The Irish Scene Sept/Oct 2022

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Well played Olivia!

BY LLOYD GORMAN

Congratulations to Rachel Duffy from Westmeath who was named the 2022 Rose of Tralee [RoT] but also to her namesake, Perth Rose Olivia Duffy! Olivia represented herself and her two homes –Perth and Oldfield, Co. Meath – with grace, style and great character throughout the festival, including on stage in the Dome for the televised event.

caring soul during her on stage chat with RoT host Dáithí Ó Sé. When her mum and dad were sick she shelved her own plans to look after them but thankfully they recovered and are now “doing well”. She could now think about what she wanted to do, including moving to Australia!

“Being Irish and a proud Irish woman it was a hard decision to leave my community, Oldcastle, Co. Meath, a wonderful place, my family of course and all my friends and reroute somewhere else,” she told Dáithí . So I was looking out for a sign to move to Australia. I was very close with my grandmother... and she always had these little rosary beads and they were in a pouch

and when we were clearing out her stuff a while after she passed I came across it and in it was a dollar coin and I took that as a sign to dare to go and make the leap Down-under.” That was three years ago and this was her first visit home. To enormous applause from the audience – which included many of her family, friends and partner of six years James – she said it was a privilege to return as the Perth Rose. During her time in Ireland Olivia visited her home town and was given a rapturous and emotional welcome from friends, family and locals, including a training session with her old team, the Oldcastle Ladies GFC.

She also did her adopted home proud. What was the Irish community like in Perth Dáithí asked her.

Olivia Duffy Rose of Tralee

“Perth has an incredible Irish community, I’d say there’s about 8,000 Irish living there,” she said. She highlighted the great work of the Claddagh Association. Perth also had a great GAA league she added. “I love Gaelic Football and I didn’t want to lose that...I’m a member of Morley Gaels Ladies football team who have just entered the semi finals. You try and rekindle your Irish spirit, what you have back home.” Perth was very welcoming for people from all over and it had a diversity of cultures. “As an Irish person there you feel so proud to bring Ireland there with you and to integrate that with everyone”.

For her performance piece Olivia read an amazing poem about the Irish in Australia that she had written in English and Irish, which we would love to publish in the next issue with Olivia’s permission. “It’s basically about Ireland, not necessarily for Irish people but a poem for people who leave their mother land, you bring a piece of it with you, and its important to stay true to your roots wherever you go.”

As well having an amazing creative streak, Olivia is also a very clever individual. She is a radiation therapist at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. “I have just finished my training on the only public Cyberknife facility in Australia which offers highly advanced technique treatment cancer care to those near and far. I am eternally grateful to have a career in oncology and aspire to continue progressing in the field.” As if that wasn’t enough Olivia also volunteers with St John’s Ambulance.”

The Irish community in Perth –which she describes as a very special place – was lucky to have her as our Rose. Go n-eirí an t-ádh leat!!

(Photos courtesy of Gem Carew Photography).

Olivia Duffy Rose of

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All Pain No Gain

Painful path leads to Perth for hundreds of Irish doctors

BY LLOYD GORMAN

Ireland is hamerroging medical staff – particularly young doctors – at an alarming rate. Hundreds of new and qualified medics are fleeing Ireland’s badly overcrowded and underfunded hospital sector. In the COVID era and post pandemic times the world is their oyster but incredible numbers are finding the pearl they are looking for is in Perth and they are flocking here in their droves.

Cora Lacey, née Clarke, trained as a nurse and worked at Wexford General Hospital for three years before she came to Perth six years where she still works in the profession. The contrast between her experiences there and here could not be more stark.

“It just got worse and worse as it went on [at Wexford],” Cora told Joe Duffy on the Liveline show in mid August, when the talkback show concentrated on the issue of Irish medics going to Australia.

“It was not safe, the work load was immense, sick leave was not covered, staffing was really difficult, it didn’t feel like it was safe for my patients any more. And I was worried for my registration. Back in Ireland I was a junior nurse on the ward for three years. Over here within a year I was a clinical nurse and now I’m actually clinical nurse manager in charge of the whole facility, I wouldn’t have gotten those opportunities back in Ireland.

Duffy asked her if she would return to work in Ireland. “I don’t think so,” she said. “I don’t see myself coming back, I see myself coming back for a holiday, and its been almost four years now thanks to COVID but I got married here and I don’t see myself going back I don’t think I’ll ever work there as a nurse again.”

Some of the benefits of working here were safer staffing levels, less responsibility and workload as well as better pay (double what she could make in Ireland).

Was she glad she left?, he asked. She said it was difficult to be away from family, but there were compensating factors. “I definitely am, I wouldn’t have gotten the opportunities I’ve had here if I was in Ireland,” she said.

“I would say to anyone who is thinking to make he move, try it out its definitely worth a go. Its a completely different live over here.”

Joe Duffy asked her if there was an increase in the number of Irish people in Perth. “Yes, definitely, I’m sitting in a room with another Irish nurse at the moment, one of my best friends, Sarah Murphy,” Cora replied. “So yes

All Pain No

there are lots and lots of them out here, I’m meeting more Irish nurses in the health service, its just a better life for them.”

Duffy asked her what she thought it would take to persuade medics to stay in Ireland. “You can fix the health system and give them more incentive to stay,” she suggested. “When I was there for the three years they were talking

Image courtesy of Eoin Kelleher at Twitter (@eoinkr) and Instagram (@eoinkellehercartoons).

about incentives to try and bring people in. They never had incentives to keep people there and that’s one of the big issues, they didn’t acknowledge the staff they had there, staff who were loyal and all the staff I worked with there were absolutely amazing and they stayed because they had little families and things like that and they couldn’t leave, I was able to leave.”

Padraig Donovan also spoke to Joe Duffy from Australia (it wasn’t clear where in Australia). He had just arrived about a week beforehand. “I was only practising medicine for a year in Ireland and I was so horrifically burnt out after it that I took the cowardly way out and went to Australia,” he said. In his first year in medicine he was contracted to work 39 hours a week, but pulled 80 to 85 hours a week. “It was horrific, it was really, really bad, 24 hour shifts all the time, wrecked all the time, moody all the time and getting bleeped up to your eyeballs all the time, everybody is looking for you, I remember there were days I was the only member of my team in so I had to do the work of five or six people and of course that wasn’t sustainable.”

Working conditions, staffing levels and pay in Australia were “infinitely better”, making it an obvious choice. In Ireland his pay was just enough to pay rent on a ‘bog standard box house outside the M50’, now he and friends were able to rent a mansion!.

“Its funny... the other day we were having an induction of 14 doctors of my level, 12 were Irish,” Padraig added. “The presenter was telling us about the system and all the Irish people were going ‘that can’t be right, what?

five people doing this job!’. “We all left for the same reason. I moved out [here] with a load of friends, people who really love home and really love Ireland, who really want to stay in Ireland but the work was horrific but with the housing crisis they just couldn’t stay feasibility, you could never set up life in Ireland. I am in no rush to come back and work for the Health Service Executive (HSE) after the way the way first year graduates were treated and just seeing the exhaustion of the more senior doctors and the way consultants were treated I just can’t imagine why I would go back you know, there’s no allure to going back.”

Even young docs who are overseas and want to return to Ireland find they have a mountain to climb. Aisling Finnegan wrote in the Irish Times on August 25 that after nearly two years working in New Zealand she returned home in April and went back to work as a medic in July. ‘I don’t want to leave Ireland again, but I many not have a choice,’ was the headline on the story.

She was delighted to be back but was soon confronted with the realities of the Irish healthcare system.

“I think things in the HSE are dark and are about to get even darker,” she wrote. “My colleagues who are finishing schemes need time off to pull their own physical and mental health together. Other colleagues are leaving in droves for the paradise of Australia and New Zealand, countries where they will work fair hours for fair money and rent rooms they can actually afford. The tantalising lure of what the Aussies and the

Irish docs on the beach at Cottesloe.

Kiwis consider bog standard will leave a huge hole in the workforce that will cripple those who are left in Ireland.”

The health system has no money and not enough doctors and a host of other problems. Now that she is back with family and friends she felt as “tribal joy” about living in Ireland but it may not be enough. “These are my people, and this is my home,” she wrote. “I don’t want to leave again, but unless things change I may not have a choice.”

Family reasons are the main motivation cited by the majority of doctors who return to Ireland.

A flurry of articles have been written about the issue in recent times and Perth features in practically every one of them.

In a comment piece in the Irish Independent published on August 11, Suzanne Crowe wrote about how she had bumped into a retired nurse that week. She had “lost” both her sons – one a doctor and the other a physio – to Perth. “Both left Ireland well before the pandemic, and the long period of no travel made the separation worse initially – but also demonstrated to her grown-up children that a good life could be made elsewhere, without the disruption of trips back to Clare,” wrote Crowe.

In May the Irish Times ran a story with the headline ‘Irish junior doctors on why they are staying in Australia’.

It included the experience of Dr Louise Curtis, originally from Mallow, Co. Cork who worked as an intern at a Galway hospital. Often night shifts meant junior doctors were left to cover the entire hospital.

All Pain No Gain

“You are the youngest person on the team,” Curtis told the IT. “When you’re on call or at night, only the interns take care of everything, with little support. You can call the medical registrar but they are usually busy. What you expect to do in those shifts, without any kind of support, is pretty risky.”

Curtis graduated in medicine in 2016 and following his intern year in 2017 moved to Perth with 53 people from his class.

His 70 plus hours a week in Ireland does not compare with 40 hours here, including six hours of training. On top of this he gets a half day off every week and normally only works one day in a weekend in a month.

Pulling crazy working hours is not a recent phenomenon. In September two years ago Dr Paul Hession – and then Ireland’s fastest man on the running track – tweeted in response to an article in the Irish Examiner about doctor fatigue putting patient safety at risk, that also reference Western Australia.

“Excellent article summing up the reality of being a doctor in this country,” the Galway doctor tweeted. “I’ve had three 27h shifts in the last week. Sometimes we forget that that is just not normal in other jobs!”. Dr Hession now works at Fiona Stanley and Sir Charles Gairdner (Charlies) hospitals.

Paul O’Donovan is another medic who is also well known for his sporting achievements who has been here. The Skibbereen born lightweight rower and Olympic gold medallist spent part of 2022 for his medical studies here. There are any amount of Irish doctors and GPs in clinics and practices throughout Perth

Irish Doctors Cottesloe Beach.

and other WA centres. As we discovered in an earlier edition of Irish Scene Ireland’s foreign affairs and defence minister Simon Coveney has a brother Andrew Coveney who is also a doctor who happens to have been in Perth for some time now. Dr Coveney, who worked at Cork University College, is a consultant general and colorectal surgeon at ‘Charlies’ where I recently discovered he operated on someone I know personally and saved their life. (For that, and all the lives saved by Irish doctors and nurses here and at home, I’d like to say thank you.)

At the time of the discussions on Liveline in mid-August one doctor told the show that 500 Irish medics had left for Australia already this year. He didn’t back this with any proof, but there does seem to be plenty of evidence to support the claim. In March, for example, the Joint Committee on Health met in Leinster House, Dublin in March.

In March, Dr Mick Molloy, a consultant in emergency medicine was one of a number of

senior medics invited to address the Joint Committee on Health in Leinster House in the Dail (Irish parliament). He was asked about the issue of recruitment and retention of doctors in the domestic healthcare system.

“I went to Australia two years ago for a conference and made a point of going to a particular hospital in Perth to meet some medical colleagues,” he told the committee. “We have 700 interns a year, which is the first year after coming out of medical school. In that particular year, 380 of the 700 left Ireland to go to Perth. They did not see their future working in the Irish health service. They saw there were better terms and conditions, lifestyle and work-life balance in Australia, and Australia has been a major beneficiary of our medical graduates for the past ten years. In fact, there are probably more medical graduates from Irish medical schools now working in Australia than there are in Ireland, such has been the volume of exports. That obviously stopped during Covid, but there are now a large number of people pooled up who are all trying to leave, which is going to lead to a big issue as to where we get the middling 30, 35 and 40-year-old group of doctors who we would see as being the future of our health service in the country, because they are not going to be here. They will be abroad getting family life and structures set up, Irish nurses Sydney.

Irish Nurses Perth.

and it will make it very difficult to recruit them back.”

He was not alone in this grim assessment. Two months later in May the AGM of the Irish Medical Organisation heard that Australia had already issued 402 work visas to Irish doctors in 2022. This compared with a total of 272 in 2019, the last full normal year before the pandemic hit. Dr. Niamh Humphries, a senior lecturer in the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland

Graduate School of Healthcare Management revealed these figures at the event during a presentation about the challenges of recruitment and retention for the health service. From a manpower point of view she said there were four key challenges facing the health services: Weak Doctor Retention, Difficult Working Conditions, Wellbeing/Work Life Balance and Absence of Hope.

Dr. Humphries said that Ireland fared particularly poorly in relation to the number of consultants per 100,000 population; in Ireland the figure was 71 whereas in Australia the figure was 133. Similar in terms of the ratio of NCHDs to Consultants, in Ireland the ratio was 2.28:1 whereas in Australia the figure was 0.8:1

All Pain No Gain

Service in Ireland was also characterised by long working hours, high work intensive and working at a fast pace. Dr. Humphries characterised it as an “extreme” way of working.

Social media too is rife with the cracks in the system. These two messages posted in August provide insights into the problems. “My brothers gf is an ED nurse in Dublin,” one tweet said. “She came home from a night shift in tears. Only 7 nurses on duty when there should be 14. Patients waiting 3 hours to be triaged. The missing nurses aren’t out sick. They’ve quit due to burnout, low pay & conditions. Issue not just Covid.” Another tweeter said: “My neighbour has also just qualified as a doctor. Out of a class of 17, she is the only one who stayed. The rest have gone to Australia. Our health service needs more than radical change. I’m so angry on behalf of everyone this affects.”

The healthcare and hospital system in Perth is a long way from perfect and has many chronic problems and imperfections of its own. But compare one against the other and there doesn’t seem to be much competition about which is better.

Bring your Medicare Card with you to Ireland

If you are Irish and living in Australia you should really think about packing your Medicare Card on your next trip back to Ireland. It might not exactly save your life, but it could (if you are entitled to it) save your pocket from a lot of of pain for medical bills in the unfortunate event of injury or sickness. On September 12 it will be exactly 25 years since Ireland and Australia signed an important reciprocal health care agreement for their citizens. On September 12 1997 in Dublin government representatives signed the long-windedly named ‘Agreement on Medical Treatment for Temporary Visitors between Australia and Ireland’, which then came into force on May 25, 1998. It entitles visitors from Ireland to Australia to get ‘medically necessary treatment as public inpatients or outpatients in Australian public

hospitals, on the same terms as Australian residents (i.e free of charge). Medically necessary treatment means and ill-health or injury which occurs while the individual is in Australia and requires treatment before they return home.’ The same thing applies of course to Aussies in Ireland.

Comparing the number of Irish who qualify for the health help in Australia compared with their counterparts in Ireland in that time would be an interesting exercise. Just a hunch but you would imagine this service has over the years come to the aid of more Irish than Australians. And long may it continue. Both countries have the option to pull the plug at any stage, but must give the other country 12 months warning ‘through diplomatic channels’.

Vino Veritas

One specialist Australian medical recruitment company will be in Ireland in early October to talk to Irish doctors considering a move Downunder. It is promoting an “earning potential of $530,000 pa” and a “sign on bonus” as well as “GP roles in desirable locations across Australia”. The recruiter is offering to give one on one meetings to offer “personalised advice”

and the chance to have all their questions answered about registration, visa and other issues. As a sweetener ‘70% of billings and relocation assistance’ are also on the table, amongst other incentives. The firm is holding an ‘Australian themed wine tasting’ at a networking evening in London but no such largess is on the cards for Dublin.

Paprika is as Irish as they come!

The name might not sound like something that came out of Ireland but Paprika Cafe is packed full of Irish hospitality and heart. On September 20 it will be one year since Nuala Duff took over the former Avoca Cafe in the Belridge Shopping Centre as chef/owner. Nuala, originally from Stillorgan, Dublin, said COVID meant the early days difficult but she said the customers – including a large number of Irish families living in the area and Irish tradies – have been loyal and supportive. The hand-made Irish fare – such as sausage rolls and breakfast using McLoughlin’s meat – is

probably a big reason why so many come in but the friendly customer service from the staff, which includes a few Irish Australians, probably has something to do with it as well. After just one visit you will become a regular! Happy Birthday Paprika.

Celebrate with us...

Bloomsday 2022 Irish Club Subiaco

IRISH DAY

Saturday 22 October

May the luck of the Irish be with you at Ascot Racecourse as we celebrate all the colour, smiles, food and refreshments that the Emerald Isle has to offer.

Bring your best friends and make new ones amid traditional Irish treats, live music and a full raceday schedule, plus Guinness and Kilkenny on tap!

Secure discount earlybird* tickets from ticketek.com.au or purchase at the gate.

Paddy’s Empire Building Days

BY LLOYD GORMAN

The 2022 Commonwealth Games ended in Birmingham in early August but sixty years ago in 1962 Perth, WA was the venue for its predecessor the British Empire and Commonwealth Games. Those games proved to be a massive success as an international sporting event but also one that helped to shape and even create the capital city we have today.

But before all that could happen a major effort was needed to build the facilities required for the host city to be able to hold and host the competition and athletes from around the world. While different parts of Perth were the location for certain purpose built facilities – such as Beatty Park – the main arena for the Games was a brand new state of the art stadium in Floreat, that came with a hefty one million pound price tag. Galway man and Irish Club cofounder Patrick ‘Paddy’ Costello, 95, had more than a small part in making the stadium a reality. It was a time in his life he remembers well but not one he could have predicted at the time.

Paddy, then aged 24 arrived in WA in 1951 with his brother Vincent and worked as a bricklayer until a return trip to Ireland four years later. In 1956 he married his sweetheart, Lena, on St. Patrick’s Day and the newly weds wasted no time in coming out to Australia to start their new life together. Paddy returned to his trade as a brickie but regurlarly suffered with a swollen hand that meant he could not work sometimes for weeks at a time.

Paddy’s other brother Michael, who had moved to WA before him, suggested he try another line of work, as a machine driver. “I said I’d never seen a bloody bulldozer before, never mind driving one,” laughed Paddy, who had only driven small tractors on the family farm growing up. But he gave it a go and went down to Rock Gully, between Manjimup and Mount Barker to try it out. “This guy was a real gentleman, he was like a father to me,” said Paddy. “He took me out into a paddock and said to me you see that big tree I want you to push it from this end to that end and when you get it there push it back to that end again, keep doing that all day, there’s nobody around to watch you, there’s nothing to worry about. So I kept doing that until around

Paddy’s Empire Building Days

5 o’clock that day by which time I was well able to drive a machine and I got very good at this caper. They reckoned I pick up a two pence piece off the ground with the D7. So I spent four years down there, logging and clearing farms and that kind of thing.” It was at this point that he returned to Ireland and married Lena. When they returned Paddy found his machine driving skills were in keen demand and before long he was working for the City of Perth.

“I was down in Shenton Park doing treatment works for the sewage, making the beds when one of the engineers said to me: “Paddy, we want you for the Games”! I want you to finish Perry Lakes stadium, because I was good at finishing works. So in 1960 I started the Games Village and built the houses there. In fact, the first house there was built by Irishman Paddy French – who died not so long ago at age 86 – who was a very good bricklayer. Paddy built three of the houses in the village.

[The Games Village was a new innovation in the organisation of the games. In every previous Commonwealth the athletes had bunkered down in whatever nearby accommodations could be found, including schools where dozens of them might sleep in the same room. For the first time the athletes had purpose built housing, a feature of Games ever since. The site of the Village is today ocuppied by the Downs Shopping Centre in Wembley Downs ]

Paddy added: “I made all the roads and cleared all the blocks and levelled them. Then I went back to do the stadium area where we cleared all the land and leveled all the banks. I was the supervisor over all that.”

Library of WA)

Paddy also did a lot of work on new areas such as Lathlain Park, today the base of operations for the West Coast Eagles since their move from their previous home grounds at the former Subiaco Oval stadium.

Paddy saw the stadium take shape from huge mounds of earth and vacant blocks of land to become what would have been one of the most modern stadiums of the time. There were some laughs along the way too for the hardworking larrikin. “They (the television) used to come down every evening and take a photo of the progress of the stadium,” Paddy explained. “Anyhow, this day the first seats were being put in by the contractor who ran a string line from the bottom up to the top of where the seats would go. I had the machine running and the city engineer said to me “Paddy turn off that f**cking thing, we can’t hear ourselves think for what we’re doing. So I did and I went up to where there was one seat on the top level and damn it didn’t the TV take a photograph of me sitting in it. He took it from the other side of the stadium, I didn’t even know he was there. The next day anyhow the engineer said: ““Boy”, he used to call me that, “I saw you were sitting on the only bloody seat in the stadium, couldn’t you have found some other place to sit, so that was the first seat that was ever put into the stadium,” Paddy laughed. Paddy also excavated the site for the main diving pool at Beatty Park and Lena remembers coming out to see the massive void in the ground. After the pool was built Paddy laughs about the time Commonwealth and Olympic Games gold medallist Dawn Fraser playfully shoved him into the water.

Library of WA)

Paddy’s Empire Building Days

There is another yarn that has escaped the history books – until now perhaps. The gregarious Galwayman also took part in the very first sporting challenge to take place at the arena, on the freshly laid running track. “We were just after finishing the new track. I was the supervisor and there was a young engineer, Lindsey Bagley, a guy from South Perth. I said to him one day I’d challenge him to a run. He was a football umpire used to running and training and was as fit as a fiddle while I was terrible unfit from sitting on a machine every day. He said he would give me a head start of forty yards and he did. We had a run around it anyhow and he beat me, I’ll never forget that!”.

When the Games proper began in late November there was a bit of a mishap. “There’s a funny part to that,” added Paddy. “The day the games opened I kicked up because I wasn’t invited to the opening ceremony. There was a lot of blokes who never did anything for the Games who got invited.” Paddy, a senior ranking member of the city staff was asked to go somewhere on council business but relatilated by saying he was going home. The foreman went after him and asked him to do another job instead. “He asked me to take three or four blokes with me shift the grog (booze) from the old council offices to the newly built offices in St. George’s terrace. So we loaded up the beer and dropped it off but I kept back one big case of beer and we went back to the yard and we drank beer all day.” I put it to Paddy that he would have preferred that to the formalities and stuffiness of the opening ceremony. “Of course I did,” he replied. “Anyhow, the engineer came to me the next day and apologised for leaving me out. He was trying to give me tickets for boxing, and running and different things but I said stick them up your arse, I was only interested in going into the place I developed, the stadium itself. I was very proud

of what I did and every other one was proud of what I did,” he added.

Over the years Paddy and Lena’s children did Little Athletics at Perry Lakes, another reason why it became special to him. On the 50th anniversary of the Games in 2012 Perth City Council held a special ceremony to honour the occasion and recognise the former council workers who were involved. Apart from a lady from the office who was the head girl for the catering I was the only one alive. They took me into town hall and threw a big party and presented me with an award to say thank you.” It was around this time that the state government pulled down most of Perry Lakes stadium – but not the scoreboard building – to redevelop it as a housing estate. “I almost cried” Paddy said. “You put so much of your life into something.”

He said he worked sixteen to nineteen hours a day, seven days a week to get the sports facilities in place in time for the Games. When the event passed Paddy took Lena and the kids on a 15 week long holiday to visit family in America and then Ireland before returning to Perth.

Paddy would love his adopted city to stage the games again. “They’d be well capable of it, oh yeah!,” he said without hestiation. “It’d be good for Perth. Its been great for Perth. I have seen what it can do. God! Perth was a shithole before that!”

2026 Commonwealth Games for Perth lost to local politics

The Commonwealth Games are held every four years and the 2026 games will be held in Victoria – but it could have been Perth!

Despite a lot of local support to try and attract the Games to Perth and Western Australia the state government was not interested.

“We decided not to go for the Commonwealth Games because I didn’t want to, in an uncertain world, go and spend $2.5bn on something that is a ‘nice to have’,” Premier Mark McGowan told

reporters in May. “What we want to do is fund our hospitals properly, deal with important health issues, pay down debt (and) diversify the economy.”

Mr McGowan aimed his comments at the Victorian state government which needed to manage its budget better during a stoush about the carve up of the GST for different states.

Victorian premier Daniel Andrews responded he was not interested in “childish debates”.

“Premier

Paddy’s Empire Building Days

Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas was closer in his thinking to the Victorian Premier than the WA leader. Mr Zempilas, a high profile sports presenter, argued holding the Games in the capital city would inject new life into it.

“The 2026 Commonwealth Games is available, there is no host city for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, it’s there, it’s available,” Zempilas told 9News last November. “If we put our hand up in a meaningful and decisive manner, we can win the Commonwealth Games. I know how transformational they can be for a city, so why not capitalise on this great enthusiasm and momentum that we’ve got out of the Grand Final and look ahead? “We’ve shown we can do it, we showed it with the Grand Final, why not look ahead to the 2026 Commonwealth Games.”

Mr Zempilas seemed assured there would be support from the Federal government and said Perth City Council was committed to it. “But of course, we can’t do it alone, and it would need the State Government to commit to a Commonwealth Games bid,” the Lord Mayor added. “We built a stadium [Optus] for exactly this.”

WA media outlets report that there is a rift between the two men and that relations between the local and state level government are strained.

We’ve got a lot to talk about!

gave an interesting talk at the Celtic Club about the first 50 years of Irish membership of the European Union. His next trip West will include a visit to the Army Museum in Fremantle on September 28 for the return and display of the Victoria Cross and other medals of Martin O’Mara. No doubt Mr Mawe – a seasoned diplomat – will have something worthwhile to say about the Tipperary born soldier and what he represents. As a special offer members of the Irish Club or Celtic Club who show their membership cards will be able to get entry to the msueum for $5.00 instead of the normal admission of $15.

Ireland’s deep and multi-layered history with Western Australia means there are many stories to tell and many different ways to tell them. Lectures are a popular way to explore a subject and there has been a bit to choose from lately, with more coming.

The Australian Irish Heritage Association held its annual Mary Durack memorial lecture in the Irish Club in early August. The lecture was presented by Patsy Millet, an author with a unique perspective into the world of the Durack’s – a story of one of WA’s best known Irish families. Millet is the daughter of Dame Mary Durack herself and was able to share some insights and family stories.

On September 11 the AIHA also organised another talk by Jim Egan at the Irish Club, this time under the heading, ‘The Little Orphan Girls’. Jim’s address was followed by talented Irish actor Mike Sheehy who gave fascinating insights into the four Irish historical characters featured in his upcoming one-man play about the Irish Famine, set to be staged in Camelot, Mosman Park in March 2023.

Also coming up later this month is the visit by the Irish ambassador Tim Mawe to Perth who visited Perth in July and amongst other things

The annual CY O’Connor Lecture by the National Trust of Australia was due to be held in March but was postponed like so many other events because of COVID restrictions [the same restrictions that sunk plans for a massive themed event in Freo – like a prison break inspired by Fenian escapees – as the opening event for the Perth International Arts Festival]. In any case, the talk is back on and will now be held in the WA Maritime Museum in Fremantle, an appropriate location for the Irish engineer who built the nearby harbour and port. 2022 marks 120 years since the tragic death of O’Connor and this year a very special guest will speak about from a personal and professional perspective. The ‘Railways, harbours, everything…On the trail of ‘The Chief’ lecture will be delivered by Mike Lefroy. Mike is a freelance educator and writer, and former Head of Education at the WA Maritime Museum, where the lecture will be held. But he also has the privilege of being a great grandson of the great man himself. “To celebrate his legacy, Mike will explore his great grandfather’s life and achievements through family stories, facts and furphies,” organisers for the October 6 event said.

Of course Freo has more than one Irish connection and story to tell, one of which is now being told and shared in a very up to date

We’ve got a lot to talk about!

way. A collaboration of history enthusiasts such as Peter Murphy from the John Boyle O’Reilly Association and Fremantle, Fenians and Freedom have produced – with assistance from the Government Emigrant Support Program - four podcasts highlighting the trials and tribulations of 62 Irish (Fenians) political prisoners transported to Western Australia in 1867 on the last convict ship to Australia. It is a remarkable story that has been told and retold in books, articles, lectures and events, but is now being recounted through the popular medium of podcast, possibly for the first time in this format. So hopefully it will reach an even wider audience and introduce a new generation to this incredible episode in Irish and WA history. It is a story of courage, cunning and conviction brilliantly told. Also watch out for ‘Cracking O’Reilly’s Code’ a talk by Dr Kate Gregory about John Boyle O’Reilly’s ‘little book of poetry’ from 1868, at the WA Maritime Museum, on Sunday 16th October. Wearer of many hats Fred Rea was out of Perth in late August early September for a short but busy trip Ireland. In the brief time he had met like minded community activists in Mountbellew, Co. Galway and gave a talk about the Irish Famine Memorial in Subiaco – An Gorta Mór – which was erected for the 2017 visit of President Michael D Higgins to Australia under his watch as chairman of the Western Australia Famine Commemoration Committee. A lot of work is being done to have a copy of the keening female memorial in Subiaco that was created by Charlie and Joan Walsh Smith installed at the former Poor House in Mountbellew, where many of the

young women who came to WA when it was the Swan Colony left from. It was a chance for Fred to renew some old acquaintances and to make new connections. He was able to get there with fellow committee member Peter McKenna in October 2019, not long before the global pandemic started.

A WA Homecoming

Wednesday 24th August 2022

For the past three years the Victoria Cross (VC) medal of Irish Australian WWI veteran Martin O’Meara had been locked behind a glass case in Collins Barracks, Dublin, at the National Museum of Ireland. It was displayed in the Soldiers and Chiefs exhibition, a collection of more than 1000 objects from all over the world about the Irish at war at home and abroad over the last 500 years. Even amongst so many treasured items the VC stood out as something special.

On Saturday 13th August the medal – the highest military decoration any Australian or Commonwealth soldier can be awarded for bravery – got a very rare chance to venture out into the outside world. Under heavy security the VC returned to Lorrha, Co. Tipperary, his birthplace. A proud local community – including relatives – turned out en-masse for the occasion that was organised by the Martin O’Meara VC Committee and supported by the Irish Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána and VIPs including the Australian Ambassador to Ireland, Even the weather held fine for the special tribute to O’Meara and his legacy and to remember other local men who fell in the First World War. The Governor General of Australia Hurley was due to attend but he was needed in Canberra for the first sitting of the new parliament called by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

A few days later the VC which was on temporary loan to the Irish people was on its way back to Western Australia – two years later than anticipated, courtesy of COVID-19. It returned as it came, stowed in a diplomatic bag, attached

by chain to the wrist of one of two couriers charged with carrying and protecting it on its incredible journey.

On Wednesday 24th the medal was back at its former home in the Army Museum in Fremantle where it was held and displayed before its extended sojourn overseas. Several members of the ADF, museum staff and volunteers and military history groups and more security were on hand to welcome it back. It returned with special company. The Victory Medal awarded to O’Meara, but which he never received personally, is itself on loan to the museum, and will be displayed alongside the VC, and an example of the War Service Medal that would have also been awarded to the Irish Ambassador to Australia is expected to call on the museum to see O’Meara’s VC in late September and members of the Irish community are encouraged to visit and learn more about O’Meara, who died in Claremont in 1935 and who is buried at Karrakatta Cemtery.

Army Museum, Fremantle

Photo, David Nicolson on behalf of the AAMWA

Soaking Up the Knowledge

-Remembering my early Schooldays in the West Waterford Deise.

It all began on one early September morning in 1963 when I said goodbye to my Mother in Tircullen, and headed off to Kilwatermoy School in West Waterford for the very first time. This was the start of a journey of learning, which would culminate twenty years later, when I graduated from UCC in 1983.

I started school that day with Catherine Coughlan from Ballyhamlet, and we walked there with her older brothers, Patrick and Tony. Catherine and I would walk home together, as we finished earlier, and we were the only ones at that time coming back in the direction of Ballyhamlet and Tircullen. Over the years as we journeyed back and forth, we would meet many people along the road like John Parker, John O’Connor, Jim and Biddy Morrison and Paddy Tierney, who were always interested in how we were getting on and also enthralled us with many wonderful stories.

A few minutes after we entered the school building for the first time, Catherine and I were separated to different sides of the classroom! This was a bit of a shock for me, as I didn’t know anybody else in the unfamiliar room on this particular morning.

On that very first morning, I sat beside a blonde haired young boy with a smiling face, and he told me his name was Gerard Peter Geary from Sapperton. I was familiar with Sapperton as my Dad (Charlie Daly) worked in Maxwell’s and he would often let me steer the ‘David Brown’ and ‘Nuffield’ tractors. From this day onwards, we sat together in Kilwatermoy School, Tallow School and in Lismore CBS. We remained good friends until his untimely passing in June 1989 at the much too young age of 31. It hit me hard at the time, and I still think about him with great warmth when his birthday and anniversary comes around each year.

Mrs Neville, from Youghal, was the Headmistress, and our first Teacher was Miss

Courtney. She was a young teacher and rode a Honda 50. She smelled of oranges in the afternoon when she would lean over us to keep our letters between the two blue lines. I also remember she had an accident on her bike at Power’s Cross, and I’m not sure if she returned after that.

Mick Curley turned up at the school one morning to take a few of us to the School Dentist at the Dispensary in Tallow. I got four teeth extracted and I was in severe shock afterwards. It took me the best part of 20 years to visit a dentist again in Cork after the initial trauma. A few weeks later, I fell off the school wall and fractured my wrist, and the sling was just removed in time for my Holy Communion in 1965.

One afternoon, not long after we started, another young pupil (going in a different direction to us) produced a box of matches and set fire to the furze in the wood across from the school. When Catherine and I arrived at school the next morning there was a fairly hefty black spot where the furze used to be. Mrs Neville wasn’t too hard on us and the other pupil in question took the brunt of it that day!

It is hard to believe it now but on winter mornings the open fire would be lit in the classroom to keep us warm, and on break times we would make toast in front of it, and wash it down with Fry’s cocoa, from the distinctive yellow tin. From time to time, we would get to go across to the wood (or what was left of it at this stage) to collect some kindling and twigs for the next morning.

Fr. Nugent came in to talk to us about the changes to the Mass that had been agreed during Vatican 2, we hadn’t a clue what he was saying to us as we were too young to take it in. However, we noticed the change afterwards when the Mass changed from Latin to English, and he didn’t have his back to us anymore. We liked Fr. Nugent, who looked kind to our young

eyes as he prepared us for our first Confession and Communion.

I also remember a funny incident, and a not so funny one.

Some time afterwards, when we were all coming home at the same time, we would meet Davy Kelly at the top of the hill. He promised me sixpence if I would give Catherine a kiss. I wasn’t having any of it, but he kept the pressure up every time he met us. On this particular day, there was a good crowd of us going up the hill after school, and I spotted Davy in the distance. I finally gave in and gave Catherine a kiss and Davy pushed something into the palm of my hand and closed my fingers around it. As I opened my fingers to the anticipation of the sixpence and everything that I was going to buy with it, all that was staring back at me was a rusty washer! Davy had got me properly that day. I would remind him in the years afterwards that the sixpence was gathering interest and he would have a big bill to pay eventually! It was all good fun on the roller coaster of being young and foolish.

On another day, Catherine and I disappeared off the face of the earth one winter

afternoon when we were walking home from school. A senior pupil, who was accompanying us home, had the bright idea to keep us inside Kilwatermoy Church, praying and lighting candles for hours on end, until the Church was in complete darkness. Catherine and I were getting a little worried ourselves, not to mention hungry. Our parents must have been extremely worried, especially at a time when there were little or no telephones in our part of the parish. I am not sure how we were located, but a search part was organised in the locality and they eventually found us at the bottom of the dark Church. Whenever I go to KIlwatermoy Church now, this memory always comes back to me as I look at the candleholder in the left hand corner. The senior pupil in question may have been well intentioned, if not a little misguided. Anyway, it could have been worse, nobody died, and everybody was friends again a few days later.

That was over half a century ago now, hard to believe, and time seems to be slipping through my fingers like fine sand, and there is nothing I can do to slow it down. I hope you enjoyed the little trip down memory lane, and Blessings to all those lovely people who were with me all those years ago in Kilwatermoy School as we began the process of filling our brains with the serious business of learning!

Left, Bill Daly 1965. Below, Kilwatermoy NS.

Ciaran about to set a new record for himself

Irish folk and trad singer Ciaran O’Sullivan is a familiar face and voice at events and gatherings in the Irish community. He has performed live at a lot of gigs, seisiúns and concerts but is now about to make his mark as a recording artist with his debut album ‘Hero’. It is a collection of songs including the old traditional American hymn Wayfaring Stranger, featuring Ben Franz (pedal steel guitar / double bass), Brian Finnemore

(guitars) and Niall Murphy (fiddle). ‘Hero’ will be launched at The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth, on Thursday 13 October at 7.00pm. Opening the show will be an intimate performance from blues and gospel powerhouse singer/songwriter, Walmatjarri elder Kankawa Nagarra (Olive Knight). It promises to be an amazing evening and launching pad for his first record. Tickets available online.

Olivers really Keane aboutIrish music

There’s only one thing Longford native and DJ Oliver McNerny loves more than music, and that’s the musicians and singers who make it. Oliver always takes or makes an opportunity to have a chat with performers, including as we see here with Sean Keane, brother of legendary singer Dolores Keane, after his gig at the Kenmare Music Festival, Co. Kerry in July while he was on holiday back in Ireland. Oliver presents the very popular show Anything Goes – an eclectic mix of the all-time great Irish and Australian songs – on VCA Radio 88.5FM every Saturday afternoon, 3pm to 5pm. You can also tune in online or on your mobile. For requests call Oliver at 92971088 or text him at 0450452917.

PERFORMED BY CHRIS KAVANAGH

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North Beach bar honours Wicklow roots

More than a few locals from Jarrah Bar and Cafe in Hillarys Boat Harbour were amongst the very first customers to sample the delights of Perth’s newest bar. Mr D’arcy opened its doors for business at the start of September and the first night drew in a mix of regulars from Jarrah – also home to Fanny McGee’s Craic – and curious neighbours eager to explore the new venue, formerly Clarke’s in Flora Terrace, North Beach, a fine dining restaurant where the cuisine was consumed and admired in hushed tones. Food remains at its heart but the reborn venue has a new identity courtesy of its owner, Wicklow man Wes D’Arcy. “Mr D’Arcy is not an egotistical reference to myself, its a tribute to my father, Peter D’Arcy, who is no longer with us,” said Wes. “It adds a bit of provedence to the property following on from Mr Clarke and introducing the sophistication that my father had.”

The logo for the new venue is an silhouette of a man with a hat, typical of the type his father used to wear. “Rather than call it the ‘something Bar’ or the ‘something inn’ or whatever we wanted to call it something with personality. Its a very committed personal attachment and while we have several hospitality businesses but I think people can see its going to be the flagship.” Wes’s father left Wicklow as a young man and went to America where he became a cop in New York and later a Marine in the United States Marine Corp. He eventually returned home to Wicklow where he raised his family. When he was semi retired Wes asked his dad to get involved with his first hospitality business – the Old Candle Restaurant in Newcastle, Co. Wicklow. “He was the host for customers in the bar and restaurant, he was a natural with people.” At the time Wes was working in RTE as a broadcaster on 2FM and as head of production for the radio department. From the age of 12 Wes worked his way up the chefing ladder starting in the famous Roundwood Inn and later the Coachhouse, also

in Roundwood, while also working at nights as a DJ for local discos and parties.” He had the restaurant and gig at RTE simultaneously for 13 years before packing it all up and selling up to come to Australia.

It is the fifth – and almost certainly not the last –business he has opened in the northern suburbs with his wife Cara D’Arcy. Like him she is a chef and a foodie and brings her own influence to the fare that is offered there. “Cara is an amazing chef and its very unusual to have two chefs in a relationship opening a hospitality business is a big advantage. It gives us a chance to express ourselves through food, for the first time we are not cooking food to facilitate a market, we are cooking food we would explore at home.” Cara is Australian but spent part of her childhood in Malaysia and her family have close ties with the region. One of the influences she has carried with her into adult life is a love for Asian cuisine. “The menu is best described as a geographical strip on the map which travels through the tropical belt all the way from Japan down through Thailand and South East Asia, ending at Bali/Indonesia.”

The couple with the golden touch for transforming old premises identified a gap in the market. “We felt that between Jarrah and Scarborough there really is nowhere along the coast just to pop into for a quick wine or beer and sit out on the terrace without committing to a restaurant or another Hamptons style cafe.” Mr D’Arcy is open seven days a week from 11am at 97 Flora Terrace, North Beach.

Matters of PUBlic Interest

The Parting Glass raised at Paddy’s

Locals

at Paddy Malone’s Irish Pub in Joondalup recently had good cause for commiseration.

On Sunday August 28 the popular venue was perhaps even a little bit busier than normal as customers turned out to give manager Jason Cox and his wife Sammy a rousing send off. There was a lot of love and respect in the room for this great couple, and even a few tears from at least one emotional punter!

“After eleven years we just want to say thank you to the locals and the staff, we are definitely going to miss everyone,”

Jason told the packed pub. “You’ve been a big part of my life, a big part of my family and I will continue to come down sometimes and surprise you. For me, and Sammy

and Olivia we love you all and we wish you all the best and onwards to new adventures. We are looking forward to a change, to a new road, to a new path.”

Taking over the reigns from Jason is Nigel O’Callaghan who some readers may already be familiar with. Nigel is from Youghal, Co. Cork and came to Perth in 2010 and worked for the first year and a bit of his time here at JB O’Reillys. For the last five years he has been with the ALH Group who operate more than 350 pubs and hotels across Australia. For most of this year Nigel has been working at the Wanneroo Tavern but will start at Paddys around the weekend of the AFL Grand Final towards the end of September and no doubt the regulars will welcome him with open arms.

Matters of PUBlic Interest

National Hotel Freo an ‘Irish’ treasure-house

in Fremantle and Perth.

August 30 The National Hotel in Fremantle posted a link to an interesting article to streetsoffreo.com. about its own origins 120 years ago in a piece headed ‘1902 – Rebuilding of the National Hotel’.

Messrs. Mulcahy Bros., the well-known hotel proprietors, have just made arrangements for the rebuilding of the old National Hotel, on the corner of High and Market streets, Fremantle. They entrusted Mr. Louis Pearce, architect, with the preparation of plans for an up to-date and commodious hotel, worthy of the position referred to… Messrs. Mulcahy Bros., who are the owners of the National Hotel property, conduct at the present time no less than seven large hotels in Western Australia, three of their houses being situated in Fremantle, three in Boulder, and one in Perth [Shamrock Hotel].

Michael Mulcahy and his brother Daniel hailed from Tipperary but came to Australia as young men in search of their fortune. While searching for gold in Queensland the pair also got experience in hotel management. When gold was discovered in the Murchison region they were amongst the very first prospectors to reach Nannine and Peak Hill. The brothers found enough gold in Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie to successfully help set themselves up in partnership in the hotel trade

In 1902 the entrepreneurs acquired the National Hotel which had previously been owned by James Hagan, originally from Omagh, Co. Tyrone.

A second storey had been added not long before the Mulcahy boys took it over and they had bigger ambitions for the hotel, which had been built on the corner of Market St and High St as a single storey shop. [It later became a branch of the National Bank of Australia and when he bank moved out the building maintained the National moniker, to this day.]

The building as it stands today closely resembles the work they did 120 years ago, befitting of its prominent location at the heart of the port town. The two storey building now had five levels, including a basement. Balconies measuring 450ft in total and 9 foot deep were added. Inside there were up to 60 rooms while the basement now had a large kitchen, three cellars, two wine stores, scullery, storeroom and servants dining room. It is thought the project cost between 7,000 and 8,000 pounds, a princely sum at the time.

The West Australian approved of the finished product. “The architect has, throughout, apparently, striven to produce something which will reflect the highest credit upon his profession, and when the building is completed, it should form a valuable addition to the architecture of Fremantle,” the paper said in a 1902 article. In the same year Mary Anne Mulcahy, Daniel’s wife, moved into 24 Preston Point Road, East Fremantle, which she named “Knocknagow”, after the novel by Tipperary writer Charles Kirkham.

The National Hotel remained in the Mulcahy family until 1948 but today continues to celebrate that heritage with great live Irish music on a regular basis, including by the legendary Sean Roche, and of course on every March 17th.

The Irish are no strangers to owning and operating successful ‘hotels’ in Western Australia as another iconic Freo pub demonstrated recently. On

Slainte with James Connolly

Juniper Juice

The rise of Irish whiskey over the last five years has been incredible, matching that has been the rise of Irish gins too. At time of writing there are now over 68 gins from Ireland. Many of which are starting to use unique botanicals native to the country. Gone are the days where you just must settle for a generic gin brand now you can trade up for something from the EMERALD ISLE or even better from your home province or town. In this edition of Sláinte we look at some great gins currently available in Australia.

Jawbox Classic Dry Gin: Distilled at the Echlinville distillery in Ulster. This gin is made from eleven botanicals including Belfast Black Mountain Heather. Recommended serve –with a big slice of ruby red grapefruit and some premium tonic.

Drumshanbo ‘Gunpowder’ Irish Gin: Distilled at The Shed distillery in Connacht. This gin is

a combination of Irish and Oriental botanicals, Meadow sweet from Lough Allen, Chinese Gunpowder tea and Cambodian lime leaf to name a few! Recommended serve – premium elderflower tonic, three fresh raspberries and a wedge of grapefruit (also known as “The Davy Mac” and was voted Irelands best G&T) Method & Madness Micro Distilled Gin: This gin is made at the same distillery as some of the legendary Irish whiskeys at Midleton distillery in Cork. This gin uses 16 botanicals for its flavour profile, a few unusual inclusions like black lemon and Irish gorse flowers. Recommended serve – premium tonic, a sprig of fresh rosemary and a nice big lemon wedge.

Bartenders Tip – If ¾ of your drink is mixer, then its always worth spending that little bit extra, no point mixing good gin with terrible tonic.

Slainte

The day the ‘music’ died at Murphy’s!

Murphy’s Irish pub in Mandurah is probably one of the best places in Mandurah to go out for a drink or something to eat and for a bit of craic! It is also a busy spot for live music with many local and visiting groups and performers playing there all the time. But there is one genre of music that has reached the end of the road there. “After careful consideration we have decided to lay karaoke to rest at Murphy’s,” the pub said on August 31. “Our ears have been both blessed & bleeding over the last 15 years but we wouldn’t want to miss a minute of it, we have

so many fun memories of karaoke night to last a lifetime! A huge thank you to Maximum Music for your professional & awesome hosting, you guys rock! We’ll be bringing something new to midweek nights in a few shorts weeks so ‘watch this space’.”

The announcement drew a massive response from customers and karaoke enthusiasts who made a whopping 266 comments, virtually all lamenting its departure or sending messages of love. Brad Andrews met his future wife at a Karaoke night there while another called it the “end of an era”.

Gage Roads now at Mister D’Arcy North Beach

2022 Commonwealth Games best ever for Northern Ireland

BY DAVE McCONNELL

Ihave always been very proud of being Irish. Of course, my father was from Kells Co. Meath so why not! I had two really good experiences last week which reminded me of what it was like living there. I had walked up to the Beldon Tavern with the hope of enjoying a pint of Arthur’s best brew. The tavern has improved in recent months so when I arrived, I was not surprised to see an Irishman sitting there on his own at the bar. No Australian that I know sits at the bar and as he chatted to the barman, a girl (sic), I recognised his accent.

‘Sláinte’, I mumbled to him as my Guinness arrived, a bit early for my liking, but certainly after two minutes.

‘Where are you from?’ And so began a civilised

conversation and sure enough we knew someone in common. A young hurling player who had visited my house only the week before.

‘I’ll get you another Kilkenny,’ I told him as I noticed he was nursing a near empty glass some time later.

‘Ah no,’ he replied much to my surprise. ‘This is me second and I have to get home to the wife and kids, and I’m driving, and I can’t afford to be caught. See you around sometime.’ Fair enough too and off he went. ‘That was actually his fourth,’ the girl behind the bar whispered to me as if it was a secret. It probably was. Irish people are just so much at home in a bar. It was the first time I had felt homesick for almost thirty years.

A few days later, I set off on my e-bike on a short ride to the coast. It was one of those sunny days, but the wind had a chill in it. When I arrived near Whitfords beach I thought I’d take a look at the sea. To my astonishment, there were three people in the water and two dogs; one of which was in the water, the other safely on dry land. ‘They’ve got to me Irish,’ I mumbled to myself. Sure enough, they were from Dublin. We chatted for fifteen minutes or so. They, standing in their bathing outfits. Me, standing with four thick layers of clothing. They were

all helping out in the medical field. They were great to chat to and cheered me up no end.

Now I had a political story I was going to mention at this point, and I was going to apologise for not mentioning the Commonwealth Games with good reasons of course but the wife from Dublin 4 has shown a great deal of interest in it especially with the Aussie contingent which we know all about if you watch channel 7.

Here is some information about the athletes from Northern Ireland with apologies to those from Cavan, Monaghan, and Donegal; counties (as you know) who are also in Ulster. There were 72 Commonwealth Nations participating this time around, 5,054 athletes and 280 events in 20 sports. 40 of the countries won medals, N.I. coming a very respectable 11th with seven gold, seven silver and four bronze making up the total of 18 medals; the most ever obtained. Now I did not manage to see all of the N.I. athletes winning the medals, but I have summarised below some of the main events that we did so well in.

In the boxing, Aidan Walsh, Amy Broadhurst and Dylan Eagleson all came out on top with gold. Walsh was quick to give credit to his coaches after the victory that saw him add gold to his welterweight silver on the Gold Coast.

He upgraded his 2018 Gold Coast silver after winning against Mozambique’s Tiago Osorio Muxanga in the light middleweight final, and it was third time lucky for his sister Michaela who had previously won silver twice in 2018 and at Glasgow 2014. She capped off an excellent day at the ring for N.I., beating Elizabeth Oshoba by unanimous decision in her featherweight bout and the 29-year-old was struggling to hold back the tears after winning gold alongside her brother.

She said: “It’s unbelievable, seeing Aidan winning earlier on, it was hard not to get emotional because it’s obviously something I’ve dreamed of for him, but to do it together, there’s no words to describe the feeling. “Going into this tournament we were just really enjoying the journey. We weren’t really putting too much pressure on ourselves.

The 25-year-old said: ‘The coaches we have in Northern Ireland have been the key to all

this success. The coaching is brilliant. It is very professional and of course you have to have the boxers to reach the top, but really the coaching is what has made all the difference.’

Dylan Eagleson was also a unanimous points winner after he took gold with victory over Ghana’s Abraham Mensah in the men’s bantamweight. Eagleson, 19, said: “To get a silver at the Europeans and now a gold here is beyond my dreams. I can’t believe it has come so quickly.

Amy Broadhurst scored a comprehensive points win over Gemma Richardson of England.

The Rostrevor girl who was recently crowned world champion was delighted to add a Commonwealth gold medal to the one she won in Turkey. “To be part of an amazing history is incredible,” she said. “The fact that I have made history becoming the first female to win a boxing gold medal for Northern Ireland I’m very proud of that, and it is something that I am going to remember throughout my career.

Jude Gallagher also had a great tournament in his three fights taking gold in the Featherweight division. Meanwhile, east Belfast’s Carly McNaul gave a strong account of herself in the Light Flyweight final against outstanding Indian Nikhat Zareen, but the World Champion was just to good. Carly Mc Naul won a silver medal in the Women’s Light Flyweight division and Eireann Cathlin Nugent a bronze in the Light Middleweight.

In other sports gold went to Bethany Firth in Aquatics - Swimming and Para Swimming Women’s 200m Freestyle S14 and N.I. won gold in the men’s Fours Lawn Bowls.

In athletics, Ciara Mageean ran a terrific race in the 1500m to come second and Kate O’Connor performed well in the Women’s Heptathlon. Barry McClements won a bronze in the AquaticsSwimming and Para Swimming Men’s 100m Backstroke S9 and Daniel Wiffen won a silver in the Men’s 1500m Freestyle. Lastly, the other medals were in Judo (Yasmin Javadian) and Gymnastics (Rhys McClenaghan). He claimed his and Northern Ireland’s second Commonwealth Games gymnastics medal with a silver in the men’s pommel horse final. The 2018 champion was

beaten to gold by England’s Joe Fraser who produced a near-flawless routine. Less than two months ago McClenaghan’s very involvement in the Games appeared over when the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) ruled that he and teammates Eamon Montgomery (who came 5th) and Ewan McAteer could not perform for NI as they compete for Ireland in international competition. We’ve heard that story before. It was a decision roundly met with disdain and while the FIG did eventually submit and grant the trio special dispensation, it was not before a protracted stand-off. “I know I’m going to look back on this medal and say, ‘that’s the time we almost didn’t go’,” McClenaghan said. “I couldn’t be prouder of the team I’m here with, Eamon and Ewan did their job getting to the finals, making history as the most successful NI gymnastics team that has ever come to the Commonwealth Games. While not the gold of four years ago, or the immense score he registered in qualifying at last year’s Olympics, a silver medal represents a welcome podium return for the Newtownards native after disappointment in the Olympic final and the World Championships. The overall medal total was 18 – another record, bettering the 15 won at Edinburgh in 1986. Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle O’Neill tweeted her support for the Northern Ireland team. She said: “A tremendous performance by @GoTeamNI athletes at the Commonwealth Games, achieving a record number of medals. Congratulations to all our local athletes, you have done us all proud. “I have no doubt your performances will inspire many young people to get involved in sport!”

After forty-one years in this wonderful country, I am still very proud to be “Irish.” May I find the time ahead to enjoy the odd pint and to meet many more of my countrymen. I suppose that that nowadays it should be country person but if you are my age, I am sure that you will forgive me. As always may your God go with you.

Good food, great company and entertainment were on offer at the Irish Seniors Lunch on Friday 2nd September at the Irish Club in Subiaco.

Mary Lou McDonald and Mark McGowan had the same idea

BY LLOYD GORMAN

SinnFein president Mary Lou McDonald and WA Premier Mark McGowan were on each other’s turf in July and just about treading on each other’s toes in respect of what they were up to!

“As part of our efforts to attract skilled workers to WA, I launched the expanded Build a Life in WA campaign into the UK and Ireland,” Mr McGowan told the WA parliament on August 9. “Meetings with skilled migration and recruitment agencies were insightful, as we keep working with the commonwealth government to enhance our skilled migration program. Working holidaymakers are also a target market in

getting skilled and unskilled workers into WA and that was also on the mission agenda. I met with the Prime Minister as well as the President of Ireland in Dublin. Both were very complimentary of WA’s management of the pandemic and the meetings reinforced WA’s strong connection with Ireland.”

WA is crying out for tradies according to the premier. “Western Australia has a significant program of major infrastructure projects that continues to contribute to quality job and business opportunities, creating a long pipeline of work into the future,” he said for the launch of the campaign to lure Irish and UK workers to WA. He cites the state’s

McGowan in Dublin.

Mary Lou pays respects at Famine Memorial Subiaco.

Mary Lou at National Press Club.

management of COVID-19, the robust economy, good pay and relaxed way of life as good reasons why Irish builders, carpenters, welders and others might like to think about ditching the cold and wet and their current jobs.

On his way back Mr McGowan stopped at Qatar for more business talks. While he was there he also met Qantas CEO Alan Joyce. “I ….thank[ed] him and the company for their commitment to keep flying to Perth during the pandemic and highlighted our support for the airline to double its daily connection between Perth and Doha.” No doubt as well as talking shop the subject of his short time in Dublin –where Joyce is from – would have given them plenty to chat about as well.

Mr McGowan was back in WA when Mary Lou McDonald arrived here around mid to late July. She too came with a similar purpose in mind but held out a loftier reason for why Irish trades people here might be tempted to return home. In addition to the series of speaking events she gave across Australia and locally in Perth Ms McDonald also did a radio interview with ABC Radio

During these Covid-19 uncertain times, we would like to mention to our Customers that we are taking all precautionary measures with sanitising, seat covers and workshop protective wear.

Perth on July 19. Radio host Tom Hadley introduced the piece by saying that WA had always looked overseas to overcome any skills and labour shortages but now “Ireland wants those workers back. The country’s opposition leader is in Perth today calling for her Brethren to come home and be part of a new Ireland. The new Ireland Mary Lou McDonald is promoting is a united Ireland!”. She said that a lot of tradies, nurses and doctors from Ireland have and will continue to come to WA in search of the adventure and opportunity Australia offers. “And you know that is brilliant and we are so proud of

Mary Lou and crowd at Irish Club Subiaco.

Mary Lou at Kidogo Freo.

Mark McGowan with President Higgins.

to Australian society. I’m not looking to steal all of those and bring all of those home but I have made the point in the course of the visit for every Irish person who wants the chance at whatever stage to come back home to make their contribution at home to have their family life at home its my job, our job as opposition and I hope in due course as government to create the right circumstances for people to be able to come home, that’s the point I have been making.”

The DJ asked her how she planned to lure them back and away: “from our summer and beaches and our proper footy!”. She didn’t let the sporting jibe go unanswered. “I don’t know about the footy but I’m not going to dispute the sunshine and the incredible outdoor life here. We have our own charm on our beautiful green misty island off the edge of Europe and next stop United States of America, so each place has its own charm,

but always home has that particular pull for all of us as people. Irish people will know, and I’m sure our Australian friends will know, that Ireland has been through colonisation, occupation, war, partition, all of those things but now we have had 25 years of peace we have had such an incredibly successful peace process we have to work on it all the time but the next chapter for Ireland will be the reunification of the country. We are at the point of real change in Ireland Tom, a point of real excitement, a point of real opportunity where in this decade I hope we will see referendums held north and south with the constitutional question and that Ireland will be seen in an orderly peaceful and democratic way to end partition which we’ve had for a century now and reunite and really forge a vibrant and prosperous island. I want every Irish person, if they are living in Oz, whether they live Stateside, wherever they are, those that stay, those that come home and friends of Ireland we all have a part in

SCENE

Mark McGowanwith MichaelTaoiseach Martin. Mary Lou with WA MPs.

Mary Lou in Irish ClubSubiaco.

Mary Lou McDonald and Penny Wong.

finishing this journey to full democracy on our island.”

She said that Irish people have wanted Ireland to be a free country and that in recent decades and over centuries “our families, our people” fought to achieve that. “Indeed many of our compatriots came to this wonderful country in bondage and in chains because of the political situation in Ireland and there are lots of people listening to this programme this morning whose forebears came to Australia because of the political oppression in Ireland and we now have the window historically where we can finish that story out, isn’t that an incredible opportunity? I feel that as a privilege as an activist, as a woman and certainly as a political leader.”

Versing the Sinn Fein leaders political promises the Premier could rely on an advertising campaign in the Irish media to try and win the hearts and minds of restless Irish workers interested in a change of scenery.

Mary Lou at Parliament.

Mary Lou with sports group.

McGowan checks out WA ad in Irish newspaper.

Mary Lou visits Parliament.

July and August were busy months in terms of people being able to finally to visit or get away to holiday back in Ireland. With the WA border now open Irish ambassador Tim Mawe was able to personally travel to the West for the first time since his appointment to the role last October. He introduced himself and met with many in the Irish community here, but not everybody was around. The Irish Scene family were back in Ireland at the time so we couldn’t meet with him but hope to do so next time he is in this neck of the woods. As well as catching up with as many people in the community as possible Mr Mawe squeezed in at least one formal function. He gave a talk in the Celtic Club on July 13 called ‘Into Ireland, Into Europe’. This year also marks 75 years of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Australia but it is also the 50th anniversary of Ireland’s membership of the European Union and he highlighted developments in Ireland from an economic, social, and political perspective. Mr Mawe is a seasoned diplomat with the Irish foreign service. He has been regional director for Asia Pacific in Dublin, a senior representative to the United Nations in New York and Ambassador to Latvia. He has also been Head of Finance and Planning for Ireland’s last EU presidency,

so he knows a thing or two about it. A video of a recent talk he gave about the subject earlier this year can be easily found on Youtube by searching for ‘Ireland and the EU: The First 50 Years – a personal look at the last five decades of Ireland’s EU membership’. In late news, Irish Scene hears ambassador Mawe will be back in Perth in late September.

The right man for the job!

A‘Jobsand Skills Summit’ in Canberra at the start of September that brought together unions, businesses, community groups and mainstream political parties (but not the Liberals or their leader Peter Dutton) in Canberra at the start of September was staged by the Albanese government to tackle the “significant challenges” facing Australia’s labor and employment markets. The man tasked with pulling the whole thing together was Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor. He was born in London sixty years ago and came to Australia at the tender age of six. His parents Michael and Philomena O’Connor hail from Tralee and Thurles respectively!

“Too Irish” to work here!!!

WAis not unique in its efforts to recruit overseas workers. Practically every Australian state and territory is at the same thing. But a seemingly innocuous tweet by the Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews in mid August praising the 700 overseas medicos – including Irish doctors and nurses – “helping boost our workforce” sparked a serious allegation of anti-Irish bigotry at the highest level of the state system.

In response to the social media post one Nial Finegan hurled a grenade into the public arena, creating an ugly headache for the Victorian state government to deal with.

“Interesting that @DanielAndrewsMP is looking to recruit #Irish people given that in 2019 I was told by the head of his Department DPC that I was “too Irish” would never get another job in VPS. Shocking racism and exclusion at the highest level! @ VicOmbudsman#integrity #values”.

The shocking story was picked up by local TV who interviewed former bureaucrat Nial Finegan, who is his last role was CEO of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Victoria.

“I was born in Dublin, I’ve got Irish parents and Irish grandparents,” Mr Finegan told

the reporter. He also told her about the government roles he held over 15 years, including with VicRoads and as deputy secretary at the Department of Justice. In January 2019 he organised a meeting with the then head of the Premiers Department. “I went in to see Chris Eccles about possible career opportunities,” Mr Finegan explained. “And he said, ‘well Nial this is really important for you to understand and your career going forward, you won’t hold another senior role in the public service’.

When I asked why, he said, ‘how can I say it, well you are just too Irish’.”

Mr Finegan only broke his silence about the slur three years after it was made because of Mr Andrew’s tweet.

“When the head of the public service tells you as a senior public servant in a treasury place that you are “too Irish” to have a role in the public service that’s out of order,” Mr Finegan said. “It doesn’t do me any good to stand up and talk about this like this but its a matter of integrity.”

In response to questions from the media the Premiers office refuted the claim. In a statement it said the: “former DPC

Secretary Mr Chris Eccles has...found the accusation of racism deeply offensive.

“As an employer the Victorian Public Sector has an incredibly large and diverse workforce. Departments promote and champion diversity at every opportunity.

“Public sector entities are also required by law to recruit based on merit and suitability for all roles.”

Mr Andrews was asked about the allegation by reporters: “That’s just nonsense, that’s just nonsense,” he said. Incidents of alleged outright racism like this – at least against the Irish – are rare in modern day Australia. Mr Finegan was not even the first CEO of EPA Victoria. One of his predecessors as the agency’s chief was one Dr Brian Robinson. Dr Robinson (an organic chemist) had been with the agency for over 30 years and had been CEO of the agency for 13 years when he died in 2004, aged 63. He was so well regarded and respected as a leading light for the sector and EPA that in 2014, on the 10th anniversary of his death, his colleagues published a special tribute to him on the EPA website.

“Brian hailed from [Ballyward] Northern Ireland (where one of his Victorian protégées Terry A’hearn currently leads the environment agency (2013-2015) and was ever a scientist with a doctorate in chemistry and a strong belief in evidence,” Cheryl Batagol, the then chair of the EPA wrote. “However, Brian’s mind was broad ranging and analytical – as comfortable considering

social, political and economic as ecological systems. He was profoundly influenced by his experiences working as an industrial chemist for DuPont where he recognised that wastes, when considered resources, could be avoided or reused for both economic and environmental benefit. While seemingly intellectual and genteel on the surface, he had a wicked, black Irish sense of humour (and love of whiskey) and enjoyed being challenged by a variety of views and perspectives.” Dr Robinson came to Australia in 1965 after he won a scholarship from the University of Melbourne. The bright young researcher had plans to try and win the Nobel Prize for chemistry. When he completed his PhD he and his wife went to the UK where he worked at the University of Liverpool as a demonstrator in organic chemistry. This was followed by a four year stint with Du Pont at its Irish headquarters, a job which piqued his interest in developing betters ways to manage industrial waste. Leaving the Troubles behind them Robinson and his family returned to Australia in 1973. He was one of the first people recruited to help set up the EPA – the first independent authority of its type in Australia at the time – and his tireless commitment and belief in the organisation was said to have been a major factor it its formation and development. In turn, this work and focus on the environment is credited with making Melbourne one of the world’s most liveable cities.

300 Aussies go the full Irish

Nearly

300 Australian’s living in Ireland have taken the plunge and become Irish citizens as well. Dublin Rathdown TD Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee (Meath East TD) how many foreigners had become Irish nationals since 2015. Some 296 Aussies can now count

themselves as Irish, with 2020 the biggest year for converts with 66 in that year. This compares with just 12 in 2019. Like Irish people in Australia who become naturalised, Australian’s in Ireland do not have to give up their original nationality to adopt the new one!

McGowan’s Irish postcard moment

Aspart of the formalities of his meeting with Taoiseach Michael Martin, Mr McGowan was presented with a small gift on behalf of the Irish people. The token of appreciation was a copy of the book ‘In Hinde-Sight Postcards from Ireland Past’ by Paul Kelly’, published in October 2021 and valued at €19.95. It was revealed by a question to the Taoiseach in the Dáil about what gifts he had given in the previous 12 months and bigger fish are thrown slightly better bait it seems. On a previous visit Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic met Mr Martin for official talks. For that occasion the Taoiseach presented him with a copy of Ulysses from The Dublin Edition Special, the 101st copy of a limited edition of 1,000. It was published in August 1997 and the “cloth-covered boards

with gilt-stamped lettering on spine in cloth-covered slipcase. Includes satin pagemarker,” and is worth €300.00.

Aussies abroad outvote Irish diaspora every-time!

Whilewe live in parallel universes

Australians living in Ireland enjoy at least one fundamental right that is denied to Irish citizens resident in Australia. They can vote in general elections even though they are not in their ‘home’ country. “There were 331 postal votes received at the Australian Embassy in Dublin,” the Australian Electoral Commission told Irish Scene. “Postal voting was the only means for Australians in Ireland to cast a vote at the 2022 Australian federal election due to COVID restrictions and associated staffing concerns at the High Commission. This figure compares to 697 votes cast from Dublin in the previous Australian federal election in 2019. The decrease can likely be attributed, at least in part, to COVID-19’s continued impact on overseas traveller numbers with an overall decrease in Australians voting from overseas—39,363 total overseas votes in 2022 compared to 61,838 in 2019.”

For many years Irish communities overseas – including in Australia – have called out for the right to take part in the democratic process at home. Irish Scene has repeatedly raised this very point with many visiting Irish politicians and figures in the last ten years. Every time they made sympathetic noises about the issue and held out the promise that it was something they would look at and try to change.

Whatever about taking part in a general election the possibility of overseas Irish being able to take vote in the poll – held every seven years – to pick the next president of Ireland was strongly hinted at by a senior Irish leader to this publication five years ago. Nothing ever came of it. Indeed it can

be said now that the Irish government and parliament – including probably your local TD – have no intention of allowing you or I or any of our compatriots anywhere near anything resembling a ballot.

In mid July Dáil Éireann passed the Electoral Reform Bill. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage described it as “groundbreaking legislation [that] will bring about the development, modernisation and reform of Ireland’s electoral system, structures and processes. This legislation will bring about the development, modernisation and reform of Ireland’s electoral system, structures and processes.

Sounds good doesn’t it! The new law will bring in some changes that are long overdue or badly needed, including amongst other things, should make it easier for people with physical or mental disabilities to vote. But there is one glaring omission. This was a rare chance to do something about it but the new law does nothing to address or improve the rights of the diaspora in Irish elections. In fact it blocks the prospect of those rights ever emerging. Parliaments take a long time to bring in new laws and they are even slower again to meddle with brand new or updated legislation unless there is an outcry or backlash of some kind.

Ironically the grandparent rule allows the descendants of Irish citizens to retrospectively acquire an Irish passport and citizenship but the second you leave the Republic to live in another country you lose the right to vote. The government often talks about the importance of the Irish diaspora and encourages members of that community to return to Ireland as tourists – with dollars to spend in the economy – but the invitation to exercise your Irishness stops there!

If a week is a long time in politics –how about 100 years!

SinnFein’s Mary Lou McDonald had at least one proclaimed political admirer in federal parliament. Labor MP Graham Perrett, the member for Moreton (Queensland) took to his feet in the House of Representatives on July 28 to talk about things Irish!

He started by highlighting the unusual and unique story of an historical member of the house.

“I want to talk..about [Hugh Mahon] a former Labor Party member of this parliament, who was actually a Postmaster- General, a Minister for Home Affairs and a Minister for External Affairs,” Mr Perrett said.

“He did great service to this nation. I stand today to tell you that we need to make amends for the fact that Hugh Mahon is the only person to have been expelled from this parliament. He was expelled for making ‘seditious and disloyal utterances’ about the British Empire. I know the member for Fremantle (Josh Wilson) supports me in this endeavour of trying to make right what occurred 100 years ago.”

He went on: “In fact, on Monday night—I will put this on the record—I had dinner with the Sinn Fein leader, Mary Lou McDonald, here in Canberra, and I probably will do so again

on Friday night in Brisbane, so things have changed. On Monday night we talked about my support for a united Ireland, and many other people at that event would say the same thing. But back in 1919, when the Irish War of Independence had begun, things were quite different here. When Hugh Mahon was talking about the hunger strike death of the Irish nationalist Terry MacSwiney,” at which point his speaking time finished.

Hugh Mahon was born in 1857, near Tullamore, Co. Offaly. He was the Labor Member for Kalgoorlie when he was expelled from the assembly for a speech he gave, denouncing the violent British reign over Ireland. That was his sin! Much worse and many more than that have been committed by other MPs, past and present. Watch this space as the campaign to expunge the stain on his name and service ramps up under this Labor government.

As it happens the events of a hundred years ago in Irish and Australian history were

Isteach Sa Teach

On August 2 senator O’Neill –whose late dad Jim was “a wild hurling Corkman” and mum Mary from Kilkenny – told the House that earlier this year, on Easter Sunday, was invited to give the 2022 Michael Dwyer Oration at Waverley cemetery. Organised by the Irish National Association of Australasia she said the lecture was about the contribution of Irish Australians and the colourful history that binds the two countries together.

Her address about the Irish struggle for justice and independence was delivered at the impressive 1798 Memorial in the cemetery, on the grave of Wicklow man Michael Dwyer, a leader in the 1798 Rising who was caught and deported to Australia, along with other members of the failed rebellion.

“A hundred years later a large number of his Irish descendants and members of the Irish community in Sydney decided that they would re-inter his remains at Waverley Cemetery,” Ms O’Neill said. “The 1798 Memorial in Waverley Cemetery is a remarkable marble edifice dedicated to the efforts of those ‘rebels’, as they were called at the time, but ‘patriots’ as they are called retrospectively by those who seek a united Ireland. A hundred thousand people actually gathered along the streets from Central Station in Sydney all the way out to Waverley Cemetery, where he was re-interred. Ten thousand people walked from St Mary’s Cathedral, as a testament of hope and power to what one brave person in search of democracy, in a particular context in time, can engender. It was an amazing experience and a true honour as an Australian, but the daughter of Irish immigrants, to be at that Easter celebration. It’s not surprising it happens at Easter, which is a time of significant memorials in

Ireland about the Easter Rising of 1916.” “This year, 2022, is actually a hundred years since the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, and I was particularly delighted to discuss the proud history of female members of the Irish Dáil. They contributed to the debate regarding the 1922 Treaty, and each of them— all of the women in that first Dáil—rejected the treaty because they thought it would plunge Ireland into further turmoil. “This year, 2022, is actually a hundred years since the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, and I was particularly delighted to discuss the proud history of female members of the Irish Dáil. They contributed to the debate regarding the 1922 Treaty, and each of them—all of the women in that first Dáil—rejected the treaty because they thought it would plunge Ireland into further turmoil. It is very interesting to look—a hundred years down the track—and see in the papers in Ireland at the moment a lot of discussion about what a united Ireland for this century might look like. So the struggle continues. In 1922, Constance Markievicz was the first female member of the UK House of Commons—she was elected from prison—and became the first female cabinet member in Europe. Ada English, a doctor who graduated from the Royal University of Ireland, spoke out against the oath and the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the very notion of being British subjects. Kathleen Clarke, her husband having recently been martyred by British troops, opposed the treaty, saying: “There is not power enough to force me, nor eloquence enough to influence me, in the whole British Empire into taking that Oath, though I am only a frail scrap of humanity”. Margaret Pearse, likewise, spoke of her two recently killed sons, particularly Padraig Pearse—one of the most prominent martyrs of the Easter Rising. These women proudly stood up for their beliefs and for their country, and I was privileged to tell a little of their lives to the wonderful attendees on that day.”

Her next remarks sounded like she had just read certain articles in the last edition of Irish Scene. “I’d also like to remind everybody that the Australian Irish connection has been very significant in Australian politics. Ben Chifley, the train driver turned Treasurer, helped shape

to the fore of a speech given in the Senate by NSW Senator Deborah O’Neill.

The black stuff is on its way to Mister D’Arcy North Beach

the postwar order. James Scullin, Joe Cahill and Jack Renshaw were other Irish Australians who were extremely prominent figures in New South Wales and national politics. And now of course we have Anthony Albanese, of an Irish Australian mother, building his own profound legacy as we speak. I thank the Senate for the opportunity to put this important occasion on

the record. To share histories of other countries is very instructive for us as citizens of this great country as we make our way forward to develop a stronger, more robust and more reflective democracy. Struggle is part of the journey, and we honour the struggle of those who’ve gone before us in the pursuit of democracy.”

By-gone Belfast burdens

LouiseMiller-Frost is a new Labor Party member for Boothby (South Australia) and in her maiden speech to the House of Reps at the end of July she revealed a deep personal link with Northern Ireland. She was born just outside Birmingham but moved to Australia with her family as “10 pound Poms” when she was young. Sadly her father died of cancer when she was just ten years old.

“My Irish grandparents moved in to care for us, and so I grew up with their stories,” she told the House. “They’d tell me stories of the Blitz in Birmingham and how granddad had come home to found their house had had a direct hit. He dug through the rubble, not knowing if his wife, my granny, was alive or dead. When he got to the cupboard under the stairs, which was their bomb shelter, he found her unharmed, cradling my two-year-old uncle Tom. Granny was pregnant with my mother at that time. You were that close to not having me here. One of the stories granny would tell me was of her own childhood in Belfast—the story of her father losing his job in the shipyards. There was no income support in those days, so my great-grandmother went scrubbing floors and pawned her wedding ring to feed the family—no shame in hard work, but my granny was horrified that her mother had had to pawn her wedding ring. The story has a happy ending: when my grandfather found work, the ring was reclaimed, and granny gave me her mother’s wedding ring when my own children were born. I wear that ring here today in tribute.”

Her grandparents were committed Labor people she added. “Their commitment came from their understanding of the transformative powers of public education and public health. After their experience of poverty in Northern Ireland, they wanted more for their family. Two generations on, the importance of education was drummed into me, and I became the first person in my family to go to university.”

It has been a busy few weeks at Grandis Park as the end of the season draws closer. Our U16 Div 1 Girls have secured themselves a spot in the Junior Girls Cup Final against UWA Nedlands. The final will be held at Grindleford Reserve on Saturday 3 September.

Our U15 and U16 boys are also chasing top 4 finishes and hoping to be in with a shot at the Top 4 Cup. Our U16 Div 2 girls are currently top of the league and likely to also secure a spot in the cup.

The State League boys have just 3 games left of the season as they continue to contest for promotion into Division 1. A great run of form recently for the 18s and Ressies also has them both sitting in the top 4. It’s a similar story for our Masters, 45s and Metro Prems again all sitting in top 4 spots. A slightly tougher season for our Metro Div 4 boys who are sitting outside the top half of the table but 6 games still to play. Our Juniors were lucky enough to take part in the pre-match parade at the Leeds United v Aston Villa game as part of Perth’s festival of football. A sea of Green White and Black descended onto the pitch at Optus Stadium with over 130 kids from age 6 to age 14 representing the club in the Parade and enjoying the match afterwards. The Club would like to wish a speedy recovery to Metro Prems player Sean Boot who sustained a serious injury last weekend. The game against South Perth United had to be

abandoned as Sean sustained a broken tibia and fibula following a collision with the keeper. Get well soon Boots, we hope to see you back on your feet again soon.

Thank you to everyone who purchased one of our Charity Beanies over the last few weeks. This will allow us to make a donation to 2 charities close to our hearts, Cure Brain Cancer Foundation and Dandelions WA. Our members have also been donating pre-loved football foots for the charity Borderless Friendship WA, a charity which supports Hill Tribe Children in Northern Thailand.

We will wrap up this month by saying Good Luck to all our teams as we close out the season. We look forward to seeing you all at Senior Presentation Night and Junior Trophy Day.

THE FOURTH TUESDAY BOOK CLUB

THE FOURTH TUESDAY BOOK CLUB

Meets fourth Tuesday of the month, with exception of December. At 7.30pm Sept 27 ‘The Nowhere Child’ by Christian White, presented by Gayle Lannon Oct 25 To be confirmed

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

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

BLOOMSDAY - James Joyce Literary Competition presentations

Talk and Presentation on the Great Irish Famine 1845- 1852

“The Lost Women of the Swan River Colony”, an illustrated talk by Jim Egan, secretary of The WA Irish Famine Commemoration committee (WAIFC). The subject matter deals with the Earl Grey scheme transporting Irish orphan girls from the workhouses of Ireland to Australia during the Great Irish Famine. The talk will address the Earl Grey scheme, Governor Charles Fitzgerald, the orphans shipped to WA, foundation of WAIFC in 2016, the orphan Travel Box, Mary Ann Taylor and the Famine Monument in Market Square, Subiaco.

The talk will be followed by a short theatrical experience of a character from the Famine Project devised and performed by Mike Sheehy with background illustrations. There will be a Q&A opportunity and an Irish Afternoon Tea.

Venue Irish Club Theatre

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.

Date Sunday 11 September at 3pm.

We thank our adjudicators Frank Murphy and Frances Devlin Glass

Bookings $15 members, $20 non-members https://www.trybooking.com/CCCVY. or pay at the door

Date Thursday June 16 at 7.30pm

Includes Irish afternoon tea, moderated Q&A segment open to the audience.

Venue Irish Club Theatre, 61 Townshend Road, Subiaco (to be confirmed)

Thanks to AIHA supporters who volunteered to assist on the afternoon.

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

For background on this subject refer to article in AIHA Journal of September 2017,‘I Was Only Nineteen’ by Dr Jeff Kildea.

Coming Up

Afternoon of Reflections with John O’Donohue - Irish Mystic and Poet. Presented by Heather Deighan, Geraldine Taylor and Coleen Wallace. Featuring the life and works of the late John O’Donohue, 1956-2008, with music and illustrations. Irish Club Theatre, Sunday 23 October, 3pm. Includes Irish afternoon tea, $15 members, $20 non-members Gala Irish Community Event is being planned for late 2023. We have commenced planning with many local Irish Australian organisations. If you are interested in being involved contact us via secretary@irishheritage.com.au

AIHA Website

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 this new member feature.

AIHA Website

The JOURNAL

Members of AIHA receive 4 editions of the Journal each year. Latest edition for March 2022, Vol 31, No 1 is available. We now have a library of 30 years of Journal and are compiling an index of every article title, author and subject detail to be made available on our website from May this year. We anticipate almost 2,000 titles in the index.

Check our website https://irishheritage.com.au/news-blog/ for a selection of exclusive interviews conducted by commit tee member Gill Kenny and other articles of note. You can view this year’s Easter Monday Annual Catalpa Commemora tion. Check out our Irish Heritage Trail under About/Heritage Trail. It is split into North and South of the Swan river. You can identify the location of 18 sites on the maps and by clicking the arrows on the bottom left of the maps you can read a summary of the relevance and importance of each site.

Contributors can email editor Julie Breathnach Banwait on journal@irishheritage.com.au

Non members can purchase copies at $10

Coming Up

The JOURNAL

Members of AIHA receive 4 editions of the Journal each year. We have now compiled an index of over 2,000 articles from 30 years of Association Journals by article title, author, subject and editor. Contributors can email editor Julie Breathnach-Banwait on journal@irishheritage.com.au We are seeking new members to join the editorial team. Non-members can purchase copies at $10.

ONLINE

Annual Mary Durack lecture to be delivered by Patsy Millet, daughter of Dame Mary Durack, AC DBE Australian author and historian, (1913 1994) Date is subject to confirmation by Irish Club in July or August

discounted rates to

to participate in

via https://irishheritage.com.au/membership/registration/

functions, exclusive events, quarterly Journal,

which promote an awareness of Australia’s Irish Heritage.

and

90-page Journal publication is issued free to members quarterly and available for purchase at $10.

President – Heather Deighan Treasurer/ Membership – Patricia Bratton Secretary – Tony Bray Committee – Peter Conole, Gayle Lannon, Diana MacTiernan, Gill Kenny Supported by a tier of volunteers. Please talk to us if you are interested in being involved in some way!

Dear Editor

Dear Editor

I write to you in regard to Brian Corr’s article ‘Michael Collins – his assassination and its effect on Ireland’, published in Volume 24 Issue 4 of Irish Scene. Having read and then re-read the article I was taken aback by the content. I can only conclude that this was an opinion piece from the writer and does not mention any relevant historic reference in coming to their findings. Granted mention is made of Tim Pat Coogan stating that Dev Valera himself acknowledged that History would be kinder to Michael Collins. The writer also references the movie from where he seems to get his motivation “Michael

Brian Corr responded:

Of the many books written about this period in Irish history, four stand out that I relied on for this article:

John Feehan, well-known in Cork, founded Mercier Press there in 1944, after resigning from the Irish Army. His contacts in the Army, and in Cork, allowed him to do invaluable research, interviewing many of those who were close to Michael Collins, and some who were at Béal na mBláth. Lucky for us he met these people before they died. His book (The Shooting of Michael Collins: Murder or Accident) is a landmark in the Michael Collins story.

John J Turi, ex navy and a journalist, came to Ireland to write a biography of Michael Collins and, after much research, became intrigued by Eamon deValera and how every major decision by deValera was to Britain’s benefit and the detriment of Ireland. He then wrote his book (England’s Greatest Spy, Eamon deValera) condemning deValera.

A new reconstruction of the Collins’ ambush, a ‘cold-case’ investigation,

Collins”. John A Murphy, one of the most imminent History of our time quoted “The movie teems with so many anachronisms, inaccuracies and distortions that it cannot be taken serious from a historical standpoint”. It saddens me to have to pen this note, but the viewpoints of the writer are not as far as I am aware supported by any available historic source. As history is an affective subject the question I ask “if this article is based on sound scholarship, please provide evidence”?.

Yours sincerely Peter Lonergan.

by S M Sigerson (The Assassination of Michael Collins, July 2015), the first in decades, is the most complete overview of the evidence ever published. Her experience is in security, party politics, and covert political abuses. She is a lecturer in history and social anthropology. Since the 1970s, she has devoted on-going in-depth study to the subject of secretive interference in lawful political activity, including politicallymotivated killings. Her fascination with Michael Collins’ story inspired eleven years’ intensive research on his life and times; leading to her re-location from America to Ireland, and first-hand acquaintance with places, people and culture connected with Collins.

The book ‘Tom Clarke: The True Leader of the Easter Rising’ shows that Clarke was the man who made the Easter Rising possible. Clarke was given pride of place when signing the Proclamation, at the top, all on his own, as the others insisted. His time with Collins in the GPO was important.

Australian Indigenous Fashion & Culture Showcased in Ireland

two young adventurers off to discover the world. We would travel to Dublin to see all the international soccer matches; no money mind you, just pick up a used ticket at the railway station and wing it. Waterford and Limerick were on our travel list also for no other reason than adventure and soccer matches

I want to take you on a journey with me, back to when you were a seven or eight old, when you used to play cowboys and Indians, cops and robbers or doctor and nurses with your friends on the streets of your neighborhood. Little did we know then that we were shaping out the position we would take on in our adult life!

Let me explain, remember who was usually the leader of the cowboys in your group or who was the top cop and where is he or she now and what is he or she doing in life or in commerce, today? I bet you they are still leaders. While in Cork recently I had breakfast with one of my old pals who was always the captain of the cavalry or the leader of the cowboys. To us young cavalry troopers he was Captain Buckley (Eugene Buckley in Reality) I was always his Sargent or support back up and guess what? Here we are 60 years plus later doing the same thing in adult life. He the hero and I writing about him!

We spoke about our respective roles in youth and adulthood. By now most of you must have a handle on my achievements in life, so let me unfold Eugene’s extraordinary life on you. He was born on January 7th, 1946, in the Coal Quay in Cork - to those who don’t know the Coal Quay, was to Cork what Moore Street was to Dublin. Eugene’s dad grew up in North Mall and later became a barman. His mother was originally from Boyce’s Street and sold secondhand clothes in the Coal Quay. When Eugene was six, the family moved the household contents by donkey and cart to 13 St Anthony’s Road in Gurranabraher just 5 doors down from where my family moved to one year later. Eugene was stuck in the middle; well almost, he had two older siblings’ sister Sally, brother Raymond and three younger siblings Muriel, Finbar and Geraldine. He attended Blarney Street School but like most kids of our time he never finished his full term. From the moment I met him as a seven-year-old I could tell he was going places; this young lad was going to make his mark on this life, I just knew it. He was strong in views, kindhearted and most of all adventurous like me. He and I would travel anywhere at the drop of a hat, just

Eugene had a special love for airplanes, so every now and again it was down tools for us, no school and off to the old Cork airport ‘Farmers Cross’ to satisfy our curiosity. On another occasion we decided to go to Dublin to see a jet plane, that was when jets were rare and Dublin airport was only an outpost. If you haven’t guessed it what else can two adventurous lads from the country get up to when at an airport with an inviting jet plane and no security, what else? We wandered on and sat on the pilot’s and co pilot’s seats of course. There was no intention of vandalism or anything like that, just two young lads getting our hands on the experience of life. We were only limited by the boundaries of our own minds.

This was a time when the only exciting thing in Cork was the introduction of TV and two neon television signs, the city was lost in the colour gray.

I was envious of Eugene as he was a member of his school band. I wasn’t allowed to join the school band; I was told that I was tone deaf. At the age of twelve Eugene took a job as a messenger boy at Hillgrove’s Butchers, cycling one of those very heavy bicycles with a big basket on the front of it. I can vouch for him on this; he worked very very hard for his boss. I knew Eugene’s adventures and inquisitive mind would take him on an exciting journey, some day.

Sadly that day came too soon for us young troopers of Captain Buckley’s Cavalry, we lot him to a Norwegian oil tanker at the age of fourteen. He decided to sail off on the high seas just like the pirate Captain Morgan that we played out on many occasions in the gardens of St Anthony’s Road.

After a short time at sea, he was surprised when summoned to the captain’s quarters to be informed he was to receive a substantial rise in pay. When inquiring why? He was told because of his work ethic; Eugene assumed everyone worked hard, after all wasn’t that just what his mother and father told him, you must work hard for your money and wasn’t that just what he did at Hillgroves.

After satisfying his curiosity with the sea, he settled in London and found a job at the BBC. He took elocution lessons and joined the Swiss Cottage Library so he could borrow the full set of LPs recording of Richard the Third to improve his accent and vocabulary. He soon learned them off by heart.

The adventure bug bit him again and with his new polished accent and eloquent vocabulary, Eugene bought

a white suit and decided to go to San -Tropez in the South of France to call on no other than Bridget Bardo, then one of the biggest movie stars in the world at the time to ask her out on a date. She’ was just another girl. He travelled from London to Calais and caught a train to Paris then jumped on the midnight blue to capture the heart of Ms Bardo. He stepped on board the train, put his overnight bag in the best sleeper cabin he could find then headed to the restaurant carriage for a bite to eat. Before he reached the eatery, he met a gorgeous young Dutch lady in the passageway. So, Eugene being Eugene he started chatting her up, he decided she should join him for a meal and so the new lovebirds chitter - chatter and agree to meet for breakfast. Then the Big Bad Wolf, in disguise of her father, rudely interrupted them and whisked her away to Eugene’s disgust. Now all thoughts of Bridget – what’s her name again -are forgotten and his focus was then 100% on his new love. He retreated to the comfort of his sleeper. Just ten minutes later there was a thundering knock on the cabin door. Was it the father of his new love and he’s in trouble or was it his new love and if it is she’s going to be in real trouble. Wink Wink Nod Nod!

He jumped from his bed, opened the door and to his surprise it was neither. It was the train inspector telling him he could not travel in first class as he only had a fourth-class ticket. Eugene spent the remainder of the journey traveling in the back carriage of the train with lots of strange characters that were drinking out of bottles covered by brown paper bags.

maybe San Tropez and his new love would have to wait for another time. He returned to London to make plans for his future. Soon after he returned to Cork to open the first Carnaby Street style men’s suit shop called Clobbers Innovative Suits in Paul Street that was then, a dingy side of town but would soon become the fashionable side of town thanks to Eugene. After that he opened Mr. Buckley’s and Mrs. Buckley’s ladies’ fashion, along with children’s denim. Paul Street became the ‘in street’ and the nucleus of fashion in Cork thanks to Eugene for laying down the first stone.

After his success in the rag trade, he had more success in the restaurant business. He opened Bully’s in Douglas, Bully’s in Paul Street, El Groucho’s in Popes Quay, the number one place in Cork to have hen parties. Also added to his list of success was Hardwood and Uncle Pete’s Pizza in Popes Quay. He was one of the first of the Irish to buy a home in Spain which is now the fad.

After our fourth coffee he tells me, you know what Mike? Some of the lads we grew up with got a job and stuck with it for years and missed out on the adventure of life, isn’t that true? I agree and I’m glad I got the chance to catch up with my pal to reminisce, of old times. A time of Cowboys and Indians and many adventures later in our lives.

Success will always be Eugene’s partner and adventure his lover. Cork is much the richer for having Eugene Buckley, Captain Eugene Buckley to me.

Until next time, be good to those who love you and Slaiñte

Book Reviews

THE TRIAL OF JULIAN ASSANGE

BY NILS MELZER / VERSO $39.99

If the Julian Assange miniseries, ‘Ithaca’ (ABC TV –June) proved compulsive viewing, this new book about the troubles of the Australian journalist will be compelling reading. In the TV doco, the Assange quandary was recounted mainly through the eyes of his father, John Shipton, his partner, Stella Morris and his lawyer, Jennifer Robinson. Author, Professor Nils Melzer, involved with humanitarian law for over twenty years and the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, adopts a more independent and dethatched approach to Assange’s predicament. Wikileaks founder, Assange, was responsible, in 2010, for one of the biggest leaks in the history of the US military, becoming the subject of persecution of the Swedish, Ecuadorian, UK and USA governments. Initially, Melzer had declined to get involved in the case, but during his initial perusal, he ‘came across compelling evidence of political persecution and gross judicial arbitrariness, as well as deliberate torture and ill-treatment’. Melzer forensically follows Assange’s Swedish rape narrative (for which there were never any charges), believing that Sweden pursued the matter because Wikileaks might set up headquarters there. The USA, bent on punishing Assange for revealing its war crimes, torture and corruption, has vindictively hounded the Australian, intent, with the compliance of the UK, on his extradition to the USA to serve innumerable life sentences for his perceived transgression. In the course of his investigation, Melzer ‘confronted’ the governments concerned, but ‘all four states --- refused to engage in a constructive dialogue’. His summation of the situation was that these countries were ‘trying to make an example of Julian Assange to deter other journalists’. With Assange now festering in solitary confinement in London’s Belmarsh Prison, Melzer compares his plight to that of Chilean dictator, torturer and mass murderer Augusto Pinochet. While detained in Britain Pinochet ‘was under house arrest and was free to receive visitors as he wanted and had access to the public’. But where was the Australian government during Assange’s persecution? Melzer outlines the Assange / Australia imbroglio and Australia’s ‘Declaration of Abandonment’ over his plight. Melzer concludes by

asserting that the Assange case is ‘fundamentally threatening –the human rights of everybody—If the us succeeds in prosecuting this man and sending him to a supermax prison for the rest of his life, this will have an enormous chilling effect on the -- press’. We should all beware if free speech is further eroded.

- Reviewed by John Hagan.

THE REGISTRAR

BY NEELA JANAKIRAMANAN / ALLEN & UNWIN $32.99

Emma, you’ll be totally fine …. If there’s ever a doctor who’s going to thrive in surgical training, I’m sure it’s you.

Emma Swann is about to embark on five demanding years as a surgical registrar in the celebrated Mount teaching hospital. Her brother, Andy, is already a surgeon there and her father was also an eminent and influential surgeon in The Mount. However, Emma is not so sure that, despite this impressive lineage and all her previous medical training, everything is going to ‘be totally fine’. She is confronted with 20 hour days on the wards making life and death decisions with very little support either from her colleagues or her supervisors. As if this weren’t enough, she soon discovers that the Mount is a workplace where humiliation, bullying and misogyny are rampant, and where being female makes life even more arduous. Recently wedded to high-flying lawyer, Shamsi, Emma struggles to balance her married life and the unremitting, exhausting demands of her surgical tasks. With the ‘The Exam’ looming at the end of her training, Emma must also prepare for an ordeal which will determine whether or not she becomes a qualified surgeon. Emma’s Mount odyssey offers a revelatory insight into the workings of a busy and often dysfunctional hospital, and the tribulations of a surgeon-in-the-making, as Emma battles to maintain her own wellbeing while attempting to save the lives of others. Janakiramanan, a well credentialed reconstructive plastic surgeon, has been through the stressful medical training regime herself and undoubtly has drawn on her own experiences while penning this novel. Unfortunately, the narrative, despite revealing how a hospital does or doesn’t

Book

work, is somewhat pedantic, the characterization shallow and the scenarios predictable. However, if you can’t get enough of TV series such as, ‘New Amsterdam’, ‘The Good Doctor’ and/or ’24 Hours in Emergency’, this book may well be the adrenaline fix needed. - Reviewed by John Hagan.

THE ISLAND

BY ADRIAN MCKINTY / HACHETTE $32.99

Hailing from Carrickfergus (Co Antrim) McKinty shot to fame through his creation of the laconic Inspector Sean Duffy, a Roman Catholic police officer serving in the ranks of the mainly Protestant Royal Ulster Constabulary. Duffy, accompanied by his Ballymena side-kick, pipe smoking, Sergeant ‘Crabbie’ McCrabban, tackled crime in and around Belfast over a six book award winning series. With Duffy now ‘retired’, McKinty hit the jackpot with his ingeniously plotted mystery, The Chain, which became an international bestseller and was optioned for the screen. The plot for this new thriller arose somewhat serendipitously. In conversation with his agent, McKinty recounted how, while driving on an isolated Australian island he had almost run down a hearing-impaired woman. ‘God forbid I had hit her’, McKinty remarked, to which his agent responded, ‘You did hit her; that’s your next book’. And so, The Island was written. In order to see something of Australian wildlife, American surgeon, Tom Baxter takes his younger wife, Heather, and his two teenage children, Owen and Olivia, to a private island southwest of Melbourne. Unfortunately, while hurrying back to catch the ferry Baxter hits a woman on a bike, killing her instantly. Tom and Heather panic and decide to hide the body plunging the family into conflict with the redneck family who inhabit and own the island. And so begins a fast-paced cat and mouse game as the Baxters endeavour to evade their increasingly erratic and menacing pursuers led by revengeful, family matriarch, Ma O’Neill, leering cold-blooded Jacko and Danny, husband of the dead woman. Faced with this impending peril, Heather’s backwoods experience and resourcefulness keep the family just one step ahead of their menacing pursuers. Heather exhibits her expertise with firearms, an ability to cope with a machete and nous survive in the harsh Australian bush filled with its inherent danger. And so develops a Lara Croft meets ‘Deliverance’ scenario. The O’Neill family, portrayed as a dysfunctional, dope addled, clan of murderers and rapists, are mere caricatures in this implausibility plotted, formulaic, though thrill-a-minute, novel. McKinty is capable of better. Nevertheless, The Island, for all its faults, will undoubtly be another blockbuster, both in print and on screen. - Reviewed by John Hagan.

THESE DAYS

BY LUCY CALDWELL / FABER $29.99

While much has been written about the German bombing raids on London during WW2, the impact of the Luftwaffe on Belfast has, sadly, not merited the same level of attention. Lucy Caldwell’s exquisite new novel is set in Belfast during four nights over Easter 1941, when 100,000 German incendiaries rained down on the city, destroying 10,000 homes and killing 1,000 Belfast citizens - the largest loss of life in any single night-raid with the exception of the London Blitz. These traumatic four days of devastation are viewed through the eyes of the (fictional) Best family who reside in Belmont, a middle-class city suburb. Philip Bell, a local GP, and his wife Florence, have been married for twenty-two years and have three children. The youngest is Paul, who is still at school and dreams of becoming a fighter pilot. But it is the Bell girls who are the principal focus of this finely woven tale. ‘Flighty, impulsive, and earnest’ Audrey has just become engaged to the somewhat staid Richard, a junior colleague in her father’s medical practice. Younger sister, Emma, described as being, ‘kind, stubborn and awkward’, is a volunteer at a local First Aid post, and has become embroiled in a secret passionate relationship with her supervisor, Sylvia, eleven years her senior. Caldwell inhabits the desolated, fearful city, and depicts the nevergive-up spirit of its residents in the most haunting imagery. She recalls and recreates, city icons such as the Floral Hall, Anderson & McAuley’s, Windsor Park, Connswater Bridge and the Plaza Ballroom, as electric powered Ormo bread vans scuttle through the mute city streets. What I particularly liked about the novel was Caldwell’s was use of the quirks, saltiness and vagaries of real Ulster speech and dialogue. ‘Guldered’, ‘scundered’, ‘footering’, ‘buckejeet’ etc, all pepper the narrative. Nothing brings characters to life more effectively than recreating how they actually speak, and Caldwell reproduces the local lexicon with tact, confidence and panache. Winner of the 2021 BBC National Short Story Award, Caldwell has produced an exquisitely researched novel of intense drama, inhabited by honest, warm, empathetic characters coping with life in a city under duress while staying true to themselves. There is so much fresh, confident writing coming out of Northern Ireland lately, and These Days must surely one of the top picks. To lapse in to the Ulster vernacular, this novel is ‘stickkinout so tis’..Reviewed by John Hagan.

AMBASSADOR OF IRELAND VISITS PERTH

H. E Tim Mawe, Ambassador, Embassy of Ireland, Canberra, was a special guest of The Claddagh Association in July. It was a wonderful afternoon catching up and an opportunity to share what we have been doing at Claddagh for our WA Irish Community. It was also a wonderful chance to get updated on what the Embassy’s been up to.

We really appreciate the Ambassador’s visit and special thanks to our Consulate of Ireland, Western Australia - Marty Kavanagh for making this catch up happen.

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS IN JULY... SENIORS EVENT

The Claddagh Seniors’ traditional Christmas in July held at The Mighty Quinn on Tuesday the 26th, was celebrated in great style with music and songs by The Broken Pokers in fine voice. The Chef’s delicious food, fun raffles, and lots of wonderful Seniors, made the event a memorable one.

A big ‘Shout Out’ to our generous friends who donated to the Free Raffle.

Hon Stephen Dawson MLC, Hon Alanna Clohesy MLC, Jessica Stojkovski MLA, together with Tom Tallon, Maureen Jones, Jean Hill, Mariea Crabbe and Anne McKeagney.

Father Christmas arrived in style as always with lots of ‘goodies’ to distribute, generously donated by our Hon Consul WA, Marty Kavanagh.

WONDERFUL PERFORMANCES BY THE IRISH THEATRE PLAYERS

On Sunday 17th July, some of our Seniors enjoyed the talents of the amazing actors performing three plays by The Irish Theatre Players. Everyone agreed it was a lovely Sunday out with friends old and new, with lots of laughter all round. Thank you to the gang at the ITP for having us and the Irish Club of WA for hosting.

Claddagh

ORAL HISTORIES PROJECT

IN FULL SWING

The second Oral Histories Project is well underway with many people contributing their time to tell their story of how they came to Western Australia and what the decision to leave Ireland and immigrate to Western Australia has meant and created in there and their families’ lives. The new book, due to be published later this year provides a truly unique insight into real histories, to cherish, and pass onto future generations.

OUR SENIORS ARE BECOMING TECH SAVVY!

On Saturday July 30th, a group of our Seniors became very savvy at sharing photos and attachments via their phones and laptops.

This was Workshop 1 of our new Seniors Digital Training Project sponsored by the Emigrant Support Program Grant. This program is jam packed with lots of useful information to help Seniors get the most from their mobile phones, tablets and laptops, while staying safe online.

If you would like to book into the next Workshop call 08 9249 9213 or check ‘Going’ on our facebook Event.

WORKSHOP 2: Saturday 27 August 10am-1pm

QR CODES &

MYGOV

THE CLADDAGH ASSOCIATION - THERE WHEN YOU NEED US

The primary aim of the Claddagh Association is to support the Irish community when in crisis.

To cover the needs of individuals and families in difficult circumstances Claddagh must fundraise throughout the year.

If you would like to support Claddagh’s work in 2022, you can donate at our website: https://claddagh.org.au/support-our-work/make-a-donation/ , alternatively become a member and join us. See our Website for full details. Don’t forget, 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.

13/15 Bonner Drive Malaga. Enquiries: 08 9249 9213 / admin@claddagh.org.au

Crisis Support: 0403 972 265

3rd September: Football Championship Finals Day will be at Tom Bateman Reserve

30th September - 2nd October: GAA WA will be sending both women and men state football teams to compete in Melbourne for the first time since 2019!

League Cup Finals Day and Championship Playoffs

The GAA WA Gaelic Football League finals concluded in our August finals day down at Tom Bateman Reserve in Thornlie. Conditions were mild, with overcast weather, it was dry with a light breeze, good conditions for football. A large crowd of all ages came down to enjoy the football, with good representation from all participating clubs. As always, they were kept well fed and refreshed thanks to grounds manager, Sean O’Casey and his hard-working staff. There was additional business to be taken care of before the league finals, with the championship playoffs taking place. Both Western Shamrock’s men and woman came out victorious to secure their place in this year’s championship, defeating Morley men and Greenwood women respectively.

Women’s Final

The women opened proceedings with a repeat of the 2021 league final between defending champions Southern Districts and last year’s beaten finalists, St Finbarr’s. Both teams have had their share of success this year already, with St Finbarr’s winning the preseason 7s tournament, having beaten Southern Districts in the final in a well contested close match. Southern Districts returned the favour a few weeks later, defeating St Finbarr’s in the Fr Kelly Cup final. The fierce competition between the teams rolled into the league campaign, with both teams exchanging blows, both inflicting heavy defeats onto the other during the regular league season. Despite Districts topping the table, there was no clear favourite going into the game, and as previous results have shown, this was a game that had the potential to offer up everything.

As throw up commenced, both teams came out of the blocks at frantic pace, and in keeping in tone with the season so far, early attacks were exchanged. Southern Districts created the first of the chances, with what seemed to be a certain goal chance being snuffed out and well defended by the shrewd and experienced Finbarr’s defenders which was led commandingly by the experienced vice-captain Amy Langan. With the ball being overturned, Finbarr’s quickly broke and scored the first point of the game. A swift counterattack from Maud Foley and Joanne Cregg cutting through the Districts defence to set up Meadhbh Moloney for the first score of the game. Districts were not deterred and quickly responded, winning the kickout to set out their own attack. The ball was worked well into the danger zone, but the hard-working Finbarr’s defence, again overturned the ball and broke away on another

Finbarr’s men, women, kiddies and team management.

counterattack at fierce speed. This time Joanne Cregg showing clinical finishing from a well taken score from 30 yards to go 0.02 – 0.00 up. With 5 minutes gone, both teams had their share of possession, Districts had 2 further chances which failed to materialise to scores as Finbarr’s defence, with standout performances from Aoife Kennedy and Clare Leavey, doing a sterling job at eliminating the threat. But the balance of the game shifted heavily in Finbarr’s favour, as they quickly got their stamp on the game. With their attack starting to dominate the forward play and their defence working extremely hard, Finbarr’s began creating a number of chances unanswered, which they took, in clinical fashion. Further scores from Meadhbh Moloney, Joanne Cregg, Maud Foley and Aoife Kavanagh put Finbarr’s 6 points up in a commanding position. Where most teams might grow complacent, not the case with this determined Finbarr’s team, putting Districts to the sword with their relentless attack after attack. Southern Districts defending tirelessly, working hard to try and keep up with the Finbarr’s pace. Good defensive efforts from Andrea Kinsella and courageous defending from Roisin Devine and Eimear Teague, all putting their bodies on the line for the cause. Districts defensive efforts were epitomised with two top draw saves by ever present districts figure, Robyn Williams. What looked certain goals into the top corner of the net, Robyn miraculously got her hands to the ball to make, what seemed, an impossible save. In true goalkeeping spirit, Robyn was desperate to keep a hold of her clean sheet and was making her best efforts to keep the ball out of the back of the net. Two more scores each from Joanne Cregg and Meadhbh Moloney was no more than Finbarr’s deserved, working the ball swiftly into the scoring position and clinically clipping the ball between the posts. With Finbarr’s 10 points up, Districts were holding on for half time. But further damage was inflicted when a high ball from Joanne Cregg dropped short and caused confusion on the Districts goal line, and slipped into the back of the net. As the half time whistle blew, Finbarr’s held and commanding lead of 1.10 to 0.00. Finbarr’s may have felt half time came too soon and would have perhaps liked the opportunity to further capitalise on their dominant display. Despite being exceptionally efficient in front of goal and being ruthless from 30 yards, they may feel aggrieved not to have led by more. Half time presented Districts with much needed rest bit and an opportunity to dust themselves and regroup. If this was a chance to stop the momentum and turn the game around, then the second half would present that opportunity.

Where the break would act as a disruption and cause most teams to falter, Finbarr’s showed no such weakness, picking up exactly where they left off, came straight out of the blocks and took control of the early passages of play in the second half.

Attack after attack, Districts had no answer and further scores from Meadhbh Moloney, Maud Foley, Aoife Kavanagh and a brace from Clare O’Rourke put Finbarr’s into a commanding lead mid-way through the second half. With Districts holding on, they offered up some solace from Districts tally’s woman, Amy Cox. The dynamite forward has been in terrific form all year, but choked with supply all game, she had to live off

Mark Geoghegan receiving his player of the match.

Joanne Cregg receiving her player of the match award.

scraps. Despite limited possession, she managed to cultivate her own opportunities which she took in her usual cool and calculated persona.

With 10 minutes to go, Districts were holding on, but Finbarr’s work rate and their desire was about to be rewarded. Two quick fire goals from Joanne Cregg and Meadhbh Moloney put the cherry on the cake for Finbarr’s, ensuring a comfortable and emphatic win. Not satisfied there, Joanne Cregg rounded off the scoring with the final point of the game, and to solidify her position as player of the match. Finbarr’s coming out on top with a fully deserved 3.16 to 0.02 victory. For Districts, a bad day at the office for sure, but not taking away anything from a clinical and hungry Finbarr’s team who together, put in an emphatic team Display. For Districts, Cassie Moane worked tirelessly all game and in true captain spirit, fought hard until the very end. Finbarr’s had a number of standout players and defensively as a unit, were sensational. Relentless pressing and turning the ball over high up the pitch provided Finbarr’s with the foundations to build on, and their attackers pushed on to secure victory.

Despite the defensive heroics, it was hard to look past the clinical attackers on the day who demonstrated their clinical finishing. Meadhbh Moloney finished the day with 1.04 while Aoife Kavanagh chipped in with respectful 0.03 points. While Joanne Cregg finished the game on a strong personal note of 2.04.

With championship just around the corner, both teams must reset and go again. With this topsy turvy rivalry, we are sure to see these two teams meet again to fight it out another day.

Congratulations Finbarr’s and commiserations to Southern Districts. Thank you to our referee, Robbie and officiating team for a well contested game.

Men’s Final

With the conclusion of the women’s final complete, all focus shifted to the men’s final. With Finbarr’s women clinching the league

final in dramatic fashion, Finbarr’s men knew a prestigious double was on the cards if they too could get the job done. Despite Greenwood finishing top of the league standings after 8 rounds, there was nothing separating the teams on points, with only score differences resulting in Greenwood taking the top spot in the regular season. With close encounters all season, there was nothing to suggest that this would be any different and not even the most enthusiastic of gamblers could confidently predict this one. Despite two championship wins on the bounce for Finbarr’s, this was surprisingly their first league final appearance in a few years. The well-established club, usually opting to keep their cards close to their chest and aces up their sleeves for championship, found themselves battling for league titles. Whilst Greenwood, who won the league in 2020, were looking to make amends for their league final defeat in the previous year of 2021.

With throw up under way, the game started predictably close, with nothing separating the teams in the opening quarter. Both teams exhibiting typical classic displays of patient and controlled play coupled with frantic and prolific attacking finesse. The teams exchanged points in typical fashion during the early stages, with Mark Geoghegan scoring a brace as Greenwood answered with Timmy Finnegan and Shane Gaffney. Both teams seemed to settle in well, both fighting for the higher ground to secure their dominance on the other. As the first half evolved, so too did Finbarr’s grip on their tightly contested rival, with further points added to the score board, they soon established themselves as the dominant team midway through the first half. Not to be deterred, Greenwood being an accomplished team with many titles and final experiences in recent years, drew on their experience to react in the usual resilient way, responding with two further scores from Mark McCabe and Brian Og O’Neill. With the scores set 5 points to 4 in favour of Finbarr’s, this was quickly shaping up to be a close and classical encounter. As the teams battled out the remainder of the first half, Finbarr’s finished stronger and capitalised on some good possession and patient play.

Ronan Flaherty slotting over before Mark Geoghegan clinically slotted the ball home from close range, despite the best efforts of Greenwood keeper, Ger Crehan, who came agonisingly close to keeping the ball out. With Finbarr’s having the momentum, a further score before half time solidified their lead at the break. Despite Finbarr’s leading 1.08 to 0.04, Greenwood were

Finbarr’s captain Maud Foley receiving the league cup.

still well and truly in this game with plenty to play for in the second half.

As the second half commenced, Greenwood started brighter and were determined to make amends to reduce the deficit. Quick fire scores from Cein O’Driscall and John McGinely, followed by further scores Sean Mallon and Chris Bradley, brought Greenwood back into the game with the score of 1.08 to 0.08. With the momentum in Greenwood’s favour, the tide looked certain it was turning, until Finbarr’s broke on a swift counterattack to score a second goal, this time Peter Powell firing into the back of the net to re-establish Finbarr’s lead. A score apiece to respond from both teams ensured Finbarr’s held what seemed a commanding lead. Where many teams would falter and fall, Greenwood showed that determination that has seen them lift many titles in recent years to respond with 4 unanswered scores from Timmy Finnegan, Shane Gaffney, Mark McCabe and Cein O’Driscall. As the final 10 minutes were approaching, Greenwood were well and truly back into this game, and it was set up for a nail-biting finish.

FOOTBALL CLUBS

Finbarr’s captain Stephen Murphy receiving the league cup.

As both teams pushed for the win, Greenwood pressed for the elusive goal that could secure their second league title in 3 years, while Finbarr’s were looking to hold on to their first league title in recent years. With both teams exchanging a single point each in the final five minutes, the score line was locked 2.10 to 14 points. Backs against the wall and intense defending at the forefront of everything Finbarr’s were doing in the closing stages, they continued to frustrate Greenwood as the game was drawing to a close. Greenwood remained frustrated and were unable to cut open a disciplined sturdy Finbarr’s defence to get that elusive goal. As the whistle blew, frustration fell on Greenwood, a valiant effort but coming agonisingly short. Finbarr’s will feel proud of their display and efforts, although a small element of relief as they held on to a deservedly win. Strong performances across the board on both teams, but a particular special mention goes to Timmy Finnegan for Greenwood, Mark Geoghegan and Peter Powell for Finbarr’s, well done lads!

Commiserations to Greenwood on a valiant effort and congratulations to Finbarr’s on a strong performance and deserving victory. With championship just around the corner, both teams have only a week to prepare for their championship campaign.

A huge thank you to the referee and umpiring team for their efforts on the day as well as an extended thank you to Sean O’Casey and his team for being great hosts throughout.

HURLING CLUBS

Irish AFLW players helped kick off Junior Academy season in style

Our season has got off to a great start with two come and try days at the end of August, writes David Dillon. Both here in the city and at Catalpa in Rockingham there was a great turn out, even with Auskick finishing up and the State Irish Dancing championships taking place at the same time. Congratulations to all our Academy members who competed. Our season will run for 12 weeks from the 4th September. We were delighted to welcome Irish AFLW players Aine Tighe and Amy Mullholland (Fremantle Dockers) and Aishling MacCarthy (West Coast Eagles) to our girls come and try day where they made a great impression on our young players. Plans are well under way for the Jim Stynes compromise rules tournament in October. Our girls team is looking forward to the competition from locsl AFL clubs as we grow this side of the Jim Stynes.

All juniors aged 4-14 are welcome to come and try Gaelic Games at any stage through the season. You will find us at the John XXIII playing fields, Mount Claremont, 09.30am Sundays. And best of luck to Aine, Amy and Aishling for their future playing careers!

2022 State Champions.

Dancers from The Academy at the WA State Irish Dancing Championships.

Dancers from the Kavanagh Studio at the WA State Championships.