak Turkish he went to night school for six months to learn the language, didn’t tell anyone he was doing it. When he went for the interview the interviewers started talking in Turkish to each other about something and Enda was able to tell them. He’s got a gift.”

Pub culture

A social creature at heart who enjoys a tipple, Millsy has become well acquainted with Ireland’s famed pub culture.

“I said on the radio when I got back the last time that the pubs in Ireland are not like ours, and people took that to be offensive, but I meant that in a nice way, that they’re different” he said. “When you got there you’ve got to experience that. One of my best experiences with Enda’s parents was going to this little country pub in the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere, and there’s nothing there, its just a pub. And the guy who runs it Declan, is a reformed alcoholic and his wife Mary she’s never had a drink in her life, and they run this pub. Nice people, good fun. Would I go back, absolutely. Will I go back, yes, definitely... the other thing is everybody is welcome. Can you imagine a 90 year old going out for a drink in Northbridge?, I can’t imagine that but in Ireland people of all ages drink together. And they all go out drinking at ten o’clock at night and they don’t go home

(Top) Enda, Millsy and Enda’s father (Bottom) From left, Sarah, Trish, Millsy and Jack enjoy a champagne lunch in Dublin

and your thinking how does the economy actually work, but it seems to work.”

Millsy’s first trip to Ireland in about 2009 came around the same time the ‘Celtic Tiger’ economy dramatically crashed and burn, triggering a new exodus of emigrants to Australia and other parts of the world.

“I’ve lost track but I think this was my fourth or fifth visit to Ireland,” he said “When I first went there, Ireland was on its knees, there was nothing happening there and everybody was leaving because they were looking for a better life. But when I was there this time its almost like they are travelling better than us in many ways. The cost of living is high, but it seems they all have money to enjoy it, so things have changed a little bit.”

The character and characters of Kalgoorlie

While he wasn’t born in Kalgoorlie Millsy spent a lot of time there as a child with his father and as an adult has had a long association with it since the 1990’s. He recognises the Irish contribution to ‘Kal’ including Clare man Paddy Hannan, who is credited with being the first to find gold

there, triggering one of the biggest gold rushes in history. While Hannan gets most if not all the attention for the discovery on 14 June 1893 Kalgoorlie was originally called Hannan’s for a short time. Millsy reckons his companions who were with him at the time – Thomas Flanagan from Ennis, Co. Clare and Daniel Shea from Co. Cork – actually did “most of the work” involved.

“I have met people who are relatives of both Hannan and O’Connor. There’s a myth that O’Connor died [by suicide] because the water in the pipeline did not come through to Kalgoorlie [as expected]. The family said that wasn’t true, he had a ringing in his ears or his head and it was driving him spare and that he was always confident the water would come. If it wasn’t for CY O’Connor, our greatest engineer, we would not have all the things we have today, including Fremantle Port and the pipeline to Kal that opened up the frontier, not only to the Goldfields, but the Wheatbelt as well.”

I suggest that if those big budget projects were to be done in today’s environment they would probably be done by multinational companies. “In a way that’s good, but in another its a problem,” said Millsy. “They’re are great infrastructure projects available in our state that should be done, that don’t get done because people see the price tag, they don’t see the benefit. I’m talking about the Inland Highway for Australia. We saw last year how roads were washed away, you need

Paddy Hannan

CY O’Connor

alternative places to go and that rail route where Kalgoorlie becomes the centre of road and rail, that’d be good. And it's still unbelievable when you go up to the Kimberly and the Fitzroy River, how much water is up there and still we can’t...someone like O’Connor would have been able to say ‘we can do this and its economically possible if you see beyond the initial cost. Like that with the Inland Australian Highway, he would have found a way to do that. As an engineer he would have had the political n ouse to convince politicians this was good for the development of our state.”

He is also mindful of the countless nameless others who came to Western Australia. “When you think about those people who would walk across the desert pushing wheelbarrows into the wilderness in the hope of finding gold it's unbelievable. There are graveyards in the middle of nowhere and places you have never heard of with the graves of people who were chasing their dreams and died. Many of them didn’t make it to 21, and little kids in the early days of the Goldfields, unbelievable really. They are the people who created what we have today. So

when you think you have a tough life look at how easy they made it for us, they were tough people.”

Millsy believes Kalgoorlie is a special place and the home of second chances. “If you are down on your luck go to Kal because you’ll get an opportunity there. People will give you a go if you are genuine. You don’t have to be Einstein, but if you’re willing to work and ready to have a crack, even if you’re the biggest rogue and you’ve repented, they’ll give you a second chance. I think that typifies not only the Australian spirit, but the Irish spirit as well, because a lot of those people who came are of Irish descent. Hannan and his mates were part of that, they were strong workers and risk takers and they knew how to socialise – probably a bit like myself – and that hasn’t changed. I love the joint. One of the things about my personality is that I never forget where I come from and I came from humble stock, but I will always remember the people who helped me along the way. The KBRC [Kalgoorlie-Boulder Racing Club] was one of my first major introductions to the media and they were very supportive of what I was doing.”

Prospectors in Hannans (later renamed Kalgoorlie) Pic: Museum of Perth

The icing on the (wedding) cake

Millsy enjoyed his first time in Ireland in 2009 as a tourist so much that he knew he’d be back for more. Each journey made him want to come back for more but the most recent holiday sealed the deal and has given him the best excuse in the world to keep coming back – family. Jack – the son of his partner Trish – married Sarah [Dooley], who works in the Irish diplomatic service in Germany.

The couple tied the knot and held the ceremony and reception in Dingle, Co. Kerry one of the most stunning parts of Ireland and it was certainly a memorable event.

“It snowed in Ireland and on the day of the wedding they had their biggest storm in 20 years [Storm Darragh]. The venue had this magnificent Christmas tree and when we arrived I said to Trish that’s a very impressive tree but its going to blow over and sure enough it did. But it was a blessing because instead of a Christmas tree their photos had the Dingle peninsula as an amazing backdrop. It's amazing, it reminded me of Bryon Bay, in New South Wales, and how there’s only one road to get in and one road to get out, it was very similar to that. And then there as the snow on the road, so it was interesting getting there.”

He described Jack and Sarah, great people, individually who are a beautiful and happy couple who care enormously about their

friends and families. “Irish people like to have a laugh and like to have a drink and they are very family orientated. We were blessed with the wedding, with Sarah, our daughter in law, and her family. They couldn’t have been nicer. They took us to the farm in Kilkenny where they were having a 70th birthday, it was really good.”

Like her sisters, Sarah, is “a ripper” and Millsy said they felt privileged to get to know the family. “We met them before, Christmas the year before, so we could all get to now each other. Her sisters were working in different parts of Ireland and they all drove to the Kilkenny Hotel for a get together and then drove back to get to work the next day. A nice looking bunch of people, good people.”

Not that they need it but Millsy and Trish have another great reason to celebrate the ‘Irish’ side of life. Jack’s brother Nicholas is in a relationship with Roisin, another incredible Irish woman in Perth.

Bridal Party: From left, Nicholas (Jack’s brother) Millsy, Tricia, Jack, Sarah, Sean (Jacks dad ) his wife Janine and Nicholas’s partner Roisin

Their Voyage, Our History

The Irish women who came to Western Australia in the years and decades after the Great Irish Famine are being remembered and celebrated for their place in history, and you may be able to help. An online archive – complied by researcher and historian Dr Caroline Smith – capturing the lives and stories of this generation of emigrants (1850s to 1880s) to the then Swan River Colony is the latest initiative from the Western Australia Irish Famine Commemoration Inc. It was launched in Maylands late last year at a reception co-hosted by Alanna Clohesy MLC for East Metropolitan Region seat (who is proud of her Irish heritage) and

by Lloyd Gorman

Dublin born Stephen Dawson MLC for the Mining and Pastoral electorate.

To date, that history has been told sporadically through the writings of West Australian writers Rica Erickson ‘The Bride Ships’ (1992) and Bill Marwick in his 2016 text ‘Mary Marwick of York’. WAIFC chair Fred Rea said generations and countless numbers of West Australians were descendants of these women, who helped shape the past and future of their adopted home.

The legacy project is an attempt to pay permanent tribute to their truth.

“The absence of an archive to collate the stories of these women represents a

From left: Sean Daly, Jim Egan, Caroline Smith, Alanna Clohessy MLC and Stephen Dawson MLC, Honorary Consulate Marty Kavanagh and WAIFC chairman Fred Rea

Certificates of appreciation for Alanna and Stephen

genuine gap in scholarship, particularly given the Irish Famine Memorial in Sydney has developed an archive for the Irish women who arrived in the eastern states from 1848 to 1850,” he said. “The Irish Bride Ships Legacy Project aims to rectify this to ensure that the history of these women is not forgotten.”

The two members of parliament – who were presented with certificates of appreciation at the launch – sponsored the design of the archive website but the project committee need further support. “As a sponsor, your contribution will directly fund the creation and maintenance of this vital resource, ensuring these women’s remarkable histories are accessible to all,” added Fred. “In recognition of your generosity, we will prominently feature your organisation on our website and related materials, aligning your brand with a meaningful cause that honours heritage, resilience and the enduring legacy of these courages women. Your support will help us bridge the gap in historical scholarship and keep these stories alive for future generations.”

WAIFC committee member Sean Daly is the fundraising contact for the project and can be reached at 0421614417 or irishbrideshipswa@gmail.com. Dr Caroline Smith can be contacted at 0426935240. When the ‘Bride Ship Girls’ made the hard and often dangerous voyage from Ireland to Australia many would carry all their earthly possessions in wooden chests, known as ‘travel boxes’. In recognition of those brave women – many of them very young – and their epic journeys the WAIFC commissioned the construction of

several of these boxes, which are now distributed across Western Australia and with one presented to President Michael D Higgins in Áras an Uachtaráin in January 2017. So it was especially significant when just ten months later President Higgins and his wife Sabina kicked off their official state visit of Australia and New Zealand in Perth, by unveiling the An Gorta Mór sculpture (designed by Charlie and Joan Walsh Smith) in Subiaco. In a remarkable display of oration at its finest, President Higgins addressed the issue of the Irish Famine in his speech for the event. Since then An Gorta Mór has become an enduring and important focal point for the Irish community in Perth, particularly for the annual International Famine Commemoration.

Irish Recipe, Australian Made

Available at

www.clonakiltyblackpudding.com.au

President Michael D. Higgins, A.C.O. Mark O’Brien and Michael Blanch

C.C.I.F.V presented a Travel Box to President Michael D. Higgins in Áras an Uachtaráin 2017.

WILL THE IRISH DIASPORA Uachtarán na

As this edition of Irish Scene magazine went to print, the formation of a new Irish government was still taking shape in the wake of the 29 November 2024 general election. Talks were ongoing between the main political parties about working together as they tried to hammer out their share and place in a new administration.

when the political horsetrading is over. Until the new government is formed the old one will remain on in caretaker mode. Whoever emerges to run the country will not face a shortage of challenges and crisis to tackle.

Fianna Fáil (FF) were dealt the best hand in the ballot box by the Irish electorate, increasing their share of seats in Dáil Éireann to 48. Fine Gael (FG) got 38 Teachta Dála (TDs) but just ahead of them and emerging as the country’s second biggest political party with 39 elected members was Sinn Fein. Before this election FF and FG were partners in government – along with the Green Party which was effectively annihilated in this election – who were just two shy of a majority, so they will need the support of a third smaller party or independents. Going into government with SF does not seem to be an option either of them would want to countenance. Whatever its complexion, the next government of Ireland will be put together

As well as urgent and developing issues the incoming power brokers will also have to contend with the ‘old chestnuts’ and ‘thorns in the side’ their predecessors failed to wrestle with during their time in office. Some of these problems are hand-balled indefinitely from one government to the next, and so on it goes. A victim of this political game of pass the parcel is voting rights for the Irish diaspora, a subject which has been on the radar for politicians – and emigrant groups and advocates – since at least the 1990’s. And more than any Uachtarán (president) before her Mary Robinson (1990-1997) identified with the Irish Diaspora at a time when they might have been seen as little more than cast-aways.

Her symbolic gesture of placing a lit Tilley Lamp in the upstairs window of Áras an Uachtaráin as a symbolic beacon to light the way home to Ireland for emigrants and their descendants represented a strong connection with Irish people around the world with Ireland. She also reframed the national discussion about Ireland’s emigrants in a new light.

A passionate advocate for this cause she spoke about it often, including to the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) as President, on two occasions. “Four years ago I promised to dedicate my abilities to the service and welfare of the people of Ireland,” she told TD’s and Senators in a joint sitting of the houses of the Oireachtas in an

Sinn Fein had this message for Irish people living abroad. One of the party’s election promises was to give the diaspora a vote in presidential elections

EVER GET TO VOTE FOR hÉireann?

by Lloyd Gorman

address titled ‘Cherishing the Irish Diaspora’ thirty years ago (February 1995). “Even then I was acutely aware of how broad that term the people of Ireland is and how it resisted any fixed or narrow definition. One of my purposes here today is to suggest that, far from seeking to categorise or define it, we widen it still further to make it as broad and inclusive as possible...The men and women of our diaspora represent not simply a series of departures and losses. They remain, even while absent, a precious reflection of our own growth and change, a precious reminder of the many strands of identity which compose our story. They have come, either now or in the past, from Derry and Dublin and Cork and Belfast. They know the names of our townlands and villages. They remember our landscape or they have heard of it. They look to us anxiously to include them in our sense of ourselves and not to forget their contribution while we make our own. The debate about how best to engage their contribution with our own has many aspects and offers opportunities for new structures and increased contact.”

While they applauded her message the government and parliament of the day –and their successors – did little to put it into practice. Perhaps the arrival and success of the ‘Celtic Tiger’ around this time changed the equation – after all there was no end of economic opportunities for Irish abroad to take up if they wanted, all they had to do was come home.

The next time the issue registered on the domestic front was September 2013. Set up only a year before, the Convention on the Constitution – aka the Citizens Assembly – was asked to turn its attention towards

the question if the Irish constitution should be changed to give citizens living outside the state the right to vote in Presidential elections, either at Irish embassies or by other (technological) methods. Over

Then President Mary Robinson delivered her ‘Cherish the Diaspora’ speech to TD’s and Senators

the course of a weekend the assembly made up of 66 randomly chose citizens 33 parliamentarians and an independent chairman – brainstormed the issue and also took a poll of their own attitudes to the question.

“The result of the ballot was that a clear majority of Convention members favoured a change to the Constitution to give citizens resident outside the State the right to vote in presidential elections,” the Convention’s report of November 2013 stated.

Some 78% of the assembly participants agreed that Irish citizens should have the right to cast a vote in presidential elections. Twenty one per cent said no and just one per cent were undecided. Similar numbers were recorded on the same question for citizens living in Northern Ireland (73%, 20% and 7%).

Some 38% believed there shouldn’t be a time limit on that right while 14% thought it should expire after five years of living abroad. Seventeen per cent thought it should lapse at the 10 year mark while another 20% thought it should last for 15 years. Just six per cent felt 20 years was long enough while 4% believed it should be capped at 25 years.

Under the terms of references for the Citizens Assembly the government had four months to formally respond to its resolution,

but more than a year on there was no sign of an answer.

In January 2014 the Irish government copped criticism in a European Commission report for denying its citizens in other member states the right or ability to vote in elections.

Ten months later, in November 2014, the Dail’s Joint Committee on European Union Affairs presented its report ‘Voting Rights of Irish Citizens’.

The committee's report recommended the government should “accept the principal that voting rights should be extended to Irish citizens living abroad”. It also proposed that a system suitable to achieve this for the “Irish context” should be designed and for the establishment of an ‘electoral commission’ who would oversee this work.

Three years later, while he was in America for St Patrick’s Day then Taoiseach Enda Kenny, announced his government would hold a referendum on voting rights for Irish abroad (including in Northern Ireland) for presidential elections. Before the end of the month an options paper was published outlining the arrangements on how to register citizens overseas and how to facilitate voting outside the country. The reform could not happen in time for the

2018 Presidential elections, but the 2025 poll became the target.

Not long after making the announcement, Mr Kenny lost the leadership of Fine Gael and the Taoiseach, but his successor Minister for Social Protection, Leo Varadkar was just as enthusiastic about the voting rights issue.

“I can understand why people may not want it for parliamentary elections because the Dáil and the Seanad decide what our laws and taxes are, and if you don't live in the State, you are not bound by them, “Minister Varadkar said. “The presidency is something different. I love the idea of the presidency being transformed into a presidency for the whole Irish nation, and we are a global nation.”

Mr Varadkar would be Taoiseach from 2017 until 2020 and again from 2022 to 2024, when in March he suddenly retired from politics.

Back in October 2017 I got the chance to ask President Michael D Higgins about the issue at a press conference after the launch of An Gorta Mor statue in Subiaco in October 2017. At that time he was nearing the end of his term in office and had yet to declare what he was going to do. He was in favour of the proposal, referenced the announcement by the

Taoiseach earlier that year and hoped it would be brought in. It felt like the moment was close. Not long after this Australian tour finished Mr Higgins declared he would run for a second seven year term, and went on to win it convincingly. We are now in the final year of his 14 year long presidency (two terms of seven years) and we are no closer to a referendum on the issue. When the election is held in November this year to choose the tenth president of Ireland you will not have a say in the ballot, unless you fly back to Ireland and are registered on the electoral role.

In a referendum of their own, a majority of people in the UK (but not all parts of the UK – Northern Ireland for example) voted on 29 March 2017 to withdraw from the European Union. Brexit was used as an excuse why a referendum on voting rights should be put on hold while the government dealt with the fallout from the bombshell decision. After pained negotiations and

Then Taoiseach Enda Kenny, right, in 2017 marching in a parade for St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago, where he announced there would be a referendum

shenanigans Britains exit from the EU happened in 2020. In November of that year, Irish government launched its ‘Diaspora Strategy 2025’ – which had an image of President Robinson’s lamp on its cover.

The five year plan – launched by Taoiseach Micheál Martin – set out the priorities of the former government for the international Irish community, and included a number of commitments. One was to “seek pathways to legal migration to the US and solutions for undocumented Irish citizens”.

Even with an American President as well disposed to Ireland as Joe Biden, progress on this point was elusive and looks certain to go backwards under Trump. There are tens of thousands of undocumented Irish embedded across the United States and this was always going to be a tough nut to crack. While this objective was dependent on a foreign government and largely outside their control, one of the other main planks of the strategy was a matter entirely within their backyard to solve.

A section of the strategy highlighted the ‘participation of overseas citizens in our democracy’.

“Greater engagement of our citizens outside the State in our democracy will strengthen the connection between the diaspora and Ireland,” the strategy stated. “Diaspora participation in presidential elections will strengthen the connection between the Presidency, the highest office in the State, and the diaspora. We will: Hold a referendum on extending the franchise in presidential elections to citizens resident outside the State.”

The Diaspora Strategy 2025 was also

announced by the then Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney. “The commitment by the Government to holding a referendum to extending voting rights in Presidential

elections to our citizens outside the State provides a real opportunity to engage all citizens around the world in our democracy. It underlines the importance attached by the Government to making the Presidency an office which truly represents all the citizens of Ireland. I am especially pleased to be making this announcement as we prepare for our worldwide celebration of St Patrick’s Day and of all that is Irish.”

Mr Coveney – who stepped down from

President Higgins unveiled An Gorta Mór sculpture in Subiaco in 2017

Presidents Joe Biden and Michael D Higgins

politics last year – visited Australia for St. Patrick’s Day in March 2023. For more than ten years now Irish Scene has asked most visiting members of government about the issue of voting rights for the Irish in Perth and around the world. Solid answers were generally in short supply.

Status Quo to the End

In the final twelve months of its term, the outgoing Irish government had not budged an inch on the issue.

On February 13 2024 TD Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to introduce legislation to allow Irish people living abroad the right to vote in elections and referenda in Ireland.

The minister, Darragh O’Brien, TD for reiterated the status quo.

“Under electoral law, in order to be able to vote at elections in Ireland, a person's name

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must be entered in the register of electors for a constituency in the State in which the person ordinarily resides,” he said. “With some exceptions (mainly postal and special voters) all persons must attend in person to vote at their local polling station and Irish citizens resident outside the State do not have the right to vote at elections or at referendums held in the State.

“The Programme for Government—Our Shared Future—commits to holding a referendum on extending the franchise at presidential elections to Irish citizens resident outside of the State.

My Department and the department of Foreign Affairs have been working closely on this issue and, on 16 September 2019, the Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Presidential Elections) Bill 2019 was initiated in Dáil Éireann by the then Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to facilitate the holding of a referendum on this issue. While the Bill lapsed with the dissolution of the 32nd Dáil Éireann, in support of the Government commitment, the Bill has been restored to the Dáil Order Paper.

If the Bill is passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas, section 10 of the Referendum Act 1994 requires that I, as Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, make an order appointing the day upon which the poll for the proposed referendum will take place. The Act provides that the polling day shall be not less than thirty days and not more than ninety days after the

date of the order. While electoral law is kept under ongoing review, proposals for the extension of voting rights to Irish citizens resident outside the State at other elections or at referendums are not currently under consideration.”

The closest that last Dáil Éireann came to considering the matter happened on October 17, 2024, a few weeks before the parliament disbanded. Martin Browne, TD, Cathaoirleach (Chair) of the Joint Committee on Public Petitions and the Ombudsman said: “This petition from Ms Gráinne McLoughlin is calling for the extension of voting rights to Irish citizens living outside Ireland, often called the Irish diaspora. There are more than three million Irish citizens living all over the world, including with large numbers in America, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and across the European Union. The petitioner argues that these citizens have their right to vote in the Constitution and that they should be allowed to vote in Local, Dáil and Presidential elections. The Committee looks

forward to examining this petition with Ms McLoughlin.” Alongside Gráinne, Caitriona Nolan also addressed the Committee. As far back as 2006 some 36 European countries allowed their citizens abroad to vote, Ms Nolan said. Digital technology made it increasingly possible for them to vote outside their home countries she said. The option of using embassies and consulates as voting centres was also common practice for many countries.

“The accelerating trend globally is towards allowing overseas citizens to vote in all elections. Ireland has the most restrictive voting rights in the world in terms of overseas voting,” she said.

The petition found widespread support amongst committee members. “I am in agreement with the petition,” said Pat Buckley, TD. “It is one of the most democratic functions on the planet as it stands...we are talking about millions of people, scattered all over the world, who do not have a say as to what goes on in Ireland. Unfortunately, the only say they have when they are living here is to take the option to emigrate.”

Ms McLoughlin said there were about three million Irish passport holders who “grew up” in Ireland but now lived abroad. They were people who emigrated on a short-term basis but found they enjoyed their new life. “They may, at some point, want to come back and have children or they may have elderly parents whom they want to come back and look after,” she added. “Just because people have gone does not mean they want to give up citizenship.”

Mr Buckley said there was “a lack of political will” to tackle the issue. “It would involve amending the Electoral Act 1963.”

Introducing the vote for this group should be a straightforward and inexpensive matter he suggested. It could be as simple as logging onto a government website.

“People in Spain, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand or wherever could log on to MyGovID, type in their PPS number and passport number, show their ID and cast their vote.”

Everything else – including

Darragh O’Brien (right)

Grainne McLoughlin, far right, and Caitriona Nolan with members of the Public Petitions Committee

passports – are done online so why not voting Ms Nolan and McLoughlin said. It would help encourage nurses and doctors and others living abroad to come home and feel welcome. At present they are excluded from the process.

Committee member and senator Eugene Murphy concurred that a lot of Irish people abroad were “affected and annoyed by this matter”. “It has amazed me how slow this matter has progressed over the years and I have often wondered why this debate never reached the level that it is at today,” he said. But even this senator was reluctant about the prospect of opening up the vote to the Irish abroad. As a first step he suggested they could look at giving the vote to people out of the country on “holiday”; “and maybe look then at the possibility in a few years of presidential election on which they can vote”.

While there was generally a lot of goodwill for the petition, the committee’s hands were tied thanks as a result of the looming general election. A couple of weeks later Taoiseach Simon Harris announced the country would go to the polls again on Friday 29 November, 2024.

“There will be a new Dáil soon, so the petitioners should get cracking and get TD’s to bring a Bill forward,” Senator Murphy said.

Mr Murphy’s suggestion that these two members of the public could lobby TD’s (MPs) to rush through new legislation with just weeks or months left to go for the parliament was confounding and unrealistic. Ms Nolan asked committee members if they recommend approaching their local TD’s to push the case as well. Senator Murphy replied: “It is up to the petitioners whether to take this advice, but I would wait until people are re-elected or newly elected. When those Members are bedded in, the witnesses can get on to them about this and say it has already been raised with a committee.”

Mr Buckley said the two witnesses had ‘opened the door’ on the issue. “They have opened the conversation again...we are probably talking weeks when there will be a change of government. I would encourage the witnesses to come back because a petitions committee will be formed after a new Dáil. It has been trialled.”

Another step forward, but two steps back! With the Irish presidential elections set for November the possibility for the Irish abroad to have a say in the presidential race remains as out of touch as ever. The next election for the Irish presidency is due in 2032. The newly formed government –whoever they are – will have a five year term in office. Maybe the issue might be resolved within those timeframes, but with such a long and disappointing history you might not want to hold your breath.

Meanwhile

Australians living in or visiting Ireland will soon be exercising a basic right denied to Irish people in Australia and abroad. At time of going to press, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese still had not declared the date for the federal election. It must

Gary Gray made Peter Beard and Alison Coates feel welcome at the Dublin embassy

be held before the end of May but secretive talks between him and WA premier Roger Cook, suggest the ballot will happen in March. Irregardless of when that is, the Australian embassy in Stephen’s Green, Dublin will become a ballot centre, where its own nationals can cast a vote or drop off their postal votes. The embassy most recently opened up for this kind of purpose in October 2023 for the Voice Referendum. Couple Alison Coates and Peter Beard were amongst the Australians who voted in Dublin. “Thank you, we are so happy that we were able to exercise our democratic right (and privilege) at the Embassy today,” they said on social media. “We have been travelling since June and were concerned that we would not find an easy option to vote. Your website was clear and easy and the process straightforward. Thank you!.”

The Dublin mission had other visitors from much closer to home. “Last week, we welcomed Art O'Leary and The Electoral Commission of Ireland Senior Team into the Australian Embassy, Ireland to experience the process for Australian citizens voting overseas in Ireland for the Voice Referendum,” the embassy tweeted on 10 October 2023. “The team were brought through the voting stages by our Deputy head of mission, James Hazell and asked questions throughout to gain a better understanding of the overseas voting process.”

If the Irish state ever holds a referendum to allow Irish citizens abroad to vote for the president and it passes, then the nuts and bolts work of making it happen would fall to Mr O’Leary (or whoever takes over from him) and the electoral commission to put the change into practice.

But its a big if! One way or another we should get an insight into the new government’s intentions quite soon. The

political parties who will form coalition government will need to publish a ‘Programme for Government’ (PFG), a document setting out their agreed priorities, objectives and aspirations for their five year term. If there is even an inkling a referendum (about any issue) should happen on their watch it is likely to be mentioned in the programme. So that plan will be important for the things it includes but also for what gets left out!

Incidentially, the Northern Ireland Executive recently produced its own PFG for 2024-2027.

The Assembly’s draft version of its guide to government – titled ‘Our Plan: Doing What Matters Most’ – went out for public comment late last year and should materialise in the new year. If Stormont has proved to be a tricky form of government in the past there will be many hoping this current administration will avoid the dysfunction and problems of its predecessors. But whatever about the unique political environment that has developed in the six counties its electoral system offers voters more flexiblity than their counterparts south of the border. Registerd voters can be “abroad temporarily” for UK parliamentary elections and referenda, but can still have their say at the ballot box by post or proxy, if they organise it in advance.

Australia's Chargé d'affaires James Hazell, left, showed Commissioner Art O’Leary how the Dublin embassy can double up as a voting centre

Irish abroad? You’ll need a passport!

Chances are that the name Fiona Penollar won’t mean much to many in the Irish diaspora but she is very well acquainted with the Irish abroad. As the Director General for Citizen Services at the Department of Foreign Affair, it's her job to know and understand their needs and she is not chained to a desk. Instead of a briefcase she often uses a suitcase to go to work and late last year she was doing the rounds in Australia.

As part of a whistle stop national tour, Ms Penollar was in Perth for a fleeting visit back in November for a reception with representatives of the Irish community –including the Claddagh Association, Irish Club and GAA WA – in Durty Nelly’s pub, accompanied by Daniel Lowe, deputy ambassador to Australia. A rare opportunity to meet such a senior ranking official in the department it was also a very casual and friendly affair, there was a chance for a bit of a chat and something to eat and drink at the Shafto Lane venue. As part of her brief she oversees the Emigrant Support Programme, which has benefited many groups

by Lloyd Gorman

and organisations in Perth and across Australia. A few months before her trip Down Under Ms Penollar was darting around America and Canada in a similar vein. Before this role she was director of the Passport Service and was involved with the digitisation and online development of the system, which has helped speed up passport requests and cope with increased demand. A record 1.1 million Irish passports were issued on her watch in 2022. One million of the travel identity documents were processed by the passport service last year, which happened to be the 100th year of the service. The single busiest day in 2024 was January 28, 2024 when 8,363 applications were received in just 24 hours. The top three overseas countries last year for online applications were the USA (30,200), Australia (13,300) and Canada (6,500). An estimated 940,000 passport applications are forecast for 2025.

A fee of €75 applies for a standard 10 year passport online application and there is a €15 cost to have it posted anywhere outside of Ireland.

Daniel Lowe, Deputy Head of Mission at the Irish embassy in Canberra with Fiona Penollar and Marty Kavanagh at Durty Nellys Irish Pub

Irish Family Day

Have you ever heard of a reindeer bodhrán?

by Lloyd Gorman

The traditional Irish instrument has been given a unique makeover by Norwegian Bjarne Stensrud, according to this article recently published on the Irish government website Ireland.ie Few musical instruments are as closely associated with Irish traditional music as the bodhrán, a circular frame drum. The unique style of drumming, the bodhrán is one of the hallmarks that gives Irish traditional music its special sound. Bodhráns, once largely the preserve of a few famous Irish makers, today are made all over the world, from Germany, Japan to the USA and indeed, Norway.

In this article on the government website Ireland.ie Bjarne Stensrud makes his unique bodhráns at home in his workshop in Oslo, with

with experience as a technical manager at both the Lillehammer winter and Atlanta summer Olympic games – had never made musical instruments before, but was encouraged in his endeavour by Oslo-based Irish musician and music teacher Brendan Monaghan. Monaghan has played with some of the biggest names in Irish music and on some of the world’s biggest stages like Carnegie Hall and even at the White House for President Clinton.

“Everybody, who has anything to do with bodhráns, says it depends on the skin. So a bodhrán maker can perfect everything apart from the skin,” says Stensrud.

“Bodhráns: the name, as you know, comes from the ‘deafener’ and traditionally everybody thinks that the bodhrán is one of the oldest instruments there is. But, truth be told, it wasn’t properly introduced into Irish music until the early 1960s,” explains Monaghan. In addition to his playing and teaching, Monaghan is one half of the team behind the Emigrant Support Programmesupported Féile Oslo. “It was Seán Ó Riada who introduced it to Ceoltóirí Chualann, but before that it would have been used on St Stephen’s Day, for the wren boys. Hence why there was usually a cross stick in the back of the drum. They wouldn’t have put their hand on the skin itself. So it would have been held and open toned, just hitting the drum but not actually playing along with reels and jigs,” he says.

Charlie Byrne of Kerry was among the most famous early makers of the bodhrán in Ireland. Monaghan describes Byrne’s instruments as “the go-to bodhráns, because his were the best.” The drum skin was traditionally goatskin, which was buried with lime in order to de-hair it. Any remaining hair was scrapped off and stretched before being applied to a drum frame.

Bjarne crafts a frame for one of his reindeer skin bodhrans

While some people took the view that the bodhrán should be played with a penknife (attributed to Seamus Ennis), what makes a bodhrán unique as an instrument compared to other similar drums is that by striking the drum on both sides, you could mimic the sound of Irish dancers’ feet.

Evolution of the bodhrán

The bodhrán has varied in size over the years, with Seamus O’Kane making them slightly smaller, at a sixteen-inch diameter, while also making them deeper. He also innovated by providing a system for tightening and loosening the skin. It is this classic model that Bjarne used for his bodhráns.

Stensrud sourced his reindeer skins from a tannery on the Norwegian west coast. He had worked all his life in stage management and had no previous experience as an instrument maker, so the learning curve was a steep one. “With the first drums, I thawed the skins that had been sent to me deep-frozen, and put it in cold water, took it out again, drip dried it off and put it on the drum, missing out one vital step. Namely, stretching the skin on a frame. That’s one of the reasons why I had to take the skin off and replace it on the frame of one of them, because I hadn’t stretched it. I’ll never forget that step in the process again!” he laughs. For Stensrud, the ambition in taking on this project was a straightforward one: “I wanted to get this right, so that there was a playable instrument. It is no big deal to make a thing like that look like a bodhrán. But to make it play like a bodhrán

is something quite different. I really relied on Brendan to guide me in that respect,” he says. “As everybody says, it comes down to the skin and the way it is put onto the frame.”

One of the first attempts Stensrud made seemed to be successful, before he realised that the frame was not perfectly round. This meant that there were small gaps between the tuning rim and the outer frame, which produced a rattling sound when it played. The Norwegian climate was another challenge that had to be considered as the skins can dry out in the cold.

After much experimentation and attempts to find the perfect mould (which he was supplied with after a chance encounter with a local plumber), Stensrud has crafted a number of bodhráns, a few of which are now for sale in one of Oslo’s best-loved music shops, Hornaas Musikk.

Bjarne Stensrud with Irish bodharan player Brendan Monaghan

More GOAT than goatskin

by Lloyd Gorman

There is good reason to believe Perth is now home to the largest ‘bodhran’ in the world. Of all the bodhrans in existence I am staking a claim to be the owner of what might just be the Grandest One of All Time (GOAT) in the world, at least in terms of size. The second bodhran I ever bought it is 27 inches wide. By comparsion, most bodhrans you see being played in a session or hanging on the wall of a pub are about 18 inches across. Extensive searches for evidence of others bodhrans of equal or greater size have so far produced no competitors and until somebody comes forward with confirmation of something even bigger then I am going to cling precariously to this global title! But if you think you might have an even more rotund drum of the bodhran variety or one that is unique in its own way I’d be genuinely interested to hear from you! My GOAT started out as one man’s artistic interpretation and miscalculated attempt to create the exotic Irish instrument. I first encountered it at a traditional music session in O’Donoghue’s pub in Bagot Street, Dublin and as a sucker for the absurd I was immediately smitten. My recollection of the night in question – somewhere in the mid 1990’s – is foggy but I struck up a conversation with the Finnish visitor and by closing time the oversize object had changed hands.

From what I can recall he was inspired to make it after seening a photograph of a bodhran. Its worth remembering that at the time, the internet was still out of reach of most people and the smartest phones on the market were Blackberries, used exclusively by corporate types. This Nordic traveller

obviously had some experience or aptitude for the task and was able to create a sturdily built frame – complete with its own pop out metal pole to help support the player to manage its weight and size in different playing positions. The skin of the dramatic drum came from a reindeer (Irish bodhran’s are made from goat skin). He signed his name on it and the words ‘Made in Finland.’ It was a remarkable piece of craftsmanship with its own sense of proportion – accidentally gigantic. An artefact that would not have looked out of place in the hands of a marauding Viking, wielding it like a shield.

If music knows no border, then the GOAT is fairly well travelled. It followed me around various flats and houses in Dublin and when I left for Australia it went to live with my brother in Kent in the UK until we were re-acquainted a couple of years ago on a visit. It's return would have to wait a little longer until my father could lug it back to Ireland across the Irish Sea and then take it as luggage when he and my mum flew out to Perth last September. It took quite a bit of effort to find a bag/case big enough to carry it here and then to actually get that to Ireland (Australia POST sent back various parcels for no apparent reason) but in the end my long suffering mum and dad got it through and past the curiosity of several customs officers and some very strange looks. Since its arrival to Perth GOAT has been in action in public just once so far in Durty Nelly’s pub in September 2023, but maybe it will strike again.

Lloyd with his larger than life reindeer skinned bodhran and his traditional goatskin bodhran.

Pictured at Fanny McGee’s Craic in Jarrah Bar, Hillarys Boat Harbour Photos: Ewan Gorman

Mighty Irish Elks

Irish bodhrans are traditionally made from goatskin, but the idea of them being made form the hide of reindeer is not as unlikely as it might sound. Deer have a long and interesting background interwoven into the history of Ireland.

Indeed, Ireland used to be a natural habitat for reindeer. The skeletal remains of many reindeer have been discovered intact in various bogs and peatlands suggesting they were once plentiful but died out about 9,500 years ago.

But even more interesting is the fact that the biggest deer to have lived was native to Ireland. The Irish elk (Megaloceros giganteus) were truly an awesome perhistroic creature. An adult stag could weigh in at over one tonne (half that for a hind) but both males and females stood at about 2 metres to their shoulder. However, their most impressive feature were the antlers of the male, which could span as much as 4 metres across and weigh up to 45kg on

their own, the largest of any known deer species in the world (a true GOAT). Their massive palm-like antlers were similar to those of the fallow deer, their nearest living descendant. This Megafauna became extinct about 10,000 years ago (after the last Ice Age) but thrived and would have been a

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The impressive skeletons of three Elk at the Natural History Museum in Dublin

dominant species before then. The Irish elk might have died out, but it has not totally disappeared from view. As well as various museums – including the National Museum of Ireland and even the Australian Museum – their dinosaur like reconstructed skeletons or skulls with attached antlers can be seen in stately homes and halls across Ireland. Collected by scientists of the day and wealthy individuals alike for their iconic and awe inspiring beauty. Again, like their reindeer cousins, large numbers of these creatures were often found in bogs around Ireland as they were developed for turf. Discoveries of this type are rare now but not unheard of. In September 2018 the net of fishermen Raymond McElroy and Charlie Coyle got stuck on the bottom of Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland and they had a struggle to get it loose, thinking it had became snagged on something submerged that was large and heavy. What they found was 10,500 years old and measured 6 feet across (1.8 metres).

“As it came out of the water Raymond said “that looks like an old oak” and the next thing he sees the head and he says to me “it’s an

elk”, and I said “never the devil”,” they told BBC News at the time. The Normans first brought fallow deer – the most common breed people think of when one talks about deer – to Ireland in 1244 to stock a royal forest in what is Glencree, Co. Wicklow.

A second wave of fallow deer were brought into the country from Britain. Phoenix Park in Dublin was established by the Duke of Ormond, as a royal deer park. A population of deer – estimated at about 600 in the present day – have roamed the park ever since and watching these wild animals – especially around Christmas time – has been a tradition for many Dubliners for generations. Different species of deer can now be found in many parts of Ireland, north

Raymond McElroy with the Elk’s antlers he and a friend pulled out of the water

A slice of Chrissy cheer!

by Lloyd Gorman

Happy homecomings are the kind of magic stories the Irish media can’t seem to get enough of for their coverage of the festive season. And the more far flung the location, the better the reunion, so Australia pops up a lot, and Perth on a regular basis. Last year the Late Late Toy Show on RTE secretly arranged for Joanne O’Brien and her family, who lives in Perth but who is originally from Navan, Co. Meath, to surprise her mum Carol during the live show by brining out her daughter, son in law and grandkids from Perth live on air. It was a touching and heart warming moment of course as they clasped each other, crying tears of joy (RTE toyed with our emotions, Irish Scene Jan/Feb 2024). And the photograph on the front page of the Irish Examiner on December 21 2023 told a similar story. It showed the classic moment in Dublin airport when grandparents Ger and Brian McGuinness got to meet their grandson James for the first time. James’s dad Derek lives in Perth with his Aussie wife Rebecca.

This year another Irish man who now calls Western Australia home was on the receiving end of some media attention. This

time however it was less random than an airport encounter and more staged like the Late Late Toy Show. Dublin commercial station 104FM and Milano pizza restaurant in Dublin ran a ‘Bring a loved one home for Christmas’ competition. However many entries they got, the winning name plucked out of the hat was Seán (no surname given) who lives and works in “hot and windy Australia”. Seán was nominated by his brother in law Conall who is married to his sister Niamh, who he somehow managed to keep it a secret from too. Naturally delighted to have won, Seán was interviewed by the radio station at Dublin airport and asked what he had missed the most. He said he really missed his parents and his sister – who is pregnant with her first child – and thanked his brother in law. “It doesn’t feel real that I’m here,” he said. And what was the first thing he was going to do? After jokingly saying he would kick off his shoes and put his feet in front of the fire Seán honestly replied: “I just want to see my mother, I haven’t seen her in a while I want to give her a big hug like.”

With Seán back in the country the next part of the plan was to spring the surprise on his unsuspecting mother and other family members and they had the perfect place to lay the trap. The family group were booked in for dinner about a week before Christmas Day itself, at Milano Swords Pavilions Shopping Centre. Just on the cusp of the big reveal Seán confessed to being: “nervous happy and excited all at the same time” with “loads of emotions going through me right now”.

that’s what Christmas is about, its about family and friends and being together and without them, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Sitting at the table waiting for their food to arrive the first pizza was delivered by Seán, dressed as a Milano waiter. He put the dish on the table and waited a few seconds for the diners to realise who he was and as soon as the penny dropped there were emotional scenes of hugging and tears of joy.

Niamh and Conall’s baby was due to be born about a week later, so for Seán and his loved ones the timing of being back at home could not have been better. Surely a Christmas to remember. If you know Seán we’d love to hear from you and to find out more about him and the rest of the trip.

He thanked Milanos for the opportunity to come home.

“Its a special surprise for everybody, but

The Show Band Showman

Legendary Irish show band singer Dickie Rock – who died on 6 December 2024 – led an amazing life, writes ‘Anything Goes’ DJ Oliver McNerney. He was born on Dublin’s North Strand in October 1936 and as a boy and adult he sang in the local church choir. Dickie was a front man with the famous Miami Show band and his first recording with the group went straight to number 1 in the chart. In fact he had seven number one’s in his career and another three top ten songs. He was a star of the showband era, a uniquely Irish phenomenon during the 1950s and 60s. At the time more than 600 bands played all over Ireland and the UK and played to audiences of 3,000 to 4,000 a night. At the height of his fame and the showband era Rock also sang Ireland’s entry for the 1966 Eurovision Song Contest ‘Come back to Stay’. He finished joint fourth with Belgium, but the song went on to become a number one hit. In the same year he married Judy Murray and they had six children. They were happily married for fifty years until Judy passed away from Covid 19 in 2022. He was a frequent guest on top British TV shows, including ‘Thank Your Lucky Stars’ and Sunday Night Live with Petula Clarke, at the famous London Palladium.

- 7 days

Dickie and the Miami Show band had their last big hit in 1968 with ‘Simon Says’. Four years later he left to form his own band a decision that might have saved his life.

In 1975 the Miami Show Band were returning from a gig in Co. Down, when their mini-bus was ambushed by the Ulster Volunteer Force paramilitaries. Three of his former band mates – Fran O’Toole, Tony Geraghty and Brian McCoy – were murdered in the attack. Dickie continued performing into his early eighties, until he started to loose his hearing, at which point he retired. His autobiography ‘Always Me’ was published in 2007 and two years later the showman was honoured with a lifetime achievement award.

To hear the best of the show band era, the golden age of music and Irish classics tune into Oliver’s show ‘Anything Goes’ on Ellenbrook VCA 88.5FM, online and mobile, every Saturday from 3pm to 5pm.

Another busy and eventful year ahead for Midwest Irish Club

By Simon Miller

La’ maith agus Athbhliain Faoi Mhaise Duit (G’day and Happy New Year) from the Midwest Irish Club in Geraldton. After a wee break from the Irish Scene, it is a great pleasure to provide you all with an update on the goings on at the Club. As 2024 has quickly come to an end, we sit back an reflect on the busy year at the Club and some of the magnificent events that were hosted throughout the year. After our annual St Patricks Day celebrations, the Club hosted its first ever Fleadh Festival from Friday 9th to Sunday 11th August 2024. A lot of planning went into this event and the Club received local grants to fund the weekends festival. The weekend consisted of live music from our local Geraldton musician groups The Tossers, Bleedin Irish, Johhny David & Solitary Sounds. The members had access to local food trucks that parked themselves outside the Club. Feedback from this event was positive and the Club is already planning the 2025 Fleadh Festival which will be bigger and better. One of the main successes of our Club over the recent years is our growth in membership, which is due to our live music program every Friday evening 7-9pm and Sunday afternoon 3-5pm. The Club prides itself on promoting the Geraldton and Midwest Region local musical talent. These musicians regularly play at our Club which creates the fun, family/friendly atmosphere that attracts people to the Club and has them return time and time again. In addition to our normal trading days of Friday and Sunday, we have continued to host regular Saturday night ticketed events throughout the year. Some of these have been 70’s, 80’s and Hawaiian nights which again involve hosting a local band to play throughout the night.

The Club rounded out the year with some other events and changes which included:

Our annual Halloween celebrations. The Club’s volunteers yet again did an awesome job with decorating the Club

and the members played their part by dressing up in some of the scariest of costumes.

• Club Members, Ian and Leigh Anesbury, who had departed Geraldton last year to embark on the roadtrip of a lifetime returned to Geraldton in November 2024 to get married whereby the Club hosted the ceremony and reception.

• Review of the Clubs Sunday trading hours which have now changed from Midday to 6pm to 2-7pm; to align the opening hours to when the club is at its busiest.

• Completion of Grace’s Galley. Those that know our life member and long serving treasurer,

Grace Criddle, would know she is forever making her homemade quiches or warming up pies and sausage rolls for the club’s members. The Club installed a small kitchenette area and have named it Grace’s Galley. Finally, Club President Peter Vanderpol, has made the decision to step down as Club President and Bar Manager effective as of 1 January 2024. Peter will remain as a member of the Club. Club Vice President Adam Wilson will step up as President until the next AGM in September 2025. The Club wishes to acknowledge the efforts of Peter during his tenure of President and prior to this, being on the committee for several years. Those that have been to the club and met Peter will know he has put a lot of blood, sweet and tears into the Club and a lot of the successes of the Club over the past three years are due to his commitment and leadership. We wish you well Peter.

Like 2024, the Club is planning for another busy and eventful 2025 whereby we will continue to build on the successes of the club and introduce new ideas and events. We welcome any of the Irish Scene community to call into the Club if passing through Geraldton. To keep up to date with all our events and news, please tune into our Facebook page. Until next time. Regards and once again Happy New Year!

For more than four decades, the Irish Theatre Players Inc (ITP) has been a cornerstone of creativity, camaraderie, and culture based at The Irish Club of WA. This iconic venue has witnessed countless performances, resonated with heartfelt laughter, and borne witness to poignant moments shared between audiences and performers. As we prepare to take our final bows at this cherished space with our panto, The Twelve Days of Christmas, we pause to reflect on the remarkable journey we’ve shared and the vibrant community that has made it all possible.

Community theatre is so much more than the productions that light up the stage. It is the dedication of committee members who work tirelessly to plan and organise, the behindthe-scenes wizards who conjure theatrical magic, and the front-of-house teams who welcome every audience member with warmth and enthusiasm. It is the volunteers, the performers, and the countless supporters who

breathe life into each show. Together, driven by a shared passion for theatre, we have created something truly special.

Volunteers are the heartbeat of the Irish Theatre Players. They sew costumes late into the night, carefully paint sets, rehearse lines until they’re perfect, and manage sound and lighting with skill and precision. Each individual contributes not only their time and talents but their unwavering passion, sharing in the joys and challenges of bringing each production to life. For many, the theatre has been more than just a creative outlet; it has been a sanctuary—a place of belonging, where lifelong friendships have been forged. As we look back, we hold in our hearts the cherished memories of those who are no longer with us. Their contributions have left an indelible mark, their legacy carried forward in every laugh, every applause, and every story told within these walls. They remain an inseparable part of the Irish Theatre Players family, and their spirits will accompany us as we step into the next chapter of our journey. Though our future venue remains uncertain, one thing is crystal clear: the spirit of the Irish Theatre Players will endure. Our commitment to storytelling, to community, and to bringing joy to our audiences remains steadfast. We

are excited to embrace new opportunities and continue the tradition of sharing stories that resonate, inspire, and entertain. Rest assured, we will keep you updated as we chart the next stage of our adventure.

WE ARE BACK IN THE REHEARSAL SPACE AGAIN PREPARING FOR OUR APRIL PRODUCTION “THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT” UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYES OF AWARD WINNING DIRECTOR BRENDAN ELLIS.

The Last Days of Judas Iscariot is a hilarious, poignant, thought-provoking work by Pulitzer-prize winning playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis. Boasting a large, zany cast of characters, the play asks one of the most plaguing questions in the Christian ideology: What happened to Judas Iscariot? The facts (we think!) we know are these: Judas was the disciple of Jesus who betrayed his friend and teacher

To our audiences, our supporters, past and present committee and staff of The Irish Club of WA and our volunteers: thank you. Thank you for your unwavering encouragement, for your laughter, your applause, and your love. You have been the soul of the Irish Theatre Players. Together, we have created over four decades of memories—a testament to the power of community and the magic of theatre.

As we celebrate, not just the end of an era, but the enduring legacy of the Irish Theatre Players, let’s raise a glass to over 40 years of laughter, love, and community theatre at its very best.

If you or someone you know is interested in talking to us about a potential venue please contact us at itp@irishtheatreplayers.com.au Follow us on Facebook and instagram Curtains Up ! in 2025!

Kind Regards

just a man who made a mistake? Set in a courtroom in Purgatory, The Last Days puts Judas’ case to a hilarious, riotous, piercing trial, the results of which are sure to make the inhabitants of Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory — and the audience — reconsider what each thought they knew about forgiveness, faith, and the human inside one of history’s most infamous figures.

SHOW TIMES ARE 7.30PM.SUNDAY MATINEE 24TH AT 2.00PM THEN 28TH, 29TH & 30TH AT 7.30PM.

THANKS SO MUCH TO ALL OUR MEMBERS WHO ATTENDED OUR AGM ON THURSDAY 17TH FEBRUARY AT THE IRISH CLUB OF WA. FOR THOSE WHO MISSED IT, HERE’S OUR REVIEW OF OUR YEAR 2021.

THANKS SO MUCH TO ALL OUR MEMBERS WHO ATTENDED OUR AGM ON THURSDAY 17TH FEBRUARY AT THE IRISH CLUB OF WA. FOR THOSE WHO MISSED IT, HERE’S OUR REVIEW OF OUR YEAR 2021. Also, membership for 2022 now available;

Caroline McDonnell

President Irish Theatre Players Inc

Also, membership for 2022 now available; irishtheatreplayers.com.au

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by Lloyd Gorman

2,000+ Souls brought home to Ireland

An inspirational and unique charity with special significance to Irish people everywhere – including here in Western Australia – recently marked a significant and staggering milestone. By 9 November 2024 the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust (KBRT) assisted in the 2000th repatriation of the body of an Irish person to Ireland who died or was killed abroad.

“As, with ongoing repatriations, we pass the 2,000 mark for loved ones brought home, we thought our amazing supporters should know how wonderful community is, in Ireland and the diaspora,” the Trust said on Facebook on November 9.

It listed the repatriations for the previous months July (36), August (35), September (23), October 25 and at that point in 12 in November.

“I wouldn't say it's a happy day, it's just the fact we want to mark the fact and really it shows the generosity of the community in Ireland and I think that has to be

recognised,” founder Colin Bell told BBC News NI at the time.

Colin told Irish Scene that since the Trust began, there had been 139 repatriations from Australia. With a total (to date) of 59 Sydney had had the most, followed by Perth, with 40. In 2015 the West Australian capital had 11 repatriations and in 2024 there were seven. Melbourne has had 20, Brisbane 14 and six in other regions.

Colin and Eithne have been to Perth twice in their capacity with Trust, including most recently in November 2023 for the JB Forever 27 Gala Ball in memory of Jeremy Burke, an event that raised an incredible $118,977.32 thanks to the generosity of the Perth Irish community, with the money being shared evenly between the KBRT and the Claddagh Association.

Each and every death is a tragedy and under other circumstances repatriation can be a difficult and expensive process for

Eithne and Colin Bell pictured here above the date on the cheque presented to them at the Mullaloo Beach Hotel after the JB Forever 27 fundraising ball in Perth

grieving families to navigate shortly after learning about the death of their loved one. Colin and his wife Eithne learned this hard lesson when their beloved son Kevin was killed in a hit and run collision in New York in June 2013. The support of Kevin’s friends in New York and at home helped them to get through the shock of the ordeal and to get him home. “When Kevin died Newry came round us like a blanket, it was unreal,”

Colin told the GAA Social podcast in May last year. The Newry community held numerous fundraisers to help pay for the cost of getting his body home as soon as possible. Their efforts raised an incredible £150,000 and a short time later Colin and Eithne got the opportunity to pay it forward.

“A couple of weeks after Kevin's funeral we heard of a young fella from Carryduff in Belfast had been killed in Thailand, so we contacted the parents and said we have this money we'll pay to bring your son home,” he said. “We kept reaching out and then we said: 'Look, we'll make this Kevin's legacy'.”

Colin said the generous support they were given shows the goodness of people. “We

run it in name but it is a charity that we just facilitate, the families in Ireland helping other families. I can’t exaggerate the fact that it’s based on communities north and south, it’s an Irish thing that people will come to help each other in the worst, terrible times. Unfortunately accidents happen and people can be caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. No one knows what can happen really.”

Colin said the charity helps to take the stress off families who would find themselves in unchartered territory at the worst possible time imaginable. “If somebody contacts us, we can say to a family, ‘look, you don’t have to do anything, we’ll take care of it all’, at a time when they don’t really know who to contact or how to go about it,” he added. The normally nightmare process has now exercised so often that they know exactly who to go to on the ground in the foreign country, and what to do. “Part of the reason we set up the charity was to keep Kevin’s memory alive, Kevin’s name is mentioned in lots of countries across the world now,” Colin added. “It's a tribute to Kevin really.”

The Corkman with a big laugh

My friend Damien Lucey was from Ballincollig, Cork but had called Perth home for over fifteen years. Also known as ‘Lucey’ he was a great character and had a laugh that could light up any room. Damien spent a short time in America and Canada before he settled in Perth. An electrician by trade, he worked hard on various projects in the northwest with DCI and Hitatchi, played soccer with the local Shamrock Rovers team and set up a great life for himself here in Perth. He loved the outdoors and to travel.

Damiens life was cut tragically short at 42, on 8 January 2024. A regular visitor to the area he drove to Margaret River in his beloved camper van. He went for a quick dip on Honeycombs Beach in Busselton, one of his favourite beaches, and got in to difficulty.

by Trevor O’Mahony

Damien and his mother Frankie enjoying a laugh on one of her trips to Perth

He was seen struggling in the water and the alarm was raised but unfortunately he could not be saved. It was six months before he was finally recovered from the water and we could send Damien home to rest with his loving family. When his family travelled to Perth they were overwhelmed by the support of the Irish community in Perth and the local community in his home county of Cork.

They will forever be grateful for all the help and efforts of friends, neighbours Vince and Sally, work colleagues at DCI, Hitatchi, The ETU, and the many organisations that helped search for Damien, and everyone who offered support and donated to the go-fund me page during those difficult times. Damien and his big laugh will always be missed and his generosity in helping others will never be forgotten by his work colleagues and close circle of friends in Perth (his Perth family), Sydney and Canada and the wider Irish community. Ar dheis dé go raibh a anam.

Damien enjoyed Christmas Day 2023 with good friends

Samaritans on call for Irish in Australia!

by Lloyd Gorman

For many years now the Irish Scene has promoted two outstanding charities on the front cover of every edition, the Claddagh Association and the Australian 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention service – Lifeline.

So editor Lloyd Gorman was very interested to belatedly learn very recently that the Samaritans in Ireland also offer a freephone helpline for the Irish community in Australia. The helpline was actually launched into Australia three years ago on the third Monday of January, the day of the year dubbed ‘Blue Monday’.

In January 2021 many parts of the world were still in the grip of COVID 19, including here in Australia. So it was a good time to expand the life saving service. The Samaritans in conjunction with the Irish government’s Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) had actually introduced the service in 2018 for Irish people abroad on a pilot basis in the United Arab Emirates, China, Hong Kong and Poland. Following the pilot programme in these countries the service was extended to Canada and Australia, officially launched by the then Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora, Colm Brophy.

“I am delighted to support, and work in partnership with, Samaritans,” minister Brophy said. “Supporting the mental health of emigrants and Irish communities abroad has been a particular focus of the work of the Emigrant Support Programme. However, the need has become even more evident since the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Although language is not a barrier to services in these cases, the distance from home, and the limitations imposed by the current restrictions in place, mean that many people are feeling increased loneliness and isolation, particularly following the Christmas and New Year period. Ireland greatly values

our diaspora, whose energy, expertise and experience has done much to build Ireland’s reach and reputation in the world. In today’s world, where change and uncertainty appear to be the order of the day, our commitment to the Irish abroad remains steadfast. I would like to thank Samaritans for their dedication to supporting our diaspora through their important work, particularly at a time when many among our diaspora are facing emotional difficulties in a challenging and changing environment. This freephone service will be an invaluable resource for many of our diaspora in the New Year and beyond.”

Callers from any of these countries are referred to Samaritans through the relevant Irish Embassy, or Irish community

Colm Brophy

organisation, in their particular country. All calls to this number are connected to a Samaritan volunteer in Ireland via a technical divert, and are free of charge to the caller.

Niall Mulligan, Executive Director for Samaritans Ireland, said the organisation was delighted to have been able to offer emotional support to members of the diaspora experiencing distress or struggling to cope while living so far from home.

“Our partnership with the Government of Ireland, through the Emigrant Support Programme, is a vital support to those who need us, and we are excited that a pilot project launched in 2018 is now being extended to Irish people living in Canada and Australia,” Mr Mulligan said at the time. “It is so important that people in these countries can now access the support of our volunteers with no cost. The challenges many people face during winter have been felt even more acutely this year with the pandemic restrictions. At Samaritans, we know how powerful talking and listening can be, even if it is virtually... It could save a life.”

Somehow the expansion of such an important service into Australia slipped by us unnoticed at the time but its approaching fourth anniversary would surely be a good opportunity to find out more about it and how it had gone since it was rolled out a few years ago so we reached out to Samaritans Ireland.

The response was not as enthusiastic as the press release would suggest. It was explained to us that while the service existed there was a nervousness about promoting it in the magazine. The service did not get “massive numbers” from callers in Australia but the concern was that if it was publicised this could attract a swell of callers that could swamp volunteers in Ireland answering the phones.

For its part the Department of Foreign Affairs – via the Irish embassy in Canberra – has regularly promoted the 24 hour freephone helpline for Irish people in Australia, courtesy of the ESP.

“No matter what someone’s reason for calling is, Samaritans offers a space to

explore how they are feeling, in their own time and their own way,” the embassy said in a newsletter in 2021. “Samaritans has 1,800 dedicated volunteers based in 13 branches across Ireland supporting people through some of the darkest moments in their life. Anyone suffering from emotional distress, or who needs a listening ear, can call Samaritans in Ireland anonymously 24 hours a day, seven days a week...callers may join a short queue when all volunteers are on calls, but will be transferred to a volunteer free of charge. Whatever you’re going through, Samaritans Ireland’s volunteers in Ireland are here to listen. Dial 1800570699 for free from Australia. Follow them on @SamaritansIRL or jo@samaritans.ie”.

Much more recently the Consulate General of Ireland in Sydney Rosie Keane highlighted the Samaritans freephone line in her widely distributed Christmas newsletter.

“A reminder to those who may be suffering at the moment that the Governmentfunded Samaritans Ireland hotline is available 24/7 to Irish citizens across Australia,” she said.

“No matter what someone’s reason for calling is, Samaritans offers a space to explore how they are feeling, in their own time and in their own way. Anyone suffering from emotional distress, or who needs a listening ear, can call Samaritans in Ireland anonymously on Freephone 1800570699.”

Presumably then the life saving service is not in any immediate danger of having its ESP funding cut and might be around for at least another year to help anyone who needs it.

Martin Foster in Saint Mary’s Oratory of Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, during the Irish Bishops’ Winter 2024 General Meeting, with Sandra Garry, PA to the Chief Operating Officer of the Bishops’ Conference (Catholic Communications Office archive)

Adecision made by Catholic Bishops in Maynooth, Co. Kildare last month will change the way congregations across Ireland, Australia and New Zealand have celebrated Mass for generations and how they will experience the ritual into the future.

“For over fifty years, parishes and communities across the island of Ireland, Australia and New Zealand have listened to the scripture readings proclaimed in church from the same translations which are given in the Lectionary for Mass,” the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference said in a statement on December 12.

“Many of these books are now in a poor state and in need of replacing,” it added. The Irish bishops’ had just held their Winter 2024 General Meeting at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth. “The bishops have recognised that this is an opportunity for a new edition of the Lectionary, taking advantage of a revised translation of the readings, which is both accessible and faithful to the evolving nuances of the English language and contemporary biblical scholarship. After consultation with experts in both scripture and liturgy, and also amongst the faithful, the Revised New Jerusalem Bible was chosen as the text for the Lectionary. This translation recognises the need for the text to be proclaimed in the liturgy, to be faithful to the original biblical texts and it is sensitive to inclusivity. For the psalms in the Lectionary, the Abbey Psalms and Canticles will be used. This is a sympathetic revision of the familiar Grail Psalter and the revised text has already been adopted in several Englishspeaking countries.” The three Bishops’ Conferences agreed to pool their expertise and resources in this ‘Joint Lectionary

IRISH BISHOPS LAUNCH THE JOINT LECTIONARY PROJECT

an experienced editor who previously oversaw the preparation of the Lectionary for England and Wales. Mr Foster will work with experts from all three conferences to ensure the quality and liturgical appropriateness of the final text.

“The first draft texts, the Sundays of Advent and Christmas, will be sent to bishops for review early in 2025, with the rest of the Lectionary following over the next couple of years. This ‘Joint Lectionary Project’ is a major collaboration and it is hoped that it will enrich the celebration of the Eucharist in parishes and communities into the future across Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.” An identical statement also appeared on the sites of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference.

T2025 ‘JUBILEE YEAR’ OF HOPE & PILGRIMAGE

he winter general meeting in Maynooth also saw the bishops plan and prepare for Jubilee 2025, themed ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ by Pope Francis.

On Christmas Eve, 24 December at 7.00pm, the Holy Year began with the opening of the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rome. Pope Francis called on all Catholics to renew in the hope of Christ, using Saint Paul the Apostle as a guide for this special year –jubilee years come every 25 years and are also called ‘holy years’.

In Ireland, and around the world, each diocesan bishop celebrated Mass on Sunday, 29 December, to mark the solemn opening of the Holy Year.

For Jubilee Year 2025, each diocese in Ireland will nominate a local pilgrimage site, and the bishops have designated three national pilgrimage sites; Our Lady’s Shrine, Knock, Co Mayo; Croagh Patrick, Co Mayo and Saint Patrick’s Purgatory, Lough Derg, Co Donegal. The New Year will also celebrate the recognition of the great heritage of saints and martyrs in Ireland. “In 2025, there will be a special commemoration to mark the birth, in 1625,

of Saint Oliver Plunkett 400 years ago, and also to mark the one hundredth anniversary of the death of Venerable Matt Talbot,” Catholicbishops.ie said. “The 2025 Year of Hope also marks the eight hundredth anniversary of the canonisation of Saint Laurence O’Toole, one of the patron saints of the Archdiocese of Dublin. An ecumenical diocesan pilgrimage to Eu, Normandy, where Saint Laurence died on 14 November 1180, will be led by Archbishop Farrell along with Archbishop Michael Jackson, Dean Dermot Dunne, Dean of Christ Church, Saint Laurence’s Cathedral Church, and a group of parishioners from Christ Church. The pilgrimage will take place from 10 – 12 May. Reflection on the inspiration, dedication and devotion of these great role models is a help to unpack the treasures of hope.”

Meanwhile, closer to home in the Archdiocese of Perth the following churches and shrines have been declared as places of pilgrimage for 2025; St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth; The Basilica of St Patrick, Fremantle; St John Paul II, Banksia Grove; Schoenstatt Shrine and Mount Richon Carmelite Monastery, Nedlands.

Inow count myself very lucky to have been brought up in that part of Ireland which we call ULSTER. My father was born in Kells, Co Meath in a family with 5 sisters and two brothers. His brothers died early in life, but his sisters brought up children who became famous. I was not one of those… famous that is. He moved North to County Down during the war years and met my mother at the school they both taught at. I was

lucky enough to be brought up in the ways of the “South” if I may call it that. Yes, religion was there but it was not a problem. N. Ireland (which I will now call it) was thriving in most areas. I was not aware of the differences in the Falls and Shankill roads and during my youth I travelled around both unaware of what might befall me if I was accosted. I was advised for example to change my name from William to Liam in certain areas. I did. I eventually used my middle name. Of course I have stories as the situation became more intolerable. These happened after I finished University in

1970. I entered politics at the University but was a complete novice with my boarding background at the Methodist College and a science degree at Queens University. I did not join the Civil Rights marches which were prevalent at the time. I preferred airing my views on the Rugby fields and the golf courses of the province and singing songs of the non-sectarian variety. Of course, there was no real internet as we now know it. The library was the area where one might gain knowledge of interest. I preferred the rugby fields, basketball courts and music/dance halls. I never looked up the history or otherwise of Queens University. I do so now.

Queen's University Belfast has roots in the Belfast Academical Institution, which was founded in 1810, and which remains as the Royal Belfast Academical Institute. The present university was first chartered as "Queen's College, Belfast" in 1845, when it was associated with the simultaneously founded Queen’s College, Cork and Queen’s College Galway, as part of the Queen’s University of Ireland – founded to encourage higher education for Catholics and Presbyterians, as a counterpart to Trintiy College, Dublin, then an almost exclusively Anglican institution. Queen's College, Belfast, opened in 1849. Its main building, the Lanyon Building,

The Lanyon Building

was designed by the English-born architect, Sir Charles Lanyon. At its opening, it had 23 professors and 195 students.

The Irish Universities Act 1908 dissolved the Royal University of Ireland, which had replaced the Queen's University of Ireland in 1879, and created two separate universities: the current National University of Ireland and Queen's University of Belfast. The university was one of only eight United Kingdom universities to hold a parliamentary seat in the House of Commons at Westminster until such representation was abolished in 1950. The university was also represented in the Parliament of Northern Ireland from 1920 to 1968, when graduates elected four members.

On 20 June 2006, the university announced a £259 million investment programme focusing on facilities, recruitment and research. In June 2010, the university announced the launch of a £7.5 million Ansin international research hub with Seagate Technology. Also in that year, Queen's was one of the largest employers in Northern Ireland, with a total workforce of 3,903, of whom

ULSTER RAMBLES

2,414 were members of academic, academicrelated and research staff and 1,489 were administrative employees.

In addition to the main campus on the southern fringes of Belfast city centre, the university has two associated University Colleges, St. Mary’s and Stranmillis, located in the west and southwest of the city respectively. These colleges offer teacher training for those who wish to pursue teaching careers and a range of degree courses.

The Lanyon Building Gates

Queen's University Belfast

Although the university refers to its main site as a campus, the university's buildings are spread over several public streets in South Belfast; primarily, University Road, University Square, University Street, Malone Road and Stranmillis Road, with other departments located further afield such as in the Titanic Quarter and the town of Portaferry at the bottom of the Ards peninsula. Although interesting for some…. enough of history. How about the students? As I mentioned before I was elected on to the Students Council and even attained an executive position as House Secretary, mainly looking after the welfare of students and especially the very modern Students Union which was located opposite the Lanyon Building on University Road and is provided for under the university's statutes. All students at the university are automatic members of the union, making it one of the largest unions on a single campus in Ireland and the UK. It is administered by the Students' Representative Council (SRC) (elected every October, on a faculty basis) and an executive (elected in March), who manage the operations of the union in conjunction with several full-time staff.

The building I oversaw closed at the end of August 2018 to make way for construction of the new Students' Union building which was officially named One Elmwood opened to students on 5 September 2022 and houses the Students' Union, Student Guidance Services, the Union bar, and Mandela Hall. It also houses a café called Social and a SPAR retail outlet under the name Union Shop. What does the Union provide, you might ask? It provides services including an advice centre with full-time staff to help with issues such

as money problems, accommodation and welfare. Commercial services including a shop, kitchen lounge area and a coffee franchise. The Mandela Hall hosts numerous concerts each year as well as the majority the students' union's club nights. Student Disability, Student Wellbeing, Student Finance, Careers, Learning Development service and other services are also provided.

What else does the university provide?

More than fifty sporting clubs and over one hundred non-sporting societies are recognised by the Students' Union Council and are therefore eligible to apply for an annual grant from the university. The Queen's University Mountaineering Club is notable for producing three Everest summiteers including Ireland's first, Dawson Stelfox. Roger McMorrow and Nigel Hart also summited in May 2007, and were subsequently jointly announced Queen's University Graduates of the year for 2006/07 for their role in rescuing a young Nepalese climber left for dead near the summit.

The university had hosted the annual Belfast Festival at Queen’s since 1961 which I have mentioned numerous times over the last 15 years as I had worked on this for quite a few years and had met and entertained many of important guests like James Galway, Pentangle, and Ralph McTell to name a few. I was sorry to learn that in March 2015, Queen’s would not continue to fund the festival. However, it still runs the hugely successful Queen’s Film Theatre, (where for a time I had the position of front of house,) described as Northern Ireland's leading independent cinema, the Brian Friel Theatre and an art gallery, the Naughton Gallery, which is a registered museum.

What about sport?

Queen's Physical Education Centre (abbreviated to and known widely as the PEC) is one of the largest sports centres in Ireland or the UK. This building houses many squash courts, several climbing walls and is home to QUB's senior men's and women's basketball teams. Ok. Forgive me. I obtained a blue for basketball at queens and yes, the sport was not such a big deal in those days. The University Playing Fields, also known as Malone Playing Fields, is located just over 2 miles (3.2 km) from the main campus, comprising 17 pitches for rugby, Gaelic football, hockey, hurling, camogie and cricket. In addition, there are three netball courts, nine tennis courts, and an athletics arena where the Mary Peters (who I have often mentioned) Track is situated. The university's association football (soccer for you Aussies)

1, Elmwood Road, houses both Queen's Students' Union and the Student Guidance Centre

ULSTER RAMBLES

team, Queen’s University Belfast A.F.C. play in the Irish Second Division. Queen's snooker team have won the British intervarsity title on a record nine occasions and are the current champions. Queen’s University Belfast Boat Club is one of the most successful clubs in the university. The QUB boathouse, home of Queen's University Belfast Boat Club (QUBBC) and Queen's University of Belfast Ladies Boat Club (QUBLBC), is located on the River Lagan (well where else?) near Stranmillis. In 2010 they were reigning Irish Champions in men's Intermediate and Senior 8's. They are also reigning Irish University Champions in Men's Senior 8's, Women's Novice 8's and Women's Novice 4's.

Clearly, Queen's has had many distinguished alumni, including former president of Ireland Mary McAleese; Nobel Prize winners poet Seamus Heaney and politician Lord Trimble; actors Liam Neeson and Stephen Rea and many more who I have previously mentioned in this great little mag. After I left the University, I discovered (modern invention at the time) that I would have been more suited to a Business or Arts degree! I had always wanted to go to Keele University where the first year was spent on general education. I missed out on this by one year when they brought in a scheme to encourage such moves away from your local institution. I suppose many of us have had failures over their career. During the year when I was House secretary, I failed one of my exams and had to repeat it during the following year. To support this move I became the chief egg fryer in the Students Union. A great lesson on life.

I hope you all have had a fantastic Christmas, and I wish you all a prosperous, successful and happy year in 2025. May your God go with you.

David MacConnell

Queen's Physical Education Centre

Book Reviews

Books reviewed by John Hagan

MIDNIGHT AND BLUE

by IAN RANKIN / ORION $34.99

This is Rankin’s 25th tale in his celebrated Inspector John Rebus series following on from A Heart Full of Headstones in which Rebus is convicted of killing his long-time nemesis, Big Ger Cafferty. Detained at His Majesty’s pleasure in Edinburgh Prison awaiting an appeal, the now retired, 70-year-old Rebus is a man with a target on his back amongst an array of villains he helped convict. The killing in his cell of fellow inmate Jackie Simpson who has his throat slashed, forces Rebus to revive his well-honed sleuthing skills. With no badge and no authority, Rebus walks a tightrope, placing his life on the line as he surreptitiously investigates the killing. In this ‘locked room’ mystery, everyone is a suspect –prisoners and guards alike. Meanwhile, on the outside, Rebus’ former protégé, DI Siobhan Clarke is exploring the disappearance of a 15-year-old schoolgirl seemingly connected to child exploitation and pornography. Are the cases linked? Indeed, they are, as Rankin weaves diverse plot lines with his usual, well-honed, intricate skill. The relationships between the two cases, and amongst some of the key characters, are revealed only towards the end as the tension rachets up. Midnight and Blue is populated by all the familiar Rebus characters, psychopathic drug overlord, Darryl

Christie, DI Clarke, DS Christine Esson (who plays an increasingly important role), and the devious DI Fox, who has left Professional Standards to join Organised Crime. Fox, much to Rebus’ and Clarke’s discomfort, has managed to worm his way in to both investigations as he seeks to further his career. Despite the claustrophobic and dangerous environment, in Rankin’s adept hands, Rebus remains one of the most vibrant characters in crime fiction, head and shoulders above many of those shelved beside him in the local bookstore. While Agatha Christie chalked up 33 Poirot novels and Colin Dexter a mere 13 Inspector Morse narratives, it’s probably not a spoiler to surmise that there will likely be a Rebus #26 given the cliff hanging news the venerable detective receives when the crimes have been solved.

THE CHILLING

by RILEY JAMES / ALLEN & UNWIN $32.99

Aboard the Southern Star, forensic dentist, Kit Bitterfield, is on her way from Hobart to winter at McPherson Station in Antarctica where she is to study the teeth of Wendell seals. Given the mess she is leaving behind – a nasty divorce from an unfaithful husband and a mother with increasing dementia – a sojourn in the snow seems an attractive escape. Two weeks into the voyage a marooned ship sends out an SOS and the Southern Star

duly detours to investigate. They find the stricken ship, which should have 20 crew, already ablaze and rescue its only apparent survivor, Nick Coltheart, who has no memory of what transpired. Where are the rest of the abandoned ship’s company? At McPherson Station, Nick, despite his amnesia and strange behaviours, is well liked by the other expeditioners, but Kit is suspicious and soon finds herself immersed in unexpected, life-threatening situations as two more of her colleagues ‘disappear’. This is a slowburn thriller delivering chills and tension from a remote icy, isolated, environment; a suspenseful tale of friendship and betrayal where so many people are hiding so many secrets, and where not all the expeditioners may have the furthering of Australian science as their prime objective. Well researched by James, who provides detailed descriptions of the Antarctic landscape together with the claustrophobic, ritual existence inside McPherson base, and how the scientists cope with day-to-day tasks. This aspect of the book is important in creating a credible backdrop to the unsettling dramas which eventuate. Tasmanian born James delivers a debut novel which simply drips with atmosphere and tension and is full of strong, engaging characters. Carefully, James slots pieces of the puzzle into place in a setting that is chilling, both literally and figuratively. This is Scandinoir on skis. As an initial publication usually involves a two-book publishing deal, I’m sure James has another stimulating offering for 2025 in the bottom drawer of her desk.

WHY DO PEOPLE QUEUE FOR BRUNCH?

by FELICITY LEWIS / ALLEN & UNWIN $32.99

Felicity Lewis is the national explainer editor at The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald whose job it is to commission ‘in-depth articles that demystify some of life’s curlier matters’. She asserts that explainers are not new, but are an integral part of her newspapers which offer context and background to events as they unfold. All the work undertaken by specialist, expert journalists – not an AI chatbot involved! The book focuses on 26 diverse and teasing topics. Patrick Heath

Book Reviews

examines what makes car crashes so deadly, Matt Wade documents why India is becoming the world’s most populous nation, and Jackson Graham discusses why public speaking (for many) is so scary and how we can learn to enjoy it. In another chapter, style editor Damien Woolnough presents a brief history of a controversial national tog – the budgie smuggler. No, this item wasn’t invented by erstwhile PM and onion chomping Tony Abbott, but by Peter Travis (1959) who tapped in to the increasingly relaxed Australian mores by creating a swimsuit for Speedo which was designated to be worn on the hips rather than at waist height. The chapter which attracted my particular interest focuses on vertigo, an intrusive and debilitating malady from which I, and apparently many thousands of other Aussies, suffer. Section author, Samantha Selinger-Morris asserts that ‘Vertigo is perhaps one of the hardest neurological symptoms to deal with’. She explains the causes of vertigo, it’s diagnosis and cure – the ‘log-rolling’ Epley manouvre. Other topics tackled include, why cancer is such a bastard to treat, what happens in an autopsy, the importance of microchips, what treasures lie deep beneath the sea and how to build an awe-inspiring sandcastle (and who doesn’t want to astound kids at the beach). Oh yes, and why people queue for brunch – or anything else. All the book’s myriad of subjects are tackled, illustrated and explained accurately and engagingly with rigour and good humour (and obviously double-checked) by real journalists. A book to dip in to over a cup of coffee as well as being a compelling compendium of astonishing facts interspersed with occasional weirdness for curious minds.

Abbey Lea – A home and so much more

A new book about a unique house in Ireland, written by a West Australian, that has proved to be a best seller in Ireland is about to become available in Australia.

Pippa McIntosh, the wife of Gary Gray, who was until September 2024 the Australian ambassador to Ireland, wrote ‘Abbey Lea

A Killiney History’. Gary and Pippa called the beautiful coastal property home away from home for the duration of his five years as Australia’s ambassador to Ireland and they generously opened it up to visitors and the community on many occasions. Indeed Abbey Lea has been the official residence of every Australian ambassador to Ireland for sixty years but the period property – which includes stunning gardens and grounds – had a long and interesting history before the Australian government bought it in 1965 and it is that history that Pippa captures in her book. Built before 1830 and originally called Marino the house was almost completely destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1909. After years of painstaking research Pippa’s book reveals the remarkable history and characters associated with this unique house and its hinterland. Its previous owners from the turn of the last century were politically, professionally and culturally influential in the story of an emerging independent nation. From famous artist Harry Clarke procuring contacts and artistic commissions at the house, the discovery of Oliver St John Gogarty’s poetry about raucous dinner parties to the murder of the gardener on Strathmore Road by the IRA in May 1920, Abbey Lea, A Killiney History – with a foreword by Booker Prize winning Australian Irish author Tom Keneally – provides fascinating insights into Killiney life from more than 100 years ago. So where better to launch it than the Dalkey Book Festival in June last year.

Gary and Pippa left Dublin behind last September and returned home to Perth, but they are bringing their fondness for their temporary home back with

them. ‘Abbey Lea’ will be introduced at an event in Parliament House in Canberra on February 11 which will no doubt attract many politicians in federal parliament with a keen interest in Ireland.

by Lloyd Gorman

This is likely to be followed soon after with a local launch in Mount Lawley at Beaufort Street Books, which will exclusively sell the book in Australia. For those who can’t get to the bookshop itself Abbey Lea can be purchased through their website, with orders posted all over Australia. Just before they left the country Lachlan Crews, a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, arrived to plug the gap left by Gary’s departure. Lachlan got a customary Irish welcome from Gary and Pippa and some local well-wishers at well known Dalkey haunt Finnegan's. The outgoing ambassador got behind the counter and pulled Lachlan his first pint of Guinness. There are worse places in the world to be posted than Ireland. On top of the routine daily duties involved the role also offers some pretty unique opportunity for these VIPs. About two weeks into the job the Chargé d’affaires was given a guided tour of Croke Park by the Stadium and Commercial Director Peter McKenna, and Cian Nolan from the GAA museum, to learn more about the national sports of Ireland and the connections between the GAA and Australia. Interestingly Lachlan’s appointment as the head of mission is “until February 2025”, meaning he will have been in the job for just six months at that point. It is unclear what will happen after February. With a federal election in Australia looming in the near future it would be pperhaps undiplomatic for an outgoing government to fill an ambassadorial role and impose its choice on a potentially new – and politically different – administration. Time will tell who will emerge as Canberra’s next man or woman in Dublin, but whoever it is they can look forward to an interesting job and living in a swish pad with sweeping views of Killiney Bay. As well as having her own fond memories of the place Pippa’s book does justice to the long and fascinating story of this historic house.

Gary and Pippa at Abbey Lea

Lachlan at Croke Park

DANNY THE DANCER

By Peter Murphy

Dublin, Ireland, 1956

Me loving mother, Maggie, when I awoke she was gone.

‘Where’s Ma?’ I asked Da. ‘She’s gone to the hospital to buy a new baby,’ he replied.

That was the usual explanation – should yer Ma –in Catholic Ireland – suddenly up and disappear for days on end, only to later show-up carrying a wee bundle of joy.

I was as happy as a little-giblet about the new edition to our household of three. However, deep down I desperately wanted a little brother – one that I could not only play with – but another cheek to share the odd clatter from me Ma, and Da.

Anyway, I accepted our little Agnes with open arms, and should anyone harm her little head, I’d dance on theirs. You see, from the day I took me first steps – rather than walk – I danced. It had something to do (or so I was told) with being inside me Ma’s belly when she danced a jig to the sound of my Da’s accordion playing.

Me Da was well known throughout South Dublin for his accordion playing. Shure I’ve fond memories of him, heading off to the odd wedding or wake, on his bike, his accordion like a wooden washing-board strapped to his barreled chest, its heavy-weight resting on the handlebars.

But ya see, Da was also fond of a jar or two, and had habit of joining in the celebrations after the event.

Consequently, on his way home, he’d fall off his bike, and with his accordion landing on top of him.

I remember one night there was a knock on our door, and being held-up between two Gardai was me Dad, langered. He’d fallen off his bike, in Pearse Street.

The following day, Ma and I had to go to College Green Police Station to pick up his bike, and his accordion. He was later summonsed to appear in court for not having a light on his bike.

South Cumberland Street was our fixed abode.

A row of Georgian tenements, like Roman Centurions, stood either side of the narrow cobblestoned street. Each tenement housed up to eight families, with one toilet, and one sink to share between each family.

Each Tuesday, ‘The Rent Man’ (as he was known), would knock on our door to collect the rent. He was a little wiry fellow I recall, with jet black greasy hair, and a conk of a nose. He wore a pinstriped suit, the arse of the trousers shiny enough to comb your hair in. Me Ma always offered him a cup of tea, but he always seemed to be in a hurry, while forever looking over his shoulder – as if someone was about to creep up behind him. I remember one Tuesday he failed to show – to collect the rent.

Later I found out he’d been bashed and robbed in an adjoining tenement. And when he did eventually show a few weeks later, his conk had shifted slightly to the left of his face.

Me only escape from the daily drudgery of the tenements was me Irish dancing lessons, after school, at nearby Westland Row Catholic Church, courtesy of a Father McGrath.

McGrath, who hailed from County Galway, played a mean fiddle, and it was he who encouraged me to keep up me dancing, by entering me in Irish Dancing Competitions, around Dublin, some of which I won.

Other times, I’d pull in a few bob dancing jigs at weddings, or at hoolies. However, me best three mates, Heffo, Fitzer, and Ocky thought it all a bit sissy, me dancing, and would slag the arse off of me any chance they got. But that would all change one day.

Dublin, October, 1960

It was a lovely sunny autumn afternoon I recall, when Heffo, Fitzer, Ocky, and I – after school – headed for St Stephens Green, a short walk from the tenements. There we gathered fallen branches from trees to build ourselves a hideout, professing we’d live there rather than return to the rat infested tenements.

That was until the sun began to fade, our empty bellies growled, and a longing for fish and chips beckoned. We were just about to head home when suddenly from out of some nearby bushes rushed two lads holding knives.

‘This is a stick up!’ yelled one of them.

The four of us just stood there in shock. My first impression was they were ‘knackers’ – chancing their luck with four Dublin gurriers.

The lad who yelled at us was short, stocky, and about fourteen. He had wiry ginger hair that looked like it hadn’t been combed since he’d made his First Communion, while his face was covered in pimples. His tattered clothes hung like dirty curtains off him, while beneath his long black torn trousers he was barefoot.

The other lad looked about the same age, except he was tall and skinny. On his head was a mop of greasy soot black hair. He had bandy legs, as if he’d been born on a horse. His clothes were so tattered; me Ma would have gladly used them for rags. For shoes he wore black runners, without laces, while through a tear in one of his runners poked his dirty big toe.

As we stood there staring at them, the tall skinny lad yelled, ‘Rite! One by one…empty yer pockets!’

Heffo, being the toughest replied,

‘When me big brother hears about this…he’s gonna come looking for yaz.’

‘Shut the fuck-up you!’ yelled the short stocky lad, at the same time holding his knife up to Heffo’s face. It was at that moment did I get a good look at his knife; a blade about four inches long; and about one inch in width.

‘You first fatso!’ yelled the short stocky lad at Fitzer, who was standing to the left of us. As Fitzer turned out his pockets, a sixpence fell from his right pocket. We all watched as it disappeared

into the long grass; neither robber making a move to retrieve it.

It was Ocky’s turn next. Now Ocky, well known for eating his dinner out of a drawer just in case someone knocked on the door. So when he emptied his pockets, tiny pieces of fluff, like snowflakes, floated-down onto the grass.

It was Heffo’s turn next.

Now Heffo – having had some boxing experience with Dublin’s Transport Boxing Club – I suspected wasn’t about to empty his pockets without throwing in a few digs. This got me worried.

Hesitating, Heffo clenched his fists.

‘Empty yer fuckin pockets, you, or else!’ yelled the skinny lad to Heffo.

‘Or else what!’ retorted Heffo, clenching his fists, and sticking his chest out.

Quick as a flash, the short stocky lad held his knife up to Heffo’s throat.

‘Do what he fuckin sez, or I’ll bleed ya like a pig!’ he yelled, his fiery eyes locked onto Heffo’s.

Slowly, Heffo began to turn out his pockets.

‘Faster ya bollix! Faster or I’ll do ya!’ yelled the stocky lad.

Now wasn’t the time, I thought, for Heffo to begin playing the hard man. So I butted in, at the same time rattling some coins in one of me trouser pockets, ‘There’s no need lads for agro…cause I have a about ten bob on me, and I’ll gladly hand it over to yez if yez let us go.’

The stocky lad, looking away from Heffo, and then looking at me asked, ‘And where the fuck would you get ten bob from?’

‘From dancing’ I replied, while still rattling the coins in me pocket.

‘Dancing me brown bollix…’ quipped the skinny lad. ‘It’s true’, piped up Fitzer, ‘Danny makes lots of money Irish dancin.’

All attention was now on me.

‘Right, Danny the Dancer, empty yer fuckin pockets and let’s see the silver,’ said the stocky lad.

‘On one condition…’ I said.

‘What’s dat?’ he asked.

‘Dat you take the money and yez let us go,’

I replied.

‘Well dats gonna depend on how much ya have in dat pocket of yers,’ he said.

‘There’s plenty in there for the pair of yez,’ I said, while gathering the money in me pocket, in me fist.

I pulled me fist out of me pocket and slowly

opened it to reveal a handful of silver coins. I’ll never forget the look on the robber’s faces; it was as if they’d just won the Irish Sweepstakes. I then threw the coins into the air.

All necks craned as several pieces of silver glistened in the afternoon sun, before dropping down and disappearing into the long blades of grass. With that, both robbers fell to their knees, and dropping their knives, began to rummage through the grass in search of the coins.

‘Run for it, lads!’ I yelled.

The four of us took off like Arkle, but not before Heffo – still keen to make his mark – gave the stocky lad – who was still on his knees – a good kick up the arse. We ran and ran, at the same time laughing our heads off.

Me money, which amounted to about six bob, I’d earned dancing at a wedding the day before, had saved the day. And no longer did me best mates slag me about me dancing.

In the Pub on the corner

By Noel O’Neill

In the pub on the corner sat a man on a stool

They say he’s a dreamer, a bit of a fool

He had two pints of Guinness and a drop of the ‘Dew’

To keep out the chill from the hole in his shoe.

After the whisky he sang one or two

Of the green white and gold and the red white and blue

Then when he stopped singing above all the noise

He spouted out verses from Byron and Joyce.

Another few drinks and he sat there confused

Told a few jokes to keep folks amused

He ordered a bottle to bring home to bed

To chase out the demons that lived in his head

Perth’s Irish community – like many others in Australia and across he world – came together to hold a vigil in the wake of the shocking murder of 23 year old Tullamore teacher Aisling Murphy while she was jogging in broad daylight in her home town of Tullamore, Co. Offaly in January.

He then almost tripped as he walked out the door

Now we never see him come around anymore.

Hundreds of Irish people – including families with young children, took part in an evening time vigil and walk at the Flame of Remembrance in Kings Park on January 19, organised by the Claddagh Association and supported

A group traditional and fiddle county’s tributes woman promising also heavily GAA club right. Elaine the vigil of the kookaburra to the stunning traditional music at vigil tonight #AshlingMurphy in Perth,”.

Similar were staged across including the Amphitheatre at Kangaroo Point, Brisbane and all based Irish Australian Queensland. by Anna

In MeMory of BArry BreSLIn (THe DUKe)

Gay Collins Pipeline Technics

This year we lost an amazing young man from the Irish community in Perth. Mr Barry Breslin (The Duke) died tragically due to a freak worksite accident.

He left behind his beautiful partner Melissa and his son Tommy, his loving parents Mary and Seamus and brothers Owen and Shane.

Barry hailed from Kilcar in Donegal and moved to Perth with one of his childhood best mates Paddy O Donnell in 2011. That’s when he and Paddy joined Pipeline Technics and I am so glad they did. Barry remained a loyal and true friend of the team at Pipeline Technics. He tutored all new starters, instilled a very strong work ethic among his crews and was recognised as one of the best excavator operators in WA. I know he was approached by a lot of other companies in WA,

but thanks to his amazing loyalty he would not leave us, even when there were maybe better offers given to him. This just shows what type of a man he was.

Barry was special in many ways, known for his great wit and also as a prankster. He was always looking to pull a stroke or catch out some of his work mates in some prank he was setting up. The Go Fund me page that was set up for Melissa and his family was the largest in Australia and this once again shows how well he was thought of and the generosity of all the community not just here in WA but in all states in Australia, In Ireland, USA and UK. Let’s hope it will help Melissa and Tommy on their long journey ahead.

RIP Barry , you will be forever in our thoughts.

Claddagh Seniors Update

Claddagh Seniors Annual Christmas Lunch

On Wednesday, 11 December, a record number of Claddagh Seniors came together to celebrate the festive season at the Mighty Quinn Tavern. The event featured a delicious feast expertly prepared and served by The Mighty Quinn, while the talented Broken Pokers brought the event to life with their incredible live music. The festivities were further enhanced by an exciting raffle supported by generous sponsors. To top it all off, Santa made a special appearance, spreading joy among attendees!

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible volunteers. Your dedication and enthusiasm ensured the day ran smoothly. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Upcoming Seniors Events

• Wednesday 29 January 2025: Movie and Light Lunch at Event Cinemas, Innaloo.

• Tuesday 25 February 2025: Day trip to Mandurah

• Wednesday 19 March 2025: St Patrick’s Lunch at the Mighty Quinn

Recent Fundraisers: A Community Effort

Molly’s Irish Pub, St Practice Day:

On Saturday, 30 November, Molly’s Irish Pub marked its first anniversary by partnering with Claddagh for a special raffle event. Thanks to the generous support of local businesses and the community, the fundraiser collected an impressive $4,443. The event not only raised muchneeded funds but also helped increase awareness about Claddagh’s mission among the Irish community in WA. Every dollar raised will go towards supporting those in need. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed, making this fundraiser a resounding success.

Upcoming Events

Seniors Digital Training

Join us for these fun and informative workshops. You’ll get lots of easy-to-understand practical advice, morning tea, a few laughs and a folder to take home to practice in your own time. Next workshop, Saturday 22 February 2025, 10am – 1pm be sure to book in, call 08 9249 9213 or emailadmin@claddagh.org.au to secure your seat.

Free Visa Clinic

The Claddagh Association continue to host FREE Visa Clinics!

Patricia Halley (MARA 1383611) from Visa4You - a registered and experienced Migration Agent is available for telephone appointments. This is a great opportunity to get advice from a professional. If you need advice about Visa's or citizenship, please make an appointment with our office for the next clinic by contacting us on 08 9249 9213 or email admin@claddagh.org.au

Please note: this service is available to Claddagh members. Not a member? Join today for just $10 to access this invaluable support. Future Clinics: • Tuesday 11 February, 9am-2pm.

THE CLADDAGH ASSOCIATION -

THERE WHEN YOU NEED US

The mission of the Claddagh Association is to provide help and support to members of the Irish community who find themselves in difficult circumstances.

To support these needs of both individuals and families Claddagh must fundraise throughout the year. If you would like to support Claddagh’s work you can donate at our website: claddagh.org.au or sign up to volunteer – your time can make the world of difference.

https://claddagh.org.au/support-our-work/make-adonation/-, alternatively for $10 you can become a member. Increasing our membership allows us to access additional funding and support through other avenues. See our Website for full details – QR code top right.

Reminder: If you or someone you know needs Claddagh’s support, please contact the Claddagh office via admin@claddagh.org.au/08 9249 9213. If your need is urgent, you can call Claddagh’s Crisis Line on 0403 972 265.

Unit 1, 8 Dewar Street, Morley, 6062. Enquiries: 08 9249 9213 admin@claddagh.org.au

Crisis Support: 0403 972 265

Australian Irish Dancing Association Inc.

Our up and coming future stars shone at our Bun and Tus Feis in November. This competition gives our beginners the wonderful opportunity to dance on stage, many for the first time. AIDA WA congratulates every one that competed at the competition and we look forward to seeing you all back on stage in 2025.

As the competition season has ended our dancing schools are celebrating many achievements and performing for loved ones at end of year concerts. With the new year upon us AIDA WA would like to congratulate all our dancers on a wonderful and successful 2024. With dancers competing in local, interstate and international competitions throughout the year we are so proud of all of our dancers accomplishments. Irish dancing in Western Australia is of such a high standard and we can’t wait to see what 2025 brings. AIDA WA wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Nollaig Shona agus Athbhliain faoi Mhaise Duit.

Year of the Lions

Iknow it’s a little late to be wishing everyone a Happy New Year, but as the old saying goes, better late than never. I do hope good health was also gifted to all as Santa delivered plenty of joy and happiness to everyone.

Oh how the world has changed, since the horrid days of fighting off covid19. We seem to have recovered somewhat from those days, only to find the world is now in a different fight. A new dark cloud has bestowed itself upon us in the form of unrest and conflicts that has caused unmeasurable damage to so many. With this new year I hope with prayers and goodwill from all sides, we can get through this difficult time and save many lives as we did with covid19.

2025 is quoted as being the year of the snake but to any diehard Irish rugby fan, it’s the year of the Lions. Yes, the British and Irish Lions are coming to Australia along with 40,000 fanatical fans, a mix of Irish, English, Scottish and Wales, to play the Wallabies. This series only happens every 12 years, in Australia. Likewise, The Lions tour in South Africa and New Zealand is on rotation every 4 years. The traveling fans will be in rugby heaven for the duration of the nine-game tour. You can also add thousands of local fans who will be joining in the chorus, with the tour starting on June 28th in Perth where the Lions play the Western Force in Optus stadium. They finish their last game on August 2nd when they play The Wallabies in Accor Stadium in Sydney. In between

those games they play The Queensland Reds 0n July 2nd in Brisbane, the NSW Waratahs in Sydney on July 5th, The ACT Brumbies in Canberra on July 9th. On July 12th they play a game against an Invitation AU&NZ in Adelaide. July 19th is the 1st Test, The Wallabies V The British and Irish Lions at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. On July 22nd the Lions play The Melbourne Rebels at Marvel Stadium Melbourne. Four days later, on the 26th the 2nd Test between The Lions V The Wallabies at the MCG. The 3rd and last game Test in the series is on the 2nd of August at Accor Stadium Sydney.

This series is extra special to us Irish as we will be seeing Ireland’s Coach, Andy Farrell, leading the Lions against New Zealander, Joe Schmidt who managed Ireland to major successes before returning to his native New Zealand for a short spell with the All Blacks. Joe is now managing the Wallabies and

he wants to repeat that success with the Wallabies that he had with the Irish team while he was in charge. Strange how things turn out sometimes and later meet again as is the story of Joe and Andy. Joe oversaw the Irish Rugby team and Andy joined Joe as his assistant and together they nursed Ireland to major successes, taking them to the number one spot in the world ranking. Joe retired and returned to his native New Zealand and Andy was appointed to the top job replacing Joe. Andy excelled in replacing Joe by also winning Triple Crowns and Grand Slam Championships and to the number one spot in the world rankings. How lucky are we rugby diehards, being able to see Andy’s Lions and Joe’s Wallabies compete at opposite ends, as the Joe’s Wallabies try to tame Andy’s Lions.

Along with the excitement of watching most of the British Isles top class players compete with the Wallabies and the other teams, the 40,000 plus fans are here to enjoy themselves and boy oh boy do they celebrate. I have been to hundreds of rugby games over many years with my sons and business partner, seeing everything from European Cup Finals games to Grand Slams to Triple Crowns Finals and World cup games, here in Australia, Japan, France and of course also Ireland. I have never ever even once heard one foul word or feared for my son’s safety or seeing any disrespect from any of the fans to date. Attending rugby games are safe and trouble free for young and old, male and female. You can bet your house on the fact that the pubs and bars will be filled to the rafters with joyous fanatical fans

having the time of their lives.

The streets will be flocked with colourful clad fans in full voice before and after every match. Who needs Taylor Swift when you can hear choruses of Welsh fans singing their hearts out along with the Scots, English and the Irish won’t be short of blasting out the Fields of Athenry. If all that singing isn’t enough to make anyone’s hair raise on the back of their neck I don’t know what would. I can speak with hand on heart and can only repeat what I said earlier, rugby supporters love their sport and enjoy it while showing respect to all other supporters. I can assure anyone who has not been to a British Lions game to go and see how well conducted the fans are. Go on have a peek at how the Wallabies will play and give them support for their next challenge after this, the World Cup. This series will be a test for the Wallabies as they prepare for the World Cup competition being held here in Australia 2027. Until next time, be good to those who love you and Slainte from Melbourne. Mike Bowen

“Another year over, a new one just begun.”

“So this is Christmas and what have you done?” So sang John Lennon and Yoko Ono in Happy Xmas (War is Over) in 1971.

Rehearsals for the year done, the Irish Choir Perth (ICP) performs its eighth Christmas concerts at the Irish Club on the last day of November 2024.

Around 200 tickets sold, six hampers filled with gourmet goodies for the choir’s fundraising raffle, 18 white tablecloths freshly laundered, extra tables squeezed in, decorated with 32 pine cones gathered and painted the day before, native shrubbery and red kangaroo paws, candles, and candy canes. All done by choir members with their enthusiastic children and grandchildren’s help.

Club doors open for the matinee. First to arrive is an Irish family of five, with the Christmas print on Mum’s dress matching that on Dad’s shirt. A small crowd fills the foyer while the choir warms up on stage and Brian Finnemore perfects lights and sound. Audience members are ushered to well-worn vinyl seats. Children pop Christmas crackers. The Club fills for the sold-out matinee.

“And so this is Christmas, I hope you have fun.”

Choir lines up on stage, dazzling the audience with green and red Christmas

by Fiona Carberry

T-shirts and headbands with mistletoe and reindeer ears.

Accompanying local musicians, outfitted in red Christmas garb, are positioned beneath the stage: Jerry Murphy on flute and whistle; Tommy O’Brien on guitar and banjo; and Joe Ryan on piano. Choir director and conductor, Hilary Price sparkles in silver. She gives the signal, Joe’s fingers move on the piano, and the show begins with Sing Out, It’s Christmas.

The crowd is entertained with songs such as Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. Hilary gives children tambourines to play percussion for the Australian Jingle Bells. The evening concert begins with a lively, toe tapping Irish lilt, “A rowten dowten diddlee owten, rowten dowten da…”

(The Little Beggarman), and the Irish set concludes with a foot stamping Marie’s Wedding.

Both shows feature ICP’s new repertoire songs, including Crazy World, The Fields of Athenry and Galway Girl.

Chorister Sinead Kennedy joins the other musicians on guitar for these songs, and Hilary plays accordion on Galway Girl.

Mid-way through the evening set of Christmas songs, Hilary invites the

Warming-up before the matinee

audience to sing two-part harmony with the choir in “War is over if you want it, war is over now”. The audience needs no invitation to join in on the finale, Fairytale of New York.

“Another year over, a new one just begun.” [Happy Xmas (War is Over.)]

ICP resumes rehearsing with new repertoire at the end of January 2025. All welcome to come and join in the fun!

CLUB SEASON concludes Wednesday March 7, 7.45pm

Ugly Too” with a supporting Irish documentary, together with tea/coffee, homemade cakes, Irish and jams. Ice creams $3. At Kensington (South Perth). Donation $15 to cover catering and costs.

TUESDAY BOOK CLUB March 26 and April 23, 7.30pm, Irish Club Committee Room, 61 Subiaco. All welcome. Light refreshments provided. Convener Mary Purcell, m.purcell@telstra.com

ENCOURAGING AND PROMOTING AN AWARENESS OF AUSTRALIA’S IRISH HERITAGE

THE FOURTH TUESDAY BOOK CLUB

Meets fourth Tuesday of the month, with exception of December. At 7.30pm May 24 ‘Phosphorescence’ by Julia Baird, to be presented by Trish Dooey June 28 TBA to be presented by Cecilia Bray 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

AIHA FILM CLUB SEASON WEDNESDAYS FEBRUARY 5,12,19,26, MARCH 5

Fifteenth annual outdoor Irish Film Festival with a programme of rarely seen and some classic Irish cinema. Private garden cinema, 7.45pm nightly. Ample parking available. Big fifteen-foot cinema screen. Programme will be released in January to database and on website and facebook. Flyers available Plus Each night a supporting Irish short film or documentary, together with tea/coffee and cakes. Ice creams $3. Venue Kensington (South Perth).

BLOOMSDAY - James Joyce Literary Competition presentations

Entry Donation $15 to cover catering and costs, pay at the gate.

Seating Come early for best seats, bring deckchair if running late.

Enquiries Tony Bray - Ph 9367 6026, check our website and facebook.

BRENDAN AWARD will be announced in new year. We invite nominations for 2025, Details https://irishheritage.com.au/awards/the-brendan-award/

THE FOURTH TUESDAY BOOK CLUB January 28 “Inner Song” by Jillian Graham to be presented by Grace Toczylowski. February 25 To be decided at January meeting. Venue - due to closure of the Irish Club meetings will be held at presenter’s home or other agreed venue. Convener Mary Purcell, m.purcell@telstra.com

To mark the 100th anniversary of the publication of Ulysses, the AIHA will hold a celebratory event on June 16th , officially known world-wide as Bloomsday, after Leopold Bloom in Ulysses. At the event, the shortlisted entries from our competition will be staged as readings, drama, music and visual presentations by solo or groups The overall winner will be chosen by popular vote on the night and will receive a cash prize.

St Brigid’s Festival – AIHA will participate at Kidogo Arthouse Fremantle on Sunday Feb 2 at 2pm.

We thank our adjudicators Frank Murphy and Frances Devlin-Glass

Date Thursday June 16 at 7.30pm

Program of Activities for 2025 is available to members and those on our database. Annual General Meeting is planned for Sunday 23 February at 3pm.

Venue Irish Club Theatre, 61 Townshend Road, Subiaco (to be confirmed) Admission AIHA members $20, Non-members $25, includes light refreshments Prizes Best Edwardian dressed male or female. Plus special Irish raffle Bookings https://www.trybooking.com/BZAVU

THE JOURNAL Quarterly magazine for members. Articles celebrating the Irish Heritage in Australia. Editor Teresa O’Brien. Correspondence to journal@irishheritage.com.au

MEMBERSHIP 1 January to 31 December, 2025

AIHA Website

Family membership $65; Concession (Centrelink and unwaged students with ID) $55 Distant (200 kms from Perth) $45; Membership fee includes tax deductible donation of $20 Pay Online – https://irishheritage.com.au/membership/registration/ Or Bank Transfer: Bank: Commonwealth, BSB: 066-192 Account No: 1054 6502 AIHA has approved charity and tax deductable status. www.irishheritage.com.au

PATRICKS FESTIVAL Saturday 16th March, Leederville Parade and Irish Festival, 10am Join our vintage parade and our presentation of the Brendan Awards 2022 and 2023 at the concert in the early prestigious award recognises individuals or groups with a record of dedicated service and outstanding one or more aspects of Australia's Irish heritage. Meanwhile we invite nominations for 2024 GENERAL MEETING Sunday 24 March, 3pm, Irish Club Committee room. There will be special motions Membership nominations. Please consider joining as a committee member, volunteer or an event coordinator. COMMEMORATION ROCKINGHAM Annual commemoration of the escape of six Fenian convicts With oration, verse, music drama and song at the Catalpa Memorial, Rockingham Beach, Easter 11am to 12 noon. Free public event. Guest speakers and dignitaries including Mayor Deb Hamblin councilors; Federal Minister Madeline King; State Minister Stephen Dawson; Somer Bessire-Briers from U Michael Sheehy; musician Ormonde Og Waters; and more. Coordinated by David McKnight. Thursday 25 April, 8am. AIHA at invitation of Subiaco RSL lay wreaths for Irish ANZACS at Fallen Memorial on the corner of Rokeby and Hamersley roads. Morning tea follows. Subject to confirmation 1 January to 31 December, 2024 membership $65; Concession (Centrelink and unwaged students with ID) $55 from Perth) $45; Membership fee includes tax deductible donation of $20 https://irishheritage.com.au/membership/registration/ Transfer: Bank: Commonwealth, BSB: 066-192 Account No: 1054 6502 approved charity and tax deductable status. Deductable Gift Recipient Status

Check our website https://irishheritage.com.au/news-blog/ for a selection of exclusive interviews conducted by committee member Gill Kenny and other articles of note. If you click on the interview with Aine Tyrrell you will arrive at our YouTube channel. Aine is really interesting - victim of domestic violence, successful singer, living in a bus and rearing 3 children. She has great perspectives on life and had a real Irish chat with Gill. Easter Monday Annual Catalpa Commemoration was professionally videod this year. The link will be on our website as soon as available.

We thank Gill and Patricia Bratton for

Evening concert-Irish set ICP in the Green Room after the show ICP singing out

(L-R) Jerry Murphy, Tommy O'Brien, Brian Finnemore, & Joe Ryan in the Green Room

Tommy O'Brien, Jerry Murphy, Joe Ryan, & Hilary Price-Keegan

2024 Review

Junior GAA Games WA

Junior GAA Games WA had a very successful 2024 and the New Year is shaping up to be even more promising.

There was a great turnout of players and their families for the final day of the season at Pat O’Hara Reserve in Bayswater/Morely on December 1, with plenty of fun and games and not to forget the huge water fight! Thanks also to the musicians and Irish dancers for a special performance

With over 300 children registered for the new season Junior GAA Games WA is now the biggest of its kind in Australia. The development of the girls game has also been amazing with a team in every age group.

A particular highlight for the players was a visit by Áine McDonagh and Amy Mullholland from Fremantle Dockers AFLW to talk to them and teach them a few skills. Next stage is a girls team to travel with the boys for Feile 2026 in Ireland.

In the meantime Junior GAA Games WA is gearing up for the Australiasian Feile 2025 in Perth in March. Some 500 players from across Australia – and even from Singapore – and in every age category will come to WA for the competition.

Thanks also to our principal sponsors Pipeline Technics, ECO Civils and PCH Civils and the constant support of McLoughlin’s Butchers. secretarygaawa@hotmail.com

Junior GAA Games WA

Wexford drought broken in WA

After a 61 week long drought the New Ross Rugby Club ‘Lotto’ jackpot of €14,500 was finally broken just in time for Christmas.

With just days to go before December 25th the lucky winner was named as New Ross native Regan Purcell. But because she now calls Perth home Regan had to send her mum Doreen Purcell in her place to pick up the prize.

Regan told the New Ross Standard she was “absolutely thrilled and deeply honoured” to have won the club’s lottery.

“I remain proud to support my hometown club and continue to have a strong connection to New Ross Town,” she said in the local newspaper. “It’s a privilege to stay connected to the community in this way, and I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity.”

Club President Brendan Roche congratulated the winner and highlighted the importance of the local draw. “The lotto

is a vital fundraiser for the club, supporting the day to day operations.

Doreen Purcell was presented with the cheque for her daughter Regan by club president Brendan Roche and lotto committee member Tommy McLoughlin.

Photo: Mary Browne

Someone’s on a winner even before the British and Irish Lions hit Australia

Return flights, accommodation and match tickets for two people to follow the British and Irish Lions team to Australia was first prize in the 2024 Energia’s ‘Your Club, Your Country’ Grand Draw.

After a hiatus of 12 years the much anticipated tour kicks off in Perth, at Optus Stadium on 28 June with the Western Force hosting the visitors at Optus Stadium. All together the Lions will play nine matches in Australia, with three Tests against the Wallabies, and six Tour games around the country. The ticket for the top prize (of ten) was sold by

Clondalkin RFC, and sponsored by Vodafone.

With 100% of the funds raised going directly to each club the draw helped local rugby clubs across Ireland to raise a record breaking amount last year.

“I would like to thank all those who helped fundraise and donated so generously to this year’s campaign in which over €1.1m was raised by 160 clubs,” IRFU President Declan Madden said in a December 6 announcement. “The IRFU congratulates all of this year’s winners and pledges our ongoing commitment to supporting club rugby.”

Michael Collopy, chair of the IRFU’s commercial and marketing committee said club rugby is the backbone of the game in Ireland and it was inspiring to see so many people continue to support their local rugby club. “I want to congratulate the winners and thank everyone, from the members, supporters, and sponsors throughout Ireland, for getting behind this fundraising initiative. By purchasing tickets, you have invested in our clubs and the future of our grassroots game.”

Tackling some important formalities

Irish Australian professional rugby player Michael McDonald dropped into the Australian embassy in Dublin for a bit of official business last month.

“Michael had booked in for some official notarial services and the consular team worked with him to get the notarials done and Michael on his way as soon as possible,” the embassy tweeted before Christmas. “Michael was born and grew up in Carlingford, Co. Louth and spent his childhood years playing for Dundalk RFC before moving to Perth when he was 13 with the family, becoming Australian Citizens and calling Perth home.

Michael went on to play for the junior Wallabies, Waratahs, Western Force before coming back home to Ireland to play for Connacht Rugby and now Ulster Rugby.”

The 26 year old scrum-half was accompanied by mum Sally Ann McDonald – who with husband Andy – built up McDonald Surveys as one of

Wheelchair Wallabies

Sally Ann and Michael with Lachlan Crews at the embassy in Dublin

Australia’s leading surveying and digital engineering firms. A former president of the Irish Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sally Ann is now self-employed and a business mentor.

As well as helping him with his paperwork, staff at the embassy wished him good luck for the rest of the season – which includes a clash between Ulster Rugby and the Queensland Reds on February 7, 2025. Ulster will play host to the Australian Super Rugby side at its home grounds (Kingspan Stadium) in Belfast in a special one off fixture as part of the club's centenary celebrations.

Just a week or so before Michael and Sally dropped in, staff at the Australian embassy in Stephen’s Green were busy with another group of rugby mad folk – the Wallabies players and coaching staff. The Aussies put up a spirited display in Aviva Stadium in Dublin but the home team won the day with a nail bitting 22-19 decider. A few days later the Wallabies visited the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire, a surprise organised by the embassy team. “The children were delighted when Wallabies Squad players joined them for their multi-sports session,” the embassy said on social media later. “There was enormous excitement when, rather than just watch the children play a range of different sports as part of their rehabilitation session, the players borrowed sports wheelchairs and joined the kids in their activities in the new world class sports department at the NRH. The kids multi-sports sessions are run collaboratively with the NRH Sports Department and Paediatric Programme Teams, and Mark Barry, IWA liaison officer to the NRH. A NHI spokesperson said; “Sports activities are hugely beneficial for all patients as part of their rehabilitation programme – from the physical activity and general well being aspect to the social side of sport and getting to meet people with similar interests.”

Perth Irish Rugby reached new heights

Mount Kilimanjaro was amongst those conquered by Perth Irish Rugby Club last year.

Perth Irish captain Brian Bolger and club stalwarts Mark Ryder and Pauly Atkinson successfully scaled the 5,895 metre summit of the snow capped Tanzanian volcano last July. The boys proudly announced their arrival at the top of the world with a club jersey.

VALE

Sister Bridget (Roberta) DILLON RSM

Born to Life, Co Kerry: 09.05.1937

Professed: 19.11.1955

Born to Eternal Life, Bunbury: 15.12.2024

Sr Bridget was much loved by all who knew her and will be remembered for her hard work ethic, her ability to get things done, her sense of humour and her down to earth spirituality. Deepest Sympathy to her family and the Sisters of Mercy. We will miss her very much and hold on to memories of wonderful friendships.

Brian Hannon, Angelo Forte and his son Angelo G, enjoying a pint and the craic at Clancy’s in Fremantle.

Happy 90th birthday Paul Tanham. It will be celebrated with family and friends on February 2nd. Still a keen golfer with his good mate John Murphy. Enjoy Paul.

80 and still going strong!

Bob Kucera keeps himself busy these days with a local choir (he is Welsh) and as Chair of the Council of the National Trust of Western Australia. Sounds like it was a great celebration!

Lois and Gerry Crowley with an icon of the Australian music scene, Paul Kelly. A new movie has just been release based on Kelly’s song How to Make Gravy and we highly recommend it. Lois was delighted to have Kelly’s book signed?

left: Another milestone birthday. This time Thomas Percy, KC. Celebrated on 31st January. 1954 was the year our Tom arrived in Kalgoorlie, his home town I believe? As one FB put it, “Rest assured the event was a blinder!”

Last November we said goodbye to a stalwart of our Western Australia Irish community, Tom Quinn. Tom did so much for so many over many years and Derry Girls Bernadette Chestnutt and Lily Morrow took the time to visit Tom on many occasions, to hold his hand and to show their appreciation for his support of our community.

Rafferty rules the golf course!

Dermot Rafferty went within 6 inches of a hole in one in a recent comp. How excited would he have been if it went in?

Andy & Valerie Kavanagh of Lucan in Dublin enjoy reading the Irish Scene and we promised to include them in this issue. They plan a visit to Australia later this year to visit their 2 sons, Danny and Shane. They should arrive dressed as above. It would be a hoot at the airport!

Gerard O’Leary took his Irish family visitors, Ray, Cillian, Abi Monahan to the Big Bash cricket to watch the the local Scorchers at Optus Stadium. Thanks to Lynda for taking the selfie. Ray follows cricket, so it was a real treat!

VALE

John (Peter) Sullivan 15th September 1951 - 6th November 2024

At his funeral mass in St Patrick’s Basilica in Fremantle, daughters, Seaneen and Roisin Sullivan gave beautiful tributes to their dad. They spoke of a wonderful, caring and loving father who was always their for them and their mother Goretti. “With aching hearts but endless gratitude for the life he gave us” . John was a tireless volunteer for the Irish community and very much part of the planning and running of the St Patrick’s Day Parades in Fremantle. John was also involved in the Gaelic sports in Western Australia.

To Goretti, Seáneen and Roisin our deepest condolences.

Happy 18th Birthday to Bindy McAuley

With mum Brenda around, no doubt it was some celebration. All the best Bindi!

Above: Lynda O’Leary, Heather McKeegan of Claddagh, Richard Matias and Hon Irish Consul Marty Kavangh at an Irish Embassy reception at Durty Nelly’s.

Left: Richard and Marty showing off their Christmas goodies from Ireland, you might recognise some of the products. Not sure who they shared with but it wasn’t me!

Patrick Gaffney

29 June 1942 - 11 Dec 2024

below: Taj and Jai Cosgrave who live in India with their Perth dad Garrett and Mum Sharlene enjoyed a Perth Glory match recently, They were excited to get an autograph on their hat from one of the Glory players. Great kids and pretty handy footballers we are told. Future Australian internationals?

We were saddened to hear of the passing of Longfordman, Patrick Francis Gaffney, who passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 11, 2024. Described by son Franklin as a loving husband, an affectionate and caring father and a cheeky grandfather. He was an integral part of the Irish Business Association and member of the Australian Irish Heritage Association. He is now reunited in heaven with his beloved wife, Phyllis. Our condolences to Franklin, Aengus, and Sarah-Jane (children), Dara, Greta, and Ingrid (grandchildren), Mili and Gareth (in-laws).

Happy Birthday JJ JJ Greene of a very successful company DCI Electrical Services has a big birthday coming up on Jan 22. Enjoy!

Who is this little man enjoying the music of Grand Remedy in Molly’s Irish Bar on New Years Day?