Irish Scene July/August 2026 Edition

Doctorate without borders: Queen’s University, Belfast honoured Colin Bell, pictured here with wife Eithne, co-founders of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, for the profound difference the Trust has made. Inset: Their son Kevin.

The home of quality meats

This is Kevin’s legacy

by Lloyd Gorman

Newry man Colin Bell was made a Doctor of Queen’s University Belfast on June 23 ‘for services to the local community’. The citation for the honorary doctorate could just as easily read for services to the island of Ireland and the Irish diaspora.

Colin and his wife Eithne established the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust (KBRT) in 2013, following the tragic death of their son Kevin in New York in June of that year. With the immediate and total support of Kevin’s friends and the Irish community in New York, as well as their friends, neighbours and others in the local community, they were able to get Kevin’s body home within a few days.

Unbeknown to them –or anyone else at the time – something remarkable and unprecedented for the people of Ireland and their kin scattered around the world began around their kitchen table at home.

“I am very honoured to be recognised in this way and more importantly for the work of the Trust to be recognised,” Colin said

about the title bestowed on him. “It was lovely to have our family together to celebrate this special occasion and to acknowledge all that has been achieved through the Trust. We are so grateful for the tremendous support. It was also a time to remember Kevin, because without him, we wouldn’t be doing any of this today. We are thinking of him always. The KBRT was born out of very tragic circumstances, but we have tried to turn that tragedy into a lasting, positive legacy that has been able to support thousands of families at a very difficult time.”

Perth, Western Australia has helped shape the story of the Bell family and the Trust.

A large family deeply entrenched in the community from teaching, the Credit Union, Irish dancing and GAA, choirs and drama society, Colin and Eithne and their seven children were well known and well regarded in Newry and beyond into South Down and South Armagh. When news of Kevin’s death broke the people and groups who knew them well rallied to help the Bells in their darkest hour. “They went into a frenzy of fundraising and within a week they raised £150,000 to bring Kevin home but of course it didn’t cost that much and the week after Kevin’s funeral, we saw in the news that a guy from Carryduff in Belfast was killed in Thailand so we got in contact with his parents and told them we had this money and that we’d pay to bring their son home,” Colin told Miriam O’Callaghan on RTE

The Doyle family donated the rest of the money raised to bring their son Ryan (inset) home from Perth to Colin and Eithne Bell (right)

Colin and Eithne Bell with their children at the ceremony at Queen’s University, Belfast. Inset: Kevin Bell

recently. Then a week later Conor Brady a young fella from Sligo fell and hit his head in Las Vegas and again we reached out to his parents and week on week we were seeing more families receiving the terrible news and when it comes to your door it shouts at you from the television or newspaper. We thought that when the £150,000 was gone that would be the end of the story but a year previous to Kevin being killed there was a young fella Ryan Doyle from Castlewellan in Co. Down who had been killed in Perth, Western Australia. [Ryan,25, had been working in WA for some time when he died after falling from a moving taxi in Belmont following an alleged dispute with the driver. On the 15 July 2013, on what would have been Ryan’s 26th birthday, his brothers, Ronan and Kevin handed over a cheque amounting to $30,000 to The Claddagh Association.]

Ryan’s parents contacted us and said “look, we have £72,000 and they gave that to us. And then people started sending us money and we decided we would make this Kevin’s legacy so we applied to the Charity Commission in Northern Ireland the Charity Regulator in the Republic and we became a charity and 13 years later we have brought 2,500 people home to their families.”

Over the years more than a few of those repatriations have come from WA – including one particularly bad week in November 2015 when the bodies of five Irish people died in different and terrible circumstances –including friends Joe McDermott and Gerard Bradley killed in a construction site incident in Perth and needed to be repatriated.

Before the KBRT came into being much of that heart wrenching and difficult work was shouldered by the Claddagh Association. The two organisations are kindred spirits, dedicated to helping Irish people in crisis and Colin is highly complimentary of them. Both organisations were the beneficiaries of the JB Forever 27 Gala Ball at the Hyatt Regency in November 2023, receiving an equal share of the outstanding $120,000 raised on the night. Colin and Eithne were guests of honour for the ball and it gave them an opportunity to visit a part of the world they hold dear.

Colin told Irish Scene it is a beautiful city that they enjoy visiting. It has been home to their son Eamonn for well over a decade.

In order to ensure the Trust can continue to do its invaluable work they have appointed new staff members and changes to the organisation to carry it forward and are taking a step back from the daily demands of running a busy charity. “We are not getting any younger but we want to copper fasten the Trust so that in sixty year’s time the KBRT will still be doing its work. I’ll still be in the office every day but I’ll not be answering the phone 24/7 or when we are on holiday,” Colin told Miriam O’Callaghan. “We are the luckiest charity in the world, never mind just Ireland, because we don’t have to fundraise. There are functions for us throughout the world weekly and wherever there is an Irish diaspora there is fundraising for the Trust.” Colin was once in New York for nine days and every night there was a different donation event in an Irish pub for the Trust.

You can support the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust by attending the Charity Fundraiser in Lynott’s Lounge, Johnny Fox’s, Northbridge (see page 5) or by organising your own event or making a donation.

The Claddagh Association also received a donation of the same amount

Colin

Births deaths and marriages are some of the main reasons why most Irish people in Australia travel ‘home’ to Ireland. But a very different type of milestone gave West Australian GP Paddy Glackin a good excuse to take time off work and make the long trip back in May.

Having had its world premier at the Galway Film Fleadh in July 2025 new documentary film ‘Once we were Punks’ about the band Panic Merchants was screened at select Irish cinemas and it has proved to be a big hit with audiences and even old critics.

“The first time any of us (band members) saw it was at the Galway Film Fleadh, that’s a fair bit of trust if you know what I mean,” Frank, who was the original bass player in the Panic Merchants told Irish Scene. “You’re never quite sure how someone is going to portray you when they have spent a lot of time with you at gigs and rehearsals and just hanging out, and if it is going to be a Spinal Tap or is it going to be an anvil? But I think Frank [Shouldice] the director was very decent in his portrayal of us and that comes across in the film. Someone described it as a cross between a garage band and a Mens Shed, which is a fairly good description,” he laughed. “The first time you see it you’re

a bit stunned by the whole thing, its quite emotional.

I’ve seen it three times now, including at the IFI in Dublin a few weeks ago and then again at Queens University in Belfast. I think its actually a really good film. The cinematography is really good and the sound is excellent. The more I’ve seen it the more I realise how great the sound is and the gig in Whelan’s sounds really good.”

Esperance and the south of WA, has been home for Paddy and his partner James BLHollands (a film maker and artist behind the recent exhibition The 82 Abettors of the Zeewijk in Albany) since they moved here from London, where he also worked as a doctor for years. Originally from Donegal Paddy, who plays bass got together with the boys from Bailieborough, Co. Cavan –singer Justin Kelly, guitarist and musical arranger David Meagher, drummer Noel Larkin – to form The Panic Merchants, quite

possibly Cavan’s first ever punk group. When the teenage school friends gravitated towards Dublin for university and WORK, the Merchants found themselves very much at home. Once We Were Punks is the story of the rise and fall and rise again of the band.

“The live music scene in Dublin was absolutely thriving at the time,” he added. “You could go out seven nights a week and see music. There were heaps and heaps of bands. There wasn’t much else to do. There was little or nothing to watch on the telly and we didn’t even have a telly in the flat we were sharing (near Parnell Square). David (and myself were in the same class in medical school at UCD and in the flat. We had no money but it was good craic. And the whole scene was fairly relaxed. A few fella’s like Paranoid Vision were doing it 24/7 but most of us did it for the craic. Heaps of bands were getting records out and we got close a couple of times but never quite got there!”

They did gig regularly, including at one of Dublin’s main live music venues at the time.

“We had a residency at The Underground, it was a great venue and was literally underground and they had a London Underground sign out front.”

Inevitably things changed. “It all came to a natural end for me, exams were coming and I moved away for work so it was time to leave the band, that was about 1987,” he said. Aidan McNamara stepped in as bassist but by the early 1990’s the band broke called it a day.

The Panic Merchants did make an impression on the scene. While they

never got a record deal, they came out on a record – the Comet LP2 – and they got some air time on RTE radio on one of the country’s most influential music programmes. “Back then, if you wanted to get your demo tape played on the Dave Fanning show, you'd have to get out to the main RTE complex in Montrose and ask for the show’s producer Ian Wilson. When reception said Paddy Glackin was looking for him he’d come running down and see me.”

At that time RTE’s head of music at RTE was another Paddy Glackin*, a well respected fiddle player from the famous

Bothy Band from the 1970’s and all round Goliat of the traditional music scene. “I was always the one who went out with the demo tapes and about the third time he went ‘Oh, its you again!”. I said ‘I swear to God my name genuinely is Paddy Glackin. But they were good to us and they played us out a few times.” [*As is often the case in Ireland

The other Paddy Glackin

Paddy on bass, right (seated) rehearsing with the band for the documentary

Paddy, second from left, with the other Panic Merchant band members

the two Paddy Glackin’s were related, but not closely. “My grandfather and his father were first cousins so we were third or fourth cousins kind of thing.”]

While Paddy said the music scene was a largely supportive environment, the Panic Merchants had a persistent and significant detractor – Ireland’s main music publication. “Hot Press hated us, they never had a good word to say about us or the albums. They didn’t have a good word to say about us,” Paddy said. “So it was a really pleasant surprise that they actually gave the film a really good review, a very insightful review...so now Hot Press likes us,” he laughed.

the radio and heard one of their songs. He liked it and realised it was from his era but didn’t know who they were so went about finding out more about them. The documentary is the spoils of those efforts.

The funeral of front man Justin’s mother some 25 years after they broke up brought the Merchants men together again for the first time and the past came rushing back to meet them.

“We said let’s get away from this and have a break so we went over to David’s and started to flitter around and began making music together again. One of the big surprises about it was that when we got together and hadn’t played a note together in a very long time but we just went straight back into it.”

For example, the music masthead asked President Catherine Connolly if she had been aware of the punk scene back in the 1970’s/80’s. “Not really,” she replied. “But lately, I went to a film that was absolutely brilliant. It was Frank Shouldice’s film Once We Were Punks. And I thought, ‘God, I’d have no interest in that.’ But it was a wonderful documentary.”

Paddy could not have predicted the whole Once We Were Punks project but said it has been a blast. Nearly five years ago director Frank Shouldice was listening to

Once We Were Punks culminates with the band performing a live gig at another of Dublin’s great live music venues. “One of the great pleasures of the film is that we got to play Whelan’s in Wexford Street. We found ourselves on the main stage on a Saturday night which was wild. This was a part of the film, how would it all go and how will it end. It was Paddy McPoland – a tour manager for the likes of Sinead O’Connor and Clannad and Brian Hand – one of Ireland’s biggest music promoters – who were both serious fans of the band who convinced Whelan’s to put us on and I think its fair to say they were fairly dubious about having us on,” he laughed. “But it went really well and like I said the sound of it in the film is really impressive. Because we are scattered – Justin is in America, Noel and David are Ireland and

Paddy with his father and members of the Larkin family at the IFI launch of Once We Were Punks!

The old sign outside The Underground

I’m over here – getting together to rehearse is not easy to make sure we were match fit, so it was a bit scarey and kind of intimidating but I’d like to say it was probably the single best gig we ever did, which is fortunate seeing as the camera was on us.”

From their respective parts of the world the friends come together in whatever way they can to rehearse and even record new songs and even albums. “We are fairly slow movers now and it takes us about five years to put an album together but that’s fine. David – who writes most of the bands music – will often send something through to me and I’ll have a noodle away at it and put a base line together for it.”

Music is also an important part of Paddy’s regular routine. “I was just sitting down for a

wee noodle on the electric piano when you rang,” he said. “One of the great things about this whole process is that its got me back into music again and enjoying playing music and I’m now learning the jazz piano, badly,” he laughed. “I’ll noodle away most days, its a nice way to wind down after work.”

Country Practice

While London originally seemed an exciting and interesting place to practice medicine it lost its appeal for Paddy over time. “I was cruising at the wheel, I was mid career and there was a bit of been there seen that and I was trying to find things to keep me interested and keep me engaged in London. I was doing a fair bit of substance abuse work and I was working with doctors with issues, it was all just to try and keep me from recognising the day job was not as interesting as it used to be so I really needed something that was going to be a challenge and in terms of work its one of the best decisions I ever made to come to Esperance. Here the Emergency Department is run by GPs,

On stage in Whelans

babies are delivered by GPs, anaesthetic are given by GPs, its much more professionally rewarding and you’re also more engaged with the community and its literally everything from the cradle to the grave. And if you go back to the 1940s/50s/60s and 70s in Ireland that’s what it was like, GPs had beds in local hospitals, they delivered babies and all of that but slowly but surely all that fell away and has been taken away and I think it does mean the job is less challenging and less rewarding. So it was great to come to come to country Australia and find that kind of practice.”

He is full of praise for The Royal Flying Doctors and the life saving support they can offer to GPs in rural and remote locations. And distance matters much less thanks to WA Country Health’s Emergency Telehealth Service. “It means that if you are a small country hospital and you have a very difficult case that the technology means you don’t feel so isolated, you don’t feel alone and you’ve got someone to help make the tough decisions. It makes a difference to the care you can give to patients but also how safe you feel you about being in this situation.”

Doctor Doctor

As well as the health of his own patients Paddy is also focused on the well being of his colleagues and the communities they serve. He is chair of the Australia Medical Association (AMA) WA Chair of the Rural Doctors Committee and regularly advocates for their

rights and conditions. “We can see if a small town loses its doctor its the death knell for a community, its a bit like losing a country post office back in Ireland. It makes it harder and harder to attract people to a place and it also makes it hard to keep people in those communities without essential services. One of the huge problems we have is the Federal State split. The Federal government is responsible for general practice and primary care but the state is responsible for small hospitals and you see a huge amount of cost shifting between the feds and states and at the end of the day its all tax-payers money and Australians, country Australians, do not want to see this kind of passing the buck happen.”

The way healthcare is a ‘fee for service’ with a ‘reimbursement model’ is also an issue. “If you live in country Australia you don’t have access to reimbursements for MRI or reimbursements for hospital so in effect more money is being spent on the health of people in the city rather than country people and the further out you get the worse that gets and the greater the health burden is on them and the higher their needs are and politically that’s a very hard one to get past. One of the things the AMA nationally has called for is to double the GST and stop giving it to the states and give it to the Commonwealth and responsibility for all healthcare. I think we need something fairly radical like that to fix the imbalance we have in the health system in Australia.”

More than anywhere else in the world, hundreds of junior doctors each year flock to Western Australia and both sides get something out of the exchange.

“Everyone in hospitals in Western Australia are thrilled when the planes land in August and heaps of young Irish doctors get off them. They are very highly regarded in terms of their training, their ability and also their preparedness to just

Paddy, right, with his bandmates at a screening and Q&A at Queens University

Dr Paddy Glackin

knuckle down and do the work. A lot of them are relatively junior and have just finished their internship so they would need a few years under their belt before they could come and work as country doctors but we get the odd one who comes down to Albany to work as a junior doctor and quite a few of the ones who comes stay because they just see how

good life is here. You can understand why a young person would want to come to the big cities and places like Perth which has a vibrant Irish community and a lively scene with lots of young people to hang out with. You can see why they want to come and experience everything it has to offer. Sure I did the same myself when I went to London.”

Albo was a Dublin punk once!

It is not beyond the realms of possibility that “half Irish half Italian” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese could have once worked up a heavy sweat leppin’ around to the music of the Panic Merchants!

We know that a much younger ‘Albo’ was in Dublin in August 1988 (‘Dublin Calling Anthony Albanese’, Irish Scene July-August 2022).

We know (because of a tweet he posted in 2014 with the photograph) 25 year old Albo went to a gig in the Underground in Dame Street, Dublin to see one of his favourite bands The Celibate Rifles. In the photograph he is proudly wearing a Celibates Rifles t-shirt, specifically for the Roman Beach Party album, released only the year before.

The gig would have been a big deal for him. Just like him, the Celibates were all Sydney boys, and it is highly likely – if his t-shirt is anything to go by – he had already seen them in action in their hometown. So the prospect of getting to see them live in an ‘exotic’ location like Dublin would have been a rare treat, too good to miss. And given the fact they hailed from the same city and the casual nature of a venue like The Underground you cannot tell me that Albo did not get a chance to at least speak with the band members after the performance, or even hang out a bit with them. Like the Irish tend to do in far flung places the surely the music mad Sydney lads would have been drawn to each other,

even if only for the night. You’d imagine it would have been a real high point of his travels and time in Ireland. Funny then that he has never spoken about the experience, even when asked about it by Irish Scene magazine.

Anyhow, it is also possible Albo might have made the venue his main base for the duration of his stay in Dublin. Upstairs (ground level) it had – and still has – a pub called Peader Kearney’s slap bang in the middle of the city. The pub is named in honour of the man who wrote the Irish national anthem, Peader Kearney, who used to live in the same building!

We can only speculate about his movements and how he spent his time in Dublin, but if the future PM did frequent the Dame Street establishment more than once then he might have seen other bands there, including the Panic Merchants who had a weekly residency there at that time.

“It was around the same period that we were doing our thing in Dublin and if you look at Albo’s t-shirt in that photograph he has nothing to be embarrassed about, he had pretty good musical taste,” Paddy said.

A young Anthony Albanese in Dublin

The Celibate Rifles in ‘Ireland 1990 World Cup’ t-shirts

Lydon is Rotten & Irish to the core

Johnny Rotten bangs out ‘God Save the Queen’

The worlds most famous punk band The Sex Pistols existed for just four years (1975-78) years and released only one album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols, which proved to be hugely controversial and influential for generations of musicians, including The Celibate Rifles. Lead singer John Lydon – aka Johnny Rotten – co-wrote some of their biggest hits such as “God Save the Queen” and “Anarchy in the UK”. When the Pistols broke up in 1978 Rotten went on to form Public Image Ltd (PiL) – which he considers to be the superior in every way.

At time of going to press PiL were due to play live at Castle Mills, Kilkenny on July 17, the last concert in a European tour before they took the show on the road to America and beyond (including The Astor on January 28 2027!).

“I’ll have the time of my life (in Kilkenny),” Lydon told Oliver Callan on RTE 1 in late June. Ireland is a place close to his heart, for good reason. Born John Joseph Lydon his father John Lydon was from Galway while his mother Eileen Mary (née Barry) hailed from Cork.

“Every summer was in Cork, a little village called Carrigrohane where my grandparents lived in a cottage,” the 70 year old musician told his host. “I loved those

summers very very much but I’d go back home to London at the end of summer with a deep Cork accent and what would make my life hell on earth at school. The Cork accent is the densest accent there is. They wouldn’t understand a word I’d be saying to them. I’ve always been a talker, but shy, so most of the time when you face a physical challenge, Oh my God, words became my bullets.”

Discrimination was something he – and the Irish community – knew only too well in the 1960’s.

In his autobiography, Rotten – No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs (1993), he wrote: “Londoners had no choice but to accept the Irish because there were so many of us, and we do blend in better than the Jamaicans. When I was very young and going to school, I remember bricks thrown at me by English parents...We were the Irish scum. But it's fun being scum, too.”

In 1980 he spent time in Mountjoy Prison for an incident that happened in a Cork pub. “My face hit two policemen’s fists….[Prison] wasn’t my idea of a fun time,” he added. “But I look back now and laugh at how insane the whole thing felt, it felt like a delusion, or an acid come down, it was very, very strange.”

John Lydon, pink suit, with PiL band members and others in the Eurosong competition

Callan asked him: “Are you still punk?”. He answered: “I never liked that title when it was first stuck on me. I don’t like the Monarchy, so that king bit can go and the term punk became an adhesive none of us seemed to be able to get off ourselves.”

Rather, Lydon, now 70, said he was “anti-foolish rules and regulations” and gave “a nod and a wink” to common sense and individuality.

In 2023 Lydon – backed by PiL – entered a song (written for his late wife Nora) in the Eurosong competition on the Late Late Show to represent Ireland in the Eurovision. (Dublin band Wild Youth won the competition but failed to make much of an impression in the event in Liverpool).

Fifty years after the Sex Pistols were formed there is very little prospect of them ever reforming after a major falling out in recent years.

“I see that old band The Pistols –the three of them – are going around with an imitator singer and its like, if you didn’t like me, if you didn’t want anything to do with me then leave my songs at home, leave my image at home, leave all the work I put into making that band noticeable, leave all that out and show the world what a trilogy of dullards you really are. It’s hilarious but they are on the same bill as me in Chicago in about a month’s time. They will be playing the night before I’m on and the fact they are going to be massacring all my early work is bemusing to me. I see it like I’m going to be applauded by a Karaoke band the night before I turn up,” he laughed.

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Eight years since he founded the Jarrah Bar & Cafe, owner Wes D’Arcy – and his brother Gareth Byrne – took a beat with Irish Scene editor Lloyd Gorman to reflect on the origins and story of the popular Hillary’s Boat Harbour venue.

He is proud of what the Jarrah has become –with the promise of more to come – and what it represents for him and his customers alike.

“I won’t hide the fact it’s been a very profitable business, which is crazy for this location,” Wes said. “This premises has always been doomed to failure over the years with restaurants but its been a great success as Jarrah.”

The place was a boarded up restaurant with blank walls when Wes and Garth got their first look at it as a prospective venue. “We looked at each other and said ‘How do we tackle this?’,” Wes said. “We needed to make it cosy, comfortable, romantic even but we had no money to pay for a fit out company. It was just me and Garth at the very start.”

Fortunately Garth was the best man for the job. Back in their native Wicklow – the home of Ardmore Studio’s, Ireland’s biggest film centre – Gareth was a prop-master and worked on a string of major film and TV productions made in Ireland such as Vikings, Penny Dreadful, Moone Boy, Foyle’s War and Leap Year. He brought that experience and artistic energy to the task ahead of them. “We had to be very creative with what we had and what we had wasn’t much,” Gareth said.

“A lot of it was having the imagination to be creative and use what we could.”

They “begged” local wineries for old wine barrels which they put tops on as tables. “I was driving around with a trailer picking up cheap bricks from a builders yard to build the bar,” said Wes. “I had a friend who cut down a massive Jarrah tree in the bush and he ran it through a saw mill for us and dropped it on the bar for us. We didn’t have the money to pay him so we paid him in food and beer over the years after that.”

Wes – a former 2FM (RTE) DJ & presenter – said it was “a survival skill” they learned early in life. “Growing up in a council house, in a mobile home, we had nothing and we went to the forest with a hand saw looking for branches to cut and bring home. We made something out of nothing. I know that seems a bit weird for people our age but the 80’s were tough in Ireland for a lot of people, including us. So when we did this for the Jarrah, it helped to give it a sense of providence and charm and emotion that creates a beautiful and welcoming organic feeling.”

A local’s locale

These qualities make it unique. “Jarrah is the local pub now for people who live in Sorrento, Hillarys, Marmion, North Beach and surrounding areas. It’s where they go when they want a cosy pub, to see local people and hang out with local people. There’s nowhere else around that is able to give people that feeling, that emotion. They know they can walk in and bump into somebody or see someone they know or recognise from the community. And I know this from my own mother, and friends and other people I met, that elderly people come to the Jarrah because they can come here on their own, have a drink and probably fall into some company if they want or have a chat. There’s a lot of people out there who are on their own, so its good to have somewhere they can

Slainte! Wes D’Arcy at Fanny McGee’s Craic in the Jarrah Bar

go and feel welcome and safe. The pub is a very important place in our culture, it helps people take care of each other.”

The Jarrah has also had a wider impact on customers and communities above and beyond anything Wes could have imagined at the outset. “We didn’t have corporate backing or a rich father to help us to make Jarrah,” he said. “Myself and Gareth sat here on our own at night time at the start and it was hard, torture even, we were stressed, fatigued. Its been a rough ride on the edge of a cliff but in the last year or two it started to really feel like we’ve got this. Its a really busy place, in fact, per square metre its the busiest venue in Hillarys Boat Harbour and it's a very profitable business.

And apart from being successful in its own right Jarrah has also been responsible single handedly for building all our other venues, Mr D’Arcy, The Illuka The Harbour Bar. When I opened Harbour Bar (about a year ago) in Hillary’s Boat Harbour, people said I was crazy to compete with myself but I’d rather compete with myself than someone else and if anything the two places are different but the interaction between them works really well and our customers love it. I find it hard to be humble about the statement I am about to make. I don’t think in my lifetime there’ll ever be anything like Jarrah again in the community. I don’t think this energy, this organic effort, this providence, cultural influence and non-corporate approach, I don’t think people realise that what we have today in the Jarrah –which is wonderful to me and my family – is also a magical place for people to enjoy what is the closest thing to a real pub – you get in Ireland or Europe – in the north coast. It’s more than just a bar its an emotional draw card and I don’t know if ever I could have the effort, time and energy to recreate – not just the fit-out, the food, the ambience of premises –but the customers and the wholesomeness, the people who are here, why they come here

and the reasons they come here. Its more than just a bar, its an emotional drawcard as well as ….I don’t know if it can be recreated.”

In parallel to helping Wes design and create the unique character and look of all the venues in the D’Arcy Hospitality Group Gareth’s own business – Origin Bars – has gone from strength to strength. The only artisanal bar and pub builder in Perth, demand is growing for his customised creations as satisfied customers enjoy the spoils of his expertise, attention to detail and quality and ability to deliver their vision. Gareth and Wes are on their own trajectories but come together occasionally to shape bare premises into memorable and welcoming spaces.

A secret surprise

A destination venue in its own right, the journey Jarrah is on is far from complete. “Jarrah has a very special surprise coming soon, but no its not for sale,” Wes said. “Something very, very magical is on the way for it in late 2026. It’s got a special secret that we are going to present to our customers. Its going to be an amazing addition to the premises, next level. Watch this space. But the big thing to say is that Jarrah is not for sale.”

Until the mystery is revealed Jarrah will continue to offer great food and drink and its characteristic Irish charm and hospitality.

Slainte! Wes D’Arcy at Fanny McGee’s Craic in the Jarrah Bar

The Wall of Tears

The Wall of Tears, an art installation by American artist Phil Buehler, was – after first being exhibited on Cottesloe Beach – displayed at Kidogo Arthouse, Bathers Beach, Fremantle on Sunday 28 June with a message that was impossible to ignore.

Stretching more than 50 feet, the installation lists the names of more than 18,500 children killed in Gaza, between October 2023 and July 2025. Each name inscribed is a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict, restores individuality to each child, reminding viewers that behind every name was a life, a family, and a future that will never unfold.

Its power lies in its simplicity: name after name, line after line, forming a visual weight that no statistic can convey. Viewers often describe the experience

as powerful and quietly devastating. The poignant artwork was unveiled in Brooklyn on January 29 this year to mark the anniversary of the death of Hind Rajab, a 5 year old Palestinian girl who was killed along with family members when the car in which they were fleeing was hit by more than 335 rounds of ammunition fired by Israeli forces.

The installation was brought to Western Australia by Perth Doctors Medical Aid for Palestine (PDMAP), a group of local doctors – including many Irish doctors – who have spent the past two years raising funds for essential humanitarian relief in Gaza. They say the piece represents the very children they are striving to protect and with more support they hope to stop more names being added to the death toll.

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The Wall of Tears artwork inside Kidogo Arthouse

‘An Gorta Mór’

A tribute to Tom

by Lloyd Gorman

Close to ‘An Gorta Mór’ famine memorial in Market Square Park, Subiaco is a park bench that has been there for years, shaded by a stand of trees. But that bench has also taken on a special significance for the Irish community. It has been dedicated to the memory of the late Thomas (Tom) Quinn.

Tom was well known and hugely respected across the entire Irish community. Born in Ardmore, Derry in 1946 he married Kath in the early 1970’s and the couple (who first migrated to New Zealand) brought their growing family to Perth in 1976. Tom’s contribution was immense. He was manager of the Irish Club in Subiaco in the 1980s and 1990’s and

served later as President.

Tom was a co-founder of the Claddagh Association and Kath helped establish the Rose of Tralee in Perth. The couple were the well deserved winners of the Brendan Award in 2005. Tom was passionate about GAA and helping people. He was a friend to all, a community champion who touched countless lives. Tom died in late 2024 and is greatly missed. Kath and their children Steven, Donna and Tara talked about how they could pay tribute to him and around the first anniversary of his passing the bench was dedicated – plaque created and attached – within days of the family applying to the council.

“Subiaco – including the Irish Club – was central to his life and the bench near the Famine Memorial where he spent a lot of time while out walking seemed an appropriate place for it,” Steven told Irish Scene. “Some of his friends know about the plaque and stop for a chat with him, but a lot of people don’t know its there yet. Because dad was cremated there is no grave or headstone where you can go, but this is a quiet memorial to him, in a place that gives a sense of him and somewhere where you can still come down to have a chat with him. He’d like that!”

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John Donoghue was one of 62 Irish political prisoners (Fenians) transported to Western Australia (WA) on the convict ship Hougoumont in 1867. He died in Feb 1901, age 60. He was buried in a poorly marked grave in Jarrahdale Cemetery, WA. That changed in April this year when his grave-site was adorned with a beautiful headstone paying homage to a man who had sacrificed his freedom so that Ireland could be free from the shackles of British tyranny.

The headstone, an initiative of Na Fianna Catalpa GAA members Chris Doyle, Trevor Dunne (supported by The Irish Fenians Association of WA) - who along with Nathan Colgan of Colgan Industries (who sponsored the headstone) - plan more such ceremonies for WA’s forgotten Fenians.

After the graveside ceremony, commemorations continued at St Paul’s Church (courtesy of Jarrahdale Historical Society) where Fred Rea and I entertained patrons with our ‘Fremantle to Freedom’ live performance. Patrons then headed to the

Jarrahdale Tavern for what was lively afternoon of Irish music, dance, and chatter. Inspired by the day’s event, I dug more into John Donoghue’s life:

John Donoghue was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1841. His father was Denis Donoghue. His mother’s name is unknown. During the Famine years 1845 – 1850, the Donoghues’ moved from Dublin to London. In 1860, at age 19, he joined the British Army in London where he became a private in the 24th Light Foot Infantry, the same regiment as Thomas Hassett, one of the six Catalpa escapees.

In 1862, at age 21, while still a private in the 24th Light Foot, John is transferred to a British army barracks in Dublin, Ireland. In 1864, John and Hassett took the ‘Fenian Oath’ in a Dublin pub. During the 1866 Fenian Uprising, John is arrested in Dublin for attending Fenian meetings. August 15th 1866, John and Hassett appear before the same judge. John receives a sentence of 5 years in prison for mutinous conduct; Hassett receives the death sentenced for desertion and mutinous conduct, later commuted to life in prison. John and Hassett are transferred to Chatham Prison, England where they spends the next 14 months. One of their prison comrades in Chatham is ‘Fenian dynamiter’ Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa.

Oct 12, 1867, John is one of 62 Fenians on the convict ship Hougoumont transported to WA; the last convict ship to visit Australian shores. The Hougoumont arrives in Fremantle Jan 10, 1868. John, along with his 61 Fenian comrades is imprisoned in Fremantle Jail, also known as the Establishment.

August 1, 1868, for good behavior, John is promoted to ‘Constable’. He’s trusted by prison authorities to carry out work-duties throughout the prison, without a guard. Later, he’s transferred to Mount Eliza convict depot (Kings Park) and joins a convict-road-gang labouring on the Perth to Albany Road. May 5, 1869, he receives his ‘Ticket of Leave’. This allows him to work outside the prison, but prevents him from leaving WA. He must also report his whereabouts to a magistrate.

Let us stop here for a moment and go back to July 22, 1841.

Brothers, Henry and Robert de Burgh from County Kildare, Ireland, arrive in WA on the brig, James Matthews. The brig is shipwrecked off Woodman’s Point, south of Fremantle. The brig is insured and the de Burghs’ are compensated for their loss of goods. They purchase land in York and grow a crop of wheat. In 1843, with money made from their wheat-harvest, they purchase a sheep-run on the Dale River, south of York called Goon-derd-ing (a place to dream).

In 1845, Henry de Burgh returns to Ireland, while his younger brother Robert, 24, continues to build-up his

in WA. He marries a Clara Wellinton from York in 1847. They have 3 children. The drought years of 1849 – 1851 sees Robert fall on hard times. He sells his York property and purchases a property at Caversham on the Swan River, including a station property at Irwin River north of Perth.

Jan 1858, Robert purchases a property known as ‘Cowalla’ on the Moore River near Guilderton (north of Perth), where he and his family set up home. Sadly, in June of 1865, their 3 children die after contracting diphtheria. Robert and his wife Clara decide to move back to Caversham, but keep Cowalla as part of their property portfolio.

May 20, 1869, Robert de Burgh employs ‘Ticket of Leave’ Irishman and Fenian, John Donoghue as a labourer on his property at Caversham. June 10, 1869, Robert de Burgh

employs John as a labourer on the Cowalla property. June 16, 1869, John becomes a stockman for De Burgh and herds cattle and sheep between the Cowalla and Perth. June 30, 1869, John becomes a stockman for a William Atkinson, and helps move stock between Perth and Irwin River, near Greenough, south of Champion Bay (Geraldton). Dec 31, 1869, John returns to labouring in Perth. August 3, 1870, John receives a ‘Conditional Release’ from prison authorities. A week later he receives his ‘Conditional Pardon’. This allows him to leave Australia, but banned from returning to Ireland. He decides to stay in WA.

June 30 1871, John teams up with two of the Hougoumont civilian Fenians, builders and architects, Hugh Brophy and Joseph Noonan (Nunan), who’ve both received ‘Free Pardons’, May 1869. John is put on a salary of 14 pounds and sixteen shillings a week. Together they embark on a series of projects at Greenough, building wheat-storage-silos, a mill, and a jail.

May 1872, Hugh Brophy leaves for Victoria, while John remains in the employment of Joe Noonan. They embark on a number of building projects. Between 1875 and 1883, Noonan, with John as his off-sider, build some of the colony’s outstanding buildings, such as St Patrick’s Church, York, and Convent of Mercy, Victoria Square, Perth. Noonan also designs the Sacred Heart Convent in Bunbury. They also add finishing carpentry to Perth’s Town Hall in Barracks St. In 1883, Noonan suffers from tuberculosis which he fails to recover. He dies at his home in Hay St, Perth, May 21, 1885, age 43. He is buried in East Perth Cemetery.

John Donoghue, losing his friend and his employment, sought employment in Perth and Guildford. Jan, 1885, John receives a sentence of 3 months imprisonment (Perth) for allegedly being on premises for unlawful purposes. March, 1885, John is transferred to Fremantle Lunatic Asylum. On his release from the asylum, he locates to Jarrahdale where he finds employment in the timber industry. Feb 28, 1901, John Donoghue dies on the roadside at Mundijong, age 60. He is buried in Jarrahdale Cemetery.

Note: Both farms where John Donoghue was employed, ‘Cowalla’ on the Moore River and ‘Caversham’ on the Swan River are now classed as WA heritage sites, while Cowalla is registered with the National Trust of WA, and Caversham (still partly owned by the de Burgh family) now a wedding-reception-centre overlooking the Swan River.

Note: Of the 62 Fenians transported to WA in 1867, 21 remained in Australia after their release, while 11 remained in WA. Three Fenians died before their ‘full’ release; brothers Luke and Lawrence Fullam (civilian Fenians); and Patrick Keating (military Fenian). The three men are buried at Old Skinner St Cemetery, Fremantle in unmarked graves. May 21, 1880, one of the 62 transported civilian Fenians, Thomas Baines, after his release, when in America, hatched a plan with Fenians, John Stephen Walsh, and Florence McCarthy to return to WA and to exhume the remains of the Fullam brothers and Keating, for burial in America. The plan was eventually abandoned (The Fenian Wild Geese – Ormonde D.P. Waters, pg: 256). Walsh and McCarthy played a major role in the Catalpa Escape (1876) by severing the telegraph line between Fremantle and Perth during the escape.

The remaining eight Fenians buried in WA are as follows:

• James Kiely, Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth

• James Kearny, Nannup Cemetery, Nannup, WA

• Joseph Noonan (Nunan), East Perth Cemetery

• Thomas Duggan, East Perth Cemetery (exact gravesite unknown)

• John Lynch, Old Pioneers Cemetery, Williams, WA

• John Donoghue, Jarrahdale Cemetery, Jarrahdale, WA

• Patrick Killeen, Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth

• Bartholomew Moriarty (burial place unknown)

Sources:

• Fremantle Prison Records

• The Wild Geese – Ormonde D.P. Waters

• Voices from the Tomb – Liam Barry

• The Last Voyage of the James Matthews –William de Burgh and Graeme Henderson

• A Faithful Picture – Letters of Eliza and Thomas Brown – Swan River Colony (1841 – 1852)

• Chris Doyle from Na Fianna Catapa GAA (who foster Irish heritage and history in WA, including Irish language classes with ‘Cúpla Focal’ led by Maria Collins)

Peter Murphy is a regular contributor to The Irish Scene. Peter is also the author of several books on the Fenians in WA (1866-76). His books, including Fremantle to Freedom

for purchase at Fremantle Prison souvenir shop, Fremantle Visitor Centre, and New Edition bookstore (High St, Fremantle), and WA Maritime Museum (Fremantle). For more information: www.fenianfear.com

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Joseph Denis Noonan - (1842- 1885)

Fenian Joseph Denis Noonan (born February 1842, Rathcormac, Co. Cork – 18 May 1885 Perth) was honoured with a graveside commemoration at East Perth Cemetery on Sunday May 31st.

A builder by trade, Noonan joined the Fenian cause in 1864 and was arrested three years later for wounding Constable William Duggan near Glenbeigh, Co. Kerry.

“It cost him,” event organiser

Dean Keating from the Irish Fenian Association said. “He was Fenian by conviction, and that is what mattered. Because in 1867 when most men kept their heads down, he stood up for Ireland. He was arrested, tried and transported here on the Hougoumont, the last convict ship sent to Australia. On that hard voyage he still led, still wrote and still lifted the men around him. He was a man taken from his country, his people, is future and dropped on the other side of the world. They moved him. They didn’t change him.”

“He didn’t get back home, he never again saw the Ireland he believed in. Far from Ireland but not far from what he stood for and he stood when it mattered. And because of that he still stands. It’s hard not to ask what would men like him think of Ireland now? A country still wrestling with its direction. A government that doesn’t respect sovereignty or even give lip service to a United Ireland. A government so out of step with its citizens, highlighted in the recent fuel crisis protests in every community across the nation. An opposition party, dressed up as a Republican party but more focused on foreign cultures, foreign ways and lost the support of grass roots nationalism. A decade ago we had a housing crisis, Irish citizens homeless stands at 15,000. Young people wondering if they’ll ever get a fair shot. Irish Citizens feeling pressure, feeling the system isn’t always working in their favour and decisions are being made a long way from their reality. And when that happens history has a way of reminding us of something simple. Because Joseph Noonan didn’t stand up because it was easy. He stood up because he believed his country could be better. And that question hasn’t gone away!”

A pardon in 1869 offered him the opportunity to go home to Ireland but he stayed and created a new life for himself. Using his skills and experience as a builder he also helped shape the developing colony. He married Anne Marie Farelly in June 1871 and died in 1885 at the age of just 43 from TB.

Fred Rea and Frank Smith, right, gave these voluntary tour guides at East Perth cemetery a copy of a history of the Fenians in WA by the late Liam Barry

If you're planning a trip overseas, attending a family event back home, or simply want to keep your travel options open, now is the time to check your Irish passport .

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“I

feel attacked on my Irish heritage”

by Lloyd Gorman

What did Rita Saffioti say – and why won’t she repeat it?

Nobody enjoys a good slagging more than the Irish!

Get a few of us together and this brand of carry on is almost an inevitable result of the congress.

We love to dish it out and when its served up. For the most part it is a sign of endearment, having the craic. By and large a witty people, you could say it is an integral part of our national character.

We appreciate the ability to be able to deliver a quip at exactly the right time and on target in anyone – including politicians who should be able to win an argument or derail an opponent using nothing more than words. But there is a world of difference between a good ribbing and rubbing us up the wrong way.

There was a very curious exchange in the WA Parliament last month which proves they are not always prepared to stand over what they say!

Planning

minister John Carey was talking at length about his proposed changes to the 1920 Cambridge Endowment Lands Act in the Legislative Assembly on June 16 and responding to a bunch of questions about it from David Bolt, the Liberal member for MurrayWellington.

After listening to an explanation from minister Carey, Bolt asked if his answer

meant there was going to be “a period of ambiguity” as a result of the changes.

“No, member,” Mr Carey replied. “There is no ambi—God, I cannot say that word today— ambiguity.”

It was a small stumble but instantly his Cabinet colleague Rita Saffioti heckled him.

Mr Carey responded. “Well, thank you very much, Deputy Premier. I feel attacked on my

Hansard – the official verbatim record of everything said in parliament – records that Mrs Saffioti “interjected”, but it does not tell us what she said. And as amazing as this detailed transcript service is there is a lot of information it can’t document, like how something is said, or if a moment in time was tense or otherwise. Thankfully for that, sitting sessions are live streamed on the parliament’s website and also archived. So we are able to see and hear first hand what has taken place for ourselves. It shows Carey does a lot of talking and the moment he trips up over the word ambiguity. He recovers quickly but nowhere near as fast as his fellow minister. Like a whip, Saffioti can be heard heckling him, but again the microphones didn’t pick it up clearly. It may have been meant as a bit of friendly banter but clearly it was not flattering and may have been offensive or derogatory. In either

Fat Cat’s got Rita Saffioti’s tongue, pictured with John Carey

case my impression of (but please do look for yourself) Carey’s reaction is that he is not impressed with the quip. He hesitates slightly before saying: “Well, thank you very much, Deputy Premier. I feel attacked on my Irish heritage!”

Anyone with a Celtic bone in their body would be curious to know what Saffioti said and why it prompted Carey to say what he said. Neither of them is thin skinned or shy and retiring. It would be unusual for the deputy leader of a political party to deliberately sledge another very senior colleague but even if it was meant to be good natured the remark appears not to have had the desired effect.

Irish Scene approached them individually. We asked her what she said and him what he heard.

doctor wouldn’t even spell out what his bosses Irish heritage or ancestry consisted of.

Mr Carey could not be accused of being sentimental about his Irish heritage (whatever it is) but he has shown a willingness to embrace the Irish community on occasions.

"Words do matter, and what people who are very prominent in our public discourse do, how they conduct themselves matters as well"

Anthony Albanese 26 June 2026

Saffioti’s office did not not respond at all, so that tells you something. A press officer for John Carey called a few hours after getting the query. The long and the short of it was that the minister would not be offering any comment. The spin

Back in 2015 – before his accession as an MP and minister – he was the mayor of Vincent when the St. Patrick’s Day Festival and Parade in Leederville was just three years old. Perth Glory star and Dubliner Andy Keogh was the Grand Marshall for the parade that year and joining him in the open top car waving to the crowds was mayor Carey. During the speeches later in the day he congratulated the Irish community for being so “strong” and “proud” and an event that continued to get bigger and better.

“Anyone that wasn’t Irish was definitely pretending they were,” he said. “There was a huge turnout and the Irish community were proud and strong.”

In the years since – and no longer mayor – the Labor pollie kept coming for the Irish festival, like thousands of other punters, and helped to promote the event.

More recently he was the main guest of honour to officially open McNally’s Irish Pub in Subiaco and he was on hand to help celebrate the black tie opening of Roberts in Oxford back in 2021.

Not coming clean about what was said on the day does not reflect well on either of them and it leaves it wide open to the Irish community to wonder if it may have just been little more than a few misguided words. Their decision to say nothing says a lot.

Dubliner and Perth Glory pick Andy Keogh when it was announced he would be Grand Marshall

Vincent mayor John Carey with Keogh leading the parade

Mayor John Carey addressed the St Patrick’s Festival in Leederville Oval

“A great story about a bunch of Irish workers who came to Perth”

By complete coincidence on exactly the same day and in the same place (Legislative Assembly) as the Saffioti jibe, another Labor member only had good things to say about a group of Irish people in his parliamentary patch.

Daniel Pastorelli is the member for Landsdale and also parliamentary secretary and was talking about the Sports and Entertainment Trust Bill 2025 when he delivered the plaudit.

“I also make special mention of East Perth Football Club, which happens to be in my electorate,” Mr Pastorelli – a genuine soccer supporter – said. “It is based in Marangaroo and Girrawheen… We committed $1 million to redevelop the club rooms at Cabrini Park in Marangaroo. This is a great story about a bunch of Irish workers who came to Perth. They obviously made

their way to East Perth, hence the name East Perth Football Club. This group of tradies from Ireland who came to work in Western Australia started their own club. They have made Western Australia their home and live their lives here in Perth. They moved to the northern suburbs, created their families and now run this incredible football club in Marangaroo. It is a credit to them, particularly Chris Lynch, who is doing an amazing job growing that club. I look forward to partnering with the City of Wanneroo on the redevelopment of the club rooms.”

The change rooms and toilet block at Cabrini Park were built in 1980 and do not comply with current Australian Standards. It is proposed they should be demolished and replaced with a new pavilion that meets modern standards.

Club president Chris Doyle said East Perth FC Irish Heritage Club was founded in 2013 to “to give the Irish community a home away from home”. When the Club relocated to Cabrini Park a few years ago, the move allowed them to double in size to over 120 members and beyond. The new facilities will be another major step forward for them.

Daniel Pastorelli MLA, third from right, with Chris Lynch, second from left, and other members of EastPerth FC

‘You’re only a Slíbhín Taoiseach’

Australian Liberal Party leader Angus Taylor called Anthony Albanese “an arrogant p***k” in parliament towards the end of May. Hardly an imaginative put down by any standards, Taylor was later forced to withdraw the crude comment, which he did without any real remorse or grace. Australian’s were calling Albo much worse things than that he argued.

You don’t have to curse and swear to get a rise out of your opponent. A good insult like “gombeen”, “cute hoor” or “feckless eejit” will often do the trick. Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald used another term of abuse in a heated debate with Taoiseach Michael Martin about the housing crisis back in May.

Michael Martin and Mary Lou McDonald have it out on a TV debate

“The Taoiseach has nowhere to hide today because the consequences of his actions are very clear,” McDonald said. “The Fine Gael-Fianna Fáil rent hike Bill has meant the highest rent hikes on record and evictions at the highest levels since the Famine. The Government has chosen deliberately to side with corporate landlords and vulture funds. Those are the Taoiseach's choices. It takes a very particular type of slíbhín to stand – some TD’s interjected to say this word was out of order – in this House and suggest that it is okay for families to face a rent bill of €30,000 a year in Dublin and €27,000 in Galway. An Ceann Comairle of the House, Verona Murphy tried to bring the SF leader to order. “It is a very special kind of slíbhín politics from Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. Shame on you,” she blasted.

“Will you withdraw that remark?,” Murphy persisted.

“A rose by any other name and a slíbhín by any other name. Shame on you, Taoiseach,” a fiery McDonald said.

The Taoiseach told her: “You have no substance whatsoever and the proof of the pudding was in the last election when people did not buy your pig in a poke. You got it wrong and your party knows you got it wrong.”

An Irish word slíbhín or sleeveen (both spellings are acceptable) conjures up the idea of somebody who is sly, sneaky, can’t be trusted and who would just as easily sell out their mother for a grubby deal.

Funnily enough Michael Martin seems to have forgotten there is a bit of a verbal tradition of calling An Taoiseach by this moniker. Back in 2015 (before the two old civil war enemies went into government together) Martin taunted the Taoiseach of the day and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny with comments like: “It is the old sleeveen approach again,” and “The Taoiseach should stop that old sleeveen carry on”.

Three words. Pot. Kettle. Black.

Credit where credit is due.

Andy Burnham, the man touted to replace Keir Stamer as Prime Minister, was sworn in as an MP in the House of Commons in late June. A full house watched as Burnham was sworn in (once again). There was a sense of occasion as he took the oath and signed some documents. From the bustling benches someone called out: “He’s not the Messiah, you know” to some laughter. But the house erupted when Burnham had the perfect retort – a line from Month Python’s The Life of Brian. “No, just a very naughty boy,” he said with a smile.

The UK could do with a PM with a good sense of humour. It is ten years since the

MEAT CONNOISSEUR

British voted for Brexit in the belief it would give them back total control of their own affairs. In the ten years since Brexit, Britain will (to date) have had seven prime ministers, the same number it had in the previous 40 years. Channeling that Monty Python spirit again, you could say the Prime Minister’s Office is more like the famous Ministry of Silly Walks (out).

Talking of walks. Here is Mr Burnham marching in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Manchester in 2017. “Honour to join the parade,” he tweeted at the time. “Feel in touch with my Irish roots”.

Apparently some of his ancestors in the late 19th century left Dundalk for Liverpool.

Then mayor of Manchester Andy Burham (fourth from right) marched in the city’s 2013 St. Patrick’s Day parade

From Achill to Australia:

A Taste of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Spirit Arrives in Perth

For Irish people living in Western Australia, there is something instantly familiar about the rugged beauty of Achill Island. Perched on Ireland’s western edge in County Mayo and facing the vast Atlantic Ocean, Achill is a place where nature shapes both landscape and character. It is also home to a remarkable Irish success story that is now making its way to Australian shores.

Achill Island Distillery proudly holds the distinction of being Ireland’s first and only island whiskey distillery. Situated at the heart of the Wild Atlantic Way, the distillery draws inspiration from one of Ireland’s most dramatic and unspoilt regions. Here, Atlantic winds, sea air and a unique island microclimate create ideal conditions for the maturation of premium Irish whiskey.

The story began in 2015 when Mayo native John McKay founded the IrishAmerican Trading Company. His vision was simple yet ambitious: combine the authenticity of Ireland’s rich whiskeymaking heritage with the entrepreneurial spirit that has long connected Ireland and America. The result is a portfolio of premium products that celebrate tradition while appealing to a new generation of whiskey enthusiasts around the world.

whiskey market. Every bottle reflects a dedication to quality, craftsmanship and the values that have shaped generations of Irish families. More than simply producing exceptional whiskey, the company is building a lifestyle brand that embodies aspiration, authenticity and a sense of place.

At the heart of the range is Achill Island Distillers Single Malt Irish Whiskey, distilled, matured and bottled on Achill Island itself. Born on the edge of the Atlantic, it captures the essence of the island's wild beauty and maritime influence, offering whiskey lovers a genuine taste of the west of Ireland. Now, there is exciting news for the Irish community and whiskey aficionados across Australia. Achill Island Distillers Single Malt Irish Whiskey has officially arrived Down Under. Through a partnership with Drinkwell Beverages, Australians can now experience a whiskey crafted in one of Ireland’s most unique and spectacular locations.

What sets Achill Island Distillers apart is its commitment to remaining Irish-owned and family-run in an increasingly globalised

For those longing for a connection to home— or simply seeking an exceptional Irish whiskey with a genuine story behind it—Achill Island Distillers offers a taste of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way in every glass. From the windswept shores of Mayo to the sunny coastlines of Western Australia, the journey of this remarkable island whiskey is only just beginning.

SINGLE MALT IRISH WHISKEY

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2025 Silver Medal

Achill Island Single Malt Bourbon Cask is crafted from the finest Irish malted barley, triple distilled in traditional copper pot stills and matured on Achill Island in first-fill Kentucky bourbon barrels. Non-chill filtered for a natural depth of flavour and character, this smooth and elegant single malt reveals notes of vanilla, crème caramel, toffee and almond, with a rich creamy mouthfeel and a lingering finish. 44% ABV.

by Lloyd Gorman

The City of the Tribes

The Kingdom

AAlbany film maker Adam Morris will have the world premier of his new film ‘Almost With You’ at the Galway Film Fleadh in July, 7-12. Declan O’Rourke plays the part of a touring (and grieving) Irish musician Brendan Kelly in Albany who encounters a local woman who turns his world upside down and rekindles his love affair with music. Declan was in WA recently to play a special concert to mark the 150th anniversary of the Catalpa Escape, (More of that in time) Luka Bloom and Darren “Gallie” Gallagher Irish singer in Melbourne are also involved. With pure talent like that and the striking Albany landscape as a backdrop ‘Almost With You’ is bound to make a big impression at the festival. We hope to bring you details of WA screenings and maybe even a chat with Adam in the next edition.

lso destined for Ireland is Anna Clancy who was named the Perth Rose of Tralee in June.

She will be in ‘The Kingdom’ (of Kerry) for the International Rose Festival in Tralee, from 14th to 18th August.

Anna is pictured here with Jenny from British Travel who generously sponsors the travel costs of the winning Rose. The mantle of Perth Rose passes to Anna from Maria Collins, who was picked as the Perth Rose in the 2024 competition. Maria was an excellent Rose and ambassador for all things Irish – including writing articles for Irish Scene magazine. Good luck Anna and thanks for everything Maria.

Adam Morris enjoying a pint of Guinness and Irish Scene magazine in JB O’Reilly’s

A CREW BUILT ON GETTING THE JOB DONE, AND HAVING A SMILE WHILE DOING IT.

WILL YOU BE PART OF OUR NEXT 20 YEARS?

Recruiting now for exciting projects across WA. Scan

WITH.

Koroit's packed with Irish delight!

by Lloyd Gorman

You might not have ever heard of it – and even if you have, the name itself might throw you off the scent – but Koroit (believed to come from the language of the indigenous aboriginal to that area) could well be one of Australia’s most ‘Irish’ communities. A rural township in western Victoria, a few kilometres north of the Princes Highway between Warrnambool and Portland, Koroit exercises its Irish pedigree with exuberance.

Like every other community with Irish heritage or a diaspora, Koroit celebrates St. Patrick’s Day as you would expect. People there – including school children who are encouraged to wear Irish and St. Patrick’s Day paraphanila on the day – celebrate the occasion with the trademark ‘craic’ of the Irish. But whereas March 17 belongs to the Irish everywhere this country town has a strong sense of its own identity. The Koroit Irish Festival – which was held from May 1 to 3 this year – has been an annual fixture for the last thirty years. More of that anon. This festival is the expression of a culture dating back to An Gorta Mór (Great Irish Famine) in Ireland.

A few European settlers first came to the region in the late 1830’s but from the early to mid 1840’s it predominately

the famine. One of the districts earliest and most substantial land owners was Irish born politician and merchant William Rutledge, who left his native Ballymagirl in the parish of Templeport, County Cavan in 1829, at the age of 23.

Rutledge bought some 5120 acres in the 1840’s and manned the land with a workforce of mainly Irish labourers and their families fleeing the despair and death of the famine. Life was not so unfamiliar for them in their adopted home. They lived in cottages and grew potatoes as a major crop in the productive rich dark volcanic soil of the slopes of the 34,000 year old dormant volcano Tower Hill. Koroit and neighbouring communities – including a village called Killarney, with its own lake – prospered and in 1870 it was declared a borough, called Belfast! Today Koroit is in Moyne Shire and has a population of about 1,600. During the festival that number swells to more than 5,000 passionate

and patriotic people, similar to a Fleadh Cheoil you might say. Families with solid Irish names from that era are still rooted in the region and the Irish have kept coming ever since.

A well known character in the area Barry Brody, was the festival ambassador for the 2026 Koroit Irish Festival. His parents came from Co. Clare to Koroit and had 15 children. Barry was born Kevin Barry Brody, named after Irish rebel Kevin Barry. A life long

Kevin Barry Brody festival ambassador & Co

resident of Koroit, he has also been involved with the festival since it started in 1997. And like his forebears he is a spud man and spent much of his working life picking potatoes in local paddocks.

“So Barry hits every mark,” said festival organisers. “It is fair to say that without Barry, there would be no Koroit Irish Festival. He is our heart and soul, our Godfather, he's the GOAT. It is our 30th festival this year and Barry is the perfect person to be our Ambassador in what is a very special occasion.”

The 2025 festival ambassador is of equally good stock. Hailing from nearby Crossley, Billy Dwyers ancestors came to Koroit from county Limerick in the 1850s. His farm – spuds and dairy – is on the same land his Irish predecessors settled and farmed. Working on the land Billy could pack 100 bags (50 kilos) of spuds in a day and was also handy on the oval as a star footballer for Tower Hill back in the day.

As well as growing enough spuds to feed a small Country, Koroit also has a well established dairy farming sector.

The Koroit festival is a three day long true celebration of all things Irish and Irish Australia. As you would expect there is plenty of Irish music and dancing, concerts, céilí and trad sessions.

There are workshops to make soda bread and stout stew and Irish fry’s and Guinness galore (not to mention a Split the G competition).

A famous and favourite part of the festival is the Danny Boy singing competition. As well as bragging rights, the winner walks away with a $1,000 purse.

History buffs can get their fix as the Koroit Historical Society opens up its ‘head quarters’ for the event so visitors can learn more about its past. Anyone wanting to celebrate their religious side have the option of a festival mass and a ‘concert in the church’.

Gaelic Games of course are a big part of the festival programme and this year featured women and men’s Gaelic football teams from Koroit and District, Ballarat and Melbourne. Half time fun and games include a spud toss, dash, mad cow stampede (cow suited runners v leprechaun dressed runners) and massive ‘rock the boat’ session. An Irish village market even springs up for the occasion.

They haven’t left much out in terms of celebrating their cultural credentials. There is a competition to pick a festival goer with the most Irish name, with the winner presented with a highly sought after Koroit Irish Festival sash. (The 2024 recipient was one Seamus MacGiolla Phadraig) Red heads are proudly celebrated for their Celtic looking locks in the Flaming Folk Parade and person of the year competition. There is also “A Gathering of Green Eyes” where judges pick a winner –on the ‘village green’.

One of the festival’s main events is the traditional street procession. Koroit’s citizens –from school children to its senior citizens and

A St. Patrick stained glass window in the Koroit covenant

The Celtic Music, Song and Dance Lake School assembled

everyone in between – march in all manner of GAA and Irish tops behind a full complement of 32 county flags and banners. And this year festival organisers took it to the next level by designing and introducing a flag to the procession for Australia’s most Irish town – the Koroit 33rd County flag.

“It's obviously got the outline of Koroit as the centrepiece of it, which is its main identifying factor," Mick McGoldrick told The Standard newspaper in April. "It just gives Koroit its own identity within the pantheon of Irish counties. I think it's just great to see Koroit being recognised as the 33rd county.

“[Flags have] been a big part of our cultural identity. I come from Cavan, so growing up, every time there was a game on, whether it be football or hurling or whatever, the Cavan flags are out on every flagpole, every power pole in the town, the county is covered in them.

"It's just always been part of the culture, it's kind of a way of identifying us from our neighbours who are only 10 or 15 kilometres down the road sometimes.” Festival committee member Jess Moloney helped launch the 33rd County Flag.

“I’m relatively new to the town and the festival but that community pride and the Irishness

draws you in immediately. It’s an amazing feeling and I think that’s what makes the festival such a fun and happy place to be.”

As if all that wasn’t enough this special place also has the week long Celtic Music, Song and Dance Lake School in early January every year. Like the festival itself, the Lake School organises a wide range of activities, everything from classes for beginners to concerts by seasoned musicians, workshops and sessions, dancing and singing for hundreds of players and participants. Bookings for the 2027 Lake School opened in July.

Music lovers might also be interested to learn that Koroit is just an 18km drive from Port Fairy, home to the famous folk festival that began humbly in 1977 and which now has a Glastonbury vibe, with this major event set to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2027. No doubt it’ll be

If Koroit is true to another traditional Irish custom, visitors there can be assured of a warm and hospitable welcome, whatever day or time of the year they come. But if you happen to have an accent or a bit of a scéal or song to share then you’d be sure to be among friends –and who knows maybe even family!

IRISH NIGHT AT JOONDALUP SPORTS ASSOCIATION

RAISING AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR ALZHEIMERS IN HONOUR OF PAT LAWLESS

THURS 10TH SEPT - SAT 12TH SEPT 2026 - MOTORMALL WANNEROO RACEWAY

Buy a cheap racer, gather a team of mates, add the safety gear and tackle Australia’s first-ever 36-hour non-stop endurance race. No big budgets. No professional teams. Just determination, teamwork and endless laps. More seat time than any other motorsport event in WA. THEME: 36 Beers for the Price of 24. 12 Free. WHEN: Thursday 10th - Saturday 12th Sept 2026 WHERE: MotorMall Wanneroo Raceway, 440 Wattle Ave E, Neerabup WA 6031.

For more info: https://www.motorsport.beer/the36hourday

Bloomsday triumphs over doomed days

After a hiatus of a few years, Bloomsday made a welcome return in Fremantle this year. The Australia Irish Heritage Association organised the first Ulysses inspired event in 1990 in the Irish Club in Subiaco and held the last one there in 2023. So when Mon’s O’Shea Irish pub owner Simon Carthy approached the AIHA about reintroducing the cultural and literary celebration at his premises they didn’t need to be asked twice. A good crowd – many in costume and period dress – turned up for the June 16 Joycean jubilee. As well as the scheduled programme of events for the evening event Scottish Irish poet and writer Mary Borich wrote and presented a new poem she wrote in honour of the occasion ‘A Bloomsday Ballad’ for O’Shea’s Bar and presented it to Simon. See page 67 for further details.

A saunter down memory lane!

If Ulysses is a sprawling saga about colourful characters staggering aimlessly and purposefully around the streets of Dublin then this photograph depicts one of the capital’s greatest street personalities.It was taken by an American friend of mine Seth Kaplan, a keen photographer with a great eye and deep grá for Dublin and its literature, especially the works of James Joyce. We have celebrated a couple of Bloomsday in Dublin together in the 1990s/early 2000s and usually exchange greetings on June 16 in honour of the occasion.

I sent him a photo of the event in Mons O’Shea’s Irish pub and he sent me this photo of the famous Diceman in his favourite setting, Grafton Street. He could always be found in the busy shopping street wearing elaborate outfits such as a framed Mona Lisa or Dracula or lightbulb or just about anything at all. Seth captured this image of him in a special outfit promoting Bloomsday.

Interestingly

Grafton Street does not have any public memorials and the Diceman considered himself to be a “stillness artist” and “a human statue” and this entertainer could always draw a crowd or grab attention. Businesses hired him to promote their wares or services while McGinty as an artist also championed and protested issues, such as gay rights or human rights. When Gardai ordered him to move on because his audiences were causing an obstruction he developed the “zen walk”, an artistically slow strut that both complied and defied authority. This photograph was taken in 1990, the same year he was diagnosed with HIV Aids. His last performance in Grafton Street came five years later when his coffin was carried down the high street watched, cheered and clapped vigorously by thousands of friends, admirers and other onlookers.

Like many of us from that era, I must have seen this unique street artist a thousand times or more.

Hard to believe all that was more than 30 years ago. Days gone by, but not forgotten!

Seth Kaplan downing a pint of plain in Dublin

(Left) The Diceman in a Bloomsday outfit

GAELIC 4 MOTHERS & OTHERS PERTH

What started as a way to get active and reconnect with Gaelic football has quickly become one of Perth’s most welcoming and supportive communities for women.

Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others Perth is about far more than sport. It’s about fitness, friendship, confidence, community and having the craic along the way.

Whether you’ve played before or have never touched a football, the club provides a fun, inclusive and social environment where women of all fitness levels can come together, play football and enjoy themselves and enjoy themselves without pressure.

WHY WOMEN JOIN!

• Fun & supportive environment

• All fitness levels welcome

• Meet new friends

• Regular social events & nights out!

TRAINING

Wednesdays 7pm. No experience needed

NOR: RA Cook Reserve

SOR: Baldivis Sports Complex

A huge thank you to all of our sponsors for

supporting Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others Perth and helping our club continue to grow.

We would also like to sincerely thank all of our coaches, volunteers and committee members whose time, encouragement and commitment make our club what it is.

We would like to thank Na Fianna Catalpa GAA for the use of their grounds and and Greenwood FC for their support with facilitating training. Without the continued support of our wider community, none of this would be possible.

JOIN US

Follow us on Instagram & Facebook to get involved, stay updated and become part of our growing community.

Instagram:@perthgaelic4mothersandothers

Facebook: Perth Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others New Players welcome any week

Our Sponsors

A Community Effort - Recent Highlights

Darkness into Light

Claddagh Report

On Saturday 9 May, almost 700 people gathered before sunrise at Sir James Mitchell Park, South Perth, for Darkness Into Light Perth. As dawn broke, participants walked together in remembrance of loved ones lost, in support of those experiencing mental health challenges, and in solidarity with anyone who may be struggling. It was a moving display of community spirit and a reminder of the importance of connection, hope and support.

Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, sponsored or supported the event in any way. We are especially grateful to Caroline, John, Amy and the Darkness Into Light Committee for once again partnering with Claddagh and helping raise both awareness and vital funds.

Celebrating Our Volunteers

National Volunteer week, May 2026

Volunteers are at the heart of everything Claddagh does, and on Thursday 21 May we gathered at Roberts Bar in Leederville to celebrate and thank those who generously give their time throughout the year.

The evening was filled with conversation, laughter and the opportunity to recognise the people who help make Claddagh's work possible. We were also pleased to present certificates of appreciation to a number of our dedicated volunteers.

A special acknowledgement was made to long-serving volunteers Patricia and Denis Bratton. Both have given countless hours of their time and energy, not only to Claddagh but also to the wider Irish community in WA.

Patricia and Denis, thank you for your commitment, generosity and years of service. Your contribution has made a lasting difference.

Claddagh – Here for Our Community

Claddagh provides support, connection and practical assistance to Irish people across Western Australia. Whether through emergency support, free visa clinics, community events or our Seniors program, our focus remains the same: helping people feel connected and supported when they need it most.

Here is a look at some of the activities and events that have brought our community together over the past few months.

Seniors Highlights

Our Seniors program continues to provide opportunities for friendship, connection and plenty of craic. From shared meals to social outings, these gatherings help keep our community engaged and connected.

Lunch at The Stirling Arms, Guildford – Tuesday 21 April

Our April outing to The Stirling Arms was enjoyed by all. The group was treated to excellent hospitality from the team at the venue, followed by a lively game of Irish Bingo that brought plenty of laughs around the tables.

See more photos at Claddagh.org. au or scan the QR code right.

Seniors – Save the Dates!

• Wednesday 22 July –Christmas in July at The Mighty Quinn

• Wednesday 17 June – Movie & light lunch at the Movies

• Last Saturday of the month Seniors Digital Training (10am–12pm)

• Bookings are essential: Call 08 9249 9213 or email admin@claddagh.org.au to secure your spot.

Lunch at The Galway Hooker, Scarborough –Monday 18 May

May saw our seniors gather at The Galway Hooker for another enjoyable afternoon. Good food, great company and plenty of conversation made for a relaxed and welcoming get-together. Thank you to everyone who joined us, and as always, a huge thank you to our dedicated Seniors Sub-Committee and volunteers. Your commitment, generosity and hard work make these events possible.

Farewell to Anne

Recently, we said farewell to one of our valued Seniors Sub-Committee members, Anne, as she embarks on her next adventure back in the Emerald Isle. Over the past few years, Anne has been a constant source of support for Claddagh. Whether helping behind the scenes, lending a hand at events, visiting our seniors or sharing her famous homemade scones and brown bread, nothing was ever too much trouble. Anne's contribution to our Seniors Program and wider community has been greatly appreciated, and she will be missed by many. Thank you, Anne, for your friendship, generosity and dedication. We wish you every happiness in this next chapter and hope you will keep in touch!

Upcoming Fundraisers

Yo-Chi, Highgate, July

– September 2026 – Claddagh is delighted to be partnering with Yo-Chi Highgate through its Change-4Change initiative. From 1 July to 30 September, customers can donate their spare change instore, with Yo-Chi matching every dollar raised.

Very few of us sail through life without experiencing difficulty at some point. Since 1997, the Claddagh Association has been a family away from home, supporting Irish people in Western Australia through the ups and downs of life.

If you are visiting Yo-Chi over the coming months, consider dropping your change into the Claddagh collection. Every contribution helps support our work in the community.

Free Visa Clinics

For many Irish people in Australia, navigating the migration system can feel overwhelming. To help make the process a little easier, Claddagh offers free visa clinics with registered migration agent Patricia Halley (MARA 1383611) from Visa4You.

Whether you are exploring visa options, planning your pathway to permanent residency or considering citizenship, these sessions provide reliable information and personalised guidance. Available to all Claddagh members – Not a member yet? Join for just $25! Bookings: 08 9249 9213 |admin@claddagh.org.au

THE CLADDAGH ASSOCIATION

- THERE WHEN YOU NEED US

Claddagh is here to support Irish people in WA through difficult times — offering care, connection and practical help when it’s needed most. How You Can Support Us:

To support these needs of both individuals and families, Claddagh must fundraise throughout the year. If you would like to support Claddagh’s work you can

• Donate at claddagh.org.au

• Volunteer Your time

• Become a member $25

• Host a fundraiser Need Support? Reach Out

If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out: Email: admin@claddagh.org.au | Phone: 08 9249 9213

Crisis Line (Urgent Support): 0403 972 265

8 Dewar

Morley, 6062. Enquiries: 08 9249 9213 | admin@claddagh.org.au

Support: 0403 972 265

ULSTER RAMBLES Using your loaf....

Apparently, I owe all the readers of this great little mag an apology. ‘Your last article was too long,’ my good wife (Dublin 4) informed me with the kind of authoritarian voice that almost made me listen. I tried to explain that it only looked long because of the Ulster phrases with definitions. Not that she heard. Nonetheless, Sorry! I will make up for it here.

I am going to write about “BREAD”. No, not the group from California that were around in the 1970’s, but the type we eat, especially in Ulster, a place which always seems to have a great variety.

I was ordered (sorry, asked) to drive to Osbourne Park to visit a bakery there to buy Sean’s Brown Soda. My destination was Connell’s Family Bakery, and my wife wanted me to collect Sean’s Brown loaf and perhaps anything else I fancied.

‘Now Sean hails from Bray,’ my wife informed me. ‘So be nice to him!’ As if I wouldn’t. Bray is some twenty kilometres south of Dublin in Co. Wicklow, for those of you who don’t know much about Irish Geography. When I arrived, I immediately noticed a happy atmosphere in the bakery,

which also serves as a breakfast-and-lunch café. The girl who served me had a lilting accent. Certainly not an Aussie, I surmised.

‘And which part of Co Antrim do you come from?’ I asked in my confident manner.

‘I’m from Ballymena.’ She replied in that sound-alike Scottish tone. She introduced herself to me as Cora. ‘And that’s Aideen,’ she continued, pointing to the girl next to her. ‘She’s from Omagh.’

After ordering a coffee and a food-licking pastry, I continued the banter (which folk from Ulster love and expect) by asking her to tell Sean that his brown soda was way too expensive (it isn’t).

‘No need,’ she replied in kind. ‘You can tell him yourself. He’s standing right beside you.’

I sat listening to Sean for the next hour or more. He kindly showed me around the whole bakery, advising me on how it came about and how it worked in general.

‘Why so many of the staff from Ulster?’ I asked him.

Now I have always detested red tape and bureaucracy, so I switched off here, but I believe it was something to do with the

“British” being treated differently than others from Europe. The Europeans (i.e. Southern Irish) had to spend one of their two years in a rural area of Australia. I believe that their visas are valid for two years. The British (i.e. Northern Irish) were exempt from this rule. Hence, they could stay longer on the same job. Sean kindly treated me to potato bread (tasty) and a beautiful apple pie to take home. ‘To die for,’ according to my wife. It was a phrase we never used in the North for obvious reasons.

Of course, the good wife had to see all this for herself after I related the story to her. We went together the next week when we were served by Ava.

‘Which part of Ulster are you from?’ she wanted to know.

‘Actually, I’m from Scotland,’ she replied.

When I came to Australia, some fortyfive years ago, I was always asked what I missed most about “Home”. No, it wasn’t the Guinness, nor the rain. It was the music and the bread. Ulster has the widest variety of bread in the world and is renowned for its unique griddle and baking soda traditions, which replace standard yeast loaves. The most iconic varieties include Soda Bread (Farls), Potato Bread, Wheaten Bread, Veda, and the Belfast Bap. These are staples of local cuisine and are heavily celebrated across Northern Irish culture.

My sister lives in England now, and every time her friends visit from the province, they bring her a loaf of Veda. So, what is this Veda you might ask? It is a Northern Irish bread made from malted flour. It can only be bought in Northern Ireland (or so I am told), so this recipe is a lifesaver if you love it but don't live there! The bread is soft, dark and chewy.

The Belfast bap is a giant, traditional Northern Irish bread roll famous for its airy, chewy soft crumb and signature hard, crackly top. Weighing up to 200g, it was invented during the Great Famine by master baker Bernard Hughes to provide affordable, filling bread to the poor.

In many cultures, bread is a metaphor for basic necessities and living conditions in general. For example, a "breadwinner" is a household's main economic contributor and has little to do with actual bread-provision. This is also seen in the phrase "putting bread on the table". Words for bread, including "dough" and "bread" itself, are used in English-speaking countries as synonyms for money. A remarkable or revolutionary innovation may be called the best thing since “sliced bread”, or as I remember it, “sliced pan!”

It’s time for lunch for me. I am looking forward to smoked Tasmanian salmon with avocado, expertly positioned on a huge slice of Sean’s Brown Soda bread. You can’t beat it! As always, may your God go with you. Until the next time.

David MacConnell

Connell’s Family Bakery

“You guys were much braver than me"

by Lloyd Gorman

Austin Appelbee showed great sense of character at the Celtic Club in West Perth on June 6th.

Austin and his family were the guests of honour for a special function organised by the Australia Irish Heritage Association to recognise his bravery and the family’s narrow escape from almost certain tragedy when they were swept out to sea on a school holiday break at the end of January.

An award commissioned by the AIHA – and designed and hand crafted by the Mosman Park Mens Shed – centred around the figure of a boy rowing a currach.

The accolade was inscribed to Austin, 13, for showing “courage and determination beyond measure” and read: “In recognition of your bravery and selfless resolve to your rescue your mother Joanne, brother Beau and sister Grace from Geographe Bay. Your strength and spirit serves as an inspiration to us all.”

In the presentation AIHA President Heather Deighan said she had a “visceral sense” of what happened to them. She said she was once dragged out to sea by strong currents near Garden Island and was only saved because someone had spotted her in distress and were able to raise the alarm.

Beau and Grace were given gifts by the AIHA in recognition of the “bravery and

courage” they showed on January 30th.

Austin had his own thoughts on that very matter.

“As much as I appreciate this award there’s a couple of people who deserve it more than me, Beau and Grace,” he said. “People say it only takes one hero to make a few but you guys done so much brave things – much

braver than what I’ve done – being separated from mum, especially at night time was the hardest thing to do, especially at night time because I used to be scared of taking out the bins at night. Beau you don’t get a lot of things and its really hard for you and same for you Grace, how about we share this award together?”

Mum Joanne – who is originally from Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan – also addressed the event.

“I’ve got three amazing kids,” she said. “We did survive a terrible ordeal. I think a lot of that has to do with determination because I think we just needed to see another day and annoy some more people along the way, our job wasn’t done yet. Some people would say its pure stubbornness,” she smiled. “We are still a normal family, we fight every day, nothing has changed, trying to get back to a new normal but we are forever grateful for all the community work you have done for us, our friends have done for us, its been fantastic, thank you.”

The Appelbee’s were recently returned from Ireland where they had been flown back by The Late Late Show for a surprise family reunion live on air

Tánaiste Simon Harris gave Austin a Monaghan jersey, signed by him and other members of Fine Gael

Top: Austin and his siblings and mum at the AIHA event

Taoiseach Michael Martin with Austin

(Better Late Late Than Never; Irish Scene; May/June 2026). As well as appearing on Ireland’s biggest TV programme they visited Dáil Éireann where a number of TD’s spoke about them. They also got to meet Taoiseach Michael Martin and Tánaiste (deputy PM) and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris. [Mr Harris

– who has also been Taoiseach – presented Austin with a gift that honestly gave this writer a good old giggle; a signed Monaghan GAA jersey. Signed not by the ‘The Farney’ players but by the members of the Fine Gael parliamentary party).

Save Our Souls – Rita G

Four brand new brand new boats went into active service in Cockburn, Mandurah, Whitfords and Fremantle Marine Rescue centres in March and have already saved the lives of hundreds of people.

“Equipped with enhanced search and rescue capability, including night vision and upgraded communications, the new vessels are built to handle challenging conditions and help crews respond faster and more safely when it matters most,” said DFES Commissioner Darren Klemm.

One of the boats is named after the late Sister Goodchild, originally from Cork.

“Hearing the story behind Marine Rescue Mandurah’s new vessel, Rita G, was a poignant reminder of why we do what we do. Named after Sister Rita Augustine Goodchild — a survivor of the 1959 Peel Inlet tragedy — the vessel honours the history and spirit of

service that defines the unit.”

As a young woman Sister Goodchild survived a tragic boating in Mandurah that claimed the lives of Mothers Patricia Lynch and Finbarr Tarrant, Sr Joachim Delahunty and Fr Joseph O’Hara, a young Irish Catholic priest.

It was a massive blow to the church and community and of course the young Presentation Sister from Ireland. But she recovered and went on to become a much loved teacher around Perth and Western Australia.

The incident resulted in the formation of Marine Rescue Mandurah in 1960, the first of its kind in WA. There are now 39 departments of this service throughout Australia, resulting from this accident. On the 60th anniversary of the incident in 2021 Sister Goodchild was made an Honorary Life Members of Marine Rescue. After a long life in the service of God Sr Goodchild passed away on 10 June 2024. No doubt she would have given her full blessing to the Rita G and her crews in their lifesaving work.

The Rita G was blessed with holy water

Members of Mandurah Marine Rescue will crew Rita G

The Rita G

Paula from Tasmania

BY PAULA XIBERRAS

From Grammy’s to Grammar Kylie is still Spinning Around

BY PAULA XIBERRAS

Spinning Around literally does that, that is spin Kylie around in a different sort of book, not biography but instead writing on how Kylie has become the biography of a lot of other people, what Kylie and her songs have meant to them.

The editors Kirsten Krauth and Angela Savage tell us the book was born on the idea of how to create a Kylie playlist and getting a number of well-known authors to reflect on Kylie’s impact on their lives and in doing so perhaps reveal a little more about the princess of pop who is the highest selling Australian artist of all time.

There is an interesting introduction when the editors talk of Kylie’s impact in pop culture and the recording industry. For instance, they mention her bold choices such as a spin at comedy, when she played Epponnee Raelene, daughter of Kim on TV show’ Kath and Kim’.

This was one instance of Kylie demonstrating she had the ability to laugh at herself, just as when after being told by Molly Meldrum of how she was called ‘the singing budgie’ she answered it by good humorously flapping her arms about!

Kylie has also done some stunning collaborations with a diverse group, including Jason Donovan, her sister Danni, Nick Cave, Robbie Williams, The Wiggles, The Petshop Boys, and even Frank Sinatra and even poignantly, a real frog Prince in Kermit the Frog.

Kirsten talks about the time she met Kylie, in the days of Neighbours mania at Festival Hall. A dancing competition was in process and Kirsten danced to ‘Locomotion’. Molly Meldrum was there and pointed Kirsten out to Kylie and she was delivered to the stage to collect a signed t-shirt form her idol.

That was at the beginning, now looking

forward after the four Logies in one year, Kylie has continued to reinvent herself and even said once that there were so many characters within her, it was frightening.

We, as an audience have seen some of those characters, Indie Kylie, Femme Fatale Kylie and Permed hair Kylie, Gold Hot Pants Kylie, the latter apparel has become fragile with the years perhaps in juxtaposition to it’s wearer becoming stronger.

At the time of writing the book, Kylie had once again reinvented herself with a Grammy for ‘Padam, Padam’ which earned her a second Grammy after twenty years, enough said, when one speaks of Kylie’s longevity.

And that is not the end of it, for Kylie is reinvented in this collection in stories ranging from romance to crime and even an apparitional accolade!

In addition to stories Kylie has gone from Grammy to Grammar, with her name becoming a collective noun when talking about gay men in Sydney who are known as a ‘Minogue of Gays’.

I spoke to one of the contributors of ‘Spinning Around’, the delightful Andrea Thompson who I have also talked to regarding her own novel.

Andrea’s foray into writing began early in childhood where she wrote and won a prize for a graphic western novel.

Andrea believes Kylies longevity is about the fact she is not afraid of failure, so she is brave to try something new, including adventures into perfume and wine.

Says Andrea, Kylie is no longer ‘bubble gum pop’ but an iconic artist worldwide. Andrea is the author of a story in the collection inspired by the song ‘I can’t Get You out of My Head’.

This is the story of Bella, a Kylie fan, who meets potential suitors in a green tea café, which has a tribute to music and Kylie.

In the story, Bella meets a variety of people, one that she bonds with others not so much, until finally she meets one who is a little judgemental and so we hear Bella’s thoughts.

‘There was nothing hard about Kylie’s image. It was created out of softness and sensuality that felt like it would permit everything - never subtract only, add’.

Which perhaps sums up Kylie another aspect of her image, to continually add to a nature that embraces acceptance and love. Spinning Around is published by Fremantle Press.

Caligiuri’s channel Carter and Cash

BY PAULA XIBERRAS

I recently spoke to Mark and Joanne Caligiuri in the ‘Get Rhythm Johnny Cash & June Carter show’, that toured WA earlier this year and return in September. Mark and Joanne’s show is unique in that the couple are married in real life.

It all began in 2007 with the advent of the movie on Cash and Carters life ‘Walk the Line’ as well, The Caliguiris were both fans of the music of the 50’s and 60’s.

Both performers bring a background in music and acting to the production. Mark was a guitarist in80’s and 90’s bands and in an Elvis, tribute show in 1996. Joanne performed as a guitarist in her church band as fourteen years old and later sang in a rockabilly group.

The Johnny Cash and June Carter tribute show is authentic in so some many ways, in costume, Mark has collected vintage clothes of the 50’s ad 60’s. Songs showcased include’ Folsom Prison Blues’,’ Ring of Fire’ and ‘Walk the Line’.

It’s been about three years since Caligiuri played a show in Tasmania, which was a ‘fantastic and outstanding’ experience at the Theatre Royal.

Joanne tells me she grew up with her dad a fan of the music of Johnny Cash. In this show she credits Mark as giving an’ honest performance’ he ‘creates a perfect Johnny with a deep Cash voice’ and ‘ has all the skills with the body movement of Cash’

The show has a cabaret look and is often done at small venues, but Joanne says, the show

‘is ‘getting ‘bigger and better’

Working on the show says Joanne has evolved while being respectful to Cash and Carter,

The Caligiuri take people on a journey and so authentic is their presentation they are often asked

‘Are you from the US’

There is another aspect of the show as well as the entertainment of Cash and Carter. The couple see the show as therapeutic in nature and so to facilitate this the audience are invited to be involved and share their experiences with the Caligiuri

As Joanna says, ‘country music is about telling a story, and significant stories are shared with the audience’.

The meet and greet is a part of performance that the Caligiuri’s love ‘talking to the audience and making a connecting’. Their aim is to trigger interaction and in doing so help in countering social isolation’.

To facilitate this the Caligiuri’s regularly volunteer with their music at nursing homes.

An example of the way they are enhancing lives in their interactive shows, is that after one show, the front of house lady was approached by a ninety year old member of the audience, who took her hand and said he wanted to tell her something, in tears he recalled listening and singing to the songs in the performance, with his wife on the radio, It brought Back beautiful memories and changed his life

There was also a lady was in one of their audiences, who normally remained in a wheelchair but stood up unassisted to attend the meet and greet.

The Caligiuri’s have a strong belief in the therapeutic power of music.

You can see the Caligiuri’s in ‘Get Rhythm Johnny Cash & June Carter show’ on Friday 25th September at the Regal Theatre, Subiaco.

Book Reviews

by John Hagan

CLICK

by SARAH BAILEY / ALLEN & UNWIN $34.99

What can you tell about a book from perusing its cover? Quite a lot really, including an insight in to the perceived status of the author.

In each of Bailey’s previous five novels, her name was nestled under the book’s title, with its font size slowly becoming more prominent with each publication. Now, with CLICK, the author’s name, in large script, precedes that of the title, signifying Bailey is now recognised as a ‘bestselling’ (successful) author by the publishers. She must be doing something right - and in fact she is, with the production of another absorbing, well-paced crime novel. Is there a serial killer prowling about Melbourne preying on vulnerable young women? Following the disappearance of a Swedish female backpacker, the gruesome image of local influencer, Lyra Markis, accompanied by the inscription, ‘victim #2’, is sent to a Melbourne newspaper. In pursuit of a resolution to these killings are Detective Constable Pen Kibbs and podcaster, Oli Groves, who starred in Bailey’s previous novel THE HOUSEMATE. Each of these women is hiding dark secrets as they grapple with their own demons. The storyline mostly alternates between Oli’s and Pen’s viewpoint, with Pen in hard pursuit of the killer, while Oli, initially, is largely an observer of the Melbourne scene. Throughout the narrative, Bailey tackles a number of contemporary issues including domestic violence, cybercrime, misogyny, deep fake images and sexting. While the

author introduces an array of secondary characters, including victims and potential suspects, I found it took me quite a bit of concentration to keep these relationships in the forefront of my mind. I found myself flipping back to previous pages/chapters to establish who they were and to clarify their connection. Nevertheless, Bailey has produced another well worked plot with plenty of twists, strong characterization and a convincing sense of place. Some final unresolved points means that there is another book in the authors desk drawer, which when published, will emblazon Bailey’s name above the title in much larger script.

LOOK AFTER YOUR FEET

by ROSALIE HAM / ALLEN & UNWIN

The title might mischievously suggest that this is a DIY podiatry handbook. It isn’t, although it could be considered an entertaining guide to growing old — sometimes graciously, sometimes ungraciously. Rosalie Ham shares her insights on ageing as she “accelerates ... into the rear seat in the vehicle of life”.

$34.99

Although she has written six novels, including the Australian bestseller The Dressmaker (which spawned the iconic film of the same name starring Kate Winslet), Ham here offers down-to-earth, amusing and substantive advice on ageing. She is well placed to do so, having worked in aged care before becoming a novelist. Look After Your Feet is a gentle ramble through memories, reflections on grief, and the duties of care. Ham draws on both her early life and her more recent experiences with her

husband, Ian, who first developed Alzheimer’s disease and later terminal cancer. Rather than chapters, the book is divided into sections highlighting various aspects of growing old, mostly illustrated with occasional laugh-outloud anecdotes, flashes of shrewd wit and irony, and sometimes instructive insights into Time’s winged chariot drawing near. Ham comments on topics such as health, including how to pass the doctor’s mini-mental health check: “If you’re asked to count back from 100 subtracting seven each time, just subtract ten and then add three,” she advises. Love and marriage, sex, memory and funerals all fall under Ham’s largely irreverent scrutiny. Nor does she shy away from taboo subjects such as flatulence and other bodily functions (“My alarm wakes me up, but it’s my bladder that gets me up”). She also expresses her aversion to drivers of new “flash, dark-coloured oversized utes”, while showing greater tolerance for older utes, whose drivers are usually “wearing battered hats in mud-splattered utes with gardening equipment or a doomed sheep on the back”. What does age feel like to Ham? “I don’t feel it. I feel like I’ve always felt. Then I think, God, I’ve got twenty years left — what won’t get done? What am I going to do?” This book is a romp through the latter stages of Shakespeare’s seven ages of man, though with one caveat: it focuses largely on the experience of ageing women. Do men age differently? Perhaps. If they do, Ham suggests, “It’s all about their genitals and their work.”

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF LUCK

by MIN JI YOO / ALLEN & UNWIN $29.99

Early in this book, Min Ji Yoo asserts ‘A person who values luck is never poor. Likewise, a person who dismisses luck is never rich’. Herein lies the thesis of this book. Luck and riches are dependently intertwined, with luck being the ‘key that unlocks million-dollar paychecks and expensive houses’. A former TV producer, before launching her own ‘luck’ consultancy business, Ji Yoo describes herself as being

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

descendent from a long line of Korean mystics and so is able to tap all the intuitive gifts inherited from her grandmother. While most of us can point to a few ‘lucky’ breaks in life, Ji Yoo reveals how successful people (in South Korea) are able to harness their luck to attract prosperity and ongoing wealth. As is already evident, this book is very much focused on Korean society, with its dedication to long hours of toil, demanding work, cramming schools, reverence of education and company loyalty. While never actually defining ‘luck’, the author outlines daily habits to improve good fortune (‘don’t put magnets on the refrigerator’, ‘use gold-coloured cutlery’, ‘sleep with your head next to the window’), what lucky people do to secure their wealth, and how to make good luck out of bad luck. While Ji Yoo attempts to interpret eastern philosophies for western readers she never quite succeeds in making it all palatable, and useful for western tastes. My personal views of luck are much more mundane, as I embrace the philosophy of the Dali Lama, ‘Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck’, and that of Jean Cocteau, ‘I believe in luck. How else can I explain the success of people I dislike’. Then, of course there is Donald Trump’s exceedingly prescient assertion, ‘Everything in life is luck’. Enough said.

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

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

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

AGAIN PREPARING FOR OUR APRIL PRODUCTION “THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT” UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYES OF AWARD WINNING DIRECTOR BRENDAN ELLIS.

AGAIN PREPARING FOR OUR APRIL PRODUCTION “THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT” UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYES OF AWARD WINNING DIRECTOR BRENDAN ELLIS.

This August, the Irish Theatre Players bring George Bernard Shaw's celebrated classic Pygmalion to the Old Mill Theatre under the direction of Stephen Lee.

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

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

At its heart, Pygmalion is a story of transformation, identity and self-discovery. When Professor Henry Higgins undertakes to transform flower seller Eliza Doolittle through speech and education, neither could imagine the impact the journey will have on them both. What begins as an experiment soon becomes a compelling exploration of class, ambition, independence and what it truly means to find one's place in the world.

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

Under the direction of Stephen Lee, this fresh production explores the humanity, humour and enduring relevance of Shaw's masterpiece. Stephen's thoughtful approach to the text has already brought tremendous energy and insight to rehearsals, uncovering new dimensions within these much-loved characters and reminding us why Shaw's work continues to resonate with audiences today.

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

Also, membership for 2022 now available; www.trybooking.com/BWUGC

Also, membership for 2022 now available; www.trybooking.com/BWUGC

For production updates, behind-the-scenes news and future events, follow the Irish Theatre Players on Facebook and Instagram, or visit us at www.Irishtheatreplayers.com.au

We are delighted to welcome a number of new performers to the Irish Theatre Players alongside many familiar faces, creating a talented cast that has embraced this production with enthusiasm, creativity and dedication.

Featuring Holly-Jean Williamson as Eliza Doolittle and Joshua Crane as Henry Higgins, Pygmalion runs from 14–29 August 2026 at the Old Mill Theatre, Mend Street, South Perth.

Performance Dates: 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29 August at 7:30pm, with matinee performances on 16 and 23 August at 2:00pm. Tickets: $27 Full / $22 Concession Bookings: TAZTix.com.au/ITP or phone (08) 9255 3336

And while you're there, keep an eye out for audition announcements for our December pantomime. New faces are always welcome.

Warning: participation may lead to excessive laughter, questionable wigs and an inexplicable urge to shout, "He's behind you!"

Encouraging and promoting an awareness of Australia’s Irish Heritage

THE FOURTH TUESDAY BOOK CLUB July 28 ‘Three Reasons for Revenge’ by Dervla MacTiernan, presented by Mary Purcell August 25 ‘This is Happiness’ by Niall Williams, presented by Thelma Blackford All welcome. Light refreshments provided. Meet at presenter’s home. Convener Mary Purcell, m.purcell@telstra.com

CELTIC CLUB, 48 Ord Street West Perth new reciprocal membership arrangement for AIHA members. Check our website and facebook for winter movie season in the club

RECENT EVENTS AIHA presented a Special Community award on behalf of Perth’s Australian -Irish community to 13-year-old Austin Appelbee whose heroic rescue of his family from the ocean off Quindalup beach in January made world headlines. Full report in The Journal. Bloomsday was revised on 16 June at the invitation of Mons O’Shea Irish Pub, Fremantle. Our thanks to editor Sean Byrne, readers and musicians for a beautiful Edwardian evening celebrating the works of Irish writer James Joyce.

BRENDAN AWARD recognises individuals or groups with a record of dedicated service and outstanding achievement in one or more aspects of Australia's Irish heritage. Past recipients since inauguration in 1997 are on our website. Nominations for 2026 are now invited https://irishheritage.com.au/awards/the-brendan-award/ THE JOURNAL Quarterly magazine for members. Articles celebrating the Irish Heritage in Australia. Editor Teresa O’Brien. Copies may be purchased. Correspondence to journal@irishheritage.com.au

Committee Heather Deighan, Chairperson; Tony Bray, Secretary; Michael Lawlor, Treasurer & Membership; Teresa O’Brien, Editor of Journal and social media; Patricia Bratton, Gayle Lannon, and Peter Gifford, committee. Supported by a tier of volunteers. Please talk to us if you are interested in being involved in some way!

MEMBERSHIP 1 January to 31 December, 202 6

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

The Irish are flying in the AFL

by Daniel Holmes

For a country of just over five million people, Ireland continues to punch well above its weight when it comes to producing AFL talent.

While some Irish players have come and gone over the years, a handful of familiar names are once again making plenty of noise on the other side of the world this season.

Leading the charge are Geelong’s Irish duo of Mark O’Connor and Oisín Mullin, who have become key pieces in a Cats side chasing another premiership.

For Kerry man O’Connor, 2026 has been another reminder of why Geelong have kept

faith in him for so long. Now one of the club’s senior players, O’Connor has continued doing what he does best – filling whatever role is needed and doing it well.

One of the highlights of his season came when he booted three goals in a brilliant display, proving there’s still a bit of forward magic left in the former Dingle footballer. Not bad for a man who has spent much of his AFL career shutting down opposition players.

Meanwhile, Mayo’s Oisín Mullin continues to look more and more comfortable in the blue and white hoops.

Mullin’s pace and athleticism have made him one of Geelong’s most valuable defensive weapons, with coach Chris Scott regularly handing him difficult tagging assignments. Several big-name AFL stars have found themselves frustrated by the Irishman this season, with Mullin sacrificing his own game to keep dangerous opponents quiet.

It’s not always the sort of role that fills the highlight reels, but anyone who understands football knows just how valuable a good tagger can be.

Up in Brisbane, Tyrone’s Conor McKenna is continuing to do Conor McKenna things.

Connor McKenna

Mark Keane

Callum Browne

The former Essendon and Brisbane star remains one of the most unique stories in Irish sport. Winning an All-Ireland with Tyrone before returning to Australia to win an AFL premiership isn’t something many athletes can put on a résumé.

When fully fit, McKenna still provides the pace, run and flair that first made AFL recruiters sit up and take notice all those years ago.

The Irish influence doesn’t stop there either. At Hawthorn, Conor Nash has developed into one of the competition’s most respected midfielders. The Meath native has come a long way from the project player who arrived in Australia nearly a decade ago and is now a genuine AFL star in his own right.

Over at GWS, Derry’s Callum Brown continues to provide plenty of energy in the Giants’ forward line. Brown has carved out a strong AFL career and remains one of the league’s most reliable Irish performers.

Unfortunately, it hasn’t all been good news. Cork defender Mark Keane has had his season interrupted by injury after establishing himself as one of Adelaide’s most important defenders in recent years. Irish fans will be hoping to see him back out on the park sooner rather than later.

For those of us who grew up watching Gaelic football, there is still something slightly surreal about turning on the television on a weekend and seeing lads from Kerry, Mayo, Tyrone, Meath, Cork and Derry running around in front of 80,000 Australians.

Yet year after year they continue to prove they belong.

The AFL journey isn’t for everyone. The move is huge, the game is completely different and the pressure can be relentless. But the current crop of Irish players continue to show exactly why AFL clubs keep looking towards Ireland for talent.

Long may it continue.

And who knows? There may well be a few more young footballers back home watching O’Connor, Mullin, McKenna and the rest, dreaming of following in their footsteps.

Connor Nash

Mark O’Connor and Zach Tuohy

Oisin Mullin

SHAMROCK ROVERS FC

State League

We are at the half way stage of the State League season and are presently sitting in second spot on the ladder. Looking forward to the challenge ahead. We are currently unbeaten in the league, with 6 wins and 5 draws – long may it continue! The State coaching staff are happy with the progress, led by Adam Walsh, Leigh Doherty,

Female Football Week

Reserves coach Lee Crompton and Mark Robinson, and U18 coaches Liam McComas and Jamir Bromell. It’s also great to see a number of our U18s from last year making their first team debuts and holding their own.

Our U18s have made it to the Cup semi-final and will be playing Perth Glory for a place in the final. We wish them all the best for the second half of the season.

Early May saw the celebration of Female Football week. Females now make up 30% of our entire club — from our U8 girls all the way up to our Women’s First Team and Women’s Socials, plus the odd girl rocking it with the boys’ teams! A big shoutout to every female in our club – the players, the coaches, the managers, the committee members and the supporters.

•

• Architectural, illuminated & custom signage including 3D

&

• Wayfinding,

• Vehicle graphics & fleet branding for consistent,

• Interior & promotional branding including wall and window graphics, banners, and flags

Volunteer of the Year

Huge congratulations to our very own Karen Harris who was awarded Volunteer of the Year by Football West during Female Football Week. Behind the scenes, Karen works tirelessly to ensure our club runs smoothly and continues to grow. Her dedication and commitment, especially to females in football is to be commended. We are very lucky and appreciative to have Karen in our CSRFC family – Well done Karen!

Big thanks to all our major sponsors, Colgan Industries, ProfitPays, Hughes Electrical, The Duke, Glasgow Skin Clinic, and Joondalup Obstetrics. C’mon the Hoops!

GAA WA

As our U15 Féile girls were deep in preparation to represent our region on June 27th in Derry, they were visited by our very own AFLW Fremantle Docker players. Pictured above, Aishling McCarthy and Orlagh Lally were kind enough to take time out of their busy schedules to drop into training with some words of wisdom ahead of the girls Irish debut. We are immensely proud of our junior academy players on this once in a lifetime achievement, and to the coaches, parents & supporters who make it all possible! Check out gaelicgamesjunioracademywa on instagram & facebook for player profiles, behind the scenes & more.

We are over halfway through the 2026 season, with round 10 closing out the football league on Saturday 18th July. Men’s

& Women’s Football League finals & elimination finals will be held on Saturday 25th July. Followed by Championship semifinals & finals played over Saturday 8th August and Saturday 15th August 2026. All games will be played at Tom Bateman Reserve, Thornlie, with food & drinks available. Hurling & Camogie league finals will be played Saturday 11th July followed by the Grand Final on Saturday 1st August. For club trainings, fixtures, table results and more please follow GAAWA on instagram & facebook! On Saturday 9th of May the Irish community in Perth came together in Sir James Mitchell Park to walk, connect and remind eachother that no one has to face tough times alone, for 2026 Darkness Into Light. Each GAA club had meeting points and gathered in numbers to walk alongside eachother for the fantastic charity, Pieta House.

This year’s GAA World Games will be held in Waterford from Monday 13th July through to Friday 17th July. We are all looking forward to watching our non-Irish born players from each state representing Australia at home! As a representative team our players are fully self funded, with support we aim to give each selected athlete the opportunity to travel regardless of financial

July 13 @ 08:00 - July 17 @ 17:00 - SETU Arena, Waterford circumstances. Check out our website, Australasia Gaelic Games for more info. Wishing you all the very best of luck!

October 2 @ 09:00 - October 4 @ 17:00 - Tom Bateman Sporting Complex, Perth

We are ecstatic to be hosting the 2026 Australasia Championships/State Games this October 2nd-4th All games will be played at our local Tom Bateman Reserve where our volunteers will create a day to remember. We invite you to join us this October for a fantastic display of skill, talent and sportsmanship! Details will be confirmed soon and available on our website Australasia Gaelic Games.

FOOTBALL CLUBS

CATALPA

Men and Womens Football nafiannacatalpagaa@gmail.com

EIRE OG

Men and Womens Football northernsuburbsgaa@gmaill.com

GREENWOOD

Men and Womens Football greenwoodgfc@hotmail.com

MORLEY GAELS

Men and Womens Football morleygaelsgfc@hotmail.com

PERTH G4MO

Mothers and Others Football perthg4mo@gmail.com

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS GAA Men and Womens Football southerndistrictsgaa@gmail.com

ST. FINBARR’S Men and Womens Football stfinbarrsgfc@outlook.com

WESTERN SHAMROCKS Men and Womens Football westernshamrocks@hotmail.com

HURLING CLUBS

ST. GABRIEL’S

Mens & Ladies Senior Hurling & Camogie stgabrielsperth@gmail.com

WESTERN SWANS

Mens & Ladies Senior Hurling & Camogie westernswansgaa@gmail.com

PERTH SHAMROCKS

Mens Senior Hurling perthshamrocks@gmail.com

SARSFIELDS

Mens Senior Hurling sarshurlingperth@gmail.com

JUNIOR FOOTBALL

JUNIOR ACADEMY OF WA presidentjunioracademy@gmail.com

NA FIANNA CATALPA nafiannacatalpagaa@gmail.com

GAA GROUNDS

Tom Bateman Reserve

Corner Bannister & Nicholson Rds (entrance off Wilfred Rd) Canning Vale

Hello Tír Rua GAC

Goodbye GAAWA

Interesting news on the local GAA front emerged in early July.

A complete rebrand of the organisation – including a distinctly WA (black swan) logo and new name that pays tribute to our adopted homeland – was unveiled.

“We are excited to share some wonderful news with you as we prepare for an exciting new chapter in our journey together,” a statement on the renamed GAAWA website said.

“As our programme continues to grow and evolve, we are proud to introduce our new branding and name – Tír Rua GAC. While our look may be changing, our commitment remains the same: providing a positive, supportive, and engaging environment where every child can develop their skills, confidence, friendships, and love of the game. We believe this new identity better reflects who we are as a community and the exciting future ahead. We can't wait for you to be part of it.”

Best of luck with the refreshed identity!

Come on you girls in Green…..and Yellow

Good luck to the players – especially the Irish gals –who will be competing in the first International Rules game in some years on August 1.

Even more significant is that it will be the first Compromise Rules game between Ireland and Australia where the teams are comprised of female players. The women’s match at North Sydney Oval comes just ahead of the AFLW season is a ‘one-off event’ but don’t be surprised if it becomes a regular fixture. A lot will depend on the level of interest the game attracts but here at Irish Scene we think the event will be a major success. Every player will want to do their best for their country in an unprecedented match while sports hungry Irish and Australian fans will gorge themselves on the game, we predict.

The last time Ireland and Australian women faced off against each other was as far back as 2017. Australia won those two games and the Irish will be keen to balance the ledger. And it was a long time ago and a lot has changed. The Matilda’s have enjoyed popular support no why not the AFLW?

The fact this game is happening against the backdrop of something of a wider International Rules drought is remarkable, and a sign of how healthy the women’s game has become. And Ireland has played a major part in that. At present there are no less than 46 Irish women across the code and before this crop there was another 30 of their counterparts. Last year’s reigning back to back AFLW winners North Melbourne, had

Erika O’Shea, Vikki Wall, Amy Gavin Mangan and Blaithin Bogue pose for a photo after North Melbourne's 2025 Grand Final win over Brisbane at Ikon Park. Picture: AFL Photos

four Irish players – Erika O'Shea, Blaithin Bogue, Vikki Wall and Amy Gavin Mangan – in its 2025 Grand Final squad These are impressive feats never matched or rivalled by the men.

And very recently Eddie McGuire – former Collingwood president and all round footy guru – has been doing the rounds, arguing that there is a growing need for the AFLW to create a 20th team to the competition –made up entirely of Irish players.

“There is a genuine desire to put a 20th team into the AFLW competition when Tasmania comes in – of an Irish team,” McGuire – who is the only one of his siblings not to be born in Roscommon – said.

"As a result of the idea that an Irish team can play Australian football, last week I met with the new consul general of Ireland in Victoria for the first time, Marie-Claire Hughes, and the Irish ambassador in Canberra, Fiona Flood, and we were discussing this and it is now being discussed at AFL level and there is a genuine desire to put a 20th team into the AFLW competition when Tasmania comes in of an Irish team," McGuire told the Nine Network show Footy Classified in May. “We would have an Irish team. We're not playing in Ireland. It won't be a long away trip. They'll be based probably in Melbourne or maybe in Sydney. We the collective football world are looking at integrating an Irish team into the AFLW. Maybe (the team is called) the Melbourne Celtics,” he said.

Australian Irish Dancing Association Inc.

Our WA dancers have been busy in feis season competing both interstate as well as local competitions.

In May dancers travelled to the warm Darwin to dance in the Northern Territory Premierships with great success.

Congratulations to:

Maya Walsh, WA Academy – 1st place and winner of the judges award

Isla Walsh, WA Academy – 1st place and winner of the 8yrs and under Step Down the Line Dancers also represented their schools in Melbourne at the McAleer Championship and the Sunshine State championships held in Queensland.

We would like to congratulate the following dancers that competed in Melbourne: Under 10 years Open Championship

1st Place - Brooky Hamilton, Trinity Studio

Winner of the Minor Champion of Champions

Under 12 years Open Championship

4th Place – Evie Hamilton, Trinity Studio

7th Place – Emer Fullam, Trinity Studio

10th Place – Eve Bromilow, Champion Academy

12th Place – Kathleen Vaccari, Trinity Studio

Under 12 years Preliminary Championship

1st Place – Eve Bromilow Champion Academy

6th Place – Kathleen Vaccari, Trinity Studio

Under 13 years Open Championship

15th Place – Grace Masnyk, Trinity Studio

Under 13 years Preliminary Championship

5th Place – Grace Masnyk, Trinity Studio

Under 14 years Open Championship

6th Place – Isla Bromilow, Champion Academy

Under 14 years Preliminary Championship

1st Place - Isla Bromilow, Champion Academy

Under 15 years Open Championship

8th Place – Frankie Martin, Trinity Studio

Under 15 years Preliminary Championship

1st Place – Frankie Martin, Trinity Studio

Under 16 years Open Championship

4th Place – Sasha Brown, Trinity Studio

Under 17 years Open Championship

1st Place – Georgia Western, Trinity Studio

Well done to the WA dancers that competed in the Sunshine State Championships: Erin Dowie, WA Academy – 2nd place and winner of the Step Down the Line and Disney Reel

AIDA WA would like to wish all of the dancers travelling to compete in the Australian International Oireachtas the best of luck and look forward to watching our very talented dancers compete in the WA State Championships in August.

VALE

Bernard Cullinane

The Irish community in Perth has lost a truly great man in Bernard Cullinane. A member of the Irish Golf Club, Bernard was always ready with a tune on the box and brought joy to so many through his music, friendship, and warm spirit. Thank you, Bernard, for the music, the laughter, and the wonderful memories that we will treasure forever. We extend our deepest sympathy to his family on the loss of a beloved father, brother, and a dear friend to so many. Bernard will be remembered for his special smile, his infectious laugh, and the kindness and warmth he shared with everyone he met. May his gentle soul rest in eternal peace, and may his memory continue to bring comfort and smiles to all who knew him.

Happy 80th Birthday to ANITA GRANT!

A wonderful fiddle player and a much-loved member of the Irish music community, Anita played with The Quarefellas in the old days and is still involved with more bands than we can count. Your music, friendship, and enthusiasm have brought joy to so many. Wishing you a fantastic day filled with love, laughter, and music. Have a great birthday, Anita!

Happy Birthday Ashok

The King of Kalgoorlie, Ashok Parekh recently celebrated his 70th. If you are ever in Kalgoorlie, drop into The Irish Pub because as Ashok says “It’s a taste of Ireland in the Goldfields”

Cosgraves at World Cup.

Liam, Andrew and Jacob Cosgrave in Vancouver to watch the Australia v Turkey match. Liam, Andrew and Garrett lived in Greenwood and spent their early childhood in Albany.

Warfield’s enjoying a pint!

Ciaran and Brian enjoying a pint. Brian of the Wolftones shared a few tunes, and a pint, with his son Ciaran. Ciaran is the driving force behind the John Boyle O’Reilly Festival in Co Meath in July. Good luck Ciaran, readers might even pick up a copy of Fremantle to Freedom book by Peter Murphy and Fred Rea.

The O’Hara’s enjoying Ireland!

Bernard O’Hara is with Geraldine Taheny and Patricia O’Hara at Kirby’s Brogue Inn, Tralee Co Kerry, enjoying Irish Coffee. Thought it was Guinness there for a second! Sure the black stuff came later. It’s been long overdue Bernard.... Enjoy!

New book from Brendan. Brendan Kelly from Bunbury has a new book out about Jerry Hart, a great character from the 1800’s around Western Australia. An Irish born Governor of Western Australia is featured in the book, William Cleaver Francis Robinson, born in County Westmeath, he served three separate terms and skillfully guided the colony through the early stages of the gold rush boom. For readers interested in Western Australian history, local identities, and the Irish influence on the colony’s development, Brendan Kelly’s book is a worthwhile addition to the bookshelf. To discover the full story behind Hart and Robinson’s musical connection, it seems readers will have to pick up a copy themselves. Great read.

Happy Birthday Joe and Patrick

Two more birthdays Joe

Carroll of the Claddagh (left) and Patrick Brady. Patrick celebrated with his mates at the Woodvale Tavern. The years keep rolling by!

Visitor from New South Wales. Jim Duffy from NSW was a visitor to Western Australia in June. He took the opportuniny to catch up with Peter Murphy in Bunbury. Jim is a keen follower of the life of Fenian, John Boyle O’Reilly and he visited the Bunbury Museum to see the Fenian display. He also visited Fremantle Prison, and met up with local Fenian group members.

Happy birthday Jimmy!

Local identity, Dubliner, Jimmy Byrne recently celebrated another birthday. Must be a few now Jimmy. Never shy to grab the microphone, noboby sings the Fields of Athenry like our Jimmy. Hope you had a great day!

Congrats Jennifer and Debbie. At the unveiling of the Fenian, John Donoghue memorial in Jarrahdale, Jennifer Phillips and Debbie Armstrong of the Jarrahdale Historical Society received certificates of recognition for the support of the project. They are pictured with Trevor Dunne and Chris Doyle of the organising committee who presented the certificates. You can read about the day elsewhere in this magazine. Or visit the YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxjWUPjytw8 to see the whole event.

WHO CLEANS YOUR BEACH?

Every morning on his beach walk in Bunbury, Peter Murphy picks up bucketloads of flotsam and jetsam. It’s amazing how much rubbish one person can collect. We are blessed with beautiful beaches, so why do people leave their junk behind? Hopefully, readers of The Irish Scene will follow Peter’s example and help keep our coastline clean. Well done, Peter. Your efforts make a real difference.

“Almost With You”

Is a movie written and directed by Irish-born West-Australian Adam Morris, featuring songs by Declan O’Rourke, with additional score by Luka Bloom, Almost With You takes place in the remote Australian coastal town of Albany, where touring Irish musician Brendan Kelly (Declan O’Rourke), deep in grief over the recent death of his brother, finds community and connection with the local people through a shared love of music. It had its premier at the Galway Film Fleadh 2026. Our own Michael Sheehy (above) is described as a ‘major discovery’ in the film. When you get to see it, you will understand, he is brilliant. Well done Mike!

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Gabriel Lyons Born in Co Cavan Ireland

25 February 1954, Gabriel passed away on 19 June 2026 after a long illness. Our thoughts and prayers are with his friends in WA and his family in Ireland.

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Mary Rooney Born in Belfast, sadly, Mary passed away on June 9th. Mary’s late husband, Pat wrote the Ulster Reciter page for the Irish Scene for many years. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.

The greatest Fenian of them all

On a recent visit to his native Dublin, John Clare of the Fremantle Freedom Festival visited the grave of the greatest Fenian of them all, John Devoy. Devoy died in 1929 and you can find out more about Devoy in Fremantle to Freedom book. Thank you John for taking the time to visit the great man. Maith an Fear!

MEL & FRANK FLYING HIGH

Mel and Frank McGrory had a fantastic few days up in the Kimberley with the very proud parents moment-flying over the Bungle Bungles in a helicopter flown by son, Aidan. “Stunning scenery and a pretty special pilot!” Mel’s words and no doubt echoed by Frank.